fortunas - Dollar Academy

Dollar Academy Magazine
Cover Story
Musical Interlude
Costa Rica
P28
P66
Edinburgh Fringe Poster Success Six Months in the Life of the Biology Department Expedition
Music Department
to Central America
P6
fortunas
BIANNUAL
PUBLICATION
ISSUE 33
JUNE 2014
REGIONAL DOLLAR
ACADEMY CLUBS
DOLLAR
Mrs Sally Sutcliffe (née Reeves)
12 Princes Crescent North
DOLLAR
FK14 7BX
sallyfiona@btinternet.com
DOLLAR ACADEMICALS
Mr Iain Mears
The Cottage
5 Chapel Place
DOLLAR
FK14 7DW
iainmears@btinternet.com
EDINBURGH
Mrs Fiona Frazer
15 Cammo Crescent
EDINBURGH
EH4 8DZ
ffrazer_2000@hotmail.com
HIGHLAND
Mr Colin Milne
28 Tillybrake Gardens
BANCHORY
AB31 5QG
colmilne@aol.com
NORTH OF ENGLAND
Mrs Deirdre Buchanan
One Oak
Hallgarth
PICKERING
North Yorkshire
YO18 7AW
adrian.grant@taspartnership.co.uk
LONDON
Mrs Elizabeth C Heath
3 Redhill Close
SOUTHAMPTON
Hampshire
SO16 7BT
chris_eliz.heath@yahoo.co.uk
GLASGOW
Mr Will Gibson
7a Briarwell Road
Milngavie
GLASGOW
G62 6AW
gibsonw3@sky.com
NORTH OF SCOTLAND
Dr Andrew A Burt
Cantlebrae
Pitgober
DOLLAR
FK14 7PQ
doctor.burt@virgin.net
CONSULS
Australia
Sydney
Jill Westwater
jill.westwater@googlemail.com
0061 404 400 554
Melbourne
Mark Plummer
mark.m.plummer@gmail.com
0061 404 467 924
Canada
Bruce Buck
brucebuck@hotmail.ca
001 905 468 1512
USA
California
Mohammad Diab
diab@sbcglobal.net
001415 710 8438
China
Beijing
Malcolm Thorp
malcolm@weemac.com
0086 1391 0075 452
Arizona
Wendy Hurley
ahwatukee17@yahoo.com
001480 284 8244/001 480 389
8692
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Hong Kong
Eric Chan
dollaracademyhkfp@gmail.com
2
DATA PROTECTION
Dollar Academy sends out copies of Fortunas and its enclosures in envelopes addressed to former pupils, former staff of the Academy and parents
of current pupils. As such, recipients’ names and addresses are stored in our database. Any recipient who does not wish to receive a copy of
Fortunas is asked to inform the Academy by email: registrar@dollaracademy.org.uk. Similarly, in order that we may keep our data as accurate as
possible, you are asked to inform us of any change of address.
CONTENTS
Fortunas 34
Many thanks to everyone
who has contributed articles
or images to Fortunas 33;
the deadline for submission
of articles for the Christmas
issue is Friday 10th October
2014.
page
From the Rector4
Cover Story: Edinburgh Fringe Poster Success
6
Dollar Bids Farewell…8
Connecting Classrooms with Malindi
10
Around the Houses – Boarding at Dollar
12
Along the Corridors – News from the Classrooms
Prep School News17
Junior School News20
Expressive Arts
A Musical Interlude – Six Months in Music
28
Drama 40
Art & Literature
Personal Essays44
The Harry Bell Travel Awards and Scholarship 52
Pupil Artwork 57
Travel – Dollar Pupils Venture Forth
Costa Rica64
12 Days Round China66
New York 201468
Classics Trip to Rome and Naples
70
Ski Tour 201474
Editor: Heather Lumsden
Lumsden-H@dollaracademy.org.uk
Design: Peter Nelson
peter@peternelsonart.com
Registrar: Elaine Gallagher
registrar@dollaracademy.org.uk
Archivist: Janet Carolan
Carolan-J@dollaracademy.org.uk
Fortunas 33
The opinions expressed in this
magazine belong to the individual
writers and not to Dollar Academy.
FP Forum
FP News105
Obituaries114
From the Archives120
June 2014
Proof readers: David Delaney,
Lesley Jeffrey, Mairi Leggatt,
Heather Lumsden, Billy Prior
Sport75
After the Bell – Co-curricular News
Combined Cadet Force 93
Pipe Band 100
Charities104
3
FROM THE RECTOR
Fortunas 33
June 2014
The theme of my 2011 Prize Giving speech (not that I anticipate many in the audience
on that occasion have my words indelibly imprinted upon their memory) was that by
helping others we often help ourselves. Anyone requiring evidence of this, or wishing
to know what type of pupil Dollar Academy produces, should turn straight to page
102 and read Kyrie Grasekamp’s article on her work as part of the Community Service
Group. On the following three pages, fellow Form VI pupils, Mira Vladimirova and
Ellie Scott-Gray, write equally well about their community involvement and charity
work. They exemplify my belief that life is about people, and their reflections on their
experiences are inspiring.
Lucy Taylor writes in much the same vein about boarding, saying “It might
seem ridiculous to most people, wishing for another year at school, but were you to experience
life in boarding and the closeness it brings to the relationships you make, I am sure you would
understand.” Indeed, a focus on positive relationships is evident throughout Fortunas
33, almost regardless of the activity.
This phenomenon is certainly not new to the school, as some of the excellent
articles in the FP section clearly demonstrate, and I particularly enjoyed reading
about Max Macdonald’s work in Uganda, which appears to complement nicely our
own current school support for projects in Malindi, driven hugely by the wonderful
Mrs Adamson - a former pupil herself of course. Quite how Dollar manages to produce
such people is harder to ascertain, although the huge range of opportunities available
to our current pupils, as described in this edition of Fortunas, no doubt has a role to
play. It is apparent, too, that many of the activities on offer cleverly combine both play
and education. Learning, and at Dollar this comes in many forms, can be fun. Indeed,
I would go further and say that true learning is almost always enjoyable.
In the end the school, like any institution, is only as good as the people within
it. It is evident to me that there is no shortage of good people at Dollar. I very much
hope that, as you make your way through Fortunas 33, you will feel the magazine
reflects that.
4
The Governors of Dollar Academy Trust is a charity registered in Scotland, no SC009888
Open doors at Dollar
We are one of Scotland’s leading Independent
Schools for boys and girls aged five to eighteen.
Open Day
Saturday 13th September, 10:00am – 1:00pm.
Dollar Academy, Clackmannanshire, FK14 7DU
Fortunas 33
Excellence and opportunity
June 2014
For more information:
registrar@dollaracademy.org.uk
01259 742 511
5
Fortunas 33
June 2014
EDINBURGH
FRINGE POSTER
SUCCESS
6
Minnie Roe (Form III) has won the
2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Society’s schools poster competition,
her poster chosen from 3,453 entries
from 144 schools across Scotland.
Minnie’s poster was praised by judges
for particularly encapsulating the
spirit and character of the Fringe. Chief
Executive of the Edinburgh Festival
Fringe Society Kath Mainland said,
“Minnie’s poster is a great example of
the amazing young artistic talent we
have here in Scotland. Her creativity
was admired by all of the judges and
the uniqueness of her design makes
her the deserving winner of this year’s
competition.” Minnie explained how
she came up with the inspiration for
her poster, “We were given the theme of
birds in an Art lesson and were shown
the winning posters from previous
years. I really wanted to come up with
something new. I used the confetti
idea to suggest celebration and the tail
feathers are supposed to illustrate the
Fringe itself.”
Describing the unveiling
ceremony itself, Minnie said, “Everyone
came up to me and seemed to know
me, and I didn’t know how they knew!
There were three easels with covers
over. I knew after the first runnerup was unveiled that I had a better
chance. When the second runner up
was unveiled, I clapped for them, and
knew I had won! I really, really hadn’t
thought that I would win.’
The victory comes with many
rewards. Minnie’s winning artwork
has been digitised and was presented
in a beautiful frame to be displayed
News
in a location of her choice. Her poster
will also be displayed at the Museum
of Childhood in Edinburgh from
23rd May until 25th August as part of
an exhibition that will include the
runners-up, the regional winners and
the short-listed entries. Her design
will also be seen all over the streets
of Edinburgh and will, doubtless,
travel much further afield. Thousands
of bags, mugs, t-shirts, posters and
indeed several buses will showcase
Minnie’s poster over the upcoming
summer months, and particularly
during the Festival which runs from
1st-25th August. Minnie also picked up
a winner’s cheque for £300 and a £750
cheque for the school.
Minnie’s poster design is now
available on mugs, bags and t-shirts
and other merchandise available to
buy in the Fringe shop on the High
Street or via the Fringe website: www.
edfringe.com/shop/. Dollar Academy
also provided the Regional Winner for
Forth Valley, Ben Dixon in Prep 3.
Heather Moore
Images © Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Society
Fortunas 33
June 2014
7
Fortunas 33
June 2014
DR BILL BEVERIDGE
8
A dedicated and inspirational teacher,
a successful Head of Department, a
generous colleague, and just a term
short of his 20-year Long Service
Award (!), Dr Bill Beveridge has left
Dollar Academy to take up a new post
with the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Bill arrived having completed
his PhD at Heriot-Watt University,
via one year lecturing at Brighton
University and having survived his
PGCE at Moray House. Initially he
was a Physics teacher here, but Geoff
Collier, Head of Chemistry at the
time, lured him from the Dark Side
after a year, and when Geoff retired to
dress up as Santa Claus full-time, Bill
was the natural choice for his job; the
Department continued to thrive under
his leadership as it had done under
Geoff.
Lessons with Dr B were never
ordinary. Drawing on an encyclopaedic
knowledge of his subject, he introduced
his classes to the wonders of Chemistry,
and could be found rampaging around
his room, clad, of late, in either his
green or black lab coat, depending on
how his mood took him. Notoriously
grumpy first thing in the morning
(part of the act?), Kate Carmichael,
our Chemistry Technician for many years, would feed him chocolate biscuits when
he had missed breakfast because she felt sorry for his pupils, but his pupils loved
him and for all the right reasons – he was inspiring, funny, caring and had high
expectations of them. He challenged Form VI with tough research tasks; whether
it was sending them up the Burn of Sorrow to collect copper ores, or having them
scrape road-side earth to examine its lead content, or even determining how
many rhubarb leaves it would take to kill a certain member of Form VI’s brother
through oxalic acid poisoning. Younger pupils would marvel at the drama of his
demonstration experiments, and his Form II classes all know why Barry Scott loves
Cillit Bang. As numbers taking the subject grew, so did the demand on equipment,
and when he found out that Edinburgh University was upgrading its teaching labs,
Bill was over the Forth faster than a free-radical chain reaction – had he known
how much was on offer, he would have taken a minibus, rather than his car – but
our Form VI projects have never looked back, thanks to the spacious boot of his
Citroen Xantia.
From Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to camping with the CCF and Shooting
teams, to playing the violin in the 1st Orchestra, there truly are many strings to
his bow. His love of Microsoft Excel is legendary amongst his colleagues – no
Departmental Meeting was complete without a spreadsheet or two or three –
and his presence in the Science Staffroom, clutching his plastic cup of rehydrated
instant coffee while holding court, Clarkson-style, on his current annoyance, is
already much missed. His new post will see him forge stronger links between the
RSC and education institutions across the country, and, based at home, he will
certainly be seeing more of his wife, Vicky (formerly of our Biology Department),
and his two girls, Jenny and Rowan. We wish him all the best in his new role, and
we are sure that we will be seeing him again, this time wearing his new hat, but
hopefully not his black lab coat.
David Lumsden
The caricature featured here appeared in the Dollar Magazine 1994-95, marking Dr Beveridge’s
arrival at the Academy, and was drawn by Kellie Milne (FP 1998) , one of his Form III pupils at
the time.
Farewell
ANNE SHEEHAN
Ave atque vale
It seems scarcely any time at all since I
was writing a piece welcoming Anne to
Dollar Academy, in which I recall making
the observation that variety seemed
very much to be the spice of her life.
True to form, she has again responded
to the siren call of new horizons and
will embark on a fresh journey as
Bursar of Lomond School. At least on
this occasion she is travelling closer to
home; her appetites historically seem
to have drawn her much further afield
to the exotic shores of the Far East,
rather than the somewhat less alluring
shores of the Clyde. Anne may have
been here for only a relatively short
period, but there can be no denying
the very considerable impact she has
had on the often overlooked world of
administration, implementing a range
of important and effective financial
controls and other initiatives.
It has been a huge pleasure to
get to know her and her family – the
beguiling twins continue to beguile and
Dylan remains a studious presence in
the library. I shall continue to monitor
his progress as I pass through and wish
him every success for his exams this
summer.
To Anne and her husband,
Dom, I hope all goes supremely well for
you in Lomond and that life in the west
proves to be happy and rewarding.
Justin St J Wilkes
Bursar
SPORTS WEEKEND 2014
Thursday 19 June
2.00pm
7.30pm
Prep School Sports
Musical: Guys and Dolls (Dollar Academy Assembly Hall)
Friday 20 June
12.30pm
7.00pm for 7.30pm
7.30pm
Junior School Sports
DARFC Annual Dinner
Musical: Guys and Dolls (Dollar Academy Assembly Hall)
Saturday 21 June
11.30am onwards
11.30am – 4.30pm
11.00am – 5.00pm
12.30pm – 1.15pm
1.20pm – 2.00pm
2.00pm – 5.00pm
2.30pm – 4.30pm
5.00pm – 5.20pm
5.00pm – 7.30pm
6.00pm – 7.30pm
7.30pm – 12 midnight
Fortunas 33
Parade for Service in Dollar Parish Church
Service in Dollar Parish Church
Art Exhibition in the Maguire Building
Pipe Band Display in front of the marquee
Parents’ Association Family Barbecue (by the Junior School)
Cricket 1st XI v The Rector’s XI
Tennis matches against the FPs
Fencing: FPs Demonstration
June 2014
Sunday 22 June
9.45am
10.15am
12.30pm – 3.30pm
12 noon (approximately)
12.30pm
2.00pm
Marquee open for Former Pupils, Parents and Friends
Coffee, tea and biscuits in the marquee
Art Exhibition in the Maguire Building
Sandwiches, cakes and cold drinks available in the marquee
Pipe Band opens Athletics Championships
Athletics Championships
Dollar Academy open for guided tours
Award of Sports Prizes at the Boys’ Pavilion
Marquee closed
FP Sherry Party in the Library
Supper & Music in the Marquee with music by Killer City Sound
(admission by ticket only)
9
“I had some
great training sessions,
full of laughter, with
the children in Kenya,
who have become used
to the old Scottish
woman and her crazy
schemes!”
Fortunas 33
June 2014
CONNECTING
CLASSROOMS
WITH MALINDI
10
In 2009, when we first started our
support of the disabled children
in the St Francis Rehabilitation
Project in Malindi, East Kenya, we
were immediately impressed by how
many of the children with learning
and physical difficulties were being
included in classes in the neighbouring
state school, Malindi Primary School
HGM. We saw an opportunity to work
with the British Council programme
linking schools through education
and teacher exchanges. This year, we
were awarded funding for our third
exchange, and I was fortunate enough
to have the opportunity to teach in
Malindi Primary for a week during
our February Break. To make the most
of these partnerships, pupils in both
schools have to benefit from shared
lessons and experiences in global
citizenship curriculum. Over the
years we have focused on disability,
discrimination, world water issues,
comparisons of climate and the impact
of weather on food production, cash
crops in the Great Rift Valley and,
most recently, conflict and peace.
I have been to Malindi four
times now to work with the disabled
children resident in the Small Home
next door to the school, and I have
made many friends there and in the
primary school. It was wonderful to
return but, with such a short stay,
there was a huge amount of lesson
planning in the evenings and teaching
to be done during the days. Classes
News
Our Charitable Work, The
Malindi Project, Continues to
Flourish
and by the time you read this article
a team of six will have completed the
Edinburgh Marathon as ‘Malindi On
The Run’. I had some great training
sessions, full of laughter, with the
children in Kenya, who have become
used to the old Scottish woman and
her crazy schemes! Hopefully, we will
have raised enough to continue to
make a better future for the disabled
children whose lives have been
transformed by the dedication of the
pupils in Dollar who have so taken
them to their hearts.
Julia Adamson
Fortunas 33
Needless to say, I was very happy to
be accommodated in The Small Home
during my visit and catch up face-toface with the team of people I work so
closely with as a trustee of The Malindi
Project, the sister charity we set up to
support the St Francis Rehabilitation
Project. Over the past five years,
Dollar Academy and its community
has grown to become one of their
most significant funding sources.
Living in the home and helping with
the care of the children is the only way
to really understand what is needed,
and having the time to talk to the
director and travel out to the districts
again with the social worker and
occupational therapist gave me new
insights into how the project may have
to direct their efforts in the future.
There are just too many children in
desperate need to be accommodated in
residential care; the Project has to find
ways to take its expertise out to those
who cannot get to them.
We are fundraising, as always,
June 2014
started at 7.30 am and continued until
after 5 pm for the older pupils. I have
always been full of admiration for the
pupils in Malindi, whose desire to
learn, despite a lack of resources, puts
many of our UK youngsters to shame.
Almost everything from the packed
curriculum is explained, written on
the blackboard, then hastily recorded
by the pupils; a lack of textbooks
means they have that one opportunity
to record the course content upon
which they will be examined in
national tests each year. At home, I
taught lessons on the flower industry
in the Great Rift to all of the Junior
2 classes and then took these lessons
to the Year 6 pupils in Kenya (all 200
of them, divided into 3 classes). The
Malindi pupils had not realised that
we were huge consumers of their
second most important cash crop and
were very interested that Scottish
people would care that their lakes
were being polluted by agrichemicals
used to promote a continuous growing
season.
We have started a series of
shared lessons on conflict and peace
this session. In Kenya, the refugees
are streaming in from South Sudan
and Somalia, and our youngsters
in both Malindi and Dollar are very
interested in the human rights issues
that arise. This time, we have set up a
Skype link between our two schools
and look forward to the pupils being
able to express their opinions on these
issues web face-to-face. Mr Mwangala,
the Head Teacher who has been to
visit us here, has always been a strong
supporter of the partnership between
Dollar Academy and his school. In
December, his school had the best
exam results in the district, and he
was keen to emphasise how much he
believes his pupils’ eyes being opened
to the outside world contributes to
their aspirations to achieve. I saw
some fantastic and dedicated teaching
in February and can confirm that
our pupils in Dollar are also gaining
a huge amount from a very positive
partnership.
11
This brought us to the
penultimate event – a dangerous
one too. The Last-Pair-Standing. The
rules were to (successfully) throw and
catch a raw – yes, raw – egg between a
pair, and after one safe transition, for
both members to take a step further
away from each other. There were
many minor catastrophes and egg
explosions, but quite soon a victorious
partnership emerged to claim the prize
- of chocolate.
Leaving behind the detritus of
chocolate wrappers, empty collecting
baskets and the distinct aroma of egg,
everyone congregated inside to enjoy (a
very generous) buffet from the dining
hall. This concluded the Argyll Easter
madness… at least until next year.
Hannah Taylor (Form IV)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
EASTER MADNESS
12
As with every other great tradition
of the world, Christmas, Halloween,
Pancake Day… the Argyll Easter Egg
Hunt is no less memorable. It was
Easter Sunday. With the chocolate
hidden, we were ready to begin. You
could feel the anticipation growing in
the room: people edging towards the
door, eyeing up the opposition. Before
we knew it, the House had descended
into a primal frenzy, driven by the
greatly desired prize: Easter eggs.
With the House and garden
thoroughly scoured and now free from
hidden chocolate, the games were far
from over. Next on the itinerary was
the infamous Egg-and-Spoon Race.
This included a few very intricately
decorated eggs and some foul play.
With the emerging victor claiming her
prize, preparations were already under
way for the next game. The aim of this
was to roll or throw the decorated eggs
towards a hoop, the winner being the
one whose egg landed the closest. After
many a broken egg and almost as many
broken hearts, not to mention a very
near miss on Mrs Welsh, the coveted
prize of (yet more) chocolate was
awarded.
BOARDING: MORE THAN YOU
IMAGINE
Approaching the end of my time
in Argyll House has been a hugely
emotional experience. This year I have
learned to appreciate just how much
the House, the girls who live there and
everyone who works there have been a
part of my life over the past six years. It
is only now, at the very end, do I realise
how much I want to stay, even with the
exciting prospects of a gap year and
university tempting me out into the big
wide world. Nothing will ever resemble
the time spent at Dollar, especially in
the boarding community. Everyone
describes their time as a boarder as
being part of ‘one big family’, but only
when you have experienced it properly
can you understand how true this
statement really is. The friends you
make there are the ones you can be
certain you will keep forever, no matter
how far apart you end up living, as the
times shared are some of the most
treasured memories and simply can’t
be forgotten.
The
extra
duties
and
responsibilities that come with the role
of Head of House were something, I
admit, I wasn’t fully prepared for. At
times that work has been carefree, at
other times more challenging, but it
has all been more than worth it. What
you put into boarding and your life at
Dollar you most certainly get back,
and every single thing I’ve done has
been worth the effort. What I have
received in return is a wealth of oncein-a-lifetime experiences. That’s the
main reason I am so reluctant to leave,
wishing that one day I might wake up
to find that I still have another year
left here. It might seem ridiculous to
most people, wishing for another year
at school, but were you to experience
life in boarding and the closeness it
brings to the relationships you make,
I’m sure you would understand. Next
year there will be another set of leavers
to reminisce about their time at Dollar
and how boarding has benefited them
in so many ways. For now, I simply
leave my best advice and a quote to
reflect upon. Make the most of every
opportunity you get, because before
you know it, you won’t have the chance.
I never had any friends later
on like the ones I had when I was twelve.
Jesus, does anyone? – Stand By Me,
1986.
Lucy Taylor (Form VI)
Argyll House 2008-2014
Boarding
INTERVIEW WITH MILLIE SHED
How long have you been at Dollar
Academy?
I came to Dollar Academy and Argyll
House when I was in J1, so I’ve been
here for eight years! Boarding has
completely changed during my time
here.
How did you feel when you first
came here?
I was really scared when I first arrived.
Everyone was really welcoming, but
I was only nine years old and at that
time the next youngest person was 16!
I had to share a room with five 16-yearolds, it was so strange.
How do you feel now that you are
getting ready to leave?
I’m scared again, but so excited. There
is so much I want to do. I’m going to
university but I want to travel and live
abroad. I want to see the world.
parties in the House, especially at
Halloween and Christmas. It was great
to have my ideas taken seriously and to
see them turn into memorable House
events. Lots of the girls came to me for
advice or support, I really liked being
able to help people.
remember so many and they still make
me laugh now. I can’t possibly let you
write them down here…
What has been your greatest
achievement?
My Higher results in Form V were
better than I ever expected, I worked
really hard and it paid off. Being a
boarder really helped me get better
grades. Easy access to school and to
the teachers is such a bonus. Being
in Argyll House gave me a really good
structure for studying.
Best supper?
Bacon croissants.
What is one of the biggest changes
you have noticed in boarding?
There are so many activities on offer
now for the girls in Argyll House and
in boarding generally. There’s always
a trip planned or an activity to join in
with.
Any advice for new boarders?
Start early! Don’t just come for Form V
or VI, you won’t get the real experience.
Enjoy every minute – it goes so quickly!
Best trip?
Edinburgh Zoo last Easter, I organised
it and we had such a good time. The
Hard Rock Café was a great place to go
as a group for dinner.
Most fun House mate?
Lucy Taylor
Most embarrassing memory?
Chatting up the gap year students
at the gym and then falling off the
moving treadmill!
Millie is Argyll House’s longest boarder
(2006-2014); she has been a great
friend to many and a constant source
of fun and laughter. Everyone at Argyll
House wishes her the very best for her
future.
Fortunas 33
What was the best part of being a
boarder?
The people! I’ve had so much fun over
the years, and the pranks that the girls
have played have been hilarious. I can
What will you miss?
Living with all the girls, it’s like one big
sleep-over!
June 2014
What was your experience of being
Deputy Head of Argyll House?
It was great to be chosen by the girls,
it was such a big opportunity to shape
how things are done in the House.
I worked really well with Danielle
(Jemmott, Head of House, FP 2013)
and Mr and Mrs Welsh to plan fun
activities for the girls, and we had a
great time organising the different
Photograph courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
13
Photograph courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
Fortunas 33
June 2014
McNABB & TAIT HOUSE
14
‘Time flies when you’re having fun’, as
the saying goes, and this has certainly
been the case this year in McNabb &
Tait. The House has definitely enjoyed
one of its best years, welcoming a great
mix of people from all over the world,
including Uganda, Barbados, Poland,
Italy, Spain and the USA.
The boarding year began in
traditional style with the Activity
Weekend, enabling all boarders, both
returning and new, to mix and get to
know each other better. The event was
a great success for all participants,
except for poor Steven Brison (Form
V) who somehow managed to come off
second best in a wrestling match with
an inflatable climbing wall…
The mood of the House has
been very positive all year round;
academic challenges have been met,
sporting arenas graced, with an
impressive number of McNabb boys
providing the backbone of the 2nd XV,
and, as always, a heartening number of
boarders in the numerous musical and
dramatic performances taking place
throughout the year. The boarders’
karaoke event was another night not
to forget, with Iain Leggat (Form
V) stealing the show, as per usual,
with his rendition of, ‘Don’t Let the
Sun Go Down On Me’, to a slightly
perplexed (but no less impressed) Mrs
McFadyean.
The resurrection of the
boarding community Oktoberfest was
one of the highlights of the year, with
Patrick Laing (Form V) showing off
his much advertised strength by being
able to hold a jug of water longer than
any other mortal and thereby claiming
the much coveted ‘strongman trophy’.
Furthermore, the Christmas Ceilidh
was a moment to cherish for the House,
with the boys of McNabb & Tait tasting
victory in the Inter-House Performance
Competition for the first time in three
years. Hours of preparation had gone
into our musical performance which, of
course, demonstrated wit, melody and
charm in equal measure. We all look
forward with confidence to securing
the trophy once more next year.
The House was sad to see the
departure of a member of staff dear to
all our hearts, Mrs Linda Kennedy, who
left us after many years’ service in the
junior end of the House. We would like
to take this opportunity to thank her
for all her wonderful help and support
over the years and to wish her all the
best in her retirement; we know she
deserves it.
As we contemplate the
summer term, the whole House has
begun looking towards the penultimate
event of the school calendar, Sports
Weekend. Always a hugely enjoyable
event, it does also provide us with
one final job: the returning of the
Tug O’ War trophy back into rightful
hands. Over the years this has become
a wonderful finish to the Sports Day
itself and allows the combined strength
Boarding
HEYWORTH HOUSE
of the boarders to be pitted against the
best the day pupil leavers can muster.
Confidence is high that the boys of
McNabb & Tait will emerge victorious
this June – all our fingers (and arms,
legs, biceps, triceps) are crossed.
It can, therefore, be said that
this year in McNabb & Tait has been
one of success, enjoyment, camaraderie
and achievement. We senior members
of the House would like to personally
thank all the boys for being so
cooperative and helpful in all aspects of
boarding life; McNabb & Tait is a small
community that puts great emphasis
on cooperation, interdependence and
respect. This year it has advertised
these virtues to an impressive degree.
On behalf of the boys we would like
to show our appreciation for all the
effort the House Parents, Mr and Mrs
McFadyean, and our various tutors put
in, making this House what we call our
second home - a place to cherish and in
which we can thrive.
I don’t know how many of you outside
the boarding community know about
this, but in Heyworth House we’re
coming up to completing the first year
after a change in management. Mr
and Mrs Duncan had already settled
their family in to Heyworth by the
first day of boarding way back in
August, and it looks like they’re here
to stay. They arrived full of hopes and
dreams of what boarding and being a
House Parent would be like, and I hope
we haven’t shattered them entirely.
Running a household of 23 teenage
girls is no feat for the light-hearted.
While there are moments of craziness
(usually around exam time), most of
the time Heyworth is a pretty decent
place to live. Where else will you find
enough people willing to do your hair
and makeup for every social event
under the sun? Or have a BBQ just for
stick bread?
This is my last year in the
House and I’m not really sure how I’ll
cope when I drive out of Dollar for that
last time. Being a boarder has been the
Gavin Pierpoint (Head of House),
Niclas Watzlawik and Martin Vesely
(Deputies)
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June 2014
15
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June 2014
Photograph courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
16
most amazing experience of my life. I’ve
become the best of friends with people
whom I would otherwise probably
never talk to at school, belted out the
Proclaimers with 70 other people, and
have been served wine and pizza by
various members of senior staff on a
number of occasions. We may not have
the freedoms that come with being a
day pupil, but our perks are our perks
and once I leave I’ll surely miss them.
I will miss the House and my room
with the view of the hills. I will miss
chatting with the House Tutors - all of
them, even the ones who have left us
for free weeknights or babies. I’ll miss
the Duncans and the girls alike. And
not forgetting the hidden heroes of
the boarding houses, the House ladies.
They are here rain or shine, year in and
year out, and have lived through huge
changes in boarding over the years. I
admire them hugely for how hard they
work and look after every single pupil
in their care. Out of everything, I think
I will miss the ladies the most. Thank
you for everything.
Anya Kaufman, Deputy Head of
House
Prep 5 pupils were inspired by their
visit earlier this session to Discovery
Point in Dundee to carry out their own
exploration of the topic ‘Journeys and
Explorers’.
Prep
PREP 5 – JOURNEYS
AND EXPLORERS
The Antarctic
As chilly as ice cubes
Ice-cream sized scoops of snow fell,
Bitter, baltic, breezy blizzards went by.
Cracked ice shattered to the floor,
Snowflakes dance, snowflakes fall.
Snowflakes gleam like glitter.
With feet aching, frostbite hurting
They all still went on.
It was icy, icy, icy.
It was cold, cold, cold.
While every one of them
Never saw home again.
Emily Newton (Prep 5C)
Brave as Bears
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Lewis Brown (Prep 5C)
June 2014
As cold as a frozen lake the snow was.
Fearless friends fought the frost
As frozen sculptures lay in the snow,
Their frozen feet, frozen fingers and frozen ears tortured the men.
Tortured time made the men terrified.
Nothing could bring back their health,
They froze and froze until Oates made a sacrifice.
The snow shining as a spill of glitter
The blizzard so fast, like a tornado
They were as brave a bears…
Nothing got in their way to the Pole.
17
BUDDING ENGINEERS
BUILD BRIDGES
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June 2014
Pupils in Prep 5 were invited by Mr
Carson Carney to the Queensferry
Visitor Centre in January. Mr Carney
is one of the Project Managers of the
new Queensferry Crossing and father
of Eva and Bryn in Prep 5.
18
The children viewed a short
cartoon, heard about the background
to the new bridge and viewed models
before being challenged to construct
their own bridges. Project Managers
and
Quantity
Surveyors
were
appointed for each group.
Nine bridges were constructed
from paper, sticky tape and paper clips
and were tested for strength by having
toy cars placed upon them. The winning
bridge managed to hold 27 cars! The
pupils thoroughly enjoyed their visit
and learned a great deal about bridge
structures.
Prep
MUSICAL MAYHEM
WITH PREP 5
On Friday 21st March
both Prep 5 classes ran their annual
enterprise project. This year the theme
was ‘Musical Mayhem’. All Prep School
pupils dressed up as characters from
musicals for the event. In addition the
children enjoyed games (designed by
Prep 5), raffles, quizzes, competitions,
market stalls and a café. A sponsored
swim also contributed to the fun. At
the end of the fun-filled day a prizegiving took place, after which the grand
total was announced. Over £1500 had
been raised! Prep 5 now have the task
of deciding which charities should
receive donations.
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June 2014
19
FENCING CLUB
The Prep and Junior Fencers have had
a busy and very exciting time working
through their Bronze Fencing Level
this session. They have progressed
from using plastic swords to using
metal foils and wearing full fencing
kit. This means putting on a foil mask,
underarm protector, front zip jacket,
foil lamé, trousers and weapon glove
before beginning to fence. It is very
exciting but extremely hot work!
They are now using a metal foil with a
pistol grip handle in combat with their
opponents, and trying to remember
the many, many fencing moves that
they have now learned, such as beat-
disengage, lunge, balestra, feintdisengage, and parry, as well as using
electric scoring machines to detect
touches in their training matches.
The group is now looking forward to
beginning the Silver Award Level next
term. En garde!
