AGS Magazine December 1971

THE

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 88th year No. 209 (New Series 781b year No. 200)

Vol. LXXV

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DECEMBER 1971

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No. 1

The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club twice during the year, in December and June General Editor

Alistair G. Gracie, 8a Arnhall Drive, Westhills, Skene, Aberdeenshire.

Editors of the School Section

Alexander Tait, M.A., John A. Morrison, M.A.

Editor of Notes, Obituaries and Marriages

J. B. Rennie, zzo Union Street, Aberdeen.

Advertisements

J. A. G. Mearns, Mearns Publicity, 7 Carden Place, Aberdeen.

Secretary of the F.P. Club

Brian K. Crookshanks, T.D., M.A., LL.B. 25 Crown Street, Aberdeen.

The General Editor invites contributions from F.P.s for the next issue of the

Magazine and requests that all copy, both for him and for the Notes Editor, be submitted by 15 May, 1972. Readers are asked to support the advertisers, without whose support publication of the Magazine would not be possible.

Printed for The Former Pupils' Club at The University Press Aberdeen

CONTENTS General Section— Rector's Message .

Editorial Change .

Trip to Holland. .

Impressions of France A Thrilling Adventure "A Dead Horse" .

School Section— Office-Bearers .

Random Notes .

House Notes .

Staff Notes .

Sporting Activities Society Notes .

Music Notes .

C.C.F. Notes .

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F.P. Section— Office-Bearers . .

Section Reports .

Notes About Old Boys Club Centre . .

The Annual Dinner .

Centre Report . .

Marriages . . .

Obituary . . .

Club Consuls . .

Missing Members .

New Members . .

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.4n asterisk * appearing after the name of an F.P. indicates that be is a member of the F.P. Club. The years appearing after the name of an F.P. are those of his attendance at School.

Rector's Message As usual, I find myself compiling this report at a time when the School has settled down for the new session but has as yet passed none of the regular milestones that mark our passage through the academic year.

Term Examinations are due to start next week, the Christmas Carol Service is over a month away and other traditional landmarks like the Swimming Gala,the School Play and concerts are still lost in the mists of 1972. The major achievements of last session have already been reported in the June issue of the Magaine and call for no special mention at this stage.

To a large extent, therefore, I must concern myself in this report with a broader picture of the School as it finds itself in the new session, with impressions of the way things are going, with estimates of future developments and trends.

Before I do so, however, there is one landmark, already passed, which calls for special mention. This year School resumed a few days earlier in August than it usually does and the days thus saved were added to the traditional mid-term holiday to give us a break of a full week at the end of October. It has long been felt that the Autumn Term, beginning as it does well before the end of August, constitutes a depressingly long haul till Christmas and that pupils would be less jaded if a longer break could be introduced half-way through the term. Most of the areas surrounding Aberdeen have a week's break at this time—the traditional "Tattie" Holidays—and have found it beneficial. The general impressions of our own staff on the success of the innovation have been favourable on the whole and the break has been felt to have provided a shot in the arm to restore the jaded spirits of staff and pupils alike.

While some difficulties may be experienced next year in view of the official raising of the school leaving age with the operative date now fixed as 1 September, it seems probable that the October week will become a regular feature of the School year in future.

This year is, of course, the second in the transition to comprehensive education and we now have mixed ability classes in both the First and Second Years. With our experience of last session behind us we have found little difficulty in coping with the new intake and we do not anticipate any serious problems in the months ahead.

Problems are, of course, bound to arise as the comprehensive element moves up the School. The present Second Year, I am glad to say, has not required any major shake-up or redistribution. In one or two of the more academic subjects—notably French and Mathematics— some "setting" has been introduced to enable pupils who are finding difficulty with these subjects to proceed at a slower pace but on the whole classes have been left more or less as they were last year.

Greater changes on the other hand will certainly be called for next session when the Third Year becomes a "comprehensive" year. It is at this stage that some stream-lining of the course takes place for those pupils who are aiming at the S.C.E. Examination and it must be assumed that there will be some pupils who are not likely to achieve this standard or, if they do, that it will be on a very limited front. The 3

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 4 extent of the problem has still to be determined and this can only be done as the year proceeds. Clearly, however, we shall be giving a good deal of thought to the question of provision for the Third Year in the next few months.

The rest of the School, from the Third Year upwards, is still Senior Secondary in composition and is following the traditional pattern of studies. Numbers are still large—indeed the largest year in the School is the Third, with z 5 o boys in it—and we expect to have somewhere in the neighbourhood of 5 5o boys sitting the S.C.E. Examination next May. About a hundred arc applying for University entrance this session despite the stiffer entrance qualifications now required for admission to most Faculties.

Talking of numbers reminds me of a further development which seems likely to affect our position next session. The transition to comprehensive education in the School has been greatly eased by the comparatively small numbers we have had to cope with in our present First and Second Years. This has enabled us to have fairly small classes and so to give more attention and time to the needs of individual pupils. Only the other day, however, the Committee decided that as part of their provision for comprehensive education in the city Ruthrieston School will next year become an annexe of Harlaw Academy (The High School for Girls). As a result of this decision all boys due to enter Ruthrieston next August will come to us instead and preliminary calculations suggest that this will give us a First Year intake of some 300 pupils. These will be drawn from our present "feeder" Primaries, Ashley Road, Mile End, Skene Street and Skene Square, and from three new ones, Broomhill, Inchgarrh and Ferryhill.

Concurrently with this we shall be taking over Rosemount School as an annexe. While we shall be admitting some pupils from the present Third and Fourth Years at Rosemount, the main significance of the change will be that we shall be able to use accommodation at Rosemount to eke out our own resources. It is not possible to say at this stage to what extent we shall in fact use the Rosemount building but it is very likely that we shall have to make use of a number of practical rooms for such subjects as Technical, Art and Science.

Mention has been made earlier of the Raising of the School Leaving Age next year. It is not anticipated that this will have any appreciable effect on the School at the outset. The number of pupils taking advantage of the statutory leaving age regulations in the past has been very small and, as the present Third Year is still a selective Senior Secondary group, we do not anticipate many leaving from it at the end of this session. The impact is likely to be greater in future years, when the present "comprehensive" clement reaches that stage of their education.

There is little more of general interest to report. The day-to-day life of the School proceeds normally and the usual extra-curricular activities are well under way for the session. It may be of interest to note that there promises to be considerable activity in the way of foreign travel this year for the boys of the School. Some forty spent the October week in Paris brushing up their French. A similar number hope to

Editorial Change

5 go on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean in the month of March and we have already two trips planned for the summer—one a School choir and orchestra excursion to Regensburg on the lines of similar ventures in the past and the other a trip to Switzerland. One sympathises with parents who complain that they were born a generation too soon!

On the home front I should like to offer my congratulations to the Prefects who organised, the staff who helped to supervise and the boys who took part in a "sponsored" swim in the School pond last weekend. The purpose of the exercise was to raise money for the Sports Fund and the Library—and also, let it be whispered, to help defray costs of the Senior School Dance at Christmas. It is beginning to look as though sponsors have seriously underestimated the boys' swimming ability—an impression no doubt deliberately fostered by the youngsters themselves—for the amount raised by the swim, assuming everyone pays up, is likely to be over £400. About it o boys took part and the total number of lengths swum amounted to 4,25 ol Before I close, may I once again avail myself of this opportunity of extending to all readers of the Magazine my warmest good wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Editorial Change The departure of Mr. Bruce-Finlayson—editor of the School Section of the Magazine for the past few editions—is a major loss to the School's English Department. He has long been a familiar friendly figure. Twelve years—his period of service at the School—is a sizeable portion of time, and in these latter days of permanent flux must stand as evident proof of loyalty and affection for the School—an affection which the School has learned to reciprocate.

Mr. Finlayson joined the staff after a teaching spell in Rosemount Seconcluy School. He has been aware, not unsympathetically, of the social forces that are making some radical changes in education, and so it is reasonable and fitting that he should now be going to take up one of the key posts in one of the new schools. He goes to be Principal Teacher of English in Kincorth Academy and will be well qualified by knowledge and experience for the job. He has long been senior assistant in the English Departmen here, and last year he was promoted to a Principal Assistantship.

In addition to being a successful teacher from the first to the sixyear he has helped with the productions of the Dramatic Society, and continued the good work of his predecessor Mr. Tough in guiding the Bridge Club. Most to be remembered perhaps, he edited the School Section of the Magazine at a most difficult time. In all these activities Mr. Finlayson has been tolerant, advising rather than compelling, and gaining in the process the respect and affection of his classes. Staff and pupils will long remember with pleasure his relaxed manner and wish him well in his new work on the other side of the Dee.

Continental Trip to Holland . . . Summer 1971 "Hullo, everybody! My name's Pierre, and in my bus there will be no eating, please!" To emphasise this point he indicated a sign above his head which said "No Eating Allowed". Our first thought, when we arrived at Ostend and heard this welcome, was to wonder what kind of trip lay ahead if this was to be the pattern, but in this we couldn't have been more mistaken. Pierre turned out to be the making of the whole journey, acting as driver, courier, timekeeper, joke-teller par excellence, and general companion to the party.

When we left Aberdeen, on the evening of Tuesday, 29 June, it was raining, and optimistically we also said farewell to the rain for the next ten days. Here we were absolutely right, and it was sunshine and warmth all the time we were away. The Aberdeen to London overnight train journey passed uneventfully; even the high spirits usually evident at the start of a holiday being dampened quite soon by the long hours of travel.

After breakfasting in London we had a couple of hours touring some of the major areas of the city by coach before joining the train at Victoria Station for Dover and, ultimately, Ostend, where we arrived in the late afternoon. There we were met by Pierre who drove us the few miles to our hotel in Blankenberghe for the night.

About Blankenberghe itself very little can be said, apart from describing it as a mini-Continental-Blackpool. Essentially a seaside resort, the holiday season had not yet got into full swing when we arrived, but a week later, on our return from Holland, the picture had changed completely. The lack of crowds, on arrival, gave us a chance to savour some of the pleasures of the town, such as the specially constructed pedal cars and so on which were hired by the hour and which could be seen being pedalled furiously all over town by anything up to a dozen people (on the one machine!).

An interesting feature of the Belgian coast is the tram service which runs from the southern border North to Holland. A cheap and relatively fast method of seeing the coastline.

The following day, Thursday, we left Belgium en route for Valkenburg in southern Holland, our base for the next five days. Our route lay through Brussels where we had time to see the famous Mannikin Pis—apparently a must for all travellers to this city—as well as some of the other sights of interest. On arrival in Valkenburg it didn't take long to get settled into our rooms, get the evening meal past, and away out on various trips of exploration of the town. Evenings were free time, and everybody made the most of them in their own various ways.

Valkenburg was a most impressive and pleasant town, set in a valley (it must be one of the few areas of high ground in Holland) and very sheltered. Although a holiday centre, like Blankenberghe, it was spotlessly clean and fresh at all times (unlike Blankenberghe I). All in all a very well-chosen centre from which to visit the surrounding country, and to which one could return every evening. The hotel we stayed in was also very comfortable, with meals which satisfied even the most voracious of appetites (and there were a few of those in the party!).

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Continental Trip 7 as a of limestone, and The town of Valkenburg is built in an area result of some centuries of mining the limestone vast galleries and caves exist around and under the area. On Friday we were able to visit the largest of these mines, now disused apart from its tourist attraction, and see the numerous charcoal drawings and sculptures of the walls, many of which were done during the wars when people used the caves as shelters.

Saturday, and off to Germany for the day. Visiting Cologne on the way, the cathedral proved an awe-inspiring sight with its soaring twin spires which only a handful of brave spirits climbed (and later regretted). On to the Rhine where we transferred to a small boat for an hour's trip up river, rejoining the coach at Remagen to continue into the Ahr Valley, a notable vine-growing area. A visit to a wine cellar was on the itinerary, and while we waited at the entrance the constant stream of befuddled visitors pouring out of the nearby exit proved highly entertaining (even though perhaps it should not have been so).

General opinion was that the one glass of wine allowed per ticket must be remarkable strong to produce such an effect, but we were quickly enlightened when we saw, attached to the cellar, a large hall packed with people and numerous bars. Holidaying can be a serious business sometimes!

On then, "home" to Valkenburg once again, after a pleasant, though tiring, day in Germany.

Also staying in Valkenburg was a party from Falkirk, and a football match was arranged against them (the boys in their party, that is) for the Sunday evening. Unfortunately this didn't come off owing to a last-minute hitch, but instead an "internal" game was played, much to the entertainment of local spectators. This attempted contact with the Falkirk party may have failed, but others appear to have been more successful.

Perhaps the most interesting tour of the whole trip was the one, on Monday, to Eindhoven where Philips, the electrical firm, have built their permanent exhibition, Evoluon. Resembling a huge flying saucer from the outside, the interior is packed with electronic gadgetry and displays depicting aspects of human evolution and behaviour. No simple description, however, fits all the interests on show here, and the two hours we spent in the exhibition were two hours of amazed pleasure. Anyone intending to visit this area of Holland in the future should put a visit to Evoluon high on his list of priorities.

Also visited on Monday was the Netherlands National War and Resistance Museum at Overloon. Set in a wooded area, the scene of bitter fighting in October 1944, are numerous tanks, guns and other vehicles of war, while in a nearby building are displayed light armaments, documents following the course of events of the War in the Netherlands, and the Chapelle Ardente (Hall of Remembrance).

Altogether a most sobering and thought-provoking experience.

The following day the party left Valkenburg after lunch on the return journey, passing through Antwerp via a magnificent four-lane highway and the new by-pass tunnel under the River Schelde, and stopping in Ghent for refreshments and (very public, Continental-

8

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

style) toilets. It was here that Pierre told us about the tram services to Moscow and Arsenal from Ghent! He was right ! A tram passed us with "Moscow" on its destination board, but this Moscow was one of the Ghent suburbs as we discovered later. Here, too, we found Pierre nursing a sore foot, hurt that morning when he was unceremoniously pitched into the swimming bath at Valkenburg, and which we later found out involved a number of broken bones. Quite a souvenir with which to remember us.

The next day was spent in Blankenberghe, by this time literally swarming with holidaymakers. At this stage in the journey, however, most members of the party were weakening and, having started on the return journey, were thinking kindly of Aberdeen and looking forward to their arrival home. An early start on Thursday took us to Ostend once more, on to the "Prinses Paola" for the very smooth Channel crossing to Dover, then on to London and, on Friday morning, Aberdeen.

Altogether the trip was most successful and gave many people the opportunity to see places and countries heard of but never visited.

One major word of praise, however, is due to the boys who made up the party, and in this it would be easiest to quote Pierre once again: "In eight years of driving school parties, I can honestly say that this group is amongst the best-behaved and most pleasant that I have seen.

It has been very pleasant for me also."

Final thanks arc due to Mr. Ian Spence who led the party very ably and with the proverbial wisdom of Solomon!

Impressions of France 1971 A few days before leaving School in the early forties, my sixth form colleagues and I were addressed seriously by our French teacher, whom most of us had had all through the Middle and Upper Schools.

Mr. Gonella was a genial and lively man whom I am sure will always be remembered with pleasure by the boys he taught.

He put it to us that we should not forget our French, whatever we did or whatever happened to us after leaving School, because, like English, it is one of the great historic languages of Europe, the key to literary treasures and experiences in real life which would without its knowledge be denied to us. We murmured assent or disapproval of these thoughts according to our feelings, and I will always remember Mr. Gonella's mild scepticism when I myself volunteered enthusiastic agreement with his idea of, from time to time, brushing up my French. No doubt he well knew how on leaving school the excitement of young lives in the forces or the University or whatever would quickly sweep all thoughts of school books and lessons out of our minds.

Impressions of France 9 I have later, I find more years worried.

Thirty have not He need interest in the French language than I ever had at school. The movement towards European unity, the growing case of travel, ever closer business ties and so on, have meant that our immediate neighbour on the continent and her people are becoming more and more familiar to us, and we have discovered that the rewards to be gained from knowing the other fellow's language repay handsomely the effort involved.

This summer, with my family, I visited areas of France not previously seen, and after reading the almost incessant press outpourings about social conditions in Common Market countries thought it a good idea to form an impression independently of these.

After landing at Dieppe it is always an adventure to drive up the hill to the signposts to Paris and Rouen, and then on into the broad and spacious countryside with the straight tree-lined roads, the market towns with the old walls and barns so beloved by the French.

The black bereted farm folk these days have plenty of money in their pockets and for a country with an "inefficient agriculture" everybody eats surprisingly well.

We spent the night with friends in the north of Paris. This is another adventure I can recommend. Make French friends who will invite you into their homes, not just business acquaintances, but real friends.

But then of course to do this, you must speak their language, especially on their home ground. One observation I made of French life from inside the home, is that temperamentally the people of the northern part of France are much more akin to the people of the south of England than they are to the Scots. This is in spite of the historic friendship of the French and the Scots against the common enemy, but it is not surprising in view of the geographical proximity of the areas.

The secret of creating a good relationship with a Frenchman is firstly, not to be standoffish, which he will half expect you to be, secondly, to attempt to speak his language, and thirdly, to be as friendly in your manner as you would be with one of your own countrymen. In return he will give you the fullest cooperation and support, and also the warmest hospitality in an appropriate situation.

It is also important to remember that the French are a highly civilised and mature people, more so than the Americans, for example, and it may well be that there are things we can learn from them.

At Royan on the west coast, about 32o miles from Paris, when most of our holiday was spent, the main impression was of fine beaches, pine forests and scores, if not hundreds of delightfully designed villas of varying dimensions and colours. The town is completely new, having been destroyed at the end of the war, and is rather attractive now as a result of the imagination and flair shown in the domestic architecture. The approach roads, the routes nationales, could perhaps be widened now that traffic is growing, but of course to do this everywhere would be a mammoth task in a country the size of France. By car we visited Cognac, Limoges, Perigneux, les Eyzies, the Dordogne valley, and the over-riding impression was of the

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine sheer vastness and richness of the agricultural country available to the French. In an age when alarm is growing over the population explosion, in France there is still room to breathe. If necessary, one feels, the French could feed the whole of Europe, using the land they have.

