Fornethy Residential School

What year did you go there Jane ? I went around 1978

I don’t remember exact year, but I think it was about 1963.

Terrible place. I went there for a month when I was 8 or 9 years old - 1963 or 64. Had nightmares for a long time after the experience - still haunts me to this day that my parents let me go there! Wicked and cruel staff. Terrible.

I was there 64. agree with what you say Jane it was awful, never forget my dormitory Reekie Lynn
I think it was.

Hello, Evanzeilan, I wish I could remember exact year, but it would be around
Your year. I also can’t remember the dorm name, but remembered the floral pinnies we all had to wear. Was there a New Zealand or Australian teacher there at your time.?

I too went here the late 60s..yes remember my younger sister wet the bed..she got made to stay up all night standing in a corner..she was only 5..then I remember the cold showers.i was only around 7 or 8 ..waiting to get our hair checked etc.remember it well because I spoke to my sister I got dragged into the room..put over the nurses knee and got beat so hard I cried for hours..what these people forget is it's hard enough being away from our parents (mum was in hospital)never mind to go through these traumas too..I remember a nice teacher miss Richardson.. when I got beaten by the old bag of a nurse..miss Richardson had tears in her eyes too..but never spoke up..this was total abuse of innocent children..councils have a lot to answer to

I agree with everything youve said i was in fornethy dorm wjich was left at top of the stairs. next to reekie lynn i was made to sit inside the small metal bucket.i got the slipper on my backside for not giving teacher the cream from top of the milk. We watched movies on a saturday night with local brownie group i still want to clap at the end of the movie. A teacher ms fiy eas do cruel slapped me all the time for saying uff said i eas swearing i was dirty took my stuff from snack shop. My mum said when i eent away i spoke like a proper lady and came back my grammer was awful. I hated it with a vengance i talk about it with absolute disgust i had nightmares. My friend didnt believe me so we went bavk to find it.it hadnt changed a bit the caretaker let ud inside.even the hoge wooden cupboard in the hall is still there.i went thete in the early 60s

My sister was visiting from abroad. She had been there with me. When her husband pulled up at the house,she said to him “ get me out of here now”. How that place has scarred us! Even going in to old age,!!!

I went up last week just to see it..all cornered off..got through a gate eventually grounds overgrown..I didn't get to see it..as inbetween the trees I saw what looked like wolves..I know it wasn't but looked like some kind of wild dogs..I never went any further..terrified..maybei t was a sign and was never meant to see it..best part I remember was the wee swing park outside..as I said above when I got beating there was a teacher miss Richardson who was only in her early 20s took me under her wing..she kept in touch with me after..I even went to meet her and her family in auchterader..

Apparently you can request your papers due to an enquiry re the residential school system now. I would like to see mine. Exactly who to ask though, I haven’t quite done yet, but if any others know, please let me know. Thanks

Jane I think it would be glasgow city council as they organised these so called holidays.belonged to coast's of paisley ..if you find anything pass it on

My sister and I were just talking about this awful place the other day not sur what dorm I was on, but remember all the horrible stuff that went on there. I remember being forced to eat tapioca we called it frogs eyes I hated, remember being forced to stand in the corner of the room all through the night freezing cold. Remember the long walks, the crow in the cage I was scared. Lots of other horrible memories. These people were child abusers

I’d like to know if anyone has found out how to get a hold of our records thanks. Iv been reading everybody’s stories for the past few hours and I finally know why I have been so fucked up in the head with lots of issues all these years, I was born in Perth but dragged about various step dads houses from Goven, The drum, Paisley and ending up at Perth train station car park waiting on my mum picking me up from the woman with the purple hair who had driven me there. I now think she was her social worker who I know stayed very close by to our holiday camp .🤢 I was born aug 68 so must have been 74ish not to sure. I was youngest of 4 but other sister was adopted by my granny after she had already buggered off leaving my other older sister and brother with her before they ended up in Larkhall with their dad ( not ours). They all thought I was the favourite cos she kept me 😲God this has opened a whole new can of worms for my own family and myself 🥵 they have had a great laugh slagging me off about my wee holiday camp ( thought it was a different place until tonight’s news ) just looking at that building brought it all back.
I only told them the funny stories about deliberately pissing the bed to only get a half a cup of tea at breakfast, this also explains my fussy eating habits and always cooking 4 sometimes 5 different teas for my kids when they were all wee. PS I was a ginger with a big mouth so maybe some of you will remember me lol.

