Vale of Leven Ex Pats Connections

If you are looking for old friends or relatives still living in the Vale feel free to send us your contact details along with some brief information about who you want to contact and we will post it here. Please be aware that this is not Friends Reunited. It is just an attempt to help to connect old friends from the Vale. You need not be looking for anyone specific. If you are just seeking contact from old friends in general we can let them know who and where you are. We will only display your email address if you want us to do so.

Tell us who you are, where you lived in the Vale and what school you went to along with any other significant information. For example when did you leave the area?

NOTE: When you contact us we will assume that you would like your contact information to be posted on the ex-pats page. Let us know otherwise. You can contact us at info@toucher.co.uk.

2 February 2010

Hello.

I have been on your site and found it very interesting. I was brought up in Levenbank Terrace, number 22, it was a great place to be brought up in and it gave me the foundation for a good life. My parents George and Agnes (Nancy) myself and my brother Ian moved to this area from Pollockshaws, we were both very young when we moved to the terrace. Our two bedroom upstairs flat with outside toilet has a lot of fantastic memories. Below us lived Mr and Mrs Dun, then across from us on the same level was Mrs Bruce, Below Mrs Bruce was Mr Lewis and his family, I think Mr Lewis was one of the first people to trundle up the terrace cobbles on an AA motorcycle with a side car, it was brilliant to see him in his uniform with his brown leather boots. Forget Wallace & Grommet.

My mother was a blind lady and she was well known and liked in the community, we had a very good friend next door upstairs called Euphemia Inglis who lived with her elderly father, she was a great support to my mother and I regularly would stay overnight with this lady that I called. aunt.

My brother and me and out friends used to look forward to school holidays, I went to Jamestown School, Miss MacArthur and Miss Coloughn from Luss were my teachers, great school. We used to go fishing up the burn, we would start down Dalvait and with our wellies, or plimsolls on would hed up the burn with our carrot net and tryn and catch trout, we could be out all day and only get back late in the afternoon with our catch, we used to try and sell it to the hotels in Balloch.

I have so many things that I could say about this beautiful part of the world and so many memories that it would take me forever, it was a great place, and the people were so kind and caring, Elliot's shop, and also Davidson's (where I used to buy 10 penny pickles out of the big jar with my pocket money, getting sugar sandwiches for doing errands, Jimmy Smiths pub, the co-operative when you bought butter from Mrs Miller and it was wrapped in paper, the horse and cart coming up the terrace to deliver milk, loved giving the horse pinched bread, playing Milton and Naperson terrace in dung field, the piggery that used to be over our terrace wall, the station, oh when should I stop, I could go on for ever.

Before I close a very famous person from the terrace, Constable Sprott, he used to live at the top end of the terrace near the steps that you went up that would take you near to the railway crossing (stucki bridge) what a lovely person, I wish the Police were like him today, my ear remembers him well, but I must have deserved it..

I could go on for ever, and remember so many people. I now live near to Manchester, but one thing for sure is it will never compete with where I was brought up, a community with spirit, trust and understanding for each other, most of the time.

Regards,

Alastair McIntyre

alastair dot mcintyre at yahoo dot co dot uk

John Mcmonagle
3, burtt house,
Aske street,
Hoxton, 
London,
n16le

Hi there
i have been reading about a mr Livesy from Tullichewan.I am sure I went to school with your sister Moira.I can remember you and Alex coming to my mothers house and my brother giving you guitar lessons.his name is Chic Mcmonagle and we lived at 29 bannachra crescent I changed my name to Johnny Tempest and I ended up earning my living playing my guitar. I played all the local venues and then played all over Scotland and the north of England.I found new management and he changed my name to Johnny T Logan, I never looked back since.I have a new life altogether and have now lived in London for almost 30yrs.I was awarded a great honour and privilage of been made a free man of the city of london.Unusual for a nobody who was born in Stirling street Renton and brought up in Tullichewan.
Ha Ha

Yours Fraternally
John Mcmonagle,
Johnny T Logan.

jtlogan @ hotmail dot co dot uk

Hello
          My name is Joseph Cairns ,I am 59 and live here in west Wales with my wife of some thirty years Lesley. I was born in Bonhill,spent most of my childhood in tullecheawn (Russell drive) 21.Went to st marys primary in the vale and st Patrick's high Dumbarton. Be happy to have contact with anyone who remembers me.

Kind Regards Joe Cairns.

joles dot ferry at btinternet dot com

13 November 2009

Hi I was born in at 5 stirling St my grandfather was Archie {redie} McKinley my uncle jimmy owned macaronies the baker on main St  there was also a sangesters fruit shop on main St next to the the school an galones ice cream on main St,across from  Jackie mullens store was further down McKinney,s sweetie shop was also across from the school he would come across to the school at playtime and we would buy some sweeties  I do have the first book about the renton and the cover photo is some of my great grand ma and my mother shes the one with the white hat sitting next to my aunt I was a little disappointed on the inside stories as the never mentioned the McIntyre the McKinley  Fleming,s the mills or even the Houston and I know these people were still there when it was published now I know they have other books which I would like to purchase if you can give me the address

Thank you betty. {McKinley  mclaren }maiden |name

robleyd at bellsouth dot net

Hi there,
            My name is Sandra Rout. I was wondering if any of you remember or heard of a Cunningham Family who lived in Renton around 1900.
I know, so long ago.
There was Mary Cunningham, head of the family and Mary, Archibald, William, Janet (my great granmother ),Thomas, Andrew, Marrion and John.
I would really apreciate any help with any connections.
Thank you for your time.
Sandra

rout1 at tesco dot net

4 August 2009

I found your site while looking up Tullichewan Castle.
The entries and the names of a few people that I went to school with brought back a lot of memories.
Thank you.

