AGS Magazine June 1976

THE

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Volume 79

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 92nd year No. 214 (New Series 82nd year No. 201)

Vol. 79

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JUNE 1976

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The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club in June each year General Editor

David K. Yule, M.A., it Kinkell Road, Aberdeen AB' 8HQ

Editor of the School Section

Alexander Tait, M.A.

Editor of Notes, Obituaries and Marriages

Alan G. Campbell, LL.B., too Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen ABx 4NP

Advertisements

J. A. G. Mearns, Mearns and Gill Advertising Ltd., 7 Carden Place, Aberdeen AB' IUR

Secretary of the F.P. Club

John F. Hendry, LL.B., 36 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB9 'YU

The General Editor and Notes Editor are happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before mid-April I97-7. Readers are asked to support the advertisers, without whose support publication of the Magazine would not be possible.

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

CONTENTS General Section— . . . . .

The Headmaster's Message . . . . .

The President's Report .

Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee . . .

The University Since the War . . . . . .

The Scottish National Dictionary Random Thoughts and Reminiscences on Education . .

Some Memorable Occasions at Rubislaw Field • . . .

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Reflections on Eleven Years . . . . . . .

Sounds . . . .

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The Ultimate Deterrent .

School Section— School Office Bearers . .

Random Notes. . .

Meet the Prefects • .

Staff Changes .

Archie Baxter . . .

Miss Gracic . . .

School Sporting Activities. . .

Music Notes . . .

C.C.F. Notes . . .

School Societies . .

"Our Town" .

F.P. Section— Club Office Bearers . . . . .

Annual General Meeting . . . .

Presidential Profile . . . . .

Official Changes . . . .

Centre Reports . . . . .

Club Centre . . .

• Section Reports . . . . .

A New Section That Might Click . .

Reunion of Sixth Year 1965-66 . . . . .

Reunion of Class 1951-65 • • .

Annual Dinner. . . . . .

Notes About Old Boys . .

Marriages . . . . . .

Obituaries . . . . . . . . . .

New Members . .

F.P. Club Accounts . . . . . . . . .

Club Centre Accounts Aberdeen Grammar School Amenities Fund Illustrations— School ist XV 1975-76 .

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Mr. Archibald G. Baxter .

Mr. Robert A. E. Mcnnie . . .

Reunion on 29 December 1975 1961

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An asterisk • appearing after the name of an F.P. indicates that he is a member of the F.P. Club. The years appearing after the name of an F.P. are those of his attendance at School.

The Headmaster's Message In my reply to the toast to the School at the annual F.P. Club dinner last October, I made reference to the need for innovation and change in clubs and schools, if they are to be successful in their efforts to meet the demands and wishes of a changing society. Such alterations as are made to the established pattern must be made after careful assessment, planning and preparation and I congratulated the F.P. Club on its awareness of the need for planned innovation as evidenced in its recent decisions such as allowing the various sports sections to go "open", allowing lady members of staff to become members and by accepting girl pupils as F.P.s as and when they leave school.

The close ties between the school and the F.P. Club—so much in evidence in the past—arc being maintained and strengthened. Recruitment of new F.P. members direct from school in '74 and '75 was good and I hope that this happy situation will continue, to the mutual advantage of the Club and the School.

Whilst it is perhaps dangerous to express an opinion so near to the events, I feel there are justifiable grounds for believing that the school has survived the traumatic changes of recent years and is emerging under its new name as a school which can be reasonably proud of its academic, sporting and extra-curricular achievements.

There are some Soo girls in the first three years and the Former Pupils living in Aberdeen cannot but be impressed by the smartness of the girls' appearance and by the way they have already brought honour to the School in competitive events involving other Schools.

Last year ten of our pupils won bursaries for Aberdeen University; two of our boys won places at Oxford University and the success rate in the S.C.E. examinations at all levels was more than satisfactory.

In the field of sport we had a good year, with John Wiseman, last year's Head Boy, being capped for Scotland against England, Wales and France. Recently our 1st Year girls were joint winners of the Regional Hockey Tournament in which over forty teams competed and our ist XV achieved the double over the old enemy. A feature of the year was the large number of teams turning out on Saturdays and thanks are due here to the many members of staff who give so freely of their time for this and other extra-curricular work.

The concert in the Music Hall and the production of "Journey's End" were much appreciated and Boris Webster of S.V is to be congratulated on having been invited to give a solo 'cello performance with the Scottish National Orchestra last October.

By the time this magazine is printed, two senior boys will have been selected to spend a week in Paris as guests of Total Oil Marine Ltd. The Oil Company has generously agreed to offer this trip annually, for as long as the Company has the use of the Westfield block of our school to "house" its own small school of French children.

Staff changes during the past year are too numerous to be given in detail here, but one name stands out in this year's list, that of Mr. Baxter. A tribute to his skill as a teacher, his kindness and 3

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine 4 understanding and above all his loyalty to the school appears elsewhere in this magazine.

What of the future? It is difficult to foresee any major building extensions such as a games hall being allowed until the present financial difficulties are resolved. The staffing situation is constantly under review and whilst the situation at the moment, as far as our school is concerned, is satisfactory, any reduction would inevitably make for lesser flexibility in the courses offered to our pupils.

School councils are in the process of being formed and the first meeting of our one took place at the end of March. It is pleasing to note that the elected chairman of our Council is Mr. Brian Crookshanks, who has done so much for the F.P. Club over the years.

I end these remarks with a "Thank you" to the F.P. Club for its generous support of the School, financially and otherwise and with the hope that as many as possible of our pupils about to leave school will underline our appreciation by joining the F.P. Club.

The President's Report I have been asked by the Editor to submit a report on my activities as President during my year of office which ended in March. Thanks to the practice which the Club follows of having a president who is entirely divorced from the day-to-day running of the Club, the vice-president being chairman of the Executive Committee, the activities of the president are largely social and entirely pleasurable but not perhaps very noteworthy. To hold the office is an honour and I have been very conscious of this. It was especially gratifying to me as my father held the same office about 3o years ago.

The duties of president include presiding at the Club Dinner, attending as a guest the various Centre Dinners and representing the Club at the dinners or similar functions of other F.P. Clubs in Aberdeen.

The small gatherings of F.P.s at the Blue Bell Inn, near Knaresborough and at the Caledonian Clubs in London and Edinburgh were happy occasions presided over by Arthur Adams, Robert Mennie and Ian MacLeod respectively, the last-named deputising in the unavoidable absence of George Sangster. Mention must also be made of the Golf Section Dinner, attendance at which is a memorable experience.

Unfortunately the Glasgow Centre has been in abeyance for some years. I had hoped that it would be revived this year.

One special function this year was the opening in September of the new lounge bar in the Club Centre at 86 Queens Road. As I said on that occasion, time has shown that the doubts that some of us had in 1969 when the Centre was opened that the project was overambitious have proved to be ill-founded. It has been a great success and members of the Centre must be grateful to Phil Love and Eric Craig, successive chairmen of the Centre, and their colleagues who have served from time to time on the Management Committee.

They have all shown themselves to be men of vision and judgment and financial wizards of the first order. 86 Queen's Road is now the

Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee 5 focal point of the Club's activities and it is also a place to which F.P.s no longer in Aberdeen can go on their periodical return visits to the city. One question I have heard from several such F.P.s—could some system of temporary membership, such as is not uncommon in golf clubs, be devised? The annual subscription, even for a country member, is something of a deterrent to an F.P. who may be in Aberdeen, say, only over Christmas.

At the end of June I attended the School prize-giving and presented the Club's All-Round Trophy to John Wiseman, the 1974/75 winner. Prize-givings nowadays are somewhat different from those of the past, as prizes and certificates for mere merit in class are no longer in vogue and there is nothing so out-of-date as a dux. But there are still cups, medals and special prizes provided for the School by the Club, by F.P.s and other well-wishers and I also had the pleasure of handing these over. For the first time one such prize was won by a girl, the Derek Stewart Memorial Prize for Mathematics in the second year being awarded to Gillian Hutchison.

In conclusion I revert to topics inevitably raised at almost every Grammar F.P. function—the change of name foisted on the School in 1970 and the designation of Mr. Gill as "Headmaster" following a line of "Rectors" unbroken since 1479. Justification for these changes has never been established and in my view they were, and they remain, unacceptable. As an interim measure it was decided that the official name of the School should be "Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School)" but the last of the pre-197o boys will be leaving this year and soon it may be thought fit in some circles to propose that the words in brackets be deleted. I hope that the Club will take such action as it can to prevent this and to have the decisions of 1970 reversed, restoring the rightful names of the School and its Rector.

The decisions were made by the Education Committee of Aberdeen Town Council and I recall that at the time the Convener concerned said on a School occasion that the changes were not necessarily final.

Since May 1975 education in Aberdeen has been a function of the Grampian Region and those responsible are now drawn from a much wider area in which there is no dull uniformity as regards the nomenclature of schools and their heads. There are rays of hope on the horizon I ALAN C. R. WATT* (192.5-37)

Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee For the F.P. Club 1975-76 has been a most satisfactory year, but also a year of change. The changes have involved personnel, constitution and finance. Satisfaction has come from the continued strong recruitment from School, the growth in popularity of the Club Centre, the success of the social functions, and the solid achievements of the sports sections.

6

Aberdeen Grammar School Alagatine The most important change in personnel is the retirement of Brian Crookshanks from the position of Secretary and Treasurer. Brian has been one of the most staunch supporters of the Club over a period of more than twenty years. He has served as Notes Editor of the Magaine, Entertainments Secretary and most recently as Secretary and Treasurer for a period of it years. He also acted as Secretary and Treasurer of the Club Centre for the firsts years of its existence. The list of offices is sufficient without any words of mine to show the great service he has rendered over the years. A presentation will be made to Brian at the Annual Dinner in October. The magnitude of the service rendered by Brian can be judged from the fact that it has been impossible to find a single successor to the dual office but I am pleased to report that Mr. J. F. Hendry, who has been a very successful Entertainments Secretary, has taken over as Secretary and Mr. C. C. Allan, the indefatigable Secretary of the Golf Section, has taken over the position of Treasurer.

The Executive wishes these gentlemen well in their appointments.

With reluctance, the Club has followed many other institutions in increasing the rates of subscription. The annual rate is now £a and life membership costs £zs. Before these increases took effect, a determined effort was made to increase the number of life members and as a result nearly 400 additional members have paid life subscriptions. This will not only ensure a sound capital basis for the finances of the Club but will also reduce the administrative costs.

The activities of the Club and Club Centre are reported at greater length elsewhere, but the Cricket Section must be congratulated on a very creditable third place in the Strathmore Union, the Hockey Section on achieving a place in the new Scottish Premier Division of only eight teams, and the Rugby Section on an improved position in the third division. Reference must also be made to the Golf Section's continued unbeaten run against Gordonians I One could only wish that more former players could see their way to supporting today's teams, just occasionally. One hears plenty criticism from former players but perhaps a little bit of encouragement might do more good!

The progress of the Club Centre is well known. The new bar has proved a success beyond all expectation, and its popularity is such that the Committee must shortly be faced with the prospect of considering further improvements. The Centre Chairman, Eric Craig, deserves special mention for his work and enthusiasm. It was only by his continued efforts that the new bar was opened on schedule and for this the Club owes him a great debt of gratitude. Again I would ask older members (by which I mean those of my generation) to consider joining the Centre.

In conclusion, I would mention again that the Club is very keen to foster new activities or sections and I am glad to report that the organisation of a photography section is being considered. Anyone interested in forming a section is invited to contact the Secretary.

N. I. W. MELDRUM* (1925-37)

The University Since the War The following was contributed by W J. A. Nelson, whose retiral as University Finance Officer after twenty-seven years service to the University of Aberdeen was recorded in the last issue of the Mageqine.

It has been suggested that members of both the Club and the School might be interested in hearing something of changes and developments at the University of Aberdeen since the War. That starting date is relevant since it is, however broadly and inaccurately, a watershed between many old concepts and many new. It is also, in another sense, irrevelant since so little of the basic nature of the University has changed from its foundation in 1495 up to today. With that reservation it may serve.

Size as such is perhaps the least important and the least interesting of the changes. A balloon partly blown up remains the same balloon when it is fully blown up, even though it may then be a little less easy to handle. So of size it will just be said that students are now three or four times the number at the War end thirty years ago and that staff and buildings have increased more or less in proportion. The only statistics that need be given are that the students of say, 1,500 arc now about 5,5o0 and the staff of all categories then of, say, 8oo are now about 2,700. If the staff seem to be high for that number of students, it needs to be remembered that teaching students is only one of the two major activities of a university, the other being research, which takes up perhaps half of the total academic effort. Again, only about 700 are graduate teachers, the rest being scientific and medical researchers, technicians, office workers and maintenance staff or are engaged in domestic, catering and grounds upkeep duties. It is in those nongraduate staffs that the main developments have taken place, as will be touched on later.

When considering changes that have taken place in the University, it is best to identify first the most fundamental. This is undoubtedly the change in the view held in the country, the Government and educational circles on who should go to a university. While it is certainly true that the University of Aberdeen has always been the most locally based in the whole country in its recruitment of students (with the possible exception of Glasgow), nevertheless it has fully shared during recent years in the broadening of entry of students from every walk of life and place of home. It would be pleasant to think that the rest of the country has adopted Aberdeen's centuries old tradition that anyone of ability and able to support himself should find the doors of a university open to him. But it has not been quite like that, for while the ability is still a requisite it is no longer necessary that a university entrant should be able to support himself. This has been a consequence of the Government's decision that all those with the necessary school examination qualifications should be able to find a place at a university if they so wished. Before the entrance doors could be opened that much 7

8

Aberdeen Grammar Stbool Mageqine

wider it became necessary to provide the living costs from public funds.

Thus grew up over the post-War years the present system of Government grants to students. This has by no means removed all financial burdens and strains on both students and their parents but it has made university attendance possible for any young man or woman with the required school examination passes.

All sorts of results have flowed from this providing of the money.

First, is the open prospect in the minds of all School pupils, for any who have done sufficiently well there know that they can, if they wish, go to Aberdeen University or to any other. Next, the wider opening of the entrance doors has been matched by a spread in the origins of the students. This University is now full of the Auld Enemy, who turn out to be no different from ourselves. There are now also many African, West Indian, Malayan and Scandinavian students. No doubt membership of the Common Market will soon add many other nationalities.

Correspondingly, many more of our own students now go abroad to make contacts with universities there and with their students. Yet again, the wider opening of the entrance doors has, in a kind of reverse movement, spilled back into the out-of-doors both academically and in leisure time. Many more students nowadays study the field subjects— the rocks, trees, plants, crops and wild life. Many more in their leisure climb, walk the hills, canoe, row and sail on rivers and lochs. Yet more, have increased opportunities to play squash, run, swim, box or be thrown around at judo. It isn't a bad life.

For the students it is not all work and play. These recent years have seen also a striking increase in the stature of their various representative bodies, such as the Students' Representative Council, the Union Management Committee and the Athletic Association, all of which now play a full and constructive part in central university business. Membership gives ample scope for organisation and debate to students interested in the conduct of business.

Another change has been the spread of informality. This shows most, of course, in appearance, in dress, hair and manners. Yet, as it is just a reflection of the present-day idiom, it has no particular relevance to the University as such. In its academic aspect it has its good side in helping to lower barriers between the teachers and the taught. No longer is the lecturer formally ushered in to the lecture hall while all the class stand up. An eminent Professor had been under the impression that he counted for at least something around his Department until one day as he passed down the corridor he overheard one student say to another "Who's that old man ?". Yet the more informal tide has not all set one way. Occasionally the Establishment has gone over to the counter-attack, as when a certain Professor concentrated the wandering attention of his class by firing a pistol—blanks, of course, or so it was claimed. Again, a breath of fresh air was sometimes introduced into dull business by a former Director of Physical Education who used to place his hands on the desk edge, go up into a long-arm hand-stand and come down only when his discussion ended.

Yet, despite what may be the current idiom of appearance and manner, there is one thing that has not changed—the recognition of

The University Since the War 9 a few years ago in Marischal fights Rectorial one authority.

At natural quad, both sides had armed themselves with long banana stems, weapons as lethal as hockey sticks. They were already flailing away at each other and clearly there would soon be injuries. Out into the chaos and uproar marched the then Sacrist.t "Now then, lads, now then".

In no time at all every stem had been handed over to him.

A word should be said here on what has not changed about our students, despite the externals. They are as they always were. We have always been lucky in our students who continue to be constructive, reasonable and good-humoured.

Not entirely unlinked to those more free and informal attitudes is the diffusion that has taken place in the membership of important business and academic committees, in general consultation and in financial responsibility. That type of diffusion will probably increase and, in so far as constructive control continues to be exercised at the centre as it has been in the past, this will be thoroughly beneficial. It shows itself in greater student participation in decisions which closely affect them, in more "democratic" sharing of responsibility between a professor and the members of his departmental staff and in the new scheme for rotation every few years in the headship of academic departments.

All these things are intended to increase co-operation and participation. To achieve that end requires skill, foresight and, above all, goodwill. At Aberdeen we like to think that, although at some places further South these results have been only partially achieved, here we have had good success and have struck the right balance. Major assets in doing so have been the deep roots in the centuries allied to a certain North-East long-headedness. After all, if you have been around since the late Middle Ages it is more easy to adapt and grow with changes than it is for a university that started only in, say, 196o.

Members of the Club who studied here even twenty years ago would find big changes in the pattern and variety of courses open to them. The basic first degrees remain the M.A., B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., LL.B. and B.D. for the five faculties of Arts, Science, Medicine, Law and Divinity but within that framework there have been many new combinations of courses with perhaps the greatest growth in the Social Sciences. That last development has been given recognition in the new name of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Yet it is in the higher degrees, such as the Ph.D., and in the research on which they are based that even greater widening has taken place. This is in part a reflection of the very welcome growth of co-operation between the University on the one hand and industry and major Government departments on the other.

Expansion of research can be expected on oil, mainly perhaps in the geological and medical fields.

Certainly it has been the years since the War that have seen the change in the face of Old Aberdeen, with the building up of almost the whole *A long-established adjunct to the election every three years of a new Rector by the students, designed to work off more or less harmlessly the energies of the supporters of the rival candidates. t The equivalent of that key man, the school "Jany".

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

of the market garden area that lay behind the west side of the High Street and the building on the northerly of the two playing fields at Kings. Many will regret the disappearance of the open ground but the results in every other respect have been most happy. Great skill and feeling have gone into the planning of the building operation as a whole and into the individual structures. The High Street has been left both unchanged and unoverlooked. Indeed, most excellent restorations, completely in keeping, have been made to many of the older High Street and College Bounds houses, so that they stand completely unspoiled and indeed enhanced. The taller modern buildings have been set well back and the whole is in harmony. At the same time, the longstanding policy of letting the many Old Aberdeen houses owned by the University both to the general public and to staff of all categories has been fully maintained. The developments in Old Aberdeen have undoubtedly been one of the successes of those years.

The difficult balance between concentration and dispersal has been achieved and the growing University has been fitted in to the body of the City in a way that might well make other universities envious, being neither spread too widely for convenience and entity, as some might feel of Edinburgh, nor over-concentrated as some non-University residents of the town might feel of St. Andrews. The location of the main area at Old Aberdeen, part of the City yet clearly identifiable, with its two "wingers" at Marischal College for parts of Science and Medicine and at Foresterhill for the chief medical activity, all both integrate and distinguish. As part of the Old Aberdeen drawing together, the whole of the University Office has recently moved there from Marischal.

There has been physical expansion outside the City as well. Farms have been acquired and used for the teaching of agriculture in close cooperation with the North of Scotland College of Agriculture. So have woodlands been acquired to assist in the teaching of forestry. Field centres based on old country houses have been opened for the whole group of out-of-doors subjects, of which botany and zoology are among the largest. Outside the City boundaries also has been acquired compensation for the loss of the King's playing field plus ample sports expansion space by the purchase and conversion of Balgownie farm beyond the Don. The whole of the physical development of this University has carefully and consciously avoided the flaws and pitfalls of the campus system, that is to say of an isolated and self-contained enclave existing all on its own. It is no coincidence that the greatest student troubles in recent years have by and large occurred at campus universities situated in the beautiful and outwardly ideal sylvan surroundings of some former Stately Home, that fatal three miles from the nearest town, so that in their leisure hours the students have had little to do save develop mental ingrowing toenails.

Yet another aspect of the expansion at Old Aberdeen has been the implanting of a way of life for students which had never existed at Aberdeen before. Traditionally, over many centuries our students have lived either at home or in lodgings. The growth in student numbers

The University Since the War over the last twenty years in particular has, however, been substantially from parts of the country other than the North-east and the North. As the pool of lodgings has always been well taken up, this new factor has required the setting up of Halls of Residence for the considerable overflow of numbers. The first Hall was opened by the Queen in 196o.

