Real lives: School’s out for teachers who started at same time

Iain Dalgleish, Bob McLean and Anne Robertson – respective heads at primary schools in Dalkeith, Woodburn and Penicuik – are wrapping up their careers.

All three will officially retire on August 18, but will leave their desks for the last time on Friday, June 29.

Iain and Bob became close friends after they met sharing a bus to Falkirk on their first day of teacher training at Callender Park College of Education.

They developed a close companionship and to this day enjoy hillwalking, camping and sharing the odd pint together. Both are dedicated Hearts fans and will be attending this weekend’s highly anticipated Scottish Cup Final match.

Iain has been holding the reins at King’s Park Primary since 1996 and said it had been a “pleasure and a privilege” to work at the school.

He added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The kids and parents are fantastic and the staff are superb.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of the school – it will always be part of my life and I know it will go from strength to strength.”

The 59-year-old, of Albert Terrace in Musselburgh, is married with two grown-up children. A former pupil at Forrester High, his first teaching role was at Crossgate Primary in Fife.

Bob, 60, arrived at Woodburn Primary from Leith Walk Primary 23 years ago. He had begun his career at Stenhouse Primary. He was assistant head at Groathill Primary before taking on the role of deputy head at Bruntsfield Primary.

He described his term in office as “an honour” saying: “My 23 years here have been thoroughly enjoyable and the staff, children and parents have been great – I will have very fond memories of the place.”

Married with a grown-up son and daughter, Bob intends to get back on the golf course and take up voluntary work.

Anne, 59, from The Braids area of Edinburgh, has been headteacher at Cuiken Primary in Penicuik for the last six years. The married mother-of-two started her career at Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill Primary, where she spent seven years. She then left to start a family and following an eight-year hiatus – during which time she gained an educational psychology degree with the Open University – returned as a supply teacher for Edinburgh and Midlothian, then worked at two more schools before Penicuik.

A keen singer and member of the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, she is keen to extend her musical interests and also plans to travel, starting with a trip to South Africa to visit relatives. Anne says she will miss the school community, in particular “the children and the laughs”. She would like to thank parents and staff for their support.