FEBRUARY 2020

The Magazine and Annual Review of The Stewart’s Melville FP Club

The school at sunset, taken by Kelly Denness, Marketing Manager, ESMS 2 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club FP News 2019 3 Contents...

4 Editor’s Introduction 5 President’s Review 7 FPs in the News 10 Principal’s Report 11 ESMS Sixth Form 1999-2019: The Director’s Cut 13 The Black Brothers 15 Melville College Trust Update 16 Jason Clarke - Genius Brewing 18 Tales from a Land Rover 20 Melville Class of 1963 Reunion 20 Branch Clubs 22 Norman Rough 23 Catching up with Hodgy 24 William Carmichael Peebles 26 Sports Clubs - Cricket 27 Sports Clubs - Golf 29 Sports Clubs - Rugby 32 Sports Clubs - Curling 32 Welcome to the Class of 2019 33 Jim Tigar 34 We Will Remember Them 35 Obituaries 38 FP Club Council 2019-2020 4 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Editor’s Introduction year. I also have to give special thanks check out some of the fantastic pieces to Bob Young for all his help – Bob written by David Clarke, some of which edited this news magazine for a fair acquire heightened importance as we few years until this year, and his advice pass the centenary of the end of the and encouragement have been really Great War. The school itself has had helpful. I also have to thank everyone a good year – read more about it in who contributed to the magazine – the the report from Principal Linda Moule. people who actually write the thing, be One recent success not mentioned they club captains, branch presidents, in her report was the victory of the or the authors of the features and 1st XV in the U18 Schools Cup – so stories contained within. congratulations to them. Perhaps a 2019 has been a year full of surprises, number of them will be playing for the FPs before long. Find reports from the and hopefully this magazine reflects sports clubs in the second half of the that. I’ve tried to gather features that magazine. reflect the variety of lived experiences had by former pupils of Daniel Stewart’s Coming to the end of time at university, Melville College, or the schools that getting involved with the FP Club has been a rewarding and fun experience. I’ll start with an introduction merged to form it. Have a read of the interview with current Edinburgh Rugby Staying somewhat in touch with a – my name is Fraser Maclean player Jamie Hodgson, or the profile of place that still means a great deal to and I left SMC in 2017. Jason Clarke, the Creative Director at me has been enriching, made real by Genius Brewing. Be sure to have a read the opportunity to get back in touch I’m a finalist at the University of Oxford, of the profile of the late, great Norman with the people that made our time at studying History and Politics. Doing the Rough, or the Land Rover adventure school so enjoyable. Wet. FP News this year has been great fun story submitted by FP Richard Scott. Anyway, thanks once again to – and I’m thankful to Charles, Lindsey Read my interview with the recently everyone who helped with this, and and the rest of the FP Council for all retired Iain Scott, the legendary former thanks for all who support the FP Club their help in bringing this together this head of Sixth Form at ESMS, and as a whole. Here’s to the next decade. Letters to Editor

Good morning Fraser, My name is Adrian Graves and I am one of the coordinators of the Stew Mel Lions mini rugby section. We are currently raising funds for the mini club and Wooden Spoon Charity. One way is by the selling of merchandise, in particular Stew Mel socks. I have already sold a few pairs to FPs who I work with and was hoping you could be kind enough and spread the word through your membership please? The socks are in sizes 3-6, 7-11 and 12-14 and are £7.50 a pair or £14 for two. Any support would be hugely appreciated. Best regards Adrian [email protected] FP News 2019 5 President’s Review... Outgoing Club President Charles Wilson gives us an update from the FP Club

off and the guests departed. In the I also attended the quarterly meetings short service that followed in the TFC, of the ESMS Governing Council and the Principal’s address recounted the Annual General Meeting of the the stories of some of the young FPs Melville College Trust. whose lives were cut short by hostilities, The Chairman of the ESMS Governing or disease, during the Great War. Council, supported by the Principal, The Principal always extends an wishes to raise the profile of the invitation to the President to attend Governing Council within the schools. the Senior School Sports Day. This This may be achieved, in part, if the year the weather was slightly better Governors, including the Honorary and I enjoyed watching the prowess Governors (the Presidents of the DS&MC Club and the MES FP Guild), of the individuals taking part in the are present at Open Days and attend, track and field events – there are some where possible, the many plays and outstanding athletes in both schools. concerts that are staged by the pupils. The Commemoration of Founders and I responded to this by attending the Prize-giving follows a tried and trusted Junior School Carol Concert in St Reflecting on my two years format. The musical interlude, this year, Mary’s Cathedral, productions of “A was an excellent rendition of Simon Christmas Carol” and “West Side as President, it has struck and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Story” in the Mar Hall and concerts in me that much of what the FP Water” sung by the SMC Upper School the TFC and the Usher Hall. All these Club is about has to do with Choir. Following a stimulating speech, events showcased, to the full, the the school. In the past twelve the prizes were presented by former musical and theatrical talents of the months, I have attended pupil Kydd Boyle, Entrepreneur and co- pupils and were well worth attending. most of the major events in founder of Horizons a social enterprise At the Melville College Trust AGM, the “built to inspire, educate and connect the school calendar including Governors were given an update on the future leaders who want to positively commemorative plaque to be installed Remembrance Day, Sports impact the world in which they live”. It in Melville Street to mark the location of Day and the Annual Senior was a pleasure that evening to co-host, Melville College; the school occupied School Prize-giving. with the President of the MES FP Guild, part of No 1 and Nos 3 to 13 Melville a reception at Inverleith for leavers from Street from 1920 to 1973. The plaque As 2018 was the 100th anniversary both schools with around 180 enjoying was unveiled by Margot Christie on 26 of the signing of the Armistice, both the BBQ food and welcome drinks. April and, following a photo call, those schools attended the Remembrance attending were taken down to Inverleith I was represented by Past President Service held on the Queensferry Road for lunch. campus. An eerie silence hung over Bert Barclay at a Commemorative Turning to the Club and Clubhouse. the quadrangle; as the invited guests Event at Daniel Stewart’s graveside in and wreath laying party filed out of the Old Calton Cemetery, in May, as I was The Club is financially sound and school and took up their places; as the on holiday. David McLeish, the School has a robust membership base. wreaths were laid; while the Last Post Archivist, is in the process of seeking We are continuously reviewing the was sounded and the lament “Flowers opinions from the Melville College Trust effectiveness of our communications of the Forest” was played; while the on how to recognise the founder of with the membership; in addition to two minutes silence was observed; as Melville College, the Reverend Robert our website and Facebook page we Reveille reverberated off Old College Cunningham, as his grave is in the have opened an Instagram Account and while the colours were marched Necropolis in Glasgow. and are considering opening a Twitter 6 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

Account. Please note that for the Club sports clubs make use of the Clubhouse It has been a privilege and an honour to to communicate effectively by email, it facilities for their social events. serve as your President for the last two is imperative that members advise us if External lets are part of the life of the years. It has not been smooth sailing they change their email address. Clubhouse; corporate events, funeral all the time but, overall, it has been an I have had the pleasure of attending teas, birthday parties, anniversaries, amazing experience. The Merchant Company’s Court and Pilates, Weight Watchers, Gentle However, I would not have survived my Charter Dinners, the Cricket Club Exercise and stamp auctions are the and Rugby Club annual dinners and mainstay but we also attract lets from tenure without the help and guidance our branch club dinners in Glasgow, the SRU and East of Scotland Cricket. provided by the Council and the Aberdeen and London all of which To enhance the letting experience, we Management Team. In particular, I would were very sociable and enjoyable have installed a digital projector and like to thank; Laura McIntosh for keeping events. Unfortunately, Borders did not remote-controlled screen downstairs. me on the straight and narrow when it hold a dinner this year and we had The upgrade to the intruder alarm came to spending the Club’s money; to cancel our dinner due to lack of system has been completed and all Lindsey Geddes for liaising with the interest. Unfortunately, I was unable to staff and users of the premises have Bar and Catering staff and providing attend the Watsonian Jazz Jamboree. been issued with fobs programmed secretarial services; Denise Mitchell and with their personal access rights. I continue to attend the End-of-Month her staff for their friendly and welcoming and EROS lunches as it shows that the Unfortunately, the upgrade to the front manner both “front-of-house” and behind Club is taking an interest in these events. door hasn’t taken place but it has been the bar; Joyce Waterston for continuing resurrected with Estates Department. On the business side, I have attended The car park has been re-surfaced to provide great fayre and her staff for the meetings with the Bursar (rent review), and patching was carried out on the courteous manner in which they serve with Brewin Dolphin (investment driveway but the latter was not sealed the food and wait on our guests. I think portfolio review) and with the Treasurer properly and it is disintegrating. This has it is safe to say that without the bar and and Secretary to discuss the day-to- been brought to their attention, along day running of the Club. catering staff, Inverleith would not enjoy with the need to replace several broken the patronage that it does. Following a recruitment drive, the paving slabs. Estates have said that the Club appointed Fraser Maclean to paving slabs will be dealt with at the Normally, at this point in the review the replace Bob Young as Editor of the same time as the repairs to the patch. President would wish his successor FP News. Fraser left school in 2017 We continue to work with Estates on every success as he takes the helm and is currently studying History a Planned Maintenance Programme for the next two years. Unfortunately, I and Politics at Oxford University (PMP) for the Clubhouse; we recently have been spectacularly unsuccessful and is Editor-in-Chief at Cherwell met to review the 2019/20 PMP and to in appointing a Vice-President and, in Newspaper – Oxford’s oldest and most produce the 2020/21 PMP. turn, my successor; a time-honoured popular student newspaper – having In conjunction with the Melville College previously been its Music Editor and tradition bites the dust. Trust and Estates, we are looking at Deputy Editor. Fraser came highly installing a lift in the Clubhouse foyer The Council will continue to look for recommended and we are delighted with a view to making the whole a President and Vice-President and, that he has accepted the position. Clubhouse accessible to all. A feasibility as soon as someone accepts either Inverleith is home to the affiliated rugby, study concluded that a lift could be position, the Council will, under the hockey and cricket clubs. Despite installed and an architect produced Terms of the Constitution, call an EGM, participating in increasingly competitive detailed drawings for the install together for the appointments to be ratified. I’m environments, they are still able to with 3D Images of how the foyer would sure any volunteers would be made devote a great deal of time to coaching look following the installation. Having most welcome. the pupils of both schools and others in studied these documents, we have the North Edinburgh area; this is starting had a re-think on the actual location of In the interim period, the Treasurer and to pay dividends as several of them are the lift and we have asked the architect the Secretary will continue to manage now playing in the senior teams. The for revised drawings and 3D Images. the day-to-day running of the Club. Curling and Golf Clubs, although not Depending on the final costs, we would based at Inverleith, are also involved in hope to have the lift installed in the Charles Wilson MBE coaching youngsters. All the affiliated 2019/20 financial year. President FP News 2019 7 FPs in the News Martin Chamberlain – charity envelope draws and a pre-event hauls. Batting-wise his top score was High Court Appointment Digital Auction where people had the 115 not out against Stenhousemuir in opportunity to bid on everything from 1975. He was Captain of Melville FP 1991 leaver Martin Chamberlain has weekends away in the UK to trips in 1967 and 1968 and was the first been appointed as a Justice of the High overseas, original artwork, a host of Captain of the combined Stewart’s Court in London. Martin was called rugby memorabilia and opportunities to Melville FP in 1973 and 1974. to the Bar in 1997 after studying PPE play golf on great courses. and a Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford University, with a Diploma in Law at The BBC’s Jill Douglas spoke movingly City University in between these two about the vital work of the My Name’5 qualifications. He took Silk in 2013, being Doddie Foundation, followed by Doddie’s appointed a Queen’s Counsel, the own address. He delivered an inspiring, highest-ranking position of a senior humorous and emotional speech where barrister in the British law system. he referenced the fact that he had tried to take the drive he had in rugby and Martin’s work ranges from human rights apply this to his own personal battle with claims on behalf of individuals and Motor Neurone Disease. Eric progressed to the Scotland team in NGOs, to commercial and regulatory 1965, his first game being against Ireland judicial review claims and appeals in Dublin. In the Irish second innings he in financial services, environmental Eric Thompson Inducted took five wickets for 11 runs, helping law, aviation, healthcare, pensions, into Scottish Cricket Hall dismiss Ireland for 25. This was the pharmaceuticals, tax, telecoms and first of six 5 wicket hauls in a 41 match of Fame transport. On the defendant side, Scotland career which stretched until he has appeared for governmental and 1977. Eric was a regular choice in an other public bodies in pubic law cases era of far fewer games, and before the of all kinds including in the fields of days of one-day cricket for the Scotland education, local government, equality team. This meant lengthy bowling spells & discrimination and professional against County and Test Match standard regulation. He has also worked teams and surely one of his highlight within the European Court of Human was taking 6 for 55 against the West Rights, both for claimants and state Indies in 1966. respondents, and the EU Courts. In all he took 107 wickets for Scotland, during the course of bowling just over ESMS Dinner for 1100 overs. Standing just over 6 foot tall, he had a superb bowling action, Doddie raises over his most dangerous delivery being the £87,000 for Charity ball he would bring back sharply to On Friday 1 February ESMS welcomed right-handed batsmen. over 700 guests to a glittering charity dinner in the National Museum of Eric Thompson became the 4th Melville Scotland in honour of Doddie Weir, to College FP cricketer to be inducted raise money to be shared between by into Scottish Cricket Hall of Fame in the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and May 2019. He follows Douglas Barr, Access to Excellence. All 72 tables Ronnie Chisholm and Bill Laidlaw - a were sold out within an hour! remarkable statistic for a small Club. On the night, guests had the Eric started playing for Melville FP in opportunity to bid on a Live Auction, 1957 primarily as a bowler but was compered by David Henderson, BBC also a more than useful batsman. From News Presenter and contemporary of 1957 to 1978 he took over 700 wickets Eric’s family gather at Portgower Doddie at Stew Mel, and Bryan Lewis. for Melville FP and latterly Stewart’s Place in May alongside Willie Donald, The auction was supplemented by Melville FP. He took over 40 five wicket President of Scottish Cricket 8 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

