Preparations are under way for next year’s event and it is hoped past and present pupils will come together for a host of celebrations.

Manchester United boss

Sir Alex, who attended from 1954 to 1958, will be at a civic reception of 220 guests being held by Lord Provost Bob Winter at the City Chambers on February 1.

Also among famous former pupils is songwriter Bill Martin, who penned hits such as Cliff Richard’s Congratulations and Sandi Shaw’s Puppet On A String.

But the search is now on for a special former pupil – the centenary committee is looking for the school’s oldest former pupil.

The school, then based in Langlands Road, opened its doors to its first pupils in February 1910, with Benjamin Hutchison its first head teacher.

He remained in the post for nine years and many others have followed in his footsteps.

The original building survived until the 1960s when it was destroyed by fire.

A new health clinic was built on the site and a replacement school opened in Ardnish Street in 1969, its current location.

Thousands of pupils have passed through its corridors over the decades.

To get the centenary celebrations under way Iain White, Govan High head teacher, set up a centenary team, which includes colleagues and former pupils, to plan the year-long festivities.

Among the many projects will be the creation of a centenary book, a 100-year timeline of the school, an art competition for partner primaries and Govan High pupils and a centenary school production.

Mr White said: “Everyone has worked hard on the celebrations and we know 2010 will be a great year.

“We have been very pleased with the response from our past pupils. The stories and photos coming in are brilliant and everyone is enjoying hearing them. But we still need help to identify our oldest former pupil.”

Linda Pollock, who is involved in the preparations, said: “We managed to get in touch with the man we believed was the oldest former pupil, 97-year-old George Whitelaw.

“We spoke to him about his time here and were hoping to make a film of his memories, but, sadly, he died before we could do that..

“He attended the school in the 1920s and left in 1928, aged 16. We would like to hear from anyone who knew him because they may well be our oldest former pupil now.

“It would be great to find them and involve them.”

Former pupils are being urged to get in touch and the committee is looking for memorabilia and old photographs to plot the life and times of the school.

Ms Pollock added: “There are former pupils all over the world now and we are hoping they will get in touch with their own stories and memories.

“We are also looking for any kind of memorabilia

– anything from caps that used to be handed out to old school ties.

“We know the pupils produced a magazine and while we have a few copies, we seem to have a gap when it comes to the 1970s. So if anyone has copies from around then we would love to borrow them.

“Several events will be held throughout the year and we are hoping to reach as many people as we can.”

The school has started a website and is asking past pupils to send in their memories and photographs from their time at Govan High. The website is: http://ghs100.org.uk

deborah.anderson@

eveningtimes.co.uk