Number 8 Winter 2009 EtThe magazine for formercetera pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School

TheThe GreatGreat Escape!Escape! The truth behind the stuff of Hollywood legend G Westbourne Grand Reunion Dinner, 24 October G Gordon Mackay Memorial Dinner, 6 June Contents Editorial

3 From the Rector 5 Recent events and reunions 7 Academicals Etc 11 We welcome visitors Ian Spinney – Academy parent and Academy governor 12 Westbourne Etc 14 Sports Etc 15 Announcements 19 Reminiscing It’s amazing what you remember 20 The Great Escape History repeats itself! 22 My war years at the academy 23 A Rector remembered

In December, I was fortunate to attend the launch of Professor Colin Kidd’s latest book 24 New member of External Relations Union and Unionisms - Political Thought in Scotland,1500-2000 at Glasgow University’s team History Department. As one might have expected, it was an occasion that attracted many Glasgow Academy Connected of the academic historians who have influenced or been influenced in their turn by Professor Kidd’s thinking. Among the university crowd, two guests of honour stood out. Ronnie Woods and Vic Hadcroft both taught Colin at Glasgow Academy in the late 70s and early 80s. Each, in his own inimitable way, shaped Colin’s thinking and helped develop the outstanding mind so familiar to students and readers alike. Professor Kidd is always keen to acknowledge his debt to his old teachers, something he touches on again in the preface to his new book. This is much more than mere sentiment, as his enduring links with The Academy - as Governor, parent and counsellor Do we have your e-mail address? to many - prove. Glasgow Academy has helped shape him and he, in turn, has helped shape the school. It’s how we communicate best! Glasgow Academy’s recently-published HMI Report is generous in its praise for the standard of education offered both inside and beyond the classroom. This can only increase the demand for places from talented pupils whose parents cannot afford to pay the Keeping in touch fees. The External Relations office is situated in As an article in a recent edition of Etcetera shows, Colin Kidd has always been a particular Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are supporter of Bursaries and Scholarships - and for one very good reason. It was the always welcome to pop in and have a chat. generosity of former pupils of the past that allowed him to attend The Academy. Just give us a call to arrange a time. Our In response to a journalist’s query, we recently had a look through the archives to try to address is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow establish exactly when Glasgow Academy started to offer Bursaries. It’s clear that children G12 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 of war widows were receiving substantial assistance from the school as early as 1920 - and 342 5494 or at [email protected] it’s likely that a similar scheme had been in existence for many years before that. Since The Glasgow Academical Club, 21 then, literally hundreds of boys and girls have received help with fees allowing them to Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR have an Academy education. President – Hugh Barrow In another 25 years, I would love to be able to attend the launch of a book written by E-mail: [email protected] some brilliant historian, chemist, engineer, sportsperson or medic who was given the Secretary – Kenneth Shand chance to develop their latent abilities at Glasgow Academy. Tel: 0141 248 5011 E-mail: [email protected] That is, if we still have book launches - or books! - in 2034 The Academical Club pavilion is available for functions. Please contact Ken Barron at [email protected] for details. Academical Club’s London Section Malcolm McNaught, Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place Director of External Relations London SW1X 9SA [email protected] Tel:020 7235 9012 0141 342 5494 E-mail: [email protected]

2 Etcetera From the Rector Our vision: can-do, will-do Glasgow Academy’s recent report by Her Majesty’s Inspectors highlighted ‘the impact of the Rector’s vision and values’ as a key strength of the school. Here Peter Brodie articulates his vision for The Academy.

entral to our vision for The support, role models and advice to The first thing I said in assembly to all CAcademy is can-do, will-do. We help children make a success of them. Academy pupils when I arrived was aim to create a spirit of passionate You want to row for gold medals? You that it should be them on stage not can-do, will-do by encouraging can do it at 7.30 in the morning at me. I am passionate about children initiative, creativity, responsibility and The Academy with one of the UK’s taking responsibility. That includes respect for each other. We do that by top coaches. You want to dance? A them taking assembly, talking about nurturing children and by showing member of the first UK company to what excites them, and inspiring others that we believe in them and have the dance in the Kremlin will choreograph to support a charity, take part in some highest expectations of them. So they you in a school musical. You want to good cause or do something they had believe in themselves and rise to our name a peak because you were the first never thought of. It is a very special expectations. That way they can - and person to climb it? We will take you school where I can say to a 15-year- do - achieve things they once never to Greenland and you can name it old ‘Organise a good musical assembly thought possible. Bearsden. You want to perform in next week - I leave it to you who or New York? 84 pupils are set to do so what you choose’ and Her Majesty’s We offer a wealth of challenges and in 2010 because we now have nearly Inspectorate go away impressed by a opportunities in sport, music, drama, 500 individual music lessons a week beautifully-executed series of Outdoor Education, clubs and societies and 400 pupils participating in 20 performances by children clearly - and we provide the encouragement, ensembles. enjoying sharing their talents before

Peter Brodie believes that 'central to education is the recognition of the value – and fun – of engaging in a shared enterprise in a spirit of mutual support, openness and trust'.

Etcetera 3 the whole school. That is your school. than ‘I’. Sport, music, history or firing the child’s imagination and If we trust and demand a lot of modern language trips and tours create visualisation of achievement. And children they will endlessly surprise us exciting challenges and develop because relationships are central to - and on the rare moments when they children’s confidence and what we are creating, they stay with let us down, they have the chance to understanding of the world. Charity them as they move up the school. learn most from mistakes. We now fundraising (£35,000 last year), helping Every child is now cared for not only have hundreds of posts of responsibility less privileged children in the UK or by their tutor, but also by their two and leadership, from senior pupils overseas, or working on environmental joint Heads of House and a member of helping younger ones to learn to read, projects are all valuable activities which the Senior Leadership Team dedicated to communicate in a foreign language also reinforce academic potential. to their year group. or make a success of chemistry to We have given every Senior School G.K. Chesterton defined education writing and directing your own play. child their own tutor: a teacher who as ‘…the soul of a society as it passes Education is not the filling of a pail, meets with them every day to discuss from one generation to another’. But but the lighting of a fire. Schools can their progress, share highs and lows and you will know that education is also change children’s lives, and raise aspirations. They can give the what is left when you have forgotten inspirational teachers do so by what has been learnt. If we develop infectious passion for their subject and children’s enthusiasm for learning and by commitment to their pupils. They They said it: creativity, and their initiative, team set the highest of challenges and work and responsibility, they will standards, and show children how to ‘Glasgow Academy, appreciate - despite all the pressures of attain them, praising both effort and alma mater of the materialism - that the best things in good strategies. They nurture children life are not things. For me, that is the and ensure that they are always clear historian Niall ultimate moral purpose of teaching on their next steps. So the children and headship. We have only one see what they can do and are helped to Ferguson, and one of chance with the education of our have a plan and vision of themselves the very best schools children, so their tomorrow must be doing it. Inspirational teachers switch our urgency today - in a school filled on children’s can-do, will-do mindset: in the world...’ with laughter and a sense of fun. the keenness to learn and the sense of We wish our children to leave us as self-efficacy which are so important to The Spectator, well-rounded, successful and, above all, success. You can see the connections February 2009 happy individuals. We want them to being made in the classroom, and that have the very best. But we cannot is why I cannot envisage appointing a provide that without the support of teacher without first watching every our former pupils. Please, if you can, interviewee teach a whole lesson. child the encouragement sometimes help us build the new labs, Our children and teachers need to live needed to stand apart from the performance centre/lecture hall and out the belief that intelligence and distractions of the modern world and sports facilities we need. Or help a abilities are not fixed, that our brains peer pressure and go for what is best child come to The Academy who are constantly building new for their future. They look for and could not otherwise do so without connections, and that every experience nurture effort and talents, and ensure your generosity in donating towards a and relationship throughout our lives is that children are making the most of bursary. In gaining a tax break for an opportunity for learning. What all the opportunities for support yourself through charitable giving, you matters is that we persevere. Central around the school, be they subject can give our children a future they to this is recognition of the value – clinics, revision sessions or using the could not otherwise have. and fun - of engaging in a shared open door policy of staff who are Excellence is our passion. Our former enterprise in a spirit of mutual ready to see anyone who will benefit pupils have the pivotal role in helping support, openness and trust. from help. They keep parents informed and seek their support us achieve it. Education has most impact when it is whenever appropriate because Peter Brodie most realistic. So it makes sense to partnership with parents is central to create opportunities for children to what we do. They have skilful take responsibility for their learning conversations that encourage There is more about the Rector’s and discover the satisfactions of engagement with clubs, societies and vision in his chapter Lighting working with others in enterprises trips: they know how to charm fires: can do/will do, the small ‘I’ with real impact. Pupil-organised perhaps reluctant adolescents into and the big ‘we’, printed in The events, pupil-led warm-ups, team activities which, despite initial Head Speaks: Challenges and Visions games and team activities provide resistance, they come to love. in Education, a collection of views important opportunities to lead or to Sometimes they set this up carefully, from Heads on issues facing be valuable team members working for getting colleagues on side in advance the common good, to develop or priming them with appropriate schools today, published by the decision-making skills and to background and responses.They University of Buckingham Press experience the benefits of ‘we’ rather harness the power of the possible, 2008.

