Mr Keith Neilson
Madras College Oral History Interview between Mr Ted Brocklebank (TB) and
Mr Keith Neilson (KN).The recording was transcribed by Veronica Whymant (VW).]
[Start of Recording]
TB: So, Keith, although you have become a St. Andrews institution over all
of these years, you were actually born and brought up in Kirriemuir?
KN: That's right. Yes. In the town hall. My father and mother were hall
keepers of the town hall in Kirriemuir. We came here in 1943.
TB: What was it that persuaded your father to move the family to St.
Andrews?
KN: Well, as you know, the war started in 1939 and round about 1940/1941,
the town hall was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and the first
soldiers that appeared in the town hall were the Durham Light Infantry
and, of course, that meant that my father, there were no, what you would
call, events happening in the town hall therefore my father was very short
paid. Then, of course, round about '41, '42 [1941/1942] the Polish Army
took over and so it wasn't very sensible. He couldn't raise a family
because of the shortage of money so he applied for a job with the St.
Andrews University and my mother and father became caretakers of the
Women's Union, 79 North Street so we arrived in St. Andrews around
September 1943.
TB: How many of you were in the family again?
KN: Seven.
TB: How many boys and how many girls?
KN: There were four girls and three boys. And I'm the youngest! I'm the
bairn!
TB: And did you all go to the Madras?
KN: No. No, no, there was only Sheila, my sister, and myself went to
Madras. All the rest were Kirrie educated, either at Reform Street Primary
School or Webster Seminary, as it was known at that time, which I now
believe is Webster Academy or something like Webster School.
TB: So then, did you go to the Burgh School first or did you go directly
to Madras?
KN: No, directly into First Year at Madras. 1A. With Mr McLeod.
Affectionately known as 'Tusker' McLeod, as Rector.
TB: I remember Mr McLeod but I am asking about you just now. So, when you
went in to the First Year, what were your feelings, given that you had
come from, basically, a village like Kirriemuir to the Madras College?
KN: It was very interesting but actually, I found it, I just fitted in.
Everybody was so good. So kind, you know. And I can always remember our
first lesson on the Monday morning that I arrived was gym with Tom Croll
and, of course, I didn't have any gym pants or that because you don't do
things like that in Kirrie! So, I arrived and had to tie my braces around
the top of my trousers and that and what have you and everybody just
accepted, it was great.
TB: And the war was on at the time - 1943 - how did that impact on you?
Did that cause difficulties?
KN: None at all! None at all. We just took it as it came because,
fortunately, in Kirrie we were far enough away from the big cities and so
on that were getting bombed. We read about them but, being a youngster and
that, we didn't know much about what was happening.
TB: What about the rationing and things like that?
KN: Rationing was quite tight. Even in the villages but the farmers were
very good in those days and also, like all my friends, there was a wee
gang of us up in Kirrie and we used to go to the Loch at Kinnordy, which
is sort of like a marshland area. I believe now it is a wildlife centre
and so on but we used to go and we used to collect gulls' eggs and sell
them! It was great.
TB: So, who were the memorable teachers apart from, you've talked about 'Tusker'
McLeod - who were the memorable teachers when you went to Madras?
KN: Dr. Jock Macdonald, Head of Maths, wonderful man. Johnnie Mason, his
assistant - Maths - who was a great chap. 'Solo' Sanderson, Miss Sanderson
- French, she was a wonderful lady but, unfortunately, we youngsters took
the mickey out of her quite regularly! Miss Crosthwaite, 'Crossie' as she
was well known. I can always remember when she got agitated the red
started in her neck and worked its way up her face, oh boy! We always knew
when we were going to get a row. And then, there was 'Fleckie', Miss
Affleck - Music. There was 'Fung', Miss Ferguson - she taught French and
English. And, of course, the curl of them all, 'Pussy', 'Pussy' Brown -
who was English and History. And then, of course, I liked 'Daddy Young' -
who was, of course, Head of Art. He was super! And then, of course, the
one that we feared the most in some ways was 'Cleaser', Mr McLees - who
taught English. He was good! English and History. Higher History. Then
there was Jock Cauldwell - who taught Geography and he always let us know
that he was Scottish University Champion in putting the shot at one time.
