Jenifer Dunn
(Class of 1961)

Memories for GWLC 150

I first joined the nursery department of GWLC in September 1946 at the age of three just one year on from the end of the War. I left in 1961 – frighteningly, sixty years ago this year - fifteen formative and memory-filled years. I had four happy years in St Alban’s Road enjoying the foundations of what was to be a long association with GWLC – singing games, drawing, nature walks, reading , basic arithmetic – before moving on to George Square at the age of seven, as happened in these days. The differences were notable between the quiet Victorian villa with a garden which I had just attended and the imposing and somewhat austere former town house of Admiral Duncan of Camperdown in George Square which was to be my place of learning for the next eleven years. We quickly became familiar and at ease with the quirky layout and names of various parts of the school – the Court, the Admiral’s Kitchen, the Dark Passage, the Tiled Hall – names which were all descriptive and self-explanatory. At the heart of everything was the Central Hall surrounded by a balcony, used every day for morning assembly ,some dance and PE classes, indoor sports, and break and lunchtime activities. Lower down the school our lunchtime activities were whatever was the latest craze – Jacks, Pickasticks, swapping scraps (highly desirable were dogs, horses, fat cherubs leaning on a cloud, and most especially, the Royal Family!) As we progressed up the school, we spent lunchtime doing social dancing. A willing teacher sat at the piano and tinkled the ivories with tunes from current musicals while you shuffled around the floor with your best pal – no boys in sight, of course, but you hoped to hone your skills for Youth Club the following weekend! So many activities were on offer, you could join in whatever clubs captured your interest. I loved hockey, though sadly never made the first eleven, but thoroughly enjoyed one whole afternoon a week on the windswept pitches at Liberton. At that time, uniform for hockey teams consisted of a square-necked blouse, box-pleated gym tunic and long black stockings held up with suspenders! Inter-house hockey matches required the same uniform, except the stockings were in house colours – in my case yellow for Falconhall – hardly the most flattering for a chubby teenager! I know we were all greatly relieved when the uniform was upgraded to something more practical!

My greatest love, however was drama. I remember with great pleasure the annual inter-house Shakespeare competition where we had to find a producer from our ranks, rehearse before and after school, find costumes, apply stage makeup and perform onstage in Room 22. In my time, we did the murder scene from Julius Caesar (how do you reproduce blood?!), the trial scene from The Merchant of Venice, and the first scene from King Lear – challenging stuff. Even more enjoyable were the school productions which happened every two years. I was lucky enough to get a part in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and later in The Devil to Pay which was an adaptation by Dorothy L. Sayers of the Faustus story. Wonderful memories which last a lifetime.

We were always encouraged to take responsibility for planning and organising various events within the school calendar. Many of these were inter-house or club events, but when I was a senior, we were given the ultimate opportunity : running the school for the day. Staff were all present within the building – I think it allowed them some space to do exam marking – but all teaching was undertaken by S6 students , who also took on supervision of break and lunchtime, and dealt with any other issues which arose; the year I was involved, there was a fire drill! The day worked amazingly well. Students who were teaching classes took their responsibilities of preparation and presentation extremely seriously; I personally remember my first experience of studying TS Elliot, brilliantly delivered by a clever, thoughtful student in the year above me. There were some social events which became high points of the year for seniors. The Cookieshine was a kind of Christmas party for S4, 5, 6 and staff. It had to be organised by S6, of course, and included supper, entertainment which was written and performed by S6, and .... dancing with teachers! It says a great deal for the long-suffering staff that they were prepared to join in with such good humour. The school dance took place later in the year. On that occasion, you were allowed to invite a boy – provided you had written permission from your parents – and you had to join a queue at the beginning of the evening to introduce your partner to Miss Fleming. Changed days! The absolute finale of the year was the Closing Concert and Prizegiving which took place in the Usher Hall. Pupils proceeded to their place in the organ gallery, swinging their arms in time to the strains of a rousing and memorable march, whose name I never discovered, and there followed a fine performance of singing and orchestral music. End of the year, and for some, a poignant moment. I can still feel the frisson of excitement which accompanied it.

The teaching staff at the time were a fine cohort, mostly women, and mostly unmarried. Some pupils considered the Headteacher, Hilda Fleming ,to be a forbidding figure – tall, be-gowned, and often wearing a mortar board. But she was a person of fine intellect, forward-thinking, fair, and with a sense of humour. I remember her with affection. The English department is one which I remember with fondness, in particular Robert Millar and Norah Carnon whose knowledge and love of their subject was conveyed with such skill and enthusiasm. Without doubt, they influenced my choice of university course and future career as a teacher of English. Several lifetimes have passed since I happily binned my maroon beret. However, I still have contact with friends I made during my time at GWLC and I can still look back and remember many, many moments with pleasure and gratitude.

Jenifer Dunn née Malcolm (Class of 1961)