4 Etcetera Recent events and reunions

Cambridge reunion

Ying Qin (2006) came up with the idea of assembling all the young Academicals currently at Cambridge at a ‘formal’ (dinner) one evening. And so, last term, a group of nine met up at Trinity College. Here they are pictured in Trinity College bar after the meal.

From back left to front right:

Eliza Grant (first year English, Magdalene), Bo Zheng (fourth year Natural Sciences, Trinity), Tom Sutton (first year Maths, St Johns), Aaron Outhwaite (second year Engineering, Trinity), Alex Jones (third year Natural Sciences, Christs), Alisdair McClymont (second year Engineering, Pembroke) Alison Nimmo (fourth year Philosophy, Newnham), Sarah Wilson (second year Law, Trinity Hall), Ying Qin (third year Natural Sciences, Murray Edwards College)

Ying commented:‘It was great to see and catch up with everyone which is rare at Cambridge with its hectic lifestyle.’

This year’s Spring Lunch at New Anniesland attracted a record number of former pupils. No fewer than 60 leavers from 1945 onwards enjoyed an excellent lunch at the beginning of March.

Cheers! David Kernohan (1965) and his wife Christine held a wine-tasting evening in the new Prep School hall in February. Theirs is a match made in heaven: Christine is the Chief winemaker while David supervises quality control! You can find out all about their vineyard at www.gladstone.co.nz The event itself was a great success all round: as a result, Gladstone Wines is a little better-known in this country, and over 70 Academicals and other friends of the school had a very enjoyable evening. Here’s to the next time!

Etcetera 5 Our first choice was, of course, the Cargill teachers join us for the evening. Special Class of 1998 Hall. Unfortunately due to scheduling thanks go out to Mr McNaught, Mr Spike, conflicts this was not to be and we Mr Gray and Mrs McDonald for their Reunion plumped for the close second choice of support, it was such a pleasure to share the Accies Rugby Club. The manager of the reunion with them. Mr McNaught hen Lesley Bloomer and I the club, Kenny Barron assured us that all opened the evening with a heartfelt and decided to embark on organising catering, alcohol and other requests nostalgic welcome speech. I took the Wour school ten year reunion we would be taken care by his team - a huge opportunity to read a letter sent by the were unsure as to the response we might relief to event-management novices such late Jamie Black’s family wishing us receive. Delight? Apathy? Horror? To as ourselves. wonderful evening and encouraging us to create more happy memories with old test the proverbial waters, we set up a On the evening of 20 December 2008, ten friends. Jamie was much missed. Facebook Group inviting the class of 1998 years after eighty-four 18-year-olds first to join and share with us their thoughts spread their wings, Lesley and I waited in Thanks to the hard work of Kenny and his about being asked to return to the old nervous anticipation to welcome our old team, the meal was fantastic and the club Academy haunt to be reunited with their school chums back to the scene of so was transformed into a ceilidh in classmates of yore. The response was many famous ‘Accies Discos’. Our fears of minutes. The latter half of the evening overwhelmingly positive, with fifty-seven the evening culminating in a fairly was danced away by some while others people joining the group from a possible pathetic table for two proved unfounded chose to prop up the bar and catch up eighty-four original class members. as we were delighted with the sixty-two with long-lost pals. Nobody could resist Encouraged by the feedback, we set person strong turn out. We were even the lure of the time-honoured ‘under the about turning our cyber group into a real- lucky enough to have some of our old arches’ tradition! The evening ended all life ten year reunion. too quickly and it was with real Our first port of call was to meet regret that I watched my former with the Director of External classmates disappear into the Relations at the Academy, Malcolm night. However, Lesley and I McNaught. He reassured us that we agreed that the night had been a would be fully supported by the huge success. school in our endeavour to reunite I would like to take this our old classmates but warned that opportunity to thank Hazel previous years had attempted the McNaught for all her hard work and same feat and had been organisation; we are indebted to disappointed. We convinced her. It won’t be long before the ourselves that with military twentieth reunion and so I am organisation and heavy persuasion recruiting volunteers now, Hazel? our reunion would be a success. Anyone? Anyone?... With this resolve we turned our attention to the question of venue. Anna Pollock (1998) Glasgow Academy IVth Form 1966-67 Class Reunion Dinner he above event was held at the T Glasgow Academical Club, New Anniesland on Friday 27 February 2009. Our speakers were Mr Malcolm McNaught, Director of External Relations at The Glasgow Academy who proposed the toast to the School, and Mr Philip Beattie, former teacher of Modern Languages at Glasgow Academy. Kenneth Russell was Chairman and gave the Reply with the help of the other 20 present! Many thanks to the speakers, the sad deaths of Iain (Iggy) MacMillan organisers and all who attended. and Sandy Russell. Both had been The following ‘boys’ were present: Another jovial night was enjoyed by regular attenders of the Dinner. They Brian Barclay, Mike Belch,Athol everyone present. Kenneth Russell will be much missed. Brechin,Alastair Crabb, Lex Dowie, mentioned that although 21 ‘boys’ Neil Duncan,Alan Gibson,Alan If you were in the above year and have were present there was another 22 Lundie, Keith MacLennan, Murray lost touch, please contact, who said they would like to attend but Magowan, Kenneth McCracken, could not. The next dinner may be [email protected] or George McLaren,Wallace Mitchell, the last before we reach that magical [email protected] Douglas Mundie, Derek Neilson, age of 60! Given enough notice, Douglas Robinson, Kenneth Russell, We plan to have our next dinner in would it not be great if everyone David Stirrat, Ian Veitch, Philip Waine early 2011. could attend then? and guest star, Donald Reid (he kindly George McLaren (1970) filled in for a last minute call-off). A special mention was made about the

6 Etcetera ACADEMICAL CLUB ETC

Accies Rugby strength. As a result, the 1st XV league Division 2 has certainly performances improved very progressed in an impressive way since noticeably and a new mind-set was last season. Thanks are undoubtedly This season started on a really sad evident in the players’ attitude and due to Donald and the coaching team note, with the sudden and unexpected performance. for their outstanding contribution to Accies’ rugby. death, at the very young age of 39, of Unfortunately, Club Captain Jamie Gordon Mackay who had just taken Doig suffered a serious leg injury in Sponsors up the post of Head Coach. A tribute the final pre-season practice match, The section could not operate without to Gordon appeared in the last issue of which was to keep him out for the the Chronicle. Gordon’s friendship, the generous support of its major entire season. However, Richard sponsors and of the many Academicals experience and enthusiasm is greatly McKnight, who had just returned to missed by all at New Anniesland. and ex-players who contribute via the Club from Hawks, took over the Alasdair Graham’s appeal, by taking captain’s role. He, along with fellow advertising boards, by sponsoring a GORDON MACKAY Accies Matt Smith and Stewart Smith, player or through supporting Duncan MEMORIAL DINNER & DANCE both also newly returned from Hawks, Beattie’s appeal for the Fitness Gym brought invaluable experience, equipment. SATURDAY,6 JUNE,THE leadership and motivation to the team. CARGILL HALL This in turn helped attract many new Tickets £55 players to New Anniesland, and both the 1st and 2nd XVs have shown the Rugby commentator,Andy Nicol, benefits of these additions. The Rugby Section who played with Gordon in Scottish Cruz Kawakameni, (a Cameroonian, urgently needs Schools representative rugby, and previously with Allan Glen’s), Jack our own John Beattie (Snr.) are Walker (an ex-Scotland U17s player volunteers taking part in the evening. from St.Columba’s School in in a number of non-onerous and non- time-consuming ways. For further information: e-mail: Kilmacolm) and Chris Wright (an ex- [email protected] Heriot’s pupil now at University in If you are willing to assist, please Tel:07990 958161 Glasgow) are three of the players (sadly contact either: all forwards!) who have helped ignite At the end of Season 2007/8 Gordon our performances since their arrival. Donald Reid Mackay returned to coach at the Club Robert Fuller, also a new addition (of at [email protected] with Donald Reid, a well-known the giant variety) to the 2nd XV has (Tel) 07595 218 494 Accies player of the ‘70s. Together, shown an admirable commitment with or they were able to turn the team’s his enthusiastic qualities, and along fortunes around from what had with players like Max Henderson and Gordon Wilson hitherto been a very poor season and 2nd XV team captain Richard Taylor, at [email protected] saved the Club from possible have helped to create a healthy, happy (Tel) 07595 218 497 relegation. and successful team… all very Be part of the Donald, very ably supported by Chas necessary and important for the success Gate/Hospitality team Afuakwah, Steve Begley and Nigel of the 1st XV. Campbell, took up the reins and Be a ‘watcher’/representative Fabi Marchetti,Ali McLaren, Chris for 2nd XV continued as Director of Rugby, McAlpine, Ian Corrie and Ben implementing the ideas that he and Wilkinson are a number of the 2nd Help with the Website Gordon had planned for the new XV players who have broken into the season. Duncan Beattie also gave 1st XV and are showing potential. Help with Fundraising much time and effort to source better Help with Coaching weight-lifting equipment for the Whilst promotion was one of Donald Fitness Gym, with the help of the Reid’s goals for the season, which sadly SRU, and instructed many of the has not been achieved, the 1st XV, players on improving their upper-body which lies in 4th place in National

