Number 31 Autumn 2018

On Top of the World Editorial The Summer term of an academic year can be filled with mixed emotions. For many, it means their time either as a pupil or as a member of staff at The Academy has come to Contents an end. This year was particularly special as our two Deputy Heads, Jaqueline Andrews 3 The best of TGA online and Andrew Evans, our Head of PE, Stewart McAslan, Prep School Teacher, Rob 5 Armstrong becomes World Williams, and our Director of External Relations, Malcolm McNaught, began their Champion for the second time retirement journeys. These five highly-regarded and deeply-loyal members of staff collectively served 7 The Glasgow Academy after the The Academy for over 150 years. First World War As readers of Etcetera will appreciate, there are few people who know The Academy as well as Malcolm McNaught: his unique perspective on the school has been formed 8 On top of the world during the 37 years in which he has been the parent of three children who attended 11 Anecdotage the school, member of the English Department and, ultimately, Director of External Relations. 13 Glasgow Academical Club Malcolm taught English 16 Westbourne Section with passion and energy, and is particularly remembered 19 Announcements for his penchant for accents when reading aloud! A 22 Reunions and get-togethers committed, conscientious and 24 Obituaries organised teacher, he always strove to do his best for his pupils and to encourage their self-belief. Malcolm was compassionate, supportive Do we have your e-mail address? and good-humoured, always It’s how we communicate best! able to see the funny side of situations and offer practical and sound advice. In his 24 years in the English Department, Malcolm directed productions of Keeping in touch “Rookery Nook” and “The Wind in the Willows”, and organised several trips to Stratford Upon Avon to see RSC productions. He was heavily involved in Scripture The External Relations office is situated in Union for many years, and also ran the Golf team until 2007. Malcolm always saw the Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are always importance of the public face of the school, and from 1995-2004 was the editor of The welcome to pop in for a chat and look around Chronicle. Increasingly, he became more interested in this aspect of his career, and was a the school. Just give us a call to arrange a time. perfect fit for the newly created post of Director of External Relations, a post he took Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, up in 2005, and executed with vision and style. Glasgow, G12 8HE. An exceptional judge of character, Malcolm built an outstanding External Relations You can contact us on 0141 342 5494 or at team and was in many ways class-leading in his work. He reconnected thousands of [email protected] readers of this publication very happily with their school. He gave prospective parents The Glasgow Academical Club whatever time or help they needed to come to the realisation that this really was 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow, G13 1RR the right place for their family. In all he did, Malcolm worked with great integrity, diplomacy and sensitivity. President: Paul Frame We wish Malcolm many happy times now enjoying seeing The Glasgow Academy Email: [email protected] from a grandparent’s perspective and I am sure this won’t be the last we hear of The Academy Club pavilion is available for Malcolm in these pages. functions. The front cover and lead feature in this issue of Etcetera features the outstanding Academical Club London Section achievement of former pupil Ricky Munday (1994) who, back in May of this year, President: Alex Gray successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest. This is not the first time Ricky has Email: [email protected] made the front page splash of this magazine. He last featured some 10 years ago in issue number 5 following his expedition to climb Khan Tengri in Kyrgystan. As ever, this edition of Etcetera contains the regular features such as former pupil Like us on Facebook; join us on LinkedIn updates, school successes, Academical Club news,and tributes to academicals we have lost, and highlights upcoming events and reunions. Our next big event will be the 136th Annual Academical Club Dinner on Friday 9 November. I very much hope you will be able to join us.

Steven Dignall Director of External Relations & Development

2 Etcetera The best of TGA online

SQA results 2018 ongratulations to Glasgow CAcademy pupils on their excellent performance in this year’s SQA exams. At Advanced Higher our pass rate was a record 95.4%. One pupil, Tim Chan gained 5 As, and is a Finalist in the SQA’s Academic Excellence Award. Another pupil Ritobrata Mukhopadhyay, gained the top mark in the country in Advanced Maths and won the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Prize for that. All five of our pupils with Oxbridge offers gained their Oxford or Cambridge places. At Higher, a record 44 Academy pupils have 5 or more A grades, with two pupils being awarded seven A rate was 77.4%.) 14 subjects achieved pass rates, which are all the more grades and nine pupils gaining six 100% pass rate. Drama and Latin achieved impressive given that we have an A grades. The pass rate was 96%. 100% grade As - the fifth year in a row open entry policy and present pupils (Nationally the pass rate was 76.8%.) that Drama has been awarded nothing less for a significantly greater number of Eight subjects achieved more than than A grades. Highers than many schools. 70% grade As. The Rector, Peter Brodie, said: “I “These results reflect the At National 5, 80% of Academy would like to congratulate all of our commitment, hard work and talent entries gained A grades. 47 pupils S4 to S6 pupils on an excellent set of of our young people and I thank our achieved straight A grades. Our pass examination results. I am particularly staff for their outstanding support and rate was 97.7%. (Nationally the pass encouraged by our A grade rates and encouragement. Well done to all!”

Glasgow Academy World Champions at Maths in Motion International Final he Glasgow Academy has won Tthe World Final of the Maths in Motion International Challenge. In the final our team successfully beat off tough competition from 26 other schools from countries around the world, including China, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium and England. The winning car was designed, built and raced by then S3 pupils Finlay Brown and Sambhav Chadha. Other team members involved were: S3 - James Olney, Zamo Jamal, Alan Shen and Jack Murphy S1 - Kevin Chen, Lewis Ng, Christian Mckay, Umar Moughal, Jonny Millar, Ben Thomson and Luke MacKenzie. Throughout the year, the whole Maths in Motion Club set up cars for a series of races against schools all around planning pit-stops and calculating fuel requirements. the world. They work just like real This is the fourth year running that The Glasgow Academy has been in the finals. Formula 1 engineers - setting up cars, Huge congratulations to all on this achievement!

Etcetera 3 TGA take Silver in National Championship Girls Coxless Fours

t National Schools Regatta our Girls four (Jenny Olney, AAnna Colley, Lauren Amner and Louise Miller) rowed through Henley Rowing Club to take Silver behind Lady Eleanor Holles in Championship coxless fours. This was our first-ever medal in this event and both the LEH and Henley boats had GB Internationalists on board. Alex Milne finished second in the B final of Championship sculls. Ru Smith had a storming finish to row through the field and win the C final of the same event. The girls eight finished eighth in the A final of Championship eights and the boys quad finished 6th in the B final of Championship quads. The J15 girls eight finished sixth in the B final of the event. We congratulate our rowers on their fine finish to this year’s Championships.

Dancing Tennis hloe MacDuff (Prep 4) won her yle McKay (S2) won La Manga Csection at the Stirling Highland KCup u12 (his first International Games and at the Edinburgh Tennis tournament) and the Scottish International Stage Dance Festival Junior Closed u12. He also competed (where she was the individual dancer in the British Nationals and ranked with the highest number of points Scottish number 1 in U12 boys July across all competitors). She recently and into August, 24 in the UK, and also won her section at the West of has been invited by LTA to join Scotland Stage Dance Festival and is the Junior National Pathway for 15 the South of England TDCI Modern children in Scotland from the ages Juvenile Champion. Due to Chloe’s of 10-14 developing their tennis at continued success she has been asked a National level. He was a member to compete in the Canadian National of the ball boy team at the televised Highland Dance Championships and at Davis Cup in Glasgow weekend 14th the British Stage Dance Championships Sept to 16th September. in summer 2019.

Kirsty Breaks U17 Hammer Record Again he 2018 School Games National Finals took place at Loughborough TUniversity between 30th August and 2nd September, with Kirsty Costello (S5) contesting the Athletics competition. Having broken the Scottish U17 record three weeks ago, previously held by Glasgow 2014 finalist Myra Perkins, Kirsty went even further in Loughborough, extending the mark by 3cm to 60.52m. Kirsty said: “I’ve been in good form in recent training sessions and was expecting something over 60 metres, so I was hoping to repeat that again and keep doing it consistently. “At the Scottish Champs I was feeling good and everyone around me was getting PBs and I managed to get one out that I’ve been banging out in training. I’ve got another year in this age group so hopefully there are bigger things to come. I’ve thrown 63 metres in training when I get it right, so if I could improve on that next year it, would be really exciting.”

Chess shan Kumar (Prep 6) has been selected to represent Scotland in the U10 age group Iin the World Cadet Chess Championship in Santiago, Spain. Ishan has also recently added the Scottish Grand Prix title to his impressive haul from last year which included the Scotland U100, 600 and 300 titles. Ishan was also part of the team which won the Glasgow Schools’ Primary School league last year.

