Some say our school days are the best of our lives.
When we are studying, most of us hate the very mention of school but, once we leave, you can’t help but feel nostalgic and rekindle special memories.
We have been searching high and low in the DC Thomson archives to find retro pictures of classes, school trips and sports teams from Craigie High School.
These striking old photos span five decades – from the 1970s to the noughties – and they are sure to stir some fond memories for former pupils.
So let’s go back to school for a trip down memory lane!
The 1970s
Where it all began!
Craigie High School opened its doors to pupils in August 1970.
Work on the building continued until the official opening in December 1970 by former Dundee Lord Provost Sir Garnet Wilson who was accompanied by Lady Wilson.
Duffle coats and carrier bags to the fore here!
Craigie High School’s subway opened along at Monymusk in November 1972.
The subway would enable pupils living in Douglas to get across the Arbroath Road safely and our image shows youngsters walking through it for the first time.
Check out some of these hairstyles.
Up next is this snap from 1973 and these Craigie High pupils are celebrating after victory in the Dundee schools under-15 pre-season football tournament.
They all look mighty pleased with themselves and rightly so!
Fast-forward to 1974.
The subway quickly became a target for graffiti including gang slogans.
A community response was scrambled and teenagers from Craigie High got to work in squads of 25 with brightly-coloured paint to turn the tables on the vandals!
Our final image from the 1970s is from the Dundee Spring Chess Congress.
Craigie High hosted the 1975 event and that’s where we find these pupils deep in thought at the heart of battle as they ponder their next move!
The 1980s
This picture from 1980 of Derek Parkin has got us all shook up!
He grew up listening to Elvis records in his house and became a huge fan.
The 15-year-old devotee then dyed his blond hair and got a signature black quiff although it is unknown whether he wore blue suede shoes in the classroom!
This looks like a scene from Sid Waddell’s classic Jossy’s Giants.
Of course it’s the Craigie High under-16 boys’ team pictured before a match.
Do you recognise any of the teenagers in this football line-up from September 1983?
These pupils were getting ready to sing at the school’s Christmas concert in 1987.
It’s fair to say that some look more nervous than others ahead of the performance!
Were you there when these pupils were hitting the festive notes?
Another success story for the school as the decade closes.
These pupils were winners of the Skene Young Enterprise Award in May 1989.
The awards ran annually until 2003 when they were incorporated into the Scottish Executive’s National Enterprise in Education Awards in 2004.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This was the Discovery Dome which was a display of scientific experiments and equipment commonly used in schools which visited the Craigie in June 1989.
Holding the mirror full of dignitaries are pupils Caroline Harvey, Ashley Johnston, Jenny Howden, Jayne Jeffery, Katy Ballantine and Carol Adamson.
The 1990s
Charity has always been at the heart of school life over the decades.
In December 1990 these pupils and staff took part in a dress as you please day with all proceeds going towards Aids and HIV research.
The city had one of the highest levels of HIV infection among injecting drug users and its own dedicated ward at King’s Cross to care for patients.
Our picture from December 1991 is from the Craigie High Open Day which was held to mark the school’s 21st birthday and former pupils were invited to attend.
They were being shown around the chemistry class but thankfully that Bunsen burner wasn’t being used to light the candles on the birthday cake!
This lot certainly scrub up well!
The group of pupils were showing off their new school attire in August 1993.
We wonder if any of them still have that jumper tucked away in a drawer somewhere?
Read all about it!
These pupils were taking part in regional newspaper day at the school in June 1993.
Did anyone go on to have a career in the media?
These girls were cooking up a storm for a good cause.
They were running a soup kitchen to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need.
Did it taste as good as it looks?
The noughties
Welcome to the noughties.
We start in 2002 and the school is holding its annual cross-country championship in what were described as sunny but blustery conditions.
Did the lad in the Bonetti-era Dark Blues top manage to hold on for victory?
A trip to foreign climes is always a highlight of life at school.
Back in 2003, staff and pupils headed off on the bus for a week-long trip to France.
Can you spot anyone you know in this image of the group before they departed?
From au revoir to auf wiedersehen, pet!
Back in 2004, these pupils threw on hard hats at the Making It In Scotland event at the Caird Hall where sweet treats also appeared to be on the menu.
Can anyone remember what this was all about?
Back in 2005 these eight Craigie High School pupils were setting off for London alongside staff members Rosemary Chivers and Robert Lindsay.
They were embarking on a three-day drama trip to the Big Smoke.
Did any of these pupils go on to tread the boards themselves in the future?
Our final image takes us to September 2021.
Here was the Craigie High team which finished second in the Scottish School’s Hydrogen Challenge regional final.
The challenge was to build the best efficient hydrogen-powered Lego vehicle in under two hours and we think they did a fantastic job.
Another memorable moment in the 52-year history of this famous school.
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