Edinburgh History - Portobello in the 1960s

Recollections Portobello from 1950s
1.	Eric GOLD East London	- Jock the Donkey - The Skylark
2.	Eleanor WOOD	- Tower Street Amusement Arcade - The Skylark - Donkeys
3.	Eric GOLD East London	- The Skylark - Donkeys
4.	Archie FOLEY Joppa, Edinburgh	- The Skylark
5.	Carol IRWIN Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland	- Portobello Open Air Pool
6.	George T SMITH British Columbia, Canada	- Portobello Open Air Pool
7.	Eleanor WOOD	- Tower Street Amusement Arcade - The Skylark - Donkeys
8.	Michael MELROSE Edinburgh	- The Skylark
9.	Hugh LOVATT Edinburgh	- The Skylark - The Beach - Towerbank School
10.	George RENTON Mississauga, Ontario, Canada	- Two Skylarks? - St John's School - Home - Outdoors - Return to Portobello - Brook Bond Chimps - Railways - Free Entertainment
11.	Archie YOUNG Moredun, Edinburgh	- Di Marco's Cafe - St John's School - Neighbours - Prefabs - Televisions - In the Street - Eastfield - Coillesdene House - Toilets and Cafe - Paddling Pool
12.	Jim CAMPBELL St Fillans, Perthshire, Scotland	- George Renton & Family - Fish Lorries - The Journey South - Food - Home Again - Ice Cubes
13.	Linda MONTGOMERY Old Town, Edinburgh	- The Gibson Family - Deck Chairs - Lost Children - The Beach
14.	Murray WILSON	- Power Station - Open Air Pool - DUCKs - Cinema - Cassidy Family - Powderhall Sprints - Trams - 1929 Riley - Change - Regards
15.	Thomas QUIGLEY SW France	- St John's School
16.	Sylvia WILSON nee MURRAY Northamptonshire, England	- Seabeach Hotel question
17.	Alistair FRASER	- Growing up in Portobello - Glassworks - Friends - Move to Australia
18.	Bob WILSON Leeds, West Yorkshire, England	- The Tea Shop
19.	Patricia MacDONALD nee THOMSON Portobello, Edinburgh	- Message from George Renton - Message from Archie Young - Memories
20.	Keith MILLER	- The Skylark
21.	Alistair FRASER Australia	- Potteries - Railways - Swimming - Summer Holidays
22.	Christine ANDERSON (nee KEITH) Duddingston, Edinburgh	- Portobello Town Hall - Friends - Demarco's
22.	Christine ANDERSON (nee KEITH) Duddingston, Edinburgh	- Portobello Town Hall - Friends - Demarco's

Recollections

Eric Gold

East London

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London for telling me the following story from the time when he was living at Craigmillar.

Jock the Donkey

"When my mother took me and my family to Portobello on the hot sunny school holidays from Craigmillar. It was like a dream come true, all the shows and a trip on the famous Skylark pleasure boat.

The Cadonna family ran the donkeys and the Amusement Park. My PT teacher, Mr Cossar, used to work for the Cadonna family and was in charge of the donkeys and the Skylark.

On the beach at Portobello we would queue up for the donkey ride as there must have been about 12 donkeys, maybe more - but Jock, I will never forget him. He was a light grey donkey with black patches.

I said to Mr Cossar, "Can I feed him?" and he said, "OK but watch your fingers," I fed him sweets and my candy floss and Jock and I were friends, so I thought, and I had a great ride on him thinking I was the Lone Ranger.

But about 2 weeks later I was there again with a carrot for Jock. He ate it and caught my finger in his mouth, but my mother pulled me away from him very swiftly as Jock would have taken my hand off. ..."

The Skylark

"... It was my fault really, and as Mr Cossar was fair and square and said to my mum, "Eric can have the rest of the season free sailing on the Skylark, but don't tell anyone as I am his PT instructor at school in Leith."

So all in all it was Jock that done me a favour as it was the Skylark at Portobello that gave me the urge to go to sea. Not forgetting Mr Cossar too.

I did bump into Mr Cossar in Princess Street years later and we spoke about Jock and the Skylark which cruised the Forth. Sometimes it would pass Granton, what a treat.

