This programme from 25th October 1998 was a celebration of former Clydebank, Rangers and Motherwell player Davie Cooper (1956-1995). Part of the event held at Boghead Park, Dumbarton, saw Clydebank Schools play Dumbarton Schools. Do you know what the final score was? Did you play? Let us know!
The document is a scan of the original and comes in pdf format. Click on the download button above to view. It was found in a loft and sent to OldCHS!
Back row: John Ross, Ian “Bo” Burns, Andy Hamilton, Drew Kildare, Kenny Wilson.
Front Row: Graham Box, Jim Rodger, Alex Jaimieson, Ian McGeahie, Graham McCallum.
Missing: Davy Banks / Jim Fanning / John Black
Thanks to John Ross for the names. He also let us know that he recalls this team were beaten in the semifinal of the Glasgow Schools league by Victoria Park 2-1. Victoria Park went on to win the competition by a good margin. He also told us that Alex Jamison was as u/15’s Scotland cap & S Form for Oxford, John Black was S Form with Wolves, Jim Rodger was senior with Airdrie & Clydebank, Jim Fanning was senior with Clydebank and Ian McGechie was with Rob Roy.
Back row: Neil Campbell (Gym), Mr Shaw (Technical), Tom Wilson (PT Technical), John Smith (PT Mathematics), Davy Glen (PT Physics), John Traill (PT Geography), Hugh Waterford (PT History), Mr Craig (Chemistry).
Middle row: Ronnie Clarke (APT Art), Willie Rodger (PT Art), ?, ?, Mr Logan (PT Modern Languages), Duncan McEwan (PT Biology), Scott Duncan (PT Business Studies / Commerce), Jean Cunningham (Biology / Mathematics), ?.
Front row: Alison McDonald (PT English), ?, John Hume Brown (PT Geography & Asst Rector Middle School)?, Marcia McLaren (Art / Asst Rector Lower School), Mr Bennie (Asst Rector Administration), Mr John Templeton Robertson (Rector), Tom Murray (Depute Rector), Bill Jones (Asst Rector Senior School), ?, Jeannie Thompson (PT Music).
Thanks to Douglas McKerracher, Scott Inglis, Andrew Scanlon and Charlie Campbell for the names. Charlie told us that this must be the early 1970s given the arrival and departure of several members of staff pictured during this time and that Tom Murray became Rector of Vale of Leven Academy from 1974/75.
Opened in 1911, the Miller Street building was the fourth building to house “Clydebank School”. In fact, it was this building that allowed the separation of Primary and Secondary schooling in the town, and so “Clydebank High School” was born.
By 1906, the School roll had risen to 1,600 which was 100 over the design capacity of the Kilbowie Road building opened in 1888. As such, it was agreed that a new school could be built to supplement this capacity with enough room for a further 350 pupils.
The Miller Street building was predominantly used to house the “Higher Grade” pupils whilst the Kilbowie Road building continued with “Primary” and “Supplementary” pupils.
The Miller Street building was severely damaged during the Clydebank Blitz in May 1941, but it survived and was replaced by the Shelley Drive building which opened in 1947.
James Hunter Porteous was born on 3rd March 1890 in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. His father, Robert, was an Iron Moulder, and the family lived at 6 Dumbarton Road in Clydebank before moving to 8 Montrose Street in Kilbowie.
James was educated at Clydebank School, where he attained the Junior Student’s Certificate in July 1909. The Junior Student’s course involved a set number of hours of instruction in the art of teaching, and was a standard qualification for entry to teacher training college.
In the autumn of 1909, James enrolled at the Glasgow Provincial Training College (forerunner of Jordanhill College of Education, now the University of Strathclyde) for a three-year course of teacher training offered in conjunction with the University of Glasgow. Students taking this course were required to study concurrently at the University. If successful, they obtained two qualifications: the Teacher’s General Certificate, entitling them to teach in primary schools, and an Arts degree. In his first year he studied Latin and Mathematics, followed in his second with classes in English Literature before taking English Higher and Logic in his final year.
In 1912 James qualified for the Teacher’s General Certificate in the summer of 1912. He became a Teacher at the Dalmuir School under the Old Kilpatrick School Board, and was involved in the St James’ Parish Church Company of the Boys’ Brigade.
James was quick to sign up to join the war effort, and was made a 2nd Lieutenant on the 2nd September 1914, and served with the 6th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Captain James Hunter Porteous was killed in action on the 22nd August 1917, and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. His gravestone reads “A secret thought, a silent tear, keep his memory ever dear”.
Captain Porteous is remembered on the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour, on the Roll of Honour of the Glasgow Provincial Committee for the Training of Teachers, and on the Glasgow Provincial Training College War Memorial, located in the David Stow Building on the former Jordanhill Campus.
The “bothy school” in the shipyard had become unfit for purpose as a school for the rapidly-expanding town. As such, a new school was required and the second building of CHS was constructed at the bottom of Kilbowie Road in 1876.
However this building quickly became overcrowded and was demolished only ten years after it opened and replaced by the third CHS building with over three times the capacity. This requirement for such a large increase in capacity in such a short time is a great indicator of the growth of Clydebank.
The third building to house our school was opened in 1888 on Kilbowie Road, only fifteen years after the original Bothy School had opened. The second building had become overcrowded very quickly, necessitating the new school. The new design capacity was for 1,500 pupils, compared to the 446 of the old school.
Built on the site of the original Kilbowie Road School, it caused public outcry at the cost of construction which was £20,000 (approximately £2.5million in 2018 terms). This was an overspend of £7,000 (£893,000 in 2018) compared to the original budget of £13,000 (£1.65million on 2018).
The Rev John Stark who was a member of the school board and supporter of building the new school was so unpopular for the massive overspend that effigies of him were burned on the streets of the town!
