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B R O U G H T Y M E M O R I E S

If your ferry memory has not been added to this page, please re-send.

Christopher Grimmond, 28/06/01

To Mr. Buttars,

Thank you so much for the information that you sent us about Carbet Castle. My family was amazed when we went to your geneology site. My great-grandfather is Francis Grimmond (fourth generation). We can add to your chart and now we have eight generations of Grimmonds! ( Now we spell it Grimond )

We live in Canada and it means so much to us to be able to trace our family roots back home to Scotland.

My grand-father died when my dad was a young boy, many questions were left unanswered. This means more to us than you can imagine!

Yours Truly,

Christopher Grimond

Ashley Todd, South Africa 22/06/01 - ashleytodd@highwayonline.co.za

I lived in Broughty Ferry from 1980 - 1983 before moving to South Africa, I attended Craigiebarns Primary School and would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. My memories of Broughty Ferry are of wonderful summer days spent playing at Dawson Park, these memories are especially bittersweet since it is not safe for my own son to play in the parks here in Sunny South Africa, I feel that he is being cheated. The wonderful Sundays when all of us kids used to meet at the bottom of the road with our bikes and packed lunches and go off riding for the entire day. I lived in a beautiful cul-de-sac (Langholm Gardens) where almost every house had children, oh the summer nights spent playing at the top of the road until late at night. I just wish that our children here in this country could experience the freedom that we did in Beautiful Broughty Ferry.

Finding this site has brought back some of the most wonderful times that I had while living in the Ferry from 1981 - 1983. We need a school directory to enable people to contact old school mates. Thank you.

Renita Johnson 08/06/01

My great grandparents ( Archibald and Cecelia Scott Young) with their children (James, Robert, Mary, Cecelia(my grandmother), Bella, Helen, Douglas, Dorothy who is still living in Connecticut, Alexander, Elizabeth, Archibald) came from Broughty Ferry to Ellis Island to live in New Haven, Connecticut. It was great seeing where they came from via your website !! Thanks

Amy Watson, 08/06/01

Did you know that Hamish Clark - star of Monarch of the Glen and the
Vodafone adverts comes from BF?

Jim Davie, South Hampton 05/06/01

Im very pleased to have found your web site which is extremely well done and with the Links provides me with hours of nostalgic wallowing.My name is James Davie. I lived at Forthill Drive and went to the Wee Grove and the Big Grove which I left in 1954. In 1955 I left the Ferry for Southampton wher I have lived ever since.If anybody who remembers me reads this they can mail me on - jim@lautrec.fslife.co.uk

Pat Leighton (aka Pat Birse) - Canada 31/05/01

I didn't see under the attractions "Donkey rides", that was the highlight of my days in Broughty Ferry ! That, and a walls icecream bar (with sand!).
Hail now from Toronto, Canada.

Heather Hoare 16/5/01

Hi my name is Heather Hoare originally Heather Lindsay my mother was born in Broughty Ferry and is a member of the Gall family....I have cousins Norrie , Arthur , Linda, Shona, Martin and Peter all of the Gall family I would like to know if anyone knows of them...I lived in Dundee until I was seven and moved to Melbourne Australia with my parents in 1964 and would like to know how to contact any of my cousins if anyone out there know them......My parents names Margaret Gall and David Lindsay.....please help me find my relatives as my parents have recently passed away......Thanks ...Heather

Jo Anderson (nee Rowlings) London 15/05/01

I am another Ferry girl, grew up in theFerry, then Barnhill , went to the wee Grove during the war. I remember the school windows having strips of paper put on for the bombs and my gasmask. We used to play on the stony beach at lunch time. We swung on the railway gates at the top of Grey Street when they opened & the stationmaster used to run out shouting at us.Ice cream at Visocchis, Meringues at Goodfellows, standing outside the chipper on Saturday night, the back seats at the Regal - by this time at the big Grove. Hanging round the peanut butter factory - does anyone else remember that? Swimming off the pier with the Phibbies and the huge jellyfish. The best place in the world to grow up, we were so lucky. Jo Anderson (nee Rowlings) London

