Memories

Growing up in Ayr in the 60s and 70s

Sheila Smith was born Sheila Jean Cowan (often known as "Jeannie") in Ayr in 1957 and writes:

I was born in Ayr as Sheila Jean Cowan in on 1st March 1957. I went to two primary schools. The best teacher I had in the first was Miss Corbett. She was my hero there ..... she was elderly but a lovely person... and cared for everyone in the class not just the brainy ones..... which is a lot to be said in those days. I often got called Jean or Jeannie Cowan with the light fair hair (as my mother is Sheila, too). We moved house when I was 9 from my old street I loved so much ..... St George's Avenue .... where I had great friends. St George's Avenue was near the Northfield Park. We used to go up and play in the park and sing the Beatles songs with all our hearts on the see-saw, boated on the pond in the summer, played on the island as we waded through the crocodiles with our little imaginations ...the jungle..... bloodsuckers ....... really !!!!
Anyway, I started another school called Braehead Primary. It was really bright inside. You always smelled the cleanness after returning from school holidays and fresh paint.... it was lovely. The best ever teacher was Miss Hart in primary 6-7 (1968-70). She was the best teacher I ever had and "our hearts broke" when we had to leave to go to a transitionary period before secondary school (why didn't they send the class under us). Miss Hart was great ... and firm but very fair.... and caring... if we did wrong on one particular occasion she explained why and what the reasons were .... which was good as then we knew what the danger was instead of punishing us for something we didn't understand. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I would have come out of my shell as I did..... and progressed. Miss Hart (or Mrs something, probably) if your out there and read this you were the" best" caring teacher. I wish you had come to Ayr Academy with us.
And then we went to the Academy after the transitionary period at another school. We were 12 plus then. I loved music, art and history the most. Mrs Perkins in English was kind to us ....( quite modern too ) she stuck up for me a few times... ...I was quite timid in some ways then. Love also to Janet Cleeve a friend at Ayr Academy 1970 -72 who lived in Craigie, Ayr then Monkton (but she married and her name might be Hay I'm not sure now) ..... your old pal (known as Jeannie) wonders how you are. We had different interests so went our different ways. Then 1970-76 at the Baptist Church in Ayr, Janette Gordon befriended me, and some of the other folks like Andree Anthony and they were a family to me in my teens until I left and went to Glasgow for a while

I had a great guide captain called Miss Wansborough at St James church off Prestwick Road. She was very kind person and treated everybody the same and was very fair. She took us youth hostelling to Glentrool and Edinburgh even though she was in her sixties then.

l have lived in England for 14 years now but would go back to Ayr tomorrow. When I visit my sister and family and mother, brother, I always head down the shore to look at the sea and Arran.
People, don't take it for granted... it is terrible when you are far from the sea... and surrounding scenery... of your homeland.... but its always in my heart, bonnie Ayr...

So, from Sheila " Jean " Smith nee Cowan, if anybody remembers me .... particularly Yvonne Hendren, Janice Cochrane., Dorothy Girvan, Isabel Girvan ...there are computers at libraries and internet cafes everywhere now. .if I can use it anybody can........

If you are out there .... or anybody out there . give me a ring or an e-mail if you know the people mentioned.

Sheila can be contacted at rvs.7@virgin.net.
phone: 0208 755 0586

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