Etcetera 7 Academical Men’s Hockey To the beat Dinner The Men’s Hockey section have a new of ‘The Friday 6 November – website with all the latest club info and goings on. It can be viewed at further details in www.glasgowacciesmenshc.synthasite. Drum’ next edition com For further information or if you are interested in joining or sponsoring If a Glasgow Accie called Douglas Glasgow Accies the team, you can also Smith had ever been the subject of e-mail [email protected] This Is Your Life – that could have been Ladies Hockey some episode! – then the studio would Academical Golf have represented a Who’s Who of With the season quickly reaching an Scottish Football for, in his own end, it seems like we have too many Section unassuming way, here was a figure as games to play, the weather playing a influential to the game in his native huge part in the cancellation of a lot of The season’s fixtures are listed below, land as Jock Stein. Under his guidance matches! in the hope that Academicals of all and encouragement, a score of young It has been a great season this year. We ages will be encouraged to take part. players went on to gain full have lost some players but new ones Please get in touch if you are available international caps, while more than have found their way to Accies. to join in on any of the dates or would 300 of them became professional like further information. footballers. Not bad for an ex-pupil of The 2nd XI, having been promoted a rugby-playing school! back in to the Second Division, are Contacts sitting second in the league - which is Robin Hopkins (Captain) Not all of them reached the heights of a great achievement in just one year. [email protected] Kenny Dalglish,Asa Hartford or Archie Here’s hoping that can make it to the 07909 522121 Gemmill after leaving Drumchapel top! Amateurs - the club Smith founded in Gordon Wilson 1950 and nurtured until his death in The 1st XI are sitting top in the First [email protected] 2004. All, however, agreed that: Division and are contemplating joining 07595 218497 National 3s next year as they have ‘Douglas Smith was a fantastic man’. been placed in the top three for the Jimmy McCulloch (re Elie) This was according to none other than past three years and feel it’s time for [email protected] Sir Alex Ferguson, who played for ‘The more of a challenge! Hopefully this 01505 610547 Drum’, as they were affectionately would attract some new players too. Matches known throughout Glasgow. The 1sts have also recently made it Sunday 7 June v Watsonians at Luffness A Cambridge graduate in engineering, into the final of the West District Cup, GC Smith was invalided out of the Army which is held on 9 May at 2.45pm at Clydesdale. All supporters welcome Wednesday 24 June v Glasgow in 1949 after being seriously injured and greatly appreciated! Academy at Killermont during training as an infantry officer and returned to his home near We entered two indoor teams this year Sunday 13 Sept v Kelvinside Accies at Dumbarton to run the family’s and the ‘Accies 2’ team have just won Prestwick GC successful ship-breaking business. His the indoor league and are still in the Summer and Autumn twin loves of football and the church Cup so hopefully they can win the led to him being invited to manage the double! Outings Boys’ Brigade team in Drumchapel, We have also secured sponsorship this Sunday 14 June to Shiskine GC then a village in the north-west of year from CJ Lang, a successful Saturday 10 October to The Elie GHC Glasgow. catering firm in Dundee. They have kindly sponsored our two goalies Both of these outings are arranged Over the next half-century, Smith which has meant that we have with the social aspect very much in transformed the local amateur team managed to invest in some much mind and we are fortunate that into one of the most successful youth needed new kit! members with holiday homes in Elie clubs in Europe, at every age level and at Blackwaterfoot on Arran, have from under 14 to under 18. ‘But We are always looking to strengthen offered overnight accommodation on Douglas Smith didn’t only teach you the club so if anyone is interested in the night before each outing. There is about football, he also instilled in joining the hockey section, please therefore a Dinner booked at each players a code for life - discipline and contact Jen Mason at venue on those occasions. Informal sportsmanship, but how to be [email protected] or on 07843 matches are arranged in the afternoon, competitive as well,’ said Ferguson. 488 526. preceding the Dinner, for anyone able Not a bad mixture for a career in to arrive early. Jen Mason, Club Captain sport!

8 Etcetera Ally McCoist is an Accie - Exclusive!

t the last Rangers Charity who were also in the team. At the end of the match,Arthur AFoundation Ball,Alan Lundie Unfortunately on the day of the game Numan presented Fraser Lundie with (1969) successfully bid in the another Ibrox Legend,Andy Goram, the ‘Man of the Match Trophy’ and auction for ‘A game on the pitch at was ruled out with a knee injury and gave medals to all the players. Ibrox Stadium’. After two replaced by his former Rangers In the post-match interview given by postponements, as a result of Rangers’ understudy Neil Inglis. To round up Ken Smith of the Herald Diary,Andrew extended run in Europe last season, the the big names,Alan Baxter son of the Lundie commented:‘To march down big event finally took place in the late great Jim Baxter was also in the the tunnel at Ibrox onto a new pitch, evening of Thursday 23 October 2008. squad. The opposition consisted of ex- under floodlights, with Ally McCoist players, coaches, and other involved in After a stadium tour, the Lundie squad and Arthur Numan in your team, the Ibrox football in the community were taken to the home dressing room, Simply the Best booming out on the department. presented with their own Rangers PA system, to hear your name being strip, and given a pre-match tactical Although Alan’s team lost 7-4 on the announced, and then to score a goal talk. night, all four goals were scored by was an unbelievable experience.’ Accies, namely Ian MacIntyre,William Thirteen Accies were involved.Alan The crowd, made up primarily of Telfer, Kerr Wright and Andrew was the Manager, assisted by Michael relatives and friends, together with Lundie. Dickson (2007), and the Accie players players from both teams and the match were Michael Byers (2002), officials then enjoyed Chris Leggat (1998),Andrew hospitality and a finger Lundie (2007), Fraser Lundie buffet in the Members’ Club (1998), Gordon Lundie at Ibrox. (2002), Ian MacIntyre The following charities (2007), Ruari Owens-Smith benefited from the event: (2007),Alister Reid (2002), The Scottish Centre for and Kerr Wright (2007). Children with Motor William Telfer and Iain Impairments Williamson were granted Cystic Fibrosis Trust Academical status for the British Red Cross game. Other honorary ‘Accies’ for the evening were the current Rangers Assistant Manager and Ibrox legend,Ally Super Ally (or should that be McCoist, and another former 'Super Accie'?) shows the rest how it's done! Rangers star Arthur Numan

Etcetera 9 Burns Supper of Club Past President Wallace Mitchell. To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of This year’s Club President Hugh Burns’ birth, Mr Ken Barron,The Barrow, without a note in sight, spoke Academy catering manager, organised a very eloquently, in what everyone Supper in the Pavilion at Anniesland. present agreed, was one of the finest It proved to be an extremely successful toasts to The Immortal Memory. In evening and was well supported by lighter vein,Accies’ Rugby Chairman, over 100 Accies Sport Club members Gordon Wilson, most humorously and friends. toasted the Lassies, and was responded Ken and his staff served up a first-class to, very competently and amusingly by meal, and a ‘cast’ made up the attractive Hazel McNaught, a predominantly of Academicals recent recruit to the Academical ranks. provided some excellent Hazel was Head Girl at the Academy entertainment. Donald Reid, Accies’ in 2004, went on to Newcastle Director of Rugby, started with the University to study Law, and for the Selkirk Grace, and Alex Dowers very past year has assisted her father ably and amusingly addressed the Malcolm in the School External Haggis, which, unusually, responded - Relations Office. She leaves in June to in very good part - with the assistance take up her traineeship with a law firm in Guildford. Hazel is a fine example of an Academy education. The London Section of the Academical 13 November 2008 Club will undoubtedly be very quickly onto her case! The entertainment Good morning, ended with Forbes I just wanted to let you know that the Dunlop, the GHK Rugby Kilts 2 Kenya Africa 3 Peaks Vice President, who gave Expedition has come to an end. The an outstanding rendition expedition spanned 20 exhausting of Holy Willie’s Prayer. days. Thankfully,Ally was able to join This Burns Night us for the second and third legs of our celebration was greatly adventure, having recovered from the enjoyed by all present, virus that disabled him in the and the pleasant Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda... surroundings of the I’ve posted a diary of our climbs and refurbished Anniesland some photos from the expedition on Clubhouse will our website: undoubtedly attract many more social events in the www.kilts2kenya.com future. Thank you so much to all of our sponsors and donors for your generous support. I’m leaving to come back to the UK this weekend and will be very sorry to say goodbye to the wonderful kids at Kenya Children’s Home. The money that’s been donated will be used to ensure that they are housed, clothed and educated and will help create opportunities for them in life. So, on behalf of the kids, huge thanks again to everyone. If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time. Our Justgiving web pages are still active and can be accessed through our website above or at the following addresses: www.justgiving.com/rickyafrica3peaks www.justgiving.com/allyafrica3peaks Regards, Ricky,Ally and Iain