Alasdair McDowall John Alexander Queens Birthday Honour Cruickshank VC Congratulations go to Emeritus On Thursday 16th May I had the Professor Alasdair William McDowall privilege of representing the Parent AM (Melville Class of 1972), who was Club at the “Piping Lunch” held at the recently appointed as a Member of the Royal Northern and University Club Order of Australia by her Majesty HRH in Aberdeen. This event marked the Queen Elizabeth II in the 2019 Queens culmination of the “Tune for a Hero” Birthday Honours list - ‘For significant competition, sponsored by the RNUC service to Science, particularly in and organised by “The Piping Times”, to the field of Electron Microscopy. compose a pipe tune in honour of John His research included performing Alexander Cruickshank VC, a former key experiments that culminated in pupil of Daniel Stewart’s College. the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry to his supervisor Professor Jacques Dubochet and two of his colleagues in 2017.” Alasdair’s supervisor graciously shared the there until the summer of 1941 accolades with him and is now proud when he transferred to the RAF. He custodian of the Nobel medal. underwent flight training in Canada and the United States, earning his wings in July 1942. After further training, he was assigned, in March 1943, to No. 210 Squadron piloting Catalina flying boats, from RAF Sullom Voe, used by Coastal Command in its battle to keep the North Atlantic and Arctic sea lanes open for supply convoys. The competition offered a single prize John was awarded the Victoria Cross, of £1,000.00p for a pipe march of any at the age of 24, for his actions in time signature and of any duration, but sinking a German U-boat on 17 July one that would be uplifting and reflect 1944. The manner in which John won John Cruickshank’s home city and his his VC is well documented and the bravery during his time with the Royal details are easily found on the internet. Air Force Coastal Command. The However, his citation reads as follows: - winning composer was David Mason of Cincinnati, Ohio. David spent his prize “This officer was the captain and pilot of money travelling to Scotland to play a Catalina flying boat which was recently his winning tune, aptly named “John engaged on an anti-submarine patrol Alexander Cruickshank VC”, in public, over northern waters. When a U-boat for the first time, at the “Piping Lunch”, was sighted on the surface, Flying and in the presence of John himself, Officer Cruickshank at once turned to now in his 99th year. the attack. In the face of fierce anti- aircraft fire he manoeuvred into position John was born in Aberdeen and began and ran in to release his depth charges. his education at Aberdeen Grammar Unfortunately they failed to drop. School. Following a family move to Edinburgh, he spent some time at The Flying Officer Cruickshank knew that Royal High School before moving on to the failure of this attack had deprived Daniel Stewarts College. him of the advantage of surprise and On leaving school, John was that his aircraft offered a good target Order of Australia presented by HRH apprenticed to the Commercial Bank in to the enemy’s determined and now Prince William Duke of Cambridge, Edinburgh. However, within a year, and heartened gunners. 19th November 2019 Buckingham at his father’s suggestion, he joined the Without hesitation, he climbed and Palace. Territorial Army, enlisting in the Royal turned to come in again. The Catalina Photo taken by Robbie McDowall Artillery in May 1939. He remained was met by intense and accurate fire FP News 2019 9

highest traditions of the Service.” Following war service, John returned to his career in banking and subsequently retired to his home city of Aberdeen. The “Piping Lunch” was attended by 70 people, this number being a combination of RNUC members and guests. The top table guests included representatives of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association as well as Wing Commander Gavin Davey, head of the RAF Benevolent Fund in Scotland. The programme for the afternoon began with a welcoming address by RNUC Vice Chairman, and was repeatedly hit. The navigator/ Cruickshank insisted on being carried Don Shaw. This was followed by David bomb aimer, was killed. The second forward and propped up in the second Mason’s performance of his winning pilot and two other members of the pilot’s seat. For a full hour, in spite of his tune. Grace was then said by RNUC crew were injured. Flying Officer agony and ever-increasing weakness, member Bill McCall. Lunch was served Cruickshank was struck in seventy-two he gave orders as necessary, refusing and this consisted of three courses places, receiving two serious wounds to allow the aircraft to be brought down accompanied by a selection of wines, in the lungs and ten penetrating until the conditions of light and sea made all to the RNUC’s usual very high wounds in the lower limbs. His aircraft this possible without undue risk. standard. Following lunch, the loyal was badly damaged and filled with toast was proposed by Don Shaw after the fumes of exploding shells. But he which there was a comfort break. did not falter. He pressed home his The afternoon continued with attack, and released the depth charges introductions by Bill McCall followed by himself, straddling the submarine the presentation of the competition prize, perfectly. The U-boat was sunk. to David Mason, by Robert Wallace, He then collapsed and the second pilot editor of the Piping Press. David was took over the controls. He recovered also given a framed copy of his winning shortly afterwards and, though bleeding tune as well as one of a thousand limited profusely, insisted on resuming edition models of John Cruickshank’s command and retaining it until he was Catalina produced by Corgi. Framed satisfied that the damaged aircraft was copies of David’s tune were also given to under control, that a course had been each of the three judges. set for base and that all the necessary With his assistance the aircraft was Official proceedings were then brought signals had been sent. Only then safely landed on the water. He then to a close with a vote of thanks by Bill would he consent to receive medical directed the taxying and beaching McCall. aid and have his wounds attended to. of the aircraft so that it could easily John Cruickshank is known to be He refused morphia in case it might be salvaged. When the medical a humble man who shuns publicity. prevent him from carrying on. officer went on board, Flying Officer However, following the end of the During the next five and a half hours of Cruickshank collapsed and he had to official proceedings I had a suitable the return flight he several times lapsed be given a blood transfusion before he opportunity to introduce myself to, into unconsciousness owing to loss of could be removed to hospital. and shake hands with, this remarkable blood. When he came to his first thought By pressing home the second attack gentleman. I told John who I was and on each occasion was for the safety in his gravely wounded condition and how I came to be present at the event. of his aircraft and crew. The damaged continuing his exertions on the return My mention of Daniel Stewarts College aircraft eventually reached base but it journey with his strength failing all the brought a smile to his face, making a was clear that an immediate landing time, he seriously prejudiced his chance very pleasant end to what had been a would be a hazardous task for the of survival even if the aircraft safely thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. wounded and less experienced second reached its base. Throughout, he set David Fraser pilot. Although able to breathe only an example of determination, fortitude President with the greatest difficulty, Flying Officer and devotion to duty in keeping with the DSMCC – Aberdeen Branch 10 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Principal’s Report

squad journeyed to Manchester for TFC, lending their support and proudly their annual tour with fixtures against wearing their House colours. Other Bowden Hockey Club and King’s musical events included two Award School Macclesfield. In rugby, the Holders’ Concerts held in our wonderful U16 XV played in the final of Scottish new venue, The Dean, a fitting venue Schools’ Shield at Murrayfield. The which was able to accommodate the conditions were testing but the squad acoustic demands of the pipes, organ, were declared worthy winners, with guitar and strings followed by the Junior a clean sheet result of 41-0. The 1st School and Senior School Chamber X1 football team finished the season Concerts as well as the ESMO Concert in style by winning the Independent held on the eve of St Andrew’s Day in Schools’ Cup with a 3-1 victory over the TFC. Following the performance of local rivals George Watson’s College. the Band and Dancers at the ESMS In March the boys senior swimming Ceilidh in September, the Solo Piping team headed down to London to and Drumming Competition was defend their Bath Cup title. After keenly fought at all levels from Chanter outstanding swims from all the boys, through to the Senior events. The annual It is my very great pleasure Stewart’s Melville College came away Grandparents’ Tea Party hosted by to write my second report for with not only the Bath Cup and record S6 students was greatly appreciated the FP News Magazine as but also the Otter Medley Cup and by all attendees. We rounded off the accompanying record (the boys beat term in our traditional way with our Principal of Erskine Stewart’s their own record from last year by two Carol Parties followed by both the Melville Schools. over a second). This achievement is Junior School and Senior School Carol unprecedented as the Bath Cup is a Services held on consecutive nights in In 2018/2019 boys at Stewart’s Melville UK-wide competition and so to win St Mary’s Cathedral. During term two we College worked with determination both events, and break their respective were astonished by the high standards and commitment to achieve strong records is a remarkable feat. and fun generated by the Sl and S2 examination results at National 5, ESMS musical Bugsy Malone; by an Higher and Advanced Higher levels. The school calendar was filled with outstanding Pipe Band and Dancers’ The pass rate at National 5 was 97.6% special events and occasions, including concert and the Spring Concert, The with an A rate of 70.7%. At Higher level Remembrance, The Pipe Band Senior School play, A Doll’s House, boys secured a pass rate of 94.2%, and Dancers’ Ceilidh and excellent marked Dr Iain Scott’s last directorial with an A rate of 63.6%. At Advanced performances of Dickens’ A Christmas undertaking for the schools. He has Higher level the pass rate was 92.7% Carol over three nights. The production directed a remarkable number of plays and the A rate was a staggering 59.5%, took place in the Mar Hall, with each and musicals over the last 30 years. an increase on last year’s figure which scene exquisitely punctuated by The term came to a climatic conclusion had been the best on record. performances from the Chamber Choir. The inter-house ESM Challenge with the Usher Hall Concert, at the Boys not only distinguished themselves began in earnest with The House Music end of March, featuring the combined on the academic front in their Competition. 700 pupils from S3- choirs and orchestra of more than 500, SQA examinations but also in their S5 took part in the six House Choirs performing Mozart’s Requiem. classroom learning and in their co- which were masterfully prepared and Over the past year boys have had curricular activities throughout the conducted by S5 pupils. The soloists, the opportunity to participate in year. They demonstrated commitment, chamber groups and choirs performed various curricular and sporting trips. perseverance and resilience in all their to a very high standard and rightly These included CCF camps to Barry endeavours. impressed our external adjudicator. The Buddon (Army) and RAF Shawbury On the sports field, the boys’ hockey House Rock competition followed on a in Shropshire; the annual Stewart’s sides at U18 and U15 levels reached few weeks later, it was a rousing evening Melville College trip involving S5 boys the national semi-finals of the Scottish full of energy and spirit. Both events working in three schools with which we Schools’ Cup. The S2 boys’ hockey attracted a full house of students in the have links in Malawi; a 1st XI cricket FP News 2019 11 festival at Hymers College, Hull and a 3rd XI cricket tour to Liverpool; a ESMS Sixth Form, 1999- very successful trip to Bisley, and a Geography trip to Alberta, Canada; a trip to the German Aeronautics Centre 2019: The Director’s Cut in Cologne organised by the Physics department, a walking tour in the Fresh from retirement, Iain Scott chats Sierra Nevada in southern Spain and to FP News about life after ESMS the Chamber Choir tour to Venice. During the February break, the RMPS of their school career and preparing department led a successful trip to New for the future. It is a key time in any York and Washington and during the person’s life and I cannot imagine same week Mr Brown led his final golf a more worthwhile job than helping trip to Portugal. Modern Languages people through that. There were sad exchanges and work experience moments as well as good times, but opportunities to both France and I actually rather enjoy dealing with the Germany gave boys the opportunities problems of others. I made sure that I to immerse themselves in the language treated my final year exactly the same and culture. Boys participated in all of as all the ones before it, though at the these trips with enthusiasm. I am very end I could not help but reflect that in grateful to my colleagues who gave many ways my own life had come to up their time to lead these exciting, mirror the students’ – they were the educational ventures. leavers of 2019 and so was I. We were both leaving school bound for a future The Development Office welcomed that could not entirely be predicted but over 700 guests to a glittering charity had promise. The difference, of course, dinner in the National Museum of I recently caught up with Dr is that they have their entire lives before Scotland in February. The ESMS Iain Scott, who has directed them and infinite possibilities! Dinner for Doddie raised over £80,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation Sixth Form for the last 20 As regards the future, I have had and Access to Excellence. It was years. Many FPs owe him a a period of ill health over the last 6 a memorable and moving occasion great deal, and it was great to months but seem to be better and and I am immensely grateful to the hear what he had to say about am looking forward to being more generosity of school families and the his time at SMC, and what active again in 2020. I wrote a study of the rise of modern China a couple wider ESMS community. The ESMS he’s looking forward to after a Pipe Band, ESMS Big Band and school of years ago and I hope that I will be choirs all performed although the successful escape – Fraser. able to write another book soon, as undoubted star of the evening was the well as help with a charity and do a remarkable Doddie Weir OBE whose bit of travelling. I have always been a How was the last year in charge courage in the face of adversity and great reader and film-goer and I love of the Sixth Form? What is next unquenchable spirit left an indelible music so there will not be a shortage of for you now? mark on everyone. things to do, but I need to get involved I enjoyed the last session of Sixth Form At the end of the school year we were with others and have a purpose. The as much as I enjoyed the first one delighted to welcome back to Stewart’s job was my life, I have no family, and twenty years ago in 1999 and that was Melville College, former pupil Mr Kydd so it is really important for me to find very much what I intended - I wanted Boyle, to deliver the address at The worthwhile things to fill my time. to retire while I was still enjoying the Commemoration of Founders and How did the boys change over job and was excited by it. For me, it the years? Did they become more Prizegiving. Kydd is the founder of was the perfect role and it was great serious, more annoying? Horizons, a social enterprise helping to be given the opportunity of setting to inspire, educate and connect future up the combined co-ed Sixth Form all You will be surprised to hear me say young leaders. He delivered a unique those years ago and invent something that in many respects I did not feel and powerful address which had the completely new, which many people the boys changed at all. I always audience spellbound. It was a fitting at the time did not think would be found them to be keen, enthusiastic, way to round off a remarkable year. successful. It has been a huge full of good humour, thoughtful, kind, Linda A Moule pleasure and privilege to work with well-intentioned and great company. Principal students as they were nearing the end They have always been filled with 12 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

