The magazine for former pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School

Bartlett’s brilliant Bronze! Laura and the girls celebrate Editorial Contents Reithian values 3 Colebrooke Street – the way of the future In 2004 Time magazine named Niall Ferguson one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is 4 Reith Lectures 2012 pretty much universally acknowledged as one of the 5 Olympic dreams world’s most able thinkers and debaters – something I discovered earlier than most when (a brand new 6 Anecdotage teacher at Glasgow Academy) I found him sitting in 11 Events and get-togethers the front row of my A Level English class! I learned a 12 My father, Mike Page lot that year… 13 The reluctant Apprentice It was particularly appropriate that Niall should have been chosen as the BBC Reith Lecturer, 2012 – and 14 A Bed’s Eye View by Andrew Wylie not just because of his intellect and his influence. The A wonderful moment Reith Lectures are named after Lord Reith – the first 15 Academical Club Governor-General of the BBC – and, as most readers of this magazine will know, John Reith was a former 18 Changes at The Glasgow Academy pupil of Glasgow Academy – something to which 1992 to 2012 Professor Ferguson alluded when he acknowledged his 19 Westbourne debt to ‘a far greater Glasgow Academical than I’. 25 Updates And acknowledging debts was one of the motifs of his final lecture recorded at the Royal Society 27 Family announcements of Edinburgh and the question and answer session which followed. In examining 28 Obituaries institutions whose primary purpose is to preserve and transmit particular knowledge and values, his attention turned inevitably to schools – and to independent schools 31 Picture Post in particular. He knew he was being controversial when he said, ‘In my opinion, the best institutions in the British Isles today are the independent schools.’ Do we have your e-mail address? One of the questioners in the audience was fellow historian and fellow Academical, It’s how we communicate best! Professor Colin Kidd – and Niall couldn’t resist pointing out that he, too, was a fugitive from ‘70s state comprehensive education. Keeping in touch ‘Before you start taking sideswipes at private education, before you complacently The External Relations office is situated tell yourself that everything is absolutely great about the state sector in Scotland, in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils the reason that Colin and I had successful academic careers was that our parents got are always welcome to pop in for a chat us out of the failing state schools – and they were failing state schools in Ayr in the and look round the school. Just give 1970s, trust me. us a call to arrange a time. Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow G12 ‘You know that’s been the key to my life, and you may find that politically incorrect, 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 but I can tell you that there are a whole bunch of people who have had as much 342 5494 or at [email protected] intelligence, probably more than me – not as much as Colin – but there are kids out there who have not had the advantage of a decent education. And because of the The Glasgow Academical Club failure of the public school central state model, will never have the opportunities 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR that he and I enjoyed to study at great universities, to write books, to develop our President – Iain Jarvie minds…’ E-mail – [email protected] Secretary – Kenneth Shand His argument wasn’t about elitism but about diversity – about how each sector can Tel: 0141 248 5011 benefit from the challenge posed by all the others. I would encourage you to listen to E-mail: [email protected] the programme on the BBC i-Player. If you don’t possess a computer, you’ll find an excerpt on page 4 of this magazine. The Academical Club pavilion is available for functions. Given that two such eminent historians started learning history at Glasgow Academy, Academical Club’s London Section one can’t help wondering which of our current crop of pupils might be giving the Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place Reith Lecture of 2042… London SW1X 9SA Whether there is a Reith Lecturer – or indeed a Lord Reith – among us only time Tel: 020 7235 9012 will tell. E-mail: [email protected]

Editor’s note We would like to clarify that the Mrs Hislop mentioned in the last issue of Etcetera (Schoolboy Memories, page 10, paragraph 3) should not be Malcolm McNaught, Director of External Relations confused with Miss Winnie Reid – later Mrs Hyslop – whose career was recorded in Etcetera 13 (page 19). [email protected]

2 Etcetera Colebrooke Street – the way of the future

Trusts and Foundations help The Academy needs to raise significant funding from the wider community if we are to start building in 2013. We urgently need your help in identifying trusts and foundations that may support this great project. If you are aware of – or could assist with links The Academy has moved forward with its ambitious plans for a new Science and Technology to – any philanthropic building on the site of two tenements next to the school on Colebrooke Street. An application organisations, whether for permission to construct a state-of-the-art, 37,000 square foot, four-storey building has now trust, foundation or been submitted to Glasgow City Council. business, which could The building will provide 15 Science laboratories on the upper floors and a 175-seat auditorium support the school with the and food and hospitality department on the ground floor. The development is the most Science and Technology significant since Glasgow Academy moved to Kelvinbridge in 1878 and is the key stage in development, please do completing the Rector’s 2020 Vision. get in touch as soon as possible. In due course The Academy will launch a public appeal. With the support of our community (and subject to planning, of course), the school intends to start building next year. If you would [email protected] / like to learn more about this great development, please contact: [email protected] / 0141 0141 342 5494 342 5494.

a dat e f o r yo u r d i a r i e s The Glasgow Academy Ball The Chronicle will be held on online Saturday 22 June 2013 at the Hilton Glasgow hotel. By the end of this month, it will be possible to read all Chronicles from Tickets will include reception drinks on arrival, a the period 1940 to 1990 online. fantastic three-course dinner, entertainment throughout The ‘Chronicle Archive’ page the evening and music to dance the night away. ALL will be found in the community proceeds from the evening will be donated to Glasgow section of the school website: Academy PTA funds. www.tga.org.uk Official invitations and booking forms will be sent We would like to thank all to all parents and former pupils, in January. This event those who supported the will sell out quickly, so we recommend you reserve your Glasgow Acadepedia project, table(s) now. For advance booking, further information which was part of this and sponsorship opportunities please contact PTA Chair, year’s Regular Giving Sandie Watt, on appeal, for making this [email protected]. possible. Etcetera 3 as well as in England and Wales, it would be a policy that aimed to increase significantly the number of private educational institutions and, at the same time, to establish programmes of vouchers, bursaries and scholarships to allow a substantial number of children from lower income families to attend them. Of course, this is the kind of thing that the Left reflexively denounces as elitist. Even some Conservatives, like George Walden, regard private schools as a cause of inequality – institutions so pernicious that they should be abolished. Let me explain to you why such views are utterly wrong. For about a hundred years, there’s no doubt, the expansion of public education was a good thing. As Peter Lindert has pointed out, schools were the exception that proved Tocqueville’s rule, for it was the American states that led the way in setting up local taxes to fund universal and indeed compulsory schooling after 1852. With few exceptions, widening the franchise elsewhere in the world led Niall Ferguson swiftly to the adoption of similar systems. This was economically important, because the returns to universal Reith Lectures 2012 education were very high: literate and numerate people are much more Professor Niall Ferguson (1981) was this year’s BBC Reith Lecturer. Below is an productive workers. excerpt from his fourth and final lecture in which he argues that the dead hand of the state can stifle initiative. But we need to recognise the limits of public monopolies in education, ‘Above this race of men stands an immense guest rooms several times a year. I give especially for societies that have long and tutelary power, which takes upon itself regularly, though not enough, to two ago achieved mass literacy. The problem alone to secure their gratifications and to charities. I belong to one gymnasium. is that public monopoly providers of watch over their fate. That power is absolute, I support a football club – no longer, I education suffer from the same problems minute, regular, provident, and mild. It hasten to add, the illustrious Scottish club that afflict monopoly providers of would be like the authority of a parent if, like recently and ignominiously forced into anything: quality declines because of lack that authority, its object was to prepare men liquidation. I am probably most active as of competition and the creeping power for manhood; but it seeks, on the contrary, to an alumnus of the principal educational of vested producer interests. keep them in perpetual childhood…’ institutions I attended in my youth: The Glasgow Academy and Magdalen Now, I am not arguing here for private (Quote from Democracy in America by schools against state schools. I am Alexis de Tocqueville) College, Oxford. I also regularly give time to the schools my children attend, arguing for both – because biodiversity is Tocqueville was surely right. Not as well as to the university where I teach. preferable to monopoly. A mix of public technology, but the state – with its Let me explain to you why I am so and private institutions with meaningful seductive promise of security from the partial to these independent educational competition favours excellence – that cradle to the grave – was the real enemy institutions. is why American universities, which of civil society. For Tocqueville, it would operate within an increasingly global be fatal for ‘the government … to take Now, be warned: the view I am about competitive system, are the best in the the place of associations’. to state is highly unfashionable. At a world – 21 out of the world’s top 30. While American high schools, in a To see just how right that wise lunch held by The Guardian newspaper, I elicited gasps of horror when I uttered localised monopoly system, are generally Frenchman was, ask yourself – how rather bad. Witness the most recent many clubs do you belong to? the following words: “In my opinion, the best institutions in the British Isles scores from PISA – the Programme For my part, I count three London today are the independent schools”. for International Student Assessment clubs, one in Oxford, one in New York Needless to say, those who gasped for mathematical attainment at age 15. and one in Cambridge, Massachusetts. loudest had all attended such schools. Would Harvard be Harvard if it had at I am a deplorably inactive member, some point been nationalised by either but I pay my dues and use the sports If there is one educational policy I the State of Massachusetts or the Federal facilities, the dining facilities and the should like to see adopted in Scotland Government? You know the answer…

4 Etcetera A little knowledge... Head for hire: Since moving from Alpine to Ski Cross this not such a dangerous year, Pam has been on the thing! look-out for sponsorship I have read reports recently that the well-known Academical, Professor Niall Ferguson, has been invited to present the 2012 BBC Reith Lectures. This is considered to be a great honour and a recognition of the deliverer`s success in their chosen field and he must feel proud to have been asked. I can, however, claim a connection to Lord Reith which even Professor Ferguson can`t match (Niall Ferguson was born in 1964, the year I left the Academy), in that, I have actually met Lord Reith face to face. Olympic dreams This historic event came about when, sometime in the mid-Fifties at the Pam Thorburn (2003) is one determined in the 2010 Olympics for the first time. Academy, I won my year`s ‘General young lady! Having worked her socks off So what is ski cross? ‘It’s like motocross Knowledge’ prize, which was presented to achieve one lifetime ambition only to on skis with lots of jumps – kickers they to me by the “great man” and former see it ripped from her at the last minute, call them – and there’s four people going Academy pupil, Lord Reith. she changed tracks at the age of 25 and down at once with lots of elbows and has started patiently to build towards the My abiding memory of him was as a bumping as you go down. The first two realisation of another, quite different, grey giant of a man with hands the size qualify for the next round… I just love dream. of snow shovels! head-to-head competition, so it seemed ‘I was 10 when I decided I wanted to like the right decision for me to switch.’ I remember that, as prize-giving day be a skier. All other sports including my The rightness of that decision was approached, I asked my dad just who favourite horse riding had to take a back confirmed for her by the fact that she Lord Reith was and what had he seat when I was selected for the British became British Ski Cross champion this achieved since he left the Academy. Children’s Skiing Team.’ March in only her third ever ski cross On hearing that he had been Director And make up her mind is exactly race. However, there was a price to pay General of the BBC, I asked my dad what Pam did. At school, she was in that she had to say goodbye to all her if he thought his lordship might know single-minded about skiing and tended lucrative sponsorship deals in moving Tony Hancock, who was, at that time, not to get too involved in hockey and from the glamorous world of Alpine my favourite radio comedian. Dad other sports, something that perhaps downhill to what some might see as the replied that, although the BBC probably inevitably led to her being a little bit ‘new kid on the block’ of the skiing paid both their salaries, he thought it isolated from her fellow pupils as she was world. most unlikely that the two would have often away competing. But pursuing the had anything in common, as it was It takes a bare minimum of £35k a year dream of being an Olympic downhill widely believed that Lord Reith had just to keep her competing, so the issue skier was what made it all worthwhile. no sense of humour whatsoever. I was of sponsorship is key. ‘I just couldn’t warned not to raise the question during It looked as if that dream was about to continue to ask my parents for help,’ she our brief encounter! become a reality in 2010 when she had says. been picked for the GB Alpine Downhill What keeps her driven? ‘I just keep It transpired that, lifting my General Team. And then, a month before the looking forward to the next thing. It’s Knowledge prize was to be the pinnacle Vancouver Games, something totally going to be bigger and better – and just of my academic career, as I never graced unexpected happened, something over achieving it is what keeps me focused. the prize-giving stage at the Academy which she had no control – her skiing My plan is to be in the top 16 of the again. federation went bankrupt and, along world by February 2014 – the time of To justify this lack of academic with two other teammates, she was told the next Olympics.’ that they couldn’t afford to take her. prowess and my inability to embrace And no-one who’s met her would bet wholeheartedly some of the more ‘It was quite heart-breaking. You train against that outcome. With the body of obscure offerings on the curriculum, to for it your whole life and then…’ she an athlete, the looks of a fashion model my parents and my teachers, I always put says with a wry smile. and that kind of determination, she’s the forward the defence that ‘it was better to Recovering both from that major kind of prospect that businesses should know a little about a lot’ than to know disappointment and a serious shoulder be queuing up to sponsor. ‘everything about algebra’, a mantra injury, Pam decided to take a look Pam’s website can be found at which I insist still holds good to this day! around at alternatives and her eye fell on www.pamelathorburn.com Jim Shearer (1964) ski cross, a relatively new sport included

