Laurie Anderson |

Stumbled upon this great website while idly away my time at Hong Kong airport. Thanks to those who developed it. Brought many memories of my academically abysmal but socially successful years at RA from '59-'62 (was it really that long ago?). My memory is sketchy re names but I do recall being pals with Ronnie Boyd (brought in by bus from "rural" Carmunnock) and Jack Coull, while the Synott brothers, David Nicholson and fitba whiz, Ian Waddell, come to mind as well. Teachers who I remember include the engaging Mr Buchan, Ms "Clara Clucks" MacDiarmid, Mr Segge, who seemed to enjoy strapping more than teaching as I recall, and Mr Smith in PE. Notice that to some alumni that "Rab" Smith" evokes less than pleasant memories for his classroom management techniques. All I can remember is that I got to play in his indoor football "club" after school and also secured one of the rare, highly coveted tickets for the Real Madrid Vs Eintracht European Cup Final at Hampden (1962?). Puskas, De Stefano and the others: their images lasted longer than most school memories! I left Ruglen for Vancouver in 1965 but visited by my parents on McCallum Ave for years afterwards. Fond memories indeed of a simpler time. Thanks again to the website developers. Would welcome hearing from students from my era. 5 August 2008 - Vancouver, Canada

Jim Smith

Great site. Thanks. 4 August 2008 - Glasgow

jimmy neil |

my father attended the ra during the thirties/forties. his name was james alexander neil. trying to start a family tree.many thanks. 12 July 2008 - south africa

Gerry Ross |

I left early fifties. Is Steven Wylie - Douglas Mitchell - Anne Findlay - Jennifer Iffe and anyone else from that time, somewhere out there. Would like to hear from you. 26 April 2008

Tam Crossan |

Hello, I am e-mailing you to congrdulate you on a great web site, the live stream cams are excellent and the old pics of Ruggie academy are the bees knees. I never went to ruggie accademy tho i went to school in the buildings in the photos when it was Stonelaw High. Seeing the old science block braught back a load of fond memories. I am originaly from eastfield so know the area you are talking about very well especialy the Cathkin Byepass. When I was at Stonelaw the boys and girls mixed. In one of your pics there is a wooden hut in the background. If that's the hut I think it is, it's next to Stonelaw Road, and when I was at school it was "old stevies" science lab. Other labs were located in the dunny or what we called the "grog pit" which was in what we called the inner playground, beside the games hall. I think that was the boys playground when it was Ruggie Academy. We had the school at Hamilton Road as our annex where techie, art, music and food and nutrition were based. There was also a gym hall there where all the school dances were held. We used the games hall in the main building (Stonelaw Road) for exams and also the wee masonic hall across the road. I'm afraid i cant remember much more at the moment other than they were great days. Long live a wonderful old and historical building. It was a pleasure to attend school there. I know all about the new Stonelaw High in Calderwood Road. But what I'd love to know is what happend to my old primary school, Calderwood Primary. Did that school get knocked down for the new Stonelaw High? Thank you for such a great wee site. Good luck to you, best wishes, and thanks for the memories. You can take the boy out of ruggie, but you can't take the ruggie out of the boy. Tam Crossan Stonelaw High former pupil 1978-1982 24 January 2008 Webmaster comments   Thanks for your compliments, Tam. Great memories from you here and a most appropriate quote at the end. With regard to your question about Calderwood Primary... South Lanarkshire Council tells us that the new Stonelaw High School (1998) was built on a vacant field adjacent to the old Calderwood Primary School - namely on the field bordering the 'wee lane' that led from Calderwood Road to the primary. Later, (after 1998), Calderwood Primary as you knew it was rebuilt on its existing site. So today's weans attend what is in effect a brand new school.