Another of my mum’s stories comes from a time when she would go with her dad to help with his work. It resonates closely with me, having just written about my own early-morning visits to the market with my dad. Reading Mum’s stories makes me realise how fortunate we were to have working life so closely connected with home. On the one hand, this might now be considered child labour (horror of horrors!) but for me, and I’m sure for Mum too, these were precious times spent with family, creating memories and stories like the following one.
Another story about the Humber, it was a great car. It had 2 spacious front seats with very comfortable back seats. On the back of the front seats there were tables that folded out like an aeroplane and also foot rests which also folded out. It had a rack outside on the back for luggage. The number was US4965
Dad used the Humber to deliver up to the zoo. (This was Craigend Castle Zoo which operated between 1949 and 1955)
He took the back seats out and loaded up the back with fruit and food for the animals.
He had delivered the goods and we were coming away from the zoo when he spotted Nurse Morag McDonald, her mother and sister standing in a queue waiting for the bus to come down the road.
He stopped and said to Morag that he would take her mother down the road in the front seat (where I was sitting)
She asked where I would go.
“Oh, she can crouch in the back”, replied my father (remember the back seats had been removed to make way for the delivery).
“Oh well my sister and I can crouch in the back with her.” was Morag’s response.
We all got in and my father started laughing. “Oh well nurse you are a well kent face in Milngavie but I wonder how many will recognise you by that backside sticking out the window!”
Craigachan 