A Strange Morning
One June morning in 1933 Greta
[Margaret Reid Mair] awoke to the sound of an aeroplane. This was a great
novelty at that time. From her bedroom window at 29 North High Street she could
look out along the coast to the east. She watched the aeroplane approach the
town. As it flew overhead all those who were out of doors looked up to see this
curiosity. Greta meanwhile moved across her bedroom to the other window which
faced west. She then watched the aeroplane until it was lost to sight. As she
dressed Greta thought that it was a strange event to start the day.
Down the stairs, porridge was
being ladled into three bowls for Greta, her brother Bobo [Robert Mair
1925-1986] and her sister Joyce [Joyce Mair/Moore 1929-1993]. The second
strange event of the morning was that her mother Peggy Anderson [Margaret
Anderson/Mair 1896-1981] was not there. Auntie Kate [Katharine Watson/Mair
1902-1972] was serving their breakfast. Auntie Katie announced the third
strange event of the morning: “Yir mither hiz gotten a boy”. One of the three
kids then asked, “Did he come on the aeroplane?” “Aye, he came on the
aeroplane”.
In this manner, on a strange morning, in June 1933 Jackie
[John Anderson Mair 1933-2021] joined the family at 29 North High Street. Peggy
Anderson was later asked by one of the older kids: “Did I come on an
aeroplane?” To this their mother replied: “No, you came on Kelbie’s kert”. The
Kelbie’s, by the Old Harbour, had a pony and small cart which was used to
collect cotton rags to be re-cycled for paper-making.
Louis
Robert Mair
Margaret
Reid Mair 2025
