Leith Citadel, Salvation Army
Mention Bangor Road to a Leither and two things spring to mind, the Store and the Salvation Army.
The street was synonymous with the former with its offices, shops, bakery and its garage, whereas the `Sally` with its red sandstone building stood out sharply with the grey tenements of its surrounds.
Today the Army is non-existent compared to the vibrant influence it once had on the neighbourhood and its inhabitants as well as those further afield. So much for the regeneration of the area.
The tenements have gone to be replaced with modern flats. The children of yesteryear who attended the Army with its abundance of interests are now no more. Their counterparts have a much more array of these in other spheres. What are they missing? Allied with the natural dissipation of it `soldiers`, it is all but a sad memory.
The Corps largely depended on its members from out with the Bangor Road area but the residents of the locality were catered for in every way.
The Halls were open seven nights a week catering for numerous interests.
Band practice, both Senior and Junior; Songster practice; Singing Company; Scouts; Guards; Brownies; Joy Hour; Home League; Youth Club; Corps Cadets; Timbrells.
It is here that I would like to recall some of these persons who were dedicated Salvationists who devoted much time and labour in pursuit of these.
Commanding Officers:
The Corps was served by an appointed Commanding Officer who was stationed there for a period of time before moving to another corps in turn. Going on location I believe was the term.
In my time as a junior member, I met many of these officers, Majors being the rank, who made great impressions on me.
One in particular was Major Thomas who always wanted me to accompany him on his rounds of delivering Self Denial envelopes. He knew what he was about. He did the lower flats whilst I had the stairs.
Major Graham was another. A small rotund man with a great sense of humour.
Others who spring to mind was Major Crane and Major Novell. The latter was in charge of the men`s hostel in Tolbooth Wynd. He also stood in as the Junior Band tutor during the War. From what I recall he was a bit of a grouch with us.
I should mention all the Officers resided in the Quarters in Dudley Avenue with the exception of Novell who had his home in the hostel.
Sergeant Majors:
These persons were responsible to the Commanding Officers for the actual running of the Corps. A responsible job indeed.
Again in my time the one man who stood out both to the members and the general public was Sergeant Major Sampson. A large man with a distinct limp, he would march proudly in front of the band as they trooped back to the hall from an open-air meeting.
Mention the Army to anyone in Leith and he would be remarked on. Such was his reknown. He was the father of Tommy Sampson, a former bandsmen and later to become nationally acclaimed for popular band leadership.
There were others who followed and obviously preceded him but one in particular springs to my mind and that was Bruce Ferguson.
A man of huge of huge personality and never without a smile was Bruce. He was such a friendly person and I was privileged to work for him as a schoolboy delivering groceries from his small shop in Ferrier Street. He had been Junior Sergeant Major until his promotion to senior rank. He incidently co-owned the shop with fellow Corps member John Crichton.
Bruce was also Scout leader. Bill Sangster was another Sergeant Major.
John was credited with being the first Convenor of the newly found Lothian Regional Council.
Senior Band:
Who can forget the band on Sunday mornings as they held open-air meetings in various parts of Leith each week?
I`ll guarantee many non-believers could have thrown things at them for disturbing their mornings after the night before. Somehow I think the majority of the people appreciated them.
On Sunday evenings before the meeting, they would be at the Foot of the Walk for an open-air service and the march back in full flow.
As a band, they were all gifted musicians with many of them multi instrument players. A trombonist short, a cornet player would fill in.
As a child, I always marvelled at this and the bandleader at the time was Alex Dewar.
A gifted man he could play any instrument. Another was Charlie Garrett. His favourite instrument was the trombone. Charlie filled in as Junior Band leader.
Among others I recall as band members were John Keddie, old Mr Gresty and his two sons, Bram and Arnold, Joe Currie, Bruce Ferguson and Dave Forrest who was also the Corps secretary and treasurer.
Songsters:
The songsters were the Army`s equivalent of church choirs. They led the singing. They were always joined by some bandsmen when doing a choral piece accompanied by a small organ ably played by Mrs Keddie. Bram Gresty conducted.
My own Aunty Chrissie was a member along with her close friend Meg Logan.
Names springing to mind include Margaret Jarvis, Nellie Nicholson, Grace Davidson, Jean Durie, Nellie McIntosh, Isa Currie and Joy Stewart.
C1960
