The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Reason for
Popular event
“I was interested in the recent feature on the 1985 Dundee marathon,” emails Duncan Leith of Elie. “It was a hugely popular event in the 1980s, partly organised by my late friend, Duncan McHardy.
“I ran my one and only marathon that year along with my training mate, Ron McArthur. We would run from Broughty Ferry to Barry Buddon lighthouse, followed by a liquid warm down in the Ship Inn.
“The race day was mild to start with and we finished in a respectable time for a pair of confirmed cyclists. However, the slower runners had more than the road and the miles to contend with that day. The skies darkened and the temperature dropped.
“A blizzard hit Dundee and hypothermia and abandonments became the fate of many. Fortunately, we were back at the Marryat Hall by then – eating, drinking and shamefully smirking.”
‘doolally’
Roderick Stewart of Dronley has sent in the photograph below and emails: “Recent notes on ‘cassies’ and ‘cundies’ reminded me, on VE Day, of another great word with an unexpected origin – ‘doolally’. It’s not Scots at all, but comes direct from India.
“My father, Rennie Stewart, had left the Clyde bound for Burma in May 1941 (being torpedoed on the way) and he was therefore one of the first of 14th Army to be repatriated, via Deolali Transit Camp which was the main reception point for army personnel entering and leaving India.
“Heatstroke was a common reason for people being invalided home and Deolali has entered our language as ‘doolally’ – a bit mad.
“Father arrived in Deolali on April 4 1945 and must have had a fast passage home as he arrived back in ‘Blighty’ a month later on VE Day. He recalled walking from Dundee Station up to the family home at Dronley, and a few days later, on May 17, he married Irene Henderson in St Andrews Parish Church, Dundee.
“The reception was held in Dronley, and the cake, as so many were at that time, was baked from collected ration coupons. The photograph, below, shows my parents cutting the cake in the dining room.
“There are many questions unanswered in this story but both Father (2007) and Mother (2009) have died and it is too late to ask. The moral: Ask all the questions while you can!”
Excellent tuition
“Bob and Betty Barty had a dance school in The West End Palais, locally known as Robbies,” says Angus Lockhart. “I went there in the early 1960s for lessons on a Saturday afternoon.
“Through their excellent tuition, I was taught all the ballroom dances of the day. The ballroom was in Well Street, off the Hawkhill. Later my fiancé and I went to the Star Ballroom in the early 1970s to prepare for our forthcoming wedding, which served us well on the day.
“Great memories of my youth.”
Made 300 words
Recently, Lillias Smith of Kirriemuir set readers the challenge of finding words from the 29-letter word floccinaucinihilipilification. She tells me that she has managed 300 so far.
Billing and cooing
“Two beautiful white doves are obviously teaming up,” says a Craigie regular. “I watched them while I washed the dishes recently and, bored by the job, I was kept amused by the pigeons’ antics.
“It’s no wonder we talk about human lovers billing and cooing and acting all luvvy-duvvy.
“At this solemn time of lockdown, those doves’ behaviour was a downright disgrace!”