rectors

1984 - 2000 Mr. C. M. O'Brien.
Mr O'Brien joined CHS in 1984 and faced both problems and opportunities resulting from the continual change in education in the 1980s and '90s. Mr O'Brien also faced the transition for the exam systems, from "ordinary" grades to "standard" grades etc. He announced his retirement from the school just before the Christmas break in 1999 to take up a new position as a Councillor in Stirling. His Depute Rector, Stuart Young took over as Rector in Mid 2000.

1968 - 1984 Mr. J. T. Robertson.
1968 saw the arrival of Mr Robertson as Rector of Clydebank High School. He oversaw major changes in the education system, most of all comprehensivisation. CHS became one of four comprehensives in the area. He also oversaw the building of the school extensions, most notably, the "tower block" as it is now known. Mr Robertson came to CHS with the reputation of an impresario. This reputation grew with plays like "Everybody out!" and "The Wizard of Awe". His shows ensured that all pupils were able to contribute whether they were musical or not. Another claim to fame was that he wrote "The Bash Street Kids", and this was the talk of the school during the seventies.

1964 - 1968 Mr. W. Manning.

Mr William Manning was a long-serving member of the Clydebank High School staff. He took over the school as Rector in 1964, but his period as Rector was to be short lived, Mr Manning died in 1968.

1946 - 1964 Dr. T. Davidson.

Dr Davidson oversaw the transition from the Miller street building into the present site of CHS on Shelley Drive / Janetta Street. He faced many problems, his school role in 1950 was 1300 pupils although building work was not complete! This was eased in 1958 with the opening of Braidfield High School. He retired in 1964.

Credit for the content of this page must go to Dr. C. Watson of the History Department. All the information above came from his book, "Clydebank High School, 1873 - 1998".

1942 - 1946 Mr. M. McLaren.

Mr McLaren took over in 1942 in the middle of WW2, he had the problem of the Clydebank Blitz, where the old building on Kilbowie Road was destroyed and his Miller Street School was badly damaged. To make things worse, his new School on Shelley Drive had been hit by a parachute mine also. He retired in 1946.

1941 - 1942 Mr. A. Paterson.

     Little is known about Mr Andrew Paterson, as he was Rector for just one year. If you know about Mr Paterson, please e-mail us at:

1921 - 1941 Dr A. C. Paterson.
Dr Andrew Cecil Paterson's contributions to the school vary. Firstly, he introduced the school colours of gold and chocolate. He was praised by inspectors for his pupils work. He saw his school take part in extra curricular activities, such as the girls' choir on BBC radio in 1931 and in the following year, the Football first XI won the Scottish Secondary Schools' shield at Hampden.

1909 - 1920 Mr. F. A. Watson.
Mr Watson took over a school which was in a "satisfactory" condition, except for overcrowding. This problem was about to get much worse. With the outbreak of WWI in 1914 Clydebank saw a sudden influx of workers for the war industries. The school role suddenly rose to 2800. The local Drill hall was used to accomodate the extra pupils. To worsen his problems, 14 of his staff went away with the forces! He suddenly died in December 1920, aged 46. His successor said he was "killed by overwork".

1873 - 1909 Mr. J. Fulton.

Mr John Fulton was rector of "Clydebank School", the direct predecessor of CHS today. He joined from Shaw Street Presbyterian School in Liverpool. The School log noted that he thought the Children were a little "backward"! Mr Fulton did many things for the school, which can not all be listed here. Finally, staff said he was a "slave-driver"!