In Pictures: Memories recalled and money raised at Bellsdyke Hospital reunion event

John Dirom, who worked at the hospital, helped organise the reunion which took place at the Plough Hotel on Friday, November 21.

And, as you can see from photographer Michael Gillen’s pictures, he did a great job, as everyone who attended enjoyed themselves thoroughly, with Strathcarron Hospice feeling the benefit too through the £660 that was coined in for the cause during the event.

John said: “I used to work in Bellsdyke Hospital in Larbert and myself and some colleagues thought we would organise a staff reunion. The hospital was a local and national landmark for many many years and most people locally had a family member or someone they knew who worked there.

“We had about 100 people there on the night – many who hadn't seen each other in a long time. I heard someone say it had been 40 years. The age range started at 50 somethings right up to our two 90-year-old guests Agnes Baillie and Bob Miller, who both had a great night, as did everyone.

"There was lots of chatting and reminiscing and there have been requests for it to be an annual event.”

John thanked the organising committee who help make the event possible – John McTague, John Deans and Paul Ginnell – and Linda McAuslan for organising the quiz on the night.

He also praised the staff at The Plough for their help organising the reunion and the generous discount on the buffet.

Bellsdyke Hospital, also known as Stirling District Asylum, opened in June 1869 and consisted of two large buildings containing a chapel, male and female dormitories and a dining-room.

The asylum was large enough to house two hundred and fifty people, with patients – or inmates as they were then known – coming from Clackmannan, Dumbarton, Stirlingshire and Linlithgow.

In 1907 a new block was opened to house the large numbers of female nursing staff and Bellsdyke increased in size to house a hospital block, a block for those who could do light work and a block for those with more serious issues.

By 1914 there were over 700 patients on site and overcrowding became an issue.

The facility closed in 1997, although there are still some services which remain in operation at the site.