The Marine Gardens

by **rathbone** » 18 Jun 2007, 09:11

Following his coronation, it was decided that King George V would then travel to India where, in the course of a Durbar in Bombay he would be crowned Emperor of India.

Almost out of the blue, it was announced on 23 August that the person who had been selected to take on the task of organising this huge and prestigious event was none other than Thomas Henry Eslick, the manager of the Marine Park and Zoological Gardens, Portobello.

Eslick was immediately released from his contract by the Directors of the Gardens, left Edinburgh for London the same day and sailed for Bombay the following week.

Apart from his loss to the Gardens, there was the loss of his witty and idiosyncratic adverts in the pages of the Scotsman.

by **rathbone** » 19 Jun 2007, 09:13

The first annual sports of Edinburgh Police were held on 26 August in the sports ground. Bailie Macfarlane, ex Bailie Inches and Mr. R.K. Kinninmont were judges of the racing events. Mrs. Ross, wife of the Chief Constable, presented the prizes. The programme was long and varied and included items for juveniles. Music was supplied by the police Pipe Band.

by **rathbone** » 20 Jun 2007, 09:36

by **rathbone** » 25 Jun 2007, 09:24

The flight led to a series of displays by Ewen. The monoplane was kept on display in the gardens and on 1st September there was a military display in the sports ground, which included a naval duel between dreadnoughts and an aerial bombardment which concluded with a grand firework display. For the event the gardens were illuminated with 20,000 fairy lights.

by **rathbone** » 26 Jun 2007, 09:56

by **rathbone** » 27 Jun 2007, 09:06

by **rathbone** » 29 Jun 2007, 19:32

You will be a long time dead and we have only four weeks more in which to make you feel really good. So get on a Joppa car for Portobello and all you need to keep you going the whole day is two shillings and six pence and this includes a drink! Just think - 2 tram rides and admission to the lovely Marine Gardens. A walk round the zoo and a look at our new baby, Frank, and all the other lot. A stroll round the Carnival hall. Then a wee nip. Then the Merry Makers. Then a beautifully served luncheon for 1s for 3 courses. Then buy a 1s book of coupons which gives you 2s worth of fun for 1s. Then the charming Marine theatre. Then a nice stroll round the Band of the 3rd Dragoons, with the fresh air blowing in your face. Then into the Japanese cafe and have your tea. By this time you will feel good. Now use your coupons and have the time of your life. When on the Scenic Railway you feel like yelling. Well, yell. We don’t charge a cent more for it. It’s yours for the ticket. Then get on the Great Joy Wheel and yell again. By this time your jaws will ache, so get into the Electric Theatre and sit still for a bit. It’s comic, amusing and educational. Now visit the Enchanted Castle and have another scream. By this time you will feel like kissing the Directors and the Manager. Finish up with a dance and take the last car home, but be sure you get it. You will be tired but happy. The Manager.

by **rathbone** » 30 Jun 2007, 14:33

by **rathbone** » 01 Jul 2007, 07:16

by **rathbone** » 02 Jul 2007, 11:42

A curious road accident happened in Portobello on 11 September 1911.

A horse attached to a lorry loaded with barrels of beer, the property of a firm of Craigmillar brewers, was proceeding towards Leith when near the principal entrance to Edinburgh Marine Park it took fright at a camel belonging to the zoo.

Turning round sharply before rushing off towards Portobello, the horse jerked the lorry so violently that George Munro, malt man residing at 2 Braid Place, was thrown off and before he could clear he was struck by a heavy barrel of beer which had also been pitched from the lorry.

Munro, happily, escaped the full force of the stroke but, as it was, injuries to his head and an ankle necessitated attention at Portobello police station and is removal to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

by **rathbone** » 03 Jul 2007, 10:14

by **rathbone** » 04 Jul 2007, 09:35

On 18 September Pat Connolly, the British wrestling champion was back again.

This time he defeated four Edinburgh district opponents on the stage of the Concert Hall in 16 mins. 52 secs.

The style was catch as catch can. He had offered £10 to any man whom he failed to throw in fifteen minutes or £10 to each of six opponents if they were not all thrown in an hour’s wrestling time.

He beat D. Gillespie, Edinburgh in 45 secs, Thomas Trotter, Leith police in 2 mins 2 secs, Thomas Brown Edinburgh in 5 mins 50 secs and Alex Anderson, Edinburgh in 8 mins 15 secs.

by **rathbone** » 05 Jul 2007, 09:13

by **rathbone** » 06 Jul 2007, 09:18

by **rathbone** » 07 Jul 2007, 08:42

by **rathbone** » 08 Jul 2007, 07:16

by **rathbone** » 09 Jul 2007, 08:59

by **rathbone** » 10 Jul 2007, 07:10

by **rathbone** » 11 Jul 2007, 07:13

by **rathbone** » 12 Jul 2007, 11:51

by **rathbone** » 13 Jul 2007, 09:15

by **rathbone** » 14 Jul 2007, 08:35

by **rathbone** » 15 Jul 2007, 07:22

by **rathbone** » 16 Jul 2007, 09:12

The final of the Renton Trophy was played at the Marine Gardens on 26 May.

Niddrie Bluebell beat Granton Gasworks by two goals to nil.

by **rathbone** » 17 Jul 2007, 09:17

Highlight of the June programme was Mr. Victor Newman, character actor, who kept the programme at an entertaining level. Mr. Oldham’s mellow voice was heard to advantage in The MacGregor’s Gathering and Yes, Let Me Like A Soldier Fall and he had to respond to an encore. He also presented character studies from Dickens and Shakespeare giving convincing studies of Uriah Heep from David Copperfield, Shakespeare’s Shylock, Svengali from Trilby and closing with an original creation, Peter the Miser. The turn was very popular.

by **rathbone** » 18 Jul 2007, 09:15

by **rathbone** » 19 Jul 2007, 09:25

by **rathbone** » 20 Jul 2007, 09:25

by **rathbone** » 21 Jul 2007, 14:13

The third annual national sports meeting in connection with the Territorial Force was held at the sports ground of the Marine Gardens on 29 June.

It was the first time the event was held out of London and though the weather conditions were unsettled and rain fell heavily at intervals, there were about 5,000 spectators.

London, with 33 points, won the grand aggregate cup. Edinburgh was runners up with 19 points and Essex third with 14.

by **rathbone** » 22 Jul 2007, 07:23

by **rathbone** » 23 Jul 2007, 10:41

by **rathbone** » 24 Jul 2007, 09:24

10 August saw an attractive spectacle provided in by members of the Lothians and Border Horse Territorial Regiment. As usual, the representatives well upheld the regiment’s reputation for clever horsemanship. After a musical ride by a team of sixteen, various competitions were engaged in. Trooper Young took pride of place in the heads and posts, lemon cutting and tent pegging events. Other events were a bending race, a push ball game and the ever popular Victoria Cross race, which includes the saving of dummies. A large gathering of spectators occupied the grandstand and other portions of the sports ground.

by **rathbone** » 25 Jul 2007, 08:41

by **rathbone** » 26 Jul 2007, 09:15

The Marine Gardens

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