Number 27 Summer 2016 Katie’s road to Rio Editorial Contents A time to remember… 3 Katie Archibald – Fast track to Rio 4 The Glasgow Academy and “It’s been a great year to be an Accie!” Those - or similar - words have been spoken Gallipoli many times over the last few months - and possibly never more so than in the beautiful surroundings of the Glasgow City Chambers on the evening of 21 April at the Civic 8 Anecdotage Reception held in honour of the Glasgow Academical Club. 11 Teachers remembered John Beattie and his team have done a wonderful job of celebrating all that is best about 13 Glasgow Academical Club being a Glasgow Academical while keeping faith with their fellow Glaswegians - especially 17 Fundraising update with those who struggle with problems The party’s almost over: it’s been a great year… 18 Westbourne Section common to the less fortunate. Loneliness and homelessness have been two of the 20 Gordon Carruthers – an problems that the Club has tried to address appreciation in its 150th year. 24 Meetings, get-togethers and reunions One name on the lips of many Academicals over the past couple of months is that of Dr 26 Moving up, moving on… Gordon Carruthers who died aged 92 at the 28 Announcements beginning of March. He was a mainstay of 32 Public Schools and British The Academy for 37 years between 1948 Colonialism and his retirement as Deputy Rector in 1985. 33 Obituaries 38 Inspirations Gordon was one of a number of senior staff who interviewed me when - as 39 Dear Sir… student teacher - I arrived at The Academy looking for a job. As I remember things, my encounter with the Deputy Rector didn’t Do we have your e-mail address? seem to be an interview in the conventional It’s how we communicate best! sense at all. I certainly don’t recall any questions - rather I took the role of the audience while Gordon told me - with Keeping in touch great enthusiasm - all about life at Glasgow The External Relations office is situated in Academy. Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are always And yet he missed nothing. As many have welcome to pop in for a chat and look round observed, he had a slightly disconcerting the school. Just give us a call to arrange a time.

way of sitting like an owl with his head Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow cocked to one side listening for every G12 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 342 nuance in a conversation. With naughty 5494 or at [email protected] schoolboys he had a particular trick of The Glasgow Academical Club affecting deafness and asking miscreants to 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR 22 April 2016 repeat their lame excuses until they either contradicted themselves or gave up trying. President: John Beattie

E-mail: [email protected] hank you for the superb Gordon was one of the great characters We felt honoured to Secretary: Stuart Neilson 21 April. Dear Lord Provost - in such a beautiful of The Academy and he had a huge - to the exact day Tel: 07771 845104 half of the Glasgow at theth CityAcademical Chambers Club, on t On be and dinner anniversary influence on several generations of boys. reception were very kind indeed, E-mail: [email protected] be recognised on our 150 The affection in which he was held is building and in a city we feel lucky to be part of. The Academical Club pavilion evidenced by the tributes that flooded The welcoming words from Bailie Jonathan Findlay is available for functions. the food superb, and all of those present said how much they had enjoyed the - especially, the location. in from Academicals of all ages after his event Academical Club’s London Section death was announced. We have been pleased to have so many Academicals volunteering on city projects during the year, and we are continuing to support various Glasgow Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place based charities to the best of ourrepresent ability. the city to the best of our abilities at Gordon Carruthers may no longer London SW1X 9SA Please be assured that we will pass on my thanks to those from your be with us, but it is clear that his all times. Tel: 020 7235 9012 influence lives on in the pupils he I would be grateful if you could E-mail: [email protected] organisation who put together the event. taught.

Yours With best wishes Like us on Facebook; join us on LinkedIn

John Beattie President Colebrooke Street, Glasgow, G12 8HE The Glasgow Academical Club

The GlasgowTel: Academy, 0141 342 5494 [email protected] c/o External Relations,

2 Etcetera Cover photo of Katie Archibald - copyright. Reproduced with kind permission of Jamie Simpson/Herald & Times. Katie Archibald – Fast track to Rio

Katie and friends after speaking at Senior School morning assembly Katie’s competitive spirit seems only to have been strengthened by such early challenges. It helped lead her from racing on grass at Highland Games events to racing on the hard track with City of Edinburgh Racing Club and on to Manchester where, very early on, coach Dave Brailsford identified Katie as “a really exciting prospect”. 2016 has not been the easiest year. Katie recently came in for criticism for t is a crisp, March morning at she received during her visit.) an accident on her motorbike, which Colebrooke Street. Katie Archibald ruptured a knee ligament. So her After a year out in France and then (2012) is back for the first time to ‘beloved Triumph’ is now off limits in I deciding to pursue her cycling while talk to the Senior School about how – in favour of her four-wheeled mini until working in the family business (Archers just a few years since leaving – she has August. The injury meant that Katie Sleepcentre) as a telesales operator, Katie raced to cycling success as a member missed out on the World Championships was recruited into British Cycling’s of British Cycling’s Olympic in London in March and it was ‘very Olympic Development Academy in Development Academy. different and really difficult’ for her November 2013. to watch her teammates struggle in Despite some nerves beforehand, Katie Since then she has racked up a number qualifying, meaning a disappointing very confidently explained how she of titles, records and accolades: Katie bronze on the podium. decided not to take up her place to study became Scotland’s first female track French at Glasgow University to focus But Katie demonstrates a care for and cycling world champion in 2014. on cycling. And she encouraged the understanding of her sport which goes That year she represented Scotland pupils not to be afraid to follow the beyond her personal determination to at the Commonwealth Games and less conventional route in pursuit of succeed and a desire to support her team won a bronze medal in the points race their goals. mates. She is passionate about the need before going on to win two titles at the for excellent facilities to allow talent Afterwards, once there had been a European Championships. 2015 saw in cycling to develop. She firmly notes chance to say hello to a few former Katie become a triple European ‘new velodromes enable cycling talent’ teachers, pose for photos with some of Track Champion in the women’s team and points to Edinburgh’s Sir Chris Hoy, the pupils – and sign a few autographs! – pursuit (as part of the Great Britain Newport’s Becky James and Glasgow’s Katie is relaxed and happy to chat about team), the individual pursuit and the Mark Stewart as prime examples. her path, or should I say fast track, to elimination race. cycling with Team GB. Katie is definitely keen to get things Sporting ability is in Katie’s DNA. Her right, whether on the track or in terms Katie’s memories of The Academy father, Ian, was a bright athletics prospect of public speaking. She requested that include another FP taking assembly in the 1980s while her brother, John, was we film her talk in the Cargill Hall so (Darius in 2011), of enjoying sport – a seriously fast junior Scottish swimmer. that she can review it and see how she especially hockey – but also of feeling Katie was also a West District and Scottish can improve for the future. This sort of she was something of a rebel. This is Schools swimmer – and she could have conscientiousness – coupled with natural a streak she has not entirely lost: Katie been forgiven for being put off cycling sporting ability and a determination to is known for sporting a variety of hair altogether… Aged just 7, she was cajoled succeed – is exactly what has helped colours (pink, blue, green…) as well as to bike the 18 miles from Lochinver to Katie achieve so much already, and put for her speed, grit and love of racing. Achiltibuie by older family and friends. her on the exciting road to Rio. Nevertheless, at Glasgow Academy Katie As Katie says, it was a ‘baptism of fire’ was clearly able both in terms of sport in the saddle. Later, in her early teens, Whatever path she takes in the future, and academically, despite her view that Katie’s father set another challenge when one thing is certain: the whole Glasgow she was not always a good pupil. (A view, he led the family up Mont Ventoux – Academy community – and many more which did not seem to be shared by legendary for being one of the most besides – will be cheering her along in teachers, based on the warm welcome gruelling climbs in the Tour de France. every race this summer.

Etcetera 3

THE GLASGOW ACADEMY AND

Simon Wood, Glasgow Academy’s Head of History, is also the school’s archivist. The following article draws on Simon’s researches in The Academy’s archive as well as on his extensive knowledge of the period.

n 1915 the Gallipoli campaign was conceived by Winston Churchill, Ithen 1st Lord of the Admiralty. With the Western Front grinding down to stalemate, the idea was to attack ‘the soft underbelly’ of the Central Powers. Britain’s ally Russia had also asked for help to relieve attacks make by Ottoman troops on their southern border. The target was the Ottoman Empire (modern- day Turkey). The campaign was to be a joint Anglo-French one, with substantial numbers of troops coming from the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After some failed naval attempts to break through the Dardanelles Straits, a ground assault was sent in during July 1915. Assumptions that the Turkish troops were poor were soon shown to be inaccurate. Many Turkish units were officered by Germans. Their troops were well trained in three Cavalry units: The Queen’s Members of the Australian Imperial Force and well led. The attack soon ground to Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry, Royal a halt in the heat of summer. Attempts to Horse and Scottish Horse. There and survived Gallipoli, most advanced to break the deadlock failed and the decision were a number of other military units officer rank by the time they died or the to evacuate Allied troops was made in represented, but of special interest are the war ended. The representation among the December 1915. The final Allied troops six Academicals who served in either the Cavalry is also of interest. The historian were evacuated from the Peninsula in Australian Imperial Forces or the New Trevor Royle has pointed out that such January 1916. Total casualties were 56,707 Zealand Expeditionary Force. When units, during peacetime, fulfilled a social Allied dead. The Ottoman Empire also combined, these two units formed the role for the better off. That Academicals lost 56,643 dead. ANZAC Corps. Academicals were also were represented in such units should, well represented in the more technical The Glasgow Academy’s role in Gallipoli therefore, not be a surprise. The strong units that supported the infantry, with representation in the medical and artillery is both extensive and widespread. Those seven serving in the Royal Field Artillery that served illustrate a snapshot of the should also not be a surprise given that and three with the Royal Engineers. many Academicals went into the medical school at that time, as well as the attitudes There were eight Academicals serving that pervaded Scottish society. I have and engineering professions through the in Medical units and six serving with Scottish universities. Scottish education trawled through the school archives and the Royal Navy. One lucky chap was a identified that at least 113 Academicals at the time was famous for its pragmatic member of the Royal Army Chaplain’s courses. The image of the Scottish served during the Gallipoli campaign in department! a number of ways. As you would expect, doctor and Scottish engineer is a bit of the bulk of them served with the infantry, As one might expect from a school a cliché, but it is based in fact. However, with two units, The Highland Light that serviced the professional classes the bulk of Academicals served with the Infantry and The Cameronians (Scottish of Glasgow, 83 of those that served infantry. Before 1914 there were already Rifles), especially strong in representation. were officers, with the bulk being at strong connections between a school I calculate that 38 Academicals served the Lieutenant and 2nd Lieutenant like The Glasgow Academy, the military in the HLI and 25 served with The rank. Of the 30 soldiers who served as professions and Empire. The route Cameronians. Seven Academicals served non-commissioned officers and privates from school to army and to life abroad

4 Etcetera

was a well-worn track for the sons of war, the British officer had adapted the Cameronians. Of the 11 in the the professional Scottish classes. Many and looked very like the men they photograph, eight were to die in that Academicals returned to Scotland on the commanded. Every death is tragic, but attack. They were: outbreak of war and joined up. However, the Academical casualties illustrated some l Lieutenant Hew McCowan, aged 25 the fact that we see six Academicals very sad stories. You already know about serving in the ANZAC Corps also the Galbraith brothers’ story as a result l Lieutenant William Strang MacLay illustrates the strong links with emigration of my splendid colleagues in the Prep l Lieutenant Thomas Stout, aged 23 and Empire. One last observation relates School [Etcetera 25], but the story of the (signaller) to the fact that the Gallipoli campaign 8th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish took place relatively early in the war. As Rifles) is especially poignant. Thomas Stout was a member of the last such the mass volunteers that made up 1st XV before the outbreak of war. ‘No Kitchener’s Army had not yet come on The 8th Battalion The Cameronians more,’ wrote one Academical, ‘shall we stream. Therefore, the bulk of Academicals (Scottish Rifles) mobilised on 4 August see Tommy Stout scoring a try for the were either regulars or involved with the 1914. The Battalion was approximately Accies, with that wonderful swerve of Volunteer or Territorial units. The low 1,000 strong, organised into four his and with his hair flying in the wind.’ number of the HLI and The Cameronian companies of approximately 250 men The Chronicle remembers that ‘Tom battalions in which Academicals served each. Of the 30 officers at the beginning Stout laid down his life in trying to save illustrates that this was part of the initial of the war, 11 were Academicals. To his superior officer. On seeing him fall expansion of the British Army. The vast begin with their duties were in Scotland: he got in front of him and lifted him by bulk of Academicals serving with the defending the coast and the Dundee/ the shoulders, and got another man to lift HLI were part of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Broughty Ferry Area. The unit was sent him by the knees. They managed to get battalions, for example. to the Dardanelles soon after, embarking him about three yards back, when Tom on 17 May, 1915. This was to be their first was struck by a bomb in the head and Of these, ten Academicals in the HLI and action of the war abroad. killed instantaneously. Tom was a good nine Academicals in The Cameronians soldier and a great favourite with all. I do died. There were five other Academical On arriving in Gallipoli they were soon not suppose there was an officer in the deaths that I can identify. One Accie in action. Their first assault was to take Battalion who knew his particular job Aussie also died, as did two Accie Navy place with an attack on Turkish trenches better than he did.’ personnel and one Academical member on 28 June 1915. The attack went in at 11 am after an artillery bombardment. of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. l C aptain Charles Mowat, aged 30 The fact that so many Accies were officers The four companies went over the top l Lieutenant Archie Templeton, aged helped inflate the casualty figures. This and were just about wiped out within five 25 early in the war, officers wore distinctive minutes. 25 officers, 446 NCOs and men were casualties that day. uniforms and were targets for Turkish l C aptain William Church, aged 32 snipers. Officers suffered twice the death The above well-known photograph (Scotland rugby international, capped rate of the average soldier. Later in the shows the Academical officers in in 1906 against Wales) Member of the

