Snippets from the past
When the school moved from premises in Warrender Park Crescent to Lauderdale Street in 1966, some of the school records and memorabilia were destroyed. Most of the remaining school and alumni archives, including registration cards and student records, were given to Edinburgh City Archives in 2019 as part of a digitisation project. However, we still have some photographs, portraits and school magazines from 1913 to the early 1980s and a written history of the school to 1953, a selection of school trophies, uniforms, badges, and personal materials donated by former pupils. Many of these items are displayed when we have alumni gatherings and events. Don’t forget to check the website regularly. New items are being added every week. An example is today (25 Sept 24) just posted, on the Magazines and documentation page, the programme for the sixth year show in 1971 ‘The Boyfriend’
Autumn Appeal for School Memorabilia
We are now into the start of the new school year and the alumni team are appealing for any items of James Gillespie’s school memorabilia that you have and might be willing to donate to James Gilliespie’s Trust Alumni archives. We would be delighted to hear from you, with as much information as possible about the items concerned.
Our archives contain photographs, school magazines, trophies, awards, certificates, badges, uniforms and miscellaneous items. Of particular interest to the Alumni team are school magazines, programmes and photographs from the 1970s to the present day . With the move from paper copies to digital, much of this memorabilia has moved onto phones and computers and can easily get lost over the years. The Alumni team are happy to accept digital photos, scans of documents, videos, recordings as well as physical items that will add to our archives. (However, we already have some blazers, scarves, ties and hats and we are not looking for any more at this time!)
Physical items that you are willing to donate can be brought along to the ‘Gillespie Gathering’ on 5th October, sent or dropped in to the school at 120 Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh EH9 1DD, marked clearly for the JGTrust Alumni Section. The team may also be able to arrange for collection from a local address. Digital items can be sent to jgtalumni@gmail.com Thanking you in anticipation.
Update on the School archives held at the Edinburgh City Archives
Christine Ferguson, former member of the Alumni Team, has been liaising with the team at Edinburgh City Archives to find out how they are getting on with the digitisation of the Gillespie’s School archives that were handed over in 2019. She has now written an update that is detailed in the JGT Alumni September Newsletter. Her article includes an interesting extract from the Headmaster’s Logbook of 1917. I have copied the two pages here in a slightly larger format with a transcription.
From the 1924 Gillespie’s School Magazine:
30th Century – Lessons by Wireless by Jessie Henderson, Form 1B
An interesting article written one hundred years ago and envisioning the future.
Ellen King at the 1924 Olympics
Why the unicorn?
We learn from Elaine Cochrane’s ‘History of James Gillespies’ about the unicorn crest. The Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms calls it ‘a non-armorial device’ and not a ‘coat of arms’. In Fairbairn’s ‘Book of Crests of the families of Great Britain and Ireland’ there is the following information:
‘Gillespie, Scotland, a unicorn’s head argent (silver) armed (with a horn) or (gold). Motto – ‘Fidelis et in Bello Fortis’. There is also a plate of a unicorn’s head which is almost identical with ‘our’ school badge. The words ‘in Bello’, in the motto, were left out since they were not suitable for a school motto. Just as a matter of interest, there was an old superstition that a unicorn’s horn was a good antidote against poison.
Your school memories
If you have any special memories or photographs from your time at school that you would like to share with the James Gillespie’s Trust Alumni we will be happy to post excerpt(s) here and/or on the James Gillespie’s Trust Facebook page. Please get in touch. As a suggestion, what are your memories of your headteacher? If there are any particular photos, school memories or school history references that you would like to see posted here, we will do our best to oblige, please contact us: jgtalumni@gmail.com
Box Hats and Blue Stockings
This is a fascinating collection of memories of Gillespie Girls from the golden era of James Gillespie’s High School for girls, as it was until 1973, written by Norma Allan. As now, the school was well-known for its high academic standards and achievements. Packed with enthusiastic and wonderful memories, the book also has an abundance of old school photographs, as well as excerpts from the School Magazine of 1958, quotes from unforgettable teachers and, of course, the School Song! It is available from the National Library of Scotland Shop, George IV Bridge or direct from the author (Norma Allan) at normaallan.snowgoose@gmail.com Cost £10.00 (plus postage, if applicable).
