School Memorabilia

Updated 20 June 2008

We would like to thank David Partner, teacher of History  in Armadale, 1963 -1971, for allowing us to see some of his memorabilia,

and also for giving us his research on Sir William Honeyman, Lord Armadale, 1756 -1825.

PAGE INDEX

• Sir William Honeyman, Lord Armadale, 1756 - 1825
• Football Team Photographs
• Armadale Pupils
• Extracts from the School magazine format 1968
• Armadale School Staff
• Extracts from the School magazine format 1969
• Disappointed Bed Pushers
• 4A TIMES, Christmas 1965

Comments about this page?  Additions? 

If you can supply any of the missing names, we would love to hear from you!

 e-mail Rosie

Seated: John Nimmo, John (Jackie) Campbell, Duncan McKechnie (capt.), Hiram Ford, Daniel Cuthbert.

This photo was taken in May 1966.  The team had just won the West Lothian Junior Secondary Schools League Championship.  In those days Scotland had junior and Senior Secondary Schools, the former only taking pupils up to the age of 15.  Good pupils from the primary schools planning to go on to Higher Education went to Senior Secondary at age 12.

This team also reached the final of the West Lothian Under-14 Cup in 1966 / 67 where they lost 0 - 1 to Linlithgow Academy.

Seated: Robert Haddow, John Nimmo, Hiram Ford, Robert Borrowman, Daniel Cuthbert, John Robson.

The photo was taken in May 1968 after the team won the West Lothian Under-15 League Championship.  There were no longer any Junior Secondaries and this was Armadale Academy's team.  Six of the team were in the West Lothian County Team, and Colin Hamilton went on to The Scottish Under-15 trials at Stenhousemuir for the Scotland team to play the other Home Countries.  Also at the trials was Graeme Souness, later of Liverpool and Scotland fame, and subsequently a manager of Glasgow Rangers.

Seated: Ronnie Mcgill, John Tease, James Scott, Hiram Ford, Danny Cuthbert.

David Partner believes this was the Under-16½ Team of 1969/70.  Dr. Jimmy Valentine (Head of Science) was Team Manager, assisted by David Partner (who was also in charge of an under-14 team).

My thanks to John Robson for the additional information.

Standing: Archie Devlin, Andy Russell, Colin (?) Morrison (?), George Evans, Norman Landels, Billy Walker, Ian Mitchell, Mr. D. Partner (teacher i/c of team).

Seated: Robert Elliott, ??, Eric Mallace, Jim Nimmo, Ian Hunter, Jimmie Ellis.

Back Row: Colin (?) Morrison (?), John Kean, George Evans, Roy Smith, Frank Wright, Alan Bulgin.

Front Row: Robert Elliott, Scott Brown, Robert Lennox, ??, Ian Hunter.

Centre Row: Mr. D. Partner.

Top photo: Hiram Ford (second from right).

Bottom photo: Standing: Robert Dryburgh (8th from right), Colin Hamilton (9th from right).

Standing: Raymond Rollo (?) (fifth from left).

Standing (middle row): Lesley-Ann Williamson (fourth from left).

Extracts from the Armadale Academy magazine 'format 1968'

Headmaster's Foreward: (extract)

"It is always a great temptation at this time of year to devote a foreward to reminiscence.  Fortunately, we have neither history nor tradition enough to make this worthwhile.  The session just ending has been a challenging and exciting one, but the problems encountered were little different from those expected in a completely new school.  I prefer speculation and purposeful activity to the backward glance.  As we move into the second year of the Comprehensive Era, many problems, educational rather than structural, loom ahead.  We shall need good sense and a firm belief in what we are trying to do if we are to find acceptable solutions.  Judging from the past session, I consider these qualities are not lacking in this school."

