My name is Robert Conn; my father was Robert (Rab?) Conn who was killed in the Auchengeich colliery disaster in 1959, when I was 6 months old. The tragedy happened just a few months before my family was supposed to emigrate to Australia. We eventually did go as planned and I grew up in Australia, but am currently living in New Zealand. I am now 48, married for 20 years with a beautiful 11year old red-haired daughter.

I was wondering if you or anyone visiting your page might have any information about my father; there's little reference to him apart from a name on a few lists. My mother never spoke about the accident, and very little about my father at all, unfortunately. She was a wonderful person though and passed away in 1983.

Thanks for your time and trouble, and for putting this great website together.

Rob Conn

Fionn, I tried to get back to Pat Pearson lately but she must have changed her e-mail address.

Could you pass on the following to Rob Conn:-
When I started work in Auchengeich Colliery in 1956 I was sent to work with your dad as a wood laddie. That was pushing hutches of pit props and taking them to the coal face as a support for the roof. Your dad looked after me for about a year and then he went for his coalface training as that was better paid. Another person in our team was Geordie Jackson who also sadly was in the fateful boggies.

I was at your house on the Wednesday prior to the 18th as your dad was selling household goods before you all went out to Australia. I bought a Hoover for my mother as she did not have one.

Your dad was a real gentleman and gave me, a raw recruit, all the help anyone could ask for. Our team of three got on really well. I have a lot of information on Auchengeich but the internet site is very comprehensive. If you wish to contact me Fionn can give you my address.

I have a sister in Putaruru and a niece and family in Hamilton.

Hi Fionn
my name is Sandy Boyd I knew all the Conn’s and  I worked in the Joiner shop at Auchengeich as a 15 year old in 1950-1952 and knew Rab Conn very well. Rab worked up at the bing in them days, we lived across from the Conns in Chryston before they moved up to Gartferry now part of Moodiesburn my dad was down the Geich the morning of the disaster, he was the day oversman that day.

I left for the U.S.A 1952 my friends Tommy Bone and George Jackson were among many of the men I knew that day.

PS I wish people my age were into computers so I could connect with them. Will you be able to give the Conns my email address?

Regards
Sandy Boyd

Hi, 
My name is Caroline Stewart and I wanted to get in touch with Rob Conn, as my mum is Jean Conn, Robert’s sister (married name Stewart). My mum was telling me about his post and I think she has some old photo’s of the family but she isn’t very confident on the computer so I could see what she’s got and send them over if he wanted to get in touch. Please feel free to pass my email to him. 

It would be great to find a whole new family on the other side of the world. 

Thanks 
Caroline 

Would it be possible to obtain the name of the Beattie who died there? If possible, also, the email address of Robert Conn's son in New Zealand. The Conns and Beatties were related. Thank you, Germaine Kennedy nee Beattie.

____________________________

Alexander Morrison Beattie was a roadman down the pit and was aged 26

Hi
I am Mary Waddell the daughter of Mary Conn (married name Laird) whose brother Rab (Robert Conn) was killed in the Auchengeich disaster. On hearing about Rob's entry on the website she would be more than happy to get in touch.

She has also given me a photo of her brother. I can scan these & forward them to Rob if he would like or if he prefers onto this site. 

If Rob would get in touch directly, please feel free to forward or publish my e-mail address, I should be able to give him as much information from my mum as she can supply.

Thank you for running the site, it just shows what a small world it really is!

Mary Waddell.

Hi Fionn,
Just to let you know that Rob has been in touch and it's sparked a massive response from the family here who all want to get in touch with him & share their family stories. Cousins who I wouldn't know if I were to see them are being instructed by their mums to get in touch via e-mail, coz they're not 'up to date on these things' so I think you deserve a massive 'THANK YOU'.
 
 I appreciate that Auchengiech was a tragic disaster but hopefully your site is as useful to others as my family have found. We are currently looking out photos & talking about what was happening back then so I am hearing stories that I never imagined before & seeing a side of family life that I was unaware of. I will be sharing this with Rob soon.
 
Again

Many Thanks X
 
Mary.