Robert Ritchie

Coal Merchants

When was this Photo taken?

Royal Vicoria Hospital  -  inside  -  when?

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Kenneth Williamson

 

Robert Ritchie

Coal Merchants

Thank you to Kenneth Williamson who wrote:

Workers

"The chap in the middle of this picture is my father, Harry Williamson, who at one time was a coalman, as was I for a short time!

I don't know anything about Robert Ritchie but I am aware that my father worked for Peter Evans(?) at Granton and Davidson's Mains."

Kenneth G Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  April 18, 2014

 

Reply

1.

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson  who wrote:

Date of the Photo

    Robert Ritchie Coal Merchants  -  Three workers and a coal lorry ©

"There are one or two clues to help in dating this photo.

The man in the middle is wearing battledress trousers.

-  The man on the right is wearing a Battledress top and sailor trousers. These trousers still have the horizontal creases in.

This would point to them being not long out of service. I remember vividly in 1946-7 a sale of army surplus in J&R Allans."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  April 19, 2014

Bob went on to tell me more about the army surplus sales that he remembers at J & R Allan

 

Reply

2.

Kenneth Williamson

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Thank you to Kenneth Williamson  who wrote:

Date of the Photo

    Robert Ritchie Coal Merchants  -  Three workers and a coal lorry ©

"Unfortunately, there is no date on the back of this picture, but I believe that it would have been taken in the late-1940s or early-1950s.

After working for Robert Ritchie, coal merchant, my father became a tram and bus driver. The trams in Edinburgh stopped in November, 1956."

Kenneth Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  April 19, 2014

 

Reply

3.

Kenneth Williamson

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Thank you to Kenneth Williamson  for writing again.

Kenneth wrote:

Robert Ritchie

Coal Merchants

    Robert Ritchie Coal Merchants  -  Three workers and a coal lorry ©

"I've now discovered that the address of Robert Ritchie Coal Merchants was, Goods Station, Davidson's Mains. This would make sense as my father said that he had worked as a coalman in Davidson's Mains. In fact he met my mother on a blind date in Mackenzie's pub in Davidson's Mains and they married in 1950.

Perhaps Peter Evans took over the business.

Barber Shop

The barber shop (which was really a shed) that sat in the in the old Goods Station at Davidson's Mains eventually found its way along to Maitland Bowling Club.  It was used there for storing equipment until it was removed when the club was renovated in 1999."

Kenneth Williamson, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  April 22, 2014

 

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