MEMORIES

THE Tay Road Bridge Joint Board asked people to send in their memories of the crossing’s official opening.

Here’s a selection.

I was queuing from 7pm the night before to make sure I was the first car across. Just before I was given the go ahead to drive, I took out my Welsh flag and draped it over the bonnet. Many Scots protested in mock dismay! Hugh Pincott.

I was 15 and borrowed the butcher’s rickety bike and cycled down to the bridge about two hours after it opened. I cycled southbound – not realising how long it was – and had to cycle back in a hurry as I only had an hour for lunch. Bill Adams.

Me, my fiancé and two brothers drove from Brechin to cross. As we made it on to the bridge, the car stopped and steam billowed from the bonnet. It was decided to push the car off the bridge with me steering. At Fife the breakdown services came to our aid and said we had a burst hose pipe. We didn’t get home until 3am and our parents were very concerned, but it’s made for a good story to tell over the years. Jean Clark.

I went on the last sailing of “the Fifie” across the Tay when I was in 5th year at school. When I returned my friend took his sister’s car and we drove

across the bridge and back.

Andy Greenhall.

I was eight and my name was picked from a ballot at school to go to the opening. I remember watching the Queen Mother being driven across in a Rolls-Royce. It was the first time I’d seen a car like that or Royalty. Then an announcer said we could walk on to the bridge so we could tell everyone we were the first to walk on it.