The important role Brechin High School played in the education of radio pioneer Sir Robert Watson-Watt has been recognised with the unveiling of a plaque at his alma mater.
The building in St Andrew Street, now occupied by staff and pupils at Maisondieu Primary School, became the second important site in the famous inventor’s home town to feature a commemorative blue plaque following the fund-raising effort of Watson-Watt enthusiast Steve Nicoll.
Since moving to the town in 2007 he developed an interest in Watson-Watt’s work.
He gained the support of local charities and organisations and raised the £600 necessary for the first plaque situated at Watson-Watt’s birthplace and home in Union Street.
He turned his attention to the former Brechin High School building in St Andrew Street as the inventor never forget the debt of gratitude he owed the teachers who recognised his potential and the start they gave to his academic career.
Watson-Watt, 1892-1973, completed his school education there in 1908.
Mr Nicoll said: “Throughout his entire adult life Watson-Watt was always careful to make positive references to his education in Brechin.
“He repeatedly stated everything he had achieved was entirely due to his teaching at Damacre and Maisondieu schools.
“This is the second blue plaque in Brechin on buildings that had a strong influence on Watson-Watt.
“It was planned to place a third plaque on the Damacre buildings where he attended primary school but they were demolished earlier this year.
“Angus Council has agreed to incorporate a reference to Watson-Watt in the new buildings on the Damacre site when it is completed.”
Mr Nicoll gives regular talks about one of Brechin’s most famous sons and asks for donations towards the plaques.
He now hopes to access some of the Watson-Watt archives at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh and use any future donations to help with copying costs.
Maisondieu head teacher Ruthanna Chalmers said she had been only too happy to accommodate Mr Nicoll’s request for the blue plaque to be affixed to the school building.
She said: “We are very aware of the history of our school building and its role in the past as Brechin High School.
“We make sure our children know of one of its most famous ex-pupils, Robert Watson Watt.
“When our senior pupils study World War II, the work he did in developing radar is discussed.
“All through the school there is an awareness of Watson-Watt and his research.
“We are looking to develop our own local curriculum at Maisondieu and famous Brechin people and the rich environment we have in and around the city will all contribute to that.
“This blue plaque commemorating Watson-Watt attending Brechin High in our school building will help keep that history relevant to our pupils today.”
A biography of Watson-Watt is in the planning stages by a Canadian enterprise which recently visited Brechin to establish links with his birthplace.
Watson-Watt lived and worked in Canada for 12 years and married his second wife, Jean Drew Smith, who was Canadian, in 1952.