4 Etcetera Armstrong becomes World Champion for the second time

osh Armstrong (2016) secured Great Britain its best ever Reducing his ergometer 2km PB “substantially” earlier this World Rowing Under 23 Championships performance in month was a clear sign Josh was fitter and stronger than ever and JPoznan, Poland. a near perfect match for his team mates. Twenty-year-old Josh won gold in the under 23 men’s quad, “Obviously all the guys are at the top physiologically so it the same boat class that he had enjoyed success in as a junior was just a case of making sure we got ourselves together rowing back in 2015, showing just how well he is maturing in the sport. tidily enough to utilise it well,” he said. Josh said: “We knew that one of our strengths was our start so “So it’s great to come away with a performance that we knew we got off clean and we were about half a length up coming we were capable of.” through the 500. And although it’s impossible to decide whether his latest “In the middle kilometre our good pace allowed us to move success surpasses the junior gold of three years ago, nothing beats away from the pack and extend the gap over Italy and Germany. the feeling of being back on top of the podium: “Under 23 is It was quite choppy in the last 500m so we kept it safe and obviously an older age group so some may say it’s a bit harder to maintained the gap.” win. Great Britain took gold winning by over a length from Italy, “It’s great to get back on the top step of the podium, it’s an with Germany in third place. awesome feeling, definitely at least as good as winning juniors in Josh added: “We executed the race plan we wanted to and I 2015.” am really happy with how it went today.” Great Britain won three gold medals and secured eight medals in total to record their best-ever performance at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships. Lee Boucher, Scottish Rowing Head of Performance Pathway, said: “I am delighted that athletes from Scottish programmes have contributed towards the best ever performance by the GB Rowing Team at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in what has been a record year for Scottish representation on the team. “Many congratulations to Josh and the men’s quad for a series of outstanding performances throughout the week culminating in their place at the top of the podium.”

Original article: Scottish-Rowing.org.uk (July 2018) Josh Armstrong (second from left)

Prize Giving 2018

(l to r) Peter Brodie, the Rector, Ricky Munday Head Girl, Nina Boothby, and Head Boy, Iain – guest speaker at Prep School Prize Giving Dux Medalist, Timothy Chan Fletcher with the Indian Trophy Graham Scott, Chairman of Governors

Etcetera 5 OPEN EVENTS 3 October & 6 November, Kelvinbridge 6 October, Milngavie r S 8 November, Newlands e e t is e g t e h r eg o la k t sgo g.u wacademy.or THE GLASGOW ACADEMY

KELVINBRIDGE | MILNGAVIE | NEWLANDS THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

A happy, vibrant and family-friendly community First-class resources and award-winning facilities – for girls and boys age 3 to 18. best building in Scotland 2016.

Exceptional opportunities to discover individual potential Come and meet our children and staff with over 100 clubs, activities and ensembles. and see The Academy for yourself.

0141 342 5494 | theglasgowacademy.org.uk

6 Etcetera The Glasgow Academy is an educational charity registered in Scotland: Charity Number SC 015368 The Glasgow Academy after the First World War

OPEN s the First World If there was one man EVENTS War came who had a strategic view 3 October & 6 November, A to a close, of the impact of the war Kelvinbridge its impact on The on the school, it was 6 October, Milngavie Glasgow Academy was Edwin Temple, Rector r S 8 November, Newlands e e t profound. Firstly, the throughout the period of e is g th e process of changing the First World War. e r g to las k the school from one Temple was appointed gow rg.u academy.o owned by shareholders Rector of The Glasgow to its current governing Academy in 1899 aged THE GLASGOW ACADEMY format of The 31. His portrait used to Glasgow Academy hang on the upper gallery, KELVINBRIDGE | MILNGAVIE | NEWLANDS War Memorial Trust facing the War Memorial was started. The that enshrined the names status of the school as of the Academicals who a living memorial to gave their lives for their those who had fallen country in the First is testament to those World War. THERE’S SOMETHING governors, Academicals One English master and staff who saw the need to remember see the change in what former pupils of the school, Walter Barradell-Smith, the 327 former pupils and two staff who did as the war progressed. Early on remembered that, most – if not all – of FOR EVERYONE had fallen during the conflict. 1375 in the war many former pupils were those heroic Academicals who fell during Academicals participated in active service. members of the Territorial Army. They the war had been taught by him. He This meant that a staggering 23.8% of joined up as privates, often concentrated never forgot them, or their compeers; he Academicals who served, died while in specific units such as the 17th knew his boys. Those that knew him too on active service. I contributed a few Highland Light Infantry. As the war will not forget. years ago to a book on the experience progressed, so the numbers of former The school produced a prospectus of the public schools and the First World pupils serving as officers increased as the for the session 1919-1920. In it Edwin War written by Anthony Seldon. In British army expanded and the demand Temple wrote his annual report to the conversation with his researcher, we for well-trained subalterns increased. Directors of The Glasgow Academy. found that The Academy’s sacrifice was Organisations, such as the OTC, were The war and its impact dominates the one of the highest of any public school in vital in this expansion. Officers were report as he updated the roll of honour Great Britain. twice as likely as the ordinary soldier to as well as the award of decorations to The first edition of the school Roll of die. They were expected to lead from the Academicals. Throughout the war Honour of those who served in the Great front. The list of war honours achieved the Academy boys had held weekly War was well organised and was published by Academicals with 2 Victoria Cross, collections for War Funds, raising the on 11 November 1918 a matter of hours 18 DSO and 115 Military Cross medals, princely sum of £652. The Fearnought A happy, vibrant and family-friendly community First-class resources and award-winning facilities – after the official Armistice which saw the amongst numerous others, is testament Glove Scheme, run by Miss McCallum for girls and boys age 3 to 18. best building in Scotland 2016. cessation of hostilities. The list of sacrifice to their valour. 31 Academicals achieved and Miss Sinclair produced over 15,000 and war honours opens every edition of Foreign decorations from the French knitted pairs of gloves during the war. the school Chronicle magazine for the Legion of Honour to the exotic Persian These were distributed to the sailors that duration of the war and well into 1919, Order of the Lion and the Sun! manned the various naval fleets based necessitating updates and reprints of the in Scotland and beyond. Their efficacy Roll of Honour. In the end, a committee can be seen with the thanks the school was appointed in 1929 to give shape to received from the Admiralty for their the roll of honour and an updated book efforts. He acknowledged the academic was published in 1933. These lists are achievement of many Academicals and a profoundly moving start to the The noted the return of staff who were Chronicle, which then goes onto describe absent on military service. The school the ordinary school life at the time. The roll was healthy and he finishes with the war was never far away as the stories and following: “In conclusion I have to state short eulogies that pepper the magazine that the accommodation of the School is Exceptional opportunities to discover individual potential Come and meet our children and staff show. at present taxed to the utmost limit of its with over 100 clubs, activities and ensembles. and see The Academy for yourself. The growth in importance of the capacity.” Temple’s was a life of service to school Officers’ Training Corps can be the school and the impact of the war on seen with the instruction and inspection him was profound. He died in 1932 just of its members by regular army members. before a thoroughly deserved retirement. Those well-trained boys were the officers Simon Wood of the future. Indeed, it is interesting to 0141 342 5494 | theglasgowacademy.org.uk Head of History & Modern Studies

The Glasgow Academy is an educational charity registered in Scotland: Charity Number SC 015368 Etcetera 7 On top of the world

On 18 May 2018, Ricky Munday ’d been climbing for the past eight mask, it’s very difficult to look down as it (1994) was briefly the highest hours through the night, and it was restricts your vision - so I was unable to still dark. The temperature was twenty see clearly where I was placing my feet. human being on the planet, having I below zero. The winds were much I also had to take great care clipping climbed on the summit ridge of stronger than forecast – so strong in fact my safety line onto the fixed rope beside Mount Everest. At this altitude, at that my guide had turned back four hours the ladders, since there are so many before. The eyelashes on my right eye had old ropes in place from previous years’ almost 9km above sea level, the frozen together. I was alone on the ridge expeditions. oxygen level is only 30%. Ricky tells with my Sherpa, Phurba, and we were the I was wearing a harness around my his story of achieving his lifelong highest team on the mountain. For the waist and legs. On my harness, I carried last four hours, we had been the highest two safety devices. The first was safety dream – ascending the summit of human beings on earth. line, with a karabiner on the end. I would Everest. After a monumental effort, we had clip this karabiner into the fixed ropes passed the three main obstacles on that the Sherpas had placed earlier on the the northeast ridge – the first, second route. If I slipped or fell, this safety line and third steps. These steps are vertical should catch me. The second device is a boulders, up to 40m high, much higher metal handle called an ascender. This clips than this building. onto the fixed rope and can only move A Chinese expedition in the 1960s one way – up. So if you fall and your had placed two ladders on the second ascender is clipped in, it should catch you. step, but the ladders are directly attached On the second step, if you make a against the rock, so we were unable to mistake clipping your safety line onto place our feet fully on the rungs. Instead, the fixed rope, or if you fall and the rope we balanced precariously on the front breaks, you’ll fall thousands of feet, and points of our crampons. I was wearing an you won’t survive. oxygen mask, and carried two cylinders Many climbers have died on these in my rucksack. When wearing an oxygen steps, and their bodies remain there

