Nostalgia: ‘There were hundreds of jobs to choose from’

Originally from Blackhall, David lives in Fettes Village with his wife, Kate, who has recently retired after having served as a councillor for  Edinburgh West for 13 years.

Here, he describes his memories of finding a job after he left school.

“I remember leaving Bellevue School, now called Drummond Community High School, at 14-and-a-half.

“When I was there I did a technical course in engineering, technical drawing and woodwork and things like that, and mechanics.

“After I left I was sent to Skerry’s Business College in Nicolson Square.

“There I learned things like bookkeeping and typing.

“I was there for a year and then I got a paper round – I could do 30 words per minute on those typewriters!

“Then one day my father said, ‘have you considered getting a job?’ And I said I have got a job.

“I was sent up to St Giles’ steps where the youth employment office was.

“When I went in I said my father sent me here to get a job – there were hundred of jobs I could have chosen.

“My dad said I should have been a salesperson because I talk all the time. They told me I could be a salesperson at the Co-op in Leith.

“But JB Watson was a photographers in Shandwick Place – the job was five days a week, I got Saturday off so I could go and play rugby, and that’s how I got in to the photography game.

“That’s how easily I got a job – of course it’s very much more difficult these days.”