Growing up in Scotland-Greenock

Boyhood memories of growing up in Scotland.

[@christinemitchell390]

Grew up in Mallard Crescent down the valley. Paradise, reservoirs, woods heaps of fields to play footy, best view in the world from the French Cross, heaps of hills for sledging and a short walk to Gourock.

[@eb4233]

Cheers for putting the video together took me back so it did ( in a good way tho ) been away from greenock now for nearly 45 years ,the mods and the skinheads were around then, the vespas hurdling passed you with their fox's tails on massive ariels, ( the young mavy team ) were battling with the tribe every Saturday night. The L/D was flowing greatly. Aye those were the days ! Unfortunately you can't go back in time ( yet ) but you sir has definitely taken me back to a great time. Thank you. E

[@johnlamb8306]

I was adopted in Greenock in 69 would love to come back and show my son where his father was born. No regrets that I am I adopted but proud to be Scotch in the U.S. .

[@herrklamm1454]

john lamb Scotch?

[@slm3913]

Oh Thank you for putting this video up. Most of my family is from Port Glasgow. Some stayed and some moved to the USA. Always wondered what happened to the family . I lived in Glasgow for a while but then we moved to Kilwinning. I miss Scotland so bad. This was so good.

[@virginiakennedy4595]

Figfoy: "there were no junkies in the place" there was drunkeness everywhere, the Alcoholics were the junkies of our time. Same addiction, different drug

[@FatherOFavs]

Back in the day yi used tae huv to run the gauntlet o alkies roon the west station tae get intae toon. Niver forget the auld alky litany..."Gies two bob mate"

[@FatherOFavs]

Ma auld stompin groon. Aw wis Greenock born n raised. Went tae Cowdenknowles roon fae the dams whin they closed the auld Mount. Drank in the Vic Carriage until the polis shut it doon. Worked in Strone community centre fir a bit tae. Halycon days indeed. Thanks fur the memories. Brilliant wee video matey.

[@FrankMcEleny]

I went to Notre Dame, just up the hill from you in Cowdenknowles. I moved up the Strone when I was 17, Darndaff Rd.

[@FatherOFavs]

@@FrankMcEleny Nice wan Frank. Fair enjoyed yir video. Stay well matey :)

[@One_over_the_eight]

I lived in Caladh House Childrens' Home, 21 Brachelston Street from 1969 until 1974 and went to Mount Pleasant Academy. I remember we used to get free tickets to Hector McNeil Baths which was right opposite and we stayed in there until we turned to prunes. I'll always have fond memories of Greenock. Does anyone remember a shop or supermarket called the "One 'O' One"? Good poem by the way.

[@FrankMcEleny]

Douglas Alexander Tait I remember Caladh house well. One of the first girls I ever kissed was in there :) I loved the smell of the baths and the foose ball table and pool table upstairs. I used to get an actual bath in the basement for a few pennies. I probably saw you knocking about Douglas. I was raised on Prospecthill St. I would have been five in 1969........Frank

[@One_over_the_eight]

+Frank McEleny I was five in 1969 too. I remember the spare bathroom downstairs. It was at the end of the hall as you turned right past the staircase. When you went up the stairs the first floor was where the girls rooms were and on the top floor there were three rooms for the boys. There were bathrooms on each floor. I left there in 1974. I'd like to back and visit there one day as I have fond memories. I was well looked after. :) Douglas.

[@kr1886]

I remember the 101! I bought my mum a china cat ornament from there. Corner of West Stewart St and...?

[@jimgraham9042]

K R argyle street

[@robertgreen5217]

Drank ma first bottle of eldorado up the broomy football park.1978 ,, been on the drink since Greenock what a place.💉🍺🍺🥃 cheers.👍

[@FrankMcEleny]

First drank there as well. Nickname was Mackers. Guys like Squid and paw used to drink up there as well.

[@robertgreen5217]

@@FrankMcEleny you were a few years ahead of me I think but I know paw though,,👍sorry I mean a few years behind me.

[@jojodoes580]

the memories come flooding back, drunk men, in their best suit, grabbing on to moving buses, on a Friday night, the entire bus population, staring, open mouthed as the drunk runs,and tries to embark, they know he's not gonna make it, he's gonna smash his heed and eat road, but he'll be back in the shipyards on Monday morn to earn money to do it again next week. happy days. Wish we had digi cameras and youtube then.