Etcetera 5 School and Academical Club XV Glasgow Academy and The Glasgow l C aptain James WH Pattison (commander bombing party) Regiment l Captain Ernest Templeton Young, aged 23 (Scotland rugby international) While a boy, Young played rugby union nspired by Hugh Barrow’s two fine Academy CCF in the late 50s and for Glasgow Academy and the Glasgow articles about Glasgow Academicals early 60s, we wore the dark green HLI Academicals. While at Oxford he in the Great War, may I add a few glengarry and HLI cap badge. The pipes occasionally played for the University. He I comments? Without gainsaying a word and drums were Mackenzie tartan in the was also an international rugby player and of Hugh’s remarks about the connections HLI sett and HLI accoutrements. It was was capped from 1909 to 1913. In March between Glasgow Academy and the Kelvinside Academy which was affiliated 1914, he played for Scotland in their Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), as to the Cameronians and wore the black last match against England before the exemplified by the four gallant members Glengarry and badge. outbreak of war and was one of the six of the Accie 1st XV of 1914 killed in members of his team to be killed. He also But times move on. Already in 1959 the action on the morning of 28 June 1915 played for the London Scottish Football only regular battalion of the HLI had with the 8th Cameronians at Gully Club and so was one of their forty-five been amalgamated with the Royal Scots Ravine on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the team members to die in WW1. Fusiliers to form The Royal Highland connection of our school with the Fusiliers (Princess Margaret’s Own Eric Templeton Young Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was much Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) (RHF). (Photo courtesy of Magdalen College, Oxford) stronger. In 1968 the Cameronians were disbanded. To look no further than Gallipoli, within Finally, in the most radical shake-up of all, two weeks of the disastrous attack in in 2006 the remaining Scottish regiments Gully Ravine, 157 (HLI) Brigade, also of the Line became simply battalions of in the 52nd (Lowland) Division, was the Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS) launched into the assault on the adjacent as did the two volunteer battalions. I hill of Achi Baba Nullah. This brigade am told that eight years ago Glasgow consisted of 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions Academy CCF started wearing a Tam HLI (TA) and 5th Argyll and Sutherland O’Shanter with the RRS cap badge and Highlanders (TA). At the outbreak of a white hackle. This white hackle is also the war, the fourth battalion in this worn by The Royal Highland Fusiliers brigade had been the 9th HLI (Glasgow 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Highlanders) (TA) but it was detached Scotland. (Each battalion of the Royal and sent to France in November 1914 Regiment of Scotland wears a hackle and replaced by the Argylls. All four of a different colour). This white hackle of these HLI battalions were strongly preserves a link between our school and officered by Glasgow Accies. the successor of the HLI albeit a tenuous one because the HLI wore a red and Colonel J M Findlay, another By the time 157 (HLI) Brigade went white hackle and – on amalgamation Academical, who was himself badly in to action, eight service battalions of with the Royal Scots Fusiliers – adopted wounded in the attack, put things in the the HLI had been raised including the the latter’s white one. following way. I can find no better words. famous 15th (Glasgow Tramways), 16th (Boys Brigade) and 17th (Chamber of One of Hugh’s photographs shows a ‘I wish that I could do verbal justice to all Commerce). Altogether 26 battalions group of distinguished Accies in front those gallant fellows who did so much on of HLI were raised. By the time of the of the war memorial, including Lt that fatal 28th June. The great fact which Armistice in November 1918, over Col Sandy Fitzpatrick. He was not in will ever remain in my mind about that 10,000 officers and rank and file had fact commanding the 52nd (Lowland) day, is the absolute faith of all the men in been killed in action, died of wounds Division but 6th Battalion The Royal the devotion and bravery of their officers or of disease. In recognition of the close Regiment of Scotland. This volunteer and NCOs, and that, of course, implies connection between the City of Glasgow unit is based in the old Glasgow the like qualities in themselves.’ and the HLI, the honorific ‘City of Highlander drill hall in Hotspur Street, Their names are remembered on the Glasgow Regiment’ was bestowed upon Maryhill. I conclude with the somewhat war memorial at Helles in Turkey as the regiment in1923. melancholy observation that it is the sole successor of all those territorial well as the memorial in the school. I am indebted to Jimmy Murray for the The Cameronians are also remembered and volunteer battalions of the HLI grim statistic he gave in the last edition of Cameronians and Royal Scots Fusiliers by their distinctive memorial near Etcetera that 327 Accies lost their lives in Kelvingrove museum. who gave such illustrious service in the the Great War. Be in no doubt more were two world wars. Simon Wood (Academy staff) killed in action serving with the HLI than with any other regiment. Colin Winter (1962), When Hugh and I were in the Glasgow late The Royal Highland Fusiliers

6 Etcetera Gallipoli and the Maclay family

ugh Barrow’s recent articles about Their father was Sir Joseph Maclay, a A few months before the end of the the Scottish Rifles at Gallipoli Glasgow ship owner. war, Eben wrote home saying that after reminded me that some time ago the war he wished to become a medical H This letter was written by Eben, the I was given a copy of a letter written by missionary in Africa. He was killed by a only officer who survived the attack one of the Academicals after the fatal sniper in April 1918, aged 27. unwounded. It was written from attack. Two of the Academical officers in Gallipoli, to his father, on the day Billy After the war the Maclays gifted their the photograph were the Maclay brothers, had been posted “Missing in Action”. I home on Park Circus to Glasgow Lt Ebenezer Maclay and 2nd Lt William have permission from Eben’s nephew to University, Maclay Hall, in memory of Maclay, always known as ‘Eben’ and ‘Billy’. reprint an edited version. their two sons. They were the oldest of seven children. Jimmy Murray (1950)

Gallipoli, Friday 2nd July 1915

My dear Father, Never so long as I live shall I forget Monday 28th June, 1915. In the on. Many must of course have got in to the Turkish trench but the history of the 8th Scottish Rifles it is one which will be remembered, great majority were mown down before they ever got there. When the not merely from the sadder side, but also for the magnificent part the attack was over the Turks were still holding the same line, so that if battalion played and the manner in which it charged a very highly any of our men got over they were either killed or are prisoners. Only fortified part of the Turkish line. I’m going to tell you a great deal more a few got back unscathed and the wounded were either assisted or than I suppose I ought to do, but, in view of what has happened and of managed to scramble back themselves. Then came the sad reckoning. the deplorably sad cable I had to send off this afternoon, I think you are Not a single officer except myself was left whole. We can account for entitled to it. a certain number killed or wounded but many are missing and we On Sunday forenoon word came along that we were to take up our can find no trace of them. All the officers who got back were wounded old position in the firing line and attack next morning that part of and beyond the two we know were killed, the remainder are missing. the Turkish line directly opposite. Breakfast over, everything was soon Of the 700 who attacked there are now only 283 all told. Twenty in order and we were waiting the appointed time. The Artillery were five officers attacked. I am the only one left, with the Quarter Master, to bombard first. This they started doing pretty early, but the main Dr Sloan and the Parson, and am in command of the remnant of the bombardment did not start till 10.30. Then I can tell you they went at battalion. it with vengeance. The noise was terrific. Shrapnel, high explosive and Well now, about Billy, Wood and Jim. All are missing and beyond a all the rest went banging away. When you get hundreds of guns and the little about Billy I can find nothing. Billy went over the parapet and naval guns you can just imagine what it was like. towards the Turkish lines. One man tells me they got pretty well up At 11 am the artillery were to either cease fire or lengthen their range to the Turkish lines and were lying taking cover. He says Billy was to allow us to attack without being shelled by our own side. Sharp to struck and fell and as far as he knows did not move again. A second the moment, bayonets were fixed, and at eleven the artillery fire ceased, man says the same but that he rolled twice his own length but does like the clap of a hand, and at the same moment our first line went over not know anything more. A third man says that he saw Billy rolling the parapet without the slightest hesitation and charged straight at the towards a trench and that he said as he passed that he was wounded. Turkish lines followed about seventy yards behind by our second line. Against this there is no word of him at any of the hospitals or clearing For some reason or other the Artillery had not touched our part of the stations. line but concentrated on another part which was being simultaneously About Wood I can hear nothing except that one man said he heard attacked. The result was of course deadly. Up popped the Turks who were someone say that he was struck almost immediately after getting over holding the trenches strongly and subjected our men to a murderous rifle the parapet. and machine gun fire. None waivered but went straight at their job. About Jim nothing is known, his whole company being missing. I myself with one of my machine guns, the other being with Brigade, I feel terribly for you all at home as I know you will feel it far more was to push up a communication trench which led to the Turkish lines than me here. I am kept very busy which is a blessing. Don’t worry and was held half by us and half by the Turks. This of course afforded about me. With all love and sympathy. I do hope that some news will shelter. Up we went but could not get far. The place was getting blocked turn up before long as the anxiety is the worst. and up a certain distance bombs were landing. Across the top too there With my love to you all, was a murderous cross machine gun and rifle fire. We got back and took up a position to repel any counter attack. Your own affectionate son, The others had carried out their attack magnificently but could not get Eben

Etcetera 7 at the Academy. Sadly, he was not the teaching and war record. In a flash he gave Anecdotage most charismatic – which may explain his me precise directions to his home address absence from these pages. on the other side of the island! Spending 8. John Maxton – “I’m Henry the a quiet hour with a cool beer, reminiscing A funny thing happened Eighth, I am, I am” with Lachie about past Academy life with stunning background views of Rum and It was the hottest June for over 20 on the way to The Eigg – one of life’s great pleasures. years. We were studying Henry the Academy (part 2) Eighth which meant one boy reading 10. Frank Parkes’ parking a paragraph from a book (out loud), dilemma 6. Ken Miles – Hot water drinker followed by another boy and so on ad Frank was, of course, the housemaster I was a boarder at the Academy from infinitum. The boredom and heat were of the boarding house. Apart from 1960 till 1969. Ken was the Friday night stifling. An endless saga of betrothment, Wilberforce (Shere Khan on parade, relief housemaster when Frank Parkes battles, banquets, balls and beheadings. We Tweety Pie in the Janny’s office), there took his moll out on the town. One were into our third period of this and the was no greater Jekyll and Hyde character evening, whilst on slave duty, I ascended wives and beheadings were beginning to on the staff. On his Jekyll days he was the stairs laden with a tray containing a pile up. On and on and on it went. More smiling, confident, almost dapper with full pot of tea, best china, milk, sugar and banquets. More balls. Until finally, at 3.40 a jovial swagger. When Mr Hyde came luxury biscuits. A few minutes later there pm on the hottest day of the year, I had out he had the tolerance and charm of was a commotion at the top of the stairs. the honour of announcing the immortal a police dog with rabies. His catchword I rushed to investigate and Ken, on seeing words – “In 1547, King Henry the was “Mwa” (not to be confused with the me (and in nasal tones only bettered by Eighth died”. The jeers and cheers could Jimmy Cowper “Pwaah” or the Jordy Kenneth Williams) shouted, “Macnab, be heard at Kelvinbridge underground Preston shower). In our dormitory there this tea’s rather weak.” I returned to the station. Maxton exploded. was a small hole at the back of a storage area through which regular smoking kitchen with the tray. What were the Post Script: Academy teacher – Cathcart and drinking sessions took place (but clues? A half empty pot. A cup containing MP – House of Lords. What a career! We not me, of course). One night we came a trace of milky water. It was obvious to wrote to each other a few years ago. He in and were met by an awesome sight. all and sundry that he’d downed the lot. spoke in favour of advancing Britain’s An enormous posterior, connected to Of course I’d forgotten to put tea in the clocks one hour to Central European two short fat hairy legs was struggling pot (complete accident). Time, something that I strongly support to reverse out of the opening. Up stood to this day. Post Script: Ken visited regularly and I Frank, half a dozen fag butts in one hand, got to know this genial character well. 9. Lachie Robertson’s ‘Triple two empty beer bottles in the other Nevertheless it was best to stay in his Salchow’ and a face that would have sent Dracula good books – his (rarely used) belt was I was touch judge (easily my best position scurrying to his coffin. a fearsome brute – aptly named “The on the rugby field) at a match that Lachie Of course (and I’m quoting from Angela Viper” (deadly, without antidote). I was refereeing. The pitch was icy and Merkel’s parliamentary vocabulary so no heard whispers that it was made from barely playable and Lachie was wearing censorship please) a violent “shitschtorm” hippopotamus hide, in a tannery in the wrong kind of footwear. Whistle in soon enshrouded us. Beatings, lines, Mombasa. mouth, he was plodding about with a suspension of privileges showered melancholy lope when suddenly, like 7. Piggy Walker’s fractional upon us like confetti. But it was worth an ice skater out of control, he slid, distillation of oil going up in every penny. Needless to say, after a few hopped, pirouetted and fell flat on his flames weeks, the smoking/drinking sessions face on the muddiest part of the field. It all started off quite normally. We recommenced once all the fuss had died Oh sweet revenge for all that tackling were all huddled together to watch an down. experiment consisting of a glass bulb at practice at Windyedge! But, boy, that man the base, a long glass central part with was tough! During another match the Post Script: Some of the best conversations thin glass tubes emanating north, south, scrum-half hammered the ball up-field with Frank were at the dining table at east and west like a demented octopus. and it caught Lachie smack in the face. It the evening meal. He always took Friday Dr Walker held a Bunsen burner to the would have sent Boggles into orbit but night off, and often drove into the city base (which was filled with oil). Suddenly, Lachie just shook his head, wiped the centre for the restaurants/cinema/theatre. the base caught fire which spread to a blood from his nose and got on with the On this occasion he was lamenting how tentacle, then another, then another and game without fuss. difficult it was to park on a Friday night unless you set out very early. You could soon we had a mini inferno on our hands. Post Script: I met Lachie twice during my drive around for ages without success. Panic! post-school years. We shared a taxi from However, inspiration struck Frank one Heathrow airport into the city centre. He Watching Dr Walker trying to operate Friday night. Blythswood Square. We was in full Highland dress, much to the the fire extinguisher (most of the foam never did suss out if Frank knew that astonishment of the cabbie. The second went all over him) while trying to read Blythswood Square was a safe haven for time was the summer of 1984 when I the instruction manual at the same time ladies of the night, but it was impossible visited Skye. On arrival, I approached certainly had us rolling in the aisles. to keep a straight face when Frank the first old codger I saw and gave brief trumpeted triumphantly to us all – Post Script: Dr Walker was one of the details regarding Lachie’s name, Academy nicest, kindest, most intelligent teachers “Mwa, once round and I’m in!”

8 Etcetera Well, that’s my top ten. I hope they We even learned that the school grew That lesson ended just before the lunch brought back happy memories. Come to cabbages during the war. This did not break. During the break, Peter and I in think of it, I could probably write about mean we approved of cabbages, though full Musketeer Mode headed out into the another ten events which had my pals in the principle of growing food seemed playground, with our rulers, to resume stitches but I didn’t find in the least bit reasonable enough. our battles. Unfortunately for us, our funny. Like the day Ken Waine gave me a activities seem to have taken place in view Arithmetic was always a priority, and for cricket bat spanking in the middle of the of the Staffroom window. By some means readers brought up in the age of decimals playground, or the time I got my pinkie I do not now recollect, Peter and I were and the metric systems, Miss McEwan’s stuck in Dodo’s roller. summonsed to our class-room (lower lessons to us would have been a complete right on the corner) where Miss McEwan But that’s another day… mystery. We were boys who knew all awaited us. She appeared to be very cross, about ‘pounds, shillings and pence’; why and I still recall she used the ‘disappointed’ John Macnab (1969) a Guinea was worth twenty-one shillings; word, that we had disobeyed her so soon, tons, hundredweights, quarters, pounds and that we would now be punished and ounces; why 7,000 grains weighed Chief Petty Officer as we had been warned. The belt duly one pound; a mile was 1,760 yards, or appeared. This was no rigid tawse such Hoskins eight furlongs, 5,280 feet, and 63,360 Every pupil during my time at the as used in the senior school. Rather, it inches; an acre was 4,840 square yards Academy knew about Chief Petty Officer was a much lighter and softer item, but (i.e. one chain of 22 yards by one furlong Hoskins. Those of us in the Naval section quite sufficient to bring tears to two small of 220 yards); rods poles and perches were terrified of him, and I have a strong boys’ eyes. We both received a couple were no mystery, and fractions were suspicion that the masters were as well. of stokes on each hand, and were sent simply fun. A gallon of water weighed He served in the Navy as a gunnery outside again, leaving all other boys in no ten pounds, and a cubic foot of water instructor at Whale Island in Portsmouth doubt that (a) ‘sparring’ with rulers was was six and a quarter gallons. We knew and, whilst he was in Glasgow, was our a bad idea and (b) Miss McEwan meant how to work out the cost of coal, 3 tons, instructor. He was a strict disciplinarian business. As an aside, no boy I knew ever 13 hundredweight, 2 quarters and 11 and kept every one of us on our toes in actually wanted to be belted, certainly not pounds weight of it, at six shillings and the classroom or on the parade ground a second time. sevenpence ha’penny a hundredweight. until we individually answered a naval The fact that this calculation took about However, we had been belted and we question correctly. He was immaculately a week, and that each boy had a different survived without too much loss of face. turned out and everything he did was answer, none of which agreed with Oh yes, and I am able to assure all readers, carried out at the double. Miss McEwan’s, did not mean we did Peter and I never again indulged in We all learned a lot from him and most not receive praise for our efforts. Miss ‘sparring with rulers’. of my naval knowledge came from him. I McEwan was always encouraging, but... as didn’t appreciate it at the time; however, Peter and I found out one day, she could Charles F Young (1961) I realised later what a great example he also be firm. proved to be. They don’t make them like To all ten-year old boys of any ‘Footie’ in the playground that now – more’s the pity. Though we were a rugby-playing school, imagination, a twelve-inch ruler (always football was played with great intensity made of wood in those days) was an item Bob Turpie (1955) at the lunch break, using a tennis ball, of almost unlimited potential. On the day or a bigger one, if someone had one. in question, our rulers were our swords, Playground football teams were chosen Two swordsmen meet for we were two of the Musketeers, or in an interesting way. Two natural leaders, possibly Zorro and his enemy, it mattered their match! acknowledged by consensus as the best The year was 1954, I think – Glasgow not which, for much ‘sword-play’ took players, emerged as the captains, and the Academy, Primary Five. My best chum place, with rulers being struck smartly rest of us lined up against the wall and was Peter Graham, who was a typical edge to edge, and care being taken not they chose their players alternately. Those Primary 5 lad, and an artist and modeller to poke each other in the eye. Inevitably, last to reach a team, like me, accepted our of quite exceptional ability. What Peter the formerly straight and smooth edges humble place in the cosmos, but were could make from a lump of Plasticene of our rulers became bashed and dented, glad of a game. The goals were marked was little short of magical, and I still drastically diminishing the quality of our by school hats placed on the ground. remember his Primary THREE drawing pencil-lines on our exercise jotter pages. With these rather fuzzy goal posts, there of a Colt Revolver, and his Plasticene Of course, Miss McEwan soon noticed were disputes after any possible score and ‘cowboys and Indians’ were so amazing this, and that Peter’s ruler and mine were the matter was decided by the strength that Mrs MacDonald sent for all the other the worst cases. A decree was issued – of feeling among the rival teams. Many teachers to see them and gaze in wonder. with immediate effect, ‘sparring with stayed behind after school to play football rulers’ was absolutely forbidden, under Our Primary Five Form-Mistress until chased out by the janitor, and we pain of the ultimate sanction, the dreaded was Miss McEwan, also Head of the would have further play at home. These belt. Up till then we had never seen Miss Junior School. Miss McEwan was most strenuous hours of play, when added up, McEwan display, let alone use, her belt. thorough in her lessons, and covered a greatly exceeded the PE sessions. Apparently we were not persuaded this wide range of subjects, introducing all even existed, let alone that Miss McEwan manner of interesting asides whenever David Hamilton (1956) would use it, and so we were not deterred. possible. We enjoyed most of our lessons. davidhamiltonstandrews.com

