CULTER MEMORIES

Reminisce with me along the village of Culter some sixty years ago, visiting the old shops and papermill, sadly all gone now.

FROM the top of Station Brae at The Hair Salon (for many year Sandra's the hairdresser) but used to be Mackie's, the Chemist, come along the row of well kept houses then called 'Church Terrace' and there is the TSB where the counters were so high I couldn't reach. Next door was Edward's the antique shop then Thompson's the grocers - I can still remember the smell from their ground coffee machine. Should you need your watch mended, go down the hill to Mr Penny the watchmaker.

The Post Office is still there. Mr Smart, the postmaster then, would sell you the stamps. He always had his beautiful dog with him and, leaning against the wall, was the postie's red bike. (Mr Smart's daughter ran the post office for many years, too.)

Next door was Harper the butcher where you could buy a pound of the best steak before going on to the fish shop to watch the water running down the white tiles of their window display. For a short back and sides, no better place than next door at Don's.

Further along you could get new soles and heels at Allen, the souter, and then there was another chemist - Herbert Milne - next to a hairdresser whose name I cannot recall.

Now it's Steel the butcher for your 'mealie jimmies' and on to Massie's for your Christmas booze while next door you would pay your papers at young Massie.

Further along you could hire a taxi from Aitken's Garage or fill up your car at Craib's Garage next door. Pass the row of small houses and the shoemaker was where Kelly's of Cults is now. Then comes Leslie Gavin for a new mop and bucket, or food for your hens. A few big lorries were often to be seen standing at Gavin's Garage.

For wallpaper and paint you needed to go no further than Bremner's shop while Miss Mackie, the chemist, would weigh babies on her 'fine set of scales'. Next door you could buy sweets from the multi-coloured jars on display. Do you remember the cream buns from the Co-op baker? And next door was the Co-op shoe shop where Irene would measure your feet. (I always envied her bonny red hair!)

Now don't be tempted to go into the Richmond Arms across the Mill Brae but go on past the mill houses and over the bridge, walk up to the Cenotaph, then back down to Pie Jean's for a nice cup of tea and watch Alexander's Blue buses turn round to go back into Aberdeen and on to Dyce.

Cross the road and back over the bridge (with a nod to Rob Roy)

and, if it was a wet, windy day you could smell the Mill lum - what a memory! Call in at Rockland Stores where they sold whatever you needed.

At this time, there were no supermarkets but for all your weekly requirements just the Co­op shops. Div ye mind yer co-opie number? I bet you do! You had to recite it to get a divvy. Sugar and tea was tied up in blue bags, butter and cheese cut with a wire, and bacon sliced on that big red machine. If a pirn was what you wanted, ask Bertie at the Co-op drapery and, of course, for something for your tea you went next door to the Co-op butcher.

Immediately next door was Thom's the baker - this was the place to buy lovely warm butteries (rowies to us!) and then the Gordon Arms, a fine big hotel. Go up Brighton Brae for fish and chips wrapped up in last week's Press & Journal.

The recreation hall is now in sight, all painted green for a game of snooker or whist - depending on the night. Maybe it's the pictures (no home videos then). It may even be the Flower Show or a special dance.

Catto the plumbers could supply a washer for your tap, or pop in next door for some needles and pins at Miss Milne. (I think that was the name.) The Masonic Hall was a large place adjacent to the Clydesdale Bank and then Thompson's Garage where they mended your car or your bike but no petrol was sold here.

Standing all sparkling and bright is the granite building of Kelman Kirk and onwards to the Police Station. No cars needed then, just two bobbies on good trusty bikes. Over the road to Dr Duncan's 'Eastleigh'.

Now, if you have time, go down Station Brae where we loved to sledge in the snow. Further down was Cassie's little shop for ice cream and sweeties. We would go across the railway bridge and wave to the man in the signal box where Culter Station once stood.

Lastly we have St Peter's Kirk on the banks of the Dee and the churchyard where our loved ones now lie. The music and laughter you hear from the hall could be the children practising for a new show with Mr McFarlane, and Dorothy Reid at the piano. And who's this galloping across the Glebe - Rev Tom Howie on Laddie his horse.

Elizabeth Gunning (nee Campbell)

© CulterNET 2008