Since then three larger Halls have been opened in Old Aberdeen and on the high ground overlooking the Don at Seaton. In addition, at the last-named, a very considerable number of student flatlets have been built.

This body of student growth has also to eat. So a parallel new catering development has grown up, partly in the Halls and partly in separate Refectories. Several thousand meals are served each day, resulting in one of the largest catering activities in this part of Scotland.

This in its turn has put the University into a type of commercial business hitherto unknown to it, with many new costing and management problems.

This new living-cum-catering activity is a useful lead-in to staff changes over those same years. While the academic pattern has remained very much the same, i.e. professors, readers, lecturers and various categories of research staff with just substantial increases in their numbers, the supporting staffs have been transformed almost out of recognition. This transformation has been in numbers, types, control, recruitment and pay. The growth in both volume and variety of research, allied to scientific advances, has raised the post of laboratory technician to a high level of skill, knowledge and salary that place this considerable body of staff on a near-professional status. Those same growths plus the accretions to teaching subjects have led also to not dissimilar advancements in the standing of departmental secretarial staff. The expansions of academic buildings, residential accommodation, catering and sports grounds have increased several bodies of staff, with growing complications in employment conditions and pay structures. All this has led to a fundamental change in "industrial relations". Up to as recently as four or five years ago trade union recognition, membership and negotiations had been limited and fragmented. Now pay and conditions of service for non-graduate staffs are dealt with centrally for all British universities and agreements are made with trade unions on a national basis with reasonable scope for local negotiation. Trade union membership is consequently greatly increased.

On the University's money, little need be said since useful comparisons can hardly be made between present resources and those of thirty years ago. There are now many times more of the £ sign for both income and expenditure but that sign is about the only thing in common in both periods. The money units do not buy the same things, as we know in our personal finances. The University would like to have more money, as would we all, yet it can fairly be said that it is as soundly financed as any other university in the country.

These are a few of the changes that have taken place. Yet changes do not belong only to the past. The future will certainly bring others.

Possibilities may include a further expansion in size if national policy

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Aberdeen Grammar School Maga#ne

so indicates. Some greater integration of all universities into the general educational system may also lie ahead, with increased centralised control. Despite some fears on this last possibility, it is likely that academic freedom, i.e. the right to teach and research according to a university's unfettered judgment, would in those circumstances still continue unimpaired.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. The general picture of the University of Aberdeen is as always of a lively, forwardlooking place keeping well abreast of developments in the academic world, soundly organised and with good personal relations both internal and external. Present and future pupils of the School can safely continue to look no further afield.

The Scottish National Dictionary The reference shelves of the School library now hold the ten volumes of the completed Scottish National Dictionary. A year or so ago there were but nine, and before that, at unequal intervals of time, the tally was eight, seven, six volumes ...; we in this school have been fortunate above others in that we've been able to observe—if we had eyes to see and an imagination to comprehend—the gradual accretion of a lexicographical masterpiece. Now in 1976 the task has been accomplished, and the work stands in massive nobility alongside the great New English Dictionary; smaller of course than its great neighbour and easier to handle, but on a comparable level of scholarly completeness. Indeed in dealing with many words the Scottish dictionary provides a range of reference and examples of usage, including quotations from books, newspapers, documents and common speech, which is far more extensive than that given to equivalent words in the New English Dictionary. But this is no place for detailed comparisons, either to claim superiority or to imply deficiency one way or another. It is enough to say that the S.N.D. is acclaimed by men of letters, scholars and historians as a triumph of dictionary-making; a work of reference that will be authoritative about Scots usage—with its infinity of nuance and territorial variation—over the last three hundred years almost; and a measure of and tribute to the continuing vitality of the Scots language today.

Every grammar school, high school and academy in Scotland should possess the Dictionary and direct the attention of its students to the rich, varied lore that is so easily and amusingly to be discovered in its pages. And all public libraries in Scotland, we hope, will soon give house-room to it, and in doing so, help to make amends for the gross lack of interest displayed by so many corporate bodies of this land of ours in the work during its long period of gestation. The volumes will not, of course, merely by being exposed in a library, enable pupil and teacher (by some blessed process of osmosis) to speak, write, or think in authentic Scots, whether old or new. They will not automatically and immediately give a full sense of the many beautiful idiosyncrasies of sound and meaning in so many Scots words and phrases. In such

13 The Scottish National Dictionary matters there is no instant salvation. But once induced to look into them the reader will find in most accessible form a quantity and range of lore, present and past, poetic and prosaic, academic and demotic, historical and geographical, sociological, ecclesiastical or scatological that should—unless he's a very dull dog—revive his memories, and vitalise his imagination, as well as satisfy the immediate curiosity that sent him to the books. For example the very varied forms that so many Scots words take (no Scottish peculiarity, of course) are recorded with (as it appears to me) an extraordinary fullness and fidelity, as arc their provenance and their nuances of meaning, the dates of their first known appearance in Scottish writing of whatever sort, and the modifications and additions of meanings that so often help to chart the movements and events in the stream of Scottish history. And, though we all are aware that much has disappeared and is disappearing from the body of living Scottish speech, he may also discover, to his surprise and maybe to his comfort, that the language still astonishingly persists. It has a past history, but it also has a living persisting presence; and the dictionary is not a tombstone over an embalmed corpse but a testimony to the refusal of the language to die. Like the Scotch thistle perhaps, trampled, cut back and blasted by cattle, scythe and weather, but continuing every year to send up its spikes and its white flower edged with crimson.

There is another splendid reason why our library should celebrate the Dictionary. The editor over the last thirty years, the man who has i is a former pupil of brought it to its completion, Mr. David Munson, the School. Those who are curious in the matter of names and dates— and even those who are just curious—will see from the list of School duxes inscribed in gilded letters outside the Headmaster's room, that David Murison was Classical Dux of the Grammar School in 1929. In the years between then and now he has been continuously engaged in the study, the teaching, the documentation and the well-practised use of languages, in Latin, in Greek, in English, in others that I wot not of, and last, but always not least, in Scots. But words to him (as they must be to any wise man) are essentially but names and symbols, the Shorthand of experience, an encapsulation of the knowledge of created things, events and people that add up to a culture. They may and often do have a kind of music in themselves; they can be commended for their beauty or their starkness, or commented on as being akin to this or descended from that linguistic form. But their great function is to help to make man and all his works and ways known to himself and to others. They have done this at all levels in the past, as this dictionary will help to testify, and if we care for them they may, creatively used in speech and writing, help to save us in the future from our own selfdestroying tendencies.

It follows that Mr. Murison has never been merely the desk-bound scholar concerned only with the words on the page. He has over the years publicly given evidence of his regard for literature in reviews, articles, lectures and talks, and revealed always his deep and accurate knowledge of its texts and a sensitive, historical understanding of its abiding values. The selection that he made of Hcnryson's poems,

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published for the Saltire Society in 1952, is an early example that comes to mind. Mr. Murison's introduction and the explanatory notes carried at the bottom of each page of text, already show the virtues that conspicuously mark the dictionary entries and comments— meticulous accuracy in detail without pedantic swathings, orderly presentation of material, a dry, balancing wit, and a love for the poetry, deeply felt but restrained in expression. The little book also sits on the library shelves, waiting to be read.

But to return to the Dictionary. It is perhaps best to allow Mr. Murison's peers to indicate the nature and quality of the work. In the first number of the new magazine The Scottish Review Mr. A. J. Aitken, the editor of the other great Scottish dictionary (not yet complete), The Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue writes of the S.N.D., "Its unusually speedy completion (as, by comparison with most words of its kind, this was) and its superb quality as a piece of lexicography, is due to the extraordinary assiduity, immense erudition and splendid common-sense of Murison." And Mr. Robert Burchfield, Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionaries in an article of appreciation in the same magazine has this to say, "To mark its completion the Scottish flag should be run up in Edinburgh in honour of David Munson and his colleagues and in memory of William Grant its first editor." Well, you can't speak much fairer than that. These are not the words of parish-pump panegyrists.

Perhaps one should rest there. But I cannot forbear from mentioning one other thing which has influenced David Murison all his days and helped to give direction and drive to his Scottish interests. He has always been proud of his school, and jealous of its good name, grateful for its long unfussy witness to humane values and always grateful for what it did for him. Nevertheless Aberdeen Grammar School was not his first school. It was in Fraserburgh that he was born and first schooled. There he is still very much remembered for his quick precocity and marvellous memory, and honoured also for his regard for the old ways and the old lore. He too has a warm place for Fraserburgh in his heart. And so it must have occurred to him with delight that he could, with the best conscience, give the last word to his birthplace. The last word that is glossed in the Dictionary is "Zulu", thus: "Sc. usage, the name given to a type of fishing-boat common esp. in the Moray and Clyde Firths, from c. 188o-1905 with fore- and mizzen-masts, straight prow and markedly raked stern, some models being later fitted with motor engines." There follows a number of quotations culled from various sources making descriptive and historical points about the word, and the concluding note reads: Abdn 1969. "Fraserburgh Herald" (-7 Nov.) z: "Skippering the `Winsome', a zulu, and the `Emblem' a fyffie."

I find it a comforting reflection that David Murison could so aptly and so truly conclude the great work with a quotation that says quietly but clearly, "In my beginning was my end."

A.T.

Random Thoughts and Reminiscences on Education The following was contributed by an F.P. journalist. It is hoped that, in future issues, it will be possible to include further articles by F.P. journalists, particular!), on their own specialties.

I first saw the Grammar School when I was about four. It was pointed out to me from somewhere round about the west end of Osborne Place. I didn't like what I saw: a grey collection of towers and turrets. It looked bleak, ominous : a prison. I needn't have worried.

It was not a prison I went to, but a curiously old-fashioned and indulgent establishment, where the teachers were splendid eccentrics.

They all had their foibles and their obsessions, these teachers; and they indulged them unashamedly. A certain lady, I recall, was obsessed with geography, and the geography of Scotland in particular. The geography of Scotland took precedence over all other subjects, including arithmetic. As it happened, I rather liked geography and detested arithmetic, so the dispensation suited me well. Until, that is, it was time for the projects to be produced. These projects were designed as the climax of a term's saturation with the geography of Scotland. At the end of the term, we were each issued with a blank map of Scotland which was to be pasted on to a sheet of cardboard.

We were then, during the holidays, to stick on to these maps as many ingenious tokens as we could find, representing the multifarious aspects of Scotland's geographic infrastructure.

My best friend and I got down to the task the evening the holidays ended. My precocious interest in the geography of Scotland seemed, at that sad time, to have dissipated somewhat. Still, we did our best.

I stuck a sugar lump over Greenock (how I stuck it on I cannot recall, but it was crushed on the way to school the next morning). I stuck a paper clip (representing steel) over Motherwell and an old patch of tweed over Skye (which I mistook for Harris). My masterstroke, or so I thought, was to stick a golliwog over Dundee. There was a certain symmetry about these four items, if nothing else. My friend did not, as I did, make the mistake of ignoring Aberdeen. He stuck between the Don and the Dee a minute chip of granite, and, over the vicinity of the harbour, a small scrap of fish (a part of the supper disdained by our cat).

I thought my effort the more erudite, but my friend's had the undoubted advantages of, first, local patriotism, and secondly, of appealing strongly to more than one of the senses. As it grew dark that evening, we convinced ourselves that we had done not too badly.

Alas, we were to be sadly disabused the next morning.

Some of our peers had evidently utilised their entire holidays and conscripted the various talents of their entire families in constructing their various tableaux. One particularly resplendent offering produced by a child who was rumoured to have a relative connected with a kilt shop had neat little squares of about thirty different tartans pasted over the territories of the great clans.

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The teacher was particularly annoyed with me; my friend, after all, had not evinced any great interest in geography.

But I had deviously simulated just such an interest. I was exposed as a fraud, a charlatan. I lost interest in the geography of Scotland; 1 decided I would never be an academic star. But I still did not have to do sums, and for that I was truly grateful.

From the point of view of my education there was one golden thread running through these years. We may have had too much nature study, too little history, and so on: but the curriculum was never, in my view, seriously imbalanced simply because we always had plenty of English, and English taught by good old-fashioned methods. Winston Churchill wrote of his schooling at Harrow: "I got into my bones the essential structure of the ordinary British sentence—which is a noble thing.... I am biased in favour of boys learning English. I would make them all learn English; and then I would let the clever ones learn Latin as an honour, and Greek as a treat. But the only thing I would whip them for is not knowing English."

Nowadays children are denied many things in the name of progress.

The one thing which it is cruel to deny them is the opportunity to gain a basic competence in their language, rich, flexible and noble as it is.

I am not a niggling grammarian, nor am I a pedant; but I can appreciate my language and use it, and for that I am deeply, deeply grateful to all those eccentric teachers who taught me in primary school. Even more grateful than I am towards them for not burdening me with over many sums. They may have been eccentrics, but there was not a Pumblechook or a Gradgrind among them.

Well, the time came to move on to the middle school. Here my innocence was increasingly sullied and I became a dissident. Being a meek middle class lad I contented myself with being a comedian in class (this would no doubt now be designated as disruption) and, outside class, attempting to ditch a teacher I particularly disliked off his bicycle in Whitehall Road. I disliked the subjects I was now being taught, subjects such as algebra and French. I took many extreme dislikes in those years of early adolescence. From the giddy peaks of early middle age, I can safely look back and say the fault was mine. Nevertheless, these dislikes were very real.

I started to develop elaborate methods of skiving (being a meek middle class lad I could never actually play truant). I was content, instead, to cut classes in half.

This was particularly easy after technical classes. If one was messy at woodwork it took a good five minutes into the next lesson to tidy up, another five minutes to answer a call of nature, and another ten to make one's way briskly through the corridors to the next class (only to discover, perhaps, that the ink exercise book had been inadvertently left in the technical department).

And there were still eccentric teachers. A certain history master who has, I believe, since left the country (after being described in the P & J as "the poor man's Bogart") would divagate happily on the subject of James Joyce. I became something of an expert on Ulysses for various

Random Thoughts and Reminiscences on Education

17

disreputable reasons, one of which was to ask him—just before a lesson started—exactly what he thought Joyce was getting at in such and such a chapter.

Homework, of which there was really very little, became an increasingly irksome incubus. Once I became involved in a mini-revolt over this. Several of us complained that the imposition was out of all proportion. The English teacher, a democrat, asked us all to write down how much time we had spent on our homework the night before.

Anonymity was to be respected.

I multiplied by about four and wrote down 3 hours. This turned out to be excessively modest. Someone had written down 5 hours So minutes.

This was too much for the teacher. The secret ballot was forgotten and he demanded to know who was responsible. Eventually the culprit stood up. The teacher was now very angry but he could not cope with the most sustained passage of spontaneous invention it has ever been my privilege to witness.

Under interrogation, it transpired that everything had gone smoothly until the pupil had come to—naturally—his English homework. This involved an interpretation passage; a passage in which there were some very long and obscure words. The only dictionary in the pupil's house was a pocket one, and it ignored the recondite words in question.

Seeking a larger dictionary, he phoned the public library, but it seemed that it would be shut before he could get to it and the clerkess was not disposed to consult a dictionary for him. And so the pupil—a dedicated scholar of resource and determination—had taken a bus to his grandfather's.

His grandfather, who lived on the other side of town, possessed a very grand two-volume dictionary.

Unfortunately, however, his grandfather did not maintain a tidy household and it took a long time to find both volumes. By this time the pupil had forgotten the words that had caused all the trouble. The grandfather did not want his dictionaries, which were prized possessions, to leave his house, so the pupil had to return home, collect his homework, and return to his grandfather's. The actual time all this took, the pupil announced in answer to the final question from his interrogator, was 5 hours 55 minutes. He had miscalculated by 5 minutes. He apologised.

Homework continued to be issued in the same quantities. But at least we had had, in effect, a free period, and a gloriously entertaining one at that.

Then the time came for me to move on, to a boarding school in Edinburgh. This building also possessed many turrets and towers; it looms high over the gently undulating townscapc of north Edinburgh, and the general effect is of some grandiose galleon sailing on a nondescript sea. In reality, however, it was more of a prison than the Grammar ever was. But I was happy there, and learned a new discipline and new loyalties. Possibly I left the Grammar at just the right time. It was an essentially liberal institution, in the best sense of the word liberal; but I was looking for something to rebel against; and I found

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things to rebel against, in abundance, in Edinburgh. The rebellion was duly crushed and I embarked at last on a modestly successful school career.

Now, by way of business, I visit many educational establishments, most of them very different from either of the two schools I attended.

I am involved in many of the educational debates of our times, which is perhaps why I have ignored the Editor's request to draw some profound educational conclusions from my reminiscences. Instead I have presented a catalogue of frivolity and eschewed any measured analysis of my educational experience. Perhaps, however, that is how it should be. Perhaps we expect too much of our education, and invest it with overmuch significance. Educationists these days are burdened with many tasks, most of which should probably be attended to by parents, in the home. Schools are not agencies for social engineering, or the inculcation of discipline and moral truths. Schools should rather be essentially liberal, indulgent places, tolerant of eccentricity and treating individuals as individuals.

As I recall the Grammar, it came reasonably close to that ideal.

Some Memorable Occasions at Rubislaw Field As might be expected, Rubislaw Field, large and quite conveniently reached by either public or private transport from most parts of the city, has been the choice of sporting bodies for major events over the years. Probably only the lack of covered accommodation worthy of the School and F.P. Club has prevented its more regular use for the staging of important matches.

Hockey is the only sport in which international matches have been played at the Field, two having taken place and each so successful that a third may well be imminent. The first was on 5 April 1952 when Scotland had a splendid win by 4-2 over Wales. Eric Watt, generally regarded as the finest of many grand players produced by the School, was reported in the Press as having had an excellent game, outshining his fellow back H. G. McIntosh of Southgate. On 16 April 1966 Scotland fared less well, losing by 3—o to England. Watt, then with 52 caps, again played well, as did another F.P., Dennis Hay, who appeared at right half. There have, of course, been numerous other major hockey occasions at Rubislaw, one such being a match in the early fifties between a North of Tay Select and a Scottish XI in which Sandy Innes and Watt took part. It is not surprising that, since F.P.s have had other internationalists in James Whyte, Neil Buxton, Ken Hay and Fred Lawson, almost all Scotland's leading clubs suffered defeats at the ground during the sixties.

At rugby football, although as far back as fifty years ago such clubs as Edinburgh Academicals, Hillhead High School F.P.s, Glasgow University, and Stewart's F.P.s were sending sides occasionally to play at Rubislaw, it was not until after World War II that, through the efforts of Neil Meldrum, top-class sides began to make regular appearances at the ground. Undoubtedly this was due largely to the

Some Memorable Occasions at Rubislaw Field

19

unprecedented success of the splendid F.P. team of season 1947-48 captained by internationalist Dr. Donny Innes and consisting almost entirely of players who had been introduced to the game by that wonderful coach, Duncan Macgregor. At representative level highlights have been the two North versus South of Scotland Trials of 1946 and 1949. In the first of these the North, with Dr. Innes, "Dycie" Paterson, Doug. Smith and "Dally" Allardice all playing their parts well in the back division, won by it points to 3, the two last-named being try scorers. South turned the tables on 12 November 1949, winning in vile weather conditions through a couple of tries by Oliver Turnbull of Kelso, an outside half who had a remarkable record as a scorer against North sides. Alistair Tawse, a grand forward, was the only F.P. in the beaten team who were by no means disgraced in going under to opposition which included "Dod" Burrell, Stewart Coltman, Charlie Drummond and Jim Lees, all of them either then or subsequently internationalists. Herbert Waddell, who had played fifteen times for Scotland in the twenties, refereed this 1949 game.

On to September 1966, to commemorate fifty years of rugby at the ground, an F.P. side including Doug. Fowlie and Graeme Fraser (afterwards London Scottish regulars) and those staunchest of clubmen, Charlie Ritchie and Phil Love, had as opponents a powerful Select who beat them after a great struggle by 38 points to 14. It was a memorable game which provided excellent entertainment to an appreciative crowd. In the Select side that day were Colin Blaikie, Peter Brown, John Frame, Graham Keddie, Ian McCrae, Brian Neil, Ian Robertson, Nairn MacEwan and Ken Scotland, an array of international talent which may never again be seen in the North.

Outstanding among the hundreds of enjoyable games of cricket played over the years on the ground, whether by pupils or former pupils, was the Tyson Testimonial Match of 24 August 1958. So popular had Eric Tyson become since his appointment as groundsman some fourteen years before that, by special dispensation, a Sunday had been set aside for his testimonial, as only then could certain outstanding cricketers from the Midlands and the Cities come north to do honour to the veteran Yorkshireman. And prominent exponents of the game there were, including Rohan Kanhai, afterwards captain of the West Indies, Ron Chisholm 8o times capped for Scotland, George Youngson with 25 "caps", Jim Henderson of Forfarshire with 18, and that fine all rounder Tom McCrea of Greenock, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire who along with Tyson had played such a big part in helping F.P.s to win the Strathmore Union League Championship in 1948. A sizeable crowd, with Rector J. J. Robertson showing a keen interest saw some very fine play despite the adverse weather. The wonderful six hit by Kanhai, who sent the ball into the tennis court, was probably the incident best remembered.

