Sadness at demolition of old primary school

FORMER pupils of a Dundee primary school have told of their sadness after the building was knocked down by the council.

Demolition work got under way this week at Hillside Primary School in Menzieshill.

The school closed last summer as pupils from there and Gowriehill moved to the new Tayview campus.

The council plans to eventually build homes on the site.

Gowriehill, which is also i n Menzieshill, has already been razed.

Shona Grant, who attended Hillside from 1997 until 2004, said: “There is a bit of sadness.

“I made some great friends when I was there. I had some good exepriences.”

Shona added that she supported plans to build homes on the site as it meant the land would be put to good use.

Jayne Mays, 25, who also attended Hillside, said: “I’ve got loads of happy memories of being at school.

“It was a fantastic school with fantastic staff.

“That inspired me to start teaching as well.”

The school, which had been open since 1963, closed its doors for the final time on June 29 last year.

An open day was held to enable former pupils to visit the school one last time.

Tayview Primary is situated on the site of the old Balgay Court multis.

Hannah McMillan, acting head teacher at Tayview, spoke last year about having mixed feelings at the closure of the other primary schools.

She said: “While we have a lovely new school, I am sure it will be a very sad day for many when the old schools close. “Many former pupils and staff will have loads of happy memories of their days at the schools.” The Hillside site is one of 19 earmarked for housing by the council. The majority of them are in the North East, Strathmartine and Lochee wards. They include Charleston, St Vincent’s and St Matthew’s primaries A total of 24 former school sites are lying vacant across the city, with plans for the other five sites still to be revealed by the local authority.

Demolition crews have moved on to the site of the former Hillside Primary School, pictured inset left.