Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th April 2024

Quiz Number 168

A. What is the connection with the record above and oor Vicky Ballroom?

B. Which hole on today's Winterfield Golf did not exist as an entity on Braids layout plan?

C. When were the (then) new Schools at Woodbush built?

D. Who succeeded Edinburgh-born Sir John Robert Warrender (7/2/1921-2007)?

E. Who, a mass murderer, featured in a "slot" machine through the 50s/60s at the Palace of Pleasure?

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th March 2024

Quiz Number 167

CENOTAPH at Charlton Cemetery, Cemetery Lane, Charlton, Greenwich, London

A. What is the connection wi' the undecipherable stane above and Knock-En-Hair?

a) Looking quite unwanted in Charlton Graveyard, ‘tis a Cenotaph for hero Major General ORDE CHARLES WiNGATE (26/2/1903 - 24/3/1944) whose uncle Rex bided at Knock-en-Hair. Nephew Orde visited once or twice for advice. The remains of those, including Wingate, who perished in the crashing of a plane and were buried at the city of Imphal in Maripur State in India, were disinterred in December 1949 and trans-shipped to Washington DC and then lain to rest in Arlington Cemetery on 10/11/1950.


The inscription on the memorial in Charlton Cemetery actually reads:-

IN MEMORY OF ORDE CHARLES WINGATE
MAJOR GENERAL ROYAL ARTILLERY D. S. O.
KILLED WHEN COMMANDING SPECIAL FORCES IN BURMA (CHINDITS)
26TH FEBRUARY 1903 - 24 MARCH 1944
ELDEST SON OF GEORGE WINGATE COLONEL INDIAN ARMY C. I. E.
21ST NOVEMBER 1853 - 21ST AUGUST 1946
AND MARY ETHEL WINGATE
23RD MAY 1867 - 8TH AUGUST 1943
AND THEIR BELOVED DAUGHTER CONSTANCE CARRICK WINGATE
27TH JULY 1906 - 28TH FEBRUARY 1934

B. When did the band on the records above appear at The New Victoria Ballroom?

a) Probably during their Scottish tour of Mid-May 1966. Those with an eye for talent in "The Ballroom" that night reckoned they were the foremost act that they saw in all the venue's years even with Wayne Fontana and The Yardbirds treading the boards in the months to come.

*Our expert contact impressed upon us that they played this Lennon-McCartney song on the night, however, it wasnae released as a single until the August of that particular year. Cliff toured with the Beatles and so probably did his version of their song at many venues. Though the Fab Four never released it as a single it was on their Revolver LP, McCartney did however produce Cliff and Co’s single.

C. Where are the Market Road and Foggo's Field?

a) Either side of the Main Street in Innerwick; Market Road is also known as Bobby's Wynd.

D. How many cottages were erected on Middle/East Links Road in the early 1800s?

a) 7.

E. Why was oor Parish Church closed for over a year, between 27th of April 1944 and June 1945?

a) It was struck by a bolt of lightning, from out of the blue.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th February 2024

Quiz Number 166

A. Whatever happened to Black Agnes's younger brother John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray, 1306-17/10/1346?

a) He died outside Durham at The Battle of Neville's Cross. Her elder brother Thomas was 2nd Earl and died at the Battle of Dupplin Moor (1332).

B. When was Cunningham the Builders established in Dunbar?

a) 1830, although the family were here fae Chirnside 30+ years earlier.

C. Which two hotelkeepers at The Railway Hotel preceded the first owner Ronaldson of 1930 Vintage?

a) John "Jake" Beattie *(tenancy duration 1912-1927) and younger brother James (tenancy duration 1927-1929).

D. Who, playing with professional Andrew Dishington at Dunbar Golf Club just after The Second World War, accomplished an amazing feat by one putting 16 greens and two putting the remaining two making for only 20 putts in a round?

a) Top player/greenkeeper, one Robert Y Gillan.

