Memories of olden days
Some memories from Niddrie via Niddrons Reunited and our cousins Johnni Stanton and Billy McKirdy. Both Johnni and Billy are related to the Q family, Johnny being a Stanton cousin and Billy being a Demarco/Brattesani cousin
They are doing a most wonderful job in preserving the heritage of the Niddrie/Craigmillar area. These old videos, found in the Scottish Film Archives have been restored thanks to these two boys. They have shared them on their facebook page and I am now sharing them with you. Great fun looking at the past. Thanks to you both and well done. RIP Johnni who died in 2020
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWF2O9686i4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPYnpOjPV3E&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e36e8We2R_4&feature=youtu.be
Niddrie Brickworks is now gone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Blnf7SR0I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4EDVD7tJo&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e36e8We2R_4&feature=youtu.be
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_buildings_g/0_buildings_-_niddrie_mill_sunday_school.htm
http://craigmillararchivestrust.webplus.net/janet.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-wP2XxVJY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAb0JnjrUzM
http://users.commspeed.net/rmccomb/wauchop1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9SIK_EERZs
l Richmond Craigmillar – many of our families married here
http://craigmillararchivestrust.webplus.net/pdf_files/Reminiscences_CraigmillarCommunityArchive.pdf
SOME OLD BUDDIES from the 50s and 60s
Eleanor Archibald who went to school, Primary and Secondary School in Edinburgh. Eleanor left for Canada in 1972 and has made her life there
Starting school in 1958 – some familiar names that I actually can remember. Eleanor Archibald, Irene Berwick, Anna Brennan, Iris Cornet, [also emigrated to Canada], Evelyn Cavanagh, Janice Glacken, Alison Gunn [she was always top of the class] Marlene Gibbons, Janet Hunter, Gwendolyn Jenkins, Dorothy Little and myself at the bottom line. There were more. I remember Linda McKenzie, Caroline Reid, Christine Taylor, Ethel Hill, Jeanette Blues, Rhona Mackay.
Helen, I am Arthur Quilietti’s nephew and have really enjoyed looking at your website. It brought back a lot of happy memories.
Thank you.
I remember all the Brown’s of course. Thanks for liking the website.
Once again Helen, your thorough knowledge of all things local shines through.
Thanks for promoting our work in preserving the past for future generations to learn about.
Keep up the wonderful work your doing here.
Lovely to see and read your site,
I lived at 3 hay Avenue With my Grandparents Alice and Michael McKenna,I went to St francis school until 1950.
i have very happpy memories of Niddrie and the long lost friends,
the old st Theresas Chapel, etc.
Very best wishes,
James
Hi,
Purely by accident I camr across your family name – Quilietti. It brough back fond memories of life in Niddrie. I was born in 1934 and later went to St. Francis Primary School. Jimmy Quilietti was in my class. Later, we both “graduated to St Johns Junior Secondary School in Portobello (bottom class). I never had any contact with Jimmy after we left school aged 15. Happy Days! I have a copy of admissions to St Francis for 1940 and it has Jimmy’s address as 79 Niddrie Mains Terrace – you can have a copy if you would like to have one.
I also found it of interested that some of the Quilietti “Clan” lived at 52 Niddrie Mains Drive. I was brought at No.53 NMD.. However, we left in 1956 to go back to our “Roots” in Dalketh.
The Ramsay family lived in the bottom flat at 52 and the Earlys – wee Frankie and Mary – lived in the middle flat about 1958.
It would be of interest if you could give me any details of Jimmy’s life after hiis school days. I did find your family tree to be very interesting and well constructed.
My best regards to your family!
Joe
Thank you James for your comment. I am glad that you enjoy the site. If you want to add any memories of your own please send me some info Thank you Helen
Thank you Joe. I will write to your e.mail. Uncle Bobby and your Jimmy are one and the same. I was born in 1950 and brought up at No. 52. I can only remember the Kelly family who lived next door to us. We were on the corner at the bottom flat. The Rennie’s lived at the top.
Great to read about Niddrie I lived at 8 N M Drive next door to Munns same stair as Gallaghers,Christies and Whalens also went to St Francis and St Johns most people knew our family because my father was blind
Your photo I put on an old Niddrie site a long time ago I’m also in the photo but my I would suggests it was the Niddrie gala day just after the war and not the miners gala day I remember we walked along the Terrace to Hay drive to pick up a bus and then we were taking to Junipher Green area for games etc
What a great site
Regards
George Lewis
Thank you for your comment George. good to hear from you. Will amend the post and thanks for sorting that one out. Do you have anything else to share
I Johnston of 17niddrie mai us terrace 1938/57 thank u for the memories
I Johnston thanks for the memories
I lived in 50 Niddrie Mains Terrace and am the same age as Nancy’s son Eddie who was my best mate growing up. Him and his sister Janie lived with Mrs Morrison in the top flat. I knew Hamish as well as I often visited his house with Eddie. Raymond and Sheila lived in 52 and George Morrison and his family lived across the road from us.
I moved away to Surrey for a few years and when I left Eddie was staying in Lochrin /buildings. I came back after a few years and I asked my uncle (who is the same age as me) Robert Johnstone (everyone called him Tully) if he’d seen Eddie. He told me Eddie had died like lots of folk in Niddrie from drugs. I believed him. I met Sheila about 15 years later and she told me Eddie was still alive and managing a pub in Leith. I tried to find him but couldnt.. I knew Janie moved to England years before. Any how about four years ago working as a Registrar a woman came in to register the death of a Mr Faichney and I mentioned Eddie, Turns out it was one of Eddie’s uncles and the lady told me that Eddie had died just a year and a bit before. As I was working in Registration I was able to look it up and it was Janie who registered it. So sad cos we could have a had a few laughs over the years if I hadn’t believed Tully the first time. I sent a picture of The picnic to my mum, my mum knew Nancy and Rosie Cain jnr. I also remember other cousins in Stevenson Drive up near Gorgie
Hi Helen, don’t know if you remember me but I stayed at 50 ,next stair to you and your family. Myself and brother Dougie used to play with Hamish. Great site and photos bring back Happy Memories of my childhood in Niddrie. Like yourself I went to Niddrie Mill and Niddrie Marischal and they were good times. I drive through the area now and again and the changes are horrible. Old School now flats etc.
Wow that is a name I remember to be sure. I remember a sister Mona as well. Good to hear from you. Will let brother Hamish know that you have been in touch. Good memories indeed
It would be nice to hear from anyone I grew up with in Niddrie. I stayed in 2 Niddrie mains drive. Great childhood attended Craigmillar School and Niddrie Marischal.
My dad was given up for adoption the end of 1968/early 1969 but his birth mother called June Mason lived at 31 niddrie mains drive at the time he was born, she was around 18 at the time and had a 3/4 year old son called Gary Mason. I dont know how long they lived there for but known they lived there in 1968. I’m trying to do my family tree and trace them. Does anyone who grew up in Niddrie remember them by name or someone my have grew up with my uncle Gary who was born around 1965?
Ive approved your post keeping fingers crossed for you
Jenny blues. Sang at my wedding to then moira cochran she sung. A I Maria and most people thought. It was a recording she had a fantastic voice
I was born at 52 in 1 I remember Peggy and Joe my next. Door neighbor was Mrs Allan down stairs were the Kelly’s l. Would a copy of st aidian Church and one of Peggy and Mrs Allan
Hello James. We have spoken via Facebook before. I can pop in a photo of yourself and your mum if you care to send me one on quilietti@icloud.com.