Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 2009

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

125th year No. 247 (New Series 114th year No. 238)

Vol 112 September 2009

The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils’ Club each year

General Editor Brian K. Crookshanks, TD, MA, LL.B & Editor of 99 Fountainhall Road Notes etc. Aberdeen AB15 4EB

Secretary of the John F. Hendry, LL.B FP Club 36 Albyn Place Aberdeen AB10 1YF

Treasurer of the Alan W. Marr, CA FP Club 4 West Craibstone Street, Aberdeen AB11 6YL

Membership Douglas M Watson, LL.B Secretary 6 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen Aberdeen AB11 6XU

The General Editor is happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before mid-May 2010

Former Pupils are encouraged to provide details about themselves or others for inclusion in the Notes Section of the Magazine Information may be sent by E-mail to editor@agsfp.com

In order to assist in the distribution of the Magazine, members of the Former Pupils’ Club are requested to advise the Membership Secretary promptly of any changes of address

OUR ADVERTISERS

OUR ADVERTISERS

As a Club we are most grateful to all our under-noted advertisers who have supported the production of this Magazine by taking advertising space. Club members are encouraged, in turn, please to patronise our advertisers who would value our members’ custom every bit as much as we value theirs.

As a Club we are most grateful to all our under-noted advertisers who have supported the production of this Magazine by taking advertising space. Club members are encouraged, in turn, please to patronise our advertisers who would value our members’ custom every bit as much as we value theirs.

As a Club we are most grateful to all our under-noted advertisers who production of this Magazine by taking advertising space. Club members turn, please to patronise our advertisers who would value our members’ as much as we value theirs.

Aberdeen Asset Management

Aberdeen College

Asset Management

Aberdeen Asset Management Aberdeen College

Aberdeen College

Property Leasing Solicitors’ Property Centre

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Aberdeen Solicitors’ Property

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Adam Cochran Albyn Hospital

Aberdeen Solicitors’ Property Centre

Adam Cochran Albyn Hospital

Anderson, Anderson & Brown Atholl Hotel

Adam Cochran Albyn Hospital

Anderson, Anderson & Brown Atholl Hotel

Anderson, Anderson & Brown Atholl Hotel

Bain Henry Reid Brewin Dolphin

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Brewin Dolphin

Bower & Smith

Bain Henry Reid

Bower & Smith

Campbell Connon

Steven Esson

Michael C. Hastie

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Michael C. Hastie

Bower & Smith F.G. Burnett

F.G. Burnett

Brewin Dolphin

Campbell Connon Country Ways

F.G. Burnett

Country Ways

Steven Esson

Campbell Connon Country Ways

Flower Vogue

Flower Vogue

IFB Internet

Michael C. Hastie

Flower Vogue

IFB Internet

Inchmarlo Retirement Homes Richard Irvin

Inchmarlo Retirement Homes Richard Irvin

IFB Internet

Inchmarlo Retirement Homes Richard Irvin

Jamieson & Carry

Jamieson & Carry

Langstane Press

Marcliffe at Pitfodels

Langstane Press

Petrofac

Marcliffe at Pitfodels

Petrofac

Kenway Tyres

Jamieson & Carry

Kenway Tyres

Langstane Press

Kenway Tyres

MTM Construction

MTM Construction

Marcliffe at Pitfodels Michies the Chemist

Michies the Chemist

MTM Construction

N. Sainsbury & Sons

Petrofac

Michies the Chemist

N. Sainsbury & Sons

University of Aberdeen William Wilson & Co

Williamson & Dunn

Williamson & Dunn

N. Sainsbury & Sons

University of Aberdeen William Wilson & Co

University of Aberdeen William Wilson & Co

Williamson & Dunn

Head Girl & Head Boy 2008-09

Isla Lynch and Josh Connon

School Section

Rector’s Report

The long awaited new Rubislaw Sports Pavilion has been completed and the School, Former Pupils Club teams and community groups will be using this excellent new facility from August 2009. It consists of six large changing rooms, officials’ rooms, first aid room, teaching staff base, kitchen and equipment stores. The Memorial Hall has been beautifully restored and now contains audio-visual equipment generously provided by the FP Club.

One of the major events of the past session was a visit to the School from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education. A team of eight inspectors spent one week in the School and found it to be in “good” shape. They identified a number of particular strengths in the School.

 The high level of attainment.

 High standards of pupils’ behaviour and positive attitudes.

 The commitment of staff to supporting pupils.

 The strong lead given by the Head-teacher to improving the School.

The pupils of the School continue to perform well in public examinations. In the “league tables” published by the Sunday Times newspaper the School was ranked 10th of all the local authority schools in Scotland, and we have improved our ranking in each of the last three years.

In July 2008 seventeen pupils and three teachers went to Uganda for a month-long trip with the organisation “World Challenge”. The group were involved in community work, teaching English and sports and building a primary school classroom. They also visited the Mackay Memorial School in Nateete which was founded by Alexander Mackay, a Grammar FP who was responsible for starting the Ugandan school system. Mackay was a missionary, born in Rhynie who went to Africa in the 1860s.

Our concert band had a very successful year. They represented Scotland in the UK National Schools Concert Band competition in Cardiff in April and were given a Gold Award for the high standard of their performance.

A group of enthusiastic S4 pupils arranged a series of events as part of the National Fairtrade Fortnight. They organised food stalls, lessons on fair trade in a variety of subjects and a very successful fashion show. The pupils were very successful in raising the awareness of fairtrade amongst pupils and staff and plan a series of activities next session.

The Senior Drama Club staged a delightful production of Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The group performed an abridged version of the play for three nights in March drawing very appreciative audiences.

International Pi Day was celebrated in the School through a number of lunchtime competitions in the hall. A large and enthusiastic crowd enjoyed watching The Real Deal where pupils recited the digits of Pi and others performed musical, dance and rap entertainment with Pi as the theme.

Aberdeen Grammar School GRAHAM LEGGE June, 2009 Rector

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

School Office-Bearers - Session 2008-2009

Head Boy: JOSH CONNON Head Girl: ISLA LYNCH

Depute Head Boys: JOE BOYD

S6 Prefects:

MARK ALLAN

MATTHEW SMITH

FRASER ANDERSON

ANDREW BALFOUR

CHRISTOPHER BROWN

NEIL FRASER

MARK HADJITOFI

GRANT HENDERSON

DAVID LAW

PHILIP LAWTON

RORY LESLIE

ALEX LIHOU

KENNETH LYPKA

NICHOLAS MacANDREW

STEPHEN MOLLOY

JACK MORRISON

FINLAY MUDIE

STEPHEN PENG

JAMIE ROSE

DAVID ROSS

ALEX SHARPLES

STIRLING SMITH

MARK WAREHAM

PATRICK WATSON

EUAN WEST

MAGNUS WILLETT

GARY WILSON

HAMISH WILSON

REECE WILSON

SCOTT WISELY

S5 Prefects

Depute Head Girls: REBECCA MURRAY

KIRSTY NICOLL

SATYA ANANDAVIJAYAN

MARIAGRAZIA BEVILACQUA

LEANNE CAIE

JULIA CARRUTHERS

ROBYN CLARK

AILSA COWIE

RACHEL HAMMOND

RACHEL HARKIN

KIRSTEN KAMSLEY

ALICE LEYSHON

SARAH McPHERSON

CARA MASON

LAURA MATSON

MHAIRI MICHIE

LAURA MIDDLETON

RACHEL MURPHY

IONA PEDDIE

REBECCA PIRIE

ILKA REGLITZ

RHIANNE REID

EMMA SIBBETT

CATHERINE STANTON

JADE WILLIAMS

SARAH YEAMAN

Ashley Anderson, Scott Blair, Michael Blues, Andy Burr, Michael Cobban, David Diack, Richard Duffy, Tiernan Duthie, James Finlayson, Darren Hannam, Stephen Harkin, Harry Jones, Freddie Kaye, Sofiane Kennouche, Samuel Knudson, James Lord, Daniel Lyon, Lawrence McLelland, Callum McPherson, Jonathan Mathers, Duncan Mearns, Greig Morrison, Christopher Murray, Niall Rundle, Douglas Russell, Duncan Samuel, Alex Shepherd

Catrina Bain, Camille Bland, Kirsty Cassie, Sally Casson, Siobhan Cowie, Ellen Crockart, Helen Dargie, Beth Fiddes, Molly Gray, Rachael Hadjitofi, Nicola Hume, Maxine King, Hannah Kunzlik, Stephanie Longmuir, Zoe MacAndrew, Aifric Muller, Beth Paterson, Claire Repper, Georgia Ross, Anna Rushworth, Kate Stephen, Georgina Still, Carla Visocchi, Naomi Watt, Hannah White

School Prizes

2008-2009

The Joyce Tease Award for excellence in Post 16 Modern Languages Ileana Zett

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Administration Jessica Bruce

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Modern Studies Beth Fiddes

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Physical Education Lawrence McLelland

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Biology Duncan Mearns

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Religious & Moral Studies Leanne Caie

The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Spanish Joint Beth Fiddes Award Claire Repper

The Former Pupils’ Prize in Drama Joint Anna MacKay Award Beth Paterson

The Former Pupils’ Prize in Home Economics Emma Hogg

The Samuel Pope Prize in Art & The Donald Paton Prize for Painting Christina Cobb

The John Muir Robertson Prize in Accounting & Finance Darren Hannam

The ALBA Trophy for Business Management Joint Jamie Gibbon Award Georgina Still

The Gordon McMinn Prize in Computing Studies Rory McCann

The Masson Bain Prize in English Joint Hannah Kunzlik Award Beth Fiddes

The William Brebner Prize in French Carla Visocchi

The German Consulate Prize Hannah Kunzlik

The Charles Alexander Walker Prize in History Louis Strachan

The Campbell Connon Prize for Geography Catherine Stanton

The J. Mortimer McBain & George G. Whyte Prizes in Mathematics Alexander Walker

The Gavin Falconer Memorial Prize in Music Iain Ross

The CNR International Prize for Physics Alexander Walker

The CNR International Prize for Graphic Communication Lewis Kinnear

The Wellmac Ltd Prize in Product Design Rebecca Gray

The CNR International Prize for Chemistry Duncan Mearns

The University of Aberdeen Prize for Human Biology Rachel Hammond

The Caritas Cup for Contribution to Charities Group Activities Rachel Murphy

The AGS Dramatic Society Award for Drama Kenneth Lypka

The AGS Junior Literary & Debating Shield Alexander Duncan

The Rector’s Shield for outstanding contribution to the running of the Literary & Debating Society David McCreath

The Andrew Middleton McLaren Prize for Enterprise Rachel Hammond

The Philip Love Trophy Joseph Boyd

The Jamie Blair Fiddes Award Laura Burns

The Pied Piper 2000 Award for outstanding talent and Commitment from a Cast or Crew Member Monica Burns

Sports Awards

The Former Pupils’ Club Rugby Football Section Trophy Patrick Watson

The Arthur McCombie Senior Golf Trophy Lewis Kinnear

The David Swanson Junior Golf Trophy Kyle Gray

The Isobel O Anderson Medal for Swimming Lauren Kane

The Fowlie Cup for Swimming (Girls) Lauren Kane

The Rector’s Medal for Swimming Greig Morrison

The Dr Morland Simpson Cup for Swimming Charles Watson

The Damian Reidy Rugby Trophy Joint Award Christopher Brown John James Brown

The Ronald MacKinnon Trophy for Athletics Rory Leslie

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Inter-House Competition Awards

Junior Inter-House Debating Trophy

Keith/Dun Alexander Duncan

S3 Inter-House Rugby Cup Melvin Marc Walton

S5/6 Inter-House Football Cup Byron Laurence McLelland

S4/S6 Inter-House Netball Trophy for Girls Keith /Dun Natalie Innes

S4/S6 Inter-House Boys/Girls Basketball

Keith/Dun Michael Cobban

S2 Inter-House Boys’ Basketball Byron Tom Morrison

S4/S6 Inter-House Boys’ Cricket

Keith/Dun Michael Blues

Iain Wolstenholme Inter-House Swimming Cup Melvin Greig Morrison

The AGS Inter-House Quiz Cup

The Inter-House Challenge Cup

All-Round Awards

Keith/Dun Garrin Thomas Gavin Kinnear

Keith/Dun Beth Paterson Stephen Harkin

The Dr Alexander Cormack Prize to the best All-round Pupil in S1 Saraf Zahid

The David Alexander Irvine-Fortescue Prize – S2

The Norman Mackie Memorial Award in S3

The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Award in S4

The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Award in S5

Georgia Smith

Geraldine Cooper

David McCreath

Douglas Russell

The Former Pupils’ Club “1965” Award Rhianne Reid

The Runner-up to the Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy for Girls

The Runner-up to the Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy & the Agnes Durward McDonald Prize

The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy for Girls

The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy & the John Ivo Dawson Prize

Kirsty Nicoll

Matthew Smith

Alexandria Grant

Fraser Anderson

Dux Award Euan West

Colours Awards

Sport

Football Full Colours

Hockey Full Colours

Half Colours

Junior Colour

Ice

Hockey

Half Colour

Rowing Full Colours

Rugby Full Colours

Andrew Burr

Siobhan Cowie

Kirsty Cassie, Eilidh Crawford, Claire Repper

Charlotte Lawton, Ellen Masters

Siobhan Cowie

Catriona Bain, Rachael Hadjitofi

Jamie Finlayson, Sam Knudson, Douglas Russell

Junior Colours Matthew Henderson, Kalle Leopoldt, Finn Muller

Skiing Junior Colour

Swimming Full Colour

Junior Colour

Tennis Junior Colour

Arts & Culture

Debating Half Colours

Drama Junior Colour

Music Half Colours

Junior Colours

Kate Angus

Greg Morrison

Lauren Kane, Charlie Watson

Bruce Strachan

Beth Fiddes, David McCreath

Monica Burns

David McCreath, Iain Ross

Clare Armstrong, Geraldine Cooper, Helen Innes, Mark

James

Extra-Curricular Activities

School Sports Clubs

Basketball

The S1 Basketball group has started meeting on Fridays at lunchtime and is led by S6 pupils – Jamie Skinner, Michael Cobban and Jonathan Bee. It is open to boys of any level/ability. It has proved very popular and has attracted around thirty boys each week.

Both the Senior and Junior Basketball teams will be entered into the Aberdeen City League and the Scottish League, and will start games in the new term.

Inter-house games were won this year by Keith Dun (Seniors) and Byron (Juniors). Cups were presented to Michael Cobban and Tom Morrison.

The School will be purchasing new strips for the group with the help of a grant from the FP Club through the School Amenities Fund – we are very grateful for this support!

Cricket

School cricket in the 2009 season really began in October 2008 with indoor nets. Attendance was patchy as senior players had winter commitments to rugby and other sports. A loyal band of seniors, led by Alex Shepherd and Michael Blues, turned up each week so that frenetic games of quick cricket could be enjoyed. When the nets did come out which was about very three weeks, serious practice took place aided and abetted by John Lord’s coaching skills on behalf of the FPs.

The players’ ability to improvise meant that this year House matches took place in the last week of term. Keith Dun won both their games and subsequently the House Trophy. Melvin were unlucky as they lent Keith Dun a couple of players to help even the teams up. Those transferred performed well against their own house. Much fancied Byron surprisingly came bottom of the table.

In our first match a much weakened team faced local rivals Robert Gordon’s College at Countesswells. A good bowling and fielding performance was undermined by one of their players who smashed his way to a rapid century. When we batted we were going on fairly sedately against a fiery and hostile attack. Then last minute inclusion David Blues got a bad blow on the chest as a ball took off at pace and hit him full on. This seemed to knock the heart out our batting. ‘Ringers’ from the football team Chris Eadie (two catches) and Andrew Burr both played some fine cricket shots, probably without knowing it, to see us to an honourable but convincing defeat.

The manager and the aforementioned David Blues then dashed off to Mannofield for an under-15 evening league game. David showed remarkable courage and skill in a superb opening spell of 4-11 off four overs. He would have had a '5 for' but he dropped a difficult chance off his own bowling in his final over. On the best pitch we are to play on all season, chasing 84 to win, we were all out for 54. New 1st years Alex Griffin and Cameron West batted well for five overs as they were tactically sent in to open the batting to protect more experienced batsmen who came in later. Well done both!

On Tuesday 5 May the 1st XI travelled south to face Fettes College in Edinburgh. Despite playing the entire game in constant, and sometimes heavy, drizzle again we fielded and bowled well against a decent opposing batting line up. Chris Eadie excelled in the field shedding blood in the process turning ‘4 balls’ into one and all eleven guys gave it their all in cold, wet conditions. Jack Bruce was another who fielded excellently in two successive games. Chasing 183 from 30 overs we were going along steadily at 45 for 2. The first over from their change bowler at the scoreboard end was eventful enough with rejected appeals and general movement through the air from around the wicket. Young Master Smith’s next over was remarkable. He took 5 wickets in 6 balls and began his next over with another ball that hit the stumps to make it 6 in 7 balls. All his wickets were

bowled – an incredible feat of accuracy as our players seemed to lose track of the ball in flight as it looped on to hit the wickets. Yes, it was dark, yes it was wet. ….. in the end we did not play young Smith’s line as well as we might have done. However, it was a good day. The game was played in a great spirit and we were regally looked after as always by our hosts. Mr. Blair (no, not him, though he is an FP of Fettes), the opposition manager, and those watching the game commended our lads for their attitude and commitment to the cause in a game which was played in atrocious conditions. With our full team out who knows what might have happened? The journey back heard Man Utd go two up against Arsenal before most players had a wee nap, something the driver resisted, as we returned home at 9.30 pm

The next night saw the Under-15 evening league team run Stoneywood Dyce close in an entertaining and competitive game beneath the jets, at People’s Park next to Aberdeen Airport. We fielded magnificently – Hugh Cruickshank’s catch at mid off for their first wicket was a real stunner – but had the ‘yips’ with some of our bowling in conceding 34 wides. When we batted chasing 102, our younger players did well, with David Blues batting well for his 15 from No 1. Andrew Steele also did well to hit 13 in quick time. However the real batting star was 1st year Jeston De Costa, who scored a sparkling 23 not out as we reached 80 for 7 in 20 overs.

Then came the seasonal interregnum with Activities week and Work Experience causing a halt to matches. The break was extended by inclement weather resulting in three evening league games and a Saturday fixture against RGC being lost to the tempests. Great disappointment all round. The elements ended up being the only winner in this situation.

Our next game was a real boost to everyone’s confidence and an indication of how well some players have progressed this season. We took a Colts XI up to Gordonstoun and beat them relatively comfortably in a 25-over-a-side game. Chasing 109 to win, Andrew Milne excelled with 47 not-out and Liam Alexander, who had a good game behind the timbers, as the unique Brian Johnston used to say, then went on to score 27 valuable runs to help us reach our target with three overs to spare. The bowling and fielding was good. Finn Blake took two excellent catches at cover and the ground fielding helped restrict our courteous and hospitable hosts to a total we felt we could reach.

In glorious weather for our sport, a depleted 1 XI travelled to play Gordonstoun in late June. The team was enthusiastic, but played without five first-choice players who were on school business elsewhere. On a scorching day we fielded and bowled in the beautiful setting of the school’s main square. The heat took its toll in the 40-overs-a-side game. We also ran into the best batsman the school has played against at any level for a number of years. This gentleman, an Aussie, who looked as if he was playing for a late call-up to their Ashes squad, scored an unbeaten 109 from a very forward batting stance. Still, we kept at it. Chris Leiper did well with the ball, after keeping for the first twenty overs, to take 5-49 with a little bit of movement through the air. When we batted, Sam Knudson, who had bowled his heart out, and Michael Blues laid a good platform with an opening partnership of 45. Then their spinners, bowling into the rough marks made by all the bowlers on a good length, caused major damage to the rest of our batting.

The next day we travelled in determined mood to Huntly. We batted well as a unit with several decent partnerships along the way to reach 149 from 30 overs. Mike Blues with 39 and Jack Bruce with 27 did well with the bat. Our opponents were obviously very well coached and tutored in the game, as there were no ‘free’ runs given away as they bowled and fielded well throughout. We did the same. We lost the game because we gave away too many extras with erratic bowling, particularly from one end. In a tight game, which we lost only in the last over, those extra balls, and the runs which came from them, proved costly. Douglas Russell, when he had shorn his wicket-keeping pads, was the pick of our bowlers with a 3-12 from four good overs. BUT in games like this it is best not to make the opposing team’s job easy for them.

The Fairtrade Stall & Staff

See page 22

Keen Primary 7 Cool Scientists

See page 24

School Rowers on the River Dee at Aberdeen

Jacob Vyse, Catriona Bain, Rachael Hadjitofi, Niall Rundle and Niall Ford

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

We must thank the now retired Hughie Miller, groundsman at Rubislaw, for all the hard work and effort he put into cricket over the years. Hughie was quite a character and always ready for a good yarn. After his recent health scare everyone associated with School cricket wishes him a long and well-deserved retirement.

Thanks are also due to the PE Department for their support for the sport and advice etc to the Manager. Les Hutton, Principal Teacher of Business Studies, John Lord and Roland Knudson have helped out with coaching sessions both indoors and outdoors. Finally, Miss Helen Innes, Deputy Rector, has allowed pupils and a staff member time off for matches. To those members of staff who covered classes, thank you.

Girls’ Hockey House Hockey

For the last few years Girls’ House Hockey has not been played because of conflicting commitments and problems with our ever-reliable weather. However, just before Christmas, despite the semi-frozen pitch, the girls battled it out to see which team would win the House Hockey honours for the 2008-09 season.

The eventual winners, Melvin, who seemed to have an unusually large number of 1st XI players, played some lovely hockey. However, Player of the Tournament must go to the Byron (and 3rd Year) goalkeeper, Charley Lawton. Her superb skills and determination saw off seven or eight strikes by Rebecca Murray to keep Byron in the game to the very end. She should, in a perfect world, have come away with a clean sheet, but an unlucky deflection saw Rebecca score from a short corner. In usual Grammar style the girls played fairly and with a great sense of fun! Let’s hope this annual event continues.

U-18 Girls Indoor Cup

Grammar Hockey girls secured the U-18 Indoor Cup with two solid wins over tough opponents at Linksfield on Saturday 10th January. The girls started the morning with a team chat from their indoor coach, Lisa Tomkins, and her sidekick Gill Graham. Their first game was against old rivals Robert Gordon’s and once they settled down they soon realised that Gordon’s were beatable. Eilidh Crawford scored the first goal after a cracking clearance from Alex Grant at the back, and with only the keeper to beat she slotted it home. With added confidence, having drawn the first blood, goals then came from Rebecca Murray and Kirsty Nicoll. Alex Grant also became woman of the match when she saved a goal-bound shot on the line and cleared it in a very relaxed fashion. Coach Tomkins was smiling from ear-to-ear after she had recovered from the heart palpitations. Gordon’s played some excellent hockey, but our girls held tight, with Siobhan Cowie making great saves, and when the final whistle went a 3-0 result was recorded. This was the first win over Gordon’s in a long time.

The second match was against Granite City Wanderers and the girls took it a tad too slowly There had been talk of early goals, but little was happening, until they remembered the request, and the goals then came thick and fast with Claire Repper looking like she was challenging for the top goal-scorer position. The half-time whistle blew and the girls were comfortably 4-1 ahead. With promises of sacrificing our own hockey for a road trip to Perth the girls were told to secure the win with another two goals. Wanderers came out fighting, and our girls had to hold their nerve at several short-corners, clearing the ball well and remaining calm under fire. Wanderers did, however, score a goal and it was clear that the girls had a fight on their hands. Grammar continually fought for every ball and never more so than when one of the girls in black met the force of our defender, Beth Fiddes, who took the ball and the player as she drove up the wing.

Time was stopped, which allowed the girls to regroup as they discussed how to hold on for the long awaited piece of Senior silverware. With the last five minutes some solid passing was evident but these two goals failed to come. The final whistle blew on a 4-2 win for Grammar, but would they be allowed to go to Perth?

Are you kidding? Perth here we come! Well done to all the girls involved and for working in true Grammar spirit - as a team!

Squad: Rebecca Murray (Capt), Alex Grant, Kirsty Nicoll, Kirsty Cassie, Eilidh Crawford, Ellen Crockart, Beth Fiddes, Siobhan Cowie, Claire Repper, Chelsea Gray

Senior Rugby

The 2008-09 season saw the Senior Grammar rugby team reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup and the quarter-final of the Scottish Bowl. The team’s success was due to the regular coaching which the players received from the FPs’ 1st team coach, Mike O’Donovan. Sadly Mike had to leave the School before the end of the season, due to family commitments in New Zealand.

The senior team captain was Patrick Watson who, through his fine leadership and aggressive defence, helped to lead the side to victories against Banchory Academy, Mearns Academy and Stonehaven Academy, to name just a few. The team’s great cup run saw them through to the last 16, where they came up against Dunfermline High. The Grammar boys showed a lot of pride against the strong Dunfermline side, scoring first, but they were narrowly edged out in the later stages of the match. The exit from the cup competition meant the team were now entered into the quarter-final of the Scottish Bowl, in which they met Banchory. The match was a very heated affair with Banchory coming out on top 5 – 3 victors.

This season also saw Duncan Samuel, Tiernan Duthie, David Diack, Harry Jones and James Lord receive Half Colours for their rugby achievements. Douglas Russell, Jamie Finlayson and Sam Knudson were awarded Full Colours for their achievements. Special mention must be made of Sam Knudson who was selected through a long process of trials to represent the U-17 Caledonia side in the Tri-District tournament.

In all, the season was another successful one, with great dedication shown by all the players. Many thanks have to go to Mike O’Donovan and Mr. Montgomery for all the hard work which they put in towards the team.

S1 Rugby

During the 2008/09 session, the rugby team enjoyed great success. On the first few training sessions about 15 boys turned up. After a few more the number increased to 24. The great thing about the rugby system is that it always welcomes newcomers to the sport. Regardless of your ability, you can join in and enjoy it.

We played a number of games against teams from Robert Gordon’s College, Westhill Academy and even Albyn (yes, boys at Albyn!). Our best achievement was winning a mini-tournament against three Robert Gordon’s teams at Countesswells.

In general, we won most of our games but that was not the best thing about the season for us. The biggest thing that we took away from the season was that we had great fun and learned a new sport.

All the coaches were great and none of the training would have been possible without them. The coaches were Mark Davies and Duncan Caird (both former pupils), J.J. Brown and Chris Brown (two senior pupils), Mr Montgomery (teacher), and Ed Morrow (parent). On behalf of the rugby team I would like to thank them all.

Thanks also to all of the squad who regularly turn up at training. To mention some names: James Wittrick was a fantastic captain throughout the season, and Joe Davies who

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

inspired the whole team. We are looking forward to S2 and can’t wait until August for the new season to begin, especially using the new pavilion at Rubislaw – at last!

Marc Walton 1M2

Secondary 3 Rugby

The 2008/9 season has been a very successful one for S3 rugby at Aberdeen Grammar. We started the season with several promising new recruits, however it was a slow start with two consecutive defeats to the Robert Gordon’s B team in two very close games. Despite this disappointment the boys trained hard and, thanks to an excellent coaching team, we were ready to challenge Gordon’s again. This time we were the victors and left no doubt which was the better team. With another victory against Westhill we were ready for our Scottish cup tie against Huntly. We had a day off School to travel up there and we showed them how Grammar boys play rugby, in a match which we won 55-5. The next round was at home to Madras College which we lost 15-5 in an extremely close match where every player pushed himself to the limit.

Knocked out of the Scottish cup, we now turned our sights to the drop-out competition called The Plate. Our first round draw was against Ross High in Tranent; we travelled down there and won 56-5. Now we were in the second round and we headed for the second battle of Culloden in which, unlike the first, the better side won in a 56-7 victory. Now in the quarter-finals the pressure was on. We drew Dundee High and we trained hard in preparation. Mr Montgomery made the hard choice of deciding to go with the wind in the second half and get the points then, and it came so close to paying off; we were 12-0 down at the half and 15-12 up with 4 minutes to go, but unfortunately we lost the match 20-15 due to a last minute try and penalty. All the boys were gutted.

We went into the second last game of the season, against Gordon’s A, very much up for it. We took a two try lead, but unfortunately lost the match. We have one game left, against Huntly, and our fingers are crossed that it goes as well as last time.

The team has made great progress this season and with the continued improvement and excellent team spirit we look forward to challenging for honours next season.

Thank you to Steve Clark, Bernt Muller, Peter Steven, Graeme Morrison and Mr Montgomery, without whom none of this season’s success would have been possible.