[@castroceltic7424]

From Greenock , lived in the Fancy Farm / Grieve Road (Mavy) area , then Moved to Bank Street , went to St Columba’s High school for a few years then when we moved I switched to Notre Dame High School. When i was young it seemed every housing scheme had a gang

[@janicecramer8186]

that wis brilliant

[@AJockAbroad]

Thanks Man. I wasn't a Broomie, over by East Crawford street and Carwood Street,/Auchendarroch. But so many common images! Feels good.

[@deepimpression7277]

😊

[@janicecramer8186]

i was raised in greenock, chalmers street, but then we moved tae finch road, ma family is still there,,lol

[@alicepayet5688]

I had my granny in Port Glasgow, I was sent from England to her each holiday. I fell in love with a Scottish fella one time I was there. We wrote to each other for a few years. He was from Gibbshill Greenock. We had made planes for our future. Something bad happened. I broke off with him. Many years later he contacted me. Times were hard for him. Would love to know if he is ok. If he sees this he will know who I am.

[@sandrafinbar]

Look his name up on Facebook.

[@andrewcornfield5001]

I miss you Alice

[@greenockcut]

Well done! Fine poem! It was 27 years till I got back to Greenock from Canada and apart from the buildings it doesn't seem to have changed much. Still bipolar and I still love it. As to hatred of Catholics: I grew up in P.E.I. which was just as bigoted as Greenock but the second time I married 28 years ago my my mother said "I suppose it's another left footer." Well, yes! Catholic girls are more fun!

[@kiltedmonster1]

hahahaha the Mavy boys came to fight love it, born and bread in Greenock, not far away from it now in Stranraer, Go back to see family but would never return to it, loved the poem Frank McEleny :)

[@FrankMcEleny]

Thanks Scott, love Greenock but would not return either.

[@kevinslaven47]

Great brings back so many memories good times

[@TheHappinesstan]

very good , poignant and brings back memories of a childhood in greenock .

[@broxibear366]

Brilliant makes me feel ancient and am only turning 39 . But seeing greenock like this is brilliant

[@MrCrow1963]

Nice Job Frank, never had the opportunity to try the Eldorado. Do remember getting a case of Strongbow of the back of a truck down at the RAF and Christoher Gallagher getting alcohol poisoning. We must have been about 12 or 13 at the time.

[@peamac1]

My old stamping ground too. Up the cut, broomie park, up Overton. Memories x

[@HeatherMac320]

Just brilliant!

[@MikeMcGarrity]

Great wee clip Frank... well done.

[@captainviagra2001]

thank you frank i enjoyed that

[@rodger1ify]

Very enjoyable...lots of familiar situations.

[@captainviagra2001]

i remember the old strone

[@gonedetectinguk5906]

Was born over The strone Wee songs. Brill

[@detectingadventuresscotlan6035]

@ITZ SCRIMZYY 1974. En stayed at 22 clydeview Was closes bk then 👍

[@astronomer77]

@@detectingadventuresscotlan6035 stayed in lomond road,1960-83

[@bklufc]

@@detectingadventuresscotlan6035 grew up 13 Clydeview road, across the close from john and Joe Murray Kelly family.

[@andrewcornfield5001]

@@bklufc no ye didnae

[@tomski175]

Well done Frank.

[@bernadettecampbell8929]

Still have cousins in greenock my parents stayed the gibby plus branchton Road and lark field

[@andy03171]

Squid, shire, Elmo... I remember them from the Broomy bar. Shack too. Good times.

[@alanmcpherson3682]

Me too,old Davy Russell, Kevin behind the bar and some of the best pool players around. Good times.

[@MrGJBLACK]

thanks for the memories

[@FrankMcEleny]

G.J BLACK Your welcome G.J!

[@sharronbatey740]

+Frank McEleny loved it ! my my may (harrison ) johnston was brought up on chalmers street , my uncle jimmy (glen) is involved with the morton supporters and lives on castle road , i am sure i saw my cousin tommy glen outside the pub ! shame mams not here as she would have loved it sadly passed

[@MrResearcher122]

+Frank McEleny Lovely poem. I'm from London, but my Nan's house in the early 70s was in Tasker Street, the Bow Farm. We used to nick the Golf balls up the 'Golfie' and swap em for Iron Brew and Mcaroon Bars. We're of the same generation, and I aint been 'Up the Road' since those years. And your sweet poem sent me back to an earlier time of my life. Thanks.

[@FrankMcEleny]

Hi Jack glad to hear it brought back memories. My mum was raised in Tasked St back in the 50s and 60s.

