School book charts a distinguished history

A BOOK charting the history of the prestigious High School of Glasgow was unveiled at the school's annual Fraser Lecture last night.

Written by the former deputy rector Brian RW Lockhart, The Town School follows the establishment from its 12th-century roots to its present-day incarnation as one of Scotland's best-known independent schools.

The High School, based in the city's Elmbank Street until the 1970s, when it moved to the playing fields of Old Anniesland to become a co-educational establishment, is the only school other than Eton and Harrow to produce more than one prime minister in the 20th century - both Henry Campbell- Bannerman and Andrew Bonar Law were former pupils. Poet Edwin Morgan attended the school in the 1930s, while Glasgow Boy artist Sir James Guthrie was a pupil in the 19th century.

Predating the foundation of the University of Glasgow by several hundred years, the High School traces its origins back to the Sang School of Glasgow Cathedral and the city Grammar School.

The book is the first to give a detailed account of what the author describes as the school's "risky and somewhat controversial" decision to move sites 40 years ago.

Sixth-form students and staff yesterday attended Mr Lockhart's lecture in the assembly hall.

Mr Lockhart is a former headmaster of Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen and governor of Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow.