Edinburgh Recollections - Ainsie Park Secondary School

Recollections

Brian Alexander

Prestonfield, Edinburgh

Thank you to Brian Alexander who wrote:

Schools

"I lived in No 1 Telford Drive. and my schools were:

- Drylaw Primary School (1958-64) and

- Ainslie Park Secondary (1964-67).

There were concrete 'huts' near the sports field. They were a real pain in winter, but a great place for a 'fag'."

Sports

"Ainslie Park had some of the finest sports facilities of any Edinburgh school. Football, rugby, hockey and athletics, and both boys' and girls' gymnasiums."

Teachers

"Who remembers any of these?

- Mr Murchison, Headmaster

- Mrs Robertson, Lady Advisor (I think)

- Mr Whitfield

- Mr Stonefield, Maths Teacher

- 'Big Jim' Taylor

- Miss Proudfoot and Mr Purves, Art Teachers

- Miss McCechnie, French and German Teacher

- Mr White, Technical Drawing Teacher

- Mr Armour, Chemistry Teacher."

Out of School

"For those who didn't get home for lunch, Diverno's at Caroline Park did a very tasty 'crusty (bread) and crisps' for 6d. Health eating or what?!!! But we enjoyed it.

The long walk to and from school was an important part of the day, you picked up all the latest gossip and settled scores and arguments along the way. I don't think many of us would have liked being driven to school by parents.

Were our schooldays the happiest of our life, well they were certainly not the worst days!"

Brien Alexander, Prestonfield, Edinburgh: January 21, 2010

Recollections

Rab Lettice

Edinburgh

Thank you to Rab Lettice who wrote

The Ghosty Valley

"The Ghosty Valley was a small bridge near to the Swedish houses in Ferry Road Drive at West Pilton. Trains used to run under the bridge.

There was a short path from the Ghostly Valley to Ainsley Park School. If you walked on, there was a scout hut then another bridge that you could go under to the school, but that's been filled in now.

If we were caught playing there, we were brought before Mr Murchison, our Headmaster as it was dangerous because of the trains."

Rab Lettice, Edinburgh: March 21, 2011

Recollections

Rab Lettice

Edinburgh

Here is a message that Rab posted in the EdinPhoto guestbook:

Gavin Clarke

"I'm looking for Gavin Clarke. We were friends at Ainslie Park School and were in the 64th Boys' Brigade at Boswall Parkway. I believe that he stayed at Pilton Crescent, then he moved to Chester.

We had a good time also our Boys' Brigade. We were the lead on Founders' Day."

Rab Lettice, Edinburgh: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, March 22, 2011

Reply to Rab?

If you have any idea where Gavin Clarke might be now, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Rab.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs: March 22, 2010

Recollections

Neil Macdonald

Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Here is a message that Rab posted in the EdinPhoto guestbook:

Brian Alexander

"I saw Brian Alexander's post (1 above).

- He lived in no 1 Telford Drive (middle flat).

- I lived in no 3 Telford Drive (ground floor)!

I was friends with his brother Norman. Brian will remember my elder brothers Bruce and Alastair as they were of a similar age. The Alexanders moved away, I think, when I was about 11 or 12."

Teachers

"I remember these teachers at Ainslie Park:

- Mr Murchison, Headmaster

- Mrs Robertson, Lady Advisor (I think)

- 'Big Jim' Taylor

- Miss Proudfoot and Mr Purves, Art Teachers

- Miss McCechnie, French and German Teacher

- Mr Hetherington, Physics

- Mr Ramage, Maths

- Mr Beavis, Biology

- Mr Wexler, can’t remember maybe Religious Studies?

- Miss Fairweather, History

- Mr Grant, PE

- Mr McLauchlan, PE (R.I.P.)"

Gym

"Does anyone remember the 'inflatable' gym built down from the music block? It had a name, Armadillo perhaps?

It was great to go into as you had to pass through an airlock, else it would de-pressurise!"

Neil Macdonald, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Recollections

Dorothy Finlay (nee Cossar)

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Dorothy Finlay (nee Cossar) wrote:

Home

"I lived at Crewe Road West in a prefab.

Schools

"I was at Royston school from 1946 to 1952, then went to Ainslie Park.

My teacher there was Miss Lundie. The Head was Mr Walker, who was also my mother's teacher at St Bernard's Primary, Stockbridge."

Dorothy Finlay (nee Cossar): Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: February 12, 2012