Alexander Smith 14/05/01

I was born in broty ferry 1922 stayed at 49 Brown St.with my parents and 5 brothers and sisters in a two roomed house,now demolished.My father was largely unemployed during this period,because of the depression.He served during WW1 in the Royal Artillery for the whole of the war on active service in France,discharged with the usual medals and good conduct certificate he returned to a land fit for heroes and the dole.I well remember going to Ingramsand Goodfellows the bakers with my brother with a couple of pillow slips to contain unsold bread and cakes,what luxury. We enjoyed ourselves without the need to vandalise,although we did steal apples and pears from the gardens in West Ferry and Castleroy.I was educated at the Western which I loved(George Watson,who drowned on the lifeboat accident was in my class) At 11 yrs I was sent to the Eastern,which I loathed.I spent most of my time playing truant.I decided at 13 yrs I had had enough of education and left to take up employment.I carried on performing many menial tasks until the age of 18 when I joined the RAF,I received a first class education in Electronics and spent most of my service studying I served in Iceland,Middle East,Far East and Singapore on demob.after a period at home at 49 Brown St.

On my return I decided that my future lay outwith the FerryI applied or a job in Civil Aviation passed an interview in London,was accepted and told my initial posting would be to Southampton.I received a telegram to say"report to Aberdeen" which I duly did.I was sent,after a time to our College at Bletchley Park to attend a 3 months course on a particular nav.aidwhich was to be fitted at a number of sites one of which was Craigowl Hill Nr.Tealing.I spent a very happy two years there,living with my grannie at 273 King St.working shifts of 24 hrs.duration attending college in Dundee,going to the Rep.Listening to The Scottish Orchestra it came to the end with a vengeance I was transferred to Prestwick and from there to aTransmitting station midway between Stranraer and Portpatrick and from there to various short stays at stations in Sumburgh,Orkney,Wick and was informed that I would be due to go to a remote station in 6 months time I had booked a holiday on my motor bike to France Switzerland and Italy on completion I was told that my remote station duty had been brought forward and I was to proceed poste haste to the Island of Lewis for three months,a fate worse than death

I remained extending my stay at Mangersta Radio Station for 2 yrs.I found the work fascinating and challenging,the purpose of the equipment was to assist flight over uncharted oceans,it gave me a good grounding in administration and widened my tehnical knowledge,I returned to my permanent station outside Stranraer. I applied fo a transfer to Stornoway Airport.which I received.I remained at Stornoway for the remainder of my career and as I thought the importance of the area regarding the increase in passenger carrying aircraft and military movements was enormous .My responsibilities increased my salary increased,I was responsible fo two radar stations,a fully equipped emergency instrumented runway capable of automatic landings,automatic approach aids,all demanding a high degree of expertise in addition I was responsible for Coastguard equipment covering the North West coast.A far cry from my fathers reward after his more unrewarding service I nearly forgot my name is William Malcolm Smith.Ex Ferry lad.....

Sally King, USA 27/04/01

I was delighted to come across your Web page. My grandfather, Douglas Rodger, was born and raised in Broughty Ferry. A little bit about granddad: Born 1894, joined the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry to fight in WWI--after the seige at Gallipoli he was assigned to the Blackwatch, after WWI worked for the Dundee Courier as an illustrator, left in 1922 for USA, came through Ellis Island and ended up in San Francisco, where he worked as a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Bulletin that became the San Francisco News, he wed Alice Victoria Kennedy and they produced my mother, Janet, and her two sisters Margie and Mary. He passed on in 1962 (approx.). I never got to know him personally and appreciate seeing pictures on your Web page of where he was born and raised. One day I hope to visit and see your town.

Allan Reilly, 22/04/01

Is there aninvolved. Part of my family Lorimers were Ferry fisherfolk for many generations but gave up on it around WWI.ybody out there who remembers the tail end of the fishing at the Ferry%3F I know it was in decline since early in the 20th century but it did linger until shortly after WWII. Perhaps some relative may have been

Chris Grimmond, 17/04/01

My Great Grandfather Grimond used to own Carbet Castle on Camphill Rd. I know that most of it was destroyed during the war then later rebuilt. Can anyone give me more information about the place and my ancestors Is it a private residence today.Thank you for your help. chris.lynn@sympatico.ca

Nancy Coupar, Canada 15/04/01

Hello From Montreal , Canada,

My name is Nancy Coupar and I was brought up in Broughty Ferry. Finally , after seventy years , my daughter and I visited my home town. That was five years ago already. It is wonderful to be able to see the familiar sights again on this web sight. Thank you for these pictures!