He did ask me what I was working at, and I said that I'm a first class waiter aboard the Queen Mary, He jokingly said "You can work for me on the Skylark (ha ha ha)."

He was the Best PT teacher ever in Edinburgh as he would do other schools too, and had a great sense of humour.

Eric Gold, East London. March 20+21, 2006

Recollections

Eleanor Wood

Thank you to Eleanor Wood who wrote:

Tower Street Amusement Arcade

"I was brought up in Tower Street in 1962. I lived in the old block of houses right at the back of the shows. My dad used to empty the machines at night, I would see him with a big silver box full of pennies.

The first song I can remember blaring out was 'My Boy Lollypop'."

'The Skylark'

"During the day the tractor used to pull out a gangway and push it into the sea. We would walk onto it, once the tide came in, and board my favourite boat 'The Skylark'.

It took you out into the fourth and a wee trip around and back. I loved it.

Does anyone have a picture of the Skylark now? I'd love to see it again. What happened to it?

Someone told me it lay on the beach and fell apart, they came along and flung sand over it? I cant remember that."

Donkeys

"The donkeys were kept next to Rosefied Cottages, on the corner of Mentone Avenue. I felt sorry for them. When I went to school Towerbank primary they made such a noise, and it stunk.

Tower Street was full of wee cottages and old tenements opposite. Also, I think there was factories opposite. Dose anyone have pictures?"

Eleanor Wood: May 16, 2007

Recollections

Eric Gold

East London

Thank you to Eleanor Wood who wrote:

'The Skylark'

"The Skylark was sailed by a man called Mr Cossar, our gym teacher. He was related to the Cadonna family who had the pier attractions and the amusements stalls in Portobello in the 1960s, when I used to go there.

I can quite believe the Cadonnas buried the Skylark on the beach in Portobello (ha ha ha ha).

Mr Cossar and the Cadonnas were friends of our family and Mr Cossar said if you can steer the Skylark around Inchkeith Island I will get you a job as captain on the Queen Mary (ha ha ha ha)."

Eric Gold, East London: May 19, 2007

A few years later, Eric got a job on the Queen Mary - but not Captain!

- Peter Stubbs: May 19, 2007

Donkeys

"The donkeys were well kept, wherever they stayed. The Cadonna family had owned them too and never mistreated them. They were well fed and the vet called in once a week to give them a check up.

I met Mr Cossar when I was at sea. He told me about the donkeys. I was also a friend of John Cadonna. The Cadonnas and our family were as thick as thieves.

Eric Gold, East London: May 19, 2007

Recollections

10.

George Renton

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to George Renton who wrote:

Two 'Skylarks'?

"I grew up in and around Porty and Joppa in the 'fifties and 'sixties. I have just read the thread about the 'Skylark' and would like to add that although quite young at the time it seems to me that there may have been two boats, one after the other that were named SKYLARK, and I don't mean when they ran the duck.

The second SKYLARK was a better boat than the first. Perhaps they did a re-fit and changed the deck layout to accommodate more passengers."

St John's School

"I also went to Saint John's school and had Mr Cossar as a teacher. I recall he used to mention his Russian heritage, and would get your attention by saying: "Right! Sports fans." He was quite pleasant, but for the most part they where a strap- happy lot, and I got my share.

I remember Maria Di Marco, with long brown hair and olive skin. She would stand up and take double-handers without a tear. I believe her family had a restaurant in Porty, as did the Valvona family."

Home

"When I was very young we also lived on Milton Terrace ** in a prefab. My late brother, Jimmy Smith, would be known to June and Jim, as he was the same age as June.

Later, we moved to Coillesdene Grove. I'd walk by myself back to the old neighbourhood, and visit the Campbell's. Jim's Mom would always have some frozen orange-flavoured ice cubes in the fridge, and his dad drove a van with Mac Fisheries lettering on the side.

A couple of houses up the street, there was a man who had an aviary in his back green. He had finches.

Further up the street, on a close, lived a large family named Thompson or Johnston. I had two older sisters named Janette, and Marie. They where closer in age to their kids."

