A group gathers at

Piersfield Square West

to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth

1953

A Group at Piershill Square West celebrates the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Gordon Wright, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England

 

View smaller photo

   A Group at Piershill Square West celebrates the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 ©

 

Recollections

1.

Gordon Wright

Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England

Thank you to Gordon Wright for allowing me to reproduce this photo of a group gathered at Piershill Square West to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

Gordon wrote:

Coronation - 1953

"Here is a photo taken in the swing park of Piershill Square West on Coronation Day 1953.  t shows the children of the families who lived there, who attended the street party given to celebrate the Queen’s accession.

A group gathers at Piershill Square West on Coronation Day, 1953 ©

A right scruffy bunch we are!  I am located in the second row down from the rear, fourth from the left, the one with the natty Fair Isle pullover!  I was eight years old at the time.

The boy on my right was, I believe, Andrew Edwards and I think the one on my left was called Alec Westgarth.*** "

***  See also Recollections 2 below.

Piershill Square West

"In those days, the area in the centre of the square was split into two parts, there was a swing park for kids at the South end and a bowling green at the North end.

The bowling green was fenced off and children were not allowed in, the wooden building you can see in the background of this photo is the bowling green clubhouse which was decorated for the occasion."

Gordon Wright, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England:  October 28, 2012

Reply to Gordon Wright

If you'd like to send a reply to Gordon, please email me to let me know, then I'll  pass on his email address on to you.

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs

 

Recollections

2.

Tommy Westgarth

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Tommy Westgarth who saw Gordon Wright's photo at the top of this page and wrote to Gordon:

Piershill Square

"Hello Gordon: 

I hope you are well.  We've been in Canada since 1966.

I'm Tommy, or Tam as I was referred to back in those days.  I have great memories of living at Piershill Square until August 1966. 

I remember Mrs Wright very well.  We lived below her.  Our family were known as 'The Wiggies'."

Also in the Photo

"I went to Parson's Green school with the boy on your right, Andrew Edwards. 

Gerald Mearns (or Donahue) is on my right.

I have my arm around a week boy in the centre of the second row from the bottom in the photo".

The Westgarth Family

"That may not have been my big brother Alec beside you in the photo, but my wee brother Charlie and I are both in the photo.

My brother, Roddy was in 2nd last of the Westgarths to leave Piersfield Square for other places. 

That left Charlie there alone.  Charlie and Roddy both visited me in Canada from time to time."

Memories

"It's really great to remember those times.  Please reply, Gordon, if you are interested in contacting me*** - and thanks for the memories."

***  I've passed on Tommy Westgarth's email address to Gordon Wright..

Tommy Westgarth, Kingston, Ontario, Canada:  26 + 27 April 2017

  

Recollections

3.

Tommy Westgarth

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Tommy for sending two more emails to me.  Tommy wrote:

The Westgarth Family

"I was one of 5 brothers and 1 sister, and am the last one standing at this time.

I've lived in Kingston, Ontario, Canada since 1966, but I return very often to 'Auld Reekie".

The Photo

A group gathers at Piershill Square West on Coronation Day, 1953 ©

"In this photo, we were standing in front of the Piershill Square West Bowling Clubhouse, being crowned with fake cardboard crowns to celebrate the Coronation of the Queen in 1953.

-  Gordon Wright is wearing a Fair Isle sweater.  Gordon lived at 1 Piershill Square West with his grandma.  I used to go for her messages.  She lived above us.

 - Andrew Edwards (on Gordon's right) was in my class at Parson's Green Primary School.

-  on Gordon's left,  is my brother Alex, the fat boy with the round face and black jacket.

-  I'm near the centre of the photo with my younger brother Charlie.

-  I have my arm around a wee boy.  It may have been Pat Roden's son.  He lived at our stair, number 1, on the top flat.

I was 9 years old in 1953 when this photo was taken.   I recognize many faces from that time:

-  Dicksons

-  Reids

-  Scotts

-  Donaghues

-  Tullys

-  Galbraiths

-  Boyls

-  Browns

-  Davies."

Tommy Westgarth, Kingston, Ontario, Canada:  27 April 2017 (2 more emails)

 

Recollections

4.

Matthew Donoghue

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England

Thank you to Matthew Donoghue who wrote:

Coronation - 1953

"I am the second from the left in the back row of this photo.  I'm standing behind Gordon Wright who provided this photo and Alex Westgarth.

A group gathers at Piershill Square West on Coronation Day, 1953 ©

The photo brings back a lot of memories to me.  I recognise a lot of the faces, including Gordon Wright.  I remember him as being a good footballer, though he was a few years younger than me.

I now live in the south of England, but still follow Hibs."

Mathew Donoghue, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England:  4 February 2018

 

 

Piershill Recollections

Groups  -  Concerts

Around Edinburgh

 

 

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