Edinburgh Old Town

Castle Hill

Primary School

Opposite the Camera Obscura

Castle Hill School is situated  on the south side of Castle Hill, close to Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, and across the road from the Camera Obscura.

The school opened in 1889.  It is the building set back from the road in the photograph above, taken from the Camera Obscura.

Castlehill from the Camera Obscura

View from the Camera Obscura  -  Castlehil   -  A picture compiled from four photographs

©  Copyright: Peter Stubbs  -   please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk                                            Photograph taken 3 May 2004

 

Castle Hill School

    Castle Hill School  -  2009 ©

Recollections

1.

Jim Currie
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

School Dux

2.

Jim Robertson
Berlin, Germany

-  School Photo

3.

Jim Currie
Sarnia Ontario, Canada

-  School Photo

4.

Anita Razzell (née Canale)
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada

-  School Photo 1950-51

5.

Kathleen Crawford (née Matheson)

-  Grannie's Green

-  Dux

6.

Jim Currie
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

-  Basher Thomson

-  School Pupils

6.

Reply 1

Andy Wanstall
Swanston, Edinburgh

7.

Florence Broderic
(
née McGhee)
Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland

Milnes Court

-  Family and Schools

-  Friends

-  Return Visit

-  Tattoo

8.

Jim Cairns
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

School Photo

-  First Year

9.

John McCall
Murrayburn, Edinburgh

School Friends

10.

Florence Broderic
(
née McGhee)
Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland

Castle Hill School

11.

Jim Currie
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Castle Hill School

12.

Jim Cairns
Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

When did the school close?

13.

Bryan Gourlay
Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

The school closed in 1951

14.

Ronnie McGrouther
Prudhoe, Northumberland, England

Castle Hill School, 1946-50

15.

Alf Douglas
Edinburgh

Castle Hill School, c1942-49

16.

Alex Guild
Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA

and requests to contact Alex from

Anna Burns (née Duffy)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

and from

Mary Moriarty (née Elden)

and from

Jim Currie
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Home and School

-  Teachers

-  Pupils

-  Games

-  Religion

-  The Pictures

-  Move to USA

-  Return Visit to Edinburgh

17.

Marion Marshall
(
née McLaren)

School Closed

-  Jim Cairns

18.

Lorraine Beach
(née McGrouther)
Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Walter Mcgrouther

19.

Marlene Deans
Edinburgh

George Deans

20.

Charlie Wookey
Edinburgh

Home

-  Daughters of Nanny Brown

21.

Patrick Carlin

Castlehill School

22.

Jemma Jones

PC 'Basher' Thompson

-  A book about 'Basher'?

23.

Jemma Jones

PC 'Basher' Thompson

-  The Grassmarket

- 'He died with his boots on!'

24.

Jim Currie
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Jim Currie's Book

 

Recollections

1.

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, now living in Canada, who sent me the following message:

Jim wrote:

School Dux

"My name is Jim Currie.  I attended Castle Hill Primary School when I lived in the Lawnmarket at # 1 Upper Bow. Around 1949/1950.

I was lucky enough to be the 'Dux' boy that year and received £3 and a Book at a School Ceremony for my efforts.

Unfortunately the £3 are long gone as you can imagine and the book which I had left with my Ma and Dad also disappeared after I emigrated to Canada.

Any chance there might be a record of this achievement to be found, or a picture of the graduating class?

I do have a small cutting out of the Edinburgh Evening news from that time, but no other documents.

I would be very surprised but happy if you came up with anything.  Thx."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada:  3 January 2006

If you have any comments for Jim, please e-mail me so that I can pass them on to him.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs:  January 2006

 

Recollections

2.

Jim Robertson

Berlin, Germany

Thank you to Jim Robertson who replied:

School Photo

"I thought the photo below might interest Jim Currie who was at Castle Hill Primary School.  The photo comes from a friend of mine who came from  the Upper Bow. 

His Name is Ian Kerr.  He now lives in Berlin, a few doors away from me.  The photo was taken also around 1948-50.

Jim Robertson, Berlin:  March 16, 2008

Castle Hill Primary School

Around 1948-50

    Castle Hill Primary School  -  around 1948 to 1950 ©

A note on this photo says that it includes the Kerr twins, Inez and Ian.

 

Recollections

3.

Jim Currie

Sarnia Ontario, Canada

After reading Jim Robertson's comments and seeing the photo above, Jim Currie wrote:

"Jim:

School Photo

I really  appreciate seeing the picture you sent  of a class at  Castle Hill Primary School.  Alas it's not the year i was looking for.  I'm still looking for 1949 or 1950.

