Your memories: There were donkeys on the beach and we swam in the sea

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 11:20

BARBARA WHITE, 73, lives in Greenlaw Hedge, Firrhill, but was brought up in Portobello by her grandparents.

She recalls her childhood by the beach: "We were right at the bottom of Bath Street – the school was at the back door and the beach was at the front. When we were young we used to go down and see what had been left that we could pick up after the holidaymakers left – there was never much! We'd get buckets and spades sometimes.

"The Glasgow fair week you could not move in Portobello, because in those days you didn't go abroad. There was always the shows and things like that but you were lucky if you had any money to spend in them. We had to make our own entertainment.

"We played games – when you were younger you had your buckets and spades, but when you were a bit older you used to play ball games and things. The ones where we used to get into trouble were when we were chalking on the promenade playing hopscotch, someone would bring out a bucket of water and say 'you're to clean that up before you go'."

She adds: "In the winter it was very different – there wasn't a lot you could do in winter in Portobello – nobody wanted to go to the beach at that time."

Portobello in summer was not only bustling with holidaymakers, it was full of entertainment, she recalled: "There were always donkeys on the beach. We used to love swimming in the sea. It was usually cold but you put your swimsuit on in the morning and that was you until you went to bed at night. You'd go out in the morning and not see your parents until tea time.

"On Saturdays you were allowed something like 4 or 5 pence to go to the afternoon cinema in Bath Street. I had a big sister but she never wanted me because I was just wee, so I just used to go with my pals. It was mostly films for the youngsters. Occasionally we'd get treats like popcorn."