First and foremost, I think you must know my cousin Edward McEvoy who was born in February 1934 and went to Dr Bell`s School. He must have been in your class and he is still living in Edinburgh. (John Stewart - I certainly do. This is the first instance I have been in contact with someone who was a contemporary at school. We have arranged a meeting sometime in the near future. Thanks!)
The old church at the bottom of Dock Street was where I was Christened and was called St Ninians Church of Scotland. When World War ll broke out they were putting sandbags and shelters at Couper Street School and the infant classes went to the church hall (entrance in Commercial Street). There is also a pen next to the church where Cromwell marched his army.
When we were home two years` ago we spent many hours roaming this area and seeing all the changes. We were puzzled when we saw that only half of Sandport Street had been demolished but, on going to the Leith Public Library, found out that Roman artifacts had been found there and it was now an archaeological site. We saw a few that were very interesting and the librarian said they were going to set up a museum. There must have been a few more developments since then.
In one of the letters in the guestbook someone was asking where about the old Poor House was. My mother told me it was in Parliament Street where in the 1940 and 1950s there was a boarding house for working men but I have nothing to substantiate this. ( This was the Model Lodging House for men. It was still operative up until the 1980s.)
My husband and I spent most of our courting days going to the pictures - the State and the Palace in particular and dancing twice a week at the Assembly Rooms. We also danced to Joe Loss and Ted Heath at the Eldorado. (Can you not remember Carl Barriteau and his band?)
I have only roughly browsed through the site but it has brought back lots of memories and is an absolute delight. My son and cousin in Corstorphine have also been in there but have not yet signed in. As my son said last night, we are well on our way to becoming a Global Village which is marvellous.
Betty and Martin O`Connor
Further Memories
I remember the second-hand shop in Bridge Street. One of my aunts had just got a new house in Granton and needed a table to fit the scullery, and after a lot of searching managed to find exactly what she wanted in the second-hand shop.
My cousin and I were delegated to deliver this table and had to take it on the tram beside the driver out to Granton (can you imagine it?). We were about 10 years old at the time, and thought it great fun, and when it came to going up the hill at the terminus of Granton Square, as it was then, took it in turns at giving one another hurls on the table - it ran on caster wheels.
Lo and behold, before we got to my Aunts, one of the table legs fell off. We thought we would get murdered but my Aunt, who must have had a geat sense of humour, saw the funny side of it and found it hard to tell us off. She never let us forget it though.
Another early memory is of the creche in the washhouse at Bangor Road. (Bonnington Road?) It must have been before I went to school but I will never forget the big rocking horse that everyone wanted to ride. Does anyone else remember this?
