St Ann's School, Cowgate, Edinburgh

Recollections

Eric Gold

[known to many as Eric McKenzie]

East London

Thank you to Eric Gold for sending the message below.

Eric used to attend St Ann's school together with Joe Coyle who took the photo above

Eric wrote:

St Ann's and St Anthony's

"St Ann's is situated in the Cowgate at the bottom of Blackfriars Street. It is now used as a drop-in centre for old folk .

When I attended the school, my class was the door at the end on the left on the lower level and Joe was up the stairs. He was a bright guy, and so was his brothers.

We both later attended Leith St Anthony's school. They kept Joe in the main school in Lochend Road. He was top of his class. They moved me to 'Strangs', the annex in Hawkhill Avenue where, just before I left, I was the top of the lowest class!"

Eric Gold, East London: 2007

Eric appears as one of the Monsters in the latest 'Dr Who?' series. He was the 'evil spirit' in a recent episode.

Recollections

Eric Gold

[Eric McKenzie]

East London

Eric followed up with more memories of St Ann's. See below.

Nursery

"In 1953, the Coronation year, I left the nursery at the top of Arthur Street, on the Pleasance, which I think is the Pleasance Fringe Theatre today."

Nuns

"The teachers were all nuns who taught us at St Ann's. They were great. They were good to all the pupils. We had Sister Gabriel who was a pleasant lady.

Miss Ward was the head mistress. She had a brother who was our art teacher at St Anthony's.

My auntie Nancy, who lived in the old Waverley buildings opposite near the High School Yards area, had her family there too and they were more or less the same age group as me. When Miss Ward realised that I was Nancy's nephew she was nice too me. All the teachers were afraid of my auntie Nancy but she got on well with the Nuns."

Chocolate Shop

"In St Mary's Street we would go to the chocolate shop and I would get the chocolate frogs and as previously mentioned, I scored a hat trick and picked 3 pink frogs so I got a few free ones which I shared with my class mates."

Confirmation

"On confirmation day at St Patrick's chapel in the Cowgate you have a sponsor and as my mother and family knew Dante Lanni well, he sponsored me. Dante had several fish and chip shops and cafes also a lot of properties in Edinburgh.

I remember when we all stood outside the chapel waiting for our sponsors a Godfather-like figure, Dante pulled up in a big Jaguar which he had only bought a few weeks previous, and Miss Wards face fell, I will never forget that (ha ha ha) as she thought I would have been sponsored by some bum in the Cowgate out of one of the local Hostels (ha ha ha).

As Dante came from Naples, or Napoli, it was like a scene out of the Godfather movie, a real Mafia looking guy."

Dante

"Over the years Dante was good to me. The last time I saw Dante was in his bar at the top of Salisbury Street and the Pleasance in 1975. Sadly Dante passed away just after that with a heart attack, but every time I was in Dante's presence he would joke and say "I'm Eric's God Father and I got him a job on the Queen Mary as I have contacts in New York" (ha ha ha). He was a funny man and I would keep the joke running."

Rocking Horse

"Also St Ann's had a small Play Room with a big rocking horse, and I fell off it (ha ha ha). When I tell the stunt people in 'Doctor Who?' who do the James Bond Films and many other TV productions, they laugh, and nickname me Rocky (ha ha ha).

The new girl in 'Doctor Who?', Freema, said: "So you are the guy who fell of a rocking horse!"

Cemetery

"Between St Ann's and St Patrick's chapel rumour has it that there was a medieval cemetery there. So if anyone has any concrete evidence about it I would like to hear from them."

Eric Gold, East London: April 9, 2007

Recollections

Catherine McKinsley (nee Calvey)

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England

Cathy McKinsley wrote:

"The photo of St Ann's School, that my cousin, Joe Coyle, sent in, brought back many memories.

My first teacher at infants was, Miss McMann, ground floor, right hand side of the picture.

There was also a, Miss Wheelihan's classroom upstairs. I don't know if this is the correct spelling of her name."

Catherine McKinsley, nee Calvey, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England: Sep 6, 2007.

Recollections

Karen Byrne

Edinburgh

Question

Karen Byrne wrote:

St Ann's School

"Our organisation has just moved into St Ann's School in South Grays Close, in the Cowgate.

We are a school support unit. I'd like to find some info about the history of the building and the people who have used it, as part of a history project with the young people I work with.

Can anybody give me any information?"

Karen Byrne, Edinburgh: May 7, 2008

If you have any information for Karen, about St Ann's School, please email me then I'll pass it on to her.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: May 20, 2008

Recollections

Tony Ivanov

Bo'ness, Midlothian, Scotland

Answer

Thank you to Tony Ivanov for replying to Karen Byrne's request for information about St Ann's school, above.

Tony wrote:

St Ann's School

1951

"I haven't a lot to say about St Ann's other than I was a primary school pupil there from the age of five in 1951 for about three years before moving up to St Patrick's School, which was the normal progression from St Ann's.

Victorian

"I do remember the school quite well though. It was still very Victorian style with the old wood and iron framed desks typical of that period."

Slates

"While I was at the school, the slate was still in use for writing on, no pencils, just another piece of sharpened slate which resembled a pencil was used for writing with.

Once the slate was filled up you just wiped it clean with a cloth ready to start over again. Most likely this is where the expression 'Let's start with a clean slate' originated from. It was very eco-friendly, no paper wastage."

Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: May 21, 2008

Recollections

John Bisset

Los Angeles, California, USA

The comments below are taken from a message that John Bisset left in the EdinPhoto guest book.

John wrote:

Guthrie Street

"I was born in 1938, and just celebrated my 70th Birthday yesterday.

I grew up, for most of my early years in Guthrie Street. which was between Chamber Street and The Cowgate. The Cowgate was never mentioned, of course, when I was asked where my street was.

