John Stariski

 

by Roberta McGee

John Stariski, a shoemaker, born in Poland in 1879 and his wife Karolina Wozniak, born in Poland in 1874 arrived in Scotland accompanied by their son Andrea Henry Stariski, born in Poland in 1896, before the First World War when there was an influx of Poles arriving in Scotland. They don't appear in the 1911 census. They lived in Beechwood Square, Auchinleck. John died in October 1953 at Ballochmyle Hospital, Mauchline. His usual address is given as 162 Main Street, Auchinleck. Karolina died at Mauchline (probably also Ballochmyle) in 1948.

Andrea was sometimes known as Henry or Andrew.

Their son Andrea married Agnes Murphy, whose grandfather Robert Murphy was born in Drumeul, County Antrim, Ireland in 1835. Her father Charles was born in 1860 in Glasgow. The 1851 census shows grandfather Robert Murphy living in Whitletts, Ayr with four siblings, all born in Ireland, and his father Patrick  However their mother is not recorded.  So did the Murphy family leave Ireland because the mother had died or to escape the Great Famine (Ireland) which was between the years 1845 and 1852?

Andrea and Agnes were married 30/4/1919 at St John's RCC Church, Old Cumnock.

Marriage Certificate: Henry Stanryki age 23yrs, coalminer, bachelor, Beechwood Square, Auchinleck, Father: John Staryski, coalminer Mother: Carolina Staryski ms Wozniak To Agnes Murphy age 18yrs, spinster, 27 Highhouse Rows, Auchinleck. Father: Charles Murphy, coalminer Mother: Nellie Murphy ms Milligan. Witnesses: Andrew Murphy and Margaret MacDonald.

Andrea and Agnes lived in the Highhouse Rows, Auchinleck.

           

                                                            Highhouse Rows, Auchinleck

Andrea and Agnes's children were Joseph born 18/4/1917 at 27 Highhouse, Auchinleck, Margaret born 1922 Auchinleck died 1998 Kilmarnock, Charles born 4/5/1927 Auchinleck died 1987 Auchinleck and John born 1928 Auchinleck.

Although both Andrea and Agnes were buried in Auchinleck, Andrea's usual residence at time of death was 4 Netherthird Road, Old Cumnock and Agnes died in Kilwinning.

Cumnock Connections - Family Tree (tribalpages.com)

Andrea and Agnes were buried with their respective families is Auchinleck Churchyard -

Lair ref: 463    ILMO Karolina Starzyska 19/11/1948 74, son Andrea 16/9/1965 69.

Lair ref: 661 - ER Charles Murphy 27/11/1941 82, ILMO wife Helen Milligan 1/12/1920 59, sons                                 Wallace and Hugh died in infancy, mother-in-law Margaret Milligan 22/11/1909 75,                                daughter Agnes Stariski 17/10/1966 66.

When Pennylands Camp was built in preparation for WW2 and the Camp filled up with prisoners and various army units, their son Johnny would spend a lot of time hanging around there with his friends after school looking for military souvenirs. When the Poles came Johnny was at an advantage. His father Andrea acted as an interpreter within the Camp and Johnny, whose grandmother Karolina only spoke Polish at home in Auchinleck, understood what they were saying. 

Read more about Johnny's interview here

Cumnock History Group - Pennylands Interviews

Johnny Stariski

In adulthood Johnny became a weightlifter and bodybuilder. He was only 5'4" but he developed a marvellous physique. He became a champion high-board diver and was regularly seen at Cumnock's open-air swimming pool practising his prize-winning high dives much to the amazement and delight of the spectators. 

                                       Cumnock Swimming Pool -  Cumnock Chronicle 1958

Johnny was a likeable character and he worked at the Barony Colliery where he was in charge of the powder magazine. He became a local legend when he did a handstand at the top of the Barony 'A' Frame.

The story goes that there were some men fitting a ladder with hooks on to the 'A' Frame when one of them froze and couldn't move. Johnny and another man climbed up to rescue him. Johnny knocked him out and they then managed to get him onto the platform which was still a considerable way up. Johnny then decided to do a handstand on the cross-beam. The fact that he was an experienced high-board diver probably explains his lack of fear of heights. 

Local poet Rab Wilson wrote a poem about his exploits and local singer/songwriter Sean Gray put music to it.

The Great Stariski            by Rab Wilson

The Great Stariski maks his entrance bow

Poised oan the Cross-beam o the vast 'A' Frame

He aiblins sees imaginary crowds

Gawpin at his daith-defyin stunts

Mair's a hunner feet up in the air

Bae spider's web o safety-net is strung

Tae sauf him frae unsocht oblivion.

The Great Stariski luiks tae aa the airts

Sic magick tricks depend upon their ritual

An curly bobs tae each pynt o the compass;

Tae the north, Ben Lomond's silhouette,

Tae the west, Goat Fell oan Arran's Isle,

Tae the east, ayont Muirkirk, Cairn Table,

Tae the south, Sweet Afton's bonny glen.

The Great Stariski birls and pirouettes,

Then, tae admirin glances frae ablow,

Syne gangs tapselteerie, heelstergoudie,

Stauns oan his haunds, disdainful o the risks,

An lauchs oot lood in life-affirmin joy

At aa thae wee black specks doun oan the grunnd.

The Great Stariski balanced oan his girder,

Seems tentless o his parlous circumstance;

Up her he's free, can rax an touch the heivins,

An feel the wuin an rain upon his face.

The Great Stariski levees athin the moment,

Taks in his queer inversion o the warld,

Syne wi some skeelie dancer's gratefu mien,

Lichtlies doun as saft as thistledown;

Dichts doun his stoorie, creashy overalls,

Sets at a jaunty skient his auld pit helmet,

Recoups his yirdlie equilibrium,

Descends the ladder - an's mortal since agane.

                                                               The Barony ‘A’ Frame 

The Great Stariski - Acoustic - YouTube

Johnny has now moved from Burnside Cottage, Barony Road, Auchinleck to a nursing home in Kilmarnock.