A walk through Thurso's past
Recorded 1 month ago
About this recording
At 90, Aileen Munro reflects on a lifetime of change in Thurso, guiding listeners along the town’s main streets and vividly bringing the shops of her childhood back to life. One place that stands out is the Victoria Saloon: “It was a sweetie shop in the front. It was a huge shop, and you went through a beautiful glass door, I remember and it was a barber shop.”
Fred Shearer’s shop holds especially happy memories. Aileen’s mother bought an outfit there to wear at Aileen’s wedding, while her sister found a bridesmaid’s dress. At Lipton’s grocery shop, her mother would buy bags of broken biscuits, and Aileen can still picture the assistants slicing cheese and butter with wire.
Jessie Allan’s toy shop also comes vividly to mind. It was where Aileen got her first bicycle and where local bairns eagerly spent their pocket money on Matchbox cars.
Aileen's memories extend beyond the shops to Sunday school and church, as well as her adventures with the Brownies and Girl Guides. Camping trips to Dunrobin and Reay remain particularly memorable. Close to her Duncan Street home was Thurso West Public School, where she spent happy primary-school years and made many fond memories.
High school was a different story. Aileen left as soon as she turned 15 and began training as a hairdresser. She remembers, in particular, just how long it took to give someone a perm.
Aileen still meets friends regularly for coffee. She hopes her tour of Thurso’s shops will stir fond memories for others.
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