ambitions and goals, and (while often (very unwelcome) area of concern boy was ‘destined’ for a specific career – pretending not to work) in Sixth Form and anxiety, with some students not life is far too unpredictable and surprising they did actually work hard. They were realising that what they called ‘banter’, for that. The Sixth Form year was often always truly good people who looked others might find objectionable a time for questioning what was the best out for each other and had a great especially when broadcast to everyone. route forward – sometimes at odds with deal of affection and loyalty for the However, changes in society have parents or staff or one’s previous self. school, even though it sometimes took also led to boys being more open Nowadays it is possible to have multiple years for them to realise that they had about how they felt - their concern for careers and that is very exciting. actually had a pretty good education! others has seen charities in the school What are you worried about in Obviously, there were exceptions blossom during this period. Also, relation to young people now? What of boys who made mistakes and as there was more focus on work in is a threat to the younger generation sometimes showed poor judgement Sixth Form and increased struggle for that wasn’t about before? and wilfulness, but we can all think of university places or apprenticeships, I have already mentioned the dangers examples in our own lives which do not there was also a rise in stress and of social media and the possibility of make us proud. The most important tension during term time – though boys hurting people through casual remarks thing is that we should realise the seemed to miss deadlines and attend which are then accessible by all. The mistakes, learn from them and act parties just as much if not more than loss of privacy, in a world which is positively, and in most cases they did. ever before! And frankly, if you are increasingly monitored and observed Every year (usually at the Leavers’ 17/18, why should you not want fun? is worrying – the ability to bring people Ball!), boys would admit their previous Any personal favourite stories - to justice through surveillance needs stupidity, or apologise for causing me boys that did things differently, to be balanced against the loss of so much grief – but they had emerged made their own path etc? personal freedoms. My generation wiser and that is all that counts. I can think of a number of instances of has been wasteful with resources Of course, society itself has changed ‘boys who did things differently’, but I and totally selfish in the pursuit of our a huge amount in the past 20 years don’t think any of them would appreciate desires and this has cost the world and this has caused changes in the me publicising exactly how, though they dear in environmental terms, and boys, even though their fundamental have all gone on to have very successful, so for the new generation there are qualities have been constant. In 1999, happy lives. I am just astonished at huge challenges related to climate Sixth Form was still seen as a bit of how well our students do in life after change and the uses and abuses of a luxury, a ‘year off’ before university, school – and the route is not necessarily our planet. I am glad to see that the a time to relax and have fun before through university. Everywhere I go, I new generation seems much more resuming academic work the next year. meet FPs, often involved in jobs they aware of this and willing to act. If I As university places became more never expected to do when they were were to identify one thing that worries competitive in Scotland because of the at school, and sometimes also very me now about society and has always fee situation, more boys stayed on for different from their university degree. worried me, it is the focus on excessive a final year to gain more qualifications Since retiring, it has been really nice to alcohol, as if it were a necessary part of to get into university and had to work be contacted by FPs who want to meet youth. The students that I see in Sixth very hard. The arrival of girls in the year up for coffee and discover that their life Form are fantastic young adults; they group also boosted competition and stories have been amazing - hopefully are entertaining, interesting and great everyone is keen to succeed and make that spirit of adventure, that openness company – they do not need extra the most of the year. The increase in to new paths, starts in the final years of alcohol to make them attractive as social media introduced a whole new school. I tried never to assume that a people – they already are. FP News 2019 13

What will you miss most about the school? Everything – it was my whole life. If I The Black Brothers had to select one thing, it would be the interaction with the students. I loved – David Clarke talking to them, hearing about their lives, their hopes, their problems – and At SMC Archives, we are ever grateful (and always boyishly they always made me laugh. I thought excited!) by any addition to the holdings; however, in about them all the time and often December, we received on long-term loan a tremendously worried about them and was genuinely delighted when things worked out. I special family collection that encapsulated the story of have never been very ambitious for Stewart’s College in both world wars. The huge assemblage myself, but I was fiercely ambitious for of medals, diaries, documents and photographs of the Black them, personally and academically. family tell a story of service which is as extraordinary as the If you could teach one weekly hour generosity of Mr Duncan Black (DSC 1955-67) who first to every pupil in the country, what floated the idea of lodging the objects with us. Two items- a would you teach? collection of medals and a diary, tell the poignant story of Ah! At last an easy question! It would two brothers at war a century ago. be Philosophy. The big questions in life never change, but have to be put to bed by the performance of addressed time and again. Who are the London Scottish in the Battle we? Why are we here? What is a good of Messines. The ‘Cockney Jocks’ life? What is the truth? We all need to were the first Territorials to meet the confront these and, if you are 17 years enemy in battle in a now-legendary old, you have a real interest in those big encounter on Halloween 1914, and fundamental questions which should Walter Black was in the thick of it. never be ducked. I think everyone On the 31st October, in the middle of should be taught philosophy once a the do-or-die First Battle of Ypres, the week – and many countries in Europe Scottish were sent to plug a gap in the do just that. British line on the Wytschaete ridge, What book should every Stew Mel which was held by a scratch force boy (or man) read? of dismounted British cavalry and a much-depleted Indian battalion. Black, The Meditations by the Roman in F Company, was sent forwards at emperor Marcus Aurelius – a very short Walter Black, born in 1888, was the the double across the open fields in full book with very short paragraphs that eldest of his siblings and a qualified view of the enemy, to form a reserve can be easily dipped into and will guide chemist. Moving to London, he line. It was here that, paradoxically, you to a better life. played for Saracens and joined the he found himself in greater danger Do boys’ schools have a place in Territorial Force. By the outbreak of than the men closer to the firing. The the 21st century? war, he was a Lance Corporal in the fighting was so desperate that there Well, I certainly did not spend most 14th London Regiment, commonly had been no time to dig trenches or of my life teaching in one, only to known at the London Scottish. shelter scrapes- the Scottish reserve conclude that I had been wasting my Mobilised on the outbreak of war, was literally instructed to lie down with time. I honestly think ESMS has a good the Scottish volunteered for service no other cover than their greatcoats for rudimentary camouflage. Soon model – a few years of senior school overseas though only bound by spotted by German artillery and where boys and girls can be educated their terms of enlistment to serve at home. Thus, the regiment marched coming under heavy fire, incredibly separately so they can feel confident off to war high-spirited, well trained Walter took the time to scribble down and relaxed in themselves and can focus but badly equipped- still wearing his experiences as they happened. on whatever subjects they want without Highland brogues, spats, full hair ‘Shells are shrieking over our heads any preconceptions of what is for boys sporrans and still carrying Victorian while rifle and maxim fire is continuous or girls; followed by a final experience rifles that were largely incompatible in front of us- it is perfectly hellish… a of co-education when both are more with the ammunition they would perfect nightmare of circumstances’. assured and independent, but now receive in France. The Territorials After enduring an entire day of this ready to interact and learn from each as ‘weekend warriors’ suffered and severe casualties, at 21.00, a other – before the rest of LIFE begins. patronising condescension from the huge German attack was launched Dr Iain Scott Regular Army- but any questions on Black’s battalion, with Bavarian Director of Sixth Form, 1999-2019 about their effectiveness would be troops leading the way with regimental 14 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club brass bands playing. The Scottish held of his brother’s charge at Messines, fire until the enemy were 30 yards away was conducted in a landscape now then simply poured fire into the dense dominated by trenches and chemical masses, causing utter mayhem and weapons. But far from being the mass casualties. Lit by the eerie glow stalemate- slaughter- stalemate round of of a nearby windmill that was engulfed attritional warfare commonly accepted in flames, the German attack was torn as the status quo on the Western Front, apart and driven off by a spirited bayonet the British were rapidly developing charge- a legendary moment in London a doctrine of dominating the enemy Scottish history. French troops coming in their own trenches both physically to the sector a few days later counted and psychologically- No Man’s Land over 3500 German corpses strewn over officially did not exist- and James found the ground. General Allenby was moved himself at the forefront of this revolution. to comment that ‘In discipline and He had an extraordinary facility for tactical efficiency, the London Scottish raiding, reconnaissance and intelligence have been up to the standard of the gathering- crossing the ground between best Regular troops.’ Gone forever was the trenches often on his own or leading the myth that the ‘chocolate soldiers’ small parties of men, in the type of couldn’t pull their weight… action now more commonly associated back, then went out again. He was Attached to the Guards Division, the with the special forces. One such raid immediately awarded a Military Cross Jocks were sent into reserve near the saw him lead six men into No Man’s to accompany his DCM. Such was the shattered village of Givenchy, where, as Land and expend 33 grenades in the pace of operations that through the late rainy autumn gave way to snowy winter, destruction of an advanced German summer Black was in constant action. Walter witnessed the dawn of trench post and its unfortunate occupants. On the 10th September 1917 the 9th warfare. He commented ‘My head aches Such was his nerve, that by August were again in the starting line-up for from the concussion of the earth. I am 1915 he was commissioned to Second the continued advance up the ridges about three feet down and two or three Lieutenant and was awarded the away from Ypres. That morning, parties Distinguished Conduct Medal, just one feet in, so I feel every thud’. These early of the battalion, slogging through deep down from the Victoria Cross. trenches provided pitifully little protection, mud and under a withering fire began to and his comments on them proved to Returning to Edinburgh, James had falter and the advance slowed. Within be tragically prophetic. On the 22nd perhaps hoped for a quiet period of moments James Black, now the battalion December 1914, Walter Black was killed leave, and dropped by into the College intelligence officer, was on the scene. by a sniper. How James and Catherine, to see Mr Milne, the notably austere Swiftly the men were rallied, reorganised his parents, felt that first Christmas of the and reserved headmaster. Once the and with Black at their head, charged war hardly bears thinking about. boys apprehended that a popular ex- on and secured their objective. Such cadet and bona fide war hero was in This was now a war to the finish- and inspired leadership made a Bar to the the school, matters rapidly escalated no recruit proceeding on active service Military Cross inevitable- it was confirmed into a situation closely resembling a early in 1915 could dwell under any eight weeks after the first. James Black illusion of what lay ahead on the other riot! Lead by Milne, Black was carried survived the war with a Mention in side of the Channel. James, born in through the school to the chapel Despatches to add to his laurels and a 1892, found himself posted to France amidst scenes of fearful scrummaging, well-deserved promotion to Captain. Niall the day after his 23rd birthday. Like where he bashfully recounted Gilhooley, in his newly published history of Walter, James was a Lance Corporal some tales of his prowess to a very the 9th, sums up James Black with one in a fashionable Edinburgh Territorial appreciative audience! word- unstoppable. battalion, the 9th Royal Scots, popularly Back in Belgium, James was thrown into called the Dandy 9th, on account of the maelstrom of the opening rounds These are just two of the many stories their Highland garb. James, no doubt of what is now commonly called the that boys from SMC will be hearing about full of apprehension on his deployment, Passchendaele offensive. On the 10th owing to the generosity of the Black could not possibly have known that he July 1917, with the British advance family. To see their faces as they hold was about to embark on a spectacular going well near the Steenbeek, the CO James Black’s medals is truly inspiring, career as a fighting soldier, that he of the 9th desperately needed accurate and so his deeds live on. For them to would survive the war and would also information on the whereabouts of the hear the words of Walter Black, written at emerge as one of the College’s most enemy. There could be but one man for the dawn of the Great War, is to allow him highly decorated officers. the task. James immediately set out on to live again. It is said all soldier die twice- By spring 1915, the situation in a close reconnaissance of the enemy. once in battle, and a second time when Flanders was transformed beyond all Coming under a hail of machine gun their service is forgotten. That second recognition- the first full scale action fire, he was very swiftly wounded but death is completely reversible and will not James fought, just six months after and completely disregarding this pressed on, occur as long as these objects remain at a few miles away from the from the site noted the German position, reported the College. FP News 2019 15 Melville College Trust Update

