Royal High School - Form 1A, 1949

Recollections

James Morton-Robertson

Sevenoaks, Kent, England

James Morton-Robertson who wrote:

Change of School

"Going to the Royal High was quite different from the nine months that I had spent previously at Preston Street School.

The preparatory school was at Jock's Lodge. It was a bright, clean, modern building with very good teachers. I settled in immediately and had the right level of challenge."

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent, England: October 4, 2009

Recollections

David Scott

Doha, Qatar

Thank you to David Scott who wrote:

Slang

Royal High School

Regent Road

"Here are some of the words that we used at the Royal High School at Regent Road, Edinburgh.

- gyte: a first year pupil. This was used even in official school announcements at the Royal High School. This ancient word was not used after the school's move to Barnton in 1968

- the yards: the tarmac area between the back of old Royal High and the Calton Hill retaining wall.

- the dungeons: the area around the front of the school that was generally forbidden to pupils.

- shapes: a mini-football game played by any number, in a knock-out competition, until one only remained.

A wall space was nominated and the ball had to be kicked to hit that space. If you missed you were eliminated. The ball had to be played from where it rested.

This game was played in Royal High School at Regent Road, where there were many suitable walls. It was played until the school made the move to Barnton, in 1968, where wall space was less and open space were more plentiful."

Royal High School

Barnton

"This was used after the Royal High School had moved from Regent Road to Barnton in 1968:

- the rocks: open space in the new school grounds at Barnton."

David Scott, Doha, Qatar: October 18, 2009

Recollections

John D Stevenson

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Stevenson for telling me about the time that he spent at The Royal High School, Edinburgh.

John remembers:

Royal High School Fees

1940-1948

"I started at Royal High School Edinburgh in 1940, having been a pupil at McLean High School Calendar.

In 1940, Royal High School fees were £2 per term (£6 per year).
By 1948, they had risen to £5 per term (£15 per year).

At that time, the basic wage for a journeyman - a worker who had completed his apprenticeship - at Henry Robb's shipyard where I started work after leaving Royal High School was £6 per week."

John D Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh: November 20, 2012

Recollections

Brian Weld

Thank you to Brian Weld who wrote:

Art Room

"I've just seen your web site with photographs of the Art Room in the Royal High School, Regent Road."

Photo 1

Photo 2

Chemistry Labs

"I can confirm that the photograph does indeed show the former Art Room situated on the top floor of the East extension next to the two adjoining chemistry labs which also had skylights."

Refectory

"This extension along with the nearby Refractory (also known as ‘The Grubby’) was in existence in 1911.

The dining area was open plan for both staff and pupils, the staff being grouped together but similarly seated on long tables, about six a side. The cost of meals was not included in the school fees."

Brian Weld: 18 October 2016

Recollections

James Morton-Robertson

Thank you to James Morton-Robertson who wrote:

Photo 1

"Here is a photo of my class, Form 1A, taken in 1949 with our Form Master, Mr Goble (Latin).

Unfortunately, the few ex-pupils that I have been in touch with have now died. John Nicol and David Morris are in the front row, left. I am the lanky boy to the right of Mr Goble."

1949

Photo 2

"This photo of Pupils are leaving the Royal High School, Calton Hill Buildings would probably have been taken around 1949-50."

Leaving School - Around 1949-50

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Scotsman Publications Ltd. Click here for web site details
and with acknowledgement to James Morton-Robertson for sending the photo to me.

James Morton-Robertson, Sevenoaks, Kent, England: 21 August 2018