Pleasant Memories of Sunny Leith
John Dourley looks back at some pre-war memories of his life in Leith in this letter.
John now resides in California.
"Dear John,
"Thank you for your letter. My sister-in-law, Anna Kaczka, who lives in Colorado told me of the website. On reading the guestbook, I saw that she had contributed some thoughts last year.
"I am still an apprentice with the computer and had not figured out how to get past the homepage on the website when I wrote in the guestbook. When I did figure out how to get into it I really enjoyed reading it and viewing the photos.
"Born in Hope Terrace, as was my father in Leith, my grandfather was a diver in the Docks. I used to attend the Leith Victoria Boxing Club as a youth. We were taught by Tancy Lee. I became a member of the Territorial Army and served in the Royal Artillery during WW11.
"I left Leith and moved to Granton around the time you were born. I have so many pleasant memories of sunny Leith. The Leith Pageant in particular with the `Old Contemptibles` marching as though they had just come from the trenches.
"Also the many decorated Clydesdale horses from Bennet`s stables in Argyll Street. I remember swimming in the Victoria Baths, and also attending the Dockers` Picnic.
"Miss Wiber had a sweetie shop at the foot of Albany Street. In order to protect the sweets displayed in the window of the shop when the sun came out, she pulled down the blind that had written upon it "This is only a blind, all is good that lies behind."
"I delivered papers for the Diston sisters whose shop was in Portland Place. One area I delivered to was the `Happyland` at the foot of Albany Street. I often had to step over `drunks` in the dark lobbies."
All the best,
John Dourley
