Recollections

4.

Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins, now Dorothy Addison, Canada, for sending the  recollections  below.

Dorothy wrote

Portobello Beach

"When I saw this photo of the crowded beach at Portobello in 1952

  ©

on your web site, it brought back good memories of my very early 'teens, working at Charlie's Café on the promenade."

Charlie's Café and Mr Cossar

"Charlie's Café was located right next door to where Mr Cossar lived with his family.  At the foot of Bath Street, turn left, and there was Charlie's.

Dorothy was my girl friend.  She was Mr. Cossar's step-daughter.  She and I were inseparable.  We were reaching 12 years of age and feeling pretty grown up, and desperate to earn some money."

Please also see  6 below.  -  Peter Stubbs  June 26, 2007

Waitresses

"Dorothy's mother put in a good word for us with Charlie, and before we knew it, we were hired for all of our summer school holidays as waitresses and anything else we were able to tackle in his shop.

Apart from the kitchen staff we were the only two employees, and we loved it.

Charlie was strict but very fair,  He put up with no nonsense.  He never said much, he only had to look."

Boiling Water

"The place was busy from morning to night. Our biggest selling specialty was boiling water from our dear old Ascot water heater in the front shop.

The line up was non-stop from when we opened, all the way along the counter and out the front door. Every kind of container imaginable was presented to us for a fill up. We charged from 6d to 1/6d depending on the size.

Anything to get that almighty cup of tea!"

Ice Cream

"In the afternoon, Charlie would disappear to the back of the shop to make his home-made ice cream, and we knew better than to ever disturb him.

When that was ready and was brought to the front it was gone in no time.  It was so delicious, and the customers knew when to expect it each day."

Tea Rooms

"Come 4 o'clock all the hungry day-trippers and holiday-makers would start to fill up our three tea rooms and Dorothy and I were run off our feet.  We didn't care.

We loved it, and at the end of the day our pinafore pockets were weighed down with all our tips.  Everyone was so good to us.

Charlie closed at around 8pm and when we had finished washing all the floors and wiping down the tables ready for the next day we left there a bit tired but as happy as a lark.

It was a great experience and Dorothy and I worked there every Summer from 1949 to 1952."

Does Anybody Else Remember?

"I would love to read about other young people, like ourselves, who worked around Portobello"

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada;  June 5, 2007

If you have any memories of this period at Portobello, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Dorothy. 

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs:  June 9, 2007

Recollections

4.

Reply

1.

Alex Hodgson

Alex Hodgson wrote:wrote

Charlie's Café

"I am a Scots singer / songwriter and teller of tales. I have a fringe show in The Brunton Theatre Musselburgh on the 27th Aug where I am featuring a song which has a lovely link to Portobello.

I picked up on Dorothy Jenkins (now Addison)'s story about Charlie’s café and have formed a song and a small sketch.  Perhaps someone from Porty fancy’s a wee night out .to hear it."

Alex Hodgson:  12 July 2016

Recollections

5.

Comments from Dorothy Jenkins and reply from Tim Black

1950s

After reading Eric Gold's comments about 'The Skylark' and about Mr Cossar, Dorothy Jenkins, Canada,  wrote:

'The Skylark'

"I was so surprised to read about the Skylark, and especially Mr. Cossar's involvement.  I stayed at his home many times, as his step daughter and I were very close friends for years.

I only ever heard him called Dad, or as I referred to him, as Mr Cossar. I had, in the back of my mind, that his name was Frank, but I'm not sure about that.

Do you know what years the Skylark operated in Portobello?"

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada;  June 5, 2007

I don't know the answer to Dorothy's question about when 'The Skylark' pleasure boat operated from Portobello.  If you can help to answer the question, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Dorothy. 

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs:  June 9, 2007

Reply 1

Thank you to Tim Black, now living in Basel, Switzerland, who replied:

"The Skylark operated during the sixties, but maybe not into the seventies.  I grew up in Joppa, born 1953."

Timothy Robert Black, Basel, Switzerland:  June 22, 2007

Reply 2

Eric Bower, Edinburgh tells me:

"Around 1953-54, there were three amphibious World War 2 vehicles (DUKWs, pronounced DUCKs) operating from Portobello beach, two from one landing stage and one from another landing stage nearby."

Eric Bower, Corstorphine, Edinburgh: 2007

These vehicles were later replaced by 'The Skylark', so 'The Skylark may have started operating around 1955.

Recollections

6.

Reply from Bill Jansen

1950s

After reading Dorothy's comments in 4. above, Bill Jansen of Portobello,  wrote:

Charlie's Café

"I knew Dorothy Jenkins when she was about 15 years old.  The name of her friend was Dorothy Lister ***.   At that time, Dorothy Lister lived in the tenement above Charlie's Café.

The Café was owned by Charlie Shenkins.  He was bald as a coot, smoked a pipe and was the fastest talker in town."

Bill Jansen, Joppa, Edinburgh: June 20, 2007

Recollections

7.

More comments from Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins who wrote:

Cinemas

"During the 1940s and early 1950s when TV was in its prime, the cinema was an escape to an other world.  In our neighborhood of Portobello, there was:

-   the 'George Cinema' on the High Street,

-   the 'County Cinema' Bath Street, and

-   the 'Victory' (otherwise known as the flea pit) Bath Street.

Singing in the Rain

"I remember after seeing 'Singing in The Rain' 1952, leaving the cinema into a wet dreary night, and dancing down the street, swinging round every lamp post and singing our hearts out, all the way to Joppa where we lived.