Please tell your friend that we lived in No.1 Upper Bow for several years before moving to a housing development at Broomhouse in the West of Edinburgh - not a great experience - then to Stevenson Drive where I lived until emigrating to Canada in April 1960.

Here are some names that you may recall from the Upper Bow area:

Alec Lauder

- ,Donald Reid

Bobby Gibson

Sandy Cornelius

John Middlemas

James Lindsay

Donald Urquhart.

We played a lot in Princes Street Gardens, Riddles Court, and Milnes Court, just across the 'Lawnie'.

My claim to fame if you want to call it that, was that I spent a lot of time in a wheel chair in my early years attached to the railing at the top of the Bow, as I had been born with a club foot."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada:  March 21, 2008

 

Recollections

4.

Anita Razzell (née Canale)

Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada

School Photo

1950-51

Thank you to Anita Razzell (née Canale) now living at Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada for sending me this photograph of the 1950-51 final year class at Castle Hill Primary School.

Castle Hill Primary School Class  -  1950-51 ©

This may be one year later than the class that Jim Currie is looking for.

 

Recollections

5.

Kathleen Crawford (née Matheson)

Thank you to Kathleen Crawford for sending this message to Jim Currie in reply to 1 above.

Kathleen wrote:

"Jim:

Grannie's Green

I believe I was in your sister Margaret's class at Castle Hill School. My teacher was Miss Mowat.   My brother, John, and I lived in the army barracks at Johnstone Terrace.  We used to play in Grannie’s Green, and used to be scared of the local policeman Basher Thomson."

Dux

"We had Australian accents then.  Did you find out information regarding your Dux medal?  I was Dux as well and have nothing to show for it, so I sometimes think it is all in  the mind as I have no proof of It.

If I remember correctly a boy named Eric McKean was Dux boy. It was either him or Alfred Douglas."

Kathleen Crawford (née Matheson):  July 30, 2008

 

Recollections

6.

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, now living in Canada, who sent me the following message:

Basher Thomson

"The most recent message from Kathleen Crawford (4 above)  took me back a few years with comments about the Barracks down Johnstone Terrace, Grannie's Green and 'Basher Thompson" the Bobby who kept us all on our toes. I have him as a character in a wee book I'm writing about my early days in Auld Reekie."

"To Kathleen:

School Pupils

 I remember Alfie Douglas, but my sisters name was Betty, not Margaret.  She did have a close friend called Margaret Aitken who lived on the top flat in No.4 Upper Bow, where my Granny Fell and Auntie Jean also lived in those days.

I also had two cousins that went to our school, Ann Currie and Elisabeth Gibb.  they were about our age.

Thanks for the memories

PS. I'm a diehard 'Hibee' fan, ever since the 'Famous Five' days."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada:  3 January 2006

 

Recollections

6.

Reply

1.

Andy Wanstall

Swanston, Edinburgh

PC 'Basher Thomson' is mentioned in Recollections 6 above, and also on the Cowgate and Vennel pages on the EdinPhoto web site.

Here, Andy Wanstall replies:

'Basher Thomson'

"I have been told that Basher Thomson's granddaughter resides in Musselburgh, but so far, I've not been able to trace her"

Andy Wanstall, Swanston, Edinburgh:  February 13, 2014

 

Recollections

7.

Florence Broderick (née McGhee)

Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Florence Broderick who wrote:

Milnes Court

"I lived at 1 Milnes Court,  Lawnmarket from 1943  until 1968.  Then the court was taken over by the University and we were all re-housed."

Family and Schools

"I had 4 sisters,  Norma, Violet,  Mina and Dorothy, and two brothers, Robert who was killed in the war in 1942, and Alistair.

Alistair, went to Castle Hill School from 1947 until the school closed, then he went to James Clark School.  I went to South Bridge School, then to Darnoch, up Gilmore Place."

Friends

"I remember Alfie Douglas, Alex Anderson, Donald Reid,  Bobby and May Gibson, John Middlemass;  also Grace Mowat, who died aged only 5.  Her dad was a bookie.  Her uncle had the Eagle Bar with back windows facing onto Milnes Court."

Return Visit

"I  took my grandchildren around the area on Monday.  It has all been done up with big wooden doors and windows in the stair.

Castle Hill School is now a Whisky Heritage Centre.

Being Festival time, the Royal Mile was very busy, with stalls and slide shows."