Etcetera 9 with the Coleys. I was still a boarder Memories of the when they retired and we remained Boarding House friends for many years. The photo sent by Archie Shearer [Etcetera I am sorry I cannot remember dates for 26, page 9] which you described as a any of this and cannot put a date to the fine body of men brings back memories photo. However, I do remember all the of the Boarding House. There are two last names of those in the picture and people missing, however. They are Mr most of the forenames. Jack Coleman-Smith and his beloved wife HM’s Coronation at Ethel. You will understand why I think of Top row: Colin McCallien, Alan Stewart, Bill Aiken, GA Boarding House! them with great affection and gratitude if (?) Phillips, John Bustin, Archie Shearer I explain how I became a boarder. Front row: (Glenn?) Murphy, Robert Lightbody, From recall, GA must have been Alastair Barr, Frank Cousins, Ian McColl, Keith given a few days’ holiday for the I was a day boy living in town with my Dunn, Colin Colquhoun great event [the Queen’s Coronation mother while my father continued to in 1953], so, all the Boarders (about work abroad where the government Colin McCallien (1954) 40) disappeared to their homes and I had sent him during the war. She was was left behind, as was my wish, for suddenly diagnosed with spinal TB and From John Bustin (1955) a few of the staff were going to be would have to spend a prolonged spell Memory at my age is a treacherous gift, around to look after me – including in hospital. Within a couple of days I with an embarrassing ability to fail. The the irrepressible Jean Wilson and the found I had been adopted by ‘the Coleys’ names I have been able to remember are laughing ‘Cookie’ Thompson. They’d and had become a boarder in mid-term. all shown below... I apologise to those been given the run of the place by There was no bed for a newcomer so I of my Boarding House companions the Housemaster – the famous Jack was consigned to the sick room and a whose details escape me and to those I Coleman-Smith (‘Coley’ to all) – perfectly healthy boy was moved in with have named but whose initials may be and his charming wife, Ethel. This me for company. He was well chosen incomplete or wrong. included use of their lovely, huge as, like me, he had nowhere to go at the Drawing Room… with a TV! impending half-term break and so we Robert Lightbody, who is still going were both allowed to spend the holiday in strong, may well be a source for the For today’s folk, back in those days the sick room. Mrs Coley took all this in missing names as, of course, is Archie few people had TVs, but, when HM her stride and one day the two of us were Shearer who sent you the photograph in ordered that the Coronation was to sent for a day out at a farm belonging the first place. Good luck! be televised, sales went through the roof, although the B&W screens to a third boy’s family. Oh what joy! – I John Bustin (Boarding House 1945-55) learned to fire an air rifle and drive a were only 9-10 inches in size. (Junior home-made car with five forward and [Many thanks to J L Weatherall (1953) – 5 class to convert into metric!) several reverse gears. I also owe much now Vice-Admiral Sir James Weatherall – for Mrs Wilson and ‘Cookie’ had to the unknown person who took the contacting us to confirm many of the below planned a party in the Coleys’ initiative and found me accommodation names.] lounge and invited a bunch of their female friends, of the same ilk, so there was lots of laughs and giggling. I don’t recall any ‘Champers’ being popped. That was probably ‘over budget’. Anyway, being 11, I was still on Lemonade and Irn Bru! Why didn’t I go home? In those days the journey there and back took two days which, I felt, was a waste of time and money. Also, my parents were fairly recent refugees, from the ‘Indian Raj’, who were spending ‘heaps’ on my education, at a good Scottish boarding school, rather than on a TV. (Should have been earmarked as a future Treasurer?!) Anyway, I had a great time with the laughing ladies – a memorable HM Coronation Day. I was possibly the only child in the UK who spent the 1953 Coronation holiday at school! Second row: C J McCallien (Colin), A J Stewart (Alan), WHB Aitken (Bill), J M Bustin (John), ?? Front row: A G Murphy (Glen), R M Lightbody (Robert), A G Barr (Alastair), ??, ??, JKF Dunn (Keith), C M George Mackenzie (1959) Colquhoun (Colin)

10 Etcetera When not dissecting Shakespeare, Baggy Baggy’s, near the BBC in Queen Margaret Teachers liked to test our reasoning when faced with Drive. Well, Great Western Road no longer remembered… philosophical puzzles or observations of life. sees that jowly figure, seemingly forever He wasn’t too impressed with the world clad in his black teacher’s gown, astride his The ‘Baggy’ Dominie outside academia: ‘Chums, it’s easy to make push-bike. money. I mean, look at the people who My previous reminiscence may have A couple of final recollections: first, my have plenty!’ He would sketch plots of tales revived some memories of ‘Dodo’ Ogilvie, bold attempt to win the school senior mile with his own idiosyncratic embellishments: but it would be a pity not to follow that race, running barefoot on the grass track ‘Bags and bags of boodle’ would translate with some recollections 50 years on of at Anniesland, on Sports Day. Mike Flint into ‘loadsamoney’, perhaps? In effect, the my favourite teacher at the Academy. was the certain winner on the day, but classroom was his stage, and every now and ‘Baggy’ Aston’s nickname was one of those on the final bend I made my surge into then he’d emit a yodelling cry ‘Bo-oy!’ or felicitous sobriquets which managed to be second place. There was Baggy, shouting, ‘Doo-oom!’ A particular foible of Baggy’s a three-way wordplay. Thus his initials were ‘Come on, Gus!’ – to no avail. Spikes have was the routine punishment with a wooden ‘B G’ for a start; in addition – when he was better traction on grass, and the Academy ruler. He’d hold out the victim’s hand, and a young, debonair member of staff (in my Chronicle of the time shows only the top drum out a steady rhythm: tap-tap-tap, dad’s days) – he was reported to have worn three finishers. Vae Victis! fashionable trousers known as ‘Oxford bags’; tap-tap-tap, TAP, TAP, tap-tap-tap. On one and finally, we crossed his path in later years, occasion the class swot was subjected to the I must say I missed Baggy’s classes when I when sartorial bags had been exchanged for ritual, despite his innocence. ‘Life’s never moved over the road to study Engineering bags under the eyes! fair!’ smiled Baggy sweetly to his offended at Glasgow Uni. It was all very technical, victim. and class sizes were huge and anonymous. Baggy, for his part, made a point of Accordingly, I decided to gate-crash one I recall a verbal joust where Baggy had to allocating nicknames to pupils, based on of Baggy’s English classes the autumn accept ‘a very palpable hit’ from a clever their initials. Thus I became ‘Gus’ (and still after I’d left. I think that Baggy must have pupil. Charlie was one of the brightest have to swat away that discarded handle understood my difficult transition from people I ever encountered – something of a now and then); I G McKnight became being Someone at school to being No-one universal man even in his teens, whose feats ‘Iggy’, and so forth. It probably simplified (as yet) at Uni. ‘Gus!’ he hailed me before included straight ‘A’ grades in his Maths, matters for him, as there were five Grahams the astonished class. ‘You’ve left here, now Physics and Chemistry A levels, while the or Graemes (including Iggy and me) in our go!’ or words to that effect. class where we first encountered Baggy. rest of us were happy to scrape pass grades in these tough Oxford & Cambridge exams. Thanks Baggy – in retirement, I’ve returned He immersed us in Shakespeare from the Nor was he a geek – Charlie was trouble to creative writing, and I’m loving it. beginning – the comedies, for a start – and when unleashed in boxing bouts that Mr soon we were memorising passages of The Quinn organised in the gym. Another of his Graeme Orr (1965) Merchant of Venice (‘The quality of mercy skills was drawing a Chinese dragon (from is not strained...’ and the like). As I recall, he memory!) in chalk on the blackboard at No sex please, we’re didn’t shy away from discussing the negative lunch-break – but I digress. One day Baggy character of Shylock – which could have asked for our reactions to the verse: Accies! led to accusations of anti-Semitism – but Hearing of the recent death of Gordon also drawing our attention to the good There was a young man who said, “God (Jock) Carruthers, I thought back to his Jews in that play. It was in Fifth year that I Must find it exceedingly odd Biology lessons in the early Sixties. To think that a tree most remember Baggy taking us through Although my knowledge of Biology is Should continue to be the great Shakespearian tragedies, using shallow, it must have been just deep enough When there’s nobody about in the quad. Bradley’s Shakespearian Tragedy as our back then for me to add an ‘O’ level in reference text. In particular, the plot and The challenge was to prove that things the subject to my meagre, hard fought for, character of Hamlet struck home to at can exist without a physical witness. ‘Send clutch of certificate exam passes gained at least one of his pupils. Here was a moody, round a video camera!’ exclaimed Charlie, The Academy. introspective main character – hard to call to Baggy’s bemused mirth. Teacher nil, pupil I well recall one sunny afternoon in the any of Shakespeare’s tragic figures ‘heroes’ one... when their frailties lead to their downfall! science lab, Jock pacing back and forth – who is indecisive, and whom everyone In Fifth year, Higher English was the with his hands thrust deep into the pockets treats as mad. Hey, I could relate to that! challenge. Each year, Baggy placed a of his white lab coat, regaling us innocent Again we were encouraged to commit wager: if we all passed, he (or rather his youths with details of the frantic social lives to memory some of the soliloquies, and wife) would invite the class round for tea of rabbits, the less than attractive antics of I reckon I could still rattle off some of and cakes; if not, no slap-up high tea. In frogs and the positively dull doings of the these, in part at least. Baggy took us as our year (we discovered), Baggy was sure amoeba. that ‘Jolly’, a somewhat glaikit lad, would fellow-detectives in trying to make sense It was only after the bell went, and we come a cropper and his wager would be of some obscure passages: ‘That dram trooped out of the room, that some of my won, our cakes lost. I heard that he shed a of eale doth all the noble substance of a more street-wise classmates explained to tear when Jolly passed with the rest of us. doubt’ – erm, what? Bradley’s reference text me that we had just had our ‘sex lesson’. Sentimentality, or the tears of a defeated sometimes came to our rescue when all else Was that as good as it got, we all wondered? world-weary cynic? Perhaps a bit of both failed. Only time would tell. – in any case, tea and cakes were laid on at

Etcetera 11 Long after that baffling lesson, thoughts But perhaps my fondest memory of Ken bath to fill – given the capacity. Another of what any future encounters with the was his complete loyalty: it was not the favourite, I seem to remember, was about opposite sex might lead to were haunted obsequious loyalty of a sycophant, but two trains leaving two different stations by the spectre of Jock, those randy rabbits, the deference of someone who knew at different speeds and along a specified frantic frogs and that underwhelming instinctively when to be formal and when length of rail line, and we were invited to amoeba. I could have been scarred for life! to be relaxed. His loyalty kept him above calculate where they would meet. All good Common Room politics, no easy matter exercise for the mind, but of very little use I’m sure this important subject is addressed when things were changing very rapidly in in everyday life. much more effectively at today’s co-ed the social order and in education and the Having survived the transition into Senior Academy. Common Room did not happily embrace School, most of my maths information Jim Shearer (1964) change. thereafter was supplied by Robert (Boob) Runcieman – an affable character whose Roy Chapman (Rector 1975-82) nickname well fitted his rather nasal Ken Waine delivery – and this was well before there I first met Ken in the early 1960s when I Maths teachers in my were any sexual connotations to the took my rugby team from Glenalmond to expression. Although well-meaning, Boob Anniesland. My first impression was of a time… did not instil in me a passion for things gentleman whose accent bore no relation to My earliest recollections on this subject mathematical. The use of algebra and his surroundings. It was to be over a decade were under the tutelage of Miss McEwan, trigonometry, for example, seem to have later, in February 1975, when I met Ken who at that time was engaged to be little bearing on the hurly burly of everyday again at a party organised by the Governors married. (This, however, has very little life outside of the classroom. for my wife and me to meet the staff before bearing on her teaching methods.) She There is a small aside here – on my way to I moved to Glasgow later that year. was a stickler for rote and we had to learn school in the tram, there was a young lady the ‘times table’ off by memory. I found whom I rather fancied who boarded a few That impression of a gentleman was quickly this task somewhat irksome and copied stops after mine. In an effort to impress confirmed when we met again and was out the relevant tables into a crib sheet confirmed over and over again during my her, I would have open in front of me the which came in useful under the desk current instruction book on trigonometry Rectorship. Because Ken wore the dual when we were being examined on our hats of Head of PE and Games and OC as she passed me on the way to find a seat prowess. Unfortunately this subterfuge did in the hope that she would notice this, and CCF, our meetings were not infrequent. not go unnoticed by Miss McEwan, and say to herself: ‘That’s a clever clogs there, He knew when to be formal and when to retribution for this infringement of the rules and quite good looking too!’ Unfortunately, let the mask of formality slip. Having been deserved a dose of the ‘strap’. The ignominy after several weeks of this ploy, nothing ever a contingent commander myself, I had a of this punishment was further enhanced by came of this intended liaison, and as soon strong fellow feeling for him in his CCF the fact that Miss McEwan did not possess as she had passed, Trig was consigned to the role. And under his other hat, he allowed me one of these instruments of torture herself schoolbag and replaced by the current issue to referee a few games of rugby. and the culprit had to leave the class and of The Rover or The Hotspur. beg from a neighbouring teacher the use I well remember the only time we fell out. And so, we get to the crunch time – the of their strap so that retribution could be Ken had come to see me about some other Highers. Maths was not my strong suit and, administered. This salutary lesson obviously matter and after it had been dealt with, I in those days, it was pass all, or pass none. had its effect, because – to this day – I can came out with a thought which I had had After the written exams were submitted recite the whole gamut of the ‘times table’ at for some time: would everyone not benefit there was a thing called Orals. This was a the drop of a hat. if there were not an alternative to rugby chance for borderline candidates to redeem for at least half of the spring term? I felt In the interim Junior School years, things themselves via an oral test conducted by an that many boys had had enough of rugby got rather more complicated as we also outside examiner and in which the whole by mid-February and that much would had to deal with addition, subtraction, class took part. If you were called on to be gained by introducing the option of multiplication, and division in quantities of participate, either you had passed anyway another sport or sports. Ken pulled himself Sterling, distance – inches, feet, yards, rods, or you were borderline. I knew I was up to his full height and embarked on that perches?, furlongs etc – and weights, ounces, borderline, so when I was called to answer my question unfortunately my mind was familiar gesture of his – banging two fingers pounds, quarters, hundredweights and tons almost a blank. The answer which I waffled of his right hand into the palm of his left (not tonnes). through was better-suited to a career in – and uttering, ‘I never thought to hear a This we took in our stride – even to acting than to an exam in mathematics. Rector of Glasgow Academy propose less long-division, which was another trial rugby! They need to learn the skills.’ The However, Robert (Boob) Runcieman did borne with equanimity. conversation came to a very abrupt halt and impart one gem of information which I I never found the right moment to bring Then came Transition and Miss Gentles – can remember to this day – ‘You may think the topic up again! who did not live up to her name. However, that Geometry is a waste of time, but it will although a hard taskmaster, she did get teach you to have a positive approach to The Easter camp at the Kinloch Hotel on results. Here we were exposed to all sorts deal with problems which you will face in Arran, summer camps at the Ness Battery of hypothetical maths situations, as where life.’ in Orkney and even at Cultybraggan a bath has two different taps filling at two Thank you, Boob, for something which has were happy interludes from the routines separate rates, and a plughole left unfilled stood me in good stead all these years. of Colebrooke Street. Ken was always the emptying at a different rate. We were invited perfect host and made me very welcome. to find out how long it would take the Jim Cunningham (1949)

