Rockie remembered

“Douglas Johnston’s photograph and reminiscences of Rockwell Primary got me going,” emails a former Dundee resident.

“I was not in that class, but I knew Ron Gonnella well. We both shared the same violin teacher, Routledge Bell, and both played in his orchestra, his concerts and the 47th Boys’ Brigade orchestra.

“Ron went on to play professionally and made a great success of it, even having his own television programme for a time. He was best man at our wedding.

“Miss Elder I knew too, although she did not teach me. I was taught in my senior years at Rockwell by Mr Milne, an excellent teacher who went on to become headmaster of Hawkhill Primary.

“Mr Milne was generally even-tempered and I rarely fell foul of him, but, at the end of one school day, when he had lined our class up outside his classroom, ready to leave after he had locked up, I had the misfortune to turn round as Miss Elder passed in the corridor. The schoolbag on my back caught the cup of liquid she was carrying and caused her to spill some.

“The commotion brought Mr Milne to the door and he was livid that one of his class should have upset Miss Elder – and her cup! I was so horrified at what I had done, I was speechless.

“Mr Milne seemed to think this was cheek and insisted that I apologise to Miss Elder. I was so taken aback, as, to a wee boy, it had all been an accident, that I took some time to apologise, while Miss Elder kept assuring Mr Milne that an apology was not necessary. I was surprised I was not belted!

“Miss Elder was well known for her coat worn as a cloak and her habit of wandering back to her classroom after four with her cuppa. I think she took a break before tutoring selected pupils in preparation for the Dundee High School bursary competition. It needed special preparation.

“If you were not in her class, you did not receive it. I always thought that was unfair, as the High School bursary examination was specialised, not at all like the old qualifying examination for selection for secondary education. Only English, arithmetic and an intelligence test were required and we were all prepared for the former in primary school.”