BRIAN GRACIE says

hi my names brian gracie im a x geilsland boy i was sent there in the 70s becouse of my behaviour before this school i was in and out of places all done me no good i couldnt read or write i was a mental case a no hoper but this school showed me how to work sing as i was a minstral boy while i was at the school i was save but when i was sent home on leave or sent home for good i was into all kinds of troubles then i was sent to borstal training i was like this for years to come in and out of prisons of some kind all the way up to late 1994 when i went through flash backs which lead me to a road accident in 1965 were i was left with a surrviour brain injury with behaviour and personality disorders becouse of my past the school wasent going to take me but they did it was the best thing for me its just a pitty they didnt take me before hand it was the first place that tryed to help i must say im glad the schools still open todaY AND STILL OUT TO HELP THE BOYS if you see mr munro tell him im asking for him and im still crime free since late 1994 so my flash backs was the best thing for me ALL THE BEST GEAILSLAND BOYS DONT GIVE UP AS I DIDNT

Alex Ferguson says

Great to hear of your good memories of Geilsland Brian. I would love to meet you and show you round the school some time. Please get in touch. Alex (Deputy Head)

alex.ferguson@geilsland.org

Roger Griffith says

The NAC Ranger Service and the Friends of Spiers are proud to be in partnership with Geilsland School. Geilsland staff and pupils are helping with the restoration and maintenance of the Spier's Old School Grounds.

daniel higgins says

hi alex i was in geilsland in 1978 i remember mr munrow and mr syanger they helpt me to se life in a diferent way.i herd there was an open day comming up could you give me some info

john campsie says

just came across your site i was also in geilsland shool about 1974 or 1975 helped to built holiday home at balmaha and home on millport as well done a bit of work on the chapel as well is panda lows photo still there r.i.p.panda always remember mr munro mrs wiggins the cook miss elder mr reid mr ruxton . mr munro top guy r.i.p

Alex Ferguson says

Hello John and Daniel. We would love to see you at the school and show you around. Please contact me if you would like to arrange a visit. alex.ferguson@geilsland.org

01505 504044 (ext 268)

Regards

Alex

Chris Munro says

I am Chris Munro - eldest son of Sandy and Shirley Munro - the original headmaster at Geilsland. We live in the US and have read with great interest the recent Beith web site and Geilsland posting from some of the old boys. Now it is a wee bit scary when even i recall some of the names- my old soccer buddies!

My father lives happily in Ayr with my mother and he has read the postings with pride and interest. I have attached a recent photograph of them below - so still alive and kicking! To this day he still talks about the boys, the stories, and has letters and visits from the boys even up to this day. This is an incredible testimony to the school and its lasting value to help changing and improving the  lives of hundreds of boys.

I have many memories as a boy living in the mansion house along with 60 boys who became my buddies. The workshops, the gym and soccer competitions against Morrishill, and of course the legendary Black and White Minstrels playing down in the Beith Community Centre!

My brother Andrew remains in Beith with his family and owns and electrical and contracting compnay, and Stuart and his family reside iin Ayr where he is a business consultant.

Even as i live here is sunny Atlanta USA it will be enjoyable to see the unfolding of so many stories and memories on this page!

andrew munro says

hi, my name is andrew munro. son of "THE BOSS". firstly i would like to intimate to all and those that Mr. Munro is alive and kind of kicking and staying in AYR.. I have been really interested in views and comments from former boys. (blasts from the past ) If truth be told, i am saddened by the state of grounds, buildings etc.,When so much money is being spent on child care, surely the young people deserve to stay in a place that looks and feels comfortable. Not something from a war zone. As for the grounds, i feel the state of them (especially the geilsland road area ) is an utter disgrace. I would be interested if those in charge could take a leaf out of the old rule book and get ALL the boys together and clean the place up , and make the place somewhere to be proud of. I could write a book about "THE GOOD OLD DAYS" at the school but for now i will keep them as memories. P.S. ..Does any old boys remember the dump runs? good times.!!!!

lizann munro says

hia. this is hazel munro...daughter of andrew munro and grandaughter of sandy. i would like to add that although i wasnt around when grampa was headmaster i feel as though i was there at that time as my dad and uncles and gramps have told me sooo many interesting stories that i must say sound very eventful and im sure that the memories will live on forever. :-)

Stuart Munro says

Hi - Stuart Munro here. For those old boys and staff from the past who came into contact with Geilsland School - it always left a lasting impression. For me - Christmas pantomimes; the Fundraising days in Paisley - we used to call them, "Flag Days".