10 Etcetera We welcome visitors…

Among the many visitors to The Academy over the past few months, have been a number of former School Captains (or Head Boys). It has become something of a tradition that we photograph them with the famous India Trophy - perhaps since so many of them complain that, although it was ‘presented’ to them at Prize Giving, they have never actually been allowed Ian Spinney - to hold it! Academy Parent Two much-respected former School Captains who visited us recently were and Academy Moreton Black (1939) and Wilf Governor Sinclair (1986). By a strange twist of fate, Moreton and Wilf - although separated by no fewer than 47 years - Now into his third year as a Governor, were consecutive winners of the India Ian Spinney feels he has only just Trophy. started to make a contribution to the enormously-varied world of The Moreton was presented with the India Glasgow Academy. The first year was Trophy at the Distribution of Prizes on spent listening, the second year asking 29 June 1939. Soon afterwards, he questions, and the third year actually enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders doing some work, he says. and went off to the great adventure called war where – in 1943 – he was Ian chairs the marketing committee of World War II are unclear, but many taken prisoner in Sicily and held as a and to date he has worked on a review believe it had something to do with PoW until 1945. The trophy, of bursaries, has led an audit of the the fear that this precious silver artefact meanwhile, went off on its own website and contributes to a wide may itself be ‘enlisted’ to help the war wartime adventure and was range of PR and marketing projects. effort. Whatever the reason, the trophy incarcerated in its own prison… Professionally, Ian runs Spinney & was rediscovered only in 1986. It was Partners, a specialist business PR The exact reasons why the India hidden in a false wall in the ‘dunny’ in consultancy. Trophy went missing at the beginning the basement of the Main Building and came to light only during the Ian is not an Academical – in fact he conversion of the cloakroom areas into went to Sedbergh in Northern offices at the time of the installation of England – and feels the experience the new library in the Well. helps him bring a different perspective to the management of the school, By this time, Moreton had returned to observing: his old school where he had taught modern languages since 1947. By a ‘The market for an independent strange co-incidence, the trophy was education is extremely competitive – unearthed just as Moreton was parents simply want the best education preparing to retire and - as our for their children and are increasingly photograph shows - the two were happy to shop around. The Board of reunited for a brief embrace on the Governors is focused on a continual front steps of the school. programme of investment and innovation to ensure The Glasgow It has been only slightly more than Academy remains the market leader two decades since Wilf Sinclair first across as many areas as possible.’ held the India Trophy. He was School Captain in 1986, the same year that Ian has two girls at the school – in Moreton retired. Now a successful Transitus and S3 – both of whom he businessman,Wilf came in to visit his thinks have benefited from the special old school in November. all-round education provided by The Glasgow Academy. We have no way of knowing whether the India Trophy was pleased to see ‘That is one of the school’s most these two former winners. We valuable assets and one which we must certainly were! never overlook,’ he says.

Etcetera 11 Westbourne Etc

Grand Reunion Dinner 24 October 2009 Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel 7.30pm A date for your diaries! On Saturday 24 October, we hope that hundreds of Westbourne Girls and staff will meet up for the ‘Grand Reunion Dinner’ at the Grosvenor. Some of the Westbourne Reunion planning Tickets are £40. This will include a committee (‘watched over’ by a portrait of Mrs Marriages drinks reception and a three-course Henderson, Westbourne Headmistress 1936- Mindelle Stern (Westbourne 1993, meal. The event is not to raise funds 64) TGA 1994) to James Greenhill in any way; it will be a purely social, The Westbourne Grand Reunion Dinner (1989) fun-filled evening. More details and Committee booking information will be sent out Back row: Carole (Day) Hill (1974); Christine James and Mindelle were married in in May. Should you wish to make sure (Gemmell) Abercrombie (1983) and Marion Garnethill Synagogue Glasgow on 12 (Willies) Brodie (1980) we have your correct contact details, November 2006. Between them they Seated: RT Murphy (1972-93, Deputy Head 1985- now have two daughters, Kimberly and please contact us directly or check 93); EK Henderson (Headmistress 1970-88) and your details on the new GA Elaine (Hall) Horner (1970) Ariella. Connected interactive website (see Also on the committee are: Zoe Wise (1995) article on page 24). Rachel Teggart (1961); Hilary (Ramsay) Grierson (1978); Amy Primrose (1990) and Claire (Jones) To David Docherty. Their wedding A number of Westbourne Old Girls Kember (1994) have agreed to become year group contacts. Should you wish to become a year group contact or find out who Announcements yours is, please get in touch with the External Relations office Births ([email protected] or 0141 342 5494) Tanya Fraser (1994) Westbourne memorabilia will be on On 22 October 2008 to Ruairidh and display on the night. If you would like Tanya Dunford (nee Fraser) a daughter, to lend or donate any photos, Willow Freya Fraser. yearbooks, pieces of uniform (or even hockey sticks!) for the display, please let Sarah Walls (1981) us know. To Nicky and Sarah Finnieston (nee Walls) a daughter,Aoife Maria, on 28 Look out for the Westbourne Grand December 2008. Reunion Dinner invitation letter - which will arrive by post in May - and Rowan Bruce (1985) for more information in the July To the late Bryce McCall-Smith and edition of Etcetera. Rowan (nee Bruce) a son, Bryce Roderick. A brother for Struan and Drew.

12 Etcetera was last summer in Thailand on a mag no 6 and, well, here’s the thing, I beautiful, white sandy beach in Koh remember it very clearly and everyone Samui. Zoe’s mum, Sheila Wise, is also in it. ‘Oh no!’, say the culprits in the a former pupil of Westbourne, as is Westbourne School Dance picture! Evette Milne, nee Boni (1995) who The funny thing is it was my daughter was Zoe’s bridesmaid. After spending Erin who recognised me in Etcetera many years in Australia, Zoe and David when it arrived at my parents’ house are now living in Dubai and Zoe is and when she asked her granddad if it working as a chartered accountant. was mummy in THAT PICTURE he of course said no: obviously he doesn’t Death remember the good old days and the Victoria Lucy Merrills (1989) sadly feisty girls of the Westbourne 5th years. passed away on 27 May 2005. A full (Thank God for that!) Anyway, I will tribute will appear in the summer start at the back and work from left to edition of Etcetera. right (maiden names of course). I am first left with black dress (Nicole Other news Brannan) then Katy Luffingham then Hilary Bennet, now Murgatroyd Donna Logan, now Smith (1986) first purple dress is Lorraine Dinardo followed by Christina Chung. Carolyn After six years in the press office, I’d In the time since I have left Morgan is the blonde with her then had enough of dealing with egotistical Westbourne, I have travelled across the boyfriend Craig Morrison (former reporters and switched to a political UK and finally returned to Inverness Glasgow Academy boy) and last but relations role, which I love, but it is three years ago. Our daughter,Abi, not least the lovely Sarah (can’t extremely challenging since we have a was born at the Southern General remember her second name, sorry). It number of high-profile political figures Hospital on 20 December 2003, and was great to see the old picture and in our region including a certain Mr Neil and I married on 20 May 2006. know when my much-loved daughter Cameron and some blondie boy called Currently working as Directorate asks what was it like in ‘my day’ I don’t Boris who is the new Mayor of General Manager for Surgery and need to panic as I can show her, and in London! My area also covers Surrey Anaesthetics at Raigmore Hospital. colour, what my friends and I were which is a very deep shade of blue and [email protected] really like. If anything it was certainly as such means I also have half the a laugh and good to look back! Shadow Cabinet to contend with. Evette Boni, now Milne (1995) This all means I spend an inordinate Hilary Bennett, now Murgatroyd I have been temporarily promoted to amount of my time on the M4/M25 (1988) Acting Faculty Head of Science at the or on the Tube to Westminster, but – Vale of Leven Academy: what a steep I left Westbourne in 1988 to study despite the long hours – the job has learning curve this is! Journalism at Napier University.After been extremely rewarding and I have graduating I initially worked in met some extremely interesting and Nicole Brannan, now Campbell newspapers but later moved into media charismatic figures along the way. (1991) relations. In 2001 I moved to Reading Not so rewarding were the dark days I have been prompted by my best to work for my current employers, of 2006. I was in the press office friend Carla Bankhead (nee Boni) to Thames Water, which is the UK’s when the company’s reputation was at get in touch as I have seen the school largest water company. an all time low - a hosepipe ban, a That Picture! very leaky water supply network in London and record profits did not make for happy customers or journalists! I have also had the privilege of taking camera crews down into London’s sewers on many an occasion – and even let them out again! I met my husband, Phil (in Milton Keynes of all places) and after marrying him at Park Circus, Glasgow at the beginning of 2006 – Lucy Morton (nee Primrose) did my make up – I subsequently inherited this fantastic new surname and two step sons, Daniel (16) and Thomas (15).