Aileen Mc Donagh, USA 07/04/01

Broughty Ferry at Home, It was with some interest that I found this site accidently and it is so interesting. In the process of going through your site I noticed a message from a Daphney {Smith} Davis of Roma New York, and was delighted to find out her mother lived in King Street Broughty Ferry. I have been searching my family tree from here in Michigan U.S.A. and everything I have managed to come up with so far, have been Broughty Ferry, Monifeith , Dundee My Grandfather was born at King Street, and some of the other siblings, my great Grand Parents were Married in Broughty Ferry, and the family name was Smith, also Cook also Weymes. I don't know if you have a message column for poeple searching for family connections or not. it would be great to have such a service for people searching in your area. I have never been in Broughty Ferry, but will make it a must next time I visit Scotland, I had already made up my mind to spend a lot of time in that area, because of the family. I Would like to contact this Daphney Smith Davis if possible, My E Mail is Ganarah@home.com if it is possible to give her the information I waould appreciate it Having the same name as the family there is possibility of some connection. My own name is Aileen Mc Donagh originally from Helensburgh,

Thanking you for listening

Sounds like a good idea to get a page for meeting or getting in touch with people. I will try to set one up shortly

Alan Reilly 18/03/01

I would be interested to know if there are any people who actually remember the fisherfolk at the ferry. Does anybody know of their relatives or ancestors being involved. Its best days seem to have been over by WWI but a very small amount of fishermen remained until after WWII. I know that when my late grandfather James Lormer was a boy his father packed in the fishing. Probably most folk with relatives ancestors from the ferry called Lorimer Ferrier Gall etc. are partly of ferry fisher stock. It is strange that you never hear it talked about. I realise that it was a long time ago and there are far fewer people now living in Broughty Ferry with ferry ancestry.

Dian Montgomerie Elvin, Tarago, New South Wales, Australia 18/03/01

My childhood was spent in Broughty Ferry, in Castle Terrace, overlooking the beach. I could write for screeds about making castles in the sand and nearly drowning in the Tay, as well as the piercing winds with sand storms. During WW2 there were "Big Guns" stationed at the Castle and along the Esplanade. Every so often they would be fired to make sure they worked. It frightened the children and made a big crack in our kitchen ceiling! I don't think they were ever used in battle, although I can remember looking out at night and seeing a small German plane flying past the house. It had dropped a bomb in the Dichty and was on its way home. I could see the pilot! At the end of the war Italian prisoners came to remove the rolls of barbed wire scattered all over the beach - in case of invasion up the mouth of the Tay - and they made the best of their situation by toasting bread over small bonfires using bits of barbed wire for toasters - and they ate the toast with dandelion leaves, picked fresh. My small brother was a great success with them, with his surname Montgomerie! They thought this a huge joke!

I was sorting out some old photographs of the family in the garden at Castle Terrace during the war, had an idea to search for Broughty Ferry with "Google.com" and there you were! Thank you for a nostalgic site! Dian
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Maureen Gillies Barton - nee Birse, Queensland Australia 15/2/01

Another Grove Academy lassie who travelled the world before settling far from home. I have wonderful memories of growing up at Forthill. Wandering wild and free for the summer holidays. Long days on the sands, the beach mission, ice creams and clootie dumpling at Gramdmas at Rugbt Tce. Holidays at Glen Lethnot. Sailing on the river with picnics at Lucky Scapp. Catching buckets of flounder and large partins. We were very lucky to grow up in such a wonderful place.

