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Hamilton Academy

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94-582: Hamilton Academy was a school in Hamilton , South Lanarkshire , Scotland. The school was described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, and was featured in a 1950 Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association magazine article series on Famous Scottish Schools . Having joined the state sector, the school closed in 1972, as

188-620: A House of Lords debate) by Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove as " (having had) one of the best records in the whole of Scotland." In session 1948–49 the Snell Exhibitioner from the University of Glasgow to Balliol College, Oxford , was a former pupil of the Academy as were, among others, Matthew Baillie , Snell Exhibitioner in 1779, and Sir Edward Hamilton Wallace, Snell Exhibitioner in 1893. From numerous endowed funds, as an academic incentive

282-606: A combination. They fall into the following general categories: The Independent Association of Prep Schools is a prep schools heads association; one of seven affiliated associations of the Independent Schools Council . Pre-prep schools are generally associated with prep schools, and take children from reception to Year 3. Provision for younger children is generally called a nursery school or kindergarten . Prep schools were originally developed in England and Wales in

376-433: A domestic science block was erected in the same style to the south of the main building and near the girls' school entrance. A feature of the wood-panelled Central Hall, rising two storeys with gallery to an arched ceiling, was the six large stained glass windows with figures representing Literature, Science, Art, Music, Technology and Gymnastics. This new Hamilton Academy building was officially opened on 22 September 1913,

470-461: A horseracing, wedding and event venue, is located in the town. Hamilton's Ice Rink hosts facilities for ice skating, curling, ice hockey and squash to both the general public and competitive teams. SLC Leisure has a number of facilities based in Hamilton. There are three council run Leisure Centres which comprise gyms, swimming pools, fitness classes and more Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds provide

564-655: A library and concert hall, underwent a sympathetic modernization in 2002 and opened to the public in summer 2004. The ruins of Cadzow Castle also lie in Chatelherault Country Park , 2 miles (3 km) from the town centre. Hamilton Palace was the largest non-royal residence in the Western world, located in the north-east of the town. A former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton , it was built in 1695, subsequently much enlarged, and demolished in 1921 due to ground subsidence. It

658-737: A month-long series of engagements in Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. Arriving at Glasgow Central Station from London at the commencement of their tour of the UK and Ireland, the 110 members of the Bel Canto Choir were met by bag-pipes and a 200-strong welcoming party from Hamilton Academy. After engagements in Lanarkshire, the Bel Canto Choir was joined by members of the Hamilton Academy Choir for performances in Belfast and Dublin. Designed to catch

752-847: A packed audience on the choir's first appearance on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow . From 30 June to 5 July 1947 the Hamilton Academy Choir performed in the Wilson Barrett Repertory Company's production of Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow . Returning to the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, in May 1950 the choir presented German's Merrie England . In 1967 the Glasgow Herald noted that Hamilton Academy's annual operatic performances were "strengthened by musicians from

846-625: A place at an independent secondary school, typically one of the English public schools . They are also preferred by some parents in the hope of getting their child into a state selective grammar school. Most prep schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate , which is overseen by Ofsted on behalf of the Department for Education . Boys' prep schools are generally for 8–13 year-olds (Years 3 to 8), who are prepared for

940-600: A programme and souvenir of this event being published by the Hamilton Advertiser newspaper. This building remains and is a 'listed building,' category 'B.' Following the First World War a handsome memorial to masters and former pupils who had fallen in that 1914–18 war was erected in the Central Hall which also housed the girl and boy school Dux medallists commemorative boards. In 1934 plans were instigated to extend

1034-423: A result of the coming of comprehensive schools in Lanarkshire. It was replaced by the new Hamilton Grammar School , which took over its site and most of its pupils and staff. No longer existing as an independent institution, Hamilton Academy had a history going back to 1588 when it was endowed by The 1st Marquess of Hamilton ( c. 1535-1604), an extremely powerful Scottish nobleman. The school, then known as

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1128-594: A reunion in Hamilton of remaining former pupils and staff. Hamilton Academy was a senior and junior fee-paying day and boarding school. The Statistical Account of Scotland, 1792, states that the school "has had, for a long time past, a good reputation, and, besides the youth of the place, a great many boarders at a distance have been educated at it," and the Statistical Account of Lanarkshire, 1835, mentions that "many of (the school's scholars) are from foreign climes, and from all parts of Britain." The 1871 Census and

1222-531: A reunion, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels declaring 11 October 2009, "Bel Canto Day" in honor of Dr. Richard Kohler, director, and those who participated in that choir's European tour of 1966, "Seattle's ambassadors to the world." The North American tour by Hamilton Academy's mixed Choir in 1968 was reciprocated in 1969 when the Bel Canto youth choir of Franklin High School, Seattle, United States re-visited and undertook

