Childhood

Born during the hard winter of 1947. I lived in Park Avenue until I moved to Forfar 25 years later. My mother was a jute weaver at the CWS works in Morgan Street, most of my fathers working life was on the Tay Ferries (The Fife'es) in local dialetic.

My Schooling was Glebelands and Stobswell Boys. Our playground was the surrounding traffic free streets then when older Baxter Park & Stobbie Ponds or even sneek into the TA grounds at Rodd Road where we could spend hours playing on an old rusting Brengun carrier. 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......

I was brought up in Ninewells and am now 63 years old. It is amazing how much this place has changed in a fairly short time. Gone is Bill Davidson's wee shop, Joe Johnstone's smiddy, Lauries's nursery and the greenhouses behind it. Ninewell's garage is still there, albeit much changed and no longer a petrol station. There was also another petrol station close to where the railway bridge crossed over the Perth Road by Johnny Callaghan's scrapyard. Read more......

I've lived in London 48 years but regulary visit home which I loved coming to Dundee until maybe 8 years ago. Too much social and drug and alcohol problems which seems to be spiraling out of control but nothing will take away my memories of living in Kirkton and two grand schools. SS Peter/Pauls an the Mikies the Earle Blue Stars great band in the Continental across the road the Commie club and the Empress Tues night brill , playing pinner at the paulies.

My mother used to take me to Gray's cinema when we lived in Paton's Lane in the 40's.

Played down the Magdalen green on the swings and in the band stand, used to love going to the fair, lots of happy memories of Dundee.

I was born in Charles Street on October 2nd 1942 and moved to 43, Hill Street the following year. From our house, if we leaved out we could see the war memorial on top of the Law. I remember my Mum putting up this black sheet every night, so it was obviously war time. The best memory however was seeing the flame lit on the memorial, so I now presume it was VE day.

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......

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 have a 1935 copy of a puBlication from Glasgow called 'The Bulletin' I could not find any reference to it but there is an advertisement on the back page for Beattie's Bread, I recall my Nanny speaking about different products from Scotland and England and this is one of them. Is it still in business? Just curious.

I have fond memories of growing up in Beechwood, living in a tenement in Kingscross road. I remember playing and making dens,  and having many adventures at the miley. I think its still there and keep meaning to visit. Maybe one day. I wish my old house was still there.