Reminiscences - Areas of Dundee

I was born in 1946 brought up in City Road (the roadie) as we called it. I went to Blackness Primary school the Logie Secondary, I was in the netball and swimming teams in both schools. I remember the old baths when there were 3 pools.

Childhood memory of my mum taking my brother and myself down the Old Overgate to the pea buster stall then over to Greenhill for our Saspirilla (Black Sass). Read more......

I was born 1949 lived in Derby Street then moved to 7 Dallfield Walk when I was 4. We then moved to Kirkton when I was10 but great memories from Dallfield Walk was at Rosebank School....great times.

I was born in Maryfield  Hospital in 1950 and lived  in Buchanan Street until we got moved to Douglas in 1953. I went to St Vincent school until age 7 when a new school St Pius was built opposite my house  in Balmerino Road. I used to love going to the baths on Saturday morning one week and the Gaumont on another, I used to love going through the Arcade under the  Caird Hall and see the roast chicken turning on the spit. It made me feel really hungry.

My memories of staying in the beautiful city and delightful Broughty Ferry now need a kick start....
 
Stayed at Tayview Guest House, believed to be in St Vincent Street just around the corner from the welcoming Sliding Tackle pub (our adopted local).

Worked in Main Road adjacent to the Timex factory upgrading electricity cables and jointing, at the time of Tay Bridge construction. A gang of seven, we made several friends, among them a crowd who claimed to be known as the "Dundee Bums".
 Read more......

I've just read about Nighebhoy on his way to school. The shop opposite Rosefield Street was called the Gift Shop and was Arthur Spinks mum's shop, the well known Dundee accordion player, he was boyhood pal of mine and I can still hear  his mum shouting 'Arthur, time to practice'.

Came from Wellington Street went to St Mary's Forebank school with my two brothers Jimmy and John and my sister Anna, was there from 1945 to 1953. The Marist brothers playes a large part in my life. My very good friend John Markie and myself played for the school football taem, so did my two brothers, happy days.

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......

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......

The Blue Mountains at the bottom of the Hawkhill on the left hand side were called after an Italian man came to Dundee and lived in that tenement, he was so homesick that he painted the blue mountains on  the wall of his flat to remind him of his home near the Blue Mountains in Italy .

I worked at the Veeder Root factory at Gourdie from 1977-79. I really liked working there making tachographs, sitting in long rows of women working away some with jigs some putting small parts together. My family lived in Fintry at 31 or 32 Findcastle Terrace opposite the primary school. My aunt's sister worked there also, Rosemary Pillins, and my friend Jackie Clancy, I think she later joined the navy. Her aunt Francis was really nice. Happy memories. 

I went to Mitchell Street school from 1966-68, primary 6 and 7 classes. My parents lived my mum's parents at 70 Polepark Road after coming back from New Zealand. Miss Joan Drumond was my teacher lovely lady and some of my classmates names; June Campbell, Marion Foy, Marion Finnie, Hazel Stuart, Flora Mcrae, Harry Knapp, Betty MacIntosh, Kevin Fyfe, lots more but don''t remember their names. Catherine Cvjetkovic nee Scott. Western Australia. 

I was born in Germany as my dad was in the RAF. Unfortunately my mum died before my second birthday and we moved to Dundee to live with my mum's parents in Linlathen at Blacklock Crescent. We were not well off, but at the same time I had everything for a great childhood. I went to St Vincent's Primary School where Miss McManus was my teacher and what a great teacher she was. All the kids loved her. Her father was the Lord Provost no less! Some time later my father remarried and we moved to West Lothian, however I've always considered Dundee as my home town. Read more......

My mum moved from the Overgate to the new prefabs in Kirkton in 1948. I was born in 1956 and went to West March Primary school before going to Australia. We didn't stay long. Woul love some picture of the prefabs. My favourite memory is the arcade on a Saturday and the smell of roasting chicken still takes me back.

