LifeStory

Our dear friend Tommy Carson sadly passed away in June 2022. He was 99 years old and an absolute force of nature. This is a short podcast where he goes through his eight tips for a good life. All practical suggestions from a man who remained active and living independently right until the end of his life. One thing shines through though, his positivity. A lesson to us all. Also never take life too seriously. Tommy you were a star.

Episode 52 of Lifestory sees us joined by the remarkable David Flucker, who is still volunteering for the St Columba's Hospice charity shop in Ocean Terminal at the wonderful age of 102 years old.  David begins by taking us back in time to his childhood growing up in a family of fishermen and attending school in Newhaven in the 1920s and on to a wonderful series of adventures.   We travel with David from Scotland to Australia, and later hear tales of standing up to racism in South Africa at the height of apartheid and being shot down over Egypt in the second world war.  David only retired for the second time at 95 years old, and has packed an awful lot into those years!

In the 51st edition of Lifestory we are joined by regular Wee Museum visitor William Van Der Velde, who looks back on 78 years of life in Edinburgh.  We travel back through his attending David Kilpatrick school up until the age of 14, reaching the ABA boxing finals at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanying Ken Buchanan on his rise to the world championship and a long working life at Scottish and Newcastle breweries despite not being a drinker!

In the 50th edition of Life Story, we are joined by Sophia. She takes us through stories from throughout her life, from growing up in Newhaven, to her father's gambling, to singing lessons in school and delivering mail and packages over college breaks. Eventually she tells of life working in Conveyance with the National Service and finally about her work after retirement with the Newhaven Heritage Society.

In the 49th edition of Lifestory, at the age of 86, Melvin takes us through the ups and downs of his life. Starting with his childhood playing on the train tracks in his back yard, to his time studying Engineering at Heriot-Watt University. Later his time in the national service, and eventually his life studying and then subsequently practicing law, first with his father's law firm and later with British Gas. Mel also tells the story of how he met his wife at the sailing club and about his life since retirement.

In the 48th edition of Lifestory at the age of 80 Alistair looks back on 40 years of working life with the store, from joining Alloa branch as a clerk at 15 to becoming Chief Executive of Borders Co-Op.  

The 47th edition of The Living Memory Association's 'Lifestory' podcast sees 85 year old historian Andrew Grant looking back on his working life in the 1960s after he had returned from time spent on the ocean waves.   Taking us from the Royal Infirmary to record shops and driving Globe Juice bottles around in search of a daily wage!

The 46th edition of our Lifestory podcast features the colourful life of Stuart Roy McIvor, who spent 30 years in the Metropolitan Police and 5 years as a City Councillor in Edinburgh for the SNP.  At the age of 78 with a great appreciation of the where he is now, Stuart looks back on a life packed to the full with both sunshine and shadow.  

Episode 45 of The THELMA Lifestory podcast introduces us to David and Hilary Thomson, happily married for 55 years in September 2022.  We hear tales of growing up in Portobello and Ratho in the 1950s & 60 and of a romance born on the badminton court!  Packed with great stories of a full life, working hard at business and family with a lot of laughter along the way.

Born in Hackney in 1954, Martin Penny grew up in King’s Lynn and then moved to Enfield.  His father was a successful businessman who sold feather dusters then moved into selling packaged butter, taking the family from no central heating into a house with all mod cons, from proper East End to privileged. We follow Martin's journey from throwing objects at passers by from the safety of a silver birch tree in his back garden to a successful career in radio, TV and management consultancy, Martin takes us through a laid back life filled with laughter. With celebrity guest cameo appearances in Martin’s life from Mark Nopfler, Frankie Howard, Clint Eastwood and Jim Carrey!

Former manager of Meadowbank Thistle, Stenhousemuir and Alloa Athletic and head teacher of Ainslie Park and Musselburgh Grammar, Terry Christie has packed an awful lot into his 78 years.  Moving from Ireland to Edinburgh at a young age, Terry's love for football was born in the streets with a tennis ball and in going to watch Gordon Smith play for his beloved Hibs with his Mum and brother.  We hear of Sunday fry ups after church, winning football trophies at Primary School, becoming DUX of Holy Cross secondary and attending Edinburgh University, following a path to education whilst building a parallel career on the pitch.    Terry was scouted and signed by Dundee but always knew that he would be a teacher.  We hear tales of juggling the classroom and a football career for 43 years, whilst pulling off countless shocks and triumphs on a shoestring budget, of a happy retirement and a great love of family life.  Back in time we go...

