The Gordon Schools' Former Pupils' Association

Next Meeting of the F.P. Association

The next meeting of The Gordon Schools’ Former Pupils’ Association is at 7pm on Monday 26th February 2024 at The Gordon Schools.

Patrick Scott's Latest Book

Association member and Huntly historian Patrick Scott has recorded the personal stories and memories of the war years and gathered them together in a book entitled ‘Huntly’s World War II’.

Patrick amassed the information from all sorts of people and in different situations over a lot of years. Stories from his own relatives and from the families of men who had come home from war and didn’t want to speak about their experiences.

The book is broken into short chapters with touching stories of evacuees arriving off trains, descriptions of planes over Huntly, conscription, pillboxes, sirens and life for ‘bairns’ during the war years.

Patrick has written at least a dozen books, including two volumes on Huntly Cricket Club and a History of Strathbogie.

Huntly’s World War II is available to buy from Orb’s Community Bookshop, Dean’s and McColls.

Former Pupils' Battle in Beijing

Andrew Young and Andrew Musgrave gave a good account of themselves at the Winter Olympics 2022. If you want to know any further details please see articles published in The Huntly Express on February 10th and February 17th.

“… the most distinguished female graduate in medicine”

What is it like to have something like this said about one? Ebony Martin, former pupil of The Gordon Schools, could tell us. If you would like to find out how she would know, please read the article in The Huntly Express, dated August 5th, 2021.

Lottie Florence

The Huntly Express recently announced the death at Rothieden, Huntly, on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021, of Charlotte (Lottie) Florence, for many years a teacher at Gordon Primary School, Huntly. Please read the obituary printed in The Huntly Express, dated 28/01/21 (click on the date).

Well-deserved Praise for Nicola

Nicola Whyte, a former pupil of The Gordon Schools, has been hailed as the local heroine in connection with the recent tragic train derailment near Stonehaven. In spite of being injured herself, Nicola bravely went for help, thinking of others before thinking of herself.

If you would like to read the article by Pat Scott published in The Huntly Express on Thursday, August 20, 2020, please click on these links: Nicola Whyte and Nicola Whyte 27/08/20.

Two Former Pupils Retire

Last orders were taken last week after nearly fifty years at the bar.

The Huntly Express, 21/04/17

Congratulations to Rizza’s of Huntly

Congratulations to owners of Rizza’s of Huntly, Philip and Nora Morrison, on being awarded ‘The Herald’ Rural Family Business of the year. They are pictured with family members Fiona and Donald. Nora Morrison is President of the Former Pupils’ Association. Press cuttings:

Rizza’s 1 Rizza’s 2

Huntly Express

Guest Book Signed

For more details please click on Guest Book above.

Wilma Dean-Prasad - "Living in Dallas Texas now"

John A.M. Bisset - ”Attended school 9/1939 for a year ... Remember my friend John Law.”

Alan Gordon - ”I attended the Gordon Schools between 1982 and 1986. I was in Gordon House.”

Sharon Gray (nee Taylor) - ”I attended Gordon Secondary School from 1985 ...”

Darren Millar - ”Hello. Is it me you’re looking for?”

Joyce McGroarty (nee Finlay) - ”Great to find Lorna Chisholm ...”

Steven Arthur (Bushy) - ”sorry I missed the school reunion ...”

Heather Small (Anton) - ”Happy memories!!”

Glynis Lorina Eastmond - ”Was at the school from 1956 to 1960. ...”

Carol McCartie - ”I was a pupil 1974 - 1979.”

Charles MacPherson - He asks:”Anne McCauley Aren’t you Charlie Smith’s sister?”

George Riddoch - better known as Ridgy - attended The Gordon Schools from 1939 to 1951.

Brian Sandison: ”I remember about half the faces in Stanley’s photo of 1A boys 1959/60 ...”

J. Brown, 2004 to 2009, presently at Abertay University.

Philip Roger, 1968 to 69, Fairhall Farm, ”looking to get in touch with the Paterson family who lived at the end of our driveway”.

Maureen Newlands, nee Richards, 1962 to 1966.

This entry in the Guest Book is from Charlie McPherson: ”Nice to see some of the old class mates in the photos!”

