Summer 1967
By early summer I was still commuting to work although much nearer home, this being at Barnton, Edinburgh. I got to hear of the imminent opening of the Uniroyal tyre factory at Newbridge, and decide to put in an application for a job as a maintenance pipefitter. Lo and behold, I was asked to attend an interview at Castle Mills in Edinburgh. This I duly did and was offered a position in the new plant. I began there in June of 1967.
Olive`s Sister
Olive was midway through her pregnancy when she received word from her sister, Margaret in Hawaii that she intended taking up residence here in Scotland once more. Margaret had gone out to the States in 1960 when she got an an air stewardess position with Trans World Airways. The sisters had only seen each other a few times in the intervening years.
She arrived back in Livingston in August and originally stayed with us in Leven Walk. Within a few weeks of this, she both secured employment as a personnel assistant at Cameron Iron Works, and a house in Doon Walk.
Olive accompanied her for her interview at Camerons, and this entailed a trudge over fields that eventually became the Houston Industrial Estate. The interview took some time so that Olive had to retrace the steps on her own whilst Margaret was driven back in the company`s Rolls Royce. Bearing in mind Olives`s 7 month old pregnancy, this was some trek.
After a few months, Margaret became very unsettled and eventually returned to the States.
New Baby
The summer progressed with uneventful slowness. We were eager for October and its promise of an addition to our family to materialise. We were not aware of what the sex of our baby would be, and of course I would not be present at the birth as was the custom of the time.
Came the date of expected delivery and no sign that the baby was eager to take its place amidst us. I had already been given a dayshift job to allow me to be with the girls in the evenings. Eventually, Olive was admitted to hospital to bring the birth on. A time was set thereby an inducement would be given if the natural course was not forthcoming.
At 7.00pm on 19th October, Alan was brought into the world. Five minutes later I was given the little unwashed bundle into my arms. "Meet your son," Olive proudly announced. Our family was complete, and with me finding the permanent maintence job with Uniroyal we were very contented.
Karen and Pamela were over the moon with their little brother.
Christening
Alan`s christening took place in the Riverside school hall where the ceremony was jointly carried out in an ecumenical fashion.
Jim Maitland performed the appropriate Church of Scotland baptism, and then Brian Hardy presented Alan into the care of the congregation. The service was attended by most of our family and friends from Edinburgh and Leith. My aunt Chrissie was godmother to Alan. All of them were a little bemused at the place of baptism. Nothing like the conventional churches they thought. However they were impressed with the occasion.
Brush with the Law
On getting my new job, with the resultant increase in my wages, we thought it time to get a newer car. This we did. We part exchanged the old reliable A30 for an A60, Austin Cambridge. This was with a company in Leith.
One evening after this, a knock came on our door. It was two policemen. I invited them in. I was then asked if I was the owner of a blue A30. I replied that I had indeed owned one until recently but not now.
Seemingly it had lain untaxed in Iona Street, Leith since the transaction. With the matter cleared up, the policemen stayed on for coffee. They were interested in listening to Margaret`s tales of America. This was our first meeting with PC David Wilkinson. Now retired, David lives just a few doors from me. We occasionally recall the incident in question.
Craigshill Police Station
As a matter of interest, how many people are aware that Craigshill was once home to its own police station and dog kennel. Before the opening of the Headquarters in Almondvale, policing was conducted firstly from Bathgate and Broxburn and latterly from Elm Grove, Craigshill. The house is now back in conventional use.
