This is an extract from a School Log Book from an entry written 115 years ago. Taken from the pages of High Blantyre School diary on Hunthill Road, it dates to December 1906. The words on page 116 include a transcript of a story from the ‘Hamilton Advertiser’ newspaper which reported a celebratory presentation made to a model pupil incredibly in recognition of nine years attendance at school without one day’s absence!
The presentation made by the School Board to Miss Minnie Ritchie, daughter of David Ritchie, a joiner and consisted of a gold watch for her perfect attendance. Now, normally, that would have made a nice story to put up here on the page. However, we can take this a step further thanks to connections with the growing Blantyre Project which links articles to one another. With thanks to Alex Bowie who once sent me several photos of Minnie, we have a picture of her to accompany the story.
Minnie was born in 1892 and died in 1989. From the various photos Alex sent me of Minnie, from a baby to an older lady, this one best fits this story. I’ve taken a punt that the girl in the picture is around 14 or 15 years old but frustratingly I cant see her wrists if she’s wearing her gold watch!
Reflecting on what Minnie accomplished as a child, this was indeed a worthy presentation. The log entry confirms she attended school for 3,751 days from 23rd November 1897 to 23rd November 1906 without missing one day!
What a great story and a beautiful picture Paul, thanks for sharing as well, I wonder what happened to this amazing young woman, obviously studious, what did she accomplish later in life?