Mary Hamilton – born Mary Douglas in Oatlands 78 years ago – was reminded of happy days in the area when she read last month’s LOCAL NEWS  which gave Colin Mackie’s memories of Oatlands long ago.

Said Mary who now lives in South Nitshill, ‘I stayed in 2 Rosyth Street. This was the part near Shawfield which was known for football and the dugs. The football club was known as the Bully Wee Clyde and it was a packed stadium when a big game was on. Cars were parked right up Rosyth Street, Toryglen Street, Roseberry Street and Dalmany Street. We had a public house in Queensferry Street off Rutherglen Road. The burn was known as Jenny’s Burn.

In our close was a family called Blue. The mum, Jessie, dad, Jimmy and first daughter whose name I don’t remember, were all blind. The man walked Roseberry Street, across Polmadie Road and along to Braehead Street every day, tapping his white stick. His other daughter Bessie worked as a French polisher. She married and had three children – Jim, Ronnie and Alistair, I think.

There were six families up our close. Us, Douglas, the Blue’s, the Calvey family, Callender and McLennen. The latter won the Irish sweepstake and soon moved away. The day they won, everybody was dancing in the street. A family called Enwright moved in after them.

I could go on and on. We were so happy there. My daughter is now 51 and was born at home in Rosyth Street. Dr Bolton from London
Road, Bridgeton attended. Interestingly, My brother, served in Iraq – in 1939-45!’