Memories of growing up in Leith. The trials and tribulations of the period, allied to the camaraderie of the community in facing up to an uncertain future made a lasting impression on John Stewart.

Our local dance halls were the Eldorado in Mill Lane and the Assembly Rooms in Constitution Street. The latter was our main venue. On Monday evenings we would all troop down there for our 'jigging'. The resident band was the Alexander's.

This was the time before the 'teddy boy suits' came into fashion. Here I would meet up with all my workmates from the shipyard. Often differences of opinions would arise and occasionally erupt into blows being thrown, not with them, but with others.

The 'Val D'Or' boys from the Fountainbridge Cafe of that name and the Jubilee gang of boys from Granton.

As well as my own friends, my workmates always ensured that support was there if required. I never at any time felt threatened. This worked for us all.

Later we would go to Michaels Cafe in Tolbooth Wynd for coffee or cokes. Sometimes we would venture further up the Kirkgate to Albert's fish restaurant for our bag of chips.

Often when money was tight, usually mid-week, we would just stand around above the 'Coppy' and talk about anything and all things. The girls would often join us.

Right opposite from where we stood was the nurses' home of Leith Hospital. Sometimes some of the nurses would carry on conversations with us as they sat at their windows. One in particular was nurse Frizell. She came from an Indian family.

She had nursed me during my stay in the hospital in 1950 and had become attached to my family. She had in fact visited my parents on several occasions.

She would often call out my name as I stood with the boys. She was somewhat older than me and I became a little bit disconcerted about this. My mates would wind me up by telling me my little nurse was calling.

Despite our regular card schools, we sometimes ventured up town to visit the museum in Chamber Street just for something to do. It cost nothing but the tram fares.

The Mound in Princes Street in Edinburgh was another haunt. Orators spouting on all subjects under the sun used this on Sundays. It was fun just listening to their rantings and often we jeered the speakers.

The Capitol cinema would organise song competitions and also Health Films. Other films on a Sunday were just taboo in Scotland at this time. Probably sounds boring now, but then it was just taken for granted.

Junction of Kirkgate, Tolbooth Wynd, Water Street, and Charlotte Street in the 1950s

John Stewart, 2001