Broughty Ferry is, after all, for most of the kids from the city’s Mid Craigie housing scheme, only a bus ride away, and a trip to Broughty, pleasant thought it may be on a sunny day, hardly comes into the never-to-be-forgotten category.

Yet the youngsters, from Rainbow House Under 12s’ group, listened rapt to memories of an earlier era as they took part in their version of the Generation Game with members of Mid-Lin Day Care.

The two groups are taking part in a reminiscence project over the next couple of weeks, aimed at helping the youngsters learn more about the city’s social history, as well as helping the old folk keep their memories alive.

It is the brainchild of Mid-Lin director John Kelly and Vanessa Kelly (no relation) of the Community Capacity Project, based at the Hub community centre.

They approached Nicole Reid, who is project worker at Rainbow House, and she welcomed the opportunity to give the youngsters a taste of a bygone era.

A similar project had previously been undertaken with pupils at Mid Craigie Primary, and had proved such a success it was decided to repeat it.

Vanessa says, “Our aim was to bring the generations together, for we find that, when old and young do have the chance to get to know one another, they get on really well.

“A real sense of mutual respect seems to develop. They are good for one another and can learn from one another. As the kids are on holiday just now, we decided to choose summer holidays as the theme.

“The youngsters compiled a list of questions, and we’ve got old pictures to help jog memories and let the kids see the way things used to be.”

John adds, “Working with the elderly, we found those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and short-term memory problems, are stimulated when talking about the old days.

“We get a lot out of them and it really benefits them. It also helps the staff as the old people tend to be less problematic because they have been able to chat and take part in some kind of activity.”

Thus the youngsters listened and learned, with looks of disbelief on their face, of exciting days spent in Newport, sailing across the Tay on the Fifies, of sunny afternoons at the Stannergate with a picnic comprising a jammy piece and a bottle of sugarellie water.

The latter roused my curiosity, as I had no idea of the ingredients in this strange potion. The women gathered round the table excitedly recalled the recipe for me.

It was a magic brew, conjured up by cutting pieces of liquorice, dropping them into a bottle of lemonade, and leaving it under the bed overnight to get the full flavour at the picnic the next day.

I have to say, I was with the youngsters on this one, for I could never see it being my preferred option, but they assured me it was nectar on a hot summer’s day.

And, yes, the summers did seem to comprise endless, long hot days.

As well as learning about the places the old folk went to, the kids will also discover old-style street games, and as part of the project, a “piler”, complete with borrowed pram wheels, is being specially constructed.

Says Nicole Reid, “Our kids have never heard of “pilers” and “cleeks”. They had no idea what they were. It has been a terrific experience for them.

“Most of them don’t have great-grandparents to hand on these stories to them. They would not have a chance to meet these old people other than through a project like this.

“These stories are part of Dundee’s social history and it is important to keep that alive and hand it on to the younger generations.

“They have learned a lot, but have had great fun doing it. I think it is important too, from a community point of view, that young and old have the chance to meet and talk to one another.

“They all live in the same area, and are part of the one community and coming together in a project like this is invaluable for all of them.”