This story has been long in the making. The editor first saw the iconic image in the mid 2000’s, and ever since then had hoped the potential of a re-creation of the event would happen. In 2018, he included it as the key image in the 1970’s decade popup, and after one or more unrecorded reunions of the 1973 Girls, a well-publicised event was held in the School and the Rugby Clubhouse on Friday 25th August 2023, just a few days later than the actual 50th Anniversary on 20th August The following introductory text, account of the events, and substantial gallery formed part of the article in the Edinburgh Evening News on September 6th, and we look forward to seeing the same in Edinburgh Life in November.
Girls were first admitted to the Royal High School in August 1973, joining what had until then been an all-boys school for almost 850 years. Co-Educational state schools were a principal objective of the then Town Council, and the school, formerly in Regent Road, moved to Barnton in 1968, with its first five years including boys only.
In 1973, The Evening News celebrated the arrival of Girls at the Royal High by publishing an iconic photograph showing around 40 of the intake of 80, along with a token representation of five boys. For the 2023 anniversary, boys from the 1973 intake were also invited. Much planning went into the 50th anniversary celebration of the event, held on 25th August this year, with Susie Miller, speaking for the organisers, saying how pleased she was with the turnout and the splendid occasion of the formal part of the event held in the magnificent school assembly hall. Refreshments including specially designed cakes was followed by a tour of the much-changed school (from the 1973 version) led by two current pupils. The recreation of the 1973 photo was photographed on the same set of steps as the original, then the event moved into a more social theme in the nearby Royal High Rugby pavilion, where events included the photographing of those present from each of the six classes which formed the 1973 first year.
During the course of the day, around 40 of the original intake of 79 girls attended the event, along with around 30 of the intake of 144 boys. Susie advised that everyone who attended was of course special, but among the 1973 starters was 1990 Grand Slam hero Iwan Tukalo, who featured at half time at the following day’s Georgia international at Murrayfield, where he introduced a short video showing Scotland rugby legends taking supplies to Ukraine. The 4x4s they took (provided by ‘Jeeps For Peace’), contained humanitarian aid donated by ‘Breaking the Chains’. Also attending was the boy who came Dux of School six years later in 1979 – consultant cardiologist Ashok Jacob, who was photographed at the Dux honours board on the Memorial stage which includes his name. Last but not least, three politicians posed together – Ian Blackford MP, MSP Sarah Boyack and former MSP and Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh.
Susie Miller extended thanks for the organisation of the event to many individuals, also to Royal High Head Teacher Pauline Walker and her Senior staff, and to Royal High Rugby. Photograph credits to Ian R C Cowie, and Peter Bourhill for the ‘Organising Committee’ image.
The first gallery is a mix of the images taken during the event, along with the 1973 photo and its annotated version. Click on any of the images in the slideshow below to enable full screen images.
Click on any of the images in the gallery below to enable a full screen slideshow
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The second gallery features photos of fifty six FP’s, comprising the six form classes, 1A1 to 1A6, taken in the Royal High Rugby clubhouse during the social phase of the event.
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Postscript
Susie Miller advised that vouchers were purchased for Kevin and Aimee, the two pupils who were so helpful – as a small thank you for all their hard work on the day, looking after 70 ex pupils! The remainer of the money left over was donated to charity along with a personal donation from the three organisers, Alex, Carol and Susie.
