My Leith Memories
By
William Wright
A shipyard worker through and through
My name is William Wright, also known as Billy and Wullie. I was born in 1938 in 6 Argyll Street (opposite Bennets Stables) to Euphemia McKenzie and William Wright. I have an older sister Irene and have lost an elder sister Edna and an older brother Peter. Friends I remember as a young lad in Argyll Street are Kenny Smith, Ian Patterson, Babs and Nan McDonald who are all around my age. I have many fond memories playing as a youngster in the stables and the Black Ground in the Docks, and also the Briesh Woods at the Waterside, and swimming in Newhaven Harbour, fitba in Keddie Gardens and Vickie Park.
At the corner of Argyll Street we shopped at Nellie Fowlers, also at Bertha Greggs next to the post office at the bottom of Hope Terrace. Gourleys was another general store for the shopping that was situated next to D.K. school. Angelosantos in Portland Place had the best ice cream in town, and I am to this day a loyal customer. I also remember taking the accumulator to the Drysalter in Portland Place next to Tammy Blakes the barber. I remember how dark these shops were, having no lights inside.
I attended Fort Street school from 1943 - 1950, next to the Fort which was still an active fort at that time. My first teachers were Mrs Williams, Miss Malcolm, and Cocky Robbie (Mr Robertson). I then progressed to D.K. from 1950 - 1953. Friends recalled there are my good mate Sonny Strachan, John McNaughton, James and John Tulley. Tom Horibine whose brother Jackie is a good mate I work with now.
Teachers I recall there included Ned Barnie 9 (science), Big Bill Campbell and Mr Morris (maths).
I was a rare wee fitba player in those days playing school fitba in the `B` team, `A` team and the First team. We played in a green and maroon jumper so as not to offend local citie`s supporters. I also participated in the Interscholastics at the auld Meadowbank Stadium, the gym teacher being Mr Hamilton. I have just remembered the art teacher, Bruiser Lindsay.
On leaving school I followed my grandfather Peter Wright, a rivetter, and my father William Wright, a caulker-burner into the shipyard of Henry Robbs. I started as a burners boy to Jock Brown, then as a caulkers boy to George Crease ( he himself would have been a 2nd year apprentice at the time).
At the age of 16 I began my apprenticeship as an electric welder. Workmates at that time included Joe Kane, Billy Steel, John Walker, Billy Toeland, Tam Kinnaird, and Leslie and Walter Kean (Keanoes). They were all welders.
I also recall well the pranks of the shipyard, and also agree the shipyard separated the men from the boys. The list goes on and on of all the characters I have met through the years. I served 31 memorable years for Henry Robb with a two year break for National Service in the RAF stationed in Catterick.
During my 30 years with Robbs, I served as Boiler Maker Union Convenor for 17 eventful years. Serving with me were Jock Boggie, Brian Travers, Nicky Sherry, and John Hart. During the same period I was president of the Boiler Makers Social Club in Kirk Street, later relocated to Queen Charlotte Street.
The closure of Henry Robbs was not only a sad event for the Leith community as a whole but was of great personal sadness to myself and many, many more men like me. It had been so much part of my life from my earliest memories.
After the closure of Robbs in 1984, two weeks later I found employment that kept me in the docks. I commenced with Forth Estuary Engineering Ship Repair Yard. Colleagues also finding employment alongside me were Jimmy Adams, Brian Travers, Joe Patterson and John O`Brien. My woking life is about to come to an end with retirement beckoning in January 2003 that will see me out with 50 years service in Leith Docks.
No, you cannot take Leith out of the boy. I am still in Leith daily although I have not lived there for over 44 years. Some of the changes are hard to swallow. Like many of my auld Robb`s workmates, the Ocean Terminal can be painful to pass by, it being built upon the former yards.
Argyll Street where I was born is also almost unrecgnisable. I remember standing at the kitchen window as a very young boy, probably being scrubbed down by my mother when land mines exploded in Largo Place. The blast threw me right to the back of the kitchen. Oh these memories just keep flooding back in abundance.
Finally, I welcome any contact with anyone visiting this site who may remember me.
Bill Wright