Remember the assault course? - and the race day competitions - or the great storm which blew the massive wall climb down....or who remembers the day trips to Largs in the canoes - and ordering up thirty Fish Suppers and sixty 99 ice creams in Nardinis...the bloke thought he'd won the lottery!!!

There were also the absconders and the court cases - and the trips into the east end of Glasgow at 2am in the morning to pick up "Malky"...but no one will forget the passing of Panda Low - a truly proud and dignified way that the community of Beith rose to respect a life taken so tragically.

Tom Sellers; Ian Neill;Brian Barr; Peter Jamieson...among many boys who became men of substance....who else - Duke - the St Bernard - the rescue dog who was the Geilsland mascot and who then became a great asset too many.

Duncan McCallum; Bill Neil; Bob Ruxton; Larry Huscroft and the numerous personalities who made up the Instructor teams that created new men out of wayward boys. Remember the marches to the Church on Sunday - or the HUGE characters of Rev. Jimmy Currie or the truly courageous Colonel Borwick; the generous Una Howie - the enigmatic Arthur Jamieson.... or Bill Dunlop - the lawyer who stood up...with dad....when many others walked away.

As Andrew and Chris mentioned - mum and dad are still alive and kicking - here is a photo from last year -  a remarkable achievement since both have overcome multiple serious and critical illnesses and operations over the last 30 years. Two people who have clearly touched many hearts in the past - and continue to do so - with a smile, a laugh and a twinkle in the eye!.... NIL ILIGITUMUS CARBORUNDUM....I don't dwell on the past these days - but I hope some of the character of Geilsland from the past may be reignited into the future.....

andrew munro says

Well its great to remember the past times at geilsland , but i feel that we should not forget the future of geilsland. Part of the"new " projects is "the greenhouses" and the geilsland tomatoes. For those who remember... this was an old trade at geilsland.and worked really well. I would therefore urge the powers that be to take time and look at the school the way it was run in the past. I appreciate that rules and regulations have changed somewhat over the years but a little hard graft never hurt anyone ( no pain... no gain ). I am sure that if future projects such as repairing the sports hall fitness area roof or reistating some of the gardens would improve boys self belief and respect for their surroundings.  It would also give the boys self satisfaction that they had achieved something in their time at Geilsland.  I STRONGLY BELIEVE that if projects like these were seen to be done and maintained, then the people of Beith would have a resurrected confidence of a school of this type in their community.  If you need any pointers.....JUST ASK THE BOSS.!

Alex Ferguson says

Wonderful to hear so many happy memories of Geilsland from the past. Particularly good to hear from Andrew, Stuart and Lizann Munro. We are delighted to hear that Sandy Munro is still to the fore - he left such a wonderful legacy here at the school. Sandy was guest of honour at our Celebration of Achievement a couple of years ago. He was impressed at the wonderful qualifications and outcomes that the boys are gaining. Staff are working hard to improve the lives of the young people in our care. I hope that the Munros will always feel welcome to visit Geilsland at any time. Most especially at our end of term functions which celebrate success. Please contact me directly if you would care to do so. Kind regards to you all. Alex

John Wilson says

I was in balrossie List D school in Kilmacolm in 77/78.   I was asked if I wanted to go to Geilsland for the Minstrel Show and went in the minibus with the other lads.

It was the best show that I have ever been to,  The Geilsland boys where brilliant, the costumes great, and I can always remember the flying birds above the stage going back and forward as they were illuminus, what a very enjoyable night I often think of.

I also remember that there was a lot of other List D schools there that night too. great night well done Geilsland Boys, thanks for the memories.  John Wilson

Alex Ferguson says

Thanks for getting in touch John. The minstrel shows were before my time but were legendary. Would love to show you round if you are passing some time. Kind regards. Alex

margaret marshall says

Hya my husband William Marshall was at Geilsland school from sept  1972 to august 1973. He was one of the  minstrells,and in the volleyball team.When he was in the minstrells he played at the Albany hotel in Glasgow. Whe we first started going out in 1974 he took me down to visit Mr Munro with him. He always talks about when he was at Geilsland. What i would like to know if there are any photos of the minstrells at that time as i would love to get copies of them for him  Thank you.   Rita Marshall

andrew munro says

Hi Rita, I am Mr Munros middle son ...Andrew. If you can send me your details on email , I will speak to my dad and see if he has any minstrel photos with your husband in them. My email is : andrew@munroofbeith.co.uk.

