A Recent Trip Home
Some of Roy Cummings` Re-collections of his Trip to Newhaven and Leith, 2003
I was shocked at first when I found that my flight from London to Edinburgh was not non-stop as we had to change at Manchester. So it was a couple of hours there waiting for our connection. Finally, on Tuesday we were picked up by my cousin Lynda and her husband Ross Duff and driven to Dalkeith where we were staying with my wife`s Uncle Steve Murray.
Wednesday and little time to settle in. We got our first taste of Scottish Baps and bacon for breakfast. We then took a stroll down to Dalkeith`s High Street where Isabel met her Aunt Margaret. Was Margaret surprised to see her neice in Scotland! We then dropped into an antique shop. A chat with the owner resulted in a visit to the Dalkeith Corn Exchange, which was filled to overflowing with an abundance of collectibles and antiques. Also met a Newhavener there who knew all my uncles and cousins. There we stopped for coffee in the County Hotel.
After lunch and a chat, we got on a number 3 bus and purchased our £1.80 daily runabout tickets on the "red buses". This is by far the best bargain available in Scotland. A change at the Bridges to a number 7 and it was off to Newhaven. Spent some quality time with my Auntie Anna, cousin Katrina and her daughter Nikita. Isabel and Katrina went out and brought in fish and chips from Granton, our first taste of that oh-so-popular Scottish delicacy.
Then it was off to Newhaven School for the first of the Newhaven Queen`s 50th Anniversary Re-union events in the school. In 1953, a pageant was held in which five Queens were represented. My wife Isabel was a Lady-in-waiting to Ann Garvin`s Mary, Queen of Scots. The 1953 Pageant was to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll.
In most cases, it was the first meeting for both of us with our old school chums in nearly 40 years as we have lived in Canada since 1965.
Immediately on entering the school, Jean Cowie (who was also one of the Queens and who organised the event) presented both Isabel and me with photocopies taken of the school registration book showing the dates we entered school, our addresses, our parents` name, the date we left and the school we went on to. What a pleasant surprise. Thank you so much Jean. Also met up with Harry Summers who I have been in frequent communication with over the past year or so.
We split up into two groups. One group watched a video presentation of the 50 year old film taken of the event. Unfortunately, because of some accident, the sound track and parts of the film were missing. However, my wife got a lump in her throat when she saw herself as she was 50 years` ago. I am trying to get a copy of the video. We switched places with the other groupand looked at a very large collection of photographs of the event and other school photographs of the period. It was very much a case of looking at name tags and trying to place the `now` with the `then`. Many were instantly recognisable, others were not quite so easy.
It was then my turn to get emotional. I heard the name Ann Baker being mentioned and that she was arriving in a wheelchair. Ann had also been one of the five Queens. I questioned if this was the Ann Baker who had lived at the foot of New Lane. When that fact was confirmed, I realised that Ann was one of my five Baker cousins, children of my father`s sister Mary. I had not seen Ann in such a long time that quite frankly cannot remember the last time we met.
Finally it was coffee, tea and biscuits and continued chats until it was time to leave for the night. What a great experience.
Friday dawned with the prospect of another visit to Newhaven for the second re-union. Just hung around not doing anything in particular for a while. After lunch it was off again to Newhaven and another cheap day ticket on the bus. Spent more time with Anna and Katrina.
Then it was off again to the Peacock Inn where over 30 people attended the dinner. This time I was detached enough to take some pictures. My cousin Lynda Miller and her best friend Jeanette Laurie were in attendance for the second time. Had a very nice meal that for me was Highland chicken; chicken breast stuffed with haggis and with a nice sauce. We had much more time to chat and renew old acquaintances. An extremely enjoyable evening all round. Well worth the visit to Scotland for this alone. On the down side. My camera that was only bought three years ago, decided that it was going to cease functioning. Luckily. Isabel had a $5 point and shoot disposable with her.
We were almost the last to leave. Jeanette Laurie and her cousin Lynda saw us to the bus stop on the "Bridges" where we managed to catch one of the last buses running to Dalkeith.
Roy, Harry and John
Saturday was to include two appointments for me. First I was to meet John Stewart in Whitson`s Bar on Great Junction Street and later dinner with a few of my old school chums from St Mary`s Cathedral Choir School in Dalkeith.
Just afternoon, John Stewart, Harry Graham, and I met in Whitson`s for a couple of drinks and a chat. It was great meeting our devoted webmaster John in the flesh, and Harry who made the trip all the way from Kirkcaldy.
Most of the conversation was on the topic of rugby and of course, the state of Leith. After almost a couple of hours and before saying cheerio. John showed me his new car. Then it was off for a walk.
Seeing the doors open, I dropped into Lodge Trafalgar. This was my father`s Lodge. I had previously been a visitor there while serving as W.M. of my Lodge in Canada. It was while in the Lodge that I was told of the Trafalgar Bar`s vaults with the remains of monks from St Anthony`s Monastery.
Leaving the Lodge, I had a look at what remains of the Kirkgate. Sad, sad, sad! I proceeded along Duke Street to have my lunch of Fish and Chips. Unfortunately, the chippie was not open. So it was past the old Leith Academy, school to both my father and my wife, on to a bus at the foot of Easter Road and leave Leith behind.
Roy Cummings
