1960s
©
Reproduced with acknowledgement to Thomas Lee, Edinburgh
Question 1 |
Maybe
The Jewel or
Magdeline?
Thomas Lee who sent me the photograph above tells me that he is
not sure about the location. It may be the Jewel or
Magdeline. If you recognise the location,
please e-mail me.
Thank you. - Peter Stubbs.
Update
Based on the replies that I have received (below) there now
seems no doubt that this cycle track was at Bingham
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Q1
Answer 1 |
I normally associate The Jewel with the large Asda store, near
Fort Kinnaird. However, Donald Grant, Penicuik,
Midlothian replied, explaining where he believes the cycle track
would have been.
Donald wrote:
The Jewel?
"Having looked at this photo, tagged
as 'The Jewel or
Magdalene', I'm pretty sure that it is indeed The Jewel.
My understanding is that the area
known as the Jewel was on the western side of what is now
Duddingston Park and lay between that road and the Bingham housing
scheme, although as that wasn't my home territory I do stand to be
corrected.
The buildings in the background are
consistent with the now demolished flat roof Bingham buildings.
I'm not sure if it is still there but The Jewel Miners Welfare
Club used to sit on Duddingston Park and was built of the same red
brick as the miners rows that can be seen in the background of one
of the other Jewel photos."
Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland:
February 13, 2008
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Donald added:
"Further to my comments on the Jewel
Miners Welfare Club, I can now confirm that the building itself is
still there, but is now harled and white in colour.
As to its purpose these days, I'm
afraid I don't know."
Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland:
February 19, 2008
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Q1
Answer 2 |
Thank you to Sheila Cairns who wrote:
Bingham
"The houses on the top right look
like the pensioners houses just of Bingham Drive so that would
make the track in the field at the side of the railway track."
Sheila Cairns: January 9, 2009 |
Q1
Answer 3 |
Thank you to Rab Cleary, South Africa who wrote:
Bingham
"The picture of the bikers going
round the track is Bingham. The Jewel cottages would be to
the right of that picture taken. I lived in the Jewel cottages
with my grandmother, granddad, & father at that time.
My granddad was also Robert and my dad
was James. My granddad played bowls for Scotland. He was a
member of the Jewel bowling club which would be situated at the
end of the houses if you followed it round to the right. It was on
the banks of the burn that ran through between the Jewel and
Bingham."
Rob (or Rab if you're from Edinburgh!) Cleary,
Johannesburg, South
Africa: December 23, 2009 |
Q1
Answer 4 |
Thank you to Bob Falconer, Winchester, Hampshire, England who wrote:
Bingham
"I rode for Pilrig Pirates in the
mid-1960s and raced at the Jewel fairly regularly. The
picture is not the Jewel but of Bingham, I think. I remember
that it was very close to what I think was called Figgie Burn.
*
Looking back, it was remarkable what
was achieved and how organised the sport was, despite a complete
lack of support, and occasional obstruction, indifference and
harassment from the authorities and police."
Bob Falconer, Winchester, Hampshire, England:
February 13, 2010
*
In
fact, it was the Braid Burn that passed close to Bingham. A
little further north the burn approached Portobello, and its name
changed to the Figgate Burn. - Peter Stubbs. |
Q1
Answer 5 |
Thank you to Charlie Dickson, Midlothian who wrote:
Bingham
"This race track is in front of
Bingham Crescent. The Orlit house in the background is
where my gran lived (at No25) with a family of 10.
Hers is the top flat on the left. The
Scott family lived in the flat below and the Marr family
lived in the bottom-right flat and above were the Bain family.
The newer houses on the right were
pensioners' houses. Just at the back of the cycle track is
Bingham Burn which had a small bridge that you could cross."
Charlie Dickson, Midlothian: 1+2 Feb 2017 |
Question 2 |
Donald Grant added:
Alex Cropley
"What really intrigues me is a rider
named in one of these shots as Alex Cropley. I would be very
interested to find out if it is the same Alex Cropley who played
football for Hibs, Arsenal and Aston Villa. It certainly
looks like him!"
Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland:
February 13, 2008
|
Q2
Answer 1 |
Thomas Lee replied:
Alex Cropley
"You might want to confirm to
everyone that the Alex Cropley quoted in one of the pictures is
THE Alex Cropley who played for the Hibs, Aston Villa"
Thomas Lee, Edinburgh: February 13, 2008
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Q2
Answer 2 |
Andrew Hogarth added:
"Alex Cropley rode for the
Eastern Royals Cycle Speedway Team in 1966. He was a very
good rider and always scored well for the team. Like myself
he lived in the Magdalene Gardens Housing Estate.
The gentleman that ran the cycle
speedway in our area was Willie Fleet. Alex and I both
attended Norton Park High School that was attached to the main
stand of the Hibernian FC ground.
In his first season on the left wing
for the Hibs reserves Alex scored 19 goals. He was indeed a rare
talent.
Andrew Hogarth, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: March 18
+19, 2008
Andrew tells me that he has lived in Sydney, Australia since
1981, and that, while living in Edinburgh, he also rode for
Eastern Royals, Eastern Warriors and later
Eastfield Eagles who won the 3rd Division Championship in 1967.
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Q2
Answer 3 |
Dave Watt added:
Tam Cropley
©
"This team was the Brunstane Bees.
The rider in the lead is Tam, Cropley, brother of
Alex Cropley. Alex was also a fine footballer but never made
it to Senior ranks."
Dave Watt, South Queensferry, West Lothian,
Scotland: March 20, 2008
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