Still sound advice A delight to visit

“Looking through some old files, I came across the following advice concerning the ‘Management of Human Resources’,” emails Kenneth Miln of Monifieth. “Although dating back more than 50 years, the advice is as sound today as it was then.

“It says: Do try to realise that... “Wholehearted co-operation requires complete mutual confidence and trust.

“People are often motivated more by emotions and impressions than by facts, and may interpret the same facts in many different ways.

“People are often motivated by fear. Fear of change, fear of losing their job, fear of the unknown.

“People never do their best when motivated by fear and fear the unknown perhaps more than anything else.

“People will resist anything which appears to threaten their security. Security is like happiness, the harder you seek it the more elusive it becomes.

“Most people do not resent authority and discipline, only the way in which they are exercised. Few people need strong

discipline. The majority look for good leadership.

“People work best when they want to do their job, think it is worthwhile and feel they are wanted. People’s wants and motives change as their circumstances change.”

“The recent photograph of HMS Unicorn also brought to mind memories of South Union Street which was in the vicinity of the ship,” writes Stanley Gordon of Newport.

“It was a hive of activity in the 1950s/60s, what with the Tay Ferry terminal and the railway stations; Tay Bridge and Dundee West. Although it wasn’t as classy as Whitehall Street, or Reform Street, the imposing turreted West Station and the elegant Mathers Hotel building added a certain attraction to the area.

“There was a motor showroom to the right of the exit of Craig pier and around the corner there was a fruiterer and next to it was Craig Street indoor market. The fruit shop seemed to stock exotic fruits and nuts to a five-year-old, and my father would sometimes buy me a pomegranate.

“On the eastern side of South Union Street was a row of interesting shops. First was a tobacconist with a carved, turbaned

figurehead above the doorway. There always seemed to be aromatic scents wafting from the entrance. Next door, if I remember correctly, was Fortes Café. Then there was a confectionary which stocked a vast variety of sweets, chocolates, tablet and toffee apples, and was a delight to visit.

“I also loved to call in at the pet store where you could see puppies, kittens, rabbits, hamsters, tortoises and a variety of caged birds. There were goldfish and tropical varieties in the front area of the store and also a resident parrot.

“At the end of the row was Stuart Patrick, newsagent and tobacconist. Unusually for the 1950s period, it was open on a Sunday. The shop had a wonderful array of children’s books and comics and I loved to browse through the display to select something before we made our way up to Dundee High Street to catch the Stobswell tram and go visit my grandparents.”

A photograph from the days when winters seemed harder. A Dundee Corporation bus keeps going though the snow.