1956 1969
A Memory of Cowdenbeath.
Started my life in 4 Blamey Crescent living with my Gran Dodds, Granny Park lived upstairs and Granny Smith lived next door. Moved to 9 Milne Crescent (prefabs) when I was about 4 years old. I remember the "gang" I played around with - David Allan, Brian Stenhouse, Gary Meldrum and their little brothers. Cousin lived at no.5. Exchanged to the steel houses in Rowan Terrace. Fond memories of walking through the "pit" to Fulford School. Remember walking past the pugs that used to cross the High Street to behind Slorra's on the other side. Saw No. 7 pithead coming down. Fulford School teachers - Misses Milne, Todd, Foote (Brownies), Jack, Inglis and Maclean. Mrs Slow, Mrs McHardy and Mr MacDonald the headmaster. Went to Beath Senior for about 6 months then Beath Junior til I left in 1969.
Dad used to take me for walks 'ower the moss' or the White Coo. Never knew why it was called that. Remember the old pit shafts with the bad air coming out of them. Collecting wild flowers - I used to be the 'class expert' on wild flowers. Mum used to despair of me always disappearing - I used to go for walks to other relatives' houses in Sinclair Drive, Dalbeath Crescent area and the various play parks.
Used to go for messages at Charlie's in Mosside Road, Wee Mary's in Stenhouse Street. As I got older I used to go down the street to the store, Gronbach's, Nobles, Renton & Laidlaw, Stotts, Reekies. Woolies for a pound of 'mixed cream biscuits'.
Da used to take me to the Speedway when it started - I remember the grit in my hair - then the Stockies started up. House used to look over the pits and I used to watch my favourite drivers getting cars ready - 107 Malcolm Paterson, 31 Tennant Douglas, 41 Spotty McDougall, 6 Wattie Brown and many more. Used to go a lot when much older as husband and friends used to race there.
Still go back now and again to revive old memories but it is sad to see how run down the place is nowadays. Maybe I should write a book as I have so many memories too many to list here.
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