Sombre wartime memories were reawakened when, near Limoges, we chanced upon the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glane, left exactly as it was after the Germans, on to June 1944, murdered in cold blood every man, woman and child in it and then burned the place down. On the wall by the entrance there is the dramatic notice, which I am sure never fails to chill the blood of the visitor—"Silencel Souviens-toil" When walking down the shattered main street, with its tragic burnt-out ruins, one pondets on the reality of evil and asks the question whether it will ever be exorcised completely from the minds and souls of men.

Towards the end of the fortnight a former au pair girl, Nicole, paid us a surprise visit in our camp site. Nicole, one feels, is always just round the corner when one visits France. She is gay, sanguine, but civilised and well-mannered—perhaps a personification and worthy symbol of her country as she faces the future.

After a hectic run on the now familiar route nationale back to Paris and a comfortable night spent in the home of Nicole's parents, we proceeded to Dieppe and thence to Newhaven. Mingled with my holiday memories of that great sunlit land south of Tours and Poitiers, were the parting words of Nicole, which seem to me to make good sense. "You can't go on living by yourselves in your island for ever.

Try coming out of your shell—come and visit and work with us!"

JOHN G. C. BROWN 10

A Thrilling Adventure in Swaziland An Incident In The Late Rebellion The General Editor is still anxious to receive contributions of any kind from F.P.s. Perhaps they could take a leaf from the book of "F.P." whose article —reproduced below—appeared in the School Magazine of November 1906.

Times certainb, do change. . . .

Just a line or two to say that, in spite of rumours, we're all well here, and, to all appearances quite safe. We had a bit of a shock a fortnight ago, as our magistrate was murdered while out collecting hut-tax. It seems however to have been purely a private revenge, though we really know nothing for certain. It was not for the purpose of robbery, as not a thing in the camp was touched. I am inclined to think that the loyal (?) chief, Dinizulu, was at the bottom of it.

The man I intend coming home with next year was wounded at the same time as Mr. S was killed. He was only slightly hurt, and hopes to be back to work in a month's time. They gave me quite a fright when the party came past here. It was just about nine o'clock at night, and I was walking around to see that everything was alright before going to bed, when I heard a wagon coming along the road at a gallop, and almost at the same time a native policeman came running up and told me to hurry up and catch the wagon, and that the magistrate was dead and Sells shot. As he was talking, the wagon got up opposite the store, and all the folk on it shouted to me to come quick, as they couldn't wait. I thought that an impi must be close at hand, so I didn't waste overmuch time, you may be sure. I rushed into the house and grabbed my rifle and cartridges, and, yelling out to my own boys to look out, ran for all I was worth after the wagon, which had gone on. I caught it up after about the hottest quarter of a mile I ever ran and got up on it. As I was recovering my lost wind I tried to get some information, but the only one who had a clear head was the wounded man. The natives and the other policeman had fairly lost their heads completely. Mrs. S. and her companion, Miss D, were on the wagon and, in spite of what had happened, were both remarkably cool, and I think Miss D was the pluckiest girl I ever saw. After I had got my breath, I tried to see if I could do anything for S, but he was quite dead. Mrs. D did not know this however, and I could not tell her then, as it was no time for hysterics or anything of that sort.

The poor chap had been shot in the knee, which was smashed to atoms and had bled to death. I could not do anything for Sells as the jolting of the wagon prevented careful handling. After I had time to think, I could see that no impi had done it, as in that case they would never have let the wagon away. I tried to reassure the womenfolk, and had to lie like a trooper to Mrs. S that her husband was still alive.

I absolutely funked telling her the truth. It was a nightmare of a drive, and I hope that I shall never have such another. I was simply covered in blood from head to foot, and was sitting in a pool of it most of the time.

IT

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine When we at last got up to the courthouse, we found considerable confusion there, but things were quickly put a sort of square, and it was determined to form a laager in case of anything happening. There were only six able-bodied men and about eight native police, so we saw that it was no use to attempt to hold the whole courthouse, and determined to confine ourselves to two rooms only—the guard room, and the gaol kitchen, which were together, and separate from the main body of the building. We got the ladies into the guard room and had a busy time closing the windows up with sand bags and putting up othcr defences—everything portable was pressed into service. It was between three and four o'clock in the morning before we were finished and then we could only wait until daylight. I am very glad there was no attack though I am sure we would have given a very good account of ourselves as we had plenty of rifles and ammunition. The native police worked as hard as any of us. I don't think any of us was very sorry to see the sunrise. About eight o'clock one of the local chiefs came in with his men, and put himself at our disposal. Some of his men were sent down to the scene of the murder, and found the camp intact so that immediately did away with the idea of a rising. Several of the surrounding storekeepers came in during the day with their families, and it was considered best to remain in laager for a few days till the women got confidence.

We buried S in the afternoon. There was no one to make a coffin so he had to be sewed up in a blanket. The doctor who was also a parson read the funeral service.

Laager was broken up after three days and we all returned to our own homes. Everything has been very quiet in the district since but of course it has made us all very careful. We don't hear much of what is going on at N. Kandhla. I had a letter from C the other day. He had not had any fighting but was looking forward to some in a few days.

Some of the men who had been sent back say that C is one of the best officers there. I am very glad of it as his appointment was not very popular.

12.

"A Dead Horse" The Editor has received the following letter which has been prompted by N. McBeath's article which appeared in the last edition of the magaine .

Mr. N. McBeath's arguments against the suggestion to resuscitate the Aberdeen Grammar School seem to me cogent. That horse is dead. I should like, in passing, however, to make one point about the payment of fees, which were low and met only part of the cost. The normal motive for sending children to fee-paying schools was neither snobbery nor a wish to buy for them an education superior to that available to less fortunate children. I doubt if parents ever weighed the merits of the education in the fee-paying schools against that in the

"A Dead Horse"

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Central School. According to the attitude of those days such things as free education were for those who needed them and self-respect did not permit people to accept free from the state benefits for which they could afford to pay. Since the war the almost universal attitude in all walks of life is to get all that one can for oneself: perhaps the community is the worse for it. To those of us whose formative years were passed before the war the change in attitude is striking; those who have been brought up since the war will hardly realise that a different attitude ever existed. In consequence very few people today would pay for an education that they could get equally well free.

I am, however, concerned mainly to dispute Mr. McBeath's contention that the School remains essentially the Aberdeen Grammar School.

The Town Council does not think so. Mr. McBcath has not asked himself why the Council has thought it necessary to change the name.

It has not done so from a whim; it must have judged that the old name is not appropriate to the institution now housed in the building.

Mr. McBeath speaks of the "tradition" of the School, quoting the Rector. What is that tradition?

In my schooldays the School was characterised notably by two interwoven traditions; of family continuity and of a world-wide outlook. Former pupils scattered to the ends of the earth and sent their sons back to their old school. Shortly after the war both these traditions were destroyed by the restriction of the School to the residents of the city. It remained, however, an Aberdeen school. Now it is that no longer and the Town Council has recognised and indeed emphasised the change by the replacement of the city title by that of a ward and the removal of the word "Grammar", with its traditional associations.

The new occupant of the buildings is not Aberdeen and not Grammar.

What remains? I concede that it is a school. Yet even the word '"School" is expunged. "Academy" is an honourable word and indeed older than "school" as designating an educational institution (though I doubt if the aim of the Town Council is to stress the association with Plato and Aristotle). "School", however, is the designation by which our institution has been known through the centuries and the deletion of the word seems to indicate a determination to blot out all memory of the ancient school.

The change has come by degrees, which is why a young former pupil may not realise how complete it finally is. Thus a man may lose one hair at a time and not notice the difference; yet the day will come when he must admit that he is bald. The day has come when the Town Council has proclaimed, and we must admit, that the Aberdeen Grammar School no longer exists.

However excellent Rubislaw Academy may be, it is not my school and I do not wish to belong to its Former Pupils' Club. In my opinion the Club should accept as eligible for membership only those who at least entered as pupils of the Aberdeen Grammar School and I urge that a poll be taken of members to decide this question.

W. W. GEORGESON (I91I -23)

School Office-bearers Prefects CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON (Senior Prefect) WILLIAM BARLOW (Deputy Senior Prefect) KEITH M. ANDERSON JOHN N. ARMOUR STEVEN J. BARNETT DAVID C. BOYNE RICHARD J. CARSON RAYMOND S. CHEYNE GRAEME M. CLARK A. CRAIG CLUNAS DAVID G. DAVIDSON JAMES B. DUFFUS

COI.IN W. DUNCAN DOUGLAS FIDDES JAMES FINNIE MICHAEL C. FLETT DOUGLAS C. A. FORBES LESLIE GREEN JAMES D. HENDRY DOUGLAS H. KENNEDY KENNETH C. MCHARDY DAMIEN M. MCLEOD EDWIN MICHIE

ALAN NICOLSON JOHN A. REEKIE

ROBERT J. G. RITCHIE LESLIE W. Ross RONALD C. SMITH DAVID G. SWEENEY ALASTAIR J. WAITE RONALD M. WALLACE ROBERT L. WHITEFORD LAIN A. WILSON

House Captains Byron RICHARD J. CARSON Keith JAMES FINNIE

Dun LESLIE GREEN

Melvin COLIN W. DUNCAN Rugby

Captain CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON

Vice-Captain DOUGLAS C. A. FORBES

Hockey

Vice-Captain DEREK A. JOHNSTONE

Captain ALASTAIR J. WAITE

Literary and Debating Society

President A. CRAIG CLUNAS Secretary DAVID G. SWEENEY

Vice-President HUGH R. OSB0RNE

Treasurer IRVING N. JONES Dramatic Society

President A. CRAIG CLUNAS Secretary WILLIAM BARLOW

I'"ice-President ROBERT L. WHITEFORD Treasurer DAVID G. SWEENEY Cadet Force

C.S.M. JAMES B. DUFFUS Editors of School Section A. CRAIG CLUNAS

CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON IRVING N. JoNEs

14

WILLIAM BARLOW

Random Notes "We're not going to force you to read these Random Notcs, but if you don't do it, we'll make it compulsory." * * * Rumours that Mr. Falconer was exchanging his tarnished 1st XV for a lacrosse team were squashed, when they actually began to win.

Following their recent success in the Grand National, the School is sending them to Ascot this year. * * * We regret to inform our readers that Miss Marilyn Munroe, having been duly forgiven, came back during the holidays; we were all out. *

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*

It's high time the C.C.P. had a series of their own. *

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The Historical Society is not dead ... yet. * * * We thought we saw Bubbles in the water at the Swim-in; on closer inspection we only found a light froth resulting from Mr. Spence's celebrated impersonation of Marine Boy. *

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What are assorted waterskills anyway? *

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No I no I It is not Henry III Part VII *

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Quotes: "Hey, you guys ..."

"Head back and go, laddie!"

"Russians are shabbily dressed. They wear strange clothes reminiscent of the Second World War." "The . urn ... Film Society .. . urn ... is showing ... urn . something ... ah `Free Love' or ... urn . . . something."

"The penny's dropping."

"It's not a fire drill, is it ?"

"You came up the Clyde in a big refrigerated banana boat, boy."

"What's most like a worm ?" (For the unlucky few, the answer is, of course, another worm.) *

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Hall takes longer these days. The rugby team is winning. *

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Searing confessions were overheard in Hall earlier this year. But is C.R.F.P. really undone? * * * Following the loss of one of our vending machines, the next place to be disconnected will be the staff-room, due to its consistent failure to show a profit.

IS

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

There is no truth in the rumour that Mr. Hawkesworth's stereo system is really a cocktail cabinet. *

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*

Lost: One "Skinhead Steve", leader of the provisional wing of the torry 'derry. Believed to be in hiding under the pile of empty Frosty Fingers accumulated in the Howff. * * * The score in this year's Snowball Tournament was: Prefects: o (four thick ears) Minions: 8 (9,ooo lines). *

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Do the office staff have a bank manager in that cupboard of theirs? *

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And finally, a thought for the year to come—No yield, ya rabble!!

House Notes Byron The following boys have been picked to represent the House this year. House Captain, Richard Carson; Vice-Captain, Ian Massie; Rugby Captain, Richard Carson; Vice-Captain, Keith Anderson; Hockey Captain, Derek Johnston; Vice-Captain, David Leighton; Football Captain, Ian Massie; Vice-Captain, Ian Buthlay; Athetics Captain, David Sweeney; Vice-Captain, Graeme Clark.

Last year the House enjoyed a good deal of success on the sports field. With a strong rugby side at senior level, we succeeded in winning the fifteen- and seven-a-side competition. Our hockey teams had only a mediocre year but our football teams improved steadily throughout the year and finished strongly, with the "B" team winning their league.

In the summer we were again lucky in having a strong senior cricket XI. The team managed, after a number of closely fought games, to win both the senior tournaments. We rounded off last year by winning the Athletics Championship. David Sweeney deserves special mention on his winning the Senior Individual Championships and there were also a number of notable performances from our boys lower down the School.

This year we are hoping for good performances from our football teams, and with another strong rugby side together with a good hockey team we hope to repeat last year's successes.

More participation from boys in all years would be very encouraging especially in the Swimming Gala where we have in the past been woefully consistent.

RICHARD CARSON

House Notes

17

Dun been elected to represent the House this The following officials have session: House Captain, L. Green; Vice-Captain, I. Carry; Rugby Captain, R. Whiteford; Vice-Captain, S. Barnett; Hockey Captain, A. Waite; Vice-Captain, R. Allan; Soccer Captain, G. Anderson; Vice-Captain, R. McAnulty; Swimming Captain, J. Geddes.

Although we did not do well in last year's sports it was observed that in the lower years there were many good athletes. Therefore it is hoped that, if not this year, then in the near future, we shall do better.

The cricket team had little success but it is hoped they will come away this year.

The House rugby team is now very strong and hopes for success in the House competition.

Our hockey is also strong and has a good chance of winning the House competition.

The soccer team although beaten in their first game look a promising prospect with some strong, eager players.

We don't expect great things in swimming, but we shall make an effort.

Altogether, it is hoped that this session will be a productive one for Dun House.

L. GREEN Keith The following officials were chosen to represent the house at the annual meeting: House Captain, James Finnic; Vice-Captain, Ronald C. Smith; Rugby Captain, Ronald C. Smith; Vice-Captain, A. William Martin; Hockey Captain, Stephen J. Coull; Vice-Captain, Graeme Sutherland; Football Captain, James Finnic; Vice-Captain, Michael J. Cook; Swimming Captain, Edward C. Rose; Vice-Captain, William F. Inglis.

This year Keith should do well in games. The swimming team has some fine young swimmers who may help to balance a weakness in the Upper School. The rugby team hopes for the same kind of result as last year, but perhaps still lacks experience. Lack of numbers in hockey will not of course enhance our chances of winning. Our main hope must again rest with our football team who ran away with last year's league. Our best comfort is that we have some fine boys in the House who should help us to success in the future.

Finally, we are indebted to Mr. Stephen for his help during the elections; his past experience should be of great assistance to us during the year.

JAMES FINNIE Melvin The following boys have been chosen to represent the House this year: House Captain, Colin W. Duncan; Vice-Captain, Campbell R. F. Paterson; Rugby Captain, Campbell R. F. Paterson; Vice-Captain, D. C.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

A. Forbes; Hockey Captain, D. Fiddes; Vice-Captain, K. McHardy; Football Captain, I. Keith; Vice-Captain, R. Greig; Swimming Captain, C. W. Duncan; Vice-Captain, C. R. F. Paterson.

Last year Melvin were very successful, winning the Jubilee Cup, the rugby fifteen-a-side and seven-a-sides competition, the Swimming Gala and hockey eleven-a-side competition. We also came second in the Cricket eleven-a-side and seven-a-sides competition, and the athletics.

The football team came third in their competition. This year we hope to keep up with last year's successes and better our cricket, athletics and football results. We hope the younger boys in the House will keep up their strong and enthusiastic support.

COLIN W. DUNCAN

Staff Notes The in-and-out traffic continues pretty much as usual. At the end of the day when all the additions and subtractions have been made it will no doubt be proved that the arrivals somehow balance the departures, and we may once again congratulate ourselves that beneath the flux of appearance the eternal pattern persists; while only the Editor mutters riddlingly that we never step into the same stream twice. In fact, at the moment of writing the number of those whom we have to record as having left is much smaller than the number of those we have to welcome as newcomers to the Staff. So, without inquiring too deeply into how and why this should be, let us take heart from these swelling figures, express our gratitude to a generous Education Committee, and compliment the new arrivals on their good sense in recognising and joining a good thing when they see it.

Miss Valentine's retiral from the Lower School was briefly recorded in our last issue. She is justly remembered in a longer appreciation elsewhere in this number, but we would like to add that we hope that the zest for life which she displays in her first few months of retiral will continue unabated for many years yet.

Mr. Fordyce Paterson left us at the end of the summer term on his appointment to the post of principal teacher of Physical Education at Torry Academy. This well deserved promotion recognised the qualities of a most successful and popular teacher. Over the sixteen years he taught at the Grammar he managed to instil into the boys some of his intense feeling for the traditions and values that he felt were both the heritage and responsibility of all. For "Dycie" who was a Grammarian both by education and conviction, this was a vocation which made him hesitate to take earlier opportunities of posts elsewhere.

It would be hopeless to try to catalogue the many activities which benefited from his knowledge, shrewdness and sense of humour. He did not confine himself to the time-consuming demands of his own subject and its attendant extra-mural activities, but willingly joined in anything that was going. He was just as likely to be asked by a firstformer to explain some of the mysteries of photography as he would be

Staff Notes

19

by the Debater to give a "performance" on staff-night. He was indeed a man of many parts. Although his generosity and sense of humour will be remembered and missed by his colleagues and the many boys he taught, we are fortunate that he still lives near enough to nip over the back gate now and again. We wish him well in his new appointment and congratulate Torry on its good fortune.

Mrs. Elizabeth Robertson is known to many ex-Lower School boys as the person who taught them to swim. To the members of staff who knew her she was a charming person who enthusiastically and conscientiously taught her charges not just swimming, gym and games, but all those qualities that a good school tries to cultivate. We hope that she will be happy in her new school, Cults Academy.