8 Etcetera frozen, high on the ridge. From time to dying. We can only spend a few hours take the lead. time, as we had climbed up, we caught up there, and then we must come down. I could see a bright light far off up glimpses of these frozen bodies by the Sadly, each year on Everest, around 10 high to my right. I was sure this marked light of our head torches. climbers never come home. the summit – maybe a climber’s head It’s physically impossible to carry a Often, they suffer heart attacks torch, or maybe the Chinese had marked climber’s body down from this altitude or strokes. They suffer High Altitude the summit with a lantern. I knew I still because of the very low oxygen levels. Pulmonary Oedema, where the body had another four hours of climbing ahead Each step I took up there required fluids leak into the lungs, and you drown of me to climb as high as that light. enormous effort. On the summit ridge, in your own body fluids. They suffer High As I climbed, the steep snow slope I would climb five or 10 steps and then Altitude Cerebral Oedema, where these in the pre-dawn twilight, I could see have to stop to recover my breath. I fluids leak into your brain tissue, causing something fluttering in the wind, fifty would breathe and breathe and breathe swelling. This is always fatal unless you steps ahead. It looked like a prayer flag, to get my energy back, and then take five descend immediately. which Sherpas place on the summit of more steps. Above 8,000m, the simplest But Phurba and I were alive and well, mountains in Nepal and Tibet. But why tasks are exhausting. Putting on your and we had passed the three steps. As we would someone place a prayer flag so boots can take 15 minutes. Going to the climbed up a steep snow slope, Phurba low down on the summit ridge? I knew bathroom becomes almost impossible. asked me to take the lead. I felt like he it couldn’t be the summit because the And if you do have to go, you risk serious was frustrated because he was faster than bright light was still high above us. frostbite when you take off your mitts. me, and had to wait for me at each anchor The light of my torch picked out a few The area above 8,000m is known point to catch him up. I really wanted more indistinct shapes fluttering. as the Death Zone, because human him leading in front as he had climbed Suddenly, I was hit with an beings cannot survive in such extreme this route before and had reached the overwhelming realisation. These flags conditions, and your body is literally summit 9 times before, but I agreed to were on the summit of Everest. For a moment, I stood absolutely still. I was in a complete state of shock. I turned to look at Phurba: “Phurba, this can’t be the summit.” “Yes, summit.” A wave of euphoria and disbelief hit me, and the air left my lungs. I fought to hold back my tears. I turned to embrace Phurba here below the summit, and thanked him sincerely for bringing me to this wonderful place - the highest point on earth. I will never forget the feeling of shock, relief and disbelief. For several hours Phurba and I had been the highest humans on Planet Earth. We were the first team up to the summit on either side. Growing up on a council estate outside Glasgow, it had seemed an impossible dream. As I took those fifty steps, I repeated over and over: “Oh My God. Oh My God. Oh My God.” I stepped onto the summit of Everest at 06:15 on 18 May 2018, with Phurba one step behind. The wind was howling. We clipped in to the fixed rope, and embraced again. We looked down into Nepal to see some climbers’ head torches far below. And so I had achieved my lifelong dream. But what did I learn? I learned that even when you follow your dream, sometimes your journey doesn’t end where you think it will. I thought my journey would end at the bright light, but in fact that light was a star high up in the sky, and the end of my dream had

Etcetera 9 been only fifty feet ahead of to hospital. Back in the me. It’s OK to lose your way UK, Mike was diagnosed sometimes. with nine blood clots on I learned about the value his lungs as a result of the of perseverance, of never low temperatures and low giving up. I first tried to oxygen levels – if any one climb Everest in 2017, the of those clots had entered year before. At 7,000m, I his bloodstream he could had great difficulty eating have died. 6 months after or sleeping – I wasn’t able the expedition, he had half to put any energy into my of one finger amputated. system. I measured my But he was incredibly lucky, oxygen saturation – the because he survived. amount of oxygen in my But what did I learn from body – if I measure yours my own failure last year? I now it’ll be 98 or 99%. My identified three factors: saturation was only 52%, less Oxygen – I took five than half what it would be bottles last year, but used here. more moving to Camp 2 But now we were on our than planned. I was worried summit bid, and I had to about having enough left climb to the next camp. We for higher up. I wanted a followed the north ridge – safety margin, so this year I 600m of steep snow, then 300m of rock. descent to the North Col at 7,000m. took six bottles. I was feeling very weak, and my slower My teammate, Mike, was slower than the Food – I was unable to eat any of my teammates began to overtake me. I was others, and became separated at the back high-altitude food last year, so I wasn’t now using supplemental oxygen – I was of the group. At 7,600m, he ran out of putting any energy into my system. This wearing an oxygen mask and carried oxygen. He became delirious and his pace year, I took lots of sugary or high-calorie a cylinder in my rucksack. Even with slowed. Darkness fell, and as he attempted snacks – Haribo, jelly babies, condensed oxygen I was not sure I had enough to adjust his head-torch, he knocked it milk in tubes – and lots of soup noodles, energy to make the next camp – I hadn’t off, along with his hat and his goggles. which are easy to eat or drink. I was able eaten for 24 hours and I hadn’t slept. I His eyes were now exposed to the cold to more easily put fuel into my body. agreed with the expedition leader that and wind, and he became temporarily And finally, a personal Sherpa. Last I should increase my oxygen flow rate, blind. He fell to his hands and knees and year we had group Sherpas only. But a but now I was worried about having began to crawl, but became weaker and personal Sherpa will climb 1-2-1 with enough oxygen left for summit day. You weaker. He collapsed on his stomach and you to the summit, and will also do things need three full cylinders on summit day started dragging himself hand-over-hand like cooking at high camps. It can take to safely climb up and back down. But I down the fixed rope, head first. His mitts hours to cook at high camp as fuel burns made it to the next camp. were now in contact with the snow, and less efficiently and you have to collect That night, I still couldn’t eat, and I they became wet. They could no longer snow or ice to melt for water. A personal still couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to enter insulate his fingers, which froze solid. He Sherpa can do this for you so instead of the death zone without being certain gave up, and said silently to his wife Sarah: exerting yourself you can spend more that I could get myself down. There is no “I’m so sorry, I’m not coming home”. time resting and recovering. The Sherpas helicopter rescue on the north side of At midnight, two climbers climbed up live at altitude in Nepal and have bigger Everest, as the Chinese Government don’t from the camp below to search for him. hearts and lungs than we do, so it’s a little allow it. The only way to get down is to They found him, tied a rope around his easier for them. climb down, or be carried. legs, and dragged him down to 7,000m. So I failed, but I learned from my And so as I lay awake that night, He was alive, but suffering from severe failure and I tried again. I thought about what was the most frostbite, wind-blindness and pneumonia. Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure itself important thing for my family. And the The next day, a Sherpa lowered him is not a bad thing, because it means you most important thing was not to reach down to Advanced basecamp. The had the courage to try something. And if the summit of Everest, but to get home following day, two Sherpas walked him you’re brave enough to try something, but safely. down the 20km to Base Camp, one on fail, then take the opportunity to learn And so I descended. either side. It took them 17 hours to and understand why you failed, and then That same day, a major storm hit my finally reach safety. try again. And don’t ever give up. Keep team at 7,900m. Two of their tents were I cared for Mike and organised his following your dream. Because eventually, blown off the ridge, and the climbers had evacuation. I warmed his hands slowly in you will succeed. And dreams can take to crawl to the leader’s tent, where five bowls of warm water. I hired a vehicle to you to the top of the world. people spent the night in a two-man tent drive us 600km to Lhasa, and I arranged Ricky Munday (1994) bracing themselves against the walls. flights to Kathmandu. I called a rescue In the morning, when the winds finally company to have an ambulance waiting abated, the team made an emergency at the airport, and I accompanied Mike

10 Etcetera Anecdotage Scotland’s Bard strikes back wonder if I am alone in recalling characters from ancient Scots folklore are my shock in an English class being the Cat Sith and Black Donald. However Itold by ‘Pete’ Gannon that Robert (to borrow a line from Pete’s favourite Burns was ‘a minor regional poet’. play ‘Hamlet’), the yarn’s ‘the thing which Mr Gannon was, of course, not Scots catches the conscience’ of the reader. but he redeemed himself annually by Three changelings will come, to shape directing with considerable patience Scotland; one from the Wayward Sisters, and aplomb the Academy’s Shakespeare one from the Still Folk, and one from Play (with an authentic all-male cast Man. Three wicked witches plan to make in those days!). Even as teenager, I had a dreadful sacrifice to change the fate of been attracted to Burns’ egalitarianism, Scotland and kill Bonnie Prince Charlie, humour and verbal artistry and was rightful heir to the throne. Their choice nonplussed by Pete’s cruel barb. Since has fallen on Tam’s own son. Had I ever then, my appreciation of Scotland’s Bard been able to tell such a tale, Geordie has grown despite, or perhaps because Preston would surely have chastised me of, resolutely avoiding Burns Suppers for taking such flagrant historical licence over the years (perhaps that is where Pete with the ’45 rebellion but he would went wrong?) and I have often shared it surely have chortled at the high jinks with my mongrel Norwegian, Italian and while Baggy Aston would have applauded Tam The Three Changelings by Guy Winter Anglo-Saxon brood. To my great joy, my the imagination and the suspense. It eldest offspring has recently published a with familiar Burns’ names (Souter might even have persuaded Pete to look historical-supernatural adventure story in Johnnie, Poosie Nansie, Kirkton Jean, at Burns in a new light! which Burns’s legendary Tam O’Shanter Cutty Sark and the intriguing Merry Tam The Three Changelings by Guy and Bonnie Prince Charlie (no less) run Andrew and Doxy Mary) while many Winter is published on Amazon. others are invented, including a bibulous afoul of a coven of witches straight out Alastair Winter (1965) (literally) of Macbeth. Characters appear Highland cow called King Billie. Darker

