User:Teletoonmaniac/Hamilton family (River City)

The Hamilton family is a long running family in the BBC Scotland soap opera River City. They have been on the show the first episode on 24 September 2002, and have been involved in many memorable moments. Family members that are currently in the show include Malcolm, Gina, and Eileen.

The Conways
Captain Kip McMichaels, a passionate, rebellious sea captain sailed many a boat in and out of the Clyde. His favourite drinking spot was The Tall Ship and, upstairs, he enjoyed the company of many a scarlet woman.

Wayward sea captain McMichaels was tamed when he fell in love with Kara Conway, heiress of Conway Spices. He literally swept Kara off her feet. Kara’s father, Thomas Conway, the rich and ruthless business trader, was outraged. He wanted a suitable heir to his empire and Kip McMichaels was nothing more than a vagabond seaman who didn’t deserve his military rank.

Captain Kip McMichaels was a determined man and attempted to elope with Kara in the still of the night. Thomas Conway had other ideas. Brandishing a pistol - and his mind drenched in whisky - Conway blocked the lovers’ path. Kip refused to surrender Kara and a row broke out. Thomas Conway mercilessly shot McMichaels dead. Kara never forgave her father – she was pregnant with Kip’s son.

Soon after, Kara Conway gave birth to a beautiful boy. A generation later, Rose was born.It’s no coincidence that the Conway coat of arms carries a rose, the symbol of beauty and grace.

The ghost of Kip McMichaels is said to roam Shieldinch, weeping for his lost love Kara.

Thomas Conway died shortly after in 1901, his heart broken by an unforgiving daughter.

Years later, Malcolm Hamilton kissed Rose for the first time at the wash house. She caught his eye at a dance hosted by Conway Spices - it was the culmination of a long courtship.

Malcolm married Gina and Eileen's mother Rose in his early twenties. He remained devoted throughout their happy marriage and he is rightfully proud of the family they brought up.

Poor old Malcolm had spent a small fortune buying her tea in The Oyster and fresh cream cakes from the bakery – now Montego Deli.

The Hamiltons
Gina has lived in Shieldinch for most of her life. She had her first baby, Ruth, in her early twenties after falling pregnant on the cruise ship where she was a singer. Gina was a single parent until she met Italian Franco, the love of her life. Franco took on Gina and Ruth and soon the couple had Joanne. Life was sweet and the Oyster Café was a thriving family business. Gina was widowed young when Franco tragically died in his thirties. She threw herself into bringing up the girls and running the cafe alone. Younger sister Eileen's first marriage to Raymond was not a happy one but it did result in her two children, Brian and Kirsty.

2002-
River City begins on 24 September 2002 with the wedding of Eileen and Tommy Donachie, who then owned the local public house, The Tall Ship, with their respective families celebrating coming together. However, Raymond turned up on their wedding day and it became apparent that he was unhappy, as was Eileen's old flame Lewis Cope, who also turned up on in Shieldinch. Gina Rossi's daughter Joanne had an affair with her sister's Ruth's partner, Cormac, with him making an enemy of Lewis as well as many others. Eileen eventually had a sordid affair with Lewis, which marked the end of her marriage to Tommy. Next came the controversial relationship of an underage Kirsty Henderson with Russ, which made father Raymond livid. Joanne fell for Nazir Malik, which led to nothing but heartache.

Joanne found out over Christmas that she was having Nazir's baby. Jo was convinced that Naz would stand by her, but Naz shattered her illusions with a proposal- he would pay for an abortion. Jo told Ruth of Nazir's claim that she would be an unfit mother, so Ruth confronted him. Naz apologised to Jo, but told her once more that she would not be able to cope with a baby. Gina encouraged a horrifed Jo to seriously consider an abortion. Gina threatened to tell Naz's parents the news of Jo's pregnancy. A family crisis cropped up, and the Maliks had to go to Bradford. Jo accidentally told her auntie Eileen, and Ruth was incensed that the Maliks had not been informed of the pregnancy yet. Eileen's estranged husband Tommy was knocked dead by the 'Shieldinch Strangler' in 2003 who attacked many residents over a length of time, leading them all to fear their lives.