LifeStory: Recent Episodes
The Living Memory Association
Ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times tell their stories to The Living Memory Association. Stories from the 20th century of childhood, schooldays, work, play, courtship. Tales of joy and hardship from Edinburgh, Leith, Scotland and beyond.
Episode 54 of Lifestory takes us from the Punjab in the 1940s to 2020s Edinburgh in the company of married Sikh couple Akbal and Jagdish. We hear tales of facing racism at school, fighting for the right to wear a Turban on Lothian buses, becoming the first Sikh bus driver in Edinburgh, building successful businesses, raising a wonderful family and following traditions which have lasted thousands of years.
Thanks to Setuniman for the use of their music at freesound.org.
The 53rd episode of 'Lifestory' is an unreleased show from our audio archives, an interview with the wonderful Evelyn Whitfield who sadly left us on 18th December 2023. In this episode (at the age of 77) Evelyn tells us about growing up in Auchtermuchty, of her teaching career and a huge range of volunteering posts, from St Columba's Hospice to the RVS, Reading Newspapers for the blind and The Wee Museum of Memory.
Many thanks to Setuniman on Freesound.org for the use of their music.
In the 51st episode of Lifestory we are joined by the wonderful Margaret Ann Rutter in our Wee Museum studio. At the age of 80, Ann takes us through her family history via a rocky relationship with her Mother, vacations in Cornwall, teaching and lecturing in Edinburgh and a near death experience on the water, as well as everything in between!
Episode 52 of Lifestory sees us joined by the remarkable David Flucker, who is still volunteering for the St Columba's Hospice charity shop in Ocean Terminal at the wonderful age of 102 years old. David begins by taking us back in time to his childhood growing up in a family of fishermen and attending school in Newhaven in the 1920s and on to a wonderful series of adventures. We travel with David from Scotland to Australia, and later hear tales of standing up to racism in South Africa at the height of apartheid and being shot down over Egypt in the second world war. David only retired for the second time at 95 years old, and has packed an awful lot into those years!
In the 51st edition of Lifestory we are joined by regular Wee Museum visitor William Van Der Velde, who looks back on 78 years of life in Edinburgh. We travel back through his attending David Kilpatrick school up until the age of 14, reaching the ABA boxing finals at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanying Ken Buchanan on his rise to the world championship and a long working life at Scottish and Newcastle breweries despite not being a drinker!
In the 50th edition of Life Story, we are joined by Sophia. She takes us through stories from throughout her life, from growing up in Newhaven, to her father's gambling, to singing lessons in school and delivering mail and packages over college breaks. Eventually she tells of life working in Conveyance with the National Service and finally about her work after retirement with the Newhaven Heritage Society.
In the 49th edition of Lifestory, at the age of 86, Melvin takes us through the ups and downs of his life. Starting with his childhood playing on the train tracks in his back yard, to his time studying Engineering at Heriot-Watt University. Later his time in the national service, and eventually his life studying and then subsequently practicing law, first with his father's law firm and later with British Gas. Mel also tells the story of how he met his wife at the sailing club and about his life since retirement.
In the 48th edition of Lifestory at the age of 80 Alistair looks back on 40 years of working life with the store, from joining Alloa branch as a clerk at 15 to becoming Chief Executive of Borders Co-Op.
The 47th edition of The Living Memory Association's 'Lifestory' podcast sees 85 year old historian Andrew Grant looking back on his working life in the 1960s after he had returned from time spent on the ocean waves. Taking us from the Royal Infirmary to record shops and driving Globe Juice bottles around in search of a daily wage!
The 46th edition of our Lifestory podcast features the colourful life of Stuart Roy McIvor, who spent 30 years in the Metropolitan Police and 5 years as a City Councillor in Edinburgh for the SNP. At the age of 78 with a great appreciation of the where he is now, Stuart looks back on a life packed to the full with both sunshine and shadow.
Episode 45 of The THELMA Lifestory podcast introduces us to David and Hilary Thomson, happily married for 55 years in September 2022. We hear tales of growing up in Portobello and Ratho in the 1950s & 60 and of a romance born on the badminton court! Packed with great stories of a full life, working hard at business and family with a lot of laughter along the way.