ack in the 1960s as a pupil at Glasgow Academy I would never Glasgow to Moscow have dreamt that fifty years later I would be making regular trips to BMoscow. In 1962, a year before I went to The Academy, we had the Cuban Missile Crisis when the Russians decided to establish a nuclear base on Cuba. In response, US President Kennedy established a blockade. It was very tense. Historians believe that this was the nearest the Cold War got to going hot. I remember saying to my mother that I was glad that we no longer lived in London as it was bound to be obliterated. Her response was that Helensburgh, next door to Faslane and the US Navy base in the Holy Loch, would be the first to get blown to pieces! Although not much was said at the time, as part of the deal to end the crisis, the US agreed to remove the missiles that they had established in Turkey and Italy, which had antagonised the Russians. As with many things in life, there are usually two sides to every story. Currently there is a danger that we dismiss Russia as a rogue state. Certainly it has significant problems with corruption and aggression, which require a robust response. But we’re not perfect: London is still regarded by many as a major centre for money laundering and our record in the Middle East is woeful. I’m now in my third year as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Moscow Stock Exchange and I have been very encouraged with the high standard of corporate governance – easily on a par with the City. We try and set an example to all businesses. We have robust discussions at the board and the three international directors are always listened to and treated with respect. On a personal level I am always impressed by individual Russians’ friendliness and helpfulness. Like us they just want to get on with their lives and do the best for their children and grandchildren. Let’s keep engaging with them. Duncan Paterson (1968)

Etcetera 11 That’s Glasgow for you

his is a short story, a real-life story, Once we had talked about Dairsie about two men having a coffee memories, we discussed our relative Ton the Greek island of Andros, further journeys into the Glasgow school and discovering that they both went to system. Nigel continued at Kirkhill, then Dairsie House in their childhoods. eventually on to Drewsteignton (which “Really? No kidding? You went to became High School of Glasgow) and Dairsie House?” said Graham. Graham went to Kelvinside Academy! “Yes. Although I am sure we were not Boo-Hiss! He also became the captain there at the same time,” responds Nigel. of that school. Nigel’s older brother also Nigel is in his late fifties and Graham in went to Kelvinside and left in the year his mid-forties. that Graham began. This joyful discovery led to a A few hours later, Nigel and Graham conversation about their memories of spoke on the phone and Nigel challenged Dairsie House and a potential project: Graham to phone Dairsie House and find a reunion for any former Dairsie out if the monkey puzzle tree was still House students (Dairsie Housers?) on there. And also, perhaps, they have now the beautiful island of Andros and a found his lost schoolbag. And so Graham, celebration of childhood memories. always up for a challenge, phoned Dairsie We both immediately remembered House and is put through to Glasgow the monkey puzzle tree. And Nigel Academy! Ah, times have changed, clearly. was able to name all his teachers. He And so Graham spoke with Liz from the jokingly wondered whether his school PR and Communications department bag had been found, which he lost in the and she was happy to receive an article mid-sixties. Graham remembered the from us about this lovely coincidence on school sports on the front lawn, egg and a Greek island. Indeed, her parting words, spoon races and the Wendy House in the and title for this piece, were, “That’s room at the front left of the building. Glasgow for you!” In no particular order, there were Perfect. memories of: the green uniforms, the Thank you for reading and if you bell to gather us back in, the Caldwell are interested in attending an alumni twins, the main hall and assemblies, the gathering on sunny Andros at a time hedges around the building, the streets when Scotland is cold, wet and dreach, of Newlands, full-fat cow’s milk at please do contact Graham via email: break-time, being pesky and much more. [email protected]

n this class photo Iof form IIA 1945, I remember the names of all the boys except two standing second and third from the right in the top row. I think that maybe they were not regular members of the class. The Master was Mr Bachelor (Classics), and your regular correspondent Jimmy Cunningham is at the left of the row second down. I myself am third from the right of the third row down. Terry Todd (1949)

12 Etcetera Glasgow Academical Club this has proved difficult as its limited and Liz McGowan will continue to help resources have been necessarily centred with dinners, events and other activities, on sporting activities at Anniesland. The including the sale of international tickets. External Relations team are already The Club board will consider how communicating regularly with FPs and best to promote the annual dinner and it is a logical step that the Club’s wider encourage a wider cross section of Accies Update activities are promoted by them too. Academicals to attend and the ExRel ne of the key strengths of the Ongoing sporting activities at Anniesland team are keen to develop other events Academical Club in the last 150 and beyond will continue to be managed that will hopefully engage increasing Oyears has been the enormous by The Glasgow Academical Sports Club numbers of FPs. Paul is also keen to sense of community amongst its FPs. (GASC). GASC has existed for many encourage greater awareness of our Whilst for many, Academical life centres years as a community amateur sports extensive international community. In around sport at Anniesland, the Club has club and will remain unaffected by these a global world with more Academicals always keen to promote the wider FP changes. The hockey and rugby sections living and working overseas, there has community beyond sport, and indeed, continue to thrive and cricket are finally never been a better time to create a beyond Scotland. enjoying a dry summer after a few very stronger international network. I know After much discussion, it was agreed wet seasons. that many of our overseas members are recently by both the Club and the School The Academical Club will now be keen to help and it will be exciting to see that The Glasgow Academical Club and brought under the wing of the External the Club develop in this way. the FP network would be managed by Relations Department and with the If we can succeed in developing the the School and promoted through the efforts of new President, Paul Frame, FP Community both here and abroad, External Relations department. will look to improve what we offer then we will be better able to support and The Club have always been keen to Academicals and will aim to reach out nurture school leavers now and in the promote the entire FP Community but better to school leavers. Steven Dignall future. John F Mason (1987) Rugby he past season has been a successful is down to hard work by the players and since their inception. Tone for Accies rugby as they gained coaches and would not have been possible Ryan joined Accies in season 2016-17 promotion to National League 2, the without the help of all our sponsors, both and has been a regular in the 1st XV since third tier of league rugby below the individuals and commercial. It has also then. Despite some very tempting offers professional sides. This is the second been so encouraging to the players to to play elsewhere in Glasgow, Ryan has promotion in the past 3 seasons. It also hear and see so many supporters out on a said that he is committed to Accies and means that Accies have returned to the Saturday afternoon to cheer them on. loves the rugby and the team spirit that league they left in 1997 when Glasgow To top off this great season, Accies has been created at New Anniesland. Hawks were formed with the best players player Ryan Sweeney (2016) received Due to work commitments we lost the from Accies and GHK. At that point the prestigious award of National League services of our talented stand off and Accies were relegated to the bottom of 3 Player of the Season for 2017-18 at Captain last December and will be losing the league system, so had to work hard the recent SRU BT Annual Awards the services of Ruraidh Wilson and Jamie to keep those players who did not go to Ceremony, a great honour for him and Loomes this summer and both will be Hawks and encourage new, young players the Club, and the first player from New sadly missed. to join. In the ensuing years they worked Anniesland to have won a National award Donald F Reid (1967) their way up the leagues till they reached West Region League 1 in season 2002/3. A great achievement considering they had been promoted every season from1997 to 2002. West 1 has proved, over the years, to be a very tough league to be promoted from, as Accies found out, but after a few years of near misses they finally gained promotion to National League 3 in our 150th season, 2015-16; very appropriately. A couple of seasons in National 3 and we are now in National 2. Back to where we started in 1997. This

Etcetera 13 Glasgow Accies Ladies Hockey Club

Old and New friends for the 2018-2019 season he ladies of Glasgow Accies Hockey Club have reflected on Tthe 2017-2018 season as one that brought many friendships, teammates and achievements to its members and well-deserved West District Cup trophy to the club! As ever, the standards of hockey have continued to improve through Tuesday night training sessions at Windyedge and weekend matches. We are proud to have won the West District Cup and come runner up in the Indoor Plate final. Although the dedication to hockey remains undeniable at Accies it is also important to acknowledge that the ladies have remained dedicated to each other in continuing old and forging new friendships – lubricated by plentiful club socials. Looking ahead to the 2018-2019 season, Accies ladies welcome any new and old comers to join us in continuing our attack on the West District league table and expand our network of friends and teammates. Pre-season training begins on 7 August at 6.45 pm. Follow us on our on our social media platforms: Instagram: @glasgowaccieshockey, Facebook: Glasgow Accies Ladies Hockey for further information or The ladies of Glasow Accies Hockey Club contact the club directly: [email protected]

