A `Bowtow` now in Canada
Roy Cumming`s recalls times from his boyhood in Newhaven
I was born in Newhaven on the `Whale Brae` in 1939. My brother Edwin or Eddie Cummings is two years older. My mother Mary Batchelor was a true Newhavener and my dad, although born in Keltie, had Newhaven roots. My mother went to Newhaven Victoria and Couper Street Schools. My father went to Leith Academy.
My wife, who was born in Dalkeith, went to Newhaven Victoria and Leith Academy. Her maiden name was Isabel Smith. My brother went to Vicky as well as DK. I went to Victoria and to St Mary`s Cathedral Choir School.
My Grannie Mary Cummings lived on the top flat at 10 North Junction Street. She was legally blind but knitted us great woolen socks. My uncle Jim lived with my grannie until he got married rather late in life (his late 30s I think). My dad`s sister Edna Duncan lived in New Lane, and Mary Baker lived at the bottom of New Lane. One other aunt Hanna lived near Hitchin, Herts.
My grannie Mary Batchelor and grandad `Old Neenie` Ninian Batchelor lived at 32a Main Street, Newhaven. My mother, Mary Batchelor, was the second of seven. Half-brother Jock Watts lived on Granton Medway. Bill Batchelor had a couple of fishing boats in Newhaven. Grace was my second mother and I was named after her husband, Roy Miller who grew up opposite Leith Links. Tam or the `prince` is the only one left alive and still lives in Newhaven.
The `prince` never married as he was always conscious of losing his big tae in a bike accident as a boy. Mac was a great footballer. He married Anna Taylor from Fort Street. One sister, Julia, died very young.
I had tons of aunts and cousins in Newhaven and Leith. My wife grew up opposite me on the Whale Brae (she at 255 and me at 252) used to wonder if everyone in Newhaven was related to me in some way.
Many of the things mentioned by others on the site brought a flood of memories back. While at Newhaven school we were sent to Dr Bells to learn to swim. Does anyone remember the sweetie shop only a few paces from the Dr Bell`s baths on Junction Street where you could get home made sweeties for a shivery bite? (Pearces)
How about trying to sneak a quick peek into the girls` dressing rooms when it was mixed bathing at the Vickie baths? Now own up you guys.
The Cappy Club on Saturday mornings! The sing a longs, the serials such as Dick Barton, and the `big` picture. One of my earliest memories was when I must have been around 4. It was talent time when you sang with the organist in the Cappy, and my mother sent me up to sing. I asked `Can my daddy in the navy hear me`, when I was placed in front of the microphone.
It was only on seeing the name that I remembered Laurie Street picture house. It wasn`t open too often when I was growing up but I remember being scared `shitless` when I was taken to see Lon Chaney in the Phantom of the Opera.
When things were tight, I remember my mother shopping at the `Equitable` store in the Kirkgate where you could put things on the never never. It was affectionately known as the quitables. It was next door to the Gaiety. My mother and aunt Minnie had regular bookings at the Gaiety. Such names as Denny Willis and Johnny Victory come to mind.
Summers were great for someone who had to go `up toon` to school. The six weeks holidays were great. Fishing doon the Pier at Newhaven or on the Market steps. There were fitba matches in the boys` playground at Newhaven school. It was up to the Vickie Park to go on the swings and drive the `Parkie` mad for doing all the illegal things. Then there was the putting green and the tennis courts at Vickie Park. We even went to Powderhall to fish for sticklebacks in the Water of Leith. Where did all this freedom for kids disappear to? It was up in the morning and oot to get intae trouble. Back for tea then oot again.
And how about the street games such as Robinson Crusoe, Hide and Seek, Kick the Can, curb or wall, etc., etc. Another thing for us was playing in the `shelters` that had been built in the Fisherman`s Park. Then there were the fish box forts that we built doon the market.
I could go on and on for hours and pages and pages. I do recommend everyone to`Friends Reunited` a great site where you can meet up with old school friends.
On the question of BB captains, at 15 I joined the 20th Leith at Newhaven-on-Forth. Our captain was Graham Watson. More interesting were our lieutenants, the Souness brothers. Jim played for both Hibs and Hearts with all the greats. Ronnie sired Graeme Souness of Rangers and Scotland fame.
After marrying in 1964, my wife and I moved to Canada in 1965 and are still here. Our only child, Robert Roy, was born in 1967. He is a golf pro and lives withn his wife and two small sons on Grand Cayman, BWI/.
I am less than two years away from retiring from the printing industry that I have been in since I left school.
Roy Cummings
Roy and family
