Food and Drink
Remember the 'Ager'?
Anyone out there who was an 'Ager' - Dundee Orphanage between 1945 - 1955? Lily and Ann Smith, Wullie Stewart, Edith and John Bell, Phyliss Goldie or the Cox family. We all need to make contact, as we all shared the same upbringing. Read more......
Roast Beef
I was born in 1954 in my Granny's house in Kirkton. We lived in William Street but went to Granny's all the time to play in her garden and get a bath. My mum was one of five sisters, three of whom were nurses in Maryfield Hospital and it was one of my aunties, Annie Dodds, a midwife, who delivered me and most of my cousins, at home. I remember walking down Victoria Road with Mum to the butcher who always gave us a slice of roast beef straight from the machine and salt to put on it.
Pletties
I remember my granny sending me to Mario's ice cream shop in Victoria Street to get two shilling's worth of ice cream. I got a huge jug full with twenty wafers thrown in as well. It was all home made ice cream.
As a child growing up in the 50s there was no TV then so we made our own fun. Being daredevils we used to do things that was great fun then but pretty stupid now when I think of it. Read more......
Penguin Cafe
My mum, Bunty Rollo, nee Ovenstone was the niece of 'Teenie McGregor', nee De Gernier, who had the Buster Stall in the Overgate. My Auntie Mary Ovenstone ran the Penguin Cafe up the Overgate in the 1950's and I have fond memories of shopping with my mum on Saturdays and going for a buster - it was delicious! I live in Leeds now but would love to hear from any of the family. Read more......
Post War Dundee
Saturday afternoons in the early 1950s for my sister Moyra and myself were very special. I was 6 years old in 1952 and my sister 12.
We boarded the Downfield tram at Fairmuir, rushed up the stairs to claim the 'J' shaped seat at the front window, and headed for the terminus at Downfield. Read more......
Working Days
I was born in the DRI on 13th June 1925. I had four brothers. When I was four and a half years old I went to the Cowgate School. I lived in Constable Street. All my aunts and cousins lived beside each other. My Grandad lived in Wallace Street. I used to go my Gran's messages to Jackie's the butcher for beef, Massey's for messages, the Buttercup for butter, Martin Simpsons for pies and bread and the Mealstore for eggs. When I was about twelve I used to go to the washing house to do my Gran's washing. Read more......
Lyon's Close and the Bananas
I worked in a fruit shop in the Hawkhill, and it was the first time we had bananas in - this was 1946 or 47. Word got round and there were queues all day. To try and get the shop closed was almost impossible. The door which had to be bolted on from the inside, and was kept round at the back of the shop in Lyon's Close, to get the crowds away the boss had to run round for the door, then we had to be ready to throw some bananas into the crowd and them that were left in the shop had to be locked in and let out the back door into the 'Lyon's Close'. Next day, all over again. The worst bit was the bananas were green and hard. Read more......
Tay Bridge
My grandparents lived at Dunmore Lodge Ninewells on the Perth Road. As a child when my parents would take the journey from Birmingham to Dundee I would look forward to the walks down to the River Tay and the tram journey into the city. As I got older I was trusted to go on the tram each morning to fetch the hot morning rolls for breakfast. My grandfather worked as a gardener for the Dundee Council and set out the gardens at Magdalene Green and near to the Tay Rail Bridge. He died aged 100 at "The Rowans" nursing home. Read more......
