On this page you can post messages and make contact with old friends and acquaintances with whom you shared the Kilmarnock Academy experience. You should e-mail your messages to:

fpnoticeboard@kilmarnockacademy.co.uk

and we will post them on this page.

Hello my name is Christopher Duthie.

I attended Kilmarnock Academy for the years 2002-2005, and before that was in Loanhead Primary, just down the road. After I left in third year I moved up to Glasgow and spent a year in Linwood High schoo,l near Paisley. After that I moved to Australia, to the suprise of all my friends, as the friends I had down in Kilmarnock have been told for many years that I was moving to Australia (since primary 2 I have said that) and I'm sure they stopped believing it. Well I have been in Australia for 2 years now, and it's a better  lifestyle than the one I had. I'm currently joining the Australian Army and have done all of the testing to get in.

If you do receive this e-mail, I was just wondering if you could do me a small favour: a small shout out in the morning bulletin for the 6th years who were my class mates - just to let them know I'm doing well in Australia and I am joining the army, which is funny as most of them guessed I would be involved in the world of war, due to my personality of always looking for the next challenge.

If you are interested in my favourite teachers, they were Mr. McIlvanney from the English Department (If he doesn't remember me, then tell him to cast his mind back to when I tried to steal his children's toy chute out of his back garden), Mrs Hogg and Mrs Ogg from Biology and Mrs McKenzie from the French Department. They were the teachers who put up with me the most, and the classes I enjoyed the most.

Thanks and just please if you could could give me that mention I would be extremely happy. Also, if Mr McIlvanney agrees to it, could I have e-mail addresses for him and the other teachers I have mentioned, as I would like to stay in contact with them,

yours sincerely

Christopher William Duthie.


G'day Mr McIlvanney,

My name is Christopher Duthie, How I remember your Classes. Standard Grade English at it's best I reckon, I was also in your roll group, If you don't remember me cast your mind back to the day I tried to nick your chute out your backdoor, but how we had a laugh at that when it was over. I used to sit next to Dean Prentice and talk for the entire lesson. Well now I have moved onto Greener pastures like the ones in Australia. I live in Queensland, a place called the sunshine coast, and I am currently joining the Australian Army which won't be a suprise to a few folk back in Killie as my old art teacher used to say that he wouldn't be suprised if I was on the news for some terror scare. Well last night we watched the last game between Celtic and Rangers 3-2 - I was not happy as I'm a Rangers fan. Well your lessons taught me a lot and you were by far one of my favourite teachers thanks a lot.

Yours sincerely

Christopher William Duthie

Dear Sir, Madam,

I was a pupil in Kilmarnock Acadamy from around 1974 to 1980 before I moved down to the South Coast of England, I have been living in Germany now since 1984 as I came over with the Royal Engineers. I have been living here since 1991 private and  am a Draughtsman for a World Concern. I live in a small village with the name Harsewinkel in the County Gütersloh. I am married and have three children. I speak fluent German, to be honest I now speak better German as English.

In best memories
Graham Stuart Brown

Hello I am Jim Colquhoun - now Brother Andrew of the Order of the Holy Cross.  I left KA in 1951 in the middle of my 3rd year when my Mother took me to the US.  It was my first school and I truly missed it. It's great to see the website and to know that the good traditions are continuing. As you see I now live in South Africa where I am a member of a Benedictine community in the Anglican Communion.  My community is very much involved in trying to help the local Xhosa young people get a decent education - a difficult job here in the Eastern Cape. Keep up the good work! Brother Andrew, OHC

Student at Academy 1936 - 1944, downloading my rugby photos, including one of Kilmarnock team 46-47, I note that I appear in three consecutive pictures. My question is:- is this something unusual? I also have  Cadet photos and wonder if you would like copies. Dr. James Gilmour 29 Doonholm Road, Ayr, KA7 4QU DOB 15/11.1926 I attach the last of my team photos/

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hello Neil McIlvanney

I never attended K A alas I know a good few who did. Ricardo Ferguson your goalie in your Photo. Michael Dodds to the left of Ricardo. Front row, I think it's William Law 2nd from the right. We all attended Shortless Primary. Also held a couple of cups in the year 1968, League Cup & Dunlop Trophy.

Most of your football team in the former pupils/could be you/section I recall your & their faces and recall talking to some them & playing against some of you guys also. The guy next to M.Dodds he was a easy going guy. Girl wise I recall only two girls in your photos alas I never knew them anyway. Ricardo still in Killie ?  Two brothers & a sister. Micheal  in Canada ? twin sister Janice in Aus married Graham Andrews? Wullie I just dont know -  brother  Adam?  I'll throw a few names at you see if you can help. Jean Millar / Grace Plenderleaf / Derek Stevenson/ Charles George/ Brain Hill/ Andrew Drew ?/ Gordon Smith/ Ann Howie/ Ella Rankin/ Ann Hunter ?/ David Davidson ?/ Alex Rodgers ??(M) / Bruce King. My nickname was " Irish " or wee man. 1970 Brodie Cup with Shortlees Secondary. Then on to Ayr Technical College at which I had a great time also. Then the world.   I own my own small business here in Canada and do high end decoration. Here's a company that I've done work for in the past they would like myself to go to the middle East. I said no....... www.gormanstudios.com.So if you could fill in the blanks if possible. Some names just maybe not quite right. Plus a few may have gone to James Hamilton. 

