Hi,

On 22nd of June some of us paid a nostalgic visit to our old primary school. Hillhead Primary in Cecil Street (which was originally Hillhead High until it moved to a different location in Oakfield Avenue), is due to close in the near future when three west end primaries are due to amalgamate into a new building just off Gibson Street.

Having spent seven years of my life attending from 1964 until 1970, and having never been back, there was a curious desire to see the old place for one last time. A tour had been arranged as part of the West End Festival but the date had been changed at short notice. All concerned are grateful to the redoubtable Ian McCracken who managed to organize an 'alternative' evening for those of us who would otherwise have missed out.

Thanks also go to Dorian Grieve who has supplied some of the photos. I managed to run out of film on the night and am grateful that he has shared his own selection with me.

It was a truly memorable experience. I was able to locate all of the classrooms I was in, despite some building work having been carried out over the 40 years, which changed the position of some doorways and corridors.

P1: Miss MacNeillie

P2: Mrs Aitken

P3: Mrs Clark

P4: Miss Wotherspoon

P5: Miss Stallard/Mrs Cummings

P6&7: Miss MacNab

Given that most class sizes were about 40 in those days all the classrooms seemed frighteningly small. Lots of memories came flooding back as you went from room to room swapping anecdotes with fellow class members as well as those from other years.

The Jannies and Headmaster's offices, cloakrooms, dinner school, the main hall and the place where the free milk was dispensed from all brought back many memories. as well as the stanks we used to play marbles on in the playground. Glad to say the outside toilets have disappeared!

A wee trip down memory lane. Hope you enjoy the photos and if I have got any details wrong please let me know. It was a long time ago!

All the best

Murdo