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Old Edinburgh Shops From Yesteryear


Rudi-Robertson

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Glen's, Hutchison, Robertson, Stepek? :D

 

I remember their adverts during the days of Scotsport and the Tennents Sixes.

Jan Stepek was an interesting dude, I've just been reading about him. Born in Poland, he was sent to exile in siberia by invading Russian forces as a youngster, doing 18 months of hard labour in a gulag. 4 of the family survived and took on a 5000 mile trek (should have been half that but they went the wrong way!) to khazakstan where there were Polish forces, Stepek joining the army when he got there. His army career was mostly one of sickness and injury and at the end, he found his home had been annexed by Russia.

So he decided to stay in Scotland where he'd ended up and as he was a trained radar operative, started buying, selling and repairing electrical stuff and built a successful business.

He joined the board of Hamilton Accies in 1970 when they were bottom of the second division and under threat from Clyde who wanted to take them over and merge. He helped fight off the advance, became chairman and oversaw the club's return to the top division before getting out of an active role.

 

He was a guy who frequently brought poor people home for meals, raised funds to restore a castle in Poland and was central to the aid effort provided to Poland during the tension in the early 80s.

 

Good guy, interesting life

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3fingersreid

How about the wee John Menzies shop that was part of the Rutland ( Huxley) pub on Rutland street , if my memory serves me right it was a triangular shaped shop

Entrance was next to the cab rank

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Scott Murray of Murray's Tools (he was one of the sons) played bass guitar in a band in the late 60s - can't recall the name of the band - he was a big guy with a crazy sense of humour.

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jonnithejambo - I posted a pic fo Babars a few days ago on this thread - I thought the restaurant was above McAndrew's Citroen showroom.

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It was the Cats Pyjamas, with the Good Time Emporium above

Correct! I spent all of my childhood in Abeyhill which, of course included Saturday morning pictures at the Regent cinema. The cat's pyjamas nightclub used to be the public wash hoose in earlier times as I vividly remember my late mum dragging me up there.

 

For older posters, there was a dance hall on Abbey mount just down from the Regent Buffet pub called Stewart ballroom, which as I recall, had a dodgy reputation. Not sure what for, being too young then to understand.

 

There was also a cinema at the top of Easter road Called the Eastway it's now an Iceland.

Edited by argyjambo
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Scott Murray of Murray's Tools (he was one of the sons) played bass guitar in a band in the late 60s - can't recall the name of the band - he was a big guy with a crazy sense of humour.

That has to be Fred Murray.

He still plays bass in several jazz and dance bands.

Smashing bloke,hell of a gent.

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Jan Stepek was an interesting dude, I've just been reading about him. Born in Poland, he was sent to exile in siberia by invading Russian forces as a youngster, doing 18 months of hard labour in a gulag. 4 of the family survived and took on a 5000 mile trek (should have been half that but they went the wrong way!) to khazakstan where there were Polish forces, Stepek joining the army when he got there. His army career was mostly one of sickness and injury and at the end, he found his home had been annexed by Russia.

So he decided to stay in Scotland where he'd ended up and as he was a trained radar operative, started buying, selling and repairing electrical stuff and built a successful business.

He joined the board of Hamilton Accies in 1970 when they were bottom of the second division and under threat from Clyde who wanted to take them over and merge. He helped fight off the advance, became chairman and oversaw the club's return to the top division before getting out of an active role.

 

He was a guy who frequently brought poor people home for meals, raised funds to restore a castle in Poland and was central to the aid effort provided to Poland during the tension in the early 80s.

 

Good guy, interesting life

 

Interesting indeed. Thanks for the info!

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Brian Whittaker's Tache

I used to work in Murray's Tool Store at Dalry as Scott Murray is an old family friend.  Best and most fun job I ever had. So many stories I could tell you but most of them would get me banned from here!

He's still alive and still playing bass in a band (he's 72 going on 19). Scott was a talented Greco Roman wrestler and represented Scotland at Commonwealth Games level.  There were three brothers and they both got a shop each when their mother retired. Fred got Morrison St, Scott got Dalry and the other brother got Sth Clerk Street but sold it to Fred not long after.

 

Scott sold out to Fred when the Haymarket corner development was first mooted. Fred sold up and retired a few years ago to a company from Fife and the business still existed up until recently at West Bowling Green Street. Met a lot of the old staff at Scott's 70th a couple of years ago.

Edited by Brian Whittaker Tache
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How about the wee John Menzies shop that was part of the Rutland ( Huxley) pub on Rutland street , if my memory serves me right it was a triangular shaped shop

Entrance was next to the cab rank

That's a great shout!

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luckyBatistuta

Jan Stepek was an interesting dude, I've just been reading about him. Born in Poland, he was sent to exile in siberia by invading Russian forces as a youngster, doing 18 months of hard labour in a gulag. 4 of the family survived and took on a 5000 mile trek (should have been half that but they went the wrong way!) to khazakstan where there were Polish forces, Stepek joining the army when he got there. His army career was mostly one of sickness and injury and at the end, he found his home had been annexed by Russia.

So he decided to stay in Scotland where he'd ended up and as he was a trained radar operative, started buying, selling and repairing electrical stuff and built a successful business.

He joined the board of Hamilton Accies in 1970 when they were bottom of the second division and under threat from Clyde who wanted to take them over and merge. He helped fight off the advance, became chairman and oversaw the club's return to the top division before getting out of an active role.

He was a guy who frequently brought poor people home for meals, raised funds to restore a castle in Poland and was central to the aid effort provided to Poland during the tension in the early 80s.