Mr. James Bradbury was promoted at the same time as Mr. Paterson, and to the same school. As principal teacher of Chemistry in Torry Academy he will, we are sure, win the respect of his new pupils as he did of the boys here. Quiet, clear, thorough and modest, he did his -work in class-room and laboratory with a double concern—that his pupils should grow in the appreciation of science and that an unpretending courtesy should mark his and their thoughts and actions.

Also at the end of the summer term Mr. Bruce Finlayson left to take up a promoted post. Aberdeen south of the river is certainly benefiting these days, for Mr Finlayson also goes there, to be the Principal Teacher of English in the new Kincorth Academy. In the ten years that he served here he took a full share in the full range of activities that traditionally fall to the English Department of a School. Classes from first-year innocents to the sophisticates of Upper Sixth have all benefited from his teaching and have appreciated his easy manner and his strong concern for literature. Outwith that he will be remembered for his regular surveillance over the sound recording and transmission in the Dramatic Society's productions, for his conscientious editing of the School Magaine over the last few years, and for his genial tutoring of the Bridge Club after that great master of the cards, Mr. Tough left it.

With his interests and with the background of experience acquired here and in Rosemount School before that, Mr. Finlayson is nicely qualified for this new challenging job in a new environment, and we arc sure that he will be equal to the challenge.

Two members of staff left for lectureships in Aberdeen College of Education. Mr. Gordon Rae and Mr. David Northcroft, both men of high academic distinction and with qualities, each in his different way, that made them fine teachers, should give to the College just the gifts that it needs. Compact of energy mental and physical, Mr. Rae in his short two years in the School already had made his distinctive impact, on the playing field as in classroom and lab. His incisive mind allied to an outgoing personality is obviously a combination that makes for most effective teaching, so it is not surprising that the work he is now specifically responsible for in the College of Education is Learning Theory; Mr. Rae has the effective practice, and we have little doubt it is based on correct theory. And he will not be entirely lost to us, for,

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

as is recorded in the Hockey Notes, he has promised to continue his most welcome connection with the School practices and teams.

Mr. Northcroft in the almost five years that he taught here won the regard and affection of the English staff for the range of his knowledge, the integrity of his judgment and the charm and clarity of his conversation; and all other members of staff who met him in common room or playing field must have come to appreciate the fine mind that lay behind his rigorous modesty. His pupils benefited from these qualities —and particularly in that he could encourage and persuade quite a few of them into his own way of creative questioning. Many of them came to know after their own fashion what he believes in, is that it is in that area that wisdom and enjoyment meet and are reconciled. He will, no doubt, continue to talk cricket and play it with zest and success, and also support the Dons; and we hope that he will also continue to drop in on us for old times sake.

The Science and Mathematics Departments have also felt the draught from the winds of change. Mrs. Ann Robb who came to the School in August 197o after six years of Biology teaching in Northern Ireland and another year in Edinburgh left at the end of September 1971. Mr. Jeffrey Jones left at the end of August this year after two years' teaching in the Science Department of the School. A Yorkshireman with a degree from Aberdeen University, sportsman, disc-jockey, a man of zest and jest, Mr. Jones has chosen another Scottish destination, Clarkson in Renfrewshire where he takes up a promoted post in Williamswood Junior High School.

Mrs. Sally Couzin was here only a matter of ten months. Coming to this country from South Africa where she had graduated and taught for a spell, she has since taught variously in Clackmannan, in Glasgow, and in Alford, before joining the Geography Department of the School.

At the beginning of this session she taught in the English Department —and we in that Department were just beginning to know and appreciate the skill and warmth she brought to her teaching in that subject when she had to leave. Perhaps we may see her back some day.

The shrinking Classics department is further reduced by the departure of Mr. Coull on his promotion to the post of Principal Classics teacher in Turriff Academy. At the moment the old languages are not in high fashion; but some of the Aberdeenshire schools (of whom Turriff Academy is one) have long given honour to Classical studies, and there we have no doubt Mr. Coull's strict and meticulous regard for these disciplines should find apt appreciation.

The office staff, and we too, have suffered from the departure of Mrs. Edna Wallace. She has gone to be secretary at the new Kincorth Academy, and there, the generosity, the cheerful courtesy and the efficiency which made her so popular here will again undoubtedly be winning hearts.

To all whom we have mentioned, some at length, some perforce more briefly, we wish success and pleasant conditions in whatever new sphere they happen to be. There remains to sound the roll-call of our new members. It is in fact a roll-call and nothing more, for the list is a long one; but though the record is bare of detail we would like them

Staff Notes

21

to know that they are all welcome here, and that we wish them each and every one an agreeable and successful sojourn. Their names are: Mr. David G. Houston (Head of Mathematics Department) Mr. Thomas W. Henderson (English) Mr. John S. Wilson (English) Mr. Donald Morrison (English) Mr. Robert McIntyre (English) Mr. Douglas Man (History) Mr. William H. Porter (Geography) Mrs. Jean M. Downie (Physics) Miss Janette Brown (Chemistry) Mr. Trevor C. Jones (Biology) Mr. Eric B. Gordon (Physics) Mr. David Lobban (Physical Education) Mr. Andrew Tulloch (Music) We extend a warm if belated welcome to Mrs. Margaret D. Johnston who has joined the Office staff and whose charm and obliging efficiency has already made its pleasing impression on staff and boys, to Mr. Charles Walker whose all-round skill in the new post of workshop technician is welcome, and to Mr. David Campbell our new trainee laboratory technican.

To implement the policy of appointing year masters over the full range of the school population, two new names fall to be added to the list, both of them appointed from the presently existing staff. They are Mr. Ian Spence and Mr. Ian Ramsay to whom congratulations arc due.

The School is also indebted to Mrs. Flavill and to Miss Katherine Massie who, over a very difficult period in the teaching year, have been acting as temporary assistants in the English and Science Departments.

Their help was much appreciated.

And finally we are happy to record that Miss Hill, who was mistakenly reported in the June issue of the Magaine as being on the point of leaving, on the final closure of the Lower School, is still with us.

Now a large part of her work is in remedial teaching, and she also has full responsibility for a first-year class in English. We hope that she finds this new remit in this different sphere congenial, and as rewarding as the work she carried out so faithfully over so many years in the Lower School.

The final phasing-out of the Lower School at the end of last session left Miss Hill and Miss Valentine, the last remaining members of its staff, redundant. Both ladies had taught in the Lower School for twentyone years, having joined the staff originally in August 195o. Miss Hill, we are glad to report, has not in fact severed her connection with the School but has found a niche in the Secondary Department, where she is now employed in remedial work and in teaching English to some of the younger classes. Miss Valentine, however, elected to retire from teaching last summer—if retirement is the appropriate word for someone who by all accounts seems to be even busier than she was as a full-time teacher. She is now involved in an impressive range of activities, which include Church work, classes in dressmaking, First-Aid

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

and crafts and assisting with rehabilitation work in the Orthopaedic Department of Foresterhill. No one who knows her active mind and temperament will be surprised to learn that she has found so much to occupy her and is deriving so much satisfaction from the opportunities presented by retirement. We wish her many years of health and happiness ahead.

School Sporting Activities Rugby This year with quite a number of last year's team returning we had hoped for great things for this season and indeed we started brightly for in an early season warm-up match against quite a strong F.P.s side the School won zz-ti. Throughout this match entertaining rugby was played and the School performed creditably, just holding on to an early lead. Things augured well for the future, but this was not to be, for in our first School match against Dundee High, having lost one player with a broken wrist after five minutes, the team completely disintegrated. A series of sad mistakes and missed tackles allowed Dundee to win comfortably, 32-o. There can be no excuse for the display in this game nor in the following three matches where we again received heavy defeats: the problem was that though good individually the team found it difficult to combine. Only for short periods in these games did we "click" and look very dangerous. Against Glasgow Academy we lost 31-7 but there were definitely times when we held the initiative—an encouraging sign. Against Gordonstoun we played our best rugby of the season so far, and were leading 11-4 at half-time.

Sadly all our old faults returned in the second period and we lost z3-11.

Against Dollar—who must have been one of the biggest sides in Scotland—they had no difficulty in controlling our forwards though our boys tried very hard. In each of these games our performance had improved steadily and the flashes of really good play became more extended. In the match against a strong Wednesday Club side the team played very well and apart from one or two bad errors we could well have won this game, which in fact we lost 16-14. Our next match gave us our first win of the season against a school side, when we beat Hazlehead Academy 9-8, though it was only very bad luck that kept our winning margin small. All the rugby was played by the School and the Academy's only answer was a hefty boot downfield. We lost our next game against St. Aloysius' College when we again slumped back into our many bad faults and were disappointingly beaten 15-4.

Gordon's College started hot favourites for the derby match and it was perhaps this that fired our team at last to fulfil its real potential.

Sporting Activities

23

We outplayed Gordon's in all places particularly in the forwards who played magnificently. Although Gordon's scored first we soon struck back and were leading 9-6 at the resumption but it was in the secondhalf that we really produced a display of fine rugby to which Gordon's could find no reply and we won zi-1 z, a score, which with some luck could have been much better. This fine play continued with a good win over Abbey School by I5-3, a score which does not truly reflect our superiority as we were rarely out of their half. One of the best features of our play in both of these matches was the ability of forwards as well as backs to pass and run with the ball to great effect.

We now look forward eagerly to the rest of the season and we arc out to prove that our recent form was no "fluke". Finally I would like to thank Mr. Falconer for the time and effort he has expended in coaching the team and in keeping up morale through a difficult patch.

CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON Hockey ist XI hockey XI lies in the forward line, session's The strength of this which is capable of using open play to good advantage. But under pressure or when they are over-confident they tend to revert to dribbling and close play, bringing unnecessary difficulties upon themselves.

At outside right Cruickshank is a strong, whole-hearted player who appreciates the need for hard crossing into the circle. Davidson at inside left is the best stick player in the side, displaying a flair and imagination which promises well for his future in hockey.

In defence Leighton has improved tremendously at centre-half, maturing from a reasonably competent player into one who tackles hard, clears well and is developing a good positional sense for the interception of his opponents' passes. Again this season the first eleven is blessed with a strong, courageous goalkeeper in Fiddes. He has a powerful kick and the confidence to know when to leave his line against an attack.

Congratulations are extended to Fiddes, in goal, and to four of the forwards, Cruickshank, Johnstone, Coull and Davidson, who have been selected for the North Schoolboys XI in the inter-district tournament.

In addition Leighton has been selected as reserve.

To date only two school games have been played. Against Grove Academy, School lost 4-3 after leading 3-I. But School defeated Gordon's College 5-1, a good win with School forwards proving far too strong for a College defence which, on the day, was sadly disorganised. School has given a good account of itself against senior opposition, all games having been decided on a very small margin. In those in which School has been defeated there has been little to chose between the teams in the outfield but their opponents' experience has shown in their ability to take full advantage of any defensive lapse within the circle.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Waite has proved a spirited captain. The First XI have been chosen from: N. Fiddes, A. Waite (Captain), D. Johnstone (Vice-Captain), J. Maclndoe, J. Leighton, T. Lamb, R. Cruickshank, S. Cou11, S. Davidson, C. Mills, K. McHardy, G. Allan, G. Sutherland, D. Howie.

Once more the departure of an enthusiastic member of staff, who gave much encouragement to the IIIrd year hockey boys, must be recorded. We wish Mr. Gordon Rac all good fortune and happiness in his new role as Lecturer at Aberdeen College of Education. Mr. Rae, however, maintaining his interest in School hockey, has organised regular practices for the IIIrd year on Saturday mornings. For this we are much indebted, as the future of hockey in the School depends to a large extent on the attitude to hockey engendered in the beginners.

Record Games Goals Against For Played Won Drawn Lost 2 2 15 13 7 3 and XI The znd XI in hockey have met with mixed fortunes so far this season. With nine games played to date, four wins and a draw have been secured. Unfortunately the team were beaten by Gordon's College at Seafield in a hard fought match, but managed a good victory in Dundee against Dundee High School. However, after the Christmas break, I expect teamwork to improve and the results accordingly. The pool of players from which the team has been chosen is T. Davidson, G. Sutherland, I. Forrest, D. Howie, J. Smith, D. Gray, A. Milne, J. McGrath, K. McHardy, B. Durward, G. Fraser, T. Adamson J. A. SMITH, Captain Athletics A very successful season both for performances and enthusiasm. It was very encouraging to see the large number of keen youngsters who backed up a very strong Vth year group. Campbell Paterson the captain of Athletics showed fine sprinting form throughout the season winning the Scottish Schools 200 metres in a Best Performance of 21.6 secs.

He is to be congratulated on his selection for Scottish Schoolboys in the British Schools International where he came second, clocking the same time as the winner. William Barlow ran well in the distance events recording some very good 150o metres times. David Sweeney was a willing and able all rounder. Others who performed well were Colin Duncan (Discus, Javelin) Richard Carson (Discus, Triple Jump) and Leslie Green (High Jump).

In the Junior Section, Colin Campbell and Malcolm Toby showed a great deal of sprinting promise. Douglas Brown surely must have a future in athletics running excellent 400 and Soo metres. John Wiseman performed excellently in the Javelin, David Smith in the Shot and David Gauld showed ability in the Triple Jump.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

Contests were held with Aberdeen Athletic Club (z) and Inverurie Academy resulting in I win, i tie, and i defeat. For the first time the School competed in the Aberdeen Schools' Sports and of z8 events had i z first, 6 seconds, and 3 thirds; a most excellent effort.

The Games Department acknowledges a debt of gratitude to the mothers of all members of the Athletic Team who on every occasion were faultlessly turned out. It is a mammoth task to remove School braid, wash kit, and resew the braid several times in the very short season, but the reward is the frequency with which the School is congratulated on the smart appearance of the athletes. We must also express our thanks to Mr. Matthew and Mr. Milne for the amount of time and unpaid overtime they expend on preparation for all the meetings held at Rubislaw, where the athletes enjoy very good conditions.

Colour Awards: Cap, Campbell Paterson. Full Colours, William Barlow. Half Colours, Colin Duncan, David Sweeney.

Cricket The School 1st XI ably led by Ian Goodfellow had a rather disappointing season in that they could only record three wins from five games. The results of the games were as follows. v. Dundee High School—Won by 1 wicket v. Robert Gordon's College—Lost by 43 runs v. Gordonstoun—Lost by 13 runs v. Robert Gordon's College—Won by 6 wickets v. Fraserburgh Academy—Won by 5o runs.

Once again the School had the distinction of having four players who played regularly for the F.P.s in the Strathmore Union. These were Ian Goodfellow, Neil Armour, Colin Mills and David Leighton.

The team started off well by beating Dundee High School at Dalnacraig. Set a total of 7o runs to win, there was a complete failure by the recognised batsmen who slumped to 55 for 9. However our last man Colin Mills came in to score the necessary 15 runs in quick time.

Mention must also be made of Colin's bowling performance in his debut for the tat XI. He took 4 wickets for zo runs and played a big part in our success.

Our next fixture was against the "auld enemy" Robert Gordon's College at Seafield. This resulted in a rather ignominious defeat.

Gordon's scored over too runs and as none of our batsmen could dominate their accurate bowling, we were dismissed for a mere 58 runs. The following Saturday we were entertained by Gordonstoun.

This strong side could only score 81 runs against the accurate seam bowling of Eric Davidson and Colin Mills. Our batting got off to a disastrous start, losing our z openers in the 1st over. Despite a good fourth wicket partnership of 35 by Douglas Smith and David Leighton the School never really recovered and ended up 13 runs short of the required total. It might be added that a factor which led to our defeat in this match was that our batsmen tried to hit the ball to the short boundary fence too often rather than play each ball on its own merits.

27 Sporting Activities Following this our next three fixtures had to be cancelled because of bad weather and the same team difficulties which other sides were also experiencing. This series of cancellations could not have helped us any in our preparation for the return match with Robert Gordon's College. However, the whole team responded magnificently, dismissing the opposition for 46 runs and reaching the required total for the loss of four wickets. Mention must be made of Ian Goodfellow's batting performance, scoring an unbeaten 25 of our total. The last game of the season was played at Rubislaw against a rather weak Fraserburgh Academy side. Although School was dismissed for a mere 7o runs, seam bowlers Colin Mills and Ian Goodfellow completely routed their batting. They were dismissed for zo runs giving us a very comfortable victory.

Although cricket seems to be a dying sport in the School, because of so many senior pupils leaving after the exams, there is a small but strong contingent of players in all years of the School who will undoubtedly serve the ist XI well in years to come.

Throughout the season many pupils represented the F.P. Club at various levels. This gave the boys the benefit of match practice which is difficult to attain in the summer term at School. We would like to thank the aforementioned club for the encouragement given to the cricketers of the school in their efforts to maintain the high standard of cricket to which the school is accustomed.

Colour Awards for the Season 1971 were : the re-award of full colours to Ian Goodfellow. The award of half colours to Colin Mills.

DAVID LEIGHTON

Societies' Notes Railway Society This term, the Railway Society is enjoying an influx of new members, quite a change from past years. At the end of last term we were forced to abandon our old railway line in the main building. The last train was run with due ceremony, then the telegraph poles and signals taken down, the track lifted and the bridges demolished.

We are now starting anew in Room 42 of the Westfield Block. At the moment progress is slow due to difficult terrain and a lack of suitably skilled railway navvies. We have built up a small amount of antiquated rolling-stock, and we are slowly undergoing a modernisation plan. We would, however, be pleased to accept any locomotives, wagons or coaches from other railway companies who are in difficulties —financial or otherwise.

Shares for the company can still be bought for 15p (3s. in real money), and they last until the end of the session. New members arc always welcome, as long as they come along with a pick, shovel and open mind. However, for those unskilled, we do have a staff-training programme. A bothy is available in Room 4z (first cupboard on the left).

Again we must thank Mr. Bruce and Mr. Coull, who have kept a steady hand on the regulator throughout the term.