I feel somewhat privileged to be writing this report, having taken over as Chair of the Melville College Trust at our AGM in November 2018. I not only follow Andy Scott (Chair of the Trust on no less than 3 occasions) but also follow some very distinguished Melville College FPs. During the School Year (2018/2019), the Trust provided £230,000 in bursaries to the ESMS Schools, which has enabled 30 pupils to enjoy the excellent facilities and education Former teachers Andrew Todd, Iain Dunn, Margot Christie, Ann Evans (Mair), available. Also, to note that the bursary Paul Caton and Tom Fraser provision covered 15 boys and 15 girls. book “History of Edinburgh Institution In addition to the bursaries, the Trust 1832-1932”. This is now available to has donated around £10,000 to a view and searchable on the new school diverse number of School projects. In archive website https://archives.esms. the Junior School outdoor benches & org.uk/. Also available on this site is the chalkboards for P3, the Malawi Club for World War 1 and World War 2 Roll of P7 and the Mindfulness & Yoga Club all Honour. Do have a look around. received support. Whilst in MES there was help towards a new basketball Our website has been re-vamped scoreboard and in SMC the Allotment http://melvillecollegetrust.uk/ and the Club, Darts Club and the Tommy Trust has moved into the world of Memorial Statue (on display outside Twitter social media @melville_trust. the Dean) all gained funding support. Margot Christie unveils the Plaque Please do visit our website and follow For ESMS awards were given to the alongside Alan Veitch, Chair of the us on Twitter - in turn we follow all the Shooting Club, Boxing Club, CCF, Melville College Trust various FP Clubs and School Twitter Music Honours Board, the purchase of accounts, so there is plenty news of career at Melville in 1950 before retiring an Eb Clarinet and a Snare Drum and the ESMS family just a few clicks away. many years later at Stewart’s Melville harness for the Pipe Band. If you would like more information about was able to unveil the plaque in front One project the Trust had immense pride the work of the Trust or are considering of a gathering of former teachers, in achieving this year, was the installation a donation or legacy please contact us Governors of the Trust, School of a commemorative plaque to mark the at [email protected] representatives and FPs. site of the old School at 7 Melville Street. Alan Veitch It is hard to believe it’s some 46 years This year the Trust formally registered Chair Melville College Trust since Melville College ended its presence for Gift Aid and this has already there and whilst the Trust hasn’t taken attracted donations, resulting in that long to install a plaque (honest!), the the Trust helping with the engagement with the City of Edinburgh purchase of a defibrillator planning to make it happen was at times for the Inverleith arduous to say the least. clubhouse. One further The Trust were most pleased that generous donation has former Primary Teacher Margot allowed the Trust to pay Christie, who started her teaching for the digitisation of the 16 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Jason Clarke - Genius Brewing Is ‘Smart Drinking’ the future? sponsorship and brand ambassadors. In 2016, the UK Chief Medical Officers In 2019, Gen!us was the Official Beer dramatically reduced the safer drinking of the Ladies Scottish Open Golf and a guidelines to 14 units a week for men sponsor of LET Order of Merit winner and women. Since then we’ve seen a Beth Allen. Scotland’s rugby community huge change in Britain’s drinking habits is a particular focus and we’re now into with 54% of consumers now saying the our second year of running the Rugby healthiness of their drinks is important Gen!us quiz in Scrum Magazine and to them and sales of low and no- sponsoring StewMel Rugby. alcohol beers up 50% in the past year. Are breweries concerned about The craft beer revolution has changed alcohol being in the hands of young expectations of flavour and quality, people? which is great, but craft beers and All alcohol producers have a premium lagers often have high ABVs responsibility to avoid their product being and a heap of calories. Gen!us is for consumed by under-18s and Genius today’s smart drinker who wants a Brewing fully supports industry initiatives I talked to Jason Clarke, the great beer but without all the ‘booze’ such as Challenge 25. Education about Creative Director at Genius and the belly. alcohol is equally important. As Funding Brewing, and spoke about the How does a brewer get attention in Partners of Drinkaware, we promote such a crowded market? their excellent health-related content via future of brewing, his time at our social media. Stew Mel and in the army, and The craft beer market is indeed saturated – the world does not need However, once young people turn 18, his partnership with Doddie’s another IPA! But Gen!us has a strong informed consumer choice is a real charity. Thanks to Jason – USP as the UK’s first light craft lager. concern for us. In the UK, there is no and order some Genius in the While the brands of the global mega- legal requirement to display nutritional content on alcohol products. So while new year! brewers benefit from huge marketing and distribution machines, the success milk, Coke and orange juice have to What separates Genius Brewing of start-ups such as Brewdog, Innis & detail their calories, sugars, and salt from rivals? Gun, and Beavertown shows that there etc, beer and wine do not. This has to change and Gen!us Craft Lager is Genius Brewing was launched in 2018 are still opportunities for a new, distinct leading the way by featuring a full, food- with a mission to make responsible brand with a compelling product. standard nutrition guide on our cans. drinking a pleasure, not a compromise. The 0% beers have been growing Our Gen!us Craft Lager is the UK’s first rapidly but they are a very different How did the link with the Doddie light craft lager, combining craft quality proposition as most drinkers actually foundation start? with less alcohol and fewer calories. want some alcohol. At 3%, ABV I played 1st XV at school with Doddie We’re all about ‘smart drinking’. Gen!us is only 79kcal and exactly 1 unit and against him in regional U21s. The of alcohol per can; offering craft quality news of his MND diagnosis was heart- while helping the health-conscious to breaking and given extra resonance by stay ‘drinkaware’. my wife’s having father died of MND. As a new business, we can’t and won’t When Doddie launched the My Name’5 try to fight in traditional, above-the- Doddie Foundation in 2017, we were line advertising: TV; national print; or gearing up to launch Gen!us and so I billboard, etc. Not only does it cost got straight on the phone. millions, in many ways they are dated, Our #5p4Doddie pledge donates 5p blunt instruments. Genius Brewing is from every can of Gen!us to Doddie’s more invested in reaching our specific Foundation. We also support other #smartdrinking market via social media people and organisations who are and experiential activity. For example, fundraising for Doddie such as SAS sports teams and communities are veteran John Davidson who aims to raise more health-focused and so we £100,000 by rowing the Atlantic, single- build awareness and exposure using handedly. Genius Brewing organised a FP News 2019 17 big fundraising dinner for John, attracting former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright and Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger as guest speakers. Now in our second year as Official Fundraising Partners, we will continue to support Doddie’s foundation wherever possible and we’re particularly proud to have the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation logo on our new cans. You were in the Army, in what ways has that helped in the later career? Having won an Army Scholarship in S5 at school, I joined the Army after reading Law at Aberdeen University. I think it’s fair to say anyone would benefit from the training and experience of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, no matter what they go on to do in their careers. It was the most stimulating, challenging, and rewarding experience of my life. Thereafter, I served on an operational tour in Northern Ireland, trained infantry recruits, and commanded the Scottish Division’s sky-diving team, all by the age of 25. Lessons from the military have definitely helped with the challenges of building a business – strategy, tactics, leadership and of course the famous maxim, “No plan survives the first contact”. But nothing trumps sheer hard work and good fortune to be under the eagle and most important of all, we have a the Army is an excellent environment eye of Housemaster Jock Richardson. great tasting beer - winning Best UK in which to discover what we’re really An ex-RAF man, Jock brought military Craft Lager at the LUX Life Food & capable of. standards to all his expectations and Drink Awards, and making the final in What are your abiding memories of wasn’t slow to let you know when you Best Low & No at the World Beverage school – and who was the favourite failed to meet them (my learning curve Innovation Awards. teacher? was steep). Come S4, I had found my 2020 is all about growth; going from I had a rather peripatetic childhood and feet and went on to love my time at start-up to scale-up. We’ll continue by the time I arrived at S3 at DSMC StewMel – despite being kicked out of to build our team and grow our in 1984, I’d been to four previous the CCF - the irony! Bryan Lewis was #smartdrinking brand across the UK on schools, in Essex and the Scottish another key mentor who as 1st XV and off-trades and aim to launch in two Borders. ‘StewMel’ was my first coach plucked me from the A3s and of the large supermarkets this year. turned me into a fullback who then experience of being at an independent January will be a busy month school. It was quite a shock. For scored 42 tries in my 42 games. Clearly promoting our ‘New year New beer’ a start, there were no girls(!) and a a genius coach. campaign for those going ‘dry-er’ or strict school uniform and a culture of What will 2020 look like for Genius? looking to make their healthy New Year aspiration that was intimidating at first. It’s been a whirlwind since Genius resolutions a reality. Then as we head Thankfully StewMel was immersed in Brewing launched less than two years towards the summer, we plan to launch sport which I loved and which gave me ago. Drawing breath to look back, we Gen!us in draft which will transform a way to build friendships that have can identify three clear conclusions: our sales volumes across pubs, lasted ever since. the move to healthier drinking is huge; restaurants, clubs and hotels. As a ‘Cromarty boy’, I had the great Gen!us is a distinctive, engaging brand; [email protected] 18 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Tales from a Land Rover Not all plain sailing - Turkey 1968. Richard Scott’s Story of an Adventure to Remember

It was the Summer of Love our two-man tent in an abandoned route, the Vienna site was a cut above (1967). We were a year out campsite with the glamorous name and we decided to stay a few days, of Ponderosa. We spent the evening meandering around the baroque of Melville and inspired by apprehensive about the journey ahead. splendours and cafes, and listening to Jack Kerouac we decided to But it was all wonderful. The sun shone, the Scott Mackenzie singing about flowers go ‘On the Road’, four weeks beer and wine flowed and the Land Rover in people’s hair. Fatally, however, we across Europe in a Land chugged merrily along. The cobbled decided to visit some of the Heuriger streets of Brussels, the vineyards of the (wine taverns) in the Viennese Woods. Rover which even then could Not only did we meet some charming Moselle valley, picturesque Luxembourg be classed as vintage. chaps who did not think the war was with its old capital, Koblenz high on the over but we were not accustomed to Originally there were four [Gang of Four] Rhine, the interesting back streets of cheap white wine in such quantities. of us - Donald Muirhead, Neil Cavers Frankfurt, Munich undergoing massive How at least one of our number ever (co-owners of said Land Rover, Richard reconstruction for the 1972 Olympics, into got back to the campsite remains Scott and Malcolm Rutherford) but Neil Austria - Mozart everywhere in Salzburg shrouded in a haze; the disgrace had to stay at home for Law exams and finally after two weeks, Vienna. and was replaced by David Adams. remains with him to this day. Having dossed at some basic After signing various legal documents As if in retribution, a fuel injector pipe campsites and youth hostels on (no drinking and driving, ho ho!) and in the Land Rover was found to be armed with £50 each - all Harold Wilson leaking. We had a temporary repair would allow - we set off on 31st August. carried out by the local Land Rover One problem soon became apparent: agent. It was raining a lot, so we set off the Land Rover had a regulator which for the south looking for sun. Before we limited us to 45mph. Three in the front, left Austria, though, the pipe started to one curled up in the back it took us a leak again and we decided to go down day and a half to reach Dover, albeit with to the Adriatic Coast. Donald asked his a stop in London. brother to send a replacement pipe. The ferry left at midnight and it was In those distant days, before Amazon stormy crossing which saw at least one Prime, this could take weeks so we of our number (who had only ever been decided to head down to Yugoslavia on the boat to Arran) retching on deck. and the coast, with the part being sent Reaching Blankenberge we pitched Camping in Austria 1968. to Poste Restante, Trieste. FP News 2019 19

So chugging even more cautiously we And so the long trek back home. Up passed through Graz and into what was the Dolomites, past Cortina, over the then Yugoslavia, a Communist state Grossglockner Pass, a real test for the under Marshall Tito. (We were given Land Rover, Innsbruck, Lichtenstein very clear warnings not to make any where we witnessed a royal wedding in derogatory comments about Tito or his the capital Vaduz, up the Rhine valley, government or we would end up in jail.) through Luxembourg and finally back Ljubljana (now the capital of Slovenia), to Blankenberge, the ferry to Dover and Rijeka (Fiume) (now in Croatia and the long haul back north, finally arriving European City of Culture 2020 although back in Edinburgh around midday on you wouldn’t have thought it when we 30th September, just in time to hot-foot were there) and finally to a delightful down to Easter Road. Malcolm Rutherford and Richard Scott wooded campsite on the coast at a The following year, Donald and Neil took with the retired Land Rover 2019. spot near Crikvenica. We were there a another trip with a different crew, this were a lot of Troop movements in week and more. ‘Happy Days’ as the time two young men from a different Yugoslavia and some very forbidding only other British person we saw used educational establishment. The original looking border guards entering Bulgaria, to greet us each morning. Not knowing idea was to go to Israel, but they very but we got through to Istanbul and on how much it might cost to fix the Land inconveniently decided to have a war, to a campsite east of Izmir where we Rover we ate mainly eggs and what so it was Turkey instead. The Land stayed for a week. The Land Rover ran transpired to be horsemeat in order Rover set off this time on 17th August. a front wheel bearing in Izmir but Donald not to stint on the beer. The coast was First stop was London, where we met bought a new one from the agent in classmate Tom Pate. He took us to a rocky but the sea was blissfully warm, Izmir and fitted it. especially to those of us more used to rather naughty nightclub. Over to the Continent, back to the Ponderosa, Lots of sun, beer and slivovitz later, swimming in the Forth. after a quick trip to Holland to buy we came home via Troy, over the A week later the part arrived and was diesel at one shilling and eight pence mountainous centre of Greece to duly fitted in Trieste. So we chugged a gallon, through Cologne and on Igoumenitza and then by ferry to Otranto on, round the corner into Italy, camping to the Romantic Road and Munich. in Italy. We then dove up through Italy. on the beach at Lido di Jessolo. There through a beer-driven haze we There were a lot of unfortunate Czech We were perturbed to find that the heard that the Russians had invaded refugees in Rome. Up through France campsite charged the extortionate Czechoslovakia. We had thought that via Monte Carlo and Lyons, to arrive in amount of four shillings per night each! we could reach Turkey through some of Paris on 24th September. We camped Next day to Venice, which was a real the Eastern countries but decided to go in the Blois de Boulogne, ate couscous eye opener to those of us who had through Yugoslavia to avoid the tanks. which we had never seen before, and only the vaguest notion of how it could So a similar route to the previous year back over the channel to London. Tom function without roads and cars. Plus until we turned off down the motorway Pate got us into a gig: Cliff Richard at the first decent food for weeks! that ran all the way to Bulgaria . There the London Palladium. Then back up the road to Edinburgh. All at 45 mph in a bumpy, noisy diesel Land Rover! But the story of the Land Rover did not end there. Donald bought out Neil’s share (£57.50) after the second trip, used it for a while, then sold it to his brother David, also an FP and recently sadly deceased. He used it as a snow plough for a while until there was no more snow then left it in a field for 30 years. Donald got it back in 2013, lovingly stripped and restored it and it is now back on the road. Along with Richard Scott and Malcolm Rutherford a reunion journey took place recently. A similar reunion trip with a Turkish meal thrown in served to remind Neil and one of the two other 1968 crew just how much vehicles have improved over the last 50 years! Good times were had reminiscing about these trips over half a century ago and Sometimes the Land Rover needed a magician’s touch from Donald Muirhead wishing we too could be stripped down in the fez, with Neil Cavers (left) 1968. and rebuilt as we were then. 20 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Branch Clubs... ABERDEEN The Aberdeen Branch are an ageing bunch and low in numbers (9 I believe), our only events being our AGM and annual dinner.

