Moving in same circles

“Your reader Reg Mulheron and I must have moved in the same circles,” writes a Craigie reader.

“Often, on a Saturday evening, our treat was a family walk down the Hawkhill, and then down the full length of Overgate, which was, back then (1930s/40s), a half-mile-long open air mall.

“There were numerous street vendors with barrows selling ‘wulks, smokies, crabs (live), cut flowers, fruit and veg, balloons blown up by the stall holder there and then...you name it, they sold it.

“One of the most intriguing characters was a coloured gentleman (could have been the same person as Reg mentioned) who had a ‘pitch’ next to the Mercat Cross Bar. He sold and demonstrated medicinal remedies to cure all ills. He had a great ‘patter’ and always attracted a fair crowd. Not sure if he ever sold anything, or, if what he sold was even legal.”