From: RICHARD CROPPER <noreply-comment@blogger.com>
To: peter.hoffmann@btinternet.com
Sent: Thursday, 17 April 2014, 20:36
Subject: [Edinburgh Scotland 6 Oxgangs Avenue 1958-1972 'The Stair'] New comment on Dr Motley-An Update.
RICHARD CROPPER has left a new comment on your post "Dr Motley-An Update":
Hello, my name is Richard Cropper and I`m so glad to have found your page via Lost Edinburgh. I was brought into the world by this lovely man on 29/10/62 at 2B Oxgangs Green. My younger brother was also delivered by Dr Motley on 29/1/65. My late Dad remembers rushing along Oxgangs Avenue when my arrival was imminent,knocking on the door of Macalester Cottage. Always unhurried, "Calm down Mr Cropper, I`ll be there in a few minutes!" I continued as his patient up until about 1978 I seem to recall (We relocated to Murrayburn Park,Wester Hailes in July 1970 but still continued with AP as our Doctor). Always referred to us boys as "Professor", as perhaps to all young male children in his practice? I remember him fondly as the archetypal kindly family Doctor "How are your Parents? And your Brothers and Sister?" but I recall his diagnoses could be somewhat hit-or-miss. On other subjects on your site my first P1 teacher was Mrs Berwick, my second was Miss Gibson. My elder brother Jack was taught by Miss J M Meharry, my elder sister Lesley was taught by the same Mrs Berwick and then Mrs Rosie, and I remember the Headmaster was indeed Mr Mackenzie. I can recollect the flamboyant Miss Sulley vaguely. The Rev Jack Orr from Caiystane I remember (his son Calum was in my class. Happy Childhood days, ours was the house with the rose garden at the front. masterminded and maintained by my Grandad Joe Cropper. Anyone out there remember us? Neighbours I remember were the Colquhouns, Mrs Kersel, the Donlevys,the Bells and the Hunters.Brilliant site Peter, well done!!
Richard,
Hello, my name is Richard Cropper and I`m so glad to have found your page via Lost Edinburgh. I was brought into the world by this lovely man on 29/10/62 at 2B Oxgangs Green. My younger brother was also delivered by Dr Motley on 29/1/65. My late Dad remembers rushing along Oxgangs Avenue when my arrival was imminent,knocking on the door of Macalester Cottage. Always unhurried, "Calm down Mr Cropper, I`ll be there in a few minutes!" I continued as his patient up until about 1978 I seem to recall (We relocated to Murrayburn Park,Wester Hailes in July 1970 but still continued with AP as our Doctor). Always referred to us boys as "Professor", as perhaps to all young male children in his practice? I remember him fondly as the archetypal kindly family Doctor "How are your Parents? And your Brothers and Sister?" but I recall his diagnoses could be somewhat hit-or-miss. On other subjects on your site my first P1 teacher was Mrs Berwick, my second was Miss Gibson. My elder brother Jack was taught by Miss J M Meharry, my elder sister Lesley was taught by the same Mrs Berwick and then Mrs Rosie, and I remember the Headmaster was indeed Mr Mackenzie. I can recollect the flamboyant Miss Sulley vaguely. The Rev Jack Orr from Caiystane I remember (his son Calum was in my class. Happy Childhood days, ours was the house with the rose garden at the front. masterminded and maintained by my Grandad Joe Cropper. Anyone out there remember us? Neighbours I remember were the Colquhouns, Mrs Kersel, the Donlevys,the Bells and the Hunters.Brilliant site Peter, well done!!
Richard,
I enjoyed reading your comments; it's always a pleasant surprise when someone stumbles across the site a while after it was first put up.
Mrs Berwick was my first teacher too-she had a kindly nature, but I believe I was the first pupil she ever had to belt after decades in the profession! I suspect you were probably in the year before my sister Anne? I tried to do justice in the two long pieces on the two key teachers for me i.e. Sulley and Hoddinot-both somewhat different experiences. Mr Mackenzie, I only mention briefly; unfortunately my occasional visitations to his office were to receive the belt-and boy could he deliver! Reflecting now forty six years on I wonder how much the approach back then was the stick rather than the carrot? I certainly didn't receive any recognition from him/the school when I won the 1968 Edinburgh Primary Schools Inter-Scholastic 100 yards championship!
I assume you saw the earlier, longer blog on Dr Motley (16 December, 2012)? He was a real character and as you say an atypical family doctor. Your wee epigrams give an added insight about him. Like you I kept him as my doctor when I moved to Portobello in 1972-changed days!
One theme which comes through is my interest in the difference between 'relationships and transactions' which have evolved over the past forty years; Dr Motley is a good example. It's a pity 'AP' never penned a small memoir. (By the way, there's a lovely, small book called 'Leaves From The Life of a Country Doctor' by Clement Bryce Gunn which is worth a read-buy the charming 1947 version with the charming green dust jacket with the doctor on the cover wading through the snow.)
I'll post your comment so that it appears as a recent post rather than being buried away back in October, 2013.
All the best.
Peter
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