School Class.
The originals are small prints or negatives. The image shown here is a portion of the complete picture to show the essential part of the picture. Most are about one inch by one and a half inch sections, they look best on screen.
In this article Grannie is Janet Chalmers McKenzie married to Granddad George Peebles Sage, Mum is Christina Peebles Sage and Dad is John Boyd Ritchie.
School Class.
Horses were used in the Coal Business, this is two at rest. The large one is a Clydesdale and the other from Ireland. If the driver overloaded the cart they could snap the pulling chain by twitching a shoulder.
The advantage, or not, of being eldest is having some pictures recording the event. Being born in wartime as George and Kirsty were means that there was no film so no early picture.
On Moncrieff Island Grandad Sage had a allotment, this is Mum attending to it. Possibly in 1936.
Mum, think this was about 1936.
When Mum Dad married they moved to Scone, this is a hen house that held several hundred hens. Dad sold the eggs around the Gannochy area. Later fish and a expanded round was created.
Mum and John in garden at Scone, with Lilies in Bloom.
From left Helen holding Flora, Mum, Jessie McKechnie and again centre John feeding the Black Goat. This photo is on the steps leading to a gate to Highfield Road.
From left William, Granny Sage, Mum, Helen and centre stage John.
Since there are few pictures of Helen and Will in the early years this is included. Apparently Helen and Will had just received the raincoats so were wearing them for the photos. Will had a unfortunate accident with his, Granny Ritchie saved the day by arranging a repair job that managed to remain unnoticed for some time. Then he was advised it was better to "come clean"......
Helen picking mushrooms. This is a press photo probably about 1948. Mushrooms were introduced when Dad returned to civilian work, they were initially very profitable but this soon declined.
A large greenhouse was constructed to grow tomato's.
George with a Jackdaw, the bird was collected from Jackdaw Hill near Balbeggie, we had several and by some miracle they survived to grow big enough to fly away. The tree was a trimmed round boxwood one about 12 feet diameter, any volunteers to trim it?
Kirsty standing in a Rhododendron bush
To finish this section a picture of Mum supporting the motley crew as she did in life.
Shortly after James was born a trip with Grandma Sage and Aunt Effie Sage to Buchanty Spout in the Singer Motor Car was recorded. Since there are several shots they are together.
From left Effie, Dad, Kisty, George holding James, Grannie all standing beside the Singer, Mum assisted by John as Photographers.
From left George, Aunt Effie, John, Dad. It must have been warm to get Effie paddling barefoot.
From left Aunt Effie Sage, James, Grannie Sage. This shot is proof that it was warmer in days of yore, Effie still barefoot!
This is a unique picture of Dad in a suit and tie with trousers rolled up paddling in the Pool at Buchanty.
James having a supported introduction to cold water.
This was a much later trip, about 1958, again Dad has a tie and Mum has bare feet from paddling.
On the same trip as above, James in the trunks. The location has not been decided.