THIRD GENERATION

4. James BRAND was born on 10 Jan 1929 in Burntisland.⁽¹⁾ He was christened on 9 Apr 1929 in Burntisland Parish Church, Burntisland, Fife. Annotation on birth certificate : Alcott Murray - Christened Ch. Burntisland, Apr 9/1929
He was educated between 1934 and 1943 in Burntisland School. Left school with Leaving Certificate at 14. He served in the military between 1948 and 1950 in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was a Shipyard Stager between 1950 and 1960 in Burntisland Shipyard. Worked at the local shipyard as a stager and red-leader, treating the bare metal of the ship's sides before they were painted. He resided 2, Forth Place between 1954 and 1958 in Burntisland. Mum and Dad lived at 2 Forth Place from the time that they were married until 12th August 1960 when they moved to 16 Shepherd Crescent. Diane and I were born at Forth Place. He was Involved in a shipyard accident on 8 Jul 1956 in Burntisland Shipyard. From Mum's notes and newspapers, correspondence, etc:
Dad had an accident at work at 0920 a.m. on Sunday July 8th 1956.
Newspaper report :
SHIPYARD WORKER FALLS 40 FEET : Fifteen minutes after starting work last Sunday morning, James Brand (27), of Forth Place, Burntisland, fell 40 feet. He is employed as a stager with the Burntisland Shipbuilding Company Limited, and at the time of the accident he was stripping staging away from the side of the Greek Ship Atalanti M. Livanos, which was launched the following afternoon. When Mr Brand fell he narrowly missed landing on piles of anchor cable which were set in position to drag the ship when she was launched. On admittance to the Kirkcaldy General Hospital it was disclosed that he was suffering from a fracture at the base of the skull. His condition is stated to be "fairly comfortable". Mr Brand is a son of Mr and Mrs W. Brand, Rossend Terrace.

The case went to court at the Court of Session, Edinburgh, May 19-20, 1960, but Dad lost and was never given any compensation for the accident. He resided 16, Shepherd Crescent on 12 Aug 1958 in Burntisland. Dad and Mum bought the house outright from the Council in the early 1980's. They had made a lot of improvements over the years - central heating, double glazing, fitted kitchen, new bathroom, and a small porch over the back stairs. Dad had a large amount of garden out the back, and used to almost live in his greenhouse and shed during the summer. He was a General Dock Labourer between 1960 and 1990 in Burntisland Docks. Dad worked at Burntisland Docks for 30 years. The docks were a local business run by the National Dock Labour Board from the 1970's, and then by Forth Ports Authority. The main business was unloading bauxite for the local Aluminium Works, though many other cargoes were handled, including hides, fish meal and chemicals. Dad was a qualified First Aider with the St. Andrews Ambulance Association, and not only used his skills to treat the men at work if they had an accident, but taught First Aid in junior classes along with Archie Robertson, using the premises of the local Railway Club beside the docks. He attended many conferences in connection with this, and received a plaque for 20 years service as a First Aider from the National Dock Labour Board. He was also the local Union representative for the Transport & General Workers Union for many years. He died on 25 Nov 1996 in Edinburgh.⁽²⁾ Dad had gone to Edinburgh for a fourth angioplasty. This had been successfully completed when he suffered a heart attack and died. He was cremated on 1 Dec 1996 in Kirkcaldy Crematorium. This was following a service in the Erskine Free Church (Burntisland Parish Church, Dad's kirk, was being renovated at the time). The service was by the Reverend John Duncan. It was attended by many friends and family, and a piper played "The Flowers of the Forest" at the committal. His ashes were placed in Mum's grave two days later. Dad only attended school until he was about 14, and got a job in the local Dairy looking after the horses. He was a bit wild, and used to sort out anyone who bothered his brothers! He met Mum when she was nanny to a family who owned a local farm, and used to cycle up to meet her, waiting for a passing lorry and hanging on to the back of it to be towed up the "Black Jock", a well-known hill leading north out of Burntisland. He had left the family home and moved in with a family called Douglas after an argument with his father. He threatened to put William in hospital if he ever raised his hands to Gran again, and Grandad got a court order to remove him from the house. He rarely spoke to his father again until his death in 1967. He was engaged on 6 Feb 1954. From Mum's records
They first met on Sunday, 9th August 1953, not known where.
Dad proposed to Mum on 9th December 1953 and was accepted.