P.S. I love what I do, the people I've met & I still have the passion for it just like yourself.  OH yeah ! Have you hung up your boots? Great things in this site. Congratulations to you & all involved.

Robert Ireland "Irish"

It's been almost a year since I wrote my last blog from the states and so much has happened I felt an update was necessary. I now work with the University of Chicago at the Center for Urban School Improvement. I teach PE and Wellness (Health) to over 320 students. I also moved to a wonderful new home close to downtown Chicago and more importantly close to school! The best part about my new home is the British Bar around the corner owned by a Celtic fan that shows all Scottish games so I can keep up with good old Killie, which is great no matter how bad they play!

Despite two major sports injuries this year (fractured elbow March thru May and fractured ankle August thru November) I have found two great teams to play Volleyball and Football with. So that keeps me out of trouble for the most part. I have also been lucky to be involved with the Olympic Development program for Soccer (Footie) and the University of Illinois for Volleyball development.

So all in all it was an eventful 2007 and I am hopeful 2008 will be the same minus the injuries! :)
All the best for 2008!

Elaine

Just had to say that I think the website is fantastic! I was a pupil mid to late 80's. Flicking through some of the pics was great . I never realised that Andy Taylor could juggle (I always thought he just threw things!). It's frightening how time passes so quickly. Fond memories though!

Kind regards,

Malcolm Fulton.

Goodness me, how far some people have traveled.  I left KA in 1993 with a lot of fond memories.  I studied Mechanical Engineering, graduating with a BSc then BEng(Hons), some of the teachers may need reviving now thinking, “How the heck did he do that”.  Well a lot has happened in my life in the last 14 years, but I'll not whiter on about my personal life.  I've worked for some large consultancies on major buildings throughout the world, although always based at a desk in Edinburgh .  I moved to Edinburgh after graduation and stayed there for a number of years.  Anyway I'm now living in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates , working on the world's first Ferrari Theme Park , nice work, very trying, but hard, 14 hour days fronting up the design being carried out in London .  The life out here is good, it's a work-hard-play-hard attitude and the team out here certainly knows how to do that.

I hope that everyone is well back in Killie, for those who have stayed; pride of place in my wardrobe is a Kilmarnock Football top from last season, just to remind me of home.

Graeme C Stewart

This is a really good website.  Thanks for setting it up.

As my subject says Im still living in sunny Killie in my own flat.  Since leaving school I worked in the leisure industry starting off in the Galleon then moving to north ayrshire, then to Fitness First in Killie then moving up the the big smoke of Glasgow.  I have now changed and I have been a Police Officer for a year now working the streets of Govan.  So if anyone is up at the football at Ibrox or Hampden and see me please come over and say hi, I would love to see you. 

My older Brother went to Killie Academy Russell Dowson he is now living in Boston USA with his wife Natalie and 3 children Brionni (7) and 3 year old twin boys Mackinley and Bailey.  Natalie is currently expecting their 4th child due in March 2008 (Aunty Sandra cant wait)

Thanks for all the memories of school.

Sandra D 

Thanks for e-mailing us, Sandra. It's good to hear that you've moved on from the leisure industry (I seem to recall that, in class, leisure was always your thing) and that you're now doing well, upholding the law on the streets of Govan (Neds BEWARE! It doesn't come across in the above e-mail, but Sandra has a fiery side to her character). Neil McIlvanney PS I hope you have lost none of your great accent.

 

Came across your site today and to my horror realized that I actually left KA in 1975.

I have now done many careers including H M Forces and I am now enjoying retirement.

Alan (Broads) Matthews

HAPPY 30th ANDREA!  Former pupil, Andrea Barclay, celebrated her  thirtieth birthday with family and friends at The  Jefferson Restaurant in Kilmarnock on Saturday  night.  Andrea, an outstanding member of our class of '95,  chose to do the hardest job of all (teaching) when  she moved on from K.A. and now lives and works  through on the East coast. She has been teaching  for the last six years and works at Eyemouth High  School. (And she really hasn't changed much from  the 1995 yearbook picture on the left.)

Hi Lauren "Good old Mr McIlvanney" here. In order to avoid the obvious accusations that the above e-mail was actually sent in by my mother, I have included the picture you attached, of you and your husband Michael. Thanks for getting in touch and for saying such nice things. It's good to hear that you are a busy mum of three and that you're doing well. I hope that you manage to make a start to that children's book some time soon. Keep us posted.