Mike Corbett, Wymondham, Norfolk 15/2/01

I'm sure I'm not the first one to define what the Sandy Hole was. Strictly, it was the rabbit-warren of terraced, tiny cottages which used to lie between Castle Street and the railway line and, when I was a boy in the Ferry in the 1940's and 1950's, there used to be regular pitched battles, usually on the beach at the bottom of Brook Street, between the Sandy Holers and the Beachies who, as Alan suggested in his e-mail, came from Fisher Street, around the lifeboat shed. I lived at the beach end of Brook Street and my Dad had a newsagent's shop just beside the Royal Bank in Brook Street until about 1970 - it's a pet food shop now, I think, but I didn't qualify as a Sandy Holer or a Beachie, so I became a pretty good runner. One of my favourite memories of the Ferry is going along to my Dad's shop on a Saturday evening and listening to all the crack about the football results as all the men came in to wait for the Sporting Post. At about twenty past six, I'd go up to the station where six or seven of us used to wait for the bundles of Posts to be flung off the train, then I'd dash back to the shop and, two minutes later, they'd all be sold out and Dad would be locking up the shop. I remember you could hardly see through all the cigarette and pipe smoke in the shop - but what an atmosphere. left about 35 years ago, but the Ferry was a great place to grow up, and I pop back for a wee nostalgic look whenever I can.Best wishes for your website - I'll pass on your address to my sister, Jill, in the USA. No doubt you'll be hearing from her

Daphne Davis, Rome 15/2/01

Greetings from Rome, New York, I am Daphne (Smith) Davis, I spent my holidays as a child in Broughty Ferry. My mum, dad and I lived in England, but my mum was from the Ferry so spent our holidays with my gran and grandad who lived in King Street. Happy days indeed, playing
and fishing on the pier and being chased off by the piery, playing at the sands and also when a little older swimming with the "Phibbies" club near the castle, even going to the berries one year. My mum's friends children were all very friendly with the sassenach and included me in everything. I loved going into the lifeboat shed to see the lifeboat, and always had to have a trip on the Fifie each year too. My uncle was the barber in Monifieth at the time so spent quite a bit of time there
too. Last time I was in the Ferry was in 1995 when I brought my mother back for a visit (she is now 94). It was wonderful to see that most things have stayed relatively the same. Not forgetting having tea and cakes in Goodfellows mmmmmm. Finding this site has indeed brought back many happy childhood memories. I will return often.

Alan, The Ferry, 22/11/00

You often hear folk mentioning that they were from Sandy Hole in the Ferry. A man in his late 70s recently explained to me that there was a rivalry between the sand holers and the beachies people along Fisher Street etc. when he was young. Does anybody recall this ? You often here of people proudly calling themselves Sandy Holers but you never hear beachies mentioned.

Camerom Clark, Holland 16/11/00

As a kid I remember there used to be an annual swim from the harbour across the Tay and back (about 20 years ago). Always wanted to join in some day. Does this still go on? Do you know where I can find some information on this ?

The Old Amphibious Society has been around for many years and is still going. Its famous for its new year dip on New Years Day. We'll see what else we can find. - WebAuthor

Michael Needham

I spent my first 6 years of life in Broughty Ferry but, even still, remember it well. Only been back 3 times since my family moved to the Borders. I lived in Blake Avenue. The one thing I noticed and was so pleased about when I went back on a nostalga trip a year ago was how little had changed:the shops and the sights.. A lovely little town that I will return to every 10 years or so.

Alyson Murray, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Recently my mother and father were in Broughty Ferry on a trip "home" for my father. His name is Alexander Norrie, he was born at Trottic Mains 60 years ago. He lived there until moving to Canada at the age of six. His mother, Isabella Austin Bishop was married to Alfred Norrie, a local Broughty Ferry baker, and they had my dad. On his trip "home" he was able to stay at a bed and breakfast on Norrie Street, and wondered how to find out the history of the street. Is he somehow linked to this street? Is it tied to his family heritage? Unfortunately, he was only able to stay in Broughty Ferry for a couple of days, and wasn't able to do any research. My grandfather,
Alfred, was one of five brothers who grew up in Broughty Ferry. My grandmother, was a Bishop, one of eleven children, and also from Broughty Ferry. My great-grandmother, was the owner of Trotic Mains, and I believe even my grandmother was born there. Quite a story, isn't it? I would love to be able to get some of the local history regarding either the Bishops or the Norries to relate to my father. With best regards from an ocean away,

Norrie Street was named after the Linen Mill Baron who owned the house at the top of the street. More to follow...