ryan griffiths says

hi i was in geilsland for a few years at the turn of the millenium, i had a very troubled childhood and thanks to the staff at geilsland , ( big kenny, wullie nae hair, big sal , good old charlie , etc...), to name but a few, my life was finally sorted out and i was pointed down the right path, allthough after leaving geilsland and heading down to england to live with my sister it took me a while to realise all the hard work that everyone at geilsland had put into helping me on my way to a better life was actully a god send, as i had a few run ins with the law, got involved in drink and drugs, but thanks to geilsland i began to realise that i didnt have to act like a hard man or thug to get respect from people infact all i had to do is present myself properly and show people the real me and not what the local no-marks wanted me to. now i have been married for 5 years and have a beutiful daughter aged 3 , im back home on the shetland isles with a sea view and a 3 bed house, also i am holding down a full time job and supporting my family as i should, many thanks to all at geilsland, and if there is ever anything i could do in return for all the help everyone gave me then i would be honored. thanks again guys good job :)

Drew Lawrie says

Boy was that a thought provoking read.

Ex Geilsland Boy from 74 > late 76, 3 Christmases and 2 birthday's if memory serves me right, let loose on society shortly before my third.

Sandy Munro, you'll always be "The Boss" to me, I can picture you now standing at the top of yon billiard table sporting that red blazer, rosie cheeks with a cig in your hand, commanding the attention of everyone surrounding the table. What a charismatic man you were, bit loopy as well it has to be said, I remember the alarm going off at 2am one morning and while we were all lined up along the road you decided to have us all stripped and rolling in the snow.

I must have known John Campsie as I was at the Balmaha build daily as well, I remember the chocolate biscuit tin in the kitchen fondly.

I recall Big Boog and his younger brother from Glasgow (name escapes me, was it stephen hmm) both did a runner one night and that was the last we saw of them, stole my shoes that night as well from the shoe dookit

Joe Vass (big cheuchter dude from dingwall) he slept in the bed next to me, on the other side was a well fella with glasses nickname "Joe 90", this was in the main house, got moved out to the new build when it was finished.

Willie Innis, he was in the same dorm in the new build, serial bedwetter, I was forever getting woke up with Willie being roused through the night for the toilet.

There are many others in my head but alas without names.

So what memories do I have?

Marching, jeez every bloody day, that Sandy Munro could march you into the ground, left, left, left right left, left. The bit of two by two that helped you learn to march, your sore leg being your left lead leg after getting a whack by it when out of step.

The Sunday stomp into Beith for Church

Big Beastie and his cigars. Met him once down at Irvine harbourside, hadn't a clue who I was but I recognised him instantly.

Sitting in The Boss's office for hours with a plate of runner beans in front of me that I had refused to eat dry boaking my poor wee heart out..... the never did get eaten.

The daily runs to and from Balmaha

Moray, Elgin and an Outward Bound course I got sent on.

Being dumped somewhere in the New Galloway Forest pennyless along with other people with the goal being to be the first to make your way back to Geilsland, did I mention The Boss was a bit loopy? lol

Great meals, we got well fed.

The Christmas shows in beith town, the B&W Minstrels etc The Boss trying to train us to sing in harmony, that was a tuffy Sandy eh

The Geilsland weekend car wash

No doubt there are many more memories, these were just a few.

I look back on Geilsland fondly, it was hard but fair and in hindsight the best interests of the children (which we were) always came first. It could make you laugh and make you cry, I remember The Boss telling some right sad stories around the snooker table.

I left Geilsland and went straight into an apprenticeship that they had arranged for me, I did have a few blips with the law but the good grounding Geilsland gave me and the love of a good woman pulled me through. I married and reared two daughters, both became university graduates and unlike their father, have never been in trouble with the law, a job well done :o) 

Sandy Munro you were an enigma, I never knew what you were going to do or say but what I do know now as an adult, you were a great man who left his mark on me, making me a better person for having crossed paths with you in the walk of life.

Best wishes to everyone with a Geilsland connection.

Drew

Drew Lawrie says

Correction to the above...

Ex Geilsland Boy from 72 > late 74

Couldnt recall Panda Low which I thought was odd then realised the error of my ways.

Andy Harris says

Papers released under the 30-year rule show rising concern throughout 1967 about punishment beatings in approved schools and children's homes, sparked by a government inquiry south of the border and press outrage.
Geilsland, a Church of Scotland-run school in Beith, had the highest number of punishments among the country's 26 approved schools. More than 250 punishments took place in an 18-month period. Mr A Munro, the head, was told there was "no justification for striking or cuffing" and was warned about his behaviour.