12 Etcetera Glasgow Academical Club

Back in the big time! Many congratulations to Accies 1st XV on securing promotion to the national leagues. Very well done to coaches Andrew Jackson (2000) and Ross Chassels (1995) and to captain Craig Wright (2003) on helping to make this long-term goal a reality. Meanwhile in Ladies’ Hockey, the 2nd XI were promoted to West Division 3 and Glasgow Accies Curling Club celebrated GAC’s 150th the 1st XI remain in West Division 1. with an Anniversary Bonspiel on Thursday 31 March at Braehead Ice Rink – with an excellent Dinner at the Pavilion thereafter. A great evening was had by all despite a team made up of Kelvinside Accies and Dumbarton clubs taking the honours!

Etcetera 13 Club President John Beattie leads Accies out as players old and young take a stroll down memory lane in the anniversary celebration match against West of Scotland on Saturday 23 April. West are also celebrating 150 years of rugby this year.

Cricket Section Team captains for the 2016 Men’s Hockey season are: Our Men’s Hockey team are comfortably placed this year in Division 2 of the Glasgow West District Hockey leagues and can boast an unbeaten record with notable victories over Kelburn 1st XI – Richard Andrew Hockey Club, Rottenrow Hockey Club and Strathclyde University. However, we could manage only a 2-2 draw away to Giffnock. 2nd XI – Waj Bashir 3rd XI – Jim McLaren Several former pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy are involved with and play for the team and we are always on the lookout for more! 4th XI – Martin Oliver (Sunday friendlies) Anyone interested is welcome, and can join us for summer hockey by contacting Stephanie Development XI – Cameron Hermes of the Ladies’ Section. Russell/Dhruv Satpute Paul Harrison (1975) (Sunday League) Midweek XI – Ronnie Singh Several new players have been attending winter nets and, although losing stalwarts Neil Dowers to London and Nirvik Ganapathi to Leeds, it is hoped that strength in depth will be maintained. The junior section is very short of players for our U10 and U11 teams this season. Any new members at this age group will be particularly welcome. Please contact Colin Dawson at colindawson17@btinternet. com if you know of anyone interested. Otherwise the junior section continues to have healthy numbers and is looking forward to a successful and dry summer. CAC Dawson www.glasgowaccies.cc

14 Etcetera London Academical Section

The London Section is in excellent health with many new members, especially of a youthful age. We thank all Accies relocating to the London area for making contact and, more importantly, for attending our events. The Annual Dinner of the London Section was held at The Caledonian Club on 4 March with Peter Brodie, the Rector, John Beattie, the President of the Academical Club, and Professor David Purdie all speaking. The Rector gave us a full account of academic and sporting successes at the School. John Beattie spoke of the pride of being an Academical and related amusing memories of being a British Lion. Professor Purdie replied on behalf of the guests with great humour and was a suitable finale to an excellent London Section immediate Past-President Cammy Wilson with President Karen Greenshields (right) evening. and Zara Asante, who gave the vote of thanks on the evening. A qualified lawyer and part-time model, multi-talented Zara is currently aiming to represent GB in the triple jump at this year’s Olympic Games Mr David Gray, a former teacher at the in Rio. We all wish her every success! Academy, proposed the Toast to The programme involved remarks by the Academy and our President, Mrs Karen Rector and Past-President, David Stirling, Greenshields, not only proposed the Toast in recognition of David Hall’s 33 years to The Glasgow Academical Club but Please note the date as Secretary/Treasurer of the London conducted proceedings throughout the for next year’s dinner Section. David’s retirement was marked evening. Friday 10 March 2017 with the gift of a framed picture of the An unplanned addition to the dinner school.

GAC 2016-17 Subscriptions The Glasgow Academy Subscriptions for the 2016/17 season at The Glasgow Academical Club and Glasgow Academical Sports Club Foundation Canada became due from April 2016. We are pleased to be able to let Academicals If you pay by direct debit and have already submitted a in Canada know that on 28 April 2016, we new direct debit mandate for the subscriptions account received confirmation from the Canada now administered by Glasgow Academy, you need take Revenue Agency that The Glasgow Academy no further action, unless you wish to update any of your Foundation Canada has been registered as a contact details. Annual direct debits for the 2016/17 charity. season were uplifted on 1 April 2016. Monthly direct If you live in Canada and would like to support debits will continue to be uplifted on the 14th of each Bursaries or developments at The Academy in a month. tax efficient way, please contact Mark for details: If you pay by direct debit and have not already changed [email protected] over to the new account, your subscription will have lapsed and you require to complete a new mandate form, which can be obtained from Laura Maciver at Glasgow Academy (Tel: 0141 334 8558; email: [email protected]. uk). Payment can also be made by cash transfer, card payment or by cheque – please contact Laura for further guidance. Iain Jarvie, Membership Secretary

Etcetera 15 Congratulations to former pupils Ross Curle (2005) and Rob McAlpine (2009) who DEVELOPMENT were part of this year’s history-making Scotland Club XV squad. After beating England Counties for the first time in the history of the fixture in a record 9-try win, they went on to beat Ireland in Ireland for the first time. They are the first squad to remain unbeaten in a season and retain the Dalriada Cup. Ross captained the side and was Seven easy ways to give named man-of-the-match against Ireland. Their coach was none other than Glasgow Academy’s own Phil Smith, Head of Rugby, SRU Coach of the Year 2015. to The Glasgow Academy 1. Set up a regular gift with your bank. Just £10 a month will make a huge difference. Sort: 83 07 06 Account: 10351696 2. Donate by card (debit or credit) by calling External Relations on 0141 342 5494. 3. Gift shares directly to The Academy; it’s a very tax-effective way of donating. 4. Leave The Academy a legacy in your will. 5. If you are a US taxpayer, you can make a tax-deductible donation with a preference for The Glasgow Academy via the British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF). www.bsuf.org 6. Give online via our BT mydonate page: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/ theglasgowacademy 7. Make a one-off gift by cheque sent to: External Relations The Glasgow Academy FREEPOST SCO7472 Colebrooke Street Glasgow G12 8HE

Events and Reunions Lower Vth 1965-66 reunion Fifty years on, David Stirling and Friday 3 June 2016 - Class of 1996 GA IVth form 1966-67 reunion, from 2 pm at Glasgow Graeme Mitchell are putting Class Reunion Dinner Academy. Email [email protected] for together a reunion for all those in more details. Lower Vth in 1965-66. It will be Date confirmed as Friday evening Saturday 18 June 2016 on Thursday 14 July and will be 7 October 2016 at The Academy, TGA Summer Ball from 6.45 pm a tour of the school followed by hopefully in the Well (depending on at Crowne Plaza, Glasgow. Tickets lunch, probably in the West End. numbers). E-mails will continue to available from External Relations. If anyone who has not already be sent out regarding details of times, Thursday 14 July 2016 been notified would like more who is attending/not attending/lost Lower Vth 1965-66 Reunion information please contact Liz touch and confirmation of the venue Friday 7 October 2016 McGowan in the alumni office in the school. If you were or think IVth Form 1966-67 50th Year ([email protected] or 0141 you were in this year at school and Reunion 342 5494). have not received any information Friday 14 October 2016 regarding the Dinner, please inform If anyone else from around that Annual Commemoration Service at Liz McGowan at Glasgow Cathedral, 2.15 pm time would like to join for the External Relations, Glasgow tour or for lunch they will be most Friday 11 November 2016 Academy welcome. 134th Annual Glasgow Academical (e-mail: [email protected]). Club Dinner, Cargill Hall. Ticket David Stirling (1968) information available shortly.

16 Etcetera Fundraising update

The Saunders Centre has been the Watson Auditorium proved very popular building. We will be delighted to focus of our fundraising in the last few and, at the time of writing, only a handful welcome all former pupils, staff, parents years. As the photos show, it is a fantastic of seats remain available. and friends of the school for private or addition to our facilities generally, and to group tours both in term time and during Science and Food Technology teaching in Thanks to the generous support of many the holidays. Please just contact External particular. The auditorium is a stunning members of our wider community, £2M Relations to arrange. venue for a range of meetings, lectures, was raised in donations. This allowed us Our fundraising over the next few years concerts and plays. Naming a seat in the to complete a superb, high-specification will focus on strengthening the Bursary Fund. We want to be able to offer more help with fees to talented children who otherwise could not benefit from an Academy education. Bursary donations also ensure we can help existing families when they face unexpected and/or severe financial hardship. If you would like more information on naming a seat in the auditorium or about how you can make a life-changing difference through supporting Bursaries, please contact Mark. 0141 342 5494 [email protected]

Etcetera 17 Westbourne Section

Mrs Mary Buchanan (Westbourne Shona (Ramsay) Thorn (1946) Staff) 29 July 1940 – 21 December 2015 Mrs Mary Buchanan was teacher of At the age of five or six Shona commuted French and Latin at Westbourne School solo by train from Motherwell to school for Girls from 1976 till 1988. She was at Westbourne. She made lifelong friends very conscientious in all school matters, there, many of whom she was still in and expected and got from the girls the touch with until her unexpected death in highest standards of work and behaviour. December of last year. Mary was a gifted violinist and, while a Following her early rail travels, her student at London University, became parents moved to Bearsden a few months Leader of the University Symphony later – a less challenging commute for a Orchestra. At Westbourne she took over young lady. responsibility for the school orchestra for a number of years and under her efficient After leaving school and taking a direction the orchestra increased in size secretarial training course, she joined and scope. During that time she acted also 3M. The Mitchell Street office in central as conductor at various school concerts. Glasgow of this now multinational organisation was by no means the greatest After leaving Westbourne, Mary enjoyed of buildings and contrasted sharply with an active and fulfilling life. She became Mary Buchanan lavish company headquarters shared Membership Secretary and then Chair with IBM in central London. I recall the of the Family History Society. Her scenario as an Englishman working for organisation and meticulous attention Shona (Ramsay) Thorn the same company on secondment north to detail were recognised by the Society of the border. I found it somewhat odd when, on leaving office, she became that the local pub was underground! It Honorary Vice-President for life. may well have been that it was in this or She was a lover of the countryside, and similar surroundings she took pity on an with her husband Donald walked many Englishman abroad and – discovering a of the long distant paths in Scotland and mutual love of classical music, poetry and England. They toured the continent in drama – she suggested that we might go their caravan, allowing her to deploy to a concert together. I agreed and the her linguistic skills, including her relationship blossomed. newly-acquired knowledge of Spanish. We spent the first six years of our In later years, when ill-health overtook marriage in Bishopbriggs and all of her, they were able to explore many areas our four ‘half breeds’ were delivered at nearer home. Redlands Hospital, pretty adjacent to the Mary was a valued and respected member original Westbourne address. of staff and colleague. To her husband This brief Scottish chronicle stops here Donald, formerly Head of History at because we moved back to Cheshire Glasgow Academy, and to her sons John and close to my Lancastrian roots, for and Alasdair, both pupils there, we extend a brief spell. The next move was to our heartfelt sympathy. Woking where we spent some 40 years in the same family home. In 53 years of marriage the family expanded with the Westbourne Grand Reunion arrival of eleven grandchildren, ‘quarter We are delighted to confirm that the next Westbourne Grand Reunion will breeds’, who along with myself and take place on Saturday 20 May 2017 at 7pm, at the Glasgow City Hotel, other ‘seniors’ will remember a very fine Cambridge Street, Glasgow (formerly the Thistle Hotel and soon to be and caring lady, and loving mother and rebranded as a Hilton Doubletree). grandmother. Shona appreciated the great benefits of a Scottish education and We’ve had a really good response from former Westbourne pupils who’d values taught from a very early age at like to attend so if you haven’t noted your interest yet, but think you might Westbourne. be able to make it along, please contact Liz in the Academy’s External Relations Department 0141 342 5494 or [email protected] Mike Thorn

18 Etcetera Dear Etcetera… The First 100 Years… My maiden name is Pamela Barrass and I was in the The External Relations Department same class as Clare France, at Glasgow Academy would be Chloe Bell, Beryl Miller very happy to give a good home and Patricia Grant back in to any spare copies of the book the late 50s. ‘Westbourne School for Girls, The I have lived in California First Hundred Years, 1877-1977’. We for the past 50 years have only one copy in the archive, with my husband Alex but it would be good to have a few overlooking the Pacific in available for the various research Laguna Beach with our requests that come in. seven grandchildren nearby, Please contact [email protected], call the youngest being our 0141 342 5494 or feel free to drop in twin grand sons, Mark and to our office on Colebrooke Terrace. Christopher. I would love to have an update on Clare, Patricia and Beryl. I understand that Chloe passed away recently. I will send a photo for you to use in the magazine. Best wishes, Pamela (Barrass) Metherell (1959)

Westbourne Prefects 1959 Back row (l to r): F Todhunter, S Park, J Doig, J Pattison, T Patrick, S Rogers Front row (l to r): P Barrass, E Hepburn, C France, Mrs Henderson, T Jones, N Strang, P Grant, B Miller (absent)

DEVELOPMENT How to leave more to charity and your children at the same time

Most people are aware of the Peter, Paul and Mary each have estates of £800,000. Income Tax advantages of charitable giving by gift aid. l Peter leaves his entire estate to his children. The IHT Many are aware that charitable liability is £190k (£800k – £325k @40%) and his children bequests are exempt from receive £610,000. Inheritance Tax. There is, l Paul leaves £47k to charity and the rest to his children. however, another IHT relief. The IHT liability is £171,200 (£800k – £325k @40%) If you bequeath a larger and his children receive £581,800. amount to a charity – at its l Mary leaves £47,500 to charity and the rest to her simplest, at least 10% of your children. The IHT liability is £153,900 (£800k – £47,500 estate after deducting the @36%) and her children receive £598,600. £325,000 nil rate band – then the IHT charged drops to You will need to take professional advice and ask your GAWM Trustee Christine 36% on the taxable part rather Abercrombie is a Chartered solicitor to change your will if you want to benefit charity than the usual 40%. This can Accountant and a Consultant and other beneficiaries in this way. with French Duncan LLP. be illustrated in the following examples: Christine Abercrombie (Westbourne 1982)

