'Jute, Jam & Journalism', Rodger Thom

Rodger Thom gave us a very interesting and informative talk on his home City of Dundee.  He introduced Dundee as the three Js – Jute, Jam & Journalism as being the three main pillars of business that are associated with Dundee. Dundee was a 19 century shipping port and the name means 'a fort on the top of the hill'.

 JUTE

The Jute industry goes back to the 19 Century when it was discovered that spinning was made easier by treating with whale oil.  Dundee had ample whale oil so it was the logical place to bring Jute from India to Dundee and make sacking, twine and canvas. By 1911 this provided employment for 35,000 people, some 40% of the population, mainly women. Unfortunately it was not these people that became wealthy from their hard work but the Jute Barons. The work was poorly paid and dangerous and they were housed in bad accommodation with 20 people to a house. There is one mill left, the Verdant Works, which shows a working mill which can be visited and tells the history of the Mill. A combination of the depression and the work going to Bangladesh saw the end of the Jute Industry with the last Mill closed in 1969.

 JAM

Another claim to fame is Keillers Marmalade where a supply of too many oranges was made into marmalade. Unfortunately marmalade and jam are not now made in Dundee but again there is a Museum that tells of the history of Dundee Marmalade.

 JOURNALISM

DC Thompson – David Couper Thomson’s association with Dundee is legendary.  Newspapers such as the Dundee Courier, the Evening Telegraph and Sunday Post as well as comics such as the Dandy, Beano, Broons, Desperate Dan all came out of Dundee. The Sunday Post was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in the 1950’s for being the highest per capita readership penetration in the world – helped by copies being sent all over the world.

PRESENT DAY DUNDEE

Present day Dundee is more often associated with two ships RRS Discovery and HMS Unicorn. Discovery built in Dundee went to the Antarctic and was also used to take coal around the States. Now IT IS back in Dundee and a major tourist attraction. Unicorn built in the 1820’s went down south to train sailors in the defence of Britain.  It never saw action and then came back to Dundee. There are, of course two major football clubs, Dundee and Dundee United – famed for having no real rivalry except on the field.  Abertay University is recognised for providing excellence in the Computer Games Industry.

The V & A Dundee will be another major attraction for Dundee and should be open in 2018 although it is already late and over budget.

Vote of thanks was given by Mike Latimer                                                                                           

 Report by Pearl Clark