About Peter Symon's activities during the 1914-1918 War, I have not yet been able to establish any details.  His cousin, David Symon (1912-1996), of Errol, son of Peter's uncle, Scot Symon (1872-1955), also of Errol, remembers Peter Symon of Camelon as a very tall man.[1]  There does not appear to have been a great deal of contact between the Errol Symons and Peter's family, although his brother and nephew did move to Errol briefly for work, before returning to the Falkirk area.  David had a story about one of his Falkirk cousins lodging in his house in Errol village while David was working elsewhere, and "clearing out with all my trinkets", but I cannot vouch for the authenticity. 

 

He was employed by the Falkirk and District United Co-operative Society as a mutuality scheme collector of weekly payments from small savers.  He served as chairman of the Co-op Society from 1940 to 1944.[2]  As Provost, he presided at the inaugural ceremony for Falkirk Town Council's for "Operation Prosperity" Savings Week, inaugurated by Andrew Murray, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in the Gas Demonstration Hall, High Street, Falkirk on Saturday 21 February 1948.[3] Mentioning the important contribution of the Savings Movement to the control of inflation, the Lord Provost noted that the Stirlingshire target for the year was three and a quarter million pounds, that two and a half million pounds of that target had already been subscribed by the end of January, of which one and a quarter million pounds had been raised in Falkirk, nearly 76% of the total being deposits with Falkirk Savings Bank; the Falkirk Savings Committee was aiming for £40,000 from small savers in the Operation Prosperity Savings Week.  Provost Symon said there were 23 Industrial Savings groups in the Falkirk district.  Among the staff and employees they had saved a total of £64,000, £39 10s per member, or a regular weekly saving of 6s per member. 

 

Peter Symon was also a freemason.  There were newspaper notices of his being Scribe E of Royal Arch Chapter, Carron, [Lodge] No. 478, in 1920 and 1921.  Lodge meetings were held in the Masonic Hall, Stenhousemuir.[4] 

 

Annie's and Peter's daughters Jean and Annie both won prizes in the girls' races held in Tillicoultry Public Park on the combined outing of two Camelon friendly societies, the "Ivy Blossom" Lodge of Ancient Free Gardeners and the "Hope of Camelon" Division of the Sons of Scotland Temperance Society, on Saturday 8 Aug 1931.[5]  A party of about 700 children and adults, headed by 1st Camelon Company Boys' Brigade Pipe Band, marched to Camelon Railway Station where a special train had been chartered for the occasion.  Annie, the youngest of the three sisters (b. 27 Aug 1924), took 2nd prize in the under 7 race and Jean, the eldest (b. 08 Apr 1921), took 2nd prize in the under 10 race (even though she should have been competing in the under 11 race: she was aged 10 years and 4 months).  Mary, the middle daughter (b. 01 Apr 1923) either didn't race or didn't finish in the first three.

 

In 1933 Peter was proposer of Judge Henry Begg, retiring candidate, in the municipal elections for Camelon ward on Falkirk council, his address given as 19 Wall Street, Camelon.[6] Begg's address was 23 Wall Street, his seconder also lived on Wall Street as did two of his five 'assenters'.  The contest was being forced by the coming forward of communist candidate Hugh Anderson, as it was in Middle ward, and the communist party was also competing in North ward.  Wall Street was on Carmuirs interwar council housing estate in Camelon, between the iron foundries to the north and the Forth and Clyde Canal to its south: see OS map.  Today the foundries have long gone.  

 

Peter Symon entered Falkirk Burgh Council at the November election of 1934 when he topped the poll at in which there were six candidates, Baillie George Strang filling the second of the two vacancies.  Writing of Provost Symon in September 1949, sketch writer "T.M." wrote: "His views are of the pronounced Labour type; in fact, he is a declared disciple of the doctrine of Socialism.  In speech he is vigorous and fearless of expression, and at all times exercises fairness and wise discretion in the control of discussion within the Council chamber."[7]

 

Councillor Peter Symon was 'elevated' to the Falkirk Bench as Fifth Magistrate in 1937.[8]  Two years later, we find a report of his acting as Baillie (magistrate) for Falkirk, imposing a fine of 10s, allowing a fortnight to pay the fine, with the alternative of ten days' imprisonment, on James Pepper, labourer, Camelon, who pleaded guilty at Falkirk Police Court on Thursday 20 April 1939 to having stolen 84lbs of coal, having been caught putting the coal in a bag at the side of the Grangemouth and Camelon Mineral Railway on 19 April 1939.[9]  Pepper made a protest about having lost his job and Irishmen 'straight from Ireland' being allowed to oust Scots from good jobs. 

