Interviews of Roy Pugh

In this interview, Roy Pugh (b. 1941, Dunbar) talks about his early life in Dunbar, his career in the civil service and his enduring love for Dunbar, history, the natural world and writing. Roy’s parents had married in 1939 and he recalls that he saw very little of his father, a career soldier who lived away most of the time. One exception was a visit in 1947, when Roy recalled his father’s kit bag was full of sweeties and chocolates which, with rationing, was an amazing sight.

His parents eventually separated and Roy recalls some of the jobs he did as a youngster to help with the family finances. This included taking extended time out of school to go to the potato picking. One teacher made him (and another pupil) stand up in their English class and state that they would rather earn money than learn. He also recalls some wartime memories, including the German POW camp at Amisfield, playing on the tank blocks at Belhaven and shells being dropped over Dunbar.

Roy also recalls his childhood home, remembering the visits by the chimney sweep and 2 fires from his childhood. In 1951, electricity was put into the house and Roy remembers the huge influx of workers, many of whom lodged in the town. He also talks about his love of toy soldiers and family and community traditions around Christmas, Hogmanay and Halloween. Money earned by guising at Halloween was spent at Graham’s ironmongery, a shop that dated back to the 18th century. Roy recalls other shops and businesses in town including the Co-op, Siddons Saving Society and Daniel Smith (where people got their made-to-measure suits). He recalls the various dancehalls in Dunbar and the rivalry between the Dunbar and North Berwick youths which would often erupt.

Remembering his childhood, Roy said that he had an early love of English and History but recalled that his teacher, Miss MacDonald, would not put him forward for his Higher English exam because she was prejudiced against any child with connections to the army. When he left school, Roy applied to the Civil Service and, passing the exam in 1st place in Scotland, he worked first in Dundee (with the Post Office) before transferring to St Andrew’s House, where he worked in NHS administration for 30 years. Towards the end of the interview, Roy reflects on his decision to return to Dundee in 2000. Although he has a great love for Dunbar, he has been saddened by the attitude that by leaving he now has no right to an opinion about the town.

He also reflects on the contribution made by people who have moved into the area and who are more committed to the community than many local people and recalls the building of the ‘electric scheme’ to house the families who moved to Dunbar as part of the Glasgow overspill (1960). Roy also talks about childhood games, exploring the countryside around Dunbar, SWRI day trips with his mother, weekend tasks and learning how to swim by watching a frog. Roy also speaks about his writing (he has written several books about Dunbar) and his plans to research further into his mother’s side of the family.