Greenock memories
Here are memories of Greenock and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Greenock or a Greenock photo.
Auchmountain Springs.
As a boy in the 1930s and 1940s I often visited Auchmountain Glen. It was a fascinating place with a pleasant walk and many plants and flowers together with statues and even some ships' figureheads. There was a clubhouse which was used by the Auchmountain Boys. These were the local men who created and looked after the glen as part of their leisure activity, especially during the depression of the 1930s. They all went off to the Second World War. Sadly a bomb hit the glen during the war and spoiled the lovely place. There were two springs where people could come and drink the spring water. Some brought bottles and filled them from the spring. I remember there was a little poem by No.2 Spring inviting people to drink. Erected in this Bonnie Glen By self-denying working men To meet the wants of passers-by Who happened to be unco dry 'Tis ever free to all wha pass The Masher, or the Country Lass Can hither draw too, Number two And taste the real Auchmountain Dew Now in my... Read more
Where is my Birth Mother
My birth mother was born in Greenock on September 26, 1926. I have been looking for her for 35 years. She came to Canada before I was born. I was born in 1950 and I don't know if she ever returned. Her name was Rose Marie Giubbani MacKenzie. If anyone has any information about her or her family, please get in touch. Her adopted father had a cafe in Greenook and he was from Italy. Her adopted mother was Maeri MacDonald. Thank you to everyone that reads this and can help me.
Angus Macdonald, Artist Fiddle Player And Fisherman From Greenock
Hello, I am rying to find out about my grandfather's past, Angus Macdonald, born 1862. He became a good artist and fiddle player and also a fisherman so my mother tells me, I am told he came from Greenock, I wonder if anyone heard or knew about his fiddle playing back in the day or has some of his work hanging on a wall? He moved to Carradle in Kintyre.
Holmcroft Street
My father was born and raised on Holmscroft Street. He left in 1950. I have been and know that his segment of Holmscroft Street has been torn down.
Does anyone know if this school was anywhere near Holmscroft Street? Does it still exist?
Days Gone by
I remember the Blitz and losing family at 43/45 Belville Street. I was only 7 then didn't fully realize the overall mayhem of these two nights in May 1941. My dad moved us all to New Lanark where we stayed for two years before returning to Greenock. Old enough then to chase troop trains and watch all of the great liners come into the Tail of the Bank.
Steven Farelli
I have heard about the beautiful countryside around Greenock from an old friend - contact now lost. He moved from the Gorbals with his family when he was 12, in 1961ish. I think his father worked in the shipyards. Does anyone remember Steven? He left school at 16 after 'O' levels and went to work in the tax office at Cumbernauld but found office work not to his liking. I knew him when he lived in Surbiton in Surrey. in the late 1960s into early 1970s. I believe he returned to Scotland in early 1972. I would love to know what has happened to him since then. Anyone know?
I love the Scottish borderlands (I have never got further north) and have always found the people open and friendly.
Proud to Have Been Born in Greenock
I was born in Greenock in 1953 and we left in the late 1960s, we moved to England due to the fact there was no work in Greenock. I never liked being away from all my cousins and friends but I was only young then. I went to St Joseph's school and remember it like it was yesterday. We lived on Paton Street then we got a new house in Branchton. I have since been back to my old place to be shocked at the state of the place and I sometimes wonder is it good to go back, that's why I love this site as there are loads of you out there that feel the same as me. I am pProud to be from Greenock and it's good to look at all the pictures, like one other lady was saying, we used to play concerts in the back green and we could walk down to the beach without an adult or up the hills to the cut, play ropes... Read more
Fond Memories
As an American, stationed at Aviano AFB, Aviano, Italy, I met a young lady, Rose Graham from Greenock, Scotland. We met At Jeselo beach, while she was on holiday. When she returned to Greenock, we maintained our relationship. We were truly in love with each other. I flew to Greenock in 1967 for a 27 day visit. After returning to Aviano, we finally lost contact with each other. But through all these many years, I still think of her. Is she alive? Did she marry? Did she have children? Greenock in Scotland will always be a very special place in my heart. May GOD bless Greenock, Scotland.
