Ramblings and Memories of an EX PAT (recorded April 2010)

My name is Walter Jaap born 1935 in the Halfway at 50 Lightburn Rd (now long gone). I attended Hallside School 1940/47. Back then, it was a fine and stately building, not too many academic memories, but I recall the daily small bottle of milk (one third of a pint) with the cardboard top that fell in the milk if you pushed too hard. Then the time I scaled the roan pipe to the roof, (on a dare), to retreive some tennis balls. (That must have been the first signs of madness). Then came the big one, TATTIE HOWKING! Only the BIG boys (& girls) were allowed to go. After 3-4 days we realized what a SAIR BACK meant. But at home-going time we were allowed to take home any tatties we could find in the field after picking. Quite proud was a tired and sare tattie howker as he laid his spoils on the table.

So on then to the Big SCHOOL. I went to Westcoats which was a High School back then in 1947 it was another stately old building. Not only was the building old, so was the Headmaster (Dr Watson) and the French teacher (Ms Lucy Dunn) - being there when my Mother attended. As for the maths and geography teachers, they could have been the aforementioned parents. Still, it wasn't all bad, they managed to get the services of a much younger Gym teacher to the delight of the older boys (yes!!)

From the Halfway we got the bus to Cambuslang then up Westcoats Rd, then to the newsagents on Tue/Thurs for our copy of the Adventure/Wizard /Hotspur etc, a weekly edition of boyhood heroes. The next week spent swapping comics. There was one more popular pastime (in season). Plundering someones fruit. Just down the the Rd was a magnificent old pear tree. Every boys dream was to procure some of this forbidden fruit. So one day yours truly and one equally determind girl climbed the wall and the tree. Keeping guard was our minders??? Anyway, fruit gathering was well under way when a very loud and irate lady comes screaming up the path. Leaning over the wall she yelled vile threats to the very rapidly departing backs of our minders??. Hide your face I whispered to my accomplice. All going well until some public minded ??? citizen in the garden opposite says theres 2 up the the tree. OH S...T !!. So, between threats and time, it became a Mexican Standoff. Then with the ringing of the school bell, said accomplice reluctantly surrendered and BATMAN having spotted a overhanging branch to the neibouring garden made his cowardly escape. Loyalty is a virtue. She never did give me up (wish I could remember her name).

So now to Lightburn Rd. Childhood memories are all good. No cars; The Rd was our playground. From where I was at the top end we had the swings. Across the road, the COUP. Where hard materials, bricks/timber and old iron made for great shelters and fire lighting, then came the roast potatoes. Oh pure bliss when you got the blackened skin off. Further up across the field was the Quarry which instilled much fear and trepidation.

Looking across and down Lightburn was Nettie's shop (ref mgt Mckinnon). Poor old Nettie became quite confused etc and seemed to not return anything. Biscuits came in bulk then so she saved all the tins. Stacked on the floor, 3/4 high on the counters, until she had only a small opening. Like a war time pill box as you entered, a face would suddenly appear saying what do YOU WANT??/ Unfortunatly there was a fire one night (internal only) and that was the end of the shop up to 1951 when we left for NZ .

Then we had Stenhouse's mini orchard. Further down, we had the farm where the cows brought up from Gateside twice a day were milked. I had a spell delivering the milk in metal cans. 1/4, 1/2 and pints. These were carried on your shoulders via long handles. The farm which consisted of the farmers house and cow byre where the cows were milked,and various sheds etc. The farm was about halfway up lightburn on the right hand side. The orchard was further up on the same side opposite by the last little cottage. You can include the e/mail address You never know there may be some old codgers left I have a photo somewhere of a 217thBB camp which I will forward

Then there was the Chippie at the bottom of the Rd. Pure heaven for 3d worth of chips. But if we pooled our money we could get 4d worth. A fish supper was 9d. At the very end of Lightburn Rd was a MAGNIFICENT memorial to the VICTORIAN craftsmen. A lovely cast iron green PUBLIC URINAL! Wonder what happened to it (maybe its in someones garden as a conservatory?). Another treat was going to the Gateside colliery for a hot shower. Oh heaven, stand there as long as you like and come out sparkling clean and very prune like. Sometimes we could get into the Miners Welfare hall to play snooker thanks to BOBBY DUNN who was timekeeper at times. Bobby was also an officer in the 217th BB which I was a member of in 1947-50 He also took the football team which I was fortunate enough to be in.

Other memories are Sunday afternoon at the Tallies having Hot Peas and a sneaky fag. Willie Curlie the butcher, Galbraiths grocers, which I spent numerous Sat mornings delivering to the Prefabs.

Winter at Lightburn brought its own share of fun. Between Lightburn Rd and Hamilton Rd there was a field which when covered in snow provided a exellent toboggan run for all manner of sledges. This was at the Flemington end, and for the unwary, the burn at the bottom would claim another victim to the great delight of young and old.

A very good friend of mine used to say (our future is in looking back )and since looking at all the web sites which give so much pleasure i find myself agreeing.

So all in all I believe a happy and contented childhood was achieved. Thank you all old mates for your friendships.

Cheers to all and be happy. WALTER JAAP (wallett @ xtra.co.nz)