Issue 19 - The Glasgow Academy

Number 19
Winter 2012
The magazine for former pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School
Editorial
Contents
Lachie Robertson –
one of that rare breed of men
Even on the greyest of November days, Elgol on
the west coast of Skye strikes one as a little piece
of paradise untouched by the twenty-first century.
For a community without mobile reception or
Internet access, the ancient red telephone box is no
anachronism. Many miles of single-track road deter
the casual visitor.
And yet, yesterday, it seemed that the world had
come to Elgol. For yesterday, Elgol laid to rest one
of its best-known sons. Hugely respected as ‘The
Colonel’ and greatly loved as ‘Lachie’, he was a man
who touched many lives – and many were those
who came to mourn his passing.
Between November 1950 and June 1982, Lachie Robertson taught several
generations of Transitus boys. He taught them in class and he taught them on the
rugby field; he taught them with kindly humour and he taught them with great
wisdom. He was a man’s man and few who knew him as a teacher ever forgot him.
As his colleague, Iain MacGregor, wrote in the Chronicle of 1982, ‘In 1950 he
was appointed Assistant Master at Glasgow Academy. Many have had this honour
entrusted to them. Not so many have taken it as such and given back so much to our
community. “Lachie”, as he is known to everyone, is one of that rare breed of men
who, while not seeking popularity, has earned it by dint of his enthusiasm, his love of
life, his unswerving loyalty and the respect he has for the traditions of his nation and
his ancestors.’
Every time we invite contributions to Etcetera on the subject of ‘Favourite teachers
remembered’, former pupils write about Lachie. Rob Johnston (1969), who wrote to
us some weeks ago, will not be alone in remembering the following incident:
‘My first teacher on moving from the junior to Senior School was Lachie Robertson,
a tough but kindly ex-paratrooper. He was our form master and English teacher, but
the only lesson I can remember was ‘how to perform a parachute jump’. Standing on
his desk, he spread out his billowing black gown to simulate a parachute, then leapt
off, to land on the floor in the correct attitude, feet-together, collapsing and rolling
across the floor to absorb the impact. Then each of us had to execute a jump from
the desk to see if we’d been paying attention. Would never happen nowadays, of
course.’
At Lachie’s funeral, a number of stories from former Glasgow Academy boys were
woven into his daughter, Mairi’s tribute to her late father. Among them were the
following words written by rugby legend, John Beattie (1974). Let me leave the last
word on Lachie to him:
‘My favourite teacher was a bloke called Lachie Robertson, who was a teacher at
Glasgow Academy. I learned through school there are some real idiots as teachers,
who decide to make your life a misery for no real reason, and there are real gems,
and he was one of the gems…
‘Like lots of men, I can never really say what I mean, but I just want him to know
that I and everybody else thought he was a fantastic man. If you want examples of
good men in the world, he is one – and he had a huge impact on my life.’
Malcolm McNaught, Director of External Relations
m.mcnaught@tga.org.uk
2
Etcetera
3 Lachie Robertson remembered
4 Anecdotage
5 A School of contradictions
8 A Fistful of Marks
9 Transitus shooting, Session 1953-54
10 Right of reply
11 Academical Club
12 Reunions and get-togethers
16 Westbourne
18 Reflections
19 Three cheers for three Chairmen
20 Regular Giving 2011-12
22 Family announcements
24 Updates
27 Obituaries
30 Favourite teachers remembered
31 Picture post
Do we have your e-mail address?
It’s how we communicate best!
Keeping in touch
The External Relations office is situated
in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are
always welcome to pop in for a chat and look
round the school. Just give us a call to arrange
a time. Our address is Colebrooke Terrace,
Glasgow G12 8HE and you can contact us
on 0141 342 5494 or at exrel@tga.org.uk
The Glasgow Academical Club
21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR
President – Iain Jarvie
E-mail – iainjarvie152@btinternet.com
Secretary – Kenneth Shand
Tel: 0141 248 5011
E-mail: kenneth.shand@mms.co.uk
The Academical Club pavilion
is available for functions.
Academical Club’s London Section
Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place
London SW1X 9SA
Tel: 020 7235 9012
E-mail: ecj@aralon.co.uk
Like us on Facebook; join us on LinkedIn
Cover photograph:
Paul Stewart, Campsie Photography
Lachie Robertson remembered…
No sooner had we sent out news of Lachie’s passing than the e-mails started to arrive from all over the world - and from
pupils of every decade. Here are a few short excerpts:
Needless to say we all wanted to receive a
piece of ‘Annabel’, his famous strap, which
he cut bits off to give to miscreants after a
belting. Sadly, the only time I could have
been awarded this honour… he couldn’t
open the drawer of his desk to retrieve
Annabel, and I was given detention instead!
Marcus Szilagyi (1983)
I remember he spoke about Robert Louis
Stevenson… and how he had died on the
island of Samoa. The way he spoke the name
was so beautiful and sad with his Gaelic
accent: ‘Zamoosa!’
Gregor MacGregor (1979)
He was a gentleman from a breed and
generation which sadly no longer exists.
I will always remember him.
Richard Bell (1981)
Like all who had the luck to have met Lachie
in their school careers, I thought he was a
man who always said it as it was. A rock.
(Maybe not the way Basil thought youngsters
should be spoken to!)
Ronnie Veitch (1972)
He was a wonderful teacher and idolised by
the boys at the Academy, no more so than
when he joined in the scrum at Anniesland
and was on occasions seen to travel the
length of the rugby pitch with half of a team
hanging onto him in fits of laughter…
Willie Dunbar (1960)
Very sorry to hear this. Good memories of
Lachie from the early 70s in Room E, and
with the school rifle team at Dechmont
Range! …Can’t make it to Elgol, but will be
there in spirit on Friday.
R Andrew S Wilson (1975)
When I entered the big school in 1956,
Lachie was my first form master. It was a
frightening experience for a timid, specs-eyed
boy but, with his gruff, warm-hearted
manner, he soon won me over… With
sadness and condolences to his family,
Jim (Seamus) Bull (1964)
‘A great innings for
a great man!’
How very sad indeed - he was a lovely man
and I knew him very well; he got me into his
15 Para.
Allan Alstead (1954)
Very sad to hear. He was a character and
I do remember him trying to teach me
Geography. He was commanding officer to
my late father in the parachute regiment.
Mark Nicol (1981)
The end of another era.
Roy Chapman (former staff)
A wonderful man both in and out of school.
Jim Guthrie (1976)
I always think of Lachie whenever Scotland
try and play rugby. He was a diehard for the
sport.
Gordon Dickson (1973)
…a Master and Gentleman, one of the finest,
and an inspiration and example to those of
us who were lucky enough to have personal
experience of his particular magic at the
beginning of our lives…
Michael Main (1982)
Thanks for letting me know. A great innings
for a great man.
Iain Breckenridge (1984)
I was saddened to hear of Lachie’s passing.
I remember him as a kind, supportive and
respected teacher… He will be remembered
fondly and, if I could be on the Isle of Skye
on Friday, I surely would be.
Nick Jewell (1969)
Lachie was hugely respected and an
inspiration to the many of us who were
fortunate enough to benefit from his wise
counsel and firm but charming nature, so
befitting of one from the Western Isles.
Murray Marr (1970)
Wish I was there to pipe the Funeral honours
for him and march off, up the road, to that
famous 6/8 march - ‘Colonel Robertson’.
George Mackenzie (1959)
Thank you for letting us know. Lachie was a
charming and ebullient and fun member of
staff at a time (my time) when not all were
like that!
Nick Utechin (1969)
Remembered with gratitude and affection.
Cecil Sanderson (1962)
Very sad news indeed. I remember him with
great fondness… A great man.
John Macnab (1969)
He was a great teacher and enthusiast. Taught
me all I know about the geology of Skye. He
taught my pal Campbell Semple who is 77...
so he had a long career at the Academy.
Alec Mitchell (1959)
He was a great character! If one had to have a
funeral, what a place Elgol is to have it!
George McLaren (1970)
Thanks for the info. I had Lachie for one year
in the early 50’s He was superb!
Douglas Walker (1955)
I have nothing but fond memories of him
be it in class or on the rugby pitches at
Anniesland where he and ‘Basher’ Ainsley
had much fun refereeing on games days.
George Porteous (1955)
Ah, I recall him well - and Annabella!
Mike Faulds (1965)
He was my form teacher in 1980 and he left
a lasting impression as a very brave and fair
man with a wicked sense of humour. He told
us many stories of his family in the Isles and
his wish to return there after teaching.
Ewan Cameron (1986)
Sad indeed - he was a legendary character.
Martin Sinclair (1986)
Lachie was a great chap and a real
encouragement - even if we spent more time
practising parachute landings than learning
English! I am sure that I am not alone in
saying that we will all have been better for
knowing him.
Sean Henney (1978)
Very sorry to hear. I suspect they don’t make
teachers like him anymore!
Duncan Gilmour (1972)
He was someone that I’ll just never forget –
can remember being in his classroom as clear
as if it was yesterday.
Chris MacRae (1984)
I remember Trans C with fond memories…
I never did figure out which was the good
eye / ear – hence I was always caught by the
pointing finger and wrong direction stare.
Neil Amner (1984)
He was a man of great fairness and kindness
and a born leader with a sense of humour
who did much to motivate and support
me personally and encourage me to get my
Higher Geography.
Frank Elliott (1966)
He was a great colleague and friend during
my time at the Academy in the sixties, and
of course he was hugely popular with all his
pupils.
Philip Beattie (former staff)
My favourite ever teacher… such a good guy.
Blair Ross (1982)
Sorry to hear the news. It proves though that
copious quantities of whisky is good for you!
Alan Barrie (1979)
I have fond memories of Lachie as a
dedicated teacher whose individual character
stimulated the learning process.
David Cockburn (1966)
Etcetera
3
Anecdotage
William Livingstone remembers
PART TWO
Sports
I was no good at sports. In retrospect,
had I been offered hill-walking or
mountaineering, I might have enjoyed
that, but all I remember is finding myself
in aggressive, competitive team games
that I absolutely loathed and feared –
rugby in winter, and cricket in summer.
I started wearing glasses at the age of 11
and was scared stiff of them breaking
during games; even worse was the idea
of not wearing them at all – in which
case I would be as good as blind and not
see anything. So I played safe and, as
much as I could, stayed on the sidelines.
I did, though, have one absolutely
incredible, undeniable moment of
glory on the rugby pitch. And I have
enthralled untold numbers of audiences
with this story for many, many years.
One otherwise uneventful day, I was
running up and down the pitch together
with my team – they in the centre
of the pitch, and I on the sidelines as
usual. Suddenly, some idiot threw the
ball in my direction. And I, amazingly
and without intending to, actually
caught it in my hands. I stood still, not
quite knowing what to do with this
unforeseen incident, when a whistle
blew somewhere in the far distance.
‘Run, boy, run!’ shouted the master. So I
ran. And ran. And ran. Towards the goal,
like the wind, and nobody could catch
me, nobody could stop me. My moment
of glory, finally. I was exhilarated, my
imagination started to run, perhaps
they’ll even ask me to represent
Scotland.
Guinness and Stanley Holloway. At the
end, nearly everyone decided to leave
the school premises by the illegal ‘short
cut’ – quick across the playground, and
over the wall. I didn’t like the idea, but
what could I do with group pressure
and all that? I was almost the last to
sit up on the wall, and, feeling rather
sick at heart, couldn’t face the jump,
so I slid down, my back against the
wall, and landed awkwardly on my left
leg. My body twisted round for some
reason. I heard an almighty carrot-like
crack, and fell on to the pavement
below. ‘Get up, William. Let’s go!’ they
shouted, but I couldn’t. Eventually,
Jock Carruthers appeared on the scene,
took control and sent me off to the
Western Infirmary in an ambulance. I
thought that these were supposed to be
comfortable, but it was not to be. To
this day, I remember a horrendously
painful drive. At the hospital, my
trousers were unceremoniously sliced
open with an enormous pair of scissors,
Then the whistle blew again.
‘You’re running the wrong way!’
And so the moment of glory ended,
never again to be repeated for the rest
of my life. I returned to the hot bath,
cleaned up and decided that disliking
rugby was a fact of life.
Prefects 1965-6, June 1966
An accident
At the tender age of 12 or so, I created
havoc in a perfect universe. I stayed
behind one day at school with my
brother and cousin and a whole bunch
of other boys to watch The Lavender Hill
Mob, a great film from 1951 with Alec
4
Etcetera
Programme excerpt, Academy Globe Players, 1965
and I was eventually operated on. It
was a bad break, and I had to be absent
from school for at least six weeks. I was
sent homework on a regular basis, and
somehow kept up with my classes and,
when I eventually came back, my plaster
provided many another boy with a
canvas for his artwork.
On stage
As a young boy I realised I had thespian
abilities and longed to go on stage but,
with my lack of self-confidence, my
ambitions were sorely tested. Finally,
in my penultimate year, the dream
materialized. I auditioned for, and won,
a most demanding part in the Globe
Players’ production of Julius Caesar. I was
to play Dardanius, one of the soldiers
on Brutus’ staff. I had the difficult task
of memorizing 15 words in three lines.
On opening night, my family arrived
to witness the great performance. I
was so nervous that I forgot my cues,
forgot my lines, and those words which
I did manage to emit were inaudible to
anyone beyond row one.
My teachers
I have come across, in previous editions
of Etcetera, the names of some of the
teachers I can remember. One in
particular for whom I had a special
affection was Frankie Parkes with whom
I first discovered the joys of mathematics.
It was he who, on being asked by a pupil
whether he could go to the toilet, please,
sir, retorted something to the effect of:
whether or not you can go to the toilet
is an affair of your doctor. If, however,
you wish to go, you may.
In conclusion
Looking back from the vantage position
of my age, I have no doubt that
something of those years has remained
with me. Whether in the way of
character formation, academic enjoyment
or just getting on with other people,
something of the school makes me stand
out in my own personal environment.
I’m not sure whether I feel privileged to
have been a pupil at the Academy, but I
am certainly proud of it.
‘Life’s never fair!’
Graeme Orr’s reminiscences on being
belted brought back some nostalgic
memories of my time at The Academy
(1950-1962).
Dodo must have mellowed by Graeme’s
time. In my day Dodo applied the Mk
2 by requiring the miscreant to hold his
out-reached hand hovering above a heavy
tome placed upon Dodo’s desk. This
resulted in a double hit! Not only did you
get the initial hit from his belt, but also
a second hit from your hand ricocheting
off the tome below. This occurred either
because you anticipated hit one by
dropping your hand in advance, or simply
allowing hit one to propel your hand to
hit the under-pinning tome. Dodo had
worked out that utilising the kinetic energy
of the Mk2 in this way had the potential
to be more effective than the Mk1. Baggy
was a charming ‘belter’.
As with Dodo, he must have mellowed by
1965. In earlier years he used a bundle of
rulers. I fondly remember the day when
he went round the class interrogating each
of us on some obscure part of English
William Livingstone (1966)
Grammar. (The 60s were the days when
English Grammar was still taught.) All bar
two of the class failed the interrogation.
The failures had to line up to be belted.
The class captain was belted first, but
received twice the number of beats. Baggy
explained it was because the Class Captain
was supposed to set an example. What
that had to do with English grammar
is still a puzzle. But, half way through
this mass belting, the bell went for milk
break. Baggy stopped belting, and we
went for break. On re-convening, Baggy
continued the English Grammar lesson,
but appeared to have forgotten he still had
half the class to belt. Those that had been
belted reminded Baggy volubly that he still
had to belt other half of the class. Baggy
responded by saying, ‘I never continue
belting after the break.’
‘But, Sir, that’s not fair!’ was the uniform
cry from the belted.
Baggy responded with a smile and said,
‘Life’s never fair.’
Chic Varley had a way with a ruler which,
for many reasons, cannot be reported!
Robert Trythall (1962)
Transportation 1940s style
Getting to and from school involves
some travel – even, presumably, for
those boarders living on the doorstep in
Colebrooke Terrace.
passed the War Memorial, and getting
past the ‘welcoming committee’ of
prefects before the bell went for morning
assembly.
Those of us who stayed in the southern
suburbs of the city were fortunate to
have the excellent service of the 5A bus
during the war (WW2, that is!). The bus
had a terminus at Muirend and on its
route passed up University Avenue, each
location involving but a short walk at
either end of the journey.
The return journey was a much more
leisurely affair. On the way to the bus
stop, there was a newsagent/tobacconist
shop. Here, if the pooled funds would
stretch to it, we could purchase a flimsy
paper packet of five Wills Woodbine
cigarettes to enjoy on the upper deck
of the bus – this time as near the back
as possible. This was in the days when
smoking was considered cool and
fashionable, and before there was an age
limit on the purchase.
Boarding at the terminus meant that we
had a choice of seating, and there was
usually a bus waiting there, so there was
no standing about in inclement weather.
This was in the days before bus shelters.
Older and younger brothers travelled
with us, but where they sat I cannot
remember. Ronnie Scott, Billy Aiton,
Ian McCulloch and I would occupy the
two upstairs front seats on the outward
journey, and would while away the
journey by recognising the different
makes of car which we encountered
along the way.
If we caught the 8.20 bus, it was a brisk
walk to the school, donning caps as we
Another purchase which was occasionally
made at this same shop was the current
copy of a magazine called Health and
Efficiency. This, despite its name, was
actually a Naturist magazine but it was,
at that time, the only legitimate source
for the study of human anatomy.
Nearer to the bus stop there was an
Italian café where the owner did a
roaring trade in purveying ice cubes
flavoured with fruit juice. Even in winter
these proved irresistible, and it was
almost an automatic stop along the way.
Sadly, the 5A bus service was withdrawn
before our education was complete. For
some peculiar reason it was replaced by
one which finished up at Govan Cross.
There was also a subway station there,
so we thought this might be a good
alternative route, with the Kelvinbridge
stop right next to the school.
However, the one trip we made was
enough. The bus route was so tortuous
in getting us to Govan that we arrived
at school near the end of the first period
and had a taxing time explaining our late
arrival.
Jim Cunningham (1949)
Etcetera
5
A school of contradictions…
I enjoyed Graeme Orr’s article about
the Academy in the 60s. It reminded
me of why I enjoyed some of my
schooldays there... and why I hated
many of them.
The Academy I knew was staffed by
teachers full of contradictions. There
were characters.
‘Boggles’ as Graeme recalls was an
unusual man. I remember the ‘warnings’
that, if not redeemed by improved
performance on Friday tests, would result
in the belt across the backside which our
man would carefully ensure had not been
padded by The Approach To Latin. Unlike
Graeme, I remember these as public
floggings.
My Mathematics and Scripture teacher,
Jimmy Jope, rejoiced in coming from
Wishaw and in rehearsing songs from
The Black And White Minstrel Show.
He had encyclopaedic knowledge of
78rpm recordings and regularly enjoyed
telling us of these hits of yesteryear. His
public floggings were intimated by an
unusual turn of phrase, ‘Forward for
leatherworks, boy!’ being quite typical.
Sometimes he used the big blackboard
ruler. To this day I remember his
scathing, ‘McKay, you’re a prig, you’ve
always been a prig and you’ll always be a
prig.’ I daresay some would congratulate
him on his perspicacity.
Dodo, as Graeme rightly recalls, was less
effective at inflicting pain. Pupils placed
their hands on his desk and he strapped
with a resounding clack, but without
any inertia felt. His Geography classes
were helped by our use of the print
rollers which produced various maps
once inked on the roller pad. It was fun
to have these printed over your face.
Lake Titicaca regularly featured and was
always good for a puerile laugh. Dodo,
Mr D Ogilvie, recognised the use of
rhyme and rhythm in learning. I can still
recite some of the mountain ranges in
central Asia: ‘Pontic, Taurus, Armenian
Knot, Caucasus…’ we chanted.
There was a Chemistry teacher, Mr
Plowman, who enjoyed Ford Cortinas.
There was a kindly, young physicist we
called Smiley who enjoyed motorbikes
and another physicist with a soprano
voice. There was a classicist who taught
in the hut whose belt I threw down the
bank of the Kelvin; he made sure that it
was returned by promising to belt every
6
Etcetera
boy in the class if it was not back on his
desk by the end of the day. It was he
who used to start a class by demanding
‘Take out your Plinys, boys,’ but never
seemed to understand the laughter and
occasional response, ‘No way!’
Mr Cowper, a mathematician who
timed his regular cigarette breaks with
precision, once belted me for chewing
my glasses. Johnny Maxton taught
me History, or at least listened to us
reading the book round the class. When
he became bored with this he would
prompt some discussion by saying
something controversial, usually relating
to his Humanist principles. As a son of
the Manse, I felt obliged to argue and
on one occasion was urged by classmates
to go to see the Rector, Basil Holden,
to complain about his ungodly remarks.
I was received very kindly and it was
explained that Mr Maxton made these
comments only so as to stimulate our
debating powers.
“Mr Miles,
the classicist, drawled:
‘Latin is a language
As dead as dead can be
It killed the ancient Romans
And now it’s killing me.’”
I doubted that in his respect, but not in
Baggy Aston’s. He taught me English
and called me ‘Joe 90’ because of my
big glasses. He would offer interesting
observations and perspectives on life and
would try to get us to think clearly and
argue cogently. He suggested that every
young man should be given a motorbike
so as road casualties would increase and
so reduce the population. With glee
we spotted his pipe still smoking in his
pocket on more than one occasion when
he nearly lit himself up.
Other characters included the
soft-spoken Lachie Robertson
who became most animated when
demonstrating parachute landings. There
was Mr Miles, another classicist who
drawled: ‘Latin is a language/As dead
as dead can be/ It killed the ancient
Romans/ And now it’s killing me.’
Aesthetic subjects were not well served
at the Academy. Art was mainly painting
but there was little formal tuition. So too
with Music. ‘Jazzy’ Coulthard liked us
to listen to recordings and we could do
some homework but the school orchestra
with which I played the trombone was
not one of its strengths. Pink Floyd’s
dark sarcasm of the classroom was
evidenced by the teacher who said I
liked the loudest brass instrument just
like I liked the sound of my own voice. I
still play the Trombone!
The school janitors were characters
too. Mr McRae was a gentle man who
regarded the school as an extension of
his own personality. Cruelly dubbed
‘Doom’ because of his solemn manner,
he retained some faith in me, despite
my impertinence to other adults and
sometimes gave me and my friend,
T J Brown, little tasks to do around
the playground. Mr McRae’s assistant
was a rather sterner man who had
been appointed because of his army
background as a RSM. They dominated
the boiler man who seemed to live in the
nether regions behind where the CCF
truck was parked and where the school
band,’The Cayvemen’, if I recall their
name, practised excitingly-amplified
twangy stuff.
These exciting and heady 60s days saw a
‘Buy British’ campaign which discourse
infuriated another kindred spirit and
malcontent friend Charlie Brown.
Charlie fancied himself as a left wing
Scot Nat and for a while flirted with
the nom de plume of Karl Hovis. He
went further than I did, at the time, by
showing his disdain for the campaign
and perhaps for the school by burning
a Union Jack in the playground. My
recollection was that he was suspended
for ‘treason’. In my career in Education
I have come across many reasons for
student suspension and exclusion. Never
treason!
T J Brown and Brian Barclay were my
only contemporaries who lived close
enough to school to go home for lunch.
This set us apart somewhat, I always
felt. Sons of the Manse sometimes have
a chip on their shoulder, which in my
case was gargantuan and explained,
together with my often feeling like a fish
out of water because I didn’t live in the
leafier suburbs of Glasgow (‘McKay,’
said one snob; ‘What’s it like to live in a
slum?’), some sense of alienation. At the
time, it seemed that the establishment
revolved around dressing up to play
soldiers or rugby, neither of which I
enjoyed. These, together with a natural
arrogance and suspicion of authority, led
to my behaviour being dreadfully silly
and relentlessly attention-seeking. To
my shame, I was removed from Madam
Faid’s French class to sit in with Mr
Black’s higher fliers and slowly I began
to realise that if I wanted any academic
success I would have to work for it.
Eventually, but not until I left school, I
learned the hard graft of academia. Mrs
Faid did teach me the correct order of
French personal pronouns with her so
called ‘Fitba Team’: ‘me, te, se, nous,
vous/le, la, les/lui, leurs’, if I’ve still got
it right. I coveted her Vauxhall Cresta
with the big fins.
On the sports ground, however, I was
entirely unable to compete due to the
combination of a constitutional lethargy,
becoming a smoker at an early age and
unfitness. What irony that I was later
to have a daughter who has run for
Scotland and British Universities. Others
will remember the so-called ‘Kelvin
Run’ which we would be required to
undertake from time to time. We ran
up Belmont Street, turned right after
Stevenson Memorial, my father’s church,
along Striven Gardens, doglegged along
Garriochmill Road and thence through
Botanic Gardens to the Ha’ penny
bridge and back. Mr Wayne couldn’t
understand how I could do this so fast.
What he didn’t know was that I used a
key for the church to go in at the top of
Belmont Street and out at the basement
level at the end of Garriochmill Road
thus saving a goodly chunk of the
itinerary!
I did learn at Glasgow Academy the
vital importance of the pupil/teacher
relationship in nurturing young people.
And I learned how poorer relationships
can poison educational progress. Whilst
some of my teachers reflected foibles
present in us all, some showed a keen
interest in the young people. Some were
also able to see beyond silly behaviour
and remain optimistic for their charges.
Some did go that extra mile. So I was
delighted to read that visitors to The
Academy are often struck now by the
fact that teachers and pupils seem to like
each other. That would not always have
been evident in my day. Later I was to
write my doctoral thesis around some
of these themes and – as a professional
psychologist – I have often reflected on
the personality types that exemplified
themselves in Colebrooke Street,
Anniesland and Mugdock Moor.
Ralston McKay (1969)
2nd XV 1943-44
We received this photograph recently of the 2nd XV of 1943-44. Does it stir any
memories for anyone? Perhaps you were in that team and remember one of your
teammates particularly well. Or – who knows? – you may have a particular memory
of the clubhouse!
Photo sent in by Alastair Porter (1947)
This photo of the NCOs of the OTC
was taken some time during the
academic year of 1946/47. Alastair
is in the front row as one of the two
Company Sergeant Majors. Within
12 months, most of the boys in the
photograph would have done National
Service. Alastair was first of all with the
Royal Scots Fusiliers but, after he was
commissioned, he was transferred to the
Royal Army Service Corps and posted
to Germany to run a supply depot which
served the Berlin Airlift for the whole
duration of that effort.
Alastair can identify some of the boys in
the photo. Can anyone help fill in the
gaps?
Back row – ?, Reid, ?, Blackwood, ?
Middle row – ?, ANS Henderson, ?, Timbury,
James, Mason
Front row – Mackay, Armstrong, AL Henderson,
Major Parkes, Porter, ?, Macgregor
Etcetera
7
A Fistful of Marks
The story told by Jan Chisholm about
her French pen friend in the summer
edition of Etcetera (Correspondence
Course!) reminded me about my own
experience with my German pen friend
nearly 50 years ago.
Mr ‘Henry’ Hall was our earnest and
enthusiastic German teacher in the early
1960s. He was tall and fair, and had an
excellent singing voice which ‘Jazzy’ Bill
Coulthard made good use of in the choir.
Mr Hall wanted us to share his enthusiasm
for German language and culture. In
our third or fourth year, Mr Hall asked
us if we would like to have German
pen-friends. I think we said yes just to
please him, and forgot all about it. A few
months later, I got a letter with a German
stamp. It was from my new pen-pal. On
the back of the envelope was his name
and address – E. Seraphin, Nurnberg. I
was quite excited. The handwriting was
very neat and I scanned down the two
pages of German script to his signature.