The 23rd edition of The Living Memory Association's 'Lifestory' podcast is a journey through life and football with Chelsea legend Pat Nevin.  Pat takes us from growing up in Easterhouse and Barlanark in Glasgow to playing for Clyde whilst still at University, his transfer to the big smoke and quick promotion to the Chelsea first team and his dedication to the craft of being excellent at the beautiful game despite loving music more than football.  We discuss playing for the joy of it at Everton, Kilmarnock and Motherwell and making lifelong friendships at those clubs with players who share that appreciation of being on the pitch and being paid for it.  A glimpse into the life and thoughts of a maverick footballer, writer and broadcaster, Pat Nevin is one of a kind.

Born in Orkney on 30th March 1961 Merv spent his childhood on Sanday, a small outer island. We hear tales of his childhood, schooldays and his many jobs as a boy, including fishing for lobster, crab, white fish and spoots!  There's the culture shock of moving to Edinburgh to study as a vet and then running a vet practice in Aberdeenshire for over 30 years, specialising in horses. Great stories from a consummate storyteller. This an edited version of a program originally broadcast on Thelma FM. 

Neta Percy(80) and Bill Garden (86) are regular visitors to The Wee Museum of Memory and this chat with them was recorded in 2019. We hear about the Coop at Northfield, the shops at Meadowbank, including the Italian ice cream shop and shopping in Marchmont. We move on to knitting and a hated Fairisle hat that just wouldn't go away. There's tales of getting a row for wearing wellies to school, daily milk deliveries and what you wore to work in the 1940s and 50s.  Two old friends having a great wee blether.

Frederick talks about his father, Walter Jamieson who spent most of his working life at sea- the Merchant Navy, fisheries protection and on whaling ships with Salvesen. We hear tales of his Leith granny, his own childhood and working life. From training as a cooper to working as a lorry driver. Also the heady days of being a young man in the late 1950s and early 60s. Driving a black Ford Zephyr and seeing Chubby Checker at the Top Storey Club.

Keith Jeffery grew up in Portobello in the 1960s and 70s. On leaving school he trained as a butcher and worked for MacSweens. In the late 1970s he was bitten by the CB (Citizen Band) radio bug. He saved up for a set and aerial, bought from a CB radio supplier at Fountainbridge. He tells about the technology of the time, the terms used talking with fellow CB enthusiast and joining a CB convoy travelling in from Fife. Very CW McCall. We also learn how far a CB radio signal could travel when the atmosphere was right. A fascinating glimpse into a very popular hobby of the 1970s and 80s. 

The final part of John's memories of playing in pop and rock bands in Edinburgh in the 1960s. This time round its a mammoth five hour gig at The Assembly Rooms in George Street. Playing with The Saracens at The Top Storey club. The joys of hauling all that equipment about. Seeing The Small Faces and The Troggs at McGoo's. There's also Alan Price's unusual back stage warm up routine. Great stories of Rock and Roll with the back stage realities that go with them.

Part two of John's behind the scenes adventures in Edinburgh's live music scene in the 1960s. We hear about the joys and pitfalls of being on stage and travelling to gigs. Watching fights break out in the audience. More about the venues, The Gamp, The Top Storey and The Gonk. Seeing the up and coming bands of the day such as The Mersey Beats and Johnny Kidd and the pirates. Another evocative glimpse into the vibrant pop and rock world in Edinburgh over 50 years ago.  

John Robertson was born in in 1945 and taught himself to play the guitar as a boy. He caught the bug for Rock and Roll when on a family holiday in Shetland in 1957- they were playing Little Richard in a local fair ground. Back in Edinburgh, at the age 17, he joined the band, The Saracens, he later went on to join The Moonrakers. Here he talks about the Edinburgh music venues, the local bands; The Crusaders, The Embers, Free Flight and The Hipple People.  What it was like to be a support band for The Spencer Davis Group, The Batchelors and The Who.  A real in sight into the live music scene in Edinburgh in the 1960s. This is part one of a three part series.

Another Excursion to the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh in the 1920s and 30s. Once again our guide is Tommy Carson. Tommy was born in 1922 and lived in the Grassmarket until he joined the army in 1939. He retains an amazing recall of his childhood and early years. Here he gives us a more detailed memories of the shops and businesses and pubs around the Grassmarket. We hear about the buskers, singers and strongmen who plied their trade on the streets. Memories from so far back that are so clearly and evocatively remembered.