I remember Beechwood, 11 Kingscross well, we moved there 1937 thats going back to when it was just being built. We moved from Rosebank a small cottage with a blackSmith. It was great to see electric light and a loo inside and I remember mare tinnie in the top storie, and I remember Patons Lane well too, in thoses days great daysI have been back often. 

I remember one winter in Douglas when we had no coal for our fire, my Mum sent me over to Douglas School which was just being built (so I would have been about 6 or 7 years old) to collect some of the wood off cuts. A joiner was working late, (I remember that it was very dark) and took pity on me and filled a sack with logs and carried it over to my house for me. My Mum, my three siblings and my self (my Dad was not around) had a warm house and hot water for some nights after that and we will always be grateful to that unknown joiner.

Who if anyone remembers sugarellie water? The Happy Hillock shop at Mid Craigie, The Arcade where you could buy almosy anything on a Saturday especially scraps. Playing boxes with a shoe polish, tin penny dainties, fireside tartan, the belt provident cheques, an orange and apple at Christmas, homemade paper, Christmas decorations, making calendars using old Christmas cards at school. The joy of it all never to be forgotten. 

So glad Mollie remembered Mid Craigie. I was born in Maryhill HospitaI in 1946 and my mum, dad, older sister and me went to live with my granny at 119 Drumlanrig Drive Mid Craigie, while they waited for a council house. They got one in Fintry and now had 4 kids. When they moved I was 4 and sick so stayed with my granny. I lived with her until I was 11. It was a wonderful childhood used to get 1/2 penny to keep watch for the police from the men playing cards. Putting a line on for my gran at the iillegal bookies. Getting the sheets wrapped in brown paper out of the pawn shop. Read more......

I note the photograph of the Princess Cinema, I am the laddie on the bike, the photo taken by someone from D.C. Thomson about May 1959. I lived at 88, Hawkhill from 1951-53 and went to Tay Street School. Them moved away to Paisley. Came back in 1958 and lived in Rosefield Street. My mum had a second hand shop and a cafe in Brook Street, bottom of Larch Street. I remember playing in the high landie. Only remember one person from Tay Street School, a lass called Ella McGuiken who loved in Park Row until about 1960. She was a bonnie dancer. Read more......

I was born in Clement Park in 1943. I lived in the square in Shepherd's  Loan, in my Granny Ogilvie's house. It had four rooms and a toilet. I went to Hawkhill School. My grandfather Hall lived under Cox's Stack in a big grey house. One of my friends was Jean Navickas she lived across the square. There was Mary Gatley and Helen Davies who lived above us. We emigrated to Australia in 1951. I told my friend Jean that I would be back in two years for a holiday but didn't get back for another 50 years and then my memories were all gone.

I moved from Montrose to Dundee and worked as a porter in the D.R.I. After a spell at Step Row off the Perth Road, we were given a house in Dunbeg Place, Trottick. We came to know some ot the residents and still keep in touch with Betty and Ian. My brother, who was a chef in the D.R.I. and I played golf at Caird Park. Ian and I frequently visited the Claverhouse (Ian called it the slaverhouse) on Saturday nights. Happy days.

My grandfather Simon McIntosh was stage manager of the King's Theatre and prior to that of the Palace Theatre. I have his autograph book with some of the 'stars' like Harry Lauder and pictures of that time.

We were brought up in Fincraig Street from 1961 to 1965 then moved to New Zealand. We stayed three years came back and stayed in Whitfield with my Grandmother Julie Roberts them moved to Glenrothes. Three years later we moved back to New Zealand again. I have been back twice over the years 1981 and 1992 and had the pleasure of bringing my wife and two daughters back to Fintry and Dundee. It had changed so much and it is so good to see the old Fintry photos and old Dundee photos, thanks so much. I have shown my 12 year old Grandson the photos.

