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 | | | Fishing in the 60's | There is 1 message in this section. |
Bruce Buchanan from Sauchie, Alloa. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
After watching the film clip of the Aberdeen fishermen it reminded me of my first job on leaving school at the age of 15. I started fishing with my father and uncle on a 40 foot fifie similar to the boat on the film. Our home port was Port Seton near Edinburgh but at the time I started we were fishing the Firth of Clyde. We mostly trawled for prawns and white fish off the East coast of Arran. Each night sailing into Ayr harbour to sell the catch in the fish market. There was a number of boats from Port Seton working the Clyde and at the weekend all the boats were moored in Troon harbour while the crews traveled home by bus. We also fished the Firth of Forth and on the East coast at Dunbar, Eyemouth and down as far as North Shields. The name of the boat was Myrtle LH24. I now keep my fishing memories alive with my hobby of building model fishing boats and sailing in the Scottish fisheries museum boat Reaper. |
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| | | Linwood Car Plant | There is 1 message in this section. |
Alison Gilmour from Paisley, Scotland. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
Did you or a member of your family work at the Linwood car plant? If you would be willing to share your experiences with a student please get in touch. Thanks |
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| | | Burns & Harris Printers Dundee | There is 1 message in this section. |
Christeen Miller from Rainham, Kent. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
My grandfather David Chalmers Buik worked for many years in the late 1800's/early 1900's as a bookbinder/journeyman for the printers Burns & Harris in Dundee. He designed the machine which cut out the thumb index used in bibles. To collect the royalties for this invention he used to travel to London by the DP&L shipping company taking his seven children with him! He also invented a camera which would take 3D pictures and this became so well known in the town that the department store D.M. Brown's set aside a room for him to take his pictures. If anyone knows anything about the early years of Burns & Harris particularly pictures that I may include in my family tree. Incidentally David Buik's son David Chalmers Buik Jnr. also followed his fathers footsteps by working as a bookbinder in Burns & Harris. |
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| | | Stanley Robertsons fishy tales | There is 1 message in this section. |
Jacqueline Pearce from Torry Aberdeen. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
Stanley Robertson is spot on with his stories about folk who worked in the fish. It brought back so many memories,especially how cold and smelly the work was. If you read this Stanley I remember walking home from work over the Chain bridge in my fishboots in a snow blizzard and my feet were so swollen with standing in a basin of hot water at work I couldn't get my boots off. I think I may have worked with Stanley at some time. Keep the memories alive. |
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| | | Mr Doig - Dundee Jute Industry | There is 1 message in this section. |
Ian from Dundee. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
I am looking for more information regarding a Mr Doig of Dundee. I don't have a forename and I all I really know is that he was in business in the early 1900's. He had big connections with India in the jute industry. Please drop a line if you have anything or a page online with information. |
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| | | The Miners Strike in Fife | There are 2 messages in this section. |
John McArthur from Dunfermline. Posted 12 Jul 2006.
Our familly worked at Comrie in Oakly from the mid '70s till the pit shut in 1986. We had to steal food to survive during the strike of 1984 - 1985, just like every miner that stayed on strike throughout the full 14 months of the strike. There were hard times but we are all here to tell the story of the strike. I met a few good friends picketing all over the UK and local shops always gave to the soup kitchens - Local support never wis lost... |
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| | | Working on the Railways | There is 1 message in this section. |
Jim Smith from Carnoustie. Posted 12 Jul 2006.
After military service I worked as a Signalman on the Dundee to Blairgowrie line from 1949 to the line closure in 1968. I worked in Rosemill and Liff boxes. Are there any other old signalmen out there who remember the line? Some people called it the Newtyle railway. I also worked at a Station called Baldragon.
Happy days. |
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| | | John Brown's Cranes | There is 1 message in this section. |
Arturo Hernandez Correas from Halle (Saale) Germany. Posted 16 Sep 2005.
I want anything I can get about the John Brown's big old cranes. Anybody with information (technical, historical, personal...) about them please contact me at; arturohc@web.de o leave a message in this forum for me to contact him. |
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| | | Criteria for genuine Handwoven Harris Tweed | There is 1 message in this section. |
Bruce Burns from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Posted 1 Aug 2005.