Etcetera 5 pressed, commanded respect from even exclaim, ‘Nice example of a zeugma!’ the most unruly among us. You may see an example of ‘zeugma’ (as Anecdotage I have) in the august pages of Chamber’s Teachers adopted their own particular 20th Century Dictionary or indeed mumbo-jumbo around the flagellation Fowler’s Modern English Usage, and like The Academy in ceremony (for such as it was – pour me be none the wiser from the examples the 60s… encourager les autres). Thus, for given. example, ‘Dodo’ had a light, soft, Belt up, will you! harmless belt, which left the victim That’s a thumbnail sketch of an smiling at the lack of pain inflicted. erudite ‘old school’ teacher, but some Former pupils of a certain vintage who Rumour had it that Dodo had missed description is also needed of Boggles visit The Academy often comment on the his strike once with a conventional belt, the man. For a start, he was very short: remarkable change that seems to have come and had struck the pupil’s wrist, causing five foot five in ‘old money’, thus short over the school since their day. They encounter excessive pain and indeed damage to of 1.65m. Now, schoolboys are terrible a bewildering number of smiling faces – and blood vessels; this had led to the Mk 2 gossips (no, really?), and it was soon are struck by the fact that pupils and teachers decaffeinated model. As for ‘Baggy’, he noticed that Boggles had a little hole nowadays actually seem to like each other! had replaced the belt with a standard behind one ear. What might this be? Graeme Orr looks back to a time when things wooden ruler, borrowed from a pupil Surely not a lobotomy or some form of were a little different… on the spur of the moment. With this trepanning? (some lads had fathers who were doctors). The reality was more As we read of the stresses faced nowadays modest arrangement, ‘Baggy’ would mundane: a mastoid operation, popular by schoolteachers in the classroom, it’s beat out a bastinado on the errant boy’s in the 40s. Then there was Boggles’ easy – and lazy – to reach for those hand: Tat-tat-tat, tat-tat-tat, TAT, TAT, predilection for code-breaking; again, it rose-tinted glasses, and hark back to tat-tat-tat. There was little or no physical was rumoured that he must have been far-off days when your teacher was pain, but if the lad was humourless (like a WW2 spy. Bletchley Park and its a wise, stern figure of authority. Pity the class swot) and felt himself wrongly activities were still secret in those days. today’s unfortunate teachers, faced with victimised, Baggy would smilingly One bright lad decided to embellish the large unruly children who tower over explain to him, ‘Life’s never fair!’ Then cover of his Latin homework exercise their ‘masters’, thanks to a diet of beef there was Lachie, who had given his belt jotter with a coded message, which was burgers infused with growth hormone a name: he would declare in his lisping returned (errors corrected) with the and genetically-modified corn. Perhaps Skye burr, ‘I’ll giff you a good dothe comment, ‘What’s this – How’s it going, a general issue of Tasers might quell the of Annabel!’ Then there were the ‘real China?’ little horrors? Well, readers, back in the mental’ belters: ‘Bangers’ for one. He 60s (when I attended the Academy), had arrived in our midst from (it was Now, although Boggles resorted to the the teachers commanded respect with said) Shawlands, sporting a Mohican belt, it was only the ultimate sanction. another ‘T’-weapon: the tawse, which haircut and supporting the now defunct First there might be some lines; I recall we knew as the belt. Third Lanark football club. Bangers’ being asked to write out a page of party piece, designed to strike terror into Shakespeare, so I cobbled together lines The classic ‘Lochgelly’ belt – they were the adolescent soul, was to put an old from various plays, culminating in ‘O be manufactured in that small Fife town penny on a desk lid and belt it until it thou damned, inexecrable dog / To rob – was a formidable weapon, a strip of spun like a top or a mini-discus. What me of so rich a bottom here!’, adding tough dark leather about 2 feet long x 2 you didn’t want to encounter under the final sally, ‘What’s all this about the inches wide x 0.2 inch thick. A further any circumstances was the belt being Merry Wives of Winzer, then?’ The daunting feature was that (like the wielded in anger, when the teacher next level of deterrence was a Warning; serpent’s tongue) the belt split at its free had succumbed to the ‘red mist’. Wilf, then came the invitation, ‘My room at (striking) end into two or three thongs. McNadger… no let’s not go there. Let 1.30’, which was his chosen time for These deterrent weapons were usually me draw a veil over all that, and proceed belting. Not in front of the classmates, kept in reserve as the ultimate sanction in my account to perhaps the greatest and the humiliation that might imply; against boisterous, cheeky youth, and a belter of them all. no red mist; just a good belting to the whole subculture developed around their Queensbury Rules, as amended and use. The first thing to learn was how to Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you customised by Boggles. You guessed – soothe the stinging pain from anything ‘Boggles’! Now, from the word Go, inevitably I managed to over-step the up to ‘six of the best’, usually applied to Boggles stood out as an odd wee fella. mark, and received my invitation. My the left (non-writing) hand. The popular He was the fourth year Latin master, an loyal chum Hamish cried ‘Sadist!’ and he remedy was to sit next to a radiator, and Oxford graduate, most erudite in his was called up too. All I can remember of to clutch the metal feed-pipe, always parsing of the Latin poetry of Virgil for our punishment was that I was the first hoping that it was cold. Alternatively us (Dactyl! Spondee! Trochaic!). He also victim. Boggles stood on his platform, – although I never saw this ruse work had a penchant for aids to memory – Whack! went the belt, and (trying to – the victim could draw back his hand take the following mnemonic: Malo – I put on a brave face) I croaked, ‘More at the last moment, in the hope that the would rather be / Malo up an apple tree strength to your arm, Sir!’ Not very teacher would whack his own knee. I / Malo – than a naughty boy / Malo – in considerate of me: Hamish still awaited can only recall one outstanding teacher, adversity. I suspect that Boggles would his fate. Boggles smiled back sweetly, as in more ways than one: ‘Frankie’ never have preferred to have taught us English he took careful aim. had to resort to the belt. His demeanour, grammar too, judging by his taste for and recourse to withering sarcasm if esoteric figures of speech. He would Graeme Orr (1965)

6 Etcetera these books was the proud responsibility of Mr Quinn (Chief Assistant to Kenny Wayne of the gym!). Naturally, during the course of the academic year, some lunches would be missed, pupils would be off sick or decide to avoid the Dish of the Day. The end result was a surfeit of unused lunch tickets. The process for dealing with this issue at the end of the academic year was to present the unused tickets to Mr Quinn who then dispensed unimaginable amounts of ready cash to young gentlemen on a generally restricted income. This, of course, should have resulted in an unexpected windfall for grateful parents. I can only say, however, that the turnover Jean and Ina experienced in the Tuck Shop during that final week of term would Gastronomic Ghosts be something on a par with Harrods’ January sale! They say time can selectively fade The legendary Jean and Ina feed the masses at There is a certain sense of catharsis the memory. The long sunny days of break in admitting that I could surely be summer holidays eclipse the sodden ones. – but always on a Thursday, when it did found among that ravenous horde who Fifty years on, can the same be said with appear. selectively pruned the annual dividend regard to our school-day sustenance? in this frenzy of indulgence. Perhaps this kindles a few guilty memories? I seem to recall the vast majority of boys at the Academy in the early 60s Having neither witnessed nor recharged their batteries via the delights experienced it, I rather think that of the Dining Hall (with selective and 50 years on, the catering process in frequent assistance from the good offices Colebrooke Street will have evolved out of Jean and Ina in the Tuck Shop!). of all recognition. Today’s students no While the first two items speak for doubt daily enjoy a varied and bounteous There was a cohort of diehard themselves, the dessert had acquired selection of a healthy and enticing packed-lunchers in the Well and an even a legendary status. The ‘delight’ nature. Alas, they will be forever denied rarer species who lived near enough to element was a two-tone jelly which the indefinable joys of Academy Delight nip home to savour domestic delights. was then smothered in a topping and Cream! For the rest of us, we faced the joys of whose progenitrix by no stretch of the the Dining Hall. imagination could ever have been related Douglas Macnaughtan (1965) to a cow! That being said, this glutinous I rather think we were pretty well served white substance was swiftly dispensed by the quantity and quality of plain fare The new girl… from a vast stainless steel basin of that was produced on the premises. Sad as we were to bid farewell to Joanna bottomless capacity which easily served There were always three courses but Wallace who has gone to join her to meet the demands of every student no choices. We had not as yet been husband in Aberdeen, we are delighted and master. Second helpings were not presented with the challenge of the to welcome our new Alumni/Events unknown. The flavour lingers on in the vegetarian option or the regional themed Manager, Emma Fitzpatrick. Emma memory but, like the Lost Chord, the menu! joins us from the Prince’s Scottish chance of recreation seems on a par with Youth Business Trust where she has For those of an inquisitive nature, locating the Holy Grail (unless, Dear been working for the last four years in a the day’s fare was emblazoned on a Reader, you know better?). marketing role. With no fewer than five blackboard and easel which could be Confession is good for the soul. Those of reunions over the next four weeks, she’s spied through the glass panels of the my vintage might remember that school off to a flying start! locked Dining Hall doors, by the end dinners were paid for by presenting a of morning break, thus enhancing daily ticket (to the value of 2/6 (12.5p)) anticipation (or not) of the wonders that which one dispensed from a cheque lay ahead. book-like supply of 20 tickets. These At the forefront of the memory, had to be acquired at the start of the however, was one particular menu academic year – a simple arithmetical which by general consensus, was the process being applied to calculate the house favourite. This colossus of the number of books that would be required culinary art appeared fairly infrequently to last until the summer. The sale of

Etcetera 7 William Livingstone remembers Prefect. To this day, I have no idea how Somewhere around the age of 16 or PART ONE it happened. 17 I was promoted to the exalted rank of sergeant. And I had to exchange my When I left the Academy in 1966 for khaki trousers for a more suitable kilt. I In a very infrequent visit to Scotland St Andrews University, I had no idea am now a wee lad, but back then I was around four years ago, I was shown that I was also leaving Glasgow. Three even ‘wee-er’, and the only kilt they around the Academy buildings by my years later, armed with a BSc in Maths could find in the store was too long, cousin’s daughter, and the memories and Statistics, I made my way to Israel and it covered my knees – a disaster. started to flood in. I recognised some for a year’s visit. That one year has now And the heavy woollen socks were also of the older rooms, and everything turned into 43 and, amid unforeseen and too long for my short legs, thus also seemed somehow so small compared to unimaginable challenges and changes, moving too high up. The result – a what I had remembered from so long personal and other, I have built a very total disgrace to the tradition of kilt ago. Strange what time does; it seems to different sort of life from that which I wearing. Notwithstanding, it did have its warp the physical dimensions. Since that left back in Scotland. In all those years advantages. On a hot spring or summer’s visit, I have been avidly reading every I have never come across a former day, standing at ease on parade was made issue of Etcetera, looking for a familiar Academical or even a person for whom a mite easier by a breeze cooling off name or event. And this for someone the name Glasgow Academy rings a bell certain parts of the anatomy with great who basically never showed any interest of knowing. But it turns out that the effectiveness. This was known as natural whatsoever in the Academy for nigh roots are still there, strong and alive. air conditioning. And as a result, for the on 40 years. And so, here for the first past 40 odd years I have been fending off time in print, are some of my more The CCF the inevitable question: ‘What DOES a memorable experiences. I was an active cadet in the CCF. Had I Scotsman wear under his kilt?’ had any gumption at the time, I would My 11 years at the Academy were not have tried to join the air or sea cadets, CCF life really did prove to have outstanding in any way. Looking at but as it was, I remained in greens for the long-lasting benefits. A short while my report sheets (I still have them all duration. I vaguely remember days out ago, my good lady and I spent a couple to this day!), I see that I was a mixed in the field, firing guns and definitely, of days camping in the desert beside student. Moving constantly back and interminable parades. I also have a vague the Dead Sea. As we looked up at the forth between ‘A’ and ‘B’ streams, I got feeling that I was registered in the Signals incredibly clear sky unspoilt by the lights mediocre grades. I did win a prize in Corps. of civilization, I clearly recognized the Prep 4, and enjoyed for once only the ‘Plough’; and I instantly remembered Prize Giving Ceremony. So, it was no Sundays were always ‘get ready for lugging to school one wintry day some manner of a shock, when, in my final tomorrow’ days. Not an inconsiderable enormous posters of the constellations year, someone decided to take me out time was spent blanco-ing the webbing which I had prepared myself at home, of my comfort zone and turned me (why it was called ‘blanco’ I don’t have and was about to teach even younger into both a Sergeant in the CCF and a the faintest idea – the belt was a pale cadets. For some really inexplicable green; I suppose it came from the whites reason, the Plough stands out as being The pinnacle of William’s academic success came of the navy …???), brass-rubbing the one of the more important events of my in Prep 4 brasses, and polishing the boots. I always cadet life. needed plenty of newspapers to lay out the wet parts to dry. William Livingstone (1966)