Our family lived in Linlathen next to Mossgiel and Linlathen High School which are no longer there. Times were hard but we made do playing football in the street, making swings on trees, playing street games such as ghems up the poley, kick the can..this was late 60s/70s...we would go to Swanny Ponds, Baxter Park and Den o Mains. I remember as a kid going to Caird Park with a wheelbarrow to collect twigs/broken branches for the coal fire, going to Pitkerro Rd newspaper shop for the penny tray which had all kinds of sweets...wish I got pics from those days. 

Hi Tina. Like you, I remember the metal gates and barbed wire used to prevent anyone from Linlathen to cross the viaduct from Fountainbleu Drive to the wilderness that was Fintry, although my elder siblings found them little deterrent when they crossed from Linlathen to make a few bob picking spuds on McLean's farm. Happy days, they lied. A heroine of mine, Mary Brooksbank, called such times the good old bad old days, and I think she was spot on. She would arrive unannounced at the top of our street, Riddell Terrace, sing two or three songs and then move on. Read more......

I can remember going down to Broughty Ferry to the beach, getting burnt and being ill for a few days.

Born at Maryfield Hospital in 1956 and lived at 135 Alexander Street until 1964, firstly in the attic flat with outside toilet on the pletty then luxury we moved into the first floor flat with a inside toilet above the chippy until they knocked it down to build the multis, what a great place to grow up. Read more......

The parrot that sat on the milk crates outside Keillors shop at the bottom of the Blackie, the sledging down the brae from the Blackie to the burn, so many kids there we had to line up to get your turn. Great days, but we were all kids then, we didn't know about life then.The woman that sold puff candy across from St Joseph's school, that's just a wee bit of great memories.

I was born in 1947 in Blackshade - a great place to grow up. Prefabs like little bungalows with front and back gardens! Open grassed areas for endless football and woods for countless adventures! Hatties was the first newsagent (hat never left his head) it was at the top of Iona Street. The only other shop to start with was Sandies at the St Mary's brae roundabout. Read more......

I lived at 20 Kings Cross Road Beechwood up to the early seventies then moved to Kirkton when I was thirteen. I remember a newspaper vendor called Johnny Croll who used to give us a few bob to deliver the telegraph to the industrial estate through the hole in the wall in Beechwood,we also used to collect empty lemonade bottles from the factories then take them to Margi McBains sweetie shop and receive a few pennies for them. Halcyon days indeed.

Wha remembers the Palais
The Locarno an’ the Chalet
Kidd’s Room an’ Gray’s Rooms
An’ pals th’gither at th’ looms
Plannin’ a nicht at the Empress
Tae dance wi’ lads in spivy dress
Or enjoy Hawhill’s Robbies
Or partner Hilltoun Proggies

There were dancers – romancers
And the inevitable bunch o’chancers
The quickstep and rhumba
Foxtrot – tango and samba
The energetic jump an’ jive
It was a great time tae be alive
Big band sound – crooner’s voice
Last waltz – ladies choice Read more......

Can ye mind o' Burndept-Vidor
West Kingsway Industrial Estate
Clockin' in-an-oot each day
At the battery factory gate

Can ye hear the soond o' the Can Press
Thumpin'-oot cans week-by-week
Presses makin' sae much din
Ye'd tae shout tae try tae speak

Workers a' the time
Conversin' in sign

Did ye ken the man shovelling Black Mix
Wha was striken-doon ae day
Wi manganese poisonin
(He was paid "hazard" pay)

Rows o' inspection lines
Quality Control
Inspectors in white jackets
In their important role Read more......

Spending a most enjoyable and comfortable evening in Queen's Hotel on Friday 15th November 2013 with former employees of Watson and Philip (Food Importers, Dundee) I only recognised one person there - ME - my reflection in the cloakroom mirror. Years have rolled. After all 1951-1953 were the years I was in the firm's employment. It was my second job after leaving Rockwell High School at the age of fourteen-and-a-half. Read more......