The film-clip "The traditional methods used to produce Harris Tweed" retained for safety in the Archives of the BBC Scotland illustrates the utimate evidence that the only 'mode of operation' used for warping in the making of Harris Tweed is that, and always has been that , of HANDWARPING on the traditional Wooden Handwarping stakes as illustrated visually herewith. |
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| | | Looking for info about roofing felt | There is 1 message in this section. |
Gordon Macdonald from Vancouver Island, Canada. Posted 3 Jun 2005.
I'm working with the New Zealand based organization Antarctic Heritage Trust to conserve Sir Ernest Shackleton's historic hut on Ross Island in Antarctica. This hut was originally made in UK, and the roof was covered with a brown fibrous material that may have been made from jute. The original specification called for a product called Stoniflex Felt. Our team would like to find a match for this felt, and I wonder if anyone has heard about this material or has any information that may help us restore this important historic building to its former glory. |
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| | | Clyde Valley Dam | There is 1 message in this section. |
George Paterson from Portland, Oregon. Posted 4 Apr 2005.
My father was foreman at the electric company on the river Clyde, during World War Two. As a young boy I would go in to work with him on the weekends when he and his crew were camoflaging the buildings to confuse the German aeroplanes into making them look like the
surrounding country. I was aloud to drive the pug engine that shuttled the building material around the site with the driver in cab. Also I would get to operate the large crane around the new buildings with the driver holding my hands on the levers and controls. I suppose this would not be allowed today, but back then it was great fun. |
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| | | Living and working in the Outer Hebrides: | There are 2 messages in this section. |
Iain F MacMillan from Benbecula. Posted 3 Nov 2004.
The Outer Hebrides is a magnificent magical place to grow up, even to bring up your own children. It is near impossible to work here, wages are next to nothing, and what you do earn is far too easy to spend, with next to nothing to show for it. It costs an unbelievable but forcibly acceptable fortune to come and go. |
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| | | On the Busses | There are 2 messages in this section. |
Richard Glass from Medina NY, USA. Posted 29 Oct 2004.
My Dad drove a Corporation bus in Aberdeen for 25 years before we emigrated to the States in 1952. I have fond memories of "my city" and the double deckers. I have been fortunate to return a number of times but as you know nothing stays the same. I will always consider Aberdeen and Scotland my home. |
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| | | Farming | There is 1 message in this section. |
catherine Crawford from South lanarkshire. Posted 29 Oct 2004.
My grandfather George Gardiner was a farmer in Quarter Hamilton. When he died in the 50s the farm was sold. I would love to hear from anyone who could give me information about his life. The name Black Boag rings a bell. |
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| | | ravensgraig steelworks | There are 2 messages in this section. |
archie graham from brantford Canada. Posted 27 Sep 2004.
I finished my apprenticeship as a joiner with Chambers Builders in Motherwell.That same year I was sent out to a job of building a large hut in the middle of a field, we could not figure out why it was here and in a specific spot. It turned out to be the very first building for drawings for the new steelmill called Ravenscraig. I will never forget the space there was, but it sure got filled up. That was a long time ago, and I came to Canada ten years later and have been here since. |
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| | | women engineers | There are 6 messages in this section. |
nina baker from glasgow. Posted 11 May 2004.
I am researching a book on the history of women in engineering in Scotland. If you or any female relative of yours ever worked in any branch of engineering (construction, mechanical/metal trades, electrical, shipyards etc) I would love to hear about it. |
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| | | Steelworks | There is 1 message in this section. |
Colin Findlay. Posted 1 Apr 2004.
I have been collecting experiences, and photographs, of Clydebridge steelworks, at the East of Glasgow, on a web site at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clydebridge |
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| | | Work | There are 7 messages in this section. |
Betty (Kelly)Howard from Canada. Posted 18 Nov 2003.
When I think back of all the jobs I had in Scotland. There were many.
Picked potatoes as a teen. I worked in Campbells soup factory -big Hob nailed boots and hairnet (what a sight). Bakery (ate most of the cakes). D-mac Compter assembly Hillington Park Estates. Lastly Gillette's in Hillington Penilee before leaving for Canada 1967. Worked since I was 15 to help support the family.Things were different then. |
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| | | RMS Queen Mary | There are 3 messages in this section. |
Carole D from BBC Scotland. Posted 18 Aug 2003.
Scotland's Great Liner. |
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| | | Carron Iron Pot | There are 4 messages in this section. |
Edy Nassif from Uruguay Sud América. Posted 29 Jul 2003.
Who writes lives in Sud America. My country is Uruguay. I reside in a small city that is called Juan Lacaze, based to borders of the Silver River . |
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| | | Farming Life | There is 1 message in this section. |
Michael Paterson from Canada. Posted 3 Jul 2003.
During school holidays on our island (Rhum) we had to work and it mostly consisted of dragging a sack around the hillsides, picking up stray wisps of wool. In winter any work we did was always muddy, so my brother and I struck for pay and got a promise of sixpence a week, except we never saw it because it went for our food and lodging and to repay the Wellie boots bought for us so we wouldn't ruin our good shoes. When we went to the mainland for the dentist and so on we were usually given sixpence to spend, an "advance" on our wages.
Later a dentist, "Butcher" Mitchell, came by boat; the horror of having your teeth drilled with a foot-operated drill, without anaesthetic, on a small boat wallowing in a swell can scarcely be imagined. If only we had known about the connection between MacCowan's Highland Toffee and fillings. Some of the adults chewed coal to prevent cavities; one of the many useless but usually not lethal superstitions that controlled our lives.  |
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| | | David Penman | There are 8 messages in this section. |
Julia Parfitt from New Zealand. Posted 3 Jul 2003.
Looking for relatives . My grandfather David Penman married Christina in Dunfermline,Fife.
They had my grandma Helen in 1841 there. Any relatives out there? |
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| | | Cox's Jute Mill | There are 15 messages in this section. |
Margaret Gordon from Canada. Posted 13 Jun 2003.
In the 50's and early 60's my Mum worked a a weaver in Cox's in Lochee Dundee as had her Mother before her. It was a hard (and dangerous)life working in the mills.
I remember waiting at St. Ninians Church for the horn to blow and the gates to open at tea time.
Many's the dinner I had in Cox's canteen.....the meals were great and the people were friendly.
Recently, my sister, who works at Verdant Works Dundee was surprised when a visitor from England introduced herself saying that her maiden name was Cox and that yes, it was her Grandfather who owned Cox's Jute Mill. To the surprise of my sister, the lady then apologized for the poor working conditions at the Mill.
Sincerely,
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| | | Shipyard humour | There are 7 messages in this section. |
Bob Gilchrist from Old Kilpatrick. Posted 12 May 2003.
Sir, I often recall the many funny things which happened in the yards. One of which I
am particularly fond of is the following, and it is true: An apprentice of mine was in
the pay queue on the Friday and remarked that his girl-friend's birthday would be on
the Sunday and that her didn't know what to get her.
I said "Well Jim, you're getting married in a couple of weeks, so why don't you go into town and buy her some lingerie - a pair of silk pyjamas or a negligee or something of that sort" He
thought that was a great idea so on the Saturday he went into town and bought night-
wear for a present. Fine. On the Monday morning we were all in the workshop talking
and Jim came over to tell me that the lass was absolutely delighted with her present.
I asked him how he got on in the shop and he said "Nae bother, Boab. Ah wis staunin' lookin' aboot an' a wummin came up tae me and asked if there wis onythin' she could help me wi' and Ah telt her I was lookin' fur a negligee and she looked at me as if Ah wis daft" This
statement brought forth the immediate retort from an old journeyman "Aye, an' Ah bet
you looked back as if ye wurny!!! This was typical shipyard patter and caused a
minor earthquake of laughter in the workshop, as everyone and his uncle saw the funny
side of it.
I think I could write a good book about shipyard happenings but I doubt if I would have the time now, as I'm 74 and it might run out before I've finished it!
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| | | coalminers | There are 8 messages in this section. |
Amelia McKinlay from Glasgow. Posted 28 Feb 2003.
