Childhood

I came back from America aged about seven and lay in bed, barely containing myself, for the decorated tram which would come along Perth Road. An open topped tram with Santa Claus driving it, decorated with holly. It was magical. I had remembered it from before I went away aged about four and here it was again? A decorated tram on the single track outside our house in Springfield. It was part of the joy of Christmas and Santa Claus. There were no trams in America.

Seeing all these stories about Dundee trams, etc. Around 1946/47 (when I was about 8) I was knocked down by a tram close to the Blackness School. I was unconscious to start but awoke to find a naval officer carrying me into the school. Mother was called and took me home and put me to bed, but shortly after, the polis arrived and carted me off to the D.R.I. (hospital) in a Wolseley police car. I had a large bump on my head where I had hit the cobbles. Read more......

So many memories of Dundee in the sixties ... being a teenager at that time was brilliant ... going to the Marryat on a Saturday night was the highlight of the week. Dancing to the likes of the Beatles, The Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans and many more - then leaving there to stand and blether to your pals before getting the last bus home along the Perth Road because if I wasn't home on the last bus then woe betide me because my father would be waiting for me and I would get a lecture that would last for 15 minutes or more. Even before that I remember my grandma taking me to nearly every picture house in the town. The first one being the Wizard of Oz at the La Scala then going home on the tram. Oh how I loved the journey along past the Seabraes where I could look across the water - great days that stick in your mind forever. Read more......

My mother Sarah Scott Reilly, (maiden name) won a medal in the 1936 Dundee to Perth walk, she won a medal presented to her by the Daily Record, it says to the S.W.A.A. Woman's C C Championship won by ... and the date 1936. My mother died in November 2007 and I have just visited in her memory and I just wondered if there was anyone who new anymore about it for our family records. My mum was also known as Cissie.

My memories of Dundee are many happy ones, I am trying to write a book of them at the moment. The book will be called memories of Dundee. I fondly remember my childhood there on holidays from Edinburgh, my mother was from Dundee. I remember going on the bus to Broughty Ferry, the fare was one penny from Douglas, down to Swannie Pond we went with our fishing nets, excitedly running to see who could catch the first fish. My brother tripped over and went head first in net and all.

I lived in a close in Bernard Street in 1958 to 1960. I went to Hawkhill School and my mum worked in a wood shed over the backs. I worked for them on a Saturday selling bunches of kindling. I was only ten at the time. We also had an air raid shelter in the close which we all used to play in and make fires in. Health and safety eat your heart out. I remember we had a street party in 1959 or 60 but can't remember what it was for. We then moved to Menzieshill farm which was taken over for the hospital and housing estate. I have a lot of very happy memories of living in Dundee.