Sergeant Livingstone and his fellow CCF officers

8 Etcetera The Academy I knew in the 1950s Not so many years ago, Henry Uren Braving the east winds of St Andrews the then Rector’s son Chris Richards on welcomed me as a new member to the also brought back memories of Wallace trumpet. One of the band’s important Allander Probus Club in Milngavie. His Orr’s art Classes. A regular subject he gigs was to play for the dancing that welcome included a comment that he introduced was the Fife Fishing Villages followed the Annual Debates that we remembered me as one of the quieter which I still paint today. At school had with the young ladies of Park boys at the Academy. By way of defence, Wallace felt my drawing a bit too loose School. Sadly, Chris Richards and Park I pointed out that, being the youngest and scribbled. However, I did change a School are no longer with us, but my in the class, it was always advisable to bit and used to meet up with him again skills on the clarinet proved an excellent keep one’s head down. Even at what was when I was President of the Milngavie entrée into undergraduate high-life quite a late stage in his life, he still had a Art Club, although he could not recall (albeit 1955) at St Andrews. phenomenal memory for the names of his earlier criticisms. Not only did he In connection with debating, I am former pupils of the school and precisely introduce many of us to the finer points reminded that one year I failed to win when they were there. In writing out of art, he introduced a number of us to a class prize in history (I did not usually every rugby and cricket team sheet by Shakespeare, as he is spoken, through win anyway). My father correctly hand you very quickly got to know the Globe Players. I have fond memories reckoned it was of little consequence, who was who (even the not-so-good of performing in Hamlet, A Midsummer’s but it is worth noting that the winner players!). Night’s Dream and The Tempest. I don’t that year was Donald Dewar, who Entering the Prep school in 1943, it know if any of us went on to be stage himself went on to make history in a big was the tutelage of Miss Wilson, Miss professionals, but certainly the strain way as the First Minister of Scotland. McEwen, Miss Currie, Miss Lilburn of saying ‘one-liners’ with proper We often met later on the ‘Shuttle’ and Miss Walker that held sway. Sadly emphasis, was clearly a good training for to Heathrow; Donald on his way to I never had the opportunity of meeting something, if not West-end theatre land. Parliament, as Shadow Secretary of State any of these highly-influential ladies for Scotland, and myself as a delegate in later life. The Prep school then, Despite a lifetime fascination to the Parliamentary Scientific Liaison was not quite the colourful place it is with chemistry and the big Committee in my role as Chairman of today. It was wartime, but the academic molecules of life, I was initially The Biochemical Society (UK). He was clock ticked on, and new male teachers always concerned by the lack of scientific eventually appeared as it was time for somewhat “scunnered” to read and technological expertise within us to proceed into the Senior school. in an early school report that Parliament and often we had earnest Some of these new teachers might be “this boy has no aptitude for discussions as to how this might be remembered for the wrong reasons, chemistry”. Clearly this was corrected. Donald is gone, but scientific but some I did meet up with later and a novel way of stimulating illiteracy still rules Westminster. These was able to see things with a broader days it’s always a bit spooky walking perspective. interest in the subject; up to the top of Buchanan Street in I have to say it worked. Despite a lifetime fascination with Glasgow, just to say ‘Good morning, not chemistry and the big molecules of life, Roy Burdon, FRSE, Emeritus Professor, much progress’ to ‘Dan Dour’ as he was I was initially somewhat ‘scunnered’ University of Strathclyde affectionately known at school. to read in an early school report that Besides having served as Chairman ‘this boy has no aptitude for chemistry’. Another interest of mine has always been of The Biochemical Society (UK), I Clearly this was a novel way of music and this was initially stimulated am a Fellow of the Royal Society of stimulating interest in chemistry; I by Reginald Barret-Ayers. Under his Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Society have to say it worked. In the end I baton and myopic spectacles, I sang of Biology. Since leaving St Andrews suppose I chose the type of chemistry in the School Choir – and learnt the University, I have been Research I wished to do that was relevant to complex skills of ‘mime’ playing second Fellow at New York University Medical modern developments, especially in fiddle in the school orchestra when the Centre; Professor of Microbiology biotechnology. pieces became too fast. Besides music, at the Polytechnical University of Anyway, with a ceremonial throwing sometimes Reginald Barret-Ayres was Denmark; Professor in Biochemistry at off of school caps into the River Kelvin delegated to take classes in scripture, and the University of Glasgow; Governor/ we, and others, took flight for the wider one day, due to a rather idiosyncratic Director Scottish Agricultural College; world in 1955(now I note that pupils reading of the ‘good book’, he hinted Chairman of the UK Coordinating have no caps to throw away). For me that the world might come to an Committee for Biotechnology; and it was St Andrews University, the alma end fairly soon. Not surprisingly, this Chairman of the Scientific Advisory mater of chemistry teacher Gordon provoked a reluctance amongst my Committee, European Federation for Carruthers. In later life we would meet classmates to continue with the idea of Biotechnology. Before retiring, I held up at functions of the West of Scotland homework. the Chair of Molecular Biology and St Andrews University Graduates At this stage I felt that playing piano/ Chairmanship of the Department of Association and through the University violin just wasn’t very ‘sexy’ and changed Bioscience and Biotechnology at the of Strathclyde Convocation. (I am afraid to the clarinet. This permitted quick University of Strathclyde. I never did get around to asking him access to the School Jazz Band led by Roy Burdon (1955) about that school report!) Etcetera 9 remember having to recite ‘King John’s scholastic performance never recovered, The Origins of Atholl Christmas’ from AA Milne’s poetry although I won the class prize and collection ‘Now We are Six’ at the certificates for writing during my first two As Atholl Preparatory School is now part Christmas concert. This was quite a long years in 2nd and 3rd English classes and of the Academy, as I was the first Atholl poem that took some remembering. Then was also vice-captain of my class. From boy to be promoted to the Academy and there was the sport’s day. I won all the then on it was somewhat downhill all the as I am now old, it seems timely to place events except one because I was bigger way. Nevertheless I am proud to have on record the interesting early history than any other child. The one event was been the first boy whom the Atholl system of Atholl. I was moved to write these the high jump where I was thwarted by a prepared for the Glasgow Academy. The few lines by Peter Aeberli’s interesting long-legged girl called Maisie Couts who next two were Jim Phillips and Archie memory of his Atholl Days in the spring was the daughter of our minister. This was Ferrie. indeed a golden year for me. 2012 copy of Etcetera. Miss Hoare’s great gifts of imagination and My family moved to Milngavie in 1923 I must have been quite a bright child how to gain the enthralled confidence of when I was 4. At that time, Milngavie because I managed to conceal from Miss small children should never be forgotten. although the proud and ancient burgh Hoare for nearly a year that I could not Perhaps the vividness of my memories of Guy’s Mill, depended for education read. I now know that I was and still – and the ability to write about her and on Milngavie Public School, plus two am dyslexic, but dyslexia had not been Atholl Cottage at the age of 92 – says it ‘dames’ schools, Miss Robertson’s and invented or identified in 1927. Many all. dyslexic children, including one of my Miss Taylor’s. I attended the former where Ronnie Walker (1938) we wrote on slates with slate pencils own daughters, develop great skill in and stood in the corner when we were hiding their inability to read. When naughty, but all this was to change. Miss Hoare found out to her horror and The Atholl I loved surprise that I could neither read nor spell, In 1926 Miss Mary Grieves, a senior she took me in hand personally and a Just taking half an hour to read the latest civil servant, was posted to Glasgow. She series of afternoon lessons was organised Etcetera. Thoroughly enjoyed the piece planned, together with her long-time for me in the autumn of that year. But ‘Atholl Days’ by Peter Aeberli. It was companion Miss Hoare, to buy a house alas Miss Hoare died during the Christmas absolutely delightful to hear him talk of an in Milngavie. This they brought to pass holidays of 1927 after an hysterectomy Atholl from the 1950s and 60s, which was by acquiring a detached villa called Atholl operation. I can remember crying my eyes (but for a very few details, and the name Cottage, down the Glasgow Road. Miss out when I heard the dreadful news. In of the Head Mistress) identical to the Hoare had recently retired as head mistress great sadness Miss Grieves arranged for Atholl I knew from the 1980s and 90s... of a prestigious school in England. She the school to limp on with a temporary the paper chains, the Christmas nativity, belonged to the famous banking family teacher and then Atholl Cottage was sold hiding behind the big brick garage, for of Hoare and was a relative of Sir Samuel and the school was transferred to the some reason known as ‘the shed’, the Hoare the then cabinet minister. Boys Brigade Hall under the aegis of a partition between the Blue Room and the committee of parents. Green Room, and never being quite sure At this time a lecturer in physiology called whether the moor was out of bounds or Kennedy-Fraser lived in Milngavie. He However, the personality of Miss Hoare not! I think it was to be honest, but it was was the son of Margery Kennedy-Fraser, was such an enduring memory that it known for the odd expedition through famous for collecting and translating Gallic inspired the committee of parents to the bracken when we didn’t think anyone folk songs. Mr Kennedy-Fraser, who finance and build the beginnings of Atholl was looking! I wonder if the young had three daughters to educate, met Miss Prep School at its present site on the moor teachers he described fondly from the Hoare in education circles and persuaded between Buchanan Street and Mugdock early 60s were the same as the older ladies her to start a small school in Milngavie Road. This was a splendid achievement on the verge of retirement I loved so to occupy her retirement. Thus ‘Atholl and gave Milngavie a top class modern dearly in the late 80s? Valerie Speirs (sadly Cottage School’ was born with a target junior school when many small Scottish no longer with us), Dorothy Murison, of about 25 pupils. I was part of the first towns were still struggling with the Sally Windebank, or Margaret Nelson intake and at the age of 8 was the oldest schoolrooms and teaching methods of would certainly be around that vintage. pupil in the school. yesteryear. As the saying goes – the rest The piece brought back some very fond To move from slate pencils and learning is history, but the name and traditions of Atholl Cottage lived on and I am sure memories, and a little tear to my eye. by rote to a school based on the most Atholl was (before my father and his modern and enlightened teaching methods still live on after 85 years in the Atholl of today. board of directors necessarily rescued it of the day was for me like moving from from near financial and structural ruin in a dark cellar into the sunshine of a spring My extra reading classes ceased with the the mid-90s, and turned it into the viable morning. I loved every moment from death of Miss Hoare, but their effect school The Academy incorporated) to hearing about the Great Wall of China, lingered on until during the summer me as little boy absolutely enchanting and Hiawatha and Minnehaha, to being holidays of 1928 I suddenly found myself utterly unique. It was extremely pleasing encouraged to compose and write my reading a book called ‘The Tower to see that my experiences were shared own poetry and tell my own stories. At Treasure.’ At last I could read, but it was and matched by generations before me. break time during the morning we played too late for me to avoid being down in the garden but when it was raining graded to a class below my age when Thank you kindly for bringing a little I was allowed to tell my own brand of I started at the Academy in September smile to my face, Team Etcetera! fairy tales to the other children. I can 1928. My self-esteem as a pupil and my Murray Will (Atholl Owl 1987-1992)

10 Etcetera Events and get-togethers Prize-giving The guest of honour and principal speaker at Prize-giving on Thursday 28 June was David Webster (1962). It was David’s first visit back to The Academy since he left school to study law at Glasgow University. The Academy was also delighted to welcome Mrs Gail Webster to the school for the day. On graduating from Glasgow, David worked briefly in accountancy before moving to London to work in corporate finance with Samuel Montagu. He then embarked on a very successful career in David Webster (1962) with the Rector and Mrs Gail Webster outside the Cargill Hall after Prize-giving business. David is perhaps best known leaving pupils. His speech – and that of Intercontinental Hotels Group. He will for his time at supermarket group last year’s guest of honour, Murray Stuart retire as its Chairman at the end of this Safeway, which he co-founded with (1951) – is available to read in full on year. the late James Gulliver and Sir Alistair the school website in the ‘Community’ Grant in 1987. After Safeway was sold David had many wise – and entertaining section. in 2003, David became Chairman of – words of advice for the current and

Class of 1986-88 Reunion Diary of Events Around 40 middle-aged men turned After lunch we set off on a tour of the up at Colebrooke Street on Friday 15 school guided by a number of very Class of 1972 Westbourne Reunion June for the Class of 1986-88, 25 year confident and charming prefects. Several Saturday 25 August reunion. We were greeted by Malcolm of the guys have children at the school Class of 1992 Reunion McNaught, Gregor Anderson, Bill but, to many of us, the expansion Friday 7 September Robertson and Nigel Spike in The and upgrade of the facilities in the 25 Class of 1972-1973 Reunion Lunch Well library and it wasn’t long before years was nothing short of remarkable! Thursday 13 September several old tales were being recounted. There were a few things, however, that Many were centred on summer corps shocked us: the one way system around Class of 1950-1955 Reunion camps, days out at Mugdock moor and The Well not being observed, Bingo’s Friday 14 September weekend jaunts up to Glen Etive – and and Jimmy Jope’s classrooms being GA 100 Careers Event the memories came flooding back. After unrecognisable and the Cargill Hall Thursday 27 September a glass of champagne we headed over chairs having cushions on them! But 1976-1978 Reunion to a very fine lunch in the prep school the most disturbing of all was the lack Friday 5 October and were addressed by Stewart McAslan, of awareness from our sixth year tour another of the few remaining 1980s staff, guides of their teachers’ nicknames! Kelvin Foundation Lunch Thursday 11 October who reminded us what a fine record we We congregated again for coffee, and had on the rugby field (hardly equalled posed for our photo, before many of the Gasbags Lunch since) as well as several other sporting group headed over to Chimmy Chunga’s Friday 26 October achievements and stories. (now called Coopers) to continue the 2002 Reunion banter and a few more chaps turned up Friday 26 October Stuart Montgomerie (second from right) proves for the evening. On a more personal that his school blazer still fits (well, almost!) note, I was delighted to get some further Remembrance Service and Parade wear from my ‘new’ blazer which my Friday 9 November mother reluctantly bought in late 1986 The 130th Academical Club Annual for my last six or seven months at the Dinner Academy. On careful examination Friday 9 November of some of the Prefects’ blazers they definitely don’t make them like they used to!

Thanks very much to all the staff and few more old (as they most certainly will pupils involved for making us all feel so be by then!) faces. welcome and we look forward to the next reunion when I hope we will see a Stuart (Monty) Montgomerie (1986)

Etcetera 11 Mike Page remembered At the age of eleven I became a pupil at Glasgow Academy. I was terrified for the first week or so to see huge men all wearing gowns, looking extremely stern and all much alike. I thought the building itself was immense and the rector, Roydon Richards, quite awesome. Worse was to come when I realised that the Maths Master’s classroom, for pupils in One C, was in Room A next door to the Rector’s Study. The whole setup was totally alien to me and possibly to other new boys. I have no idea what Mike thought of teaching Maths to a bunch of youngsters who were, to put it mildly, not very receptive. By encouragement and humour he did succeed in instilling the basics. To this day I can remember his pronunciation of the words infiníte (not infìnìte) straight line. On OTC days, normally a Friday, he turned out in his army uniform – absolutely immaculate. During the whole year he never needed to punish a boy! The reason was quite simple: An LNER window strap sat on his desk. Nobody, to my knowledge, asked him how he acquired it. As a master he was entitled to play Rugby for Accies and, at one time, Mr and Mrs Page sightseeing during there was a photograph of him and the the scholars’ trip on the Lusitania other team members in the Pavilion at in 1938 Anniesland. At the end of the summer term, in June 1940, he wished us all a happy holiday. Little did we realise he My father, Mike Page have had 7 grandchildren and, so far, was never to return. Of his war record I 9 great grandchildren. His sister is still can do no better than to quote the details My father, Michael Stuart Page, was a alive but has a very poor memory. My from the Glasgow Academy Roll of teacher at Glasgow Academy until he left memories of my father are minimal as Service 1939-45: in 1940 for the war. He was invited to I was so young when he died. I have ‘PAGE, Michael Stuart go from The Black Watch to become a been to see where he is buried in the (Academy Staff 1935 – 40). 2nd Lieut, Paratrooper. In this role he fought with military graveyard at Oosterbeek in Glasgow Academy J.T.C. – Major others in Italy, N. Africa and finally in Holland. This is an amazing place and Black Watch; Parachute Regt. 1st Holland. He was amongst the first to be the memories of the actions of all those Airborne Div. Killed in Action at dropped into Arnhem in the Battle for young men to preserve the freedom of Arnhem, September, 1944. Mentioned the Bridge. He flew in on 19 September the Dutch is held with great respect. The in Despatches (twice). Home Service 1944 and was killed the following day. cemetery is immaculate and no-one is 1940-41; India1941-42; M.E., Italy My young brother was born on 21 forgotten. 1942-43; Home Service 1943-44; September. I would be very grateful to hear from Arnhem 1944.’ This left my mother with three children: anyone who has any memories or Now, many many years later, I realise he my elder sister Gillian was 4, I was 2 and pictures of my father that they would be was a born leader. As the years disappear my new born baby brother, Geoffrey. willing to share. There are so many gaps in the mist of time my thoughts go My mother left Glasgow and moved in his short life that I would love to fill back to Mike and other Academicals to Sussex where we lived for many in but need help to do so. who were only a year or two older years before relocating to Kent. She If you would like to get in touch with Sue than myself and who did not return. lived until she was 93 years old and was (Page) Barker about memories of her father, Remembrance Day becomes more and an amazing person. My father would please email [email protected] more poignant each year. Alan G. Diack (1945) 12 Etcetera The reluctant Apprentice…

