I had a big disconnect between my primary school and secondary school. At primary we had Scottish dancing, Scots poetry and song.
Then at secondary we had no Scottish history, culture or music at all. Only English literature, history and music. Quite a strange disconnect.
Then I attended college down the cobbled royal mile Edinburgh, and wondered about all the history here – the Canongate Kirkyard, John Knox house, St Giles, Holyrood, the Grassmarket – and the castle. We used to go to the military tattoo there every year.
Going to secondary school Edina, I travelled across the town by bus via princes street. On the top deck there were many teenagers in brightly coloured blazers who spoke with posh English accents. In Edina around 25% of children attend private schools.
No it wasn’t and isn’t an integrated melting pot at all. But a stiff social hierarchy. Back in the 60s though, young people had more options to go to study. Houses were built to offer greater social mixing – but that doesn’t succeed. When people feel without things in common many put up defensive barriers.
Visiting Holyrood palace I picked up a small book on the Stuart kings of Scotland. I was fascinated by the Scots history and stories. I visited the Scottish national galleries, with their many portraits of Scottish royalty. My parents were from Northern Ireland, so I was very confused, as no doubt they were too.