London Section ifty diners joined us at the London FSection’s Annual Dinner on Friday 24 March at the Caledonian Club. With the dinner not being the night before the Calcutta Cup it allowed us to sit in a smaller more intimate room at the Caledonian Club. Our hosts were even more gracious by allowing us to have a sabrage demonstration by former President Gordon Low. The Champagne Piaff was provided by Gordon’s father and co-Founder, Bobby Low - thanks to him for his gift and insight to the brand. Gordon’s perfect sabrage was followed by new Vice-President Hazel McNaught who may have to practise in less salubrious surroundings if she is to try again! The dinner allowed us to be briefed on the goings on of our parent Club at develop what is essentially a bionic eye. Left to right: Gordon Deas, Geoff Woods, Jamie Anniesland by President, John Mason. The evening was rounded off by the Sim, Mahi Muqit, David Tolmie, Norman Poole. The Rector updated us on the great traditional vote of thanks that was achievements of our old school, which delivered in truly enigmatic fashion by seems to be a breeding ground for Jonathan Gerber. The good news is that Internationalists in multiple sporting the London Section has decided to keep hard work of the Alumni team back in disciplines. This year our guest speaker the President and Vice-President positions Glasgow. Thanks to Liz McGowan and was Mahi Muqit, PhD FRCOphth, for 3 years. This will allow new President Steven Dignall for all their help putting it Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Alex Gray to have his act together with together and their excellent suggestion of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. He the organisation on the actual evening speaker. amused us with various reminisces of the before passing on the mantle! Next year’s dinner date is already school in the 80s, and coped well with Thanks to the team at the Caledonian confirmed as Friday 15 March - the night some informative heckling from former Club who worked tirelessly to make before the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham, classmates. In addition he amazed us with the evening a success. In addition this so spread the word! insight to the leading work he is doing to event would not happen without the Alex Gray (1983)

14 Etcetera GAC and Marie Curie Trust

perating a OBE, approached us with a brand new successful concept. Instead of a ‘hand out’ we should OSports Club is go for a ‘hand up’. So this brilliant idea always a difficult and was launched that would encourage the challenging task, as players and officials at New Anniesland to year-on-year the costs look out with the club to see how they go up, especially so could help others. Mr Watson’s plan was when you reach the to tie in sponsorship of the rugby section dizzy heights of National rugby leagues. with the Marie Curie Trust at Stobhill The travel costs incurred in playing in Hospital, where he and his Foundation these leagues are enormous. Last season were heavily involved in the creation the rugby team travelled to Orkney at of the new Marie Curie Hospice based a huge cost in addition to bus journeys in the grounds of Stobhill, as well as its to Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh long-term future. and the Borders. These and other costs The rugby section committee embraced are covered by our generous sponsors the idea with instant enthusiasm and the but it has for some time been felt that players became involved from the start. rather than simply looking for a hand Dr Jane Collins, the Director of Marie John Watson and Dr Jane Collins out we needed to give something back Curie, flew up from London especially to to society in return. So it was a breath launch the first shirt to have the logo on of fresh air, when in 2015 John Watson it. (She can be seen here being presented

136th with a shirt by Mr Watson himself.) As a result of its success it is hoped that this imaginative idea can be launched ANNUAL DINNER amongst some of the biggest rugby clubs in England. The players have proudly worn the Cargill Hall, The Glasgow Academy logo since then and the daffodil has now Friday 9th November 2018 | 6.30pm for 7.15pm become the logo for all sections of the Sports Club, ladies Hockey, Cricket and the Mini section, (all 160 children)! The players have been involved in fund Guest raising with a bucket collection outside Debenhams over the past two years, speaker as well as getting sponsorship for their Shiona McCallum (2004), participation in the last two Edinburgh award-winning 10k runs. (Some of the runners can be BBC Radio 1 and seen resplendent in their Marie Curie 1 Xtra radio journalist yellow t-shirts!) As a sports club, we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to get involved with this wonderful charity, who do so much to support everyone who is dealing with a terminal illness, and never forgetting their family and friends. We know the Tickets: £40 (or £30 if aged 25 and under) including relationship will grow as the seasons go welcome drinks reception and 3-course dinner. by and all those involved with the Sports Club at New Anniesland are proud to be Book through our shop at www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk involved with this great charity. or by telephone on 0141 342 5494 Donald F Reid (1967)

Etcetera 15 Westbourne Section

by another keen tennis player, Sir Andy Westbourne’s Oldest Murray. Sir Andy happened to be there “Old Girl”? that day and asked to join Dorothy for a chat. Dorothy let slip to Sir Andy that uly 2018 marked a significant birthday she once swore on the tennis court in the celebration for Dorothy Baird (née J presence of the man who was to become Turnbull) whom - at the quite remarkable her husband. Sir Andy commented age of 100 years old - we believe to be that he too may have uttered the odd our oldest Westbourne Old Girl! swear word on court and was tickled at Dorothy commenced her education at Dorothy’s revelation! Westbourne School for Young Ladies in For the past 10 years Dorothy has lived 1924 at the age of 6. Based in Kelvinside with her daughter Anne (Westbourne, House, Dorothy was taught English by Class of ‘69) and at Easter this year she Miss Rose Harris who became Mrs decided to move into residential care Rose Henderson and subsequently a where she has settled happily. distinguished Headmistress. Dorothy Her extended family gathered on played for the school hockey team (as her birthday for a celebration at the care did her elder sister, Margaret) and her home, and, the following day, hosted an team photo was displayed in the dining afternoon tea for Dorothy and over 100 hall at Winton Drive. Although she left friends in the Burnside Hall at Dollar, Westbourne in 1933 to board at St Hilda’s with transport to and from the venue in a in Edinburgh, Dorothy’s connection to [Dorothy Baird very swish Rolls Royce. Guests included the school continued when her daughter, Photographs provided by Jan van der Merve] another Westbourne “OId Girl”, Liz Anne, joined Miss Hastwell’s Primary 1 pitch, Dorothy was also a keen tennis McCormick (nee Barry), also Class of ‘69. class in 1956. player. Last year, a friend took her for In addition to her skills on the hockey a birthday lunch to Cromlix, owned

Class of 1983 Reunion – 29 June 2018 fter the very successful photo shows us there. we promised we will all meet If other readers from our AMay 2017 School At the restaurant we met a again soon! year wish to get in touch with Reunion, our Class of 1983 few others of our group, and The girls came from all us, please can they get in touch was inspired to meet again enjoyed a great night with over Scotland and England, with the Academy’s External this Summer. The timing was lovely food and much chat, and Kirsteen from Los Relations team, and we look set by our classmate, Kirsteen catch-up and great memories. Angeles. Our camaraderie forward to hearing from you! Gallacher-Ang, returning Some ladies we hadn’t seen in and warmth is strong – and we Karen Dinardo from her home in California the group for many years, so it all decided we hadn’t changed for a holiday (Kirsteen having was really an excellent night – a bit! moved to Los Angeles during 2nd year at Westbourne). On the night almost 20 of us met in the West End for our get-together. We rendezvoused at the lovely flat of one of the girls which was a delightful, super, sunny evening meeting spot, with a welcome drink by Karen (McLean’s) partner, Blair, who was a most gracious host. He then sent us off in the direction of ‘Bar Soba’ in Byres Road. Before we left, we even “load-tested” their new balcony – not a millimetre of deflection was observed! The

16 Etcetera Westbourne Updates varied topics: all are welcome. Stephanie Fraser (née Struthers) Our IESIS website and our ‘Prof Eng’ (Westbourne 1986) website for young people give a flavour I am currently Chief Executive of Bobath of our activities for schools and we have Kate Clanchy (Westbourne 1983) Scotland Cerebral Palsy Centre and good links with the body “Primary Kate was recently awarded an MBE a trustee of Horsecross Arts in Perth. Engineer”, whom we support. for services to literature in the Queen’s In Spring this year, I was appointed a Our James Watt Dinner takes place Birthday Honours. An award-winning Board member of the Scottish Charity every October in Glasgow, with the writer and poet, Kate is ‘writer in Regulator (OSCR) by the Cabinet announcement of the latest inductees into residence’ at Oxford Spires Academy, Secretary. the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. where she has also taught for nearly 10 Over the recent time I’ve brought two years of her 30-year teaching career. Jane Gotts (née Clews) (Westbourne & inspiring talks to the School – one along The Academy 1994) with a University-built Formula Racing Karen Dinardo (Westbourne 1983) I am delighted to have joined the Board Car! More talks can be organised, and It is my great honour to serve as the first of Governors at the Academy, where the School is very welcome to attend our lady President of IESIS (Year 2016 to Westbourne is currently also represented 11th September 2018 Schools event:- 2018), having worked on its Council over by Christine Abercrombie (Gemmell) “Considering a Career in Engineering?” the years, from 2006, ongoing. and Anita Salwan (Khurana). It’s great by Space Engineer, Steve Lee, Managing On 15 June, the Presidents, Past, to see that The Academy is thriving and Director of Astrosat, to be held at Present and Future, met for an update I’m pleased to be able to play my part in Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh. ‘Team photograph’ which we do from ensuring its continued success. Our annual June talk is generally in the time-to-time, the last one being in year Glasgow area. 2000. This was followed by a small social Anne Graham (Westbourne 1972) I am very pleased to support and gathering and buffet. This took place Anne is to be one of the selected promote young people into engineering at the Clydeport Building, Glasgow, exhibitors at ‘Elements’ (an annual festival to both girls and boys alike; it’s a really beautifully decorated internally and of jewellery, silver and gold in Scotland) super, challenging, exciting profession, full externally, where the Institution’s office at Lyon and Turnbull, Broughton Place, of problem solving and team-working, is based. 12 in number attended. In the Edinburgh from 19 to 21 October 2018, and opportunities are available to lead one photo, I’m sitting next to my father, Carlo, sharing a stand with David Hempstead, all over the world. who was President from 1999 to 2001. under the title of ACG /DH Jewellery. If you wish further information on Sandy Stephen, also in the photo IESIS’s work, Membership, or the James seated to my left, was preceded by his Watt Dinner, please contact myself via own father as President some time before IESIS office on email: iesis@btconnect. him. We think this is the only other “two com or by telephone:- 0141 248 3721. generation” family of Presidents! IESIS was founded by William Gillian Evans (Westbourne 1974) Rankine in 1857 and the ‘Shipbuilders’ As of April this year, I am now happily came on board in year 1860. We have retired from full-time work. a pretty unique status of a body of I am presently enjoying leisure activities multidisciplinary engineers in the UK, and considering undertaking further OU and we actively promote and encourage studies. This will enhance the BA (Social young people into careers in Engineering, Sciences – Politics and Economics) OU and provide our excellent series of Gillian Evans degree and advanced ECDL certificate Technical talks over the year, with very that I achieved whilst working full time. IESIS Team photograph Copyright courtesy of Great Scot Photography, Clydebank.

