Polton Farm

Owner:  Willie Pringle

For several weeks, Matt Rooney, now living in Ayrshire, Scotland, has been attempting to discover more about these early photographs of Polton Farm near Edinburgh.

Matt used to visit the farm as a child.

RHS Rugby Player

James W Pringle

On 31 May 2006, Brian Gourlay, now living in Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland wrote:

"I've been reading the developing story of Polton Farm with great interest, particularly now that Matt Rooney has mentioned the farm owner was Willie Pringle.

A classmate of mine at the Royal High School between 1954 and 1960 was a James W Pringle who came for Polton. If my memory serves me well, he lived at Polton Farm and I think he was maybe the farmer's son (his middle initial could well be for William). He was never called James, or Jim or Jimmy. Throughout his entire time at school, he was always just known as 'Polton'.

James Pringle certainly lived at Polton, as he used to get off the bus at the Polton road end with Lasswade Road, when we returned from playing rugby against the Borders' schools.

As I recall, 'Polton' was a pretty good, swift winger.   He is the second player from the left in the back row of this 1958/59 Royal High 1st XV photo."

Teacher

Phil Wilson

Thank you to Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, who wrote:

"The bald teacher on the right in Bryan Gourlay's team photo is 'Curly Bill' Mitchell.  He had a very tall son, David, with a shock of golden-fair hair."

Phil Wilson, Aberdeen, Scotland:  January 15, 2007

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