Number 15 Summer 2011

The magazine for former pupils and friends of Glasgow Academy and Westbourne School

Inside:

lifeof Academicaland Downsall the Ups

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Keeping in touchThe External Relations office is situated in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are always welcome to pop in for a chat and look round the school. Just give us a call to arrange a time. Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow G12 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 342 5494 or at exrel@tga.org.uk

The Glasgow Academical Club 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR President – John Taylor E-mail – johnctaylor@aol.com Secretary – Kenneth Shand Tel: 0141 248 5011 E-mail: kenneth.shand@mms.co.uk

The Academical Club pavilion is available for functions. Please contact Ken Barron at k.barron@tga.org.uk for details.

Academical Club’s London SectionSecretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place London SW1X 9SA Tel: 020 7235 9012 E-mail: ecj@aralon.co.uk

Do we have your e-mail address? It’s how we communicate best!

Editorial Contents3 Adventures in East Africa

4 Far away and long ago

6 The Legacy of Giving

7 Anecdotage

10 Academy life in the 1960s

13 Academicals Abroad

14 Reunions and get-togethers

16 This sporting life

18 Business Etcetera

20 Updates, et cetera

22 Academical section

24 The Accie who played in the FA Cup Final

26 Westbourne

28 Family announcements

31 From our own correspondents

Malcom McNaught, Director of External Relations m.mcnaught@tga.org.uk

It’s five years since I took on the job of Director of External Relations. It’s an enormously diverse role and one that I enjoy thoroughly.

It’s never possible to predict what will happen on any given day as no two days are the same. I spend much of my time developing relationships with parents who are thinking of sending their children to The Academy and - with 1300 children on three sites - that’s a good number of relationships!

Satisfying as this part of the job is, it’s the relationships with former pupils that undoubtedly give the greatest pleasure - perhaps especially those who are a little older in years. It’s odd that the older we become the more we enjoy looking back on our formative years - or so it seems. It has been my pleasure and privilege to meet many former pupils who, perhaps, only in their retirement have had the time to re-establish a relationship with the school in which they grew up.

Andrew Wylie was a man who clearly had fond memories of his old school. Although he lived in far-away Fife, he liked nothing better than to make the journey to The Academy in the company of his good friend Douglas Anderson for a chat about the old days over a plate of soup and some sandwiches. It was during these lunchtime chats that I learned about that first flush of patriotic enthusiasm after war was declared in 1939 that caused the 1st XV to dig up the tennis courts - quite needlessly as it turned out. I heard stories of fire-watching in the main building, of berry picking camps, of sitting-rooms turned into makeshift classrooms and of schoolboys transformed into makeshift soldiers - all told with a twinkle in the eye and the joy of things not forgotten. It was during these lunchtime conversations that the idea for a book on the Glasgow Academy 1939-45 was raised - by someone, I can’t remember who.

And so Seventy Years On: A School at War was born. Written by Andrew and illustrated by Douglas, his friend of 70 years, it is a book on a serious subject but full of good humour - the humour of shared memories, told with a twinkle in the eye.

Over the past few weeks we have seen the passing of far too many members of that remarkable wartime generation of Academy pupils. Sadly, we have said farewell to Douglas Maclean, Tom Mann and Andrew Wylie - all talented men who have given much to their old school.

Returning last week from Andrew’s funeral, I mused much on friendship, on memories and on the great privilege it is to share - however briefly - in the lives of those who were pupils at Glasgow Academy.

Cover: Peter Littlefield takes a short-cut through Edinburgh’s Old Town

Forthcoming Events16/17 September Class of 2001 Reunion, TGA and New Anniesland

21 September GA 100 Networking reception (venue tbc)

30 September Class of 1991 reunion, TGA and Grand Central Hotel

7 October Class of 1961 – 1965 Reunion, TGA

13 October Kelvin Foundation Lunch, TGA

28 October Gasbags Lunch, New Anniesland

11 November 129th Glasgow Academical Club Annual Dinner, TGA

2 December Classes of 1971 – 1975 Reunion, TGA

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Departing Glasgow airport on a snowy afternoon at the beginning of February earlier this year, I was not as apprehensive as one should be when embarking on a four-month adventure of a lifetime – but I don’t think that fact had quite sunk in yet. In just one hour’s time I would arrive in Heathrow and meet the people whom I had seen on Facebook but never in the flesh, or even spoken to. These people turned out to be some of the best friends I’ll ever make. Then, after an overnight flight with a lot of small talk, we landed in Nairobi. There were twenty-three of us in total, all having signed up to the same project of helping the environment and community in Kenya through the company AfricaAsia Ventures (AV). After a weekend of getting to know everyone, I departed with six other people to our first project in the Massai Mara. Each morning we would teach the primary school children and afterwards continue to build the new secondary school. The approach to life is so relaxed that our enthusiastic mentality accelerated the build and they finally had more than one room to use as a classroom/dormitory. The poverty in this area was astonishing: I counted four out of my class of thirty-seven who owned shoes. Our mere presence made the children realise that there is life beyond their immediate community. I

fell in love with the people.

Time flew by and within a month we travelled to the Great Rift Valley to work on Soysambu conservancy and next to Lake Elementaita. I was very excited to work here as I am studying biology at university and this was exactly the sort of work I would wish to pursue after my degree. As a group we would do the background research for a PhD student from Bristol University by monitoring the endangered Rothschild giraffe species. We also helped in building a new wildlife hide which would hopefully bring tourism to the conservancy and thus more money for the community that lived within it.

Finally we headed to the coast south of Mombasa (also known as paradise). The primary school was almost completed when we arrived, but we managed to put the finishing touches to it, as well as promoting the local tree plantation and looked after the trees and planted more. This mainly Muslim village was not something I expected and it had a very Arabic influence as opposed to the British influence in the rift valley. Kenya may be a less developed country but its history causes it to be so and it is so eye-opening that, even though our culture was detrimental to its current economic state, the kindness of the human spirit makes the people utterly welcoming and friendly.

Adventures in East AfricaAs part of her gap year, Rachel Turner (2010) has been in Africa before taking up her place at Oxford to read Biological Sciences. Rachel is one of no fewer than seven of the class of 2010 who have secured Oxbridge places.

Other than working closely in these three places, we wanted to see more of east Africa. As well as climbing Mount Kenya one weekend, snorkelling with dolphins, singing randomly with the children in the streets of Malindi and Narok we also travelled to Uganda, bungee jumped into the Nile, and rafted down the most terrifying rapids in the world. We headed down the Kenyan coast and across to Zanzibar. We met the most varied group of people, from rich ex pats to Japanese tourists, to beach boys to crazy men.

If I could, I would replay those four months over and over again.

Rachel Turner (2010)

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A very vivid vignette from my first days at the Britannia Royal Naval College will remain forever imprinted on my memory. Graham Black (1967) appeared around a corner, careering along. He skidded to a halt, mouth agape for several seconds before proclaiming: ‘What are YOU doing here?!’ It was a very reasonable question to a boy, somewhat reserved and bookish, whom he had last seen departing for university; a boy who, to his father’s disappointment, had inherited no sporting flair; a boy who, at least at the start of his days at the Academy, encountered the unfamiliar apparatus of the gymnasium with fear and trepidation.

It will be apparent that I do not number amongst those who declare their school-days to be ‘the best years of my life’. For reasons that will become apparent, I will take some persuading to join the Academicals’ Club; there, the gauntlet is down! However, I am pleased after half a century that a fortuitous encounter in the Royal Geographical Society brought me back in contact with the school. Now I am able to contribute financially and by advocacy, thanks to happy liaison with the Development Office. For I have certainly never lost an appreciation of my indebtedness to the education that I received at the Glasgow Academy.

I have often gone on record as saying that the two most important facets of that education for me were the performances of the Globe Players and the CCF. Together with orchestral and duet appearances in school concerts, graduation to a more major part in the Shakespeare productions brought me out of my shell and gave my confidence a real boost. I remember too the transition from the first, completely tongue-tied appearance in charge of a squad to the dizzy heights of Cadet Coxswain of the RN section.

My own children’s subsequent experience of schooldays has reinforced my conviction that the British public school system provides an incomparable rounded education that discovers and brings out latent talent and skill. Compared to the Scottish grammar school in which I passed my primary

years, with its focus on the top echelon, I would certainly describe our Academy experience as truly ‘comprehensive’ in method and impact. This was reflected to a degree, I could not help but feel, in the contrast between the feted departure each summer of members of the 1st XV and other sporting stars, whilst the Oxbridge entrants slipped quietly away into the December dusk. Certainly, our leaving routine in the school office was perfunctory – and no-one invited us to join the Academicals’ Club!

I took with me to Oxford a fixation which was to steer my future. Life in the Clyde valley had given me a fascination with ships, and in consequence with the Royal Navy, which was fed in ‘Walter Mitty’ style by Ian Allan books and tales of daring exploits of WW2. However, when I sought an interview with the visiting RN liaison officer towards the end of my first undergraduate year, I was aware of another impediment besides my lack of physical prowess. The regime at the Academy in the early 1960s had allowed me, as a Classicist and only later a historian, to drop all science subjects without any examination qualifications. ‘I can tell that you don’t want to be an instructor officer,’ declared the shrewd commander, ‘you want to be a seaman officer. So all you have to do is to get O-level physics.’ Thus was passed my

spare time during the following year, after which I applied and was summoned to the Admiralty Interview Board. At this process, some of the components that I had faced with equanimity left me uneasy, and vice versa. I remain convinced that my success was due in part to the impression I made by hurling myself enthusiastically into the practical team evolution, descending with horrendous thuds from the gymnasium apparatus, and losing a stone in the process.

I consider myself immensely privileged to have been granted a full career of 33.5 years in the Royal Navy. One shortcoming of the CCF RN section in the 1960s was that it did not offer an opportunity to redress a shortfall in my

family life, namely experience in small boats. I always had a sense of catching up, particularly as a relatively ‘elderly’ entrant. Hence I volunteered for an

unbroken sequence of sea appointments. Latterly, my young family bore the burden of this, for which I remain eternally grateful. With hindsight I can also see that I possibly slowed my own promotion by eschewing the staff appointments in which I would subsequently shine. However, do we not ‘join the Navy to see the sea’? I had the honour of commanding three ships and a squadron. As a hydrographic specialist – another strange outcome for a one-time classicist – I was paid to be an explorer in all the oceans of the world! I ended up as Hydrographer of the Navy in what a jealous civilian friend described as ‘the best job in the world’.

Latterly, of course, I had to serve my time in the Ministry of Defence. However, I was fortunate to fill a series of fascinating specialist posts e.g. as the adviser to HMG on matters of maritime delimitation; as the policy-maker and planner for surveying in support of the Fleet, the merchant marine of UK, and our dependencies and neighbouring smaller countries of the Commonwealth. My work involved close liaison with colleagues in the USA, and in the course of the 1990s in France. That hated language drill of years before now paid off! Some of this enjoyable world-wide activity carried on into my retirement in capacity-building work

Far away and long ago

I have certainly never lost an appreciation of my indebtedness to the education that I received at

the Glasgow Academy.

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with the International Hydrographic Organisation. It was indeed employment for which education as well as training and field experience had prepared me. I remember watching with delight as the scales fell from the eyes of a senior officer who had taken pleasure in taunting me in earlier days: ‘What use is a HISTORY graduate to us?’ Now he knew. For those preparations for Oxbridge tutorials which had begun under the wing of George Preston had lasting impact. Moreover Baggy Aston’s famous counsel on choice of examination questions was being borne out: ‘Boys can’t tell stories, and they are no use at describing things. But they can argue.’

Looking back I also value the routine of assemblies and the faithful and imaginative discharge by some staff of the task of teaching RE. We were after

all in the iconoclastic time of shifting social and moral sign-posts; the decade of ‘That was the week that was’ and of Honest to God. I acknowledge that, not being an academic high-flyer, I saw my road to Oxbridge entrance as a regimen of 24/7 study that eventually left no time to join my family at church on Sunday. However, once again the advantage of longer perspective has revealed to me how the school example and clear ethos worked with the faithful witness of grand-parents and parents to plant the seeds of faith securely. I became a lay reader in the Church of England whilst still serving in the RN and am busily

engaged in our parishes here in rural Somerset.