1316-453: A sports pavilion was opened on the site on 29 October 1930. Proceedings were led by Sir Henry Shanks Keith (a past-Provost of Hamilton and Honorary Sheriff of Lanarkshire) whose son, the afore-mentioned Lord Keith of Avonholm , had attended the academy. The pavilion was officially opened by the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale (who became in 1940 the 14th Duke of Hamilton , and played a part in

1410-570: A teacher at Dundyvan Academy, Coatbridge, was appointed Rector, a position he held to 1897. In memory of Rector Blacklock pupils founded Gold Medals awarded annually for general scholarship to the Dux (boy and girl) of the school and the (James) Blacklock Bursary for pupils of Hamilton Academy to study in the Faculty of the Arts, University of Glasgow. Donald McLeod (who was later to become the first director of studies at

1504-463: A venerable pile, near the centre of the town, containing a long wainscotted hall, emblazoned with the names of former scholars, cut out in the wood, as at Harrow ." In 1847 this old school building on Grammar School Square was sold for £253 and survived until its demolition in 1932. A plaque commemorating the site of the Old Grammar School of Hamilton (which was renamed Hamilton Academy in 1848)

1598-601: Is located in the redeveloped Palace Grounds area close to the ROC nightclub. Preparatory school (United Kingdom) A preparatory school (or, shortened: prep school ) in the United Kingdom is a fee-charging private primary school that caters for children up to approximately the age of 13. The term "preparatory school" is used as it prepares the children for the Common Entrance Examination in order to secure

1692-588: Is situated on the south bank of the River Clyde at its confluence with the Avon Water . Hamilton is the county town of the historic county of Lanarkshire and is the location of the headquarters of the modern local authority of South Lanarkshire. The town itself has a population of around 55,000, which makes it the 9th largest locality in Scotland, and anchors a defined settlement of 84,000 (including neighbouring Blantyre , Bothwell and Uddingston ) which

1786-613: Is the M8 , leaving at junctions 6 or 7. Cycling paths run from Strathclyde Park to Chatelherault Country Park following the banks of the Clyde and Avon. These are being expanded at part of the Sustrans Connect2 project and will make up part of the National Cycle Route 74 which will run from Uddingston to Carlisle, Cumbria There are currently three comprehensive high schools in

1880-431: Is the country's 8th largest. The town of Hamilton was originally known as Cadzow or Cadyou ( Middle Scots : Cadȝow ), the " ȝ " being the letter yogh ), pronounced /kadju/. It is an ancient settlement, possibly dating back to the days of Strathclyde , or perhaps earlier. The Roman fort of Bothwellhaugh lies nearby. A lost medieval settlement was excavated in the 2010s near the Clyde, only around 1 mile from

1974-609: Is widely acknowledged as having been one of the grandest houses in Scotland, was visited and admired by Queen Victoria , and was written about by Daniel Defoe . Hamilton Barracks was formerly the Depot of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and the home of the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. The Regimental Museum is part of the Low Parks Museum . The Low Parks Museum is housed in what

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2068-676: The BBC Scottish Orchestra ." The musical director of the first operas was Mr G Forbes Forsyth, succeeded by Mr John Howie who was followed by Mr Peter Mooney on his appointment as the academy's (last) head of music. Peter Mooney was to be musical director up to the school's last production in 1972. Appearing at the jubilee festival concert of the Glasgow Music Festival Association in the St. Andrew's Halls, Glasgow, in April 1961,

2162-555: The Evening Times wrote that Hamilton Academy's "reputation is among the highest in the country." In 1966 the same newspaper reported that "for the third year in succession Hamilton Academy has gained the highest number of places in the Glasgow University Bursary Competition. The Academy's old rivals Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School came second," and in 1967 the Glasgow Herald noted that "Hamilton Academy – with

2256-535: The Jordanhill Teacher Training College ) followed as Rector (1897–1908); succeeded in the Rectorship (1908–1924) by David M. Andrew (an Exhibitioner of Christ Church, Oxford ) who planned the organisation, equipping and the move to the 'new' Academy building of 1913 and steered the school through World War I, and who was subsequently appointed Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School . From 1924 to 1930

2350-531: The Military Cross (with bar) for gallantry in the Great War . Hamilton Academy continued at the 'new' Academy building from 1913 to 1972, when it closed down as an independent institution. Most pupils in the last intake (1971) to the former Hamilton Academy are still surviving, the school roll in 1971–2 session being 1025. What would have been Hamilton Academy's quadricentenary (1588–1988) was celebrated in 1988 by

