Growing up in Pulteneytown was a very positive experience
Recorded 4 years ago
About this recording
Donald MacBeath, retired Principal of North Highland College, UHI, reflects upon his childhood growing up in Grant Street, Pulteneytown.
Visits to the Old Man's Rest at the Braehead, overlooking the harbour, were a regular occurrence for Donald as he accompanied his Grandad, Dan Plowman, to play games of dominoes and 'crib' with the retired fishermen. At 2 o'clock all games stopped as their attention became focussed on the fishing boats as they returned to Wick harbour with their catch.
He explains that his Uncle Donald gave him his first job.
"On Saturday mornings I would collect all the fish boxes that bore the name of the Morning Star and had to heap them up in a pile on the boardies."
For this task, he received a handsome payment of £1.
Donald reflects upon the friendships of classmates, as well as the quality learning and teaching he experienced while attending Pulteneytown Academy.
One particular memory allowed him a special dispensation to leave school early on some occasions. His assigned task was to collect sausages, from the butcher in Macarthur Street, and deliver them to his Primary 3 teacher, Miss Bessie Leith.
Donald says, "I couldn't overemphasise the importance that playing football had for everyone at that time.”
He talks about the number of boys who headed to the Bignold Park every Saturday morning to attend East End Football Club.
He also recalls playing five-a-side football on the Braehead green between the Old Man's Rest and the Pilot House. Frequently the game stopped when the ball went on to the road but on many occasions, the game was interrupted when the ball went over the brae and had to be retrieved from behind the sheds on the harbour quay.
He talks about the vibrant community and the local shops and services in Pulteneytown. He recalls that his Mum talked of 'going to Wick' on Saturdays to pick up things she couldn't get locally.
Donald concludes, "The grounding I was given in Pulteneytown and Wick was first class. I very much appreciate the start I was given to my learning and working career.”
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