AGS Magazine June 1938

peockstlims

fr

THE

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOU MAGAZINE

ABERDEEN Pupils' Club atIlic University Press . printzcl for The Former PRICE ONE SHILLING. Volume XLI, No. 3.

Juut, 1938.

EDUCATIONAL BOOKS JAMES

G. BISSET

CONTINUES to supply all the Class Books (New or Second-hand) suited for the requirements of the Higher Educational Institutions in the City, at the Lowest Prices.

N.B.—Best Value in Students' Note Books.

JAMES G. BISSET, Classical,

Medical, and

85

Educational

BROAD

Bookseller,

STREET

(Opposite Marischal College).

•

PHONE 753 •

GOOD HEALTH demands

GOOD BREAD For the children especially is it necessary to ensure their stamina and energy with good, wholesome, nourishing bread. In Hutchison's bread you'll find all these requirements are fully met. Phone or give instructions to have it supplied daily.

BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY

GOOD JEWELLERY GOOD

SILVER

GOOD CUTLERY GOOD CLOCKS and well selected ORNAMENTS are items of real importance in — every home —

A. & J. SMITH 191 Union Street ABERDEEN

--x.

1

-.:u. _-crG

'tittle's for tfasbions •

•

THE

HOUSE for

Coats and

Gowns in every Size Quality and Style

.111,11,44,

Outsize Wear A

Speciality

A. C. LITTLE & SONS, LTD. 105

UNION

STREET

•

ABERDEEN

FURNITURE

QUALITY

at GALLOWAY & SYKES does not mean high prices Our Stocks will prove it ! Furniture, is and Fabrics of remarkable quality are there for all to see, admire and obtain at moderate competitive prices. You will not be disappointed if you visit our showrooms

DEPARTMENTS Furniture Carpets and Linoleum, Fabrics Beds and Bedding Mantelpieces Removal Contractors and Storages Parquetry Flooring Billiard Tables Shop Fitters Wood Carver, Church Furniture Funeral Undertakers Valuators

6ALLOWAY SYKES LTD. ABERDEEN STREET, 361- 363 UNION TEL. Nos.: 4760-4761

TELEGRAMS s " CRAFTSMEN," ABERDEEN

&

SON FYFE & JAMES GLAZIERS. PAINTERS AND

• OFFICE

AND

•

•

SHOWROOMS :-

11 DEE STREET, ABERDEEN. Telegrams—" Pyle, Painters."

Telephone 304.

COUNTRY HIRES AT CHEAP RATES CARS

GARAGED

COLIN S. CLARK DAIMLER TAXI HIRER DAY AND NIGHT SERVICE

PHONE 4422

46 HARDGATE, ABERDEEN

-FAMILY COFFEE I !"

Cures Coffee is the tavourite drink with every. 'rrit pu 40 one It Is moat especially delicious, Your to cold weather. grocer can supply you.

CURB'S COE Thomas Cun S Co, ABERDEEN.

Quality is our Truest Economy

ROBERT STOTT Family Grocer Italian Warehouseman, Tea, Coffee, Wine and Spirit Merchant

53

ALBERT STREET, ABERDEEN Telephone 1848

Jackson's Bindery 1

18 Back Wynd Aberdeen ESTABLISHED 1655

BOOKBINDING OF EVERY DESCRIPTION

BI ND FIND FAST FAST

Leather Goods Lettered with Initials or Inscription Maps or Plans Mounted

TRADE MARK

Loose Leaf Specialists

TELEGRAMS, "HUB, ABERDEEN."

TELEPHONE, NO. 1719.

CAMPBELL & SELLAR, LTD Engineers, Hirers and Garage Proprietors

QUEEN'S CROSS GARAGE to Fountainhall Road ABERDEEN ANY MAKE OF CAR SUPPLIED

OPEN DAY AND NIGHT

DECORATOR

Phone 896.

Telegraphic Address : " Undertake, Aberdeen."

Telephone No. 2300.

Works: Rosebank Place.

GORDON & WATSON El'NERAI, UNDERTAKERS AND

MOTOR

HIRERS

12 HOLBURN ST. & 40 VICTORIA RD. ABERDEEN

Go to . . •

KEN NAWAY'S of course

RESTAURANT—173

U NION

STREET

Here you get the finest of food, daintily served, and at a reasonable price. The Restaurant is comfortable and commodious, and is just the place to entertain your friends. Our rooms are available for all types of functions. 'Phone 2371, and ask the Manageress for quotations

VVM., ICENNAWAY iLTD. Quality

Bakers, Confectioners and

Caterers, Aberdeen

Telephone No. 1891.

ARCHIBALD McKELLAR Family Grocer and Wine Merchant,

454-456

Union

Aberdeen.

Street,

. . We Specialise in . .

Cooked

Gammons, Finest

Belfast

Smoked Hams,

" Harris's "

Wiltshire Bacon.

Medicinal Wines—Vibrona, Hall's, Wincarnis, Glendenning's.

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS for the SCHOOL Grammar School Blazers Price

Size 0 1 2

-

3 4

-

5

6 7 6 9

-

ICI II I2 13

-

17,1/

18 z I 19 II 2O,1I 21111 22 I/ 23 11

24;11 25 II

46 II 2711 28.11 29/11 30/11

• Bias Oxford Ties, 2 /- ; Open-End Ties.

2;6 ; First Quality Hose, 6i-7, 3/6 ; 7i-4 3/11 ; 9-10, 4;6. Badge PullOvers, 24, 9/6 ; 26, 10/6 ; 28, 11/6 ; 30, 12/6 ; 32, 13/6 ; 34. 14 6 ; 36,15;6.

Grey Slip-ons, 24, 26, 28, 30, 5/11 ; Jerseys, 6/11.

32, 34, 36, 6/6.

Scarves (Large), 4;11 ; (Small) 2,111.

Belts—Snake (Narrow), I ; Belts— Snake, 1,6. Belts—Badge Buckles, 3,-.

Braces, 1 6.

Lined Price

Size 0

-

9:6

I

-

9,11

2

-

10,6

3 4 5

xxxli

II

-

12 13

-

6 7 8 9 10 •

ISAAC

Grammar School Shorts

11,9 xx"6 12 x1

136 13 11 14 6 14 II 15 6 15 11

BENZIE

LIMITED

GEORGE STREET

•

ABERDEEN

WE ARE STRONG IN TARTAN TIES 139 different Tartans in Stock.

These are made in

Thin Woollen Material woven in Scotland

2 6 each

W. J. MILNE, LTD. Men's Outfitters

ABERDEEN (Opposite Royal Northern Club) Telegrams: "Gallowses, Aberdeen"

Purveyors of only the

FINEST QUALITY in Fish, Butcher Meat, Poultry, and Game.

A

( \°416'fifi Telephone 5172.

492 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

Telephone—Aberdeen 1710.

The Mastrick Dairies Ltd. 1 DESSWOOD PLACE, ABERDEEN WE offer you a Choice Selection of DAIRY PRODUCE from our own Farms, and produced under the direct supervison of members of the family. Our Customers may rely upon the absolute Purity and Cleanliness of all our products.

Distributors of

Lord Carnegie's and Cairnbrogie Certified Milk.

Head Dairy : 3, 5, and 7 WHITEHALL ROAD. Branches: 33 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD. 7 MID STOCKET ROAD. 25 BEDFORD PLACE. 473 GREAT WESTERN ROAD.

CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS. John Bentley Philip, M.A. . . . . .

Sir Henry Alexander addressing the School on Empire Day . . . . . , . .

School Prefects—June 1938 . . . .

• School Cricket IS1 XI-SCISOn 1938 . . .

•

Facing page zio •

A Message to Former Pupils . . . . .

London to Calcutta by Imperial Airways. By J. O. Rae . " Sir David Lyndsay " . . . .

• . , From Oban by the English Lakes to Aberdeen, By E. R. B. All in the Day's Work. By A. W. Duncan . .

The Public School Tradition . . . . . .

Death of Mr. J. B. Philip, M.A. . . . .

Empire Day : An Address by Sir Henry Alexander, LLD. .

B. N. B. By J. S. A. . . . .

By-ways of Missionary Service. By K. W. MacKenzie Notes about Old Boys . . . . . . .

Obituary . . . . . .

• • .

Marriages . . . . . . . . .

•

School Section— School and Random Notes Mr. W. W. Dickie, M.A. . . .

Paris, April 1938. By H. M. R. Watt Summer Games and Athletics . .

1st XI Matches . . . .

House Notes . . . .

Scout Notes . . . . .

The Rambling and Mountaineering Club School Office-Bearers for 1937-38 •

•

•

.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

242

..

243

•

.11

•

••

•

••

• • • • •

•

••

•

•

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

1•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

*

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

205 209 2I0 211 216 220 222 232 236

2 37 2 47

•.

•

•

211

. Page 186 • 192 • 196 • 197

•

•

The Former Pupils' Club— The Club Boarding House Cricket Section .

Rugby Section . .

Hockey Section .

Members whose present addresses are wanted The London Centre . . . . .

List of New Members . . . .

•

a

•

•

„ „

248 251 253 256 258 259 26o 262

264 •• 264 ,,

265

265 . „ 266 . .. 266

Here is the correct undress Costume for boys. This consists of a Tweed Jacket and Vest and a Tartan Kilt. The Stockings may be plain or have checked tops. Garters are worn in each case. The Sporran may be either an Animal Head or Leather as illustrated.

Jackets and Vests, 32;6 and 47 6.

Bodice Kilts, 32/6.

Hose, 3/6 and 5/6.

Sporrans, 4/6 to 12/6.

The above prices are for an 8-year size.

ABERDEEN

Silver Medal Bread Think of it !

A different Loaf for every day of the month 9 VARIETIES OF BROWN BREAD 21 VARIETIES

OF WHITE BREAD

Try them all 1P5 IPP5

W. M. McPHERSON Baker and Confectioner is FOUNTAINHALL ROAD AND

8 ST. SWITHIN STREET ABERDEEN Telephone 1515

1843.

LOW'S Wm. Cay & Sons BOOKSTALLS ESTABLISHED

39-50 New Market Gallery ABERDEEN

Jrnncral Tan0crtal:cr3.

415 UNION STREET AND

209 GEORGE STREET, ABERDEEN.

4111

Boom on All Subjects and at All Prices Over 500,000 Volumes in Stock Educational Books in Great Variety

Motor Hearses and Cars for Town and Country Funerals.

CATALOGUES ISSUED Telegrams—"Cay, Aberdeen.'•

'PHONE 3332

'Phones Nos. 92 and 54.

EST. BLISHED 18I 8

BY APPOINTMENT To H.M. THE KING

J. WILLIAMSON & SON (W. B. WILLIAMSON. PROPRIETOR)

Meat Purveyors and Poulterers 1, 2, & 3 MARKET BUILDINGS, ABERDEEN 'PHONE 452 BRANCHES, 35 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD 'PHONE 1724

THE SQUARE. CULTS 'PHONE. CULTS 2

• LSO AT CHURCH SQUARE. BALLATER 'PHONE 38

0

AT ANY TIME AND ALL THE TIME

THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL ENJOY

SHORTBREAD IF IT COMES FROM

Mitchell & Muil Ltd. SEAMLESS FITTED CARPETS Every good housewife welcomes She the wall-to-wall carpet. appreciates the beauty and comfort it brings to her home, and the drudgery it saves in keeping polished floors spit and span.

We have arranged with one of the largest carpet manufacturing firms to manufacture a heavy pile carpet exclusively for ourselves, and we have named it " THE BALMORAL." It is woven in one piece, any width, any length, and the price is remarkably low.

Obtainable in 6 different colours.

16/6 per square yard.

ROBERTS (Abdn.) LTD. Tel. 2695

Carpet Specialists and House Furnishers

Est. 1873

419 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN

60 7Art $tttoents -

THE IMPERIAL TYPEWRITER i oo% British, is the best and lowest-priced Standard Typewriter, used in 75% of the leading offices in Aberdeen.

We carry a fine range of reproductions of the Old, Modern, and Impressionist

THE IMPERIAL PORTABLE

School from P.C. size up—and frames

The Best Portable, I 00 % British.

to suit all subjects.

Second-Hand Bargains of all Makes of Typewriters, Desks, Chairs, Filing Cabinets in Oak, Mahogany or Steel.

All the latest HANDICRAFTS

Oaylors9 49-51 $cboolbill

EASY DEFERR ED PAYMENTS (Hire Purchase) ON ANYTHING.

C. H. WEBSTER 489 Union Street, Aberdeen 'Phone 505

'Phone 2870

ROLEX OYSTER 27 RECORDS WORLD

WATERTIGHT AND DUSTPROOF

ANTIMAGNETIC — UNBREAKABLE GLASS

Stainless Steel Extra Precision

- 8 gns.

- 10 gns.

9 ct. Gold

- 13 gns.

Other models from 5 gns.

••

\ •

•

We stock the complete range of Rolex Oyster and Rolex Prince Watches.

• II AM] IUSO

ICAk IR IL

Established in the Year 1733

WATCH AND GEM RING SPECIALISTS

142 UNION STREET (next Union Bridge), ABERDEEN

COAL ELLIS & McHARDY LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1880)

18

REGENT

QUAY

AND

250

UNION (AMICABLE

STREET

HOUSE)

ABERDEEN Telephone 2889

Telegrams " COAL, ABERDEEN "

the modern note is cleverly expressed in the new Fireplace

Arrangements, Why not inspect them in our

showrooms and see at first hand how greatly one would add to the appearance

and

comfort

of your room?

ames Scott & Son (Aberdeen) Ltd. 483-485 UNION STREET ABERDEEN

-

Phone 1881-2

Co-operation rl`HE enthusiastic co-operation of many minds and hands make possible the fine productions of the HOUSE OF OGILVIE. For over three-quarters of a century our constant endeavour has been to give the best possible service to our Customers. We base our claim to your patronage on our ability to please you.

J. & A. OGILVIE 369

UNION

STREET,

ABERDEEN. Telephone : No. 433.

Telegrams : " Interiors."

Showyard Erector to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, and Contractor to the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.

It's"

STRACHAN COMMERCIAL &

PORTRAITURE

JOHN REID & CO. HOUSE CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

55 Blenheim Place and 14 Fountainhall Road ABERDEEN

PHOTOGRAPHY Telephone 851

416 UNION STREET ABERDEEN

Carpentry and Joinery Work of every description done

ESTIMATES ON APPLICATION -Telephone No. 1997

A MODERN SERVICE for MODERN I

•

.•

.

.....-

• .•

We are equipped with the latest and most up-to-date appliances for the lubrication of your car. No longer need you struggle with grease guns and oil cans or crawl to reach inaccessible points. All this work can now be done for you cleanly, efficiently and effectively and without the slightest trouble to yourself. Call in sometime and let us demonstrate this Service.

We are an Official—

CCLEAR wI LUBREQUIPMENT SERVICE

AIUIEIV ID IU

STATION

MicirtILs

LIMITED

THE

SIC% Telegrams—" CARS "

AUSTIN

DEALERS

IEIIIIDIE Telephone-4580

Established

Assets

1836

E24,600,000

NORTHERN ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED •

•

FOR ALL CLASSES OF INSURANCE •

LIFE

•

BRANCH

Special Leaflets on—

The Family Protection Policy The " Optional "

Policy

House Purchase Policy Child's Deferred Policy

CHIEF OFFICES : ABERDEEN

•

•

I UNION TERRACE

LONDON .

•

•

I MOORGATE, E.C.2

Branches and Agencies throughout the World

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine S3H1 year ; No. 1'39 (New Series. 44th year, No. z3o) - -

•

Vol. XLI

-

JUNE 5938

No. 3

The "Grammar School Magazine" is issued under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club, in March, June, and November. AU communications with regard to the "Magazine" should be addressed to the Editor (the Secretary and Treasurer of the Club), THEODORE WATT, M.A., LL.D., The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen.

A Message to Former Pupils.

s

•

If the Summer Term of 1938 has lacked the thrills of the Coronation year, it has been, on the whole, a pleasant Term not devoid of features of interest. From the point of view of weather, it has been a disappointment. The Cricket season opened with excessively hard and bumpy pitches (rain had not fallen for weeks on end) and later we suffered from the other extreme. Rubislaw Field has benefited out of all knowledge but, for the greater part of May, it was no place for cricket.

But I am anticipating. My last Message was written for the Christmas Magazine and one could not speak then with full knowledge of the fine achievements of our School XV. I agree with the Games Master that it would be hard to find in the football annals of the School any team which showed to equal advantage. From the stiffest of tests it emerged nearly always with success and always with credit.

An Easter vacation without a School trip to France would mean a serious breach with tradition. Paris must be fairly familiar now with the Grammar School blazer, and Mr. Gonnella, who was in charge of the party this year, saw to it that the boys made the most of their limited time. As last year, the Dilwara Cruise to Norway will have its complement from the School and a select few join a trip to Canada.

A novelty this year—although it is likely to be a permanent arrangement—is the award of Travel Scholarships to two boys for residence abroad during the Summer vacation. The money is available from what is known as the "Grammar School Benefit " in the scheme of the Aberdeen Educational Endowments Trust. These Scholarships should be of great value to

190

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

boys who have completed their School course and who wish to improve their knowledge of foreign languages.

The proposed reconstruction of the School, to which I have previously alluded, hangs fire, although it is far from being shelved. Adjustments and modifications in so comprehensive a scheme are inevitable, but it is hoped that operations will commence in the course of next session. Is there any prospect of a swimming pond being incorporated in that scheme ?

Your Executive, as you know, have this matter in hand and will, no doubt, take action at the appropriate time.

Empire Day was observed in the traditional way, the address being given by Sir Henry Alexander. We have had interesting speakers on similar occasions in the past, but it is doubtful whether any of them succeeded, as Sir Henry did, in holding the attention of the boys. It was a novel and a happy idea to quote specific instances of Grammar School boys, resident in remote parts of the Empire, who are doing their job supremely well without thought of public recognition or material reward.

I hope Sir Henry was gratified at the resounding cheers which were the expression of the boys' thanks.

The Swimming Gala was favoured by one of the largest attendances we ever had and competition in the various events was unusually keen. A special feature was the increased entry from the Lower School, due in large measure to the enthusiasm of Mr. Edwards, the Lower School Master.

Of the Boarding House it is sufficient to say that certain forecasts which I have made in the Magazine have either been fulfilled or are on the way to speedy fulfilment. There are fifty-five names on the books for September and we have almost reached the capacity figure. The success of the Junior House is particularly encouraging. Here is the potted history of what may be considered the Club's most successful enterprise : the first house (192.8): another house, linked up with the first (193o) : a large extension (1934) : a Junior House (1937).

This is extremely good going for so comparatively short a period as ten years. Have we reached the limits of expansion? I am bold enough to think we have not. If there is no material set-back in economic conditions, I foresee a growing demand for accommodation which it will be difficult to withstand.

For the time being, however, consolidation must be the keynote of the Directors' policy.

There is only one change in the Staff to record. Mr. W. W. Dickie of the Classical Department has left to become Principal Teacher of Classics in Gordon Secondary School, Huntly.

He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and by the boys.

To work and games and School activities generally he gave a decade of willing and most efficient service, and his promotion, we believe, is only a stepping-stone to something better. Mr. Lawrie, our former Gymnastic Instructor, has been recalled from

0

•

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

•

195

At 12.35 p.m. we landed at a small and lonely oil station in the desert, where the 'plane was refuelled, and after a stop of zo minutes took off again and flew to Rutbah, where lunch was served in the aerodrome rest-house. We left at 2, and from there to Baghdad flew over endless sandy wastes, the monotony of which was only relieved towards the end of the journey by the appearance of the River Euphrates. I was glad to reach Baghdad, having had enough for one day. The distance flown that day was 876 miles.

The following morning we rose in the dark as usual and left Baghdad at 6, arriving at Basra a little over three hours later. This was a very slow flight, the speed of the 'plane working out at under 8o m.p.h. Breakfast was served there, and we left again soon after for Koweit, where we landed for fuel. We were still in the desert and beginning to wonder if we would ever see anything green again. However, after leaving Koweit the Persian Gulf was sighted, and we flew over it to Bahrein, where we landed for lunch, departing a little later for Sharjah.

We arrived at Sharjah in the dark-7 p.m.—and on alighting from the 'plane I noticed a squad of armed Arabs standing by and ascertained afterwards that they are employed there to ward off any stray Bedouins who might be looking for trouble.

We slept that night in a building constructed on fort lines and it was very comfortable. The distance covered from Baghdad to Sharjah was 923 miles.

Next morning we were up at 3.50, breakfasted, and took off at 5.5. It was clear overhead but still chilly. We crossed over the Gulf of Oman to Gwadar, and I confess I slept during the greater part of the journey and awoke only in time to realize that the plane was about to land. We had an early lunch at Gwadar-9.25—and left an hour later (local time 11.45 a.m.).

For a picture of utter desolation I can recommend this place.

After an uninteresting flight we reached Karachi, where after passing the customs and doctor we had over an hour for tea. We now entered another 'plane, one of the Atalanta class-4-engined monoplane—and set off for Jodhpur. We flew at io,ooo feet and it was very chilly. Below, the country was desert and uninteresting, but I did appreciate a beautiful sunset. We arrived at Jodhpur at 8.25 p.m., having flown 1,124 miles from Sharjah, and we were all pretty tired.

Next morning, Wednesday, 5th January, 1938, we took off at 4.30 and flew at 9,000 feet to Delhi. It was very cloudy, and consequently, when the dawn came, nothing of the country below could be seen. We reached Delhi at 7, where I was met by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. G. Savidge, whose guest I was at Braemar in August last. They came with me to the aerodrome restaurant, where I had breakfast, after which tongues wagged to some tune.

196

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Mr. Savidge is in the Indian Civil Service and is a Grammar School F.P. At 8 a.m. we were off again and I slept all the way to Cawnpore. From Cawnpore to Allahabad we flew over the River Ganges, which looked like a huge serpent. We had lunch at Allahabad, and then set off on the last stage of the journey, at least so far as I was concerned. We flew all the way at 9,000 feet and the country was not at all interesting. At 4.13 p.m.

Calcutta was sighted, the city wherein I am to dwell for the next few years. We landed at 4.3o, and it was difficult to realize that less than a week before I had been in London. We covered t,tzo miles that day, and the total distance from Southampton to Calcutta was 6,301 miles.

It was a grand experience in spite of early starts, cold weather, etc., and I would not have missed it for anything. The hotels we stayed in were good, and we were well looked after by the officials of Imperial Airways Ltd., who were most courteous.

JAMES 0. RAE. (1912-11)

" Sir David Lyndsay."

This is the title of a book by Mr. William Murison, M.A., formerly Head of the English Department of the Grammar School, which has recently been published by the Cambridge University Press at the price of tos. 6d.

After some account of Lyndsay and his poems, the author sets forth in detail the poet's charges against the Scottish clergy, and then he produces evidence to prove that the charges rest on a solid foundation of truth, the evidence coming " not from sources hostile to the Roman Church, but from official records of the Church, from State documents, and from writers loyal to the Church." According to one reviewer, " Mr. Murison's informative study, written with scholarly exactitude, will serve as an excellent handbook for those who want to make the acquaintance of a vigorous dramatist and satirist who is significant both for historical and literary reasons." In the preface Mr. Murison records his thanks to Mr. J. F. Walker (of the Grammar School staff) " for great patience and ceaseless care in reading proofs."

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

197

From Oban by the English Lakes to Aberdeen.

Mountains of Morvcrn and Mull fill the view as our car crosses the moor behind Dunstaffnage Castle and descends to Oban—the tourist centre par excellence of the West Highlands.

With its wealth of steamer, boat, train, and motor facilities, few places offer a greater 'variety of trips to the holiday-maker.

However, we have previously acquainted ourselves in that respect, and our halt to-day is a short one to buy a little fruit, etc., and after seeing M.V. Loch Earn arrive from Barra about three o'clock, we leave (with a touch of regret that it is not our present fortune to return with her next day) by the south road for Kilninver. The road skirts the quiet shore of Loch Feochan, then climbs through some fine woods, and emerges on high above the Pass of Melfort. The new road avoids the bed of the valley, but we gradually descend to Kilmelfort, and get some fine views of islands and sea as we run along the beautiful shore of Loch Melfort. After Barbreck there is a steep pull up Kintraw brae and a similar descent to the crossroads near Ford, at the head of Loch Awe. Woodland and open country alternate for some miles past Carnasserie Castle, and indeed near Crinan the countryside looks quite Lowland.

For a while we run alongside the now dried-up canal ; then we reach the unattractive village of Lochgilphead, a reminder of the curious and seemingly unmethodical way in which Argyll County Offices are spread throughout the shire. To the best of my belief, the Public Assistance Officer is at Lochgilphead, the Education Officer at Dunoon, the Assessor at Campbeltown, the Sheriff at Inveraray. I should not be astonished to learn that the Chief Constable is at Oban, the Medical Officer at Ballachulish, the Sanitary Inspector at Tobermory, Lloyd's Surveyor at Tarbert, and the Lord Lieutenant at Bruichladdich or Dalmally.

We cross the canal just above its junction with Loch Fyne at A rdrishaig, for many years the turning-point of that grand sea-dog Columba, and beyond this we again enjoy some fine scenery, the dozen miles to Tarbert being attractively wooded almost throughout. The road crosses a neck of land high above East Loch Tarbert, and descends gently to the village, so we get a splendid view of the many ships of all types— yacht, trawler, rowing-boat, etc.—in the beautiful bay. An isthmus of a mile or so separates Knapdale from Kintyre; we cross it and run along West Loch Tarbert for some miles, then turn sharp left and cross to Claonaig Bay. The main road continues down the west shore of the peninsula, but I intended to come up that way next day. This evening we went down the switchback road by Grogport and Sadden, so as to get the attractive effect of the setting sun on the brown hills of Arran across Kilbrennan Sound.

