For holiday fun
In the 1950s, in common with many families, the Harrises ventured further afield to places like Whitley Bay and Blackpool in the north of England.
“This photo of Whitley Bay in 1952 shows you how busy it was – and note how many people are not wearing swimwear,” says Dan.
“The older lady on the left is Mrs Demarco, who ran a café on Cambridge Street with her Italian husband. She was widowed while her children were young, so the cafe’ was sold.
“When the Second World War broke out, she was exiled to the Isle of Man because she was Italian. Her three sons were conscripted into the British Army and saw action on the front line. Her son-in-law, Bertie was at Dunkirk.”
One of Mrs Demarco’s daughters was married to the professional boxer, Bobby Magee.
“He went the distance with Benny Lynch, losing on points,” says Dan. “When I was about seven, my Uncle Bertie (second from the right in the photo) and his wife Lily took me with them on holiday. We went to stay with Bobby and his wife Vera, near Whitley Bay.
“Bobby took me to his training gymnasium and put boxing gloves on me. He showed me a few tricks of the trade. When we had finished, my Uncle Bertie told me to stay in the ring with the gloves on. He climbed through the ropes, put his head down towards me and said, ‘show me what you have learned’.
Dan laughs: “So I punched him in the face. Unfortunately the thumb of the glove went into his eye, which swelled up. He went down in family folklore as having been beaten by a boy of seven.”
Dan’s wife Marion and her friend Maisie stayed at a boarding house with Maisie’s parents in Blackpool in July 1951.
Dan says: “The entry door to the boarding house was locked at 11 pm. If the guests were not back in by then, they were locked out for the night.”
Maisie’s parents were the enlightened sort, however, laughs Dan.
“Marion and Maisie often came back later than 11 pm, because Maisie’s parents room was to the front of the building,” he says. “They just left the window unlocked, and the girls could climb in.”
Send us your summer holiday memories and photos – email ann. fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, Print Centre, 125 Fullarton Drive, Cambuslang, Glasgow G32 8FG.