Girls’ Rugby

The School now has its first girls’ rugby team, who have been training every Thursday. The numbers have been increasing and they are aiming to play competitive matches against established squads at Westhill, Aboyne and Huntly. Many thanks go to Miss Carolyn Sturgeon and the senior boys for all the hard work they have put in towards coaching the girls’ squad, whose skill levels have greatly increased, as have their tackling skills!

Rowing

Aberdeen Grammar School rowers had yet another successful year during the 2008 – 2009 session. During the summer holidays of 2008 Catriona Bain was selected to row as part of the Great Britain Junior 16 team in the match against France in Valenciennes, France. Along with Niall Rundle she participated in the National Rowing Championships of Great Britain. Niall was unlucky not to make it further in the competition with his men’s Junior 15 quad, as they were faced with strong competition from across the country. Catriona was able to achieve gold at her age group in women’s Junior 16 coxed fours and silver in women’s Junior 18 coxless fours. She was also selected to row for Scotland in the

women’s junior team against the other home nations, where she achieved first place in the Junior coxless fours.

After the summer, sprint regattas are held over a 500m course. All Grammar rowers, Rachael Hadjitofi, Niall Rundle, Catriona Bain, Niall Ford and Jacob Vyse, performed to their highest standards to produce an excellent set of results. A total of eleven medals were won over two regattas held in Durham and Aberdeen.

Head of the River Races are held over a longer distance than standard races and are usually between 3 and 5km. These events are held during the winter period. Grammar rowers helped to win nine events over these months. The competitions included the Scottish Schools Head, Aberdeen Fours and Small Boats Head, Glasgow Rowing Club Head and Aberdeen Eights and Junior Fours Head.

Approaching the main season, Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association (ASRA) went to Gent, Belgium for a training camp. Both Nialls and Catriona participated in the 10- day trip. This included early morning runs at 7:15am before breakfast and two to three water sessions each day! The week ended with a regatta, where the rowers competed against British, Belgian, French and German crews. Both Niall Rundle and Catriona won gold medals on the first day of the regatta in their respective coxless fours and added silver medals on the second day.

The National School Regatta brought with it success for the four Grammar rowers who took part; Niall Ford managed to cox his crew to the semi-finals and Niall Rundle also reached this level in his men’s Junior 16 coxed fours. Rachael and her crew were unfortunate to miss out on a medal by coming 4th in the women’s Junior 16 coxed fours. Catriona won a silver medal in women’s Junior 18 coxed fours and narrowly missed out on gold by 0.25 seconds.

ASRA’s last competition to date at the time of writing was the Scottish Championships in which all Grammar rowers competed. Over the two-day event Grammar pupils helped to win seven events for the club.

Golf

This year has been a fruitful one on the golf course. The School golf team came through a gruelling final against Cults to lift the Aberdeen Schools league trophy for a record third time. It was a tight final, where Nick Macandrew and William Rennie were two-hole victors against a gritty Cults top pairing. Our second duo of Andrew Burr and Lewis Kinnear fell by one hole to leave it down to the final pairing of Cameron Johnstone and Ashley Anderson. A comfortable 4 and 3 victory secured the title for Grammar, with Cameron continuing his heroics after previously sinking a crucial ten-foot putt on the final green in the semi-final for us to progress.

Nick Macandrew successfully defended the Aberdeen Schools scratch title at Craibstone Golf Club. A score of 71 was good enough for victory by the narrowest of margins. William Rennie, Andrw Burr and Cameron Johnstone acquitted themselves well and we hope to see great things from them in next year’s competition.

Thanks are due to Miss Innes for her continued support and enthusiasm.

Gymnastics

The School Gymnastics squad was established in September 2008, and currently sees around fifty pupils taking part over two weekly training sessions. After an intensive eightweek training programme four teams were entered into the Scottish Schools North-East Scotland heats when the teams made their debut performance. They returned with 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place. Rebecca Fennell, Danielle Garner and Georgia Smith qualified to represent the School and North-East Scotland at the Scottish Schools Championships held in April, when all girls put in fantastic performances. Grammar gymnastic championships

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

were run in December 2008, when Raewen Dow and Eilidh Fraser won gold medals in the pairs competition, with Hannah Mitchell, Chloe Kemp and Rachael Gilmour taking home gold medals in the individual categories. The squad ended their year putting on a wellpolished routine at the School talent show.

Equestrian Team

On 28 April 2009 Jennifer Reid, Alice Leyshon and Jillianne Rennie made the trip down to Gleneagles Equestrian Centre with their horses to make their debut performance in the Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships. Jennifer and Pippy Long Stocking produced an outstanding performance in the dressage arena, not hampered by the rain, finishing 7th in a large class of 50. The rain cleared up and Jillianne put in an excellent dressage test, finishing 10th in the senior class. Alice and Phoenix Rising produced a steady dressage test, followed by a clear fast round in the show jumping. Many thanks to Equimins horse supplements for the generous donation of team kit.

Tennis

Bruce Strachan, who is just entering Fourth year, but who has played tennis since the age of 5, is currently ranked number 1 in Scotland and number 63 in Britain for his age group – Boys under 16.

This year, he has won two Grand Prix tournaments – Edinburgh Waverley and Tayside, (both Grade 3 tournaments) and has represented the U-18 Boys for the North County in Lincolnshire last February.

In September 2008 he won the 14 & Under Singles Title in the Scottish Grand Prix Final held at Bridge of Allan, after winning the qualifying tournaments. Bruce was awarded the Miquel prize by Tennis Scotland for most improved player for his age group. He has also represented both NESLTA and North of Scotland County at competitions and has been invited to train as part of Tennis Scotland squads in Gannochy and Edinburgh. His schedule has included travelling to England, Norway and Italy both for training and to play in competitions.

Clubs and Societies

School Debating Senior Debating Society

In spite of the senior team of Natalie Smith and Rachel Watson having left School, Grammar’s successful trend in debating has continued throughout this year. Both senior and junior debating takes place in School on a weekly basis and is run by a small group of fifth year pupils. Both have seen very good turnouts during the year.

Our senior team, made up of David McCreath and Beth Fiddes (S5), has enjoyed a successful year in competitive debating both in Scotland and in the UK as a whole. The team won the Aberdeen University Schools Competition earlier this year, claiming back the shield that Natalie and Rachel won two years ago. In addition to this, more recently they broke to the final of The Edinburgh University Competition. There has also been success a little further away from home, being part of only seven Scottish teams which won through to the Oxford University Union Finals Day, attended by almost two hundred teams from across the UK. The Grammar team won the first two rounds. Beth Fiddes and David McCreath also went down to Durham in March to take part in a five-round competition spanning two days in which they also won two of the rounds.

However, debating successes in Grammar have by no means been limited to the seniors. There has been much success amongst the juniors in debating this year as reported separately below. With such a promising group of Juniors moving up to Senior debating, along with some opinionated Primary 7’s coming up to Grammar, we hope that the successes we have enjoyed this year will continue and be joined by more next year!

Junior Debating

2008/09 has been another successful year for Junior Debating. We have record numbers of participants attending our Wednesday lunchtime sessions. Huge thanks go to the S5 pupils who have taken responsibility for running the club during this session. The topics, as ever, ranged from light-hearted debates on superheroes to more serious and highly contentious issues of national security.

We have been involved in a number of Scottish competitions, including the Dundee Courier and English Speaking Union Junior Debating Competitions. Our Courier debaters were Julia Stubbins 3KD3 and Clare Armstrong 3KD3, who made it through to the second round of the competition along with Alex Duncan 3KD2 and Euan Christie 2B2. The ESU competition saw Euan Christie and Gordon West 3B1 match this success by securing a place in the second round of the competition. Alex Duncan and Mugdha Nagrath 3M2 excelled in the second round of the ESU and in the regional final, making them the first Grammar team in the national final which was held in May.

Gordon West, Clare Armstrong, Mugdha Nagrath and Alex Duncan won through to Finals Day at Cambridge University for the International Young Debaters Competition. They performed fantastically well and secured commendable positions on the debating tab for the day. There was further success for Gordon West and Clare Armstrong, who won the ‘Auld Hoose’ Competition run by Robert Gordon’s College.

The final competition of this session was the Inter-house competition, which was won by Alex Duncan of Keith/Dun House.

Well done to all participants and we look forward to the new session and our new S1 recruits.

Music

This year has seen a number of changes of staff in the Music Department, with the retiral of Jean McLeod and compulsory transfer from Harlaw Academy of Margaret Downie into the post of Acting Principal Teacher of Music in August 2008. Margaret has a wealth of teaching experience, having taught in 32 different Primary, Secondary and SEN schools in 10 years, and has relished the challenge of her new role in a school which is noted for the talents and achievements of its musical pupils.

Along with Anne Herbert (who was unable to complete her Probationary period at Aberdeen Grammar School due to ill health), Amy-Beth Smith ended her temporary post at the school in December 2008, returning to study at Aberdeen University. Over the last term, we have been fortunate to have acquired the services of experienced Music Teacher Mairi Paton, and her talent, expertise and enthusiasm has benefited the pupils enormously.

Despite these staff changes and a lengthy period of job uncertainty due to the City Council’s financial situation and the proposed change to staffing structures, all members of the School’s Music Department have been working well as a team. Along with the class teachers, there are ten instructors who contribute to the music life of the School, often ‘going the extra mile’ by taking extra-curricular groups, organising additional rehearsals at exam time and doing other behind-the-scenes extra work for the good of the pupils. Many pupils continue to pursue an excellent level of musical achievement, while the less gifted are also treated with importance, allowing for every pupil to gain confidence and be effective contributors in the subject.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

The school boasts many extra-curricular musical activities, offering opportunities for all. Some are well-established groups, run by instructors: Concert Band, String Orchestra, Chamber Group, String Quartet, Woodwind Group, Flute Ensemble and Percussion Group; some are pupil run: Barbershop Quartet (under the direction of Harry Jones, S6), Soul Band (Senior pupil run), Jazz Band (pupil led with support from Margaret Downie); and some are under new leadership: the Junior Choir has flourished under the direction of Mairi Paton and the SATB Senior Choir and Ceilidh Band have been taken over by Margaret Downie.

The Concert Band continues to thrive, with the 53 strong ensemble achieving a Gold Award at the National Concert Band Festival Finals in Cardiff in April. CDs of the band’s excellent performance are available at a very reasonable £3 each! The dedication and hard work of their conductor, Brass Instructor Alan MacDonald, as well as commitment to rehearsals from pupils, has led to the band being able to produce well-disciplined performances of challenging and exciting repertoire. We look forward to another successful year as the band goes forward to the next year of the competition.

Upcoming public events in which the Music Department are involved include concerts in October (featuring the Concert Band, brass ensembles, Woodwind Group and Percussion Group) and April (featuring the String Orchestra, string ensembles, choirs and other groups), the St. Machar’s Cathedral Christmas celebration and, in conjunction with the Drama Department, the production of the school’s version of Grease, over three nights in November.

S1 Drama Club

The buzzing and enthusiastic S1 Drama Club have worked hard this term. The group met every Thursday lunch-time to learn a variety of drama skills. These skills were then put to the test at the beginning of June as participants performed a play to all the P7s of the connecting primary schools. The play, which was completely devised by the Club, was about the ‘Fears’ and ‘Realities’ of coming up to the Grammar. It featured fears such as pupils losing all their friends and becoming loners, bullies, strict teachers and getting lost in the school. It then showed what the Grammar is really like and explained to the P7s the variety of support systems which the school has in place to help pupils, whether from bullies or just needing a point in the right direction. The play was also connected with the English department to help promote literacy. After the performance the P7s were taken to the English department to write an ‘Agony Aunt’ column, which was very well received. Overall, it was a huge success.

Senior Drama Club A Midsummer Night’s Dream

If you went down to the woods before Easter you were sure of a big surprise…and it was not the teddy bear’s picnic!!!!! It was the Senior Drama Club’s delightful production of Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A play full of nymphs, fairies, magic potions, lovers and people getting turned into asses. From October a handful of dedicated and talented pupils put their blood, sweat and tears (of laughter) into the abridged version of Shakespeare’s earliest plays. The main aim of this production was to enhance the curriculum as A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set text in S2 English. The group performed this charming version of the play to all S2 pupils before the Easter holidays to help their understanding of the text. One of the tricks the production used to help these pupils relate to the 1600’s script was to change the setting from a town to a High School, surrounded by a magical forest.

In addition, the cast performed two evening shows to the public. All three shows were received extremely well. The cast’s high energy and comical timing enabled the audience to enjoy Shakespeare and perceive his play in a new light.

Some of the comments from the audience were, ‘Awesome, I laughed the whole way throughout’; ‘I didn’t realise that Shakespeare could be so funny’; ‘A well-cast and wellperformed play’ and ‘The fairies were gorgeous.’

Overall, a success for the Grammar’s Senior Drama Club, well done!! Keep your eyes peeled for our next production in November.

Fairtrade

Following the roaring success of the first Fairtrade Fortnight at the School earlier this year, we look forward to continuing to raise awareness of Fairtrade. In the new academic session, the School endeavours to attain official status as a Fairtrade school. This award is granted by the Fairtrade Foundation upon the achievement of Five Goals:

 The school sets up a Fairtrade School Steering Group

 The school has written and adopted a whole school Fairtrade

 The school is committed to selling, promoting and using Fairtrade products

 The whole school learns about Fairtrade issues

 The school promotes and takes action for Fairtrade both in school and the wider community

We have set up the School’s first Fairtrade School Steering Group, consisting of five staff and seven S5 pupils. The Steering Group will meet after the summer holidays to write the School’s first Fairtrade policy as well as to draw up an action plan as to how Aberdeen Grammar School can become an official Fairtrade school in 2009-2010.

Charities Group

The Charities Group has continued in its usual modus operandi this year with a couple of additional highlights to report. Pupils and staff at the School have continued to be as generous as ever. A number of special events have raised money for worthy causes. For example, the Sponsored Walk donated £6,000, split into £2000 to each of three charities democratically decided by pupils at registration. Aberdeen Multiple Sclerosis Society, Children with Leukaemia, and Water Aid were the beneficiaries. Among the special events was a staff-room coffee morning which raised £95 for Macmillan Cancer Relief, and a raffled Barnardo’s bear, won by Freddie Kaye 5B1, which raised £100.

By late autumn former PE teacher Mrs Welsh’s shoebox appeal was well and truly underway. A record number of boxes, each full of goodies, was brought in by pupils. This was an excellent effort, as these boxes had to be sorted before being sent out to children in war zones before Christmas. It is clear how Mrs Welsh is spending part of her retirement. The writer tried to keep a daily check on who brought what, but such was the supply and delivery of gifts that he lost track about early December. Apologies to any pupils and/or staff who were not mentioned in a special ‘Thank You’ list sent to all register teachers. The office staff were their customary helpful selves as were Joan Milne, Fiona Dick, Martin Cowie and Chris, fine technicians all, who helped with technical crises, publicity etc

The collection at our Annual Carol Service at St Machar’s Cathedral raised over £2000 for Age Care Aberdeen. This is down to our new acting Principal Teacher of Music, Miss Downie, who will be Mrs Nicholson by the time this is read. Alan McDonald, our excellent concert band supremo, and their able assistants and instructors, can also take a lot of credit for the pleasure that music brought to many this past year and, of course, at St.

Machar’s.

Mrs Hutton, wife of the formidable Les, PT of Business Studies, who is a Senior Social Worker in Kincorth, received money from one Christmas service at Queen’s Cross on the last day of term. The second service was rained off. Charities Group tuck-shop profits topped up the donation to almost £400 to allow Mrs Hutton to buy presents for underprivileged children in the city at Christmas time.

An innovative and unusual way of raising cash which was given to the Charities Group was Mr MacLeod’s ‘swear box appeal’. During football matches at field, any pupil who uttered an expletive, out of pure frustration you understand, was fined 50p for charity. The money collected from this source helped swell tuck-shop profits for giving away

Then there was the Cyrenians Sponsored Sleep-Out which saw 34 pupils, a member of staff and a student teacher raise over £750. The event took place in March, having been postponed from January when snow and other cold and inclement weather made it impractical.

In total, Cyrenians received over £1000 from the School this year. They took second place in the Youth Philanthropy Project competition where third-year pupils made presentations to nominate a charity to receive £3000 generously donated by the Wood Family Trust. Continuing our links with the business community, Jasmine Holdings Charity Appeal received £100 to donate to a cancer charity in memory of a Former Pupil, the late George Cowie, a local businessman who had been a supporter of many worthy causes in both his personal and business lives. Fair Trade Fortnight will also no doubt feature on other pages. This was organised by Mr Gibson, Physics and Mrs Smith, RME. The fortnight included a fashion show and a host of other events which helped to raise pupil awareness of fair trade issues.

An impromptu collection for Comic Relief by Naomi Watt, 5B1, raised £145.38. Three recently departed pupils, Olivia Rushworth, Chris Ballard each received £100 for VSA trips on which they are embarking, while Timothy Coleman got £150 on the basis of an excellent presentation which he made to the Charities Group about his proposed plans for VSA work in South Africa

It has been a busy and rewarding year for pupils on the Charities Group, and everyone else in the School community. I sincerely apologise to anyone missed out from the summary of donations made in this dispatch. No offence is intended.

Geography Worldwise Quiz

Two teams from the School took part in the Grampian Region heat of this annual Scottish Schools Geography Quiz which was held at Robert Gordon’s College in January 2009. Teams from a range of schools from Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire South were entered. The School team members were as follows:

Team 1 – David McCreath (S4), Matthew Bell (S3) and Jack Reynolds (S2)

Team 2 – Chris Leiper (S4), Jack Hughes (S3) and Moray Fraser (S2)

In the first round team 1 was in first place and team 2 in second place, however only one team from a school is able to ‘go through’ to the final round. In the final round team 1 gained 1st place to successfully retain the Grampian Region Worldwise Quiz shield for the sixth year in succession.

Since the inception of the Worldwise Quiz 21 years ago a Grammar team has been the winning Grampian team on eleven occasions.

The Grammar team of Chris Leiper, Matthew Bell and Jack Reynolds represented the Grampian Area, along with a team from Fraserburgh Academy, at the Scottish Finals in Larbert in March 2009. Although they did not win this event, they put in a very creditable performance.

Cool Science

Transition – Progression – Support

Fortunately it was dry as 210 primary pupils, our new S1 intake, gathered in excited groups waiting to experience the seventh annual ‘Cool Science Day’.

Based loosely on the theme of energy, pupils took part in a variety of investigative and challenging activities including Windmills, extracting their own DNA, Siege Engines, an Energy Debate, Build a Buggy, Decommissioning, Maths Challenge and Chemical Cells. S3 Biology pupils and mentors accompanied the primary groups as they went.

For these pupils this is a fun way to taste life at Aberdeen Grammar School as part of their transition experience. For many it will be a continuation of their progression, already begun, sometimes as early as P3, with visits to the Biology labs to ‘Boil Blood’ and carry out other science experiments. Many of the experiences allow staff to develop the principles of the Curriculum for Excellence embodying the use of open-ended, active, investigative and cross-curricular approaches.

Nationally, we were hearing that this country is not producing scientists in sufficient numbers. Activities like this should excite pupils to see that science can be a career option. Mentors from BP, research engineers from Robert Gordon University, lecturers from the University and science ambassadors from many different areas of the oil industry helped to make this real.

As usual everyone enjoyed the day as illustrated by the following comments made by pupils: ‘It made me realise that something I did not care about was so important’; ‘I got to use my imagination’; ‘I would like to know more about what the million steps in your DNA mean’ and ‘It was a team challenge, we won and it was fun’

Enterprise Education

Enterprise Education in Aberdeen Grammar School can be divided into two categories, the formation and development of Young Enterprise companies within the School and fostering business partnerships which the School has established with a number of local companies.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise Scotland is a charity working to provide practical experience of enterprise and entrepreneurship to school students. Young Enterprise Grampian is organised by an all-volunteer Board comprising people from industry and education.

As in previous years, the number of pupils wishing to participate in enterprise activities was sufficiently high to allow the formation of three Young Enterprise companies within the School.

These were called ‘Just Jam’, ‘Hype’ and ‘GFB’. ‘Just Jam’ packaged and marketed quality jams and preserves, ‘Hype’ customised t-shirts with pop art designs and ‘GFB’ organised social events within the School.

‘Just Jam’ was the most successful of the three companies and secured a place as one of six finalists from all the participating schools. The finals, under the heading of Grampian Awards Dinner, were held in the Exhibition Centre with guest speaker Richard Farleigh, an entrepreneur from the BBC series ‘Dragons Den’. ‘Just Jam’ secured a well deserved second place.

Using the wealth of experience gained from being involved in Young Enterprise, thirteen pupils sat and passed the University of Strathclyde’s Young Enterprise Scotland examination. Four of these passed with ‘Credit’ and three achieved the higher honour and passed with ‘Distinction’. Special mention goes to Rachel Hammond who passed with ‘Distinction’ and was placed in the top eight pupils in Scotland.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Business Partnerships

Aberdeen Grammar School continues to develop its partnerships with local companies. Those involved this year were CNR International, Acumen and the John Clark Group. The partnership is a two-way exchange of information and participation in a number of events and projects. This year a number of groups visited the John Clark garage and eight boys participated in a two-day work experience programme divided between the ‘Parts’ department and the ‘Workshop’. The School also hosted a ‘CNR International Week’ which involved visiting speakers and continuous computer power-point productions on computers in the library. The School is also grateful to CNR International for sponsoring three prizes at the end of term prize-giving ceremony and for sponsoring the programme for the ceremony.

STEM in the Pipeline 2008

The STEM in the Pipeline Project has run now for three years. The project helps to develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. Aimed at S6 pupils, it involves using maths, science and geology to complete an oil industry-based project. Help came from mentors from Chevron. Our team, “The Mavericks”, were Fraser Anderson, Elly Dijkhuizen, Stephen Molloy, Joe Boyd, Rachel Milne and Becky Ross.

They achieved our best result to date, being placed 2nd out of the sixteen teams who participated from both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire schools.

Each team member earned a Silver CREST award which is from a nationally accredited award scheme aimed at promoting work-related learning and developing skills for use in the real world.

Eco Group

The Group continues to have a great response to its appeal to recycle inkjet cartridges and mobile phones in order to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind. With the help of the Eco group, individual pupils, parents, and even parents’ colleagues (thanks to work based collections) we have raised almost £200 this session. If any FPs would like to contribute, we will gratefully accept any old

 Inkjet cartridges: Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark or Canon (not Epson as these cannot be recycled).

 Mobile phones with SIM card removed

Any of these can be handed in to the School office for the attention of Miss Sinclair E3.

Parent Teacher Association

The PTA has been joined by some new members this session. We are always on the lookout for new members or helpers to attend our meetings or help at any events. One of our main objectives is to raise funds to assist the School in a variety of ways.

The quiz night and raffle held on Friday 12th June raised a total of £748.40, and we are grateful to everyone who took part and bought raffle tickets. We also thank the local businesses and individuals who donated prizes for the raffle. This money will be used to buy a new wooden table with seats which will be installed in the School grounds for the use of pupils.

We continue to raise money for the purchase of a new grand piano for the School. Our target is £23,000 and we are now two thirds of the way there. We are also supporting the purchase of pupil diaries for 2009/10.

Anyone with ideas or suggestions for fund-raising, or wishing to hold an event for this purpose should please contact us. We can be reached by email: pta@grammar.org.uk, by letter to the School, or by leaving a message at the School office.

The Phil Love Trophy

The Trophy is awarded this year to Joe Boyd, chiefly in recognition of his outstanding talent as a musician. In the past year he has gained his Grade 8 Horn with distinction, and has had considerable success in the Aberdeen & North East Music Festival, when he won the Premier Challenge Trophy and was chosen (for the second year running) as the brass finalist for the instrumental challenge competition. In April he won the prestigious Ishoka Aberdeen Young Musician of the Year competition. He is in his third year in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, this year playing principal horn on their summer tour. At School, Joe played an active part in music as first horn in various brass ensembles, including the very successful School Concert Band which this year won the Gold Medal in the National Concert Band Festival in Cardiff. He also sang in the School choir and participated in several School shows. He has been a very effective Deputy Head Boy and now leaves to study chemical engineering – although no doubt music will continue to play a major role in his life.

Wartime Recollections

The FP Magazine has just been delivered to my home in Kingston, Ontario and, as on many past occasions, a quick initial scanning has brought me up to date with past and present activities of the School and the Club. Once again, I have had my somewhat ancient memories of schooldays revitalised and I have wondered, in my musings, if the younger generations of Grammar students have any real conception about what was, for me, the School experience during the wartime years, between 1939 and 1945.

Upon further reflection, I have also realised that most of the contributions to the Magazine deal with former pupils of the School and their progress through life, with little, if any, recollections about the teachers and staff who contributed so greatly to such progress.

For me, wartime Grammar School experiences involve the years of sharing the buildings with another secondary school, Aberdeen Central, which resulted in half-day attendance for the whole week, Saturdays included. Morning and afternoon classes alternated on a regular monthly basis. Extra class rooms were constructed in the School grounds. We soon learned, however, that there was no consequent reduction in the task of studying towards the “Highers”. A half day off, every day, was not as much fun as it sounds.

For me, extra-curricular activities expanded widely, and included membership in the 1st Boy Scout Troop, being the Acting Cubmaster of the 1st Pack of Cubs, enrolment in the BBC Aberdeen Home Guard Detachment, membership of the Royal Naval Messenger Service, membership of the School Air Cadet Detachment and participating in the School Fire Watching Service.

In retrospect, it amazes me to think that we schoolboys, in time of war, found the time to devote to our studies and that the credit for any success we achieved lies, for the most part, with the exceptional teaching staff we were privileged to know. Many of the younger staff had joined the Armed Services and a heavy load landed on the teachers who remained and on a number of retired teachers brought back into service. I believe that the wartime spirit, which was so prominent in the UK at that time, in some way rubbed off on the general population of the School. How else am I to explain the memories I can conjure up, some sixty-six years after my graduation from school?

The Rector, Mr J.J. Robertson, was a stern but fair man, whose office owed its more pleasant memories to the personality of the Rector’s Secretary, Miss “Beattie” Brown. She took pains to calm the fears of those unfortunates summoned to the presence of the “Head”. He had succeeded Mr David Andrew, a quiet, austere personality, the year before I left School.

“Happy Harry” Milne, of the Classics Department had a dry sense of humour and a fearful wrath if homework went uncompleted.

“Pasy” Walker of the English Department was a rather fussy gentleman who I recall helping out with the activities of the 1st Troop.

“Pa” Henry, Geography Department, was a very down to earth, jovial man who made the study of Geography a pleasure.

Ian Park, of the Maths Department I remember as small in size but large in stature. He was a very caring teacher.

Niven Sinclair Mackenzie of the French Department was a gifted teacher who delighted in addressing the class members by their full quota of given names. (I have no middle names and must have been a bit of a frustration to him).

Gavin “Forkytails” Falconer, the Music master was a man dedicated to his art, perhaps best exemplified by his artistry at the organ at Morning Assembly. He stopped many of us from the habit of nail biting by means of a public nail inspection before each class. He introduced me to the game of golf by handmaking a set of clubs for me.

Bill Dickie, Latin Department, was a great character in the classroom. Offenders were stood to attention by his desk, a long blackboard pointer in hand and a metal waste pail over the head. Well aimed pieces of chalk striking the headpiece were very effective in gaining one’s attention.

“Jessie” Lynch of the Science Department was as fussy as his nick-name suggests, and a very perfect gentleman in all respects.

Duncan Macgregor, the Games Master, ruled the playing fields with the strictness of an old Army man. He demanded and got one’s full attention.

The “Janny”, the School janitor, whose name escapes me, doled out the daily milk ration and any confections that found their way to the “Janny’s Box” at the east end of the main corridor. As students, we received a daily milk ration of one-third of a pint.

I realise that I may have missed some names and may have been guilty of some spelling errors. For that I plead the excuse of advancing years and an increasing tendency for “senior moments”.

Miss Brown and these memorable gentlemen served the Grammar during what were, surely, most difficult days. To their memory I offer sincere thanks and I hope that somehow, some day, their descendants will come to know how much they contributed to the careers of those they taught.

Roy Brown (1932-43)

At School, Roy says he was fortunate if selected for the Second XV, unlike his younger brother, William “Morr” Brown, a rugby player of note and a future President of the FP Club. In his fifties, Roy took up distance running, as a therapeutic programme, and was honoured by his selection as an Olympic Flame Bearer in the 1976 Canadian Olympic Games. The torch which he carried is now the basis of a rowing trophy in the custody of the University Boat Club.

