Growing Up In 1960s Partick

[@daviefullarton]

I lived top floor corner tenement 474 Dumbarton Road from birth at 1964 til 1972, our front windows looked onto Crow Road, I remember the storm damage as well. I went to Thornwood school, I played in the railway yard you mentioned, and relentlessly played football against Thomlinsons shutter doors at dead end of Norval Street, my dad thought me to ride a bike in that street. Happy days! Like your videos.

[@EdExploresScotland]

We weren't far away from each other in the 60s. Many thanks.

[@briannelson1784]

I was the Jannie in thornwood primary 2005 - 2018 when I retired many happy memories

[@agordonforme6797]

We all have different memories of Partick. Thanks for yours

[@catherinecrew1739]

I also went to Thornwood Primary, 673,Dumbarton Rd.,diagonally across from the The Thornwood pub. I now live in Canada and my son calls my, sunburned skin,a Scottish tan! I loved listening to your memories as they are mine also,Victory V were awesome! Keep up the great work!🇨🇦❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks Catherine. All the best for 2022.

[@SRlikethetoothpaste]

love that Kelvin Hall chips anecdote! Brought the video to a delightfully comedic climax.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers. 👍

[@whitehorsesorrel]

thank you Ed you have just taken me back to my youth , I stayed not far from you in crawford street I remember the circus and i think it was the ideal home exhibition at the kelvin hall plus the wall

[@eileanvm]

Oh wow. Fabulous memories of 1968. We'd only just left Townhead in January 1968, since the old tenements were almost completely demolished by bulldozers by then. We'd just moved into the Broomhill Flats, thirteen stories high, and the night of the storm was unforgettable. I was already nervous about being so far from the ground, and as the wind got stronger, that evening, the living room began to sway and shudder. Father reassured us that these new 'sky scrapers' were built ( newly built in fact ) to withstand high winds, and that if they didn't sway, then they'd be more likely to collapse. Very reassuring.... By midnight, most of the newly-moved in neighbours were standing on the grass near the flats with suitcases full of precious belongings. Our family endured a night of creaking, swaying and shuddering because our dad wouldn't skip a night in bed to stand around in a storm. I do remember hearing some awful crashing sounds as masonry and glass from the surrounding area hit the ground. But we were quite safe. Perhaps if we'd stayed in Townhead a few weeks longer we might not have lived to tell the tale. :*(

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Eilean. Yes, that storm was something you just don't forget. Thankfully we don't get too many of them.

[@JoeMonaghanMusic]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane Ed. Victory V and bangers! Remember them well. 😁

[@EdExploresScotland]

The good old days!

[@LoriCiani]

I went to Downhill Primary and lived on White Street. My gran lived on Peel Street. The family place of worship was the Salvation Army on Peel Street. I used to go to the ABC Tivoli on Crow Road on Saturday mornings. As far as the storm was concerned, I had a nasty cough that night and my mum gave me a hefty dose of Benylin which at that time contained chloroform. It knocked me out and next morning I woke up to devastation. My mum swore she saw ball lightning streaking across the night sky. My parents got little sleep that night. I loved the Kelvin Hall and all the events there. I loved the modern homes exhibition, they built houses inside and you would join the line of people trudging round the rooms seeing all the new fashions of furniture in room settings. My mum bought a Kenwood Chef one year because she liked the free samples on the stand.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks for your comments. Memories can be little treasures.

[@ruthcallender7444]

I remember that swing all us kids would sing a song called "Your bones are lazy and you are crazy" when we were on it....you could fit loads of kids on it at same time and yes there were a few casualties.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Us kids were much tougher in the old days - none of that soft rubbery ground to dampen your fall.

[@ruthcallender7444]

@@EdExploresScotland Yes it wasn't for the faint hearted. My wee sister came a cropper there when she came flying off the roundabout.

[@glasgowiar1490]

Hi Eddy, my friend and I recently came across your videos and love them! Very interesting to hear stories and history about the west end (Partick specifically as I went to Thornwood Primary) as it has changed so much!

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. Everything changes. Unfortunately not always for the better.