198

Aberdeen Grammar School MagaVne

As this was Tuesday of Glasgow Fair Week, we were asking for trouble by arriving at Campbeltown at 7.30 p.m. without having booked rooms. But we were luckier than we deserved to be, and the Royal Hotel—first one we tried—gave one of us a quite good bedroom and the other a perfectly satisfactory made-up bed in the manager's sitting-room.

Once more King Sol favours us as we set off in a fresh breeze from the Atlantic. Away to the west is the low outline of Gigha, and beyond it the Paps of Jura can be seen in the blue distance. We try to distinguish the weather-beaten Pioneer on her daily crossing from Islay to West Tarbert, but a dot in the distance is too small to be identified. From Whitehouse to Lochgilphead we retrace our tracks of yesterday, then keep right up the west shore of Loch Fyne by Minard, Furnace and Inveraray. The last-named is an attractive, rather foreign-looking town, prettily situated on a bay at the foot of Dun Cuaich. Beyond Dundarave Castle (stronghold of Clan MacNaughtan and prototype of Neil Munro's " Doom Castle ") we reach the head of the loch, eighty miles from Southend of Kintyre. This is longer than some of Norway's famous fiords, but, of course, Loch Fyne's quiet slopes are far behind the precipitous grandeur of the Norwegian crags.

At Cairndow we leave the loch and climb gradually up the famous pass of Rest and be Thankful. The road surface has in recent years been greatly improved, and the hair-pin eased, so it is a simple matter to surmount the crest and drop more steeply down to Loch Long near Arrochar. This is a really grand loch, with steep sides, but although it is a fine run along the well-wooded eastern shore and over to Garelochhead and Shandon, we cross another isthmus to renew acquaintance at Tarbet with Scotland's most famous loch. For several miles along its bonnie banks we get glorious views through trees across the water to Rowardennan, Ben Lomond itself always providing a noble background to the beautiful scene. Luss is reputed by some to be the prettiest village in this country, and it can certainly have few serious rivals. We stop for a time and revel in the sunshine. Balloch, at the foot of Loch Lomond, brings us back for a short period to industrialism, and there is little to delay one through Alexandria and Renton.

We by-pass Dumbarton, meet the Clyde again at Bowling and cross it at Old Kilpatrick by Erskine Ferry (fee only ninepence).

Another industrial bit follows, through Port Glasgow and Greenock, but this is a trifling black spot on the magnificent 90-miles Clyde coast run from Langbank to Stranraer. Looking across to Dumbarton Castle, perched on its rock above the ship yards, our eye rises to Ben Lomond again, and then veers round westward to " Argyle's Bowling Green " (the mountain group north of Loch Goil, comprising The Cobbler, Ben Arnan, Ben Ime and others), ere descending to the Holy Loch and

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

e

*

'

199

the Cowal coast near Dunoon. This magnificent panorama fully substantiates Professor Blackie's dictum: "The finest walk in Scotland is from Gourock to Cloch Lighthouse, and the second finest is from the Cloch back to Gourock."

All summer, Lunderston Bay is a popular camping-spot for Glasgow's youth, and in Fair Week it is simply crammed with tents. Past Inverkip, the grim peaks of Arran come into view, and remain with us all evening, growing gradually more awesome in the slowly fading light of the setting sun. Their solemnity is the greater by contrast with the " trippery " nature of our route and the flatness of the hinterland on our left. " Scotland's Holiday Playground " is how the Ayrshire Coast Resorts style themselves collectively, and such places as Largs, Saltcoats, Prestwick, and Ayr are alive with thousands taking a fortnight's welcome respite from shop, office, factory, and shipyard.

The Southern hills come more into evidence in Carrick, the spur ending in the bold Heads of Ayr being especially prominent. Dunure Castle, too, stands out in strong relief against the waters of the Firth shimmering in the sun's departing rays. I am on the look-out for the famous Electric Brae, but lol here is a notice at its foot, and I have come down without realizing anything untoward. There cannot surely be much foundation in the idea that you seem to be coming down when you are actually going up; some people even say you can free-wheel up-hill on a push-bike l Past the ruins of Bruce's castle at Turnberry we catch a glimpse out in the cold sea of Ailsa Craig—" Paddy's Milestone "—standing silent sentinel of the Firth of Clyde. Far beyond is the dim outline of Kintyre, a bare 3 miles across the water. We have travelled 212 miles by land in order to reach Girvan to-night.

Next day dawned, not cold, but distinctly fresh. A mile or two south of Girvan is Kennedy's Pass. The name is printed in large letters on the rock through which the road has been hewn. In bygone days all the south-west was in terror of the Kennedys, as wild a clan as any in the Highlands, and no man got through this pass in either direction unless he were in their good books, which he probably wasn't. " It's a brave man that meddles with a Kennedy."

The quiet little hamlet of Lendalfoot is followed by Ballantrae, where the road turns inland for a mile or two ; then it makes a winding descent to Cairnryan through a beautiful wood, and skirts the shore of Loch Ryan to near its head.

We avoid Stranraer, cutting across to Glenluce and continuing over the moorland road of Wigtownshire to Newton Stewart.

This pretty little village, on the banks of the Cree, is a welcome relief from the drab country preceding it. However, there are more interesting features about the district we now enter

zoo

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

—one of the two counties in Scotland that are not mere counties : Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and Kingdom of Fife. On our left is the hilly country, culminating in Merrick, that is the scene of such stories as Crockett's " The Raiders," Conan Doyle's " Mystery of Cloomber," and, in part, John Buchan's " Thirtynine Steps." Far into these wilds is lonely Loch Trool, in a wooded glen rivalling some of those in the North. An arm of the Irish Sea glistens in the morning sunshine as far as Gatehouse-of-Fleet, where we bear inland and cross another moor to Kirkcudbright. These two picturesque places are deservedly a frequent resort of artists, the latter in particular being favoured through its attractive position on a bend of the River Dee, a name sounding, to an Aberdonian, strangely out of place in these southern dimes. MacLellan's Castle occupies a prominent site in the centre of the burgh, but the great architectural feature of interest in this neighbourhood is the ruins of Dundrennan Abbey, beautifully situated amidst trees some four miles along the coast road to Dalbeattie. Yet, though there are many picturesque scenes in this pleasant countryside, our hearts are ever in the hills, and after the grandeur that we have seen in the past ten days it is not surprising that the flat country east of Criffel seems very tame and uninteresting.

Away across Solway Firth are Cumbria's sombre mountains, and after lunching at Dumfries during a sudden, but short, thunder-plump, we hasten on through Annan. Long, straight, level stretches make this the only speed-track of our tour, and in a short time we whirl through Gretna and cross the English border. " Merrie Carlisle " always seems a misnomer to me ; we turn right, past its cathedral, for A S95 as far as Cockermouth.

On the rising ground approaching this little country town we get a fine view of the Isle of Man as well as of the Lakeland hills, and soon we are skirting the first of the English Lakes— Bassenthwaite. The peak on its eastern side reminds us of Macaulay's lines describing how news of the Spanish Armada's approach was spread throughout England by means of beacons— Till Skiddaw saw the fire that burned on Gaunt's embattled pile, And the red glare on Skiddaw roused the burghers of Carlisle.

Surely there are few towns more beautifully placed than Keswick. As always in such cases, it is a matter of opinion which are England's finest lake and valley, but Derwentwater and Borrowdale must be desperately hard to beat. We spend a delightful half-hour on Friar's Crag, Ruskin's earliest memory, enjoying the grand views across the water to Scafell Pike, Great Gable, and other peaks. Then we dimb out of Keswick by the steep brae leading to the Thirlmere road. This lake, now part of Manchester Corporation Water Works, is an example of how it is easy to retain natural beauty in company

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

201

with engineering triumphs. Round the west side of the reservoir is a new road, constructed by the Corporation, giving a really grand series of views through trees and across the water to Helvellyn. Over Dunmail Raise summit we descend to Grasmere, calm and solemn and surrounded by beautiful trees. Rydal Water is much the same, and one can imagine how this lovely countryside gripped the souls of Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge. Away up on our right is the glorious Langdale valley, the famous Pikes dominating the scene, and we would gladly turn in that direction. But there is such a wealth of beauty all round that one must spend a week or two in the Lake District to acquire full knowledge and enjoyment of its attractions ; indeed, all vehicles should be eschewed, and only shank's mare employed, for real appreciation of this magnificent country.

At the head of Windermere is Ambleside—perhaps best of all centres for a Lakes holiday. In the centre of the village my eye suddenly catches a small notice—" Kirkstone Pass."

I have heard a lot about this famous climb, and intend to tackle it, so, momentarily forgetting the Highway Code, I turn abruptly left up a steep brae. In twenty yards it turns sharply left again, and I have to make a rapid descent to second gear. Very soon lowest gear becomes imperative, but the surface is good, and Squib climbs slowly and surely to the " Traveller's Rest " Inn, 1456 feet above sea-level. Almost at the moment of our surmounting the crest, a thunder and lightning storm breaks over the hills. It is most impressive to hear the peals re-echoing in the solitude for a minute or two. Then, suddenly, the storm passes, and we slowly descend in a solemn calm, past Brother's Water to Patterdale, at the head of Ullswater.

This is a beautiful spot, nestling at the foot of Helvellyn and other Lakeland giants. King Sol has broken through the clouds, and enhances the numerous beautiful views as we wind along the finely wooden shore of the lake. A halt is made at Penrith for tea, and then we are off on the last lap of our day's run. Crossing the Eden at Langwathby, we start the long ascent of the Pennines' northern outposts, culminating in Hartside Top, 1888 feet above the sea, and are astonished to see a cafe almost at the summit. To the west we are rewarded with a grand panorama, across the Eden valley and the Solway to Criffel, Merrick, and other hills in Galloway. Sun is shining through showers on the Cumbrian Fells, and the beautiful woods above Melmerby enhance the beauty of the scene. We continue down to Alston, England's highest market-town, which is built on a very steep hill-side, and has a main street like Windmill Brae in Aberdeen.

Next morning our road takes us up into the hills again, and we climb past Ashgill to a level of 1962 feet on Yad Moss before descending past Langdon Beck to High Force in Tees-

2O2

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

dale. This country, on the borders of England's four northern counties, is reminiscent of our own scenery, and we feel quite at home travelling over the moorland road from Middleton to Kirkby Stephen. Far to the south a white trail of smoke shows where a train is puffing across Stainmore Common.

Trees again came into view for a short time near Ravenstonedale ; then we return to moorland at Ais Gill. A short halt is made here to partake of some fruit, and we sit for some time at the roadside, lazing in the morning sunshine. Right in the middle of England, we are surrounded by mountains and moors.

No human habitation is in sight. Gregarious animal though man be, it gives him great pleasure on occasion to get away from the madding crowd and enjoy the silence of the hills.

There is a touch of bathos in the fact that the next feature of interest is a public-house—" The Rose and Crown" at Bainbridge—which almost rivals A.G.S. in having been established in the fourteenth century. We are now at the head of one of the many lovely dales of Yorkshire—Wensleydale, and have a delightful amble down for twenty-odd miles. Fine trees line both sides of the valley. Every now and then a beautiful bend of the river attracts the eye, and at Aysgarth a visit is imperative to the picturesque falls. After Leyburn, where a cattle sale is in progress, we climb over to Swaledale and descend past the old Keep of Richmond. After this the country becomes flatter, losing much of its interest ; joining the Great North Road at Catterick, we whiz along at good speed, through Darlington, to Durham. Lunch here is followed by a visit to the Cathedral, a wonderful example of architecture in a magnificent situation overlooking the River Wear. Visits to friends take us to Sunderland and South Shields, between which Roker Sands and Marsden Rocks afford fine coastal views ; otherwise this industrial area has no attractions for the holiday-maker.

We spend the night with friends at a farm eleven miles north of Newcastle, and leave next afternoon for Scotland again.

All the way over the border there is a grand moorland road, rising to over a thousand feet on Ottercops Moss, dipping into quiet Redesdale at Otterburn (" Chevy Chase "), then rising again through the Cheviots to Carter Bar, 1376 feet up, where our Caledonian hearts are warmed by the wonderful prospect over the Border country. The land on the Scottish side of Carter descends much more abruptly than that on the English, and our view extends right across Teviotdale to the Lammermuirs, the Eildons, and the hills of Ettrick. Gazing north from Carter, we can well appreciate how Scott was moved to eloquence in praise of his native country— Where's the coward that would not dare To fight for such a land ?

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

203

The winding road descends steeply past Ferniehirst Castle —one of our " swell " Youth Hostels—to Jedburgh, a peaceful country town nowadays, but with a wild history, as may be imagined from the basic principle of Jeddart Justice— Hang a suspect first ; try him afterwards.

Despite, however, the turbulence of their history, our Border cousins found time and inclination to build some glorious examples of medimval architecture, and even though they have suffered badly at the hands of spoilers, the Abbeys of Jedburgh, Kelso, Dryburgh and Melrose, all well repay visits. The third contains the graves of two of Scotland's best-known sons— Walter Scott and Douglas Haig. Yet it is the last-named which, rightly, commands greatest popularity, and some day I hope to return in obedience to the poet's advice— If thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, Go visit it by the pale moonlight.

Half-way on to Galashiels there is a stone at the roadside intimating that when, on that last sad journey when Scott was returning from Italy to die in Scotland, his horses reached this point, Sir Walter " sprang up with a cry of delight" at the glorious view of Tweed curving through the woods at the base of the Eildon Hills. We turn sharp left through Galashiels to follow the bard's beloved river, past his stately home of Abbotsford, through Selkirk, which still knows him as " the Shirra," and on upstream, opposite his earlier home of Ashiestiel : surely this is one of the grandest drives in all Scotland. On each bank the land is clothed in deep foliage, and throughout the river's winding course there is a constant succession of beautiful vistas along its dark waters. Innerleithen—an attractive little summer resort—figures in Scott as St. Ronan's, the saint's well being in the vicinity. Here we cross Tweed to see the Gates of Traquair, which have not been opened since 1746, and are not to be re-opened until the Stuarts return to the British Throne.

Peebles is another of the beautiful spots on Tweedside, and we are glad to spend half-an-hour having tea at its magnificently-situated Hydro, facing right across the valley to the hills above St. Mary's Loch and Yarrow. The evening sees us run gently into Edinburgh, enjoying the still-strong rays of the sun as it sinks over the Pentland Hills.

Next day is the last of our trip. The morning breaks dully, but this is no great hardship, as there is little to see for the first part of our journey. An exception is Linlithgow Palace, where Queen Mary was born. Pleasantly placed on the edge of its loch, the palace has a peaceful air to-day, but the depth of its dungeons indicates a very different state of affairs in past centuries. An hour's run from " Auld Reekie " brings us beneath Stirling Castle, rivalling even Edinburgh in

204

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

its position on a mighty crag. In the distance are some of Perthshire's giants, outposts of the Grampians, but our route up the banks of Allan Water is quiet and not very interesting.

Beyond Perth we come into more attractive country. Firstly, the remarkable beech hedge at Meikleour arrests one's attention ; it rises well over a hundred feet above the road. North of Blairgowrie we gradually rise, and at Spital of Glen Shee the real climb commences up the highest road (still used) in Britain. I say " still used," as Wade's famous Coire-gharbh road in Inverness-shire, abandoned since 183o, attained an altitude more than three hundred feet greater than Cairnwell's 2599 feet above sea-level. The " Devil's Elbow " on the latter has lost most of its terror in recent years, surface having been smoothed and curves eased, but it is still quite ticklish enough for a novice! At the summit we get out in order to stretch our limbs on Aberdeenshire soil once more. Then a brisk descent of Glen Clunie brings us to Braemar and " the Silver River." On this side of the Grampians the sun is shining strongly, and we enjoy many fine views of mountain and river on the gradual slope of 5 8 miles to Aberdeen. Quite the best is that of Old Invercauld Bridge and Lochnagar. Yesterday we remembered Scott's words in praise of his native land ; to-day Byron's come to mind— England I thy beauties are tame and domestic To one who has roved o'er the mountains afar: Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic I The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar.

Yesterday, too, Tweed claimed our admiration ; to-day, Dee surpasses even the grandeur of the Border river. We relish the coolness in the trees near Ballochbuie, then we revel in the sunshine on the open road past Inver. Woods again at Crathie, a faint view of Balmoral and a clearer one of Abergeldie ; a dark avenue through Pass of Ballater; a lovely view of the white suspension bridge at Cambus o' May ; that glorious mass of purple heather on Dinnet Moor. We have tea at Aboyne ; then off on the last lap by Potarch, Banchory, Brig o' Feugh, Maryculter Bridge, and all those other places whose names roll so readily from one's tongue. To end our most delightful tour King Sol favours us with a smiling welcome back to the " Silver City."

E. R. B. (1920-22.)

Aberdeen Grammar School .11agazjne

205

All in the Day's Work.

I Assam in the year of grace 192 i was, like many other parts of India, in a pretty jumpy state, so it was with a certain degree of pleasurable anticipation that, on being " demobbed " from the Indian Army, I found myself posted to a battalion of Military Police—the Lakhimpur Battalion, whose headquarters are at Sadiya, which, being on the borders of Assam, China, Burma, and Tibet, is naturally an interesting spot.

Ghandi and his disciples had been putting up all sorts of funny stunts, one being the calling out on strike of nearly all the railway employees, so that on proceeding to take up my new appointment, the rail journey from Gauhati to Saikhoa Ghat, the terminus on the south bank of the river, took rather a long time. There were no signals, and trains ran only in daylight.

The first night was spent at Lamding, famous, or rather notorious, for its mosquitoes and fever. Here several of the European officers of the railway were temporarily gathered together, and they gave me a royal reception, which included a good dinner. Late the next night I reached Saikhoa, where I found an orderly waiting with a note from my Commandant, who advised my spending the night at the Inspection Bungalow and crossing the river next morning.

The rains had just begun, and there was a thick, cold mist over everything, which completely hid the mighty river, but it could be heard roaring past quite close to the bungalow, and every now and then there would be a great splash, as yards of the undermined bank toppled in with a weird sigh.

In the morning there was still a thick mist, and I couldn't see the far bank : from the Gurkha orderly I learnt that Sadiya was seven miles up the opposite bank and it took us six hours to get there in a light canoe.

When I reported my arrival, my C.O. told me that my first job would be to take over the canteen and soda-water factory, with which he was fed to the teeth. After dinner the C.O. suddenly asked me if 1 had a good head. I thought it a queer question but said, " Well, I come from the right side of the Tweed! " He was sipping his coffee and choked violently, coughing up a lot of it ; then, alternately blowing his nose and wiping his eyes, he gurgled, " I mean hills, rocks, khuds, precipices—that sort of head," and I gathered that there were one or two posts away out in the blue which he had tried to reach but had had to give up the attempt. Those posts had not been visited for some time and that was to be my next job.

The paths or roads (so-called) on the frontier come under two heads, the Political, for which the P.O. is responsible, and the Public Works. All the good work they put in during the

106

Aberdeen Grammar School Mager#ne

cold weather, i.e. the dry season, is simply wiped off the face of the earth when the rains set in in real earnest : when I say that I have seen a measured rainfall of twenty-three, twenty-seven, and twenty-six inches on three consecutive days, the havoc can be easily understood.

We had some elephants, which were used for rationing certain of the outposts : one poor brute was carried away and drowned, so it became urgent to get rations out to the men sitting in a little fort away out in the middle of the Mishmi Hills. There had been a break in the rains and, things looking feasible, I started off with a ration party and small guard.

II Dening, a small post some sixty or seventy miles up the Lohit Valley, was my first objective, and I hadn't gone very far before I quite saw my C.O.'s reasons for turning back. He, of course, could please himself but I couldn't—my orders were to go on and inspect, and on I had to go, over some of the most appalling ground I have ever seen. Down below it wasn't so bad, because one hadn't far to fall, so to speak, and the chief difficulty was wading the icy-cold and very rapid streams. But up on the higher ground the path had been washed away in places for many yards at a stretch, and it was a case of hands and knees, teeth and toes, while, to add to the excitement, there would be the terrific roar of a rock-slide to front or rear. At one point we had to cross a smooth, bare mountain-face composed of shiny shale—it was set at an angle of about seventy degrees, and the path was a Serow track which we had to take in single file and at safe intervals, as each man started a land:slide at every step. The top of the mountain was invisible, so was the bottom : they faded away to nothing.

The last three miles into Dening ran straight up a hillside, where the ground had been " jhoomed " (felled and burnt to clear for crops), and the going was fairly easy. It had begun to rain again, so I went on ahead at a fast pace to warm up preparatory to a cold tub, which was a very foolish move, because the men lagged behind as soon as I left them and I had to wait for over half an hour shivering in a damp bath-towel.

Dening, although set at a terrific angle, is quite a pretty little place as I subsequently discovered, but at the moment the whole country was blotted out by a raw and cold drizzly mist : after a brief visit to the tiny fort I made a bee-line for the Inspection Bungalow, intent on a good fire and some hot food.

They were there ; so were my " boy" and orderly I believe, but I couldn't see any of them for smoke, and I had to beat a hasty retreat. I looked at the chimney from the outside and saw that it ended in an iron (or tin) pipe from which no smoke issued. I got a long pole and knocked the thing clean off, which cured the smoke trouble, but the firewood was green and

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

If

•

207

wet and gave little heat. I often wondered what the Political Officer thought about his chimney, but he never mentioned it —no more did I. While at Dening I got my first sight of the real wild Mishmi, there are four or five clans. They are a poor, miserable whom of race, taking them by and large, but must have some good stuff in them, as they can cover forty miles in a day, over dreadful ground, carrying a good load. They wear little clothing for such a raw climate—some of the chiefs wore gaudy capes made from the skin of a green monkey, but most of them, men and women, used a simple grass cape to keep off the rain. They use bows, mostly the cross-how, and their arrow tips are poisoned with aconite. The most interesting thing I saw was a war helmet, which is worth describing.

A piece of rattan about an inch in diameter and of a length to fit round a man's head is bent to an oval and the ends sewn together with thin rattan lacing. To this oval a conical hat of thin rattan plaiting is sewn by the plaiting itself and a conical cover—like a duplicate and smaller hat, as above—is sewn on this again ; then, half-inch split cane, as armour, in ten strips, is laced over all. The hat would turn a sword-cut or at least stop the blade from cutting into the wearer's cranium—a truly wonderful specimen of the hatter's art, sun-proof and waterproof withal.

The next few months was spent visiting various posts scattered about the Mishmi and Abor Hills, giving praise or censure as it was deserved ; rebuilding or repairing forts, which were of two kinds, stockade and stone—at this work the Gurkhas arc adepts. The weather had now turned bright, clear, and cold—indescribably fine weather with a something in the air that I have never experienced anywhere except in sight of the Himalayas. The rivers were also clear and cold, and the unsophisticated mahseer simply jumped at a spoon like a dog at a thrown biscuit. One day I killed over a hundred pounds of fish in about an hour, and grand fish they were. But now, alas, Ghandi and his misguided followers had again started their comic stunts and I was moved down to the plains with a " Company " which was scattered about in small parties all over the Tea district.

III The chief stunt at the moment was disorganizing " markets," which really hurt nobody, but it annoyed the local officials and upset the Estates' labour, Government decided that the markets were to be held in the proper and authorized places and nowhere else—we were there to back up the civil police, if and when necessary.

The General Manager of one of the biggest concerns in Assam placed half-a-dozen cars at my disposal; the drivers

zo8

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

were his English assistants, all of whom had been in France or Flanders at one time or another. Several had the D.S.O. or M.C.—a gallant lot, and, judging by the way they drove a car over their awful roads, an exceptionally brave lot. One afternoon I was playing tennis at the house of the above-mentioned Manager when the local Inspector of Police arrived to report the breaking up of a market and the man-handling of himself and his men. He seemed scared and shaken. Running to the shed in which the men were billeted I found that the Subedar in the mysterious manner of the East, knew what was up and had twenty-five fallen in and ready for business. I had no time to change my tennis bags or shoes, but slid into a tunic, hat, and Sam Browne. Five wild planters had the cars up in a moment and the little men were packed in, five to a car, and off we roared for the disturbed market some fifteen miles away.

The sun was shining brightly as we neared the disturbance and showed up the white Ghandi hats to great advantage, hut apparently it showed up the men's rifles to even greater advantage as it glinted off the polished barrels, for with an almighty roar of " The Gurkhas," the crowd—about three thousand— picked up its skirts and literally " hared " off across country.

The road was a " Bund " road and had a deep ditch on both sides, so those of the crowd that happened to be on it had, perforce, to line up and stand their ground, but one and all grabbed their Ghandi hats and shoved them into pockets! I happened to be in No. i car and, as we reached the crowd, I made the driver slow up, which was lucky, as just then one of our tyres burst with a bang. At the same time the driver of a " Tin Lizzie " behind us shut off the gas too much as he slowed up, and his engine performed what the French so expressively call a " peterade," very much like the " tutt-tuff " of a Lewis gun!

The effect was magical.

It reminded me of coming suddenly on a pond round which hundreds of frogs are basking in the sun—the road, which a moment before had been swarming with people, was suddenly empty! The only men who stood fast were some half dozen Pathans, big-nosed, hawk-faced, grey-eyed sons of the other far-away frontier of India. I had been up in their country some years before, and in addition to a smattering of Urdu, I still " had " about six words of Pushtu, so crossing over to them I asked what they were doing in that crowd of stupid schoolboys.

They grinned and asked me what I wanted them to do. They then moved their bundles of merchandise to the authorized market-place and helped to establish the market. The cold ditch water had taken all the starch out of the Ghandi wallahs and they apathetically watched the proceedings.

