Memories of a childhood in wartime Leith. The trials and tribulations of the period, allied to the camaraderie of the community in facing up to an uncertain future made a lasting impression on John Stewart.

At Leith Academy there was a teacher called Mr Bathgate who was a corporal punishment enthusiast. I was never a pupil of this person, but I was still a victim of his sadistic use of the belt.

A red faced individual, with lips that earned him the name of 'rubber lips', he was often the teacher in charge of the doorway as we entered first thing in the morning from the playground. All pupils of the first three years had to assemble in their class lines before entering the building in orderly fashion.

In the first these lines were controlled instance by sixth year students. These seniors had the power to enforce punishment on miscreants by way of 'lines'. This was the writing out of certain word sentences for a specific number of times as the senior thought fitted the 'crime'.

If you failed to complete this task by the following day, you were reported to the teacher in charge, Mr Bathgate. He would then belt you and demand that you complete the sentence as required.

Other times if the senior thought lines were not the required punishment, then you would be withdrawn from the line-up and made to wait alongside him while your classmates entered the building.

Then you would be taken to Mr Bathgate's classroom where he would inflict the belt. This in turn meant you would be late for your register class. This sometimes meant further belting from the other teacher for being late for class.

Having said all this, I don't think any of us ever held long time resentment for all the beatings. I don't think it ever gave us a complex to take into adulthood.

Leith Academy 'Norwegian Choir' 1948. It comprised girls from the 2nd year up to and including the 6th Year. Olive Jamieson is the smallest, 6th from the left. She was to become my wife in 1957. She sadly died in 1998.

Headed by the Rector, Dr Mackie, a gentle man if ever there was one, Leith Academy boasted many fine teachers in their chosen subjects.

Miss Neill, 'Maggie Moe' who taught English loved reciting onomatopoeia. Miss Ure, taught French and was our register teacher. Miss Nicolson, who taught Science, had the top off one of her fingers missing from a 'gone wrong' experiment.

The Geography teacher, Mr Herkes was a stentorian with a soft touch to his nature. Miss Jackson, 'Beenie', taught Art on the top floor. There were no elevators so that required considerable effort on her part to reach her classroom. An elderly and somewhat bulky soul, she must have found the trudge a bit tiresome.

Miss Puntis took us for music. I had the good fortune to visit her some four years ago along with my late wife, also an ex pupil of hers. We are still in 'Christmas Card' contact.

Mr Bigam, the P.E. teacher was an ex army man who brought his discipline along to the school and Miss Currie took the girls' for P.E.

Mr Todd, 'Sweeny', taught Science and was also a member of the school orchestra and other teachers I remember are Miss Moffat, Miss Keddie, Mr Robertson, Mr Cox, Miss Ross, the list is endless.

John Stewart, 2001