GALASHIELS Academy Press Group is very keen to hear from former pupils (and teachers) who would be interested in sharing a memory or recollection of their time at the Academy.

If you would like to contribute a paragraph or two, please send it, by email attachment, to alan.sleater@scotborders.gov.uk or gail.demartino@scotborders.gov.uk A photo would be greatly appreciated, two would be even better – one from your school days, and one as you are now.

Our first memory takes us back to the days when the Academy was the senior secondary school for the Selkirkshire County Council.

Dr Duncan Lawrie from Melrose, attended Galashiels Academy between the years of 1952 and 1955. He was the School Dux in session 1953-54. He is a retired consultant cardiologist, who has lived in St Andrews for over 40 years.

“I have fond memories of teachers and fellow pupils at the time, in particular two of the staff. Mr Martin (English Department) made Shakespeare and poetry both interesting and understandable. Jim Shearer was the Head of PE and the Academy’s rugby coach. He gave no end of his free time promoting rugby and sportsmanship throughout the school.

On a personal note, I was particularly grateful to two others: Walton (Maths) and Rogers (Science), with whose help I managed to win a bursary to study medicine at Edinburgh University.”