Edinburgh History - Portobello

Comments from Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins, now Dorothy Addison, Canada, for sending the recollections below.

Dorothy wrote

Portobello Beach

"When I saw this photo of the crowded beach at Portobello in 1952

on your web site, it brought back good memories of my very early 'teens, working at Charlie's Cafe on the promenade."

Charlie's Cafe and Mr Cossar

"Charlie's Cafe was located right next door to where Mr Cossar lived with his family. At the foot of Bath Street, turn left, and there was Charlie's.

Dorothy was my girl friend. She was Mr. Cossar's step-daughter. She and I were inseparable. We were reaching 12 years of age and feeling pretty grown up, and desperate to earn some money."

See 6 below for more details. - Peter Stubbs June 26, 2007

Waitresses

"Dorothy's mother put in a good word for us with Charlie, and before we knew it, we were hired for all of our summer school holidays as waitresses and anything else we were able to tackle in his shop.

Apart from the kitchen staff we were the only two employees, and we loved it.

Charlie was strict but very fair, He put up with no nonsense. He never said much, he only had to look."

Boiling Water

"The place was busy from morning to night. Our biggest selling specialty was boiling water from our dear old Ascot water heater in the front shop.

The line up was non-stop from when we opened, all the way along the counter and out the front door. Every kind of container imaginable was presented to us for a fill up. We charged from 6d to 1/6d depending on the size.

Anything to get that almighty cup of tea!"

Ice Cream

"In the afternoon, Charlie would disappear to the back of the shop to make his home-made ice cream, and we knew better than to ever disturb him.

When that was ready and was brought to the front it was gone in no time. It was so delicious, and the customers knew when to expect it each day."

Tea Rooms

"Come 4 o'clock all the hungry day-trippers and holiday-makers would start to fill up our three tea rooms and Dorothy and I were run off our feet. We didn't care.

We loved it, and at the end of the day our pinafore pockets were weighed down with all our tips. Everyone was so good to us.

Charlie closed at around 8pm and when we had finished washing all the floors and wiping down the tables ready for the next day we left there a bit tired but as happy as a lark.

It was a great experience and Dorothy and I worked there every Summer from 1949 to 1952."

Does Anybody Else Remember?

"I would love to read about other young people, like ourselves, who worked around Portobello"

Dorothy Addison (nee Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada; June 5, 2007

If you have any memories of this period at Portobello, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Dorothy.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: June 9, 2007

Comments from Dorothy Jenkins and reply from Tim Black

1950s

After reading Eric Gold's comments about 'The Skylark' and about Mr Cossar, Dorothy Jenkins, Canada, wrote:

'The Skylark'

"I was so surprised to read about the Skylark, and especially Mr. Cossar's involvement. I stayed at his home many times, as his step daughter and I were very close friends for years.

I only ever heard him called Dad, or as I referred to him, as Mr Cossar. I had, in the back of my mind, that his name was Frank, but I'm not sure about that.

Do you know what years the Skylark operated in Portobello?"

Dorothy Addison (nee Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada; June 5, 2007

I don't know the answer to Dorothy's question about when 'The Skylark' pleasure boat operated from Portobello. If you can help to answer the question, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Dorothy.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: June 9, 2007

Reply 1

Thank you to Tim Black, now living in Basel, Switzerland, who replied:

"The Skylark operated during the sixties, but maybe not into the seventies. I grew up in Joppa, born 1953."

Timothy Robert Black, Basel, Switzerland: June 22, 2007

Reply 2

Eric Bower, Edinburgh tells me:

"Around 1953-54, there were three amphibious World War 2 vehicles (DUKWs, pronounced DUCKs) operating from Portobello beach, two from one landing stage and one from another landing stage nearby."

Eric Bower, Corstorphine, Edinburgh: 2007

These vehicles were later replaced by 'The Skylark', so 'The Skylark may have started operating around 1955.

More comments from Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins who wrote:

Cinemas

"During the 1940s and early 1950s when TV was in its prime, the cinema was an escape to an other world. In our neighborhood of Portobello, there was:

- the 'George Cinema' on the High Street,

- the 'County Cinema' Bath Street, and

- the 'Victory' (otherwise known as the flea pit) Bath Street.

Singing in the Rain

"I remember after seeing 'Singing in The Rain' 1952, leaving the cinema into a wet dreary night, and dancing down the street, swinging round every lamp post and singing our hearts out, all the way to Joppa where we lived.

