Some say our school days are the best of our lives.
When we are studying, most of us hate the very mention of school but, once we leave, you can’t help but feel nostalgic and rekindle special memories.
We have been searching high and low in the DC Thomson archives to find retro pictures of classes, school trips and sports teams from Harris Academy.
These striking old photos span five decades – from the 1970s to the noughties – and they are sure to stir some fond memories for former pupils.
So let’s go back to school for a trip down memory lane!
The 1970s
All aboard for a trip to the Perth Road!
These Harris Academy pupils are pictured with the school’s new £2,000 mini bus, which was bought after spending 1973 taking part in fundraising activities.
Did you ever travel in the bus?
Up next is this snap from 1974 and these Harris Academy pupils are celebrating after victory in the Midlands Schools Senior Girls Hockey Tournament.
They all look mighty pleased with themselves and rightly so!
Do you recognise any of the girls in this hockey line-up?
We’re not sure this would get past health and safety beaks these days!
The photograph, from 1974, shows members of the Harris FP Rugby team proudly getting to grips with their new scrum machine that they used in training.
How many of them ended up with splinters?
This photograph from 1975 looks like an outtake from Jaws!
Some Harris Academy pupils are taking a dip in the River Tay while others were rowing along and there’s even a speedboat thrown in for good measure!
Does anyone remember what was happening?
The 1980s
Welcome to 1980 where these pupils were being used as guinea pigs!
That’s because Harris Academy was taking part in a one-week pilot scheme where pupils could try “snack meals” as an alternative to full school dinners.
It’s fair to say that some pupils look happier than others to be road-testing the grub!
This shot from 1981 finds Harris back on the podium for hockey.
Captain Paul Golden was being presented with the trophy after the team won the Royal Bank of Scotland’s National Schools Indoor Hockey Tournament.
Were you part of the team which triumphed at Perth’s Bell’s Sports Centre?
These pupils proved to be well-versed in this picture from 1984.
The youngsters had written a “long story” alongside some fantastic artwork which was being presented to cheer up a friend of their teacher who was sick.
What a lovely gesture and let’s hope it did the trick!
“I’ve a right to sell flowers if I keep off the kerb!”
Anna Newell (Eliza Doolittle) with costermongers and flower girls are pictured during the opening scene of My Fair Lady in June 1985.
The show was put on by pupils at the Gardyne Theatre and was a terrific success.
This image takes us back to 1988.
These pupils planted greenery around their schoolyard for National Wildflower Week.
Craig Forbes, Karen Low, Lisa McGowan, Graham Jeedie, Andrea Spankie and Barry Crighton pose alongside Tracy Gordon of the Dundee Urban Wildlife Project.
Big glasses and even bigger hairstyles!
There’s no debating the fact this picture was taken in the 1980s!
It shows pupils who were taking part in a debating contest at the school back in 1988.
The 1990s
These bookworms are pictured in February 1990.
The pupils were taking part in a World Book Challenge.
We’re not sure quite what the challenge was but we’re loving those jumpers!
Surely this is a collector’s item?
Dundee United manager Jim McLean is pictured smiling in this 1991 image!
The legendary Tannadice gaffer was given the task of presenting the under-16 Dundee Schools Football George Grant Trophy to the Harris Academy side.
Chantal Hill and Khatija Sacraine of Harris Academy take centre stage in 1993.
They were the winners of The Courier/TSB Schools Junior Debating Competition.
Quite rightly they are beaming from ear to ear!
Fast-forward to 1995 where a charity fashion show was being held at the school.
Alison Wood, Jill Harrison, Sarah Kerr, Dawn Fleming, Jennifer Nicoll and Vivian Lyon are posing for our photographer before taking to the catwalk.
Do you remember being at the fashion show?
And 1999 proved a golden year for these teenagers.
The efforts of these sixth-year pupils were being rewarded when they were presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the school.
To gain the award the pupils had to complete five main sections in the gold scheme, which included service to the community, an expedition and a residential programme.
The noughties
We start the decade with a photo from 2000.
It’s a line-up of all the pupils who received awards at the annual prize-giving.
Can you spot anyone you know in this picture from 22 years ago?
This looks like a scene from Midsomer Murders!
The year is 2004 and these talented sixth-year pupils were presenting a performance of a murder mystery to 160 guests at the Invercarse Hotel.
Someone call Tom Barnaby!
This group of history pupils are pictured in 2005 before a school trip.
They were about to travel to Belgium and France to visit battlefields from the First World War, which was part of their studies.
Rector Jim Thewliss and teacher Grace Duffy are pictured with the pupils.
This picture finds a group of pupils washing up in the sunshine in 2007.
They were spending the final day of the summer holidays before returning to school by taking part in a car wash event to raise money for a school trip.
Our caption doesn’t mention where they were going – can anyone tell us?
This image from October 2021 is the latest in our gallery.
It finds a group of girls from the House teams of Forres (wearing green) and Birnam playing each other in a game of dodgeball.
The aim is to strike your opponent but it seems they might have taken exception to our photographer given the direction the balls were headed!
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