Enforced Move
We were only in Leven Walk for a year when we were informed we would have to move to another house.
The Jesperson flats had begun to show signs of rain penetration. For some time the residents had complained of dampness, but were assured that it was only a severe case of condensation. This theory was soon disproved. The flats were based on a Scandinavian type of building and were prefabricated at a site on the north side of Craigshill by Laing Builders.
However, the LDC had insisted that balconies should be incorporated where before they were not part of the original adopted design. These balconies were the source of the rain penetration. They affected the houses immediately beneath them. Our house was not affected
The six tenants in our stair were among those designated to move to another area. We were allocated a house, a terraced villa with a garden, in Canberra Street that had only recently been completed. We would be moved as soon as possible.
We were given the keys in December 1967 and were to be relocated in the January. However, the Divine had His say first.
The Great Storm
Who can forget the night of Sunday/Monday the 14th/15th of January 1968? This was the night of the great storm.
The wind began to rise on the Sunday morning and gradually increased in intensity as the day progressed. Coming in from the west, it was approaching gale force as residents prepared for bed. Who managed to sleep through the night was anyone`s guess. We certainly didn`t.
During the early hours it had reached gale force. Olive had been up feeding Alan and I joined her in the living room. We could hear the wind howling at storm force. Noises were heard from outside as debris and other displaced material were swept along between the flats. We knew something unusual was happening for we had never experienced anything like it before.
As dawn approached the force of the wind abated and by the time I was due to go out at 5.30 am to collect my car for work, I dreaded what I might find.
The streets were littered with debris. I knew that structural damage was inevitable, but I was not prepared for the extent of it. Roofs had been blown off several of the villa type houses in Craigshill and had landed in the gardens of nearby homes causing further damage.
It must have been terrifying for those persons lying in bed to suddenly find themselves staring up at a gaping void where once the roof had been. Numerous other houses had various damage done.
Trees, old and newly planted were uprooted and strewn everywhere. Large structures like Cameron Iron Works were particularly prone to high wind damage and this was highlighted in the many cladding sheets that were ripped from them.
Driving down Uphall Station Road, I suddenly ran into telephone wires that straddled it, the poles having been brought down by nearby uprooted trees. Fortunately no damage was inflicted other than scraped paintwork.
Officials
During the height of the storm the Livingston Development Corporation was quick to organise relief work under the personal supervision of Mr Leslie Higgs. From early on he had teams of workers out assisting where they could. Residents were rehoused in temporary accommodation and emergency repairs were carried out where possible.
Blankets and clothing were provided and, all in all, everything was done to alleviate the situation. Neighbours could not do enough for each other and were drawn together more closely in their adversity. I could not help comparing this with my early war time experience in Leith. We had the makings of a community it seemed.
The storm was widespread throughout the central belt especially the west. Glasgow was badly hit with tarpaulins taking the place of ripped off roof slates.
Clean-up
Following the aftermath of the storm, the corporation strove to get everything back on an even keel. The homeless were given top priority in being rehoused and damaged property was quickly repaired. Despite this unexpected interuption, we were given a date for our own decampment to Canberra Street for early February.
Karen and Pamela outside No 38 Canberra Street, c 1969
Some of the children of Canberra Street who raised money for a Blue Peter Appeal My own daughter Karen is seated on the left with her young brother, Alan seated on knee beside her. My other daughter Pamela is standing on the extreme right. Others
in photograph include Alan and Derek Cunningham. Heather and David Ferguson.
Photograph taken in September 1971
