Moray HouseTeachers' Training CollegeALSO Infant School Junior SchoolDemonstration School and Secondary School |
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Jim Irvine Photographer not known.
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Recollections |
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Rugby Team |
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Tom Smith |
Rugby Team |
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Liz Miller |
Rugby Team |
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Christine Muir |
James Pringle Fisher Moray House School Class |
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Christine Muir |
Demonstration School Secondary School Nursery School School Photos Moray House Building The Strap Christmas Parties School Song |
Recollections1.Jim Irvine |
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Thank you to Jim Irvine for sending me this photo. Jim wrote: |
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Rugby Team "According to my dad's notes this photo is of the 1st XV, taken during the 1937/8 season. Dad is on the left in the back row. Also in the photo are: - STANDING LEFT: Mr Sutherland (Coach) - SEATED LEFT: Mr Mount (Headmaster) - SEATED RIGHT: Mr McCormack (Coach) - STANDING RIGHT: Mr Nisbet, coach, standing right. Jim Irvine: June 24, 2010 |
Recollections2.Tom SmithBendigo, Victoria, Australia |
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Thank you to Thomas Finlayson Smith who added: |
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Rugby Team "I started at Moray House school in 1939-40 and left in 1949. I remember the headmaster in my time as being George Mowat. It could be him in the photo above. I also played for the rugby team for my last two years; but we wore navy blue shirts. I now live in Australia. My sister Brenda (11 years younger than me) also went to the school as a pupil, then later for teacher training. She now lives in Nottingham. Tom Smith, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia: July 1, 2010 |
Recollections3. Liz MillerSt Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands |
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Thank you to Liz Miller who wrote: Rugby Team "This photo was taken outside the school's main entrance which still exists today. Unfortunately, I am a bit younger than those in the photo, so can't put names to faces. Mr Mowat was the Headmaster in my days there, but I can't say if he is the Mr. Mount in the rugby photo. It could be he, as he would have been a lot older when I knew him!
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Recollections4. Christine MuirNorth Ronaldsay, Orkney. Scotland |
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Thank you to Christine Muir who wrote: |
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James Pringle Fisher "I started at Moray House Demonstration School in 1944. I was thinking this morning about other classmates there, and remembering James Pringle Fisher. I was sad to learn of his death. He was such an amazing lad, even in those days, and very popular. I knew he became a rugby captain. My younger brother went to the Royal High and played rugby too. But I didn't know about Pringle's death. Moray house was a happy school. I have lots of memories of my years there. I left in 1949 to go to Mary Erskine's, but it was so good to hear of Pringle's achievements, what a success he made of his life. His later photos showed how little he had changed in himself. He was instantly recognisable." Moray House School Class "I wonder what happened to other children in that class. I've never seen a class photo. Does anyone have a copy? Perhaps they are all in the university archive." Christine Muir, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland: April 21, 2012 |
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James Pringle Fisher Here is a photo of James Pringle Fisher, taken in the 1950s, when he was a member of the table tennis team at Canongate Boys' Club. James is the one on the right in this photo. James went on to play rugby (25 caps) and basketball for Scotland. He died, aged 70, in April 2009. Christine Muir subsequently wrote: "James Pringle Fisher was a bright all-rounder and a really kind lad. It did not surprise me that he achieved so much." Christine Muir, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland: May 7, 2012 |
Recollections5. Christine MuirNorth Ronaldsay, Orkney. Scotland |
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I asked Christine Muir if she could tell me what the Moray House Demonstration School was, that she mentioned in her Recollections 4 above. Thank you to Christine for giving me the answer below, and also for sending more memories of Moray House. Christine wrote: |
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Demonstration School "Moray House was and is a teacher training college. My mother did her training there, and perhaps it was because she enjoyed it that I was sent to the Demonstration School. Otherwise, it would have been more likely to have been Leith Academy. The Training School was an infant and primary school. The students practised their teaching there, and the children spent a lot of time over at the college having lessons with lecturers. What an amazing experience! I have very happy memories of this time. It was especially good for English. I think many of the pupils changed to other schools at age 10 or 11. I passed the entrance exam for Mary Erskine's with top marks at age 10, which would have been because of the English teaching, as my numeracy skills were sadly lacking. Others went to Gillespies, the Royal High and Heriots." Secondary School "Those who stayed on to age 15 were in the Higher Grade. My best friend was among them. The EdinPhoto web site has a photo of Class 3, secondary: Class 3B - 1955 I think the girls probably learned commercial subjects. My friend did very well, working in a lawyer's office." Nursery School "There was also a nursery school attached to Moray House. We we used to see the little ones in their coloured smocks, playing in their garden. I think it was famous for its care of pre-school children. There was, I think, the 150th Anniversary a few years ago and former pupils were invited to donate. I gave two rose bushes in memory of my mother and her friend and fellow-student, Maida Cassells." School Photos "I wish I could see some of the school photos, I think the archive is held by Edinburgh University as Moray House now belongs to it. You have to make an appointment, which is difficult for me. Moray House Building "We used to have sewing lessons in the old Moray House, which was an incredible place, with narrow winding stairs. We sat in a little old room and learned to knit and sew. The children all went to the College for school dinners, and there was a big playground. Although there was a large number of boys and girls, I don't remember bullying. There was a 'janny' who was on the prowl and who lived in the grounds. We seemed to have quite a lot of freedom too, to wander around during the dinner-hour. I used to go to the Museum in the Royal Mile, now the Museum of Childhood. It cost 1d!" The Strap "There was also the strap for naughtiness and for persistent laziness - boys especially being lined up for spelling errors. We had Schonnell's Spelling List, ten words a night to learn. I only had the strap once, and that was for spelling!" Christmas Parties "I was sad when they closed the school - it had a 'Rural' class for a variety of ages, and I'd have loved to have gone to that. They had wonderful class Christmas parties. We were sent home after morning school and came back to find the desks put together to make one long table." School Song "The carols and songs and poems we learned have always stayed with me. There were ups and downs as in any school, but for me it was a very happy time. The school song 'House of memories' is true for me." Christine Muir, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland: May 7, 2012 |
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Recollections 6 Robert Bishop Piershill, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Howarth who wrote: |
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Leith Walk Primary School then Moray House Secondary School "I have just discovered this website. I have often thought about my then classmates and I recognised nearly all the names above, as I was in Alex Harper's class up to 1957 when I started at Moray House Secondary with James Simmons." Leith Walk Primary School Reunion "I kept in touch with John Alexander for some time but lost touch, unfortunately. On reading that a class reunion had been held in The Ellwyn Hotel I was disappointed not to have known as I live just a short distance from it. Should any future reunions be planned I would be grateful to be informed."
My Family "I lived at 28 Brunswick Road until 1955 and my mother worked in the drysalters, Cochrane & Bishop, at 95 Easter Road until 1956." My First Jobs "On leaving Moray House School in 1960, my first job was an apprentice with Andrew Whyte & Sons, Manufacturing Stationers, on the corner of Easter Road and Bothwell Street, before starting as an apprentice engineer with Edinburgh Corporation Transport Department, at Shrubhill." Whilst working at Andrew Whyte & Sons, I worked with Lynda Phillips, one of the girls that Irene Day mentions that she would like to make contact with in her Norton Park Recollections 2." Loganlea Road "Lynda lived round the corner from me in Loganlea Road and the last time I saw her would be around 1963 when she was about to get married and presumably move away from her parents' house. Also living in Loganlea Road was Ian Wallace who attended Norton Park Secondary School 1957-1960. The last I heard of Ian he was when he was working for The SMT Motor Co." Past Classmates "It's good to know that so many are still interested in their school and past classmates." Robert Bishop, Piershill, Edinburgh: 11 May 2016 |