Profiles of pupils & teachers  from around the globe.   
Send me your profile and make contact with old friends........Last update 20 February 2011 23:50 
Alphabetical surname order 

Sadie Biggar  ( now Milis )  DPS 1956 -1962  [e-mail: SGMum4@aol.com]     July 2002
"I lived at 48 Albany Street on the top floor, right across from Dalmarnock School. I left Dalmarnock in 1962 to move on to John St. School. My Dad owned Biggar's bakery right next to the church and next to Adam's Chippie-the close separated them.  My Dad and Adam would go back and forth using each others equipment.  Do you know how Adam lost his hearing in the one ear?  He stuck a matchstick with cotton wool on the end too far into his ear and damaged something.  Thus my Mum would tell us not to stick anything smaller than our elbow in our ear!  Word of wisdom to live by.  
I left Glasgow in 1969 after marrying an American sailor who was stationed on the USS Simon Lake.  I lived in Pittsburgh Pa, USA until 1979 then moved to Appleton Wisconsin.  I have four children, 2 boys & 2 girls, Paul aged 28, Stephanie 22, Sean 19, Melissa 17 and a wonderful husband, Dan,  who tolerates me sitting at this computer reminiscing of days gone by.  I am now in sales for one of the leading plastic manufacturers in the US.  I will probably keep on selling until it is time to retire, or I win one of those big lotteries.  
My Mum lived with me in Wisconsin for almost 17 years and returned to Glasgow when my sister Mary's M.S. confined her to a wheelchair.  My oldest brother is Walter Thomson and I think he went to Dalmarnock and then on to Bernard St my other brother is Robert Biggar, who also went to Dalmarnock and John St and I believe was friendly with Billy McKnight and my sister Mary Biggar went to Dalmarnock and then she went to Riverside.  I was friendly with Sadie McKnight and remember her Mum and Dad.  Christine Campbell lived up the same close as the McKnights, but she lived on the top floor.  Do you remember the Campbells?"  
Glesca Fair memories "Standing in line at either the bus station or the train station to go on your fair fortnight down to Ayr!  My Grannie would fill a great big hamper with sugar, tea, tinned salmon (John West), condensed milk, you name it she had it in there.  You would think we were going away for 6 months rather than 2 weeks!  But you know they are the best memories of my grandparents. My wee Grandpa tying his hankie at the four corners to cover his bald head, so that he wouldn't get sunburnt." 
School memory  Mrs Stewart was the first teacher I had, boy was that scary!  Mr Wright and Mrs Campbell were some of my favourite teachers, along with Miss Kenny. I also remember marching to what we then called the "Esso Song".  I think it is the 'march of the Toreadors.'  boy did they get mad when we would be singing "Esso sign means happy motoring!"
 As soon as I find some photos I will scan and get them off to you.  Thank you Will for creating this web site."      
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Shirley Crainey ( now Robb ) DPS 1941 - 1948   (e-mail:SRSCOT70@aol.com )
"I was born in Bridgeton and attended Dalmarnock Primary School from 1941 - 1948. I have fond memories of teachers Mr Wright and Mr Lamb. My husband Charlie Robb also attended Dalmarnock Primary School but we didn't know each other at school. Charlie who is two years older than me, lived in Ruby Street while I lived opposite the school in Albany Street.  We started 'winching' when I was sweet 17 and married two years later in 1956. My parents moved to the USA two months later and Charlie and I followed in 1958. 
We have lived in Brooklyn, New York since then and have two sons, Ian and Craig. I worked in my son's school as a volunteer, they then gave me a job as a school-aide. I went to college got my B.A. in Education and went on to get my Masters in Sci.in Ed. in Reading.  I have been a 3rd Grade ( 8yr olds ) teacher ever since, specialising in reading in the same school." 
See School memories.
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Rev.Dr.James J. Edmiston DPS cc1923-1928  Dux medalist
".......in 1999  contacted us from Canada. A former pupil and Dux ( 1928 ) of Dalmarnock Primary. He wished to donate two Dux medals to the school - one for a girl and one for a boy .  This is why we now have two names each year. The Silver Cup has the names engraved and sits proudly in our school..read his story click here
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Hugh Hendry   DPS 1927-1933 then Bernard St. Sec.School  
          [e-mail: mac@nex.net.au]       April 2002
"I was brought up at number 11 Fairbairn Street.
The headmaster was Mr. McGregor and the teacher I remember best is Jimmy Johnson, a teacher I will always be grateful for encouraging me to develop skills which aided me later on in my business life. 
I joined the Army ( Royal Engineers ) in 1942 and served throughout the NW Europe campaign. I served in the occupation of Germany and was demobbed in 1948. I married a London lass, Philippa Agnes in 1944 and we have been married for 58 years. We emigrated to Australia in 1955 and are still enjoying life here."  
Footnote (May 2002)
A website success story....In Hugh's notes in our guestbook and the website he mentioned he would love to make contact with an old 'Brigton .' pal, Johnnie McKnight.  A week or two later another ex-pupil, Robert Newbigging contacted Hugh and gave him details of Johnnie's son Willie, an ex-pupil who lives in Kent, England...are you still with me? 
The good news is :- an old pupil in his seventies living in Australia, makes contact with his long lost pal who lives in England, thanks to an ex-pupil who lives in Canada and all thanks to our website!
(see Hugh's 1935 photo here )  &  ( see story of ex-pupils reunited here )
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Victoria CrossHenry May VC   DPS 1890-    Born 29th July 1885, Bridgeton           (Dec.2002)                  
"A Dalmarnock School 1st world war hero who won the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
See Henry's story, click here
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Gavin (Guy) Murdoch  DPS 1885-1902                                                                 (Jan.2003)
"Dux medallist winner in 1902 see his personal diary entries and photographs"
  click here
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Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners CupWillie Miller  DPS 1960-1967                                                               (Feb.2004)
"Willie Miller, Aberdeen and  Scottish International football player" 

