The Seagrove Sessions

Memories of going out in the 1950s and 60s, from Anna, Nancy, Ken and Arthur. More than a few laughs were had in this session. From the glorious powder room at the Palais to having a sneaky swig of VP wine at the pictures. To the 50 shilling tailors to the threat of the jaggy jersey school. Sure to bring back some memories if you were brought in the era. 

Born in North London Diana was adopted aged three weeks. Her birth family lived in the same area and she talks about how difficult this was growing up and the complexities of her mother and father's relationship. Leaving London was always in her mind and to be living in Scotland a definite ambition. We hear about courting her husband, her family and travelling the world. More great stories from me...

Back to the 1950s and 60s and Nancy's memories of growing up in Abbeyhill. From going to her local picture houses- The Regent and Eastway and down to The Calton at Piershill. To watching weddings at the registary office on Montrose Terrace and waiting for the poor oot. The record shop on London and saving up for an LP. Work week dances and rushing for last bus home. An episode full of great memori...

Marion was born in Stockbridge in 1941 but moved to Royston when she was child. We hear about her school at Granton and her classroom that was heated by a parrafin stove. Having dancing lessons at Betty Brandons. Going to the pictures at the Embassy cinema. Singeing her hair in front of the open fire. Making icecream cones and wafers. Being courted by Tam, home on leave from the army and working f...

Allen's tales of Edinburgh in the 1950s and 60s. Lilyhill Terrace, Meadowbank and Dalgety Street area. Chip shops with coal fired fryers, rowing boats at St Margaret's Loch, the Red rag pub- which became the The Speedway Arms. The harshly named 'Spinster flats!" Being caught smoking and drinking at 15. Wild, evocative stories from the east side of the city.

Memories from Doris, Stewart, Hermina, Margaret, Daisy, Marian and Allen. A free ranging reminiscence session- from shopping at the store, smoking Willie Woodbines, staying warm in bed (under a mountain of coats), to school days, the three day week  and watching the speedway at old Meadowbank. Our youngest story teller is Stewart(64), our oldest Daisy(94).

We begin with the subject of tripe and offal. Do we like it? Do we hate it? Its an episode all about food. How to make it last or eek it out in times gone by. Mince and tatties, pots of soup and stovies for tea. Thanks to Jinty, Anna , Nessie, Barbara, May and Colin for more great memories.

Join us in a good old blether about christmas and Hogmanay, in years gone by. From hand knitted christmas gifts, whether you wanted them or not, to out of tune sing songs on Hogmanay. The memories flow from- Jinty, Anna, Nessie, Barbara, May and Colin.

In the episode we spend some time exploring Abbeyhill in the 1950's and 60s. The shops, businesses, picture houses and school. Nancy tells us of her teenage travelling- to London and Dublin. Dancing up town. School days and her early jobs. Her early married life in a room and kitchen in Leith and her eventual move to Portobello. For information about the work of NEDC's Seagrove Centre go to : www....

Allen was brought up in the Parson's Green area of Edinburgh. His childhood memories include his many escapes from his parent's garden, at the age of six, to watch the trams at Northfield Broadway. His many delivery jobs, before and after school- milk, rolls and papers. An abortive attempt to become a car mechanic and his eventual job at a printers. Part two will follow! 

Nessie paints a vivid picture of her childhood in Leith. Starting off in Tollbooth Wynd, at the bottom of Kirkgate, in a single end. At the age of four the family had moved to Burns Street. She tells us all about life at home, of gas light, out side toilets. Her father being away at war, in Burma. The great sense of community but also how family life wasn't always the easiest. It's another evocati...

Shelagh was born and brought up in Pitt Street, Edinburgh, which is now the north part of Dundas Street. It was an area ful of tenements, shops and industry. We hear about Nan McKenzies's grocer shop, watching the dancing at the Ross bandstand in Princes Street Gardens. The dangers of jiving at the Palais, when your partner forgets to warn you he's about to hurl you over his shoulder. Her time at...