Chummy Seats

"I became a teenager, and like all teenagers, going to the cinema with one's current boyfriend was wonderful - even more wonderful if it was the County Cinema, as that was the only one that had Chummy Seats.

After your boyfriend bought the tickets, it was a mad dash up the stairs to the balcony, to secure one of the Chummy Seats in the two back rows.

These seats were like a small love seat, no middle arm to get in the way when you wanted to be held very close.

When the lights came on, everyone occupying these seats would seem to separate and sit up kind of straight.  I guess we didn't want anyone to know we had been kissing.

Those were the days."

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada;  June 5, 2007

Recollections

8.

More comments from Archie Young

1950s

Thank you to Archie Young for these recollections of Portobello and Joppa.  Joppa is immediately to the east of Portobello.  The beach extends from Portobello to Joppa.

Archie wrote:

Move to Joppa

"When I was 2 years old, in 1947, my parents moved from a single-end flat at Abbeyhill into a Prefab at Coillesdene Avenue, Joppa.  It had all the mod cons, an inside toilet, airing cupboard, fridge, washing boiler, larder and two good sized bedrooms."

Rations

"Rations were still on up to, I think, 1952.  Mum would take me to a little building just off Rosefield Avenue.  Here we would get the cod liver oil, and a bottle of orange juice."

Trams

"The Trams were fantastic, way back then.  At the terminus outside Coillesdene House, the conductors would change the electric conductor arms from one line to another.  This arm transferred the power from the line to the Tram's motor.  Many a time you could hear the conductor coming out with a few unchosen adjectives.

At that time it cost a penny to travel to Portobello and tuppence to travel to Edinburgh.  Eventually, the fares went up.

After school in the summer we would go along the High Street in Portobello to the Tram Depot and watch them washing the trams.

Next door was a farrier and we would watch him shoe the horses.  The depot was directly across from Pipe Street. This was the street my Dad was born and brought up in, along with his two brothers and two sisters.  They lived in number 15.

Sledging

"Across the road from the then 25 & 26 bus terminus was a fairly steep hill, we called it 'The Shortcut.'

In the winter, when the snow was up past our shins, we used to sledge down the hill at high speed.  The trick was how to stop quickly, before we reached the main road.  Our parents used to shudder when they saw us.

Toys

"We used to go to Bath Street, Portobello, where there was a shop called Coopers.  They sold all sorts of toys.  We'd buy a  racing car made by Dinky.  It cost 6/3d."

Boats

"The 'Skylark' did, indeed, operate from about the 1955, on to the sixties.  Before that,  before that, they had the old war time DUCK which was really popular."

Frank Cossar

"Frank Cossar, who is mentioned by others, helped to operate the 'Skylark'.  I'm not sure if he had a share in it.   Mr. Cossar used to be my P.E. teacher at St. Johns R.C. school.

He was a hard man and super fit, at the end of lessons he would play 'dodgy' to get us really running about.  His favourite trick was to throw the ball a certain way.  When the ball connected with your legs, down you would go with a thud.  I had great respect for that man."

Football

"My palls and I used to play football for St .Philip's Church in the Church Football League.

Eventually, I went to work in United Glass as an apprentice engineer.  My dad was a manager there, as well.

United Glass also had a football team called Portobello Primrose, I played for them from 1962 till 1967 when we were all made redundant."

Racing and Betting

"At Joppa, we would build sand tracks on the ramp from the promenade to the beach.  This was quite steep.  After the tracks were made, the race was on.

During the 'Glasgow Fortnight', when Portobello was crammed with Glaswegians, some of the men who were watching our race  were known to be putting on bets or wagers."

Youth Clubs

"There were 3 youth clubs that we went to, and on a Saturday night we would go to the Portobello Town Hall for dancing.

A a few well-known groups played there:

-  Billy J Kramer

-  Gene Vincent

- Helen and the Kinsmen, who later became Nazareth and the American.

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh;  June 23, 2007

Jim Campbell, Perthshire added:

Sledging

"It was interesting to read Archie Young's comments.  My sister, June, and I knew Archie and his parents well as we also lived there, at Milton Terrace.

Sledging down the 'shortcut' over the bumps and stopping before you shot off into space and ended on the main road was not for the faint hearted."

Jim Campbell, Perthshire:  August 6, 2007

Recollections

9.

More comments from Dorothy Jenkins

1950s

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins who wrote about the Portobello and Joppa rag and bone man.

Dorothy refers to Asa Wass.  He was a reg and bone man well known to the people who lived in Dumbiedykes and Fountainbridge in the 1950s.

Dorothy wrote:

Rag and Bone Man

"When I read about Asa Wassa on your web site I immediately thought about Tammy Lamb The Rag and Bone Man of Portobello and Joppa.  As well as I can remember,  he resembled Barry Fitzgerald who was a film star in 'The Quiet Man'."

The Yard

"I have tried to pinpoint his exact location.  It was close to Abercorn Park and behind the Hamilton Lodge Hotel, in the narrow lane between Joppa and Portobello, but my memory fails me as to the name of the lane.  (Sorry.)

There was a high wall around his yard, and as children we would get a heist up from our palls to have a look, keeping an eye open in case he was prowling around. There was everything imaginable in there.  Of course we all wanted to have a look, and when he spotted us, we would literally fall down and run for our lives.  We knew he did not like us nosing around, and I suppose that made us want to look all the more."

In the Street

"Tammy was on the road almost daily with his horse and wagon, travelling along at a clip of around 5 to 10 mph.  His route seemed to be Portobello and Joppa.

When we saw him coming we would run up to his wagon to see what stuff he had collected, I guess we were a bit of a pest.