I refuse to describe myself as ‘Retired’. I belong to the band of ‘unsalaried voluntary workers’ who keep so much going in UK. Thus, for example, during summer 2011 I

will pick up the reins as president of the Hakluyt Society, one of those learned societies founded in the nineteenth century, dedicated to publishing accounts of travel and encounter with the inhabitants of other regions. In the gaps I have managed to publish one piece of naval history (Eyes of the Admiralty, Greenwich (2008)) and another is in the pipe-line. Thus old practice is still being honed. So here’s a salute to those mentors and fellow pupils from times becoming ‘far away and long ago’ but not forgotten and forever valued.

Michael Barritt (1966)

Many happy returns!

Colonel Frank Saunders was the guest of honour at the ‘Pre-1950s’ reunion in June. Since Colonel Saunders left The Academy in 1923, he was a good 20 years older than the majority of those attending. Although we met just a few days before his 105th birthday, everyone agreed that Colonel Saunders is still a sparkling conversationalist and it was clear that his interest in The Academy is as keen as ever. Happy birthday, Frank!

…those preparations for Oxbridge tutorials which had

begun under the wing of George Preston had lasting impact.

Colonel Saunders with Joanna Lennox of External Relations

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Generations of deserving Academy pupils have benefited from the generosity of former pupils and others whose gifts have made it possible for them to receive a first-class education. Such gifts are a very important source of income to the school; they allow The Academy to invest in new facilities and to provide bursary support to families who need help with fees.

A bequest for any amount, large or small, can have a real impact on our future development and success, and can be a lasting contribution to the education of future generations, memorialising in perpetuity – should you wish – your name or that of a loved one.

Gifts made to bodies with charitable status such as The Glasgow Academicals’ War Memorial Trust (charity number SC015638) are tax exempt. A legacy gift can take the form of cash, stocks, shares or property and making a bequest to the school could reduce the tax paid on your estate. We will ensure your gift is used for the purposes which you specify.

The Legacy of GivingThe Legacy of Giving

Dr George Davidson KayA very significant gift from the estate of George Kay (1942), specifically earmarked for improving sports facilities, has ensured a number of improvement works will go ahead at Anniesland. A new drainage system and new long jump pits are being installed over the coming months, with thanks to the generosity of George in remembering his old school.

George attended Glasgow Academy from 1936-1942. He played representative rugby at school and university and was also a keen golfer, scoring his first hole-in-one aged 16 and remaining an enthusiastic player until late in life. He emigrated to Canada in 1951 and in the course of an illustrious career became Head of Orthopaedics at North York General Hospital, Toronto. George died in December 2009. His love of sport meant he wanted to leave a gift to sporting facilities at the school and for that we are very grateful.

Named Bursary fundsIn recent years a number of former pupils have made or pledged legacy gifts to enable a deserving and talented youngster to benefit from a Glasgow Academy education. A six-figure sum is required to establish a new memorial Bursary fund in your name – or in the name of a loved one.

If you would like to learn more about giving a young person the chance to benefit from an Academy education through a legacy gift, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will be happy to discuss your wishes in confidence.

The Kelvin FoundationAll members of our community who pledge or make a legacy gift to The Academy are invited to join our Kelvin Foundation. The Foundation meets for lunch with the Rector each Autumn Term when members are updated on school successes, plans and developments. If you would like to learn more about the Kelvin Foundation, please contact Mark Taylor on 0141 342 5494 or via Mark.Taylor@tga.org.uk

Every gift to The Academy makes a differenceEvery gift is sincerely appreciated. You don’t have to leave a huge sum to make a big impact on the quality of our facilities or the reach of our Bursary fund. Gifts soon add up to ensure that, collectively, we can make a massive difference to the quality of the education provided at Colebrooke Street, Atholl and Dairsie.

2011 Budget UpdateThe inheritance tax threshold remains at £325,000. When a person’s estate exceeds this amount, the excess is charged at 40% although bequests to a spouse and to charity are exempt.

A change in this year’s budget was that from April 2012 inheritance tax bills for those leaving significant portions of their estate to charity will be reduced. As well as the current IHT exemption on bequests to charity, the IHT rate will be cut to 36 per cent for those leaving 10 per cent of their estate to charities such as The Glasgow Academy. Inheritance Tax is complex and often involves large amounts of money. We always encourage members of our community to seek professional advice on charitable giving.

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Anecdotage

After a couple of years evacuated to Ayr from my home in Dumbarton (to miss the German bombs) I joined Glasgow Academy in 1944 in Transitus. I was in ‘A’ classes in the following years, but academic achievement was not spectacular. My only prize was awarded to me in IIA for good work in gymnastics (Coleman Smith). Mr Wallace Orr also placed me at the top of his art class during one year. I have a painting of his called ‘Early Morning’ dated 1947 and marked ‘for submission to Glasgow Art Club’.

The staff encouraged me over the years to develop my talents in music and acting. I was always busy preparing for end of term productions.

I sang solos and was a member of the choir. Kathleen Garscadden invited me to sing during a BBC Children’s Hour on radio, when I was excited to meet Tammy Troot. I also played my violin in the school orchestra. On the occasion of a short concert in Room LL, I played second fiddle to the Rector’s son, Christopher Richards, in the slow movement of Bach’s double violin concerto. Only problem was

Michael Greenhill (1955) sends us his Form 5 photograph which he thinks was taken in 1953 or 54. ‘I’ve indicated those names I remember. I’m sure others will fill in, or correct, any missing names.’ We’ll soon see, Michael...

Back Row: ? ?, ? ?, ? Fenwick, ? ?, Robert Turpie, Sandy McNeish, ? ?.3rd Row: Michael Greenhill, Martin Frame, ? ?, Iain Gardner, A. J. Alcock, Michael Roemmele, Douglas Miller.2nd Row: James Bolton, Alan Thomson, Gordon MacPherson, Roy Burdon, ? ?, Quentin Jeffries, ? ?, Tom Forrester.Front Row: ? Houston, ? ?, ? ?, Mr G Allman, Ian Mason, Lawrence Sellyn, James Forrester.

that I forgot to wind up the bow before starting to play. My violin teacher was Mr Peebles Conn who lived not far from the school.

I enjoyed my Shakespearean acting roles. However, after Brutus’ Portia and Portia in The Merchant of Venice, I was looking forward to a male part. In June of my final year at the Academy I was King Richard in The Tragedy of King Richard II. After one performance, when I was probably hoping to receive some words of commendation for my acting skills, someone’s mother came to me and said, ‘How could you possibly remember all those lines!?’ Now I understand. The ability to remember is something we used to take for granted.

Friday was a busy day for me, with changes of uniform—Cadets at the Academy and Scouts in Dumbarton in the evening. There was little time to return home, change, have something to eat, and arrive at the Scout Hall on time. One evening I was court-martialled for being consistently late, but no punishment. Not too late to visit the fish and chip shop (with sawdust on the floor) on the way home.

The Academy in the late 1940s

1953 or 54?

At school I was a drill corporal. In my platoon was an Australian called ‘Digger’ Ogilvie. On parade he would wink at me when I looked in his direction.

So, where am I now? Since 1968, in Melbourne, Australia. I have discovered, of course, that some Aussies do like to tease. And we are fortunate to have a lemon tree in our back garden.

Ronald McCulloch (1950)

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Shakespeare in 1941Here is a photo taken on the stage of the Academy (don’t know if the stage is still there, down in the well of the school where R Roydon Richards and the whole staff and the pupils would gather every a.m. for Morning Prayers). The picture was taken 70 years ago. The Director (my English teacher – don’t remember his name) is in the centre, surrounded by Juliet and Romeo. I played Juliet’s mother (Lady Capulet). That’s me on the extreme left in the back row, looking demure and encouraging my daughter to ‘Think of Marriage now’. I wonder how many will be able to identify themselves? I’m pretty sure it was in 1941.

Percy Brazil (1943)

A late starter...No photos – after all it was war time and what was supposed to be a ‘Blitzkreig’ and having Chris Varley trying to teach me German (I passed lower German in my Leaving certificate of 1942) and London General Schools certificate – mind you I should have done the former in 1940 but I repeated Fourth Year and Fifth Year – excuse for former laziness – latter just back for first day after being in hospital for three weeks with Pneumonia. I failed Higher English that day and so failed entire thing although I passed in Higher Maths, Lower History, German, French and Arithmetic (latter compulsory in these days: think I must have given the wrong name as I got 99% I was told!). Next year we had London General Schools certificate for those like me, so we would have peace of saying we had passed a minimum of I think four subjects. I know I failed Advanced Maths! But I did also get my leaving certificate and exemption for University entrance. I eventually got round to doing a BA Hons 2.2 at Open University at 51, so you might say I was a late starter, although I also passed as Fellow of Chartered Institute of Transport, Chartered Insurance Institute, as well as Fellow of Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators before my Degree. Was it all down to repeating Fourth Year?

Colin Hope (1943)

Miss ReidMention of Miss Winnifred Reid in the last edition has prompted Jimmy Watt (1949) to send in this photograph of his class in 1941 or 42 under the care of Miss Reid herself.

Can anyone identify the boy to his right?

Class 4b or 5b, 1940 or 1941Back row: Young, Speed, Jealous?, Morrison, Bennett, Inshaw Middle row: Martin, Watt, ?, Rome, Woodside, Sharp, Lauder Front row: Stewart, Cooper, Brooke, Miss Winifred Reid, Paris, ?, Wester-guard On ground: Cunningham, Davidson, Blanche

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Left on the shelf...This story goes back to the early 1940s. A few Academy boys used to get to Central Station around 4.15 – 4.30 pm to catch the Cathcart Circle (steam) train home. A few Laurel Bank girls caught the same train. There was a certain amount of ‘mucking about’ and I remember one of the Laurel Bank girls ended up in the luggage rack, which in those days extended from door to door across the carriages with door to door seats.

John Crombie (1944)

Until, I think, 1949 or so, the CCF did not have a Naval Section until three of us like-minded and frustrated sailors persuaded the ‘powers that be’ that there should be a Naval Section. At that time the CCF was commanded by Gordon (Jock) Carruthers, and to satisfy this request a CO had first to be sourced for a new Naval Section. The first incumbent (chosen I know not how) was Mr Andrew MacMurchie, then a teacher of Modern Languages who I do not think knew a great deal about boats and ships at that time! This was about to change, however, with the attachment of the formidable CPO Hoskins, a proper ex-sailor of the old school, who arrived on Corps Days to instruct us in the arts and ways of the Royal Navy, assisted in this considerable task by a fearsome Commander Powell, both being based at Clyde RNVR in Govan.

Initially, I recall there were only the three of us, plus Mr MacMurchie (John Isbister, Mike Sandford and myself) but word seemed to get around rapidly and soon we were finding new members asking to join us. Our combined experience at that time was somewhat

limited to say the least – John had raced yachts on the Clyde, I had sailed at Bardowie Loch, but there was no experience of ‘proper’ ships and it was very much a case of the blind leading the blind. We quickly realised also, that we knew slightly more about boats, if not the navy, than our Officer! Experience was gained from Field Days at sea, however, courtesy of Clyde RNVR, until the time came for our first seaborne camp on board HMS Loch Tralaig, an elderly frigate based at Londonderry, which we joined there and accompanied back to the Clyde where I recall we were interviewed by the BBC. To say naval life was an eye-opener is an under-statement, as we were initially messed with the Boy Seamen, whose eating and other habits were quite alien to us well-brought-up Academy boys.