Motor Club Following a recession in membership towards the end of last year, the motor club is again a thriving concern. Among its many attractions the club now owns two cars and a moped, all of which have been recently donated. Because of these increased activities the Club membership has been greatly enlarged. Future plans include regular film shows; and trips to race meetings should enliven the year.

The Club resources have been added to by the purchase of a socket set and other tools; for this we must thank those who helped to gain us a handsome grant from the Endowment Trust.

JOHN G. BELL, President Chess Club Last season ended successfully with the Schools' first victory in the Aberdeen and District Schools Chess League when we beat Blairs College in a tense, drawn-out final. Playing at Blairs we began with two good wins on first and sixth boards. After a quick draw on second board we were comfortably placed, needing only one point from the last three games to win. After four hours play a draw was agreed on board three, but no conclusion was reached in the remaining two games. Resuming a week later at Grammar, Douglas McAllister on board 5 succumbed to a fierce attack, but Christopher Butler held on z8

Societies' Notes

29

for three hours in a difficult position to gain the half-point needed.

Aberdeen Grammar School: 3i, St. Mary's College, Blairs xi. The winning team was: D. G. Sweeney, J. C. Alexander, G. D. Crook, C. Butler, D. McAllister, I. Robertson.

At the A.G.M. the following officials were elected, President, D. G. Sweeney; Secretary, D. McAllister; Treasurer, G. Crook.

Although attendances this year have been poor all our first team arc back with us, and we have high hopes, not only of repeating our success in the Aberdeen League but also of making progress in the national competitions which we have entered.

D. G. SWEENEY Angling Club

The first term of the School year has proven extremely successful for the Club. Despite the meetings coinciding with the first year games afternoon, we have had strong support from this year.

The committee duties this year are being shared by B. Liddle and C. Anstock. Many out-of-school activities have been included in our programme for next year, namely a film, evening outings and several competitions. More members would widen our scope still further, so if anyone interested in fishing would care to join, they will be welcome in R. 33 on Thursdays.

Finally, our thanks go to Mr. S. Reid for his continued assistance in club affairs.

Hillwalking Club

Once again, the Lochnagar trip provided the Club with an encouraging start to the year, introducing many new members to the delights of hillwalking.

The highlight of the year so far has been the September week-end trip to Glen Nevis. With truly glorious weather on the Saturday we enjoyed splendid panoramic views from Ben Nevis.

More recently we have climbed Mount Keen and have traversed the Broad Cairn, the latter in extremely windy and cold conditions. We now look forward to a trip to the Devil's Elbow, which will be the last outing this term.

Finally we should like to thank all the masters whose keen support helps the Club maintain its popularity.

DAVID C. BOYNE Shelter Set

This year, the School Shelter Set has again proved its ability to organise several, successful fund-raising events. Earlier, during the summer recession, we held a very successful balloon race by which we raised £80. The next event was a house-to-house collection, followed

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

closely by a sponsored walk at Linksfield Stadium in which all Schools Shelter Sets took part.

In the future we plan to be just as active. Near Christmas, we are going carol-singing, and have in mind another "Build a house" with Shelter "bricks", as this was so successful last year.

Office-bearers for this session are: President, James W. C. Davidson; Secretary, Graham K. Deans; Treasurer, Ian Watt.

GRAHAM K. DEANS, Secretary The Listening Circle

The listening circle has only had three meetings this term; it was indeed fairly well into the term before we had our first one which took the form of a musical quiz. Craig Chinas presented a programme of mediaeval music, and it was at this meeting that we had our largest attendance. Just before the term examinations, James Allan very professionally introduced the Mendelssohn E minor violin concerto.

Although attendances have been small, those who support these meetings have profited. We wish to thank the Music Department for the use of its equipment and the Art Department for its co-operation in designing posters.

GRAHAM FRASER The Scripture Union

The meetings this year have been fairly well attended. It is most encouraging to see a few new members, especially from the second year; new members from all years are always welcome.

The programme so far has included, the showing of a film and filmstrips, quizzes, and some very interesting guest speakers, among whom were Mr. Duncan, Mr. J. Cowie a divinity student, Mr. B. Andrew a missionary from Kenya, and Mr. J. Kelman. Our thanks to all these gentlemen and especially to Mr. Duncan for his continued help throughout the term.

Because of the success of last year's Christmas Party for first and second year pupils, we hope to hold another one this year.

Next session we hope to increase membership, and have a varied and interesting programme planned.

ALAN BROWNHILL, Secretary Photographic Society

This year the Society has continued working in two sections; the seniors specialising in the more advanced aspects of atmospheric and pattern photography, including explorations of local graveyards (above ground level); while the younger members have been practising the basics of taking, developing and printing. It is hoped to hold an exhibition later in the session.

Societies' Notes 31 For some time now discussions have been taking place on the feasibility of combining forces with High School photographers who, at the moment, have no darkroom facilities of their own. The first few meetings have already taken place and this partnership promises to be pleasant and profitable for both staff and pupils. Cut-price film has been available as usual and a new fixed-rate scheme has been employed in the darkroom with members being charged top regardless of the amount of paper used. It remains to be seen if this is practicable!

Although a local outing was regrettably cancelled due to rain it is hoped to organise other excursions later in the term, perhaps in conjunction with the recently revived Art Club.

We would like to thank Mr. McCurrach for arranging demonstrations, meetings for print criticism and for undertaking administration of the darkroom.

RONALD M. WALLACE, Secretary Arts Club

The Arts Club was reformed this year. There has been an Arts Club in the School since 1918, but with the departure of Mr. Hemingway it recessed for a period.

Today the Club caters mainly for the older pupils who, because of the restrictions of the S.C.E. exam syllabus, are unable to explore the various avenues of art. Therefore facilities and space are provided for such activities as painting, sketching, pottery and photography by the Arts Club. This year, because of the large numbers interested, the Arts Club has to be restricted to S.C.E. art pupils.

JOHN MONTGOMERY V4

The Alba Club The Alba Club, which is really a third year section of the Arts Club, in which the emphasis is on the different aspects of Scotland's history, countryside and arts, was instituted during the Hadrian's Wall trip of June t97t, by some members of the party. The name of the club "Alba" is, of course, the Gaelic word for Scotland.

So far this year the Club has had two outings, one to Dunnottar and Crathes Castles, the other to the Consumption Dyke at Kingswells.

There have also been a couple of indoor meetings, one dealing with "Aberdeen, Old and New" and the other with "Castles of North-East Scotland".

IAN C. HUNTER Geographical Society

This term we have had illustrated talks and films of general interest.

The speakers have all been from the School; three members of staff and two pupils.

Mr. Will gave an illustrated talk on "The Changing Face of Aberdeen", Mr. Hawksworth talked about "Scottish Hills" and Mr.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

Scott about previous School trips to Regensburg and Bavaria. Also two pupils Neil Lawrie and Brian Davidson who took part in the World Scout Jamboree in Japan gave a talk and showed slides of life in Japan as well as scenes of the Jamboree at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

As well as these talks we have had several films on various aspects of geographical interest. However the lectures are always more successful and popular. It is hoped that an excursion may be arranged in the summer term.

COLIN CONNELL, President Historical Society

This year the Historical Society suffered from a lapse in membership which was largely remedied after a talk by Mr. Galloway, on Modern Russia.

After Christmas we wish to provide a varied and exciting programme for our members, including films. It is our wish to have many more meetings than we had this year, and if all goes well, to have membership cards printed later next year. We have many other plans in our head.

It is in fact our hope to revive this small Society that was to all appearances dead, and any help from you will be welcomed and appreciated.

HUGH OSBORNE, President ROGAN DONALD, Secretary Dramatic Society

President, A. Craig Clunas; Secretary, William Barlow; Business Assistant, David G. Sweeney; Vice-President, Robert L. Whiteford.

This year the Society returns to Shakespeare, with the rarelyperformed "Henry VI, Part III". Obviously, there is little to say at this early date, except to state that there has been a favourable response from all parts of the School to our call for actors. The play, in which we shall once again be making use of female members of Longacre Players, will probably be performed some time in March.

Literary and Debating Society

President, A. Craig Clunas; Secretary, David G. Sweeney; Treasurer, Irving N. Jones; Vice-President, Hugh R. Osborne.

An interesting syllabus has been compiled with a mixture of the usual old chestnuts and some topical material. The highlight of the term so far was a talk given by Mr. Donnie McLeod of B.B.C. Nationwide and Reporting Scotland which attracted along a big audience, some of whom actually joined the Society. After a brief talk delivered off-the-cuff Mr. McLeod encouraged the audience to ask questions.

Unfortunately Mr. McLeod had to leave in time to present the Friday edition of Reporting Scotland, cutting short one of the most successful meetings of past years.

Societies' Notes

33 The staple diet of the Society of course is the debate and this year we have been fortunate in having a large number of pupils willing to air their views. Especially successful were "That the Monarchy is not worth what it costs" (defeated) and "That Sport plays too large a part in School life" (also defeated). This year we entered teams in two debating contests, run by the English Speaking Union and the Daily Express. In the first round of the E.S.U. debate, held in the Library we entertained Turriff Academy. A very enjoyable evening was spoilt only by an extremely poor attendance, the result partly of an unsuitable date chosen for us by the E.S.U. We were successful in this debate but unfortunately we had no option but to withdraw when the second round was due to be held in the middle of exams.

The Daiy Express contest was a new experience for us and once again we were host school, this time entertaining seven schools.

Although beaten, everyone enjoyed themselves, not least of all because of the refreshments, provided, as at the E.S.U. debate by female members of staff. We would like to thank Miss Boyd, Miss Niven, and Miss Mathieson for giving of their time to help us.

Two successful inter-school debates were held with Robert Gordon's College and Hazlehead Academy on the controversial subjects of Comprehensive Education and Northern Ireland. The Six Schools Debate was held at Albyn and provided an entertaining debate as well as a pleasurable social gathering.

Ahead of us we have a full programme, highlights of which should be the Staff Debate and "The Inquisition". We would like to thank Mr. Morrison and the other members of the English Department for providing help whenever needed.

Film Society The membership of the Society is perhaps slightly lower than it has been in previous years but enthusiasm is certainly not lacking. The zoth season of the Film Society offers seven varied programmes, the highlight of which will be the showing of "Airport" on parents' night —the 14 January. Other films this season include "Marooned", "Walk, Don't Run" and the Western "The Sons of Katie Elder". We thank all masters involved with the Society for their assistance.

KEITH M. ANDERSON, Secretary

Music Notes On 7 June in St. Machar's Cathedral, a concert was given by the School Choir and Orchestra. The programme ranged from polyphonic music of the sixteenth century (sung by the Madrigal Group), to twentieth-century choral works by Leonard Bernstein and Benjamin Britten. Two of Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" were sung in Hebrew, and the main item in the programme was Britten's "St Nicolas" Cantata, in which the important tenor solo was sung by Clifford Hughes.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 34 On 24 June another concert was given in the School Hall. The programme began with items from the School Orchestra and Brass Ensemble, but the greater part of the programme was in the nature of a "swan-song" by the boys of the last two Lower School classes.

Needless to say, this made the occasion more than a little nostalgic.

The loss of the Lower School will be felt in many aspects of School life, and nowhere more than in musical activities. However, for the next few years we shall be able to some extent to live off the legacy of the past, and, by getting to work in the local primary schools, some kind of continuity of musical tradition can be hoped for. The concert on 24 June was far from a gloomy occasion. There were Scots Songs sung by all the boys, instrumental solos, more songs (some in Gaelic and Spanish), French plays (in one of which Snow White appeared with a monstrous black eye!), a play called "The Little Tailor", and a musical story, "Lieutenant Cockatoo".

This last item was also Mr. George Swalwell's swan song, as he has since left to take up an appointment in London. We miss his cheerful presence, and wish him success in his new sphere of activity. His replacement, Mr. Andrew Tulloch, is settling down well, and we are also pleased to welcome part-time on to our staff Mrs. Brown, well known in Aberdeen for her interest in Gaelic music and, in particular, the Clarsach.

In September, Aberdeen held a Regensburg Week, to help further interest in a link which, as far as the Grammar School is concerned, has been real and thriving since our first exchange with German school children in 1963. It was appropriate, therefore, that we were invited to take part in a concert on 22 September, in the Arts Centre theatre.

The strings of the orchestra gave the first performance of a set of variations composed by Eberhard Kraus, Cathedral Organist of Regensburg. He wrote the piece for the Albrecht Aldorfer Gymnasium in Regensburg, but he very kindly gave us parts and score of the work.

It is based on a Regensburg folk song, "Zu Regensburg auf der Kirchturmspitz", and the orchestra have to recite in German a verse of the song before they play the variation which describes it. In spite of the dissonant harmonies and unusual nature of the work, the audience seemed to enjoy it very much, as they did the German Folk Songs which the School Choir sang at the end of the concert. This concert helped to kindle enthusiasm for a proposed visit to Regensburg in summer 1972, and it now seems certain that this will go ahead, with a concert in Regensburg and with visits to Vienna and Salzburg.

Pupils' Library Committee Office-Bearers. President, G. Forbes V1; Vice-President, B. Davidson IV5; Secretary, D. Gellatly He; Committee-Members, M. Milne IV6, M Grant IrG. P. Bruce IV°, D. Miller IV7, M. This newly elected committee has been concentrating on raising funds for the Pupil's Book Choice.

C.C.F. Notes 35 We are grateful to the Film Society for generously giving us the proceeds of a film show held last session. The sum collected amounted to £6z which is to be spent on books which you our customers have suggested. Once more we must express our gratitude to those concerned.

To finish off the School year the Committee hope to hold a Fair within the School precinct which will also be in aid of funds.

We would like to give a vote of thanks to all members of staff who have aided the library in the past session, especially our faithful Librarian Miss Boyd who is still as active and cooperative as ever.

G. FORBES V„ President B. DAVIDSON IV5, Vice-President

C.C.F. Notes The session opened with the usual recruiting drive which proved highly successful and all new members were kitted out and appeared in uniform in record time. During the first few days of term cadets from the R.A.F. Section recorded a programme on Gliding in the series "High Time" which was shown on Grampian on 9 November. Most people were impressed with the fact that the cadets showed how wellinformed they were as to gliding generally. This term has been a busy one and one of the major problems has been to get such a large number of recruits integrated into the new syllabus of training on which the outdoor aspect is emphasised. Fortunately the new training carries the same basics for both sections and this means that the common factor is of considerable help and allows flexibility in the sections involved. We are suffering from lack of transport at the moment as our once hardy three-tonner "Bessie" has now been taken off the road and consigned to an Army Transport graveyard. It is with deep affection that we mourn her passing and, amid many happy memories, we recall how once she returned to base with a boot-lace for a fan-belt and, on another occasion, how she negotiated the perils of the Lecht road with her exhaust strapped up with fencing-wire "Sic transit gloria monstri l" Amongst the inevitable changes, Captain Galloway has departed from the scene after twelve years in the C.C.F. In paying tribute to his long attachment, we say in all truth that Cultybraggan will never be the same nor will it see his like again, once he has hung up his sword on the temple wall.

We are delighted to report that our Inspection Officer of last June, Brigadier J. J. G. Smith who left "Grammar" back in 1936, is keeping closely in touch and has extended a very generous offer to the Army Section to camp under his aegis at Chilwell, Nottingham next summer and we accept most gratefully.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine Finally, we offer our congratulations to Mr. Russell Gray on his promotion to Army Section commander along with our good wishes.

We also give sincere thanks to all who have helped us in the past year.

36

R. McL. Army Section This year we had a very encouraging start to our term when over thirty boys joined our Section. These boys will be the first to carry out the new training syllabus completely from scratch and it will be interesting to watch their progress. We also have from last year some senior cadets, so we are quite well equipped to administer the training.

Activities so far this year have included an exercise in the Bennachie area and also firing on both the indoor range at Fonthill and the open ranges at Black Dog. Also available to us, at any time, are films of both general and military interest, which can always be relied on for being very good. Several exercises and visits are planned for the coming terms.

Promotions: C/Sgt. Duffus has been promoted to C.S.M. and takes over the role of senior cadet. Lt. Craig has officially taken over command of the Army Section.

JAMES DUFFUS, R.A.F. Section Up to date the R.A.F. Section has had a very successful year and a full training programme has been enjoyed by all.

Prior to the beginning of this term two of the senior cadets went on Flight training courses. One Flt/Sgt. J. McGrath successfully completed an Advanced Gliding course with Gliding School, H.M.S. Condor, Arbroath and during the latter part of the summer the other Flt/Sgt. W. Strange passed out of Scone Aerodrome, Perth, after having gained his Flying Scholarship. This involved zo hours dual and to hours solo flying in the dual seat Cessna 15 o.

This year R.A.F. camp took place at the Royal Air Force College of Air Warfare, R.A.F. Manby, Lincolnshire and included in a very comprehensive programme were exercises, competitions, shooting, visits to various sections of the station and a day trip to the coastal resort of Cleethorpes. Along with this every cadet received a one-hour flight in a Varsity training aircraft.

At the beginning of the term several cadets recorded a Grampian Television programme which was screened on 9 November. For this occasion the School primary glider was taken from Rubislaw Playing Field and rigged in one of the Grampian Studios. This seems to have gone down well with the public and needless to say the cadets who participated enjoyed sampling the limelight.

On 18 September a party of cadets accompanied by two officers visited R.A.F. Leuchars to see the Battle of Britain air display. The weather was very good and the flying programme was excellent. Many aircraft were featured but the highlight of the show was two Starfighters

C.C.F. Notes

37 doing high speed dual aerobatics including the now infamous "Roulette". Cadets also had the opportunity to visit the Flight simulator and try their hand at piloting the Lightning all-weather fighter. There were numerous other static displays and sideshows and everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Later in the year a group of third-year cadets went, with the Senior N.C.O.s, on a visit to the Naval Exercise Minelayer H.M.S. Abdiel.

During their visit the cadets got a thorough insight into the running of the ship and of particular interest were the weapons systems, steering gear, navigating equipment and the engine room.