Etcetera 17 Anne Graham (Westbourne 1972) Anne Graham and Susanna Pairman I was in Australia for a family wedding Bradley at Sydney Botanic Gardens earlier this year. We stayed a couple of days with Susanna Pairman Bradley - who is an Organisational Development Consultant - and her husband, Michael, in Bilgola. One photo shows the fabulous dinner they laid on for us and the other is of Susanna and myself with Palm Beach in Below: the background, from a stunning view Nikki Ritchie and her Hyve Atchitects point she took us to. team. We then headed up to Palm Beach where Anne Sandeman and her husband The Gables Tony came to meet us. Anne was literally off a plane from skiing in the USA and Japan. Anne and Tony live in Queenscliff where Anne is a lawyer, working at Hickson Lawyers in Sydney, where she is Practice manager/Partner.

Nikki Ritchie (née McCallum) (Westbourne 1986) Nikki started up Hyve Architects Ltd (originally ISIS Architecture) in Stonehaven in 2005. Originally working from a home office in her front room, she has seen the practice grow year-on-year and now heads up a team of five. The company specialises in residential work ranging from small housing developments to one-off new build homes and extensions, renovations and alterations. Several awards have been won over the years, the most recent being the Velux Maximum Exposure Award, which is run in conjunction with the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland (RIAS). The award recognises the innovative vision of designers in Scotland who use Velux products to create inventive and modern designs. The winning project, The Gables, is an extension and renovation of a period property in the heart of Stonehaven Conservation Area. This is the second award won by Hyve for The Gables. In 2017, the company was named winner of the Design Award – Residential Category by the Aberdeen Society of Architects.

Friday 17 May 2019, 2pm Save the Date Westbourne Class of ’69 - 50 year reunion

For more details, contact Liz McGowan, External Relations at [email protected]

18 Etcetera Announcements Births Engagements Andrew P S Brown (1999) David G Pitkeathly (1982) I’d like to announce the arrival of Margot Rev David Pitkeathly, Church of (Maggie) Brown, born 20 December Scotland minister in Carlisle, became 2017, a sister for Fergus, Ivy and Nora. engaged to Sarah Eastol in St Andrews on 14 February 2018 where they first met 27 Chris Leggat (1998) years before. They are getting married in Cara and I are delighted to announce the March, Cambridgeshire on 20 October birth of our second child, Rory Frederick 2018. Leggat. Rory was welcomed to the world in July 2017… better late than never in Stuart Turnbull (2006) Etcetera! Rory is pictured with his big Stuart has recently become engaged sister, Georgie. to Catherine Martin, proposing whilst holidaying on Skye, on his late father’s David McNaught (2002) birthday, with an engagement ring made David, Ruth and George McNaught by his mother, Anne Graham. Stuart welcomed Hugo McNaught into the is a Lookdev and Lighting Technical family on 4 February. Here is a picture of Director in Framestore which is home to Hugo with his proud big brother, George. a collective of visionaries working across film, advertising and content. Catherine Ross Weir (2000) is Resource manager for MPC - Moving Nat and I are delighted to announce Picture Company - a visual effects and the safe arrival of Benjamin Tobias John film production studio headquartered in Weir. Benji arrived a week ahead of Soho, London. schedule on 16 April and we have been on catch-up ever since! Benji is pictured with proud big brother, Oscar.

George Porteous (1955) George and May Porteous became grandparents in December 2017, with the birth of baby Emmie to Julie and Jeff Buhl (née Porteous). Julie and Jeff were married in Hong Kong in 2016, with a matrimonial blessing in St Andrews last summer. Emmie has already picked up significant air miles travelling with her Mum and Dad to Australia and the USA, to be followed by visits to Phuket and Italy over the next few months, before Stuart and Catherine arriving in Scotland this November. George Porteous and family

Top to bottom: Rory Frederick Leggat Hugo and George McNaught Emmie Buhl Benji and Oscar Weir

Etcetera 19 Marriages Updates Johnathan Cockayne (2000) Alan Currie (1982) In May this year Johnathan Cockayne I was recently appointed Professor in the married his husband Patrick (née Sport and Exercise Sciences Department Dickinson) at Dynamic Earth in at the University of Sunderland. Although Edinburgh. Johnathan was delighted to a slightly unusual appointment for an have a number of former school friends at NHS psychiatrist, I’ve been working in the ceremony and was kept calm on the this growing field for over 20 years and day by his best man Iain Kennedy (2000), in 2016 was elected chair of the Royal a long-term friend from Mr Hadcroft’s College of Psychiatrists Sports Psychiatry Latin classes. Group. I have also just been invited onto an International Olympic Committee Clarissa Doig (2009) group looking at athlete mental health. Clarissa married Sam Newall (High I was at The Academy from 1978 until School of Glasgow, Class of 2009) at her 1982, before studying medicine in family home in Ayrshire on 24 February Edinburgh until 1987. 2018, with four friends from her year as bridesmaids.

Kate Hirst (1997) Kate Hirst married Nigel Tollerman on 7 July in Kippen, Stirlingshire.

Fraser McGowan (2006) Fraser McGowan married Hannah Hardman at Dalhousie Castle on 12 May 2018.

Alan Currie

Abid Faqir (1994) I have been elected as President of the Association of Dental Implantology, which is a prestigious UK wide organisation in Dentistry.

Antony Markson (1954) I left the Academy at the end of the fifth Left, top to bottom: year in 1953. After a long commercial Jonathan and Patrick career, I resumed education in 2002 at Clarissa and Sam The Open University. Rather to my surprise, I achieved a first class honours Fraser and Hannah degree in History in 2009. Suitably encouraged (the family say ‘obsessed’) I Above: then went on to repeat the exercise, this time with first class honours for a BSc in Kate and Nigel International Studies in 2013. Bravado or hubris has led me to try for the hat-trick, and I have recently submitted my final piece of work for an honours degree in

20 Etcetera Politics, Philosophy and Economics. At 81, I doubt that I will tackle any more formal educational challenges, but for any younger alumni who are interested I can recommend post retirement study for its various benefits: 1. You learn new skills. 2. Banish boredom - add stress to your life. 3. Stay out of your wife’s way. 4. Dodge chores - ‘I need to do some research’. 5. Gain a new way to bore acquaintances. 6. You can help the grandchildren with (some of) their homework better than their parents can. 7. You can make new (virtual) friends - the OU is an on-line institution. 8. Arguably deter dementia - even though the work can sometimes drive you mad! Every time I get a good mark in an essay I feel a little flash of gratitude towards ‘Baggy ‘Aston. He made me, Lloyd’s of London and generations of other pupils, learn to the business in a variety of roles during I now sit on the Executive Board use the English language with care and Academy school holidays over the years of QUIZ PLC as the company’s Chief respect. I also remember Mr Ogilvie’s (in what was then a small family-run Commercial Officer and remain rigorous insistence on knowing facts. operation), I officially joined the business confident in the long-term growth Their joint input has had a major in 2003 after achieving an Honours potential of the QUIZ brand. influence both on my scholastic life and degree in Electronics and Electrical more generally. Engineering at Glasgow University, Leonard Tam (1993) (P.S. At school I was one of the few followed by a Masters in Business Was made an offer by Lloyd’s of London red-haired pupils - alas I am now one of Management at Strathclyde Business to be part of the post-Brexit team in the what I suspect is the many white-haired School. Playing an instrumental part new Brussels subsidiary, having already Academicals). in the growth of the company, I am been involved in setting up the new delighted to have seen the family business post-Brexit Headquarters of MoneyGram Katy McMillan (2009) successfully float on AIM and backed by a International in the same city. However, at I was recently awarded a PhD in Medical strong investor base including names such the eleventh hour, the offer of Lloyd’s was Law and Ethics by the University of as Blackrock, Schroders, and Hargreave gazumped by the European Commission. Edinburgh with no corrections, which Hale. is the highest outcome I could have Alastair Taylor (1987) Alastair Taylor been awarded. I shall be continuing as a I was recently honoured to be awarded researcher and teacher at the University a Fellowship of the Royal College of of Edinburgh looking at the legal and General Practitioners mainly for my ethical aspects of human reproduction. medicopolitical work. As well as being a GP Partner in a training practice in Melanie Paterson (2011) Bearsden, I am Chair of Glasgow Local Since leaving The Academy, I attended the Medical Committee, Chair of the Area University of Strathclyde and completed Medical Committee and Vice Chair of a 4-year LLB law degree, followed by a the Area Clinical Forum of Glasgow 1-year Diploma in Professional Practice. I Health Board. then commenced a legal traineeship with Pattison and Co Solicitors. As of mid-June Tony Welsh (1967) 2018, I have completed my full training I have been given a massively humbling and am now a fully qualified solicitor. award by the Association of Racecourse Vets for 35 years’ dedication to racehorse Sheraz Ramzan (1999) welfare. The award is in memory of Ray I am pleased to announce the successful Williamson who worked at Aintree and public listing of fast-fashion brand QUIZ many other courses. in July of last year on the London AIM Stock Exchange. Having worked in