 

His first convenorship was that of the Public Parks Committee, a position he held for one year.  He was then convenor of the Roads Committee until 1944. 

 

During the war period, Councillor Symon was an active member of the A.R.P. Joint Service.[10]  Symon was vice-convenor of Blinkbonny Home Committee in 1943-1944.[11] The Falkirk home for the elderly had previously been the Windsor Road poorhouse, and later joined the NHS as Windsor hospital.[12]  

 

Ann's and Peter's three daughters all married in the space of 15 months, between June 1944 and August 1945.  The eldest daughter, Jean, shorthand typist, married a Falkirk man, fitter James Kerr, 12 years her elder, in June 1944.  All three marriage ceremonies were performed in Erskine Church, Camelon.  The other two sisters married English servicemen.  The youngest sister, Ann, an A.R.P. inspector, married Edwin Gothard, from Cambridge, an engineer (private) in the RASC in July 1945.  Middle sister Mary, library assistant, married John Palmer, from Slough, a telephone tester serving with the RC of S, in August 1945.  The two servicemen's brides would move south to England after the war.

 

Peter Symon was elected to the Chair of the Falkirk Burgh Council as Provost of Falkirk in November 1946.  Among the many and varied duties he must have performed, we find reports of his: accepting in November 1949 for Falkirk museum (shortly to reopen) a gift of woodcarvings from New Zealand wood made by a Falkirk emigrant;[13] addressing a meeting of ratepayers of Carron and Carronshore in the Co-operative Hall, Carronshore, on 30 October 1949, on the proposal of Falkirk Town Council to extend the burgh boundaries for overspill housing in order to meet the increased demand for housing due to an influx of industrial workers (at which he was heckled).[14]

 

Provost Symon presided at a crowded meeting in Falkirk Town Hall on Monday 13 February 1950 at which Prime Minister Clement Attlee gave a speech, in support of the Labour candidates in the three local constituencies - Stirling and Falkirk Burghs, Clackmannan and East Stirling, and West Stirlingshire (all three were duly elected in the General Election held on 23 February 1950).  Mr Arthur Woodburn, Secretary of State for Scotland, and Mr Malcolm MacPherson, Labour candidate for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs, were also on the platform.  Attlee's speech was relayed to the adjacent Masonic Hall and broadcast to a crowd of people who had congregated in Upper Newmarket Street which was been closed to vehicles for the period of the address.  Attlee and his wife had first been entertained to tea in the Temperance Cafe.[15] 

 

His triennial period as Provost, and as representative of Camelon ward, ended with the elections in May 1950.[16]  In 1951 ex-Provost Symon was appointed, on a motion to Falkirk council by Provost Wallace, as a Trustee of the Falkirk Temperance Cafe Trust.[17] 

 

From the 1940s he also served on Stirlingshire County Council, the County Education Committee, of which he was vice-chairman, and convenor of the Staffing Committee, and from 1950 chairman of the Stirlingshire and Falkirk Water Board, and its successor, Mid-Scotland Water Board, of which he became the new Board's first chairman, in 1968; he was probably best known for his work in connection with the water industry.[18]  

 

On Friday 27 May 1966, in the New Town Hall, Falkirk, ex-Provost Peter Symon was presented with the Freedom of Falkirk, making him the first Burgess in the Burgh since 1912.[19] Provost James Marshall, opening the proceedings, described Symon, accompanied at the ceremony by members of his family, as a "remarkable man".  The Burgess Ticket was read by the Town Clerk, Mr James Morris, which, after having been signed by Symon, was presented to him in a Casket by Provost Marshall.  Noting that Symon had been "a man involved very deeply in the trade union movement", Provost Marshall said:

 

          "Peter Symon is a man who has travelled a very stormy path.  He has known the trials and tribulations of life.  He has suffered for his political views, but I would say he has come out on top. [...]