School Sports

Recently the first school sports was held.  There was a good turn-out of both competitors and supporters and the main results were:

Girls' Champions:   -13 ½ Catherine Reid;   13½ to 15 Evelyn Thompson; 15+ Elaine Corsie

Boys' Champion:   -13 ½ Bobby Elliot; 13 ½ to 15 Jim Ellis; 15+ Andrew Ferrier

Survey: "to compare the views of the community with those of the teachers and of the pupils"

(250 parents, 375 pupils and 19 teachers interviewed)

"Question One: Armadale Academy is a Comprehensive School which takes all pupils from a certain area irrespective of the pupils' ability.  In the previous system pupils were allocated to different schools (Bathgate Academy, Lindsay High, Armadale Junior Secondary, Blackridge Junior Secondary), by ability as measured by tests."  76% parents, 74 % pupils, 77% teachers preferred the new comprehensive system.

"Question Two:  In our school, first year pupils are placed in classes of mixed ability.  There is no attempt to place pupils in streams according to ability."  The pupils were in favour, but staff were divided 50-50.

"Question Three and Four: Do you think Religious Knowledge should be a school subject" and who should teach it?  Everyone agreed, apart from year 4, the majority preferring a specialist to teach the subject, although parents wanted the teacher to be a minister.

"Question Five: A pupil is seriously inattentive in a school class.  Please tick the punishment you consider to be most suitable:- (a)  extra homework (b0 strapping (c) punishment exercise (d) detention after school (e) report sent to parents"  Junior pupils (33% of each year) preferred strapping; teachers and pupils also favoured a punishment exercise; Senior pupils (37%) and the committee (37%) also thought a report should be sent to parents.

Question Six and Seven: Should Sex Education be part of a school's curriculum and, if so, who should teach it?  89.5% of parents wanted their children taught at school.  Two-thirds of teachers agreed, but 74% believed that the teacher should be a specialist from outside.  All the Fifth and Sixth Year wanted sex education, although 3% of the Fourth Year disapproved.  A specialist closely followed by a doctor were the teachers of choice.

"Question Eight: Next year the usual change in the clock will not take place and in December it will be light from 9.45 am to about 5.15 pm.  Do you think school hours should be:- (a) 9 am - 4 pm as at present  (b) 9.30 am - 4.30 pm (c) 10 am - 5 pm"  76% of teachers, closely followed by pupils, favoured (a); 45 % of parents  favoured (b) while 21% of them favoured (c).

Apt Quotes

Mr. Niven: "I am the captain of the ship" (Reparatta and the Delrons)
Mr. Wilson (Maths): "O that this too, too solid flesh would melt" (Hamlet)
Janitors: "God rest ye merry gentlemen"
Mr. Wilson (Science): "Rapture, rapture" (Gondaliers)
Mr. Partner: "Words, words, words" (Hamlet)
Miss Smillie: "When a merry maiden marries" (Gondaliers)
Mr. Brodie: "A lean and hungry look" (Caesar)
Mr. Smith (Classics): "With cat-like tread" (Pirates of Penzance)
Mr. Lightbody: "I'll go pray" (Hamlet)
Mr. Peake: "Lord HIGH executioner" (Mikado)
Mr. Speedman: "Congratulations and celebrations" (Cliff Richard)
Period bell after 5th and 6th French: "Methought I heard a voice cry 'sleep no more!'"
Mr. McConnachie: "If I were a carpenter" (Four Tops)
Dr. Valentine: "Nicotine and Alcohol" (Rolf Harris)
Mr. Gallon: "If music be the food of life play on"
Mr. Harris: "The quality of mercy is not strained" (Twelfth Night"
Miss Shanks: "O what a noble mind is here o'erthrown" (Hamlet)
Library: "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife" (Gray's Elegy)

Contributors to the magazine: 

Aileen Tweedie; Mr. Gallon; E. Purves

(2) J. Aitken; J. Brown; John Quin; Jean Middleton; Nan Johnston; M. Russell; R. Baxter; Elis Gilbert; Jean Drummond; Andrea Simpson

(3) Agnes Peden; Janet Hudson; Sandy Frew

(4) Harry Louden;

(5) P. Harris; Margaret Rodger; Ralph Topping; Maxwell S. Gardiner

(6) Doreen Russell; Elizabeth Archer; Elizabeth Hands;

Back Row: Jimmie Crow, David Partner, ??, ??, Ronnie Clark, ??, ??, George Williamson, ??, Bill Brodie, ??, ??, ??, ??, Bill Dunlop, ??, ??,

Middle Row: ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, Eleanor Bathgate, Mhairi Nicol (PE Dept), Archie Devlin, Jimmie McConnachie, ??, Sandy Michie, rest??