Etcetera 13 SPORTSEtc Colin Atkinson (1957), current Chair New York Marathon Corner of the Glasgow Academical Sports Club was appointed Chairman of the Glasgow Sports Council in Aug 2007. That is a big job and quite an honour! Laura Bartlett (2006) Laura Bartlett - whose success in Beijing we celebrated in the last edition - has been in the news again. In January she set up the extra-time golden goal that assured the British women’s hockey team of victory over their hosts in the final of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival held in Sydney. The British girls came back Colin Tennant, Stuart Low, Scott I will be hanging up my trainers. I am twice in the final before snatching the Chassels, Andy McGeoch, Fraser also part of a team that is going to run Gold Medal in the sixth minute of Lundie (all 1998) the Caledonian Challenge in June extra time. raising money for local Scottish We’re just waking up in NYC after the Rachel Lawrence (2005) charities. marathon every body a bit sore. All Rachel, who left The Academy in 2004 Stuart Storrie (1992) completed with no major casualties. to train as a ballet dancer in London, Colin Tennant, Fraser Lundie, Jamie I finished all 26.2 miles of the New has just been offered a prized contract Doig, the late Jamie Black and myself York marathon (albeit slowly) with a with the ballet company in Lucerne, ran the NYC marathon in 2002, so we time of 05:43:10 and then walked 40 Switzerland (Tanz Luzerner Theater). were running this year as a tribute to blocks home as, typically, there were She has been performing in Geneva Jamie with the addition of Stuart Low no taxis around or willing to stop for a with Ballet Junior de Geneve since and Scott Chassels. Jamie Doig dishevelled sweaty runner! Our graduating from Central School of (Captain of Accies Rugby Team) tore fundraising total is still rising, but at Ballet in 2007.This is an exciting new his ACL first game of the season so last count we were at almost £14,000 step for her, as the company has a new could not run. Colin Tennant now for the Marie Curie Big Build Appeal. female director (Kathleen McNurney) lives in Seattle and has joined a A big thanks to everyone who who is recreating the company and is running club so he was the big donated. personally selecting a group of dancers surprise - going from 4:42 in 2002 to that she feels will work well with her. 3:32. Stuart was 9 minutes ahead of We are now eyeing The Las Vegas Colin at one point, but was passed at Marathon for 2009, whilst my oldest mile 22 where he was suffering the son Jack is, I believe, getting into the effects of his early fast pace. Scott, spirit of things this coming Friday with Fraser and I probably could have a sponsored Jog round Dairsie. Don't get out much… trained a bit more but all ground out Hi Hazel, sub 5 hours. In 2002, Fraser and Thanks for getting in touch. myself both ran slower: 4:58 and 4:59 Unfortunately I don't have versus 4:50 and 4:51 this time. The anything of any real interest to results: Colin Tennant 3:32;Stuart Low report. Would obviously love to 3:36; Scott Chassels 4:47;Andy tell you that I was involved in a McGeoch 4:50; Fraser Lundie 4:51 recent plot to overthrow Robert Mugabe or that I've founded a Andy McGeoch (1998) new religion-based on geometry Adrian R Louden (1988) and the migratory patterns of the North African swallow but alas Don’t know if it is worth printing, but neither would be true. I completed the New York Marathon last November in 4hrs 2mins and Should I finally manage to get my raised over £3000 for Children with squirrel circus up and running leukaemia. I am running the you'll be the first to know. Please Barcelona Marathon this Sunday and pass my best on to your dad. London marathon at the end of April. Andy Ferguson (1998) Once I run under the four hour mark,

14 Etcetera Announcements

Calum McKnight (1993) Rebecca Hochfield (2002) My wife Nicole gave birth to our Rebecca married James Ramsay on 14 second child,Anna, on 25 November February 2009 at Blair Castle, 2008. She is a little sister to our son Perthshire. Tom. Iain Le May (1953) James M O Robertson (left 1987 Married Elisabeth Deckker at class of 1993) Lochgilphead,Argyll, 29 July 2008. To James and Rachael a son, Phoenix Iain is also to be congratulated on James Ogilvie Robertson, on 15 having been elected as a Foreign March 2007 Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, May 2008, as well as having Stuart Wilson (1995) Stuart and his been appointed to the Board of wife Caroline had a lovely baby Directors of FESI Ltd, the UK Forum Just like dad - Matthew Alexander Jamieson daughter,Abigail Olivia, on 20 May for Engineering Structural Integrity, Births 2008. January 2009.

Scott Jamieson (2002) Marriages Ian A G McAslan (1992) Scott and Judith Jamieson are delighted On 29 November 2008 to Emma to announce the birth of their first Minshull at St Mary’s Cathedral, child Matthew Alexander Jamieson Ronnie Douglas (1953) Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. (pictured). Born on 12 October 2008 At St. Mary’s Church, Datchet, Berks, by in Ninewells Hospital, he was a mere Rev. Peter Wyard, on 13 December 9lb 6oz. Since graduation, Scott has 2008, Dr. Ronald NC Douglas, completed his junior doctor training Newlands, Glasgow, to Mrs Diana Yule and is about to start his General Duties [Masters] of Datchet and Auckland, NZ. Medical Officer time with the Royal Navy. James Greenhill (1989) to Mindelle (nee Stern) (TGA 1994, Westbourne Robbie Low (1993) 1993) Tanja and I are overjoyed to welcome James and Mindelle were married in our adopted new-born son, Myles Garnethill Synagogue Glasgow on 12 Stephen Bain Low, to the world! November 2006. Between them they Giving very little notice to his parents, now have two daughters, Kimberly and Myles arrived on Wednesday, February Ariella. 11 at 4:39pm, at a very healthy 8 lbs 1 2oz and 22 /2 inches long! He is just a Ian A G McAslan and Emma Minshull beautiful little boy and we can not Rebecca Hochfield shares her wedding day with express how happy we were to meet lots of Glasgow Academy former pupils him and now have him home with us in Boston.

Happy sleeper! - Myles Stephen Bain Low

Etcetera 15 (Top left pic) Just married: David and Ruth McNaught

(Top right pic) Gordon Ross and Judith Harris tie the knot

(Bottom left pic) Gary and Fiona Nicholson - 'Hoping to start a family... maybe!' Gordon and Judith got married on Saturday 18 October 2008 in Milngavie. An excellent day had by all with plenty of Accies present. Gordon Ross is a Chartered Surveyor with Doig and Smith and Judith is a Respiratory Nurse Specialist at Gartnavel General Hospital. David McNaught (2002) Donaldson, also from Glasgow To Ruth Morrison on 27 December Academy. It is the same date as my Willie Smith (1968) 2008 at Cathcart Trinity Church parents’ anniversary. Fiona is working I got married (again) on 20 September thereafter at St Andrew’s in the Square. in the West of Scotland. I’m taking to Susan Austin. Between us we have David is currently working for Fraser time out of surgical training just now five grown-up children - 3 boys and 2 Nash as a consultant engineer, and to do an MD. I go back to surgical girls. We were married at Portincaple Ruth is a trainee lawyer with Burness training in the West of Scotland in on the shores of Loch Long. in their Glasgow office. August. Am still playing West of Meantime I work in the Offshore Oil Scotland league squash. Fiona plays Industry as a Project Manager - Gary Nicholson (1995) netball. Hoping to start a family... currently assigned to a development in I got married on 10 January 2009 to maybe. the Black Sea. Fiona Menzies, a haematologist. We met at medical school in Aberdeen. Alex P O Robertson (left 1988 class Murray Wade (2000) and Emma We’d been together for six years before of 1995) Harris (1998) getting engaged in Florence in June Married Katharine Lindsell in London Murray and Emma tied the knot on 2 2008. The wedding took place in on 15 September 2007 September 2006. Emma is a lawyer Alloway Parish Church with the working in Glasgow and Murray is a reception at the Brig O’Doon hotel, Gordon Ross (1996) and Judith trainee accountant. Alloway. Best man was David Harris (1996)

