The Living Memory Association Podcast

The 49th edition of the Thelma Tapes dons its swimming togs as we commemorate the 125th anniversary of Glenogle Swim Centre in the Stockbridge area of the city! Since opening in 1900 the pool has gone from simply being a place to bathe and get clean to a facility serving the community in learning how to swim, joining a swimming club, getting fit at the gym and even creating an outdoor garden! In this episode we hear from swimmers Brenda, Arthur and George and lifeguard Isla about their experiences and memories and what the pool means to them. The Living Memory Association would like to thank everyone at Glenogle Pool and Edinburgh Leisure for their involvement in this reminiscence recording. Thanks to shortiefoeva for their use of Water Drops - Hip Hop Track found on freesound.org Cover photo of Glenogle Swim Centre interior courtesy of Edinburgh Leisure.

The 47th edition of the Thelma Tapes continues with our series on working lives in Edinburgh's past, our contribution to the city wide Edinburgh 900 heritage project (see episode 46). In this second episode we hear from Charlie Holligan and Andrew Bell, two members of Leith's Pilmeny Development Project which supports, and runs activities for, folk in their senior years. First Charlie tells us about his 44 years' service with Edinburgh Corporation Transport (now Lothian Buses) and then we hear from Andy about his long employment as a stonemason. Both men begin their oral histories with the first ever jobs they had as youngsters. The Living Memory Association expresses its thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council's #Edinburgh900 fund for supporting this podcast series. Thnaks to Nancy Sinclair for use of their Dynamic Indie Spark tune found on freesound.org

Sikh Stories is a podcast series produced in collaboration with Sikh Sanjog, The Living Memory Association and funded by Awards for All Scotland. The project idea came from members of the Sikh Community after images of a Leith Sikh family were displayed at The Wee Museum of Memory. These podcasts highlight the commonality amongst cultures and people that cut across divides. Celebrating their individual experiences, from a love of house music, sharing food and drink with new found friends and embarking on a discovery of spiritual awakening. As a minority group within the wider minority communities, the Sikh community has a relatively low profile, yet has been a part of the fabric of Leith and Edinburgh since the 1940's. We will celebrate the Sikh community of Leith and Edinburgh increasing the understanding of the wider public of the Sikh community's experiences and contribution. Episode 45 of the Thelma Tapes was recorded in our Wee Museum studio by our friend Raj Singh and is a celebration of our partnership with Sikh Sanjog. Celebrity Chef Tony Singh, reminisces about the powerful impact Hip Hop music had on his early life and how this genre of music subsequently propelled him to exploring and delving deeper into race, history and class. The full series can be found on Spotify at: https://sites.libsyn.com/539422/site

In the 49th edition of Lifestory, at the age of 86, Melvin takes us through the ups and downs of his life. Starting with his childhood playing on the train tracks in his back yard, to his time studying Engineering at Heriot-Watt University. Later his time in the national service, and eventually his life studying and then subsequently practicing law, first with his father's law firm and later with British gas. Mel also tells the story of how he met his wife at the sailing club and about his life since retirement.

In the 42nd episode of the Thelma Tapes we dare to investigate what collections, themes and objects will form the stuff of future museums and the sort of stories future generations might learn about humanity. Working with our Wee Museum of Memory in Livingston and exploring the 'Marseum' resource, commissioned by Museums Galleries Scotland, in their digital skills development classes, pupils from West Calder High School in West Lothian researched and curated content for their own museum displays culminating in an installation at our Livingston museum space. In this podcast, a selected group of pupils talk about their choice of subjects and what impact they think these will have on a museum visitor of the future.... Thanks to stk13 for use of their prometheus.wav track found on freesound.org The Living Memory Association thanks the pupils of WCHS and teacher Mr Casey for their hard work and input. Many thanks to Emma Peattie from West Lothian Museums & Archives and to Heather Robertson and Russell Clegg from The Living Memory Association, who co-ordinated the project. Thanks also to Museums Galleries Scotland for their support and encouragement.

The 40th episode of the Thelma Tapes is from our 'Away for the Messages' shopping and retail reminiscence project. This is the second part of a feature on the shops in the Niddrie and Craigmillar area of Edinburgh and focusses on 'Cunninghams' a ladieswear and haberdashery shop which first opened in 1954. In the episode we hear from proprietor Alan Cameron about his memories of this family business and his reflections of working alongside the folk of Craigmillar. Thanks to Bigcat_Smauls for the use of his 'Without a Care' Upbeat Loop found on Freesound.org We are hugely grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland for their generous funding of this project thanks to players of the National Lottery

The 38th episode of the Thelma tapes continues to chart our retail and shopping reminiscence project, 'Away for the Messages.' In Part One, of a two-episode feature, we focus on the memories of shops in the Niddrie and Craigmillar district of Edinburgh. We hear from Ruby Suggitt who worked at Cunningham's Drapers and Ladies' Fashions in the 1960s and from Heather Henderson, born and bred in Greendykes, who continues to champion Craigmillar as a volunteer with local community archive project Craigmillar Now. Thanks to Craigmillar Now for permission to use their archive photo of shoppers on Niddrie Mains Road in the 1980s. Thanks to Bigcat_Smauls for the use of his 'Without a Care' Upbeat Loop found on Freesound.org We are hugely grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scotland, for their generous funding of this project, thanks to players of the National Lottery.

In the 48th edition of Lifestory at the age of 80 Alistair looks back on 40 years of working life with the store, from joining Alloa branch as a clerk at 15 to becoming Chief Executive of Borders Co-Op.

The 34th episode of the Thelma tapes introduces us to a new shopping and retail reminiscence and heritage project, 'Away for the Messages.' From victuallers in the West Port to sweetie shops in Portobello via Forsyths, Goldbergs and The Store we hear from our friends and visitors about some of their memories of shops from Edinburgh and beyond! Thanks to Bigcat_Smauls for use of his 'Without a Care' upbeat loop found on Freesound.org

Remember, remember...the 32nd episode of The THELMA Tapes takes us back in time to memories of Bonfire Night and Halloween from days gone by. We hear tales of dooking, treacle scones, guising, turnip lanterns and gigantic fires with no health and safety in sight! With stories of squibs galore, bangers, catherine wheels and sparklers, and many traditions that have survived to this day. Penny for the guy!

The 30th edition of The Thelma Tapes is dedicated to memories of long gone pets. This Living Memory Association podcast is packed full of great reminiscences of much loved dogs and cats, budgies, neglected fish, rabbits galore and the occasional tortoise, each one emerging from the mists of time in story form.

The 28th episode of The Thelma Tapes is a celebration of the life and career of Scottish boxing legend Ken Buchanan in his own words. Britain's oldest surviving world champion takes us on a wonderful journey from living in Northfield and going to Portobello High School all the way to winning the Lightweight Championship of the world in Panama, dancing with Princess Anne and being inaugurated into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Many thanks to Kevin Gore for the use of his fabulous tune 'Edinburgh Man'.