Etcetera 19 Gordon Carruthers – an appreciation

a Deputy who was willing to challenge, to debate and to disagree if appropriate. I quickly learned how much GHC was respected by the boys – there were no girls then! – and I always beat a hasty retreat if I went to his room and saw a boy ensconced opposite him. His pastoral work was second to none. And it was not confined to boys. Many were the times he was “consulted” by parents over the freezer counter in Willie Lows in Bearsden – and not always about school matters. He was the recipient of many sensitive confidences. The boys also relied on him for advice about universities because he had admission tutors eating out of his hand and he was instrumental in directing many towards the university and course which was most right for them. Inevitably, we were involved together in many disciplinary cases. When we were conducting a joint ‘interview’, he was Mr Good to my Mr Bad. The roles were reversed on only one occasion, but since the boy in the hot seat is now an eminent member of the Academical community, I will say no more! I learned a great deal from his ‘questioning’ techniques. He was very good at playing deaf and asking the interviewee to repeat his last statement. An excuse which had stretched the bounds of credibility the first time inevitably sounded fter my appointment in December that perhaps the most important one at pathetically lame the second time round. 1974 as Rector for the following that time was the issue of promotion from And he also demonstrated the value of A session, I was able to meet GHC the Transitus to the Senior School: should silence. Those being questioned were for the first time in February 1975 when there be an intermediate Primary 6 for unnerved and felt that they had to say the Governors invited me and my wife everyone? Opinions were sharply divided. something – and it was usually something to go up to Glasgow to meet the staff. I Having had my briefing about the school in daft or incriminating. It is not surprising had already met the Governors during general, I could not wait to get started on that as well as his role at the Academy, he my interviews for the post and I had been the various issues and I bombarded GHC was also a member of the Children’s Panel, allowed to visit the Academy on the day with ideas and papers. Very wisely – and thereby continuing his work in the wider of my final interview, the last day of the for the first of many times – he counselled community. winter term 1974. For whatever reason, patience and it did not take me long to Our most difficult moment came on the all the staff seemed to be hidden away in realise the importance of his profound afternoon of Higher Maths 2 during the cupboards and the only people I met were knowledge of the school, its people and the height of the IRA problems. About five Miss Rachel Teggart, the Rector’s Secretary, merits of ‘festina lente’. However, I could minutes after the start of the paper, a phone and the Janitor, Mr Donald (Doom) Macrae, not tar him with the brush of the “aye call to the school office said that there was resplendent in his full regalia of frock been” philosophy which caused me much a bomb in the school. The police informed coat and medals. However, as OC CCF at frustration, especially in my early days. (For us that the next move, i.e. whether or not Marlborough, I had heard about GHC on anyone unfamiliar with this philosophy, it to evacuate, was up to the school. The the CCF circuit because he had chaired one is an attachment to the belief that ‘things timing in relation to the Higher Maths of the CCF Association’s annual dinners in hae aye been that way and they’re no paper seemed too much of a coincidence London and been awarded the OBE for his gonnae change’.) GHC was always open to and after a very quick discussion, I decided services to Cadet Forces. new ideas and willing to discuss them. He to sit tight while GHC offered to make a At our first meeting, GHC gave me a would quickly identify the practicalities, lightning tour of public telephone boxes comprehensive ‘tour de l’horizon’ of the discuss a way forward and embrace them within a short radius of the school. Happily, Academy and outlined the burning issues wholeheartedly – when appropriate and he found nothing or nobody untoward of the day. Older readers may remember possible. If they were not, he did not hesitate and the incident proved to be a hoax. The to say so. It was very good for me to have

20 Etcetera consequences if the decision had been wrong do not bear thinking about. I was Tributes to Gordon Carruthers eternally grateful that, although the decision was mine, I had had GHC to hold my hand How very sad. He was extremely kind to friend. He will be sadly missed by all of us and lend his unequivocal support. me when I first started at school. who were privileged to know him. When I left the Academy to go to Malvern Anne Gilmour (former staff) Graham Black (1967) in December 1982, I took with me much that I had learned from GHC and I counted That’s a blow. I think ‘firm but fair’ Jock was an eternal treasure and myself very lucky to have had a Deputy summed up Jock. thoughtful inspiration for all he guided who was also my mentor and friend. He Sean Henney (1978) – he lived the life well lived. Saddened used to give me a lift home on most days A rich and full life at the Academy and by the news but always inspired by his and this provided us with an opportunity in St Andrews. He was and will always memory. to review the day and to share a joke remain an inspiration to me. My most Philip E Niedermair (1979) because our respective posts only too sincere condolences to his nearest and I am deeply saddened to receive your easily encouraged us to take ourselves too dearest. email about Gordon Carruthers – or seriously. His wry sense of humour defused Pat Shaw (1970) “Jock” as we all used to call him. He many a tense discussion. What sad news of the end of a great influenced me more than any other Others have written – or will write – about innings by a figure that we will all member of staff at the Academy, or GHC’s teaching of chemistry, his term remember with great respect and indeed, at the grammar school I attended spent at Churchill College, Cambridge affection, whether in the classroom or in in the south of England before my father as a Schoolmaster Fellow, his Christmas the field with the CCF. took a job in Glasgow after leaving the pantomime productions, his starring roles Michael Barritt (1966) Royal Navy. as the dame, his role in the CCF and his I attended The Academy between 1957 teaching courses in Zambia during two I’m really sorry to hear this. As a pupil and 1960, joining Baggy Aston’s Fifth summer holidays. Less well known is his at the school through the 1970s till I left form. Being a “soft Sassenach”, the role in his beloved St Andrews after his for University in 1984, I do remember transition was considerable, but, with the retirement from the Academy. He was Mr Carruthers very well, the absolute help of the many good friends I made, elected to the Business Committee of the mainstay of the school. some of whom I am still in touch with, I General Council of the University in 1973 Chris MacRae (1984) had a happy and successful career at the i.e. while he was still at the Academy and he He was a big part of my school life Academy before going up to Cambridge. was Convenor of the Committee for three and a long-standing friend of my late years. He was appointed as an Assessor to mother. Though I was not taught by Gordon the University Court with a particular brief Phil Reid (1977) Carruthers, I saw a great deal of him to represent the interest of students. He in the CCF, and was fortunate enough had the interests of the latter very much at Gordon Carruthers was a tremendous to go on several of the leadership heart and the students came to rely on him character who delighted his pupils both training courses which he used to run in the way that Academy boys had done. in the classroom where his love and at Blackwaterfoot on Arran each Easter. Not surprisingly, he did a spell as Chairman explanations of the mystery of physics was And then there were the CCF Christmas of the Board of the Students’ Association. always a delight, but for the CCF and his Concerts which were the “Best show in The final accolade accorded to him by the exploits with the Christmas pantomime town” for many years which he produced University was the award of an Honorary will always be remembered by many of jointly with Bill Coulthard. These may PhD. For GHC, this represented the apogee us with great affection. He made life at have been unlikely educational media, of his career. the Academy always the greatest fun and but they taught me a great deal and I Sadly ill-health dogged him in his final few it was a joy and a privilege to be in his remember them with gratitude and years. However, he was still doing The Times company. affection. You always knew where you crossword right up to the end and his recall Gordon was one of the many masters were with Gordon, and, although he of Academy people and incidents remained with great talent at the Academy during could be very forthright, it was always prodigious. Lack of mobility made his visits that period, so for him to stand out in our because your standards were not as high to the University and the town centre fewer minds as he does pays him perhaps the as he knew you could achieve. There was and further between. Particularly painful for greatest compliment. also a witty and generous side to him. It him was to give up going to the University was he who taught me that schoolmasters Chapel on Sundays – he was always part of He will be sadly missed by us all; he was a were human beings too! truly wonderful character and a splendid the academic procession – and attending I visited him in St Andrews when The the Remembrance Service and parade each teacher in all respects. Allan Alstead (1954) Open was being played there some years November. ago. His welcome was immense. All the I am sure that generations of Academicals Of all the staff who made my journey photographs of the NCOs in the CCF and St Andrews students will have the easier, it was Mr Carruthers. in which I featured had been put out for fondest memories of GHC and will join me Nick Lander (1984) me to see, together with those from the in celebrating the life of a man who devoted Fond memories of Gordon, as the Christmas Concerts during my time at his life to education. Colonel in charge of the CCF. A school. In retirement he took as great an interest in The Academy as he did while Roy Chapman (Rector 1975-82) wonderful teacher and long-time family

Etcetera 21 Brian Wilson (top left) in the pipe band – shortly after investing in those drumsticks, which he has hardly put down to this day!

he was a colossus of the common room He put so much into his job it was Senior Under Officer in the CCF and there. He also regaled me with stories of unbelievable – especially his hand-drawn Gordon was, I think, the Senior Officer life as a member of the University Court timetable for the whole of the secondary so I had to work relatively closely with at St Andrews, including the time when school posted on the wall outside his him. His performances in the annual he “presented” Jack Nicklaus with the office. pantomime were unforgettable. certificate for his honorary doctorate; that RIP ‘Jock’. The school made major error in not was the picture which appeared in the Quentin Sellar (1978) appointing Gordon as Rector with Ken press! Waine his Deputy but in those days I look forward to reading the official ‘Jock’ Carruthers had a profound effect Oxbridge ruled the promotion ladder. tributes. After Ken Waine, Gordon is on my character and he knew the Peter Hillis (1971) another example of the extraordinary value of giving difficult boys a sense of Sorry to hear about the sad news. He was calibre of the teachers we were fortunate responsibility – at least in my case. He a good man. enough to be educated by. As a retired was very kind to my son, Andrew, during Duncan McPhie (1986) schoolmaster myself now, the example I Andrew’s time at the school. My last was given when I was at school has been meeting with ‘Jock’ was when he invited Sorry to hear of Gordon Carruthers’ something I have attempted to follow and my mother and me to lunch at the death. He was very active in the Academy I shall always be grateful. clubhouse in St Andrews during one of during the time our elder son was in the Peter Larkman (1961) my periodic visits to Scotland on business. school. Although we did see a little of Both of them were former teachers; both him in St Andrews I am afraid we had lost A true legend and a source of great advice of them had very proper manners; both touch in recent years. to me personally. Please pass on my of them were pretty-well stone deaf; and, Robin Robinson (1948) thoughts to his family. to cap it all, both of them had forgotten Peter Muir (1987) their hearing aids! It was a bizarre, yet That is indeed sad news, although 92 is a great innings and from what I gather from Jock Carruthers taught me Mathematics thoroughly entertaining luncheon those at the University, all the faculties in Trans B in 1948 and was very active in conversation that was shared, unwittingly, were pretty much there. the corps. He was also very good (funny) with the entire dining room. I have always in the school pantomimes. loved Jock and I will cherish his memory. Gordon Carruthers was the second Robert JG Turpie (1955) Antony Kozlowski (1962) person I ever met at the Academy, the first being Rachel Teggart. I came to the Very sad to hear this news. I had been It was Jock who got me started in my school for my pre-secondary 1 entrance meaning to call him as for the first time in drumming career. He said , ‘Seven test accompanied by my dad. GC greeted over 50 years I’d had no Christmas card. Shillings and Sixpence will get you a pair of Premier G Drum Sticks. You can buy us and exclaimed, ‘Good afternoon, He was a wonderful man and played a big them at Henderson’s on Renfrew Street.’ Good!’ Timidly, I replied, ‘Good part in my nascent theatrical career. That was in 1953. afternoon, Sir.’ to which the response came, ‘No, boy, I was addressing your A real Academy institution. God bless his soul. father. You see I taught him when he was Tempus fugit! Brian Wilson (1959) a pupil at this school too you know.’ Hugh Ross (1962) Gordon taught me biology although it Although he was only there for my first Sad indeed. Happy memories! has always been a regret to me that it and second years at the Academy, he never Colin Dawson (1967) was not possible to take the subject onto forgot me and always made a point of Higher. He was an excellent teacher. I was

22 Etcetera This picture of ‘Jock’ Carruthers with pipe was I was saddened to hear of the death of Gordon Carruthers. He arrived at the Academy the same year taken at Bisley by a young Cdt Gilchrist in 1964 I joined the school in Form 1B. I often saw him in St Andrews when visiting our two boys at University when Jock visited the GA Bisley team down at the and he always enquired about their progress such was his continuing interest in his former pupils. The Bisley Camp, Brookwood. In the background from attached photograph may be of interest to others of my vintage. Two questions. Who are his fellow sun left to right is Capt Stevenson, the back of WOIC seekers and where and when was it taken? Clue-’Red Skelton’. Answers to [email protected]. Wilberforce, (Carruthers), Cdt Galloway and Cdt First correct answer will receive a copy of the image. Stanley. Alan Conner (1954) Great days! James Gilchrist (1967) stopping me in the street if I bumped into him after I went up at Glasgow Academy, namely Miss Ritchie who was my first to St Andrews in 1990. teacher on my arrival in Glasgow from England and Lachie Kenneth Good (1990) Robertson of whom much has been written recently. He was indeed ‘a mainstay’ of the Academy. My uncles both It is with great anticipation that I wait for the delivery of the finished school when Jock was a young man. Pretty good latest edition of Etcetera. I look forward to hearing news of old innings right enough. When a boy was in trouble that was the schoolmates and members of staff. man you wanted to appear in front of – firm and fair. John (‘Basher’) Bull (1957) Turner McWhirr (1982) Yes, I am saddened at the death of Gordon Carruthers. It is a I remember him well and fondly. He always encouraged us to do long time since I finished school at the Glasgow Academy in better and helped me a lot. My sympathy to the family. 1950, but I still have good memories of Mr Carruthers as a good Michael Scott (1960) all-rounder. Ronnie McCulloch (1950) Sad news but what an exceptional teacher and mentor; I count myself fortunate to have been on the receiving end of his wise I firmly believe that Jock in his time as Depute /Acting Rector counsel when I was in 5th and 6th years. I doubt that I will meet probably saved the school from collapse. A mainstay indeed. a man who could challenge Solomon on fair and just decisions R Andrew S Wilson (1974) as Jock demonstrated on many occasions. His teaching skill was Although I was never one of the most enthusiastic members superb. He transformed complexity into clarity and always with of the CCF and studied science for only one year, I have two great humour leading to true learning and deep appreciation abiding memories of Jock Carruthers. He came to St Andrews irrespective of the breadth of the subject. Undoubtedly one to have dinner with a number of St Andrews students and was of the finest Masters and Deputy Rectors in the history of the delightfully indiscrete. Apparently a letter had been sent to Academy. Ken Waine and Lachie will no doubt give him a warm parents saying that fees would be increased to 3X ‘per anum.’ A welcome as soon as Jock has finished dispensing wisdom to St parent had written back saying that he would continue to pay Peter! through the nose!!. No one of course can forget his professional Iain Breckenridge (1984) performance at the Xmas Pantomime. It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Gordon John Marshall Carruthers. He was my form teacher in Transitus and I have always looked upon him with affection. He was the ideal introduction in to the mysteries of the Senior School. It has been sad to hear of the deaths in the past few years of the teachers who had the most influence on me during my time

Etcetera 23 Meetings, get-togethers and reunions

Fisher and Ferns meet up The meeting of the Sandy Fs Unbeknownst to both Sandy Fs, we had lived for several years in relatively close proximity in the City of Calgary. Thanks to information provided by Mark Taylor, we were able to make contact and as a result my wife and I spent a most enjoyable afternoon at Sandy Fisher’s home. With the help of old school We were delighted to welcome some members of the Class of 2005 for a mini reunion photographs, we recalled classmates, at The Academy recently. They enjoyed meeting each other – and a few of their former teachers and reminisced over some of our teachers. more colorful experiences at Colebrooke Terrace. Our wives – much to their credit Four distinguished Academicals – survived the ordeal. As we had not seen took part in the meeting of the each other for over fifty years, it was also Scotland International, a private interesting to learn about our lives after high-level discussion group, at the Academy and where our career paths Gleneagles in November 2015. had led us. Sandy F‘s (Fisher) career in They are (l to r) Lord Kerr, former Head of UK Foreign Office and architecture guided him to Northern ex-UK Ambassador in Washington; Ireland, Jamaica and Canada while Sandy Professor Niall Ferguson, Tisch F’s (Ferns) career in credit administration Professor of History, Harvard directed him to The Land of the Klondike University; Sir Angus Grossart, in Canada’s far north. chairman of Scotland International; Sir David Omand, former Head of UK We are hoping that our get-togethers will Security and Intelligence Office. continue in the months to come. Sandy Ferns (1960)

Martin Strang (second row, third from right) and David Primrose (back row, second from left) in the photo of Miss Ritchie’s class which appeared on page 6 of Etcetera 25.