Hello

I'm sitting here at my computer in work in Tokyo just browsing and passing the time. Your website brings back memories. I think I spent most of my Kilmarnock Academy life in the art room which was a great place to be creative and the teachers were great just letting us hang out and do whatever we wanted or need to do (Mr Rigg, Mr Wylie and Mr McGarry). I've been in Tokyo for two years and work as a graphic designer so it all did me well in the end. Coming back to Britain in September and looking forward to it. I'll keep checking back to pass the long working hours away...

Kirsteen Wright (1988-94)

Hi

Love your idea/web. Found it when looking for something else in killie! was a former pupil. A long time ago.

Elinor Kerr

Thanks for e-mailing us, Elinor. It's always good to get positive feedback on KA Web. You'll be glad to know that I managed to find a picture of you from the good old days - taken way back when wood panelling was considered to be chic - especially in the Wee Thack. I'm not sure that you were old enough to be in a pub when this picture was taken but I think the Statute of Limitations means that you can no longer be prosecuted for drinking that Barr's shandy. Neil McIlvanney

Hi there,

Just browsing the KA web site and found this picture. Back row 3rd from the right is Duncan Mclean (now a solicitor with office in John Finnie street) Front row 2nd from left I am pretty sure is Neil McIlvanney (aka "Muckle"). I think the photo was taken around 1972/73 (3rd/4th year) Most of the faces are familiar however I cannot put names to them. perhaps if I dig out my old yearbook it would help get the old grey cells working again.

Interesting site - brought back memories.

Regards

Clifford G McMullan

Thanks for getting in touch, Clifford. Your information regarding the picture is pretty accurate. You'll be excited to find out that there is even a picture of you on our site. The whole picture is here but I have put you on the right, as you were in sixth year at school. As I haven't seen you since, I have used the latest CSI photo-ageing software to predict what you might look like now and have included that picture next to the one of you as a lad. By the way, do you still have that old, beat-up, orange Mini 1000? - you know, the one that could do 140mph.......in reverse...... Muckle

Clifford as he looked back in the old days

Clifford as he may look some thirty years on.

hey guys!

nice to see everyone is still smiling in K.A.! well im now over in oslo dancing on a cruise! workin hard for once ! hope everyone is well!

all the best

Scot Bell xx

Hi, Gerry,

just got your message and was very pleased to hear from you. My brother Sam is in Liverpool, my brother William in Monaco and my little sister Sandra in Glasgow. My mum and Dad are in Kilmarnock, but my dad is disabled. You can write to me at daviesg@laposte.net

Hope to hear from you

Gail

Hi,

Was just surfing around and came across this site and the various message boards.

My name is Peter Holt, I attended killie academy from 1982 to 1985, I lived in Kilmaurs and remember the sprints down to the bus station and the trip home fondly – a far cry from the lift to school every day kids get now…

I played a lot of rugby whilst at KA with Mr Bone (I believe) enjoying my time there immensely, from memory we had quite a good team only disrupted by coal and teachers strikes so we used to go and train/play for Kilmarnocks youth team. I can also remember jogging down to the playing fields for PE, did I not read somewhere on here they get a bus now! Is that not a contradiction, getting a bus to and from physical education…. I do have some school rugby photos from that era if anyone is interested? Would love to know where people are now and how they are doing.

After leaving the killie area I was dragged around the highlands of Scotland by my folks for a few years, before finding myself in the prosperous south of England and becoming an IT contractor with my own company. Finally decided to leave England and could not persuade my wife to live in Scotland (far to wet) so we left the uk 3 years ago and now live with our 3 children in the Algarve, Portugal where I run another computer company.

Looking back at my time in Killie, I can honestly say I loved every minute of it, its strange whilst at school we could not wait to leave, once you do leave,  you realise that old saying thrown at you as a teenager that you would roll your eyes at, was actually correct “it's the best years of your life”.

Would love to hear from anyone that remembers me, drop me a line at ptholt@rocketmail.com

Regards

Peter.

In reply to the email from Gail Davies posted Sept 2006:

" Is that the Gail Davies brainy head from Crawfurdland Road ??? If it is, then hello from Gerry Greensmith former schoolmate at both Onthank Primary and KA! Remember your mate Fiona - wonder what ever happened to her? I'm now living in Brighton and have been there for the last 28 years so I'm now more English than Scottish (but my accent's about the same so people still have trouble understanding me). I'm currently one of the few people left in Manufacturing in the UK working as an Engineering Project manager for a Semiconductor equipment manufacturer. Like you I return to Killie (what the hell happened against Morton in the cup?) annually but now in Summer rather than the winter hogmanay expedition. I can never remember other former pupils or teachers (apart from Lochie Mann because he used to give me the strap!) so I'd like to hear from you to jog my memory before the alzheimers sets in. Oh - one other thing - my sisters - who all went to KA - Anne now lives in Ashbourne Derby with her family, Janette lives in Shortlees with her hubbie and Moira lives in Bonnyton with her family.

