Our cover image, painted by David Young, shows a Silver Jubilee street party in 1977, 35 years ago this year

SCOTTISH

M m i is published by Warners Group Publications plc, 5th Floor, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5JD, UK website: www.scottish-memories.co.uk

PUBLISHER Janet Davison jand@warnersgroup.co.uk

EDITORIAL Managing Editor: Matt Hill matthewh@warnersgroup.co.uk Tel: 0113 200 2912

Deputy Editor: Rachel Bellerby rachelb@warnersgroup.co.uk Tel: 0113 200 2922

Consultant Editor: George Forbes Contributors: Myra Douglas, James Hendrie, Aileen Torrance, Lisa Main, Jill Scott, Ann Dymond, George Isaac, Frank Bruce, Chris McCooey, David Mc Vey, Joyce Somerville, Arthur Allan. Landscape photography: Dennis Hardley (details on page 54).

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BACK ISSUES Back issues are available from the Scottish Memories subscriptions department, tel: 01778 392020. ISSN 0968-7874 DISCLAIMER The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions, but will immediately investigate any written complaints.

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© WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC 2012

SCOTTISH

M m i

W lc m t Do you remember when we didn’t rely on mobile phones? Younger people might be surprised to know that we used to chat, rather than text, and that if we had to meet somebody for a night out or a bit of shopping, we arranged a time and a place and, lo and behold, found each other without any bother.

I remember being given change by my parents before I went out for the evening, just in

I remember being given change by my parents before I went out for the evening, just in case I needed to call them, and there was a telephone box on most corners for such a purpose. We recall red telephone boxes in a fascinating feature in this issue (page 22), which rightly points out that these red boxes are more ‘icons of Scotland’ than anywhere else. Just like older post boxes, the red booths hint at a different time, when things were a little less hectic and communication seemed to be more of a pleasure than an intricate operation. Telephone boxes seem to be a dying breed, but do let us know if you have one near you that’s still in regular use.

Of course mobile phones and electronic communication are no bad thing and certainly have their advantages. Technology is always on the move, and is even having an impact on magazines. You can now read Scottish Memories on a computer, phone or iPad, which is good news for many readers around the world who once had to wait a little longer to read the magazine. Whatever the future holds for phone boxes, magazines or anything else, we’ll still be sharing memories of a simpler time for many years to come. So please keep your stories coming in, using whichever method of communication you prefer!

C t ts 5 Then and now Diamond Jubilee fishing boat, Scotland’s Tapestry, Titanic’s engineers remembered

Matt Hill, Editor

33 Pop music The career of Glasgow band Marmalade, who found fame in the 1960s and 1970s

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

14 Long to reign over us Aileen Torrance reflects on how far we’ve come since the Queen’s 1977 Silver Jubilee

17 A keeper’s story We talk to the lighthouse keeper who shares his maritime yarns with a new generation of lighthouse enthusiasts

34 An Alpine adventure The Alpine exploits of an adventurous Berwick woman in the early 20th century 36 A musical tradition We take a trip back in time to explore the history of street performing in Scotland 39 Reader memories Readers recall a surprise meeting with the queen, home-baked treats, holiday bus tours and motorbiking in the Seventies

18 Glasgow’s Grand Hotel An affectionate look at the glamorous past of an iconic Glasgow hotel

44 The king of comedy The career of Lex McLean, who exchanged the Clydebank shipyards for a life on stage

20 The work of a crofter The ingenious tools and farming methods used by hardy crofters in bygone days

46 My favourite place A new project inviting people to share the secrets of their favourite Scottish locations

22 An English icon? Why the classic red phone box can claim Scottish, rather than English, icon status

24 Year to remember: 1956 The films, music, news headlines, and prices of 1956

27 Destination East Lothian How to make the most of your trip to this scenic region

48 Book reviews We give you the lowdown on the latest books with a Scottish flavour

51 Scottish fiction The second part of our picnic story reveals what happens when the two families meet

52 Puzzles WIN! Test your knowledge with our fun puzzles and win a selection of Scottish books

J Sc M m i today n v Br s r ch c ! S ag 21…