Etcetera 21 Reunions and get-togethers

Class of 1998 Class of 2008 We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming back some of the class We welcomed back the Class of 2008 for their 10-year of 1998 for their 20-year reunion in June; a great afternoon reunion on 14 September. We were particularly pleased to reminiscing and catching up with former teachers and make (belated) delivery of some school photos ordered over a classmates. decade ago, but never picked up!

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22 Etcetera Upcoming Events The Ian Muir Spring Lunch 2018

he annual lunch for 1945-55 school first class, three-course meal with all the Tleavers was timed for the first Friday trimmings and a generous supply of wine Friday 9 November 2018 in March as usual. However, mother and soft drinks - all for the princely sum Remembrance Service, AGM & nature had other ideas and the ‘beast from of £16.50 per head (your scribe defies Accies Dinner East’ snow-storm caused a two-week anyone to beat such a deal!). postponement. Despite this, and the This year, the invitation was extended Friday 23 November 2018, 4pm resulting call-offs, a goodly attendance of to the leavers from 1956-60 and also Class of 1966-67 & Form VB twenty-six, augmented by representatives to the surviving legends from the 1965-66 reunion, The Glasgow of the External Relations department 1935-44 era (affectionately known as Academy of the School, braved the lingering the “GASBAGS” - an acronym for a Winter conditions and gathered in the now-somewhat-obscure purpose, rather Friday 1 March 2019, 12.15pm Saunders Centre at Colebrooke Street to than their obvious stamina!). The former Ian Muir Spring Lunch, The Pavilion, enjoy a drinks reception, followed by a category was to satisfy the curiousity of New Anniesland those who, despite their youth and vigour, apparently have been feeling left out; and Friday 15 March 2019, 6.30pm the latter to compensate for the lapse of GAC London Section Dinner, their own get-together due to dwindling The Caledonian Club numbers. Unsurprisingly, the widening of the Friday 22 March 2019, 12.30pm age spectrum did nothing to stifle the Class of 1961-65 reunion, The enjoyment and camaraderie of those of Glasgow Academy common background, interest and like mind; and the conversation and banter Friday 17 May 2019, 2pm carried on well into the afternoon before Westbourne Class of 1969 50th year the fellowship reluctantly dispersed. The reunion undoubted success of the afternoon and more normal climatic conditions should Friday 7 June 2019 encourage a great participation in years to Class of 1971-1975 – ‘Save the Date’ come, beginning with the cyclical return to New Anniesland in 2019. Friday 14 June 2019 It remains only to express our gratitude Class of 1976-79 – ‘Save the Date’ to the team from External Relations and the very professional Catering Staff for Friday 21 June 2019 their encouragement and support. Class of 1999 – ‘Save the Date’ John B Park

Tuesday 13 November 2018, 7.00 pm, Cargill Hall Dallachy Lecture: ‘Theatre Costume: Telling Stories with Clothes’ by John Liddell (1966), Head of Costume at Scottish Opera. Tickets can be booked via the shop on The Academy website or by calling External Relations on 0141 342 5494.

Photograph by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Etcetera 23 Obituaries

Rev Douglas Aitken (1950) served for 8 years on the District Council on shooting and Captain of Shooting 14 November 1933 - 20 March 2018 in Dunfermline; served as District Scout at The Academy. Ken volunteered for Commissioner and Scottish National the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Eric Aitken, always known as Douglas, Scout Chaplain for several years as well He attended Oxford University and was born in London. His family as being involved with management studied a combined course of law and returned to Scotland in 1945 and settled committees of Victim Support and naval training. After being demobbed in Glasgow where Douglas attended Crossroads while in Clackmannan, in 1946, he completed his chartered Glasgow Academy. He left school in Douglas and his wife, Fiona, spent almost accountant apprenticeship, qualifying 1950 and began a marine engineering 20 happy years of retirement in the village in 1949 and joining Kidston Goff & apprenticeship with Barclay Curle. He of Saline, near Dunfermline where they Harvey where he became a partner in was an able student and enjoyed the were able to enjoy being part of the local 1953. This led to his first involvement work but felt the call to the Ministry congregation, getting to know their with the whisky business of Robertson in the Church of Scotland. With the grandchildren and exploring other parts & Baxter. His role developed from encouragement of his parents and his of the world. The cancer with which auditor into trusted advisor. Subsequent Minister the Rev. Tom Allan in North Douglas had lived for a couple of years to this advisory role, Ken was invited Kelvinside Church, Douglas completed recurred last year. He was admitted to the by the Robertsons to join Robertson the entrance qualification and began Queen Margaret Hospice in Dunfermline & Baxter and its new holding company, his studies at Glasgow University in in December where he appreciated the Edrington, as financial director in 1966. 1953. Health problems interrupted his expert care of the staff and the frequent Golf played a major part in Ken’s leisure studies in 1955 and National Service visits of family and many friends and life, thanks to his father’s encouragement. was spent as a second lieutenant in the colleagues. Douglas is survived by his His handicap reached three in 1958 and Royal Artillary, including time in Malta wife Fiona and sons Ewan, Stewart and he qualified for the Scottish Amateur during the Suez crisis in 1956. Douglas Ronnie and seven grandchildren. Championship five times. He joined graduated M.A. in Glasgow in 1959 Prestwick Golf Club in 1954, becoming followed by 3 years’ study at Trinity Robert Thomas Moore Aitken (1955) captain in 1988-89, an honour he hugely College. Following a period as student 8 October 1936 - December 2017 appreciated and enjoyed. He was invited assistant at King’s Park Church he was to join The R&A in 1964 and joined Robert Aitken of Helensburgh sadly ordained by the Presbytery of Glasgow in Glasgow Golf Club the same year. Ken passed away on 31 December 2017. He October 1961. Douglas always showed was an assiduous note taker of events attended The Academy from 1942 – 1955. a keen interest in ‘mission’ in all its facets throughout his life, and had a fascinating Robert is survived by his wife Fiona. and wider work of the church and in scrapbook, beautifully annotated, of his 1962 he became associate minister and war years, a copy of which now rests in Kenneth D M Cameron (1943) in 1966, senior minister of St Andrew’s the school library of Glasgow Academy. 10 July 1925 - 28 July 2018 Church in Nairobi. In March 1969 In his private autobiography, he describes Douglas returned to Scotland to take Ken Cameron, a leading figure in the one of the most important events of up a post in the Religious Broadcasting Scotch whisky industry, passed away at his life as being his chance first date Department of the BBC. As producer the age of 93. Born in 1925, Ken attended with Gill in 1963, arranged by his great and latterly senior producer, his work The Academy from age 7 until 1943 in took him to many parts of Scotland and the middle of the war years. He was keen Kenneth D M Cameron front row second from left beyond, giving scope to develop this opportunity of communicating the gospel to many people - a ministry appreciated by colleagues in the Church and BBC as well. After resigning from the BBC in 1987 Douglas was involved in a variety of projects, freelance broadcasting, part of the ministry team at Mayfield Church in Edinburgh, Directing the Church Garden Project at the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988 and directing the media training at the Community project at the Parish Church in Buckhaven. In 1991 he was called to the Parish Church in Clackmannan where his many gifts of preaching and leadership were much appreciated. Despite his many commitments Douglas always played his part in Presbytery and General Assembly and in the community .He

24 Etcetera friends Jack and Jennifer Reid. Despite the accountant’s natural caution, Ken proposed to Gill within three months and they were married three months after that, spending their life together for the following 54 years. They were blessed with the arrival of their two children Ewan and Julie in 1968 and 1970 respectively, and subsequently became adoring grandparents to their four grandsons and two granddaughters, or the “grandflowers” as Ken affectionately called them. Ken leaves behind a legacy of affection and admiration from all he met.