Tattoo

"My family are taken us to the Tattoo this Saturday. The tickets sell out quickly and are hard to get.

We always used to go when we were kids.  My dad worked in the castle  and was a piper with the Royal Scotts."

Florence Broderick Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland:  August 14, 2008.

   Recollections

8.

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Cairns for providing a photograph of his Primary 1 class at Castle Hill school, taken in 1949.

Jim wrote:

School Photo

"Here is a photograph of my  Primary 1 class at Castle Hill school in 1949.

I think my teacher was Miss Mowat. I was only there a year when the school closed, and I then went to South Bridge school.

Castle Hill Primary School, Primary 1 - 1949 ©

Please click on the thumbnail image above to enlarge the photo and read some of the names of the pupils.

First Year

"I don't remember much about that first year.  I was dunted in the back going downstairs and was only saved by rugby-tackling one of the female teachers.  Very embarrassing!

We used slates to practice writing on, and brown plasticine for art lessons.

We used to get a free bottle of milk every morning. It was ok in the winter when it was cold, but not so nice in summer.   We used the foil tops with marbles to make 'racing cars' which we
used on the sloping playground.

The classrooms were heated with coal fires, and when it rained the coats were piled on the fireguard to dry.  If it was very wet, all of the pupils would march about in the rain at playtime chanting:

'We want a halfie, we want a halfie!'

It usually didn't work though."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  September 21 + October 10, 2008

 

   Recollections

9.

John McCall

Murrayburn, Edinburgh

Thank you to John McCall, who wrote:

School Friends

"I lived at Riddles Court from 1940 until 1955 when we moved to Longstone.  I went to Castlehill from 1945 until the school closed.

My mates were:

-   Shugie Docherty and

-  Tam Munro

I also remember:

-  John Middlemas

-  Alfie Reid

-  Alex Anderson

-  Donald Reid

-  Allie

I then went to Jimmie's until 1955 I did a lot of travelling, and now I'm back hame for good.

(Jimmy's = James Clark School, St Leonard's)

John McCall, Murrayburn, Edinburgh:  February 20, 2009

 

Recollections

10.

Florence Broderick (née McGhee)

Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Florence Broderick who wrote:

Florence wrote:

"I have found this photo.  It could be the one that Jim Currie was looking for.  (See Recollections 1 above)"

Jim was 'Dux' boy in his final year at the school, 1949-50.

Castle Hill School -  class photo  -  1949-50 ©

Florence Broderick Muriston, West Lothian, Scotland:  February 24+25, 2009.

 

Recollections

11.

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, for writing  again, after having started discussion of Castle Hill School (with his 'Recollections 1') about three years ago.

Jim wrote:

School Photos

"I've found lots of school pics floating around in cyberspace, but alas still haven't found the one of those who left Castle Hill Primary School at the end of 1952/53.

Also, does anyone have any pics of Carrickvale Secondary School?"

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada:  March 28, 2009

 

Recollections

12.

Jim Cairns

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Cairns, now living in Dunfermline, who wrote:

Question

When did Castle Hill School close?

"I was looking at Jim Currie's recollections (11 above).

They suggested that the school was still open in 1952/53.  My memory is that the school closed in 1950 or maybe 1951.

I was moved to South Bridge School, and remember getting my Coronation mug and a packet of Duncan's Merrols there in 1953.   I had already been there a couple of years, I think.

Can anybody say for sure when Castle Hill school closed?"

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  April 23, 2009

If you know the answer to Jim's question, please email me, then I'll forward your message to him.

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs:  April 23, 2009

 

Recollections

13.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay for providing the answer below.

Bryan wrote:

Answer

The School Closed in 1951

"It looks like Jim Cairns is correct.  The Edinburgh City Archives has the school's log books from 1888 up until 1951."

Record Reference:             NRAS3563/50/1

NRA catalogue referenceNRA 38890 Edinburgh CL

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  April 23, 2009

I was surprised by the speed of Bryan's reply.  It arrived only an hour after I had asked the question on the web site.

 

Recollections

14.

Ron McGrouther

Prudhoe, Northumberland, England

Thank you to Ronnie McGrouther who wrote:

1946-50

"My family lived in Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh.  I had brothers Arthur, Robert and Walter and sisters Margaret, Cathy and Mary.  We went to Castlehill School from about 1946 to 1950.

 I'd like to find a school photograph of myself from that time."

Ron McGrouther, Prudhoe, Northumberland, England, May 18, 2009

 

Recollections

15.

