AGS Magazine December 1954

THE

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHGDL MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS Facing Page

Facing page

The Coire Etchachan Shelter. .

The Arms of the Club .

. 6z . . 38 Upper VI-1954-55 . . 39 Mr. D. M. Annand and Mr. . 63 .

J. D. Morrison .

. .

• . .

• 1z56 and All That . . .

The Rector at U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference . .

• • • .

Notes about Old Boys . . . .

University Notes .

Trading with Communist China. By George F:Esson . .

• . .

• Back to Erin. By E. R. B. .

British South Georgia Expedition, 1954-55. By George A. Sutton . . .

9 .

• .

Books by F.P.s • • • • • • Scottish Country Dancing . . . . . .

The Coire Etchachan Shelter . . . . .

• • • The Arms of the Club . .

• • .

• . .

Marriages • . .

• . .

Obituary School Section— . . .

School and Random Notes . . .

Edinburgh Festival, 1954 . . .

The National Youth Orchestra . .

• American Education in Los Angeles . .

Impressions of Post-War Germany . . . .

Changes in the School Staff . . . . . . " Sonnet " . .

Literary and Debating Society . . . . . . .

Music .

Film Society. Arts Club. Dramatic Society • • .

• Combined Cadet Force . . . .

• • .

Pipes and Drums . . . . . . .

Scouts . . . . .

Lower School Notes. . . . . .

House Notes .

School Sporting Activities— Rugby . .

• • Hockey . . .

Athletics .

Cricket. Swimming The Former Pupils' Club— . . . . . . .

Annual Dinner . . . . . .

Glasgow Centre . . . . . . . .

Malaya Centre . . . . . . . .

London Centre . . .

F.P. Rugby Section .

School and F.P. Rugby Fixtures. F.P. Tennis Section . . . . .

F.P. Cricket Section .

• • . . . .

F.P. Golf Section .

• F.P. Hockey Section. Club Boarding House . . .

• New Members of the Club Addresses Wanted. Club Subscription Rates . . . . .

• Club Consuls .

• • Club Office-Bearers, 1954-55 •

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 7111 year, No. IN

Vol. LVIII

(New Series, b'sst year, No. z66)

DECEMBER 5 954

No. I

The Magazine is published under the auspices of the Former Pupils' Club in December and June. Communications should be addressed to the Editor, ALAN C. R. WATT, M.A., LL.B., 52 Bon-Accord Crescent, Aberdeen.

NOTE : An asterisk after a name indicates that the F.P. is a member of the F.P. Club; dater after a name indicate the years of attendance at the School.

1256 and All That As many of the readers of the Magazine will already know, the Septcentenary of the School is not to be celebrated in 5956. There will be many others, however, to whom this information will come as at least a surprise and a disappointment. " Founded prior to 1256 " has become a time-honoured slogan for Grammarians, but the historians of to-day are against us and we are told that, while the date of the School's foundation is still lost in antiquity, there is no evidence to support the claim that it has existed for seven centuries.

Prior to 5902 it was believed that the School had been in existence since before 1262, in which year Thomas de Bennum is described in a document of the Abbey of Arbroath as rector scholarum de Aberdene. When Dr. H. F. Morland Simpson (Rector of the School, 1893-1919) was engaged in compiling his Bon Record—Records and Reminiscences of Aberdeen Grammar School, he found in the Statutes of the Church of Aberdeen promulgated in 1256, the following extract: — It belongs to the dignity of the Chancellor's office, that he should supply a fit master, who shall have the direction of the schools of Aberdeen, and know how to instruct the bays in grammar as well as in logic.

This piece of evidence was taken to mean that a Grammar School was already in existence when the formal Statutes were drawn up.

It was generally accepted, indeed, that the school referred to was the Grammar School, and the extract from the Church Statutes was included in Bon Record as the earliest known reference to the School.

Dr. Simpson's book was published in 1906 and in September of that year the School's thirteenth jubilee was celebrated.

Since then, so far as we know, the School's claim to have been founded " prior to 5256 " has not been questioned, and arrangements were in hand for the celebration of the School's Septcentenary in 5956. In this connection Dr. W. Douglas Simpson (5905-53) was

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine 2 invited by the Executive of the Club some time ago to write a history of the School. He agreed to do so and his book was to be published by 1956.

Last summer, however, a member of the Club, Donald E. R. Watt (1931-43), who is a lecturer in Medieval History at the University of St. Andrews, happened to express to Mr. James F. Walker (19o2-14), head of the History Department at the School, his doubts regarding the connection between the 1256 reference, which he thought most probably denoted a school attached to the cathedral in Old Aberdeen, and the later Grammar School in the Burgh of Aberdeen. These doubts were communicated to the Rector and the opinion of Dr. W. Douglas Simpson was sought. Unhesitatingly Dr. Simpson expressed the view that the date i256 was of no significance in the history of the Grammar School and that there was accordingly no warrant for any centenary celebration in 1956. In a subsequent letter to the Town Clerk of Aberdeen, in response to a request to elaborate his views, he strongly recommended that the proposal to hold a Septcentenary celebration should be abandoned as the Town would expose itself to severe criticism on the part of scholars if they claimed 1256 as the date of the foundation of the School.

At a meeting of the Special Septcentenary Joint Committee, consisting of representatives of the Town Council, the School and the Club, it was agreed that Professor G. 0. Sayles of the Chair of History in the University of Aberdeen should be asked for his opinion.

This was given in a memorandum dated 3o September 1954 which is reprinted in full infra. The main points in Professor Sayles's memorandum are as follows 1. The history of medieval education was entirely misconceived until less than half a century ago, and those who celebrated in 1906 the 65oth birthday of the School did so in good faith and in accordance with the doctrine then accepted.

2. The bishopric of Aberdeen was established before 115o and it is almost certain that in the Cathedral of Aberdeen there was a school of some sort before 1256.

3. There is no doubt that in x256 the Chancellor of the cathedral was required to appoint a magister scholar= who would teach grammar and logic and see that four choristers were always present in church at matins and mass to perform special duties.

There can equally be little doubt that he carried out this injunction: there are references in extant documents to Thomas of Benholm, rector scbolarum de Aberdene (1262-63) and to an anonymous magister scholarum of Aberdeen (128x). After the latter year nothing more is known about the cathedral school at Aberdeen, but it is extremely unlikely that it came to an end in the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries. It would presumably have been located continuously in Old Aberdeen. all the evidence for the cathedral school comes from Whereas 4. the thirteenth century, the earliest direct evidence for the town school comes from the fifteenth century. In 1418 John

2256 and All That 3 Homyll became magirter scholartim of the burgh of Aberdeen, in succession to Andrew of Schivas, vicar of Bervie. ' The Town Council chose and nominated the schoolmaster and the Chancellor, as the licensing authority, approved the nomination and collated and instituted him in office.

5. There is evidence that the salary of the schoolmasters was paid from burgh funds in the 143os but there is no further piece of evidence until 1479 (from which date the succession of rectors of the School is known).

6. The problem whether there is a connection between the cathedral school and the town school is overshadowed by the absence of evidence between i z8 i and 1418, but although the series of documents is fragmentary, conjecture remains legitimate so long as the hypothesis advanced does not fly in the face of educational developments as they are known to have taken place elsewhere: it must conform to the general pattern.

7. For various reasons it is most improbable that the town school whose teacher in 2418 was selected by the Town Council was the same as the cathedral school of the thirteenth century.

There were probably two schools in the fifteenth century: a cathedral school in Old Aberdeen and a burgh school in the town, which had an independent origin as a licensed school.

8. There is only one verdict which a historian can at present give regarding the claim that the town school of 1418 was the same as the cathedral school of 1256 and that is Not Proven.

9. Even if the town school cannot take its origins beyond the late fourteenth or early fifteenth centuries, it would even then still stand proudly in the van of lay schools in Scotland and, indeed, Britain.

Professor Sayles's memorandum, together with the concurring opinions of Professor E. F. Jacob, Chichele Professor of History in the University of Oxford, Dr. Kathleen Edwards, lecturer in Medieval History at Aberdeen, and Mr. H. G. Richardson, permanent secretary of the Tithes Redemption Commission, was first considered by a sub-committee which resolved to report to the Special Septcentenary Joint Committee that, in their opinion, the date 1256 may be regarded as significant for the establishment of advanced education in Aberdeen, but that the evidence relating to that date cannot be regarded as providing a firm historical foundation for the celebration specifically in 1956 of the Septcentenary of the Grammar School.

This report was considered by the Joint Committee and was accepted by the representatives of the Town Council and the School.

A decision was, however, deferred at the request of the Club representatives until the matter had been discussed by the Club Executive.

At a subsequent meeting of the Executive it was agreed unanimously that, in the absence of positive proof at the present time of the founding of the School in 1x56, it would be inadvisable to celebrate its Septcentenary in 1956, but it was resolved, by a majority, that in view

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 4 of the equal lack of positive evidence to the contrary, and pending further investigation, the Club should continue to use the phrase "founded prior to iz56 ".

The Club representatives thereafter informed the Joint Committee of their agreement with the terms of the proposed recommendation to the Town Council (as suggested by the sub-committee) and this recommendation was adopted by the Council on i November 1954.

And there, it seems, the matter must rest in the meantime.

Professor Sayles's Memorandum I may be permitted to make one general observation at the outset. The history of medieval education was entirely misconceived in England as much as Scotland until less than half a century ago, and those who celebrated in 1906 the 65oth birthday of Aberdeen Grammar School did so in good faith and in accordance with accepted doctrine. Since then, in England, all but popular journalists now see the general development in its proper outline. Nevertheless, there is not a single English school, cathedral or lay, which can provide anything like a continuous account of itself. The gaps in knowledge can be measured in centuries and even Lincoln Grammar School, for which there is comparatively good documentation, disappeared from view between 1410 and 15 I I. The history of medieval education in Scotland at large has not yet been written in the light of present-day knowledge, and what should long ago have been held suspect is still accepted without questioning. There is a good and highly creditable story to be told but it has so far found no one disciplined in historical methods to tell it.

I. THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

The bishopric of Aberdeen was established at some indefinite time before 115o in the reign of David I (1124-1153). Tough the earliest known Cathedral Statutes, modelled closely upon those of Lincoln and Sarum, with a few local additions and variations, arc dated 1256, it is quite incredible that the cathedral had no formal constitution before that date. It is not only that Aberdeen would be out of line with practice in England, where such secular cathedrals as York, Lincoln and Sarurn were provided with constitutions as soon as they were founded in 1090-1091. But it would also be out of line with other Scottish dioceses created round about the same time : Moray had a chapter of eight canons before 1220 and even in remote Caithness there was a chapter of ten canons before 1245.

Therefore, we may accept as accurate the statement of Peter of Ramsay, Bishop of Aberdeen, in 1256, that he was ratifying the constitutions of his predecessors, reaching back to the mid-twelfth century. I have noted an allusion (unhappily without precise reference) to a charter of Ralph de Lambley, Bishop of Aberdeen, dated 1239-40, and witnessed by the Dean, the Precentor, the Chancellor, the Treasurer and the Official. If the charter be authentic—and there seems no prima fade reason for doubt—then the mere existence of these dignitaries makes a pre-1256 cathedral constitution a certainty. These details are important and relevant.

It is difficult to see how the services of the cathedral could have been maintained without a school of some sort before 1256. There had to be instruction in music in order that the choristers might chant in accordance with strict liturgical requirements. It was the precentor's duty—and ascribed to him in the 1256 constitution—to see that the choristers were duly taught how to sing, and there was apparently a precentor in Aberdeen Cathedral by I239-4o. But not only music was involved. For presumably the choristers must know the words and receive at least an elementary education in Latin. It was normal practice for general education to be entrusted to a scbolattieed, a svagider dbolanaa, a meter dbolartan (scbolarian means " classes", i.e. in one school). Such officials are to be found, connected not only with cathedral churches but with other collegiate churches of important standing. The decrees of Lateran Councils in 1179

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6

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine III. THE TOWN SCHOOL

In 1418 master John Homyll became magister stholarum of the burgh of Aberdeen. This does not mark the beginning of the town school, for he had a predecessor, Andrew of Schivas, vicar of Bervic. Though it was essential that the chancellor, as the licensing authority, should express his approval and collate and institute in office, the choice and nomination of the schoolmaster lay with the Provost and Town Council. The salary of the schoolmasters was paid from burgh funds in the 1430 s. We hear no more of them until 1479.

IV. THE PROBLEM

The problem whether there is a connection between the cathedral school and the town school is overshadowed by the absence of evidence between tz8t and 1418. Where there are no documents at all, there can be no history. In this instance there are documents but in a very fragmentary series. However, they are sufficient to make conjecture legitimate. But whatever hypothesis is advanced must not fly in the face of educational developments as they are known to have taken place elsewhere : it must conform to the general pattern. Furthermore, one hypothesis must not be allowed to change its nature and, as an assumption, he made the foundation of further hypotheses.

Did the grammar school in Aberdeen leave the precincts or vicinity of the cathedral in Old Aberdeen (and this assumes that it was sited in Old Aberdeen, for there is no proof) and go uphill into the town? If it did, then perhaps the most likely time for this to happen would be in the late 135os or early 136os when the new cathedral of St. Machar's was being built. The case of St. Paul's shows that a cathedral school could develop into a predominantly lay school, but there was a song school at St. Paul's, and other special and distinct factors in operation. Professor Jacob has pointed out that the cathedral grammar school at Lincoln was not near the cathedral but down town—and that in 139o a rival cathedral grammar school was newly established for the choristers. This question is enormously complicated, and I am quite sure that Professor Jacob was mainly intent on entering a caveat against dogmatism and would agree that we cannot safely argue in detail by analogy from any English cathedral to Aberdeen Cathedral.

Thus, the situation at Lincoln in 1390 was without parallel and the sequel to purely local squabblings : nowhere else did cathedral authorities set up a second school to compete with its own previous and time-hallowed foundation. That the position was irregular seems to follow from the fact that the new grammar master at the cathedral was appointed by the dean and chapter and not, as customary, by the chancellor. We have no information for any Lincoln grammar school after 141o until 1518. Then the city council books, which are extant from 1511, show that the mayor and council have accepted financial responsibility for the school in the town, though they do not seem to have had till much later the right to choose the schoolmaster.

Now, if the town school at Aberdeen was by 1418 the same as the cathedral school, I do not see why the cathedral should have abandoned its traditional right through its chancellor to keep the appointment of the schoolmaster fully in its own hands. Why should the selection of a suitable teacher be in the hands of the Provost and Council? The answer in terms of the evidence as we have it must surely be that the town school was a " licensed " school and not the cathedral school. Is it likely that before 1418 the cathedral would allow the direction of its own school to rest in lay hands at a time when the neighbouring cathedral of Brechin had no thought but to keep its grammar school within its own control?

I see no difficulty in the co-existence of two schools in the fifteenth century : a cathedral school in Old Aberdeen and a burgh school in the town which had an independent origin as a licensed school and did not arise as it were from the ashes of the cathedral school.

But it is impossible to be dogmatic. If we are prepared to give free play to our fancies, uncontrolled and undisciplined by documents, we could give this imaginative picture. The greatest number of pupils who attended the cathedral grammar school, no matter whether it was in Old Aberdeen or New Aberdeen, were drawn from the town. It might therefore have been convenient for the

Professor Sayles's Memoranda's

7

cathedral and the burgh to strike a bargain, especially at a time when the cathedral was involved in major building operations : provided that the burgh would find suitable accommodation up-town for the convenience of the majority of pupils and was prepared to foot the bill for the school teacher's salary, then it should and could have the privilege of nominating that teacher. In such circumstances the precentor of the cathedral would continue to be the musical director of the choristers and send them up-town for grammar.

However, speaking as a historian, I can give only one verdict on the evidence available : not proven. Further evidence may well be brought to light when the history of education comes to attract the competent investigator. It may only be one or two fugitive charters with their lists of witnesses : but such will make a difference that may make all the difference to our inferences and conclusions. Against that time I would briefly say that in my view a cathedral school at Aberdeen was certainly of greater antiquity than 1256 and that, even if the town school should not be able, in the event, to take its origins beyond the late fourteenth or early fifteenth centuries, it would even then still stand proudly in the van of lay schools in Scotland and, indeed, Britain.

Note front Dr. Kathleen Edwards to Professor Sayles Thank you for showing me your memorandum. 1 agree that the cathedral statute of t256, which says that the cathedral chancellor shall provide a suitable master, able to teach boys grammar and logic, to rule the schools (stolen, i.e., classrooms in one school) of Aberdeen, can refer only to a cathedral grammar school, which may possibly have existed from the twelfth or early thirteenth century. I agree also that Magi.rier Thomas de Bennum, rector sebolaruni of Aberdeen in I262-3, and the unidentified Magi.tier aolarum of Aberdeen of 1281 were probably masters of this cathedral grammar school appointed by the chancellor in accordance with the 1256 statute, although, in my view, use of the title rector scolaram does not at this time imply greater dignity than that of magider aolarion. There was great variety in the use of titles of cathedral dignitaries and officers both in Britain and on the Continent in the early middle ages, and I think it likely that the two titles were used synonymously simply to describe the master ruling the school. I know of no evidence which suggests a connection between the cathedral school of the thirteenth century and the town grammar school of the fifteenth century.

By 1418 the town grammar school was clearly in existence, and the provost and baillies of Aberdeen had the right to present the master to the cathedral chancellor, who duly confirmed his appointment, as he would do with the master of any licensed school within the area of his jurisdiction. This, however, does not prove that the town grammar school had replaced or succeeded the cathedral school, which may or may not have continued to exist throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It seems to me that the large gaps in the evidence make it impossible at this stage to reach any more definite conclusions.

The Rector at U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference The Rector, Mr. J. J. Robertson, who has been a member of the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies since 1946, was invited by the Secretary of State for Scotland to be one of the British representatives at a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Conference held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from rz November to II December. He left Aberdeen before the end of October and expects to return about Christmas.

During the summer of 5952 he visited the Gold Coast at the invitation of the Government.

The Editor will be glad if F.P.s will send him, from time to time, information for this section of the Magazine. News of appointments, promotions etc., and other items of interest which are not reported in the press, are particularly requested.

David Adam* (1898-1904), B.Sc. (Mining), who was lecturer in Mining at the University of Glasgow from 1923 to 1933, was thereafter engaged as a mine manager and latterly as a consulting engineer in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa. He has now retired and lives in Illovo, Johannesburg. He was mainly concerned with " outside" mines, i.e. those outside the Witwatersrand which, he states, are more interesting than the gilt-edged mines or " gold factories " of the Witwatersrand.

His brother, Alastair T. Adam (1898-1908), who was a director of W. N. Brunton & Son Limited, wire manufacturers, Musselburgh, has also retired.

Harold Ferguson Merchant Aitken* (193o-33), M.R.C.V.S., who has been in veterinary practice at Banchory since 1942, has been appointed president of the North-east Division of the British Veterinary Association. He has been a member of Banchory Town Council since 195o and holds the appointment of Dean of Guild.

Robin Christopher Aitken* (1931-43), B.Sc.(Eng.), Captain, Royal Engineers, has been on attachment to Marples Ridgway & Partners Limited, civil engineering contractors, at the Allt-na-Lairige Hydro-Electric Scheme near Inverary. He holds a regular commission and previously served in Germany and West Africa. His eldest brother, Arthur Jeffrey Hood Aitken (1927-38), M.B., Ch.B., has been in practice at Grays, Essex, since 1947, and his other brother, Hugh George Jeffrey Aitken (1928-4o), M.A. (St. And. and Toronto), Ph.D., is on the staff of the Harvard Institute of Entrepreneurial Research in the U.S.A. Alexander Donald Stewart Anderson* (1918-24), M.A., C.A., is on the board of Hecht Levis & Kahn Limited, rubber merchants, London. During the war he rose to the rank of wing commander in the R.A.F. and was latterly detached for service with the Special Forces in China. When in Hongkong in 1949 he, along with a Gordonian friend, organized the first joint F.P.-Gordonian reunion there. He was classical dux of the School and " first bursar " in 1924.

8

Notes about Old Boys

9 Colin George Marr Angus* (1925-36), Major, R.A.S.C., is now stationed at Orsett Camp, Grays, Essex, and expects to remain there for about two years. Previously he served in Nigeria and in Austria.

Douglas Neil Randolph Archibald (1933-46) passed the final examination of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and qualified as M.R.C.V.S. last summer. He was a student at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh.

John Wilson Baird* (1936-46), M.A., is now with Jardine, Matheson & Company Limited in Hongkong. Earlier this year he was for seven months in the company's office at Yokohama, Japan.

Ronald James Beattie* (1927-36), F.C.I.I., left Aberdeen in October on being appointed agency superintendent for the Royal and the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Companies at their new joint branch in Dumfries. He had been with the " Globe " in Aberdeen since 1936.

Ian Mackintosh Brooker* (1 934-45), M.B., Ch.B., Squadron Leader, R.A.F., is at present in the Antarctic as a member of the British South Georgia Expedition, 1954-55. The expedition party, which sailed from Glasgow on to August, is made up of five experienced mountaineers, including Brooker. An article by Mr. George A. Sutton, the leader of the expedition, is reprinted in this issue (see pages 32-35).

Ogilvie Milne Clarke Buchan (1930-42), M.A.(Aberd.), was placed in the first class in the final honours school of Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford last summer. He was also awarded one of the two Leverhulme Scholarships and is at present at the Sorbonne in Paris, studying modern French philosophy.

He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen in 1951 with first class honours in Moral Philosophy-English.

Henry Jackson Butchart * (1890-99), D.S.O., O.B.E., T.D., B.L., LL.D., D.L., advocate, has been appointed president of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

George Leslie Cassie* (1919-20) was appointed H.M. Inspector Taxes, Aberdeen 1st District, in 1953. He joined the Inland Revenue from the University of Edinburgh in 1926 and has served as an inspector of taxes in Manchester, Rawtenstall, Workington, Dundee, London and Llandudno.

David Robert Bellamy Cay* (1935-46), M.A., LL.B., was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in November of this year. He graduated in Law at Aberdeen in 1952.

James Durno Chalmers* (1935-40), M.B., Ch.B., D.C.H., is now in partnership with Dr. D. L. Stewart at Insch, Aberdeenshire.

Douglas Gordon Cheyne* (19o1-o5), C.B.E., M.C., M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H., Brigadier, retired from the Army in 1948

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine after thirty-four years' service. Thereafter he was in Germany with the Control Commission and was principal control officer of the Public Health Division in Berlin during the blockade period.

The Division closed down at the end of 1950 and since March 1951 he has been in the Medical Section of the Joint Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Defence in London. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 1944 and was D.D.M.S., 13 Corps, from Cassino to Trieste. After the war he was D.D.M.S., Land Forces, Greece, for a year. He is an Officer of the Legion of Merit, U.S.A., and holds the Order of St. John.

Henry Grassie Christie (1937-44) is proprietor of Grampian Electrical Repairs, Walker Road, Aberdeen.

Edwin William Connon (1916-25), B.Sc.(Eng.) (Aberd.), B.Eng. (Liverpool), has been appointed to the newly-created post of divisional electrical engineer for the North-west, Merseyside and North Wales Division of the British Electricity Authority.

Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper* (1896-1901), B.A., LL.B., has been appointed a vice-president of the Free Trade Union and Cobden Club, which were recently amalgamated.

David Low Cowie* (1942-44) of the Mercantile Bank of India, is now on the staff of the bank in Calcutta.

George Cowie (1907-08), B.A. (Sydney), who went to Australia M 1911 and was appointed minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Grenfell, New South Wales, in 1922, was the writer of a letter published in the October 1954 issue of The Summer Echo, the official publication of the Cricket Society of Scotland. Writing some time before the first Test Match at Brisbane, he expressed the hope that the M.C.C. would retain the Ashes. He has been a cricket enthusiast ever since he went to Australia and is vice-president of the Waverley Cricket Club in Sydney. He has a collection of nearly 4oo books on cricket.

John Whitby Cradock* (1940-46), was admitted as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in September of this year. He is now with Richard Irvin & Sons Limited, fish salesmen, Aberdeen.

Alexander Cruickshank (1911-17), O.B.E., M.D., is now living at Riverhead, Kent. He retired from the Sudan Medical Service in 1948 and went to Limuru in Kenya where he had acquired a sixty-acre farm. In addition to dairy farming " in an amateurish way " he had a post as assistant M.O.H., Nairobi, acted as M.O. to the Limuru Girls' School and was honorary surgeon to the local Kenya Police Reserve. In 195i he came home on leave and was offered a post at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in London—which he accepted in November of that year. Since then his work has led him into the fascinating world of radioactivity and nuclear science but " one cannot lead a semi-nomadic life in Africa for twenty-eight years without having strong nostalgic leanings to return, and three years of England has not yet cured me ".

To

Notes about Old Boys John Duguid Cruickshank* (1899-1904) retired from the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1952 and moved from Winnipeg to St. Lambert, Quebec. He was F.P. Club Consul at Winnipeg from 1939.

Ian Ainsley Fearon David* (1930-40), M.A., B.Sc.(Eng.), has been on the staff of Nuneaton Technical College, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, since August 1953. Before going south he played for Aberdeenshire Rugby Club and was captain for three seasons. He now plays for Nuneaton Saracens R.F.C. Douglas George Dempster* (1924-33), B.Sc., B. Sc.(Agri.), formerly regional director at Aberdeen of the Advisory Service of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture, has been appointed by the University of Aberdeen to the new post of lecturer in Agriculture and supervisor of the University farms. He took up the post on 1 October 1954. He is a member of the F.P. Club Executive.

Robert James Downie* (x949-52) has been doing his national service with the R.A.O.C. in Egypt and expected to return to Aberdeen in November. He was selected to play rugby for the R.A.0.C., Egypt.

James Hugh Duncan* (1941-5o), B.Sc., left Aberdeen in September for a two months' course in London prior to proceeding to Malaya where he has received an appointment as a geologist with the Colonial Geographical Survey. He graduated at Aberdeen with honours in Geology last July. A former North-east boys' golf champion, he won the University golf championship in 1951.

James Durno* (1900-02), C.B.E., a director and formerly chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, carried off the supreme and female breed championship with a cow of his own breeding, Princess Maude, in the Shorthorn section at this year's Royal Highland Show held at Dumfries in June. A few weeks later he won the reserve and female championship at the Royal Windsor Show, also with Princess Maude.

John Murray Easton* (1895-1905), F. R.I.B.A., a partner in the firm of Easton & Robertson, chartered architects, London, is one of two adjudicators invited by the English Electric Company to judge a limited competition for the planning of a new building on the site of the old Gaiety Theatre in London. This new building, together with Marconi House, will form the enlarged offices of the English Electric group. The Gaiety Theatre is part of the centre island block of buildings at Aldwych and has stood empty since it was closed as a theatre before the war. The new building is to be planned with full regard for its ultimate setting in a great square, which is part of London County Council's rebuilding programme.

Alan Flockhart Esson* (1929-34), formerly Lieutenant, R.N.R., is now a physical training instructor in Upper Deeside under Aberdeen County Council. During the war he was a submarine commander.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Joseph Farquharson* (1929-43) was successful in the final examination held by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland last summer.

Louis Findlay* (1924-30), M.B., Ch.B., who is medical director in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East, has received an honorary appointment as Clinical Professor of Public Health in the Medical Faculty of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. In his United Nations post he is supervisor of eighty-one clinics and out-patient departments where seven million persons were treated during his first year. 154,000 persons attended his infant health centres and nearly 96,000 the maternity centres. An anti-malaria campaign has been started in the Jordan Valley and malaria has been completely wiped out in Gaza. When large areas of Iraq were flooded earlier this year, he went to Baghdad at the invitation of the Iraq Government to prepare a report on the immediate needs of refugees.

Ian Stark Flett* (1925-37), M.A., Ed.B., is now assistant education officer for Preston. Previously he was for five years educational psychologist to the County Borough of Sunderland.

Allan Henry Hector Fraser (1916), D.Sc., M.D., is to write an official history of the Lovat Scouts.

Ian Ross Fraser* (1942-48), M.A., was awarded the Charles McGregor Memorial Prize for the best graduate student of the year at Aberdeen Training College in June. This was the first time in fifteen years that the prize had been awarded to a man. He graduated at the University with honours in Geography in 1953.

James Hall McIntosh Gordon* (1901-02), M.C., T.D., D.L., Colonel, The Gordon Highlanders, who was chairman of the City of Aberdeen Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association from 1950 to 1953, was entertained at a complimentary luncheon in Aberdeen at the end of June. He has been succeeded as chairman by Edward Birnie Reid* (1902-13), O.B.E., T.D., C.A., Colonel, Royal Corps of Signals.

Brian Scott Gray* (1943-49), B.Sc., is now employed on the Prang Besar Estate, Kajanj, Selangor, Malaya. He graduated at Aberdeen with honours in Botany in 1953 and is a former member of the F.P. Rugby ist XV. Patrick Moir Gray* (1903-11), who retired from Ceylon this year after about thirty years as a tea planter, is now living in Aberdeen.

William Tulloch Hutton Hay (1928-38), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F., was one of the team of parachutists who represented Britain in the 1954 International Parachute-Jumping Competition at St. Yan Airfield, Lyons, between a and 8 August this year. The team was made up of six of the most experienced parachutists in the R.A.F., all parachute training instructors at No. i Parachute Training School, Abingdon, Berkshire, and civilian parachutists. Each team was 12

Notes about Old Boys

13

required to make three jumps, two from 450o feet and the third from 180o feet, and marks were awarded for, among other things, precision in landing. Prior to the competition Hay had made 236 parachute descents.

Steven Leslie Henderson (1932-38), C.A., has been assumed as a partner in the firm of G. & J. McBain, chartered accountants, Aberdeen. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. James Meston & Company, Aberdeen, and qualified in 1951.

James Geddes Greig Irvine (5927-34), M.A., is now an educational consultant and tutor in Aberdeen. He specializes in personal tuition for University " prelims " and degree " re-sits ".

Richard Gemmill Jones* (5928-38), A.R.I.B.A., A.R.I.A.S., left Aberdeen in November to join Messrs. Swan & MacLaren, architects, Singapore, with whom he has a three-year contract. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. George Bennett Mitchell and Son, Aberdeen, qualified in 1950 and has been with the same firm since then as an assistant. His brother, Norman Williams Jones* (1928-40), who has been with the Clydesdale & North of Scotland Bank since he left School, was recently transferred from a branch in Glasgow to the head office of the bank in Aberdeen. Before going to Glasgow he was in Kinross.

Arthur Roy Handasyde Kellas* (1926-32), M.A., is now on the staff of the British Embassy at Baghdad. He joined the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service in 1939 and from 5945 to 5947 he was at the Embassy in Tehran. He has also been at Helsinki and Cairo.

Derek Mario Mitchell Kellas (5924-33), M.C., B.Sc.(For.), has received an appointment as representative of the National Trust for Scotland in the North-east and has taken up residence at Crathes Castle. He is responsible for the interests of the Trust not only at Crathes Castle but also in the other Trust properties in the area, including Leith Hall, Kennethmont, and Provost Ross's House in the Shiprow, Aberdeen. He was a forest officer in the Gold Coast from 5938 to 1955 and has since been training as an estate factor at Ballater.

John Lowell Kilgour* (1936-45), M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A. M.G., was appointed in August to command 23 Parachute Field Ambulance which had returned to Aldershot from the Suez Canal Zone and holds the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel. Previously he was administration officer at the R.A.M.C. Depot and Training Establishment at Crookham, Hants. An article on his experiences in Korea, where he was second-in-command of 26 Field Ambulance, appeared in the December 1951 issue of the Magazine.

Andrew Ross Laing* (1921-32), M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C., returned from the Suez Canal Zone in May 5953 and was appointed in August of that year to be chief instructor in the Officers' Training Wing at the Depot and Training Establishment of the R.A.M.C.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine at Crookham. He is responsible for the initial training of national service medical officers.

James Ritchie Leith* (1917-24), C.A., has been appointed Honorary Netherlands Vice-Consul at Aberdeen for the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine, Moray and Nairn. Since 1946 he has been a director and secretary of Ellis & McHardy Limited, coal merchants and shipowners, Aberdeen.

14

John Alexander Lewis* (1914-2o) has been appointed Deacon Convener of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen. The other principal office-bearer, the Master of Hospital, is Ian Gowanlock McPherson* (19to-17).

James Glover Thomson Lunn* (1924-3O, M.B., Ch.B., was appointed to a large practice at Deepdale, Preston, in October 1953.

For the previous five years he was junior partner in a practice at Prestatyn, North Wales, and while there he was a vice .president of the St. Andrew's Society for two years and vice-president of the Rotary Club in '953.54.

John Duncan MacLennan (19z3-29), M.B. E., M.D., was in the news last July, when the House of Representatives in Washington passed, and President Eisenhower signed, a Bill permitting him to remain in the United States. Dr. MacLennan is employed at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and is conducting research " in the application of biological properties of bacteria and problems of wound infection ". His work was described as being of a " vital nature " for the Office of Scientific Research and Development. When he arrived in the United States in 1949, he was denied permanent residence for reasons of health but a report accompanying the Bill stated that his health now was generally good and his continued presence in the United States to complete his research was desirable.

After graduating in 1934 at Aberdeen he was an assistant in the Bacteriological Department of the University and later a lecturer in the School of Bacteriology in London. During the war he served with the R.A.M.C. in Egypt, Italy and France. He is a twin brother of Alastair MacLennan* (1923-29), O.B.E., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C., and a son of the late FARQUHAR MACLENNAN (1888-9o), D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. James Fraser McLuskey* (i910-31), M.C., M.A., B. D., minister of the East Church, Broughty Ferry, was one of the nine delegates from the Church of Scotland to the Second Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held at Evanston, U.S.A., last August. Altogether there were about 16oo delegates and official visitors. In an article which appeared in The Scotsman he wrote :— There is a great deal of work to he done and little time is left for leisure: it is, however, in the off-duty periods that one of the Assembly's greatest benefits is bestowed. Christians of different race and colour and denomination meet one another and have the chance to become friends. A Scots Presbyterian shares a table for lunch with a priest of the Egyptian Coptic Church. A Baptist from

Notes about Old Boys

If

Pennsylvania funds himself in the breakfast queue alongside the young principal of a theological college in Formosa and the bearded bishop of the Orthodox Church in Turkey. The young priest of the Old Catholic Church in Switzerland shares a point of view with a pastor's wife from the Philippines. The world-wide Christian Church has come alive in a way no member of this Assembly will ever be able to forget.

John Macmurray (1902-04), M.C., M.A., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Glasgow in June 1934 In his laureation address the Dean of the Faculty of Law said :— Seven cities claimed Homer's birth, and several villages St. Patrick's. If John Macmurray was born at Maxwellton, Dumfriesshire, all the principal airts of Scotland have had a part in his life: Aberdeen where he went to school, Glasgow which was his first University, Edinburgh where for ten years he has held his present chair. Between whiles he has been much further afield. It suffices to name Balliol—that Scottish outpost—to add Manchester, Witwatersrand and University College, London—not to speak of his lectures in the United States, Canada and the Gold Coast. But what is mere physical location to a philosopher) Estwislly one who, long before the days of the third programme, reached out towards ubiquity as a voice from a studio—as well as through the medium of many books and essays. " Academic philosophy, like academic art, is almost always dead ", says Macmurray and can rightly say it since the judgment would never apply to his own. In the era of logical positivism he has been unfashionable enough to have a message for the times. " Only real people can be free " or " It is vulgarity that is the matter with us—particularly the vulgarity of our moral ideas."