My father was a coalminer, I remember when he brought his moleskins home to be washed my older sister or myself had to go outside to beat the coaldust from them before my mother took them to the wash house to be washed.We got a miners house in Dunfermiline it was brand new, upstairs and downstairs we had no waxcloth on the floor because we had lived in a single end in the Gorbals. The windows of the new house looked onto the Glasgow line and everytime we saw a train we all started crying, My mother stuck it 2 weeks and we all came back to the Gorbals where we lived |
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| | | Mining Heritage | There is 1 message in this section. |
Dave Reid from Kennoway, Fife. Posted 17 Feb 2003.
Can anyone tell me about quoiting in mining and other communities throughout Scotland. especially Fife but not necessarilly. In anticipation. |
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| | | Tommy Morgan | There are 12 messages in this section. |
Stephen Eric Morgan. Posted 31 Jan 2003.
My grandfather was the great Scottish comedian Tommy Morgan. I live in California, USA. I am interested in all I can find out about my grandfather, he died a year before I was born.
I am looking form photos, clips, old stories any and all. Thanks |
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| | | Iron Stone Miners | There are 2 messages in this section. |
Beryl Korner. Posted 19 Dec 2002.
Is there anyone out there who could tell me about the Iron Stone Mines of long ago in Partick. I am trying to find my relatives, and my grandfather was an Ironstone Miner. All atributes would be appreciated. His name was Beveridge Hay.
Thank you kindly |
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| | | old friends | There is 1 message in this section. |
Maris Quinn. Posted 19 Dec 2002.
Hi all,
I would like to make contact again with old school friends and work mates, St Mungo's secondary early 60's and Dunn and Wilson, from 64/68
thanks
m quinn
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| | | Apprentice Strike circa 1960 | There are 6 messages in this section. |
George Ellis. Posted 5 Oct 2002.
Seeking information on this strike especially in the Falkirk - Bonnybridge area. Cheers, George. |
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| | | Taxis in Stonehaven | There are 2 messages in this section. |
Alf Smith from Stonehaven. Posted 14 Apr 2002.
My Grandfather had a taxi business in Stonehaven, it consisted of two Rolls Royces as there were no such things as mini cabs in those days. He called himself a Motor Hirer, today it would be called chauffeur drive. During the wartime petrol rationing he bought an Austin 20 which never came out of the garage. It was registered so that he could get extra petrol for his business, and I suspect, barter for the under the counter stuff from the butcher. |
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| | | Factory Closures | There are 6 messages in this section. |
Scott McCall from Linwood. Posted 14 Mar 2002.
Redundancy is cool when youre 11. Redundancy, its fantastic. When my Dad was one of the ill-fated 4000 Dads that were made redundant from the Chrysler Peugeot car plant in Linwood in 1981 it was a great time to be 11. |
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| | | Foundry memories | There are 3 messages in this section. |
David Findlay from Rosyth. Posted 14 Mar 2002.
I worked at a small foundry in Alloa throughout most of the 1950s. It made propellers for pumps and I worked mostly as a moulder, spending days spraying graphite paint onto sand to show where to pour the molten steel. |
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| | | Working in the Shipyards | There are 5 messages in this section. |
Gavin Miller from Bearsden. Posted 13 Mar 2002.
It was impossible to get one over on the guys who worked in the yards. |
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| | | Office work | There are 2 messages in this section. |
Norna Clarke from Thurso. Posted 13 Mar 2002.
I started work as a short hand typist. My starting wages were 25 shillings a week which was considered a very good wage being 5 -10 shillings more than my peers made. |
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| | | Dundee Jute Mills 1940s/1950s | There are 10 messages in this section. |
Jean Hunter from Bankfoot. Posted 12 Mar 2002.
My mother spent her entire working life in the jute mills, from starting as a teenager to the day she retired. |
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| | | Farming Life | There are 6 messages in this section. |
Marjory McQueen from Aberdeen. Posted 12 Mar 2002.
Once we left school we more or less took over the running of the farm, as our father was bed-ridden with arthritis. I did the ploughing with the horses and all the other jobs. I carted dung out to the fields to spread it. |
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| | | Coalmining Closures | There are 9 messages in this section. |
John Miller from Drongan, Ayrshire. Posted 10 Mar 2002.
I was a miner in Ayrshire for many years, but what will always stick out in my mind was the strike in 1984 and the hardships it caused for us. I have vivid memories of going to the Agricultural College at Auchincruive to steal vegetables. |
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