Tag: Edinburgh

Historical, RAF, Scotland, World War4 Comments

The First Air Raid on Mainland Britain in WW2

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Wartime Memories No.3 German bomber of the period – (Heinkel He 111 H) CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF THE EARLY LUFTWAFFE AIR RAIDS *This shows a deliberate change in German bombing policy, from attacking air defences to trying to demoralizing the civilian population. DATES OF AIR RAIDS ON EDINBURGH DURING WW2 WHAT I REMEMBER When, as a 5 year old, I was ‘helping’ my father to apply criss-crosses of Scrim (adhesive tape) to the windows of our North facing second floor tenement flat in the Bonnington area of Leith. (Scrim tape applied to the inside of a window was used to protect … Continue reading The First Air Raid on Mainland Britain in WW2

Historical, RAF, Scotland, Wartime Memories12 Comments

I was there!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Wartime Memories 2 History records that, for a period of eight months, from September 7th 1940 until May 11th 1941, Nazi Germany subjected Great Britain to a campaign of, intense bombing: Blitzkrieg. During which time the Luftwaffe carried out continuous air raids on London and other strategic targets across the length and breadth of the U.K. What is not so well known though is that almost 11 months before that, on 16th October 1939, the first air raid on the U.K. had already taken place and that it had happened in Scotland. * 1.1 THE INCIDENT I came into this … Continue reading I was there!

Historical, Old Edinburgh, Scotland, Stenlake Books, Uncategorized5 Comments

Old EDINBURGH views from above

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

THE BACKSTORY TO My book – Featured in the Edinburgh Life magazine September/October 2024 Old EDINBURGH: Views from above – Published in 2002 by Stenlake Publishing – http://www.stenlake.co.uk. – Whose editor said that, “Of all the books we have published this one is one of my favourites.” THE 1930 BLACK AND WHITE OBLIQUES In the late 1980’s a quantity of glass plate negatives were found in a Lothian Regional Council building that had formerly housed the offices of the City of Edinburgh Corporation. It was evident that they were fairly old. The images were clearly recognizable as being views of … Continue reading Old EDINBURGH views from above

General, Historical, Scotland5 Comments

Magazine contributions

Change Therapy

Over the last few years, I have contributed a number of articles to Edinburgh’s most prestigious magazine, The Edinburgh Life. 1 The subjects of my articles in this bi-monthly magazine are of a historical nature, specifically areas that I have a keen interest in; old Edinburgh and Leith and Aerial Photography. My first published book was called Old Edinburgh; Views from above – A series of oblique air photos of Edinburgh taken in 1930. Then I went on to publish 3 fictional paperbacks about Sailing in the West of Scotland. These days, as I approach my 90th birthday, in October … Continue reading Magazine contributions

Historical, Scotland, Uncategorized15 Comments

The Bridge of Sighs – Edinburgh

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

[*Supporting information on my article EDINBURGH’S BRIDGE OF SIGHS in the November/December2022 edition of the Edinburgh Life magazine* by Johnny Jones/ Jack Jones/John A Jones] Hidden and Enigmatic Statue I was born in 1934 and as a child every time my family walked over the Dean Bridge, my father would lift me up to let me see ‘The Little Sailor Boy’. He would tell me that the statue had been put there in memory of a sailor who had committed suicide by jumping off the bridge and that it had been put there to act as a warning to others … Continue reading The Bridge of Sighs – Edinburgh

Charity, Golf, Scotland5 Comments

Donors raise £1200 for charity

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The last few months have been hectic, with the launch of my 3rd book, A Storm On Any Course. To celebrate the launch of the final book in the Zander Trilogy, and my retiral from writing, we put out an offer to not only purchase a copy, but to also have their names printed at the rear of the book, under the title of Donors. All money received would be donated to our nominated charity, Get2gether. (They arrange social activities for people with disabilities in safe and friendly places in Edinburgh and the Lothians). With very limited access available, due … Continue reading Donors raise £1200 for charity

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Zander Trilogy7 Comments

A Penalty Drop  –  Liberton

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

A few days later, Zander and Grunt had a second encounter with the local “ball boys”. A group of elderly visitors were playing immediately ahead of them. No one had thought to tell them about the problem posed by the local children and blissfully unaware of this on-course hazard, they had started out. Zander and Grunt hung around the starter’s box until the last group had teed off, then followed them out onto the course. They played the long downhill first without incident, then as they teed up on the short par-four second –  which runs parallel to and in … Continue reading A Penalty Drop  –  Liberton

More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

No No No -Yes – Waverley Station Edinburgh

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Are you sitting comfortably?  Good.  I am about to tell you a series of stories about the adventures of one extraordinary man, and believe me – you do want to be sitting down for this. Yes, I know you have heard many stories before, exciting stories, thrilling stories, stories that set your heart pounding and your blood racing.  However, these particular stories are different.  They are funny ones that make your heart sing; your body convulse with laughter and leave you to enjoy a warm contented glow.  You may think yourself a veteran of the works of tellers of tales … Continue reading No No No -Yes – Waverley Station Edinburgh

General, Historical, More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Video, Website, Zander Trilogy5 Comments

Explosives and Jewellery!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

There are loads of new short stories in More Ports More Storms, my second book of the Zander Trilogy, and I wanted to share with you one such story which involved  Zander, many years before he got involved in Sailing. How much is Fiction, I will allow the reader to decide, but let me say that I was there and have the T-shirt to prove it! In the late 1960’s, Zander was training to be a Chartered Engineer and was required to work at a place called Harthill, where construction was underway to create the first Motorway Service Station in … Continue reading Explosives and Jewellery!

A Storm in Any Port, ScotlandLeave a comment

Gilbert Show’s His Metal!

Change Therapy

Major Gilbert Bernard Humble is oblivious to the fact that his initials form the acronym for Grievous Bodily Harm. He was a fearless (more likely insensitive) soldier who, during his career, had no opportunity to do any sailing. His postings had all been to inland bases where, as he was wont to say, he was a ‘loyal defender of the Empire’ a role similarly claimed by Zander. If either of them had been what they purported to be, there are those who might be tempted to think God help us all. Grunt maintains, disparagingly, that they were more likely referring … Continue reading Gilbert Show’s His Metal!

GeneralLeave a comment

Time to relax, at last!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Sunday just passed, and a visit from my son and granddaughter to our home – well not exactly into our home due to social distancing, so we agreed to meet on the top of our building. It is supposed to be summer here in Edinburgh, yet it turned out to be a wee bit cold and windy, however we had a great time catching up with family news. It was a welcome relief from sitting hunched over the laptop for the last 4 weeks, reading and re-reading my second book More Ports More Storms Now it’s away to the printers, … Continue reading Time to relax, at last!

A Storm in Any PortLeave a comment

A Storm in Any Port now published

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

We are very happy to announce that A Storm in Any Port is now available in print, after a successful release through Amazon Kindle. Set principally in Scotland’s beautiful Western Isles with side trips to Hong Kong, the Lake District and the Balearic Islands, the narrative is an expose of an ambitious, accident prone Scot with a sailing bug who leads his scallywag crew and breathes life, fun and nostalgia into these comic misadventures of derring-do, or don’t! A Puffer, a Sampan, and Americas Cup and other yachts provide an exotic and convincing storyline link, packed with outrageous, unexpected and … Continue reading A Storm in Any Port now published

A Storm in Any Port, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

Prologue

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

PROLOGUE Four Men in a Dinghy West Coast of Scotland  – Fairly recently The skipper, mate and two deck hands who made up the crew of the chartered yacht, were feeling the effects of their combined ages of more than 300 years, as they motored into Puilladrobhain on Seil, an island just off the west coast of Scotland. Although none of them would admit it, the day’s motor sail from Crinan had taken its toll on both bodies and minds. The slightly corpulent, white haired skipper firmly believed he was a good sailor and had an inshore certificate to prove … Continue reading Prologue