All colours of the rainbow

Today, we include a few more memories of life in Townhill, Dunfermline, in the 1930s, written by Robert Wilson. We have featured

these memoirs before in the column.

Robert writes: “Most boys were quite proud of their grandmothers and I was no exception. She could dig her own garden and plant it, make a sledge or a barrow from old pram wheels, knit socks with rippeddown wool, which meant you got a pair of socks or mitts containing all the colours of the rainbow, but they were warm. She sold cola for one shilling a hundredweight.

“In those days, a Ford 8 HP saloon cost £108 and the first lorry my mother bought

for the firm was a Ford Model TT from Bob Street for £15. It would carry one ton. Bear in mind that a horse-drawn lorry carried one ton. I remember Street & Co and the Fife Electric Power Company having chaindriven Albions which any agile boy could race up Townhill braes.

“Holes in trousers and socks were commonplace in those days. However, the gala was the main event of the year when every child was dressed to kill – the girls with nice dresses and the boys with their

blazers and brass buttons. The march down to the park gates always aroused great excitement in everyone. We joined in with the other schools, banners and all, and continuing down to the Glen where a great time would follow, weather permitting.

“A friend of mine, Ecky Morrison, had a great idea. With the brass buttons off these blazers, we would place them on the tramcar lines, flatten them and they were the ideal weight and size for us to then use in cigarette machines.”