In those days, with no telephone, one could not call for a pick- up, so it was a case of watching out for him and giving him a wave.  He would stop and pick up the goods.  Sometimes he had a helper with him."

Millionaire?

"Everyone said he was a millionaire, you could have fooled me, he sure didn't look like one."

Does anybody else remember?

"I wonder if any of your readers knew more about him, and if he was known by any other name."

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada;  July 4, 2007

If you remember anything about the rag and bone man, please e-mail me so that I can tell Dorothy, and add more details to the web site.

Thank you.      -  Peter Stubbs:  July 6, 2007

Recollections

10.

Comments from Eleanor Macintyre

Question

Eleanor wrote:

The Cassidy Family

"I recently met lady from the Cassidy family.  She was visiting Edinburgh from England.  Her grandparents lived in Kings Road and the son and his children lived in 1 Tower Street.

She went on to tell me about how the Cassidy family did the catering for the Café in the open air swimming pool and also the shows.  They were all involved in the pottery.

The father and son were both named Hugh Cassidy.  I would be interested if anyone has any memories or photos of this family. Everyone I have spoke to says they were a well known family.

It would be great if someone could give some feedback about this Cassidy family.  It would mean so much to this lady."

Eleanor Macintyre, Portobello, Edinburgh:  July 16, 2007

If you can provide any info or photos about this family, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Eleanor.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs,  July 22, 2007

Reply 1

Jim Campbell, Perthshire replied:

The Cassidy Family

"I knew the Cassidy family very well in the early 'sixties, but I don't recognise the name Hugh.  The Cassidy family did run the catering at the open air pool, also the fish & chip shop at the front.

The father was Lawrence.  There were three sons, Lawrence (Laurie) Peter (Peedie) and Paul, also a daughter Veronica.  I met the family through my dad Jimmy Campbell who was in the fish & poultry business.  In fact, when he retired was the manager of Mac Fisheries in Castle Street."

My Dad and Grandfather

"The family were  friends of my dad, and in fact originally had a small fishmongers near the Portobello tram depot.   He often helped out in the evenings to fillet fish for the chippy when they were busy.

My grandfather, Jimmy Gibson of Craigentinny, who was in his seventies, worked for them at the pool during the summer.  I sometimes worked in the school hols, loading sacks of tatties into the peeler and then the chipper."

Tea Room

"The Cassidy family also had a tea room at the bottom of Bath street.  The name 'Sheddons' comes to mind.  Another venue they ran was on the promenade near the Seabeach Hotel and the Crazy Putting, but the name escapes me.

The family lived for many years at Seaveiw Terrace, overlooking the Forth."

Scottish Borders and Perthshire

"Eventually Mr & Mrs Cassidy went into the hotel business in in the Scottish Borders - Roxburgh?  I'm not sure.  [See reply 3 below.]

I now live in Perthshire and in the early eighties met one of the sons, Laurie, in Perth.  He had a pub/restaurant 'The Grill'.  It was in South Street, Perth  -  but not any longer."

Jim Campbell, Perthshire:  August 6, 2007

Reply 2

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh replied:

Cassidy Family Hotel

"I was reading the article on the Cassidy family by Jim Campbell. What he has stated is 100% correct.  They did have a hotel.  It was, I think, in Roxburgh.

It was called the Crown Hotel. From what my dad told me, the father could have played for Celtic or he did for a short while.  I used to pal about with Peter and Paul.

Cassidy Family at Portobello

"Hugh Cassidy and his family lived in a bungalow a few doors up from what was called the Ramsay Technical & Engineering College, opposite Kings Road, Portobello.

The son had a small shop at the foot of Fishwives Causeway.   I think it was one of the early driving schools.  He used to drive about in a large American car.

I'm also sure that they had a daughter as well.  The father was married to Annie Codona who owned the Portobello Fun Fair."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  September 24, 2007

Reply 3

Thank you to Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh for writing again with more news of the Cassidy family.

Archie wrote:

Cassidy Family Hotel

"I went for a run today down to Peebles.  I went into the Crown Hotel for a meal and who do I fined  -  none other than Peter Cassidy.  He was overjoyed at us meeting again

I found out that his brother, Paul I think, owns the Cross Keys in Peebles.  So it seems, that the Cassidy family's hotel business was in the Scottish Borders, but in Peebles, not Roxburgh.

Peter Cassidy sends his regards to James Campbell and June."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  October 16, 2007

Reply 4

Thank you to Joanne Cassidy for sending more details of her family.

Joanne wrote:

Family

"Laurie, 65, is living in Spain, and is still very much into his art.
Paul, 62 is living in Innerleithen.
Sean, 50, is living in the Forest of Dean.
Unfortunately, Veronica passed away about five years ago.

I'm still living in Peebles, with my father (Peter), mother (Susan), brother (Chris) and sister (Nicola).

Dad has had a few medical problems and had heart surgery earlier in the year, which was successful.  He's pretty tough as most of his old rugby friends always tell me."

Crown Hotel

"We are the 3rd generation now running the Crown Hotel in Peebles.  We run it as a family business.

If anyone wants to get in touch, there will always be at least one of us in the Crown Hotel."

Joanne Cassidy, Peebles

Recollections

11.

Request from Lucy Ball

Lucy Ball, Portobello, is hoping to interview people who remember Portobello Bathing Pool. Edinburgh, wrote:

Lucy wrote:

Open Air Bathing Pool

"Hi there, Im doing a project at college and I've decided to do it on Portobello beach, mainly focused on the open air pool it was once home to.

I'm looking for someone who either knows a fair bit about it or can remember it for an interview?  It will only be shown in my college so no need to worry there.