Chummy Seats

"I became a teenager, and like all teenagers, going to the cinema with one's current boyfriend was wonderful - even more wonderful if it was the County Cinema, as that was the only one that had Chummy Seats.

After your boyfriend bought the tickets, it was a mad dash up the stairs to the balcony, to secure one of the Chummy Seats in the two back rows.

These seats were like a small love seat, no middle arm to get in the way when you wanted to be held very close.

When the lights came on, everyone occupying these seats would seem to separate and sit up kind of straight. I guess we didn't want anyone to know we had been kissing.

Those were the days."

Dorothy Addison (nee Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada; June 5, 2007

More comments from Archie Young

1950s

Thank you to Archie Young for these recollections of Portobello and Joppa. Joppa is immediately to the east of Portobello. The beach extends from Portobello to Joppa.

Archie wrote:

Move to Joppa

"When I was 2 years old, in 1947, my parents moved from a single-end flat at Abbeyhill into a Prefab at Coillesdene Avenue, Joppa. It had all the mod cons, an inside toilet, airing cupboard, fridge, washing boiler, larder and two good sized bedrooms."

Rations

"Rations were still on up to, I think, 1952. Mum would take me to a little building just off Rosefield Avenue. Here we would get the cod liver oil, and a bottle of orange juice."

Trams

"The Trams were fantastic, way back then. At the terminus outside Coillesdene House, the conductors would change the electric conductor arms from one line to another. This arm transferred the power from the line to the Tram's motor. Many a time you could hear the conductor coming out with a few unchosen adjectives.

At that time it cost a penny to travel to Portobello and tuppence to travel to Edinburgh. Eventually, the fares went up.

After school in the summer we would go along the High Street in Portobello to the Tram Depot and watch them washing the trams.

Next door was a farrier and we would watch him shoe the horses. The depot was directly across from Pipe Street. This was the street my Dad was born and brought up in, along with his two brothers and two sisters. They lived in number 15.

Sledging

"Across the road from the then 25 & 26 bus terminus was a fairly steep hill, we called it 'The Shortcut.'

In the winter, when the snow was up past our shins, we used to sledge down the hill at high speed. The trick was how to stop quickly, before we reached the main road. Our parents used to shudder when they saw us.

Toys

"We used to go to Bath Street, Portobello, where there was a shop called Coopers. They sold all sorts of toys. We'd buy a racing car made by Dinky. It cost 6/3d."

Boats

"The 'Skylark' did, indeed, operate from about the 1955, on to the sixties. Before that, before that, they had the old war time DUCK which was really popular."

Frank Cossar

"Frank Cossar, who is mentioned by others, helped to operate the 'Skylark'. I'm not sure if he had a share in it. Mr. Cossar used to be my P.E. teacher at St. Johns R.C. school.

He was a hard man and super fit, at the end of lessons he would play 'dodgy' to get us really running about. His favourite trick was to throw the ball a certain way. When the ball connected with your legs, down you would go with a thud. I had great respect for that man."

Football

"My palls and I used to play football for St .Philip's Church in the Church Football League.

Eventually, I went to work in United Glass as an apprentice engineer. My dad was a manager there, as well.

United Glass also had a football team called Portobello Primrose, I played for them from 1962 till 1967 when we were all made redundant."

Racing and Betting

"At Joppa, we would build sand tracks on the ramp from the promenade to the beach. This was quite steep. After the tracks were made, the race was on.

During the 'Glasgow Fortnight', when Portobello was crammed with Glaswegians, some of the men who were watching our race were known to be putting on bets or wagers."

Youth Clubs

"There were 3 youth clubs that we went to, and on a Saturday night we would go to the Portobello Town Hall for dancing.

A a few well-known groups played there:

- Billy J Kramer

- Gene Vincent

- Helen and the Kinsmen, who later became Nazareth and the American.

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh; June 23, 2007

Jim Campbell, Perthshire added:

Sledging

"It was interesting to read Archie Young's comments. My sister, June, and I knew Archie and his parents well as we also lived there, at Milton Terrace.

Sledging down the 'shortcut' over the bumps and stopping before you shot off into space and ended on the main road was not for the faint hearted."

Jim Campbell, Perthshire: August 6, 2007

More comments from Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins who wrote about the Portobello and Joppa rag and bone man.