2444-471: The Royal College of Physicians , London, identifies a "Mr. Whale" as being master of the school when Matthew Baillie was a pupil (leaving the school for the University of Glasgow in 1774) and the Statistical Account of Lanarkshire of 1835 again mentions Whale, between mention of "Pillans" (or Pillance, Richard) and "Gillies", as among the "eminent teachers (who) have been masters of this school," and giving

2538-589: The Rudolf Hess incident of 1941). The duke served for many years as president of the Hamilton Academy FP (former pupil) Rugby Club. The pavilion (burnt down by vandals in 1976) comprised eleven changing rooms, dining room, kitchen, baths, two referees' rooms and drying and storage rooms. The grounds found to be too uneven, a scheme was devised (1936) for their levelling which began in March 1939 but due to World War II

2632-528: The Scottish Parliament by two constituency MSPs . The following MSPs were elected from Hamilton in 2021 : Areas of Hamilton: Nearby prominent towns and cities: The following towns/villages directly border Hamilton: Blantyre , East Kilbride , Quarter , Strathaven , Motherwell , Bothwell , Ferniegair , Limekilnburn. Hamilton is twinned with Châtellerault in France. This connection dates from

2726-524: The unitary authority the South Lanarkshire Council, which is headquartered in Hamilton. Hamilton itself is divided between three wards, totalling 11 seats: Hamilton North and East, Hamilton West and Earnock and Hamilton South. Hamilton is represented in the House of Commons by two Members of Parliament (MPs). The following MPs were elected from Hamilton in 2019 : Hamilton is also represented in

2820-630: The 16th century when the title Duc de Châtellerault was conferred on James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran . The Duke's Chatelherault Hunting Lodge (now in Chatelherault Country Park), a primary school and new railway station are named ' Chatelherault ' for this reason. Service industries and local government are major employers in Hamilton. The town centre has been regenerated with new indoor shopping centres (the Regent Shopping Centre, New Cross Shopping Centre) Hamilton Retail Park and

2914-463: The 2011 International Children's Games . Speedway racing was staged in Hamilton for one off shows from 1947 to 1955 on the old ash football pitches of Strathclyde Park (now covered by the town square). Hamilton Townhouse Theatre is a 712-seat venue in the Cadzow Street area of the town. It is the first cultural venue in Scotland to attain the prestigious Quest accreditation. A multiplex Vue Cinema

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3008-579: The Child (1953) draws on his experience of being educated at such a school as Hamilton Academy), Margery Palmer McCulloch , Robert Macnish and Walter Perrie . (Refer to their entries on List of former pupils of Hamilton Academy .) Hamilton Academy was headed by the Rector and with such a history, a long list of educationalists served as Rector of the school. Compiled by William Munk , the Munk's Roll of former Fellows of

3102-496: The Common Entrance Examination, the key to entry into many secondary independent schools. Before the age of 7 or 8, the term "pre-prep school" is used. Girls' independent schools in England tend to follow the age ranges of state schools more closely than those of boys. Girls' preparatory schools usually admit girls from the age of 4, who will then continue to another independent school at 11 (Year 7), or at 13 (Year 9 if

3196-441: The English language and literature and author of school text books, and on his sudden death at the school's Christmas Dance on 16 December 1971, Mr. A. M. Robertson, depute-Rector and Head of Classics, was appointed Acting Rector ( Mr. James Morris being then appointed Head of Classics) prior to the abolition of selective schools (cemented in the 1976 Education Act) such as Hamilton Academy, introduction of comprehensive schooling and

3290-600: The English. However, he later changed loyalty to Robert the Bruce , following the Battle of Bannockburn , and ceded Bothwell to him. For this act, he was rewarded with a portion of land which had been forfeited by the Comyns at Dalserf and later the Barony and lands of Cadzow, which in time would become the town of Hamilton. Cadzow was renamed Hamilton in the time of James, Lord Hamilton , who

3384-595: The French, modelling, chess, golf, badminton, swimming, riding, tennis, hockey and stamp clubs were also listed in the in-school periodical, 'Acta'. In music, there were the Hamilton Academy Orchestra and various school choirs. From 1932 (apart from the years 1940–42) Hamilton Academy's mixed Choir presented an opera each year. In June 1946 over 80 members of Hamilton Academy's choir opened a week's performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance to