** Please see also see Jim Campbell's memories of Milton Terrace below.

Outdoors

"The surrounding area had lots of vacant tracts of land, such as the the one Jim and Archie would sled down. David, Harry and Jack lived next to that one. Their Mum was always baking and made us hot jam turnovers.

All and all, it was a great place to grow up as a kid, and safe. I always wandered alone, with my dog, from Brunstane Farms, to Millerhill Marshaling Yards, Portobello Cemetery, Musselburgh Harbour, the rocks, the beach and Jewel Cottages. As Rab C. would say: "I walk alone". I was a born roamer.

If I took any of the other kids with me, there would be a collection of parents waiting at my house and I'd get a killin' when I got home."

Return to Portobello

"I was home in 2006. First time in 41 years. I visited the old hood, stopped in at the Ormie to see if any of my brothers' pals where about, but my timing wasn't right.

I will be returning next month for about a week. I plan to drop into Foresters in Porty and see if anyone remembers any of my school chums.

We used to go to the football matches at the glass works."

Brook Bond Chimps

"I wonder if anyone remembers when the Brook Bond Chimps came to the Town Hall, and the collectors' cards that came in the tea packets."

Railways

"Taking the train, I remember riding in the guard's van because we couldn't reach the outside door handle by ourselves.

I remember the baskets of racing pigeons, outside the station master's office. We always had an eye on the signals when playing near the tracks, hoping it might be an express."

Free Entertainment

"Back then, you didn't need money to have fun all day. Life was free for the taking, one day at a time.

We came to Canada in 1965. I am happily married with two wonderful girls, one in college, the other in University.

I have been long haul trucking for 32 years. As beautiful as North America is, it's no' Scotland."

George Renton, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: March 25, 2008

Recollections

11.

Archie Young

Moredun, Edinburgh

Thank you to Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh, who replied to George Renton's comments in 10 above.

Archie wrote:

Di Marco's Cafe

"The girl who George Renton recalls from St John's School may have been Margarita Di Marco. She had two older brothers, Tony and Joseph.

I remember Papa Di Marco in his little Cafe, opposite the Plough Bar the High Street Portobello. Papa whom my dad knew well had done service in the Italian Army.

However, through time, the three kids took over the running of the Cafe and Tony the eldest was the Manager. We enjoyed going in and getting mushy peas and vinegar."

St John's School

"George's recollection of St John's is spot on. They loved to hand out the belt. Mr. Meechan was the Headmaster. His wife, Mary, was a Teacher there as well. We called her "Crazy Mary". Then we had Miss Gourley, Miss Stone, Miss Jordan and Sister Campion 'Darth Vader' in today's terms. Mother Vincent she was quite nice."

Neighbours

"George wrote about Coillesdene Grove and the man who had the finches, he also had budgies. His name was Mr Allen, his son Ross was one of my pals. Perhaps George can remember the others in the area:

- the three brothers, Brian, Denis and Garry Dugan,

- Ross Allen,

- Andrew Owenson,

- Albert Johnson,

- Kenny Taylor,

- Andrew Anderson,

- Donald Ball and his sisters Doreen and Dorothy,

- Louie Byres,

- Robert Ramsay,

- Jimmy Anderson who was my Best Man,

- Marie Melville,

- Kathleen Allison,

- Alan Ramsay,

- Michael Bell,

- the three brothers Scott, Ian and Derek Balfour."

Prefabs

"Then there was the Thomson family, I think there was twelve of them, all living in a prefab. They were a nice happy family, I think they did well for themselves when they grew up. Their father drove one of the early Concrete Mix trucks with the big mixer on the back. After we left Coillesdene I heard that he was killed when it rolled over, such a tragedy to a nice family."

Televisions

Kathleen Allison's mum and dad had the first TV within the prefabs of Coillesdene. We would all queue up outside the gate to see if we could get in. I was lucky, being her pal I was always first, then my mum and dad got a TV, so we were the second family to have one.

Children's Hour started at five o clock till five thirty, then later on for the adults it started at seven o clock till nine thirty. Of course by this time we would all be in bed. We were in bed by eight o clock."

In the Street

"I remember Asa Wasi. Then there was Onion Johnny, he rode a push bike loaded with onions, he wore a black or dark blue beret.

Another chap on a bike came round to sharpen knives shears and whatever. On the bike was a grinding wheel, I think his bike had a stand built into it, he would stand it up then lock the grinding wheel to the pedals so it would turn. It was quite a crafty set-up.

Then the steam road roller would come along and we would all get a free ride on it."

Eastfield

"I wonder if George can remember Roper's Paper Shop at Eastfield, where the old 25 & 26 Bus Terminus was. You would walk along towards Eastfield. Roper's shop was on the corner at the start of the buildings. It's now a house.

At Eastfield there was a Petrol Station and Garage. Behind that, there was a small caravan site, with only about a half dozen caravans or so."

Coillesdene House

"Back towards Joppa, and opposite the toilets, was the large Coillesdene House. I remember a lad that I used to pal about with lived there with his family and many others. Sadly, I can't remember his name.

Coillesdene House was like a temporary lodging house where family's were waiting to be re-housed. I think the rent then was about five shillings a week. The room his family had was enormous with elaborate furnishings from the original owner's days. The council must have made a fortune when they sold it. Now on the site there is high rise flats."

Toilets and Cafe

"Across the road were the Ladies and Gents toilets. My mum was in charge of the Ladies. Next to that, on the corner leading onto the Prom was a Cafe. I can't remember what it was called.

The man who owned it was big in build, bald and had a hearing aid, the hearing aid must have been turned down as we had to shout at him with our orders. Boy, was he grumpy!"

Paddling Pool

"Behind the toilets the council had built a paddling pool. This was great in the summer. It was in the letter 'D' shape

All the kids were happy as Larry, paddling about and sailing their wee boats. Eventually the morons stepped in and started to throw clear coloured broken glass in it. Some kids got really nasty cuts. Eventually nobody would use it and it fell into decay. It has now gone."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh: March 30, 2008

Recollections

12.

Jim Campbell

St Fillans, Perthshire, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Campbell for sending this message after reading George Renton's comments about his Milton Terrace above.

Jim wrote:

George Renton & Family

"It's been a while since I've been on the site and was delighted to read George's memories of our childhood and my parents. I remember his parents, Mary and George Renton and of course, George, Jimmy, Jeanette and Maria well."

Fish Lorries

George's dad drove lorries for British Road Services, Ocean Fishing Company - Granton / Newhaven, Joe Croan and Saddlers of Leith.

When I was around twelve, I used to hang around when the lorry was parked outside our house, loaded with fish boxes to go to markets down south - usually Hull or Grimsby.

George would see me and say, "Are you coming?". I would rush into my mum and dad and say, "I'm going with Mr Renton to 'wherever' ."

Young George was just a toddler at the time and wanted to join the adventure too, but was regretfully told by his dad, "You're too wee, son - get back hame". Usually Jeanette or Marie would come and get him and drag him back home crying (poor wee soul!)."

The Journey South

The passenger side of the lorry was full of old fish- smelling ropes and the engines were in the cab, with a big padded cover over them. They were very noisy and hot.

Half the time, I fell asleep before Tranent. There were no motorways then and the main road was the A1 south. At that time, at night, there was hardly any traffic on the road and it was fascinating to go through places like Morpeth and Alnwick."

Food

It felt like we had the whole world to ourselves as we went through deserted towns. The highlight was stopping in one of the aforementioned places, at one of the trucker's Greasy Spoon cafes. George always used to buy me the biggest mug of tea and delicious breakfast fry-up I had ever seen.

When we arrived at our destination the boxes of fish were unloaded at the market for the morning auction. Mr Renton would then take us to another cafe for mugs of tea and toast before we helped him to load the lorry with empty fish boxes for the return journey.

I felt like a king and loved accompanying him on his travels."

Home Again

On getting home, he would say, "I'm away for a kip, then I'm off to 'The Ormelie'." Mr Renton was always immaculate in his bib and brace overalls and polished boots. His swept back hair, with centre parting reminded me of Dean Martin. He was a nice guy and I remember him with great fondness.

Mary Renton was also a lovely person. When the family moved to Coillesdene, I visited them, after I became an engineer in the Merchant Navy, when on leave.

As I had several months' leave to take, George got me a job, for a few months, driving locally for Saddlers Transport, Leith."