The letter was signed ‘Elke’.
In 1965, after a couple of years of writing
to Elke and receiving occasional gifts of
45rpm records of lieder, she invited me
to go and spend the Easter holidays with
her family in Nuremberg.
I went to school with Elke for the last
week of term leading up to their Easter
holiday and managed to impress the
French teacher with a written translation
from French into German, but I suspect
she was just being kind. I was invited to
play football with the class team, despite
protesting that I was really only a rugby
player, if a 2nd XV front row forward
could be called that! They soon realised I
was no Denis Law!
Elke’s family must have been
disappointed by my lack of appreciation
of their musical culture (I remember
a dreadful night at the Opera) but I
loved the Museum of Torture, the
fine old buildings and especially the
Nurnberg sausages served with heaps of
sauerkraut. We went to the enormous
empty concrete stadium where Hitler
held his rallies, and I stood on the spot
where Der Fuhrer had addressed tens
of thousands of cheering supporters not
much more than 20 years before. Now
it was full of weeds and pigeons. The
swastikas had been removed from the
pillars, but their imprint remained clearly
visible.
8
Etcetera
Elke was a member of a church youth
organisation which organised a trip to
West Berlin whilst I was there and I
was invited to go with them. We left
Nuremberg by coach and travelled
north and east, eventually reaching
the heavily-guarded border with East
Germany – the front line of the Cold
War. Stern soldiers with submachine
guns boarded the bus, walked up the
aisle of the coach checking papers. I
handed my passport over, and it was
taken to the even sterner sergeant at
the front of the bus. They looked up
the coach at me and then down at my
passport, muttering to each other. It did
not look good. Life in the CCF had
not prepared me for this. I was in the
Naval Section, after all. Eventually, the
soldier brought my passport back and
handed it over with a look that suggested
he’d rather have shot me but had been
overruled by his sergeant. The soldiers
left and we were waved on.
Berlin was dominated by the Wall which
was just four years old at that time. It cut
a huge swathe through the city, bisecting
communities, roads and sometimes even
buildings. On the Western side were
numerous wreaths, where East Berliners
had been shot by their own soldiers as
they tried to escape to the West.
We saw the sights of post-war West
Berlin, travelling by U-Bahn and
S-Bahn, and covering miles on foot. We
went to see the Brandenburg Gate, an
iconic landmark, now marooned in acres
of no man’s land. I can’t remember at
what stage I learned that we were going
to be able to go into East Berlin. Elke
had an aunt who lived there, and the
Wall was to be opened at Easter to allow
visitors from the West to visit, only for
the day. We had to travel separately, Elke
by U-Bahn from a station in the West
to a station in the East where German
nationals were processed. As a foreigner,
I went through Checkpoint Charlie. My
papers were checked on the American
side, and I walked, alone, past the sign
that read, ‘You are now leaving the
American Sector’. It was frightening to
be walking across no man’s land into
what felt like enemy territory. I don’t
remember seeing anyone else around
except armed border guards. On the
Eastern side, I went into a grubby
portacabin sheltering behind sandbags
and concrete blocks. My papers were
checked again, and I was motioned over
to a window behind which sat a grey
clerk. He told me that I had to change so
many Deutschmarks into East German
marks. I handed over some notes, and
got a fistful of coins. I remember they
felt light and insubstantial, like toy
money. I made my way to the station
where Elke finally emerged, along with
thousands of fellow West Germans.
She told me we were required to spend
the money in the East to help the
economy.
We found Elke’s aunt after a long walk
past old tenements, unreconstructed
bomb sites and potholed streets, largely
untouched since the end of the war.
We saw the Brandenburg Gate from the
other side, and later visited the stadium
where the 1936 Olympics had been held.
In my mind’s eye, I see West Berlin in
colour: bright lights, shop windows,
parks and trees. East Berlin is in black
and white: grey buildings, drab concrete,
empty shops.
When it was time to leave, we made our
separate journeys back to the West. As I
walked alone towards the East Berlin side
of Checkpoint Charlie, I realised I had
spent none of the money I had changed.
Would they search me? My 16-year-old
imagination was racing. I was within
sight of the checkpoint, where the grim
East German soldiers were waiting,
guns at their hips. If I turned round and
walked away, they’d be suspicious. I had
to go on. I put my hand into the pocket
of my grey flannel trousers. As I walked,
I dribbled the cheap coins one by one
onto the ground, looking straight ahead.
They made a tinny noise as they fell. I
looked to see if the guards had heard.
They hadn’t moved. I walked along
the rough ground beside the pavement
and managed to dispose of all the
coins silently just before I reached the
checkpoint. The guards nodded
me through. Soon I was back in the
West, safe.
I hurried to the U-Bahn station to
catch the train to where I was to meet
Elke. I sat down and relaxed, relieved
to be back in the security of the West.
Strangely, the first station we slowly
passed through was closed, with barbed
wire all along the platform, and soldiers
at each end. So was the second. I realized
that in my anxiety I had got on to a train
travelling in the wrong direction. I was
back under the East, going away from
safety and deeper into the East. I felt
again the surge of panic – what if I’m
found out, arrested? I waited till we got
to the first open station, and when the
train stopped, I crossed the platform to
the other side and jumped on the train
standing there. I could hardly wait until
it started to move. It was going the right
way. Passing the two fortified stations,
we made it back to the West. Elke was
highly amused at my tale of a fistful of
coins and my extra excursion under the
East. We agreed we should, of course,
have given the money to her aunt.
Mr Hall started a long association
between Elke and my family. She stayed
with us in Lower Largo the following
summer, a much more tame event, and
kept in regular touch with my parents
thereafter. After my father died, Elke and
my mother visited each other and kept
up a steady correspondence until my
mother’s death in 2009.
Andrew McCracken (1966)
Transitus shooting, Session 1953-54
As one might expect, pistols – notably
water-pistols – were banned at school.
The mere possession of such a weapon
merited confiscation and punishment.
Apparently some of us, including the
author, failed to grasp these two related
concepts – and so, armed we were, but
discreetly. We knew enough not to
flaunt the offending items, especially
not in Mr Farquhar Macintosh’s class,
our form class, way up high in the
school’s roof. As an aside, Mr Pete
Hewitt’s classroom was next door to
ours and we were occasionally treated
(is that the right word?) to FM and PH
holding belting accuracy competitions,
pulverising little ends of chalk with their
tawses. Whatever, we boys were left in
little doubt about their ability with the
tawse. FM hit hard and true, and it was
very sore. I happen to know that.
Natural light was scarce in the room,
illumination being provided by one huge
bare incandescent light-bulb hanging in
the middle of the ceiling from its flex.
Unfortunately (as it turned out) this was
well within range. You’ll never guess
what happened next, but if I say we
were boys, aged eleven or so, and all
experts (so we thought) in firearms of
every sort, especially water-pistols, you
may start to imagine the worst. It was at
least that bad.
FM turned to write on his blackboard.
I stood up, did a fast draw of the
water-pistol, took aim and SKOOSHED
a deadly accurate jet of cold water at
the red-hot light bulb – which instantly
exploded with a very loud bang. FM
turned immediately to see me standing
in flagrante delicto, dripping gun held aloft
in hand, frozen in a mixture of shock,
horror and fear. I vividly recall realising
that my life was about to end, at age
eleven. It had been a short life, but quite
a happy one, but what a terrible way to
go…
The words I heard vaguely were,
‘Good shot, Young! Out you come.’
Death was imminent. Out I went, mere
seconds to live. Then, ‘Go downstairs
and ask Mr Jones [the Janitor] please to
bring a ladder and a new light bulb.’ I
needed no second invitation to leave the
crime scene, and headed for the door,
water-pistol still in hand.
‘Best leave that on my desk,’ said FM
indicating the water pistol, ‘if you get
caught wandering around school with
that you’ll be in trouble.’ And off I went,
returning with Mr Jones, a step-ladder
and a brand new bulb, which was fitted
in moments, and the debris swept up.
I stood beside FM’s desk, and he then
re-started his lesson. The death sentence
was being delayed, the condemned
teased. Such cruelty! I tried to keep a
brave face on it, but no-one was fooled,
of that I am sure.
After what seemed like an eternity, FM
turned to me and asked ‘Well? What
are you standing there for, boy?’ Not
wishing to say that I was waiting for
six of the belt on each hand, I recall
answering, ‘I don’t know, Sir.’
‘Go back to your desk and sit down,’
said FM.
next? I went with the flow, and escaped.
Clearly FM would deal with me later.
The suspense was dreadful. The next
day, back to our form room in a state
of terror. But no mention was made
of the appalling events of the previous
day. I lived in fear for a day, a week, a
fortnight, but it was never mentioned
again. FM knew that a swift tawsing
would have let me off the hook on the
spot, to become a gun-slinging hero of
awesome renown, whereas if he
did NOTHING, he could have me
terrified for ages, and thereby let me
and all my chums know who was the
smarter one, both at the time and in the
longer term.
It goes without saying this incident was
never mentioned at home, by me at
least. In those days fathers were inclined
to use a slipper (or worse) to assist sons
to see right from wrong. One NEVER
mentioned at home being belted at
school. To do so invited a second dose.
I learned several lessons, and all these
years later, I still admire Mr Macintosh’s
wisdom.
The remainder of that lesson lasted an
eternity. Then the bell went. What
Charles Young (1961)
As close as I’ll ever get…
The death of Neil Armstrong prompts me to write and tell
you about the time this Glasgow Academical came as near
to the moon as he – and possibly any other Academical – is
ever likely to come.
In 1973, when I was studying for a post graduate degree
in International Aviation and Outer Space Law at McGill
University in Montreal, a small group of the law students
embarked on a tour of the north eastern United States. One
port of call was Cincinnati where a former McGill graduate
had invited the group to visit. During the evening our host said that he had
arranged a surprise for us the following day. We were all to go to the Department of
Aeronautical Engineering at Cincinnati University where our host’s good friend, Neil
Armstrong, would give a talk. After the talk, the great man answered many of our
questions about his trip to the moon and at the end we all shook hands with him. A
lasting regret is that there is no photographic record of our visit. One of our party
asked for a group photo but Neil Armstrong declined.
That handshake is certainly the closest that I shall ever come to the moon.
Dan Gardner (1965)
Etcetera
9
Right of reply
Dear Malcolm
I hope you will allow me a right of reply
to your Right of Reply column as I
appear to have upset Martin How quite
unintentionally with my letter which
you published in Etcetera 16. Martin left
Transitus in 1942, the year I left the
Academy, so we never knew each other.
My original letter was intended as a
corrective to some of the things you
had mentioned in your editorial to
number 15. When I read again what
you printed, my first thought was that
my generalisation that ‘Glasgow would
be the least-bombed city in Britain’ was
rather too wide and should have been
qualified by ‘industrial city’ as there were
exceptions such as Lincoln, which I know
well, where the cathedral standing on a
hill could be seen and, of course, still can
be seen for miles around, and was used
as a beacon by the enemy and the RAF,
and there were many other cities which
escaped bombs.
Martin asks where I was on the night
of 13 March 1941. Well, we had a
semi-basement which my mother
decided would be the safest place in the
house – so we had a number of blankets,
pillows etc placed there and that’s where
we spent that night. (‘We’ being my
mother, my sister and myself.) There was
a television programme recently which
showed the effects of various German
bombs on houses and, had a 500lb one
fallen on or near ours, the side would
have been blown in and we would have
been buried under many tons of masonry.
But some time later my mother acquired
a Morrison table shelter, named after
Herbert Morrison, the Home Secretary.
This came in a pack and I set it up
with nuts and bolts in the kitchen and
painted it in two shades of green. It stood
about four-feet high and she found it a
convenient place to put things on. I have
written to my sister who lives in Canada
to ask if the shelter was ever actually used,
and will write again if she comes up with
anything interesting. The nearest bomb
that I can remember that night was a land
mine or parachute bomb which fell near
a shelter somewhere in Shawlands. This
shelter was a free-standing brick structure
with a flat, six-inch thick concrete roof.
The bomb blew the side in causing the
roof to collapse on the inhabitants. There
were many fatal casualties.
As a member of the 2nd Glasgow Scouts,
10
Etcetera
I was an ARP messenger and, next day,
I had to report to a Mr Allerdyce in the
City Chambers with my bike, along with
half-a-dozen other Scouts. I was sent
to somewhere in the East End where
I picked up a bulky manila envelope
containing details of bombs and casualties
there. I can still remember the thrill of
the excitement which I felt at the time; I
was only 15 and for the first time in my
life I was doing an important job – or
so it seemed as I was being treated as an
adult, more or less! School seems to have
been completely forgotten! I returned
to the City Chambers next day but
wasn’t required and, after a few hours,
we were all sent home. We were never
called out again, so I suppose some other
arrangements must have been made. I
have a vague memory some time later
of standing outside our house with my
older brother, Archie, home on a visit
from somewhere in Aberdeenshire. It
was a fine summer afternoon and we
were watching an aircraft flying very
high and wondering if it was one of ours
or not. That is my only recollection of
an air raid apart from the ‘3-day blitz’
which I have mentioned. By 1943 when
Greek Thomson’s magnificent Queen’s
Park Church, which I remember was
destroyed, I was in the Navy.
While I have every sympathy with Martin
having his windows blown in and ceiling
damaged, something I didn’t know about,
I think if he re-reads the final paragraph
of my letter he will agree that my
statement – qualified as above – is correct.
And, if you compare Glasgow with
Coventry or the horrors of Dresden to
say nothing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
he will see my point. He should also
remember that, for security reasons,
almost nothing was published at the time
about enemy air raids. Occasionally, one
heard rumours and stories from friends or
friends of friends about enemy air raids,
but that was all – and it wasn’t until after
the war that we began to find out the
truth…
And that, I think, is quite enough from
me!
Yours sincerely
Douglas Alexander (1942)
Thoughts prompted by a photograph…
My tuppence worth on Dodo Ogilvie’s fellow sitters (Etcetera 17, page 25):
Back row: ?, ?, Neil Young (now deceased, was academic at Aberdeen Uni), ?Varick Easton, David Hart
(ret’d Obstetrician, Glasgow), ?, ?, Fraser ?Jim,
Third row: ?, Sandeman?, Drever?, Malcolm Pender (lives Hyndland Glasgow), ? Ogilvie?, Jim Wetherall,
? Clarkson, Jim Bannerman (of Bannerman Pharmacies, Glasgow)
Second row: McKinlay ??, Bewick ?, ? , Kenneth Taylor (last heard of in Twin Oaks, Virginia, USA, but
earlier in his career was an expert on Greenland Inuit peoples, and his kayak is in GU Hunterian museum), DODO himself, AC Kerr (known as Zander), ?? Russell, ?, Ian Dow (with whom I plotted mild anarchy in back row of Room K, Eric Varley. I had been sent to the back of the class as I couldn’t interpret
the blackboard... Varley’s script was neat, parallel, and very small, and I was distinctly short-sighted...
helas. I would have wished to join Pender and Neil Young in the front row in order to acquire Varley’s
pearls of German and European language and history)
Front row: Michael Topping, ?, ? Kenneth Mills, looks like Kerr Chatfield (but I thought he was a year
behind me?). Oh, and the last on the front row, the wee inconspicuous nyaff, is myself...
Campbell Semple (1953)
Academical Club
Centenary
celebrations!
On 13 May 1913, 80 gentlemen
gathered in the Trocadero
Restaurant in London and attended
the first Glasgow Academical
London Section Annual Dinner. It
gives us great pleasure to announce
that next year’s dinner, marking the
Centenary of the London Section,
will be held on Friday 1 February,
2013 at The Caledonian Club in
London.
We plan to mark this auspicious
occasion with special guests and
speakers and a fitting 3-course
dinner. This will be an excellent
opportunity for any Accie who
wishes to attend to celebrate with
their friends and contemporaries.
Numbers may be restricted, so I
would encourage any Academical,
north or south of the border, who
wishes to attend to contact either
me on 020 7235 9012 or at dwh@
aralon.co.uk or my secretary, Emma
Jones, at ecj@aralon.co.uk for
further information.
Cricket: CS Challenge Cup Winners 2012
Although the weather caused havoc for both the seniors and juniors, the season
ended in double glory for the 1st XI, captained by Richard Andrew, in winning
firstly the inaugural Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup beating Huntly at Forfarshire’s
ground in early August and secondly in winning the Western Cup in our final game
of the season in mid-September beating our rivals GHK at Kelburne’s ground.
Richard Andrew (2001)
Glasgow’s Original Derby – but was it?
David W Hall (1961)
Secretary / Treasurer
GAC 130th Annual Dinner
Recently, a marketing e-mail fell into my in-box advertising Glasgow’s
‘Original Derby’, Rangers v Queen’s Park, which was scheduled for the
following week at Ibrox. But was this game actually the first?
Claims to be Glasgow’s ‘original’ derby could be made by West and
Accies as it was this derby match that first took place in 1868 – some
four years before Rangers were formed by the Gallant Pioneers. The
match was between West of Scotland FC and Glasgow Academicals FC.
Their titles demonstrate that codifying football was still in its infancy and
still evolving, with football being played under various rules such as the
Sheffield Rules, the Cambridge Rules and, of course, the Rugby Rules –
the latter permitting more handling.
However, the early rules adopted by Queen’s Park also permitted a degree
of handling, to the extent that – some four years before the formation of
Rangers – Queen’s had hoped to meet Glasgow Accies on the field of
play: they had embraced the rugby rules in their early constitution. This
match never took place because, despite considerable correspondence, the
clubs could not come to an agreement over the rules for the challenge
match.
This confusion in interpretation and rules is confirmed by the fact that,
when the SRU was formed at the Glasgow Academy in 1873, it was
named the Scottish Football Union. So maybe it is the West v Accies
match of 1868 that could lay claim really to be Glasgow’s original football
derby.
Hugh Barrow (1962)
The GAC 130th Annual Dinner on 9 November
was a resounding success – according to the
feedback we have received. With Robin Hopkins’
‘Close Shave Barber Shop Chorus’ setting
the tone for the evening, Kevin Simpson’s
inspirational story of his route to the GB Tennis
Team for the Paralympics in Beijing, and Fiona
Kennedy’s entertaining and amusing reply, it
was a night to remember.
Next year’s dinner will be on
8 November 2013.
Etcetera
11
Reunions and get-togethers
1950 to 1955 reunion
Seventy Academicals attended the
reunion on Friday 14 September 2012.
The instruction from the External
Relations department was to meet in the
library. This turned out to be the new
name for ‘The Well’ where in our day
all of the Senior School met for morning
assembly. That we all fitted into such a
small space now seems incredible.
After coffee, there were tours of the
school which in our day consisted only
of the main building, the science block
and a few houses in Colebrooke Terrace.
The Cargill Hall and the dining hall were
not completed until the second half of
the 1950s. We were very impressed with
the music school, the art building, the
development and the pedestrianisation
of Colebrooke Terrace and, of course,
the new Prep School. We were equally
impressed by the young ladies and the
young gentlemen of the Sixth Form who
acted as guides.
We particularly enjoyed wandering
round the main building as we discussed,
and sometimes argued, as to which
master occupied which room. (In our
day, apart from Miss Gentles, all of the
12
Etcetera
teachers in the Senior School were
masters.) We marvelled at how rooms L
and LL had been converted into a leisure
centre for Sixth Formers. In our day this
was where we sat external examinations
and where Jimmy Scougal’s excellent
film John Brown of Glasgow Academy
which followed the career of a boy
from Prep 1 to Senior 6 was shown to
packed and admiring audiences.
Following the tour, musicians and a
singer entertained us to a concert in
the Cargill Hall and we could not
help comparing how the Arts which
in our day were almost non-existent
are now such an important part
of education at The Academy. Is
this due to the civilisation effect of
being co-ed? In the 1950s, there
were no drama teachers and only
one teacher in each of the Music
and Art Departments. Today, we were
told, there are two drama teachers,
three teachers and two technicians
in the Art Department and in the
Music Department two teachers, one
administrator and 24 tutors who conduct
500 individual lessons per week!
Lunch followed and, again, the food we
had was much better than in our day but
Dear Emma
Thank you for a
splendid day at
our reunion last
Friday at the
G.A. It was a pl
easure to meet
old
classmates af te
r such a long pe
riod
and to renew lo
ng-lost bonds.
Congratulation
s on hosting su
ch a
successful day an
d for reintroduc
ing
us all to a new
and vibrant Acad
emy
fit for the 21st
centur y. Our visi
t
has been much
appreciated as
ha
s
the group phot
o just received.
Thanking you ag
ain for your
kind hospitality
and overall
consideration.
Yours sincerely
Ronald J Gibson
(1954)
this might not be a fair comparison
for then we did not normally have an
aperitif and two or three glasses of fine
wine at lunch which in our days we
called ‘dinner’.
After lunch, Allan Alstead entertained
us with his excellent toast to ‘The
Academy’. He reminded us by name
of the mistresses in the Prep School
and often by nickname (Baggy, Dodo,
Basher, Jock, etc) of the masters in
the Senior School thus bringing back
mainly happy memories of our teachers
to whom we remain most grateful for
the very good start they gave us in life.
The Rector’s response was very well
received. We were very encouraged to
learn of the many successes – in exams,
on the playing fields and elsewhere – of
current Academy pupils and how well
the school is doing generally. Since the
reunion, we have received many letters
and e-mails from those who attended,
making it clear not only how much the
reunion was enjoyed but also how proud
so many of the Academicals present are
to be connected with such a fine school
which seems to be in good hands.
On the day before the reunion, Ronnie
Douglas had organised the Stableford
golf competition at the Glasgow Golf
Club and, before we dispersed, he
presented a bottle of malt whisky to the
winner, George Porteous.
On Saturday about 20 of us, including
spouses, met at the Kelvingrove Art
Galleries where one of us, Roy Burdon,
was our guide for the day. Roy regularly
conducts tours at Kelvingrove and his
knowledge certainly made our visit
all the more enjoyable. After the tour
we had a quick snack lunch and then
Dear Malcolm
much for the
Thank you very
y last Friday
great Reunion Da essful. We
t succ
which was mos
guide and it was
g
in
m
had a char
well-mannered
noticeable how
were and how
all the children
s!
r silly question
responsive to ou
ual
rward to the us
I was looking fo
es
to
ta
ince and po
water y soup, m
by
age followed
and soggy cabb
ithout many
w
spotted dick…
ent
with a transluc
spots… covered
e
th
is part of
custard. Alas, th
aced by a lunch
pl
reunion was re
put any Glasgow
that would have
ame!
restaurant to sh
for the excellent
Thank you also
y
d please pass m
photograph an
.
am
te
your
kind regards to
Kind regards
y (1955)
Robert Lightbod
enjoyed the daily organ recital given on
that particular day by Jim Hunter, the
Kelvingrove Director of Music.
At the lunch it was pointed out that the
only previous reunion for the 52 and
53 leavers was in 1986 – 26 years ago.
Many present had suggested that we
should hold reunions regularly so those
Four have plenty of fun…
present were then asked to note in their
diaries that the next reunion would be
in September 2038! Having given the
matter some thought, we now realise
that it is very unlikely that any of us will
be around then so the plan is to have
another reunion in, perhaps, five or six
years’ time.
Although it was a small organising
committee, all of the correspondence and
almost all of the organisation was done
by the External Relations Department.
We are very grateful particularly to Mark
Taylor and, in the latter stages, to Emma
Fitzpatrick, both of whom ensured that
the reunion was indeed a great success.
WM Mann (1952)
Atholl reunion
pla
ns
We would like to
hear from
any former pup
ils of Atholl
who are interest
ed in having
a reunion. If yo
u would like
to be involved,
please contact
exrel@tga.org.u
k As yet, no
date has been fi
xed, but we
would hope to
get ever yone
together somet
ime next year.
Pictured shortly after the start of their walking expedition
in the Lake District are four members of the class of 1982.
Clockwise from top left they are Alan Currie, Nigel Robinson,
Stuart McGeoch and Richard Hillis.
The foursome were all at one time students at Edinburgh
University and have kept in regular, if infrequent, contact
over the last 30 years. Alan graduated in Medicine in 1987 and
now works as an NHS consultant psychiatrist in Newcastle
and lectures at Newcastle University. After Nigel’s graduation
from Edinburgh, he studied at Cambridge University before
embarking on a career in marine consultancy with GL Noble
Denton. Stuart graduated BEng in 1986 and has travelled the
world working for Shell where he currently leads their new
explorations operation in sub-Saharan Africa. Richard did
his first degree at Imperial College before heading north to
complete his PhD and staying in academia to take up a chair in
geology at The University of Adelaide. He is now CEO of the
Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre
in South Australia.
At Richard’s suggestion, they decided on a four-day hike over
the first third of Wainwright’s coast-to-coast walk from St
Bees in the west to Robin Hood’s Bay in the east. Appetites
duly whetted, they hope one day to return to complete
the remainder. Alan is keen to point out that it was time
constraints (Richard had to return to South Australia and Stuart
to the Hague) and not fatigue or blisters that prevented them
tackling the full distance.
Etcetera
13
1992 – 20-year
reunion
In early September, we were delighted to welcome the class of 1992 for their 20-year reunion. Here they
are (above) posing for their S6 photograph in 1992 – and here they are (below) today. See if you can
match the faces!
When it was mooted by the External
Relations department that the vintage
of 1992 might like a 20-year reunion,
I, like a few others, was interested but
wondered what level of enthusiasm
there would be for such an event. The
class of 1992 is unique for many reasons
including the introduction of the ‘Sim
Haka’ before House rugby matches.
However, on an official level, to my
knowledge it was the first year to have a
female studying full time at Kelvinbridge.
Once Greg Love, Scott Robertson and
I got together for our initial meeting
at The Academy, it was abundantly
clear that there was great interest from
members of our year group. In this
regard, the jungle drums began to beat,
spreading the word or – to be exact in
this age of social networking – Facebook
was alive with people being informed of
the reunion.
It was therefore on 7 September 2012
that around 30 members of the Class of
1992 were greeted in the Well/Library
by former and current Academy staff
members Malcolm McNaught, Ronnie
Woods, Stewart McAslan and Nigel
Spike. It was rather delightful that,
despite some of us having put on a few
pounds in weight, lost a few hairs or, in
my case, lost a few inches in height, we
all greeted each other by our old school
nicknames. Sandy Steven had come
wearing his old school blazer with one or
two minor, unofficial alterations.
After welcome drinks, we were divided
into groups guided by articulate and
charming prefects and set off on a tour
14
Etcetera
of the school which has greatly changed
in the last 20 years. Gone is the last
terraced house (which used to have a
red lamp outside it!) now replaced by a
modern Prep School building. Many of
our group marvelled at the luxury of the
sixth form common room. As we walked
by Ronnie Woods’ old classroom, tales
were recollected about how he would
label every piece of his stationery with
his initials ‘RBW’ followed by a number.
If you were to borrow a pen, he would
read the label and then say, ‘Ah, RBW
17 – a fine pen which has given me great
service!’
After our tour, we gathered again this
time in the Rector’s study for coffee and
a chat with the Rector. For some of the
group, it was the first time of being in
this room for the right reason!
Following the official school part of
the reunion, we then walked the short
distance to the Lansdowne restaurant
where a buffet had been organised. It
was an excellent opportunity to have
a chat and reminisce about our time at
school. We also remembered one of our
year group – ‘Wee Chris Anderson’ who
sadly died shortly after we all left school
after a long-term illness.
The day was a great success – leaving
us all to wonder why we had waited 20
years to get together.
