Doon The Den

A Memory of Kennoway.

I stayed in Denhead and used to play down the den almost every day.
We used to go to school via the gap either next to Ciff Bells house or the gap next to smiths shop. We used to go along the cliffs behind the scrappiest then straight along all the Cawsway back gardens holding on the the wire fences at the top of the cliffs which must have been 30 metres up. The only time we went down a bit by the post office on the way to school was at Guy Fawkes when you could buy single bangers with your leaf piece money. We would then go into the claws way and throw live bangers at each other. (Age6-11) 1964-70.
Ross shop opposite the school, the woman came with a basket at break time with sweets and the like. If you had enough you could buy a Liqure. 😉
On the way home we used to go back through the den via the round cave and the square cave and back along the cliffs at the Cawsway. Other times we used to set the Shilogies on fire and then help the fire brigade put the flames out with their rubber beaters.
We had a brilliant rope swing just down the hay field at the top of Den Walk. We used to throw all the bales in and dam the burn. Swing out and let go and land right in the middle of the wet squelch.
Other times were at the swing park Langside Avenue and Kingsdale gardens raking for chewing gum under the Maple🤪.
I was also in Kennoway Judo club with the Sheild brothers and there dad as a trainer. I went on in later life to become a Sensei Instructor in Jui Jitsu.
I had a Dutch friend who stayed at the end of the path going past the big school toward the old haunted house on the way to Cotlands park. We had some great times building bogies camps and rope swings.
Me and a few of my pals on the way back from Carissons reservoir were shot at by the farmed from Kinnairds darn. I heard the pellets spatter through the trees above our heads.
I remember the electricity power cuts in the mid sixties and we went next door to the neighbours and my Mum took jam. The neighbours kids loved it and got stuck right in. The old Man a Miner at the time gave me a piece on Sugar with Carnation Milk! (Mana from Heaven)😃👍🏻
Anyway I left Kenniway when I was 11 and enjoyed my teenage years on the other side of Fife and that was also awesome.
My childhood set me up for life’s challenges and I’m still learning and having great fun with my grandkids now. I’m teaching them all the basic Den survival skills and my daughters are not amused😃👍🏻
I guess if you were lucky enough to have a childhood with the Den as your backyard you must have had a great childhood. I know I did👍🏻

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