Growing Up In Camelon

A Memory of Camelon.

I was born in Falkirk in 1962. I lived in Mariner Drive then Mariner Road until I was 40 years old before moving to Summerford.

I went to Easter Carmuirs Primary School and hated most of my time there; only really enjoying school when I moved on to Camelon High School then Falkirk College of Technology and Glasgow College of Building and Printing. The one good memory of Easter Carmuirs was going swimming at Falkirk Baths. There was no Mariner Centre in these days. We got the bus from Wilson Road in bad weather or walked into the town in better weather. I always remember the streamer of tickets the clippie gave the teacher from her machine.

The best times I remember were in Mariner Road; living alongside the MacIntoshes, McMenemys, Eckfords and Downies. Hogmanays at the Eckfords and Downies were particularly good with everyone having a good blether and sing-song. I first became aware of Billy Connolly on an album Josie Eckford had and Danny Downie had Dean Martin's Little Old Wine Drinker Me on repeat.

In my teens and twenties I would spend Friday and Saturday nights in the Magpie and do Hogmanay at the Steeple with friends. But the best ones were always at home or in neighbours houses. Jimmy Dixon and John McDuff never failed to visit on New Year's Day.

From 1984 I stood for the council every second year and was proud to be elected to Camelon, Bantaskine and Tamfourhill Community Council twice.

Ye can take the boy oot o' Kemlin but you will never take Kemlin oot o' the boy.

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