3478-543: The Glasgow Evening Times newspaper noted that "Hamilton Academy have scored a triumph by securing 16 places in the first 100. Last year (1958) they led the field with 13 places in the first 100. Next best are Hutchesons' Boys Grammar School , Glasgow, with eight places, and St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow , follow with seven." Topping the Glasgow University Bursary List in 1964 and again in 1965,

3572-470: The Glasgow Herald's critic noted that "the well controlled singing of Hamilton Academy choir showed what excellent results can be obtained in a school where music is allowed to flourish." In December of that year the school's mixed choir joined with the famous Glasgow Phoenix Choir for a choral concert at Hamilton Town Hall (joining again with the Glasgow Phoenix Choir in a concert in 1967) and in 1962

3666-576: The Hamilton Academy Youth Choir, conducted by Peter Mooney , noting the academy's "long musical tradition" and that it was "very fitting that (the choir) should record a group of Songs of Praise for it earned nationwide praise for the singing of such songs recently in the BBC series of programmes of this name ( Songs of Praise .)" Almost fifty years later, excerpts from this Hamilton Academy Youth Choir recording continue to be broadcast. In June 1967

3760-681: The Hamilton School for the Deaf. Hamilton is a university town with The University of the West of Scotland campus formerly sited on Almada Street, but now relocated to Hamilton International Technology Park in High Blantyre. Hamilton Academical Football Club (the Accies) was formed in 1874 and is one of Scotland's oldest senior clubs. It takes its name from Hamilton Academy, now called Hamilton Grammar School ,

3854-509: The Hope Street building, but the building was also subsiding. Robert Gibson MP recalled during a House of Commons debate (November 1939) that during his time at Hamilton Academy (1890s), the junior department had had to be evacuated due to rapid subsidence of that part of the Hope Street building. The school was therefore re-located to temporary accommodation in a building newly erected by the school board as 'Woodside School', until such time as

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3948-553: The Old Grammar School of Hamilton (not to be confused with the present Hamilton Grammar School), stood near the churchyard adjoining Hamilton Palace until, in 1714, Anne, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton , great-granddaughter of the founder, re-located the school to a new building on the newly named Grammar School Square also in the lower part of the town, and presented this to the Town Council of Hamilton. The Statistical Account of Lanarkshire of 1835 notes of this school building that it "is

4042-572: The Palace Grounds Retail Park. Restaurants and national retail outlets are situated in a redeveloped part of the Palace Grounds that are visible upon entering the town from the M74 motorway . The creation of a circular town square has resulted in Hamilton receiving numerous town planning awards during the past decade. This development transformed the Hamilton side of Strathclyde Park, which was

4136-814: The Peter Mooney Scholarship in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama . [See also section above, 'Music and drama'] Hamilton, South Lanarkshire Hamilton ( Scots : Hamiltoun ; Scottish Gaelic : Baile Hamaltan [ˈpalə ˈhaməl̪ˠt̪ʰan] ) is a large town in South Lanarkshire , Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area . It sits 10 miles (16 km) south-east of Glasgow , 37 miles (60 km) south-west of Edinburgh and 74 miles (120 km) north of Carlisle . It

4230-447: The Rev. George Shaw as master (rector) of the school at 1835. This would seem to indicate an order, but not necessarily of un-interrupted succession, of Pillans, Whale, Gillies and Shaw as Rectors and in the notice in the Glasgow Herald newspaper, 1 August 1851, of the results of the annual examinations at Hamilton Academy, William Dickson is listed as rector. Brown's Directory of Hamilton 1855–56 lists William Dickson as rector and that he

4324-924: The Rt. Hon. Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, K.T. C.V.O. MC , Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire , 2nd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell . Hamilton Rugby Football Club ( Hamilton RFC ), founded in 1927 as Hamilton Academy FP (former pupil) Rugby Club, continues to play from the former Hamilton Academy's Laigh Bent playing fields. Among former pupils who pursued careers in sports, in whole or in part, have been Craig Brown CBE (footballer and football team manager), his brother Jock Brown (football club general manager and football commentator), Madge Carruthers (former manager, Scottish women's athletic team, Commonwealth Games ), Ian Lang Livingstone CBE OBE (former football club chairman), Douglas McBain (Olympic footballer) and Ian McDougall (former 'American soccer' player and inductee, soccer 'Hall of Fame', U.S.A.) (Refer to their entries on List of former pupils of Hamilton Academy .) Aligned to

4418-419: The Scottish Schools League Championship (McGowan Cup) and the Ormiston Shield in 1963. Hamilton Academy's senior football teams also won the Division 1 League Cup in 1919, 1930, 1933 and 1935, in the Glasgow and District Secondary Schools Football League. The Laigh Bent (meaning 'low hill') grounds of eight acres were acquired for the school in 1926. To a design by Mr. John Rennie, a master at Hamilton Academy,

