大象传媒

This story was told to East Ayrshire staff during their Tea Party of 11th June 2004 by Mary Niven who is nearly 97 (maiden name McGivern) who is telling her husband Jack鈥檚 story.

Jack Niven was an engineer and before that he was a footballer at Bonnyton Square 鈥� he played for Queen of the South and Chester and teams in Wales and Ireland. He gave it up at 30 when he and Mary married and went back to the Railway works for his engineering and because he had a reserved occupation he didn鈥檛 go to war.

Mary had 4 children altogether and also had to look after her mother - no home helps in those days. Mary calls the war her 鈥淏lank Years鈥� as it seemed to be all work. They had to live with her mother for most of the war as they couldn鈥檛 get a house 鈥� but eventually got a house in Armour Street, Kilmarnock. Her children went to Bentinck School in Kilmarnock.
Rationing was a nightmare = but folk managed somehow. Mary even got a holiday in Saltcoats 鈥� going by train. She went to the quietest part of the shore to get some peace and quiet with the children.

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