The first pupils started at Busby School on Church Road, now known as Busby Primary, on January 29, 1876, the same year Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
The school opened in 1904. The original school opened in 1876 but was destroyed by fire in 1900 (Image: Colin Mearns)
Its current building dates back to 1904 and still boasts many original features including the Headmaster’s desk which took pride of place during the events held last Thursday.
Headteacher Gillian McRobb, centre, is seated at the original headmasters desk from the 1920s with colleagues, class teacher Heather Nilsen-Nygaard, left and depute HT Mark Weir at right. Above them is a photograph of Thomas Russell, the school’s first (Image: Colin Mearns)
The day saw many, including parents, former teachers and former pupils such as Isobel Kerr aged 96, head along to view pupil’s work and displays of photographs and information documenting the decades.
June Chrystal with her daughters Paige and Harriet (Image: Colin Mearns)
Mark Weir, depute head teacher, said: “It was brilliant seeing everyone together. The school had a real buzz about it and there was also lots of laughter and smiles.
“Busby Primary sits right at the centre of its local community and there are generations upon generations of families who have lived here, and multiple generations of families who have been through this school.”
The school’s janitor/cleaner and former pupil, Alex Linton, 2nd from left, pictured with friends and family who are all also former pupils. They are from left- Ann Linton, Alec, Dianne Woodward, Mary Canale (nee Linton), James Woodward and Helen Hicks (Image: Colin Mearns)
Indeed, a grandfather who attended the event told how his grandchild now sits in the same place in the same classroom he once learned in.
The school’s very own janitor/cleaner Alex Linton also attended the school as did his two sons and nephews, as well as his father and his brothers and sisters.
Pictured is the school’s janitor/cleaner Alex Linton who is also a former pupil (Image: Colin Mearns)
Alex fondly remembers his times as a pupil and says that while it is strange to be back, he enjoys working at his old school.
For some who had not been back quite so recently, however, the day proved to be an emotive one.
Old class photographs on display (Image: Colin Mearns)
“There was one grandfather in tears who came along,” added Mr Weir.
“It was the first time he had been back in the building and there was a photograph of him as the captain of the school football team.”
Pictured is a photograph of the original (and burnt out) Busby primary school building that opened in 1876 and was destroyed by fire in 1900. The current building opened in 1904 (Image: Colin Mearns)
The photograph was one of many that had been found and collected by the school and its wider community which showcased its rich history.
People looking at old photographs (Image: Colin Mearns)
Unfortunately, however, there are no school records pre-1900 as all of these and the original building itself were completely destroyed in a fire that year, the cause of which is unknown.
A fortnight or so after the fire, the school resumed its activities in temporary accommodation, but it was another three and a half years before the current building, boasting two levels, opened in the same location in 1904.
Pictured is an old photograph of the the current building that opened in 1904, replacing an earlier building that opened in 1876 but was destroyed by fire in 1900 (Image: Colin Mearns)
Another particularly notable period in the school’s history was World War One.
Sadly the school’s headmaster at the time, John Paterson, received head wounds while fighting in the Battle of Arras on the Western Front in 1917 and died of these injuries on February 15, 1921.
Busby primary school 150th anniversary celebration (Image: Colin Mearns)
Five other members of Busby’s staff joined His Majesty’s Forces during this war, George Allan, Hugh Ewing, John Rogerson, John MacMillan and Walter Wallace.
Mr Allan was killed in a training accident in March 1916 and his memorial photograph can be seen on display alongside Mr Paterson’s in the school to this day.
Friends and former pupils Carol Inglis (nee Bown), left and Frances Coid (nee Muir) (Image: Colin Mearns)
Gillian McRobb, the school’s head teacher, said: “It has been fascinating for us to find out about the different stories of headteachers and staff who have come before.”
Friends and former pupils Carol Inglis (nee Bown), left and Frances Coid (nee Muir) (Image: Colin Mearns)
Originally the school served both secondary and primary pupils, and up until it became solely a primary in 1962 with just 279 pupils, the roll from 1900 varied between 350 and 480 pupils.
Pictured are members of the Alexander family who all attended Busby primary school. Pictured seated is Ruth McArthur and standing from left is Carol Alexander, Carol’s sister Barbara Alexander (and Ruth’s mum) and their father Tommy Alexander (Ruth’s (Image: Colin Mearns)
In the first half of 1941 there was an increase of more than 70 pupils, all of whom were evacuees.
Pictured from left are former pupils- Bobby Gorman, 80, Tommy English, 76 and John Hicks age 74 (Image: Colin Mearns)
More recently, notable events in the school’s history have been the opening of the nursery in 1990s, and the construction of the corridor joining the school buildings and the addition of four new classrooms in the 2000s.
Busby primary class teacher Heather Nilsen-Nygaard (Image: Colin Mearns)
“The building has changed over the years,” recalls Heather Nilsen-Nygaard, the school’s current longest-serving teacher who has worked there for nearly 30 years.
“When I started we had to walk from the main door across the playground to the other building for gym, drama and music, as well as for lunch.
“Sometimes we would get soaked as we ran across the school playground.
“There were only seven classes, one of each stage, but over time the school roll grew and we needed more classroom space.”
Pictured ae former pupils Barbara Alexander with her daughter Ruth McArthur who has spotted herself in a photograph from when she was a pupil at the school. Barbara works at the school as a catering assistant. (Image: Colin Mearns)
The development of the facilities changed further in 2021 with the opening of the new nursery building within the school grounds.
Former pupils who are all classmates who started at the school in 1956.They are from left- Eric Carslaw, Douglas Fulton, John Hicks, Bill Woodward, Scott Barclay, John Potter, William Brown and James Woodward. (Image: Colin Mearns)
Researching and collating all of this history and information for the anniversary has been no mean feat.
The children especially have enjoyed getting stuck in and doing their bit, as well as using the anniversary as an opportunity to learn about the past and local history.
“All of the classes had different decades and researched things within that era and then connected it into what Busby was like at that time as well,” added Ms McRobb.
“It’s worked really well. The kids have loved it and it’s been really fascinating listening to what they have come up with.”