Laura Hogg (2001) will be this year’s silence is encouraged and they don’t Dallachy Lecturer – a lecture in which tolerate chatting.’ she will be reflecting on business, Lord It’s clear that the producers have Sugar and The Apprentice. Here she worked hard on the psychology of talks to Malcolm McNaught about the situation so that – when they’re some of the things she found out eventually released into the boardroom – emotions are running high. ‘By that through the process. time everyone is watching for the least When the idea of applying for a place wee sign of someone making a mistake in The Apprentice was first suggested – that’s gold dust. And when they do, to Laura Hogg, she was surprisingly everyone’s on to it a bit like sharks with negative. blood.’ ‘I had watched and enjoyed several And turn on her those sharks certainly series of the programme, but funnily did in ‘Week 8’ of the programme enough wasn’t too keen on the job when her mistake was not getting opportunity that went along with it. I into selling mode quickly enough. thought, I’ve got my own wee empire Surrounded by garish modern art and here – why would I want to move finding herself out of her comfort zone, all the way down there and work for it took her a while to realise that others were stealing a march on her while she someone else?’ paper-based cull, Laura was asked to chatted politely to potential customers. make her way down south for a series of Her ‘wee empire’ was a bridal shop It was a weakness that proved fatal to interviews and screen tests – everything called Laura Reece on Dumbarton her chances of being Lord Sugar’s next from one-to-one interviews to Road which she had been running for apprentice. a just over a year. Everything was going assembling flat-pack furniture in teams well, but – as every entrepreneur knows of 10 under time pressure. The programme was a learning experience for Laura and she says she – if there’s one thing every new business As well as the 30-second pitch in front learned quite a bit about herself. ‘I could do with it’s an injection of capital of the cameras, Laura realised that how didn’t realise I was as feisty as I am – to get things really moving. you sparked off the other contestants especially in the boardroom.’ ‘So the shift in the process to a was probably as important as anything £250,000 investment was appealing,’ else in the selection process. ‘I never Perhaps that shouldn’t be too much of Laura continues. ‘But I was still forgot for a second that it was TV. At a surprise for someone who ‘thrives on reluctant to apply. It may sound the end of the day it’s all about air time the adrenaline of competition’. As she’ll arrogant, but I thought, “Do I have and what plays to an audience. In the tell you, ‘anyone in the business world time for this?”. I thought there was a house [where the successful candidates lived is the same’. throughout the process] we had lots of time fair chance that if I applied I would Looking back, she has no regrets to discuss why we thought we’d been be chosen to take part. I seem to about taking part in the competition picked. One common denominator is have a spark or something that people – ‘After all, I’ve made some fantastic that we’d had clashes with others during recognise – I don’t know what it is… friends through the process!’ She does, the selection process.’ And I had already won an online however, feel that it may be time for ‘a version of The Apprentice called While the auditions certainly wee shake up’ in the format. ‘I suspect The Hirer in 2008. It was great, but don’t sound like something for the show is fundamentally flawed in that time-consuming and I really didn’t want the faint-hearted, the same could it’s all about winners and losers... It’s to leave my own business for that long.’ undoubtedly be said of the programme essentially a game show.’ itself as Laura described some of what Eventually it was Jim Boslem – a But maybe that’s always going to be the lies behind elements of the programme family friend and her mentor with case with television. Entrepreneurial Spark, an organisation that will be familiar to regular viewers. for encouraging fledgling business Take the boardroom, for example… Perhaps Laura’s ambivalence about the whole process is summed up in people – who persuaded Laura to go for ‘What viewers probably don’t know is her final statement as she reflects on it and she sent in her application. the boardroom is a full day of shooting her experience: ‘I would love to win edited down to about 20 minutes… It is rumoured that some 120,000 £250,000 – but I’m not so sure about The day began with all the candidates people applied to appear in the last being Lord Sugar’s business partner!’ series of The Apprentice. No wonder penned in the green room for two that the interview process sounds brutal hours. We were with minders all the Laura will be giving the Dallachy Lecture as the producers tried to whittle down time to check that the atmosphere on Thursday 4 October at 7pm in the the hopefuls into more manageable didn’t get too jolly. It felt a bit like Cargill Hall. numbers. Having survived the initial, being a teenager back at school at times:

Etcetera 13 STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS

A Bed’s Eye View by Andrew Wylie Andrew Wylie (1944) and I met and became friends in Transitus in 1938 – a friendship which lasted until his death last summer. We had sometimes talked, as old men will, of our A wonderful moment for mortality and, hesitantly, Laura - and for Sheila! of any faint footprint we might leave behind. Yet Every picture tells a story - and it’s often an emotional of Andrew there was one. The goal-scorer lies on the ground in a mixture of never any doubt that he exhaustion and elation from her effort to get the ball on would be well remembered, and by many at that. target. But what about the emotions of the photographer? Sheila Crawford For, as a minister of the Church of Scotland his avowed purpose and determined vision carried For Laura Bartlett - the goal-scorer - this photo taken at the London 2012 him through and far beyond the boundaries Olympics represents a career ‘high’ and a moment she’ll remember for of church wall and parish. His life and work ever. But for the photographer, Sheila Crawford - newly-retired Head became a “reaching out” to people, culminating of Games and Laura’s hockey coach throughout her time at Glasgow in his time as the first Chaplain to the Offshore Academy - it was also a career ‘high’, something she too will never forget. Oil Industry during which he was involved in Sheila describes the moment: ‘I took the photo at the Great Britain against the aftermath of several disasters including Piper Belgium match on Thursday 2 August. Laura - number 14 - is on the Alpha. Of these years he left an eloquent and ground having just scored as you can see the yellow ball in the back of the engaging account in his book Just Being There – net. I was just thrilled to be there when she scored a goal. Laura played With Bears and Tigers in the North Sea. very well throughout the tournament and I was absolutely delighted to be But he has left another tangible legacy in a there with her mum and dad and Kay [her sister] and be a part of it!’ collection of prayers written over 30 years ago Of course, the GB hockey team went on to win the Bronze medal and conceived during long weeks in hospital after after beating New Zealand in their final game. Many congratulations to suffering a severe stroke. In recognizing that his them, and to Laura in particular. Like Sheila Crawford, we’re all very were commonly experienced emotions, Andrew proud of you! sought to share thoughts of them hoping to help the sick, their carers and those left at home to better understand a stressful situation. From another The Riverside Museum’s scarcely seen These short prayers, of seldom more than bedside… And just a patch of Clyde’s now quiet stream, fifteen or sixteen lines, are immensely insightful Where once plied mighty vessels from afar; Graham Little (staff 1965-88, and speak both personally and of others with But ‘Glenlee’s’ prow and mast are visible. aka Bingo) at 85 had vascular compassion. They show courage in admitting Beyond it Govan Old Town Hall, surgery in the Western fear and in the confusion of the unfamiliar, some space, Infirmary in June but is hope in weary loneliness and gratitude for Then the Old Church where George making a good recovery. In companionship and care. If this sounds a tad MacLeod held sway a window bed at level 9, he sanctimonious, I do my friend an injustice; And saw the plight of Govan’s unemployed amused himself describing the his words are deceptively simple but aptly So took them to find dignity in work view in 52 lines of doggerel, profound, and, for those of doubt, may be read Rebuilding old Iona’s Abbey church from which the following is as elegant prose or blank verse. I guarantee That welcomes all who travel out that way. an extract. If you have any they will resonate and stir latent thoughts. A Behind the masts of ‘Glenlee’ stand interest in the total description, warm introduction to the book is contributed Moss Heights, it is available by e-mail from by Gerald Stranraer-Mull, Dean Emeritus of A pre-war housing scheme, refurbished now, the Ex Rel office. Graham the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. The To house a new Mosspark community. sends his greetings to all who card cover and pleasing professional design The line of cranes betrays the River Clyde. remember him. The photo throughout is by Andrew’s friend Michael Are those white towers Thales Optical? shows him at Hoxa Head, Marshall. (Successors to the famous Barr and Stroud Orkney, on a recent visit Whose lenses used to gain world-wide acclaim). A Bed’s Eye View is published by Jennifer, to son Stuart (1976), who Andrew’s widow, (as they had planned before is Special Needs Dentist for his death) with his original hope and aim that it Orkney. provide comfort to those unwell, at home or in hospital, and to those supporting them Douglas N Anderson (1944)

14 Etcetera k

Academical Club

Rugby Section It’s full steam ahead at this time of the year to prepare for next season. The 1st and 2nd XV finished in fourth place respectively last year and with the league restructure we will have The Gordon Mackay some challenging fixtures ahead. We (‘69-‘08) are delighted to welcome head coach Memorial Match Davey Wilson and his No 2 Ally Craig who are both joining our player/coach On Friday 24 August The Glasgow Elliott Mclaren to form a new-look Academical Club will be hosting a team at the helm. Davey brings with memorial rugby match to celebrate him a heap of coaching and playing the life and playing career of Accies President’s experience to Accies and we are very legend, Gordon (Schnozz) Mackay. welcome… fortunate to have his services. At the The Club, together with friends, same time we wish last season’s coach, former team-mates and colleagues Having enjoyed membership of the Ewan Smith, all the best with his return – in the form of Craig Chalmers and Glasgow Academical Club for many to West. other legends – have come together years, I was both excited and honoured to organise a special fixture to pay to be appointed as President at the AGM There has been a lot going in behind tribute to Gordon and officially open on 12 June. the scenes and we are delighted with our refurbished bar facilities named in As we build towards our 150th the influx of new ‘young’ committee Gordon’s honour and to celebrate the Anniversary in 2015, the Club is in good members who have already made a sporting prowess of past, present and shape, with first class facilities at New real impact to the section in general future Glasgow Accies. admin, rugby, sponsorship, and social Anniesland (including the new Gordon Gordon wasn’t just a committed events. Stu Smith, Elliott Mclaren, Mackay Bar), thriving sports sections, Accie, he was one of the game’s Alan Wilson, Iain Williamson and and a full social agenda. true gentlemen. Hard, yes; Ross Chassels are all committing their uncompromising on the pitch, yes. But In my year of office my priorities are: time to the Club. Their enthusiasm a truer gentleman in the clubhouse and focus will be an enormous help to Supporting the Sports Club’s growth as you could not ever wish to meet. our success this coming season. Plans a place where our youth can achieve their Seasoned veterans together with a are afoot to revamp the website in line ambitions and build life-long friendships sprinkling of youth will take the field with the creation of a main Club site to honour Gordon, and celebrate his Further strengthening the Club through which will allow us to communicate career and contribution to the game broader engagement with the wider much better. Please keep checking the we all love. I hope you can join us for Academical community web site for news and events. an evening to remember! Improving the Club’s financial footing Congratulations to Andy Brown and through increased usage of clubhouse for The evening festivities will include his youthful Sevens side who won the social functions, additional sponsorship, and some entertaining rugby with some Oban tournament in May. embedding the Academical Club Lottery guest appearances, music, a raffle, introduced last year We are indebted to our new main commentary by John Beattie and an sponsor this year, law practice Miller opportunity to raise some money for The cornerstones in achieving success charity; The Wooden Spoon and The are the continued great work undertaken Beckett & Jackson, together with Mearns Golf Academy, Gibson Preshal Trust. Gates open at 1800 and by members, and the Club’s close the match will Kick Off at 1830. partnership with the school. Investments, John Watson Printers, and Zoti Sports. We are also very grateful to Tickets are available through Whether you are a long-standing our individual sponsors, however small: the Rugby Section or pay on the member or have just joined, I look every bit counts to the running of the night. More information will be forward to meeting up with you at section. available on the club website, www. some point during my year in office, glasgowacciesrfc.com The cost of We look forward to seeing you out at and, should you wish to speak with me tickets is: Adult £10 and U16 free. regarding any aspect of Club life, please New Anniesland and please check the just give me a call or drop me a line. website for all the action. We hope as many family and friends of Gordon and the Club come along and Iain Jarvie (1972) Gavin Smith (Chairman) join us for an evening to remember. President Etcetera 15 .

Gents’ Hockey London Section After an exciting period of The London Section continues to anniversary of a group of Academicals redevelopment over the past few seasons, thrive, with a steady flow of new arrivals meeting in the Trocadero Restaurant in the gents’ hockey section is continuing making contact and enrolling in the 1913. The Academicals present 100 years to go from strength to strength. We are London Section. ago were the following: currently fielding 1st and 2nd XIs in the At the time of writing, the London Lieutenant-General Sir J. M. Grierson West District Divisions and both teams Section will be entertaining the School KCB finished mid-table with a number of new Shooting Team during their annual visit Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Hunter players welcomed from the school. We to Bisley. This event is organised by Sir William Ramsay presently have 28 members, though are Crawford Alexander and Henry Watson Mr Hector Morrison MP looking to increase our numbers. and includes a Veterans’ Match, with a Professor Lyde Scotland coach, Adam Bain, continues to number of Accies participating. We look Professor WP Ker coach the boys on a Monday night (7 – forward to hosting the School Team and Mr Alexander Sinclair 9pm). He brings a wealth of experience to hearing of their experiences, both Mr John Knox and truly expert tuition to the squads. at Bisley and throughout the shooting Mr Thomson Ackman season. Mr JB Readman Off the pitch, we increased our number Mr Andrew Cunningham of SHU qualified umpires and eighteen The London Section was represented at Mr J M’Gregor Forbes of the (predominantly) younger guys also the London Scottish Schools’ Golf Day Mr John King passed their umpiring theory test. at Denham Golf Club on 21 June and Captain Bremner we emerged in second place – a fine The section members all enjoy increased Colonel Peterkin performance by our team. We might involvement with the ladies’ hockey Mr T Macwhirter have improved on our position had we and the rugby sections, which is due, in Mr RW Ord fielded some more players. To all golfers part, to the more relaxed summer mixed Mr J Campbell Murray in the London Section, please make hockey. Mr RA Mitchie yourself available next June. We are always on the lookout for new If there are any readers who recognise or The London Section Committee has players, young or old and regardless of are relatives of these Academicals, please started planning the celebrations for experience. Schoolboys, Academicals and contact me (details below). the Centenary of the London Section. non-Academicals alike are invited to visit A Gala dinner will be held at The As always, if any Accie is planning to our website (www.glasgowhockey.co.uk) Caledonian Club in London on Friday move to or near to London, do get in which provides members and visitors 1 February, 2013 and we hope it will touch with the London Section on 020 with information about games, training, be well supported to mark the 100th 7235 9012 or at [email protected] social events and international hockey news. David W Hall (1961) Secretary / Treasurer Stuart Ward (1998) GAMHC Club Captain Colin Manson (1970) and George Ritchie (1956) check that their names are still on the JW Hardy Trophy at the lunch to celebrate 100 years of the senior tennis competition at Glasgow Academy