16 Etcetera Deaths Douglas Scott Readers are most welcome to 13 May 1911 - 10 November 2008 contribute obituaries for publication. We carry no ‘official’ obituaries in Douglas was a quiet and charming Etcetera, only the comments and outdoor person - a skilled traveller, recollections of members of the family, mountaineer, photographer, friends and colleagues. ornithologist, canoeist and very good company. He died peacefully in his Angus Black (1936) 97th year. On 2 February 2009. A friend described him as ‘a truly nice man One of his chief recollections of The who will be greatly missed by all who Academy between 1919 and 1928, deceased by WH Murray,Tom Weir knew and loved him’. which he often quoted to his wife, was and Tom McKinnon. the inspiration provided by Dr Temple. This led to further pioneering James Fleming (1934) After school, Douglas worked in the On 20 December 2008. Jim was a expeditions: North Norway, Nepal, design room of Templeton’s Carpet well-respected former Elder of Morocco, Kurdistan, Greenland (mostly Manufacturing Company but what Campsie Parish Church, Lennoxtown with Tom Weir) and Kenya (with really determined the pattern of his life where he worshipped for nearly half a William Speirs and Charles Warren). was his first sight of the snow-covered century. He was sustained to the end But Scotland’s countryside and Campsies from the top deck of a tram by his faith in God and will be sorely mountains were his first love and with car. In the fullness of time the missed by all who knew him. He is such universal experience he was made survived by his wife Jennifer and his mountains brought him the an Honorary Vice-President of the sons Martin and Patrick. companionship of Scotland’s foremost Scottish Mountaineering Club. mountaineers of the 30s and 40s - Hamish Scott Hunt Inglis (1944) including the author WH Murray, In 1967 he married Audrey (Hughes) a Hamish went to Glasgow Academy another Academical. gifted cellist who similarly enjoyed the with his latter years at school, like outdoors. Together they continued to Towards the end of his 1939-45 army those of many men of his generation, travel and enjoy many canoeing and being overshadowed by the war. service in India, he spent a period of skiing expeditions. Douglas did not However he said his first brush with leave on a solo expedition and write much about his travels, but used the war came early when a parachute climbing in the remote Garhwal his artistry with the camera to capture, mine from a German bomber landed region of the Indian Himalaya. After with sensitivity, the colour and forms near the family home and blew him demobilisation, his cherished ambition of the land, flowers and wildlife. In off the toilet while he read his Beano! was to return to these impressive particular his knowledge of the birds of He joined the Highland Light Infantry mountains and this goal he achieved by these many countries was unrivalled. after school and went to Palestine with initiating the Scottish Himalayan his class mate, fellow Academical and Expedition of 1950. Douglas was the W Allan McNicol lifelong friend,Tommy Caldwell. On last surviving team member, being pre- returning to Glasgow, Hamish did his MA at Glasgow University and worked Dr Alan J Weir widely-read textbooks: Linear as a Principal Teacher of History after Geometry with Karl Gruenberg; a gaining a BA Hons at Cambridge. 8 February 1927 - 24 December 2008 major revision of Group Theory with His formula for a cheese and wine Alan attended the Glasgow Academy (4lbs of cheese, 4 packets of crisps and Walter Ledermann; and two volumes from 1938 to 1945 and won a 40 bottles of wine) is still remembered on Lebesgue Integration and Measure, and in use at many schools today! He Mathematics Exhibition to Jesus a set book in universities around the leaves behind his sons Craig and Scott, College. He stayed on at Cambridge world. Alan was an exceptionally and his two dear grandchildren. as a postgraduate student and obtained gifted lecturer, going to great lengths his doctorate in 1953. He was to present a subject in the most Geoffrey Jarvis (1946) awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship attractive and lucid manner possible. Geoffrey Jarvis, distinguished Glasgow to Princeton University, spent two He will be remembered by generations architect, conservationist, campaigner years there and - later - a year at of staff, students and trainee teachers of and, above all, family man, has died Massachusetts Institute of Technology. mathematics at Sussex schools. After from prostate cancer, aged 81. One of A happy outcome of these visits to the Alan moved to Vardean in the 1980s, his lifelong friends described him as ‘a States was his meeting with Margaret he was appointed Visiting Reader in real Glaswegian and a great Miller, their marriage in 1956 and, in Mathematics at the University of Academical’. Geoffrey died peacefully the course of time, four sons and nine Sussex and, on his retirement in 1992, at home on February 10 in the grandchildren. company of his wife Rosalind and Emeritus Reader. children, Michael, Lolo, Grahame and Alan will be remembered as a man of After a period at Queen Mary Jeeka. He is also survived by his great integrity, who combined personal College,Alan spent most of his brothers, John and Michael. charm and gaiety of manner with a working life at the University of seriousness of purpose in everything Ronald A Mitchell (1939) Sussex as Reader in Mathematics and he did. On 13 December 2007, peacefully at Education. A mathematician with home. wide scholarly interests, he wrote three Professor Peter Bushell

Etcetera 17 Moving up, moving on… serviced residences in Asia. My Former Head Girl assignment is to manage the serviced residences as well as expand the climbs Kilimanjaro Niall Ferguson (1981) company as we are aiming at listing it for kids After five years shuttling between his on the Hong Kong Exchange in 3 or 4 years’ time. I went to the Academy home in Oxfordshire and Harvard Last May I was asked if I would organise a where he has a professorship, Niall from 1951 to 1964 after which I went to the University of Strathclyde to student expedition for St Andrews Ferguson, the historian, has decided University to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for that there is more to life than study hotel management at the Scottish Hotel School and then got my the charity Childreach International. I collecting AirMiles. He is currently in accepted, and in September I got a team negotiations to spend 2010/11 as a MBA in 1969 from Michigan State University. together and we now have 38 of us going Visiting Professor at the London on the trip. School of Economics. Alan Jope (1981) The aim of our expedition is to raise ‘It’s not yet a done deal, but there are The Jopes (Alan, Rosie,Amy, 14, money and awareness for Childreach various reasons for my wanting to do Cameron, 12, and Angus, 10) are International - a child-centred this, not least my eagerness to advance moving from New York to Shanghai development charity which strives to find the writing of the biography that I am this summer where I will take over as new and innovative ways of tackling child doing of Dr Henry Kissinger. The Chairman of Unilever Greater China. poverty at the grass-roots level. It works LSE’s Cold War Studies Centre has Robin McClure (1987) in many places around the world, much to recommend it as a base for supporting communities and providing that work,‘ he told the Telegraph. For myself, the change is my family them with resources they need to give Dr A J MacRobert (1973) and I will be moving in May to their children a brighter future. I was so Houston, USA from Indonesia where impressed and inspired when I met the Has been elected a Fellow of the we have been based for the past five founders of the charity because they Royal Society of Chemistry. Sandy is years. This follows my promotion to really do care about what they are doing the Reader in Photochemistry and be Global Marketing Director for and put 100 per cent effort into each of Photobiology in University College Clariant’s Chemical Management their projects. It is a charity that really London and is based in the National Solutions Business Unit, which covers listens to what people need and does its Medical Laser Centre. the company’s business in Oil and Gas, best to provide sustainable solutions. Refinery and Mining. Etcetera readers may be interested to Our team aims to raise over £40,000 for learn that Revd Bruce H Sinclair Paola Fallone (former staff) Childreach which will go towards (1993) was ordained and inducted to sanitation projects in Tanzania. So far we Overtown Parish Church on 21 I started a new job in August at Dundee University lecturing in Music have raised over £18,000 and we are so January 2009. Bruce worked in the pleased with that, but know that we still Church of Scotland offices and for the in Primary Education, and have recently been promoted to the senior have a long way to go. Of course on top Iona Community before studying for of this fundraising target is the cost of the ministry. management team of the Post Graduate course, as School Experience the trip for each individual, so we really Sheriff Principal Brian A Lockhart Convenor. have set ourselves high goals! (1960) has been appointed a Then there is the challenge of the Temporary High Court Judge - in Congratulations to... mountain! Getting to the top of the addition to his duties as Sheriff highest mountain in Africa is no easy task principal. He will sit in the Criminal Allan Alstead (1954) and it will test the whole team in many Appeal Court in Edinburgh. The different ways. The team is of mixed appointment is unique in Scottish Former soldier and tireless ability and experience which is fantastic Legal history in that it is the first time volunteer Allan Alstead has been as it gives those who have travelled or a Solicitor has been created a Judge. awarded the highest honour climbed before the opportunity to share The main difference in the Appeal awarded by the charity Fields in their enthusiasm with those who have not Court is that he will sit as one of a Trust. Brigadier Alstead CBE, had the chance. I am incredibly excited bench of three Judges and who served with the King’s Own about the expedition. It will be a life- consequently may not get his own way Scottish Borderers, was presented changing experience for us and for the for a change! with the President’s Certificate by children we are able to help. If anyone Lorna Harris (2000) is now a HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at would like to donate to the charity it psychiatrist, working and living in a reception at Buckingham Palace would be greatly appreciated and I’ll keep Edinburgh. in October. (Allan was previously you up to date with how our planning made a CBE in recognition of his and fundraising is going! Graeme Laird (1964) role in organising international treaties To donate please go to I was appointed Senior Vice-President between Britain, Belgium, the United States, France, the Netherlands and www.justgiving.com/standrewsclimbskili- of Lanson Place Hospitality manjaro. Management, a Hong Kong-based Germany.) operator of boutique hotels and Shona Ambrose (2006)

