Gowkshill memories
Here are memories of Gowkshill and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Gowkshill or a Gowkshill photo.
Some Happy Days...
If anyone remembers the Sabistons...we lived at 12 Stobhill Road. The gala days to the various places - Gullane, North Berwick, etc - were my favourite times. To this day whenever I hear "I love to go a-wandering", it brings back the memories. I also remember playing in the 'top' park and the 'bottom' park from morning to night (summer of course). The Guy Fawks bonfires in the bottom park, the rag & bone trucks, the fish & chip bus....I often relay these memories to my son, who is yet to visit this place. The summer evenings were lovely and I recall walking and playing in the fields of Dow's farm, or riding my bike along the Crawlee (is that how you spell it???). There are many people I could mention from those days. They may still be there, they may not. Who can I remember: The Torrances, the Calders (my relatives), the Montagues, the McLeans, the Howie's, the Burnetts, to name a few. My most treasured memory... Read more
Fitba in The Big Park
I was born in Suttislea in Nitten in 1947 but my sister and I emigrated to Gowkshill when I was 2 (I think) and lived at 18 Pentland Avenue till I married Isobel from Bonnyrigg when I was 21. I grew up with the Weighands and the Dolyes and worked in the time office at the Lady and the Workshops. The Sunday games in the big park were the highlight of my youth, often starting at around 11 and finishing about 6. Teams varied throughout the day as players went home for their dinners then came back and often changed sides, we also used to go down the fields to Newtonloan playing fields where they had actual goalposts as the park just had jerseys. I am now in the NE of Scotland but now appreciate the good times we had then, especially the Gowkshill galas to Gullane, North Berwick and Kirkaldy, happy days.
Memories Form The 60's
Does anyone remember Helen, Jan and Billy Crawford, 13 The Crescent, Jan still stays in the crescent although i'm not sure that it is in the same house.
My memories include the old co-op ad Gaul's shop which I know are not there now.
Memories of Midlothian
Remember The Dukes
I played tenor sax with The Dukes in the late 1950s. They had a great line up: Tam Easton on drums, Bill Young on base guitar, Willie Finlayson on vocals, Alec Hutchinson on rhythm and the fabulous John Fairgreive on lead guitar. Probably one of the best around at the time. How I wish I could roll the clock back. Keep rocking guys. All the best. Bill Bryce
Two of The Dukes Lived in Bonnyrigg
I played tenor sax with The Dukes in the late 1950s. Tom Easton played drums, Bill Young played bass guitar, Alec Hutchieson rhythm guitar and the fabulous John Fairgreive lead guitar with Willie Findleyson singing. Both John and I lived in Bonnyrigg, Bill Young in Loanhead, and the others in Penicuick. We played all over the place and had many many great nights out. I eventually came to live in London, but the lads were still playing till fairly recently. I have not seen them for a long time now; but often wish I could wind the clock back sixty years. Rock on boys, All the best. Bill Bryce
Born in A Very Special Place
I was born in Dalkeith in 1936 and shortly after moved to 17 Gibralter Terrace, Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland. I was the fourth to be born and already had an older sister by 5 years and two older brothers. By the time I was 11 years old I had another two sisters and two brothers.
We lived in a 3 bedroomed council house with a sitting room, scullery, bathroom and toilet (combined). Only two of the three rooms were big enough to accommodate the four brothers in one, three girls in another and the third was the small box room my oldest sister was in. Our ma and father had a double bed in the sitting room.
We were pretty crowded when I think back but at the time none of us thought about it. We certainly never complained, as it was a fact of life that could not be changed. I remember how loud and busy our house always seemed to be and that all the playing of friends of... Read more
Boyhood in Broomieknowe, Lasswade
In 1953 my family moved from Edinburgh to live in Broomieknowe, Lasswade. I liked the large garden we had on this quiet street with pigeons cooing in the big Chestnut trees in the neighbours garden, and a big barn owl which nested in an old sycamore next door. My brothers and I like to excplore in the Esk Valley, walking along the old railway, or taking the path through the glen to Roslin and coming back on farm tracks and side roads. In winter we had a great sledge run from the Polton road down a steep bank, right turn between a stump and a log, left over another bank and stop before cowping into the smelly river Esk (The Esk was polluted by all the paper mills back then). I also remember going to watch men working at the coke furnaces beside the "gasometer". My brothers and I went to school in Edinburgh, so we had to run down the Wee Brae to catch the bus, and... Read more
Where I Was Born.
I was born at home, home being 4 Pentland Crescent, Rosewell. The date was 17/05/1961. We always had a cat or a dog, or both. My dad had an aviary in the back garden, oh and we also had rabbits. It was a lovely old house but we moved to Poltonhall when I was eight. My best memories were of the lovely gala days in the park. And my dad used to look after Father O'Conell's animals and he took me with him. My sister Barbara did a charity run with Jimmy Saville and I got to meet him. My grandad was a signalman at Rosewell station, but I never met my grandparents as they both died before I was born. I have never been able to find a photograph of the station when it was running, so if anyone spots one can you let me know. Thaks for your time. Marion.
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