Formative Years in Kirn
My lifetime in Kirn ran from birth in 1948 until I left the area in 1968 to become a policeman in Newcastle upon Tyne. My family lived in Argyll Terrace (No. 8). I worked with George Fraser the grocer for at least seven years and spent summers with Reg Brooks and Hugh McLachlan at Kirn Lido, pushing boats out for 5 pounds a week and loving every minute. I used to catch the ropes at the pier for 2/6 a time and delivered papers for Mrs. Keir. Attended Kirn Primary and Dunoon Grammar and spent two years in the Dunoon Branch of the Bank of Scotland before leaving for Newcastle. Spent 30 years in the the Police in Newcastle and retired in 1998. Moved to live in Cyprus in January 2007 and love it.
Bestest memories of Kirn: Kirn Scouts, Gordon Trapp was "Skip" and Pete Johnstone was his 2nd. in charge, McCubbin Shield Competitions at Invereck, being on my own in my kayak on the Clyde very late at night, Kirn Lido most of all, the girls on holiday from Glasgow, the beach BBQ's, the mackeral fishing - my God life was good!!!
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RE: RE: Formative Years in Kirn
I was up from Newcastle visiting Kirn in 1999 and the photograph in the records of this web site triggered a memory. I have a copy of the old photograph of the promenade at Kirn with the ladies sitting on the bench at the shore. That photo was dated 1899 and I took my own photo of the same view during my 1999 visit. The only differences are 1. Saint Andrews Church has been built and 2. The castellated roof on what was Drovandis cafe has been removed. Happy days in there in the late 50s and early 60s - fiddling the juke box with a nail file for free plays, drinking Bovril at 6d a cup and buying single cigarettes from Mama Drovandi for 2d each.
Memories keep coming back - it was a very happy time for me!!
Cheers, Campbell.
Comment from Campbell Findlay on Tuesday, 10th June 2008.
RE: RE: Formative Years in Kirn
Just had another flash back. I attended Kirn Primary as a youngster from 5yrs until 12yrs. The headmaster was Mr. Gilbertson and then Mr. Jackson. He (they) had a big showcase outside their office with stuffed birds and animals and they were a distraction when you had been sent for THE BELT. Miss Harrison was my first teacher. She was blonde and came from Strone - I was in love with her!!. Her friend was Miss Kerr and we got handwork from Miss Methven on Friday afternoon. You didn,t mess with her!
Primary 7 was spent with Miss Perry (Leonora Violet), an old schoolmate of my mother's and next door to Miss Perry was a lovely "granny" person called Miss Arneil.
The Janitor was Mr. McConnell and he used to let us into the furnace room to watch him stoke the fire. I remember the taste of the fumes!
More happy days.
Cheers,
Campbell.
Comment from Campbell Findlay on Friday, 29th August 2008.