Hello there Readers here are some of my delightful and eventful memories of Paisley. My maiden name is Fraser I was born in Hamilton Ontario went to Scotland when I was 5 or so, returned here when I was 22. MY mum is a Harrigan. Lots of them in Paisley.

MY mother from Paisley Cis Harrigan, brought my sister and I when we were wee ones, to aninteresting place called Ferguslie Park We lived at my grans on Scadlock Rd, and we were the talk of the town for a while (the wee snobs from Canada) with the funny accents. I recall the many people around the area the shops at the bottom of the road where my gran sent me for messages on tick I had to sign the book and we paid on a Friday.

The big turkey factory called Pinkertons that hired wains and paid you 5 pound for a days work. (handed over promptly to my mum of course). My gran being the best cook on the road would be baking large scones mixed by hand in a basin and pots of stovies that I can still taste. All the washes hung out in the backdoors and women talking if yours wisnae white or bright. That huge boiler with the big stick had to get everything white or else. I attended St Fergus's beside the Ferguslie school and there was constant wars between the two.

A day sticks in my mind when I went to call on a pal from the Ferguslie school and her dad wouldn't let me over the door cause I was a feen... this being something of a nasty word (I still don't know how to spell it). New years was always a thrill my gran had to have a dark first foot and no darker was there than Percy Cardonna who was to be her first foot for more than 30 years. (he was black). The wonderfull tea parties we had on a sunday all the wee girls were invited Senga Cherry, Jose McGee, Elaine McKean, Mary McKinney, and a lovely wee girl last name McFarlane who lost her mum and her handsome brother, there were sad times when we were young too.

Well my snob from Canada name didn't last long after I came hame from school one day with nits in my nice long hair and after a battering (I don't know what for) I was to be combed and scrubbed for 3 days. As we got older we moved to the East end, Bank St It was a room and kitchen just along from the Anchor Mills (the same mill gates my nephew crashed into 2 years ago and was killed a loss that will never be filled, to this day they have not repaired the fence or gate) where many Paisley people were fortunate to have a good job there.

Sadly this is all closed now Paisley losing many jobs when it did.I got my first job at a chippy called Napoletanios across from St Mirins Cathedral great job, waitressing, cooking and cleaning I was able to clean the owners Mima's big house behind the tall wall back of the Cathedral for extra money. My tips were great and I used them for the latest made to measure school blazers and shirts with the stitching on the pockets at Arthur Blacks in Glasgow. The dancing was the best in Paisley, Valentinos, Zoes, Paris, and when my mum fell out with my step father she took me (16) to The Plaza in Glasgow what a time.

I eventually got a wee job at the Paisley Liberal Club on the High St it had bingo ,dances and great sing songs. Something happened there with my step fathers family( The Cannings) who were involved in the club so I was told it wouldn't be to good to go there anymore (never did find out what). The two years before I came back to Canada I lived myself and son in a house in Ferguslie beside a lady called Lily James ,she was the kindest person I knew and helped my son and I more than she knows, God Bless her.

On my own I learned what were the best shops Watson's the butcher for sausage, McMillan's the bakers for bread and what every woman wants for cheap clothes. Reid kerr college gave me my future in teaching cooking for a living but I remember my gran gave me my beginnings. I lived on Neilston Rd for the year till I came here and enjoyed the peace and beauty of Brody park many times with my son.

Saturdays I worked at a wee bookies in stonehouse own tommy... cant remember, Saturday evenings I was partial to a glass of wine in the Charleston Arms. I have been back in Canada now for 17 years and my own family are very Canadian although I will always have Paisley in my heart and have shared memories and holidays with my sons in OOr toon.

Eileen Reid (Fraser)