Academy plaque is unveiled by school
Ceremony after pupils’crowdfunding campaign
A special plaque to mark the city centre spot where Perth Academy once stood was officially unveiled earlier this week.
For years the former academy building on Rose Terrace has gone largely unnoticed, with many unaware the school was once housed their from 1807 to 1932.
Over the past year, history pupils, along with former technical teacher Dave Dykes and David MacLehose from Perth Civic Trust, have been running a crowdfunding campaign to get a commemorative plaque put up on the outside wall of the building.
And this week this vision was realised, with the plaque being officially unveiled before the
Catherine Olive Goodwin, whose father attended Perth Academy before signing up to fight in the First World War, attended the ceremony with daughter Kirsty and grand-daughter Vicky Goodwin, who is in her last year at Perth Academy school’s annual prize-giving ceremony on Wednesday.
At the ceremony, Provost Dennis Melloy said: “I am delighted to have been asked to unveil this wonderful plaque to commemorate one of Perth’s most distinctive buildings.
“This building housed Perth Academy for 125 years but was unrecorded for passers-by until it was identified by history pupils as Perth Academy last year who took an interest in it and launched a crowdfunding campaign to enable them to raise enough money to remedy this.
“They set out to raise £450 but excelled and raised more than £500. This plaque is the result of their successful fundraising campaign.”
He continued: “It is extremely fitting that former pupils and staff of Perth Academy have been invited to be involved in this dedication before we move on to the school’s end of year prize giving.
“Once again thank you for the privilege of being invited to be a part of this - I could not be prouder of our young people in Perth and Kinross and this is a perfect example of the excellent and selfless work they do to make Perth and Kinross a better place.
“This is after all the Year of Young People.”
The plaque explains the history of the building, and says it is dedicated to former pupils and staff who lost their lives during the First World War, 1914-1918.
The inscription reads: “This A-listed building designed by architect Sir Robert Reid was the site of Perth Academy form 1807 until 1932 when the academy moved to Viewlands.
“This plaque is dedicated to pupils and staff who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918.”
After the ceremony, the staff and pupils walked from Rose Terrace to Perth Concert Hall for the school’s annual prize giving.
From left, Heather Beer, Perth Academy rector Johnny Lothian, Isla Barlow, Corey Coutts, Rachel Fallon, Dave Dykes, Allie MacLeod, Provost Dennis Melloy, David MacLehose and school history teacher Laura Hobson Rector Johnny Lothian and Provost Dennis Melloy unveil the new plaque