E. Who, whilst still a teenager and junior member, won "The Merchants" at Dunbar Golf Club in the gathering gloom and near last off to finish, carding a scratch 67 less 3, which was an Amateur course record?

a) Alistair C. Nicol in 1979.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th January 2024

Quiz Number 165

A. When did the group featured on the "track" above grace the boards at our Hallowed Hall?

a) The Merseys appearance, complete with backing band The Fruit Eating Bears, at the Breezy Burgh's Harbourside venue was probably during the Spring of '67. This major hit was originally recorded by US group The McCoys as a B-side to their “standard” Fever. “Sorrow” was recorded by Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley with the help of a “Cream” of session musicians which included Jack Bruce, J P Jones and Jimmy Page with "number one" skinsman Clem Cattini! The duo split in 1969, with Crane and Kinsley both going on to front a number of other bands.

B. What was Silver Street House (Boarding Residence) subsequently known as?

a) The Beach House Hotel, run by Mrs Esson in the 1900s and now 15 Church Street.

C. Where, originally, was oor toon’s Gasworks?

a) Near the foot of Silver Street.

D. Which Chemist preceded George Grant at 25 High Street?

a) James Aitchison Purves from the mid-1880s through to the late 1920s.

E. Who designed Templelands at 27 and 29 High Street?

a) It was designed on the cusp of the 19thC by James Craig.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th December 2023

Quiz Number 164


A. What was the house number of the dwelling at The Hole in the Wa', in the photo above?

a) 12 High Street.

B. When were the years of service at Dunbar Secondary/Grammar School of Alexander Comrie and his two successors?

a) Comrie - 1897 to 1927; Macaulay - 1927 to 1952; Hugh Cowan - 1953 to 1961.

C. Where was headmaster, Robert Macaulay, who preceded Cowan and succeeded Comrie born?

a) Paisley, born 9am, July 8th 1888 at Greenhills Road. He was 1 of 7 children (3 boys and 4 girls) to Robert  Macaulay and Annabella Drummond. He was a Science Master prior to his being Headmaster at the Breezy Burgh and it may be an apocryphal anecdote apropos his being gassed in WW1.

D. Which High Street number did the Macaulays' house assume when all dwellings became numbered?

a) 14 High Street.

E. Why did he call his house "Trewithnoe"?

a) When he married Helen Bilsland Dickie in 1917, he was stationed at Withnoe Military Camp in Cornwall, near Plymouth, Devon. Also, Tre means house, settlement or homestead in Cornish and Trewithnoe features in Cornish verse and manuscripts.

Bonus Question


Why might the song below be consequential to oor late and long-lamented Victoria Ballroom?

a) From The Vic's earliest days the Fife band Mark V, pictured below, were a feature here, really oor resident band. Many teenage budding strummers wondered at the fret-work of the Dunfermline band's lead guitarist Manuel Charlton.


In the following years, Spanish-born Manny joined Fife's own Red Hawkes and then the Shadettes who subsequently became Nazareth! If one had to pick a tune to display Manny's talents one might have plumped for Mark V's Fontana release and cover of an Isley Brothers’ song "Tango" or its “b-side” and their party-piece cover of the Beatles "Things We Said Today" but what could beat a ballad from songwriters the Bryants’, one of many of theirs which were more than good enough for the Everly Brothers. So here it is:-

Sadly, two of the original members of Nazareth died last year - Manuel Charlton born in La Linea, Andalusia in Spain on 25/6/1941 and died in Texas on 5/7/2022 and (William) Dan(iel) McCafferty born in Dunfermline on 14/10/1946 and died on 8/11/2022 in the USA.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th November 2023

Quiz Number 163

A. What was the name of the vessel being towed in the picture above and what purpose did it serve in the mid-60s?

a) She was a former Lightship, MV Comet, at 90 feet long and 500 tons. Built at John Brown’s shipyard on the Clyde in 1904 and was fitted out as a Radio Station in Guernsey with and some minor mods effected later by Kerr & Co. of McArthur’s, East Linton. She broadcast on 242 metres MW (20k) as a pirate radio and her signature tune was "The Black Bear". She started broadcasting at 11:50 pm on 31.12.1965 and her life was cut short on 14.08.1967. Comet was towed into Methil Docks on 18th of September 1967 and within a fortnight she was stripped of her mast and transmitter, finally and sadly she was scrapped in Holland in 1968.