Then, along came a chap called Gilchrist, Mr Gilchrist. And I still
maintain that I am, my height is because I used to sit in the front at
Latin and if I didn't know my amo, amas, amatis, there was a large, Latin
tome that he used to plank on my head and he said that I would find it in
there! So, that's why I have stunted growth! All the teachers were super!
But, of course, the person who I thoroughly admired and, in a way, led me
to become a teacher, was Tom Croll. A man who never said a bad word about
anyone.
TB: Tom, I remember Tom. Tom was a bit of a disciplinarian! I remember he
had his leather belt.
KN: I've got it! I've got it. I was presented with it when I became a
teacher with the belt that I was belted with - yes!
TB: And his wife, Lena.
KN: And Lena. She was a superb swimmer and diver, a member of the Step
Rock Pool. They put on demonstrations and that in the evenings and so on,
you know, when they held galas at the Step Rock pool.
TB: Dancing was a big thing, I remember, with the Croll's.
KN: Oh yes!
TB: Highland Dancing.
KN: Scottish Country Dancing.
TB: Scottish Country Dancing.
KN: And Highland Dancing, yes. And I can remember Tom Croll used to come
in and he had a little bit of paper and he used to place it on the little
stand at the piano and then play a wee tune because Lena had taught him
how to play that certain thing! [laughs]
TB: And I seem to remember that you were quite a nifty dancer yourself?!
KN: Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it because I was brought up, of course, in
Kirrie and I was taught by, I had the privilege of being taught by the
Queen's, the Queen Mother's, I should say, dancing teacher. One was Nancy
Reid and the other one was Nancy Kydd.
TB: So you went to Jordanhill [Teacher Training College]?
KN: After school, yes.
TB: And were your studies interrupted there?
KN: No, from school I went in to the Forces.
TB: Sorry. I knew that you had gone into the Army.
KN: I finished in school in '49-ish [1949] to '50 [1950] and then I had a
year where I couldn't get into College and I did this year. I spent it
down the Post Office. I was telegraph boy! I used to deliver telegrams and
then, Postie. And then, from 1951 I was called up.
TB: National Service?
KN: National Service. And I spent my two years as a Physical Training
Instructor in the Black Watch there and then, when I came out, I went to
College.
TB: Oh, was that it. So was that, you tell me it was the Black Watch that
you were involved with?
KN: Yes.
TB: Was that at Fort George?
KN: Yes. Wonderful place, Fort George. I spent many, many, a couple of
happy years at Fort George because at that time, of course, we were
training men for the Korean War and Malayan business etc so it was an
experience and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
TB: And then, of course, you went to Jordanhill and there must have been
some memorable characters there when you were at Jordanhill, who went on
to play rugby?
KN: Och yes, aye. Well, there was Rioch, he was a great, his sister was a
great swimmer but, of course, at Jordanhill rugby was THE thing! Ian
Spence from Aberdeen. He was an international swimmer. Eddie Still, he was
an international table-tennis player and along came a young lad when we
were in Third Year. A young lad came - Graham Leggat. Now that's a name to
remember because Graham Leggat was Aberdeen and he played for Aberdeen and
he was put through College by Aberdeen Football Club and we used to, if he
had a big match on, he used to rope us in so that we played certain
positions so that he could get his certain tricks that he had going so
that was great.
TB: So then you came back to, did you come back immediately to St. Andrews
after Jordanhill?
KN: Yes. I was very fortunate. I must admit I was very fortunate because
when I came, when I finished my training, I applied to Fife Education
Committee for a job and I was given North-East Fife. [Telephone rings]
TB: Right, sorry, we've got you back to St. Andrews and you initially did
a number of schools?
KN: I did six schools. I did Tayport, Newport, Newburgh, St. Andrews
Burgh, Madras and Bell Baxter - all within the week. Because, at that
time, most of the schools fed into either Bell Baxter or Madras and at
least when the Primary pupils came to the senior standard, they at least
knew somebody that was at the Madras or Bell Baxter. But apart from that,
what I found by having those six schools, each day was different because
each school was different, every pupil was different, all the staff were
different, it was like starting, each week you were starting with a, you
know, making life so much easier! I wish they'd still do it because I
think they would get experience. The other thing I enjoyed was that I
could say I have taught from Infants to Sixth Year.