Gradually, we learned about knots, boatwork, etc., and enjoyed attachments to HMS Dido, Duke of York (memorable for her size), Rame Head (a depot ship), both of the latter being at Portsmouth, which gave us a chance to explore a small part of London when changing trains and to visit the News

The early days of the CCF Naval SectionTheatre, then a novelty. We, of course, travelled in the standard RN uniform – bellbottoms and all! At that time I recall the issue clothing for wet weather was a black oilskin with a finish of tar-like oil which when the coat was first unfolded stood up by itself, and brought with it the red plush from the cinema seat.

Our CO eventually moved on to greener land-based pastures, and Mr Moreton Black took command – again a Modern Languages master whom we again had to educate in the learning of matters nautical. By this time, the Naval Section had somehow acquired a hut of our own, and the section had grown considerably, but at that time we were still dependent on other sources for sea time and instruction. My main memory, however, is one of mutual enjoyment with our CO and mentors from RNVR Clyde, with which I am sure John and Mike would agree.

Mike went on to complete his National Service in the RN, while John and I served in the Army, he in the RAMC, and I in the Royal Engineers – happy days indeed!

Campbell Duff (1952)

Photo CompetitionAlthough Alasdair Boyle (1959) claims to know everyone in this 1953 photograph of Transitus, he nevertheless wonders how many of his contemporaries can do the same. Your starter for 10: Alasdair is third from the right in the second back row. (A small prize will be offered to the person who can correctly identify everyone in the photograph.)

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I attended the Academy from September 1959 to December 1968, which then allowed me what would now be called a gap year before going to Oxford University in October 1969. Looking back, my abiding memories are of the teachers – enthusiastic, committed, and idiosyncratic (though perhaps not all three at once!) – and the chance I had to develop other interests.

I joined Prep 5 under Mrs Turnbull, who then seemed ancient but I am sure wasn’t. (Graham Philips and Campbell Denholm were also in that class and the three of us enjoyed reminiscing over lunch on 1 September 2009, 50 years to the day since we entered the hallowed portals).

Next came Transitus under Ian MacGregor, though I didn’t realize at the time how involved he was in SRU matters. In First Year I started Latin and also both started and finished my education in science, since at that time one had to choose between Greek, German and Science for one’s Second Year options. Therefore what I know about science can be written on the back of a postage stamp; whether that is a good thing or not, the reader must judge!

During my school career, my teachers for Latin and Greek were EEP (EE Peters) in Room O, who was kindly, very learned and serious minded, though often taken advantage of (I think he was once locked in to the cupboard at the back of the room); Mr Windsor, fearsome and much maligned (it was rumoured that he suffered from a war wound); Jelly Eaton (JL Eaton), always keen on new methods of teaching; and Donald Hankey (the latter two taught in the huts over on the far side of the playground). Mr Hankey was inspirational and had an ability to bring the language to life, and it was a tragedy when he died of an epileptic fit shortly after the start of the summer holidays in 1967.

Geordie Preston gabbled his history notes at great speed and it was hard to

keep writing (he was also a hard-hitting belter when required), but he gave me an abiding interest in the subject, and European history in particular. Before parting with Geography after Second Year, I had come across Dodo Ogilvie; his chants for rainfall (‘The sun heats the earth, the earth heats the air….’), and mountains (‘Pontic, Taurus, Armenian Knot, Caucasus..’) still linger at the back of my mind.

French is immediately associated with Morty Black and his love of the language and the country. I thoroughly enjoyed the Easter trip to Paris and the Loire, where the assembled boys ate the ‘pensions’ in which we stayed out of house and home, but it was a valuable introduction to France. Whenever Morty came into the room, his first word would be ‘Vocab’ and we would immediately be immersed in vocabulary tests to make sure that we were still remembering the words we had been learning. It must have worked, because many years later when I started attending a French evening class, I was surprised at how effectively French vocabulary and grammar came up from under the surface. I was also surprised when my own children were learning French (not at GA) how basic was the level of French being taught nowadays and it would be interesting to compare notes with those who have been taught more recently as to whether ‘modern’ methods are more effective than the old ones.

As I had some spare time in the Sixth Form, I thought that I ought to learn some German, so I sat in at the back of a Third Year class and a Fourth Year class, taught respectively by Phil Beattie and Malcolm Pender, and managed to pass the ‘O’ Level at the end of the year; this set me up for three months working in Germany before I went to University, which in turn has given me a good grounding and enabled me, with my wife, to enjoy holidays off the beaten tourist track in Germany and make many friends there.

In English, I was taught by Pete Gannon, Kenny Miles and Baggy Aston, all of whom had a positive influence. Mr Gannon had his mnemonic PLAN on his wall, and this too is something which has stood me in good stead:

P – Points to be made should be noted in rough

L – List the points into groups

A – Arrange the groups into paragraphs

N – Never fail to check your work

Mr Miles, a characteristic English gentleman, may have seemed somewhat eccentric in his approach but he was strong on grammar and also encouraged his pupils to read widely, including magazines like Punch, The Spectator, The New Statesman and The Listener; a sort of precursor to Modern Studies I suppose.

Baggy Aston was of course an institution, but he taught us well and he was kind enough to have his Higher Class round to his home in Kelvin Drive to listen to a recording of Hamlet and I am sure that that was a great help when it came to the exam. The English Department also organized outings to the Cosmo for film shows of Henry V and Dickensia like Dombey and Son.

With English came drama; as well as brief appearances in some Christmas Pantos, I enjoyed minor roles in Richard II, a very memorable Royal Hunt of the Sun, and a Julius Caesar, in modern army dress, which I seem to recall received mixed reviews at the time but was a very powerful performance.

Maths saw me under the tutelage of Mr Parkes (who would fill his pupils with foreboding when he wrote ‘See me’ in your jotter), and Mr Cowper (somehow his geometry lessons stick in my mind). In Fourth Year I was exposed to what was then Modern Mathematics and about new-fangled Venn diagrams with Mr Thornton. I had a unique opportunity to see the other side of the fence when in May 1968 Archie Foster, one of the maths teachers suddenly died and, as I happened to be available before I was due to go to work in a German motorway restaurant as part of my gap year, I helped out by teaching Second and Third Year maths for a month; I hope that it didn’t dent the pupils’ chances of success later on, but then perhaps it just goes to show that with a classical education you can turn your hand to almost anything!

And then there was the General

Academy life in the 1960sClassical Reminiscences

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A former pupil contacted External Relations recently with a query on how Colebrooke Street was given its name. We thought many more Etcetera readers would be interested to know the answer. According to The Origin and History of Glasgow Streets by Hugh Macintosh (published 1902), Colebrooke Street is named in honour of Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke, Baronet.

Etcetera 11

Knowledge Quiz at Christmas time, always fiendishly impossible but fun, and again it was something to encourage a pupil to take an interest in the world around.

Extra-curricular activities were plentiful. Obviously there was sport and CCF; I cannot claim to have had any prowess at rugby, but enjoyed playing at wing or centre in the 4th and 2nd XVs, the latter entitling me to membership of Lachie Robertson’s Pegasus Club. The summer saw me take to the athletics track – with stamina perhaps built up by those (in)famous Kelvin Runs during the winter! Campbell Ogilvie and I would fight it for the half mile and mile medals (Campbell always came first). At that time it seemed that Albany House (under the aegis of the irrepressible aforementioned Lachie Robertson) seemed to scoop the pool in middle-distance running, and I do have a slight tinge of regret that one consequence of the merger with Westbourne has been the loss of the

What’s in a street name?

Sir Thomas Colebrooke was for many years a popular Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire. Born in 1813, he chose to go into Politics and served as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Taunton (1842–1852), Lanarkshire (1857–1868) and North Lanarkshire 1868–1885. He also served as Dean of Faculties at Glasgow University from 1869 to 1872 and was awarded an honorary LLD in 1873.

Sir Thomas was Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire between 1869 and 1890 over the period when The Glasgow Academy relocated from Elmbank Street to its current home, in the street which was to take his name and become synonymous with the school.

Albany House name. I also tried my hand at shooting, and was part of the team that finished well up the rankings in the Ashburton at Bisley, only because it bucketed with rain on the day of the competition, and we had had plenty of practice in the rain at Foxbar and Dechmont! The Debating Society was fun, especially the joint events with Park and Laurel Bank.

CCF saw me in the signals section, with a brief spell instructing juniors in the engineers; at university I would end up in the Artillery, nothing if not versatile I suppose. CCF also meant summer camp at Cultybraggan and Arduous Training at Easter in Arran, with exposure to typical Scottish weather, one year very hot as we slogged across the moors in the south of the island, the next year full of rain and snow.

The best extra-curricular activity was hillwalking, organized through the CCF. Mr Payman and Mr Davenport led the expeditions and, for me, the highlight

was an October Weekend trip to Torridon, when we stayed in a hostel in Achnashellach (having devised a way of playing Mah Jongh with cards instead of tiles to while away the time on the long minibus journey) and completed the traverse of Liathach in the snow. That expedition implanted in me a love of the hills and so set me the challenge which came to fruition 40 years later when my wife and I would ‘compleat’ the round of Munroes.

So, I have a lot to look back on and be grateful for; I enjoyed my schooldays and they were formative years in so many ways. Granted, I didn’t get as far as Greenland or the Maldives or wherever people go to today (is it necessary to go so far??!). Teachers, do not underestimate the effect of enthusiasm in how you teach. Pupils, take what opportunities there are, and if in doubt, give it a go!

Jim Gibson (1968)

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12 Etcetera

Charles F Young (1961) sent us this photo taken in July 1961 at RAF Wattisham, during a CCF RAF Section Annual Camp with the following explana-tion: ‘The officer seated central is Mr (Flight Lieutenant) K Waine, GA Staff, Sports. The other two officers were from RAF Wattisham. The Cadet Sergeant was Christopher Myers (1961), who died in 1975 in a flying accident. The Cadet Corporal may be Christopher Ormerod (1961), but – if not – one of the others is. Fourth from left, back row, (me) Charles Young. Next to me, centre of back row, Colin McPhie (1961). Second from right back row, Brian Dickson (1961). On his right (third from right back row) Allan Chambers (1961), exceptionally clever boy.’

50 years ago......well almost, and with advancing age I seem to remember more and more clearly the events and teachers who may have had some influence on me and others during the 60s.

I vaguely remember someone telling me recently that – with age – long term memory improves to the detriment of short term memory. Anyway, I respectfully submit a potted version of GA during the time I had the privilege to attend.

English: the incomparable B. G. (Baggie) Aston. English was definitely not my strong point but he was patient with a Canuck. He used to punish boys who made too many mistakes in tests by giving them ‘six of the best’ which entailed lightly tapping the offender on the hand with a ruler. After a long battle, he finally got me as well. When he retired he was presented with a newspaper cutting ‘Schoolmaster Slays 6’ commemorating his threat in moments of stress. His successor is accurately described by a phrase in Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’.

History: Jordie (Geordie?) Preston. He would have forced me to take up stenography if I had known what it was. We usually spent the whole 40 minutes copying down what he wrote on the board. Guaranteed writer’s cramp! Maybe he was a graduate of a Rudolf Steiner school.

Geography: Don’t remember who taught this. If you have a bad memory don’t do geography. Actually according to my

boys there is much more to it now than memorising maps.

French: Madam Faid. Scared the life out of me. Did actually get an ‘A’ but due definitely to reasons outside her control.

Latin: the excellent Mr Wallace who regrettably left two years before the O-levels. He brought life into a dull subject and also delivered a practical example of the expression ‘climbing up the wall’ in the barracks. He was succeeded by another W who proved that the boredom of the last two hours on a Friday afternoon can reach even further heights (depths?).

Chemistry: G. (Jock) Carruthers. Definitely positive memories – began his first lesson with a bang (literally). Succeeded by P. G. (Piggy) Walker who really didn’t seem to know how to deal with young people. Sent us in to the A-levels with the information that he hadn’t covered the curriculum and we would probably only get ‘C’s. (He was right on both counts!)

Physics: the unforgettable J. J. (Lovely John) Horrocks (Horrexs). It was just fun to be in his class (other talents mentioned in previous Etceteras).

Sports: life in the ‘B’ team. It would have been nice if they had occasionally switched the packs during practice. Those who never got the ball would freeze whatever they had. This probably accounts for a lily-livered approach reminiscent of the Romans facing Obelix when once again Ali Robertson(?) came charging down the field.

CCF: Blanco in the eyes on Mondays. I wonder if the powers that were ever had sleepless nights about sending the boys to

Camp Magilligen in Northern Ireland in ‘67 or was it ’68?

Maths: and finally – and top of the class so to speak – E. B. C. Thornton. He taught me maths, chess and a few other things that I never thanked him for. When riled, he would throw chalk with deadly accuracy.

Two events that come to mind:

The Cap Incident: Nick Utechin has reported on this. The only thing I can add is that sometime during that term someone hung a burning cap out of one of the windows (probably the closest approach to a ’68 revolution in GA). I wonder if anyone will confess to this?

The Commando Raid: Smoking was of course forbidden on the school grounds but those that did used the outside bogs (toilets for the uninitiated) at the corner of the building. A lookout ensured that there were no surprises. There was actually a door which opened out from the Well to next to the bogs but this had been closed for centuries. However someone (Nick?) persuaded the janitor (code name Doom) to give him the key. The raid was a complete success!

GA: Despite its occasional anachronisms, the school provided me and many others with an excellent and broad education augmented by a vast choice of extra-curricular activities. I am truly grateful. I only wish someone in the German government would introduce this concept in Germany.

So there it is – my very subjective and incomplete view of GA in a nutshell. My apologies for any grammatical errors (not plagiarisms) to any descendants of my English teachers – after all I am only an engineer.

Dr Karl Aeberli (1969)

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Etcetera 13

Academicals AbroadLife in Australia I have read some really good reports in Etcetera about those Academicals who have decided to move from sunny Scotland, and thought that you might like an insight into my time living in Melbourne for the last couple of years.

11 January 2009 was a very big day for my wife Karen, son Adam (then aged 6) and me, as that was the day that we arrived in Melbourne. Karen had been offered a job through her then employer, Clydesdale Bank, with the Bank’s owners National Australia Bank (NAB).

As you can appreciate, this was a massive step for us as neither Karen or myself had worked away from home before, so the thought of moving to Australia was just a little daunting! However we duly arrived in Melbourne and – after staying in an apartment in Prahan in the south of the city for about a week – we moved down to Bayside and into our home in Beaumaris that we had arranged when we had been out for a week the previous November.

Beaumaris is a beautiful suburb and is about 35 minutes by train or car south of Melbourne CBD. It has a real mixture of residents with a lot of ex-pats and is very family orientated. We are also very lucky in that the house we are currently renting is right opposite Adam’s school – no excuses for being late!

From a work perspective, I initially worked for one of the other banks here (Westpac) on a short-term contract and am currently working with ANZ as a Transaction Banking Manager. The Aussies like to work their staff hard but, in the same respect, they enjoy their time off.

Our weekends are spent enjoying the outdoor life and taking Adam to his various sporting activities that have included Aussie-Rules Footy, cricket, basketball and swimming. In this regard I think the biggest difference living in Australia is the weather and being able to plan things in advance for the weekends knowing that there is a good chance it

is going to be dry! I have played cricket here as I had been for Accies, although – with so many other sporting options – it has not been a regular activity. (I did manage to hit some runs in a School Dads match last year; even I was impressed!)

My advice to anyone who is thinking about coming out to work in Australia is to do it! As a family we are really enjoying our time over here. Yes we miss family and friends, however Skype is a wonderful thing, and we use it on a regular basis.

When we came over for a week in November in 2008, we were fortunate to link up with Avril Clark (1968 Westbourne) who hasn’t been back to Glasgow since 1976! Avril and her family were very kind to us that week advising us about Melbourne and the different suburbs, and this advice was of great help when we came to look at schools and houses. So if you would like more information about Melbourne or are even coming over on holiday, please do not hesitate to get in touch. It is always good to hear what’s happening at Accies and especially to hear if Nigel Campbell has been behaving himself!

David Carnegie (1982)

In the last few issues of Etcetera we have had a number of articles from Academicals living abroad, giving a small insight into their life there and offering help/advice for anyone thinking of moving to or visiting their country. We have since decided to make this a little more official and there will now be a regular feature in Etcetera listing Academical representatives from different countries who are happy for you to get in touch…

If you live overseas and would like to be an Academical representative for your country, please contact Joanna – joanna.lennox@tga.org.uk.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIADavid Carnegie (1982) E-mail : dkacarnegie@optusnet.com.au

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAPhilip Tam (1990) E-mail : Philip.Tam@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

I am a consultant child/adolescent psychiatrist, working at the renowned Rivendell Adolescent Unit in central Sydney, having moved to Australia in 1999 to continue my specialist training following medical school in Cambridge then London. I currently live in the ‘Inner West’ of Sydney with my wife and two young children.

LUXEMBOURGLeonard Tam (1993) E-mail: leonard.gc.tam@gmail.com

Leonard has been living in Luxembourg for over a decade where he works in the fund industry and is also the University of Edinburgh alumni contact. Leonard is married to Laine Skoba, with a young daughter, Sofia.

NEW ZEALANDHamish Douch (1992) E-mail: hamish@mmlaw.co.nz

Married to Maxine and have two boys (Charlie and Alex), living in Christchurch New Zealand, Partner at Mortlock McCormack Law. Anyone who is travelling in New Zealand look me up – we have plenty of room if you want to stay.

SINGAPORERichard Inglis (1999) Work E-mail: ringlis@pickeringpacific.com Personal E-mail: richardjohninglis@hotmail.com Mobile: +65 9796 9857

My wife, daughter and I relocated to Singapore in September 2010. I am now working for an M&A advisory firm called Pickering Pacific and Katy is working for GIC. I would be pleased to hear from any other Academicals that are also based in the region or are passing through.

Overseas representatives

David, Karen and Adam enjoying life ‘down under’.

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14 Etcetera

Crossed LinesFor most of my time at the Academy, I managed to keep out of serious trouble although there were a few instances when I did fall foul of the law.

The odd belting and more frequent punishment exercises meted out to me were all, of course, gross miscarriages of justice, resulting from mistaken identity or guilt by association.

On one particular occasion, I was given two hundred lines for loitering in front of the notice board in the school Well. These were issued to me by an over-zealous, recently-appointed Prefect by the name of Iain Vallance. My instant, and, I thought, razor-sharp response was ‘How am I supposed to read important notices, if I can’t stop to do so... am I meant to do it on the run?’ This resulted in an immediate doubling of the punishment.

In the years since then, I have taken some comfort in concluding that the now Lord of Vallance of Tummel just had a ‘thing’ about dishing out ‘lines’, since, in his position as head of British Telecom, he became responsible for issuing millions of them to telephone subscribers throughout the UK and beyond.

Perhaps I was privileged to have been one of his first customers!

These musings got me thinking just how much Lord Vallance and I have in common. He has been a successful businessman, a captain of industry and a respected politician, much-honored for his achievements, and I have been to Tummel.

Jim Shearer (1964)

Academicals ReunitedTwo school pals who met while attending the Academy during the late 60s have, after 40 years, met once again and rekindled their friendship. David Burrell and Ian Watson became pals and were in the same year at school and indeed hung out together. They had the same interests and often visited each other’s homes, playing and listening to music and getting up to mischief. ‘Hanging out together brought a bond that will never be forgotten,’ said David, ‘and contacting Ian after 40 years (via Friends Re-United website) was truly awesome.’ David gave Ian his contact

Reunions and get-togethersnumber and he rang within 10 seconds and we chatted into the late hours of the night. Ian was quick to mention our school days and made it clear straight away that he would be keen to meet up again. After a few days planning, David who lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, made plans and flew up to Edinburgh the following week and spent five days with Ian’s family who live just outside Edinburgh. David felt it was an amazing reunion after all this time and spent a great time with Ian and his family, reminiscing about the good old days. Great that a teenage friendship has truly been re-kindled after four decades without contact during that time!!

Before and after: Ian G Watson and David W H Burrell (1975)

We had an unexpected visit in May from former pupil Emiko Maki (1994) who was paying a nostalgic visit to Glasgow where she spent a happy Sixth Year working on her English and – among other things – her art. Although she didn’t get to see it at the time, we have since found a piece of her work (right) which was until recently hanging in the Art Department. Emiko, who was visiting Scotland with her husband, now works as a lawyer in Tokyo.

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Etcetera 15

A very pleasant occasion

involved around 30

Academicals attending the

annual event at Anniesland.

The Gasbags (Glasgow

Academicals Slightly Biased

Against the Governors) enjoyed

a fine lunch and were addressed

by the then GAC President,

Lindsay Crawford, who

entertained the group with his

own memories of school and

outlined his ambitions for the

Club.

Early 1980s Reunion

You would think organising a reunion would be a walk in the park these days, what with the departure of privacy and all. Well, it turns out that would be true if everyone had unusual names like mine (where I’m all that’s left on Google after you exclude haggis-makers), but far from true for over-40s called Smith or Brown, whose only exposure to Facebook has been at the cinema. Nevertheless, the response to our catchily titled Facebook page ‘Glasgow Academy early 80s reunion, 2011’ did eventually turn from a trickle to a small stream. By the eve of our March reunion there were 62 members sharing photographs, videos and associated banter – all largely unchanged since the early 80s in question, except that the banter emanated from Canada, the US, the Middle East and elsewhere. There was even the need for some moderation... although it was easy enough for anyone of our vintage to guess the identity of fictitious member ‘Snash McSnash’. Perhaps as a result of all the online chat, we had a cracking turnout from the year – almost a whole class-full or 25%, and our reunion day extended from the formal 12-4 pm lunch and

Pre-1950 ReunionFormer pupils who left the school before 1950 attended a lunch at The Academy on Friday 17 June. A number of those more senior former pupils – who generally attended the school around WWII – were reminded of their relative youth due to the presence of Colonel Frank Saunders (1923), who enjoyed his visit back to Colebrooke Street just two weeks short of his 105th birthday!

The guests, some of whom had not visited the school in fifty years, enjoyed champagne in the Rector’s study followed by lunch in the External Relations suite. Musical performances by Prep and Senior pupils were followed by an update on Academy successes from the Rector and tours with Senior prefects before a chance to look at old photos and reminisce over coffee.

Boston Borthwick (1950) and Fred Berkley (1942) were only two of the guests at the 1940s reunion in June.

The early 1980s group shortly before they ad-journed to the Lansdowne for curry and the odd beer...

tour to a 4-midnight beers and curry. A character named in previous Etceteras – Mr ‘See-Me-At-The-End’ Latimer – along with Mr Gray (whose nickname, while innocent enough, isn’t suitable for these pages) and a few others joined us at the Lansdowne after proceedings had

ended, while it was also great to bump into teachers like Messrs Robertson and Whiteside during the tour and exchange tales of do-or dare. And – contrary to expectations – no-one has asked me for any money, yet! So, I’d heartily commend these dos to anyone who is invited!

Gordon MacSween (1984)

Gasbags Lunch 29 October 2010

The Gasbags Lunch will take place as usual this year – at Anniesland – on Friday 28

October.

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16

This sporting lifeNeil Amner (1984)Neil was runner-up in this year’s Britain’s Fittest Director 2011, a competition run by The Telegraph ‘to find the business people in the best shape to grow their business and meet the challenges of the next 12 months’.

From The Telegraph...

A partner at Biggart Baillie, Neil said he finds time by ‘making time’ for his fitness. For instance, when his firm’s partners meet for their board meeting in Edinburgh, he sends a suit to the office by internal mail the day before the meeting and then cycles the 100 mile round trip.

He said his top tip is to carry a gym bag when travelling for work, citing one Paris conference where he went out for a 10,000m morning run and covered eight of the 10 most popular tourist attractions. ‘It works anywhere in the world. How many business people fly somewhere and only see the inside of the conference hotel?’

Having survived his first Highland Warrior half iron man in September last year, Mr Amner is now training for the full iron man ‘Challenge Barcelona’ in October and has planned out a series of event challenges during the spring and summer to build up his stamina and confidence.

‘You can apply that sequential approach to business,’ he said, pointing to the danger of going to networking events without a clear plan who to meet and how the introduction could develop into a valuable relationship.

Congratulations Neil. He does, however, claim that this is just proof that one shouldn’t believe everything you read in the press!

Stuart Hardie (1964) Stuart wrote to update us on his progress with the run from John o’ Groats to Land’s End which we featured in Etcetera No 13.

At the beginning of the year it was decided that, although training was going well, I was not sufficiently well on with fund raising to progress over Easter 2011 as planned. The team and I are now scheduled to leave John o’ Groats on 20 September arriving at Land’s End on 29 October… 40 marathons in 40 days!

All costs are now covered and with

three months to go before we set off and we have raised a further £150,000 in pounds, promises and pledges. 400 invitations have gone out to rugby clubs by-passed on the trip South - including a letter to Accies - inviting them to join me for one day of the run. Any money the club raises by way of sponsorship the club keeps. We are now on target to raise a significant sum for a number of charities but for Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby, in particular.

The route has changed quite dramatically as the UK police forces wanted me off-road as much as possible. We now are off road from Inverness to south of Lanark by way of the Great Glen Way, the West Highland Way and the Clyde Walkway - right past The Academy. The English canals and tow paths get me off road from south of Kendal down as far as the Severn. Follow Stuart’s progress at www.jogtole.co.uk

Vicki Jackson (1998)I have recently overturned a lifetime’s avoidance of exercise (doubt any of the PE department knew I went to the school!) and completed the Edinburgh Marathon 2011, raising £1200 for Bliss. On the back of this, I have been given a place with Bliss to run the London 2012 Marathon, which will follow the proposed route for the Olympic marathon!

Peter Littlefield (1992) In April 2011 Peter became a Partner at Top 100 UK law firm Turcan Connell. Peter specialises in private client law and provides succession, estate and tax planning advice to families, entrepreneurs and landowners. Although he now lives in Edinburgh with his wife Yvonne and two children, he continues to maintain strong links to Glasgow and was recently part of a team of cyclists from Turcan Connell that raised over £150,000 to help towards the building of the new Marie Curie Hospice at Stobhill.

Robert McAlpine (2009) Since leaving The Academy – after serving as Head Boy in his final year – Robert has built on his earlier Scotland Under-17 and Under-18 team success. Last year he was selected for the IRB JWC in Argentina where he earned three caps and earlier this year he became a vital part of the 2011 Scotland under-20 Six Nations Championship squad. In June Robert won a further five caps at the IRB Junior World Championships in Italy in matches against South Africa, England, Ireland, Tonga and Argentina. Robert’s great-uncle, Angus Cameron, played for Scotland and the British Lions, and another great-uncle, Donald Cameron, was also a Scotland cap.

Peter Littlefield

Robert McAlpine

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Etcetera 17

Neil Mackay (1983) Neil gained hockey caps for Scottish Schools U18s and Scotland U21s. He is now coaching U12 youngsters in Dublin. In March he was appointed to umpire his first international hockey match between Ireland and Canada. (That’s him with the whistle! Ed.) The match took place on 17 April at UCD in Dublin.

Roger Trythall (1962) I attach a photo of a trip to the Himalayas in the Gokyo region and in the background Mount Everest. We are standing on the Gokyo Ri which is at about 5,500 meters.Perhaps these and my ascent of Kilimanjaro were inspired by Miss McEwan who was headmistress of the junior school and gave me a prize more for hard work than actual academic achievement. The prize was The Ascent of Everest by John Hunt, describing the conquering of Everest by Tenzing and Hillary. The prize is dated 1954, one year after the success of Hillary. John Hunt was the leader of the expedition. I have also walked the Everest trail to base camp.

Despite the disparity in their heights (due largely to the slope!), honours were even when the school played the Accies in the ‘Leavers’ fixture at the end of the Summer Term.

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18 Etcetera

Business Etcetera

Joanna Cram (2000) Joanna has been labelled ‘The Flying Osteopath’ by Islanders on Barra in the Outer Hebrides after she has successfully started doing a pop-up clinic on the island since December 2010. Joanna lands on the beach at Traigh Mhor on a Saturday at around noon and then it is straight to work in the tiny village of Castlebay – known as the capital of Barra! After a busy two-day clinic and plenty of fresh island air, Joanna returns to work in Glasgow on the Monday in the tiny Loganair 15-seater Twin Otter aircraft!

Meanwhile Joanna and her husband, Michael Brown, have used their osteopathic knowledge to start a new venture alongside their 65-year old Cram Osteopaths practice. They have created OSTEOBED – the ultimate luxury mattress, which has been designed to provide the very best in both comfort and support. All Academicals will receive a 10% discount on orders placed before August 15.

TGA’s own ‘Apprentice’ winner celebrates

Laura Hogg (2001) celebrated her first year running her own bridal boutique business in June. Her success is all the more remarkable when one considers that she combines running her own business with being a full-time single mum to her son, Reece.

In 2008 Laura was one of only eight finalists in ‘The Hirer’, the online version of ‘The Apprentice’. Ten thousand people applied for just eight places on the show. Laura went on to be announced joint winner and was offered a full-time contract at Scottish firm Fake Bake.

But after a year in the role, her entrepreneurial spirit was too strong to resist. So when a lease became available last year on a unit in Glasgow’s West End, Laura felt it was too good an opportunity to miss. She said, ‘I have always had a drive and ambition to be successful and to build an empire – everything I do is for my wee boy. Michelle Mone is a big inspiration – having that level of success and raising a family. I hope I can achieve the same.’

Laura will be delighted to welcome all members of The Academy community and their friends to Laura Reece Bridal at 1006 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, where all Academicals are entitled to a 10% discount.

We wish Laura every success in the future!

The Flying Osteopath

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19

Colin Graham (1988)Colin has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Cancer Support Scotland – Tak Tent. The charity has just started a building Appeal at Gartnavel Hospital to renovate a derelict ‘B’ listed JJ Burnet designed building in the grounds of Gartnavel to be the new Calman Cancer Support Centre, offering complementary therapy, counselling and support to people affected by cancer. The centre is due to open in July 2012. More information can be sought by contacting – colin.graham@cancersupportscotland.org

Bill Law (1985) Following international positions in Asia and Europe, most recently as director of external communications, Bill Law has been assigned to Volvo CE’s North American organisation as Vice President, corporate communications.

Scot McRae (1987)Scot McRae, founder of Glasgow-based McRae & Co technology marketing specialists, is launching the leading US marketing automation software into the Scottish market. Pardot, the fastest-growing US provider for SMEs, is a revolutionary marketing automation platform that integrates web marketing, email marketing, lead nurturing, lead scoring, CRM integration and ROI reporting. Backed by ‘No-Hassle Marketing Automation Promise’ Pardot offers affordable pricing for the SME market and no contracts. For more details please see www.mcraeandcompany.co.uk

Graeme Mitchell (1995)After almost 10 years in a commercial architectural practice, I have recently opened the doors of GMD – Graeme Mitchell Design. It has been a turbulent time for the Mitchell family over the last nine months but, as they say, what doesn’t break you makes you stronger. I’m looking forward to experiencing the highs and lows of owning my own business like the many Glasgow Academicals before me. I’ll hopefully see some of you out at Anniesland on the sidelines at the start of new rugby season. I’m happy to buy a pint for anyone who’ll listen. In fact, is it not about time we redesigned and built the club’s new wedding venue... ‘The Stuart Low Wedding Stand’?! www.graememithchelldesign.co.uk

Phil Reid (1977) Supported by his wife Ann (1980) Phil Reid is celebrating the second successful year of his commercial property Chartered Surveying business Phil Reid Associates based at 211/213 West George Street. Many Accies connections have helped along the way!

Ali Smith (1998)Ali and Suzie Carter (1999), both Glasgow School of Art graduates, recently opened Art Pistol, a new online art gallery at www.artpistol.co.uk The gallery sells original art for all tastes and budgets direct from undiscovered, emerging and established artists from all disciplines. You can buy art direct from the gallery’s growing collection or contact them to discuss their commercial art services.

Linkedin is a social networking website aimed at business professionals. It allows you to create a personal profile where you can promote your skills, knowledge and experience while allowing you to connect with professionals in your field in order to do business. Linkedin is one of the fastest-growing social networks and is crushing other professional networking sites in terms of popularity on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Glasgow Academy group on Linkedin has grown rapidly over recent months. Hundreds of former pupils are members of Linkedin but not all are members of the school’s private group. Only members of our community can join – so take advantage of your old school network and join The Glasgow Academy group on Linkedin today!

The Glasgow Academy on Linkedin – join today!

Bill Law

Phil Reid

Scot McRae

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20 Etcetera

Updates, et ceteraGordon Dickson (1973)I have managed to contact some of the old boys whom I was with in the Boarding House. 1968-1972. We all have stories to tell, some serious at the time but now hell of a funny. Sunday evening ‘Bible Study’ just so we could meet some girls from Hillhead High. I managed to acquire the gatings and punishment book, which now – 40 years later – makes for some interesting reading. Russel D getting busted in the cowshed at Ibrox, for breach of peach on the terracings. Being thrown into a cell with three huge Celtic lunatics. 40 Boarders making one school ‘house’ but cleaning up at swimming, athletics, (football in the playground), rugby and cricket.

Neil Dowers (2005) I graduated in May from Cornell University Law School’s Master of Laws programme. I was chosen by my course-mates to speak for our class at graduation. If anyone at the school is interested, the speech can be viewed here: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/studentlife/Convocation2011.cfm

Prof. Thomas Forrester (1956) Every expatriate Scot will remember a large amount of time in Scotland is used up in complaining about the weather. However our move to St. Louis coincided with the worst period of weather in the Midwest entailing successive heavy snow falls and multiple destructive tornadoes. We were reminded of the heavy snow fall in

Glasgow (1947). We were lucky to miss the largest tornado in recorded history which destroyed the town of Joplin, Missouri; unpleasant memories of the war time blitz in Glasgow came to mind. We had arranged to visit our son in California hoping for some respite from the weather, however travel arrangements had to be altered when we heard in California that a large part of St. Louis airport was damaged by a tornado! The successive heavy snow falls in the Midwest will dispose to widespread flooding in the upper Midwest – more fuel for more complaints. At the moment we are experiencing (typical St. Louis) a very hot spell with the heat index topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit and we exist in an air-conditioned society. We look forward to a weather-less Christmas.

Patrice Kennedy (former parent)My daughter Robyn Kennedy left in Sixth Year last year – Class of 2010 – and went to study Fashion Business at Caledonian University. This is going well and she has passed all her exams. Robyn was a major Art student atThe Academy and won quite a number of prizes over the years. She has won a scholarship to study in Paris for a month this summer at a University in la Defense in Paris studying French Heritage and Culture, Luxury Fashion Brands Marketing and the French Wine Business.

Oscar Lee (2010) Here is a picture of myself with Niall Ferguson. I think we are a select number of Academicals who have gone on to be historians at Oxford (albeit he was at Magdalen and I’m at New College). He came and spoke at the Oxford Union and I went to drinks with him before hand; he recognised my Accies tie instantly! I’m back left grinning foolishly.

Gordon MacSween (1984)Many readers will remember English lessons with ‘Ben’ Payman. If they stop to think about it, many will realise that we routinely follow today the careful instructions he gave us in English grammar, in the crafting of sentences and in story-telling. They may also remember the absolute silence upon which he insisted (see how I can’t end with a preposition?!) before he would read to us, with religious zeal, the words of the great writers.

It was in setting our homework one weekend in September 1980 that Ben laid down his three ‘golden rules for short stories’. 1. Never start with dialogue. 2. Always seek out original, authentic names (as Dickens did). 3. Avoid war stories. So, it was with something less than religious zeal that he read to us the following week the opening sentence from Alan Donaldson’s offering : ‘Aaaargh!’ shouted Fritz, as three bullets from Al Black’s revolver ripped through his officer’s jacket.

Neil Dowers

Oscar Lee with Niall Ferguson

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Gail Ritchie (2003) After leaving The Academy at the end of her Fifth Year in 2002, Gail moved to Nice where (whilst singing karaoke in a bar one night) she was offered a job as a singer. She spent a year in the south of France singing at events from the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix to the birthday party of Price Albert of Monaco. After attending university in London and Paris, Gail moved back to Glasgow where (as well as working in her family business) she has established herself as a performer and vocal coach. Gail sings at events, parties and weddings throughout Scotland and is involved in session singing and recording with numerous bands ranging from an Afro-Funk group to The Scottish Supertroupers (Scotland’s top ABBA tribute!). She is a lead soloist with The Glasgow Gospel Choir with whom she has performed live on BBC television and at festivals throughout the UK. Further information about upcoming performances from www.gailritchiesinger.co.uk. Accies booking discount applies!

taken, maybe 1949 or 1950. That’s me in the second back row third from the left, and I can still identify most of my class mates. We were all great friends in those days and there was no bullying. I would love to meet them all again hoping that they are all in the land of the living!! I will be 70 in September... (HELP!) Anyway I was at the Academy from 1946 till 1956. What are the chances of a school reunion from that period? That is Miss Turnbull in the middle. I enjoyed very much the last Etcetera, especially ‘Jim Cunningham remembers’. Richard Zuckerman (1971)I was in the music business for 25 years and was Celine Dion’s exec producer. I am now a Broker with Forest Hill Real Estate in Toronto. Happily married with two boys, 17 and 12... and always think of my school days in a very favourable light. I was in Glasgow a year ago and sneaked my two boys into the playground after hours still to see the CCF in its full glory. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me... I was an average student but always was every year 1st place in music... (Go figure!!)

Brian Wilson (1959) I am having the time of my life drumming and singing away all round Europe. I have attached a picture (below) from my days at the Academy. I am not sure which year this pic was

Brian Wilson and friends circa 1950

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Academical Section

Rugby News With all the December snow, Season 2010-11 was disrupted a great deal and many more matches were postponed for reasons of bad weather, with the result that the season did not finish until early May! In fact, our last home match at Anniesland had to be transferred, as the cricket season had already started. We were most fortunate that West of Scotland came to the rescue, and granted us courtesy of one of their pitches - something we had done earlier in the season to come to the aid of Hillhead/Jordanhill who had been ‘homeless’ all season due to property developments within their grounds.

The season started with great anticipation, following the return of John Beattie to the Club but, once more, injuries and the late return of many of our student members meant that the season was to be one of mixed results and sadly John’s media commitments, which included him being away for three weeks at the Commonwealth Games in India, deprived us of his full input. However, on the plus side, John brought Ewan Smith from West of Scotland to be his assistant and he has proven to be a real asset.

Both the 1st and 2nd XVs ended the season in fifth place in their respective leagues, which reflects particularly well on the 2nd XV who - as Champions of their division - won promotion last season.

Stewart Smith, the 1st XV captain, led the side well and his own personal performances and commitment helped the team to turn in some outstanding results. However, another season of some pretty major injuries prevented any real consistency in our play. The most significant loss was vice-captain Andy Jackson, who was out for much of the season following a leg injury received in the ‘friendly’ game against neighbours

GHK, whom we played under lights at Old Anniesland, for the Dave Gilmore Memorial Cup. GHK, who won the Cup on the night, played extremely well in the division below Accies last season, but have gained promotion and will play in our league this season. Another absentee for much of the season was American full-back, Brad Bell, who had to return home. He proved to be a top-quality player and his strong, dependable style of play has been much missed. However, it was his ‘play’ off the field that could have the greatest effect on the club, as he appears to have set up a ‘match’ with our long-serving physio, Kirsty, which could result in her spending more time ‘across the pond!’. Kirsty has been an outstanding part of the ‘team’, and in a most professional way has committed herself to the well-being of all the players.

On the plus side, we have had some young talent arriving from The Academy which will help in the long term development of the club. Their 1st XV captain last year, Robert Beattie, also turned out for Accies, and performed particularly well.

We are most fortunate that coach Ewan has been able to secure the services of Elliott McLaren from West of Scotland. Elliott is a quality prop, whom John Beattie confirms as one of Premier 1’s best props. He will play for the 1st XV, and will be our Forwards’ Coach this season, and assistant to Ewan.

Club chairman, Gordon Wilson, and Director of Rugby, Donald Reid, spent much time last season at Murrayfield and at many meetings around the country in discussions with the Working Party set up by the SRU aimed at re-organising the leagues in the hope of having fewer teams in each league and less travel for clubs. Happily, after much debate, and differing ideas and much emotion, a proposal was put forward at the SRU’s AGM in June which was passed by a large majority. As ever, there were those clubs that only had ‘self-interest’ in mind, but eventually common sense won the day.

These new plans will be phased in over two seasons. Phase 1 means that National Leagues 2 and 3 of last season will disappear, and the teams from those leagues will enter Regional leagues. Accies are delighted with these changes

as a result of which they will be in West Region Division 1 this season. It will mean less travel and fewer matches, resulting in a shorter season. This new league consists of 10 teams, namely - Irvine, East Kilbride, Accies, Waysiders, Allan Glens, Annan, Stewartry, Newton Stewart, Marr and GHK.

The new format will create a lot more ‘local’ derbies, and should result in more support for ‘away’ matches.

Phase 2 in season 2012-13 will see the 48 clubs in the remaining top four divisions (namely Premier 1, 2 and 3, and National Division 1) changing to four 10-club leagues, with the surplus eight clubs spilling down to the Regional Divisions. Only the top two of these new leagues will remain ‘national’, with the next two leagues being regional, but sitting alongside each other, as Championship Divison (West) and Championship Division (East). The new format creates a pyramid structure to the leagues, which should allow a quicker rise and fall of clubs through their leagues.

Officebearers - At the Section’s AGM, Chairman Gordon Wilson demitted office after four years and has been replaced by Gavin Smith, son of the legendary Jimmy ‘the Pie’ Smith. Secretary, Alasdair Graham, also retires, but is not heading for unemployment as he steps into the cauldron at Hawks to be their new Chairman. We congratulate Alasdair on his appointment, and wish him well.

Dickson Brown has been our Mr Money for the last three years, and also retires at this time. Treasurers are often the unsung heroes, but we are greatly indebted to Dickson, as well as to Gordon and Alasdair, for the outstanding contribution they have made to Accies rugby over the last few years.

It would be very remiss of the Section not to thank the many supporters who so generously contribute financially, year after year, to help the rugby section continue and of course we acknowledge the major support of the 2010-11 Sponsors Brian Gibson of Gibson Investments, Robin Bryant of Scot JCB and John Watson of John Watson (Printers).

Gordon Wilson (1964)

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The Ladies’ Hockey section finished off one of its most successful seasons to date with our awards dinner being held at Mansion House in early June. Outgoing club captain, Stephanie Barnet, was awarded the Mike Starling Award for best overall contribution to the club in recognition for all the hard work she put in last season. Steph has worked tirelessly to improve relations with the other GASC sections, increasing club spirit, lending support to the team captains as well as running the club’s summer hockey squad - no mean feat!

As we were recently informed, the hockey section provided the best-performing team in the whole of GASC with the 1st XI losing only one game out of twenty-two and scoring 119 league goals. Sadly the very last game of the season saw the only defeat but this did not mar celebrations on the bus home from Haddington, nor in the clubhouse, nor in numerous West End hostelries.

As well as success on the pitch, the girls off the pitch have had many reasons

to celebrate during the year. Jenna McCormick and Cara Aitken are now known as Dr McCormick and Dr Owens, with Cara marrying Mike (a new member to the men’s hockey section) in May.

The hard work for the coming season has already started with fitness training running on Monday nights at Bellahouston. Training at Windyedge resumes on Tuesday 9 August at 6.30 pm. The club are delighted to announce our new coach for the season as Nicola Pitticas. Nicola currently plays for Glasgow Western, has been capped for Greece and is really looking forward to working with Accies for 2011-12. She’s already been to watch a sterling performance by the club at the NHC ‘Playing in Pink’ Charity Shield, where Accies finished in a creditable second place after enduring some typical Scottish monsoon summer weather, whilst sporting pink fairy wings.

The Ladies’ Hockey annual tournament is being held on Sunday 21 August, 10 am to 5 pm. All spectators and home-baking buyers are welcome at Upper Windyedge. If any friends of Glasgow Academicals are interested in joining us more regularly or would like to find out more information about training and fixtures, then please check out our website www.glasgow-hockey.com or e-mail Erica Dickson on ericajdickson@hotmail.com. We are looking to strengthen both squads as well as find new fans and can guarantee a friendly welcome whether you are looking to join us on the pitch or on the side-lines.

Erica Dickson (2000)

Ladies’ Hockey Club News

Top: 1st XI in Haddington Above: Laura O’Reilly plays in pink

Curling SuccessFor the first time in quite a few years, the Curling Team have actually won something of note!

This season a squad consisting of David Rome, Martin Watson, Chris Ormerod, Gavin Smith, Neil McLean, Jim Kerr and Iain Bruce (with help from Tommy Gemmill, Iain Smith and Rory Duff) won The Scottish Wanderers Trophy, a competition played annually between former pupils from Scotland’s ‘leading schools’ – and Kelvinside Academicals.

After the five games played, the team finished W4 – L1 with wins coming against Strathallians, Old Glenalmond, Merchistonians and, in a must-win final game, our old friends and rivals, the aforementioned Kelvinside Academicals. This final victory was savoured with particular relish by the team, as this fixture (no matter what competition we might play them in) always carries an extra edge! The solitary loss came – somewhat unexpectedly – against Aberdeen Grammar School FP.

The team was skipped for the most part by David Rome, with Tommy Gemmill taking the reins in the first game where he scored what turned out to be a crucial win against our nearest competitors this season, Strathallians (4-3).

There followed what – on paper – look like comfortable wins against the OGs (12-7), Merchistonians (15-3) and Kelvinside (9-2 after only 6 ends when they threw the towel in, beaten and demoralised). However the score against the OGs hides the fact that we were 0-7 down after five ends only to come back with 12 shots in the final three ends to close out the victory.

It is not often the curling club has something to crow about, so we are rightly chuffed to celebrate success when it arrives. We would love to have included a photograph of the team with the cup but – as at date of writing we have yet to receive the trophy from last year’s winners (guess who?) – we cannot.

David Rome (1987)

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24 Etcetera

‘The result of the handiwork of the sub-committee was considered afterwards, and certain rules omitted as being applicable to the Rugby school grounds. ‘That the Rugby rules as read be adopted, to be played between the beginning of October and end of March,’ was carried by a large majority instead of the amendment ‘That the club still adhere to the Association rules, without the addition of the Rugby code.’ The pluck of the Queen’s Park in thus placing themselves in a position to play under both codes does not appear to have been rewarded, as there is no record of any game having been played against a club under Rugby rules.’

Although this match did not take place, both Accies and West of Scotland helped Queen’s Park prepare for the FA Cup in 1872 with practice sessions.

However out of all this came two Accies – William Turner and Woodville Gray – who were capped for Soccer. Turner played for Pollokshields Athletic who wore a striking kit as illustrated. He was capped twice

against Ireland in 1885 and 1886. He had the distinction of scoring five goals in an inter-city match between Glasgow and Sheffield when the Scots won 9-0. Even more impressive were the exploits of Woodville Gray who was first capped whilst still at the Glasgow Academy. Although at that time several schoolboys had earned full caps at rugby, Gray was the first to have achieved that honour at soccer when he was capped against England in 1886.

Gray – like Turner – played for Pollokshields Athletic but he also played for the mighty Queen’s Park – a club that had the historic association with Glasgow Accies – after all they had asked Accies to supply players for the first Soccer international at Hamilton Crescent in 1872. In 1883 Gray was included in the Glasgow team for the first Inter City Soccer match against Edinburgh which was held at Powderhall with Glasgow winning 2-0. In 1885 in front of a crowd of 12,500

he played in the Queen’s Park side that lost 0-2 to Blackburn Rovers in the final of the FA Cup held at the Kennington Oval. En route to this historic game, Queen’s Park had beaten Stoke, Crewe Alexandra, Leek, Old Whykhamists, Notts County, and Notts Forrest. Strangely the replayed semi-final match against Notts Forrest was played at Merchiston Castle School following a drawn match at Derby.

At the end of the Victorian era Accies had various connections with the association code with the Club’s first president H E Crum-Ewing being a founding father of Third Lanark FC and Accies sharing a ground with Rangers and Caledonian FC at Burnbank. Glasgow Accies had also offered Queen’s Park the use of their ground at Burnbank free of charge for the first Soccer international in 1872 but unfortunately Queen’s opted to use West of Scotland’s Hamilton Crescent ground in Partick.

The Accie who played in the FA Cup FinalThe Academy and Accies are usually identified with rugby and cricket but that was not always the case.

During the 1870-80s Accies produced international-class footballers. In some ways this is not surprising when the history of Queen’s Park FC records the following:

‘The Queen’s Park members were ever greatly daring, and no matter what they undertook they always pushed to a satisfactory conclusion.

No obstacles were allowed to stand in the way. When they, at their annual meeting in April 1869, decided to challenge the Glasgow Academical

Rugby Club to play them a match under Rugby rules, and twenty men a side, in their ardent pursuit for opponents at that early stage in their

career, they were met by a refusal on the ground of difference of rules, and want of time (it was as late as October that the reply to the challenge

was received). Not to be outdone, however, Mr Klinger moved and Mr Wotherspoon seconded, that the refusal be accepted at present, although

unsatisfactory, and, to prevent the same thing happening again, that the secretary write to Mr Lilywhite for a copy of the Rugby rules and, if

found suitable, after passing through the committee, and with the sanction of an extraordinary general meeting of the club, to adopt them along

with the Association rules, so that they might be able to play the Academicals in accordance with any rules they may name.

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GAC Lottery PrizewinnersDraw 1 £500 A Waddell £200 JH Leslie £50 C Hancock

Draw 2 £250 A Flatman £100 TW Gemmill £50 M Ker

Draw 3 £250 IMB Neilson £100 A Holmes £50 E McLeish

Draws take place monthly. Monthly membership contribution £10. All proceeds from the Lottery benefit Club funds. For further information and entry forms please contact Robin McNaught, GAC Lottery Convenor, via: GACL-2010@hotmail.co.uk Entry forms are also available from the Bar at New Anniesland and from the External Relations department at The Academy.

London Section The London Section has moved on from the Annual Dinner, held in March, with Gordon Low now installed as President, succeeding Anthony Frieze, who had a very successful term of office. We look forward to Gordon bringing the familiar ‘Low’ enthusiasm to the Presidency.

As you read this report, the London Section will have entertained the school Shooting Team during their annual visit to Bisley. The arrangements for this event are handled most efficiently by Crawford Alexander and Henry Watson and we thank them for making the visit to Bisley that bit more enjoyable for the school representatives.

Four members of the London Section are also involved in organising The Discovery Ball, to be held on 3 September in support of the Mark Scott Foundation. Antonia Scott, Cameron Wilson, Karen Smith and Jon McLeish have all worked exceedingly hard in organising this event and they would welcome your support by attendance and/or financially.

The London Section is also pleased to be able to augment the London Section Bursary Fund with a donation of £4,000 from our funds and this will go some way to allow another pupil to benefit from our Bursary.

The London Scottish Schools’ Golf day was held at Denham Golf Club in June and we had two teams representing the London Section. Peter Marr, Gordon MacSween and David Stirling contributed excellent scores to help their

team into third place finish in the overall competition. In the equally important match between Glasgow Accies and Glasgow High School, I am pleased to announce that the Accies retained the trophy by defeating our old rivals.

The Annual Dinner for 2012 will be held on Friday 17 February 2012 at The Caledonian Club and we plan to have a big name speaker – more details to be announced, but in the meantime note the date in your diary!

I would like to take this opportunity to ask any Accies living/staying in London /the South of England and who have not yet made contact with us, to please feel free to drop me an email (ecj@aralon.co.uk) or a call (0207 235 9012), and we would be delighted to add you to our mailing list. There is undoubtedly some movement from address to address, and if that is the case, please send us your updated details.

David W. Hall (1961) Secretary/Treasurer

Infamous ‘Accie Ball’ returns with a bang!!Last year’s President, Lindsay Crawford, had such fond memories of not really remembering much about the fabulous Glasgow Accies’ Balls of the 80s and 90s that he was determined to put it firmly back on the map!

To say this was successfully achieved would be a major understatement as – on Saturday 26 March – 300 Academicals and Guests representing all the clubs sports sections had a raucous night at the Hilton Grosvenor in the West End with the brilliant ‘Callanish’ providing the music.

Due to the generosity of prizes donated and of people on the night, the Ball raised close to £10,000! As the Glasgow Academical Sports Club continues to strive to provide an excellent environment and first class facilities for its members and to attract new members. These are much-needed funds that will ultimately benefit all those associated with the club’s various sections.

Plans are already in place for next year’s extravaganza in March 2012. If you are interested in donating a prize, being a sponsor, or just want to hear more about it then get in touch with Dave Gourlay on 07939 017 816 or at davidggourlay@hotmail.com or Celia Hill (Ladies Hockey) at celiahill@hotmail.com

Caption: Colin Massey (1956), John Mason (1960) and David Hall (1961) about to enjoy a game of golf before the London Section dinner in March.

The Glasgow Academy also provided Rangers with a president (not Chairman as it pre-dated the formation of the limited company) in the form of John Mellish who at the same time had the distinction of being President of Clydesdale Harriers, the oldest harrier club in Scotland. Like Accies and Queen’s Park, Clydesdale were real pioneers in their field and saw themselves as sporting missionaries carrying the message across Scotland

When you dip into this era one can be impressed with the versatility shown with rugby players being equally adept at soccer and athletics not to mention cricket. It certainly was the era of the all-rounder.

Another factor that comes out of that period was the status accorded to the Glasgow Academical Sports which evolved into the Glasgow Academy Sports. Athletes from around Scotland were attracted to the ‘strangers’ races’. These events gave birth to open athletics. Under the guidance if John Mellish, Rangers and Clydesdale Harriers also put on joint sports meetings at the newly-opened Ibrox Park. These events also included football tournaments and in the 1889 event it is recorded that Rangers beat Queen’s Park by a touch down so maybe – just maybe – they were actually playing a form of rugby football. This event grew into the famous Rangers Sports that would attract crowds of over 50,000 in the 1950s.

I am most grateful to Robin Paterson (1955) for the loan of Scottish Athletics Celebrities Album of 1886 that provided this insight.

Hugh Barrow (1962)

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Westbourne

Tina Anderson (1985)Tina is in middle of the back row (left) and would love to hear from anyone who is in the photograph. You can contact her via exrel@tga.org.uk

Guest of honour at The Academy’s Prep School Prize-giving in June was Miss Betty Henderson, former headmistress of Westbourne School. Beside Miss Henderson is Head of the Prep School, Mr Tony Brooke.

Morag (de Villiers) Hart (1956) Opposite is a photo of my family and me taken in the Inner Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace on 31 March 2011 following my Investiture to receive an MBE, the citation for which reads: ‘For Voluntary Service to Girlguiding in Scotland’. ( MBE = Member of The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire.)

The Investiture was held in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace and was graciously conducted by HRH The Princess Royal who spent time chatting to everyone. The Palace is an amazing place with wonderful paintings, high ornate ceilings, beautiful furniture and huge gilded mirrors – it was such a privilege and an honour to be there to receive this prestigious award.

BirthClaire (Maudsley) Mavin (1989)Here is a picture of my daughter and son – Freya was born on 17 June, 2011 and Ruari has just completed Kindergarten at The Academy and starts Prep 1 in August.

L to r – Our son, Douglas Hart; Morag Hart, nee de Villiers (1956); my husband, Tom Hart; our daughter, Fiona Hart (1982).

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Reunions

Westbourne 1972 ReunionJust a reminder about the Class of 1972 Westbourne Reunion in August/September 2012 in Glasgow. A date is nearly confirmed and details will be emailed to you as soon as we have them. To be added to the list, please email Lesley (Watson) Brewin at lesley@brewin.org.uk or joanna.lennox@tga.org.uk

After the official Westbourne reunion in 2009, the Class of 1986 organised a ‘25 year update’, managing to contact most of the year via GA records and a great deal of internet trawling. We met for our informal reunion dinner on 10 June with great excitement and a little trepidation. Amid laughter, enjoying each other’s company again and the conviction that none of us had changed in the slightest, we had a wonderful time with just the right amount of reminiscing and recounting of anecdotes.

Many thanks are owed to everyone who attended and made it so much fun, especially Sandy Reeks and Maggie Anderson who came from the USA and France respectively and Mrs Macdonald (chemistry) who kindly did a tour the next day of 1 Winton Drive, evoking many memories. We would also like to thank Miss Henderson for her support and for encouraging some of our former teachers to come along; in addition to Miss Henderson we were joined by: Mrs Clark, Mrs Crawford, Dr Hamilton, Mrs MacCallum, Mrs MacDonald,

Mrs MacGregor (P4 teacher) and Mrs Murphy, all of whom joined in the spirit of the occasion and were tremendous fun to have around.

The arrival of 2 am forced us to call it a night but many more conversations are still to be had and we look forward hugely to the next time we can get together.

Attending: Farhat Ali, Maggie Anderson, Hester Bank, Lindsey Blain, Lynn Brogan, Emma Colvin, Lorna Cochrane, Audrey Cowan, Laura Fox, Eilidh Gardner, Fiona Hanbury, Ann Logan, Donna Logan, Helen Macdonald,

Class of 1986 Reunion 10 June 2011

Melanie McLean, Mae-Lynne MacKenzie, Lorna Matheson, Susan Matthews, Sandy Reeks, Lesley Vance.

Melanie McLean (1986)

Grand Reunion to mark the 135th Anniversary of Westbourne

19 May 2012

We are delighted to announce that after the huge success of the inaugural Westbourne Grand Reunion in October 2009, the next Grand Reunion is to be held on Saturday 19 May 2012 in the

Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.

Next year will mark the 135th Anniversary of Westbourne’s foundation in 1877. It is the hope of the committee that Grand Reunions will take place regularly – every 5 years – thereafter to mark key

milestones since the school’s birth.

Those of you who attended the last reunion in the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel will know what a success (and what a sell-out!) it was. So please do put the date in your diary now, Ladies!

Invitations will be sent out in the new year. If you do change address or email in the meantime, be sure to let us know by emailing Joanna on joanna.lennox@tga.org.uk

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Family announcements

EngagementMichael Livingston (1998) I got engaged to Laura Patchett on 11 May 2011 at the Port of Ness on the Isle of Lewis. We plan to get married during 2012.

ObituariesRev Colin M Anderson (1956)20 May 1937 – 29 May 2011

Colin MacEwen Anderson was born in Kilmacolm, the youngest of the three sons of David Anderson, chief inspector of schools for the west of Scotland. He followed his brothers Kenneth (1950) and Roger (1953) to The Academy and went on to win a scholarship to read classics at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He completed national service as an officer in Cyprus, in the education branch of the 2nd Parachute Regiment.

After working in human resources management in Leeds, Colin entered New College, Edinburgh, to train for the ministry. He gained honours in Church History and spent a semester in the Tubingen Stift. He married Helen, whom he had first met in Glasgow, just

after graduating, and they spent their first married year in Union Theological Seminary, New York.

Colin’s career as a minister spanned forty years and involved service at Paisley Abbey, the Old Kirk in Pilton, Edinburgh, as chaplain of Glasgow University and at Inverness St Stephens and Old High Church. A seminal post was as industrial chaplain for almost fifteen years on lower Clydeside where Colin earned the respect of shop floor and top management alike as he strove to defend the shipyards. Following his post as industrial chaplain in Greenock, he became parish minister of St Margaret’s, Greenock (1985-1989). He also served as a Strathclyde Regional Councillor for the town from 1986-1990 and did extensive work for the church at presbytery and assembly level, notably on the Church and Nation Committee. A very active retirement

Pictured from left to right: David, Natalie, Lilly, Douglas, Elaine and Kenneth. (Missing from this lovely, family photo is Noah – inset –, who managed to sleep all the way through the ceremony!)

Rev Colin M Anderson

BirthsPeter Muir (1987) My wife, Lorna, gave birth to our second child, Anna, on 31 March. A baby sister for Kate.

Andrew Munro (1998)Harry Michael Munro – weighing 7lbs 5oz and a wee bit – was born at 3.03 pm on 29 June to Fiona and me. An amazing day!

MarriageDavid and Elaine Horner (Westbourne ‘70) are delighted to tell everyone that Dougie (1999) and Natalie were married on June 11 2011, in Ses Casas de Fetget, the most amazing place in NE Mallorca. It was a very GA/Westbourne wedding!

There were two best men (or is that ‘better’ men?), Thomas Reid and Malcolm Hosie (both 1999). The other groomsmen were Kenneth Horner (1997), Andrew Keighley and Andrew Brown (1999). There were three Westbourne ‘Old Girls’, some GA parents and even a former GA Governor, all of whom travelled to be with us on this very happy occasion.

included chaplaincy to the Fire Brigade and locums in Scotland, Australia and Jerusalem.

Colin Anderson was highly regarded by all who knew him. He was unfailingly courteous and a man with a gift for friendship. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his sons, David and Peter, and by six grandchildren.

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Hew Boyd (1947)26 May 1929 – 31 August 2010

Hew died suddenly at his home in Hampstead after a pleasant summer surrounded by his family. He had worked for many years in the legal department of Unilever. Hew is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, four sons and many grandchildren.

Marshall W Falconer (1962)6 October 1943 – 1 July 2011

Marshall died peacefully, after a short illness, at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Much loved husband of Margaret, loving father of Margaret and Andrew and father-in-law of Gus and Suzie, and adoring Grandpa of Eilidh, Duncan, Hamish, Magnus and Findlay.

Thomas S Mann (1948)2 March 1930 – 8 June 2011

Orthopaedic Surgeon. Husband to the late Sheana, Father to Chris and Katie, Grandfather to Thomas, Holly, Nick, Harry and Katya.

Thomas Strang Mann, FRCSEd, FRFPSG, became the first of three generations of his family to attend the Academy in 1938. The Clydebank blitz and evacuation interrupted schooling before Tom returned, with his younger brother Billy. In 1948 he moved on to Glasgow University medical school. National service followed and he was an RAF flying doctor based in South East

Asia even making newspaper headlines as part of a unit on a two week jungle trek in Borneo. Tom then became an anatomy lecturer at the University, trained in General Surgery and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

A consultant at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Tom eventually specialised in spinal disc surgery and hip joint replacement. His private practice prospered and he sat on many bodies and committees including a role with the Glasgow Humane Society. Tom wrote many articles, had two text books published and reluctantly retired in 1992 after 27 years as a consultant surgeon.

Through medicine he met the love of his life: Sheana Johnstone who was a hospital nurse and midwife. They settled at Crofthill in Bearsden; their son Chris attended the Academy and daughter Katie went to Westbourne. Tom loved sailing and was also a keen fisherman, enjoying many contented days at Loch Walton, as well as on the Tay, the Almond and other idyllic spots. Sheana pre-deceased Tom in December 2009.

At his specific request, Tom’s two piper grandsons Thomas and Harry Hitchcock – both Academy boys – played at his funeral service.

Chris Mann (1975)

Douglas J H Maclean (1945)5 August 1927 – 27 April 2011

Douglas James Hargrave Maclean attended The Academy from 1939 to 1945, alongside his younger brother Colin (1948). He credited his time at school with his lifelong interest in numerous subjects. He served as a Cadet in the University Naval Division between 1945 and 1947 and while on board HMS Consort in 1947 he witnessed much of the war-torn Mediterranean and Asia, including Hiroshima.

Douglas returned to Glasgow University in 1947 and, on graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering, took up a post with General Electric in London. He returned to his studies a few years later – at Stanford University, California – where he earned an MSc in the study of Optical Filters. He then pursued a successful and varied career in both industry and academia with Barr & Stroud, the Lenkurt Electric Company in the USA, the Standard Telecommunication Laboratories in Harlow and in research and pastoral roles at Glasgow University, Ghana and the University of London.

A lifelong passion outside work was the scouting movement. Douglas was a very active member of the First Glasgow Scout Group in his youth and supported the scouting movement wherever he lived across Europe and the United States. His interest in history led to staunch hands-on support for WWII lessons at The Academy in recent years; his memories of the school during the war have been digitally recorded for

Thomas Mann pictured with his grandson, Thomas Hitchcock (2008)

Douglas talks to Glasgow Academy pupils as part of an oral history project

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30 Etcetera

posterity. He was also a member of Broomhill Parish Church and the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow.

Douglas is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sandra, two children, Bruce and Fiona, and two granddaughters, Sapphire and Amabel.

J Stewart Thomson (1979)16 September 1962 – 19 May 2011

Raised in Giffnock, Stewart left the Academy in 1979 and went on to become one of the foremost marketing and sponsorship executives in the world of sport.

Working in sports sponsorship for United Distillers, Stewart moved on to work for the Glasgow-based Sports Business, again specialising in marketing and sports sponsorship, before a four-year spell in the employment of the infant Scottish Premier League. From there he went to Rangers where he set-up significant publications deals for the club.

In 2006 he and his wife Gillian moved to south to live in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire where Stewart joined the Football League as Chief Commercial Officer. This was a significant role and he is credited with negotiating deals worth over £300 million for the oldest league body in the world.

He was popular and respected across football. In paying tribute to him, Football League chairman Greg Clarke described Stewart as: ‘One of the good guys.’ Nobody who knew him would quibble with that description.

He is survived by Gillian, his wife of 19 years, and four-year-old daughter Daisy.

Gregor Cameron (1981)

Rev W Andrew Wylie (1944)17 May 1927 – 28 June 2011

Rev William Andrew Wylie was born in London and educated at Glasgow Academy between 1938 and 1944. He saw service with the Royal Navy from 1944 to 1947 and then took an arts degree at Glasgow University, followed by a course training for the ministry at Trinity College.

In 1953 Andrew was ordained and inducted to Whitehill Church in Stepps. Six years later he moved to the Scots Kirk in Lausanne. He returned to Scotland in 1967 on being appointed general secretary of the Scottish Churches’ Council based in Augustine Bristo Congregational Church on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh. While working there Andrew suffered a stroke from which he made a complete and long-lasting recovery. In 1972 he became minister of St Andrew’s and St

George’s. In 1985, and after a short spell in industrial chaplaincy in Inverclyde he took on the role he was to become best known for, as chaplain to the offshore oil industry.

Andrew was determined to ensure the North Sea chaplaincy was credible. To this end he worked to secure the trust and confidence of those in the boardrooms and on the rigs. Regular flights to the platforms, acting on the pastoral issues raised on them and his work in the aftermath of the Piper Alpha disaster meant he was both liked and respected. When he retired from the oil industry chaplaincy he went to live in the Peat Inn in Fife. During this time he wrote an account of his work, Just Being There, and co-wrote a fascinating and entertaining account of life at Glasgow Academy during World War II, A School at War, which was published in 2009.

He was a man with a ready smile, pleasant expression and a gentlemanly nature. Andrew was buoyant, happy and vibrant, a man of unusual charm. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, whom he married in 1988, four children from his first marriage and eight grandchildren.

*A full e-copy of the homily and address given in remembrance of Andrew Wylie by Rev Fraser Macnaughton (1975) in St Andrews on 7 July 2011 is available from exrel@tga.org.uk

J Stewart Thomson

Andrew (left) with his friend Douglas Anderson at the launch of their book A School at War in 2009

Stewart was always an active sportsman. He was a member of Giffnock Tennis Club, along with several of his friends from the 254th Glasgow company of the Boys Brigade. These life-long friendships were very important to him. He played rugby as a young man and was a long-time member of Haggs Castle Golf Club.

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Etcetera 31

From our own correspondents

I was glad to be reminded of Class Va of 1950-51 by the photo which Robert McKendrick sent in (Etcetera 14, page 25). I am lucky enough to have a copy with all the names. Numbering from top left they are:

R. H. Isaacs, R.L. Yonge, A.A. Reid, A.I. Watt, R.D. Anderson, G.B.A.M. FinlaysonR.N. Douglas, I.C. Drever, R.H. McKendrick, G.G. Browning, Norman McLeanJ.S. Spring, G.C. Duff, W. Hutton, N.K. Colquhoun, R. Warnock, J.I. SmithN.G. Hetherington, A.E. Shearer, A.T.W. Liddell, Mr B.G. Aston, F. Stewart, A.S. Mitchell, A.L. MackAbsent: H. Ferguson

I risk being called a swot: Baggy Aston was determined that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously!

Archie Shearer (1954)

Dear Malcolm

It was wonderful to be back in The Academy for one evening. Sitting in the Cargill Hall brought back many memories of Mr Woods sweeping the aisles looking for anyone giving less than their full attention to the Rector in morning assembly.

When I heard the Art Exhibition was to be Adrian de Villiers’ last event at The Academy, I felt compelled to attend. His efforts and encouragement (supported by Jamie and Kim) gave me the push I needed to achieve direct entry to Art School, without which I wouldn’t be in the fortunate position I am in now. He is a wonderful man and I’m sure his retirement will be a loss to The Academy.

Looking forward to receiving future issues of Etcetera and wishing the best of fortunes to all at The Academy.

Yours

Scott Graham (1995)

(Scott is the Technical Director of Good Creative, a top UK creative agency.)

We had a number of people write in about the above photograph including Campbell Duff (1952), Ralph Isaacs (1952), Ronnie Douglas (1953), WL Hutton (1952), Alex Liddell (1952) and Elizabeth Finlayson, the widow of Geoffrey Finlayson. Rather in confirmation of his fears, Archie Shearer was, however, the only one to fill in all the gaps. Campbell did wonder if there have been any other years in which the political spectrum has been so diversely represented as it was with the following: Lord Maclennan; the late Lord Goold; the late Donald Dewar.

Naming names!

Surrogate MotherIn your Spring Edition of Etcetera, on page 11, I was drawn to the Christmas Show photograph of the Court of Prince Brigadier Allan Alstead and Princess Lord Robert MacLellan where I was a Lady in Waiting (and I am still waiting!) and then looked at the photograph above of the Academic Staff 1939 where my ‘surrogate Mother’ Mrs Ethel Coleman Smith featured along with Jack Coleman Smith who ran the Boarding House at 12/13 Belmont Crescent. Our babysitter is also featured, that being Chris Varley.

I was a member of that unique band. If we fell foul of Coley’s tirades, he was

then swiftly followed by Mrs Coley and her memorable tin of sweets (a wartime luxury).

They retired to the Isle of Inchmurrin at Loch Lomond and then on to Stroud near Cheltenham, where as a family we visited them every year on our way to North Devon. Mrs Coley always had her homemade ice cream ready for my little cherub son Martin and daughter Claire.

I therefore propose a Toast, on behalf of all ex-Boarders, in Memory of Mrs Coley – a lovely lady.

Robert M Lightbody (1954)

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