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, we can’t help but feel nostalgic and rekindle special memories.
Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen
We have been searching high and low in the DC Thomson archives to find retro pictures of classes, school trips and sports teams from Hazlehead Academy.
These striking old photos span the 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
Where it all began in October 1970.
The Queen officially opened Hazlehead Academy and she is pictured acknowledging the receipt of a gift to mark the occasion from Councillor Roy Pirie.
The Queen speaks to senior prefects Derek Archibald and Edna Christie at the opening.
Were you there at the very beginning of the school’s journey?
Cheers all round in 1972 as first-year pupil Fiona Russell hands over a cheque for £150 to Ann McLachlan of the Aberdeen Branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund.
The money was raised by a coffee evening and fair organised by first-year pupils.
The Hazlehead Academy netball team is pictured in 1973.
The girls had just won the Aberdeen Netball League for the third successive year.
We love these hairstyles from 1974!
These senior girls were celebrating becoming Scottish volleyball champions and they are pictured holding the Prestwick Trophy following victory.
The 1980s
Welcome to the 1980s!
These pupils look pleased with themselves and rightly so having just raised £464 for the Ethiopian Appeal by holding a fundraising collection and disco.
Our next image from 1987 finds Louise Mutch, Caireen Dalarno and Paula Angus during a fancy dress fun run across the school’s sports fields.
They were among 265 pupils that took part and ran 1k to raise money for charity.
Up next is Hazlehead Academy’s street theatre group in 1988.
Lee Mundie was on the end of a handbag bashing as the cast rehearsed at Hazlehead Park in preparation for their upcoming performance of Wifies.
These pupils were having a final practice before heading to Austria.
The S5 and S6 crew were about to embark on a week’s skiing holiday in Schladming and were being accompanied by Jayne Anderson and Victor Burnett.
The 1990s
Don’t cross swords with this trio!
Carole Winpenny, Elaine McConnachie and Lynne Ingram were dressed up as pirates in this image from 1991 although our caption doesn’t explain why!
These pupils were showing entrepreneurial spirit in 1991.
Sarah MacPherson, Anne Bradbury and Kirsteen Gray were part of the school’s 15 strong team of girls who were running a paper-making company as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme.
Aberdeen player Alex McLeish and Lucy Campbell, area representative of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, visited Hazlehead Academy in November 1993.
Pupils had raised cash for the charity with a Readathon.
We love this picture from 1993!
First-year pupils from Hazlehead were taking part in physical activity for 15 minutes to help Aberdeen’s bid to be named the fittest city in the world.
Evening Express photographer Sarah Frost beats her fear of heights in 1994.
She was up high to capture Hazlehead pupil Christopher Thornton who was one of the school’s top basketball players at the time.
The 2000s
The Magnificent Seven in 2002!
These pupils played it for laughs before heading off on a four-week trip to Mexico.
Cameron Smith and Derek Leslie looking pretty in pink in 2004.
Pupils were selling fairy cakes to raise money for Children in Need and Breast Cancer Care whilst having some fun in the snow at the same time!
It was prom night at the Hilton Treetops in 2005.
Suzanne Juarez, Mel Sambrook, Gillian Hardie, Kirsty Reid, Stacey Robertson and Chery Mitchell pose for the camera before the bash got underway.
Hazlehead Academy’s under-15 football team in 2017.
The smiling faces from the teenagers is because they had just won the Gerrard Trophy Cup final against Bucksburn Academy.
Our next image is also from 2017 and finds soup on the menu!
S3 pupils are seen here selling soup and pudding to school staff which raised £170 which was put towards materials for their ‘the world’ activity afternoons.
Our final image finds Hazlehead Academy pupils Lily Macdonald, Andy Paterson and Anya Richards celebrating exam success in 2021.
They were pictured outside Aberdeen’s Marischal College.
Conversation