Accies’ Dinner – Friday 9 November, 2012 With Kenneth Shand standing down from his position as Academical Club This year, guest speaker Kevin Simpson – who represented Team Secretary, and Neil Maclean standing GB at the Paralympics in wheelchair down as Accies’ Subscription tennis in Beijing – will share his Secretary, the Club is seeking Olympic experiences with us all. volunteers to take over. If you might Well-known singer and broadcaster be interested in either position, Fiona Kennedy will also entertain and want more information, please us on the night. It looks set to be a contact Iain Jarvie. great evening and we hope to see you there. To reserve your table or [email protected], tickets now, please email: Emma. or 07803 855394 [email protected]

16 Sporting Academicals in Shanghai – Past and Present

Fred Anderson (1868) and Queen’s Park and represented left Clydesdale to go and work in It is widely accepted that Glasgow Scotland in the 1874 match against Manchester. After this he seems to have Academy has produced many England at Hamilton Crescent. Anderson made his way to Shanghai and helped international exponents of the ‘rugby’ scored Scotland’s first goal in a 2–1 win spread the football gospel, as did many code but in recent times we are the first time Scotland recorded a win Scots. Bizarrely, a Shanghai team was becoming aware that they also produced over England on home soil. once a member of the Scottish FA several who played with distinction and it appeared in the SFA handbook under the ‘association’ rules. One He also played in the first ever Scottish of 1890. Anderson later became exponent of the round ball game was Cup Final, which his Clydesdale team Chairman, Municipal Council, Shanghai Frederick Anderson (Class of 1868) who lost 2–0 to his former club, Queen’s International Settlement, 1905-06. Park. In October 1874 there is a was a Scottish international football cap. Hugh Barrow (1962) He played as a forward for Clydesdale, note in Bell’s Life stating that he had

Academicals Reinvigorate the Shanghai Scottish Sports Club Sports Club. Within a week twenty Scottish sporting enthusiasts had been rounded up, including former Academy captain Bryan Thomson (1981) and former Academical rugby player David Moore (1996/7). A challenge was promptly issued to the English to restart the Prentice-Skottowe Cup after a break of 71 years. The Scottish team turned out in full replica 1920’s Shanghai Scottish strips and period blazers. Predictably the English went for their 1966 World Cup replica strips. Despite having at least two ex-professional English Championship players in their team, the English were overwhelmed by the Scots in the first half going into the break 3-1 down. The Scottish team, whose average age was 42 From the mid-nineteenth century until Academicals in Shanghai (l to r) Alan Jope the Second World War, both Scots and (1981), Ainsley Mann (1983), David Moore (GAC years, tired badly in the second half and Academicals played a prominent role in 1996/96) and Bryan Thomson (1981) went into meltdown in a flurry of yellow cards, one red card and two penalties Shanghai’s commercial, political, social to become an annual event played until as the English racked up 5 goals. Mann and cultural life. Foremost amongst them 1941. It always involved the Scottish, and Thomson will always claim that was Frederick Anderson (1868), as noted Irish and English communities and in it was their half time substitution that above. subsequent years the Portuguese and was partly to blame for the Scottish Chinese also took part. Following the Opium Wars in China, team losing their way. However, the the various foreign concessions were The complexion of the modern day competition did not stop at the final established in Shanghai from the 1840s international community in Shanghai whistle. In the clubhouse the Scots onwards and slowly the expatriate is vastly different from the early years. dominated the post-match activities and community started to introduce their Nowadays Scots are thin on the ground, then kidnapped the English captain who favoured sports to the city with cricket, so it was perhaps no surprise the disappeared with the Scottish team to rowing and baseball leading the way Shanghai Scottish Sports Club (SSSC) their base deep within Shanghai’s former – followed soon thereafter by football did not re-emerge after foreigners started French Concession. What happened in both codes. The Shanghai Scottish coming back to Shanghai at the advent subsequently was never recorded but it’s Sports team was set up in 1867 and the of Deng Xiao Peng’s “Open Door” safe to assume the English captain may following year they played their first policy in the late 1970s. However, when have second thoughts about wishing to match against the Shanghai English the Shanghai Rugby Football Club’s lead his team to victory next year. by recording a resounding victory in (SRFC) historian spoke last year about Any Academical wishing to get in touch cricket. In 1908 a Scottish shipbuilder the Scottish sporting history to one of with the SSSC can do so via the Scots in called John Prentice together with the SRFC Directors, Ainsley Mann Shanghai Linkedin page or via: exrel@ a Manx trader called E.B.Skottowe (1983), Ainsley made a quick call to tga.org.uk donated the Prentice-Skottowe Alan Jope (1981) and they immediately International Football Cup, which was decided to reform the Shanghai Scottish Ainsley Mann (1983)

Etcetera 17 Changes at The Glasgow Academy: 1992 to 2012

correct order. In those days, of course, In 1992 personal computers were just all female members of staff wore skirts: being introduced. There was a small when I commented on the inadvisability computing room (where school bags of wearing skirts in a lab, I was told that are now stored, next to the CCF office) ‘ladies’ do not wear trousers! which held 4 or 5 Macs for staff use. The school ‘platform’ was then Apple Mac I took Temple House over from Nigel and they were fairly intuitive machines; Spike in 1992 and was the first female unlike the present PCs. A boy, who was House Teacher in the history of the in the first Higher class I taught at The Academy; an interesting position to be Academy, impressed me greatly when in, but one I very much enjoyed. All he produced a (floppy) disk containing a the excellent Temple House Captains copy of Chemdraw (very new software and Sixth Years helped make the post for drawing molecular structures) which exciting and it was with regret that I he’d obtained from the MIT site: the handed it on to Andrew Lyall when internet was in its infancy so I accepted Charles retired and I was appointed Head the disk and did not question the of Chemistry in 2000. During those provenance. These were days of manual years we introduced House Debating registers, hand-written reports, no and, under the able leadership of Mr e-mails, no smart phones and no Twitter; Michael Atkinson, Temple enjoyed how did we survive? much success. Legend has it that there are three ‘Over the past twenty years, The certainties in life; death, taxes and Academy has changed in many change. Over the past twenty years, The I came to Colebrooke Street when The ways, but what has not changed Academy has changed in many ways, but Academy merged with Westbourne are the pupils: they are as varied, what has not changed are the pupils: they School for Girls. The merger took place fascinating and wonderful as they are as varied, fascinating and wonderful in 1991, but as a Sixth Form tutor, have always been.’ as they have always been. It has been I stayed at Winton Drive until the a privilege to teach so many talented building closed so I started teaching in I was responsible for lighting the school’s individuals; not necessarily talented Lab C1 in August 1992. The Chemistry plays at Westbourne and carried on the in terms of chemistry, just talented in labs were refurbished in the summer of task, working with Gregor Anderson, general. All children want to do well 1992 and I had the opportunity to design when we moved to Colebrooke Street. and want to please both their parents the lab I wanted: this is one of the many Jim Haine put on some spectacular and their teachers, but, sometimes, they reasons it has been such a pleasure to shows: those of a certain age will develop a feeling of random anxiety and teach in C1 for the past twenty years. remember the moonwalk in Pirates of convince themselves they cannot do a Penzance and the stunning performance particular subject. That is when teaching Charles Mylne was Head of Chemistry of Darius Danesh as Fagin in Jim’s becomes interesting and it is a challenge in those days. Charles was a lovely, production of Oliver! The most to find a way to explain the topic or very cultured man who used to do memorable, however, was Joseph and idea so that they understand. They need The Times crossword in the SCR each the Technicolour Dreamcoat. This was to meet small successes along the way; lunch-time with Nigel Spike and Jim the first after the merger and the sight these build into larger successes and end Haine, with the occasional assistance of one of the lovely young Westbourne in the excellent examination results for of John Anthony. Those were the days ladies playing Salome and dancing across which The Academy is famous. Teaching when individual seats in the SCR were the Cargill Hall stage with a flashing very bright children is also a pleasure jealously guarded and when the whole jewel (picked out by the lights) in her and a big change in TGA is the way in staff, many in gowns, processed into the naked belly-button, caused something of which we have opened out and become Cargill Hall to take their places in the a stir in the SLT, who were seated in the more involved in the wider community front three rows for morning assembly. front row. often by entering various competitions. Dr Bill Morris, Minister of Glasgow Supervising the Chemistry Team Cathedral and the then School Chaplain, One of the abiding memories of those (who teach themselves in preparation would give erudite and fascinating talks early days was walking across from for the annual RSC schools quiz) has to the assembled masses on a remarkably the main building to Biology and been an enormous pleasure over the wide range of subjects including confiscating the heavy leather footballs past ten years and I have learned a lot religion, morality and ethics. The staff which made the transit as dangerous as from these innovative and exceptional also processed into the Cathedral for the any front line. In those days the Terrace young people. Change always happens, Commemoration Service each year: this was lined with parked cars and the but TGA continues to be an exciting, procession was in strict order of seniority back playground (now a car park) was imaginative and first-class environment and it was interesting (and fun) to watch the S5/6 football pitch: loud were the in which to learn and to teach. the polite, but vicious spats which pupils’ complaints when that change was occurred when staff disagreed on the instigated. Fran Macdonald

18 Etcetera Westbourne

Our table places had been arranged in Westbourne Grand Reunion a school leaving year system and I took my place at table four for the 1960-63 The date, Saturday May 19 2012, had heading for the city centre. After a few leavers. Carol Fyfe (1981) gave the been in my diary – and the diaries of minutes the young lady sitting beside welcome speech. Dinner was a great scores of other former Westbourne me began chatting. ‘Excuse me,’ she credit to the hotel – although the girls – for weeks. Now that great day said, ‘are you, by any chance, going to a wonderful company added to the sense had arrived, the day of The Westbourne reunion?’ of occasion. As well as reflecting on Grand Reunion Dinner. This was, times past and various milestones in the in fact, the second Grand Reunion. I My jaw dropped. We were two former years since our school days ended, there had been unable to attend the first in Westbourne girls together – although was a chance to catch up on current October 2009, as I was undergoing my travelling companion was at least half school news with Miss Henderson, treatment (very successfully) for cancer at my age and had travelled from London in her speech at the dinner, paying the time so had been determined to be at to attend. It seems you can take the girls tribute to Mrs Crawford, PE, and Mrs the next Reunion. away from Westbourne but we remain Westbourne girls for ever. Together Macdonald, Chemistry, who both retire Everything about this second reunion we made our way through the Central at the end of the session. promised to be grand. Even the venue Station concourse and into the hotel to All too soon dinner was over. The was highly apt, the Grand Ballroom of be welcomed by the music of piper Iona evening had lived up to its Grand the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow. Brodie. Even before we made our way title. We were homeward bound. Not only that, but the recently published up the grand staircase and picked up our Old friendships had been rekindled. book Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel: name tags, kindly organised by Iona’s New friendships had been made. The Glasgow’s Most-loved Hotel has been mother, Marion Willies (1980), we were Westbourne ties were stronger than co-written by a Westbourne girl, Jill meeting up with old friends. ever. The Westbourne motto Nihil Sine Scott (Jill Kinniburgh 1973). Oddly Labore (Nothing Without Work) clearly enough, as the clock ticked down to As I made my way into the heart of the remains a guide for us all. A great deal the evening’s celebrations I became pre-dinner drinks reception in the Grand of hard work and good organisation had apprehensive. Would I know anyone? Ballroom foyer – a reception sponsored obviously been undertaken to ensure the Now an OAP, perhaps the others by the Glasgow Academical Club – I Reunion was an occasion to remember. attending would all be youngsters in kept meeting up with more friends. Every time I turned my head more and their 20s, 30s, 40s. Was I wearing the Now for the next Westbourne Grand more familiar faces came into view. right attire? Perhaps it would be more Reunion which is already scheduled for Before I had had a chance to say all my appropriate if I wore my lilac outfit. 2017. I have it in my diary already. hellos, we were on our way into dinner Then it happened. Tossing all my within the Grand Ballroom which, by Heather Rose (1962), (Mrs Malcolm concerns aside I was on my way, chance, is decorated in Westbourne McDougall), is property features writer boarding a train at Anniesland and colours. with the Scottish Daily Express. Etcetera 19 And the champagne goes to… Memories of Westbourne For weeks I have been meaning to send you Back row (l to r): Sandra Spence; Jean Rankin; I started Westbourne in 1945. details of the names of the pupils featured in the Celia Fairley; Judy King; Susan Go(o)dwin; Patricia In these days the school was photograph submitted by Sheila Robertson on page Hardie; Catherine McNarry in Kelvinside House and fairly 23 of the spring issue of Etcetera. Middle row: Helen MacKechnie; Kareen Russell; Fiona Robertson; Lorna Adam(s); Elizabeth small. There were tennis I’m not 100% sure but suspect that the photograph Kinniburgh; Donella McGowan; Hilda Murchie courts, a rose garden and lots must have been taken at least 55 years ago! Bottom row: Valerie Young; Sheilagh MacGregor of bushes to play in at recess. (me!); Shereen Hassan; Wendy Barrass; Carol Sheilagh MacGregor Sutherland; Jennifer Orr; Sheila Robertson I remember one lovely sunny day when Miss Cousland taught our class in the garden. We all sat on the bank. There were twelve of us in the sixth form when we left in 1956. I went into training at the Western Infirmary and graduated in 1960. I came to Canada in 1963 where I met my husband who was in the Canadian Military. We have one daughter who has given us three lovely grandsons. We are retired in Chester, Nova Scotia, and spend our winters in Melbourne Beach, where we play a lot of golf.

