1950's
Penny on a Tram Line
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.
William Street Tenements
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......
Passion for Trams
In the early 1950s I lived in Lochee with my mother, my passion as a little boy of 5 years old was the trams. So much so that I would walk down to the tram stop and get on the first tram. Inevitably I would change trams several times and end up at a terminus or in a tram shed and would eventually be taken home in a police car, sometimes they would let me ring the bell!! Read more......
Bombed Out of Greenock
I was born Mary Greig in the home of my grandparents in 16 Hepburn Street, Dundee in 1935, the second daughter of Joe and Mem Greig. My father had been unemployed for a few months and decided to go to Canada. Interviews were taking place in the Labour Exchange. When he saw the queues he was about to go home but saw a lady at a desk so asked about a job. 'I can get you one in Greenock' - so to Greenock we went - Mum, Dad, sister Anna and me & the baby (my wee sister was born in 1937. We stayed there until we were bombed out when Mum took us back to her Mum's in Dundee. Anna and I stayed with our grandparents until our Mum came back a year later. Read more......
Downfield Days
I read George MacDonald's story about his dad being a manager at Bonar Long. I worked in the office at Bonar Long and was office girl and then secretary for about 3 years to the works manager whose name was Roy MaCdonald, so I think it may have been his dad. I left in 1960 to go to another job but still have fond memories of my days at Bonar Long. As a teenager I remember going to Kidds dancing and to the Chalet at Broughty Ferry. I now live in rural Manitoba, Canada. I am 67 years old now but still have many happy memories of my time growing up in Dundee. Read more......
Street Party
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.
Ride in a Tramcar
Although my father had a car my parents often took me on public transport. It was 1956 and I was 6 years of age when my father took me for a ride in a tramcar before the Dundee trams were withdrawn from service. Read more......
Oh The Good Old Days
I was born in Dundee, there were five in our family and we lived in a 2 roomed flat. My Dad worked in the mill and also in South Africa, we were going to follow him there, we had all our jabs and things, Mum changed her mind, so Dad came home in 1952, I wish I could relive it all again. We then moved to a little place about 20 miles from Blackpool, which was alright I suppose. Read more......
Tattie Picking
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......
