Sent to Mars via Dundee
Members of the North Berwick group Regal, Retired Gentlemen are Living, heard about a sailing ship which became a school for children in the late 19th century.
The story of the redundant vessel ‘Mars’ in Dundee was outlined by Bill Miller who entitled his talk ‘A City and a Ship.’
He explained that conditions in the city in the late 19th century caused hundreds of children to be isolated from home. Many were orphans and kept company with people of ill repute, and morality was at an all time low.
Mr Miller said the authorities took the decision to bring a redundant sailing ship to Dundee and convert it into an Industrial School for children who needed a home and discipline. Training classes in many subjects made the boys acceptable to the Royal Navy and fit for employment.
This, Mr Miller said, was a success story but came to an end in 1929 when the Scottish Home Office became responsible for education and the Ragged Schools and Industrial Schools didn’t suit their particular demands.
He was thanked for his interesting talk.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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