18 Etcetera Reminiscing It’s amazing what you remember!

n 1949, for my 21st birthday, my car removed. All morning Andrew and Nearing our final examinations Iparents presented me with a ‘G’ I struggled to reclaim the old Morris. Andrew and I did our obstetrical Model 350cc Royal Enfield motor The garage was down a slope behind training at Airthrey Castle near cycle. I greatly enjoyed the use of this the house which connected with the Stirling. Airthrey had been converted machine until in 1952 I spotted a back road. Feverishly we worked to to a Maternity Hospital. Andrew and I notice pinned to the notice board of prepare the car for the voyage to had to deliver a set number of babies, the Glasgow University Union. It read: Ardrossan. experience antenatal care and postnatal ‘FOR SALE 1925 Bullnosed Morris care. We found it a wonderful and Luck was with us. A farmer on a Cowley in running order £25’ . The fulfilling exercise. We were supposed tractor drove by and agreed to tow the notice gave the address of a Mosspark to stay in the hospital, but if all was Morris up to the back road.We Garage. quiet we would sneak off in our two inflated the tyres, towed the car Morrises, our Nickel radiators ashine, I went to see the car. It started with backwards to the road and our trusty and head for the Golden Lion Hotel in first press of the starter button. I fell in farmer towed the old Morris Oxford King Street, Stirling. There we would love immediately and bought the car down to the pier. quaff Carlsberg Lager at 3/6d a bottle, there and then! To my father’s horror, The skipper of the steamer took one smoking black Balkan Sobranie I sold the Royal Enfield and drove the look and said,‘I’m no’ havin’ that auld cigarettes with gold tips! Ach, we wiz old Morris all around Britain in the wreck on ma boat!’ We pleaded with the boyz. Golden days, never to be next five years. the first mate. He told our story to repeated! At Glasgow University, a fellow the Captain and he reluctantly agreed. Andrew became an Obstetrician and student,Andrew Auld, was very taken The car was hoisted aboard behind the Gynaecologist in Scotland, and I a by my old Morris, and soon Andrew funnel, and after the elapse of 26 years General Practitioner in Victoria, got word of a Mrs Stephenson who the old car sailed back to the Australia. had for sale a 1926 Morris Oxford mainland. Tourer in Brodick,Arran. During the All this was triggered off in my Andrew worked on the car and following Christmas holidays, between memory by the paintings of Arran in restored and repainted it to almost new Christmas and New Year,Andrew and my copy of Glasgow Academy’s 2009 condition. The thrill we experienced I took the steamer from Ardrossan to Calendar. driving the two old cars together on Brodick. The car was in the garage of the road is hard now to believe, but we a private house in the hill behind did! John M. Crombie 1946 Brodick. Mr Stephenson, the owner had put the car up on blocks in 1939 during the war, because of petrol rationing. Andrew and I found the car buried under a pile of accumulated rubbish in the garage. Mr Stephenson had died after the war and his widow wanted the

Washing line, High Corrie by Robyn Kennedy (age 15) - November in the Glasgow Academy Art Calendar, 2009

Etcetera 19 The Great Escape

The Chronicle of December 1945 introduced Jack Harrison in this rather low-key fashion: 'We congratulate Mr Foster very heartily on his well-earned promotion. In his place we welcome Mr JAT Harrison to the classical staff.'

rom that description, few would and taken to Stalag Luft III Prisoner of A local power cut added to the suspect the real story that lay War camp in Upper Silesia, far into the difficulties for the escapees, but eighty- F German hinterland, close to the Polish one of them had made their way down behind Jack Harrison’s arrival at Glasgow Academy - a story that was border. the tunnel before the Germans realised later made into a feature film starring that something was seriously amiss. Their incarceration in fairly Spartan Just as Jack was about to go down into the likes of Richard Attenborough and conditions far from home did not Steve McQueen. the tunnel, the guards closed it down quench the men’s fighting spirit and and captured five of the escapees. In the comfort of his room in Erskine they spent most of the captive hours Hospital, the 96-year-old Jack planning ways in which they might Only three of the 81 eventually made Harrison recollects some of the story escape. The would-be escapees it back to Britain; the rest were that the Chronicle of December 1945 constructed a number of escape captured at various points in Germany. failed to tell… tunnels using everyday materials over In a sickening act of revenge, 50 of the painstaking course of a full year. Jack’s recaptured colleagues were Let’s begin Jack’s story in 1942 when rounded up by the Gestapo and shot. he was a flight lieutenant in the RAF Jack explains how it was decided who flying Venturas. On 6 November, Jack’s should be first to attempt an escape,‘A Jack spent the rest of the war in the aircraft was involved in an air raid merit system existed whereby you camp, something about which he against enemy shipping in Holland. received a place in the queue to escape expresses mixed emotions: ‘If I had On the way to the target, they came through the tunnel. This was judged been higher up the queue, I would under flak attack from German anti- on the amount of work put in on have got out too - but I may well have aircraft batteries. escape activities, usefulness to the war paid for it with my life.’ effort and drawing lots. I learned Towards the end of the war the ‘The Ventura was flying so low that German in captivity and sat my RSA most of the enemy fire went above it. Germans, anxious to avoid capture by certificate, so I had a fairly high place the advancing Russians, forced the However, the upper gunner’s plastic on the list, at number 96.’ canopy was damaged by the ack ack camp’s prisoners to march 85 miles in and the gunner received injuries to his On the night of March 24 1944, a January blizzard. The conditions face,’ remembers Jack.‘Bill, the gunner potential escapees began to crawl were horrendous and there were in the lower turret, offered to change through the narrow tunnel, hampered several fatalities along the way. places with him so that his wounds by their kits and nursing the Along with his colleagues, Jack was could be attended to.’ knowledge that they could be shot for eventually liberated at Lubeck in the attempting to escape. Ironically his place of refuge cost the north-west of Germany and he upper gunner his life as the plane was Number 96 in the queue had returned to Glasgow three days after so badly damaged that it crashed belly- borrowed a South African officer’s VE day when he was reunited with his down in Holland’s Zuider Zee greatcoat, removed the brass buttons wife. destroying the lower turret and taking and was preparing to masquerade as a By September he was teaching Latin at the life of the young gunner with it. Hungarian electrician. Glasgow Academy, his past apparently a Amazingly, however, Jack, Bill and the ‘I didn’t know very much about forgotten memory. However, over 60 other crew member escaped without a Hungary or electricity, Jack confesses, years later some of the scars still scratch. ‘but I had a very fine forged identity remain: ‘I still find difficulty in liking That was as far as their luck held as card - I worked for Siemens and my Germans,’ he says. ‘I never want to go Jack and his companions were name was Alexander Ragenyi. I found back there. Two and a half years was immediately captured by the Germans his name in a Latin newspaper which I enough!’ had obtained.’

20 Etcetera In recent years, Jack has written an account of his war experiences - although this has never been published. Below is an excerpt from the chapter in which the inmates of Stalag Luft III were preparing for the Great Escape by means of the tunnel code- named ‘Harry’.

we were having them on. And they must have noticed that bedboards were disappearing to the extent that most of our bunks were down to two or three boards, and some kriegies were resorting to making hammocks out of the string from Red Cross parcels, unless they thought we were burning them to cook or to keep warm! I think the likeliest explanation is that, in spite of all their countermeasures, they were losing the battle of wits with the prisoners and could not afford to admit the fact to higher authority. People got sent to the eastern front for less! No praise can be too high for the work of the Polish officers in devising and constructing the hatches of the three tunnels. These were virtually invisible. Even the one that gave entry to ‘Poor Tom’was only found accidentally by one of the ‘ferrets’ at the end of a day-long search of Block Jack Harrison, right, with the other members of the self-styled 'Pewit Patrol' inside Stalag Luft III 123. Yet they could be opened up in before the escape seconds and replaced invisibly, as they sometimes had to be, quicker than any posse of ferrets could reach their suspected location. Actually a greater danger was that the tailors, forgers, ESCAPE! map-makers etc. who might have to be working near windows to make the agan was a little town on the from Sagan to Siemens’ Berlin offices, best of the winter daylight could be Smain line between Berlin and and papers authorising the journey spotted by a prowling ferret, for - as Breslau and roughly equidistant were supplied by the forgery ‘Harry’ got nearer its destination - the from each of these cities and on the workshop, along with an identity card pressure on these departments to turn main railway line between the two. in my assumed name and I don’t think out escape clothing, equipment and Now considered – somewhat that in the midst of all this activity any documents also increased. flatteringly – as a German speaker, I kreiegie was ever caught red-handed, proposed to pose as a foreign worker – though there were many narrow In all, about half the population of the which would account for my lapses in shaves. compound, say 500 men now that the grammar and pronunciation. My Americans had been ‘purged’ to the nationality was Hungarian, and my We used to talk about ‘stupid’ goons, new South Compound, were working name was Alexander Regenyi, which I but in fact they were far from stupid, in one way or another for the X and S had borrowed from the editor of a particularly Unteroffizier Glemnitz organisations. It was impossible to Latin newspaper for schools published and his second-in-command contemplate that such a large number in Buda-Pest to which I had long been ‘Rubberneck’. But the German could get out through ‘Harry’ in one a subscriber. I was an electrical military mind demands that everything night and so a selection procedure had engineer of some kind employed by be done systematically (Alles in to be devised. I can’t remember Siemens. The fact that I knew nothing Ordnung) and their actions were exactly how this was done, but it was about Hungarian and precious little usually predictable. They knew that partly on merit and partly by lot. My about electricity did not greatly matter, there was tunnelling going on, for number came up as 96, and as it was for it was obvious that if I was picked occasionally they would find quite estimated that over 200 would get out up, my thin cover story would never considerable quantities of of sand if things went reasonably well, I was survive serious interrogation. I was when dispersal wasn’t keeping up with delighted with that… supposed to be travelling on business digging; unless perhaps they thought Jack Harrison

Etcetera 21 My war years at The Academy

Douglas Maclean’s time at Glasgow Academy almost exactly coincided with World War II. Here he remembers the effects of war on his schooldays.

