John Redmond says

My favourite musicians from Kelty was two pipers John Tairney and Jim Buist, great pair they both played in Kelty pipe band, and in Brass band was Jock Malcolm, and Rock guitarists The Delaney Bros. Great Tenor singer John "BigErnie" Smith, and great accordionist John Mullen who can be heard on LP, "Along the Forth" famous LP for "Kelty Clippie"I dont know if all still going around but they were great.

John Redmond says

its Dan Teirney

Mariapola Macovaz says

Jimmy Muir known as "Morrell" was a famous piano accordionist and was a Champion of Scotland. His family came from lower Oakfield and had the first bus garage, Young's Garages, I think it was called.

His brother And (Andrew) Muir lived in the house in front of the garage. Morrell went on to live in Lawrence Street and had the bookies in the Kelty near Dr Moir's old surgery.

He married Mary Jones and had two daughters and a son, Linda, Maisie (now Mandy) and Alex.

OWEN OHARE says

Does anyone out there remember the go`s you please contests upstairs in the co`op hall.If so you must remember Big Skin Pryde singing "Ole Man River" also Jimmy (Bing) Allen ,another was George Simpson the Singing Postman from Dunfermline and Ernie Smith kelty`s Mario Lanza,the finals were always held in the Gothenberg Picture House.Yes Kelty had lots of Talent.

Tam Anderson says

Hello Owen,

I can remember Jimmy Allen and Skin Pride twa braw singers on a Sunday afternoon in the Club. Jimmy and his wife Annie were our next door neighbours.

Anither twa braw singers and twa braw lassies were the Paterson twins. I hae a tape recording of them somewhere in the hoose.

Tam Anderson says

Hello again Owen,

Are you the O'Hare's fae lochleven terrace?

OWEN OHARE says

Hello Tam

firstly that was my Uncle Eddie the Chimmney sweep who lived in Lochleven Terrace,my Dad was Wullie O`Hare I was born at 20 Adams Terrace in 1937 and we then moved to 64 Blair st when I was about a year old,I now live in Port Kennedy in Western Australia but my Brother Jack and most of his family still live in Kelty in Beechbank Crescent.

As for Jimmy Allan his Wife Annie Mcdonald was my Wife`s Auntie my wife is Rita Mcdonald,we were married in 1969 a year after my demob from the RAF and we emigrated in 1975 this photo was taken with our first Daughter Nichola you might recognise Rita and me from this.I can`t remember you by name Tam,what age are you and where was it you lived beside Jimmy and Annie?

Tam Anderson says

Hi Owen,

I can remember your uncle and I can also remember I think I have the name right a Jock O'Hare and I think he was in the Black Watch along with Annie MacDonald's son Neil Allan? Allan being her married name to Jimmy Allan. "Bing" Annie's faither lived doon the black road, I think? They were our neighbours in Keltyhill Avenue, we moved there from Nasmith place. I was also born in Adam's terrace in 1949 now just an empty field.

I can't remember you or your lovely wife in the photo, but I do recognize all the names.

Hae a guid day owen

OWEN OHARE says

Hi Tam,

that was probably my Uncle Eddie`s son John he would be ages weth Neil Allen,and you are right Rita`s Di Jimmy Mcdonald lived in a Caravan down Maryburgh and Annie`s other son Johnny Shaw lived with him.

Rita my Wife was born in Nasmyth Place at number 11 in1939 and they moved from there to 81 Beechbank Cres about 1950,her dad was Nikky Mcdonald and he worked in the Aitken Pit..Here is a Photo of Rita,her Older Sister Jeanette and her younger Brother Jimmy taken in Nasmyth Place.

Aw the Best Tam.

Tam Anderson says

Braw pictures Owen,

Thocht I wis richt aboot Annie's faither, but i did nae ken John Shaw lived there. It wis wan o they horse drawn caravans. I've nae idea whit happened tae Neil or John Shaw? She also had anither laddie Peter Allan who wis in the Navy but sadly he died young.

I think we lived at number 10 nasmyth place. Ma faither worked in the Aitken pit tae. I can't recognize your wife in that photo, but she's jis that a wee bit aulder than me.We moved fae nasmyth place in the 50 tae into the more modern houses in Keltyhill avenue. 

Happy memories Owen.

Lang may yer lum reek min    

OWEN OHARE says

Hi John,

I played the pipes in Kelty and Blairadam Pipe Band at the same time as Jimmy Buist and the Late Dan Cairney could it be him you were thinking of when you said "Dan Teirney" There was a teirney played in the brass Band,Also they had one of the best cornet players in Scotland called Jimmy Greer who joined I think it was the Army.

I also commented to one of your memories about Mario`s Cafe where you mentioned about the nice looking Bus Lassies like Rita Mcdonald.I Married Rita in 1969 and when I showed her the comment it made her day.We now live in Port Kennedy in Western Australia and I have just been told of this Site Recently by Davy Docherty who now lives in England.

Owen and Rita.O`Hare

OWEN OHARE says

Hi Tam,

If you look at memories there is a Photo of the bairns from keltyhill ave.in  the 1950`s sent in by Patrick Gavin also one from Nasmyth Place,I managed to pick out some of them,you might even be on them.

By the way since you worked in the Forestry did you know Mary Ritchie who used to live in the Prefabs up Cocklaw,I think she married someone who worked in the Forestry and lived up at the First Lodge where Tammy Smart used to live.I also remember a man Douglas who worked in forestry as well I think,he always wore a Saft Hat sort of like these Austrian ones he used to drink in Galloways.

Aw the Best

Owen.

Tam Anderson says

Fit like Owen?

Had a look at that photo but unfortunately i can't recognize any of the faces.

Remember the prefabs, but again the two people Mary and Tammy the names don't ring a bell.

I do remember Jim Douglas he liked a dram. I think I've got this right,did his faither no hae a ferm and was he not killed by a bull?

When I was about 12 years old I worked up at the small holdings, ye ken in the middle of Blairadams widds.Guid Scots word. Most of the men worked for the Forestry commission and the house and a few acres of land was a part of there wages. So I suppose working up there as a young lad and living so near to Blairadam and loving nature and working outside. It had big influence on the job I wanted to do. Wish I could remember there names, think one had the surname Stewart?

 If you've not already read this book it is worth trying to get a hold of it. Run to the rainbow by Jim Douglas. Its all about growing up in Kelty.

A wee bit of the gaelic owen, Moran taing! Many thanks 

Tam Anderson says

Should have put this web site on my last post. My last place of work for the past 25 years

www.stobhall.com