If you have any interesting memories that you would like to share with me, that would be amazing.  I'm hoping to shoot the interview a.s.a.p.  -  Dec 07 / Jan 08."

Lucy Ball, Portobello, Edinburgh: EdinPhoto guestbook, December 4, 2007

Lucy added:

"This would be just a short interview. If you would be interested in being interviewed or could suggest anyone who you think would, that would be much appreciated.

The film will only be shown to fellow students in my class, and I will not make any money from it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this."

Lucy Ball, Portobello, Edinburgh:  by e-mail, December 4, 2007

If you'd like to contact Lucy, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to her.  Thank you.

- Peter Stubbs:   December 4, 2007.

Recollections

12.

Comments from Matt O'Neill

Thank you to Matt O'Neill for sending me these memories of Portobello Beach in the 1950s.

Matt wrote:

Portobello Beach

   ©

"A day at Portobello beach Edinburgh was a unique sight to behold. I glanced over the handrail and it looked like an invasion of albino midgets, armed to the teeth with Irn Bru bottles and bad tempers.

Glaswegians

The racket from the Glaswegian day trippers was unreal. It sounded like a cross between cats in heat and arguing chimps. There was several male apparitions wading ankle deep in the half-frozen water.

Their attire was uniquely Scottish for a dip in the sea. Long pants rolled up to just below the knees and a handkerchief on the head. Evidently all four corners of the handkerchief must have a mandatory small knot.

Families

The squealing children were the color of the purest driven Scottish snow.  The matriarch of the family unit is rarely seen in the water as it would wash the makeup from her legs and expose her checkerboard tattooed inner thighs from artificial winter heat.

Her beach wear was no different from her day-to- day street clothes, and of course the ubiquitous plastic hair curlers were in place, along with the head scarf to cover the metal and plastic from prying eyes.

Her hair was held in perpetual readiness for some future event that has been lost to memory. Curlers and head scarf were part of the Scottish woman's dress code, much like the veil is to a Saudi girl.

Food and Drink

Around noon, the kids start screaming for mince pies, one for each kid.  A glance at the pie after the first bite confirms the appropriate amount of white solid fat present, like icing on an inner cake. The child's teeth sharply outlined in the fat as if carved there by a master artist.

These treats are then washed down with luke warm Irn Bru. On beach outings such as this, the Scottish preference appears to favor raw Mars bars for dessert. 

Afternoon

About this time dozens of guys all over the beach are saying to the wives.

"Well hen, um jist gawn up yonder fir a wee dram."

He digs out the tar and excrement from between his toes with a lolly stick and pulls his white socks over his sandy feet.  A pair of sandals over the white socks completes his dress and away he goes, just like always.

The matriarch pats her scarf to make sure her curlers are still there and relaxes a little in her beach chair. She daydreams of when she came to this very beach as a young lass, and of the unfulfilled promise of her youth."

Matt O'Neill, South Texas, USA:  December 30, 2007

Recollections

13.

Margaret McCafferty

Portobello Beach

Thank you to Margaret McCafferty for sending me this photograph of her family on holiday at Portobello, around 1945.  Please click on the image to enlarge it and read about it.

©

Recollections

14.

Tom Lynch

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Thank you to Tom Lynch who wrote:

Family and Home

"I came to Portobello from Musselburgh at the age of 6.  My Dad was Chris Lynch (wife Dottie) who owned the Red Lion in the High Street.  He was also Handicapper for the Border Games and Time Keeper at 'the dogs' at Powderhall.

We lived at 22 Brighton Place, right opposite the unusual Catholic church, which is still there."

Schools

"First, I went to St John's School run by the Ursuline Nuns. They were good teachers and very strict. - maybe vice versa.

At age 10, I went to school by train from Portobello Station, above the bridge up Brighton Place.  This was to St Andrew's Priory School (SAPS). run by the monks of Fort Augustus Abbey, Fort William, on the edge of Loch Ness.

They were tough and gave 'the stick', cut from the garden, if you didn't behave. Great guys and great teachers. That's where I learned Cricket and Rugby.

Later, I  went to Holy Cross Academy in Leith.  I took the No. 12 tram every morning to the foot of Leith Walk where I changed trams.  If I was nearly too late for the No. 12, I could run then  climb aboard onto the open step of the tram while grabbing the rail - then climb up to the open front or back of the tram.

I played billiards and table tennis in The Guild Hall near the top of Bath Street.  It's now a supermarket.

I've travelled a bit since then."

Tom Lynch, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA: Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook Jan 9, 2010

Recollections

15.

Ian M Malcolm

St Andrews, fife, Scotland

Thank you to Ian M Malcolm for telling me of some of his experiences in and around Edinburgh while he was studying at Leith Nautical College in 1947-48.

Ian wrote:

Number Please!

"Jim Dunkley, a New Zealander, was among a group of us looking in a shop window in Portobello one Saturday morning when he spied something he wanted and we all trooped in. 

When completing the transaction, the assistant asked Jim if he had a number.  It seemed such an odd question that he facetiously replied that he had a name. 

We had not realized that we were in the Co-op where dividends were paid against share numbers!"

Ian M Malcolm, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland:  January 24, 2010

Recollections

16.

Eleanor Brown

(née Stewart)

Le Marche, Italy

Thank you to Eleanor Brown for following up comments above about  Ned Barnie and about the Cassidy family.

Eleanor wrote:

Ned Barnie

"I was born and brought up in Portobello, and stayed there until I married in 1961. I went to Towerbank Primary School from 1946 to 1953.  Every day that I spent there was wonderful. I don't remember any bad ones.