n September 1939, Britain and France declared war staggering defeats before the tide began to turn when I was and I became a pupil in Transitus. While I adjusted to in S2. Ia new school, everyone had to adjust to evacuations, To help gather crops, I attended camps at Cupar Fife (1942) blackouts, food and clothes rationing. Teachers of while Malta fought to survive and Kirk Yetholm (1944) military age left and were replaced by retirees and dropping about the time when Paris was liberated. I also helped the standards, despite the availability of the strap and detentions war effort in other ways as a First Glasgow Boy Scout. In as punishments. Teaching tools remained chalk (also used as the summer term of S4 the parked American Sherman tanks a missile!) and talk, and the ability to write quickly and disappeared from Anniesland and the Normandy Landings legibly using an inkwell throughout a 50-minute lesson took place. Within a year the War in Europe was over, and remained an essential skill. Playground noise and games thanks to hard work (e.g. about three hours’ homework per broadened to include warlike games, which occasionally night) and my teachers I gained my Highers in March 1945, spilled over into battles between forms before school as British troops recaptured Mandalay and crossed the started. Collectibles expanded to include allied badges and Rhine. In April, I started my service in the Glasgow insignia, and fragments of AA shells, land mines and Hess’s University Naval Division, while the rest of my classmates plane. Topics of conversation now included the latest enjoyed the summer term. In retrospect, I believe that our propaganda in the Pathe Gazette newsreels shown in schooling meant more to us than to many peacetime pupils. cinemas, and the documentary and fictional films on general release. The relevance of the OTC and the ATC to pupils’ The use of atomic bombs against the Japanese cities of futures became clearer and patriotism had a clear focus. Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to an end before I finished Naval training. I served aboard the destroyer HMS Before I entered S1, the German blitzkrieg had conquered Consort in 1947, seeing for myself something of worn-torn Western Europe and France, where no British army set foot Plymouth, Gibraltar, Malta, the Suez Canal, Ceylon, again for four long years – Britain stood alone! In S1 the Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Japan, including three end-of-term reports covered nine subjects, rising to devastated Hiroshima - it left an indelible impression. eleven in S3, before falling to seven in S4. I grieved for my parents when The Glasgow Herald reported that a family I like to think that the five years I spent at Glasgow friend and TA officer had been killed in action; at least two Academy contributed to my lifelong interest in and of my brother Scouts also died in action. Summer term in enjoyment of history, physics, languages, art and reading, and S1 coincided with British triumphs in Africa against Italians to my knowing Germans, Italians and Japanese as well as raising our badly-dented morale, and Germany invading other nationals. I regret my lack of proficiency in school Russia. Living history and geography expanded to embrace French after five years compared with my ability to speak the world when Japan attacked American and Western Swedish after a mere four months living and working there! colonial empires in the Far East, and inflicted a number of Douglas Maclean (1939-1945)

22 Etcetera As Iain MacLeod’s article states, A Rector remembered Roydon Richards was responsible for writing the school song - in Latin. familiar place. Ever since, small boys - and nowadays The Academy knew girls - have learned the words Richards as a man faithfully, many of them in total of energy: but after ignorance, we suspect, of what they two Rectorships mean. One such is Dr Warren Luke spanning 71 years (1965) who has written recently to ask the whirlwind of that we might publish a translation. change which accompanied his He cannot have been the first to ask return must have since Richards himself provided a come as a shock. translation in the Chronicle of June 1935 for those ‘who had been denied, Quickly, classes were renamed - or had denied themselves, the ‘First English’ inestimable privilege of Latin study’ or passed into history. ‘whose Latinity, owing to the manifold The Preparatory contingencies of Life, is no longer t is fifty years since the March School moved into Colebrooke Terrace taken down from the shelf and morning when the school gathered to and Prayers from the Gym to the Well, subjected to frequent dustings’! Ibid farewell to Frank Roydon where each morning a hymn was sung. A Richards. Our picture shows the Rector secretary was appointed. Houses were For Dr Luke and any of the above, on the verge of retirement, his wife renamed, music was greatly here is Frank Roydon Richards’ fine admiring flowers presented by John strengthened, the Library was improved. verse translation: Douglas - one of Miss Bremner’s Prep 1 The Prize-giving and Commemoration boys - and Alan Andrews, Senior Prefect, Service were dignified with new CARMEN standing before the antique chest of surroundings, St Andrew’s Hall and Qui mos erat scholaribus drawers presented to Mrs Richards. Dr Glasgow Cathedral. New buildings went Olim, nunc usurpamus; Richards received a radio set, to bring up. Richards himself, soon a member of Vetustis conditoribus great music into their new Killearn home. the Headmasters’ Conference, wrote Cantus grates agamus; words and music for a school song and In 1899 the Academy’s Directors had Musas est salutare dispelled any hint of staid conservatism supervised creation of a coat of arms and motto. Above all, the new Rector worked Scholae fidem iuvare: by appointing Edwin Temple, a man of 32, Sic nos solutis coribus to follow the 77 year-old Donald for and contributed to a renewed Libenter concinamus. Morrison. If it was a risk it paid off - and emphasis on high scholarship, awards at ancient universities a quickly-attained perhaps it emboldened their successors in Hic velut in cunabulis goal. 1931 to do the same, for when Temple Vitae fides colenda; intimated his retirement they seized the Richards thrived on administrative and Mox pubi retinaculis chance to call back to the Academy logistical challenge and on a mastery of Remissae persequenda; another man of 32, one who had already detail to which surviving memoranda bear Aetate post adulta made his mark. eloquent witness: minutiae of staffing Fides erit reculta; Joining the Royal Garrison Artillery as requirements, salary calculations, uniform supply, day-to-day arrangements, In factis, in vocabulis soon as he left school and commissioned Semper fides prodenda. on Christmas Eve 1917, Richards had been important school occasions. War in 1939 in France within weeks and was soon and fire in 1954 meant significant re- Idem Anglice Redditum injured. With peace came Oxford, a organisation which he managed with Scholarship in Classics, college rugby and apparent ease. It is no surprise to learn From Learning’s earliest abode cricket and later a second degree, in that in retirement he devoted much time Recall we this invention; Music. Then in 1922 Roydon Richards to studying the decipherment of ancient In thanks to him who found this mode came to the Academy as a 23 year-old scripts. Of art, there’s no dissension Classicist - scholarly, musical, a games Roydon Richards was Rector for 27 years. ‘Tis well that Music’s beauty player and an OTC officer. He brought to Glasgow Academy much Should aid our loyal duty; The Chronicle speaks of a man who threw that readers of Etcetera will recognise So let us raise the joyous ode, himself into the life of the school - and remember. The written record leaves And banish sorrow’s mention! instructing NCOs in the use of the Lewis an impression of a scholarly and Of loyal hearts there is full need gun; playing the piano and singing at the industrious man, with a sense of the Christmas Entertainment; contributing importance of his office and a lofty In early life unletter’d, witty playlets and Latin verses to the vision of the academic heights to which But youth must pay the greater heed magazine. But after five busy terms his Academy boys could aspire. How, From childish bonds unfetter’d. old school reclaimed him and he went though, do those with personal When in the prime we flourish, back to Christ’s Hospital - for just four recollections remember him, fifty years Still loyal hearts we’ll nourish; years until he achieved a headship, at on? Please let the editor of Etcetera Ne’er let us show by word or deed know. Bridlington School. Four years after that Our loyalty’s unbetter’d. came another opportunity to return to a Iain MacLeod So now we know!

Etcetera 23 New member of External Relations team

At the end of October, we and in person. Glasgow welcomed Mark Taylor to a Academy Connected - our new post at The Academy - on-line community, which that of Deputy Director of you can read about Development. elsewhere in this magazine - is his initiative and he has Mark comes to us from been busy getting together a Rugby School where he has committee of Westbourne taught Politics for the past Old Girls and former nine years, for most of that members of staff who have time as head of department. already set a date for a Since 2005 he has been reunion. Rugby’s Director of Extra- Curricular and External Of his first couple of months Programmes, a post in his new job, Mark said:‘I requiring administrative ability and am thoroughly enjoying my new role diplomacy in equal measure! In what completed his studies at Jordanhill at The Academy. I am particularly little spare time he had, Mark was College where he was sent on teaching grateful for being made to feel so Fundraising Chairman of the Bradby practice to Drumchapel High School welcome by everyone.’ Club, a local youth club linked to the and Douglas Academy. With his engaging personality allied to school. Since his arrival in the External his energy and commitment, we are A native of Banffshire, Mark studied at Relations office, Mark has spent time sure that it will not be long before he the University of Aberdeen. However, getting to know the wider Academy is well-known and well-liked by the he is no stranger to Glasgow - having family both through telephone contact whole of The Academy community. Glasgow Academy Connected

In the next few weeks, you The new site will allow you to We hope you enjoy using the site. will receive your log-in and G Look out for your log-in and search for school friends password details which will arrive password details for GA G keep your contact details up to date by e-mail within the next couple of Connected, a new interactive G weeks. If we do not currently have view information on forthcoming your e-mail address, just get in site for former pupils of The events Glasgow Academy and touch via [email protected] and G post your own pictures and news we’ll send off your log-in details. Westbourne School for Girls. Our very own ‘Friends Reunited’ type site will allow you to find out what your old schoolmates are doing now, help you get back in touch with them and learn about recent and forthcoming Glasgow Academy community events. GA Connected was trialled with two year groups in December of last year, so thanks to the classes of 1972 and 1998 for all their help. With their feedback and a new software system in place here at the office, we are now ready to launch!

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