'˜Seams' like a fitting award for Grangemouth citizen

A woman who has made generations of little girls' dreams come true by creating magical gala day dresses has received her just reward.
Alice Hamilton  received the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy for her years of dressmaking for Grangemouth Children's Day.  Picture: Michael Gillen.Alice Hamilton  received the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy for her years of dressmaking for Grangemouth Children's Day.  Picture: Michael Gillen.
Alice Hamilton received the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy for her years of dressmaking for Grangemouth Children's Day. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The sterling sewing skills of Alice Hamilton were recognised at Grangemouth’s Abbotsgrange Parish Church on Sunday during an ecumenical service to mark the Week of Christian Unity when she was presented with the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy.

The award, named after a Grangemouth man who went above and beyond for the local community, is presented every year to a Grangemouth resident who has given up their time to help others.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alice (65) began creating dresses for Grangemouth Children’s Day when she was just 18 and took over as the full-time dressmaker for the event in the 1990s.

She said: “The woman who used to do it left the town and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

The Children’s Day committee recognised her hard work back in 2010 when she was given the honour of crowning the queen that year – and now, eight years on, she has earned the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy for her efforts.

Alice said: “I was really proud to be nominated for the award, but I didn’t expect it – there are lots of people in Abbotsgrange Church who do a lot of good things for the community as well.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alice’s work within the church with the Girls’ Brigade and the Coffee Club were just another two reasons why she won the award, which her two daughters, Aileen and Lorraine, were delighted about.

Previous Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy winners include Grangemouth Community Care co-ordinator Anne Lowe – who was one of the driving forces behind the introduction of the award – for her dedication to helping elderly people, Norman Scott for his work with the Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied (PHAB) Club, grandmother Jean Jackson for her years of volunteering and Violet Caban, a Grange Parish Church and Zetland Parish Church elder, for giving up her time to help others.

Related topics: