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John Cameron (29th January 1881 - 20th January 1949)
John Cameron, my Great Grandfather was born in the parish of Cumlodden & Minnard situated on the western side of Loch Fynne, Argyle, Scotland. Born to the local gamekeeper
John Cameron, my Great Grandfather was born in the parish of Cumlodden & Minnard situated on the western side of Loch
Fynne, Argyle, Scotland. Born to the local gamekeeper Allan Cameron and his wife Janet (Jessie) McDonald, John immediately had the desire to follow in his father's footsteps as a Gamekeeper but his ambitions were not realised until some 30 years into his life, not before though he had made a good name for himself within the wrestling circuits of Lanarkshire and beyond.
I am fortunate enough to have obtained from my Grandfather prior to his death my Great Grandfathers wrestling diary, some extracts from which are as follows:
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Sept 1904: Blantyre - 12 Stone wrestling competition won 1st prize. Final D. Turbot
Sept 1904: Blantyre - 10 stone competition 1st prize. John McKinnon in final
Sept 1904: Bellshill - 12 stone competition 1st prize. John Mckinnon in final
Oct 1904: Paisley empire - 11 stone competition. 1st prize.
Oct 1904: Paisley empire - wrestling match best of three falls. Won two falls to none against J. McNeil of Glasgow.
Dec 1904: Motherwell 10 stone competition for championship of scotland. 1st prize. A Cameron in final.
Dec 1904: Larkhall 12 stone competition 2nd prize. Robert Jack in final.
Feb 1905: Shotts - 11 stone competition 1st prize. Black of Shotts in final.
May 1905: Kilmarnock - 12 stone competition 2nd prize. J Burt in final.
May 1905: Kilmarnock - 10 stone competition 2nd prize. Robertson in final. |
Jun 1905: Blantyre - 12 stone competition 2nd prize. Robert Jack in final.
Jul 1905: Johnstone 12 stone competition 1st prize. John Burt in final.
Jul 1905: Larkhall 11 stone competition 2nd prize. Robert Jack in final
Jul 1905: Motherwell 12 stone competition 1st prize. John Begg in final.
Aug 1905: Catrine 10 stone competition 1st prize
Aug 1905: Catrine 10 stone championship 1st prize Louis Robertson in final.
Aug 1905: Blantyre match for 10st championship. Won two falls to none against David Turbat.
Sep 1905: Motherwell match for 10 stone championship won two falls to none against Findlay McKechnie of Glasgow.
Sep 1905: Paisley empire - all weight competition 1st prize. A Cameron in final.
Oct 1905: Albion Halls, Glasgow - 11 stone competition 1st prize. |
Nov 1905: Wellington Pallace Glasgow. 11 stone 4lbs competition 1st prize. Charles Bell of Glasgow in final.
Nov 24th 1905: Glasgow. Match for 11 stone championship of Scotland. Won against John Miller from Johnstone.
Nov 25th 1905: Hamilton Victoria Hall won match against Joe ?emon of Germany.
Jan 1906: Glasgow - Stood time against Peter Gotz 10 minutes.
Jan 1906: Hamilton Victoria Hall - Stood time against Joe ?emon of Germany. 15 minutes.
Feb 1906: Moors Pavilion, Paisley. All weight competition 1st prize.
Mar 1906: Springburn, Glasgow. Won match against Frank Crozier on points. 15 minutes.
Apr 9th 1906: Motherwell - Won match against D. Munro of Glasgow. Two falls to none.
May 1906: Glenboig - Heavy weight competition 2nd prize. James Eason in final.
Jun 23rd 1906: Holytown - 11 stone competition for championship of Lanarkshire. 1st prize. John McKinnon of Motherwell in final. |
Jun 30th 1906 : Renfrew - 12 stone competition 2nd prize. McKirdy of Glasgow in final.
Aug 11th 1906: Muirkirk 10 stone 6lbs competition for championship. 1st prize David Hart of Kilmarnock in final.
Apr 27th 1907: Kilwhinning - 11 stone competition. 2nd prize.
Jun 1907: New Stevenston match with Crozier. Lost on points. 2nd prize.
Dec 1906: Glasgow - 10 stone 4lbs competition. 2nd prize - Crozier won on points.
Jan 1908: Motherwell - 11 stone competition. 1st prize, McKinnon in final.
Jan 1908: Motherwell - Match with James Murray won one fall to none.
Apr 1908: Lesmahagow - Match with D McArthur - won on points.
May 1908: Lesmahagow - Match with D McArthur - won two falls to none.
Mar 17th 1909: Motherwell - 10 stone 6lbs competition 1st prize. James Dunlop in final. |
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During his wrestling days John won many bouts. Here he is seen proudly displaying the championship belt he won and retained. The belt is still in the family, having been passed down generation after generation.
It was at the age of 30 when he finally realised his true ambition, to gain employment as a gamekeeper and follow in the traditions of his father, his father's father and many more of his predecessors. His first appointment was with the BARR family as single handed keeper on a small estate at Harburn, near West Calder, Midlothian. He stayed there for 11 years before being offered another keepering job by the then Widow Robertson at Burnside estate, by Forfar, Angus. There he was to stay for the remainder of his life.
This is John in later life…. Probably taken on Burnside estate where he, my
grandfather, my father and myself spent the best days of our lives. The estate is now under new management and continues to thrive… I look back with great fondness to the childhood days spent berry picking, shooting, snaring rabbits, taking honey from the bee hives… those days are gone now but will remain in my memory for many a year to come. In addition to the wrestling diary there were a number of "references" written by previous employers etc.
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