EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS The history of Dollar Academy
The school was founded by the Rev. Andrew Mylne, a leading educationalist of his day, following a bequest by Captain John McNabb, a local who was born in 1732 to a poor family, but who made his fortune at sea. McNabb captained, owned and leased out many ships over the decades and it is known that four voyages transported slaves to the West Indies in 1789-91, forty years before the Abolition Act of 1833.
The school believes that it is important to recognise this aspect of its history, and pupils are taught openly about McNabb’s link to slavery in several subjects in the Senior School. In order to understand the exact extent of John McNabb’s involvement, further research was
commissioned, in collaboration with leading external advisors, in 2019. When this research is concluded, the school will consider various future courses of action. Once completed, it will help them to better understand this part of their history so that it can play an important educational role. To be clear, Dollar Academy abhors slavery in all its forms.
John McNabb died in 1802 and, in his will, he specified that the interest on half his estate was to provide “a Charity or School for the parish of Dollar and shire of Clackmannan where I was born.” There were long legal delays until 1815 when the eminent educationalist Rev. Andrew Mylne was appointed Minister of the Parish by local landowner Craufurd Tait. They conceived of a great academy to educate the boys and girls of Dollar parish, and also pupils from outside Dollar, who would board with teachers. To attract pupils from outside the parish, excellent teachers would be appointed.
The Founding of Dollar Academy
In 1818, Rev. Mylne was appointed Rector of the new Academy, and the top Scottish architect William Playfair was commissioned to design the building. One of the first things to strike visitors arriving at the school is the impressive Doric facade. The grand neo-classical design sets an inspirational tone for pupils and teachers alike. Visitors to Edinburgh's Royal Scottish Academy or National Galleries might recognise his distinctive style.
Playfair also designed the fine houses for teachers and boarders
in Academy Place. In 1832 an Infant School was started, accepting children from the age of three. As a result of the school’s growing popularity, more accommodation was needed. Several classrooms and a large school hall were added in 1868 and a gymnasium in 1893. The Prep School was built in 1937.
The War Years Sacrifice, Strife and Success
The Academy and its community were no exception to the immense loss suffered as a result of World War I. No fewer than 164 former pupils and staff gave their lives. World War II brought with it further sacrifice, with a total of 76 fatalities. Between the two wars Dollar was hit by financial difficulties and was temporarily run by the county council. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of former pupils, however, the school was returned to an independent board of governors in May 1934.
The Rebuilding after ‘The Great Fire’
In 1961, a catastrophic fire totally destroyed the interior of the Playfair Building. All the classrooms and the library with its 12,000 books were lost. Locals and staff rallied to help, and teaching continued in the Prep School, Harviestoun Castle, local halls and even in private houses. The inside of the Playfair Building was reconstructed on three floors instead of the original two and finally re-opened in 1966. In the years that followed, new buildings and facilities were added. These included the Games Hall, the Swimming Pool, the Dining Hall, the new Music Department and Auditorium (the Gibson Building), the Computing and Mathematics Centre (the Younger Building) and the Home Economics Centre (the Iona Building).
More recent years have seen the addition of three new science labs, extensions to the Prep School and the opening of the Maguire Building with its facilities for Art, Physical Education and Drama, as well as the circular Captain’s Room for conferences and meetings. The all-weather surface for
hockey and tennis saw its first matches in 2009, and all three boarding houses were completely refurbished in 2011. The Westwater Building, home to the Languages Department, was completed in 2015 and is named in honour of one of the five Dollar pupils who died at Gallipoli 100 years earlier.
Who are you? Robert (Rab) Meldrum.
Family status? Single dad with a daughter (14) and son (13).
Who’s your hero and why? Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who had an absolutely outstanding mind.
What’s been the highlight of your grounds career so far? Visit of Princess Anne.
If your younger self saw you now, what would they think? Really!? Yeah, okay then.
Which famous people wind you up? Would not call him famous, but Piers Morgan.
What job would you love, other than your own? HGV Driver (previously had a licence).
What is your favourite film? Predator. What scares you? Heights. What is your favourite sport? Darts. What would you cast into Room 101? Donald Trump.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Barack Obama, Gordon Ramsay, Ian Munro (current Rector of Dollar Academy)
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? From my previous boss Lee Spendlove - ‘Rab, you can do it’.
What’s your favourite smell? Newly cut grass.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Led Zeppelin - Remasters, Motorhead - No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith, Fleetwood Mac - Rumours.
What’s your favourite piece of kit? John Deere 3235.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Annoying, forgetful, approachable.
What talent would you like to have? To be able to play the electric guitar or the drums.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Everyone should have a rescue labrador or German shepherd and be allowed to take them to work. Thankfully I can.
PC October/November 2020 85 Getting Personal
Robert (Rab) Meldrum - We heard a rumour that he likes heavy rock!
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