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The following photos were submitted on
behalf of Irene Kirkland, (nee Armour) who attended our school 1927-39.
At the time of the submissions, December 2012, Irene was 90 years old
and using a computer. Irene wrote the descriptive notations by hand...we
hope they are placed correctly. Thank you, Irene, and your daughter
Fiona for these treasures.
Irene Armour, Margaret Walker, Christine
Johnson, Flora Black
Sports Day, held at Hagg's Estate
School trip to France (St. Malo) 1938.
French teacher Miss Hepburn. Had a great time..
School trip to Western Isles as far as St.
Kilda. Teacher Mr. Andrew Crawfod. I think the ship was called The
Tascania.
 We
are saddened to report that former pupil Irene Kirkland, nee Armour, who
provided us with the great photos above, passed away on April 4th, 2013,
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Irene was 91 years old and was still using
her computer up to a few months before her death. We are grateful to her
daughter Fiona Steele for the photo to the left and the copy of her
mother's obituary.
Extracted from Obituary of Mary Irene
Kirkland:
"Irene was a long standing member of Canadian Girl Guides as a Girl
Guide leader and as a Division Commissioner. She volunteered for many
years at Chedoke Hospital and was the recipient of the Ontario Governor
General's Volunteer Award".
Shalom, Tom
2013
It is with great sadness we must announce
the passing of one of our most reknowned former pupils,Tom Berman. Tom
died, as the result of an accident, whilst on a trip to the Galapagos
Islands in April 2013. We cannot begin to describe what an influence
this dedicated, distinguished scientist had on the world, one need only
Google his name to see a part of it. But Tom was also a poet,
philanthropist and loving family man. He will be missed in all those
fields of endeavour. We are grateful for our brief connection to this
brilliant man. In the annals of academie his name is dutifully etched.
In our short experience, he will be remembered as a humble, joyful
friend and classmate who impacted our lives with his special gift of
sharing an obvious love of life.
2003
1981
ARA Reunion 2003
As an adjunct to the
above announcement, I have chosen to add a copy of Tom's poem, The
Leather Suitcase, which was published inTom's books, Shards and Rambles,
It is probably appropriate for this space, given the circumstances of
his arrival in Scotland, and his first attendance at our school, at the
age of five. Tom was a child of the Kindertransport scheme which
operated in 1938-39, where some 10,000 mostly Jewish children
(unaccompanied by parents) were brought by train from Nazi-controlled
Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia to Britain. It is generally agreed
that few, if any, of those children would have survived the war had they
stayed in their homeland.
The
Leather Suitcase
by Tom Berman
They don't make suitcases
like that any more.
Time was,
when this case was made
solid, leather, heavy stitching
with protective edges
at the corners.
Time was,
when voyage meant
train, steamship,
distances unbridgeable
waiting for a thinning mail
weeks, then months,
then
nothing.
From Prague
Children's train across the Reich
stops....and starts again
Holland
a lighted gangplank,
night ferry to gray-misted
sea-gulled Harwich
again the rails
reaching flat across East Anglia
to London
In my bedroom, the suitcase
a silent witness
with two labels
"Wilson Station, Praha"
"Royal Scot, London-Glasgow"
Leather suitcase
from a far-off country,
Czechoslovakia,
containing all the love
parents could pack
for a five year old
off on a journey
for life.
New photos in 2018
Former pupils, Iain and Alan Henderson at
Albert Drive, 2018.
Liz Hamilton, formerly known as Betty,
is our oldest former pupil. Liz celebrated
her 103rd birthday recently, and I think
you will agree, is looking great!
So proud of this dear lady.
Slainte, Liz!
I am in touch with her son, so if you would
like to contact her, I will gladly forward
any messages to him.
Her attendance dates will follow soon.
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