Margaret Gray - Memories of Leith: schooldays, pageants and the outbreak of war.
Margaret Gray was born in Leith in 1929 and spent her formative years there. Educated at Leith Academy Primary School, she recalls her friends, teachers and the day to day routines which were disrupted with the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
Despite two attempts to evacuate from Leith, Margaret found herself back there in the midst of the wartime action, still a young girl.
Margaret's lived experience is testament to the circumstances of young Leithers back in the 1930s. Her memories are vivid and her stories fascinating, humorous and poignant.
The Living Memory Association receives the recollections we hear without judgement or correction. On occasion you may hear events being described in language that was acceptable at the time.
Cover picture: Leith Academy Primary One Class, 1935. Margaret Gray is pictured on the second back row, fourth from the right.
Interview recorded November, 2025.
Thanks to Setuniman for use of their dreamy-loop track found on Freesound.org
3 Oct 2025
Jim Blaikie - A Laddie From Leith
Jim Blaikie is a Leith poet and author, born in 1933, whose work draws deeply on
the life, place, and dialect of his home. His best known work include A Laddie
Looks at Leith, in which he captures memories, laughter and tears reflecting on
what #Leith was like in his childhood. Join us in this nostalgic, lyrical journey,
which celebrates the spirit of the Leith community and the power of the Scots
language.
24 Jul 2022
Rose Minto: Life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s.
Rose Minto was born Rose McIntyre on March 13th 1920. She spent her first 14 years in Bridge Street in Leith. Bridge street is now known as Sandport Place. None of the buidings exist that Rose would have known. Aside from The Rose Leaf pub, known as The Black Swan in Rose's day. (see widescreen photo.) Rose had an amazing and detailed recall of her life. These are evocative memories of life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s. The streets, the backgreen, the crowded housing, the shops, the pawn brokers and offal butchers. The close community, poverty and complex family relationship. Rose paints a vivid, unsentimental picture of life 90 years.
Recorded in 2008 when Rose was 88.
29 Jun 2022
Andrew Grant- Leith Nautical College and the 'Dolphin.'
Anrew Grant was born in 1937 and attended Leith Nautical College in Commercial street from August 1953 to July 1954. He gives us a brief history of the college and then talks about the training he received. Also about being on board the training ship 'The Dolphin.' We hear about rowing across the Forth, the huge cost of buying a sextant and the evening ration of two biscuits and a lump of cheese.
7 Dec 2021
Archie Minto
Archie Minto tells us what it was like growing up with right side hemiplegia a form of cerebral palsy in 1950s Leith. At a time when disabled children were often taken from their families and placed in special homes Archie's Mother and Father fought to keep him at home and have him educated at main stream school where he was fortunate to have dedicated teachers including Sister Columba. His Father worked hard to buy a home for his family and his Mother fought for everything she could to get the right help for her son. It is due to their strong characters and the support of his maternal family that he is the man he is today.
27 Apr 2021
Gordon Munro : childhood memories and love of music
Gordon Munro ( Labour Councillor for Leith) has had a love of music from an early age His parents said he could play the record player before he could walk We'll hear some records from his collection and memories of gigs he attended in Edinburgh venues Dr Feelgood in Leith Town Hall to the first Punk gig at Clouds to name but a few and most important meeting his wife whilst at The Valves Gig at the West End Club
20 Apr 2021
Maureen Sweeney Leith jobs in the 1960s
In this episode of Leith Lives Maureen Sweeney tells of starting work in the office of Bond 9 on Commercial Street at the age of 17 Maureen recounts the lively atmosphere in the Bond where all the workers were given 'an official' a tot of whisky two times a day and if the ladies wanted lemonade it was an extra 6d ! After working for 3 years in the Bond Maureen moved to work in the Eastern General Hospital where along with paying out wages and pensions she had to help transport body parts !Maureen then takes us on a trip around the fine assortment of shops that existed in Leith at that time from Andersons the butcher for lovely mince to Stella Blacks for delicious vanilla slices and pies
9 Feb 2021
Derek Tilbrook talks about his documentary film Persevere.
This episode was originally broadcast in 2019 on Thelma FM, our internet radio station. We were showing Derek Tilbrook's film Persevere during Leith Festival that year. Derek popped into the studio to talk about the making of the film, his own upbringing in Leith in the 1980s and 90s and the changing face of the area. We can't recommend the film enough. For those who haven't it go along to the Vimeo video platform and search for 'Persevere 2008 film.'
2 Feb 2021
Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part two
Originally broadcast on Thelma Internet radio Evelyn Whitfield reads a selection of articles from Old newspapers- The Evening News, Despatch, Leith Gazette, quotes from a series of booklets produced in the 1980s called Leith Lives and a book called Old Leith by Guthrie Hutton. We hear reports about Henry Robb's shipyard, Leith Links, golf, Hibs at Easter Road, Willie Merrilees, Leith Pageant, Lambs House and Edinburgh and Leith's old people's welfare council. Some memories stretching back to 1900. Interspersed with music and songs from old 78rpm records.