This year’s dinner was held on Friday Melville Class of 18 January at the Royal Northern and University Club in Aberdeen with around 40 attending, this number being made up, predominantly, by 1963 Reunion guests. Bob may be able to confirm The turn-out at the 2019 arranged. Certainly it is to be hoped the exact numbers. Our principal reunion was terrific and fully that as many as possible will try to speaker was the eminent forensic take part. justified the existence of our pathologist, Emeritus Professor James Grieve with Charles Wilson database and the regular 12th October 2019 was the date for what must have been our 56th replying on behalf of the Club. contact it allows. reunion or thereabouts. Alistair Seale proposed the toast to At the informal lunch at the Café Royal The lunchtime pub lunch at the Café the guests with Dr. Walter Stephen 17 attended with a further 4 coming Royal was attended by 11 of us. A (Gordonians) replying on behalf of to the evening dinner at Bruntsfield notable absentee this year was George the guests. The toast to the Chair Golf Club. It was good to see Peter Ellis who lives in the Midlands and was proposed by Mike Wheeler. MacNaughtan who made one of his until now has not missed out on a get periodic pilgrimages from Berkshire and together. Such is the draw of our reunion Sadly, one of our members, Ian Findlay Hunter a “local” who we hadn’t is that he gives up a Saturday supporting Girdwood, (a Stewarts FP) passed Walsall FC each year to join us! George seen for a while. Special mention away around mid July. should be made of Graeme Hume is recovering well from surgery. I never had the pleasure of meeting who joined us for the first time after all Bruntsfield Golf Club did its usual good the years. Graeme was a professional job in hosting the mixed evening event Ian as he stopped attending our golfer for many years, latterly at which was attended by 20 including a dinners some years ago due to Glenbervie, and from all accounts still special guest this year, Sally Ray. Dougie deteriorating health. plays a mean game. Thanks to all who and Doreen Morgan had lent Sally a On Thursday 16 May I had the were able to come along. commemorative British Lions jersey privilege of representing the parent Of the Primary A 1950 intake of 28 from the 1977 tour to New Zealand and boys, 13 came to one or both of Sally brought it along to show us. We Club at a special lunch held, at the functions, quite a remarkable are very grateful for that. I am sure that the RNUC, to mark the first public proportion considering the passage I am not the only one who remembers performance of a pipe tune written in of time. In the year 2000 (our 50th Dougie’s try in one of the Test Matches honour of John Cruickshank VC. anniversary) we made a big effort which, the internet tells me, was the final Should anyone want information to track down all 28 and only four Test at Eden Park in Auckland. were not found, though one of these None of is getting any younger and, about or wishes to join our was subsequently contacted. The while our attendances are good, we branch please contact me, we’d year 2020 is a special year as well, are going to be a bit more positive be delighted to welcome new being the 70th anniversary of going about encouraging as many as members. to Melville, and thoughts are going possible to join in the meetings. Here’s David Fraser on to see if anything special can be to next year! FP News 2019 21 Branch Clubs...

have been supplemented with healthier welcoming the Parent Club President, GLASGOW options of occasional walks and cycle Charles Wilson and Bryan Lewis runs in and around Glasgow. However, representing The School, Glasgow Club sends warm these events are planned with a start Alistair Wood, ex-President of GHS FP greetings. and end at a suitable watering hole! Club and GHK Rugby Club, will toast Our annual get together this year will be Our annual golf match against the Parent The School and the Club. Club was due to be played in Edinburgh, a lunch rather than our normal dinner. Any members in the west who would however as there was a clash of dates It will be held in the private dining room like to be added to the mailing list this important match has been deferred at Urban Bar & Brasserie, 25 St Vincent until a more suitable time can be found. Pl, Glasgow G1 2DT on Thursday 7th should contact our Secretary, Rod This year Hugh Stevenson’s outings to November at 1 for 1.15 pm. Dress will Hunter, [email protected] beer festivals in the West of Scotland be informal. We are looking forward to Walter Proven

We are always particularly pleased Our 2020 Annual Dinner will be LONDON to welcome any FP’s from Scotland held on Friday 27th March at The or elsewhere in the UK, Europe or Caledonian Club and any FP’s who 2018-19 has been a most further afield who find themselves in fancy a spring break in the UK capital active year for the London London on business or pleasure. In would be most welcome – please Club with Derek Serafini in his November 2019 we were joined by make contact for further details. Bert Hutchinson working in London on Anyone interested in joining the first year as president. a short-term basis. London Club (the modest £10 The Annual Dinner was held on Friday The StewMel contingent, with a subscription has been unchanged for 29th March at The Caledonian Club sprinkling of ties or scarves can usually 28 years!) or attending any functions in Belgravia when 47 members and be found around a table on the raised should contact the Secretary, Tom guests sat down to an outstanding area at the rear of the Pub bar. Looking meal followed by stimulating ahead to January 2020 please note that Scrimgeour 01206 574797 or 07767 speeches. Our Guest Speaker was the Pub Night will uniquely be held on 392423 or [email protected] former pupil Wing Commander Ian Wednesday 8th January. Tom Scrimgeour Cumming who gave us a most interesting address about the work of Erskine, the military charity of which he is Chief Executive. Ross Johnston, the Head Boy of the College, then spoke most eloquently about his life at the School and was followed by Linda Moule, the new Principal with her welcome report of activities at the School and the process of settling into her new role Our monthly Pub Evenings continue on the first Wednesday of each and every month from 6.30 pm at the appropriately named “The Clachan”, Kingly Street (lying parallel to and between Regent Street and Carnaby Street and adjacent to the rear of Liberty’s store – Head Boy Ross Johnston and two London-based alumni – Greg Bissett nearest tube Oxford Circus. and Peter Headden 22 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Norman Rough August 2019 saw the sad death of a Stew Mel legend – our own 6x Mr Scotland, Norman Rough. Norman was a bodybuilding icon in the 1960s and beyond, and won a number of regional and national titles on his way to sixth place in the 1969 Mr Universe competition, which was won by Arnold Schwarzenegger. At that tournament, he was awarded their trophy for ‘most improved muscular development’. Rough found bodybuilding after his time at school, but he certainly distinguished himself as an athlete in his youth. Whilst at Daniel Stewart’s, he was senior games champion in 1954, and had won the U16 crown the year before. Having grown up in Barnton, he continued to pursue athletics after leaving school. His transition into bodybuilding was slightly accidental, and is a story best told in his own words; I was an athlete before catching ‘the bug’ and when I was training with the Scottish Sprint Coach my parents gave me a book for my 20th birthday. It was by Macdonald Bailley, a South African international sprinter, and was called ‘Weight Training & Athletics’ so I read it from cover to cover. I then took it along to my next sprint session and showed it to the Chief Scottish Sprint Coach and asked him what he thought about this ‘new’ method. … He didn›t even take the book and simply said ‹Weight training and athletics don›t mix›. … This only fired me up to finding a weight training gym - it was called Dunedin Weightlifting Club in Edinburgh and upon starting I began to develop rapidly by capitalising on my athletic abilities and naturally endowed attributes - I realised that creating something out of nothing was the ultimate sporting goal - and I already had a head start. (Norman Rough, interview with Liftness, 07/03/2016) After joining the Dunedin club, a raw gym operating out of an old wartime decontamination centre, he advanced quickly and began competing in 1960. His thrice a week monster training sessions would last 6 hours in length, and see him move 600 tons of metal in each. At his prime he was consuming 8000 calories a day and dominating the sport in his home nation. His first victories arrived in 1964 and he never looked back - Mr Physique, Mr Grand, Mr Caledonia – while a year later he won Mr Edinburgh, Mr South of Scotland and the first of his six Mr Scotlands. Until retiring in 1970 he retained his Mr Scotland titles, becoming a six time winner, as well as becoming a recognised figure internationally. After bodybuilding, Norman didn’t sit around. Prior to retiring he had founded an architectural design consultancy. Rough Design still thrives, operating out of Buccleugh Street in Edinburgh. His emphasis at the outset was the refurbishment of bars, restaurants and hotels – and Norman achieved acclaim in his chosen field just as he had in athletic competition – via ‘bloody hard work and dedication’. FP News 2019 23

Catching up with Hodgy I had the pleasure of catching so it’s been easier. There have been a How does the Edinburgh dressing up with the Jamie Hodgson, few moments where I’ve looked around room compare to school and club at training or the changing room and rugby? 2016 leaver who has made remembered how I watched some of It’s definitely different, and the rugby a number of appearances these guys when I was growing up, is a different level as well, but it’s been now for Edinburgh Rugby. We and that took some getting used to. easy to come into the set-up, because talked his career so far, the Uni Have there been moments in the guys are all really sound and it’s a particular where you thought that? good atmosphere. I’m excited for the vs Rugby vs Life balance, the The first few weeks as a whole, the first year ahead with the group. Edinburgh dressing room, and month even, there was a lot of looking You’re not the only Stew Mel lad the numerous Stew Mel FPs around and having to remember that coming up at the moment – that coming through the set-up in I’m part of the team now. But you must be encouraging. both Edinburgh and Glasgow. get over it pretty quickly – you soon Yeh exactly – we’ve obviously got realise that these are normal guys and Connor (Boyle) and Jack (Blain) over in What stands out in the last 18 eventually it becomes no different to Edinburgh, and I see both of them a lot. months? anything else. In Glasgow Ross Thompson is doing well Making the debut was obviously a What is the plan for the next year? as well, and it’s all exciting. Throughout high point, and every game so far I’m definitely hoping to stay in Edinburgh, school you don’t necessarily think about has been fantastic. Last year I was and hopefully just keep getting more the possibility of going on to Edinburgh juggling a full-time university degree game time. I’ve seen my game develop or whatever, but it’s been great so far. (Economics at Edinburgh) with the and progress so much already, so just Thanks to Hodgy, and best of luck rugby, but I’ve changed to a part-time keeping momentum going through this to him and the other FPs doing well structure to focus more on the rugby, year would be the goal. so far. 24 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club William Carmichael Peebles The 7th (Leith) Battalion, Royal Scots left Larbert for the Dardanelles on 22nd May 1915. It boasted a strength of over 1000 men and 25 officers. A little over a month later, five officers and 170 men were left of that original draft. In the face of such disastrous losses, exceptional leadership was required to hold the survivors together. That leadership was found in Lt. Col. William Carmichael Peebles. Born on 30th April 1871, William was raised in the Bonnington area and grew up in a prosperous family of gas engineers. He attended The Edinburgh Institution in 1881 and left in 1887. His three brothers, Edward, John and Arthur also attended the school. In 1894, he joined the Royal Scots, and by 1910, had assumed command of the unit. His brother John, younger by seven years, had joined the battalion in 1900 and by the eve of war had risen to the rank of Captain. FP News 2019 25

Before the 7th had even left Scottish 7th captured both of their objectives one position after the other. By mid- soil, disaster befell them. At Quintinshill at bayonet point- in doing so, the afternoon on the 12th November, outside Gretna, just before 6.30am on battalion lost another 230 men. At the Turkish morale began to crumble, and 22nd May, the 7th’s troop train collided end of the day, Peebles had just two the enemy began to stream away. at full speed with a local train which officers and 80 men left, and had to Peebles won a memorable victory that had simply been forgotten about by assume responsibility for the 4th Royal contributed materially to the collapse negligent signalmen. With wreckage Scots, who had also been decimated. of Ottoman control in the Holy Land. strewn over the northbound line, Somewhere out in No Man’s Land lay On New Year’s Day 1918, the welcome horror was piled on horror when the his brother John- his body was never London-Glasgow express ploughed recovered. news reached him that he had been through the tangled mess three finally awarded the Distinguished On 6th January 1916, the 7th had the minutes later. Almost the entirety of A Service Order. Many in the battalion honour of forming the rear-guard of the and D Companies were crushed and felt it had been three years too late in 52nd Division as it stole away from the incinerated in what remains Britain’s Peninsula without a single loss. The arriving. worst rail disaster. Peebles narrowly Leithers were withdrawn to Alexandria With the war in Palestine at an end, the escaped death- moments before and spent over six months resting, impact he had chosen to lie out along 7th Royal Scots were transferred to refitting and retraining. On the 4th his seat- the impact of the crash France in April 1918, with the colonel August 1916, Peebles defended the telescoped the carriage so violently his being awarded a bar to his DSO. But flank of the British position at Romani, legs would have been severed by the for William Peebles, his time with the blunting a very serious Turkish attempt chairs opposite had he still been sitting. 7th was over. To his great frustration, to the cut the railway communications Peebles sprang into action and was and water supply of the defenders of on 13th May 1918, he was retired from central to directing the rescue efforts. the Suez Canal. In a stroke, Egypt was his command of his battalion, and A poignant photograph of him shows safe and 1917 would see the British sent back to Britain for a tour of home the roll call being taken in a field by take to the offensive in Palestine. duty. He had completed 34 months of the track- 324 men were casualties, unbroken front-line service in two of the including 217 dead. In April 1917, Peebles was perplexed to learn that he had been awarded most punishing operational theatres, When the Battalion landed on the the Order of the White Eagle from the longer than any other Royal Scots Gallipoli Peninsula in mid-June, it would Serbian government but had received battalion commander. After enduring have been immediately apparent to nothing more than a Mention in Britain’s worst rail disaster and dealing Peebles that the campaign was in Dispatches from his own government. with the loss of his younger brother in the process of serious miscarriage. On the 18th April an overambitious He showed great moral courage at a an attack he had to direct, Peebles had attack at Gaza unravelled, leaving the Divisional meeting on arrival, taking come through it all. 7th high and dry. For six hours they General Egerton to task over the poor lay on the open plain before the town After the war he was appointed a maps and incomplete intelligence unable to make any headway in the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Edinburgh, information he had been supplied. face of furious Turkish resistance. By and in 1926 became a Governor of He was given a few days to scratch the afternoon the position had been Edinburgh Institution and the President together the remainder of the battalion outflanked and Peebles executed a of the FP Club. He died in Edinburgh for an assault at Gully Ravine on magisterial fighting withdrawal under 28th June. The Leithers would only on 14th December 1955, peacefully severe fire, the most difficult of all be supported by covering fire from ending a life of service to his country- manoeuvres to accomplish in battle. machine guns- there was not enough and school. Remembered today with artillery ammunition on the Peninsula In October, Peebles enjoyed his only awe in the Royal Scots as an innovative to support the attack with a preliminary leave of the war. On returning, he leader and tactician, Peebles certainly bombardment. John Peebles clearly was handed the task of carrying the embodied the motto of his school- apprehended the offensive was a strong Turkish positions on a prominent William Turner who succeeded him as forlorn hope: commanding the first conical hill at Burkah. Now in overall Colonel of the 7th grew from a young wave on the day of the attack, he command of a brigade sized force, subaltern to a worthy successor under shook hands with his elder brother it was his biggest challenge yet. His Peebles’ tutelage. and bade him farewell, certain in the force made superb use of fire and knowledge of what awaited him. The movement, forcing the Turks out of David Clarke 26 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club Sports Clubs... further league win. League record - for promotion. Record - Played 13 Won Played 12 Won 3 Lost 9 (Placing - 9th 8 Lost 5. (4th out of 10) CRICKET out 10). Six league fixtures fell victim The 4th XI play in Division Seven, the of the weather in the wettest summer lowest of the East Leagues and their The 1st XI side that defeated Heriots in recent memory. variable record pretty much reflected in the Eastern Premier League on In the 20 overs a side Masterton the strength of their side on any given 1st June 2019. Back row – Hayden day. Record - Played 13 Won 7 Lost 6 Sweet, Shaylen Pillay, Callum Steel, Trophy played midweek the 1st XI (6th out of 14). Greg Bissett, Greg Ruthven, Ben performed pretty well and beyond Wilkinson, Alan Veitch (scorer). Front the expectations of some in reaching Outside of the Saturday leagues, the row – Kris Steel, Andrew Wallace, the semi-final securing wins against Trojans XI played friendly T20 matches Patrick Ritchie, Steven Parker (captain), Watsonians, Grange and Carlton most weeks from mid May through Sam Tait. as well as two lower league teams to mid September although a good Edinburgh CC and Edinburgh number of games were lost to the The club fielded four Saturday elevens Accies. The semi final against weather. throughout the season with the 1st XI Corstorphine was lost in a rain playing in Cricket Scotland’s 50 overs On Sundays the club participated in a affected match. Several excellent a side East Premier League (“EPL”) development league playing 30 overs a individual performances were achieved which is recognised by most observers side with a mixture of experienced “old throughout the season in both forms as the strongest league in the country heads” and junior members in the side. of cricket which hopefully can be built with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs playing The junior cricket played and coaching upon next season. in the East of Scotland’s Divisions One, offered by the club covered all ages Six and Seven respectively. Like the 1st XI the 2nd XI started quite from 5 years old to 16 years old well but underachieved in in the second The 1st XI suffered a rather running outdoors from April to August half of the season ultimately losing a disappointing second half of the league with indoor coaching on Sundays season but after earlier wins against show down match to Watsonians at January to March for under 10s to 16 Stoneywood-Dyce and Heriots a win in Myreside and consequently their place years old. There were 90 registrations the first of the return matches against in East Division One. Record – Played for All Stars Cricket on Friday evenings Aberdeenshire at the end of June 10 Won 2 Lost 8. (10th place out of 10). throughout the summer for 5 to 8 year virtually secured their place in the EPL The 3rd XI usually suffer most from call olds where the whole cycle of junior for season 2020 and so it proved even offs in the higher teams and so finished cricket begins. While like other sports though a combination of opponents just above mid table in Division Six. At some drift off to do other things it is and rain prevented them securing a full strength they would be challenging encouraging that the first “graduates” of the system are now hitting the club’s 1st XI in which five past captains of the school 1st XI played at some point during the season. The club is indebted to all our coaches led by David Gibson and professional Shaylen Pillay - back for a third consecutive season. This year’s Annual Dinner and Awards evening has been set for Friday 8th November in the clubhouse when the principal guest will be Cricket Scotland’s recently appointed national coach Shane Burger who captained the Gauteng team when Shaylen Pillay made his debut in South African first class cricket. Bert Barclay Secretary, Stewart’s Melville CC FP News 2019 27

For the Summer Outing, we returned to And on the theme of high-quality golf, the traditional venue of Muirfield. After our elite golf team impressively and the near-apocalyptic weather of recent successfully qualified for the prestigious GOLF years, we happily enjoyed more benign Grafton Morrish competition and conditions in which to navigate and headed south to Norfolk in October. It has been another busy and successful appreciate the storied course. Alan They competed valiantly, but sadly left year for the Former Pupils’ Golf Anderson pipped Drew McIntosh in the empty-handed. Nor, unfortunately, Club. The year began with a well- scratch competition; Andy Fraser came were they able to retain their title in the attended AGM, those present no doubt out on top in a closely-fought handicap Queen Elizabeth Coronation Schools attracted – at least in part – by another competition. Tournament. However, having won entertaining, informative and competitive The Autumn Outing took us to four times in the previous five years, it wine-tasting hosted by Jim Preacher. the Roxburghe, in the glorious was perhaps only politic to let someone The AGM was swiftly followed by the surroundings of the Scottish Borders, else win for a change! Club’s Dinner, which was as convivial as on a near-perfect autumn day. David In other inter-club competitions, the Club ever, with over 90 members and guests Aitken won the scratch competition won back the Edinburgh Cup against in attendance and regaled by former and Dave Macfarlane won the Heriots, Watsonians and Edinburgh banker, and now celebrated after-dinner handicap competition. Academicals at Duddingston Golf Club. speaker, Peter Brown. The Summer Singles and Summer Congratulations to Peter Blance, Charlie Those festivities enjoyed, it was time Foursomes competitions were as Allan, Euan Parker, Tommy Bryson and to get down to the more serious(ish) popular and keenly-contested as Nick Kordowski for that success. business of golf. The Spring Outing usual. Peter Blance triumphed in the The Club also retained the ‘Volvo took us, on a cool but sunny day, to Singles, while Neil McCreath and Ron Trophy’ in the Grand Match against the historic links of Monifieth. Euan Wilkinson won the Foursomes. Heriots at the Burgess, in a competition Parker triumphed in the scratch This year’s Club Championship is, that, although only recently-incepted, competition, with Donald Lowe winning once again, being contested by Alan has become a firmly favourite fixture in the handicap competition. Anderson and Drew McIntosh. the calendar. 28 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

Less happily, albeit continuing something of a recent tradition, the Club lost to the Schoolboys at Murrayfield Golf Club. However, that disappointment was amply tempered by knowledge of the prodigious talent within the School’s ranks, which can hopefully only bode well for the future of the Club! A particular highlight of the Club’s season continues to be the Retreat. This year, Retreaters both familiar and new ventured north to Perthshire, playing Alyth and the three excellent Blairgowrie courses. Although the weather was not always kind, the usual heady mix of fine golf and even finer camaraderie ensured a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. Vice- Captain Harry Crombie triumphed rude health. David Kyles’ hard work – across the course of the weekend, very often unseen – as Secretary keeps narrowly besting virgin Retreater Nick the Club running smoothly. Peter Blance Kordowski. Discretion, and the Retreat has, happily, joined the Committee to omerta, prevents publication of the oversee the Club’s increasingly extensive identity of the winner of the weekend’s range of kit, ensuring that the Club Shanker’s Tankard… remains the smartest around. And Such a full season, and the continuing when he’s not winning trophies, Vice- success and growth of the Club, relies Captain Harry Crombie assists greatly heavily on the dedication, commitment with the organisation of the Club’s and hard work of the Club’s Committee. business, not least continuing sterling This year’s AGM saw Adam Preedy step work cultivating the Club’s relationship down as Captain after two years, and with the School and promoting the Club his tenure continued the excellent work to younger prospective members. We of his predecessors, leaving the Club in will also be welcoming Scott Gill to the

Committee, to take over Harry’s role as Junior Convenor. Charlie Allan has taken over as the Club’s Treasurer and is maintaining a reassuringly firm hand on the financial tiller. Charlie has taken over from Club stalwart Jack Mainland. It does not risk overstatement to say that the current health and success of the Club is due in no small part to the two decades of dedicated service that Jack devoted to the Club in various roles (not to mention no little success on the course…). It was therefore only fitting, and gave pleasure to the whole membership, that Jack was ‘elevated’ to the position of Honorary President this year, and presented with an engraved decanter to mark his tremendous contribution to the Club. FP News 2019 29

developing Scottish players, coaches the newly re-branded “Ferry Road and match officials to feed talent into Wanderers” who are the greatest the full-time professional game. The 6 success story this Season. Numbers RUGBY are strong, fixtures are all being fulfilled franchise teams involved are Heriots, Watsonians, Boroughmuir Bears, and there is even talk of expanding to a Southern Knights (Melrose), Ayrshire 4’th team which would play occasional Bulls and Stirling County. friendlies and social fixtures. This is a far cry from previous Seasons where While there will undoubtedly be a fulfilling fixtures was proving impossible. period of adjustment we are supportive of this move by the SRU. The new structure should provide a better The “Intangible Other” pathway for players from club rugby through to International level and the However there is more to this great club imposition of full amateur status on than what happens on the “business all clubs below premiership level will side” of the whitewash – there is a really help to alleviate the financial burdens good feeling around the club which is and level the playing field between the hard to put your finger on. Yes, winning more games helps – but it is more than amateur clubs. that. The club feels like it is coming The immediate impact of the League together as more of a “whole.” restructuring caused by the creation This Season we have had squads of of the Super6 is that our First XV find Senior players helping with coaching The Senior Club themselves playing in National League sessions at the junior sections and there Division 2, where at time of writing we The big news in Scottish Club Rugby has been more effort put into supporting are sitting 4th out of 12 teams, 3 points this year has been the creation by the each other’s events. One good example behind the league leaders but with a SRU of the new, semi-professional of this was the Annual Dinner Dance game in hand. Numbers at training “Super6” league which became the in November 2018 which had around remain strong and the atmosphere is new top tier of club rugby in Scotland 300 attendees, including several tables when it kicked off in November generally very positive. from the Lions and the Vikings and it 2019 (followed by the Premiership The Development XV find themselves was great to get the support of former and the 3 National Leagues). The sitting in fifth out of ten teams in the players George Turner (the Scotland stated aims of the Super6 are to very strong East Reserve League International) and guest of honour, the improve playing standards by better- Division 1, however it is arguably Scotland 7’s Captain, Scott Riddell. 30 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