Alf Douglas

Edinburgh

Thank you to Alf Douglas who wrote:

1942-49

"I went to Castlehill School from about 1942 to 1949, then went to Darnoch and left in July 1952.

I have many fond memories of Castlehill school.  In fact, it was our year which got the school to form a football team.  Better not too talk too much about that!!"

Pals

I can confirm that it was my good pal Eric McKean who was Dux.  I remember a lot of the boys and girls. Here are just a few names:

-  Erin Anderson

-  Ronnie Armstrong

-  Bettie Currie

-  George Downie

-  Franny Duffy

Bobby Ewing

-  Freddy Hawkswell

Charlie Holt

Alex Lauder

Wallace McLerty

Kathleen Matheson

Alec Ramsay

-  Lena Walker

-  Willie Waugh

Alf Douglas Edinburgh:  December 8 + 9 + 10 +11, 2009

 

Recollections

16.

Alex Guild

Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA

Thank you to Alex Guild who wrote:

Home and School

"I lived at 209 Jackson’s Close on the High Street, and went to Castle Hill School as did my siblings:

Violet

-  Marion

Ina

Janet (Nettie)

-  Jimmy

Maisie (Mary Jane)

-  Billy.

I graduated the same year as Jim Currie.  (See  recollections 1, 3, 6, 11 above.)  I think it was in 1950."

Teachers

"Teachers I recall were:

-   Ms Mowett

-  Ms Barton

-  Mr Lowe

I also remember getting the strap for talking, chewing, running, and insubordination."

Pupils

"Some of my classroom students were:

-   Frank Wilson

-  Neil MacCann

-  Rita Hartley

-  Jimmie Currie

-  Annie Currie

-  Mary Elden ***

-  Elizabeth Elden

-  Janet MacFarlane

-  Colin Calendar

-  June Weir

-  Jim Small

-  George Guthrie

-  John MacLaren"

***  Update

Mary Elden, twin sister of Elizabeth, sent an email to me on September 23, 2014, hoping to get in touch with Alex Guild.

I've passed on Alex's email address of 2010 to Mary.  I hope that Alex is still using the same email address now and that Mary will be able to get in touch with him.

Peter Stubbs:  October 4, 2014

 

Games

"I remember playing rounders, which was similar to baseball. The boys used to think it was a girls' game.  The only reason the boys would play was to meet the girls."

Religion

"I remember going to the Hallelujah Hall on the High Street on Sunday mornings.  It was run by Mr and Mrs Elliott.  This was a precursor to joining St Giles Church.

Then there was Charlie Battle's, another religious group - and finally Carrubber's Close on a Sunday night where you got Perkins and hot cocoa."

The Pictures

I remember the pictures (movies) like:

-  Blue Halls

-  New Palace, on High Street

-  Playhouse

-  Salon, on Leith Street

-  Regent, down by Easter Road

-  Pools, at the back of the Castle

-  New Vick

-  Las Cala.

Move to USA

"After Castle Hill School:

I went to James Clark High School for a short time

-  Then, I then emigrated to America in 1951, and settled in Hartford Connecticut.

Return Visit to Edinburgh

"The last time I was in Scotland was in 1997.  I went to Register House to see if I could locate any of the people mentioned above, but had no luck.

I am now 71 years old and live  live in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.  If any of the people mentioned above see this I would like to hear from them."

"Go Hibs."

Alex Guild, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA:  May 25, 2010

Reply to Alex Guild

If you'd like to send a reply to Alex Guild, please email me, then I'll pass your message on to him.    Thank you.

Unfortunately, Alex Guild appears to have changed his email address. 

Peter Stubbs, May 29, 2010

Recollections 16

Update 1

Message for Alex Guild

Hi Alex:

I received a message yesterday from Anna Burns (née Duffy) who used to live in Fleshmarket Close, Edinburgh, and now lives in  Adelaide, South Australia.

I passed on your email address to Anna, but she tells me that you appear to be no longer using that address.  Can you email me to let me know which email address you are using now, then I'll pass on details to Anna?

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  May 18, 2014

Recollections 16

Update 2

Message for Alex Guild

Hello again Alex:

I've now received another message from somebody who would like to contact you.  It comes from Mary Moriarty (née Elden) twin sister of Elizabeth.

Please email me to let me know your current email address, then I'll pass it on to Mary and she should be able to get in touch with you..

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  May 18, 2014

Recollections 16

Update 3

Another Message for Alex Guild

Hello again Alex:

If you read this, please email me to let me know your current email address, then I'll pass it on to the people who would like to get in touch with you. 

