Kit's Memories
Addiewell/Barbados
By Billy Kane
I lived in Loganlea from birth, in 1943, until 1968 when I left to live and work in London. I have lovely memories of my life in Loganlea; in those days there was very little to be afraid of except getting in trouble with your parents, so my childhood was idyllic. I attended St Thomas' Primary School and later St Mary's in West Calder. We had no gameboys or internet then so we all had to make our own entertainment and after coming home from school we were desperate to get outside and play and dreaded being asked to stay indoors. My cousin Catherine and myself use to jump the burn from Scolley Bridge up to Todd's Farm. We were a very close family and my cousins Catherine, Peter and Anne Cassidy were just like sisters and another brother- my brother Tommy died after an accident in his home. My wee sister Margaret joined me in London a few years after our mother (Kate) died and she now lives in France.
I married a Barbadian and eventually left London to live in Barbados. Alan died in 2002, but I am still in Barbados because I love the little island. I am still working and I am a Director of a Company which imports Lumber into Barbados. I enjoy my trips home and like to be kept up to date with all news from Loganlea. I should mention that during my years in London, I never missed a march against the Vietnam war, Apartheid and the hated Thatcher and her government. My cousin Peter was always with me as he worked tirelessly in support of the Labour Party.
The photos show some of my friends on holiday on the beaches and in the rum shops of Barbados.
The two pictures at the bottom of the page are from my birthday party a few years ago in Loganlea Miners Club, where I met friends I had not seen for years and we had a ball. I hope all my friends back home are supporting the addiewellheritage site, my kind regards to you all. Catherine Alleyne.