Week of celebration as Ayr pupils mark milestone

Feb 6 2009

AN AYR school is exactly half the age of Robert Burns.

And Holmston Primary next week celebrates its 125th anniversary.

That’s 125 years in the present building – but the school can trace its roots back much further.

For it still bears a plaque on its walls saying Smith’s Institution.

Captain John Smith was a sea-going man who in 1824 left a legacy for a school to be set up for the poor children of Ayr.

The school was originally in Loudoun Hall, the oldest surviving building in the Auld Toun.

It later moved into premises in Smith Street, a thoroughfare named after the captain. But by the1880s there was quite a lot of noisy industry in the area, including a tannery and the railway station.

A nice new orchard site was identified across the railway line.

It was beside what was then called the Cumnock Road, as it hadn’t yet been named Holmston Road.

It was built in 1883 in red Ballochmyle sandstone to match the newly constructed County Hospital.

And the new Smith’s Institution opened in January, 1884.

The Station Hotel, also in red sandstone, followed in 1885.

And more red sandstone was used to develop Burns Statue Square in the 1890s.

These fine buildings gave Ayr its distinctive look.

Tom Burnett has been head teacher at Holmston Primary for 24 years now.

He said: “Our celebration is really taking off. Pupils and staff will be in Victorian costume all week.

“Back in 1884, the head teacher and 300 children marched from Smith Street to the new school. And we’re going to recreate that on Monday, February 9.

“Then on Tuesday we’re having an open day when families and ex-pupils are welcome to drop in.

“Our concert is on Wednesday, February 11, at 6.30pm in Ayr Town Hall.

“It was originally to be in the school, then the Auld Kirk hall.

“But it has grown to such an extent that we’re going into the Town Hall.”

Provost Winnie Sloan and John Scott MSP are among the guests.

And Maureen Watt MSP, Scottish minister for schools and skills, is coming along.

Mr Burnett said: “The concert will feature items from our history, including traditional songs and playground games.”

There’s Burns recitals and a morning of dance on Thursday, with a Burns Supper to follow.