Ron Gilmore (left) and David Crawford (both 1983) take time out from their busy schedules to meet up in Glasgow for David’s fiftieth.

24 Etcetera to reach out to these communities. Is that you? …This is me. I had just moved to Stafford, from Nottingham, where I had served as an Assistant Minister for 3 years, following my training at Theological College there. Some people commented on it being brave to give up my Engineering career in my early 50s, and with a family of 2 young boys – Robbie (now 13) and Cameron (now 11). But, for me, it felt an absolutely natural move and what a privilege it has been. 30 years with Babcock, in Renfrew, London and Crawley, had, overall, been good – sometimes very good. A couple of postings to Chennai (Madras), India, to lead and support a Boiler Mechanical Design Team, had added to the interest of it all. As David asked me about “Is that you? …This is me.” The words Martin Strang (left) and David Primrose Church life in that part of the Indian with which Martin Strang (1972) greeted sub-continent, I remembered the bonds David Primrose (1972), pointing to that programme for Pakistani heroin addicts. we had made with our Indian friends 50-year-old photo of Miss Ritchie’s class We encountered tremendous generosity as we became involved at St Andrew’s (1964/65) which featured in Etcetera and warmth of friendship in that great Kirk in that city – originally Church 25. David and Martin had last seen each city, and enjoyed travelling the length of Scotland and now Church of South other in 1968 when they had both left the of that beautiful country. There was a India. It had been strange to find myself Academy, with happy memories, to go to freedom to discuss religion, and the standing beside my Great Uncle’s grave boarding school. Till then, the Primrose healing ministry of Jesus was held in high (dated 1909) in the graveyard there. brothers (William, David, Bruce and regard by many Muslims. It was good In between those two postings to India Kenneth) had come into the Academy to think through my own faith, both (in 2000) I married Rachel and, in India, from Kirkintilloch whilst the Strang boys in the context of Pakistani Christians she was able to use her OT skills to help (Colin, Martin, David and Frank) had with a different cultural background to Vidya Sagar (the Spastic Society). commuted from Bearsden. my own, and in the context of Muslims That motivation to make a difference As they spoke of the impact of faith on adhering to various forms of Islam. Whilst as a Christian in whatever environment their lives, David told something of his there, I was ordained as a deacon in the we find ourselves had not always been story: Church of Pakistan, which was a union of Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and important to me. For a period of 15 years, At Fettes College, the choice to belong Lutheran streams. including all of my 20s, I had walked to the Christian Study Group was against away from faith. But somehow God had the popular flow. Scripture Union We returned after six years. I studied other plans for me and, wonderfully, He camps, and the support of the chaplains, theology, since when I have been a brought me back to Him – enabling me meant that I arrived at St John’s College, Minister in the Church of England. to reconnect with my original grounding Cambridge with plenty of adolescent After 18 years in parishes around in things Christian. enthusiasm for my beliefs. There were Gloucestershire, I moved up to the That grounding, like David’s, had been an several other mathematicians in the Midlands, five years ago. Here I support integral part of our upbringing, as both Christian Union which, along with the ways in which churches engage our families had been very much involved college chapel and a local Baptist church, with their local communities, addressing in the local church. allowed me to explore my faith further. themes such as the environment, older Alison and I were engaged before we people and end of life, disability and For David and me there were many left Cambridge, with me training as a dementia, and poverty in its various similarities to our start in life – a photo social worker and Alison as a teacher. We manifestations. It was in this capacity with the same Glasgow Academy ties married the next summer, living outside that I arranged to visit a new minister in around our necks. And then a diverging Bristol where I worked as a Probation Stafford, only to encounter a photograph of the ways – but, 50 years later, a photo Officer. Now the vibrancy of student with myself second from the left on the with the same collars around our necks. religion moulded into that of a village back row. I enjoy telling this story to anyone in my church, serving the wider community and congregations who will listen! following the rhythms of the year. Martin writes: Martin Strang (1972) and David With that experience, we went, with As I welcomed David, I pointed to myself Primrose (1972) two young children, through the Church sitting on Miss Ritchie’s left. I was new in [email protected] and david. Mission Society, to serve the church in post as Minister of two parishes and I was [email protected] Karachi, helping establish a recovery glad to have his help as I considered how

Etcetera 25 Moving up, moving on…

profile and take their career to another level. The programme takes them to two countries and they study (in English) courses such as Finance, Marketing, Strategy. It’s also a good catalyst for budding entrepreneurs or career switchers. www.edhec-mba.com

Lesley Henderson (2009) The Rare Malt Whisky Company will celebrate their first year of trading at the end of April. Lesley said: ‘It has been a great start for us and we are now branching into hosting more whisky tastings on both the corporate and consumer side whilst still retailing rare bottles. The business was accepted to work with Entrepreneurial Spark, which is allowing us to gain insight on scaling the company. We have got ourselves out

Neil Amner (1987) The Principal Navigations is regarded as Glasgow Chamber of Commerce installed a classic alongside the King James Bible. Neil as its new president in January for This year sees major celebrations of the a two-year term. Neil is a partner with 400th anniversary of his death. MacRoberts Solicitors and is well known as one of Scotland’s leading transport, Darius Campbell (1998) environmental and parliamentary lawyers. Darius has been playing Rick in Funny Girl opposite Sheridan Smith. The Ben Bannatyne (1989) production moved to the West End (of After spending 18 years in Central London!) in 2016. Europe, I am now moving to Amsterdam as President of Prologis in Europe. I Ryan Dalziel (2000) would welcome the opportunity to meet Ryan has become the first Scot to anyone from the Academy who is also win the coveted Porsche Cup, as the Lesley Henderson based there. season’s top privateer. Ryan, who lives in Florida, claimed two wins, a further of the starting blocks but now is the time Michael Barritt (1966) eight podiums and was placed third in the to work hard, persevere and hopefully become real contenders in the race.’ This June Michael will come to the championship at the wheel of a Porsche end of a five-year tenure as President 911 GT-3R last season. www.theraremaltwhiskycompany.co.uk of the Hakluyt Society (www.hakluyt. com). The Society was founded in Niall Dickson (1966) Ed Mackey (1972) 1846 to advance public education by Niall has announced he will be standing An exciting chance arose in August publishing accounts of travel by land and down at the end of this year after seven 2015 to speak on land mapping at a sea and of encounters between peoples. years as Chief Executive and Registrar Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) – Several forthcoming volumes have a of the General Medical Council, which Natural Science Foundation of China Scottish link. In April an account of regulates doctors throughout the UK. He (NSFC) workshop on earth observation Sir Joseph Banks’ travels in the North will also complete his term at Chair of sensors and imaging systems in Beijing, Atlantic, including a voyage through the the International Association of Medical China. I gave a presentation on behalf Western Isles, will come off the press. Regulatory Authorities. of Scottish Government and Scottish Emeritus Professor Roy Bridges of the Natural Heritage (SNH), where I University of Aberdeen is preparing head the Knowledge and Information a comprehensively illustrated edition Nikki Harle (1985) Management Unit. The workshop of Grant’s travels in Africa which will I recruit candidates into an MBA enabled us to share experience with appear in 2018. The society is named programme in France. Typically they are leading academic researchers and after the great Elizabethan historian and people who have had good professional practitioners in Scotland and China with writer, Richard Hakluyt, whose book evolution but now want to boost their a view to possible research collaboration

26 Etcetera Sarah Lawson (2008) After graduating from Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Sarah is currently working to qualify as an architect. She has just been shortlisted for a drawing competition for the Alexander Thomson Scholarship, 2016. We wish her every success in the competition.

China is a revelation… and it’s true, the Great Wall is really great! in habitat mapping, biodiversity assessment and natural capital accounting. Fascinatingly, the Huan Jing environmental satellite constellation of China has operational similarities with the Sentinel satellites which are now being deployed under the European Space Agency Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus. The RSE-NSFC joint programme is a remarkable opportunity to engage in international research collaboration and cultural exchange at no financial cost – in this case to SNH / Scottish Government.

New books by Academicals

Charlotte Brontë Revisited: published by Birlinn in May 2016. studied French and German at Aberdeen A View from the Twenty-First In 1947, when India achieved University before going to Germany in Century by Sophie Franklin independence, Britain portrayed the 1910 and marrying a Hamburg medical ) (2009 transfer of power as the outcome of practitioner. After his death in 1938 Everybody knows Charlotte Brontë. decades, even centuries, of responsible she planned to return to Elgin to visit World-famous for her novel Jane Eyre, planning – the honourable discharge her ailing parents when the Gestapo she’s a giant of literature and has been of an historic responsibility. But Walter intervened and sought information written about in reverential tones in shows that the official narrative is a about air bases in the north of Scotland. scores of textbooks over the years. But travesty of what really happened and In the end, she became a double agent what do we really know about Charlotte? reveals how Britain selfishly deceived and – something that Miller discovered only In this bicentennial year, Charlotte Brontë prevaricated in order to arrest political by chance many years later. Several film Revisited looks at Charlotte through progress in India for as long as possible companies are interested in the rights – so 21st-century eyes. Discover her private – a shameful passage in British imperial watch this space! world of convention, rebellion and policy which led to tragedy and untold Hilda imagination, and how they shaped her suffering when independence finally Campbell life, writing and obsessions – including became inevitable. the paranormal, nature, feminism and politics. It’s a celebration of all things ‘A fascinating, robust and provocative Charlotte Brontë, and emphatically shows version of the sunset of the Raj’ – why she’s as relevant today as she ever was. Lawrence James (author of Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India) Keeping the Jewel in the Crown, by Walter Reid (1962) The Reluctant Spy, by Miller Walter Reid has written four books Caldwell (1969) on political and military history, Miller’s latest book, his 20th, is scheduled concentrating on British imperial policy, to be published in late October. The and his fifth book, Keeping the Jewel in the Reluctant Spy tells the true story of Hilda Crown. The British Betrayal of India, will be Campbell, the author’s great aunt, who

Etcetera 27 Announcements Marriages Rachel and Alasdair Stewart Engagements Cheers! Congratulations to Emma Doherty (2004) (front of shot) who is getting married to Alastair Ritchie in May of this year. Meanwhile former classmate Kylie Walker (2004) was recently engaged to fellow professional golfer Scott Henry, and plans are underway for a wedding later in the year.

Samantha Kay (2003) I have recently become engaged to Martin Findlay and we have booked our wedding for next year .

Natalie and David Fulton

Rachel Dickson and some fellow former pupils

Rachel Dickinson (2008) Rachel married Alasdair Stewart on 21 March 2015 at Glasgow University Chapel. Fellow former pupils were among the bridesmaids and guests. The couple live in London; Rachel is a junior doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. David Fulton (1999) I am delighted to announce I married Natalie Oswald, my girlfriend of six years, on 28 March 2015 at Dunkeld Cathedral. The Academy was well represented with the Best Man and four Ushers all being Academicals. We had a terrific day finishing off with a lively ceilidh and Natalie and I are enjoying our new life together.

28 Etcetera Stuart McKnight (1997) Stuart married Lucy (Latimer) on Saturday 17 October 2015 at Achahoish Church and thereafter at Crear overlooking Jura in glorious sunny Argyll. Nicola (Begley) Mazzotta (2007) Nicola Begley (2007) married Simon Mazzotta on 16 May 2015 at the Holy Family and St Ninian’s Church, Kirkintilloch followed by a reception at The Grand Central Hotel Glasgow. Nicola is now living in Melbourne, Australia and working as an A&E doctor there.

Stuart and Lucy McKnight Nicola and Simon Mazzotta

Nicola (Begley) Mazzotta with her four bridesmaids, all Academy girls: (l-r) Rosemary Watson (2007), Fiona Ferguson (nee Begley) (2004), Victoria McAlpine Scott (2008), and Lynsey Rae (2007).

Catherine Weir (2002) Catherine married Andy Chalmers on 19 June 2015 at Killearn Kirk. She says: ‘I’ve attached the photo (below) because there are a lot of Accies in it – Jen Graham (2002), Andrew Ritchie (2001), Elaine Graham (2002), Lucy Johnston (2002), Jill Sherry (2002), Carrie Henderson (2002) and Helen Moore (2002).’

Etcetera 29 Births Colin and Stephanie (Wright) Martin, our 3-year-old son Henry and Hutton (both 2002) I welcomed our daughter Anna to the John Howie (2002) Colin and Stephanie were delighted to world. She was born at Furness General My wife Claire and I are delighted to welcome Rory Marshall Hutton to the Hospital, Cumbria weighing 7lb 13oz. announce the arrival of our first child. world on 27 January 2016, weighing 7lbs Baby Annabelle Howie was born at Ulsan 7oz. A baby brother for Annabelle – and Iain McNee (2003) University Hospital (South Korea) on 22 she is thrilled! All are well and enjoying Iain and wife Rosie (née Wright) are October 2015 weighing a healthy 3.89kg. life as a family of four. delighted to announce the birth of Both sides of the family are over the Donal Gray in February 2016. Donal is moon! Amy (Comins) Loebell (1998) a wee brother to George Nicoll, born On 16 October 2015 my husband in October 2014. Iain qualified as a Chartered Civil Engineer in 2015 and has worked for Jacobs since 2008. Sarah-Lynn (Ballantyne) Nyadu (2000) Sarah and Yaw are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Isabella Charlotte Afua, born on 14 August 2015. Jo (Fleming) Turner (1999) Ed and I are delighted with the arrival of Judah David Turner, a little brother for Benjamin and Lucy. He was born on 8 March, and it is wonderful to have him as part of our family!

Annabelle Howie

Rory Marshall Hutton and sister Annabelle

Anna Loebell

30 Etcetera The Turner family

Ross Weir (2000) The McNee family Ross and Nat are delighted to announce the birth of Oscar Scott Weir. Oscar was born on 18 November 2015 in Cambridge. Both mother and son are doing very well. This is the closest thing we could find to a GA rugby top! Cammy Wilson (1999) Jenny and I are delighted to announce the birth of our first child, Anna Rose Wilson. Anna was born on Friday 19 February 2016 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. Both mum and baby are doing really well and in good health, Dad still doesn’t know what’s hit him!