I noted with interest that Bill Cockburn (2 above) remembered Ned Barnie going for a swim in the morning Ned Barnie was my Great Uncle (my Dad's uncle).  He went for a swim every morning, no matter what the weather was like.  He was a science teacher at David Kilpatrick's school in Leith."

The Cassidy Family

"Eleanor McIntyre (10 above) asked about the Cassidy family.   I remember Lawrence, the Dad.  He stared of with a fish shop near the tram depot in Porty.  Then went on to the restaurant at the foot of Bath Street.

There were other projects.  My Mum met him one day in Peebles where he had retired to, and he invited her to his establishment for tea.

The Cassidy Family

"There are so many memories that have been rekindled to day, I don't really know where to start, but if anyone wants to contact me I will be very happy to speak with them.

I stayed in Baileyfield Road, and married in 1961. We have one son and now live in Le Marche region of Italy.

Eleanor Brown (née Stewart), Le Marche, Italy

Messages for Eleanor

If you'd like to contact Eleanor, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.    Thank you.

Peter Stubbs:  February 19, 2010

Recollections

17.

Jim Smart

Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Thank you to Jim Smart for sending his recollections of Portobello.  Jim, who used to live in Bath Street, Portobello wrote: 

Carters

Tammy Lamb

"Tammy Lamb lived in a small cottage adjacent to Ramsay Place. All us local kids used to gather nearly outside his cottage  and sing the song:

'Paire old Tammy Lamb

He selt his wife a pram

The pram was bammy

So was Tammy

Paire old Tammy Lamb'

After singing this a few times, Tammy used to run out of his house with a huge horse whip.  Luckily for us, he was so drunk that he never actually caught us with it.  If he had, we wouldn't be around to tell the tale."

Percy

"Tammy had a cart and an assistant.  I think his name was Percy, and that he had only one eye.  His cap was always worn on the side of his head.

He was very seldom seen on the cart and was never allowed to drive it.  He always appeared to be running behind Tam."

Jock

"There was another Carter who was called 'Jock kill the horse'! He was wizened looking. He looked like an 'old time' jockey and had very sharp features, and of course the inevitable cap on the side of his head.

He was also a dab hand with the whip, both on the horse and on any of us boys who weren't quick enough to get off their marks after taunting him about his nefarious activities.

I think he worked for Purvis's the builders who had a yard in Ramsay Lane, which I think is now called Figgate something-or- other.  Anyway, it is the small opening running down to Towerbank School."

'The Fence'

"Opposite Towerbank School, there was an enclosed area.  This was our playground.  It was know as 'The Fence'  There was a solitary tree there, which gradually died, as it was used for everything, including:

-  a goal post

-  a viewing platform for the Umpires for 'Cycle Speedway'.

The palings of the fence didn't last too long, once we started using them as part of the 'guiser' celebrations.

Strangely, we never knew who actually owned this land."

Cooper's Shop

"I worked for Alex Cooper in his original shop.  It was just up from the County cinema.  Alex was a great man for the dogs at Powderhall, and according to him he backed all the winners!!

He had the most beautiful handwriting, which I witnessed for the first few weeks working for him as a new 'Paper Laddie'.  He also had the ability to fold The Edinburgh Evening News with edges that you could cut your hands on!

I remember that the News at that time was in Broadsheet format.  It was delivered with only one fold in a most peculiar silver van with 'copper trims' and lettering kept immaculate by polishing with Brasso.

The rival 'Dispatch' was delivered in a more modern green  van.  I think it was a Morris."

Paper Boys and Milk Boys

"As paper boys, milk boys etc, we had lots of 'arrangements'.

My favourite was dumping my nearest deliveries at 'Forsyth's the Bakers' at the top of Bath Street. (which later became Rankin's greengrocers) to allow the bakers to read the morning news.

Then, I would start my round at the furthest point and make my way back, and call into the bakery to get my rolls with butter and thick lemon curd.

There was the odd mishap and my customers did complain now and then about having 'jammy papers'. 

Another earner for me was on 'Bucket Morning'.  I used to take the buckets of my newspaper customers down to the street for them.  As almost all of my clientele lived in tenements, I was 'The White Knight'.

But if they got behind with their payments I would miss them out.   At this time, buckets were collected twice a week, so they would have to find some place to store two lots of rubbish, which isn't easy when living in a tenement!!

Once again, there were sometimes problems.  Customers didn't like their morning papers being covered in Stoor."

Holy City

"This was the name we gave to Mount Lodge,  a small council estate adjacent to Windsor Place, because of the allegedly thousands of Catholics who lived there.  It was part of one of my 'rounds'.

I think, perhaps, there were about three Catholic families living there out of fifty houses and I should know as among them were members of our street football team.

We used to sneak into 'The Pineapple', the Roman Catholic Church in Brighton Place, to tell them to hurry up with their 'Hail Marys' as the tide was coming in and we would have a only an hour to play.  All games were subject to the tide.  Some could last for over two hours, playing 'First to reach twenty goals'."

Ned Barnie

"I remember on one occasion - I think it was the Winter of 1947 - trying to cycle along the Prom as the road on my round was blocked by snow.

I came across footprints in the snow in the snow, which then suddenly vanished.  On looking out to Sea, there was ''Ned' having is morning swim!

He would be well fortified!  Many a time, I would see him strolling down Bath Street  in a 'well oiled' state after a hard day teaching at the Royal High School.

He always wore starched high wing collars and tight fitting striped pants with a black jacket.  I would think his gown and mortar would be in a school  cupboard somewhere.

When he swam the English Channel, he was the oldest man to do so, and I believe this is still the case."

Cinemas

"The County and Bungalow cinemas were in Bath Street.

The Bungalow ('The Bughouse') was directly opposite my House.  The first picture I saw there was John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' starring Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney jun.  It was shown in sepia.

I remember the County being built, and splitting my lip on a piece of scaffolding after  being chased by the Watchie.  I was  playing some kind of game after the workmen had finished for the night.

The County opened with 'Snow White' and we all got papier mache masks of the Dwarfs. There was also a Juke Box outside the cinema, playing 'Roll out the Barrel'.'"

Air Raids

"I remember the first Air Raid of World War II.  It was beautiful late Summer's day and the first we heard was the sound of rapid fire followed by a German aircraft, further followed by a Spitfire (or may be a Hurricane) Lysander spotter plane, then finally a bright yellow Sunderland rescue plane.

We were all rushing about picking up pieces of shrapnel, which were still warm, and completely oblivious to the danger of it all.

The German aircraft was shot down and crashed in the area of Humby.  The German crew were given what seemed like a 'full military funeral with the Swastika flag was draped over the coffin, and then were buried in Joppa cemetery.  the coffins were repatriated to the German families after the War."

Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  September 5, 2010

Recollections

18.

Linda Philpot

Thank you to Linda Philpot who wrote seeking more information to pass on to her mother-in-law who used to live in Portobello.

Linda wrote:

Question

1932-40

"My mother in Law was born at 5 Berry Square, Portobello in 1923.  She talks happily about growing up in Portobello until the early 1930s, when she move to 1 Drummond Street, Edinburgh.

Her name, then, was Elizabeth Glancy.  She had two brothers, Michael and Joe, and twin sisters, Isabelle and Euphemia.  Her father hired out rowing boats in Portobello.

Can anybody tell me more about these places, or the people who lived around there who meant so much to her?  I'd love to find out more."

Linda Philpot:  September 10, 2010

Reply to Lynda?

If you'd like to send a reply to Linda please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her.  Thank you.

Peter Stubbs:  September 15, 2010

Recollections

18.

Reply

1.

Duncan Milne

Marchmont, Edinburgh

Thank you to Duncan Milne for replying to the question asked by Linda Philpot in her Recollections 18 above.

Duncan wrote:

Glancy Brothers

"My grandfather, Duncan Milne, who comes originally from Prestonfield, recalled a set of brothers named Glancy that married two sisters and lived in the Grassmarket/West Port area.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I've taken a great interest in the site.  It has brought up many happy memories for him."

Duncan Milne, Marchmont, Edinburgh:  June 7, 2014

Recollections

19.

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins)

Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Dorothy Jenkins who wrote:

Restaurant

"I grew up in Joppa but loved Portobello where I went  around with Dorothy Litster.  We worked every summer from the age of 12 for Charlie Shenkin in his restaurant at the foot of Bath Street on the promenade.

We felt quite grown up, waiting on all the wonderful Glasgow holiday makers. They were so happy and we enjoyed every day and the restaurant.  It was packed from morning to night.  The people were very generous.  Our pinafore pockets were filled with money from all our tips at the end of the day."

School Photos

"Does anyone have any school class photos that they could share.  I'd like to see photos from either Towerbank School or Portobello High School, from 1930 to 1957."

Dorothy Addison (née Jenkins), Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada;  October 16, 2010

Update 1

Thank you to Jim Smith, Bournemouth, Dorset, England,  for sending this photo of his class at Towerbank School, taken just before the outbreak of World War II in 1939:

©

Acknowledgement: Jim Smart, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  November 23, 2010 + February 7, 2011

Update 2

Thank you to Ian Taylor, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for sending me photos of Towerbank school classes in 1955 and 1956:

Acknowledgement: Ian Taylor, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada:  July 4, 2014

Recollections

20.

Dennis Lynch

Galashiels, Borders, Scotland

Thank you to Dennis Lynch who wrote

St John's Primary School

"I was brought up at 22, Brighton Place, directly opposite St. Johns Church, so I was fascinated by all the memories of Portobello.

I went to St. Johns School.

- Mr Meechan was headmaster. He married Miss McNamara and they lived in Mentone Avenue.

- Miss Gourlay was my first teacher.  I have a class photo, unfortunately undated but not long after 1935 when I was first literally dragged by my mother yelling all the way up Brighton Place on my first day, and second !

For a week I left home at the correct time to go, then spent the morning in Brighton Place park until lunch time . Then in the afternoon, I left home at the time I should have, to go back to school but I headed back to the park again. It eventually dawned on me that this couldn't go on and so I reluctantly became a normal school attendee.

In this day and age, it seems odd that a 5-year-old wasn't missed by the school but I suppose that because of my behaviour on the first two days they probably thought that my mother was keeping me at home to sort me out !"

St John's Cricket Club

"Years later, I and my boyhood friend, Ricky De Marco, co-founded St. John's cricket club.  We played our home fixtures on the field behind the school which has now long been occupied by Portobello Secondary School."

Chris Lynch

In Recollections 14' above, Tom Lynch mentioned my dad, Chris Lynch and his pub, the Red Lion.

But, he was better known as the Handicapper of the Powderhall New Year Sprint as well as many Border Games

When the Braemar Gathering decided they needed a judge for their races he was the first to be invited.

He also served in that capacity at the annual Fettes College races.

All in all, he was a well-respected figure in Portobello and further afield."

Dennis Lynch, Galashiels, Borders, Scotland:  November 3, 2011

Recollections

21.

Douglas Bold

Thank you to Douglas Bold for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Douglas wrote:

Home

"I lived in Portobello, behind the electric tram depot in Adelphi Place.