Robert Buchanan Gilchrist Dingwall (1959) Roy was a Glasgow Accies man through and through. He attended The Academy from 1948 to 1959 and he always liked to tell his children and grand-children that his biggest achievement at school was being a “Milk Monitor” and a member Ronald Wilson Gilmour modern literature, particularly post-war of the 1st VI tennis team. His association American drama. He progressed to a founding member and Chairman of with the Academical club continued well Pembroke College, Cambridge, where GROGS (Glasgow Rugby Old Geezers after his school days playing rugby for he was awarded a doctorate. Douglas Society) where he was most at ease as Glasgow Accies 4th XV in the 1960s and later returned to St Andrews as a guest the warm-up act for the guest speakers at as the most flamboyant and unfit touch lecturer in Creative Writing. He was an their monthly lunches. judge that Scottish Rugby has ever seen impressively self-taught guitarist with Roy is survived by his wife Christine, throughout the 1980s and early 90s – his an unerring eye for artistic quality. He their children Hamish (1990), Rachel and unusual touch judge attire of his Accies supported himself between writing Kirsty and his four grandchildren. His cricket jumper, plus fours, golf shoes and projects by bidding in Scottish auction legacy at The Academy lives on through tweed flat cap would not go noticed on houses for hidden gems and selling them two of his grandchildren who currently a Saturday afternoon at New Anniesland. on to collectors. He is survived by his attend the Prep School. The highlight of his rugby career came mother and sisters and sons, Satomi and in 1988 when he touch-judged the Makoto. Robert Douglas Galbraith (1983) Barbarians v Glasgow Academicals in Credit: The Scotsman 28 October 1965 - 23 March 2018 the Herbert Waddell Memorial Match. On that day the big guns of English and Douglas Galbraith was a historical novelist Ronald Wilson Gilmour (1949) Welsh rugby were on the field including whose work was highly acclaimed for 30 June 1931 - 25 March 2018 Will Carling and Jonathan Davies, not its meticulous approach to research and A proud pupil of the Academy between to forget the likes of Finlay Calder and detail. He was at home as an academic 1942 and 1949, Ronnie went straight Roy Laidlaw representing Scotland in whilst championing the place for poetic into National Service before studying the Baa Baa’s side, but Roy was delighted licence in his works of fiction. Douglas for a degree in Economics at Glasgow to still get a mention on the television was formidably articulate, intellectually University, followed by a buying career by the infamous Bill McLaren who self-confident, and possessed of a flinty with Littlewoods, which enabled him mostly commented on his natty dress integrity. His first novel, The Rising to pursue a lifelong passion for travel. sense and fitness levels! In 1989 he was Sun, was published by Picador in 2000. He was a wonderful husband to Anna, a the Tour Manager for Glasgow Accies The book earned the largest advance in devoted father to Joanne, Fee and Mike, summer tour to Portugal of which there Scottish publishing for a first novel and and a very proud grandfather to Megan are many stories that cannot be shared enabled Douglas to abandon his work in and Katie, as well as being an asset to his here. Roy spent his career in the scrap the wine trade to focus solely on writing. community and a friend to anyone who metal business and was affectionately The novel explored the Scottish trade needed it. Words cannot express how known as the “Happy Accie Scrappy” expedition to Darien in Central America much he will be missed. and after his retirement he had a short in 1698 which ended in unfulfilled hopes, stint as an “actor” (well, as an extra – as financial ruin and the loss of hundreds of Christopher W R Hird (1955) anyone who knew Roy would know, lives. It was awarded the Saltire Award for 19 April 1936-16 August 2018 he embellished every story he ever told) Best First Novel. He studied Medieval on programmes such as River City and History at St Andrews University, where Chris Hird was such nice fellow and very Taggart, with the highlight being cast in his best work came early on, earning popular at School. He will be sadly missed the lead role in the Sterling Furniture marks of which his classmates could by all who knew him. Christopher was advert. During his retirement he became only dream. He developed an interest in in my year throughout our senior years

Etcetera 25 and we enjoyed two trips to Europe with He qualified as a Chartered Accountant school governor and served as Chairman the Academy lead by Messrs Ogilvie and worked in the offices of Gray Dunn of Governors 1980-1985, becoming an and Carruthers in 1950 to Nice and Biscuits, Glasgow, until 1968 when honorary governor following his retiral 1951 to Kandersteg where we shared a they were bought over by Rowntree from the Board. room. These trips were great for really Mackintosh which resulted in his move understanding our classmates and our to York with his wife and 3 children. Tom Christopher Ferguson Smith (1969) masters away from the classroom. We both was a keen rugby and cricket player, kept 13 October 1951 – 24 April 2018 played several years for Accies, packing up to date with all the Glasgow football Chris passed away peacefully at home in down in the forwards! However, it was and rugby results and was an avid reader Joppa on 24th April 2018. He was born 60 years before we caught up again in of all former pupil media including, of in Glasgow on 13th October 1951 and 2015 in Malaga where he lived with the course, Etcetera. He died peacefully with attended Glasgow Academy between 1956 - family after working in Nigeria for many his family around him on 29 June 2018, 1968. He made good friends at school with years. From a Christmas email Joan and I aged 95. He is survived by his 3 children whom he shared his love of hill walking. He were able to resume contact and skyped (a daughter and two sons), 6 grandchildren qualified as a solicitor working with firms in with Anne and Chris before staying and 1 great grandson. Glasgow, Hong Kong and Edinburgh before a week with the Hirds on our way to retiring from the Commissioners’ Office in Morocco. We enjoyed great hospitality Andrew R (Drew) McDonald (1977) Scotland (Upper Tribunal) as a legal assessor at their splendid rural property just out 12 May 1959 - 28 July 2018 with health regulating bodies such as the of Malaga in the hills and earlier this Peacefully at St Margaret of Scotland HCPC,GMC,Nursing and Midwifery year their grandson, Josh, stayed with us Hospice, beloved husband of Rhona, Council and also the General Teaching in Manly as part of his adventure down father of Lindsay, Lesley and Jamie. Council in Scotland. His experience in the under. It was remarkable to be able to Naval Section of the CCF was followed by meet again after never having seen each William R Mitchell (1956) a career in the Royal Naval Reserve which other since we left UK and to have had 16 April 1938 - 12 January 2018 took him around the world in particular such a good reunion. We shall miss a good serving aboard HMS Clyde, a Ton Class Accie who was always my friend and our William (Bill) passed away at Ailsa Lodge Minesweeper. He had an amazing smile, thoughts are with Anne and the greater Care Home, Bishopton on 12 January gentle manner and great sense of humour. Hird family. 2018 at the age of 79 after a brave and He enjoyed the friendship and respect of his Turner Massey (1954) courageous battle with dementia. Bill, colleagues. Chris was married to Mel and dearly loved husband of Marjorie, father of the proud father of Katie and Rory. Brother William Bowie Scott Lyon (1959) Steven (1989) and Lesley, younger brother of John (Juffy) and Andrew. He had been 24 November 1941 - 29 March 2018 of C. Douglas (1954) father-in-law and diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour devoted Grandpa. Bill attended The in 2016. After a long battle with cancer, William Academy from September 1950 to June passed away in Spain, where he resided 1956 and won the Maths and Botany Vice-Admiral Sir James Weatherall (1953) with his wife, Ramona. An exceptional prizes in session 1953-54. After leaving 28 February 1936-18 March 2018 husband, father (to Samantha and school, he took the opportunity of an James Lamb Weatherall was born in William) and grandfather. engineering apprenticeship at Albion Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, in 1936. He Motors at Scotstoun and then went on to was the son of Alwyn Weatherall, a Royal Thomas Macfarlane (1940) work for JCB and Scot JCB. Bill finally Naval reservist who served in the merchant 4 October 1922 - 29 June 2018 retired in 2009. His interests were varied navy, and his wife, Joan. As the Second – navigating in car rallies, playing golf, Tom was born in Glasgow and attended World War raged, it fell to Weatherall’s walking in Austria/Italy, writing poetry, The Glasgow Academy from 1931-1940. grandfather to oversee his education, reciting Burns and he loved spending time During WW2 Tom was a Leading chastising him if he was not at the top of the in his garden. Bill was a popular man and Aircraftsman in the RAF, was in Home class at Glasgow Academy. Cuthbert then is sadly missed by his family and many Service (between 1942-1944) and was sent him to Gordonstoun, Weatherall fell for friends. in Holland and Germany 1944-1945. Jean Macpherson, the moment she walked Thomas Macfarlane into his mother’s home in Newtonmore Alastair Rolland (1948) in 1960. They married in May 1962, in the 21 July 1930 - 20 March 2018 House of Commons and settled in Bishop’s Peacefully, at home, on 20 March 2018, Waltham, Hampshire, three years later, Alastair, aged 87 years, of Pollokshields, raising two sons and three daughters. In Glasgow and Carsaig, Argyll. Beloved 1978 he became the last executive officer husband of Elaine, much loved father of the fourth HMS Ark Royal. He became of Douglas, Jennifer and Stuart, dear the first captain of the fifth ship to bear the father-in-law of Kirsty and Nicole, name, visiting New York a year later where cherished Papa of Andrew, Ralph, Scott, the ship’s Harriers joined the centenary the late Lucy, Angus, Oliver, Isla, Emily, celebrations of the Statue of Liberty. The Cara, Genevieve and Ossian and treasured British aircraft hovered in their inimitable brother of Mo. Alastair attended The style before the statue and then bowed, Academy from 1937-1946. He qualified noses down. He is survived by his wife and as a chartered accountant, became a children.

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