I was born and raised at 69 Bangor Road until 1965 when I married and emigrated to Canada. It was supposed to be a two year working vacation - that was 37 years ago. But we have been back to Leith many, many times as have my children, and this year we will be bringing our grandson (14 months) with us as well.
My memories of growing up are many - from the street games like Kick-the-Can, Leevoy, and Rounders to football games that would last from dawn to dusk in Pilrig Park. The games would only end when it was too dark to see and often the score was in the hundreds and we`d have as many as twenty or more on each side.
The Lifeboys and Boys Brigade were a great influence on my life. I was a member of the 14th Leith from Duke Street Congregational Church. Our Captain was Capt. Aitken. He was small in stature and we called him "Cowboy". He had no children of his own but he directly influenced my life and others by his optimism and enthusiasm. I can still hear him on the sidelines as he exhorted the football team with his cry of "Come away the 14th".
We won the League Cup (1958 or 59?), Alan White, Drew Littlejohn, Les Tait, my brother Jeff, Jimmy Thomson and Alex Duncan were on that team. Other officers of the 14th included Tom Aitken, Tommy Robertson and Bert McKenna.
I remember the Vicky baths - the water was always freezing so I spent most of the time in the showers. I attended Bonnington Road Primary School up to 1953 then to Broughton Senior Secondary School until 1959. Then I took my degree in Civil Engineering at the Heriot-Watt in 1963.
I married Rosemary Brown (5 Graham Street) in 1965. We have three children, two of whom are married. We have one grandson, Logan aged 14 months, and we have another grandson who is expected to be born in mid August.
We will be in Leith from mid July to early August to attend a wedding. If you remember me or Rosemary drop us an e-mail.
Robert (Rab) Wallace
