Annie (Nancy Kenmuir) McCrossan |

Went to RA in the era of "Daddy" Byres (the headmaster). One of my friends was Elma Lightbody. We were in the classroom that was accessed by steps outside from the playground. This was a business class. 25 May 2010 - Metuchen, New Jersey, USAmcc

Lesley Falconer |

Hi Emma I was at the Academy from 65 till 70. I had music classes in the north side room and geography on the one on the south side. I swear the large male music teacher smoked a pipe in class. The staff room was on the level below that so perhaps smoke from there drifted up. I never realised we’d stressed our teachers out so much that lots of fags were necessary! In all the time I was there, I don’t think the rooms were used for any other subjects. Jim Cathcart and Dorothy Keith were our geography teachers. Don’t remember the names of the music ones but the female one was a tiny old lady. Can’t imagine her with a cig on her bottom lip! Hope that’s a help. Kind regards Lesley Falconer (Burnside – I don’t travel well.!) (PS – If you check the old school mags I sent to the web master for the Rutherglen Academy site, there will probably be some names there from the music dept.) 27 May 2010 - Burnside, Rutherglen, Scotland Webmaster comments   Could 'the large male music teacher' have been Mr Liddell or 'Pregnant Pete' as he was generally known to pupils? I don’t remember him smoking a pipe. But I can certainly imagine him smoking one. The elderly female music teacher might have been 'Wee Ma Miller'. Although ‘Miller’ may not be the correct surname, ‘wee Ma’ was part of her nickname. Another female music teacher I recall was Miss Fyfe – a tallish elegant lady in her early to mid-forties. Both Jimmy Cathcart and Dorothy Keith are doing well and still live in the district. Mrs Keith is probably in her eighties now – but extremely active and hasn’t lost her travel bug. Mr and Mrs Cathcart have recently been seen strolling in one of the local parks. We also understand that Mr Hosie – the art teacher – lives not far away.

Emma Connor |

Hey, i was never a pupil at Rutherglen Academy but my boyfriend stays in the flats - the whole top floor infact. Just wondering what information anyone can give us on what classes/teachers used this floor? There is still the old cream and green tiles on the wall beside the stairs plus all the same old banisters. Its a beautiful building! Reason i am asking about the top floor is when im sitiing in the living room, which is south of the building i occassionally get a strong smell of tabacco smoke - almost like a pipe?? me and my boyfriend are no smokers so its not lurking around from us!! The house has had that smokey smell all day and i want to know where its coming from!! Anyone know if maybe the teacher up here enjoyed a wee tab at break times and was too lazy to go outside? any information would be hugely appreciated :-) 27 April 2010 - Scotland Webmaster comments   Can't say for sure Emma. But there was probably a staff room up there. And of course a lot of people smoked cigarettes back in those days (up to 1970). Pupils included :-) In those days smoking was a powerful fashion statement. Pipe smoking was also quite common amongst the adult male fraternity - "Condor" and "Ogden's Walnut Slice" being tobacco brands that found particular favour. Hopefully someone else will have more precise information. Meanwhile, we are delighted to hear that your boyfriend is enjoying his home in what is indeed a beautiful building.

Angus Carmichael |

Rutherglen academy 1935-1942 At the outbreak of the war I became a C.D cycle messenger. When the air raid sirens sounded I reported to the C.D post which was in the basement of the school. I was in there when the bomb hit the school - we bounced of the benches we were sitting on but were unhurt. I accompanied an air raid warden to inspect the house on the south side of the school and found that a second bomb had directly hit an Anderson shelter that and third bomb had just missed Stonelaw Church and had landed on the bowling club. The art master encouraged pupils to draw the badley damaged cloackroom area, and pupils enjoyed some unexpected "holidays". 27 December 2009 - United KIngdom

Sheena Finlay |

Great site! all the memories of the Academy have come flooding back, I was there '68 to '70 then did 4th and 5th year at Cathkin High. I remember all the teachers, my favourite was Nairobi Joe. I loved the frozen Milky Ways they sold at the wall, I still freeze my Milky Ways! Good photoshop job on the 18 bus Thank you 14 December 2009 - Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia Webmaster comments   Nice to hear from you Sheena. Nairobi Joe (Mr Wright) was one of my favourite teachers too and our 1F register teacher. I hope he's still around. Sadly another of my favourite teachers from The Academy is not. Ian Smith, chemistry & maths, who always signed himself 'IHS' in the register. Can you confirm if Mr Wright was Australian? He certainly spoke with what I felt was an Australian accent.