Born in Hackney in 1954, Martin Penny grew up in King’s Lynn and then moved to Enfield. His father was a successful businessman who sold feather dusters then moved into selling packaged butter, taking the family from no central heating into a house with all mod cons, from proper East End to privileged.
We follow Martin's journey from throwing objects at passers by from the safety of a silver birch tree in his back garden to a successful career in radio, TV and management consultancy, Martin takes us through a laid back life filled with laughter. With celebrity guest cameo appearances in Martin’s life from Mark Nopfler, Frankie Howard, Clint Eastwood and Jim Carrey!
Our dear friend Tommy Carson sadly passed away in June 2022. He was 99 years old and an absolute force of nature. This is a short podcast where he goes through his eight tips for a good life. All practical suggestions from a man who remained active and living independently right until the end of his life. One thing shines through though, his positivity. A lesson to us all. Also never take life too seriously. Tommy you were a star.
Born in 1949, David Franks takes us on a reminiscence journey packed with stories from growing up in Jarrow and Hebburn all the way through to retirement in Glasgow. David's adventures take him from Junior School to Newcastle University, from audit assistant to partner in Price Waterhouse, with many twists, turns and laughs along the way.
Former manager of Meadowbank Thistle, Stenhousemuir and Alloa Athletic and head teacher of Ainslie Park and Musselburgh Grammar, Terry Christie has packed an awful lot into his 78 years. Moving from Ireland to Edinburgh at a young age, Terry's love for football was born in the streets with a tennis ball and in going to watch Gordon Smith play for his beloved Hibs with his Mum and brother. We hear of Sunday fry ups after church, winning football trophies at Primary School, becoming DUX of Holy Cross secondary and attending Edinburgh University, following a path to education whilst building a parallel career on the pitch. Terry was scouted and signed by Dundee but always knew that he would be a teacher. We hear tales of juggling the classroom and a football career for 43 years, whilst pulling off countless shocks and triumphs on a shoestring budget, of a happy retirement and a great love of family life. Back in time we go...
In the second part of our conversation about living with dementia, with Otto still listening and making his presence heard, May talks about the loss of communication with Douglas and how she felt they had lost much of the laughter in their lives. As Douglas lost interest in many of the things he had loved doing, the day-to-day routine dominated and May's own health did suffer. May movingly describes how Douglas's death was not so distressing for her, as the man she loved had already disappeared. His funeral, held when there were limits on numbers due to Covid, was only the family, who had been with him and cared for him during his dementia journey and May feels that was right for Douglas and for her. Although May's grief about Douglas's death is fresh, she is also grieving about the last years they had together. May also comments that the condition runs in Douglas's family as two of his brothers as well as his mother, also had dementia .As there is an increased risk of inheritance with Alzheimer's this is something that may affect their children in the future. A point about which May feels strongly, is that families should be helped to understand the diagnosis and its implications, to enable them to be able to support their partner or parent living with dementia. There is no doubt that May's story will resonate with others who may have experienced, or be experiencing, similar circumstances and emotions
Douglas Barbour and his wife May lived with Douglas's Alzheimer's Dementia for many years .In this podcast May describes noticing early changes in Douglas's memory and how these changes affected their lives .May's background in nursing as well as volunteering at the local day centre meant she had a bit of experience ,knowledge and some insight into the challenge that faced them. Her primary concern was always to protect him and this need to protect also extended to their family, which meant that May was quite reluctant to make use of other support services. With hindsight she feels that she didn't handle things as well as she could have. When Douglas did start going to and enjoying visits to the day centre Mays first reaction was to feel resentful and jealous his happy smile going off in the bus was a reminder of how Douglas used to be. Perhaps this is not an uncommon reaction but it was hard to admit. Living with Dementia for so many years affected their health and well -being however having a family dog continued to be very important for everyone in the family particularly Douglas and May and the current Labrador Otto misses Douglas a lot. He joined us sitting at May's feet, contributing to our conversation with a couple of barks and wagging of his tail against the table leg.
