David Low Pye was the son of Thomas Pye and Margaret Low and was born in 1869 in Dysart. One of at least nine children, David's father and grandfather were both linen weavers. When David was aged 9, his father Thomas died, aged 54, from chronic alcoholism. In spite of these difficult circumstances, David became a pupil teacher under the Dysart Board at Gallatown Public School at the time when a Peter Alison was Headmaster. Mr Alison's own son (of a similar age to David Pye) had also been a pupil teacher there and had gone on to become Head at George Watson's College in Edinburgh.
David Pye passed first class through the Church of Scotland Training College in Edinburgh and also attended classes at Edinburgh University. Initially, he came to Fife in 1895, as assistant to Mr McInnes at Leven Public School. In 1901, he secured his first Headship - at Kilconquhar School - where over a decade he "accomplished very successful work" and "identified himself with the public life of the village and district." He also got married in 1901, to Elizabeth Louisa Mitchell. They went on to have two daughters, Catherine and Louisa.
Mr Pye remained Head Master at Kirkton of Largo and living in the schoolhouse until his retiral in 1932 (see photo below), when he was presented with a walnut desk. During the Second World War, Mr Pye took on the role of local A.R.P. warden (air raid precaution), supervising blackout arrangements and doing "much to help the general public in times of distress" (Fifeshire Advertiser, 25 April 1953). He was also a champion bowler, president of Lundin Links Bowling Club and an elder at Largo Parish Church. David Pye died, at Netherfield, Upper Largo, on 15 April 1953, aged 83. His death "brought much sadness and great concern not only to Upper Largo but to his many ex-pupils scattered throughout the world, some in high positions in life".