B. Where was the vessel in “A” above moored?

a) Initially moored roughly 4 miles off Dunbar and a mile eastby of the wreck "Royal Fusilier" then off Troon for a while, followed briefly at Ballywater, Co.Down and finally returned "hame" to the Breezy Burgh.

C. When was the Redheugh Hotel built (for and) by Cunninghams Builders?

a) 1892 to 1893.

D. Which was the nearest Hotel to that in “C” above?

a) The 1898 Cunninghams build which became Kerridges Hotel.

E. Who were the first hotelkeepers of the premises in “C” and “D” above?

a) George Kerridge (1850 - 26.12.1897) and Jane Kerridge nee Robson (? - 19/7/1922). From 1893 to 1897 the couple ran the Redheugh and widow Jane and family subsequently ran Kerridges from 1898 to 1921. After sale in 1922, Isabella C Fergie, wife of John, ran Kerridges as the Bayswell Hotel.

Bonus Question - Which venue, opened in 1963 (see song below), celebrated its 60th anniversary of opening, on the 22nd of November?

a) A harbourside, former military gymnasium became The Victoria Ballroom and was officially opened on Friday 7pm-ish, on 22nd November 1963.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th October 2023

Quiz Number 162

A. What was, and probably still is, the acreage of The Sailors Park*?

a) 7.5 acres.

*It now embraces the Secondary School of 1961 vintage (+2 Extensions), Playing Fields and Car Park

B. When was the first printing press set up in East Lothian?

a) By 1795, here on Dunbar High Street by James Miller.

C. Where was the Shepherds’ Hall in West Barns?

a) It was located where Nos 30 and 32 Edinburgh Road now stand.

D. Which Edinburgh burial ground is the resting place of Linkfield (West Barns) poet Richard Gall?

a) After his death on 10th May 1801 he was subsequently buried at Old Calton, NE Edinburgh.

E. Who was the last Boxmaster of the Society of Sailors of Dunbar?

a) Captain William Smith on the cusp of the 19th/20th Centuries.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th September 2023

Quiz Number 161


A. What was the line-up of early 60s Dunbar band “The Five Rebils”?

a) Jimmy Connolly (On skins), John Hamilton Cregan (Baritone vocals plus guitar), Norrie Laing (Double bass), John Lough - Jocky Locky (Vocals high range) and Victor "Vicky" Wilson Lough (Bass and vocals). Later on, Jimmy was replaced by Gordon Briggs – Briggsy aka Twiggy.

B. When the East Lothian County Sports were held in 1963 two Dunbar teenagers, nearing fifteen, were in the shake-up to win the Boys Intermediate section. Who were they?

a) Charlie Blacklock of S2B, soon to take up an apprenticeship, just pipped Rob Brown of S3A for the trophy.

C. Where did “Paddy” Mill, former heedie at West Barns School, come from?

a) William Mitchell Mill was one of five children born to Mary Low and William Mill (Lighthouse keeper). He was born at Fladda Island on 18th July 1873 and lived with his parents in various lighthouses until he moved to Dunbar. He initially boarded in Dunbar at Church Street and taught at Dunbar Secondary. He was renowned for his disciplinarian stance. He married neighbour, Isabella McAdam Mayne, in Dunbar on 28th April 1905 and they were blessed with two daughters and a son. Somewhat strangely they emigrated, whilst in the Autumn of their years, to Australasia and, despite probably ending their years there, mention is made on the Mayne gravestone at Lair K154/6 in the Parish Church cemetery.

D. Which venues did the band featured on the photo and track above appear at, just prior to their gig here?

a) Prior to their visit here on Sunday July 17th 1966 the Yardbirds appeared at the Palais de danse, Cowdenbeath and City Hall, Perth on 15th and The Ice Rink, Ayr on the 16th.

