St Margaret's uniforms set to kit out children in Malawi

Published on Friday 26 November 2010 13:05

FOR 120 years it was used to symbolise the pride, history and sense of belonging of pupils at one of Edinburgh's top schools.

FIRST CLASS: Richard Ferguson is donating the uniforms to charity. Picture: DAN PHILLIPS

But now the striking uniform previously worn by youngsters at the former St Margaret's School will be adorning youngsters at poverty-stricken schools in Malawi.

School uniform supplier Aitken and Niven was left with hundreds of blazers, skirts, jumpers, socks, blouses and ties when St Margaret's closed its doors at the end of June.

The school had been operating in the Capital since 1890 but went into administration earlier this year after struggling with an annual operating deficit of around 500,000 and falling pupil numbers.

Aitken and Niven had full stocks of uniforms that were distinct to St Margaret's and could not be adapted for any other school.

The company has therefore decided to donate the 15,000 worth of stock to charity, with schools in Malawi set to benefit.

Company director Richard Ferguson said: "It was a bit of a shock that this happened, and we are very sad that all the teachers have lost their jobs there.

"The uniforms were bespoke to St Margaret's, with the school logo on everything. Within two weeks of hearing that the school had gone into administration and wasn't going to recover, we knew we were left with the stock, and the only place it could go was to charity.

"We are very pleased that the uniforms will be going to needy children in Africa.

"It's just hearsay but I believe one of the schools they might be going to has green uniforms, like St Margaret's. I asked if it gets cold in Malawi, because the blazers are woollen, and apparently it does so they're not going to be useless to the kids there."

Mr Ferguson will be packing up the hundreds of items next week and driving them to The Raven Trust in Argyll - a charity which provides practical, direct support to needy communities in Malawi - which will then ship the uniforms out to the schools.

John Challis, one of the charity's trustees, said: "These are going to be very much appreciated by the schoolchildren out there.

"There are many of them who don't have school uniforms and this will make a big difference to their lives. We want to thank all those who have made this possible."

Parents launched a massive fundraising drive to try to save the Newington school when they were told it had gone into administration.

However, they were unsuccessful in their attempt to take over the running of the school after failing to raise the money needed in time.