[@plasteckfly]

Brilliant video - was like my own story growing up in Knightswood during the same era. Spent a lot of time in Partick, too. Your account of the pedal pushcart had me in stitches - remember those so well. :)

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. 👍

[@amandamorton2788]

Love your vlogs . I’ve stayed in partick for 31y in apparently the oldes tenement in partick used to be known as downy place!! Anyway thanks for taking the time to do these interesting videos I’ll stay tuned.👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

Many thanks. These white or pale cream coloured tenements are generally the older ones, some going back to the 1850s. The one you refer to in Downie Place goes back to around 1860, and was named, according to Canmore, after the Downie sisters, wives of retailers Wylie & Lochhead, the developers. Take care.

[@RG-ja34sep]

Eddy, this was a most interesting video of your experiences and memories growing up in Partick!!! I can certainly relate to the fascination of peeling your skin, days after being sunburnt. Another was what we called a “Chinese bangle” where as you mentioned your wrist or arm was twisted in opposite directions to experience a type of skin burn. It’s truly amazing the things we do during childhood, and so vastly different to today’s kids. Really enjoyed your humourous account of everything, you are a great storyteller! Take care and stay well, best regards, Rob.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. Stay safe Rob.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

I am originally from Pitlochry, I lived in Laurel Place Thornwood just off Crow Road in the early 1990's. Great times, drank in the Thornwood Bar & the Rosevale Bar after the football on Saturday's & midweek matches. Great times, loved the area & the people.

[@bigdave6591]

I recognize a lot of these places I stayed in Apsley st and laurel st for many years great place

[@johnmckee7640]

Apsley Street.

[@bigdave6591]

@@johnmckee7640 oh my mistake 😁

[@redcardinalist]

Ah. Victory V lozenges. That reminded me of something happened when I was a kid. - Do you remember Lockets? (They're probably still being made.) When I was a little kid (this is the early seventies, I'm a little bit younger than you) I was allowed to go buy some sweeties on my own for the first time. I must have ben given a decent amount of money as it wasn't going to be Blackjacks or Penny chews this time. I could actually buy a "proper" sweetie. Ah! what's this? "Lemon and honey that sounds good! Suffice to say I was about to be very disappointed with my purchase...😧😄

[@EdExploresScotland]

That little nugget of liquid honey in Lockets is a treat that never feels medicinal.

[@htimsid]

Gosh, a 'chinese burn' is a blast from the past. I also recall a 'dead leg'. And an 'earial' / 'earie' :O

[@thejacobitehiker4024]

Hello again, Eddy, another great observational video with humour most Scots can relate to. Love it. Sharing sunburnt skin with your siblings, lol.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Cheers.

[@charlesreid1311]

I lived in Scotstoun and when travelling through P artick on the top deck of the bus would notice a guy with very long hair and wearing a cloak. This nutter was, yes you've got it.Billy Connelly

[@josephhenry4725]

Thanks for the memories of the Kelvin Hall It was the called the modern homes exhibition. The shows and circus came over the festive fortnight ,I used to sit inside the big square hole were the extractor fan duct pushed air out of the building just to the side of the main steps . It was nice and cosy and we could watch the people coming and going in the snow and cold. We couldn't afford to get in but if you waited at the side doors on bunhouse Street you could sneek in when the show people came or went.A good ploy was to help them carry some of their stuff in and then scarper once you got inside. My favourite rides were the mouse and the airoplane. Free attraction was watching the elephants chained up in a row just outside the arena .Standing beside the penny slot machines you could watch while people put money in to turn on automatums like the laughing policeman and the graveyard.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I think I remember the airplane, or at least something that went round and round and you had a lever so you could make your airplane go up or down. The good old days.

[@billycrawford6080]

Hi Eddy, just catching up on your latest ,this was an amusing and interesting video with many great wee tales from your younger years...oh we all miss those days, great stuff Eddy and nice to see you looking well and upbeat. Take care pal. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks. Got my vaccine appointment. We're getting there. Take care.

[@billycrawford6080]

@@EdExploresScotland 💉👍

[@magimac9979]

@@EdExploresScotlandoh…hope you’re ok.

[@borderlands6606]

I rarely Lol, but Lol'd throughout, brilliant memories. I had a similar go kart, and also craved the pedal driven variety. A theme that continued when I wanted a Chopper bike, and got a small wheeled one. Not a Raleigh 20 either, but a knockoff whose chrome wheels peeled like tin foil and could double as a ship anchor. I clad the go cart in sheeting, with a small aperture to see through. It must have made a sinister sight, rolling silently through the streets between ladies shopping and pausing to survey men returning from work.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Our parents never really understood us.

