Number 22 Winter 2013 THE MAGAZINE FOR FORMER PUPILS AND FRIENDS OF GLASGOW ACADEMY AND WESTBOURNE SCHOOL Making a splash: our new water-based hockey pitch 1 ETCETERA 22.indd 1 09/12/2013 13:42 CONTENTS EDITORIAL 3 New Olympic-standard hockey pitch opened Good old what’s-his-name! I’ve never been to a class reunion at my school. The truth is I’ve never been asked. 4 Anecdotage I’m not even sure that my school does reunions – but if they do, no one’s ever mentioned them to me. 10 Events I imagine that, if I was to go along to a reunion, I would approach it in much the 14 General Knowledge 1909 same way as do the majority of former pupils of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School for Girls. With mixed emotions. In the steps of our ancestors Broadly, I suspect, there are three categories of reunion invitee. First, there are those 16 Science and Technology Building Appeal who are extremely enthusiastic about the very idea of a reunion from the outset. 17 Westbourne Appeal This seems to be quite a small group, indeed in some cases it may consist solely of the two or three former pupils whose idea it is to hold one in the first place. ‘Of course 18 The Westbourne Section we’re going to have a reunion!’ they say. ‘It will be wonderful to relive all the happy times with good old so-and-so not to mention that chap what’s-his-name. Yes, we 21 Academical Club must have a reunion! Now, how shall we go about it?’ 24 Conquering the Old Man of Hoy It’s at this point in the process that they remember that The Academy has an External Relations office which is only too happy to help. So they phone up the school and 26 The Final Whistle are put through to our office. And then they meet our Emma and – having organised more reunions than Liz Taylor did weddings – she quickly gets things moving and, 27 Announcements before long, the date is fixed and the invitations sent out. 34 Picture Post ‘It is scary to think where the years have gone, but when talking to everyone it was interesting and amazing to hear their stories. Do we have your e-mail address? I think the best part was how excited everyone was to be in one It’s how we communicate best! another’s company again. Whether it was friends who see each other regularly or friends we hadn’t seen since we left school, great fun was had by all.’ Keeping in touch Thoughts on a recent 10-year reunion The External Relations office is situated in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are At this stage we meet the second, and biggest, group. This consists of people for always welcome to pop in for a chat and look whom the idea of a school reunion is not unpleasant but the physical reality of round the school. Just give us a call to arrange attending their own reunion brings with it much soul-searching. For many, ‘Will a time. Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, they remember me?’ is a worry. For others, ‘Will I remember them?’ is at least as Glasgow G12 8HE and you can contact us on concerning. It’s a time when a distorting mirror is held up to the past and minor 0141 342 5494 or at [email protected] indiscretions become major stumbling blocks to their attendance. The Glasgow Academical Club A few even allow these thoughts to tip them over into the third group: those who 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR don’t come either because they can’t or because they don’t want to go there – President: Gavin Smith physically or emotionally. E-mail: [email protected] Having attended numerous Glasgow Academy and Westbourne reunions over the Secretary: Stuart Neilson years, I am happy to report that the vast majority of those who arrive rather hesitant Tel: 07771 845104 or looking in need of a stiff drink leave a few hours later changed beings, delighted E-mail: [email protected] that they made the effort to come all the way from Bearsden or Brunei, Canada The Academical Club pavilion or Canniesburn because they’ve been reconnected with their school friends – is available for functions. reconnected with their school. Academical Club’s London Section As someone said to me after a recent reunion, ‘This morning I was seriously Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place considering pulling out and not turning up at all. Now I’m absolutely delighted that London SW1X 9SA I came and met people I haven’t seen for almost half a century. My only regret is that Tel: 020 7235 9012 I was daft enough not to sign up for the meal in the evening – I don’t know what I E-mail: [email protected] can have been thinking!’ So, here’s to class reunions and those far-sighted folk who organise them! And here’s Like us on Facebook; join us on LinkedIn to good old what’s his name! With best wishes, Cover photograph by Andy Buchanan 2 Etcetera ETCETERA 22.indd 2 09/12/2013 13:42 New Olympic-standard hockey pitch opened Glasgow Academy has opened a brand new water-based, all-weather hockey pitch at Windyedge sports fields. The pitch was unveiled by Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, who described the Olympic-standard pitch as, ‘A terrific investment by Glasgow Academy and one which provides a truly world-class playing surface for training and competition.’ Our Director of Sport, Rhona Simpson, who played for Team GB in two Olympics and for Scotland in three Commonwealth Games, is confident the new pitch will encourage more youngsters to take up hockey. In addition, our old astro-turf pitch did badly need to be replaced as it was no longer draining well. We had already pushed it a good number of years beyond its normal life expectancy. The new pitch will generate more income in increased hire rates and we felt it was prudent to complete this necessary Rhona Simpson commented: ‘Academy pupils absolutely love it. With 14 teams and project over the summer before the some 350 pupils using the pitch every week, the value of providing such a world- costs and payments of SciTech start to class facility is clear already. It all adds up to a very exciting new chapter for hockey at dominate our capital budget. The Academy, in Glasgow and for Scotland.’ West District winners 2013! Congratulations to the ladies of the 1st XI on winning the West District Senior 1st XI Tournament 2013/14. In a nail-biting conclusion to the competition held on Wednesday 30 October, The Glasgow Academy girls beat Hutchesons’ Grammar in the semi-final before dispatching High School of Glasgow in the final on running penalties. Lucy McCall, the 1st XI captain, commented: ‘We were delighted to win the tournament. It was an extremely closely-fought competition which we all had to work extremely hard to win.’ Rhona Simpson, their coach, added: ‘It was a great achievement and very well-deserved.’ Etcetera 3 ETCETERA 22.indd 3 09/12/2013 13:42 ANECDOTAGE Miss Duff’s Prep 1 class of 1938 Etcetera 21 contained an article about Miss Duff – one of Douglas Alexander’s favourite teachers. In response, Ian Bruce (1950) has sent a photograph of Miss Duff’s Prep 1 class of 1938. These are the names of those pictured, to the best of Ian’s recollections. Back row: D Brydon, D White, Ian and Keir Fisher, S Young, F McLeod Second back row: I Bruce, M Wharten, A Waddell, D Cunningham, I Graham, R Young Seated: M McComb, B Reid, N Hodge, Miss Duff, A Hart, Lawrence and Mitchell Biggart Front row: W Martin, C MacGregor, ? Dear Malcolm n his article on Miss Duff on page Doric. As an example of the former, 8 of Etcetera 21, Douglas Alexander ‘Beatus ille, qui procul negotiis’ became Imentions a poem taught by her, but ‘Happy is he, far frae the toon’s alairms’. says he cannot remember either its name Murray sent his poems home to his or that of its author. The WhisTle father in Alford as they were written. The poem is The Whistle by Charles Some were published in various (verse 1 of 6) Murray. I learnt it at the feet of Miss magazines over the years, but around He cut a sappy sucker from the muckle Currie in about 1945 – see the photo 1910 they were collected together in rodden-tree, of the class in Etcetera 17 (page 8) with Hamewith – which means ‘homewards’. He trimmed it, an’ he wet it, an’ he names provided by Ronald MacLean I have a copy of the ninth impression of thumped it on his knee; in the following edition. Indeed The Hamewith bought by my father’s father in Whistle, which I think I could recite in June 1913 for 5 shillings, quite expensive He never heard the teuchat when the its entirety, was my party piece in those for those days. harrow broke her eggs, days. I do not think I have ever had He missed the craggit heron nabbin’ I am delighted to have an excuse to another party piece. I cannot remember puddocks in the seggs, write to you about Charles Murray it now, except in small snatches, but I do He forgot to hound the collie at the and his poems.