That was that. But of the cross-country crowd I was to hear moreWhen the tyre burst I noticed that the main crowd which

209

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

S

was tearing across the fields had redoubled its speed. Breaking up into smaller parties, it rapidly melted away into patches of jungle, crops, or whatever cover happened to be handiest, and disappeared. There were probably one or two correspondents of Bande Mataram and other vernacular " rags" among the others, and they, cunning fellows, legged it for the nearest telegraph office, whence they sent off a lot of telegrams, one to the Government of Assam, no less, reporting heavy firing and bombing by the Gurkhas. All the telegrams ended with the well-known stock phrase, " Great sensation prevails I " which, for once in a way, was very nearly right.

Next morning, while getting out " Detachment Orders," a telegram was handed to me—it came from Shillong. Short, sharp, and to the point, it demanded an instant and detailed report on the alleged atrocities! I only hope the authorities enjoyed reading that report as much as I did writing it.

A. W. DUNCAN. (1892.93.)

The Public School Tradition.

The following extract is taken from the leading article in a recent issue of The Scottish Educational Journal:—

♦

•

It is obvious that the cult of the English Public School boy has spread widely and become more and more influential. We are reminded of an experience of the late Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. Before the War he was a member of a Royal Commission on the Indian Civil Service. The Commission in the course of its investigations visited India. A prominent Indian Civil Servant gave evidence before it. He was a devout believer in the " old school tie " fetish, and submitted as his evidence-in-chief a lengthy statement, defending the thesis that the only suitable education for one who aspired to play a leading part in the administration of Indian affairs was that given by an English Public School and Oxford or Cambridge. Such an one alone could possibly have the breadth of culture, the ease of deportment. the knowledge of men, the sense of responsibility, the sureness of judgment, the suppleness of mind, the ability to dominate a situation, that mark the really good administrator. Mr. MacDonald used to relate with glee how he cross-examined this product of an English Public School and Oxford or Cambridge. He asked : " Who is the Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces just now ? " " Sir James Meston," was the answer. " Was he educated at Eton or Harrow ? " " Neither, I believe." " Where, then ? " " Aberdeen Grammar School." " Which was his University—Oxford or Cambridge ? " " Aberdeen."

Again and yet again did Mr. MacDonald take the impassioned defender of the Public School tradition along what must have been a painful path, for three of the Lieutenant-Governors at that time were Aberdonians.

It cannot be denied that in recent years there has been intensified activity among the champions of the English Public Schools. The propaganda on their behalf is all-pervasive, and evidences of it are to be seen in the most unlikely places—even, we believe, in the ranks of the Communists.

a xo

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Death of Mr. J. B. Philip, M.A. More than a generation of F.P.s will regret the passing on 6th May last of Mr. John Bentley Philip, M.A., who was for nearly 38 years a member of the School staff. At the time of his retirement, in June, 1926, tributes to his work and worth from old pupils appeared in the Magazine and need not be repeated now.

Mr. Philip, who was born in 1861, was the eldest son of the late Rev. JOHN PHILIP (1828-33), M.A., D.D., for many years minister of the Free Church, Fordoun, and was a brother of Professor JAMES C. PHILIP (1886-89), O.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., the present President of the F.P. Club, He was educated at the Free Church School, Auchcnblae, the Old Aberdeen Grammar School, and the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated M.A. in 1881. After holding some minor teaching posts, he joined the staff of the Grammar School in 1888, being engaged at first as a class teacher, and later as a teacher of Geography and Natural Science. His old pupils will recall with pleasure and gratitude his interesting experiments in botany, his excursions by river-bank and sea-shore, and the fine photographic and lantern-slide illustrations he used in connection with his work. He was the author of several text-books in natural science, and of " Holidays in Sweden," a charming account of that country, which he had visited no fewer than sixteen times, illustrated by his own excellent photographs.

Mr. Philip was one of the founders in 1920 of the Deeside Field Club, and to it he devoted practically all his attention and energy, particularly after his retirement from teaching. It was very largely on his initiative that the Club Magazine, The Deeside Field, was started. At first he was the joint editor, and later the sole editor. " Planned originally as a record of the Club's activities," says a recent writer in The Scottish Educational Journal, "the Field from the very outset revealed a much more comprehensive outlook, and took its place at once as a repertory of the history, tradition, folk-lore, literature, and nature annals of Deeside. This wider outlook and the remarkably high level of its articles and its illustrations it owed to the infective energy and skilful direction of Mr. Philip. Appearing at intervals of some two years, it rapidly took its place not only as a magazine that delighted a wide circle of readers both at home and abroad, but as a most valuable source-book for the history of the NorthEast."

After the publication of the seventh issue of the Field Mr. Philip was obliged, through ill-health, to resign his duties as editor and to give up entirely his work for the Field Club.

JOHN BENTLEY PHILIP,

\1.,1.

Pknto. by courtesy ut

I

',leen MA-Arrant"

SIR HENRY ALEXANDER ADDRESSING THE. SCHOOL ON EMPIRE DAY.

On platform also, from left to right, are Mr. A. J. M. Edwards (Lower School Master), The Rector, and Mr. Henry Paterson (Senior Master), a

s

-

•

a

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

211

Empire Day. An Address by Sir Henry Alexander, LL.D.

IP •

•

On Tuesday, 24th May, Empire Day was as usual observed at the Grammar School, when the older pupils assembled in the Hall and were addressed by Sir Henry Alexander, a former President of the Former Pupils' Club, who quickly captured the attention vf his audience.

Now printed here in full, the address will be read with pleasure and appreciation by a much wider circle than was privileged to listen to it.

On three previous occasions, when I was Lord Provost, I had the pleasure and privilege of addressing the boys of the Grammar School in this Hall, and it was with some hesitation that I accepted the Rector's kind invitation to speak here on Empire Day, for I feared that I might repeat what I had already said here and traverse ground already familiar to you all ; but I re-assured myself by the knowledge that a large proportion of the boys who heard me on those occasions have now left the Grammar School; and I consoled myself with the reflection that those who did hear me and who are still here—and amongst them, Sir, are you yourself and your colleagues on the staff— will by this time have forgotten what I said. We are all apt to be acutely self-conscious about ourselves and to think that what we say or do is as important to others as it is to ourselves. This is a complete delusion, as you will learn as you advance in life, and so, trusting to the happy forgetfulness which so soon passes over old speeches, I pass to my subject and invite you to consider with me some aspects of Empire Day and some thoughts suggested by it.

This occasion has now been observed for many years in the Grammar School. But it has not always meant the same thing. The Empire to-day is not the same thing as it was twenty or thirty years ago. I am not referring to territories marked red on the map. I am referring to its constitution, that is, to the way in which the different parts of the Empire are bound together—bound to the Mother Country and bound to each other.

And our own conception of Empire has changed also.

Everything changes in this world, and we are looking at the Empire to-day in the light of the world as it is to-day, and that world is different from what it was thirty years ago, just as it will be different thirty years hence from what it is to-day. If I could sum up that change in a sentence, I would say that we no longer regard the Empire as a possession, but we realize now that it is a tremendous responsibility.

Thirty or forty years ago it was the fashion for people to sun themselves rather complacently in front of a map of the world splashed all over with Red, and to boast of the hundreds of thousands of square miles within the British Empire or

212

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

the hundreds of millions of inhabitants within the Empire.

Kipling was the poet of this sort of Imperialism ; and you remember Tennyson's lines :— We sailed wherever ship could sail, We founded many a mighty State.

Lord Beaconsfield flattered Queen Victoria and pleased the British people by introducing the title of Empress of India: very much as Mussolini has to-day flattered the Italians by calling the King of Italy Emperor of Abyssinia. The very fact that we smile at Mussolini for doing so shows how far we have travelled from the ideas of the nineteenth century.

The Empire to-day is no longer regarded as a possession of this country. Canada and South Africa and Australia and New Zealand are no longer called " Colonies." They are Dominions -self-governing Dominions—and, as you know, they are absolutely independent of this country, save for the sentimental link of the Crown. And India is in process of becoming independent also. We are giving India self-government by gradual stages, and in the latest stage of this process an old Grammar School boy, Lord Meston, played an important part (applause).

We do not speak so much of the Empire to-day. We call it the Commonwealth of Nations. Let us turn our thoughts to this aspect of Empire Day. The term Commonwealth of Nations is no idle or meaningless one. It expresses a conception of Empire which is new in the world's history and which is far nobler and far higher than any form of Imperialism with which we have been familiar in the past. It makes a peculiar appeal to the genius of our people and it presents a field in which you young men of the coming generation can take a share and play a part as interesting and as thrilling as any Empire-builder of the past. You are citizens of a free nation and citizens of a commonwealth of free nations, and it is going to depend upon each of you individually whether this freedom is going to continue and whether this ideal, not of conquest and dominion but of liberty, is to be preserved for the future progress of mankind.

It is no mere manner of speech to say this to you who are Grammar School boys. Forty years ago I visited Australia and New Zealand and travelled all through Canada, and whereever I went I found Aberdeen people and many of them old Grammar boys. That was the case forty years ago and it is the case to-day. I cannot illustrate this better than by taking up at random, as I did the other day, a copy of the Grammar School Magazine and glancing at the notes about Former Pupils. I cannot refer to the Magazine without paying my tribute to Dr. Theodore Watt for all that he has done for it—the best school magazine published in the country (applause).

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

213

In this copy of the Magazine there were some 9o entries or notes about Old Boys and no fewer than 32 of these Old Boy 3 were settled in or working in various parts of the Empire.

Here are some of them, with the years they spent at the Grammar :— D. S. Allan (1906-07), tea planter. Assam.

C. G. McKenzie (1910-12). Colonial Office. Nigeria.

James Donald Brown (1916-20). Superintendent of Agriculture, Northern Nigeria, P. A. B. McKerron (1904-10). British Resident. Brunei (a Mohammedan State in North Borneo).

D. S. Scott (1907-10, Government doctor in Mombasa.

C. A. G. Savidge (1913-24), Indian Civil Service.

E. R. Garden Bruce (1909-18), rubber planting, Malay States.

Alex. Whincup Carle (1914-20), assistant loco. superintendent, Bengal and N.W. Railway.

Ian Thom (1912-25), farming, Wydgee, West Australia.

William Christie (1916-18), engineer on sugar estate, Demerara. British Guiana.

Wallace Troup (1907-12), doctor in Ottawa.

A. W. Walker (x906-14), Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Saskatchewan.

Lindsay D. Cox (1898-1903), motor engineer, Johannesburg.

Ernest Logie Danson (1892-94), Bishop of I.abuan and Sarawak.

Percy C. B. Shirreffs (1913-16), District Commissioner. Gold Coast, with 1,600 square miles to look after.

This is not a selected list. It is all from one issue of the Magazine, for November 1928, and it shows vividly what the Empire means to the Grammar School and what it may mean to you in a very few years, when you enter on your life's work.

Some of these Grammar School boys overseas are good enough to send to the Magazine letters about their life and what they are doing, and from some issues of the Magazine I have picked out three passages which I am going to read to you.

From ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK (1 911 -17), doctor in the Sudan Medical Service, in charge of a settlement with i,ooo sleeping sickness patients and 2,ooo lepers :— The country here is dense forest, and after much prospecting I have struck a high watershed of some twenty square miles in area, and here I propose to bring the patients. Large arterial roads will be cut, and at intervals of too yards a hut will be built, and some land cleared for cultivation.

The patients will be brought up one by one, carefully inspected, their condition, lesions, weight, and history being noted, and a photograph taken.

They are then to be issued with grain and salt, given a preliminary injection. and shown their future home. Seeds are also to be given to them, so that those who are fit enough can do their own cultivation.

1 estimate that it will take two years to finish all the preliminary work and to admit and house all the lepers. Once this has been accomplished the prospects of stamping out this terrible scourge, or, at least, of preventing fresh infections, will be bright. To sec the number of cheerful young children with the initial signs of the disease makes one realize the importance and urgency of the task.

From GEORGE J. HALL (I 913- I 8), Burketown, Northern

Territory, Australia :— In 1926 1 took a mob of 7,000 merino sheep from Winton. in the North Central District, down to the Gulf for relief country. The North was in

214

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

the grip of drought and the Gulf looked the best proposition for agistment.

Over three million sheep went from the stricken district in that year and all had the same experience of heavy, tropical downpours, resulting in footrot, rickets, and other diseases to which the dry country merino is so prone.

On various occasions we experienced much anxiety, for in the tangle of thick ti-tree scrub and dense turpentine bush it was impossible to see more than a dozen sheep at a time. Often we would strike poison belts of ironwood and gutta-percha, and had to double back and make a wide detour.

At other times we would come upon grass eight to ten feet high. To make a passage through we would bunch up soo sheep and drive them through, thus making a track for the rest to follow. Time and again we improved bridges to cross the smaller rivers, and often had to swim the mob when the river was too wide.

About JOHN LIVINGSTONE (I906-o8), Hudson's Bay Company factor at Gjoa Haven, within the Arctic Circle :— A clerk at the post went out for a walk in February, and as he did not return, Livingstone became anxious. The temperature was 35° below zero and a blizzard came on. With the first grey light the following morning the few men at the post held a council of war. The blizzard still raged.

Some Eskimos who were present said it would be best if they went out with a dog team. They accordingly set out, but within half a mile were forced back by the blizzard. The days passed into weeks, and the weeks into months. Then on 7th June an Eskimo came into the settlement and told of his having found the body of a young white man on the ice, so Livingstone and another trader set out at once with the Eskimo. Seven miles north-east of the post they found the clerk's body lying on the ice.

He possibly had built a shelter, but it had long been swept away.

We cannot all go overseas. The most of us will, after all, spend our lives here in this country and the chances of service here, though not, perhaps, so spectacular as they are abroad, are just as honourable ; as witness this passage, again from the Grammar School Magazine :— WILLIAM MITCHELL (1876-81), doctor in Bradford, died 14th February, I933 After building up an extensive practice, he threw this up in order to study X-ray treatment and apply it to medicine. For 2 5 years he served as radiologist to Bradford Royal infirmary. First he lost one finger: then a second : then his shoulder was affected: and it became clear that his whole health was being undermined by his work. But he carried on despite the dreadful disease of X-ray dermatitis which had attacked him, and this never deterred him from giving his services unsparingly to the poorer hospital patients.

But you may say—and perhaps not unjustly—that I am picking out the purple patches from the Magazine, and what about the men who may not have the chance of performing heroic deeds ? This brings me to the closing thought upon Empire Day which I would venture to put before you to-day —I mean the contribution which each of us, wherever we are, whether overseas or here at home, can make to the well-being of this country and this Empire. And by Empire I do not mean the mere possession of so much territory. Greece was never an Empire in the ordinary sense of the word, and yet Greece by its influence on philosophy and art has exerted an

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

I

II

11 5

imperishable influence upon the world. The Jews never had an Empire in the ordinary sense of the word. They were never more than a petty Semitic state. And yet in the spiritual and moral world they gave birth to Christianity, and their influence here has been incalculable.

And so when I speak of Empire to-day, I do not mean an Empire of mere territory. I mean the safeguarding and maintenance of those political and moral ideals of which we are the trustees—the ideals of liberty, of free speech, and of free discussion for all men, whatever their colour, race, or creed.

You remember that great passage in the Acts of the Apostles, when they were about to scourge Paul and— The centurion went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest : for this man is a Roman.

Then the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman ? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom.

And Paul said, But I was free born.

1 io

We were born free in this country, enjoying liberties and privileges which men in other lands would give a great price to possess. But these liberties and privileges do not rest upon any immutable laws of nature, like the rising of the sun or the movement of the tides. They rest upon the vigilance and devotion of the individual citizen ; and the message which I wish to give you to-day—if you will pardon an older man for doing so— is the enormous importance of the individual, of each one of you, and of the work you can do.

Many definitions have been given of " a gentleman." The best is that of Bernard Shaw—" A gentleman is he who tries in one form or another to put into social life as much as he takes out of it."

We each of us owe something to the community of which we form a part. Mazzini, the great Italian patriot, began his book, " The Duties of Man," with this sentence :—" To the Italian people—I want to speak to you of your duties." We all have rights as citizens, but we also have duties. We cannot divest ourselves of responsibility by saying, "This is the Government's duty. This is the Town Council's duty." The Government in the last resort is YOU, and by you I mean not you collectively but each one of you individually.

I shall close with a passage in the majestic prose of Milton, from the " Areopagitica " :— Consider what nation it is whereof ye are, and whereof ye are the governors : a nation not slow and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing spirit ; acute to invent, subtle and sinewy in discourse, not beneath the reach of any point the highest that human capacity can soar to.

Boys of the Grammar School—" Consider what nation it ye are, and whereof ye are the governors " (loud whereof is applause).

2 16

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

B. N. B. The name Sarawak is, for one reason or another, frequently heard and, being within comparatively easy reach of Singapore, Sarawak is probably better known than any other part of British Borneo ; but many people in Great Britain have never even heard the names of Brunei, Labuan, and British North Borneo, and the regular steamers which connect Singapore with Sandakan, the capital of British North Borneo, carry few passengers beyond Sarawak who have chosen this route for a pleasure trip.

The reason for this is not far to seek. British North Borneo (or as it is familiarly called, B.N.B.) is too far off the beaten track to attract the ordinary tourist or even those imaginative authors who provide a gullible public with fantastical tales of Africa, Java, and the South Pacific ; its history prior to the eighteenth century is so obscure that it presents no field for the historian ; it contains little of interest to the archzologist ; the zoologist and anthropologist can find in Malaya, Sumatra, or Java practically all the same species of animal or man as are found in Borneo ; there is no Saigon or Shanghai to attract visitors seeking the artificial gaiety of night-life in the Far East, no lions or tigers for the big-game hunter, and few roads for the motorist. Yet anyone who visits the only British Colony still administered by a Chartered Company is never likely to regret having done so, for it is in many ways both attractive and interesting. Here is a country almost as large as Ireland, whose resources are only partially known, whose inhabitants are not yet over-educated, which has not yet been fully explored and mapped, and where one may travel almost anywhere, at any time, in more safety than one could at home.

On the other hand, here is a country where one may see large and flourishing rubber, cocoanut, and tobacco estates ; a thriving timber industry, exporting timber to all parts of the world and for almost every conceivable purpose ; native school children giving a physical training display of a very high standard; and may meet an elephant, a rhinoceros, an orang-utan, a leopard, or a king cobra, not to mention innumerable other snakes and crocodiles.

Around the coasts are numerous islands, from coral islets carrying two or three palms to timber-clad islands as large as Skye or Mull, mangrove swamps, cliffs, and sandy beaches ; and, where the coral reefs come near to the surface, brilliant patches of emerald green further embellish the sapphire waters of a bay or a lagoon. Inland, behind the coastal plain and the foothills, stretch range after range of jungle-clad mountains with peaks reaching a height of 8,ooo feet, all dominated by the huge granite mass of Mount Kinabalu, i;,45 I feet high and fanged like Scurr-nan-Gillean, from whose sides the ranges radiate like the ribs of a fan.

4berdeen Grammar School Magazine

217

In the interior one may require two blankets at night, but North Borneo is never too cold and seldom too hot for Europeans ; and although it may rain more in June and July and November and December than during the other months of the year, there are no definite wet or dry seasons. Borneo is, in fact, a land of perpetual summer, and it is this fact, combined with the humidity of the atmosphere, that makes the climate enervating, so that it is advisable for Europeans to visit a colder and drier zone every few years.

Yet British North Borneo is a healthy country when combe pared with other British tropical possessions. Malaria may prevalent and dysentry not uncommon, but apart from hookworm, few other tropical diseases are to be found even among the native and Chinese inhabitants. Except at Sandakan all drinking water has to be boiled, and it is everywhere necessary to sleep under a mosquito net or in a mosquito-proof room.

The native population of North Borneo is composed of a variety of races. The most numerous of these are the Dusuns, a race of agriculturists, who, generally speaking, occupy stretches of fertile land on the coastal plains and foothills or the plateaux of the interior. Other races peculiar to North Borneo are the Bajaus, once a race of pirates, who have now settled down to the less exciting occupation of fishing and who live mostly on; the west coast, in villages overlooking the South China Seain the nomadic Muruts of the interior, probably the last tribe Borneo to be cured of the head-hunting habit ; and the less numerous Kedayans, Illanuns, and Tidongs. In addition, on the east coast, opposite the southern Philippine Islands, are to be found many Sulus and, near the Sarawak border, a number of Dyaks. In all towns in North Borneo the population is predominantly Chinese, most of whom are shopkeepers, clerks, or labourers ; in fact there are few shopkeepers and clerks in the over the whole country who are not Chinese. Almost all gardeners, country, too, one finds Chinese smallholders and growing a few acres of rubber, fruit, vegetables, or padi, or a few rows of coffee or pepper.

Europeans form only about .ooo1 of a total population of approximately 3oo,ooo and are mostly Government officers, or managers or assistants on rubber or tobacco estates.

Sandakan in addition to being the Capital is, with a population of approximately zo,ooo, the largest town in North Borneo and has one the finest natural harbours in the world. Like most other towns in North Borneo Sandakan consists roughly of three sections. Close to the wharf and fringed by the Government and European commercial offices, the timber mills and cutch factory and the European Club, lie the streets of shops and houses of the Chinese section. Further along the shore of the bay is the native " kampong," while the hills above the town form the European residential area.

218

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

The chief industry and the chief export of Sandakan is timber, and both the British Borneo Timber Company and the North Borneo Trading Company, the two principal concerns cutting timber in North Borneo, have their principal offices and sawmills there; but quantities of cutch (used for tanning), rubber, copra, and edible birds' nests are also shipped to various parts of the world. Sandakan, in addition to having an excellent supply of filtered and sterilized water, has electric light and power, an aerated water and ice factory, and an automatic telephone system. A regular service of steamers connects Sandakan with Hongkong as well as with Singapore, and steamers from Japan and South Africa call frequently to load timber.

Other towns on the east coast to which a steamer runs every week from Sandakan are Lahad Datu, from which comes some of the finest wrapper-leaf tobacco obtainable, and Tawau. Like Sandakan, Tawau has an excellent harbour and it is a regular port of call for Japan—Java steamers and the terminal port for the steamers serving the east coast of Dutch Borneo. Its present development is mainly due to Japanese, who have planted hundreds of acres of land in the vicinity with rubber, cocoanuts, and manila hemp. Recently more people have discovered the suitability of the soil around Tawau for hemp cultivation, and a British company has been formed for the purpose of growing manila hemp there also.

The capital of the west coast of British North Borneo and the first port of call in B.N.B. for steamers from Singapore is Jesselton. Unlike Sandakan, Jesselton has no industries in the town itself, but it is the terminus of the North Borneo State Railway, and far the greater part of the country's principal export, rubber, is shipped from here. Jesselton is also the headquarters of several Government Departments, including the North Borneo Armed Constabulary, a force composed of Indians and natives with European officers, whose main barracks are within a short distance of the town.

To my mind Jesselton is easily the most attractive town in North Borneo. It is pleasantly situated, overlooking a bay, with the large wooded island of Gaya opposite and smaller islands on either side. It is well laid out and the climate is delightful. From Jesselton one may motor over well-metalled roads to the small Government station at Penampang, seven miles distant in one direction, or to Tuaran, a small town some twenty-one miles distant in another direction, passing on the way many acres of land planted with rubber, cocoanuts, and padi. A third road leads to the constabulary barracks, and, a mile or two beyond, to a magnificent stretch of sandy beach, where one may bathe in perfect safety, except when there are jelly-fish about. Jesselton, too, has a good harbour, electric light and power, an ice factory, and an automatic

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

•

Mt

•

z19

telephone system, but the water supply is inadequate and unsterilized.

Twenty-three miles to the south by rail from Jesselton lies Papar, a flourishing little town in the centre of a large district intensely cultivated for padi, rubber, and cocoanuts by Chinese and native smallholders.

Beaufort, another small town, dependent for its exixtence mainly on the rubber industry, is some miles inland and 57 miles south of Jesselton. Practically all suitable land in the Beaufort neighbourhood has been planted with rubber, and Beaufort is the centre for the majority of the European-owned rubber estates and in consequence has a flourishing European Club.

From Beaufort a branch of the North Borneo State Railway runs to Weston, a small port connected by launch with two small outstations, Sipitang and Mempakul, both on Brunei Bay, and Labuan, while the main line, turning inland, continues by way of the Padas River valley and gorge to Tenom and Melalap.

Tenom is a small town and Government station, while Melalap is simply the terminus of the line, from which one may travel to Keningau, the capital of the interior, by motor bus or visit a neighbouring rubber estate.

The scenery between Beaufort and Tenom is magnificent, as the railway runs for most of the way along a narrow ledge cut out of one of the steep banks which guide the rapid and quick-rising Padas towards the sea, permitting the traveller an uninterrupted view of the river itself and the steep jungle-clad hills on the other side.

Any reader who would like to know more about this pleasant land should read " British North Borneo," by Owen Rutter, the most detailed, comprehensive, and interesting book about any country that I have yet come across. And if any F.P. decides to visit Borneo, I hope he will be fortunate enough to travel from Singapore by the M.V. Marudu, which is not only the most comfortably fitted vessel calling at Sandakan, but has an Aberdeen " skipper " in the person of Captain Tom Findlay.

Unfortunately I cannot add that Tom, who is a very popular personality around the coasts of Sarawak and B.N.B., is also an F.P., since through some oversight he went to " the other place."

J. S. A.

2 20

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

By-ways of Missionary Service.

A request from Theodore Watt is a command to all ordinary F.P.s, and although a missionary's experiences may not be generally regarded as " copy " for a school magazine, they are not altogether devoid of incident.