 see his story   click here
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Robert Newbigging  DPS 1945-1952         (April 2002)
"I was brought up at number 17 Fairbairn Street from 1940 until we moved to East Kilbride in 1955.  It was a real wrench for me. I left all my friends and was dragged off to EK by my mum.
The headmaster I had at Dalmarnock was Mr Bain. A very elegant gentleman who spent time instructing me in drawing in his office. He seemed to appreciate my basic talents, at the time and encouraged me very strongly, to keep at it, and he was right I then went to John Street from 1952-1955 and had an excellent teacher there (Mr John Smith.who eventually went to Hutchie to teach art). After that I ended up in an art studio and went to The Glasgow School of Art (evening classes) for almost 5 years and am still painting, drawing and anything else that takes my fancy. I've been in business for 30 years now and I think it is about time to "just paint"  Also, I am very good at it, thanks to some of the guidance I had when I was quite young.
I married Ellenor in 1963, we had our wedding reception at the Cambus Court Hotel in Cambuslang. With our two children, Stuart & Grant we emigrated to Canada in 1966. We have lived here ever since between Montreal and Toronto but I do come back every year to see my mum who still lives in EK aged 88.  We live in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.  Our third son, Graham was born in Montreal."
 WEBMAISTER....see Robert's fantastic sketch, watercolour &  painting of old Bridgeton & our School 

Feb.2011 Sadly on 10th Feb.2011 Robert died.        see GlescaPals website for more on Robert.

