Grown in the grounds

“Margaret Jamieson (nee Wilson), has sent in some memories of Maryfield Hospital in Dundee.

“As a youngster attending the old Clepington Primary School,” she says, “I remember hearing my mother talk of seeing wounded soldiers from the First World War convalescing there.

“They were dressed in blue suits, white shirts and red ties. My mother was brought up in Court Street which overlooked Maryfield Hospital grounds, seen from their house window.

“My primary school was next door to the grounds of Maryfield Hospital.

“There was a wall enclosing all the grounds, part of that being used for growing vegetables used in the kitchen of the poor house, mentioned previously in the column.

“There was a wooden door in the wall mentioned previously, which was locked and the key held by the janitor of Clepington School, whose house was situated between the school and Maryfield grounds. The janitor was Mr Abernethy.

“He opened the door at school times to enable a shorter walk for some children.

“As an 11-year-old, at 4pm I used to walk through the grounds of Maryfield Hospital (shortcut) to Morgan Academy for my violin lesson.

“My next visit to Maryfield Hospital was for the birth of my third daughter, Elizabeth, being wheeled on a trolley. It was a very busy maternity unit.

“I may say the walkway through the grounds was kept in very good order with no one being allowed to stray on the gardens or drop rubbish.”

Members of the Blue Hawaiian Dance Band of Fife. See item at the top of the column for more details.