Preparations - Moving In
As we had promised ourselves, we were going to move in as soon as possible.
"Where do we begin?" , we asked ourselves. Our first task was to put our old house on the market. To this end we contacted our solicitors who immediately set about finding a buyer for us. We did not expect to receive much for it as it was not in a very upmarket area. As it was, it realised £800 that was paid to us in 12 monthly instalments.
Karen`s school, Leith Academy Primary then had to be informed of her leaving. Arrangements were made with the GPO to have a telephone installed for our arrival. The Gas Board were similarly instructed to arrange for a cooker. Both these companies were as good as their word.
We bought ourselves a kitchen table and chairs that were delivered after our resettlement. A stair and hallway carpet was fitted, and we treated ourselves to an Indian square for the living room. I would later sand and stain the surrounding wooden floor.
We set a date for our moving in and a removal company was booked for that day.
We knew that shopping facilities in Livingston were practically non-existent and consequently we made our last minute purchases in Leith that we stored away in cardboard boxes to be carried out in the van.
We left the children in the care of relatives as we departed Buchanan Street for the last time in our little car. The removal van followed on behind. My father-in-law had taken a day off his work to assist us.
By the time we finally got in and settled, we thought we deserved a beer. I was to take my father-in-law home later in the evening and collect the children. No sooner had we sat down to catch our breaths when a knock was heard at the door. "Just in, and now a visitor?"
Rev. Dr Jim Maitland
On opening the door I was confronted by a reverend gentleman. "Good evening, welcome to Livingston," our visitor exclaimed. He then went on to identify himself as the Church of Scotland minister for the new town. We welcomed him in explaining our recent arrival.
Introducing himself as Rev. Jim Maitland, he told us he he lived a few doors from us, and it was his intent on greeting newcomers as such.
As part of an Ecumenical experiment, he worked alongside the Rev. Brian Hardy of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and Father John Byrne of the Roman Catholic persuasion. Although the latter`s church did not take part in communal services, they did participate in other aspects of the work in the creation of a community spirit.
Jim, as he would have us call him, invited us to attend the Forum in Riverside Primary School the following Sunday morning. The Forum took place every Sunday in the school gymnasium and was attended by almost every one of the thirty six families resident in Craigshill at the time. We promised we would duly go along.
After he left, I returned to Edinburgh and collected the children. They were really excited. They could not get into their rooms and beds quick enough. Olive and I were in seventh heaven. At last we could begin to enjoy family life with a new life ahead of us.
Forum
On Sunday we attended the Forum as promised and there we were introduced to many of those who had come to the town a shortwhile before us.
Dr Hamish Barber, our local GP, Nurse Chris Reid, Mr Kerr, the headmaster of the school, were among those.
The Forum was a debating arena where various topics relating to life in Livingston were aired and analysed. Representatives of the LDC were present and gave their views on any problems posed.
After the meeting, morning tea was served before the church services began. The ecumenical one was held where we were, while the Catholics repaired to the Youth Wing for theirs.
To assist in communications, a weekly newsletter "Newsflash" was compiled and distributed by voluntary helpers to all households. This continued to appear for a number of years and was an invaluable source of information as well as a media for buying and selling articles.
It was part of Livingston`s early history, and I for one was sorry to see its demise.
One of the first newcomers to the town had been Max Cruikshanks who was the Church of Scotland Youth Worker appointed to the area. Max had the distinction of being the first person to be married in the New Town when he and Pat wed at the ceremony in Riverside School.
