I left Primary 2  at Kirriemiur Primary school in May 1958. Well, that is not exactly true. The school was built on Reform Street. Therefore I came from Reform Street Primary school and that took some explanation to my new class, who knew what a Reform school was in Glasgow!

Pity that was not the only difficulty on day one. My father had brought the family down for educational purposes and he was the school''s Chaplain. Clearly Miss Dick had not received my class folder from Angus County.

She drew a backward ''Z'' on the blackboard and on the left of this unusual piece of art was a much longer number which I can not recall accurately but was around 36287. ''In silence please, work out the answer.''

Well, there was no long division in Kirriemuir, I was certain of that. I began by copying this strange design and numbers slowly. As Miss Dick approached the row I was sitting in, I pannicked. I worked out that she would be at my desk in a matter of seconds. As she approached, I ran my pencil all over the arithmetic. ''What have we here?  A dirty mess!  Well, we do not do this in Shawlands Primary. Stand up. Now come to my desk.''

I had no idea what was happening but thinking if I could get through this day, I would ask my older sister how to do this bizarre maths. As I thought through this resolution, Miss Dick produced a double-tongued leather belt and asked me to cross my hands in front of her. Three thrashings. Must not cry. I am the new boy. My fingers tingled with pain. The morning bell rang. ''Stay here all break, till I return''.

At lunch time I was approached by a friendly pupil. ''Miller, are you a Jew?''  Well, this was proving to be a tricky day and a difficult  question demanded a thoughtful reply. I wanted Leslie to be my friend, so I thought if Christ was the King of the Jews, and I was a Christian, then I must also be a Jew. ''Yes, I am'' I said.

''Oh well, don''t foret to bring your yarmulka on Friday.''

''My what?''

''Oh your family must be reformed Jews. Then just bring your school cap'', Leslie reassured me.

At the end of term my father asked how I was doing in classs. I told him I preferred my class of 12 in Kirrie to this class of 53 but I was enjoying Hebrew.''

''Hebrew?  my father enquired.

''Barook ata adenoi elu henu meloch ....Shaman Israel, Adenoi elu henu'' I responded.

''Miller why are you learning Hebrew?''

''Because I am Jewish, I am A Jew.''

''Miller, you are not!''

The last day of the term meant the school went to the church for a closing term service. As we marched out, I noticed Miss Dick speaking ever so pleasantly to my father who had taken the service.

Three weeks later, we were on annual vacation at Carradale on the Mull of Kintyre.  It was a wonderful holiday until I was informed that we were to visit Southend one particular afternoon. We had been invited to tea by - Miss Dick . I refused to go. For the first time I made it clear I would defy my parents and run away. I ran away after telling my sister that I would be on the golf course.

I returned at 5pm to find the family had already returned from Southend but the atmosphere was bad. I was sent to bed for being disobedient and our cocker spaniel was in the bad books too.

Rikki, who had never bitten anyone before, had been mesmerised by a plate of strawberry tarts sitting on a low coffee table. As Miss Dick in conversation was moving her hands around the cake plate, disaster struck. This was too much teasing for Rikki. He grabbed Miss Dick''s hand angrily, drawing blood the colour of the strawberry tarts.

When I heard what had happened, I praised the wee dog. I thanked him. There was indeed a Just God and I could face the new term at school.

Post Script

The belt, the Lochgelly Tawse, imagine a town in Fife  actually produced these torture belts, was banned in the 1970s.  There are many who would wish it back to disciple wayward pupils. I think it was a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Post Post Sriptum  Miss Dick.  If you are still alive, I hope you enjoy reading this.