4512-410: The Subscribers passed their interest over to the town council who, along with the heritors, managed the school until in 1872 management was transferred to the newly elected School Board of the Burgh of Hamilton under the terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 , under the terms of which Act the school was also confirmed (1876) as being a 'higher-class school.' By 1900 the school had not only outgrown

4606-432: The United States in 1968 by Hamilton Academy's (mixed) Choir, under the direction of Peter Mooney, began with concerts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York . In Washington it was arranged that the choir sing on the steps of the White House , and in Seattle the choir sang at Seattle Opera House with colleagues and hosts, the Franklin High School Choir. At Seattle airport

4700-432: The academic bias of the teaching meant that Hamilton Academy achieved excellent results in competitions. In his obituary article on former Hamilton Academy pupil Sir John Inch , Sir Tam Dalyell , former Father of the House of Commons , described Hamilton Academy as a "remarkable school" with "a formidable academic reputation" and mentions the large annual intake from Hamilton Academy to the University of Glasgow with which

4794-433: The academy had a particularly long and sustained relationship; a yardstick as measure of its achievements year-on-year being the number of University of Glasgow scholarships won by its students. It usually beat all other schools, by this measure at least. Between 1940 and 1950, Hamilton Academy headed the annual Glasgow University Bursary list on three occasions. Leading the Glasgow University Bursary list again in 1958, in 1959

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4888-406: The academy had ceased to exist this was alluded to in a House of Commons retort in 1997 to the Leader of the Opposition's ( Tony Blair ) rhetoric, when Peter Atkinson MP replied that if Mr. Blair "had been speaking at a debating society competition between Fettes (Mr. Blair's old school) and Hamilton Academy, I would have given him some points, but this is the House of Commons." The activities of

4982-410: The annual prizes. The school's inter-schools teams (rugby, soccer, tennis, hockey, cricket, athletics and golf) competed with other similarly ranked British schools in sports competitions, Hamilton Academy's senior soccer teams winning the Scottish Schools Championships (Bank of Scotland Scottish Schools Senior Shield) in 1910, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1952 and 1963 and its second senior teams winning

5076-403: The area to this day. Hamilton Palace was the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton until the early-twentieth century. Other historic buildings in the area include Hamilton Old Parish Church , a Georgian era building completed in 1734 and the only church to have been built by William Adam . The graveyard of the old parish church contains some Covenanter remains. Hamilton Townhouse , which now houses

5170-528: The best light, the school's art classes and large main studio were located on the top floor; the school's art department educating, among others, the artists Louise Gibson Annand MBE, Mary Nicol Neill Armour , Peter Charles Browne, John McKinnon Crawford , David (A.) Kerr, William McCance and David Morrison . The pioneering photographer James Craig Annan was also educated at Hamilton Academy. (Refer to their entries on List of former pupils of Hamilton Academy .) The principles of architecture were taught by

5264-445: The board of the Traverse Theatre and serve on the Scottish Arts Council . (Refer to their entries on List of former pupils of Hamilton Academy .) The school's academic reputation was extremely high; this augmented by its wide range of clubs and societies, including literature. Among former pupils who pursued careers in literature have been the authors Robert Russell Calder, Colin Douglas , Robin Jenkins OBE (whose novel Happy for

5358-446: The celebrated Scottish educationalist Dr A. R. Murison was Rector of Hamilton Academy prior to his taking up the appointment as the first Rector of the then new Marr College in Troon, Ayrshire. From 1930 to 1950, the Rector was David K. Anderson (holder of the Military Cross (with bar)), followed (1950–1967) by Edwin G. Macnaughton JP, who as Rector of Hamilton Academy, was awarded the OBE in 1966 for services to education. MacNaughton

5452-520: The choir was greeted by hundreds of singing well-wishers. Dubbed "the ambassadors of song" the choir and Mr. Mooney appeared on American television and were granted honorary citizenship by Washington State. In 2008 members of that Hamilton Academy school choir of forty years before came together in Hamilton in a reunion. In October 2009 members of the Bell Canto choir from Franklin High School, Seattle, who had been welcomed by Hamilton Academy's choir during their European tour in 1966 came together in Seattle in

5546-417: The current town. It is known that kings of Strathclyde did have a hunting lodge near Cadzow, and the area may have been a royal centre during the later stages of the kingdom, as a precursor to Cadzow Castle . During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Hamilton family initially supported the English and Walter fitz Gilbert (the head of the Hamilton family) was governor of Bothwell Castle on behalf of