[@DavidPhilp-l3o]

Ed. Went to Thornwood 1943 to 1949 so a wee bit older but lived in Partick from 1938 to 1960. In Kildonan Drive and in White Street from 1963 to 69. All of this brings back back memories. The storm was something else and I remember watching the chimneys across the street falling.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi David. Yes, the storm was an event you never forget. Pretty sure we heard the huge rumble of the large chimney breast that fell into 555 Dumbarton Road.

[@margaretdegnan8438]

We called that swing park the american swing it was round ffrom merkland st we played there while older sisters sat in celinos cafe ❤

[@capricorn1936]

Had a friend stayed in Crathie Court Laurel St late 1980s

[@briangilligan6270]

During the storm, we stayed on dumbarton road in a top dancer, we had to move to my aunts whos stayed on the bottom floor because the chimneys were coming down, scary times.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Scary night indeed. I'll never forget it.

[@briangilligan6270]

Three of my uncles were riggers in Yarrows, two foremen and a gaffer, sea trials were often longer than expected lol

[@johnnyseagull29]

I stayed in Kildonan drive 1980 - 1985 when first married. Great days, loved it all. Miss it in these "gentrified" times.

[@terrychalmers8929]

Very enjoyable wee film and story telling I stayed in Anderson, Patrick was always a better area but I had all the same experiences, as for the chicken feet I hated the the boys would chase the girls with them and the girl would run away screaming.x

[@robertwillis4061]

I was brought up in Broomhill Terrace. Just beside the Clyde Tunnel Northside entrance. Went to Broomhill Primary and then Hyndland Secondary. Used to go into Partick every Saturday morning with my Mother, usually to Birsse's or Woolworths beside the railway bridge. Or the Food saver shop in Broomhill Shopping centre ( pre dates Aldi. Lidl etc ).

[@EdExploresScotland]

Woolworth's were good for broken biscuits.(Oh how poor we were!!)

[@greendragonreprised6885]

When were you at Thornwood Primary? I was there 1967-1971. Were you there when we de-camped to Rosevale Street for a year? Your memories brought back many of mine. I remember the hurricane, or rather, I remember seeing the chimney pots in the street the next morning, being 5 or 6 at the time I slept right through it. I also remember my mother dragging me to the Modern Homes Exhibition at the Kelvin Hall so she could look at washing machines or whatever she was aspiring to that year. We always went to the carnival at Christmas and watched the guy who did the Magic Waters. Fountains linked to music and a light show. Did you ever go to the Tivoli Cinema on Crow Road on a Saturday morning? Two films, a newsreel and a serial so you had to go back the next week. An audience of nothing but kids. That was childcare sixties style.

[@EdExploresScotland]

I'm a bit older than you, so attended Thornwood before you. I do remember the Tivoli on Crow Road. I also remember a cinema on Dumbarton Road not far from Rosevale Street, and being all dressed up with a sports jacket and tie so I could get in to watch an X-rated western with my Dad, but they didn't let me in. I must have been 13 or something.

[@alastairhamilton68]

I guess we must be about the same age. I was from along the road in Whiteinch and Jordanhill.

[@karenjamieson532]

Your Kelvin Hall stories had me laughing. I recognised our class photo at Thornwood too! Great memories 🙂

[@EdExploresScotland]

Thanks Karen. Long time ago now, but seems like yesterday.

[@karenjamieson532]

@@EdExploresScotland It does right enough. I always remember the boys at our school singing “we won the war” when we were all filing back in after morning brake. 🤣 And the ice slides we made across from the school in the old over run gardens. Good days Ed. 😄

[@EdExploresScotland]

I seemed to spend much of my time either throwing marbles at a wall or pretending to be a beetle in Doctor Who and scuttling furtively about the place. Which one are you in the class photo?

[@karenjamieson532]

@@EdExploresScotland I’m in the row behind you second from right…I think 🤣 Trying to remember our teacher’s name. I recognise a lot of faces but just a few names…Do you know which year Ed? I remember making neep lanterns one day and a boy cut his hand with a knife. Imagine knives in classrooms nowadays 😳

[@EdExploresScotland]

Ah yes. It's funny how on looking at the photo you can recall each person and their personality, even after all these years. I have an earlier class photo with the year 1964 written on the back. There's not a date on the photo we're discussing. I'd guess at maybe 1966 or thereabouts.