We lived in a room and kitchen and shared the outside loo with the next door family of six.  I would not have changed it for anything!  Times were hard, but we were all in it together."

Wireless

"I listened to the wireless on Saturday mornings, to the regular serial 'Dick Barton - Special Agent' with his helpers, Snowy White and Jock. "**

Douglas Bold:  Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, February 8, 2012

Recollections

22.

Norman Vanbeck

Exeter, Devon, England

Thank you to Norman Vanbeck for posting a reply about this photo of the 1948 Towerbank School Netball Team

©

and for sending more of his memories of growing up in Portobello in the 1940s and 1950s.

Norman wrote:

1940s and 1950s

"My days in Porto were between 1941 and 1959 when I joined the Royal Marines."

Donkeys, Deck Chairs and Papers

"The EdinPhoto web site has brought back many fond memories of my childhood in Porto:

-  working with the donkeys one summer, and

-  working with the deck chairs with Miss Naomi Clarke, my next door neighbour in Bath Street.

-  working for Alex Cooper at top of Bath Street as a paper boy."

Schools

"After Towerbank Primary, I went to Portobello High School.  It was called Secondary Modern in those days.

Having recently returned for a visit, I see many many changes to the buildings, etc."

Norman Vanbeck, Exeter, Devon, England:  June 29, 2012

Recollections

23.

Sandra Thurgood

Australia

Thank you to Sandra Thurgood, Australia, for posting this message in the EdinPhoto Guestbook.

Sandra wrote:

Balfour Family

Above Demarco's Fish & Chip Shop

Question

"Does anyone remember the Balfour family who lived above Demarco's fish and chip shop in The High Street Portobello?

Their names were:

-  Greta

-  Edward

-  Sam

-  Betty (my mum)

-  Molly and

-  George.

They were all born in this flat in the 1920s and 1930s and lived there until the mid-1940s.

Mum has told me many stories of their hard lives as kids, and also of  happy times at the pool and beach."

Sandra Thurgood, Australia:  December 10, 2012

Sandra also posted her email address in  a message about the Vennel
 that she posted in the Edinphoto Guestbook on September 23, 2012

Reply to Sandra?

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

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  October 9, 2012

Recollections

24.

Pamela Thompson

Buderim, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Pamela Thompson for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Pamela wrote:

Entertainment

Concerts

"Who remembers the concerts for children in parks? I remember the shows in Abercorn Park in Portobello where local dance schools would perform. The tap dancers were always a hit singing and dancing to "How much is that Doggie in the Window?"

Highland Dancing

"I also remember our neighbours rushing up the street to catch a bus, the girls in highland dancing regalia and their mum with the swords under under her arm!  They were, No doubt, heading for a competition or performance.

Does this still happen?"

Pamela Thompson, Buderim. Queensland, Australia
 Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 2, 2013

Recollections

25.

Iain Gillespie Brennan

Buckinghamshire, England

Thank you to Iain Brennan for replying to the question about Berry Square, Portobello, asked by Linda Philpot in Recollections 18 above.

Iain wrote:

Berry Square

"Hiya Linda:

Please excuse my somewhat belated reply to your request for info on Berry Square, which incidentally (according to an old class mate still living in Edinburgh, is being totally rebuilt, with high-value flats for the rich folks!

Ally Dixon, a boy in my class at the old Portobello Secondary school lived at No.1 Berry Square.  The Square in these days, in the early-1960s was run down and very grim looking.

The old brick-kilns that I knew are still standing, and,the whole area is basically the same as I remember it, ,but missing memorable landmarks, which is a shame.

I grew up in that area, from 1957 till 1965, when my Family moved to Buckinghamshire.  I still retain good memories of that period."

Iain Gillespie Brennan, Buckinghamshire, England:  July 16, 2013

Recollections

26.

Ally Dickson

Edinburgh

Thank you to Ally Dickson for also replying to Iain Brennan's question in  asked by Linda Philpot in her Recollections 18 above.

Ally wrote:

Berry Square

"I've just been chatting with my mother who was born in Berry Square and lived in Berry Square from 1921 to 1966.  */0I lived there from 1950 to 1966 and am mentioned by Iain Brennan in his Recollections 25 above.

Can you put me in touch with Lynda Philpott and Iain  Brennan, then I'll be able to give them more information about Berry Square?"

Ally Dickson, Edinburgh:  September 8, 2013

Berry Square

I've passed on to Ally the latest email addresses that I have for Linda Philpot and Iain Brennan who have both sent messages above about Berry Square.

 I hope that Ally  will be able to make contact with with Linda and Ian to discuss Berry Square.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  20 September 2013

Recollections

27.

Ally Dickson

Edinburgh

Thank you to Ally Dickson for writing again.  Ally tells me that he has now made contact with Iain Brennan, and is hoping to get a reply from Linda Philpot.

Ally added

5 Berry Square

"I remember that one summer, around 1963/64 , I was cutting the square grass after school when a guy walked past and took photos of the top house.  That was No.5 that Linda mentions.

He told me that he had lived there.  From memory, I think he told me that he was then living in Canada.  His age when I saw him might have been about 40s or 50s."

Ally Dickson, Edinburgh:  September 23, 2013

Recollections

28.

Anne Cunliffe (née Watt)

Edinburgh

Ann Cunliffe wrote:

Visits to Portobello

"Reading about Portobello brought back lots of  memories. Our  parents took us there, often.

We took the tram from London Road to King's Road, then used to get our teapots etc filled with boiling water from the cafe on the front."

Roller Skating Record

"I also read about the roller skating on the Prom.