[@FrankMcEleny]

Sharron Batey , glad you liked it. Sorry your mam is not around anymore.

[@valeriehastie5522]

Fair brilliant Frank!

[@mabawzaingreenock]

Great wee video:-) cheers

[@MoiraHendry10]

Love it - you'll need to be getting sub-titles soon for those that cannae understand it

[@JH_130]

I stay in greenock just 5 minutes away fay the Chappel and é beezee

[@milliemac2959]

Gd wee poem m8 aye greenockad not the same Remember going up I bees dam as a child wi ma familyWhen stayed up I strone now the wanes rather go in a lap tap Ppl never had much but prob frade wat they got now for the old days Can anyone remember the joke shop think it was west blackball St ??

[@barrydonnachie1296]

Greenock born and bread, I really enjoyed your poem, brought back fond memories of days gone bye👍

[@lozzii1917]

My Irish great grandfather and family moved to Greenock my grandfather and his family were apparently well known in Greenock one mention of the Irvine family everyone knows us I'm finding it elusive trying find out who my grandfathers siblings were only knew of his older sister Florence May born 1920 known as May still waiting on Greenock archives getting back to me to help me know more of my grandfather's staunch Protestant side of the family were. He along with his father my great grandfather Samuel worked in Sugar house as Labourers I've yet to know which one or where as there was ton of them they lived in Nile Street tenement slums. Its nice place but absolutely hate the disgusting way I was treated in Inverclyde hospital but like Edinburgh and other places there's ton of very very steep hills in certain parts I hope one day go back to Greenock one day but for now what information I found about my grandfathers side of the family I can at least use Google maps to show me where they were born, lived, worked and died with very very little limited information i have a lot street names either no longer exist or been renamed can be tricky absolutely fascinating with what I can decipher

[@raibeartmctavish1048]

An absolutely brilliant piece of poetry. It brought back many happy memories. I lived in Woodstock but was down the Broomie almost every day. First St Pats then Notre Dame then Friday and Saturday nights in summertime up the Broomie park or Lemon Street bridge. In Winter it was the garages or the old Rope Works. I can still relate to Virginia's comments. The council housing was appalling. What idiots approved the building of blocks of flats with flat roofs. The walls were so damp the paper would fall off by itself. The long-block was like a Stalinist monstrosity. Did the council really believe that by painting the buildings yellow the dampness would be cured! The police were openly racist, (nowadays euphemistically referred to as sectarian). I remember the CID would sit in their green marina to see who went into the off licence next to Bruno's. I even had the "pleasure" of being invited to sit in the back of it one Friday evening. They didn't beat me up. They just stole my purchase. So, not as bad as the beat officers. Gin___lip comes into mind. I remember one night we were standing outside Bruno's when he and his new colleague walked along Broomhill Way towards us. He "lifted" the person next to me. In Liverpool and London that sort of policing causes riots. In Greenock it was the norm. No riots here, just the alienation of a section of the community and another good reason to leave. On the whole, I am still nostalgic.

[@FrankMcEleny]

What years? That was my two schools.

[@raibeartmctavish1048]

Notre Dame from 1979 to 1982

[@FrankMcEleny]

I left Notre Dame in 1980. Lived at 24 Prosoecthill St.

[@raibeartmctavish1048]

@@FrankMcEleny I figured that you were a couple of years older than me from some of the nicknames of the people referred to. I recognised some of them, not all of them. I lived at 99 Woodstock, the last building before the "pipe" and "horse's tail."

[@tomski175]

I'll show it to Auntie Rose!

[@captainviagra2001]

gabriel street and lomond road riverside road clydeview road hows that for a old memory frank kilmacolm rd and the chapel brae

[@jazz185]

Aye, good stuff.. Was "Squid" Eddie Quigley? Thanks for the memories..

[@FrankMcEleny]

Squid was John Quigley

[@alanmcpherson3682]

@@FrankMcEleny lovely guy and 2nd best pool player in the broomy. Lol

[@bernadettecampbell8929]

Was that pub at trainstation in greenock what year did it close

[@greenockmortonfan7240]

What station greenock east

[@bernadettecampbell8929]

@@greenockmortonfan7240 I'm not sure if East or West as my sister worked at a pub in greenock next to train station when she stayed in lark field

[@bernadettecampbell8929]

Was born in greenock the gibby

[@andrewcornfield5001]

Anybody remember Andy cornfield and Davey Mansfield , used to drink in the broomy ? Both my older cousins , I’m sure we used to play football wi his mates and one was called squid , always remember a guy called “ the Barron “

[@FrankMcEleny]

Knew them both. Used to Play cards in Andy's house in the square, I believe. Where is he now?

