We've just completed a very successful Living History week for local schools. Two groups from Walkerburn and St Ronan's Schools travelled back in time to find out about life as an apprentice in late Victorian Innerleithen. Mr Smail, who was conspicuous by his absence on the golf course, was looking for new apprentices for both the Machine Room and the Case Room and a new Office assistant. Miss Mays tested their spelling and hand writing, Mr Murray introduced the potential apprentices to the mysteries of the Case Room and Mr MacGregor insisted that only someone who'd had porridge for breakfast would survive in the Machine Room and at the same time harassed Mr Hope the journeyman printer. Auld Davie the yardman was rarely seen with a brush in his hand but kept interrupting events with messages from impatient customers. In the Office Mr Stephenson arrived to purchase his ticket to South Africa (or should that be the Cape Colony) and regaled the potential apprentices with tales of life in the sunshine.
At the end of the morning Mrs Harrison returned the children to the 21st century. Judging by their faces all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and we'd like to think that they learnt something as well.
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