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Thomas Robertson's Yard
"Wingy Robertson"
Leith - 1930s |
Thomas Robertson's workers
© Reproduced with
acknowledgement to Norma Brodie, Auckland New Zealand and John Stewart, Leith,
Edinburgh.
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Thomas Robertson's workers |
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Thank you to:
- Norma Brodie of Auckland, New Zealand for allowing me to
reproduce the photograph above.
- John Stewart of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland,
formerly Leith for
sending a copy of the photo to me.
- James Bruce Durie, Leith, for leaving a message
about this outing in the EdinPhoto GuestBook
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1.
Recollections by John Stewart
and replies |
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John Stewart wrote:
Tam's Yard
"Thomas Robertson (Tam) aka Wingy, was the
owner of the yard. He is seen in the trilby hat. I never knew him
without one.
Jimmy Morrison was the chargehand of the yard.
He is at the rear with the railway cap.
Old Andrew Robertson was the owners father.
We knew him as 'Auld Andy'. He is at the front of the photo."
John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland:
April 2, 2007
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Norma Brodie wrote:
Works
Outing
"Thomas Robertson was a general dealer way
back, initially in Giles Street, Leith. He lived at Dudley Avenue.
This photo was taken in
1932. (I've
checked with my mum, here in New Zealand, now nearly 88!). The photo
includes my dad, George Power, the blonde fifteen-year-old, 2nd from
right, front row.
My dad worked for Thomas Robertson, then after
WW2 he successfully started up a similar business and Thomas was like a
mentor to him. They were
very close. I office-worked for my dad for ten years, firstly at
Pitt Street, then Trafalgar Street till his death 1964 aged 48. Sorry,
don't know details of 'Wingy' passing on.
The girl in the pic. is Wingy's oldest
daughter, Margaret."
Norma Brodie (nee Power), Auckland, New Zealand:
March 24 + 25, 2007
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James Bruce Durie wrote:
Works
Outing
"The photo was taken in
1935. My wife is
the little girl in the front, next to her grandad."
James Bruce Durie, Leith: November 13, 2007
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2.
More Recollections by John Stewart |
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John Stewart wrote:
The Yard
"I stayed in Cables Wynd, Leith, and our
communal balcony overlooked the Wingy Robertson's yard. Many times, as
young boy, I would look down on the work there.
Jimmy Morrison, to me as boy, was always
shouting and never seemed to have patience with any kid that would venture
through the yard gate. He never flinched at shouting and swearing at us
to get the hell out of there. I can laugh at it now. didn't like him
then.
Even old Mr Robertson who night watched for
them and was a kindly soul shouted at you, but I think it was all put on.
Sometimes he would allow a few of us in at night to play in the old scrap
cars they dealt in.
As I said before, they gave us plenty of
firewood, etc., for our victory bonfire."
Wingy Robertson
"Wingy Robertson's left arm was always at a
right angle over his chest and front. I think this was a result of an
injury or some affliction. You can see in the photo him holding on to it
with his right arm. It always looked like a folded wing. That's how
he got the nickname 'Wingy'.
His father, the watchman stayed in the men's
lodging house in Parliament Street, Leith. Wingy used to sponsor
Christmas Parties for the OAPs of the area. He even hired the State Cinema for
a day in December for the pensioners."
Double Car Seat
"Wingy always made sure my
grandmother had a double car seat on her balcony. He renewed it regularly.
He knew her as 'Ma Patterson' and my grandad as 'Auld Jock'. He was
a kindly man.
Here is a photo of me in 1947, aged 13, with
my cousin, Eveline, on the balcony, sitting on the seat that Wingy gave
us."
©
John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland: March 17+ 30 + 31
and Apr 2, 2007
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3.
Recollections by Bob Henderson |
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Bob Henderson wrote:
The Yard
"I studied at the old Nautical College for a
year of night classes to get my Amateur Radio Licence
36 years ago,
Wingy Robertson's yard was the place to buy
ex-MOD radio gear. He used to go to all the MOD sales and buy huge
mixed lots of stuff.
One set of gear he used to get was
photographic equipment. When there was a ship being decommissioned
at Rosyth, he would attend the sale and buy everything that was being
taken off the ship. This always included any unused photographic
paper and film.
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: December 21,
2007 |
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