The club was also delighted to offer support to the ESMS Development Office with respect to the hugely successful “Dinner for Doddie” at the Chamber Street Museum. In truth we had very little to do and the credit goes to the ESMS Development Office, ably aided and abetted by Doddie’s sister Kirsty, but we were delighted to be able to chip in. On a much smaller scale we were delighted to welcome a team of cyclists organised by Stuart Thom (the ex-Stew Mel rugby player) for a quiz evening at Inverleith on 7th March. They were cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for the “My Name’5 Doddie” Foundation. The event was supported by New Zealand legend North Edinburgh Vikings receive the same focus or standard of Carl Hayman, former 7’s World Player coaching as their first XV counterparts. The Vikings was created in 2018 by of the year Ollie Phillips, Scotland To say this has been a success would merging the midis sections (players greats Bryan Redpath, Scott Hastings, be an understatement – feedback in S1 to S6) of Heriots and Stew Mel Rob Wainwright and Iwan Tukalo, from all involved is hugely positive and Rugby in a move which was entirely Scotland Captain Greig Laidlaw and we are getting significant numbers of player-centric. Age grade regulations, the Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, boys coming along who don’t come which have player welfare as their with Doddie making a brief “in person” key consideration and which we fully from Stew Mel or Heriots and who visit via video message. The fact that endorse and support, limit the amount don’t necessarily get weekend rugby such a number of current and former of rugby which can be played by an elsewhere (at last count there were 9 internationalists were willing to attend individual player over a weekend. For schools represented). and get involved says a lot about boys who play school rugby on a The new kit, designed with input from the Doddie Weir and a lot about what Saturday this limits the amount of club boys is already being worn with pride, is great about amateur sports clubs rugby that they can play on a Sunday roles, responsibilities and communication generally. We were grateful for the and means that big squads are needed are being improved at every step and the support of the wider rugby community, at each age group in order to comply rugby programme for this Season has including Watsonians and the Lismore with the playing time limitations. built on the high quality training, fixtures, ladies, with Lismore ladies winning the The approach also enables us to focus hydrotherapy, nutrition and cross-fit prize for best team name (“we thought on the players who may be overlooked sessions of last Season year. this was speed-dating.”) in the school context (e.g. 2nd and This Season has seen the launch of the However the highlight of the past 12 3rd XV players), who do not always Under-18s, albeit that the benefits for months has undoubtedly been the Rugby World Cup “Long Lunch” at the Prestonfield Stables, which saw in excess of 500 people gather to listen to World Cup winners Martin Johnson and Michael Lynagh, and England and Lions great Dean Richards. The event, which was hosted brilliantly by Finlay Calder, Jim Calder and Malcolm MacColl, was a tremendous success, raising funds for the Edinburgh Headway Charity and the Rugby Club. Again the club is hugely grateful to the Edinburgh rugby community for supporting an event which ultimately raised £17,000 for Edinburgh Headway. FP News 2019 31 this age group will be felt most strongly Lions home tournament with hundreds post-Christmas when the number of of young kids (and quite a lot of school fixtures reduces. Because high coaches and parents) taking advantage quality skills development is a core of the photo opportunity. feature of the Vikings, professional One of the great challenges of running coaches have been recruited to lead junior sports clubs is that you lose a lot of experience each year as P7 the rugby development programme for The Stew Mel Lions the U15s, U16s and U18s and they are parents disappear. However this year supported by a team of parents. It’s all too easy to summarise the Stew the transition has been seamless, with Mel Lions as “business as usual” and Keith Schorah (ably supported by wife There has even been time for a short Liz) taking over as Chairman from Al therefore overlook just what an amazing tour to Aberdeenshire with Horseback Geddes. However I am pleased to set-up it is. It is one of the biggest UK, the charity run by wounded, injured report that there has been no escape and sick ex-service personnel. (possibly THE biggest) and (we think) for Al and the other retiring Lions best-run minis sections in Scotland with While this has been a real “team effort” Committee members who have been c 250 kids and 55 coaches involved it could not have been achieved without co-opted into service at the Vikings! and a great balance in the Season plan the drive, determination, enthusiasm and between tournaments, development rugby brain of Bruce Ruthven, who is The Lionesses head of rugby at ESMS and Rugby Co- fixtures and training. ordinator for the Stew Mel Rugby Club But they don’t just stop there – there’s The Lions have also helped to support the launch our girls section - the and we are delighted to put our thanks always something new. This year the Lionesses. Having been launched a few to him on record. Calcutta Cup arrived at Inverleith at the short years ago the Lionesses now have 3 coaches and around 20 girls from P4 to P7 regularly attending training. The Lionesses are keen for further growth and can accommodate all levels of experience from beginners upwards so do please spread the word. If you are interested, or if you know someone who might be, please get in touch.

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! While this section of FP News is about the rugby club, we simply have to mention the stunning success of the School First XV in winning the SRU Under 18’s schools cup in December. In what was a fantastic display of high quality, attacking rugby by both teams, Stew Mel’s never-say-die defence saw them run out 24 to 14 winners against a fantastic Watsons First XV. Congratulations must go to all the players, coaches and supportive parents who contributed to such an amazing performance. 32 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

Midlothian Province Bonspiel Individual Achievements CURLING We had 2 rinks in this day long Vicky Gumley again qualified from competition and although we managed the Scottish Senior Championships Season 2018-19 to record a win against Sweepers, we to represent Scotland at the World lost our game against Gogar Young Seniors in Norway. The rink played Club League Curling. Curlers. Currie and Balerno won the even better than last year, beating Four rinks once again played event and the Colin Black Trophy was the USA 5-1 in the quarter finals, but throughout the season for the Andrew won by the Royal Bank of Scotland. narrowly lost to Sweden (skipped Williamson trophy. There were some F.P.League very close games, with the winners by former world champion Anna Watsonians won the league this season not being known until after the final Nordqvist) in the semi finals. Chris and we came 2nd. game of the season. The winning rink Morris again played in the Scottish was skipped by Ralph Garden, ably Challenge Match v Watsonians Junior Championship. assisted by Rob Garner, David McKay We recorded two wins and two losses We are in even greater need and Celia Nixon. George Bee’s rink but won back the salver on a better was second with Harry Waugh’s rink ends total. of curlers of all abilities third and David Brown’s rink 4th. and if anyone knows a Match v Schools curler looking to join a club, Glenfarclas Leagues Mary Erskine were able to raise a full (Midlothian Province) team for this match and we played please get them to contact As advised last year we did not enter a against a boys rink and a girls rink and our President George Bee rink into the Province Leagues we managed to win both games to on 0131 336 4533 or gbee@ retain the shield. blueyonder.co.uk King George IV Knockout trophy Vicky Gumley and George Bee continued We lost in the first round to Penicuik on ends with the coaching of the Stewarts Melville George Bee after the match ended peeled at 10-10. boys and Mary Erskine girls. President SMFPCC Welcome to the Class of 2019 Jeff Marsh gives an update on the vast majority university remains the Sciences) accepted offers to study at the latest year to leave Stew Mel. natural next step of choice. Cambridge, and a further five students Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh have enrolled at St Andrews, which is The FP Club welcomes another fine universities continue to account for almost now rivalling Oxbridge at the very top of group of young men to their ranks this a third of our Leavers, with Durham, the traditional university league tables. year as The Class of 2019 begins life Exeter, Warwick, Loughborough and in The range of courses being studied by outwith the cosy confines of ESMS. particular Newcastle universities attracting Stewart’s Melville’s most recent Former Continuing the trend of recent years, the bulk of those boldly going south of Pupils continues to amaze, ranging from they are heading for an increasingly the border. Both James Arthur (Law) and Artificial Intelligence and Photography diverse set of destinations, although for Harry Browne (Human, Social and Political to Planetary Sciences and Professional FP News 2019 33

Musicianship. As usual some of our top sportsmen have again looked across the pond to further their athletic careers whilst also obtaining a degree, and both Sam Walker (soccer at the University of Southern Oregon) and Jamie MacDonald (swimming at the University of Massachusetts) have already made a major impact as freshmen in their respective sports teams. Sam Newman opted to stay in Scotland and is combining his Edinburgh degree with playing for Edinburgh City FC in SPFL League Two. Of those embarking on a Gap Year, Cameron Walker (Dilworth, NZ) and Neil Hepburn (St Andrew’s Australia) Jim Tigar are working at our partner schools down under as Gap Tutors and Tavit Nisanyan has been working as an October 2019 saw the death intern at The New York Times, whilst of an FP familiar to anyone others have worked as ski instructors who has walked past the or simply gained further relevant work display cases in Old College, experience here in Scotland. and seen the medals and Of those heading straight into the world of work, Jack Chandler (Rydens) WWII flying logbook belonging and Dominic Millar (CBRE) landed to the late, great James Tigar. prestigious modern apprenticeships, At the age of 21, Jim enlisted continuing a recent trend, whilst others have wisely opted to complete in the Royal Artillery, two days a Further Education qualification after the announcement of (e.g. Euan Mitchell studying Visual war with Germany. educational purposes. The medals Communication and Archie Brown have since been returned to the After fighting with the Royal studying 3D Animation, both at City family, but the logbook continues to Artillery in the first half of the war, of Glasgow College) before deciding help educate the younger generation Jim transferred to the Glider Pilot whether to commit to a full degree. about the realities of flying in WW2. Regiment in 1942, after Churchill Perhaps the most unusual destination It has now been over a century since had announced it in 1942. Jim was for the Class of 2019 is CAE in Oxford, the end of the First World War, and one of the first selections of the new where Flynn Campbell is training to over 80 years since Jim and others regiment, a considerable achievement become a commercial pilot. enlisted for WW2. The memories and given the educational and physical the stories of the heroes who fought This cohort of students was the requirements for section. He was twentieth of the era of the mixed ESMS should simultaneously inspire and given his flying badge in September terrify us. The courage exhibited from Sixth Form, and the final year group 1942, and for the rest of the war, men and women like Jim Tigar helped to benefit from the wise counsel of the logged over 300 hours of flight, in stop the spread of dictatorship and Director of Sixth Form Dr Iain R. Scott, eleven different aircraft. Tigar took evil across Europe and further, and who retired at the end of the session part in the invasions of Sicily, Italy, it is up to us to help the liberty they having overseen the successful transition Normandy and the Netherlands – won survive. Rest in Peace Jim. of a whole generation of students from including flawless participation in the academic spoon-feeding of the SQA Operation Mallard. Mallard was the Higher year to the independent study of first time in history that armoured the modern undergraduate. divisions had been flown further than Like their predecessors, the Class of 200 miles into battle. Jim and well 2019 will be able to draw strength from over 200 other pilots flew infantry and the high quality education, strong set of equipment over the channel as part values and amazing friendship groups of the Normandy landings. which their time at SMC has given them, Jim never lost his love of his school and they will surely go on to make a days and gave the School archivists great contribution both to society as a his flying logbook and medals to the whole and to the Former Pupil Club. school for display, and to be used for 34 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

We Will Remember Them David Clarke gives an account of the remembrance service 100 years after the end of World War 1

of the school, and flowers were placed on William’s grave, which bears the inscription ‘Never Unprepared’. After the wreath laying, the former pupils of John Watson’s College and the congregation of the Dean Church were honoured, as was the legendary Stewartonian glider pilot Jim Tigar, whose long and eventful life closed peacefully in October, aged 101. One of the first down on D-Day in Operation Tonga, his medals were borne to the Dean by Deputy Head Boy Jamie Grainger, with Cpl. Hamish Goodall bearing the CCF contingent colours. In honour of Mr Tigar, some members of the S6 Chamber Choir, led by Iain Hare and James MacConnachie, delighted the It’s often said that there is nothing as his stricken aircraft into the Ijmeer in the assembled throng with what surely must constant as change, and so it proved Netherlands. His body was recovered be the first performance of the Daniel with the annual Stewart’s Melville from the water some days later. He Stewart’s College Song in nearly half a College Remembrance Service, which was buried in Amsterdam, aged 19- century. And so, as another year rolls by, departed from the usual format of and there the story might have ended. previous years. A game of two halves, However, on the reclamation of the at SMC we continue to proudly echo the the service was conducted at 08.45 watery polder in the 1960s, a propeller words of Field Marshall Plumer at the with the wreath laying taking place from Ward’s aircraft S-Sugar was opening of the Menin Gate- ‘These men at 13.40, (alas in rather inclement recovered, and an incredible journey are not missing; they are here’. conditions), with fewer primary school began. The artefact was made into the pupils than hitherto, and none of the war memorial of the new commuter girls from MES in attendance. The town of Dronten, and in tribute to service concentrated on the service of the crew, streets were named after Sgt. William Ward (DSC FP), a bomb them, including Wardhof. Every year aimer on a 12 Squadron Lancaster. A a huge parade of over 5000 people, seemingly straightforward- and brutally including hundreds of local children, short- tale of the industrial slaughter honour the lads of S-Sugar and our over the Ruhr, on 12th June 1943 on own William Ward. A wreath was laid his fifth operation, Ward bailed out of at the memorial in October on behalf FP News 2019 35 Obituaries...