TB: When I was going around with you in my political days, that people you
knew, whichever village you went to in Fife, they seemed to, somebody
would come to the door - "Oh! I remember you!" Or, "I remember your
father!" or something. They've a great memory.
KN: Aye, that's right. Either that or they say, "Are you still alive, ye
old devil?!" [laughs] I remember that!
TB: You played rugby when I first knew you, well, you taught me at the
Burgh School. But you played rugby and I think, once or twice, I was in
the same rugby team as you.
KN: That's right. Loss and Campbell. Bill Campbell. Aye, cor blimey!
TB: Jock Steven!
KN: Jock Steven. Actually all the Stevens' when you think of it.
TB: Aye. Buster. Alan.
KN: Buster yeah. Johnnie King. Oh God, those were the, I honestly can say
that I thoroughly enjoyed life. People have been so good!
TB: And then you, of course, started to give an awful lot back after your
teaching career and, possibly, even before your teaching career ended
because you started to get involved in politics.
KN: Och, yes, well, you see, when I came out the army, I was, I would say
I was one of the young Conservatives for the simple reason it was the time
of Sir John Gilmour and I used to canvas for him and actually I joined the
St. Andrews Branch and, at one time, I was, what, Secretary, Treasurer,
President! And then of course I became a, when I retired from teaching I
was, fortunately, elected as a Councillor, a Regional Councillor at that
time and I thoroughly enjoyed that too, for eight years.
TB: And then after regionalisation did you stay on or did you...?
KN: No. I was de-selected! With politics you are never sure whether you
are going to be elected or not. If somebody else comes along and has
different ways of getting you elected, shall we say. Aye, so I didn't get
re-elected by the population of St. Andrews.
TB: But that didn't stop your public service. I mean, gosh, I know of a
whole pile of things! I mean, your involvement with the Burns Club.
KN: Yes.
TB: You became President there, didn't you?
KN: No, no. I was so surprised at one meeting that we, you know, one
Burns' Night, my name was mentioned and I had to go forward and I received
the A. B. Paterson Glass!
TB: For contribution to, for services to the local community, yes. I
remember that. And you were Santa Claus for a lot of years!
KN: Santa Claus started, yes. That was interesting, the Santa Claus side
because it started when, of course I was President of the St. Andrews
Angling Club and Brian Roger, of course, who had the Garden Centre down
there and, of course, I knew people on the Round Table. They started it
and roped me in, got me dressed up and therefore I was Santa Claus!
TB: How many years?
KN: Well it was long, it was before I retired and I've been retired for
thirty-one years so it would be about forty years.
TB: You were the Santa at every time, at the beginning of December when
they switched on the lights, you were the Santa.
KN: Yes. And then somebody (I won't mention names), some two people wanted
Santa to wear a kilt and I refused and I said, "That's not Santa!" So!
It's amazing what ministers do!
TB: That's a good tack to get on to your service to the Church because, of
course, you've been an Elder for I don't know how many years!
KN: Fifty-five! I've retired.
TB: Fifty-five years an Elder.
KN: And Dr. Eric Rankin, John Rankin's father, asked me to become an Elder
in 1962 and actually, I've just retired last, well, a couple of months
ago. So, I've done fifty-five years.
TB: What do you think is going to happen to the building? The Holy
Trinity? Because it seems to be in some real peril at the moment.
KN: Well, to my mind, the Presbytery, I am sorry to say, has let us down
because they couldn't make up their minds. They've always said there are
too many churches in St. Andrews. They were going to do this and they were
going to do that and they've done nothing! The Minister that we have, the
interim-Minister that we have at the present moment is doing a great work
but, with, what I would call the people who cannot come to church, the
elderly and that but he's still not our Minister and I think that's the,
behind it all. We haven't got a Minister and the Presbytery should have,
instead of allowing the other churches to call Ministers should have said,
"Right! Holy Trinity is THE church and you are all going to go to it!" and
close the others.
TB: But now we are in the situation we are in, things seem to be pretty
crucial, given there's a loss of seventy thousand a year, from what I
read, can you ever see a time when, you know, it will maybe have to be
taken over by the Council or by somebody and the Members lease it back or
something? Or, at least, part of it back?
KN: There's some things floating about. They are wanting to, of course, to
us elderly people, Holy Trinity is Holy Trinity. It's not a museum, it's a
church and they are wanting to redevelop the inside of it and immediately
they start doing that, they lose, to my mind, they lose something of it
but I presume, it's just me, I'm old-fashioned and I don't like change!
