Five decades of achievement

A LOCAL school is hosting a community ceilidh to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

And ahead of the celebrations, Forres Academy Parent Council Ceilidh Committee member, Diana McPartlin, has been researching the Burdsyard Road building's history from its opening on October 15, 1969.

She said: "Forres has had a high school as far back as the 16th century, occupying several locations on Gordon Street, Tolbooth Street, Caroline Street, Academy Lane and the present Anderson’s Primary School building in the High Street. By the late 1950s the Anderson’s building was bursting at the seams - classes were being held in public halls and prefabricated huts - so it was decided that a new purpose-built secondary was needed. Architects chose the location in the summer of 1963 as "a fine rural site with enclosing mature trees and meandering Mosset Burn". They aimed to make it fully integrated with its environment, agreeing that no block should be over two storeys in height."

Thousands of pupils from the area have passed through the doors since, and many passionate, committed teachers and staff have supported them.

The swimming pool was added later and the school was extended in 1979 and in 1981 to include a new games hall, library, music department and social education area. In 2013, a new wing was opened to house the guidance rooms and offices.

Pupils and parents have been involved in planning for the anniversary ceilidh, gathering old photos and researching the history of the school, including trips abroad, sports events, musical performances, art shows, theme days and charity work.

Issues raised repeatedly over the years have included agreeing on school uniform and lack of playground space. The car park has now taken over much of the original playing fields, and the tennis and basketball courts have fallen into disrepair.

Ms McPartlin said: "Margaret Thatcher visited the school in 1989, and was reported to have been impressed. Not everyone was impressed with her though, as teachers formed a protest outside the school and the Head accused her of trying to score political points!

"There has been some lively discussion on the Forres Academy Facebook page where alumni keep in touch. One remembers starting school in the year that it opened, and recalls that it looked like a liquorice allsort with its different coloured staircases.

Schools were a lot different in those days - one of the Latin teachers had a reputation for being a dead shot with a blackboard eraser if he thought the class weren’t paying attention. Girls weren't allowed to take technical subjects and boys weren't allowed to take cooking or needlework. There was a breakthrough in the late 1970's, however, when girls were finally allowed to wear trousers!"

Forres Academy has been the launch pad for many successful careers: Chef Lorna McNee is a National Scottish Chef of the Year, and was crowned winner of the Great British Menu 2019; Professor Marianne Nicolson was a consultant oncologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and has won lifetime awards from the British Thoracic Oncology Group and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Other alumni include actor Billy Mack, Member of Parliament Douglas Ross, television presenters Aileen Clarke, Lorna Gordon and Kaye Nicolson, and Graeme Reid, a former pupil and former teacher, who lifted for Team Scotland in the 2019 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada and won a gold medal and the Commonwealth bench press title for 2019.

It is hoped that some of the local celebrities will attend the 50th anniversary as ceilidhs have always been a Forres Academy speciality, held every year at the end of the Autumn term.

Head Teacher Jan Sinclair joined the school in 2018.

She said: "Ceilidhs are much better attended here than at other schools. The pupils are always enthusiastic about taking part."

Moray Councillor Claire Feaver, whose children attended the school from 2006 to 2014, added: "The love of traditional music and dance stays with pupils long after they leave the school and many, including my children, continue to meet up at ceilidhs when they go off to college or university in Scotland and further afield."

Music for the evening will be provided by Ill’Trickit, a four-piece band from Keith. There will also be performances from local singers and the Forres Academy Pipe Band. Stovies and oatcakes will be served while tea, coffee and home bakes will also be available. Raffle prizes donated by local businesses will be up for grabs and attendees are welcome to bring their own bottle.

Tickets priced £5 are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk/forres-academy. For more information contact Forresacademy50@gmail.com.