Our cover image was specially painted by artist David Young, and recalls Butlins holiday camp in Ayr. Read more about life at the camp in our fascinating feature on page 16

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M m i

W lc m t Holiday season is upon us and we’ve been reliving some of our most memorable holidays here in the Scottish Memories office. Holiday camps, caravans and trips abroad have all been recalled, and it seems we’ve all got some wonderful stories to tell, even if some of them involve a disaster or two (the time our caravan got stuck on a very narrow bridge still makes me shudder!)

two (the time our caravan got stuck on a very narrow bridge still makes me shudder!)

This month we hear from a former Butlins red coat, who describes his role at Butlins in Ayr as ‘the best job in the world’. With a miniature railway, full-size locomotives, chair-lifts, and a carousel, you can’t help thinking that things were better in the old days. This month’s evocative cover illustration recalls the holiday camp in Ayr, and was specially produced for this issue, we hope you like it, be sure to let us know what you think!

There’s nothing better than hearing from readers, and we’ve had some great feedback lately, with many of you telling us how our features never fail to trigger memories of the past. In fact,

one reader called to say he had spotted himself in a photograph we used in our last issue! The reader told me he often visited Edinburgh Zoo while he was on leave from the army. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw himself stood next to Sally the elephant in the picture taken in 1953

one reader called to say he had spotted himself in a photograph we used in our last issue! The reader told me he often visited Edinburgh Zoo while he was on leave from the army. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw himself stood next to Sally the elephant in the picture taken in 1953

(left). No wonder it brought his memories flooding back! Here’s hoping this month’s selection of articles and stories do the same for you.

C t ts 5 Then and now Win £1,000 in a poetry competition. Bannockburn Visitor Centre plans revealed, couple achieve their Celtic dream.

13 Duncarron medieval village Hollywood film star Russell Crowe provides a boost to a medieval village project

14 Memories mailbox Readers’ letters. Plus, George Forbes’ popular Writing to Remember column

Matt Hill, Editor

34 The border floods of 1948 What happened when a month’s worth of rain fell on Berwickshire in just six days

36 Food, glorious food! The variety of ingredients used by our grandmothers and mothers, many of which would be unappetising to modern eyes 38 Seaside shows Remembering the seaside variety shows of the Clyde coast in the 1950s

16 The best job in the world… A former Redcoat recalls life at the Butlins holiday camp in Ayr

39 Reader memories Family trips ‘up north’, 1940s classroom life, and the Clydebank Baths recalled

20 Glasgow’s Tenement House A look inside Tenement House, an unchanged Glasgow home which recalls life in the 1930s and 1940s

45 Shopping in the Fifties George Forbes recalls the days when a trip to the shops was a half-day expedition

22 On the trail of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle The story of a Perthshire countrywoman on whose life Beatrix Potter’s character Mrs Tiggy-Winkle was said to be based

24 Year to remember: 1951 Films, music and headlines from the Fifties

47 My Scotland: Ewan Hooper The actor talks about life in 1940s Dundee and his favourite Scottish things

48 Sights and sounds of Scotland We give you the lowdown on the latest books and CDs with a Scottish flavour

27 Destination Wester Ross Your guide to the best of the beautiful Wester Ross region

50 Scottish Memories Book Club Wonderful books at fantastic prices!

51 Fiction: When conscience calls A nostalgic story set in 1930s Clydebank

32 The young Stan Laurel How a boy from Ulverston became one of the world’s best-loved comedians

…

WIN £1,000 BY WRITING A SCOTTISH POEM!

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Fun in the Sun! Stan Laurel’s Scottish roots

‘The best job in the world!’… memories of a Butlins Redcoat

How an Ulverston lad became aHollywood hero

Seaside shows Summer entertainment at RothesayWinter Gardens

Shopping in the Fifties When going to the shops was a family expedition!

52 Puzzles WIN! Put the kettle on, sit back and relax with our page of puzzles and competitions!

J Sc M m i today n s v 21%!

J Sc M m i today n s v 21%! S ag 23 r d s…

Discover scenic Scotland in beautiful

WESTER ROSS

BORDER FLOODS OF 1948 • MEMORIES OF 1951 • RUSSELL CROWE’SVISITTO DUNCARRON

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