Happy Times
My family and I lived in 27 Bruce Street, Greenock, up in the attic flat room and kitchen, there was Mum and Dad and my sisters. My dad worked as a train driver and used to drive his train along the nold track on Wellington Street, sometimes stopping at the old bothy to make his tea. Sometimes he would ask me to ride with him in the engine, it was fantastic, what lovely times. When you used to see the tracks cross and twist all over I was so proud of my dad, and felt that he must be the smartest dad in the world to be able to do this. We as a family did'nt have a lot of pssessions, we had what we needed and were happy. As the oldest daughter I felt safe and secure and very content with everything. My mum and dad have passed away now, my sisters have families of there own, but I'll never forget our happy times together and that I loved... Read more
Christmas 1961
It was December and Christmas was fast approaching my sisters and I were very excited as most children were, and wondered if Father Christmas had received our letters letting him know what presents we would like. I remember mine - a baby doll, book, selection box and a game, snakes and ladders. Father Christmas brought me everything on my list, my favorite being the baby doll. I remember wakening at 5.30am and seeing this lovely doll and the end of my bed, she was wearing a nappy and a kniited jumper my mum had made, I proudly took that doll to church with me that morning, showing her off to everyone. She may have been only a rubber doll to most, but to me she was magnificent, the best present ever. I still have her today, she sits on my bed, she is now 49y ears old, and still looks as good as Christmas morning 1961. Maureen McKechnie
My Beloved Grandfather
My grandfather was a Highland gentleman who lived in Greenock for a short time, orginally coming from Luing, a small slate island. He came to this town during the war but going back periodically to the island. He brought my grandmother, their daughter and son who was my father Angus. My grandfather was a quiet studious man who worked here in Scott Lithgow's shipyard and took care of his family. Then we came along his grandchildren, we loved him, he had a lovely lilting voice and a very kind nature. I loved hearing all his tales about the island and his childhood, but you always knew his heart yearned for this homeland. In February he took ill and was in the old Larkfield Hospital for a few weeks then died 14th February,1967. I was by then eleven years old, it was a sad day. I remember my dad crying, I had never seen him cry before. My gran upset. I remember that day so clearly because we had lost someone... Read more
Best Years of my Life
From my birth in 1945 to my departure from Greenock in 1958 I think I can honestly say were the best years of my life. I was born in Oakfield Terrace, I was the middle of three children. Tough times? Who knew, everybody was in the same boat. My family moved about a bit, to Port Glasgow Road (PADDIES CASTLE) then to Rossbank Road, after which we came south to London, but by then my childhood had gone and I guess I just had to grow up. You know something? I don't think I ever did.
Larkfield
I lived on Auchmead Rd from 1957-79 and now I live in the States. Life has not been bad, but there's never a day goes by, that I do not think of home. When we were weans, we used to have concerts in the backyard, singing, dancing anything to feel like a star. It's a shame children nowadays don't have that attitude. Summer nights we got to stay out till midnight, boy we thought we were something. We would walk to Inverkip just to go to the beach, a sandwich in hand, and we were gone all day, didn't need babysitters back then. I have been back home one time since I left, I was truly shocked at the difference, but still pleased at the places that had not changed that much, there definitely is no place like home. This year my son got me the Scottish Flag for Xmas. I never knew I had that many tears in my body, proud to be Scottish says it all. It has... Read more
Greenock, Mill Street
I remember staying up Mill Street when I was a young girl, we then moved to Tasker Street up Bow Road.
Happy
I was born and brought up in Greenock in 1954 and its the only place I have ever felt happy, nothing can compare to the feeling of security and belonging I felt in my heart. God bless you Greenock, there is knowhere like you in the world.
Memories of Renfrewshire
Granny Kempocks Stone
I moved from Port Glasgow when I was 5 to live with my gran. She had a small two room flat on Kempock Street just below Granny Kempock's Stone. I seem to recall that you went through an opening/archway which took you through into a large open space which I think used to be old stables and it was from here there were stairs that took you up to the flat. I also remember the Continental Cafe was just across the road from the flat. There was a small alleyway that took you up the step hill to Granny Kempock's, and we used to go this way when we were going to school. I lived here for a year or so before moving to the new flats (1966 or 67) in Larkfield Road, no 67 I seem to recall was where we moved to. I remember the summers queuing up to get into the swimming baths when I was a bit older. I left Gourock to live in Port Glasgow... Read more
Cloch House
Was this previously John Haddow's Cloch House Hotel? My Great Great Grandfather was John Haddow and I am trying to follow up our family tree. There are many mentions of the Cloch House Hotel in the Greenock Advertiser which had been owned by John Haddow.
Regards
Richard Budniak
THE FIRST YEARS
This is where I was born, the street has barely changed. I lived there with my parents and sister, we lived there until we moved to the prefabs in Midton. Only a couple of properties on the other side have been demolished, it was so safe to play on the streets as there was hardly any traffic.I can see the close where I lived just behind the boys.
Beech Lane/Jackson Avenue
Actually this is not my memory, rather my brother's, now deceased. My brother was a Sick Bay Attendant stationed at HMS Rosneath. At the time many troops were coming back home with all sorts of injuries, he collected from HMS Vanguard amongst other vessels which were transferred to the sick bay for attention. In his time off he would call in to HE Cox's Bakery. He also witnessed the German Battleship Derfflinger being towed upside down on a floating dock to Faslane, Gareloch to be broken up. It was watched by silent German prisoners of war near Helensburgh and not so silent schoolchildren of RHU who cheered as she passed. ( I have a very faded photo.) I have in my possession many postcards of the surrounding area should any collector like to have them. Just E mail me and will be happy to send on. My brother's name was John Fogg. Mike Fogg writing.
Ferry Trip
mum and dad and i used to go on the ferry from kilcreggan to gourock . we went to the cinema there, it was called the tower. we had tea and scones at a cafe on the front.they were wonderful times. i lived in rosneath for about a year , because my dad was stationed at the barracks there . they were great times for a young lad.
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