Good guy, interesting life

What a life story that is, incredible. I love reading stuff like that and then listening to erseholes these days who complain about how hard they've got it. They'll just never understand how fortunate they actually are.

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Unknown user

What a life story that is, incredible. I love reading stuff like that and then listening to erseholes these days who complain about how hard they've got it. They'll just never understand how fortunate they actually are.

Some people really live their lives, we could all learn a lot from guys like him.

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Brian Whittaker's Tache

Now here was a place to while away a Saturday!

Saw so many good bands in here including 1/3rd of the Ramones

22154715_1658692630870669_73511576142598

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luckyBatistuta

Now here was a place to while away a Saturday!

Saw so many good bands in here including 1/3rd of the Ramones22154715_1658692630870669_73511576142598

Had many a good night in there. It was one of our first port of calls on a weekend out. Edited by luckyBatistuta
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Unknown user

Now here was a place to while away a Saturday!

 

Saw so many good bands in here including 1/3rd of the Ramones

 

22154715_1658692630870669_73511576142598

Played there 25 years ago and used to occasionally buy hash off the bouncers

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How about the wee John Menzies shop that was part of the Rutland ( Huxley) pub on Rutland street , if my memory serves me right it was a triangular shaped shop

Entrance was next to the cab rank

God, I'd forgotten all about that wee shop.

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jonnithejambo - I posted a pic fo Babars a few days ago on this thread - I thought the restaurant was above McAndrew's Citroen showroom.

Left hand side of Lothian Road as you head down to Princes Street?

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The White Cockade

Casino Martell next to The Wine Glass

 

The wee newspaper kiosk at Newington Station

 

Sadly missed Powderhall Stadium - now hooses :sob: 

and Old Meadowbank

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3fingersreid

On Princes st I remember

Lilly whites sports shop

Lilly and Skinner shoe shop

Hornes clothes shop

Crawfords restaurant (next to Ann Summers and Primark )

Austin Reed

 

And one for the older gent Fire Island ;)

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Anyone remember Duncan mclarens lock shop at bread street

Closed down years ago fond memories

Deffo still open, I pass it to and from work everyday. It closed briefly a wee while ago when it changed hands.

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On Princes st I remember

Lilly whites sports shop

Lilly and Skinner shoe shop

Hornes clothes shop

Crawfords restaurant (next to Ann Summers and Primark )

Austin Reed

And one for the older gent Fire Island ;)

So, you must remember Watches of Switzerland then?

 

Was Fire Island not previously The West End Club?

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Deffo still open, I pass it to and from work everyday. It closed briefly a wee while ago when it changed hands.

Always our lock shop.

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Deffo still open, I pass it to and from work everyday. It closed briefly a wee while ago when it changed hands.

Do you know if he had a son called Malcolm?

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Now here was a place to while away a Saturday!

 

Saw so many good bands in here including 1/3rd of the Ramones

 

22154715_1658692630870669_73511576142598

Many, many good nights in there.

Total sweat box and the stage only being a few inches high meant that bands and punters would end up mixed about more often than not.

 

You can also include The Venue, Studio 24 and many other vanished live music venues around the city.

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3fingersreid

So, you must remember Watches of Switzerland then?

 

Was Fire Island not previously The West End Club?

Yeah , watches of Switzerland I think was on the corner of Frederick st ?

 

I?m sure it was the West End Club that my dad?s uncle was the manager and it was about there

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luckyBatistuta

Many, many good nights in there.

Total sweat box and the stage only being a few inches high meant that bands and punters would end up mixed about more often than not.

You can also include The Venue, Studio 24 and many other vanished live music venues around the city.

The Venue :wow:

 

A Guy Called Gerald there was ####### amazing!!!

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Unknown user

The Venue :wow:

 

A Guy Called Gerald there was ####### amazing!!!

Ah the venue, me and the Moshpit are old friends, I had some great nights in there

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luckyBatistuta

Ah the venue, me and the Moshpit are old friends, I had some great nights in there

Really was a great little place

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So, you must remember Watches of Switzerland then?

 

Was Fire Island not previously The West End Club?

My wife bought me  a gold wrist watch a Certina in Watches of Switzeland 1959, for our engagement, I still have it wear it now and again so thats 58 years. Well used and a little while ago but I'll fly over first class and punish severely the first person who uses the word ancient if referencing it. 

 

                                                                          :raging: 

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3fingersreid

My wife bought me a gold wrist watch a Certina in Watches of Switzeland 1959, for our engagement, I still have it wear it now and again so thats 58 years. Well used and a little while ago but I'll fly over first class and punish severely the first person who uses the word ancient if referencing it.

 

:raging:

Not ancient but there?s certainly a lot of life experience involved ;)

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Yeah , watches of Switzerland I think was on the corner of Frederick st ?

I?m sure it was the West End Club that my dad?s uncle was the manager and it was about there

Nope.

 

Watches of Switzerland was directly below the West End Club/Fire Island.

 

There was a wee balcony bar upstairs in the place.

 

Not the watch shop ;)

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Dont know if its been mentioned but remember Millars sweet factory on Causewayside. OH the minty smell when you walked past when they were making Pan Drops!!!

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Dont know if its been mentioned but remember Millars sweet factory on Causewayside. OH the minty smell when you walked past when they were making Pan Drops!!!

Was that near the Old Bell Inn?

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Montgomery Brewster

Same side further up on the next corner If i remember correctly

Millars was across the road from the bell up towards jamies

 

The biscuit factory was further up the road (same side) on the corner opposite Jamie's

Edited by Montgomery Brewster
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Looks like South bridge to me

Cheers. My gran worked in Allan's on GTS and I spent some school holidays in the early 80s reading in the back. No school camps back then!
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