Janet Dickie

GWLC Prep Dept. was on St Alban's Road. I was there for two years.

My first memory of George Watson's Ladies College was going with a colleague to pick up her daughter from the Prep Dept. at St Alban's Road. I liked the look of the building, it was a lovely old house. There was a very pleasant, happy, family atmosphere as the girls all came out to be collected at 1pm.

The day started at 9am for Primary 1 & 2 and stopped at 1pm. Lunch was from 1 until 2pm. Twice a week I had to leave at 1.40pm to walk to George Square to assist with weaving or basket work with willow canes. There, I worked with Marion Stewart and Margaret Grant. I remember that Morag Wise was in one of those classes. The Primary 6 and & girls engaged in conversation round the table with us during these sessions. The afternoons passed very quickly. It was most entertaining.

I acted as a mail lady for Miss Fraser on those days and delivered packages/mail to Miss Fleming. Her secretary, Miss Chalmers was scary!

Inside was very welcoming. The cloakrooms were particularly well designed with a row of slatted benches fixed to the wall under which gym bags, outdoor shoes and wellingtons could be stored. Coats, blazers and painting overalls were hung on the hooks above the benches. There was plenty of space!

58 St Alban's Road was a lovely building with two large rooms to the front, each of which had a bay window. On the ground floor were Elma Coghill and Muriel Fraser in each of these rooms. Mrs Napier was in a new building which was linked to the next house where Primary 3 children were accommodated.

My room on the first floor, was next door to Isabel Fraser, and overlooked St Alban's Road and the school playing field. It was a large room with a fireplace and classroom furniture was wooden with rounded and square oak chairs. Tables had blue and red Formica tops and each child had a drawer which fitted under the table top. There were wooden cupboards on the lower half of the wall on either side of the fireplace, with a display shelf above. Each room had a roll over blackboard on the wall opposite the window.

Neither Elma nor I recall a grandfather clock anywhere. I had a large clock in my room whereas she and Muriel went out to see the clock in the hall if checking the time.

I was under the impression that each class room had an original painting. Elma says she doesn't remember that but does recall the large, bright and cheerful cockerel which hung in my room. According to Elma, 'money was given to Miss Forsythe' by the parents of a child in her class, after which she made this purchase. I think that Pam tried to trace the whereabouts of various paintings. I believe that some were quite valuable.

The classes were vertically grouped with an equal number of Primary 1 and Primary 2 pupils. I had a class of 22 girls the first year and 24 the second. Each Primary 2 girl was a 'big girl' who had responsibility for a 'little girl' in primary 1. An effort was made to ensure that the 'little girl' was smaller than the 'big girl' but it wasn't always possible!

Upstairs at the back were another two large rooms. On the left was the staff room furnished with a chaise longue and some much more comfortable armchairs for all the staff. There was an auxiliary for each floor who supervised practical activities. Mrs Mitchell, was upstairs. A kind, gentle lady, she worked with me and Miss Fraser. Mrs Ross supervised practical activities downstairs for the others.

Art rooms were spacious and well equipped with easels, paints and materials for a wide range of creative activities.

The girls wore a pale blue cotton patterned overall for practical activities. It had long sleeves and was elasticated round the neck and wrists. No need to worry whether it was fastened properly or on back to front. Everything was covered!

Staff toilet was on the landing, on the way up the stairs.

Assemblies took place downstairs in the hall which was a modern building, behind Mrs Napier's classroom, linking the two older houses. The floor was covered with large tiles of two colours. I was convinced that they were black and white but Elma assures me that they were a greenish grey alternating with beige. As she was teaching at St Alban's Road when it was built, I bow to her recall. The children sat cross legged or stood on the darker coloured squares.

From the hall, we could see the garden where the children played at morning break. On sunny days girls wore straw hats. (No mention of sun cream then!)

David Officer was the janitor and he was often present while the girls were outside.

Elma said that a ground's man who cut the grass came from Liberton. She also related a story about The Derby, but I'll tell you about that...or leave it to Elma to mention it. .. The garden was impeccable.

My first Sports Day at GWLC had to be cancelled because of snow! Dot Brown and Doreen Smith came from George to take gym lessons in the hall or across the road in the field.

Once a year parents could elect to spend some time in classroom while the children were being taught. Not many took up the offer, but for the few who did, their children were on their very best behaviour.

Gowns and hoods were worn at Founder's Day and Prizegiving .

Founder's Day was a big event! Experienced staff had 3 VIPs to look after but new teachers only had two. This involved meeting the VIP for sherry and escorting them to a table for 4 for the first course. There were two guests and two members of staff at each table. After the first course, you mingled and found your next guest for the main course. It was a splendid way of circulating everyone, and so civilised. Experienced members of staff met a third guest for dessert and coffee.

The Senior School Dance was a big occasion and everyone attended. Miss Fleming remembered the names of everyone and their spouses (no partners in those days) and made everyone feel very welcome. Miss Fleming's desk was the cocktail cabinet. It was very generously stocked with an amazing range of alcoholic beverages. It was difficult to see to the back of her study because of the smoke which came billowing out of the door. The setting was attractive with the gallery above and the dance floor below.

I enjoyed my time at GWLC very much but change was in the air. Moving to Colinton Road was a major operation but everything went smoothly. We met the staff from GWBC Prep Department frequently and established lasting friendships which continue to this day.

Janet Dickie