In 1927, in answer to the World Call to Missions, I joined the C.M.S. for medical mission work in Quetta. I must not dwell now on the absorbing interest of the routine work there, with its tale of patients from beyond the Afghan border, and from the wilds of Baluchistan, where seven languages might be needed for as many patients. Only a few years ago the whole hospital with its patients was wiped out in the earthquake, and few of the staff escaped injury. The gallant Sir Henry Holland is now busy rebuilding.

After three years in Quetta, I was transferred to the Kashmir Mission Hospital at Srinagar, where Dr. Ernest Neve was just retiring from active work. One could hardly imagine a more interesting field, whether from the point of view of the country, or of its peoples, or of the work itself.

After I had been about a year there, a revolution broke out in the State. The Maharaja had gradually got rid of all his European advisers, and the Mohammedan subjects of the State had many grievances against the rule of their Hindu masters. As a Mission we naturally stood aside, but the Kashmir Mission fills too large a place in the life of Srinagar to be left alone. We soon found ourselves in the place of referees.

Those of the rebels who had been publicly flogged or injured in the riots came to us for sympathy and healing ; while on the other hand we were also called upon by the State authorities.

The troops had been called out, and there had been firing in the streets. Exaggerated stories of killed and wounded were being bruited about. The Mohammedans had taken their casualties into the big mosque in the heart of the city, and no official of the State dare approach. No one knew the truth, so the Commander-in-Chief fell back upon the Mission. I accordingly went down accompanied by a nursing sister. We passed through the tortuous lanes of Srinagar, which were in an uproar, through the cordon of State troops, into the mosque.

Here we were most courteously received, and after removing our shoes, were conducted through the shouting crowds inside to where the wounded lay. We saw the bodies of the three or four killed, dressed the wounds of the others, and then came and made our report to the authorities outside.

Some days later our services to the State were of a more important nature. Quite late at night an agitated Kashmiri police official knocked me up to say that the body of a Mohammedan woman had been found in the river. People

I

4

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

v op

221

were saying that the Hindus had murdered her. The Mohammedans had called a hartal for the next day : anything might happen : the city might be looted, or set on fire, and all the Hindus murdered. Would I go down and examine the body ?

I remonstrated and said that this was a police business, and that it was a case for the State doctors. To this the official replied that the relatives would not allow the State doctors to go near it. It was again a case for the Mission. In the end I had to agree to hold an examination the next morning.

As I drove down to the mortuary, I noticed a little group under a tree nearby. It consisted of the friends of the deceased woman, but with them was a young Mohammedan, a mere student, but known to us as an agitator and a firebrand, with whom we had had to deal firmly a short time before, when he was found prying round the Hospital.

I think my subconsciousness registered a warning as I passed on to my unpleasant task, which I had to conduct surrounded by the doctors from the State hospital, who held a very watchful brief. What was quite clear at once was that the woman had been dead a little time, and that she had not died by drowning.

I found no marks of violence, and was unable to say how she had died, though the other doctors were fertile in suggestion ; but, without realizing the full implications of my action at the time, I thought it might be as well not to exclude poisoning, and sealed up some material for chemical examination. As it turned out, nothing could have been more fortunate. There was no laboratory in Kashmir capable of making the tests.

Specimens had to be sent to British India, and that would entail at least a fortnight's delay. There was no spark to fire the mine next day and a deep plot failed ; for my impression is that our enterprising young friend had conceived the bright idea of obtaining a body and heaving it into the river, under the impression that no more was required to procure a verdict of death by drowning.

I am sorry I cannot round off the tale with the chemical analyst's report, but what it was I could never remember to enquire.

K. W. MAcKENziE. (1893-97.)

Chanda, C.P., India, 1st June, 1938.

2.22

• siberdeen Grammar Scbool Magazine

i

* It is requested that the Editor be informed of all new appointments and interesting incidents in the careers of Former Pupils.

The dates given in parentheses after names indicate the sessions of attendance at the School.

• • Commander Jameson Boyd Adams (1893-94), C.B.E., D.S.O., was gazetted a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) in the recent list of Birthday Honours conferred by the King. He is Controller of the North-Eastern Division of England, Ministry of Labour, but since 1935 has been released from his duties in order to be the Secretary of King George's Jubilee Trust, the offices of which are at St. James's Palace, London. On leaving the School he entered the Mercantile Marine, and served in the Royal Navy as an R.N.R. Lieutenant.

He took part in various Polar explorations, and was second in command of the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition of 1907-09, getting to within 97 miles of the South Pole. On returning home he entered the Civil Service, and in 191o became Superintendent of Labour Exchanges in the Northern District of England. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1918 for his services in the Great War, and promoted to the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy. He was created a C.B.E. in 1928.

Arthur James Adams* (1919-3o), B.Sc.(Vet.), M.R.C.V.S., who for the past three years has been a member of the West Riding of Yorkshire Veterinary Department, stationed at Hipperholme, has been transferred to Keighley.

Wilfrid Philip Shepherd Barron* (1896- i 9o3), M.C., T.D., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., has recently been appointed Chief Engineer to the Port of London Authority. Previously for ten years he was Chief Engineer to the Karachi Port Trust, India, and prior to that was Chief Engineer to the Port Commissioners, Chittagong, Bengal. He is to be congratulated on the very high position in his profession to which he has now attained.

Colonel Robert Bruce* (1886-89), D.S.O., T.D., M.A., M.D., of Cults, Aberdeenshire, has recently been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire. He is Chairman of the County of Aberdeen Territorial Army Association. * Member of Former Pupils' Club.

I

4

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

P

-

2.23

John Malcolm Bulloch (1877-80), M.A., LL.D., whose death on 6th March was recorded in the last Magazine, left net personalty amounting to £21,396. He bequeathed all MSS., published and unpublished works, books, documents, and papers, or other effects relating to the family of Gordon or to any member of that family or written by any member of that family, to the University of Aberdeen for the general library. His bound programmes of plays, entitled " Plays I have seen," he left to the British Museum.

Robert Wilson Catto* (1920-32), who graduated M.B., Ch.B., at Aberdeen University in July of last year, is at present on the staff of the Royal Infirmary, Oldham.

Patrick Ashley Cooper* (1896-1901), B. A.(Cantab.), LL.B. (Aberd.), has had his appointment as a member of the London Passenger Transport Board extended for a further period of five years from 18th May, 1938. He became a part-time member of the Board in 1933. As Governor he delivered, as usual, a very interesting speech at the Annual General Court in April of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay." James Gordon Danson* (1894-1903), M.D., Surgeon Captain, Royal Navy, who is Professor of Medicine, Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, was in April elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. He entered the Royal Navy as a Surgeon in 1910.

David Inglis Duff* (1915-16), the F.P. Club Consul at Calcutta, has been admitted a partner in Messrs. Barry & Co, as from 1st April. He entered the service of that company in 1920.

Frank Bruce Duguid* (1919-26), who is the F.P. Club Consul for Portuguese East Africa at Beira, in a recent letter to the Rector dealing with the prospects in those parts for young fellows, says that, quite candidly, there are none. "A few years ago it was an entirely different matter, but since then regulations have been enforced which stipulate that all business houses must employ staffs comprising 75 per cent. national subjects. Beira, I may say, is run almost entirely on British capital, and all business is transacted in English. As skilled local talent is practically negligible, this regulation came as a great blow. The result, of course, is that firms will now employ only highly trained men from overseas and fill up the ranks with the more intelligent Portuguese."

Charles William Dunn (1922-24), son of Rev. Peter A. Dunn, formerly of Woodside, Aberdeen, has been awarded a Fellowship in English at Harvard University. For the last five years he has been studying at A/Waster University. His father is at present minister of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ontario.

2

24

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Walter Angus Elmslie* (19o4-1o), who is a civil engineer in Admiralty service, has returned to this country from Singapore, after a spell there of three years. He is now stationed at the Admiralty, London, in the Civil Engineer-in-Chief's Department. He and his wife (nie Jean Sinclair, formerly Rector's secretary at the School) will be greatly missed by the F.P.s in Singapore.

Alexander John Findlay* (1898-1904), C.M.G., M.A., B.Sc.(Agr.), retired last year from the post of Director of Agriculture in Zanzibar and is at present Enquiry Officer in the Colonial Pavilion at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow. There he is trying to provide trade information concerning the products of our Colonial Empire and to stimulate interest in the recently constituted Colonial Empire Marketing Board. He was for 25 years in the Colonial Agricultural Service, and last year had the honour of representing Zanzibar at the Coronation Ceremony.

In the Coronation Honours List he was made a C.M.G. in recognition of his work in the Colonial Agricultural Service.

Robert Wilson Findlay* (1934-35) is in the Royal Air Force, and is at present in No. 8 Flying Training School (Photo Section), Montrose.

George Forbes* (1902-04), solicitor, Aberdeen, was in April admitted as a member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

Arthur Alexander Fox* (1923-29), who joined Barclay's Bank (D.C. and O.) in 1936, is at present stationed at Port Victoria, Southern Rhodesia.

Charles Edward Garland* (1898-19oz), who has been a Principal Inspector of Taxes in the Chief Inspector's Department, Somerset House, London, since 1934, has recently been given the acting rank of Senior Principal Inspector.

Alexander Mart. Geddes* (1897-1903), M.D.—the donor to the School of the Geddes Silver Medal for Science—who since 1930 has been a medical practitioner in Dundee, Natal, has recently disposed of his practice there and returned to this country.

Major Frederick Wernham Gerrard* (1905-06), C. I.E., Commissioner of the Municipal Police, Shanghai, retired in May, after completing nine years' service there. He has occupied his responsible post during very critical periods in the history of the Shanghai International Settlement, and has brought a great deal of organizing ability to his task. He joined the Indian Police Service in 1908, and became an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the Bombay Presidency. During the War he served in the North-West Frontier Province and with the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. Later he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police at Basra. He was

4 ....

i

Aberdeen Granmar School Magazine

i

" mentioned" in 1918, and was made a C.I.E. in 1920. In 1922 he was appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Iraq, resident at Baghdad, and in the following year became In May 1929 District Superintendent of Police at Karachi. he was transferred from India by the British Government to investigate the organization of the Shanghai Police Force, and shortly afterwards was appointed Commissioner of the Shanghai Municipal Police. He had a stiff task before him in reorganising this force and in curtailing crime ; and, as reported in the last issue of the Magazine, has had a very anxious time of late on account of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.

Angus William Grant* (1926-30) is in the service of the British Oil & Cake Mills, Ltd., at Seafield, Leith.

Robert Alexander Grate* (1920-29), M.A., C.A., is in the service in Paris of Messrs. Price, Waterhouse & Co., chartered accountants.

John Alexander Gray* (1926-35) is now a Sound Engineer with the G.P.O. Film Unit, Soho Square, London.

John Malcolm Gray* (1914-15), who on leaving the School became a and Air Mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service, and subsequently a and Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, is now a Senior Technical Officer on the Air Ministry Technical Staff.

Victor Thornton Gurner* (1902-o4), F.S.I., F.A.I., chartered surveyor, has become a partner in the firm of Benians and Wallis, Carshalton, Surrey.

David Sinclair Hay* (1907-11), General Manager of the Scottish Industrial Estate at North Hillington, Glasgow, had the honour of being presented to their Majesties the King and Queen when they visited Hillington at the time of the opening of the Glasgow Exhibition.

Ivor Llewellyn Bowman Hopkins* (1921-33) has been awarded a Maintenance Scholarship in Architecture of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in this connection was presented with a Diploma by the Aberdeen Branch of the R.I.B.A. John Henry Alexander Jamieson* (1930-35) is serving as an apprentice with the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd. (of Australia) in the Aberdeen Office.

Francis Charles Kelly* (1905-14), B.Sc., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Imperial Bureau of Nutrition at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen, has been appointed Technical Adviser in the Iodine Department in London of the Nitrate Corporation of Chile, Ltd., and Director of the recently formed Iodine Education Bureau. For two years after graduating Ph.D. at Aberdeen University in 1926, he was in the Colonial Service as biochemist to the Medical Department of Kenya Colony. In

226

Aberdeen Grammar Sebool Magazine

1928 he was appointed Technical Adviser to the Chilean Iodine Producers' Association, and four years later he received the appointment at the Rowett Institute. Dr. Kelly will take up his new duties in September. The new Iodine Bureau will collect all available scientific information, which will be placed at the disposal of the medical profession and scientific agricultural circles, as well as commercial interests. In addition, the Bureau will collaborate with scientific research to extend the knowledge of iodine, with special reference to its use in human and animal nutrition. This activity is being organized in the interests of the Chilean iodine producers, who supply more than three-quarters of the world's consumption.

Robert Sangster Kemp (1876-78), M.A., B.D., I-Ion. D.D., minister of the parish of Deer, Aberdeenshire, celebrated his ministerial jubilee in May, when he handed over a new church hall which, as a thank-offering, he had built for the use of his congregation. Dr. Kemp's first charge was Insch, Aberdeenshire, to which he was appointed in 1888. He has been at Deer since 1899.

Andrew William Logan* (1931-32) recently returned to this country after a six months' course in hotel office work in Switzerland. He was in the control office of the Hotel des Bergues in Geneva. He found the work there very interesting, and was very sorry when his permit expired. He hopes to take a similar course in France next winter.

Thomas Walker Lyon* (1918-21), who is in the service of the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, is now an Inspector attached to the London City Branch (King William Street).

James Watt McAllan (1925-32) should have been the subject of the note that was inadvertently associated with the name of JAMES LEWIS MCALLAN (1931-34) in the last issue of the Magazine.

Thomas Kyd Macdonald (1910-19), B.L., solicitor, Aberdeen, was in May admitted as a member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. He joined the Merchant Service in 1921 and holds the Master Mariner's Certificate. Retiring from that Service in 1934, he entered Aberdeen University and graduated B.L. in March, 1937. He started in practice as a solicitor in Aberdeen on 1st January, 1938.

Archibald McKenzie, Jun.* (1922-31) is in the service of the Hantapara Tea Co., Ltd., on the Hantapara Tea Estate, Jalpaiguri, India.

Kenneth William MacKenzie* (1893-97), D.S.O., M.C., M.B., Ch.B., is Head of the Scottish Episcopal Mission at Chanda, Central Provinces, India. He has had a varied career. After studying at King's College, Aberdeen, and Trinity College, Oxford, for three years, he graduated in medicine at Edinburgh in 1905, and in the same year entered the Indian Medical Service.

1,

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

227

In 1913 he retired from the I.M.S., and having entered the Theological College of the Scottish Episcopal Church, was ordained a deacon in 1914, and a priest in 1919. Between these last two dates he served in the Great War with the R.A.M.C., reaching the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, and being awarded the M.C., a Bar to the M.C., and the D.S.O. In 5920 he volunteered for temporary duty with the Scottish Episcopal Mission at Chanda. After five years he was appointed Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, but in 1927 he returned as a medical missionary to India, and continued there for another five years. He was in the C.M.S. Hospital, Quetta, from 5927 to 1930, when he was transferred to the C.M.S. Hospital at Srinagar in Kashmir, and there he spent two years, about which he writes in this issue of the Magazine. He again returned to ministerial work in Scotland, and was Rector of St. John's, Dumfries, 5932-34. As the Scottish Episcopal Church was then in difficulties with its mission in Chanda, and had no one to send out to take charge, this seemed an obvious call to him, and so he went once more on a five years' tour, which ends in 5939. He says that he has found life in India just as it is in the making to be intensely interesting, if not uniformly pleasant. He is, however, looking forward to a quiet life after he comes home.

Arthur Edward Dobridge Mackie* (19o5-o8) has recently become a member of the F.P. Club. He is chief engineer on the Bog Estate, Hayes, Jamaica.

James Pennie Mackie* (1922-26) is in the service of the Clydesdale Bank, and in December last was transferred from the Head Office of the Bank in Glasgow to the London Office in Lombard Street.

Douglas Nelson MacKinnon* (1921-34) has been appointed to the Panel of Consultants and Departmental Tutors of the British Tutorial Institutes, Ltd., Oxford Street, London, where he has held a post since January of this year.

John Kenneth MacRae* (5931-38) is now on the staff of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation, Ltd., Aberdeen Branch.

Ronald Duncan MacRae* (1916-23), M.B., Ch.B., Captain, I.M.S., is at present Residency Surgeon at Hyderabad, Deccan, India. He expects to be home on leave in October.

Harry Maitland* (1931-33), who joined the staff of the Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd., in London in 5936, has recently been transferred to Bangkok, Siam. He found his journey to the East to be most interesting, particularly the part between Penang and Bangkok.

Walter Neil Menzies* (5928-29), M.A., who held a commission as and Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry,

1z8

Aberdeen Grammar School MagiRine

resigned in June, 1937, and in the following September was appointed znd Lieutenant in the Army Educational Corps.

He is at present Education Officer, 1st Cavalry Brigade, Aldershot.

Grahame Douglas Miller (1921-24), B.A.(Oxon.), is Research Secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, London.

Harley Ogilvie Miller (1921-24) is in the service of Messrs.

Wm. Collins, Sons & Co., Ltd., printers and publishers, Glasgow.

• Herbert John Mansfield Milne* (1900-05), M. A.(Aberd.), B.A.(Cantab.), of the MSS. Department, British Museum, is joint author of " Scribes and Correctors of the Codex Sinaiticus," recently published by the Museum. The necessity for binding this famous Codex gave the British Museum authorities an excellent opportunity for re-examining it, with results that are presented in this volume. While the work is intended for scholars, it may be mentioned that the new scrutiny confirmed the date hitherto assigned to the Codex, and that it was certainly written from dictation by three scribes, this being proved by an examination of the colophons. Textually the most interesting point is the discovery by means of ultra-violet light that St. John's Gospel originally ended without the last verse and that the present text was rewritten by the same scribe.

George Alexander Paterson* (r9z0-30), who received his training in accountancy in Aberdeen and Dundee, was last year appointed accountant in the Traffic Department of the Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway Co., Ltd. William Brewster Rae* (r9z0-14) is engaged on the Thanai Tea Estate, Lakhimpur, Assam.

Alexander Rollo Robertson* (1924-3z), M.A., LL.B., has secured an appointment with the United Steel Corporation at Sheffield.

Douglas Robertson* (1921-28), who gained his certificate of competency as a master mariner in November last, is now a junior officer of R.M.S. Edinburgh Castle, of the Union Castle Line.

William George Robertson* (1884-90), M.A., B.D., Hon. D.D., formerly minister of Cullen, and before that Principal of Gujarat College, India, has in a recently-published volume, " The Church Annals of Cullen," written the story of the Kirk Session of Cullen from the early days of the Covenant to the Disruption, a period of two hundred years.

Charles Hugh Eddie Ross* (1920-30, M.A., is now on the staff of Thornly Park School, Paisley.

James Matthew Ross* (1924-35), who is in the Royal Air Force, is at present stationed at No. 1 Indian Wing Station, Kohat, N.W.F.P., India.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

219

John Hugh Gunn Ross* (1924-31), M.A., B.D., was in April licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Aberdeen.

William Annesley Ross* (I923-3z) sailed in April for India to take up an engineering post on Borjuli Tea Estate, Assam. He served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Messrs. John M. Henderson & Co., Ltd., Aberdeen.

Herbert Brebner Scott* (1905-08), of the Royal Insurance Co., Ltd., left Shanghai in April on temporary transfer to the Calcutta office of his company. During his absence from Shanghai the F.P. Club Consulship there has been taken over

by CHARLES F. KING* (1912-23), of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China.

William Philip Selbie* (1901-06), M.C., M.A.(Aberd., Oxon.), Captain, Army Educational Corps, has received the King's Birthday Honour of O.B.E. (Military Division).

Ferguson G. D. Smith* (1922-33), who is in the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police, is at present stationed at Dover, where he is no doubt dealing with aliens, political suspects, and the like.

Sydney Robertson Smith* (1924-30), B.Sc.(Eng.), A.M.Inst.C.E., has recently been appointed Senior Engineering Assistant in the Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw.

Charles Ian Graham Stobie* (1924-27) is a student in arts at'St. Andrews University, and was recently awarded a scholarship for a summer course at Dijon University.

Ernest Strachan* (1923-24 and 1929-36) has recently joined the Wireless Section of the R.A.F. He is at present stationed at Uxbridge, but is shortly going to Cranwell for training, and hopes to become a pilot.

Henry James Strachan* (1917-24), M.A., who was Classics Master in the Secondary School, Portree, Skye, left there in May to take up a similar post in the Grammar School, Spilsby, Lincs.

James Frater Taylor* (1886-88) is chairman of the wellknown iron, steel, coal and coke firm of Pease & Partners, Ltd., and presided at the annual general meeting of the company at the end of April, when he was able to present a very satisfactory report, the profits having risen from £8o,ooo for the year 1932-33 to £480,000 for the year 1937-38. Like Mr. P. A. COOPER* with the Hudson's Bay Company, Mr. Taylor has been successful in placing in a sound position a company that was previously in serious difficulties.

John William Taylor* (59o6-i I), M.B.E., M.A., who was H.B.M. Consul at Vienna for the last five years, has recently been transferred to Baltimore, U.S.A. George Raymond Thomson* (1923-24) has been appointed to the staff of the Bombay branch of Lloyds Bank, Ltd., and sailed for India in May.

230

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Theodore Watt* (1889-1901), M.A., LL.D., as President of the British Federation of Master Printers, presided at the Annual Congress of the Federation held this year in Aberdeen (out of compliment to the President) at the end of May, when there was an attendance of about 450. In the course of his address when moving the adoption of the annual report, Dr. Watt stated that during his year of office he had made the double journey between Aberdeen and London no fewer than 27 times and that his total journeyings by train, steamer, and motor car had amounted to more than 35,ooo miles. For a comparison he reminded his audience that the circumference of the earth at the equator was 24,899 miles. A unique feature of the Civic Reception by the Lord Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of the City of Aberdeen was that brother replied to brother— Lord Provost EDWARD W. WATT* (1883-94), M.A., welcoming the guests and Dr. THEODORE WATT responding on their behalf.

Frederick Chisholm Waugh* (5928-3o) is at present in Agona, Swedru, Gold Coast, West Africa.

Daniel Overbeck Wright* (1915-I6) is now on Kombok Estate, Seremban, F.M.S. Charles F. Wylie* (1955-2o) is the representative of the wholesale firm of Messrs. Hitchcock, Williams & Co., St. Paul's Churchyard, London, in the north-west of England, and is resident at Bolton, Lancs.

William Coutts Youngson* (1920-35), A.R.LB.A., is at present in Liverpool as assistant to Mr. Herbert J. Rowse, F.R.I.B.A., the architect of the Mersey Tunnel and of the United Kingdom Government Pavilion at the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow. Previously he was on the staff of LumicELor H. Ross* (1898-1901), M.C., F.R.LB.A., Glasgow.

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY DEGREES AND PRIZES.

At the Spring Graduation at Aberdeen University degrees were conferred on the following F.P.s :— Master of Arts (M.A.) :— Duncan Ian Campbell* (192 5-34), with First Class Honours in Classics.

Donald George MacKay (5924-3o).

Douglas Reith* (1924-35).

William Leslie Richards* (19 24-35).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) :— Douglas Stanley Duncan* (1928-33), M.A. Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc. Eng.) :— Alexander Robson* (5957-3o).

Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) :— John Hugh Gunn Ross* (5924-30, M.A.

Aberdeen Grammar School Mag.Rine

231

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) :Ian Francis George Baxter* (1921-33), M.A. Ian Alexander Bruce Johnstone (1923-27), M.A.

Diploma of Public Health (D.P.H.) :— William Donald Wilson* (1914-25), M.B., Ch.B. In the Faculty of Arts Duncan Ian Campbell* (I925-34) was awarded the Dr. Black Prize in Latin ; William Wallace Gauld (1928-3 2) was awarded the De Gurbs Prize in Greek; and A. Henry K. Slater* (1922-35) was awarded the Jenkyns Prize in Classical Philology.

In the Faculty of Medicine Bernard Hooper Smith* (193235) was awarded the Dyce Davidson Memorial Gold Medal in Materia Medica.

UNIVERSITY ATHLETES.

F.P.s were well represented in the University team which gained a record total of points for Aberdeen at the InterUniversity Sports held at King's College Grounds on rah June. James R. W. Catto* (1923-36) won the zzo yards and Thomas J. T. Nicol* (1930-35) the 44o yards hurdles. In the too yards William J. G. Meldrum* (1925-35) was just beaten

by R. H. Dryden, the Scots international rugby player, after a very close and exciting race. Alfred W. C. Lobbant (19 z5-35) was also second in the mile. Meldrum and Catto were two members of the team that won the relay race for Aberdeen.

At the Aberdeen University Sports on 28th May, the ioo yards, 220 yards, 44o yards, broad jump, 1 mile and 1 zo yards hurdles were all won by F.P.s. The Dean's medal for the competitor gaining most points in pure athletics was won by W. J. G. Meldrum.

-

F.P.s in Shanghai.

In the Annual Report of the F.P. Club printed in the last issue of the Magazine it was stated that " owing to circumstances which are well known, members in Shanghai have been unable to hold their Annual Dinner during the present winter." This, however, turns out to be incorrect, for information has reached the Secretary of the Club that an informal dinner of F.P.s in Shanghai was held in the Shanghai Club on 17th December, 1937, when the following were present (the names are given in order of School seniority) : R. W. GALLOWAY (1902-08), W. E. D. SMITH (1904-09), F. W. GERRARD (1903-06), H. B. SCOTT (190 3 -08), G. A. BUYERS (1906-08), T. G. RENNIE (1908-10), T. A. T. BEGG (1909-Io), C. F. KING (1912-13), ALAN CHALMERS (191519), and T. J. SMITH (1929-31).

