The confirmation of Dick McTaggart being a fully-fledged Dundonian in this column back in December contained a mistake.
And, boy, was it picked up by ‘hawkeyed’ BwB readers.
The edition was hardly on the street as the phone calls, emails and texts flooded in.
You see, I had put down that Wilkie’s Lane — where McTaggart was brought up in his younger years — was in the Hilltown area.
“Wilkie’s Lane is just off Hawkhill” was the massed cry.
Jimmy Ashwood was straight to the point.
“I think you may have got Dick McTaggart’s birthplace wrong!” proclaimed Jimmy, a former Lochee Harp player.
“Wilkie’s Lane was off the old Hawkhill, not the Hilltown.
“I used to walk up there every day to St Joseph’s Primary School from my home in Small’s Wynd, further down the Hawkhill which is still there but now part of the Dundee University campus.
“I remember, as a wee boy in the early 50s, seeing Dick training at the boxing club (not sure of the name), which was situated at the corner of Hawkhill and Park Place.
“This was just behind Durkies the Bakers, who, by the way, made the best iced pastries in the world!”
Jimmy continued: “I remember part of Dick’s training was to get all the wee boys in the ring and we had to try and land a glove on Dick.
“Sometimes he had about 10 wee boys chasing him trying to land a punch.
“I’m sure you will have a few responses re the Wilkie’s Lane location and it would be interesting to read them.
“I’m looking forward to reading some more of your interesting stories.”
Jimmy concluded: “I still have the bruises from all your tackles on me.”
Now I know that last statement to be untrue — Jimmy was that quick and skilful that I never got near enough to kick him!
Harry Smith said: “Wilkie’s Lane is not off Hilltown, it is actually off Hawkhill.
“I came from the Hawkhill area, living in Kincardine Street.”
Allan Strachan commented: “Wilkie’s Lane is off Hawkhill, running down Blackness Road.”
Other readers who put me right included Tom Kennedy, Liz Smith, Joe Warden, Kenny Ferguson, Greg Mill (on behalf of elderly father Joseph), Peter Williamson and Teresa Mitchell.
There were several others who left no contact details.
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