Picnics / Outings
The Days O’ The Nine-ees
Gie me the days o’ the Nine-ees
Frae Lochee at brak’ o’ day
Stridin’ the length o’ Riverside
Takin’ sicht o’ Gowrie Bay
Steppin’ oot in Sunday best
Reachin’ oor destination
Doon the steps o’ the railway brig
Withoot hint o’ hesitation
Bile-up cans, pots an’ pans
Rattlin’ on oor backs
Sets o’ auld claes – tichtly packed
In canvas haversacks
Chasin’ a crannie tae change in
In the rocks alang the shore
Syne, gaitherin’ driftwood for kindlin’
For a biley-up at four Read more......
Memories of Dundee - Part Four
I suppose one of the big things in my life was the Empire Exhibition. This was held in Glasgow in 1938, at Bellahouston Park. There was a special railway excursion to be running on the autumn holiday Monday of that year, them known as the October fast. We (my sister May and I) were taken along with Mum, Granny Gillan and Doris (my Mum's unmarried sister). It was so exciting-Glasgow! That was a long, long way away in those days and I had never been on such a long journey before. This was really something special for a seven year old like me. I remember being amazed at the fountains in the grounds and staring goggle-eyed at the sight of a red-coated Mountie just outside the Canadian pavilion, actually riding a horse. This was even better then Nelson Eddie playing the part of a Mountie and singing to Jean McDonald in the film 'Rose Marie'. That had been my only experience of these romantic figures until them - and that was in black and white! Read more......
Stobswell and Links to the Late Jim Reid
The recent death of Dundee folk singer, Jim Reid, raised in the Stobswell area of the city, brought out a few references to his song " The Stobbie Parliament Picnic".
The Stobbie Parliament were the old men who sat on a long bench just above Ogilvie church in the early years of the 20th century. They sat and blethered and, as the name suggests, set the world to right. Read more......
Monkeys Parade
Before leaving Dundee, we lived in Annfield Street, above Mrs Ledger's shop, where she sold horehound toffee. I remember my mother used to give her most of her sweet coupons for her sugar and we would get cakes etc.
I was 10 when we left and I remember when the siren went, we had to go to a shelter underneath the tenement building; later I thought what a stupid place to go - if a bomb fell, we wouldn't have had a chance. Read more......
The Palladium Cinema
I was born in Perth but moved to Dundee when I was still very young. I lived in Dallfield Walk and went to 'The Rosie' (Rosebank Public School) in Tulloch Crescent.
My Dad was a wood turner. Once he made a 'piler' (cart) for my brother. It didn't last long though because he took it out and went flying down Dallfield Walk right under the legs of a horse! When dad found out about it he broke up the 'piler' right away! Read more......
Belmont Camp
At holiday times we would go on day trips with our parents on a train to Arbroath or Edinburgh. Sometimes we would go on the Fifies to visit our cousins in Tayport. We would spend all day there and come back on the last Fifie at night. Read more......
Tramways Treat to the Bairns
To qualify for the Tramway Treat to the bairns at Christmas time, children were picked from local schools. I remember ripping my jumper and being chosen. The Treat was in the Breakfast Hall in Constitution Road where every one got some food and we played games. I think I would have been about 7 or 8 years old.
Broughty Ferry Beach
I did not go to school in Perth until I was five and a half years old. I started at Northern District School. Of course I was rarin' to go so I thoroughly enjoyed the daily routine - A for Apple, B for Bottle, counting etc. We used a slate and chalk for writing practice. We had to carry a pad for cleaning our slates. Mine was royal blue velvet. I was very proud of it. Read more......
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......
Downfield Tram
My mother, brothers and I used to get Downfield tram which stopped outside our closie in Dens Road to go to the berries at Downfield or go to the Sidlaws on a Sunday for a picnic. We had to walk from the terminus but we used to enjoy all this when we were young. I lived in Clement Park and went to Harris Academy on our special tram. Read more......
