It’s the result of a social history project involving a group of people who met at Royston/Wardieburn community centre over a period a several months to talk about some of the things they remembered from their childhood and as they grew up, went to work, perhaps got married and had families.
They reflected on the influence of school, remembered going to the pictures and the dancing, recalled their feelings about workplaces like Scottish Gas at Granton, and discussed the changing face of the city.
Jim Aitken, a retired teacher who was the tutor for the social history group, said: “This was one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve worked on. It was serious and it was crazy - so much humour, so many diversions - and it’s a great social history. You’re dealing with stories, with memories, and you’re with a understanding of the stories and the memories - and it’s all here in this booklet.”
Here are extracts of some of the stories from the booklet, mostly in their own words.
13. 'A testimony of times that have gone'
The booklet was edited by retired teacher Jim Aitken, who worked with the group on the project. In the foreword, he writes: "The Social History Group who recalled their stories in interviews and group discussions, have created an invaluable anthology in ‘Windows to our Past.’ It is not just a record of their collective memories, it is also a testimony of times that have gone where individuals who were there have given a deeper analysis of the forces that sought to minimise their lives. All the individuals who took part in this project offered an understanding of the changes that have taken place over so many decades. Their testimonies are honest and open ones, genuine historical records." | TSPL