I was sent Fornethy house 1979-1980 primary six from Ferguslie Park Paisley with my sisters. I was in Prosen dormitory with my little sister Jane it was horrible. My sister was having real homesickness one night and came into my bed to which I told her to go back incase they caught her out of her bed after the blue light went anyway we did get caught and were told to stand in my nightie all night in the corridor freezing cold. The huge walks were horrible and if you lagged behind you were shouted and pushed to keep up. The teachers were always cross with someone thank god it wasn't me as I saw them slapped on the back of the head and hit with whatever they had in their hand.
Having to bathe/shower together was so embarrassing as some of the girls were maturing and one of the girls tried to keep her t shirt on and was told to take it off. I have a memory of taking the empty milk bottles to the top of a turret with another girl to an older lady washing up dishes. All in all it was a horrible place for me I hated it.

Hi Kathy, Jane Campbell here. Just to let you know I have literally just applied for my records through Sandra Toyer. Apparently records lost in a fire. Don’t know what year this was, but I’m fingers crossed. Maybe that would help.

Hi Jane I remember these walks fletcher got us all up in the middle of the night walking Throo dark woods creepy we were terrified

I went there in the 60s I would like to get my records if we knew who to ask

I went there in the 60s I would like to get my records if we knew who to ask

There are no records available we have all tried but conveniently they have gone it’s been hidden I was there early 60s it’s one part of my life I will never forget

Jane I remember the floral pinnies they were red with wee flowers on them

I was there 74 .I think reeding a story in daily record on line yesterday shocked me triggered a lot of terrible memories I had actually locked away has totally triggered my ptsd .sick what these people done to all of us kids

Went there 6 weeks spring 73 dormitory name was possibly Islay . Islay and Clover? I remember being made to eat porridge which I hated taste and texture made me want to vomit every time. Forced to eat it you had to finish or be punished. Forced to stand for hours on corner of rug if caught out of bed when bluelight went on. Being punished because my toothpaste was missing one morning I didn't have any other. Found it a few days later when out walking teacher picked it up somebody had thrown it out of the window. Being made to write letters home copied straight from blackboard. Not allowed to tell what was really going on. Long long long walks. Floral pinafore. Scared of being punished when you lagged behind. Which I often did because I have a rare hereditary bone condition and walking in wellies aggravated it. Horrible place ,mean abusive people in charge.

Hi a went there l was 8 or 9 my gran sent me had to pass a medical before they sent you left from Buchan bust station remember we got there late and was forced to eat horrible dinner l was in reeking linn dorm and a remember having to write off blackboard a so wanted home cried every nite 6 weeks l was there hated every minute a remember the girl in nxt bed to me being older and touching me l didn't understand back then l do now

Reekie linn dorm could hardly sleep.in the dorm a thought ma gran sent me there because l was bad or sumthing didn't know what l had did wrong

I would like my records l came from Govan glasgow was sent from Hill,strust school got ma medical in St Anthony school it was just horrible wellies use to cut into ur legs you couldn't complain you were scared case you got punished l suffered mental health problems most of my life l wonder if this is a memory l pushed to the back of my mind l guess l will ner know

I would like my records l came from Govan glasgow was sent from Hill,strust school got ma medical in St Anthony school it was just horrible wellies use to cut into ur legs you couldn't complain you were scared case you got punished l suffered mental health problems most of my life l wonder if this is a memory l pushed to the back of my mind l guess l will ner know