Special thanks should be given to my
former (note – not ‘old’) English teacher,
Malcolm McNaught, and his team in
External Relations for all their efforts.
Sajid Razzaq (1992)
1976-1978 school reunion
Walking down Colebrooke Street after 35 years was, for many
of us, the first time we had been back to The Academy since
running in the opposite direction all those years ago as we
ventured in many different directions to lead our lives. The
most immediate change was entering up the main stairs to the
school reception rather than through the school gates into the
playground.
On descending into the Well, now the Library - with carpet on
the floor! - there came that moment when you are confronted
by all those faces, some changed little and others where the
memory has faded and you hope not to make a mistaken
identity as I did.
A glass of champagne later and everyone was happy
reconnecting filling in life’s many stories and recollections.
Following a lunch - and how they have improved! - in the
Cargill Hall we were taken on a tour of the school by some
of the Sixth Year pupils. It was interesting to see the looks on
some of their faces as we all reminisced about the goings-on
of the past and some of our teachers: Jimmy Cowper, whose
classroom is now part of the Sixth Year common room, Morty
Black, Jock Carruthers, Boggles, Paddy Dorman, and many
more. Usually these involved comparison of stories of getting
the belt or worse! I think these reminisces left some of the
Sixth Years wondering if we had truly been to the same school.
It was great to see the old school in such good shape and, from
the brief remarks made by the Rector over tea, the school is
moving from strength to strength with ambitious plans for
further development.
Let’s not leave it so long next time, guys. Pass the word and
let’s see if we can manage and even larger reunion in the next
five years!
Making his first visit back to Scotland in 35 years was Fergus
Chisholm (front row, left). On leaving The Academy, Fergus
appears to have gone straight from Colebrooke Street to
the airport and thence to Canada where he has lived ever
since…
Dear Emma
I want to express my sincere thanks to you and everyone
involved in 1976 class reunion. It was wonderful and I
really enjoyed it. It was a terrific opportunity to talk with
my class mates and hear about their lives in the years since
school. The greatest surprise was to see Miss MacNeill,
my Prep 3 teacher. It was really nice to visit with her – a
very special moment. I do not know how many years she
taught or when she retired, but she was in fine form. She
had the class photograph and pupil roster and was able to
point out and name each boy. She also knew what career
paths some of them had pursued.
The tour of the school was very interesting and
informative. My goodness, how it has changed and
expanded – although I could still identify many areas and
specific rooms which appear as I remember them. It is nice
to see the positive changes taking place. I am certain that
this type of function must take considerable planning and
organising. Well done!
Perhaps there will be consideration to holding another
reunion for this class at some time in the future.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Thank you again
Regards
Fergus Chisholm (1976)
Gordon Dron (1978)
Etcetera
15
Westbourne
40th Anniversary Reunion –
Westbourne Class of ’72
Westbourne Class of ’72 held their
first-ever class reunion in August. After
more than a year’s planning, we managed
to contact an amazing number of girls
in far-flung locations across the world.
With the help of Joanna and then Emma,
who took over from her this year, we
managed to get 29 of our classmates to
attend the event which was held at the
Blythswood Hotel.
We began with a champagne reception
at the Westbourne Room at GA where
Emma and Mark had laid out lots of
memorabilia and photos from years gone
by. This was a great ice-breaker as we all
milled around, renewing acquaintances
and reminiscing about the school. Most
of us hadn’t kept in touch with more
than two or three old school friends and
many of us had been a bit apprehensive
about meeting up with everyone again
but we needn’t have worried as, though
we all have ‘matured’ a little, after a few
minutes, the years fell away and most
people didn’t seem to have changed
much at all!
Emma had then organised taxis for us
up to the Blythswood where we had
booked a private room with an adjacent
bar area and a private cinema where we
had a slideshow of all the photos that had
been collected by everyone, dug out of
16
‘Big 60’ reunion!
Hi, girls!
their attics and pooled specially for the
event.
The Blythswood was fantastic and the
service and food was excellent – it was
more expensive than some of the other
venues that we had considered, but we
all agreed it was very special and well
worth it.
In the run up to the event, everyone sent
in a short summary of what they have
been doing for the past 40 years and also
some anecdotes of their most treasured
(or not) memories of school. The most
repeated ones were ‘running round the
block for PE in our navy gym knickers’,
‘fear and admiration of Miss Hunter in
the Latin class’ and ‘Miss Bishop’s dog in
domestic science’. The stories of pranks
played and order marks given made fun
reading and we have published them all
along with all the photo contributions
in a Class Yearbook which is available
on Blurb. http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/
book/detail/3538095
I have had some wonderful emails back
from everyone saying how much they
enjoyed meeting up again after so long
and I am sure it will not be long before
we do it again.
Lesley (Watson) Brewin (1972)
Some of us have been trying to fix up
a reunion for our class next year when
most of us will hit the Big 60.
We have a date – Friday April 26 2013 –
and the venue will be in Glasgow.
We still have to decide what to plan and
suggestions include lunch, afternoon
tea, dinner, museum, walk in the park,
trip ‘doon the water’, visit to the old
Westbourne School and possibly a
visit to Glasgow Academy to look at
Westbourne memorabilia.
If any of you who have not already
been in touch are interested, could you
please let me know, along with any
more suggestions? Also, please forward
this message to anyone else in our
year who may want to join in and ask
them to contact me as I have agreed to
co-ordinate things initially. I may have to
pass things on to someone more local if
we get a big response.
What I anticipate is that we will arrange
a timetable of informal venues, and
people can turn up to as few – or as
many – as they want during the day. We
may need to know numbers to book
tables nearer the time.
I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
Tiki (Black) Wilson (1970)
tikiwilson@hotmail.com
GALs Golf 2012
The annual GALs Golf outing took place on Thursday 2
August at the Buchanan Castle Golf Club where, yet again, we
were blessed with one of the best days of this summer! After
the unrelenting rain of prior weeks, we could not believe how
lucky we were!
We had a fabulous day that was topped off by pre-lunch drinks
on the sun terrace. We then adjourned to the dining room
for some delicious soup and sandwiches followed by the Prize
Giving!
In third place was Avril Stirrat with Sheena McDonald second.
Our 2012 winner was Carole Hill.
Our thanks must once again go to Betty Henderson for
checking our scores, ‘Thank you, Betty!’ A special thank you
to Carole who organised everything this year, ‘Thank you,
Carole!’
Next year we are intending to have our outing at Balmore
Golf Club, so if you would like to join us there, please e-mail
Elaine on elainemh@sky.com or Carole on carole@slhilljnr.
demon.co.uk for more information.
Elaine M Horner (1970)
Twenty-year
reunion
The Glasgow Academy Art Calendar
The Class of 1993, 20-year
reunion will be held on
Saturday 22 June in the
Bobby Low room of Hillhead
Sports Club. As well as the
opportunity to catch up with
old school friends, a buffet
meal and entertainment will
be provided. Tickets will be
on sale via the internet for
around £35-40. If you would
like to be informed of how
to purchase tickets when
they become available, please
contact me on fhutchinson7@
aol.com or via Facebook. I
look forward to seeing you all
there.
‘Christmas Cracker’
Fiona (Morrison) Hutchinson
(1992)
or by email: s.rae@tga.org.uk
We are delighted to show off our young
artists’ talent in our 2013 Calendar,
retailing at the bargain price of
£5.00 each plus £1.00 P&P
Orders can be placed by telephone
on
0141 342 5494,
Etcetera
17
Reflections
The following is a slightly-abridged
version of an article originally written
for Fishtail, the Velocette owners’ club
magazine.
Robert Louis Stevenson said it was better
to travel than to arrive. However, if the
arrival is suitably choreographed, surely
the arriving can be as good if not better
than the travelling.
This loose thought was spinning round
my head as I piloted my Dodkin
Venom in early October through
dense motorway traffic en route to a
rendezvous with the Head of Art and
various pupils at Glasgow Academy, one
of Scotland’s oldest independent schools.
I was due to present prizes and arrange
photography to mark the completion of
a novel Art project where the Venom
had been the subject of an observational
drawing competition.
The competition required a wide range
of pupils to reflect their observations as
accurately as possible, with the medium
for their interpretations being drawing,
painting and ceramics. It was an unusual
project – unusual on three counts.
Firstly, it is arguably not usual for an art
department to use a classic motorcycle as
a focus for study, inspiration and learning.
Secondly, we were inviting a group of
pupils to work on something they had
certainly never heard of, let alone seen,
namely a Velocette. And thirdly – well,
who on earth in their right mind might
want to bring all these elements together?
As I approached the school, the debate
over travelling versus arriving was
complicated further by the idea that we
had pulled something off that was just a
bit different, and this would be a day of
celebration and fun.
When discussing arrangements for the
rendezvous, we had agreed that it would
be best to arrive at 3.30pm so as not to
disturb anyone.
A Colin East open mega exhaust
modelled on the factory original is loud.
The sort of loud that ricochets off brick
walls, and booms around enclosed areas.
Tunnels are particularly good.
As I approached the school gates, it was
clear that my planning had been perfect.
There were hardly any cars, and just a
handful of people milling around the
school estate. So I steered the bike past
the main building, onto the terrace, eased
Left: a montage of some of the work produced by
the pupils who participated in the project
18
Etcetera
my way past a few wooden benches and
plant pots, and parked up outside the
Art Department. To my horror, I looked
up to see a large crowd of prospective
parents and pupils being addressed on the
excellence of the school.
Colin East’s mega had silenced everyone.
The crowd, as one, turned and stared; I
stared back. I then disappeared as quickly
as possible, consoling myself with the
notion that sales would surely increase as
the prospective parents would credit the
daring and imagination of a school that
instructed its pupils on the wonders of
British motorcycles as an art form.
Minutes later I was in a coffee shop and
the bike was in full swing, surrounded by
a crowd of chattering pupils, intrigued
parents and admiring teaching staff.
Shortly afterwards, our team of four prizewinners had arrived, pictures were taken
and complimentary words exchanged.
A couple of things stand out as being
remarkable about this project. The
first is clearly the quality of the work
from pupils who were aged between
12 and 14. (Just look at the montage of
drawings.) The second is the willingness
of the teachers, the pupils and the school
to engage in something that was just a
little different from the norm, possibly
even a little bit dangerous!
The project began in February when
the bike was hoisted into a bay window
within the Art Department. Observant
readers will note a couple of small oil
drops on the floor! First the pupils
photographed the bike from different
angles, and then manipulated the photos
to decide on the view of the bike that
they wanted to draw – i.e. a close up
detail or a larger section. Each of the
three years used a slightly different
combination of materials to execute their
final pieces.
The pieces were assembled into a
montage of drawings, plus a separate
display of ceramics, and commanded a
prominent position in the end-of-year
school Art Show, which attracts a
huge audience. There was a great deal
of interest and positive comments
abounded.
As I fired up the bike and prepared to
leave the school terrace, the General
Manager leant over and shouted: ‘What’s
the significance of the Ace Café sticker?’
‘Ah, right’, I said. ‘Back in the late 1950s
and 1960s…’
Ian Spinney (former Academy Governor)
Three cheers for three Chairmen
Graham Scott, Gordon Jack and Bill Mann pose for the camera
Ever since Sir Robert Mackenzie was
appointed first Chairman of the Glasgow
Academicals’ War Memorial Trust in
1920, The Academy has benefited from
Chairmen of distinction.
Although some might argue that the
role of the Rector is more significant in
fashioning the direction of the school, it
is undeniable that a good Chairman with
strong financial acumen can make an
enormous difference to the fortunes of
the school.
With a state-of-the-art Prep School,
plans passed for a wonderful new
SciTech building and increased numbers,
few would deny that Glasgow Academy
is one of the most exciting schools
in Scotland at the moment. Much
of the credit for that must go to the
chairmanship of Bill Mann and Gordon
Jack.
Bill Mann (right), Chairman between
1990 and 2004, had the foresight to
realise that if The Academy was to
continue to be a first-class school then
it must abandon single-sex education
- something that had stood it in good
stead for almost 150 years. Although this
was heresy to some, it quickly became
apparent that fashions were changing
and co-education was here to stay. The
other major achievement of Mr Mann’s
chairmanship was his tight fiscal control
- a policy that allowed the school to
build up considerable financial reserves
at a time when many other schools were
spending freely.
With considerable reserves in the bank
and a gradually increasing pupil roll, it
was incumbent upon Gordon Jack (centre)
to ensure that – whatever building
project the school undertook – it was
the right one to secure The Academy’s
future. The new Prep School was a
major investment, but it has proved to be
exactly the right one delivered at exactly
the right time to allow the school to
grow through the recession.
Gordon Jack stepped down at the
AGM in November after eight years
as Chairman - and we have much
to thank him for. None of his many
achievements, however, has been as great
as getting the new SciTech building to
its present stage. Many have been the
obstacles that have been cleared out of
the way to make it possible.
It now falls to Graham Scott (left) to
take up the reins as Chairman. If he
does as good a job as either of his two
predecessors, The Glasgow Academy can
only continue to flourish.
Etcetera
19
Regular Giving 2011-12
Thank you
We would like to thank all members of our
community who supported our 2011-2012
Appeal. The Academy is going from
strength to strength and this would not
be possible without the loyal support of
our school community.
A great total!
We focused on just three fundraising
projects in 2011-2012. Our overall
target was £65,000 and, in the year to
30 September, a total of £140,829.58
was given to the school in donations and
legacies. A very significant portion of
this total is made up of early donations
to the appeal for the new Science and
Technology building, which will be
launched publicly in March. A full list of
those who have supported the building
appeal will be published around this time
next year.
Early Building Appeal Gifts
5
Glasgow
Acadepedia
24
Whatever Academy
Needs Most
48
Bursaries
33
As you can see, the chart shows that most
gifts this year were in aid of Bursaries and
‘Whatever The Academy needs most’. It
should also be noted that a large number
of Bursary gifts came from the GAC’s
London Section, for which the school
remains very grateful.
