Skint Knees
Reflections on a Scottish Childhood
by Fay (Hawson) Copland

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During the Second World War, communities were knit together while enduring scarcity, rationing, and uncertainty—yet they adapted by being resourceful, optimistic, and persistent. And when peace finally returned, there was new hope that a more innocent era would reign. Neighbours and townspeople knew one another well; Victory gardens, planted during the war, were still cultivated with care; children played outdoors, unsupervised, from dawn til dusk, and enjoyed a sense of joyful freedom that would become increasingly rare in the decades to come. On a balmy summer’s evening in the wee riverside town of Renfrew, Scotland, eleven-year-old Fay Hawson bade farewell to a small gathering of friends and neighbours. The year was 1954, and Fay and her family were emigrating to Canada. As a taxi shuttled the Hawsons away from their neighbourhood and hometown, Fay gazed out at the familiar streets and landmarks she knew so well. Decades later, memories of her early life would flood her mind, creating a montage of games of soccer in the cow pasture, bramble-picking along the country road, and the unforgettable Coronation street party in 1953. Upon arriving in Ontario, the family made a home in their new country. Fay became a teacher, mother and grandmother—but in spite of the passage of time, she would never forget her early years, when she was an unfettered young lass who couldn’t be slowed down by a pair of “skint” knees.

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"The arc of the memoir begins with the evening that the family departs for Canada, and is completed with the author and her mother waving goodbye from the ship's deck. Having partaken of the memories in between those two images created an emotional investment that left this reader quite moved at the imagery of the memoir's completion." "...the narrative is delightful in its resilience, pragmatism, and positive outlook, and can be easily enjoyed by anyone of any background." - Renée Layberry, Editor

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After frequent moves around southern Ontario in the early years after immigrating, Fay’s family settled in the town of Burlington in 1961. She attended Hamilton Teachers’ College and secured her first teaching position in Oakville, situated along the north shore of Lake Ontario. It was there that she taught the primary grades and discovered that children’s literature interested her. Maybe someday, she thought, I will write a book for my students. Married in 1965, Fay and her husband made Oakville their home and remain residents there to this day. They have a daughter and a son who have provided them with four grandchildren. One of their greatest joys is spending time with the little people in their family. Over the years, Fay has been well-involved in the work of her local United Church. During a congregational trip to Toronto’s Metropolitan United Church, she became intrigued by its carillon, which led her to write her first children’s book, Hidden Treasures—A Story of Church Bells. She hopes to write more books for children, and continues to draw inspiration from the adventures of her grandchildren.

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Contributors

Author

Fay (Hawson) Copland

Editor

Renee Layberry

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