Newarthill 1950/60s Tosh And I Part 2

A Memory of Newarthill.

Like everyone else growing up in Newarthill, life wasn’t easy, as times were tough in the 50s and 60s and I suppose in many ways it is today. But back then people really had nothing, but one thing I do remember - people helped one another when it really mattered, aye they would give a pint a milk here and a cup of sugar there. The essence was, that they cared for each other and if people were in trouble, the neighbours and the community stepped in and helped. Don’t get me wrong, this was not exclusive to Newarthill, oh no! this was applicable to every household in Scotland. What a wonderful country and people we are.
So hard was life in the 50/60/70s we all know we grew up with the provident cheque. I remember the provident man coming round to our house and my mammy said ‘tell him am no in’. I must have been ten at the most. He chapped the door, and my mammy gave me a wee push towards the door. I opened the door and said, ‘ma mammy’s no in’
‘Ok’ ‘Tell her I will see her next week then, turning around I shouted back into the hall, mammy ‘he will see you next week.’ The cat was out the bag! He knew she was hiding from him. All I know was after that, I wisnae in ma mammy’s good books. Aye the provident or Provy, as we all called it was handy, and to most an essential part of life.
In the summer my mother would get, gutties, or in today’s world they would be equivalent to trainers or gym shoes, though then upper class would call them a fancy name ‘plimsoles.’ I remember reading that the lining was for a running shoe and breathable and well ventilated. Well ventilated! A day down the burn and they stunk. In the winter we would get, wait for it, either your siblings castoff wellingtons or if you were lucky, new wellies, Tosh and I used to have sore rings around our shins and calf’s with the wellies slapping against them, a sore thing for us weans.
Of course, the new plastic sandals were brilliant, as on Father Gillen’s (Oh and I believe he was St Teresa’s first Parish Priest, correct me if I am wrong) trip to Ayr we would stomp merrily into the sea with no fear of a cut foot or standing on a jelly fish, smashing! The only drawback was the sand would sweep into the sandal and irritate your foot. Ah goodness, Father Gillen’s trip. What an outing, I remember there was in the region of fifteen to twenty double decker buses all lined up in Benford avenue. What a fabulous sight for Tosh and I, If we weren’t on the same bus, we would make sure we were together. Either my mammy or Tosh’s mammy let us swap seats, usually it was Tosh and I sitting with my mammy. The women sat downstairs, and all the wanes sat upstairs singing songs like the cat’s choir, with old favourite songs like, ma maw’s a millionaire, Yeh canny shove your granny aff the bus, ten green bottles, ten in the bed, Skinny Malinky long Legs, three craws sitting on a wa, if your happy and you know it, and so on. If you can remember any more songs, please leave a comment.
On reaching Ayr we would all get off and eventually everyone would end up on the beach for the rest of day. After drinking all the tea, Tosh and I used to run up to the shop and get a flask of hot water for both our mammy’s, and if we were hungry, it was pieces in soggy home-grown tomatoes, hardboiled egg, cheese, jam or crisps. That was about it. Though if we were lucky, we might get a custard cream, and a plastic tumbler of dilute orange to wash it all down. When Billy Connolly mentioned the knitted trunks, I nearly fell aff my chair. That is precisely what Tosh, and I wore when we went in the sea, and yes, I can clarify that they did stretch when in the water. Great times we had with the chapel trip.
I will leave you all with a poem, though don’t ask me who wrote it, but it wasn’t me, please enjoy! and thank you for walking with Tosh and I down memory lane. Until the next time. Pete
Back in the days of tanners and bobs,
When Mothers had patience and Fathers had jobs.
When football team families wore hand me down shoes,
And T.V gave only two channels to choose.
Back in the days of three penny bits,
when schools employed nurses to search for your nits.
When snowballs were harmless; ice slides were permitted
and all of your jumpers were warm, and hand knitted.
Back in the days of hot ginger beers,
when children remained so for more than six years.
When children respected what older folks said,
and pot was a thing you kept under your bed.
Back in the days of Listen with Mother,
when neighbours were friendly and talked to each other.
When cars were so rare you could play in the street.
When Doctors made house calls; Police walked the beat.
Back in the days of Milligan's Goons,
when butter was butter and songs all had tunes.
It was dumplings for dinner and trifle for tea,
and your annual break was a day by the sea.
Back in the days of Dixon's Dock Green,
Crackerjack pens and Lyons ice cream.
When children could freely wear National Health glasses,
and teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes
Back in the days of rocking and reeling,
when mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.
When woodwork and pottery got taught in schools,
and everyone dreamed of a win on the pools.
Back in the days when I was a lad,
I can't help but smile for the fun that I had.
Hopscotch and roller skates; snowballs to lob.
Back in the days of tanners and bobs.

---

---