Many will recall the annual hard fought, often protracted tussles in the inter-War years between the School and Gordon's College first elevens. Sometimes of five and a half hours duration, these games were very different from those of the sixties and early seventies many of which lasted for less than three hours. And, alas, what of today? The

zo

Aberdeen Grammar School Maga#ne departure of many senior pupils as soon as S.C.E. Examinations are over in mid-May has virtually finished cricket between School and College at first team level, both being apparently hard put to it to field first elevens without calling upon immature, inexperienced youngsters.

At tennis, on 13 May 19S3, the appearance at Rubislaw of Jaroslav Drobny, a Wimbledon champion, and members of the International Tennis Club brought out a capacity crowd, which was entranced by the sparkling play of the man then regarded by competent judges as the world's number one amateur. Therc were two exhibition matches and two challenge matches, the latter between the International Club and Scotland represented by Victor Garland and J. B. Wilson. In charge of the arrangements was J. P. Hughes who had represented Britain in Davis Cup men's doubles. Also in action that day were A. J. N. Starte, a Cambridge Blue, and Miss Heather Thatcher, a Bermudan.

In the realm of athletics too there have been great days, the like of which, sad to say, may never come again owing to changed circumstances. The Annual School Sports will be recalled with nostalgia by all who ever had the privilege of watching them. A feature, of course, was the March Past, which, led by the four House Captains, formed an inspiring spectacle as the sun shone on the immaculate white-clad competitors with their bright-coloured house ribbons and on the Rector taking the salute in front of the Memorial Pavilion.

As a display of athletics the sports probably reached their high-water mark in June 1934 to the delight of their organiser, Duncan Macgregor, the School's Gamesmaster since 1918. Records which had stood for over twenty years were broken, some of them so decisively as to merit that over-worked term "smashed". All the previous records in the Open Class events had been regarded as almost too good to be true yet they were made to look ordinary. In the quarter mile Hamish Meldrum, the 1934 Champion and a schoolboy athlete of the type which comes but once in a generation returned a time of 52.6 seconds.

Harry Jamieson's 5 feet 6 inches in the High Jump, Zillie Black's 36 feet 11 inches in the Shot Putt, and Tom Nicol's 161 seconds for the 120 yards hurdles all provided talking points as did Meldrum's to.z seconds for the too yards albeit assisted by a following wind.

But no account of red letter days at Rubislaw would be complete without mention of the wonderful display of Danish Gymnastics put on by Messrs. Bill Lawrie and Duncan Macgregor on z June 1936.

The Press and Journal described it thus: "Rubislaw Field presented an unprecedented appearance. At the west end were pitched no fewer than tents of widely differing shapes and sizes while in the central arena boo boys gave an exhibition of physical exercises watched by a large crowd of relatives and friends. This was `Men in the Making', the School's contribution to Lord Provost Watt's New Infirmary Appeal Fund." As a result a cheque for a substantial amount was handed by the Head Prefect to the Provost on Prize Giving Day. Incidentally, even in those supposedly law abiding days there must have been fear of vandalism for in a contemporary Magazine one reads that the night

Reflections on Eleven Years prior to the display a dozen senior pupils kept watch over the encampment, keeping guard in pairs for an hour at a time until 7 a.m.

One wonders what parents must have thought of this ploy, but probably nothing would have surprised them, for it was about this period that the enthusiasm for rugger was sufficient to enable "Duncan Mac" to have members of his first and second fifteens turning out for training sessions before breakfast! How's that for dedication?

A. J. M. EDWARDS* (1908-21)

Reflections on Eleven Years May 1965 seems in many ways so much more than just eleven years ago. Sir Harold Wilson had been Prime Minister for just six months and the pound was not yet devalued; John Vass Skinner was Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School with no thought of retiral or that he was the last holder of that honoured title; the Denburn and Chapel Street multi-storeys had not been built but the Grammar School extensions were completed (including the long awaited swimming pool); rampant inflation had not hit the western world and the price of petrol was unbelievably modest; the F.P. Club was 72 years old, publishing a Magazine twice yearly and functioning as it had for three generations; the "Battle of the Primaries" had been fought and lost a year or two before and the old Lower School was under sentence of death; there was talk, but no more than talk, of schemes of comprehensive education but no word of allowing the female of the species to be educated at the Grammar; there was no suggestion of a change of name save in the more extreme views of a left-wing councillor, who must be rather tired by now since he vowed then not to rest till the Grammar had become Esslemont Avenue Comprehensive School.

It was into this fairly ordered situation that, very unexpectedly, I found myself only the fifth person since 1897 to hold office as Secretary and Treasurer of the Former Pupils' Club (and my two immediate predecessors between them accounted for forty-six of these years). Harold Macmillan's wind of change had given way to Harold Wilson's dynamic pragmatism, but there must have been some wind left, for so much has changed in the last eleven years.

Many of these changes have not been to the liking of all Former Pupils (and others besides) but while change is not of necessity progress, it is wrong to condemn change just because, in our case, it has resulted in "the School not being the place I knew". The change in name seems to have been politically rather than educationally motivated, and so for that matter does the "demotion" of the Rector to Headmaster when all other academies in Scotland have rectors.

The other changes, radical as they have been, are outwith our power to alter and must be accepted. To have been Secretary of the F.P. Club in a period of such upheaval has been more than a privilege— it has been a challenge, and one which I am happy to have been able

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine to meet; I cannot look back over these last few years without realising that the driving force behind my efforts for School and Club (and the two cannot be separated) has been pride in the old School, gratitude for what it did for me, loyalty to its traditions and standards, and that to be associated actively with School and Club is an immensely satisfying experience.

Contacts with the School have always been a source of pleasure, whether interviewing candidates for the All-Round Trophy, urging School leavers to join the Club, assessing grants from the Amenities Fund, or attending concerts, plays and sports. To tread the age-less flagstones of the main corridor again was joy indeed, but to sit in Committee round the table in the Rector's room and actually smoke a cigarette there (before I signed the pledge) somehow satisfied a long-felt wish.

The children passing through the School now are as proud of it as previous generations were in their day. On all sides there are reminders of the past-gifts from the Club and its branches are still in regular use and the equipment which has accrued to the School in the last twenty years as a result of the disbursements from the Amenities Fund is a constant reminder to present-day pupils of the benefits which come from loyal and interested Former Pupils. A valuable development in this connection, at the suggestion of the present Chairman of the Executive, is the provision, on all appropriate articles, of a plate showing that the item was provided by a grant from the Amenities Fund.

The F.P. Club was founded in 1893 and we are all conscious of the change in the pace of life between these closing years of last century and the supersonic 7os. It seems to me that the pace of life in the Club has changed just as sharply in the last dozen years. While the School has altered, the Club has changed correspondingly and dramatically. Certainly membership is not much different now from eleven years ago. Annual recruitment is good, and in the last two years or so is improving, but sadly there is an annual wastage from non-renewals of membership (for whatever reason) in addition, naturally, to losses by death. The effect has been to maintain total membership at a relatively constant figure. As everyone now knows, Rubislaw boys and girls can join in their own right, although it will be another year before any girls are likely to apply, and probably as much as three or four years before they join in any appreciable numbers. Some members disapprove of such an extension of our Club, but the alternative was so negative: what earthly point would there be in closing our doors to new members and simply allowing the Club to dwindle away?

The truth is that the Club, which once was a useful enough association serving in various ways what had for long been the supposed needs of its far-flung members, is now more alive and kicking than at any time in its eighty-three years' history. That this is so is occasioned by the existence of the Club Centre. So much has been written and said about the Centre, but I make no apology for referring to it again now. Since 19f9 the Club has occupied a great part of my time 22

23 Reflections on Eleven Years (that was the year I married both my wife and the Club—albeit already wed to the Territorial Army) and since 1969 it has been my dominating interest, for it was in 1969 that the Club embarked on what Royston Milne in his splendidly-worded Appeal Brochure called "a project which completely dwarfs all its previous endeavours". How right he wasl Much was said at the time the first pint was poured and when the ceremonial pint was drawn by George Crombie at the official opening.

My mind goes further back, to an evening in May 1968 when, by chance, I met Gordon Henderson in the Atholl Hotel. Gordon was then Chairman of the Executive, and had a week or two previously represented us at the Heriot Club's Aberdeen dinner. The couple of pints I had with Gordon that night have for me a far greater significance than any poured, drunk or spilled in the Centre since, for over these he enthused about the possibility of the Club acquiring premises in the city in which to establish a permanent base. He had heard much at the Heriot dinner about their premises at Goldenacre and he was fired with the idea that what Heriots had done there we could do even better here. Gordon told me to put the matter on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held the next month, and so the Centre was born. The activity, the meetings, the correspondence, the long-drawn out deliberations and calculations, the sheer hard work and the enthusiasm of so many people, all fired by Gordon's dedication to the idea, were tremendous. Doubters there were in plenty, and at this distance in time I think all of us who were in key positions in these deliberations would admit that we had our moments of awestruck silent contemplation of the difficulties that lay ahead, and not least the frightful disaster, if the worst predictions of our own band of prophets of doom should be fulfilled and the whole enterprise prove a failure. The Centre was, and is, big business. Membership has doubled since its opening and is increasing to the extent that sooner rather than later a "ceiling" may have to be put upon at least Associate membership.

Looking back, how I was mad enough to act in the capacities of Secretary and Treasurer of both the Club and the Club Centre is beyond understanding. It seemed sensible at the time for one person to have control of finance, and so much duplication of administration could be avoided if the same person was Secretary of both. With hindsight (always the best sight of course) one wonders how I kept my sanity, or indeed, if I kept it!

My only regret, on looking back on the hectic days of 1969, is that the Appeal made to F.P.s produced so poor a response. Heavy and expensive borrowing could have been so easily avoided had more members acted more generously. The fund raised just over £3,900; eight donations of £Soo would have brought more. I must confess that I was bitterly disappointed, not least in the fact that this sum came from under 300 of our members, and included a three-figure donation from an honorary member.

Gordon Henderson lived long enough to see his dream realised, and the Centre functioning well, before his untimely death in the

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

early Spring of 1970. How pleased he would be if he could but know how the Centre has developed and flourished in the years that have elapsed.

Although secretarial life has been hectic, especially in the second half of my term of office, it has by no means been without its lighter moments. No matter what care had been taken nor how accurate the end result, it was rare indeed if a certain long-serving Executive member did not challenge some aspect of the minutes of the previous meeting. There was the celebrated occasion when one member, deeply incensed at something the Rubislaw Field Committee had done, first challenged the previous executive minute as inaccurate, blithely ignoring the fact that he had not been at the meeting, and then went on to blame me for swinging the Field Committee's decision, despite being told that I was but the Secretary of the Committee and had no vote in its deliberations. A common complaint from members is that they have had no Magazine since 19— and it can't be owing to their change of address, because they continued to receive it even after they moved (probably thanks to the postman's knowledge or the kindness of the new owners of their former house). I have lost count of the number of times I have explained patiently that, much as one would help, a crystal ball is not included in the Secretary's office equipment. I have also lost count of the number of straying members who have been recovered. I have not attended the annual Ball yet without spotting, often within minutes of my arrival, at least one F.P. whose membership had lapsed. No embarrassment ever resulted and, with only one exception three years ago, arrears of subscription were always recovered a few days after the Ball.

Of the administration of the Centre many a tale could be told, although perhaps most are better kept quiet. The saga of the gents' toilet would make a book on its own. There comes readily to mind the memory of the early days when our own members manned the Sports Bar in the evenings, most with conspicuous success, but a few with difficulty: one finished each night with the floor awash with spilt beer; another broke glasses with such frequency that eventually he had to be dissuaded from helping any more; yet another never ended with his till correct, although in fairness let it be said that he was more often over than short in cash. One helpful committee member, when sixpences were used in one of the "bandits", helped to count and bag the takings one Sunday. I was puzzled by the size and weight of the £5 bags of silver till I discovered that he counted sixpences as twenty to the pound.

I was for almost six years an "alternative call-out" if there was a burglar alarm call. One never-to-be-forgotten night our phone rang at 4.15 a.m.—"City Police—the burglar alarm has gone off at the Club—please come to the Club with your keys". I explained it would save time if they sent a car for me, and after some persuasion this was agreed. I pulled on some clothes, sleepily and not too pleased.

Just as I stepped out of the bedroom the phone rang again—"City Police—we've wakened the Steward now and won't need you". My rejoinder is perhaps best left to the imagination.

Sounds

25

The reader will gather that being Secretary and Treasurer is not a bed of roses nor is it just a matter of keeping books of accounts, and writing minutes and letters. It is very nearly a full-time job when one considers all aspects, and calls for unexpected skills. The three Rs help, but in my time I have served drink, shifted crates and kegs, taken stock, counted vast amounts of money, done electrical repairs, opened up, locked up (but never swept up) and have been at different times tactful, persuasive, firm and even downright adamant.

The so called "Parent Club" has its centres in other parts of the country—alas none abroad now except for Malaysia. It has been my pleasure to visit annual dinners in London and Edinburgh on a number of occasions and these are always most enjoyable gatherings.

Successive twists of fate have unfortunately prevented my partaking of the celebrated Yorkshire hospitality (Birse tea included). I hope that the efforts made by Alan Watt and myself in recent months may lead to a revival of interest in the Glasgow Centre which has been inactive for the last few years. Although it is all too easy for us to think in terms of Aberdeen and the Club Centre, let it never be forgotten that these other Centres are a vital part of the Club's activities and deserving of all the encouragement the Club can give them.

As I lay down the Club reins, I look back on many happy years, to friendships renewed and to new ones made, to loyal colleagues who have made the burdens of office easier to bear. Chairmen and Committee members come and go, and in that sense the Secretary of a Club is its continuing administrator. I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve in this way and thus in some measure to repay to the School the debt I owe to it for the years 1934-46.

BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS* (1934-46)

Sounds In our last years at the School we came under the influence of that great master of English, Dr. Munson, the "Spicy" to a generation now largely departed. It was he who opened the eyes and the ears of so many to the beauty of the rhythm and cadence of the English tongue. By the time we left I had fallen under the spell of the sounds of the names of certain distant places. Already I knew that before I died I had to see two of those magical sounds, the Coromandel Coast and the poet's far Samarkand.

Then came those brief years between the Wars when Russia admitted foreigners with desired qualifications, so I chose Samarkand to be the first. I was about to leave for Moscow as the opening stage on that journey when the visa was cancelled. So the Coromandel Coast had to be the first sound seen.

I saw the Coromandel Coast. I saw sun, sand, scrub, dust, dirt, disease with, overwhelming all, the glare.

I have been careful never to see far Samarkand.

F.P. (1914-24)

The Ultimate Deterrent The following are extracts from this Magazine's rival, the Rubislaw Academy Pupils' Magazine, which thisyear bore the above title. It is thought that they will be of interest to the F.P. readership as well as to School pupils who may have missed them.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Assembly ...

Over the last few years (since the advent of the comprehensive system) the assembly and its place in the School have declined. From the volume of noise produced by the pupils during hymn singing this is obviously a popular trend with them, or is it? Since no-one had asked them (no-one ever seems to ask them anything) the Ultimate Deterrent decided it was time they had their say.

We confronted what we thought was a fair cross-section of the School with a simple questionaire. (i) Why do we have an assembly? (a) Do you think it is necessary?

(3) Are you in favour of it in its present form?

(4) What alternatives are there?

(5) Do you think that the religious aspect of the assembly should be retained, do you participate in this ?

The idea of the questionaire was to stimulate answers other than yes or no and to try to obtain some telling comments.

The following is a survey of the answers received.

The reason for having an assembly in the first place was believed to be mainly so that Mr. Gill can meet us. It was also felt that assembly was traditional and that it brought an element of religion to the School week, while many people felt that it had lost its main functions because of the Newsheet. It was also felt that it was an opportunity for the School to get together and one young lady in the third year thought that it was just for patter. There were a great many "don't knows" in this section of the questionnaire.

Over the question of whether assembly is necessary or not the School is fairly evenly divided (I'll bet that surprised a lot of you).

The younger years are in favour and the older years against; several people felt it was a waste of time but others felt that the School would lose something if we did not have an assembly. Most of the dissenters simply said no, and were unable to supply any reasons, whereas those who felt it was necessary believed that religion had a part in school life although several of them thought that it should not be compulsory.

Nearly all of those questioned were in favour of an assembly in some form, although several wanted the religious side of it removed, and others wanted accent put on religion.

There were few alternatives given. Plenty of the older years were ready to criticise but few were able to suggest any changes other than "get rid of it". One person felt that it should be longer, have a message from the rector, and that the reading should be explained. He also 26

z7 The Ultimate Deterrent thought that the choir should participate and that there should be more Socio-Christian link up. Many people did not like the stand up—sit down regimentation of the assembly or the cycle of hymns; (viz. To Be A Pilgrim, Immortal, Invisible, God only wise, etc.) Some changes would go down well with everyone.

Most of the younger pupils interviewed were in favour of religion in the assembly and most of the older years were against, though most of them felt that those who were religious should have an assembly, which should not be compulsory.

This survey has not come to a conclusion, either for or against assembly, it has merely recorded the School opinion which is fairly evenly divided. It would seem that two solutions have arisen: either have your assemblies every morning keeping religion in an improvedform (see above) or else have an assembly with no religion and simply use it for getting the pupils together once a week with Mr. Gill. Both of these would operate under the present system but perhaps it is time for a change. What about having year assemblies every morning? This would allow more personalised contact between the staff and individual years. This system already operates in other Comprehensive Academies in Aberdeen and seems to work very well.

However, we are certain that something must be done, for the assembly, as it stands, is achieving very little, other than making a mockery of religion which may be having an adverse effect on some of the pupils who could be convinced that this is what it is all about.

Perhaps a good first lesson in one of the following weeks would be the meaning of the Lord's Prayer, for at the moment it is recited like a Voodoo incantation and not as it should be.

Elegy on the Death of Grammar Now Grammar lies in its last lair, Its pupils will gabble nor sing nae mair, Co-education wi' hungry stare, Has o' erta'en it.

Unco quines wi' cankert care, Have feminised it.

A knell of death tolls the second bell, God! lassies fair mak' your life a hell, Wi' nylons, rollers and skirts as well, Tho' nae sae short, They play their hockey and netba' as well, And think it sport!

For me my skill's but very sma' An' skill in verse I've nane ava', But quietenswise between us twa Grammarians indeed.

If you see a quine frae Rubislaw, Aff wi' her heid!

School Office Bearers Prefects

Senior Prefect: GARY J. G. ALLAN Deputy Senior Prefect: DAVID G. MITCHELL JOHN ADAM EDWARD S. ANDERSON GARRY J. ANDERSON ERIC G. BAIN ALLAN A. BOOTH GRAHAM T. CARSON GRAEME F. COUTES NEIL T. COUTES MICHAEL C. J. DAVIDSON CALUM D. FALCONER ALISTAIR W. HOOD JOHN G. HUNTER

ROY S. INGRAM PETER J. KELLY IAN J. KELMAN ROBERT KELTIE KENNETH MACDONALD CALLUM A. MCDONALD DUNCAN J. MCDOWALL ALASTAIR I. MACLEAN FORBES F. MCLENNAN PAOLO E. MARIONI ALISTAIR W. MARSHALL ANDREW W. MARTIN

ALEXANDER H. MILNE JOHN M. MILNE Giwiss& PHILIP RODERICK W. SCOTT LOGAN D. STEELE DAVID T. STRACHAN IAN C. STRACHAN WILLIAM G. WATT CALLUM WHYTE STEPHEN G. P. WILLIAMS WILLIAM I. WOOD

House Captains Byron

Dun

CALLUM A. MCDONALD

DAVID G. MITCHELL

Keith

Melvin

GARY J. G. ALLAN

CALLUM Winrra Rugby

Captain GARY J. G. ALLAN

Vice-Captain ALLAN A. BOOTH Hockey

Captain FoRBEs F. MCLENNAN

Vice-Captain ALASTAIR I. MCLEAN Soccer

Captain NEIL A. DAVIDSON

Vice-Captain KEITH A. FRASER

Literary and Debating Society

President GARY J. G. ALLAN Secretary LESLIE J. FORSYTH

Vice-President EDWARD S. ANDERSON Treasurer IAN C. STRACHAN Dramatic Society

President STEVEN J. ILLsLEy

Vice-President PETER J. KELLY Cadet Force

Sgt. BRUCE J. CAMPBELL Editors of the School Section ALISTAIR W. MARSHALL

DAVID G. MITCHELL

z8

GARY J. G. ALLAN

Random Notes "'Scuse me. Will somc kind soul take this chappie to the number 18 bus stop ... many thanks." Anon.

