Tales from North High Street

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