Regards,

Gerry Greensmith

Hey there - it's me again - Janie Henstock (Morris) , In my last mail I said I hadn't been back to Scotland since 1981- well , I DID IT , I came back ! I was there in July ( yep , while the World Cup was on ) and I came back to Kilmarnock . I stayed with my auntie & uncle and my big cuz , Gordon , took me on a trip WAY down memory lane. I lived in Bellfield and I've got a great pic of me outside my old house (who shrunk it ?!!).

Needless to say I took a few pics of The Academy. Hey , when did you sell off the old building at the bottom ? My 1Dundonald D register class was in that building , and so was my biology class ( I remember a whole bunch of us listening to Adam and the Ants/Madness/The Police in there! ). There was also a wee music room in that bldg where my friend Elizabeth and I cried together the day John Lennon was murdered . Music freaks we were , I still am !

                      

I took a long long walk around Killie too - the cross , the station , the Grand Hall , the Dick ....I was SO surprised that after 25 years , I knew my way around . NOW I know what it is like to LEAVE your birthplace , and also what it is like to RETURN - both very very emotionally charged experiences. I got a wee bit of myself back again . THANKS KILLIE ! Cheerio JANIE

Hello Killie

Just sitting mucking about on the computer and put Kilmarnock Academy into google just to be nosey! My names Billy Lennon and I left back in 95 or there abouts. I now live in Derby where I have done for the past seven years with my Fiancée and 5 year old son Liam, who's a little belter. I've worked on the railway for ten years, working my way up to site manager position, so life's pretty good. Just wanted to say hello and that im impressed with the website. Noticed my wee cousin Steven has left a message, so if you see this get in touch. That goes for anyone else who wants to e-mail me! billylennon@hotmail.co.uk See ya Billy

Hello there my name is daryn bolland and i am sending this message to a mr Fyffe of the science department.if you can give him this message:hey there how you doin.if u dont remember me then i am the kid who moved to canada.hope you still remember me and if u could say a big hiya to all of my friends that were in my class.thank you and keep teaching well mr "james bond" haha. from Daryn bolland

hi there, i am a former pupil of ka, linda sewell nee fisher. left ka after my fifth year to go to edinburgh university, along with anne sime. now living in kentucky in the us for the last 30 years, working as a nurse practitioner in a rural health clinic, with master's and bachelor's degrees in nursing/science, a long way from my original interest in english and scottish literature and history! some of my co inmates from the day include elizabeth monroe, billy kay, bill campbell, frances abercromby, colin black. would love to hear from any/all of the above. i do visit family in the area about every year, will be in town first week of november. would love to know if there are any other sites or organizations, virtual or real, that re connect former pupils since i have has difficulty keeping up with most of my friends from the middle of the nowhere in the us! keep up the good work, i have tried to remember names of my former teachers and headmaster, but what comes to mind for the most part are the oftimes somewhat less than flattering nicknames! can you jog my memory...oh yeah, hislop aka the  "beak", there is a good start

Neil: this is Jamie Ross now living in Weston, Florida, a western suburb of Fort Lauderdale - almost in the Everglades. I think it was 1972 that I left KA and went over to the Dick Institute for a while. Then I ended up on Arran for a few years where I met a man from Tennessee who helped me locate my mother in the USA who emigrated there in the fifties. I played some fitba with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, but that was short lived - I was on the KA team for a while too!

Since then I went back to college and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1984 with degrees in Biology & Chemistry. I taught chemistry for a while but for the last twenty years I have been working in the personal care industry where I have held various senior technical positions. I have lived in Chattanooga and Memphis both in Tennessee, Woodstock in Connecticut and currently I am Vice President of Technical services with Solar Cosmetic Labs., Inc in Miami where we make sunscreens and creams and lotions for worldwide distribution. In fact Wal-Mart the worlds largest retailer is our number one customer. You can find products I formulated in your local ASDA store these days under the NO-AD brand of sunscreens. I hold a number of patents in this industry and often speak at conventions and shows. I am a single parent with an 18 year old daughter Heather was has just started college at Penn State in Pennsylvania.

My time at KA was not that fruitful academically, but I am rather sentimental and have recently hooked up via e-mail with two of my former classmates, Dougie Robb & John "Jock" Robertson, both still in Killie. Dougie and I were terrors at KA, he works for HP and Jock has a ophthalmologist business close to John Finney Street (sic)

However, there are a number of folks I wish I knew what happened to them, such as Jock Sim, Roy Gardener, Craig Kilpatrick, John Metcalf, Susan Templeton, Carol Moody and many others but most of all David Stewart who lived in Fenwick - and I lived in Stewarton. David's father ran a small tool & die shop either in Fenwick or Killie I can't remember which and he was rather well off - with a yacht moored at Fairlie that we used to take over to Milport or Cumbrae. David spent some time in Spain, but I think he wanted to head for the USA and particularly NY but I have not been in touch with him since I left Stewarton in the mid 1970's.