Andrew Grant decided at the age of 15 that he would like to join the Merchant Navy He did the deck apprentice course at Leith Nautical College and after applying to several shipping companies got a job with Shell Tankers. His first voyage took him to the Carribean then he was off to the Middle East in fact he saw the whole of the World apart from the Antartic during his career. We hear how he rose through the ranks from deck apprentice to first mate.We hear what tasks he had to do as he progressed from cleaning the ship to overall responsibilty of the ship. He met his wife Molly at the dancing and courting at a distance wasn't easy The only way to communicate was by letter sent and received on board ship when in port. Andrew moved shipping companies several times but came to the decisioin to change career and became a Geography teacher. The perfect job for a well travelled man.
Robert Hume Patterson is 100 years old and has amazing memories of growing up and working in Portobello. He takes us on a tour of the different streets Bridge St, Tower St, Pipe St to name but a few and we hear what happened to them with with the passing of time. We get to hear about different characters who lived in Portobello including Ned Barnie who was the first Scot and oldest person to swim the English Chanel. He remembers the Glaswegians who holidayed in Portobello during the Glasgow Fair. After leaving the Army he worked in Portobello Power Station for 40 years and he has lots of interesting facts about the Power Station and its connection with the Outdoor Swimming Pool
May Hoare was born in Malawi on the 24th May 1935.Her Father had an engineering business in Malawi and May lived with her older sister and parents in a house that had been built especially for them. May takes us a tour of the house and the large garden that were maintained by several servants. Holidays were spent on the Zomba plateau or swimming at Lake Nyasa. We hear of the school aeroplane which was the safe way for the sisters to travel to school in Rhodesia. We also hear of the flying boat that took the family from Southampton to Malawi via Italy, the Nile and Lake Victoria.
In this episode we meet Robert Hume Patterson who was brought up in Portobello in the 1920s & 30s.He was the youngest of 4 children and they lived at no 4 Bridge Street with their Mother and Father. We hear how he nearly drowned at the age of 3 only being saved as he was wearing his wee red coat and how he continued to be accident prone He and his friends had a lot of freedom and they explored their area from The Marine Gardens to Joppa and Musselburgh. After leaving school at the age of 14 he had various jobs before joining the Army and it's whilst he's in the Army that there's another accident involving a milk wagon when he ends up in hospital yet again
Margaret Laird who was born in 1948 tells us about growing up in Corstorphine in the 1950s and 60s Her father opened a large Ironmongers on St Johns Road and it was there that he met Margarets Mother. Margaret had two brothers who attended Heriots but she was sent to Mary Erskines where the headmistress Miss Jennings was feared by the pupils and teachers alike. We get to hear what Margaret did to incur Miss Jennings wrath. We then get to hear what Margaret does after leaving school
In this episode Tommy Carson takes us out dancing. Its 1935and Tommy who is 13 years old puts on his Dads flannels and heads out to Dalgleish Dance Hall on St Mary's Street Edinburgh. This is the first time he's ever gone to the dancing and he copies how the older dancers move and hold themselves. He loves it and not only that he's good at it. From then on Tommy goes dancing every night and some afternoons. We get to hear of all the dance halls in Edinburgh that he could go to. Being in the army didn't stop him He visited dance halls in Manchester, and Liverpool
The episode starts at the end of the War and VE day with bonfires and singing in the streets. Then we hear of attempting to camouflage the Power Station difficult when the chimney was 60ft high and barrage floating in the sky over Woods Park. Then James goes back to his life in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. Looking after the Commanding Chief of Portsmouth and meeting the stars of the day in the British Legion
In this episode James Yorkston Reminisces about his school days at Tower Bank and Portobello High He enjoyed school but wasn't averse to skipping .If caught the punishment varied. It could be lines, kept in after school or being hit with bend and over his teacher Mr Walls 2 rulers. This didn't stop James from admiring Mr Walls and thinking he was a good teacher. He played for the school and enjoyed school camps in Humbie.