Nicola Letford
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June 2014
PREP 3L ENJOYS A VISIT FROM JAPAN
20
In November our friends from Japan came to talk with us and to
see how we spend our day. We had lots of fun creating an autumn
collage tree together and chatting about the fun things we do
at autumn time in Scotland and Japan. We then had lots more
fun practising writing our names in Japanese. We found it very
interesting but also very difficult! We said sayonara to our friends
and ‘cheerio’ until next year.
Prep
Duncan Fletcher (Prep 4)
Mark Bathgate (Prep 4)
Megan Licence (Prep 4)
Emily Doyle (Prep 4)
Lauren Rae (Prep 4)
Freya MacColl (Prep 4)
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June 2014
Prep Art
Anna Milling Smith (Prep 4)
21
Fiona McCall (J1)
Brodie Wagner (J1)
Harry Gray (J2)
Callum Ainge (J2)
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June 2014
Junior Art
Annalise Matthews (J2)
Charlie Robins (J1)
22
Caitlyn Malloy (J1)
Junior
MICRO TYCO
Earlier this year the Junior 2 Enterprise Club took part in
‘Micro Tyco’, an annual competition which challenges pupils
to turn £1 capital into as much money as possible. The
money raised supports the work of the charity ‘Wildhearts’,
whose aim is to help the poor in developing countries set up
in business and to provide the necessary business training.
The charity funds microloans which enable the people to
fight poverty and improve their standard of living.
The pupils involved this year were Rosie Biggart, Deborah
Deekae, Lara Garry, Abigail Hall, Ruaridh Henderson, Olivia
Hendry, Iona Kelly, Gabriella McCourt, Naomi McGregor,
Ewan Moore, Umar Rasul, Amy Salmon, Kara Shiels, Euan
Smith and Pollyanna Smith. Most days in November saw
some form of fundraising going on, with activities ranging
from baking and jewellery-making to a football penalty
shootout.
The pupils’ enthusiastic and organised approach to
fundraising enabled them to send off a cheque for £527.21
to Micro Tyco. All those who took part received a certificate
and various Micro Tyco promotional goods in recognition of
their efforts, not to mention an increased awareness of the
difference their hard work can make to the lives of others.
Lynne McMartin
JUNIOR BURNS COMPETITION 2014
performances covered a number of different pieces and were
of a very high standard, making it difficult for the team of
judges, comprising Mrs Kate Murray, Chair of English, and
Mr Graham Pearson and Mr David Nelson from the Dollar
Burns Club. Seven pupils were selected as finalists and each
received a book of Burns poems. Nadia Smith from class
J2D was crowned the overall winner and presented with
the Quaich. Her emotional and touching performance
captivated the judges, making her a truly deserving winner.
Congratulations go to all the pupils who took part and
celebrated the works of our national bard.
In January 33 finalists from across all seven Junior School
classes enthusiastically competed for the coveted Quaich
in this year’s Junior School Burns Competition. The
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June 2014
The finalists were:
Andrew Ferguson (J2H) who recited ‘Address to Edinburgh’
Lara Garry (J2H) who sang ‘Green Grow the Rashes’
Katie Hudd (J1P) who recited ‘To a Mouse’
Caitlyn Malloy (J1D) who recited ‘Up in the Morning Early’
Cameron McInnes (J1M) who recited ‘Sic a Wife as Willie
Had’
Gracie Shearer (J2C) who recited ‘Address to the Deil’
Nadia Smith (J2D) who sang ‘A Rose-bud by my Early Walk’
23
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June 2014
JUNIOR SCHOOL SCIENCE
FAIR 2014
24
The annual Junior School Science Fair took place on
Wednesday 19th February this year, in the assembly hall of
Dollar Academy. Each of the 88 pupils in the Junior 2 year
group had spent a great deal of time, outside of lessons,
to produce an individual science project. The variety and
standard of projects were, once again, impressive, as were the
colourful and informative displays produced by the children.
As in previous years, the projects were judged
by scientists, from a range of academic and industrial
backgrounds, who generously gave up their time to be
with us. The judges commented on how enthusiastic and
articulate the children were in presenting their projects and
on the exceptionally high standard presented this year.
The following pupils were awarded class prizes –
Jamie Wight (J2N) for his project studying CO2 levels in a
car; Brodie Staples (J2H) for his work on ‘Are Mints Really
Cool?’; Tom Buchan-Steele (J2C) for his study of flying paper
aeroplanes; and Drew Moore (J2D) for his project, ‘How
Much Gas will Rotting Food Produce?’. Distinction prizes
were awarded to Nadia Smith (J2D) on ‘How Sleep Affects
the Brain and Body’; Iona Kelly (J2N), ‘Ama-zen Meditation’;
Harry McIntosh (J2C), ‘Wind Turbine Design’; and Lucy
Mackenzie (J2H), ‘Remember, Remember…’. Andrew
Ferguson (J2H) was awarded the second-place prize for an
excellent project analysing antacids. The overall winner was
Callum Ainge (J2C) for his intriguing study into the memory
of a goldfish (which is not 5 seconds!).
Shona Scheuerl
The Science Fair was great fun. It was nice to see all the other
displays and projects after I had put all the effort into my
own. The experience was also good at building my confidence
because I was a bit shaky talking to the first judge, but I grew
into it and was more confident by the end. It was also very
interesting learning from other people’s projects.
Andrew Ferguson (J2H)
The Science Fair changed my opinion on science forever. I
had never been that big a fan of science but after seeing how
much fun it can be, I have made an effort to make whatever
I do in science amazing. You learn so much from other
people’s projects and your own. The first few judges give you
the heebie-jeebies, but after that you build up confidence. It
is an amazing, life-changing day.
Iona Kelly (J2N)
I was nervous before the judges came round, but after I got
talking to them I found that I could answer all their questions.
In the end I really enjoyed it. It was a great way to get us to
present our work.
Harry McIntosh (J2C)
Callum Ainge (J2C)
The Science Fair was an amazing experience! I had decided to
do my topic on ‘How Sleep Affects the Brain and Body’. My
experiments took quite a few weeks to carry out, but finally,
the big day arrived! I was very pleased with my project. My
friends and I were so excited. While we were setting up the
displays, I wandered round to see some other cool displays.
I loved ‘Buttery Biscuits’ by Jessica Hartley (J2N), and ‘Ice,
Ice Baby’ by Lorna Ritchie (J2C). Suddenly the judges arrived
and I had to hurry back to my place. Over the time that the
judges stayed, I had lots of them come to inspect my display!
Then the parents came in and the judges went away. I had
lots of others come to see my display. Finally the next day,
the Rector announced the results and I was so happy because
I won a Distinction! I really enjoyed the Science Fair and I
hope to do something like it again soon. I am happy that my
efforts earned a reward. If you put enough work in, every
project has the potential to win!
Junior
When the day of the Science Fair came I was really excited.
I could not wait to show the judges my project, which I had
been working on for months. All the judges asked challenging
questions which luckily I could answer. Overall the Science
Fair was a huge success!
Nadia Smith (J2D)
It was great to be given the chance to create a science
experiment from our own interest for the Junior Science
Fair. I decided to do mine on ‘How Much Gas Does Rotten
Food Produce?’ because when my Mum buys food, some of it
goes bad quicker than others. For most of this time I kept a
photographic diary on the amount of gas that some rotting
food produced in a bottle with a balloon over the top. There
were changes all the time, like white froth over the top of the
beans, and the egg (yolk mixed with the white) was originally
yellow but it turned white.
On the day of the Science Fair I brought in some of
my bottles containing rotten food, my iPad mini (for display
purposes) and my photographic diary. When the judges
came round I was very nervous, especially when they came
to interview me. Fortunately I didn’t shudder! We were also
given some time to view other people’s stalls, they were all
very interesting! A lot of parents came to my stand and asked
loads of questions - luckily I was able to answer them. At the
end of the day I went home thinking about how well I had
done and anything I could have done better.
The next day we went back to the Assembly Hall
so the Preps and seniors could have a look at our projects.
Once they left we all sat down to hear the results. First came
the class winners and the very first name was me, which was
a huge surprise! After all the results were announced, the
winners had their photos taken with their certificates and
then it was back to class. Overall it was a very enjoyable and
fun day, and it would be nice to try it again on a different
topic.
Drew Moore (J2D)
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June 2014
25
26
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June 2014
Junior
BENMORE 2014
We experienced the cold, the
wet, the dry and the warm
whilst at Benmore and still
had a brilliant time. The
memories will last forever, I
am sure…
Benmore, what a week! The fun started
as soon as we got onto the bus. Anisha
I learnt so many things about myself
and my abilities, as well as about other
people. Annalise
I have found out that if I believe in
myself, I can do something. Lucy
I found out that my team would never
turn down a challenge. Brodie
I learnt that even the more confident
individuals can struggle with things. Andrew
I have learnt that we are all adventurous,
Pollyanna climbs well and Umar can’t
kick tyres! Lucy
I never got homesick because there was
no time to think about home with all
the activities we were doing! Rhiannon
Benmore was great fun and taught me
many new things about the outdoors.
The whole experience was fantastic.
Lucy
Benmore was the most exciting,
adventurous and brilliant thing that
I’ve ever done in my life. Adam
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June 2014
Do you dream of adventure? Do you
wish you could escape the regular
routine? If so, then Benmore is the
place for you.
Gracie
27
PREP NATIVITY 2013
Poor Mr and Mrs Innkeeper - all they
want is a good night’s sleep, but after
two weary travellers arrive, followed
by a bright light, a choir of angels, a
motley band of shepherds and some
wise people, they despair of ever
getting back to sleep. The noise from
the stable is the final straw for Mr
and Mrs Innkeeper - they storm off to
be confronted by a noisy party in full
swing, and at the centre is the most
beautiful, special baby. Jesus’ Christmas
Party is a musical by Roger Parsley
based on the book by Nicholas Allan.
It tells the traditional Christmas story
from the Innkeepers’ point of view.
Pupils in Preps 1, 2 and 3 staged two
performances for families and friends
in a packed auditorium in December.
Great fun was had by performers and
audience alike.
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June 2014
Mairi Leggatt
Photographs courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
28
Music
JUNIOR 1 CANTATA: A BLAST FROM THE
PAST
Parents, friends, family and all were treated to a ‘Blast
from the Past’ on March 24th and 25th. Pupils in Junior 1
performed the cantata to a packed auditorium on both
nights, accompanied by a live band consisting of members
from the Form III National 5 Music class.
The pupils had been learning songs from the
cantata as part of their spring term Music curriculum, and
as the concert dates approached, rehearsals shifted to the
auditorium, with the addition of props and costumes. As the
title suggests, the cantata did indeed provide a look back at
the school days of yesteryear, as pupils discovered what it
was like to be educated in the ‘olden’ days.
A family of six (Benedict Bruce as Grandpa,
Elizabeth Stanton as Grandma, Cameron McInnes as Dad,
Olivia Litster as Mum, Katrina Warnock as Alice and Charlie
Robins as James) introduced each scene, comparing then
and now. Conversations ranged from a comparison of the
recent ‘Barry Potter’ novel with Gran’s memories of ‘Janet
and John’ books, free school milk, punishment by caning,
and, of course, school photo day.
The songs were varied, featuring both solo and
chorus numbers. A particular favourite was the catchy ‘Navy
Blue Knickers’, in which pupils sang of the merits of school
uniform, from Victorian times right up to the present day,
even to the current Dollar Academy uniform.
A stereotypical 1950s home scene was the source of
much hilarity for the audience. Pupils were reminded that
boys play with cars and girls with dolls, and never the twain
shall meet. Mum was also reminded that her place is in the
kitchen, cooking, washing and cleaning!
The cantata finished with the sentimental ‘The Time
I’ve Spent With You’, and the realisation that school is not
really that bad after all!
Louise Timney
Photographs courtesy of Chris Cairns
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June 2014
29
FORMS 1 AND 2
Forms I and II have had a productive session during 2013
-14, with 2nd Orchestra, DAJO2 and Form I and II Choir
increasing their number of members and participating
across the school.
DAJO2 made its second appearance of the session at the
March Concerts. The musicians performed at the Form I and
II Christmas Dance, providing pre-dance entertainment for
their peer group with a variety of jazz arrangements and
Christmas melodies. The group has been rehearsing weekly
with twenty players, including Aelfred Hillman (Form II),
who has been invited to play in The National Youth Children’s
Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.
2nd Orchestra, led by Form II pupil Martina Sillence, was the
first group to perform at this year’s March Concerts, playing
a programme of orchestral classics including ‘Hymn to Joy’
by Beethoven and Wagner’s Mastersingers Overture.
Aidan Humphrey (Form I) played the solo oboe part in Ennio Morricone’s
‘Gabriel’s Oboe’.
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June 2014
Although rehearsals have now ended, the orchestra has
a date in the calendar to work with members of the Royal
Scottish National Orchestra in May. Members of the RSNO
will be visiting Dollar Academy to lead some workshops and
side-by-side rehearsals with the group.
30
Forms I and II have also been well represented in the area of
choral singing; with a choir of nearly 100 pupils this session,
they performed two songs at the Usher Hall Christmas
Concert and took part in the Christmas Service at Dollar
Parish Church singing ‘One Candle’ by Andy Beck. The
group also performed in the March Concerts with a varied
programme of songs, including The Beatles’ ‘All You Need is
Love’, Louis Prima’s ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ and an arrangement by
Jean Anne Shafferman of ‘Amazing Grace.’
John McGonigle
Ewan Stewart displays some lovely touches in ‘Don’t Get Around Much
Anymore’
Music
DAJO
In addition to our annual appearance at the Christmas
Dances, the undoubted highlight of the first term for DAJO
was the opportunity to round off the Usher Hall Concert
celebrations. Everyone in the band thrived in the relaxed
atmosphere of the packed foyer, sending the audience off into
the night in joyous mood. Moving into the second term, the
annual March showcase displayed the range of skills within
the band in the delivery of the following four charts: Duke
Ellington’s ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’ featuring
Aidan Biggs (Form IV, Trombone), Ewan Stewart (Form V,
Guitar) and Fergus McCreadie (Form V, Piano); ‘Sing, Sing,
Sing’, which was to have showcased Seonaid McIntosh (Form
VI, Drums) who sadly could not make it back in time from
an interview in Surrey – such a pity as this was her favourite
number (our thanks to Mr Ragsdell for stepping in at the
last minute); Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Yesterday’ in a lovely
arrangement by Gerry Nowak, featuring the vocal skills of
drummer Fiona Keith (Form VI); before bringing the curtain
down on the evening with the Joe Zawinul classic ‘Birdland’.
DAJO 1 swing into action
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June 2014
Focus switches to ‘the fairer sax’
Fergus McCreadie (Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year
2013) was given his own showcase in the Thursday evening
concert. Fergus delivered his now customary dazzlingly
virtuosic display in a programme of Richard Rodgers, Cole
Porter, Herbie Hancock and Charlie Parker. Already into the
semi-final stage of the 2014 Young Scottish Jazz Musician of
the Year (having moving up from the under-17 to under-23
category), Fergus will compete against drummer, composer,
bandleader, and former DAJO stalwart Jonathan Silk (FP
2007) whose debut album Uncouth has enjoyed critical
acclaim.
John McGonigle
31
DOLLAR ACADEMY CHRISTMAS
CONCERT
Christmas at the Usher Hall
The Choir and Orchestra lead the audience in the much loved ‘Carols for All’
One of the abiding memories from the annual Christmas Concert is the wonderful sight of Dollar Academy descending upon
and filling the Usher Hall. Aside from the not perhaps unexpected joy the Concert imparts to parents, relatives, friends and
Former Pupils, we were once again reminded of the powerful impact the event has on members of the general public who, with
no school connection, purchase a ticket in the expectation of being entertained. One such person is Mr Jack Cambridge, an
Edinburgh-based poet, who penned the following lines on his experience of the evening.
A Celebration
We went to a concert last Wednesday night.
The Grand Usher Hall, was alive, and so bright.
The Choir, the Orchestra, and the Jazz band, as well,
played such wonderful music it made our hearts swell.
The musical Tutors had done the job right!
The songs and the Carols and the music so bright.
The source of this magic was not out of sight,
as the Dollar Academy were performing that night.
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June 2014
So thanks to the Maestro, the Teachers, the Staff,
the great choreography so slick and so fast.
A great Christmas Concert was served to us all,
and will come back next year, if they’re going to call.
32
Jack Cambridge, Age 79
December 2013
Male voices sing the opening ‘Hodie Christus Natus Est’
Photographs courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
Music
The ever-attentive Cello section in full flow during the ‘Trepak’ from
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite
Prep 5 steal the show in ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’
All Prep 5 eyes are on Mrs Leggatt
The Sopranos enjoying the descant to ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’
Mr Christie looking pleased with the Junior School Choir
New carols by Ryan Murphy and Bob Chilcott are introduced to the
audience
Forms 1 and 2 are the centre of attention during ‘One Candle’ by Andy
Beck
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The massed Choir and Orchestra conclude the programme with Mack
Willberg’s lavish arrangement of ‘O Holy Night’
June 2014
The Chamber Choir celebrate Benjamin Britten’s 100th Anniversary
33
CHAMBER CHOIR
The members of Chamber Choir are unashamedly serious
about their singing. With a meagre rehearsal allocation of
one hour per week, they work extremely hard to reach the
high standard of performance that has become expected of
them and are challenged to create that little bit of magic in
each and every rehearsal. One of the key points in the choir
year is monitoring how the new members integrate and
cope with the one-off three-hour rehearsal at the end of
October, whereby the choir is set the challenge of mastering
a repertoire of around 25 pieces for the forthcoming
Christmas season. Although the Usher Hall concert remains
an obvious highlight, the choir takes great delight and pride
in the charity performances in Princes Square for Quarriers,
at the annual Dollar Senior Citizens’ Coffee Morning, the Art
Exhibition, and end-of-term service.
Despite the limited rehearsal time available in
second term, the choir displayed admirable resolve in
preparing for the March Concert.
In between, the choir was joined on stage by Lachlan
Dalgleish (Form VI) on fiddle, whose sensitive playing set the
seal on our mini Scottish theme.
The Chamber Choir’s contribution to the Choral
Evening was completed with a John Rutter classic – ‘All
Things Bright and Beautiful’.
John McGonigle
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June 2014
CHAMBER MUSIC
34
The exhilarating opening to Handel’s Zadok the
Priest certainly hit the right note with both choir and
audience. The ‘Coronation Anthem’ was then followed by
new arrangements of two of our best known Scots songs,
‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’, arranged by Alexander
L’Estrange, and Ben Parry’s beautifully effective setting of
‘Auld Lang Syne’.
The Form 2&3 Piano Trio of Martina Sillence (Violin), Angus
Cooper (Cello), and Christina Callion (Piano) performing the
‘Hornpipe’ by Frank Bridge.
Music
The Senior Trio of Fiona Keith (Flute), Ben Ward (Cello),
and Fergus McCreadie performed the beautiful ‘Andante con
moto tranquillo’ from Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio Opus 49 in
D minor.
The Clarinet Trio of Charlie Worsley, Scott Ewing, and Freddie
McFadyean (all Form III) who performed the Pleyel ‘Trio in C’
In the photograph, Ella is Coyote with her feet firmly on the
ground, whilst Lucy and Sam are the grizzly bears looking
down!
David Knotts was delighted to hear of the March
performance, and emailed his best wishes to Sam, Ella, and
Lucy.
Fortunas 33
John McGonigle
June 2014
The Form 4 Piano Trio of Sam Ward (Violin), Ella
Hammond (Cello), and Lucy Young (Piano) gave the first
Scottish performance of ‘Coyote Star Song’ by David Knotts.
Composer’s note:
American Indian myth tells the story of Coyote who makes a
ladder stretching from earth to sky. Five wolves climb up to have a
closer look at the two grizzly bears they can see from down below.
Coyote warns them not to get too close but their curiosity gets the
better of them. The wolves look at the bears: the bears look at the
wolves. “That looks good” thinks Coyote, so he leaves them there.
Coyote makes pictures of stars all over the sky.
35
SENIOR MIXED
VOICE CHOIR
The Senior Mixed Voice Choir has had
a busy and productive year. In August
old and new members were warmly
welcomed to the Gibson Building
for rehearsals at lunchtime and after
school on Wednesdays. As numbers
and confidence grew, we tackled a wide
range of popular and classical songs and
just before the half-term break work
started on the Christmas repertoire.
The experience of performing in such
a magnificent venue was a memorable
event for all concerned, as the Choir
performed Rutter’s bright and lively
‘Star Carol’ and the beautifully lyrical
‘Christmas-tide’ by Bob Chilcott.
Fiona Keith (Form VI) was the solo
vocalist accompanied by Fergus
McCreadie (Form V) on keyboard,
Cameron Grounds (Form VI) on drum
kit and Ben Ward (Form VI) on bass.
Karol Fitzpatrick
MARCH CONCERT SOLOISTS
Fortunas 33
June 2014
In second term, choir continued
and provided some welcome relief
from Prelim examination stress. The
programme for the March Concert
included two challenging and dramatic
movements from Poulenc’s ‘Gloria’.
These were followed by a hauntingly
beautiful arrangement of ‘Blue
Mountain River’ by Cara Dillon and
Sam Lakeman, featuring a lovely solo
by Barbora Doksanska (Form V).
36
The mood changed again with a
lively, upbeat version of the spiritual
‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’. The
choir concluded the Concert with an
arrangement of the uplifting number,
made famous by Nina Simone, ‘Feelin’
Good’.
Cameron Bennett (Form V) charms the audience with his
sensitive interpretation of the ‘New Island Waltz’
Music
The magnificent piping skills of Sandy Cameron (Form V) are
transferred to the indoor arena with a rare performance on the
small pipes
Sarah Everington’s (Form VI) lovely presentation of Janet Hood’s
haunting ballad ‘My Brother Lived in San Francisco’
Hannah Leggatt (Form V) captivates the audience with her
stylish rendition of Cole Porter’s ‘The Physician’
Fortunas 33
Lachlan Dalgleish (Form VI) sets feet tapping with ‘Lauren
McGowan’s Reel’
June 2014
A polished performance of Gershwins’s ‘Love Walked
In’ from Iain Leggat (Form V)
37
“I sometimes
take ‘losing
myself in a
song’ too far”
ST FILLANS MUSIC CIRCLE
For the past ten years, a small concert party from the Music Department has
headed northwards in February to the lovely village of St Fillans to provide an
afternoon recital for the local Music Circle. Of this year’s concert party, only Fergus
McCreadie (Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year) was making a return visit,
and he left no one in any doubt as to how he secured such a prestigious award.
Bass/Baritone Iain Leggat maintained Dollar’s fine reputation for producing young
singers who display an understanding of the words they sing. There was a shift
in emphasis this year as we focused on three of our hugely talented tradition
musicians; Lachlan Dalgleish (Scots fiddle), Sandy Cameron (Smallpipes) and
Cameron Bennett (accordion). Lachlan is currently a junior student at the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland and drew in his audience with an intimate and stylish
delivery. Sandy and Cameron are more widely-known in the school community
and beyond as outstanding pipers. However, on this occasion Sandy transferred
his undoubted wizardry to the indoor arena via his Smallpipes, whilst Cameron
outlined his effortless technique and musicianship on the accordion.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
John McGonigle
38
Thank You for the
Music
I have been beaten to death. I have
been an Irish shop girl selling onions
and potatoes. I have prowled the
streets at night fighting with dogs. I
have been a stroppy diva whining for a
part. I have spoken to Jesus.
I am, in fact, a typically
anxious 16-year-old, often lacking
in self-confidence. When asked a
question in class I close up, answering
as softly as possible, afraid of being
mocked for the wrong answer, and
afraid of being judged. When recently,
for instance, a large family pushed
in front of me in the queue for train
tickets at my local station, instead
of choosing to tell them that the end
of the queue was, in fact, behind
me, I talked myself out of it, afraid
of making a fuss. I missed my train.
When walking into a party alone,
which I avoid at all costs, apprehensive
thoughts beat through my mind; what
if they don’t like my outfit? What if I
have lipstick on my teeth and the great
hearty laugh crescendos are directed
at me? What if I can’t find my friends
inside?
Music
at school I can just go to my room and
stick ‘Defying Gravity’ on my iPod,
and suddenly I’m whisked away from
reality to a land of magic. I close my
eyes and belt out, “And nobody in all of
Oz, no wizard that there is or was is ever
gonna’ bring me down!” and suddenly
the stresses of that bad day leave me.
That is how powerful an influence
singing has on me.
I sometimes take ‘losing
myself in a song’ too far; only two
weeks ago, I took singing in the
shower to the extreme. The next day
a performance for my NPA class of
‘What Ever Happened to my Part?’
was due, so I thought it would be a
good idea to practise staging it in the
shower; I thought wrong, very wrong.
As I stormed from one side of the
shower belting, “Whatever happened
to my show? I was a hit now I don’t
know”, I slipped on a bar of soap,
landing face down in bubbles and
foam. But still, I kept singing.
All this singing and
practising - no matter how effective
or ineffective in some cases - pays
off in the end, as by the time I get
on stage everything comes together
and I pull off performances that
even I don’t think I’m capable of.
Then the next day I’m back to school,
sitting in Modern Studies or History
with everyone around me blissfully
unaware that sitting across, or beside,
or behind them is an American heiress
to thousands, or Elphaba the wicked
witch of the west, or The Lady of the
Lake. But no, it’s just Rona, quiet Rona
who can’t string a sentence without
messing up, quiet Rona who wouldn’t
say boo to a mouse, quiet Rona who
can’t wait for the day when she proves
everyone wrong. But for now, I will
just keep them guessing.
Rona Sinclair (Form V)
Fortunas 33
where nothing much happens. Two
contrasting sides of me: bold and shy.
Who would have guessed that
wee Rona could sing? Who would have
guessed that her quiet voice stuttering
over the lines of Antony and Cleopatra
in class could produce a sound to fill a
theatre? But I can sing, and I sing all
the time. I can’t go an hour without
singing, whether it’s singing along to
the radio, or to a song in a film, or just
a cappella. When I’m sitting through
the most boring of French lessons,
instead of the conditional tense or
direct object pronouns diffusing into
my brain as the teacher chants on
about “ais..ait...aient”, my brain is full
of music, “Alors on sort pour oublier
tous les problèmes. Alors on danse...Alors
on danse...” Sticking to the French
theme, of course. Whenever I’m away
with school or staying at a friend’s, on
my return I’m always greeted with the
same response, “The house was quiet
without you”, said just quick enough,
before I burst into song, yet again.
Where the spoken word
fails me, my singing voice makes up
for it. Where people haven’t always
been there for me, music always
has. Singing is my escape from the
everyday me, lacking in charisma,
afraid to speak in case my words come
out sounding stupid or unintelligent,
worried that I will be judged for
saying something wrong. But, when
I’m singing I don’t care what people
think of me; it gives me freedom to
be as bold and loud as I want. Perhaps
it’s because the words to songs are
pre-written and there is always a song
to fit how I feel, I can escape into a
song and completely relieve myself
of worries and anxieties. That is why
I love musical theatre so much: I can
adopt different personas, and I can be
anything I want. If I’ve had a bad day
June 2014
In fact, drawing attention
towards myself in any way is agony.
This is me. Two sides of me,
my contrast between ordinary life
and my life through singing. I love to
sing, I love to perform. It all started
with a CD and my seminal influence,
Annie. I was obsessed with the musical
and then, after my seventh birthday,
obsessed with the CD. I would sing
along all day, acting out the songs.
Not even going on holiday could stop
me - all the way down to Portsmouth
to catch the ferry and all the way down
to the South of France, my car was a
theatre with me in the back starring
as Annie, bursting in with “Tomorrow,
tomorrow I love ya’ tomorrow!” As we
made our way closer and closer to the
South, my parents took strength from
this song, as they knew that we were
nearly at the end of our journey, and
tomorrow would indeed bring the end
to the constant driving with me in the
back belting out the same 12 songs.
By the end of the summer the CD
wore out. That was a good day for my
parents.
Since then I have been on
stage more times than I can remember
and you will be glad to know, as my
parents definitely are, that my singing
has improved, greatly. I have starred
in Cats, I have been Nancy in Oliver, I
have had solo singing roles in Godspell,
Wicked, and also, living my sevenyear-old dream, performed snippets
from Annie in a show. My most recent
venture is working towards a National
Progression Award in Musical Theatre
performing two contrasting songs:
‘What Ever Happened to my Part?’ in
which I am a ‘wannabe diva’, storming
about complaining about never
getting noticed, and ‘Princess’, where
I am a quiet Irish shop girl, dreaming
of a life away from Roscommon,
39
FORM II PLAY
Storied, by Bradley Walton
Dollar Academy Studio Theatre
February 2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
THE FORM II PLAY - A NOTE FROM THE
DIRECTOR
40
Anyone who has ever been in any of my classes will know
always to expect the unexpected, so I chose the play Storied
by Bradley Walton as this year’s Form II production, based
on the fact that it had a few of my favourite characters in
it - amongst others the Hansel and Gretel witch, the Gordon
Ramsay of her time. One or two pupil comments (with
explanatory director’s comment) best sum up the whole…
‘I liked the Sniper in a Tutu because his tutu didn’t go
with the gun.’
Without a doubt, the sniper was the undisputed star of the
play- misunderstood and without a lot of wiggle room for
growth or character development. Thinking ahead to next
year, I am however, wondering how I will ever top a play that
involved a giant killer toilet…
‘I enjoyed watching Miss Sieger spiral into insanity.’
It is nice to see that the actors embraced the opportunity to
drive their director into a heightened emotional state. One
of the reasons for this can undoubtedly be explained by the
following quote:
‘Our improvisation skills improved considerably after
the first night.’
When asked by the make-up team what a play involving Lady
Macbeth, Santa and Alice in Wonderland amongst others
was actually about, at least four cast members said: “We
really don’t know, it’s just so weird!” There were actually a
number of messages conveyed by the lines, but for me the
most striking one was that just because something doesn’t
exist physically, doesn’t mean that it’s not real. Little Red
Riding Hood probably taught us not to trust strangers as well
as any warning by the police.
A more prosaic note, however, was probably that
just because the internet is there, we don’t need to publish
silly things (like a Sniper and a Tutu) or put everything that
comes to our minds (or in front of our lens) onto social
media. Maybe the most important aspect of the play was
best summed up by Hannah and Imogen though:
‘We did it for the banter!’
Pupils involved in the play were:
Rebecca Allan, Lucy Cameron, Sophie Chandler, Hannah
Fearn, Rory Fotheringham, Daisy Geissler, Nicola Henson,
Aelfred Hillman, Imogen Hubbard, Liam Murray, Iona
Peterson, Conor Philip, Alexander Rees, Georgia Robertson,
Sandy Steele, Craig Stewart, Anna Stonebridge, Cameron
Walker and Jenny Walls.
Drama
FORM III PLAY
Fortunas 33
‘Death, gore and dismemberment as a group of pupils in an
isolated school fear for their lives at the hands of an escapee
from the neighbouring, mysterious and sinister, McNabb
Institution. A bone chilling, terrifying, comedy of illusion,
delusion and death.’
June 2014
Horror High School, by Sean Abley
Dollar Academy Studio Theatre
December 2013
41
FORM IV PLAY
The Woman in Black, written by
Susan Hill, adapted for stage by
Stephen Mallatratt
Dollar Academy Studio Theatre
November 2013
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Monday 4th November saw
Dollar’s first ever Form IV play
when The Woman in Black was
performed in the Studio Theatre.
The play was produced and
directed by Duncan Lennon and
Hannah Parker who also gave
superb performances in the lead
roles. All of the other parts were
played by members of the Form
IV National 5 Drama class who
turned even the smallest roles
into cameo performances. It was
hard to believe that the cast still
have two more years to develop
their talents at the school. The
production was a huge success
and a fitting reward for the
effort, dedication and time that
was put in by everyone involved.
42
Drama
Fortunas 33
Tally’s Blood, by Anne Marie di
Mambro
Dollar Academy Studio Theatre
November 2013
June 2014
FORM VI PLAY
43
“Our Revels Now Are Ended.”
A Year at the Helm of The Galley
Writing in a magazine about writing in a magazine, Bethan
Scott (Form VI) reflects on her time as Editor-in-Chief of Dollar’s
award-winning student publication.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
“Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.”
44
This is perhaps the greatest speech in all of
Shakespeare.
It is uttered by Prospero, the protagonist of The
Tempest, a play all about what it truly means to be human.
Taking place on one solitary island over the course of
several hours, though magic, spectacle and the supernatural
dominate the tale, it is humanity itself that endures. In
this speech, Prospero is utterly disillusioned with reality,
realising just how caught up in his own power he has become.
It has blinded him, made him arrogant. He transforms from
a mighty sorcerer hell-bent on vengeance into a weary old
man, longing for salvation. The beauty
of this play lies with what it teaches us
about ourselves. Instead of inflicting
such revenge on his enemies, Prospero
instead forgives them all, giving up his
magic and embracing humanity once
more.
Human mercy is a concept
Shakespeare explored throughout all
of his plays, and with The Tempest, his
final word on the riddle of man, he tells
us that it is not just hatred, prejudice,
brutality and violence that make us
human, it is compassion, empathy, and
it is mercy.
It was with great joy that
I realised the 450th anniversary of
Shakespeare’s birth fell within my year
as Editor-in-Chief of The Galley, on 23rd
April. In our Spring edition, allusions
and references to his works ran subtly
throughout each section, and our
back cover was devoted to a stunning
amalgamation of all the most beloved
Shakespearean
characters.
This
breathtaking masterpiece was handdrawn and painted with watercolours
by the talented Aelfred Hillman, still
only in Form II. Aelfred also created
the front cover, and contributed a host
of political cartoons within that would
easily rival anything produced by The
Week or The Economist.
To commemorate further the
birth of the world’s greatest writer, we
organised a Feature entitled “‘To Be or Not to Be… That is the
Question’: Find out which Shakespearean characters would run
Dollar Academy”. The following question was posed to our
illustrious SSG, the Heads of Year and the Head of English: If
you could be a character from a Shakespeare play, who would
you be and why? The Rector opted for Mark Antony from
Julius Caesar as “he is an inspirational public speaker” and
“courageously fights injustice”, while Mrs Hutchison went
for the “kind and loyal” Fool in King Lear. And though at first
Mr Daniel exclaimed “Aaaaaaaaaargh – too many to choose
from”, he finally settled for King Lear’s Kent, “who never
suffered a fool gladly.”
Another notable event this year is the centenary
of the outbreak of World War One. Issue 27 of The Galley
included a poignant and perceptive article by Jonty Haywood
(Form III), that remarked “we should not ask what caused the
war, but instead should try to explain what did the war cause?”
and “the one thing this past century has told us is that we
should never bear a grudge”. Alongside this shrewd piece of
analysis was a beautiful illustration by Aelfred of a kilted
soldier playing bagpipes and several fragments of war poetry
from Siegfried Sassoon to John McCrae:
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
The centenary once again forces us to consider conflicts past
and present, and the painful question of how war can still
rage with such relentless ferocity when it has so ravaged
humanity throughout the annals of history. We can claim
such atrocities will never be repeated, but such an assertion is
shattered with every day that passes. As democracy crumbles
in Ukraine, as children are murdered in Syria, abducted in
Nigeria, as thousands die at the hands of the Mexican
drug cartels, as the Taliban terrorise Afghanistan, and civil
war rages in Somalia, it is hard to imagine a world without
conflict. This is humanity. Perhaps violence is our legacy. But
Shakespeare’s final message was that mercy is the ultimate
reconciliation, and this should be remembered.
This year’s issues of The Galley have covered
conflicts, featured political debate, film reviews, and sports
analysis alike, and the sheer diversity and journalistic flair of
all our writers should be highly commended. It is with great
anticipation that we await the results ceremony in June of
the Scottish Schools Magazine Competition where we hope
to retain our title of Magazine of the Year (of course I’ll
have jinxed it now). This year’s editorial and design team of
Ambreen Rasool, Anya Kaufman, Dylan Redding (all Form
VI), Charlie Worsley, Tom Keely (both Form III), Cameron
Smart and Rose Scott (both Form I) have shown exceptional
teamwork. From coming into school at 7am to leaving at
9pm, from lunchtime meetings to team pizza nights, this
has undoubtedly been the most successful year yet, with the
highest levels of commitment and dedication (I even on one
occasion almost got locked in the school and, as I was in my
hockey kit, consequently lost my school uniform which had
naturally been moved!)
I cannot thank Miss Langley and Ms Abel enough
for all the time they have given to The Galley, which simply
would not function without them. And now only weeks
away from leaving Dollar forever, I know I will cherish my
memories of working on The Galley as some of the fondest of
my entire school career.
It will be very hard to leave this school, and I can
only imagine the feeling of walking out those bronze doors
as a Former Pupil. But this is a chapter now in its final pages,
and with all endings, comes a beginning. So yes, perhaps
“Our revels now are ended”, or perhaps, they have really yet
to begin.
45
Fortunas 33
June 2014
In the beginning was the
Word. At the beginning of
my fascination with language
was a word, also. My first act
of speech was not “Mummy”
or “Daddy”, or even “Hot”
(the first utterance of a
friend of mine). Like most
children, I began with a
common, countable, concrete
noun. “Bath”.
46
My parents were impressed,
at least.
From that time onwards,
until when I learned to read, my
use of language - whether assertive,
directive, commissive, or expressive was singularly uninteresting. Most of
what I said went unheard by looming,
fearsome adults, who sneakily and
maliciously came into my house to
offer me toys and talk to me. At that
time, my catchphrase was “Mum, I
don’t feel very well”, an excuse to run
away which quickly lost credibility.
Those who listened avidly and happily
to me were Bobbie (a Dobermann) and
Dottie (a Dalmatian), my soft toys, as
I babbled away to them quietly. After
all, practising is the most important
way that natural speech develops, and
it is almost unique to young children.
Perhaps more terrifying than my
parents’ friends, who were a little
hurt by my introversion, were small
children my age. They found it fun to
run around and climb things for hours
on end. I’ll admit, I could have been
slightly jealous that I wasn’t a very
good runner. Or a good climber. Or
very socially adept. The list goes on.
However, my concept of
language broadened considerably
when I went to nursery school. No
longer a stream of sound, words
resolved themselves into letters,
and then into sentences. Just as I
cannot conceive of thought without
the medium of language, so I lost
the ability to hear a word and be
unable to associate it with a series of
letters. For what seemed like hours,
I used to stand in front of the tall,
fingerprint-marked mirror in the
cluttered main room of the nursery.
Passers-by would have seen Narcissus
in miniature, gazing in awe at her red
scratchy nursery-standard jumper and
trousers which clothed her slightly
pudgy little form (all the time I
didn’t spend running about outside
was beginning to show). However,
this was not the case. I was staring
intently at my name badge. It wasn’t
particularly fascinating at first glance;
it was made of cheap plastic, with
my name written on in pen and a
green dot to show which group I was
in. But, and please do brace yourself
for the shock, when I checked in the
mirror, the writing had changed. Even
when reflected, I could recognise the
letters, and the word as a whole. Of
course, in a five-year-old, the notion
that the human brain is particularly
adept at recognising patterns as an
evolutionary advantage did not spring
to mind. I was busy telling anyone who
would listen that the mirror in my
nursery was magic.
At my primary school, the
best part of the day was, of course,
library time, in which I frequently and
Literature
response is usually “Language.
Words. Grammar.”, accompanied by
a dangerous glint in my eyes which
causes sane people to run for the hills.
Unfortunately, I just don’t understand
those who are unimpressed by human
languages, perhaps our greatest
achievement (or tower-building side
effect), a system by which we move
parts of our breathing apparatus
to produce sound waves, which
are interpreted by others first as
movement of the liquid of the inner
ear, then sent as nerve signals to the
brain, then somehow transformed
into something which is meaningful to
the listener. If you listen to someone
reading Hamlet’s soliloquy (Act III
scene i) aloud, and think about what
is going on, that through language
you can understand the inner torment
of a fictional character written long
before you were born, and that others
will be able to do the same long after
you die, I hope you will understand.
When I was a child, I thought that
languages were unutterably strange,
almost ineffable, and supported by
an underlying structure almost too
complex to describe. Now, I know that
is the case.
Iris Martyn (Form V)
Fortunas 33
the library. Unfortunately, I was
not allowed to roam around in the
shadows of the late afternoon, but
instead learned very basic French,
mostly through inane songs which I
find impossible to forget, even to this
day. Up until then, I had assumed that
other languages were probably exactly
like English, but with different words.
Sadly, I found that the distinction
was not skin-deep, and to learn fluent
French I would have to memorise
four forms for each adjective and
the gender of every noun. Horror
of horrors. Determined not to let
Suzanne, my childhood nemesis,
gain the reputation for being the
best in the year at French, I put my
nose to the grindstone, listening to
French music and struggling bravely
through children’s books in French.
This pig-headed jealousy finally paid
off in my third year of high school,
on my first trip to France without
my parents. Staying with a patient
host family who gently corrected
my mistakes, such as confusing
the word for ‘soft toy’ with ‘lawn’
(peluche and pelouse), I managed to
construct thoughts in French, instead
of translating them from English, by
the end of the week. Unconstrained
by the series of set answers it is best
to respond with in class, I constructed
sentences as elaborately as I could,
unconsciously using grammatical rules
I had memorised long ago to weave
vocabulary together into (mostly)
coherent sentences, provoked by the
adrenaline rush of getting away with
pretending to be very good at French.
Bizarre though it felt, it gave me my
first experience of learning a language
as an insight into the lives of those
who live lives entirely alien to my own,
and as a way to think differently from
the way I would in French classes.
In conclusion, when asked
if I have any real obsessions, my
June 2014
knowingly showed complete contempt
for the rules and the authority of
my teachers. Luckily, they indulged
me and turned a blind eye as I snuck
into the older children’s section to
read - I am convinced that they did, as
deception wasn’t my forte then. Still
shy and introverted, I would shake
with nerves and excitement as we
climbed the stairs to the library and
computer suite, humming to myself.
Humming, of course, isn’t always
a guilty action, but the excitement
and danger of rule-breaking meant
I always hummed the main theme
of Mission Impossible, which, now I
think about it, wasn’t very subtle at
all. Sitting cross-legged on the thin
carpet, squeezed into the corner
between two tall bookcases, there
I sat and I read, so engrossed in a
completely different world that I felt
dizzy afterwards. The bright glare
of the real world overwhelmingly
unlike what was on the pages, I would
stumble back to the classroom when
library time was over as if I were in a
trance. Day by day, my interest in the
utterly inexplicable power of words
grew; like the reed-pen, the answer
to one of the Anglo-Saxon riddles of
the Exeter Book, I was captivated by
“a kind of wonder, / curious for the
minds” - that a series of ink-marks
on bound sheets of paper “should
boldly declare ... a spoken message”.
Later on, I became formally aware
of the concept of a language being
more than a system for conveying
facts, but the suspicion that my
experience with books was more than
just combinations of nouns, verbs,
adjectives and other semantic entities
was born during my first forays into
the library.
In my last year at primary
school, I was signed up for the French
Club by my mother, which I went
to with little fuss, as it was held in
47
Being Shot For Fun
Fortunas 33
June 2014
“And if you get hit by red paint, you can
pretend you’re bleeding!”
48
There is a mindset that I cannot
understand in this world, and it’s best
demonstrated by that cheery phrase.
It’s what the paintballing instructor
told us while she was explaining the
basics of the game. Apparently for her,
pretending you had received a serious
injury was a major plus of the whole
experience, and my comrades-in-arms,
seemingly agreed – judging by the
cheerful buzz that went round when
she said this at least.
Clutching several kilos of
freezing steel paint gun and effectively
blind (I’d had to remove my glasses in
order to fit the helmet on), I began to
question the life choices that had led
me to this point.
‘This point’ was the
birthday of a friend far more macho
and military than I. Let’s call him
Cameron. Cameron is the kind of
person who treasures the Darwinian
thrill of man-on-man, survival-ofthe-fittest combat. In the paintballing
arena, he was the hunter (whereas I
was the wide-eyed rabbit in his sights).
I know why I came along - it’s a bit of
a faux pas to refuse to go to a friend’s
birthday party after all - but I’ve no
idea why he invited me. I was already
well established at this point as the
friend who ‘didn’t do fun’.
“Kelsey, want to come to a
pool party?”
“No. I can’t swim.”
“Kelsey, want to come to a
concert?”
“No. I don’t like loud music.”
“Kelsey, want to come lie in
a ditch and get pelted with paintballs
(which apparently hurt far more than
you’d expect) by your former friends
who now consider you a mortal enemy
worthy of painty destruction?”
“Sure, sounds fun, I’ll see you
there!” I said, inexplicably. Possibly
the greatest harm to me of the entire
“Clutching several kilos
of freezing steel paint gun and
effectively blind (I’d had to
remove my glasses in order to
fit the helmet on), I began to
question the life choices that
had led me to this point.”
event is that by breaking tradition and
actually agreeing to go I risked being
invited to even more of these barbaric
rituals.
For a while I fooled myself
into thinking it would be fun, mainly
by concentrating on the overall
strategy of the event. I looked at maps
of the woodland we’d be fighting in,
thought up ambitious blitzkriegs to
use against those evil [insert opposing
team name] and marked good areas
to hunker down in a crisis. I got into
it for the same reason I can get into
that most brutish of sports, American
football, since while on the surface it’s
about men proportioned like gorillas
clunking about in suits of armour,
there’s also a deep tactical game below
the whole thing. The kind of thing
where the brains and the brawn can
realise their interdependence and
work towards success, a beautiful
symbiosis.
This illusion was shattered
during the car journey though.
Sulking in the car with four rowdy
boys, I couldn’t get a word in about
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actual force that had pushed me to
the ground, but I lay there for quite
a while, marvelling at the experience
of getting hit. It really did hurt quite
a lot. Unfortunately for me it was a
purple paint-ball, which doesn’t look
anything like blood, (unless you have
something seriously wrong with your
circulation I suppose), so I can’t say I
had the full battlefield experience.
Later on, when I had hauled
myself out of the ditch and sulked
back to the base camp, I became our
group’s only conscientious objector,
and pointedly refused to fight any
more. In the game of natural selection
I’d lost out, the tougher, faster, slyer
and more accurate fighters from the
other end of the field had won out,
and good for them. I was happy to
concede this world to them, to all of
them. At the time I resented Cameron
for taking me there, but then I did
have bruised ribs and was soaked in
mud. Now I just regard him and his
warlike friends as something like flies
fighting over rotten meat. Sure, fine,
have that stinking steak, but I’m going
over to the fridge to have a cold, fresh
drink instead. If I really wanted I could
have cranberry juice, and pretend
its blood, so how much am I really
missing out on?
Kelsey Clarke (Form V)
Fortunas 33
more cut-throat environment, who
reckon they could fight to the top
of the social pyramid or at least not
get knocked down by every scrappy
challenger, so they try to hark back to
those times with their social activities.
Which is fine really. Better
for them to fight to the death in a
simulated or virtual manner than do
it on the streets. But I had stumbled
into this hyper-competitive arena
without quite realising what I was in
for. In order to have survival-of-thefittest you had to have the least fit for
everyone to judge themselves by, and
I was afraid that would turn out to be
me.
Having been corralled into
two teams and placed at opposite
ends of the woodlands, our handlers
let us off the leash and pointed us
towards each other’s throats. My
fellow warriors let up a glorious roar
as they hurried themselves towards
the action. I sneezed; my hayfever was
really getting to me.
Now, I’ve read enough history
to be somewhat aware of what to do
if you find yourself in a battle, so I
ducked behind a tree and squeezed off
shots in the direction of The Enemy.
Since I didn’t quite grasp the ballistics
of paintballing, these shots arced into
a small ditch in front of me, which I
ducked into as the reply shots from
The Enemy began whizzing about my
position. As the mud seeped into my
shoes, I reflected on how real soldiers
get a few years’ training at least before
they’re sent to the front.
After finally deciding it was
safe to get up, I made a move, and was
straight away knocked down by what
felt like a punch in the ribs.
In reality I’d been shot.
“My God!” I thought, “so that’s what
it’s like!” It was more surprise than
June 2014
my complex battle plans; the others
preferred shouting and describing in
excessive detail the adrenaline rush
they expected to receive from shooting
a fellow human in the head. Rather
quickly I was shunned for expressing
a concern about getting my clothes
muddy. This was not my world, rather,
it was the world of might makes right,
or at least of mightiness being awful
fun.
The gun we were provided
with further reinforced my unease and
unhappiness. In essence a paintball
gun is just a glorified potato gun; you
just need a tube, some pressurised
gas and a trigger. You could probably
make one out of some especially tough
cardboard. Clearly this kind of thing
wasn’t good enough for Cameron
though; such a simple device would
undermine his murderous, military
fantasies. So the gun we actually
got was a serious beast; matte black
and bristling with useless doodahs
and levers that replicated the less
useless, more lethal levers and
doodahs on actual rifles. Again it
was this obsession with getting as
close as possible to the real deal that
bewildered me; surely genuine combat,
where people die really quite horribly,
is something to avoid, not pursue? But
then I’m also not the kind of person
who would say “Wow, this red paint
looks so much like blood! It’s like I’m
really injured! Amazing!” so maybe I
can never quite understand.
It comes down to self-interest
in the end I suspect. As a slight kid
who can only see vague blurs without
glasses and who has never won a fight,
I’m pretty grateful for our modern
lifestyles. I’d do quite poorly without,
say, electricity, police and Specsavers.
But there are also those who probably
fancy they could do quite well in a
49
Fortunas 33
June 2014
“Over the past
fifteen years, a
particular point has
been stressed to me
many times. It’s not
all about me. Now,
reader, all of the
above is very true
but what I am about
to tell you is more
important to me
than the bullying
and problems I have
encountered during
my life.”
50
My Range of Sound
Dr Mountain talked to Mum but as
usual I didn’t hear much. As usual
I was living in my cave of silence;
unless I watched their lips, I couldn’t
follow what they were saying, and
even then all I heard was noise and
‘deafness’. I didn’t realise it at the
time, but I was being diagnosed with
partial deafness. Life didn’t change
much though. Although I was only
seven, the problem had always
been there. I do, however, vividly
remember the room, the nurse with
her box on wheels, the doctor with
his big mirror and pointed torch,
and I remember looking out the
window and thinking it would be
cool to live in Australia.
For me it wasn’t difficult to
adapt to the new shiny toys in my
ears which amplified every sound:
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the car wheels grinded and roared
as we drove home; now I could even
hear the sound of the gushing river
and wood pigeons calling softly from
the pine trees in the front garden.
Suddenly I was free.
Really it was when I took
my hearing aids out that there was
a problem. My life ran dry, back to
that dull, drained, old place. Now I
knew things could be utterly different.
Transformed, in fact. Whenever I
donned the hearing aids, my mood
lightened; I noticed my darkened
demeanour without them.
However, there was always
one place where my deafness wasn’t a
problem. My love for the mountains
has always been strong. Whether I am
walking with relatives in the Swiss
Alps, skiing in the Italian Dolomites,
or bagging another Munro on the
west coast of Scotland, I always feel
free. At first I believed that maybe
it was because mountains were the
only things that I could draw without
making them look like mutated
animals or some scene out of a horror
movie. But now, retrospectively, I
see that it wasn’t these lame excuses.
Instead it was the fact I could hear
out loud and bold. Just like Keats
described reading Chapman’s Homer,
it was like discovering a new world and
that’s what it felt like.
Hummmmm, bub, bub, bub
Hmmmmm
Crack…
Crack...Crack. Crack…Crack
Tommy Henson (Form IV)
Fortunas 33
A rock tumbles off the
pinnacle of the mountain; many
thousands of feet below, the earth’s
crust is ready to swallow this small
fragment. As I hear the sharp crack
of the rock shattering off the arête,
a burst of emotion erupts inside me
just like the rock. If it were not for my
physicians, it might have been me that
would have shattered. It wasn’t that I
was bullied for being deaf; in fact, that
was only one of my angsts. So often in
my childhood I was perceived as being
weird because I watched people’s lips
for a key to the chatter all around me,
the chatter I felt excluded from.
In the mountains there is
silence. There’s absolutely nothing
better than listening to nothing
and not having to watch moving
mouths. Up high, I can relax, I can
hear everything and don’t have to be
constantly tense and listening and
watching for what usually evades me.
But maybe that’s not all. Over the past
fifteen years, a particular point has
been stressed to me many times. It’s
not all about me. Now, reader, all of
the above is very true but what I am
about to tell you is more important to
me than the bullying and problems I
have encountered during my life.
I don’t get it tough. In fact, I
get it easy. In these quiet moments in
the mountains, encapsulated by the
tranquillity, I get a chance to reflect
on my life. I really don’t want to make
this sound clichéd, but it’s difficult to
be more precise. I suppose that’s what
the mountains do for me. In the end
the symphony of sound that cocoons
me, lets me understand why life is the
way it is and then I feel safe.
Sound travels along my
auditory canal as transverse waves;
when stimulated the ossicles vibrate
sounds into the depths of my head to
be deciphered by the auditory cortex.
However, for me there is a hitch
somewhere along this process. The
cause of my deafness is unknown to
the medical profession, but nothing
happens and these sound waves are
diminished. Suddenly I am different
from everyone else but for me that
does not matter. I am who I am and
that’s how it will be.
In the end, I can’t change
reality. I always will be deaf and that’s
a fact. It even has its advantages; I
can lip-read and I’m not the same
as everyone else. But sometimes
that can be difficult so that’s why I
have the rugged mountains to turn
to. I know it seems weird, but that’s
what happens. When I feel like I
just want to be released from the
chains of conversation, I just go to
the mountains and they serve as my
refuge, granting my freedom.
June 2014
To you, if you read the
line above this out loud, it may not
sound meaningful, unless we shared
a common interest: skiing. Let me
take you through how I experience a
classic Alpine ski lift in the midst of
the Austrian winter, with fresh snow
covering the huge expanse around
me. To me the sound of the ski lift is
a lot more compelling than the mere
noise you may hear; it’s more than
trivial vibrations. Suddenly I feel an
exhilarating jolt flush through me like
a dam bursting its walls. As we climb
up through the Alps the snow flops
from the trees and even I can hear the
plop as it hits the ground and creates
small dimples in the immaculate
expanse of snow. Subsequently we
break the tree line and then once
more I experience a new sound, the
gushing wind. Suddenly we reach the
top almost as soon as it started but
now I’m bubbling to hear more sounds
because I know that I’m free.
51
Baja California Sur
and John Steinbeck
THE HARRY BELL
TRAVEL AWARDS
AND SCHOLARSHIP
Fortunas 33
June 2014
The Harry Bell Travel Awards were
set up in 1998 by the Bell family in
memory of their father, whose long
and distinguished Rectorship of Dollar
Academy lasted from 1936-1960.
Over the last decade the Awards have
generated a great deal of interest and
resulted in some remarkable journeys
and pieces of writing. The Awards
are open to Form V pupils who wish
to travel during the summer holiday
in order to study a topic of literary
interest. Recipients are required to
write a lively report reflecting their
experiences of a particular writer and
particular place. In addition, the Harry
Bell Travel Scholarship is awarded for
the best report at Prize Giving the
following year. Last year, unusually,
produced two winners and their essays
follow.
52
In the opening of The Log from the
Sea of Cortez, Steinbeck talks the
reader through what is necessary for
a scientific journey in the Cape of
California. I found few similarities in
my own preparation for my week-long
trip to the Cape, yet I equipped myself
with what Steinbeck deemed necessary
for such an expedition - an open mind.
My journey through Baja
California took me from San José del
Cabo - the regional capital ­to Cabo San
Lucas at the tip of the peninsula. From
there I travelled to La Paz on the east
coast and then El Sargento on the west
coast. This was an enlightening trip
which mirrored many of Steinbeck’s
own footsteps in the mid-20th century.
However, I found much of what
Steinbeck described changed by the
encroachment of modern life. For
example, when Steinbeck arrived on
the Cape, he described the fishing
town of Cabo San Lucas and the old
tuna cannery that was the only major
local ‘industry’ as “quiet.” Yet, upon
my arrival at the town I was met by
nightclubs, a thriving marina and all
the trappings of a tourist hotspot. After
battling my way through local peddlers
selling all kinds of goods, and shouting
“Hey Gringo!” (which, I am told, is not
an insult, but a term of endearment) at
me in an attempt to attract my custom,
I arrived at my hotel. It was not far
from the docks at which Steinbeck
landed in his boat, the Western Flyer,
yet the sights which greeted me were
very different. However, if one looks
close enough, amongst the grotesquely
extravagant tourist hotels, the old
Mexico of Steinbeck’s time is still alive.
I had to walk many streets from the
beachfront to find myself in the small
restaurants and shops which catered
to the Mexican population of Cabo
San Lucas. My 6ft 1 frame struggled
to fit in these small adobe buildings,
and most of the shops’ proprietors
only spoke broken English and traded
solely in pesos rather than accepting
American dollars. It was pleasing to
see that the tourism which is so vital
to the economy of this area had not
completely destroyed its original face,
yet tragically it appears slowly to be
doing so.
My stay in Cabo San
Lucas was shorter than I would have
liked, but, like Steinbeck, I was soon
travelling to another destination.
This was to La Paz on the east coast
of the Cape. This was a completely
different experience to Cabo San
Lucas. Although modern, this city was
all Mexican. This city was untouched
by the tourist industry as it sourced
its wealth as a ferry hub between the
mainland and the peninsula. The long
boardwalk had a completely different
feel to that of Cabo San Lucas. When
Steinbeck visited La Paz he simply
described it as “a lovely place.” I find
myself unable to add any more to
this. La Paz is, and was to Steinbeck, a
haven. To me it was a haven from the
full-on party town of Cabo San Lucas,
and to Steinbeck it was a literal haven
from the storm-blown Sea of Cortez.
La Paz is a favourite among the cities
that I have had the pleasure of visiting.
It buzzed with activity day and night,
never once did I feel threatened, and I
found that I could walk down a street
without being harassed to buy a T-Shirt
Literature
more ecological purity. Yet this issue
is important, and it is prevalent in
all areas of physical beauty. The day
spent at Cabo Pulmo was extremely
enjoyable, yet as with all things great,
it had to come to an end and it heralded
the end of my trip to the Baja region.
As I returned to San José
del Cabo and my awaiting flight, I
reflected on what I had experienced. I
had seen some breath-taking sights of
natural beauty, found a beautiful city
surrounded by desert and met some
interesting characters. However, I had
also been exposed to an interesting
debate. Mexico is currently in a
precarious position. Drug-related
violence in the north keeps the central
government’s attention and economic
clout tied up. The Baja is on the verge of
either becoming a successful economic
region or descending into recession and
poverty. The answer, in my opinion,
is in balance. It is not to pander fully
to the destructive tourist industry, as
Cabo San Lucas has done, nor to shun
such developments fully as La Paz has
done. However, what I did notice was
that little has changed with Mexico’s
physical state since Steinbeck’s visit.
I found the same aching beauty in
the Baja as Steinbeck describes in his
book. I can only hope that Mexico finds
a solution to its social and economic
problems that is not at the expense of
this beautiful landscape.
Scott McSherry
Harry Bell Winner 2013
Fortunas 33
the shore. He described the waters
as “clear and healthy”. This almost
scientific description of the bay fails to
do it justice. I had the pleasure of two
days in this town. From the balcony,
the whole Pacific Ocean spread out
on the horizon. We had the pleasure
of witnessing a magnificent storm,
far out in the ocean at night. As the
lightening flashed across the sky, I
could make out the outline of the small,
but striking, islands dotted in the bay.
In the morning I set off into the bay on
a small panga. From there I spent the
day spear­fishing and lazing in the sun.
The water was, as Steinbeck promised,
clear and beautiful. There was a wide
and stunning variety of fish in the
waters of the bay and the backdrop of
the peaceful town reflected the manner
that I spent that day. From El Sargento
we travelled down to Cabo Pulmo.
This is the name given to a region of
protected waters off the coast of the
Cape. In particular, it is home to one
of the most vibrant and healthy reefs
in Mexico. Steinbeck described the
beauty of this in an almost spiritual
and metaphysical way. As I swam in
the azure water of the reef I felt I had
come close to understanding what
Steinbeck was saying. The fragility of
this beauty was tangible, as everywhere
we went the guides urged us not to
touch anything - and this introduced
me to another facet of the debate I
had encountered in La Paz: how will
the Mexican authorities exploit this
valuable tourist destination without
causing wider ecological harm?
Undoubtedly the people have a right
to profit from this beauty, but it must
also be conserved. I have no answer for
this, and Steinbeck did not face such
problems, as he travelled in a time of
June 2014
saying “I Heart Mexico”. Steinbeck
found a similar La Paz, and he tells
us that although the people of the
city were poor, they held themselves
with respect. Much has changed and
La Paz is now a largely middle-class
city, yet the citizens still projected a
certain dignity that refused to bow
to the temptations of the lucrative,
but destructive, tourist industry. My
father’s business partner, William Scott
(who is Mexican, and has no Scottish
blood in his family as far as he is aware,
despite his name) informed me that
the people of La Paz have always been
proud of their economic independence,
and they will not ‘sell out’ in the same
way that they believe Cabo San Lucas,
Cancun and other popular tourist
destinations have. This gave me a sense
of the struggle that a lot of the ‘quieter’
parts of Mexico are facing - they wish
to enjoy the luxuries which accelerated
economic growth would afford them,
yet they also wish to maintain the
traditions of their country, without
selling out to Capitalist ideals. Every
Capitalist nation must have faced
this dilemma at some point, and I am
glad, yet also saddened, that I was
able enough to witness this first hand.
Steinbeck discusses the innocence
of the Baja lifestyle and that was half
a century ago. On my trip I saw this
innocence being challenged by the real
economic and social problems which
face the rest of Mexico and have spread
to the Cape.
All too soon I was putting
La Paz behind me. We travelled to
the other side of the peninsula, to El
Sargento and then Cabo Pulmo. El
Sargento was a small, scenic village.
Steinbeck did not set foot in this town,
yet he moored just 200 yards from
53
Forgotten Limerick
Fortunas 33
June 2014
“It was, of course, a miserable
childhood: the happy childhood is
hardly worth your while. Worse than
the ordinary miserable childhood is the
miserable Irish childhood and worse
yet is the miserable Irish Catholic
childhood.”
54
I understand this is hardly the
most exciting or uplifting description of
someone’s young life. But nevertheless,
it seemed an interesting and eventful
one that took place in a versatile and
intricate city. From the churches to the
pubs, the Shannon to the lanes and the
poverty to the wit, I wanted to discover
Frank McCourt’s Limerick.
Which is why I was slightly
disappointed when I found most of it
had disappeared. Obviously there is
a clear reason for this; Limerick was
not the healthiest of places, as Frank
makes abundantly clear through his
many encounters with rats, hunger,
illness and death. However, I couldn’t
help but feel like there was a need for
preservation, and remembrance. In
fact, I felt as if the past of Limerick
that Frank McCourt describes had
been swept under the carpet. Which
prompts a rather worrying question:
did it ever exist in the first place?
On our first day my father and
I decided to take an ‘Angela’s Ashes walking tour’ in order to
get a real feel for the place, and the stories it held. It was here
that I first realised things would not be as I had expected. As
we set off, I hurriedly and excitedly inquired as to whether
we would visit all the places Frank had lived: Windmill Street,
Hartstonge Street, Little Barrington Street (which was really
a lane) and of course Roden Lane.
“Sure”, said Noel, our guide. “What’s left of them
anyways”.
What was left of them was new housing, newly tarmacked
roads and the occasional nostalgic street sign, if you were
lucky. In the last few decades Limerick had undergone some
serious bulldozing and redeveloping, keen to remove its dirty
and degraded lanes. However, this was just a minor setback
at first, as surely there would be plenty left untouched to
remind the world of the true Limerick from years ago.
Then I saw the Arthur’s Quay shopping centre, and
my heart sank. The area links back to a very short anecdote
in Frank McCourt’s memoir: one day Frank and his friend
Paddy Clohessy decide to miss school and go to Clohessy’s
house on Arthur’s Quay, where Mr Clohessy is bed-ridden
by tuberculosis. Frank paints a rather grim picture of these
tenement houses:
“Everyone in Limerick knows these houses are old
and might fall down at any minute”
And what should be a symbol of the hardships and struggles
that people faced in those days had been converted into a
cheap shopping centre, full of second-rate stores and a tacky
food court that lent nothing to the culture and vibrancy
of Limerick. It seemed disrespectful to trample over the
memory of a lifestyle that once existed down by Arthur’s
Quay.
The churches in Limerick were a rather similar story.
No longer the city run by its surrounding spires and the
priests that stood beneath them, Limerick seemed to have
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“
I was even questioning the
whole point of the trip.
But the more I thought about
why I was feeling so disappointed
with present-day Limerick, the more
I realised I was looking in the wrong
place. It isn’t the buildings that reflect
Limerick’s nature. It’s the people.
”
Fortunas 33
Day two of my trip and I
awoke with a renewed aim, a focus. I
was now going to approach my search
with a completely fresh viewpoint, and
I knew I was going to get results.
My search began and centred
around two people in one building: The
Frank McCourt Museum. Still in its
infancy, the museum had only started
up around eighteen months ago, but
that didn’t matter to me. Finally, I
had found a building linked to Frank
McCourt’s Limerick; his old school.
Leamy’s School for Boys
looked very similar to how it must have
done eighty years ago on the outside.
But, on the inside, the place had been
transformed. Up a small flight of steps
we found ourselves stepping into Frank
McCourt’s life through a recreation of
his house on Roden Lane. As would
be expected, the room was cluttered
and cramped. Downstairs, and there
was another recreation, only this time
it was a classroom. But as interesting
as all this was, it was the other side of
the room that really caught my eye.
Here, all laid out behind glass cabinets
and shelves there were old photos and
documents, each a link to the past. And
to explain it all was a man in his late
fifties whom I will only ever know as
June 2014
found little need for religion, as most
of the Republic of Ireland seems to
have done; weekly church attendance
shrunk by half between 1973 and
2009 across the country. And it was
apparent.
Many of the churches that
Frank describes in Angela’s Ashes have
closed down and therefore I was unable
to go into the buildings where Frank
laid most of the blame for the suffering
he endured during his upbringing:
“Doom. That’s the favourite
word of every priest in Limerick”
Later, we discovered more about this
negative view towards the churches
during our viewing of some exclusive
old interviews with the McCourt
family from around twenty years
ago, when Malachy, only a few years
younger than Frank, said with a rather
grim expression:
“Limerick was full of Catholics,
but few Christians”.
Malachy’s way of thinking was by no
means alone in Limerick, something
I noticed when our tour guide told us
very matter-of-factly, “Folks round
here don’t feel the need for religion
anymore.” As a Christian myself, I
was rather struck by this comment;
it was sad to think that all the wrong
and neglect of some members of the
Irish Catholic Church could drive most
of the people of Limerick away from
religion entirely.
Having been on a rather
disheartening walking tour, I started
to wonder after my first day as to
whether I would discover any of Frank
McCourt’s Limerick.
Everyone
in Limerick
knows these
houses are old
and might fall
down at any
minute
55
Fortunas 33
June 2014
“Dave”.
56
A true Limerick man, Dave
had grown up in and knew all there
was to know about Limerick, from its
historical past to its current industries.
But his particular interest was Frank
McCourt, having read the books and
studied Angela’s Ashes in great depth.
Dave took us round the museum,
referring all the little items and
documents back to stories from the
book.
It was such a pleasant
experience for me finally to find
someone who has taken a real interest
in this book. Although I could never
write everything that we discussed
and talked about and were shown at
the museum, there is something that
I simply cannot omit. A very peculiar
sight. Frank McCourt, the boy who was
rejected by the church twice because
of his social standing, collected Rosary
Beads.
It felt like a paradox as I stood
in front of the glass before countless
beads of different sizes and colours,
trying to figure out why a man who
couldn’t stand the priests decided to
collect their rosary beads. And even
now as I write this, I still cannot
understand it. I suppose, given that
Frank sadly passed away in 2009, I
never will.
Shortly after Dave’s tours and
explanations, the curator arrived, and
instantly Una Heaton became one of
the most hospitable, enthusiastic and
bubbly women I had ever met. Full
of big ideas and even bigger dreams,
Una was one of those people you
could only describe as a mover and a
shaker, and was very passionate about
Frank McCourt and her little museum.
And even though she was having a
meeting that day with the director of
the upcoming Angela’s Ashes theatre
production in Limerick, she still had
time for us. For this I was grateful, as
we simply were running out of time.
With this in mind, I had only
one place in Limerick left to visit,
but had no idea how to get there;
Carrigogunnell Castle is a small ruin
on the top of a hill about twenty
minutes’ drive outside Limerick. With
all the time in the world, Frank would
have made a day out of this journey,
perhaps taking a sandwich as he goes
on a few hours’ walk to escape the city.
But it was late afternoon, and I had no
intention of getting lost in the fields
surrounding Limerick.
Thankfully Una, on the other
hand, had no objections to driving
us there. One cheery and chatty car
journey later, we were parked right
outside the castle. The sky was grey
and the rain was pouring but, in true
Limerick style, we just got on with it.
Trudging through the mud, my father
and I reached the foot of the corner
tower.
Truth be told, health and
safety would not have approved of
what I did next. I climbed. Holding
onto sturdy vines and outcropping
stones, I scaled the inside of the tower
up to a small, slightly wet ledge about
a storey high. From here, just as Frank
must have done all those years ago, I
found a small set of stairs leading out
to a grassy patch on the top of this
ruined tower. And with a great sigh of
relief, I sat down. I had made it.
This thought led me to reflect
on my whole trip. I looked back on
my first day in Limerick and the
disappointment of what had become
of Limerick’s buildings. I thought
about the closed churches and the
tacky shopping mall, all the complete
opposite of Frank McCourt’s Limerick.
I thought of the cynics and the critics
of Angela’s Ashes, and pondered
whether it was all just exaggerated.
However, then I remembered all that
had happened after, the hospitality
and the humour and the wit I’d
encountered. I remembered all the
old images of Frank and the lanes and
the poverty that people suffered with
“good-humour”, as he put it.
And on that cold, windy day as
I looked from Limerick to the Atlantic
Sea, my eyes following the winding
river Shannon until it reached the blue
abyss, I realised that I had at last found
my link to Frank McCourt’s Limerick.
No matter the incorrect details or the
exaggerations he may have written
into Angela’s Ashes, one fact was
indisputable. What I was doing there,
that day, was just as he had done:
“I can see from here the high ruins
of Carrigogunnell Castle and there’s
plenty of time to cycle there, sit up on
the highest wall, look at the Shannon
flowing out to the Atlantic”.
Euan Johnstone
Harry Bell Winner 2013
Art
Beatrice Kerray (Form VI)
Cameron McCracken (Form VI)
Erin Wilkinson (Form IV)
Cameron McCracken (Form VI)
Kaytlin Scott (Form VI)
Sarah McCann (Form VI)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Maeve Moon (Form IV)
Kaytlin Scott (Form VI)
57
Carla Haldane (Form VI)
Brodie Dickson (Form VI)
Elizabeth Wallace (Form V)
Heather Downie (Form V)
Catriona Leslie (Form 1)
Victoria Bremner (Form V)
Lexy Graham (Form V)
Adelina Benea (Form V)
Barbora Doksanska (Form V)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Megan Hegarty (Form IV)
Ross MacGarvie (Form VI)
58
Art
Josephine Semb (Form IV)
John Retson (Form VI)
Imogen Stevens (Form IV)
John Retson (Form VI)
Alexis McNicol (Form V)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
John Retson (Form VI)
Gail Breslin (Form V)
59
Lucie McDougall (Form I)
Euan Bremner (Form I)
Elizabeth Ireland (Form II)
Oliver Murray (Form II)
Megan Stedman (Form II)
Olivia Young (Form II)
Rory Fotheringham (Form II)
Rachel Foy (Form II)
Robert Retson (Form III)
Erin Cassidy (Form III)
Guy Stewart (Form III)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Catriona Leslie (Form I)
60
Art
Charlotte Longstaffe (Form V)
Tom McDougall (Form V)
Fortunas 33
William Jephcote (Form V)
June 2014
Alexis McNicol (Form V)
61
Fortunas 33
June 2014
HAGGIS, TACKY SOUVENIRS
AND VOTING: A VISIT TO
STRASBOURG
62
Politics is life. It influences every facet of our daily routine
and yet it has the ability to alienate and disenchant. My
visit to the European Parliament in February was a hugely
valuable experience as it allowed me to partake in decisionmaking and understand the work that the Parliament
does. The Euroscola Project brought 26 Scottish students,
together with representatives from each of the other 27
member states, to debate and reflect upon topical social
issues and to discover the workings of the Parliament.
Each Scottish participant received Rotary Club funding
for this project to enable pupils to further their interest in
politics, improve their French skills and meet new people.
I found this unique opportunity certainly achieved these
aims, allowing for fun and memorable moments as well as
boosting my confidence.
The Scottish group, which represented Great
Britain as a whole, spent five days in Strasbourg,
participating in activities and preparing for Euroscola Day
itself under the guidance of Mark Pendleton and several
French teachers selected from across Scotland. On Monday
afternoon we were given our first challenge to prepare a
sketch in which we bumped nez à nez with our partner,
imagining an exchange 20 years down the line after our
trip. This was great fun and it was nice to be eased gently
into speaking French, and I quickly got to know the other
students, most of whom shared interests similar to mine.
One of my personal highlights of the trip was the
questionnaire exercise. We were given one hour to take to
the streets of Strasbourg with partners to ask passers-by
their opinion of Scotland and its significance, particularly
relevant in light of the referendum in September. This was a
fantastic opportunity to have in-depth conversations with
native French people, who were only too happy to speak,
debating chamber, where the MEPs gather to discuss the
prominent issues of the day, and we were given some
valuable insight into the work of the parliament before
we had the opportunity to ask our own questions. The
questions posed were interesting and wide-ranging; some
delved into the details of an independent Scotland, while
others tackled hugely significant international issues such
as child euthanasia. At lunchtime we enjoyed a quiz, where
we each had temporarily to adopt another nationality to
answer questions in different languages. Afterwards, we
split into groups according to our preferred discussion
topic - mine was ‘freedom of information and active
citizenship’. It was really interesting to hear other people’s
views on issues such as to what extent the internet should
be regulated and how we can encourage people to vote in
the upcoming European elections. I think that part of the
problem lies in the fact that people simply do not know
enough about the European Parliament, and that is why it
is so important that young students such as myself go out
and learn about it, to share that knowledge and encourage
others to vote. Each group came up with proposals to
address the various problems, which would then be voted
by the participants of the Euroscola Project in the debating
chamber, and later by the MEPs themselves if we passed
them. Our night finished with a ceilidh with our new
Spanish and German friends; it was great fun - and a real
challenge trying to teach them the steps to the Canadian
Barn Dance!
Despite my initial nervousness about being
thrust into a new environment, I had an amazing time
in Strasbourg and made some brilliant friends with
whom I know I will remain in contact. I developed my
understanding of the importance of the European
Parliament and what it does for member states. With
little chance to lapse lazily into English, I also made huge
progress in my spoken French. I think that projects such as
this must continue to allow young people to broaden their
horizons, to gain confidence and develop interpersonal
skills. I would thoroughly recommend this opportunity to
any language student who is eager to learn and meet new
people.
Travel
Ambreen Rasool (Form VI)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
albeit incredibly quickly! It really
improved my confidence as I worked
up the courage to approach people in
the square, and it honed my French
listening skills too. My partner and I
were amazed at some of the answers:
of the 15 people we questioned, not a
single one could name three Scottish
cities, while some were adamant that
the capital of Scotland was Dublin.
The best answers, however, were
for our last question: what do you
think ‘haggis’ is? Our interviewees
would pull a puzzled face, furrow
their eyebrows, and ask us to spell it,
and only then would they reach the
conclusion that ‘haggis’ was either a
musical instrument or a Scottish city.
We did take great delight in explaining
exactly what this Scottish delicacy was
made from!
On Wednesday, we were
split into groups of five to complete a
challenge activity in three stages. Our
leader Mark first arranged for each
group to interview a woman called
Régine on a topic to present back to
everybody; each group then had to
take a photo of a sign or advert with
an interesting grammar point to relate
back to the rest; and, lastly, we had to
buy the tackiest tourist gift available.
The interview was really good for our
spoken French as we had to come
up with sensible questions about
our topic, the history of Strasbourg.
Régine’s answers were fascinating,
and we learnt that the region had
actually changed nationality four
times in total during both wars, which
perhaps contributes to its rich culture
today. Our group’s tackiest souvenir
came in the form of a ‘Mark’ name
card, with the qualities associated
with that name written in French and
decorated with pictures of Strasbourg.
We were hoping that it might earn us
brownie points with ‘our’ Mark, the
trip leader, but to our disappointment
it transpired that he was not the one
deciding the winner…
Euroscola Day perfectly
combined my love of French and
politics. We made our way into the
63
COSTA RICA 2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Costa Rica is a country that
encompasses just 0.03% of the world’s
total land mass. Representing almost
4% of the total species on Earth,
however, it is thought to possess the
highest density of biodiversity of any
country worldwide, with over 500,000
plant and animal species. Hundreds of
these species are endemic to Costa Rica
and found nowhere else on earth. Over
27% of the country’s land is protected
as national parks, wildlife refuges and
forest preserves, rendering it a hugely
attractive destination for a Biology
expedition.
64
Day One:
It was an early start for the extremely
long journey ahead of us, an intrepid
band of 34 senior pupils and three
members of Biology Department staff.
We departed an icy Dollar at 5am,
heading to the tropical climates of
Central America. 24 hours and 5,420
miles later we finally reached Juan
Santamaria, our destination airport
in San José. Tired and weary, we were
greeted by our tour guide, Juan Carlos,
who escorted us straight to our hotel,
Casa Conde.
Day Two:
We woke to a beautiful Costa Rican
sunrise and the cheery singing of a
chef preparing our first traditional
breakfast. After an amazing breakfast
by the pool, we embarked on the first
of many long bus journeys. The four
hours on the bus passed quickly as
everyone stared out the window in
amazement at the beautiful scenery.
We had not long arrived at our hotel,
Arenal Rabfer, in La Fortuna before we
headed to Arenal Volcano. Arenal is an
active volcano, the last major eruption
of which wiped out two small villages
in 1968. We hiked for two kilometres,
following the path up to the lava fields,
to experience the breath-taking views
from the summit. Along the route our
guide, Jodie, talked us through the
history, geology and biology of life on
the volcano. We could not, of course,
leave without experiencing a dip in the
Baldi hot springs, naturally heated by
the geothermal activity of the volcano.
Day Three:
Another early start and we were
leaving the hotel by 7.30am, on our
way to Cano Negro to take a motorboat
along the mangrove river towards
the Nicaraguan border. This animalspotting adventure soon turned into a
competition to see who could spot the
most unusual creature; we saw iguanas,
snake-birds, kingfishers, howlers and
white-faced monkeys, and caiman
to name only a few. On the way back
we stopped off at Las Iguanas to see
the stunning iguanas that give their
name to this town… and to enjoy an ice
cream!
Day Four:
Today we immersed ourselves in the
local culture of San Carlos, spending
the morning at a traditional farm run
by Milton and Elieth. Our tour started
with a culinary exercise, making the
tortillas which would be cooked for
our lunch. We were then shown around
the farm and had an opportunity to
taste the local produce. We returned
to the farmhouse to a magnificent firecooked meal and we were encouraged
to join in with the accompanying
Spanish music played by Milton and
Elieth. After lunch Milton gave us a
ride to Sonafluca, the local primary
school funded by the profits from the
farm. The children, dressed in beautiful
outfits, taught us some local dances.
We then took part in a question-andanswer session to discover more about
rural life in Costa Rica.
Day Six:
After some uncertainty over the route
to our next destination, caused by
some major rainfall overnight, we were
finally on our way to Santa Elena Cloud
Forest Reserve. Here we met Donald,
a keen biologist, who took us on a
hike through the same rainforest over
which we had been zip lining less than
24 hours earlier. We were privileged to
witness the sighting of a quetzal, an
exquisite, colourful bird now highly
endangered. Just as we thought the
trip could not get any better, it was
time to head to the beaches of Playa
Grande, an area well known for its
surfing and turtle activity.
Day Eight:
Our final day in Playa Grande was spent
crashing in the waves and playing on
the beach. It was with heavy hearts
that we heard the clock strike 1pm
as this signalled it was time to pack
up and head on our final bus journey
to San José to catch our flight the
following morning.
The Costa Rica trip was an epic
experience that will remain with us for
a lifetime. The success of the trip is in
no small part due to the wonderful local
guides, our very talented bus driver
and the fantastic group of pupils, all of
whom helped make it so memorable. I
am already looking forward to the next
trip planned for 2016.
Sadia Hussain
Fortunas 33
Day Seven:
Alarms had been set for 5.30am today,
to rise in time to catch the sunrise over
the stunning beach before breakfast.
After a lazy morning relaxing by the
poolside, we boarded the coach heading
to Tamarindo for a surfing lesson.
Much surfing later, we wandered
the markets of Tamarindo for some
souvenir shopping. That evening we
were taken by a local guide to see the
mesmerising sight of a greenback
turtle nesting.
June 2014
Day Five:
After three lovely nights in La Fortuna
it was time to leave and experience
a different climate. We headed to
Monteverde, a cloud forest region,
for an afternoon of canopy zip lining.
Full of fear and excitement we headed
onto the first of 18 platforms. Having
overcome that initial fear, we were
able to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views, zipping through the
clouds above the canopy. Each cable, of
various lengths and speed, was more
exhilarating than the last.
65
Fortunas 33
June 2014
12 DAYS
ROUND CHINA
66
There are many profound insights
concerning China and just as many
myths. Much of what we think we
know is either filtered through our
media or, on occasion, can come from a
selective reading of a number of famous
travelogues, one or two novels and
perhaps a political biography here and
there. Someone once said to me that
there is no middle ground on the Middle
Kingdom – you are either enraptured
by it or, having visited, vow never to
return. This may be true; many find
the crowded streets, constant noise,
exotic foodstuffs and indecipherable
language too much to handle. Others
take an immediate shine to the jade and
pearls, to the temples and tofu, to the
fascinating collision between Imperial
antiquity, revolutionary communist
past and market-led present. The
former French President Charles de
Gaulle probably got it just about right
when he memorably observed that:
“China is a big country, inhabited
by many Chinese.” Over 12 days in
late March and early April, 34 pupils
from the History & Modern Studies
Department set out, crisscrossing
China in an attempt to come to their
own conclusions about this, apparent,
21st century superpower-in-waiting.
Beijing was the first stop
and here the group was immediately
introduced to the wonders of the
imperial past, as our hotel stood only
metres from the walls of the Forbidden
City. Too often, now, tour parties are
dispatched to the farthest zones of
this ever-growing metropolis, placed
in shiny new hotels with swimming
pools, 24-hour spa facilities and several
restaurants. We were lucky. Not only
were we close enough to the former
home of numerous Chinese Emperors
to deny the army of eager taxi
drivers a fare, but we had none of the
aforementioned luxury distractions.
Our one hotel restaurant served a
straightforward mixture of good
Beijing cuisine alongside one or two
treats for the western traveller, most
memorably the appearance of chicken
nuggets and chips for breakfast. This
was, quite simply, globalisation in
action!
In the first few days there
was, therefore, more than enough
opportunity to examine a good deal
of the Imperial past; the Forbidden
City, the Summer Palace, the Temple
of Heaven and, of course, the Great
Wall were all visited in an attempt to
understand how China had existed in
the 2000 years before it truly opened
its doors to the modern world. There
was also time to catch just a little of
the more recent revolutionary period,
with a morning spent in the National
Museum of China and in the incredible
open space of Tiananmen Square.
Modern China is dated, of course, from
1949 and the victory of Mao Zedong in
the Chinese Civil War and all 34 pupils,
after an hour-long wait in a queue,
peopled mostly by visiting Chinese
tourists who took every opportunity
to photograph the ‘exotic’ Dollar
contingent, were lucky enough to
catch sight of Mao, lying in state in his
mausoleum and looking remarkably
well preserved since his death in 1976.
There was too much to see in Beijing.
Our guide, Forrest (apparently named
by his classmates after Mr Gump) was
unstinting in his efforts to pack as much
into each day, and his humour and wise
insight into the Chinese mind gave the
pupils the perfect commentary and
contextualisation for all that they saw.
A 12-hour overnight train
journey, packed into a ‘soft sleeper’
carriage, took us west towards the
ancient Imperial capital of Xian and
here we were able to see the truly
wonderful Terracotta Warriors. Xian
allowed us to begin to make the
link between the modern, dynamic
direction China has been taking since
1979 and its rich Imperial past. While
it was a little less hectic than Beijing,
it is still a city of some seven million
people, and there are all the signs that
the big multinationals are pushing into
the Chinese hinterland. In one day our
34 hardy souls were able to marvel at
the uncovered terracotta warriors, take
a swift bike ride on the old city walls,
and marvel at the splendour of the 14th
century Drum Tower, while gulping
down a Starbucks and munching down
a Big Mac.
A two-hour plane journey
south-east brought us to our final
destination of Shanghai and here we
spent four days coming to terms with
the incredible vibrancy of a 21st century
mega-city. Shanghai has somewhere
between 15 and 17 million people and,
at times, it felt as if most of them were
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Neil McFadyean
Travel
in our immediate vicinity. Some of
our time was spent in the incredible
development of Pudong – an area of the
city crammed with hotels, skyscrapers,
neon lights, restaurants and factories
– none of which existed 20 years ago.
We got a bird’s-eye view of the city
from the Pearl TV Tower – a triumph
of Chinese architectural aesthetics –
visited the Bund and the former French
Concession, where early 20th-century
European buildings jostled for space
with the newer, sleeker constructions,
stopped ever so briefly outside the site
of the first ever Chinese Communist
Party Congress and even found time
to do a little shopping on the Nanjing
Road – Shanghai’s Oxford Street.
Shanghai is, in many ways,
China’s future. Our pupils were, at
times, simply overcome by the sheer
volume of shopping opportunities.
Neon lights entice consumers long
after it would be acceptable to visit
the high street back home in the
UK. Silver, sleek and shiny high-rise
cathedrals to consumerism are what
drives the Chinese economy ever
onwards, and while there are problems
lurking just beneath the surface, none
were particularly visible to our pupils.
The traffic can be appalling – increased
prosperity brings more and more cars
while the bicycle has all but vanished.
And yet, most of the pupils made it
clear that they preferred Beijing. It
felt more Chinese, it gave them all a
little more to think about, it offered an
explanation of who the Chinese were
and where they had come from. Such
conclusions were heartening and, on
departure, it seemed to me that most
of the Dollar group were clear about
the Middle Kingdom; many were
talking of returning soon, planning gap
years or perhaps something more long
term. Some were keen to entice family
members back for a holiday, while all
were clear that their 12 days round
China had opened their eyes, amused
their stomachs and given them more
than enough to think about on the
(very) long journey home.
67
Fortunas 33
June 2014
BUSINESS EDUCATION TRIP
NEW YORK 2014
68
New York. The Big Apple. It is known for being at the heart of theatre. It is known
for being at the heart of financial services. It is renowned for its food. It is renowned
for its corporate law. No matter the field, New York excels. Some readers may find
it decidedly dull therefore that I and 31 other senior pupils chose to fly all the way
there to explore, of all things, the wonders of… ‘the dismal science’ and commerce.
But, as it tends to do with most things, New York brought a certain vibrancy, a
flamboyance to economics that is nigh on impossible to emulate in the classroom.
Finally touching down in Newark after a not so flamboyant six-hour flight,
the first thing that hit us was the weather. We had heard it was cold on the east
coast of America at that time, but no one had expected it to be as bone-chillingly
freezing as it was when we stepped off the aeroplane. Fortunately though, we were
armed with Mr Moore’s “tour beanies”, and so all was well.
We were staying in a small hotel in Manhattan, near Grand Central
Station. Even in the short distance between the airport and our accommodation,
the group was utterly stunned by the city’s skyline. The huge buildings and long,
straight roads were far more impressive in reality than any photograph, film or
imagination could convey, and so phones and cameras were eagerly pressed up
against windows to capture the moment. After checking in, we left the hotel almost
immediately for the Sony Computer Lab. This part differed slightly from the rest
of the trip, insomuch as its emphasis was more technological than financial.
Nevertheless, the whole company found it very enjoyable, and Mrs Greenlee was
on hand to translate any perplexing computer jargon. This was followed by dinner
at Planet Hollywood. To cap off a very colourful and exciting first day, we went to
the mother of all skyscrapers, the Empire State Building. Superlatives and written
descriptions really cannot do justice to this marvel of human invention and its
spectacular views, even by night. Manhattan’s city lights seemed so ornate and
delicate from up there, and yet New York still had that enormously powerful buzz
about it. A great start to our first experience of the Big Apple.
On Day 2 we got into the real meat of our stay with a visit to the iconic
Times Square. It was at this point that the whole group fell blissfully into tourist
mode. It is hard not to be dazzled by all of the flashing lights, persuasive billboards
and attractive stores. We found ourselves taking selfies and buying ‘I♥NY’ t-shirts
by the dozen. It was New York as New York wanted to be seen. From here we went
on to one of the oldest districts of Manhattan, Wall Street. The very mention of
this powerhouse of financial activity invoked excitement in the group, even if it
did not share the glitz and glamour of Times Square. Our whistle-stop tour of the
area took in the more well-known places, such as the site of George Washington’s
inauguration, the Museum of American Finance, and finishing with the crème de la
crème, the New York Stock Exchange. Against the group’s expectations, the NYSE
did not have any of the boisterousness and rambunctiousness that popular film
and culture had promised. There were very few people on the trading floor, far more
computers and screens than bits of paper and telephones, and everyone seemed
quiet and calm. Even so, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the skills and theories of
business that we had learnt in the classroom being applied to real life, and many of
the group were further convinced that a career in economics was something they
were keen to pursue. We were also very lucky to have access to the trading floor itself,
with the opportunity to talk to various stockbrokers and media professionals about
their jobs and what it takes to work in shares, which provided an interesting insight
into the day-to-day running of the globe’s most important market. The group then
went back to Times Square to pop into the NASDAQ market site for its Closing Bell.
Travel
Jack McNicol (Form V)
Fortunas 33
boom and appeal of the city was
forgotten, and we paid our respects
to those killed as a result of the 9/11
terrorist attacks. The mix of emotions
we felt that day made us feel that we
understood New York better, and this
in turn helped us appreciate how great
a place it is. The day concluded with a
delicious dinner in a quaint restaurant
in Little Italy.
Our final day in the Big Apple
offered a little more freedom to cram
in as much last-minute sightseeing
and shopping as we could. Dollar
pupils dispersed and covered huge
expanses of ground, going to Central
Park, Macy’s, China Town, and various
sports shops. On the flight back, our
sadness on leaving the United States
was tempered by sheer exhaustion
from the pace and charge of New York
so that we simply fell asleep. It was
a trip that we will all remember, but
in reality it feels as if I have barely
scratched the surface of New York, and
I hope to visit again soon.
June 2014
We were all rather confused as to what
was going on in these few minutes; we
did not realise that the Countdown to
the Closing Bell was televised, and that
they like to include a human interest
story during the programme. Long
story short, we watched show dogs
prance on stage for a quarter of an
hour, while important stock prices and
share quotes flickered on screens in the
background. A peculiar way to end the
day, but enjoyable nonetheless. In the
evening, we were treated to a nice and
typically American meal at the Hard
Rock Café.
Our penultimate day in
New York focused more on places of
historical and cultural significance to
the city. We set off early in the morning
to the harbour, to be taken by ferry
to Ellis Island. We were completely
absorbed in admiring the magnificent
view of New York from the water, so
much so, in fact, that we almost missed
seeing the majestic Statue of Liberty on
our left. On returning to the mainland,
we visited a more sobering site: Ground
Zero. At this point, all the commercial
69
Fortunas 33
June 2014
CLASSICS TRIP
TO ROME AND
NAPLES
70
From the wide streets of Pompeii to
the architecture of the Colosseum, one
can glimpse the impressive remnants
of an ancient civilisation: the Roman
Empire. Founded in blood, the history
of Rome extends for thousands of
years, and the incredible city where
the Empire was born remains as
beautiful as it was back when it was
the major seat of power in the world.
The Classics trip revealed some
incredible sights to us, and I still can’t
stop thinking about all the things we
saw along the way.
Travel
James Guthrie (Form III)
Fortunas 33
June 2014
We split our time on the trip between two places:
Rome itself and the Bay of Naples. In Rome, we started off
by visiting the ruins of the port city, Ostia Antica. Ostia,
being a trading port, had temples and pieces from many
different cultures. In the centre was a Jewish community,
joined and integrated into the Roman port, accepted
into Rome like so many other peoples and cultures. Ostia
remains surprisingly intact, and many mosaics and Roman
objects can still be seen within the small port. Even this was
nothing, however, compared to what we saw within Rome
itself.
There are no words to describe adequately the
Vatican, as it looks like something from legend, with
massive columns around it and two golden fountains
in front. Statues, sculpted from marble, line the tops of
the columns, and the wide square in which the Vatican
sits seems not to fit in with the rest of Rome’s narrow
streets. Within the Museum itself, every space is filled
with paintings and sculptures, all from different periods
in history, covering every subject in Greek, Roman and
Christian history and legend. The Vatican remains one of my
personal highlights of the trip, and I am so glad that I was
able to see it and the museum within it. It is an experience I
will treasure forever.
Our final day in Rome was spent within a place of
peace, created by an emperor who had travelled the world
and was inspired by all he had seen: Hadrian’s Villa. The
villa remains largely unexcavated, but what has already
been uncovered shows how amazing it was: pools with
tortoises, golden statues of the Roman gods, marble towers,
a carefully planned forest and green, flower-filled gardens
were scattered about the magnificent villa, giving us a clear
impression of how it was two thousand years ago, thanks to
the efforts of Rome’s archaeologists.
After a three-hour journey, we arrived at the
Bay of Naples, the skyline of which was dominated by the
enormous presence of Mount Vesuvius, towering over all
the hills and mountains surrounding it. I could almost feel
the fear the people of Pompeii must have experienced when
the volcano erupted on that fateful day in August AD79.
Opposite Vesuvius came a stunning view of the bay and the
beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Following our arrival in our hotel in the town of
Sorrento, we visited two very interesting sites: the Villa of
Poppaea, wife of the mad Emperor Nero, and the Roman
Catacombs. Poppaea’s villa was a beautiful Roman house,
richly decorated by this cunning and dangerous woman
who used deception, beauty and murder to take the seat of
Empress. The Catacombs taught us what an ancient burial
tomb would have looked like, and also housed a small
temple within them.
By far, my favourite part of our stay in Naples
was our visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount
Vesuvius. Pompeii and Herculaneum, as we had learned in
Classics, were towns both destroyed and yet preserved for
us by the eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii, a large, thriving,
wealthy town and Herculaneum, a Roman holiday resort,
were covered in thick layers of ash and volcanic matter.
In Pompeii, we saw the remains of shops, bakeries, public
baths and all sorts of other buildings and plaster casts of
Pompeian bodies, preserved completely as they were at that
moment nearly two thousand years ago. In Herculaneum,
the people were killed by superheated ash which also
preserved their bodies, their charred skeletons being
among the first things we saw when we reached the town.
We were also told that most of Herculaneum remained
buried underground, but what we could see of the town
was again perfectly preserved. Finally, we came to the end
of our journey by hiking to the top of Mount Vesuvius.
Here, although there was no bubbling lava and the crater
was filled only with rocks, we knew the volcano was active
beneath because of the puffs of steam that escaped out of
the ash itself. If you ever get the chance to climb Vesuvius,
then I recommend doing so; the breath-taking view of
Naples and the surrounding bay that can be seen from the
top is both wonderful and serene.
The Classics trip to Rome and Naples was brilliant,
and the pupils and teachers on the tour all had a great
time. I would strongly recommend anyone to take the
opportunity to visit this part of Italy, if not for the history
alone, then for the views and experiences that can be gained
along the way.
71
CLÈRES 2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
WOW!!! What a trip!
72
This year’s Modern Languages trip to Clères, France, was once again a big hit with
all the pupils who went, from Junior 2 to Form II, as well as with the Form V
‘helpers’. Our cheery driver, Allan, was again on hand to negotiate the busy and
complex French roads, even braving the system round the Arc de Triomphe, much
to everyone’s delight and amazement. The ferry crossing from Hull to Belgium was
a little bumpy, probably due in part to all the excited Dollar passengers hopping
from deck to deck! The coach journey the next day was pretty tiring, especially as
some of us hadn’t had much sleep on the boat, but we had plenty of stops en route.
We particularly enjoyed our first stop in France where we had to order our food in
French! There was a warm welcome awaiting us when we arrived in Clères - the sun
was shining and the French families were really friendly. Each morning everyone
had a different story to tell, either about what they had done the evening before
(playing on the Wii, milking cows, playing board games) or what they had eaten for
dinner (this ranged from snails to raclette, which was particularly popular). All in all
the French families were brilliant, and made our stay all the better.
The next morning we travelled by coach to Paris, where we went on a
boat tour along the Seine, ate our picnic lunch with la Tour Eiffel towering over
our shoulders, bought the most amazing crêpes and demolished candyfloss twice
the size of our heads. The following day provided a journey through the history
of Normandy – the Bayeux tapestry, D-Day landing beaches and the very moving
American cemetery at Colleville were all visited. Wednesday was a rest day, when we
caught the train for a day of shopping and bowling in Rouen, a beautiful historical
town, très pittoresque! Despite the constant rain, it was still great fun. (Except the
part when all the Form I boys were dragged into ‘Lush’ by the girls. They didn’t
enjoy that experience.) The final day was spent at sunny DISNEYLAND!!! Dollar
pupils totally dominated Space Mountain for the day.
Our last meal with the French families was a sad occasion, as we had all
become really close, but yummy food helped. The next morning we bid our farewells
and headed off to Belgium once again, this time stopping off for a boat trip and a
visit to a chocolate factory which was very much enjoyed by all. It then seemed
that one moment we were watching Mr Bean’s Holiday on the coach, and the next
we were back in Dollar! All of us agree that it was a tremendous trip and one of the
best experiences we’ve had so far at Dollar. This wouldn’t have been possible if it
weren’t for Madame Young and all the teachers and senior helpers who made the
trip so enjoyable for us. Make sure you return your application form as quickly as
possible next year to ensure you get a place!
Beth Logan, Matthew McGarva and Danae MacLeod (Form I)
TOLEDO 2014
A tale of tortilla, tans, and
tackles…
On the 20th March 2014 a group of 13
pupils set off on a Spanish exchange to
Toledo, about 50 minutes from Madrid.
We were all very excited to leave
Scotland and its atrocious weather
behind, and we envied the deep tans
of our host families who greeted us
warmly on arrival in Toledo. Everyone
settled in well with the families and
sampled traditional Spanish meals,
such as tortilla and paella. After tea we
all went out into Toledo and met up
with the other pupils on the exchange
to share first impressions. We were
already getting an idea of how different
the Spanish way of life is as they stayed
out socialising until 10 o’clock at night!
The next day, we all met in
front of the Santa Maria School to
venture into the old town of Toledo.
This was a nice walk and we got to see
the sights of Toledo. Over the next few
days we visited the Prado Museum in
Madrid which was really interesting,
and also the Theme Park of Madrid.
I think everyone on the exchange
Travel
ULMEN 2014
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
a visit to the Phantasialand Theme Park
swimming in the Cochem Erlebnisbad
shopping and sightseeing in Trier, Aachen and Cologne
a football international (local German team v Dollar: result = Germany 7 - 5
Scotland; there’s always next year…)
a spectacular falconry display
German home cooking
picnic lunches in various picturesque locations
a visit to the famous Lorelei statue
a stone-skimming competition in the Rhine (winner: Finn McIlwraith, Form
I);
the dreaded ‘Monk Joke’
Mr Payne’s Rhine Tour.
And, despite the final item on that list, many participants are already asking about
going back next year. So, overall, a success!
Fortunas 33
Jen Alexander (Form II)
In early April, 28 pupils from Junior 2 and Form I set off on the Modern Languages
Department’s annual trip to Ulmen, in the Rhineland. Over the course of the week
the pupils were immersed in the language, practising their German upon members of the friendly host families and in an abundance of trips and outings in and
around Ulmen. The Dollar group enjoyed (probably in this order):-
June 2014
would agree that this was one of the
best days of our trip. Sunday was a
day to spend with our host families,
a very sunny day which allowed even
us to work on our tans! The next day
we took a tour of the school and were
able to see how different it is from our
school, and then we went out to visit
the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo.
It was challenging to understand the
Spanish tour guide but we could pick
up a good idea of what she was saying.
Our last full day was spent in the school
in an array of different activities, such
as cooking, Maths, Biology, crafts
and even a football match. Of course,
Scotland beat Spain with a score of 4-1.
(Pity it’s not like this when it comes to
the World Cup!) Our partner school
organised a farewell party for the
final evening and it was very sad to be
leaving the great friends we had made.
The next morning, we said “adios” and
embarked on the coach to head back
home. We’re already looking forward to
September when they come to Scotland
to stay with us.
73
SKI TOUR 2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
eat,sleep, ski ...repeat
74
Not many schools take over 100 pupils
on their ski trip. Not many schools
run a ski trip covering six year groups.
And not many schools have enough
staff who can ski sufficiently well to
keep up with an increasingly large
number of really excellent skiers. Well,
building on the foundations laid by Mr
Marchant several (many?) years ago,
the 2014 Dollar Academy Easter Ski
Tour travelled once again to the Hotel
Piolet at the heart of Les Menuires in
the French Alps, taking 113 pupils and
16 staff for a week packed full of skiing,
snowboarding, fun and camaraderie.
With the vast majority of
the pupils skiing for at least six hours
each day, the huge ‘3 Valleys’ ski area
is able to offer something for everyone.
Morning groups were set by age
and ability after many sessions at Firpark in Tillicoultry and four at the indoor
snowslope at Braehead, and involved skiing for two hours with an ESF Instructor,
followed by two hours with our staff. After a hearty hot lunch in the Piolet, the
afternoon expeditions allowed pupils to choose where and with whom they skied,
whether it was ‘Long Reds’, ‘Hot Chocolate Blues’, ‘The Courchevel Express’, ‘Four
Black Runs in an Afternoon’, or ‘Ski Until the Last Lift Closes!’.
Once boots were off and clothes changed, many crêpes were consumed in
the Croisette shopping area, and recent FPs will be sad to note that “le crêpes-man”
has moved on to a new position, and as such is no longer expertly making the
crêpes we have all enjoyed for many years – the new guy has a lot of learning to do!
Evenings were spent playing a variety of Ski Tour favourites, both inside and out,
and this year two new activities were enjoyed by all – a Beetle Drive and Speed
Mountain, an outdoor rollercoaster a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.
Some ask why we go every two years, and there are a whole host of reasons
for this. It gives parents time to pay for what is an expensive school trip. A week is
a long time to be away from families every year at Easter for our very experienced
team of staff. And for me, at least, it allows a real sense of anticipation and
excitement to build – good things come to those who……wait.
David Lumsden
SKI RACING
Fortunas 33
Jemma Hulbert (Captain)
June 2014
This year has been a successful one for the Dollar Academy Ski Race Team. Having
won bronze medals in the Scottish Schools Dry Slope Championships at the start
of this school year, we have stayed high in the rankings so far. Qualifying for the
British Schools Ski Championships took us to Gloucester in November, where
the team - consisting of Abigail Douglas (Form III), Alex Fleming (Form III), Lucy
(Form IV) and Jemma Hulbert (Form VI) - raced to a top ten British ranking. This
placed us as the second fastest Scottish girls’ team on the day.
Our most recent event was the Scottish Schools Championships which
were held at Cairngorm in March. We came a close fifth (by one hundredth of a
second) with Abigail, last year’s Under 14 Scottish Schools Champion, winning an
individual bronze medal. In the qualifier for the championships at Nevis Range,
we were the fastest girls’ team, winning gold medals; Abigail came second overall
and took individual silver. This had proved difficult to achieve in the tough weather
conditions that so often batter the west coast. Some of us even dug snow-holes
for protection – and confiscated Mr MacDermot’s snowboard to help shore up the
walls!
The next schools’ race is scheduled for June, and I hope that the team is
yet again successful.
75
Dollar Academy First XV Season 2013/14
Photograph courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
Back: Ross Hughes; Harry Waterston; Murray Semple; Patrick Laing; Charlie Thomson; Ross Brock; Gavin Pierpoint; Robbie Beautyman
Middle: Mr N. Gallagher; Mr D. Caskie; Alasdair Johnston; Tim Torrance; Cameron Grounds; Gregor Haldane; Niall Ivatt; Euan Connor;
Lewis Hetman; Danny Dineen; Jamie McAloon; Owen Prentice; Mr D. J. Knapman
Front: Calum Sreenan; Jack McNicol; David Kennedy; Alex Crawford; Fraser Hammond; Angus Hunter; Jack Geddes
RUGBY 2013/14
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Played: 17 Won: 8 Lost: 9 Points
For: 418 Points Against: 407
76
A mixed bag of results along the
way with both highs and lows, but
nevertheless 2013/14 proved a great
season for Dollar rugby in terms of
commitment, attitude and enjoyment
throughout each team. Success should
never be measured in wins alone, and it
has been clear that individual progress
and therefore team improvement has
been made throughout the season.
This is a testament to the hard work
and dedication of the players and all of
the coaching staff who give so much of
their time helping each child to be the
best he can be, playing with a smile on
his face…playing for fun and enjoying
the rugby experience, both on and off
the field.
Many of our U14 and U15
players have taken their first steps to
district and national recognition, being
invited on the Easter Key National
Theme Camps run by the Scottish
Rugby Union, whilst many in the
senior ranks have had their hard efforts
rewarded with Caledonia selection.
Of special note is Gregor Haldane’s
(Form V) selection to the Scotland U16
team. This year’s ‘Player of the Season’
produced some great performances
which justifiably culminated in his
deserved selection.
The new season got underway
with a shock to many, both 1st XV
players and locals alike…preseason
training followed by a daily soak in
the burn! All shapes and sizes threw
away their modesty and took to the icy
torrents like ducks to water, despite
the amused local residents sadistically
taking snap-shots of this wondrous
sight!
Early results were promising
with fine wins over Heriot’s and Howe
of Fife, but this early momentum could
not be sustained with narrow losses
following against Edinburgh Academy
and Dundee High School. What came
next was perhaps the performance of
the season against a huge and powerful
Loretto side in the Scottish Schools
Cup. Each and every player stood up
to the challenge, going against their
Sport
Fortunas 33
June 2014
77
opposite number toe to toe, never
taking a backward step and refusing
to give in when they fell behind. This
was the David and Goliath of games,
with the underdog victorious and fully
warranted.
What followed epitomised
the roller coaster of performances
for the 1st XV…
A favourable draw saw us gain a
quarter-final home spot against
Heriot’s, a team we had already beaten
quite convincingly. However, the same
level of application from the previous
draw could not be matched, despite the
whole school coming out to cheer on
their team. As a group we experienced
a new low of missed opportunity and
‘what ifs’…
Despite this setback, the
squad regrouped and performed well
throughout the rest of the season.
Whilst results remained inconsistent,
the application and team spirit were
second to none and the boys can be
very proud of their achievements.
Huge congratulations should
go to our captain, Alex Crawford (Form
VI), who worked tirelessly throughout
the season and led from the front with
his dynamic attacking style of play.
His example is a credit to the man
and will be a hard act to follow. He has
carried the mantle of Dollar captain
with distinction and obvious pride. The
whole of Dollar wishes him well.
Also worthy of special
mention is our ‘Most Improved Player’,
Gavin Pierpoint (Form VI). A man that
has grown into half the man he used to
be! Hard work, sweat and tears earned
him this award both in the gym and
on the field. Gavin just got better and
better and always played with a smile
on his face, or is that a grimace…
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Further on down the school
there was also much to applaud.
78
Future rugby at Dollar is in good hands
with the formation of a new Prep 4
and 5 Rugby Club whilst the Junior
1 teams were ably led by Craig Sharpe
and Mathew McKillop, two lads that
never gave up and led their teams
well, displaying great commitment
and enthusiasm. The Junior 2’s were
captained by Ewan Moore and Jamie
Wight. Ewan with the most outrageous
dummy ever seen in the school was
supported by some fantastic individual
displays, including by Ross McKnight
with too many tries to remember and
some searing runs from Euan Smith at
fly half. Special mention must also go
to Douglas Geissler at No.8 for his high
work rate and devastating tackling.
There were yet more creditable
performances from the likes of Finlay
Johnston and Ruari Scott.
Finn McIlwraith and Fraser
Dawtrey captained Form I. Huge
congratulations are extended to them
for the improvement they and their
players made, culminating in the final
of the Edinburgh Academy Sevens,
where they narrowly came second.
The Form II’s have been led by
Cameron Keys and Ian Brett. This group
have some very promising individuals
in their ranks, and I look forward
to seeing them fulfil their potential.
The visit of Mumbles Crusaders from
Swansea was a particular highpoint,
sharing the experience of new friends,
paintballing and hosting our guests in
the evening. Exactly what rugby is all
about.
The Form III team was
impressively
led
by
Cameron
Moore. Hard-working, diligent and
resourceful, Cameron has led his
side to a fantastic season, losing just
two games throughout and winning
the Merchiston Castle and Stewart’s
Melville Sevens tournaments.
The Under 16’s were well led
by Jack Geddes (Form V) and Rory
Cooke (Form IV) and produced some
fine performances, none perhaps finer
than the comeback win of 47-43 after
giving away 38 points in the first half.
team,
more
The
2nd
affectionately known as the ‘elite
development squad’, was ably coached
by Mr Ryan Welsh and captained
by Tim Torrance (Form VI). What
a fantastic job they have done,
persuading boarders out of their
beds and onto the rugby field in the
pursuit of open, fluid rugby! A truly
cosmopolitan and international fifteen
on many occasions, they played always
in the right spirit and clearly enjoyed
every minute.
A special vote of thanks
must also go to Lesley McIlwraith, our
physio, for putting back together all the
broken bodies throughout the season.
Her healing hands, hard work and
commitment have been appreciated by
both players and staff alike.
Finally on to next year, I
am delighted to announce that Euan
Connor will captain the 1st XV next
season with Gregor Haldane as his
vice-captain. There is no doubt that
both will do a tremendous job. The two
club secretaries will be Jack McNicol
and Ross Hughes and I look forward
to working alongside them and all the
players next year. The season kicks off
with a preseason tour to Lake Garda,
Italy, in August. I can’t wait…
Don Caskie
Director of Rugby
Sport
1st XV Rugby Results 2013/14 31.08.13
George Heriot’s School
Won
15-14
07.09.13
Howe of Fife
Won
73-0
14.09.13
Edinburgh Academy
Lost
21-31
21.09.13
High School of Dundee
Lost
11-29
24.09.13
Scottish Schools Cup
Loretto
Won
19-14
28.09.13
George Watson’s College
Lost
5-62
05.10.13
High School of Glasgow
Won
25-13
09.10.13
Scottish Schools Cup
George Heriot’s School
Lost
10-18
09.11.13
St Aloysius’ College
Won
31-12
16.11.13
Stewart’s Melville College
Lost
7-22
23.11.13
Robert Gordon’s College
Lost
19-48
30.11.13
Fettes College
Lost
14-19
18.01.14
Edinburgh Academy
Won
14-12
01.02.14
Hutchesons’ Grammar School
Won
47-12
01.03.14
High School of Dundee
Lost
7-44
08.03.14
Glasgow Academy
Lost
21-28
15.03.14
Heriot’s Sevens
Lost
Knocked out at
group stage
22.03.14
Howe of Fife
Won
69-7
Results of matches of all teams can be viewed on the Dollar Academy website.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
79
80
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Photographic montage courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
Sport
Dollar Acdemy First XI 2013-2014
Photograph courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
Back Row: Isla Keith, Bevhan Trevis, Anna King, Jennifer Kennedy, Hannah Worsley
Middle: Miss L. Allan, Lucy McCran, Nicola Scott-Dodd, Emma Dearden, Isla Cubitt, Beth Alexander, Mr D. J. Knapman
Front: Lucy Taylor, Catherine Allan, Ciara O’Connell (Captain), Mhairi Dick, B Scott
HOCKEY
2013/2014
Fortunas 33
season. She has been a great support
to me with the 1st and 2nd XI teams as
well as through her input with all the
other year groups. Bringing a wealth of
experience, with 139 caps for Scotland
and Great Britain, she now embarks
on full-time training with the Senior
Scotland Women in preparation for
the Commonwealth Games in the
summer. To play for Scotland in the
Commonwealth Games in front of
a home crowd would certainly be a
dream come true, and we all wish Holly
every success.
Congratulations should also
June 2014
Season 2013-14 will go down as one
of the most memorable yet for Dollar
Hockey, the result of a huge amount of
time and effort from pupils and staff
alike, both on and off the pitch.
The ‘babies’ of the Hockey Club
are our Prep 4s and 5s who have had
their own weekly practice this season.
The girls have endless enthusiasm and
it is amazing to see them demonstrate
core skills at such a young age. This will
lay a strong foundation for the future.
Thanks go to Miss Beattie for her help
in the running of the Club and to the
1st XI players who have contributed to
both coaching and umpiring.
Our Junior 1s have had
several fixtures this season and
produced some excellent results. Thank
you to Mrs Robb, Mrs Galloway and
Miss Cram for delivering the lunchtime
sessions and to Heather Aitken (FP
2013) for assisting me with the afterschool session.
I am delighted that Miss Holly
Cram has joined the coaching staff this
81
Fortunas 33
June 2014
82
go to Mrs Galloway, who has been
assisted by Mrs Morrison and Dan
Marsh with the Junior 2s. They have
had a brilliant season, winning the
Mary Erskine Tournament as well as
the Glasgow Academy Tournament
and coming runners-up in the George
Watson’s Tournament. It was one of
my personal season’s highlights to
watch them win comfortably against
George Watson’s at the Glasgow
Academy Tournament, which was
hosted by Olympian Rhona Simpson.
She congratulated the girls on their
attacking style of play and described
them as a “force to be reckoned with
in the future”. Special mention goes
to Lucy Smith (J2D) who has been
selected for the Midland U14 squad.
We also welcomed Miss Ely
(Mathematics Department) to Dollar
in August. She has likewise had a
very successful first season with the
Form Is. This is another year group
with huge potential as is evident
through some of the results they have
produced. The girls reached the final of
the annual First Year Tournament with
wins against some tough opposition
en route, but lost out to a talented
Cargilfield side. Thank you to Miss Ely
for her enthusiastic approach and to
Mrs Smith and Daniel March for their
assistance with the Form 1s.
I have been particularly
impressed with the talent in the
Form II teams. The hard work and
commitment instilled by Mrs Robb,
assisted by Mr Dann and Gillian Ross,
has resulted in them enjoying a superb
season. They had comfortable wins
against George Watson’s, Strathallan,
Mary Erskine and the list could go
on! Reaching the final of the Midland
U15 Cup against Strathallan was a
particular highlight. After an end-toend game, the girls were very unlucky
to lose on penalty strokes. I look
forward to seeing how they fare in the
same Cup next year. Congratulations
to Captain Erin Stevens, Georgia
Smith, Sophie Ferguson, Susie Green,
Olivia Mears, goalkeeper Eva Caie and
Jenny Walls who have all been selected
for the Midland U14 squad, and to
Georgia Smith who was selected for
the Scotland U16 squad. Good luck to
them all over the summer.
Gillian Ross has been an
excellent addition to the coaching staff.
She has worked very hard assisting
Mrs Smith with the Form III’s. The
Form III As were runners-up in the
Midland Tournament and recently
beat Hutchesons’ Grammar School
with a goal in the last 30 seconds of
play. Both the As and Bs have had some
very encouraging results and the Bs
regularly vote for ‘pitch princess’ with
the presentation of a tiara!! I look
forward to welcoming the Form IIIs to
senior Hockey after the summer and
hope they will rise to the challenges
ahead.
Both the 3rd and 4th XI teams
continue to field healthy numbers and
we had five XIs out on several occasions
this season. A huge thank you to the
experienced Mrs MacDonald for her
passionate approach with the girls,
ably assisted by Kari and Daniel Marsh.
Our 2nd XI have had the
good fortune to be coached by Miss
Cram. Captain Ellie Couser (Form VI)
has led her charges to a number of
great results. Concerns that Ellie had
retired mid – season were thankfully
unfounded! Sadly we bid farewell and
good luck to a key player and character
of the team, Lisa Mukaro (Form IV),
who is heading for Australia with her
family in the summer. We will miss
you and hope you continue to play at
your new school. Miss Cram and I were
relieved to get through the season
without the ‘one-handed wonder’
Eilidh Watson (Form VI) being sent
off! The free hand is not used for
balance, but for frequent ‘hand offs’
and regularly to indicate to the umpire
that she has won a foul! Joking aside,
Eilidh’s penalty corners have been a
lethal weapon this year, and she ranks
as top goalscorer from both the 1st and
2nd XI. Thanks go to Emily Bain (FP
2007) who often experienced the force
of Eilidh and umpired every week for
various teams. We wish her the best of
luck as she starts a new teaching post
at Morrison’s Academy in August.
The 1st XI season got
underway during the holidays in
August with some gruelling running
sessions - certainly a shock to the
system for some. We welcomed several
Form IVs to the squad - Isla Keith,
Bevhan Trevis and Emma Dearden. I
have been impressed throughout the
season by their willingness to learn
and develop their game as well as by
their maturity... at times! Bevhan and
fighting spirit back in the girls and I
hope this season has proved to them
that it’s not just about talent and good
performances, it’s about having the
passion to play in the Dollar strip, to
work hard for each other and to never,
ever give up.
A tour to Belfast in October
certainly added to the real ‘team
ethos’ the girls have shown all year.
On arrival, the girls went straight into
a training session in preparation for
the first game against current Irish
U18 champions, Lurgan College. As
expected against such a strong side,
this was a tough game and by half-time
the Dollar team was already feeling the
pressure, with the score sitting at 0-2. Despite the final score of 0-6, the girls
learned a lot from the game and ended
their day with a very enjoyable postmatch meal with their opposition. The second game was against
Ballyclare High School, the runners
up in the Irish National U18 Cup. The
Dollar girls gave a great performance
against another strong and physically
very fit Irish team, with the final score
a draw at 2-2. The third and final game
of the tour was against the renowned
Victoria College. Sheer determination
saw Dollar off to a strong start,
leading 1-0 at half-time with a superb
performance. Victoria College then
equalized and some poor defending led
to their second goal and a 1-2 defeat
for Dollar. The girls did very well and
were fantastic representatives of the
school throughout the tour.
Lynsey Allan
Director of Hockey
Fortunas 33
June 2014
This was, however, the last
tour for our Form VIs. Mhairi Dick,
our reliable secretary and goalscorer,
has always been so cheery when I have
called her every Saturday at 6:45 am
with an update of which games were
on. Bethan Scott, the intellect of the
team, has actually published her own
book this year (Empress Fallen, £7.99
on Amazon for the paperback, £3 on
Kindle!). Lucy Taylor, our injury-prone
drama queen, scored the goal of the
season against Heriot’s. I wish her
good luck on her gap year to Sydney
where she hopes to catch up with an old
friend. Catherine Allan now takes half
an hour to walk down from the main
school to training sessions since she
fell in love. Times have changed since I
used to get thanked every time I spoke
to her! Then we have our Captain and
‘Player of the Season’, Ciara O’Connell.
She has the best work rate I have ever
seen in a player and has set an excellent
example for the team. Her passion and
resilience have never been dampened
by the number of knocks, bumps and
cuts - not that she has received but
caused for other players! She never,
ever gives up, and from my point
of view she has been an exceptional
captain - a hard act to follow. Ciara
and Lucy were both selected for the
Midland U18 Squad.
The Hockey Club quite
simply would not function without
all the various contributions from so
many people. I would like to thank
Mr Meldrum and his team for their
fantastic work preparing the pitches.
They are maintained consistently to
the highest possible standard, certainly
no easy task considering the volume of
rain we have had this season. Thanks
are likewise extended to Mr McGurl
and his staff who continue to provide
excellent catering for our visiting
teams.
And already we are looking
ahead to Season 2014/2015. I am
delighted to announce that the Captain
of the 1st XI next season will be Beth
Alexander, supported in her duties by
Isla Cubitt as Vice-Captain and Anna
King, Secretary. I have no doubt Beth,
Isla and Anna will do a fantastic job
and wish them every success in their
new roles.
I would like to wish all players
and staff an enjoyable break and best
wishes to everyone next season.
Sport
Isla were selected for Midland U16,
and Bevhan went on to be selected
for the Scotland U16 training squad,
an excellent achievement given the
number of girls playing hockey in the
country.
Then we have the Fifth
Year gang: Beth Alexander, our
young farmer who provides daily crop
updates, is the voice of the team, and
a worthy recipient of the award of
‘Most Improved Player’ this season;
Anna King, experienced left back, who
can usually be found lunging at people
yelling “SELFIE!”; Hannah Worsley…
I’m afraid I don’t know what to say…;
Jenny Kennedy is the only player in the
squad to have played every position,
her versatility has been invaluable
this season; Isla Cubitt, hard-working
right mid who sadly came off worst in
a wipe-out tackle from a Mary Erskine
player (I thought she was the bright
one until one day at a tournament she
asked, “Miss Allan, if we win the semi
are we in the final?”); and finally, Lucy
McCran, the character of the team, who
regularly informs me that if the banter
bus needs re-fuelling – just give her a
shout!! Beth, Anna, Hannah and Isla
were all selected to play for Midland
U18.
It has been another successful
season in terms of performance but
results have unfortunately not gone
our way, playing 19 games, winning 7,
drawing 3 and losing 9. Unfortunately
we lost to Kilgraston in the Midland
U18 Knock-out Cup after a complacent
performance – this emphasised the
highs and lows of sport, having drawn
with Mary Erskine’s only three days
earlier. What has impressed me most is
the team’s desire to succeed, the girls’
work rate for each other and their belief
that they can beat the traditionally
‘strongest’ hockey schools. That draw
against Mary Erskine’s was one of
the highlights of the season, with Isla
Cubitt scoring the equalizer in the
last minute. Beating the High School
of Glasgow and drawing with Heriot’s
were other high points. These results
are credit to the girls’ work rate and
application.
It has been great to see the
83
1st XI Hockey Results 2013/14
31.08.13
07.09.13
14.09.13
Glasgow Academy
George Watson’s College
Hutchesons’ Grammar School
Win
Lost
Draw
2-0
0-2
1-1
17.09.13
Midlands Senior Outdoor Tournament
v Morrison’s Academy
v Strathallan School
v Kilgraston School
Win
Lost
Draw
1-0
0-1
1-1
(lost on running
penalties)
21.09.13
26.09.13
01.10.13
High School of Dundee
Glenalmond College
Fettes College
Win
Win
Lost
1-0
4-0
0-2
05.10.13
Craigholme School
Win
7-0
Hannah Worsley
scoring 5 goals
06.10.13
09.11.13
14.11.13
Independent Schools Tournament
Mary Erskine School
Strathallan School
3rd place
Draw
Lost
11 points secured
1-1
0-4
16.11.13
St George’s School
Win
7-0
23.11.13
07.12.13
23.01.14
25.01.14
01.02.14
18.02.14
22.02.14
01.03.14
08.03.14
George Watson’s College
George Heriot’s School
George Watson’s College
St George’s School
Mary Erskine School
Loretto Abbey (Irish Touring Team)
Hutchesons’ Grammar School
High School of Glasgow
George Heriot’s School
Lost
Lost
Lost
Win
Lost
Lost
Lost
Win
Draw
1-3
1-2
0-2
2-0
0-1
1-3
0-2
1-0
1-1
15.03.14
Goldenacre Tournament
v Mary Erskine’s
v St George’s
v Heriot’s
v Strathallan
v Dundee High
Lost
Lost
Lost
Draw
Draw
0-2
1-2
0-1
0-0
0-0
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Results of matches of all teams can be viewed on the Dollar Academy website.
84
Sport
Photographic montage courtesy of Jan van der Merwe
all teams
photo
mont
from Jan
Fortunas 33
June 2014
85
JUNIOR 2
TOUR
HOCKEY
Manchester 2014
DISTRICT AND
NATIONAL SUCCESS
FOR DOLLAR
HOCKEY PLAYERS
Congratulations are due to a number of
Dollar Academy’s young hockey players
who have recently been selected to
represent district teams. The following
girls have all been selected for Midland
U14: Eva Caie, Sophie Ferguson,
Suzanne Green, Olivia Mears, Georgia
Smith, Erin Stevens, Jenny Walls (all
Form II) and Lucy Smith (Junior 2).
Eve Pearson (Form I) has also been
selected to play for East U14. Additionally, Alex Wilson
(Junior 2) and Tom Morris (Form II)
(not pictured) have been selected to
play for Midland U14 boys. All of the players will represent
their district on 18th May in the Annual
U14 Tournament at the National
Hockey Academy in Peffermill. There
will be National selectors there, on
the look-out for young talent. Also
pictured are Georgia Smith (Form II)
and Bevhan Trevis (Form IV) who have
been selected for the Scotland U16
squad. We wish all our pupils the very
best of luck.
We arrived at Dollar early Saturday
morning and met up with the rest of
the team. You could actually feel the
anticipation in the air! After saying
goodbye to our families and having
pictures taken in front of the bronze
doors, we climbed on board the coach.
On the journey down we
watched several movies and had a few
stops. We were all buzzing by the time
we reached Manchester! The teachers
provided us with room keys and we
headed up. The only word to describe
the keys was useless! They hardly ever
worked and when they did, you had to
first spend ten minutes trying. We had
dinner at the hotel and settled into our
rooms to get ready for the match in the
morning.
We were woken up at eight
o’clock and after breakfast we headed
to the nearby park to warm up. We did
some slow jogging and then went back
to the hotel to get things that we might
need before getting on the coach. We
arrived at Bowden eager to get started.
We warmed up in separate teams and
then the matches started. In the end,
the A team won 3-1 in a hard match but
unfortunately the B team lost 1-5. We
had lunch with our opponents before
getting ready for the Trafford Centre.
After some shopping we went bowling
and had dinner at Frankie & Benny’s.
Then it was back to the hotel and bed.
The next morning, we had another
match against Cheadle Hulme. After a
tough match we had another mixed set
of results: the A team had won 5-2 and
the B team lost 0-6. We had lunch then
headed home back to Dollar.
All in all it was a great weekend
and we played some great hockey.
We had a lot of fun and we hope our
coaches did as well!
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Ellie James (J2N) and Amy Salmon (J2C)
86
FOOTBALL 2013-14
SISFA Cup
Having reached the quarter-finals
of the SISFA Cup last year, we went
into this year’s campaign with a fair
degree of confidence that we could
go one better this time. Of course,
we all knew it would be tough to find
a replacement for the likes of Sandy
Cunningham and Jack Cousin (FPs
2013), but we had high hopes that new
talent would emerge to fill their boots.
And so it turned out. Andy Graham
(Form VI), this year’s Captain, came
out of the shadow thrown by our two
former talismen and revealed the full
extent of his talents, impressing all
with his fantastic ball skills and, more
importantly, his goal-scoring prowess.
Much the same can be said of Calvin
Carruthers (Form V). Admittedly, he
had made a great contribution to the
team last year, but he turned into a
goal-scoring machine this season,
bagging a grand total of 18 in all
matches. In truth, we felt that, as a
team, we were even stronger this year,
that the overall skill factor was higher.
Euan Dawtrey (Form V) was just one
of those to make a difference and he
excelled up front, forming a potent
striking partnership with Calvin. In
midfield, Jack Ballantine (Form VI)
developed his role as playmaker, ably
assisted by Francesco Carletti (Form
V), who, rumour has it, came all the
way from Tuscany just to be part of
the squad (this may be a bit of an
exaggeration). David Walker-Lothian
(Form V), in his first full year in the
team, gained a regular place, never
putting a foot wrong, while Andrew
Nicolson (Form VI) was a rock at the
heart of the defence.
Sport
Central to the team’s
development over the year was the
expert coaching we received from
various people. First among these was
Jim Hamilton, a highly experienced
coach, who came on board at the
start of the season. Jim was crucial in
helping us establish our formation.
Then I must mention the contribution
of our Italian coach, Michele Barbaro.
Michele, who like his predecessor
and friend, Jacopo Columbini, plays
at semi-professional level back in
Italy, (he is also, would you believe
it, friends with A.C Milan ace Mario
Ballotelli!) is simply the best. He has
an immense knowledge of the game
and a great rapport with the players.
We are sad to learn that he leaves
Dollar at the end of the term to study
for a Ph.D. in Kuwait. We wish him all
the best in this and for all he does in
the future and we hope he comes back
to see us sometime. Arrividerci Michele
e buona fortuna! Finally, we must not
forget the contribution made by Mr
Dave Green, our much-travelled coach
and sometime Physics teacher. From
the very first, Mr Green made a great
impact on pupils here - and I mean
this quite literally - demonstrating
his tenacious tackling style in
some of the staff v pupils matches.
It was surprising that someone
who had spent so long living and
working among the gentle, peaceful,
philosophical peoples of the east
should have quite such a competitive
nature. He has certainly left his mark
on us! Mr Green also leaves us at
the end of term, destination as yet
uncertain. We want him to know that
we are all great fans of his and that we
will miss him greatly. So, as they say in
Bhutan, kadrinchey and tashi delek.
John Fotheringham
Fortunas 33
IV) in midfield had his best game for
the team. It would be remiss of me,
however, not to mention Calvin again,
for he scored four goals, the most he
or, for that matter, anyone else in
a Dollar jersey has ever scored in a
single game.
Tails were up now as we
looked forward to the quarter-finals.
The draw saw us pitted against
old rivals Gordonstoun, and after
the Easter break we once again
made the long trek north. While
confidence remained high, we were
a bit concerned about how we would
perform given that we were without
‘keeper, Euan Drummond, who had
been central to our success, and striker
Euan Dawtrey. However, we got off
to the best possible start, going up
2-0 thanks to two stunning goals by
Andy Graham inside twenty minutes,
and that into the teeth of a howling
gale. But it was to be this, the sheer
strength of the wind, which proved
to be the telling factor, for it allowed
Gordonstoun to score three rather
fortunate goals from set-pieces before
half-time. One came from a fortyyard free kick – really an attempted
pass that somehow found its way
into the net - while two corner kicks
were simply blown into the back of
the goal, the second of these on a
simply extraordinary trajectory. As
if this were not bad enough, there
was a hammer-blow of a soft penalty
right on the stroke of half-time. Luck
was clearly against us because after
the changeover the wind dropped
as suddenly as it had arisen. We still
managed to dominate play though,
and scored a couple of goals through
Jamie MacEwen (Form VI) and Calvin
Carruthers. However, our best efforts
were not to be enough, and the home
side managed to cling on to the end,
running out 5-4 winners.
June 2014
Our first match in the
group stages, a home tie against
newcomers Albyn School, was a taste
of things to come as we romped
home 7-2. Our next match, away
to St Leonard’s, was marked by an
equally fine performance; this time
we netted five, with Euan Dawtrey’s
goal the pick of the bunch. From the
outset we felt that the match against
Gordonstoun would be pivotal, for
they are always strong opponents.
And so they were again, threatening
to overrun us in the first half hour.
However, some fine defensive
performances by Duncan Cooper
(Form V), Innes McClelland (Form
VI) and Alex Watt (Form VI) helped
us weather the storm and, following
a great second-half performance, we
were, in the end, unlucky not to win.
To be honest, though, we were happy
with the draw and felt that in this
game we had played our best football
to date. Victory in our next outing
against Glenalmond meant that the
final group match against Strathallan
was not crucial. However, that game
again saw fine performances from
newer squad members, such as Euan
Drummond (Form IV), who cemented
his role as team ‘keeper, and William
Jephcote (Form V). Meanwhile Brodie
Dickson (Form VI), having been out
with a long-term injury, returned to
the scene and reminded us all what a
fine talent we had missed during his
absence.
Other results in our group
meant that we had to face Jordanhill
School in a play-off to reach the
quarter-finals proper. With one or two
of our regulars missing, we travelled
to Glasgow more in hope than in
expectation of a good result. But
football is a strange game, and despite
our having to field a rather makeshift
side, we ran out easy winners,
scoring ten goals in the process. Sam
McDougall (Form VI) shone at centrehalf and Andrew Johnston (Form
87
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Gymnastics
14
0
2
y
a
l
p
s
i
D
88
INDOOR LEAGUE
SUCCESS
FOR DOLLAR
ATHLETES
winning U11 boys team. Emma Mailer
of Junior 2 was fantastic in the U13
girls relay team, running the last leg in
superbly determined style to take them
to victory, and in so doing was part of a
team which broke the Scottish U13 4 x
200m record!
Fortunas 33
Dollar pupils also made up
a significant number of the Central
squad at senior level and all played
a huge role in the success the team
enjoyed. Kathryn Gillespie (Form VI)
won her individual 800m race in style
to help her events team to silver. She
was also part of the U20 women’s relay
team which took gold. Charlie Dineen
and Jamie Price (both Form III) are new
to the U17 age group and performed
extremely well. As part of their relay
team they made it to the final and put
up some extremely strong sprints, but
were just pipped into fourth place.
A very strong U15 girls’ team
featured four Dollar athletes, who all
played their part in helping the team
to silver in the events competition.
Georgia Smith (Form II) was another
who was the youngest in her new
age group. She performed with focus
and confidence, coming third against
strong opposition in the high jump.
Jenny Walls (Form II), again by far
the youngest in her 800m race, ran
strongly against four of the top twelve
athletes in the UK in her age group,
coming fifth. She came to within a
second of her own recently set Personal
Best. Minnie Roe (Form III) managed
a marvellous PB in the 60m sprint to
come third. She ran the final leg of the
winning 200m relay for her team, with
a sprint that was also a spectacular
PB. Catriona Laing (Form II) had a
great 300m race, coming within half
a second of her recent PB, holding on
for second place despite some shoving.
The relay finals were held within 30
minutes of that race, yet Catriona
came out running like a steam train!
Catriona and Minnie were also half of
the U15 girls’ relay team who won gold,
smashed the Central AC club record
by four seconds, and were only 0.4
seconds away from the League record!
All of these Dollar pupils
showed great character in the face
of strong competition over what
was a long, gruelling day. The team
managers at Central Athletics Club
and all at Dollar are very proud of
their achievements, which set them up
for very promising summer seasons,
representing both their Club and their
school.
June 2014
Having barely caught their breath after
a lively week in Benmore, a number of
Junior 2 pupils joined Central Athletics
Club team mates from Junior 1 to
take part in the finals of the Scottish
Athletics Indoor League Competition
on March 16th.
The Competition runs over
the winter period and is initially over
three events in which 48 teams take
part, the top six qualifying for the
finals. The fiercely competitive 4 x
200m relay championships are also
held on the same day as the finals.
In the U13 girls’ event, Lucy
Smith (Junior 2) was part of the
Central Athletics U13 gold medal
winning team. Having won the high
jump in all the qualifying events, she
took part in the 60m hurdles in the
final and won with a personal best,
taking her to fourth in Scotland at U13
this year for this event.
In the U13 boys event, Euan
Smith and Alex Wilson (both Junior
2) achieved personal bests in their
events, the 60m hurdles and 800m
respectively, helping their team to the
bronze medal. Euan was also part of
the U13 boys bronze medal winning
relay team. In other relays, Ben Salmon
(Junior 1) was part of a gold medal
89
CROSS-COUNTRY
CHAMPIONSHIPS
2014
Over 500 pupils rose to the challenge
at the Cross-Country Championships
in March.
The Junior and senior school
pupils were set a gruelling route on
Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th, and
the competitors braved the elements
as they pushed themselves over the
rough terrain, which for the older
pupils included the Ochils. This year’s
training had clearly paid off with some
very impressive performances and two
new school records.
The winners of the various age groups were as follows:
Junior 1 Girls – Rachel Leslie
Junior 1 Boys – Calum Rae
Junior 2 Girls – Lucy Smith
Junior 2 Boys – Euan Smith
Form 1 Girls – Lucy Ross
Form 1 Boys – Euan Bremner
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Intermediate Girls – Jenny Walls, Form II (with a new record)
Intermediate Boys – Peter Bery, Form II
90
Senior Girls – Kathryn Gillespie, Form VI (with a new record)
Senior Boys – Philip Wright, Form VI
Pupils in Prep 4 and 5 followed a slightly shorter route on Thursday 6th March.
Despite it being very wet and muddy underfoot, the youngsters completed
the circuit in great spirit. Evan Rennie and Catrin Maclean raced into
championship places for Prep 5, while Scott Huntly and Paige Stevens were
awarded the Prep 4 medals. Dollar Academy is one of the few schools in the UK who retain the
tradition of a proper cross-country event. The organisation of such a race presents
a serious logistical undertaking and we could not run such a successful event
without the considerable help and expertise of so many staff. This is a voluntary
event and we are encouraged by the enthusiasm of the many pupils who choose to
compete.
Photographs courtesy of Chris Cairns
Sport
SCOTTISH
PRIMARY
SCHOOLS’
CROSS-COUNTRY
CHAMPIONSHIPS
2014
The annual Scottish Primary Schools’
Cross Country Championships were
held at Kirkcaldy High School on
Saturday 19th April. The weather was
unusually amenable - dry but with a
light breeze: perfect for the athletes
(and nice for the spectators, too).
Eight races (of over 1500m) were
contested in front of the imposing
Dunnikier House Hotel. Every race
had over a hundred competitors,
making for a lively competition.
Euan Smith (Junior 2)
completed the best individual run,
finishing in 5th place, and his time
was very close to those who eventually
medalled. Both Junior 1 teams
finished in a praiseworthy 4th place.
Most impressively, the Junior 2 girls
achieved a magnificent second place,
earning silver medals. The team
members were Verity D’Ath, Emma
Mailer, Lucy Smith, and Rhiannon
Carr.
Mrs Galloway (PE
Department) said, “This is the highestplaced team from Dollar in a number
of years.” All of the young runners who
participated should be congratulated
upon this strong performance. Heather Moore
Fortunas 33
June 2014
91
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS FOR
DOLLAR SWIMMER
#onetowatch
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Form V pupil Jasmin Sengupta travelled to St Lucia in November, where
she participated at the OECS swim meet representing Antigua and
Barbuda. Jasmin did her country proud by winning 11 medals (six silver
and five bronze) for her team, becoming the top-scoring girl for Antigua’s
65-member team. Moreover, she was recognised for her ability to cultivate
friendships and act as an ambassador to all the teams.
Over 200 athletes from five different countries across the
Caribbean - Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
and The British Virgin Islands – all descended upon St Lucia to compete in
this colourful and eclectic event, which had an electrically charged carnival
atmosphere. The OECS is the region’s biggest annual youth swimming
event and showcases the best Caribbean amateur talent. Swimming has
taken off in this region and many young people see this as an opportunity
to receive scholarships to American colleges.
Jasmin’s international swimming success reflects her
commitment to the arduous and time-consuming training involved, and
is testament to an extraordinary discipline that also shines through her
school work.
92
WATER POLO
SELECTION
Brothers Craig (Form II) and
Ross (Form IV) Stewart are to be
congratulated on their selection for
the Scotland teams for water polo in
their respective age categories. Craig
travelled with the U14 team to the Inter
Regional Water Polo Championship
in Walsall earlier this year, whilst his
older brother was selected for the U17
team that competed in an eight-nation
international tournament in the Czech
Republic in April. Both boys have been
selected for a Scotland squad training
event in Hungary in June, with further
opportunities to represent their
country later in the year.
Craig and Ross have worked
hard to achieve this recognition and
have also made a great contribution
to school water polo, having recently
competed for Dollar in a schools’
tournament.
Sport
ROLLING THUNDER 2014
On Friday 28th February, Dollar Academy CCF sent a group
of cadets on a gruelling eight-hour train journey to the
Defence School of Communications and Information Systems
in Blandford, to compete in Exercise Rolling Thunder. This
annual event is a national Signals competition that gives
cadets from the Army Cadet Force and the Combined Cadet
Force the chance to prove themselves in disciplines such as
signalling, fitness and shooting. 23 teams competed in this
the competition’s ninth year. Dollar CCF has competed in
four of these, with 2013 seeing the team come fourth.
The team, led by Sgt Christian Lao, consisted of Sgt
Finlay Young, Cpl Peter Rattray (all Form V), Cpl Hannah
Parker (Form IV) and L/Cpl Emma Rattray (Form III). Long
hours of hard work and intense training were spent preparing
for the competition, and the whole contingent had high
hopes that the team would return with yet another trophy to
add to Dollar’s incredible collection.
Fortunas 33
Sgt Christian Lao (Form V)
Photographs courtesy of Chris Cairns
June 2014
After a tiring day of travelling, a brief of the
competition was given. This provided the senior cadets and
Capt. Scott with a bit of a shock as it was explained that
Colonel G. Norton, Head of the Royal Signals, would be
touring with the team and keeping a close eye on the cadets’
performance.
The competition consists of eight stands taking
place over 10 hours, which test the cadets’ physical fitness as
well as leadership and teamwork skills. These stands include
a ‘march and shoot’, voice procedure exercises, ‘The Cube’,
Morse and semaphore, and a test on signals knowledge.
The Dollar team grew in confidence from stand to
stand, consistently achieving top scores in all aspects of
signalling, from coding to practical work. Most impressive,
however, was the team’s work in the voice procedure lab, in
which the cadets achieved top marks as well as being
commended on their use of the fearsome Battle Code.
The prize-giving was a nerve-racking experience for
the whole team, with Capt. Scott warning the most
experienced cadets to stop shaking the row of seats the team
was sitting on! However the result was the best the team
could ever have hoped for - first place, making the Dollar
cadets the best signallers in the country. To top the victory
off, Christian Lao was awarded Best Signals Cadet of the
competition.
Unfortunately the team was not allowed to bring
home the priceless solid silver trophy. Nevertheless, the long
hours of work and journeying seemed very much worth it,
with the team full of smiles the whole eight hours home.
Dollar CCF’s Signals Section is very much looking forward to
returning next year to defend its title.
93
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June 2014
WELBECK CADET
LEADERSHIP
CHALLENGE 2014
94
Two teams consisting of Dollar
Academy’s strongest cadets travelled
down to the Welbeck Cadet Leadership
Challenge on Friday 28th March. The
boys’ team and the girls’ team departed
on March 30th, having won both first
and second place respectively - a
remarkable achievement considering
that 19 other schools were in
attendance. Still more impressive
was that Dollar girls’ team - the only
all girls’ team at the competition defeated all the other boys’ or mixed
teams present (apart from their male
peers who won overall).
The Welbeck Cadet Leadership
Challenge is a significant event on the
CCF calendar for cadets under 16.
Teams undertake a rigorous set of
challenges, testing their leadership
skills, physical fitness and military
skill. Tommy Henson (Form IV) of the
boys’ team, describes Welbeck Defence
Sixth Form College, in Leicestershire,
as “grand and inspiring”. It is where the
Ministry of Defence trains potential
technical officers in the armed forces.
As Lt. Richard Lindsay (History and
Modern Studies Teacher and OC
Royal Signals Section) said, “the whole
competition is run at a very high tempo
and to a very high standard.”
The Dollar cadets had worked
very hard to get to this point, attending
regular and rigorous training sessions
twice a week with several older Dollar
Academy cadets. These older pupils also
travelled to Welbeck to support their
peers during the competition. This
year’s boys’ team was led by Tommy
Henson (Form IV) and included Scott
Norval, Ross Ritchie, Sam Ward, (all
Form IV) Niall Baird, Darwin Douglas,
Jonty Haywood (all Form III) and
Cameron McCall (Form II). The girls’
team was led by Lucy Hulbert and
included Imogen Macleod (both Form
IV), Catriona Ferguson, Anna Glasgow,
Anna Melling, Amy Pope, Kathryn
Scougall (all Form III), Nicola Henson
and Sandy Steele (both Form II).
Capt. M. Scott (Contingent Executive
Officer), along with Lt. R. Lindsay, SMI
T. Scott and SSI C. Cairns (Assistant
School Staff Instructor) accompanied
the group.
Welbeck is a field competition
meaning, essentially, that the cadets
live in tents over the two days of
competition. The teams compete
against one another across a range of
‘stands’; these include military fitness
challenges, a Jacob’s Ladder event, a
foreign weapons test, orienteering and
first aid, among others. There are 15
stands in total, and points are awarded
depending upon the team’s success at
each stand.
The girls’ team won six out
of the 15 stands, performing well
even in the stands demanding raw
physical strength. Lucy Hulbert said
that the stands, “highlighted the need
for strong communication and team
work, as well as the unique skills each
individual brought to the competition.
These diverse skills helped us excel
in the command tasks where many
different ideas were needed to achieve
the task as quickly as possible. I can
safely say that each member of the girls’
team played a key role in the success
we achieved together.” Although the
Dollar boys’ team won overall and the
girls came second, Capt. Scott said,
“I really thought the girls had won it,
based upon their performance.”
Both
teams
must
be
congratulated for their tremendous
success at Welbeck. Tommy Henson
said,
“Both
teams
performed
excellently in every aspect; managing
to firstly retain the winning title, but
also to gain a clean sweep with the girls
gaining second place. We upheld the
school’s smart and positive reputation
in all aspects of the competition and
enjoyed ourselves immensely.” The
cadets are all eagerly looking ahead to
2015; confidence is high that they can
retain the title three years in a row.
Heather Moore
(Photographs courtesy of ChrisCairns)
CCF
EXCELLENCE IN
COMPETITIVE FIRST AID
On Friday 7th March, Brigadier P. Harkness, Commander
of 51st (Scottish) Brigade, joined the Rector in assembly to
present five members of the Dollar Academy CCF First Aid
Team with the Brigade Commander’s Coins for Excellence
to recognise the team’s outstanding achievements in
competitive first aid.
The team, comprising RSM Rob Henson (Form VI)
and Sgt Angus Clark, Cpl Ben Collins, Sgt Christian Lao,
Sgt Duncan Smith (all Form V), has had an exceptional
year, winning both the Scottish and British First Aid
Championships and being crowned the Best First Aid Team
in the UK at the Young Grand Prior Competition. The success
of the team would not have been possible without the
continuing help, training and support of SMI Tracy Scott,
who coached the team to victory.
Brigadier Harkness is responsible for the British
Army in Scotland, and has been heavily involved in the
development and operations of the Army over the last 20
years. The Brigadier commissioned a limited number of
Commander’s Coins for Excellence and we are honoured that
he has chosen to recognise the achievements of our pupils.
EASTER CAMP 2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
The CCF Easter Camp is an annual, seven-day event
that is held at MOD Caledonia, located at the Rosyth
Naval Base. That is to say, the pupils participating
are based there. But, in actual fact they spend just
about every minute of the seven days out and about,
running the gauntlet of an almost non-stop series of
activities and challenges. 39 cadets, from Forms II to
VI, managed to find places on this year’s Easter Camp.
They are split up into small sections, and older cadets
are given leadership roles.
Over the course of the week, every single
cadet earned their RYA Powerboat and Sailing Level 1
qualification, practising their skills on the River Forth.
This was no small achievement. They also spent many
hours working on their shooting skills and improving
their knowledge of small-scale military tactics. There
was a leadership day, too, which involved everything
from kayaking and caving to scaling a Jacob’s Ladder.
There were many other team-building tasks and, on the
occasional evening, some of the cadets even found the
energy to go to the cinema.
The group were accompanied by Mrs Adamson
95
(Commanding Officer and Deputy Head of the Prep
and Junior Schools), Capt. Scott (Contingent Executive
Officer), along with Lt. Lindsay (History and Modern
Studies Teacher), Tracy Scott and SSI Cairns (Assistant
School Staff Instructor). “I was very tired at the end . .
. in fact, I was quite tired halfway through!” said Capt.
Scott. “I earned my week off.” Doubtless, the cadets
lucky enough to attend felt much the same way.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Heather Moore
Photographs courtesy of Chris Cairns
96
with the intention of mastering and
pulling together all the things we had
practised time and time again. With
the sacrifice of our individual quirks,
hidden behind our camouflage and
muddy stripes, it turned out that we
excelled in every aspect of the
competition. During the speed
marches and assault courses, our
boots hit the ground with deafening
uniformity and precision, each beat of
the march perfectly accentuated.
During the shoots, we released our
triggers with invariable, precise
rhythm, sending a cascade of bullets
towards the targets, sparking a
resonant echo across the army
training arena.
Over that competition
weekend, I felt pride and admiration
on an entirely new level to anything I
had ever experienced before. This
time, it wasn’t just me glowing with
pride because of something I had
managed to achieve, but every single
member of our quirky, unique team
had a beaming smile because of what
we had managed to achieve together.
In a team you are trained to prioritise
the needs of the team and those
around you over your own needs. You
cannot afford to be selfish or to
indulge in any time-costly activities.
You have to think fast, react fast, work
fast as well as tune yourself in
perfectly with everyone else. When we
marched up in front of the crème de la
crème of the other contingents from
across Scotland to receive our gold
medals, I was overwhelmed with this
newfound sense of pride, my ‘game
face’ still on, my feet and body still in
time.
But I couldn’t prevent the massive,
unprofessional smile that broke out
across my face as the medal was placed
in my hand, and slowly, our little unit
of toy soldiers began to express our
happiness, this time, in our own
unique way.
Megan Montgomery (Form V)
Fortunas 33
whether it was a gruelling night
navigation exercise or section attack,
words of support and fiery motivation
would boom from the lungs (and
maybe hearts, too) of every member
of the team. As the only girl I received
my fair share of encouraging words,
which, though often rather
patronising, assured me that, despite
the rigorous discipline, the uniforms,
the camouflage masks, I was still an
individual.
I found I could maintain my
‘game face’, all furrowed brow and
narrowed eyes, for the entire duration
of the training exercises, with the
exception of the rare crack of
individuality here and there. However,
gradually I began to get swept up in
the ‘team’; my name replaced with a
number, my facial features smothered
over by a mask of camouflage, even my
actions and words began to mirror
those around me. My femininity, only
evident in my higher, squeaky voice
and long hair twisted and mangled
into a bun beneath my headdress, was
helplessly drowning in my oversized
combats. In order to keep up the sense
and appearance of uniformity and
equality, you learn to time and
synchronise what outwith the ‘team’
are just everyday jobs with those
around you. You eat, sleep and laugh
when appropriate with the team’s
routine, and don’t dare to stand out,
almost like a deadly-serious game of
‘Simon-says’. Those who are
technically allowed to act all bossy and
superior, such as the Section
Commander, are exempt from some
aspects, in that their opinion prevails
over others, in the sense that they are
the leader, the director, for want of a
better term, of the cleverly-mastered,
if not stupidly over-complicated,
routines and systems and processes
clumsily whizzing through my mind
during the weekend of the
competition.
One goal in sight, one goal
programmed into each and every
member of the team’s minds, we
entered that competition weekend
June 2014
I like to think I am not a particularly
troubled person. I am not
hypersensitive. I am not at all a
neurotic. I am easily amused. I can
watch sad films without crying. In
fact, I am a fairly relaxed, cheerful and
bubbly kind of person; things don’t
particularly tend to ‘get to me’. And
yet, there’s something about the
nature of a school cadet force that,
well, does.
Recently I experienced the
true meaning of ‘team effort’ when I
was selected as the only girl in a team
of nine boys to compete in the
Scottish Military Skills Competition,
arguably the toughest, most
prestigious competition in the mad,
bad world of the Combined Cadet
Force. In the run-up to the weekend of
the competition, I began to appreciate
how the many beneficial aspects of
teamwork are closely intertwined with
the personal sacrifices you end up
making.
When you are part of a team,
individual responsibilities become
shared and you are, in a sense,
temporarily released from your
individual burdens. When the training
exercises started for our competition,
then still weeks away, I immediately
began to see the benefits of effective
teamwork. Instead of being left
floundering around at the campsite
looking for some piece of supposedly
‘vital’ but misplaced equipment, or left
struggling to keep up with the group
on some ludicrous venture across the
training arena at midnight, someone
in the team would give you a helping
hand. No one was ever solely to blame
for mistakes. No one was made to feel
inferior. No one was excluded. We
were a team.
Probably the aspect of
teamwork we really excelled in
emerged when we had to rely on our
ability to encourage one another. I
loved the way, through every physical
challenge or command-based task,
CCF
TOY SOLDIER
97
Fortunas 33
June 2014
RAF SECTION
98
Courses Camps and Competitions –
A Review of the Year
It is July 2013, a hot, sunny afternoon.
A white 56-seater pulls up outside
the Station Learning Centre at RAF
Cranwell in Lincolnshire. One by
one, the cadets step off the coach and
nervously form small groups. Some
stare around, surrounded by similar
cadets, but feeling more alone than
ever. Others chat with the newfound
friends they made at Grantham station
only 30 minutes ago. Some even search
for familiar faces on the off-chance that
they might know somebody, perhaps
from a previous summer camp or
cadet event. Others search through the
growing mountain of luggage forming
at the rear of the transport for their
own precious cargo.
The afternoon sun is a sign
for the week ahead. Within moments,
an RAF Sergeant appears and yells
orders to bring them into line. The
cadets freeze. The tone is set. Air Cadet
Leadership Course 100 has just begun.
Course 100 was one of four
courses run at RAF Cranwell last
summer. This whole leadership event
was conceived in the 1980s and was
first based at Staffordshire, before
moving to RAF Halton and latterly to
RAF Cranwell, where it has taken place
for the last eight years. Approximately
66 cadets aged 16 to 17 from CCF RAF
Sections and ATC Squadrons across the
whole of the UK attend each course.
Not all of the cadets who stepped off
the white coach would make it to the
end of the week.
After being allocated rooms,
the cadets frantically prepare their
uniforms for the first formal event,
the Course Commander’s briefing
at 1800 hours. This is followed by a
Flight Commander’s briefing, where
each flight group of 11 cadets meets
the two officers who will be in charge
of the training for the week. At this
stage, the members of each group
are still unknown to each other, but
opportunities for team bonding are
not far away.
After a fitness test and
12-mile walk in the Lincolnshire
countryside on the Sunday, the real
leadership training begins. Cadets are
put through a series of demanding
leadership tasks of increasing
complexity. Phase 1 exercises are short
and designed to show the strengths
and weaknesses of each cadet. Phase
2 leads are longer and cadets must
demonstrate that they have learned
from the previous day. Although each
cadet performs a leadership task, it is
in the debrief at the end of each task
where the real learning takes place.
Cadets are questioned on how each
lead went, how it could be improved
and what could be done differently.
The emphasis is on learning through
encouragement.
Phase 3, the camp phase,
takes place in tents in a fielded area of
RAF Cranwell. Final leadership tasks
are undertaken over two days before
the exertions of Operation Top Dog.
By this time, all the tasks have been
completed, but cadets are still being
judged right until the final parade
in front of College Hall on Saturday
morning.
The bell of College Hall
rings at 9:00am and the reviewing
officer appears from the magnificent
building to inspect and award the
cadets with their ACLC badges. Flight
commanders, training officers and
visiting parents look on with pride. In
less than seven days, these unknown
groups have bonded and learned new
skills that can help them in later life,
regardless of what career they follow.
In practical terms, the course qualifies
as the residential project for the Duke
of Edinburgh Award, and all the cadets
will have gained invaluable skills that
they can then bring back to their CCF
units or ATC Squadrons. By 10:00am,
Course 100 is over. Course 101 begins
in a few hours’ time.
Dollar Academy CCF has
recently put four cadets through the
ACLC, and this year four cadets will
attend Course 103 and 105. We wish
them every success.
Flt Lt Simon Cochrane
Fortunas 33
Many of the cadets were to
return to RAF Halton a few months
later to compete in the National
Air Squadron Trophy. This annual
competition sees 12 RAF sections from
across the UK compete in areas such as
drill, RAF knowledge, First Aid, aircraft
recognition and shooting. A Dollar
Academy team qualified to enter for
the second time in the past three years.
The
regional
qualifying
event was held for the first time at
RAF Cosford. Dollar RAF cadets were
enthusiastic about entering a team
and worked very hard after Christmas
to improve and develop their skills.
In early February, the team arrived at
Cosford where Saturday evening was
spent preparing kit, cramming RAF
knowledge and even practising drill
manoeuvres in the pouring rain. The
cadets’ hard work paid off as Dollar
came first in the competition that day
- a remarkable achievement for the
Section as we were the only Scottish
school to enter.
Preparations for the final at
Halton were soon underway.
The cadets knew that the
final would be much tougher than
the regional competition. On this
occasion, Dollar were up against the
best of the best in the whole of the UK.
In the end, 9th place was a respectable
result and 2nd place in the First Aid
section was commendable. The cadets
felt justifiably proud of what they had
achieved, not just at the competitions,
but as a section overall.
This has been one of the
busiest years for the Section, and we
still have ACLC and Summer Camp
2014 to look forward to.
June 2014
Summer is also the time for
RAF Camps and once again we returned
to RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
One of the highlights of the camp
was a visit to a re-creation of a First
World War trench. Over the lower
slopes of Wendover Woods evidence
was uncovered of the military activity
that was undertaken in the area during
the War. Learning to dig trenches was
an important part of a soldier’s basic
training before he was sent to the front
line, and remains of these trenches were
recently uncovered. These have now
been fully restored by RAF apprentices
in a project that commenced in 2009,
aided by engineering manuals and
construction methods from the time.
Painfully realistic embellishments were
added to help recreate the conditions
facing the soldiers and to preserve the
sense of history of the area. The cadets
were given a talk about the horrors of
trench warfare, including shell shock,
gas attacks, trench foot, rats and lice,
and then had the opportunity to walk
the trenches. Many felt that this was
the most inspiring and moving part of
any camp they had been to and were
very impressed with the site and the
quality of the presentation given.
99
Fortunas 33
June 2014
PIPING SUCCESS
The members of the Dollar Academy
Pipe Band have had a very successful
year so far. They have been making
their presence felt on the Indoor
Competition circuit, with soloist
successes from Pipe Major Lucy
Ferguson (Form V) and Drum Major
Joe Armstrong (Form VI). The pupils
each won in their respective categories.
“It seems likely,” said Mr Stewart
(Piping and Drumming instructor),
“that this is the first time ever that
a Senior Piper and Senior Drummer
from the same school have been placed
first in their respective competitions.”
Strong performances from all
of Dollar’s groups produced a good set
of results earlier in the session at the
2013 Scottish Schools Quartet and Trio
Piping Competition. This year’s event,
hosted in Edinburgh, saw competition
from a total of 32 groups representing
12 schools from across Scotland. Dollar
were placed first in both categories,
with Pipe Major Lucy Ferguson,
Cameron Bennett, Sandy Cameron (all
Form V) and Sarah McCann (Form VI)
lifting the Forrest McLelland Trophy
as the winning Quartet, and Ross
McCran (Form III), Finlay Cameron
100
Cup.
(Form I) and Andrew Ferguson (Junior
2) placed first in the Trio competition
to win the Birnie Quaich. Our ‘B’ Trio
of Michael Bracken (Form III), Murray
Biggart (Form II) and Robbie Martin
(Form I) finished a very respectable
sixth and our ‘B’ Quartet of Tommy
Henson, Gregor Stewart (both Form
IV), Freddie McFadyean (Form III) and
Cameron Prentice (Form VI) finished
third.
There were further successes
at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band
Championships on Sunday 9th March.
Dollar’s Novice Juvenile Band, led by
Cameron Clark (Form V), finished in
third place and the Juvenile Band, led
by Lucy Ferguson and Joe Armstrong,
won the Premier event. This was a large
and important event, attracting entries
from schools across Scotland. Dollar
pupils must be heartily congratulated
for bringing home the Scottish Schools
In addition to the successes
of the Pipe Band, two Dollar brothers
have won acclaim in the field of
piobaireachd. In the Scottish Schools
Piobaireachd Competition held at
Strathallan in January, Sandy (Form
V) and Finlay (Form I) Cameron won
their respective Senior and Novice
categories. It would be unusual to have
both competitions won by the same
school, but possibly unique for two
brothers at the same school. The boys
will not compete together in school solo
piping competitions again as Sandy
has been graded for adult competition
following his win of the MacGregor
Memorial Piobaireachd class, an
international event for pipers aged
under 22, at the Argyllshire Gathering
last year. In April he competed in his
first open adult event at Kingdom
Thistle in Fife and was placed first in
the Piobaireachd (winning a set of
bagpipes) and was second overall in
the light music. Finlay competed in the
junior event and was second in the 16
and under class. We look forward to
hearing of future fraternal successes!
TREE PLANTING AT LOCH
LEVEN NATURE RESERVE
On Friday 7th March, 22 pupils in Forms I to III volunteered
for the day to help plant trees along the new section of
the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, accompanied by Mrs Scott
(Geography), Mrs Halden (English) and Miss McClelland
(Geography student teacher).
The work was carried out in conjunction with
TRACKS (The Rural Access Committee for Kinross-shire) and
Scottish Natural Heritage who manage the Nature Reserve
and offered a week’s volunteering programme to plant
this section of the trail. Mrs Scott liaised with Loch Leven
National Nature Reserve Ranger Craig Nisbet (Former Pupil)
to organise the day. The aim was to plant a section of the loch
shore with a selection of tree species, mainly willow, which
will eventually act as a windbreak and natural screening
for wildfowl on the loch from the soon-to-be-opened new
section of Heritage Trail.
The willing volunteers worked in a challenging area
in the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, with the
weather varying from blue skies to wild winds, sleet, hail and
snow. Despite the conditions, all pupils worked extremely
well together and remained in good spirits throughout.
Approximately 350 trees were planted on the day. Craig was
extremely pleased with our efforts and commented that “The
Dollar Academy group has contributed an excellent day’s
work to the screening efforts that are an essential part of the
Heritage Trail completion.” The trees planted will ensure that
breeding and wintering wildfowl continue to use the loch
shore in peace.
Over the day, the pupils acquired new skills in how
to prepare the ground for planting and the need to protect the
young tees from predators, such as roe deer and rabbits, by
using tubes and stakes. In the future they will be able to walk
along the trail and see the growth and development of their
efforts in maintaining and enhancing the local environment.
Shiona Scott
ECO ‘TRASHION’ SHOW
Fortunas 33
Shiona Scott
June 2014
21st March saw the stage of the assembly hall transformed
into a catwalk to showcase a selection of original creations.
Pupils had volunteered to design an outfit with a particular
member of staff in mind, the only stipulation being the
outfits had be made from recycled materials. A panel of
judges comprising Ms Langley, Mr MacDermot and Mrs
Anne Campbell, cast a critical eye on the costumes and
designs.
Mr McEwan modelled a most innovative jacket
made from empty crisp packets (his favourite food, allegedly),
designed by Isla Banerji and Erin Wilkinson (both Form IV).
Miss Ely cut a stylish figure in an outfit made from
recycled school uniforms and accessorised with earrings
from reused plastic scissors. This was custom-made for her
by Form I pupils Jack Wilson, Etai Scotland and Daniel
Robins.
Mrs Monk was transformed in an outfit made from
bin bags, finished off with a flaming red wig, an ensemble
put together in record time by Emma Buchanan and Emma
Fenwick (both Form VI).
However, it was the detail of Mr Blezard’s eyecatching Periodic Table waistcoat, created from waste paper
,that secured the judges’ votes for the winning designer,
Katie McPherson Young (Form VI).
Thanks go to the members of the Eco Committee for
their organisation of this spectacular event and in particular
to the hosts, Anya Kaufman and Nathalie Gardiner (both
Form VI) for providing such professional guidance to the
proceedings. A total of £120 was raised for an environmental
charity to be chosen by our pupils.
101
Fortunas 33
June 2014
COMMUNITY
SERVICE GROUP
My involvement with the Community
Service Group this year has truly
enriched my life. Through this group,
under the guidance of Ms MacBean, I
opened the door to the unbelievable
range of volunteering opportunities
that exist, spanning a multitude of
different environments. It was a door
that, once opened, I could not shut!
I have worked with young children,
teenagers, adults and our elders in
offices, classrooms, fields, and homes…
so many fascinating memories and
such invaluable experience, which I will
take with me as I progress from school
to university in September.
RDA
The Riding for the Disabled Association
aims to provide support, achievement
and enjoyment in horse riding to those
with disabilities. The RDA group in
Alva always needs help in supporting
their younger members, from children
as young as four. My most rewarding
memory from RDA is seeing the
physical and emotional development
of one little boy in the group; after
working with him for a year, he has
become so comfortable around me that
he now holds my hand whilst riding.
Another member of the group did
not communicate at all when he first
joined, but he now freely engages in
conversation on just about anything
and everything! To know that you
played a part in the development of
these children is really rewarding.
Study Buddy
The Study Buddy scheme gives an
opportunity to be a big brother or
sister to the children and teenagers at
Woodside House. Sign up for a subject
that you’re particularly good at, for one
evening a week, and be paired up with
someone who needs your help with
homework. Helping someone to reach
their potential is a real responsibility,
and also a great opportunity to harness
your creativity. Try to make homework
interesting! There are many ways to
102
help, such as coming up with funny
mnemonics, sharing your experiences,
or simply listening to your buddy
talk about their day. The children at
Woodside have gone through real
hardship at a very young age, so
finding the motivation to study seems
pointless to many of them. This made
me appreciate how privileged I am with
the education I receive and the support
from my family and friends. As a Study
Buddy, you are both a tutor and a
friend. Having someone of a similar
age to talk to and learn from can make
a bigger difference than you’d ever
imagine.
Computer Training Club
Something as simple as sending an
email can seem daunting to many
older members of the community who
did not grow up in a generation like
ours today in which computers are so
deeply integrated with daily routine.
With their children having grown
up and moved away, some can find
themselves feeling isolated. Not being
computer literate only reinforces this
isolation. The Computer Training Club
tutors the elderly on iPads, computers
and laptops and helps them to learn
basic skills that will help them in
everyday life and bridge the gaps in
communication. Patience is vital; not
everyone has a sharp memory, and
learning new information at any age
can be difficult. The sessions are weekly,
to keep information fresh in their
minds, and this makes it impossible
not to develop friendships with your
tutee. One particular lady in the group
was thrilled when I showed her how
to keep in touch with her family by
sending pictures and how to order her
groceries online! We now regularly
email back and forth with pictures and
stories.
“As I leave school
this summer, I take
with me memories,
communication skills,
new perspectives
and appreciation,
all gained from
volunteering. If you
haven’t already, get
involved!”
Make Your Own
The experience and memories you
accumulate through voluntary work
with the Community Service Group
will inspire you to discover and create
your own opportunities. Find out
what groups in your community
could do with an extra pair of hands.
I found myself helping to organise a
fundraising ceilidh for a local Twins
and Multiples group that supports busy
mothers. I raised funds through bake
sales and bag-packing and travelled
to Africa, where I volunteered in a
hospital and orphanage for a month.
These are experiences that will stay
with you for life, and they are all at your
fingertips. Joining the Community
Service Group is opening one door
that can lead to so many more. As I
leave school this summer, I take with
me memories, communication skills,
new perspectives and appreciation,
all gained from volunteering. If you
haven’t already, get involved!
Kyrie Grasekamp (Chair, Form VI)
Fortunas 33
But I wanted that to change, so several friends and I
decided to do our part for community service and meet with
Mira Vladimirova (Form VI)
June 2014
We are all storytellers, every day. Think. What have you talked
about recently? Written down? Read? You may have given
advice, taught a subject, shouted with glee at an achievement
or bemoaned a mistake - and these are all stories. After all,
one of the Japanese words for story teller is katarite, from
kataru, ‘to talk about’ or ‘gossip’. We are all narrators, bards,
chroniclers. Every day.
Our stories, individual, cultural and historic, make
us who we are. I will not say they make us human beings,
for they do not - they make us people; sentient, animated,
individual, alive. They shape us, with or without our
knowledge, into who we are. They show us our potential
and incite us to try, to succeed, to fail. With words you have
been shaped, and with words, you have shaped me. Because
of stories, our minds continuously evolve. Because we are
interested.
But who are some of the best story tellers we know?
The ones that chased away the monsters, or told you fairy
tales about their pasts, that gave you nicknames and funny
anecdotes and pearls of wisdom and babysat you for free?
Yes, it is grandparents, the ‘older’ generation, they of the
unhurried pace, that gave you endless heaps of food with
the massive slab of butter that never melted properly, whose
memories stretched far beyond your own existence and
experience.
The older generation that now we, the younger
generation barely even interact with.
After the bell
THE CONNECTION LIVES
the older generation of Dollar in one of the hotel restaurants
downtown. We, the younger generation, believed to be drug
addicts or alcoholics or teenage parents - had come to talk to
the older, disapproving generation - the generation of a very
different world.
But there we were. Waiting to be shown to our
seats, watched by every eye in the room. Evaluated perhaps?
Were they testing us? I raised my chin proudly. Let them try.
And then one woman shouted across the hall to
my friend, and pointed to the seat next to her confidently,
affectionately - and as a dam under the strain of water,
the tension broke underneath the weight of curiosity and
loquaciousness. Laughter swelled around the room, peaked
and broke into a relaxed, curious atmosphere. Strangers
swiftly merged into friends, or at least the potential for
friendship. The promising smell of baked bread and spices
was in the air, and the restaurant was bright, airy and open
to the sunshine (I know, I was shocked too) swept in by the
sunny month of June. So let the conversations begin…
…And continue, and continue and continue - in fact
they are still going, as I keep coming back. Five months later
and the joie de vivre of the place and people (and the amazing
food) still use up my Friday lunchtimes. It’s storytelling at
its best.
So come along to the lunch club! It will test your
comfort-zone, your linguistic skills, your story telling. Just
by being there, you will have changed more people, educated
more people, of a different age, of a different past, who will
change and interest you in return. It is genuinely fantastic.
The connection continues.
103
Fortunas 33
June 2014
CHARITIES
COMMITTEE 20132014
Charities Committee was the group
that from our first years at Dollar
Academy we all wanted to join. The
Sixth Years who weren’t afraid to dance
dressed up in hula skirts at discos;
the people who supplied the greatest
cupcakes at Children in Need time;
the ones who were invited to all the
best parties. They were the group that
seemed to always enjoy themselves.
They were the group we all admired.
And they are the group that some of us
are now fortunate enough to be part of.
There is no doubt that the
members of Charities Committee
revel in the fact that they can make
a fool of themselves and help raise
money simultaneously. This was
perfectly demonstrated during our
Form I Parties and the Junior School
Halloween Party. Whether dressed
as superheroes, terrifying monsters
or even stunning movie characters,
every member of the Committee tried
their hardest to help make the night
enjoyable. The younger pupils were, of
course, the main reason for the success
of these events, as they outdid us with
their dazzling outfits, resounding
singing voices and, sadly, better dance
moves.
The Committee tried to
create a variety of events to appeal to
the whole school, so that every single
pupil could be involved. The by now
traditional ‘Xmas Factor’ counts as
one of our greatest achievements.
The infamous Blues Brothers of past
years passed on the baton to their
successors, the Beautiful Brothers, so
they too could bring jazz and joy to
our ears. They leapt and sang and had
us all shaking our tail feathers, and the
‘Sixth Year Lads’ sang Christmas tunes
whilst their beautiful assistants shook
jingle bells. The assembly hall was
overflowing with pupils from every year
104
FP
“You must come with me into the station where we can deal
with this…”
Thus was I arrested, in a town in far west Uganda,
in the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains, close to the
equator and to the Democratic Republic of Congo, but 300
kilometres from Kampala and anybody who knew who I was
and might be in a position to help. The date was October
2012 and the place was the main police station in Fort
Portal, the administrative capital and principle town of the
Kingdom of Toro.
This was how I came to meet Kukundakwe Patrick,
the Detective Sub Inspector who had just apprehended
me, and through him Elius Muhimbise. Patrick and Elius
are cousins but call themselves brothers. Elius runs a
kindergarten and primary school in Iruhuura, a remote village
in the crater hills 35 kilometres south of Fort Portal on the
edge of the Kibale Forest National Park. He had founded the
school with Patrick as his business partner a couple of years
earlier. On this day he was in Fort Portal, and once the being
arrested thing was over and done with, Patrick correctly
surmised that if Elius came up to meet me then there was
a possibility of a much more pleasant and entertaining
connection being formed. Both Patrick and Elius are widely
read and interested in the world beyond, and the chance to
meet a mzungu (white man - not used as a derogatory term,
just a generic statement of the obvious) with connections to
their home and who liked to talk, was too good to pass up.
And a very enjoyable and fruitful meeting it proved to be.
I subsequently contrived through my work as a
pilot on the British Airways Boeing 767 fleet to find myself
back in Uganda regularly over the next 14 months, including
eight trips out to the west to Toro. The Kingdom covers much
of the Ugandan side of the Rwenzori mountain range - the
fabled Mountains of the Moon - and foothills, stretching
eastward beyond the Kibale Forest. It is also where I spent
most of the first five years of my life. I hadn’t been back for
over 50 years, so I was returning to find my old roots and to
try to reconnect with the country and its people, a process
which has been successful beyond my imagining.
A big part of that process has been the story that
Fortunas 33
Ellie Scott-Gray (Charities Coordinator)
“Well in that case…
June 2014
group throughout senior school which
demonstrated that everyone can help
to raise impressive and extraordinarily
helpful amounts of money.
Christmas is also the time
of year for the annual Senior Citizens
Coffee Morning which gives the
Committee an opportunity to reach
out to the immediate community.
The Chamber Choir provided some
stunning festive music, the Committee
members served tea and the guests
were more than happy to tuck into
the festive snacks. This event is
not a fundraiser; it is simply the
Committee’s way to show they care
about their community and to share
the Christmas spirit. We also like to
make a practical contribution to the
wider local community, so at Easter
we gathered stacks of food and other
provisions for the Alloa Foodbank,
which distributes these much needed
necessities to the impoverished and
homeless individuals in the local area.
Our infamous Charities versus
Teachers hockey matches are another
way we seek to include the entire
school in our fundraising efforts. At
times boisterous, dramatic and highly
competitive, this keeps the viewers
entertained. Tragically, the Teachers
beat the Committee in the first game,
but we came storming back in the next
encounter, defeating the teachers in a
victory we will never let them forget.
This past year has been filled
with an abundance of excitement,
stress and laughter and there is no
doubt plenty more in store in our final
venture– Charities Week. We are proud
to raise huge amounts of money for
so many worthy causes. It is work we
wish to continue in the future, and
work which we are sure next year’s
Committee will continue – and enjoy.
105
Fortunas 33
June 2014
started with that first nerve-wracking
encounter with Patrick, as I would go on
to meet up with one or both of them on
each of my return visits. I very quickly
began to feel at home as I explored the
region, finding the houses we had lived
in - particularly one in Kilembe where
I spent the greater part of those years.
Kilembe, where my sister Karen (FP
1977) was born, is a former mining
town and local administration centre
some 90-plus kilometres south of Fort
Portal in a beautiful deep valley in the
mountains. I was also discovering a
country of superb scenery, still home
to lots of wonderful wildlife, and also
to possibly the nicest, friendliest
people - even those living in what to us
in the ‘first’ world is grinding poverty that I have met anywhere.
It was a particular pleasure
to introduce Patrick and Elius to my
parents, Eileen (née Russell, FP 1950)
and Jock (Macdonald, FP 1951), when
we were able to take a short holiday
in Uganda in March 2013 (their first
time in the country since 1962). They
met a few times during the week that
we spent in the west, and there is
something of a bond that has grown
between our families, with the guys
considering themselves to be the local
representatives of the Macdonald clan.
This is all very nice and Disney
Channel/Hallmark Cards, I hear you
say, but what’s your point?
Well patient reader, it is this:
you may be aware of the decision of the
Dollar Academy Charities Committee
to award some of its 2013 fund-raising
proceeds to a certain Uphill Junior
106
School, and as you have now probably
guessed, this is indeed Elius’ school.
I would like to introduce the school
to those of you who haven’t heard of
it (most of you, I would guess), and I
wish to pass on the heartfelt thanks of
everybody connected to it - parents,
staff and children, and even the village
council - for your generosity.
After a year including half a
dozen drives up the wonderfully scenic
road from Kampala to Fort Portal,
Kilembe, the Queen Elizabeth National
Park and all points west, in October of
last year I finally made it down those
35 kms into Kasenda sub-county,
down a two-lane dirt road, and then a
one-lane dirt ‘road’, into Isunga parish
to the village of Iruhuura itself, to see
the school that Elius had been telling
me about all this time. Despite it being
a Saturday, and much to my surprise,
around ninety of the then 108 pupils,
aged three to seven, were there for me
to meet - and to see me, you don’t get
many wazungu down that road! Four of
the five other members of staff were
there also.
The school I found amounted
to the walls of a pair of wooden buildings
divided into five rooms, one building
partly roofed in corrugated iron over
the two useable classrooms; there were
no doors or windows, and the floors
were just bare ground. There were a few
sets of desks and benches, not nearly
enough, and three blackboards. The
playground was unlevelled grass with
two truck tyres for equipment.
I also found a wonderful
bunch of cheerful, friendly, curious,
well behaved children. Despite it
being the weekend, several of them
were in uniform, many others were in
their ‘Sunday best’, particularly the
girls. Once we’d all met, the children
retreated to the two classrooms while
I talked with Elius about his plans for
the school. We were soon interrupted,
however, as both classes launched into
a clapped song of welcome for me. I
was, to say the least, somewhat taken
aback! Later the children came back
out and put on a drill for me, including
a rendition of the Ugandan National
Anthem complete with actions, and
then there was a period of play and
snack time for which I was pleased
to buy them all some of the oh-soflavourful locally grown bananas from
a little duka (shop) in the village. After
that there was a performance of a
farewell song, and then they all left
for their walks back to their widely
scattered homes. Wow! I only went
there to see the place and get some
photos of it to take home… like Fort
Portal police station.
I was completely bowled over
by these lovely children, and by Elius’
tale of his long-standing ambition
to establish the school and secure a
permanent site for it. His aim is to
provide the benefits and opportunities
that education brings, and that he
sorely missed, to his home district that
has been poorly served until now, with
special emphasis on inclusion for the
girls and for orphans, of whom there
is a terribly high number in Uganda.
He scrabbled and travelled and worked
his way up through the system to the
achievement of a degree in Business
Administration, and a teaching
diploma from Makerere University,
but always with the aim of bringing
schooling to the people of his home.
I resolved to try to do something to
help this project, to see if I could find
a way to supplement all the hard work
and enthusiasm with a little material
assistance.
Another visit the following
month allowed me to see the children
at work as it was a school day, in fact a
day of national curriculum exams. The
contrast between the rudimentary and
FP
at a time when we are seeking to secure a permanent site with the approval of the
village elders. The current site is on land that is leased temporarily from the local
council - the buildings will be moved when a final location is purchased.
The school enrolment has now increased to 158, and there are more staff,
some paid full-time, at the going rate of the equivalent of around £25 per month,
and some volunteers. Cash flow for this as well as building and equipping the school
depends on the success of collecting fees from the children’s families. The current
tariffs of around £5 per term for parented children and less than £2 for orphans
don’t seem like much, but they can be beyond the means of some families when
their crops are not doing well.
It has been a great pleasure and tremendously rewarding to be able to
contribute funds to start to make a difference, and then the addition of the Charities
Committee money is a wonderful boost that has enabled us to see immediate and
significant benefits for the children - and this is just the start of a long term project.
Elius is committed to developing Uphill into a solid and permanent institution,
growing in size and breadth of curriculum to include all years from kindergarten to
the start of secondary school. He would love to see the connection between Uphill
and Dollar continue to develop, as would my family and I, as we stand with our feet
firmly in both camps. We thank all the pupils and staff at Dollar who contributed
in any way to the raising of the money that has already gone to the school, and we
look forward to helping to create a positive future for those great kids.
If anyone would like to know more about Uphill, or is considering
contributing in any way, please contact me at the57max@btinternet.com. There
will be a charitable trust established soon, but this is still work in progress. You can
also see lots of pictures of the school and children over the last four years at their
Facebook site; use the QR code below or look for Uphill Junior on Facebook.
Thank you,
Niall (Max) Macdonald (FP 1975)
Fortunas 33
P.S. The arrest was the result of me taking unauthorised photographs of the Fort
Portal Police Headquarters, which is indeed an offence. Schoolboy error; military
and police installations are sensitive in many parts of the world. On this occasion
my rush of blood to the head was because this had for a while been my Dad’s station
during his service with the Colonial Police in Uganda and I wanted him to see how
it has fared. I was duly and properly charged, and processed, but my immediate
apology, an offer to wipe the pictures from my camera, and my explanation of how
my Father had set up the very CID office that Patrick worked in, persuaded both
him and the desk sergeant who handled the charge to let me off with a formal
warning - and a promise to bring Dad to meet them all at the
earliest opportunity. Which I did. And, having asked properly,
I was given permission to keep the pictures and take as many
more as I wished, so we all parted friends. But not before Patrick
asked if I would be happy to talk to his brother, as he would love
to meet me…
June 2014
only half-built school and the hushed
and formal atmosphere in the rooms
where the exams were being sat, so
familiar to all of us, was marked, as was
the disarming cheerfulness of those
kids who had been ‘let out’. Elius gave
me copies of a report on Uphill that
he had prepared for me; its history,
mission and goals, current situation,
plans for the future and a costed wish
list for the development of the school
and facilities. The total sum, covering
all that was required to complete
and equip the buildings, classrooms,
playground, library, facilities and
accommodation, came to less than one
pupil’s fees for a year at Dollar. (I am
quite well aware as a Dollar parent that
this is not exactly a trifling amount,
but you take my point…)
So,
armed
with
this
information, and fired up by the
energy and enthusiasm of the staff
and children, which is probably the
worst point to start a project like
this as judgement is inflamed by the
crusading do-gooder’s zeal without
being balanced by a good drenching
of practicality, I returned home
determined to ‘do something’ to
help, and to explore the possibility
of trading on my family history and
persuading our Old Grey School (old
School Song reference, will mean little
to the younger generations) to join in
and help this new one. Well, despite
my natural tendency to disorganised
inactivity, a great start has been made,
the Charities Committee agreed to
help, and the children and staff are
already seeing progress in many areas
of life in the school.
Some of what has been
achieved in just a few months can be
seen in the accompanying photographs.
We have paid for the roof to be finished
and the Dollar money bought the
classroom furniture, as stipulated by
the Committee, and also paid for the
weather-proof paint that has both
protected and greatly enhanced the
school. This has had the bonus effect
of Uphill Junior being selected to host
the Archbishop of the Anglican Church
in Uganda when he comes to Iruhuura
in May. Welcome kudos for the school
107
Training at 7000ft above sea-level on Mt Teide, Tenerife, January 2014
FP TO CYCLE TOUR DE FRANCE
FOR CHARITY
Fortunas 33
June 2014
DOLLAR FP HONOURED FOR
WARTIME SERVICE
FP news reaches your Editor’s inbox once again from Down
Under. In April, Graham Hornel (FP 1956-1964) had the
pleasure of catching up with Australia’s oldest Dollar FP
(1927-1938), Captain Bobby Allsop in Bunbury, WA, to share
a Harbour-side long lunch and to hear tales of pre-World War
2 Dollar.
A source of particular pride to the former longestserving Bunbury Harbour Master (Fortunas 32) is his recent
award of an Arctic Star medal for his wartime service. Aged
16, Bob Allsop was serving on merchant vessels that roamed
the oceans and were Britain’s lifeline during the War. In 1942
he went on the first of three convoys bringing much-needed
support to the Russian allies, finishing with his third trip
the following year to Murmansk in Northern Russia. During
these trips he served on an oil tanker which kept the naval
escorts fuelled. The last of these trips proved particularly
eventful as they were nearly sunk by one of their own
destroyers dropping depth charges.
The Arctic Star is awarded for service by any member
of the British armed forces and merchant navy above the
Arctic Circle. Captain Bob joins an elite band, as he reckons
there can only be around 200 of those who served there still
alive.
In June Captain Bob will be off on his travels once
again – this time by plane – as he flies to Washington DC to
celebrate the graduation of his grandson.
108
Hugh Webb (FP 1960-1964) is undertaking the
challenge of cycling the whole of the 2014 route of the Tour
de France for charity. His gruelling ride is over the same
number of days as the professionals but one week ahead
of them, starting on Saturday 28th June. That’s 3656km
over 3 weeks and 21 stages before arriving on the Champs
Élysées in Paris. The week before his epic ride begins, Hugh is
returning to Dollar for Sports Weekend with the Class of ’64
to celebrate their 50-year reunion!
You can follow Hugh, post a comment and make a
charitable donation for the William Wates Memorial Trust,
which supports disadvantaged youth to overcome a life
of crime and fulfil their potential through sport, art and
education, at: www.bmycharity.com/hughwebb. Further
information on his undertaking can be obtained from Hugh:
hugh@foldersgalore.com
FP
Congratulations
to….
CUNNINGHAM
Sandy Cunningham (FP 2013) scored
what proved to be the winning goal as
Stirling Albion earned promotion to
SPL Division One in a tough play-off
against East Fife in Methil.
His goal was beautiful: a
driven, looping, half-volley struck from
just outside the box - ‘the goal that will
live long in the memory’, according
to the Stirling Albion website. With
that goal, Sandy capped a tremendous
season, one in which he has scored
a number of goals and been voted
Albion’s Young Player of the Year. We
all wish him well as his football career
develops.
FERGUSON
Cameron Ferguson (FP 1997-2005)
had the honour of being selected for
the Barbarians squad to play against
a Combined Services team in a match
to commemorate Remembrance Day.
Captain of the unbeaten Dollar 1st
XV when they last won the Scottish
Schools’ Cup, Cameron now divides his
time between his work as a doctor and
playing for Heriot’s FP.
GAULT
are in the final week of a gruelling
training period in Kenya’s Rift Valley
as political and social tensions explode.
His own experiences during time spent
at a high-altitude running camp in the
Valley provided the author with his
inspiration.
Since
graduating
with
distinction from Glasgow University’s
Creative Writing Master’s degree
course, Ewan has built up an impressive
portfolio of work and awards. His
stories have been performed on stage
and published in the likes of New
Writing Scotland, Gutter magazine and
From Glasgow to Saturn, the University
of Glasgow’s creative writing showcase.
Ewan now lives in Oxford, where he
works as an English teacher.
HETMAN
Eilidh Hetman (FP 2006) is now
teaching English Literature at the
British School in Tokyo. Eilidh gained
a Post Graduate Diploma in Education
from Strathclyde University and went
on to complete her probationary
teaching year at Dornoch Academy.
At the end of a much enjoyed year
in the highlands she was offered the
position in Tokyo, to where she moved
in August 2013. The change from a
small town in the north of Scotland
to one of the world’s biggest cities has
been challenging, but she is very much
enjoying life in Tokyo. A keen member
of the Japanese Club while at Dollar,
it was one of her dreams to have the
opportunity to live and work in Japan.
Eilidh now teaches English up to A
Level to children from several different
countries. She would be happy to
hear from any other FPs visiting or
interested in working in Japan.
Since he was called to the bar in 1980,
Mr Keen has built up a formidable
reputation as one of Scotland’s most
respected and tenacious lawyers. This
has seen him serve on a number of
high profile cases, including the Piper
Alpha inquiry.
MACDOUGALL
Keira MacDougall (FP 1985-1993)
has been recognised in the New
Year Honours List with an MBE for
Charity and Voluntary Services. Keira,
originally from Bridge of Allan but who
now lives in Stirling, was delighted
with the award, which she described
as unexpected and a complete honour.
She has worked with a number of
charities for 20 years and credits her
involvement as a member of the school
Charities Committee for inspiring this
vocation.
MAGUIRE
Earlier this year the popular website
Buzzfeed published an intriguing list of
‘14 Urinals You Have To Pee In Before
You Die’. Only one Scottish entry made
it onto this list of unique urinals worldwide (coming in at number 9!), and it is
the work of Dollar FP (1973-1981) and
former member of staff John Maguire.
Should you wish to ‘pay a visit’ to John’s
flower-shaped urinals, which feature a
scenic grass motif and blue sky on the
main wall, they are to be found in the
Braehead branch of Dobbies Garden
Centre, Glasgow.
KEEN
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Ewan Gault (FP 1992-1999) has had
his first full-length work published
and it has been nominated for the
2013 Guardian First Book Award.
The Most Distant Way tells the story
of two young Scottish athletes who
Richard Keen QC (FP 1969-1972)
has been appointed to the post of
chair of the Scottish Conservatives.
This will see the former Dean of
the Faculty of Advocates chair the
party’s management board, develop
political strategy, liaise with the UK
Conservatives, and help improve
the Scottish operation ahead of
Westminster and Holyrood elections.
109
NORTH OF ENGLAND
DOLLAR ACADEMY
CLUB
MCINTOSH
Shirley McIntosh MBE (FP 1975-1983)
has been named as one of Scotland’s
Sporting Heroes by the organisers of
this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Having first competed in the
Commonwealth Games in Victoria
in 1994, Shirley has won more
Commonwealth shooting medals
than any other Scottish woman. She
credits Dollar Academy with teaching
her the basic skills of shooting, which
laid the foundation for her career as a
professional athlete. As a ‘Sporting Hero’, Shirley
joins an elite squad of 21 athletes
from Scotland’s sporting past who are
helping to inspire the next generation
as part of the Glasgow 2014 Games
Legacy.
TATULEA-CODREAN
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Maria Tatulea-Codrean (FP 2013)
has been awarded the Star Award for
Academic Excellence by the SQA. One of
only three pupils in Scotland nominated
in the category, she was awarded a
handsome trophy in recognition of her
outstanding examination successes.
This achievement recognises her as
one of the highest performing SQA
candidates in 2013. Maria is now
studying Mathematics at Trinity
College, Cambridge.
110
AGM and Dinner
The White Swan, Pickering,
25 April 2014
The AGM convened at 6.30pm, and
the increased number of members
round the table probably contributed
to the length of the Meeting, and the
occasional difficulty experienced in
controlling it! The Agenda included
reports from Secretary Deirdre
Buchanan, who covered the state of
the membership, and the urgent need
to pay over subscriptions for 2014;
from President Adrian Grant, who
commented on the Autumn meeting
at the Lowry in Manchester, and on
the various communication difficulties
experienced during the year; and from
Club Governor Andrew Webb, who
reported on pupil numbers, boarder
numbers, the strong financial position
of the school, and the new build project
next to the Girls’ Pavilion.
The election of office bearers
not only saw a reversal in the roles of
President and Secretary, with Deirdre
Buchanan becoming President (for the
third time in total, but the first time in
the current century), and Adrian Grant
taking over as Secretary, but also the
election of a Vice President for the first
time in four years, with Liz Hansen
accepting the role to appreciative
applause. Victor Buchanan agreed to
continue as Treasurer, and Committee
members Lloyd Harrison and Eve
Sutherland were joined by Sandy
Goodall after Gordon Wilson stepped
down.
After the Meeting, all present
convened in the Bothy, an annexe to
the main hotel building, to partake of
pre-dinner champagne provided by the
new President in acknowledgement
of her recent significant birthday. The
retiring President and newly-appointed
Secretary marked this occasion, and
her completion of a total of 39 years as
Club Secretary, by presenting Deirdre
with a West Coast local delicacy - a stick
of Blackpool Rock! Deirdre was unsure
whether to eat it or use it to maintain
order….
The 28 people present were
eventually persuaded to find their
seats, and after grace the Secretary,
sitting at a table made up of classmates
who had left in 1966 and been at
School for both the fires, introduced
everyone at his table. The meal that
followed maintained the extremely
high standard of previous years, but
failed to reduce the level of chatter,
which persisted throughout until, after
the usual toasts, the Rector provided a
comprehensive update of happenings
and results at Dollar, covering the
range of activities and events.
Comment
and
chatter
resumed for a further while in the
Bothy, and then for quite a bit longer
in the bar. A great time was had by all,
and as soon as a date has been agreed
with the Rector for next year’s Dinner,
you can update your diary to ensure
that you experience this as well!
Adrian Grant
FP
UNIVERSITY NEWS
The following Former Pupils are to
be congratulated on their recent
achievements:
University of Aberdeen
Hannah Talbot MBChB Medicine
University of Manchester
Mathew Thompson
LLB (Hons) 2.1 Mathew takes up a position with Ernst
& Young in Aberdeen in September of
this year.
Robert Gordon University
Robyn Reid MSc Fashion Management, with
Distinction.
ENGAGEMENTS
WARD - HENDERSON
The engagement is announced between
Dr Mairi Ward and Jordan Henderson
(FP 1993-2006), youngest son of Kathy
and Barry (FP 1958-1972).
MARRIAGES
We wish every happiness to…
BIRTHS
We are delighted to welcome these
new additions to the extended Dollar
family:
HARTNESS
On 5th December 2013 to Lynsey
(née Stephenson, FP 1991-1998) and
Richie, a son, Benjamin, in Wellington,
New Zealand.
DONALDSON
Joanne (née Hutton, FP 1981-1991)
and Richard are pleased to announce
the safe arrival in January 2013 of
Luke Richard Hutton Donaldson, a
brother for Alexander and Thomas.
LAMONT
To Katie and Bryce (FP 1978 - 1987)
on 10th August 2013, a daughter, Isla
Jayne. A little sister for Eva Louise.
FRYER
To Shoena (FP 1989-1995) and Justin
Fryer a daughter, Josie Anne Fryer,
on 23rd January 2014. Josie was in
a hurry to come into the world - she
was safely delivered by her father
just off the Edinburgh Bypass. Josie
is a little sister to Annalie (3) and a
fourth granddaughter for Patricia and
David Shearer Payne (Mathematics
Staff 1982-2004).
FULLER
To John and Fiona (née Paterson, FP
2000-2001) on 3rd October 2013, a
daughter, Isabelle Faye, pictured here
at six months old.
MASON
To Greig (FP 1989-1996 and Deputy
Head Boy) and Lucy, a son, Charlie
James. Born on 31st October 2013. A
brother for Olivia. The whole family is
delighted.
McKECHNIE
To Stuart and Jennifer (née Campbell,
FP 1993-1999), a daughter, Lucy Kate,
on 20th October 2013. SCOTT
To Phil and Elspeth (Former Staff and
Former Editor of Fortunas), a son Rafe
Samuel Scott Buchan, born on 10th
February 2014. A little brother for
James.
BLACK – MASON
On 28th September 2013, Fiona Black
(FP 1987-2000) married Darren Lee
Mason at Glendevon Parish Church.
The service was conducted by Rev.
John Purves.
CAMPBELL – MCKECHNIE
On 31st March 2012, Jennifer Campbell
(FP 1993-1999) to Stuart McKechnie.
ANNIVERSARY
Fortunas 33
June 2014
STRANG
Congratulations to Alison (née Lyle, FP
1940-1946) and Roy Strang (FP 19371943) on the celebration of their 60th
wedding anniversary in April 2014.
111
DEATHS
Our deepest sympathies are extended
to the family and friends of the
following Former Pupils:
ANDERSON
Dr William M. Anderson (FP 19441955) passed away on 11th December
2013. Bill won a scholarship to Dollar
and was a member of the winning team
when Dollar won the BBC “Top of the
Form” UK finals in 1952.
BATES
Williamena ‘Billie’ Margaret Bates (née
Young, FP 1931-1938 and Former Staff
1949-1951) passed away peacefully
on 17th December 2013 at Gartnavel
General Hospital. Beloved wife of the
late Archer Bates. (See memories in this
edition).
BISSET
Anne Bisset (née Melville, FP 19351940) passed away peacefully on
Sunday 23rd February 2014, aged 86
years. Wife to the late Mungo (FP
1934-1940).
Fortunas 33
June 2014
BOYD
Hamish William Boyd (FP 1945-1948)
died 28th September 2013. Beloved
husband of Agnes June. (See obituary
in this edition).
112
BROWN
William C. Brown (FP 1933-1945) died
aged 85 years on 22nd May 2013. He is
survived by his wife Jean, children Jim
and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren.
Also by his brother George and sister
May, who along with their late brother
Jim, were all Dollar Former Pupils.
Willie was a Bursar, Milne Medallist
and Pipe Sergeant.
DEANS
Leonard McIntyre Deans (FP 19401946) passed away on 13th February
2014. He always had very happy
memories of his time at Dollar.
BUCHAN
Thomas (Tom) Buchan (FP 1937-1942)
passed away peacefully at his home in
Kinnesswood in the early hours of the
morning on March 10th 2014, with his
family by his side. (See obituary in this
edition).
FOX
George Leslie Fox (FP 1945-1953)
passed away on 26th January 2014,
aged 77.
CAMPBELL
William (Bill) Campbell (FP 19401946) has passed away aged 84 years.
(See obituary in this edition).
CAPE
Robert Douglas Cape (FP 19391947) died peacefully in his sleep on
1st February 2014. Former Head of
Parkfield House, he was always very
proud of his school.
DAVIDSON
William B. Davidson (FP 1943-1946)
died aged 84 on 29th December 2013.
DAWSON
Alexander (Sandy) Dawson (Staff) died
suddenly, aged 55. Sandy is survived
by his wife Morag and son Neil. (See
obituary in this edition).
ELSTER
Caroline Jane Elster (FP 1996 - 2003)
passed away peacefully at home on
Monday 16th December 2013, aged 28.
JOHNSTON
Suddenly on 8th February 2014 at
Murrayfield Stadium, Ken (FP 19621971) is survived by his wife, Susan
and his son Gordon-Ross. A member
of the Dollar Accies who will be dearly
missed and fondly remembered. (See
obituary in this edition).
LAPSLEY
Ann Lapsley (née Hallett, FP 1939 –
1942) passed away erlier this year.
LENNOX
Ann
Lennox
(FP
1938-1944),
peacefully at Raigmore Hospital
Inverness on 1st May 2014, widow of
Jack (FP 1936-1943). Mother of Jinty
(FP 1963-1972), Jock (FP 1963-1974)
and Seonaid (FP 1965-1978). Proud
grandmother of nine grandsons and
one great-grandson.
FP
MACKAY
Mavis Mackay (Former Staff 19741989) passed away, peacefully, on 6th
April 2014, aged 80. Beloved wife of
the late Jim, much loved mother of
Roddy, John and Janet, mother-in-law
of Gwynne, grandmother of Elise and
Cameron and sister of Robin. Mavis,
a teacher for many years at Dollar
Academy, loved art, music, theatre and
Findhorn.
MACINTYRE
Kathleen MacIntyre (née Marshall, FP
1935-1945) died on Sunday 13th April
2014.
MIDDLETON
Doris Middleton (née Grigson,
FP1937-1942) passed away on 13th
September 2013.
MUNRO
David Munro (FP 1950-1955) passed
away on 16th February 2014. A former
boarder at Parkfield House.
MURCHIE
Ian Murchie (FP 1958-1961) passed
away on 18th May 2014 in Guernsey.
He is survived by his sister, his wife
and two stepchildren.
SMITH
Mr John Lawson Blackie Smith BSc (Former Staff and Housemaster of Argyll
Boarding House 1951-1966) died on 9th February 2014. He taught Chemistry for
15 years and also ran the Air Section. While at Dollar he met and married Miss
Audrey Flint, MA, (d. 2009), who taught Modern Languages. Lawson and Audrey
are survived by their two daughters, Pauline and Catriona, and grandson Theo.
Insert photo
Fortunas 33
June 2014
113
Fortunas 33
June 2014
ALEXANDER (SANDY)
DAWSON, RIAS
1958-2013
114
Sandy’s tenure at Dollar Academy
was, sadly, all too brief. He arrived as
the Building and Contracts Manager
in June 2012, following a long career
in Architecture, having worked
for Stirling, Kirkcaldy, Falkirk and
Clackmannanshire Councils where
he was Head of Design. He served
as an Edinburgh Council Member of
the Royal Incorporation of Architects
in Scotland (RIAS) and was a past
President of the Stirling branch. This
meant that he brought a wealth of
experience and a deep-rooted interest
in conservation and built heritage essential qualities when looking after
an estate of the complexity of Dollar
Academy with its listed buildings and
fabulous setting. I know that Sandy
had already developed a real pride in
the Academy and deeply valued the
contribution he was able to make.
He rapidly became a friend as well as
a colleague and I miss his wise and
humorous observations.
Despite a broad-ranging
career, Sandy didn’t stray far from
home. He went to school in Alloa
and remained an optimistic, life-long
supporter of Alloa Athletic, having
been a keen footballer in his youth.
I think a large part of his pleasure in
supporting the local side was founded
in his developed sense of belonging
and community. He settled close by
in Kincardine with his wife, Morag,
where they brought up their son, Neil,
himself endowed with many of Sandy’s
characteristics and natural charm.
Sandy was devoted to both Morag
and Neil and I was struck by their
dignity, profound mutual support and
deep affection in the days and weeks
following Sandy’s death. Neil was as
proud of his father as Sandy was of
him; I can clearly recall how Sandy
would seem particularly energised
when he spoke about Neil and his
achievements. Sandy became an elder
in his local church, and worked with
the local Scout troop, taking them
hillwalking, cycling and camping;
further evidence, if any were needed,
of a man who fully understood the
meaning of commitment and who
cared about making the fullest possible
contribution to his local community.
That same commitment and sense of
purpose he also brought to his working
life. He had a great love of music and
was a highly accomplished guitarist
and in what spare time remained he
also managed to be an enthusiastic
member of Dunblane Curling Club.
His greatest pleasure, perhaps, was
found in spending time in Lindos, on
the island of Rhodes, with Morag and
Neil. They spent many years exploring
the Greek islands, but in Lindos seem
to have found a perfect haven to which
they returned time after time. He
would return from visits there deeply
refreshed, having enjoyed some simple,
uncomplicated time in a place he loved.
Sandy had unique qualities
- he was generous with his time and
energy, deeply compassionate, loyal
and, quite simply, a very gentle man. I
cannot have been alone in recognising
his warmth and humanity; his funeral
service was thronged with friends,
colleagues and relatives from all walks
of life who were deeply saddened by
their loss.
Justin St J Wilkes
Bursar
FP
JAMES WILLIAM
(HAMISH) BOYD
(FP 1945-1948)
1932-2013
Robbie Kirk (FP 2001-2008)
Fortunas 33
he met his wife, June. Naturally his
favourite film was Titanic.
Although I already knew
Hamish as a family friend, through
an equine connection and as an FP,
it was only in May 2010 that I got to
know him a little better. He asked my
advice on making a purchase and we
set out by train towards Glasgow early
one morning. School stories bounced
back and forth, the incredible days of
Empire sounding boldly across the
carriage. The sixty years between us
melted away. Two excited Dollar boys
were going to get an iPad.
Standing out from the
thronging crowd choking Buchanan
Street, Hamish was spotted by a
reporter and asked if he would like
to give an interview. Taking this in
his stride, he coolly explained to the
reporter his reasoning for wanting to
be one of the first to own an iPad. That
this would be his first computer but it
would never replace the tactile feeling
of a crisp broadsheet. I will always
remember Hamish being undaunted
by the new, seeking the very best in
life and looking for his next great
adventure.
June 2014
A Dollar Boy through and through.
Hamish to his friends. The time he
spent as a boarder at Dollar forged
his character, values and spirit of
adventure. Occasionally also providing
each of us with a vivid story and a
sense of wonder.
Hamish left Dollar shortly
after the War, at the age of sixteen.
He entered into his first job, walking
the floor of Jenners Department
Store, selling carpets. Imagine your
good fortune to be served by such a
gentleman, I always thought. Always
immaculately dressed, he was instantly
recognisable to his friends. He always
greatly enjoyed returning to Dollar,
to what he considered a second home,
and during Sports Weekend it was an
annual tradition of his to wear tartan
trousers.
The only son of William and
Elizabeth Boyd, after learning his
trade in Edinburgh he began work
in the family’s linen business. He
worked busily supplying local shops
and working closely with his suppliers.
Dunfermline’s
linen
industry,
known around the world, was hugely
important throughout Fife. He proudly
became the founding director of
William Boyd and Company Limited.
Asides from business, he held
a great passion for horses. Hamish
always looked for the very best, with
a keen sense of taste and beauty.
Nowhere was this more apparent than
on a visit to his home. The panoramic
view across the Forth Valley looking
north towards Dollar from high above
Falkirk is prodigious, encompassed
by his beautifully manicured garden,
filled with exotic rhododendrons and
aquamarine blue poppies.
Surprisingly he remained
a bachelor until relatively recently,
waiting to find the right woman. In the
meantime he had travelled the world,
particularly relishing cruising, where
115
THOMAS BUCHAN
(FP 1937-1942)
1925-2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Thomas (Tom) Buchan passed away
peacefully at his home in Kinnesswood
in the early hours of the morning on
March 10th 2014, with his family
by his side. Friend of the family,
Professor David Munro delivered the
Eulogy at the service to remember
Tom on March 17th in Portmoak
Parish Church.
116
“I have a photograph of a
cheeky fair-haired Kinaskit bairn in the
mid-1920s by the architect Jim Scott,
whose family occupied ‘Roselea’ house,
not far from the village garage. Seated
on ‘Maidie’s Steps’ which led up to the
home of Maidie Syme, this must be one
of the earliest photos of young Tommy
Buchan. There is evidence of a budding
sportsman. His left hand clutches a
golf club and in his right hand is a
tennis ball held up to his cheek. With
a hint of mischievous design and an
emerging smile that was recognisably
that of Tom Buchan, he looks as if he
is about to throw the tennis ball at the
photographer, and he probably did.
This is one of these photos that most
people, but not Tom, might wish to
keep hidden in a drawer. Young Tommy
is wearing a rather fetching smock with
short socks and sandals. Even at this
late date, little boys were dressed in the
same style as little girls until they were
‘breeked’, as the expression was.
When I showed this photo to
Tom, just over 20 years ago in 1993,
he smiled in his own inimitable way
over the rim of his glasses. I asked if he
knew who the bairn was, and without
hesitation or embarrassment he said it
was him and told me all about it. The
photos taken by Jim Scott were gifted
to Kinross-shire Historical Society and
can now be found in Kinross Museum.
But you will also find the photograph
on page 16 of a book by the novelist
and historian Iona Macgregor,
entitled Bairns - Scottish Children In
Photographs, published in 1994 by
the National Museums of Scotland.
In a caption to the photo, the author
notes, “The cheeky young golfer, whose
Father established the first garage in
the village, later became the garage
owner as well.”
Owning and running a garage
puts you at the heart of a community
and Tom was, in every sense, the heart
of Kinnesswood and the Bishopshire, a
tradition that his son, David, continues.
The Buchan family has always cared
about the place and its people, and
Tom was always there to offer a helping
hand to anyone in need of help.
When I was appointed a
Trustee of the Michael Bruce Trust at
the tender age of 18, I found myself
at Trustee meetings surrounded by a
rather intimidating array of venerable
gentlemen, all of whom seemed to be
at least 50 years older than me. There
was one exception: Tom Buchan. He
bridged the age gap and helped put me
at my ease.
Tom also acted as an
ambassador, not just for the
Michael Bruce Museum, but also for
Kinnesswood. He would be contacted
or visited by people from all over the
world who had a connection with the
village and put them in touch with
me if they looking for family history
in addition to what he himself could
recollect.
Tom had a remarkable
memory and was always a port of
call when I needed a story verified or
a photograph identified. A couple of
years ago when mounting a wartime
exhibition in Kinross Museum, I was
collating information on planes that
had made unscheduled landings in or
around Loch Leven. I was particularly
curious about a Lysander that made an
emergency landing on St Serf’s Island
in 1947 but managed to take off again
some time later. Tom recalled this
event, telling me that the plane had run
out of fuel. This he remembered well,
since it was he who was called upon to
deliver several Jerry cans of petrol to
enable the plane to take off again.
Kinross-shire has always been
a meeting place. Loch Leven a meeting
place for migrating birds; Kinross,
with its many inns and hotels, lies
at a crossroads; and Milnathort had
its markets where people gathered.
Thomas Buchan & Son’s garage has
always been more than a place to fill up
with petrol or have your car serviced.
It is a meeting place for folk, not just
those living in the parish, but also
people from all the airts worldwide.
Tom again helped foster this social
function at the heart of our community.
At my age there are few
people I can say I have known all my
life. Until last Monday Tom was one of
the few. My Father and Tom always got
on particularly well, and I have vivid
memories of him wheeling into the
garage for a fill of petrol with myself in
the backseat. Tom would always have a
special word for myself and as ever give
us a good wave as we swept out onto
the road and away.
Tom
has
bequeathed
memories such as these and many
more. Memories of a good hearted
friend and family man who had a
life well lived at the centre of our
community.
With thanks to Jayne Brown (née
Buchan),
(FP 1990-2000)
FP
“To have known him is a
privilege, to have worked together is an
honour, but there has been no greater
enjoyment than sharing his close
friendship for so many years.”
Courtesy of the Edinburgh
Evening News
The above tribute to Mr
Campbell was submitted by Robin
Mecredy (FP 1942-1946), who shares his
own memories of his friend:
WILLIAM CAMPBELL
(FP 1940-1946)
1929-2014
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Bill Campbell was born in
India in 1929 and came to Scotland at
four to be raised by his grandmother
in Stenton, East Lothian, where he
attended primary school. He went on
to Dollar Academy, where he completed
his education as dux of the school.
After graduating from the
School of Architecture at Edinburgh
College of Art, and following a brief
spell in Northern Rhodesia, he
completed two years of national service
before returning to Edinburgh in
1957 to work in Regent Terrace in the
fledgling practice of Robert Matthew.
Bill bought and restored the 17thcentury Kinloch House in Haddington,
living on the top floors above the office.
In the early 1970s, he went
to Edinburgh University to study
planning. After graduating, he worked
in Leicester and Hampshire before
returning to Scotland to join the
Scottish Office Inquiry Reporters
Unit, then expanding to cope with
oil-related development pressures
around Aberdeen. Bill took on a lot of
this work as well as listed building and
architectural cases. Among the major
cases he undertook were a large retail
complex at Newhouse and a proposal
to carry out and investigate drilling in
the Galloway Hills to ascertain their
suitability for storing spent nuclear
fuel. The standard of his work led to
his eventual promotion to deputy chief
reporter.
Following his retirement he
became involved with many public
bodies, among them the Royal Fine Art
Commission, the Cockburn Association
and the Saltire Society.
A keen genealogist, Bill was
also enormously well-read and a keen
traveller, enjoying serious walking
tours all over Europe, indulging his
love of flowers and plants and small
group trips to unlikely destinations.
Bill’s friend and former
colleague Ian Arnott said: “Bill
Campbell was a polymath, the nearest
thing to a Renaissance man the 20th
century would allow. He enriched
those he touched, was an entertaining
companion and a loyal friend.
My first memory of William
Campbell is when I was moved
into Argyll House in 1942. He was
extremely helpful in explaining the
rules and customs of the house. His
parents and younger brother were
caught by the War in Southern India.
My mother had died and my father
was down in London in the War Office,
so we had something in common. We
formed a firm friendship which lasted
through all the years. I was very lucky
because his family in Scotland was very
hospitable during holidays. He was
extremely bright in school and very
keen on Art - specialising in designing
cathedrals! While there never was a
cathedral in waiting, his career was
very impressive.
Living quite near Heathrow
these days, we were able to see him
on occasions as he passed through.
He enjoyed discussing flowers with
my wife, Toni, both being very
knowledgeable. We were able to admire
his garden when he lived outside
Edinburgh and we were on holiday in
Scotland.
Sadly, later in life his health
deteriorated and he was bedridden,
but he took it very calmly. His Scottish
cousins were a great help to him and we
will all miss him.
117
Fortunas 33
June 2014
KENNETH JOHNSTON
(FP 1962-1971)
1953-2014
118
Kenneth Ivor Dundas Bryce
Johnston, better known to his Dollar
friends and teammates as Ken ‘The
Tank’ Johnston, sadly died watching
his beloved Scotland play England at
Murrayfield this year. If there is a good
way to go, then Ken would have had
his wish, passing away watching the
team he loved at a match of the sport
he had adored from a young age. Ken
loved rugby and everything that goes
with it: the 80 minutes on the field
of play, the camaraderie, refereeing,
club administration, but most of all
the ‘craic’ in the clubhouse after the
match, which was ideally suited to his
extrovert character, regaling whoever
was within earshot with his countless
stories and jokes. If one stayed at the
bar for an hour or two, more often than
not you would witness Ken leading the
sing-song.
Ken was introduced to rugby
at Dollar Academy and had the ideal
build for a tighthead prop, a position he
made his own, and he was awarded his
1st XV Colours in Form V, after playing
all season in ‘Teddy’ Davidson’s team
of 1970/71. Unfortunately for Ken,
his father decided not to throw any
more money at the ‘problem’, denying
Ken the chance to add his dates to his
Colours the following season.
On leaving school, Ken
continued his rugby career joining the
mighty Gosforth R.F.C. in 1974 and
playing for the Club over 15 seasons,
before becoming a referee for the
next 10 years. He was President from
2010 to 2012 and represented the
Club on the Northumberland County
Committee. There was no prouder
father than Ken when his son, GordonRoss, was selected for Gosforth for the
first time not so long ago.
Ken had a great love for
another rugby club, however, namely
Dollar Academicals, and although we
don’t have any records, we believe he
attended every Accies dinner from
1972 up until 2013. He was also a
regular supporter of our Sponsor’s
Lunch, when we sponsor the School 1st
XV before lunch in the Captain’s Room.
Ken was there on the touchline as
usual, cheering on the School against
Stewart’s Melville last November,
before being the life and soul of the
party after the game.
As previously mentioned,
Ken loved a party and loved chatting
to anyone who would listen, whether
it be the tea ladies or indeed highly
important dignitaries. Rugby club bars
are all about sing-songs and there was
nothing Ken liked more than belting
out his old favourites, with ‘Mary Lou’
by Ricky Nelson his all-time favourite.
He would proudly tell anyone that
cared to listen that he once sang to an
audience of 500 in Las Vegas. Some of
his good friends, when out of earshot
of their pal, said the number might
have been closer to 50!!!!
Ken was born in Edinburgh
but moved to Grangemouth when his
father took over the important position
of Town Clerk of that expanding
conurbation in the early 1960s. Ken
came to Dollar Academy in August
1962 and was a boarder in Parkfield
(now Heyworth), where he joined his
elder brother, Ron (Deputy Head Boy
1968/69). After leaving school, Ken
went into the insurance business and
settled in Northumberland in 1974,
meeting his future wife, Susan, in
Newcastle and marrying in 1977. Ken
was thrilled when son, Gordon-Ross,
followed.
Ken retired last September
after 38 years with the National
Farmers Union Mutual Insurance
Society Ltd, the last 20 years of
which as the National Farmers Union
senior group secretary for the North
Northumberland group, based in
Alnwick. During his time in the post
he worked closely with MP Alan Beith
over rural matters in the area.
The celebration of Ken’s
life was held in a packed St Nicholas
Church, Cramlington on Friday 21st
February of this year, with Dollar
Accies represented by Iain Mears,
Ogilvie Rolland, Douglas Alexander,
Keith Montgomery and Barry
Henderson, along with his wife and
two sons. Mr Ron Johnston was also
in attendance. Keith piped the family
into church and played a medley of
laments following the service. Being a
patriotic Scot and also a fashion icon
(in his own eyes, if in no-one else’s),
Ken requested that either tartan or
his favourite colours, yellow or pink
(“that’s not pink, it’s mauve!”) be worn.
The attendees did not let him down.
It was also Ken’s wish that a party be
held at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club
(formerly Gosforth) afterwards, and I
can confirm that there were a lot nearer
500 family and friends from the world
of rugby there to celebrate his life than
the 50 which might have been the case
in Vegas some years before.
As Ken was one of their
greatest ever stalwarts and annual
attendees, Dollar Accies have decided
that the tradition of a Johnston
attending our Dinner on the Friday of
Sports Weekend should continue. In
the circumstances we are inviting his
son, Gordon-Ross, to attend as a guest
in June, when he will be presented
with a Dollar Accies tie and made an
Honorary Member of the Club his
father held so dear.
Iain J R Mears,
President, Dollar Academicals
Rugby Football Club
FP
MEMORIES OF MARGARET BATES
(NÉE YOUNG)
(FP 1931-1938 and Staff 1949-1951)
Margaret Bates (née Young) was known as Billie at school.
She flourished academically and at sport - she was Milne
Medallist and in the 1st XI - but her true love was Art. It was
when she was a senior pupil in the Art Department that my
father, Ian Campbell, newly appointed Head of Art, met her.
He was very impressed by her work and her free, strong and
very mature draughtsmanship.
From Dollar she went to Edinburgh College of Art
and studied drawing and painting. She taught Art for several
years and then, when Neil Foggie left the Art Department,
she returned to teach at her old school - with her ‘old’ Art
teacher. This proved a very creative and happy time. She
will be particularly remembered for her beautiful sets for
The Admirable Crichton (see photos). She taught me and
introduced me to silkscreen printing and embroidery. She
was a gentle, fun teacher.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
119
GLIDING AT
GRANGEMOUTH
She left to get married in
1951, but remained a painter until
old age. When she was very old, her
daughter, Mary, brought her to Dollar
and Janet Carolan (school archivist)
and I spent a lovely summer day taking
her up to the Castle and round the
new Art Department in the Maguire
Building. Gus Maclean, whose aunt had
been at Edinburgh with her, had a long
chat with Billie and she saw the pupils’
work. My own grandson was studying
Sixth Form Art and Gus arranged for
him to meet Billie. Kit later said that
it was weird being introduced to his
Granny’s old Art teacher!
It was a happy day for all of us
and we are all saddened by her death.
She was a lovely lady - definitely a
Dollar Girl.
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Jennifer Campbell
(FP 1941-53 and Staff 1973-94)
120
I was very interested and moved to read
the article on page 118 of Fortunas 32,
‘The Cairn on the Hill’. I hadn’t realised
that the airfield from which I had
done my Dollar CCF glider training,
Grangemouth, had been a Spitfire
training base some years earlier. As
I did my three ‘solos’ that Thursday
evening in July 1953, it was probably
just as well that I was unaware the field
was one to which some trainee Spitfire
pilots had not returned from their
solos!
I passed the area recently
as I drove round Edinburgh on my
way to Fort William and was amazed
to see no sign of the airfield, but the
thrill of those few days’ glider training
remains...
We were pulled up to 1000
feet by a powerful winch…then nose
down, pull the release cord . . . fly on
a bit, and then decide on a left or right
circuit. I remember I much preferred
the left circuit for some reason. The
right circuit, however, was special:
besides providing a lovely view towards
the Ochil Hills, it would take the glider
over one of the oil refinery cooling
towers, giving one a ‘bump up’ on the
warm rising air…an artificial thermal!
By then one had to be on the lookout
for the imaginary 45 degree fence, a
warning it was time to turn round onto
final approach or else one’s landing
would not be on the airfield!! When
my instructor said, “OK MacLennan,
you’re ready”, I swallowed hard…I
remember when coming in for my first
landing I could see him gesticulating
wildly because I was off line. . . he later
said he was very impressed with my
correcting side-slip.
Thinking, as I write, about
my instructor, I remember him telling
me that he was one of the students
who stole the Stone of Destiny from
Westminster Abbey and drove with
it back to Scotland in 1950! At the
first assembly of Michaelmas term,
the Rector, Mr Bell, thought my
achievement worthy of mention . .
. I remember hoping a certain girl I
admired (MH) was equally impressed!
Ken MacLennan (FP 1949-1955; the first
pupil to get a ‘B’ Certificate for gliding.)
CAN ANYONE HELP?
Does any FP who boarded in Playfair
in the period 1951-56 remember Gwen
McPherson? She worked as a maid
in the House. Miss Flossington was
matron at that time and she wrote a
reference for Gwen which her niece Mrs
Sheena Carter now has. Mrs Carter is
researching her family and would like
to know more about her aunt. Please
send any memories of Gwen to the
Editor or the Archivist.
Heather Moore
Fortunas 33
June 2014
Lavinia Malcolm: before the recent
plaque unveiling, some in Dollar
might not have been familiar with the
name. Now, anyone who walks past
24 West Burnside (Burnside House)
in Dollar will learn at least a little
about Lavinia Malcolm’s remarkable
life and achievements. Mrs Malcolm
was the first Woman Town Councillor
in Scotland and first Woman Provost
in Scotland. Now, a hundred years
after becoming Provost, she is also the
first person in Dollar to be honoured
with a commemorative blue plaque.
On Wednesday 30th April, the plaque
commemorating Lavinia Malcolm’s life
was unveiled.
Janet Carolan (Honorary
Curator of Dollar Museum and
Archivist at Dollar Academy) has spent
decades researching the life of Mrs
Malcolm and she is the one to have set
in motion the events that led to the
unveiling on the Burnside.
The event was attended
Mrs Malcolm continued as
Provost through the First World War,
before resigning in 1919. In 1920 she
was honoured by the King, becoming
one of the first female Justices of the
Peace. She died later that year.
One tribute to Lavinia
Malcolm said: “Dollar will never look
on her like again. She should never
be forgotten”. As Mrs Carolan said,
“Dollar Museum has taken on the task
of ensuring she will not be forgotten.
We have a permanent exhibition on
Dollar’s 20 Provosts and on Dollar
Town Council.” Dollar even has a street
called Malcolm Court.
Now, fittingly, a memorial
plaque announces to all those who
pass by Burnside House, that a very
passionate, determined and influential
woman once resided there.
Archives
CELEBRATING
DOLLAR’S FIRST
WOMAN PROVOST
by Tina Murphy, Provost of
Clackmannanshire, and Mick Rice,
Chairman of Dollar Community
Council, looking resplendent in the
Dollar Provost’s robes and gold chain
(not seen in public since 1975). Freddie
McFadyean (Form III), a member of the
Dollar Academy Pipe Band, welcomed
the guests with music before the
ceremony. Mrs Carolan spoke about
the life led by the remarkable Lavinia
Malcolm. The present owners of
Burnside House, Mr and Mrs R. Laird,
held a reception in their home after the
ceremony.
A teacher herself, Mrs Malcolm
left her native Forres for Dollar after
marrying a Dollar Academy English
master, Richard Malcolm. They lived
in Burnside House, a boys’ boarding
house at the time. Tragically, her son,
also Richard, died in 1895 when he was
only eight years old. Perhaps as a result
of this loss, Mrs Malcolm threw herself
into public service. She was a very
strong speaker and one of her greatest
interests was Votes for Women. A
suffragist, not a suffragette, she was
never in favour of militancy.
In August of 1907, a change
in the law allowed women to stand
for election as Town Councillors.
Mrs Malcolm was elected and, as Mrs
Carolan explains, “famously became
the first woman Town Councillor in
Scotland, a job she carried out with
flair, humour and commitment.”
Then, in 1913, at the age of
66, Mrs Malcolm was elected Provost
of Dollar. Notably, Glasgow didn’t
have a female Provost until 1960 and
it was 1988 before Edinburgh elected a
woman Provost.
121
Fortunas 33
June 2014
FROM THE ARCHIVES
These photos are two of the many informal snapshots taken
round Dollar in the late 1930s and early 1940s by Dan
MacLachlan (FP 1936-41). His family have kindly donated
his photo album to the school archive. James Blyth (FP 193542), who features in some of the images and has a wonderful
memory, has been able to give us names and details.
According to James, when he was at school there
were two ‘doukers’ (pools where the boys swam) in the River
Devon. They were Butchart’s Pool, which was upstream of the
railway viaduct towards Linnbank Farm, and Hare’s Hole,
which was near the Haugh Bridge. Can any FP identify
which pool is shown in the photo? The angle to the Gloomhill
Quarry in the background would suggest Hare’s Hole. The
boys standing in the middle of the photo are Denis Savage (in
striped swimsuit), James ‘Jeani’ Blyth and ‘Jum’ Wilson. The
date is around 1940.
122
The other photo is of the fountain in West Burnside
and James says that the boy balanced precariously on top is
Geoffrey Waddell. Readers may be interested to know that
the Burnside Action Group currently has plans to restore the
fountain. It dates from the 1890s and is in poor condition.
Janet Carolan (nee Rorke)
The Joanna Morgan Jones educaTional TrusT
Scottish Charity: SCO43504
The Trust was set up in
2012 in memory of Joanna
Morgan Jones, Head Girl of
Dollar in 1987-88. Joanna’s
early death from Brain
Cancer in 2012 was an
immense loss to her family,
her friends, and to the
medical profession where she
had a successful career as a
Physician and a Psychiatrist.
Already, the Trust has
raised over £60,000.
Already, two young students
have been welcomed to
Form 5 at Dollar Academy.
Already, a donation for
over £10,000 has gone to
Brain Cancer Research.
Already, a second open lecture
is planned for future students and
their parents on 4 March 2014.
Already, a second fund-raising evening is planned
for the 1 March 2014.
• T
oestablishanannualopenlecturetoinformand
inspire young people thinking of a medical career.
Current giving is directly benefiting individual students
who will contribute to society in future. Current giving
is directly supporting an area of research that will
impact on many lives.
• T
oprovideatwo-yearmeans-testedbursaryat
Dollar Academy to fund a potential medical
student not currently attending the school.
You will find more information on the Trust website
www.jomorganjones.com Very generous donations have
already been received and any contribution you wish to
make will be welcomed and individually acknowledged.
• T
osupporttheBrainCancerResearcharmof
Cancer Research UK.
Joanna’s family has been immensely touched by the
enthusiasm of so many to date. They see Jo’s Trust as a
living reflection of Joanna’s altruism and care for others.
The Trust fund-raising aims are clear:
The Joanna Morgan Jones educaTional TrusT, 23 WesT Burnside, dollar FK14 7dX
T: 01259 740515 e: jostrust@gmail.com W: www.jomorganjones.com
Fortunas 33
June 2014
123
Dollar Academy is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC009888
Minnie Roe (Form III)