Stobswell

I first lived at 21 Kinloch Street at the foot of the Law Hill. An old tenement with 1 bedroom and kitchen/front room. The coalman used to come in and dump the bag of coal in the space under the wooden draining board. We moved to Findcastle Street in 1953 and we thought it was great, a new house and a garden. I went to St. Vincent's infants and primary school. It was a long walk to school. Then on to St. Michael's in Graham Street, we got a penny transfer for 2 buses. Used to go the Marryat (near Caird Hall) and the Palais to see all the bands. Read more......

Grew up in St.Mary's during the 60s. I especially remember the visits to the grannies house above the Windsor Bar for Sunday dinner. After dinner the adults listened to Stranger on the Shore and me and my wee sister watched the people and traffic on Princess Street from the sitting room window.

As I sat on my dad’s knee
Many stories he told me
They were always of the same wee thing
Everyone different, made my heart sing. Read more......

Arbroath RoadAs a little girl I lived in Morgan Street. I would play in the Ritz Picture House doorway with my doll Maureen at (housies). Also Cardean Street with a ball in old stockings “under leggy” or throw the ball jump over it saying boys or girls names in the alphabet. Doll in pram walk to Baxter’s Park. Sit on steps in front of pavilion with Maureen (housies) again. Great imagination! Not like today kids all computers and phone games.

I also went to Jean Pringle at the foot of King Street  - I think round about  
1960. Linda Penman who lived in Albert Street also went there and a girl  
called Ria or Lea who was from Charleston Dundee. I absolutely loved it. Jean  
looked every inch a ballet dancer and my weekly lesson couldn't come quick  
enough for me. Hopefully I will hear a bit more from some other pupils from  
that time.

The recent death of Dundee folk singer, Jim Reid, raised in the Stobswell area of the city, brought out a few references to his song " The Stobbie Parliament Picnic".

The Stobbie Parliament were the old men who sat on a long bench just above Ogilvie church in the early years of the 20th century. They sat and blethered and, as the name suggests, set the world to right. Read more......

My grandfather's unmarried sister, Georgina Scott lived in Eden Street for many years and her parents before her. She died in approximately 1960. Our family stayed with her for a holiday a few years before she died. My sister can remember a bed in the living room. I remember the man in the corner shop could smoke his cigarette backwards i.e. with the lit end in his mouth.

Going to school (Morgan Academy) from the Blackness terminus - a penny (old money) transfer all the way - punched by the second conductor. When I got back to the terminus I used to push the seats back so that they were the correct way round for the next journey.

I was born in 1923 and brought up in Dallfield Walk and attended Rosebank Primary School, then on to Stobswell, leaving there at 14 years of age.

I worked in a grocery shop for a spell as a message boy and assistant then left to join my brother in the CWS jute factory, weaving department in Arbroath Road as Assistant Yarn Dresser, eventually becoming qualified in charge at a machine. Read more......