[@andrewcornfield5001]

@@FrankMcEleny I was hoping you’d tell me , last I heard of him was my aunties , his mothers funeral about 12/13 year ago , I know Billy lives in Spain somewhere

[@FrankMcEleny]

@@andrewcornfield5001 let me ask around, I'll let you know what I find out.

[@andrewcornfield5001]

@@FrankMcEleny cheers

[@johnmurphy4306]

The baron was Eric Webster

[@virginiakennedy4595]

Frank Mc Eleny Thank you for your reply. The Poem is very good and well written. I was used to green fields, low buildings and non hatred of Catholics in Ireland. There is something about that part of Scotland that is utterly depressing and economically depressed and it is reflected by the pervasive Alcoholism which continues generation after generation. I was back last year and had to close my eyes as I passed through Greenock, Port Glasgow. It is always uplifting to hear someone who finds beauty where there is none.

[@captainviagra2001]

darndaff road

[@FrankMcEleny]

I was 13 Darndaff Rd from 1981-1988

[@captainviagra2001]

yes you stayed next door to sadie

[@FrankMcEleny]

That's right, what number were you?

[@captainviagra2001]

i stayed in clydeview and riverside i have had a drink wyth you many years ago over 30 years

[@toddf9321]

@@FrankMcEleny Even this old Yank sailor has been to yours. lol. Knew the MacIntosh girls, Bryce girls, and a few other. Shared my Bacardi 151 proof rum with the Strone boys. I stayed on Clynder Rd, then Aberfoyle Rd, and Finally Clydeview. Thanks for the memories of Greenock. Cheers

[@Celtic-jr9cn]

Forget the smile. Get the blades out and take control of the neighbours end. Show them yous are the kiddy’s about here.

[@weehen4743]

Same old plagiarized photos. How about something original?

[@FrankMcEleny]

Indeed, how about it wee hen, lets see your video :)

[@virginiakennedy4595]

The only thing I miss about Greenock are my parents who are deceased. I've been back coupke times to see my siblings and the pkace absolutely turns my stomach. I have not one good memory of Scotland. Our parents took us from our beloved Ireland and we landed in the worst alcholic town anyone could imagine. I have advice for kids stuck in this depressing city; plan your escape well, don't look back, there is nothing in Greenock to be nostalgic about.

[@FrankMcEleny]

Hi Virginia, what sober town did you come from in Ireland? :) Seriously, I have many great memories of growing up in Greenock. I am not saying there were not a lot of alcoholics, but I am thinking the shock of you having to move there probably clouds your judgement just a wee bit. My wife feels the same way as you actually she came to Greenock in 1971 from Kansas. She has no good memories. But obviously I do or I would not have written the poem. They are real memories and they are good and many folks can relate to them. Did you ever see the movie " Angela's Ashes?" A wee bit depressing dont you think? I think if I moved to Belfast or any industrial town or city when I was a lad, I would probably feel the same way about that place as you do about Greenock.

[@edbignell9198]

Frank McEleny

[@MoiraHendry10]

Frank McEleny Great Poem - I have many fond memories of Greenock - and if the life was hard the kids didn't notice it - we played games - & wandered far and wide - no worries about stranger danger - home by 5.30 to listen to Dick Tracy on the radio - then out again if nights were light. Now Settled in Australia for 51 years and love it - we were the 10 Pound migrants - Class Australia as my Home - but always remember my roots -

[@Docsa2008]

This is a poem about the memories of someone growing up. This time in history and these types of memories are similar for lots of people and it's a happy sentiment to listen to. Clearly your poem will be dull and depressing about not having any friends to play with and hanging around with drunks all the time. I was brought up in Greenock, so was my wife, and so are my kids in the process. We have no intention of leaving. People visit from all over the country and marvel at how you can look north across a blissful expanse of water to another seaside town, or simply turn round and take in the most serene Scottish landscape with hills fit for a watercolour. And if you're that way inclined the mobsters from Scotland's biggest cities fear us because we are 'mental'. So i feel pride every time i think about this place. This is to educate you. Take this if you wish or leave it, but don't tell my family and generations to come to 'plan their escape'. This town was here a long time before you landed in it, and will be here a long time after any of us.

[@vginn6995]

@@FrankMcEleny you bad memories OK Frank we all now on and know we survived and learned.