Front Row: ??, Mr. Lightbody (?), John Danskin, Rupert Harris, Raymond Lamb, David Knox, ??, Ralph Wilson, Alex Niven, Mrs. Ruxton, Ken Snedden, Jimmie Valentine, ??, ??, Stan Peake.

Back Row: ??, ??, Trudy ?, Mrs Owens (one of secretaries), ??, Jimmie Crow, ??, ??, ??, ??, Archie Devlin, ??, Bill Cordiner (Janitor).

2nd Back Row: ??, Jimmie McConnachie, Bill Dunlop, Bill Brodie, George Williamson, Stuart Wilson, Roy Speedman, John Cartwright, ??, Sandy Michie, David Partner.

2nd Front Row: ??, ??, Eleanor Bathgate, ? Smith, Alan Cowie, ??, Stan Peake, Dr.? (who became Head of James Gillespie's, Edinburgh), ??, ??, ??.

Front Row: ? Smith, ??, Jimmy Valentine, Miss Shanks, Ken Snedden, Margaret Ruxton, Alex Niven, ??, David Rattray, John Gallon, Rupert Harris, Ralph Wilson.

Back Row: ??, Jimmy McConnachie, Sandy Michie, ??, ??, Jimmie Crow, ??, ??, George Williamson, Bill Brodie, ??.

Row 2: Ronnie Clark, Bill Dunlop, Archie Devlin, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, David Partner, ??, Stan Peake.

Row 3: Eleanor Bathgate (8th from right), Jimmie Valentine and John Danskin (extreme right).

Front Row: David Knox, Margaret ?, Rupert Harris, Raymond Lamb, Rev. Emmanuel Robertson, Mrs. Margaret Ruxton, Sandy Niven, Ralph Wilson, ? Smith, ??, Ken Snedden, Dave Rattray.

Extracts from the Armadale Academy magazine 'format 1969'

The Headmaster's forward described a novel feature: Worm's Eye View 'to reveal what goes on in a modern school but also to give those at the receiving end of education an opportunity to say what they think of their diet"

Extracts from Pupils' Impressions of the Departments:

English: "Lately we have been discussing governments and councils and drawing plans of towns.  We learned quite a lot from these discussions.

The we started talking of Armadale as a community.  The idea of interviewing certain experts in various fields  was a result of this.  We wrote about a youth centre for our town and drew plans for one..."

Modern Studies: "I think this course ... has broadened my mind concerning the world as it is today.  It also makes me realise how other people live in other parts of the world, and gives some insight into the problems which our generation may face in the future."

Science: "Probably in the whole of the school there is no department discussed more than the Science Department.  Among the First and Second Years you hear, 'Oh good!  Experiments today!'  Higher up the school the thought of Science is accompanied by a series of groans and is even the cause of a number of imaginary headaches..."

Latin: "Then what of the many fringe benefits, like the pleasure of working in a room so lavishly decorated with technicolour displays of Roman Britain, A Roman Infantryman... or the excellent view from this amazing room - the vast panorama of the murky depths of the Science Block (including the Science teachers' darts competition)?"

PE: "When the weather is at its worst one may see the pupils of the Academy out plodding over the fields doing cross-country running.  As well as building up one's leg muscles, it also keeps the brain active, training it to find short-cuts without being seen."

Technical:  "If one is not so good at languages, one need not despair - there is always room in the technical department for such people.  These people are called the majority."

Music:  "It may be thought that in a school of this size, we would have trouble finding enough pupils for one choir, but in fact we have two, both quite promising..............."

