Mr Shields Boats at Dalintober

[Ship called Dignity]

Bit of a Down Memory Lane theme to this but this I suppose is history too as I thought this picture was amazing when I saw it!

The picture is taken at Dalintober around 1958 and features Mr Shields Boats - anyone know anyone or any stories?

[jdcarra]

I'll surely not forget them Davie. Were did you get the colour photo? As a boy I remember my father always taken me down to Jock's boat merry-go-round and also round to his bike repair shop Burnside street. I remember through the arch and to the right was his store. I think he should get the honour of Famous Campbeltonian's for all the joy he brought to the youth of yesteryear.

[WC1]

I think John Shields moved to Burnside Street after giving up a shop in Longrow where the Golden Ocean is now. The Bike Shop was on the right hand side and Beth McFadyen's fish and chip shop on the left hand side of what is now the Chinese restaurant's double frontage. Mr Shields would charge up the accumulator for your wireless as well as sell and repair bikes. I got my first brand-new bike there as a reward for getting the Dux prize in P7 of the old Kinloch School (Dalintober and Millknowe combined). Didn't he also do boat hiring from the slipway at the New Quay as well as having his roundabout at Dalintober Beach?

[Ship called Dignity]

Is that why the children's boat down the front is called Jock's Boat? Is it after Mr Shields?

I remember taking my bike to him as a kid in Burnside Street right enough..

[GarySutherland]

That's brilliant! I've never seen one of those before.

Cheers
Gary

[jaywalker]

Does anyone else remember or better still have a photo of the peddallos jock used to hire out at the slip? If i remember right, at least one was shaped like a swan. I remember one of his rowing boats sunk under me at the stair at the top of the quay and I never got my money back.

[jdcarra]

I think John Shields moved to Burnside Street after giving up a shop in Longrow where the Golden Ocean is now. The Bike Shop was on the right hand side and Beth McFadyen's fish and chip shop on the left hand side of what is now the Chinese restaurant's double frontage. Mr Shields would charge up the accumulator for your wireless as well as sell and repair bikes. I got my first brand-new bike there as a reward for getting the Dux prize in P7 of the old Kinloch School (Dalintober and Millknowe combined). Didn't he also do boat hiring from the slipway at the New Quay as well as having his roundabout at Dalintober Beach?

WCI
Yes your right about Longrow to Burnside, it was only after I posted that I remembered that.

jaywalker

Also remember the big white swan, but have no pics. The boats were propelled round by an old seagull outboard within the biggest boat.

[Big Bob]

I got my first new bike there too. An Elswick a very tough bike.

[Dunc]

Jock also sold TV sets when they came to Campbeltown..he was joined by Arthur Strain who worked with me at Rhu Stafnish for a while.Bob Brown then went into the TV shop in Main Street with Arthur for a few years.
Always remember John trying to solder inside a tv set with very big soldering iron whilst the blow lamp to heat it rested on the top finesse sadly missing somewhat.I also remember a TV set at Rhu Staf. arriving from John with 2 enormous bolts thru the polished cabinet holding a transformer...
Great days thou also got my first bike there.
Quite a character indeed.

Dunc

[petewick]

Is that why the children's boat down the front is called Jock's Boat? Is it after Mr Shields?

Would make a nice story Davie, but the truth is that another person who I assume goes by the name Jock left his stamp there when the kiddies boat was placed there.
Because the paint that "Jock" used was indelible and the soft surface too expensive to replace, it was decided to make the best of a bad job, and so that is how Jocks Boat was named.
Anything else ye' want tae know P, jeest ask.

Petewick

[petewick]

Can also remember going to Burnside to get my bikes fixed by Jock.
Evey time you would go in he would say, "back again Johnnie boy?"

Ah, memories.

[jaywalker]

He also made a mean sling out of bicycle wheel spokes and rubber bands.

[Sweltered]

I remember Jock being thoroughly perplexed and bamboozled by the handlebar twist-gear shift on my "Grifter". Too new fangled for him. and the only tyre he had that would fit it was the back tyre off a "Chopper".

[Frosty]

Correct jaywalker , a custom made sling that many a Teacher will remember.
He certainly was one of the unique people that The Wee Toon generated all them years ago.
I'm sure all my bikes were from D M Browns , but Jock always got the repairs and did a smashing job too.
Great Post Mr P.

Cheers
Frosty

[paraffin man]

Tell me something.......

The pictures of jock's boats are in the water, no surprise there you might ask, but how did the kids get into the boats without getting there tootsies wet?

JD you were a man experienced in Captaining such fine vessels maybe you can tell us