Institute, and organising chairman of and sporting his DSC FP tie whenever the area conference at Aviemore. He he could. also, upon retiring, steered the Aviva Douglas started his working career at Pensioners Club for some time. As the Scottish Agricultural Organisation you can tell, holidays were never high Society, and then began a long on Ian’s ‘bucket list’, but we did enjoy association with the motor trade where cruises and trips around America to he could indulge his passion for cars, visit relatives. working at Gibson’s, James Ross Ian had a long and happy life and will and latterly as Finance Director of be sorely missed by many friends. He is Alexanders Holdings Ltd. In his latter survived by his wife Joan, his two sons working life he was an Accountant at Keith and Lewis, and his four adored Campbell Prime Meats, owned by an grandchildren – Callum, Georgina, old school pal, Edward Campbell. Caitlin and Cameron. He was very fond of East Lothian, particularly Yellowcraigs and North Berwick. Family holidays were spent in Arisaig and in the Yorkshire Dales. A life-long animal lover, over the years the family amassed a number of pets. Over the years he became an enthusiastic DIYer, including converting Ian Girdwood the attic to form a playroom, first for Born Edinburgh 20/08/1935 his children and then for himself. His projects were always meticulously Sadly, Ian died in Aberdeen on Friday thought through, carefully and solidly 12th July 2019 after a short illness. He built and long lasting. A rabbit hutch he joined Stewarts at the age of five and built in the early 1980s is still in use by very much enjoyed his many years his grandchildren’s rabbits today! He there, continuing to keep in touch with was also a keen garden landscaper. friends long after he left in 1952. Douglas had numerous interests. On leaving school he spent the next He was a long-time member and forty years working for the Norwich Treasurer of the Old Edinburgh Club Union Insurance Company, only taking and he had a deep knowledge about time out to do the necessary two the history and development of his years National Service in the army fire home city. Coupled with his motor service. trade knowledge he created an archive Although his career took him all of motoring and the motor trade in over the UK, and for a time, to Laos Douglas A Glass Edinburgh. He enjoyed boats and in Nigeria, he regularly returned to 6/8/36-10/12/18 sailing, although a lack of enthusiasm Edinburgh to join in class reunions. Ian from his family for being out on a cold was a keen sportsman, specifically in Born in Blackhall, Edinburgh, in August and windy Forth meant that his direct rugby, and he also enjoyed a number 1936, Douglas went to school at Daniel ownership of boats was a relatively of seasons as a referee. He found time Stewarts College and then Skerries short-lived hobby! He owned several in his busy life to represent Stewarts College. He went on to undertake his vintage cars, his favourite being a as President of the Aberdeen Club. training as a Chartered Accountant at 1937 Austin 7 Ruby that he and Sitting on committees seems to Wallace & Somerville in Melville Street Anne (and the dogs) would regularly have been his second sport, being in Edinburgh. He was very proud to be take to shows and on club runs and President of the St. Machar Rotary a FP of Daniel Stewarts College, often rallies. He enjoyed model railways and Club, President of the Aviva Insurance attending monthly lunches at Inverleith, had three layouts at home. Having 36 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club

inherited a box of family papers and from first lacing up his boots as a tyro successes in 1984 and ’90. In 1991 photographs he set out with customary full back at Stewart’s College whose he was appointed the Union’s Finance thoroughness to trace his family 1st XV he represented with distinction Convenor and as member of the history and spent many happy hours before being a pillar of the F.P. side. International Board he participated in researching the national archives and He held many important positions the historic 1995 Paris meeting which parish registers for births deaths and including Treasurer of the International endorsed professionalism. marriages, and would often track Rugby Board from 1994-6, President This affected his spell as S.R.U. down long forgotten grave stones to of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1996 President when he had to deal with the confirm a hunch. He was eventually and both interim Chairman and Chief ‘clubs or districts in Europe’ debate able to trace an ancestor back to the Executive Officer of the Union in 2005. and 5 Nations TV coverage disputes 1600s and discovered unknown close As these posts coincided with difficult In 2005 both the S.R.U. Chairman relatives along the way. He enjoyed periods for the sport it is to his and Chief Executive resigned over the occasional game of golf, and was considerable credit that he was able governance issues, throwing the Union a member of the Blackhall Bowling to navigate through issues by applying into crisis. Given his reputation, the Club and Craigleith Probus. He was his wide range of skills to emerge with Union turned to Fred and appointed him an avid bibliophile and collector of old reputation not only intact but enhanced. both interim Chair and Chief Executive, magazines on many diverse subjects. Although a consummate professional, demanding roles he performed with He is survived by his wife Anne, son Fred was no dry apparatchik but aplomb for seven months. Graeme and daughter Sandra, and someone who enjoyed the traditional He succeeded in steadying the ship grandchildren Emma and Andrew. sociable aspects of rugby and was and thereafter continued as non Contributed by G Glass (1984) a highly popular figure not only at executive Director for another year, Inverleith but in clubhouses everywhere. earning widespread respect and Also a very talented cricketer he appreciation for his contribution. represented Stewart’s F.P.’s, Stewart’s In 1963 he married Sandra Darroch at St. Melville F.P’s and East of Scotland as Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. They lived wicket keeper/ batsman. mostly in Corstorphine and had three Frederick Charles Hubert McLeod children, Angela, Graham and Caroline, was born in Edinburgh and brought Sandra predeceasing him in 2014. up in Trinity where initially he attended After qualifying as C.A., Fred joined D.B. Wardie P. S. before Daniel Stewart’s Marshall Ltd. with whom he remained from 1948 to ’56. He excelled at sport for twenty four years, latterly as Finance winning colours in rugby- one report Director. In 1990 he was appointed the stating “at full back he was outstanding first Bursar of Erskine Stewart’s Melville in fielding and kicking”- cricket and Schools till retiring in 2001. tennis while several ‘Highers’ enabled A man of limitless energy, Fred was him to train as a Chartered Accountant involved in many activities including being with Johnston Smillie. a High Constable, Treasurer of Edinburgh After school he enjoyed a distinguished Chamber of Commerce, a member of career for thirteen seasons as full back Corstorphine Rotary Club and President for the F.P.’s where he was a consistently of Corstorphine Bowling Club for whom reliable performer noted for prowess he also played. Golf was another interest under the high ball and as a goal kicker. he enjoyed at various courses and he A detached retina sustained in a game was also President of both Stewart’s which subsequently required surgery Melville Rugby and Cricket Clubs, and Fred McLeod ended his career in 1970 and pointed Secretary /President of the Co-Optimists him towards officialdom. Born 2nd May 1939 whom he took twice to the Hong Kong Despite his injury he continued playing 7’s and on tour to Zimbabwe. Died 25th December 2019 cricket and captained both Stewart’s A multi talented convivial gent, Fred McLeod who has died aged F.P’s and Stewart’s Melville F.P.’s, generous with his time and an 80 was an outstanding ‘Daniel’, and regularly featuring well in the ‘averages’ accomplished rugby and sporting a wonderful servant to the game of and represented East of Scotland. ambassador, he is survived by sister rugby, initially as player and thereafter In 1981 he was elected to the Fiona, children and grandchildren as one of Scotland’s best known and General Committee of the S.R.U Laura, Sophie, Chloe, Danny, Roxane, most highly regarded officials. Rugby and was particularly proud to be Hayley and Lewis. was in his DNA and a lifelong passion associated with Scotland’s Grand Slam JACK DAVIDSON FP News 2019 37

Queensferry where his father became shoulder dislocations required him to landlord of the Hawes Inn before stop playing in 1960. moving into Edinburgh. After graduating from Edinburgh Grant followed Douglas attending University B.Sc. in agriculture he worked Stewart’s College from 1939-’49. His for Rosebery Estates in farm management sporting ability soon became apparent, till 1958 when he joined British Oil and initially in Douglas’ shadow, also a Cake Mills as agricultural adviser. talented sportsman and role model. In 1955 at St. Ann’s Church, When Grant made his debut in the 1st Corstorphine he married Catherine XV in 1946, his captain was Douglas Rodger having met some years and in 1947 when Grant won the under previously at Corstorphine Tennis Club. 16 sports championship, Douglas They had two children Grant and Claire won the Open championship. Grant but sadly Catherine died in 2001. also captained the 1st XV and twice From 1964 they lived in the Lake won the Open championship. He also District and in 1973 Grant and Grant Weatherstone captained Edinburgh Schools rugby and Catherine opened antique and Born 27th June 1931 represented Scotland A.T.C. against their reproduction furniture shops there. English counterparts at Twickenham He was an active member of Round Died 2nd January 2020 scoring “the best try of the game.” Table, sailed in the Lakes and was Grant Weatherstone was a Scottish He also captained the school tennis team a Sea Scout leader at Windermere rugby international who won sixteen and was a member of the cricket 1st XI. where he also played golf. His interest caps between 1952 and ’59, a fast Another highlight was attending the in rugby was lifelong and with a friend elusive Stewart’s F.P. winger with an opening of the 1948 London Olympics he set up ‘Westmorland Barbarians’ eye for the try line. Sixteen caps was at Wembley which he found impressive junior rugby club to give youngsters an noteworthy as fewer internationals and inspiring. opportunity to play. Latterly he and some were played then and selection policy He was soon a valued member of old schoolmates delighted in holding notoriously inconsistent. He was F.P.’s 1st XV for whom he played annual reunions over long weekends in selected initially for the Lions’ tour of with distinction over the next decade, various venues when golf was played South Africa in 1955 but injury ruled him captaining them in the mid ‘50’s. His and memories rekindled with the aid of out. However he was selected twice for international debut came against an occasional refreshment. the Barbarians’ Easter tour in Wales in England in March 1952 aged 20 while his A charming humorous gent who was 1953 and ’54, playing in four matches. finale was also against England in 1959. as gracious off the pitch as graceful on He was also honoured by being selected A cartilage injury early in 1955 prevented it, he was well liked and highly regarded to play in prestigious fixtures for Steele his going on the Lions’ tour while injury by all, “a wonderful guy” in son Grant’s Bodger’s XV, Major Stanley’s XV, and the in 1956 curtailed appearances with words. He is survived by his sister, Oakes Memorial match among others. the result that he did not reappear for children and four grandchildren. An outstanding ‘7’s’ player where his Scotland till 1958. Unfortunately recurring JACK DAVIDSON speed was a bonus he won medals at Melrose, Langholm, Gala, Hawick, FP Deaths notified since 1 January 2019 Jedforest and Murrayfield. He was an important member of the team that won Known as Name Class of the unofficial Scottish club championship Ian ADAM Adam, Edmund Ian, Dr 1950 in 1958, which boasted many District James ADDLY Addly, James Denis, Mr 1945 players such as Clark Sharp, Gordon Ian CURRIE Currie, Ian H, Dr 1950 Robertson and internationals Gregor Geoffrey FIELD Field, Geoffrey William, Maj Gen Sharp and Bill Relph. Jamie FROST Frost, James G A, Mr 1984 James GIBB-LOW Gibb-Low, James, Mr 1955 A talented athlete, in 1949 he won the Ian GIRDWOOD Girdwood, Ian R, Mr 1952 Scottish Schools’ long jump at Inverleith John KERR Kerr, John N, Mr 1974 with a leap of 21’ 4” while a week later David LAIDLAW Laidlaw, David, Mr 1969 at Ibrox won the corresponding event Hamish MACDONALD Macdonald, Hamish L, Mr 1950 at the S.A.A.A.’s junior championships. Calum MCCREADY McCready, J Calum, Mr 1977 Therafter he competed successfully Fred MCLEOD McLeod, Fred C H, Mr 1956 for several seasons for Stewart’s F.P.’ s Steve MITCHELL Mitchell, Steve, Mr 1966 athletics team. John PRINGLE Pringle, John B, Mr 1940 Thomas Grant Weatherstone was Michael SIMS Sims, Michael H, Mr 1972 born in Edinburgh the youngest of George SMAIL Smail, George R, Mr 1939 three children to Thomas and Helen Thomas SMITH Smith, Thomas P, Mr 1977 nee Grant, the younger brother of Thomas WEATHERSTONE Weatherstone, Thomas Grant, Mr 1949 Douglas and Irene. Initially brought Keith WILKINS Wilkins, Keith Nigel, Mr 1944 up in Galashiels the family moved to 38 Daniel Stewart’s & Melville College Former Pupils Club FP Club Council 2019-2020

Back Row: L-R: Alasdair Seale, Al Napier, John Archer, Bert Barclay. Front Row: L-R : Chris Johnson, Lindsey Geddes, Linda Moule, Laura McIntosh, Maxwell McKay

Contacts Secretary: Lindsey Geddes The Clubhouse, 523 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DW Email: [email protected] Phone: 07717 048665 Website: smcfpclub.co.uk FP News Editor: Fraser Maclean Email: [email protected] Phone: 07542 534156 Branch Club Contacts Aberdeen Secretary: Bob Jeffrey Contact: [email protected] Borders Secretary: Finlay Marshall Contact: [email protected] Glasgow Secretary: Rod Hunter Contact: [email protected] London Secretary: Tom Scrimgeour Contact: [email protected] Australia Secretary: Graeme Reid Contact: [email protected] Affiliated Club Contacts Rugby Bill McNie Contact: [email protected] Hockey Anna Kellner Contact: [email protected] Curling George Bee Contact: [email protected] Cricket Bert Barclay Contact: [email protected] Golf David Kyles Contact: [email protected] FP News 2019 39 STEWART’S MELVILLE FP CLUB

Inverleith Clubhouse for your functions Set in the grounds of the prestigious Stewart’s Melville School Sports Fields. Superb views of the city skyline and castle. From individual dinner parties and celebrations to corporate events. Funeral Receptions respectfully catered for (just 2 minutes from Warriston crematorium). Free off-street parking for 80 cars and disabled access. Ground floor function room with bar, dance floor and a capacity of 120. Upstairs function room with bar, relaxed and flexible area for 70.

For Further Details Contact Lindsey Geddes (Secretary) Email: [email protected] Stewart’s Melville FP Club, The Clubhouse, 523 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DW Telephone: 07717 048 665