SciTech gets planning approval
Regular Giving Results
Achieving our target means the school
has been able to invest even more in
Bursaries. This year, 136 pupils aged
11 to 18 are receiving means-tested
support – without which they could
not benefit from the life-changing
educational opportunities offered at
Glasgow Academy. We have also been
able to make past copies of the Chronicle
available on the website. E-copies of
the Westbourne magazine will be made
available in 2013.
2012-2013: Building
and Bursaries
In March of next year, we will launch
the public stage of our appeal to
construct a fantastic new Science and
Technology building on Colebrooke
Street, opposite the main Senior School
building. The support of former pupils,
parents, staff and friends of the school
will be crucial to realising our vision to
provide state-of-the-art science facilities
at The Academy.
We remain very aware that many
members of our community prefer to
give to Bursaries rather than Buildings
and so there will still be an opportunity
to opt to support Bursaries as part of
the public appeal when it is launched in
March.
If you would like to know more about
– or support – either appeal now, please
contact me via the e-mail address below
or on 0141 342 5494. Every gift and
contribution to Glasgow Academy – no
matter how large or small – is extremely
important and sincerely appreciated.
Thank you
‘…It was so good to see the school operating and to hear from the
prefects who showed us round how much they had enjoyed their time
at The Academy. This was a really positive endorsement and splendid to
hear. Everyone was impressed by what they saw and the developments
since we were all at school have been amazing with the new science and
technology building about to start.’
Allan Alstead (1954)
Allan Alstead (1954)
20
Etcetera
Thank you again to all who have
contributed to the success of fundraising
over the last year. Should you have
any queries about Regular Giving in
2011/12 or wish to discuss a donation
to our key areas of focus for the coming
year – Bursaries and the Science and
Technology building – please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
With best wishes
Mark
Director of Development
Mark.Taylor@tga.org.uk
R E G U L A R G I V I N G S U P P O RT E R S 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
Mr W E Aiton
Mr and Mrs A H and H R Gonenc
Mr C J Methven
Mr H A D Alexander
Rev T R Haggis
Mr H A Millar
Brigadier F A Alstead
Mr D W Hall
Mr C D Mitchell
Prof A Anderson
Mr W S Hamilton
Mr M S Morris
Dr J W Baird
Mr C J Hancock
Lieut Col I G Neilson
Mr G G Bannerman
Mr S M Hardie
Mr A S Barclay
Mr and Mrs M and R Hassan
Captain (Retd) M K Barritt
Ms A F Henderson
Mr F S Berkley
Mr W N Herbertson
Mr C Boothby and Dr F Chalmers
Mr N G Hetherington
Mrs M Brodie
Mr R I Higgins
Rector P Brodie
Mr I C Hood
Mr M A Brook
The late Mr C J F Hope
Dr C D Brown
Dr G Horn
Mrs K E Brown
Mr A L Howie
Prof J G Buchanan
Mr A Chalmers
Mr C R Sanderson
Mr C W Buchanan
Mrs E M Ker
Mr D R Sellyn
Prof R H Burdon
Mr A C Kerr
Mr A E Shearer
Mr K D M Cameron
Dr W R Kerr
Mr D E K F Sinclair
Dr G H Carruthers
Mr J H Kraaijeveld
Ms G H Sinclair
Mr and Mrs G and M Cormie
Mr C J D Lewis
Mr C D W Smith
Miss R D Crolla
Dr R J A Little
Mr and Mrs E and J Stewart
Mr J A Deans
Mr R F Lochhead
Mr and Mrs C Murray and N C Stuart
Mr H Diack
Mr G A Low
Sheriff A E Swanson
Mr R P Duff
Mr J K Magowan
Prof J C Dumbreck
Mr P W Marr
R J and Dr J M Ferguson
Mr S H Massey
Mr I W Fotheringham
Dr S G McAlpine
Mr H M Foxall
Mr and Mrs S and J McCann
Mr M B F Frame
Dr C J McCrone
Mrs J E Fraser
Dr D S McIntosh
Mr A P Frieze
Mr R B McIntosh
Mr D L Gardner
Dr G I McLaren
Mr P M Gemmill
Ms M McLean
Mr T W Gemmill
Mr M R McNaught
Mr T F Gilmore
Dr C H G Mee
Mr T S Nelson
Mr R Paterson
Drs R and K Percival
Mr J R Phillips
Mr A A R Pollock
Dr A R W Porter
Mr A M Richmond
Mr A M Robertson
Mr A D S Rolland
Mr M B Tattersall
Mr M G Taylor
Mr N Tcheir
Mr M S Thompson
Mr I M Veitch
Mr J G Walker
Mr H J Weir
Mr I Winning
Mr R N Y Wyper
Mr and Mrs K and J Yu
Etcetera
21
Family announcements
Graduations
Marriages
Mark J Gilchrist (1997)
Mark J Gilchrist’s wedding to Alice
Harrison (right) on 29 September
2012 took place at Alloway Kirk and
afterwards at the Brig O’Doon.
The Academy boys in the photograph
below, from left to right are: Craig
Neilson (1997), Philip Gilchrist (2004),
Andrew Hewitt (1997), Ben Chapman
(1997), Neelom Sharma (1997) and
Douglas Clark (1997).
Gregor Brown (2008)
Graduated from Glasgow
Caledonian BSc First
Class Honours in Property
Management and Valuation
and first in year in June 2012.
He was also awarded the prize
sponsored by DTZ for the
best dissertation of his year.
Gregor has been employed
by Graham and Sibbald in
Glasgow and is working
towards his RICS.
Victoria McAlpine-Scott
(2007)
Victoria graduated MBChB
from Dundee University
and Medical School in June
2012. She now joins part of
a medical dynasty as both
her McAlpine grandparents
and great grandparents
together with her two uncles
and aunts on the McAlpine
side are medical graduates.
Both uncles, Lawrence and
Howard, are Academicals.
Ross Paton (2006)
Ross graduated from
Glasgow University with a
degree in Vet Medicine with
commendation in June this
year. He has obtained his first
job and will be working as an
assistant vet at the Woodside
Practice in Torphins, near
Banchory in Aberdeenshire.
22
Etcetera
Holly Ivins (2002) and Andrew Smith (2003)
Holly and Andrew were married on 14 July 2012 in St Salvator’s Chapel in St Andrews and – as
our picture below shows – had quite a few Accies in attendance!
They are (from left to right): Jane Sillito (2002); Hamish Millar (former Governor and former
pupil); Adrian de Villiers (former staff); Nicky Bannerman (current staff); Andrew McCaskey
(current staff); Cath Lyall (former staff); Jack Ivins (2006); Rebecca (Hochfield) Ramsay (2002);
Andrew Lyall (former staff); Franky Ivins (current staff); Holly (Ivins) Smith (2002); Andrew
Smith (2003); Greg Henderson (2003); Jack Latimer (2003); Gordon Lundie (2002); Ryan Kohli
(2002); David Clark (2002); Duncan Smith (2005); James Campbell (2002) and Scott Weston
(current staff)
Michael Livingston (1998)
On 10 August 2012, Laura Patchett and Michael (above) were married at
House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park. It was a wonderful day with
glorious sunshine. Alastair Livingston (1994) was the Best Man.
Jon Mcleish (1999)
Jon married Diana Louise Scullion at St Salvator’s Chapel in St Andrews
on Saturday 13 October.
Births
Paola (Fallone) Sangster (Former staff)
Colin and Paola are delighted to announce the birth of our beautiful baby
boy, David Fallone Sangster, born 13 September 2012.
Rezwan Haque (1990)
Rezwan and his wife, Zafrin, are delighted to announce that their
daughter, Zaina Haque, was born on 16 November 2011, at the Southern
General Hospital, Glasgow weighing 6lb 10oz.
Raymond Kohli (1994)
On 3 September 2012 my wife gave birth to baby Simmer at the Southern
General. His birth weight was 6lb 9oz. Life has gone from busy to manic so Simmer is our third and final baby. (We had planned to stop after 2!)
Jo (Fleming) Turner (1999)
ily
ster fam
g
The San
My husband Ed and I are delighted with the arrival of our amazing son,
Benjamin Noah Turner, on 29 June 2012. We are loving family life!
Alan Fulton (1992)
Alan and Joanna Fulton are delighted to announce the birth of Alice Anne
on 29 September (just three weeks after her father attended his 20-year
reunion at the Academy, allowing just one pint to pass his lips). A younger
sister to Amy and second niece to Stuart (1996) and David (1999). All
well and everyone delighted.
Simmer
Zain
a Ha
Kohli
que
Benjam
in Noah
Turner
23
Updates
Alastair Harvie (2010)
In June 2010, Alastair was
the victim of a hit-and-run
incident in Glasgow when
out celebrating the end
of Sixth Year exams with
his school friends. He
miraculously survived
thanks to the response
of A&E in the Royal
Infirmary, the skill and
care of the frontline staff
of the Southern General
Hospital and Ally’s inspirational determination. Ally was in
the intensive care and high dependency units for two weeks,
on a neurological ward for five weeks and spent seven weeks
in the Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit.
The support from the year group of 2010 has not wavered.
At the end-of-year dance, a book was signed with some great
messages for Ally and a collection of hundreds of pounds was
raised which was donated to the physiotherapy department
on the ward to buy strengthening equipment. I [Ally’s dad]
became Ally’s social secretary such was the demand for visits
from his friends. Every face gave great comfort and Ally
always wanted to know who was going to be visiting.
Ally’s level of fitness saved him and his determination to get
fit again played a very significant part in his recovery. It was
a very special day when he walked out of PDRU. We were
delighted that The Academy’s PTA made such a generous
donation to PDRU which was spent on a cross-trainer for
the gym, a computer program for Speak Therapy, and a large
TV for the dining room for communal gatherings and for the
use of the Wii for many of the wheelchair-bound patients.
Many months of rehabilitation as an out-patient followed
which Ally battled through, and - with the encouragement
of family and friends - there was continual recovery. Having
been only a couple of weeks short of completing his Gold
Duke of Edinburgh, Ally set about mastering his drum kit
which culminated in his award being presented to him
at Holyrood Palace by Katherine Grainger in July. This
completed the set with his brothers Bruce (2002) and Kevin
(2004) and a milestone for mum and dad after the most
difficult year imaginable.
In September 2011, Ally went to Cardonald College where
he completed a course in Applied Arts. Another year on,
to the surprise and delight of everyone - and particularly
the staff in the Southern General Hospital, he has gone to
Dundee University to study Product Design.
We give very special thanks to the year group of 2010 and
Ally’s friends who witnessed the most horrific of scenes and
have come through the last two years together. A special
word of thanks also to Kim Fraser who took Ally into the
workshop as part of his rehabilitation, which gave him the
confidence to tackle the course at Cardonald and ultimately
Dundee University.
Ann and Dougie Harvie
The driver was sentenced to 19 months and banned from driving for
five years.
24
Etcetera
Michael Barritt (1966)
Michael was elected President
of the Hakluyt Society in June
2011. Since its foundation in
1846, the society has been
publishing scholarly editions
of original accounts of travel
and exploration by land and
sea. Future volumes will
cover Joseph Banks’ travels
in Iceland and other North
Atlantic islands, Matthew
Flinders’ circumnavigation of
Australia, and James Grant’s
exploration of East Africa.
Full details of the society can
be found on the website at
www.hakluyt.com. Michael
Barritt joined the society back
in 1973, still relatively fresh
from student days, following
up interests that were fired in
the libraries of Colebrooke
Street and amongst the
treasures of the Mitchell
Library.
Douglas Black (1974)
I was at the Academy from
Junior School P1, with Mrs
Robertson in 1962, until
Senior 6 In 1974. I was a
‘lifer’. I was vice captain of
the junior school, and was
a prefect and gained my
colours for the 1st XV rugby
and cricket teams. My other
interests were in tennis and
golf. I was in the RN section
of the CCF and eventually
gained my pilot’s licence after
winning a Flying Scholarship.
I went on to study Medicine
at Dundee University from
74-80, and – after completing
my house jobs in Dundee and
Inverness – I was accepted
into the Department of OB/
Gyn as a resident in Ottawa,
Ontario. I started my own
practice four years later and
have worked for over 30 years
in this field. I am married
to Sharon, and have three
children. My hobbies include
playing golf, travelling, and
watching my daughter play
rugby!
Douglas is President of the
Society of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists of Canada and
recently wrote the Guest Editorial
for the Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology Canada. If you
would like to read his article,
please contact exrel@tga.org.uk
for a copy.
Tim Dickson (1972)
I have been living in
Melbourne, Australia for the
last 33 years. I was delighted
earlier this year to hear from
one of my old classmates,
Graeme Cousland, who
was visiting Melbourne on
business and contacted me
about meeting and catching
up on old times and what
news there was of other
classmates.
It so happened that the
weekend of Graeme’s visit
was the same weekend that
my wife, Sarah, and I were
picking our Chardonnay
grapes on the Mornington
Peninsula so I roped Graeme
in for some exercise. We had
a fantastic day and reminisced
Tim Dickson (on the right)
about all sorts of things. Graeme was
most charming and got on very well
with our Aussie mates. The photographs
show Graeme and me after lunch –
having consumed a few back vintages.
motivated people I will be looking for.’
Graeme, who attended the school
between 1993 and 1999, lives in the
Hillfoot area of Bearsden. He has
already enjoyed major successes with his
Glasgow-based company, which provides
bespoke web design, internet marketing
and search engine optimisation to the
independent and SME sector.
For the record, Sarah and I have three
daughters. Rebecca is a secondary school
teacher, Alex is a farmer in New Zealand
and Stephanie has the world to explore!