Modern Languages:  German was taught through an audio-visual course in the language laboratory while French was taught by traditional methods: "Back in the classroom, besides the differences between the methods used, there is also considerable difference in the material....  In Room 8, for example, we have our German friend Walter walking hand in hand with his charming girl-friend Renate, who, incidentally, does not use much make-up, while in Room 9, Jean-Paul is anxious over the welfare of his pet tortoise."

Maths: "Finally we come to the teachers - those wicked slave-driving things, and find to our surprise that none are really like that, least of all the Head of Department and Depute Rector, Mr. Wilson."

Geography: "Do you like geography?  Well, as the man with the wooden leg would say, 'It's a matter of a pinion'.  Really almost nothing would be known about the earth if geographical studies did not take place."

Homecraft:  "The Cookery side is the hardest working....  They are always making things and they can actually put you off eating for the rest of your life!"

Art: "As usual, we have the lorry for the gala day to decorate.  This year, the theme is 'Chitty Chitty Bang bang'.  So if anyone has a flying vintage car to spare, we should be most grateful................

... some senior pupils visited an art exhibition.  After a look around, we all flocked to Stirling Castle (making straight for the tea room) and then on to the Wallace Monument.  After climbing up a very steep hill and mounting 241 steps (yes, we counted them) we were all exhausted, although Mr. Peake seemed none the worse for it.

There is no doubt that, in the art department, 'Life is real. Life is earnest!' "

and, finally, a happy pupil reports on the History Department: which "shows films on each topic we study... We sometimes get small tests to see how we are progressing... We also have debates, which I enjoy.

Finally, [the clue to satisfaction?] we don't get too much homework so I'm not complaining."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Other ingredients: a variety of creative writing; jokes and puzzles; reviews, school club and sports reports; individual features, and a 'Where are you now?'  review of the activities of former Armadale Academy prefects: Elizabeth Archer; Margaret Drennan; Norman Gilchrist; Elizabeth Hands; Peter Harris; George Livingstone; Stewart Neil, Colin Sneddon; June Traynor; Doreen Russell.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Humorous extract by Harry Louden: Apt Quotes

1. EXAMINATIONS:  "No light, but rather darkness visible" : Milton

2. CLASS INTERVALS:  "Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted" : Sassoon

3. HOCKEY PRACTICE:  "Though this may be play to you,/ 'Tis death to us" : L'Estrange

4. LATE-COMERS:  "Last came, and last did go" : Milton

5. TEACHERS ON PRIZE DAY:   "Robes and furr'd gowns hide all" : Shakespeare

6. CONTRIBUTION TO MAGAZINE:   "An ill-favoured thing, but mine own" : Shakespeare

7. RECTOR:   "Push on, keep moving" : Moore

8. SCHOOL DESK:"Let no rude hand deface it" : Wordsworth

9. PREFECTS AND MONITORS: "Some have greatness thrust upon them" : Shakespeare

10. INTERVAL: "For this relief, much thanks" : Shakespeare

__________________________________________________________________________

Contributors to the magazine: 

The Chaplain; Alan Cowie; Robert Smith; Doreen Russell; 4 young scientists (3); Les miserables (3); Miserae (3);

(1) Robert Meechan; Kenneth Brown; Alistair Bishop; Ian Russell; Christine Rodger; Alex Milligan; Elaine Denholm; Margaret Ballantyne; Samuel Beresford; Helen Davidson; Sandra Calderhead; Robert Brown; Janet Craig; Elizabeth Dickson; Allison Brown; Barbara Dick; Lesley Ann Williamson;

(2) Billy Ross; Calum Strachan; Colin Morrison; Richard Smith; Peter Burns; Sandy Jeffery; Mary Collins; Rae Boyd; Janice Williamson; Duncan Sinnet; Morag Rodger; Lucinda Greenwell; Murray Wilson; Nancy Bell; Margaret McLuckie; Anne Horsburgh; Angela Prokipczyn; Marion Galbraith; Norma Campbell; Mary Barr; Stella Brown; Billy Gilchrist

