Photograph by J R Coltart & Son - Pupils at Trinity Academy

Trinity Academy Class

Thank you to Walter Lyle Hume for providing the photograph above

Walter wrote:

Pre-1939

"This photograph of Trinity Academy was taken pre-1939 in school playground in front of gymnasium. The teacher is Miss MacCoskrey.

I know a few of the names but would like to name others, particularly the Ladies!"

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. April 6, 2006

If you can name any of the people, please e-mail me so that I can pass on the names to Walter.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs.

Reply

Joy Barrie

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When I added this photo to the web site, I described it as 'pre-1939'.

However, Joy Barrie has now written:

1944 or 1945

"This photo actually dates to 1944 or 1945. I can't be more specific because I attended so many schools in the days of my youth.

I believe the teacher's name was Miss Coskie. The little blonde on her left, in the front row is Irene Crawford. I'm the girl on the right with the big bow in her hair.

One of the boys is surely Billy Carter, though I have to say that I can't pick him out. He was a redhead and moved to Southampton soon after.

Dr Weir was Headmaster at the time."

Joy Barrie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: August 4, 2011

Reply

Walter Lyle Hume

Cowes, Isle of Wight

The debate about the date of this photo continues.

Walter Lyle Hume replied:

Before 1944

"I have to disagree with the date of 1944 or 1945 for this photo. that Joy Barrie gives above. I was on my first ship by then."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight: August 10, 2011

Thank you to Walter for providing names of several of the pupils below.

However, Walter added that he did not recognise the name of Joy Barrie who wrote 'Reply 1' above.

Trinity Academy Class ©
There are 45 pupils and a teacher in this photo. The table below shows the names that Walter remembers (left to right. in each row):
	Back Row	2nd Row	3rd Row	Front Row
1	Ronnie Thomas	W Spence	Miss Coskie	E Blair OR Irene Crawford
2	K Baird OR Billy Carter	G Gowans	?	?
3	A Caulfield	W Wood	?	?
4	C Hay	J Aitken	?	?
5	A Baird	J Souness	?	M Greig
6	C Davidson	D McMillan	?	?
7	I McCartney	R Inglis	?	?
8	?	?	?	D Wood
9	C Osborne	?	?	?
10	W Hume	?	?	?
11	I Flucker	?	Joy Barrie	?
12			?	?
Walter added that the name of the headmaster at the time was Tam Scott.
Acknowledgement: Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England: Aug 10, 2011 + 25 Apr 2012 These names (in red) supplied by Joy Barrie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: August 13+16, 2011

Reply

Joy Barrie

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Joy Barrie wrote again:

Confusion

"Confusion. confusion ... Is Walter saying that he is in this picture? If so, which one is he? I'm not surprised that he doesn't recognise me. I don't recognise him.

However, that's definitely me in the second row (blonde, big bow) and that is definitely Irene Crawford beside the teacher.

Date of Photo

"I came to Edinburgh from Perth when I was nine, late in the school year, and Miss Coskie appointed Irene as my guide and mentor, since we lived near each other.

I don't remember exactly where our classroom was situated. I think it was across the road from the main building. The following year, our class - or at least some of us - moved into the sports pavilion on the nearby sports field.

I was born in February 1934, so the photo might just possible date to 1943, but certainly no earlier. Sorry about that Walter."

Joy Barrie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: August 13, 2011

Which Class?

Thanks, Joy, for your comments about this photo. Yes, Walter is saying that he is in this photo, and that he is 2nd from the right of the back row.

You say you feel that this is definitely a photo of your own class, and that you recognise two people in it, including yourself.

However, Walter says it is his class and he recognises 20 people in it including himself - and the original photo reproduced above belongs to Walter.

So it seems almost certain to me that this is a photo of Walter's class. You could both be correct, if you were both in the same class, but you both tell me that you don't recognise each other !

Question

Is there anybody else who recognises themself in this photo, who would like to comment.

If so, please email me. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: August 13, 2011

Reply

Joy Barrie

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Joy Barrie wrote again:

Photo Puzzle

"Me again. It's a puzzle, right enough.

I never had a copy of this photo as my mother wouldn't buy it. She said my eyes were closed. On closer inspection this does seem to be the case.

I see now that the boy in the back row, second from the left - the one with the open neck shirt - is Billy Carter. I wasn't in this class for very long which is probably why I don't recollect many names, although I have to confess I have never been very good with names and faces.

It does seem to be a very large class, even for wartime. Could it be a combined class?"

School Concert

"My recollections of first year secondary school are clearer. This was the year that the redoubtable Music teacher Miss Munro joined the staff at the Academy.

I took part in what I believe was the first post-war concert at the Usher Hall. Miss Munro created a seafaring theme, with excerpts from 'HMS Pinafore', 'The Flying Dutchman ' and 'En Bateau'. as well as singing in the chorus. I took part in the ballet as a sea wave.

Not that any of this helps. We need another septuagenarian to give me credit!"

Joy Barrie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: August 16, 2011

Reply

Walter Lyle Hume

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Walter Lyle Hume replied again, confirming the photo must have been taken earlier than 1944. Walter is one of the pupils in the photo. By 1944, he was on his first ship.

Walter added:

Before 1944

"I agree, the teacher's name was Coskie. Tam Scott was the Headmaster."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight: April 25, 2012

Sadly, I have not had chance to thank Walter for his message above.

I had was not aware that Walter had been ill until John Stevenson passed me this message from Andy Hall of Newcastle on April 27, 2012..

Andy wrote:

Walter Lyle Hume RIP

"Some sad news to pass on. Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight (ex-Newhaven) passed away yesterday after a spell of pneumonia."

Andy Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England: April 27, 2012

John added:

"I've just received this sad news from Andy Hall in Shields.

Walter was a 'one off' and will be sadly missed! His knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge endeared him to many. Even after he moved to the Isle of Wight, he was never far away, thanks to the internet.

Thankfully, he has left a legacy with the info that he placed on the web."

John Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh: April 27, 2012