With his accent on historical perspectives, on personal relationships (clearer still in his Glasgow Gifford Lectures), with his concern for sentiment and hatred of sentimentality, in his quotability, too, Professor Macmurray is the only Scot to-day who can remind us at times of another philosopher from Dumfriesshire and appear a more benign, less sulphurous, twentieth-century Carlyle.

Charles Wallace Matheson* (1923-34) is now studying at Westminister College, Cambridge, for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of England. The college is not one of the University colleges but two of his professors are University lecturers. Previously he was a draughtsman with Redpath, Brown & Company Limited, structural engineers, at Greenwich.

Thomas Menzies (1931-4o), M.B., Ch.B., was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in October.

Since demobilization in 1948 he has been a surgical registrar at Foresterhill and Woodend, Aberdeen.

William David Michie* (1935-48), M.A., is now a trainee with Guthrie & Company Limited and is bound for Central Africa. He graduated at Aberdeen in 1952 with honours in Geography.

Peter Carmichael Millar* (1933-44), M.A., LL.B. (Edin.), a partner in the firm of W. & T. P. Manuel, W.S., Edinburgh, has been admitted as a member of the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet.

Alistair Macdonell Milne* (1924-32), T.D., has completed his tenure of the command of the 4/7th (City of Aberdeen, Mar and Mearns) Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders (T.A.), to which he was appointed in 195o, and has transferred to the T.A.R.O.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine Ronald Douglas Milne* (1935-48), B.Sc.(Eng.), has won the Wood Prize for a thesis on " Flutter "—or the stresses imposed on modern aircraft at supersonic speeds—at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, Buckinghamshire. He was presented with the prize by the Minister of Supply in July. The following month he joined the Guided Missile Department of the English Electric Company's works at Luton.

James Alexander Milne Moir* (1929-33), who joined the British Columbia Provincial Government at Victoria after the war, is concerned with the Hospital Insurance Service which is a branch of the Provincial Department of Health and Welfare. He reports that the victories of the English and Scottish athletes at the Empire Games in Vancouver gave general satisfaction and that Canadians were surprised at their own good showing. Hitherto this branch of sport has not been much cultivated in Western Canada and the Games have given a boost to athletics. He also mentions that T.V. is reducing attendances at sporting events and that even baseball, ice hockey and lacrosse are affected.

Thomas James Trail Nicole (193o-3S), M.B.E., M.C., M.A., C.F., is now minister of St. Aidan's Church, Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, and senior chaplain to Scottish troops at Catterick. Since returning to the Army in 1949 he has been chaplain to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Germany (1949-52) and to the ist Battalion, The Black Watch, in Korea (1952-53) and Kenya (19 5 3-54). He was awarded the M.B.E. in December 1953 for services in Korea and returned from Kenya in April.

At St. Aidan's, Catterick, the organist for the last eighteen months has been Brian Kerrington Crookshanks* (1934-46), M.A., LL.B. Robert Richards* (1899-1904), M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S.E., D.P.H., is now chairman of the board of management for Aberdeen Mental Hospitals.

Robert Lawrence Richards* (1922-34), M.D., who was elected a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1950, was elected a Fellow (F.R.C.P.E.) in November of this year. lain Kerr Robb* (1947-51) graduated B.A. at the University of Leeds last July. He is now living at Wilmslow, Manchester.

Alexander Kay Robertson* (1942-44), M.A., B.A., who joined the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service in July 1953, proceeded to Burma in July of this year after a session at the School of Oriental Studies in London.

Alan William Robson* (1941-45) was called to the English Bar (Lincoln's Inn) last July.

George Brown Cameron Sangster* (1928-37), D.S.C., M.A., B.D., minister of Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen, has been appointed chaplain to No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron, R.Aux.A.F. He held the rank of lieutenant-commander, R.N.V.R., during the war and was a fighter pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. 16

Notes about Old Boy

17

Wilfrid Philip Shepherd-Barron* (I896-19o3), M.C., T.D., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Aberdeen at the Summer Graduation. In his laureation address the promoter in Law said of him :It is generally understood that the highest honour open to a British civil engineer is to be elected president of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Great satisfaction will be felt in the North-east of Scotland that this distinction is now held by Mr. Wilfrid P. Shepherd-Barron, who was born in Wick, Caithness, in 1888, the son of James Barron, M.Inst.C.E., of Aberdeen.

Moreover, Mr. Shepherd-Barron was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and served an engineering pupilage under the late Mr. R. Gordon Nicol, M.Inst.C.E., Harbour Engineer of Aberdeen. He has, therefore, close ties with Aberdeen itself.

In the 1914-18 war he was in command of field companies, R.E., was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Military Cross. He also holds the Territorial Decoration.

In 1921 Mr. Shepherd-Barron became Chief Engineer to the Chittagong Port Commissioners, Bengal, and in 1926 Chief Engineer of the Karachi Port Trust.

He has just retired from the position of Chief Engineer to the Port of London Authority, to which he was appointed in 1938. At any time, this would be regarded as probably the leading appointment in harbour engineering in the United Kingdom, if not in the world. In his case, it also meant responsibility for the maintenance of the London Docks and plant during the heavy air attacks of the second world war. For six or seven years he has devoted his skill and unremitting toil to restoring and improving the great Port of London.

It is specially appropriate that this distinguished northern Scot should receive the Aberdeen degree of LL.D. during his year of office as 88th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers—a succession which has included Telford, Rennie, Robert Stephenson, Benjamin Baker and many others who have contributed so much to the welfare of mankind.

Archibald Harald Smith* (1919-38) now holds the rank of lieutenant-commander, R.N., and lives at Fareham, Hampshire.

Lawrence Gilling Smith* (1909-15) is now a full member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (M.Inst.C.E.). He has been at the Billingham Division of Imperial Chemical Industries for twentynine years and is responsible for all water and drainage works there.

The large new plants built since the war have kept him very busy but he has found the work very interesting, with plenty of original problems.

Ronald Gordon Christie Smith* (1917-37), B.Sc.(Agri.), who has been assistant advisory officer in animal husbandry at the North of Scotland College of Agriculture since 1948, is secretary of the College's Former Students' Association which has about 700 members.

William Pithie Craig Smith* (1947-54) has begun his apprenticeship as an engineer with Barry, Henry & Cook Limited, Aberdeen.

Henry Gordon Stephen* (1920-30) won the Deeside Golf Club championship this year for the third time. He had previously won it in 1949 and 1952. He is secretary of the F.P. Golf Section.

Sydney Cardno Still* (1904-zo), M.A., minister of St. James's Church, Paisley, since 1936, retired in July of this year. After being

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine as assistant minister in the North U.F. Church, Aberdeen, and in Selkirk, he was appointed to his first charge, Kilcreggan and Cove U.F. Church, in 1919, and from 1927 to 1936 he was at Queen's Park West Church, Glasgow. When he retired he was a member of the Renfrewshire Education Committee, a governor of Paisley Technical College, vice-chairman of the Glasgow School of Art and had been for many years convener of the Paisley Museum and Art Gallery Committee. In 1952 he was senior chaplain to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In addition he was a founder member of the Glasgow Centre of the F.P. Club.

Lindsay Symon* (1934-46), M.B., Ch.B., who has been doing his national service, was stationed this summer at Zeltweg, Austria, as medical officer to the ist Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment.

Bertram William Tawse* (x 913-16), M.A., A.M.Inst.C.E., chairman and managing director of William Tawse Limited, public works contractors, Aberdeen, was appointed in September to be chairman of the Aberdeen and North-east Advisory Council for Technical Education. The Council's function is to form a link between education and industry. It has already published a report on education for the fishing industry and has investigated the question of part-time dasses in agriculture. It is also investigating the training of laboratory technicians, education for the catering industry, the training of part-time teachers of technical education and the provision of day release schemes in industry.

Kenneth Alexander Macdonald Tomory* (1899-1908), C. B., O.B.E., M.B., Ch.B., Major .General (retired), who has been one of the four Colonels Commandant of the R.A.M.C. since 1951, is Representative Colonel Commandant this year. In this capacity he is responsible for the " domestic affairs " of the Corps, including such matters as promoting esprit de corps among all ranks, advising the War Office and also senior officers on questions brought to his notice, controlling and advising on Corps charities and organizations, advising on customs, memorials etc. It is also part of his duty to promote liaison between regular, territorial and emergency reserve units and to keep in touch with the Dominions and Colonies.

A short article about him appeared in the January 1954 issue of The Army Medical Services Magazine. It was said that few officers are better known throughout the Army Medical Services. After leaving the School he went to the University of Edinburgh and joined the O.T.C. (Infantry). He was promoted lance-corporal in 1910 and sergeant two years later. In 1913 he took a commission in the Special Reserve and, while doing a six weeks' course at the R.A.M.C. Depot, he had the unique distinction of appearing before the adjutant two days in succession for " haircut "1 During the first world war he served in India, Mesopotamia and Persia ; from 1919 to 1923 he was in Hongkong and then spent two years with the Army of the Rhine ; and he was back in India from 1925 to 1930 and from 1933 to 1938, qualifying as a specialist in anaesthetics between his two tours. In the early days of the second 18

Notes about Old Boys

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world war he was in command of 3 C.C.S. and came through Dunkirk ; from 1940 to 1942 he was A.D.M.S., Sierra Leone, and thereafter he was A.D.M.S., 43 (Wessex) Division. He took part in the final invasion of Europe and thereafter was D.D.M.S. successively in XII Corps, " Paiforce ", British Troops in Egypt, Scottish Command and Eastern Command. From 1949 to 1951 he was an honorary physician to the King and he retired in the latter year.

Alec Bain Tonnochy* (1897-1902), M.A. (Edin.), Keeper of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities at the British Museum since 195o, retired this year. He joined the Museum staff in 1914.

Alfred Buyers Valentine* (1905-II), C.B., M.A., has been Under Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Local Government since 1951. Before that he held the same appointment in the Ministry of Town and Country Planning for five years.

Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt* (1931-43), M.A., lecturer in Medieval History at United College in the University of St. Andrews, was one of the speakers at the Franco-British conference of historians held at Edinburgh in July. His subject was " Scottish Students and Masters at Paris in the Fourteenth Century ".

Douglas Wilson (1927-35) was second pilot of a twin-engine D.C.3 belonging to Sabena Airways of Belgium which was fired on by a jet aircraft, believed to have been a Soviet Mig fighter, while on its way from Britain to Belgrade at the beginning of June. The wireless operator was killed and the first pilot and mechanic seriously wounded. Wilson, who was the only British member of the crew, the others being Belgians, was uninjured and took over the controls.

The aircraft, which was carrying a cargo of pedigree pigs, was then over Murska Sobota in the North-east corner of Yugoslavia, about ten miles from the Austrian and Hungarian borders : Wilson altered course and landed the plane safely on the R.A.F. field near Graz in the British zone of Austria. The brakes and flaps of the aircraft were out of action and its wireless was out of commission. The director-general of the Sabena Company subsequently paid tribute to Wilson's conduct.

Roy Alexander Wilson* (1937-42), B.A., LL.B., is an assistant with Messrs. Allan McNeil & Son, W.S., Edinburgh. After two years at Oxford he served his law apprenticeship with Messrs J. Miller Thomson & Company, W.S., and graduated in Law at the University of Edinburgh in 1953. He plays rugby for Edinburgh Borderers.

James Smith Yule* (1915-19 and 1926-28), who contributed an article on Fruit-Growing in British Columbia to the last issue of the Magazine, is returning to Britain to gain further experience in fruit culture and management. He planned to travel home via Honolulu and to reach Aberdeen about the end of the year.

University Notes At the Summer Graduation in the University of Aberdeen on 8 and 9 July 1954, degrees were conferred on the following F.P.s:— Honorary Degree DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS (LL.D.) Wilfrid Philip Shepherd-Barron* (1896-1903), M.C., T.D., M.Inst.C.E., M.1.Mech.E., President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Higher Degrees DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) Alexander Matheson Cain* (1937-46), M.A. Thesis—" Myth in Beowulf ".

DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (M.D.) (1) With Commendation Alexander Logan Speirs* (1926-38), M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.P., D.C.H. Thesis—" The History and Treatment of Infantile Gastro-Enteritis ".

(2) Ordinary Degree James Knox Russell* (1932-37), M.B., Ch.B. Thesis—" Studies in Human Fertility and Sub-fertility ".

Honours and Ordinary Degrees DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) (t) With First Class Honours Alan Stirling Hall* (1937-40 and 1943-50), in Classics.

David Main Craig* (1937-5o), in English (Language and Literature).

James Pressley Morris (1944-5o), in History.

(2) With Second Class Honours Hamish Barron Paterson* (1941-5o), in Geography.

John Forrest McClellan* (1944-50), in Philosophy-Politics.

David Allan Graham* (1942-43 and 1944-50), in Spanish-Italian.

(3) Ordinary Degree Dudley Nicolson Armand* (1938-51).

James Alexander Leith* (1939-5 1).

Anthony Vincent Lewis (r 93 5 -47).

Alexander Edward McIlwain* (1945-5i).

Andrew Marshall Macdonald Steven* (1936-50).

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL.B.) Ordinary Degree David Antony &Junin* (1943-49).

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University Notes

21

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.Sc.) (1) With First Class Honours Ian Robert Young (1938-45), in Natural Philosophy.

Alastair MacArthur North* (1937-41 and 1942-50), in Chemistry. (a) With Second Class Honours

James William Howison* (1937-5o), in Chemistry.

James Hugh Duncan* (1941-50), in Geology.

(3) Ordinary Degree

John Hamilton Wyllie (1943-5o).

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (B.Sc.(AGRI.)) Ordinary Degree

David Jack* ( I 944-5o).

John James Rae* (1944-5o).

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING (B.Sc.(ENG.)) (1) With First Class Honours Alexander Souter James* (I949-5o), in Civil Engineering. (a) Ordinary Degree

Norman Stephen Kirkby (1943-51), in Electrical Engineering.

DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY (M.B., CH.B.) (1) With Honours James Kerr Finlayson* (1933-37), B.Sc.(Eng.).

Michael James Williams* (1936-45). (a) With Commendation

Michael John Emslie (1937-41).

Douglas Stewart Robbie* (1935-48).

(3) Ordinary Degree

Alexander Addison* (1947-48).

Derek Chalmers (1930-42).

Alexander Ian Cheyne* (1937-48).

Ian Donald* (1935-48).

Francois Louis Pierre Fouin* (1 944-47)• Herbert John Alexander Longmore* (1 943- 48)• Ronald William Macandrew* (1933-45).

Eric Campbell Macleod (1944-48).

Alister MacGregor Nisbet (1938-48).

Patrick Dugan Robertson (1945-48).

William Alistair Stewart (1940-47).

Douglas Stuart* (1 929-43).

John Stuart Sutherland* (1935-48)•

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Medals and Prizes Faculty if Arts

Alan Stirling Hall* (1937-40 and 1943-50) was awarded the Black Prize and the Seafield Gold Medal in Latin and the Simpson Prize and Robbie Gold Medal in Greek ; James Pressley Morris (. 1944-50) was awarded the Forbes Gold Medal and the Caithness Prize in History; Alexander Farquhar Florence* (1944-53) was awarded the de Gurbs Prize and the Earl of Buchan's Silver Pen in Greek ; Ian Howard Marshall* (1946-51) shared the Jenkyns Prize in Classical Philology ; and David Main Craig* (1937-50) was awarded the Senatus Prize in English Literature.

Faculty of Science

Alexander Donald Campbell Grassie* (1940-53) shared the Classic Prize in Natural Philosophy ; Alastair MacArthur North* (1937-41 and 1942-5o) was awarded the Center Gold Medal in Chemistry ; Ian Robert Young (1938-45) was awarded the Greig Prize in Natural Philosophy ; John Hamilton Wyllie (1943-5o) was awarded the Hunter Memorial Prize ; and Hugh Robert Wynne-Edwards* (1946-51) was awarded the Mitchell Prize in Geology.

Faculty of Law

John George Walker Philip (1946-51) was awarded the Society of Advocates Prize in Evidence, Pleading and Procedure ; Charles Edward Anton (1937-43) was awarded the Society of Advocates Prize in Roman Law ; and Denys Hartley Henderson* (1938-5o) was awarded the Whyte Prize in Accountancy for Law Students.

Faculty of Divinity

Colin Campbell Reith Macpherson* (,1935-44), M.A., was awarded the Primrose Prize in Church History.

Faculty of Medicine

James Kerr Finlayson* (1933-37), B.Sc.(Eng.), was awarded the Murray Gold Medal and Scholarship (for the most distinguished graduate in Medicine (M.B., Ch.B.) of the year 1954) ; Mi.hael James Williams* (1936-45) was awarded the Anderson Gold Medal and Prize in Clinical Medicine and the MacQuibban Prize in-Medicine ; and Herbert John Alexander Longmore* (0 943-48) was awarded the Davidson Smith Prize in Diseases of Children.

Scholarships The following F.P.s were awarded scholarships as shown for higher study and research in Chemistry:— James William Howison* (x 9i7-5o)—Robbie Scholarship (£115), Yuill Scholarship (Lion), and Coutts Scholarship (Do).

Myron Grant Hampton* (i 946-49)—Yuill Scholarship (£loo).

Other scholarships were awarded at the end of the 1953-54 session to the following F.P.s:— Ian Robert Young (I938-45)—Fullerton, Moir and Gray Scholarship in Mathematics.

rIniversi0 Notes

23

Alan Stirling Hall* (I937-4o and 1943-5o)—Fullerton, Moir and

Gray Scholarship in Classics.

Ian Ross Fraser* (1942-48)—Dey Scholarship in Education. * * *

At the Autumn Graduation in the University of Aberdeen on 27 October 1954 degrees were conferred on the following F.P.s:— Ordinary Degrees DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.)

Stephen Andrew Cormack Robertson* (1939-50.

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.Sc.) Charles Kenneth Mackay (I944- 5 o).

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING (B.SC.(ENG.)) Ronald Macgregor Gordon (1944-46), in Civil Engineering.

Brian Taylor Jordan Morris* (1943-49), in Electrical Engineering.

John Thomson Low Parkinson* (1942-5o), in Electrical

Engineering.

•

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL.B.) William Alexander* (1945-48), M.A. DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF LAW (B.L.) Comyn Milne* (1929-41).

John George Walker Philip (1946-50. * * * Archibald Stewart Fraser (1942-51) has been elected president of the University Athletic Association for session 1954-55. Both the president of the S.R.C. and the president of the Union are also F.P.s.

At the first meeting of the recently-elected S.R.C. under the presidency of Gordon Strachan Cowie* (1937-4o and 1941-51) the following F.P.s were elected office-bearers of the Council : Secretary, Alexander Donald Campbell Grassie* (1940-53) ; Sub-Secretary, Thomas Gordon Coutts* (1938-51) ; and Student Treasurer, Ian Slessor Smith* (1945-53). In addition to these appointments Alexander Edward Mcllwain* (1945-51), M.A., was elected to the post of Director of Publications.

Stephen Andrew Cormack Robertson* (1939-51), M.A., has been elected to the onerous post of Convener of Entertainments in the Students' Union.

F.P.s were also prominent in the spirited Rectorial campaign which took place during the winter term. Alexander Donald Campbell Grassie* (1940-53) played a leading part in the successful McGrigor party and Charles Donald Mowat* (1944-5o) and Ruaraidh Wishart McIntyre* (1945-51) were leaders of the less

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successful Bader party. George Leslie Fraser* (1936-49), a member of the Docker party, took part in an expedition to London which resulted in the kidnapping of Group Captain Douglas Bader.

Editor's Note.—The new Rector, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick Robert McGrigor, G.C.B., D.S.O., is a great-grandson of Sir James McGrigor, M.D., who was dux of the School in 1782 and subsequently Rector of Marischal College.

I9o5-io MEDICAL CLASS REUNION

The 1905-10 Class of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen held its first reunion in Aberdeen on z6 June 1954. Of the fortyfour members of the class twenty-eight survive and of these ten were present at the reunion. Five of them were F.P.s, namely:— Douglas Gordon Cheyne* ( i 9oi-o5), C.B.E., M.C., M.D., Brigadier (retired). (See page 9.)

Robert Richards* (1899-1904), M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S.E., D.P.H. In medical practice in Aberdeen, 1919 to 1946. Lecturer in Forensic Medicine, University of Aberdeen. Police Surgeon, Aberdeen.

James Dewar Robertson (1894-1905), M.C., M. B., Ch.B. In medical practice in South Wales since 1920.

Robert Semple* (1898-1905), O.B.E., M.D. In medical practice in Aberdeen since 1921.

Harold Edgar Smith* (1889-97), M.A., M.B., Ch.B. Ophthalmic Surgeon in Aberdeen, now retired.

One of the members of the class who was unable to be at the reunion was Sir Clarence Edward Greeson (1902-05), K. B. E., C.B., M.D., Surgeon Vice-Admiral (retired). He was promoted to that rank in 1948 and was Medical Director-General of the Navy from 1949 to 1952.

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, ROBERT GORDON'S TECHNICAL COLLEGE

The following F.P.s were awarded diplomas at the School of Architecture, Robert Gordon's Technical College, Aberdeen, in October:— Robert John Aitken* (1 934-43)• Hamish Webster Fairlie McIntyre (1947-5o).

David Mark Wotherspoon Nicol* (1 933-44).

Derry Menzies Robertson (1939-42).

David Douglas Gordon Ross* (1 939-47)William Youngson Salter (193 2-45).

Denis Michael Alastair Shewan (1935-43).

William Jack* (1945-5O was awarded the George Gregory Prize and Hamish Webster Fairlie McIntyre (1947-5o) was awarded the Former Students' Association Memorial Medal .

Trading with Communist China To those readers—and they are many—who knew China in the past, and before the present regime gained control, it may be of interest to learn the impressions of one who has recently visited many of the sea-ports in his capacity as a ship master trading on the coast over the last two-and-a-half years.

Shanghai as compared with former days is a city of ghosts of the cosmopolitan population which originally got it the name of the Paris of the East ; there are still the teeming millions of Chinese and a small proportion of White Russians, but seldom does one see a European woman in a pretty frock to relieve the monotony of the drab, blue garb worn by all good Communists, men and women alike.

Bubblingwell Road is now Nankin Road West; the Shell-Mex Building is headquarters of Coastal Forces which, in so far as I could see, is a secret Maritime Police Force; Park Hotel ground floor remains a restaurant, but above that to the 18th floor are the headquarters of various Government organisations; the x8th floor houses a restaurant where European-style food can be obtained ; the French Club has been turned into premises for a youth organisation and the famous Shanghai Club in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building is no more ; but a Tiffin Club still operates in the Dome for the few Europeans who remain, Soo in all at the time of my leaving three months ago.

In my view China has closely followed Russia in the organisation of its intelligence services and in its treatment of foreigners. All foreigners are suspect, but for what reason no one can or will give a satisfactory explanation, and armed guards are on duty twenty-four hours a day on visiting ships. One must get a permit to land and this has to be submitted to the guard on going ashore and again on returning. If one does not return at the appointed time, there is trouble which may result in the withdrawal of the permit. There is no distinction made between the master, officers and crew : all must parade on deck together on arrival and departure, and are herded through the inspection space holding identity cards, wrist watches and fountain pens, which are carefully checked—and this despite the fact that in my case we were trading to and from Communist ports every ten days.

It is but fair to say that in North China—Shanghai, Tsingtao, Chinwangtao etc.—the officials administer the rules and regulations with some consideration for the European members of the crew and the flag under which they serve, and in fact the individual, when not in company with another of the party, will be quite friendly, but not so in South China, where the officials seem to take a delight in frustrating and humiliating the European in every possible way.

With the exception of five European officers, all the crew in my ship were Chinese, and the deck and catering staff all belonged to Foochow or the near vicinity. On arrival there and after all formalities had been completed, if one of the crew wished to visit his home and

Aberdeen Grammar School lliagaine family, he first had to get permission from the guards to proceed on shore, then produce two photographs to the police, state where he was going and when he was to return.

In all Chinese ports on arrival the routine (since modified in response to numerous protests) was that a pilot boarded and then all local charts, binoculars, sextants, in fact all navigational instruments, were removed and put under seal so that in so far as safe navigation was concerned the ship was completely in the hands of the Chinese pilot.

On one occasion my ship was delayed whilst at anchor in a river in South China because of an approaching typhoon and the pilot disembarked leaving me with no chart from which our exact position could be determined or the area of dear water in the event of dragging anchor could be ascertained. The weather worsened and in due course the ship commenced to drag anchor and it was necessary to shift berth. The senior guard was asked to break the seal and give me the chart but my repeated requests were met by a blank refusal, and in the end I broke the seal personally and wrote to the authorities explaining my actions, and protesting against a shipmaster's being left in such an invidious position.

Nothing further was heard of this incident for three months but I was then summoned to appear before the local Chief of Coastal Forces to answer a charge of infringing the law of the Chinese People's Republic by breaking a seal put there by their representative. Nothing I could say during the two-and-a-half-hour sitting could in any way alter the fact that in my letter of protest I had admitted breaking the law, and there could be no extenuating circumstances to excuse that.

Incidentally during the session of interrogation I took exception to the manner in which I was being spoken to and rose to leave but decided discretion was the better part of valour when a guard at the entrance `disputed my exit '—with a sten gun at the ready!

My wife was with me during our trading between Chinese ports and was at times very perturbed when Nationalist gun-boats from Formosa endeavoured to stop the cargoes from going north, but she reminds me that on many occasions in North China we were handsomely entertained to Chinese Chow by the ship's agents who were in fact the agents of the Communist Government. Generally speaking, these men expressed themselves as being particularly anxious to foster friendly relations with foreigners: certainly the individual North Chinaman still retains some of the natural courtesy for which his race was famed in the past.

And so back to Hongkong, that delightful place in its beautiful setting in that troubled part of the world—free air to breath, freedom to say and do as one pleases, where one sees a smile on faces in the street, beautiful gowns on beautiful European and Oriental women, and the Peninsular or Gloucester Hotel to slake a thirst, or dine on the best of foods in company with one's own kind without looking over one's shoulder to see if someone is listening.

GEORGE F. EssoN* (1894-1903).

26

Back to Erin " Connemara ", said Stephen Gwynn, " is the beautiful name of a very beautiful district." Having visited it in 1951, my wife and I entirely agreed with the famous Irishman. But is Connemara the most beautiful district in the Emerald Isle? The answer must remain a matter of opinion, and in an, effort to resolve our own opinions, we re-visited Ireland in April 1954, to spend a few days in two of the other scenic districts of that attractive country. We have still to make acquaintance with the Mountains of Mourne, the Glens of Antrim and the Donegal Highlands. Perhaps after that we shall be able to answer our question.

As our previous travel route had been by train to Liverpool, thence steamer to Dublin, we would have preferred this time to take the Aer Lingus service from Turnhouse to Collinstown, but although we tried to book three weeks before starting, there was not a plane seat available—a tribute to the popularity of air transport. We therefore sailed at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday from Anderston Quay, Glasgow.

A beautiful evening it was : we had close-up views of the great Clyde shipyards, then more distant ones of Ben Lomond and the grand hills of Argyll and Arran, ere going to sleep as we approached Ailsa Craig.

After a comfortable night, we awoke about 7 a.m. near Lambay, an islet off the coast of County Dublin. The sun's rays sparkled on the water as we passed Ireland's Eye, another islet, and rounded the rocky peninsula of Howth past Bailey Lighthouse, perched precariously on a far-out crag. After a brief view of Dublin's beautiful bay, backed to the south by Sugar Loaf and other fine • Wicklow mountains, we enjoyed an excellent breakfast on board, and then found ourselves close to North Wall. After disembarking, we had a short spell of sightseeing. We motored past Clontarf (scene of a great battle in 1014, when the Danish invaders were severely beaten by the Irish under the redoubtable Brian Boroimhe) to Howth.

My wife and I had a brief run in the electric tramcar that runs over the hill, and after strolling across the small moor, near the summit station, the Friends motored us back to the city for lunch. (The capital F indicates members of the Society of Friends, colloquially known as Quakers.) In the afternoon we visited Trinity College, founded nearly 400 years ago. It has one of the largest libraries in the world, and claims to have the highest kitchen in Europe I Certainly the ceiling is an immense distance from the floor. Our host and hostess for our Irish visit live in Edenderry, about forty miles west of Dublin, and we motored out there in the early evening —a winding road, but almost dead level. Practically all the fine scenery of Ireland is round the coast ; the centre is the famous Bog of Allen, flat and featureless, and between Dublin and Galway— over too miles—the road scarcely rises too feet above sea-level.

Next day our friends kindly lent us their car, and we motored via Naas across Sally Gap in the Wicklow Hills. Some very fine scenery here, including Loch Tay, a name familiar to Scots. On 27

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

the descent, a woman came rushing out of her cottage and signalled me to stop. She asked me to post a letter, being miles from a letterbox. Accepting it, I said : Beannachd leibb gu mor, a charaid and she smilingly answered : " I am sorry ; I have no Irish ". (That was a different experience from our descent of Nelson's Pillar with a young couple who spoke Irish Gaelic the whole time.) After a late lunch in Bray, reached through the pleasant Glen of the Downs, we turned south along the coast to Wicklow, and then inland to Rathdrum.

Two things attracted our eyes here ; first, the highest railway signal I have ever seen, and second, a remarkably beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary on a rocky shelf half-way up the sheer face of a quarry.

Eventually, we reached Glendaloch, a most beautifully sequestered valley of historic interest. We visited the Round Tower and some of the seven churches, and had a delightful walk in the evening sun to the head of the upper of the two lochs that give a name to this most charming glen.

Next morning we took the old Military Road over to Glenmalure.

What a climb ! The road is not too loose, but it is rough, narrow and very steep. A grand view from the summit, and a wild descent, something like Buttermere Hause in the English Lake District.

Descending the attractive valley, we came to Ovoca, and remembered Thomas Moore's famous song of " that valley so sweet where the two waters meet ".

The vegetation in Ireland was noticeably ahead of ours, and we saw many beautiful flowers and some finely-leaved trees as we threaded our way along the riverside roads of County Wicklow— " the Garden of Ireland ". But more wild country lay ahead of us now, as we climbed steadily up to the Wicklow Gap, also over iooo feet above sea-level, ere making the long steady descent into County Kildare. A quick run, skirting the famous Curragh military camp and race-course, brought us back to Edenderry by lunch-time, and about half-past three we again set off, this time on the real raison d'être of our trip—a tour through Killarney.

The sole object of interest during the next seventy miles was Maryborough Prison, grim and gaunt ! Far over the bog to the east were the Wicklow Hill outposts ; south, west and north the horizon was generally the bog. About 5.3o we had a roadside picnic near the Rock of Cashel, that remarkable lump amid the plain. Legend has it that Auld Nick, in one of his tantrums, bit a piece of rock out of the mountains west of Templemore and dropped it at Cashel. in " The Devil's Bit " is still the name applied to the U-shaped gap these hills. The rock supports several historic ruins—Cathedral, Cormac's Chapel, Round Tower, and Cross of Cashel.

The land on our right had become more fertile—the " Golden Vale " of Tipperary, but it now developed into a fine mountain range with the noble Galtee Mor topping 3000 feet. At Cahir we stopped to take a photograph of the castle (dating from 1142) above the River Suir—an attractive picture. Time unfortunately did not allow us into to explore the famous Michelstown Caves, and dusk turned darkness as we passed through Fermoy. So we failed to get a view

Back to Erin

29

of Cork's wonderful harbour, and have added that requirement to the other " musts " for our next Irish tour.

Next morning we took the road to Blarney Castle—a grand old ruin in a beautiful setting. Several other tourists were there, and most of us kissed the Stone, but an American woman confessed that she was too " chicken " to risk her neck I She did take a snapshot of her husband rising from his osculation, and three minutes later she opened the back of her camera and produced the photograph— quite a good one.

After this we got entangled in the by-roads of County Cork, and were delayed until 1 p.m. ere reaching the friends in Clonakilty from whom we sponged an excellent lunch. The sun continued shining strongly, and we had a splendid approach to the mountainous district of West Cork, encircling beautiful Bantry Bay, studded with islands set in the shimmering water. Skirting the head of the bay, and stopping now and again to take more snapshots, we drew up for tea at Glengariff Hotel, and a short stroll gave us some understanding of the local claim that, while Killarney has the fame and the name, the most beautiful spot in all Ireland is Glengariff. Certainly it is hard to imagine a more beautiful view than that from the brae above Glengariff Castle, looking west across the bay to Garnish Island, with the sun sinking behind Sugar Loaf (1887 feet) and the higher hills on the border of Kerry.

On the finely surfaced road, we had a grand evening run, sweeping round the glen in a steady rise to the county boundary in a tunnel over 1200 feet up—rather a change from the two road tunnels I have motored through in Great Britain: near Penmaenmawr in North Wales, almost overhanging the shore, and the submarine Mersey Tunnel from Birkenhead to Liverpool. There followed another fine descent, winding down two hill-sides to cross an arm of the sea at Kenmare, and getting a long-distance view of Macgillicuddy's Reeks, Ireland's greatest mountain range.

Approaching dusk resolved the problem which otherwise would have confronted us: whether to make straight for Killarney by Windy Gap (another r ooo feet summit) and the View Point, or to skirt the coast of the Waterville Peninsula via those entrancinglynamed spots, Parknasilla, Ballinskelligs, Cahirciveen, Ballaghasheen, and the Gap of Dunloe. The latter is deferred for our " next time ", but we certainly do not expect any part of it to compare with the simply exquisite scene as we surmounted the slight rise east of Looscanaugh Loch. To the west Carrantual (3414 feet, the Monarch of Ireland) and his fellow high-tops of the Reeks ; to the north the Gap of Dunloe—reminding Scots strongly of the Lairig Ruadh—and the Upper Loch ; to the north-east the Long Range leading to the Meeting of the Waters at Mucross Loch and, in the distance, the broad waters of the Lower Loch; and in the east the massive bulk of Mangerton (1736 feet). We spent several ideal minutes using our binoculars, ere descending to Killarney in the gloaming.

As the calls of business necessitated our host's return home on Sunday, we motored him to Mallow to catch the midday train from

30

Aberdeen Grammar School MagaTin

Cork; a rather drab forty-mile run in that direction, but much finer west-bound, as we steadily came nearer to the mountains. In the afternoon the rest of us spent three delightful hours in a jaunting-car through Mucross Demesne, to the ruined Abbey, Brickeen Bridge, Colleen Bawn Rock and Dinis's Cottage—the entire round being through scenery of tremendous beauty and variety: trees, flowers, shrubs, bays, streams, hills, waterfalls. I would certainly rate Killarney as superior to Glengariff, and that is saying a lot.

Our hotel had an almost perfect situation on the shore, about ioo yards from MacCarthy Mor's Castle, which we visited next morning ere leaving. A short visit was also made to Ross Castle, near Killarney town. Making a full semi-circle of Loch Leathan, we turned up a side road as far as Kate Kearney's Cottage, where I left the ladies sitting in the car and walked up the rough road about half-way to the famous Gap, and took a couple of snapshots. A pity our holiday could not be stretched to twice as long at least I The grand scenery tempted me to do some tramping among these fine hills, and having already climbed to the summits of Beinn Ncamhais, Snowdon and Scafell Pike, it is my intention some day to stand on top of Ireland.