[We leave it to Sheila Robertson to decide whether the names above are accurate – and, if satisfied, Janette (Robertson) to award that prize she so generously offered. Ed] Sauvageau (1956)

Westbourne in 1966 to take up her post as Head Teacher at Atholl School in Milngavie, where she remained until her retiral in 1980. Outside of school, Miss Macnair was a keen tennis player and golfer. She was an active member of the Western Tennis Club in Hyndland until well into her seventies and President of the West of Scotland LTA in 1973. A Soroptomist, she was President of the Glasgow West Club in 1975/76. A long-standing member and Elder at Hyndland Parish Church, she was celebrated for her marmalade making! She also had a particular interest in the David Gordon Obituary Memorial Hospital in Malawi. Miss Rachel Macnair – 1919-2012 In both her professional and private lives, Rachel Macnair was a person In spite of the passage of time, I can still Born in 1919, the youngest of four of considerable stature who will be remember being a six-year-old pupil sisters, she lived in Sydenham Road in remembered by the generations of in Miss Macnair’s 1b class, during the Glasgow’s West End in what was the children who benefited from her session 1948/49. family home for over 100 years. dedication Rachel Macnair was a gifted teacher, Miss Macnair held teaching posts in DB with high moral and scholastic standards. the West End and the USA before [We would like to thank Miss Macnair’s These qualities, combined with an joining the staff of Westbourne in 1947 nephew for his help in giving us details of obvious love of children, proved where she remained for 19 years, as his aunt’s many interests outwith her life invaluable when guiding pupils of such Form Mistress of 1b and latterly as Joint in education.] an impressionable age. Head of the Junior School. She left 20 Etcetera Westbourne Updates

Alison Bruce

site. (I am Senior Lecturer, Jewellery, Pictured are (l to r): Rosemary Faille Wallace Cardonald College.) Any funding is (International co-ordinator at St Margaret´s appreciated. The students also have sales British School, Chile); me! Barbara Mavor; Iain Alison (Kennedy) Bruce (1961) Hardy and Carolyn Pettersen Cave (Principal of St High-achieving individuals from across giving 20% of their proceeds to the Margaret’s) Jewellery Project Fund and also have a a range of industries and disciplines Barbara Mavor (1970) received honorary degrees from the raffle before their trip to raise money. While on a visit to Chile, I attended a University of Glasgow earlier this reception for the Queen´s birthday at summer. On 13 June, Doctor of the Noreen Greig (1955) the Club Viña, hosted by the Honorary University honours were awarded I would like to share something British Consul, Iain Hardy. to Alison Bruce (Westbourne wonderful with my dear friends from 1961), in recognition of her service Westbourne, year of 1955. Anyway, the as the University of Glasgow’s lay news is that I got married in February 2012 to a wonderful man called Joe Rosie Wallace (1972) representative at the Royal College of Just thought I would let you know that Veterinary Surgeons. Slater whom I first met in 1967, the year I emigrated to Canada. Having lived my second novel, The Trouble With Keeping Mum was published in hardback Anne Graham (1972) alone for 22 years I am so very happy and still have to pinch myself sometimes on 2 August 2012 by Hachette Scotland. I have been involved with an Paperback expected in December 2012. International Project called the HND to ensure it is not all a dream! By the Niessing Project which I established way I have retained my maiden name – with my then Head of School of Art Greig. and Design, David Hempstead. We We are living in Victoria, British select six students to take on a staff/ Columbia, same address I have had for student workshop to work with some of 12 years now. Germany’s top designers. A competition brief is set and a panel of distinguished Victoria (Lumsden) MacLeod judges set up. (1994) On my report card in 1992, Mrs Ten students are short listed and give a Crawford wrote about me: ‘If Miss presentation to the judges. Out of these Lumsden put as much effort into doing six are normally selected, but we took PE as she did in trying to get out of it, seven this year. It’s a demanding but she’d be a very fit young lady.’ She was exciting project. There is no avenue for absolutely correct! funding as we do not slip into the correct category for this. However, I personally My daughter is in Prep 1 at Atholl and Birth raise money from businesses and my own has PE with Miss McNeill who wrote on contacts. In return, these companies are her latest report that Tilly is a pleasure to Gail (McNeill) Johnston (1993) listed at our exhibitions and also we have teach. Thankfully, Tilly got some of her To Andrew and Gail in Aberdeen, on 11 web links on the Cardonald College father’s genes. July 2012, a daughter, Katherine Amy.

Etcetera 21 Correspondence course! It is 60 years since I started to correspond with a French pen friend whose name was given to me by our French teacher (Miss Macdonald) at Westbourne in 1953. Suzanne still lives in Clermont Ferrand and we are STILL corresponding... she in French and me in English nowadays. We have shared our joys and sorrows over these years and – when we were medical students – we exchanged exam papers. I specialised in Paediatrics and she in Psychiatry. We discuss the state of the Health services in France and UK... some things better, some worse. Hopefully in the autumn I can travel to France to see her as we have NEVER MET. Once she came to Glasgow with Fiona Kennedy’s The Kist relatives while I was away trekking in Seven Academy pupils featured in an STV charity event to promote The Kist Nepal. Once when I was en route for at Oran Mor on 30 May. The pupils were given the opportunity to form the the Pyrenees she was on holiday in chorus and appear on stage with the show’s well-known star and producer, Greece. I was encouraged by Martine Fiona Kennedy (1973), a former pupil of Westbourne School for Girls. (nee Mitchell) at our recent Westbourne The Academy pupils who took part are pictured with Fiona and special guest Reunion to visit my pen pal. on the night Alan Cumming: (l to r) Douglas Sleigh (S3), Muirne Hopkins We are both in our 70s so we had better (P7), Adam Stockman (P7), Adam Woolfson (P7), Rory White (P6), Anna meet soon!!!! Swan (S2) and Fraser Morris (P7) Jan Chisholm (1955) Birthday Reunion, class of ‘60 On 11 June, 2012, nineteen of us gathered at Strathblane Country House Hotel to fulfil our promise of 7 June 2010 to meet to celebrate the year of our 70th birthdays. Despite a rainy start to the day, the weather improved sufficiently to allow photographs to be taken outside, which provided a welcome respite from the cries of ‘I can’t believe we’re 70!’ and ‘You haven’t changed a bit!’ (What on earth did we look like when we were 18?) Especially welcome on this occasion was Pat (Reid), who left Westbourne at the age of 13 and who had travelled from Windermere to rejoin us after 57 years. The prize for effort goes to Alison (Edward) who, in orienteering spirit, suspected signs of ageing were quite – that life outside Westbourne’s walls made the journey from the deep south, unfounded. was not quite as she had planned. No by means of several trains, buses and difficulty in identifying with that! Shanks’ pony. It was a relief to discover ‘Should your complexion be less than that the sheaf of papers which she carried perfection, To complete the afternoon, we raised was a selection of timetables and not an Mind... it’s the mirror that needs correction.’ our glasses to toast the school where so many valuable friendships were forged alarmingly lengthy speech! Marjory (Kirkwood) proposed our toast, which have been the means of support to in which she humorously described Judith (Naftalin) cut our birthday cake many of us through the vagaries of life. and entertained us with a poem which her leaving school, with rose-coloured assured us that any misgivings which spectacles firmly in place, only to Davina (Struthers) Booth (1960) we may have entertained about the discover – rather rapidly in her case

22 Etcetera the joys of water sport, I heard that said to me. I had really big news and I A day to remember! the Glasgow Schools held a sailing was sworn to secrecy and, because I kept I cannot in all honesty competition on the Clyde every year blushing and being quiet, was not my claim to have challenged that Westbourne had never entered. usual trait they did not believe me when for the role of Westbourne So, believing our school should not be I said it was just about sailing. School Dux – in fact out-done, I requested an appointment What a relief when the next Monday I was probably more with Mrs Henderson who to my delight came and everyone got to know firstly of a challenge to the teachers whose encouraged me to form a school sailing that the sailing team was official and life’s work was to educate and send ‘our club and to enter the Clyde School then what a shock for my fellow pupils girls’ out into the real world with some Sailing competition – a week-long when Mrs H announced that Wee Fiona knowledge, be it sciences, languages or festival of fun on the ocean wave. We Cowan was to be Head Girl. I don’t life-skills. did not win and never threatened to, but know who was most surprised – my that was the start of the club and a long My time at Westbourne throughout friends, my mother or in all honesty tradition for the school. And, for me, it the 50s and early 60s was a happy mix myself! I am sure Mrs Henderson could began a long relationship with the sea of innocence, friendships and sport hardly believe it herself. which saw me sail all over the Minch under the benevolent guidance of Mrs and even to St Kilda. However that year changed my life and Henderson. made me a better person. And I look However, back to the meeting with If I had any skills, it was possibly in art back on my Westbourne years with great Mrs Henderson! I thanked her for her and sport – turning out for the school affection and the annual reunions with support and was about to leave the office hockey teams and especially enjoying my year colleagues are a great joy – once and head back to class when she called some success in swimming and tennis you adjust to the noise level caused by me back and said, ‘Fiona, I must tell you colours. Oh, to be young and fit once excited ladies catching up on all the that you are to be next year’s head girl again!! news! here at Westbourne, as I have high hopes But away from school I had discovered for you. BUT, do not tell a soul until Here’s to great memories of a great sailing as Margaret Thom’s dad had a after the announcements are made next school and to keeping in touch! dingy on Loch Baldowie and a smart week – don’t even tell your mother!!!’ yacht at Rhu. And, having discovered Fiona (Cowan) Risk (1963) The next few days were awful – all my Aldersyde, Brora friends wanted to know what Mrs H had

Memories of Westbourne School For Girls in the 50s and 60s

Do you remember? • Terror when Mrs Rose Henderson • Going to ballroom dancing classes? stuck her nose out of her office? The • Miss Hastwell and Miss McNair? What • Learning how to work out how long whole senior school went silent. a good start we had to our education! it took 9 men to dig a hole? Must • Scotch pies or macaroni cheese for have succeeded because I passed my • Lilac candy striped summer dresses and school lunch? Arithmetic. Thanks, Miss Cumming! panama hats and, of course, white socks? • The maggots in the rabbit waiting for • Hockey on a Saturday morning and the • Those awful smelling cloakrooms with dissection in the biology lab? goalies getting their uniform covered in our gym kit hanging there all term! • Miss Bishop and all she taught us in whitener from their pads? • Making baby doll pyjamas that did not Domestic Science? Your little finger is • Prize giving and all those hymns we fit? Well mine did not anyway! the cleanest finger on your hand. Beating had to learn off by heart? a white of egg on a spotless flat plate • I still have the sampler we made. Does with a knife. Chestnuts exploding all • Sitting on the radiators in the anyone else have theirs? over the new kitchen ceiling. classrooms of Winton Drive? • Sitting on the steps of the hall swapping • Andy Stewart singing ‘A Scottish • Navy – then purple – berets? Wish I’d scraps? Soldier’? kept mine. • Ribbons in our hair and later the • Ski-ing halfway up a mountain at • School magazines and getting all the dreaded hair bands – no matter what Hochsolden? Oh, that wonderful prefects’ signatures? length your hair was!! chocolate cake that arrived on the ski lift at 3pm every day!!! • All the good teachers (and some bad • Trekking all the way to Anniesland for ones too) at Westbourne? hockey and Sports Day? • Watching Shakespeare films in the hall? I have to admit I loved my time at • Tunnocks snowballs after hockey? • Sitting French ‘O’ level twice and still failing it? Westbourne. Did you? • The No 3 bus, penny halfpenny bus • Wearing thick black stockings? Sarah (Aston) Chalmers (1966) fare!

23 day at Westbourne. On that occasion all played during break time and lunch Class of 1962 Reunion our careers and our children were times when rain forced us to remain Fifty years have passed since the class of among the main topics of conversation. indoors. Half a century on we were 1962 bid a final farewell to Westbourne Twenty years on and the popular talking playing it in a more ladylike fashion – School for Girls. Exactly half a century points for our 50th anniversary included on table tops rather than those wooden on we were together again celebrating retirement plans and news about our classroom floors which left us with this very special golden anniversary. grandchildren. skelf-covered hands. The celebrations, which took place at Of course, our school years were the All too soon this lunchtime celebration the end of June, took the form of an number one topic on this occasion, as was over. There was a sign of the times informal lunch at Glasgow’s Theatre before. Displays of our Westbourne as we parted. Instead of swapping Royal. Classmates came from as far photographs and a collection of written addresses and phone numbers as we afield as Switzerland and France as well recollections of fun moments during did before, in this hi-tech era we were as the south of England and the north of our school years brought the memories swapping e-mail addresses ensuring our Scotland to mark the occasion. flooding back. Even our leisure moments classroom friendships are strengthened in This was the second reunion for the at school were relived on this occasion the years to come. class of 62. The first took place in 1992 thanks to one of our classmates bringing Heather Rose (1962) to mark the 30th anniversary of our last along a packet of Jacks, that game we Final Reminder for Class of ’72 Reunion on Saturday 25 August The Class of ’72 Reunion is only days activity during the day on Saturday. Glasgow Academy, Colebrooke Street, away now and should be a really fun Contact me at [email protected] if Glasgow, G12 8HE, making cheque weekend and a chance to meet up with you will be around and would like to for £60 payable to ‘The Glasgow old school mates, many of whom we join us. Academicals’ War Memorial Trust’ or haven’t seen since we left school. by phone using your credit card – 0141 Through a huge communal effort, 342 5494. We are starting the evening at the we’ve already managed to contact a large Westbourne room in Glasgow Academy number from our year group but we Really looking forward to seeing for a glass of bubbly and viewing of all still have a lot who we can’t find so, if everyone. Regards. the old Westbourne relics that were you know of anyone else who might be Lesley Brewin (1972) saved from Beaconsfield House and interested, please pass this on. Winton Drive. We then move on to For those who would like to join in on dinner at the Blythswood Hotel in 20-year Reunion the ‘year book’ for the reunion, please Blythswood Square where we can renew email me a photo of you in your school We are in the midst of organising a acquaintances and catch up on what uniform (or if you don’t have one, then 20-year reunion event for Glasgow everyone has been doing for the last any photo of you while of school age) Academy, Westbourne, Laurel Bank, forty years! and another of you now. Also please jot Kelvinside Academy and Park School. Some of us are travelling to Glasgow down a few memories of school days – a It will be held in September 2013 with from quite a distance and have decided few sentences will do – I’ve already got a the venue TBC. It will be a ticketed to make a weekend of it so there few back and they make great reading! event with either a smart or black tie will definitely be an informal dinner dress code, food and entertainment in For those who haven’t already booked happening on the Friday night, followed the form of a ceilidh band. Look out for the dinner, you can do this through by a few drinks somewhere and then for further details. Emma at The Academy – Emma taking in a bit of culture or some other Fiona (Morrison)Hutchinson (1993) Fitzpatrick, External Relations, The

