Next a photo which it is some 73 years old. Taken in 1952, this is the back garden of 4 Beech Place, Blantyre with Alice Simm and her 2 younger brothers Hugh and Archie around 1952.
Archie has shared the photo, adding some interesting commentary telling me, “Beech Place was only 4 or 5 years old then and had great front and back gardens. Our back had a lawn with washing line poles, flower border, Mother’s fruit and vegetable garden plantings by season with strawberries, rhubarb, and blackberries as I recall. The veggie area had potatoes, turnips (tumshies), cabbage, syboes, lettuce and I have probably forgotten some.”
“2 garden huts were family built, one for storage, the other became a wee sitting room with a window, fitted with a fire and chimney, an easy chair and table. I remember brother Charlie (Johnstone) having quiet time out there smoking and probably a “refreshment” in hand.”
“Hugh and I, along with other boys “raided” the fruits and veggies of various gardens (our own included) from time to time and our well intentioned sister Alice, being an honest and responsible girl, reported our activities if she found out. We became more sneaky although I got caught one time trying to “borrow” a knife to peel tumshies! There are so many memories of those times, maybe I can share in times to come. As Tom Wilson previously posted, Beech Place was a great wee cul-de-sac to be raised in. I have no recollection of who took the picture on a lovely sunny day.”
With thanks to Archie for sharing.
