Composed in memory of Frank Joseph Balmer of the Gorbals, Glasgow and Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. Father to Mhairi and Claire, husband to Anne.
Frank was born on the 8th January, 1950 in St. Francis Nursing Home, Govan. Son to John and Ellen and, a few years later, became big brother to Brian. Frank and Brian grew up in Glasgow. The Balmers lived in Cumberland Street in the Gorbals, before moving to Arden then Minard Road in Shawlands. The family moved to Stewarton a few years later but part of my Frank’s heart always remained in Glasgow.
Frank was educated in Glasgow, attending St Vincent’s primary school then the newly built St Louise’s primary school. Instead of continuing his education in the local secondary school, Frank sat and passed the entrance exam and was accepted into St Mungo’s Secondary in Townhead, Glasgow. It was during his time at St. Mungo’s that Frank’s love of rowing began and continued throughout his time at Strathclyde University, where he studied Metallurgy. Frank’s career centred around his chemistry background, working in labs for Imperial Tobacco and ICI but his longest serving role was in the Nuclear Medicine Department of Crosshouse Hospital.
Frank Balmer married Anne Grant in 1977 and the next year welcomed there first daughter Claire with Mhairi a few years later. Not long after she was born in 1980, the family moved from New farm to Stewarton. The Balmer family moved to Kilmarnock around 24 years ago to be closer to school, family and friends.
A guide track for ‘Frank Joseph Balmer’ is available below for listening: -
You can download a PDF of the sheet music here
- or braille format here.
The track is additionally available within the following collections and sets: -
Associated Collections: -
6/8
Ayrshire Characters
Jig
Musicians
Not Yet Recorded
The Three Six Five Collection