What about this lady who was a bible singer from the old Overgate. She had a hall above the 60 minute cleaners and was blind. She used to sing in City Square on a Sunday and we used to call her organ over from her hall. In these days we used to go with her to public houses for a donation, and she got quite a bit of money in them days. In her hall we used to sing all bible songs and she had acute hearing and knew by your walking who was doing anything wrong. Her hall was freezing at times as we used to stand on chairs to get warm etc. Read more......

Standinn' in a lang queue
Tae see the double-bill
Ootside the Plaza
On the middle o' the Hull
Some frae Norrie's Pend
Ann Street - Coldside
Winchin' couples haudin' hands
Waitin' tae get inside Read more......

The Auld Overgate's up an awa
Wi Tally Street and Thorter Raa
Whaur Cafe Royal's atmosphere
Brimmed an frothed wi custome cheer Read more......

I was school boy at the old Mains School on Claverhouse Road situated at the bottom of the old Mains Loan. I started attending Mains School in 1947 and left in 1954 to go to Stobswell Boys Secondary. Read more......

Empty shell
Broken frame
Crumbling
Listen to the concrete grumbling Read more......

Many fond memories come back when I think being brought up in Fintry. I suppose I was lucky as I was born in our house in the late fifties, my mum would tell us of hardships she had trying to start a family in a single end in Little John Street, now gone. We spent most of our seven weekies picking berries, that was us saving up for a new school uniform .... which was only once per year, unless our shoes went done.! Our auntie had a single end in Foundry lane in town ... what a dump, but thinking back it was someones home .... maybe we were just posh living in Fintry ha! ha! Read more......

Loved going fishing at Balmarino, overnight stays, also the fish and chips from Tony's doon the Overgate about 1962 ish, all gone now eh? My wee pals and I played on the building sight where the New Overgate/ Angus hotel was being built, we found lots of bones/ skulls all buried in a mass grave by Monks army when he sacked Dundee, the Auld Steeple was our play house then!! The Sat morning movies at the Guament, the sweeming baths, those old one, it were great the shivery bites!! The Sasperellas from the Italian shops yum yum! Read more......

Loved going fishing at Balmarino, overnight stays, also the fish and chips from Tony's doon the Overgate about 1962 ish, all gone now eh? My wee pals and I played on the building sight where the New Overgate/ Angus hotel was being built, we found lots of bones/ skulls all buried in a mass grave by Monks army when he sacked Dundee, the Auld Steeple was our play house then!! The Sat morning movies at the Guament, the sweeming baths, those old one, it were great the shivery bites!! The Sasperellas from the Italian shops yum yum! Read more......

In the early 50s my mother and grandmother converted 2 attic bedrooms in our house in Grangetown, Cardiff into b&b bedrooms. We used to take in BRS drivers and we had our regulars mostly from Scotland. Read more......

We lived in MacVicars Lane off the Perth Road for a while but in 1959 we moved to Millars Wynd. I went to the Demonstration School in Park Place and remember some classmates names like Kenny Campbell, Ronald Koppel, Alistair Soutar, Diane Buick, Cherry Leaper, Jaqueline McMaster and Stewart Patterson. Our headmaster was John Gunning and it truly was the best education a child could have. The teachers like Mr Watson, Mrs McFeet and Miss Gregg were simply the best. Read more......

"They had a market at Murraygate (in 1950's) and we used to get busters, chips and peas. She just stood and fried them. When you finished, she just dipped the plate in and used it for the next person (laugh), never hygiene, was it? (laugh) But everybody loved them!"
 

Many happy childhood memories were going over to New Port in Fife. This was a big day out for me and my brothers. We also needed to get on the bus to Broughty Ferry from the stance at Slone Tie. This was also part of our holidays. It seemed miles away to us as we did not have a car.  

When I was young I needed to go to the "berries" to earn some money to go to the pictures. In my teens, I frequently went to the dance halls: The Tonk; Robbies which was up the Hawkhill. These were good time.          
 

I recall getting off the bus at Kings Cross Road and walking along Dronley Place when suddenly there was a massive gas explosion behind me.

