The Strathallian 1985 Vol.14 No. 2 Contents Page School Authority 2 Salvete 2 Editorial 3 Staff Notes 4 Speech Day 5 House Reports 6 Chapel Notes 16 Music 18 Drama 22 Sport 25 C.C.F. 42 Poems 46 Activities 48 Valete 57 Strathallian Club 59 SCHOOL AUTHORITY Head of School D. W. Davidson/R. D. Baird Head o f Freeland: C. Bannerman Head of Leburn: A. C. Buchanan Head of Nicol: A. E. L. Lagerborg Head o f Ruthven: K. W. Adamson Head o f Simpson: N. J. Tether Head of Woodlands: A. R. McDonald School Prefects C. J. Edie S. Hamilton Salvete Riley III IV Arestis, N. J., Brown, P. H., Burrell, Adam, Rachel C., Bond, R. A.(N), Guy, B. J.(R), Lloyd, M.(N), Muir, A. M. G., Bruce, J., Clark, Joanna H., Boyd, Kirsty J., Brown, Susan J., M. D. P.(N), Salters, Karen J. Clayton, Fionna M., Dawes, D., Dippie, Campbell, J. L.(N), Clark, C.(N), Clark, M. R., Duncan, S. A., Garvie, D. D., W. K. G.(R), Currie, G. A.(N), Dempsey, Grant, Lyndesay S., Gray, N. A., Foster, B. M.(S), Dick, Kareen L., Disbury, V S. R., Hartley, C. T., Hartley, N. J., M.(R), Dunbar, C. A. B.(F), Dunbar, Mappin, M. G.(F). Heslop, P. T., Johnston, R. G. J., FionaE. J., Fawcus, R. A.(R), Ferguson, Kennedy, D. G., Langley, J. M., Lannen, A. R.(R), Finnie, S.(S), Gray, A. F.(L), Tanja L., Law, C. J. F., Low, Frances Green, Carol A. H., Harrison, Abigail Lower VI G. L., Lokko, S. L., Martin, A. F., A., Head, S. T.(N), Ismail, D. R.(R), Middleton, R. M., Mackenzie, N. R. L., Jacobsen, S. A.(L), Khan, A.(N), Laird, Black, I. G.(S), David, Jennifer A., McCracken, Pauline N., McDougall, M. C.(R), Law, Anita C., Lochore, A. Dickenson, Elspeth J., Ford, T.(S), Sarah C., McKechnie, Laura A., D.(F), Logan, D. R.(F), Marshall, A. Sheal, K. J. R.(S), Walker, Hannah M., McLaren, Morag E., Nicol, C. S., Panns, J. K.(N), Morrison, Kathryn R., Milne, Young, Lorraine M. R. M., Stephens, Zoe J., Tilley, Alexandra A. M., Mackay, J. R. E.(F), Phillipa C. McLennan, A. F.(N), Nugawela, M. Upper VI C. S.(S), Peacock, B. G.(R), Mappin, M. G.(F), Pattinson, Kathryn, Prentice, Carruthers, Margaret A.,Colbeck, N. J. J.(S), Reid, Natasha A., Rea, F.(L), C.(N), Duncan, Katherine E., Judge, Sinclair, A. J.(L), Smith, C. A.(L), S. C. F.(F), Muir, G. L.(R), Smith, Tindal, J. A.(R), Webster, G. M.(F). Nicola J. 2 EDITORIAL A sa relative new boy to Strathallan, it is something o f an honour to find myself in the privileged position o f editor o f the school magazine. The task o f creating a journal fo r an organisation about which I know precious little is daunting and bemusing; it would be impossible to face without the cooperation o f a great many people. So the primary purpose o f this short piece will be to convey my sincere thanks to all o f those colleagues and students who have made the task a little easier fo r me. When the Headmaster asked (sic.) me to take over the Strathallian from John Clayton, who has done such a splendid job on the magazine for the past ten years, he directed that the publication date should be brought forward by some six months. In an effort to achieve this, I asked that my fello w members o f staff should try to get their contributions to me by the first week o f the Summer Vacation. It is to their great credit that a great many o f them actually did so; indeed, they all managed it by the end o f the vac. To them, my heartfelt thanks! Without the help o f the students of the school, not only would the creation o f the Strathallian become a Herculean task, it would be pointless. It is a school magazine, and its creative force should reflect this. And so I must thank a large number o f the members o f the Sixth Form Common Room, but, in particular, I must give special thanks to Michael Edie, David Haddleton, David Dinsmore and Kari Devlin. I would literally have been lost without their invaluable assistance. I must also mention again John Clayton, who has continued to give me advice based on his years o f experience even though he no longer is directly responsible fo r the end result. Finally, I ought to say something about the new format. The new look magazine is the result o f the Headmaster’s wish to produce a journal which will not only serve as a record o f school activities, but will also, hopefully, be a useful public relations document which can be issued to prospective parents to