The property developer who transformed his old Rutherglen school into flats is organising a reunion of fellow former pupils to mark 50 years since its closure.
David Lang bought the former Rutherglen Academy B-listed building in 2001 after it was put up for sale by South Lanarkshire Council.
His firm, Laurieston Developments Ltd, redeveloped the iconic Melrose Academy structure into 36 flats, as well as building around 60 new homes on the site.
The former Stonelaw Public School was built in 1886 and became Rutherglen Academy in 1926.
The school, of which 69-year-old David has fond memories, closed in 1970.
Around 100 former pupils, including those who travelled from as far afield as the USA and the south of England, attended the first reunion of former pupils in 2018, organised by David and sister Connie Young, 67.
To mark the milestone year of its closure, they have launched another quest to track down former pupils to honour its rich history.
The pair and other members of the reunion organising committee have distributed posters among libraries, community hubs and churches in the Rutherglen area in a bid to trace those who’d like to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about their school days.
Although the previous reunion was originally planned for those like David, who attended the school between 1965 and 1970, it was soon extended to all former pupils due to the high level of interest – even a man in his 90s was among those who attended.
He was a pupil in the 1940s and recalled how Rutherglen Academy was closed for a period during the war after a stray bomb landed on its playing fields.
“A high percentage of the people who were there had not met their former school friends for the best part of 50 years,” said David.
Among the guests at the 2018 bash , which raised £600 for Stonelaw High funds, were 10 teachers, including maths teacher Anne Stoddard.
David, who has six grandchildren, remembers being on the receiving end of her much used leather strap.
At this year’s event to mark the 50th anniversary since the school closed, members of the school’s famous ballads club will again perform and get the crowd involved in a sing-along.
Although more than 40 former pupils have already signed up for the bash on March 6 in Rutherglen Town Hall, David and Connie are again coming up against hurdles when trying to track down women who married and changed their names.
The school had many famous sons, notably Stan Laurel, artist Stephen Campbell, industrialist Jim McColl and former Ultravox frontman, Midge Ure, who was in Connie’s class.
English teacher Norman Buchan went on to become a cabinet minister in a Labour Government.
David’s fondest memories are of his sporting achievements at the school, which he left in fifth year to become a police cadet – an opportunity he hoped would allow him to continue his education as well as pursue his love of athletics.
He left the police force at the age of 25 and worked up the ranks to become regional manager for the West of Scotland with Bradford and Bingley.
After establishing himself as a self-employed financial adviser, David launched his property development company that was to go on to transform his old school building.
Due to his love of sports at school, he even salvaged the Oragon pine floor of the Academy’s gymnasium, date stamped 1914, which he had installed in his former home in Glasgow’s West End.
It took 18 months to redevelop the building.
His father-in-law, David Cochrane, was the project’s civil and structural engineer.
David attended the 2018 reunion, and has already reserved a ticket for this year’s celebration.
“A high percentage of people who went to the Academy still live in the Burgh and the Burnside area, but wouldn’t recognise each other and you’d pass them in the street,” said David.
“It will be most interesting to find out what people have done with their lives and where they ended up.”
Tickets for March 6 need to be booked through the Eventbrite website at www.eventbrite.co.uk Rutherglen Academy 50th Anniversary Reunion.
Contact david.lang5@ntlworld.com or connieyoung@ntlworld.com for more details or through the Rutherglen Academy reunion website.