(3) Rita Madden ; Wilma Hamilton and Jean Middleton; Ann Spalding; Ellis Gilbert and Mae Hotchkiss; Jean Aitken; Jim Ellis; Edith Redpath;  Senga Edmonston; Hugh Sherlock; Margaret McNeil; Jayne Nimmo; Isabel Brown; Isabelle Storrie; Lynne McLaren; Ian Hunter;  Christina Robertson; Catriona Matheson; Ann Spalding; David Baillie; Ann Bennett;

(4) John Kerr; Agnes Peden; Ann Falconer; Pamela Harris; Billy Ramsay; Shirley Anderson; James Cooper; George Cook; Tom Spalding; Elizabeth Dyet; Robert Madden; James Scott; Ann Falconer; Andrew Watson; Elaine Corsie;

(5) Harry Louden; Mabel Baird; Ray Dow

(6) James MacGregor; Tom Galbraith

Back Row: Robert Dryburgh (fourth from right).

Front Row: John Robson (second from right).

'4A TIMES, Christmas 1965'

Editor: Bert Skene

Help with sketches: Mr. Crow

Advice and encouragement: Mr. Partner

(The following extracts give a flavour of the time period when this paper was produced by 4A as a result of their study of newspapers in Social English.  The text was originally written entirely in upper case letters.)

LOCAL EVENTS

Christmas Lights

Armadale are having the streets decorated with lights this Christmas.  They have been kindly given to us by Bathgate Town Council.

War Memorial

A war memorial has been erected next to the town hall in memory of the dead from Armadale in the 1914-18 War and the 1939-45 War.

New Academy

A new school is in the process of being built in Armadale.  When it has been completed, pupils from Blackridge and Armadale qualif[y]ing classes will go to it instead of the Bathgate schools.

Holiday

Work came to a stand still on Tuesday at West Lothian Steel Foundry and the United Fireclay Works.  The management and staff were able to watch the televised football match between Scotland v Italy.

(School changes were also reported on in all their twists and turns.)

Staff Changes

At the start of the term Mr. Ferguson Deputy Headmaster of A.J.S. School was in Bangour Hospital for a serious operation.  In October Mr. Rodger our Biology teacher left to spend his retirement in Tasmania.  Mrs Dunn an American took his place. Mr Gentelman took Mr Fergusons place as Science teacher when Mr Ferguson was in hospital.  Mr Ridings also helped out in teaching General Subjects.  They both left when Mr. Ferguson came out of hospital.

Mr Michie took the place of Mr Smith as geography teacher and Mr Affleck came in the middle of the term to teach General Subjects.

....................................

School Vandalism

Certain pupils whose names have not been discovered are under suspicion for unscrewing desk lids in all classrooms.

Certain precautions have been taken to make sure this does not happen again.

(Inevitably, sport received significant coverage in the magazine!)

OTHER SPORT

Armadale's Best Yet

Armadale Under 13 Team beaten only once this year are strong favourites to win the cup.  Their outstanding game was against Blackridge when the score was 13 - 0.  The boys played as a team  The outstanding player was J. Campbell  Although he did not score he laid on some great accurate passes to Ford who scored six.  Campbell's display was the best Under 13 inside forward for a long time.

Signed
                                                                 Duncan McKechnie                         

Under 13 Team
A. McClory
D. Baxter D. McCue
C. Baxter W. Denholm J. Kerr
J. Campbell D. Cuthbert
J. Nimmo H. Ford D. McKecknie (capt)
Res   A. Balderstone, R. Wilson
 

Under 15 Team
J. Crosier
J. Lindsay A. Penman
J. Waterson J. McKechnie T. Middleton
B. Skene M. Brown
S. Hubbard D. McMillan J. Dunbar
Res  N. McMillan"

(Other articles included: coverage of world news, including the stop press announcement of General de Gaulle's re-election; hockey match reports; a feature on hostelling in the Cairngorms; other football news and a congratulatory note to Crozier, McKechnie and Middleton who had been selected to represent the West Lothian County Schools Team to play Fife.)

Local History

Family History

Armadale Thistle FC Statistics

Gala Days