Anna Rose Wilson

Isabella Charlotte Afua

Oscar Scott Weir

Etcetera 31 Public schools and British colonialism

t a time when the history of British Wellington College recognised in colonialism is being reopened by awarding its prizes largely replicated A academics and the media alike, the values that the British colonial I thought it would be fitting to engage administration desired in its personnel. in a discussion about the role of private The Glasgow Academy continues to schools during the colonial epoch in this present its Indian Trophy, normally to season’s Etcetera. the head boy and girl, at the end of each academic year. It is a trophy made of The reasons for the resurgence of melted down Indian Rupees and has interest in Britain’s colonial past – as been presented since the early twentieth demonstrated publicly at least by the century when there was considerable likes of the BBC’s 2015 celebration of expectation that a career in the colonies India season and Channel 4’s Indian would follow. Summers drama – is most likely down to the generational distance that now exists The role of school newsletters and between ourselves and those responsible magazines as pro-colonial propaganda for colonial administration. Subsequently, was also important. Just like today, these Britain’s major funding bodies for social publications carried letters from alumni science research have appeared more across the world. In colonial times prepared to finance colonial projects – the readers were often provided with although, for now, this area of enquiry ‘The Indian Trophy was given by first-hand accounts of Britain’s colonial still resides in somewhat of an academic wars. This was particularly the case if the Academicals in India in memory of ghetto. institution was a military feeder school John Maclaren, Writing Master for 47 like ours. In addition more light-hearted For the record, it is not my purpose to years until 1908. It was awarded to stories of high-spirited reunions in enter into a debate about the morality the boy who seemed best to combine various colonial venues could also be of colonialism here. I am sure that many found. This inspired many pupils to of the readers of Etcetera have strong work with play, who was diligent follow in the footsteps of those who had opinions on this subject. Instead, it is and successful at his studies and sat in the classrooms before them. important that, for right or for wrong, ‘helped the general outdoor life of the contribution of schools like ours is the School by his skill in games and Finally, the value of the private school lay recognised and understood. by the general example of keenness in teaching boys to subordinate their own desires to the good of the administration Speaking of recruitment to the Indian that he set’. The first recipient, at that they were a part of. In games this Civil Service (ICS), Major Sir Ralph the Prize-giving in 1910, was Charles was the team, whether that be in rugby Dolignon Furse, Head of Recruitment Andrew – First XV for three years, or cricket, but it could also be found in at the Colonial Office between 1931 First XI for four years (three as inter-house competitions – Morrison, and 1948, believed quite simply that the Fraser, Temple or Arthur in our case. public schools produced the ‘best sort Captain) and holder for 43 years of of chaps’ to represent British interests in the record for Throwing the Cricket The colonial era has now passed. the colonies. This might not be such a Ball – 100 yards 1 foot – which he set However, private schools like ours profound compliment to institutions like in 1910 and which stood until 1953.’ continue to produce young adults with ours today given the controversy that Iain MacLeod characters and demeanours that are surrounds the colonial record, but it was valued by public bodies and corporations meant to be so when it was uttered in alike. This is not to say that everyone Furse’s memoirs. who is enrolled in a private school will leave with such a personality, that other Furse was adamant that the public schools attributes are not equally valuable, or were the ideal preparation for a career in Wellington College, Berkshire, during that one cannot acquire these values the colonies. The answer for his assertion the 1880s, the Queen’s Gold Medal, elsewhere. Nevertheless, as the impressive lies in an emphasis on Classics, the role of was awarded to ‘the boy who ha[d] list of alumni signifies, our school games, and the heritage of Empire that distinguished himself during the year continues to produce people who achieve emanated from the community of schools by cheerful submission to his superiors, and overachieve in modern society. like ours. However, private schools did courtesy to those beneath him, fearless devotion to duty, and unflinching not teach boys about Empire per se but Colin Alexander (2000) created a learning environment that truthfulness’ (2004: 55). Some schools encouraged the personality traits that added respect for women to this and Colin is Senior Lecturer in Political were valued by colonial administrations. boarding schools were known to add Communications at Nottingham Trent ‘sexual purity’, and especially the University. His current research focuses on Historian of British Imperialism, Bernard avoidance of ‘beastliness’ (homosexual the history of media and communications in Porter, notes how the highest prize at practices). Thus, the criteria that colonial India.

32 Etcetera Ronald T Boyle (1938) Obituaries 6 January 1929 – 3 December 2015 Dr Ronald Thomson Boyle died Wing Commander Arthur H peacefully at home (near Doncaster). Aldridge (Academy Staff) Beloved husband of Sue, devoted father of 23 August 1920 – 20 December 2015 Sally and Sandy and a proud grandpa to The son of a clergyman, Arthur Harold Adam, Oli, Harry and Charlie. Aldridge was born near Florence, being partly of Italian descent. His first nine M Martin Brolly (1959) years were spent in Italy before he 6 June 1942 – 29 March 2015 attended St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. In 1939 he went up to St Edmund Hall, Maxwell Martin Brolly, always known Oxford to read Modern Languages, but as Martin, died last year. He leaves a after a year he interrupted his studies and daughter, Sarah, from his first marriage, volunteered to be a pilot. wife Lesley and two step-children – Allison and Richard – and four He completed his training in Canada and step-grandsons. I do know that he was in August 1941 joined No 217 Squadron, very happy at the Academy and enjoyed a torpedo bomber squadron operating Percy M Brazil (1942) taking me there to visit a few years ago. the Beaufort aircraft from St Eval in 17 November 1924 – 23 October 2015 Cornwall. Aldridge received his first DFC Lesley Scott for completing an attack on the German Percy was born in Glasgow to Ben and cargo ship SS Madrid. He survived the Esther Brazil. He attended Glasgow famous `Channel Dash’ – in which Academy from 1939 to 1942 and then William R (Pat) Bruce (1939) 40 RAF aircraft were shot down, and studied medicine at the University of 19 April 1922 – 10 February 2016 Glasgow, while simultaneously playing earned his second DFC in the defence Pat died peacefully, aged 93, at St gigs as a gifted jazz pianist. of Malta where he sank two enemy ships Augustine, Florida, USA. Beloved and rescued a fellow wounded pilot He immigrated to New York where he husband of the late Nora, much-loved whilst under heavy fire. Aldridge is also was an intern at Coney Island Hospital stepfather of Ann Shepherd and brother credited as the man who finally sank the before becoming a research fellow at of Iain and the late Robin and Russell. Reichenfels and, in so doing, made a Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. He Major (MC) in the Argyll and Sutherland significant difference to the war in North met Betty Snyder whom he married in Highlanders and International Sales Africa. He wrote of his war experience in 1952 and had two sons, Tony and Robby. Director with Proctor and Gamble, USA. The Last Torpedo Flyers (2013). After Betty died in 1979, he married Gladys Chang-Hardy. For many years, Bryce E Cassels (1952) Percy practised Internal Medicine in 20 September 1938 – 1 March 2016 Tarrytown, NY and was loved by his patients. He served as President of Bryce died peacefully, at Crosshouse the Medical Staff at Phelps Memorial Hospital, Kilmarnock. Much loved dad, Hospital in the 1980s. His attempts grandpa and brother. to keep HMOs as community-based projects were ground-breaking and very Hugh Diack (1948 and Academy progressive for the time. He moved to Staff) Sherman, Connecticut in 1991 and was at 27 February 1930 – 27 January 2016 peace with the trees. Aldridge left the RAF in early 1946 Hugh was the youngest son of Rev Dr Percy died peacefully at Danbury hospital and resumed his studies at Oxford and Mrs Peter Diack. He followed his in October. He is survived, loved and before teaching French and German at brothers, Peter (1943) and Alan (1945), to missed by one surviving brother, Milton, Glasgow Academy. In 1954 he took up an Colebrooke Street. An able pupil, he won in Scotland, his son Tony and wife Helen appointment at King’s School, Worcester, a number of prizes while at The Academy. in France, and other step-children, where he spent the next 26 years. A including for General Knowledge, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces in cultured man, Aldridge enjoyed the music Scripture and, on several occasions, Latin Australia, England, France and the U.S. of Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert, as and Greek. well as the art of the Italian Renaissance. Hugh graduated MA from Aberdeen He was also a keen tennis player in Fred Samuel Berkley University in 1951 and then attended his early years, and cricket remained a 29 March 1924 – 22 December 2015 Aberdeen Training College. In 1953 he lifelong interest. Fred passed away peacefully, after a short began his teaching career at O’Neill Arthur Aldridge married Beryl Jones illness, aged 91. Much loved and respected Corse School (near Craigievar), where in 1948; she died in December 2011. A husband of Sybil, as well as stepfather, he taught a range of junior school ages daughter predeceased him and their two step-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle and before joining the staff at Bridge of Don sons survive him. great-great-uncle. Academy in 1956. In September 1967

Etcetera 33 Ferry (former GP at Princes Street Surgery), beloved husband of Dorothy, much loved father of Wendy, Hamish, Euan and Michael, and a dear grandfather and brother.

Rev James C G Greig 20 February 1927 – 15 March 2016 Peacefully, on 15 March, 2016, in his 90th year, Reverend James C. G. Greig, beloved husband of Elsa (nee Carlile), dearly loved father of Elspeth, Andrew and Jane, much loved father-in-law and loving grandpa of the family. James Greig was a brilliant linguist. At The Academy he became in the VIth Form one of Chris Varley’s specialists, Hugh joined the staff at Colebrooke Edinburgh. During his studies he was and he won a Major Scholarship at Caius Street to teach English, History, Latin student assistant at Greyfriars Kirk and College in Cambridge. He was also an and Transitus classes for a year before then spent his probationary year at outstanding theologian, working at the returning with his family to Aberdeen. Blythswood St Stephen’s. frontiers of Theology. His theological He was appointed to teach English and work was described as combining the David’s first charge was at Kent Road St Classics at Aberdeen Grammar School rigour of the scholar with the fervent Vincent’s. He then moved to Kirn for where he taught for the rest of his career, sincerity of the man of faith. He taught a four-year ministry before taking up taking early retirement in 1990, at the age himself Gaelic and was able to preach an appointment at Grace Presbyterian of 60. a sermon in Gaelic to a Hebridean Church in Calgary, Alberta in 1975. In Outside of work Hugh was a family congregation. 1977 he returned to Scotland to become man. He married his wife, Dorothy, minister of Drumchapel St Andrew’s. Another of his interests was the John in April 1957. They were to have two In 1983 he left the parish ministry for Buchan Society. He was an early editor sons. The family spent lots of happy teaching, initially as a teacher of religious of the John Buchan Journal, setting high times on holidays and days out in the studies at Clydebank High School, before standards for articles. He also edited countryside, and in Aberdeen. Hugh he was appointed School Chaplain and meticulously some reprints of Buchan’s enjoyed photography, reading and Principal Teacher of Religious Education work. walking. Despite relying on a stick in his at Kelvinside Academy. He had a last few years, he continued to go walking Mr A E (Sandy) MacRobert (1945) forthright approach, provoked thoughts whenever the weather would allow and with relevance to the society which students would enter and was known for was indeed out walking only a few days Ian L Howie (1951) before his last stay in hospital. stimulating conversation in the staff room. 8 April 1933 – 23 January 2016 He was also known as a pivotal figure in Hugh died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Ian passed away at home in Lenzie. Father the provision of pastoral care, editing the He was pre-deceased by Dorothy but is of Alan, Andrew and Suzanne, brother school chronicle and leading pupil trips survived by his sons – Peter and Hugh – to Margaret, grandpa to Megan, Sophie, abroad. and two grandchildren, Kerry and Daniel. Alex, Maddie, Mia, Milly and Isla. In the early years of his ministry, David was Associate Editor of the Journal of the Michael I R Dickson (1966) William Herbert I’Anson Church Service Society, which had been 30 November 1948 – 21 March 2016 5 November 1912 – 26 December 2015 founded for the study of the reformed Michael died peacefully, surrounded liturgy. The Govan church of Linthouse Herbert died peacefully, aged 103 years. by his family, at the Victoria Hospital, had been a centre of liturgical worship A dearly beloved husband of the late Kirkcaldy, on Monday 21st March 2016. and it was fitting that David became Ena, much-loved father of Elspeth, Michael – of Earlsferry, Fife – was a minister of what by then had become Alastair and Heather, a loving and beloved husband of Dorothy, much loved Linthouse St Kenneth’s. He retired in adored father-in-law, grandfather and dad of Caroline (Cally) and Claire and 2005. During his ministry there David great-grandfather. adored papa to Isla, Holly, Maggie and chaired the Research Ethics Committee Effy. of the neighbouring Southern General Rev David A Keddie (1958) Hospital. He was also a regular 18 August 1940 – 20 February 2016 contributor to Radio Clyde’s religious Alistair G Forrester (1960) output. In his retirement, David gave David was born in Helensburgh. After 28 May 1942 – 25 February 2016 valuable service as a locum in a number nine years at The Academy he took an Alistair died peacefully, at Ninewells of places including St John’s Renfield, honours degree at Glasgow University Hospital, Dundee. Alistair, of Broughty Jordanhill and Bearsden South. He was and a Bachelor of Divinity degree at

34 Etcetera an excellent preacher, a wise pastor, a with the Health Ministry in London and, James, a loved and respected grandfather, greatly-respected teacher and a warm after devolution, with the health officials father-in-law, brother, brother-in-law and person. in Holyrood. Always articulate and having uncle. the knack of presenting a case in a cogent David died peacefully at home, after a Peter A Lyon (1953) and courteous manner, he played a vital short illness. Dearly loved husband of 18 October 1935 – 14 January 2016 role in gaining a higher profile for many Ann, loving father of Graham, Andrew, important health service issues. Peter died suddenly at his home in Morven, Iona and sons-in-law Thomas Craven Arms, Shropshire, aged 80 years. and Malcolm, devoted papa of Rory and Brian was never afraid to speak out on A loving husband of Tina, much-loved the late Matthew. behalf of healthcare. Indeed, although a Father of Andrew and Wendy, keen follower of politics, he advocated Father-in-law of Richard. Dr Brian D Keighley MBE JP MB that healthcare should be taken out of ChB FRCGP FRCP Edin DFM the political arena, often criticising the Alastair L Mack (1952) ‘short-term political goals’ that obscured (1966) 11 February 1934 – 6 March 2016 the complex decisions that had to be 21 May 1948 – 9 November 2015 made in the NHS for the longer term. Beloved father and proud grandfather. I well remember Brian as we enrolled Brian served as a nationally-elected Ever loyal soldier, Balliol man, history for Miss Crosbie’s P1 class in 1953. member of the Royal College of GPs teacher, Pictish scholar and general He was quiet, thoughtful and became (representing West of Scotland) from Scottish culture dabbler. engaged in many of the school activities. 2000 to 2008, was a member of the At an early age one could see that sport General Medical Council and, at the Neil C Maclean (1960) wasn’t uppermost in his mind as he pinnacle of his medical-political career, 18 October 1942 – 19 January 2016 concentrated on academia and his exam he served as Chairman of BMA Scottish results. On leaving school he went on Council between 2009 and 2014. He Neil Maclean was born and brought to read medicine at Glasgow University fulfilled all these posts with style and up in Bearsden and attended Glasgow and qualified in 1972, serving as a House energy, being a passionate supporter of Academy before following his father to Officer at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow. the medical profession and the NHS, both Fettes College. In 1964 he graduated with In 1974 he did his training as a GP and of which he served with dedication and a BSc from St Andrews University and joined the rural practice in Balfron where commitment. thereafter worked for a few years with he lived and worked for the rest of his British Aluminium. In 1970 he returned Throughout the medical profession and 38-year career. to Glasgow and married Elaine. He corridors of power he was held in high joined her father’s printing firm where his Over the years Brian involved himself regard and known affectionately by many focus on honesty, integrity and building in many aspects of the rural community. as ‘The Laird’. First Minister, Nicola relationships developed the business very As a physician he provided a traditional Sturgeon, placed on record: ‘I worked successfully. Neil and Elaine had two sons and caring service. He was committed with Brian when I was Health Secretary and a daughter and he was immensely to the well-being of all his patients and and he was a strong champion of GPs and proud when all three graduated from St cared for the elderly and infirm with a the NHS.’ Andrews. special personal concern. He was also Brian was awarded the MBE in 2015. He present at many local events, serving as In the 70s Neil immersed himself in the was a keen angler and kept active through medical officer for the Drymen Show and Glasgow Academical Club, particularly his love of squash, jogging and, more becoming much involved with the Forth the Rugby Section. He played for the 1st recently, golf. He is survived by his two Valley Health Board as well as serving as XV but for more than 20 years he was the sons, Douglas and Andrew, from his first a JP in later years. His responsibilities as a driving force of the 4th XV where the marriage and by his second wife, Lesley. GP were extended by his work to ensure that the profession in Scotland provided His funeral took place on 24 November Neil MacLean a first-class service. Brian diligently at Dalnottar Crematorium and thereafter represented the profession at many official a Memorial Service at Killearn Kirk on committees and developed good relations 14 December. There was a huge turnout of family, friends, former patients and Brian Keighley colleagues who heard eloquent eulogies delivered in memory of Brian.