My father broke the world endurance roller skating record at Marine Gardens, Portobello on 30 January 1931.  I have a page from the daily newspaper about it, but I've not managed to find the paper with a photo of him having his laces cut off his boots.

He skated for 61 hrs 37 mins.  The Marine Gardens Roller Skating Rink presented him with a watch to celebrate his achievement.   Here is a photo of the inscription on the back of the watch."

Ann Cunliffe (née Watt), Edinburgh:  March 21+22, 2014

Inscription on the watch presented to Harry Watt

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Anne Cunliffe (née Pip Watt), Edinburgh 

Recollections

29.

Laurie Thompson

Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England

Thank you to Laurie Thompson for providing the photo above, together with the list of names below.

Laurie wrote:

Portobello Recollections

"Continuing my wanderings through the website, I've been particularly interested in reading the recollections above, including the references to the Cassidy family.  That name rang a faint bell.  I wonder if the Cassidy player in the photo above comes from the same family.

Towerbank Football Team

"My late dad was born and raised in Ramsey Place, Portobello.  He was a pupil at Towerbank School.  Looking through his old photos, I found a picture of him in what appears to be a cup-winning football team, presumably one of the Towerbank teams." 

©

This photo is  undated, but guessing the age of my dad in the picture as being in his early teens, I'd think it was probably taken sometime in the early 1930s.

Request for Help

"I'd be grateful if anybody could confirm / correct / complete the names of its subjects, and/or provide details of the picture's date, occasion, etc.

My dad died over 50 years ago, and there are no surviving members of our family who can provide any more details.

Offer of Help

"Finally, if this is read by any descendants of any of the other people in the picture, and they would like a scanned copy of it, I'll be happy to oblige."

Laurie Thompson, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England:  June 18, 2014

Reply to Laurie Thompson

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

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  June 18, 2014

Recollections

30

Helen Slate (née Isaac)

Thank you to Helen Slate (née Isaac) who wrote:

Bath Street

"I was born in 1937 on Collesdene Avenue, Joppa, and grew up on Bath street, Portobello.

I used to walk from Bath Street to Arthur's Seat and climb to the top, then turn around and walk back home again.

Occasionally my mother would rent out our kitchen and living room to Glaswegians who came on holiday. It was difficult to understand their speech."

During the War

"I remember the war years with air raid sirens going off, and everyone going to the bomb shelter except my mother and myself.  She refused to go to the bomb shelter.

During the war our church, St. Mark's Episcopal, used to put on a 'pantomime' each year to raise money for the church.  It was always well attended.

Despite everything being limited during war years, we had a good time.

Cinemas

"I remember:

-   The County Cinema which had lovely wide marble (?) steps.  I used to recreate the dance steps from Fred Astaire movies there.

-  The Victory Cinema on Bath street.  It was known for its  fleas!"

Open Air Swimming Pool

"I remember well the open air swimming pool and waiting for 'the waves' to come on.  It was thrilling!  I learned to swim there.   Eventually, I joined the swim team which met and trained in the boys' pool next door.

I loved Esther Williams, the glamorous Hollywood swimming star, and would try to do what she did - unsuccessfully. How I loved the hot showers at the baths, and going upstairs to the cafe to buy a "shivery bite" depending on how many pennies I had.

 I also remember Ned Barnie and him lathering up with fat for a long swim.

Old Memories

"I remember:

-  mother buying a string of onions every time 'Onion Johnny' came around.

-   the rag and bone man with his horse and cart.

-  the race horses from Musselburgh exercising along the beach.  I loved watching them.

-  walking along the High Street to watch the cart horses being shod at the smithy.  I loved the sights and smells of that place, and I loved the Clydesdales.  I've always loved horses."

Trams, Trains and Buses

"My dad was a conductor on the trams.  At the end of the line, at
Joppa, he'd get out and pull off the connection to the electric wire, walk around holding the line, and then let it rise and re-attach it so they could return to Edinburgh.

When I went to work after high school, I'd ride the train up to Edinburgh twice a day  -  or sometimes I'd take the green line bus, which was fast with fewer stops."

Happy Memories

"It's wonderful to read all the happy memories of people growing up in Portobello. As kids, we'd go out from morning until evening, with never a care from us or from our parents.

'Shanks Mare' was how we got around, and miles meant nothing."

Helen Slate (née Isaac):  June 21, 2014

Recollections

31.

Laurie Thompson

Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England

Thank you to Laurie Thompson for writing again with more of his memories of Portobello.

Laurie wrote:

Sugarolli Water

"I remember when I was young, we used to break up hard liquorice sticks and put them into an old screw-top lemonade bottle with water, and shake them, for quite a long time, to produce a dark brown drink which was called something like sugarolly, or sugarelly, water. I'm not sure of the spelling, as I've never actually seen it written down before.

Was this just something local to where I lived, or was it widely known and practiced in Edinburgh?

I remember taking a bottle of this, along with a filled roll and a packet of crisps for lunch, when going fishing for sprats off the prom in Porty. (This was in the days before they built the beach up again, and at high tide, there'd be a couple of feet of water at the prom edge).

Laurie Thompson, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England:  June 26, 20145,

Reply to Laurie Thompson

Hi Laurie:  I expect that sugarolli water was probably fairly widely known, and not just in Edinburgh.  I remember making it myself when I was growing up in Yorkshire in the early 1950s.

As you say, it took quite a long time to turn brown, and I never really got much flavour from my attempts.  It could probably be made in a few now using a liquidizer!

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  June 18, 2014

Portobello Pictures

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1920s-50s

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from 1950s

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