5640-419: The curriculum or extracurricular, many clubs and associations operated in or from or in conjunction with the school, including cadets, scouts, guides, cubs and brownies; the Hamilton Academy Air Training Corps, the Hamilton Academy FP (former pupil) Society, the dramatics, photographic, scientific, music, film and literature clubs and societies. The standard of the school's debating society was high, and long after

5734-445: The early 19th century as boarding schools to prepare boys for leading public schools, such as Eton College , Radley College , Harrow School , Charterhouse School , Oundle School , Rugby School , St Paul's School , Westminster School , Tonbridge School and Winchester College . The numbers attending such schools increased as many parents were overseas in the service of the British Empire . Prep schools are now found in all parts of

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5828-400: The end of the Second World War fees were phased out. Thereafter the criteria for selection rested solely on academic ability, selection being made from potential pupils from across the whole County of Lanark - the old County of Lanark being, in terms of population and wealth, the most important county in Scotland and comprising a larger area, including most of the city of Glasgow, than the sum of

5922-413: The highest number of pupils for some years now in the first 100 places in the Glasgow University Bursary Competition – has an extremely high and far-flung academic reputation." In 1969 Hamilton Academy pupils took five of the top ten places in the Glasgow University Bursary List. Such were the school's achievements in university entrance examinations that as late as 1988, Hamilton Academy was remembered (in

6016-538: The latter, William Brown, attending Hamilton Academy 1889–1894) the competition entries being assessed by George Bell, president of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Institute of Architects. In 1911 Hamilton Academy's 'prep' (junior) school relocated to its new, separate smaller building behind the main edifice, before completion, in 1913, of the new senior school building in the French Renaissance style and of red freestone from Corncockle Quarry in Dumfriesshire. The main building, with separate entrances for girls and boys,

6110-422: The local Air Raid Precautions committee had announced that it had been arranged that in the event of war and air raids, Hamilton Academy would be used as a first-aid post in case of emergency. On 19 February 1954 a war memorial, commemorating the one schoolmaster and 68 former pupils who had fallen in the Second World War, was unveiled at the school by its former rector David Anderson, who had himself been awarded

6204-399: The merging of the Hamilton Academy campus and that of nearby St. Johns Grammar School to form a new school called Hamilton Grammar School , which draws its students from its immediate surroundings. Hamilton Academy's last Head of Music, the late Peter Mooney , was conductor of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir (continuing from the iconic Glasgow Orpheus Choir ) which choir established in his memory

6298-520: The oldest school in the town (founded 1588). It is the only professional football team in the UK to originate from a school team and they currently play in the Scottish League One . Their stadium is New Douglas Park , built in 2001 near the site of the former ground Douglas Park (which was demolished in 1994 to make way for a retail park). Hamilton Rugby Club is based at the Laigh Bent sports ground, Bent Road. They currently play in Tennent's National League Division Three . Hamilton Park Racecourse ,

6392-743: The original site of the Duke's palace. Hamilton has been a Fairtrade Town since 2005. Hamilton has three railway stations, Hamilton Central , Hamilton West and Chatelherault on the Argyle Line 's Hamilton Circle . Hamilton Central is approx 25 minutes from Glasgow on the Larkhall - Dalmuir service. It was once served by the North British Railway , which had three stations in the area - Hamilton (NBR) , Peacock Cross railway station and Burnbank . Beside Hamilton Central lies Hamilton Bus Station , providing links to surrounding towns and cities, also offering an express bus to Glasgow and also some parts of England. National Express services run to London and Birmingham from this station. Major roads in

6486-556: The planning began for 52 pupils from Hamilton Academy's choirs, together with Mr. Peter Mooney, to go on a three-week tour of North America, reciprocating the 1966 European tour of the Bel Canto choir of Franklin High School, Seattle, United States , when on the Scottish leg of their tour, the members of the Seattle school's choir had stayed with members of the Hamilton Academy choir. Plans were made for Hamilton Academy's choir to perform at Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Arlington and New York. The three-week tour of

6580-495: The question of the academy's increasing requirements could be addressed. The school's old site on Hope Street being considered too small, a site for a new Hamilton Academy building was secured on Auchincampbell Road. At a cost of around £40,000 (£53,000 including equipment), construction of the new building began in 1910 (completed 1913) to competition-winning designs by Cullen, Lochhead and Brown (the former's son, Alexander Cullen Jnr., also an architect, attending Hamilton Academy and