 

          "He is Chairman of the Water Board and Convener of the Education Committee, and that in itself speaks of his calibre.  He is one of the main reasons why we in this area have probably the best water supply in the whole of Scotland.  It was only because of the initiative of men like Peter Symon that Falkirk and Stirlingshire were able to go ahead with this great scheme they have. [...]

 

          [noting his "maginificent record as Convener of the Education Committee": "It is something unique for a Burgh member to be Convener of an Education Committee.  Yet, every three years he is re-elected ..." [...]

 

          "His name is not just known locally: it is known nationally and even internationally with regard to his Water Board functions.

 

          "I am telling you all the good things about Peter Symon; there is nothing bad you can say about this man.  We on the Council know that if he is not present at a meeting, it is usually very quiet.  He is one of those people who can tell you off and tell you off very distinctly, and put you in your place when you think you know better than he does, and it is not very often that this is so.

 

          "He is forthright in his work, and he is one of the main reasons why we are sitting in this fine new Hall.  He has had a great belief, ever since the last War, of the great need for new Municipal Buildings in Falkirk.

 

          "Our main reason for making Peter Symon a Freeman is because of the respect which we all hold for him: the respect held not only by the members of the Council but by the members of the public and members of every authority in the country.

 

          "He has shown himself to be a man of the highest integrity, with a mind and opinion of his own.  He is always willing to give guidance.

 

          "On behalf of the Town Council and on behalf of the ratepayers, it gives me great pleasure to ask you to accept this casket for the great services you have given to Falkirk."

 

Replying to the Provost's address, Councillor Symon said he had been fortunate to have seen so many of the things he had been interested in being accomplished over the years. 

 

          "Many new industries have been attracted to take the place of many of the older ones.  We have done very well in the housing of our people.  In Health, Roads and Streets, Cleansing and Baths, great improvements have been made and are still taking place.

 

          "There are fine new developments at the East and West end of the town, and at long last a start is being made in Camelon. The opening of the new Municipal Buildings and the new Sewage Works were projects which were absolutely necessary if Falkirk is to be the centre of the Growth Area. 

 

          "Falkirk has grown from a parochial community to a town of standing in Scotland.

 

          "My other main interests have been the Water Board and the Education Committee.  The people in this area have been singularly fortunate in their water supply.

 

          "This may the last year of our existence as a Board.  I am almost certain that legislation will be introduced this year forming different regional boards, which is something we have been urging for years.

 

          "In the work of the Education Committee I have taken a very active and interested part over the years.  Since the end of the War surge in educational activities.  During that period, we have built or re-constructed almost 50 new schools, and Falkirk got its fair share.

 

          "I also take some pride that I was a member of the Committee responsible for bringing the Teacher Training College to Falkirk and also the new Technical College, both of which are distinct assets.

 

          "I would like to express my thanks to the electors in my ward in Camelon for their confidence in me, for all the Councillors past and present for their kindliness, helpfulness and forebearance.  I know I have been difficult at times and not easily pleased.  We have had our differences, but we never forget that we were working as a team for the benefit of the town.

 

          "For the very many friends I have made over the years, I am also most thankful.  If I could choose again I don't think I would choose differently.  It has meant that many times I have had to make sacrifices, but I have enjoyed helping my fellow citizens, and helping in my own small way to make this town a better place to live in.   

 

          "I am indeed fortunate.  If the Bairns of a few decades ago could see the dear old town as it is today they would be amazed.  It has kept many of its historical benefits but has also progressed greatly."

 

Provost Marshall then called for three cheers for "Our Youngest Burgess".

 

At the time of his death in December 1975, Peter Symon's usual address was 2 Gordon Place, off Main Street, Camelon. 

 

One of the "fine new developments" Peter Symon spoke of in his speech in May 1966 accepting the Freedom of Falkirk, was the Seaton Place high-rise development to the east of the town centre.  The need for additional housing was such that the council had acquired the park of Callendar Park from the Forbes family, by compulsory purchase, in 1963.  High rise blocks of flats, 14 storeys tall, were proposed, as underground coal mining made extensive housing design difficult.  Building started in 1965 and continued until 1969.  Five of the seven blocks were named after councillors, including Symon Tower, pictured below.  Callendar Park is now also the location of the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division and, in Callendar House, of the Falkirk Archives, now run by Falkirk Community Trust, an arms-length agency of Falkirk Council and a model for Perth and Kinross Council's similarly-structured Culture Perth and Kinross.