Oor Wullie returned to school on Tuesday, ending the rector of Dundee High School’s quest to locate the popular statue.
High School Wullie was unveiled at a dramatic surprise ceremony at the school, shocking staff and pupils alike.
Previously, rector Dr John Halliday had issued a plea for the buyer of the sculpture to get in touch in the pages of The Courier, writing: “We would love to have High School Wullie return to us!
“As his Named Person I have a moral if not yet legal obligation to safeguard the welfare of all our pupils but he has completely disappeared and we fear he has been abducted.”
Staff, pupils, parents and friends had raised £5,000 — plus a £3,000 supplement from a generous parent — to help secure the statue, but they were outbid when it sold for £11,000.
The event this week however, saw pupils lulled into the playground by way of an elaborate plan executed via a false fire alarm.
To cheers around the packed out playground, a van slowly pulled into the school led by several pipers.
Wullie was helped out of the van by head boy, Josh Rawcliffe, head girl, Mhairi Millar, deputy head boy, Lynden Nicely, and deputy head girl, Mariam Alijani, and placed at the top of the school’s steps for all to admire.
Dr Halliday announced to the crowd: “Welcome back Wullie, I hope you’re happy to be here; I’ve got a blazer for you, let’s hope it fits.”
Graham Paterson, a former pupil at the school, outbid the school at the auction but got in contact upon seeing Dr Halliday’s appeal.
The rector said:“We were all really disappointed when we were outbid but delighted to see him back and for such a good cause and to raise so much money.
“It was wonderful to see the children so excited as Wullie’s return was a complete surprise.”