Ice Cubes

"I'm amazed that young George remembers the orange ice cubes. All the prefabs had fridges, a luxury, in these days and they ran off gas. Those were happy times."

Jim Campbell, St Fillans Perthshire, Scotland: July 13, 2008

Recollections

13.

Linda Montgomery

Old Town, Edinburgh

Thank you to Linda Montgomery added:

The Gibson Family

"One of the families whose children I played with when I was young at Niddrie Mill was the Gibsons. Their father was a coal merchant in the winter time, delivering across Edinburgh, and in the summertime, he rented deck-chairs at the bottom of Bath Street in Portobello."

Deck Chairs

There were two girls around my age, Heather, who was two years younger, and her sister Julia, who has unhappily been dead for many years. We three were on the beach most days during the school holidays helping out. By that, I mean:

- carrying the deck chair to where the hirer wanted to sit, showing them how to put it up - yes, it's not just in comedy sketches that people get tangled up in their chair, and

- collecting them after the folks had left the beach.

We would get free rides on the donkeys as well, since the man who owned them kept them in stables next door to where the deck chairs were kept during the summer.

For doing this we would get lunch in one of the restaurants on the beach, and ice cream and money to spend at the shows or in the arcade.

Lost Children

Sometimes we would meet up with other children who were at the beach with their parents, but had wandered too far away and had got lost, and it was only when it began to get cooler and they were hungry, that they would begin to get upset !

Luckily, there was a place where lost children would go, or be taken to, just off the beach.

The Beach

"As a teenager, I had a friend who lived just near Towerbank school, and she told me that her father, who got up early in the morning to work on the railway, used to take their dog, (a wee west highland terrier) for a run on the beach.

Goodness knows what anyone meeting him must've thought, he would be wearing a pair of swimming trunks and a pair of waders, so that he wouldn't have to wash sand off his feet and legs before going to work.

On another day at the beach, there was a bunch of local kids playing Cowboys and Indians, and one of these wee lads was wearing one of his mother's sanitary towels as a mask!! In these far off times they were with loops at each end, just handy for looping round his ears. I wonder what his mother did when she found out?"

Linda (now Lyndsay) Montgomery, Old Town, Edinburgh: July 21, 2008

Recollections

14.

Murray Wilson

Thank you to Murray Wilson who wrote:

Power Station

"I was not a resident of Portobello, but lived for eight months in 1954/55 at Gray's Commercial Hotel in Abercorn Terrace whilst working on the construction of the Portobello Power Station. It was a bit closer to the town centre than the Hamilton Lodge and across the road from a small park."

Open Air Pool

"As you know the power station was right next door to the open air swimming pool. The pool could be heated by passing the condenser cooling water from the power station through the pool on its way back into the Forth. Another notable feature of the pool was its wave- making equipment."

DUCKs

"DUCKs were mentioned. The power station had one of its own to give access to the cooling water inlets out in the Forth, which were marked by small towers."

Cinema

"Almost next door to Gray's Hotel was a cinema, I don't think it was one of the three mentioned by another of your correspondents. We used to go there in our slippers.

Cassidy Family

"We had two Cassidys working for us at the power station. The elder was Willie, he'd been gassed in WW1, the other was his son but I don't remember his name. Whether they were related to the café people I don't know."

Powderhall Sprints

"There was a bar run by Chris Lynch, the handicapper for the Powderhall Sprints.

One of our fitters was a past winner of the big race, his name was Sam Downie, but that was not his running name. I think he had won about 1950, he was still competing New Year's Day 1955."

Trams

"Of course the trams were still operating, though getting a bit ramshackle. Coming down from Edinburgh at night if there were few stops to be made was quite exciting, the tram pitched and bucked and the window frames moved relative to the glass."

1929 Riley

"I had a 1929 Riley 9 car and on rainy or snowy days it could become quite difficult to steer as its narrow tyres tended to get into the depressed tracks and want to follow them.

Change

"Looking at an aerial photo tonight, it seems much of what I remember is no longer there. The power station won't be missed, but I'd think the open air pool would be."

Regards

"Regards to all old Portobelloeons."

Murray Wilson: November 3, 2008

Recollections

15.