Newspaper cutting :
Mr J. Brand - Miss E. J. Pembroke
The engagement is announced between James Brand, second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Brand, of 70, Rossend Terrace, Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, and Eileen Joyce, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Pembroke, of Pinge Wood, Burghfield, Reading.

The ring was engraved "J to E 6.2.54" He was married to Eileen Joyce PEMBROKE on 4 Sep 1954 in Burghfield, Berkshire, England. ⁽³⁾ The marriage service was conducted by the Rev. G.H. Nicholson.
From Mum's notes -
"My bouquet was of bronze chrysanthemums, white heather, and fern. The bridesmaids - mixed white flowers."
Inside the wedding ring is engraved "MIZPAH 4.9.54". The meaning of this code word is "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another."
From the local newspaper :
Marriages
Brand - Penbroke (sic)
At St. Mary's Church, Burghfield, on the 4th September 1954, James, second son of Mr and Mrs W. Brand, 70, Rossend Terrace, Burntisland, to Eileen, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Penbroke, Pengwood, Burghfield, near Reading, Berks.

The honeymoon was spent in the New Forest area.

5. Eileen Joyce PEMBROKE was born on 29 Oct 1932 in Reading.⁽⁴⁾ She was christened on 5 Feb 1933 in Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burghfield, Berkshire, England. Baptismal Certificate signed by A F Johnson, Rector She was educated between 1938 and 1945 in Pingewood Primary School. She was educated between 1945 and 1948 in Kendrick School, Reading. She was confirmed on 12 Mar 1947 in Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burghfield, Berkshire, England. Certificate signed by G.H.Nicholson, Rector
Confirmed by The Bishop of Reading (2 Tim 1.6)
She was a Nursery Nurse between 1967 and 1984 in Various Nursery schools in Fife. From newspaper cutting :
HAYFIELD NURSERY SCHOOL, KIRKCALDY
Required for 17th April, 1967, one Temporary Nursery Assistant. Salary according to qualifications and the Whitley Council's scales. Application forms can be obtained from T.S. Warrender, Esq., County Offices, Wemyssfield, Kirkcaldy.
From Mum's notes :
"Applied and was accepted."
Mum worked at a variety of Nursery schools, including Dysart and East Wemyss. She was Silver Wedding Anniversary on 4 Sep 1979. From newspaper cutting :
SILVER WEDDING
BRAND - PEMBROKE - At St Mary's Church, Burghfield, Reading, on 4th September, 1954, by Rev. Nicholson, James Brand to Eileen Pembroke - Present address 16 Shepherd Crescent, Burntisland.

From Mum's notes :
Our Silver Wedding celebration lasted about a month! On Sun. 2nd Diane and John invited us to the caravan for a special meal. Tues 4th we had studio photos taken in Leven, High Tea at the Panama then on to our usual night at sequence dancing. Later in the month Nick and Cathy invited us to a special meal out in a restaurant in Dundee, then we had a party in the house with 30 friends and relatives present. Only ones unable to be with us were Nick and Cathy, Anna and Jim. We rounded off the month with a week's holiday in Great Yarmouth and had a lovely time there. She was ill with Multiple Sclerosis between 1986 and 1991. Mum was diagnosed as suffering from Multiple Sclerosis around 1986. She had problems with her balance prior to this, and the diagnosis was made in the Western Hospital, Edinburgh. She was treated at the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber in Peddie Street, Dundee, on a weekly basis. This helped initially, but the illness is progressive, and she was in a wheelchair for much of the last two years of her life. She tried not to let it interfere with her social life, and she and Dad went out as much as possible. She died on 5 Mar 1991 in Kirkcaldy.⁽⁵⁾ Mum went into hospital for tests in mid-February 1991. Cancer was suspected, and confirmed at post mortem. She was buried on 8 Mar 1991 in Burntisland Cemetery. Mum was buried at Burntisland Cemetery following a service in Burntisland Parish Church held by the Reverends John Duncan and James Monaghan. The service was well attended, by both family and friends. Children were:

2 i. Nicholas James BRAND.
ii. Diane Mary BRAND (Private).