Now the fiddler’s ready let us all begin...

The opening words to the Dashing White Sergeant might be appropriate for this picture, although the teacher might point out the children are learning the violin because they are being taught classical music.
Either way, these girls at Abbotsford School in the Gorbals all look as if they are really interested in what he is trying to teach them. Some of these girls may have gone on to be professional musicians and if they did they can thank their days in the classroom for giving them a good grounding intheir art. 
Abbotsford Place School, which opened in 1879, was one of several Germain-Italinate designed schools by Hugh and   David Barclay in the Glasgow area. However,  the B-listed building has lain derelict for some time.
It was converted to offices in 2005 but not many firms moved in and two years ago Glasgow Community 
Education Association bought the building for £400,000 with plans to turn it into a Islamic-only school.
However, objections were raised  and the former school is still unused. 

Glasgow Times:

This festive shopper has already put a large tin of biscuits, chicken meat and mini Christmas puddings in her basket and she looks set on adding more as she browses the large  selection of top of the range goodies set out with great care on the shelves of Lewis’s in Argyle Street