Jared Bendis

My name is Jared Bendis, I am from Cleveland Ohio USA and recenlty had the pleasure of visiting Broughty Ferry Castle. While I was there the person at the museum mentioned that they might want to see some of the photos I took of the castle. Is this the website for the city or the castle?

This web site is not affiliated with broughty castle. However, any digital images of Broughty Ferry provided by readers of these pages will be added.

francie golden - thedundeelassie@aol.com

my name is francie golden and i was born in the sandy hole. my sister eleanor still lives in castle st, any one from the sandy hole please e mail me or from the ferry or dundee.

Peter Lennie

Fond memories of the chalet Friday night dances.

Monifieth Holidays - Alistair Durham, Birmingham, 25/06/00

My mother hailed from Dundee and my father from Coventry (its a long story), and my Auntie and Uncle (Joe & Muriel Wood) lived at Ferry Road, Monifieth. Every school summer holiday and some Easter's were spent staying at their house or my grans in Catherine St Dundee.

All have passed away now but still I bring my wife back to Broughty Ferry, and she like me will probably never fail to love the area and the people. Childhood memories of "mealie puds & rubbarb tarts" can thankfully still be re-lived but now as well we can enter some of the good local pubs.

I remember being a bit of a train anorak at the time standing next to the old swing style level crossing gates in the sixties and watching and hearing them clatter shut, as the evening fish train from Arbroath steamed past, the smell of fish lingered on for some time afterwards! Then we walk back to Ferry road via The Esplanade and in Summer more than likely there was a fair a ride on the dodgems (which is a kin to driving in Birmingham !) and back to the house feeding the swans off the bridge close to Balmossie Halt.

Daytimes would be spent on the beach making sand towns and castles or once I was accepted adventures out with the local lads (there was no silly Scottish?English rivalry there) just kids having fun without adults filling their heads. We would walk the old railway between Broughty Ferry and Forfar or go upto Buddon or play putting. No video games!

Ah well, better go before this gets all to sentimental !!! I have many more memories and will perhaps, send you some more, of course there was no "E mail" in those days, so I suppose somethings have improved for the better, but hopefully Broughty Ferry will stay as it is unspoilt and its inhabitants warm and friendly always with a hello or a smile.

Perhaps it would be possible to use your site to locate anyone whom knew Joe and Muriel ?

Best Wishes for now, we may be back this year........so get the rubbarb tarts and mealie puds in!

New Lifeboat - Graham McHardy, 23/06/00

I remember the day the new lifeboat was launched back in the 1960's and the huge crowd that had circled the harbour to watch. It seemed that the whole of the Ferry had turned up to watch. I was only little at the time and needed a hoisty up to see what was going on. My Dad was a ' Sandy Holer ' as were my Grandparents and although we lived in Maryfield in Dundee we spent every Saturday in the Ferry. Happy Days!

Exploring - Anne Dagen, 29/05/00

I remember in the late 50s spending holidays in a little flat just opposite the lifeboat shed. One day I went exploring up river, to find out where the shingle ended. When I got back, it seemed as though
everyone in the Ferry was out searching for a 'lost' child...me. That put an end to the exploring for a while.

Long summer walks - GG, Dundee 07/05/00

I remember every summer until I was about 8 years my mother used to take myself and my brother and sister a the walk from Dundee to Broughty Ferry. We walked along the stony beach collecting and inspecting, fish, pebbles, crabs... The best part was getting to visocchies for an ice cream then making sand castles on the beach until it was time to come home. Great fun. .

ADD YOUR MEMORIES TO THIS PAGE

If you have a memory about Broughty Ferry, whether 80 years ago or just last week, please share it with all of us. It might be eating a Visocchi's cone on a hot Saturday or walking the dog on rainy Sunday on the beach. Perhaps its old school teachers or new friends met on holiday.

Share your story with us. We'd love to here about it. Go to our Contact Us page and send us an email or fill in our form.