In September, we were delighted to be visited by a former Catrine pupil, Mrs Margaret Boyd (nee Wotherspoon). Mrs Boyd’s grandson had been working in the school and had noticed his Nanny’s name on the Dux board. The Catrine Public School board, containing the names of pupils who were awarded the John Reid JP of Avalon Dux Medal from 1938 to 1965, is proudly displayed in our school hall.
Mrs Boyd was visiting Catrine with her son and it was lovely to be able to show her the board, which contains both her name, as the Dux winner in 1946 and her older sister’s name, Anna Wotherspoon, who was the Dux winner in 1944.
Mrs Boyd’s son told us that her visit to Catrine had prompted his mum to jot down some notes about her Catrine childhood.
Mrs Boyd started Catrine Primary School in 1937, when the primary school was in the current ECC building. The Headmistress was Miss Begg, who was in charge for many years and was very popular. Mrs Boyd said the ‘children loved her and would run to meet her on the way to school so they could carry her bag! We would use a slate and slate pencil back then, and would share reading books, with a new reading book being a real treat!’
She attended Catrine Secondary School, leaving school in 1946 to start work in the sewing room of the Bleach Works (where the whisky bond is now). The cotton made at the Mill was taken to the Bleach Works where it was cleaned, in preparation for being sold.
As a child, Mrs Boyd lived in the middle of the village, with her father owning a pub called ‘The Crown Inn’ in St Germain Street, which later became a horse and cart business which delivered the coal to the coal miners families throughout the year.
We are very proud that we were able to meet with Mrs Boyd and share a wee bit of Catrine history with her.