Anna was partially named after the officer her father served as a batman to in WW2. We hear about the shell shock her father suffered from, her early marriage after a holiday romance. Her short term jobs and her love of dancing. Its a great snap shot of growing up as a young adult in the 1960s.  For more information about the work of North Edinburgh Demetia Care go to www.nedc.org.uk or follow us...

It's Raymond in this episode of The Seagrove Sessions. From early life in St James's Square, living on the 5th floor in an attic room with a shared toilet, to the luxury of moving to a new house in Niddrie.  We hear all about his long career as a time served plumber and exactly what the lethal concoction 'monkey dung' was. His long hobby of wrestling. Success at the British wrestling championship...

Agnes was brought up on a farm near to Whithorn Abbey in Galloway. She trained as a carer, nurse, then midwife and worked largely in the community in Wigtownshire. She tells us of her happy childhood in the countryside and how she would relax, singing with her sisters. Tales from the south west of Scotland.  (Please be aware that the interview does contain reference to stillborn pregancy.)

This time round Kathleen tells us about going across the water- the river Mersey- to go swimming in an open air pool and dancing at the Palais de Danse, to The Beatles! We hear about going to the pictures, playing rounders in the street and a house heated by coal fires. All in Kathleen's wonderful Liverpool accent.

Hermine left her village in Austria aged 17 and moved to London. Quite a change of scene. She worked in central London as a hairdresser, commuting every day from Surrey. After two years she moved to Scotland, where she studied at Newbattle Abbey College and then Edinburgh University. She spent seven years working at Cranston Street Women's homeless hostel. A fascinating life journey.

Tommy tells us some tales from his working life. Its a varied one. From carer to delivering confectionary around the UK, to a life on the ocean waves. Its certainly a grim reminder of how dangerous sea faring and the dockyards can be. As for those lobster eggs- Yeuk!!

Two great storytellers in conversation about Leith- Daisy and Doris. Memories of a time not that long ago but now such tales offer us glimpse into a very different world. Going to the washhouse, wandering down streets no longer there, visiting shops long gone. As always what makes these memories so evocative and important is they are about everyday life.  

As evocative as ever, this is the third episode of Doris's stories. This time she talks about the big family move from Primrose Street in Leith to the new corporation housing at Craigour in the early 1950s. From the rarity of seeing a car on the street to wandering the countryside around Craigour- a scheme that only consisted of a few streets in those early days. Enjoy and remember to follow us on...

More vivid memories from Daisy. From the 1930s, 40's and 50's. The broad pavement at  Henderson Street, Leith. The nearby men's homeless hostel and the broo( Labour exchange). The streets and wynds of Leith. She takes us up toon, to Edinburgh, by tram. Taking her pram, bought out of the window of Patrick Thomson's store. She remembers her nursery school, nearly 90 years ago. As ever, amazing recal...

Daisy's ability to remember names of people and where they lived is amazing. She is talking about over 80 years ago. This second episode with Daisy is a trip down the memory lanes of Leith. From Great Junction Street to Leith Links. To The Eldorado dancehall to the Kirkgate, where legend has it you could buy anything from a needle to an anchor. Such detailed recall really paints such a vivid pictu...

Some of our favourite songs at Seagrove. Our favourite visiting musician and singer Stevie Q starts us off with The Northern lights of Old Aberdeen and I belong to Glasgow. Ricky gives us The Cappy Club song. No doubt remembered by many people who attended The Capitol Cinema in Leith as children. Margaret talks about dancing at Fairleys and Violet about going to The Excelsior Dance Hall. She then...

Fantastic Leith tales from Daisy, born in 1931. From low flying German planes and a bomb dropping on Largo Place to the shops and business on the streets of her childhood. She tells us about her father being lost, presumed dead, at Dunkirk. Her first job as a cashier at Leith Provident COOP and working for Graham Tiso in the the early days of his outdoor shop. Evocative memories of a long gone Lei...

Although born and brought up in Leith Gilbert spent many a happy school holiday on Shetland. Both his parents were from the island. We hear about life on a croft and shearing the sheep. He tells us of the trade in eggs from the Shetland to Leith- his father was an egg merchant. We hear about his time as a joiner and the condition of housing in Edinburgh and Leith. And he gives us a top tip about t...