News & Updates

In memory of a very special Former Pupil and Former Teacher 1909-2007.

The garden was opened on Friday June 20th by the son of the only remaining living relative of Miss Laidlaw, her cousin in Canada.

A small file of Miss Laidlaw’s ashes was placed in the garden, just before the opening ceremony.

It was a lovely sunny day and over 80 Former Pupils attended the opening, preceded by lunch and followed by a concert by current pupils and tea.

We were delighted to have so many Former Pupils attend and re-visit the school, some for the first time in many years.  The garden remains open in term time and can be visited by Former Pupils. 

We are grateful to the Trustees of the Laidlaw-Hall Trust for their generous donation towards this project; the funds originated from Miss Laidlaw’s estate.

We are also grateful to Miss Laidlaw’s cousin in Canada and her family, for their generous donation and to those of you who have, or may wish to give a donation.

In Miss Laidlaw’s name, we thank you for your generosity.……………………………………………………..

We felt a garden was the most fitting memorial to Miss Alison.  She loved the outdoors and her modern holistic attitude to education is reflected in the concept.  She would not have wanted a brass plaque, we can imagine her saying “…someone would only have to clean it!”  The garden is designed for the use of the current pupils and staff and is open to visitors and Former Pupils.  We have plans to open this part of the campus to the public, in the future.

The garden design is by Marion Rodger, a parent at the school.  She donated her time and expertise to the Trust.

The garden has been created within the ruined walls of an ancient salt store at the front of Bruntsfield House, near to the ‘famous’ archway.

Current pupils at the school are helping with the restoration and planting.

The garden is a project in process and the opening marks the completion of stage one, further work will be continuing on its design and upkeep in the context of this part of the school campus.

We had a great day with offers from more Former Pupils to record their life stories arranged.  On the day, 9 FPs recorded their memories of the school. Over 100 Former Pupils and community members attended, many for the first time and many who met former colleagues for the first time, since leaving school.  

Very positive comments recorded on the day include:

• Please keep this project going. Gillespie’s was such a wonderful school … a centre of excellence. (Sadie Shields, nee Murphy, 1946)
• This is an important social history project, not only in relation to James Gillespie’s High School but also for Edinburgh and the Scottish education system.
• Hope this project gets the funding to continue. It is so very worth while … the photographs, records, notes, etc., not to mention friendships continued. (Catherine Buchan)
• Most enjoyable. Please continue. (Margaret Buchan, nee Cameron)
• Would be very interested to see the project continue. Well worth while. Long avenues still to explore. (Lesley Fisher 1960-66)
• Happy memories, please continue! (Anne Watson, 1964-69)
• Please keep this project going. It is so interesting & informative. (DB, 1956)
• It would be a crime if this stopped after such a wonderful response. (Aileen Paulin, nee McDonald)
• Most interesting exhibits … more please! (Nina McNeil, nee Spence)
• Well done. Very enjoyable … keep going. (Helen Scott, nee Grieve)
• This simply has to go on! (Christine Reid, nee Kirkwood)
• Hope this project goes on. It has provided some lovely positive memories. It has been excellently arranged and managed and it would be a shame to have it curtailed at this point, Miss Marr rules OK!!
• Please help this project to continue. (Alison Pearson, nee Sinclair, 1957-63)
• I’m really enjoying volunteering with the Trust as I’m able to meet and talk with so many interesting former pupils & this rekindles many long-forgotten memories! (Jean Knox, nee Dulson, 1952-64)
• Hope this Gillespie’s project continues into the future. (C.C. 1950-63)
• Gillespie’s has touched (and continues to touch) so many lives … there is so much more to find out … please keep supporting this project. (Lindsay Cormack nee McNeill)
• This project deserves funding! (BT Albert)
• Great exhibition … a wonderful school where good behaviour, respect for others, hard work & individual responsibility were all encouraged. This is “living history” … good luck in future funding. (U.A.)
• Quite emotional. Brings back so many memories. Proud to be a Gillespie girl at 65! Must keep up the good work. (MRC 1955-59)
• This project is an important part of Edinburgh’s history. Long may it continue. (Christine Brunton nee Thomson)
• The class of ’08 have loved learning the history of our school, meeting the former pupils and telling them about our wonderful time here. Please keep this going so that we can come back and see Gillespie’s in the years to come! (Class of ’08)
• I have enjoyed being involved with my old school. It has brought back so many memories … some good, some not so good, but I am glad I decided to volunteer. (AN)
• Living History … please keep this project going. (J. Flannigan 1952-58)
• Living History … one of its kind. Please help it to continue. (Jill)
• What a great project … it deserves more financial support. (MBK)
• It was a great pleasure to trace my schooldays as an all girls school to my elder daughter’s 1st year in the comprehensive system & then her younger sister following too.
• Please continue this wonderful work to maintain historic records of Gillespie’s famous school.

