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Dalneigh & Ferry Memories


Guest Jock Watt

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''Mighty'' Dave Lynn? that's a bit of a stretch! not sure I ever fitted in to that category!

Ed Waiter, you are ''giving away'' your age as you must be going back approx. 36/37 years! however, very happy days.

I wonder if you were one of my ''customers?'' I was  ''on the bike'' in the St. Valery area for 10 years from 1964 - 1974, definately the happiest day's of my working life, interacted with some wonderful people. If anyone reading this thread needs any information regarding people/families who lived in that area during that period please contact me as surprisingly, my memory is still intact!

I read somewhere about the Rev, Hamish MacIntyre's family, his oldest daughter's name was Elizabeth, she was in my class in the Central School (Miss Rose was our teacher) primary 1 - I believe 1952.

                                                                                                                          Canuck.

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Charles, due to my old profession I remember Paddy Kavanagh, he stayed at #74 St. Valery Ave. He did'nt get about very much as he had trouble walking, I'm not sure what happened to his leg(s) but I remember his next door neighbours (the Sutherlands) used to keep an eye on him occasionly. Jimmy Sutherland (#76) was a colleague of mine in the G.P.O. he had a son named Colin who was about the same age as Brian.

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Yes Canuck, but Paddy did also have a leg problem - which usually afflicted him around 10 o'clock on a Saturday night! The problem was that his legs seemed to cease working! 10 o'clock it would have been in these days too - that was closing time right up to the mid 70s.

Violet (Mrs K) was heard more than once to remark that it was New Year every Saturday night in their house. I also seem to recollect that the Kavanagh family had quite a late addition, a wee girl some time after "Kavvies" had become resigned to being an only child.

Did Paddy not work on the railway? I seem to remember going through the cemetery near the Bruce Gardens gate a few years ago and coming across Paddy's grave.

I have a vague memory of the Sutherlands as well. Just over the road, in the last Swedish houses on the angle of St. Andrew Drive there was also an old guy called Fraser who used to be Heedie at Hilton. The other half of that semi was occupied by Billy Robertson who I think used to play (in goals?) for Caley or was it Clach or both? On the same side of St. Valery but slighly further up there was a Mrs. Mitchell who was the mother of Ronnie Mitchell who also used to play for someone in the HL. Mrs. Mitchell worked in Salvadori's in Greig Street.

The MacIntyres - Elizabeth, I believe, was the oldest, then Duncan who took up a scholarship to Fettes College which my mother always thought was a bit ironic given the Rev M's strong Socialist leanings - but that of course was a few decades before New Labour.

Sheila is the same age as I am and Helen (the blonde a lot of the guys used to fancy) was a year younger. Hamish (who was killed in a mountaineering accident) was a couple of years younger than that and Jean was a further two years younger, so four in five years there. No wonder Mrs Mac went prematurely grey!

We lived in St. Andrew Drive in one of several Swedish houses which backed on to The Manse. When we arrived first, Jean was still in the pram and my mother said she'd never heard a baby make such a noise.

I wish I could remember who it was who had been in the Manse one day and was the only person we ever heard claim to have seen the hairless MacIntyre cranium, on to which the "rug" was about to be placed.

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Charles, Yes, Paddy worked in the railway, always had that ''toothy''grin, certainly enjoyed a tipple! and he never lost his Irish accent.

Fraser (the headmaster) did indeed stay across the road from the Kavanagh's, #32 St. Andrews Dr. Robertsons lived next door at #30 but I'm not sure it was  the same Billy Robertson who was the goalkeeper,I believe he did play for Caley and a few other teams.

Ronnie Mitchell stayed at #43 St. Valery, he used to work at a newspaper wholesalers (Menzies. I think) who were located in Baron Taylor's St. Ronnie & I played football together for Inverness Youth Club, North of Scotland 2nd X1 League. This team was managed by another St. Valery resident a proper gentleman named Charlie Trace who lived at #37.Charlie, in his earlier days played for Clach.Unfortunately Charlie passed away at a young age leaving quite a large family.

Further along the avenue lived another well known footballer named Freddy Warburton (#67) I had the pleasure of having a few ''dramms'' with Freddy and a group of friends at Jim Savage's hostelry at the top Castle St./Haugh Brae the last time I was ''home''

Charles, I remember your neighbours, ''Smeech'' MacDonald (through the wall) their daughter Brenda used to go with a friend of mine for a long time called Alan Gordon who also played with Ronnie & I with IYC. Allan and I

still keep in touch.

The Bells stayed at #12, Mrs. Bell worked in the reception  at the Palace Hotel, Her daughter Marjorie married Sydney Grant also a footballer who played right wing for Clach, latterly he and I played in the welfare league with a very good Gellions team

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yes Canuck the mighty Dave Lynne:

I remember you as the best man in my life at one point and of course the Spanish Holidays you took with Colin. Do you remember " Your Jam was good" and "Pooh" and the ring pull scam and the famous parties, the list could go on Dave. Perhaps I should use another monicker " Midnight Cowboy" Hehe

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Guest donmac298

Canuck, I went to school with Freddie Warburton (Techie).  Any idea what he's doing now?  I have lost touch with all my schoolmates.

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Yes Canuck the mighty Dave Lynne:

I remember you as the best man in my life at one point and of course the Spanish Holidays you took with Colin. Do you remember " Your Jam was good" and "Pooh" and the ring pull scam and the famous parties, the list could go on Dave. Perhaps I should use another monicker " Midnight Cowboy" Hehe

Sounds very interesting.  I have vivid memories of sombreros and bull fighting posters as part of the aftermath of these Spanish ventures, but I was only a child so I'm sure many of the finer details were not shared.  :015: :015: 

As we speak my parents are visiting the might Dave Lynn at his home in Canada.  I am just waiting for an e-mail and I will point him in this direction. 

bfn Midnight Cowboy.  :015:

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Come on Canuk you can do better, maybe a distant memory of a Demis Roussos concert in Edinburgh or the piece of sunshine from the Kellogs Cornflake packets and I can't remember if you were on that train from the Caley Motherwell game?

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Ed waiter,I believe the light has gone on!

I remember you and I going to the Demis Roussos concert, the great parties and the happy memories and friendships with all your family members. As I said in an earlier entry being the St. Valery ''postie'' allowed me to meet and befriend many wonderful people.

However I remain vague regarding -your jam was good.

                                                        -pooh.

                                                        -ring pull scam.

                                                        -midnight cowboy.

                                                        -blond streaks.

                                                        -mail shoot in old post office H.Q. Queensgate.

                                                        -piece of sunshine from Kellogs cornflakes packets.

                                                        -train from the Caley Motherwell game.

Regards to your older brother, and your sister, I'm not sure if your Mum and Dad are ''still with us'' if either of them are, give them my best wishes.

I will try to arrange a get-together the next time I'm ''home, probably next April as Ihave a family function to attend.

                                                       

                                                          Canuck.

                         

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Well Canuk I am surprised! You got it wrong I am am not who you think I am methinks you have been through the Desert with a horse with no name with Harry Krishna it has obviously clouded your mind. I think if you have a good look at what I have written the  till will fill rather than the penny dropping. You don't remember the great ring pull scam when you made everyone save ringpulls from Skol Lager cans and various other ale cans saying that they more you saved the more money you would receive! tut tut and as for Midnight Cowboy did you not give that nickname to someone on Friars Street? And as for the ray of sunshine from the Kellogs packet do you not remember cutting them out and sending them as postcards perhaps a little ray of sunshine from Spain.I think you should have another Labatts there Burlington Bertie. Cheers for now o and keep guessing. Cheers Ed

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  • 3 weeks later...

nice thread. I enjoy hearing the memories. My memories of Dalneigh as a kid include, Mad Eddie the tramp/ wino who lived in a shed along at the canal end of Balnacraig road. There was also maggie bins and her trolley (the female equivalent of Harold Steptoe)

Going in the trees at "back roadie" (behind Hawthorn Drive) at bottom of the hill leading to canal, hunting for noodie books. Always prime pickings to be found there.

Fishing in the top lock (along wi the rest of the dalneigh population) during summer with half a fly rod (and impaling my finger on the fly).

I also went exploring under the wooden peir opposite Scott II boat. There also was a lil hideout adjacent beside the big wall thing, which handily had a tree you could climb down to back roadie, cutting a full minute from yer trip home time from the adventure under the peir.

Chasing the footballs for Caledonian Fc at the park during training and being rewarded with half an orange.

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Going in the trees at "back roadie" (behind Hawthorn Drive) at bottom of the hill leading to canal, hunting for noodie books. Always prime pickings to be found there.

:015: :015: :015: - Yup - there was also a section of the trees near the end of Hawthorn Drive before St Valery where between the trees and the canal banks it was pretty well cleared out - It made a great 'fort' in those days and the trees had enough straggly branches that you could climb pretty high.

Fishing in the top lock (along wi the rest of the dalneigh population) during summer with half a fly rod (and impaling my finger on the fly).
Yup and catching a small fish thinking it was a monster !!! Didnt like the eels though ... euuughhhhh

I also went exploring under the wooden peir opposite Scott II boat.
Me too !!

There also was a lil hideout adjacent beside the big wall thing, which handily had a tree you could climb down to back roadie, cutting a full minute from yer trip home time from the adventure under the peir.
Do you mean the one opposite Scott II or the one nearer the Top Lock ? There was a ledge on each side ..... and trees at both. The tree beside either one was handy but the chain on the wall near the top lock one was more fun !!

while we are on Canal Bank memories ..... [minds out of the gutter please] ..... how about Bramble picking .... recall seeing many an old wifie wandering around filling bucketloads of brambles into containers for jam.

