With the end of 2024 approaching, Mrs Karen McDonald, Director of External Relations, reflects on our most recent history, our 900^th anniversary year, for the final instalment of HSOG History.  

Pictured above: pupils performing at the Nine Lessons and Carols service at Glasgow Cathedral on Monday 16th December 2024.

A celebration of 900 years of HSOG

No other school in Scotland can lay claim to 900 years of continuous education, and therefore 900 years’ worth of history, and so we felt it fitting to host a year-long calendar of events to appeal to as many members of our school community as possible, bringing them together in celebration and reflection.  

Across 2024 we held 12 events attended by over 5,000 people, with former pupils from all corners of the globe including the United States, Canada and Australia in attendance. We even heard news of former pupils organising their own celebrations in places as far-flung as South Africa proving that the High School spirit transcends time zones and borders! 

January

The 900^th celebrations commenced in style at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Musuem with the Gala Homecoming Dinner on Saturday 20^th January.  

Two poignant highlights from the evening included a rousing rendition of the School Song, played on Kelvingrove’s iconic organ by former pupil, David Brown (Class of 1991), who travelled all the way from Australia to attend. Proving an emotional moment for many guests, singing the school song in unison after many years, it was a testament to the sense of community and friendship forged at HSOG.  

Additionally, the then recently retired Minister of Drumchapel St Andrew’s Church, John Purves, delivered the evening’s Grace. John has maintained a close connection to the School and represented the earliest chapters of our School’s history as he had, at the time, recently taken up a role at Glasgow Cathedral. 

On the night, £45,000 was raised for the 900 Campaign, which officially launched the following week. The combination of a live auction hosted by Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay, a silent auction, raffle and a Hidden Gem competition generously provided by Laings contributed to the sum raised. 

Through the 900 Campaign, we aim to honour our School’s motto, Sursum Semper (Ever Upwards), and ensure that we continue to evolve, improve and adapt to keep pace with the ever-changing world. The campaign is fundraising for the School’s Bursary Fund, to further develop START – a design-thinking and entrepreneurship programme launched at HSOG, and to ensure our campuses are environmentally friendly places of learning.  

Throughout 2024, we have been overwhelmed by the support, commitment and enthusiasm we have received from our global community of donors, which comprises former pupils and staff, current and former High School families, current staff and friends of the School. We extend our sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you as it is through your continued support that we shall ensure The High School of Glasgow’s beacon will burn brightly for many generations of young learners to come. 

February

At the end of February, as the winter frost started to thaw, 200 pupils from Senior 2, Transitus and Junior 5 donned their gardening gear and headed out to Cathkin Braes with the aim of planting 900 trees. Equipped with spades and saplings, the group far exceeded their target and instead planted an impressive 3,600 trees (four multiples of 900)!

This afforded pupils the opportunity to create a lasting legacy to benefit the City of Glasgow, whose name coincidentally derives from the Gaelic for ‘dear green place’. 

The significance of planting trees can be connected with our School’s crest, the lower portion of which is identical to that of the City of Glasgow’s in a nod to our Town School roots. Here the symbols of the city’s origin can be seen: the bird, the bell, the tree and the fish, all attributed to legends of the city’s patron saint, St Mungo. 

March

High School sports stars turned out in force for the Sporting Festival on Saturday 23^rd March. Former pupils and their families, alongside current pupils and staff donned their rugby boots or picked up their hockey sticks to participate in some hotly contested matches. 

April

The next date for the diary was 19^th April, which saw around 200 members of the HSOG community gathering together in Glasgow City Chambers for a Civic Reception, hosted by Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren together with Glasgow City Council.  

Civic receptions are typically held for a number of reasons, including marking city-wide organisations of either 50 years or centenaries thereafter of their founding. With 2024 marking nine centuries of the High School, and our close connections to the City, it was fitting to be afforded the chance to mark this milestone in this way. 

Music was woven throughout the evening with guests captivated by a performance from clarsach player Maya K M (S4) and a repertoire from the Chamber Choir paying homage to the School’s Choir School roots. 

May

With summer in full swing, on Friday 31^st May current and former staff members descended on Old Anniesland for the Staff & Former Staff Homecoming Gathering where we welcomed many individuals from different chapters in our School’s more recent history, including some colleagues who taught at our former boys’ school on Elmbank Street. 

June

Marking not only the end of the 2023/24 session, but the mid point of our 900^th anniversary year, June played host to two events! 

First up was HSOGFest on Saturday 1^st June, which saw the grounds at Old Anniesland transform into a festival of fun reminiscent of the much-loved Midsummer Madness of the past. Organised by the Parent Association and parent volunteers, including Victoria Paterson, it was thanks to the tireless of efforts of these individuals that the day was such a success attracting more than 1,500 members of HSOG’s community including current families, former pupils and their families and staff. 

Towards the end of session, the Music Department showcased the spectacular talents of our pupils with the Whole School Gala Concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Monday 17^th June. 

In a fitting tribute to the School’s Choir School roots, over 300 pupils from Junior 4 to Senior 6 took to the Concert Hall’s iconic stage to perform a carefully curated show which had been months in the making by the Music Department. 

The audience were treated to performances from each of the established choirs in the School: the Junior 4 to Junior 6 Choir, the Transitus to Senior 2 Choir, the Senior 3 to Senior 6 (and staff) Choir and the Chamber Choir, alongside performances from the award-winning Pipe Band, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band and String Ensemble.  

Each performance was outstanding, however, the highlight of the evening was a rousing Finale recital of Highland Cathedral, arranged and kindly lent to the School by Martin Thomson, featuring every single musician and singer from across the evening. 