Dorothy refers to Asa Wass. He was a reg and bone man well known to the people who lived in Dumbiedykes and Fountainbridge in the 1950s.

Dorothy wrote:

Rag and Bone Man

"When I read about Asa Wassa on your web site I immediately thought about Tammy Lamb The Rag and Bone Man of Portobello and Joppa. As well as I can remember, he resembled Barry Fitzgerald who was a film star in 'The Quiet Man'."

The Yard

"I have tried to pinpoint his exact location. It was close to Abercorn Park and behind the Hamilton Lodge Hotel, in the narrow lane between Joppa and Portobello, but my memory fails me as to the name of the lane. (Sorry.)

There was a high wall around his yard, and as children we would get a heist up from our palls to have a look, keeping an eye open in case he was prowling around. There was everything imaginable in there. Of course we all wanted to have a look, and when he spotted us, we would literally fall down and run for our lives. We knew he did not like us nosing around, and I suppose that made us want to look all the more."

In the Street

"Tammy was on the road almost daily with his horse and wagon, travelling along at a clip of around 5 to 10 mph. His route seemed to be Portobello and Joppa.

When we saw him coming we would run up to his wagon to see what stuff he had collected, I guess we were a bit of a pest.

In those days, with no telephone, one could not call for a pick- up, so it was a case of watching out for him and giving him a wave. He would stop and pick up the goods. Sometimes he had a helper with him."

Millionaire?

"Everyone said he was a millionaire, you could have fooled me, he sure didn't look like one."

Does anybody else remember?

"I wonder if any of your readers knew more about him, and if he was known by any other name."

Dorothy Addison (nee Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada; July 4, 2007

If you remember anything about the rag and bone man, please e-mail me so that I can tell Dorothy, and add more details to the web site.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: July 6, 2007

10.

Comments from Eleanor Macintyre

Question

Eleanor wrote:

The Cassidy Family

"I recently met lady from the Cassidy family. She was visiting Edinburgh from England. Her grandparents lived in Kings Road and the son and his children lived in 1 Tower Street.

She went on to tell me about how the Cassidy family did the catering for the Cafe in the open air swimming pool and also the shows. They were all involved in the pottery.

The father and son were both named Hugh Cassidy. I would be interested if anyone has any memories or photos of this family. Everyone I have spoke to says they were a well known family.

It would be great if someone could give some feedback about this Cassidy family. It would mean so much to this lady."

Eleanor Macintyre, Portobello, Edinburgh: July 16, 2007

If you can provide any info or photos about this family, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Eleanor.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs, July 22, 2007

Reply 1

Jim Campbell, Perthshire replied:

The Cassidy Family

"I knew the Cassidy family very well in the early 'sixties, but I don't recognise the name Hugh. The Cassidy family did run the catering at the open air pool, also the fish & chip shop at the front.

The father was Lawrence. There were three sons, Lawrence (Laurie) Peter (Peedie) and Paul, also a daughter Veronica. I met the family through my dad Jimmy Campbell who was in the fish & poultry business. In fact, when he retired was the manager of Mac Fisheries in Castle Street."

My Dad and Grandfather

"The family were friends of my dad, and in fact originally had a small fishmongers near the Portobello tram depot. He often helped out in the evenings to fillet fish for the chippy when they were busy.

My grandfather, Jimmy Gibson of Craigentinny, who was in his seventies, worked for them at the pool during the summer. I sometimes worked in the school hols, loading sacks of tatties into the peeler and then the chipper."

Tea Room

"The Cassidy family also had a tea room at the bottom of Bath street. The name 'Sheddons' comes to mind. Another venue they ran was on the promenade near the Seabeach Hotel and the Crazy Putting, but the name escapes me.

The family lived for many years at Seaveiw Terrace, overlooking the Forth."

Scottish Borders and Perthshire

"Eventually Mr & Mrs Cassidy went into the hotel business in in the Scottish Borders - Roxburgh? I'm not sure. [See reply 3 below.]

I now live in Perthshire and in the early eighties met one of the sons, Laurie, in Perth. He had a pub/restaurant 'The Grill'. It was in South Street, Perth - but not any longer."

Jim Campbell, Perthshire: August 6, 2007

Reply 2

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh replied:

Cassidy Family Hotel

"I was reading the article on the Cassidy family by Jim Campbell. What he has stated is 100% correct. They did have a hotel. It was, I think, in Roxburgh.

It was called the Crown Hotel. From what my dad told me, the father could have played for Celtic or he did for a short while. I used to pal about with Peter and Paul.

Cassidy Family at Portobello

"Hugh Cassidy and his family lived in a bungalow a few doors up from what was called the Ramsay Technical & Engineering College, opposite Kings Road, Portobello.

The son had a small shop at the foot of Fishwives Causeway. I think it was one of the early driving schools. He used to drive about in a large American car.

I'm also sure that they had a daughter as well. The father was married to Annie Codona who owned the Portobello Fun Fair."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh: September 24, 2007

Reply 3

Thank you to Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh for writing again with more news of the Cassidy family.

Archie wrote:

Cassidy Family Hotel

"I went for a run today down to Peebles. I went into the Crown Hotel for a meal and who do I fined - none other than Peter Cassidy. He was overjoyed at us meeting again

I found out that his brother, Paul I think, owns the Cross Keys in Peebles. So it seems, that the Cassidy family's hotel business was in the Scottish Borders, but in Peebles, not Roxburgh.

Peter Cassidy sends his regards to James Campbell and June."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh: October 16, 2007

11.

Request from Lucy Ball

Lucy Ball, Portobello, is hoping to interview people who remember Portobello Bathing Pool. Edinburgh, wrote:

Lucy wrote:

Open Air Bathing Pool

"Hi there, Im doing a project at college and I've decided to do it on Portobello beach, mainly focused on the open air pool it was once home to.

I'm looking for someone who either knows a fair bit about it or can remember it for an interview? It will only be shown in my college so no need to worry there.

If you have any interesting memories that you would like to share with me, that would be amazing. I'm hoping to shoot the interview a.s.a.p. - Dec 07 / Jan 08."

Lucy Ball, Portobello, Edinburgh: EdinPhoto guestbook, December 4, 2007

Lucy added:

"This would be just a short interview. If you would be interested in being interviewed or could suggest anyone who you think would, that would be much appreciated.

The film will only be shown to fellow students in my class, and I will not make any money from it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this."

Lucy Ball, Portobello, Edinburgh: by e-mail, December 4, 2007

If you'd like to contact Lucy, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to her. Thank you.

- Peter Stubbs: December 4, 2007.

12.

Comments from Matt O'Neill

Thank you to Matt O'Neill for sending me these memories of Portobello Beach in the 1950s.

Matt wrote:

Portobello Beach

"A day at Portobello beach Edinburgh was a unique sight to behold. I glanced over the handrail and it looked like an invasion of albino midgets, armed to the teeth with Irn Bru bottles and bad tempers.

Glaswegians

The racket from the Glaswegian day trippers was unreal. It sounded like a cross between cats in heat and arguing chimps. There was several male apparitions wading ankle deep in the half-frozen water.

Their attire was uniquely Scottish for a dip in the sea. Long pants rolled up to just below the knees and a handkerchief on the head. Evidently all four corners of the handkerchief must have a mandatory small knot.

Families

The squealing children were the color of the purest driven Scottish snow. The matriarch of the family unit is rarely seen in the water as it would wash the makeup from her legs and expose her checkerboard tattooed inner thighs from artificial winter heat.

Her beach wear was no different from her day-to- day street clothes, and of course the ubiquitous plastic hair curlers were in place, along with the head scarf to cover the metal and plastic from prying eyes.

Her hair was held in perpetual readiness for some future event that has been lost to memory. Curlers and head scarf were part of the Scottish woman's dress code, much like the veil is to a Saudi girl.

Food and Drink

Around noon, the kids start screaming for mince pies, one for each kid. A glance at the pie after the first bite confirms the appropriate amount of white solid fat present, like icing on an inner cake. The child's teeth sharply outlined in the fat as if carved there by a master artist.

These treats are then washed down with luke warm Irn Bru. On beach outings such as this, the Scottish preference appears to favor raw Mars bars for dessert.

Afternoon

About this time dozens of guys all over the beach are saying to the wives.

"Well hen, um jist gawn up yonder fir a wee dram."

He digs out the tar and excrement from between his toes with a lolly stick and pulls his white socks over his sandy feet. A pair of sandals over the white socks completes his dress and away he goes, just like always.

The matriarch pats her scarf to make sure her curlers are still there and relaxes a little in her beach chair. She daydreams of when she came to this very beach as a young lass, and of the unfulfilled promise of her youth."

Matt O'Neill, South Texas, USA: December 30, 2007