 
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Ella Grant (nee Park) DPS 1933-1940   
Extract from letter from Ella,  Largs, Scotland .                                      (June 2005)
Ella Park lived at 48 Ruby Street , attended Dalmarnock Primary School and was Dux of the school in 1940. Later she attended John Street Secondary School interrupted by evacuation to Langholm in 1941.
Aged 21 she married James Grant, an engineer, and was lucky enough to accompany him to Buenos Aires where they lived for five years, then to Kenya , India and Rumania . In those days it was fashionable to wear a gold bracelet with gold trinkets attached and Ella used this fashion statement to proudly show off her Dux medal, unfortunately during one of her trips she lost the bracelet and it was never found.
They have two children Alison & David. Their children both attended university, Alison went to Edinburgh University and David who now lives and works in Dallas graduated from Glasgow University . Sadly her husband, Jim died in 1974.  
Ella returned to work and was employed in administration at Bellahouston Academy until 1986 when she moved to Berkshire to be near Alison and her family. Last year (2004) Ella decided to come home to Scotland and now resides in Largs – which she loves.
Ella was best friends with Chrissie Pritchard and they lost touch for over thirty years but through our website they managed to make contact with each other again in March 2004 and I was delighted to meet them both at the schools open day on Thursday 16th June 2005.. Ella had been staying with Chrissie this week and they both attended our schools Civic Reception, held in Glasgow City Chambers. 
Wonderful story this and we were delighted that these two ladies aged 76 & 77 were able to come back to the old school, get a guided tour and take a happy walk down memory lane.   See their 1936-37 class photograph.
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Ian Ross   DPS 1953-1960      now living in England                                 April 2002
"Thanks for the e-mail and good to have a browse around my old school.  I went to Dalmarnock School between 1953 and 1960.  I was Dux Medallist in 1960 and, as far as I know, my name is still up there on the Dux board.  I went on to Allan Glen's which I hated and then back to John Street which I left in 1964.  Great to see a few familiar names on the Friends Reunited website - I've dashed off a few e-mails in the last week or so. Well done, Will, for a very interesting website which brought back so many memories."
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James Thomson   DPS 1936-1943       [e-mail: janda.thomson@virgin.net]        May 2002
"I came to live at 64 Ruby St in 1934 at the end of Father's three years unemployment in the thirties slump - he became a tram driver - an exceptionally clever man who never had the will to move from the Transport Dept because of his fear of unemployment. He was an Inspector, and always wanted to stick at a secure job. He didn't drink or smoke and worked all kinds of extra shifts so that I could stay on at school. He brought our family up in the Bethany Hall in Bernard Street - now there's a fertile area for Brigtonian history!
My wife and I still have a strong church focus, being active members of Cupar Baptist Church.
We have four of a family - daughters aged 45, 42 and 38 and a son aged 30 - all married and in various professions - the eldest and youngest daughters are teachers, the middle daughter followed in father's footsteps and took up an honourable profession - Chartered Surveyor. Our son is IT Manager in Banff Academy. I have a great wife - been together for fifty years plus - and six grandchildren. 
I worked with the then Glasgow Corporation until '57 then Fife Council in its various guises until early retirement in 1989. Moving to Fife in my twenties and have been here ever since.
I was a Chartered Surveyor - Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer for Fife. President of Scottish Assessors' Association. Advisor to various quangos. Couple of years in 5th RHA followed by eight years or so in 280th Regt R.A. (drill hall in Main Street). Rose to dizzy heights of Lieutenant.  
School memory1 - the Dalmarnock Jannie in my day was Mr Stirrat - easily the most important man in the school. He lived in a red sandstone house backing onto Anderson's mill, in the Albany Street playground. There was a school bell outside which he would ring at starting times, but most time signaling within the school was done by means of a polished brass gong in the hall, and that was also the Jannie's responsibility.
During the war we were regularly head-hunted by Miss Smith, who, I think, was an assistant head, She was assisted in her regular search for nits and lice by Mrs Lamb - not a teacher but what would today be termed an auxiliary -always resplendent in an immaculate white apron and responsible for the school milk and many other such matters. Miss Smith was awarded the BEM for her contribution to our health.
School memory2 - On 2 Sept 1939 Dalmarnock School was evacuated to Glencaple 5 miles south of Dumfries. Within a week most of the evacuees had gone home but there were still a  good number of us left and a school was set up for us in the new village hall - the "Barber Hall". We were taught there by a single teacher - a Miss Douglas who was actually a science teacher from Bernard St School. She was the kind of teacher from whom her pupils simply seemed to soak up tuition - I'll be grateful to her forever!  I returned to Dalmarnock P.S. in Sept.1940.
Maybe a sign of advancing age but have been wondering lately as to what might have become of those who were in my year at school, Dalmarnock and John Street (which, I believe is no more). 
My interests as well as the church are swimming, walking, gardening, music, painting and generally getting in my busy wife's way. But she puts up with me!"
WEBMAISTER....Jim failed to mention that he has been honoured by Her Majesty 
      and awarded the OBE. Our heartfelt congratulations to this old Brigtonion !  
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Marjorie Winters   DPS Headteacher 1979-2007                           
     

  Marjorie was headteacher of Dalmarnock Primary for 28 years ! 
  Read her story

 
 


webmasterAll former pupils and teachers are welcome to send me their profiles. 
( Amendments or additions to existing profiles also welcome )

 

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