Edinburgh School of Cookery celebrates the First World War Armistice
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 will be a date never to be forgotten. The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was an agreement between the Allies and Germany to end the First World War.
The Monday morning classes at Atholl Crescent were in full swing when the news came that the Armistice had been signed. As reported in the 1918 edition of the Edinburgh School of Cookery magazine, the staff at the Edinburgh School of Cookery at the time recalled how it was a study in human nature to watch the different expressions on the students’ faces – some girlishly glad, others exuberant, but some had a patient wistful look – indicating that for some their loved ones would not return.
It was not until after lunch that the welcome news was announced that the school was to be closed until Wednesday that everyone was then glad to give expression to their pent-up feelings by ringing cheers and singing the National Anthem. Staff and students, equally excited, were quickly out to join in the mirth and gladness of the streets.