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"Is there a Rick Wakeman in this class?" R. la

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"You don't get old Physics teachers, they die young. Too much fun isn't good for anyone." Lab. 3 * * * "It doesn't matter if I'm telling lies as long as I keep saying the same thing."

Room E

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Two Irish Jokes Did you hear about the Irish thrill seeker who eats After-Eight at a quarter to seven?

An Irishman, on being asked how he came about his burnt car, replied that someone had telephoned him while he was ironing.

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Howlf Quotes "Has anyone ever seen the Market Street toilets anyway ?" "lie's Jewish, isn't he?"

"Look at that! She could hide something in there!"

"Very interesting magazine, eh Neil... I must have a look at it some time."

"Where are you going at the weekend lads? Queens?"

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Golf loving members of the Prefecture went to great lengths this year to practise their driving within the confines of the Howff. They attempted to reconstruct the HazIchead second nine, which explains the disappearance of the loth tee one night. * * * Reports have reached the editors that a large hairy Irishman was seen cycling up Craigie Loanings at the witching hour one night. That's terrible!

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Famous Sayings If you can put a name to each of the following sayings, you will win a week with the prefect of your choice.

"Well, twice in ink."

"Make sense, got it ?"

"Mmm y'know."

"This is just between you, me and this door." "... Absurd ... it's sivvin."

"Na, na, na."

"It's just sums."

Meet the Prefects Gary J. G. Allan. It is refreshing to note that Gary's popularity has not waned since last year. Some admirer has even taken his locker doors for souvenirs. Mr. Williams's biology classes have fostered Gary's interest in lesser amphibia. Most others do not share his enthusiasm, and are constantly telling him so. Though Gary is quite a cultured chap, he doesn't seem to have much interest in art; works by Howff artists inspired him only to paint them over again.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

David G. Mitchell. When David isn't commending the work of Lord Longford, he is editing the various articles of literature which occasionally cross the Howff threshold. Only the best is good enough. His tolerant spirit causes him to excuse Bob's behaviour. In an attempt to further the image of peace and tolerance personified, he started to grow his hair long; Mr. Falconer had little tolerance for this, however.

Because of his heavy work commitment, David fmds it very hard to find time to come into the Howff. The wonder is we see him in school at all.

"For not to live at ease is not to live." Dryden John Adam. John, by his brief appearances in the llowff was assumed to be a quiet lad. However, we understand that he is often to be seen in the thick of things at Pittodrie Stadium. He is obviously easily pleased, an attribute of which full advantage is taken by the barber who cuts his hair.

Edward S. Anderson. Eddie is the vice-President of the Debating Society but has been finding, to his dismay, that his duties have nothing at all to do with vice.

Past experience makes him wince when he sees a Maths Book Eight, while cries of "punts" have been known to make him grab his underwear and run, before someone else does.

"I don't see any p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog."

Mark Twain Garry J. Anderson. Like all scouts, Garry prides himself on being prepared. His experiences on Rent-a-Wench night, however, would have tested even Baden-Powell.

We note with interest that Garry's feet have never been in better condition.

Eric G. Bain. Eric stems to have set out this year with the intention of making his life as difficult as possible; he is one of Mr. Falconer's victims, while in his copious free time he has set himself the impossible task of preventing the tuck shop from going under.

For a tall lad Dino seems to get smaller every day. Could his scholarly stoop he caused by speaking to his little admirers in the corridor?

"Tuck shop's doon." E.S. "What we find the least of in flirtation is love." Lc Rochefoucauld Allan A. Booth. Boothy, Bentlegs, or whatever insulting term Carson has thought up for him, bears the scars of three years' dedicated service in the 1st XV. The prefects have to keep a close eye on young Allan in case he wears out the Howff mirror, or his own comb for that matter. When he's not combing his hair, he and his two fellow double O's arc attending Mrs. Downie's physics class. They claim they are the only pupils in the School to receive personal invitations to attend classes.

His affection for handbags, gloves and scarves has waned this year, but he assures us that the flame of romance still flickers within his breast.

"The miser is as much in want of what he has as what he has not." Publilius Syrus "W-a-i-t-r-e-s-s!" A.B. Graham T. Carson. Miff's interests, in order, arc pints, dollies and numbies.

He spends his time in a futile search for the least readily available of the three, but for L1i.5o, who knows? He thought that his new L3 coiffure and his high heels might make a difference, but the receptionist in the Queen's Hotel still hasn't noticed him. Miff's ability to deliver devastating punts has helped him on the rugby field as well.

"This young man expresses himself in terms too deep for me." W. S. Gilbert "Get the Wog." G.T.C.

Meet the Prefects

31

Graeme F. Coutts. Gracme was seen regularly in the Howff until the Higher estimate examinations. Since the School Dance, however, he has yet to make an appearance. Either he is exercising remarkable self control, or the enthusiastic manner in which he heads a football has taken its toll, and caused him to forget he is a prefect.

Neil T. Coutts. We don't know for certain if the Coutts lower lip would hold a week's rain; it might even hold a fortnight's. Certainly at the mention of the name Emma, it almost touches the floor. "Hootess" somewhat reluctantly looks after the sweepstake, and is eagerly awaiting the day when he can hand over the responsibility to someone else.

"Ay, you're in love, I sec, with difficulties and ruseries." Aristophanes Michael C. J. Davidson. It is here, when writing prefects' notes that one encounters extreme difficulty. To say that he keeps himself to himself would be the understatement of all time. It is rumoured that he has been in the Howff, but we have no evidence to suggest that this is true.

"I could not see my little friend because he was not there." R. It Barham Callum Falconer. Callum admits he has a terribly large nose, but claims no religious connections. He is a friend of a 'cellist. In Germany last year, this relationship was all but severed and since then Callum has expressed the desire to bury the hatchet—where, we can but guess.

"Bath not a Jcw hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions ?"

Shakespeare Alastair W. Hood. It is rumoured that Hoody is taking over where Evcl Knievel

left off. Since acquiring a motorcycle, he has kept Aberdeen's motorists constantly

entertained with his displays of stunt cycling. The scientific research to find the air freshener capable of beating hood is still continuing, as thirty-six other prefects bear witness.

"I'm fat, but I'm thin inside." Orwell "Ohl my offence is rank and smells to heaven." Shakespeare John G. Hunter. One of the most popular boys in the Howff, John has a very promising career in front of him with M.I.5, and has spent this year getting his espionage up to scratch. Tired of reading about it in his attic, he endeavours to get practical experience. John's activities with the fair sex have prompted much teasing, though he believes most of it to be tongue in cheek.

"For I only have eyes for Yao." J.P. "All kinds of vulgar prejudice I pray you set aside." W. S. Gilbert Roy S. Ingram. Roy is obviously the strong silent type, and speaks only when spoken to. It's a great pity he can't influence some of his friends. Ills interests include drawing, playing guitar, and lying about his age to Logan. It is rumoured that he is infatuated with a dusky maiden called Mur Idracab, but he claims it is quite the reverse.

"Well.. . yes." R.I. "Silence is become his mother tongue." Goldsmith Peter J. Kelly. Peter is really too cultured a being to belong to the Howff. His artistic talents are wasted here. We were slightly worried when we heard he was associated with a revolutionary journal called "the Ultimate Deterrent", but he claims to be a moderating influence on the other editors. Like Logan, he is an

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

anti-smoking campaigner and rarely misses an opportunity to swoop on some unsuspecting miscreant.

Ian Kelman. Recently Ian (who answers also to "Jim") has been quizzed about the stoutness of his sweetheart. He assures us that his masculinity is not in doubt— he just likes the taste. Hoody's antics on his bike have prompted lan to go one better.

He gave so flamboyant a display on his moped that even the local constabulary took an interest.

Robert Keltie. Pop-eye has the most annoying face ever to grace the Howes' and often wonders why his manly attributes are not irresistible to the fair sex. Ever since Rob's Oscar winning performance at the School Dance, David has denied responsibility for his friend's actions, which, Rob claims, are sanctioned by the C of S. The poorest prefect in living memory, Rob the Gob lives off anyone willing to subsidise him—but mainly Eric and Mr. Trail. A ist XV stalwart, the only pleasure he claims to get out of the game is polishing his boots the night before a match.

"Funcy Me ?" R.K. "Social failure, artistic failure, sexual failure—they are all the same, and lack of money is at the bottom of them all." Orwell Callum A. McDonald. Callum has long ago proved himself to be the most disruptive prefect. He has a large nose and Rob says he can't make up his mind if he's really handsome or really ugly. Callum obviously has—his displays of public vanity have gone the length of preening himself in a telephone box.

"Young, cultured, handsome—though even his contemporaries noticed that monstrous nose." P. J. Helm - "Do, do, do the funky Gibbon." the Goodies Kenneth Macdonald. Several months ago, a search, prompted by a "Reds under the Bed" scare yielded nothing. Recently, however, when we got rid of the furniture, Comrade Ken was forced into the open. After the School Dance, Kenneth was seen in conversation with Forbes. Do they have something in common?

Duncan McDowall. Without doubt Teeth is the most enthusiastic member of the prefecture and one can tell when he's coming by the hoof beats outside the door.

His habit of sliding round corners must play havoc with his shoe leather. His shoes are an important part of his rig-out, as he's still trying to pass his driving test, but is hopeful of throwing away his hiking boots soon. When he's not on Biology field trips to Cove, he's showing films to the Ist and 'Ind years. His latest habit of counting cars in cold weather has caused us to presume that he is planning a vendetta against all motorists who passed their driving test before him.

"I'm afraid sir, you've failed." Ministry of Transport "And made almost a sin of abstinence." Dryden Alastair I. MacLean. Ally's one claim to fame is that he was first ever to receive "punts". He plays hockey for the School team. This is more remarkable than it sounds—most of his team mates just stand and watch.

Forbes F. McLennan. This year has turned Forbes into a nervous wreck, due mainly to his worrying duties as Hockey team captain. Results have long since become only of academic interest, and Forbes's problem has been to field eleven players and keep them there. He keeps himself sane by undertaking extra-curricular activities on Monday mornings—a spirited attempt to notch up the Aberdeen hundred.

"Fancy a game?" F.M. "Yes, my soul sentimentally craves British beer." Campbell

Meet the Prefects

33

Paolo E. Marioni. Yes Paolo! He is believed to be the first Italian in the Howff and, some hope, the last. He and Eric make a dynamic duo in the tuck shop, but they don't apply their dynamism to security. Success in a game of cards preceded his experiencing the worst "punts" in prefect history.

Alistair W. Marshall. Alistair is without doubt the best story teller in the Howff.

Mind you, from the number of funny things that happened to him in Edinburgh and Hamilton, we wonder why he ever came to this God forsaken place. He spends his leisure hours playing a wide variety of musical instruments and modelling a fluorescent orange waistcoat in Fine Fare's car park. He is almost a friend of Roderick's, but everyone has some undesirable attribute.

"You know, I can get into my sister's Afghan coat." A.M. Andrew Martin. Amongst a prefecture laced with extreme behaviour, Andrew is fairly unique in having reached a happy medium of Howff appearances, entering just enough to justify his being a prefect. Having seen the fate suffered by the Howff's Italian connection, he is keeping quiet for fear he might suffer the same.

Alexander H. Milne. An occasional visitor, Zander shares Andrew's interests in mountain climbing. As well as this, he sometimes joins in sub sea dives. Perhaps sea level doesn't agree with him. His versatility enables him to be at card school and biology at the same time.

John M. Milne. John has a recurring nightmare of sailors returning from the sea.

A postcard sent to the Howff caused him to start anxiously watching the eastern horizon. However, whatever his problem, we can be sure he will attack it in his usual manner, with the voracity of a British Bulldog.

"If you get simple beauty and nought else, you get about the best thing God invents."

Browning Graham Philip. Here we have yet another member of Mr. Paton's statistics class.

He has been known to race Roderick in an attempt to get there first. Graham doesn't seem to have much idea about the concept of time; he seems always to be losing track of it. At least that was his story on Monday morning, and he's sticking to it.

Roderick W. Scott. This year, Roderick has taken statistics to his heart, nowadays running all the way to Mr. Paton's class at Rosemount. When he manages to drag himself away, he is always willing to join Forbes on Monday mornings. His inherent masochism recently came to light when he volunteered to play hockey! "'Course, you've not ditched yours." R.S. "Absent in body, but present in spirit." Corinthians Logan Steele. Logan must rate as one of the most mature, not to say middleaged prefects for many years, or is it some other reason that is causing his eyesight to fail? His absorbing interest in wildfowls takes him into little explored wastelands where he claims to watch birds. We believed his story implicitly until he returned one Monday morning to tell of his chance meeting with a delectable young lady. Recently, however, Logan got the bird in more ways than one, and since recovering from this traumatic experience he has spent his time terrorising the fourth year and running the Film Society. In the face of stiff competition he holds the Howff record for crashing cars. After a mere 9 minutes behind the wheel he managed to collide with an unsuspecting woman driver. He claims it was not his fault; it never is!

"Sorry, I'm working." L.S.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

David T. Strachan. David is one of the ever decreasing band of Vth year prefects never to have experienced "punts". This could be for one of two reasons: either he doesn't wear any, or his appearances in the Howff are too brief to enable someone to grab them. For the sake of David's dignity, we will suppose the latter to be the case.

"I stood Among them, but not of them." Byron Ian C. Strachan. As reported in last years' notes, Ian's performances in the House Rugby games did earn him a year of torture. Besides playing rugby, Ian looks after Lit. and Deb. funds, projects for the Film Society and was seen doing some projecting of his own at the IIIrd year dance.

"Don't you think he's just God's gift to women?" V.M. William G. Watt. Willie is perhaps the most conspicuous of the Vth year prefects.

You just can't miss a 6 feet 2 inches carrot. Whatever is said about his all consuming hobby of animal husbandry, Willie takes it all with an air of indifference, striving to put a respectable face on the matter.

Callum Whyte. "Big Dad" holds a special place in our hearts; no one can be disruptive in quite such a loveable way. He is reported to have a great interest in the African Peoples, though we heard she was asleep at the time. The absence of hair on his legs has been noted by his rugby team mates—he claims that until he discovered Smirnoff he thought Immac was a town in Palestine.

"Ootside?" C.W. Stephen G. P. Williams. Garry told us that Stephen knows an exceptionally large amount about "freaky music"; the less said about that the better. Surprisingly, he doesn't play hockey—his father must have tipped him off well in advance.

William Wood. Willie Wood managed to buy himself a decrepit old mini-van this year, and some very interesting suggestions were made as to why he bought a van rather than a car. He is always ready to join in conversation, no matter what the topic may be, and it is always interesting to hear his angle on things.

Staff Changes These yearly notes are written—indeed have to be written, such are the pressures on printers and compositors these days—well before the final end-of-session rush for the exits. So perhaps it is rash to assert without qualification that the in-and-out movement of staff has been less dense over this past school session than it has been over the last few years; we cannot be sure what a month will bring, or indeed a day.

Still, on the evidence to hand, we would guess that when school resumes in August there will not be as many new faces in the staffrooms as we've had to mention in many previous editions of the Magatine.

So far, so good, and cause for celebration. But there is also cause for trepidation. One chief reason for this partial return to that stability so often lauded as a happy feature of pre-comprehensive days, is not far to seek. As we all know, the chronic condition of imminent crisis in the

Staff Changes 35 economic state of the nation developed to a point which came to be recognised as acute and potentially mortal. The need to reduce state and allied expenditures drastically over the next few years was accepted by the Government as an essential tactic in the larger strategy directed to economic recovery. Accordingly the regions have been ordered to retrench on all manner of services; and as the provision of education— with all that that involves in the building and maintenance of schools, the purchase of educational hardware and software, and the training, recruitment and payment of teachers, ancillaries and administrators— is by far the most expensive of all social services, the axe has fallen heavily on education. Or rather a number of axes large and small, some sharp, some blunt, and not all of them wielded with accuracy or discrimination. Rough justice perhaps, and certainly rougher on some than on others.

In the Grammar School we can probably count ourselves fortunate.

It has long been a matter for satisfaction—sometimes also a cause for complacency as if numbers automatically guaranteed quality—that the schools in the city of Aberdeen were numerically well-staffed in comparison with most other parts of Scotland. So it could be foreseen that if the new Grampian Regional Council wished to cut back on expenditure and salaries, one obvious way to do it was to move towards an equalisation of the pupil-teacher ratio in the schools under its control, and to stabilise that norm at a level that was near to that prevailing in their schools that were less favoured in terms of staff.

This would probably have come about even if the country's economy were in good shape; the circumstances of the moment made it absolutely certain that it must and would happen, and that the decision would be implemented speedily.

And so it has proved. In the event, because we had not been staffed with the generosity that some other city schools enjoyed, our numbers have not been cut, and for the moment little or no change in the deployment of teachers within the School will be called for. Admittedly a slightly increased intake of pupils at the beginning of next session will mean that the total School roll will be rather larger than at present, and as a consequence a heavier burden will fall on some teachers, particularly in those departments like English and Mathematics that have to cope with all pupils. But no member of the school staff will be obliged to serve in another school in the district or region, and the allocation of staff to classes for next session's work can proceed without major surgery.

Still it should be remembered that the extra burden will fall on those members of staff who are fully and entirely engaged in class teaching.

While they are industriously engaged in counting heads that should roll and bodies that are to be disposed of, administrators do seem to forget that they too are human and should be equally eligible for the chop. Is it perhaps too much to expect that the regional and other authorities will take the opportunity given them by the general call for retrenchment to reduce in numbers and status the accretions of administrative personnel that have been too much encouraged, in and out of schools, over the last few years? Perhaps it is.

Aberdeen Grammar Scbo6l Magazine But of course staff changes in schools are not exclusively brought about by the operation of the market and the guillotines of exchequer chancellors and regional convenors. There are considerations other than the immediately economic. Even in Arcady the older shepherds are happy in the end to retreat into the shade to philosophise and leave the younger swains to tend the flocks and dally with the attendant nymphs.

So hcre, in a harsher clime, the passing of the years eventually allows and indeed compels some teachers to embrace retiral and a pension.

Others leave for essentially private and family reasons; others again on gaining promotion outwith this School. There may even be some— though examples do not leap readily to mind—who could show what they think of our educational theory and practice by walking out of the class-room and into immortality, happily chanting, "Stuff your pension". Such impudence, of course, would have to be deprecated.

36

Arrivals Quite a number of new members were added to the staff at the session's start in August; some to bring particular departments up to normal complement, others to make possible the greater range of work called for in new, expanding departments. Miss Alice M. M. Farquhar brought to the English staff an expertise in teaching, in administrative work and in guidance that has already proved of immense value. Mr. Graeme Traill was appointed Assistant Principal Teacher in the Geography department, as successor to Mr. Ian Cormack; and the following took up duties as Assistant Teachers in the departments specified: Miss Agnes W. Marshall in Mathematics; Mrs. Linda M. Price in Biology; Mrs. Sheila M. Burns in Chemistry; Mr. Raymond J. Nugent in Physics; Mrs. Elizabeth H. Keir in French; Mrs. Jean C. Wallace in Home Economics; and in Business Studies Mrs. Eleanor E. Graham and Mr. Angus E. G. MacRuary. Later in the session further appointments were made: Mr. Kenneth Macleod in November as assistant in the Mathematics department; Miss Gillian A. Trusler in February x976 to the Music department; and at the beginning of the Easter term Miss Doris E. C. Kinghorn came to the School from Peterhead Academy where she held the position of Guidance Teacher to a like post in Rubislaw. Her long experience in the teaching of Modern Languages will also add strength to language teaching here.

The largely administrative post of Assistant Head Teacher was filled by the appointment of Mr. Stanley G. Allan, Principal Teacher of Physical Education at Summerhill Academy. He took up his duties on the first day of December and has already, both in the Rosemount Annexe and in the main building, shown himself to be effective as communicator and organiser.

The School office has been rocked by staff changes this session; so much indeed that in the main office only Miss Gibb survives from last session. The new incumbents are: Miss Diane Brown, appointed as Clerical assistant in October, Mrs. Methven similarly appointed in October, and Miss Jenny Archibald appointed as a secretary in January.

Departures Mr. Baxter retired on 5 September. For close on forty years the School was his life and the subject of his utmost concern. His presence as a teacher of Mathematics first as an assistant, then for many fruitful years as head of department contributed to the school's reputation and to the success and happiness of his mathematical pupils; while in the last few years his permeating influence on the School's organisation and discipline based as it was on the tradition of the old Grammar School helped very considerably to give stability and a sense of historical continuity to the new order. A fuller tribute to what he was and what he did for the School will be found elsewhere in the Magatine.