These now include Jim Currie, living in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, who wrote:

"Alex Guild was in my class at Castlehill School and was a very good friend, as I recall at the time.  I'd love to hear from him as we always wondered how he had made out in US

He left Edinburgh,  as a young man, to go to what we thought at that time in our lives was fantastic!  Wow! going to America!

 Hopefully everything worked out for Alex and his family.  I believe they ended up back in Scotland, eventually.  Anyhoo, could you pass my e-mail on to him, then maybe we can get caught up on the years in between."

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada:  September 1, 2015

Recollections 16

Update 4

Message for Alex Guild

Thank you to Alex Macauley for responding to the message from from Anna Burns (née Duffy) mentioned in Recollections 16, Update 1 above.

Alex wrote:

"Anna:

Your ma used to bang on the ceiling, sending me Morse code messages to complain that I had my tape recorder music on too loud .  My memory says that you had a younger sister, Madeline and brothers.

I left Old Reekie in the 1990s, when the Pollock's (next door) broke into my house and threatened to carve me up.

I used to have a soft spot for you. But a girl from Leith got her hooks into me.

If you'd like a yarn for all times' sake, go for it.  I'm now 77 years old and in good health!

-  Edward"

Edward Macauley:  15+16 August 2015

Recollections 16

Update 5

Message for Elizabeth Elden

Thank you to Alex Macauley for the message below to Elizabeth Elden, one of the Castlehill Primary School pupils mentioned by Alex Guild in his Recollections 16 above, and twin sister of Mary Moriarty who replied with her Recollections 16, Update 2 above.

Alex wrote:

"Elizabeth:

I always and had a fancy for you!  You were in my house a few times in the 1950s.  I'm still sing!e!  I'm still 'motor bike daft'!. 

If you want to spend the rest of your remaining years with a 77-year-old hooligan, sign up now!"

-  Edward"

Edward Macauley: 16 August 2015

 

Recollections

17.

Marion Marshall
(née McLaren)

Thank you to Marion Marshall who wrote:

School Closed

"I'm sure Castle Hill school closed in 1951.

I started i March 1949, just before I was five years old.  I was there for about ten to twelve months, then moved to South Bridge School. "

Jim Cairns

"I've actually been in touch with Jim Cairns (Recollections 8 above) quite a number of times during the past few years."

Marion Marshall (née McLaren):  August 11, 2010

 

Recollections

18.

Lorraine Beach
(
née McGrouther)

Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England

Lorraine Beach wrote:

Searching for a photo of

My Dad

Walter McGrouther

"I'm trying to find a photo of my Dad, Walter McGrouther, as a child.  He was born in 1931 and  went to Castle Hill Primary School then to James Clarks** Secondary School, both in Edinburgh.

I've seen class photos from both schools that include my Dad's brothers, Ronnie and Rab McGrouther, but I've not yet found any photos of my Dad's class.  Do you know where I might be able to find one?"

Lorraine Beach, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England:  April 25 + May 16, 2012

**  UPDATE

Lorraine wrote again on June 26, 2013 to tell me that her dad had sadly passed on.  She also mentioned that the primary school that he went to was not Castle Hill, but  Sciennes.  That would have been from around 1935 to 1937.

So I have now added a request for photos of classes of Sciennes pupils from around that period, or any memories of Walter to this Sciennes page.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  July 15, 2013

 

Reply to Lorraine Beach?

If you remember Walter McGrouther, or know of any photos of him as a child, or of classes at Sciennes taken around 1935-37, and would like to contact Lorraine, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.

           Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  July 5, 2013

 

Recollections

19.

Marlene Deans

Edinburgh

Marlene Deans for telephoned me, asking if any of the EdinPhoto viewers remembered her husband, George Deans.

Marlene told me:

My Husband

George Deans

"My husband, George Deans attended Castlehill School from age 5 (in 1927) until he was 12 years old.

George died in 2012 at the age of 89.

Does anyone remember him?"

Marlene Deans, Edinburgh:  Telephone calls, 10+12+18 September 2013

Reply to Marlene Deans?

If you remember George Deans and would like to contact Marlene, please email me, then I'll pass on her telephone number and email address to you.

           Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 12, 2013

 

Recollections

20

Charlie Wookey

Bristol, Avon, England

Thank you to Charlie Wookey for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Charlie wrote:

Home

"I was born in Edinburgh on 12 January 1942.  We lived above the baker's shop on the corner of Fowler Terrace and Bryson Road until 1949 when we moved to England.   My mum's name was Anne Edgar Brown"

Daughters of Nanny Brown

"I  had a friend, Nanny Brown who lived in a tenement in  Grassmarket.   She had at least two daughters who went to Castle Hill School on Johnston Terrace.  I would be interested to hear from them if they are still alive."

Charlie Wookey, Bristol, Avon, England: message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook on  3 October 2013

Reply to Charlie Wookey

If you'd like to reply to the message that Charlie Wookey, please:

 post your in the EdinPhoto guestbook below the message that he left there on 3 October 2013, and/or

-  click on the email link below the message that he left in the guestbook, and send an email to him.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 7, 2014

Update

I received an email from Douglas Brown yesterday.  Douglas has news in response to the subject that Charlie refers to above.  I've now passed on Charlie's email address to Douglas, so I hope they will be able to make contact with each other soon.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 13, 2014

 

Recollections

21

Patrick Carlin

Thank you to Patrick Carlin who wrote:

1947

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

"I went to Castlehill School in 1947.  Edinburgh Castle Esplanade was our playground.  My best pal was Robert Dobson, better known as 'Robby Dobbie'.

We used to play a game of: 

"Who can reach the furthest over the Esplanade wall?"

I won.  I fell over and burst me face on the dyke at the bottom of the hill!  I still have the marks of the stitches."

Patrick Carlin:  January31, 20141

 

Recollections

22

Jemma James

Thank you to Jemma Jones for sending the message below about her great uncle, PC 'Basher' Thomson.

'Basher' has been remembered by a few people who have sent memories of growing up in Edinburgh Old Town to the EdinPhoto Web Site:

Castlehill School  Recollections 6

-  Castlehill School  Recollections 6, Reply 1

-  Cowgate  Recollections 2

-  Vennel and Brown's Place  Recollections 1

Jemma wrote- 

Willie 'Basher' Thomson

"I grew up hearing the many tales about my great uncle Willie 'Basher' Thomson.  My mother Margaret's mother and Basher were brother and sister. Sadly my mother passed away February 2011.

A Book about 'Basher'?

"Not long before my mother's death, someone was looking for information about Uncle Willie as he was writing a book about him.  Unfortunately I didn’t find out who the person was.

Should a book about Basher be in existence, I would truly desire to have a copy.

I have bits and pieces of family information about Basher ut if anyone has more information I would love to hear it."

Jemma James:  October 4, 2014

Reply to Jemma?

If you'd like to send a message to Jemma, please email me to let me know, then I'll pass on her email address to you.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  October 4, 2014

 

Recollections

23

Jemma James

Thank you to Jemma Jones for writing again about her her great uncle, PC 'Basher' Thomson.

Jemma wrote- 

Willie 'Basher' Thomson

The Grassmarket

"My great uncle Willie passed away when I was a young child and my memory of him is vague. I only know of him from the family stories.

It was said he was very kind. He was the only police officer required to police the Grassmarket as he had a good way with the residents there and was respected."

'He Died with his Boots on!

"He came home from work one day and went for a lie down still with his boots on, but when his wife called him for dinner, he didn’t reply so she went to wake him to found that he had passed away. He died with his boots on.

He was a good boxer and earned the name 'Basher Thomson'. He was a big strapping man and quite handsome with his dark skin and thick black hair."

Jemma James:  October 6, 2014

 

Recollections

24.

Jim Currie

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Jim Currie, for writing again, hoping to get in touch with Alex Guild who was in his class at Castlehill School, and also telling me about his book.

Alex wrote:

Jim Currie's Book

"Balkymor"

'The Talipes Effect'

"I'ld like to mention that I had a book published by FriesenPress Bookstore out of Vancouver which may be of interest to you and some of your readers.  The book is called "Balkymor" 'The Talipes Effect'.

The book is available on Amazon as well as FriesenPress Bookstore on line.  Go to Google and follow links with the book name or the Author name.

The story starts in Bo'ness, following a young boy with a Cub foot who spends his young life in the Lawnmarket Edinburgh near the Sick Children's Hospital during WW2.

He describes his adventures at Castlehill School, his multiple operations on the club foot, some involvement in sports, moving to Broomhouse, getting married, going to Canada and then on to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, in the Petrochemical business.

The book has about 350 pages and might be of interest to people from that time"

Jim Currie, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: Married to Doreen, 3 kids, 4 grandkids:
1 September 2015

 

Castlehill Recollections

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