John M Watson OBE Lt-Col (Ret’d) Alan Gordon Kennedy 30 March 1936 – 11 March 1916 Alan died very peacefully, at home, in his 80th year, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Beloved and very loving husband of Joyce, much loved father of Alistair, Iain, Anthony and

Etcetera 35 emphasis was on fun, especially during ‘Digger’. I don’t think I ever heard him Duke University, Durham (N Carolina) the biennial trips to Dublin. Neil was a called John. before returning to Scotland to become Past President of the Academical Club, Consultant Hand Surgeon and develop He was the safest of all full-backs and Treasurer of the Rugby Section and a hand clinic at the Western Infirmary, played in the 1st XV for three years. Secretary of the Squash Section. Glasgow. He continued to operate with I believe that in his last year he used great distinction for many years as a Neil served as a Governor of the seniority to request a move from full-back private consultant and split his time GAWMT from 1988-1995 and was, for as he found the Scottish winters cold. between his offices in Harley Street and many years, the Editor of the newsletter, Henry U’ren moved him to prop. I like Glasgow finding himself in great demand which was the forerunner of Etcetera to think this was not vindictiveness on as an expert witness. magazine. He was an Elder in Cairns Henry’s part but, rather, an ignorance of Church for over 30 years, a Past President front row protocol. Latterly he spent a lot of time at his of Milngavie Rotary Club, Secretary of cottage on the Morven peninsula After school, John studied Forestry at the Boys Brigade Outdoor Centre at overlooking Loch Sunart, reading, writing Edinburgh. He gained his ‘blue’ in the Dalguise and more recently Chairman and indulging himself in his eccentric 1st XV there; in those days Edinburgh of the Youth Cafe Project in Milngavie. obsession for inventions, some connected University was a senior club. He then was Neil’s restless and energetic nature meant to surgery – artificial finger joints, some commissioned in the KOSB and served that he participated wholeheartedly in to do with wind turbines and also the with the 1st Battalion in Malaya during any activity he was involved with. farming of scallops! the Emergency, on jungle patrol duties. After retiring, Neil and Elaine spent Campbell died in his sleep in Glasgow John worked for the Forestry much of their time at their house in and is survived by his brother Alan, Commission all his working life and lived Ardnamurchan – fishing, walking and daughters Sally and Kirsty and grandsons latterly in Lochmaben. He was one of entertaining friends. Nothing gave him Archie and Luke. these men whom everyone liked. Some greater happiness than when Graeme, years ago I had lunch with him and Lindsey and Stewart arrived with his Alan Semple (1958) Morag in Lochmaben. After lunch, John beloved grandchildren and he could and I walked round the town. Everyone introduce them to the pleasures of the we passed knew him and greeted him Dougal M Thompson (1971) outdoors. with a warm ‘Hullo, John’. I was not 1 June 1955 – 14 December 2015 Neil died peacefully in Edinburgh Royal surprised. Academicals of a certain age socialising Infirmary after a short illness. J S Murray (1950) at New Anniesland during the 1970s will fondly recall GAC President, WG (Bill) John Y Ogilvie (1951) Thompson and younger son, Dougal. 14 August 1933 – 13 November 2013 J Campbell Semple (1953) Together they helped run the tote at 5 March 1935 – 15 January 2016 various Donkey Derbies the club held, I learned only recently that John had died. and Dougal’s monthly disco was a regular He came to the Academy just after the Campbell Semple was a pioneering rugby club fixture. Known for his quick war, during which his family had lived in Glasgow hand surgeon who became one wit and repartee, Dougal was a natural Australia following their evacuation from of Britain’s most respected medical legal comic and one party piece was doing Malaya prior to the fall of Singapore. In experts. He was a leading authority in a fine impersonation of David Bellamy, his years at the Academy he was always hand injuries, particularly high profile trouser legs rolled up, while standing in a legal cases concerning vibration, white bucket of water! With his enthusiasm and finger and repetitive strain injury.

After being educated at Glasgow Dougal with his dad Academy, he graduated MB ChB at Glasgow University and after specialising in Orthopaedics gained FRCS at both Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Colleges of Surgeons. After university, Campbell went to do his National Service as a Medical Officer with the 17th/21st Lancers based in Germany and Oman. A number of years later he renewed his connections with Oman when he became Orthopaedic Advisor to the Sultanate of Oman, a post he held for 10 years during the development of specialist surgical units in Oman. Campbell was a guest of the Sultan at a Buckingham Palace State banquet. He accumulated his special knowledge of hand surgery at Oxford, Derby and

36 Etcetera keen taste in music, he also ran discos out he came last, but ‘winning’ in the process, Henderson Corporate Anthropologist, of SSC House in Lansdowne Crescent, a two-drawer metal filing cabinet – a and lived on Waiheke Island in and at the Western Tennis Club. prize which went uncollected. His Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. There, he was love of football took him to playing a community volunteer with Waiheke Then he worked at the now defunct for Cornwall Park AFC junior teams Radio, developing numerous shows, Wickets Hotel where his gregarious for a number of seasons. He was an merchandising and sponsors and was also nature made him many friends in accomplished horseman but also enjoyed a trustee of the station. He was the MC Glasgow, before moving to London and skiing, wind surfing, white water rafting, of the local Comedy Club having briefly befriending some Kiwis, whose warm and tried hang-gliding, sailing/cruising on appeared there as a stand-up artist himself. laid-back nature he so easily identified Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, board with. A trip to New Zealand via Australia Dougal was always highly regarded by his surfing and hill walking. Less of an in 1979 ensued; however to his dismay work colleagues but it was his sense of enjoyment to us both was watching – and probably to Lachie Robertson’s fun, humour and spirit that endeared him Scotland and the British Lions lose every as well – he discovered that there was to all that met him, and for which he will test match they ever played against the All no sea ferry that sailed from Sydney to always be remembered, and loved, by his Blacks in Auckland. But at least we gave Auckland after all. Undeterred, he made many friends in Scotland, New Zealand them a real fright in 1991 at Eden Park it to Auckland where he soon obtained and Australia. Dougal is survived by his when Scotland lost narrowly 18-21! a job working in advertising sales for daughter Jennie, and her daughter Holly, the Auckland Star daily newspaper. He Dougal was an altruist and his work who live in Christchurch, and brother was a hard-working, diligent employee interests lay in the field of personal Andrew who lives in Adelaide, and elder and, with his friendly and engaging development and self-improvement, and sister, Jane. personality, was a success in selling the study of cultural values that underpin Brian Barclay (1971) advertising space to many local businesses. modern corporate businesses. His work involved him in running team-building He enthusiastically embraced the lifestyle events and motivational courses for that Auckland has to offer and pursued David G H Waugh (1957) clients such as Air New Zealand. He social running with the local Hash House 1 November 1939 -18 January 2015 often wore his kilt when delivering his Harriers, before turning his thoughts lectures, and wore it with pride; latterly David died suddenly at Edinburgh’s to his Holy Grail: running a marathon. he took to wearing custom-made hats Western General Hospital. Architect, Months spent training led him to enter with quirky material. Dougal worked in planner, landscape architect, much loved the New Plymouth marathon, in which Client Support and Research for Michael husband of Mary and brother of George.

Remembering our WWI, Glasgow University FPs

Over the past year, Academy pupils have been regularly taking part in Glasgow University memorial services to commemorate former students who died in World War I. As close to the centenary of their deaths as possible, University alumni who died in The Great War 1914-1918 are being remembered at morning services in the Memorial Chapel. The fallen are remembered in prayers and through the reading of a brief biography. After each service a cross with poppy is placed in the University’s Memorial Garden next to the Quincentenary Ceremonial Gates at University Avenue. are pleased to be working in partnership with the University on this important When the University alumni are also commemoration project. former pupils of Glasgow Academy, For more details on the services and who is being remembered on each day please current pupils attend to read the follow this link www.gla.ac.uk/events/ww1/events/ or email rollofhonour@glasgow. biography and plant the cross. We ac.uk

Etcetera 37 Inspirations Ewan Currie (1992)

A year ago, during the last week of March 2015, life took an unexpected turn. What started with my ankle not working correctly on the Sunday was followed by two visits to A&E by Wednesday, scans by Thursday to be diagnosed with a brain tumour on Friday. This started six months that I will never forget; however, I look back now, one year later, and my over-riding emotion is that I have been unbelievably lucky. This fortune takes on so many forms: the non-cancerous diagnosis; the skilful surgeon and doctors from my operation; the extraordinary nurses who cared for me following my operation in the Western General ward 31 and Spire Murrayfield; the overwhelming support given to me from family and friends; my employer KCA Deutag and colleagues who could not have been The Neil Maclean more supportive; the Neuro physiotherapist who helped me Fund walk again and last but by no means least my wife, Vivien, who Neil Maclean will be Ewan (left) with Kenny Thorns from took every step of the journey with me. Neuro Physiotherapy Scotland remembered by many To try and give something back, I am going to complete a Academicals for his long Triathlon in May 2016 exactly one year from my brain surgery operation to try and raise some money association with the Rugby for the Neurosurgical unit at the Western General in Edinburgh. I am doing the triathlon with Kenny section. His wholehearted Thoms from Neuro Physiotherapy Scotland who, with exceptional patience, has helped me recover style of play (West believed nearly all movement in my right leg. he had been born off-side) and his ‘cardie’ with pockets Anything I can raise will all be used to purchase specialist tools to support brain surgery or to designed to hold a pint of beer support research focused on improving care and treatment for anyone diagnosed with a brain were two of his trademarks. tumour. Neil was chairman of Anything you can give, no matter how small, would be very much appreciated. Milngavie Youth Centre at www.justgiving.com/Ewan-Currie2 its inception and remained Ewan Currie (1992) a strong supporter until his Survivor and thriver death. Neil was anxious that the Youth Centre should provide outdoor activities Heather teams up with her mum at the 12-mile mark. to local young people who would not otherwise be able to participate because of lack of parental support or money. After consulting Neil`s family, a Fund is being set up in his memory for the purpose of providing outdoor activities so that young people from all backgrounds can have the same opportunities through the Milngavie Youth Centre.

To contribute, please send Whilst at school, aged 12, I ran the London Mini Marathon. It was an incredible experience and a cheque made payable to I remember promising myself then that I would one day return to attempt the full marathon. I Milngavie Youth Centre never thought I would have to overcome cancer first. In April 2014 I was diagnosed with a rare (writing ‘The Neil Maclean and aggressive form of cervical cancer. At the time of diagnosis it was only the 19th reported case Outdoor Fund’ on the and the doctors gave me a two-year life expectancy. In April 2016 I found myself on the start line back) to of the Virgin Money London Marathon dressed as Superwoman ready to fulfil a promise I made Gordon McCorkindale, over 17 years ago. I am delighted to say not only did I complete the course but I also managed to 81 Finlay Rise, raise over £3500 for Cancer Research UK. Some would call me a cancer ‘survivor’ but I much Milngavie, prefer to be called a cancer ‘thriver’! G62 6QL Heather Williams (2004)

38 Etcetera Dear Sir…

have just received the latest copy of hank you for the latest Etcetera IEtcetera and immediately recognized Tmagazine. I was very interested, the photograph of the attendees at Jimmy among many other things, in the article Scougall’s summer camp in Herefordshire. on page 5 about Lt Colonel Ian Neilson, I remember it as a very enjoyable camp in DFC TD. An amazing man! What caught lovely surroundings. I also seem to recall my eye in particular was the reference to that Sir Derrick Bailey’s brother was the Auster aircraft being used on D-Day+2. English Test cricketer, Trevor Bailey. The husband of my late mother’s cousin I can help fill in many of the names in the in Adelaide owns one of these aircraft – photograph and from memory many of his name is Michael Stacy, and he was the us went on Jimmy’s camp to Emborough chief engineer in Australia for Mitsubishi in Somerset the following year. cars. His was shipped from Glasgow to Australia around 1948, for use by the Back row: Gordon Donaldson, Alistair Izat, Colin RAAF. He bought it and restored it MacInnes himself and was still flying it until about Fourth row: Alan Bewick, Robert Young, Martin 2 or 3 years ago, but he is now in his late Brolly, George McKenzie, William Gardner, Grant eighties and I suspect not quite fit enough Forbes, ? McArthur, Colin McFie, ? Fleming, to fly any more. I will scan the article and Stewart Carswell, John Garland send it to his wife, who emails me most Third row: Gavin Roser, Alan Rennie, ? Renfrew, weeks and coincidentally is overdue a David Keddie, Brian Walker, Alistair Graham (not reply to her last one. Dingwall), Jimmy McArthur, Frank Beckett, Ronnie Wilson, Hector Graham, Kenneth McGowan, Bill I do remember her telling me some years Bolton, ? Cleve, Alan Milne, ? Johnstone ago that their aircraft was used for artillery Second row: Graham Gemmel, Guy Drummond, spotting from D Day +2, so that certainly Ramsay Sloan, George Porteous, ? Simpson, Stan ties in with your article. I used to know Jock Wordie Symington, Roy Craig, Bill Murray the Australian registration number, Front row: Tony Walker, ? Jeffries, Eric Niven, 3 but it is not to hand just now. I have was just reading up about the Bailey children, ? Dickson, Alan Johnstone photographs of the plane somewhere, Iexpedition that is celebrating the which show it. Where exactly it is kept in Centenary of Shackleton’s Antarctic It is remarkable that I can recognise these faces from over 60 years ago and South Australia is kept a secret, I suppose expedition. Jock Wordie was the geologist for insurance reasons. and chief of the scientific staff on the sometimes cannot remember who I expedition and as you probably already played golf with yesterday! Kind regards, know was an Academical. I thought it Kind regards, Ronnie Land (GA 1948-1955) might be nice to give it a mention in Frank Beckett (1960) Etcetera. You can read about the current P.S. Regarding the Auster aircraft he flew, expedition on www.endurance100.org Michael Stacy has now emailed me the I’m sure those that organised the ith reference to the letter and following from Adelaide : ‘A squadron expedition – and who are raising money Waccompanying photograph from of 12 Austers left Old Sarum on that day to digitally archive Wordie’s unpublished Peter Manson on page 8, I believe I in company with a Vickers Armstrong historical and scientific records – will recognize four of the boys on the Walrus amphibian for navigation and welcome the publicity in a very third row. rescue if necessary. They landed behind the sandhills on the coast of Normandy appropriate publication. Starting at the second boy from the left and immediately commenced spotting for hand side – Alan Rennie, J Renfrew, With best wishes the Royal Navy battleships and cruisers David Keddie, Brian Walker. Peter Marr (1982) pounding the retreating Germans. I have Yours, always understood my Auster was one of [As many will know, the Endurance100 Drew Isaac (1954) those twelve.’ expedition reached the South Pole successfully on 17 December 2015.] I wonder if he is right?

Etcetera 39