W. E. D. SMITH, G. G. THOMSON, and A. M. SCRIMGEOUR are at present home on furlough.

Captain T. G. RENNIE, having completed his term of office as Brigade Major to the Shanghai Defence Force, has been transferred to the War Office, London (Department S.D.3).

232

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

OBITUARY. Robert Gordon (1864-69) died at Leysland, Ellon, on 3oth May, 1938, aged 87 years. On leaving the School he served as an apprentice in the Union Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen, and thereafter from 1873 to 1883 was accountant in the Union Bank, Ellon. After a period in the head office, Aberdeen, he became agent of the Ellon branch in 1894, and held that position until his retirement in 1922.

Arthur George Taylor Hay (1903-05), aerated water manufacturer, died at Aberdeen on lath April, 1938, aged 47 years. The youngest son of the late Mr. A. D. Hay, Aberdeen, he served as an apprentice with the late Mr. John Watt, grocer, Aberdeen, and next learned the aerated water business. He then went to Auckland, New Zealand, but returned to this country about two years later, and became manager in the Huntly branch of Messrs. Wm. Hay & Sons, aerated water manufacturers. Subsequently he became a partner in this firm, and took an active part in its affairs. Only about a month before his death the business was converted into a private limited liability company and he was appointed a director. In the Great War he served as a private in the ist Highland Cyclist Battalion from August 1916, but was discharged on account of ill-health in May 1918.

George Anderson Imlay (i866-68), M.B., C.M., died at Clifton, Bristol, on 7th May, 1938, aged 86 years. He was a son of the late Mr. George Imlay, farmer, Pitforthie, and graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1874. For many years he was in medical practice in Bristol.

Charles Norman McL. Mitchell* (1877-84) died at Aberdeen on 12th May, 1938, aged 69 years. He was the third son of the late Mr. William Mitchell, wholesale provision merchant, Aberdeen, with whom he was in business from 1887.

Latterly he was a commission agent on his own account in Aberdeen.

Alexander Andrew Moir* (1894-1900), M.A., Rector of Dornoch Academy, died at the Schoolhouse, Dornoch, on 3oth April, 1938, aged S7 years. Having left the School as Dux and Gold Medallist in 1900, he graduated M.A. with Honours in Classics at Aberdeen University in 1904. His first appointment was as Assistant Classical Master in Greenock Academy in 1905, and in the following year he became Classical Master of Kirkwall Burgh School. In 1921 he was appointed Rector of Dornoch Academy and there he continued until his death.

William Murray* (1881-8z) died at Nanyuki, Kenya Colony, on 6th May, 1938. After serving a short law apprenticeship in

Aberdeen Grammar School Mageqine

2 33

Galashiels he went out to New Zealand and was in the frozen meat industry there for thirty years, occupying important positions in various companies. From 1905 he was General Manager of the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., Ltd., and later became Managing Director of this company, being resident in London.

In 1926 he settled in Kenya Colony near Nyeri, engaging in coffee and sisal growing, and continued there till his death.

His only surviving brother—the last of seven—is Rev. JOHNSTONE MURRAY* (i879-85), Tacolneston Rectory, Norwich. Another brother, JOHN MATTHEW MURRAY (1881-84) was an engineer in the Royal Navy and was killed in action in the Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland.

Robert Boyd Robson (i88o-83 and 1888-89), M.B., Ch.B., younger son of the late Rev. John Robson, D.D., of Rajputana and Aberdeen, collapsed while driving his motor car down a hill near Chigwell, Essex, and died there on 5th May, 1938, aged 65 years. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1902, and started in practice in Clapham, London. For the last 29 years he had been in practice at Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex.

During the Great War he served with the R.A.M.C. in Gallipoli, Egypt, France, and Italy. He was demobilized in March 1920 with the rank of Captain.

Thomas Meikle Watt (1889-94), M.A.(Aberd., Oxon.), D.D., minister of Ballater North Church, died at Ballater on 22nd April, 1938, aged 61 years. He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen, with First Class Honours in Mental Philosophy, in 1898, and after studying theology for three years at Mansfield College, Oxford, graduated B.A. in 1904. For the next five years he was a Fellow and Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at Mansfield College, Oxford. From 1913 to 1918 he was minister of Ocean Road Congregational Church, South Shields.

He was admitted to the Church of Scotland in 1919, and was minister of St. Modan's, Falkirk, from 1921. From 1924 to 1927 he was Hastie Memorial Lecturer at Glasgow University, and his lectures were published in a book under the title " The Intuition of God." In 1926 he was appointed Chaplain to the Scots Congregation in Geneva, and after being for nine years there, he became minister of the North Church, Ballater. The University of Aberdeen conferred on him the Honorary Degree of D.D. in 1932. He was predeceased by two brothers who were not less distinguished as scholars—JAMES GORDON WATT (1882-83), M.A.(Aberd., Oxon.), Superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, who died in 190o; and HENRY Psychology, JACKSON WATT (1891-96), M.A., D.Phil., Reader in 1925. in died who Glasgow University, Frank John Sellar Whitehead* (191 1- i 3) died suddenly in Aberdeen on 27th May, 1938, aged 4o years. He was a son of Mr. Frank J. Whitehead, chairman of the directors of the

234

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Aberdeen Football Club, and was formerly one of the best known football referees in the North. He served as an apprentice in the granite trade, and for a time was in his father's business in Aberdeen. Later he was appointed manager of Johnstons, Ltd., cement and builders merchants, Aberdeen, and when that firm was taken over by Messrs.. J. & W. Henderson, Ltd., he became manager of the granite department, occupying the post until his death.

James John Williamson* (1900-02), eldest son of the late Mr. Laurence Williamson, and managing director of Messrs.

Williamson and Co., Ltd., died at a nursing home in Aberdeen on 26th April, 1938, aged 5 3 years. On leaving the School he entered his father's business of Messrs. Williamson & Co., export fishcurers, and was for two years in the London office and thereafter in the Aberdeen office. He had many other business interests in Aberdeen, being a director of a number of companies.

In 1921 he was elected to the Aberdeen Harbour Board, and served on several committees. Latterly he was convener of the Lands and Fishings Committee. He was a keen sportsman, and enjoyed nothing better than a day on the moors with a gun or a tramp across country. An enthusiast for rugby, he did much to foster the game in Aberdeen, being one of the most active supporters of the F.P. Rugby Club. He was also keenly interested in cricket, and at the time of his death was President of the Aberdeenshire Club. As was very truly said at the time of his death :—" He had a happy knack of making and keeping friends with his great, likeable personality and open-handed generosity. If any man was generous to a fault it was ' Jimmy ' Williamson, as he was known to his hosts of friends. But he was the last man to let his kind actions be known. On countless occasions he put his hand in his pocket to help someone in misfortune, and many a donation went to charity without the public being aware of the donor's identity." In the F.P. Club he took a keen interest, and was usually present, and very welcome, at the Annual Dinner.

Louis Graham Oliver Wilson* (1872-75) died in Aberdeen on z9th April, 1938, aged 77 years. He was the fourth son of the late Mr. George Washington Wilson, the well-known pioneer of landscape photography, and after leaving the School entered the service of his father's firm, Messrs. G. W. Wilson & Co., Aberdeen. He remained with the firm for over thirty years, but owing to the imposition of prohibitive tariffs abroad and revolutionary developments in the trade at home, the business was eventually given up in 1908, and Mr. Wilson went to Hawaii.

There he entered the service of the Paauhau Sugar Plantation ; later he became secretary of the Hawaii Mill Co., Ltd., at Hilo, Hawaii, and was associated with other businesses there. He retired in 1929, and after travelling extensively for his health's

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

235

sake returned to Aberdeen, where he spent his retirement. He was of a very genial temperament, and had a large circle of friends.

The Grammar School and the F.P. Club have had no more loyal friend than Louis Wilson. To the School Hall he contributed many of the splendid portraits which adorn its walls, and to the Museum, and particularly to the Library, he was for many years a constant benefactor. When the F.P. Club was formed in 1893 he became one of the original members, and at the instigation and with the encouragement of the late Dr. Morland Simpson (who was the founder of the Club), he did very valuable pioneer work in the way of indexing the names in the old School registers. In the preface to the " Aberdeen Grammar School Roll of Pupils 1[795-1919" Dr. Theodore Watt relates that he well remembers how, while he was a pupil at the School, his youthful imagination was stirred by hearing about Mr. WiIson's labours, and how from that time onwards . his mind was more and more directed towards trying to build up a worthy record of Former Pupils on the foundation so well and truly laid by Mr. Wilson. In the introduction to the " Roll " full particulars are given of the work done by him.

When the system of Club Consuls was started about fifteen years ago Mr. Wilson was appointed the representative at Hilo for the Island of Hawaii, and he continued in that capacity until his retirement.

Mr. Wilson's interest in the School and the Club has fortunately for both been inherited by his son RAYMOND GRAHAM WILSON* (1906-12 and x917-19), civil engineer, who for a number of years has been in the service of United Engineers, Ltd., public works contractors, Singapore. Recently he undertook the compilation of a register of F.P.s in Malaya, and was very largely responsible for the highly successful First Reunion Dinner of Malayan F.P.s held at Kuala Lumpur on t 5th January last, when it was unanimously agreed that a Reunion Dinner in that town should be an annual event, and Mr. Wilson was appointed the first secretary.

Yong (Young) Wong (19o5-o6) died at the War Memorial.

Hospital, Hongkong, on zest November, 1937, aged 5o years.

After studying engineering at Glasgow University, and spending some time in France, Belgium, and Germany, learning French and German, he became a mining engineer in China, and at the time of his death was Secretary-General of the Chung Hsing Coal Mining Company.

236

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

MARRIAGES. Benzie (1917-19).—At Parish Church. Lydd, Kent, on 17th May. 1938,

WALTER GEORGE SWAN BENZIE,* Royal Tank Corps, son of the late Mr.

A. Emslic Benzie, and of Mrs. A. E. Benzie, 13 Forest Road, Aberdeen, to Joan Balcomb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Balcomb, Lydd, Kent.

Birkett (192o-22).—At Mayfield North Church, Edinburgh, on nth June, 1938, ERIC Ros Braxarr,* C.A., son of the late W. A. Birkett, Inverness, to Barbara Dunn, elder daughter of John Houston, Lloyd's Surveyor at Leith.

Brown (1920-24).--At St. Andrew's Church, Nairobi, on 4th June, 1938, HARRY ERNEST JOHNSTONE BROWN* (National Bank of India, Ltd., Jinja, Uganda), younger son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Brown, Ellerslie.

Bankhead, to Barbara Davidson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ledingham, Bellenden House. Milltimber, Aberdeenshire.

Duncan (191i-24).--At St. Stephen's Church, Edinburgh, on 18th April, 1938. JAMES LINDSAY DumcAm,* M.A.. LL.B., Ph.D., son of George Duncan, LL.D., advocate in Aberdeen, and the late Mrs. Duncan, to Irene, daughter of ex-Provost William H. Winter and Mrs. Winter, 6 The Crescent, Duns, Berwickshire.

Laing (1926-30.—At St. Ninian's Church, Aberdeen, on 4th June, 1938, GORDON SMITH LAING.* second son of late Mr. and Mrs. James Laing, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Mignon Graeme. youngest daughter of the late James C. Lyon (1893-190o), and Mrs. Lyon, " Freshfields," West Cults.

Mackie (i922-26).—At Rubislaw Church, Aberdeen. on 16th April, 1938. JAMES PENNIE NfACKIE.* second son of Mr. and Mrs. John Mackie, 6 Argyll Crescent. to Rhoda NI'Donald, younger daughter of the late John Lawrence, and of Mrs. Lawrence, 68 Carden Place.

Mackintosh (19o9-14).—At the Parish Church of St. Pancras. London, on 26th March, 1938, THOMAS MACKINTOSH,* B.Sc.(Agr.), son of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Mackintosh, 16 Midmar Gardens, Edinburgh, to Dorothy, daughter of Mrs. Clements and the late Mr. Clements, Pettistree, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Middleton (1918-29).-At St. Ninian's Church, Aberdeen, on 3oth March, 1938, STUART AULDJO MIDDLETON,* eldest son of the late L. A. L. Middleton (1888-94), and of Mrs. Middleton, Belmont House, Aberdeen, to Irene Margaret, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Esson, 4 Camperdown Road, Aberdeen.

Milne (1913-26).---At Union Street Church of Scotland, Greenock, on z6th March. 1938. HAROLD SAMUEL MILNE.* The Worcester New Gas Light Co., son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Milne. Aberdeen, to Christina Austin, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. S. M'Onie, Greenock.

Thomson (1920-27).—At High Cross Congregational Church, Tottenham, London, on 23rd April, 1938, Dr. JAMES LAING SPALDING Tmomsom,* elder son of Rev. James L. Thomson* (1894-96), B.D., and Mrs. Thomson, Peterculter, to Peggy Marion, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. V. Phillips, Mentmore, Village Road, Enfield, Middlesex.

Watt (1912-z1).—At Rubislaw Church, Aberdeen, on 26th March, 1938, JAMES BARCLAY WArr,* M.A., C.A., son of the late Dr. and Mrs. J. P. Watt, Aberdeen. to Anita, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Henderson, Aberdeen.

Cunningham.—At St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, on 9th April, 1938, WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, M.A. (Aberdeen Grammar School). son of late John D. Cunningham, and of Mrs. A. Goodall, Prestonpans, to Anna Mary, youngest daughter of late John Castel, and of Mrs. Castel, 43 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Gratimar School Magazine

2 37

SCHOOL SECTION. School and Random Notes. " Most potent, grave and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters,"

Thus we about to write salute you. Fresh from our notehunting and armed with Parthian shots (Ha! Hal), we bring you something new each term. In fact, strange as it may seem, we have come to look upon ourselves as the " eyes " of the School. This term has proved a short one, and is already flitting quickly on its way. However, there have been quite a number of outstanding events. We have said goodbye to Mr. Dickie ; and, a tragedy indeed, at cricket School suffered defeat at the hands of " another" school. The weather has been vile. There has been a Bursary Comp. One co-Ed. is suffering from a surfeit of Bursary Comp., while the other is recovering with difficulty from a similar affliction of Biology. * * * The orals for the Leaving Certificate are seldom very amusing affairs, for the examinees at least, but this year proved an exception to the general rule, and one of His Majesty's aweinspiring Inspectors lost some of his dignity but gained more renown as the result of an amusing incident which took place while the Inspector and a certain class were closeted together.

By an oversight the outer door was locked, leaving the Inspector and class marooned in Mr. Hay's classroom. The more energetic members of the class escaped through a window, and the unfortunate gentleman was soon rescued from his sad plight. * * * School held its Annual Empire Day Service in Hall on Tuesday, 24th May. This year we had the privilege of being addressed by a most distinguished Former Pupil, Sir Henry Alexander, LL.D., who gave a most arresting and instructive talk on the meaning of Empire. Frequently, we fear, speakers in Hall fail to make contact with their School audiences. We feel that it is not idle flattery to say that Sir Henry succeeded where others have failed. The Rector thanked him for his inspiring speech, the Senior Prefect in a few well-chosen words called for three cheers for our distinguished visitor, and so ended our Empire Day Service. * * * The Senior Prefect, however, had not finished his job for the day. After Sir Henry had taken his leave, School remained assembled to bid farewell to Mr. Dickie, and it was the duty of Ronnie Macgregor to voice the feelings of the School. His

2.38

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

speech was a brief resume of Mr. Dickie's classroom activities, scholastic and otherwise. He also paid tribute to " Bill's" worth as a sportsman, and amid loud applause presented him with a fountain-pen, a suit-case, and a book-token as a mark of the School's esteem.

Mr. Dickie's speech in reply was typical in that it was short, snappy, and to the point. With this simple ceremony School bade adieu to one of its most popular masters. " Ave, Caesar! " * * * The afternoon of the same day witnessed a thrilling encounter between the School XI and a team of Masters in the Annual Masters v. Boys Cricket Match. The weather definitely did not favour a first-class game, but a most enjoyable afternoon was spent by all concerned. School avenged their last year's defeat, though not by a very substantial margin. This famous School event formed a fitting climax to a memorable Empire Day. * * * As part of the Students' efforts during Gala Week a Spelling Bee was organized and took place on the evening of Wednesday, zoth April, as a curtain-raiser to the Mock Trials. The " Bee " was to be between a team of six boys and six girls from the six secondary schools in Aberdeen. Unfortunately the Central School representatives were both young ladies, so that one of them had to turn traitor to her sex and assist the boys. Her assistance must have proved of great value, for the girls' reputation as spellers was sadly tarnished when their team was decisively defeated. The Grammar School representatives acquitted themselves in fine fashion. * * * For several years now School has enjoyed the annual income of an endowment. This has been allocated to several activities, such as the Literary and Debating Society. This year for the first time two grants of kJ 5 have been allocated to the Modem Languages Department. 'These are to be given to suitable applicants for the purpose of providing Continental holidays in France and Germany. We welcome this innovation, which brings us the chance of widening our knowledge, and at the same time of airing some of the excellent phrases from " Murray and Casati " and similar tomes. Lest this prospect should call up visions of the Casino at Monte Carlo and of the Folies Bergeres, we hasten to add that certain definite conditions will have to be fulfilled to ensure that real educational benefit is obtained. This scheme offers definite advantages to Grammarians, and we wish it all success. * * * Last term we had occasion to refer to the extremely dilapidated condition of the School stairways. We have seen with

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

2 39

delight that this state of affairs, and of our stairs, has been remedied. Unfortunately no sooner do we get one part of the School repaired than another portion requires attention. This term we are " weak in the upper storey." On our lawful occasions we were about to enter the Library when a sudden flood descended upon us. So violent was the flow that we had visions of a School swimming pool miraculously donated to us.

With commendable expedition your Editors reported the torrent to the " Janny," who promptly dealt with it. As the old Italian proverb has it, " Where least expected water breaks forth." * * * We have intimated in previous issues that the School Boarding House has increased in size. Now comes news that the Junior House will contain some fifteen members next session and, with forty in the Senior House, the establishment will continue to be an active and important part of the School. Is it too Utopian to foresee a time when the Boarding House will be a School House and, as such, take part as a separate unit in the Inter-House Competitions ? Already the House competes favourably in many respects with the School. Rugby matches have been played with the and XV and, on two occasions, won.

A Tennis Doubles match is an annual event, and this season the House defeated the School by a substantial margin. In less than a decade the School Boarding House has risen, under the able guidance of Mr. Eddison, to a high position in all departments of School life. May it long continue to do so I * * * A most successful Swimming Gala was held on the evening of Wednesday, ist June, in the Aberdeen Corporation Pool, through the courtesy of the Dee Swimming Club, to the members of which we would express again the School's thanks for their kindness in giving up their training night. The whole affair went with a swing, and was carried through with admirable precision and despatch. It was a great tribute to Mr. Macgregor's organising ability that the whole programme of nineteen events was completed, without a hitch, in less than two hours. * * * Since Lord Byron swam the Hellespont, the Grammar School has produced a long line of excellent swimmers and, as the Gala showed, the present generation does not lag behind in this respect. We would congratulate all the swimmers who have so evidently progressed far beyond the stage when they were " little wanton boys that swim on bladders." May we especially single out for congratulation L. M. Shutte and J. Wyness, whose proficiency in all branches of the aquatic art was well displayed?

240

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

We took pleasure last term in recording the fact that the Clerk of the Weather had proved so favourably inclined towards our rugby enthusiasts. It seems that he is an old rugby man himself. Certainly, he has no idea of the weather required for the successful carrying out of the noble game of cricket. We have been favoured in this, the summer term, with snow, frost, rain, torrid heat, and various other kinds of weather. Several matches have been ruined and one at least was played in a blizzard, a rare experience for cricketers. * * * It is our custom to hide in the depths of our Notes the few howlers we manage to glean. This term there has been such an abundant crop, probably due to the influence of the weather, that we feel justified in planting them in a prominent position. * * * A splendid case for the Anti-Vivisection Society was presented when a bloodthirsty third year youth rendered "II lanca son cheval a droit " as " He lanced his horse to keep it quiet." And when another youth gave "Emu, it repondit," as " The Emu laid another egg," it was clear that School was becoming intensely interested in the study of Biology. * * * to rely for howlers We have come on the higher classes in the School, and they have not failed us. A line in Vergil's " /Eneid," Book VI, " Nunc et pauperiem et duros perferre labores " produced " Now to endure poverty and hard labour."

Well! Then someone in Cl. VI gave us a beauty. Called on to translate " Plus etourdi qu'un page amoureux d'une fee" he gave " Madder than a fairy's love-letter." He has certainly got some imagination! * * * Despite the controversy about the Aberdeen exhibit at the Empire Exhibition, quite a number of Grammarians have visited Bellahouston. In the Aberdeen contingent of Boy Scouts which went to Glasgow for the Rally there were several School members. One of these was half of the editorial partnership, and we have heard it whispered that a film was taken showing "it" with the flag of the Aberdeen party. The Exhibition will be a boon to our successors in this office, for they will be enabled to badger some misguided youth into writing a description of his experiences there. Why couldn't they have held the Exhibition so that it would suit us? Well, well! It is no use crying over spilt milk. * * * Speaking of milk, we are reminded that School is absorbing huge quantities of that fluid and that the " Difference " is very

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

241

marked. So great is the rush at Interval that the Janitor is completely "bottled-up." (Sorry!) Several masters even have their daily pints. Seriously, however, it is a fine augury for the success of the National Fitness Campaign that Governmentsubsidized milk is so popular in schools. Proper food is an essential for physical fitness, and perhaps we can trace some of the success of last season's splendid School rugby team to the milk-diet which was one of Mr. Macgregor's training stand-bys.

(N.B.—We are not getting paid for this!) * * * Preparations are already under way for the Annual Masters v. Boys Golf Match. This very intriguing fixture will have taken place by the time this Magazine comes to your notice.

The match, as usual, is to be played over Bieldside Golf Course, and if favourable weather is obtained, a real battle of the mighty will be seen. It has been whispered that a very formidable force, in the person of Mr. Forbes, has been added to the personnel of the Staff. Do you mind if we make a pun here ?

We know it is very school-boyish, but still we hope that " Burns " will not trouble him, and that he will refrain from addressing remarks " To a Daisy." Thank you! * * * Another link with the Continent was forged this term when a party of seventeen German boys from Essen, on tour through Britain, were the guests of several Grammarians from 16th to 18th June. The German boys, who were under the charge of two masters, thoroughly enjoyed their short stay, which included a visit to the Fish Market, a reception at the Town House, and two motor drives round the city. At the Athletic Sports in the afternoon of the i 7th they were interested spectators, paying particular attention to the field events, such as the shot putt and the discus and javelin throwing. Later a relay race between teams of four Grammar and four German boys was run. School won easily, but the Germans received a great ovation for their plucky display. During their short tour of the School buildings they visited the Music Room and delighted everyone with their singing, which was really first class.

The Germans, a party of likeable boys, enjoyed their visit to the Silver City and created a very favourable impression among all who were fortunate enough to meet them. We hope they will have as pleasant memories of Aberdonians as we have of them. Their sporting yell in particular will always he recalled for its piercing sonority, which effectively woke up the Joint Station, so that their departure was witnessed by a large crowd of interested porters as well as by their hosts. " Heil Essen! "

242

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

We wish to congratulate the following on gaining Cricket awards :-1st XI Cap, W. D. Allardice; 1st XI Colours, R. S. France, W. T. H. Hay, and D. A. W. limes ; ist XI HalfColours, C. W. Gordon and H. C. MacHardy. * * * One day, while noting, we were wandering through the Library and admiring the portraits of various ancient gentlemen which adorn the ends of the bookcases. We were, so to speak, seeking some inspiration from their intellectual phizogs. Slowly we passed along the learned line, and there, at the very end, we saw that the last portrait was one of our dear friend Demosthenes.

At once we thought of those happy days passed in perusing his " Philippics." Yet, as we gazed at that noble forehead, a cry of dismay burst from our lips, for a vandal's hand had desecrated the portrait. Our inspiration was shattered, our very soul revolted, but, in our despair, a thought struck us—perhaps this writing on the wall had some hidden meaning! We racked our brains in vain to discover the cabalistic significance of the mystic formula, but it defeated us. No one in the School seems to be able to help us, so we quote it here verbatim, in the hope that some learned reader may decipher it and send us the solution.

Here it is : now get to work.—" He was bald! But he had a wig from Cowie's! " * * * Under the new regulations for the Leaving Certificate, coming into force in 1940, Biology and Botany have become School subjects. Under the watchful eyes of Mr. Lynch and his satellites many varied and instructive experiments are being carried out. Our "Scientists" now behold strange and wonderful sights on entering the labs. These include beans bottled on blotting-paper, peas swelling in H2O from the tap (we have this on good authority), " Labber's " lentils, and various other weird vegetables. The study of animal life, however, is not neglected, for we have now a miniature menagerie. Worms, stick-insects, and tadpoles form the basis of this private zoo. A proposal to establish a Pets' Corner is being seriously considered.

We regret to report the untimely death of an esteemed member of this little colony. One Tuesday afternoon a psuedo-scientist mistook the den of Sammy the Stick-Insect for a fume-chamber, and the unfortunate Sammy passed away when a poisonous exhalation of sulphuretted hydrogen descended upon him. * * * We hear also that several syndicates have been formed to exploit the possibilities of Park's Peculiarly Perfect Peas, Baxter's Bloated Beans, Lynch's Elongated Lentils, and Collie's Celebrated Chickweed. Despite this spirit of frivolity, the study of Biology and Botany has been made very interesting,

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

243

and a great amount of very valuable work is being done along these lines.

