Edinburgh History - Recollections - London Street Primary School

Recollections

G M Rigg

New Zealand

Thank you to GM Rig for posting this message in the EdinPhoto guest book:

Teachers

"I attended London Street School, starting in 1958 or '59. The most memorable teachers were Mrs McDonald (in the Art Department) and the formidable Miss Foot who taught us all how to write beautifully, rather than print."

Headmaster

"Who could forget the headmaster Mr Henry, who came into classrooms asked a random question, and if the pupil gave the correct answer he would proclaim them to be a scholar."

Military Music

"We marched in the doors (gender appropriate!), 2 by 2, in time to military music and assembled outside our designated 'registration classroom' before being given permission to enter.

This rigmarole also applied between classes! God forbid that you needed to use the loo between classes or at breaks - all had to be accompanied !"

Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book: G M Rigg, New Zealand: April 7, 2009

Recollections

G M Rigg

New Zealand

Thank you to GM Rig for posting another message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

G M Rigg wrote:

Playground

"I remember playing in a large playground (full of all the equipment that now seems to be banned) on my way home from London Street School. The playground was always packed with kids released from the bonds of school in the late afternoon.

It was situated on the lower side of Barony Street (off Broughton Street) and was surrounded by the backs of tenements on all sides.

There was a cheese cutter, a shute or two, a witch's hat, a spider's web, a couple of roundabouts and swings.

Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book: G M Rigg, New Zealand: June 8, 2009

Recollections

G M Rigg

New Zealand

Thank you to GM Rigg for following up his comments above, and writing:

"I should have described the play equipment."

The Cheese Cutter

"A beam hung from 2 double arms that swung back and forth in a frame. The beam had metal bicycle saddle shaped seats and a metal grip to hold onto. The brave kids would take an end each and stand holding the arms and they would 'beam' (boost) the riders higher & higher, as far and as fast as they could."

The Shute

"A ladder & slide. They could be quite high up. We discovered that if you could get a bread wrapper (the wax paper kind) turn it inside out them sit on it with the inside down on the slide it helped to polish or lubricate the metal slide increasing the speed at which you could whiz down and off the end."

The Witch's Hat

"A metal conical frame that spun and rocked on a long metal pole. It had a wooden rim on the bottom that you could sit or stand on as the frame was spun round. It was propelled by running and pushing just like a roundabout. We had English relatives who called it a May Pole Swing."

The Spider's Web

"Another type of roundabout that was basically a metal web with the centre on a metal upright pivot. It had no floor. Set at about armpit height, you ran around till the speed picked up then pulled yourself onto the web in a sitting position to spin around."

Playground Equipmment

"I had no idea how difficult it would be to describe the various pieces of playground equipment !"

Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book: G M Rigg, New Zealand: June 12, 2009

Recollections

Lilias Dunn (née Angus)

Edinburgh

Thank you to Lilias Dunn who wrote

Home

"I was born in St James square in 1940 and stayed there until 1951."

School

"I attended London Street school from 1951. My teacher was Mr Fleming. I'd like to hear from anyone else who was in Mr Fleming's class.""

Question

Maureen Toolan

"Can anyone put me in touch with Maureen Toolan? She had a sister, Katherine. They emigrated to Canada around 1950-51 and we lost touch ."

Lilias Dunn (née Angus), Edinburgh: July 20, 2011

Reply to Lilias?

If you'd like to send a reply to Lilias, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to her. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 23, 2011

Recollections

Sean Palmer

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England

Thank you to Sean Palmer, Newcastle upon Tyne, for adding a message to the EdinPhoto Guestbook.

Sean wrote:

School Pals

"I'd like to get in contact with old pals from London Street Primary School which I attended from 1968 until 1972 when I left area, especially:

- Ivan Hunter, who later changed his name to Ivan Seary or Ceary. He lived with his grandparents, mostly at the bottom of Rodney Street in Broughton.

- Scot Graham.

- Giuseppe Amato.

- Anne Marie Amato from Broughton."

Sean Palmer, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England:
Messages + email address posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook: July 24, 2012

If you know how Sean might be able to contact any of the people that he mentions above, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 24, 2012

Recollections

Pauline McCullum (née Dunkley)

Gold Coast, Australia

Thank you to Pauline McCullum (née Dunkley), Gold Coast, Australia, for adding a message to the EdinPhoto Guestbook.

Pauline wrote:

Edinburgh Memories

"I used to live at 5 Haddington Place (at the top of Leith Walk). I attended London Street Primary School and Broughton High School. I moved to Barnton around 1964.

These are the things that I remember

- sliding down Calton Hill on cardboard.

- playing in Gayfield Square Park.

- going to Middleton Camp.

- skating on London Road Park when it froze one year.

- being chased by swans at Duddingston Loch.

- putting the swing over the bars at Barony Street swing park.

- jumping off buses.

- getting a hiding for teaching my geeky twin brother all of the above."

Leaving Scotland

"I left Scotland in 1974 and lived in Auckland NZ until 2007, when I relocated to the Gold Coast, Australia."

Remember Me?

"Does anyone remember me?."

Pauline McCullum (née Dunkley), Gold Coast, Australia:
Message posted in EdinPhoto Guestbook: August 14, 2012

Recollections

Elizabeth Fraser (née Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Elizabeth Fraser attended Barony Place Kindergarten / Playgroup from about age three to five years. That was about 1934-36, when she lived with her family in New Broughton.

Elizabeth wrote

Barony Place Playgroup

"Looking at the Barony Place Playgroup got me wondering if this was the little playgroup I attended when I was about three or four years old. I think I have already written about it."

Elizabeth Fraser (née Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: February 10, 2013

Elizabeth then went on to attend London Street school from 1936, until 1939 when she moved to Granton.

Elizabeth wrote

London Street School

"This got me on to thinking about London Street School. I think that was the school I was first enrolled in. I wonder if there are any photographs of the school.

I remember doing ‘henners’, holding on to the large round handles on the door and landing on my head – so much for health and safety in schools!"

Schools

"When I think of school, I realise just how many different schools I have attended, Pilton Street being the one where I distinctly remember the purple blackboards with yellow chalk! - or was it something in the school milk?"

Elizabeth Fraser (née Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: February 10+22, 2013

Recollections

Danny Callaghan

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Danny Callaghan for replying to Elizabeth Fraser's request (in 'Recollections 7' above) for a photograph of London Street School.

Danny wrote:

London Street Primary School

"Hi Elizabeth:

I have to report that we from St Mary’s York Lane at last got the upper hand and have now taken over possession of the school in London Street.

It was a long battle and I'm glad to that we came out the victors. As you will see from this recent photo of the school, the old school name has been removed from the stonework.

Sadly my old school, St Mary's, York Lane, has now been turned into up market apartments."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: February 16, 2013

Recollections

Winnie Maywood

Thank you to Winnie Maywood for sending the reply below to Recollections 4 above from Lilias Duns (née Angus).

Winnie wrote:

Home

"Lilias:

I was in your class at London Street school and remember you. When you were about five or six, you had ringlets in your hair and you were always very smart.

I hope you remember me. I lived in Leith Street and had older sisters who were twins. We all had fair hair and looked like each other.

I think you stayed near Cathy Slater and Isobel Campbell. I just came across this site by accident to-night, so I hope to hear from you.

Winnie Maywood: April 2, 2013

Message for Lilias Duns

I've sent an email to Lilias Duns to to let her know about the message from Winnie above, and to pass on Winnie's email address to her. I hope that Lilias and Winnie will be able to get in touch with each other.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: April 2, 2013

Recollections

10.

Harry Meiklejohn

Dublin, New Hampshire, USA

Thank you to Harry Meiklejohn, Dublin, New Hampshire, USA, for sending his memories of attending London Street Primary School in the 1930s.

Harry wrote:

1930s

Primary School Teachers

"I attended London Street School from 1933 to 1938.

The teachers that I remember were:

- Mrs Bell.

- Miss Muir.

- Miss Turnbull.

The Headmaster was Mr Mackay.

The Janitor was Mr West. He blew the bugle for the Last Post on Armistice Day."

Primary School Classmates

"Classmates that I remember were:

- Ewart Leith.

- Robert Ramsay.

- John Grieve.

- Nettie Benjamin.

I wonder how many may be alive and well now."

Later Life

"I went on to Broughton Secondary School, 1938-44.

After serving in the Royal Navy at the end of WWII, then for five years with the Cunard Line, I emigrated to USA in 1952. I retired 22 years ago and now live in Dublin, New Hampshire.

I'm proud of my education in Scottish schools."

Winnie Maywood: April 2, 2013

Recollections

11.

Harry Meiklejohn

Dublin, New Hampshire, USA

Thank you to Harry Meiklejohn, Dublin, New Hampshire, USA, for contacting me again

Harry wrote:

1930s

Primary School Classmates

"Here are the names of a few more classmates that have come to mind during the weekend:

- Douglas Richardson.

- James Carlisle.

- William Blake.

- John Gibson.

- ... Thompson.

- ... Potter."

Winnie Maywood: April 22, 2013

Recollections

12.

Ian Stobie

Edinburgh

Thank you to Ian Stobie who wrote wrote:

1949

My Home

"I lived in Gayfield House, opposite the London Street Primary School and attended the school from 1949."

Teachers

"My teachers were:

- Miss Crauser,

- Miss Glendale,

- Miss Johnstone.

The Headmaster when I started was Mr Watt, but after a year Mr Henry arrived, to become Headmaster."

The Janitor

"The Janitor, at my time in the school was Mr Corbett. He was Ronnie Corbett's father."

Events

"One of the large events at the school was the 1953 Coronation Party."

Ian Stobie, Edinburgh: .5+6 February 2016

Recollections

13.

Edward Kondracki

Thank you to Edward Kondracki wrote wrote:

Headmaster

Mr Henry

"I’m writing on behalf of my father, Henry Kondracki, who attended London Street Primary School in Edinburgh from 1959 to 1967.

My father has told me about the time when Mr Henry, the Headmaster at London Street Primary School entered his classroom when his normal teacher was off sick.

Mr Henry began to tell an elaborate tale about a hot air balloon expedition. The balloon’s gas contraption malfunctioned and the balloon began to rise uncontrollably into the air.

Climbing higher and higher the balloon rose above the clouds and at this point in his story, Mr Henry wass called away and the story was never finished.

My father jokingly says it’s his biggest regret that he never got the end of the story. I’d love you to put this into the recollections page on your website and see if anyone has any further details as I’d love to surprise my dad for his Christmas.

Edward Kondracki, Glasgow, Scotland: 1 December 2018