A Dundee-born woman has told of her “emotional” journey to find photos of her dad, who died in a forklift accident when she was a baby.
Growing up, Paula Knox knew very little about her father, Ian McGowan, who died at the age of just 22 at the former William Watson Ltd dye works in Pitkerro Road.
Now aged 46 and with three children of her own, Paula has started to put together the pieces of his life.
Paula said: “The bit that’s really missing is a photo of him.
“I get emotional thinking that I’m 46 and I barely know what my own dad looks like.
“I was 15 months old when he died, so I don’t remember him, and when I was aged four my mum moved us to Livingston and remarried.
“My dad was never talked about at home. All I knew is that he had died.”
When Paula was 16, she started to ask questions and travelled to Dundee to make contact with her grandparents in Fintry, with whom she had lost touch.
But the trauma proved too much and she decided to focus on finishing college.
When Paula was 22, her mum died. “Growing up without my biological dad was really hard,” Paula said.
“Then, when I was finally at an age where I felt ready to know more, my mum was taken from me.
“I managed to find my dad’s brother Kevin, who helped me to find a birth and death certificate, as well as the grave. But he’s elderly now and doesn’t remember much.
“Then the Wellgate Library gave me a cutting of a newspaper article that reported my dad’s death. There’s a small photo, which is very blurry. If anyone out there knew my dad or happens to have photos, I’d love them to get in touch — it’s been an emotional rollercoaster.”
Ian McGowan was born on June 2 1947 to Agnes and John McGowan, and grew up in Whitfield, attending Linlathen High School.
He married Mary (nee) Watt in November 1965 and the family moved to 88 Drumlanrig Drive in Mid Craigie. Ian died on April 20 1970.
A newspaper article published shortly after his death read: “A young Dundee married man was fatally injured in a works accident yesterday.
“He was Mr Ian McGowan (22). While driving a forklift truck in a bleach works at Pitkerro Road the truck overturned and Mr McGowan was severely injured.
“He was taken to the Royal Infirmary, but he died from his injuries.”