One of the tenements in Kings Cross Road had the front blown off. I felt like I had just experienced an earthquake as I walked home that day. It must have been about 1975 or slightly earlier.

I found reading  all the memories great but I've checked out on all websites  
and have yet never seen nor heard anyone mention my two most favourite dance  
venues The Continental which still exists I believe but not as a dance hall  
and my favourite the Commie Club which I recall being near each other in  
the Wellgate area, also The Tonk. I wonder if anyone has any photos as Dundee  
was a wonderful place then.
 

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.

West EndI am a Step Row boy born 1947, can't find anyone from Step Row or from the streets. We had a gang called the 'Black Hand Gang' and had to pay to be a member. We had moms cellar for our gang, we lived at 21, at the top, great view of the Tay Bridge. I found an old groat in the ground floor and still have it. Also we found a grenade at Cosgrove's yard. My grans paper shop was the last shop on the Hawkhill across from Dempsters the bakers. I suppose we could all write a book. Hawkhill School at the teacher Miss Pringle say no more.

Born 23 Hilltown 1926. The Progie Dance Hall, Norries Pend, the Wellgate Steps, always plenty action. Owned the Silvery Tay. Chipper in Menzieshill before moving to USA. My dad owned a chip shop at 21 Hilltown in 1926. I remember Andy Reekie the seven foot cop and Dirty Joe selling roasted chestnuts at the end of Dudhope Street.

Deserted natural habitats
Abandoned sea shores
Where have all the gulls gone?
Flying to fast-food stores! Read more......

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.

I lived in Shepherds Loan in the early fifties in a tenement right next to Thomson and Shepherds, at the end of the day the bummer would sound and men and women would stream up the road on their way home, the jute fibres filled the air and the smell of jute hung heavy all around us. I loved Lizzie Smiths shop at the top of the road and would spend all of my one and sixpence pocket money there.

I was born in DRI in 1950. We lived in Hunter Street till I was 7 then we moved to fintry we felt as if we had won the  pools, the house in Fingarth Street seemed like Buckingham Palace after the two rooms of Hunter Street. 

Baxter Park concerts, rolling our easter egg at Den of Mains playing in the fields which are now where Whitfield stands, playing outdoors from morning till night, then coming in for tea they are just some of the memories from my childhood which I remember fondly.   Read more......

52, William Street, Dundee, end of World War 2. Huge bonfire in the court yard, 5 storeys high, one tenant organised a party of tenants to get together and make all the children costumes out of crepe paper. Mine was orange and white. Now that was a party! Must have been to remember it all those years ago!

I happened across this site featuring the Hilltown by pure chance and just had to contribute. My parents lived at 62 Carnegie Street when I was born in 1943 at the DRI. Very shortly thereafter my parents separated and my sister Violet and I moved in with my Grandmother who lived opposite the blacksmith in Kirk Entry - just off the Wellgate. I must have been six or so when we moved to our first house (an attic) on the Hilltown, it was on the west side between Ann and Alexander Street. Time spans are hard to remember but I'd say a year or two later we moved a little farther up, it was a long narrow close next to (possibly) Wullie Cook's bar? It led to the back land of a complex where we once again had an attic. It was there on Xmas eve 1951 that I have my first memory of my family - we had one sister and three brothers much older than us. The reason for the reunion was because our father had just died. The next boy older than me was 16 or so and the image of him crying will stay with me forever (I couldn't understand what could make a boy cry). Read more......

I remember moving from Charles Street in the town to Balunie Avenue in Douglas at the age of five. My first day at Balerno Primary I about turned and ran out of the school. I was lost and running around Douglas as I didn't know how to get home. I always remember Miss McKinlay and her numerous big rings on her fingers. If you said something she didn't like she would clout you round the back of the head and I still remember trying to avoid eye contact with her. She would also lock the classroom door when she left the room. Ahhh, those were the days!