Others who have left in the course of the year are: Mrs. Maycock of the French department; Mrs. Nelda Hardie and Mr. Alastair J. Hardie both of the Music department; Mrs. Valerie Kelly and Mrs. Vera McNicoll who both taught part-time, the one in Mathematics, the other temporarily in remedial work, and Mr. Ian Gray who found promotion as Assistant Principal Teacher of Mathematics in Kincorth Academy.

Mr. Ronald Grant promoted to be head of the History department in Lossiemouth High School left in April.

A large gap was left in the N.E. department when Mr. Ian Spence went at the end of January 1976 to the post of Assistant Head Teacher in Hazlehead Academy. Experience, strength, and a cool .ravoir faire— he has them all in bulk supply—should ensure his success in the new post, where he will be primarily engaged in planning and organising all out-door activities.

To conclude this tale of departing personalities it has to be announced that three figures who have long featured in the School economy will be absent from the scene next session. Mr. Davidson, Head of Modern Languages and Mr. Tait of the English department will have retired, having completed their teaching stint and left their footprints on the sands of time behind them. The third is Miss Gibb.

It is impossible to tell briefly how much Miss Gibb has given to the School; room will be found in the next number of the Magatine for a tribute that may approach a summation of her qualities and her work, and give some impression of the contribution she made over so many years to the School's efficiency and good name. It is difficult to imagine the School without her, and to find a successor as fully adequate more difficult still.

To all the many people mentioned we would extend our best wishes, whether they be in School or away from it.

Archie Baxter On 5 September 1975, Mr. Archibald G. Baxter retired as Deputy Head of Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School) and it would be true to say that another era in the long history of the School came to an end. He was then the only master still on the staff who had taught in the pre-war Grammar School.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

It is in the nature of things that the ever-changing population of a Secondary School should remember not one man but several men in a career which spanned a period from 1934 to z 975. For older generations of Former Pupils the name Archie Baxter conjures up, I'm sure, visions of a youthful teacher of Mathematics and Science who came to the school after brief experience in Elgin and Dumfries while still a notable performer on the football field for his home town team of Inverurie Loco Works. For a later generation the name will be linked with a member of staff returning from Army Service on radar installations, to become one of the key members of a notable Mathematics Department.

Then again to more recent generations, Archie Baxter will be recognised as the Head of the Mathematics Department, presiding in his eyrie, first at the East End of the School and then in the New Maths/ Science block in the mid sixties, all the time supervising the mathematical contribution to the never-ending supply of leading bursars in the Bursary Competition in the old Grammar School tradition.

And so finally to the many hundreds of pupils who still remember the occasionally ominous summons to "Report to Mr. Baxter's room!" as the latest struggle to maintain the rule of law, order and punctuality in the school community reached another fateful climax or, more happily, someone adjourned to receive the benefits of sound advice and guidance.

These 41 years of service to so many pupils in these differing roles were in a sense not given to one school but to three, for he witnessed at least three phases in the transition of the old traditional fee-paying boys school into a comprehensive district mixed school. When he came in 1934 the school had 8o8 boys on the roll but of these a very substantial proportion were in the Lower School. When he returned in 1945 the total roll was z,o44 with only 58o boys in the Secondary School. Then after the abolition of fees in 1947 and the change to a selective Senior Secondary School, the Secondary roll rose to 1,176 pupils in 197o. Finally came the traumatic experience of the introduction of girls which turned out actually to be virtually a non-event. In all these changes the calm common-sense and the meticulous grasp of administrative detail which Archie Baxter offered to those in high places, played no small part in allowing the traditions of the old school to meet and adapt to the challenges of its changing circumstances.

But apart from his labours in the classrooms and council chambers of the School there was another side to Archie Baxter's contributions to school development. Of no one member of staff can it be more honestly and accurately said, si monumentum requiris, circumspice (if you want a reminder of me, look round you). All of the staff who at one time or another sought his assistance and comfort in moments of despair over the breakdown of a piece of modern educational hardware could pay homage to the technical know-how which he had built up over the years, but what many may not know or have forgotten is how much the equipping of the T.V. Room, the Projection Room and new Hall owed to his vast knowledge and experience of electronics, acoustics and the like. As the members of the School Film Society—a club so close to the hearts of Mr. Baxter and his old friend Mr. Hemingway—sit and

Miss Gracie

39 savour the wonders of cinemascope epics on a Friday night, they should know and remember with gratitude how this was very much the product of Mr. Baxter's foresight and technical knowledge.

One measure of the respect and affection in which he was held was shown by the pupils on his last day in School when they presented him in the Hall with an electric fire, while on the following evening in the Amatola Hotel, a company of 175, including many former and present members of staff, gathered to show their measure of respect and affection for one who was the guide, mentor and, above all, friend of all who had served with him in his many various capacities.

In his retirement we would all join in wishing him many days of good fishing and fruitful gardening coupled with the hope that the form of the Dons will give him many happy Saturday afternoons.

Miss Gracie Many generations of Grammarians will have been saddened by the death of Miss Kate M. Gracie on 9 November 1975. Miss Gracie joined the Staff of the Lower School in September 1919, retiring in June 196o. She will be remembered by her quiet efficiency and her efforts to encourage every boy to give of his best.

Gentle and unassuming in nature she enjoyed friendly and pleasant relations with her colleagues. The various Rectors under whom she served must have been grateful for her contribution in the shaping of her young charges throughout the years.

At a ceremony in the School Hall in June 1956 to acknowledge the great honour done to the late Sir James Robertson by Aberdeen University in conferring on him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, Miss Gracie was privileged to invest the Rector with the Gown, Hood and Cap, presented to him by the School.

It can truly be said of her that she gave her life's interest to her work and what better tribute can be paid after so many years of faithful service.

School Sporting Activities Rugby The past season has proved to be very rewarding at all levels. It was unfortunate that, in spite of the open winter, an unusually high number of away matches was cancelled because of the weather. The School XV which had its most successful season for several years had its rhythm broken and the younger sides were robbed of some attractive away games. Needless to say the excellence of Rubislaw and the hard work of our ground staff meant that few home games were off.

This season the 1st XV produced some of the best football to be seen from the School over a long period. They were fortunate that they had skilful and dominant players in key positions who were capable of making the most of any opportunities, and of playing hard for the rest of the side. Although it is always essential to play to strengths, this can only be achieved if the whole side appreciates what they are doing and is capable of accomplishing the job. It was here that the real virtues of the side lay. A base of personal fitness (and even the most unskilful player can have that) enabled them to go forward in defence as well as attack and to keep doing it even against bigger and heavier sides. This perpetual motion wears down the opposition and causes mistakes and frustration which can be turned to advantage.

Any team that allowed broken play was soon aware of this. The relentless backing up of both backs and forwards produced some exceptional sustained and fluid play of high quality, which was the reward of both players and spectators. A team can certainly be improved by players of ability and flair, but the "stars", even if they number fifteen, are nothing without a team—on and off the field.

The znd XV had a very high proportion of fourth year boys. This sometimes meant that they had to overcome age, size and experience difficulties; even more so when they played other schools' ist XVs. But enthusiasm and willingness were there—and fitness too, because the great majority were regular trainers. There can be no doubt that the experience gained and the work put in have laid a sound foundation for a good side next year and for promotions to the 1st XV. The Colts were a bit of an enigma. Certainly they had a good share of talented players and keenness was not lacking. Sometimes, however, they were a little over confident and failed to get to grips with the basics. At other times they were their own worst enemies when they were guilty of moaning amongst themselves. In spite of that they were capable of some good performances and there can be no doubt that, as they mature, their natural ability and zest for the game could produce a very useful side. Indeed some of them may well be contending for 1st XV places next season.

Perhaps the teams who were most disappointed by the cancellations because of the weather were the Juniors and Minors. They missed some eagerly anticipated games. Nevertheless they both had valuable seasons. The Juniors, particularly in the latter stages, were really beginning to put things together and were not only knowing what 40

School Sporting Activities

41

should be done, but were drilling themselves to supply the appropriate skills. This is a team with potential. Indeed, so arc the Minors; as enthusiastic a bunch as any. There is a more than average spread of talent even if a lot of it is encased in small frames! But the early lessons have been learnt and they should enjoy their progress in the coming years.

It has come to be expected that all the many people concerned with games should be thanked for their services. It would be very wrong if this was just taken for granted. Without the constant help of so many members of staff, games, as we know them in this School, would come to an end. Their contribution is as important as that. As long as there are pupils who want to play and staff who will give of their time and experience, then the hopes for the future are high. rat XV Report This season's ist XV has largely been composed of very experienced and very inexperienced players, with seven players returning from last season, and three of those in their third year of ist XV rugby. Only two or three of the team squad came from the Fifth Year and about five from Fourth Year. It was apparent that the team lacked height and weight, but from experience in School teams, this was not an insurmountable obstacle. After pre-season and early season training the squad had established itself fairly well and team selection was not too difficult. Our fitness, thanks to Mr. Falconer, was at a high level and so we tackled our first game, against an F.P. XV with enthusiasm.

F.P.s fielded a particularly strong team and, although they ran up a big score against us, the initiation in a higher level of rugby did the younger members of the side a lot of good. After a period of recovery from this game, certain aspects of our play, namely set scrummaging and line out work were practised. Illness forced us to make certain positional changes which were previously unforeseen.

It was with a strong side, however, that we met Dundee High School in Dundee in September. In a dour game, we realised that we could work effectively together although we won in a rather unspectacular fashion. There followed a period when we improved greatly and our very fast pack began to come into its own. We realised that given good clean ball from broken play, our fast and talented backs could outplay most of our opponents, and this was the pattern we tried to develop. During this early season period we had good wins over Glasgow Academy, Gordonstoun and Dollar Academy. The last victory was due largely to the pace of our game, which left the Dollar team standing, and it was one of our best games this season.

Our first defeat, at the hands of Stewarts/Melville College was no disgrace and we showed that even in defensive situations we could hold together as an effective team.

The following Wednesday we had our first meeting with Robert Gordon's College. The Gordon's fixtures always produce that little bit of extra effort, and in a hard, uncompromising game, we played very well both in attack and defence and ran out worthy victors, winning 7-o.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

We were very unfortunate this year in that we had about eight fixtures cancelled because of inclement weather and missed some very attractive fixtures. Between the Gordon's match in November, and Christmas we played only three matches, against Perth Academy, Inverness Royal Academy and St Aloysius' College. These we won, but our play had deteriorated and we won far less convincingly than we should have done. We returned after Christmas determined to regain our previous form.

Again we were hit by bad weather, but we did manage a fixture against R.G.I.T. which we won quite easily. Our next game was against Dundee High, and we won, so achieving the double victory, in a very close game. A slump in form (or was it the Edinburgh hoodoo ?) descended on the team when we met Heriot's at Goldenacre.

We never got our own game together and threw the game away. This was a very disappointing result as it was because of poor play on our part and not good play on Heriot's part, that we lost the game.

We played a game against Elgin Academy, who, although obviously improving all the time, could not match the skill and fitness of our side, and we ran out easy victors.

Our fixture against Glasgow High School this year was historic as it was the last such fixture to be played, due to their closure at the end of the 1976 session. It is a pity that the game itself does not warrant special mention. Again we lost the game, rather than being beaten.

With the return game with Gordon's on the Wednesday, this came as a sharp spur to greater efforts.

It was a team with a completely different attitude which took the field against our old rivals. Although they had a height and weight advantage, our pack ran them to a state of disarray and made our backs' job much easier. Special mention might be made of press reports of "Carson's Match". Our outside half Carson scored an incredible seventeen points, but he attributes this to opportunities arising from intense pressure and harassment from the pack and fellow backs, making it anything but solely "Carson's Match". We were delighted to beat College 21-7 and record a long awaited double over them.

Perhaps more importantly we had recaptured our old form once again.

We played Morrison's Academy on the Saturday, but perhaps understandably, our fire was a little lacking, and we scraped a 9-6 victory over a vastly inferior team. This was a most uninspired, unsatisfactory game.

Our last school match was against Hutcheson's, in Glasgow. We played very well in this game, but bad luck and momentary defensive lapses let the game slip from our grasp, and we lost a z. This was obviously a disappointing way to finish the season, but our standard of play in this game was such as to make the defeat much more acceptable.

Our traditional fixture against the F.P. ist XV was as usual hard and bruising, but we did ourselves great credit by holding a powerful team to a 20-7 victory. This was a most pleasant way to finish our season.

This year, we have had a very successful ist XV, not only in terms

School Sporting Activities 43 of games won, of which there were many, but also in terms of a very high standard of rugby played. There has been a good spirit in the side, both on the field and in the training gymnasium, and it has been a team never short of a joke or wise crack. This is a very important side of the game and it was most enjoyable to be part of such a team.

In conclusion, I must take this opportunity to thank Mr. Falconer for his untiring enthusiasm and encouragement, Mr. Ronald Grant for his help in training when Mr. Falconer was unavailable, and Mr. Allan and his staff for their excellent work at Rubislaw Field. These people have helped what was a surprisingly efficient team to become one of the best 1st XVs for many years.

GARY J. G. ALLAN Who's Who in the tilt XV Gary Allan (Captain) (5' 7", i i st t z lb). As a good captain he was able to get a lot out of his side, perhaps because he put a lot of thought and work into it. His playing role necessitated his taking up unconventional positioning and his battering ram technique sometimes re-positioned his head!

Allan Booth (Vice-Captain) (5' 7", to st 6 Ib). A complete scrum half who had the mental approach to go with the skills. Some scrum halves he met have nightmares about being spoiled for life!

Jeffrey Bremner (5' 9", so st 6 Ib). An adaptable player whose aggressive, harassing style produced results for himself and others. A terrible thrower!

Graham Carson (5' 5}", 1 s st o lb). A tclepathetic understanding with Boothie coupled with a lot of natural ability made "Jim" a good focal player in attack. His kicking gained points and position and psychological uplift all for the price of four pairs of boots!

Andrew Grant (5' 1o', to st 9 lb). A wholehearted reliable team man. He has had his disappointments, but will be a great asset next season.

Alistair Hood (5' to", 13 st 31b). He has been the most experienced of the front row which has meant a lot of responsibility. On the field he has covered a lot of ground: all of it without a bike or car!

Robert Kettle (5' 9", x i st 3 lb). A hard tackling and running full back who got the team and himself out of trouble by his aggression rather than subtlety.

Callum Knowles (6' or, it st so lb). Much faster than the normal prop and very effective going forward. His scrummaging is improving and when it matches his open play he will be a formidable forward. He is saving up for an alarm clock!

Callum McDonald (5' 'or, tz st 5 lb). Like most of the pack he was more at home going forward, but his covering work improved through the season. His mobility was most successful in support play—when he kept quiet!

Neil McDowall (5' 9", Is st x lb). Starting with his speed and determination to make a permanent place in the team he has developed his game and got some "iron in his soul". Another terrible thrower!

Michael Midgley (5' 9", to st 6 lb). A thoughtful player and enthusiastic trainer who has had the usual tough job trying to win ball in a light pack. Next in line in the Midgley dynasty!

David Mitchell (6' x", xz st 2 lb). An important member of a strong midfield section. His hard running, quick passing and incessant backing up made many scores for himself and others. Sometimes at a loss for pants!

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine 44 Ian Strachan (6' 1", 12 sty lb). His ability was never in doubt; all he needed was experience and confidence. To these he eventually added a touch of fire which really helped to stoke the boiler house. A late starter whose start was delayed!

Kenneth Ward (5, 6r, 9 st 91b). A young player whose game and physique matured as the season progressed. The fact that he learned to take decisions for himself indicates that he should do well next season. He might even speak!

William Watt (6' 13 st o lb). He played all season out of position for the good of the team, but the opposition wouldn't have guessed it! He has had to take a big share of the heavy work, but has had fewer alterations to his face this season!

William Wood (5' 9F, x z st o lb). A very good flanker at his best going forward.

Even in defence he preferred going forward making attacking opportunities out of unpromising situations. His harrying generated more "revs" than his transport!

Hockey 1st XI The various changes that have taken place in the organisation of the school have led to a steady decline in the numbers of boys who wish to play hockey, and, more particularly, who are prepared to play for school on Saturdays. The past few seasons have seen a reduction in the number of teams that can be supported. This season the number of boys in years three to six, who are available on Saturdays, has been so small, that it has not always been easy to field three teams.

For the first eleven the season has been in marked contrast to the very successful years of the immediate past. The limitations of the present team, in skills, positional sense and determination, were apparent in many of their fixtures. But these inadequacies can be understood, as only one member of last year's first eleven returned to school, so that the team had to be built up from scratch. In addition, only about fourteen boys were able to play for school, and if any boys were unavailable the team usually had to be reshuffled to utilise to their best advantage such boys as were selected.

Next season several of the team should return to school, providing a more firm foundation on which to organise an eleven. Although it is hoped that greater success will result, it is felt that it is no longer advisable to play in the Senior League, from which the players gained so much in the past, but rather to play senior teams on a friendly basis.

Full colours were awarded to Forbes F. McClennan and Alastair I. Maclean and half colours to Paul R. Gogolinsky.

Congratulations to Alastair Maclean who played for North District in the Hancock Trophy matches and who was chosen to attend coaching sessions in Perth. Unfortunately he was dropped from the pool when the selection for the final international trial was made. Paul Gogolinski played for the North District under-sixteen side.

Again we are indebted to several of the Former Pupils for their support, particularly Bill Urquhart and Alastair Waite.

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and XI By no stretch of the imagination could this season be construed as a successful one for the second eleven. At the time of writing the team has yet to win a game, although a few draws have been salvaged from the morass of defeats through which the team had waded.

In defence of the second eleven it can be argued that this year's team was a particularly young one, composed mainly of third and fourth year players. This team was required to play other second elevens who were, almost without exception, fifth and sixth year teams.

It must also be said that a regular second eleven as such did not exist.

True, there was a cadre of players who appeared regularly, but throughout the season there was constant drafting in to "make up the numbers".

Finally, the gratitude of the team should be extended to Messrs.

Williams and Parry, who helped to organise the team, and to all those who came on Saturdays to act as umpires. Without them school hockey would become impossible.

3rd Year This team has done well in their first season. A pool of fifteen players has been used for the ten games played so far this season. Six games have been won and four lost, with an aggregate of 61 goals, 29 for and 3 2 against.

The prospects for the team next season are good providing the boys stay together. It is hoped that practices will again be organised on nonmatch Saturdays by Mr. Parry.

3rd Year Girls Hockey This year has seen the development of a regular and XI and more important a regular first team, whose results promise well for the future.

The teams' Saturday morning games against other schools have brought us only one defeat, though we failed to realise our potential in the tournament.

The side consists of S. Webster, V. Irvine, L. Dunbar, C. Fitzpatrick, A. Sim, E. Nicol, L. Marshall (captain), L. Simpson, M. Sharp, R. Hutchison, K. Hart.

Both wings are extremely strong, while L. Simpson and R. Hutchison have no difficulty in finding the net. In goal, S. Webster's confidence is growing with every game; and the defence is strong.

Our thanks to Miss Ramsay, whose 1st year "A" team won their tournament this year, and more particularly Mrs. Webster, whose help and enthusiasm have been invaluable.

Juniors XI Cricket The Juniors' Cricket XI had a successful season. They won six of their matches and lost one. Two of these games deserve comment.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

On 17 May, we had a home fixture with Gordon's College whom we were assured had a strong batting side. The School batted first and were hard pressed to muster a total of 48. However, this total proved more than adequate for the Gordon's team who were skittled out for a mere 9 runs! The stars of the game were our two bowlers, Alan Dornan and Cameron Steele, the former taking 6 wickets for 5 runs and the latter 4 wickets for 4 runs.

On 14 June, we played Hazlehead Academy away. Again we batted first. Runs came easily and with one ball still to come, we had succeeded in scoring our highest total of the season, 97 runs. Of this total, Cameron Steele had scored 43 and was still at the wicket. Steele faced the last ball, pulled it hard to square leg and ran two runs. He called on his partner, Stewart McDonald, to attempt a third run. This decision seemed to upset and fluster the fielders and after some misfielding, they presented us with four overthrows! So we scored seven runs off the last ball which not only brought our total to 104 for 5 but gave Cameron Steele a score of 5o not out. Surely a most unusual end to an innings!

Hazlehead were all out for zo runs, our bowling analysis being Steele 3 for o, Charles z for 6 and Dornan 4 for 6.

Music Notes Last June saw us once again in the Music Hall presenting our Annual Concert. All our musical "forces" were involved, including, as last year our "feeder" primary school choirs.