During my tenure I remember the HM as Mr. Hislop and a Mr. Ragg was his assistant I believe. Mr. Torrance was the Art Teacher and Mr. Beattie taught french(?). Other faces I can see but the names are gone - for now. 

There is a picture of the KA football team in the "It could be you" section of which I have an almost identical version taken probably one year later with me in the line up. I recognize the faces and I know some of the first names but other than that I'm foggy.

Would love to hear from some of the folks from my era - in fact the name Neil McIllvaney is rather familiar? Did you attend KA and if so when?

All the best,

Jamie S. Ross

hey all u guys in killie am know living in hamilton scotland and have been for over a year know and can u let all the staff know that i have stopped smoking hoping to start a new job soon bye for know

David

Sir Just a wee message to let you know that your website and time is appreciated although by the sounds of your memo on the site you are not being appreciated enough for your time effort. I first visited the website a few years ago and there were still pictures of pupils in the year above me on it! So no-one seemed to be taking any interest in it. My second visit to the website was through total boredom and I was very surprised to find it up to date and interesting. I have now visited it a few times just to take a nosey and see what's happening at my old school. So I felt quite annoyed to see that all your OWN time and effort had been taken for granted by some people at the school! I hope that any former pupils, teachers or nosey people like me will follow me and leave a message to let Mr McIlvanney know that his time, effort and commitment to the website is appreciated by many! Cheers Sir Your old cheeky pupil Kara Ross! Hope the spelling, punctuation and grammar are ok if not please let me know haha!! Once again cheers sir!

Hi, just came across your website. Excellent. I attended KA from 1979-1984. First reg teacher was Mrs Millar, PE,though she was a miss at that point and i can't remember her maiden name. Was in Craigie which was notoriously bad in sport much to my disgust as i was a keen netball, volleyball player and sprinter. Can remember the "2 Suzannes"" ( Powell and Patterson) although they were the year above me and i wonder if the Craig Hanlon, who was the first to write to you, was the same boy i went to the Kilmarnock Harriers with? Can remember Miss Carey, the French teacher, who was terrifying, and Mrs Krestoff for history, who missed our ears by millimetres with the chalk duster if we didn't pay attention in class! Also memories of Mr McDonald, Crooks, Dick and Dickson and Miss McCollum, Mrs Patterson (fabulous teacher) and a crazy music teacher called Mr Walker ( i think). Dr Hamilton for science, strange fella, and a pink and black outfitted PE teacher either Bone or Park?  We had a wild "educational" history trip to France and Belgium in '81 or '82 and i recall Mr Dick being really exasparated with us on a daily basis! Not good for his BP and neither was his heavy smoking!  I am still living in Killie and working as a staff nurse tho' i trained in Paisley and lived there for about 6 years.  Ah, the heady heights! I have 2 children, 18 and 14 years. My daughter still attends the school. Would love to see some photos of that time as long as i'm not in them!  I thoroughly enjoyed my time at KA although i understand the "sheds" and the "dungeon" are no longer in existence, thank God, and i hope the discos are better!

Hey guys,

Yea u better read it over twice because i know u wont believe its me. Pamela Lowe the trouble maker. Ha. Well since i left school in 2003 i have been working like a slave in all sorts of jobs, trying 2make up my mind what i actually want 2do. None really worth writing home about. Finally started new job doing home care which i am loving every minute of. I know u cant believe it me a caring person. Well just proves how much i have changed.

I want 2apologise 2 all the teachers lives i made a living hell through the yrs, Mr Murdoch, Mr Ramsay, Mr Howie, Mr Partridge, Mr Cowan, Mr Ferguson, Mr Reid, Mrs Auld(English) etc..... Too many 2mention. Ha. Guys i really am sorry. Just didnt know wen 2keep my mouth shut, did i? Think i should have received an award 4the most conduct card trips. Do u still do the conduct card thing or has it changed?

I actually did enjoy school hard 2belive i know bt u had nothing 2worry about. Then u leave and your left on your own in the big bad wrld. Seems so much longer than 3yrs ago i left school. Cant believe how fast time is going. Maybe am just getting old. Ha. Anyway, hope everyones well and my sincere apologies 2 every1 4my attitude.

Pamela Lowe 

fell upon your website ... thought I'd get in touch My maiden name is Gail Davies and I was at Kilmarnock Academy in the 1960's, a long time ago ....

I am now teaching English in a catering college in France, near Vichy. Would be glad to get in touch with anybody who knows me, or any of your present teachers who would like to establish contact with our pupils. I come back to Kilmarnock regularly.

hope to hear from you

Gail Davies (now Constentias)

Hi

Just bored on comp lookin at old school stuff! u must remember me STEVEN LENNON! how are things at the school? hope u av a good football team n hopefully got new strips rather than the old maroon things i had 2 play in lol! oh yea and could u tell Mrs Thompson thanx 4 everything in english bcoz neva got chance 2 say bye b4 i left! ok thanx!!!!

bye

Steven Lennon

Hey,

my name is Karen Wilson, I hope someone remembers me??!! I attended Killie from 1995-2000, I was a little horror at school but I can say there were a lot worse than me!! I wouldnt change a thing about going to the Killie Academy, best years of my young life!

