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From: "Mr Alan Hattle" <>
Subject: Edinburgh-Glasgow rivalry & Doon the Water
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:20:17 +0100


I have recently uncovered a few letters written in the mid 1950s by
great aunts in Edinburgh to my grandfather who had emigrated to South
Africa. In one, I detect something of an Edinburgh – Glasgow rivalry
and would be interested (at the risk of starting something heated on
the list!) in knowing some background.

Great Aunt Alice writes, “This is Edin Holiday Period and Saturday
starts Glasgow’s one when they DO let themselves go. I’m thankful we
don’t need to share with them. Lodgings are booked weeks in advance and
you know what Glasgow folk and their families are like when they go
Doon the Water. It’s their way not ours.” The letter is dated 12th of
either April or July (smudged – can’t see if it’s a 4 or a 7) 1955

Could Alice have been a snob? And she wasn’t even an Edinburrer (or
whatever the list has decided is the correct term) – she moved there
from Berwick-on-Tweed as a young woman.

What does the expression “Doon the Water” mean?

Regards
Alan Hattle



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