24 Etcetera Colin Devon 1987 (the gin Updates house rocks)

Graham Dinsmore (1988) and Colin Devon Greg Stark (1987) Graham Dinsmore and Colin Devon once again reunited to form The Ginhouse Rocks, a guitar-based rock band with the sole purpose of having fun and raising money for charity. Graham and Colin had decided to raise funds for The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre after a friend of theirs was diagnosed with a rather nasty type of brain tumour. On Saturday 30 June 2012, The Ginhouse Rocks played a sold out a gig at GHA Rugby Club and – together with a raffle and online donations – managed to raise Dr Philip Tam with his family £2,500. The evening was well supported by University, Jon worked for a leading creative local businesses who donated some terrific advertising agency for 6 years in Glasgow, prizes, some of which were won by other before roles at Heineken UK & Subway as Academicals who joined them on the night. a regional Marketing Director. Jon has now David McCallum (86) joined them on stage fulfilled a lifetime ambition working as a for their rendition of You Shook Me All sports agent in football and rugby with the Night Long. Graham and Colin are hoping agency Platinum One. He is also a Director to have another fund-raising gig at some time of a Sports Hospitality company specialising in the future and further details will be posted in trips to The Augusta Masters and The on www.theginhouserocks.com Ryder Cup. Discounts to Accies are available! Ian Gemmell (1989) Christopher Millar (2006) I’m taking part in Mongol Rally this summer, Chris graduated MEng (Hons 2.1) in 2011 driving the 10,000 miles from London to and decided a year out was due! The Rugby Ulaan Baatar, via Iran and all the Stans, in a World Cup drew him to New Zealand 1.0l Suzuki Swift. It’s a charity event and we Stuart Turnbull where he had an adventurous 8 months based are hoping to raise as much as possible for in Wellington where he ran a cocktail bar. (including some teachers who remembered both War Child and The Lotus Children’s He is returning to Edinburgh University him after 25 years!). Centre. We set off on Saturday 14 July in September on an Iberdrola Foundation arriving in UB some weeks later... Scholarship to read for an MSc in Sustainable Stuart Turnbull (2006) Progress can be followed and donations made Power Systems. That’s me back now! I managed to finish via our website: www.tachessansfrontieres. ‘The Fireflies’ 2012 Tour! In all, I cycled com or our Facebook page: Taches Sans Jonathan Morrison (1999) 1168km (736miles) with an extra 18km Frontieres Mongol Rally 2012. I am a British Army Surgeon posted to the detour on one of the days. 20,554m climbed US military, heading up part of their research in rain showers, pouring rain and then Jamie Gordon (2006) effort in Texas. I have done multiple tours in sometimes in 38 degrees heat with water Jamie, having received a First in Philosophy the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and will be being poured on us to help cool ourselves from St Andrews two years ago, will in returning to Glasgow at the end of the year. down. Gallons and gallons of water was 2012/13 be studying in the Foundation We have had a few research successes over the drunk. Course at LAMDA. past few years relating to Battlefield Injuries. The Fireflies’ motto is ‘For those who suffer, we Ride’. They raise money for Leuka, a Tony Kozlowski (1962) Greg Stark (2011) charity which funds Leukaemia research Rena and I had an opportunity to visit Lachie Greg who is studying for an MEng in at the Hammersmith Hospital Research Robertson a couple of weeks ago at Hilton Mechanical Engineering at Heriot Watt has Institute. Over the last eleven years, The Residential Home in Broadford, Skye. Apart continued his racing career by moving from Fireflies have raised in excess of one million from considerable difficulty in mobility, he karts to Formula Ford where he has been pounds to help fund one of the premier was well and very alert and delighted to be very successful so far in his first season with research institutes in the world and as such able to chat with Rena in their native tongue. top-five results. their efforts make a real difference in battling He recalled past pupils and events with clarity this deadly illness. and offered some pungent comments on Philip Tam (1990) matters then and now. Altogether a delightful Dr Philip Tam visited The Academy during I have raised £3,394.33 for Leuka – hour! a recent trip to Scotland, from Australia, with £3,884.16 with gift aid! My Charity Page his family Melinda, Julien (5) and Monterey is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ Jon McLeish (1999) (3). It was his first look at GA in 20 years, fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiser- After earning a BA (Hons) in Business and he wishes to thank the staff who made ProfilePage.action?userUrl=FireFliesTour201 Information Management from Napier it a highly enjoyable and informative visit 2StuartTurnbull 25 Congratulations to… Allan Alstead (1954) Contrary to the suggestion on this dinner menu sent in by one of his contemporaries, the School Captain of 1953-54, Allan Alstead, was not ‘struck by madness’, nor did he join the Foreign Legion on leaving school. John Anderson According to our most recent researches he is now a member of The Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland (The Royal Company of Archers). Apparently he recently won the Edinburgh Arrow which was presented to him by The Jillian Stark Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Rt Hon Donald Wilson, on Tuesday 12 June 2012 after the archery competition on The Meadows in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Arrow was first shot for in Allan Alstead 1709 and we are told that this may be the first occasion on which it has been won by a member and former officer of The City of Edinburgh Regiment – The King’s Own Scottish Borderers, which was the Regiment that Allan Alice Wilson joined on leaving school in 1954. John Anderson (1979) Graeme Noblett Professor John Anderson, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurial Exchange, has been appointed as a Visiting Professor within the University of Strathclyde’s Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Sophie Gordon (2008) Sophie, who left The Academy four years ago as Deputy Head Girl, has been awarded a First Class Honours Degree in Graphic Design from Edinburgh College of Art (now part of Edinburgh University). six months, he entered his club Glasgow University with a BAcc Hons championships and won it. It was the in 2008, she has been working with Alexander Millar (2008) Glen Golf Club championship in North accountancy firm Abercrombie Gemmel Alex graduated this June with a First Berwick and I caddied for him on the in Bearsden where she is now specialising Class Honours degree in Fine Art day. I have attached a picture. in tax. from Glasgow School of Art. He was selected for a New Contemporaries Graeme Simmers (1953) Alice Wilson (2002) Award by the Royal Scottish Academy The only news I have is that on Alice has recently been promoted to and will be taking his place in the New Thursday 28 June 2012 at Stirling Associate Director at global research Contemporaries Exhibition at the RSA University, I received the Honorary company Ipsos Mori which is a big in April 2013. He works with various Degree of Doctor of the University. This milestone in her career as a qualitative media including sculpture, video, was in recognition of my connections researcher. Alice has recently set up a photography and printmaking and has with the University when I was cycling club in London called Passion discovered a passion for stop-motion Chairman of the Sports Council and also for Pedalling (along with Elizabeth animation. as a non-executive with Forth Valley Bucknall who was also in the same Graeme Noblett (2002) Health Board. I also served on the year group at Glasgow Academy!). All Iain Gethin (2002) writes: I don’t have Stirling University Court for ten years. abilities welcome. For more information anything on myself. However I do please see www.meetup.com/ have something on Graeme Noblett. Jillian Stark (2004) passionforpedalling After returning from a cruciate ligament Jillian has just passed her final CA exams injury, and having only played a couple so is now a fully-fledged Chartered of rounds of golf over the previous Accountant. Since Graduating from

26 Etcetera Family announcements Births Robbie Low (1993) Marriages If we haven’t had a chance to tell you Michael Atkinson (1999) yet, we are thrilled to announce that Scott Chassels (1998) My wife, Alison, and I are delighted the newest member of our family has to announce the birth of our first son, arrived! Cameron Low came home to Murray Fraser Kirkwood Atkinson, on us on February 11 (Myles’ 3rd birthday!!) 11 January 2012 in Edinburgh. Murray is and was born on January 6, 2012. He the first grandchild for Moira and the late was a VERY sudden and unexpected, Colin Atkinson (former GAC President but delightful, surprise... He is doing and Chairman of GAC Sports Club). great and is very lucky to have Myles (who takes his new job very seriously!) as Graeme Cochrane (1996) his big brother. Gemma and Graeme Cochrane (1990-1996) are delighted to announce Scott Massey (1989) that Rose Alice Cochrane was born Scott and Emma Massey’s son Edward on Saturday12 May 2012, weighing a Massey was born on 22 April 2012 at healthy 3.9kg (8lb 10oz). Mummy and the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, Rosie doing really well, big sister Millie London. Eddie is looking forward to his (aged 2 ¾) very excited and Daddy very first trip to Glasgow in July! proud. Christopher Sockalingam (1999) Katie (Junor) Pier (1999) My wife Helen and I had our first child on 20 December 2011. His name is My husband Dave and I are delighted On 14 July Scott married Jen MacKenzie Matthew Jack Sockalingam. to announce the arrival of our daughter, of Inverness at Achnagairn House, Holly Isabella Pier, born a month early Inverness-shire. It was a fantastic day on 6 December 2011 at the Royal with the weather being very kind. The Infirmary Edinburgh weighing just 4lb Glasgow Academy was well represented 8oz. amongst guests and the bridal party with four ushers from the Class of 1998 – Chris Leggat, Andy McGeoch, Stuart Low and Fraser Lundie – and Ross Chassels (1995) was the Best Man.

Stuart Low (1998)

Holly Isabella Pier

Magdalena and I got married on 11 June 2011 on the Hallowed turf of Accies Murray Fraser Kirkwood Atkinson Cameron Low with congregation sitting in the stand.

Rosie Alice Cochrane Matthew Jack Sockalingam It was a great day!

Engagement Ross Weir (2000) Ross got engaged to Natalie Scott on 15 April 2012 at Base Camp, Everest. They are currently on their travels and plan to get married next year.

Etcetera 27 Joyce died in 2000. Lex is survived by his brother, Lance, and his sons Lex and Tom, Obituaries all of whom attended The Academy.

Ian D Arnott (1954) Lex Dowie (1970) 2 April 1937 – 9 April 2012 Geoffrey CC Duncan (1947) 6 October 1929 – 29 April 2012 Ian Douglas Arnott died suddenly at the Victoria Infirmary in April. Beloved Geoffrey Cheyne Calderhead Duncan died husband of the late Dorothy, much loved peacefully at home after a period of illness. Dad of Kenneth, Christine, Caroline and Colin. Adored Granpa of his grandchildren Marshall N Ferguson (1951) and loving brother of Hilary. Dr Alexander N Dowie 25 December 1933 – 15 April 2012 most academic pupil but he learned the Marshall Noel Ferguson died peacefully at David Burrell (1973) advantages of hard work and diligence and Crosshouse Hospital in April. 20 August 1955 – 22 February 2012 these stayed with him for the rest of his life. David Burrell attended Glasgow Academy He did many of the things at school which Brian R Gibson (1960) between 1962 and 1971. He was the characterised his generation of Accie: the 5 July 1941 – 18 April 2012 CCF band, the Globe Players, wartime son of the late David WM Burrell CA Brian Russell Gibson was born in air-raid watches and BBC broadcasts and (1949) and nephew of Merrik M Burrell Helensburgh in 1941 and was educated of course playing rugby with the 1st XV. (1951). After completing his education at Hermitage Academy before joining The names of the teachers who made their in England, he pursued a career in the Glasgow Academy aged 11. The school impact on him are familiar: Miss McEwan, civil service and local government before was to mould what he was to become, Varley, Coleman-Smith, Preston, Aston, taking early retirement. David died very and set him off on what remained big Ogilvie. suddenly and unexpectedly at his home in currents in his life – sport, family, business. Stroud, Gloucestershire, in February. He is He studied medicine at Glasgow The other huge landmark of his life came survived by his mother, Anne Burrell, and University from 1942-47 where he met in 1972, when he met Seonaidgh, with three brothers. Joyce Lightbody of Hamilton whom he whom he fell instantly and permanently in married in 1950. During this time he love, as he was fond of repeating. Ian B Craig (1942) became a very considerable rugby player Family life bore his mark. On returning 8 March 1924 – 29 March 2012 captaining a highly successful team in from his office at Stenhouse, where he Ian Buchanan Craig was a pupil at The 46/47 and earning a final trial for Scotland. worked for 35 years, Brian would be at Academy between 1932 and 1936. During He was once written up in the newspaper the head of the dinner table, wanting to the war he served in the Navy and on as the only man in Scottish rugby who know how his children had spent the day returning home he trained as a Chartered could tackle the legendary Doug Smith – and to be given the announcements from Accountant. He joined James Findlay although he claimed that this was due to school assembly. This ‘wanting to know’ & Company and worked with them in his great friend George (Jacko) Kay, also was one of his strongest characteristics India for 4 years. He then returned home an Accie and remembered recently in – he was always asking questions, of his to work for Lumsden & Mackenzie in these pages, having slowed him up. He did children, friends and strangers. No matter Perthshire where he was managing director his military service with the Royal Army where Brian found himself, he would be in before he retired. Ian is survived by his Medical Corps in West Africa and spells as conversation with someone within seconds much loved wife Sheila. a houseman in Dublin and London. This – easy, affable, inquisitive. was followed by thirty years of general Ewen L H Cunningham (1949) practice in Hamilton for most of which he He would often say that he was born with 21 November 1932 – 14 July 2012 acted as senior partner. It was a traditional neither brains nor money. This was only partnership delivering health care day and half true. He was a clever man, with a clear Ewen died suddenly, after a short illness, at night every day of the year. direction in his mind and strong principles. Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He achieved so much in his life with this He retired in 1985 and he and Joyce Dr Alexander N Dowie (1942) moved to Crieff where he became 16 August 1925 – 11 March 2012 secretary of the rugby club, got involved in charity fundraising and joined the local Alexander (Lex) Newton Dowie was born music society. However, mostly, they in Aberdeen. When still young the family enjoyed a less stressful way of life spending moved to Kirkwall where his father was much of their time walking, gardening and the National Bank agent. He first went to enjoying Joyce’s cordon-bleu cooking. school at Kirkwall Grammar and retained In 2004 he diagnosed himself as having a detailed knowledge of the town, which Motor Neurone Disease although this he enjoyed demonstrating in his last years was not confirmed by his doctors until during family holidays. Their house is now 2007. He bore his physical decline with the RBS branch. extraordinary professional stoicism and The family moved to Glasgow in 1934 courage and maintained his daily routine and so he was enrolled at The Academy. to his final hour, dying in the BLESMA He would never have claimed to be the home in Crieff. Brian R Gibson

