Mairi shares her thoughts on what's changed - and what hasn't - at St George's as she returns to teach in the PE department:

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"I started at St George's in September 1967 in P1, and left in 1980 at the end of U6.  I returned in 1986 to teach part time in the PE department and as a part-time Boarding House Mistress.  (This overlapped with my sister Isla being at the school, which was interesting.....she always refused to call me Miss Macdonald but used to ask for "my sister" when she came into PE)!
 
I have an older sister Seonaid (Class of 1978); Isla is the younger one (Class of 1985) - she was head girl in '85.

5 things that haven't changed:
 
1.  That wonderful 'old smell' in the history corridor. It's hard to describe, but all OGs know it and will recognise it!  It brings back memories of my higher history lessons with Mrs Clanchy and my L6 classroom.

2.  The steps up onto the stage in the main hall.  They were, and I have to say still are, terrifying!  We were always convinced that we were going to trip up or down them so held onto the wall for grim death.  The worst experience was on our final speech day when faced with heels and the steps.

3.  The old wooden box in the senior gym and the ropes.  A friend once decided to climb inside the box and hide during a PE lesson.  It took a while for the teacher to realise but the giggles from the culprit and class gave it away.

4.  I'm glad to see the original roller boards on the walls of some of the classrooms.

5.  The feeling as you walk the corridors of the school and talk to staff and girls IS EXACTLY the same...... warm, friendly, welcoming with a real community spirit.  This certainly hasn't changed a bit.
 
5 things that have changed:
 
1.  A major change is the removal of the Sports' noticeboard outside the main hall.  This was where we all rushed to on team announcement days and basically where we gathered all the time. 
 
2.  The cupboard outside and to the left of the main hall used to be a pay telephone box (remember them?).  Whenever one of the gang was absent from school the rest of us would squeeze in there at break times to phone them.  When absent from school you really looked forward to this phone call!
 
3.  What is now the Upper School staff room was a relatively new library.  As U5, we were lucky to have a library period first thing on a Monday morning so would all sit around the central tables and catch up with all the gossip and the social activities of the past weekend.  Very little work was ever done on a Monday morning!!
 
4.  Our dining room was at the top of the stairs where the library now is.  The room opposite was a less formal small dining room. 
 
5.  The uniform has changed a great deal.  We were subjected the the itchiest, navy blue tweed skirts with matching coats.  They cost an arm and a leg, and stank when they got wet.  Hats were interesting as well, especially the summer straw one which turned green and pointed when wet!  I'm glad the see the rust cardigan is still here".