An Indian Experience

I recently had the most intense five months of my life; I did things I never thought I could do, went to places whose names I couldn't even pronounce, spent a grand total of sixty-five hours on trains over two weeks, got thoroughly sick of rice, learned to haggle and eat with my hands (and loved both), became a pro at improvising everything from English lessons to kids’ clubs to recipes, gatecrashed a wedding, and will never look at chocolate the same way again – and I had the most incredible time ever.

In my gap year I was one-third of a group who went to Chennai (formerly Madras), in India, to work with the Christian charity Oasis Trust (www.oasisuk.org, www,oasisindia,org). Oasis Trust started off working with children and young people in inner-city London, and has since grown hugely; they are now working in eleven countries worldwide. Oasis' main aims are to work for the transformation of individual people, as well as communities, through education, health, housing and youth work initiatives and to promote inclusion and confront injustice. They are also founding partners of the "Stop the Traffik" campaign, which works to stop people-trafficking and help/protect those affected by it.

Living in India is a daily assault on the senses...

Without a doubt India is the most colourful and vibrant place I’ve ever been. Clothes of every colour of the rainbow are the norm, and everything else is coloured to match. The roads are dusty and dirty, and the pavements apparently aren't for walking on, so you walk along the side of the road avoiding the traffic. And what traffic it is! There is a constant stream of rickshaws, cars and motorbikes travelling in no order – if there is a space a foot wider than your rickshaw that is more than enough room to dart through, and staying on your side of the road is more of a guideline which is more often than not ignored. Not forgetting, of course, the more unusual traffic, namely the cows that wander the streets freely and are locally known as "the traffic police". At the side of the road you could walk past brightly coloured street parties and weddings, blaring music through giant speakers which more than once caused our flat to have a power cut! The best way to describe the smells of India is probably….varied. Samosas and other Indian staple foods are cooked at the side of the street, so as you walk past the spices smell absolutely delicious (though we didn't eat too much street food just in case!). Some of the women, especially in the slum communities, wear jasmine and other flowers in their hair, which again smells beautiful – we were always delighted to be given garlands to wear in our own hair. Other smells were, however, less enjoyable – the main one which springs to mind being the smell of the polluted river that ran through the centre of our "slum next-door". It was always a challenge to walk across the bridge as quickly as possible...

To us, one of the most noticeably different things about living in India was the food. Rice is a staple but, if you asked for 95% of the curries which we are used to in Scotland, the Indians would never have heard of them. The food was eye-wateringly spicy, and every meal was accompanied by huge amounts of curd (an Indian yoghurt) to cool your mouth down as much as possible. One of the best things about the food was the fresh fruit, especially things like mango and bananas which tasted incredible and so completely unlike anything from the U.K. A smoothie shop near our house, serving over fifty combinations accompanied by air-conditioning and cheesy 90’s pop (Boyzone, Britney, the lot) was a favourite haunt of ours!

As for touch, this is the most fitting section to describe the climate. It was hot. No, it was sweltering. Over the height of their summer the temperature was in the high 40s every day which, when combined with the humidity, was simply horrific. We very quickly all discovered the wonders of the air-conditioning unit

in our bedroom, and for the first few weeks only ever left that room when it was absolutely necessary! However, once it started cooling down a bit we also got to experience the joys of the monsoon season, which was spectacular. We may have got funny looks from our neighbours as we danced in monsoon rains, but we thought it was fantastic!

For the whole time we were in India I don't remember it ever being quiet. In the markets and shops there were vendors frantically trying to get the attention of the "beautiful white girls" to sell their wares. On the streets there was a constant cacophony of car and rickshaw horns which, rather than being to warn fellow road users of danger, seemed to be more just to remind people that you existed – some drivers would sound their horns every ten seconds or so! Even in the flat there was constant noise, whether it was chatting, music or the rattle of the air-conditioning.

Whilst in India we were mainly involved in work with children and young women in some of Chennai's slum communities. One of the first things we did on arrival was to run four holiday camps, one in each of the four communities Oasis India is currently working in. Two of us had previous experience of helping at holiday camps at home, but nothing could have prepared us for this! We couldn't speak a word of Tamil and the children had no English, so even the simplest of tasks suddenly became seemingly impossible! We also soon found that we had been hugely misguided as to how many children would be attending the camps – on our first day we were told to prepare for 60 kids "just in case" –110 turned up! At first we found all of this really daunting, but over time we learned that as long as we were having fun the children seemed to be as well.

Even though we were only in each community for a week or two we loved getting to know the kids, every day our welcome was incredible, and it was amazing seeing the children enjoying all the same things children from home did – games, crafts, puppets, stories, etc.

We were sad to leave the kids’ clubs after a month, but also excited to see what else India was planning to throw at us! After a much-needed retreat, we returned to Chennai to begin our next phase. We were to be teaching Maths and English to young women in two of the slum communities, helping at a local government run Balwadi (nursery) three mornings a week, and generally helping around the office. So we certainly had more than enough to keep us busy!

Our main focus was the teaching which we did. Our wonderful students were training with Oasis India to become qualified tailors, giving them a source of income to improve their future prospects. There were fifteen young women in total, aged 16-20. Before we began teaching them we were all very nervous, as none of us had any experience of anything like this, but as we got to know the girls (and they got to know us) we soon found that we had loads of things in common and became good friends. Every week we taught each group two English lessons and two Maths lessons as well as having a fun "hobby lesson" involving lots of crafts, stupid games, dancing and, of course, chocolate! Although, before we started, teaching was the part of our time away that I was most scared about, by the end it was the highlight of my day, and we were all very sad when we had to say goodbye to our students.

Of course it wasn't all work and no play! At the end of our time we had a few weeks and some money to travel, and were basically given a free rein to do whatever we wanted. Having debated long and hard which of India’s hugely varied regions we wanted to visit, we finally decided to give up choosing and just go everywhere we could in the time we had! We began in Kerala, a stunning area of rainforests, waterways and mountains in the south. From there we traveled north to Rajasthan in the northeast, a desert region of scrubland accented with rolling sand dunes and Aladdin-esque towns. Next we hit the big city, spending a couple of days exploring the bustling markets and sights of Delhi, with an added day trip to the Taj Mahal a couple of hours to the south. After such a frantic time we were glad to head on up to the foothills of the Himalayas, where towns clung desperately to mountain ridges and, thankfully, the climate was a bit cooler! Our tour concluded in Mumbai, where we had a few days’ de-brief before flying back to the land of sofas, edible meat, bearable weather and, of course, friends and family.

Though home comforts were lovely, I do still find myself becoming nostalgic about India at the drop of a hat – last night I watched Slumdog Millionaire and fell in love with it all over again. It was the hardest and most challenging thing I've ever done, but I wouldn't change a second of it. There's no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be the person I am now without all the incredible experiences and adventures which I had there, and it's something I will never, ever forget And I'm already looking at flights back!

Alyson

Boyd (2001-07)

Alyson’s trip to Chennai was made during a gap year before going up to University. She has now completed her first year of study in Medicine at St Andrew’s University

I first met Sam when I was a very young boy just starting out playing cricket for FPs in 1969 – he had played for Grammar for many years, along with people like Sandy Davidson, Ally Stewart, Tim Morrison, Ian Souter and Harvey Morrison, before his work took him to Prestwick. After several years, and having met his wife, Joan, he returned to Aberdeen as manager of the Leicester Building Society, and recommenced his cricket career with FPs. No-one could ever explain to me why he was nicknamed 'Sam', but I always thought it was after the cartoon character Sporting Sam, to whom he bore a striking physical resemblance.

As a cricketer, Sam was unique – I only met him after his rugby career as a speedy winger was over, and many years of lavish business entertaining, and visits to the Inverbervie chipper, had taken their toll. He adapted his batting technique to suit his stature, and played everything off the back foot – and I do mean everything. In the early 70s I played against him in the annual single wicket competition. As I was only a teenager, my older (and wiser) team-mates recommended that I bowl yorkers, or even full tosses, to Sam and he would just play them back – I did and he did. Of course, for my second over I knew better and peppered him with short stuff .… well, he hit me all over Rubislaw, beat me, and went on to win the competition.

'Sam' Rennie – A Cricket Legend.

His best shots were pulls and hooks, and his particular favourite was the upper cut over slips and gully, usually for four or six. He would have loved watching Chris Gayle perform this very shot, with the same success, for the West Indies in the recent 20/20 World Cup in England.

Although Sam restricted himself to playing off the back foot, and all the bowlers and professionals in the Strathmore Union knew this, this didn't seem to stop him scoring. He is the only cricketer I have played with who managed to score six consecutive 50's, and this wasn't helped at all by the slow Rubislaw wicket. Amazingly, all this was accomplished with a broken bat – the legendary 'white pencil'. This was a team bat which Sam had used for years, but kept safely locked in his car boot in case someone had the temerity to try to use it. I think he was more afraid that someone might throw it away rather than bat with it.

Sam was also one of FPs’ car drivers – in fact I can never remember him being a passenger in anyone else's car. It was one of his proud boasts that he had only been overtaken twice in his FP driving career. I was a passenger on the second occasion; we were approaching Meigle and I foolishly distracted Sam, which enabled Stuart Irvine, a well-known Gordonian rugby player, to nip past –which was good going on his part as Sam used to cruise at 90 mph. Sam was aghast, and to make matters worse, Stuart turned off at Meigle before we had the chance to re-overtake him ....and he was driving a Marina.

Sam was also the driver the only time I have been in a car doing triple the speed limit – he was doing his customary 90 mph and had to brake as we approached the Barnton roundabout in Edinburgh. Unbelievably, someone then ran into the back of Sam's car – which had a somewhat disastrous effect on the rammer’s car (bits of it were strewn all over the road) but our car was made of sterner stuff, a bit like Sam, and survived unscathed.

Getting back to Sam's cricket, he always claimed he was a great judge of a run. However this didn't stop him from being run out from the first ball of a game against Gordonians at Seafield, without actually facing a ball himself. He also never tired of telling anyone who cared to listen that he once ran nine runs off the first two balls of a game against Perthshire XI at the North Inch. There was an extremely long boundary to one side and the fielders had given up the chase, assuming the ball would go for 4 but the ball stopped inches from the rope. Sam had run five before the ball was eventually retrieved. His opening partner then hit the next ball to the same place, but they only ran four this time ..... as they weren't Sam's runs!

Sam was a great help to me during our many years playing together for FPs – he used to field at silly mid-on for me when I was bowling (a position just in front of the batsman, which could be very dangerous for him if the bowler wasn't accurate). However, Sam had great faith in me, and we used to get many wickets every season by him encouraging the batsmen to have a hit, or whispering to the batter that he hadn't scored many runs for a while.

Another great string to Sam's bow was that he had a wonderful memory for people against whom he had played, and for their strengths and weaknesses. He was always able to tell you where to bowl to a particular batsman to get him out or to restrict his scoring, and nine times out of ten, if you could follow Sam's advice, success would follow.

I could go on an on with tales of the years of great fun and friendship we had playing cricket together, but I will finish with this story, which is typical of Sam. Over the years of playing cricket south of Aberdeen, we always used to call in at the Inverbervie chipper on the way home, even although this meant detouring from the main Aberdeen-Forfar road. On this occasion we arrived shortly before the chipper was due to close. Sam had his usual car load, Harvey Morrison, myself and my brother Dallas (all light eaters to a man). The usual order was placed at the counter, 'four double fish suppers please', and bearing in mind that we had been loyal customers for many years, we received 17 fish between the four of us. This posed a small problem, namely how could we divide 17 fish between the four of us ? Sam rapidly solved the problem by claiming the extra, 17th, fish as his 'because I am the driver'.

Sam will be sorely missed by all his many friends everywhere he has played cricket, and particularly by all FP cricketers who will always have the fondest memories of him. He was a true legend of Grammar FP cricket.

Jeremy D. Moir (1969-75)

Madame Murray

To FPs of the 1930s to the 1960s the name of Madame Isabel Murray conjures up many memories, for during that period she taught ballroom dancing to pupils of the then Senior Secondary Schools in Aberdeen. For many, coming from single-sex schools, these classes provided their first experience of close contact with the opposite sex. She was also the founder of the Secondary Schools Dance Club which was held in the Cowdray Hall on Saturday evenings.

Last year Norman Mackenzie carried out research into Madam Murray’s life and career as part of his course for an MLitt degree, and he has now written a book, entitled simply Madame Murray, in which he traces that life story in a most interesting and informative way. While it is in part the result of the writer’s research, much of it is based on a large number of interviews with her former pupils. They have provided rare insights into their experiences of learning the rules not only of ballroom dancing but also of etiquette and of good conduct which she instilled into them.

Many of the contributors are FPs, some of whom were at a nostalgic recreation of the Dance Club organised by the 1958 Leavers as part of their 50year reunion last year. Norman Mackenzie was a guest on that evening and took the opportunity to gather an abundance of information from those present.

The book is available from the Elphinstone Institute in Aberdeen, price £4 (£5 including packing and postage).

Former Pupils’ Club

Founded 11 September 1893 Club Office-Bearers, 2008-2009

Honorary President:

GRAHAM LEGGE, BEd, MEd (Rector)

Honorary Vice-Presidents:

JOHN W. CRADOCK (1941-46), CA (President, 1977-78)

T. GORDON COUTTS (1938-49), QC, MA, LL.B (President, 1980-81)

JAMES A.N. WATT (1927-39), CA (President, 1982-83)

BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), TD, MA, LL.B (President, 1983-84)

ERIC D. WATT (1937-50), BEd. (President, 1984-85)

Prof. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58), CBE, DL, MA, LL.B, LL.D (President, 1987-88)

W. MORRISON BROWN (1933-46) (President, 1988-89)

T. IAN MORRISON (1934-47), TD, BSc, MSc, CChem, FRSC, (President, 1990-91)

DR. J.R.S. INNES (1923-35), MB,ChB. (President, 1991-92)

A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-53), TEng (CEI), FInst AEA (President, 1992-93)

IAN M. DUGUID (1938-43), OduM, MD, PhD, FRCS, FCOpth, LL.D, DO (President, 1993-94)

JAMES C. LYON (1953-59), RIBA, FRIAS (President, 1996-97)

J. EDWARD FRASER (1936-49), CB, MA, BA, FSA(Scot) (President, 1997-98)

RICHARD H. CRADOCK (1940-51) (President, 1998-99)

RICHARD F. TYSON (1944-49) (President, 2000-01)

STEPHEN A.C. ROBERTSON (1939-51) MBE, MA, LL.B, MUniv. (President, 2001-02)

DOUGLAS G. FOWLIE (1950-64) MB,ChB, FRCPsych. (President, 2002-03))

IAN H. McLEOD (1951-55) (President, 2004-05)

GORDON G. MILNE (1950-61) MB.ChB (President, 2005-06)

DAVID L. ALLAN (1945-58) QPM, LL.B, MPhil, FCMI (President 2006-07)

GARY J.G. ALLAN (1963-76) QC, LL.B (President 2007-08)

JAMES M. CLARK (1947-59) (President 2008-09) (Specially Elected)

ARTHUR L. McCOMBIE, MS, FSA(Scot) (Deputy Rector, 1973-90) (Elected 1991)

ALISTAIR M. NORTH (1937-50) OBE, BSc, DSc, PhD, FRSE, FRIC (Elected 2004)

WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON, BSc, DipEd (Rector 1987-04) (Elected 2005)

President: NEIL BORTHWICK (1952-65)

Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: W. ROBERT HUTCHESON (1962-68) LL.B, C.A.

Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65) LL.B

Treasurer: ALAN W. MARR (1969-75) CA

General & Notes Editor of Magazine: BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46) TD, MA, LL.B

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Regional Centres

Edinburgh: President – W. MORRISON BROWN(1933-46)

Secretary – JAMES H. RUST (1963-71) james.rust@btconnect.com

Glasgow: President – STEFAN COLLING (1990-96)

Secretary – MARGERY TAYLOR (1975-81) m.taylor@lomond-school.org

London: President – A. GRAHAME B. YOUNG (1940-47)

Secretary – SANDY NICOL (1962-71) anicol@lineone.net

Yorkshire: President – DOUGLAS SKENE (1959-64)

Secretary – DAVID GALLOWAY (1976-82) davegalloway1964@hotmail.com

Canada: President – KENNETH E. PIRIE (1948-57)

Secretary – R. HALSEY G. BRADFORD (1951-65) halsey_bradford@hotmail.com

Secretaries of Sections

Cricket – RICHARD S.T. FERRO theferrofamily@lineone.net

Curling – IAN P. SOUTER (1947-61) ianpsouter@aol.com

Football – richardn@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Golf – PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967-73) pmrobertson@adamcochran.co.uk

Men’s Hockey – DUNCAN HARRIS (1985-91) dharris@technip.com

Women’s Hockey – ANGIE TAYLOR smange13@yahoo.co.uk

Pétanque – JOAN COMBER r.comber@sky.com

Rugby – GORDON THOMSON g.thomson@talk21.com

Executive Committee

W. ROBERT HUTCHESON (1962-68), Chairman H. ALAN S. HAMILTON (1943-56), Vice-Chairman

The Secretary, the Treasurer and the General Editor of the Magazine, ex officiis The Rector of the School, ex officio

NORMAN K.B. EDWARDS (1959-64) DOUGLAS McALLISTER (1961-74)

RUSSELL GRAY (1951-65)

LORI MANDERS (1979-85)

GRANT A. HAMILTON (1988-94) LUCY MITCHELL (1985-90)

DEREK A. HARLEY (1974-80)

IAIN S. HOPKIN (1962-68)

LAURA JARRET (1982-88)

HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65)

BARRY J. SHEPHERD (1988-94)

KIM STUART (1988-93)

ANGUS J. THOMPSON (1969-75)

Section Representatives

Club Centre – DALLAS G. MOIR (1969-75)

Cricket – JEREMY D. MOIR (1969-75)

Curling – MARIO L. VICCA (1952-56)

Football – RICHARD NICHOLSON (1975-81)

Golf – DALLAS G. MOIR (1969-75)

Hockey –

Pétanque – RONALD R. COMBER (1947-52)

Rugby –

Women’s Hockey – GILLIAN M.E. GRAHAM (1991-97)

Staff – JANET C. ADAMS (1980-86)

Auditors

Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A

Club Centre Committee

DALLAS G. MOIR* – Chairman BRIAN DEIGHTON* – Secretary HARVEY E. MORRISON – Treasurer

K. BARNETT, K. DOUGLAS, N. GARDEN*, L. GEDDES, A. HAMILTON, G. HAMILTON, D. HARLEY, P. HENDERSON*, J.F. HENDRY, I.S. HOPKIN*, R. HUTCHESON, D. INKSON, L. JARRET, C. McGOWAN, J.D. MOIR, C. PHILIPS, J. RICE, K. STUART, I. TAYLOR, D. WATSON J. WILLIAMS, D.YOUNG

(* Denotes member of Management Board)

Club Consuls

Australia – JIM W. HOWISON (1937-50), 98A Hull Road, West Pennant Hills, New South Wales 2125, Australia, E-mail: howison@tech2u.com.au Tel. 00 61-2-9875-1296

Australia – Dr. FORBES J. SMITH (1945-57), 242 Main Creek Road, Main Ridge, Victoria, 3928, Australia E-mail: forbessmith@alphalink.com.au Tel. 0061-3-5989-6234

Canada – GORDON B. SINGER (1949-50), Box 7, Site 5, RR #2, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T0L 1T0 E-mail: singsing@telusplanet.net Tel. 00 1-403-995-0331

Canada – PETER J. GREEN (1946-57), 506 Slater Road, RR#2, Kemptville, Ontario, Canada, K1G 1J0 E-mail: chantagrie@sympatico.ca Tel. 00 1-613-989-3940

Canada – DAVID R. AULD (1947-61), 2187 Lafayette Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8S 2P2 E-mail: davidauld@shaw.ca Tel. 001-250-595-0616

Corsica – IAIN WARES (1941-52), Via G.M. Angioy 34, Cagliari 09124, Sardinia, Italy. Tel. 0039-070-652508

Hong Kong – MARSHALL H. BYRES (1960-69), 2A Hatton House, 15 Kotewall Road, Hong Kong E-mail: marshall.byres@hk.ey.com Tel. 00852-2846-9878

Ireland – ANDREW M.M. STEVEN (1936-50), 5 Beechhill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT8 6NS. Tel. 028-9070-2315. Malaysia – GRAEME W. KING (1966-72), 26 Jalan Pakat, Ukay Heights, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia E-mail: gwking@pc.jaring.my Tel. 0060-3-4252-9297

New Zealand – MICHAEL B. THOMSON (1938-51), 39 Jubilee Road, Khandallah, Wellington 4, New Zealand E-mail: thomson.wgtn@xtra.co.nz Tel. 0064-4-479-5678

Thailand – Prof. ALASTAIR M. NORTH (1937-50), 79/78 Soi 7/1 Mooban Tararom, Ramkhamhaeng Road Soi 150, Saphan Soong, Bangkok 10240, Thailand E-mail: amnorth@ksc.th.com Tel. 0066-2-373-2818

United States – Michael G. King (1951-60), 806 Northpointe Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103-3346 USA E-mail: michaelking806@comcast.net Tel. 1-801-363-3097

Annual General Meeting

The One-hundred and seventh Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Club Centre in Aberdeen on Monday 30 March 2008, with Mr Douglas Watson, the Vice-President, in the Chair. The Chairman reported as follows: At the outset I would like to record with great sadness the death during the last year of three past presidents and stalwarts of the FP Club – Eric Craig, Charlie Ritchie and Sandy McIlwain. All served the Club in many ways, not least in the friendship they gave to so many of us, and they will be sadly missed.

This has been a very busy year for the Club with many projects being taken forward in a relatively short space of time, and my report this year will run more as a list of credits for those people who have devoted so much of their time to the Club, for which I am, and I am sure all members will be, very grateful.

Finance

Once again Alan Marr has carried out his Treasurer’s duties in exemplary fashion and has retained a tight control of our finances. Disappointingly, there has been a deficit in the past year, due primarily to the lack of income from the leasing of Bayview Road. The Club’s finances are sound but we remain reliant on such external sources of income as the rent to help us to break even. Costs exceed subscription income by some £15,000, which means that additional fundraising is used up on running costs, with the result that there is little or no buildup of capital for future projects and we are reliant on legacies, the Big Draw, magazine surplus and rent. I strongly recommend that the level of subscriptions should be addressed in the years to come. The vast majority of our members are life members and we will see the benefit of the voluntary top-up being paid next year, as the 5-year cycle is about to repeat itself. That, on its own, is unlikely to be sufficient for the long term. My thanks to Alan for all that he has done in the past and will do in the future, although he has indicated that this next year will be his last.

Membership

After taking over as the new Membership Secretary, early last year, Bob Hutcheson’s first task was to amalgamate nine individual spreadsheets into one simplified spreadsheet covering both Club and Club Centre members. This was completed during the year and, having called for assistance with the updating of the records, Bob has now managed to bring these into excellent shape. The management of the records is a task for more than one person and it was agreed that we would seek professional assistance in the design of a new Database to be accessible on-line for the purpose of up-dating records, and to ensure that it could be stored securely off-site. The ability to have the records accessible to a small number of the Executive so as to enhance our communication to members, and enable multi-user access simultaneously, will make the management of the records much simpler. Ultimately, it should be possible to allow members to access their own records and update them with the use of a secure login. The Club is entering the technical era. I would like to record my thanks to Bob and his wife Linda, and to Kim Stuart, whose advice on the structure and format of the database has been invaluable.

Membership numbers in 2009 fell slightly on the previous year, primarily as a result of a fall in the number of young members. Many who take up the special offer to school-leavers, whereby they pay a reduced rate for 5 years’ membership of both the Club and Centre, fail to re-new their membership after the five years. In order to attract younger members we must improve what we offer – both in the way we communicate with them and in the tangible benefits of membership.

Website

Linked to the membership issue and the desire to communicate effectively with our members, a new Website has been commissioned. This project has taken

longer than hoped, but pulling together information from a wide variety of Sections within the Club has been difficult. Grant Hamilton has devoted an enormous amount of time, firstly to compiling the tender documents for submission to a number of local companies to ensure that we received competitive quotes for the design of the site, and thereafter in liaising with the designers. The site should go live shortly.

1256 Appeal

As members will know from last year’s accounts the 1256 Appeal raised almost £30,000. Funds have already been allocated to the provision of equipment in the Memorial Pavilion at Rubislaw, along with the new Canada Clock from the contributions of the Canadian Centre. In addition, the War Memorial Panels at the Pavilion and in the School have been refurbished to a very high standard. The memorial of the founding of the School in 1256 is, with the agreement of the School, to be a plaque within the entrance of the School and this is in the process of production. I am very grateful to Alan Hamilton for steering and organising each of these projects to completion, with the assistance of Angus Thomson, the Rector and the School staff. As a Club we should be proud of these achievements.

Rubislaw

The Pavilion has been a most time-consuming project for all involved, and the Sports Sections have been extremely patient, but will benefit from an excellent facility once completed. It is a Council-run project, but we have been frustrated by the many delays created by the contractors and sub-contractors. The Club has been represented at each meeting of the Project Board, and at meetings of the Rubislaw Field Committee and a sub-committee convened to consider the terms of a new and up-dated Rubislaw Field Agreement, which has meant that we have continued to build on the strong relationship which we have with the Council and School, as users of the facility. I am indebted to my ViceChairman, Alan Hamilton, once again for being able to commit his time and long experience to the developments at Rubislaw. The Pavilion is due for completion in mid-April, with the official opening on 14 May. The new Rubislaw Field Agreement is still under consideration by all parties and as recently as last Monday what was thought to have been a “near-final” draft was thrown open once again by the Council for further discussion, which will continue over the next few weeks, with input from all of the Sections.

Bayview Road

As most members will be aware the former Steward’s House at Bayview Road, was occupied by the coach of the Rugby Section for about five years. When that arrangement came to an end, the property was marketed for lease on a residential basis without success. The Club was then approached by two parties enquiring about the possibility of use as an office. This required a planning application, the full costs of which were borne by the prospective tenant. As with many planning issues, objections were received to the proposed change of use but, after a number of meetings and delays, consent was finally granted in October and a formal lease on a full repairing and insuring basis has been entered into on a 5-year term. Rent over the first three years not only far exceeds normal residential rents, but will ensure greater future scope for rental income with little

or no on-going costs of maintenance. The loss over the period when the property was vacant will be more than covered.

The Club Centre

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Club Centre opening. Plans for refurbishment and improvement remain a priority but this will always be subject to the ability to pay for them. The rental from Bayview, which is shared between the Club and the Centre is vital, but we should not be reliant on such external sources for on-going maintenance. Again I urge members to consider future subscription levels and to set these as appropriate to our needs and aspirations for the Centre. Much has been achieved this year, with improvements to the catering arrangements, improved surroundings in the bar and unseen repairs to such as the external guttering.

Function and meeting room income has decreased due to the condition of the facilities on offer, but the Committee remains determined to make advances in this area to benefit the facilities available to members. With this in mind a new Club Manager has been appointed, and Mrs Maggie Tirey will start full time on 1 April. SKY TV has been ordered and it is hoped that a continued effort to improve the product will enhance the surroundings and bring a professional approach to management. Maggie will continue to work alongside Bar Manager, Andrew Garden.

Bar turnover has increased as has membership income but not at the same rate as expenditure so everyone must continue in their efforts to bring new members to the Club and make use of the facilities on offer.

Entertainments

I am indebted to Laura Jarret and Barry Shepherd for their organisation of this year’s most successful Dinner. Although numbers were reduced the evening was most enjoyable for everyone. Plans are already taking shape for further events, with the possible re-introduction of a Dinner-Dance later in the year. With over 150 school leavers each year, we have a youthful target audience to attract, and we must look to doing so by, perhaps, recognising that formal Dinners are not for everyone, not least due to the cost charged by hotels. Finally, I cannot finish this report without acknowledging many other Executive members for their invaluable input at our meetings and their unfailing willingness to give up their valuable leisure time whenever asked. To name any specifically would risk missing some out with the exception of those already singled out for their specific input, but I must thank our tireless Secretary, Jock, without whose support and guidance (and, in relation to some matters such as Rubislaw, his uncanny knack of predicting the outcome) over the last two years, my time as Chairman would have been far less enjoyable. It has been an honour and privilege to be Chairman of the Executive, and I hand the reins over tonight knowing that everyone involved will continue to work together for the benefit of the Club and the School.

General Business Section Reports

Reports were submitted by representatives of the various Sections and of the Club Centre, and similar Reports appear elsewhere in this Magazine.

Accounts and Treasurer’s Report

The 2008 Accounts (reproduced at the end of this Magazine) showing a deficit of £1,661 were submitted and approved. The Treasurer explained that the deficit arose from the fact that the property at 1 Bayview Road had been vacant for most of the year. The Balance Sheet confirmed, as before, that the Club is in a healthy state.