During the mid-term holiday we had a joint exercise with the Army Section in which most of the second year took part. The exercise, which took place on Bennachie, was basically an escape and evasion exercise and although the weather was bad the exercise was a success.

In November the Cadets went shooting at the Black Dog Ranges and both .303 and a Bren gun were fired. From this it was evident that there are some promising shots in the Section.

Recruiting was very good this year and it is hoped that the rest of the year will prove to be as enjoyable and interesting as it has been so far. We would like to thank the officers and all the people who have helped and supported the Section.

J. R. M. McGRATH, F/S. W. B. STRANGE, FIS.

Pipes and Drums Both sections of the Band continue to have regular weekly practices.

The piping section, who have several new recruits, are tutored by Pipe Major Jack Taylor of the Aberdeen University O.T.C. Pipe Band. We also have with us in the school this year as a French assistant M. Patrick Molard who is a very competent piper and pipe tutor in Brittany. He recently gained prizes at several Scottish Highland games and also two top prizes at an open competition in London. He has agreed to help with our tutoring and to him we extend a very hearty welcome.

Several beginners have joined the drumming section and are being tutored by Mr. Gray of the school staff to whom we would like to extend our thanks for his management of the band as a whole.

Valuable experience has been drafted into the band as a result of Drum Sgt. James Duffus of Vlth year and Drum Sgt. Eric Anderson of Vth year, attending the University O.T.C. summer camp. These two, along with Pipe Major Kenneth McHardy, recently played in the U.T.C. Armistice Parade. It is hoped that this experience will show in future performances.

K. MCHA ROY V, Pipe Major

Former Pupils' Club Section (Club Founded n September 1893)

Club Office-Bearers, 1970-71 Honorary President: JOHN VASS SKINNER, M.A., M.LITT., DIP. El) , (Rector since 1959)

Honorary Vice-presidents: ERIC Ros BIRKETT (1920-22), C.A. JOSEPII ROBERT CARRY (1918-30), M.B.E., T.D. DOUGLAS PATERSON COCHRAN (1906-15), F.INST.I.B., A.A.I.B. GEORGE EDMOND CROMBIE (1916-21), C.M.G., M.A. ALLAN CAMERON FRAZER (1925-30), M.A., LL.B., W.S. THE HON. LORD JOHNSTON (1913-26).

JOHN ADAM LILLIE (1893-1903), LL.D., M.A., LL.B., Q.C. ERIC LINKLATER (1913-16), C.H.E., M.A., LL.D., T.D. IAN GOWANLOCK MCPHERSON (1910-17).

THE RIGHT HON. LORD MESTON (190I-02).

JOHN LENNOX RIDDELL (1907-16).

CECIL A. G. SAVIDGE (1913-24), M.B.E., M.A.

Sir JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR (1906-11), K.B.E., Sir JOHN MACKAY THOMSON, C.B., M.A., F.R.S.E. (Rector, 192o-2I).

Sir LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON (1899-1908), C.B., O.A.E., M.A., D.SC., F.R.S.E., LL.D. ROBERT BERTRAM WILLIAMSON (1906-IS), D.S.O., T.D., M.A., LL.B. EDWARD JAMES WOOD (1908-21), M.A.

President: JAMES SCOTT GRAY MUNRO (1922-28) M.B.E., T.D., B.L.

Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: IAN LEWIS SMITH (1918-30) B.SC. (ENG.)

Secretary and Treasurer: BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), T.D., M.A., I.L.B,

25 Crown Street, Aberdeen.

General Editor of Magazine: ALISTAIR GEORGE GRACIE (1953-66)

8A Arnhall Drive, Wcsthills, Skene, Aberdeenshire.

38

Former

Club See/ion

39

Secretaries of Centres: Central Africa—GEORGE M. GROAT (1927-40), 2 Cornwall Lodge, Umptali Road, Beams Station, Salisbury.

Dundee— Edinburgh—DAVID A. BRITTAIN (1943-49), M.A., LL.B., 2 Circus Gardens, Edinburgh.

Glasgow—Jaunt G. M. BIRSS (1926-38), M.C., M.A., A.C.W.A" S7 Whittingehame Drive, Glasgow W 2.

London—ROBERT FALCONER (1944-58), 56 Hilland Rise, Headley, Bordon, Hants.

Malaysia—G. MURRAY MILNE, Diamond Jubilee Estate, Jasin, Malacca.

Yorkshire—PATRicx G. INN-Es (1935-49), z Edgerton Road, West Park, Leeds 16.

Ireland—ANDREW M. M. STEVEN (1936-50), M.A., LL.B., C/O Secretary's Office,

The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast.

Secretaries of Sections: Cricket—ALEXANDER M. DAVIDSON (1937-43), B.L., rs Golden Square, Aberdeen.

Golf—Count C. ALLAN 0936'402 E.A., 63 Gray Street, Aberdeen.

Hockey—STEwART L. FORBES (196o-66), III Kings Gate, Aberdeen.

Rugby—CHARLES RITCHIE (1945-51), 25 Nethermains Road, Muchalls, Kincardineshire.

Executive Committee The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman.

Vice-Chairman—Joitw W. CRADOCK (1940-46) The Secretary and Treasurer, and General Editor of the Magazine, ex offeitIr The Rector of the School, ex officio Join.; C. A. MICHIE (1944-56) A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-55) W. DOUGLAS MITCHELL (1946-61) ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) W. WALLACE PORTER (1915-23) WILLIAM M. EWEN (1932-44) JoHN B. RENNIE (1 947-50 PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58) A. FROST TAYLOR (1929-35) JOHN MCBAIN (1939-51) MELVILLE F. WATSON (1942-56) ALASTAIR C. MAITLAND (1943-51) ERIC D. WATT (1937-50) NEIL I. W. MELDRUM (1925-37) Section Representatives : Cricket—NIGEL G. M. WATT (1965-69) Golf—COLIN C. ALLAN (1936-45) Hockey—jouN P. DRUMMOND (1947-58) Rugby—CHARLES RITCHIE (1945-51) Staff—ROY FALCONER Swimming—H. A. B. HARPER (1950-57) Hon. Auditors: MESSRS. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.

40

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Club Centre Management Committee PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58) Chairman.

BRIAN K. CROOKSIIANKS (1934-46) Secretary and Treat:imp.

COLIN C. ALLAN (1936-45) ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959--65) ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON (1929-40) JOAN F. HENDRY (T95I-65)

JoHN C. A. MICHIE (1944-59) I. LEwis SMITH (1918-30) MELVILLE F. WATSON (1942-56) ERIC D. WArr (1937-50) NIGEL G. M. WArr (1963-69)

Steward—Mr. William Mackie Telephone—Aberdeen 36827.

Section Reports

Rugby This season may prove to be an important landmark in the history of our Section. Our Management Committee hope that the Section will go "Open" to a limited extent either sometime later this season or, at the very latest, in time for the beginning of next season.

League Rugby At this time last year, it had been assumed that during this season we would have to prepare ourselves for the introduction of League Rugby in season 1973-73. Rather surprisingly, the move to introduce League Rugby was thwarted at the Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union held in Edinburgh in June 1971. It is a matter for consideration whether the rejection of League Rugby is a retrograde step so far as the game of Rugby in Scotland is concerned and whether the standard of Club Rugby in Scotland will not improve at the same rate as in other countries where there is competitive League Rugby.

From our own selfish point of view, and as the very proud possessors of the best fixture list north of Dunfermline, we can count ourselves fortunate that League Rugby has not been introduced, but it is likely that this matter will be raised again and League Rugby will probably come to Scotland in the not too distant future. Certain national newspapers are even now publishing a League Table comprising all the teams which would have been included in Leagues 1 and z had League Rugby been officially introduced by the S.R.U. last June.

It is therefore essential that the Section should prepare itself for the likely introduction of official League Rugby since, with its introduction, the game will become even more competitive, with higher standards of skill and fitness being required. It is therefore all the more necessary that the Section should go "Open" at this time.

Section Reports

41

Coaching The Section is indeed fortunate to have a coach of the calibre of Doug. Georgeson whose energy, enthusiasm and all-round rugby knowledge have benefited players in all XVs. It is a matter for considerable regret that the very beneficial pre-season coaching sessions were so poorly attended and in the coming seasons some action must be taken to ensure the attendance of more players at all coaching sessions prior to and during the season.

General Our Captain Phil Love may well have the dubious distinction of being the only F.P. Rugby Captain ever who, albeit through injury, has not played any rugby at all between the start of the season in September and the end of January! He is meantime recovering from a cartilage (not "cartridge", as one of his fellow patients called it!) operation to his right knee and hopes to be playing again in early February—for what XV can remain a matter for speculation till then.

Our Vice-Captain Fraser Webster has captained the 1st XV since the season's commencement and he has done a truly first-class job.

We have been plagued by injuries to and unavailability of many key players and it says a lot for the respective skills of Doug. Georgeson and Fraser Webster that they steered an unsettled ist XV to nine wins out of its first eleven matches, including convincing victories over Stewart's F.P.s, Dunfermline, Allan Glen's and Aberdeen University.

Our early defeats at Ayr and Kirkcaldy resulted from travelling south with under strength teams. Dare I mention that we lost our first encounter with the former pupils of "the other place"—although for 75 per cent of the match a win appeared to be "on the cards" until we started losing almost all the ball from set scrums in the last quarter of the match. We look forward with relish to our second encounter with our friendly enemies at Rubislaw at the end of the season. As this report is written the 1st XV has just recorded a highly creditable victory over Trinity Accies who had earlier trounced Gordonians.

As a result of injuries to and unavailability (in many cases for dubious reasons) of many players, our znd and 3rd XVs have not been able to field even vaguely similar XVs on successive weeks and results have been very mixed. It has been difficult enough to field a 3rd XV this season so far let alone contemplate a 4th XV. It has been necessary to play some of our younger players out of position. This is a matter which has given the Selection Committee great concern but we are pleased that the players affected have accepted the situation with few complaints.

It augurs well for the Section's future to record the fine performances being regularly turned in by such newcomers to the Section as John Hannah, Ranald Fordyce, Allan Giles, John Duncan, Alistair Cook, to name but a few.

We have been poorly represented so far this year at district level but our congratulations go to Jim Andrews and Forbes Stuart who played for the North XV against the Midlands XV and to Ian Gray who played

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine for the combined North and Midlands XV against Scottish Universities.

This report would not be complete without making mention of the name of Doctor D. W. C. Smith who, with diplomatic tact and expertise, managed the British Lions tourists during their extremely successful tours of Australia and New Zealand. Even although Doug. Smith has been based in the sophisticated south for some considerable time now, it was reassuring to note during his many television and radio interviews that his voice has not lost its fine North-East intonation!

42

Our 1st XV's fixtures in the south for 1972 are as follows: 3 Jan. v. Melville College F.P.s at Ferryfield.

8 Jan. v. Edinburgh Wanderers at Murrayfield.

15 Jan. v. St. Andrews University at Edinburgh (morning match).

29 Jan. v. Glasgow Accies at New Anniesland.

19 Feb. v. Glasgow High School F.P.s at Old Anniesland.

1 t Mar. v. Boroughmuir F.P.s at Meggatland.

17 Mar. v. Heriots F.P.s at Goldenacre (Friday evening match).

PHILIP N. LOVE, Captain

Hockey The official start to our new season is the May Tournament which was staged at the new municipal pitches at Sheddocksley. The side chosen to represent the section contained the majority of last season's successful 1st XI with a sprinkling of new faces. It was encouraging to see the youngster's forceful play and our retention of the trophy was due to a fine blend of experience and youthful verve.

A large intake from last year's School sides has swelled our numbers and we have been able to field a 4th XI this season. To date they have lost only one of their seven games and this was against Section I opposition.

The 3rd XI strengthened by new blood has started off the season in a most promising way and under Charlie Cormack's leadership looks set to be amongst the honours yet again.

The and XI, which has most of last season's regulars still in the ranks, has been strengthened by the experienced Eric Watt and ex-University's north district player Gavin Gray. Such is the power and keenness of this side that the majority of their members would normally hold down 1st XI places in any other North District Club. This somewhat fortunate position is causing problems with selection as one is faced every week with selecting the 1st XI from perhaps 15 or 16 possibles.

Undefeated to date the and XI is the training ground for our future premier XI's and we can look forward to many more seasons in the van of Scottish hockey with reserve strength in depth like this.

The 1st XI is basically the same eleven members who had such a successful season last year, but no one can afford to be complacent with their performances this season with the and XI breathing down their necks.

Section Reports

43 The season started on a promising note when we were invited to send a VI to Kilmarnock to play against some very high class opposition and duly justified our selection by bringing the trophy north. We have a very strenuous season this year with only one friendly game against North District opposition, this being against Gordonians. It was most appropriate that we could fit in this fixture as it is fifty years since the first recorded North District hockey match took place.

This being Grammar F.P.s v. Gordon's College F.P.s on tith November 1921.

We have played most of the Dundee sides so far this season and our recent 3-o victory over Harris F.P.s helped to erase last season's Cup Final result.

To date we have played sixteen games and remain undefeated. The first major Scottish Trophy, The Isabella Dix-Perkin's Cup for Scottish League Champions, was retained for the second year by F.P.s and our recent win over Aberdeen University has set us on the path to, we hope, a more successful Scottish Cup run.

Our October Tournament at Ayr was most successful and this was highlighted by our 3-I win over Bitter Lemons, a side composed of mainly international and final trial players. Particularly encouraging was the play of the younger members of this side who were by no mean's overawed by our more fancied opponents. Our recent tour of Highland District permitted the first opportunity to field a full ist XI on tour. Despite two below-form matches against Highland and Kinloss we fielded a new look side, with players playing in positions opposite to their normal ones. This proved most enjoyable and our 6-1 victory was a triumph of teamwork.

F.P.s continue to dominate the North District Pool and our congratulations are due to Lyon, Campbell, Fraser, Drummond, Smith, Gauld, Gray, Lawson, Hampton and Urquhart who represented the district at the recent Baxter Trophy at Dunfermline.

Ian Middleton continues to umpire at District and International level and it is hoped that his example will encourage others to take up the whistle.

Eric Watt lends his vast experience to the schoolboys at district and international level, whilst our congratulations are extended to Dr. A. H. Innes on his position as Selector for the Great Britain side to add to his Scottish Selector's post.

Our forthcoming social evening on 26 November should give all members an opportunity of exchanging views and tactics and it is hoped that a large number of the newer members will attend.

We look forward to our forthcoming league and Scottish Cup encounters and the ever popular Easter Tour to Dublin as guests of our old friends Avoca.

It is hoped that the great team spirit which has been our strength in recent years continues and that the glorious performances of the past ten years in Scottish hockey is maintained by the continuing influx of talented schoolboys.

J. C. LYON

44

Aberdeen Grammar School Afagaine

Golf Our warmest congratulations to David Chillas on being selected to play for Scotland in the home Internationals in September. We believe that this is the first time an F.P. has been so honoured and it is hoped that the School will recognise this feat in the manner befitting a first cap.

The popularity of the Section continues with a membership of forty-five and an average attendance of members and friends of thirtysix at the six outings. There has been a marked reduction in the average age at the outings, with some of the older members being not quite so regular.

During the summer four outings were held at Ballater and one each at Huntly and Peterhead and they were all favoured with fine weather.

Competition for the prizes was keenly contested and nearly half of the members have had their handicaps reduced at least once during the season.

The winners of the Trophies were in doubt until the final putt had dropped and even some of the low handicap players were very much in contention for the Wooden Spoon. At the Ballater Outing held on 5 September the "H.A.R." Trophy was competed for with Gordonians. F.P.s were represented by J. M. Clark, Dr. R. A. Craig and R. H. Cradock, whose combined score of 194 strokes was sufficient to retain, by ten strokes, the Trophy for yet another year.

The Section once again competed in the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Schools' Tournament at the Royal Burgess Golf Club, Edinburgh, at the end of September. The team was D. H. Chapman, R. L. Mackinnon, J. W. Cradock, W. D. Mitchell, R. H. Cradock and C. C. Allan. The match was played in near perfect conditions and F.P.s. were first off at 8 a.m. Our opponents were Old Marlburghians who defeated us by z-i in the first round, when it looked like a 3-o victory for F.P.s. The second and third couples faltered over the last two holes after being ahead and the final blow was when the third couple lost the nineteenth to give our opponents victory. Disappointing as the result was, we met many of our previous opponents and the goodwill of the Section was further enhanced.

The Annual Dinner of the Section, celebrating its Silver Jubilee, was held on Friday 1 z November in the Northern Hotel with an attendance of fifty-four. The toast of the Club was proposed by Mr. J. S. G. Munro, President of the Parent Club. It was a revelation to learn that our President is a man of so many parts although with a handicap of twenty-four is a better golfer than singer!! The Captain, Mr. D. H. Chapman, in his reply commented on the concern of the President at the F.P. Dinner, held the previous week, about the change in name of the School. The Company was assured that the Section would never change its name to Rubislaw Academy Golfing Section, as this was RAGS, and nothing was further from the truth. Mr. G. A. C. Walker proposed the toast of "Our Guests" and even managed to find time to finish his story which he commenced at the Twenty-first Dinner. Mr. J. (Shamus) Fettes suitably replied.

Section Reports

45 The Trophies for 1971 were won as follows: R. H. Cradock Russell Henderson Cup (3 Best Scratch) Walker Cup (3 Best Handicap) Dr. M. Gibb J. M. Clark Jeffrey Mug (3 Best Handicap 12 and over) D. W. Inkson Gibb Thow Trophy (Ballater Eclectic) W. D. Mitchell Allison Fowlie Trophy (Bogey Competition) C. C. Allan Carry Cup (5 Best Handicap) W. Anderson Craig Spoon (3 Worst Handicap) The Office Bearers for 1972 are: Captain, D. H. Chapman; ViceCaptain, E. D. Watt; Hon. Secretary, C. C. Allan; Committee, A. C. Maitland, W. D. Mitchell, R. L. Mackinnon, M. G. H. Gibb.

The first outing of 1972 has been arranged for Ballater on 7 May, and new members will be made most welcome.

Next year's Dinner has been arranged for Friday, to November 1972 in the Northern Hotel.