In this episode we revisit James Yorkston and his memories of growing up in the Portobello area in the 1940s and 50s Sadly James is no longer with us but what comes across is just how much he enjoyed life when he was here. He makes it all sound like great fun hearing the air sirens and watching the lights from his window as the planes tried to bomb the Forth Bridge and the Power Station. He had the freedom of the beach and the outdoor pool which had waves a raft and a 36 foot diving board. He had lots of friends and a large family around him. It was a time when everyone knew each other and there was a real sense of Community. Then he joined the Navy and got paid to see the world. As James says it was the best time of his life
Margaret McGuire had an interest in antiques from an early age. She started doing antique fairs at the Assembly rooms George Street with her husband. Working from one table she sold silver, china and jewellery. Whilst doing this she made several contacts with other people in the trade and ended up opening a shop in Causewayside with a colleague who sold furniture .This was an unsuccessful venture as all her jewellery was stolen. She left the shop after only 6 months and went back to doing Fairs in Edinburgh ,Glasgow, Stirling and Harrogate After a while she started working alongside Kenneth Bruce in a shop in St Stephen Street although working together they had separate businesses and this was very successful for the next 18 years. She remembers. this time as being great fun. We hear of the ' unsuitables' who they sent off to the Pawn shop, working at the Grassmarket fair during the Edinburgh Festival, buying trips to France and much much more
John Thomson (a volunteer in the wee Museum of Memory) takes us back in time to when he was 16 years old He was working and with money in his pocket he liked to go out and have fun. His favourite place was the Murrayfield Ice Rink where he went three nights a week. John was a mod and we find out what he wore, where he bought his clothes and where he got his hair cut. When John was 18 he and his group of friends rode around on their Lambrettas visiting the different Dance clubs in Edinburgh such as the Top Storey, the Gamp, McGoos, the International to name but a few. He managed to dance until 2am but still be at his work for 5am Then we're back at the ice rink where in the early 1970s John meets his future wife Linda and the Lambretta makes way for a Fred Flintstone mini
John Thomson was born in 1947 and grew up in the Royston Mains area of Edinburgh He says his childhood was like many others but he had an illegal Bookie for a Grandfather ,a Granny who took him cinder collecting on the railway tracks and Uncles who took him on deliveries on their horse and carts .Once he left Ainslie Park School at the age of 15 his varied working life began. It was a time when jobs were plentiful If you didn't like a job you could leave and get another job on the same day. We hear about working in Mitchells Saw Mill ,The Co-op ,FAG Barings, Bond 9 to name but a few John had 10 jobs before starting work at the Brewery. We hear of the long hours worked but also of the fun and tricks he and his work mates played on each other
Tommy Carson was brought up in the Grassmarket in the 1920s and he paints a very colourful picture of life at that time. It was a time of great poverty poor housing and living conditions no work or apprenticeships .He had an unemployed Father who spent his time in the pub and a hardworking Mother who had four or five cleaning jobs to keep the family together leaving Tommy and his sister to fend for themselves. In this episode we hear of Tommy's school days attending St Ignatius school and the games he and the other children played in the street. We also get to meet some of the characters he knew such as Monkey Mary and her barrel organ, Tony Dimambro and his ice cream van and a Frenchman with a bear who came into the Grassmarket from Corstorphine
The 23rd edition of The Living Memory Association's 'Lifestory' podcast is a journey through life and football with Chelsea legend Pat Nevin. Pat takes us from growing up in Easterhouse and Barlanark in Glasgow to playing for Clyde whilst still at University, his transfer to the big smoke and quick promotion to the Chelsea first team and his dedication to the craft of being excellent at the beautiful game despite loving music more than football. We discuss playing for the joy of it at Everton, Kilmarnock and Motherwell and making lifelong friendships at those clubs with players who share that appreciation of being on the pitch and being paid for it. A glimpse into the life and thoughts of a maverick footballer, writer and broadcaster, Pat Nevin is one of a kind.
Born in Orkney on 30th March 1961 Merv spent his childhood on Sanday, a small outer island. We hear tales of his childhood, schooldays and his many jobs as a boy, including fishing for lobster, crab, white fish and spoots! There's the culture shock of moving to Edinburgh to study as a vet and then running a vet practice in Aberdeenshire for over 30 years, specialising in horses. Great stories from a consummate storyteller.