I was born in 1932 in Dundee Royal Infirmary. My first school was Ancrum Road School but I cannot remember much about it. As my parents were both English we had to live in lodgings until the start of the Second World War. We eventually got an upstairs three roomed house at Pitkerro Drive. There were four houses in the block. I learned to cycle through the leggy as we called [it] on my father's bike. Read more......

I was born there, went to school there, delivered papers and milk there, started my first job as apprentice barber there, and finished the last 21 years of my working life, in my barber shop at the 'Tap O' the Hull'. Read more......

I was born and brought up in Bellefield Avenue and to me and my generation both here and on Magdalen Green this was to be our playground. Read more......

One of my first memories as a child was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd not the 1st, I'm not that old. I lived in a 'single end' in Bernard Street and we had a great street party. My cousin Francis Harvey was dressed up to be the young Prince Charles. I was only 3 at that time, but I still think of it with fondness. Later that year we moved to a new house in what I thought was the countryside because it seemed so far away and there was a farmer by the name of Sherrit who lived up the road. Read more......

In the Overgate there were two sassperilla shops - Greenhill's and Donnachie's. Donnachie's was oppostie the top of Long Wynd and Greenhill's was towards the bottom of the Overgate, between Tally Street and High Street. Greenhill's had a larger selection and was more popular. A 'sass' was reputed to be a cure for a hangover. You could buy it in one of two sizes - a pint or a half pint. Read more......

I remember walking from our house in Kirkton to the Auld Steeple to go to Sunday School. I loved the hot cocoa after.

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.

I read with interest the reminiscence made by Derek M with regard to the old Dundee tram which was transported to the City Road allotments and was used as a greenhouse. There was not one but two trams on this site, the other was transported by my Father. I was there to assist in them being slid down from Pentland Avenue using batons and rollers. Derek's Grandfather was also our neighbour living in Kincardine Street at that time, and those trams were a great success and provided an extension to the gardening skills as the allotments were the means of providing much need vegetables during the war. Read more......

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.

I remember my first impressions being of Step Row just off the Perth Road. My grandfather, James Kirkland was a coal merchant and everybody knew everybody. I remember especially the lovely summer days, an ice cream cone with raspberry on top from Tony's on the Perth Road. Happy days when bairns played on the street making their own fun and life was plain and simple. I have since moved to New York and have lived in many very fine places but my heart will always hold a place for all the special ordinary people and memories of Step Row.

Does anybody remember the 'penny transfer'? I was at Harris Academy (Primary) at Blackness Avenue from 1954 - I used to catch the tram into town and then get the No. 17 bus to Ancrum Road / Sutherland Street - for that it cost the princely sum of 1d in old money.

In 1955, having just left school and starting a college course, I was employed as a temporary tram conductor during the summer of that year. It was one of the happiest summers I ever experience and I have many happy memories. Read more......

My first job was in (?) in Ward Road. Then I went into the Calender in the sewing department. I worked in the Jamaica Works and then I worked in Victoria Road Works, then East Port, then several other works. When I got married I went part-time. Later I worked in Keiller's in the chocolate dipping and then in Maryfield in the bakery. Later I worked in Woolworths for a few years and then I landed up in the newsagents in Douglas.

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......

In 1940 I was transported by tram car from Maryfield to Blackness School. As the war started in 1939 and we moved to Linlathen in 1940 and there were no schools there so a free tram car went from Maryfield to St John's in Tay Street and St Joseph's in Blackness Road and also to Blackness School, Logie and Mitchell Street. I was only 9 years old and left home at 8am walked to Maryfield and spent the day away.

In 1940 I was transported by tram car from Maryfield to Blackness School. As the war started in 1939 and we moved to Linlathen in 1940 and there were no schools there so a free tram car went from Maryfield to St John's in Tay Street and St Joseph's in Blackness Road and also to Blackness School, Logie and Mitchell Street. I was only 9 years old and left home at 8am walked to Maryfield and spent the day away.

