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Recollections
Leith Academy
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Recollections
1.
GM Rigg
Edinburgh |
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GM Rigg wrote:
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"I attended
Leith Academy Senior Secondary School, leaving in 1968. All the
teachers wore mortar boards & gowns then. Our Headmaster was Mr
Drummond. Due to his appearance he
was known to us as Bulldog Drummond. He looked stern. I was never
called to his office, so only had hearsay to rely on that he was
scary."
GM Rigg, Edinburgh:
message posted in EdinPhoto guest book: September 14, 2009
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Recollections
2.
Bob Sinclair
Queensland, Australia |
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Thank you to Bob Sinclair who wrote:
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"Here is a photo wife standing
beside the tree she planted at Leith LInks
to celebrate the Queen's
Coronation in 1953.
©
Reproduced with acknowledgement to Bob Sinclair
She is facing towards Leith Academy.
The Academy teachers had to choose one pupil from each class to
plant a tree to celebrate the occasion.
She has no idea why she was picked
unless it was to have somebody representing the Dock area.
It looks sunny but note the coat!"
Bob Sinclair, Queensland,
Australia: January 16+19, 2010
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Recollections
3.
Alan Sinclair
Squamish, British
Columbia, Canada |
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Thank you to Alan Sinclair Sinclair who wrote:
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"On
looking back to my school days in the 1930s,
I think that children must have had marvellous immune
systems. The only drinking tap in the
playground at Leith Academy had a metal cup
attached to a chain. This
was used by all .If you were fussy, you
could give the cup a wipe with your sleeve.
"I
also remember that fishmongers
would open their shop windows, and
display the fish,
open to the elements."
Bob Sinclair, Queensland,
Australia: January 16+19, 2010
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Recollections
4.
Pamela Thompson
Buderim, Queensland, Australia |
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Thank you to Pamela Thompson
for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.
Pamela wrote:
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Leith
Links
Tree Planting
"I went to Leith Academy Primary School.
in 1952**, I planted a tree in Leith
Links with a classmate called Alan Naylor, to commemorate the accession of
the Queen.
I visited Leith Links
in 1978 and the tree was still there then. My
teacher at the time was a Mr Mackay and he said that when I was an old
lady I'd probably come and put a plaque on it. I'd
better not leave it much longer!!
We had a class photo taken that year - I
wonder if anyone has a copy? I'd love
one."
Pamela Thompson, Buderim. Queensland,
Australia
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 2, 2013 |
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**
See also 'Recollections 5' below. |
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Reply to
Recollections
4.
Peter Stubbs
Edinburgh |
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Tree
Pamela - You might
be interested to see this photo of a tree
planted at Leith Links by one of the Leith Academy pupils in 1953.
Class Photo
Pamela - Here is a
Leith Academy Class photo taken in 1953, but I expect it was probably not
your class. I don't see your signature around the border of the
photo.
This photo is of Leith Academy
Class 3C2.
©
Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:
April 2013
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Recollections
5.
Pamela Thompson
Buderim, Queensland, Australia |
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Pamela Thompson added a reply
to the message that she posted in the EdinPhoto guest book on April 2.
(See 'Recollections 4' above.)
Pamela wrote:
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Tree Planting
"Thank you,
Peter, for posting my comments
from the guestbook onto the web site (above). I realise
now that the tree was planted in 1953 to commemorate the
Coronation. The class photo was probably
also taken that year -
I think I was in 'Year
5'.
Although I left that year, I was invited back
the following year to attend the Qualifying Dance -
'the qually'. I remember that we learned
umpteen sets of the Lancers for the occasion,
and I wore a yellow dress made by my mother!"
Pamela Thompson, Buderim. Queensland,
Australia
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 3, 2013 |
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Recollections
6.
John Fraser
Inch, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to John Fraser for
posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.
John wrote: |
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My Classes
"I went to Leith Academy 1948-51.
I was in
Classes 1B3 -
3B3.
I was in the first intake that did not pay
fees.
My pal was Alec (Titch)
Forrest.
Others in my class were:
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Eileen Twatt from Dryden
Street, Pilrig.
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Margaret Grassick.
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Shirley Moricoand
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Ernie Ross. Ernie's
dad was a bookie and Ernie used to take halfpenny bets."
My Teachers
"The gym teacher was
a Mr Bahaman. He
was a complete tyrant. He was on gate duty
and he would stand at the gate and watch you running along Duke
Street. You would run across the road and he
would close the gate in your face before the bell rang.
After the class queues went in,
he would open the gate, tell you that you
were late, then take you in to the
Entrance Hall
He gave me nine of the belt for being late,
and the same to the others. He would also give you five if you
forgot your gym gear.
Forget your homework and it meant a
trip to the rector. More belt."
John Fraser, Inch, Edinburgh: Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April
20, 2013 |
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Recollections
7.
Tony (Scotty) Henderson
Canada |
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Thank you to Tony Henderson
for posting a reply to John Fraser's message in 'Recollections 6' above.
Tony wrote: |
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Mr Bingham
"I remember Mr Bingham.
I agree he was a tyrant, but in my
time he was only the Gym Teacher."
No Fees
"John thought he was the first intake not to
pay fees. In fact, I was at Leith Academy from
1945 to 1948 and did not pay any fees.
I beleive that the
Labour Government decided to abolish the 'Fees System'
just as I started in Leith Academy."
Tony (Scotty) Henderson, Canada:
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, April 20, 2013 |
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Recollections
8.
Jim Gibson (a.k.a.
Gibby)
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Thank you to Jim Gibson
(a.k.a. Gibby) for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.
Jim wrote in response to John
Fraser's Recollections 6 above |
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Mr Bingham
"I also went to Leith Academy and left in
1949. On our last day at school our first
period in the afternoon was Gym with Mr Bingham.
He started out calling the Register by
switching every one's initials around:
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My friend Eddy Trotter became Teddy
Rotter
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Roy Christie became Coy Risttie,
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Hamish Neil became Namish Heil
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etc,
When he came to my name,
I was Games Jibson. So, being smart,
I replied: 'Present Mr
Bigham'.' Needless to say,
my hands and wrist were smarting as I got '10
of his very best'."
Jim Gibson (a.k.a. Gibby): Reply
posted in the EdinPhoto guestbook on May 12, 2013,
in response to a message posted in the guestbook by John Fraser, Inch,
Edinburgh on April 20, 2013. |
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