Kilmahog

McLaren High School,Callander

I was eight years old when I became a pupil at McLaren High School. The Rector was a fine gentleman who wore a tail coat and striped trousers. His name was Mr Leckie. We also had a janitor who wore a uniform and had an impressive row of WW1 medals. My time there was pleasant, I was not an outstanding pupil but I struggled along! Callander was a very pleasant town and the jumping off spot to The Trossachs which was well known for the Lochs and scenery. Today, it is hard to remember what it was like, so great have been the changes, and as far as McLaren High is concerned, there is now a new,very large building and a large pupil population. I have returned once to attend a Former Pupil Reunion, but it is not the same and there are fewer and fewer of us remaining from the 'forties'.

Invertrossachs.

My grandfather, Norman Cockburn, worked on the estate of Invertrossachs for Sir James and Lady Wilson. Grandpa had three children, Mary, Jessie & Norman. They all attended McClaren High School. My grandmother Jane is buried in the "new cemetery" on the outskirts of town. I have so many childhood memories of Callander. I was brought up in Glasgow, but we always took Sunday drives to Callander. After moving to the USA, I visited Scotland many times and introduced my family to Callander and Invertrossachs. My Aunt Mary had her 80th birthday and I brought her to Invertrossachs to stay overnight at the "big house" which had become a hotel. Oh, we have such fond memories of Callander.

Temperance Hotel c1915
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The name of the hotel was The Munro Hotel, after the owner who built it. It's now called The Munro Inn.

A Child's Paradise

Temperance Hotel c1915
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I stayed here when I was nine. I have fond memories of it, together with the hotel dog who fell in love with me - we would go for walks across the luscious green fields together.

Across the road was the railway station where I met every train and there were loads of local places of interest - the Falls of Leny, Oban, Rob Roy's grave at Balquidder.
And it was 56 years ago!

Memories of A 7 Year Old to A 16 Year Old - 1937 to 1946

We arrived from Sorbie on a cold and wet November afternoon in 1937. The house was empty as our furniture had not yet arrived. However within the hour the lorry (truck) that contained our belongings arrived from Sorbie with my brother as well, who had gone along as a helper. My mother was horrified at the condition of the house and was near to tears, but the truck was unloaded, furniture and belongings were placed and fires were lit. We slept rough that night. The following day my father went to see the Manager of the Mill with a list of repairs that were in need of immediate attention and action was promised. True to his word, the following day, workmen descended on the house and were in and out, leaving the outside doors open to the bitterly cold air - plumber, carpenter, painter and others. Finally all was completed and we could settle down. I must digress for a moment. Deanston was a company village owned by James... Read more

Doune

I lived in Surrey but used to travel to Doune to visit Margaret & George Paterson who owned Watston Farm in Doune. Living in a city I loved going up to the farm for holidays and had my last visit to them in 1973 when I came over from Australia with my husband, son and daughter (where I moved to in 1963). I am visiting Scotland again in September 08 and look forward to revisiting Doune, Kippen and Stirling where I have happy memories of great holidays. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).

In The House of The Laird.

My parents were 'in service' to the local 'laird' who was Lord Doune, traditionally the eldest son of the Earl of Moray and owner of lands around Doune. Lord Doune owned the beautiful old mansion on the hill 1.5 miles north of Doune on the Callander road. My mother was the cook and my father the chauffeur and I sort of 'helped' here and there while I spent most of my time having adventures on the vast estate attached to the house.

When we arrived at Doune Lodge in 1948, the house was rented by Mr and Mrs Muir and their three sons and two daughters. The Muir family owned the Deanston cotton mill and all the houses that made up that town. Mr John Muir was the eldest son and heir to Sir John Muir (baronet) of Blairdrummond Castle a few miles south of Doune on the road to Stirling. Sir John died and his son moved out of Doune Lodge and took up residence in the... Read more