A Family Connection 100 Years On

Eleanor Mackinnon was part of the Class of 1929, making her connection to Albyn especially meaningful as we celebrate 100 years on Queen’s Road. Eleanor attended the school during the very year it moved to our current location, creating a special link between our past and present. We were delighted to meet with Eleanor's family recently whilst they were holidaying in the area.

We learnt that Eleanor had been a significant contributor to the school magazine between 1926 and 1929, and thanks to some research by our archivist, Helen Macpherson, we were able to share her poetry and prose with Euan, including her experiences of doing prelims (it seems, they were no more enjoyable then than they are today) and her fondness for the school. Eleanor was also president of the Debating Society and Secretary of the Sports Committee.

After leaving Albyn, Eleanor went on to study Dentistry, a profession that was still relatively uncommon for women to enter in 1929. Her achievements reflected the confidence, determination and curiosity that Albyn has long sought to inspire in its pupils.

During their visit, Euan and Rosemary toured the school, revisiting the classrooms and hallways that Eleanor would once have known so well nearly a century ago, while also seeing the many new spaces and developments that have shaped Albyn over the years as the school has continued to grow and evolve.

David Starbuck, Head of Albyn School, said:

“It was a pleasure to hear about Eleanor’s life and to show Mr Kennedy the rooms and hallways that his mother would have been in 100 years ago. As we continue our Queen’s Road 100 celebrations, moments like these remind us of the generations of good people who have helped to shape the Albyn story.”