Late news has just seeped through : " Collapse of Wormery— Thousands rendered Homeless—' Labber's ' gallant rescue work—Boss says, ' Work will go on I ' " * * * For some weeks a disquieting rumour pervaded the School.

The Editors were sceptical but, alas! the rumour was at length confirmed when we were informed that we were to lose one of the most popular members of the Staff, Mr. Dickie. " Bill" had been endearing himself to successive Grammar boys for ten years, and it was a matter for great regret that a unanimous appointment as Head Classical Master at the Gordon Secondary School, Huntly, caused us to lose him. We are very selfish with regard to our good masters. However, we congratulate Huntly and commiserate with Aberdeen on the gain and the loss of a fine scholar, sportsman, and gentleman. An account of our farewell to him will be found elsewhere in these Notes. * * * scheme put into seen an experimental present year has The force for the University Bursary Competitions. It has been the "good" fortune of the Aberdeenshire schoolboys and girls of 1938 to be the experimental material. Quite a large number were entered from the Grammar, and to these we wish the best of luck. The traditional rivalry for the " First Bursar " has been done away with, but we hope and, indeed, are confident, that School will do as well as ever under the new scheme. * * * Early in May the School heard with profound regret of the death of Mr. Louis Wilson. It has often been the pleasurable and grateful duty of School Editors to refer in these pages to the unceasing generosity of Mr. Wilson. With consistent kindness he had added immensely to the stock of books in the School Library. And now, even though he himself has gone, his generosity continues, for the Library is still receiving copies of the periodicals which he had sent us for many years. With his passing, School has lost one of its finest and most loyal sons, and we are glad to be able in the School's name to pay this small tribute to his memory. * * * to report the flourishing it is our pleasant duty Once more condition of the Baby of the School Societies. We refer, of course, to the R.A.M.C., i.e., the Rambling and Mountaineering Club. One misguided youth, thinking that an O.T.C. had at last been established and that this was a branch of the Army Medical Corps, was overjoyed when an expedition to Lochnagar

244

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

was proposed, for he supposed we were to take part in the Fa-ster manoeuvres of the Swiss Alpine Corps. You will have gathered from this that an expedition was made to Lochnagar.

It was a most successful outing, and twelve of the party essayed the climb up the Black Spout. The round dozen arrived safe and sound at the top, where they were greeted by a mixed company, which included Mr. and Mrs. W. Cunningham, Monsieur Jean Reocreux, and Mr. A. P. J. Gonnella. (Paris and Prestonpans newspapers please copy.) Another expedition was made later in the term to Kerloch. The party cycled out along the South Deeside Road, climbed the hill, and returned by the North Deeside Road. The weather was unfavourable, but the party enjoyed their outing. * * * This year the Annual Cairngorm Expedition will be held from 14th to 26th June and the pitched camp will be, as last year, at the Robber's Copse. Among the hills to be climbed are Braeriach, Cairn Toul, and the Devil's Point. We wish all who are to take part good weather, good mountaineering, and good luck. * * * During this session the fortunes of the Grammar Scout Troops have varied between success and failure. It was most unfortunate indeed that the 38th Troop had to be disbanded owing to lack of support. However, the few faithfuls remain in the fold, for they have joined other School Troops. These, we are pleased to say, still continue to flourish and have added greatly to their reputation. In the County Flag competition, held in May, the 9th Troop were placed second. The 17th Pack won the Totem Pole, the corresponding trophy for Aberdeen Cubs. In the Annual Scout Athletic Sports the z7th Troop ran out worthy winners. Indeed, in all branches of Scouting in Aberdeen Grammarians continue to hold their own. A much fuller and more detailed account of the activities of the School Troops and Packs will be found on another page. * * * We began last term to give a small list of new additions to the Library, in an effort to stimulate a more general interest in what is one of School's most valuable assets. This term also a good number of excellent books have been acquired. We append a small extract from the list, which includes, " Science for the Citizen," by Professor Hogben of Aberdeen University ; " South with Scott," by Admiral Evans ; A. G. Macdonell's " Napoleon and his Marshals" ; " Eminent Victorians," by Lytton Strachey ; " Europe To-day," by G. D. H. and M. I. Cole ; and many others. Ninian Mackie, one our immediate editorial predecessors, has very kindly donated " News from

iberdeen Gran/star School Magazine

2 45

Tartary," by Peter Fleming; "Imaginary Conversations,"

by Walter Savage Landor ; and " The Back of the World,"

by G. P. Pugh. His thoughtful action is very greatly appreciated, and we trust his example will be followed by many others.

Lest the above list should seem too highbrow for some of the younger boys we hasten to assure them that the new list also contains such very readable stories as D. K. Broster's " The Flight of the Heron," and " Tibetan Trek," by Ronald Kaulbeck.

With such a flow of new works always coming in, the School Library, under Miss Henderson's kindly eye, bids fair to increase its already very fine reputation. * * * We wish to acknowledge here our debt of gratitude to the members of the School Staff for their kindness and consideration in permitting your Editors to take time off their classes to produce these Notes. Without their long-suffering co-operation these rather diffuse jottings would never have materialized. * * * This term, for the first time, we have had recourse to advertising for contributions. The response, we confess, has not been commensurate with the trouble expended upon the idea. Mr. Hemingway, of the Art Department, was approached and very kindly consented to arrange for this matter. A fine poster by Donny Stewart was the result, and this was placed in the corridor. We wish to thank Mr. Hemingway and Donald Stewart very heartily for their co-operation. * * * The School's attitude has, however, been disappointingly lackadaisical. Many boys are prone to complain about the small amount of matter in the School Section. Well, it's in their own hands. This state of affairs could be partially remedied if every class in the School could guarantee two articles each term. Those of you who make no efforts in this direction are letting the School down. We wish to thank those boys who each term forward articles. Whether these get into the Magazine or not, their authors have the satisfaction of knowing that they have done their bit. Don't leave it all to them, and never let it be said of this School that all lay the load on the willing horse. We look to the School to support our successors in their efforts, and once again we thank all those who have helped us. * * * We deplore the falling into abeyance of the old School custom of holding open-air classes during summer. A stifling classroom on a sweltering June day is no incentive to work.

246

Aberdeen Grammar School MagaTine

We have heard much recently about the intelligence of members of the animal kingdom. But an example which recently came to our notice surpasses all others for foresight, prudence, and a desire to learn. Two pigeons have established a dwelling-place in a niche in the wall above a celebrated classroom, whose windows are visible from the Library; they appear to be raising a family in the true tradition. Their offspring should turn out to be pigeon-professors, for every day they will be forced to listen to the mathematical expatiations of a loud-voiced pedagogue from Woodside. * * * In connection with the teaching of Biology and Botany, a proposal has been put forward that a talkie-film projector should be installed in School. Indeed, early in June a demonstration of the apparatus took place in Mr. Collie's laboratory, when sundry masters were present to pass judgment on this new venture. It seems likely that School is at last to have a cinema of its own, though we do not suppose the stars of Hollywood will flicker across the School screen. * * * We feel that we should tell you " The Awful Truth," even though " Theodora goes Wild " ; this is our " True Confession."

The Random Notes in their embryonic form are contained on one very tattered piece of paper from a jotter. At first glance it has the appearance of a piece of Surrealist wallpaper. However, on looking close, one may distinguish such phrases as "Athletic Bursary Comp.," "Cricket Howlers," "Spelling Inspector," and " Swimming Pigeons." The reason for this apparent confusion is that we put down our ideas, without punctuation, all over the sheet as they come to us, so really you are very lucky to get anything at all. * * * And so we come to the end. It has been a great pleasure and a very great privilege to have had the opportunity of being the School's mouthpiece. We regret our impish tendency to try to be funny. On looking back we realize how much better and how much more serious we could have made these Notes. Unfortunately we could not at the time. So you must bear with them. " The Moving Finger writes and having writ, Moves on."

Having writ, we move on ; and as we go, wish " Good Luck! " to our School ; in filial piety, " Hail and Farewell! "

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

247

Mr. W. W. Dickie, M.A. It was with rather mixed feelings that we learned of the appointment of Mr. Dickie to the post of head Classics Master at Huntly Gordon Secondary School,. We were, of course, extremely pleased to think he had gained the promotion he so richly deserved ; but, at the same time, we were sorry to think that we would no longer see his tall, athletic figure striding along the corridors, and that no longer would we be able to hear his deep voice echoing throughout the School, for during the ten years that he has been on the staff as assistant Classics Master he has become, so to speak, a notable landmark.

As a teacher Mr. Dickie met with great success and popularity. The chief factor contributing to this happy state of affairs was his ability to keep the strictest discipline even in the rowdiest of classes, and also to hold the interest of all his pupils. If anybody was ever foolish enough to misbehave or let his attention stray, he was soon brought back to his senses by two or three rulers, tightly bound by rubber bands, flashing past him, unerringly aimed at a point about three inches from the side of his head, or a resounding rap on the knuckles from a pointer that always appeared to be handy. On the other hand, the rewards for conscientious work were many ; often have we spent most enjoyable "last periods" on Friday afternoon laughing at our less fortunate class-fellows being playfully ridiculed and tormented for having made some stupid mistake, or at some anecdote told us by our usually serious mentor.

Needless to say the one who enjoyed these periods most of all was Mr. Dickie himself.

Mr. Dickie's methods may have appeared to the casual observer to be rather boisterous. We must admit that in the days of our tender youth we entered his sanctum with fear and trembling, unless our homework was perfectly done, but later on we realized the advantage of this. In the Upper School the fruits of Mr. Dickie's thorough and conscientious teaching grew ripe and were plucked—pupils first realized that, under his guiding hand, they were doing very well at Classics, and then in the fifth year, with the exception of hopeless cases, found themselves sailing through Higher Latin. Mr. Dickie's methods were not really too hard ; indeed, they were very popular and certainly extremely successful.

It is not only as an excellent teacher that Mr. Dickie will be remembered—he was also a prominent figure on the sports field, where he took a great interest in everything and everybody connected with the School. During the winter he was always willing to referee a rugby match, and in the summer he could often be seen—a tall white figure—umpiring a cricket match.

He was noted for his painstaking efforts to see that all the egg

148

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

and spoon and sack races at the Athletic Sports were fairly started, and he was also a prominent member of the Masters' XI in the annual Empire Day encounter.

Both in the School and out of it Mr. Dickie was a tireless worker for its good and a friend to all the pupils that came under his charge. He can rest assured that his work was by no means in vain and was certainly appreciated to the greatest possible extent.

And so, " Bill," heartiest congratulations on your appointment. Although the parting may have brought a tear to our eyes, and although we are already missing you, we are very pleased indeed that this promotion has come your way, and may every success be yours at Huntly.

Cl. VI.

Paris, April 1938.

During the first week of April there was considerable unrest in France, due to recent developments in Austria, and to serious changes in the French Cabinet. Nevertheless, the annual School trip to Paris was no less enjoyable on this account.

This year the party, fifteen in number, was under the direction of Mr. Gonnella. By his excellent planning we obtained a very good impression of the actual city and of Paris life generally, and thanks to him our visit was made pleasantly instructive and thoroughly enjoyable.

As a matter of fact, the political unrest made our visit to Paris more than usually interesting. We heard from our hotel the sounds of a noisy students' demonstration, and we saw lorries filled with armed soldiers ready for action. The accounts of these events also proved very interesting reading-matter in the daily newspapers, and we were agreeably surprised at the comparative ease with which we could understand the main " drift " of the newspaper reports.

Our hotel was a strange establishment. The architect seemed to have succeeded in crushing the greatest number of rooms into the smallest amount of space, and the management seemed to have succeeded in crushing the greatest number of beds into these rooms. But the food was good and the beds were soft, and as we used the hotel only for eating and sleeping, it served our purpose quite well.

From our ordinary hotel life we added a few words to our vocabulary. For instance, those of us whose bedrooms were on the fifth storey will always remember the word " etage," for the particular numbers of the storeys were emblazoned on the walls on each landing. " Chips " proved to be one of the cook's specialties, and the words, " Encore des pommes-frites "

Aberdeen► Grammar School Magatine

149

were continually on our lips. " Escargots" also will never escape our memories, for even the obnoxious smell of the snails we were foolish enough to taste has scarcely yet escaped from us. Although our knowledge of French vocabulary was not increased to any great extent, we did return home with a feeling of confidence in the language, and that, even although we had " put our foot in it " many times, we had got along wonderfully well.

We could not have had better weather for our week in Paris, for we had blazing sunshine every day and we never donned our coats at all. So good was the weather, indeed, that we spent two whole afternoons boating in two of the city's famous parks. On one of these occasions we came across a particularly lofty children's chute, down which we enjoyed seeing our revered master swoop and land with considerable impact at the foot.

Most of our time was, of course, taken up with sight-seeing, but while we did enough of this to obtain a favourable impression, we never had too much of it to cause oppression by dates or by architectural details of buildings. Apart from the stock places of interest, we also visited some of the lesser known, such as a great collection of instruments of torture in the basement of a small, dilapidated house, and a very interesting old Greek Catholic Church within the shadow of Notre Dame.

Although our visit took place fully six months after the closing of the 1937 Exhibition, its remains were still in evidence.

Unlike our Empire Exhibition, which is entirely enclosed in a park, the French Exhibition sprawled over a considerable part of the city. For several miles both sides of the Seine were flanked by hundreds of buildings that had been put up for temporary use and were now in a very bad state. The rough plasterwork was crumbling away, most of the roofs had fallen in, and great paintings that covered the walls were badly disfigured.

Although men were hard at work hacking down these frail plaster buildings, they did not seem to be half finished with their job, and this general state of dereliction and ugliness did not allow us to see Paris at its best.

Amidst these gaunt ruins a great survival of the " Exposition " of 1889 reared itself—the massive structure of the Eiffel Tower.

It was with great trepidation that we decided to climb the Tower, but we all boldly started to go up by the steps. Our enthusiasm, however, very soon waned ; for, after climbing well over a thousand steps, we found that we had yet two-thirds of the Tower to go. We took the lift for the rest of the way, and the view we obtained amply repaid us for the ten francs' admission. Away in the distance the great white building of Montmatre Church shone in the sunlight, the many long, straight boulevards stretched before us, and the wash of several graceful barges on the Seine added picturesqueness to the scene.

250

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

We contemplated long from our lofty station the vastness and grandeur of the view.

We were told an interesting fact about the Eiffel Tower that we never knew before, and that is not, I think, generally realized. The original intention was to dismantle the Tower after the 1889 Exhibition. But so much work was put into the making of it, that it was decided to retain it for a few more years— and it is still standing. Somebody did tell us that it was definitely coming down very soon, as it is now considered unsafe.

The Tower was magnificently lit up at night, but this was only one of the great attractions of Paris after dark. We were given several opportunities of experiencing a little of the gaiety of this night-life ; we saw the great boulevards, magnificently illuminated, and thronged by a cosmopolitan collection of people; and we joined in the gay café life, which differs immensely from the austereness of our cafes at home. We also made the acquaintance of two French cinemas and of a French theatre.

At this theatre we saw a Strauss operette, in which one of the characters played the part of an Englishman on the Continent who knew only a very little French and who had to fall back upon English oaths. It was a difficult part to play, because it must be extremely hard for any foreigner to obtain the correct emphasis for our swear words. But he ejaculated " My God " several times in such a peculiarly French manner that the fifteen of us roared with laughter, while the eyes of the rest of the dignified audience were all turned upon us. They probably did not have a sufficiently intimate knowledge of the English language to realize how utterly ridiculous the pronunciation was, and they caused, for us, a most embarrassing situation.

Our trip to Paris was in every way successful, and it is very difficult for me to suggest any improvement that would add to its pleasantness and instructiveness ; but I think that future trips could be improved by closer contact with French country life.

Why not, for instance, take rooms in some small village hotel for one or two days of the week ? In any case, all I say is that with this year's trip to " gai Paris " (which, by the way, our kilts made considerably " plus gai ") everyone was satisfied, and that the character of no one was tarnished by a visit so brief to " that rookery of pomp and vanity."

H. M. R. WArr. (Cl. VI.)

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

251

Summer Games and Athletics.

Despite the prevalence of weather conditions typical rather of winter than of summer, the Summer Term now concluding has been a good one. For one thing, though it has been cold, it has been comparatively dry, and that is what chiefly matters in the carrying out of fixtures. After last year's miserable experience of compulsory postponement of the Athletic Sports there was much rejoicing when this year's Sports were safely and successfully over.

Judging by the small number of criticisms which reached me, this year's Sports must have been even more generally enjoyed than many of their predecessors. Athletically, I would class the results as good in general, with one or two mediocre and one or two of exceptional merit. The absence of one really speedy short-distance runner, as previously commented upon, was evident in the fact that a matter only of feet divided the first four runners in the loo yards, the winner's time being 10.7 seconds.

R. F. Buthlay, the new Open Champion, displayed remarkable versatility and vitality in the wide range of his successes. His best result was his 124 feet with the discus, a distance possibly unsurpassed by a schoolboy in Scotland. Further down, in Class III, aged 13, we appear to have another " Meldrum" in the making. Age for age this boy, D. Smith, beats anything we have previously experienced. 17 feet III inches in the broad jump, and 33 feet in the shot putt are amazing achievements for a 13-year-old boy. It is probable that the March Past of the Houses will be a competitive event next year, marks being given for dress and marching.

Our cricketers have done well. The 1st XI struck a bad patch and by a species of batting paralysis• lost two School matches, but they recorded the School's first win at Rubislaw over Strathallan and their season's record was satisfactory.

The znd XI was one of the best we have ever had.

And so ends a session which for games activities will probably be looked back on as one of the most successful the School has experienced. Boys have been easy to handle, measuring up to the required standard of sportsmanship, faithful in practice, and dependable in competition. Next year should be almost as good, though we shall miss some outstanding figures who have done splendid work in recent years. The torch is burning strongly, however, and will be carried on.

Aberdeen Grammar School F. P. Club Boarding House Co. Ltd. - -

GRAMMAR

SCHOOL

SENIOR HOUSE, 8 QUEEN'S ROAD,

HOUSE :

JUNIOR HOUSE, 6 QUEEN'S ROAD,

ABERDEEN.

The Houses are conveniently situated in the west end of the town, and are equidistant from the School and the Playing Fields.

The Senior House, which can accommodate 45 Boarders, is specially designed and fitted for the purpose, having large common rooms, modern dormitories, bathrooms, changing rooms, etc.

The Junior House, which has accommodation for about 15 Boarders, is available for boys up to 9 years of age.

The Company have their own Hard Tennis Courts (3) and large Playground adjacent to both Houses.

Owing to the increased accommodation available, through the recent opening of the Junior House, there are at present a few vacancies in both Houses.

Fees, €90 per annum exclusive of School Fees.

House Master Under House Master

-

Miss ELSIE B. HAY.

Mr. J. S. M. EDDISON, M.A. Mr. WILLIAM P. STEWART, M.A. Matrons : Miss C. M. R. MAYOR.

For Application Forms and further particulars apply to the Secretary of the Company, Mr. JAMES C. DUFFUS, Advocate, 7 Golden Square, Aberdeen

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

2 53

School 1st XI Matches.

3oth

Aboync, at Aboyne.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno c Middleton b Nicol 43 R. S. France c Gordon b Little• 4 .

• • john . . 41 W. T. H. Hay not out .

It J. Black c Littlejohn b Nicol W. D. Allardice c Middleton b . . . .

Nicol .

D. A. W. Innes c Dargo b Littlejohn . . . . 12 H. NW-lardy c Duguid b Nicol . 0 C. Gordon. J. Russell. C. Cruickshank, and R. Eddie did not bat.

Extras

.

•

4

.

Total for 6 wkts.

Aboync-57, all out.

115

7th May—v. Dundee High School, at Dundee.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno c Lawson b . .

Cameron • • I . I W. T. H. Hay lbw Bruce .

R. S. France c Johnston b Bruce 0 J. H. D. Black c Stuart b . 9 . .

Cameron . . 5 W. D. Allardice b Bruce .

D. A. W. Innes c Philip b Lawson 12 .

• 0 j. Russell b Lawson .

• 7 H. McHardy b Bruce • 0 C. W. Gordon not out .

• 3 G. P. Mollison lbw Lawson L. J. Blackball run out .

• 2 Extras • . 14 • Total • • 54 • Dundee High School-79, all out.

For School, D. Innes had 6 for 23 ; McHardy, 2 for 7 ; C. Gordon, t for o ; and H. S. Cardno, I for

For School, Innes had 7 for o; Cardno, 2 for 36 ; and C. Gordon, 1 for 5.

23.

t9th May—v. Gordonians, at Rubislaw.

SCHOOL. • 14 H. S. Cardno b Prosser .

• t W. T. H. Hay lbw Kaye . . 39 R. S. France b Anderson . . II C. W. Gordon b Kaye .

W. D. Allardice b Anderson . 15 • 14 J. H. D. Black not out . .

• 4 J. Russell not out .

E. Gauld, Innes, McHardy and Cruickshank did not bat.

Extras

.

•

Total for 5 wkts.

.

-

7

-

105

ant May—v. Kingseat, at Kingseat.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno c Dr. Reid b Catto, . 71 sen. . . . .

W. T. H. Hay c S. Racbum b A. . . 3o Raebum . .

R. S. France c W. Racbum b . . . 63 Catto, sen. .

C.W. Gordon c & b A. Raebum 5 . o J. H. D. Black run out .

W. D. Allardice b Catto, sen. . 4 . . to F.. A. Gauld not out D. A. W. Imes not out . . 4 C. Cruickshank, H. McHardy, and G. P. Mollison did not bat.

Extras Total for 6 wkts.

• 3 t9o

Gordonians—too for 6.

Kingseat—84, all out.

For School, Cardno had a for 33 ; Gordon. I for at ; and Iimes, 1 for 14.

For School, G. P. Mollison had 3 for 8 ; Ions, 3 for 33 ; Cardno, i for 31 ; and Gordon, 1 for I.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

2 54

24th May—v. School Staff, at Rubislaw.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno lbw Mr. Dickie • 6 W. T. H. Hay Ibw Mr. Dickie • 6 R. S. France lbw Mr. Edwards . 0 C. W. Gordon c Mr. Eddison b Mr. Macgregor . . . 6 . 19 W. D. Allardice retired hurt . o J. H. D. Black b Mr. Dickie C. Cruickshank c Mercer b Mr. Dickie . .

• . o . . 5 E. Gauld not out .

H. McHardy lbw Mr. Macgregor 3 . t3 D. A. W. Innes not Out .

Mollison did not bat.

Extras

•

.

•

Total for 9 wkts.

SCHOOL STAFF. Mr. Edwards c Gordon b Innes 7 Mr. Baxter lbw Innes . . 4 Mr. Dickie c Gauld b Cardno 13 Mr. Eddison c Cruickshank b Cardno . .

• . 13 Mr. A. Milne run out . . 3 Mr. J. Milne c Gauld b Mollison 0 Mr. McClennan b Cardno . 0 Mr. P. M. Stuart not out . . 1 . 19 Mr. D. Macgregor not out Mr. W. P. Stuart and N. Mercer did not bat.

. 68

For School, Cardno had 3 for 17 ; Itmes, 2 for 8 ; and G. Mollison, x for 15.

-

•

. 1

Total for 7 wkts.

. 61

Extras

I0

.

For Staff, Mr. Dickie had 4 for 34 ; Mr. D. Macgregor, 2 for 9 ; and Mr. Edwards, i for 1 5.

25th May—v. Gordon's College, at Seafield.

GORDON'S COLLEGE.

SCHOOL.

D. P. Fox c Gauld b Innes . 22 . 5 J. C. Johnstone lbw lnnes H. J. Crow c Cardno b Mollison 20 W. J. Reid c France b limes . o W. A. Crammond c & b limes . o N. Greenhowc c Cardno b Mollison . . . . 8 H. M. Bittiner c McHardy b Cardno . . . . o . 13 G. K. T. Milne b Mollison I. W. Ingram b Innes . . o S. B. Watson c McHardy b Mollison . . . . o R. M. Bruce not out . . o

H. S. Cardno c Bruce b Fox . 7 W. T. H. Hay lbw Fox . . 19 R. S. France c Bittiner b Greenhowe. . . .

• C. W. Gordon c Milne b Green- I howe . . .

• • o J. H. D. Black b Fox . .

E. A. Gauld c Ingram b Green- 2 howe. . . . . 8 D. A. Innes c Fox b Bruce . to W. D. Allardice c Reid b Fox C. R. Cruickshank c Johnstone b 5 Greenhowe . . . . I H. McHardy not out . . o G. P. Mollison c Ingram b Bruce 5

Extras

•

Total

•

•

•

3

Extras

•

•

• 71

Total

•

•

•

For Gordon's College, Fox had 4 for x3 ; Greenhowe, 4 for p ; and Bruce, a for x4.

• 7 . 65

School, Innes had .5 for 20 ; Cardno, I for 16 ; Mollison, 4 for 14;

For

The

Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company, Limited The finely-equipped passenger-carrying vessels of this Company, " LOCHNAGAR " and " ABERDONIAN," give a service of two sailings each week (from Aberdeen and London every Wednesday and Saturday), June to September inclusive, affording the cheapest, healthiest, and most enjoyable means of travel.

The accommodation for both First and Second Cabin Passengers is very superior. The ordinary passage lasts about 36 hours. Passengers who wish to do so may sleep on board in London at the following extra cost—Bed and Breakfast, 1st Cabin, 7/6 ; 2nd Cabin, 5/-.

In addition to the usual accommodation, a limited number of Cabins-de-Luxe on the " LOCHNAGAR " can be booked at slightly increased Fares.

There are Dining Saloons for Second Cabin Passengers on each vessel, and a Stewardess is carried in both First and Second Cabins.

The Company's Tender "ICH DIEN" carries passengers free of charge between Westminster Pier and the Company's Wharf at Limehouse—a most instructive and enjoyable run.