The concert opened with a flourish from the Brass Ensemble conducted by Charles Foster, and the orchestral music ranged from the Karelia Suite by Sibelius to the lilting "Blue Danube". Alistair Marshall proved a worthy soloist in the first Movement of Mozart's Bassoon Concerto. Extracts from "Sleepers Wake" by Bach were the choice of the Madrigal Choir with accompaniment by the strings of the orchestra under the direction of Drew Tulloch.

The primary choirs delighted us with their renderings of folk songs under the baton of Nelda Mathewson while the Senior Choir's contribution was a group of Scottish folk-songs and a stirring McGunn setting of the ballad "Lord Ullin's Daughter". The concert concluded with all taking part in the Hallelujah Chorus.

With the strains of the Blue Danube fresh in our ears, seventy intrepid members of choir and orchestra and ten perhaps even more intrepid members of staff boarded buses at 6.oo a.m. at the Byron Statue and set off for Regensburg. There a concert was presented in the Town Hall.

Again a varied programme was presented, the second half having a strong Scottish flavour—with piping by Durno Jessiman, Highland dancing by Marie Donaldson, Scots songs, Gaelic songs, clarsach, and an exciting Weaving Lilt. The German audience showed their appreciation by giving us a standing ovation and all joining in the singing (for a second time) of "Auld Lang Syne".

School Sporting Activities 47 There were many other highlights in the visit—musical and otherwise—and we shall all remember the warmth and overwhelming hospitality of our hosts.

Soon after the start of the new session, the Choir were hard at work preparing for the Christmas Carol Service, where variety is always the key note. The main item was "Navidad Nucstra" an unusual Latin-American Nativity which included bongo-drums, exciting guitarplaying and a beautiful solo from Jacqueline Foster. It was a work with many complex rhythms and colours. There was a capacity audience at St. Machar's Cathedral to listen to and also to participate in the singing of well known carols.

The Brass Ensemble again gave us some exciting playing and the choir was supported admirably with the organ accompaniments of Drew Tulloch.

We are again hard at work with the Easter term lunchtime recitals choral and orchestral rehearsals, and preparations for the end of term concert. May I end with a plea on behalf of the choir—we would welcome basses and tenors into our midst, both pupils and staff. The School has a fine choral tradition, and if we wish to retain it then more vocal support is needed from the boys.

C.C.F. Notes R.A.F. Section Last year's training was successfully completed with annual camp at R.A.F. Cottcsmore. Also during the summer vacation, one of the NCOs, Sgt. B. Cooper, went on a Continuous Gliding Course and successfully went solo.

Due to our increase in numbers, we have had some promotions, these were: Cpl. B. J. Campbell to Sgt. and cadets A. Brand, G. Coutts, G. McPherson and G. Reid to Cpls.

So far this session we have been to R.A.F. Turnhouse twice and every one of the cadets has flown at least once in Chipmunks.

In April, during the Easter holidays, Sgt. B. J. Campbell and Cpls.

A. Brand, G. Coutts and G. McPherson will be going to R.A.F. Gutersloh in West Germany. During the summer vacation this year Sgt. B. J. Campbell and Cpls. A. Brand and G. McPherson are going on Continuous Gliding Courses and hope to go solo. During this session we also hope to arrange dinghy training for the cadets in the school swimming pool.

Of course we would like to thank Sqdn. Ldr. R. McLeod and Ft. Sgt. Seymore for all their help, at the same time having, with regret, to say goodbye to Ft. Sgt. Seymore, who is now at R.A.F. Lossiemouth.

Army Section Following a very successful camp in Orkney in July 1975, the Army Section so far this session has gone from strength to strength.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine 48 In August we enrolled twenty-seven very enthusiastic second year pupils, and, in addition to this, several of last year's senior cadets returned as well. Training has gone very well, with the zz Cadet Training Team sharing the burden with ourselves. The attendance this year has been almost perfect from most of the cadets, and what a difference this has made with regard to the continuity training. The cadets appear to have enjoyed the Thursday training, where they have taken part in such activities as first aid, battle craft, shooting and safety, map reading and drill, but other aspects of training have also been included. These ranged from weekend exercises at Scotstoun Moor to shooting on the range, inter cadet sports and a display from the Royal Signals. There was also a display laid on for us by the Royal Artillery but unfortunately they did not arrive.

For our Easter Camp this year we are changing our venue and using Finzean School as our base. We will be hill-walking and orienteering in the Deeside area and members of the 8z Army Youth Team will be coming along to assist with the associated adventure training activities.

We are very grateful to the 8z Army Youth Team who have provided some valuable assistance this year with our training programme. In May we have the Inter Cadet Wapinschaw at Black Dog Ranges then in July the highlight of most years, but this one especially, our summer camp.

This year we are going to Nienburg, just north-west of Hanover, for the first ten days in July and, if the cadets' present enthusiasm for the venture is a reliable indication, then it should prove to be a most worthwhile and memorable camp.

Finally, despite living in these days of equal rights, we still have not started a girls' branch of the Army Section. One or two of the girls in the school have expressed an interest, but the situation at the moment is not clear. However, things may change in the future. We look forward none the less to a successful camp in Germany and to maintaining the present level of enthusiasm amongst the cadets for as long as possible.

School Societies Literary and Debating Society The Society has been as lively as ever this year and attendances at weekly meetings have usually been around eighty. As much of the number is made up of pupils from the lower years of the school, the future of the Society looks bright.

We have had very many debates on topics as different as male vanity and trade unions. Several of the debates were organised for younger speakers and this afforded these members a special chance to speak.

Inter-school debates flourished once again this year, with debates with all the usual schools, and also a re-establishment of the debate with Hazlehead Academy.

There was a Seven Schools Debate this year, with the addition of Hazlehead and the American School of Aberdeen, and we are pleased to re-introduce and welcome these schools to the group.

As guest speakers this year, we had Mr. Innes of N.E.S.D.A. speaking on the effects of oil in the North East, in October, and in January Dr. Blaxter of the Rowett Institute speaking on "People and Food", a relation between world demands and world availability, a field in which Dr. Blaxter is a recognised world expert.

One of the highlights of the Society's year was perhaps the Bishop Public Speaking Prize in February, on the motion "That the British people are becoming less free, and more bored." In a competition in which the standard of speaking was very high, Ian Strachan came a close runner up to Gary Allan, this year's Society President.

Another highlight was the Staff Debate at which Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Alistair Marr, Mr. McCombie and Mr. Allan spoke on the motion "That Aberdeen is cold, ugly and uncharitable." This proved to be very interesting and enjoyable.

An innovation this year is the Aberdeen Schools Debating Society incorporating many schools which formerly were not involved in debating at all. Our secretary Leslie Forsyth was the inspiration and driving force behind the establishment of this society and must be congratulated and thanked for his very worthwhile work. We wish this society every success.

It remains to thank Mr. Robert McIntyre our Honorary President for his unflagging enthusiasm in making this a most enjoyable, interesting, and well attended Society this year. The retiring office bearers wish the Society well in the future.

Aero- Modelling Club For the first time, the club has ventured into boat-building, with several of the members owning a model of some description. The increasing cost of radio-control equipment has obviously convinced several of the boys, that their investment might be safer at ground level.

The club boat, a scale model of the Zwarte-Zee, an ocean-going tug, is having teething troubles, since the construction details are in Danish!

The younger club members are waiting anxiously to make their first flights once "flying" weather improves. The club has moved premises to the railway clubroom, a popular move since the mess need not be cleared away each night.

Angling Club Outings this session have been somewhat limited. The visit to the Don at Kintore at the end of the 1974/75 session was enjoyed by all who went along. Some trout were caught, but they were rather small in size generally. The Don, like all northeast rivers nowadays, is perhaps overfished, and there seems to be a very real need to adopt positive conservation measures throughout the area in order to allow stocks to build up.

49

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

A proposed coarse fishing trip to Ahoy= Loch in January had to be put off because of blizzard conditions; but now that the trout season is almost with us again it may soon be possible to aim for something better than pike and perch.

The club now has two trout fly rods available for members and hopefully these will be put to good use. Spinning is a perfectly legitimate and effective way of catching fish, but it can be extremely boring after a time. Fly fishing at its best is a rewarding and satisfying method and can only lead to a heightened interest in thc sport for the true angler.

Art Club The Art Club meets in Art Room ;, on Mondays after School. At present the membership stands at 4z, with an average of 25-3o attending each week.

The Club offers a chance to try out some crafts and techniques not usually possible during the day. The activities include lapidary work, which incorporates cold enamelling, stone polishing and general jewellery making, and pottery which have both proved immensely popular, along with portrait drawing, paper flower making, copper plate writing, lino cutting and printing.

In the summer term it is hoped to go on some outdoor excursions, weather permitting. Finally our thanks must go to Mrs. Smith for her guidance and never ending patience over a very busy year.

Chess Club The membership of thc Chess Club stands now at about thirty, although actual attendances have been much smaller. There is also an encouraging increase in interest from the lower years. So far this season we have only played one match when we had a somewhat narrow 441-3i victory against Pow is Academy, though it should be said that we did not field our strongest side. We are having a return match with Powis at Powis Academy. In addition we are hoping to arrange a match against Robert Gordon's College. Our thanks go again to Mr. Galloway for his valuable assistance.

Electronics Club The Club's aim this year has again been to aid pupils in the construction/maintenance of any electronic device.

Among the projects planned for next session is the construction of an electronic synthesizer by a fourth year boy. Although no experience is required in order to join the Club, members will soon become familiar with modern electronic construction and maintenance methods. If you are in years III to VI why not come along and join the Club? The Club meets each Tuesday after School in laboratory 1.

Tuition is always available if required and in this respect the Club would like to thank Mr. Lowe, Mr. Trail and the physics department in general. Thanks also goes to the School technicians for the use of their equipment throughout the year.

Film Society This has been the most successful season that the Society has had in recent years.

Among the highlights of an extremely varied programme were "Macbeth", the Monty Python comedy "And Now For Something Completely Different" and the rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar", which attracted an audience of nearly four hundred.

It is encouraging to notice that whilst many cinemas are having to close down we appear to be reversing the general trend and attracting more and more members.

Our thanks once again to Mr. Will for his continued help and enthusiasm, to Ian Strachan and Logan Steele for their work in organising everything, and to the

School Societies

5I

janitors for thcir assistance on the Friday evenings. Above all, thanks to the Prefects whose vigilance has ensured that everyone has enjoyed the season's programme.

We look forward to an even bigger membership next year.

Folk Song Society Due to lack of general support among the upper forms, The Folk Song Society has not been meeting as regularly as was planned at the beginning of the year. It is hoped that in the future the younger pupils will take a greater interest and so help to promote this interesting and enjoyable hobby within the School. Meetings arc usually held on Tuesday evenings at 4.05 p.m. in laboratory 5 and anyone interested from Third Year upwards should contact Mr. May.

French Club The French Club has now been in existence for two years with the object of giving members an opportunity to hear and converse with native French pupils of a similar age, and the setting up of a French school by the Total Oil Company was a unique opportunity for this to be effected. We are indebted to all the speakers who have given talks (usually with slides) over an extremely varied and interesting range of topics, and have been encouraged by attendances, which, although not high, have remained constant throughout the year. But naturally the Club would be delighted to see any new faces.

Last year some French pupils demonstrated their "cuisine" by making crepessuzettes which we sampled with true Scottish caution, and as a form of "revenge" it was decided to hold a Burns Supper this year, complete with piper and recitations from Mrs. Shaw and Mr. Galloway. The meeting which both Mr. Gill and Mr. Davidson attended, was a great success. Special mention must go to Miss Carter, whose devotion along with that of M. Hcrvier has kept the Club functioning.

Golf Club This year, for the first time, the club was open to pupils in years I, II, III and IV (including girls!). Unfortunately, the membership of the Club has fallen drastically compared to last year. There seems to be no obvious explanation for this drop, but we hope that the number of pupils attending the Golf Club meetings will rise as the session continues. Providing numbers do increase, a handicap championship will be held in the summer term. At the moment, our members arc having to be content with playing in "9 hole medals" at Hazlehead. Matches against other schools may also be played later in the term. There are now sets of golf clubs for beginners who do not possess any of their own and new members will be welcome. For those interested, the Club meets on Wednesday in Technical Room 1. Every second week, coaching is held in the Gym. Finally, our thanks go to Mr. J. Cruickshank for all his help and advice throughout the year.

Junior Dramatic Society This year, for the first time, fourth year pupils were officially allowed to partake in the activities of this Society. This extension of our membership allowed us to choose a more mature and demanding play than those previously attempted.

Our choice was the well known "Our Town" by the American playwright, Thornton Wilder.

The cast, which was chosen during the autumn of '75 included many well-known faces, but also some extremely talented new members. After a few false starts, rehearsals proper began in January 1976. These meetings have been for the most part confined to Wednesdays after School and Friday evenings.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

We were very fortunate in having so many experts to guide us. Helping Mr. Morrison in producing the play were Mrs. Wood, our School drama teacher, and, on occasions, Mr. Valentine and Miss Gordon. Mr. Torrance of Grampian Television gave invaluable assistance in his field of lighting.

All new members will be made most welcome in this friendly, informal Society.

If you are thinking of joining remember that the only aims of an amateur dramatic society are to allow its members as much self-expression and enjoyment as possible, be these in acting, make-up, lighting, or stage crew work.

Pupils' Library Committee The School Careers Department has transferred its collection of pamphlets and prospectuses to the East Gallery of the Library, so making them more easily accessible to pupils. The move has proved very valuable.

We would like to express our particular thanks to our brigade of sixth year committee members: N. Carscy, M. Chittleburgh, M. Fraser, A. Garden, A. Morricc and A. Soutter. They have all of them been of immense help, assisting in the routine issuing of books, cataloguing, and maintaining order with no excess of fuss. The gap they leave will be very difficult indeed to fill, but their example should encourage others to come forward and continue their good work.

For the remainder of the session our work will be mainly concerned with the Annual Scrutiny, a laborious but most necessary task.

Motorcycle Club At the beginning of this session, the Club was able to purchase a 5o c.c. Suzuki which brought our collection of workable motorcycles to a strength of three. Over the last four sessions our collection of motorcycles, spares and tools has grown steadily and our practical activities have expanded accordingly.

We have been hampered by various unavoidable restrictions on time, and our riding sessions have not been as frequent as is desirable, but they are still very well attended by members new and old. Some pupils have been members of the Club for several years and are developing their basic riding skills most satisfactorily. On several occasions Former Pupils, who were Club members in their days at the School, have turned up on Saturday mornings, often bringing with them their latest two wheeled acquisition. These visits are most welcome since pupils have a chance to see several different interesting motorcycles and to compare their various technicalities.

The Club has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and I feel that we are making a small, but important, contribution to Road Safety by giving youngsters experience in basic machine control. I should add here that this is all we do as regards riding motorcycles; there exists in Aberdeen an excellent voluntary training scheme for motorcyclists, run by the RAC/ACU (details from City Police HQ).

Netball Club The netball club meets on Monday night after school in Rosemount Gym for all girls in Ist, lInd and IIlyd years.

This year we entered the Scottish Cup where the team mainly consisted of Moira Jessiman, Vivienne Sharp, Lorna Dunbar, Ruth Hutchison, Margery Coutts, Roschelen Hannan, Pamela Dornan and Lorna Simpson. In our first match we went to Edinburgh and beat Queensferry, and then went on to play Northfield Academy but unfortunately lost to them. Although this meant we were out of the Cup we have gained a lot of experience and hope to do better next year. The IIIrd year girls

School 1st XV 1975-76

BACK Row: M. J. P. Midgley, A. W. Hood, R. F. M. M. Knowles, C. A. McDonald.

1+4a-mu,: Row: W. J. Wood, D. G. Mitchell, W. G. Watt, I. C. Strachan, N. W. McDow•all, A. R. Grant.

FRONT Row: R. Keltie, G. T. Cars4m A. A. 13(Nlr h (vice-rapt.), G. ►. G. Alin (cart.), K. A. Ward. J. K. Bremner.

K. MacD ,nald.

MR. ARCHIBALD G. WATER

President of the Club x976-77

MR. ROBERT A. E. MENNIE

195r-65 Reunion on 29 December 1975 •

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BACK Row (0 to right): L. Tough, R. Stinat, F. McCallum, B. Mair, M. Shirreffs, M. Durdop, G. Crawford, M. Rennie, C. Shepherd, G. MacNay, H. 0. Will, G. Farquhar, D. Marr, W. Leiper, M. Millar, B. Morgan, H. Reid.

MIDDLE Row STANDING (left to right): H. Millar, A. MacKenzie, A. Wilson, A. Lessells, R. Stables, G. Hay, A. Campbell, H. Morrison, D. Walker, R. Gauld, I. Hepburn, D. Mair, G. Cowie, R. Rae, B. Drummond, M. Batchelor, D. Yule.

MIDDLE Row SEATED (left to right): P. Costello, C. Clements, R. Neave, G. Letts, A. Trail, R. Houghton, J. V. Skinner (Rector 1959-72), A. Philip, H. Clark, N. Borthwick, R. Shirreffs, R. Gray, D. Robertson.

FRONT Row (left to right): S. Essen, J. Hendry, D. Lamont, L. MacKay, B. Carrie, J. D. Reid, J. A. Reid, A. liatrick, G. Reid.

School Societies

53 our matches also entered thc Senior League and although we did not win too many of we did get some good results.

The junior team consisted of girls from 1st and Ilnd year and they did quite well in their league and have enjoyed playing these matches and look forward to competing in this league again next year.

The Club would like to thank Miss Ramsey and Mrs. Webster for their help throughout the year.

Railway Society This has been an extremely good year for the Society. A large, enthusiastic, membership has forced the Club to meet on two evenings per week.

The complete rewiring of the track has increased its versatility and handling capacity for rolling stock. The introduction of a third control area, viz. the goods yard, has meant that everyone can have the opportunity of a little relaxation between bouts of scenery building and painting.

Rifle Club This year the Club has been using the facilities of Portlethcn Rifle Club, Holburn Street, which offers the use of a heated twenty-five yard range with adjoining club room. Throughout the Autumn term the Club shot a league competition with Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow. The results were very encouraging, and we hope to re-enter next session.

Since the Club's founding by Mr. David Scott in 1974 it has purchased four .11 target rifles, which are available for use by all Club members. Transport to the range is available through Mr. R. Trail (Physics) who will also welcome any future inquiries.

Unfortunately the Club, by law, is limited to a maximum of thirty members from years III to VI so that early application for membership is essential for the coming year.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Club to thank both Mr. Scott and Mr. Trail for their support and assistance in the smooth running of our Club.

Rowing Club The 1975 season was at once disappointing and encouraging. After representing Scotland in Wales in 1974, the first crew, who had all returned for a sixth year seemed set to sweep the board, but insufficient training coupled with over-confidence was their downfall from which they never quite recovered. They did however regain some of their previous form at the Aberdeen Regatta in May, winning Senior B fours on the Saturday, Senior C fours on the Sunday and only just losing the Junior 18 fours due to a steering error.

The fourth year Rubislaw and Hazlehead crews remained separate until two weeks before the Aberdeen Regatta. At this stage the stroke of thc Rubislaw four, Barry Parker, was transferred to the stroke position of the Hazlehead four and this combination proved unbeatable in their age group. At the Aberdeen Regatta they won both the Junior 15 and Junior 16 fours events, easily beating crews from Edinburgh and Glasgow who had beaten the Hazlehead crew at previous regattas.

From then on, they remained unbeaten at Junior 15 and 16 level in Scotland, which included winning both age group events at the Scottish Championships.

The Club also entered the British Championships in July at Nottingham. Since there was no Junior 15 event, the fourth year crew had to enter the Junior 16 event and against the best crews in the country, in six lane racing, they just failed to reach the semi-finals, finishing thirteenth overall.

54

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Our two rugby players, Mike Cavanagh and Mike Morrice entered the Junior t 8 coxed pairs only to find the competition exceptionally hot. In their first heat they "cruised" into last place while conserving their energy for the semi-finals. In this race they went very fast off the start to lead by a half length at soca metres. At 700 metres they trailed the field by two lengths, having "blown up" in the intervening zoo metres, a result of insufficient training in general and overtraining of the right arm in particular.

This year, the prospects seem equally bright as last year. We still have our very fast Junior 16 four but with Calum Falconer of Rubislaw replacing one of the Ilazlchead boys. Already they have won the Aberdeen Inter Club Regatta in November and the Aberdeen Head of the River Race in February. Unfortunately they too seem to have caught the ailment of last year's first crew, but only time will tell if the outcome will be the same.

In fourth year, we have two very fast Rubislaw crews who are already showing as much promise as last year's one. The faster of the two was just beaten by the University second crew in the Head of the River Race, but gained their revenge in a private race with the same crews two weeks later, when they won by one length, leading from start to finish.

Over the past two years the Club has been involved in a fund raising venture with Aberdeen Boat Club. This came to fruition in z8 February with the launching of a brand new West German coxed four which was named "The Argo". This type of boat, which is the fastest design available in the world, will be available for our School fours at championship events and this should provide an extra boost to our crews at the right time.