Hope all the teachers I annoyed the hell out of are doin good!!

Karen

I just found this very interesting website and it seemed a good opportunity to reconnect with old friends.  I was at the Academy from 1956-1959. At the time Wm McIntyre was the Rector and some of the teachers I recall are Sheila Coull (French), Mrs Lambie (Science) Miss Bell (Geography), Mr Monnickendam and "Buster McCormack (both Math) and Lodwick (Music).    Thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It was a wonderful school and produced many  excellent scholars...and athletes.   

I am now a Professor in the Law Faculty at U.W.O. ("Western") which is located in London, Ontario.  Prior to coming here in 1974 I was a lecturer in the Faculty of Laws, University College, London, England.   I've written quite a bit in the Family Law and Criminal Law areas but, after 41 years of teaching, am going to "pack it in" and retire next year.   Would love to hear from anyone who was at the Academy in the late fifties - and I'd also like to see some photos from that era (unfortunately I have mislaid my old copies of the "Goldberry").  

Winnie Holland (formerly Hamilton).

I just came across the Kilmarnock Academy web page.

My name is Alistair Fraser, a former pupil of KA, 1978-1984.

After graduating Paisley Technical College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering I emigrated to the USA in 1990. I live in New York (90 minutes north of The City), with my wife and two kids.

Hi Everyone-

What a great site! I was an exchange student at Kilmarnock Academy in the fall 1990, I lived with the McCrae's on Kay Park Crescent. I loved my time in Scotland and hope to bring my family there someday. I still have my Kilmarnock sweatshirt! High school in Scotland is very different than in the States!

I still live in New Jersey very close to the beach. I live about an hour south of New York. I have been married for ten years, and I have a daughter Brooke and a new baby boy Jack! I have a Master's degree in Library Science and manage a library in Ocean County. I would love to hear from you or come visit me at the beach!

Heather Farrell Andolsen

Hey

I left school in 1999, 7 years ago - wow time has flown by.  After leaving school I went to Auchincruive and got 2.1 Hons in countryside management.  I have now moved to Cape Cod in MA, USA and work at a YMCA Outdoor Education/Summer Camp.  It really is the best job in the world. 

I love the new website - far better than any we attempted to make when I was at school.  I have really random memories of school, the most embarrassing of all time was probably the Boyzone poem which you posted on your wall...  I can't say school was the best time off my life but I have an amazing friend from school who I will know for the rest of my life, and some really funny times to look back on, so it wasn't all bad. 

I really hope everything is going well for Kilmarnock Academy and if your ever passing the Cape feel free to stop by!

Laura

I am trying to gain information on one of your former pupils and am wondering if you have records going back to the 1920's. The person's name was Elias Cuthbert of Kelwinning, born 17th April 1912, who attended the Academy from 19/4/24 to 20/6 (I believe 1927) but the copy I have is indistinct.  The family emigrated to New Zealand and I am trying to trace any surviving members of the family, as Elias gave something to my brother when he was serving with Bomber Command in East Anglia during WW2, and we would now like to return this object to Elias's family.  We believe he had two younger brothers, but are having trouble tracing them in NZ and wonder if you have anything in your archives which might help. I realise that this is all a long time ago, but would be grateful for anything you may be able to find.

Regards,

Patricia M. King

Hello
My name is Russell Dowson and I attended Kilmarnock Academy between 1988 and 1993 – Since then I have gotten my BA in Hospitality Management and am now a Director with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide based in Boston , MA – USA .  I married my wife Natalie who attended the Grange Academy – we now have 3 children Brionni (6) and twin boys Mackinley and Bailey (2). 

Great to see you have a new website – I'll check back and hopefully will see some old friends…

Russell

Well hello,

I cant believe that Kilmarnock Academy has finally gotten a cool website, well done. I finished school at Kilmarnock Academy just a few short years ago, 2003. Im sure a few of you will probably remember me, unfortunately im sure, Alison Macmillan? The one that always got in detention or that had an amazing talent for getting conduct cards?

I left Kilmarnock academy and just 2 months later arrived in London, where i still live. I have just graduated from London College of Fashion where i have a BA Hons in specialist make-up for the performing arts. Basically im a make-up artist that does the things like Lord of the rings stuff or star wars, bit weird but i love it. I now work around London, BBC, ITV etc.....