Thomas (Tam) Quigley

SW France

Thomas Quigley, who now lives in south-west France, recently posted this message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Thomas wrote

St John's School

"I attended St John's school in the late 1950s. I know it changed to a girls' school some time later, but I don't know when.

I recall the names mentioned in some of the other replies. I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers me, especially the boys from Craigmillar.

I played football for the school, and remember Mr Meechan, the Headmaster. I also had trails for Edinburgh Schoolboys, along with Jimmy Mines who lived in the city of Edinburgh.

Hoping to hear from someone."

email, November 27, 2008 + message posted in EdinPhoto guest book by
Thomas Quigley, SW France: , November 27, 2008.

Reply to Thomas

If you'd like to contact Thomas, you'll find his email address in one of the two messages that he posted in the EdinPhoto guest book on November 27, 2008.

- Peter Stubbs: December 1, 2008

Recollections

16.

Sylvia Wilson

nee Murray

Northamptonshire, England

Sylvia Wilson (nee Murray) lived at Greenside Row, then Bingham, went to St Francis' School, Niddrie, then St John's school Portobello.

Sylvia wrote:

Question

Seabeach Hotel

"Does anybody know of any pictures of Seabeach Hotel, Portobello? I've been searching for a picture of the hotel. I used to sing there with a band in the late 1950's.

I was also resident singer at the British Legion Club in Portobello each weekend in the 1960's."

Sylvia Wilson (nee Murray), Northamptonshire, England: December 16, 2008

Messages for Sylvia

If you know of any pictures of Seabeach Hotel, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Sylvia.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: December 18, 2008

Reply to Sylvia

Thank you to Laura Robertson for your reply (sent on September 27, 2009) telling me that your grandparents used to own Seabeach Hotel at Portobello.

I've now passed your reply to Sylvia Wilson. I hope she contacts you soon.

- Peter Stubbs: September 18, 2009

Recollections

17.

Alistair Fraser

Australia

Thank you to Alistair Fraser who wrote:

Growing up in Portobello

"Thanks for the tour (photos) of my childhood in Portobello, and simpler days, now gone. I was born there 1947.

My dad was a shunter at Porty railway station (goods yard). My mother and grandmother owned and ran a boarding house just under the bridge at Brighton Place.

I used to watch the crowds on Trades Week, especially Glasgow Trades, come down in their hundreds past my house. Cooks Hotel was right on the beach front, if my memory serves me well."

Glass Works

"The other industry, never mentioned, was the glass works. The horses and carts used to collect sand from the beach and take it to the factory.

My mother would send me out to collect the droppings for he roses.

Large Clydesdales pulled these huge carts, two wheels only, and this went on 5 days a week with three horses and carts doing all the work. The sand level dropped over the years. They blamed tides and erosion. I blame the glass works."

Friends

"I knew Ned Barney very well and used to swim with him. My friends included Ken Buchanan, Derek Davidson, and Peter Warrilow, whose dad was Head Photographer with the Daily Mail in Edinburgh."

Move to Australia

"Since retiring from the Army 1991, I have lived in Australia with my family. I try to inspire my children to go and explore. This stems from my childhood, living in Portobello."

Alistair Fraser, Australia: January 27, 2009

Recollections

19.

Patricia Macdonald (nee Thomson)

Portobello, Edinburgh

Thank you to Patricia Macdonald for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Patricia wrote:

Message from George Renton

"I'd like to know more about comments from George Renton (10 above). He spoke about a Thomson or Johnston family who stayed up a close.

My maiden name was Thomson. I stayed at 14 Milton Grove, Joppa. I didn't stay up a close but we did have a grass triangle in front of our house beside a wee cul-de-sac.

Some neighbours that I recall were:

- Tom Ewing. He was a postman

- The Scollings

- The McKays, who stayed opposite the Scollings

- The Ledbetters, who stayed across the road

If George remembers any of this i would like to hear from him."

Message from Archie Young

"Archie Young (11 above) spoke about Thomson family who stayed in prefab. It was a large family. The father was killed by cement mixer rolling over. My father was killed but not by a cement mixer,

I was born in Milton Grove in 1948. Mum and Dad were Alex and Annie. Siblings were Yvonne, Douglas, Patricia (me), Derek, Elaine, Ronnie, Alexis, Gerald and Stephen.

