“The Magicke” Vera Rose range Strong impression Rex and Rin-tin-tin

A visitor from Perth to Monifieth House of Memories, the community project managed by volunteers of the Monifieth Local History Society, presented them with a photograph of “The Magicke”, a children’s drama presentation which took place in the mid 1940s (see photograph on right).

The gentleman to the right of the picture, dressed in the evening suit, whose surname was Graham, wrote the script and produced the performance.

What the visitor wanted to know was the names of those Monifieth bairns who took part and the date.

Are any Craigie column readers able to help with any imnformation? The Society members say they would be most grateful. “In a recent column, you mentioned the factory of Douglas Fraser & Co,” emails Ken MacDougall. “I am sure that this would be the same people who had a candlewick factory in Friockheim in the early 1960s.

“My late mother-in-law was Vera Wishart (born Vera Rose Line in Amersham, Bucks) and my late fatherin-law was Robert Petrie Wishart, born in Aberdeen. His father had a gents outfitter in Aberdeen and they lived in Kinneff.

“They then moved to Friockheim and Vera worked for Douglas Fraser. As far as I know, she designed the bedspreads and the range, Vera Rose, was called after her.

“They moved to Dundee a few years later when my father-in-law took up a post of works manager for the Marshall and Brush carpet factory. He and Vera had met during service in the RAF during the war. Robert was an engineer and the RAF sent him to Cambridge where he toyed with inventions like the tufting machine. They were both bright, talented people.

“They lived in Broughty Ferry then and had a large house and while Robert saw to the production of carpets during the day, Vera let the spare rooms of the house to students and professionals. I think she had the business brains of the couple.

“Later, the couple moved to Blackburn in Lancashire where Robert took the post of works director for Scapa Dryers. They later retired to the Mull of Kintyre, bought a house and turned it into the Ashbank Hotel, Carradale. “They led quite an interesting life – innovative and productive.” “I wrote the poem, Red Admirals, below based on one of a series of pen portraits my late father wrote about his ministerial colleagues,” says Ruth Walker. “This reverend gentleman was a minister at Inverkeilor and made a strong impression on my father in his earlier years.” A photograph of “The Magicke”, a children’s drama presentation which took place in the mid 1940s era. See more on left.

If you have a story for Craigie email: craigie@ thecourier.co.uk “I was greatly interested in the number of picture houses in Dundee in years gone by,” emails Joe Millar of Forfar.

“I was brought up in Avondale Place in James Street and we had a plethora of picture houses within a short walking distance. The Palladium (or Plad) was in Alexander Street, not Ann Street as your correspondent says.

“We also had The Tivoli (The Tiv) in Bonnybank Road, The Plaza on Hilltown, The Empire (The Emmy) in Rosebank Street, The Victoria (The Vic) in Victoria Road and the Regent in Main Street.

“All could be sure of large audiences every night. Most of them also had a morning session on Saturdays for the children where we would follow the serial of Flash Gordon, Tim McCoy, Rex and Rin-tin-tin etc. Happy days!”