Tag: Reminiscences
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Concernin’ Kilmaur
Barrowsgate takes a trip to see his mother(in-law) in Kilmaur, armed with some “interesting” books for her to read.
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Aul’ Wattie
This is a eulogy about a real character, William Watt, who worked for many years as ostler at the Balcarres Arms Hotel. It appeared in the Bon Accord but the original handwritten version is reproduced below. Barrowsgate describes a man of good morals and integrity who loved his animals and treated everyone equally. Barrowsgate contends…
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The Airt Polite
Barrowsgate recalls the time he pushed his sister Jean into the mill stream, politely remembering to say “after you”.
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Kissin’ Time
Before the first tune at the local dance, there was always “Kissin’ Time”. Gentlemen and ladies started out sitting at opposite sides of the room but, when the fiddler took up his bow, both sides rushed towards each other. There then followed a whole range of approaches to kissing, from the bashful to the positively…
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Coaches and Cargoes
Following on from last week’s column, Barrowsgate describes a typical journey on the Aberdeen to Tarland horse-bus service of forty years previously. As well as passengers, these “omnibuses” carried goods and livestock.
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Toots Fae the Past
Barrowsgate comes across an old coaching horn that used to signal the approaching coach bus service at the Kildronan Arms. Note: In 1934, Leslie Hore-Belisha, as Transport Minister, had introduced a 30mph speed limit in built-up areas. The Kildronan Arms was, in real life, the Balcarres Arms Hotel in Echt. Ninety years later, Barrowsgate’s toot-a-roo…
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Ower Muckle Dignity
The erection of a new Public Hall was a matter of pride for the folks of Kildronan and the nearer your house was to it, the better. The houses in the village were renumbered accordingly, and there was fierce competition to get number one. Note: An English version of this, called “Social Dignity” was later…
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Hogmanay
In his last column of 1933, Barrowsgate reminisces about Hogmanays past, and how he often ended up having eaten too much, and his mother would have to administer castor oil. His column ends with a Hogmanay toast.
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The Beadle
Barrowsgate reminisces about Auld Archie, who had been the church beadle when he was a child.