Meantime I had to be content with the very fine view of Carrantual from above Beaufort Bridge, a mile or two after we rejoined the main road. Stream, bridge, trees and fleecy clouds over the distant Reeks piercing a blue sky in bright sunshine—it called for a great effort to remember my wife's injunction: " For goodness' sake be tactful, and do not keep on saying it is almost as fine as Scotland I " Continuing, we later joined the now disused narrow-gauge railway from Tralee to Dingle, which hugs the road-side for several miles to the latter town—our farthest west. Here we left the fine tarmac surface and ascended the rough, loose road to the top of Connor Pass, five miles followed by six down the north-east side.

But it was well worth the laborious climb for the remarkable views from the 13oo feet summit : south-west across Dingle Bay to Valentia and the western outposts of the Reeks, north to the lonely lochs Gal and Cruttia at the back of Brandon Hill (3127 feet), then round to Loop Head in County Clare, on the far shore of the wide Shannon estuary, and finally down to Tralee of famed song, at the head of its attractive bay. Desceni was more grim than ascent, as in places the road is between overhanging rock and precipitous slope, even more fearsome than the Kyle Rhea road in Skye. There followed a fine, level, tarmac road past Castle Gregory and alongside the railway again until we stopped in Tralee for lunch about 2.40 p.m. I I asked the waiter for a small helping, but as usual I might have saved my breath; he brought me an enormous plateful and smiled at my caustic comment as to what he thought I would eat when really hungry. Perhaps the beautiful song about the " Rose of Tralee" had led us to expect too beautiful a town, but whatever the reason, we were disappointed in the place. After calling on some friends and admiring their delightful garden, we left about 4.3o through lower-lying country to Listowel, an attractively-sited town in a bend of River Feale, with historic castle and church. My wife and our

Bark to Erin

31 hostess explored the latter, while I went to the railway station to see if any remnant was left of the famous Ballybunion railway. Disused since 1934, this was the sole example in the British Isles of the Lartigue mono-rail system : the turn-table bed is all that can now be traced.

A short spell of rather drab country followed until we approached Tarbert, where the full glory of the Shannon estuary charmed our eyes, and for almost twenty miles we skirted the southern shore, past Foynes sea-plane base and Desmond Castle, whose ruin, like so many others, testifies to the tragic course of Ireland's history.

About 8 p.m., in bright evening sunshine, we entered the fine city of Limerick, expecting, after this long day, to have a meal, sit quietly for an hour or so, and go to bed. Not a bit of it. Our energetic hostess had other ideas. We called on some Friends, one of whom came with us on the fifteen-mile run to Shannon Airport.

It was a great sight about midnight to see giant Sabena, T.W.A. and other great aircraft arriving and departing on their all-night flights between Europe and America. Quite a number of sightseers seem to make a habit of coming here at nights, and it is certainly wonderful to see the immense ring of lights over the broad expanse of this magnificent airport. A crowd still remained in waiting-hall and forecourt, and refreshment-room and bookstall were still quite busy, when we left about 52.3o a.m.

Next morning we did some sight-seeing in this historic town, and after elevenses with our Friends we left about one o'clock, skirting a beautifully-wooded and island-studded reach of the Shannon near Castle Connell, and crossing the river at O'Brien's Bridge. It is near this place that Ireland's great river was altered in course to provide the immense water-power for Ardna-crusha electricity scheme.

A mile or two further on, we recrossed the river by the beautiful bridge at Killaloe, attractively situated at the foot of Loch Derg, and for the next seven miles our route led us along the eastern shore of this long winding sheet of water. The view north-westwards was particularly fine just before we left the loch at Portroe and turned east for Nenagh and the central boggy plain. Before stopping for tea at Ros Cre, we noticed the Devil's Bit previously referred to, but apart from that there was little of interest ere we reached Edenderry again about six o'clock.

Wednesday was our final day. We motored into Dublin in the forenoon, lunched with friends in Sandymount, an attractive suburb near Lansdowne Road International Rugby ground, returned for another short visit to Trinity College, and spent an hour at Collinstown, Dublin's fine airport, ere returning to town in time for tea before our steamer left North Wall at 6.3o p.m.

Another grand evening's sunshine gave us a fine cruise up Ireland's east coast, and we hoped to catch at least a glimpse of the Mountains of Mourne, but it was dark ere we were abreast of them, and before midnight we were sound asleep, dreaming cheerfully of our hosts' final words : " Come Back to Erin ".

E. R. B.* (191o-1922).

British South Georgia Expedition, 1954-55 Editor's Note.—One of the five members of the British South Georgia Expedition, i 954-55, is Squadron Leader IAN M. BROOKER* (1934-45), M.B., Ch.B. The following article by Mr. George A. Sutton, leader of the expedition, explaining what tbey hoped to achieve, appeared in The Daily Telegraph of ao August 1954, the day on which the expedition sailed from Glasgow. It is reprinted here by permission of the Editor of The Daily Telegraph.

What is there after Everest? Now that the highest mountain has been climbed does any outstanding problem remain to test the skill of the mountaineer? The answer is a decided yes, since the majority of mountains in the world are unclimbed.

Some, such as the virgin peaks of South Georgia, an island on the fringe of the Antarctic, are even more difficult than Everest to reach.

No expedition with mountaineering as one of its primary aims has yet visited any part of the Antarctic. That is because the Antarctic is mainly ice, incredibly large, and thousands of miles from Europe. It supports no native human life, and only a limited flora and fauna.

Few ships visit there, only those of the whaling companies or exploratory expeditions, and the occasional warship. Each visit is an adventure. The cost of chartering a ship is high, and needs national support to make it possible for the explorer. The mountaineer is seldom blessed with such resources, so for him the Antarctic has remained virtually closed.

PRISON HUT BASE

But in early 1954 this hitherto insuperable difficulty was overcome, thanks to the sympathetic interest and generosity of a British whaling company, Chr. Salveson of Leith. Captain H. K. Salvesen consented to convey a British mountaineering party to South Georgia where, on the northern shores, there are several whaling stations, and some administrative buildings, including a small prison hut.

In this small hut, which stands near to the house of the resident magistrate, and the whaling station, Grytviken, we shall establish our base.

South Georgia is a small island, perhaps i 20 miles in length and varying in width from five to thirty miles. It lies roughly along a N.W.-S.E. axis, its southern coast facing the Antarctic continent, its northern coast breasting the South Atlantic Ocean. Though sub-antarctic in latitude it is within range of the Antarctic winter pack-ice, but yet lies sufficiently north to be in the track of westerly winds known as the " roaring forties ", and so contrives to gain for itself the worst of both worlds, and a notoriety for bad weather.

32

British South Georgia Expedition, 1954-55

33

HIGHEST PEAK

The island contains scores of mountains, which makes travel inland very difficult. The main range, the Allardyce, which includes the island's highest peak, Mount Paget, forms the backbone of South Georgia, and consists of a long chain of peaks rising to heights approaching i o,ooo feet, linked by high passes. None of these peaks has ever been climbed.

To the north-west and south-east lie lesser ranges, mostly unnamed, some unexplored. The character of these ranges varies considerably, with mainly ice-peaks in the north and rock peaks in the south. In the Allardyce the southern slopes are of permanent ice and the northern slopes mostly walls of poor quality rock.

South Georgia's history is neither long nor involved. Captain Cook landed in Possession Bay in 1775, claiming the land for the Crown and naming it Southern Georgia in honour of King George III. The island had been sighted at least once before. A sealing industry flourished for the next hundred years, but exhausted itself by excessive killing.

In 1904 whaling began to develop, and a few years later a resident magistrate was appointed. Still few people ventured inland. The men of Prince Olaf Whaling Station would sometimes ski across the narrow strip of land to King Haakon Bay, and in 1916 Shackleton and two companions, after an epic journey in an open boat, crossed from King Haakon Bay to Stromness Bay Whaling Station.

The 'thirties saw several visits by German parties, one led by Kohl Larsen which did topographical work in the north-west. Postwar developments have been by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, and two expeditions of the South Georgia Survey, led by Duncan Carse. The South Georgia Survey has made valuable contributions to knowledge of the island's topography and geology.

RESEARCH TASK

No one has yet conducted glaciological research in South Georgia.

This and the ascent of several major peaks will form the principal objects of the present expedition. Subsidiary aims include taking photographs and bearings from the higher peaks to supplement previous surveys; collecting geological specimens from higher exposures; observation of the penguin rookeries; and the collection of rock samples for research in residual magnetism.

It was these specialized problems which led to the formation, in early 1953, of the British South Georgia Expedition by three men, Harry Pretty, the surveyor, Richard A. Brown, the geologist, and myself, photographer and leader of two summer Arctic expeditions.

With us go Ian M. Brooker, medical officer, and E. Clive Webb, assistant surveyor. All are experienced mountaineers and expeditionaries.

To prepare such a venture has taken many months. Passages had to be obtained and approval was required from the Governor of the Falkland Islands. The expedition had to be made self-reliant in food and equipment for six months in the field.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Conspicuous in their help towards solving our financial difficulties were The Daily Telegraph and the newly-formed Everest Trust.

British industry came to our support over food and equipment, and the Royal Geographical Society is loaning instruments. Many other people helped to smooth our path, notably Mr. Martin Lindsay, M.P., who consented to be our patron; Mr. Gerald Seligman, our adviser on glaciological problems; Dr. V. E. Fuchs, of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Scientific Bureau; and Brigadier Sir John Hunt.

Now all is ready for us to sail. Forty days out and thirty back, with six months in the field, seem all too short a time for the work to be done, and where is one to start?

The difficulties immediately besetting the expedition are unique.

Since the island is not an ice-cap but rather a mountainous interior, with valley glaciers flowing to the sea, sledging is not a simple solution.

The Allardyce peaks, only a few miles inland, reach a height of nearly 10,000 feet and in the south-east round Larsen Bay, the peaks rise sheer from the water's edge. There are few passes suitable for manhauling heavy sledges, and especially is this true of the Allardyce range. Such terrain makes travel slow and hard.

34

WIND AND WEATHER

Previous expeditions have not infrequently had the support of sealing ships and whale catchers to land or pick them up at convenient 'points along the coast. Such facilities are dependent on the generosity of the different companies, and cannot always be expected. Therefore we plan an entirely land-borne operation, and this makes it almost essential that all members should have mountaineering experience.

In addition, the island is subject to three great weather factors, wind, mist and blizzards. Of these wind is perhaps the worst.

There are records of gusts exceeding i zo m.p.h., of tents being blown away, small craft sunk in harbour, and even the large catchers blown off course. Such winds can rise in half an hour, which is a lot less time than it takes a climber to descend a mountain.

Mist, too, is a problem to the mountain traveller, but the bane of life to a surveyor. In South Georgia mist may hang for days round the summit from which the surveyor wishes to take bearings and photographs. The difficulty will be to make an ascent coincident with one of the brief clear spells.

Blizzards can last for days, and suspend all activities. They can bury camps with snow, and make travel difficult. If mountaineers be made were caught by a blizzard in a high camp their descent would tracks, out blotted have will snow fresh for hazardous, both hard and filled in steps in the ice, and lie loosely on the rocks. Similar problems face sledge parties visiting the extreme northern and southern areas.

We These problems have a great bearing on our programme. and near its and Paget Mount of summits the on plan an attempt beautiful neighbour, Sugarloaf. We shall make notes of the glaciers crossed, so that our glaciologists can later select one for more detailed

British South Georgia Expedition, 1954-55 35 plateau and study. Long journeys are proposed to the Kohl Larsen ice-peaks of the north, and the shapely, igneous peaks of the south, for the purpose of surveying, geologising and investigating the various glaciers.

Mount Paget is 9,55o feet high, and its summit ridge is a mile long. For the surveyors it offers a magnificent viewpoint, if the summit can be reached.

It may be possible to use a low altitude camp, and for the surveyors to climb to the summit with their instruments in several hours, in which case the whole operation might be completed within a few days.

It is more likely, though, to require a stay of several weeks and the establishing of higher camps. It may even be necessary to dig out ice-caves near the summit.

It has been suggested to me by one of the few mountaineers who have seen Paget that perhaps the best approach would be by way of the Nordenskjold Glacier and up the S.E. ridge to the summit. It will be the aim of the first reconnaisance to reach and examine this ridge.

Sugarloaf is 1,725 feet lower, but photographs show it to be a more formidable proposition than Paget. To the mountaineer living in a base-hut almost within its shadow, its shapely appearance and steep ice-walls and ridges make it a constant challenge.

With these two peaks ascended, or written off, it should be possible to extend the sphere of our activities. For the glaciologist and surveyors perhaps most interest lies in the north-west, but to reach this area of ice-peaks means sledging across the Kohl Larsen plateau. Part of this route is over ground covered by Shackleton.

But to the mountaineer and geologist the greatest interest must be in the rugged, igneous mountains of the south-east, in the Drygalski Bay area. These are of good hard rock forming shapely spires and ragged ridges of unknown difficulty of ascent.

The day of the private expedition in polar regions may be over, or it may be dawning. I prefer to believe that one day the Antarctic will open up to scientists and mountaineers as the Himalaya and Alaska have done, especially with the increasing use of air transport. * * * One of the messages from the expedition, dated to November 1954, reported that their first attempt to reach the summit of Mount Paget had failed. Four members spent ten days on the Nordenskjold Glacier and from the highest point reached (just over 5ooo feet) attempts were made to force a route through the 3ooo-feet ice-fall to a col south-east of Mount Paget. Giant crevasses had prevented this.

The latest message, dated 5 December 1954, stated that four minor summits had been climbed but that bad weather and bad terrain had complicated further operations on Mount Paget. The final camp was established at 3,000 feet, still ten miles away, and one unsuccessful attempt on the summit had been made by Brown and Webb.

Books by F.P.s The Editor will be glad to receive for review in this section of the Magazine copies of books, pamphlets etc. written or edited by F.P.s.

GEORGE SUTHERLAND FRASER ( I 924-33), M.A.: W. B. Yeats.

Longmans for the British Council and the National Book League. as. * * * PERCIVAL ROBSON KIRBY (1892-1901), M.A., D.Litt., F.R.C.M.: The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa. Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg. 42s.

This book by Professor P. R. Kirby was first published in 1934 by the Oxford University Press. It has been reprinted as " an invaluable book of reference " at the request of members of the African Music Society. * * * PERCIVAL Rossox KIRBY (I891-1901), M.A., D.Litt., F.R.C.M. (Editor): A Source Book on the Wreck of the Grosvenor, East Indiaman. The Van Riebeeck Society (South African Library, Cape Town). zis.

The Grosvenor, an East Indiaman bound for England from Bengal, ran ashore on the south-eastern coast of Africa in 1782. * * * ERIC LIN KLATER* (1913- I 6), C.B.E., M.A., LL.D.: The Faithful Ally. A Novel. Jonathan Cape. tos. 6d. * * * KENNETH PIRIE MACKENZIE (1901-07), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. (retired): Operation Rangoon Jail. Christopher Johnson.

1 5 S. Colonel Mackenzie, a regular officer, an F.P. and a graduate in Arts and Medicine of Aberdeen University, was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the village of Sittang in Lower Burma in February 1941. He was released from Rangoon Jail in April 1943, aged fifty-five.

He is to be congratulated on his survival and on his book. Colonel Mackenzie explains why he has taken so long to write Operation Rangoon Jail. He admits that he is no writer but says he has waited nine years in vain for a book which tells simply and straightforwardly the conditions under which men lived and died in Japanese P.O.W. camps. None such, in his opinion, has been forthcoming, so he has written it himself. He has succeeded in giving an accurate and honest report of Japanese mentality, barbarity and stupidity. Colonel Mackenzie goes further and asks why, in view of all that happened so needlessly in Rangoon, Siam (see And All the Trumpets) and in countless islands of the Pacific, should the Japanese now be courted and feted and favoured.

Colonel Mackenzie maintains, and I agree with him, that the Japanese have a veneer of civilization which in times of either national or personal crisis splits and peels and underneath can be seen the primitive and sadistic which is the real Japanese. True they have an infinite capacity for copying not only matter but also manners, but as for creative ability in the modern world, they seem to have none. It will take many years of careful nursing and teaching to bring Japan up to civilization or even normal behaviour as we know it.

36

Books by F.P.1

37

The book is high in praise, and very justly so, of the average British soldier and shows how well he stands up to adversity if he believes in his cause and is well officered. The Japs could never get these men down. The Jap was always held in contempt, and faith was never lost even in the darkest hours that there would be a safe return to " England's green and pleasant land ".

Being a doctor, Colonel Mackenzie has a deal to say about the lack of medical supplies, about how much good could have been done and how many lives could have been saved with small quantities of the right drugs and about how needless suffering and deaths could have been avoided if proper food had been provided.

This book Operation Rangoon Jail is, in my opinion—and I, too, was a medical officer in a Jap P.O.W. camp—a book well worth reading. There arc no literary heroics in it. It is a plain, sad, moving history of a life of abject misery in captivity as seen through the eyes of a doctor and a senior British Officer.

F. A. F. * * * ROBERT LINDSAY GRAEME RITCHIE (1894-99), M.A., D.Litt., LL.D.,

Docteur de l'Universite de Paris (died April 1954): The Normans in Scotland. Edinburgh University Press. 5os. * * * JAMES GEORGE DAWSON SCOTT (1884-88), M.A , F.S.A.: The Stat..), of Kintore. In Verse. The Herald Press, Arbroath. 5s.

This lively book, written in the Aberdeenshire doric, contains an abundance of information on Kintore and district, its history and its people. It is illustrated with drawings by the author's brother, WILLIAM DAWSON SCOTT (1894- 1900), M.A. * * * WILLIAM DOUGLAS SIMPSON* (190I - 13), O.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., F S.A.(Scot.), F.S.A. (Editor): The Viking Congress. Oliver & Boyd. 3os.

A collection of the principal lectures delivered during the Viking Congress at Lerwick in July 195o, which was attended by forty British and Scandinavian scholars. *

*

*

O.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A.(Scot.), F.S.A.: Dundarg Castle. Oliver & Boyd. i 8s.

WILLIAM

DOUGLAS SIMPSON*

(190I - 13),

Scottish Country Dancing The Edinburgh branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society have set up a committee " to inquire into the origins of Scottish Country Dances and the influences which have moulded them through the centuries and to trace, in particular, the circumstances surrounding each dance recorded by the Society, and, if possible, to discover any dance as yet unrecorded ". To furnish this committee with the data upon which its work can commence, a questionnaire has been drawn up, and the co-operation and help of all who are interested will be welcomed. Copies of the questionnaire can be obtained from, and all enquiries should be addressed to, Mrs. M. M. Tait, Hon. Secretary to the Research Committee, a6 Morningside Park, Edinburgh to.

The Coire Etchachan Shelter Memorial to Arthur Hutchison The Coire Etchachan Shelter in memory of ARTHUR GILBERTSON HUTCHISON (1909-21), B.Sc., Ph.D., who was accidentally killed in South Wales in 1949, was built in July of this year and a dedication service was held at Derry Lodge, ten miles from Braemar, on Saturday, 6 November. The Shelter is situated about five miles from Derry Lodge in Coire Etchachan, near the path which leads from the Larig an Laoigh to Loch Etchachan and Ben Macdhui.

It was designed by Dr. George A. Taylor, lecturer in Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, and was built by three tradesmen and parties of volunteers. Materials, including two tons of cement, were conveyed by hand and on ponies from Derry Lodge.

The dedication service, which was attended by about forty people, was conducted by GEORGE GORDON CAMERON (1915-17), M.A., S.T.M., minister of St. John's Church, Dundee, who was a close friend and former colleague of " Hutch " in the 9th Boy Scout Troop and who was one of the sponsors of the Memorial Scheme. He was assisted by the Rev. Ian W. Fraser, minister at Braemar. During the service a plaque which is to be affixed to the Shelter was unveiled by the Marquis of Aberdeen.

In the course of his commemoration address Mr. Cameron said :— This is an oression when formality would seem unnatural and cold but when the everyday familiarity of casual speech would fail to match our mood. Nothing remains but the simple dignity of sincerity.

Certainly we can be sincere in the best we could say. We who knew " Hutch " all have our own vivid pictures of the man shining in our memories and there is not one of these pictures, in your case or in mine, that we would not delight in sharing. They flock to my mind now, here in this quiet, clean place—pictures so lively that I almost expect to see his gay figure striding up the path, the twinkle coming familiarly to his blue eyes as he surveys our solemnity, and that little whimsical smile lighting up his face as he sums up the situation and instantly decides what to do about it. Before we realize it we are away up to the hills with him, to solve some nice geological problem, or listen to the wind's music in the corrie or share with him the elemental magic of the high places.

But Arthur Gilbertson Hutchison, as he lives in our memories, meant something to us that words cannot easily express. . . . I would like to show you " Hutch " with a group of boys round him, as he kindles their imaginations with the infection of his own, adding to his mastery of whatever the subject that enthusiasm and that other indefinable something that he could always impart to whatever he touched.

What was it in Arthur that makes us so glad we have known him—that makes this a moment not for long faces but for grateful joy—and that, if there are tears somewhere near the surface, gives them a cleansing quality of assurance and thankfulness?

Is it that we remember how in his company we found it easy to be our best selves? Even in the externals that was true : I never talked brilliantly, but with Arthur, whose own conversation was always a delight, I was not, as so often in the presence of great talkers, struck dumb—and others, I know, felt the same.

We found ourselves, naturally, talking as though we were brilliant conversationalists. It was as true in more fundamental matters. " Never let the hand with which you shake your friend's hand do anything you'd be ashamed for your friend to know ", he once said at a Scouts' Own. Why do we remember that?

Because it did always matter to us what " Hutch " might think of us.

38

The Coire Etchachan Shelter

eXC9KCIM OF ilITTGRICCULTIBJ012 or 5iia rums OF TIBORIA:CCM Crr

2t113iR 5C11i00L FOROICIR l'EMISCIIA1B

. . .

• ci.0i9g by rehhop 0.910 fhelorb oty09 Ki9g of tarr9s of oak (ot apnl 1954 5bew9: C951(396 Grivorial for the Clberbee9 6rar9ipar Scbc.,o1 lucre r9alriallafeb 0911)c 38'1' folio of the tme9ty4birb Volume of 15e Public Regiskx of (111 drips a9b i)acii9g Beari9gs 19 So3110.92) 0916"' 9000ipber 1917: • • If)t; aforesaid 6951.99s Clnyonal Tigb1be nyalricuiaieb of pew 19 prayed tbaf 1 saib Public Register for lbe said Club wilb a suitable bifferc.9c4"61x.5.0r6 9g of arrps by 391o-locutor of bale 28'' Cipril 1954 Core91di Warra91 lo lbe yo9 Clerk to Tatriculafe i9 the Public Register of Oil arr9s apt) Beari9gs 5collcu)b i9 9ar9e of the Pelitio9ors the followi9g C9sig9s arrporial, , 4, . . . ' ' • MUSA r)CZ tS Calk, aDo ID thc ra 1 r) dC : _ pormelleb Or, belween.11)rec p,wiodo ci • , . ti)e last a Saltirc Liturc , cbar,p,..4 , -7,-. : t Or; 096 19 a9 esciol below the Shield this Mono "B012 Rea0R1.9".

Tpalriculafeb 19e 1)iptb bay of Sepier9ber 1954. extracleb furlb of it5e 329-b page of 1be 3-orlielb golu of the Public Register of Oil arr9s orb t3eari9gs i9 Scoll• , 9i91b )a ofSepter9ber 1954.

tit.-/e.o.

The Coire Etebaeban Shelter

39

I think of a verse from the Old Testament : " Thy gentleness hath made me great ". That expresses to me something of the truth about our friend. And I think of another which perhaps helps to explain that truth : " Blessed is the man who, nerved by Thee, bath set his heart on ascents ".

Arthur was one who in truth set his heart on ascents. . . . Never for him was the upward climb a selfishly solitary one. Always, on his way, his hand was out to help others. If you have read C. E. Montague's exciting climbing story, " Action ", you will recognize something of him there. That extra strength of spirit and character we found in him was the strength God gives to one whose natural set of mind begets the genuine desire to help others on the climb. That is why this memorial is so symbolic of the man himself—a shelter on the way to the heights.

A grand definition speaks of the Christian as one who makes it easier for others to believe in God. Arthur Hutchison was such a man. And when be left us we know that in that lonely moment he was not alone. The God in Whom his own life made it easier for others to believe was with him then.

The Dr. A. G. Hutchison Memorial Fund has been subscribed to by many F.P.s in this country and in many countries abroad—by colleagues at School, in the Scout Movement, at University and in business. The response has been generous but additional funds are still required to meet the cost of the Coire Etchachan Shelter. Subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, Robert L. Milne, 9 North Silver Street, Aberdeen.

The Arms of The Club As intimated in the last issue of the Magazine, the Executive decided earlier this year to matriculate a Club badge. The necessary procedure has now been completed and the grant of matriculation from the Lord Lyon King of Arms is reproduced on the opposite page. (The original is, of course, in colour.) The extract of matriculation of the Arms of the Club reads as follows :— SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, C.B., O.B.E., D.Sc., and the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Of the ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL FORMER PUPILS' CLUB having by Petition unto the Lord Lyon King of Arms of date 6th April 1954 Shewn : THAT

Ensigns Armorial for the Aberdeen Grammar School were matriculated on the 8th folio of the Twenty-Third Volume of the Public Register of All Arms and gs in Scotland on 16th November x917 : AND the Petitioners having prayed that the aforesaid Ensigns Armorial might be matriculated of new in the said Public Register for the said Club with a suitable difference, The Lord Lyon King of Arms by Interlocutor of date 28th April 1954 Granted Warrant to the Lyon Clerk to matriculate in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in name of the Petitioners the following Ensigns Armorial, videlicet : Per pale Gules, in the dexter a tower triple-towered Argent, masoncd Sable, and in the sinister a sword paleways proper, hilted and pommelled Or, between three padlocks of the second, over all on a chief of the last a saltire Azure, charged with a book expanded silver, all within a bordure Or ; and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto " BON RECORD ".

Matriculated the Ninth day of September 1954.

Extracted furth of the 32nd page of the Fortieth Volume of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland this Ninth day of September /954.

H. A. B. LAwsoN,

Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records.

Marriages Alexander (1931-43).—At Trinity Presbyterian Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 3 July 1954, WILLIAM JOHNSTONE ALEXANDER,* B.Sc.(Eng.), son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Alexander, 86 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen, to Barbara Wild, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Walker, Ashtrces Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead.

Allan (1936-45).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen, on 26 June 1954, COLIN CAMERON ALLAN,* younger son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Allan, Afton-Shiel, Bieldside, to Elizabeth Maude Anderson, eldest daughter of Mrs. A. D. Anderson, 37o Great Western Road, Aberdeen.

Bennett (1920-30).—At Dean Parish Church, Edinburgh, on 1 October 1954,

ARCHIBALD BERNErr, A.R.I.B.A., elder son of the late Harold E. Bennett, F.R.C.O.,

and of Mrs. E. Bennett, The Lodge, Lansdown House School, Edinburgh, to Ann Cochrane, only daughter of Mr. James D. Cochrane, general manager, Standard Property Investment Co. Ltd., and of Mrs. Cochrane, t Oxford Terrace, Edinburgh.

Blair (I934-44).—At the Presbyterian Church, Singapore, on 4 June 1954,

THOMAS BLAIR,* Malayan Police, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Blair, Ferrar,

Dinnet, Aberdeenshire, to Mairi Stewart Duncan, only daughter of Mr. J. R. Duncan and of the late Mrs. Duncan, Karnes, Argyllshire.

Borthwick (1955-41).-- At Emmanuel Church, Leeds, on 5 June 15154, EDWARD KERR BORTHWICK,* M.A., Ph.D., son of Major and Mrs. E. K. Borthwick, Glenae, 73 Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, to Betty Jean Orton, B.A., Ph.D., daughter of Professor and Mrs. Harold Orton, The Priory, 25 Cumberland Road, Leeds.

Caie (1944-48).—At Dingwall, on a July 1954, ALBERT CAIE,* only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Caie, 71 Inchbrae Drive, Aberdeen, to Helen Elizabeth Mitchell, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Mitchell, I Park Road, Strathpeffer.

Chalmers (193o-42).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen, on 20 July 1954, DEREK CHALMERS, M.B., Ch.B., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Chalmers, 217 Holbum Street, Aberdeen, to Margaret Stuart Aitken, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Aitken, 9 Great Western Place, Aberdeen.

Cradock (194o-46).—At Ferryhill South Church, Aberdeen, on to July 1954, JOHN WHITBY CRADOCK,* C.A., elder son of Mrs. E. Cradock, 125 Desswood Place, Aberdeen, to Vera McInnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. G. McInnes, 24 Osborne Place, Aberdeen.

Cromar (1944-49).—At Ruthrieston West Church, Aberdeen, on 15 September 19S4, ROBERT LETS CROMAR,* son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Cromar, 8 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen, to Constance Helen Margaret Ogg, only daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Ogg, zz Allan Street, Aberdeen.

Cruickshank (t9zo-31).—At St. Andrew's Church, Coniston, Lancashire, on 4 September, 19f4, ALAN HAMILTON CRUICKSHANK, M.D., elder son of Professor John Cruickshank, C.B.E., M.D., and of the late Mrs. Cruickshank, 46 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen, to Eva Marion Dining, younger daughter of the late Professor Walter J. Dulling, Liverpool, and of Mrs. Dining, Thwaite, Coniston.

Eddie (I944-46).—At Powis Church, Aberdeen, on 19 June 19S4, JAMES Ennis, son of Mr. J. McIntosh Eddie, to Justice Street, Aberdeen, to Mary Ferguson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Ferguson, 6 Rosemount Square, Aberdeen.

Elmslie (i931-45).—At Northowram Parish Church, Halifax, on 7 June 1954, JOHN ALEXANDER GRANT EratsrrE,* M.B., Ch.B., only son of JOHN GRANT rmsrIE* (1904-13), M.B., Ch.B., and of Mrs. Elmslie, 8z Beechgrove Terrace, Aberdeen, to Dorothy Margaret Maxon, niece of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Maxon, Newark.

Farquhar (t938-42).—At All Saints' Episcopal Church, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, on 3 July 1954, WILLIAM JAMES FARQUIIAR, School Croft, Boyndlie, to Gertrude A.nnie Mamie, Schoolhouse, Boyndlie.

E

40

Marriages

41

GiMee (1923-3o).—At the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Edinburgh, on 15 September 1954, MAURICE GORDON GILLIES,* M.A., LL.B., advocate, son of the late JAMES BROWN GILLIES (1895-1904), advocate in Aberdeen, and of the late Mrs. Rhoda Gullies, to Anne Bethea McCall Smith, advocate, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. B. McCall-Smith, Langside Cottage, Glasgow.

Golding (1926-37).—At the Cathedral Church of St. Machar, Old Aberdeen, 00 10 July 1954, HARRY SUTHERLAND WALPOLE GOLDING,* only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Golding, 24 Huntly Street, Aberdeen, to Elaine Tocher Findlater, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. M. Findlater, 18 Albyn Grove, Aberdeen.

Gordon (1942-46).—At St. Lawrence's Church, Coventry, on /6 June 1934, EDWARD REED GORDON, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Gordon, 85 Foothill Road, Aberdeen, to Aileen Aubcrtin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Aubertin, Coventry.

Grirnshaw (t934-47).—At Holburn Central Church, Aberdeen, on 20 November

1954, PETER RArcuFF GRIIISHAW, 20 Ashley Park North, Aberdeen, to Thelma

Burnett, daughter of Mr. John M. Burnett, 69 Provost Rust Drive, Aberdeen.

Hall (19z8-38).—At St. Margaret's Church, Dunfermline, on 24 August 19S4, ROBERT KELLAS HALL,* only son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hall, 44 Burns Road, Aberdeen, to Alice How Shepherd, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Shepherd, 1 Transy Place, Dunfermline.

Hector (I924-25).—At St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, on 28 August 1954, GORDON MUMMER'S HECTOR, Colonial Administrative Service, only SOO of GEORGE PITTENDRIGH HECTOR * (1889-47), M.A., D.Sc., and of Mrs. Hector, 51 Forest Road, Aberdeen, to Mary Forrest Gray, M.B., Ch.B., only daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gray, Fraserburgh.

Hendry (1936-39)At Ruthrieston West Church, Aberdeen, on 27 November 59S4, RAYMOND FINDLAY HENDRY, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hendry, 161 Midstocket Road, Aberdeen, to Kathleen Morrison, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Norrie, 24 Ramsay Gardens, and of 13 Rosebank Place, Aberdeen.

Hunter (1923-41).—At Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen, on 21 August 1954, KENNETH WILLIAM HUNTER,* civil engineer, only son of the late Mr. W. Hunter

and of Mrs. Hunter, 44 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen, to Averil Mary Garvie, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Garvie, Melrose Bank, Laurencekirk.

Kirton (x938-44).—At Tenby Congregational Church, Pembrokeshire, on 29 September 1954, RONALD ALEXANDER KIRTON, M.B., Ch.B., youngest son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Kirton, Oakbank, Fort Augustus, to Helen Doris Richards, S.R.N., elder daughter of the late Mr. T. R. Richards and of Mrs. Richards, Taylour's Park, New Hedges, Tenby.

McEwan (i933-37).—At St. Joseph's Church, Hongkong, on 3o October 1 954, JAMES KING McEwAN, son of the late Mr. J. McEwan and of Mrs. K. Ritchie, 6 Caledonian Place, Aberdeen, to Elizabeth Robson, daughter of the late Mr. William Robson and of Mrs. Robson, 3o Albyn Grove, Aberdeen.

McIntyre (1947-5o).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen, on 23 June 19S4, HAMISH WEBSTER FAIRLIE MCINTYRE, elder surviving son of the late Mr. P. J. McIntyre, C.A., Dundee, and of Mrs. McIntyre, S9 Forest Road, Aberdeen, to Iris Fowler MacKay, only child of Mr. and Mrs. James Maxwell Joass MacKay, Fountain Cottages, Golspie, Sutherland.

Mackay (1930-40).-At St. Peter's Church, Edinburgh, on z6 June 1954, ERIC BEATTIE MACKAY, M.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Mackay, 4; Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen, to Moya Connolly, daughter of the late Mr. T. Connolly and of Mrs. Connolly, Kilbimie House, Edinburgh.

McKay (I941-46).--At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen, on 19 July 1954.

WILLIAM GRAHAM McKAT, M.B., Ch.B., son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. McKay, The Laurels, Laurelwood Avenue, Aberdeen, to Christobel Donald, M.B., Ch.B., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Donald, 31 Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Maitland (i9r8-13).—At Walkerburn Parish Church, Peeblesshire, on 24 September 19f4, DOUGLAS WILLIAM MAITLAND, solicitor, son of Mr. and Mrs.

T. B. Maitland, 19 Granby Road, Edinburgh, to Isabel Allan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Allan, Schoolhouse, Walkerbum.

Middleton (1958-44).—At Cults East Church, Aberdeenshire, on 27 July 1954, IAN ADAM MIDDLETON,* only son of the late Mr. Adam Middleton and of Mrs.

M. A. G. F. Middleton, Strathbeg, Cults, to Eleanore Agnes Angus, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Angus, 9o Great Western Road, Aberdeen.

