Which school did you go to and when?
Dowanhill Primary School, Glasgow, 1953 to 1960; Hyndland Prep School, 1960 to 1961; and Hyndland Secondary, 1961 to 1967.
Top teacher?
At Dowanhill Miss Don was my favourite, she brought the best out of me in everything, especially art. I am eternally grateful to her. At Hyndland Bill Birnie was the best art teacher around and a great painter. The year I got into Glasgow School of Art in 1967 Bill had six or seven students go to GSA.
Were you hard-working or hard work?
I was extremely hard-working at the subjects I liked. In other subjects I was probably hard work. Latin went right over my head, although I did spend time in the Latin class drawing and doodling. I came up with the sobriquet Jolomo on my Latin jotter in 1962 - so thanks, Hyndland Latin class!
First team for everything or last to be picked?
First for most things but not footie.
Belted, birched or bawled out?
I was belted constantly in primary and early secondary which made me hate school at times. I was a terrible daydreamer, but I fail to see why dreaming of being an artist should require being belted.
Sad to say bye or longing to leg it?
A bit of both. I genuinely loved school, but I had made up my mind at age eight that I was going to GSA and I was desperate to go.
What was your worst, or best, year?
Worst was S2 as I was really ill with bronchitis so had lots of catching up to do. Best was S6, preparing my GSA entrance portfolio with Bill Birnie and Jess Harper, another great teacher.
What do you wish they taught now?
More sport. We got lots of it nearly every day.
Boys on tour - what was the best school trip you ever had?
I went three summers in a row to Castle Toward on the art course. It was fabulous, and probably gave me the love I have for painting the Scottish landscape.
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