‘It's stitched with everyone's stories,' school staple has been worn by 18 Scots kids for 30 years

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

The mum has said that she has been overwhelmed by the incredibly warm response she has had since sharing the story of the legendary blazer
FAMILY LEGACY 'It's stitched with everyone's stories,' school staple has been worn by 18 Scots kids for 30 years
A SPECIAL school blazer has been "stitched with everyone's stories" after being worn by 18 Scottish family members and friends over 30 years.
The story starts with Katie McNeill, 35, who was given the tne brand new black blazer as a gift on her first day of primary school in 1995.
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Katie said her family was emotional watching her son Ellis, start school last week
Credit: Supplied
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And he wore the same blazer that Katier herself wore 30 years earlier
Credit: Supplied
Her aunt Jane Carmichael, 68, got it specially made for her tiny frame so it would be the perfect fit for her big first day at Bonnyrigg Primary School.
The mum-of-one, from Midlothian, was just five years old when she wore the blazer "proudly" without realising what it would come to represent in the following years.
Over the next three decades, 16 other members of Katie's family and close family friends all went on it wear the beloved garment on their first day of school.
It has become an incredibly special and unique tradition that has turned into a legacy for the family.
And it came "full circle" last week when Katie's five-year-old son Ellis wore it on his first day of school on its 30th anniversary.
Katie said she "couldn't keep the tears in" when she put the blazer on him for his first day at Stobhill Primary School in Gorebridge.
It felt extra special because it started with me, and now it's my wee boy's turn... It's been an unforgettable week
Katie McNeill
Katie, who is now a teacher at nearby Newtongrange Primary School, told the Scottish Sun that seeing her son in the blazer made the day "extra special".
She said: "The blazer was bought for me by my auntie Jane, and it was actually specially made because it didn't fit me as I was so small!
"I wore it proudly on my first day of primary one at Bonnyrigg Primary School in 1995, and at that point, we didn't think it would be passed on down through generations.
"I wore it, my sister, cousins, and family friends all wore it. Eighteen children have worn it on their first day of school for over 30 years.
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"We're such a close-knit family, and for us, that adds that extra special element to it - seeing our wee ones now starting school and a new wee chapter, and it's like our special wee symbol for us.
"I'm a local teacher, and when the time was coming for my wee boy to wear it, I was so emotional.
"My auntie Jane keeps it safe every year, and she takes the badge off from the previous wearers and the new badge gets sewn or ironed on, so over the summer, we had our little blazer swap.
"But it felt extra special because it started with me, and now it's my wee boy's turn. When he was about one, I actually realised he was going to wear the blazer when it's 30 years!
"It's been a long time coming, and he's been really excited about it and looking forward to it, too.
It's such a special legacy, and it's brought so much joy and happiness to us... As much as it's just a blazer, it's something that will be in our family for a long time to come
Katie McNeill
"It's such a special day for a wee one starting school, and when you're a teacher, you really know the weight of it and how huge a milestone it is for the families, so this was extra special for us."
Katie told how the whole family experienced an "unforgettable week" after Ellis turned five before starting school, and said her Auntie Jane was incredibly moved to see him wear the blazer.
But she said Ellis took it all in his stride and was impressed with how well he handled his new start.
She continued: "It's such a special legacy, and it's brought so much joy and happiness to us this week.
"It's been a very special week for us, having Ellis turn five and then off to school on his new adventure and then this. It's been an unforgettable week.
"It's also been really special for my auntie Jane because we're very close and she helps with Ellis and pick-ups and drop-offs offs so it's kind of come full circle for her too to see him wearing the blazer she bought me over 30 years ago.
"It's been an emotional week, I've been trying to keep it together but as soon as I put the blazer on him on Wednesday, I couldn't keep the tears in.
"But Ellis was like, 'Why are you crying, mummy?'. He just took it in his stride and was hilariously blasé about it!
"As much as it's just a blazer, it's something that will be in our family for a long time to come.
"It's in brilliant condition - it's like it was bought just two-three years ago. But it also has a little bit of wear and tear that you can tell it's been in a family, and it's stitched with everyone's stories through it."
'Positive spin on an emotional week'
KATIE has been overwhelmed by the incredibly warm response she has had since sharing the story of the legendary blazer.
She said: "It's not really a story we put out there all the time. We've never openly been like 'this person wore this blazer on their first day'.
"But now everyone understands the story behind it.
"It's just so nice, it's always been a special thing in our family, and it's been taken in so well by everyone else. It's just been so lovely.
"Everyone who has worn it, has been sending me pictures of them wearing it, and it's so lovely to think that's the same blazer."
Katie said her story put a smile on the faces of many nervous mums and dads last week, who were all put through the emotional wringer watching their little ones take on this latest milestone.
She added: "It's put such a positive spin on things for us mummies and daddies, who have had an emotional week.
"But he's loved his first week at school. We've had a lovely six weeks off together, and the thought of going back can be hard going but this has helped."
Katie explained that while little Ellis is too young to fully comprehend how special the blazer is, she said she can't wait for him to understand the gravity in years to come.
And the family are already thinking about his kids wearing it in another 30 years.
The mum said: "Ellis has just turned five. His speech is fantastic, but his understanding is a little delayed. He's still as sharp as a tack, though, and keeps us laughing!
"We tried to tell him about the significance of the blazer in the morning, but he couldn't be less interested.
"Then at bedtime we talked to him about how special the blazer was and was like 'look, you're in the news!'.
"But he was more shocked at seeing me as a child because he's never seen that before, and he was showing everyone in the house and some family friends that are over from Australia.
"Later, he'll understand the gravity of it and, in years to come, it will be a lovely thing for him to look back on.
"And we've been like, 'Imagine his children wear it in years to come', and my sister's kids as well, who aren't born yet."