n June 1932 we were presented with a New Zealand ‘Dominion’ flag by one Mr Brugh, a former pupil of Arthur Street School in Dunedin.

The following May Portobello reciprocated by presenting a Scottish Royal Standard to Arthur Street School. It was accepted by Mr Wm Donaldson, whose father was a pioneer of 1861.

Back in New Zealand the flag was handed over at a ceremony on Friday 18th August 1933 accompanied by a personal letter from Dr J Hamilton Birrell, Portobello Headmaster, to his counterpart Mr J Ironside:

“We hope you will fly this flag on May 24 [Empire Day] of each future year till the breezes have blown it to shreds; on the same date we shall hoist your flag and think of you… All here send the most cordial greetings to the twin school of Arthur Street, wish you well, and hope you will foster a spirit of close friendship with us.”

‘The Tower’ (school magazine) records in the 1934 edition:

“Another interesting link binding our School to Arthur Street School, Dunedin, has been added during the session. The New Zealand school sent us an album [sadly lost] containing photographs, drawings, and compositions, all illustrative of the Dominion, and compiled by the pupils of the school. First year pupils of our school compiled a similar album, illustrative of Scotland, and especially of our own school activities, which has been sent to Dunedin. It appears that the exchange of flags has started quite a chain of correspondence.”

The reason for this ‘twinning’ was that one Mr James Blackie had been a teacher at one of our predecessor schools in Portobello. In 1847 he was one of the first emigrants to leave for a new life around the globe. Blackie taught lessons during the 117-day journey on the sailing ship the ‘Philip Laing’ (there were 93 children under 14 years old on board).

On arrival in April 1848 Blackie set up the first school in the colony, known as the Beach School, which evolved into Arthur Street. Sadly, James Blackie died of tuberculosis in 1851. He was only 26.

Contact between our schools continued for some time, but unfortunately ceased not long after our centenary in 1976. As part of ‘Portobello 150’ we have reached out to them again and will be making a presentation to Arthur Street School over the summer.

With Credit to Ian Small