Meals are of excellent quality, and every passenger may rely on receiving perfect attention and courtesy.

Full particulars of Sailings with Lists of Fares will be furnished and passages booked on application to EDWARD J. SAVAGE, Manager, 87 Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen.

Telephone No. 7.

St. Margaret's School for Girls (Incorporated)

ALBYN PLACE, ABERDEEN. Head Misers,': Miss M. E. HOLLAND, M.A.Cantab. (Classical Tripos).

Chairman of the School Council: E. W. Wm, Esq., Lord Provost of Aberdeen.

-T. MARGARET'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS is an Incorporated School, registered according to the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908. It is administered under the management of an clef:five Council of prominent citizens, on lines similar to those of well-known Girls' Schools in other parts of Scotland.

The School stands in its own grounds in the be part of the City of Aberdeen, and in all respeCts is well equipped to secure the comfort of pupils and the efficiency of the education imparted.

The aim of the School is to provide a first-class education on modern lines, to care specially for the development of character in the pupils, to prepare them for the interests and responsibilities of social life, and to enable those who desire it to proceed to the higher education of the Universities or to train for a career.

S

SCHOOL BOARDING HOUSES. The School has two Boarding Houses, Nos. 6 and 7 Queen's Gardens (close to the Grammar School Boarding Houses in Queen's Road) for Senior Girls, and special accommodation for Junior Boarders is provided at Canmore House, Albyn Place. These are very commodious, well-appointed Modern Houses, in which Boarders are provided with the comforts of home, and given ample opportunity both for quiet study and for the social side of life. Complete charge taken during holidays if desired. The Head Mistress is in residence at the Senior House.

SPECIAL NOTICE.—The School has now taken over z s Albyn Place, which is occupied by the Preparatory Department. This includes a Nursery Class for children under five, under the charge of a fullytrained Nursery School Mistress.

Information as to Fees, Entrance Scholarships, Courses of Study, etc., is given in the Prospeflus, which may be had on application to the HEAD MISTRESS, 17 ALBYN PLACE, ABERDEEN.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 28th May—v. Dundee High School, at Rubislaw.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno c Philip b Bruce • 9 • 26 W. T. H. Hay run out .

• 2 C. W. Gordon c & b Bruce • 0 J. H. D. Black b Bruce .

0 E. Gauld c Stuart b Lawson • 16 W. D. Allardice b Bruce .

D. A. W. Innes c & b Bruce • 4 P. L. Hill c Cameron b Bruce • 3 .

• 0 H. McHardy b Bruce C. Cruickshank not out .

• 0 G. P. Mollison lbw Lawson • 2 Extras

.

•

.

a — Total .

• . 64 Dundee High School-65 for 3.

For School, Gordon had 2 for 19 ; and Innes, 1 for 20.

2 55

4th June—v. Strathallan, at Rubislaw.

SCHOOL. H. S. Cardno s Anderson b . . 2 .

Wilson.

W. T. H. Hay s Anderson b . . . . o Wilson R. S. France C Steele b Wilson . 12 . 6 C. W. Gordon b Leburn . . 9 W. D. Allardice b Reid . . 9 J. H. D. Black b Steele . . o N. H. McDonald b Steele C. R. Cruickshank c Steele b . 8 . . .

Lcbum . 16 D. A. W. Innes not out .

H. McHardy not Out 3 • G. P. Mollison did not bat.

Extras

•

•

•

5

. 7o Total for 9 wkts Strathallan-68, all out.

For School, Innes had 6 for 38; and Cardno, 4 for 9.

t Ith June—v. Morgan Academy, at Rubislaw.

SCHOOL. II. S. Cardno c Galloway b Jack to W. T. H. Hay not out . . 24 . . 7 R. S. France not out — Total for 1 wkt. declared 41

W. T. H. Hay .

IL S. France .

H. S. Cardno .

D. A. W. Innes .

W. D. Allardice .

J. H. D. Black .

D. A. W. Innes . .

11. S. Cardno

Morgan Academy-32, all out.

For School, Innes had 4 for 19 ; Cardno, 4 for 5; and Gordon, 2 for 4.

zst XI Batting Averages.

Total No. of Times Innings. not out. Runs.

8 z 142 I 130 • 7 8 1 57 66 6 2 5o 7 I 43 7 * Signifies not out.

(Qualification-6 innings.)

•

• • • •

1st XI Bowling Averages.

Overs. Maidens. Runs.

207 17 .

16o .

66.2 13 (Qualificatwickets.)

Highest Score. Average.

23.6 41* 21.6 63 19.6 71 18 16.5 16 7.1 ~ 4* 7.1

Wickets. Average.

6.4 32 10.6 15

256

Aberdeen Grammar School h lagazine

house Notes.

Byron House.

For Byron House the Summer Term has proved as successful as the other terms, but our success has not been confined to the physical side alone.

Byron has shown an unexpected flash of intellectual brilliance this Term.

We must therefore congratulate the two duxes. J. G. M. Birss and D. M. Bishop, on their success, and R. F. Buthlay, L. D. Dumo, and J. B. Bittiner deserve mention for gaining unexpected but notable passes in the Leaving Certificate. We have also gained six out of nine medals, and along with Birss, I. D. Innes and A. L. Speirs are to be congratulated.

Such scholastic success has rather bewildered us, and we must not omit to con*ratulate R. S. France on gaining his cricket Colours.

Swimming deserves first mention this term on account of our show at the Swimming Sports. Despite the fact that we possess no really outstanding swimmers, we managed to gain second place in the House Championship, and also won the senior relay race in a very decisive manner.

Such unexpected success (for such it was) was due to all swimmers doing their bit, and House members are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm.

We might say that cricket has come up to expectations. The ist XI gained a win over Melvin, but was defeated narrowly by Keith and decisively

by Dun. The and XI beat Melvin and Keith. but again Dun came out on top. And the Junior XI beat both Dun and Melvin, but has yet to play Keith.

But the final test of House strength has yet to come—the Athletic Sports.

Once again Byron House athletics are very strong in all classes, and it is with high hopes that we all view the approaching contest.

Session 1937-38 is now drawing to a close, and at the beginning of the session we set out with the fixed intention of winning the House Trophy.

By the time this is published we shall know whether we have succeeded in our aim or not, but whatever the result, Byron House has done its best.

Many of us are leaving this term, and as a final word we would wish the House the very best of success in the future.

D. R. MACGREGOR, I/014Se Captain.

Dun House.

At a meeting held at the beginning of the Term, H. S. Canino was elected Captain of Cricket and W. T. H. Hay Vice-Captain ; I. C. Black was elected. Captain of Athletics. Before reviewing the summer activities, we take this opportunity to offer hearty congratulations to W. T. H. Hay, N. S. Mercer, and J. B. Gordon-Russell on gaining their tst and and XI Colours respectively.

In the first match of the season Dun defeated Keith with little difficulty.

Against Melvin we also won, but this time in the last over of the game.

The remaining game of the season was against Byron, and here, had it not been for "The Giant." we would have put them out very cheaply. As it was, he added quite a bit to his side's total, but nevertheless we again won.

The and XI has also done well, winning two out of the three games played.

The Juniors have tried hard, but have not managed to win a game.

The Swimming Gala is now past and it has brought little honour to the House ; but it was clearly shown that in the Lower School there are many swimmers, who in the future will be of great assistance to the House.

The Athletic Sports have yet to come. We hope that in this annual event we will do very well, as we seem to have plenty of good material both in the Upper and Junior Schools.

The House did quite well on the rugby field. It has done very well at cricket, very poorly at swimming, and now, we hope, it will do very well at athletics.

r / i,

-,

/

:, ,,,,,, 4:,

- -,›-4'-' ' ,, / 1 ',, ' i %

, , 14 , 0 . , 1; ,* ,,

/

,„

r",,, %

,,,;,,,..(;:iv . ,-,

//

(• ,

/

/ - ,

IS INSURANCE

ci 4, p C ,,

/ /

/

,

/ / /,/,<:,, „„ ,,,,,,,,,,...,

/4 /

wig

For full Particulars of

ANY

CLASS

OF

INSURANCE

Apply to our Aberdeen Office-

222-4

UNION STREET Telephone : Aberdeen 23

•

First For

/ 0

Thirst

Aerated ~/i Waters

/v /

Address—

Craibstone Lane, Aberdeen

S

Telephone 873

LEDINGHAM 'S

Scotch Shortbread and Oatcakes

JOHN LED1NGHAM & SON, LTD. 470 UNION STREET 580 GEORGE ST. TeIi 71.1 244 4 ;e (

60 ROSEMOUNT PLACE 48 UNION ST. (Tea Room)

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

2 57

So the term comes to an end, which means that several of the House stalwarts will not be with us next term. They have all played their part well, so here's wishing them the best of luck in their new roles I C. R. CRUICKSHANK, House Captain.

Keith House.

It is my opinion that each House must at some time or other go through a " bad patch," and the past rugby term has shown that Keith House is going through just such a period. Only the passing of time and the cooperation of all Keith boys can put the House on its feet once more.

The cricket season has proved somewhat more fruitful for the House, but before going into details, I should like to congratulate D. A. W. Innes on gaining his :Est XI Colours. H. C. McHardy his Half-Colours, and E. A. Gauld, N. H. Macdonald, and J. A. Dey on gaining their znd XI Colours.

It is encouraging to find that the bulk of Keith's cricket teams this year arc comparatively young, so that the House can expect to have even more promising players in years to come.

In our first game, which was against Dun, we received a set-back which was altogether a shock to us. Cricket, however, is an uncertain game, and there is no saying when the best of teams will be beaten. Against Byron we did better ; through the splendid batting of D. A. W. Innes and H. C. McHardy we were just able to pass our opponents' score. Incidentally, Keith just beat Byron last year by one run. The game with Melvin was similar to that with Dun, as we received another unexpected defeat. The znd, 3rd, and Junior XIs fared much the same as the 1st XI. Taken as a whole, this year's Swimming Gala was a real " bumper," Keith's long monopoly was at last broken, when Melvin won the House Trophy. We offer congratulations, however, to J. Wyness on winning the Rector's Cup. This is the third year in succession that a Keith boy has won this trophy.

Looking ahead to the Athletic Sports, it seems unlikely that Keith seniors will make much of a show. This places a responsibility on the Juniors, which I know they will shoulder with determination.

Although we are in the middle of summer, it is not too early to remind Keith boys that there is a rugby season to follow, and that the House will need the co-operation of every boy if we mean to win the rugby trophy.

R. A. D. LINDSAY, Howe Captain.

Melvin House.

At a meeting held at the beginning of the term the following officials were elected : Captain of Cricket, W. D. Allardice ; Vice-Captain, R. M. Eddie ; Captain of Athletics, A. K. Davidson.

Our cricket this season has been quite successful. Although we have won only one match, we gave a very good display in the other two. Against Byron House we managed to dismiss them for a total of 113, but we were ourselves dismissed for 98. Against Dun House we were again defeated, Dun scoring 514 against our 79. Keith House, who defeated Byron House, were unexpectedly defeated by us. In this game we batted first and scored 78, while Keith in reply could score only 42. Our second and third teams were defeated in all their games.

In the Swimming Sports we gained first place, and took second place in the inter-House relay race, after a very thrilling fight with Byron House.

The Athletic Sports have still to be held, and let us hope that Melvin House may this year be well in the running for championship honours.

While the past year has not brought us the highest honours in rugby or cricket, we must not give way to despair. In the coming year let us go all out with one object in view—placing Melvin House at the Head of the School.

W. D. ALLARDICE, Howe Captain.

258

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Scout Notes.

Since the last issue of the Magazine the number of School Troops has fallen to three. as the Thirty-eighth have recently been disbanded. For some time now the Troop's numbers had been dwindling and it was consequently very difficult to attract recruits. The few remaining scouts have now joined other School Troops. It is very pleasing to note that the First, Ninth, and Seventeenth arc all being maintained at almost full strength and each has gained several newcomers. The First, especially, has now a large number of young scouts, and thus the Troop's welfare is assured for the future.

During the Easter holidays the First and Ninth Troops held camps at Clinterty and Dunecht respectively. The weather for these was rather Arctic-like, especially on the first morning, when the scouts awoke to find an inch of snow on the ground, but as usual these conditions did not detract from the enjoyment. The Seventeenth held no camp but several enjoyable hill-climbing excursions were arranged. The forestry course for the First Troop, mentioned in the last issue. was conducted during the camp at Clinterty. From nine to five each day seven of the senior scouts received instruction in all branches of forestry, under the supervision of the Head Forester. There was also included a visit to Craibstone, where the scouts sowed several thousand tree-seeds. The boys who remained in camp were by no means idle, however, for they spent their time in constructing a twentyfoot signalling and look-out tower with wood from the neighbouring forest. Another interesting incident of the camp was a fire-fighting expedition to Bennachie. When the Troop received news one night from the Forester that there had been a serious outbreak of fire, cifht scouts cycled to the hill and rendered valuable service in checking the fire s progress.

As usual the School Troops have taken a prominent part in the Spring activities of Aberdeen Scouts. At the Annual County Flag Competition, held at Templars' Park in May, the Ninth just failed to maintain thcir successes of the past two years, and their patrol, led by P.L. David W. Mathieson, finished as runners-up to the Fourteenth Troop. In the corresponding competition for Cubs, the Seventeenth Pack distinguished themselves by winning the Totem Pole. At the Athletic Sports the Seventeenth Troop won the shield by a wide margin. The Troop is very full of athletic talent at present, but their success was all the more meritorious since three of their best runners were unable to compete. The Ninth Troop were third in this event, chiefly due to the excellent performances of P.L. R. F. Buthlay, the new School Athletic Champion.

All three troops were represented at the National Scout Rally in Ibrox Park, Glasgow, held in connection with the Empire Exhibition. There were twenty-seven scouts there from the First Troop, under the charge of A.S.M. Alistair Calder. The morning was spent in the Exhibition and in the afternoon they participated in the impressive massed rally of Scots scouts.

The membership of the First Troop has now reached thirty-six, and this has necessitated the formation of a new patrol, namely the Eagles. On Saturday, 1 ith June, a successful cycling excursion was arranged to Clochnaben.

The Ninth Troop's membership now totals over forty, as several Cubs have graduated from the Pack. Many of the Troop spent a very interesting afternoon at Dyce Aerodrome, where by courtesy of SquadronLeader Crerar, they were shown the various types of aircraft. One of the party is said to have cast thoughts for his safety aside in the cause of photography and to have remained in front of a machine, despite the fact that it was about to move off. At the Open Night, held at the end of March, the Sea Scouts exhibited a kyaak that they have recently constructed for themselves.

PALACE HOTEL ABERDEEN The Premier Hotel in Aberdeen

The Palace Hotel is the recognised rendezvous in the City for Private Luncheons, Dinners, Weddings, Dances, etc., to which special attention is given.

WELL-APPOINTED RESTAURANT LOUNGES AND GRILL ROOM (with popular Orchestra)

OPEN TO NON-RESIDENTS TILIGILAMS 1

Tetermoue ,

" PALATIAL. ABERDEEN."

292O.

FOR TERMS APPL Y 70 MANAGER

It's not a serious matter _but

•

easy It's not always too who are eagerly for young men up in the working their way that knife edge world to keep trousers or free crease in their looking soiled, their jackets from flat those peror even to keep lapels. sisting turned-out

i ..

C

1

•

S ..... $

••••,,,,.

••

•

will help you way out which Here is an inexpensive be. Have young man could any as smart as DRESSED to be or DYED and CLEANED your clothes to your by the Gordon Cleaning Company amazing difference, you see the satisfaction. When worthwhile it all is. you will realise how list, post free.

Write for our price

Aberdeen Branch 434 UNION ST. 'Phone: .4971 Early Closing Day Saturday

r-ckieGofdon Cleaning co . ..

.

.

Cleaners & Dyers, HUNTLY Phone 69

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

259

At a recent National Fitness Campaign in Aberdeen the Seventeenth represented the Boy Scouts and gave an exhibition of the time-honoured accompaniment of camp reveilles—physical jerks. The•Troop has recently been visited twice by scouts from other parts of the country, first by a Y.L. and second from a Portobello Troop, who were in Aberdeen on holiday, and then by Mr. Douglas, a scouter in a London Troop. who is organizing a schoolboy trip to Norway. The visitors took part in the ordinary meeting and introduced some new games.

The summer holidays are now at hand and on the ist of July the School Troops depart for camp. The First have experienced some difficulty in obtaining a site, but their intention is to go to Comtulloch Farm, about a mile from Dinnet, on the South side of the Dee. The Ninth are returning, after two years on fresh sites, to Loch Davan, near which they camped for three successive years until 1935. The personnel of the Troop has so changed, however, that the site will be a new one for the majority. The Sca Scouts intend to take their newly-built kyaak and to practice with it on the loch.

The Seventeenth have had no difficulty about choosing a camp site, as they are returning to Tannadice, which they liked so much last year. The only bad thing was the weather, and this promises to be better this year.

Only one of the School Cub Packs is going to camp—as usual, the Seventeenth are to spend a week beside the Dinnet Schoolhouse. To them and to all the scouts we wish " Good Camping."

Promotions: ist Troop—Second J. Farquhar to P.L. ; Scouts J. Calder and L. Henderson to Second. rite Troop—P.L.s C. R. Cruickshank and L. Blackhall to A.S.M. ; P.L. C. Courts to Troop Leader ; Second D. Bishop to P.L. ; Scout E. Sangster to Second. P.L. P. S. Boyd and Second T. Menzies have joined from the Thirty-eighth Troop.

The Rambling and Mountaineering Club.

The first outing of the Club was held on the May holiday, when a party went to Lochnagar. The party, which numbered about 24 members, split up at the Saddle into two sections, one of which went up the Black Spout, and the other the Ladder.

The climbing was very enjoyable, as the weather was glorious. From the top, which was reached about three hours after the start from the Spital of Glen Muick, a magnificent view was obtained. So much was the excursion enjoyed by the members present that it was unanimously decided to make this outing an annual one, to be held on the May holiday every year.

On 55th May several members climbed Kerloch. The party went by bicycle, and started the climb from Blackness Farm. There was mist on the hill, but the ten-mile walk was enjoyed by all.

The Annual Cairngorm Excursion this year is to Braeriach and Caimtoul during the last week-end of term.

The Club equipment has been well used this term, and much benefit has been derived by members. Attention is drawn to the newly-formed Club library, to which any contributions of travel books will be gratefully received.

R. S. F.

2 6o

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

School Office-Bearers for Session 1937-1938.

Prefects.

D. R. MACGREGOR (Senior Prefect).

A. W. LINDSAY. I. C. BLACK. C. R. CRUICKSHANK. J. WYNESS. W. D. ALLARDICE. A. J. M. SIMP+o...

R. S. FRANCE, R. A. D. LIND+ ,ky.

J. G. M. BIRSS. L. D. DURNO. H. M. R. WArr. House Captains.

Byron.

Dun. Keith.

D. R. MACGREGOR. C. R. CRUICKSHANK. A. W. LINDSAY. Melvin.

W. D. ALLARDICE. Games Committee.

President - THE RECTOR. - THE GAMES MASTER. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer D. R. MACGREGOR. C. R. CRUICKSHANK. R. A. D. LINDSAY. W. D. ALLARDICE. R. F. Bun-HAIL C. GRANT. C. W. GORDON. A. J. M. SIMPSON. WYNESS. J. H. D. BLACK. R. S. FRANCE. H. S. CARDNO. J. B. BITTINER. L. D. DU RNO. D. A. W. INNES. W. T. H. HAY. Rugby Football.

I Vice-Captain W. D. ALLARDICE. Captain - D. R. MACGREGOR. Cricket.

Captain - W. D. ALLARDICE. I Vice-Captain - H. S. CARDNO. Swimming.

Captain - J. WYNESS. Athletics.

Captain - D. R. MACGREGOR. I Vint-Captain • R. F. BtrrithAr. Tennis.

Captain - W. D. ALLARDICE. N. S. MERCER. I. Secretary Rambling and Mountaineering Club.

- H. M. R. WATT. President - Vice-President J. G. M. BIRSS. Secretary and Treasurer - R. S. FRANCE. Literary and Debating Society.

President - R. S. FRANCE. Vice-Presidents - H. M. R. WATT, J. G. IRVINE. Secretary and Treasurer - J. G. M. BIRSS. Dramatic Society.

President A. J. H. AITKEN. - - _ _ A. D. CALDER. Vice-President - - - I. D. INNEs. Secretary Orchestral Society.

Hon. Conti:ester - - - - MR. G. E. FALCONER, A.R.C.M. "Magazine" Committee—School Representatives.

J.

School Editors Sports Editors -

-

•

INNEs. - f I. D. G. IRVINE.

k J. W. D. ALLARDICE. D. R. MACGREGOR.

{

THE

Caledonian Hotel UNION TERRACE, ABERDEEN Telephone Nos.: 2916 (3 lines).

Telegrams : "Repose, Aberdeen."

80 Bedrooms.

15 Bathrooms.

WHY VISITORS STAY AT THE CALEDONIAN HOTEL BECAUSE It is a Comfortable, Modern Hotel, with Good Cooking and Reasonable Terms.

Electric Fires.

Hot and Cold Running Water in all Bedrooms.

Central Heating.

Lift to all Floors.

Private Suites of Rooms with Bathrooms.

Private Suites of Rooms for Weddings, Dinners, etc.

Restaurant.

Grill Room.

Lounges.

American Bar.

UNDER

ENTIRELY

NEW

PROPRIETORSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

K. G. AMNER, Manager.

Quality Cleaning for your Sportswear Send your Sportswear to us now and have everything immaculate for play. Our Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services provide facilities to assure your complete satisfaction. 'Phone now or send a postcard, it will receive immediate attention Flannel Trousers - - 1/6 Jerseys & Sweaters from 9d.

Tennis Frocks - from 1/6 Suits sponged and pressed 2/-

Aberdeen Steam Laundry ABERDEEN 1531

BALLATER 30

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

.261

The Former Pupils' Club.

Founded 1893.

President : Professor JAMES CHARLES PHILIP, O.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S. Vice-President and Chairman of Executive : J, PATRICK JEFFREY, B.Sc., C.A. Secretary and Treasurer : THEODORE WATT, M.A., LL.D., The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen.

Secretaries of Centres : London Centre—D. P. COCH RAN, Royal Exchange Assurance, 4 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, London, S.W. 16.

Glasgow Centre—H. G. EDWA RDS, 43 Marlborough Ave., \V.1.

Edinburgh Centre.—J. L. DUNCAN, LL.B., Ph.D., 7o Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, 3 Secretaries of Sections : Cricket Section—D. F. N. CRAWFORD, 7 Richmondhill Road.

Hockey Section—B. D. D. EMS LIE, co Scottish Oils and Shell Mex Ltd., 34 Alhyn Place.

Rugby Section—J. S. MAcLAcHL.AN, 39 Belgrave Terrace.

Tennis Section—IAN C. MARSHALL, 65 Beaconsfield Place.

Rates of Subscription for Membership : . . £s 5 0 . . .

Life Membership Ordinary Membership— For those under a I years of age at commenceo 2 6 . ment of Club year (1st January) . o 5 o For those of al years of age and upwards

Visitors' Register It cannot be too widely known among members of the Club that a Visitors' Register is kept at the School under the charge of the Rector's Secretary, and during the School vacations under the charge of the Janitor. Members who arc paying a visit to Aberdeen are urged to go to the School as early as possible and sign the Register. If they do this, the Register will become a complete and up-to-date record of the visits of F.P,s ; and members of the Club, when signing the Register, will see who are the other visitors, and will doubtless be able to get into touch with some " exiles " whom, perhaps, they have been trying to find, or whom they have not heard about fur a long time.

The Secretary of the F.P. Club will be pleased if members from a distance visiting Aberdeen will, in addition to signing the Register at the School, pay hint a call at 'The Rosemount Press. He is always delighted to be brought into personal touch with F.P.s.

162

Aberdeen Grammar .S'ehool Magazine

The F.P. Club Boarding House.

As usual in the June issue of the Magazine a complete list is given below of the boys (54) who have been resident in the Boarding House during the session.

List of Boarders.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1929-30.

Charles Hall, s. of Charles J. Hall, c/o Messrs. Harrisons & Crust-leId, Quilon, Travancore.

Neil Mercer, s. of J. S. Mercer, Arcuttipore T.E., Silchar P.O., Cochar, India.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1931-32.

Leslie Duncan Dumo, s. of James Dumo (i9oo-oz), Crichie, Inverurie.

Eric Reid Mair Melvin, s. of William Melvin, Station Hotel, Ellon.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1932-33.

Alexander C. Paul, s. of John W. Paul (1901-o3), Bank, Market Street, Ellon.

Denys James Witts, s. of Leslie J. Witts, Eastern Telegraph Co., Sliema, Malta.

ENTERED IN SESSION 5933-34.

Ian Dunbar Innes, s. of Ian G. Innes (19o3-o8), M.D., 396 Anlaby Road,

Hull.

Douglas Lamont Paul, s. of John W. Paul (1901-03), Bank, Market Street, Ellon.

Ian Bryson Taylor, s. of John C. Taylor (1904-06), c/o Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.. Ltd., Tientsin. N. China.

Gordon Sinclair Elmslie, s. of Walter A. Elmslie (1904-to), to Shirley Road, Wallington, Surrey.

Leonard J. Blackhall, s. of L. A. Blackhall, Hendra Estate, Songkai, Perak, F.M.S.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1934-35.

Ian Wilkison Kirton, s. of Dr. John Kirton, Oakhank, Fort Augustus.