E. Who won the porridge eating competition at the Palace of Pleasure in 1964/5?

a) Through the early to mid-60s various, different competitions were held at "The Palace of Pleasure" and East Beach, however, in eating eight bowls of porridge with a teaspoon, with a comfort break half-way-through, John Hamilton Cregan was declared the winner.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th August 2023

Quiz Number 160

A. When were the Faa/Fall family, pre-eminent Businessmen (Banking Merchants, Whaling and much more), based in the Breezy Burgh of Dunbar?

a) From the last quarter of the 17th Century to the 1st quarter of the 19th Century.

B. Where did the Fall family belong?

a) Knowes Mill and hereabouts in Dunbar!

Also i) Where were they based in Dunbar and ii) where did they go?

i) Lousie Law (pre-Custom House), Dunbar House, Hestival House, 97 High Street and a couple of mansions at the top end of the north west part of the High Street.

ii) The male side of the family died off by the early 1800s.

C. Which privateer in the 1st quarter of the 18thC (1718-19) traded in Indigo between the Caribbean and New York under the aegis of Capt. James and Robert Fall?

a) "The Happy Janet".

D. Who captained Charles and Robert Fall’s vessel "Magdalene" on its “September Sailings” to the Carolinas in the later years of the 18thC, landing at Charleston, South Carolina and not Belhaven, North Carolina?

a) Robert Beattie.

E. What was the frequency of the sailings of the ship in Question D?

a) Annually.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th July 2023

Quiz Number 159

A. Who, it's postulated, was born in Dunbar c634 AD/CE?

a) Saint Cuthbert, patron Saint of Northumbria.

B. When did the person in Question A die?

a) 20th March 687.

C. What’s the link between the song above and Questions A and B?

a) Saint Cuthbert was buried at Lindisfarne.

D. Where, near Dunbar, was the above photo taken?

a) Within the ruins of Innerwick Castle.

E. Which fortress is quite propinquous to D?

a) Thornton Castle was t’other side of the glen/gorge.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th June 2023

Quiz Number 158

A) What was Kellie's Haven?

a) The predecessor of Cromwell Harbour.

B) When was Dunbar's poetess finally recognised for her literary endeavours?

a) 1881.

C) Where is Lawrie's Den?

a) Between the Skerries north-west of the Vowt.

D) Which house was Pineapple Cottage?

a) The residence on corner of Lamer Street and Shore Street (even numbered side).

E) Who said “Summer visitors and some arnae”?

a) Mattie Boyle.

Daly's Corner Quiz

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13th May 2023

Quiz Number 157

A. What is the connection between the songs above/below and oor toon’s suburbs?

a) There are only two Belhavens in the world, one here in East Lothian and t’other in North Carolina. Belhaven, NC's most famous character was Eva Narcissus Boyd aka Little Eva. Our most notable former Belhaven denizen was theatre impresario John Henry Alexander (link). NB - The Fall family's ships also traded with the Carolinas.

B. When did the “Seasiders” change their colours and what were they previously?

a) i    They changed their first strip to green tops with white sleeves on 2nd May 1949.

    ii   They reverted back to black and white tops on 22nd May 1951.

C. Where was the Bield/Shelter for the mob/rangale of beasts within the Deer Park?

a) For about first half-century the deer feeding-station/shed was at the now 2nd green. 

D. Which lady member set a new course record and was Ladies champion at DGC in 2022?

a) Kirsten Ireland.

E. Who, playing at Countess Park, although winning no trophies, were arguably the best cup side we ever had?

a) Probably the best Dunbar United cup eleven never to have won a cup was in Season 1952/53 when they played 16 cup ties altogether, scoring 46 goals. Namely :- James Ritchie, Andrew Hastings, William Lindores, Robert Inch, James Todd, James Mowatt, John Hannan, John Paterson, Hugh Gillan, George Burnett and John Dryden.