Allan Middleton

I was in Monkland House. This was the year that the “New” block was opened. The block had three floors, ground floor was Cleddans and Faskine and covered Maths; the second floor was Glentore and Monklands and covered Modern Languages; the top floor was Rochsoles and Woodhall and covered Geography and History. Each House had its own dining hall, which I remember operated in my first year but was reduced in following years, maybe down to demand? 

 

The old dining hall was used by the PE department for table tennis and Archery. I recall one time when I was shooting arrows, I felt this pain in my hand, after firing an arrow, and I had taken a splinter from the arrow. I was sent to the front of the school to see the nurse, but she was not there, met the Janny, who removed the splinter and washed the wound and sent me back to class none the worse. I am sure there would have been an investigation by the PE team. 

 

I wasn’t involved in any school teams or extra curriculum activities which I put down to having part-time jobs to earn pocket money from 1st year to 6th year. Mostly involving mornings and weekend working including Milk delivery, Paper Round, Shelf packing in Fine Fare, and finally working in Stark’s Cash and Carry. In my 4th year I became a school prefect, mainly so I could hang out in the prefect rooms, these rooms were not limited to specific houses, we all mixed. In my 6th year,  we used the 6th year common room which was at the front of the old school, which came in handy when visiting “Janet’s”… 

 

In 2000 I was given the opportunity to lead the construction team to build the new school, which I was extremely proud to do as this was my old school and was also attended by my daughters. My first contact was to meet with the school liaison team which included Mr McCallum. I was surprised to see a number of old school teachers still present namely, Mr Lindsay, Mr Wilsdon, Mr Garvie and Mr Rogers to name a few.

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The school had a number of legacy items which were to be integrated into the new school so we set about reviewing these and how they could be incorporated, as the project developed I suggested other elements, I think the final were: 

 

The War Memorial, the first thought was this to be installed outside as part of a memorial garden, but agreement was that the marble would quickly deteriorate therefore a plan was developed to incorporate the memorial within the new assembly hall. 

 

The Bust of John Anderson, Rector 1926 – 1948, this was to be uplifted at the appropriate time and re positioned with the new school main entrance. 

 

The Lectern, as with the bust it would be removed at the appropriated time and relocated to the new assembly hall. 

 

The stain glass representations of the old school houses needed a bit more discussion as they were not in the best of condition as over the years they had sustained weather damage and one was completely missing. The answer came with the help of Reverend Robbie Hamilton who had contact with a stain glass restorer, who then assisted with the planning to remove, refurbish and reinstall the glass panels within the new school. A location within the main hall glazing was ideal. 

 

The Main School Clock or clocks as there were faces on all sides of the chimney, some of which were in poor condition. The best face was chosen and was removed prior to the demolition phase. The metal work was refurbished and the new clock face installed within the assembly hall mounted on the face of the lift shaft wall. As the old mechanism was redundant a new electrical movement would be used to keep time.  

 

The School clock master which was the clock used to keep all the clocks around the school at the same time was also made redundant due to modern upgrades, the clock was therefore refurbished and placed within the new school entrance. 

 

The stone school crest which was installed above the main door of the school was removed prior to demolition and repositioned at the new main entrance. 

 

The plaster school shield which was located within corridor at the main school entrance, this was more difficult as it was “plastered in” the solution here was to take a negative moulding of the original from which a new plaster mould was made and handed over to the school for painting. 

 

Mr McCallum wanted something for the new entrance at South Commonhead Avenue, it was agreed to save some of the original stone which was then be used by a stone mason to carve a stone cairn with a design incorporating an image of the old assembly hall. 

 

It was a privilege to be involved with the school from start to completion.