28 Etcetera combination. He never held back what positions with Fisons Group and then needed to be said. He did this in his own Mitchell Cotts – involving agricultural way, always able to soften hard words with projects in the Middle East and West open arms, a broad smile, a pat on the Africa New South Wales. His abiding back. One was never in any doubt that he interest (aside from family) was golf. He meant it well. Brian will be remembered as became a member of the R & A in 1947 a generous man, never happier than when and remained so until his death. He was all were enjoying themselves around him. also a member of the Gog Mahog Club, He supported many causes with his time Cambridge, where he played until his late and spirit – as well as financially. He would eighties. While in the Sudan, Alan and always provide help to those who needed another ex-pat created 9-hole golf course it, the underdog, from all walks of life. in the middle of the bush at Maridi in Sport was also a big part of his world. He Equatoria Province. realised early on how important this had Alan is survived by his wife, June, and their been to his own formation. It chimed with John Jex Long three children. his character that the important aspects for a couple of years and then moved to of sport were the people one met, the Glasgow Academy. John followed in his Dr J Alistair Riddell Q MB ChB bringing together, the competing and not father and grandfather’s footsteps by joining (1953) the winning. And sport brought with it the the pipe band and it was here that he began 11 February 1930 – 19 March 2012 fundraising discos, the Academical Balls, his lifelong interest and passion for piping. and countless parties, which Brian loved. John Alistair Riddell Q MB ChB started After a period of National Service, John at Glasgow Academy in 1936, proceeding He never considered retiring, stopping or went on to have a varied career in property to the Senior School during World War slowing down. He loved his work with a and then, latterly, in banking. Following II where he was voted a prefect in Fifth passion. At his home he would be found his retirement he spent more time on his Year, was appointed Kelvin House Captain literally immersed in it – the Bloomberg piping: He assisted coaching the juniors and excelled at rugby, holding the coveted finance channel on, Radio Scotland playing at the College of Piping in Otago Street position of wing forward in the first XV. and all around him the FT, Investment and attended piping competitions across Week, The Financial Adviser and countless Aged 15, Alistair arrived home for lunch Scotland. In 2000 John and his wife, Joan, other publications. He mined them all for one day to learn that his mother had died moved to Aberdeenshire where he enjoyed nuggets, useful bits in the financial mosaic from ulcerative colitis. In the spirit of ten happy years indulging his past-times of in his head. He would greet you with those more stoic times he was sent back gardening, photography and exploring the whatever had excited him in the financial to school, albeit a little late, after lunch. countryside, as well as coaching Ellon Pipe world that week. One would be drawn Inspired by his mother’s indomitable Band Juniors. in by his enthusiasm even if it made little strength and drive and her belief that “if sense to all but him. He talked often of his Last year they moved to Stornoway to you were determined enough you could heroes: Niall Ferguson, Margaret Thatcher be nearer their family. He passed away at achieve almost anything” – coupled with and Winston Churchill. One should home with his beloved wife and daughter the experience of many pleasant and also add Betty Lieu, the reader on the by his side. John is survived by Joan and his friendly physicians visiting his house over Bloomberg Channel. daughter Catriona. He will be remembered the years – Alistair resolved to become a as a loving husband, devoted father and doctor himself. His father never recovered Many will remember Brian. They will father-in-law, loyal friend and a true from the bereavement and after the failure remember his warmth, his humour, his gentleman to the end. of the family business Alistair finished his generosity, his open-armed smile. This is medical studies at Glasgow University the great legacy he leaves. All who knew only through the financial support of the him have many memories and anecdotes, Donald B MacKechnie (1959) 18 July 1942 – November 2011 Hutcheson Trust and the Bonnetmakers as well as vivid images, whether it be and Dyers. Brian on a bicycle with 3 dogs in tow, Donald was a pupil at The Academy in a striped jacket and kilt, or wearing a between 1951 and 1959. He was well It was perhaps these early difficulties wooden spoon tie, blazer and backpack! known to many Academicals and often that caused him to become an early and He did everything on his own terms, very attended class reunions. He lived latterly passionate advocate for the extra medical much in his own way and leaves indelible near Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds. needs of those suffering health inequalities memories in all those he met. Dr J Alistair Riddell Q MB ChB Brian died suddenly while abroad in April. Alan George McCall (1934) 10 November 1914 – 2 July 2010 A devoted husband of Seonaidgh, much loved father of Zoe, Pippa, Rory and Kerr Alan McCall attended Glasgow Academy and proud grandfather. A sad loss to his between 1924 and 1929 before completing family and his many, many friends. his secondary education at Morrison’s Academy. His father, Canon JG McCall, John Jex Long (1950) was School Captain in 1882-1883. 23 December 1933 – 28 June 2012 Alan’s career began in the agricultural John Jex Long was born in Hillhead department of the Sudan government, Street, the only son of Iain and Rosamund where he became Director of Agriculture Jex Long. He attended the High School in 1953. He then held various senior Etcetera 29 and inspired him to practise initially linked parishes of Almondbank, Tibbermore London for several years. He left them in Townhead before setting up a new and Logiealmond in Perthshire. It was for the world of classified advertising, first practice in the challenging environment there he met his wife, Mairi, whom he with Thomson newspapers and then with of Easterhouse. His abiding interest in married in 1981. In 1984 he became Scottish Media, which involved stints in patients was carried forward as Dr Willie minister of Maxwellton West in Dumfries, London, Aberdeen and finally Houston near Fulton’s Assistant Secretary to Glasgow and remained there until his death. He was Paisley. He became session clerk of Houston Local Medical Committee, succeeding known as a dedicated parish minister and Parish Church. him in that pivotal role in 1978. Alistair’s an exemplary clerk of the Presbytery of Late onset multiple sclerosis and a form skills as an adviser to his general practice Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. He was also of cancer began to afflict him about nine colleagues was further developed by many highly respected for his work in General years ago. He was a much loved husband Scottish and UK national roles – including Assembly committees and for his wise, clear of Diana, loving father of Kate and Sophie, as a member of the Scottish General contributions to Assembly debate. father-in-law of Tim and John and brother Practitioners Committee for 25 years, as Away from his parish, he was an enthusiast of David. A proud grandpa of Darcy and Scottish negotiator on its UK parent body of railways and Clyde steamers. He spent Charlie. and as one of the four BMA Chief Officers. two student summers as an assistant purser David G Ure (1964) He also served with distinction as an on them. Gordon was also a keen Rotarian, elected medical member of the GMC and and at the time of his death was the William (Bill) L Wright (1939) was heavily involved internationally with president elect of his branch. He is survived 9 May 1921 – 27 January 2012 the Commonwealth Medical Association. by his wife Mairi and his sons David and Bill Wright started life in Uddingston and Alistair was honoured for his service by Alasdair. becoming a Freeman Citizen of Glasgow in was a pupil at Glasgow Academy from 1930 1961, the award of an OBE and the BMA Alexander W Speirs (1949) to 1939. In his final year he was scrum half in the 1st XV which became the West of Gold Medal in 1997. 6 May 1932 – 5 March 2012 Scotland champions. Even in later years his Alistair’s last years were compromised by Sandy Speirs died peacefully at St Helier “torpedo” passes were well known. several serious illnesses. Despite occasional Hospital, Surrey, after a long period of ill On leaving school, he commenced his flashes of insight – his passing ends a health. Sandy was born in Pollokshields and studies at St Andrews but quickly signed ten-year battle with brain failure that attended Moray School and then, between up to the Navy when war broke out. Bill was difficult to thole by those who had 1941 and 1949, The Glasgow Academy. experienced his sharp intellect. Alistair’s first served for 7 years on the Corvettes escorting After leaving school he joined the wife, Elspeth, died after distressing illness convoys across the Atlantic and travelling investment department of Scottish Amicable in 1999 – but he found great comfort and all over the world. He also continued his in Glasgow, taking a break to complete his happiness in his second marriage to Dr service after the war as a Commander in the National Service in the RAF during which Susan Fraser who for over 12 years sustained RNVR. He then returned to St Andrews he discovered an aptitude for rugby. On him at home in Bearsden and latterly at a and finished his degree before completing his return to Glasgow he started playing for residential home in Lesmahagow. He also a degree in Law at Glasgow university. Accies, including in the 1st XV in the early leaves four children, Sandy, Frances, Aileen Following his apprenticeship, he joined 1950s. and Valerie. his father’s firm of solicitors, Marshall & In 1959 he moved to London Life Maclachlan on St Vincent Street. The Alistair Riddell achieved some of the Assurance Company, became a Fellow firm later moved to Renfield Street and highest offices available to a doctor, but of the Chartered Insurance Institute and continued after his retirement as McIntosh was most proud of his achievements as a moved to London in 1967, settling in & MacLachlan. hard-working general practitioner in the Cheam and joined the London Section but East end of his native city; to the end he In 1952 Bill married Marguerite and they always retained his flat in Pollokshields. wore his Glasgow Academical tie and, took up home in Clarkston. Marian, then amongst all his honours, cherished his He is survived by his wife, Jean (née Elspeth and then Ian came along so in the membership of the North Parish Washing McGhee) whom he married in Glasgow in early 1960s the family moved to a large Green Society. Glasgow has lost one of its 1963. family home in Pollokshields. Ian attended most distinguished Academical sons. Lawrence W Guthrie (1980) Dairsie House before joining Primary 2X at The Academy, leaving Form 6 in 1975. Brian D Keighley (1966) Michael G M Ure (1961) Marian and Elspeth both attended Laurel Rev. Gordon M A Savage MA BD 27 June 1943 – 11 June 2012 Bank school. In 1968 Bill’s passion for yachting led to the acquisition of the Pamela (1969) Michael attended Glasgow Academy Jeanne, a 1939 46-foot wooden ketch. 25 August 1951 – 23 May 2012 between 1957 and 1961. He was a member Yachting became a 34-year passion, sailing of The Academy shooting team at Bisley Gordon Matthew Alexander Savage MA all over the Clyde estuary and the Western where he won the Sir Harry Lauder Trophy BD was born in Old Kilpatrick and attended isles. Bill was also very active in the Royal and the Scottish short range individual Glasgow Academy between 1960 and 1969. Scottish Motor Yacht Club and served as championship in 1960. Michael was part He went on to study at the University of secretary for many, many years. Edinburgh, where he graduated in arts and of an Academical family. His father, Daniel Bill and Marguerite moved to Blairgowrie divinity. Ure (who also shot for the school at Bisley), uncle William Ure, cousin Robert Tennant in 2008 to a smaller and more manageable After he was licensed by the Presbytery of and brother David Ure all attended The property where Marguerite still lives, visited Dumbarton, he undertook two assistantships Academy. regularly by her family. Bill died peacefully – in Dyce, Aberdeenshire and at Dunblane at Perth Royal Infirmary in January. Cathedral. In 1977 he was called to the After school he joined the Paisley thread makers J and P Coats who sent him to Ian L Wright (1974)

30 Etcetera Picture Post

John Macdonald (1971) sent in this photograph, saying that coming from a state school in 1967 into Form 3C posed ‘a bit of a culture shock with so many characters in both staff and fellow classmates’. But who is the member of staff and who are More memories of Atholl John’s classmates? Very many thanks for the new Etcetera – always a great joy to receive – and thank John Macdonald (1971) you for printing my 1969 class photo, to which I must add my apologies to David Campbell for having told you he was called Donald! It was delightful Dear Sir too to read Peter Aeberli’s memories of Regarding 4A Maths, 1952-53 (Etcetera 17, page 30) Atholl – I was in the year above Peter, The always reliable Martin Frame has it right – that’s me, front row, third from left. and his article brought back a great many And the young man next to me is indeed Stuart Mackie. After leaving The Academy (generally very happy) memories. A I emigrated to Canada, as did John Alcock (third row, third from right). So, too, did couple of ‘corrections and clarifications’, our gung-ho French teacher ‘Basher’ Ainslie, one of my favourites, who left The if I may... Your hunch about Green Academy for a position at Upper Canada Room and Blue Room was right, Peter College. For my part, I became in due – Green Room was for the youngest, course a professor of Geography at York and we graduated from there to Blue University in Toronto, where I taught Room and ultimately to Indian Room for thirty-three years. Now retired, I (in our time Green Room was presided live in the ruggedly beautiful province over by Miss Black, and Blue Room by of Nova Scotia, ‘Canada’s Ocean Mrs Gold – talk about colour coding...). Playground’. Email: jandgmarshall@ I’d forgotten about the music in Indian eastlink.ca Room, but now you mention it, I do remember having to polish the tops Urqhuart Marshall (1956) of our desks in time to Grieg’s ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’, which we loved. The little shop halfway up the Etcetera 17, page 8 Mugdock Road was universally known You ask for names of Miss Currie’s 1945 4A. I have the surnames only on the reverse as The Mucky Hole, for reasons on with some interesting spellings. which I won’t elaborate. The house Back row (l to r): Graham Guthrie; ? Robertson; ? where the annual sports were held was MacFarlane; ? Donaldson; RAR (Bobby) MacLen- called Woodlands (and, yes, that is Miss nan; Malcolm Pender; ? Elliot; ? Rae; ? Phillip 3rd row: Jim Wetherall; Duncan Paterson; ? Dunn; Davidson in the photograph). And David Hart; John Leonard; George Stewart; ? the number 12 bus that went to either Taylor; Richard Emery Drumclog Avenue or Mugdockbank: 2nd row: Gerald Smillie; ? Taggert; Collin Mac- what a blessing to those of us who lived Callion; Andrew Bain; Miss Margaret T Currie; ? up near Atholl itself. No such luck these Woika; C.Kennedy Mills; James Brown; ? Andrew Front row: A. Douglas Dron; Andrew(?) Carnegie; days – you have to walk up from the ? Reid; RAS MacLean; Tom Forrester; Douglas village.. MacKellar; ? Bowie Best wishes as ever, Ronald MacLean (1954) Tim Haggis (1969)

Etcetera 17 – photo of rugby Jim Illingworth has sent us the names he team on page 9 remembers, but no mention of where David Evans (1957) is getting impatient: they are now: ‘Inside the last page of Etcetera 17 there’s Back row (l to r): Mr Henry Uren, Alastair Graham, a letter from John Dover (1956). I have Mike? Gibson, Hugh Millar, Jock Fleming, Jim Il- the sepia-like and rust-stained photo in lingworth, Hugh Cochrane, Derek Guthrie. Middle row: Rob Chatfield, Ken Macrossan, Scott front of me. I have, as yet, not heard Calder, Scott Nelson,? Bayne, Bill Murray, Craig from any in the photo of my request, Henderson “Where are they now?” Come on, guys Front row: David Evans, Duncan Naismith – reveal yourselves.’ Jim Illingworth (1957) Etcetera 31 CLIVE CHRISTIAN DRESSING ROOM CLASSIC CREAM & GOLD LEAF

97-99 Great Western Road, Glasgow, Scotland. G4 9AH • Telephone 0141 332 8989 • E-mail [email protected] • www.clive.com

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