Jim Blaikie is a Leith poet and author, born in 1933, whose work draws deeply on
the life, place, and dialect of his home. His best known work include A Laddie
Looks at Leith, in which he captures memories, laughter and tears reflecting on
what #Leith was like in his childhood. Join us in this nostalgic, lyrical journey,
which celebrates the spirit of the Leith community and the power of the Scots
language.

Rose Minto was born Rose McIntyre on March 13th 1920. She spent her first 14 years in Bridge Street in Leith. Bridge street is now known as Sandport Place. None of the buidings exist that Rose would have known. Aside from The Rose Leaf pub, known as The Black Swan in Rose's day. (see widescreen photo.) Rose had an amazing and detailed recall of her life. These are evocative memories of life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s. The streets, the backgreen, the crowded housing, the shops, the pawn brokers and offal butchers. The close community, poverty and complex family relationship. Rose paints a vivid, unsentimental picture of life 90 years.

Recorded in 2008 when Rose was 88.

Anrew Grant was born in 1937 and attended Leith Nautical College in Commercial street from August 1953 to July 1954. He gives us a brief history of the college and then talks about the training he received. Also about being on board the training ship 'The Dolphin.' We hear about rowing across the Forth, the huge cost of buying a sextant and the evening ration of two biscuits and a lump of cheese.