Events to mark milestone
McLaren High School has kicked off its 125th anniversary celebrations with a number of events involving current and former pupils and past and present staff.
On Thursday, September 7, the school’s annual awards ceremony was held in Callander Kirk, beginning in style with a stirring march by McLaren High Pipe Band.
Callum Hall, the outgoing Head Boy who was instrumental in setting up the award-winning band, promoted Rebecca More to the rank of Pipe Major and the band will continue to grow under her stewardship.
Headmaster Marc Fleming gave an address linking McLaren’s illustrious heritage with the current and future successes of the pupils and this was followed by a performance by Junior Music Festival winner Liam Rennie on piano and vocals.
The keynote address was given by Stirling Provost Christine Simpson who drew parallels between the charity work conducted by Stirling Council and the work done by the pupils of McLaren High who give so freely of their time.
Hazel Imrie and Eve Scott enlivened the evening with ensemble pieces on the fiddle before the main prizegiving began.
This year three former headteachers – May Sweeney, Peter Martin and Hugh Mathie – presented junior pupils with ORCA awards (Order, Respect, Care and Achievement) in recognition of their continued positive attitude to supporting others.
Dux Ludorum was won by sporting champions Charlotte Brodie and Jamie Nixon, while Dillon McFarlane, Niamh Gillespie and Eve Scott shared the War Memorial Prize, which is given in recognition of those who go out of their way to support others in the community.
The Parents’ Teacher Association (PTA) created a special recognition award for the Cancer Research funding which Poppy McMahon, Holly Bowen, Millie Jenkins and Jessica Orr-Ewing are involved in, with Poppy running in the Race for Life every year since the age of three.
The awards culminated in Carmen Clive winning the Dux Medal having achieved “A Band 1” in all of her Highers.
After the installation of the new top team of Head and Deputy Head Boy/Girl and House Captains, part of the cast of Les Miserables sang the The People’s Song.
The official part of the evening drew to a close with outgoing Head Boy and Head Girl Callum Hall and Finn Manders encouraging pupils to make the most of the opportunities they have whilst at McLaren.
Anniversary celebrations continued on Saturday when the annual former pupils’ lunch and an afternoon tea for current and former staff took place, including two former teachers who had travelled from Australia.
Members of the wider school community attended a barbecue before current pupils joined former students at a lively and energetic ceilidh in the evening with music provided by former pupil Kirsty Fingland and friends in the Glasgow Vet Ceilidh Band.
The next event is a 125th themed interhouse competition in school for pupils and staff on Friday,