Hillhead High School War Memorial Trust / Hillhead Sports Club.
As some of you will be aware, the reason Hillhead Sports Club exists is that money was raised following the huge losses in the First World War to create a lasting memorial to those former pupils and staff of Hillhead High School who never came home. Land was acquired at Hughenden for a sports and recreational ground, and it opened on 24th May 1924.
The Memorial Tablets, which can be seen in the “Yill Hoose” sports club bar, were engraved with the names of those former staff and pupils who lost their lives during the Great War. A further panel was added in 1948 to commemorate those lost during the 2nd World War.
The Very Rev. Dr. John Smith made the following statement when he dedicated the WW1 tablets in 1924:
“When, as is natural enough with the passage of years, we incline to take Hughenden for granted simply as our ground, we should do well to ponder on the toll of youth that was its price. Only their renown has come back to us, but their names are deeply graven on the tablets of memory.”
As we approach this year’s Remembrance Day, we hold those who never returned close in our hearts and remember and give thanks for their huge and final sacrifice.
HHWMT / HSC’s remembrance activity for this year was marked by a one minute’s silence before each of the Hills RFC’s home games on Saturday 9th November. Additionally, our Mini rugby young people, adult coaches and parents will observed the silence at 11.00 on Sunday 10th.
Collecting on behalf of the Earl Haig Fund on Saturday was ABLE SEAMAN Jim Lindley-Dawe and ABLE SEAMAN Paul Stewart (pictured in front of the memorial plates), who both serve in Royal Navy Reserve at HMS Dalriada in Govan. Jim is better known as the cricket club’s 1st XI captain.
Lest we forget.
Further historical information is available on Hillhead Sports Club’s website, www.hillheadsportsclub.com
