Hartwood Hospital in the media

 

 

BBC Scotland Sunday Show

Remembrance Sunday we explored the role the military chaplain plays in bringing servicemen solace during times of both peace and conflict. Tony speaks to Rev Stephen Blakey, who served as a military chaplain for 40 years. Today marks the start of Scottish Interfaith week. Maureen Sier, the Director of Interfaith Scotland discusses the week ahead, the challenges of interfaith work during the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and the hope that can be found in the long-term relationships built between communities. Deepak Patel reports on the five days of Diwali, a sacred time of year for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the UK. Released in cinemas this week, Is There Anybody Out There? follows filmmaker Ella Glendining’s global search to find someone with a body that looks like hers and explores what it takes to be a confident disabled person in an ableist world. Reviewer Catrina Rose joins Tony to discuss the film and the deep-rooted issue of ableism in society. As we continue to mark Remembrance Sunday, Tony speaks to Christine Macdonald, the daughter of a Second World War soldier who in 1943 witnessed the signing of documents marking Italy’s surrender to the Allies. Bronwen Livingstone reports on one woman's devoted restoration of Hartwood Hospital cemetery inspired by a visit to her Great, Great Uncle's war grave in France. And can poetry help to steer us through difficult times? Scotland’s Makar Kathleen Jamie joins Tony to discuss a new collective poem featuring lines submitted by the public which will form an address from Scotland to the Leaders of the World

 

Celebrating the Life of Songwriter and Bard Robin Laing

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025

  • Submitting member has a registered interest.

  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-20109
  • Current status: Fallen

That the Parliament notes with great sadness the passing of Robin Laing, renowned songwriter and Whisky Bard; recognises his long-standing friendship with and contribution to the Scottish Malt Whisky Society, noting that he was an integral part of the Society since its early days, performing his whisky songs and poetry at The Vaults in the early 1990s and joining the Society’s Tasting Panel almost 30 years ago; acknowledges that, through his wit, wisdom and creativity, he was responsible for many memorable bottle names and imaginative tasting notes cherished by whisky lovers across Scotland and beyond; further notes his role as a founder of The Lanarkshire Songwriters, a group he established to bring together writers of all genres and experience levels, and whose many recordings and performances reflect his enduring vision; recognises his recent involvement in Songs from the Grave, a collaboration between the Lanarkshire Songwriters and the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, giving voice to the stories of those buried in the former asylum grounds; expresses its deepest condolences to his family, as well as to his friends, colleagues, fellow musicians and admirers, and celebrates Robin’s extraordinary legacy as a songwriter, performer, poet, whisky ambassador and inspirational creative force whose contribution to Scotland’s cultural life will be profoundly missed.

 

Comemorating Scotland’s Lost Souls and the Unmarked Graves Outside Former Psychiatric Institutions: Amendment 1

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2025

  • Submitting member has a registered interest.

  • Motion type: Amendment
  • Motion reference: S6M-19687.1
  • Current status: Fallen

As an amendment to motion S6M-19687 in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton (Commemorating Scotland’s Lost Souls and the Unmarked Graves Outside Former Psychiatric Institutions), insert at end "; acknowledges and commends the work of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery in Hartwood, Shotts, which has restored, claimed and identified 1,255 former patients and staff; welcomes the work of local groups, volunteers and organisations, such as Historic Environment Scotland and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, in protecting these sites, and congratulates the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, whose story was highlighted by BBC Scotland, Clyde1, Forth1 and other local radio stations, leading to the uncovering of the facts of this history through the 'Lost Souls' investigation."

 

Congratulations to Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery on Being Awarded Funding for the Voices from the Grave Project

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025

  • Submitting member has a registered interest.

  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-18467
  • Current status: Fallen

That the Parliament congratulates the group, Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, in Hartwood, on being awarded funding from the North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund to deliver the innovative project, Voices from the Grave, in partnership with the Lanarkshire Songwriters Group; understands that this project will include providing songwriting lessons to local school pupils and delivering entertainment and cultural engagement opportunities for the wider community; notes that the cemetery holds the remains of 1,255 former hospital patients from Motherwell and Wishaw, across Scotland, and from around the world, reflecting the rich and diverse history of the area; recognises the important role that the group plays in preserving and promoting awareness of the cemetery’s heritage and mental health, with volunteers coming from across the local area and further afield; applauds the groups' commitment to combining community education, artistic expression and heritage preservation, and encourages ongoing support for initiatives that connect local history with contemporary culture, fostering a sense of identity and community pride.

 

The Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery Named as the National Lottery Scottish Project of the Year

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-10975
  • Current status: Fallen

That the Parliament congratulates the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery group, and all of its volunteers from across Airdrie, Shotts, Wishaw, Motherwell and the wider Lanarkshire community, on receiving the National Lottery Scottish Project of the Year 2023 award; notes that Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery was also the runner-up in the UK Project of the Year category, which, it considers, highlights the incredible effort from everyone involved in the initiative, as well as the positive impact of the project; understands that the volunteers have transformed the Old Lanarkshire Asylum ( Hartwood) Cemetery, which lay derelict, into a beautiful space of remembrance and respect; further understands that, from 1895 to 1954, there were 1,255 people interred in 634 mainly anonymous graves within the small area; acknowledges what it sees as the extensive and painstaking research undertaken by the volunteers to give those who rest there their right to be remembered, with dignity, by name instead of a plot number, in what it sees as an incredible act of compassion and kindness; further acknowledges that, importantly, the project has enabled the reuniting of living family members with their relatives who are resting in the cemetery; notes what it sees as the positive impact that the project has had on the wider community and the fantastic work that it understands it has done in reducing the stigma that is so often associated with mental health; thanks everyone involved and congratulates them on receiving recognition for their incredible work, and wishes them the best for the future.

 

Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery Nominated for the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-10458
  • Current status: Fallen

That the Parliament congratulates the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, and all its volunteers from across Wishaw and Motherwell, and the wider Lanarkshire community, on being shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2023; understands that the project is one of 17 projects from across the UK, and only one of two in Scotland, to be selected; further understands that the volunteers dedicated their time to the Old Lanarkshire Asylum ( Hartwood) Cemetery, bringing colour, dignity and visitors back to a once lost space; notes that, from 1895 to 1954, there were 1,255 people interred in 634, mainly anonymous, graves, within the small area; acknowledges the extensive research, the commitment to having information boards, which now display all the name of the 1,255 people, and the dedication to reuniting living family members with long-lost relatives; further acknowledges what it sees as the positive impact that this project has had on the wellbeing of all those involved, which, it considers, reflects the changing approach to mental health with an emphasis on a person-centred and empathetic perspective; thanks all involved for their efforts, and wishes them the best for the future.

 

Friends of Hartwood Paupers Graveyard

  • Submitted by: Clare Adamson, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-03006
  • Current status: Fallen

The Parliament commends the residents of Hartwood who founded The Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, and the volunteers from across Wishaw and Motherwell and the wider Lanarkshire community, who dedicate their time to restoring the Old Lanarkshire Asylum Cemetery; notes that from 1895 to 1954 there were 1255 people interred in 634, mainly anonymous, graves, within the small area; understands that after extensive research, information boards are now installed on-site, naming all 1,255 people and reuniting living family members with long last relatives; commends BBC Scotland's programme, My Kind of Town, hosted by Ian Hamilton and his guide dog, Major, on highlighting the past, present and the future vision of the cemetery; acknowledges what it sees as the positive impact that this project has had on the wellbeing of all those involved and which, it considers, reflects the changing approach to mental health with an emphasis on a person-centred and empathetic perspective; thanks all involved for their efforts, and wishes them the best for the future.