My father, Robert Pate, was the Head Teacher from 1965- 70, and we lived in the schoolhouse. He is now ninety one, in good health, and has happy memories of Gartcosh school. Unfortunately I did not know of the school centenery events until afterwards, or I would have tried to bring my parents for a short visit. I especially remember the old dining hall (our nickname for school dinner of mince and tatties was 'stones and gravy'), the outside toilets, and the great excitement when parquet flooring was fitted in the main school hall in the 60's - and a notice went up asking ladies not to wear their stiletto heels in case of damage!
My memories of schooldays, teachers, friends and life in the schoolhouse are very clear - especially cleaning and hanging up our slates in Primary One with our teacher Miss Dingwall keeping a strict eye on us. By Primary two/three we had learned to knit and sew under the watchful eye of Miss Macateer. If we had worked especially hard, our reward was that she allowed us to see the pickled adder she kept in the back of her cupboard! I am very glad she did, as when I was a little older I almost stepped on an adder when climbing a hill, and thanks to Miss Macateer I recognised the danger. To this day I have the mats and lapbags we embroidered, and the apron which was later handmade and embroidered with our initials ready for secondary school. That apron has seen a lot of baking sessions and is still in use today by the next generation. Early on we learned to recite our times tables. Another highlight was when lessons were stopped for us all to listen in silence to the launch of the QE 2 on the radio - everyone knew it was a special event for the whole community: in fact at one point the teacher asked us all to stand up as it was so important. Gartcosh school prepared us well for life, everything from our lessons to the seasonal cycle of playground games.
I have memories of being sent to the farm to carry back half a stone of potatoes, shopping in the Co-op and at Joe's sweetie shop, the post office and of course buying ice cream at the bottom of the town. It was a great highlight when the rag and bone cart came round in the 60's and we would all run after it - how very different from now.
With grateful thanks to Beth Bleasdale (nee Pate) for sharing her memories.