| |
20 Years of Travelling Scholars
Travelling Scholars since 1980
Date WEST END EAST END
1980 Neil Paterson, Breachacha
Kirsteen Wilson, Kilbride
1982 Kirsteen Wilson, Kilbride
lan Anderson, Totronald Honey Smalley, Clabach
1983 Ruaridh Waugh, Gallanach
1984 Jessica Bell, Acha Farmhouse
1985 Jenny & Alison Lunghi, Uig
1986 Heather & Kenneth Macintyre, Arileod
1987 John-Allan MacRae, Cornaigmore
Emily Taylor, Gallanach
Phillippa Greaves, Totamore
Rachel Greaves, Totamore
1989 Robin Lunghi, Uig Ian Fraser, Totamore,
1990 Julia Payne, Breachacha Andrew Fraser, Bousd
Robbie Payne, Breachacha
1991 Joanna Taylor, Lonban Catriona Biel, Gliac
1992 Amy Mitchell, Broadhills ,
1993 Helena Porrelli, Ceann a Bhaigh
1994 Lawrie-Neil Porrelli, Cann a Bhaigh
1998 Finlay Porrelli, Ceann a Bhaigh
1999 Calum MacKay, Breachacha New Castle Rhona Smith, Gallanach
Kenneth MacKay, Breachacha New Castle Douglas Wainwright, Cliad
Sophie Buchan, Totronald Bheag
Sam Rutherford, Totronald Bheag
School run
I started the school run in August 1972 by picking up Val Conway at Ballyhough. Then, shortly afterwards the Johnstons came to Gallanach and their daughter Mhairi joined Val in the school car. Then there were the Woodward children Joanna, Rebecca and Sarah from Toraston for some time.
Juliet Conway then started school, sometimes very reluctantly, sometimes I had to get out of the car and prise her hands off the gate and put her in the car. And on these occasions she could bellow like a bull. When driving the school car it was amazing what you heard from the children. One day Miss Kennedy asked Val what she did at home after school and Val told her she just "buggered about in the byre."
The next ones to start school in 77 were Angus John from Clabbach and Marion at Cliad, followed by Brian alias Barney - he was like the cows tail in the mornings, at least 50 yards behind Marion. Isla Colman from Achamore also appeared on the scene for a short time. Honey Smalley was the next one to start school, nicknamed Nora Batty because she always had problems keeping her tights up.
Emily Taylor from Gallanach was the next one to join the sometimes very crowded school car. Then we had to go further east to pick up John Allan at Cornaigmore.
The mileage then increased by going to Totamore to pick up Ian Fraser. The boys were a tough lot sometimes, full of mischief as you can imagine. But when things looked as if they were getting out of hand little Emily could always be relied on to keep them in order.
In those days we had to open and close four gates every morning and afternoon. Honey saw an opportunity for making some money here; she would open and shut the gates for the price of 10 pence per gate. Negotiations went on for several weeks, eventually a price was agreed. It was a great help to Margaret and I, and Honey only got to do the gates when the weather was suitable, (and God help me if I forgot to pay her at the end of the week).
By this time the Frasers had moved to Bousd and Andrew joined Ian at school. Andrew didn't like the mornings very much and was best left alone until fully awake.
Good luck to them all in the future. They were a great bunch of children to see every school day.
John Wheeler James |
