“To Mrs Roy Souter” Isles Burness 64

In Praise of a Gourdon Childhood

“Can you Remember”

David Fotheringham, of Gourdon and Dundee (Childhood – 1940s)

Did ye play Catty and batty and Kick the Can, Buy sweeties at Bannerman’s and Lizzie Ann, Sit on the Gurlin stairs wi’ your pals for a yarn, Or boil buckies in a tin at the back o’ the barn,

Have you sailed a corker in the big pool, Or made a catty’s tail wi’ odd bits o’ wool, Did you ever make your own podlie wand, Catching podlies at the Gutty was just grand.

Did you ever climb up the Apparatus pole, Or play treacle ower the Warehole, Have you flown aeroplanes at the quarries, Or scrambled for pennies when somebody marries,

How often did you cross the widen brig, Runnin’ up and doon when playing at tig, Fa’en smokies – you surely remember the taste, Wi’ hordes o’bairns nothing went to waste.

You might not remember who was on the throne, But you’ll mind Jimmy Cook and the “I’m Alone”, The Margaret Dawson and Maggie Law, And countless fishing boats that are noo awa.

Miss McIntyre and Friday Band of Hope, (With marvellous pictures in Cinemascope?) No, it was slides projected on to the screen, From Dovey and his magic lantern machine.

Memories to cherish and things to forget, Like those open middens – I can still see them yet, And we must not forget who cleaned them, of course, Andrew Clink and Queenie, his faithful old horse.

Remember the dances in the village hall, Wi MC Andy Simpson always on call, Take your partners for the Patternelly, Happy days before the advent of telly.

How often did you pull the lifeboat oot, (Not everyone got checks who were hanging aboot). The new dykes are still there but they’re not very new, And the Partan Roadie is overgrown noo.