We hope to make a further application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop this project.

The evening was a resounding success with a room crowded with Former Pupils; many Trustees, the head teacher, several members of the current staff, current sixth year students and helpers from the School Council all helped to make it exciting and popular.

The exhibition stands were displayed again, there was a film showing and talks from Jeremy Hughes and Alex Wallace.

Food and drink was served and a retiring collection raised £240.

A further 18 new database members were added and other records made complete.  Jennifer Craik and Nicola Watson our brave volunteers, both attended to help with processing data.

Exhibition Feedback

  “The evening made me feel as if I mattered – not just then, when I was at school but now, even though I am older, I still matter to the young people I met and I’m proud of the tradition I helped to build.”

• 130 attendees 
• Most trustees attended
• 8 current members of staff attended
• General absolute approval for the showstands and ‘professional ‘presentation
• A great atmosphere!
• Excellent response from alumni
• Need to build on the momentum
• Newsletters for FPs or page in current newsletter
• Excellent new database contacts 
• More FP contact wanted
• More exhibitions requested
• FPs want better access to archives

Following a very successful first year of the James Gillespie’s Oral History Project, ‘Living Stories’, we have enjoyed meeting so many Former Pupils and have established a database of over 570 who want to keep in touch!

Do contact us for ideas for future events: 

alumni@jamesgillespiestrust.com

‘Living Stories’ 
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

Saturday June 16th 2007 was the day of the ‘story-so-far’ exhibition at the James Gillespie’s High School Library.  Former pupils from all over the UK came to visit the School again and revive memories of their old School days.  Over 200 people visited the exhibition, where they were able to see interpretation stands with quotes and pictures from most of the living memory history of the School and historical information dating back to before the First World War.

‘Living Stories’ is an oral history project  supported by a grant from the Heritage

Lottery Fund and it completes in November 2008.  It was designed to help the School keep in touch with its Former Pupils and members of the local community and to record their memories for posterity, in the start of an oral history library to be established at the School.

Archive documents, the old School registers, some of which are over 100 years old, were on display, alongside many precious items of memorabilia.  Visitors to the exhibition also brought donations, or items for the School to copy.  It is hoped that the archive will be restored over time and all the gaps in the history will be filled.

There were disc players on hand for visitors to listen to the recordings so far and many could remember those who were interviewed from their own school days. 

Visitors were encouraged to take part by adding their memories to the project.  Comments about their own experiences, both good and bad were noted and will be published as part of the final presentations next year.  The exhibition was intended to show what has been achieved and to encourage further involvement.

There were 6 viewings of the film throughout the day, made by current pupils about the project and included film of the oral history interviews from some former pupils who could recall the days of Muriel Spark (formerly Camberg) and Miss Kay on whom the character Miss Jean Brodie was modelled, alongside other important and memorable members of the staff and School community, over the past 80 years of their living memories.

The displays also brought visitors up-to-date with what the School does now and the recent achievements in their Africa support programme,  the DiverseCity project and other activities.

The project is still very much alive and we want people to keep in touch with us and record more memories and take part in any way you like.  We need volunteers to help with the archive indexing and more memorabilia to help fill the gaps.  

If you are interested please contact the Volunteer Development Officer and let us know what you would like to do!

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Useful Links

• Funding lift for Gillespie’s history plan