Always Chamber Street - it just seemed a posher address, with the University there, and The Scottish Museum where I spent many a happy hour."

Schools

"I attended St Ann's then St. Patrick's schools in Edinburgh, and finally St .Anthony's school in Leith. I have seen mention of my first two schools, but never about St Anthony's, although I had heard, it was no longer there.

I've read of others my age, who attended St Anne's, but didn't recognise their names. I have seen a few I did know, as in Paddy Tansey, of Tron Square, not the Cowgate as listed, before - but as they say, just a spit away.

I also spent many a day, in Arthur Street, with my friend, Jimmy Cunningham, who was transplanted to those new homes they built in the Canongate, managing, to keep the same front facade.

I can't beleive, how well spread out, we are over the Globe. I'm surprised the whole world, doesn't have a Scottish Accent by now. :)"

Edinburgh

"Like most of the other guests here, who grew up during the war years and later, we all have very fond memories, of those years.

It was a Marvelous City to have been born and raised in. We had history all around us, gardens and parks galore, and easy access to them all - and our playground in the street. We didn't have to worry about cars back then, did we?

I too have fond memories of the Gaff, or Flea Pit, in the High Street and the Buckie Woman with her mussels and Buckies. Every time I have a meal with Mussels, that memory floods back."

Friends

"As we do have a quite a few contributors about the same age as myself, or their offspring, I'm including the names of some of my chums in Guthrie Street. Here they are - Johnny Grant, Peter Quinn, Tommy Francis, Jimmy Coinvey (sp).

My Grandmother's name, was Mary Bailey, nee Lowrie. She and my cousins, the Logans, lived in Tron Square. I also had a pal from Upper Tron Square, Francis Moran.

I hope to hear from someone who remembers me, or knows of my friends, That would be the icing on the web site for me. I know I will be back often, as there is so much to see and read on here."

John Bisset, Los Angeles, California, USA: Message in EdinPhoto guest book: July 8, 2008

Messages for John Bisset

If you'd like to contact John, please email me then I'll pass your message on to him.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: July 15, 2008

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson for sending a reply to John Bisset's comments above.

Bob wrote:

Schools

"I too was born in 1938 but a couple of months after John. I also went to St Ann's and St Pat's then to Holy Cross school.

It was the mention of Paddy Tansey that caught my interest as he was in my class all through primary school. If you were too, John, you'll remember the Qually Class when there were only ten of us boys and we were joined by the first girls ever to go to St. Pat's."

Teachers

"Miss Mc Mahon was the teacher. As I remember, she was quite a large lady with silvery hair.

Hugh Boyle was the head master. I remember him most for the time he lifted me by the ankles and tried to shake a steely I had swallowed out of me.

There was also the time when we asked him for a Wednesday afternoon off to go to Easter road to watch the Hibs and he agreed as long as we carried bundles of books round from St. Ann's to St Pat's that Wednesday morning."

Pupils

"Here are the names I remember from that class, mostly the boys and only a couple of the girls:

- Veronica Nimmo

- Agnes Keppie.

- Desy Mahon

- Tony McCormack

- Wullie Lennon

- Rab Kerr

- Wullie Ogilvie

- Paddy Tansey, and of course me

- Rab Henderson

- Peter Brodie

- Peter(?) Kelly

That's not many out of a class of 10 boys and 30 girls. I hope you can maybe fill in some of the gaps."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: July 16, 2007

Recollections

Ellen Wood (nee Bailey)

New Zealand

Cathy McKinsley wrote:

First Communion and Confirmation

"My cousin John Bisset USA sent me your website. It brought back some good memories. I remember being at St Ann's School in the 1946-49 period and making my first communion & my confirmation at St Patrick's."

School Dinners

"I lived in Holyrood Road, along with my brothers Paddy and Billy Bailey who went to St Pat's. We moved to London in 1949.

I remember the school dinners, soup every Monday and fish or cheese pie on Fridays. I loved the smell."

Friends

"I don't remember many names from that time, but I do remember Agnes Kippie as she to lived in Holyrood Rd, and to this day we keep in touch,

I remember Daria Sultairi, (sorry about the spelling), and wonder where she is now."

Ellen Wood (nee Bailey), New Zealand: July 21, 2008

Recollections

Jim Robertson

Berlin, Germany

Jim Robertson, formerly of Dumbiedykes Road, now living in Berlin, wrote:

St Ann's School

St Pat's School

St Anthony's School

"I see that John Bisset (6 above) stated that he was born in July 1938 and attended St Ann's, St Pat's and St Anthony's Schools. Well, like John and Bob Henderson, I was born Sept 1938, so we must have crossed paths at some stage of our education.

The name Bisset rings a bell, but after so long I'm not to sure. However, I also attended St Anthony's, like John, so we must have known each other.

I only wish someone had a school photo from one of the 3 schools. That would help us a lot. Any takers out there ?? The unfortunate thing is that in them days no one could afford a camera (ha ha).

Well, anyway John, lets hope a photo will appear. I saw one of Bob Henderson and recognized him right away, so if you have any individual snaps of that time, maybe you could send it in.

I hope you are the one missing boy that Bob and I could not remember."

Jim Robertson, Berlin, Germany, Message left in EdinPhoto guest book: August 1, 2008.

Recollections

10.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven

Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote:

St Anthony's School

St Mary Star of the Sea School

"Jim Robertson (9 above) mentions that John Bisset was born in 1938 and attended St Anthony's School in Lochend Road.

I was born in 1935 and attended St Anthony's around 1947-50.

My brother, Ian was born in 1940 and attended the school around 1952-55.

We also attend St Mary's Star of the Sea in Henderson St / Giles St Leith"

Frank Ferri: Newhaven, Edinburgh: August 17, 2008.