Douglas Maitland Gibson (1962)
Since his book of memoirs of his
publishing career, Stories About
Storytellers, came out in October 2011,
Douglas (1953-1962) has been touring
Canada with a one-man stage play based
on the book. To date he has given
more than 40 performances in places
as wide-spread as Halifax on the East
Coast and Queen Charlotte City, in
Haida Gwaii on the Pacific coast. His
appearances at Literary Festivals and at
universities have provoked enthusiastic
reviews (including the term ‘a gifted
raconteur’ and praise for his ‘polished
ramblings’). One Ottawa blogger even
urged his readers to ‘run’ to see the show
which is ‘as good as Stephen Leacock.
Charles Dickens, even.’ He is, of course,
too modest to repeat such praise, except
to other Academicals.
Iain Macfarlane (1993) and
Gordon Macfarlane (1995)
Iain Macfarlane and Gordon Macfarlane
have both relocated to Bristol. Iain is
a partner at Simmons & Simmons and
heads the real estate group in the firm’s
new office (the first in the UK outside
London). Gordon is an emergency
medical registrar in the Royal Navy and
is completing his speciality training in the
Bristol A&E departments. Having spent
years living in different places, they now
find themselves in a city about as wet as
Glasgow.
Gordon MacSween (1984)
Gordon, Director of Captive Media, and
business partner Mark Melford, recently
appeared on Dragon’s Den and, despite
not getting funding from the show,
have subsequently managed to secure
investment of a higher amount than
requested in the Den.
have featured on news around the world
and they are continuing their mission to
change the world... one washroom at a
time!
Gordon mentions that it’s all down to
Dr Anthony and Messrs Ploughman
and Horrox for teaching him about the
electromagnetic spectrum. (This idea was
easy to conceive but took three years to
build and patent!)
Graeme Kerr (1999)
Like many successful entrepreneurs,
Bearsden businessman and Academy
former pupil Graeme Kerr is keen to
give something back to the society
which gave him the opportunity to
create his award-winning web design
and digital marketing agency, Organic
Digital. And, as he gears up for further
recruitment following a record-breaking
first half to 2012, he is always on the
look-out for that special talent emerging
from his old school and the leafy suburb
where he lives.
‘The school has a long, long history of
turning out well-rounded, talented and
capable individuals who are at home
in a variety of different environments
and who can turn their hand to creative
endeavour,’ he said. ‘I will be looking to
increase staffing at the company by 30%
on the back of very healthy sales and
business development in the first half of
the year and these are exactly the kind of
Now, through a major franchising
drive, the managing director of Organic
Digital is offering his company’s proven
expertise to other business people, giving
them the chance to fully exploit online
business ideas, develop effective bespoke
systems for them and successfully market
them. He has just appointed his first
franchisee in the Bristol area and has
opened an office in London to expedite
sales growth and business development.
His turnover is forecast to double to
£300,000 this year and he now has 40
clients, with 10 added in June alone.
After graduating from Strathclyde
University’s business school, he started
G8 Marketing before being headhunted
by one of Scotland’s leading advertising
agencies to assist with the set-up and
development of a brand new online
department. He was instrumental in
setting up the department from the
ground up, contributing more than 30%
of the organisation’s turnover within the
first year. Missing being his own boss, he
left to start Organic Digital in 2006.
He said: ‘There is no doubt in my mind
that The Academy gave me the skill
sets, the drive and the confidence to
consider setting up my own business and
continue with my ambition of growing
it throughout the UK. Through talking
to other entrepreneurs in Scotland and
beyond, I know that there is a great pool
of talent in this country, people who
just need a push in the right direction
Graeme Kerr
Captive Media went into the Den to
seek investment in its high-tech urinals.
Gentlemen can control a game on
the screen above the urinal through
activating carefully positioned sensors
with their ‘flow’. Their products are
now installed in six European countries,
25
to embark on the path of creating
excellent, job-creating companies. If I
and fellow entrepreneurs can create the
opportunities and the conditions which
allow others entrepreneurial spirits
to flourish, it gives meaning to what
business life is all about.’
Raymond Kohli (1994)
After a degree in Business Studies and
four years in the family wholesale business,
Raymond – following the inspiration of
Ronnie Woods – tried his hand at primary
school teaching. However, at this point things
took an unexpected turn…
‘In the summer of 2009, I thought I
would try commercial property. I always
have to explain that this is not residential
but commercial as in retail space/
units, shops restaurants etc. I basically
attempted to buy some empty units to
which I felt blue chip tenants such as
Tesco/Sainsbury’s or financial institutions
would be enticed and would agree to
take leases on. It has now been three
years and I have never looked back!
I have now built up 11 investments
in my portfolio with long leases to
supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s,
restaurant chains such as Pizza Express
and McDonald’s, government bodies
such as the Job Centre and financial
institutions such as HSBC Bank. These
investments have been spread across
the country and across various sectors.
Managing them takes a lot of time and I
am in the process of trying to do a deal
to acquire another similar investment. I
have finally found my wee niche. At the
same time I manage a large pension fund
that I have also used as a vehicle to invest
in commercial property with similar
tenants.’
Alastair Marr (1974)
London 2012 Games Maker
London 2012 started for me in
November, 2010 when I was
interviewed by LOCOG (London
Organising Committee of the Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games) following
my application to become an interviewer
to help find 70,000 Games Makers
(volunteers). Fortunately, my application
was successful, having worked in the
HR function at BP during my career. I
was recruited initially for four months
interviewing one day a week from
February, 2011. Fortunately, interviewers
were able to extend this and I continued
to the end with the last interviews being
held in March 2012.
26
Etcetera
Staggeringly, there were 250,000
applications of which about 100,000
were interviewed – surely one of the
largest recruitment campaigns ever in
Great Britain. People from all walks
of life came for interview as they were
very keen to be part of this once-in-alifetime experience. It was humbling
to hear so many life stories from such a
diverse group and working with other
interviewers who, like me, also wanted
to be a Games Maker.
For the Olympics itself, I was appointed
to support the shooting events as a
member of the Athlete Services Team
which were held at the Royal Artillery
Barracks at Woolwich Arsenal to the
South East of London. This was to be
a new venue where rifle ranges were
erected specifically for London 2012. In
April this year, I helped with a World
Cup Test Event in which about 800
competitors took part from almost 100
countries. It was a fascinating experience
supporting the shooters and, as the
actual Olympics only had about 400
competitors, this was a good test for us.
A great memory was being present after
one of my shifts to see Peter Wilson win
a Gold Medal for the shooting Double
Trap event – the icing on the cake!
Prior to the Olympics, I was also
a Games Maker at the Uniform
Distribution and Accreditation Centre
near Stratford issuing uniforms to other
Games Makers and Technical Officials.
This process was very well co-ordinated
Alastair Marr (first on left) meeting HRH the
Prince of Wales at a reception for London 2012
volunteers
and, on many occasions, we handled
1,000 people a day. I continued in this
role for the Paralympics. Both were
another great way of meeting many
Games Makers and officials who were
very keen to take part in their role.
I was at the Team GB Athletes Parade
proudly wearing my uniform for what
I thought would be the last time.
However, days later, I was invited to
attend a reception at Clarence House,
London for a selection of about 200
London 2012 volunteers (Games
Makers, people who took part in the
Torch, Opening, Closing and Victory
Ceremonies, London Ambassadors
and members of the Armed Forces)
where we met the Duke and Duchess
of Cornwall. What a very fitting end
to what was, for me, a tremendous
experience working as I did with
LOCOG staff and other Games Makers
in such an uplifting environment!
London 2012 turned out to be a
resounding success for many reasons.
The excitement and atmosphere
generated, especially in the Olympic
Park at Stratford, was immense. It was
great to see smiling faces in such a happy
environment. The Games will leave a
legacy of national benefits and I am sure
have lived up to the London 2012 motto
of ‘Inspire a Generation’.
Obituaries
Geoffrey CC Duncan (1946)
6 October 1929 – 29 April 2012
Geoff was brought up in Whitecraigs and
was a pupil at Belmont House School
before completing his senior school
education at Glasgow Academy between
1942 and 1946. He went on to study
law at Glasgow University and became
a solicitor in 1951. Over the course of a
long and successful career, he became a
partner with Kerr, Barrie and Duncan.
He retired in 1991.
Geoff was well known in Bridge of
Weir, which became home for most
of his life. He was very involved in
education locally as well as in public life
in the West of Scotland. He served as
Chairman of St Columba’s School from
1972-1982 when he steered the school
smoothly into co-education. He was also
Chairman of the Girls’ School Company
from 1977 until 1990. He served as
Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow, as a
Director of The Merchants House and
on numerous other bodies including
the Clyde River Purification Board, the
Post Office User’s National Council, the
board of Iona Cathedral, the Council of
the Royal Faculty of Procurators, the
Council of Quarrier’s Homes and the
Society of Friends of Glasgow Cathedral.
Despite his hectic work and civic duty
schedule, Geoff found time for many
recreational pursuits. He enjoyed curling,
gardening, golf (at Ranfurly) and was
a member of The Fairlie Yacht Club.
In later life he took up photography,
retained an interest in good music and
continued to socialise with school friends
through the Glasgow Academical Club
and at the Western Club in Glasgow.
Geoff was pre-deceased by his wife,
Lorna Dowling (they married in 1958)
and is survived by his son, David (1980),
daughter Rosie and two grandchildren.
Colin JF Hope (1943)
24 June 1924 – 13 September 2012
Colin John Filshill Hope was born in
Dullatur and educated at Glasgow High
until he moved to The Academy aged 9.
He had a very wide range of friends and
contacts at the school, partly because –
as he was proud and happy to tell! – he
failed his Fifth Year exams and repeated
a year.
On leaving school he joined the RAF
and was involved in the invasions of
Sicily and Italy. In 1947 Colin joined
Stenhouse (Insurance) where his father
had been a founding partner. He was
appointed Director in 1949 and served in
many capacities including as Managing
Director of Stenhouse International.
This position meant he spent a great deal
of time travelling – his flight logbook
shows 1.2 million miles flown by 1988.
Colin was also heavily-involved in
public life: The list is lengthy but it
includes time served as a director of
the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
and of the Merchants House and as
a member of the Scottish Consumer
Council and the Insurance Ombudsman
bureau. Colin was also chairman of the
Dumbartonshire Order of St John and
served as a Governor of Keil School.
Beyond work and public life, Colin
enjoyed golf (at Buchanan Castle and
Helensburgh) and keeping in touch with
school friends at the October Gasbags
lunch. His love of transport meant there
were many fun caravanning holidays
with the family as well as great times on
his motor boat, Sula, on the Clyde.
A dear husband of 62 years to Jean, a
much-loved dad to Alastair, Fiona and
the late Carol and a proud and adored
grandpa of seven grandchildren. Colin –
and his sense of humour and friendship
– will be greatly missed.
Honorary Governor Sir Matthew D
Goodwin (1946)
11 June 1929 – 10 October 2012
Matthew Dean Goodwin was educated
at Hamilton Grammar before completing
his senior school education at Glasgow
Academy between 1942 and 1946. He
trained as an accountant and, remarkably,
first came to the attention of the
business community in 1954 – just after
completing his National Service with the
RAF – through lecturing CA apprentices.
His charismatic style meant that student
numbers grew from a handful to more
than 150. As a result, he became well
known and highly respected by a whole
generation of Glasgow accountants.
In 1956 Matthew joined Davidson,
Downie & McGown. Contemporaries
speak with awe of his immense powers
of concentration, and ability to grasp and
analyse complex situations. At the same
time, he displayed a huge zest for life,
Sir Matthew D Goodwin
an ebullient sense of humour and had
started to build a wide circle of friends.
Matthew first dabbled with plant hire
in 1960 when he went into partnership
with a friend to buy and rent out a single
excavator. Having seen the potential of
the business, he co-founded Hewden
Plant in 1962.
The business was expanded in 1968
with the merger with RG Stuart Plant.
At the first meeting between the two
firms he proposed (in complete detail) a
scenario for joining forces, to be closely
followed by a public flotation. His
visionary plan was promptly agreed upon
and by October 1968 Hewden-Stuart
Plc had come into being. Matthew
resigned his CA practice to join the new
company as finance director. As the
company grew (he became Chairman
in 1979), Matthew never lost sight of
his principles of frugality, prudence and
the crucial need to build and foster the
company’s most precious asset – people.
The company’s shareholders also enjoyed
unparalleled prosperity. He was knighted
in 1989. In 1993 he had been appointed
non-executive chairman and he retired
fully from the business in 1995.
Throughout his career, Sir Matthew and
Hewden were known for a conservative
approach to finances, with an aversion
to debt. He was also involved in politics
for many years, becoming deputy
chairman and treasurer of the Scottish
Conservative Party. Following his
retirement, Matthew entered into the
final phase of his life with his customary
gusto. For the first time he was able fully
Etcetera
27
to enjoy his love of travel, and, with
Lady Margaret, visited many far-flung
parts of the world, much of this on safari
adventures, or on small cruise ships.
He retained a few business interests and
his work with charities continued. He
followed his other leisure pursuits – a
game of bridge or a day’s shooting –
at every opportunity. At his country
home – a tiny cottage overlooking a
magnificent, tree-lined lochan, nestling
against a backdrop of upper Clyde
Valley hills – Matthew perhaps found his
greatest fulfilment outside of business.
The stunning vista was painstakingly
created and nurtured by Sir Matthew
over the last 40 years, much of it by
his own hand. There is little doubt that
some of his happiest times were spent
there in the company of Lady Margaret,
his family, and his many friends.
Sir Matthew Goodwin – a loyal
supporter of The Glasgow Academy – is
survived by Lady Margaret, his daughters
Frances and Carol, three grandchildren,
one great grandchild, three step-children
and eight step-grandchildren.
Dr David M Graham-Service
(1937)
18 March 1919 – 28 July 2012
David Martin Graham-Service MBChB,
DO was a pupil at Glasgow Academy
between 1928 and 1932 before going on
to complete his secondary education at
Fettes College.
He studied medicine at St Andrews,
graduating in 1942 and, after residencies
at the Victoria Infirmary and Harefield
Hospital he served in the RAMC in Italy
and Europe – including on the front line
at the battle of Monte Cassino. After
the war an interest in osteopathy took
him to the USA where he graduated as
a Doctor of Osteopathy from Kirksville
College, Missouri in 1948. Thereafter he
returned to Glasgow and private practice
until he retired in 1997.