Or how about canoe hire at Caley Cruisers when it was still just a small boatyard - could go there on a saturday morning and get one for an hour or two and go anywhere you wanted so long as it was no further than top lock to tomnahurich bridge

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the chain at the wall was at the end of the wall wasnt it Scotty?.....at the right end of the wall as you looked at it? I def have scaled it numerous times regardless. And the ledge bit was just near enuff at the top lock. It had a decent sized ledge there to hide from...........lets say........teachers..... and call em names wen they on the other side of canal :015:

And as a matter of intrest, Once saw Derek Dewar (ex caley player) crash his bike, from my hideout, on that dodgy corner wi the wee wall on the way down from kinmylies, as he was going too fast.

Then there was catching tiddlers (sticklebacks) on the steps down to canal right beside where the caley inn is now. Fair number of eels there! Used to be the big lock carrying boat parked there.

Did the canoe thing too, FREE, as my mam worked there in late 70s early 80s.

There was also taking bikes down the rat run that motorbikes used to get up canal between the end of the pitches and the wooden steps at back of St Valery. It took some guts to do.

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the chain at the wall was at the end of the wall wasnt it Scotty?.....at the right end of the wall as you looked at it? I def have scaled it numerous times regardless. And the ledge bit was just near enuff at the top lock. It had a decent sized ledge there to hide from...........lets say........teachers..... and call em names wen they on the other side of canal :015:

Depends where you looked from - chain was on the wall to the left if you were on the canal side or on the right if you were at the bottom of it. On the other side, there was usually some form of rope swing which was pretty hairy as the ground fell away quite dramatically

Then there was catching tiddlers (sticklebacks) on the steps down to canal right beside where the caley inn is now. Fair number of eels there! Used to be the big lock carrying boat parked there.

Yup - did that too long before the Caley Inn was a hostelry

Did the canoe thing too, FREE, as my mam worked there in late 70s early 80s.

I worked there before going to uni - would have been from about May 84 to August 84. Was a general dogsbody on the marina side helping out the likes of Richie Foss, Brill, and Peter the boatbuilder -- did get a day out doffing my cap to the posh people at the Moy Fair though and a few occasions where i got to birl (sp ?) about on the cruisers on a Saturday moving them from the berths to the transom jetty for cleaning and back again before they were rented out.

There was also taking bikes down the rat run that motorbikes used to get up canal between the end of the pitches and the wooden steps at back of St Valery. It took some guts to do.

I remember that area - quite steep and scary

Here's a few more for you .....

.... going from the Bumbers Lane to the Cemetery on a bike (usually with playing cards clipped onto the spokes to make noise) through all the lanes where the garages / sheds were ...... through fairfield road-lilac grove lane, then on the road to st ninian then through the lanes all the way to the police houses opposite the cemetery ......

.... go karting from the top lock to top of hawthorn drive or down the bumbers lane on home made carts

.... hiding in the 'air raid shelters' along the canalside - one at the top lock end, one at tomnahurich

.... seeing a colour TV programme (seem to recall it was a game in the 76 world cup) in Tony Wood's house - his dad worked for Radio Rentals and I think he was the first in the street to have one !

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Did the card in spokes thing too Scotty............and...........did ya also have the Palstic Tennents and Skol lager keg tops in yer spokes :021:

Was actually passing the pier we used to go and mess about under as kids, and sadly, or probaly a better term would be thankfully, that feat can no longer be acheived as the once concrete slope you had to shimmy along is now either replaced or completely submersed.

Ghost hunting expeditions to Tomnahurich in the dark were also a feature of living in dalneigh from time to time. A kind of rights of passage so to speak. Used to mess about in the old distileries from time to time. And, I dunno about you and yer peirs Scotty, but spent a lot of time as kids up in the craig phadraig forest building huts or paying war etc.

I often wonder the reaction of someone who hasnt been near telford street for 15 or so years been brought there now. Howdens was basically the last remaining landmark of the area. How its changed!! Remember Frozen Foods, the garage, The laundrete, the distiliries Both sides of telford st. Maybe some pics would be cool if anyone has em

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It's strange how simply coming from the other side of the same housing scheme (St. Andrew Drive) makes it an almost different culture. I lived about half a mile away but these things Smee and Scotty have been talking about are completely unfamiliar to me although I do recognise the places they were talking about. I do recognise the route from Bumbers Road to the Cemtery which passed within 20 yards of my house, I do remember the air raid shelters and I also used to put cards on my spokes. But apart from that, mine was a world of football and games of "war" at the "back of Kavvies" (St. Valery Avenue), nicking ther minister's apples, playing on top of the St. Ninian garages, getting up on the roof by shinning up the lamp post (parents must have been frantic with worry), kicking the tin doors to wind up a "Mr. Walker" in the end house who played the drums in The Tenerrife and finding Parade magazines abandoned in the St. Valery undergrowth.

I wonder if the Mantis Caley site has got anything on old Telford Street. I remember Willie Ross the grocer who had the shop beside the canal bridge always used to stand on the wall at Greig's Garage watching home games in Telford Street. But indeed, what a change down there!

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