This an edited version of a program originally broadcast on Thelma FM.
Neta Percy(80) and Bill Garden (86) are regular visitors to The Wee Museum of Memory and this chat with them was recorded in 2019. We hear about the Coop at Northfield, the shops at Meadowbank, including the Italian ice cream shop and shopping in Marchmont. We move on to knitting and a hated Fairisle hat that just wouldn't go away. There's tales of getting a row for wearing wellies to school, daily milk deliveries and what you wore to work in the 1940s and 50s. Two old friends having a great wee blether.
Frederick talks about his father, Walter Jamieson who spent most of his working life at sea- the Merchant Navy, fisheries protection and on whaling ships with Salvesen. We hear tales of his Leith granny, his own childhood and working life. From training as a cooper to working as a lorry driver. Also the heady days of being a young man in the late 1950s and early 60s. Driving a black Ford Zephyr and seeing Chubby Checker at the Top Storey Club.
Keith Jeffery grew up in Portobello in the 1960s and 70s. On leaving school he trained as a butcher and worked for MacSweens. In the late 1970s he was bitten by the CB (Citizen Band) radio bug. He saved up for a set and aerial, bought from a CB radio supplier at Fountainbridge. He tells about the technology of the time, the terms used talking with fellow CB enthusiast and joining a CB convoy travelling in from Fife. Very CW McCall. We also learn how far a CB radio signal could travel when the atmosphere was right. A fascinating glimpse into a very popular hobby of the 1970s and 80s.
The final part of John's memories of playing in pop and rock bands in Edinburgh in the 1960s. This time round its a mammoth five hour gig at The Assembly Rooms in George Street. Playing with The Saracens at The Top Storey club. The joys of hauling all that equipment about. Seeing The Small Faces and The Troggs at McGoo's. There's also Alan Price's unusual back stage warm up routine. Great stories of Rock and Roll with the back stage realities that go with them.
Part two of John's behind the scenes adventures in Edinburgh's live music scene in the 1960s. We hear about the joys and pitfalls of being on stage and travelling to gigs. Watching fights break out in the audience. More about the venues, The Gamp, The Top Storey and The Gonk. Seeing the up and coming bands of the day such as The Mersey Beats and Johnny Kidd and the pirates. Another evocative glimpse into the vibrant pop and rock world in Edinburgh over 50 years ago.
John Robertson was born in in 1945 and taught himself to play the guitar as a boy. He caught the bug for Rock and Roll when on a family holiday in Shetland in 1957- they were playing Little Richard in a local fair ground. Back in Edinburgh, at the age 17, he joined the band, The Saracens, he later went on to join The Moonrakers. Here he talks about the Edinburgh music venues, the local bands; The Crusaders, The Embers, Free Flight and The Hipple People. What it was like to be a support band for The Spencer Davis Group, The Batchelors and The Who. A real in sight into the live music scene in Edinburgh in the 1960s. This is part one of a three part series.
Another Excursion to the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh in the 1920s and 30s. Once again our guide is Tommy Carson. Tommy was born in 1922 and lived in the Grassmarket until he joined the army in 1939. He retains an amazing recall of his childhood and early years. Here he gives us a more detailed memories of the shops and businesses and pubs around the Grassmarket. We hear about the buskers, singers and strongmen who plied their trade on the streets. Memories from so far back that are so clearly and evocatively remembered.
Andrew Grant is back in the studio. Previously he has done two episodes of Leith in World War One on our Leith Lives channel This time its a more personal story. One of the great long distance walks in Europe is the Camino De Santiago pilgrimage path. Andrew relates his journey along the route with his wife, from St. Jean-Pied-De-Port to Santiago. Done in two parts we learn of the trials and tribulations of long distance walking, hear of the characters, from all over the world, they meet on the way. The ever changing landscape, flora and fauna and the towns and villages. The variety of food and drink from the different regions of France and Spain. If you want some inspiration to try this long distance route Andrew gives some top tips for planning and preparing for the journey
Part two of memories from Jean Duncan and we take up the story with Jean, aged 14, leaving school to start work in the book binders. A job so boring she starts reading the books. Then its catering college and learning to cook for four people and the realities of working in a school kitchen and frying 3000 spam fritters in a morning. Plenty of laughs and stories of life in the 1960s and 70s.
