SCHOOL 'HOUSES'

[Penny Tray]

Eglinton School had four 'houses' - ARRAN (YELLOW), BUTE (BLUE), CUMBRAE (RED) and AILSA (GREEN). AILSA dropped out latterly, leaving only the first three. These 'houses' were used mainly for sports purposes. Did the other Three Town schools have similar arrangements?

[bigwull]

Yes Saltcoats J.S. had: Murray (red) Douglas (green) Bruce (blue) and Wallace (yellow)

[Meg]

Ardrossan Academy had Montfode, Castle and Stanley - Yellow, Red and Green in that order.

Meg

[Milda]

Yeah I was Montfode,Meg.What were you?

[Penny Tray]

Bigwull, Meg and Milda:

How were you informed what 'house' you were in? Each Year at Eglinton the new allocations were posted on the gymnasium window, which we had to read from outside. I vividly remember, because of a fondness for Arran (and never at the time having {to the best of my knowledge} been on Bute, Cumbrae or Ailsa) hoping above hope that I would be in 'ARRAN'. Thankfully I was. Reading it was one of those moments captured in time.

[Mac]

As far as I can remember the Stevenston Higher Grade houses were Auchenharvie (Red?); Kerlaw (Blue?) and Warner (Yellow?). Think there were only the three. There might have been a 'green' one but not sure?

[bobnetau]

Penny, at the Academy I think our Houses were just called out to us in Class at the start of Secondary School.
Not 100% sure of that though. I was in Stanly (Green)
I'm sure Meg or Boney will be able to confirm or deny how it was done.

[Milda]

Yes I think you are right Netta,I think that was the way it was done.

[down south]

As I remember it those of us who were at the Academy primary were allocated to houses when we got to about Primary 5 or 6. Houses were really a bit of a non-event except for school sports day, when everyone suddenly remembered what house they were in and cheered on competitors from their own house ( if they didn't just slope off early, that is ). But when the school went comprehensive the house concept got a new lease of life ,I suppose as a way of creating a sense of identity in a newly large school; a fourth house was brought in ( called Laighdykes ) , teachers were appointed as heads of the houses, and each class of the new juniors seemed to be allocated together to the same house.
I was Castle , by the way. And completely useless at sports!
Susan

[Meg]

Yeah I was Montfode,Meg.What were you?

Me too Milda - and we were proud to belong to a house and a team. I had an enamel badge with a gold M on it. Dr Nisbet was really into encouraging participation and pride in your house.

Meg

[Meg]

Penny, at the Academy I think our Houses were just called out to us in Class at the start of Secondary School.
Not 100% sure of that though. I was in Stanly (Green)
I'm sure Meg or Boney will be able to confirm or deny how it was done.

Yes that's what I remember Netta.

Meg

[morag]

At St. Michael's it was saint's names St. Ninian,, my house, St. Columba, St. Margaret and I can't recall the fourth. I think the first two were green, blue. Perhaps another St. Michael's ex pupil will remember.