LIKE butter wouldn’t melt… these little lads are pictured in 1958 taking part in their school’s war memorial service. With their smart shoes and blazers they are being very well-behaved and facing frontwards – except for a cheeky few who seem to have spotted the camera. The service was taking place in the High School of Glasgow, first established way back in 1124 as the ‘Choir School’ of the Glasgow Cathedral. Later becoming known as the Glasgow Grammar School, it moved to new premises in John Street in the Merchant City, before being renamed again as The High School of Glasgow.

The Glasgow High School for Girls was then founded in 1894, and the two schools were run separately before eventually being merged at their new home in Anniesland in 1977. The school can count two 20th century Prime Ministers among its alumni – Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Bonar Law – although the latter only served for a year and is often referred to as the ‘unknown Prime Minister’.

War memorial services, like the one seen here, remain an important part of the school’s history, owing both to their links to the cathedral and their wish to honour pupils lost in service. Nearly five hundred former pupils were killed fighting in the First World War and a further 150 lost their lives in the Second World War. Perhaps the importance of the occasion has been understood by these youngsters – explaining their (mostly) impeccable behaviour.