Nostalgic memories of Fornethy Residential School's local history
Share your own memories of Fornethy Residential School and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 29 in total
I was here with my sisters in the 1980s and I remember it as scary and horrible. There was 3 teachers i remember miss fletcher she worked in a wee tiny tiny shop with her wee white dog.miss lockie old women played piano in the play room and miss she was the worse horrible nasty made me eat sweetcorn I said I didn't like it was told eat now I was sick she made me spoon it up and eat it because I cried I got ...see more
I went here wi my wee sister roughly 1975, I was 8 n she was 3, we went on a bus from buchanan St.
I think our dorm was called ambrosia, top of the stairs & along to the right, I think there where 6/8 beds in it, I remember the wee floral pinnies, I remember loads about this place 😔 I remember that miss fletcher & Mrs lockie, she was an older woman. There where guinea pigs in the garden (starsky ...see more
My name is Donna Boyd then Wilson. l went in 1968 then again in 72. I have good memories - so good I would have went back again if I could. l remember the long walks through the woods also walking down the stoney Brae to the stream - we would paddle and we had a packet lunch and all the girls and I had a great time. I enjoyed the classroom we would write home and also get our mail - I ...see more
I went to fornethy residential school twice in my childhood, each time my mum was having a child. 1960 and 1962. I spent 6 weeks each time.
I have read thru most of the comments here, and I’m so glad for me I didn’t experience anything like this whilst at the school. It was strict, regarding mealtimes, the food had to be eaten and no talking, but it was like that in my own home so that wasn’t ...see more
I’ve just found this website, I had already spoken to Thomsons after finding out about case and seeing it in the daily record. I had a terrible abusive childhood and I was sent to Fornethy several times from 1971 - 1976 when I first went I was only about 5, memories from that time had been locked away, I told Thomsons all the dorm names, couldn’t remember teachers names except Mrs Fletcher. I’m reading ...see more
Hi everyone I went to Fornethy in the late 70s I went there twice and most of the teachers were brilliant only for a wee old grumpy one don’t know her name she would always be knitting and took the knitting classes I also remember the outings, showers baths and getting the cod liver oil my dorm was called ESK I remember even making little statue of Paddington bear and painting it and bringing it home
Susan
I went to fornethy residential school when I was five and nine years old and I was very happy thare I loved the long walks through the woods and walking down the stoney brae to the burn to paddle our feet and we had to pass a farm to get to the burn and everyone would hold their nose because of the smell. I remember in the classroom sending home a letter and drawings of what I had been up ...see more
I have been reading lots of accounts of how bad Fornethy was, of beatings, and abuse, but I didn't experience any of that. I was there twice, including for my 11th birthday in May 1970. I have a letter I sent home which is very obvious to me in my own words.
One thing I had forgotten was the crow in the cage. It was explained to us that the farmer trapped crows to stop them killing lambs. I ...see more
I remember being there twice with my sister sure it was 1970 and 71 remember holding my knife wrong and getting slapped in the face and hit on the knuckles with the knife being physically sick with getting made to eat food that I didn’t like left to stand in corridors in my underwear punched I hated this place and nobody believed us was bad getting sent once but we got to go twice (lucky us )
Any girls former pupils e mail Mazreid@outlook.com