Then we moved to Bingham in 1958, where my Mum had her 10th baby, Kenneth.

Dad started his own business as a lime spreader, then in 1962 he was killed by his tractor rolling off the back of his lorry. Could this be one & the same? I'd love love to hear from Archie concerning this."

Memories

I remember:

- the 25 & 26 bus terminus. My sister was knocked down there in 1956. So sad.

- Di Marco's, on the High Street

- the rag and bone man

- Onion Johnny

- the man who sharpened knives

- the toilets and cafe where we used to get our ice cream in summer.

Oh what great days!"

Patricia Macdonald, Portobello, Edinburgh: Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book, July 5, 2009

Patricia: I've sent email messages to George Renton and Archie Young, giving them your email address and letting them know about your message above. Perhaps you'll hear from one of them soon.

Peter Stubbs: July 7, 2009

Recollections

21.

Alistair Fraser

Australia

Thank you to Alistair Fraser for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Alistair wrote:

Potteries

"I lived in Brighton Place, and used to watch the potter making pots etc. when the pottery was was in full swing,

Railways

"My dad worked for the railways when the station was open. We watched the crowds come down for their holidays for the Glasgow Fair."

Swimming

"Portobello was a busy centre. The pool was a big attraction for kids like me - pay at the entrance and spend the day there, or stay until you became so cold that hypothermia was setting in.

I used to pal around with Kenny Buchanan, and try to keep up with old Ned Barney as he set off for the Pans each day. He was one of my heros."

Summer Holidays

"Our summer holidays were full and we had nothing - maybe a push bike we had made from scrap. I have many, many happy memories. We had no internet, no mobile phones and you made your own fun.

When I see the kids nowadays, I don't feel sorry for them. I think, 'Look what your missing'."

Alistair Fraser, Australia: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook: January 2, 2010

Recollections

22.

Christine Anderson (nee Keith)

Duddingston, Edinburgh

Thank you to Christine Anderson (nee Keith) who wrote:

Portobello Town Hall

"There was dancing at Portobello Town Hall on a Saturday night. The group appearing at the time when I went there was 'The Mark Five' I also remember Gene Vincent being there.

Upstairs, there was a Milk Bar where you would get a glass of orange and a packet of crisps - no alcohol ! I remember 'Big Hughie' who took the money and allowed you to in."

Friends

"I still remember some of the people who frequented there:

- Mike Collins

- Lockie Marshall - His father had a Butcher's shop in Portobello.

- Andy Fairholm

- Janice Watters

- Anne Laidlaw

and many more who were part of the Portobello circuit."

Demarco's

Sunday afternoon was spent in Jakes Locker, then after we went on to Demarcos cafe for hot peas and vinegar !!!

I hope this may jostle some of you viewers !!

Christine Anderson (nee Keith), Duddingston, Edinburgh May 18, 2009

Recollections

23.

Brian Ware

North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Brian Ware who wrote:

William Arthur Ware

"I wonder if anyone can help me with a family query. I am looking for any info (good or bad) about the WARE family in Portobello.

My late dad, William Arthur Ware:

- had a shoe shop at 233 High Street, Porty, next to the old Bluebell Inn.

- was, for a while, 'in partnership' with a McWilliams.

- had 4 cars, perhaps a taxi service

- had a red Norton bike with sidecar.

- was supposed to have fruit/veg shops in Porty.

- had a caravan in the old caravan park at Eastfield.

- always went to Copeland's restaurant for his lunch.

- lived in a house behind the wee Gift Box on the Prom. The houses are gone now.

I only lived with him for about a year."

Portobello Entertainment

"I remember the Skylark, the Ducks and the Fun City etc. at Portobello. A guy called Dave/Davy ran the Magic Mirrors is said to be a friend of my dad.

If anyone has any knowledge of the family I would be pleased to hear from them."

Brian Ware, North Berwick, East Lothian Scotland:
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: March 4, 2010.

Reply to Brian

If you'd like to send a reply to Brian, please either add your reply to the guest book message that he posted on March 4, 2010 or else email me, then I'll pass your message on to him.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs, March 4, 2010