‘After the disco we would go to the chippy’
MY SCHOOL: St Mary’s Primary in Maryhill. I went there in the 70s. It was right on Maryhill Road, so there was always something happening, which created plenty of drama in the playground.
FAVOURITE TEACHER: Mrs Paterson was everyone’s favourite – she was big and cuddly and so lovely. She was like mummy bear to us all – unlike the strict, serious and narky primary one teacher I had (whose name I should not reveal).
SCHOOL DINNERS, PACKED LUNCH OR HOME? In primary one I always wanted to go home. I hated being away from my parents. That changed over time and I mostly had packed lunches. I found the lumpy mash and custard at school dinners quite intriguing though, as I rarely had it. Oh, and spaghetti pie – remember that dry delicacy? As we got older we were allowed to go to the shops across the road. My favourite was getting a cream doughnut from the bakery. After the school discos we would all pile in to the chippy across the road for a roll and fritter.
FAVOURITE SUBJECT: In primary school it was probably English. I loved learning how to spell and writing stories – and sometimes performing them as puppet shows. I also loved all the project work, where you teamed up with your classmates to make something. I realise I have carried that on – that’s kind of what we do when we make theatre too. At high school I loved geography – I have a love of maps and got a bit geeky about them in my teenage years. For my 13th birthday I asked for a street map of Glasgow. What a spod.
LEAST FAVOURITE SUBJECT: Physics. I just didn’t get it. And my teacher was a bit like Mr Twit with strange things growing in his beard.
MY BEST FRIEND AT SCHOOL: My next door neighbour, Karen Daniels, was one of my best friends. We could wave to each other from our beds – and did every time we got a mention on the phone-in radio programme that we listened to every night. We are still in touch, mostly through social media. She’s an amazing fundraiser living in Argyll.
IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT MY SCHOOLDAYS…
I would let Alison Burke beat me in the 200m race. It was early in first year. We were both the fastest
runners in our primary schools. She had a trainer and was out practising on the track every day. I just turned up, ran...and won. However, being the underdog did not pay off. My friends felt I was showing off, dropped my jacket and walked away without cheering.