Scientific Society The Aberdeen Schools' Scientific Society meetings have produced this session a most interesting series of lectures by practising scientists of various disciplines. The lectures, held monthly at the University, have been well attended by Rubislaw pupils.

At Christmas a most interesting talk was given by Dr. Musgrave of the University Chemistry Department on "Chemiluminescence". The School representatives arc Ian McConachie and Darryl Thomson of Class V. Our thanks go to Mr. Montgomery of the Chemistry Department who organised our visits.

Scripture Union This year for the first time the Scripture Union split itself into two groups: one for first and second year pupils meets at Tuesday lunchtime under the guidance of Mr. Davidson of the English department, the other for third to sixth year pupils on Wednesday at lunchtime led by Mrs. Watt.

The year has been an active one. Last September a very successful games evening was organised for the first and second years and was attended by over seventy pupils.

The noise was high, as was the level of enjoyment.

At Christmas we visited Broomhill Park Eventide Home and presented a nativity play and a short service. And for the months ahead a number of projects has been planned, including a social evening involving films and discussion, and a weekend outing.

Our numbers have slowly but steadily increased this year, a tendency we hope that will continue.

Sub Aqua Club The Sub Aqua Club has again proved very popular and has attracted a large number of new members. During the winter months the Club has been confined to the pool. Although this may not suit the older members their time has been well spent in teaching the new members snorkelling techniques. Those members who

School Societies

55

were fifteen recently, progressed beyond this with their first experience of an aqualung and have taken to the water like stones.

The School minibus has made a big difference to the number of dive sites easily accessible and enabled us to make two trips to Oban last year to fill Mr. Spence's deep freeze with scallops. This trip also included a dive on the s.s. Breda a 9ooo-ton cargo vessel sunk by the Germans in 1945 in 95 feet of water.

The joint trip with the hillwalking club on the Robert Gordon last summer provided some very interesting dives, one at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the Scottish mainland, and a dive that left Mr. Spence heading for the bottom when he met a ram about 15 feet down.

Mr. Spence has recently moved to Hazlehcad Academy and we are grateful that he continues to run the Club on Monday nights at 5 o'clock.

Table Tennis Club The Club has been very successful in this its second year of existence, a year in which we not only made our debut in the Aberdeen school's league first division— but won it.

The Club's facilities have marginally improved and four tables now operate twice a week at lunchtimes and once a week after school. However, with the large number of pupils taking part, about ten of whom are girls, the main practice game has to be doubles (as this allows twice the number to participate) and this is not very satisfactory as singles is far more important for competitive play.

Besides winning the Schools' league the senior "A" team also won the K.O. competition for Grampian region and went to Falkirk to represent the region in the Scottish championships in February. The team performed very well although they were much younger than other teams and with more experience can be hopeful of even greater success next year.

The Junior Girls team also won the Grampian region K.O. event and went to the national championships. They reached the final where they lost narrowly (3-a) to another Aberdeen school—a side they had previously defeated.

The Senior "B" team finished fourth in the Second Division of the Aberdeen schools' league, a commendable position for such inexperienced competitors.

On the individual side Michael Aitken, a Scottish internationalist at second year level, won the Grampian region competition third year title, and Denise Torrance was runner-up in the junior girls' event.

Ronald Cowie, the School's top player, although plagued by a knee injury, reached the semi-final of the Grampian region senior boys' singles and was undefeated in the schools' league. Andrew Milne, a much improved player, was an outstanding competitor whose excellent record of one defeat in twenty games for the "A" team contributed greatly to the team's final league position.

The future of the Club looks promising as there is great potential amongst some of the younger players, particularly Gordon Angus (I), Karen Jeffrey (I), Gregor Dick (II) and Kenneth Stephen (H)—and next year there will be keen competition for team places.

Wargaming Society This session saw an increase in the number of members, all of whom, at one point or another, have participated in the competitions which have been held this session.

The entries to these competitions gave the judges quite a problem as they were all of a very high standard.

This year, as well as our usual weekly meetings on Tuesdays in Room 4, we have had one or two Saturday morning meetings. We are very grateful to Mr. Gill, Mr. Murray and Mr. Hopkins for making this possible. We would also like to thank Mr. Diack whose room we use on the first Tuesday of every month.

"Our Town" This year, the School Junior Dramatic Society chose, as their main production, a play which has been highly praised on both sides of the Atlantic. Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" presented a considerable challenge to the players and production team but they set about their task with their customary zest.

"Our Town", first performed in 1938, tells a story of Life and Death, from the cot to the grave (and beyond), in a small town named Grovers' Corners, New Hampshire at the beginning of the twentieth century. The first two acts deal with life, as it is lived by two families in Grovers' Corners, the tight, cosy circles in which they move and their easy-going attitude to life within the warmth of the family group. The third and final act deals with life seen in retrospect. The Dead converse in cold, icy tones, each one recalling his or her own by-passed opportunities, looking with what ranges from lofty sympathy to condemnation upon the living people who blunder, blindly, past their grave-sides.

The first two acts were carried through well; they had continuity and pace. Only in the wedding scene in Act two did the borderline between artistic illusion and comic farce become a trifle blurred. Act Three, mainly due to an over-tight rehearsal schedule, lacked the gusto and pace of the preceding acts. But as Act Three has a natural slowness and sombreness of mood about it, the change in pace or mood was more credible, and, indeed, fitting.

The young couple, George and Emily, about whom the story revolves were played by Michael Midgley and Morag Bachelor. George, in Michael's interpretation, was given a very robust, exuberant and extrovert style. He had a boyish freshness about him at all times and his preoccupation with baseball puts him on a level with those in the audience who have also had a "typical childhood". George was well interpreted by Michael as a typical, young, open-faced youth, and well portrayed.

Emily was the perfect foil for George's brashness, quiet, sweet and pretty, but, for all that, surprisingly well acquainted with all the feminine wiles, and could twist George round her little finger. Emily, after only a few years of marriage to George, died in childbirth and was seen in her grave reflecting on her life and loved-ones. The part of Emily is undoubtedly the most arduous in the play and Morag Bachelor is to be commended upon her fine performance. Mary Sharp and David McLeod, and Amanda Taylor and Alistair Garden put in good performances as George's and Emily's respective parents.

To give the story continuity and credibility, Wilder employs a "Stage Manager" or Narrator. In the School production, this part was split in two. The two Stage Managers were Neil McDowall and Andrew Grant and between them they performed their task of making the audience feel comfortable and ready to believe in what they were seeing, very well.

Let us not forget the silent army behind stage (who, at times, I am afraid, were not as silent as they might have been). Although the set was not ambitious, nor meant to be, the stage crew, under the leadership of Gordon Walters and Gareth Edwards, worked smoothly and well. The stage-lighting must always be supplementary to the set; so in this case the lighting crew under Duncan McDowall and Gary Allan had a lot to do. They did their job very well.

Final congratulations must go to Mr. Donald Morrison and Mrs. Pat Wood, the co-producers. They brought the best out of their actors and actresses, they succeeded in overcoming the obstacles which always threaten school productions, and they utilised fully and with great success the limited resources at their disposal.

All involved in "Our Town" have something of which to be proud, and not a few of them, I feel sure, will go on to higher things within the School in years to come.

56

Former Pupils' Club Section (Club Founded xi September ill93)

Club Office-Bearers, x976-77 Honorary President: ROBERT DOUGLAS GILL, M.A. (Headmaster from January 1973)

Honorary Vice- presidents: GEORGE E. C. BARTON (1923-26) M.A. ERIC Ros BIRKETT (1920-22), C.A. JOSEPH ROBERT CARRY (1918-30), M.B.E., T.D. DOUGLAS PATERSON COCIIRAN (1906-15), F.INST.I.B., A.A.I.B. ALLAN CAMERON FRAZER. (1925-30), M.A., LL.B., W.S. ALEXANDER GRAY (1910-22), M.A., LL.B.

THE HON. LORD JOHNSTON (1913-26).

JOHN ADAM LILLDS (1893-1903), LL.D., M.A., LL.B., Q.C. D.D. JAMES FRASER MCLUSKEY (1920-31) IAN GOWANLOCK MCPHERSON (1910-17).

SIR LESLIE DEANE MAYOR (1923-33), K.C.E., A.I'.C., R.A.N. THE RIGHT HoN. LORD MESTON (1901-02).

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

JOHN LENNOX RIDDELL (1907-16).

JOHN VASS SKINNER, M.A., M.LITT., DIP.ED., I.P. (Rector, 1959-72).

Sir LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON (1899-1908), C.B., O.B.E., M.A., D.SC., F.R.S.E., LL.D. ALAN CROMBIE ROBERTSON WATT (1925-37), M.A., LL.B. ROBERT BERTRAM WILLIAMSON (1906-18), D.S.O., T.D., M.A., LL.B. EDWARD JAMES WOOD (1908-21), M.A.

President: ROBERT ALEXANDER ESSLEMONT MENNIE (1924-36), M.A.

Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: NEIL IAN WILSON MELDRUM (1925-37) M.A., LL.B. Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65), LL.B. 36 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB9 IYU

Treasurer: COLIN C. ALLAN (1936-45), C.A. 63 Gray Street, Aberdeen AB' 6JD

General Editor of Magazine: DAVID K. YULE (1951-65), M.A. i 1 Kinkel! Road, Aberdeen, Alit 8HQ. 57

58

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Secretaries of Centres: Edinburgh—NIGEL G. M. WATT (1963-69), 10 Athol! Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8HE Glasgow—Jot-IN G. M. BIRSS (1926-38), M.C., M.A., A.C.W.A., 57 Whittingehame Drive, Glasgow W 2.

London—ANDREW S. NOBLE (1939-52), M.A., F.C.NI.A., 62 Woodside, Wimbledon, London SW 19.

Malaysia—G. MURRAY MILNE (1944-58), Kelpin Estate, Bahau P.O., N. Sembilan, W. Malaysia.

Yorkshire—J. A. N. WATT, (1927-39) 5c Southella Way, Kirkella, Hull HUI o 7LS Ireland—ANDREW M. M. STEVEN ([936-50), M.A., LL.B., DIP.ED., 5 Beechill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 4NS Secretaries of Sections: Cricket—ALEXANDER M. DAVIDSON (1937-45), B.L., 18 Golden Square, Aberdeen ABr TRH Golf—CoLIN C. ALLAN (1936-45), c.A., 63 Gray Street, Aberdeen AB i 6JD Hockey—DENis N. YULE (1960-66), LL.B., 8 Cameron Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen ABz 8QA Rugby—CHARLEs RITCHIE (1945-51), II Dunvegan Avenue, Portlethen Swimming—MELVILLE F. WATSON (1942-56) B.L., 393 Union Street, Aberdeen ABI 213X

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

Vice-Chairman—DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON (1929-40) The Secretary and Treasurer, and General Editor of the Magazine, ex oifieiis The Headmaster of the School, ex officio.

ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59) RONALD R. COMBER (1947-52) DOUGLAS MCALLISTER (1961-74) BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1 934-46) DALLAS G. MOIR (1969-74) JOHN P. DRUMMOND (1947-58) IIARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) JOHN L. DUNCAN (1958-71) CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON (1959-72) A. J. M. EDWARDS (1908-2I) CHARLES RITCHIE (1945-51) PROF PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58) DR. RANALD F. F. STEVEN (1933-43) Section Representatives : Club Centre—ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) Cricket—DR. W. A. STEWART (1939-47) Golf—W. DOUGLAS MITCHELL (1946-61) Hockey—DENIS N. YULE (1960-66) Rugby—JAMES A. LEASE (1960-66) Staff—ROY FALCONER Swimming—II. A. B. HARPER (1950-57) Hon. Auditors: MESSRS. BOWER & SMITH. C.A.

Annual General Meeting The Seventy-fourth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Club Centre, 86 Queens Road, Aberdeen, on Monday, 29 March 1976.

Executive Report The following arc extracts from the Report of the Executive Committee of the Club which was submitted to the meeting.

Membership During the year efforts were directed towards recovering some of the members who had allowed their subscriptions to lapse, and also towards encouraging conversion to Life Membership. As a result, 63 lapsed members rejoined the Club, 34 of them as Lifc Members. Conversion to Life Membership was encouraged by the prospect of the increase in subscription, and 318 Ordinary Members made the change during the year. There was an encouraging recruitment from School Leavers of 73 Ordinary and 6 Life members, and a welcome increase in Staff Membership, some of them as Life Members, and 8 of them ladies.

28.2.75 29.2.76

Life 1167 1497 ....._ +33o

Ordinary 851 576

Honorary 6 7

Staff 24 39

Total 2048 1119

—275

+1

+15

-+71

Among the members who died during the year were former President Mr. Cecil A. G. Savidge, 1S.B.E., who held office in 1964/65, and Mr. Peter Crombie who collapsed and died shortly after leaving the Annual Dinner. A tragically untimely death was that of Hector M. Aird, at the age of thirty-three, after a brief illness.

Social The Annual Dinner was held on 31 October 1975 in the Royal Darroch Hotel, Cults, and was attended by 187 members and their guests. The Annual Ball was held in the Beach Ballroom on z6 December 1975 and was attended by 596 members and their guests.

School Cordial relations between School and Club continued, and in addition to the prizes already provided by the Club an award for Illyd Year Girls equivalent to the Norman Mackie Memorial Prize has been established by the Club.

General Business The Accounts for the year, duly audited and certified were submitted and approved. A copy of the Accounts is included elsewhere in this Magazine.

Reports on the year's activities were submitted by representatives of the Sections and of the Club Centre.

The meeting approved an amendment to the constitution of the Club whereby the offices of Secretary and Treasurer of the Club need not be held by the same person.

The appointment of office bearers then took place and the meeting's decisions are recorded elsewhere in the Magazine.

The Chairman of the Executive reported to the meeting the resignation of Brian Crookshanks from his appointment as Secretary and Treasurer of the Club. He referred to the hard work and distinguished service which Mr. Crookshanks had given to the Club since his appointment as Secretary and Treasurer, and the meeting warmly endorsed the Chairman's expression of appreciation of Mr. Crookshanks' efforts and achievements for the Club during his period of office.

59

Presidential Profile Robert A. E. Mennie, M.A., President of F.P. Club 1976-77 The unwelcome intrusion of an inflated eulogy on the Club's highest office bearer at this point in the Magazine has been very effectively repelled by the unassuming modesty of our new President, Bob Mennie. The writer's request for the President's life history was most courteously answered by a careful and concise list of positions held in business and in the Club, but no amount of encouragement could draw even a trace of flamboyance or a hint of pride in his manifold achievements from Bob Mennie.

Bob Mennie attended the School from 1924 until 1936 completing a distinguished school record by receiving the award of Proxime Acre:tit to the Classical Dux in his final year. The promise of his academic merit given at School was fulfilled when he graduated with first class honours in Classics from the University of Aberdeen.

Bob's army career during the war was cut short in 1943 when he was invalided out of the forces with tuberculosis, but by that time he had already served in the Royal Artillery and in the War Office attaining the rank of Major.

In the same year Bob joined the Anglo Iranian Oil Company (subsequently renamed the British Petroleum Company) and has continued to serve with the same company ever since. Much of his career has been spent on the continent, for example as Operations Manager of the Swiss B.P. subsidiary company in Zurich and latterly as shareholder representative of the parent company to the German subsidiary company in Hamburg. Even since his return to this country in 1968 as Assistant General Manager of the Supply Department for all B.P. operations, Bob's involvement with the continent has been maintained through his appointment as chairman of the committee of management of the Transalpine Pipeline and his membership of the management committee of the Rotterdam—Antwerp Pipeline. It is perhaps not surprising that a man with such responsible European commitments is fluent in French and German.

It is not Bob's cosmopolitan experience, however, which establishes him as such an eminently suitable heir to the fine tradition of F.P. Club presidents, but rather the strong links which he has maintained with the North-East, the School and the Club all the time that he has been away. While Bob was in Zurich, his elder son attended the School until the boarding house closed, and his younger son is currently an undergraduate at Aberdeen University. There is a Mennie holiday house in St Cyrus which acts as a base for visiting old friends in the Aberdeen area.

Most important has been the service Bob has given to the London Centre of the Club. He is currently in his third year as President of the London Centre and was previously Secretary of the Centre for five years. His quiet efficiency has made a very considerable contribution to the success of the London Centre in recent years and there is no doubt that Bob is unsparing in his efforts for the Centre. Within a few 6o

61 Ofcial Changes: Two for the Price of One minutes of meeting the Executive Committee of the Club for the first time in April this year, he had persuaded them to provide the London Centre with presidential insignia for formal occasions I It is clear from even the above brief details unassumingly provided

by Bob Mennie that he is more than worthy of the highest honour which the Club can bestow, on the grounds of his academic distinction and success in the European business world, but more significantly because of his experience in Club affairs and as a tribute to his highly valued service to the Club furth of Aberdeen. Perhaps it is a little fanciful to imagine that his appointment also has a supernatural sanction. Nevertheless, it is a fact that in October 1975 the Notes Editor received a "pink slip" with details of an oil executive's career, but omitting the F.P.s name, and delivered unsigned. It remained as an inexplicable phenomonon until Bob Mennie's appointment, when it became suddenly apparent that the mystery F.P. with no name, whose career was described in a message from no identifiable natural source, was our new President.

Official Changes : Two for the Price of One The resignation of Brian Crookshanks as Secretary and Treasurer of the Club is not an event which may easily be passed over in the Club's history. Indeed, it is indicative of Brian's importance in the development of the Club, that his resignation necessitated a constitutional amendment so that it might be possible for two men to undertake the duties which Brian has performed alone for the past eleven years. For all that time Brian had been the Club to outsiders and probably to a large number of F.P.s who were not particularly closely involved in the Club's affairs. Nobody will ever know just how much of his time and energies Brian devoted to the Club, but all who know him will agree that he has shouldered an almost impossible burden in dealing with the Club's secretarial and financial business with a willingness and genuine interest beyond anything that might reasonably be expected.

His knowledge of F.P. affairs and F.P. personalities in particular was invaluable, especially in the days when he amazingly coupled his Club duties with the posts of Secretary and Treasurer of the Club Centre at a time when the Centre, in its early stages of development, demanded much of all of its officials.

It is very satisfying to note that Brian's interest in the Club and the School may be re-channelled not only through his continued membership of the Club Executive and of the Club Centre Management Committee, but also in his appointment as Chairman of the new Schools Council covering Rubislaw Academy.

It is only fitting that a tribute to Brian should include a note of thanks to his wife and family whose labours in the important exercises of addressing and delivering F.P. mail have contributed greatly to the Executive's fight against rising administrative costs!

Our new Secretary, John F. Hendry* (195x-65), offers most

6z

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

impressive credentials for his appointment. One is impressed not so much by his legal background as a partner in Campbell Connon and Company (every other F.P. official is a lawyer after all!), as by the service he has already given to the Club. He first sat on the Executive Committee in 1969, is a past Treasurer of the Rugby Section, has organised a string of highly successful F.P. Dinners and Balls, has given unstintingly of his time in the running of the Club Centre and now holds the post of Vice-Chairman of the Centre Management Committee. Jock is the kind of committee member who not only applies his intelligence to solving the problems presented to the Club, but also devotes his undoubted abilities to seeing that the committee's solutions are put into practice. In all his F.P. activities Jock has shown that he will prove to be a Secretary, with whose efficiency nobody may take exception, and in whose amiable manner all will take pleasure.

Colin C. Allan* (1936-45) is also highly qualified for his new appointment as Treasurer. On leaving School he joined Meston and Company, C.A., and qualified C.A. in x951. Since then he has worked with Aberdeen Construction Group before joining Richard Irvin and Sons Ltd. where he was appointed to the Board two years ago. He has a most respectable record of sporting service to the School and Club having been Secretary of the Rugby Section and more recently Secretary of the Golf Section and representative to the Executive Committee since x 969. Colin's conscientious approach to his Golf Section duties is typified by his careful but invariable introduction to his report to every A.G.M., "Mr. Chairman, gentleman, I have to report that, in the past season, no member of the Section has been capped for Scotland." Like Jock, Colin has been a long-serving and long-suffering member of the Club Centre Management Committee, whose contribution to the management of the Centre has shown that the efficient handling of the Club's financial affairs may be entrusted to him with full confidence.

To Brian we give our thanks for his past efforts (to be more fittingly expressed by a presentation at the 1976 Annual Dinner), and to Jock and Colin we offer our best wishes for their future endeavours.

Centre Reports Edinburgh The Annual Dinner was held at the end of February, in the Caledonian Club, Abercromby Place, with twenty-seven F.P.s and guests attending. W. McL. Dewar, C.B.E., former Headmaster of George Heriot's School and also a former master of the School, proposed the Toast "The School and the Club" and suitable replies were made by the Parent Club President, Alan C. R. Watt and the Headmaster, Mr. Robert D. Gill.

