Page last updated on: Saturday, 6 March, 2021.
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It can be very difficult to find names for older school photos. We would be very grateful if anyone can put names to faces in any of these photos. Email  info@gatehouse-folk.org.uk

c.1890 Girthon Parish School

The male teacher in the above photograph might be William Barron, the headteacher.

c.1911 Girthon Parish School

The teacher is William Learmonth.   The location is the old Girthon Parish School on Castramont Road.
Mr Learmonth was headmaster at Girthon from 1894 to 1923.  He was born in 1860.
The boy with cross (front seated row, 3rd from left) is almost certainly Francis McClymont born 1898 died 1917. He joined the army in 1914. He would be about 13 in the photo, which would have been taken in about 1911.
The photo came from Bobby McClymont who was Francis’ nephew, which explains the “x” on the photo.
The girl with the “x” could be one of Francis’ younger sisters, most likely Mary born in 1901.
Mr Learmonth would have been c.51.

Below is another photo of younger children probably taken at the same time and place.

Class photo no.1

T2 is Mr William Phillips, headmaster, T1 is Mr Phillips daughter May Phillips.   
17 is Fanny Whan, 20 is Mary Gardiner,  21 is Jessie Shaw, 23 is Madge Edgar.

Class photo no.3
T1 Alice Phillips, T2 Amy Phillips, T3 May Phillips, 1 ? ?, 2. Tom Currie, 3. Rebecca MacQuarrie, 4. ? Shaw, 5. Sally McClymont, 6. Margaret McClymont, 7. Charlie Downie, 8. Dorothy Caig, 9. ? ?, 10. ? ?, 11. A Whannel, 12. D Whannel, 13. Rita Hannah, 14. Jessie Armstrong, 15. Cis Hannah, 16. Peggy Bathgate, 17. Ettie Hannah (Crosbie), 18. ? ?, 19. Betty Petrie (Gray), 20. Mary Edgar (Park), 21. Ellen Hume, 22. H Shaw, 23. ? ?, 24. ? Shaw, 25. ? ?, 26. Bert McMurray, 27. Rita Carson, 28. Freda Hunter.
                                                          Many thanks to David Gray for the photo and names.

 T. Mr Learmonth, 20. Fanny Mitchell  

These 2 photos would have been taken on the same day.

6. ? Bennett,  22. Margaret Adams,  23 Marjorie Henderson,  T2 Mr.Learmonth



2. Jim Campbell ?, 4. Albert Duff,  5. Hunter Shaw   8. Desmond Pickthall,  9. Robert Lindsay,  11. Alex Davidson ?,  12. Norma Frullani, 14. Nan Hunter ?, 19. ? Johnstone ?, 20.  Arthur Hunter


1. Tommy Emerson, 2. Jim Wallace, 3.John Twiname, 4. Jack Cairns, 5. Val Reid, 6. Jock Nichol, 7. Jock Mitchell, 8. Bob Adams, 9. Mary Ferguson, 10.  ? ?, 11.  ? ?, 12. Lizzie MacDonald, 13. Gracie Ferguson, 14. Peggy Shaw, 15. Harry McGarva, 16. James Johnson, 17. Jackie Little, 18. Mary Farmer, 19. Annie McConchie, 20. Margaret Lawrie, 21. Grace Gardner, 22. Margaret Davidson, 23. Emmie Shaw, 24. Rhoda Henderson, 25. Etta Hannah, 26. Sissy Campbell.

This was a wide photo that we have split into left and right sides.Left Side :- 11. William Frullani.


Right Side :- 

12. Mary Girgan, 16. Dorothy McAdam, 18. Joan (Annie) Shaw ?, 20. Nettie Shaw, 24. Helen Grieve, 25. Ella Patterson, 26. Margaret Grieve, 27. Helen Jardine, 28. Emily Frost, 29. Nancy McCormack, 31. Janet Sharp, 34. Archie Pickthall, 39. John McConchie, 40. Bert Patterson, 42. John Fergusson ?

Other names of children in this class but unidentified are :- James Carson, Mary Shedden, Jamesie Hay, Ena Cain, Davie Johnstone, McQuarrie lass, Annie Frost ?, Joyce Crosbie, Mony Johnstone, Peggy Walker, Bessie McLeod, Graham Armstrong, McInally boy, Archie Pickthall, 2 x Whannel boys, Frazer boy, Mary Mgt Patterson, McInally lass, Cain boy, McQuarrie girl, Belford boy, Joe Steele, 2 x Herons

T. Mrs Ferguson,  3. ? Heron (Fred Heron’s daughter, Garden St.)  5. Alex Davidson, 6. Willie McCutcheon (?) (farmer’s son), 7. Robert McMurray (ex Brewers, Birtwhistle St), 12. Ruth Cain (?), 13. Agnes (Nancy) Shaw (West View, Birtwhistle St).

5. Norrie Heughan, 8. Jack Veitch


These 2 photos would have been taken on the same day.


2. Jack Veitch, 11. Bel Adams, 33. Edith McMurray (Edie).     T1 Miss Grierson, teacher.   T2. Mr Stewart, headmaster. 
We are told thst David Veitch is in the back row, but where ?, ,and Jim Girgan might be in the 2nd row.
J Goudie and W McInally are in the 3rd row.       Molly Hope is in the front row of girls.