David had many interests, notably Jaguar
cars in which he travelled extensively
throughout Europe, Scandinavia and as
far as Turkey. He played an active part in
the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
and was elected a fellow in recognition
of his distinguished contribution to its
work. He was a keen campanologist,
ringing at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow,
where for a while he was captain.
He also rang in many other towers
28
Etcetera
From 1989 to 1995 he had two
consecutive NATO tours, firstly at
Northwood, Middlesex, on the staff
of the Commander-in-Chief Channel
and then in Naples at the Allied
Forces Southern Region HQ. His
last appointment was as the Director,
Communications and Information
Systems. On leaving the Navy in 1998,
Robert provided consultancy services to
several firms, including BAE Systems –
although his main role was as European
General Manager of the Armed Forces
Communications and Electronics
Association.
Robert died after a period of illness.
He is survived by his wife, Joanna, two
daughters and three grandchildren.
Dr David M Graham-Service
throughout the UK. He had a great
love of dogs and enjoyed receiving
newsletters from the dogs that he
sponsored in the Dog Trust.
A stroke in 2001 deprived him of the use
of his left arm and hand but he passed
a driving test and continued to drive a
modified automatic car until his sudden
death in July. Latterly David occupied his
time with bridge, computing and letters
to The Herald. His last letter was written
the day he was admitted to hospital. It
was published following day – a letter he
never saw published.
He is survived by Maureen, his wife of
almost 62 years, his two children Ruth
and David, two grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren. Two grandchildren
predeceased him.
Commodore Robert Howell
(1962)
11 October 1943 – 3 October 2012
Robert Howell was brought up in
Bridge of Weir and Bearsden. He
attended The Academy between 1957
and 1962. At school he captained the
shooting team and in his final year was
Captain of Albany House.
Robert left school to join the Royal
Navy at Dartmouth and qualified as a
communications and electronic warfare
officer in 1972. He then held a range of
specialist appointments both ashore and
afloat including two years on exchange
duty in the Pentagon and two years in
command of the frigate HMS Hermione.
Sheriff Stuart O Kermack (1953)
9 July 1934 – 8 August 2012
Stuart Ogilvy Kermack came from a
family with a long tradition of service in
the legal profession. Educated at Glasgow
Academy, Jesus College, Oxford, and the
universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh,
he was called to the Scottish bar in 1959.
In 1965 he was appointed as sheriff at
Elgin and Nairn and, in 1971, he moved
to Forfar where he remained for the rest
of his career.
Sheriff Kermack promoted many
improvements in the law’s treatment
of offenders and served as secretary of
the Edinburgh branch of the Howard
League for Penal Reform. His guiding
principle in sentencing was a philosophy
of rehabilitation. As a judge he was
scrupulously fair and completely without
pomposity or remoteness. He was also
noted for his helpfulness to those in
the early years of professional practice.
Tributes paid after his death showed the
respect and warmth with which he was
regarded by the legal profession.
An advantage Elgin and Forfar shared
was access to the hills, which Stuart
loved. He had met his wife, Barbara,
on a ski club outing and continued to
ski until he was 50; and he was a keen
walker and camper who, along with
his family, used the nearness to the
hills to the full. Another advantage was
proximity to places of historical interest.
His knowledge of Scottish history,
and particularly of the Highlands, was
extensive and profound.
Stuart’s retirement in 1993 was brought
on by failing eyesight. He retired to
Edinburgh, partly for family reasons and
partly because of the facilities it gave for
his historical and literary interests. In
The Pictish Symbols and the Vita Sancti
Columbae he developed an original
interpretation of Pictish symbolism.
He read widely, from PG Wodehouse
to Tolstoy, and wrote poetry. Much of
his poetry was for private use but one
of his poems found a place in Gordon
Jarvie’s anthology 100 Scottish Poems
to Read Out Loud. As Stuart’s eyesight
deteriorated further he learnt Braille and
increasingly used audio books.
In 1961 Stuart married Barbara
Mackenzie who was his support in all
he did and on whose care he was much
dependant. He is survived by her and by
his daughter, Janet, his sons, Calum and
Lewis, his daughter-in-law, Rita, and
two grandchildren.
Lt Col Donald A Maclean (1954)
25 June 1936 – 25 September 2012
Donald Maclean was born in
Bishopbriggs in 1936 to a family steeped
in engineering. He attended Glasgow
Academy between 1949 and 1954
and went on to study for a degree in
engineering before finding his niche in
the army.
In 1959 he was called up on national
service and sent to Mons cadet training
school where he gained a commission
in the Royal Engineers. He loved it
and, by 1963, had become a regular
officer. He served for a total of 24 years
in locations as diverse as Anguilla in
the West Indies and Northern Ireland
at the peak of the troubles, where
he commanded 6 Squadron Royal
Engineers. He rose to be Commander
Royal Engineers in Scotland and was
awarded an OBE, largely for his role as
the highly-successful senior recruiting
officer for the army in Glasgow.
After retirement from the army in 1983,
he found time for sailing and gave much
of his time to Scottish charities, including
as president of the Rotary in Glasgow.
He also became a mainstay of the Clan
Maclean Association.
In 1960 Donald married his first wife,
Sally, and in the first three years of their
happy marriage they had three children.
Tragically, Sally died in 1993. Donald’s
second, equally-successful marriage was
to Vera, who survives him, as do all his
children and a greatly-saddened bundle
of grandchildren and friends.
Iain (John S) Muir (1953)
23 July 1935 – 22 February 2012
For Iain, there was nothing more
important than family, well, apart from
the occasional rugby match, particularly
a Calcutta Cup match or a game against
the Welsh! It was well known he was
very keen on the social side: in days of
amateur rugby and professional drinking
at Oxford, London Scottish and the
mighty Accies, at 6ft 3in and 17st 8lb
(and fit), Iain was no slouch. He played
at a high level and remained annoyed
not to get his Oxford Blue against
Cambridge.
Iain saw the world. He went on one of
the last steam ships to sail from Gourock
to Nova Scotia before taking a train ride
across Canada to walk and climb a part
of Canada that had not been mapped.
He also climbed throughout Europe and
all over Scotland from Skye to Torridon
and Glencoe.
Iain caught Polio aged just 23 and, after
many months in an iron lung, he was
told he would never have kids – he had
5! He was told he would not live for
more than six years… 55 years later the
NHS still used him to stump many a
young intern. Iain overcame his illness
to put all his energy into business, family
and fun. Friendships founded on the
pitch at Anniesland remained strong and
long-lasting. He also sustained his love of
singing and music through the Glasgow
Philharmonic Male Voice Choir and
then the Bearsden choir.
Iain always had a way with words,
Iain (John S) Muir
people and a situation; he could see
both sides of an argument – and be
convinced that both were wrong! He
managed to see the best of everyone and
always encouraged everyone to believe
in themselves. He was also never one
to waste words, believing you didn’t
need to use twenty words when two,
well-chosen ones, would do.
From Glasgow, Glenalmond to Oxford
and back again. A west coast boy and, a
very proud Scot. An even more proud
father and grandfather who believed in
working hard – and playing harder!
The above was adapted from a eulogy by
Iain’s youngest son, Geoff, earlier this
year. Iain founded the ‘Spring Lunch’ at
Anniesland each March for Academicals of
around his vintage. From 2013 the event will
be formally known as ‘The Iain Muir Lunch’
in his honour.
Former pupils Bobby Greig,
Jane Rutherford, Rachel Turner
and Rory Veitch at Holyrood
to receive their Gold Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award certificates
in July.
Etcetera
29
Favourite teachers remembered
Mr Philips
I’m always delighted
to read about earlier
masters at school. So
far I haven’t read any
reminiscences about
one of my favourites
– my English and
fifth-year form master
- Mr Phillips.
I clearly remember
that, for the best part
of the first term of
the 1959 school year,
we read, discussed and interpreted in
great detail Shakespeare’s wonderful play
The Merchant of Venice and we then spent
most of the second term appreciating
Matthew Arnold’s wonderful and tragic
epic poem entitled Sohrab and Rustum.
Today, these two magnificent works are
still indelibly stamped in my mind and,
particularly Sohrab and Rustum, are read
and re-read with great pleasure.
As an aside, my appreciation of Mr
Phillips was such that, for the rest of that
fifth school year, I worked really hard
in his class and I ended up winning an
English prize. As a reward, my father
took me for a slap-up dinner in the
swanky Malmaison restaurant which
was then part of the Central Hotel.
He also had his tailor, Duncan’s in
Buchanan Street, measure me for my
first made-to-measure suit. The school
prize-giving that year took place in
the St Andrew’s Halls and my prize
was a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s novel
Captains Courageous. I didn’t read it till
forty years later.
All of which led to his distinguished
war service and I shall never forget
the silence and awe which pervaded
the school when news of his death at
Arnhem was received.
Jimmy Baird (1943)
Good old Freddie Clements!
Kenny Miles has had several positive
mentions recently, but I must have been
one of the exceptions in his English class.
My essays came back every time with
marks between 8-15 out of 35. Came
the prelims and back came my essay on a
small country church, based on the Kirk
O’ Mochrum near Port William, marked
27/35. Good old Freddie Clements!!!
And a phrase that many others may
remember from the Varley French class:
‘Quoique vous fassiez, faites-le bien.’
Douglas Walker (1957)
Geography with Mr Ogilvie
Mr Ogilvie would drum into our heads
the names of rivers around the world and
would do this by beating a rhythm rather
like a mnemonic. I have not forgotten
the rivers of Asia: Euphrates, Tigris,
Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy,
Salween, Maenam and Mekong.
Although we knew their names, it took
some decades until I could actually see
some of the rivers mentioned…
Ian Trythall (1962)
Photo Ian Trythall
Geoff Payman
In Etcetera 13 we published a tribute to Geoff
Payman, a former Head of English. Below,
David Gray, one of his former colleagues,
adds a few memories of his own.
Perhaps a less-recognised aspect of Geoff
Payman’s teaching career at Glasgow
Academy was his production of the
Junior Plays.
Geoff realised that, whereas commercial
plays have to cut costs with small casts,
school plays must maximise opportunity
and bring in parental hordes to provide
audience encouragement. So he wrote
his own plays.
In the Greek tradition, choruses of
Snowman, Aliens and Bees filled the
stage and Geoff did not always complain
if his gently-ironic and witty lines were
not always perfectly delivered. Thus the
course of the school year did not allow,
with its Christmas Pantomime, Senior
Play and Junior Play, many pupils to
escape exposure to an audience, and
find, much to their surprise, that they
enjoyed the experience - as did the
many staff and behind-scenes production
teams who helped in these large-scale
productions.
In the days before speaking was formally
examined, Geoff set many Academicals
on the path to ease at interview at least,
and articulate verbal exposition at best,
so that inhibition often created by the
old Scots adage ‘Better remain silent and
be thought a fool than open your mouth
and remove all doubt’ never troubled
Academicals.
David A Gray (Former staff)
The ability to stimulate and motivate a
young mind must surely be the greatest
achievement of any school master. Mr
Phillips certainly did that for me.
Alasdair Boyle (1959)
Mike Page
Further to Alan Diack’s article about
Mike Page (Etcetera 18, page 12), I
remember him as a well-liked, genial but, at the same time - overpowering
master. He was certainly a disciplinarian,
but never, so far as I know, used ‘the
biff’. His presence alone made it
unnecessary!
He was an equally impressive figure
playing for the Accies at Anniesland.
30
Etcetera
On the banks of the Brahmaputara, as described
by geography teacher, Mr Ogilvie
Picture Post
Any takers?
Your editorial in the summer 2012
Etcetera reminded me that some time
ago I promised to hunt for a letter that
I once received from Lord Reith in
my (then) capacity as editor of the
Chronicle. The great man refers to an
article which was published in the
June 1968 edition of the Chronicle
(pp 44-45). I attach a copy of Lord
Reith’s letter to me, together with
the Glasgow Herald’s report on the
response to the challenge.
Your readers might find this
of interest and, who knows,
someone else might be
daft enough to take up the
challenge!
David Dow (1969)
It wasn’t ‘Mee’!
Your query about the name of the fourth boy from
the left in the Class 4A photograph (Etcetera 17, page
30) is easily settled. Mee is an uncommon surname;
I can confidently state that there was no boy, apart
from myself, with the name during the whole of my
time at the Academy (1939-52). I am thus glad to
cede the identification to JAH Taylor.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Mee (1952)
Spot the Governor!
In response to John’s query, I do happen to have a
copy of same photo amongst my records. It is Mr
James (Jimmy) Jope’s 4B (NL) class of 1968-69 and
– if memory serves me correctly – the pupils are:
Back row (l to r) – Gordon Smillie; Charles Morton; John Macdonald; John McIntyre; David Graham-Service; Sandy Caldwell
Middle row – Jimmy McCulloch; Ronnie Veitch; Graham Scott;
Ian Galbreath; Lindsay Crawford; Graham Shankland; myself;
Michael Levy
Front row – Marios Pattihis; Willie Spowart; David McGowan;
Johnny Morton; Mr James Jope; Robert Manderson; Murdo
Young; Graham Ross; Nick McIllwraith
Regards,
Alan Cunningham (1971)
We also had a similar response from Alastair Tainsh
(1971) who described Jimmy Jope as ‘the man
with the cleanest blackboard in Scotland’. Alastair
pointed out how many future Academy Governors and
presidents of GAC are to be found in the middle row.
(Answers on a postcard!)
Etcetera
31
B R I T I S H
L U X U R Y
I N T E R I O R S
b y
C L I V E
C H R I S T I A N
97 - 99 Great Western Road, Glasgow. G4 9AH • Tel - 0141 332 8989 • e-mail scotland@clive.com • WWW.CLIVE.COM