Jean recalls growing up in the 1950s and 60s in Glasgow. One of a family of nine life was not always easy. We hear about eking out the weekly meals with bread, going for the daily 'messages' and shopping at the Barras and Paddy's market. Playing on the street, in a graveyard but rarely in the back green. Her father singing in a big band and her mother being a tailoress. Then there is living in Gorbals, Govan and Castlemilk. Evocative, honest and clear memories of a changing Glasgow. (Barras photo: John J Brady- from the excellent website Flashbak.)
The 12th edition of Lifestory sees us joined by impressario and entrepreneur Henry Spurway, a man with a mountain of stories to tell having managed Billy Connolly on his first tour of Scotland as well as working with Chic Murray and Dusty Springfield and being heavily involved in the development of the gambling industry in the UK. Henry takes us from his early days in Nunraw, East Lothian to running The Rainbow Room and The Elmtree Inn, to fronting high end casinos and betting shops. With court cases and stars galore, Henry's life is packed to the brim with adventures from the 1960s to the present day.
The 11th Edition of The Living Memory Association Lifestory podcast sees us joined by Derek and Iain, who have been best friends for over 65 years. Bonded together by a shared love of Elvis, rugby and laughter, the two pals take us through their early years in Abbeyhill and the South Side of Edinburgh, then on to growing up in Portobello during the 50s and 60s. From going to school at Towerbank Primary by the sea and playing football for the big team, to Porty High School and a new world of rugby, and on into the mysterious world of work. Packed with a lot of laughs and tales of Brylcreem at the baths, paying a penny for peas and vinegar, getting chased by the parkie and drinking Coke at Arcari's cafe, this is a lovely snapshot of friendship and growing up in swinging times.
The 11th edition of 'Lifestory' is centred around the wonderful Jackie Dennis, Scotland's first ever pop star, who rocketed to fame in 1958 at the tender age of 15. Known as 'The Lilt With the Kilt' and 'The Golden Kid', Jackie signed a huge £50000 deal, hitting the charts with 'La Dee Dah' and 'The Purple People Eater' and rubbing shoulders with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior, Buddy Holly, Dusty Springfield and many more in a short but glittering showbiz career. Jackie takes us back to those crazy days in conversation with Jack Gillon and David McLean.
In the concluding part of our journey through Mickey's life we discuss the end of his time at Luton Town, a return to his beloved Hibees, training with John Collins and Steve Archibald, struggling with debilitating back injuries and the famous League Cup win over Dunfermline in 1991. We cover his time at Millwall, emotional relegation battles at Motherwell, coaching the youth teams at Fir Park, entering management with Keith Wright and finish back where it all started, with Mickey standing on the terraces with his son to cheer Hibs on to their long awaited Scottish Cup triumph in 2016.
In the 9th and 10th editions of Lifestory we are joined by Easter Road hero Mickey Weir, who was part of the triumphant Hibs League Cup winning team of 1991. This first episode takes us through Mickey growing up in Granton, West Pilton and Clermiston and up to his first spell at Hibernian. We hear tales of of meeting up with his Dad and Grandad in the Do'Cot pub before going to watch the Hibees (getting thrown over the gate), doing a turn at New Year and living on soup, bread and tripe. Of 20-a-side matches in the park, going to the Triangle Club, day trips to Peebles and Burntisland, school days and inspirational coaches at St Augustines. Mickey also goes into playing for Porty Thistle, being signed by Hibs and his early days as an apprentice, getting into the first team and the sad circumstances that led him to temporarily leave the club.
