Memory Lane: The life and legacy of George Lauder

George Lauder was one of the most influential people in the upbringing of Carnegie, who credited his uncle with instilling in him during childhood a life-long love of many of the great Scottish heroes such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Walter Scott and Robert Burns.

George Lauder left an educational legacy, creating Lauder Technical School in Dunfermline, which is now Fife College and celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Lauder also engaged in a life-long campaign to provide a vital fresh water supply from the Ochil Hills to improve the health of the people of Dunfermline. He was successful in achieving this, and his engineering expertise resulted in a scheme that still provides Dunfermline with water to this day.
 

Lauder Technical College building in New Row. (Image: Contributed)

Local historian Robin Sharp will deliver a lecture entitled ‘The Life of George Lauder’ in Duloch Library on Thursday, January 25.

Our first photograph shows the Lauder Technical School in Priory Lane. At the opening ceremony in November 1899 organised by the Earl of Elgin, Andrew Carnegie asked that the College be named in memory of his uncle and all the efforts he had expended to create it.

Although overcome with emotion at such an unexpected tribute, and therefore unable to read the speech he himself had prepared for the occasion, an excerpt from it that was read out on his behalf by Sir William Robertson outlined his vision: "I was a persistent advocate of technical education. When I found myself at the age of 25 with a deficient education for the trade I had got engaged in, I resolved that every youth that came under my influence would get a good technical and literary training.

The loom shed in Priory Lane. (Image: Contributed)

"I could mention many individuals who have assisted in this way but two of them were my own son George Lauder and my nephew Andrew Carnegie. When they were boys they assisted me in business.

"Robert Burns's work lay open in my back shop and I taught them to recite his poems, and poured into their veins a love of Wallace, Bruce, Burns and old Scotland. It is on this account that Dunfermline has got this splendid college."

Our next photograph is of the extension to Lauder Technical School in the New Row that was built in 1910 to house the Textile Department that taught weaving. It was known as the ‘Red Tech’ because of the red sandstone used in its construction.

Joinery apprentices in 1964. (Image: Contributed)

It ceased to be used as a Technical College when the new Lauder College extension was opened in Halbeath Road in 1976. Part of the building was retained and incorporated into housing on the site between Canmore Street and Priory Lane.

Our next photograph shows the loom shed.

Generations of people in Dunfermline benefited from the vision of Lauder and our final photograph is of some of them - a group of joinery apprentices from around 1964.

Tickets for the Lauder Lecture that starts at 6.30pm are available online at https://www.onfife.com/event/the-life-of-george-lauder-oe94/ as well as in person from Duloch Library, and from the Carnegie Hall box office on 01383 602302.