Edinburgh History - 1958 - Extracts from the Evening Dispatch

News in 1958

News reported in the Evening Dispatch in 1958 included:

- 'The Big Freeze' and heavy snow Jan 20-24

- USA launches first satellite to orbit the world Feb 1
Headline: 'American Sputnik up at last' (Russia had already launched two sputniks.)

- Manchester United team in Air Crash on take off at Munich Feb 6
A BEA plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed and burst into flames on its 3rd attempt to take off from Munich Airport in snow and ice. 21 people died including 7 Manchester United footballers.
The Evening Dispatch reported that the club's Manager was amongst the deaths. In fact he was one of those seriously injured. He recovered; he died in 1994 aged 85.

- Leith Docks strike Mar 4-7

- Floods and storm damage at Portobello April 4

- Donald Campbell sets new water speed record, 248mph, in 'Bluebird' Nov

Pedestrian Crossing

Most of the photos in the Evening Dispatch were of groups of people in Edinburgh. However, the paper also published a number of photographs of views around Edinburgh. I particularly liked these:

Edinburgh's newest form of pedestrian control started today - amid confusion. Five policemen were on duty at the corner of North Bridge and the High Street to educate the public in the use of the "Cross Now" pedestrian buttons.

With people on opposite corners pressing the button at the same time, impatiently waiting for the instructions to cross to flash on, and finally setting off against the traffic stream, the policemen had to step in and control the cars.

First reactions from the public were "too complicated" and "I can't understand it". A motorist said "This has always been an awkward crossing ... now it's twice as bad" and an off-duty policeman commented: "It's an experiment, but I don't think it will work."

Photographs in the Paper

In addition to printing many photos of groups of people in Edinburgh, the Evening Dispatch also published a number of photographs of scenes around Edinburgh. I particularly liked these:

Views around Edinburgh
Jan 6	pp.8-9	Cramond
Jan 19	p.1	Duke Street - winter
Mar 7	p.1	Alhambra, Leith Walk - to close Mar 8
Mar 9	p.?	Leith Docks - back to work after strike
Mar 19	p.11	Leith Docks - new SAI plant opens
Apr 8	p.1	Leith - car lifted from Water of Leith
Apr 11	p.6	Portobello - heavy seas
May 7	p.1	Leith Street - roadworks
Jun 28	p.5	Royal Mile - traffic accident
Aug 8	p.11	Salisbury Crags - bus tour
Aug 20	pp.8-9	South Queensferry - rail bridge + ferry
Aug 23	p.16	Edinburgh Castle - Tattoo
Sep 18	p.1	Colinton - fire at Redhall Mill
Sep 19	p.21	Restalrig - Parish Church
Sep 26	p.2	Ferry - 'Mary Queen of Scots' under repair in Leith Dry Docks after colliding with S Queensferry Pier.
Oct 10	pp.13-14	Granton - October sunshine
Oct 10	p.15	Cowgate - Magdalen Chapel
Oct 30	p.17	St John's Church + Edinburgh Castle
Oct 15	p.5	Leith Docks - launch of 'HM Tug Typhoon'
Oct 16	pp.10,11	Princes Street Gardens - Autumn leaves
Oct 17	p.22	Grants Department Store
Oct 24	p.15	Turnhouse Airport + 3 Chipmunks
Oct 24	p.17	Carnegie Street - back greens
Nov 1	p7	St John's + St Cuthbert's Churches
Nov 8	p7	Craigmillar Castle

Edinburgh Districts

Shopping

Every second Friday, except during the summer months, the Evening Dispatch ran a shopping article. This included a photograph of an Edinburgh street and usually a street plan showing the locations of the shops. These were the locations covered in 1958

Shops
Jan 17	p.14	Haymarket
Jan 31	p.14	Leith Street
Feb 14	p.14	Dalkeith
Feb 28	p.18	Broxburn + Uphill
Mar 14	p.18	Newhaven
Mar 28	p.18	Abbeyhill
Apr 11	p.15	Portobello High St
Apr 25	p.18	Church Hill
May 9	p.19	Gorgie
May 23	p.18	Stockbridge
Jun 6	p.18	Corstorphine
Jun 27	p.18	Bruntsfield
Oct 17	p.22	Haymarket
Oct 31	p.22	Newington
Nov 7	p.16	Kirkcaldy

Evening Dispatch: 16 May 1958, p.9