Munro (1932-37).-At St. Thomas's Church, Crosscrake, Westmorland, on 4 November 1954, IAN GORDON MUNRO, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Cyderhall, Dornoch, Sutherland, to Kathleen Mary Willacy, Sidgwick, near Kendal, Westmorland.

Mutch (1932-45).—At Rubislaw Church, Aberdeen, on 22 September 1954,

JOHN MCPHERSON Murrell,* C.A., only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Mutch, 88

Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, to Sheila MacDonald Jolly, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Jolly, 14 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen.

Robson (1931-43).—At St. Mary's, Potton, Bedfordshire, on 19 August 1954, Joi4N DOUGLAS ROBSON,* M.S., Ch.B., elder son of the late THOMAS OGILVIE ROBSON, M.B., Ch.B., F.F.A.R.C.S., and of the late Mrs. Robson, 202 Queen's Road, Aberdeen, to Valerie Elizabeth Anderson, M.A., M.B., Ch.B., only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. J. M. Anderson, Potton, Beds.

Scott (19o5-08).-At Belford Church, Edinburgh, on I I October 1954, HERBERT BREBNER Scorr,* C.B.E., M.C., formerly of Calcutta, to Mrs. Jean Ross Whyte,

S Gibson Place, St. Andrews.

Smith (192x-3o).—At Arkholme, Lancashire, on t November 1954, MALCOLM KERR SMITH, * of Assam, son of the late ROBERT KERR SMITH (1877-83) and of

Mrs. V. Kerr Smith, 9 Woodstock Road, Aberdeen, to Barbara Balmer, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Balmer, Eccles.

Still Ow-O.---At the West Church of St. Andrew, Aberdeen, on zi August 1954, EDWARD HASTINGS STILL,* son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Still, i6 North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, to Jeannie Margaret Mitchell Fairweather, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Fairweather, late of 47 Beechgrove Terrace, Aberdeen.

Stuart (r9O-46).—At Coalbum, Lanark, on to July 1954, IAN MACKENZIE STUART, only son of the late Dr. Joseph Mackenzie Stuart and of Mrs. Mackenzie Stuart, 11 Hammerfield Avenue, Aberdeen, to Marion Allan Pirrie Clark, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, 82 Bellficld Road, Coalbum, Lanark.

Taylor (1934-40.—At St. Columba's Church, Elgin, on 28 July 1954, JOHN HAMILTON TAYLOR,* M.A., son of JOHN HERBERT TAYLOR ( 1909- I2) and of Mrs.

Taylor, I2 Woodburn Avenue, Aberdeen, to Constance M. Watt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Watt, Reriach, Nairn.

Taylor (1939-42).—At High Church, Hilton, Aberdeen, on it une 1954, NORMAN WATSON TAYLOR,* only son of the late Mr. J. D. Taylor, eche', Udny, to Alice Brodie Keith, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Keith, Back Lea, Parkhill, Dyce.

Watt (1923-25).-At Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen, on 5 August 1954, DAVID MACK/E WArr, H.D.D., L.D.S., younger son of Mr. James Watt, C.B.E., and of Mrs. Watt, 7o Beechgrove Avenue, Aberdeen, to Janet F-liv-gheth Macdougall, youngest daughter of the late Captain Donald Macdougall and of Mrs. Macdougall, 28 Craiglockhart Park, Edinburgh.

Wilson (I937-42).—At Ormskirk Parish Church, Lancashire, on 14 August

1954, ROY ALEXANDER WILSON,* B.A., LL.B., only Son Of the late ERIC MOIR WILSON (1913-19) and of Mrs. Jean Wilson, 22 Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen, to Alison Mary Craig, M.A., elder daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John D. Craig, The Elms, Ormskirk, Lancashire.

Obituary Arthur Campbell CIOMR! Bruce (1897-1903), a veteran Vancouver journalist, died at Vancouver on 5 October 1954, aged sixty-five. After being for a time an insurance inspector in Aberdeen, he went to Vancouver in 1912 and worked as a journalist on the Vancouver World and the News-Advertiser. Thereafter he started West Vancouver's first newspaper, the Courier. During the first world war he also edited a weekly newspaper in Kerrisdale and the Shipyard News. In the 192os he returned to the United Kingdom and worked on the staffs of the Darlington Echo and the London Evening Standard. About 1926 he became editor of the Mearns Leader, Stonehaven, but in 1930 he went back to Vancouver, where he was successively on the staffs of the Star, the Morning News—of which he was one of the founders—and the News Herald. In 1949 he went to Nanaimo as editor of the Free Press but he had to retire some time ago on account of ill-health. He was a founder of the West Vancouver Bowling Club and took part in many pioneer activities of the suburb.

His brothers, ALEXANDER BLACK CROMAR BRUCE (1903-05) and CHARLES CABLE CROMAR BRUCE (1903-07), both predeceased him—the former died at Aberdeen in 191o and the latter was killed in action at Vimy in 1918 when serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

John Law Fiddes * (1906-16), youngest son of the late Mr. William Fiddes of William Fiddes & Son Limited, timber merchants and box manufacturers, Aberdeen, died at Foresterhill, Aberdeen, on 23 September 1954. He was aged fifty-three. After leaving School he attended Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, and in 1920 he entered his father's business. He rose to the position of general manager in 1945 and was later appointed managing director. On account of ill-health he retired in 1951.

He played rugby for Merchiston and kept up his keen interest in the game all his life, being a well-known referee in Aberdeen over a period of many years.

He was also a member of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

His eldest brother, WILLIAM OGILVIE FIDDES * (1904-I5), B.Com., is the representative of William Fiddes & Son Limited in Glasgow, and his other brother, JAMES FIDDES * (1904-14), is head of the firm of Brown Brothers, timber merchants and box manufacturers, Aberdeen.

Robert John Gilchrist * (1897-1900) and Norman Stephen Gilchrist *(189719o1), sons of the late Mr. James Gilchrist, Newseat, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, died on 28 August 1954 and 21 November 1954, respectively.

ROBERT JOHN Guzman., M.A., B.Sc., died at Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A., where he had been prominently identified with the cotton export business for nearly half a century. He was aged seventy-three. After graduating at the University of Aberdeen in Arts and Science in 1905, he entered the service of Messrs. S. M. Bulley & Son, cotton brokers, in Liverpool and soon afterwards went to Savannah to become assistant manager of the firm's agency there. In later years he became president of the Savannah Cotton Exchange, and a vicepresident of the St. Andrew's Society. He was also a director of the Citizens and Southern National Bank and a prominent freemason.

NORMAN STEPHEN GILCHRIST, O.B.E., M.A., M.D., died at King's College Hospital, London, aged seventy. After graduating at the University of Aberdeen in Arts (1904) and in Medicine with honours (1907), he was a houseman successively to Sir Henry Gray at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and to Sir James Taylor at the Dreadnought Hospital, Greenwich. In 1909 he was appointed an assistant in a practice at Burslem, Staffordshire, and from 1910 until the outbreak of war he was in partnership in London with Dr. Nimmo of Forest Hill. During the 1914-18 war he served with the R.A.M.C., being attached to the Royal Flying Corps in Egypt, and was mentioned in dispatches. He was awarded the O.B.E. (Military) in 1919.

After the war he was appointed chairman of the Ministry of Pensions Medical Boards and went into partnership with Doctors Durno and Cooper in Camberwell.

He worked up a considerable general practice in the West End of London and also 43

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

a considerable insurance practice. He was an authority on accident insurance and workmen's compensation. For the last twenty years of his life he lived in Dulwich, but carried on his practice in Camberwell, where he will always be remembered with great affection. He was very interested in all forms of sport and was a keen tennis player in his younger days. He was also a golfer, an enthusiastic gardener, being an expert on roses, and a very good bridge player.

Their cider brother, JAMES Ganz Gu.cmusr (1889-90), M.A., B.Sc., who was formerly headmaster of Inverkeithing School, Fife, died in 1943.

John Stephen Johnstone (1920-24), M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., Dip. Psych., son of the late WILLIAM ALEXANDER JOHNSTONE (1896), formerly harbourmaster at Aberdeen, died suddenly at Menston, near Leeds, on Ty June 1954. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in 1935 and later took his D.P.H. at Edinburgh. During the war he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel, being psychiatrist at H.Q., Eastern Command, India. After the war he was at Whittingham, Lancashire, and became deputy medical superintendent at Mcnston Mental Hospital in 1947, after being for a time on the staff at Kingscat Mental Hospital.

After leaving the School he went to Robert Gordon's College and he will be remembered well by his Grammarian contemporaries as a sterling adversary in the annual cricket matches with Gordon's at Rubislaw and Seafield.

The Physician Superintendent at Menston writes :— Apart from his work as a psychiatrist, his main interest was cricket. Yorkshircmen could never understand how an Aberdonian could display such intense interest in cricket but Dr. Johnstone often pointed out that cricket is as popular in Aberdeen as it is in Yorkshire.

Dr. Johnstone died as he lived—playing cricket. Menston Hospital has lost one of its best friends and we shall always remember with gratitude " Johnnie " Johnstone who inspired us all by his enthusiasm and his unselfish devotion to his work and patients.

Alan McBain * (1903-14), M.A., C.A., well known in Aberdeen as a chartered accountant and as a cricketer, died at his home, 7 Rubislaw Den North, on 6 September 1954. He was aged fifty-seven.

A son of the late JossN McBAm1 (1877-79), C.A., he graduated M.A. at the University of Aberdeen in 1920 and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1924.

Thereafter he became a partner in the firm of G. & J. McBain, C.A., Aberdeen.

He was dux of the School in 1914 and the first winner of the All-Round Trophy.

He was a stalwart of the F.P. Cricket Section in its early days and one of the leading members of Aberdeenshire Cricket Club for many years. He was captain from 1928 to 1915, treasurer from 1926 to 1932, and president from 1938 to 1949.

In 1946-47 he was also president of the Scottish Counties Cricket Board. He was a former captain of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club and a former president of the St. Andrew's Society of Aberdeen. He was a former member of the Executive of the F.P. Club and vice-president of the Club and chairman of the Executive from 1930 to 1932. From its formation until his death he was auditor of the F.P. Club Boarding House Company.

C. H. WEBSTER a (1897-1901) writes :— Alan was a most skilful and steadfast cricketer ; his conduct on the field illustrated his whole character—full of zest, with a fine gaiety in the most serious moments, reliable, courageous, straight, and with his powers always increasing when difficulties threatened.

Lennox Riddell was, I think, the begetter of the Grammar F.P. Cricket Club in 1917, but Alan was a founder member ; I came in a few weeks later.

There we were, a few military rejects and some young boys, but we stuck together till the war finished, and played a few odd matches. We won practically all of them, so far as I remember. Alan was then a free-scoring batsman, quite a heavy hitter, and a medium-paced bowler, but he had the distinction of having a special ball named after him, the " McBain Ball ". This was a slower delivery, cunningly switched in amongst faster ones—often deadly, always greeted with delight by his friends, come what might.

1919 saw the return of John Tower Sorley and other fine players from the forces, the recruitment of splendid young blood from the School XI, and

Obituary 45 with a very fine side.

Alan McBain, now wicket-keeper, equipped F.P.s was also the keystone of the side's batting, coming in at number 6 again and again to make a stand when a stand was badly needed, steady when occasion required, but still a mighty smiter when in the mood.

1920 saw the commencement of many fine cricket tours by Grammar F.P. XIs, all the Scottish Counties being tackled year after year, with F.P.s frequently victorious. Here again, Alan often was the hero of the day, by fine batting and in later times, cunning slow bowling. 1910 saw also the re-start of Scottish County Cricket, and a leavening of F.P. players in the County XI near the end of the season helped to a good finish after a poor start. Alan's first County match was the famous game against Perthshire at Mannofield, and he was in at the death and made the winning hit, after John Scott of Huntly had brought victory in sight by a marvellously-hit century.

Alan thereafter was never omitted from Aberdeenshire's County side until he retired years afterwards. For long he was a successful and wellliked captain, highly esteemed by friends and foes—but Alan had no foes.

In later years he became more and more of a defensive batsman ; too frequently he was compelled to concentrate on defence to save the side, as he did again and again. A fine cricketer, and a fine man, few like him.

His elder son, Joinv McBanq * (1439-51), is serving his apprenticeship as a chartered accountant with the family firm, and his younger son, ALAN GORDON McBAIN (19.ft-50), has been at Merchiston for four years. His brother, JOHN MORTIMER MCBAIN (1903-13), died on active service in 1916.

Roderick MacLeod (1887-89), M.A., died at Nigel, Transvaal, South Africa, on 14 June 1934, aged eighty-four. He had been in South Africa since 1903 and from 1919 to 1930 he was principal of Nigel Primary School.

Born at Achiltibuie in Wester Ross, he graduated at the University of Aberdeen in 1895 and became a master at Stoer Public School, Sutherland, in the same year.

In 1901 he was appointed headmaster of Achiltibuie Public School and two years later he went to South Africa to become principal of the Government School at Onverswacht, Transvaal. In 1909 he became principal of Willemsdal School at Heidelberg and remained there until he obtained his appointment at Nigel.

After his retirement he took a keen interest in golf and bowls. He returned to Scotland from time to time and spent most of his time fishing in his native Highlands.

His brother, DONALD MACLEOD (1886-87), was minister successively at Lybster, Glencoe and Gairloch, from where he retired to Invergordon in the I930S. He died in May 1945.

William Ridden Matthews (1881-9o), D.S.O., T.D., M.B., C.M., died at 1 Woodstock Avenue, Golders Green, London, N.W., on 19 November 1954, aged eighty-two. He was the only son of the late Rev. Thomas Matthews, D.D., of Aberdeen and was born in Madagascar. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in 1895 and was in practice in London for over forty years.

During the first world war he served in the R.A.M.C. and was A.D.M.S. of a Division in France with the rank of colonel. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1918.

Samuel Wyatt Mayer (188o-81 and 1885-87), solicitor, died at Aberdeen on 5 October 1954, aged eighty-one. He had been in practice at Keith, Banffshire, since 1900, and was also manager of the Keith branch of the Commercial Bank of Scotland Limited from 1908 until 1952.

After serving his apprenticeship as a solicitor with the late Mr. John Craigen, Aberdeen, he qualified in 1898 and went into practice at Keith after two years.

Later he was in partnership with the late Mr. Bert Fraser in the firm of Mayer and Fraser. He took an active interest in the affairs of the town of his adoption, being a member of the Town Council and for some years burgh treasurer. He was a talented musician and a former choirmaster of St. Thomas's Roman Catholic Church. His hobbies included painting in water colours and the writing of plays, which he produced in the Keith district.

George Michie (1876-8o), M.A., M.D., Lieutenant-Colonel (retired), South African Medical Corps, died at Aberdeen on 2 August 19f4, aged ninety-one.

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He was the eldest son of the late Mr. Charles Michie, librarian, Marischal College, and graduated at the University in Arts (1884) and in Medicine (1888). He obtained his M.D. in 1912. Having gone to South Africa, he was in practice at Jagersfontein, Orange River Colony, and at Johannesburg. In the Boer War he was a civil surgeon and in the 1914-18 war he commanded No. 4 General Hospital at Roberts' Heights, Pretoria. He returned to England in the 19305, and lived at Kineton, Warwickshire. Latterly he lived in Aberdeen.

His brother, CHARLES MICHIE (1881-84), C.B.E., died at Ballater in 1923, and his other brother, FRANCIS WILLIAM MICHIE *(1885-90 and 1891), M.A., H.M. Chief Inspector of Schools in Scotland, retired in 1938. He now lives at Peterculter, Aberdeenshire.

Alfred Ernest Milne * (1894-97), W.S., died at Edinburgh on 6 September 19S4, aged seventy-one. He completed his education at Fettes College and the University of Edinburgh and was admitted to the W.S. Society in 1911. During the first world war he served in the Army and took part in the British expedition to Archangel, where he was wounded.

He was for many years honorary secretary of the Colinton Parish branch of the British Legion and successively its president and an honorary president ; be was a director of the Edinburgh Discharged Prisoners Aid Society and its chairman from 1923 to 195 3 ; and he was honorary secretary of the Cockburn Association for many years until his death and of the Robert Louis Stevenson Club for more than twenty-five years until his death.

He had two brothers who were also at the School : CHARLES MILNE (1893-96), Q.C., M.A., LL.B., advocate, Sheriff of Dumfries and Galloway since 1939, and JAMES ROBERT MILNE * (1887-?), D.Sc., lecturer in Physics at the University of Edinburgh from 1912 to 1946.

Benjamin Disraeli Milne * (1893-97), who was with Spencer (Melksham) Limited for about fifty years, died suddenly at Morven, Forest Road, Meols, Cheshire, on 6 October 1954. He was aged seventy-four.

He served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Messrs. Barry, Henry and Company, Aberdeen, and joined Spencer & Company Limited as outside superintending engineer. He became works manager with the company in 1914 and joined the board of directors in 1930. From 1939 to 1950 he was managing director. Thereafter he remained on the board but moved to Cheshire where he was in charge of the company's interests in the North of England.

He is survived by one brother, BRUCE W. MILNE (1881-83), C.A., who has been in Vancouver since 1913. His other brothers, ALEXANDER MILNE (1876-79), M.B., C.M., and ALFRED EDWARD MILNE (1893-94), advocate in Aberdeen, died in 1953 and 1949 respectively.

Henry Peterkin (1886-93), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., died at Aberdeen on 12 July 1954, aged seventy-seven. He graduated at the University of Aberdeen in .Arts in 1896 and in Medicine with honours four years later. He was a house surgeon for a year and made two voyages to Australia as a ship's surgeon ; thereafter he completed his training in Vienna and returned to Aberdeen. He started in practice as an aural surgeon and became an assistant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary.

When a separate Ear, Nose and Throat Department was opened, he became its head and was chief aural surgeon at the Infirmary until he retired in 1935. From 1928 to 1935 he was lecturer in Diseases of the Ear, Nose and Throat at the University.

After his retirement he was appointed a consultant aural surgeon and lived in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. He was a former president of the Aberdeen MedicoChirurgical Society.

In an appreciation which appeared in the British Medical Joternal, Dr. ROBERT RICHARDS (1899-1904) wrote :— Henry Peterkin was a man of very distinctive personality. In appearance he was what we of the North-east call a " kenspeckle " figure—tall, erect, and always sartorially and professionally correct ; practically always on foot —he never owned a motor-car—striding along with stately carriage between his house and nursing-homes and hospital. He was a man of few words, yet paradoxically be was probably the finest and most cultured public speaker in the medical profession of the North-east. His oration in presenting the

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late Sir Ashley Mackintosh with his portrait is still remembered as a masterpiece by all who heard it. He was a prodigious reader both of general literature and of medical works—it is even said he learned Italian specifically to read a treatise on the ear in the original language—and was quite an authority on Osler and his writings.

With one exception he was the last of his generation of medical teachers, and of that race of doctors who in their handling of their patients could afford to be oracular and dogmatic. I belong to a medical class which commenced its studies half a century ago, and Peterkin was the last survivor of our teachers.

The final phase of his illness actually struck him when he was in course of preparation of a message to our class reunion—a message, he said, that would come from the dead, as he would not survive our meeting. His friendship was not given lightly, but once given was staunch and enduring and displayed a loyalty which marked every aspect of his life—a loyalty to hii friends, to his profession, and to the loftiest ideals inspired by that profession.

His brother, CHARLF.S DUNCAN PETERKINS (1893-1905), C.B.E., M.A., LL.B., is senior partner in the firm of Peterkin & Duncans, advocates, Aberdeen.

Alexander Bannerman Robb (1888-92), M.A., B.L., who was town clerk of Portsoy for thirty-five years, died at his home, Boyne View, Whitehills, Banffshire, on 5 September 1954. He was aged seventy-nine. I-k graduated at the University of Aberdeen in Arts in 1896 and in Law four years later. I-le served his legal apprenticeship with Messrs. Davidson & Garden, advocates, Aberdeen, qualified as a solicitor in 1900 and remained with the firm as an assistant. For a time he was managing clerk of a legal firm in Glasgow and he went to Portsoy in 1917. He was in private practice, being sole partner in the firm of Young and Robb, in addition to being town clerk. In 1952 he retired from this office and from his other posts as burgh treasurer, collector of rates, clerk to the Harbour Commissioners and clerk to the Police Court. He continued in practice and also as manager of the Portsoy office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

His two sons arc both doctors.

Thomas Ogilvie Robson * (1902-1 t), M.B., Ch.B., F.F.A.R.C.S., died suddenly at Ballater on 5 August 5954, aged sixty-one. Son of the late Mr. Alexander Robson, seed merchant, Aberdeen, he graduated in Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in 1916 and thereafter, having obtained a commission in the R.A.M.C., he served with a field ambulance in France. After demobilization he became assistant CO Dr. (later Sir) ALEXANDER HENDRY (1883-86) at Ballater and in 1922 he returned to Aberdeen and took over the practice of the late Dr. George M. Edmond. He joined the staff of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 1924 as assistant anaesthetist and in 1944 he was appointed senior anaesthetist at the Infirmary and lecturer in Anaesthetics at the University of Aberdeen. When the National Health Service was introduced in 1948, he was appointed consulting anaesthetist for the North-east of Scotland. He obtained the fellowship in Anaesthetics at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 195z, and he retired on account of failing health in May 1953.

In his younger days, particularly at the University, he took an active part in many forms of sport, notably cricket, rugby and tennis, and he was well known as an excellent bridge player.

In a tribute which appeared in the British Medical Journal it was stated :— Even taking full account of his distinction in his specialist work in anaesthetics, it may be fairly said that Dr. Robson did his best work in general practice, where no personal or medical detail was too trivial for him and where, always, his patient was his friend.

His two sons were also at the school : JoHN DOUGLAS ROBSON* (1931-43), M.B., Ch.B., who graduated at Aberdeen in 1953, is now in practice at Potton, Bedfordshire, and FRANCIS OGILVIE ROBSON* (1933-42) holds the rank of lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

He had five brothers who were F.P.s, the only survivor of whom is NORMAN KEITH ROBSON* (190O-13), B.Sc.(Agri.), a director of W. Smith & Son Limited, seedsmen, Aberdeen.

John Keith Sellar* (1910-12) died suddenly at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, on 5 August 19f4, aged fifty-eight. After his father's death he was head of the firm

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of John Sellar & Company, plasterers and fireplace merchants, Aberdeen. From 1918 to 1925 he was Scoutmaster of the 8th (Aberdeen) Troop.

His son, FORBES KEITH SELLAR* (1933-45), B.L., is with Messrs. Shears, Delamore & Company, advocates and solicitors, Kuala Lumpur: his brother, STEPHEN KEITH SELLAR (1911-16), died in 1945.

Alexander Johnston Slessor* (1918-3o), M.V.O., M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.S.E., F.R.C.S., died at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, on 17 October 1954, aged forty-two. Since 1948 he had been surgeon to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, and for about four years he was also visiting consultant surgeon to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Mental and Nervous Disorders and to the City Infectious Diseases Hospital. He was an examiner for the Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. During the winter of 1948-49 he spent two periods of about a fortnight each attending the late King George VI at Sandringham, and in March 1949 he was assistant surgeon to Professor J. R. (now Sir James) Learrnonth when the King underwent the operation of lumbar sympathectomy, and was one of the nine doctors who signed the first bulletin. In recognition of his services he was appointed a member of the Royal Victorian Order.

At School Sandy Slessor was in the 1st XI for three seasons and in the 1st XV for two ; in 1929-30 he was vice-captain of rugby, captain of cricket, captain of Byron House, a prefect, sports editor of the Magaatine and winner of the F.P. Club All-Round Trophy. At the University he had a distinguished career in Medicine, and gradulted with honours in 1935, being awarded the Alexander Ogston Prize in Surgery and the Shepherd Memorial Gold Medal for the Principles and Practice of Surgery. Thereafter he held various appointments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and obtained his Fellowship at Edinburgh in 1938. Having won an A. W. Garden Fellowship from the University, he spent a year in America and Canada visiting the Mayo Clinic and other surgical clinics. On his return he was appointed acting medical superintendent and assistant surgeon at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and in 1941 he obtained his F.R.C.S. at London.

He was closely associated with Professor Learmonth in his work at the E.M.S. peripheral nerve and peripheral vascular injuries unit at Gogarburn and, after joining the R.A.M.C. in 1943, he was in charge of a peripheral nerve injuries unit in South Africa and India. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1947 he joined the Department of Surgery in the University of Edinburgh and became clinical tutor in the professorial unit at the Royal Infirmary.

He was the son of the late THOMAS STEWART SLESSOR (1889-94), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., Inverness, and married Dr. Phyllis Davidson, daughter of ALEXANDER AITKEN DAVIDSON* (1900-07).

Tributes to Sandy Slessor " . . . I wept, as I remembered, how often you and I Had tired the sun with talking and sent him down the sky. . . ."

In how many hearts, thirled to Sandy Slessor from a boyhood which seems only over one's shoulder, will Cory's old familiar verses strike home ?—and with what an ironic twinkle would Sandy eye the application of their heroic valediction to himself! Yet they have for his friends a peculiar appropriateness and a rightness beyond triteness, in their expression of some part of what we all feel about a man whose qualities and powers—and, above all, whose end—partook so markedly of the heroic.

Old memories of Sandy press upon one I The slight and ex facie solemn boy of 1918 or so, with the temporary contraption on one leg, who lived in Hamilton Place and was part of Senior Infancy and the Lower School. The not-so-slight youth from the Middle School, " selling the dummy" with cool and diabolical subtlety on the rugby field at Rubislaw. And by the late twenties, the tall, burly, red-checked, beaming Sandy of the Upper School, who excelled effortlessly (as one thought) at the desk and on the playing field, and whose twinkling eyes almost disappeared when he laughed. There was no lack of laughter on those evenings in Sandy's rooms under Miss Dawson's hospitable roof in Fountainhall Road, whether he was proffering solemn absurdities for " School Notes " or extricating himself and a colleague from the consequences of re-labelling the School Museum.

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Of the many honours awarded to him, not the least treasured was the All-Round Trophy which he won in 1930.

Even as a boy, one was aware that Sandy Slessor possessed great strength of intellect and body, together with an indomitable will, a quiet but unwavering purpose and an unusual steadfastness of character. He became a big man in every way. But he had other qualities which especially endeared him to his friends —an ironic, quizzical and unpredictable sense of humour and fun ; great modesty ; a deep distaste for humbug ; and (except on the rugby field) a fundamental gentleness. He could not have been unaware of his own physical strength but it was characteristic of him that he never mis-used it.

All these qualities he carried with him from School to the University and into his professional career, always with distinction; and what he did with them is clearly recorded. But Sandy Slessor's greatness as a man can most plainly be seen, perhaps, from the fortitude with which he faced and met what he must have known to be the untimely winter of his days. Finis toronat opus; and those who have the closest and highest right to be proud of Sandy Slessor must be proud indeed.

R. J. M. Realizing his ability, Sandy Slessor refrained from lording it over his classmates—by making deliberate errors in his examinations. I can recall accusing him in class, when returning scripts duly marked—whereupon he would blush, grin, and hang his head in guilt. We understood each other perfectly. If good men are a school's finest product, then the School has incurred a heavy loss. These days we can ill afford such a loss of character and of ability.

A. A. C. Many F.P.s will have been saddened by the news of the untimely death of Sandy Slessor at the age of forty-two. As a prefect and vice-captain of the rugby XV, he was well known to most of those who were at the School in the early thirties. In Duncan MacGregor's opinion he was one of the finest stand-off halves the School ever had and there is little doubt that, had he not put his medical studies first, he might have been in the running for a Scottish cap. At School and at the University he was sufficiently my senior for me to look upon him as something of an idol. Later I got to know him well and worked with him in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. He was one of the most delightful colleagues it has been my good fortune to have. As a surgeon he was brilliant, for he had in abundance those qualities which go to make a master of his craft, " of deep intelligence and of a simple, humble, brave but not audacious disposition ". A measure of his ability and charm is the fact that he was already established in Edinburgh as one of the best surgeons in the city, an almost unique position for one who was not a graduate of the local school. In spite of an illness which he must have known could have only one ending, he kept working cheerfully almost to the end. He will be greatly missed by many as a colleague, as a surgeon and as a friend but he leaves a host of pleasant memories, among thcm-a brilliant cut-through on the rugby field, those fine hands skilfully repairing a damaged nerve, and his boyish, infectious smile. To his wife and young family we extend our deepest sympathy.

R. L. R. From Sir James Learmonth, K.C.V.O., C.B.E. (reprinted from The Lancet):— Of the undergraduates that it has been my privilege to teach, A. J. Slessor, taken all-in-all, was the best. He had intellectual powers of a high order, which he used with steady and discerning application ; he was an admirable influence in his class, and he was an excellent stand-off. When he became my house-surgeon in Aberdeen he showed almost at once the beginnings of that remarkably sane and reliable clinical judgment which was to impress his colleagues throughout his life, and which was noted by his American mentors during his postgraduate study at the Mayo Clinic. During the war his work on the surgery of peripheral nerves, both at home and in the field, was characterized by the same rapid appraisal of issues, clear judgment, and choice of simple and effective methods of treatment.

When, after the war, he returned to general surgery in Edinburgh, those qualities secured for him the regard and the trust of his senior colleagues. He inspired

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unbounded confidence in his patients whether of high or low degree, and one became accustomed to the resolving of difficult situations with his arrival ; slowmoving, sparing of words, and clearly so completely competent and decisive.

More than once he has given me professional assistance and support the more effective and invaluable because it was so completely loyal and unobtrusive. He bore his illness uncomplainingly, even when it began to limit the work he loved so well ; and in this fortitude he was sustained by the happiness of his home life.

Had he been spared, he would have put surgery much in his debt; as it is, I mourn the passing of a gallant colleague and good friend.

From Mr. John Bruce, C.B.E., F.R.C.S.E. (reprinted from The Seotrman):— Some there are whose footprints on the sands of time are for ever sharply etched and enduring. Sandy Slessor was one of those rare spirits ; and those of us who took our last farewell of him at the simple and moving ceremony at Warriston will long carry in our hearts the remembrance of his quiet courage and of a devotion to duty that heeded not the frailties of human flesh. These are the things that we all remember with gratefulness and humility, for they are the triumphs of the human spirit and the hallmark of the human character in the very face of death. And when our own call comes, we will be all the better for our recollection of Sandy Slessor's composure and example.

His surgical attainments were notable.

The apt disciple of a great master, he had himself acquired a formidable skill and an unquestioned authority in those branches of surgery that deal with the disorders of the blood vessels and of nerves; and his long apprenticeship to Sir James Learmonth, and his abiding affection for him, combined to make him the ideal colleague and the perfect friend during the anxious days of the late King's illness. But his surgical interests were wide, and the whole craft of surgery, and the Edinburgh school, arc both the poorer for his passing. To us who have worked in intimate association with him for so many years, and come to appreciate his intellectual integrity, his judgment, his solidity, and his essential modesty, who have known him as a loyal friend, a boon companion with a zest for life and living, and a shrewd and kindly sense of humour, the breach in our ranks will be hard to repair.

Sandy Slessor accepted his sentence of death without self-pity or any apparent sense of frustration or resentment, and to the last he gave to his surgical work and to his teaching the best that had always been his ideal and his practice. Perhaps—though this was scarcely possible—there was a gentler touch and a kindlier word for those who were afflicted as he was, and to whom he was anxious to give something of his own fortitude and resignation. It grieved many of us that he refused to shed any of the load, or share any of his burden, till the talc of his days was all but told ; but we could scarcely fail to be humble, and yet inspired, by a gallantry which few of us could emulate.

It was some comfort to know that in his home he found an unfaltering courage which matched his own, and a character from which he could draw strength and support in moments of uncertainty. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his widow and children.

And so we make our last salute to Sandy Slessor. We all will miss his genial comradeship, no less than his surgical wisdom ; we mourn for him and not least he who was his surgical mentor, and hero and friend, now at the other end of the earth ; hut our grief is softened by a humble gratitude for a life of service, lived well and ended with a nobility in which we who are left can find only inspiration.

William Taylor (19oo-o4), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., died suddenly at Birchingtonon-Sea, Kent, on 24 September 19f4, aged sixty-eight. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in 191o and was in practice at Burnley and Hindley Green, Wigan. Thereafter he was at Croston, near Preston, until 1939, when he bought a practice at New Malden, Surrey. Ill-health compelled him to retire in 195; and he went to live at Birchington-on-Sea. He always took a keen interest in cricket and football and he was very musical.

He was the second son of the late Mr. William Taylor, Caimfechel, Udny: his younger brother, JOHN CAMERON TAYLOR (1904-06), died in 1950.

SCHOOL SECTION School and Random Notes Literature—the most seductive, the most deceiving, the most dangerous of professions.—Morley.

Once again the wheel of Fate has turned full circle, and once again it is the unhappy lot of certain poor mortals to scratch a few irrelevant comments de rebus profundissimis—which we don't expect you to read in any case. The following are the untidy thoughts which we have gathered: if, dear reader, you find our contribution as boring as we do ourselves (perish the thought !), we hereby give you permission to pass it by. * * * A great honour was accorded recently to the School : the Rector was invited to act as a British representative at the U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference in Montevideo. He left in October and returns in the New Year. All pupils joined in wishing him every success on this mission.

In the interim, the duties of Rector are being executed with kindly understanding and efficiency by Mr. Lynch. *

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We congratulate Mr. Cunningham on his appointment to the Inspectorate. He has given many years of sterling service to the School, and has endeared himself to all with his kindly manner and sound teaching. While we regret that he will no longer be able to carry Grammarians through their Highers " on his shoulders ", or encourage them with an enthusiastic " You'll never get your Lower French, laddie I ", it is a source of great pleasure that his work has thus been recognised by the Education Authorities. He will miss the comforting proximity of a peaceful Prefects' Room, and the mystery of things that go bump in the day, but we arc sure that he will perform his new duties with the competence and understanding that has distinguished his career at the School. *

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Apropos de Bones: the School lost the services of yet another faithful servant, namely, Mr. Duncan M. Armand, M.B.E., T.D., M.A., Lower School Master and C.O. of the Cadet Force. He leaves us for the sunnier land of Rhodesia where he is to take up an important post. Mere words cannot express sufficient thanks for all that the Major has accomplished ; for eight years the Contingent has flourished under his experienced leadership, and the Lower School has prospered greatly. We take this opportunity of wishing him bon voyage !

His duties as Housemaster of the Boarding House are taken over by Mr. James Morrison, who is also his successor as Lower School Master. As to the former appointment, we are not sure whether to offer him our condolences or congratulations; the rigours of Boarding I-louse life appear to demand a truly Herculean physique !

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Aberdeen Grammar Selma Magatine Command of the Cadet Force has now been taken over by Mr. Alexander Robertson of the Classics Department. Holding the rank of captain, Mr. Robertson has a war-time record which leaves us in no doubt about his ability to carry out this very strenuous task.

He will be assisted by Mr. Alexander Nisbet of the English Department. (For further details, see Cadet Force Notes, etc.) * * * Well, having got that lot off our chest, let us turn to more lighthearted topics. . . .

Wanted urgently: a supply of goal-keepers for inter-House hockey matches. Danger-money offered, decent burial assured.

School lunches will not, hotly or coldly, furnish the funeral table . . . guaranteed. * * * But we nearly forgot: that worthy band of scholars, and nonscholars, the Prefecture, has been installed and now performs its duties with customary willingness and thoroughness (quote A. A. R. H. 1). Congratulations are due to the following for their appointment (or re-appointment) for 1954-55 : Alastair A. R. Henderson (Senior Prefect), Kenneth R. Petrie (Deputy Senior Prefect), John G. N. Fraser, Spence McLeod, Rae C. Barton, Graeme F. Bryce, William J. L. Buyers, Anthony A. Chalmers, Neil Edward, William G. Glennie, Bruce P. Lenman, Malcolm N. Montgomery, Donald R. Nicol, Stephen A. Pacitti, Alan K. G. Paterson, Walter S. Robb, Edward F. Ross, Melville F. Watson, James R. Wight, William S. Wilson, and Alan M. Fletcher, who was appointed in October to fill the gap occasioned by the abrupt departure of John R. Y. Mutch and Graeme M. Bruce for that institution of advanced learning, the 'Varsity. * * * It is rumoured that smoke has been seen curling upwards into the blue, ethereal vault of heaven from the chimneys of the Janny's Lodge. Can it be that the S.U. (S. + Scripture) has shifted its headquarters from more frequented localities? Prefectorial persecution of this notorious minority is reported to be continuing vigorously. * * * The Library is still the haven of the intellectuals (the others retire to the Howff). Its air of blissful repose, however, is sometimes disturbed by strains of classical music emanating from Room 6 downstairs. (Query: do all modern gramophones have volume control?) Another source of distraction to the serious-minded in the sanctuary is a certain rustling which occurs intermittently from the south end. While we recognise that this country is famous for abundance of unrationed bon-bons, the Golden Rule of the Library (as one of your Editors discovered unexpectedly) is SILENCE. * * * Logical thinking has become the distinguishing feature of the younger generation in our midst (the Debater, please note I). Take the following illustration : the occasion was the eve of the mid-term 5a

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53 holiday; an announcement was made, saying half-hol. Friday, morning's timetable as from period 4: the result was that one young innocent turned up at i Li 5 a.m. Tearful interview with 01, e'v TiAft ended happily. Such is the humanity with which this school is run. * * * How have the mighty fallen I It has become distressingly noticeable of late that the Middle School minimi have not been taught the traditions of our establishment. When we were young, the " Sixth " were to us a race of demi-gods—unapproachable, remote, of cold and elevated genius, " disembodied spirits " as was once slyly remarked.

Not even the Staff dared disturb the noiseless tenor of their way (far less term them " cod-fish ", Mr. Brown I). But now, alas, it is all too evident that to-day's most distinguished Sixth Form is not held in the same reverence as its predecessors. Even the necessary mode of address, " Please sir ", is obsolescent among the younger fry (Ach ! scruffy fellows 1). " 0 Iago, the pity of it ! " * * * No longer in the summer will the joyous chink of marble upon marble be audible to scholarly ears, no longer in the winter will the swish of snowball sound through the frosty air before the lofty windows of the Hall. Judgement has been pronounced : the front of the School is out of bounds to all who seek amusement. Byron may now continue his contemplation of the infinite in peace, undisturbed by the animal high spirits of " Youthful Jollity " at morning interval. * * * In a cultural sense, the Projection Room (tucked away there between the Library and the Art Room corridor) is proving a most valuable addition to the life of the School. Any morning of the week, members of the Prefecture (and of the Upper Sixth 1) may be observed within its tastefully decorated walls, ensconced in the back row of its new and ultra-comfortable seats, intent upon a film of scientific or geographical interest, or making up for sleep lost the night before.

Performances, we hear, are remarkably free from hitches, and are of especial value to scholars who have entered upon the intellectual paths of Classics or History. Admission is also free ; it's all a question of knowing the right people, eh, Montgomery? * * * Hockey, it has been claimed, is the game of the aristocrat. Fairly convincing evidence of this controversial point is provided by the array of cars and motor-cycles to be seen at, say, the Links or Mannofield on a Wednesday or a Saturday, whenever the School teams have a match. The interesting thing is that very seldom indeed does the master in charge of the game own one of these vehicles—it's the players themselves who slip into them and away, while their elders pedal valiantly behind them on bicycles of unknown pedigree and indeterminate age. The possibility of a new garage being erected to the west of the Byron statue for members of Upper VI who prefer motoring to walking is, however, extremely remote.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine It has been noted with satisfaction that most boys have now procured School uniform. One member of the Prefecture, it is true, still asserts that when in oratorical or bibulous frame of mind a more outlandish, uncivilised form of dress, namely, "twee-adts" (as pronounced in the Western Isles), are appropriate, but in his case (excuse the pun when you fund it) we agree that any civilised apparel would be out of place. We note with mixed feelings that he has a rival arising who favours bare knees and the kilt. A few Oscar Wildes also frequent the former haunts of Byron. They are beyond comment, unfortunately. * * * The lack of cycle-stalls is still a problem. Not only do we lack a swimming-pool, or a new Hall, but furthermore we have not adequate accommodation for the housing of bicycles. Mr. Lynch has our sympathies in his arduous task of allocating those few stalls available, but it would appear that a pupil has to live somewhere near Banchory before he can hope to obtain one. Householders in Whitehall Place, might profit by this situation if they knew about it! . . .

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For Bader or worse—the more artistic of our F.P.s deemed it necessary to display their paleolithic talents recently on the Byron Statue. We hasten to assure readers that this facet of the Rectorial Campaign at 'Varsity has no connection with School but is a present form of amusement for those who have grown up and entered a higher sphere of super-intellectualism. Personally, our sympathies are with Sir Bernard—" money refused loseth its brightness " as the old proverb has it ; alternatively, " all is not gold that glitters ". * * * Now we arrive most melodically at the subject of the School Orchestra, or, should we say, ensemble. What motive prompts us to comment upon this noteworthy body? To judge by the softly intoned, delicate pizzicati, and mysterious obbligati on cor d'harmonie, flautone, or hautboy, which waft through the corridors after the witching hour of 4 p.m. on Mondays (occasionally, to the discomfort of the Debater, on Fridays), this versatile corps continues to flourish.

Last year's concert did great credit to the School and we wish them good luck for the heavy season ahead of them. We know that Shaw, in his usual disagreeable fashion, once wrote " Music is the brandy of the damned ", but he was an Irishman, or said he was, . . . it just shows how wrong G. B. S. could be. Even the poor man's Shakespeare could blunder . . . shades of Capt. Brassbound. * * * Yet another way of getting rid of taxpayers' surplus money has been devised by our urbis doetissimi patres. For the sum of thirty pence each, the entire Upper School was photographed individually by a delightful young lady one sunny autumn morning in the Rector's Room. While it is true that nearly everyone was surprised to see how they appeared to their long-suffering colleagues, we have been informed that this was no surprise move by M.I.5. According to

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55 Pravda, this step in the crushing of school democracy is only one in the general trend of subjugation of the scholar-classes. Fingerprints will be taken next term. . . . Just what our urbis doctissimi patres have to do with M.I.5 is quite a problem, but we invite solutions. . . . Upper VI, by the way, being considered, quite unfairly, especially dangerous to the State, had their photo taken again (collectively) a little later. In this issue you can see how photogenic Upper VI are and a visit from J. Arthur Rank is expected any day now. * * * Very soon, the School will find an outlet from the humdrum monotony of its daily life : the School Dance, that glittering event in the calendar, is fast approaching. Neither of your distinguished editors can (or has any wish to) dance, though behind the scenes they may be active. We really want to know something that our post-Highcrs studies have left completely alone, so far: can any of you mend a fuse—or even cause one? * * * And, on that cheerful note, let us conclude this comprehensive chronicle of the doings of the School for the past few months. Pass us the Epsoms, somebody. . . .

Sunt bona, sum quaedam mediocra, sunt mala plura, Quae legis hic.—Martial.

Why did I write ? what sin to me unknown Dipped me in ink? my parents or my own ?—Pope.

Edinburgh Festival, 1954

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A feeling of pleasurable anticipation was in the air as this year's party of nine Sixth Form scholars embarked on the train at Aberdeen prior to their departure for Edinburgh and the 1954 Festival of the Arts and Music. Their visit, admittedly, was to be one of only four days, yet, as is customary on such occasions, a great deal was to be crowded into that short space of time.

The appointed place of residence in the Capital was a University hostel, Cameron House, which, if lacking in beauty and refinements, was nevertheless extremely comfortable. Its situation, however, on the outskirts of the city led to a large expenditure of money on tram and bus fares into the centre.

The first performances attended by the party were on the Friday night (29 August). Some went to hear a performance of " Le Comte Ory"; the rest, including the master who was in charge of this venture, watched the Sadlers Wells Company in three short ballets— " La Boutique Fantasque ", " The Fire-bird ", with Margot Fonteyn in the title role, and " Le Chapeau Tricorne ", with music by de Falla—at the Empire Theatre. For those who had never seen ballet before it was a thrilling experience.

Saturday dawned fine and, as no official engagements had been planned, most of the boys vanished into the heart of Edinburgh on various unknown quests. After lunch, when all had reassembled

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at Cameron House, it was time to leave for the Assembly Hall near

the Castle. Here, the Old Vic were presenting " Macbeth " on the apron stage. Much controversy was aroused by this production, not so much over the acting as over such points as the wearing of Scottish dress, the use of bagpipes, lighting, off-stage effects, etc.

Yet it was conceded that the play gained considerably in " realism " from the use of such a stage, and also from the startling emergences of kilted figures from the doors of the Hall. Macbeth himself was too tired towards the end to do full justice to Shakespeare's poetry, and the " If it were done " soliloquy was also adversely criticized by some. Ann Todd, as a young and glamorous Lady Macbeth, was thought to perform very well, especially in the sleep-walking scene of the last Act. One of the best displays of acting was by Banquo, while the Witches were admirably dirty and repulsive.

That same evening the party went to the Usher Hall, there to hear a concert given by the National Youth Orchestra. The programme included Weber's overture " Euryanthe ", Mozart's Piano Concerto in G (K. 453), and Tschaikowsky's celebrated 5th Symphony. If anyone entered the hall with doubts as to the ability of the " Youth ", these were dispelled within the first few minutes. The standard of playing was of the highest and the players themselves were imbued with an enthusiasm and vigour which are often lacking in " professional " musicians. The performance of it-year-old Alan Schiller in the Concerto can only be described as marvellous, while the horn solo in the slow movement of the Symphony was perfection itself.

Incidentally, two Grammarians were taking part in this concert.

By way of contrast to this delightful entertainment, the scholars proceeded still later that night to the Castle. The Edinburgh Tattoo has long been one of the chief attractions at Festival time, and on this occasion it lived up to its reputation. In spite of the disgusting weather, swirling wind and rain, the polished displays of drill and marching by kilted Cameronians and white-gloved Sandhurst cadets alike aroused loud applause from the crowds. The Alsatians of the R.A.F. were also much admired.

Sunday morning was spent recovering from the effects of a threemile walk back to Cameron House from the Castle at half-past one a.m. But in the evening the party journeyed again to the Usher Hall, where the Orchestre National of France, under their dynamic conductor, Charles Munch, were giving a broadcast concert. " God Save the Queen " was followed by the " Marseillaise ", played with such overpowering zeal that Sixth Form ears, located in the organ gallery above the trombones, were well-nigh deafened. The chief work in the first half of the programme was Haydn's Symphony No. too in G (the " Military "), which was performed with great control and feeling. The second half, devoted to the works of Ravel, was a studied contrast to the first. Nicole Henriot was the soloist in the Piano Concerto in G ; this curious, brief and flashing piece of music was received without enthusiasm by the majority of the boys, who were in their tastes rather conservative; only the " Higher Musician" among them fully appreciated it, and he expressed his

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surprise that the others could fail to grasp the meaning and hidden beauty of the work. His surprise was even greater when the last two pieces, " Le Tombeau de Couperin " and " Daphnis et Chloe " were voted excellent and not at all too difficult.

But, with this concert over, the stay in Edinburgh was at an end.

On the following morning, Monday, the nine Sixth Year pupils and their tutelary master left for the distant North. To all, the visit to the Festival was of genuine interest and benefit: the only regrets expressed were at the enforced return to work that Monday afternoon.

ALASTAIR A. R. HENDERSON (Upper VI).

The National Youth Orchestra This orchestra was founded in January 1947 by Miss Ruth Railton (who recently received an O.B.E. for her work in this connection), " in order to further the musical education of the most talented and promising young musicians in the British Isles ". I had the privilege of being chosen as a member of this orchestra last Easter when the course was at Sunderland.

We meet for just over a week three times a year and work together (all 13e of us) as a full symphony orchestra under the direction of distinguished conductors, as well as studying individually and in sections under well-known teachers. When I say that our conductors have included Sir Adrian Boult, Dr. Reginald Jacques, and Mr. Walter Susskind, and that Leonard Hirsch, Frederick Thurston, Ernest Hall, Archie Camden and Denis Brain have been some of our professors, you will see that this is no glorified school orchestra 1 In fact, the standard of the orchestra is so high that it has merited this comment from The Times Educational Supplement : " The attack, tone, and the finish of this orchestra is such that it compels comparison with the professional orchestras appearing at the Festival."

We rehearse six hours every day during the course, with half-anhour's rest and an hour's free time each afternoon. In case you think the rest is unnecessary, let me assure you that N.Y.O. rehearsals are just about the most strenuous form of physical and mental exercise.

The members are so keen that there is bound to be some sort of strain.

Our last course was at Abington in Lanarkshire, where we rehearsed for the Edinburgh Festival. After our concert in the Usher Hall I was surprised at the door to see Sandy Center and some of the other members of the School Party to the Festival who, I gathered, thoroughly enjoyed the concert. Then we went to the Military Tattoo and finally returned to our camp at Abington about half-past two in the morning, feeling very sleepy indeed.

After a particularly long lie in bed, we once more embarked in buses to take us to Glasgow for another concert and B.B.C. broadcast.

The following day we returned to our respective home towns to behave as normal people again after all the excitement. - The next course is at Bradford during the Christmas holidays, and I feel sure it will prove just as interesting and instructive as previous courses.

WILLIAM J. L. BUYERS (Upper VI).

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American Education in Los Angeles Since coming to Aberdeen Grammar School from the United States, I have noticed great differences in our respective methods of education. I do not advocate the educational system of the United States over that of Scotland. However, I feel there is much we can learn from each other ; and in turn there is much that both of us can give to the world.

Schools in the United States are always co-educational except for a few parochial schools. We have grown up under this system in public and private institutions since the age of five, and continue it throughout university. With all regards to the comradely fellowship of a group of boys, the inclusion of girls in the same class tends to keep the more buoyant, spirited, warlike male in check, teaching him in the course of his academic education to work, play, and co-operate with that other mysterious group of people known as " the opposite sex ".

A young person's education in Los Angeles before entering university, divides itself into three distinct phases, taking place in three different schools.

For the first seven years of our schooling, we attend what is known as an elementary or grammar school. The first year from five to six is spent in Kindergarten, the succeeding years in First to Sixth Grade.

In this first stage, the rigors of higher learning are not given an all-important place in the student's education. He begins the first six years adjusting himself to his place in home and community life and learning to make friends. He also becomes exposed to science, geography, history, mathematics, English, art, music, hand-writing, physical education and practical arts. Each grade is taught by one teacher who has had five years' university training for his profession.

As early as the second grade, he is elected, or helps to elect, class officers, who act in capacities such as president, class secretary, a monitor who opens the windows, and a librarian who passes out and collects books. True, these are not great responsibilities, and the world will not he shaken to the foundations if they are not performed, but these little fellows take pride in their work, and those who elected them take pride in their choice. They are getting their first taste of delegated responsibility; they are learning to act, not just for themselves, but for their fellow students. We feel that our young people must be trained from the very beginning in those qualities of leadership and good common sense of which every country has a need. We feel that the democratic sense of unity instilled in both sexes from all classes and races will become an integral part of the future citizen of America.

At the age of twelve, without control exams, we all enter Junior High Schools in our respective districts, which are designed for the preparation of the student for any career.

At Junior High, we are taught six subjects every day for each halfyear. The day is divided into three parts. In the morning we have

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59 break for " nutrition ", at two forty-five minute periods and then a which time one may purchase milk and a sweet roll or some other snack sold in the Student Cafeteria. There are then two more periods of forty-five minutes each followed by lunch. A student has three choices in eating his meal. He may obtain a special pass to go home for lunch ; he may bring his lunch to school; or he may eat in the Cafeteria which is largely staffed with student help.

After lunch there are two more forty-five minute classes ending at three o'clock. Though we leave school one hour earlier, we begin our day at 8.15 a.m.

The Junior High School offers a wide variety of courses. Each student must take three years of English, physical training and history, one-and-a-half years of practical art, and a year of music and art. Spanish and algebra are optional in the last year. In the field of practical arts, a student must take one period a day for ten weeks each, of agriculture, drafting, electric shop, wood shop, metal shop and printing. The girls naturally take practical arts to suit their needs : sewing, cooking, handicraft and child care among them.

At our school, we are given all the work that we are required to do in a subject, in a special class set aside for that purpose. For instance, we will have a forty-five minute algebra class every day for one year, after which time our required course in algebra is completed except for higher algebra in High School.

Physical training is a regular class subject which we are required to take every day in Junior High and High School. It consists of callisthenics, games and occasional book instruction on the rules of the various popular sports in the United States. Our favourites are: American football, basket ball, baseball, volley ball and track and field events.

A person is allowed to take certain elective courses if his schedule so permits. These include such things as advanced shops, drama, orchestra, stage crew, motion picture projection crew and typing.

In Junior High, a student is trained in self-reliance. He enters more actively into the operation of his own school, electing his school wide governing body—the Student Senate, which meets every day, and his own law-enforcing body, " The Knights and Squires ". He respects these officers in their efforts to maintain order, and for the most part, they appreciate to the fullest extent their position of responsibility.

From the Junior High School the student graduates to the High School. He finds this institution much the same as the one he has left but with a much wider choice of subjects and on a slightly larger scale (2,70o boys and girls in the High School as opposed to 1,5oo boys and girls in Junior High).

In the same High School, a student has the choice of taking an academic or a non-academic course. A student is allowed to choose the field for which he feels he is best suited and is given assistance in his choice by counsellors specially trained in that work.

To graduate from High School one must successfully complete one " major ", that is, a course of study arranged with special emphasis

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine on his particular capabilities. " Majors" which are offered in the academic field are : mathematics, science, language or social studies.

The non-academic student may " major " in various phases of art, business, industrial arts or vocational arts. The student is also given a chance to select electives to broaden his interests outside his own chosen field. Aside from the required ten-week course in music, art and driver's education, and the twenty-week course in practical art, we are able to take electives in the fields of business, English (including drama, public speaking and journalism), language, mathematics, science and social studies.

When a boy or girl has completed High School at the age of eighteen, it may be assumed that he or she is mentally, socially and morally capable of taking a place in the community life of the nation.

To gain this end, we are put more and more on our own initiative.

In our High School we elect again, our Student Body officers by the traditional secret ballot. Enterprising students, under the sponsorship of one of the Faculty, form various inner-school organizations, such as the Math. Club, Pre-Medical Club, Thespians, Future Teachers of America, Art Club and Cleff Club. Other students are in charge of the four-page newspaper written by the school journalism staff and printed by the linotype in vocational printing classes. More socially-minded students conduct fund-raising campaigns, student rallies before important inter-school games and sell tickets and collect money for the various football, basketball and baseball games.

Many help to plan and produce the weekly assembly programme in the auditorium, often calling upon the musical ability of the Cleff Club, or the acting ability of the Thespians. Nor is the academic side forgotten by any means. The Scholarship Club, composed of the top academic students in the school, is an important organisation in school affairs. It is the dream of almost every student to fulfil the academic requirements necessary for admission to this select group. If he is able to obtain the necessary marks twice during his three years, he is given the rank of Torchbearer, and is often used as a tutor to those students who have trouble in their studies.

The theory of the High School is that everyone in that school, no matter what his interests, no matter what his academic standing, if he works hard and faithfully, has something of his very own to give to his school and to his country.

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MILO DON APPLEMAN (Upper IV(2)).

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Impressions of Post-War Germany During the summer holidays I was fortunate enough to spend five weeks in Western Germany. My travels took me from Cologne in the north-west to Constance in the south-west, and during my stay I tried to get an impression of post-war German life and habits.

First of all 1 was amazed at the evidences of ever-increasing prosperity. It seemed almost incredible that the vanquished and destitute of less than ten years ago should now be enjoying an era of such material well-being.

The destruction of Germany during World War II was hideous.

In such cities as Cologne and Frankfurt seventy per cent. of the buildings were totally destroyed. To-day, new cities have sprung up from the masses of shambles and ruins. The debris and piles of rubble have become huge blocks of flats, shops, offices and factories. Reconstruction continues apace, and commerce is now flowing freely again.

The new German offices and stores rival any that I have seen in any of the countries of Europe I have visited. In a few years the shops in Frankfurt may well be looked upon as being among the finest in the world. One factor in connection with this rebuilding is of extreme importance to other nations competing with Western Germany in the realms of commerce. Most of the German machinery and equipment was completely destroyed, and manufacturers therefore had to start from rock bottom. Only the newest and finest machinery was installed. This enhances Germany's ability to compete most favourably in the markets of the world. In addition to this all her order books were empty and she was able to offer quick delivery to her customers. This advantage is now passing, fortunately.

Many things in Germany are very expensive by our standards, among them tea (which few Germans drink or even know how to make properly), coffee and clothes. Nevertheless the average German seemed well dressed; in fact, throughout the whole of my visit I did not see a poorly clad German, despite my efforts to find one. This astonished me greatly. The German people are characteristically very clean, very thorough and industrious. The shops were a delight to enter, because of their spotlessness and airiness, and the assistants were extremely helpful and polite. Everywhere I noticed how hygienically foodstuffs were dispensed. This characteristic cleanliness is further revealed in the collection of refuse. All that the scavenger does is to lift the bin (which, incidentally, has a lid on it) and hook it on to the back of a completely enclosed wagon. Some kind of suction mechanism empties the bin without any dust polluting the air. The whole process is certainly much quicker, cleaner and healthier than ours, and our City Fathers might, with profit to us, observe this particular German activity.

The German in general lives very well, by our standards we might say sumptuously. His philosophy at the moment might be taken as " Eat, drink and be merry . . ." because he has a deep-rooted suspicion of the morrow. Why save ? For what ? Certainly the German

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine eats a prodigious amount, and always seems to be slaking his thirst with huge tankards of beer or wine. My impression of the average German over thirty years of age, male or female, is of somebody not very tall and rather rotund. I was told that this predilection for, what we might think, the more mundane things of life, is the cause of a great deal of bad health. They seem to live as if every meal was a Christmas dinner !

I was surprised also at the number of cars in Germany, many of which were owned by working-class people. It was rather comical to see a vast hulk of a man trying to clamber into a tiny Volkswagen!

Not much wonder that the German car manufacturers have produced such sturdy models !

Owing to a shortage of accommodation, many scholars only go to school for half a day. This is, I think, very sound policy, since, starting at S a.m. and finishing at i p.m. (with the inevitable interval provided for the consumption of food), the afternoons and evenings are left free for individual study. This would surely be a great boon to " Highers" candidates in particular. The German schools encourage excursions by the pupils to various places of interest in their beautiful land, and many " camping" holidays are arranged.

Although this has its obvious advantages, I think that even the most school-shy among us would hate to be herded about like cattle so often. The children, however, seem to thrive on it.

Politics occupy a curious position in Germany. Hitler seems to be regarded as a sure bet that just did not come off, and I sensed no feeling of contrition anywhere for the holocaust they launched on the world in 1939. I felt that there was a very tepid acceptance of Dr. Adenauer and his government, and a general suspicion of all their leaders, especially after the flight to the East of Dr. John. At that time much uneasiness and grave concern was observed, and I felt that there was a great deal of cynicism in most German hearts.

I was assured, nevertheless, on many occasions that Dr. Adenauer was the best man that Germany could produce at the moment.

Everyone I met tried to impress upon me the desire of the German people for a close friendship with Britain. In such a friendship, I was told, lay the best chance for the future of Germany and Western Europe generally. Everywhere, however, there was much apprehension about rearmament, as it was believed that the added cost to the nation of maintaining an armed force would jeopardise the national economic structure and prosperity. It was felt that such an arrangement would also tend to divide the Fatherland permanently. The German would not willingly sacrifice his newly-found luxuries for the whims of the politician. One thing is certain : we must accept Germany into the community of European nations, in the fervent hope that we may be able to direct the energies and minds of this eager, industrious people along channels of co-operation, understanding and peace. Only by our doing so will Germany find her best self and make a worthy contribution to the communal life of Europe.

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ALEXANDER R. CENTER (Upper VI).

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Upper VI-1954-55

Stria-ban D. I. MacP. Sutherland, Andrew Warren, W. S. Wilson, Standing—R. S. Brown, John McDerment, A. R. Center, R. F. Kelty, J. R. Wight.

Sitting—E. F. Ross, J. G. M. Fraser, A. A. Chalmers, Mr. Andrew Milne (Form Master), A. A. R. Henderson, M. N. Montgomery, W. J. L. Buyers.

By courtesy of Aberdeen Journals Ltd.

Mr. DUNCAN M. ANNAND, M.B.E., T.D., M.A. and Mr. JAMES D. MORRISON, M.A.

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Changes in the School Staff New Lower School Master The mastership of the Lower School vacated by Mr. Duncan Annand in October last has been happily filled by the appointment of MR. JAMES D. MORRISON, M.A., already a well-established figure amongst us. Since October 1949 he has done vigorous and successful work in the classroom and secured the confident and cordial cooperation of his colleagues and of Mr. Armand in particular, who has spoken very highly and gratefully of his many-sided ability.

In September 195 z Mr. Morrison became assistant to Mr. Annand in the School Boarding House, and on his senior's recent demission of office there, was appointed as his successor in that capacity as well.

In both spheres we are confident that Mr. Morrison will acquit himself with a full measure of success and acceptance.

Infant Mistress MRS. CATHERINE GRANT merits our warm congratulations upon her appointment in September last to the vacant post of Infant Mistress.

As the late Miss Winifred Robertson's deputy, she has carried on the teaching and administration duties involved with marked ability and diligence. She is no newcomer to the Staff, of course, having first appeared amongst us in October 1943 as a relief-teacher, and her proficiency and experience in Kindergarten work have over the years proved most acceptable. We are confident that our very young-sters are in excellent hands with Mrs. Grant and her colleagues.

Departures MR. DUNCAN M. ANNAND, M.B.E., T.D., M.A., who came to

School in 1946 as assistant master and succeeded Mr. A. J. M. Edwards, M.A., B.Com., as Lower School Master in 1949, was appointed during the summer vacation to an organizing post in the African Education Department of the Government of Northern Rhodesia, and left us at the end of October. His eight years' service in School was marked by strenuous endeavour of a many-sided nature. First as class-master and then as master in charge of the Lower School, he showed high teaching qualities and administrative ability in the recurrent problems of day-to-day schooling. By his personal example as teacher and a sympathetic understanding of difgculties on both sides of the classroom, he smoothed out many a wrinkle in the pattern of the school day, and so won the respect and confidence of colleagues, boys and parents. Himself a prominent " Blue " in his 'Varsity days at Aberdeen, he took an especial interest in the sporting activities of the School.

In 1949 Mr. Annand was appointed Assistant Housemaster at the Boarding House, and in 195z he succeeded Mr. James Coulthard, M.A., Ed.B., as Housemaster. In this capacity he displayed, in dealing with boy-at-home, the same ready tactfulness and gentle firmness as marked his relations with boy-in-school. For a time he was ably assisted in this work by Mrs. Annand as Matron of the Junior House.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Mr. Annand's distinguished career in World War II made him a sound and sure choice as Officer Commanding the School C.C.F. from 1947. His personal keenness and infectious enthusiasm for complete thoroughness in training and a first-rate " turn out " on parade have been an unfailing source of inspiration and pride to all ranks during his command. While insisting upon perfection in all branches of pre-training, Mr. Annand has worn his heart upon his sleeve in the devotion he paid to Pipes and Drums. He spared himself no pains to encourage the formation, recruitment and training of a worthy and worthwhile pipe band ; year by year he cannily acquired the instruments and equipment which made the School Band an object of proud satisfaction on public occasions. Those who witnessed the colourful pageantry of "Beating the Retreat" will long cherish grateful memories of Mr. Armand as the " back-room boy " who brought such a rare distinction to our Sports Days.

We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Annand on this promotion to the hierarchy of Education overseas, and wish them and their boys good fortune and growing success in their new venture. * * * 64

MR. WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, M.A., principal teacher of Modern Languages in the School, was appointed H.M.I.S. during last summer vacation, and demitted office with us at the end of October. After graduating at Edinburgh in 1932 with first class honours, he followed up his professional training with a year's study as lectern' in the University of Bordeaux, and in September 1934 joined the School Staff as assistant in Modern Languages. He soon proved his journeyman's worth as a capable and versatile teacher of his subjects, and merged quickly and easily into the happy social atmosphere of the School, both in classroom and staffroom.

On call-up to the forces in October 1940, he first served with the Royal Corps of Signals, but in 1941 was rightly transferred to the Intelligence Corps being attached to the German section of the Foreign Office. It was not until January 1947 that the high authorities allowed him to return to his duties in School, where later in the same year he was appointed to succeed Mr. Henry Paterson, M.A., as principal teacher of Modern Languages, including Italian, for which he qualified himself by a course at Aberdeen University.

During his headship of the department he displayed great acumen and characteristic adaptability in giving effect to the new requirements of Modern Language teaching as laid down by the august body to which he now belongs. His ready fluency and nimble mastery of foreign idiom, combined with a patient and encouraging approach to the pupils, have in a few sessions surmounted the awkwardness of " swopping horses in midstream " and evolved methods of handling which have been crowned with success—experience which will now find fuller scope in wider educational fields.

Apart from cutting a redoubtable figure in Masters v. Boys matches at football and golf, Mr. Cunningham found open-air outlets in exploring the countryside, especially the high Grampians and the

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Cairngorms. He readily admits that his sojourn in the North-East has been worthwhile for this reason alone. One remembers with peculiar pleasure the boyish energy and delight with which he pushbiked to within walking distance of the Mither Tap, Kerloch, Clachnaben and Battock, and enjoyed the exhilaration of heatherstepping and wide horizons. He was easily lured into higher adventures beyond Ballater and Braemar and as honorary president of the Rambling and Mountaineering Club since 1947 he has led many a jolly crew of Grammarians up the Black Spout to the Cac Carn Beag, or past the Robber's Copse into the Larig Ghru. This cameraderie was further enhanced in the schoolboy parties which at various times he organized and guided to France and Switzerland.

On the whole we feel that Mr. Cunningham, as colleague and master, has enjoyed such varied experience in and out of the Grammar as will equip him fully and acceptably for his H.M.I. work furth of Aberdeen. We all join in wishing him, Mrs. Cunningham and young John much enjoyment and success in their Western environment ; and should he return to the North-East, whether in private or professional capacity, we promise him a warm welcome.

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MR. HENRY DAVIDSON, M.A., succeeds Mr. William Cunningham as principal teacher of Modern Languages. He is the latest recruit to the vigorous West of Scotland group in the staffroom, being a native of Lanarkshire, where he was educated at Wishaw High School.

After graduating at Glasgow University in 1934 and completing his period of training at Jordanhill, he taught in Harris Academy, Dundee, for a year before joining the staff of Hamilton Academy.

There he assisted until I95o, when he was appointed principal teacher of his subjects in the High School, North Berwick, whence he has now come north to Aberdeen. During the war he served for a time with the Scots Guards, and for five years from 1941 he was with the Army Education Corps, serving with the Eighth Army in North Africa and Italy. Commissioned in 1943, he attained the rank of major by the time he resumed civilian status in 1946. Mr. Davidson admits to having been a soccer and tennis addict in his day, though now, as behoves one schooled upon the classic greens and fairways between Gullane and North Berwick, he finds athletic outlet in golf, of which he professes to be a keen, if ineffective, devotee.

His more private hobby is philately, so that A.G.S. enthusiasts may claim a fresh patron. Mr. Davidson has now been cheered into our midst in the usual Grammar fashion, and can be assured of our best wishes in what we must claim to be well-deserved promotion. * * * MR. NORMAN W. KING, M.A., who was recently appointed assistant master in the School to teach mostly English and Mathematics, is a native of Strichen, North-East born and bred.

From Ellon Academy he entered Aberdeen University, where he graduated in 1949 with honours in Economic Science. Thereafter he did his

Aberdeen Grammar School Maga'<ine 66 national service in the Education Branch of the R.A.F., being attached to the School of Photography. In 1953 he completed his professional qualifications at Aberdeen Training Centre, at the same time gaining the University's diploma in Education. A year's teaching elsewhere gave him the authentic atmosphere of the classroom before coming to the Grammar, where he has found no difficulty in feeling quite at home with boys and colleagues. We wish him all success and satisfaction in his work among us. While Mr. King does admit a slight leaning to soccer, his chief interest lies in amateur theatricals, both as actor and producer. He has filled important roles in student shows, and in plays of Shakespeare with various Scottish acting groups, and while in the R.A.F. was responsible for a number of successful productions. The School Dramatic Society is rejoiced that stagecraft of such merit is on call, and gives him a ready welcome at their readings and rehearsals. * * * In place of Miss Amelia A. Fraser, who in June last was appointed to a similar post in John Watson's School, Edinburgh, the Kindergarten Department has secured the services of Miss ANNA L. Ross, M. A. From Ellon Academy she went to Aberdeen University in 195o, and after graduation in 1953 did her year's professional training at Aberdeen Training Centre, with a bias towards infant teaching.

We give her hearty welcome to the School Staff, and trust that her young charges have already made her completely at home in our midst.

" Sonnet " (with Sincere Apologies to John Milton) When I consider how my night is spent E'er all my days in this Fourth Form decide My future Fate in this dark world and wide, I work and toil till reason's almost rent, To serve therewith my masters and present Each true account, lest they returning chide. " Do they expect night-labour, time denied ?," I fondly ask. But parents to prevent A murmur soon reply : " They do not heed A boy's plight who lacks gifts. Who best Endure their jokes, they please them best." My state Is sorry. Others at their bidding speed Their pens o'er book and foolscap without rest ; We cannot pass who only sit and wait.

ANON. (IVth Year).

School Section

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Literary and Debating Society At elections held in June this year, the following were appointed officials for session 1954-55 : President, Alexander R. Center ; Vice-President, Alan K. G. Paterson ; Secretary, John G. N. Fraser.

The season so far has been very successful. A good attendance at all the meetings has ensured an encouragingly high standard of speaking. One feature of all our meetings has been the eagerness of some of the younger members to take an active part in the open debates. It is very heartening to have so much support from them, and we hope that they will continue to come in such large numbers.

Membership at present stands at about ninety-five.

The first meeting of the new session took the form of an Open Afternoon, a new type of Rat Night, where the speakers were given their subjects beforehand.

The topics were varied and the standard of speaking was, for a first nigh:, good.

The speakers were Messrs. Edward, Pacitti, Birnie, Paterson and Montgomery, who discussed the male garb, intelligence as the enemy of the supernatural, tradition's effect on progress, teaching, and inconceivability as the criterion of impossibility, respectively.

Our next meeting was a Current Affairs Debate on the motion " That it is possible for Communist and non-Communist countries to live together in peaceful co-existence". The attendance was about forty-five at the debate, which was opened for the affirmative by Mr. Montgomery, who declared that the only alternative to co-existence was World War III. The motion was, however, defeated by the negative, led by Mr. Paterson. There was no lack of speakers in the open debate, in which the standard of speaking among the younger members promised well for the future.

The following week we had a most successful afternoon, which took the form of a Staff Debate. An attendance of seventy-five was attracted by the prospect of hearing Mr. McLeod supporting the motion " That History proves the influence of the Classics has been unfortunate", which was opposed by Mr. Bell. The motion was narrowly defeated after a debate which was very enjoyable, if not treated particularly seriously. The witticisms of the principal speakers were fully appreciated by the Society.

On 8 October the first Middle School Debate of the session was held on the motion " That the School Curriculum is in need of reform ". There was a fairly large attendance and the quality of speaking showed that the Society need have no fear for the future. The meeting, chaired by Mr. Paterson, had Mr. Gall and Mr. Findlay as leading speakers. The motion was carried despite an attempt by Mr. Rennie to impose a tyrannical form of rule over the A.G.S. On the following Friday, the Mock Trial of Mr. Alexander Nisbet, M.A., was held in the Hall before a large mob of morbid sightseers.

The officials were bewigged and begowned and a carefully-selected jury and the witnesses all wore black ties. After the Clerk of Court, Mr. Fraser, had read the charge, alleging that the accused had set a bad example and had caused grievous mental cruelty to his pupils, Mr. Nisbet pleaded Not Guilty. All the witnesses gave thoroughly unreliable evidence, which was challenged by each counsel in turn. After a short and impartial(?) summing-up by Mr. Justice Center, the jury pronounced a majority verdict of Guilty. Sentence was passed by the Judge, and Mr. Nisbet, guarded by two armed warders, stood on his chair and told us a story with the moral that "people in grass houses should not stow thrones ".

Mr. Justice Center did not object to the prisoner's interpretation of the sentence.

Our next meeting took the form of a debate on the motion " That public speaking is open to abuse and therefore should not be cultivated ". Before an audience of over fifty, Mr. Paterson and Mr. Center, for affirmative and negative respectively, very eloquently urged us to vote for their point of view. In this, Mr. Center was more successful, for the motion was defeated by a considerable majority. The open debate started off very slowly, but soon livened up, after Messrs. Birnie and Montgomery had set the ball rolling. Mr. Fraser acted as chairman.

On Friday, 5 November, came our first inter-school debate of the session— with St. Margaret's School, in the Library. Before a large attendance from both schools, the motion " That organized holidays arc not holidays at all", supported

68

Aberdeen Grammar School MagaVne

by Miss Middleton and Mr. Bimie, triumphed by fifty votes to twenty-seven, despite the eloquence of Mr. Montgomery, who, however, had to combat with the School Pipe Band from outside. The president had to apologise for the School musicians. This was a very enjoyable debate, which attracted a much larger attendance than was anticipated.

Our next meeting took the form of the popular parlour-game, " One Minute, Please ". All the passwords were discovered, and considerable verbal dexterity was displayed by members of both teams. The contest ended in a substantial victory for the Prefects, who thus avenged their defeat of last session. Mr. Center was, as usual, in the chair, and Mr. Fraser acted as time-keeper.

Our debate with Robert Gordon's College, due to take place on the following Friday, had to be postponed owing to the influenza epidemic in both schools.

Our thanks are due to Mr. Brown, our honorary president, who continues to devote a great deal of his valuable time to all the Society's activities. His advice has helped us greatly, and we are indebted to him for his interest in our work.

We also offer our thanks to J. Mitchell Kelty (VI), who has produced some very fine posters to announce the meetings. These posters have been greatly admired by everyone and have helped the Society immensely.

JoHN G. N. FRASER, Secretary.

Music We must first record our regret at losing Miss Isabel Taylor after more than two years with us. Her two days' teaching weekly in the Grammar School provided us with a good sample of her competence and enthusiasm. The recorder classes in Lower School owed much to her expert handling, and we remember with particular gratitude the arduous work she undertook in sharing with Mr. Wilkins the arranging for two pianos of the orchestral part of McCunn's " Lord Ullin's Daughter " for the Concert last term. Miss Taylor has given up her peripatetic work to become a full-time member of staff at Aberdeen Academy, and our good wishes go with her.

Mr. David Murray has replaced Miss Taylor and we welcome him as a fine musician with a considerable reputation in town and county. He was well known as conductor of the Turriff Choral Society and is now organist of the South Church, and, for most of the week, Music Master at Frederick Street School.

As usual the first term of a new session finds the chief musical organizations of the School in a state of re-formation after the loss of several senior boys. It is gratifying to find that their places are soon filled by others coming up the School, and that these newcomers quickly grow in confidence. The Orchestra suffered a serious blow by the loss of Graeme Bruce (1st Violin), John Mutch (1st Clarinet), Martin Gatt (1st Bassoon)—now a student at the Royal College of Music in London—and Nicholas Phillipson (Oboe). This last gap remains unstopped, but from the fertile soil of Lower School we hope to produce an increasing crop of strong shoots which are already sprouting. This " nursery" has recently provided some most promising players and bears testimony to the splendid work being done by Mr. Willox, Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Spittle. Over forty boys are learning orchestral instruments under the Education Authority's scheme, which surely augurs well for the future.

The Senior Choir, after acquitting itself so well at the Music Festival and School Concert, is now concentrating on carols for Christmas. The Lower School Choir is similarly engaged and is building up a good repertoire of Scots songs. A recorder class is also flourishing in Lower School. All these organizations, together with the large body of boys who formed the " Senior Choral Group", are to be congratulated on their share in the School Concert last term, which was generally voted most successful. They can look ahead with confidence.

W. N.

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Film Society

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This year the Society has attained a membership o over 240 boys and masters.

With such a large section of the School as patrons, a wide variety of interests had to be covered, and, with this in mind, the Committee arranged what they hope will be a full and attractive programme with something for everyone. At the time of writing one showing has already been given, and it is hoped that the large and enthusiastic audience which appeared on that occasion will be present at future meetings. This first programme consisted of Comedy, three films being shown.

One of these was Tati's classic, " Jour de Fete ", returning to the Society for the second time in three years by popular demand. The others were Chaplin's " Easy Street ", and a short American film entitled " Muscle Beach".

Our future programmes consist of performances of Drama, Shakespearean Tragedy, Nature and Fantasy ; among these " Hamlet " should prove a great attraction to many members.

The Film Production Group continues to flourish ; the film " Colour " is now reaching an advanced stage.

This year's president is A. A. R. Henderson; the treasurer is M. N. Montgomery ; secretary, H. A. M. MacDonald ; Committee members are drawn from all years of Upper and Middle School.

Finally, we must thank once again the masters of the Art Department, without whose help the Society could not go on ; we are also indebted to Mr. Baxter— our projectionist-for his work in ensuring the smooth running of so many interesting films.

HECTOR A. M. MACDONALD, Secretary.

Arts

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Club

At election held last term the following were elected as office-bearers for the session 5954-55 : President, Hector MacDonald ; Vice-President, Norman Marr ; Secretary, Malcolm Booth.

Friday, 55 October saw the beginning of another session of the Arts Club.

Although it was a chilly night, the attendance was quite good. However, the numbers should have been better for a first night.

Because of the intervention of the mid-term holiday and a Film Society meeting, there has been little time for new projects to get really under way, but plans for these have been made.

The murals for the Music Room are nearing completion, thanks mainly to fine work done by our Former Pupil, Alexander Cheyne, assisted by George Hardie, Hector Macdonald and Robert Watson of Lower VI. The painting of the scenery for the Dramatic Society play, which was designed by a member of Upper V, will occupy some boys at every Arts Club meeting up to the time of performance of " The Knight of the Burning Pestle ".

Our thanks are due, as ever, to the members of the Art Staff.

MALCOLM BOOTH, Secretary.

AP

Dramatic Society I hope you will appreciate the complexity of the situation in which I now press, is find myself, having to write about a play which, at the time of going to aforesaid in the early stages of rehearsal. But, in the words of the writers of the play, " I pray you, bear with me ".

This year's production is one which is particularly suited to a society such Pestle " as ours, for Beaumont and Fletcher wrote " The Knight of the Burning for a boys' school. The play, a delightful burlesque, serves to remind us that Shakespeare was not the sole product of the Elizabethan Age. Most of us got over initial doubts as to the suitability of the play when it was pointed out by our observant producers, Mr. Nisbet and Mr. King, that it was a comedy. We have found it amusing ever since (frequently in places where no humour was intended).

DOUGLAS R. KYNOCH, President.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Combined Cadet Force The Contingent starts this session with mixed feelings of regret and hope.

Our regret is for the departure of Major Annand who has taken up an educational post in Northern Rhodesia. Before he sailed at the end of October, he was presented with a clock as a token of appreciation from the cadets of the Contingent, which he has faithfully and efficiently commanded for eight years. All ranks join in wishing him the best of health, happiness and success in his new post.

Our hope for the future is occasioned by the record strength of the Contingent this session. The Army Section numbers 49, the R.A.F. Section 27, and the Basic Section 6o. This gives us a total strength of 126 cadets.

Captain A. Robertson of the School Staff has been appointed C.O. of the Contingent, in succession to Major Annand, while Second Lieut. A. Nisbet has been appointed to fill the vacancy among the officers. C.S.M. McLeod is senior N.C.O., with Flight Sergeant Henderson as senior N.C.O. in the R.A.F. Section, and Drum-Major Fletcher acting as C.Q.M.S. ARMY

AND BASIC SECTIONS

Last session's Cert. " A" results fell somewhat short of a too per cent. pass, particularly in the Part II exam. This was partly due to the irregularity of the instructors' attendances. This session, with the help of three N.C.O.s from the 4/7th Gordons and the U.T.C., we are hoping to measure up to the strict standards of the new Cert. " A " syllabus, and at the same time train an N.C.O. cadre with a view to taking on more instruction ourselves.

Army camp last session was held in the first week of July at Cultybraggan, by Comrie, in Perthshire. In spite of unreliable weather, most of the outdoor training was completed. The most popular item was a day spent on the open range, where everyone had a chance to fire the rifle, and the senior cadets awed the younger members by a demonstration of the fire power of the Bren L.M.G. The Contingent felt particular pride when, in the presence of cadets from Dundee and Perth attached to the Black Watch, they witnessed a demonstration of the devastating fire power of a section of 3-inch mortars, given by a crack unit of the Gordon Highlanders.

Next summer's camp has not been definitely fixed hut we shall probably be at Fort George.

This year it is planned to make use of films for instructional purposes to supplement and demonstrate lectures. We are sure that this will lead to a quicker and better understanding of such subjects as Bren mechanism and fieldcraft.

We hope by the end of this year to be wearing a new style of headdress. We change from that floppy soup-plate type hat—Bonnet, T.O.S.—to a more elegant diced, Balmoral type—Bonnet, Highland.

SEC:TION

This year's summer camp held at R.A.F., Leeming, Yorkshire, from 16 to 23 July, was remarkable both for the small number of cadets attending and for the amount of flying hours obtained by each of those who did attend. A reasonable training programme was carried out : insight was gained into the workings of the R.A.F. Regiment, and an instructive visit was made to aerodrome control.

One morning was devoted to practice on the miniature range, and much time was spent in the hangars, where first-hand information was to be had about the various types of jet aircraft on the station.

Several cadets were treated to approximately ten minutes flying in one of the Meteor 7 trainers, while the entire Section spent a further four hours on an allnight navigational exercise with R.A.F. Transport Command—a flight which comprised a round trip from Dishforth over to the Danish coast, Holland, and ck.

At the beginning of this term, a record number of recruits joined the Section, which has at present a membership of twenty-seven. Flight Sergeant Henderson is now senior N.C.O. ; other promotions include Cadets Stewart, Petrie and Bowthorpe to the rank of Corporal.

Several cadets obtained their " B" Gliding Certificate (three solo circuits)

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this past summer : they are Corporal Stewart, Cadet Glennie and Cadet Bradford ; ex-Flight Sergeant Lothian also achieved his " B". Corporal Petrie, making use of a week-end training course at Edzell, was awarded his Certificate at the end of October. This brings the present number of qualified glider-pilots in the R.A.F. Section to six, and it is hoped that the total will be increased soon. A few cadets intend to try for their Flying Scholarships next year ; dates of courses may, however, clash with the times of summer camp, 195 S. In the examinations held last June, six cadets gained their Advanced Proficiency, and five their Proficiency Certificates. This is the first occasion that members of the R.A.F. Section have attempted the former, and congratulations must go to Flight Sergeant Henderson and Sergeant Taylor (who each secured a " Pass With Credit"), Corporals Stewart and Bowthorpc, and Cadets Pirie and Meldrum. Corporal Petrie, Cadets Parkinson and Dutton (" Pass With Credit "), and Cadets Bradford and Glennie deserve compliments for their success in the Proficiency examination.

At long last, the Primary Glider has arrived at Rubislaw Field where it is now housed in its own shed. The machine was taken out one evening and assembled, but gusty winds prevented any launches being attempted. First trials will be begun next term, whenever the weather and the lengthening days permit.

In conclusion, the R.A.F. Section takes this opportunity of expressing its gratitude to Squadron Leader Forsythe, D.F.C., and to all members of the University Air Squadron for the weekly flights which are so generously provided for Grammar School cadets. Their time is precious, and the privilege which has introduced not a few of the Section to flying for the first time is most highly appreciated.

A. R.

Pipes and Drums

ifs

IP

The piping and drumming classes have again made a good start. We learned with regret, however, at the beginning of the term of the impending departure of Major D. M. Annand to Rhodesia. Mr. Annand, who brought the Pipes and Drums into existence, has supervised us for several years, and we should like to express our appreciation of the services which he has rendered. On the other hand we are very pleased to welcome into our midst Mr. R. McLeod, of the Classics Staff, as our new supervisor. We all hope that he will enjoy himself in his new post.

As far as classes arc concerned, I am very pleased to note the marked increase in the number of boys attending the drumming class. At the moment we have twelve boys learning to play the drums, of whom four have already made public appearances and may be termed " proficient ". This is a very encouraging state of affairs, and if recent progress is maintained, I hope that we may have an even better corps than last year. On the other hand numbers in the piping section are very depressing and it is hoped that some more boys from Middle I and II will join this section next year. We have, however, seven boys professing to play the bagpipes, and of these, four were on parade last year ; with these boys setting a high standard of playing we hope that the rest will progress and attain the same proficiency.

I have noticed that many of the pipers have forsaken the old Seaforth Textbook and have been purchasing the newer and larger book published by the Scots Guards. There are only five boys in the chanter class and we would like to increase this to at least ten or fifteen boys.

The members of the band are again indebted to the instructors, Mr. Coupcr on the drumming side, and Mr. Melvin in piping, for their sterling work.

I should like to thank the Band for their performances at School Sports and the Annual Cadet Inspection, where their Beating of Retreat was of the highest quality. I hope that during the coming year they will again give such admirable displays. Last year the Pipes and Drums had sixteen boys on parade and I expect we shall maintain that number or even increase it. It is hoped that during the term the members of the drumming section will learn to play the bugle, and perhaps play at this year's performances.

A. M. FLETCHER, Drum-Major.

72

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Scouts ist Troop Easter Camp was held at Clinterty ; az scouts were present under A.S.M. L. Kilgour. Since then the hut has been reconditioned.

A very successful summer camp was held at the Linn of Corriemulzic, near Braemar. Hikes of varying lengths for the different ages of Bouts were made to the Linn of Dee and to Beinne a Bhuird. A trestle bridge was built across the Dee ; camp sports were held ; and the usual camp fire on the last night.

Our Cafe on 6 November in the Grammar School was opened by Dr. Douglas Simpson, who gave an interesting address on the early days of Scouting. The Group is much indebted to parents and friends for their help in raising 1„330. The same evening a concert was run by the scouts and cubs and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The Pack continues to flourish under the leadership of Cubmaster Miss F. Edmonds.

L. KLLGOUR, A.S.M., for D. KILGOUR, Scoutmaster.

9th Troop As far as the Troop is concerned it is rather a puzzling feature that the year 1954 has shown a disappointing falling-off in numbers, and yet this has been the Troop's most successful year for a long time.

Last Easter a party from the Troop, in compliance with a post-war 9th tradition, spent a week at Braemar Youth Hostel, spending most of the time climbing in the area. During the spring Scoutmaster Alex. Beaton resigned and Dave Gibson —who has given the Troop valiant service for several years—took over. At the County Flag Competition our patrol under Maitland Mackie came in third in a very close finish ; our football team under Alan Esslemont won the Football Cup, and the Troop also won the Athletic Shield.

For their summer camp the Troop went to Tobermory on the island of Mull ; and it may be of interest to note that, thanks to the proceeds of a very successful Stop Watch Competition which the Troop ran, this Tobermory camp cost the scouts little more per head than the usual local camp, and the Troop now runs an " overseas " account with a view to having another away-from-the-Aberdeen-area camp in a year or two. From Tobermory a whole-day trip across Mull to visit the island of Iona was very much enjoyed by the boys ; and some idea of the spirit of the camp can be gained from mention of one or two special features.

Maitland Mackie built a very successful model of a Finnish Bath (Sauna) which he saw at a Scandinavian Jamborette. Pat Phillips and John Hay in their canoe fished regularly in Tobermory Bay and on two occasions brought back sufficient mackerel to provide the Troop with breakfast. Lastly it may be remarked that, not satisfied with 14 or t 5 hours in the open air daily, most of the scouts for the last week or so dispensed with their tents at night, and slept in the open—so kind was the weather. A great camp ! and a credit to Dave Gibson, and also to Iain Esslemont who made an Easter trip out to Tobermory himself to make the preliminary arrangements.

As to promotions, the following are now P.L.s: Doug. Harper, Andrew Warren, Gordon Glennie and D. Galloway, while we make proud note also of the fact that Maitland Mackie became a Queen's Scout.

As to the Cub Pack, this is prospering under the able cubmastership of Oscar Brown, who returned to the 9th after his service in the Navy.

Note for old 91b Scouts.—The Group Scoutmaster has, for safe custody, taken possession of the remarkable collection of 9th Group and individual photographs going back almost to the beginning of the Troop. Old scouts who would be interested in seeing these are invited to communicate with him, Campbell Connon, 58 Dee Street, Aberdeen. Furthermore a reunion dinner for pre-war 9th scouts has been suggested for the end of 1955. Would those who would be interested, particularly those of the Archie Hyslop era, please communicate with the Group Scoutmaster.

C. C.

School Section

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r rh Troop

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Although, due to scouters' holidays, our summer camp, which was held at Strachan, by Banchory, had to be curtailed to one week and -held in the third week of July, it was very encouraging that 75 per cent. of the Troop were able to be present. A most enjoyable and instructive time was had by all and the weather clerk really did give us his blessing with a week of almost continuous sunshine.

The Troop is still expanding and since September we have been able to welcome four new recruits. Our scout work has greatly improved and it is with pride and pleasure that we congratulate the following on gaining their first class badge : P.L.s Edward Anderson and Ian Sutherland, and Seconds William Balfour and Charles Lawson. We would like to congratulate Leonard Hay on gaining his Queen's Scout Badge. Leonard has now left us to become an assistant scoutmaster in another troop, and we wish him good scouting in his new adventure.

The following promotions have taken place : Second Ian Sutherland to P.L. ; Scouts Charles Lawson and Stuart Leslie to Seconds.

The cubs really have something to shout about. Since September 1953 they have increased their numbers from ten to thirty-two, fourteen of these having joined during the last two months. Well done, cubs I Both cubs and scouts held enjoyable and entertaining Hallowe'en parties.

Thanks to the generosity of the 1st Troop the cubs held a very successful outing to their hut at Clinterty, Kincllar.

JOt IN K . GLAIR, SOMPArd.fier.

Lower School

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The most notable event this session was the departure of Mr. Annand from the Lower School to take up a Colonial Office appointment as an Education Officer in Northern Rhodesia. As a mark of the high esteem and affection in which they held Mr. Annand, the boys of the Lower School presented him with a case of cutlery before he left. We extend to him our best wishes.

The daily routine of Lower School continues as heretofore. This has been a year with no Staff changes, apart from Mr. Annand. Roll stands at 372, while the number of boys sitting the Transfer Examination was Sz. Lower School Monitors have been wearing their badges of office for the past few months and performing their duties assiduously. They are Findlay Coutts, Garth Glentworth and Kenneth Gorrod of PVIIB ; James Hamill, Gordon Peterson and Andrew Wyllie of PVIIA ; Leslie Donald and Ian Glendinning of PVIA ; and George Nicol and Douglas Paul of PVIB. Findlay Coutts is Head Monitor.

The collection of birds' eggs removed from the Upper School Museum is now displayed to advantage in a corridor of the Lower School, where it attracts much interest and admiration.

A long overdue repair is scheduled to take place in the near future, namely, the re-surfacing of the Lower School playground, which we hope will reduce effectively the number of calls upon the First And Box, and the sandstorms which occasionally assail our buildings.

The Lower School Choir composed of boys from PIV, PV, PVI and PVII continues to have weekly rehearsals under the leadership of Mr. Norris. It is intended, just before Christmas, to have a carol service to which the choir and each class will make a contribution.

We are happy this term to welcome back to the fold our friend and former colleague, Miss Duff, and we take this opportunity of thanking her for coming to our assistance as a " relief " teacher pending the appointment of a new permanent member of Lower School Staff.

Lower School boys continue to participate in all sporting activities with their customary zeal and joie de vivre. Rugger and soccer are played enthusiastically on games afternoons, although, to date, no outside fixtures have been arranged.

Swimming also remains a popular pursuit, as is shown by the large number of boys from PVII enrolling in the School Swimming Club, and the equally strong following from PVI and PVII taking advantage of the beginners' classes.

J. D. M.

74

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

House Notes Byron The House officials elected for this year are : House Captain, Spence McLeod ; Via-Captain, Hugh W. L. Thomas ; Rugby Captain, Hugh W. L. Thomas ; ViceCaptain, Alan K. G. Paterson ; Hockey Captain, Ivor M. Sutherland ; Vice-Captain, William J. L. Buyers ; Swimming Captain, John L. Hay. The inter-House rugby tournament has received a set-back due to the weather, but when these matches come to be played we are sure that our XV, which contains both youth and experience, will prove itself a formidable combination. Our prospects in the junior division are not so bright, but we are sure that the XV, under Edward Slater and Pat Goodall, will give a good account of itself.

The Hockey XI is a compact but rather unbalanced team. Our main lack is forwards, but those we have, backed by a solid back division, should be able to pursue an aggressive policy.

SPENCE MCLEOD, Howe Captain.

Dun The officials elected at the beginning of the session were : House Captain, Anthony A. Chalmers ; Vice-Captain, K. Watt ; Rugby Captain, K. Watt ; ViceCaptain, Anthony Chalmers ; Swimming Captain, A. Hamilton ; Junior Rugby Captain, R. Watt.

The one scheduled rugby match, against Byron, was postponed because of rain, so that there are no scores to report as yet. Our prospects are not as good as they have been in previous years, since we have to make use of several younger players ; there are, however, four 1st XV members in Dun, and the team will certainly provide doughty opposition to the other Houses.

Both our Hockey XI (Captain, James Wight) and our Junior Rugby XV have a good chance of success, but, as they also have played no matches, little can be said. We do, however, expect great things of them.

I am happy to say that Dun is still strong in swimmers, but it is hoped that all the boys will help Captain Hamilton in his arduous task when the time for the Gala comes round again.

ANTHONY A. CHALMERS, Howe Captain.

Keith At the meeting held earlier this term K. R. Petrie was elected House Captain, with A. A. R. Henderson, Vice-Captain. The other officials who were appointed are : Rugby Captain, K. R. Petrie ; Vice-Captain, I. C. S. Michie ; Hockey Captain, A. A. R. Henderson ; Vice-Captain, G. M. Connell ; Swimming Captain, M. F. Watson ; Vice-Captain, A. M. Williamson.

Keith rounded off the last school year by winning the Athletic Trophy. There was only one unfortunate aspect of this victory : Robert Miller, our Athletic Captain, was unable to compete due to ill-health.

Robin MacLeod, who was Vice-Captain of the 1-louse last year, is to be congratulated on winning the Individual Championship at the School Sports, and also for being awarded the Eric Liddell Trophy for the most meritorious performance at the Scottish Schools' Championships held in Glasgow.

The House this year has a well-balanced Rugby XV and with a little luck may win the Rugby Trophy which we failed to do by so narrow a margin last year.

The Hockey XI has a sound defence but, unfortunately, a rather weak forward line ; they are expected, however, to do quite well in the inter-House competitions.

KENNETH R. PETRIE, Howe Captain.

Melvin At a House meeting early in the term, the following officials were elected : House Captain, G. M. Bruce ; Rugby Captain, G. M. Bruce ; Hockey Captain, J. G. N. Fraser ; Swimming Captain, E. A. L. Wilson. Unfortunately our House and Rugby Captain, G. M. Bruce, left during the term ; A. M. Fletcher succeeded him as House Captain, and E. A. L. Wilson as Rugby Captain.

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We also learned with regret that our Housemaster, Mr. Cunningham, was to leave School to join the ranks of Her Majesty's Inspectors ; our good wishes go with him. On the other hand, we are very pleased to welcome Mr. Walker, head of the History Department, as our new Housemaster.

To date, no House matches have been played in either rugby or hockey because of the adverse weather conditions. The next important event is the Swimming Gala and, although we have not been very fortunate in this sphere in past years, I hope that all swimmers will rally round.

ALAN M. Forrcurit, Howe Captain.

School Sporting Activities Rugby Very few games have been cancelled due to bad weather, although the state of the pitches has tended to be heavy.

The 1st XV started off the season in grand style beating Dundee High School and Gordonstoun and drawing with Glasgow Academy. Since then a series of defeats has resulted in a dampening of morale.

The forwards are to be congratulated on some of their performances but they are not blameless, an inability to play as a unit being their biggest fault. The " threes" have not shown the promise which they revealed in earlier practice games. They are young, 15i years being their average age as compared with 17i years during the seasons 1951 to 5953. There is no cause to feel despondent as they do have ability which will be more pronounced as the season progresses, and certainly during the '5 5—'56 season.

The other teams in the School have been more successful in their inter-school fixtures, the znd XV losing twice and the 3rd XV once, while the Colts, Juniors and Minors are to be congratulated on their undefeated records.

#

IST XV MATCHES 25 September 19S4.—v. Dundee High School at Rubislaw.

The following team represented School in the opening match :— J. D. Aberdcin ; J. Fowler, E. Sutherland, G. M. Bruce (Vice-Captain), R. A. McIntyre ; A. K. G. Paterson, H. Forbes ; H. W. L. Thomas, \I. F. Watson, K. Watt, D. R. Nicol, A. A. Chalmers, A. M. Fletcher, J. A. O. Young, K. R. Petrie (Captain).

School immediately gained the initiative and after a period of attacking moves down our opponents' left flank, an attempted kick for touch was blocked by an opposing player : the ball on going loose was collected by Petrie who ran 15 yards to score midway between the posts and the corner flag. Fletcher failed to convert.

School pressed home their advantage when Petrie, on receiving a pass from Paterson, crossed to score in the same position. Again the kick failed. An offside infringement resulted in High School's stand-off kicking a good penalty goal.

Play on the resumption was inclined to be of a scrappy nature with both teams deserving a share of the blame. An intelligent break-through by Forbes resulted Petrie in Fowler's collecting the scrum half's pass to cross the line to score. rounded off School's scores by crossing the opposition's line in the corner and High concluded their scores with another well-taken penalty.

On the whole the game was inclined to be scrappy. School forwards played a good game but unfortunately the three-quarters did not fulfil the promise that they showed during practice.

Result—School, 12 pts. ; Dundee High School, 6 pts. znd October 1954.—P. Glasgow Academy at Glasgow. : There were three changes in the team which defeated Dundee High School I. C. S. Michie and E. A. L. Wilson, who were unable to play in the first game,

76

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

displaced K. Watt and J. A. O. Young, and W. B. Brown replaced the injured Sutherland.

The game opened with play ranging from end to end. Academy's backs, who seemed to settle down quicker to the heavy under-foot conditions, were more dangerous than their counterparts. School's forwards were rewarded, however, for their robust and intelligent play when Petrie dribbled the ball across the line to score. Fletcher made a good, but vain, attempt to kick a goal. An infringement under School's posts resulted in Academy's levelling the score.

The underfoot conditions were such that the policy of School was to keep the ball among the forwards. This paid dividends when Wilson scored a try midway between the posts and the corner. Fletcher did well to kick a goal. A good break-through by the Academy " threes " resulted in a try being scored underneath the posts. The kick realized full points.

The game concluded in rousing style with School forwards giving a spirited and determined display. The draw was well merited, with School forwards receiving the honours.

Result—School, 8 pts. ; Glasgow Academy, 8 pts.

9 October 1954—v. Gordonstoun at Gordonstoun.

School showed two changes from the side which drew with Glasgow Academy.

Barton Brown and John Lawrie replaced G. M. Brucc and R. A. McIntyre, who had both left School.

School on winning the toss elected to play with the advantage of a slight breeze.

Gordonstoun pinned back their opponents in their own '25 for the first ten minutes and a series of desperate tackles prevented the home team from scoring. School seemed to settle down after this, and one or two promising moves by the backs were spoiled by faulty handling. The pack at this point, although kicking the ball with monotonous regularity, were ragged in the loose mauls. The rest of the first half continued in the same manner with both sides desperately defending their own line.

Play opened in the second half with School attacking down the opposition's left flank. A good move ended with B. Brown crossing the line but the try was disallowed due to a faulty final pass.

From a set scrum on Gordonstoun's '25 a good breakaway by Forbes resulted in his scoring a try in the corner. Fletcher made a good attempt to kick a goal, but unfortunately just failed.

The only feature of the last ten minutes' play was the determined fashion in which Gordonstoun endeavoured to equalize, but fortunately for School their efforts were in vain.

School just deserved to win. Our " threes " showed more initiative than their opposite numbers : the pack, whose play was just a shadow of the previous week's performance, had a marked superiority in the tight but in the loose they were outplayed by the more lively opposition.

Result—School, 5 pts. ; Gordonstoun, nil.

16 October 1954.—v. Dollar Academy at Dollar.

There was no change in the team which defeated Gordonstoun.

School on winning the toss took advantage of a slight breeze. The underfoot conditions were such that fast open rugby was out of the question. The game opened with both sides making a series of fruitless raids. Dollar opened the scoring due to good backing-up on the part of their forwards. They settled down more quickly and School were hard put to prevent any further scoring. The pressure of Dollar's attacks finally told when they scored an unconverted try just on half time.

On changing ends School " threes " got an even share of the ball but some enterprising moves broke down due to faulty handling. Another unconverted try by a Dollar centre increased their lead to 9 points. School were very unfortunate not to score at this point when a forward who had dribbled with the ball from just inside the opposition's '25 was dispossessed on the line. Play continued to be fought out between the forwards. A quick heel by the Dollar pack from a loose scrimmage resulted in a further try but an easy kick was missed.

The game concluded with some rather scrappy forward play.

Result—School, nil ; Dollar Academy, 12 pts.

School Section

77

6 November 1954.—v. Gordon's College at Rubislaw.

J. D. Aberdein moved into the centre, B. Brown moved from centre to J. Fowler's position on the wing, A. Mitchell was picked to play his first game for School at full back, and R. Templeton replaced A. Fletcher.

Just after the start of the game a penalty was awarded to School in a difficult position. Aberdein made a good, but vain attempt at the kick. The play at this point was even with both packs receiving an equal share of the ball, but little mate rialized from both back divisions. A penalty given in front of the College W. L. Thomas. Gordon's posts on their ten yard line was very well kicked by were not long in levelling the scores with a penalty kicked by A. Leiper. It became more obvious as the first half went on that Gordon's pack were playing as a unit and not in the disjointed fashion of their counterparts. Further penalty kicks by A. Leiper and tries by A. Whyte and J. Sim increased Gordon's lead during the first half.

On their display up to this point Gordon's were the better side, showing more guile than School. The expected menace of the opposition's" threes " was counteracted by the good tackling of their opposite numbers.

The second half opened with play ranging from end to end with both teams endeavouring to find openings. Good moves by both sides were stopped by hard and, on occasions, desperate tackling. A further try was scored for Gordon's

by K. Gill, while H. W. L. Thomas kicked another very good penalty for School.

Gordon's deserved to win but certainly not by so great a margin.

Result—School, 6 pts. ; Gordon's College, 18 pts. so November 1954.—y. Perth Academy at Rubislaw.

Owing to a 'flu epidemic there were six changes from the team which played Gordon's College. The team was D. A. Black; E. Sutherland, J. G. Lawrie, K. R. Petrie, W. 13. Brown; A. K. G. Paterson, H. F. Forbes; K. Watt, M. Watson, I. B. Kennaway, I. C. S. Michie, H. W. L. Thomas, W. S. Robb, A. M. Fletcher, A. M. Williamson.

Result—School, 6 pts. ; Perth Academy, 18 pts.

KENNETH R. PETRIE, COMM.

Hockey This year the Hockey Section are showing a keenness which reminds one of the halcyon days of Eric Watt and the Crornars, when we had a team capable of giving the senior hockey sides a beating. The team spirit is tremendously good and there is no doubt that a successful season should be in store.

For the tat XI James Wight and John Mutch were elected captain and vicecaptain respectively, but, unfortunately, John Mutch has left us to go to University.

The position of vice-captain has been filled by that first-rate enthusiast, " Willie ' Buyers, and the waygoing of J. M. has been mitigated somewhat by the return of Bob Angles who has taken over at centre half. Only Buyers, Henderson and Wight survive from last year's team so that a new team had to be found.

One of the outstanding features of play so far this season has been the " punch" in the attack, as is shown by the ist XI's 9-o victory over a Centralians "A" Xl. This must be nearly a record score, while Captain Wight's individual tally of 5 goals is a unique achievement.

A really first class team display was given against Ruthrieston and a 4-3 lead, seconds from time, was a true reflection of the run of play. A last-second goal however, denied our side the two points. There is a moral here : no doubt the boys will have learned the lesson, of the need to keep vigilant till the game is over.

Against an unbeaten Navy side School were slow to settle down, and in the first few minutes Navy scored twice. School rallied after this and play was very even. Inaccurate shooting by the School forwards, however, spoilt several excellent moves. The Navy had the upper hand in the second half, but it was not till late in the game that their pressure yielded two more quick goals.

Illness has cancelled the ist XI joust with Gordon's College so that it will be later in the season before that test of strength takes place.

One of the failings of the team has been the inability to " stay the pace " and a tiring team in the last twenty minutes contributed to the 7-1 defeat by Gordonians.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

Even allowing for the difference between boys and men, as far as strength is concerned, some of the team could be fitter, and let us hope that, as the season progresses, this weakness will be rectified.

It would be difficult to pick out any outstanding players in this year's XI as, first and foremost, they are a team in the best sense—combining well, with excellent stick work. The defence has not yet settled down since John Mutch's departure and too many gaps are left when our forwards are on the attack. No doubt this is a passing phase.

The and XI have not had much chance so far to show their prowess but a full fixture-list for the rest of the season should test their ability. They have beaten the " auld enemy " 5-2 in a hard game which had some remarkably good hockey in it for a and XI game. The strength of the team, led by Sinclair Forbes, lies in their half-back line of Forbes, Morrice and Fraser. The forwards are a problematical bunch, and this section of the team will need to show vast improvement if good results are to be obtained.

Illness has played havoc with the fixture-list for both 3rd Year and 4th Year.

Both games against Gordonstoun had to be cancelled due to a " polio " ban there.

The 4th Year seem to be rather short of talent and it looks like a lean year there —although a very promising goalkeeper in young Steven has been unearthed.

Morrice, Ness and Smith are other players of whom more should be heard.

Among the Colts there is little sign of a renaissance with the exception of Dennis Hay, whose stickwork is outstandingly good in one so young. From all reports he could, with assiduous practice, be a player of the future. Practice and more practice is needed among the Colts ; but the will to be really good at the game they have chosen seems to be completely lacking in the majority of the pupils.

The Hockey Section are, as usual, indebted to Mr. S. B. Hunter and Mr. Flett for their generous assistance, and especially to Eric Watt who spent some time at beginning of term trying to instil better stickwork into our ist and and XI players. Let us record that we are missing Dr. Innes, who served us well last year at practice games : we wish him the best of luck in the Forces. We are also indebted to that old war-horse, Mr. Park, who faithfully attends to the painting of the balls, despite having suffered a serious injury during last term, which has brought his playing days to a premature end at a ripe old age I R. McNar.

a •

Athletics The results of the main School and inter-school contests are not available when the June edition of the Magazine goes to press, so this report is presented at a time when our thoughts are far from summer activities.

Session 1953-54 proved to be a satisfactory one from an athletic point of view and many creditable performances were recorded. The general standard was on a par with previous years.

Poor weather conditions prevailed at the Annual Sports, but nevertheless ten new records were established in the fifty-one events contested in Middle and Upper School. Six previous best performances were improved on in the two main athletic groups of the Lower School. Keith House won the inter-House Championship, with Melvin House as runners-up. The Senior Individual Championship was won by R. D. MacLeod, whilst E. Sutherland, A. West, W. Stevenson and M. Edwards were victors in Groups 2, 3, 4 and Lower School, respectively.

The School was strongly represented at the Scottish Schools' Athletic Championships in Glasgow and all but two competitors contested the finals of their events.

R. D. MacLeod, the Athletics Captain, brought special distinction to the School when he won the Under 17 years tio yards Hurdles in the new record time of 15.1 seconds, •5 second better than the previous record, which he established in 1953.

He was awarded the Eric Liddell Memorial Trophy for the most meritorious performance at the Championships.

This trophy was first presented in 1949 and the Grammar School has the honour of being the only School to have won it twice. Kenneth Courts was our first winner, in 195o, with a record-breaking mile of 4 minutes 33.8 seconds.

J. C. H.

a

e

School Section

79

Cricket The second half of the cricket season began with a reminder that cricket is very much subject to the vagaries of the weather. The game with Perth Academy at Rubislaw had to be abandoned because of rain. In revenge for the close game with Aberdeen Academy the previous season, School had a comfortable eightwicket victory, and on the following week registered a draw against a University XI. The usual marathon game with Gordon's College ended in a draw, after some fine batting on both sides.

The end of the season came, as it began, with rain making only an hour's play possible against Glasgow High School.

The season, on the whole, was as good as could be expected. Although only two games were lost, no fewer than five were drawn, out of a total of nine played.

The batting, at times, fell below standard, even taking into account the many wet wickets encountered. The bowling on the other hand, although not aspiring to any great heights, was steady.

As many of last season's players have left School, there will be openings next summer for some of our promising young players.

•

BATTING AND BOWLING AVERAGES

D. A. Black K. Watt D. E. Baird D. MacLeod K. Watt D. E. Baird G. M. Bruce J. Mutch A. M. Fletcher

Innings

Not out

Ruins

7 7 8 5

— z i —

104 7o

Overs 115.2

Maidens 48

61

12

6 55.4 48

O 20 10

Average Highest Score 1416 40 2414.00

82

27

52

19

1.4 7O 1 1O

Runs 189

Wickets 3o

Average 6.3o

156

13

36

3 7 6

12.00 12.00

1 10

103

15.71 17.61 BLAcx. D. A.

Swimming 40

0

,

At the Annual General Meeting of the Swimming Club held at the beginning of the new session the following officials were appointed : Captain, Melville F. Watson; Vice-Captain, Alexander M. Williamson; Secretary, John Y. L. Hay. The Club membership of 1f7 is as large as in previous years, even though the percentage of Fifth and Sixth Year boys is disappointingly low. However, there is unlimited enthusiasm in every other section of the School. Provision was again made for the weekly instruction of 120 beginners from the Lower and Middle Schools at the Middle, Uptown and Beach ponds.

This term thirty boys have enrolled in Mr. Allardice's life-saving class and will take the tests for the Intermediate and Bronze Awards of the Royal Life-Saving Society in December.

The general standard of swimming in the School can only be graded as average, of but we can take pride in the fact that approximately 8o per cent. of the boysnew eleven years of age and over are able to swim. At the time of writing a scheme of tests and awards is in preparation and it is hoped that by regular weekly practice for these tests the standard will be raised to average plus. The only remaining thing which could substantially improve swimming at School would be a pond of our own.

The Annual Swimming Gala is to be held in the Uptown Pond on Friday, 4 February 1955.

J. Y. L. HAY, Secretary.

Former Pupils' Club Founded It September 5893

Annual Dinner The President of the Club, SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, was in the chair at the Annual Dinner of the Club held in the Caledonian Hotel, Aberdeen, on 29 October 1954. The principal guest was Professor G. O. Sayles, of the Chair of History in the University of Aberdeen, a newcomer to the city but already well known, at least by name, to F.P.s by virtue of his having been called upon to give his expert opinion on the evidence as to the antiquity of the School. (His memorandum on the subject had been published in the press on the morning of the day of the Dinner.)

For the first time since F.P. Dinners were revived after the war the Rector, Mr. J. J. Robertson, was unable to be in his accustomed place—he had been honoured by being chosen to attend a U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference in Montevideo —but his deputy, Mr. John Lynch, was at the top table, as was Mr. Alexander H. Gray, head of the Mathematics Department at the School, who is due to retire next year. Also at the top table were MAURICE CRAMS, vice-president of the Club and chairman of the Executive, A. G. Nrcot. SMrrH, a past president, and J. R. MCMILLAN, the senior Club member present. Mr. D. E. Collier, headmaster of Robert Gordon's College, was there as usual, and the Gordonian Association, the Aberdeen Centre of the Heriot Club and the Aberdeen Centre of the Watsonian Club were represented by Mr. E. C. Finlayson, Mr. R. A. Dodds, and Mr. S. M. Tosh respectively. A. few weeks before the Dinner an Aberdeen Centre of Stewart's College Club had been formed and a special welcome was extended to its representative, Mr. W. M. Duff. There was a company of 129— seventy-seven F.P.s and fifty-two guests.

"THE SCHOOL AND THE CLUB"

The principal toast was proposed by Professor Sayles. After giving some highly amusing reminiscences of his stay in Ireland—he came to Aberdeen from the Chair of History in Queen's University, Belfast—he went on to give a dear and concise account of the historical issue which he had been called upon to examine, and a summary of his findings (see pages 5-7).

He said that he had read with very great interest Dr. Morland Simpson's book with what he described as the felicitous title of Boa Record. Having looked through the list of distinguished sons of the School, he was certain that the Grammar School had earned as much as any other institution the proud boast that the North-east of Scotland produced more professors to the acre than any other part of the country. In proposing the toast he coupled with it the names of the great men of letters the School had produced and all those in the scattered fields of life, who, albeit inconspicuously, albeit unconsciously, had carried the traditions of this famous school forward into the life of commerce.

In introducing Mr. Alexander H. Gray, who replied to the toast on behalf of the School, the chairman mentioned that Mr. Gray was in the last of many years of service to the School and that it was particularly appropriate that he should reply.

Mr. Gray, who was enthusiastically received, claimed that the only recommendation he had was that he was an old lag, who had served the longest sentence in the school—a life sentence of thirty-five-and-a-half years. He went on:— " I cannot, any more than the experts, tell you when the School was born but I can tell you when it passed away. I was one member of the family present at the deathbed. I shall never forget that Friday morning of i September 1939 when we assembled in the Hall to make arrangements for the new session. Mr. Andrew took prayers and then we dispersed to our class-rooms. Meanwhile we heard that Hitler's troops were pouring into Poland and we broke up at twelve o'clock. I went home with a sinking feeling in my heart that something had gone from me never to return."

8o

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82

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

In replying on behalf of the Club SIR LANDSBOROUGH . THOMSON took the opportunity of thanking the Club most sincerely for the high honour they had done to him in electing him president for the current year. It was an honour which he esteemed very highly: for this appointment no test was valid except that of being a loyal son of the School and a reasonably diligent member of the Club.

DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS During the past two or three years he had been in some danger of becoming a professional chairman of societies and committees, and he remarked that at the same time as he became president of the F.P. Club he also became president of the Zoological Society of London, commonly known as The Zoo. He was naturally tempted to draw comparisons between his two sets of constituents but he would refrain!

He reported that the Club was in a flourishing and active state. Our relations with " foreign powers" continued to be friendly and he trusted that the seating arrangements would not cause any of their ambassadors to walk out. He could report from first-hand knowledge as a regular attender that the London Centre was very enthusiastic and he hoped in the course of his year of office to attend the Dinners of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Centres as well as that of the London Centre. He regretted that he could not include the Centres in the Far East in his circuit but he would have to be jet-propelled or rocket-propelled to be at Kuala Lumpur on the following day when the Malaya Centre was holding its Annual Dinner.

Turning to the question which anyone addressing himself to the subject of the Club must ask himself—" Why do we have such Clubs? and why do we come to such gatherings? ", he thought that the answer lay in the sense of tradition and the consciousness of our history which, as Professor Sayles had said, was long enough, even although we could now only go back prior to 1418. Such gatherings gave us an awareness of a common heritage which brought out perhaps the well known tribal instinct in that we came metaphorically to dance round our totem poles. He thought that this sense of tradition and the momentum of history would carry the School successfully through the difficulties to which Mr. Gray had referred. " I am quite sure ", he went on, " that we underrated our masters when we were schoolboys but, looking back with maturer judgment, we realize that they were men of considerable stature doing an important job and being a major influence on the lives of possibly z,ooo boys in the course of their scholastic careers. Mr. Gray has mentioned many of the great masters of the School. I can mention the names of Middleton, M`Leod, Murison, Mackie and Edwards—they were fine teachers to whom we owe a great deal. " My only regret on looking back is that they stuck so conscientiously to the curriculum. Somehow they gave us very little of their knowledge and judgement as men of the world. That is where Charles Davidson excelled, possibly to some extent at the expense of purely scholastic time. I am quite certain that his talks about things not in books, his romances of travel, had an educational influence.

Charles Davidson, too, was for many years the F.P.s' master. " I remember meeting him at the door of the Palace Hotel one day between the wars. He told me that he was attending a reunion lunch of F.P.s back from the Far East. I asked him whether it had taken 13lace or was about to take lace and he whispered hoarsely into my car: ' This is the third day '. (Loud aughter.) " My first impression of the Rector was of a tall, gaunt figure like a Roman Senator with his black toga flapping in the wind, a terrifying cold giant of a man and unapproachable, but in the upper two classes in Roman History we found what a human person he was. He would digress from the lesson by following up some point and give us something wider than the book laid down. It was Morland Simpson who had the vision to see how important tradition is for a school and how the consciousness of history supports that tradition. He saw the value of an F.P. Club which would foster the tradition and reflect that feeling of loyalty to the School back on the School itself.

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Former Pupils' Club

Sg

" I have mentioned the masters of my own time and I can speak with knowledge only of my own schooldays. You will soon be electing presidents whose recollections arc of a more recent generation of masters and those of my age will be forgotten. It is necessary for us to remember that those whom we might name on any particular occasion arc just examples taken from a long line of those who have carried on a long tradition."

The toast of " The Guests" was proposed by GORDON H. HF-NDERSON and replied to by Mr. James Mackie. MAURICE CRAMS proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman and the proceedings came to an end in traditional manner with the singing of " Auld Lang Sync " and the toast of " Bon-Accord ".

•

✓

The following members of the Club were present at the Dinner, the list being arranged in order of seniority based on date of entry to the School:1876. J. R. McMillan (1876-79 and 1881-84)t88o. A. G. Nicol Smith (1880-88).

1899. Sir Landsborough Thomson (1899-1908).

1900. D. G. Robertson (1900-09).

1902. George Forbes (1902-04), G. Angus Mitchell (1902-13).

1903. A. R. Abercromby (1903-13).

1905. James Leith (1905-17).

1906. Graham Henderson (1906-12), W. C. MacKinnon (1906-10).

1907. J. L. Riddell (1907-16).

1908. A. J. M. Edwards (1908-21), E. J. Galloway (1908-18).

1909. J. G. Kilgour (1909-16).

1910. Alexander Gray (191o-22), L. R. Harper (1910-17), I. G. McPherson (1910-17), E. G. Robertson (1910-19), R. S. Walker (1910-22), N. B. Wright (1910-23). :911. W. G. Thow (1911-22).

1912. R. J. Maitland (1912-18), J. G. Sellar (1912-18), N. B. Sellar (1912-21), R. D. Strachan (1912-19).

1913. M. G. Gibb (1913-22), J. I. Scott (1913-21), J. H. Henderson (1913-2t).

1914. Leo Dumin (1914-17), Robert Duthie (1914-19), W. G. Hutcheon (1914-23), John Maclennan (1914-20), M. C. Ross (1914-21), G. D. W. Stroud (19 14x919), R. E. W. Stroud (1914-19), W. D. Wilson (1914-25).

1915. F. B. Cartwright (1915-24), R. L. Milne (1915-26), W. W. Porter (1915-23).

1916. Maurice Cramb (1916-29), David Hanna (1916-22).

1918. J. R. Carry (1918-30), H. J. Fraser (1918-22), I. G. Shinnie (1918-28), 1. L. Smith (1918-30), F. F. Stott (1918-30), E. W. M. Watt (1918-31).

1919. W. L. Henderson (1919-30, A. D. Troup (1919-22).

1920. N. F. Wisely ( 1920-32).

1921. G. H. Henderson (1921-34)1922. J. G. W. Davidson (1922-28), J. S. MacLachlan (1922-32).

1923. G. E. C. Barton (1923-26), Alexander Forsyth (1923-30).

1924. Stewart Duff (1924-34), J. C. Mackie (1924-27), James Reid (1924-34), Douglas Reith (1924-35).

1925. J. C. N. Reid (1925-37), A. G. Scott (1925-29), A. C. R. Watt (1925-37).

1926. J. G. M. Birss (1926-38), H. M. R. Watt (1926-38).

1927. F. D. Morgan (1927-33), A. R. Taylor (1927-34).

1928. M. H. Tawse (1928-40).

1929. T. W. N. Davidson (1929-41), D. G. Patterson (1929-36), K. J. Peters (1929-41).

1930. H. F. M. Aitken (1930-33).

1931. Simpson Shepherd (1931-41).

1934. P. L. Hill (1934-38).

1944. A. E. C. Abercromby (1944-46).

1946. R. F. Robertson (1946-50).

Staff Members. Edwin Hunter, J. C. Hunter.

84

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Glasgow Centre The chief guests at the Annual Dinner of the Centre, held in the Grosvenor Restaurant, Glasgow, on is November 19S4, were the Very Reverend G. Johnstone Jeffrey, D.D., a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, president of the Club. Other guests of the Centre were Mr. James D. Steel, representing the Glasgow and West of Scotland Gordonians, Mr. George Templeton, representing Glasgow High School Club, E. Ros BnucErr, president of the Edinburgh Centre of the Club, and ALAN C. R. WATT, editor of- the Magazine. D. M. SEMPLE, president of the Centre, was in the chair and there was an attendance of thirty-two members and guests.

Mr. John Lynch, acting Rector, was to have attended the Dinner and replied on behalf of the School to the principal toast, but, on account of ill-health, he was unfortunately unable to do so. A message of good wishes was sent to him from the company.

"THE SCHOOL AND THE CLUB"

In proposing the toast of " The School and the Club" Dr. G. Johnstone Jeffrey said that Aberdeen had an overwhelming reputation for intellectual ability: he had been told that every third person one met in Union Street was a first class honours graduate I In paying tribute to the Rector, he said that Mr. Robertson had one of the finest minds in Scotland to-day.

He went on to speak of the great debts of gratitude which F.P.s owed to a school which gave a bed-rock foundation to life. We learned so much more from teachers than the subjects they taught and we ought constantly to return thanks to them.

He had been reading some copies of the Magazine and had been enormously impressed by the flow of character and ability that ran from the Aberdeen Grammar School into the stream of the world's need.

The only greatness was greatness that had learned to serve. If a teacher sent a boy into the world only with the ambition to get the best out of brain and body, the boy became that most despicable of all creatures—a careerist ; but if he was inspired to think that a career entailed service to others, he had learned one of the greatest truths a school could impart.

THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON replied to the toast.

He confessed that, as he had had the same task to perform only two weeks before at the Dinner in Aberdeen, be felt rather like a minister in a new church delivering last Sunday's sermon I He suggested a pact of mutual toleration between those who had also been at the Aberdeen Dinner and himself.

He gave a short account of the highlights of the speeches at the Club Dinner and referred briefly to Professor Sayles's report on the early history of the School —or rather on the lack of it. We were not perhaps as old as we had thought but, as Principal Sir Thomas Taylor had said to him, " What is a century here or there among so many? " The School had been passing through difficult times but this, he felt, was merely a phase which would pass. A School with such a tradition would certainly survive temporary difficulties.

He stressed the importance of the extra-curricular activities in the School which gave boys a wider view of the world and dispelled any tendency there might be to local complacency. It was salutary to remember that if one took away " Aiberdeen an' twal' mile roue'", there still was left 99.99 per cent. of the habitable globe ! In his day the glimpses of the outside world that they had obtained from " C. D." had been invaluable.

Morland Simpson had made the School as we knew it now. He had realized that the history of the School mattered and that an F.P. Club would help the School to foster its traditions and reflect on its prosperity. The School had a long history and, while it enjoyed the loyal support of the Club, he had no doubt that it would go forward to fresh triumphs.

The toast of " The Guests " was proposed by the Reverend G. N. PENNIE and Mr. George Templeton replied. Thereafter A. C. R. WArr reported on

Former Pupili' Club

85

" 1256 and All That ". A vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed by JAMES STIRRAT, a past president of the Centre.

The following members of the Club were present at the Dinner, the list being arranged in ordcr of seniority based on date of entry to the School:1895. C. S. Buyers (1895-98).

1899. Sir Landsborough Thomson (1899-1908).

1901. George Lawrence (1901-03), D. M. Semple (1901-06).

1904. W. O. Fiddes (1904-5 5).

1906. D. C. Sangster (1906-13).

1909. A. A. R. Smith (1909-16).

1911. James Stirrat (1911-21).

1912. C. F. Thomson (1912-14).

1915. C. J. Lamb (1915-22).

1918. W. G. Gow (1918-19 and 1925-28).

1919. Albert Christie (1919-29).

1920. E. Ros Birkett (1920-22).

1922. R. L. Richards (1922-34)1923. G. N. Pennie (1923-26).

1925. H. E. R. Shand (1925-34), A. C. R. Watt (19 25-37):926. J. G. M. Birss (1926-38), A. L. Spcirs (1926-38).

5929. B. D. D. Emslie (1929-35).

1930. A. C. Thomson (1 930-41)At the Annual General Meeting of the Centre held in the Grosvenor Restaurant on 13 October 1954, D. M. Semple and the Reverend G. N. Pennie were elected president and vice-president, respectively, for the period 1954-56. Other officebearers were elected for 1954-55 as follows: Hon. Secretary and Treasurer— ). G. M. Birss ; Committee—B. D. D. Emslie, W. O. Fiddes, W. G. Gow, R. L. Richards and C. F. Thomson.

On 7 October 1954 a most enjoyable theatre evening was held in conjunction with the Glasgow Branch of the Aberdeen High School F.P. Club and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch of the Gordonian Association. A party of seventy assembled in the Gordon Restaurant for an informal reception and high tea and afterwards went to the " Half-Past Eight " show at the Alhambra Theatre.

Malaya Centre The largest number of F.P.s for some years attended a reunion dinner in the Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur, on 3o October 19f4. In all eighteen persons were present, eleven being F.P.s and seven being guests. Several members of the gathering had travelled overnight to be in attendance, including Leonard Bird who, together with a guest, had travelled from Singapore, and Thomas Blair who had driven down from Kuala Lipis through Pahang and Selangor to be present in Kuala Lumpur.

DOUGLAS GRAEME ROBERTSON, who is the senior F.P. in Malaya, took the chair at the meeting and THOMAS BLAIR proposed the toast of " The School". Opening his remarks by noting that this was the first time since the war that guests had been present at an F.P. reunion, he then went on to refer to the long and memorable history of the Grammar School.

In particular Mr. Blair spoke of the various attempts which had been made to discover the date of the origin of the School and pointed out that, although 1256 was the presumed date of its establishment, no definite proof had been obtained by the authorities regarding this date. He referred to Dr. W. Douglas Simpson's historical research and to the sterling work of Dr. Theodore Watt in connection with the history and records of the School.

Referring to the Institution presently carrying on " business" at Schoolhill, he drew the company's attention to the long and keen rivalry between the School and this Institution, which had not only followed the School to its old site but had also attempted to follow its traditions and records in many ways. This friendly rivalry was one of the greatest heritages of schoolboys in Aberdeen and it was with pleasure that he noted that their guest speaker was a Gordonian.

86

Aberdeen Grammar Mod MagaTine

Turning to the future, Mr. Blair summarized his words in the phrase " to swim or not to swim". He pointed out the great interest which F.P.s abroad were taking in the decision of the Town Council- regarding the building of a new school hall or a swimming pool. He then referred to the many rumours which had followed him through school regarding the building of a swimming pool and regaled the company with memories of his aquatic feats, commencing with paddling in the Denburn and finishing with attempts to swim in the water tanks placed in front of the School during the war years. The erection of the latter at the beginning of the war raised his hopes to the highest and he would never forget the disappointment which he felt when he was informed that these tanks were for war service and not for the service of the young gentlemen of the Grammar School.

He concluded by drawing attention to the lead which F.P.s in the Far East had taken in the matter of presentations to the old School and suggested that the erection of the long-awaited swimming pool would be an ideal opportunity for the members of the Centre to show their appreciation of " the happiest days of our lives ".

Mr. Wilfred Simpson of Effingham Estate, Kuala Lumpur, who replied on behalf of the guests, also referred to the great rivalry between Gordon's, of which he was a proud F.P., and the Grammar School. He entertained the company with several amusing stories about encounters between the representatives of both schools in the days when the rivalry was not so friendly.

He went on to say that the attendance at the reunion and the distances which several of the members had travelled to be present, made him really conscious of the great tradition of the School and the strong bonds of the members of the Club. During his thirty-odd years in Malaya he had never attended a Gordonian reunion of this size, and he intended to write to the Secretary of the Gordonian Association enquiring why meetings of a similar nature could not be held by Gordonians in Malaya.

The Secretary of the Centre, F. K. Sellar, then presented the annual report and called for the institution of a committee to raise funds for the presentation

by F.P.s in Malaya of some trophy to be presented to the School in connection with the proposed new swimming pool. J. L. K. Brown, G. E. Fearby and the Secretary were appointed to this committee.

The following F.P.s were present at the reunion, the list being arranged in order of seniority based on the elate of entry to the School :— V. G. R. Stephen (1934-47) D. G. Robertson (1904-15) G. E. Fearby (1937-45) J. L. K. Brown (1921-25) Leonard Bird (1939-46) Alexander Watson (1922-35) Norman McLean (1943-48) F. K. Sellar (1933-45) W. A. J. Longmore (1943-31) Thomas Blair (1954-44) S. M. Davidson (1934-44) Apologies were received from the following :— D. S. McDonald (1924-31) Loo Yew Hoi (19o7-14) R. K. Booker (1928.41) J. R. Donald (1913-24) A. F. Gordon (1937-42) George Anderson (19,4-24) N. D. D. Elder (1938-46) D. B. Palmer (1915-24) R. W. I. Band (1924-26)

London Centre The Annual General Meeting of the Centre (preceded by an informal supper) was held on 14 October 1954, in the Horse and Dolphin, St. Martin's Street, W.C.z, with Sir James Crombie in the chair. Approximately thirty members attended.

The Centre report and accounts were passed, and the following elections made : Committee—G. W. Bowes, J. H. L. Inns, Peter Rennie, and D. J. G. Sherman ; Honorary Secretary—A. H. K. Slater.

Further meetings have been arranged as follows : Annual Dinner, Brown's Hotel, W.x (9 December 1954). Joint Dance with A.H.S.F.P. Club, London Branch, the London Gordonians, St. Margaret's and Albyn School F.P.s (Friday, 4 March 1955)-

Fnrmer Pupils' Club

87

F.P. Rugby Section 411

•

*

The F.P. Rugby Section, I am glad to report, is at the time of writing enjoying the most successful season for a number of years. In fact one must go back to the immediate post-war years to find such art encouraging start. To date the 1st XV has won eight matches out of eleven played and scored 176 points against 107.

All games against local and midland opposition have been won, most of them by comfortable margins, and the three defeats have been at the hands of the Edinburgh clubs—Heriot's, Stewart's and Edinburgh Academicals. The game against Herior's might have gone either way as F.P.s were twice in the lead during a hectic second half despite conceding a gift try in the first minute of the game.

Against Edinburgh Accics. the backs unfortunately, individually and collectively, had a complete off-day, and a match which was very equal territorially was lost by a margin which the press in the South considered " very flattering" to the victors. The best results have been a victory by more than twenty points against Allan Glen's F.P.s in Glasgow and the victory over Greenock at Greenock. On this latter occasion, owing to trial calls and injuries, seven reserves had to be fielded.

Incidentally this is the first occasion on which we have defeated Greenock on their own home ground.

The writer can see no reason why the present successful run should not continue. There is a good supply of experienced forwards and, despite interruptions arising from a large representation in the various district games, a fine degree of teamwork is being reached by the backs.

In addition to successful results there is a very heartening amount of keenness among the members, and the enthusiasm for training in all teams is very satisfactory.

Once again the membership permits of four teams being run and, as can be seen from the results, the junior teams are all doing satisfactorily. The and XV once again has shown itself able to defeat Aberdeen Academicals.

Financial difficulties are ever present with the Section and on 3o October a successful jumble sale, coffee morning and café was held in the School. A sum of approximately £18o was raised, clear of expenses. The Treasurer wishes to return thanks to all those who in any way helped the venture or donated money or goods.

Despite the cost of travelling the management feel that it is essential for the fixtures with the first class clubs in the south to be kept up and the benefit of these to the players can be seen from the large number of members regularly chosen for the representative matches.

E. H. Cruickshank, E. Craig, I. Stuart, R. H. W. Cradock, C. D. Mowat and D. N. Gcorgeson were chosen for the North V. Midlands trial and the first five also played in the district games between the North and Edinburgh, the South and Glasgow. This very large representation in a team chosen from all the sides north of the Forth is in a large measure due to the fact that the Section is one of the few clubs in the area whose players are tuned up to a sufficient degree by regularly playing against good class opposition.

p

sat XV Results . . , . v. Gordonians at Seafield v. George Heriot's School F.P.s at Rubislaw . v. Melville College F.P.s at Rubislaw . . v. Perthshire Academicals at Perth . . . v. Daniel Stewart's College F.P.s at Inverleith . v. Allan Glen's School F.P.s at Bishopbriggs . v. Dollar Academicals at Rubislaw . . . v. Edinburgh Academicals at Raebum Place . v. Aberdeen Academicals at Rubislaw . .

PP 23.

Nov. 6. v. Aberdeen Wanderers at Hazlehead . .

2O. v. Greenock Wanderers at Fort Matilda. .

•

Sept. is. „ x8. „ 20. „ 25. „ 27.

Oct. 2. „ 9. „ 16.

. 15- 5 . i2-59 . so-1 t . 9-6 • 3-24 . 24- 9 . t3- 3 .

3-14 . 33- 8 . 27- 3 • 8- 5

Won. Lost.

Won. Won. Lost.

Won. Won. Lost.

Won. Won. Won.

. 22- 3

Won

Stop Press— Dec. 6.

v. Watsonians at Linksfield .

.

.

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.Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

88 Sept. II. „ 18.

2 .

Oct. 2. ,, 9. „ 16. ,, 23Nov. 6.

snd XV Results v. Aberdeenshire and XV at Rubislaw .

• . 33- o v. George Heriot's School F.P.s and XV at Rubislaw i s- 6 v. Aberdeen Academicals ist XV at Chanonry . .

9- o v. Allan Glen's School F.P.s and XV at Bishopbriggs 6-i t r. Gordonians and XV at Seafield . . . . o- o v. Perthshire Academicals and XV at Rubislaw 6-21 . . . . . v. Strathmore at Forfar . o- x 3 . . 31- o . v. Panmure and XV at Rubislaw .

Won. Won. Won. Lost.

Drawn.

Lost.

Lost.

Won.

std XV Played-7. Won—a. Drawn—a. Lost-3. Pts. for-66 ; pts. against-79.

4th XV Played—a. Won—i. Lost—r. Pts. for-42 ; Pts. against- 35.

N. I. W. MYLDRI/M, Hon. Secretary.

School and F.P. Rugby Fixtures in the South Feb.

5. F.P.s st. Trinity Academicals at Edinburgh.

School v. Dundee High School at Dundee. „ x9. F.P.s v. Glasgow High School F.P.s at Anniesland.

26. School v. Paisley Grammar School at Paisley.

Mar. 19. F.P.s v. St. Andrews University at St. Andrews.

Apr. 2. F.P.s P. Panmure at Broughty Ferry.

F.P. Tennis Section There was a good turnout at the Annual General Meeting of the Section at Rubislaw when the following officials were elected for season 1954 :— Captain, James W. Howison ; Hon. Secretary, Brian D. M. Grassick ; Hon. Treasurer, James MCP. Mutch ; Committee, J. Fenton Wyness, A. M. Hardie, George L. Fraser, Thomas M. Arnott, Ian 0. Brown and Ian Milne.

Many new members turned out early in the season but as the later summer months approached, attendances were smaller due to the continued rainy spells.

Guest night, Friday, has become very popular, but unfortunately the majority of rainy evenings centred around the weekends, thus ruining many promising Friday night games. Fixtures for two Fridays had to be postponed.

Next year should also be successful as the Section has many promising young players who, with the more experienced players, should form a firm nucleus in the Section. New members will be warmly welcomed.

A General Meeting will be held on Monday, 31 January 1955, at 7.3o p.m., at 9 Bon-Accord Square. All interested are asked to attend.

B. D. M. GRASSICK, HON. Seeretary.

Former Pupils'

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89

F.P. Cricket Section

♦

The season just past has been a most disappointing one in so far as the fortunes of the Strathmore Union XI are concerned. The team won only three of their matches, losing nine and drawing seven. It may be said in mitigation of this performance, however, that four of the drawn games were moral victories, and only lapses in the field robbed us of almost certain victory.

The failure this past season cannot be attributed to any special department of the team. As the averages indicate, all the recognized batsmen were " among the runs " while the bowling and fielding, although perhaps not spectacular, were adequate.

We were fortunate in obtaining the services of the School Captain, D. E. Baird, and his all-round ability proved a great asset to the side.

Strathmore Union XI Averages Innings Rims tI 299 ;11 t4 4 72 16i 9 :to t; to 1 34 • indicates not out

Ratting E. H. Cruickshank D. J. Stephen G. Murray D. E. Baird I. S. Manley I. Stuart

Banding L. E. Tyson A. A. C. Edmond D. E. Baird T. I. Morrison E. McLeod A. M. Davidson

•

•

Over: 1 47 53 78 8: 153 114

Maidens 36 9 13 23 41 32

I Wiest .Ccorr tot

"Iterate 27.2

129 *

2 3.9

47 67 76

ilt.o 17.8 1 7.5 16.75

Runs 306 x3o

Wicker 39 14

264

22 12

Average 7.8 9.3

195 403 319

70

19 14

12.0

16.15 21.2

22.8

The fortunes of the Grade XI, however, more than compensated for the failure of the Strathmore side, for they have now gained promotion to Grade II, having done so without conceding a point. Unfortunately, early in the season they lost the services of their captain, Dr. A. H. Innes, who is now on national service, but C. A. Clark accepted the responsibility and continued to lead the side from strength to strength. A remarkable enthusiasm was shown by all the players in the team in their endeavour to gain promotion, and all maintained a high standard of cricket.

It is not always desirable perhaps to remark on individual performances, but the left arm deliveries of A. A. C. Edmond which took heavy toll of the opposition, and the all-round performance of I. Thomson, who was one of this season's few century-makers in Grade Cricket, and whose hurricane hitting wrecked many a bowler's analysis, greatly contributed to the success of the side.

Again the Section has been honoured by the inclusion of both George Murray and E. H. Cruickshank in the Aberdeenshire side. We offer our congratulations to them, and gladly express our appreciation of the honour they have conferred on the Section.

In conclusion, we are again indebted to L. E. Tyson for the many services he renders to the Section, to Mrs. Smart for scoring, to all the ladies who have so willingly helped with the teas, and to those gentlemen who have donned the white coat.

A. M. DAVIDSON, HON. Secretary.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

90

F.P. Golf Section Since the last issue of the Magazine outings have been held at Aboyne and Ballater in June, August, September and October, and all were well attended by both members and their guests. As usual the September outing was a joint meeting with our friends of the Gordonian Golf Section, and the prizes were presented during a dinner held in the Birse Lodge Hotel, Aboyne. The results of the various outings were as follows :ABOYNE OUTING-6 June 1934

Best Scratch Score Dr. M. G. Gibb Handicaps I to II J. L. Riddell .

F. J. Meldrum W. C. Bryce E. Buthlay .

•

.

72

Handicaps I2 and Over R. J. Maitland . 7x-3=68 J. S. G. Munro . 71-3=68 J. Fiddes . . 74- 5= 69 . 72-3=69 BALLATER OUTING-8 August 1954 Handicaps I2 and Over Handicaps I to I I G. F. Bryce (Guest) J. K. Hall (Guest) 69 - 2=67 R. R. Russell .

• 81-10=71 J. G. Kilgour .

R. Jamieson (Guest) • 82-10=72 H. Forbes (Guest) ABOYNE OUTING-12 September 1934 Best Scratch Score • • J. L. Moffatt 71 Handicaps 12 and Over Handicaps I to II H. A. Anderson • . 75— 6=69 F. G. Cassie G. A. Raffan • 8o-10= 70 A. C. Mutch E. H. M. Stott J. K. Hall • 73 - 2 =71 .

L. Dumin E. Buthlay • 75- 3=72 D. G. Patterson • 7-g 6= 72 G. N. Henderson W. G. Thow I. L. Smith .

BALLATER OtrrING-3 October 1954 Handicaps 12 and Over Handicaps x to 11 .

W. Miller . .

• 78 — ro= 68 A. C. Mutch .

R. Ritchie (Guest) W. C. Bryce • 74— 5=69 .

• 76— 7=69 R. J. Bain .

Dr. G. Davidson J. S. MacLachlan .

(Guest) J. Argo (Guest) .