[@jocky2]

I feel now it was a great priviledge to have grown up in the late 50's and and 60's and 70's as we had so much freedom as kids and teenagers growing up. I had to laugh at the "water" one as when I had a serious fall from a tree landing on my face, I staggered home and my mum said "sit down on the couch and I'll get you a glass of water" end of. No doctor, no 999. We was tough. One thing maybe that didn't stand out to you maybe was the winter of 1962/3 that went on for ages, I remember we went out at night to the nearby railway tracks to collect coal for the fire, which had "fallen off" the steam trains. parked at the brickworks nearby. That '68 storm was unbelievable and we had a side door onto the wind. My dad put the washing machine behind it and other stuff piled up to stop the door blowing in, s scary as hell and as you say the noise was off the scale. thank you as always for such an entertaining videos, I appreciate them very much.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Yes, the NHS could save itself a fortune if doctor's prescribed water.

[@stephencoyle345]

Thanks Eddy. I enjoyed your video, and although I thought I knew a fair bit about the history of Partick, I was unaware of the existence of the old building that houses the garage in Coopers Well Street.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Sometimes you just don't know what's behind these frontages.

[@PaulEcosse]

My parents were from Govan but would spend a lot of time hanging about Partick and got married there in Partick Bridge Street. He ran a short-lived youth club in Partick, until the lads started flinging the pool balls. He's late 80s now but we still walk around there and he tells me various stories.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Partick and Govan were, and are, joined at the hip, Partick being part of Govan Parish.

[@PaulEcosse]

@@EdExploresScotland Indeed. He worked at John Browns and then Stephen's in Linthouse, lived in Govan but Partick was the place to be it seems for courting couples in the 60s.

[@yvonnekeegan573]

In the 60s my Granda stayed in Byron Street. All the grandweans would skip round to the Thornwood Bar to help my 12 year old Aunty get him home. He'd be propped against the wall with his walking stick, drunk as a skunk.

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

Ye you could play conkers without the need of a hardhat an goggles, chemistry sets that could level a fair sized house with, couple of kids stuffed into the boot of the car or on a trailer, could drive semi conscious with one eye open, climbing a tree wasn't life threatening and ending up in the police station or hospital was considered an afternoon well spent. Then came along Mr health and safety and Mrs bubble wrap. And it was all over, those where the days when fun was fun.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely.

[@johnmull59]

Was that you being interviewed on the BBC news?

[@EdExploresScotland]

It was. You can't get vaccinated these days without a camera crew in attendance. They said I was lucky to get vaccinated so early. Nothing lucky about it. It was damn good planning on the part of the Scottish Government.

[@magimac9979]

@@EdExploresScotlandoh help…

[@hankspangle3867]

I remember that storm huddling under the widow sill with my mother. Next day the world looked as if the apocalypse had happened.

[@EdExploresScotland]

Absolutely. One of those things you never ever forget.

[@hankspangle3867]

@@EdExploresScotland Thanks for your video’s Ed. Loving the music too.

[@sylviaross40]

What about the middens, midge wrecking

[@EdExploresScotland]

I missed a whole load of stuff. Scope for Part Two (I'll need to mention my potato gun!).

[@josephhenry4725]

it was called midden raking and best done in lucky didgies.

[@ladygardener100]

The bangers were penny bangers or two penny, we put them down the drains for effect. The seet shop had rosebuds. Soor plumes, McDonald's toffees 3D, or Dainty toffee 2D

[@EdExploresScotland]

The good old days. I'm surprised I didn't blow my hand off.

[@charlesreid1311]

You know what clappie doos are famous? of course you do.

[@magimac9979]

Whelks Ed, whelks 😋😬

[@EdExploresScotland]

Delicious.

[@richardinglis9805]

Hi eddy i am a Glasgow boy who can tell you that victory vs are still going strong in fact i have about twelve packets left. I scoff a packet in one go at a time good to hear about our lovely city of glasgow. Well done. I am now in my seventy s l also had a good mate who lived in dumbarton road

[@EdExploresScotland]

Hi Richard. Hopefully they've removed whatever it was in the Victory Vs that used to make the skin inside your mouth peel off.