Andover School - The Old and The New
(by Eric Wm. Walker)
From 19 August 1856
It is my intention to tell some of the story of Andover School, Brechin which many of my friends and our families attended. It still stands today after its benefactor Mr. John Smith, Esq. of Andover, Massachusetts in the U.S.A. first proposed the building of the school by forwarding a letter offering to contribute a large sum of money towards the erection of the building in his native city of Brechin.
After some reminiscence by myself, having attended Andover for the main part of my education, I shall be posting copies of written documents from Mr. Smith and others on this website. Some of these documents have only recently come to light and have never been seen since it's amalgamation with the School Board of the Burgh of Brechin on the Ninth Day of March 1877. Any relatives of the Smith or Dove families, formerly of Brechin and Massachusetts, or former pupils of Andover School who would wish copies of the history of our school, please get in touch with me.
The New Andover School
Due to open in October 1998
I went for a stroll along 'Robbie Aitkenhead's Roadie' today to have a look at the progress being made on the new Andover School which is soon to be opened on the former site of Black's Sawmill and Woodyard and the area where the Brechin Railway engine sheds and turntable stood for as long as I can remember.
I was pleasantly surprised by the size and appearance of the new building, erected in today's modern style. The former building, still in use, stands less than a mile to the south with it's clock and bell tower, similar to that of the tower of Big Ben at Westminster in London.
I certainly was filled with nostalgia seeing both buildings, especially that of my old school, which I must admit i had a love-hate relationship with from 1935 until 1942. Memories came flooding back, not only of Andover but also of the area where the new school now stands.
It was one of the areas where I spent many happy days with old school pals, some now gone. We made huts among the cut coalmine props, looked for frogs in the pit of the turntable, climbed the ladder to the top of the water tanks used for the railway engines, and also hid in the large wood shed when we played 'tip' (truant or hookey) on the long summer days. Later, an occasional game of cards out of sight of any bobbies (policemen) would pass the time on a rainy day with a chance to win or lose a few bob (shillings).
These times have now all changed and are only memories, all treasured and still talked about by old pals from the area around the first Andover, Smith's or 'Tenements' School. Places such as Montrose Street, Southesk Terrace, Kinnaird Place, Queen's Park, Dall's Lane, Wallace Close, River Street, and Bridge Street were the main catchment areas for the pupils of Andover.
Those of my generation will of course remember Mr. George S. Hogg, our headmaster, a fair and kindly man who only used the belt when it was necessary - and you sure remembered it! Our teachers were Miss Greta Michie and Miss Gibb (1st Kiddies); Miss Strathearn (2nd Kiddies); Miss Smith and Miss Keith (3rd Kiddies); Miss Louis Johnson (Standard 1); my favourite teacher, Miss Gray (Standard 2), Miss Clunas and Miss Taggart (Standard 3); Miss Pyper (Standard 4); a short spell with Mr. Western in Standard 5 and, after he enlisted in the Forces, we had most of the final term with Miss Pyper before going on to Bank Street Secondary School, as I did, or to Brechin High School. Some did the latter and even paid a fee to get there. Bank Street was actually a part of the High School - but try telling a Bank Street School pupil that!
I have included photos of the first Andover School and of the, soon to be, second and new Andover School. I shall follow up this article documents dating from 1856, which are written by hand by many eminent citizens and former citizens of Brechin and am sure they will be of interest to anyone who had connections with Andover. I have even had enquiries from many countries suggesting a reunion of former pupils and others.
Well that's all for now except to leave you with the words of a former Andover song -
Up and doon the Muddy
Up and doon the Muddy
Up and doon the Muddy
In 'Sharpie's Charabang'
I'll tell the Bobby
I'll tell the Bobby
I'll tell the Bobby
As you have done before.
1. Andover clock and bell tower and school buildings. The headmaster's office was at the bottom of the tower. My Great Granda, David Soutar, took me to enrol as a pupil one morning in 1935 but I didn't want to go. My mother dragged me over when she came home for lunch. She was a weaver at Smart's Valley Works nearby. There was nae mixin' wi' the lassies from the age of 4 and a half years, not even in the classroom. The boys' playground is at the end of the building on the extreme right. An interesting point is the building with the brick pillars just behind the trash bin and behind the railings. It is a WWII air raid shelter with the front taken off and now used as a shelter from the weather. There were four in each playground.
2. Andover School tower taken from 'The Wyndie' path.
3. Andover New School taken from Brechin Cricket Club ground. The black and white hut in front is the scorer's box.