I also own my own production company, im putting on a show in London next year but im coming home. I wanted to bring my work back to Kilmarnock, so i will keep you updated and tell you when we will be at the Palace theatre. It would be great if my old school could come and watch a former pupil's play. I cant believe it has only been three years since i left school, its seems so much longer. I adored going to Kilmarnock Academy, it was fun all year round, mainly because i never really paid attention in class but nether the less i loved it. I was always the girl who wanted to go to music and art and NEVER went to maths or english.

But it paid off having good teachers in my fav subjects because im now as happy as ever because of them. I wish all my old teachers, especially Mr Ramsay all the best in the world. Im coming home so i will hopefully all see you at the theatre.

Yours always

Alison Macmillan (1999 - 2003)

I was browsing through Google Images, putting in names of folk I used to know. I plugged in Stewart Conn and up came Kilmarnock Academy!! How interesting! Then I checked out former pupils in New Zealand...not a skerrit. So please pop me in. Janet Smith (currently Williamson) Joined in 1948 2nd Year and left 1952 6th year went on to Glasgow School of Art and eventually became a Theatre Designer. Wish I could have told Johnny Lyle, my art teacher, of my eventual sucess as a University Lecturer in Art & Design. He would have been surprised. Happy to chat to anyone who remembers this ancient time at the Academy, and how has life treated you??

Cheers Janet

Dear Sir/Madam:

I was interested to find your very impressive Kilmarnock Academy website by accident and wish to register as a former pupil:

Name: Dr Gordon F Mutch
Kilmarnock Academy: 1957-1963
Profile: see below

"I left Kilmarnock Academy shortly after taking the Highers in my 6th Year and went to Norway to cut down trees for a spell before going to College. I loved the outdoor life but decided against Forestry as a career.

After graduating from Paisley Tech. (HND in Mech/Prod Eng) in 1967 and UMIST (M.Sc.) in 1970, I have been living mostly in Canada since 1971 although I also worked in the US and France for a period of six years.

Since graduating from McMaster University (Ph.D.) in Hamilton, Ontario in 1975 I have been working as a consulting engineer throughout the world and am still very active.

I am currently Vice President, Business Development, Engineering and Transportation for Bodycote Materials Testing Americas located in Mississauga, Ontario. I am beginning to think about retirement but have too much fun at work to actually do it.

Happily married for 34 years to Magda, who I met in Manchester while studying at UMIST , we have two grown up "kids", David (30) and Julie (26) and live in Oakville, Ontario. Magda who has a Maitrise es Lettres from the Sorbonne is currently Manager of Corporate Communications at Nestle in Toronto. While working (not coincidentally) for Nestle in Switzerland David recently got his Ph.D. from the University of Lausanne for a thesis on nutrigenomics and is moving to France to continue his post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Hotel Dieu in Paris. Julie is currently taking a post graduate course on Orthotics and Prosthetics at Sunnyside Hospital in Toronto and will commence her Orthotics internship in Calgary, Alberta, this summer.

Besides my family and my work, my passions in life are rugby, gardening, classical music (especially opera), good food and wine with a newly developed interest in cooking in preparation for my eventual retirement."

I look forward to keeping in touch with the "Old School" in the future via this website.

Sincerely Gordon Mutch

  KA Worldwide - Ontario, Canada

I see you are inviting former pupils to make their presence known in various locations. Here are mine:

Name: Edgar D Wilson

Years 1948-1953

Staff : Mr. (Major) Ironside Math;Mr. San Aitken French; Col Farra r History; Mr. Adams, English, Miss White, Geography; Dr. Klavein, German, Mr Wm (Big Bill) Craig, Latin;

Played Rugby, Cricket for school teams at home and away.

member Kilmarnock Academy Cadet Corps. (Is this disbanded now?)

Drummer in pipe band.

After leaving school in 1948 I joined the Staff of the North of Scotland Bank Ltd. serving at The Cross, Kilmarnock and branches in Glasgow, Cumnock and Auchinleck before transferring to the Prestwick Airport Branch.

Eventually I was recruited by The Royal Bank of Canada and served with them in Western Canada and in the West Indies.

Entered the United States in 1957 and was employed by banks in Philadelphia, Boston and Detroit returning to manage the London Branch of City National Bank of Detroit from 1973 - 77. Returning to the USA I moved to Texas in 1980 and saw service with First International Bank, Capital Bank, which became MBank. I then was recruited by Banco di Roma but found my last position before retiring as VP and Representative of The Royal Bank of Scotland for the 12 Southern US States.

Now retired and living in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Still in good health (for the shape I'm in) and desiring to be in touch with former pupils of my vintage, if there are any left.

I consider that I received an educational experience second to none whole I was a boy at the Academy. I considered it a privilege to attend the school, earning my place there through achievments at Kilmarnock Grammar School.

I appreciate your web page and thank you.

Ed Wilson

        KA Worldwide - Arkansas, USA

Hi there!

