Sunshine on, erm, Leith...
It is often
said that marriage is an institution. It is often said I should be in one but
that’s another story. Last year was a difficult one for me as my marriage of 30
years came to an end. Of course, I’m not the only person to go through a
painful separation after a long marriage so I won’t dwell on the gory details
except to say my family and friends were shocked by the news. The consensus
seemed to be that of all the people they knew who were married, my marriage was
the one they didn’t expect to fall apart. C’est la vie and all that. However,
their shock at the demise of my marriage was replicated shortly afterwards when
they discovered I was heading to Leith…
Since 1990, I
had lived in Dalkeith, the heart of Midlothian. Now I realise that’s not a description
likely to go down too well with readers of this esteemed publication. And, yes,
I must tell you, dear reader, I am a lifelong Hearts supporter as the numerous
lines on my face and greying, if rapidly diminishing, hairline will tell you.
So having digested the news that my marriage was over, those close to me
thought it was a ‘double whammy’ when news broke that I was going to live in ‘enemy
territory’.
Hearts
supporters of my acquaintance thought the break up of my marriage had had an
adverse affect on my mental health. ‘You’re moving to where?’ they
asked, with consistently high degrees of incredulity. ‘Don’t you know that’s
the dark side of town? You’ll be perilously close to Hibernian FC, who hate Jam
Tarts and hate Dundee (I don’t think many Hibees do hate Dundee, it’s just
that it conveniently rhymes with FC) Can’t you move to Gorgie?
The truth is
that, initially, I did move to Gorgie for six months. A stones throw away from
that well-known drinking establishment popular with people of the maroon
persuasion, The Athletic Arms, known locally as The Diggers. However, in July
last year I moved to a place just off Great
Junction Street. And, I have to say to my family, friends and fellow Hearts
supporters - I love living in Leith. As a ‘Leith Jambos’ banner at last year’s
William Hill Scottish Cup Final declared, I suspect I’m not the only Hearts fan
declaring those sentiments.
It’s only when
you move to the city from the suburbs that you appreciate the advantages of living
in town. I actually lived in Mayfield, a suburb of Dalkeith and a sad example
of suburban decay. There is little of any interest in Mayfield aside from a
couple of pubs and bookmakers. It’s a 15-minute bus journey from Dalkeith which
itself has little to offer aside from more pubs and bookmakers - and cafes. You
have another 30-45 minutes bus journey from Dalkeith before you sample the
cultural delights of Auld Reekie (clearly, I’m excluding Gilmerton from this…)
Leith,
however, is different. It’s an exciting, vibrant community rightly proud of its
history and still hankering after the days when it was an independent borough
and Edinburgh only began at Pilrig Street. There’s a character about Leith that
shouts out from the pavements of Leith Walk as you head down from the city.
Famous names adorn the streetlamps proclaiming (do you see what I did there?)
their love for the place.
The Kirkgate
Shopping Arcade may have been a consequence of an ill-thought 1960s
architectural dream but there is a character about it that marks it out from
other similar shopping arcades. Something, which the people of Leith might say,
perhaps has its faults - but it’s theirs.
Constitution
Street, The Shore and Commercial Street are laden with history and tales of a
bygone age when Leith was a major port. A history should never be forgotten and
will never be forgotten. Fine
organisations such as the Leith Historical Society - to which I have attended
several events - will ensure this is the case.
The numerous
Polish, Chinese and Mediterranean supermarkets along Leith Walk illustrate the
diverse nature of the area. On my way to work every morning, I cross Great
Junction Bridge and take inspiration from the Water of Leith below; the
tranquillity of the cycle path and walkway running alongside is a haven from
the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I close my eyes and imagine the great
steam trains of yesteryear trundling under the bridge and the steam wafting to
the street above.
I haven’t
forgotten Mayfield in Dalkeith as my daughter and my three wonderful
grandchildren live there and I see them every weekend. And being a season
ticket holder at Tynecastle, my trips to Gorgie are still as frequent (despite
some of the performances of the boys in maroon this season) However, despite
being here for less than a year, I now look forward to coming home to Leith. I
never thought someone who has been a Hearts fan for 45 years would say that -
but, believe me I mean it. My heart is
now firmly resident here.
Even if this
means I will still have to go to Gorgie to see a victorious football team in an
open-top bus….
Twitter
@Mike1874