6674-485: The school at public venues for communities at large. Among former pupils who went on to careers in theatre, film and television have been the actors Gordon Reid and Tom Watson , the television and radio presenter Dougie Donnelly , Alex Graham Oscar-winning film and television producer and Agnes Wilkie, former Head of Features at STV and producer of BAFTA and BAFTA Scotland award-winning films and television programmes. Former pupil Thomas Laurie OBE went on to chair

6768-504: The school awarded boy and girl Dux medals, the Blacklock Bursary (both Dux and Bursary erected in memory of James Blacklock, rector 1863–1897); subject-specific medals, and Memorial Prizes, including the Dr. James S. Dixon Bursary, endowed by former pupil James Stedman Dixon . On his return from Africa in 1864, the celebrated missionary and explorer David Livingstone presented the awards at

6862-425: The school is co-educational (as most secondary schools now are). However, as more girls now go on to formerly single-sex boys' schools that have become co-educational, the separation is less clear. There are 130,000 pupils in over 500 prep schools of all types and sizes. Prep schools may be for boys or girls only, or may be co-educational. They may be day schools, boarding schools, weekly boarding , flexi-boarding, or

6956-512: The school's junior department to accommodate up to 500 pupils, and on 3 August 1939 plans were passed that would have seen alterations to the main building to create two new luncheon rooms, further staff rooms, offices and two new libraries; and a new annex to include two new gymnasia. Due to the outbreak of the Second World War in September, these plans were not followed-through. Earlier in 1939

7050-506: The school's junior, mixed voice, ensemble and senior girls choirs all took first places in their categories and shared the highest marks in the Glasgow Music Festival of that year. The Hamilton Academy (mixed) Choir made recordings, appeared on British radio and television programmes and performed internationally. The February 1963 issue of the 'Gramophone' magazine featured a review of the record album, 'Songs of Praise', recorded by

7144-694: The school's mixed choir achieved the highest mark in the Glasgow Music Festival , in addition to the festival's highest award, the Ailie Cullen Memorial Trophy, being won by Ian McGregor, a former pupil of Hamilton Academy. Also in 1962, the Hamilton Academy former pupils choir was joined, in its performances of Bizet's Carmen at Hamilton Town Hall, by guest tenor, Duncan Robertson, of the Glyndebourne Opera Company . In 1963

7238-482: The school's prize-giving ceremony of that year. His speech was to inspire Hamilton Academy pupil Frederick Stanley Arnot who was later to follow on Livingstone's missionary work in central Africa. The inter-house annual sports day was held at the academy's dedicated sports grounds, Laigh Bent Playing Fields, within walking distance of the main school building, in the 1950s and 60s Lady Keith, wife of former Hamilton Academy pupil, Lord Keith of Avonholm , often presenting

7332-416: The school's registers 1848–1900 list, among others, pupils from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paisley, Bridge of Weir, Stewarton, England and Australia. Becoming a Scottish selective day school in the 1900s, Hamilton Academy was to form, as the 'County School', the top-most layer of a four-layer public education system, drawing its pupils from the top stream on a competitive 'Eleven Plus' examination basis from across

7426-519: The school's technical subjects department, (the school also operating the Hamilton Academy Technical School in the evenings.) The architects William Brown, John M. Crawford (the first architect to be elected President of Glasgow Art Club (1903)), Robert Forrest and Robert Hamilton Paterson were educated at Hamilton Academy. (Refer to their entries on List of former pupils of Hamilton Academy .) In drama, performances were given by

7520-460: The school, and father of notable alumnus, the physicist John Samuel Forrest , was another master who also wrote text-books. Succeeding Rector Macnaughton, the last Rector of Hamilton Academy was Alfred W.S. Dubber (appointed 3 April 1968), the school's principal teacher of English since 1956, and acting rector since retirement of Edwin Macnaughton in September 1967. Rector Dubber was an authority on

7614-450: The subsequent late twentieth century local authority areas. Given the size of the school's catchment area, places at Hamilton Academy were at a premium. Due to its unique academic position in Scotland as the 'County School' of the country's most populous and wealthiest county and the size of its student roll, the Bulletin newspaper reported in its issue of 23 November 1959 that "... there

7708-686: The town include the A72 running south-east to Larkhall , the A723 south to Strathaven / north-east to Motherwell , and the A724 west towards Rutherglen , while to the west at Blantyre , the A725 dual carriageway connects the area to East Kilbride , Coatbridge and the M8 . By road the town is to the west of the M74 motorway, the main southerly link to England, which joins the M6 just north of Carlisle . The main route from Edinburgh

