Number 17 Spring 2012 The magazine for former pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School The Hardy Boys: another mystery solved! Editorial Contents Together we’re stronger 3 A growing school! Hard as it is to imagine, it’s now over 20 years since two west end schools 4 On the road to success… - both with proud single-sex traditions - combined to form the new, 5 Anecdotage co-educational Glasgow Academy. To those who know it well, there can be little doubt that what has emerged 11 Reunions and Get-togethers from that union is much stronger as a result of the merger. Never mind all the 13 Events advances that increased financial resources have made possible, judged purely in terms of the number of parents who want to send their children to The 14 Regular Giving 2011-12 Academy, there can be little comparison between the old and the new. The Navy Lark Talking of the old, it’s fascinating to learn the story of the JW Hardy Tennis Trophy, donated to the school a century ago this year. I’m delighted that 15 JW Hardy Trophy Nicky Bannerman, of the PE Department, decided to investigate the story. After months of patient research, she has unearthed a story of one family’s 16 Atholl days… gratitude to The Academy expressed in a wonderful gift from half-way across 18 Academical Section the world. 22 Westbourne So many of the trophies awarded at Sports Day have family associations. It can be a great way of remembering an individual - or of a family celebrating their 24 Updates links with a school that has meant so much over the years. 26 Family announcements The end of the Summer Term this year sees the retirement of two teachers who - more than 28 Obituaries most - epitomise the link between Westbourne and The Academy. Sheila Crawford, Head of 30 Picture Post Games, retires after 33 years’ service to the two schools. Her constant encouragement to our pupils to push themselves in terms of Do we have your e-mail address? their athletic ability has seen many - boys as It’s how we communicate best! well as girls - achieving far more than they would have expected on coming to the school. Keeping in touch Likewise Fran Macdonald - our retiring Head The External Relations office is situated of Chemistry - joined the newly-merged in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils Academy from Westbourne. Her pursuit of are always welcome to pop in for a chat Sheila Crawford academic excellence and her tireless desire to and look round the school. Just give see her charges ‘be the best’ has served as an us a call to arrange a time. Our address inspiration to many hundreds of children over is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow G12 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 the years. 342 5494 or at [email protected] Many will know that we are about to embark The Glasgow Academical Club on an exciting new project to provide The 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR Academy with the science facilities that it President – John Taylor deserves. We know that the Science and E-mail – [email protected] Technology Building will be key to the future Secretary – Kenneth Shand for The Glasgow Academy. But schools are Tel: 0141 248 5011 not just bricks and mortar - they are flesh and E-mail: [email protected] blood too. The Academical Club pavilion Why has the merger been such a success? Look is available for functions. Fran Macdonald no further than inspirational teachers - like Academical Club’s London Section Sheila and Fran. Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place London SW1X 9SA Tel: 020 7235 9012 E-mail: [email protected] Malcolm McNaught, Director of External Relations [email protected] 2 Etcetera A growing school! The Academy has bucked the trend by continuing to grow strongly through the recession. Since 2008, our roll has risen from 1236 to 1336 (+8%). This success has been achieved while retaining small classes and a community feel at The Academy. The prospects for next year are excellent, too, as we were heavily oversubscribed for places in the entrance exams in January and our roll is expected to rise by over 50 pupils in August 2012 compared to 2011. We have been planning the next exciting phase in our development for some time. The continuing popularity of the school means we can move forward with our S6 pupil Jillian Hamilton will be one of the Olympic ambition to build a new, state-of-the-art Science and torchbearers as it travels through Glasgow on its way to Technology Building on the site of the two Victorian the 2012 Games in London. Jillian, who hopes to study tenements we own on Colebrooke Street. These are medicine next year, was nominated by the care home exciting times for Glasgow Academy as we look forward, where she has been working for the last year. Jillian, pictured wearing her 1st XI hockey strip, is this year’s with confidence and enthusiasm, to the future. Captain of Athletics. Shortly after this photograph was Peter Brodie, Rector taken, she helped win the West of Scotland Sevens Tournament for The Academy. Oxbridge success No fewer than eight S6 pupils have received Oxford and Cambridge offers - a record number in recent years. They are Robyn Phillips (Biological Sciences - Merton, Oxford); Madeleine Airlie (English - Clare, Cambridge); Peter Charles (Geography - Emmanuel, Cambridge); Lily Mortimer (Law - Homerton, Cambridge); Christopher Simpson (Law - Gonville & Caius, Cambridge); Leanne Massie (Natural Sciences - Newnham, Cambridge); Catriona Murray (Natural Sciences - Murray Edwards, Cambridge) and Cameron Scally (Natural Sciences - Clare, Cambridge). Etcetera 3 On the road to success… To drive the Stuart Highway, the 3000 Although bushfires on the road caused for more trailer support for the car. It km stretch of road which runs between problems on Monday and Tuesday, on was not until Saturday morning at 11am Darwin in the north of Australia and Wednesday, despite the haze - and with that the sun came out again. Police Adelaide in the south, is a test of the help of the trailer more often than restrictions on solar power driving, as the endurance for any vehicle. For the World we would have preferred - Endeavour II roads get busier nearer Adelaide, meant Solar Challenge, the objective is simple: made it to Alice Springs. there was no need to conserve power at to complete this route in a little over six this stage and so we averaged 80kph for By this point in the race, our teamwork days, using only energy collected from the final 120km to Port Augusta. It was was flawless - whether in the scout van, the sun. I was delighted to join 11 other a very positive note on which to end lead or chase cars. Endeavour herself is recently-graduated engineers to form our solar driving challenge. We finally cramped, and with no air-conditioning the University of Cambridge 2011 Veolia reached Adelaide in 25th position having the temperature can easily reach 40°C World Solar Challenge team. completed 1487km of the route under in Australia, so driving the solar car is by solar power. The event is biennial and we were no means comfortable. Being responsible using a modified version of the 2009 for logistics, I spent most of my time I myself am not continuing at university car. Following several weeks of testing, driving our trailer vehicle, a brand new but I intend to remain involved with on Sunday 16 October, 37 solar cars - Discovery 4 generously lent to us by the team as best as I can. Was the World including our Endeavour MkII - rolled Jaguar Land Rover. A hard life for some! Solar Challenge an opportunity not to be out of the city, bound for Adelaide. missed? Definitely. Rain and storms on Thursday were After a couple of minor setbacks on day followed by a very overcast sky all day Alisdair McClymont (2006) one, the race generally went well for us. on Friday which meant there was a need 4 Etcetera Anecdotage Three generations, one school My late father - Ian Alexander Graham myself, William MM Graham (1955) - to primarily because while at school I met a - was born in Bridge of Weir on 18 Glasgow Academy and his daughter, Westbourne girl, Mary Nimmo, whom I June 1910. He attended Ranfurly Castle Milda Joan Graham, was educated at married in 1960. School before being sent to Glasgow Westbourne until circa 1957. We have a son, Peter, who was born in Academy, where he became School Milda went on to the Astley Ainslie October 1961 and attended the Academy Captain in 1928. His Indian Trophy prize Institute in Edinburgh to qualify as an from 1970 until 1978. He qualified as was a French clock with a plate which is Occupational Therapist. She is an artist, a Chartered Accountant at Edinburgh inscribed ‘Glasgow Academy, The Indian lives in Oslo and has five grandchildren. University and lives in Ayr with his Trophy, Won by Ian A Graham, 1928’. While at The Academy, Henrik held wife, Mandy. Our daughter, Fiona, was Several years ago the clock was handed the school record for the mile for many born in November 1963 and attended to his Academical grandson, Peter IH years. Henrik emigrated to Canada in Westbourne from 1972 until 1979 before Graham. 1957 and is in a care home in Montreal. going to Robert Gordon University in In 1928, my father left school to study He has one daughter there and three Aberdeen to obtain a BSc in Pharmacy.