I remember living (squatting) at 13 Larch Street in the nine storey tenement and attending Blackness School prior to moving to Fintry in 1951, and moving to Linlathen Primary just over the Linlathen bridge. I'm sure it was a foundry opposite us on Larch Street, and a huge open midden around the corner on Urquhart Street. A penny dainty from the corner shop on the way to school was a treat to look forward to.

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......

I'd been at the Palais and got the last tram home from the Perth Road to Maryfield depot. The route went along the Murraygate and I remember people putting a penny on the tram line to keep as a momento of this last tram journey to Maryfield. At the Woolies stop I remember a certain gentleman got on from my place of work, a jute mill, I'd always liked him, and although we both went on to marry other people, just recently, after over 50 years we have met up for coffee and a blether.

I don't know if you are the same Jean Tully. If you are you will remember Rita and George. I think we stayed with you before we moved to Cheltenham in 1959. Read more......

I am Lochee born and bred and used the Lochee trams regularly. The trams were the deluxe models compared with the trams on all the other routes, they had upholstered seating which made for a very comfortable ride. During the war the Conductors were replaced by Conductresses, one of them resembled the film star Carmen Miranda being small in stature and she wore her hair piled high just like the film star. Read more......

I was born in 1946 in Lochee. Unfortunately my father died at 21 and my mother became a widow at 18. We then moved in with my grandparents in the new housing scheme called "Beechwood". This was a lovely friendly place to grow up in. Read more......

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.

Though many years have gone by, and I now live in Canada, there is still a soft place in my heart for auld Lochee. I was born at 16 Elder's Lane in November, 1929. One of six children. Read more......

It was only when I was in my mid 30's that I realised that when I was attending St. John's in High Street, Dundee in the late fifties and I did the figures. I was in E4 and 32nd in the class and was made up when I went to 31st only because someone left. Read more......

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 remember moving in to Whitfield from Broughty Ferry in October 1968.

I was born at 40 Constitution Street in May 1933 where I stayed with my parents and two brothers until we moved to a new house in Kendal Avenue in 1946. I went to Rosebank School then to Rockwell High. When I started work it was in J.K. Mearns at the bottom of Victoria Road, it was a very happy place to work as we had a very good employer (William Mearns). I married George Millar in 1953, we have 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

I bought the ironmongers shop in 1967 from James Murray and retired in 1988 to become a Councillor for Dundee Tayside Region for Ancrum Ward. I have many happy memories of customers.

On the Maryfield line, just before the Arbroath Road on Albert Street a fellow had parked his horse and cart. The tram driver decided that there was not enough room to pass, he decided to go into nearby shops to look for the carter but the tram's air brake leaked and the tram, full of passengers ran right down Princes Street and King Street to the Gaumont Cinema. Mr Charles Broadley, Superintendent, took charge of the situation, fortunately no one was hurt.

I started off as a tram Conductor for two years, most of us always started here and then learned tram driving. An Inspector trained me. I began as a spare driver and was then given a steady line on the Blackie to Downfield line. I started in 1947, after leaving the army and worked until 1956 when the trams were taken out of service, any driver under the age of 50 could train as a bus driver.

I was born in the hackie in 1947, the Princess, the State, the Regal, Grays, and that was the picture houses. It was great. I went to the washie in Millar's Wynd with Ma. Went to the scrubers and had a bath. We had nothing but we were happy.

Joe was born in Italy and moved to Dundee when he was seven years old.

One of my earliest memories in Dundee was going to see a Charlie Chaplin film. It was in the days of silent films which was just as well as I could speak no English. Read more......

I was born in 1953, my best memories are from 1958/59 onwards when we lived at 18 Keswick Terrace in Kirkton. I went to Gilburn Primary School and then onto Kirkton High School. I remember my Gran's birthday party in the big shed, which was where the Copper Beach Pub was before they built the Community Centre. I had many happy days at the Den of Mains.

I came to Dundee from Glasgow when I was 10 years old and went to Victoria Road School. At that time I was living in Todburn Lane, then later on my parents moved to Broughty Ferry Road. Later on we moved to 15 Mid Kirk Style. Read more......