Election of Office-Bearers

Officials of the Club were elected in accordance with the list published elsewhere in this Magazine

Auditors

Messrs. Bower & Smith, CA, were unanimously re-appointed Auditors of the Club and Section Accounts for the coming year.

In terms of the Club Constitution, the Annual General Meeting is always held on the last Monday in March.

The 2010 A.G.M. will therefore be held on Monday, 29 March at 7.30 p.m. in the Club Centre, 86 Queen’s Road, Aberdeen

President’s Report

When Jock Hendry telephoned me to say that my name had been put forward as the next President of the Former Pupils' Club I was so taken aback that my immediate reaction was negative because, frankly, although I had been involved in numerous Club activities over the years I didn't think I was worthy of this honour. Jock told me to take time to think it over as he didn't need an immediate answer. This I did, and with encouragement from my wife, Senga, I realised that it was indeed an honour I shouldn't pass up, so I agreed.

Having been installed as President at the AGM in March 2008 my first official engagement was attending the Edinburgh Centre Dinner. I approached this with some apprehension, but was soon put at my ease by Edinburgh President James Rust and a most enjoyable evening was spent at the Clubhouse of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society.

Following this I was invited by the Rector to attend the School prize-giving in the Music Hall where I was privileged to present the Former Pupils’ AllRound Trophies to the worthy winners and also, on this occasion, school caps to Natalie Smith and Rachel Watson for debating. I was impressed by the range of extra -curricular activities which are now offered at the School.

In September, Senga and I spent two weeks in Canada and attended the Canadian Reunion Weekend in Toronto. My thanks must go to Peter and Judy Jeffrey, and to Halsey and Joan Bradford for the hospitality extended to us over that weekend. It is hard to believe that Peter and Judy travelled the same distance as we did from Aberdeen, to get there from their home in Vancouver Island. On the Friday night there was an informal get together at the Duke of Kent Pub on Yonge Street. Fortunately we were taken there as Yonge Street extends for about eleven hundred miles through Ontario and we might never have found the pub. The main function, the dinner on the Saturday night, was held at the exclusive Lampton Golf and Country Club. On the Sunday, Halsey

and Joan invited everyone for brunch at their lovely home in Toronto, where class and tearn photographs were scrutinised. It as truly a great week-end, particularly meeting up with School contemporaries Mike King, Tom Dempster, Ian Marr and Ian Thomson.

No sooner had we returned home and got over our jet lag than we were off to York the following week for the Yorkshire Centre Dinner organised by Doug Skene at the Grange Hotel, and then it was the Glasgow Centre Dinner in October at the Swallow Hotel, organised by President Stefan Colling. Both were enjoyable occasions and it was wonderful to meet up with many old acquaintances.

2008 concluded with an invitation to attend the School carol service at St. Machar's Cathedral where we listened to the choirs, string orchestra, and concert band. Full credit must go to the pupils, and to the teaching staff for developing and encouraging their pupils’ natural talents and abilities.

Interspersed with all our own FP activities I have spent enjoyable evenings representing the Club at functions organised by the other Former Pupil Associations in Aberdeen, namely, Aberdeen Academy/ Hazlehead Academy, Aberdeen High School/ Harlaw Academy, Albyn, St. Margaret's, Gordonians, Watsonians and Stewarts-Melville.

My final function as your President was hosting the Parent Club Dinner at The Marcliffe at Pitfodels at the end of March. It was a delight to have as our principal speaker Malcolm Rennie, himself a Former Pupil of the School. The reply on behalf of the school was made by Josh Connon, Head Boy, and Isla Lynch, Head Girl, who showed themselves to be gifted and confident individuals and credit must go to the School for producing pupils of such high quality.

Only three days after this dinner I attended the AGM and presented the presidential medallion to my successor Neil Borthwick. Neil, who I met on numerous occasions during my year of office, has been president and secretary of our Edinburgh Centre, and will be a worthy ambassador for the Club.

To finish I would like to thank Jock Hendry, Douglas Watson and the Rector, Graham Legge, for their help over the year. As Jock said at the outset, being President is all about meeting up with old friends and making new ones and, in truth, I have enjoyed every minute. I would never have experienced this if Senga had not convinced me that I was worthy of the presidency, and I thank her for her support and encouragement. We have had great times together, and happy memories of this year will live with us forever.

James M. Clark (1947-59)

Presidential Profile

Neil Mathieson Borthwick (1951- 65)

Shortly after accepting Neil’s flattering approach to write this Presidential profile, the sheer prodigiousness of the task almost caused a panic attack, until I remembered my talents for cribbing, so useful for undone homework all those years ago. This piece is largely drawn from a previous bio from Neil, and from

entries from the Class of 1951-65 yearbooks, so ably crafted by the late David Yule.

Neil is the first of the Class of 1951-65 to attain this honour. We have had CBEs, DSOs and the like before, but never this, the Presidency of the Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils’ Club. He is not new to high honours, having been an outstanding President of the Edinburgh Centre but, sadly, political reasons prevented him from becoming a prefect at School.

Neil Mathieson Borthwick was born in Ellon at an early age, and in 1952 joined the Class of 1951-65 as a johnny-come-lately. He was “good but not outstanding” academically and on the sporting field. He might well have been more prominent in both, but an increasingly rebellious streak held him back. Nobody was going to tell Neil what to do, or at least nobody with authority. Then, too, there were the major turns in direction which we have come to expect. He decided that he didn’t want to be a prop forward any more and turned into a flying winger. He decided that he was an opening batsman more than an opening bowler.

After leaving School, Neil went to Aberdeen University and its Faculty of Arts. For one with a solid background in the sciences, this was perhaps a little strange, but for the many who enjoyed his original views on music, literature and matters cultural in general, it was almost understood. However, it turned out to be a false start and precipitated what I like to think of as a premature mid-life crisis. This was happily resolved when he returned to his scientific roots to study Biochemistry. He graduated with a BSc followed by a PhD from Glasgow.

Deciding to follow a career in boffinism, Neil joined the Tenovus Institute for Cancer Research in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in 1974. There he worked on the worthwhile, but dreary-sounding “effects of steroid hormones on cancer cell growth.” Cardiff allowed him the chance to view the great Welsh rugby side of the era, to forget about Hibs, Ronnie Simpson and Joe Baker, and become repatriated with the gentlemen’s game. More importantly, it was there that he met Gail, whom he married in 1977.

In 1981 he moved to the MRC Brain Metabolism Unit in the Pharmacology Department of Edinburgh University. His work there included “research into the action of steroids on the developing brain, and analysis of protein changes in Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurological disorders.” He forgets the conclusions.

Four years later, “a shortage of research funding and an increasing disillusionment with the lack of a research career structure” caused Neil to have a second, and more appropriately timed, mid-life crisis. He decided on a career about-turn and fell, almost by accident, into the tourism industry, joining the Scottish Tourist Board as a Grading Officer (Hotel Inspector) in a new scheme for grading Scottish accommodation. So successful was he at eating and drinking his way around Scotland that be ended up as Manager of the Quality Grading Scheme, with a team of forty covering all types of accommodation, from caravan parks to luxury hotels.

Since retirement in 2007, Neil has continued to live in Blackhall, Edinburgh, and is able to give more appropriate time to his various interests, which include travel, music in the theatre (particularly opera and ballet, and especially Wagner,

Wagner and Wagner), sports-following, wine-drinking, his family tree, fairweather gardening, all aspects of food, and Wagner. Happily Gail shares many of his interests. This is especially useful in the most arcane ones, such as opera and ballet, for they are particularly tedious when viewed on your own. As she does not share his enthusiasm for wine and cricket, he had to recruit someone else to share these weighty matters in South Africa this winter. I readily accepted.

“You need to have goals” he once told me, recalling the only thing that he probably ever gleaned from management training courses. He has a few, but they are not altogether usual. He plans to travel to all the leading opera houses and wine areas in the world, to attend all future performances of Wagner’s “Ring” anywhere, and to visit at least one venue in each of the Test Match countries. Sadly, he has almost given up on ever seeing Scotland win the World Cup in anything.

Neil will do the Presidency proud. He plans to attend all the Centre dinners; indeed he came to the Canadian one in Toronto last year just for practice, and we expect to see him on Vancouver Island later this year. His new-found talents of diplomacy and oratory will make him a most welcome guest at all FP functions and he will represent us well at any Gordonian or other enemy event.

R.H.G.B. (1951-65)

Rubislaw Pavilion

Overlooked in the excitement of the completion of the extension to the Rubislaw Field Pavilion is the fact that the opening came exactly 85 years after the building first came into use in 1924. On that occasion there was no formal opening ceremony, as the War Memorial in the School had only recently been formally unveiled and dedicated and there was anxiety not to detract from the importance of that occasion.

Now, eighty-five years on, on Thursday 14 May 2009, in glorious sunshine, a small company gathered for the official opening of the refurbished Pavilion. Those present included the Rector, members of staff, some senior pupils, the President and other officials of the Former Pupils’ Club, and representatives of the Sports Sections, as users of Rubislaw, together with councillors and officials from Aberdeen City Council, the project developers. It was particularly appropriate that Ken Pirie and his wife were holidaying in Scotland at the time and were able to attend as representatives of the Canadian Centre of the Club, the donors of the splendid new clock.

After a brief speech of welcome, Lord Provost Peter Stephen cut a ribbon across the doorway to the new changing facilities and declared the premises officially open. He then led the assembled company into the building for a tour of inspection. The new premises comprise four changing rooms, each for fifteen players, and two changing rooms, each for forty players. There are also officials’ changing rooms, public toilets, a kitchen and a resources room.

The original Memorial Hall is retained and has been carefully refurbished. The original parquet floor, which was undamaged despite the passage of time, has been cleaned and burnished to a high standard, making it hard to believe that

it was laid in 1924. The fireplaces and mantelpieces at either end of the room give a sense of the past in keeping with the finely restored memorial tablet on the rear wall. The Hall will be used for instructional purposes and has been fitted with audio-visual equipment, funded by the 1256 Appeal, to enhance the learning experience for pupils.

The building is now environmental-friendly, advantage having been taken of modern technology. A ground-source heat pump exploits the earth’s constant core temperature and powers the under-floor heating system, giving most of the background heat and supplying hot water. Rainwater is collected in an underground tank and is then used for toilet flushing

When first opened the Pavilion was regarded as state-of-the art for its time, but of course it was built to cater for a single-sex school and girls have been playing games at Rubislaw since 1973. The facilities were unchanged and had become run-down and tired; they were certainly not fit for purpose in the 21st century. What has now been created provides state-of-the-art facilities for the present generation of users and, as will be seen from the photograph elsewhere in this Magazine, the extension blends well with the original building.

The dominant feature of the building remains the portico, with its four granite columns, single stones each, with pilasters at the ends, and crowned with a fine cornice and frieze. There is a bronze wreath at either end of the frieze and along it there stands out in bold relief, in Roman letters, the inscription Caesorum Comitum Memores – ‘Remembering our Fallen Comrades’.

The other prominent feature of the building was the clock, visible from all parts of the Field, and this, too, needed refurbishment. It has been replaced by a modern clock of identical appearance, paid for from the subscriptions of Canadian FPs to the 1256 Appeal, in token of which a symbolic maple leaf appears on the clock face.

It is not nowadays recognised that the Field and Pavilion were both a part of the vision of Rector Morland Simpson for the School, for whose welfare he had striven fearlessly and unselfishly for over quarter of a century. The Field had come into use in 1916, and the Rector died before the Pavilion was built, but in the full confidence that its opening would not be long delayed. During his last illness Dr Simpson was constantly thinking about the School and, fine classical scholar that he was, he found a genial pastime in composing a Latin verse about the Memorial. He turned it over in his mind, honing and polishing the text and an English translation, finally writing both out in pencil and entrusting them to the then Editor of this Magazine, who promised to publish them at the time of the opening. The English version is reprinted here:

If to the blissful souls whom God has shriven, Be well assured, some dwelling-place is given, There they abide whose bones through land and sea Lie scattered; all who sped with holy glee, Yea, sought their death in war’s inhuman strife, Swift at God’s summons, braving everything, For Fatherland, Freedom and their King, For all in life most dear they gave their life. So mindful of their valour from this Fane

May sturdy youth e’er learn itself to train And consecrate, body and soul, its might

For its dear Country and the cause of Right.

The War Memorial

The handsome School War Memorial is familiar to all who have passed through the School. The original Memorial was, along with the Rubislaw Pavilion, part of the School’s recognition of those of its number who had laid down their lives in the Great War of 1914-18. Designed by Dr William Kelly, the celebrated architect, it comprised nine panels bearing the names of 243 Former Pupils with, below, citation panels with biographical notes about each of them. It was unveiled on 8 May 1923 by Lord Alness, the Lord Justice Clerk who, as Robert Munro, attended the school in 1884-85. The Memorial was provided by the Aberdeen Education Authority, with a contribution towards its cost from the FP Club. It occupied the North wall of the old Hall.

Twenty-seven years later, on 19 May 1950, Lord Alness returned to unveil an extended Memorial now containing six additional panels bearing the names of the 194 Former Pupils who had lost their lives in the 1939-45 War. As previously, citation panels with biographical details were incorporated below. The new section of the Memorial was designed by Mr. Alexander B. Gardener, the City Architect, who was notably successful in extending to the new the simple and beautiful design of the old.

In 1964, when the present Hall was brought into use, the Memorial was moved and placed on its South wall. Wear and tear with the passage of time had led to gradual deterioration of the Memorial. Water ingress had damaged some of the panels, there were damaged and missing oak mouldings, and one of the large carved oak finials was missing. There was also abrasion at a low level, probably attributable to passing pupils and their schoolbags. The citation panels had deteriorated so badly as to be beyond repair.

When considering the uses to which the proceeds of the 1256 Appeal could be put the Executive resolved to have the Memorial restored and, after obtaining expert advice, a schedule of remedial work was agreed. The oak framework, columns and mouldings were stripped back, damaged items were replaced and the entire assembly was re-polished. The missing carved finial was found behind the Memorial and was cleaned and re-fixed. The name boards were replaced and all names re-done in gold leaf. The citation panels were completely replaced and the opportunity was taken, when typesetting these panels, to transfer all the data on to CD, copies of which are now held by the School, the FP Club and the City of Aberdeen Archive.

The contents of the citation panels make fascinating reading, containing as they do short biographical notes on their careers about each person. They bring home very sharply and poignantly the gallantry and sacrifice of so many of the School’s Former Pupils of two earlier generations in the first half of last century.

The refurbished Memorial graces the south wall of the Hall as before, and has been the subject of considerable favourable comment.

Neil M. Borthwick (1952 - 1965)

The New Pavilion at Rubislaw

The School War Memorial

The Class of 1965

New FP Club Website

A little under two years ago a project was launched to improve the internet presence of the Former Pupils’ Club. The scope of the project was to establish a new and engaging website to encourage existing, and new, members to take an active interest in the Club. This project was led by Grant Hamilton (1988-94), a member of the Executive Committee, in partnership with a local Aberdeen website design company, Internet Strategies.

Internet Strategies started development work in earnest in October 2008, suggesting a number of alternative designs and layouts, whilst also providing invaluable guidance on how to ensure that the new website remained appealing. The Club is most grateful for the work of everyone at Internet Strategies who have given tremendous help in pulling the new website together. Thanks must also go to all those who contributed content for the new site, without which we would be struggling.

The website was launched on Friday 15 May 2009. The website address remains the same: www.agsfp.com

The next stage of bringing the FP Club into the 21st Century is to have the membership database available online. Work is progressing well with this and it is hoped to have this available later this year.

If anyone has any FP events coming up, please send an email to website@agsfp.com with details and it will be advertised on the new website. After the event, why not send us an email with an update and any pictures of the event?

Club Centre 40th Anniversary

It is difficult to believe, but the Club Centre will be 40 years old this year. There was a choice of dates to recognise as the birthday, rather like the Queen’s actual and official birthdays. The official date of entry to the premises, i.e. when the purchase price had to be paid, was 28 May 1969. The first pint was ceremonially drawn by Chairman Phil Love in the Sports Bar on 13 September that year, and the President of the FP Club performed the official opening ceremony on 17 October.

The establishment of the Centre only came about after various other possibilities had been considered and discarded. For many years in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s the Rugby Section had in mind the creation of club-room facilities at Rubislaw, but while such a development had many attractions these were outweighed by the problems which it would cause. The greatest problem was that of having licensed premises within a sports field used principally by the Education Authority.

In April 1968 the late Gordon Henderson, then Chairman of the FP Club Executive, attended the annual dinner of the Aberdeen Heriot Club, in the course of which he heard of the Heriot’s premises at Goldenacre in Edinburgh. He came to the next Executive meeting fired with determination that FPs should strive to emulate the Edinburgh set-up and seek club premises, preferably in the vicinity

of Rubislaw. Within a matter of weeks it was learned that an FP, Bill Wiseley, was the owner of ‘Bayview House’ at 86 Queen’s Road and that he might be willing to sell the house to the Club. This was the ideal solution to our needs in location, size and potential for development. The procedure then followed can be read in the Club History page on the website; suffice it to say here that the premises were bought, developed and opened for use as described above.

86 Queen’s Road was built in the 1870s, but was completely redesigned in 1913 by the celebrated architect, Dr William Kelly, RSA, and finished to an exceptionally high standard of craftsmanship and distinction. “This handsome mansion”, as it was described, was considered by architects to be one of the finest dwelling-houses in the city. There has been criticism of the Club for removing or concealing much which was very fine but it has to be remembered that we bought the house for use as a club, and items which were distinguishing features of a private house were frequently inappropriate to its new use.

Present-day members will find it difficult to visualise what the house looked like before alterations were effected. In 1969 the basement level comprised five rooms, three of which, to the front of the building, were converted to form the main area of the Sports Bar. A huge boiler-room, of which the central heating boiler took up only a very small part, and an oil storage tank room were on the east side of the basement; in a later development these were converted to provide an extension to the floor area of the bar.

On the ground floor there was a central entrance hall, still identifiable, with to the west the dining room, which was converted into a lounge bar, and to the east a handsome lounge. This whole area was merged in 1975 to form the present lounge bar. Part of the original handsome ceiling, the work of a craftsman of a previous generation, can be seen through the “feature” opening in the suspended ceiling over the bar itself. Still hidden is the magnificent ceiling of the former lounge, with depicted in its corners the four seasons of the year. Members using the gents’ facility on the ground floor little realise that they are in the former butler’s pantry.

The rooms on the main first floor, now used as meeting rooms, are largely unchanged over the years, but the rear wing at mezzanine level was converted into a gymnasium some time ago. On the second floor can be found the excellent snooker room with full-sized table and a magnificent view to the south. This facility is nowadays, in spite the continuing popularity of televised snooker, very underused.

There has been no major up-grade to the premises for several years and the time has come when fairly radical changes need to be made. One small step taken recently to improve the ambience of the main lounge was the removal of the fixed seating which was so prominent a feature of the 1975 revamp, and its replacement with small tables and comfortable chairs. Plans are well advanced to bring about a major scheme of improvements, subject to the availability of funding, and this, our “Ruby Year”, is a good time to launch such a scheme.

The committee remains clear that it must be demonstrated that 86 Queen’s Road houses not just another Club but peculiarly the Grammar Club Centre. In the appeal brochure which preceded the opening in 1969 of “The Club’s Club” it was remarked that the FP Club had embarked on a project which completely

dwarfed all its previous endeavours. That has been proved beyond doubt over the last forty years, for the Centre is big business. The premises, while showing their age, are arguably second to none for their purpose. That same brochure closed with a paragraph which said: “The premises, as envisaged, will provide a long-needed permanent social base for the Club and a focal point for its members. From this, much that is good can follow – let it never be said that the FP Club is just a magazine-producing body, but rather that it is an active, foregathering, go-ahead concern”. With this in mind, let us together build a stronger enterprise upon the successful base which is already ours.

Centre Reports

Club Centre

The past year has seen many developments at the Club Centre, with a continuing drive to improve the facilities on offer to members and guests.

Refurbishment has been carried out in the main bar, and a new catering arrangement was introduced last year, which is working well. There is, however, a huge amount of further work required in order to bring the standard of the premises up to what it should be, in order to attract younger members and visitors, whilst retaining the atmosphere enjoyed by our more senior regulars.

Plans for a major refurbishment have been put on hold until such time as funds permit and the economic climate improves, but a gradual improvement will continue to be required.

The lack of rent from Bayview Road for the year and higher repair and running costs have resulted in a deficit. This has been off-set to some extent by an increase in membership income and bar turnover. Our secretary, Brian Deighton, and our staff, under the management of Andrew Garden, should be congratulated for their efforts during the year and our thanks are due to Andrew and his staff for their continued helpful, courteous and friendly service at all times.

The letter issued to members with the Magazine regarding the options which are being considered for the refurbishment of the Club Centre and for its future brought many heartening responses verbally, by e-mail and by letter. These demonstrated not only the support which the Executive has from the membership but also the interest which many have in the Club and Centre. It has taken some time to consider these responses, and the Chairman has met with a number of members willing to assist and advise the Executive in relation to the future of the Centre.

The almost unanimous view of those who responded is in two parts. Firstly, the decision of the Executive as to the best course of action would be supported by the members and secondly, only if ultimately necessary should any of the ground at Queen’s Road be sold and where possible any sale should be kept to a minimum. In general, members accepted that improvements were necessary to the Club Centre, and the vast majority recognised the need to retain the Centre as the home for FPs and the Sports Sections.

Since that letter was issued many aspects of the market place have changed, with the poor global economics, reduced availability of bank finance, and the

drop in the development value of land and the price of properties. The Executive has had to consider all of these elements in reaching a conclusion as to the best course of action to follow at the present time.

We have been successful in securing a commercial use of the former steward’s house on Bayview Road and in December a full commercial lease was entered into with an independent local business which, over the coming years, will enhance the income received by the Club. This lease will not only reflect commercial rates of rental return, but also release the Club from the on-going liability for maintenance of the property, which when leasing to domestic tenants is an on-going expense on each change in tenancy.

As a result of the changing economic climate and the securing of the Bayview Road lease, the Executive, along with the Centre Management Committee, has decided that the most prudent course of action at this time is to proceed with an on-going and staged refurbishment of the premises at Queen’s Road. During the last quarter of 2008 some improvement to the furnishings of the main bar was carried out, and this has been positively received by members.

We have recently announced the employment of a Club Manager to focus on improving the facilities for members, guests and visitors. This will also introduce a more professional approach to the management of the facilities.

It is hoped that in the coming months much needed attention will be given to the existing heating system at the Centre, which will produce savings in fuel and utility costs and improve the comfort of members and guests. The possibility of carrying out work on the Sports/Function Bar and meeting rooms remains a priority in order to generate additional income from outside agencies. When funds permit, improvements will be carried out. Inevitably all improvements will come at a cost and consideration of the appropriate subscription levels for coming years of both the Club and the Club Centre will be an essential element in ensuring the future viability of the Club and its various facilities.

We are grateful for the continued support of all sports sections for the Club’s activities and for organising their own functions at the Centre, and to the members who assist in the organisation of events, such as the Quiz Nights.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Management Committee and in particular to the Management Board for all that they do.

Canada

The 16th Annual Reunion Weekend of the Centre was held in Toronto on 5-7 September 2008. Thanks are due to Halsey Bradford, Colin Caie and Tom Dempster for organising such a successful and memorable weekend. Our warm appreciation also goes to George Stephen who, being a member of Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto, made it possible for us to hold our dinner there.

We always enjoy having representatives from the parent Club in Aberdeen, and this year we were delighted to welcome the Club President, Jim Clark, and his wife Senga, who travelled from Ballater in Scotland to join us. Neil Borthwick, Secretary of the Edinburgh Centre, also travelled from Scotland, and

we are delighted to hear that he is joining us again this year – this time in his new role as Club President.

Thirty-five FPs and guests attended the weekend, with Scotland, U.S.A and Canada well represented. We enjoy keeping up the link with U.S. FPs, and this year six people travelled from the States – Jonathan Daube, Michael and Margaret King, Bill and Barbara Wolkoff and Diana Stevenson, Peter Edwards’ sister. The reunion activities started on the Friday evening with an informal gettogether in the Duke of Kent, our current President’s local pub. As organisers, we sometimes wonder whether meeting up over three days is too much of a good thing….then the weekend starts and we realise that we need at least three days! This is where old friends meet, new friends are made, and “faces are put to names”.

On Saturday evening the formal dinner was held at the Lambton Golf & Country Club. We gathered on the patio, which overlooks the magnificent grounds, before enjoying a wonderful dinner in the private dining room. Peter Edwards, the outgoing President, installed Halsey Bradford as our new President, presenting him with the Badge of Office and the Duguid Decanter. Later in the evening Halsey gave his President’s address and Toast to the Club and the School. He talked with typical humour about the links generated by being a pupil at the Grammar School – links which meant he could claim to know (or know of) everyone at the reunion. Jim Clark replied on behalf of the School and the Club, giving an interesting update on both. He also reflected on his years in the oil industry and how some good advice from a teacher at the Grammar set him on the right career path.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Canadian President Installed

Left to Right: Peter Jeffrey, Peter Edwards, Jim Clark, Halsey Bradford

Peter Jeffrey then gave his Secretary’s report, including an update on the Rubislaw Pavilion project and “our” Canada Clock. He updated us with news of other FPs and concluded with the Toast to Absent Friends.

On Sunday we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Bradfords’ home – thank you to Joan and Halsey for their warm welcome and great hospitality. The recollections and reflections continued long into the afternoon, we made plans to meet again at the next reunion, and another memorable Canadian reunion weekend came to an end.

Thirty-five people attended the Dinner. The following FPs were present (in order of entry to School): George Stephen (1936-42), Etobicoke, Ontario; Bill Guthrie (1939-51), Brighton, Ontario; Bill Wolkoff (1942-53), Jefferson City, MO; Peter Jeffrey (1944-59), Qualicum Beach, BC; James Clark (1947-59), Ballater, Scotland; Phil Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; Michael Hardie (1948-59), Almonte, Ontario; Halsey Bradford (195165), Toronto, Ontario; Jonathan Daube (1951-53), Manchester, Conn; Ben Daube (195155), Toronto, Ontario; Michael King (1951-60), Salt Lake City, Utah; Neil Borthwick (1952-65), Edinburgh, Scotland; Derek Cox (1953-56), St Lambert, PQ; Tom Dempster (1954-58), Don Mills, Ontario; Ian Marr (1954-58), Kanata, Ontario; Peter Edwards (1956-64), Calgary, Alberta; Colin Caie (1959-65), Toronto, Ontario and Ian Urquhart (1959-65), Toronto, Ontario.

This year’s Reunion will be held on September 11-13 in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island and is being organised by Peter Jeffrey. This event will mark the end of an era in the Centre’s history as Peter, who has been Secretary of the Centre since its inception in the Club Centenary year, 1993, has decided that it is time to step down from office. He and his wife Judy look forward to hosting the traditional Sunday Brunch at their home.

Edinburgh

The Centre held its Annual Dinner on Friday 24th April 2009 in the Clubhouse of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society. President James Rust welcomed the company of thirty- eight members and guests, including Donald Rennie, who was the principal guest, the Rector, Graham Legge, the Head Boy, Josh Connon and Deputy Head Girl, Rebecca Murray, the recently installed President of the Parent Club, Neil Borthwick from this Centre, Doug Skene the President of theYorkshire Centre and Stephan Colling, the President of the Glasgow Centre.

Donald Rennie, despite being a Gordonian, proposed the toast of “The School and the Club” in a most entertaining fashion and replies were made by the Rector, Rebecca Murray and Josh Connon on behalf of the School and Neil Borthwick for the Club, in his first function as President .

The Centre AGM was held during the evening, when Morr Brown was elected as President for a third term, as part of the ongoing Edinburgh Centre youth policy. James Rust was elected as Secretary and Treasurer in succession to Neil Borthwick who stood down after 5 years in the role.

Last August the annual golf match with the Glasgow Centre was played at Harburn, with Glasgow regaining the trophy, although details of the scores have conveniently been lost on this occasion.

The next Annual Dinner is scheduled to be held in the Clubhouse of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society on Friday 23rd April 2010.

Any FP who has recently come to the Edinburgh area and who has not received any communication from the Centre is invited to contact James Rust at his home address, 19 Denham Green Terrace, Edinburgh EH5 3PE (Tel. 0131 552 6603) or by email to james.rust@btconnect.com

The following FPs attended the Dinner (in order of entry into School) : W.M. Brown (1932-46), J.S. Fowlie (1935-42), J.E. Fraser (1936-49), D.G. Kilgour (1938-50), T.G. Coutts (1938-51), D.A. Brittain (1943-49), A.H. Cairns (1943-56), A.M.M. Beattie (194457), P. Cairns (1945-57), R.S. Rilley (1947-55), I.H. McLeod (1951-55), N.M. Borthwick (1952-65), D. Stewart (1953-63), K.I. Masson (1959-72), D. Skene (1959-64), J.H. Rust (1963-71), N.G.M. Watt (1963-69), R.H.A. Malloch (1970-76), S. Colling (1990-96), S. Juroszec (1996-02), and S. Martin (1998-2002).

Glasgow

The Centre’s Annual Dinner was held on 31 October 2008 and, in keeping with recent tradition, the venue was the Swallow Hotel in Glasgow. Our President, Stefan Colling, welcomed 42 members and guests, including James Rust, Edinburgh Centre President, and Douglas Watson, the Chairman of the Executive. The toast to the School and the Club was proposed by guest speaker Iain McSporran, a Crown Counsel and a very entertaining speaker. The Club President, Jim Clark, replied on behalf of the Club with an informative and entertaining speech. Our dinner , unfortunately, clashed with a visit to the School by HM Inspectorate thus denying us the company of the Rector. Bill May was kind enough to reply on behalf of the School – a reply which included some of the famous Periodic Table song. Senior pupils Joe Boyd and Isla Lynch contributed to the reply for the School and were impressive as they brought us up-to-date with recent achievements and events there.

The Dinner was felt to be an overall success but on reflection, after taking input from other members, the Committee has decided that a change of venue would be in the best interests of the Centre. This year’s Dinner will be at Lang’s Hotel, across the road from the Royal Concert Hall in the centre of Glasgow. It will be held on Friday 30 October 2009. Any FPs interested in attending can obtain details from the contact address below. The guest speaker will be George Dunwoody, a retired senior Police Officer and an accomplished Burns Supper speaker.

Our Curling team was once again ably led by Skipper Malcolm Gauld this winter, and achieved mid-table respectability within our league, representing ongoing improvement in results. The annual golf match against Edinburgh was played on 28 August and our team retained the Caithness Globe, while Gordon Barron won the Mor Brown Trophy for the best individual Stableford score. The rematch is being planned for this August as we go to print.

We would be delighted to hear from any FP in the West of Scotland (or elsewhere) who may be interested in becoming involved in our activities.

Contact should be made with Peter Cairns on 01436-671708 or at peekairns@aol.com. Thanks, as always, go to all who have contributed to the running of the Centre, especially Malcolm Gauld, Vice-President, Peter Cairns, Treasurer, Margery Taylor, Secretary, Jim Leask, Malcolm Daniel and Gary Allan.

The following FPs attended the Annual Dinner (in order of entry into school): – Peter Cairns (1945-57), James Clark (1947-59), Malcolm Gauld (1947-61), David McNay (1956-69), Douglas Campbell (1958-64), Jim Leask (1960-66), James Rust (1963-71), Gary Allan (1963-76), Malcolm Daniel (1975-81), Margery Taylor (1975-81), John Stevenson (1975-81), Douglas Watson (1979-85) and Stefan Colling (1990-96).

London

Apologies are in order. Firstly, to our own members, who may be forgiven for thinking that the London Centre might have closed its doors and abandoned them and, secondly, to the wider membership for the brevity of this report.

In fact, our plans for 2008 rather fell by the wayside when members of the committee were struck by a number of quite unrelated problems which had the unfortunate effect of preventing arrangements being put into place in proper time for our AGM and autumn event. Matters are now fully back in hand and we shall be holding the AGM this coming September with an autumn event to follow a few weeks later.

The AGM will be a particularly important one. After many years of sterling service to the London Centre our President, Grahame Young, will be standing down and we shall be looking to elect his successor. We are also intending to recruit a number of new members to our committee so that we can continue to implement our plans to revive and develop the London Centre.

The dates and details for the AGM and autumn event will be published in late summer.

Yorkshire

Friday 26 September at the Grange Hotel York saw the Yorkshire Centre celebrate the 60th anniversary of our first dinner, which had been held at the Great Northern Hotel in Leeds. Owing to gaps in the 1950s this was only our fiftieth dinner. We had a record attendance of 33 members and guests, with excellent support from all the other Centres. We had a display of photographs from 1948/50 and a copy of the original menu, which we recreated for this anniversary.

The Depute Head Boy and Girl provided excellent accounts of their time at School and their ambitions for the future. This year they were accompanied by the very popular former master, Bill May – just ask any of the guests about his egg joke. Everyone enjoyed the Club President’s address and he clearly demonstrated what a good ambassador he is for both School and Club. Repeating his outstanding performance of last year was stage, film, television and radio actor and recording artist Malcolm Rennie, who this time linked together a number of north-east stories and poems, finishing with a stirring and emotional piece about Scotland – truly memorable.

Two particular highlights were, firstly, the reading of four letters from 1948, setting the scene for the foundation of the Yorkshire Centre and the clear sense of duty and obligation of the FPs who started the ball rolling. Secondly, we had a letter from Bob Grant, one of the founder members, setting out his fond memories of the early days and of his time at School. Bob was not well enough to travel to attend the dinner, but sent a significant cheque with which to maintain the tradition of drinking Birse tea for many years to come.

This year’s dinner will be held in the Grange Hotel, York on Friday 25 September 2009.

Former Pupils attending the Dinner (in order of entry into School) were:- Wilson McIntosh (1932-45), Alistair Miller (1942-55), Robert Cromar (1944-49), Dick Tyson (1944-49), Michael Walker (1946-57), Brian Bruce (1947-51), James Clark (1947-59), Neil Borthwick (1952-65), Malcolm Rennie (1952-65), Norman Edwards (1959-64), Douglas Skene (1959-64), Ian Fraser (1962-68), Donald Cheyne (1963-69), James Rust (1963-71), David Galloway (1976-82), Douglas Watson (1979-85) Martin Coulter (1983-89), and Stefan Colling (1990-96),

Section Reports

Cricket

First XI

Overall 2008 was a good season in Grade 2, with the 1st XI holding second position for most of the summer, but then losing out at the death to two close competitors in Gordonians and Queens Cross, to finish fourth. St Ronald and Gordonians achieved promotion to Grade 1. FPs need to consolidate in Grade 2, and work on attracting a few new players to help strengthen the team and build a decent squad to go back to the higher level.

The season started well enough and we were really only frustrated by Artisans and St Ronald who seemed to be our bogey teams.There was consistency in performance but once again we struggled to bowl teams out when it really mattered.

We had a reasonably settled XI throughout with the usual ups and downs of the football and holiday seasons and our season summary was:-

Played 16: Won 7: Drawn 5: Lost 4: Void 2: Points 370

Overall Percentage 77.08%

Our Bon Accord Cup run ended at the first hurdle against Artisans due to only nine of the squad being available on a Sunday, and similarly we defaulted in the Turriff Cup to Huntly due to unavailability of players. We had a good run in the Thistle Sport Sevens, with a defeat to Stonehaven in the semis of the plate competition.

Everyone contributed wholeheartedly once again and enjoyed their cricket in Grade 2 as compared to struggling along in Grade 1.

On the batting front, Jerry Moir topped the averages once more with an average of 33 from 8 innings, closely followed by Martyn Budd (31 from 9 innings), John Eagles (29.8 from 8 innings), John Lord (23.43 from 16 innings), with John Youles, Aly MacDonald and Chris Clelland battling for the minor places. The season’s bowling was keenly contested and Jerry Moir topped the averages with figures of 102 overs – 45 maidens – 18 wickets – 158 runs

conceded at an average of 8.78. Glen Miller (6 wickets at an average of 13.33), Gary Stuart (20 wickets at an average of 13.95), Simon Tomkins (14 wickets at an average of 16.14), and John Eagles (17 wickets at an average of 16.65) were the other main players. The catching cup was secured by Martyn Budd with 8 and Chris Clelland took the wicket keeping honours with 6 dismissals despite limited appearances.

It was disappointing not to gain promotion, but probably a blessing given our inability to bowl sides out when it really mattered.

On the youth front Sam Knudson and James Lord continue to develop. James’ opening bowling spells in Grade 2 have been significant and can only go from strength to strength. We look forward to both playing in Grade 2 in 2009 and also the inclusion of more junior players from the School in the 2nd XI in 2009. We managed to arrange a few junior fixtures at under-15 and under-17 levels in conjunction with the School over the summer with mixed success and hope to develop the youth section further over future seasons.

We look forward to the use of the new Rubislaw changing facilities over the 2009 season and this can only aid our efforts to attract new faces to the club. In the longer term we are working hard to refurbish the outdoor nets and are investigating the options for replacement of the all weather pitch and, who knows, maybe the reinstatement of a grass square at Rubislaw sometime in the not too distant future.

2nd XI

On paper we had a strong squad but for most of the season we were without last season’s top two bowlers, Sam Gill and Vito Govil, and our top batsman, Luigi Govil, as well as Jim and Fiona Bramald and all-rounder Ed Perry.

The season can be split into three sections; of the first five games we drew two, lost two and tied one, and at least two of those games we could have won; following the tied match we struggled, losing five in a row; and then of the last five games we won three, drew one and lost the other game narrowly.

We lost badly on a couple of occasions in the five in a row as we continued to struggle to field eleven players. The Anchorians match was a prime example, Karthik, Magesh & Rizwan persuaded three friends who travelled from Edinburgh to play, Mike Hart came out of retirement and made a cameo appearance. We lost the game, but at least we played the match.

The turning point of the season was our long draw away to Methlick where one of their batsmen scored 146 not out. It was the hottest Saturday for many years, and the bowlers showed great resolve during the batsman’s long stay at the wicket. During that innings Rizwan, while searching for a lost ball, was introduced to the joys of ‘jabby’ nettles. He was really suffering, but managed to bowl a good spell, just the spirit the team needed, and we eventually batted out a draw chasing a big total. This draw was the start of a run of three wins and only one defeat.

Our first win was away to Dunecht and was the best 2nd XI bowling performance for years. Dunecht scored 57 runs in 41 overs, with only two wides.

The bowling analysis is worth repeating: Sam Knudson took 6 for 10 off 10 overs, James Lord took 3 for 9 off 8, Karthik 1 for 14 off 8; Nick Blyth

produced easily his best figures of the season, 8 overs for10 runs. Magesh ruined his figures with a couple of extras, 7 overs, 7 runs.

The following week we travelled to league leaders Turriff with only ten men available, but beat them by 13 runs. This was the best team performance of the year, everyone in the team chipped in with runs, wickets or catches. Then we just failed to beat promoted Banchory who were amazed that we were bottom of the league given how hard a game we gave them.

We managed to get off the dreaded bottom place in the last game of the season when we beat Stoneywood/Dyce in an exciting match, winning in the last over by 2 wickets at The Peoples’ Park.

Top batsmen this season was Karthik with 312 runs at an average of 26 (61 not out was his top score, but over 300 runs is some season and he also scored a 50 for the 1st XI). Rob Fryer scored 257 (top score 60) at 17.13, Sam Knudson scored 129 at 16.13 including a 48, and Mike Phillips scored 106 at 11.78.

Our most successful bowler was Sam Knudson who took 16 wickets at 15 runs per wicket, Magesh took 14 wickets at 25.29, Rizwan 14 at 26.21 and Karthik 13 at 33.46.

Our biggest problem was getting an early breakthrough, but with a bit more luck Karthik would have taken a lot more wickets.

Our fielding has improved, we had several excellent run outs, and all season our catching was sharp with several outstanding efforts. Vice captain Rob Fryer was runner-up in the club catching cup with 7 well taken catches. Mike Lloyd was our top keeper taking 5 catches in only a handful of matches. Our best fielder was Tom Murray who was instrumental in several run outs.

On paper we look to have a squad strong enough to win promotion next season, despite the fact that Sam Knudson will be justifiably promoted to the 1st XI, as James Lord was last season. But to compensate, Karthik has become a very reliable all-rounder, Mike Phillips improved with every game, Magesh can switch from pace to off breaks and Rizwan is always dependable. Schoolboy Michael Blues has looked good at nets and hopefully he will be available next season. Our batting was inconsistent; we need another reliable top-order batsman to support Fryer, but the tail-end batsmen all contributed during the season with vital runs.

The highlights of the season were the 3 wins, which coincidentally were all away from home, and played on grass wickets. Next season we can look forward to indoor teas, proper changing rooms and, above all, promotion.

Curling

Having reported an increase in numbers in my last report, a number of our members managed to pick up a number of injuries and illnesses during various times of the season. As a result we were unable to field two teams on our own. By coincidence, our playing partners in Rubislaw approached us to ask if we would be willing to try a season of fully mixed teams. Although there were a couple of minor problems, I am pleased to report that our members enjoyed the enhanced relationship.

Because we were unaware of our drop in numbers in sufficient time, we had not entered separate teams for the various rink competitions. This coming year we have rectified that and our section will be representing the Club in some competitions in the coming season.. New members are most welcome and anyone interested should contact me.

This year the Aberdeen rink will host the European Championships in December and I would encourage anyone interested in the sport to watch out for the announcements and support this prestigious event.

The facilities at Curl Aberdeen are recognised as among the best in Scotland. I would encourage anyone who wants to see them to call in (just off the Lang Stracht at Woodend) and be shown round the complex, which is also an important community activity centre.

Ian Souter

Football

Grammar FP Football Club celebrated its 20th year as an affiliated Section of the Former Pupils’ Club in season 2008/2009. It again took its place in the ranks of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association, in this particular year playing in Division 2 East.

The season was over-shadowed by the illness and subsequent death, at 72, of one of our most enthusiastic supporters, Audrey Nicholson. Mother of Richard Nicholson (1975-81), Audrey had been involved with the Section from its inception in 1985 until just before her death from cancer in March. Her involvement included any number of roles, such as Secretary, representing the team at the Amateur FA, washing strips, fund-raising, and the huge variety of tasks that sports clubs like ours require to be done. After initially following the fortunes of Richard, Audrey and her husband Tony soon became fans of the Team and became “weel-kent” faces at the dozens of amateur grounds around Aberdeenshire. Wind, rain or shine Audrey and Tony were at every match and were supporters of sport in the purest sense of the word. Although neither a footballer nor an FP, Audrey played as large a part in the development and continued existence of the Section as any player and will be sorely missed by all at the Club, family and friends.

The Club was sad to see the resignation of its long-serving player/coach and latterly manager, Tommy Hislop, who had been with the Club since season 94/95. Tommy, however, is not leaving the Football Section completely as he has agreed to continue in his role as Treasurer.

A new manager has agreed to take the reins, and we were pleased to welcome Robert Duncan (1991-1996) as the Player Manager for the club. Robert has had a successful career in local football at various clubs including Hermes, Sunnybank and Lads’ Club. Managing the team is his first foray into a more managerial role. Robert and his assistant Ricky Duncan (1997-2001) helped with secretarial duties for part of the season.

The season on the whole was disappointing and Robert feels this could be put down to a change of personnel and an ever-changing line-up due to work

commitments. To summarise, the season ended with a mid-table finish in the League and one cup run in the Dickie Trophy, a competition comprising 65 teams from the three Division 2’s in the local Association. Stand out performers for the team this season were such veterans as Davie Walker, Kenny McPherson and Dave Sinclair. Robert Duncan, Player Manager, finished as top scorer for the season. For the latter part of the season, Alan Fowlie managed admirably as Team Secretary. The season ended on 27 June with a match between an Over35 FP team and the current football team in aid of Cancer Research.

Robert has agreed to continue managing the team for the coming season as he puts the experience under his belt, and he is looking to improve upon the results and performances of 2008/09.

Golf

We had two outings to Braemar, one at the start of the season and one to complete the season, together with an outing to Ballater, and two mid-week outings to Alford and Kemnay, all of which were well attended. We also had our annual trip to Taymouth Castle. Gordon Inkson returned from Dubai to attend this outing. The ‘7-star hotel’ re-development of Taymouth Castle, which was due to be funded from Dubai sources, was withdrawn shortly after our outing. Whether this was due to the global recession or Gordon’s intervention is not wholly clear, but it does guarantee the Golf Section to continue with the outing without having to pay 7-star prices.

We continue to compete in the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Schools Trophy at Barnton. Our team of Colin Shaw, James Williams, Peter Robertson, Alan Mackay, Dallas Moir and Keith Masson was narrowly beaten by Old Grammarians.

A busy season is planned for 2009 and new members are always welcome, even if they were educated in the Schoolhill area! Our star performer last year was Donald Prentice, who plays fullback and kicks for Gordonians RFC. He is not a short hitter of a golf ball!

Men’s Hockey

At the end of the 2007 / 08 season FPs 1st Team finished in the relegation zone of Division 3 and then lost in the play offs. The unthinkable had happened, and for the first time since it was formed…FPs were no longer in the Scottish National League. However, luck was finally with us and we were reinstated when another club withdrew voluntarily from the League.

During the 2008 / 09 season FPs made considerable progress, finishing in mid-table. The 1st team squad, of 15 to 18 players, trained regularly and developed a good team spirit. On several occasions they scored late goals in matches to secure vital extra points. An exciting 3-2 away win at Motherwell was achieved with great effort and flair. The fact that it was witnessed and cheered on by the School’s Under-15 squad (who had just played in Kilsyth) was a bonus for everyone. The whole squad is to be congratulated on their improvement and commitment.

Pre-season training for 2009 /10 started in June, and if fitness levels can be improved then the consistency that is needed to challenge for promotion will be achieved.

At the AGM, Sam Perry (Captain), Malcolm Ewen (Manager & chauffeur) and Pete Bavidge (Coach) were congratulated and thanked for their efforts. It is great news that all three will be involved again next season. Iain Bruce was awarded the Williams Trophy for player of the year as voted for by members of the 1st team squad, with Dave O’Gorman and goalkeeper Stuart Anderson in close contention.

The 2nd team competed in the North & Midlands Regional League with mixed results. At the AGM captain Graeme Stewart was pleased with the team’s efforts and praised his stalwarts, Charlie Smith and Dave Beattie. Several youngsters were introduced to this higher level during the course of the season, and hopefully some will be staying in the Aberdeen area and pushing for places in the 1st XI. Graeme thanked Bob Dickson for umpiring most of the home and away games.

An experienced 3rd XI competed strongly with Gordonians ‘B’ for the North District Division 1 title, but eventually came second. James Williams captained the team, benefiting no doubt from the wealth of advice that was available.

The 4th XI consisted of the ‘muddy water brigade’ and a few loons. The lack of pace inevitably meant that ‘Grammarians’ spent the entire season propping up North District Division 1. The youngsters who played in their midst were well protected, and hopefully learned a great deal about commitment (and gallows humour). Ian Goodenough and Howard Smith ‘organised’ this sociable bunch, for whom the following gained international caps at veterans level for Scotland: Ron Fraser and Ian Downie (both of whom participated in the Over-60s World Championship in Hong Kong in September 2008), Kieran McLernan and Tony Duguid. Club Captain Ben Johnson played against them all for Wales (the results will be released in 30 years’ time, along with other national secrets!)

A new trophy, for competition between the oldest members of FP Men’s Hockey and AGS Colts (Under-16s), was donated by ‘Grammarians’. The inaugural match was dominated by the pace and fitness of the Colts, but was won 1-0 by ‘Grammarians’, so the old bulls still have a few tips to pass onto the youngsters.

The annual game between the FP 1st XI and ‘Grammarians’ for the John Drummond Trophy was a keenly fought 2-2 draw; and was followed by lunch and socialising at the FP Club.

Mary Smith kindly presented medals to:

Magnus Willett (AGS Boys Hockey Captain)…..Youth Player of the Year

Alex Lihou (AGS Boys Hockey Vice-Captain)….Grammarians’ Medal Alex Lihou’s award recognised his all-round contribution to hockey at the School and the FP Club. In addition to being a strong player he captained the FP 4th XI during the 2007 / 08 season and was involved in youth and girls hockey coaching.

The 5th XI is FPs’ Colts (Under-6s) plus a few adults. Lack of junior teams in the Aberdeen area made it necessary for us to enter the Colts in a men’

league (North District Division 2). Not surprisingly, they struggled for the first two months, but with regular training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays they improved rapidly and to the delight of coaches they won a game in November and another in December. Andrew Webster has done a tremendous job with these lads and has been well supported by Greg Anderson and Thomas Taylor. This Colts group has considerable potential. Colts player of the season (awarded by the coaching staff for skill, commitment and attitude) was the captain, Stuart Christie.

Max Mackay (another Colt) was awarded the Graham Fraser Trophy as FPs’ most improved player for the season. Max was 13 when he started with the 5th XI in August 2008. He played for the School 1st XI at 14 and has gained District recognition at U-15 level. Towards the end of the season Max had a few games for the 1st XI.

On Thursday afternoons, coaching of youngsters from the P6 / S2 level has been handled by Fred Lawson, Ron Fraser and Ben Johnson.

FPs are most grateful to a dedicated and skilled group of umpires who regularly operate at international, national, regional and local level on our behalf – David and Richard Wallis, Bob Dickson, Dave Beattie, Malcolm Ewen and Kevin Pope. Many others have also helped on occasions.

The FP Men’s Hockey Committee has worked hard and effectively, with the efforts of Duncan Harris (Secretary), Howard Smith (Treasurer) and Malcolm Ewen (a’ thing) worthy of special note. John Fleming completed a three-year spell as North District President and is now Vice-President for life.

Petanque

The results of the 2008 competitions results were as follows:

Peter Tawse Memorial Trophy

Winner: Peter Henderson

Runner-up: Magnus Brown

Singles Championship

Winner: Gail Tawse

Runner-up: Peter Henderson

Doubles Championship

Winners: Hugh & June Miller

Runners-up: Philip Henderson & Louisa Walker

Triples Championship

Winners: Peter Henderson, Philip Henderson & Peter Kerr

Runners-up: Al Ritchie, Steve Esson & Arthur Sinclair

The competition for the Maurice Chevalier Trophy has still to be completed –the result will be notified in the 2009 report.

The annual dinner was held in the Atholl Hotel on 17 October, during which the presentation of trophies was made. After the dinner a vote of thanks was made to the Club Captain, Secretary/Treasurer and, particularly, to the Trophy Convenor, Philip Henderson, who now looks after the trophies and has brought all the engraving up-to-date. This was no small task, as he had to go back to 1994 for some of the engraving. He has also provided smaller trophies for the

winners and runners-up to keep. The Club Trophies are now kept in the trophy cabinet at the Club Centre.

Two barbecues are held each year, one on the Saturday nearest to the Summer Solstice, and the other during August. The Maurice Chevalier Trophy competition and the Triples Championship are held during September, weather permitting – but since 1998 the Triples Championship, because of bad weather, was only played in 2003 and 2008.

The pistes, of which there are three, are situated behind the Club Centre building and are available for members’ use throughout the summer months (winter too, if you’re hardy enough!) and the annual fee for membership of the Section is only £5. We now have over 40 members but would welcome more, especially school leavers. Petanque is not difficult to master, is great fun, and there is a superb social side to the game!

Office Bearers:

Captain: Peter Henderson

Secretary & Treasurer: Joan Comber

Trophy Convener: Philip Henderson

Piste Convener: Ayron Comber

Rugby

Mike O’Donovan continued as our head coach for season 2008/09. However, after a family bereavement and with concerns about other personal family matters, he decided to return to New Zealand and went home in mid-January. During the season Mike was assisted on the coaching front by Alex Duncan, Mark Borowski and Alan Mekie, who continued to act after Mike’s departure, and our thanks are due to them for all their hard work and dedication in what has been another trying season at Rubislaw Playing Fields.

A number of new players were recruited to our playing squad this season. Billy Russell returned for a third season with the Club and Shaun Richardson was recruited from Brisbane. They were joined by Steve Aitken, Tony McGuiness, Matt Dixon., Chris Browne, Matt Barker, Fraser Lyle, Robert Coates and Mark Oatey, all of whom have gone on to represent the 1st XV at some stage during the season.

Due to the prolonged redevelopment works on the new Pavilion, for a second consecutive season the players and coaches have had to contend with a lack of facilities at Rubislaw on training nights and on match days. We have to thank them all for their perseverance over the last two seasons. With the completion of the new Pavilion and plans now in place to install new training lights, to carry out field improvements and to refurbish the stand, we can hopefully look forward to next season with some optimism. We hope that with the improved facilities we can attract more new players to the Club and strengthen the playing squads.

1st Team Squad

This season in Premier 2 we finished in 5th position, compared with last season’s 7th place finish. While we started reasonably well, winning three of

our first four games, we then had a desperate run of games, losing ten out of the next thirteen, albeit five of these matches were lost by three points or less.

League record:

Played 22, Won 10, Drawn 0, Lost 12

Points For – 548; Points Against – 463; Bonus Points – 15; Total Points – 55

We were two places higher and three points more than last season. While we were second top in the League as points scorers we were the third worst in points conceded, which provides some food for thought for next season.

In the National Cup we beat Irvine away at the second time of asking in round 4, (the first match having been abandoned after 79 minutes of scoreless rugby played in the worst conditions that I have encountered in 40 years of playing and watching rugby) and Ardrossan away in round 5, so progressing to the last 16 in the tournament. We were rewarded with a home draw against the cup holders, Melrose, and in an exciting game we eventually lost out 32 – 22.

During the season we have used a total of 43 players in all 1st team games, compared with 35 last season and 47 two seasons ago. Our top try scorer in the League was Steve Aitken with ten tries, followed by Morgan Ward with nine. Our top points scorer in the League was Steve Aitken with 152 points, while in all games played, again the top scorer was Steve Aitken with thirteen tries and 174 points.

2nd Team Squad

As in recent seasons, the 2nd XV contained a mix of core players from previous years along with many new young players. Throughout the season an incredible total of 77 players represented the side. The squad was again captained extremely well by Paul Hudson.

On the negative side, with so many players being used, there were games when both the quality and experience fell short of the test presented. Because of this, together with a lack of team preparation and the continuity of the squad, we often struggled to be competitive at this level. The positives, however, far outweighed the negatives. As the young players matured and developed, and when we got spells of continuity in selection, the performances improved throughout the year, and reached a competitive level.

First evidence of this came in November, with a 27-20 home win over Boroughmuir. After Christmas, a very young group of forwards showed that they had developed considerably, and gave the back division the opportunity to cash in on a steady supply of ball. Most notable of the results achieved were home wins over West of Scotland, 40 – 6, Edinburgh Accies, 31 – 0 and an away win at Ayr 33 – 10.

The main objective for the 2nds is to provide a platform for players to develop and step up ready to be competitive at first team level. A quality fixture list is key to this, and by the team holding their place going into a fourth consecutive year in the 2nd team 1st division, the squad has achieved that objective. The by-product of that is showing through, with many young players moving up on occasions and performing well in the 1st XV.

Games played 21; Won – 9 Lost – 12; Points For – 546. Points Against – 500. The total of tries scored was 81, making an average of 3.86 per game. Two

League games remain unplayed and with agreement from the League that one point only will be awarded for unplayed games, the team will finish in 8th place in the League.

Graeme Carson made most appearances, with 20 out of 21, missing the full house when promoted to the 1st XV bench for the final match. G Cassado and Fraser Rankine were second, with 17 out of 21 appearances. The top try scorer was Matt Barker with 17 tries from just 10 games. G. Cassado was next with 9 tries from 17 games. Matt Barker was also the clear top points scorer, all from tries.

Junior and Youth Sections

The Club maintains a strong representation in the Caledonia Premier Leagues at U-18, U-16 and U-15 levels. Both the S1s and S2s field teams in the local area friendlies and the minis attend tournaments and festivals throughout the year from August to May.

A total of 50 children from years 4 to 7 learn the basic skills on Sunday mornings and in total 240 young players are coached at the Club on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesday evenings. This is the largest group of players in the North of Scotland.

The season past saw the U-18s make it to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup where they lost at Currie, who progressed to the final in which they lost to Stirling. The U-18s finished 3rd in the Premier League. The U-16s finished second in their league, while the U-15s won the Premier League at their age group. The U-18 team produced six U-17 Caledonia players this season, which was the biggest representation of any club, and one of them, John Adams, was selected for Scotland at scrum half.

The Youth Section remains vibrant and numbers at all levels are healthy and on the increase. The older age groups are carrying approximately 30 players in each group.

A Y R A

The Club continues to support the rugby development work carried out by the Aberdeen Youth Rugby Association in schools and clubs. The project is funded to January 2011 with Colin Philips as the full-time Rugby Development Officer. We run holiday camps at Easter, in the Summer and in October, and coach rugby at over twenty schools in the Aberdeen area

Notable Achievements this Season

Congratulations are due to former players Moray Low for winning his first full Scottish International Cap and Stuart Corsar, Johnny Beattie and Ruaridh Jackson who represented the Scotland A side; to Ashleah McCulloch on selection for the Scotland U-20 squad for the Six Nations Tournament and the Scotland 7-a-side team in the IRB Sevens (Dubai & SA); to Angus Dixon and Fraser Lyle who were selected for Scottish Universities; and to Johnny Adams on his selection for the Scotland U-17 squad

Leaving / Retiring

A few of our players will be leaving us at the end of the season to seek pastures new or further their careers. We thank them for their dedication over their period with us and wish them the very best for their future.

Vote of Thanks

We should record our sincere thanks to all the coaches, team managers et al in both the Senior and Junior Sections for their hard work and commitment throughout season. These volunteers give up a considerable amount of their own time and turn out in all kinds of weather to help with the furtherance of the game of rugby football. Thanks also to our physio, Julie Campbell, and our Team Doctor, Louise McCullough, for their valuable assistance over the season.

And Finally – Next Season

By next season, with the new facilities completed at Rubislaw and proper lighting in place, we will be able to focus on our rugby and re-establish ourselves as one of the leading Clubs in the country.

Women’s Hockey

Once again the hockey girls can reflect on another successful and enjoyable season. The numbers attending training were excellent and on many occasions amazing, given the weather they had thrown at them. Alistair Goosen was in attendance at training to coach the masses every second week and, as ever, had to work hard to be heard over the constant chatter. On the alternate weeks the first team Captain, Helen Bruce, led the coaching and she always made sure her instructions were heard over the traffic, the chatter and the odd aircraft! The spirit of some of the younger members has sparked the enthusiasm back into some of our older players which has been great to see.

The 1st XI has been inspired this season by the legend that is, and continues to be, Helen Bruce. She led the team from the back of the pitch with her enthusiasm and encouragement, as ever, second to none. Helen has been the rock of the 1st XI for over twenty years now and the Club has been privileged to have benefited from her exceptional commitment. The team finished the league in third place and played some very attractive hockey along the way. This season, Helen and her Vice-Captain, Ang Christie used less than twenty players in the 1st XI, which meant that they performed more consistently than in recent seasons. Many of the players played a few games out of their usual position, but did so happily and were a credit to the Club. Four schoolgirls took part in the 1st XI this season and they were also a great asset for the Club.

The team enjoyed a fine Scottish Cup run until, following a goal-less draw, they went out on penalties. As for the League, the team played well but as in previous seasons dropped a few vital points in a couple of crucial games. The overall results meant the team finished a very creditable third in the league and one particular highlight was only having nine goals against them during the league matches. The team thoroughly enjoyed their season and were kept entertained by Helen keeping them up to date with the season’s news by texting them at all times of the day and night! The team spirit was great and it is hoped this will be continued next season.

Results: Played 18 Won 12 Drawn 3 Lost 3

Goals For: 46 Goals Against 9 Points 39

The 2nd XI can be very proud of their performances this season as they came back to North District Division One. There is a big step up from North District Division Two to Division One and the girls certainly gave the higher ranking opposition a good run for their monies. As ever work commitments, holidays and injuries took their toll on the ability of the players to be available every week, but Emma McAra (now Williams) organised the squad well and even managed to fit in planning her own wedding as the season was drawing to a close. Once again the squad had a good mixture of ages which has allowed some of our younger players to experience the playing standard of Division One at an early age. The team will remain in Division One for next season.

Results: Played 18 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 14

Goals For 13 Goals Against 53 Points 8

The 2008-2009 season was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who played for the 3rd XI. The team is renowned for its camaraderie and enjoyment on and off the pitch and this season was no different. The team enjoyed the help of some of the more seasoned members of the Club both on and off the playing field and this resulted in some very fine performances. The team had a change of Captain in the middle of the season, thanks to another pregnant Captain, and the replacement Co-Captains did very well to keep things together given that this was the first time either of them had taken on the responsibility of captaincy. They were delighted with a mid-table finish in Division Two. The 3rd XI is already looking forward to the coming season. The Club is hoping to secure the services of a few new players over the summer break and hopes this will feed some new players into all the squads.

Results: Played 18 Won 8 Drawn 3 Lost 7

Goals For 36 Goals Against 32 Points Deducted -1 Points 26*

The 1st VI had an excellent run in the indoor season and finished in second place in the League behind an Inverurie team who had been firing on all cylinders both indoor and outdoor this season.

Results: Played 10 Won 8 Drawn 0 Lost 2

Goals For 50 Goals Against 19 Points 24

The 2nd VI really enjoyed their indoor season and had every right to be proud of their performances. The team were in Division Two of the North Leagues and improved on their placing from last season. Notably a few of the younger members took part in the indoor games this year, which bodes well for the future.

Results: Played 8 Won 3 Drawn 1 Lost 4

Following last season’s successful re-instatement of the School versus the President’s XI fixture the teams took to the field early in March. Luckily, the sun was shining and the match was played in a fast and furious manner and thoroughly enjoyed by players and spectators alike. Again the President’s XI was triumphant, but the School team gave them plenty to think about and created some great chances.

At this point in the report the hockey girls move on to thanking those without whom the matches and the organising of them simply would not be

possible. This year is no different other than that this season the Club is not only thanking Richard Wallis for his commitment to the Club but also taking the opportunity to wish him well in his retirement from umpiring regularly. He has been a true stalwart for this Club and his decision to bow out gracefully comes after umpiring for the Club for approximately twenty-three seasons! The girls marked the occasion of his last match with a few drinks back at the Club Centre and Morag Rose (with her able assistant Kim Stuart) shared the highly entertaining poem they had specially written for him with the assembled company. The Club will also be marking his retirement in a few other ways over the coming months. Also ‘retiring’ with the Club’s thanks this season was our Secretary of sixteen seasons, Emma Mair. Emma has been on the Committee for over twenty seasons now. She plans to continue to play but is taking a break from meetings!

Continuing on the theme of thanks, the members would like to thank all the organisers, umpires, coaches, committee members and supporters for all their efforts. The Club truly could not function without you. In particular, thanks go to Andrew Wadsworth, Dave Beattie and James Williams for their efforts during the season.

As ever, if you are keen to take up hockey again or even have never played before, you are very welcome to come along to training to see how you get on. Training is on Tuesday evenings at Rubislaw from 6.00pm - 7.30pm, and starts on the first Tuesday in August.

For further information contact Angie Taylor, Secretary, Tel: 07976 815849

Annual Dinner

The Annual Dinner was held in the Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel on Friday 27 March 2009 when a company of about 120 FPs and their guests gathered. There were present as usual representatives from the Club’s regional centres and guests from local Former Pupils’ clubs and a representative from the Aberdeen branch of Stewarts-Melville FP Club. Also present were the Rector, Graham Legge, along with Head Boy, Josh Connon and the Head Girl, Isla Lynch. The company included several of the Club’s Honorary Vice-Presidents.

The President, James Clark, was in the chair and conducted the evening’s proceedings with a steady hand so that the time-table was not too far ignored. The traditional toast to “The School and the Club” was proposed by a distinguished Former Pupil in the person of Malcolm Rennie. Well known as an actor on stage and screen, he held the company in the palm of his hand as he regaled us with reminiscences of his career. These included some hilarious accounts of his first experiences of repertory theatre, the trials of moving on each week and the idiosyncrasies of some landladies. He reflected on the changes in the School in the forty-plus years since he left.

In what has recently become the custom, the Rector replied briefly on the life and fortunes of the School but left it to the Head Boy and Girl to tell us of the School from the pupils’ standpoint which they did eloquently. It is interesting to reflect that Josh is the grandson of an FP, the late Frank Connon and that Isla is the great-grand-daughter of former Deputy Rector John Lynch.

Their forebears would have been justifiably proud of their contribution to the evening.

Replying for the Club, the President reflected on his Presidential year, gave some insights to his own career path and regaled the company with a tongue-incheek account of winter in Ballater.

Thanks were expressed to Laura Jarret for her work in making all the arrangements for a very successful evening.

The following FPs attended the Dinner (in order of entering School): J.R.S. Innes (1923-35), W.M. Brown (1932-46), B.K. Crookshanks (1934-46), F.P. Lynch (1936-49), J.W.Cradock (1940-46), R.H. Thomson (1941-50), H.B. Paterson (1941-50), J.M. Jeffrey (1942-57), R.H. Cradock (1943-51), H.A.S. Hamilton (1943-56), A.H. Cairns (1944-56), A.K.Campbell (1944-53), D.B. Galloway (1944-58), E. Grieve (1944-50), D.R. Harper (1944-58), J.C.A. Michie (1944-58), A.S. Welsh (1944-50), J.M. Clark (1947-59), C.R. Sutherland (1947-60), W.L. Sleigh (1948-55), D.G. Millar (1948-61), G.J. Collier (194956), R.S. McKay (1950-57), R. Gray (1951-65), J.F. Hendry (1951-65), I.H. McLeod (1951-55), H.E. Morrison (1951-65), R.C. Shirreffs (1951-65), I.W. Douglas (1952-57), H.R. Millar (1952-65), M.F. Rennie (1952-65), J.C. Lyon (1953-59), K.G. Jones (195766), F.I. Lloyd (1958-65), G.A. Lobban (1958-64), M.A. Batchelor (1959-65), B.M. Drummond (1959-65), N.K.B. Edwards (1959-64), D. Skene (1959-64), D.N. Yule (1960-66), K.C. Carter (1962-68), I.A. Fraser (1962-68), I.S. Hopkin (1962-68), W.R. Hutcheson (1962-68), J.H. Rust (1963-71), N.G.M. Watt (1963-69), S.W. Cummings (1965-69), P.M. Robertson (1967-73), R.J. Nugent (1968-70), D.G. Moir (1969-75), A.J. Thompson (1969-75), S.J. Lynch (1972-77), P.M. Alderson (1979-85), G.K. Crookshanks (1979-85), J. Fulton (1979-85), L. Manders (1979-85), L.E. Reid (1979-85), D.M. Watson (1979-85), L.S. Watson (1981-85), A.C. Robbie (1979-85), N.R. Brown (1982-88), L. Jarret (1982-88), K. MacGregor (1982-88), M. Fuery (1983-89), H.A. Haylet (1983-89), A.M. Johnstone (1983-89), L. Mackay (1983-89), G.M. Inkson (1986-92), J.P. Williams (1986-92), G.A. Hamilton (1988-94), B.J. Shepherd (1988-94), S.J. Colling (1990-96), L. Morrison (1997-03), A. Lynch (1999-05)

In addition to the Rector, Mr Graeme Legge, former Staff members D. Hawksworth and W.S. May were present.

RE-UNIONS

Class

of 1956 Reunion

On Friday 19 June 2009 nineteen members of the class which had left the Grammar School in 1956 gathered for dinner at the Atholl Hotel. Douglas Kynoch welcomed the company in his inimitable style. He remarked that the last of the class’s teachers had now gone with the deaths, within the last couple of years, of Ian ‘Twinks’ Stephen and Ronald ‘Tarzan’ McLeod. Douglas asked if he might say Grace, and in their goodness the company blessed him with their unanimous agreement, after which he did so gracefully. A grand ‘Atholl’ meal was enjoyed, with fine wine, and the company had a thoroughly pleasant evening.

On the Saturday afternoon Douglas Aberdein and his wife hosted a barbecue at their home at Abermor, Coull, near Tarland. The weather gods were kind and blessed the occasion with good weather. Neil Munro gave a lively rendition of J.M. Caie’s The Puddock, while Douglas Kynoch entertained us with two gold medal contributions, including Charles Murray’s It wisna his wyte. Gordon

Collier gave a highly amusing speech which included a sincere vote of thanks to our Saturday hosts and to those who had organised Friday’s dinner. The afternoon ended with a splendid performance on clarinet by Norman Horne of the Buchaneers. It was a superb weekend.

The following members of the class were present: Douglas Aberdein, Fred Adams, John Bell, Douglas Bremner, Hunter Cairns, Gordon Collier, Norman Horne, Douglas Kynoch, Gordon Lees, Bruce Lenman, Ronald Malcolm, Neil Munro, Stephen Pacitti, Michael Park, Alan Paterson, Andrew Philip, George Phillips, Walter Robb and Mario Vicca.

Class of 1951-65 Reunion

On Saturday 30 May 2009 43 members of the Grammar School class of 195165, six of our former teachers and honorary ‘65er, ex-Rector Bill Johnston, met at the Douglas Hotel for the year’s sixth reunion and, as in 1975, 1980, 1990, 2001 and 2005, we had a rare time. The taxi drivers’ designation of the area around the Douglas at the bottom of Market Street as Jurassic Park seemed appropriate as we boomer-era dinosaurs lumbered into the hotel’s congenial watering hole. We lingered there a while, which explains the uproarious photograph session choreographed by Martyn Batchelor, which can be seen on page 50, before taking our places at dinner tables whose seating was arranged according to the classes we entered in Middle School in 1959 – 1B (Brown), 1G (Galloway), 1M (Murphy), 1S (Stephen) and 1T (“Tabby” King). The tables groaned with food as, glasses brimming with fine wine, we groaned at the witticisms of the toasts, particularly from our own Alk of 1B, aka stage and screen star Malcolm Rennie, who had us in stitches with tales from backstage during his illustrious acting career.

It was the wee hours before the festivities concluded and we began girding our loins to get up and do it again on Sunday, the final lap of a three-day extravaganza that had commenced on Friday when Richard Shirreffs led an energetic group of us up Clachnaben and Steve Esson, directing energies in a somewhat different direction, led another group up the stairs to the snooker room in the Club Centre. Bruce Drummond would have led a third contingent around the links of Royal Aberdeen but some late call-offs and the lack of competition Halsey Bradford could provide put the kybosh on that excursion. On Friday evening, hikers, snookerers, wannabe golfers and sundry others met at the Club Centre where much hilarity and a sound thrashing at Quiz Night ensued. On Saturday morning, former Deputy Rector Russell Gray escorted fifteen of us around the School on a trip which took us to some nostalgic places and others, like the fantastic new games hall, that were new and impressively different. Shenanigans concluded on Sunday when we reconvened at the FP Club for a buffet lunch. The enduring bond that our year enjoys and the idiosyncratic if not understated way we celebrate it explained the forbearing attitudes of the spouses, partners, significant others and offspring who accompanied us, as well as the bemused looks of innocent bystanders who had dropped into the Club for a quiet Sunday snifter. We were particularly pleased that Sheila, the wife of George Cowie (1947-2007), and Marian and Snow, the wife and daughter of

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Dave Yule (1947-2007) joined us for the occasion. We marked our indebtedness to Dave by ensconcing behind the bar the one bottle that remained in the Club of his favourite tipple, Carlsberg Special, mounted on a plinth and inscribed to the “special” guy whose efforts, more than any other, have made us ‘51-‘65ers a very special year.

The following attended some part of the reunion: Jim Addison, Roddy Anderson, Ross Baird, Martyn Batchelor, Halsey Bradford, Bill Cameron, Alan Campbell, Hugh Clark, Pete Collier, Mike Colvin, Doug Coulton, Dick Cowling, Richard Dempsey, Bruce Drummond, Norman Edwards, Steve Esson, George Farquhar, Russell Gray, Syd Gray, Sandy Hardie, Gordon Hay, Jock Hendry, Roger Houghton, Donald Lamont, John Lawson, George Letts, Fred Lloyd, Forbes McCallum, Roddy McDonald, Jack Main, Brian Mair, Alan Merrilees, Harry Millar, Harvey Morrison, Hamish Norbrook, Richard Rae, Jimmy Reid, Malcolm Rennie, Gordon Riddell, Richard Shirreffs, Doug Skene, Dave Smith, Ian Souter, Alan Thomson and Derek Walker.

Staff guests were: Bruce Finlayson, Bill Johnston, Arthur McCombie, Bill May, Graham Munro, Patrick Scott and Stewart Wilson.

1st Aberdeen Scout Group

1908 was a special year for young people across the world, including the pupils of Aberdeen Grammar School, for not only did it herald the founding of the Scout Movement but also the establishment of the Grammar School Scout Troops. Most boys of the Middle School back in 1908 became members of the 1st or the 9th (who wanted to be the 3rd but were not quick enough) and later on of the 17th and 38th Troops.And so it followed, in the fullness of time, that 2008 saw the 1st Aberdeen Scout Group holding its Centenary celebrations on the first week-end of October. One hundred years on from its inception the 1st’s week-end kicked off with an informal gathering in the FP Club Centre on the Friday evening, which helped to break the ice and got rid of the odd ribald exchange between ‘friends’ who had not met for as long as half a century and had sprouted ‘spare tyres’ and ‘solar panels’, much to the amusement of their erstwhile pals, who had mostly done one or other of the same!An illustrated history of the Group’s first 100 years, entitled First Century, compiled and edited by two ex-leaders, was on sale together with a USB key giving access to the Group’s Centenary web-site containing over 1000 photographic and other records dating back to 1910. Portable cameras were in their infancy then and were probably not available to record the first two years. The web-site is a searchable data-base of names and dates, with most of the compromising photographs edited out; those which remain will be removed on receipt of a suitable donation to 1st Group funds.Saturday morning saw a grand tour of the School itself, conducted by Russell Gray, a former Deputy Rector (an ex-BB boy but it didn’t show). The group assembled in the school staff room to the accompaniment of a twin-screen backdrop of projected slides and movies from the 1st Group’s archives. A surprising number of people had not visited the School since it was rebuilt, including some ex-staff members who had not had the opportunity to see the new place. For the others it was probably the closest

they might ever have got to this ‘holy of holies’ that is the main staff room. Or maybe it was the attraction of the excellent lunch supplied by the ‘Dejavu’ deli in Rose Street. But then the 1st always prided itself on the excellence of its cuisine. The ‘piece de resistance’ at the end of the visit was the new sports facility, of which the Rector is justly proud.On the Saturday afternoon there was a visit to the 1st Group’s campsite at Clinterty, near the top of Tyrebagger, in pouring rain – not part of the plan. The site is now derelict and any ideas as to what it can be used for will be most welcome.The main celebration of the Centenary, a dinner dance and ceilidh, was held in the Britannia Hotel in Bucksburn. By the time those with nostalgia and rainwater overload had got there, the city was bathed in brilliant sunshine. It was ever thus in Scouts!After a few zeds for the wrinklies and other tired baggers, the Dinner commenced at 8 pm prompt. So that the current members of the Scouts were well included, the formal proceedings began with the piping in of the Group’s colours and an exhibition of DVDs, videos and CDs in the hotel foyer. This served as a timely reminder of the basis of the whole business, and that the 1st Aberdeen Scout Group continues to bring Scouting to over 100 boys and girls in the city, each week.The dinner was a great success, a tribute to the skills of the leadership past and present, but also to the boys (men) who stayed with it and turned out in their hundreds (well, over 100) to pay their respects to their Scouting ‘Alma Mater’ and catch up on the friendships which were tied up for many long ago but are still being formed today. Apart from anything else, many of the ‘boys’ made lifelong friendships amongst themselves and their leaders. Five or ten years’ difference at the age of twenty or twenty-five are as nothing after forty or fifty years. Not only that, but the cross- section represented people coming from as far away as Edinburgh, London and Canada, not to mention Inverbervie, Elgin and Inverurie etc.There were toasts to the Group aplenty, as a glass or three was raised to the 1st past, present and future and many a humorous reply, if only somebody could remember what they were. There was the presentation of ‘Thanks Badges’ to the authors of First Century, and the Ceilidh provided a suitable finale to the evening, or so it was thought, for few can recall when exactly that was, other than that it was far too soon.On the Sunday, sometime, possibly it was a.m., the door of the Scout H.Q in Forest Avenue Lane was thrown open (after the nails had been removed and the hinges replaced) and tables and chairs were piled up with the actual photograph albums and log-books etc., for the original authors to thumb back through. There were also slide shows and Power-point presentations/videos specially prepared for all to enjoy. Several members, no longer able to glide round the floor in the approved Madame Murray style the night before, could enjoy browsing through the memorabilia at a more leisurely pace as befitted their octogenarian status, one at least a King’s Scout!Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past?

9th Aberdeen Scout Group

2007 marked the centenary of the birth of Scouting, and two of the Troop were part of the Aberdeen contingent to the 21st World Jamboree in London, attended

by 40,000 Scouts from all over the world. We were therefore very much in “Centenary Mode” for 2008.

2008 marked a hundred years of Scouting in the 9th Aberdeen (Grammar School) Scout Group, and we decided to mark our Centenary with events spread over the year which began with the launch of our own Centenary badge, designed by our only lady Scout, Ceara Barnes, and proudly worn by all of us for the year. Our centenary permeated all our activities but there were some particular events.

In May we held a weekend camp for the whole Group at Templar’s Park. Families were invited for a camp fire and cake cutting on the Saturday night. Over 250 people singing “Lucky Nine” and ending with Kumbaya, whilst our PLs recited the words of the Scout Promise, round the glowing embers was quite a tear jerking moment.

Various camps went without a hitch but were perhaps a little upstaged by a two-week trip in October to Arizona – yes, Arizona! Alastair had decided that the Troop should mark the centenary in style, and we certainly did! A party of 47 Scouts and Leaders took Arizona by storm. They camped in a couple of Boy Scouts (and one Girl Guides!) of America sites, hired motor homes, evaded snakes, spiders, bears and roasting sunshine to set foot in the Grand Canyon. They met with local Scouts and even managed to have a barbeque (all of them!) in the garden of an Aberdonian who invited them by text because he had heard they were there. Glowing testimonials followed them wherever they went and even the captain of their aircraft broadcast a specific welcome to America – he had been a Scout.

A “Court of Honour Centenary Dinner” was arranged, to include any past members, hosted by the current Patrol Leaders, supported by their leaders. On 15th November a company of 135, representing every generation of past and current members, gathered at the Altens Thistle Hotel from as far afield as London and The Isle of Skye. They were welcomed by a Guard of Honour from the Troop. The Scout Leader, Alastair Macdonald was in the chair and Senior Patrol Leader Martin Watt said grace before we all enjoyed our five-course Dinner and a drink or two.

After the meal The Loyal Toast was proposed by the Cub Scout Leader, Carol Ann Lawrie. The way was then clear for our principal speaker Maitland Mackie CBE LLD to propose the toast to “The Ninth Group”. Maitland entertained us with images and memories of his time in the Group. As part of his memories he referred to extracts from Court of Honour minutes (a Committee of Patrol Leaders – now called the Patrol Leaders Council) from his time in the Troop. These minutes sadly recounted a theme of a perpetual, recurring preoccupation with the fate of the Troop football, which was variously lost, found, deflated, damaged, repaired, stolen, replaced etc. Maitland concluded his speech by presenting Alastair with an immaculate, white, FIFA approved, Nike manufactured, leather football. It will be retained as a memento.

Unknown to the rest of the company a further entertainment was secretly hatched during the meal. By coincidence one table of diners was made up almost entirely of the Wolves Patrol of old, under the Patrol Leadership of Sandy Brown, who had been Maitland’s PL. At the conclusion of Maitland’s toast the

Wolves, supplemented by a few Eagles and other contemporaries, joined him and set of round the tables re-enacting a camp fire yell. It is perhaps best described to those who were not present as a cross between an Indian tribal dance and a conga! Congratulations to the participants. It brought the house down and was appreciated by everyone.

Neil Lawrie, the current Group Scout Leader, tried to “follow” Maitland and his mates by replying to the toast. His conclusion was simple. Scouting in the 9th is different after 100 years, but still benefits from the vision, team work and huge sense of fun and adventure of its founders. Successive generations of likeminded Scouts mean the Group is still in extremely good health and providing high quality Scouting to the youth of our community. The evening was concluded with some music and a rendition of our Theme Tune “Lucky Nine”, accompanied by its composer, Jimmy Reith.

At Halloween the Cubs and Beavers gathered for a spooky centenary party, with lanterns, in the darkened, decorated barn at Templars.

Our Year was brought to a close with a Christmas party for everyone in Mannofield Church Hall. During the party our Cub Scout Leader, Carol Ann Lawrie “retired” from the post of Akela, which she had held for 30 years.

It was a great year, enjoyed by a great bunch of Scouts, lead by a fantastic team of dedicated adults. A good foundation for the next 100 years.

Anyone wishing to make contact with us should email neil.lawrie@btinternet.com

FUTURE REUNIONS

Class of 1959

50th Year Reunion Weekend

Our 50th year Class Reunion is to be held on the weekend of 2nd – 4th October 2009 in Aberdeen. We already have more than 50 confirmed attendees – if you are planning to attend please contact Michael Wood at 01224-310685 or m.wood@abdn.ac.uk

Please visit our class website at www.ags1959.com which has all details of the event and includes a complete list of classmates and class photographs.

F.P. Club Membership Subscription Rates

The current policy of the Executive is to review Subscription rates annually, but in normal circumstances we hope that it will only be necessary to amend them every 5 years. The last increase was applied in 2005, so the next increase will hopefully not be until 2010. The Life Member “Top up” scheme – which has been hugely successful – currently involves a payment of £20 to cover the fiveyear period 2005 to 2009 inclusive. The Life Fund is looking stronger, but still requires further “topping up”. The £20 “Top up” works out at just £4 per year for the 5-year period. We also draw down 5% of the Life Fund each year and this works out at roughly £1 per Life Member, so that, when this is added to the £4 from the “Top up”, the Club receives £5 per Life Member in total each year. This doesn’t yet match the £10 or so we receive from Annual Members, but we are moving in the right direction and we are certainly much better off than we were before the “Top up” scheme was introduced in 2000. We had a tremendous response to the introduction of the “Top up” scheme, which is voluntary, and the vast majority of Life Members responded very positively. The response to the “Top up” appeal for 2005-09 has also gone very well, but there is still time to make a payment if you have not already done so. These payments are a vital part of the Club’s income.

Subscription rates for 2009 are as follows:-

Life Membership:

New Life Members: £100 plus a £20 “Top up” every 5 years, the first “Top up” being payable 5 years after Life Membership is taken out.

Existing Life members: £20 “Top up” every 5 years

Annual Membership:

Ordinary Members: £12.50 by cheque or £10 if paid by Standing Order Under-25 Members: £6 (Members must be aged under 25 on 1 January of Subscription Year)

School Leavers: £5 (covers remainder of year of leaving plus 1 year)

School Leavers –(Extended): £20 (covers remainder of year of leaving plus 5 years)

Note: School Leavers also become Members of the Club Centre when they reach the age of 18, for the same periods as defined above, for their Membership of the parent Club.

Special Notes for Members over 75:

All members of the FP Club become “Long Service” Members from 1st January in the year following the year in which they reach the age of 75.

Life Members over 75 are no longer expected to make “Top up” Payments.

Ordinary (Annual) Members over 75 no longer have to pay any Annual Subscriptions.

Payment of Subscriptions:

Subscriptions should be sent to the Membership Secretary, Douglas M. Watson, who will also deal with all Membership queries, changes of address etc: His address is: 6 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen AB11 6XU. Tel: 01224 – 588913 Fax: 01224-581149

Email: membership@agsfp.com

Donations and Bequests

The Second Century Fund was set up in 2000 to receive all Donations and Bequests. This Fund is used to finance specific School and Club projects, and is not used for normal ongoing Club expenses. As will be seen from the Accounts elsewhere in this Magazine, the total from this source in 2008 was £7,199 of which £3,000 was transferred to the School Amenities Fund. Our grateful thanks go to everyone who has contributed.

New Members of the Club – 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009

Life Members

Andrew Leighton 1997-03William Simpson1945-47

Annual Members

Colin F. Caie 1959-65Tom Graham 1939-52

Cheryl Donaldson 1983-88Frederick Rennie1950-64

Margaret Fuery 1983-89Ian Urquhart 1962-68

School Leavers 2008

Christopher Ballard 2002-08 Naomi Rayner 2002-08

Blair Bellamy 2002-08 Andrew Will 2002-08

Julie Duncan 2002-08

Long Service Members

In recent years we have published the names of our magnificent Nonagenarians. Sadly, three of these have died in the last year, but four others have attained the remarkable age of 90 or will do in the next few months. We congratulate them all and thank them for their continuing interest and support. The full list is as follows:-

George Rickart 1923-30 4 June, 1913

Douglas Jamieson 1922-34 14 May 1916

Trevor Gray 1921-32 10 July 1916

Andrew Taylor 1929-35 18 April 1917

James Morrison Staff 23 July 1917

Hugh Willox 1925-35 1 September 1917

Donny Innes 1923-35 16 September 1917

John Jamieson 1930-35 27 November 1917

Alan Hutchison 1923-35 25 February 1918

Ernest Jack 1930-38 2 December 1918

Douglas Reith 1924-35 29 June 1919

James R. Guy 1924-36 2 July 1919

Donald D. Pennie 1928-37 12 October 1919

George C. Warrack 1924-37 1 November 1919

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Congratulations to the following members of the Club who will attain the age of 75 during 2009 and so will become Long Service Members on 1st January 2010.

Life Members

George Allan 1939-51

Alexander Brown 1939-51

Ronald Comber 1947-52

Ian Creswell 1946-49

Richard Cradock 1943-51

Robin Donald 1943-52

Austen Gardiner 1939-51

Brian Grassick 1939-52

John Leiper 1939-48

John Leith 1947-48

George McAllan 1947-51

Norman Raitt 1946-51

Donald Ritchie 1943-49

Cecil Smylie 1943-49

Alastair Sutherland 1939-51

Arnold Welsh 1945-51

John Wilson 1949-53

Annual Members

Tom Graham 1939-52

John Chalmers 1945-53

NOTES about FORMER PUPILS

Honours and Awards

Knight Bachelor

Charles Duncan Rice (1949-60) MA, PhD, FRSE was created a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his services to higher education. He has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Aberdeen University since 1996. After obtaining a first-class honours degree in History from Aberdeen in 1964 he taught there briefly before completing a doctorate at Edinburgh. He then taught at Yale University for eleven years, at Hamilton College, New York for five years and at New York University for eleven years before taking up his present post. He has been the recipient of many honorary degrees and fellowships from academic institutions and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Alexander Allan Templeton (1953-63) MD, MB,ChB, FRCOG, FRCP, FMedSci, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours List in recognition of his services to medicine. He was president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists from 2004 to 2007, and had previously been associated with the development of the fertility clinic at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. An honours graduate of Aberdeen University, he returned there in 1985 as Regius Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, following ten years as a lecturer and senior lecturer in the University of Edinburgh. He has played a prominent role in clinical work and research in areas from in vitro fertilisation to reproductive medicine and investigations into issues such as the prevention of pelvic infection. He has also published several authoritative books and numerous papers on women’s health subjects.

Honorary Degrees

At a Graduation Ceremony held at Aberdeen University in November 2006 Norman Roderick Darroch Begg (1951-59) MA, LL.B received a Doctorate honoris causa. Steve Cannon, Secretary to the University, in presenting him said: “A graduate in arts and law of Aberdeen University, Roddy Begg was a career university administrator. After an initial appointment, on graduating in 1964, as administrative assistant at the infant University of East Anglia in Norwich, he returned to Aberdeen in May 1966 as personal assistant to the then Secretary of the University, Mr William Angus.

“Over the following 22 years he was Secretary to the Faculty of Medicine, then Science, before being promoted to the posts of Registry Officer (1976), Clerk to the Senate (1980) and Deputy Secretary (1985). He succeeded Mr Michael

Bradley as Secretary to the University in April 1988. Mr Begg retired as Secretary in 1999, taking up the post of Director of Alumni Relations. He retired from the University in February 2002.

“He has been Executive Secretary of the European Association for Institutional Research and founding editor of its journal, Tertiary Education and Management. He was active in a number of European and international associations of his profession, including leading the establishment of a new network, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network of Europe.

“Mr Begg has had a lifelong interest in the theatre and over the last thirty years has acted and directed for the local amateur theatre society, Studio Theatre Group (which he co-founded in the sixties) and other dramatic and musical groups. He has also been a director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and Honorary Vice-President of Aberdeen Opera Company. He was a member of the Children’s Panel, Grampian Region, between 1984 and 1987”.

William Henry Kerr Alexander (1955-68) BSc still works in research and development for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, although hoping to retire in the next year or so. He plans to move to Traverse City in Northern Michigan. He writes that he does not see many FPs but has been in contact with Alan Rae (1956-69) who is in Buffalo, New York and caught up with David Norbrook (1960-68), an Oxford Professor who was on a business trip.

Sean Ambrose (1999-06), a first class honours Fine Art graduate of Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University, has been recognised by the inaugural Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries Awards. He has received two major accolades, one the RSA Painting Prize and Maclaine Watters Medal and the other a David Gordon Memorial Trust Award. He was successful in the Academy’s Student Exhibition Awards last year, receiving the DCA Data Solutions Award for an outstanding painting. He also received the RSA John Kinross painting scholarship to study in Florence. His artistic drive was fuelled by this opportunity to explore the magnificent architecture of the city. He plans to continue his studio practice and develop his ideas within the subject of industry in the hope of going on to a Masters degree.

Richard Halsey Gordon Bradford (1951-65) BSc obtained a degree in Geography at Aberdeen before emigrating to Canada in 1970. His professional career was spent with Manulife Financial, largely in IT. Since retiring he has taken up golf, still referees rugby, and gardens in small doses. His interest in bird-watching takes him to many corners of the globe. His year as President of the Canadian Centre of the FP Club ends with the Reunion in September.

Roy Brown (1932-43) CD, MB,ChB, DPsych, CRCP© FRCPC© whose Wartime Recollections appear earlier, left School to enrol in the Fleet Air Arm and gained his wings as a fighter pilot, under the British Commonwealth Training Plan, at Kingston, Ontario in 1944. After an operational tour with the British Pacific Fleet, he entered Medical School at Aberdeen University in 1946. He was a

founder member of the Aberdeen University Boat Club in 1949 and was awarded his half blue in 1951. After graduating the same year, he joined the RCAF Medical Branch (later the CFMS), retiring with the rank of Lieut. Colonel in 1976 to assume the position of Medical Director of Canadian Penitentiary Psychiatric Services. He continued in the field of forensic psychiatry as a consultant to the Federal Government until 2000.

William James Leslie Buyers (1942-55) DSc, BSc, PhD, FRSC arrived in Canada in 1965 after graduating from Aberdeen University. He has forged a long and distinguished career in condensed matter physics, with particular success in his breakthroughs in the field of magnetism. He is credited with the first observation of the “Haldane Gap”, confirming a highly controversial theoretical speculation. In retirement, he continues an active research programme which focuses on quantum magnetism and high-temperature superconductors. He has received many rewards, including the Rutherford Memorial Gold Medal from the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada and a Gold Medal for Achievement in Physics from the Canadian Association of Physicists, but none gave more pleasure than his honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Aberdeen University.

Colin Fraser Caie (1959-65) MA, having graduated from Aberdeen University with an honours degree in Economic Science, held posts in London, Johannesburg and New York before settling in Toronto. He is self-employed as a consultant to corporations looking to expand into new fields or enter into joint ventures or partnerships. He says that he plays a little golf, guitar and piano, all ‘poorly’, but in golf he sets himself a very high standard. Much of the winter is spent in Huatulco, Mexico, “where the ocean is spectacular, the golf course empty and the sky-diving cheap”.

Alan Grant Campbell (1959-65) CBE, LL.D, LL.B retired in December as chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council, after a career of forty years in local government. After graduating he became a trainee solicitor with the former Aberdeen County Council, transferring to Grampian Regional Council on its formation in 1975. In 1984 he was appointed director of law and administration and then selected as chief executive in 1991. He was the first employee of Aberdeenshire Council as chief executive on its creation in the reorganisation of local government in 1995, and helped to design its structure. He was also returning officer for the three Westminster and Scottish parliamentary constituencies in the County. He was made a CBE in the Jubilee Honours List in 2002 for services to local government, and awarded an honorary degree by Aberdeen University in 2005.

John Howden Milne Cook (1954-63) emigrated to Canada the day following his marriage in 1967. Having formerly worked with Aberdeen Journals in Aberdeen he joined the Hamilton Spectator as a proof-reader and eventually became editor. He is now retired and living in Hamilton, Ontario.

Derek Roy Cox (1953-56), after an apprenticeship in Naval Architecture, emigrated to Canada in 1962 where he has spent most of his time in Montreal. He worked for Canadian Vickers and Rolls Royce before moving to the aerospace industry in which he spent thirty years. He worked for many companies, including McGill University Space Research, the Space Research

Corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada, SPAR Aerospace, Oerlikon Aerospace, DY-4 Systems (with Peter Jeffrey) and ATS Aerospace. He has run twelve marathons with a best time of 3 hours 12 minutes, and is a Silver Life Master in duplicate bridge.

Jeremy Wynne Creswell (1962-65) has been appointed an honorary professor by Robert Gordon University in recognition of his work in collaboration with the University’s Aberdeen Business School on projects of significant importance to the future of the oil and gas sector, both in the North Sea and globally. A longserving journalist with the Press & Journal, he is editor of its monthly Energy Supplement.

Finlay George Crossan (1968-74) LL.B was one of the three founding partners in the Aberdeen branch of the Bristol-based commercial law firm Bond Pearce, whose field of expertise is in the oil and gas industries and in renewable energy.

Thomas Farquhar Dempster (1954-58) qualified as a chartered accountant before emigrating to Canada in 1966. There he has held a number of accounting and management posts. Having played rugby for Aberdeen Wanderers he continued with Cartha and Toronto Nomads, but his sporting activity is now confined to golf.

Peter Gordon Edwards (1956-64) emigrated to Calgary in 1980 to continue his career in Personnel and Human Resource management with an engineering company working on the major oil sands projects. In 1989 he joined an executive search firm, retiring as a partner in 2006. He has since been volunteering with not-for-profit organisations assisting with staffing issues and providing job search advice to immigrants. He is a past president of the Human Resources Association of Calgary and is currently on the board of the city’s Distress Centre. He was FPs’ Canadian Centre president in 2007-08.

Keith James Campbell Finnie (1954-67) MB,ChB graduated at Aberdeen in 1973 and emigrated to Canada the following year. After specialising in cardiology, he entered academic practice in that field at London Health Sciences Centre & University of Western Ontario in 1980. He was chief of cardiology at Victoria Hospital, London for seventeen years from 1988, and is currently Professor of Medicine at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at UWO and a consultant cardiologist at London Health Sciences Centre.

James Furneaux (1950-53), who trained as an architect before going to Art School, had an exhibition of paintings, drawings and prints of Aberdeen buildings and landmarks in the city earlier this year. The works are the product of over fifty years documenting aspects of the city and capturing its character.

James Robertson Guy (1924-36), whose name is this year added to the list of the Club’s nonagenarians, emigrated in September last year to live in Richmond, New Zealand.

Michael Gordon Henderson (1948-60) and his partner Hugh Robertson (1959-60) retired in 2006 after over forty years in general dental practice in Aberdeen. Michael’s son and daughter-in-law have succeeded them in the practice. Michael’s late father, Gordon Harvey Henderson (1921-34) was Chairman of the FP Club Executive at the time of the decision to purchase and open the Club Centre in 1969.

Graham Stewart Hendry (1961-74) CA, qualified as a chartered accountant in 1981 with the firm of Meston & Co in Aberdeen, and has since worked in several countries, mostly in the Middle East. He is currently a director of Mazars accountancy firm based in Dubai and Oman, where his key roles include practice development and staff training. His younger brother, Ian Gordon Hendry (1963-75) has relocated to Paris, where he resides with his French wife and young baby son. He is a successful photographer, working both freelance and on an employed basis.

Ian Alexander Hogg (1958-67) MA retired at the end of October 2008 from the staff of Perth High School, where he had taught History since 1973.

Alexander J.F. Home (1951-58) joined the R.A.F. from School, transferring to the Royal Canadian Air force the following year. He flew both fixed and rotary wing aircraft in many areas, and as a staff officer enjoyed tours in Canada, Europe and the Middle East. After retiring in 1987 he became director of Toronto City Centre Airport before taking up a post as senior industry adviser for airport and airline regeneration with the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development, working mainly in locations in eastern Russia. After posts in an advisory and consultancy capacity in Bermuda and Dubai he is now director of the 27 airports for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and is based in Yellowknife.

William Dalgarno Jenkins (1939-44) joined the Hudson Bay Company in Canada in 1954. Much of his career was as branch manager of the company’s wholesale department in Edmonton. He retired in 1993 but continues to live in Edmonton. He was one of the founder members of the FP Canadian Centre.

Ian Cameron Keith (1951-61) MB,ChB, PhD after training in anaesthesia was chief of Anaesthesia in a private hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for some years before moving to Canada in 1981. He is on the staff of St John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick and on the teaching staff of Dalhousie University. He has taken part in ten medical missions with Operation Smile, an organisation dedicated to repairing children with cleft lip and palate in various countries in the developing world.

Michael George King (1951-60) BSc, PhD had a brief academic career as a research fellow with the US Atomic Energy Commission in Iowa and as a lecturer at Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone. In 1974 he entered the nonferrous metals mining industry and had a career in technology management in the US and Canada. He retired to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2006. He is a Club Consul for the United States.

David Law (2002-08) won the Scottish Boys’ golf championship at Royal Aberdeen in April. A member of successful School golf teams, he is a member of Hazlehead Golf Club and is currently the Scotland boys’ captain. His sights are set on selection for Scotland for the 2011 Walker Cup due to be played in Aberdeen, and he aims to turn professional.

Joseph Leiper (1953-59) DL, OBE,MA, DipEd, on retiring in 2004 after twenty years as Headteacher of Oldmachar Academy in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, took up the post of Associate Teaching Fellow in the School of Education at Aberdeen University, helping to train new primary and secondary headteachers. He had long been closely involved with the University as a member of the

Business Committee of the General Council from 1984 to 2008 and its convener in 2000-06. He was also for eight years a member of the University Court. He became a Burgess of Guild of the City of Aberdeen in 2005 and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the City in 2005. Joe and his wife, Moira, a former Principal Teacher of Support at the Grammar, still live in Aberdeen but also enjoy living on the Moray coast where they indulge in sailing, he being a past secretary of the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club.

Francis Lyall (1944-57) MA, LL.B, PhD, LL.M was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space at the Fifty-ninth Congress of the International Astronomical Federation held in Glasgow in October 2008.

Gordon Miller McAndrew (1944-51) MB.ChB, FRCPE, FRCP, who is a past Deacon of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Edinburgh, has been elected Deacon Convener of the twelve Incorporated Trades of the city. After graduating in Medicine at Aberdeen he was a consultant physician briefly in York and subsequently in Edinburgh before retiring from clinical work in 1995 and serving with the Appeals Service until 2005.

Alistair Gerould Macdonald (1950-64) MA has completed twenty years as conductor of Aberdeen Choral Society, and was honoured at the annual performance of the Messiah at Christmas. He also conducts Peterhead Choral Society – he is the former head of music at Peterhead Academy – and is active in the University Music Department.

Barry James McGlashan (1986-92) had a self-portrait included in the BP Portrait Award Exhibition in Aberdeen Art Gallery. This exhibition showcases top international and national artistic talent.

Francis Neil McKenzie (1949-62) MB,ChB, MD, FRCSE has held a variety of posts in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the University Hospital, London, Ontario and at the University of Western Ontario. He performed the first Canadian heart transplant in 1981 and remains pre-eminent in his field of adult heart surgery and thoracic organ transplantation. In 1986 he was appointed James IV Surgical Traveller and spent three months lecturing in New Zealand, Australia and China.

Neil Mackie (1963-66) CBE, international tenor and Aiberdeen loon, has been appointed to a Personal Chair at the University of Agder in Norway. After fifteen years leading the Vocal Faculty at the Royal College of Music, he took up an appointment at the Royal Academy of Music in January. He has recently retired from the concert platform having given his final performance at the Musikverein in Vienna.

Ian Reid Anderson Macmillan (1950-53) MA, LL.B was for a short time a solicitor in Peterhead before moving to Canada in 1968. He was a barrister in Winnipeg for over twenty years until moving to Toronto in 1989. He retired from practice in 2006.At Aberdeen University he was a member of the famous Rugby XV which defeated London Scottish at Richmond in 1960.

Graeme J. Milne (1987-93) having been an assistant divisional director of financial planning with Bell Lawrie, stockbrokers in Aberdeen, has been promoted to be divisional director within the financial planning department. Bell Lawrie are now part of the Brewin Dolphin Group.

Peter Alexander Murphy (1945-51) MA, retired from the teaching profession in 1993. In his long career he had taught at Torry Secondary and Aberdeen Grammar in 1959-65, and went on to be head teacher of Logie Secondary School and then Rector of Whitfield High School, both in Dundee. In 1999 he was elected to serve as a Labour councillor for Carnoustie and District and, after the local elections of 2007, he was appointed Deputy Provost for Angus. He is a member of the Alliance Group administration in the Coumcil.

Derek Ogston (1937-47) CBE, MA, MB,ChB, PhD, MD, DSc, MLitt, BTh, emeritus professor of medicine and former senior vice-principal of Aberdeen University is the co-author of a book celebrating the 500-year-old University buildings in Old Aberdeen. Entitled King’s College: History Buildings and Artistic Portrayal, it charts the history of King’s College through a series of photographs, illustrations and paintings. All profits from the sale of the book are to be donated to the funding drive for the development of the new University Library due to be completed in 2011 at a cost of £57 million.

David Romer Paton (1941-43) has retired from Aberdeen Harbour Board after fifteen years as chairman. He first joined the Board in 1984, becoming vicechairman in 1991 and chairman in 1994.

Thomas John Grindley Paton (1953-60) MB,ChB is about to retire from a career as a paediatrician and family doctor in Edmonton, Alberta and will be moving to France. He plans to watch rugby and soccer and travel in Europe.

Kenneth Edward Pirie (1948-58) FCII, FIIC will become President of the Canadian Centre at their reunion in September. Founding president of the Ottawa Scottish rugby club, he is retired from a career as an independent insurance adjuster and lives in Sidney, Vancouver Island. He holidays regularly in Grantown-on-Spey, which this year made it possible for him to be present at the official opening of the refurbished Rubislaw Pavilion.

Neil Farquhar Pithie (1977-83) LL.B, who is a partner in Aberdeen solicitors Aberdein Considine & Co. completed a marathon 330-mile cycle ride between the firm’s Aberdeen office and all of its nineteen branch offices as part of a fund-raising operation in aid of a major local cancer charity. He was accompanied by another of the firm’s partners.

Murray George Hornley Pittock (1973-78) MA, Bradley Professor of English Literature at Glasgow University, has carried out further research into the history of the Jacobites and a second edition of his book The Myth of the Jacobite Clans has been published. They have for long been portrayed as primitive and barbaric, whereas this new research shows that the ’45 Rising was more of a contest between military equals than history records.

David Macaulay Reid (1956-69) MB,ChB, Professor of Rheumatology at Aberdeen University and head of its division of applied medicine, is the new chairman of the National Osteoporosis Society. He is a member of a team which is issuing guidelines to family doctors so that they can provide better treatment to sufferers from the disease.

Robert Chaston Scace (1954-60) MA, PhD emigrated to Canada after completing his studies at Aberdeen University, and completed degrees in Geography at the University of Calgary. With his interest in land use management and landscape change, with a focus on national parks, he embarked

on a career in environmental planning, management and assessment both in Canada and internationally. He remains engaged in parks and protected places activities, and over the years has organised four international conferences. In 1985 he was awarded the National Parks Centennial Award from the Government of Canada and in 2002 became a Chartered Geographer of the Royal Geographical Society.

Alexander Fleming Shearer (1959-64) MB,ChB went to Vancouver in 1971, liked the skiing and stayed, working as a general practitioner. He returned to Scotland in the mid-80s to train as a psychiatrist in the Borders, but having found depressed adults depressing he returned to Vancouver as a child psychiatrist. Now semi-retired, he travels widely.

William Cairns Stewart Smith (1956-68) MB,ChB, MD, PhD, Professor of public health at Aberdeen University, has been appointed to head a review into an outbreak of the superbug clostridium difficile which occurred at the Vale of Leven hospital at Alexandria. They will also review the adequacy of surveillance systems and infection control measures in place at the hospital and the adequacies of the facilities, procedures and systems.

George Stephen (1936-42) rekindled memories of schooldays when he attended his first Canadian reunion weekend in Toronto last year. He joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1943 and served as a fighter pilot in home waters, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific until 1950. He then settled in Canada and began a 25-year career in trust banking and international investing. This led him from Toronto to Montreal to Nassau to Vancouver and finally back to Toronto. He was for three years Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Trust Corporation of the Bahamas, which expanded his travels throughout the USA and to Europe, Central and South America and the Far East. Now retired, he enjoys golf and many volunteer activities. He has recently self-published a novel On the Morning Watch in which he draws on his experiences as a Navy pilot.

His younger brother, John Lindsay Stephen (1946-53), after a career in food retailing involving quality control, security and personnel and training, spent the last ten years of his working life as a senior lecturer in Retail Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University. Now resident in Aboyne he enjoys golf, walking and gardening as well as an involvement in Rotary and Probus, where four of the last five presidents have been FPs.

Anthony Kenneth Stewart (1962-75) BSc after graduating in 1978 from Durham University spent a year circumnavigating the globe, not believing his geography lecturers who told him the world was round. In 1981 he went to Canada for six months and is still there. A keen sportsman, he enjoys cycling, golf, hiking, cricket, skiing but in particular plays hockey for Saracens Hockey Club in Calgary. Three other Aberdonians also play for the club, including David Simpson (1980-86). Tony was an international umpire from 1993 to 2004 and represented Canada in the 1995 Pan-American Games in Argentina. He climbed Kilimanjaro in 2007.

Innes Taylor (1974-80) was selected to play for Scotland Over-45 Men’s Hockey team at the English Inter-district competition in May at East Grinstead and at the Home Internationals at Edinburgh Peffermill in June. Innes is Lead Coach for the SHU North District Under-18 Boys, with his son Thomas Scott

Taylor (2002-07) as Assistant Coach, and their players have had a successful season in National Inter-District Competitions. At the outdoor competition at Edinburgh Peffermill North finished third, winning two out of their four games. At the indoor competition at Dundee University North were runners-up. This makes their best finish for several seasons. Six North players were selected for the Scotland Under-18 Training Squad.

Alan David Thomson (1951-64) MB,ChB has spent nearly forty years in Canada working in three provinces, mainly in medical administration at provincial level. His main areas of interest were in the uses of data to make decisions about funding and service provision. Since retiring five years ago he has done some consultancy work but his chief interests are now singing, as a member of two choirs, and canoeing, of the open Canadian variety. He has been president of the provincial canoeing association for the last four years and instructs in various disciplines of the sport.

Ian Thomson (1952-60) worked in the research labs of Northern Electric in Ottawa for a number of years before moving to Holland to a post with the European Space Agency. He returned to Ottawa where, after working for a variety of telecoms and space companies, he and his wife set up their own company concentrating on developing and manufacturing radiation sensors for space and medical applications. He has now sold the business and retired, “gradually developing outside interests” including living and travelling in Mexico in the winter, learning Spanish, and sailing on the Ottawa River in the summer.

Ian Carr Urquhart (1952-68) MA emigrated to Canada in 1974 after gaining an honours degree in geography. After thirty years of teaching he retired as head of Geography, History and Business at Malvern Collegiate Institute. He was a star prop for the Toronto Barbarians in the 70s and 80s. He lives in the Beaches area of Toronto but spends much of his time at his cottage in Northern Ontario where he enjoys fishing.

Alexander Mackay Watt (1937-50), after spending four years in farming, emigrated to Canada in 1954. He joined Woodwards Department Stores and worked in various posts in Edmonton and Calgary before promotion in 1975 to the head buying offices in Vancouver. He served as an executive there, travelling extensively throughout the world but most often in South-east Asia. He retired in 1986 and now lives in Summerland, in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

William Geddie Watt (1971-77) MA has been chief executive of Martin Currie Investment Management since 2001. Previously he had spent sixteen years with the 3i Group, latterly as their Scottish managing director with responsibility for all their investment market activity in Scotland and Ireland. After graduating with a first class honours degree in Geography he completed a Carnegie research scholarship in geography and archaeology at Aberdeen University.

Denis Noble Yule (1960-66) LL.B is currently President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. After almost forty years as a partner in the city law firm Mackinnons, latterly the senior partner, he retired last October. He continues in a consultancy role, contributing his long experience in fisheries prosecutions and general court and tribunal advocacy.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Marriages

Hamilton (1988-94) – At Insch Parish Church, Aberdeenshire on 12 July 2008 Grant Allan Hamilton son of H. Alan S. Hamilton (1943-56) and of Mrs Liz Hamilton, 35 Hazledene Road, Aberdeen to Shona, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs Hugh Robertson, Drumrosie House, Insch.

Juroszek (1994-2000) – At St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs, Aberdeen on 12 September 2008 Rory O’Conaire of County Clare, Ireland to Laura Juroszek, daughter of Andrew Juroszek (1966-71) and of Mrs Linda Juroszek, 8 Bayview Road, Aberdeen.

Shepherd (1988-94) – At Forbes of Kingennie, Angus on 10 October 2008 Barry John Shepherd, youngest son of Mr & Mrs Gordon Shepherd, formerly of Rosemount Place, Aberdeen to Amanda Miller, daughter of Dr & Mrs Francis Miller, Camperdown Road, Aberdeen

Williams – At Logie Buchan Church, Aberdeenshire on 4 April 2009 James Patrick Williams, son of Dr. Michael James Williams (1936-45) and of the late Dr Mary Williams, Oakhill Road, Aberdeen to Emma Katherine McAra, daughter of Mr & Mrs Stewart McAra, Ellon

Obituaries

William Francis Anderson (1958-64) died peacefully in hospital in Inverness on 12 November 2008 aged 62. After leaving School he worked in the motor insurance department of the General Accident Assurance Company before joining a car and van hire company in Aberdeen. He later became manager of contract and self-drive hire for Cordiners Cars & Trucks in Inverness. He was for a number of years manager of the Moray Bar in Inverness, and was also Moray Firth Radio Sports and Farming editor. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Distinguished Classical Scholar

Edward Kerr Borthwick (1933-42) MA, BA, PhD died peacefully in Edinburgh on 28 December 2008 aged 83. A Prefect and one of the School editors of the Magazine, he was Classical Dux of the School in 1942, winning medals as best Latin and Greek scholar and also for English and French. These achievements were an early pointer to what was to be a career as a recognised authority on Greek and Latin literature and lexicography, on ancient Greek music and on the connections between the classics and more recent music and literature. At Aberdeen he was a multi-prize winner on his way to first class honours in Classics in 1946. With a classical scholarship to Cambridge, he graduated in 1948 with first class honours in both parts of the Classical Tripos and distinction in Literature. There followed a Croom Robertson Fellowship at Aberdeen for 1948-51. He was awarded a PhD from Cambridge for his thesis on the influence of music on Greek life and thought. From 1952 he was an assistant lecturer in Classics at Leeds before appointment as Lecturer at Edinburgh in 1955. He was a senior lecturer from 1967, a Reader in 1970 and was given a personal chair in 1980, heading the department of Greek until retiring in 1989. He was the chairman of the Council of the Classical Association of Scotland in 1987-92, and was President from 1998 until 2003. He was also President of the Council’s Edinburgh branch in 1990-95.

Kerr was a prolific writer, in a wide variety of publications, on Greek and language, music, palaeography, textual criticism and literary interpretation. His musical interests led him to give recitals on worship through music at St Andrew’s Parish Church in Edinburgh, and he

attended conferences on Beethoven and Haydn. An accomplished musician, he played the French Horn with Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra from its inception in 1963. He was also a keen sportsman, with golf and tennis his main pursuits. He was captain of Braid Tennis Club in Edinburgh for twelve seasons and president for fifteen.

Kerr is survived by his wife to whom he had been married for fifty-four years, by his three children, three grandchildren and a great-grandson.

James Costello (1996-02) died in a tragic helicopter accident off Peterhead on 1 April 2009. He was aged 24. After leaving School he worked in a variety of roles with the offshore firm Production Services Network, involved with the oil industry in the North Sea. He then joined KCA Deutag for whom he was working on the Miller drilling platform. He was returning onshore from that platform when the helicopter in which he and fifteen others were flying crashed without warning. He is survived by his mother and sister.

Ian Mackenzie Davidson (1937-44) BSc died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 15 January 2009 aged 81. Born in San Francisco he came to Aberdeen around the age of ten. He was Modern Dux of the School in 1944 and after a spell in the forces went on to study at Aberdeen University, graduating in Science in 1951. He planned going on to take a law degree, and an apprenticeship with an Aberdeen firm of solicitors was in prospect until a change of mind led him into the teaching profession. For five years from 1956 he taught maths and science in Alford and later in various schools in Aberdeenshire, most notably in Rosehearty. He was recognised as a gifted, highly intelligent and caring person. He retired in 1983. He was a skilful photographer, and in retirement spent much of his time passing on his knowledge in this field to others, notably in Mannofield Church of which he was an Elder.

Gary Douglas Deans (1971-76) died suddenly in hospital in Aberdeen on 4 March 2004 aged 43. At School Gary was a football fanatic, and continued as a lifelong supporter of Aberdeen Football Club. He was one of the ‘red army’ in Gothenburg in 1982. After school he followed his father into the motor trade, joining The Harper Motor Company where he specialised in parts supply. He is survived by his wife Shona and son Gary.

Graham Kemp Deans (1968-74) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 16 January 2009 following a short illness. He was aged 52. At School he was a chorister, especially with the madrigal choir, performing throughout Scotland and in Regensburg Cathedral on one of the School’s exchange visits. He was one of Miss Boyd’s librarians, a 5th and 6th year prefect and the projectionist for the Film Club under the guidance of Archie Baxter. On leaving School he joined Aberdeen City Police as a Cadet, progressing to Constable with what was by then Grampian Police in 1975. Graham served as a beat officer in Tillydrone, Northfield and generally on the north side of Aberdeen before joining the newly formed full-time Airport Unit at Dyce. A posting to the Force Control room saw the start of a career in communications. He was a member of the team which brought computers to “Grampol” and became an integral part of computerised operations. He was a nationally recognised expert in the development and use of major incident handling software. After a number of years as a local instructor he was promoted and posted to the Police National Computer training facility at Durham and Leicester, where his training skills benefited every Force in the country. He retired in 2001. Graham was predeceased by his brother Gary as noted above. He is survived by his parents Jean and Doug, his wife Kath, his daughter Terri Jayne Deans (1996-2000), his son Graham Robert Deans (1994-2000 ) and by a granddaughter.

James Mitchell Dent (1963-67) died peacefully in Aberdeen on 5 February 2009 aged 57 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He joined the Northern Co-operative Society at the age of 16 as an office-boy in the counting house of their former Loch Street premises in Aberdeen and had progressed to be a clerk before leaving in 1970 to become a clerical officer in the Department of Health and Social Security in Aberdeen. An active member of the Labour Party, and having now joined the Civil Service, he quickly became involved

with their main Union, the Civil and Public Service Association, in which he rose through the ranks to become Secretary and Chairperson of the Scottish Section. In 1986 he was coopted as a director of Norco. He continued to work as an executive officer with the DHSS until ill health forced him to retire in 1995. A great fan of the Dons, and a survivor of the heady Gothenburg days, he hardly ever missed a home match at Pittodrie, even when he was forced to use a wheel-chair. He is survived by his wife, Rhoda.

Alexander Angus Cameron Edmond (1938-43) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 19 February 2009 aged 83. A keen and skilful cricketer from his schooldays, he played in the FP 1st XI for several years in the 1940s and ‘50s. He was a member of the first side to play in the Strathmore Union in 1947 and of the side which won the Championship in the following season. His bowling found him in the first five of the Strathmore Union Averages. He was employed by the local authority cleansing department and was a popular figure in the Queen’s Cross area of the city. He was predeceased by his wife.

Ian Angus Ellis (1954-55) BSc, PhD died in hospital in Aberdeen on 13 September 2008, aged 71. He graduated in Science at Aberdeen University in 1959 and went on to gain his doctorate in 1962. The next two years were spent as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Indiana at Bloomington, USA. He was for ten years an assistant lecturer and then lecturer at Westfield College, London before taking up a post as a teacher of science at Aboyne Academy.

James Sadler Finnie (1934-41) MB,ChB, FRCGP died peacefully in a hospice in Aberdeen on 1 August 2008 aged 83.

Prof. C.I. Phillips writes: “After graduating from Aberdeen University, the youngest in his year, in 1946 he served for two years as a Surgeon-Lieutenant in the RNVR. His seafaring was limited to occasional motor-boat trips from his sick-bay in Rosneath to naval vessels anchored in the Gareloch in the Clyde. To his repertoire as an accomplished raconteur and after-dinner speaker were added hilarious tales of the foibles of those with scrambled egg adorning the skips of their caps.

“For the rest of his career he was a very successful general practitioner in Aberdeen – a lifetime of robust but meticulous care of his patients from consulting rooms first in Torry, then in Union Street and finally in Rubislaw Terrace. Between 1950 and his retirement in 1984 his positive personality welcome the revolution in the organisation of general medicine (well, most of it) and in medicine: the latter advanced from limited diagnostic and therapeutic applications to a wealth of medical and surgical treatments – antibiotics, chemotherapy, oral agents for diabetes, lithium for manic-depression, coronary artery bypass and stents, renal dialysis, joint replacements and transplant surgery.

“Sport of all kinds interested him and his wife, Ishbel, - herself a graduate of the Dunfermline College of Physical Education – but his well co-ordinated, tall, lissom figure – a characteristic all his life – made him an elegant and superb golfer. A member of the University golf team as an undergraduate, his qualities of leadership and capacity for friendships in all walks of life ensured his captaincy of that team and, later, of Royal Aberdeen. Another avocation was fishing, as well as tramping his beloved Scottish hills, enjoyed with his family. In his later decades, to keep fit after two near-fatal heart attacks, he revived his early expertise in swimming.

“‘Every day’s a bonus’ he said after his second heart attack. His beautiful home in Cults, with its steep garden well tended by himself, has a lovely panorama over the Dee and gave him, his family and their many guests great pleasure.”

James contributed an interesting article, Looking Back, in the centenary Magazine of 1993, in which he reflected on the changes in the medical profession during his career. He is survived by Ishbel, their two sons – one of them Keith James Campbell Finnie (195467) – and by three grandchildren.

Former Dux and Distinguished Philosopher

Ronald William Hepburn (1936-44) MA, PhD died in Edinburgh on 23 December 2008 after a brief illness, aged 81. Senior Prefect in session 1943/44 he was President of the Literary & Debating Society and Classical Dux in 1944. He was for a time Scoutmaster of the 17th (Grammar School) Troop. Called to military service, he was commissioned in the Gordon Highlanders and served in North Africa and Cyprus. He then undertook a short course in classics at Worcester College, Oxford before returning to Aberdeen to study divinity, then English and philosophy. He graduated in 1951 with first class honours in Moral Philosophy and English. He was awarded a Clark Bursary to study Divinity. He received a doctorate in 1955 for a thesis on ‘Cosmology and Value’.

He was a lecturer in Moral Philosophy at Aberdeen before spending 1959-60 as visiting associate professor of philosophy at New York. In 1960 he was appointed to a new chair of Philosophy at Nottingham and four years later moved to Edinburgh, again to a new chair. He transferred to the chair of moral philosophy in 1975 when he was described as “the latest in a long line of eminent philosophers to fill this historic chair founded in 1583.” He retired in 1996.

His contributions to philosophy in the fields of the philosophy of religion, aesthetics and environmental studies have been described as among the most distinctive. He wrote extensively and was a strong advocate for the central place of philosophy in a university education.

He is survived by his wife, to whom he had been married for fifty-five years, and by three children. It is interesting to note that he died a week before his professorial colleague, Kerr Borthwick, classical Dux two years before him, and three weeks before Ian Davidson, his contemporary Modern Dux.

Sydney Hart Jackson (1924-35) died suddenly on 22 January 2006, aged 86. The younger son of an Aberdeen grocer and wine merchant, he discovered an early passion for classical music, studying piano and organ, yet chose to enter banking as a profession. The beginning of his career was interrupted by war service with the Royal Engineers. Captured in 1940 at St Valery, he spent several years as a P.O.W. in camps in Poland and Germany. There, his musical abilities were much in demand for training singers and accompanying Gilbert and Sullivan productions and other entertainments.

After the war, he was selected for the first cohort to enter Ramsay Lodge, the newly established staff college for the Commercial Bank. His career spanned a period of major amalgamations and mergers. He served successively with the Commercial Bank in Aberdeen and Dunfermline; with the National Commercial Bank in Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh, George Street; and finally with the Royal Bank of Scotland as manager of Edinburgh, Bruntsfield. He published research into the architectural history of their splendid George Street office building. He retired in 1979.

In all his postings he was a keen supporter of community endeavours. He was instrumental in establishing a branch of Round Table in Dunfermline and in developing Toastmasters in Fife. A long-standing elder of the Church of Scotland, he also contributed in various parishes at different times as congregational treasurer and as organist. He took part in an exploratory archaeological dig in the grounds of Corstorphine Old Parish Church and wrote a visitors’ guidebook for that church.

The start of his retirement was devastated by the sudden death of his wife, May. Moving away from the city, he concentrated on building a new life in the countryside at Crook of Devon, near Kinross. There he engaged in swimming, golfing, gardening and walking, as well as becoming involved in local interest projects. His long retirement also enabled him to spend considerable time each year abroad, visiting good friends near Lisbon. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela. His elder brother, who pre-deceased him, was Douglas Logan Jackson (1919-30).

Leslie Graeme Johnston (1932-45) died peacefully in a hospice in Edinburgh on 29 March 2009 following a long illness. He was aged 81. Throughout his life he always held

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

his old school in great affection. After leaving School, he completed National Service in the Royal Navy, serving in various ships in different parts of the world. After demobilisation he trained with Cable & Wireless, following in his father’s footsteps, and served in various places abroad. He returned from Brazil to work in the company’s head office in London, finally retiring in his mid-fifties to settle in Edinburgh. He coped with his last illness with great fortitude.

Sandy Stuart (1932-45) writes: “Leslie Johnston was my oldest friend, having attended the Grammar School from the age of 5. We shared many experiences at school and afterwards.

“We were paired together at a harvest camp at Birkenhills School near Turriff and we were allocated to Braefoot farm where we received excellent treatment. Maggie Mac (a popular Maths teacher) prepared our evening meal.

“We once cycled back to Aberdeen against a strong head wind, taking three to four hours, in order to attend Madame Murray’s Saturday evening dance club in the Cowdray Hall. Another notable journey was a hitch-hiking trip to Braemar and then a hike through the Lairig Ghru pass, spending a night at the Corour Bothy on our way to Aviemore.

“Leslie was popular with all who knew him; he had a tremendous personality which endeared him to everyone. Wilson McIntosh, Leslie and myself attended the Steve Robertson/Grammar School “Bon Record” Show in His Majesty’s Theatre in 2007; we had all gone to school together and had been friends for 75 years. Leslie will be missed by all his many friends”.

Leslie is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren. His brother is Neil Roderick Johnston (1943-53)

John Lowell Kilgour (1936-41) CB, MB.ChB died peacefully in hospital in Oxford on 26 September 2008 aged aged 84. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen University in 1947 and in the following year joined the army as a surgical trainee in the RAMC. He served with 26 Field Ambulance in Korea where he was second-in-command to Lt-Col. Alastair Maclennan (1923-29) and where he met Lt-Col. Eric Linklater (1913-16) who had been commissioned to write an official account of the part played by British troops in the Korean War. He later served in Cyprus, where he refused to be involved in the torture of EOKA terrorists, and in Suez, where he was parachuted behind enemy lines to secure an exit route for the wounded. In 1961-64 he was ADMS at HQ Far East Land Forces in Singapore, and took the opportunity to go to Khatmandu and walk the Himalayan foothills. He attended the Joint Services Staff College, qualifying as the top student, and went on to serve as chief instructor at the RAMC Depot.

He left the army in 1966 and, following a brief spell in a family timber business, joined the Civil Service; between 1971 and 1978 he was in charge of International Health at the Department of Health and Social Security. He also served as medical adviser to the Overseas Development Ministry (where he saw a rise in aid from £7m to £70m) and to the Foreign Office. He was the UK delegate to the Council of Europe Public Health Committee, delegate to the World Health Assembly in 1971-76 and a member of the WHO commission on international control of communicable diseases. In 1978 he was seconded to the WHO in Geneva as Director of Co-ordination and played a major part in the smallpox eradication campaign.

He returned to the UK in 1983 as Director of Prison Medical Services at the Home Office. He was also a visiting lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a member of the governing council of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. After retiring in 1989 he continued to work for a medical group in Harrow and did some private work in Harley Street. In recognition of his work in the Civil Service he was made a Companion of the Bath in the 1989 New Year Honours. He is survived by his wife, Daphne, to whom he had been married for fifty-three years, and two sons.

Former President of Club & Law Society

Alexander Edward McIlwain (1945-51) CBE, MA, LL.B, SSC, WS died suddenly, but after a long illness, in hospital in Glasgow on 18 July 2008, aged 75. A member of the 1st XI at School, he took an active part in student affairs at Aberdeen University, where he took part in Student Shows, edited the student newspaper and served on the Student Representative Council, of which he was President in 1956-57. He graduated in Arts in 1954 and Law in 1956, after which he completed National Service, holding a commission in the Royal Corps of Signals.

He moved to Hamilton in 1961 where he became a partner in Leonards. He was for many years burgh prosecutor, and later district prosecutor, for Hamilton. He served as Dean of the Hamilton Faculty of Solicitors and became an honorary Sheriff for Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway. In 1974 he was elected as member of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland for Hamilton. After serving on, and later convening, two of the major committees of the Society he was elected President in 1983, the third FP to hold this office in five years. On completing his term of office he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

After retiring from active practice he became the first elected chairman of the Legal Aid Central Committee for Scotland, was appointed to the newly formed Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Panel, and became a member of the Judicial Studies Committee set up by the Secretary of State to promote training for the Judiciary. He was chairman of the Lanarkshire Scout Area, a member of Lanarkshire Health Board and an elder of Glasgow Cathedral.

Sandy was President of the FP Club in 2003-04, having been an active member of the Glasgow Centre for many years. The Presidential Profile, written by his old School friend Steve Robertson, in the 2003 Magazine is fascinating reading and encapsulates ‘Sandy Mac’ to perfection.

Austen Gardiner (1938-54) writes: “The death of Sandy McIlwain has robbed all of us of a truly great Grammarian. Sandy, of course, possessed all the attributes of a true Grammarian, in particular courtesy toward and concern for his fellow men and women. Stephen Robertson recalled most of Sandy’s gifts in an eloquent eulogy at Sandy’s memorial service at Glasgow Cathedral. Those of us privileged to count Sandy as a close friend particularly miss his manic sense of humour and wit – never evident at other people’s expense and always delivered in his charming Grammarian drawl”.

Sandy is survived by his wife, Moira, and by three daughters and five grandchildren of whom he was very proud.

Edward John MacRae (1934-47) died peacefully in Kincardine Community Hospital on 27 December 2008 aged 79. Following National service in the army he worked for a time at the Corn Exchange, London before returning to Aberdeen in 1953 to run his father’s business. He later joined Hill Samuel, financial advisers, and was a representative of theirs in the North-east for several years before retiring on health grounds. He had lived in Stonehaven for many years where in retirement he enjoyed bowling. He is survived by his wife, to whom he had been married for over fifty years, and by a son and daughter.

Neil MacMahon (1939-40, 1946-52) died peacefully in Worthing, Sussex on 9 September 2008 aged 74. He had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for some time. His career started with the Temperance Permanent Building Society in Aberdeen, but he was soon promoted to the head office in London. After a merger with the Bedford Building Society to form the Gateway Building Society he installed the first computer system at the administrative headquarters in Worthing. He became a senior executive with the Society, a post which he held after a further merger with the Woolwich Building Society. He took early retirement in 1991.

Neil’s interests were in music – he played piano and oboe – Rotary – of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow and a District Governor – and Church, of which he was Treasurer for almost thirty years.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

He is survived by his wife, Edna, to whom he had been married for 51 years, by a son and daughter and by four grandchildren.

Stephen John George Marshall (1972-78) LL.B died in a hospice in Aberdeen on 1 November 2008 following a lengthy illness. He was aged 48. A graduate of Aberdeen University, he spent his career in Local Government, initially with Grampian Region but as from 1985 as the Committee Officer for the former Kincardine & Deeside District Council, based at Stonehaven, where his organisational and, indeed, diplomatic skills were widely respected. On local government reorganisation in 1996 he was transferred to Aberdeenshire Council, undertaking a similar role with the Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee. He also acted as a Depute Returning Officer, assisting with both local and parliamentary elections. Paying tribute on his death, a colleague said “Stephen’s knowledge of and interest in elections, local government and politics in general was perhaps only matched by his great passion for supporting Aberdeen Football Club”. Indeed, letters commenting on the club’s performance, authored by Stephen, occasionally appeared in the sports pages of the local newspapers.

Alexander John Robertson Murray (1928-39) BSc, PhD died in Leatherhead, Surrey in May 2008 aged 85. Just sixteen at the outbreak of war in 1939, he left School early to study at Aberdeen University, where he graduated with honours in chemistry in 1943. As a student he was a member of the Observer Corps and experienced many of the air raids on Aberdeen. Commissioned in the Royal Corps of Signals, he went by sea to Bombay and crossed India overland to join General Slim’s ‘forgotten’ 14th Army in Burma. He took part in the liberation of Rangoon and later served in Borneo. He returned to University at Aberdeen and obtained his doctorate with a thesis on “the Ultrasonic Degradation of High Polymers” in 1949.

He spent a thirty-two year career with ICI, firstly as a research chemist and then in general management at Welwyn Garden City. He then transferred to the plant at Fleetwood before joining the newly-created ICI European headquarters in Brussels where he was responsible for plastics production across the continent. While in Brussels he was an elder of the Scots church there. He spent the last four years of his career as manager of the Rotterdam plant, retiring in 1981.

He returned to Welwyn Garden City and was soon immersed in a variety of activities. He maintained a passion for technology and quickly mastered the use of the computer which he acquired when he was eighty. He loved to travel – to places of historic interest, to visit family and friends and to return to Scotland. He was predeceased by his wife in 2007, but is survived by his two sons and five grandchildren.

Norman Thomas Nicol (1925-39) OBE, TD, MB,ChB, FFR, FRCR, DMRT has died aged 88. At School he was president of the Dramatic Society. Following war service, he attended Aberdeen University, graduating in Medicine in 1950. After appointments as R.M.O. and then Registrar at Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute at Manchester he spent five years at Sheffield. In 1960 he was appointed as a consultant in radiotherapy at Leicester Royal Infirmary and from 1964 until retiring in 1985 he was Radiotherapist-in-Charge at the Leicester Regional Centre for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Service in the Territorial Army earned him the Territorial Decoration which was awarded in 1963, and in 1981 he was appointed OBE. From 1978 until he retired he was a Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire. His retirement was spent in Whitby.

FP Cricket Stalwart

John Bain ‘Sam’ Rennie (1946-53) died suddenly, but peacefully, at his home in Aberdeen on 24 June 2008 aged 73. At School he was a member of the 1st XV and of the 1st XI and was Cricket captain and Athletics vice-captain of Keith House. After National Service he worked in building society finance in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. He came back to Aberdeen as area manager of the Bristol & West Building Society in the city. In 1985 he was appointed Scottish Regional manager of the Society.

Sam played rugby for FPs for a time, and was a former secretary of Aberdeen Exiles Rugby Football Club, but is better remembered as a stalwart of the Cricket Section whose particular strength was with the bat. A fascinating pen-portrait of Sam appears elsewhere in this Magazine. He was a season-ticket holder at Pittodrie as befitted a keen supporter of Aberdeen Football Club. Sam was a founder member of the Club Centre and served on its committee and on the Executive for a number of years. He was Editor of Magazine Notes in 1970-71.

Sam is survived by his wife, one son and a grandson.

Former President of Club and SRU

Charles Ritchie (1945-51) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 29 September 2008 following a short illness. He was aged 75. A member of the 1st XV at School, he spent two years on National Service before taking up employment in the insurance industry. He was for many years with the Royal Exchange Assurance (latterly Guardian Royal Exchange) in Aberdeen before taking early retirement. He and his wife then ran the Colwyn Hotel in the city’s Dee Street.

Charlie’s main interests throughout his life, apart from his family, were Rugby and the FP Club. He was a distinguished prop forward and later hooker for FPs and he was regularly selected for North & Midlands District against other districts and touring sides until he was forced by injury to retire from playing in season 1969-70. He was Secretary of the Rugby Section from 1965 until 1974, when he became North District representative to the Scottish Rugby Union. He served as Secretary of the North District, and his dedication was rewarded by appointment as a Special Representative to the SRU in 1982.

Charlie served as SRU Liaison Officer to every touring side visiting Scotland for ten years from 1985. He was Manager of the Scottish touring party to Australia in 1992 and Liaison Officer to the Rugby World Cup in 1995. His years of service were recognised by his election as President of the Union for 1997-98, the fifth FP to hold such office.

Charlie served on the Executive Committee of the FP Club on a number of occasions and, as one of the founder members of the Club Centre, served on its first Management Committee. He was Notes Editor of the Magazine for three and a half years between 1966 and 1969. His years of loyal and enthusiastic service to the Club were recognised when he was elected as President for 1999-2000.

Sadly, he was predeceased by his wife, Helen, prior to his undertaking the SRU Presidency but he is survived by his two sons Niall John Ritchie (1982) and Malcolm Munro Ritchie (1982-85).

James Collie Sellar (1924-34) died peacefully, after a short illness, in a nursing home in Aberdeen on 31 March 2009 aged 90.

Ronald William Grant (1948-61) writes: “The Club and Club Centre lost one of their more colourful members with the death of Collie Sellar. Although we had been friends for twenty years, I found it difficult to write this, as he spoke so little about himself. As his equally colourful friend and contemporary, Basil Emslie, is also deceased, I had no sources regarding his early life, not even Sandy Stuart, his long-standing friend.

“Collie was born in Wallasey in 1918, but his family moved to Aberdeen, his mother’s origin, where he started at Aberdeen Grammar School aged 5. Sadly, Collie had to forgo his place at University to run the family business (which he did extremely successfully) from age 17 due to his father’s early death. His businesses included taxis, funeral directors, garages and car dealerships. As Campbell & Sellar’s taxis were open 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, he worked hard to build his business, assisted by his delightful wife, Helen, and her sister, Jessie, to whom he referred as his Numbers 1 and 2 Indians, why I never knew. Apart from his wife, daughter and two sons, his business was his life. Exotic holidays were deemed unnecessary, except when visiting family, as Crieff and Banchory were within easy driving distance, and had the essential 18-hole golf courses.

“Rather than his history, it is his persona which is most memorable. Everyone knew him, he chatted to anyone. His frequent tongue-in-cheek prayers to the heavens, sprinkled with Biblical text and litany, were unique and characteristic. He professed disdain for Man’s frailty but laughed readily at almost anything, particularly himself.

“Not a week goes by without some memory of him coming up in conversation. He will be long remembered with great affection.”

Collie is survived by his wife, Helen, by two sons – one of them James Colin Sellar (1957-70) – a daughter and six grandchildren.

Alexander Martin Shaw (1952-58) MA, LL.B died suddenly at his home in Edinburgh on 16 December 2008 aged 68. He graduated with an honours Arts degree from Aberdeen University in 1963 and obtained a Law degree in 1965. His subsequent career was spent in the field of industrial relations and employment law, working in particular with British Leyland and Silicon Glen. He had a near flawless record at Employment Tribunals, and the Law Society of Scotland recognised not only his ability but also the ever-present professional and courteous manner in which he approached and dealt with his colleagues.

Alex was a committed Christian and devoted family man who served the community and those in need of help tirelessly and with a humility, love, gentleness and infectious warmth which people from all walks of life recognised and to which they responded. He was very proud of his former School and especially enjoyed meeting friends from schooldays at the Reunion of the Class of ’58 held last year.

He is survived by his wife, his son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Distinguished Paediatrician

Alexander Logan Speirs (1926-38) OBE, MB,ChB, MRCP, DCH, MD, FRCP died peacefully in Bridge of Allan on 30 August 2008 aged 87. He was the second son of Alexander Speirs, teacher of Maths and Science at the School from 1900-35. In Upper 6, Sandy won the Geddes Silver Medal for Science before going up to Aberdeen University to study Medicine. He graduated in 1943, then entering the Royal Navy as a Surgeon-Lieutenant and serving with motor torpedo boats in the Channel and then on Fleet Air Arm stations. He then trained as a paediatrician and became a senior registrar at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow. Research into children with acute bowel cancer led to his thesis on the ‘History and Treatment of Infantile Gastro-enteritis’, for which he was awarded his MD from Aberdeen University. After a brief spell at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow he moved as a consultant paediatrician to Stirling where he was in charge of the children’s wards and neonatal units at both Stirling and Falkirk Royal Infirmaries. There he applied himself to modernising the paediatric services to provide the best possible care for the babies under his care.

In 1959 he began research into the causes of an alarming increase in the number of babies born with severe limb abnormalities, and by an intensive study of the drugs prescribed to mothers during pregnancy was able to identify the drug Distaval, later to become known as Thalidomide. As a result of this research the drug was immediately withdrawn in Britain and that a much greater tragedy did not occur is entirely due to Sandy Speirs’ persistence and determination. His work in this field gained him an international reputation and he contributed widely to medical journals. A consultant colleague, in a tribute, described this work as “single-handed clinical detective work of the highest order”. He was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1979 with the award of the OBE.

Sandy was a keen golfer and hill-walker, enjoying the Perthshire hills, and he continued to enjoy his walking as much as possible after a severe stroke ten years ago. Sadly, he was predeceased by his wife and by one daughter. He is survived by his other daughter, who is married to Michael Grant Walker (1949-57) FRCS.

Ronald Alexander Stables (1959-65) BSc died suddenly at his home in Aberdeen on 13 February 2009 aged 61. After graduating from Aberdeen University in 1969 he took up a teaching post in Nassau in the Bahamas, where he remained for three years. He then

undertook post-graduate work at University College of North Wales in Bangor, before returning to the North-east in 1975 to take up a post as a science teacher in Inverurie Academy.

Vincent George Rhode Stephen (1934-47) died suddenly but peacefully, after a long illness, at his home in Macduff on 7 April 2009. He was just three weeks short of his 80th birthday.

Brian Gray (1943-49) writes: “Steve coped with his serious illness with great fortitude and unfailing good humour. At School he was involved in a wide range of activities –Prefect, Captain of the 1st XV, Captain of Melvin House, Company Sergeant Major of the Army Cadet Force and a keen member of the 17th Scout Troop. In 1947, at the start of the summer term, he was called up for National Service in the Royal Engineers. After demobilisation he studied Business Administration at the Glasgow & West of Scotland Commercial College from 1949 to 1951.

“In early 1952 he joined a leading plantations company, Harrisons and Crosfield Ltd, as assistant manager of one of their many rubber estates in the then Malaya (to become Malaysia at Independence). At this time Communism was a major menace in SE Asia, and Malaya itself had been fighting a war (the so called Emergency) against communist terrorists since 1948. The rubber estates and tin mines were vital to the economy and in the front line of terrorist attack and disruption. Steve was posted to a ‘hot spot’ in Central Malaya where there was a daily threat of ambush. By 1957 the Emergency was largely over and Steve progressed to be Manager of various important company estates under vastly improved operating conditions. In the 1950s some sixty or seventy FPs were working in Malaysia and Singapore, and for twelve years Steve and I jointly organised an annual reunion/dinner. This event took place in an atmosphere of high spirits and conviviality, sometimes spread over two days. It was keenly attended by FPs and their guests with Steve, a natural comic, wit and raconteur, in the centre of the fun.

“In 1969, Steve and his wife Sheila (they were married in 1956) decided to return to Scotland to be with their three sons during their schooling. They purchased the Commercial Inn in Insch and a few years later, the Moray Bar in Macduff, Sheila’s home town. In 1977 they opted for a change, opening two adjacent shops in Macduff which they operated for sixteen years until retirement. Sheila died in 1995 and Steve is survived by his sons, Kenneth, Gordon and Mark, all born in Malaysia, and by five grandchildren.”

James Fergus Watt (1921-25) BL died peacefully in Edinburgh on 4 February 2009 aged 92. He completed his education at Daniel Stewarts’ College in Edinburgh and went on to graduate in law at Edinburgh University. He was appointed as a legal assistant to Aberdeen Corporation in 1937. During World War II he was responsible for leading army aircraft in for landing. He returned to the Town House to become senior legal assistant. He was appointed Town Clerk in 1972 and in 1974 was nominated as the new chief executive of the City of Aberdeen District Council, becoming involved in reorganising the local government system in the city. He retired in 1977 and went on to become a member of the Valuation Panel for Grampian Region. He was keenly interested in hill-walking and sailing. He moved to Edinburgh some years ago.

Alexander Wilson (1940-50) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 22 November 2008 aged 73. His time at the School was interrupted between June 1940 and August 1944. He grew up in Banchory and travelled daily with his elder brother Graeme Joss Wilson (1938-48). After leaving School he completed National Service with the RAF before joining his brother in building up the firm of William Wilson Ltd, plumbing and electrical contractors. He fulfilled various roles with the company before becoming managing director. He retired due to ill-health in 1988, but continued as a director of William Wilson Holdings until the business was sold in 2005. He was a founder member of St Machar Rotary Club and was regularly a driver for elderly people through the Samaritans. A keen supporter of Aberdeen Football Club, he enjoyed curling and golf. He was predeceased by his wife earlier in the year, but is survived by two sons and three grandchildren.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2008 Former Pupils’ Club

and Expenditure Account

EXPENDITURE

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine