The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that style, there is now this regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site including "Scottie's Photo Diary From Scotland".
To receive a text version of this newsletter as a reminder to look at these Web pages when they are published, just send an e-mail to Scottie@RampantScotland.com with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
Memory Lane - Air Raids on Edinburgh
The first raid on Edinburgh by the Luftwaffe was on the afternoon of 16th October, 1939, just a few weeks into the war. The attack was expected because of the proximity of the naval base at Rosyth, in Fife across the Firth of Forth, the strategically important Forth Bridge and the Port of Leith. This was the first of 14 Luftwaffe raids on the city during the war which killed 20 civilians and injured a further 210. See: Memory Lane - Air Raids on Edinburgh
Memory Lane - War in the Small Village of Almondbank
There were no major air raids on the Perthshire village of Almondbank though the Germans did fail to damage the Moncrieff tunnel which took the main railway line to the north. But the village still had the local Home Guard and the school children got two weeks off school to help dig up the potato harvest from the local fields (as in graphic here). See: Memory Lane - War in the Small Village of Almondbank
Memory Lane - Three Wheels, Two Seats, One Engine, Half a Brain!
A light-hearted story from a former loadmaster for Beverley transports in the Royal Air Force about his first car - a three wheeler, two seater Messerschmitt KR200. The escapades he encountered were longer than usual so they have been recorded in a page of their own. See: Three Wheels, Two Seats, One Engine, Half a Brain!
Memory Lane - Sean Connery at Edinburgh Palais de Dance
The "Pally" in Fountainbridge was a popular venue in Edinburgh and flourished during the halcyon days of ballroom dancing and was even visited by the Duke of Windsor. But in later years an even more famous personality turned up there - Sean Connery, who lived nearby and worked there as a bouncer for a spell. See: Sean Connery at Edinburgh Palais de Dance
Memory Lane - Dancing in Port Seton
Port Seton is on the coast about 15 kilometres east of Edinburgh and it had a dance hall which was built above an Olympic size swimming pool. (Picture shows the site as it is now). See: Dancing in Port Seton
Memory Lane - Dancing in Dundee& Broughty Ferry
Jean went dancing in Dundee - and also went to Broughty Ferry (pictured as it is now) where they too had a dance hall named "the Pally". See: Dancing in Dundee
Memory Lane - Dancing in Glasgow University
Impecunious as they were, students at Glasgow University still seemed to manage the occasional formal Ball (black tie essential). But the happiest memories were of traditional jazz band dances (Clyde Valley Stompers illustrated here) - mostly at the Union on Saturday nights where the "cattle market" (girls on one side, boys on the other) took place. See: Dancing in Glasgow University
Memory Lane - Game Names in Crieff, Perthshire
Although Scotland is a small country there are still lots of variations in language in regions around the country for the same thing - and that certainly applies for the names of children's games and toys! I'd certainly never heard of nungks or poachie! See: Game Names in Crieff, Perthshire
Memory Lane - The Black Ball - Golf Memorabilia
Alistair Macdonald has had an interest in golf memorabilia for over 85 year sand built up a huge collection which he eventually sold at Sotheby's in London. One of his prized items was an original black gutta-percha golf ball which predates today's dimpled marvels. See: The Black Ball - Golf Memorabilia
Memory Lane - Crossmyloof Skating Rink
Crossmyloof was the first indoor ice rink in Scotland and opened in 1907. Later it was enlarged and had seating for 2000 spectators and was probably the longest ice rink in Britain. Gereth McCaskill, now living in Vancouver Canada, recalls skating there and her favourite song that was played there was "Diana" by Paul Anka. See: Crossmyloof Skating Rink
Scottie's Photo Diary - May 2015
This is when the birds are busy looking after their youngsters so this diary is full of hungry Great Crested Grebe (who hitch a ride on Mum's back while Dad goes fishing for sustenance, Young cygnets feeding themselves while their parents show them where to get the right food - and I get mugged by a Robin looking for nibbles for its chicks every time I step outside the door... Bowhill House in the Scottish Borders provides a more tranquil setting and the former main Post Office in Edinburgh becomes "Waverley Gate". For all that and more, see: Scottie's Photo Diary - May 2015
Next Newsletter
The next newsletter is scheduled for 27 June and will focus on Tam's "Tall Tales" with a selection of current news items from Scotland.
Of course, if you have any Scottish memories which you would like to contribute to "Memory Lane" please send them in!
Yours aye
Scottie
Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in an Archive. The Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here.
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