Tommy Carson was born in 1922 and raised in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh. Tommy is a real force of nature and is still very active in the community. His memory is detailed and his stories vividly recalled. He talks about childhood, school days, playing on the streets around the Grassmarket and Scots- Irish Day. We hear about the businesses in area, the lodging house for the homeless and the Palladium Theatre where he entered a talent show and met Johnny Victory. We finish with working as a page boy at the North British Hotel and then in 1939 taking the King's Shilling and joining the Black Watch. He paints an evocative picture. Not least in the amazing recollection of watching police and miners fighting in the West Bow during the General Strike of 1926. Its not a view of the past through rose tinted glasses. He talks honestly about poverty and how his mother struggled to make ends meet.
James Yorkston was born in November 1934 and was brought up at 19 Mitchell Buildings. Long gone - the site is now occupied by Aldi supermarket. We hear tales of Portobello's magnificent outdoor pool, the town being mobbed during the Glasgow fortnight and renting out the family flat to a Glasgow family during those two weeks for extra money. Police on the beat, helping out with the beach ponies, making guiders (go-carts) and delivering the milk for Dumfries Dairies before school with Teddy the Cyldesdale horse pulling the cart. We learn that there were 13 pubs in Portobello and you could go out with a 'dollar' in your pocket and have a good swally. We finish with James working at the Woolmet Colliery and then joining the Navy to begin a 12 years career at sea.
(Portobello Pool photo courtesy of City of Edinburgh's Capital Collections.)
Jean Bell was interviewed in 2011 about some of her experiences of being a dresser and 'call boy' in the Kings and Playhouse Theatres in Edinburgh in the 1950s and 1980s. Its a wonderful glimpse of a world most of us know nothing about. From helping Hercules the Bear up the stairs at the Playhouse, dealing with a well endowed female dancer, giving theatre calls in French to borrowing elegant white gloves from Zena Dare - a performer who made her stage debut in 1899. A host of stars make an appearance, some remembered, some long forgotten: Stanley Baxter, Harry Gordon, Molly Urquhart, Bill McCue, Millicent Cooper and Milton Woodward. Oh yes and why was a female called a 'call boy'? Think about it!
The McCaughie family interview granny in 2008. Son John and grand daughters Clare and Shona interview Mary about her up bringing in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh in the 1930s. Its round the kitchen table, tea and biscuits are in evidence! We hear about school days, getting the belt at the age of seven, being chased by Tanker Belly the local Policeman. Mid week dancing at the Palais, going to the pictures and the shows at Portobello. Oh yes and the time she thought she'd met Frankenstein in the stairwell! Great stories and lovely atmosphere.
Maureen Sweeney, nee Noble, was born in Leith in the late 1940s. She talks here of the milk bars and cafe of her youth. Chip shops in Leith. Taking broken biscuits and buckies (winkles) into the pictures. Late night cinemas and catching the bus in Duke Street, Leith to go dancing at Portobello Town Hall. Evocative memories from the 1950s and 60s. Interview conducted by Donna Mackie.
Ena Munro was brought in the Fort William area and came to Edinburgh in 1949 aged 18 years to train at Leith Hospital as a nurse. She talks about the hospitals in Edinburgh at the time, a year as a midwife at Elsie Ingles and nursing in the community. She returned to Leith Hospital in the early 1950s to work as a staff nurse on a surgical ward. She remained here until her retirement in the mid 1980s. Fascinating stories of an army trained matron at Leith Hospital, home births at Greenside and cooking boiled eggs on the ward for the patients' tea. Its always good to be reminded of how precious and important our Health Service is and how it is such an important part of our lives.
Audrey Soutar was born in 1933. She lived for many years in her family home on Leith Walk. In this interview she takes us through paying for the doctor, home remedies, her time working as a dental nurse and at a herbalist. From having croup as a baby, to witnessing total teeth extraction at the dentist and the drunken results of making fortified wine at the herbalist. A vivid collection of memories from the 1940s and 1950s in Edinburgh and Leith.
Arthur and Pat met learning to dance at the Edina Dance School. They immediately click as dance partners with a mutual love of the new phenomenon Rock and Roll. They went from demonstrating this new dance craze to competitions- they were the 5th best in Britain in The nationwide Palais de Danse contest of 1957. The even appeared dancing on STV. This interview was done the week of their 60th wedding anniversay, they arte still hitting the dance floor at 80 and 87 years old.