COLIN C. ALLAN, Hon. Secretary Cricket

The following were the officials appointed for season 1971: President, A. J. M. Edwards; Secretary, A. M. Davidson; Match Secretary, N. G. M. Watt; Treasurer, H. E. Morrison; Strathmore XI—Captain, W. A. Stewart; Vice-Captain, H. E. Morrison; Grade XI—Captain, R. A. Binner; Vice-Captain, A. C. Maitland; Reserve Grade XI—Captain, S. Forbes.

The Strathmore Union XI finished the season in the lower half of the table. Unfortunately the side depended, almost entirely, on the first two or three batsmen to make runs—if they failed, the side failed.

Also the bowling lacked depth as can be seen from the number of overs the skipper had to bowl. However, Colin Mills in his first season of Strathmore Union Cricket, bowled exceptionally well and should be an asset to the side in following seasons. The individual highlight of the season was the century scored by J. B. Rennie against Perthshire XI at Rubislaw. "Sam" had a very good start to the season and was at the top of the Union Averages for the first six or seven weeks, but unfortunately he had a lean spell in the middle of the season. The Section's batting and bowling cups were deservedly won by J. B. Rennie and W. A. Stewart respectively.

After a disastrous start—losing five out of the first six games—the Grade XI had a good spell in the middle of the season but unfortunately any thoughts of promotion to Grade z were sadly shattered in the first few games. The side was well led by Raymond Binner, who had the frustrating habit of getting out just when he looked like achieving a big score. Other individual performances of note were those of David Robertson, John Fraser and Alastair Maitland who all had scores at one time or another throughout the season but unfortunately, rarely did three or four batsmen score in the same game. Forbes Stuart and John Fraser bowled the majority of overs and performed very well, but as in the Strathmore XI there is a lack of depth in the bowling.

46

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

For the second season Stewart Forbes led the Reserve Grade XI with a refreshing keenness and it is to be hoped that the young schoolboys will continue to play for the 3rd XI next season, for if the section is to survive it is imperative that they do.

Once again we are indebted to Mr. Mathews and his assistant Mr. Milne for the attention they give the cricket section throughout the summer months and to the girls who assisted with the teas at Rubislaw.

AVERAGES

Total

Av. 29.47

Strathmore XI-Batting J. B. Rennie A. J. Simpson H. E. Morrison

Inns 18 zo 19

N.O. 1

H.S. Io9*

2

1

47 66

294

16.33

Grade XI D. J. F. Robertson R. A. Binner J. G. N. Fraser

6

z

38

129

11 II

2

z

36 62

190 150

32.25 21.I1 16.67

501 364

20.22

Strathmore XI-Bowling W. A. Stewart C. Mills J. B. Rennie

O.

AI.

R.

W.

314.2 88.3

Go 25

795 243

52

74.1

9

Grade XI F. M. Stuart J. G. N. Fraser

104.5

27

206

27

7.63

85.1

10

267

29

9.21

265

15

13

Av. 15.29 16.20 20.38

N. G. M. WArr, Match Secretary

Thomas M. Arnott* (1937-50) has been promoted to the post of Regional Sales Manager of the plastics division of the Marley Group of companies. Although resident in Glasgow he covers an area extending south of Birmingham.

Philip Thomson Barron (195o-56), NI.B., CH.B., has been in practice for some time in Canada. He recently became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Alistair David George Barton* (1961-67), nt.A., has started a two year training course for Hospital Administration with the SouthEastern Regional Hospital Board in Edinburgh. He graduated M.A. (Hons) from Aberdeen University in July 197►.

Malcolm Booth (1952-56) who was formerly with Alexander Hall & Sons (Builders) Ltd., in Aberdeen, is now a surveyor with the National Housing Authority of the Trinidad and Tobago Government. He lives in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Kenneth Forbes Brown* (1935-47), M.B.E., has been appointed general manager of Mitchell Cotts & Co. (Far East) Ltd. This, one of Britain's largest trading and manufacturing companies, has just commenced operations in Singapore and will be dealing in both light and heavy machinery, and textiles.

David Chillas (1966-71) has received his first Scottish Golf Cap at the age of seventeen. The son of a former Scottish International Bowler, he has since turned professional and a bright future in the game is forecast for him.

Jon Christiansen (I96z-68) a former staunch member of the School Rugby 1st XV has changed his code of football, and has signed as centre-forward for Arbroath F.C. Andrew Clark (1965-71) has just been commissioned as Navigator in the Royal Air Force after completing a course at the Officer Cadet Training Unit, Henlow, Bedfordshire. Pilot-Officer Clark joined the R.A.F. in July this year.

Michael Clark (1948-56) is a Lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm. He was recently involved in the rescue by Sea King Helicopter of Naval ratings in the English Channel, and was the first man to be winched on to the Torrey Canyon, when the stricken oil tanker made headlines some years ago. At present stationed at Culdrose in Cornwall, he is a former member of Aberdeen Sea Cadet Unit, of which his father is Chairman.

47

48

Aberdeen Grammar School Afagaine

William Catto Connon (1928-40) who is in practice as a Solicitor in Dufftown has been appointed part-time Town Clerk of Grantown-onSpey.

Bramwell William Harold Cook* (1936-39) is now chief examiner in school music for the University of London, and also director of music at Dulwich Honor Oak Grammar School. Mr. Cook is organist at St. Pancras Parish Church.

John Whitby Cradock* (1940-46), c.A., has been appointed chairman of the Aberdeen Fishing Vessel Owners Association. Aged 42 he is one of the youngest to hold the office and is a director of the Trawl-owners Richard Irvin & Son Ltd. He is a keen golfer and is a member of Royal Aberdeen.

Eric Kennedy Cruickshank* (192o-3z), O.B.E., has been appointed to the Chair of Post-Graduate Medical Education at Glasgow University.

Born in Dumfries, went from School to Aberdeen University and graduated with Honours in 1937. After a year as a research fellow in surgery at Harvard University he was appointed an assistant at Aberdeen University in the Department of Medicine. In 1940 he served with the R.A.M.C. in Singapore and became a prisoner of the Japanese at Changi for three and a half years. He was twice mentioned in dispatches.

Professor Cruickshank was appointed Lecturer in Medicine at Aberdeen in 1946 and Senior Lecturer in 1948. Since 1951 he has been Professor of Medicine in the University of the West Indies. In 5961 he became an O.B.E. Arthur Ian Greenwood Davidson (1944-54) who has been Senior Registrar at Woodend Hospital for the past two years has been appointed consultant surgeon for the Perth area of the Eastern Regional Hospital Board.

A 1960 Graduate from Aberdeen University where he was awarded the Keith Gold Medal in Surgery, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1965. The same year he graduated Master of Surgery with Honours. In 1963 he spent a year as a research fellow in surgery at the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. Peter Ian Davidson* (1960-64) is in practice as an assistant with Messrs. T. Duncan & Co., Solicitors in Montrose.

Kenneth Stroud Duncan* (1948-54), A.A.C.C.A., F.T.I.I., who has been with the Tax Division of Texaco Trinidad Inc., for the past few years, has now returned to the U.K. and is meantime resident in Surrey.

Douglas Gibb Fowlie* (x950-64) M.B., CH.B., is now serving in the R.A.F. with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He is at present stationed at the R.A.F. Medical Training Establishment at Halton, Bucks. and this season has represented the R.A.F. Combined Services, and London Scottish at rugby.

Robert Kellas Hall* (1928-38) was ordained and inducted to the Charge of Glencorse and Roslin in December 1968.

On leaving School he entered banking but resigned in 1963 to study for the ministry of the Church of Scotland. He became a Licentiate in

Notes About Old Boy

49 Theology of Edinburgh University in 1967 and until accepting his present charge was an assistant at Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh.

Ronald Thomas Hamilton (1936-5o) has become a director of Mitchell Construction Co. Ltd. for their North-East of England Region. A son of the late Professor Henry Hamilton of the Chair of Political Economy at Aberdeen University, he has represented F.P.s at both rugby and cricket. He is a graduate of Aberdeen University.

Dennis Hay* (1952-59) is one of only two Scots chosen for the Great Britain Hockey Party to take part in the All-India Tournament in Delhi, and also three Test Matches against India. A teacher of Physical Education in Edinburgh, he already holds 6 British Caps, in addition to a host of Scottish Honours.

William Hogg* (1958-63) was winner of the Aberdeen Quaich Golf Tournament when he defeated the Scottish International and Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie in the final. He also figured prominently in the British Amateur Championship.

Dennis Kelly* (1940-49) a Director of Messrs. Kelly of Cults, recently won a holiday in Majorca for two, in a sales promotion run by Aberdeen & District Milk Marketing Board.

James Ritchie Leith* (1917-24), C.A., Managing Director of Ellis & McHardy, Ltd., has been elected Dean of Guild in Aberdeen.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1929 and was with a London firm before being appointed Secretary of Associated Coal Owners Limited, Edinburgh. He joined his present firm in 1946.

Since 1954 he has been Honorary Netherlands Vice-Consul at Aberdeen for the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine, Moray and Nairn, and for distinguished consular service was awarded the Cross of Chevalier in The Order of Orange Nassau.

Bertram Andrew Lyon* (1954-58) was ordained by the Presbytery of Bathgate on 7 October 1971 and inducted to his first charge, St. Andrew's Church of Scotland, Harthill, Lanarkshire.

Robert Dewar Murray Macleod (1945-54), M.H., cx.s., has been appointed to the newly created post of Consultant in Geriatric and General Medicine at Elgin, based at Dr. Gray's Hospital.

The post, a combined appointment between the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board and Moray & Nairn County Council, is looked on as an important step in the care of patients in Moray.

Since graduating from Aberdeen University in 1960 he has worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, and for the last five years has been senior registrar in the Geriatric Unit of the Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh. A former Scottish hurdles champion, he has represented F.P.s and Edinburgh Wanderers at rugby and last year was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to visit Russia and Denmark for research into ageing and provision for the elderly.

W. Alastair L. Marr* (1919-23), M.H.E., retired from tea-planting in India in 1966. He now lives in Midlothian and has a post as Library Assistant in the National Library of Scotland.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatint Charles Wallace Matheson* (1925-34) is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church of England at Upton, Wirral, Cheshire. On leaving School he entered banking for two years, and for the next eighteen years he was a Structural and Civil Engineer. He began theological studies in 1954. Since being ordained in 1957 he has held charges at Wolverhampton and Scunthorpe.

Alastair Mathieson* (1952-58) a partner in the well-known legal firm of Paull & Williamsons is meantime President of Aberdeen Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Nigel Frederick Matthews (1958-6o) has been admitted to the Faculty of Advocates. A lecturer in International Law at Dundee University, he is a graduate of Edinburgh University and of the College of Europe, Brugcs, Belgium.

William Melvin McDonald (1955-6o) has been appointed a Director of Irvine Gordon & Co. (Northern) Insurance Brokers and Estate Agents. On leaving School he was employed by the General Accident Assurance Co. in Aberdeen before joining his present firm as an Inspector. In 1969 he was promoted to the managership of their Manchester Office.

Daniel Joseph McKay (1923-29) has been invited by President Julius K. Nyrcre of Tanzania to attend the celebrations of the loth Anniversary of Independence at Dar-es-Salaam in December.

He was formerly a senior member of the Colonial Service, serving as a District Commissioner in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tanganyika. On three separate occasions he lowered the Union Jack on the granting of independence to these Territories.

Since his retirement from Foreign Service ten years ago he has been living in Hythe, Kent and has been employed at the Army Weapon Research Station in Hythe.

James Andrew Graeme Mearns* (1939-5o) has been elected a Member of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. He is managing director of Mearns & Gill Advertising Ltd. a company formed in May 1971 by the merger of two Aberdeen advertising agencies, Mearns Publicity Service Ltd. and J. D. Gill Advertising Service.

George Murray (1947-5z) has received a commendation from the Chief Constable of Aberdeen for his part in the capture of a youth who was subsequently convicted of the murder, by stabbing, of a young girl in Union Street.

A teacher at Woodlands School for handicapped children, he has been several times captain of the Aberdeenshire Cricket XI and in 197o won the Cup presented for all-Scotland competition for Single-Wicket Cricket, beating several club professionals on his way to success.

Alistair E. Philip* (1943-56) has just taken up an appointment as Principal Psychologist and Head of the Department of Psychology at Bangour Village Hospital, West Lothian. For the past few years he has been on the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, in Edinburgh University.

5o

Club Centre

5I Along with Neil Buxton, Dennis Hay, Ian McLeod and Martin Campbell he plays hockey for Inverleith. A former F.P. Hockey captain, he has also captained Inverleith.

Alan Crombie Robertson Watt* (1925-37) has been appointed full-time Chairman of the North-East Industrial Tribunal. For the past zo years he has been a partner in the well known city legal firm of Gray & Kellas, an all-F.P. partnership. For many years he was Editor of the Magazine and has played a prominent part in the affairs of the F.P. Club.

Club Centre As our second year draws to a close we are pleased to be able to report that the Centre continues to progress. Our current earnings are at a satisfactory level, although always capable of improvement. The premises have been improved during the summer with the surfacing of the driveway and the provision of some additional car parking space.

There has also been completed a scheme of minor works to improve ventilation in both bars, and in particular the Sports Bar where the atmosphere has been inclined to get a trifle thick on busy evenings.

These improvements, together with further payments towards our original alteration costs, are having to be made from revenue, and this will reflect disappointingly in the figures at the end of the year. These, however, are non-recurring costs, and we look forward to the future with confidence.

Mr. and Mrs. Mackie continue to look after us and our premises with undiminished zeal, despite a few disturbed nights when the burglar alarm has played tricks. If you have not yet sampled Mrs. Mackie's catering it is more than time you booked a meal. If you don't believe the Secretary, ask anyone who attended our Second Anniversary Luncheon on 17 October, when Mrs. Mackie provided us with a marvellous buffet. To her, and to Doug. Georgeson who bore the main burden of organising the function, we are most grateful. Many of us hope this will become an annual event.

Centre subscriptions are due on 1st January and must be paid in the course of that month.

The Annual Dinner The annual November safari of dining and wining, alias the F.P. Club's dinner, took us this year to the vast open spaces of the Beach Ballroom on a bitterly cold winter's night.

There were some critical remarks about the venue .. . "this magnificent edifice of which the less said the better" (Mr. A. A. Hyland) .. . but if the intimacy of the normal hotel venues was missing, the company of 190 made up for it with cosy bonhomie.

The three main speakers set a high oratorical note.

The Club's President, Mr. J. S. G. Munro, chaired the proceedings with vigour and panache; the principal guest, the Rt. Hon. Lord Polwarth, issued a stirring challenge for the school to meet change square in the eye and emerge even stronger, and the Rector, Mr. John V. Skinner, produced his customary concise, encouraging, optimistic and stylistic address.

And such was the alacrity of the table service, that the dinner proper finished well ahead of schedule, allowing for an extended, and much appreciated, half time break.

Principal guest of the evening was Lord Polwarth, chairman of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry), and Chancellor of Aberdeen University.

He began his toast "The Club and School" by expressing his pleasure at having been invited. He was especially pleased because of his connections with the city—the university, and the fact that his uncle by marriage was Bishop Frederick Dean, and Polwarth Road in Aberdeen was called after his grandfather who had been Prison Commissioner for Scotland.

He was impressed by our "admirable" School Magatine, he said, ... the strength and vitality of the Club, and the support of the F.P.s to the School. That support was world-wide, he commented, listing our branches in various corners of the world.

Lord Polwarth went on to speak about the changes in the School.

"Many of your members show concern at changes imposed on the School as to its character and its name. I can well understand you being worried at what seems a fundamental change."

He realised the importance of history and tradition in any institution of longstanding, but warned that one must be careful not to let history and tradition become an excuse for resisting change and maintaining the status quo.

This resistance to change was something of a failing among Scots, and the consequences could be seen in older industries like UCS, and in education. It was doubtful if we could still boast that our educational system excelled, he commented.

No institution could maintain its standing unless it was prepared to accept change and adapt itself.

"Nor is change usually so bad when seen in retrospect, as it seemed in advance", reflected Lord Polwarth, and he went on to speak of how changes at the university including large increases in the intake of 52

The Annual Dinner

53 students were presenting problems, but it would probably work out alright in the end.

Every living organism was invigorated and made more hardy by cross breeding, he pointed out.

"Your School is going through a process of this kind from which it may well emerge stronger and more vigorous.

"And if academic standards are diluted somewhat will that matter so much? It is not always the most successful academically who turn out the most successful later in life—Winston Churchill for example."

The Club's function was not just to be the guardian of the ethos and traditions of the School.

Important though that was, its function was also to give active support and encouragement to those who run the school—the Rector in particular—in surmounting the trials and problems which transition brought.

"A few years are nothing in the life of an institution like yours, and when the politicians with their prejudices and whims are gone, they will be seen to have made no more than a momentary ruffle on the surface of that great stream of learning which your school represents— a stream with its source back in the hills of the distant past, and which with God's grace, like all great streams, will flow on broader and deeper and stronger into the future."

DIFFICULT PREDICTION

The Rector, Mr. John V. Skinner, hastened to assure the company ‘`... the School is thriving and has suffered as yet no cataclysmic change from the introduction of comprehensive education".

But this could be expected, he explained, with such changes as had been introduced, being slight—having virtually no impact on the character and ethos of the school as a whole.

A clearer picture might emerge in a year or so, and at this stage prediction was difficult.

Mr. Skinner saw room for guarded optimism, and went on to declare: "There is every reason to believe that the school will continue to thrive and to give as good an account of itself as it has done in the past."

One had to expect changes. As he had often said, the only thing constant in education today was the constancy of change.

Listing all the innovations facing the modern teacher as traditional forms of learning come in for increasing criticism, Mr. Skinner commented that the School was succeeding as well as most of its contemporaries in adapting to this new situation.

He went on tellingly: "We are after all well equipped in human terms to cope with the situation."

There were the boys, he said, and talked of the problems facing them in the modern society.

"We must never forget that the youth of today are exposed to stresses and strains unknown in the past ... in particular the insidious and frightening pressures of the mass media."

