Recollections

1.

Margaret Williamson (née Hay)

Moline, Illinois, USA

Thank you to Margaret Williamson who remembers:

Shows for Kids

"Before they started any of the shows for kids in Princes Street Gardens, everyone sang:

'When you cross the road by day or night
Beware of the danger that looms in sight.
Look first to your left and then to your right
And you'll never get run over.'

It was for all the kids to be careful while crossing the street, and I'm sure it helped a lot.  I know I used it.  I wonder if anyone else did."

Margaret Williamson (née Hay), Moline, Illinois, USA:  February 11, 2013

Recollections

2.

Margaret Williamson (née Hay)

Moline, Illinois, USA

Thank you to Margaret Williamson for writing again:

Margaret wrote:

Songs, Dance, Poetry

"During our summer school holidays, we could go to Princes Street Gardens.  They had a stage there for any of us who wanted to sing, dance or say poetry,

You had to go round the back and wait in line, where they took your name then called it when it was your turn to go up to the stage.  I went up to sing.  My favourite song was 'Bonnie Dundee'.  I came in 2nd.

Highland Dancing

There was a platform in front of the stage where they sometimes had Betty Brandon's Highland Dancers, or a 'Punch & Judy' show.

When it was over, me an' ma pals would head towards King's Stables Road, but just before that, there was an area of the castle rock that had a very large rock.  We used it as a slide.

We also did some climbing on the rocks and had great fun.  There was a park keeper there."

Margaret Williamson (née Hay), Moline, Illinois, USA:  February 11, 2013

Recollections

3.

Larry Fraser

Thank you to Larry Fraser who wrote:

Aircraft Fuselage

"I can remember going into Princes Street Gardens when I was about 3 to 6 years old and being taken through an aircraft fuselage, possibly near the Sir Walter Scott Monument in East Princes Street Gardens

This would have been around 1943 to 1946. 

That's all I can remember.  Does anybody know any more about this aircraft and when it would have been on display in Princes Street Gardens."

Lawrence (Larry) Fraser:  May 9, 2013

Reply for Larry Fraser?

If you think that you might be able to tell Larry any more about the aircraft fuselage that he remembers walking through,  please email me, then I'll pass on his email address to you, so that you'll be able to send a message to him.

               Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  May 11, 2013

Recollections

4.

Larry Fraser

Larry wrote again, adding:

Aircraft Fuselage

"I've been in touch with a girl I knew 55 yrs ago . She lived in Granton (I think) but then moved to The Inch where I lived.

She, too, remembers the aircraft  fuselage in Princess Street Gardens and that it was between the Walter Scott Monument and the Mound, but that's all.  At least I didn't imagine it!"

Lawrence (Larry) Fraser:  July 4, 2013

Recollections

5.

Peter E Blair

Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Thank you to Peter Blair who wrote

Aircraft Fuselage

"I came across Larry Fraser's Recollections 3 and 4 above while researching the same aircraft in East Prince's Street Gardens at the end of WWII.

If Larry has discovered any more information, or if anyone has a photograph of the aircraft, I would be grateful to hear about it and see it.

I must have been about the same age as Larry when I was taken to see it, somewhere between learning to walk and starting school, say 1944-47."

Heinkel III?

"I remember the aircraft as being a Heinkel III.  My Aunts seemed to think that it was the aircraft brought down near Humbie in 1943."

Bomber?

"However, I remember being fascinated by the fold down seats in the fuselage, which did not suggest that it was the bomber that they believed it might be.

If it was a later transport version, or converted as such later in the war or after, the date of its appearance in Edinburgh must have been post-1945.

On the other hand, I also remember its bomb bay doors opening on to what could only be a salvage campaign for tin cans.  When did that begin and end?"

Now at Hendon?

"At the moment, I'm inclined to believe that it was the same aircraft as is currently exhibited at the RAF Museum in Hendon, which was converted to a transport plane and was displayed at Farnborough in 1945 and at Whitehall in 1954.  The aircraft seems to have moved around the country in between. Any further information or memories would be welcome."

Peter E Blair, Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland:  October 28, 2014

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