A Musical Scot

Holmbank, Chirnside, Scotland

2010-04-25T22:52:00.000+01:00

This is our house which we lived in from 1960 until our move to Edinburgh in 1966.
There ae so many memories of this time both funny and sad but altogether memorable.
Being snowed in, in 1964 from Christmas eve until sometime in March. The tobbagon
my husband Fred brought back from Canada as well as beautiful snow suits for each of us, the like of which had not been seen in this country.

The visits of the Edgcombe family on holiday, our parrot peppi's many escapes into the village gardens and Mother's first holiday abroad to Oberammergau.

Her eye operations which restored her sight. Picking primroses for her birthday so many happy times.

Thomas Crowe - my grandfather

2010-04-22T13:14:00.000+01:00

My grandfather was, I'm led to believe born, in Sunderland and worked in the dockyard there.

When there was no work he brought his family, my grandmother, and eldest son John(Jack) and daughter Margaret, to Plymouth where he worked at Devonport dockyard.

Two more children were born at Stoke, my father, Tom and his brother George.

I believe that there was another son who died in infancy, who I think was called Alfred.

Supply Chief Petty Officer, Thomas Crowe - my father

2010-04-21T16:03:00.000+01:00

My dad was born in 1897 in Plymouth and joined the Royal Navy when he was 18. He served on HMS Benbow at the battle of Jutland in the first world war and after 22 years service, retired.

After two years in civvy street he was recalled in 1939 for the second world war.

This time he served for five years before dying on active service in 1944.

There is a plaque in the main entrance to St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh, with his name inscribed as this was where he worked for two years before being called up.

Catherine Gray Crowe - my mother

2010-04-20T23:00:00.001+01:00

My mother was born in Edinburgh in 1898. She married my father Thomas Crowe in 1922 in St. Peter's Church, Lutton Place, Edinburgh.

She had a son Ronald in November, 1925 but he was stillborn.

I was born in 1930 in Edinburgh. When I was 2yrs old we moved to Plymouth. My father's 22 years in the Royal navy was at an end, and so we returned to Edinburgh.

My mother died in 1977 in Plymouth.

My Grandfather

2010-04-18T16:41:00.002+01:00

This is my Grandfather William (Nobby) Clarke who was a Company Sergeant Major in the Dandy Ninth regiment allied to the Royal Scots. This photo was taken in WW1 and probably in Flanders. He was wounded and discharged as a result of his wounds.

He died in 1922, my Grannie believed as a result of his wounds.

Another day another dollar!

2010-04-02T23:03:00.002+01:00

Good Friday and another day of April showers, what's the song again, oh yes Though April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in may, well at this rate we should have a bloomin' marvellous display for the rest of the summer but what's the bet we'll be disappointed again. Oh well look on the bright side wherever that might be. Seeing the train stuck in snowdrifts on television the other day reminded me of when that happened to me.

I wonder if there is anyone anywhere who remembers a train journey from Plymouth to Edinburgh in January 1940 which got stuck in a snow drift for hours and hours. No heating, no water, and eventually no coal - it was a steam train in those days - to get it going again and the train sent to get us out got stuck too. We eventually reached Edinburgh Caledonian station I think after 32 hours. Now that's the memory I have but of course I was only 9 at the time so that might be a mismemory. I do remember my Mother putting me in a hot bath as soon as we got home, but the pipes burst because of the icy conditions.

Looking back I had quite an adventurous time during the war. Moving from place to place, new schools, strange dialects, learning to get on with new friends, different houses, lots of journeys, some on trains with blue lights and blacked out windows,
Didn't know where we were until we got there. First Weymouth, then back to Edinburgh next off to Invergordon - my Dad was in the navy and was sent to the cottage hospital to help turn it into a naval establishment.

Couldn't believe it when my teacher from South Morningside School in Edinburgh appeared as a VAD (a nursing auxiliary ). We only went to school for half a day because there wasn't room for all us naval children in a small school and the locals as well. While I was there the Germans bombed the oil tanks and the oil ran down onto the railway line so that whenever a train passed and the embers from the firebox sparked out onto the embankment, it caught fire so they had to stop the trains until all the oil could be removed. Oh gosh there I go blethering on, just don't know when to stop do I, but I will now so that's your lot.

Activities for Easter

2010-04-01T22:40:00.000+01:00

This past week has somewhat manic with so many things happening, every day has been full. Living as I do in sheltered accommodation and being secretary of the Residents Association I find myself caught up in many activities as a social secretary as well. Monday they came to insulate the loft, after which I had to deliver the parish Magazine( which I do every month) to the residents, then a former friend who was my first accompanist turned up unexpectedly (we haven't met for nearly 6 years) she is now 89 and still playing,.so over cups of tea had much to talk about..An Ascot day race meeting planned for this week in our lounge, was postponed so had to organise an Easter Bonnet tea to replace it, this meant racing around getting together all the necessities and marshalling all the residents for this afternoon.. It went well and with a bit of ingenuity two of us served 15 to a sit down afternoon tea at a beautifully decorated table; prizes were awarded to the winners of the prettiest, oddest and most unusual bonnets, some photos were taken so we look forward to seeing the outcome. Apart from all these activities, there is the garden to tend ( not the weather for it really) then the birds to keep fed, they are all so hungry, I can watch as many as 30 or 40 gold finches at any one time clinging to the feeders or arriving or leaving from the tree under my window. Besides all this there were the Easter cards to send or deliver to friends. There is more but I guess that's enough for one entry and in any case it's late and I really should be in bed.

viewing Mark's blog

2009-09-26T13:14:00.000+01:00

What an interesting morning I have had viewing your blog with all the facts I missed before your radio interview, now I am catching up on all that is going on with you. I won't take so long to look again and I will be talking about it to my interested friends. Later I shall take my "rope" to be framed. What a lot you have going on with your photography it all sounds great.
Have an entertainment to prepare for getting music ready for Wednesday at the Central Halls and a Music Marathon on Saturday 3rd Oct. in Plympton St. Maurice.
I'll get used to blethering eventally I suppose, at present it just feels odd like talking to myself.

Greenfinces in trouble.

2009-08-28T17:42:00.001+01:00

I live in sheltered accommodation and my first floor flat overlooks the front garden of the complex. On the tree in the lawn I have hung bird feeders which are visited all the time by a wonderful variety of birds which give me so much pleasure by their comings and goings and not only me but the residents too enjoy watching their antics Recently we have noticed that green finches are dying and we have had to bury them which has been very distressing for us. Now I have found out that they are being affected by a disease which is attacking them and causing their deaths. On seeking a remedy.I have been advised to stop feeding them and giving them water for 2 months so that they will disperse away from this area. As you can possibly imagine this news has not come without a great deal of sadness.for they are so much a part of our daily lives that to deprive them of food and water is not a happy thought.
Tomorrow I shall begin the process of removing the feeders and the bird bath and begin to disinfect everything before storing them until such times as it is deemed safe to once again return them to their accustomed places.
Today has not been my happiest day even 'though I had the pleasure of a visit from my dear son.

My first post

2009-07-11T16:51:00.000+01:00

This is me trying out my first blog and, would you believe it, it is raining!