September

With a new session underway, excitement was building for the 900km sponsored cycle in aid of the Bursary Fund, an epic endurance challenge which saw our peloton of HSOG cyclists pedal an incredible 900km from Drewsteignton, Devon (chosen as the starting destination to pay homage to Drewsteignton School on Ledcameroch Road which now houses our Junior School) to Old Anniesland. 

Crossing the start line on 17^th September, our cyclists traversed terrain in England, Wales and Scotland over the course of nine days where they experienced the UK’s autumnal weather in all its forms. 

In total, 11 members of staff took part in the cycle, with Mrs Jane Armstrong (Teacher of Maths) and Mr Tom Lyons (Teacher of English and Duke of Edinburgh Manager) completing the entire 900km cycle – an incredible feat! 

Day nine, the final leg of the challenge, saw the peloton making a pilgrimage back to the site of the School’s founding, Glasgow Cathedral, on 25^th September. From here, they headed for their final destination: the Senior School in Old Anniesland where they were greeted by a welcome party of pupil Pipers and a pupil and staff Guard of Honour who cheered our champions home!  

Running in tandem with the 900km sponsored cycle was the High School’s very first Giving Day! This 36-hour online celebration of giving shone a spotlight on the 900 Campaign, and the importance of the Bursary Fund in particular. Starting at 8am on Tuesday 24th September and running until 8pm on Wednesday 25th September, stories and testimonials from Bursary recipients and donors alike were shared, bringing to life the transformational impact of a High School education.  

We raised £92,000 (including Gift Aid) for the 900 Campaign thanks to the collective efforts of our global school community who got involved in support of Giving Day. A special mention must be made to two former pupils who generously contributed additional funds in the form of challenge and match funding. Whilst our match funding enabled all donations up to the value of £25,000 to be matched pound for pound, our challenge funding encouraged some friendly competition amongst our donors, particularly the House themed challenges! 

Just one day after Team HSOG crossed the finish line of the 900km cycle, it was time for the High School’s Annual Commemoration and Thanksgiving Service on 26^th September. A much-loved staple in the school calendar, the event took on greater significance this year and was made even more special thanks to the attendance of our littlest learners from Junior 1 to Junior 3, which will undoubtedly form some of their earliest school memories. 

The Service itself was conducted by Rev Mark Johnstone, with a thought provoking and entertaining Address delivered by former pupil The Very Rev Dr David Lacy (Class of 1969).  

As is important in occasions of this stature, the School Song was sung with great gusto, before excerpts of the School’s history were delivered by Rector, Mr John O’Neill, and School Captains Estella L and Ruaridh M. This was followed by Mr Roderick Macpherson, the Unicorn Pursuivant, taking to the lectern to detail how the High School came to be granted its Coat of Arms by the Lord Lyon on 8th February 1919. 

October

With the nights drawing in, our Whole School Expressive Arts Exhibition brought with it a showcase of artwork in a range of mediums created by pupils from Junior 1 through to Sixth Year. The works on display included collages, still life sketches, paintings, screen prints, textiles, product design and sculptures, to name a few. 

The exhibition was well-attended by current High School families, former pupils and staff and featured live pupil performances including singing, piano playing and clarsach, with guests sampling canapés created and served by our Third and Fourth Year Health and Food Technology pupils. 

Mr Peter Gilchrist (former Head of Art at the Senior School from 1986 to 2015) was guest of honour for the evening and gave a keynote speech reflecting on the changes he witnessed, and was instrumental in, across the School’s Art Department during his 28-year tenure. Not least of which was the creation of the light-filled Art Department studios that pupils benefit from to this day. 

November

Throughout November, items were gathered to be buried in a time capsule which will act as a lasting legacy of the 900-year history of the High School to be discovered in years to come. Plans are underway for the time capsule to be buried in the early stages of 2025. 

December

The final month of the year brought with it not only the end of the Autumn Term but the conclusion of our 900^th anniversary celebrations in 2024.  

We felt it fitting that this should be held at Glasgow Cathedral, the site of our founding. Taking place on 16^th December, the last Monday of term, we hosted a special service of Nine Lessons and Carols. 

The congregation of 600 people included current and former pupils and staff, parents and friends of the High School. Guests heard nine of the best known and loved bible passages about the birth of Jesus, which were interspersed with carols. They also enjoyed performances by the Chamber Choir, the Upper Voices Choir (Transitus to Senior 3), the Junior 4 to Junior 6 Choir and the String Ensemble.  

To get everyone in the festive spirit, guests were encouraged to sing along to a selection of much-loved Christmas carols as part of the Congregational Choir. To view a selection of the images from the night, please scroll through the Flickr gallery below.

Conclusion

As I reflect on the year that has been, I am humbled by the generosity of spirit shown by the HSOG Community. Many of you have taken time out of your busy lives to attend our events and many of you have donated to the 900 Campaign, helping to uphold the great tradition of giving at HSOG. A tradition which stopped the School being consigned to the history books in the 1970s and formed the foundation of the vibrant place of learning we are today. 

Organising this year-long calendar of events and launching a fundraising campaign requires two types of work: hard work and teamwork and the External Relations team, alongside the 900 Campaign Chair, Mr Colin Mair, and Deputy Chair, Neil Watson, have worked tirelessly to ensure 900 years of HSOG have been suitably celebrated in 2024. 

With its ambitious targets, the 900 Campaign will continue beyond our 900^th anniversary year as we strive to raise the high tradition and pass it glorious on creating a lasting legacy from this year. 

Community is one of the School’s values and it’s at the heart of everything that drives the External Relations team. More than anything, this year has reinforced to me the power of the HSOG Community and what we can do when we come together. This is a year few of us will forget. Sursum Semper. 

Karen McDonald
Director of External Relations