Nostalgia: Taking a break from lessons

Three-year-old Catherine Blackwood meets a giant puffin at the Edinburgh Book Festival in Charlotte Square, August 1983.

First we reported that its reputation for being one of Scotland’s most successful state secondary schools had left it facing an oversubscription.

The school has received the highest number of S1 registrations in a decade, as parents who might usually decide to send their children to private schools realise what an asset they have on their doorstep.

Boroughmuir was ranked sixth amongst Scottish state secondaries in last year’s Sunday Times list of Britain’s top schools, so it’s not surprising the school is popular.

Boroughmuir School sports day at Meggetland in 1965 - a group of children watching the races

Pupils will move to their new building next year, leaving the Viewforth building site which has been occupied by the school since 1913.

There is a question mark over the future of the school – which is why it made the headlines a second time.

Hopes of establishing a major new cultural hub in the building have been dashed after a multi-million pound bid from a community arts organisation was trumped by a housing developer.

It is understood city chiefs have recommended accepting a £14.5 million offer from Cala Homes.

But whatever happens to the building in the future, the school will leave behind more than 100 years of memories.

Those who were taught by Robin Harper in the 1980s will remember his impressive 147-strong tie collection, which he used to help raise money in March 1988.

Sport has always been important to pupils of Boroughmuir. In October 1968, golfer Eric Brown dropped in to give schoolboys a lesson.

And there were smiling faces all round at the 1965 sports day which was held at Meggetland.