Blairmore School
Encyclopedia
Blairmore School was an independent
boarding school in Glass near Huntly, Aberdeenshire
until its closure in 1993.
for boys aged 8-13 by Colonel D.R. Ainslie D.S.O., B.A., a keen educationalist, Cambridge graduate and retired Seaforth Highlander
. The school turned co-ed in 1975.
Pupil numbers peaked at 90 in 1989 but the economic recession of the early 1990s caused a decline in UK prep school subscriptions and in June 1993, with fewer than 30 pupils enrolled for the coming academic year, Blairmore became impossible to sustain financially and the school was forced to close.
and camping were a key part of Blairmore life. Blairmore had its own riding school and stables at some stage, a woodland assault course, a ski-slope and Britain's only school ski tow.
In the evenings and at weekends, the woodlands around the school provided an ideal playground for the young boys and girls. Dressed in their "Woods Clothes" (as casual clothes were known), pupils played conkers, climbed trees and constructed dens, known as "cols" (short for colonies), from which daring raids were launched against rival groups. The most famous and long-lasting of these cols were the rival Stony Fort and Woody Fort.
Boarders slept in dormitories in the main school building, although for a period senior boys were accommodated in the neighbouring Glebe House. Dormitories were originally given simple topographical names but were later renamed with an ornithological theme. The boys' dorms included: Tower (which became Buzzard), South (Eagle), East (Harrier). The girls' dorms were: Side (Lapwing), Middle (Heron), Back (Plover). The dormitories in Glebe House were given local place names: Cairnie, Cabrach, Botriphonie.
Latterly, the school had a number of annual events including:
Blairmore had its own tartan.
The school had a long-standing rivalry with nearby Aberlour House
. Other regular sporting opponents included Drumtochty Castle, Rannoch, Croftinloan, Lathallan, Gordonstoun, Peterhead Academy, Ardvreck,Aberdeen Academy, Aberdeen Grammar and the Gordon Schools, Huntly.
and was built as a private home in 1884 for Alexander Geddes, a wealthy businessman and great-great grandfather of UK Prime Minister and Tory party leader David Cameron
. Cameron's father, Ian Donald Cameron, was born in the house in 1932. Geddes made his fortune in Chicago in the US in the trading of grain in the 1850's, and a safe belonging to him which survived the Great Fire of Chicago was installed in the house's Billiard Room. During WWII, the house was used as a military HQ for a group of Auxiliary Volunteers (later known as the Caithness Secret Army).
After the school's closure, Blairmore House was run as a private hunting lodge for a number of years. The building is now used as a prayer and intercession training school run by an evangelical Christian group, the Ellel Ministries.
Blairmore House is now a Grade C listed building.
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
boarding school in Glass near Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
until its closure in 1993.
History
Blairmore School was established in 1947 as an independent prep schoolPreparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
for boys aged 8-13 by Colonel D.R. Ainslie D.S.O., B.A., a keen educationalist, Cambridge graduate and retired Seaforth Highlander
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
. The school turned co-ed in 1975.
Pupil numbers peaked at 90 in 1989 but the economic recession of the early 1990s caused a decline in UK prep school subscriptions and in June 1993, with fewer than 30 pupils enrolled for the coming academic year, Blairmore became impossible to sustain financially and the school was forced to close.
Culture
The school was small and thrived on its homely atmosphere. Pupils were encouraged to spend time outdoors, taking advantage of the school's extensive grounds and rural surroundings. Daily sports were an integral part of the curriculum, while ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and camping were a key part of Blairmore life. Blairmore had its own riding school and stables at some stage, a woodland assault course, a ski-slope and Britain's only school ski tow.
In the evenings and at weekends, the woodlands around the school provided an ideal playground for the young boys and girls. Dressed in their "Woods Clothes" (as casual clothes were known), pupils played conkers, climbed trees and constructed dens, known as "cols" (short for colonies), from which daring raids were launched against rival groups. The most famous and long-lasting of these cols were the rival Stony Fort and Woody Fort.
Features
The school was divided into four houses, named after rivers in the North-East of Scotland: Deveron (red), Dee (green), Spey (yellow) and Don (blue).Boarders slept in dormitories in the main school building, although for a period senior boys were accommodated in the neighbouring Glebe House. Dormitories were originally given simple topographical names but were later renamed with an ornithological theme. The boys' dorms included: Tower (which became Buzzard), South (Eagle), East (Harrier). The girls' dorms were: Side (Lapwing), Middle (Heron), Back (Plover). The dormitories in Glebe House were given local place names: Cairnie, Cabrach, Botriphonie.
Latterly, the school had a number of annual events including:
- The Dinky Safari, an obstacle race around the school grounds for model ("dinky") cars.
- The Blairmore Gathering, a Highland Games held on the school playing fields.
Blairmore had its own tartan.
The school had a long-standing rivalry with nearby Aberlour House
Aberlour
Aberlour , is the name of a place in Moray, Scotland, 12 miles south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. A burn , a tributary of the River Spey, and surrounding parish, are both named Aberlour, but the name is most commonly used in reference to the village which straddles the stream and flanks the...
. Other regular sporting opponents included Drumtochty Castle, Rannoch, Croftinloan, Lathallan, Gordonstoun, Peterhead Academy, Ardvreck,Aberdeen Academy, Aberdeen Grammar and the Gordon Schools, Huntly.
Headmasters
- 1947 - 1962 Colonel David R(onald) Ainslie DSO
- 1962 - 1967 Lt. Colonel Frank W Collard
- 1967 - 1987 Dan Latham
- 1987 - 1990 Andrew Keith
- 1990 - 1993 Duncan Hepburn
Former Pupils
- David SoleDavid SoleDavid Sole is a former Scottish rugby union footballer. He was educated at Blairmore prep school and Glenalmond College, a private school in Perthshire....
, Scottish rugby union captain - Duncan Mcgillivray, champion bagpiper
- Charles Bremner, journalist and Paris correspondent of The Times
- Dr Stephane Bordas, Lecturer, University of Glasgow
Blairmore House
Blairmore House, the school's premises, is a Victorian mansion set amid 50 acres (202,343 m²) of woodland beside the River Deveron. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) from Huntly, 40 miles (64.4 km) from Aberdeen and 60 miles (96.6 km) from Inverness. The house was designed by architect Alexander Marshall MackenzieAlexander Marshall Mackenzie
Alexander Marshall Mackenzie was a Scottish architect responsible for prestigious projects including the Isle of Man Banking Company in Douglas, and Australia House and the Waldorf Hotel in London....
and was built as a private home in 1884 for Alexander Geddes, a wealthy businessman and great-great grandfather of UK Prime Minister and Tory party leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
. Cameron's father, Ian Donald Cameron, was born in the house in 1932. Geddes made his fortune in Chicago in the US in the trading of grain in the 1850's, and a safe belonging to him which survived the Great Fire of Chicago was installed in the house's Billiard Room. During WWII, the house was used as a military HQ for a group of Auxiliary Volunteers (later known as the Caithness Secret Army).
After the school's closure, Blairmore House was run as a private hunting lodge for a number of years. The building is now used as a prayer and intercession training school run by an evangelical Christian group, the Ellel Ministries.
Blairmore House is now a Grade C listed building.