John Simmers Duguid, s. of Mrs. M. Duguid, Marchbank, Hatton. an Mackintosh Brooker, s. of James G. Brooker, Chota Koti, Cossipore, Calcutta.

Donald King Fiddes, s. of William O. Fiddes (1904-15), Nawng Pet Tin Ltd., Beach St., Penang, Straits Settlements.

Gordon Murray Paterson, s. of Andrew Paterson, Iraq State Railways, Baghdad.

Malcolm Paterson, s. of Andrew Paterson, Iraq State Railways, Baghdad.

Henry Patrick Riches, s. of Henry Riches, 33 Albyn Place, Aberdeen.

George Scott Grant, s. of George Grant, Glenfarclas, Blacksboat, Grantownon-Spey.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1935-36.

John Peter Grant, s. of George Grant, Glenfarclas, Blacksboat, Grantownon-Spey.

James Andrew Sandilands Grant, s. of the late Dr. James A. S. Grant (1889-91) and of Mrs. G. B. Grant, Ythan Villa, Montrose.

a s ••••• Mi • • s•••••••••••• • a • im • • • • • • • awlaso• w••••••• NN •I o N

%• % .0 •a

is• • em• • ■ ii a m

SIMPSONS' FOR SPORTS!

E a m n E e s s• o E a

N a m N U m a N U o s N I sus o s

'-'' -g ,. ,....

N o

U

BE UP TO DATE!

:•

Get your Sports Equipment at Simpson?,

n

i•

% %

where

you

will find

everything of the

latest and best.

% Ns %

.

%

Golf,

Tennis, Cricket,

Badminton,

i• E

Hockey Repairs a Speciality.

and

N • % N E

•s

Special Terms for School and Club Orders.

u e•

o N %

9

w▪ Simpsons

a U N %

;r

Sports Emporium

(J. Simpson & Son), Sports Outfitters and Golf Club Makers,

No I s

28

BRIDGE STREET,

N..

N • • . Ua

ABERDEEN.

as • ea ow

•• a s U • o w

% •• a • ■m U o No N • s so

• o

: • • u N e w • U N

Ea .

• (next Palace Cinema) Ns a • U a E e • s n U Business Hours : o o U s 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; Wed. I p.m. ; Sat. 9 p.m.

NN • U s E U a 'Phone 1094.

E : U • U • s a a is s a • • a a a • a • in in • • im ii a is • • • • N N U UUUUUUUUUUUUIUUUUUBUUUUUUUUU

~~,I~Y'I~IC~/~~~'~

fir; i

\\k'\

Playing For Safety !

Some play Golf—some play Tennis—some play Cricket play Bowls—ALL —some can play Tor safety by choosing their Sporting Requisites at THE RUBBER SHOP. Every Sportsman and Sportswoman should see our new season's selection of Sporting Goods of every description. Great value for the great outdoors !

St. Nicholas St. T

ABERDEEN.

Telephone : Aberdeen 2363.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

26 3

James Henderson Deas Black, s. of John Black, Auchmuty House, Markinch.

Angus Vickers Petrie, s. of George A. McA. Petrie, Alleppey, 'Travancore, S. 1 ndia.

Donald M'Combie Grassick, s. of Alfred D. Grassick, Rosemount, Blairgowric.

David James Garden, s. of David S. Garden, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., 19 Planefield Road. Inverness.

John Anderson McNicol, s. of R. C. A. McNicol, Knock, by Huntly.

Ian Farquhar Ogilvie, s. of Ian E. Ogilvie. Meru, lpoh. Perak, F.M.S. Rowand Gordon Chalmers Skinner, s. of Thomas C. Skinner, " Emsallah," Peterhead.

Thomas Hill Buchan, s. of Captain J. I. Buchan, Governor's House, H.M. Prison, Peterhead.

Robert Moir Eddie, a, of Dr. Robert William Eddie (1901-04), Monecht House. Echt.

ENTERED IN SESSION 1936-37.

Ian M. Cortnack, a. of John Cormack, L. D.S.. F.P.S..Station Hotel, M i nt law.

Alistair D. Fiddes, s. of Dr. John Douglas Fiddes (1896-190z), M.A., B,Sc.. " Ruhislaw," Hutton, Brentwcxxl, Essex.

Patrick Gordon, s. of Sidney Gordon, c/o Bank of London and S. America, 7 'Fokenhouse Yard, London, F'..C. a.

William F. Jenkins, s. of Thomas Jenkins, Albert Quay, Aberdeen.

Dennis T. L. Mart, s. of Edward G. Marr (1899-1901). c to Bank of London and South America. 7 Tokenhouse Yard, London, E.C. a.

John C. Man, s. of Edward G. Marr (1899-1901). c 'o Bank of London and South America, 7 Tokenhousc Yard, London, E.C. 2.

Ian H. L. Murray, s. of Alexander Ross Murray (1903-13), cf o Drainage and Irrigation Department, 'poll, F.M.S. Allan J. Smith, s. of F. W. Smith, c/o P. & O. Banking Corporation, Ltd., 56 Esplanade Road. Bombay.

John Tower Sorley, s. of Dr. John T. Sorley (1904-17), M.A., c ,ro A.D.M.S., Lagos. Nigeria.

George S. Stephen, s. of James II. Stephen, East Mothers, St. Cyrus.

Clyne R. B. Stewart, s. of C. G. Stewart, O.B.E., M.A., Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rangoon, Burma.

Peter G. H. Younie, s. of John Younie, District and Session Judge, Sylhct, Assam.

Roy Stephen, s. of Wm. D. C. Stephen, Box to136, Salisbury. S. Rhodesia.

Douglas A. Gordon Gray, s. of Douglas G. Gordon Gray, Dolok Estate, Lima Poeloeh, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies.

Ronald G. Ross, s. of James G. Ross, Queen Hotel, Chester.

Ian S. Watt, s. of Wm. Watt, Strathisla Estate, 'poll, Perak, F.M.S. ENTERED IN SESSION 1937-38.

John A. T. Allan, s. of William Allan (1899-1901), Ury Group, Badulla, Ceylon.

Ian D. Booth, s. of Douglas D. Booth, Kuita Kellas Rubber Estate, Perak, F.M.S. Gordon A. Giles, s. of A. G. Giles, cfo Irrigation Secretariat, Lahore, Punjab.

Keith C. Wishart, s. of Thomas K. Wishart, Dolaguri T.E., Letukujan P.O., Assam.

Joseph C. Cunningham, s. of Joseph S. Cunningham, P.O. Box 320, Salisbury, Rhodesia.

Graeme A. L. Craig, s. of John A. Craig. Unugalla Group, Hali Ela. Ceylon.

Douglas W. M. Grant, s. of Norman M. Grant, c/o National Bank of India Ltd., z6 Bishopsgatc, London, E.C. a.

Herbert J. Richards, s. of H. J. Richards, 119. Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex.

264

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

F.P. Cricket Section.

It is with regret that the complaint has to be reiterated at this time that lack of members compels the Section to abandon the idea of playing two teams. It is almost essential that two teams should be playing regularly to maintain the interest of members and to ensure that capable substitutes are available to fill vacancies in the 1st Xl. During the past year or two the Section has been unfortunate in being unable to secure the services of former regular members of the School XIs, and this opportunity is taken of appealing to those boys leaving School at this time to join the Section.

Little success has been gained in league games so far this season. but the team has to be congratulated on reaching the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup Competition.

Notable feats have been half-centuries by J. S. Manley and 0. H. R. Still, and the consistently good bowling of J. A. Donald and G. P. Marr.

The fielding generally has been excellent, and the Section is indeed fortunate in having got together a really good team from a very limited membership.

A. B. M.

F.P. Rugby Section.

The fixture list for Season 1938-39 has been completed and is as follows :1938.

Sept.

17. Harris Academy F.P. . . . . Rubislaw . . . .

77 24. Highland . . Inverness Oct. 1. Seven-a-sides . . . . . Rubislaw 8. Wanderers . .

PI . . . . Rubislaw „ 15. Gordonians . . . . Seafield . .

22. Moray . . . Rubislaw . . . .

29. St. Andrews University •• . Dundee . .

Nov. 12. Montrose . . . . . Rubislaw 19. Dundee H.S.F.P. . . . .

• Dundee 26. Aberdeen University . . Rubislaw PP . . .

Dec. . . . . Rubislaw 3. Watsonians . „ in. R.A.F., Montrose . . . . . Montrose 17. Aberdeenshire • . . . . Rubislaw 24. Aberdeen v. Exiles . . . . Rubislav., „ 31. Panmurc . . . Rubislaw . . .

1939. z. Perth Academicals Jan. . . . . Rubislaw 7. Dundee H.S.F.P. . . Rubislaw . . . ,, 14. Gordonians . . . .

Rubislaw . . . .

21. Moray . . Elgin .

PP 28. Wanderers . . . . . Hazlehead Feb. 4. Aberdeenshire . . St. Machar . . .

1 i . R.A.F., Montrose . . . . . Rubislaw 18. Aberdeen University 77 . . . . King's College z 5. Panmurc . . . . . . Forthill March 4. Highland . . . . . . Rubislaw 11. Allan Glen's S.F.P. . . . . Rubislaw ',', (Fri.) 17. Cambridge Vandals . . . . Rubislaw 25. Melville College F.P. . . . Rubislaw April 1. Seven-a-sides . . . . . Elgin tl.

VI

7.

In addition, the znd XV has fixtures arranged with and Panmurc and and Dundee H.S.F.P. both home and away, and travelling games with Montrose and ist Harris Academy F.P. Training for the coming season will start at the end of August and members will be notified. Last season considerable difficulty was

SCHOOL TIE

YOUR OLD

is obtainable at

E. & M's. MAN'S SHOP A selection of any of the undernoted goods will gladly be sent on approval to Members of the F.P. Club who may be living out of town - 3 6, 5 6

(Black Ground)

Silk Ties Silk Squares

,,

Silk Scarves

,,

Wool Scarves

,,

13

OP

-

12 6

„

-

8 6

-

15,6

F.P. Facing

Grey Slipovers, White Slipovers

15/6, 18/6

,,

II

-

White Pullovers

-

17 6, 19 6 5 II

Knitted Scarves (Green Ground) Poplin Ties

,, -

Pyjama Cases

-

,6

-

OP

5 6

,,

-

-

15 6, 17 6

Cigarette Boxes, with Crest

-

10 6

Ash Bowls

,,

-

12 9

Sleeve Links

-

4,6 ; with Crest, 8 II

Cricket Caps

-

-

-

-

5,,6

F.B. Blazer, with Badge

-

-

52/6

Officially Appointed Outfitters to the Former Pupils' Club

ESSLEMONT & MACINTOSH LIMITED UNION

STREET

ABERDEEN

lUA IAA) IEIR' if

MEN

IIEWS fcr

fliatn5on TAILORED

etOttit5 Made to Measure

The added respect accorded to the business man whose clothes bear the stamp of quality is yours for the asking.

The MAENSON Tailored Business Suit gives you this undeniable advantage.

In all the new shades and designs.

LOUNGE

SUITS

4 Gns. and 5 Gns. Other Qualities from 34 to 8 Gns. Extra Trousers from 27 6

, "SAMMY "

RAINCOATS

S.B. Prussian Collars 32/6,42 -, SS

D.B. Belted 35 -, 45 -

Rubberless proofed Tweed Coats will keep out really heavy rain and make you independent of the weather.

Spring Tweed Coats, D.B. Belted, with Wool Lining 45 /-

_

l.

.-

JOHN FALCONER & Co., Ltd., Aberdeen

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

265

experienced in fielding a 3rd XV regularly. A full fixture list has been arranged for the 3rds again, and it is hoped that boys leaving School this term will join up with the F.P. Section in order that the membership may reach its level of a few seasons ago.

'The Annual General Meeting of the Section is to be held on Tuesday, 28th June, at 8 p.m., in Rubislaw Pavilion.

J. S. M.

F.P. Hockey Section.

It is not usual for any report of the Hockey Section's activities to be included in the Summer issue of the Magazine, because at that time of year the Section is peculiarly inactive. This year, however, the Section has extended This hut was its activities to house-building and has acquired a hut. transported from the wilds of Drum and now rests (we hope securely) in delightful surroundings near Dinnct. The building consists of 3 rooms and all modern inconveniences (including a porch) and is equipped not only with a floor but also with a roof.

'The resources of the Section have been severely taxed to acquire this palatial erection, but we arc sure that its usefulness in attracting new members will more than repay the expenditure of energy and funds which has been necessary.

We issue a special invitation to all those leaving School at the end of this term, and also to all other F.P.s who arc contemplating joining the Hockey Section next season, to take advantage of this additional facility this summer. Ignorance of the game has often deterred F.P.s from joining our Section, but this drawback can be easily overcome at our new country seat, where there is ample opportunity for tuition. There are also splendid facilities for bathing and swimming, and opportunities beyond conception for contravention of all the game and fishing laws at present in force !

Incidentally, our 1st XI have an unusually attractive series of away fixtures next season, and our and XI are travelling further afield than ever before.

Any F.P. interested should not hesitate to get in touch with the undersigned (at 22 Carlton Place), or next year's Secretary, B. D. D. Emslie, clo Scottish Oils and Shell-Mex Ltd., ;4 Albyn Place, Aberdeen. He is assured of a hearty welcome and at the same time will be availing himself of unique opportunities which no other Section of the Club can offer.

GEORGE H. MCCOMBIE,

Hon. Secretary.

Members whose Present Addresses are wanted.

As a result of the publication in the last issue of the A fagazine of a list of Life Members (and a few Ordinary Members) whose addresses in the Club Register have proved to be unsatisfactory, up-to-date information regarding some eight or nine has been received by the Secretary of the Club. More than a score, however, still remain on the list, as printed below, and the Secretary will be grateful for the present addresses of these.

LIFE MEMBERS. Cecil H. Aiken, formerly cfo A. C. Turner, Esq., zo Budge Row, Cannon Street, London, E.C.4.

David Sinclair Allan, formerly Budla Beta Tea Co. Ltd., Kanjikoah Division, Panitola P.O.. Assam.

Charles Williamson Duff.

Alexander Wishart Edward, formerly 15ot South Chapel Street, Alhambra, California, U.S. A. William Elmslie.

266

Aberdeen Grammar Schaal Magazine

James Gardiner, formerly tot Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, 9.

Dr. Stephen Goodbrand, formerly Viewmount, Banchory.

William S. Henderson, formerly Pabhoi Tea Estate, Mijicajan P.O., Bishnath, Assam.

William He burn Horne.

John Keith, Jun., formerly Chapel Hall. Elton.

Theodore W. B. Knight, formerly 5z Clarence Parade, Southsea, Hants.

A. Adamson Laing, formerly Manager, Royal Bank of Australia, Ltd., Head Office. Melbourne. Australia.

Go Khek Law, formerly 15 Syed Ali Road. Singapore.

Alfred George Mathieson, formerly 32 Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen.

John McPherson, M.D., formerly New Norfolk, Tasmania.

James Russell, formerly" Lisburn." Hall Road E., Blundellsands, Liverpool.

William Walker Scott, formerly Bridge House, Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen.

Arthur William Strachan, formerly Bombay.

Gordon I. Strachan, C.E.. formerly 6 The Walk, Cardiff.

William Webster, formerly 4 Ilyde Road. Eastbourne, now believed to be in U.S.A. ORDINARY MEMBERS. Alexander Allan Angus, formerly Cheruvally Estate, Kanjirapally P.O., Travancore. South India.

Arthur James Anderson, formerly 44 Whitehall Road, Aberdeen.

The London Centre.

Mr. Douglas P. Cochran. the recently-elected Honorary Secretary of the Centre, has entered on his duties with characteristic enthusiasm and determination. He is at present engaged in bringing the List of Members thoroughly up to date, with a view to having it printed and circulated in the early autumn of this year. An interesting programme of meetings for next winter is in preparation.

List of New Members of the Club.

LIFE MEMBERS. Johnston, Douglas Harold (1913-26), B.A., advocate, it Nelson Street, Edinburgh, 3.

Miller, Colin Hay (1900-04), Lcnggeng Estate, Semenyih P.O., Selangor, F.M.S. Munro, Hamish Andrew (1908-2.1), Dufflaghur Tea Co., Ltd., Halem P.O., Darrang, Assam. India.

Scott, James Richard (1895-1902), Northfield, Longside, Aberdeenshire.

ORDINARY MEMBERS. Aitken, Robert, Junr. (1928-37), 128 King's Gate. Aberdeen.

Garden. James Waddell (1924-37), 65 Riverside Drive, Aberdeen.

Gilchrist. William Scott (1929-36), 20 Forbesfield Road, Aberdeen.

Knowles. Douglas Murray ( T 926-38), 56 Springfield Avenue. Aberdeen.

Mackie. Arthur Edward Dobridge (1905-08), Chief Engineer, Bog Estate, Hayes P.O., Jamaica.

McPherson, Henry Nicoll, (1934-37), 5z Mile-End Avenue, Aberdeen.

Macrae, John Kenneth, (1931-38), 18 Fonthill Road, Aberdeen.

Rhind, Alexander Donovan (193337), z8 Fonthill Road, Aberdeen.

Russell, Thomas Henderson (192637), West Park, Cults, Aberdeenshire.

Troup, Kenneth Douglas (1937-38), 251 Union Grove, Aberdeen.

`'he Best Place to Lunch in Aberdeen— Watt

&

Grant's

Restaurant

erzrc

A ) I BLE D'HÔTE LUNCHEON AT 2 / 3 Including SOUP, FISH or ENTREE or JOINT, SWEET Guests should inform the or CHEESE, and COFFEE. Waitress of their wish to take the Table d'HEite when ordering the first course.

Tomato Pearl Cocktaii.

Grape Fruit.

SOUP

Kidney.

Minestrone.

FISH.

Steamed Cod, Shrimp Sauce.

Fried Fillet of Sole and Lemon.

ENTREES, Etc. Sauté of Kidney and Mushrooms.

Lancashire Hot Pot.

Dressed Cutlet and Tomato.

Curry Madras and Rice.

JOINTS. Roast Sirloin of Beef and Yorkshire Pudding.

Roast Stuffed Pork, Prune and Apple Sauce.

COI.D BUFFET. Roast Pork and Beetroot.

Roast Sirloin and Horseradish Sauce, clam and Tongue.

Silverside and Chutney.

Chicken and Salad.

VEGETARIAN DISHES. Walnut and Raisin Salad.

Egg and Cheese Croquettes.

Tomato Souffle.

Asparagus and Poached Egg. Vegetable Salad.

Potatoc< : Creamed, Baked, Boiled and Chip.

Orange, Grapefruit and Lettuce Salad.

Potato Salad.

Fresh Salad.

Cabbage.

Mashed Turnips.

Brussels Sprouts.

Cauliflower and Cream Sauce.

Peas.

Butter Beans and Parsley Saucr.

Pickles.

Carrots and Cream Sauce. Pickled Walnuts. Chutney. Beetroot SWEETS. French Pancakes.

Apple Fritters.

Baked Custard.

Jam Roly Poly.

Pineapple Whip.

Wine Trifle.

Orange Meringue Pie. Raspberry Cream.

Margaret Rose Soufflé.

Peach or Pear Melba.

Chocolate Parfait.

Pink Parasol.

Vanilla Cram Ice. Crushed l'ineapple and Cream Ice.

WATT & GRANT Ltd., UNION ST.,

ABERDEEN

IRONMONGERY A LARGE AND VARIED STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND SHEETMETAL WORK

A

SPECIALITY

H. LEITH & SON 26 and 28 NETHERK1RKGATE Phone 259

ABERDEEN

ELLON STALL NEW MARKET, ABERDEEN Famed for Aberdeenshire

Butter, Eggs, Cheese, Poultry.

Honey—Clover and Heather (in combs or extracted)

EGG GRADING MACHINE WORKING DAILY

Also Jams, Jellies, and Marmalade (ALL OUR OWN MAKE)

J. B. MILNE, Propr.

Tel. 746

AGENTS FOR ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPS WEST-END CIRCULATING LIBRARY

D. WYLLIE & SON Booksellers

Publishers

Stationers

247 UNION STREET ABERDEEN Established 1814

Telephone 402

The House of Co

.

_

THE VMB " TO SHOP" shop, etc. But WHERE one I shop, you shop, "they" When one shops at COLLIE'S shops is most important.

OF ABERDEEN, it means he or she appreciates quality in :— •

Wines and Spirits Ready-to-Serve Foods Fresh Fruits

Provisions Groceries Confectionery Bakery Vegetables, etc.

Branch Shops at

CULTS,

BALLATER,

and

BRAEMAR

Telephones: Cults 28; Ballater 14; Braemar 212

aal

itice

FAMILY GROCERS AND WINE MERCHANTS

269-271 UNION

STREET, ABERDEEN

Telephones: CENTRAL 4800 (3 lines)

ABERDEEN

TOWN COUNCIL - EDUCATION

ABERDEEN

GRAMMAR

COMMITTEE.

SCHOOL

(FOUNDED PREVIOUS TO 1256.)

Rector

-

DAVID MIDDLETON ANDREW, M.A.

HE GRAMMAR SCHOOL provides for Boys a complete course of T Study, both Elementary and Secondary, Classical and Modern.

The School, which is organized in three Departments—Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools—contains, in addition to the usual classrooms, a Chemical Laboratory, Science Theatre with Physical Laboratory attached, Natural Science Laboratory, Art Room, Gymnasium, Workshop, Botanical Garden, Library, Reading Room, and Museum.

Pupils in the Middle School are prepared for the Day School Certificate (Higher) and in the Upper School for the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department, passes in the latter examination being recognized as exempting from further examination in the corresponding subjects of the Preliminary Examination for graduation in Arts, Science, Law, and Medicine at the Scottish Universities.

The situation of the School in the West end of the City is open and healthy. The Class-rooms are large, and the Grounds for Recreation include separate Playgrounds for Juniors and Seniors, Tennis Courts, and a field for Cricket and Football. There is also a Boarding House run in conjunction with the School.

ABERDEEN

HIGH SCHOOL

FOR GIRLS.

(ALBYN PLACE.) Head Mistress - Miss BEATRICE M. ROSE, M.A. (Aherd., Oxon.)

1 -11-1E HIGH SCHOOL provides a liberal education for Girls from 5 to 18 years of age, and aims at fitting them for home life and for professions open to women.

The School buildings occupy an excellent and spacious site in the West end of the City. A Playing Field of it acres, situated at Hazlehead and provided with a suitable pavilion, is used for organized games.

Ile School is organized in three Departments—Infants, Primary, and

Secondary. The Classes in the Infants and Primary divisions are graded in accordance with the requirements of the Scottish Code. Pupils in the Secondary Department arc prepared for the Day School Certificate (Higher) and the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department.

Pupils whose parents desire it are taught Theory and Practice of Music (Pianoforte, Violin, and Organ) in preparation for the Examinations of Trinity College of Music, London, and of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music. Advanced pupils are prepared for the Licentiate of the Royal Academy.

Information as to Fees, Scholarships, Courses of Study, etc., at the Grammar School and High School for Girls is given in the School Prospectus, which may be had tree on application to the Director of Education, Education Offices, az Union Terrace, or to the Rector or Head Mistress respectively.

Royal (Dick) Veterinary College EDINBURGH. (Affiliated to the University of Edinburgh.)

-

- --

-

After attendance on Complete Courses of Instruction in this College, Students may proceed to the Examinations for the Diploma of Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (M.R.C.V.S.) : for the Diploma in Veterinary State Medicine (D.V.S.M.): and for the Diploma in Tropical Veterinary Medicine (D.T.V.M.), granted by the University of Edinburgh.

Students of the College may also present themselves for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Veterinary Science, conferred by the University of Edinburgh.

The College being recognized as a Central Institution under the Education (Scotland) Act, 19°8, Students are eligible for Bursaries granted by the Education Committees in Scotland.

A Copy of the College Calendar, containing particulars of Scholarships, Fellowships, etc., may be obtained on application to A. C. DOULL, C.A., Secretary and Treasurer.

The Latest Productions in

SPORTS GOODS by

LEADING

MAKERS are

LARGER STOCKS -

now

to

hand

GREATER VARIETY

CRICKET • GOLF • TENNIS • SWIMMING

Campbell's Rubber Co., Ltd. 18 BRIDGE STREET

'Phone 157

THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND COLLEGE OF ACRICULTURE ABERDEEN. WINTER SESSION SUMMER SESSION

.

.

.

OCTOBER TO MARCH. APRIL TO JUNE.

Courses for B.Sc. (Agr.) Ordinary and Honours Degrees; College Diploma In Agriculture; National Diploma in Agriculture; Special Farmer's Course; Diplomas in Dairying and Poultry-keeping; Planter's Certificate Course; Certificate Course in Horticulture, etc.

Re■tdential Course in Rural Domestic Economy for Girls at Cralbstons.

Calendar giving full particulars of Courses of Instruction, Syllabus of Experimental Work, particulars of advisory Work undertaken by the College, and Prospectus of Craibstone School of Rural Domestic Economy. may be had on application to

THE SECRETARY, 411 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

,J T take -risks ;- tWthyourmofty /

tut if in your cfchoot Penny rank

A Savings Bank pass-book with a good balance is a most important part of your equipment when you start to earn your own living.

• ABERDEEN SAVINGS BANK

HEAD OFFICE:19 UNION TERRACE, ABERDEEN

Established 1815

The only way to prevent the ill-effect of wrongly fined Footwear is to see for yourself

how

your

SHOE-FITTING BY

X-RAY

Foot lies inside the Shoe

/

Preserve the symmetry of your feet by being correctly fitted with your next pair Expert advice on Foot troubles Free of Charge

JOHN A. DUNN

46 Union Street, Aberdeen 'Phone 158 t• :- '..

, AT 7 , -

i , . •

1.4:1,