David Smart signed the Guest Book (09/07/15). He is hoping that someone may have photographs of 1a girls and 1c girls (1959/60).

Stanley T. Fraser signed the Guest Book (28/06/15). He offers to share a photograph of class 1a boys from 1959/60. (The photograph has now been received. Thank you, Stan Fraser. Please click to see 1a boys - 1959/60.)

The Guest Book has been signed by Willson Raeburn Morrison. In his message he mentions John Anderson, Gordon Beverley and Ann Begg.

On February 11th, 2015, the Guest Book was signed by Jimmy Mason (”... recalling fond memories”) and Robert Wilson, who now lives in London.

Fiona Morrison signed the Guest Book on May 26th, 2015. She was a pupil at The Gordon Schools from 1966 to 1969.

Class of 1959-1960

David Smart has made available the photograph of class 1b from session 1959-1960. To view, please click on the link:

Class 1b 1959-60

David has asked if anyone can make available an equivalent photograph of class 1a or 1c from that same session for placing on the website. See Guest Book. A photograh of 1a boys has been made available by Stan Fraser. Please click to view: 1a boys - 1959/60.

He has also passed on the whole school panorama from 1955. This is on the photographic page of the website. Panoramas

Angela Shearer MBE

Angela Shearer received her MBE from the Queen at the Palace of Holyrood in June.

175th Celebrations: Vintage Night

As part of the 175th Anniversary celebrations of the founding of The Gordon Schools, a Vintage Night was held in June.

For further details see: Vintage Night Poster

Introduction

A welcome from the President.

The Association

TGSFPA logo

Magazines

The 2014 edition of 'The School Road' has been printed and is now on sale.

History of the Association

Emerging from the War Years

Britain emerged into a period of austerity from the difficult war years. In 1948, it was proposed that a memorial, sponsored by the Association, should be erected to former pupils who had fallen in the 1939-1945 war. Contributions from members were invited.

It was reported in later minutes that Mr Morren had received the stone for the war memorial and that he had started work on it. A date of 3 September 1950 was settled for its unveiling.

The minutes of the AGM of Monday, 28 April 1952 note that the title of the Association should be changed to the original one of ‘The Gordon Schools’ Former Pupils’ Association’. And so it remains to this date. 1939 Jean Watt

The minutes of the AGM in 1958 indicate that:

‘Surprise was expressed that no representative of the Association had been invited to the opening of the new School, especially when the Association had been connected now for 33 years, during which prizes were donated yearly.’

During the mid-1950s there had been significant building and redevelopment of the school. A number of important educational and administrative areas were added at this time, including the Assembly Hall. This was a significant move forward in terms of facilities.

Road Safety Quiz Team The secretary of the Association was instructed to write a letter of concern to Aberdeen County Council about their oversight.

Membership in 1963 was noted as standing at 260 Ordinary Members and 359 Life Members.

Dr Hugh Brebner and Mr Ewen McDonald in the staffroom at the 2010 Social Event

In 1964, the Association advised Mr McDonald, Rector, that they would like to help in any way possible relating to the proposed new swimming pool for Huntly. It was seen as being a benefit to all pupils at school.

The Association decided in 1965 that they would like to revive the idea of having a Former Pupils’ tie for members. A design was accepted. Scarves for ladies, using the same design, were also agreed.

An anonymous donation, a significant sum, was received in 1973. Concern was expressed in 1974 that this money was still lodged in a local Bank, rather than being invested in a Building Society. Concern was also expressed that Association savings had only benefited from an interest rate of nine and a half percent. Changed days!

A Dinner Dance was held at Christmas 1974, with a record attendance of 220 guests. £60 was donated to the Students’ Charities Campaign.

An Anniversary Dinner was planned, to celebrate 50 years of the Association.

Personalities

Miss Bain Some background information about the personalities mentioned in the ‘History of the Former Pupils’ Association’

Local Historian, Patrick Scott, Huntly, has kindly provided some biographical details and other background information about some of the personalities mentioned in the ‘History of the Former Pupils’ Association’.

Read the full text on the 'Personalities' page.

Early publications

Downloading these pdf files will require suitable software,e.g. Adobe Reader. They are also large files and will take some time to download over slow connections especially dial-up.

The Gordon Schools Former Pupils' Association