School History
The first Trinity High School was situated in the former Gateside School building in Hamilton Road Cambuslang. The building is now functioning as part of Cambuslang College. The first pupils started attending the school in 1971/2. Prior to the opening of Trinity High School, pupils travelled to St. Bride’s in East Kilbride or Holyrood in Glasgow.
The growing demand for pupils to attend Trinity High School in the early years saw a growing dissatisfaction by parents at the lack of facilities in the school. This was partly due to the erection of temporary accommodation in what was previously the school playground. Parental protests at the lack of facilities, coupled with issues over staffing due to industrial action, saw tenders for building a new Trinity school issued in October 1974.
Throughout this difficult time Trinity pupils continued to contribute to the local community in a very positive way. In July 1975 the Rutherglen Reformer carried an article reporting that Trinity High School raised over £3000 for various charities, an admirable tradition carried on in Trinity to this day. The figure raised by the pupils is even more impressive when you consider the prices of groceries at that time. For example, an E3 size packet of Ariel soap powder cost 44p whilst 20 cigarettes cost a mere 46p!
Lanark Council accepted a tender of £1,750,000 for the school to be built on its current site by the firm of Andrew Crouch & Sons Ltd? an English firm with offices in Glasgow. The building process was not without its difficulties, particularly when a young labourer unearthed a skeleton, believed to be that of a former owner of the house on which the school is built. A further problem occurred when an inquisitive young boy entered the building site and fell down a well breaking his leg. Fortunately, the night watchmen heard his cries and he was quickly taken to hospital.
The school was completed in time for the new intake of pupils starting on August 19th 1977. It was built to accommodate 1000 pupils and the Headteacher was Mr Thomas Curran. The ‘old’ Trinity at Hamilton Road continued to be used for First and Second year pupils, with senior pupils attending the new Trinity.
The school is not, as suggested by local legend, built the wrong way round. According to Alex Moyes, a surveyor working on the project, the school was built this way in order that the main entrance had nicer views of the valley! The school also opted for a theatre rather than an assembly hall, believing that it would be of greater benefit to the community. Another extra in the school was the "animal room" which I believe was to be used for producing specimens for Biology lessons. This was, very quickly, halted by the council and the room is now being used for a variety of purposes by the school’s Science Technicians.
Previous Page
S3