A former British Excessive Commissioner visited the East Kilbride joint base of the UK's assist effort not too long ago - as the brand new city celebrates its seventy fifth anniversary.
New city standing was formally granted to EK in Might 1947 and native politicians and TV and movie stars, reminiscent of Lorraine Kelly and John Hannah who grew up right here, have shared their reminiscences.
And this week Everlasting Beneath-Secretary for the Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace (FCDO), Sir Philip Barton, was within the city to fulfill workers at Abercrombie Home.
The work of civil servants at Abercrombie Home has had an influence throughout the globe because the then Abroad Improvement Administration (ODA) constructing first opened in 1981.
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It was constructed as a part of an growth of the ODA, which was a part of the Overseas Workplace and went on to develop into the Division for Worldwide Improvement’s joint HQ earlier than a merger final 12 months created the FCDO.
And among the many first 350 recruited was none aside from EK soccer legend Ally McCoist, who spent a number of months there as a clerical assistant simply earlier than his footballing profession took off.
He beforehand instructed Lanarkshire Reside: "It was a large enhance for East Kilbride that constructing opening. I nonetheless bear in mind my first day, getting off the No77 bus from Calderwood, and strolling into this superb new place as a civil servant.
“My mum and pop clearly knew what I wished to do with my life, however they’d made certain I’d stored up with my schoolwork and have been proud as punch I’d acquired the ODA job."
The constructing was formally opened by then-Overseas Secretary Lord Carrington – and now homes nearly 1000 workers because the FCDO joint HQ.
It has performed a pivotal position within the growth of East Kilbride over the past 40 years and additional jobs are set to be redeployed from London to the city, securing its place in EK's future.
Sir Philip mentioned: “I want to congratulate East Kilbride on its seventy fifth anniversary and am proud that the Overseas, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace’s joint HQ, Abercrombie Home, is an integral a part of the wealthy cloth of the city.
“Our workers in East Kilbride play a vital position in shaping UK international and growth coverage around the globe, as proven by the UK Authorities’s steadfast help for Ukraine within the face of Russian aggression.
“Abercrombie Home not too long ago celebrated its fortieth anniversary and our dedication to the city’s brilliant future is highlighted by our determination to redeploy an additional 500 jobs from London to East Kilbride by 2025, as a part of the UK Authorities’s levelling up agenda.”
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