The wonder, he said, was that they were so normal.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 54 Then a few words of praise for the boys. "By and large they are just as interesting, rewarding and exasperating to work with as they were when I started teaching over 3 5 years ago."

The staff also came in for congratulations. "If we are coping with the multifarious demands made on us today, it is in no small measure due to the devotion and loyalty of the staff of the School."

AMPLE TESTIMONY

And finally a big pat on the back for the F.P.s.

Said Mr. Skinner, "Your own presence here tonight is ample testimony to the continued interest and support you give to the School.

"As rector he was at all times conscious of the debt the School owed to its F.P.s ... and believe me, never more so than at this difficult transitional period in its history."

There was a sterling reply to Lord Polwarth's toast from the President, Mr. Munro, on behalf of the Club, who commented that this was the fifth time he had addressed the annual dinner.

Thanking Lord Polwarth, he recalled that the Club had now been functioning for 78 years . . . "and a review of its activities gives rise to the justifiable claim that at no time has it been serving a more purposeful existence, and a little trumpet blowing is not overdue".

Membership remained steady at about 2,400, and it was most encouraging that staff membership was now 29.

And a plug for the Magazine. "The Magazine continues, and to those who criticise it I say let them step forward and DO BETTER." There were five active sports sections—cricket, hockey, golf, rugby and swimming and of these "pride of place must go to the hockey section whose record of achievement is quite fantastic".

The President proceeded to list the achievements and mentioned the "scores" of international caps gained by Innes Watt, James Whyte, Dennis Hay, Neil Burton, Fred Lawson, and Ken Hay. DEBT OF GRATITUDE

And he added "Both school and club owe a great debt of gratitude to Bob McNay, now head of Dumfries Academy".

He also paid tribute to the reflected glory brought to the School and club by Dr. D. W. C. Smith, the manager of the magnificent Lions team in New Zealand.

The Club centre was fulfilling a need so far as the younger members were concerned, he said, ". .. but so far as the older or more elderly members go the position is not all it might be".

It was easy for such members to be critical of the provision made for them, "but the position of the Committee is logical in that unless such members by their presence and support indicate their requirements— as the younger members have done—then it is not possible to proceed to meet their wishes".

Turning to the School, Mr. Munro commented that his support for it did not arise from any nostalgic memory of days gone by, although he recalled with appreciation what he now knew to be the unrivalled

The Annual Dinner 55 grounding in the 3 R's, ". . . but from the welcome I received from the F.P. Club upon my return from the Edinburgh Academy, and from the infectious loyalty that all F.P.s have for their old school".

He had founded lasting friendships with several ex-members of staff of whom he mentioned three—the late Jimmy Eddison, the late Colin MacIver and : "Freddie Edwards alias Sporting Sam, whose services to School and Club alike are unique and are likely to remain so. It is a cause for regret that he has never held the office I now hold and which he richly deserves, but the reason for that is, I believe, a misplaced sense of modesty."

Then, in splendid syle, our president launched an attack on those who had changed the character of our School, saying: "The Aberdeen Grammar School has been subjected to a campaign by bigotted local politicians the object of which was to level it down to that of the lowest common denominator—a campaign which terminated with the final dastardly, illogical, socially vicious act, namely, to abolish the name the Aberdeen Grammar School.

"Why then is it that this large gathering of F.P.s assemble bringing with them numerous friends to toast the Aberdeen Grammar School.

Surely it is not just bricks and mortar they come to honour. No it is primarily the staff both past and present to whom they wish to pay tribute.

GOOD BEHAVIOUR

"Staff who by their devotedness and even by their eccentricities succeeded in bringing the best out of not always too willing and very often thick-headed pupils, and at the same time managed to instil in them the virtues of discipline, good behaviour and respect for and the need to help others.

"And so this evening when we remember with appreciation the Rectors and Staff of our School years we should also keep in mind those who in the face of enormous difficulties spare no effort to uphold the name of the Aberdeen Grammar School."

He congratulated Mr. Skinner, who within the straightjacket placed upon him by "misguided employers"—had "striven and fought to maintain the best traditions of the School, but at the same time you have not hesitated to innovate and renovate".

The President then pleaded for active and energetic support from the F.P.s for the Rector and staff.

"It is no use just attending the annual dinner and then leaving it to someone else to look after the School and Club—that is the malaise that has contributed only too effectively to the present situation."

Mr. Munro concluded by thanking Mr. Skinner and all his staff and promised them the support of the F.P.s in "continuing to maintain the great traditions in every sphere of The Aberdeen Grammar School."

The fiery speech was welcomed by a great ovation.

The honour of proposing the toast of "The Guests" fell this year to one of our legal offspring, Mr. Ian M. S. Park, who carried out the task

56

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

comprehensively, with commendable academic wit (although sometimes a trifle obtuse) and aplomb, even managing to squeeze in a disparaging reference to Jimmy Reid, the UCS shop steward.

His light-hearted tone provided the ideal tone for Mr. Alfred A. Hyland's reply on behalf of the guests—a reply not entirely devoid of sharp satire, and bolstered by some harmless ribaldry which was greeted with great enthusiasm from the assembled throng.

Mr. Ian Lewis Smith proposed the vote of thanks to the chairman pertinently and succinctly, and with the toast "Bon Accord" and lusty singing of Auld Lang Syne, the formalities came to an end.

Those who attended the dinner: 1905 J. Leith (1905-17).

1906 D. P. Cochran (1906-x5).

1907 J. L. Riddell (1907-16), G. R. Fraser (1907-8), E. J. Galloway (1907-18).

1908 Dr. J. Cooper (1908-14), A. J. M. Edwards (1908-21).

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

1910 W. G. now (1910-22), I. G. McPherson (1910-17), A. Gray (1910-21), L. R. Harper (191o-17).

19xI R. J. Maitland (1911-18).

1913 Dr. M. G. Gibb (1913-22), Dr. W. S. Milne (1913-22), G. Raffan (1913-22), J. B. Esslemont (191 3-24)1914 W. G. Hutcheon (191 4-23)1915 W. W. Porter (1915-23).

1916 G. P. Fyfe (1916-24), D. Hanna (1916-22), G. Crombie (1916-21), A. M. Campbell (1916-27).

1917 I. L. Smith (1917-30).

1918 I. G. Shinnie (1918-28), A. D. Troup (1918-22), Dr. L. G. Boyd (1918-29), R. H. Duguid (1918-23), J. R. Carry (1918-30), W. R. Wisely (1918-24).

1919 P. Crombie (1919-24), J. Alexander (1919-28).

19zo N. F. Wisely (1920-32).

1922 J. S. G. Munro (1922-28).

1923 I. A. F. David (1923-4o), G. E. C. Barton (1923-26), Dr. J. R. S. Inns (192;35)1924 J. Reid (1924-34)1915 A. C. R. Watt (1925-37), W. L. Forbes (1925-28), G. C. Massie (1925-38).

1926 J. S. Manley (1926-31), H. M. R. Watt (1926-38).

1929 D. N. Georgeson (1929-40).

1930 W. L. Connon (1930-40).

1932 Dr. A. W. McIntosh (1932-45).

1933 Dr. R. F. F. Steven (1933-43).

1934 E. J. MacRae (1934-47), B. K. Crookshanks (19;4-46).

1 935 P. G. Innes (1935-49), T. I. Morrison (1935-47)x937 J. D. Rust (1937-48), A. M. Davidson (1937-45), D. N. Annand (1 937-49).

1938 J. A. G. Mearns (1938-50), J. McBain (1938-51).

1939 W. Anderson (1939-5I), S. A. C. Robertson (1939-51).

1940 Dr. A. A. Lawrence (194o-46).

1941 W. D. Mackie (1941-55), J• W. Cradock (1941-46).

1942 W. S. Wilson (1942-55), J. Galloway (1942-56), A. M. Campbell (1942-53), I. M. S. Park (1942-50).

1943 D. A. Brittain (1943-49)• 1944 Dr. D. R. Harper (1944-58), E. Grieve (,944-50), Dr. D. B. Galloway (194458), J. C. A. Michic (1 944-58), A. K. Campbell (1944-53)•

Centre Report

57

1946 G. D. Reid 0946-60, R. S. Brown (1946-55), H. M. Aird 0946-61), D. F. Ross (1946-60).

1947 J. B. Rennie (1947-53), A. R. Smith (1947-61), J. M. Clark (1 947-59), J. P. Drummond (1947-58).

1948 M. G. Henderson (1948-60), W. A. Milne (1948-53).

1949 R. S. Mackay (1949-57).

195o H. A. B. Harper (195o-57).

1951 R. C. Shirreffs (1951-65), D. K. Yule (1951-65), J. F. Hendry (1951-65), H. Reid (195 t-61).

M. J. Shirreffs (1932-64).

195 2 1954 D. W. Smith (1 954-6 5). ism E. F. N. Rennie (1955-68).

1957 N. Cromar (1957-63).

1959 M. A. Batchelor (1959-65), R. G. Elrick (1959-63), A. G. Campbell (1959-65), G. G. Lewis 0959-65), A. F. Shearer (1959-65), B. Drummond (1959-65).

1963 J. S. Lessells (1963-69), N. G. M. Watt (1963-69).

1964 N. S. Batchelor (1964-70).

Honorary Members—W. W. Dickie, J. V. Skinner.

Staff Members—J. Bradbury, A. Bruce, R. S. Falconer, I. T. Stephen, M. Stewart, J. Will, P. Scott, A. Garrow, J. D. Morrison, D. Hawksworth.

F.P.s Present—but no dates—R. L. Milne, J. G. Clark, I. R. McLeod, W. G. Gray.

Centre Report London The 1971 A.G.M. of the London Centre was held at the Caledonian Club on 7 October. As usual, the meeting was preceded by an informal and convivial meal. Mr. Gilbert Anderson, the Centre's President, was in the chair, and eleven other members were present.

The A.G.M. is one of the two main functions of the London Centre.

The other is the Annual Dinner to be held, also in the Caledonian Club, on Friday, 3 December. It is usual, of course, for the Dinner to generate a much larger attendance than the A.G.M. The Centre is especially pleased that one of its members, Dr. Doug.

Smith should have been chosen as manager of the successful British Lions tour in 1971.

The Centre is in touch with other similar institutions in London, such as the London Gordonians, and the Aberdeen University Club.

Either independently or in collaboration with such groups, it is hoped to introduce further social functions in the London area.

Comparatively speaking, the London Centre has a large membership, but the very wide geographic distribution of members' home addresses over the South-East rather militates against large attendances at meetings. However, members of the Centre are always delighted to welcome exiled Grammarians—and that welcome is by no means restricted to "official" meetings or functions. If any F.P. is coining to London, or within a hundred miles or so of it, he is cordially invited to contact the London Centre Secretary, Robert Falconer (1944-58) whose address is 5o Hilland Rise, Headley, Bordon, Hants. (Telephones: Home—Headley Down 3592 or Office—ox 240 2205). The

58

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

same invitation is extended to any F.P.s who may already have slipped surreptitiously into London territory without the Centre's having noticed it!

Marriages Auld* (I953-64).—At Mannofield Church, Aberdeen, on 18 September 1971, STEWART RAESIDE AULD, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ian Auld, 22 Hammerfield Avenue, Aberdeen, to Patricia Helen, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Riddell, 42 Deeside Crescent, Mannofield, Aberdeen.

Barton (1961-67).—At St. Michael's Church, Slateford Road, Edinburgh, ALISTAIR DAVID GEORGE BARTON, to Shiela Anne Mary Campbell.

Fowlie* (195o-64).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 5 August 1971, DOUGLAS GIBB FOWLIE, younger son of Mrs. I. F. Fowlie, 1 Harlaw Terrace, Aberdeen, and of the late Dr. Herbert Fowlie, to Marjory Anne Russell, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. F. Donaldson, 96 Forest Avenue, Aberdeen.

Gracie* (i953-66).—At St. Peter's Church, Crownhill, Plymouth, on IO July 1971, ALISTAIR GEORGE GRACIE, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Gracie, it Fernielea Crescent, Aberdeen, to Wendy Corbett, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Corbett, 1 Nicholson Road, Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon.

Inkson* (r96o-66).—At Ruthrieston South Church, Aberdeen, DENNIS WRIGHT INicsoN, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. James Inkson, ro Beechgrove Place, Aberdeen, to Alison Margaret, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Rae, 17 Broomhill Avenue, Aberdeen.

King* (1951-6o).—At St. Machar Cathedral, Aberdeen, on 18 September 1972, MICHAEL GEORGE KING, son of the late George T. King and Mrs. M. A. King, 14 Hutcheon Gardens, Bridge of Don. Aberdeen, to Margaret Anne, second daughter of the late Reverend Frank Schaefer and of Mrs. A. E. Schaefer, 1445 Summit Avenue, Ames, Iowa, U.S.A. Morrice (i948-62).—At Aberdeen Registrar's Office, on 22 September 1971, ALAN FERGUSON MORRICE, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Morrice, 19 Mayfield Gardens, Aberdeen, to Janette, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Corbett, Port Vasgo, Melness, Sutherland.

Pirie* (1961-66).—ALAN DAVID PIRIE, 49 Middlefield Place, Aberdeen, to Patricia, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Mundie, 15 Beechwood Avenue, Aberdeen.

Richardson (1948-62).-At Banchory Ternan West Church, on a July 1971, JAIN MILNE RICHARDSON, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Richardson, 44o North Deeside Road, Cults, to Judith Kathryn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Lindsay, Drumelzier, Banchory.

Smith* (1954-67).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 6 August 1971, JOHN BOWER SMITH, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Smith, Kilrenny, Victoria Street, Insch, to Fiona Phyllis, daughter of Captain and Mrs. Mair, 7 Windsor Place, Aberdeen.

Obituaries

Former President Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Jackson Butch art* (1890-99), D.S.O., O.B.E., T.D., D.L., LL.D., D.L., died at his home in Aberdeen in August, 1971 aged eighty-nine. He was one of five brothers who attended the School.

Known to several generations of F.P.s through one or other of his many interests and spheres of influence Col. Butchart was honoured by the F.P. Club with appointment as President in 1955/56. Concurrently he was president of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

He had graduated B.L. with distinction at Aberdeen in 1905 and after a spell at Edinburgh University he qualified as a law agent in 1906.

From 1908-19 he was a partner in his father's firm of Butchart & Rennet, advocates, Aberdeen, although this period was broken by war service in France, Egypt and Palestine. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1918 and the Star of Roumania (Officer Class) in 1919.

In 1919 Col. Butchart was appointed secretary, factor and law agent of Aberdeen University and after his rctiral as secretary in 1952 he continued as law agent for a further ten years. During that long period of transition his forceful personality, vitality and sheer enthusiasm were a by-word in University circles and further afield. An all-round sportsman, he was in turn rugby player and coach, and then in 1952/53 honorary president of the North District Rugby Union. He was a skier of some skill and was one-time president of the Scottish Ski Club, and indeed he was ski-ing and mountaineering until not many years ago. The new indoor Games Pavilion of the University was fittingly named "Butchart Recreation Hall" when it was opened a year or two ago. He had earlier commanded the University O.T.C. from 1925-33 and was later its first honorary colonel. During 1940-45 he served in the Home Guard, and in 1946-5 o was chairman of the City of Aberdeen Territorial & Auxiliary Forces Association.

Col. Butchart had a life-long association with the Boy Scout Movement, was for many years County Commissioner for the City of Aberdeen, and in 195o received the Movement's highest award, the Silver Acorn. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Aberdeen in 1948, awarded the O.B.E. in 1951 and given the honorary degree of LL.D. from his Alma Mater in 1952 just before his retiral.

On demitting office as our Club President, Col. Butchart was thanked for the "vigorous manner" in which he had carried out his duties.

This expression amply testifies to the qualities of the man, and over the long years since he was himself a pupil his affection and loyalty for the School remained undimmed. He was keenly interested in all that the School achieved and he was deeply hurt by many needless changes in its status; indeed as recently as 1970, when Rubislaw Academy was created, he was all for the removal of many of the gifts of previous 59

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine generations of F.P.s "who gave them to Aberdeen Grammar School and not to this new-fangled place dreamed up by the School's misguided governors in the Town House."

6o

Former Secretary and Treasurer John Scott MacLachlan* (1922-32), M.A., LL.B., T.D., died at his home in Aberdeen on 7 September 1971 after a short illness. He was aged fifty-seven and his passing brought to an end a life-time of devotion to the School.

He was a prefect in 1930-31, Senior Prefect in 1 931-3 2, holder of a Rugby Cap and Cricket Colours, President of the "Debater" and of the Dramatic Society, Secretary of the Tennis Club and Sports Editor of the Magazine. Not surprisingly, he was winner of the All-Round Trophy in 1932. At University he graduated in arts in 1935 and law in 1937; he was president of the Students' Representative Council in 1936-37, Chairman of the 1937 Charities Campaign, and president of the Scottish National Union of Students.

Pre-1939 Scottie was a Territorial Officer in 51st (Highland) Divisional Signals and after mobilisation he served in France in 1939-40; later he was an instructor at Royal Signals O.C.T.U. at Catterick, and after D-Day he returned to France as a Major. He was wounded during the Rhine crossing in March 1945 and was demobilised in November 1945.

He had served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Carle Duthie & Ferries, but after the war he joined Messrs. G. H. Bower & Gibb, advocates, of which firm he was sole partner until 1965. He served for several years as a Progressive Town Councillor.