This building was destroyed during the Clydebank Blitz of 13th & 14th March 1941.
The photo above is from the West Dunbartonshire Council Archive and a “then and now” photo is available on their website here.
On 24th November 1998, then Scotland Today reporter Becky Hunter visited CHS to interview a group of pupils who had created commemorative banners to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary.
This video is hosted on the YouTube channel of former pupil Iain McGuinness who was involved in the creation of these banners.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Douglas McInnes, mathematics teacher at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences there since he joined the school in 1994.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Anne Thorn, Curriculum Leader of English at Clydebank High School talks about her experiences as a teacher in Braidfield High School which she joined in 1993, including the amalgamation of Braidfield and Clydebank High in 2006.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Scott Inglis, former English & guidance teacher at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences as a teacher at CHS.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Dr Bill Mullen, former pupil at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Alex Leithead, PGDE student at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences at CHS.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, May Ferries, former pupil and Head Girl at Clydebank High School talks about her experiences from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Paul Hamilton, history teacher at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences there, focussing on the importance of history and heritage to the school.
Clydebank High School, the University of Strathclyde and oldchs.co.uk joined together to create a “Community Archive Project” which documents the history of Clydebank High School.
In this video, Stewart Paterson, former pupil and mathematics & physics teacher at Clydebank High School talks about his experiences there as a pupil and returning as a teacher some years later.
…to see this! The banners were designed to celebrate CHS’s 125th anniversary. You can see a video of a news report at the time by going to our video page here.
This is Room 24. It was previously a tiered seating room with blackboards to the from but over recent years the seating was removed and it was used as a storage area. I always remember feeling a bit “spooky” in here!
We bump into some former teachers. Left to right: Peter Watson (CHS FP 1984-1990), Dr C Watson (History and author of the history of CHS which you can view here), Mrs E Dempsey (Religious Education), Jim Dempster (CHS FP 1995-2001).
Moving away from Room 31 along the front of the school, towards the Geography and History departments we see this board recording some of the heritage of the school.
A view from the south wing of the school towards the tower block, the CHS new build and Clydebank in the distance. Older pupils can remember looking out of these windows at Singer’s clock counting down the minutes until home time!
Apologies for the quality, it was taken through the window of a locked door! At the top of the stairs is Room 31. This was our RE classroom which belonged to Mr Iain Morrison. Iain contributed many photographs to oldchs.co.uk, in fact he has his very own collection on this site.
Up the stairs we go! Photo 17 of the R Jennings collection was taken in a classroom to the left at the bottom of the stairs. We now approach the Religious Education and Art corridor.
In one of our old Home Economics sewing classrooms. Here, Robert is sat at his old sewing machine station! Changed days from the gender-divided subjects!
Into the Home Economics corridor we go. The display cases seen here were, we believe, originally entrances to the classrooms in the same style as seen in the Geography and History corridors. Quite why that change was made is still unclear.
A view from the entrance door of the studio back towards the English and Modern Languages corridors. Below our feet we can see the roof windows into the girl’s gymnasium.
Into the music department. Again, boxes are being packed for the big move down the road. This area of the school was once home to the library. The old library became the “studio” (see R Jennings collection photo 08).
A view from the end of the corridor of the photo above, this time at the junction of the English and Music departments. The entrance to the “link corridor” to the tower block is to the left of the picture.
A view of the corridor running from Modern Studies to the English Department. For those who attended CHS a few years ago, the departments may have changed location. To orient you, the assembly hall is currently out of the windows on the left of the photo and this corridor is the wing closest to the playing fields. The corridor looks very empty without the displays on the walls, however, this was taken as the school was being emptied for the move to the new Janetta Street building.
A view of the corridor running from the assembly hall to the Modern Studies & English departments. The Senior staff offices were to the right of this photograph.
A tour of the Shelley Drive building was arranged for Robert & Jim in the few weeks running up to the end of the 2008/09 session. These photographs document their final walk round their school. The assembly hall. That’s Robert on the stage.
A tour of the Shelley Drive building was arranged for Robert & Jim in the few weeks running up to the end of the 2008/09 session. These photographs document their final walk round their school. This photograph shows the CHS crest. It was hung to the right of the stage in the assembly hall.
P. Mackay was a pupil between 1972-1977 and submitted these photographs.
The sloping concrete tiles I used to run down to the hockey pitch. I remember it looking a lot more steep than it does here. A scary neck breaking run.
The Shelley Drive building playing fields being prepared during the construction of the tower block. This land is now the site of the Janetta Street school.
The Shelley Drive building playing fields being prepared during the construction of the tower block. This land is now the site of the Janetta Street school.
A pre-tower block photograph. The connecting “link corridor” between the original building and the tower block used the windows of classrooms on the extreme right of this photograph as the new corridors. This photograph appears to be from the early 1950s.
In the waiting area is the school’s trophy cabinet. Above is one of the many flat screen TVs which are found throughout the school, these show pupils, staff and visitors any events which are happening on that day. In this photograph, the S4 assembly is being advertised.
One large dining hall replaces the previous divided halls in the Shelley Drive building. Large windows on the left of the picture allow a view into the playground.
You may recognise the banners – they were taken from the Shelley Drive school and have been relocated to the new assembly hall. Made to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the school in 1998, these will now see the school through to the 150th Anniversary celebrations in 2023.
As we walked through the corridors, I noticed a design innovation which I had never seen before. What’s that room at the right of the photo? See photos 07 & 08.
I wasn’t planning on taking photos of the lavatorial arrangements, but this “open plan” system is designed to prevent smoking, bullying and “skiving” in the toilets. I think it’s a marvellous idea! The colour coding of the walls indicates the gender – blue for boys…