7802-521: The town with rugby, cricket, tennis, football and bowling areas. Strathclyde Park Golf Centre driving range and 9-hole course is based in Hamilton, while the Hamilton Golf Club (dating from 1892) is situated across the Avon Water in nearby Ferniegair . The town is also home to several large gym chains, such as David Lloyd formerly ( Virgin Active Health Club ), which hosted the tennis at

7896-539: The town – Hamilton Grammar , Holy Cross High School and St.John Ogilvie High School . The former Earnock High School merged with Blantyre High School in 2008 to create Calderside Academy . Hamilton also has one private school, Hamilton College , a Christian co-educational establishment comprising nursery, primary and high school. There are 17 local authority primary schools in Hamilton; nine non-denominational and eight Roman Catholic schools. There are also provisions for children with Additional Support Needs , and

7990-475: The town's Hope Street, with Rector's residence and accommodation for boarders, built by the heritors of the Parish of Hamilton, the town council and subscribers, the school then coming under the management of a Directorate chosen of these three parties. The Report on Schools in Scotland, 1868, notes that Hamilton Academy was unusual in this respect, being "a parochial, burgh and a proprietary school combined." In 1866

8084-403: The whole County of Lanarkshire. The selective nature of the school meant that most children in Hamilton did not attend Hamilton Academy, on the other hand, Hamilton Academy students often had quite long journeys to get to and from school each day. Although bursaries to allay fees in attending Hamilton Academy's senior school could be won on a competitive basis and were much sought after, following

8178-492: Was a 16th-century inn and a staging post for journeys between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Recently refurbished, it is the oldest building in Hamilton and is to the north of the Palace Grounds. Renowned explorer and missionary David Livingstone 's house still stands at 17 Burnbank Road and has a plaque about him. Hamilton is located within the Scottish council area of South Lanarkshire . Its local government services are provided by

8272-638: Was also Church of Scotland Session Clerk and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Burgh of Hamilton. Identified Rectors: (Interim-Rector 1967–68) (1971 – end of Hamilton Academy as an independent institution, A. M. Robertson, acting-Rector) From William Dickson, the Rectors of Hamilton Academy are well recorded. Still identified as being the school's Rector in the Handbook of Hamilton published in 1862, Dickson died in 1863 and James Blacklock previously

8366-532: Was also co-author (with James Paterson) of the classic textbook series 'The Approach to Latin', which was used across Britain and the Commonwealth, and also in the United States. The academic bias of the school was such that quite a few of the textbooks used by its students had been written by its own teachers, including mathematics, English and 'Classics' textbooks. Samuel Norris Forrest, a teacher of mathematics at

8460-402: Was arranged over three storeys, with additional basements, providing accommodation for rector's office, board room, offices, classrooms, six laboratories, workshops, art rooms and gymnasia. Of particular note were the Central Hall, the large lecture hall (seating 200, gallery-style and communicating with the laboratories) and library, with reading rooms for girls and boys respectively. In addition,

8554-447: Was commissioned by pupils of Hamilton Academy and unveiled by the academy's rector, David Anderson MC , on 21 March 1932 at a public ceremony in the presence of academy pupils and teaching staff; the provost and members of the town council, and members of Hamilton Civic Society. The town council were sole managers of the school until, in 1848, the school (having been renamed The 'Hamilton Academy') re-located again, to larger premises on

8648-652: Was married to Princess Mary , the daughter of King James II . The Hamilton family themselves most likely took their name from the lands of Humbleton or Homildon in Northumberland , or perhaps from a place near Leicester . The Hamiltons constructed many landmark buildings in the area including the Hamilton Mausoleum in Strathclyde Park , which has one of the longest reverb times of any manmade building at 15 seconds. The Hamilton family are major land-owners in

8742-454: Was not completed until 1947, following also the acquisition of a further six acres of adjoining fields, providing space for an additional three pitches. Costs of the scheme amounted to some £8,000, of which £6,000 was raised by the school through a huge fund-raising campaign to which Hamilton Academy FP (former pupils) Rugby Club and Hamilton Academy FP Society greatly contributed. The new Laigh Bent Playing Fields were opened in September 1948 by

8836-526: Was only one school in Scotland – Hamilton Academy – that had sufficient pupils to qualify its headmaster for such a (special) responsibility salary," and this was noted again in a House of Commons debate on teachers' salaries, 24 February 1960, when Margaret Herbison MP advised that "in the whole of Scotland only the rector of Hamilton Academy (had) qualified for the top grade of teachers' salary." The Hamilton Academy 'prep' (junior) school continued to operate until 1952. The county-wide selective intake and

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