I enjoyed looking at all the photos and info of what my old school's been up to! I miss being at school!!! And can I just say to today's pupils DON'T GIVE MR ROBERTSON A HARD TIME!!! He was my favourite teacher! I had him for music the whole way through secondary and he's actually a really nice guy (and can be quite a good laugh!) I thought he was really cool but don't tell him I said that! Alao, I'm glad to see Mr Ramsey hasn't let the hair-do slide! Are Mr Reid and Mr McIlvanney still trying to beat each other to the staff room????   

Well, I'm currently studying Law at college in Glasgow. Only another 6 years to go! Good fun though! Great fun being a skint student! I have to say it's a good course to do and college is so much different from school. I would never have got where I am now if it wasn't for all those wonderful teachers!!! So, thank you all.   

Anyways, got an exam to study for so better go. Just had to say hello and thanks to all my former teachers. Hope everyone's well and happy. Take Care,

Lots of love,

Lesley Anne Campbell xxx

Hello to my favourite school !

My name is Janie Henstock ( nee Morris ) . I live in Johannesburg , South Africa and run my own bookkeeping business . I married to a South African and we have two sons ( aged 10 & 8 ) . My family  emigrated to SA in mid-1981 . I was so amazed while "surfing the web" to find your web-site - then I saw my old English teacher , Mr Dickson's picture - I was taken back 25 years to when I was in my first year at "The Academy" .  

I have no hesitation in saying my time at The Academy was my favourite school year . My big cousin , Gordon Ghee , was already there as a prefect when I started my first year in 1980 . He teased me no end about what was going to happen on my first day !

Back then I was totally consumed by my music - I played violin ( still do occassionally ) . That year , The Academy school orchestra won at the Ayrshire Music Festival for best school orchestra  . We were quite a team - we practiced and practiced - we were playing music that WE loved , not the serious classical music that we all had been trained on . The teacher who led us was full of enthusiasm and that filtered straight through to the kids . We had an absolute ball !  I remember Susan White - who had been my best friend since I was 4 , Elizabeth Mc ....... who played the flute , Ian Massey who was first violinist , Irvine McLevy who sat next to Ian , and also a very cute boy who played the clarinet - cant remember his name though ! . Susan , Irvine and I also belonged to the Kilwinning Youth Orchestra - the bus would come and fetch us from the Bellfield roundabout on a Sunday .  I was also in the choir - I remember auditioning in the old music room in the old building - I had to sing a full scale in front of hundreds of kids ! At Christmas , we sang carols in the main street of Kilmarnock , and we visited some old folks as well .

Other wee things I remember - those AWFUL maroon gym nickers - I was a bit chubby so getting into those things was terribly embarassing ! 

I was "good" at school .......... - I got eight "A's" , and three "B's" that year . This report , as well as my primary school record , helped me get into one of the best schools in South Africa - Pretoria High School for Girls . 

I've STILL got my school magazine from 1981 - I'm far too sentimental !

Anyway , must get back to work ..................

Bye for now

JANIE HENSTOCK ( nee MORRIS )

 KA Worldwide - South Africa

Hey people...

I'm Angela Brown AKA Big Burd (haha). I was in Kilmarnock Academy from '92' till '96'. I ran around  with people like Nancy-Lee Wright, Donna Seton, Vicki Caldwell, MaryEllen Austin, Stacey Austin etc i cant think of everyone, its been so long. Well after i left Killie Academy i came to the States for 10 weeks in July to stay with some people i used to baby sit for called the Santana's, they lived in Shortlees. Then after that i went back and fourth from the States to Killie, i would stay in New York for 6 months then go back to Killie for 3 weeks or sometimes less then go back to New York, i did that for 3 yrs. Then i met a guy from Glasgow and i got engaged and had a wee boy his name is Gary after his dad.....he is going to be 6 in March. I was with him for 4 yrs then we decided to come back to New York and live for good.......well i'm still here but he's not......i kicked him out of my life, but it's all for the better.

So now i'm still living it up in New York, Long Island, Lynbrook with my wee boy. I have an Apartment with my sister Catherine...well she's not my blood sister but we have known each other forever....i used to babysit her haha. I'm a Nurse here in the States and i'm also a Office Manager for my family's company so i'm doing pretty good for myself, i love it here. I haven't been back in Killie since i came here in Feb 2002, but i'm going back soon for a holiday to see all my family, my mum and dad and my brother and sisters still all live in Killie.....you will probably know my wee sis Janette Brown if you know me....she a year younger than me. Well i hope everyone is doing good....god i miss the auld school days, wow we had so much fun, well when i was there HaHa. I  was one of these pupils that never went to school, always getting into trouble, but i had fun. (hehe). Anyone that remembers me you can email me longnluvley@aol.com . Mon the Teddy Bears!!! RFC

Angela

Follow-up e-mail 15.02.06
I was wondering if u are putting up pictures of the school yrs....I would love to see my school picture. . I already posted my long message on the board. Do u know how long it takes to actually go on it? thank u

I must echo the congratulations on the new website, it is fantastic! Hopefully we will be able to build up the former pupil inf