give some rough idea o f what goes on here throughout the year. If you think the format can be improved in any way, or you have any other suggestions, please let me know. David Smith 3 STAFF NOTES These staff notes should be the short­ position quickly became full time in the est for quite some time! This is not to English department. Gillian’s commit­ belittle the contribution made by those ment to drama, especially amongst the leaving nor indeed to prejudge the Juniors who so often can be forgotten intentions of those joining the School has brought a lively interest in this in September. It merely reflects fewer activity. Scarcely a week has passed changes in the Common Room. without Gill taking some group some Mr Yellowlees came on a temporary where, even if it has only been as far as part time basis to teach History and our own lecture theatre. Many thanks. games. We were hoping that having When the opportunity arose of app­ been persuaded to do a year full time ointing a second residential House he might have made a career as a school­ Tutor to Riley in the person of Peter master, but the Civil Service and the Keir we took it. Mr Keir came from freedom it gives to pursue international Clifton Hall preparatory school in hockey have been too big a lure. How­ Edinburgh where he taught English and ever, we are grateful for the very games and has been with us since Jan­ positive contribution Michael has made uary. Thus a belated welcome. particularly to the School’s hockey In addition to these changes there will and who knows his extra help here may be two new families joining the Staff have sown seeds for the next generation in September. Mr Harry Clelland, who of Internationalists. has taught at Fettes and Wellington, Mr Yellowlees is indirectly replaced Berkshire, not to be confused with by Mr Pengelly who is coming as Head Wellington, Ayrshire, is coming to take of the History Department in order that over the Modern Languages Depart­ Mr Proctor, the present Head of Depart­ ment in place of Mr Fairbairn, who will ment, may spend more time on his other then be able to devote more time to commitments. Mr Simon Pengelly and what seems to be the never ending family are moving to Scotland from increase in paper work that comes to the Abingdon, Oxford. In spite of being at desk of the Second Master. a soccer school himself Mr Pengelly Mr Buntin is returning from Brunei Mr Peter Keir assures us that he is willing to help with where he was Head of Mathematics in English all games including rugby football. a Sixth Form College and will join our Mrs Gilks - Ms Rogers donning her Maths, and Computer Department, the working title - also came at short notice rate of expansion of which is governed on a part time temporary basis but such just as much by finding good staff as it were the needs of the School and her is by the price of hardware and space enthusiasm for involvement that the needed to house it. Miss Hay is leaving Riley House for a career as an officer in the WRAC. What better initial training could any­ one have had than a year as House Matron in Riley! Many thanks. To everyone, be they coming or going, we extend our good wishes. C.D.P. Mr Harry Clelland Modern Languages Mr Simon Pengelly Mr Buntin History Mathematics 4 Speech Day last term was held at the School and was graced by one of the few breaks in the dampness of the summer. It was further graced by one of the most enlightening speeches to have been given at this important occasion. Dr Graham Hills, Principal of the University o f Strathclyde gave Speech Day 1985 an oration which was both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it is Speech by Dr Graham Hills, Principal o f the University o f Strathclyde reproduced in its entirety below. Mr Chairman, Headmaster, Ladies and Gentlemen. May I say how pleased and honoured 1 am to be asked to this prizegiving. The School has an excellent reputation. It has sent forth many distinguished pupils. I have no doubt it will continue to do so. It was your Headmaster who first invited me to address you and I hope he will not have reason to regret his impetuosity. As many of you will by now have realised, most teachers, even those in universities, are fond of their own voices and they like having a captive audience such as yourselves.