BELL TOLLS FOR LOCAL COUPLE

Sadly,  Jean and Archie Bell of Bellevue died on 17th and 24 July, writes John Dickie. A shared obituary was published, and they also shared a service at Lorimer Chapel, Warriston Crematorium on 2 August.

Archie belonged to Broughton, man and boy. In 1995, aged 62, he recorded some early childhood memories. They included vivid descriptions of his days as a Second World War evacuee – first to Dirleton and later to Aberdeenshire. But before that: 'I was a pupil at Broughton Primary School at the tender age of 6. I recall the first air raid on the Firth of Forth – German bombers trying to bomb Rosyth Naval Dockyard and ships on the Forth. I recall picking up bent and squashed bullets from Bellevue (now Drummond) School playground. Not German bullets, but Spitfire and Hurricane bullets, because the bombers were flying so low over the City the RAF was shooting down at them from above.'

Jean grew up a South Sider, in Dumbiedykes, moving to Broughton when she married Archie. She had a fund of folklore from her earlier years, which she then developed as a member of the St Ann's Reminiscence Group in the 1990s. Group members contributed their memories, and the result was a series of booklets. Fortunately for us, Jean did some Broughton interviews for the booklets, too: Mr Hope, the London Street undertaker; Ella Brodie of Broughton Court and East London Street; and Harriet Barr, whose family owned Kidd's Dairy' and general store at 2 Bellevue Street.  Some of Jean's material has also featured in Broughton History Society's exhibitions.

Jean had a great sense of humour, which surfaced in her personal contribution (entitled 'Church Clangers') to a 2007 booklet published by Broughton St Mary's Parish Church. Here's an extract which combines local history with Bell family history: 'A club for children was run by American missionaries in the basement of Mansfield Place Church, and my youngest son Douglas, and niece, Linda, attended. My sister, Marion, collected them and asked what they had been doing that day. Linda said, “Oh, we had all about the gas bill.” We were a bit bemused until we realised that the American gas bill was our Gospel!'

Archie and Jean were among the earliest contributors to the Spurtle, and for many years members of the Broughton History Society. Our condolences go to their children and grandchildren.

[An abbreviated version of this obituary appears in Issue 233.]