Hi a went there l was 8 or 9 my gran sent me had to pass a medical before they sent you left from Buchan bust station remember we got there late and was forced to eat horrible dinner l was in reeking linn dorm and a remember having to write off blackboard a so wanted home cried every nite 6 weeks l was there hated every minute a remember the girl in nxt bed to me being older and touching me l didn't understand back then l do now

Hi I went to Fornethy for 8 weeks in October 1976.....I was only 7 years old but i can still remember a lot and just the whole nightmare of being there.....I got off to a bad start as peed the bed most nights and also took nosebleeds....remember being stood in a corner all night freezing cold with my damp urinated nightwear then eventually getting put in a cold shower.....also got dragged out of the dining room by Miss Fletcher who caught me throwing stew under the table that I didn't like and couldn't swallow.....in her office she slapped into my hands with a ruler while shouting and bawling at me.....she then made me take a spoonful of caster oil saying that would make me sick, it worked as i had awful cramps and vomited most of the night.....brings back horribe memories...I remember the nice teacher you were talking about Irene....I'm sure she was Australian and positive her name was Miss Robertson....the only one I can remember that was nice to me.......how people in authority who were meant to help and look after all us girls could have been so cruel .....this place was just full of evil......

I'm sure this is the one I was sent to ..forced to eat eggs and beans together which to this day I can't face ..I cried every night ..the long walks picking sheep's wool from hedges to make something of other in the school ..going to devil's elbow in an old ramshackle bus terrified of the sheer climb of the road .it was freezing and icy ..iv been up in perth and outer areas looking for this place to see if it's the rigjt one .I would know if I saw it again ..not good memories ..

My name is Donna boyd then Wilson l went in 1968 and again by choise in1972 .l had a great time ,I loved the long walks in the woods also walking down the stoney Brae and coming to a stream .we would paddle our feet in the water we had a packet lunch the girls that was with me all had a great time.

Dont know what year it was but my sister and i were sent there for 6 weeks in summer holidays i hated it made to eat food i didnt like also wet the bed (no wander) bloody terrified think i was 6 had to go to classes for schooling half cups of tea long long walks still very funny with food my memory is not great about this place think my sister remembers more she was older

Anyone remember the witches house? Broomstick perfectly posed. We were terrorised by the fact there was a witch lived close by. Jane

There was some sort of small shelter? There was a broomstick against a chair. Teachers had us all look and see where the witch lived, and how she would be looking for us but if any bad behaviour. Terrorised me. ! Jane Campbell

I was there in the 1970s being sent from quarrybrae primary being forced to eat everything on your plate
I also remember being dragged out of bed and given caster oil abd forced to stand in the corridor in the dark
Nightmare of a place
Would be interesting to get my records
Does anyone know how I go about getting them

Me my 2 sisters went there Janice Davis margaret Davis Elaine Davis between 70/ 74 miss fletcher a think her name was tried to force feed me just because a didn't like what was for dinner

Does anybody know how to get your records

I was there twice, and it still haunts me now at 60 years old, the long walks, the pinnies, the cold showers, the mail roll call, the pinnies, the horrible food, the shouting, being made to stand for hours. the loneliness, I find life hard, like I'm never good enough. I find it hard to bond with people, I've had mental health issues most of my life, that place made me feel useless and that I'd never be good for anything , I don't know how to love people, I'm scared to. Incase they leave me. As my mum had died a couple of days before my second stay here. My dad was a heavy drinker, I was an only child . Life was so hard, and still is to this day .

I was there twice, and it still haunts me now at 60 years old, the long walks, the pinnies, the cold showers, the mail roll call, the pinnies, the horrible food, the shouting, being made to stand for hours. the loneliness, I find life hard, like I'm never good enough. I find it hard to bond with people, I've had mental health issues most of my life, that place made me feel useless and that I'd never be good for anything , I don't know how to love people, I'm scared to. Incase they leave me. As my mum had died a couple of days before my second stay here. My dad was a heavy drinker, I was an only child . Life was so hard, and still is to this day . I don't remember his name. But the only kind adult there was the gardener/handyman.