Bygone News - Hawkhill

How the Blue Mountains Got its Name

lynne.davidson — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 10:35:04 +0000

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 .

Dundee Childhood in 50s

lynne.davidson — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 08:34:58 +0000

I was born in the Overgate in 1957, from there we moved to Shepherds Loan. My first school was Hawkhill. We moved again to Macalpine Road then to Kincardine Street, our next move was to St. Fillans Road. When I was 12 we moved to Wallsend Newcastle.

Blue Mountains?

lynne.davidson — Fri, 22 May 2015 08:35:33 +0000

I lived in St David's Lane, West Port, we used to play in the "Blue Mountains" on the Blackie. I have recently heard they were called the infamous Blue Mountains, does anyone know why?

Boy on the Bike

lynne.davidson — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:05:47 +0000

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......

Boy on the Bike

lynne.davidson — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:00:17 +0000

Memories of 50 Years Ago

lynne.davidson — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:08:44 +0000

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.

A Quickstep Back

lynne.davidson — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 15:41:36 +0000

Wha remembers the Palais
The Locarno anâ the Chalet
Kiddâs Room anâ Grayâs Rooms
Anâ pals thâgither at thâ looms
Planninâ a nicht at the Empress
Tae dance wiâ lads in spivy dress
Or enjoy Hawhillâs Robbies
Or partner Hilltoun Proggies

There were dancers â romancers
And the inevitable bunch oâchancers
The quickstep and rhumba
Foxtrot â tango and samba
The energetic jump anâ jive
It was a great time tae be alive
Big band sound â croonerâs voice
Last waltz â ladies choice Read more......

Memories of Dundee

fiona.christison — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:02:19 +0000

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......

Step Row Memories

fiona.christison — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:03:36 +0000

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.

Memories of Dundee - Part Three

lynne.davidson — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:09:24 +0000

It was also round about this time, 1935 that George V and Queen Mary celebrated their Silver Jubilee and of course there were celebrations of all sorts throughout the country. I remember being given a tin of caramels at school along with every other pupil as a celebratory gesture from the government. There were also decorations in the shops etc to a degree. One thing which comes to mind is a lapel-badge featuring George and Mary that I was obviously given, probably along with the sweets. I remember looking at it and discussing it with my sister May as we walked down the Hilltown one day. However with the beginning of 1939, January 20th to be exact, (don't ask me shy I remember that date) the mood of the nation turned sombre, with the death of George V. I believe he had not enjoyed the best of health in his latter years. One of the souvenirs I have of his reign is a cigarette card album containing a full set of Will's Woodbine cigarette cards depicting 'The Reign of George V'. I remember being given it in a sort of throw-away gesture by Mr Gegan who had a tobacconist shop on the Hilltown, when I was in the shop for some reason. Read more......