As a side note, I have been looking for the words of "The Brae's o' Bonhill"
If anyone can help, thank you in advance.

I have been living in Canada since 1967 and sites like this me realise that you can't leave home no matter how far you travel.

Ian McGlashan of Tullichewan, Bonhill and the Haldane.

ianjoan at telus dot net

------------------------------

Hi Ian,

Here you go...

THE BRAES O’ BONULL (Bonhill)

Oh weel dae I mind o’ ma earlier days
When mony’s a time I climbed the high braes.
A’ sat by the burnie that’s aye runnin still,
The wee burn that runs doon the braes o’ Bonull

[CHORUS: The braes o’Bonull are aye clad wi’ weans
Some pullin daisies and ithers chippin stanes,
The crying o’ the cuckoo and the roarin’ o’ the bull
And you’ll aye be contented on the braes o’ Bonull]

If ye want tae walk yer lass, I’ll tell you whaur tae gang,
Just go up the Slunger and as ye go alang
Ask her there to be your wife and kiss her at her will
And then gie her a dauner o’er the braes o’ Bonull.
CHORUS
Noo I’m getting auld and I’m sorry for to say,
My legs they are frail and my hair is turning gray
Noo I sit by the door on my three legit still
And watch the bairnies playing on the braes o’ Bonull
CHORUS
Noo I maun away, I hae bide’t rather lang,
And I hope you’re a’ content wi’ my wee bit humble sang,
But if we ever meet again and hae another gill
We’ll drink success to the days we spent on the braes o’ Bonull

You can also find these words along with the "Valley where the Leven Flows" and "Beautiful Vale" on the local Robert Burns club website.

http://www.robertburns.org.uk/valeofleven_songs.htm

Latest: We have nowcreated a page with listings of songs, poems and prose about the Vale of Leven. View this here.

21 June 2009

Hi,

I am trying to get some information with regards to my father, Robert Hay who comes from Renton, and was a member of the Leven Vale Rowing Club in the 1940's ' 1950's.

I am particularly interested in any pictures or news clippings from the Regatta in which the boat that he was in sank, I am sure this made the news in the local papers.

Unfortunately due to ill health my father is not able to provide me with much information, I do remember seeing the clipping when I was a child. I would be very grateful if anyone could either provide me with information or point me in the right direction.

many thanks
Gordon Hay
anfieldred at talktalk dot net

19 April 2009

Hi Brian,

just to let you know I enjoy your website born at 48 back st. Renton in 1930 I have so many great memories,I left in 1956 for Canada have had a great life hear but Renton will always be home.Coming on holiday on 14 may for 4 weeks i will be down the Renton and hope to see some old friends from  my days with the Renton Select.

all the best
Jim Brown 

annjim at telus dot net

27 March 2009

I would appreciate hearing from any old school mates from Haldane Primary, Vale of Leven Academy & Clydebank Tech who knew me in the sixties & seventies. At the moment I reside in Johannesburg, South Africa, although I am working on a construction site in Tamatave, Madagascar. It is 22 years since I have been in Scotland but I would really appreciate contacts from past associates, male & female.

Duncan Jenkinson

duncanjay at vodamail dot co dot za

17 January 2009

Hello
My name is Gordon Angus Urquhart
My father and grandfathers were residents of Bon hill for many generations. Angus Robertson Urquhart who resided in Bon hill with his wife Isabella Nellie Mccaskill was a star football player for Dumbarton scoring 41 goals in 44 matches before breaking his leg.

My grandmother once said that Walter McCaskill had a dairy that sold milk to the locals and they lived in Main St. Walters father was John MCcaskill. Who died in 1904

I was just wondering if you might have any history on the Mccaskills or Urquhart's of Bon Hill.

Angus Robertson and Isabella McCaskill migrated to Australia around 1959.

My Father was Angus McCaskill Urquhart b 1929 . One of the things he told me was as a young child he would go to a place where there were Lions guarding an entrance. The other thing he said was that during WW2 he was sticking his head out the window while the gunners were shooting flak into the air and his father pulled his head inside to avoid being shot. Is there any truth in these tales.

If any one in the Vale has any info to help with my family tree project it would be greatly appreciated.

With sincere regards

Gordon A Urquhart
Brisbane Queensland Australia.

gordiu at bigpond dot com

22 October 2008

I found out about this site from the Lennox and have been surfing it on a regular basis. As a Vale boy now living in Barrie ,Ontario,Canada it is great to see aall the old photos etc. Some readers might remember my Mum Agnes Miller (Freel) who worked in Fyffes the Bakers for a number of years. My wife Margaret nee Cannon was a teacher of music in the schools aand the organist at St.Kessogs in Balloch. Keep up the good work.

Andrew Miller. email to dusty dot legs at rogers dot com

27 September 2008

Hi Malky Lobban here again.

I would like to get in touch with my old workmate from CSB Faslane days, namely Gordon Lamont. I think he lives about Bramble Lane, in Jamestown. I have lost his address.

Best wishes. . .Malky. (email to lobban at optusnet dot com dot au)

10 September 2008

I have attached an old photograph of our class in the Vale of Leven primary school (Levenvale) circa 54. I am not looking for anyone in particular, just to see what everyone has done with their life. I left for Australia in December 1959.

Just wondering if anyone in the vale remembers my best mate Jim Wood (Wee Woody) and I was known as (Sinky). He was killed in Palma, Majorca, Spain. Hit and run on the 23 July 1967.

As I left for Australia in December 1959, I only have photographs of the earlier years, and was wondering if anyone who knew him would like to share.

Robert Sinclair (email to makeitso at optusnet dot com dot au)

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