But I think what, they are thinking of, what they call, they are bringing
up various names of things that mean nothing to older people. They are
wanting an interim-Minister all the time so that you don't really have a
Minister. It's you've got this Minister for so long and then another
Minister for another length. It's unsettling. I just don't know but I
hope, actually I'll no' see the finish of it anyway!!
TB: But, at loses of seventy thousand a year, it can't go on indefinitely,
something will have to be done!
KN: No. But the funny thing is, we didn't use to lose but, of course, like
all churches, the congregations have disappeared. The people who work for
the church have disappeared. I mean, I was just saying to my wife (she's
an Elder as well), and I was just saying to her - "What's happening?!" You
know! Where are the people?! They are not there! They are not there.
There's nobody to replace us. Because the young people, unfortunately,
they are not keen to settle down and, you know, do the things that we used
to do. I mean, when I was an Elder, I was also Superintendent of the
Sunday School and I had a hundred and fifty in the Sunday School! I'd
twelve teachers!
TB: But now the Minister said, you've got a congregation which averages
sixty on a Sunday and it's inside a building that's basically a cathedral,
which is vast for sixty people.
KN: For sixty people. Well, you see, again, it's an argument that I have
with people and quite often they tell me that I'm right - I said, "You
know what brings in the people? It's the Minister! If the Minister is
good, the folk will be there!" That's why some of the other churches are
prospering.
TB: Moving, finally, I suppose, to things that still interest you, you
talked about your angling and fishing and so on. All your life you've been
keen on fishing and you teach people how to tie flies!
KN: It's great! I've still got a class going forty years on so it's great.
But, of course, what we, my life, oh well, I would say half my life has
been, of course, with people with learning disabilities and problems and
so on and, of course, I've now got my daughter into a house that I always
say was my 'baby', that I built. Helped to build Rymonth House. And it's
thirty-odd years old now. And then I had the branch of the Scottish
Society for the Mentally Handicapped, which Isobel and I started in 1971
so...it is now called Enable but that's been our life, you know, helping
folk.
TB: I knew you'd done tremendous work there with Rymonth because of your
daughter herself being mentally handicapped but there was a time that you
thought that maybe you wouldn't be able to get her in to Rymonth and that
seems appalling, given that you were the one that had done the work.
KN: Fortunately, well, again, it's all politics really because, at one
point, Fife Council thought we were a private organisation and they
wouldn't feed people into, if you don't have your beds full, you lose
money! And what was happening was, we weren't getting clients when we
were, when it was the Rymonth Housing Association, we weren't getting the
clients therefore you're losing finance therefore you were having to do
various things and we were on the verge of nearly closing, too, until...it
went way back to 1970, about 1974 or so when we had a person called
Malcolm Muggeridge gave a talk on a scheme called Larsh and this group who
formed little communities with people with learning difficulties, you
know, Down's Syndrome and all that, and he gave us inspiration and that
was run by a Baptist Church in Edinburgh so when we found that we were in
difficulties we looked for another provider for the clients that we had
and we went back to ARK, as it was known. ARK was the provider and it's a
big institution now and they said, "Yes." and from there we blossomed. And
the funny thing is, Ted, we've always tried to get in everybody else's
children, you know, but our own and from the day that, from the time of
1971 when we had the Club, the Scottish Society for the Mentally
Handicapped Branch, we got all those people that we had there through
Rymonth and Fiona was the last one to go in.
TB: Is she quite settled?
KN: It's a most wonderful place! She's changed completely! She's more
outgoing! She's, oh! Of course, she's away from two old fogies which has
just changed her life altogether and there's fun! There's the banter!
We've had her on holiday. She only comes with us when we are going away up
north but, she won't come to the other holidays that we have but, she
informs us that she is going down to York. They are having a weekend down
in York. There's two of the disabled people plus two carers going down and
they are going down and they are staying in a hotel and what have you. You
know! She has a better life than I do!
TB: You've had a pretty good life!
KN: To be honest with you, I've had a super life! Thanks for having me!
TB: Thank you. Thank you, Veronica, for being so patient with us.
VW: And that was recorded on Tuesday 1st August 2017.
[End of Recording]
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