Scottie's enthusiasm for the F.P. Club was kindled as soon as he left School and never abated. He was an active member of the Rugby and Cricket Sections pre-war and was first appointed to the Executive in 1934. In 1946 he succeeded the late Theodore Watt as Secretary and Treasurer of the Club—a challenging job at any time but following such a predecessor it must have been a daunting task. For the long period of nineteen years, until he retired in 1965, Scottie guided the affairs of the Club with enthusiasm and single-minded devotion. To administer a Club of over aooo members spread the length and breadth of the world is no small task and takes up more time than most are prepared to spend. Scottie never found the task a burden, but rather rejoiced in anything that he could do to further the Club's ideals and purposes and to foster and draw ever-closer the links binding Club and School. It came as no surprise to those who knew him best when the President, in paying tribute to him at the Annual Dinner, quoted Scottie's last words to him a day or two before he died—"I'll try to make it for the F.P. Dinner, Jim." No one knows better than his successor how methodically the Club's affairs were administered, how deeply we are in Scottie's debt, or how richly he deserved our thanks

Obituaries

61

for a job well done. To his widow and daughter F.P.s everywhere send their warm sympathy. Among the large company of mourners at his funeral service, including many F.P.s, was an almost complete turn-out of those who had served on the Executive during his term of office. Several members of staff were present from the School and the presence of six Prefects was a fitting tribute to the links Scottie did so much to strengthen.

William Joseph Duncan* (i9t5-22) died in Aberdeen on zz November 1971, aged 68. Having entered his father's licensed grocers business in t9zo, on a temporary basis until he secured an appointment in Banking he in the end stayed on to become the third generation of his family in the trade. At the time of his death he was in partnership with his brother as proprietors of the Glentanar Bar having been in the trade for more than fifty years.

Bettie James Grant (1911-17), M.A., died in Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen, aged 72. He graduated with Honours in Classics from Aberdeen University in 1922 and subsequently taught for short spells at Inverurie Academy and Falkirk High School before joining the staff of the Central School Aberdeen in 1926. He retired as Deputy Rector of Aberdeen Academy in 1964 after 37 years at the School. For many years he was a member of Aberdeen Choral Society.

Dr. Stanley Frederick Lindsay* (193o-32), M.H., ch.B., died at Banchory age 56 years. He graduated from Aberdeen University in 1937 and was senior casualty Officer at Dundee Royal Infirmary in 1938.

Subsequently he was a House Surgeon at Macclesfield until volunteering for War Service in 1939. From 1939-45 he was a Regimental Medical Officer serving in France, Belgium, Western Desert, Syria, Palestine and the Greek Islands. From 1947-48 he was O.C. toy Medical Company and in 1948 became Assistant Director of Medical Services with the British Troops in Austria. On return to Aberdeen he was Medical Officer in the Out-Patient Department at the Royal Infirmary, before setting up in practice in Banchory in 1949. He was an Elder of Banchory East Ternan Church.

Captain Campbell Grant McKenzie* (1910-1z) died on 2 March 1971, age 76. He joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1915 and saw service in France with the znd Battalion until being wounded later in that year. Having recovered from his wounds he returned to France to join the 14th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders until 1918 when he rejoined the 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He was demobbed in 1919 with the rank of Captain. After demobilisation he received appointment to the Political Service in Nigeria where he served until retirement in 1949. Since retirement he has been living at New Kinord House, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire.

Douglas George Milne (1904-08) died in Slough on zz October 1971, aged ~9. He was connected with the firm of D. Milne & Sons in Aberdeen and took a prominent part in the affairs of Aberdeen Caravan Club.

62

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Dr. Robert Simpson Snowie (1903-8), m.s., cm.s., died on 19 September 1971, aged 8o years, at Ilkley, Yorkshire. Son of an Aberdeen Stonecutter he graduated at Aberdeen in 1913 and spent most of his working career in England, firstly at Burton on Trent and subsequently in Yorkshire.

Dr. Reginald Joseph Twort (1916-25), M.A.(Cantab), M.D., F.R.C.P., died at his home in Nottingham on 16 June 1971, aged 6o years. He gained a scholarship at Cambridge and graduated M.A. First Class Honours in Natural Science in 1932. He then returned to Aberdeen and qualified as a Doctor, with distinction, in 1936. After war service when he attained the rank of Wing Commander he moved to Nottingham, and at the time of his death he was Senior Consultant Physician at Nottingham General Hospital.

Norval Stewart Williamson* (1904-7) died at Minehead, Somerset on 28 August 1971, aged 8o years. He saw service in France in the First World War and was demobbed as a Lieutenant. Subsequently he was employed by the National Provincial Bank.

CLUB CONSULS AFRICA Kenya: John Morrison Smith (1924-32), Messrs A. Baumann and Co. Ltd., Box f38.

Nairobi, Kenya.

Rhodesia: Ernest Duncan Brown (1913-x7), P.O. Box 631 Umtali, Rhodesia, South Africa: Professor William Soutar Mackie (1895-1901), M.A., B.A., Drumoak, Greenfield Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town.

AMERICA George Harley Deleurere (1957-58), P.O. Box ro, Hendricks, West Virginia 26271, U.S.A. CANADA Ontario: Richard William Geater (1938-47), 436 Sheppard Avenue East, Willowdale.

Quebec: Norman MacKinnon (1907-16), B.sc., The Chateau Apartments, 1321 Sherbrooke Street West, Apartment D-x, Montreal.

Ottawa: Wallace Troup (1907-12), M.D., 49 Powell Avenue, Ottawa, 1.

Alberta: Gilbert Douglas Menzies (1933- 43), 15414, 74th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta.

Vancouver: George Barclay Rickart (1932-3o), The Vancouver Insurance Agents' Association, 325 Howe Street, Vancouver x, B.C. MEXICO Patrick John Milroy Walker (r924-so), c.A., Sierra Fria 330, Mexico to, D.F. FALKLAND ISLANDS Robert Stewart Slessor (1927-29), H.R., CH.B., S.14.0., Port Stanley.

Missing Members

63

SOUTH AMERICA Brazil: James Irvine Melville (1917-21), The Royal Bank of Canada, P.O. Box 8065, Rua 15 de Novetnbro, 240, SAo Paulo, Brazil.

Colombia: Robert William Young (1914-21), Embotelladora Tropical, Calle 9 del y Carrera Eugenio Macias, Barranquilla.

AUSTRALIA New South Wales: Alan Reid (1911-14), Kingscote, 68 Cecil Street, Gordon, Sydney.

Western Australia: Ian Thom (1912-25), Wydgee Station, Mount Magnet, Perth.

NEW ZEALAND Andrew Alexander Marr Ducat (1924-28 and 1 9z9-34), 9 Park Avenue, Northcotc, Auckland.

FAR EAST Singapore: Djkarta: Brian Scott Gray (1943-49)• World Bank, Djkarta, P.O. Box 324, D.K.T., Djkarta, Indonesia.

EUROPE Switzerland: James Lawson Mowat (1915-16), ILA., Pt 1.D., 4 Chemin Du Mt. Blanc Chene-Bougeries, Geneva.

Yugoslavia: Professor Dr. Dragoslair Miletitch (1916-18), Medicinski Fakultet, Skopje.

Note: Any errors in the above list either in personnel or addresses are regretted.

It is suggested that, in order to keep records up-to-date, Consuls should get in touch with the Secretary to confirm or correct their details above mentioned.

Any F.P.s presently resident abroad who would be willing to participate in the consular scheme should get in touch with the Club Secretary.

Missing Members Magazines sent to the undcrnoted Members have been returned undelivered because the Members have removed. Would anyone who has any information as to present addresses or whereabouts of any of these Members please contact the Secretary.

Easton, David Stuart (1953-62), 415 Clifton Road, Aberdeen.

Eddie, James (1944-46), 97 Fairlie Street, Camelon, Falkirk.

Erskine, Donald Alexander (1959-62), 47 Auchinycll Road, Aberdeen.

Esslemont, Capt. Robert John (b. 27/1/1908), Riversdale House, Kcgworth, Derby.

Esson, Major Francis Millar (b. 27/3/1911), HQ., R.A.S.C., Cyrenaica Dist., M.E.L.F. 6.

Farquharson, Angus Durk Miller (1939-44), Cairn-mon-Earn, Banchory.

Forbes, Ashley William (1 945-47), Roseneath, Scalcsburn, Wick.

Forbes, Patrick, S. F. (1946-54), 52 Ashvale Place, Aberdeen.

Forrest, Lieut. Neil Davidson, (1 949-64) I Donvicw Road, Aberdeen.

France, Charles William (1922-31), Manor House Hotel, Storrington, Nr. Pulborough, Sussex.

Fraser, Alexander T. R. (b. 11/2/25), 28 Springfield Road, Aberdeen.

Fraser, David (1950-63), 20 Bridge Terrace, Balgownie, Aberdeen.

64

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Frost, William Maurice (b. 15/12/1924), 6o Broomhill Road, Aberdeen.

Gair, Alan Begg (1926-36), 118 Hilton Road, Aberdeen.

Garden, Lewis (b. 15/41920), 115 Hilton Street, Aberdeen, or Craigmore, East Boldre, nr. Beaulieu, Hants.

Gardiner, James, 49 St. Alban's Road, Edinburgh, 9.

Gerrard, Frederick W. (1905-6), Kawana, Marine Drive, Caulfield, B.C., Canada.

Gibb, John Main (1946-48), The Auld Hoose, Windygates, Fife.

Gorton, Alexander Findlay (1940-48), 185 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen.

Grafton, Alfred William (b. 4/9/1903) and Grafton, Edward George, I Downs Court, The Downs, Wimbledon, London, S.W. zo.

Grant, James Hewet, 27 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen.

Grant, Major John Peter (1936), Manor Farm, Spaldington, Howden, Goole, Yorks.

Grant, William (1923-25), Kaduna, Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Grassick, Douglas Williamson (b. 31/8/1916), Littlewood, Blairgowrie.

Gray, Alexander (b. 24/6/10), zo Cedar Place, Aberdeen, or O) Timothy Whites & Taylors, Ltd., 546 Streatham High Road, London, S.W.16.

Gray, Trevor (b. 10/7/1916), Milltimber, Sebastian Road, Shenfield, Essex.

Hadden, Robert (1886-87), 3 The Avenue, Bickley, Kent.

Hampton, Myron Grant (1947-49), 10 Kinkel! Road, Aberdeen.

Harper, Alexander (b. 19/3/1920), 5 Roschi11 Place, Aberdeen.

Hay, Leonard (1950-55), 31 Forge Lane, Hanworth, Middlesex.

Henderson, Leonard W. (b. 244 2/1910), 4z Ansty Road, Wyken, Coventry.

Hendry, William Gordon (b. 21/6/1919), 61 Orchard Road, Edinburgh.

Hepburn, William Roger (1913-25), St. Albans, Burt Street, Paddington, Sydney, N.S.W. Holloway, John Alexander McKenzie (1944-53), Zaria, 12 Coxheath Road, Crookham, Hants.

Home, John Andrew (1939-43), A.P.M.B., Chiromo, Nyasaland.

Hunter, Edward Alexander (1917-26), Prospect Cottage, Ashill, Cullompton, Devon.

Inkster, Dr. John, 8 The Crescent, Linthorpc, Middlesborough.

Jack, Robert Ferguson, Hallgreen, Stonehaven.

Jackson, Douglas Logan (b. 8/2/1914) and Jackson, Sydney hart (b. 251411919), 303 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen.

Jaffray, Victor W. (b. 20/7/1919), 23 Laurelwood Avenue, Aberdeen.

Johnston, D. W., 66 Provost Fraser Drive, Aberdeen.

New Members of the Club (15 May 1971-15 November 1971) Life Members (Including conversions from Ordinary to Life Membership) ARTHUR, Ronald William (1953-64), 12 Cults Avenue, Cults, Aberdeen.

CAMPBELL, Alan Grant (1959-65), 178 Midstocket Road, Aberdeen.

CAMPBELL, Alexander Keith (1944-53), 16 Wellbrae Terrace, Aberdeen.

DAVIDSON, Alexander Munro (1937-45), Dove Cottage, Craighton Road, Cults, Aberdeen.

DAVIDSON, Mitchell Stuart (1952-56), Findon Croft, Findon, Portlethen.

DUTHIE, Kenneth Mackenzie (1943-56), Pukatawagan, Manitoba, Canada.

HEPBURN, Kenneth C. R. (1954-59), 56 Cummings Park Circle, Aberdeen.

KENNAWAY, Alan Murdoch (1950-62), 61 Rubislaw Den South, Aberdeen.

MCINTOSH, Ian (1951-57), 67 Northfield Farm Road, Edinburgh.

McLEou, Neil Thomas Kemp (1944-56), 48 Westholme Avenue, Aberdeen.

MITCHELL, Hamish Gordon (1949-58), 21 Marchbank Gardens, Balerno, Midlothian.

MURRAY, Dr. Campbell (1943-49), 12 Oakhill Road, Aberdeen.

PHILIP, Alistair E. (1943-56), 37 Meggertland Terrace, Edinburgh.

PORTER, Erik Alexander Steven (1951-58), 6o Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen.

RIDDELL, William J. (1950-55), 19 Albury Place, Aberdeen.

SLESSOR, William Ross (1946-59), 21 Viewfield Crescent, Aberdeen.

STEWART, Ian (1953-59), 13 Glen Aplin Avenue, Tarragindi, Brisbane, QLD. Australia 4121.

WEIR, James William Henderson Cameron (1943-57), 43 Binghill Crescent, Milltimber, Aberdeen.

WILLIAMSON, Alexander Maxwell (1942-55)2 Ardgour, Kirk Road, Stonehaven.

WOLKOFF, Ian (1942-55), e/o 37 Leggart Terrace, Aberdeen.

YOUNGSON, Martin Alexander (1958-71), 44 Hilton Place, Aberdeen.

Ordinary Members ANDERSON, Michael Thomas (1958-71), 4 Monymusk Terrace, Aberdeen.

BOYD, David (1965-71), 3o Beech-hill Gardens, Aberdeen.

BRAZENDALE, William (1965-71), 4 Gilcomstoun Court, Aberdeen.

BROCKIE, Robert Knowles (1965-71), 32 Deevale Road, Kincorth, Aberdeen.

BUCHAN, John (1963-71), 35 Morningside Avenue, Aberdeen.

COCKBURN, Brian Thomas (1966-71), To Strathmore Drive, Aberdeen.

ComaErr, Dennis McGillivray (1967-71), 73 Craigton Road, Aberdeen.

Couu., David Euan (1966-71), 1,2 Union Grove, Aberdeen.

DAVIDSON, Stephen McKenzie (1964-70), 37 Fernhill Road, Aberdeen.

DAVIDSON, Thomas S. (1958-71), 13a North Silver Street, Aberdeen.

DRAPER, Hugh Fulton Gillies (1965-71), 41 Gilcomstoun Land, Aberdeen.

DUGUID, Peter Whitehurst (1958-71), 10 Belvidere Street, Aberdeen.

DUNCAN, David (1957-62), 55 Abbotshall Drive, Cults, Aberdeen.

DUNCAN, John L. (1958-71), 6 Ferryhill Place, Aberdeen.

DUTHIE, Stanley (1965-71), 7 Provost Rust Drive, Aberdeen.

FINDLAY, Stephen Charles (1965-71), 61 Provost Rust Drive, Aberdeen.

FORDYCE, Ranald James (1958-71), zr Craigiebuckler Avenue, Aberdeen.

FORSYTH, Michael Allan (1 958-64), 76 Whitehall Road, Aberdeen.

GARVIE, Alistair James (196o-69), zII Victoria Street, Dyce, Aberdeen.

GOODFELLOW, Ian (1958-71), 22 Summerfield Terrace, Aberdeen.

65

66

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

GORDON, John Kennedy (1958-71), 41 Cromwell Road, Aberdeen.

GOURLAY, Robert George Anderson (1968-71), 8 Leggart Avenue, Aberdeen.

GREIG, Ian Richard (1958-71), 6z Donbank Terrace, Woodside, Aberdeen.

HANNAH, John Girdwood (1959-71), 4 Hammersmith Road, Aberdeen.

IRVINE, Graham W. (1965-71), 594 King Street, Aberdeen.

JolusisoN, David Albert (1960-66), 15 Willowpark Crescent, Aberdeen.

KENNY, Brian (1966-69), cfo Mrs. Kirby, Lintas Advertising, Lintas House, New Fetter Lane, London, E.C.4.

LAWRENCE, Euan James (1958-71), 145 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen.

LUMSDEN, Ronald James (1965-71), 59 Provost Watt Drive, Aberdeen.

MACDONALD, John Renwick (1958-71), 46 Ashley Road, Aberdeen.

McLEon, Derek (1968-71), zo North Deeside Road, Aberdeen.

MILNE, Ramsay Galloway (1958-71), 24 Cornhill Gardens, Aberdeen.

MITCHELL, Wilfred James (1958-71), 57 Cornhill Court, Aberdeen.

MUIR, John Gordon (1958-71), 4 Seafield Drive West, Aberdeen.

NAPIER, Charles Murray (1959-71), 12 Blythewood Place, Port Elphinstone, Inverurie.

NrcoL, Alexander (1962-71), 59 Hammersmith Road, Aberdeen.

NicoLsorz, Robert Innes (1965-71), 11 Fonthill Terrace, Aberdeen.

NISBET, Andrew Donald (1958-71), 5 The Chanonry, Old Aberdeen.

PARK, Kenneth Fraser (1965-71), 36 Cherry Road, Aberdeen.

PHILIPS, Robert John (1958-71), 2 Richmondhill Gardens, Aberdeen.

REID, Stewart (1955-61), 9 Moir Crescent, Aberdeen.

RENNIE, John G. (1965-71), 54 Mastrick Drive, Aberdeen.

RITCHIE, Ian (1964-69), 55 Fowler Avenue, Aberdeen.

ROBERTSON, Michael (1965-71), 19 Summer Street, Aberdeen.

Ross, lain Gordon Hamilton (1957-63), 8 Murray Terrace, Aberdeen.

STEPHEN, Duncan (1970-71), 28 Stanley Street, Aberdeen.

TAIT, Stewart (1958-71), 24 Grampian Place, Aberdeen.

WALLACE, Graeme McRobert (1963-71), 128 Seafield Road, Aberdeen.

WALLACE, William Andrew (1958-71), 28 Airyhall Place, Aberdeen.

Wool), David McIntosh (1958-71), 7z Louisville Avenue, Aberdeen.

WOOD, Michael (1958-71), 4 North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

YEOMAN, John (1965-71), 34 Hazlehead Terrace, Hazlehead, Aberdeen.

Staff Members LIDDIARD, James A. T., 39 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen.

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