J. L. Riddell • • 73 — 3=70 W. L. Connon • 79- 9=70 J. K. Hall (Guest) . 72— 2=70

. 83-18=0 .8;-18=63 . 83-17=66

• 79 - 14= 63 • 88-22=-66 • 88 - x7=71

•

•

•

•

• •

•

• • • .

• .

•

79- 15= 64 83- 13= 68 84 - 16= 68 - 18= 68 85 — 15= 70 89 — 18= 71 87 — 16= 71

• .

• •

83-16= 67 82-12= 7o 83— 12= 71 90-58= 72 91 - 18= 73

•

The principal prizewinners for the year were as follows :— Walker Cup (3 best net scores)—W. C. Bryce.

Jeffrey, Mug (; best scores over 12 handicap)—E. H. M. Stott.

Russell-Henderson Cup (3 best scratch scores)—F. J. Meldrum.

Gibb-Thom Trop—F. J. Meldrum.

J. L. Riddell Trophy—A. C. Mutch.

On Friday, 19 November the Annual Dinner of the Section was held in the Northern Hotel when members and guests had a very enjoyable evening. The Captain, W. L. Connon, presided and welcomed the company. The principal toast of the evening was given by Mr. Eric Finlayson and the Captain replied.

The guests were welcomed by D. G. Patterson, and their acknowledgement of our hospitality was given by Mr. J. L. Moffatt. J. S. MacLachlan thanked our Captain for the good work he had done for the past two years.

H. G. STEPHEN, Hon. Secretary.

OFFICIAL

SPORTS OUTFITTERS TO COLLEGES SCHOOLS AND YOUTH CLUBS

Simpson s' SPORTS EMPORIUM

Select your Golf Clubs from the following makes stocked FORGAN, GRADIDGE, NICOLL, SPALDING, MORRIS, SAYERS, AUCHTERLONIE *

28 BRIDGE ST. ABERDEEN (Palace Cinema Corner)

Open on Saturdays until 6.30 p.m. * TELEPHONE 21094

Caddy Cars FORDHAM £6 and £6 10s.

STOWAWAY £6 I ls. 2d.

ROBOT £9 9s. 3d.

BAG-BOY £9 10s. 8d. * Expert Tennis and Badminton repairs and restringing 24 HOUR SERVICE

Aberdeen Grammar School F.P. Club Boarding House Co. Ltd.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE 8 QUEEN'S ROAD, ABERDEEN

The House is conveniently situated in the west end of the town, and is equidistant from the School and the Playing Fields.

The House, which can accommodate 52 Boarders, is specially designed and fitted for the purpose, having large common rooms, modern dormitories, bathrooms, changing rooms etc.

The Company have their own Hard Tennis Courts (3) and large Playground adjacent to the House.

Fees, £1S9 per annum.

Housemaster

Mr. JAMES D. MORRISON

Matron

Miss MARGARET T. HEGGIE

For Application Forms and further particulars apply to the Secretary of the Company, Mr. ALEXANDER J. DuFFUS, Advocate, 7 Golden Square, Aberdeen.

Foriini• Pupils' Club

91

F.P. Hockey Section The 1953-54 season has been described justly by an older member of the dub as one of the best ever I During the season the 1st XI suffered only two defeats in the 24 matches played. The team played from 18 October 1953 to the end of the season undefeated and in so doing won the Aberdeen City League Championship. Colours for season 1953-54 were awarded to G. Robertson and S. Banks.

The Section continues to hold a high place in North District hockey and a strong representation of F.P.s has been seen in all the local and inter-district trials.

Nine members of the club played in the local trial and the majority of them went forward to represent the district in trial matches against the Midlands and later against the Highlands, both matches being won by the North. Unfortunately the North and Highlands Select v. the Scottish XI was cancelled due to ground conditions. This representative team included five F.P.s—W. Dick, G. Robertson, S. Banks, D. Nelson and K. Campbell—and in the final selection—K. Campbell, a most promising young player, was unfortunately ill—R. L. Cromar, J. C. Milne and W. Gatt were also called upon.

The club matches show a high standard of play and teamwork, although continual changes in the line-up have had to be made due to the trials.

The znd XI results speak for themselves, the team having recorded wins in all their league matches to date. Mention must be made of the teamwork and fast, accurate play of all the newcomers to the Club. Once more the School XIs have proved to be a first rate nursery for the Club.

Robert P. Wishart resigned this year after many years as Hon. Secretary of the Section. The members wish to record their sincere thanks for his keen interest and help in the running and development of the Club. zst XI Results Sept. 25. v. Ruthrieston at Rubislaw . . .

Won. • • 4-1 Oct. 2. v. Richmond at Rubislaw . . . . .

Won. 7-3 „ 9. v. Centralians at Rubislaw (League) . . o-1 Lost. „ 16. v. Morgan Academy F.P.s at Dundee. . .

Lost.

• 1-4 „ 25. v. Grove Academy F.P.s at Rubislaw . .

7-o Won. V. Richmond at Links (League) . . .

2-1 .

Won. P. Nov. x3. r. Dundee Wanderers at Rubislaw . .

Won. • • 4-1 and XI Results v. Gordonians at &afield . . . v. Gordon's College at Seafield (League) v. Aberdeen at Links(League) . . v. Morgan Academy F.P.s at Dundee .

V. Grove Academy F.P.s " A " XI at Links Nov. 6. v. Richmond at Links (League) . . „ 1;. v. Dundee Wanderers " A ' XI at Links

Sept. 25.

Oct. 2. „ 9. „ 16.

. . . . .

.

0-5 Lost. .

Won. 5-3 ;-z .

Won. .

I-1 Drawn. .

8-o Won. . z-o Won. Won. . .

2-0 T. CRAIG, Captain.

Club Boarding House This session there are 51 boys in the Boarding House. The following have become boarders since December 1953:— William Norman Cameron Anderson, stepson of Robert Duncan, Caixa Postal 1266, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Christopher John Humphrey Ducat, son of John Ledingham Ducat (1916-27), Ste. Madeleine Sugar Co. Ltd., San Fernando, Trinidad, B.W.I. (Re-entered.)

John Montgomery Keay, stepson of Alexander S. Yule, P.O. Box 521, Accra, Gold Coast, West Africa.

Andrew Peter Lane, son of Wing Commander G. A. Lane, Newton Bank, 4 High Road, Castlehead, Paisley.

David Michael Weir Martin, son of G. L. Martin, Whiteside, Lonmay.

Hugh Alastair Ousley Mennie, son of R. A. E. Mennie (1924-36), M.A., oil company manager, Kurfirstenstrasse 69, Zurich, 2.

James Stalker Ross, son of J. S. Ross, tea planter, Budda Beta T.E., Doom Dooma P.O., Assam. (Re-sabred.)

92

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

New Members of the Club 15 May 1954-15 November 1954 LIFE MEMBER McLeod, Charles (1919-41), M.B., Ch.B., t73 Queen's Road, Aberdeen.

0

ORDINARY MEMBERS Beaton, Alastair Dougald (1948-54), 14 Victoria Street, Aberdeen.

Bray, John Terence (1948-54), 1 Middlefield Crescent, Aberdeen.

Bremner, Alan (195o-54), 5 3 Braemar Place, Aberdeen.

Broomfield, William McIntyre (1945-54), 67 King's Gate, Aberdeen.

Buxton, Ian William Derek (1947-54), 18 Momingside Avenue, Aberdeen.

Cassie, George Leslie (1919-20), 13 Forbesfleld Road, Aberdeen.

Chalmers, Robert Lawrence Campbell (1943-47), Lethency, Inveruric.

Craig, James Laurie (1945-53). 40 Albury Road, Aberdeen.

Crichton, David Grant (1950-S4). 15 Braemar Place, Aberdeen.

Cruickshank, Graham (,944-54), a Morningside Road, Aberdeen.

Davidson, Arthur Ian Greenwood (1944-54), 13 Richmondhill Road, Aberdeen.

Downie, Robert James (1949-52), 174 Garthdee Road, Aberdeen.

Duncan, Kenneth Stroud,(1948-54), 1 Tanfield Walk, Aberdeen.

Forbes, Patrick Stewart Finnic (1947-54), Danestone House, Grandholm, Aberdeen.

Gra , William Duncan (1946-50), Cedar Cottage, Tarves, Aberdeenshire.

Robert Galloway (1932-42), it Carden Terrace, Aberdeen.

Harper, John Louis (194o-f4), 112 Seafield Road, Aberdeen.

Henderson, William Corbett (1948-54), 27 Thistle Street, Aberdeen.

Hodge, Charles Scott (1941-54), 9 Kingshill Avenue, Aberdeen.

Hunter, Archibald Stewart (1945-54. 12 Westfield Terrace, Aberdeen.

Jappy, Joseph Slater (19f1-S3), 119 Stewart Crescent, Aberdeen.

Johnston, Norman Gill (1951-54), 137 Glenbervie Road, Aberdeen.

Joss, Douglas George (1947-54), so Urquhart Street, Aberdeen.

Kellar, James Grant (1940-54), 406 Great Western Road, Aberdeen.

Lamb, Leonard McKewney (1942-45). 120 Upper Tulse Hill, London S.W.2.

Leishman, James Matthew (1943-47), z6 Harlaw Road, Aberdeen.

Levie, Laurence Elder (1948-54), 63 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen.

Levitt, Charles Samuel Alexander Wheatley (1940-54), 95 Burns Road, Aberdeen.

Logan, Roy Malcolm (1944-54), 64 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen.

Lothian, John Kermack Milne (1949-54), i 1 College Bounds, Old Aberdeen.

Macdonald, John (19oz-o4), M.A., F.E.I.S., Achandarach, Ancaster Road, Callander.

McIntosh, William James (1949-54), 83 Westbum Road, Aberdeen.

McIntyre, Robert Arthur, Junior (195 1-54), 42 Abbotswell Drive, Aberdeen.

Mackenzie, Colin Campbell Bannerman (1941-f4), S3 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen.

Mackie, Robert Norrie (1941-54), zo Westholme Crescent North, Aberdeen.

MacLeod, Donald Ian Kerr (1952-54), 6 Moray Place, Aberdeen.

MacLeod, Inner Fraser (1947-54), 84 Forbesfield Road, Aberdeen.

MacLeod, Robert Dewar Murray (1945-54), Oakbank Schoolhouse, Midstocket Road, Aberdeen.

Miller, Robert (x9O-54), 137 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen.

Moncur, Robert Gordon (1951-S4), 40 Caimaquhcen Gardens, Aberdeen.

Morgan, David Ivor (1948-54), 368 Great Western Road, Aberdeen.

Morrison, Lewis Duncan (1948-54), 36 Grosvenor Place, Aberdeen.

Murray, William Michael (1 945-54), 6 Momingside Crescent, Aberdeen.

Mutch, John Robert Young (1942-54), 2 Oakhill Crescent, Aberdeen.

Pacitti, John (1947-54), 9 University Road, Aberdeen.

Park, Frederick (1948-54), 25 George Street, Aberdeen.

Philip, Patrick Blake (1944-54), 9 Richmondhill Gardens, Aberdeen.

Phillipson, Nicholas Tindal (1946-54), 38 Belvidere Street, Aberdeen.

Powne, Archie Milne (1942-54), 5 Westholme Crescent South, Aberdeen.

Robertson, Ian Beverley (t944-54), 39 Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen.

Rough, Charles Harper, Junior (1951-54)1 34 Oldcroft Terrace, Aberdeen.

Simpson, Alexander Milne (1948-54), 5 z Moir Crescent, Aberdeen.

v

Former Pupil? Club

s

•

93

Smith, Gordon Ansell Morrison (1946-54), 45 Watson Street, Aberdeen.

Smith, John James Gladstone (1925-35), Major, R.A.O.C., 31 Bernard Avenue, London VV. 3.

Smith, William Pithie Craig (1948-54), 479 George Street, Aberdeen.

Tait, Charles McKenzie (1946-50), Aberdeen Arms Hotel, Tarves, Aberdeenshire.

Taylor, Ian William (1949.5z), 72x} Great Northern Road, Aberdeen.

Taylor, James Mann (1948-54), 8 Beechgrove Gardens, Aberdeen.

Templeton, Richard (1951-54), 54 Gaim Terrace, Aberdeen.

Urquhart, George Andrew Forbes (1941-54), 6i Schoolhill, Aberdeen.

Williamson, David Vincent Stewart (1948-54), 155 Midstocket Road, Aberdeen.

Willox, William Barron (1951-54), Linnhead Farm, Foveran, Aberdeenshire.

Young, Archibald Grahame Bain (1940-47), z6 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen.

Addresses Wanted

•

The Secretary of the Club does nut have up-to-date addresses for the following members. Any reader who knows the present address of any of these members is asked to communicate with the Secretary, zzo Union Street, Aberdeen.

William F. Cook, formerly at Dorsell, Alford.

James D. Garden, formerly at 19 Planefield Road, Inverness.

Charles Gillespie, formerly at 27 St. John's Wood Court, London N.W.8.

James O. Jeffrey, formerly dio Public Works Department, Tabora, Tanganyika.

Alexander T. Stephen, formerly at P.O. Box 604, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.

W. L. Wilson, formerly at Millmoss, Turriff.

Alastair Aitken, formerly at i i Hammcrfield Avenue, Aberdeen.

James H. D. Black, formerly at 62 Painswick Road, Hall Green, Birmingham 28.

Malcolm D. Cumine, formerly at Woodburn, 1 Carron Terrace, Stonehaven.

James Gardiner, formerly at 49 St. Albans Road, Edinburgh 9.

John P. Grant, formerly at Sunnycroft Farm, Ripplingham, Brough, East Yorks.

William R. Hepburn, formerly at St. Albans, Bent Street, Paddington, Sydney.

Alexander Mathewson, formerly at Brae of Monzie, Crieff.

Donald F. Mursell, formerly c/o Hamilton, Wishaw House, Wishaw.

William Reid, formerly at Cornhill Ilouse, Jeanfield, Perth.

William W. Scott, formerly at Hillview, ; Treacher Road, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya.

Colin J. Stewart, formerly at 82 Manchester Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lanes.

Patrick H. Watson, formerly at 83 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen.

Edmund M. Anderson, formerly at 7 Springfield Mount, Leeds 2.

John G. C. Brown, formerly at 8 Merton Rise, Swiss Cottage, London N.W.3.

Eric G. B. Davidson, formerly at 167 Quitman Street, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A. Robert G. Gauld, formerly at 34 Rose Street, Aberdeen.

William C. Glegg, formerly at Inverdee, Penn Road, Penn, Wolverhampton.

Herbert Gore, formerly at 35 Viewfield, Culcabock, Inverness.

Douglas W. Grassick, formerly at Linden, Rosemount, Blairgowric.

James Gray Jnr., formerly at 84 Holbum Street, Aberdeen.

James D. L. Keith, formerly at 27 Brighton Grove, Monkseaton, Northumberland.

William Miller, formerly at Beaufort Hotel, St. Helier, Jersey.

Gerald K. Townshend, formerly at 39 Woodend Place, Aberdeen.

Gordon P. Wallace, formerly at Cynfal, Menai Avenue, Bangor, Camarvonshire.

Norman H. F. Wcldhen, formerly at High Green, The Oval, Harrogate, Yorks.

A. G. G. Williamson, formerly at 15 Forest Road, Aberdeen.

Edward S. Willox, formerly at Walker Mills House, Walkern, nr. Stevenage, Herts.

Club Subscription Rates ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP. TOS. per annum (5s. for those under 21 years of age on 1 January).

LIFE MEMBERSHIP. LI 5.

94

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Club Consuls AFRICA Kenya—GRAEME GEORGE SUTHERLAND (1903-09), P.O. Box 1002, Nairobi, Kenya Colony.

Northern Rhodesia—Joni,' MANSON SLEIGH (1914-16), B.Sc., M.Inst.C.E., c/o John Howard & Company (Africa) Limited, Great North Road, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia.

Southern Rhodesia—JAMES WYNESS MACGREGOR (1910-23), Morven, Nutt Hill, Murambi, Umtali, Southern Rhodesia.

Cape Province (Cape Town)—Professor WILLIAM SOUTAR MACKIE (1895-1901), M.A., B.A., Drumoak, Greenfield Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town.

Cape Province (East London)—JAMES MELVIN (19o4-1o), C.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.B., Ch.B., 44 Queen Street, Cambridge, East London, Cape Province.

Natal—FRANK BRUCE FARQUHARSON DUGUID (1919-26), 8 Lambert Road, Durban.

Transvaal—JOHN EwAN HENDERSON (1884-87), P.O. Box 4466, Johannesburg.

AMERICA Canada Alberta—DOUGLAS HARPER (1888-98), M.A., B.L., 609 Tegler Building, Edmonton, Alberta.

British Columbia—WILLIAM ERNEST MILNE (1881-90), c/o Milne & Middleton, 137 West Pender, Vancouver, B.C. (Private address-1837 19th Avenue West,

Vancouver.)

Ontario—RICHARD WILLIAM GEATER (1938-47), 436 Sheppard Avenue East, Willowdale, Ontario.

Quebec—NORMAN MACKINNON (1907-16), B.Sc.(For.), 4095 Cotc des Neiges Road, Montreal, Quebec.

Falkland Islands ROBERT STEWART SLESSOR (1927-29), M.B., Ch.B., S.M.O., Port Stanley.

Mexico PATRICK JOHN MILROY WALKER (1914-20), C.A., Apartado 38 Bis., Mexico, D.F.

South America Brazil—JAMES IRVINE MELVILLE (1917-21), The Royal Bank of Canada, Rua 15

de Novembro, 240, Sic, Paulo, Brazil.

Colombia—ROBERT WILLIAM YOUNG (1914-21), Embotelladora Tropical, S.A., Calle 9 del y Carrera Eugenio Macias, Barranquilla, Colombia.

United States of America Illinois—JAMES BRUCE SMITH (1918-25), The Bruce Smith Insurance Agency, la South Lasalle Street, Chicago, Illinois.

West Indies British West Indies—KENNETH REID (1901-04), Concordia, Tobago, B.W.I. Dutch West Indies—GEORGE FERGUSON RITCHIE (1917-24), Lago Oil & Transport Company Limited, Marine Department, P.O. Boa 643, Aruba, D.W.I.

AUSTRALIA Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)—CHARLES OGILVIE WILL BOWMAN

(1910-15), Manager, Capital Hill Hostel, Canberra, A.C.T. New South Wales—ALAN REID (1911-14), 3 Iona Avenue, West Pymble, Sydney.

Western Australia—IAN THOM (1912-25), Wydga Station, Mount Magnet, Perth.

Former Pupils' Club

95

EUROPE Channel Islands—WILLIAM MILLER (1894-?).

Russia.—IAIN JOHNSTONE MCBETH SUTHERLAND (1

Embassy, Moscow (c/o Foreign Office, London, 933-41), S.W.I).

M.A., B.A., British

Switzerland (Geneva)—JAMES LAwsoN MOWAT (1915-16), M.A., Ph.D., c/o Bureau International du Travail, Geneva.

Switzerland (Zurich)—ROBERT ALEXANDER ESSLEMONT MENND1 (1924-36), M.A., B.P. Benzin and Petroleum A.G., Handelahof, Uraniastrasse, Zurich.

Yugoslavia—Professor Dr. DRAGOSLAV MILETITCH (1916-18), Medicinski Fakultet,

Skoplje, Yugoslavia.

FAR EAST Hongkong—FRANx CHARLES BRISCOE BLAcx (19i4-17), c/o Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hongkong.

Malaya (Selangor)—FoRsEs KEITH SELLAR (1935-45), B.L., c/o Messrs. Shearn,

Delamore & Company, advocates and solicitors, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya.

INDIA and CEYLON

India (Madras)—IAN CUMMING (1907-14), O.B.E., c/o Vernon & Co. Ltd., 36 Second Line Beach, Post Box 79, Madras.

India (West Bengal)—ROBERT Horror,' DUGUID (1918-23), C.A., c/o Duncan

Brothers & Co. Ltd., 31 Netaji Subhas Road, Calcutta.

Ceylon—CHARLES JAMES STRACHAN (1917-11), Anglo-Ceylon General Estates Company, P.O. Box 13, Colombo, Ceylon.

IRAQ ALEXANDER YOUNG (1925-36), Iraq Petroleum Company, Kirkuk, Iraq.

NEW ZEALAND ANDREW ALEXANDER MARE DUCAT (1924-28 and 1929-34), P.O.

Wellington, New Zealand.

Box 2255,

Club Office-Bearers, 1954-55 Honorary President : JAMES J. ROBERTSON, O.B.E., M.A., B.D., F.R.S.E., F.E.I.S.

(Rector since 5942) Honorary Vice-Presidents : The Right Hon. Lord AI.NESS (1884-85), P.C., G.B.E., LL.D. Sir ANDREW GOURLAY CLOW (1896-98), K.C.S.I., C.I.E. Sir PATRICK ASHLEY COOPER (1896-190I), B.A., LL.B. CHARLES DAVIDSON (188z-86), M.A. JAMES CATTO DUFPUS (1897-1904), O.B.E., M.C., M.A., LL.B. Colonel ARCHER IRVINE-FORTESCUE (1892-97), D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B. Sir ROBERT LYALL GRANT (1884-91), T.D., M.A., LL.B. Sir WILSON JAMESON (1892-19oz), ,K.C.B., M.D., LL.D., Sc.D., F.R.C.P. JAMES GRAY KYD (1891-98), C.B.E., F.F.A., F.R.S.E. JOHN ADAM LILLIE (1893-1903), Q.C., M.A., LL.B. Sir ARTHUR LOTHIAN (1892-94 and 1898-1904), K.C.I.E., C.S.I., LL.D. The Hon. Lord MACKAY (ALEXANDER MORRICE MACKAY) (1882-91), Q.C., M.A., LL.D. The Right Hon. Lord MESTON (1901-02).

DOUGLAS GORDON MILLER, M.A. (Rector, i92t-24.)

Sit WILLIAM PETERS (19oo-o6), C.M.G., M.A. WILLIAM DOUGLAS SIMPSON (190I -13), O.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A.(Scot.), F.S.A. ALEXANDER GEORGE NICOL SMITH (1880-88), D.S.O. WILLIAM CLARK SOUTER (1893-98), M.D., D.O. Sit WILLIAM ROBERT TENNANT (1904- I0), C.I.E., M.A., LL.D. Sir JOHN MACKAY THOMSON, C.B., M.A., F.R.S.E. (Rector, 1920-21.)

EDWARD WrtuAm WArr (188 3-94), T.D., M.A., LL.D., D.L.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

96

President :

F.R.S.E. SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON (1899-1908), C.B., O.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive : MAURICE CRAMB (1916-29), M.A., LL.B. Secretary and Treasurer : JOHN SCOTT MACLACHLAN (1922-32), M.A., LLB., 220 Union Street, Aberdeen.

Editor of Magazine : WATT (1925-;7), M.A., LL.B., ROBERTSON ALAN CROMBIE 12 Bon-Accord Crescent, Aberdeen.

Secretaries of Centres : Bengal and Assam—R. H. DUGUID (1918-23), C.A., c/o Duncan Brothers & Co.

Ltd., 31 Netaji Subhas Road, Calcutta.

Edinburgh—A. C. FRAZER (I 925 -3o), M.A., W. S., 1 0 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh 3.

Glasgow—J. G. M. BIRSS (1926-38), M.C., M.A., A.C.W.A-, 99 Essex Drive,

Scotstoun, Glasgow W.4.

London—A. H. K. SLATER (1922-35), M.A., 2 Newton Grove, London W.4.

Malaya—F. K. SELLAR (1933-45). B.L., c/o Messrs Shearn, Delamore & Co.,

Kuala Lumpur.

Yorkshire—W. F. DuNNErr (1919-22), B.A., C.A., Grey Gables, Old Park Road, Leeds 8.

Secretaries of Sections : Boarding House—I. M. Ducum (1938-43), M.B., Ch.B., Whitehouse, Newburgh.

Cricket—A. M. DAVIDSON (1937'40, B.L., 18 Golden Square, Aberdeen.

Golf—II. G. STEPHEN (1920-30), 252 Union Street, Aberdeen.

Hockey—WALTER DICK (1944-48), I Bon-Accord Square, Aberdeen.

Rugby—N. I. W. MELDRUM (1925-37), M.A., LL.B., 15 Golden Square, Aberdeen.

Tennis—B. D. M. GzAssicx (1938-52), 395 Great Western Road, Aberdeen.

Executive Committee :

The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman.

JOSEPH R. CARRY (1918-30), M.B.E., Vice-Chairman.

The Secretary and Treasurer, and Editor of Magazine, ex officio.

The Rector of the School, ex officio.

GEORGE E. C. BARTON (1925-26), M.A. ERIC BUTHLAT (1928-40), B.L. ROBERT L. CROMAR (1944'40 ERIC H. CRUICKSHANK (1940-49), B.Sc. DOUGLAS G. DEMPSTER (1924-33), B.Sc.,

B.Sc.(Ag ri.).

ALFRED J. M. EDWARDS (1908-2I),

M.A., B.Com.

IAN G. MCPHERSON (1910-17).

JAMES S. G. MUNRO (1922-28), B.L. DOUGLAS G. PATTERSON (1929-36), B.L. W. WALLACE PORTER (1915-23).

JAMES REID (1924-34).

J. LENNOX RIDDELL (1907-16).

HENRY G. STEPHEN (1920-30).

HAROLD M. R. WATT (1926-38), M.A.

One representative from each of the Sections.

Hon. Auditors : Messrs. BOWER and SMITH, C.A.

FLY IN THE FLEET AIR ARM

YOU CAN BE A NAVAL OFFICER

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You can make these years the most memorable of your life. If you stay on a fine career opens out before you. Or if you decide to leave the service you receive a gratuity of £450-£1,500 (depending on length of service). And you know that your wide experience has given you a really good start in life.

There are three methods of entry: on 8 or 4 year Short Service commissions, or on a National Service commission. To qualify you should be between 17 and 26 years of age and physically fit. The educational standards required are those of School Certificate, G.C.E., S.L.C. or equivalent.

Full details of these commissions are given in a 24-page illustrated booklet describing the life, pay, etc., of pilots and observers in the Fleet Air Arm. Write to-day for a copy to: Admiralty, N.C.W. Branch (FO/54), Queen Anne's Mansions, London, S.W.1.

NEW DARTMOUTH ENTRY 1 here is now a new scheme of entry and training for permanent commissions (as Executive, Engineering and Supply and Secretariat Officers).

Cadets enter the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, between the ages of 17 years 8 months and 19 years. Part of the two years' training is spent at sea.

Entry is by written examination, held in October, February and May, followed by interview and medical examination. The closing date for applications is normally 3 months before date of written examination, which candidates must take between the ages of 17 years 2 months and 18 years 6 months.

Candidates with certain educational qualifications may be exempted from the written examination. Details from the Secretary of the Adm i rally, N.C.W. Branch (Cadets 54), Queen Anne's Mansions, London, S.W.I.

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Bound for The Northern— bound for success Whatever the occasion—Wedding, Dinner, DinnerDance, Party or other social event—such is the reputation we enjoy that it has come to be accepted when bound for " The Northern" you are bound for a successful function.

Saturday EVENING DRESS DINNER DANCE 13/-

P4 4=

The

NORTHERN HOTEL KITTYBREWSTER Telephone 43342

ABERDEEN

Manager R. C. Milburn M.H.C.I.

JAMES BLAKE LTD. Enquiries courteously solicited

Joiners and Building Contractors

7 ALBYN TERRACE Works: 23, 25, 29 Summer Street

ALL CLASSES OF BUILDING WORK

Telephone 24382 Telegrams " Blake Builders "

Established over 100 years

WILLIAM CAY AND SONS (Funeral Directors) Limited Private Chapel and Rest Room

Cremations Arranged

Efficient Service Day and Night

209 GEORGE STREET 415 UNION STREET ABERDEEN ABERDEEN Tel. 20054 GT. NORTHERN ROAD 610-12 29302 Tel. Tel. 44532

IMPROVED SUPPLIES are available of Typewriters, Desks (wood or steel), Chairs, Filing Cabinets, Cupboards

Come and see me

Everything for the Office

C. H. WEBSTER 489 Union Street, Aberdeen Wyllie, Circulating Library

Agents for Ordnance Survey Maps

WYLLIES (BOOKSELLERS LTD.)

247 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN Established 1814

Telephone 25534

ESTABLISH THE HABIT OF READING GOOD BOOKS

BOYS `""BE - BOYS! ... and clothes won't stay clean for ever. moms But they will last longer and stay bright and fresh if you send them periodically to

THE

Gordon Cleaning Co., Ltd. CLEANERS & DYERS

Huntly ABERDEEN BRANCHES

434 Union Street ABERDEEN

505 George Street ABERDEEN

SOCKS Byford "98" in 12 shades

7/6

Wolsey Grip Tops

7/9

Tootal in 8 shades

9/I

Nylon and Terylene Fancy Terylene

from 8/6 12/6

Fancy Socks in Pure Wool, Nylon spliced

from 7/6

ESSLEMONT & MACINTOSH LTD.

(RETAILERS) TAILORS AND OUTFITTERS

UNION STREET

ABERDEEN

CALEDONIAN Insurance Company FOUNDED 1805 Incorporated by Special Act of Parliament

A World Wide Organisation Transacting All Classes Of Insurance General Manager : William Graham Robertson HEAD OFFICE: St Andrew Square, Edinburgh ABERDEEN OFFICE : 5 Union Terrace, Aberdeen Branch Manager: Mark W. Connell

,

\\COrei-

02A CO)!

r

S‘We

SCOTCH SHORTBREAD

I radii Iona I favourite For the family tea table or as a gift to

friends

at

home

Collie's "Silver City " Shortbread ...

rich Scotch

made with the finest including

ingredients We pack and

overseas

and

BUTTER ...

is a first and

post to any

firm favourite

part of the

In boxes 4/6 and 8/6

World

alumGeo& 4.ftd FAMILY GROCERS AND 269-271 ALSO

UNION AT

ST.

CULTS

),Fl i r

PROVISION MERCHANTS' ABERDEEN

Tel. 27244

&

BRAEMAR

BALLATER

By Appointment Grocers Iota the H.M. to King George VI.

DUPLICATING

STRACHAN

TYPEWRITING

Commercial and

For all your needs

Portraiture

PHONE

Aberdeen 20509

Photography

A complete service for all Professional, Corn mercial and Industrial Businesses

Miss COWIE'S COPYING OFFICE

i3oi UNION STREET ABERDEEN

393 Union Street

Telephone 20851

ABERDEEN

MILNE'S llf PLACE

TELEPHONE • 1

ABERDEEN 23950

TELEGRAMS

'GALLOWSES' ABERDEEN

Men's Outfitter

W. J. MILNE, LTD ABERDEEN

BUNCHES THROUGHOUT

v/~Q

CITY

OF DEPENDABLE QUALITY

B A KERS OF QUALITY • ABERDEEN----------

BOOKBINDING OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS

WILLIAM JACKSON (ABERDEEN) LIMITED Offices:

6-10 UPPER KIRKGATE Factory :

FARMER'S HALL LANE Telephone 22591

Established 1855

SHIRT HOSPITAL • REJUVENATION CHARGES REFRONT

-

-

..

-

-

5/-

NECKBAND

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

..

-

-

-

-

DOUBLE CUFFS INTO SINGLE CUFFS

-

-

3/3 3/3 3/3

CUFFS REVERSED

COLLAR REVERSED ON COLLAR ATTACHED SHIRTS ONLY PATCHES -

-

_

_

.

-

-

-

3/3 If- EACH

NOTICE WE

CANNOT

OPERATIONS

ACCEPT OTHER

SHIRT "PATIENTS" FOR

THAN

THOSE

MENTIONED

ABOVE

FALCONER'S UNION STREET Phone 25345

ABERDEEN

THE

CALEDONIAN HOTEL UNION TERRACE

ABERDEEN where Service, Food and Satisfaction are guaranteed, whether it be at a Social Function, Private Party, Wedding Reception, or just a Luncheon or Dinner for yourself

* Call or write for our Wedding Reception Brochure, which gives all details of Procedure, Prices, Wines, Menus, etc.

R. C. TUCKER, Manager Telephone 29233

BUSINESS PRINTING

The Greyfriars Press 6-10 UPPER KIRKGATE, ABERDEEN Telephone 29124

CORPORATION

OF

ABERDEEN -

ABERDEEN

EDUCATION

GRAMMAR

COMMITTEE

SCHOOL

(FOUNDED BEFORE 120)

RECTOR .

JAMES J. ROBERTSON, O.B.E., M.A., B.D.5 A.R.S.E., ).P.

HE GRAMMAR SCHOOL provides a complete course of Pri mary Tand Secondary Education for Boys.

The School is organised as follows :—Kindergarten (5-7), Lower School (7-12), "% fiddle School (12-15), Upper School (t5-18).

The School, which occupies an extensive site in the West End of the City, has, in addition to ample classroom accommodation, an Assembly Hall with Stage, a spacious Library and Reading Room, five well-equipped Laboratories, three Art Rooms, two Music Rooms, four Workshops, two Gymnasia, a Dining Hall, a Museum, and a Botanical Garden.

While the School has a Classical tradition, it offers considerable variety of courses, the subjects of the Secondary Department being (in addition to Religious Education, Music, Physical Exercises and Games), English, History, Geography, Latin, Greek. French, German, Spanish, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Art and Crafts, Technical Subjects, and Commercial Subjects.

Boys are prepared for the Universities, the Civil Service, the Professions, Commerce and Industry. The Examinations normally taken are the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department and the Bursaries Competitions of the Scottish Universities.

The School has spacious Playing Fields at Rubislaw, the games played being Rugby Football, Cricket, Hockey, and Tennis.

There is a Boarding House tun in conjunction with the Grammar School.

ABERDEEN

HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (ALBYN PLACE)

HEAD MISTRESS

.

MISS M. MCNAB, M.A. (EDIN.)

T

HE HIGH SCHOOL provides a complete course of education for girls between the ages of 5 and /8 years. It is organised in three Departments—Infants, Primary and Secondary. The girls in the Secondary Department are prepared for the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department and the Bursary Competition and the Preliminary Examination of the University: and those pupils who take Music, for the Examinations of the Associated Board. The subjects studied comprise Scripture, Physical EducAti, ,n, Class Singing, English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Latin, Greek, German, French, Music, Art and Craft, Needlework, Cookery and Laundry. There is considerable variety possible in the choice of subjects and courses.

At least one afternoon a week and Saturday mornings are set aside for organised games at the School Playing Field of eleven acres situated at Hazlehead.

Accommodation in a Boarding I-Iouse run for the pupils of the School can be arranged.

Information as to Scholarships, Courses of Study, etc., at the Grammar School and the High School for Girls is given in the School Prospectuses, which may be had free on application to the Director of Education, Education Offices, Municipal Buildings, Castle Street, or to the Rector or Head Mistress respectively.

4 piVIIrC \* c,°"($\tit 411PA

SAVINGS SIGNS

-1'

The habit of regular saving started while at school leads to independence, happiness, and good citizenship

v,USTI:-Z• THE ABERDEEN SAVINGS BANK 19 UNION TERRACE ABERDEEN 51 Branches throughout the North of Scotland

RUGGER

AND

FOOTBALL

BOOTS

correct fitting by X-RAY pedoscope

JOHN A. DUNN LTD. FAMILY BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS

46 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN also at PETERHEAD, ELGIN, FORFAR, TURRIFF Phone 20158 PRINTED AT TUE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRE,