stories

Charlie MacDonald
"My only claim to fame was that I came to blows
with the Rector of the time over my riding a motorcycle into a parking area and was expelled for a short while until I accepted the crazy rule that teachers could ride theirs in whilst pupils, who also had passed the driving test!, had to push theirs.

A case for the European Court of Human Rights today!"

Anna Hume
Short story from the war years.

     "Having been bombed out of our Primary School in Duntocher, some of us were transferred to St. Mary's School in Duntocher, other's including myself were bussed to the High School.

     For 6 and 7 year old children it was quite an adventure and my friend Maisie and I had great fun. One particular afternoon we missed our bus home and decided 'Och well we will just have to walk'. Of course when the bus arrived in Duntocher and we were not on it our mother's were very concerned, 'up to high dough' they used to say in those days, and of course an immediate search was launched. Several hours later we were found, having made our way over the High Park, up Duntocher Road, across the Boulevard at the old Tomato Farm (I think there is a Motel there now) and down into the village to the Fore Park, where we were found happily making our way back home.

     To make the adventure even worse was the fact that I had gone to the wrong cloakroom for my coat and thought it had been stolen, and my mother had to come to school with me next day to try and find it. Well! our bottoms got quite a 'lathering' that night, and Maisie and I made sure we never missed the bus again!"

Jim Dempster, pupil 1952-54.

     "I wonder if anyone remembers Mr. Chan, who taught at CHS in the early 50s. I don�t remember which subject he taught, but I do remember the judo throws he used to demonstrate to his classes, and on one occasion he broke his wrist watch, much to the amusement of us all! Often during the class, if he felt we weren�t paying attention, he�d say �you boys, all you ever think about is Marilyn Munroe!�

     I also remember the great enthusiasm of our old French teacher, Miss Jones. In my case however, this was in vane, as I was more interested in looking out of the window at Singer�s clock, as it moved towards break time! Unfortunately, the only French I can still remember today is the national anthem, which I can still sing fluently.

     Other teachers I can remember from the time were Johnny Third (English), Jackie Pickup (music), Miss Hanson (maths), Mr. White (also maths), Mr. Black (gym), Mr. Gray (French), Mr Wallace (gym), �Bully� Munroe, and Miss Gordon (Latin), known as �The Gorgon�. There are, however, just too many memories to write down here!"