26 Jan 2021
Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part one
Originally broadcast on Thelma Internet radio Evelyn Whitfield reads a selection of articles from Old newspapers- The Evening News, Despatch, Leith Gazette, quotes from a series of booklets produced in the 1980s called Leith Lives and a book called Old Leith by Guthrie Hutton. Lots of school day memories from Cooper Street, David Kilpatrick, North Fort Street and Leith Academy schools. We hear reports about Henry Robb's shipyard, Leith Links, golf, Hibs at Easter Road, Willie Merrilees, Leith Pageant, Lambs House and Edinburgh and Leith's old people's welfare council. Some memories stretching back to 1900. Interspersed with music and songs from old 78rpm records.
15 Sept 2020
Tim Bell - From The Lebanon to Leith
In the 8th edition of 'Leith Lives' we are joined by author and Trainspotting Tour Guide Tim Bell. Tim takes us on a wonderful journey through his life from a Quaker boarding school and voluntary work in the Lebanon to hitch hiking home from Gaza, a short stint as a geography teacher and working for the U.N. in West Africa. From a filmic meeting on a bridge in Istanbul to social work in Northumberland, falling in love and ending up in his spiritual waterside home via a short stay in Niddrie. The show looks at Tim's 40 years in Leith through his path to divinity, becoming an alternative tour guide and releasing his first and last book based around his home and its relationship with Trainspotting in all its forms.
28 Aug 2020
Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War Two. Part two
Part two of Andrew Grant reading poems gleaned from Leith newspapers from WW1. He also gives some background into the events they commemorate. These may not be the works of the war poets Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke but neither are they casually thrown together dogrel. Funny, satrical and often deeply moving these are powerful pieces written by local authors or, in some cases, by an unknown pen. What comes across are poems written about the every day aspects of war, both at the front and at home. Originally broadcast on Thelma FM the programme has been split into two podcasts. It is interspersed with contemporary music from WW1 played from original 78rpm records.
28 Aug 2020
Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War One. Part One
Andrew Grant's second visit to the Thelma studios. Once again he talks about some of the extensive research he has undertaken into Leith and the First World War. This time round he reads poems gleaned from Leith newspapers from the period and gives some background into the events they commemorate. These may not be the works of the war poets Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke but neither are they casually thrown together dogrel. Funny, satrical and often deeply moving these are powerful pieces written by local authors or, in some cases, by an unknown pen. What comes across are poems written about the every day aspects of war, both at the front and at home. Originally broadcast on Thelma FM the programme been split into two podcasts. It is interspersed with contemporary music from WW1 played from original 78rpm records.
22 Jul 2020
Leith and World War One with Andrew Grant.
Andrew Grant talks about the twelve years he has spent researching those who served and died in World War One from Leith. It's been a work of dedication to say the least. Fascinating stories, history and background into the Great War and it's impact on Leith. Andrew's research is available to the public in hard copy at Leith Library. Six volumes of detailed information for you to use to research into your own family history. Interspersed with music from our 78rpm record collection.
Originally a radio broadcast from our radio station Thelma FM.
29 Apr 2020
Stan Eadie The Kirkgate to The Palais De Dance
Once again our regular volunteer Stan Eadie tells us about his younger days in Leith. This time we are knocking about the Kirkgate. We're in Michael's cafe with it's Teddy Boys and juke box. We hear of the businesses in this busy shopping area, nearby cinemas and being watched by the undertaker from his doorway. Then its up town to The Palais de Dance, where Stan was the floor manager in the 1950s. We learn how to eject 'awkward' punters, how the Palais's famous revolving stage revolved. Then there is working with Big Tam. Wonder what happened to him?
Interview by Donna Mackie at The Wee Museum of Memory.
29 Apr 2020
Stan Eadie's wartime childhood in Leith
Stan Eadie was born (1936) and raised in Leith. Apart from a short time in London he has always lived in Pitt Street, Leith. He is a regular volunteer at our Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal. Stan is pictured at Trinity Academy in 1948- 49. Back row, second from right.
Here he talks about playing on the street, his beloved spitfire pilot's helmet- which he really wouldn't take off! Exchanging banana for boules, going to the pictures, getting the belt for a wild prank at school and jobs you did for your 6d pocket money. Interviewed by Donna Mackie.
30 Mar 2020
Frank Condie- Childhood in Leith to shipbuilding in Henry Robb.
Frank Condie was born in 1938 and was brought up in Leith, around Bonnington Rd. He talks us through school days, doing a milk round, memories of war, going to the pictures, the dancing, The Gaiety Theatre and an apprenticeship in Henry Robb's ship yard. He also chooses some favourite music- Izzy Bonn, Billy Daniels, Bill Haley, Elvis and Frankie Laine.
25 Mar 2020
George Hackland walks around Leith in the 1930s
George Hackland was born in Newhaven in 1920 but worked in Leith from 1934 until the begining of World War Two. Here he evocatively describes the businesses, industry, shops and buildings in the Streets around where he worked in Dock Street. Recorded in 2013 at The Living Memory Assocation premises, right in the heart of the area George is describing.
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