During the course of the evening the Annual General Meeting was held. The meeting elected D. Ian K. Macleod and D. R. B. Cay as President and Vice-President respectively for 1976. We were sorry to

63 Centre Reports accept the resignation of the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, David A. Brittain. He has served the Centre well for nine years and we thank him for all his efforts. The new Secretary, Nigel G. M. Watt, will be delighted to hear from both F.P.s who are newcomers to Edinburgh and also those in the area not already on the Centre's membership list.

Next year's Annual Dinner will again be held in the Caledonian Club on Friday, 18 March—the eve of the Scotland-Wales Rugby International at Murrayfield.

It is hoped to arrange an informal gathering with the Edinburgh Centres of both the Aberdeen High School F.P. Club and the Gordonian Club, sometime later in the year. Also the Centre would like to issue a golf challenge to the Glasgow Centre and if any F.P. in the Glasgow Area is interested in organising such a match please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Secretary.

The F.P.s attending the 1976 Dinner were as follows: Dennis W. Inkson The Hon. Lord Johnston Sheriff John A. Lillie I. Ian K. MacLeod Leonard Scorgie Forbes J. Smith William D. D. Wallace Alan C. R. Watt Nigel G. M. Watt

E. Ros Birkctt F. C. B. Black David A. Brittain D. R. B. Cay James Craig Brian K. Crookshanks Allan C. Frazer J. R. Fiddes James Hamill Douglas R. Harper Ireland

This Centre, founded in 1963 and based in Belfast, holds occasional "gatherings" in a local hotel. Mr. W. S. Benton (1904-11) continues as President and Mr. A. M. M. Steven (1936-5o) as Secretary.

F.P.s who expect to be in N. Ireland on business or on holiday arc invited to contact the Secretary (5 Beechill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast 8) as a "gathering" might be arranged to coincide with their visit.

London

The London Centrc continues to hold its own in times when evening functions in London are tending to be less and less popular for a variety of economic and social reasons. Of especial concern to the Executive Committee of the Centre is the lack of younger F.P.s participating in the activities. The Secretary, Andrew Noble, is making a special effort this year to contact relative newcomers to London and would be delighted to hear from F.P.s (of any age!) either at his home address, published elsewhere in the Magazine, or at his office, Debenhams Ltd., 1 We!beck Street, London WIA IDF (Tel. 01-580 4444 Ext. 432).

The Centre has now changed the date of its A.G.M. to the end of May so that there arc two social functions reasonably evenly spaced through the year. Last year, the first of the change, sixteen F.P.s sat down to supper in the Caledonian Club.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 64 The Caledonian Club was also the venue of the Annual Dinner on Friday, 5 December 1975. Twenty-six members of the Centre (names below) and nine guests were present. The toast of "The School and the Club" was proposed by Mr. R. W. Adam, a director of British Petroleum. He was for a short time a pupil at the School and is a hoped for recruit to the Club. The reply to the toast was by the President, Alan Watt, who gave us an entertaining account of Aberdeen affairs without which no dinner would be complete. Bob Mennie, the Centre's President, ensured a successful evening by his excellent chairmanship of the proceedings.

Will all those interested please note that the 1976 Annual Dinner will be held at the Caledonian Club on Friday, 3 December.

The 1975 Dinner was attended by Sir Landsborough Thomson (1899-1908), A. G. Esslemont (1908-20), W. W. Georgeson (1911-23), J. W. Kenzie (1912-19), R. D. Bruce (191 3-22), J. E. Smith (1916-22), E. R. Gauld (1919-23), J. F. McLuskey (1920-31), A. Walker (1923-25), J. R. W. Catto (1923-36), R. A. E. Mennie (1924-36), A. W. C. Lobban (1925-35), G. L. McEwan (1 929-35), J. G. C. Brown (193o-42), L. G. Johnston (1932-45), N. K. B. Robson (1933-40), D. S. Robbie (1936-48), G. W. McL. Murray (1939-52), A. S. Noble (1939-52), M. J. Wagrel (1943-49), R. Falconer (1944-58), W. Yule (1945-58), K. M. Gorrod (1947-61), D. A. Lamont (1 951-65), J. D. Reid (1 954-65), H. T. E. Norbrook (1959-65).

Guests from other F.P. Clubs were Mr. Johnstone Stewart, London Gordonians, Mr. G. Miller, London Heriots Club, Mr. R. Glendinning, The Glasgow High School London Club.

Yorkshire It was a simple act of one F.P. helping another that led to the formation of this centre which was officially constituted in June 1948.

A year earlier Scottie MacLachlan had written to T. C. Young (1910-17) then resident in Leeds, asking him whether he could assist in finding lodgings for Norman Willox (1933-38), an F.P. who was about to attend a Leeds college. Not only did T. C. Young help in the search for lodgings, but he was also instrumental in gathering a body of twenty-eight F.P.s of whom fifteen sat down to the first annual dinner in Leeds on io December 1948. (The charge for dinner, incidentally, was 10/6d1). Three of those present that evening attended our 1975 dinner, and almost all of the others in between—Arthur J. Adams, for most of the Centre's existence our indestructible Secretary, Leslie G. Boyd and Ian D. Innes.

The geographical limits of Yorkshire have been altered, and familiar towns now find themselves in unfamiliar counties, but the Yorkshire Centre has always favoured a flexible interpretation of those limits and any member of the F.P. Club who is able to reach the annual dinner is very welcome to add his name to our list of members. Our theme is informality and our capacity for reminiscence is unlimited; but, to keep the nostalgia within reasonable bounds we particularly welcome younger F.P.s who find themselves in this arca.

65 Centre Reports With the common experience of the School we find that our reunions are the nearest possible approach to a genuine time machine.

For a few hours we are back to the great names and events of the past; photographs—some now fading—are passed round with the whisky— "do you remember ... ?".

The 1975 Dinner was again held, on io October 1975, in the Blue Bell Inn, Arkendalc, near Knaresborough, and the 1976 Dinner will be arranged for the second Friday in October 1976.

Those present last October were: Guests of Honour: R. D. Gill, M.A., Rector; A. C. R. Watt, M.A., LL.B., President of the Club; L. G. Johnston (1932-45) from London.

Members of the Centre: A. J. Adams (192o-3o) Hon. President; W. J. Alexander (1931-43); M. A. Batchelor (1959-65); L. G. Boyd (1918-29); I. D. Innes (1933-38); D. G. Joss (1947-54); A. W. McIntosh (1932-45); J. A. N. Watt (1927-39) Hon. Secretary; J. J. Wilson (1949-52).

In 1975 a small but successful summer meeting was held in York.

With our respective wives we met for a meal and theatre evening and a few of the more energetic had earlier visited botanical gardens near Harrogate. The whole outing resulted from the enterprise of Martyn Batchelor, and we hope to persuade Martyn to repeat his efforts this year.

The Hon. Secretary of the centre is J. A. N. Watt, C.A. (1927-39) who will be pleased to hear from any members of the F.P. Club in this area.

Malaysia The Malaysian representative for the Club currently presides over a happy band of two! Since the other half of this dreadful duo happens to be a very good friend, it could be claimed that the Malaysian Section is one of the most active, since we meet at least fortnightly. Seriously, the old guard have now departed. Vince Stevens is in Scotland, as is Lyall Anderson who still involves himself in Tropical Agriculture during the closed salmon fishing season! The other notable, Brian Gray joined the World Bank some years ago and has left us.

Over the past few years there has been a very large influx of expatriates into this country, mostly residing in the Kuala Lumpur area.

If any of these new arrivals who are F.P.s would like to contact the Secretary, an effort will be made to form a quorum to resuscitate the annual "Dinner", an event which used to be held with great success when numbers permitted.

Club Centre Management Committee ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) Chairman JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65) Vice-Chairman GEORGE A. Rolm (1946-60) Secretary HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) Treasurer COLIN C. ALLAN (1936-4S) DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) (1929-40) RONALD R. COMBER (1947-52) JAMES A. LEASK (1960-66) RICHARD H. C. CRADOCK (1940-41, PROF. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58) 1944-51) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59) BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46) DR. W. A. STEWART (I939-47) JOHN P. DRUMMOND (1947-58) MELVILLE F. WATSON (1942-56) DAVID K. YULE (1951-65)

Steward—Mr. William Mackie (Tel.—Aberdeen 36827) The opening of the new lounge bar in the Club Centre in September provided the highlight of 1975. The Centre now has a lounge bar which is second to none in Aberdeen, and with the new entrance at the rear of the premises and improvements to the kitchen the facilities available have been greatly enhanced. The new lounge bar has proved extremely popular with members, and at the Annual General Meeting the Chairman was able to report that the total membership stood at 84o as compared with 625 a year earlier. All the indications are that the trend of rising membership is continuing.

Since early this year bar lunches have been provided on week days and snacks, and full dinner by request, are available on Friday and Saturday evenings. This reflects the continuing policy of the Management Committee to exploit the premises to the maximum and to make available as many facilities to members as possible. In this connection the Management Committee always welcomes suggestions from members as to alterations and improvements to the facilities and indeed to the premises themselves.

At the Annual General Meeting the Treasurer reported a surplus of £3,689 on the Bar Trading and General Income and Expenditure Account. While this was satisfactory for a year which has seen considerable increases in salaries and the general expense of administration as well as the cost of servicing the increased borrowings necessary to finance the alterations, the Management Committee feel that a somewhat higher surplus should be aimed at during the current year.

The Management Committee are very aware that in 86 Queens Road the Club has a valuable asset with potential for development and improvement over the years. The Committee feel that the Centre must be regarded as a continuing enterprise which will expand and change to meet new needs and ideas. It is always ready, therefore, to discuss projects for future development, and is receptive to suggestions from rncrqbcts to this end, when they are financially feasible. The ultimate 66

67 Section Reports purpose must be to build the Club Centre into something which is desired by as many Former Pupils as possible.

Finally, thanks must go to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Mackie and their staff during a year in which they have had to adapt to a number of changes.

Section Reports Cricket Season 1975 proved to be the most successful experienced by the Section since the Championship winning Season of 1948.

Having led the Strathmore Union for most of the Season, lack of reserve strength during the holiday season finally meant third place in the Union, a mere o.z5% behind the runners up-Strathmore.

It was gratifying to see the emergence of youthful talent, particularly the Moir twins in the 1st XI and Dougie Smith in the znd XI. The Batting Trophy was won by Richard Ferro, and the Bowling Trophy by Dallas Moir. In the overall Strathmore Union averages three F.P. players featured in the top twelve, namely John Hutton, Dallas Moir and Jeremy Moir. In the batting averages Richard Ferro and Harvey Morrison also featured in the top twelve in the Strathmore Union.

Whilst hoping that the successful trend will continue into 1976, it is perhaps worth emphasising that Championships are not won without sacrifice and complete dedication. I am sure that most F.P. players, can contribute more in this direction. It is absolutely essential when operating from a small pool of players, that maximum availability at all times is achieved.

The officials for the 1976 Season are as follows: H. E. Morrison Captain Strathmore Union XI I. P. Souter Vice-Captain Strathmore Union XI D. J. F. Robertson Captain Grade XI D. Smith Vice-Captain Grade XI Hockey This has been a season of transition for Scottish Hockey. Three leagues of 16,16 and 19 clubs respectively were established, and F.P.s along with Hazlehead and Ruthrieston were allocated a place in the top 16. Each team within the league played the others once only, and the top eight clubs at the end of the season then became the Premier Division for 1976-77 in a permanent structure of leagues of eight clubs.

Competition was therefore fierce, and F.P.s started off in the worst possible way, losing three of the first four matches. The early losses to Civil Service and Western, two of the best clubs in Scotland, were possibly to be expected although F.P.s were the first team to rattle a couple of goals past the former. Our r—o defeat by Stepps, however, was a bad one, due in no small measure (as the rest of the team has

68

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

been quick to point out!) to a missed penalty stroke by John Drummond.

Thereafter, the team moved into top gear, and scored successive wins against Babcock and Wilcox, Hazlehead, Ruthrieston, Dundee Wanderers, Clydesdale, Morgan and Ayr, with draws against Inverleith and ICI Grangemouth. These successes put us safely in the top eight clubs and, with the consequent lack of urgency in our play, we lost our last two matches to Perth and Grange.

As Hazlehead and Ruthrieston failed to make the top eight clubs, F.P.s arc the North's only representative in next year's Premier Division, the rest of which is composed of Harris F.P.s, Civil Service, Inverleith, Grange, ICI, Western and Babcock and Wilcox.

Gavin Gray has done a fairly efficient job as this season's captain but perhaps lacked a little fitness and staying power on the field. His successor is Billy Urquhart and we rely on him to establish a good training programme to prepare the Club for the intense pressure of the Premier Division next season. He'll also have to arrive on time occasionally, by getting the Saturday shopping done a little quicker!

Our second and third elevens have had average seasons, winning no honours, but finishing well up their respective leagues, and Grammarians have enjoyed themselves as usual. The Section owes a great debt of gratitude to Les Forbes, our Club captain, who has shown a great deal of interest and enthusiasm, and has blown a whistle whenever he has been asked. The man who has to try to maintain this standard is Keith Campbell, and the Section has no doubt that he will do so.

P.S. It is true that F.P.s took part in one round of the Scottish Cup this year, but the less said about that, the better.

Rugby The season recently completed has again been uneven with some highlights interspersed with disappointments. We had hoped to achieve promotion to the Scottish Second Division and, whilst some encouraging results were achieved, inconsistency and a lack of strength in depth prevented our aim and we ended up in the middle of the table.

The and XV suffered a similar fate in their first season of the Highland District League.

Nevertheless, some bright features emerged, namely the number and calibre of the recruitment from School, the return of Robin Craig to the ranks of playing members, and the endless enthusiasm of our President Doug Georgeson in all aspects of the Section, together with the magnificent efforts of Mike Gibb and Jim Leask on the financial side. Our thanks are due to all of them.

A recent innovation has been the introduction of a Mini-Rugby Weekly Session to introduce the game to children of primary school age. Attendance has exceeded all expectations with over seventy boys aged 8-it turning up for coaching. We would appreciate the assistance of any member past or present who finds himself available to help between 10.3o and noon on Saturdays.

Section Reports

69

The playing record of the 1st XV was: Played Won Lost Drawn For Against 401 14 14 31 496 3 Full colours were awarded for season x975-76 to Jim Andrews and Ian Gray and half colours to Rab Buglass, Robin Craig, Ian Hopkin, Alan Mitchelson, John Murray and Graham Reid.

The officials elected for season 1976-77 are Douglas N. Georgeson (President), Graham G. Reid (Captain), Robin A. Craig (Vice-captain), Charles Ritchie (Secretary), Michael G. H. Gibb (Assistant Secretary), James A. Leask (Treasurer), Stuart W. Rae (Team Secretary).

Season 1976-77 commences with Home Matches against Panmure on 4 September, Dunfermline on it September and Gordonians at Seafield on z1 September.

The League Championship fixtures commence against Clarkston on 1 October (away) and Edinburgh University at home a week later.

Under the coaching of Doug Georgeson and with an improved floodlighting system for training we are confident that we can gain promotion to the Second Division. Our task would become easier if we could depend on an increased support at home matches and I appeal to all F.P.s to give us this assistance.

Golf Once again, as copy of the Magazine is required by April, the report on the Golf Section will have to be on the past and the future, as the Section is inactive at the present.

Six outings were held during 1975—three at Ballater, two at Braemar and one at Montrose. Attendances have ranged from eighteen to yet another record of fifty-eight at the June outing. The weather was very good, with heat-wave conditions at the Braemar outing in July. During the season some excellent scores were recorded.

At the June outing held at Ballater, F.P.s successfully retained the H.A.R. Trophy against Gordonians, with a score of 196 to zo3. At the Gordonian outing in October held at Montrose, F.P.s regained the Challenge Cup by defeating Gordonians by 4 matches to 3i matches.

The skill and age of the F.P.s tail proved too much for their younger and less talented opponents.

F.P.s again competed in the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Schools' Trophy at Barnton. They lost to Old Grammarians in the second round, having received a bye in the first. The weather was atrocious and the latter matches of the second round were postponed until Sunday. Once again, the team was faced with international golfers, but with the infusion of some new blood this year into the Section it is hoped that a better result will be obtained in the future.

Our congratulations to Ian F. Creswell on reaching the quarter finals of the Scottish Amateur at Montrose and also on a successful season in local tournaments.

W. D. Mitchell was elected Captain of the Section for 1975-76, with M. G. H. Gibb as his deputy.

7o

Aberdeen Grammar Sebool Magazine

The first duty of W. D. Mitchell was to chair a very successful dinner and presentation of trophies for 1974-75 in the Northern Hotel. The toast of the Golf Section was very ably and wittily proposed by the President of the F.P. Club, Mr. A. C. R. Watt.

The Captain, in his reply, thanked Mr. Watt for the excellent and amusing way in which he had proposed the Toast. He hoped that it would not be another twenty years before he was called again to speak at this Dinner as he had had a long association with the Golf Section, currently maintained by his son, Nigel.

The toast of "Our Guests" was proposed by Dr. R. A. Craig, ViceCaptain of F.P. Rugby and a medical practitioner.

Mr. R. M. Bruce, President of the Gordonians Association, replied in a strong and forceful manner, completely silencing any critic.

At the end of the dinner Mr. W. D. Mitchell presented a small momento to Mr. Styles, the Head Waiter, who is due to retire before the 1976 Dinner. Mr. Styles has served the Section over a long period and we wish him well in his retirement.

In the last issue of the Magazine I reported that W. D. Mitchell had achieved a hole-in-one, which was the first to be accomplished at an outing. A past Captain, of about two decades ago, informed me that Mr. M. E. Watson performed the same feat at Aboyne in the fifties.

My apologies to Mr. Watson.

The coming season tees off at Montrose on Sunday, 9 May. Other fixtures for 1976 are: Sunday, 6 June Sunday, 4 July Sunday, 1 August Sunday, 5 September Sunday, to October

Royal Tarlair Braemar Braemar Montrose Ballater

For a long time the Section has enjoyed the courtesy and facilities of Ballater Golf Club several times each season. Due to Club commitments only one outing will be held there in 1976, but two outings have been booked there in 1977.

The Annual Dinner has been arranged for Friday, 12 November 1976 in the Northern Hotel.

Trophy winners for 1974-75 are: Russell Henderson Cup (3 Best Scratch) J. W. Cradock Walker Cup (3 Best Net) G. F. Webster Jeffrey Mug (3 Best Net Handicap 12 and over) E. Craig Gibb Thow Trophy (Ballater Eclectic) W. D. Mitchell Allison Fowlie Trophy (Bogey Competition) G. Gray Carry Cup (5 Best Net) J. M. Clark Maitland Bowl (Seniors: a Best Net) A. G. Scott Craig Spoon (; Worst Net) J. Leask P.S. Heard the latest Irish joke ?—W. L. Connon had a hole-in-one in IRELAND!

Section Reports

71

Swimming operate on the same well-established and continues to The Section generally acceptable lines, with regular, well-attended meetings every Tuesday during term.

F.P.s with their families are welcome to attend in the earlier part of the evening, and more senior swimmers are allocated the pool after 8 p.m.

Any potential new members are invited to contact the Secretary of the Section.

A New Section That Might Click Prompted by an interest in photography and the message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee which appeared in the last issue of the Magazine, enquiries have been made with a view to starting a photographic section of the F.P. Club. Last year's message from the Chairman of Executive suggests that the formation of such a section would be encouraged by the Executive Committee provided that sufficient interest is evident.

It is proposed that the section be open to all F.P. Club members, whether or not they have had a previous interest in photography, and that meetings should provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and the passing on of expertise to those wishing to make a start in the hobby. Darkroom facilities would help the section in executing practical work (cheaper than the professionals and far more satisfying!) and tentative arrangements have already been made for their acquisition.

F.P.s whose interest is aroused by the above should contact either John W. Lamont, 37 Osborne Place, Aberdeen (Tel. 52188) or Neil J. G. Lawrie, 4o Mortimer Drive, Aberdeen (Tel. 30082) by letter or telephone. Further developments will be intimated to all those who express an interest, and it is hoped that many will attend the inaugural meeting later this year.

The initiators of this development are relying on a broad measure of support and ideas in order to establish what promises to be a very worthwhile section.

Reunion of Sixth Year 1965-66 Following upon the success of the reunion of the year completing School in session 1964-65 (reported below) it has been suggested that a similar reunion might be held towards the end of 1976 of former pupils who were in Sixth Year during Session 1965-66 and who left School ten years ago. It is envisaged that former pupils who would have been in this year had they not left School at the end of Fifth Year or earlier might also wish to attend.

A circular is at present being prepared and address lists are being compiled. Many former pupils will inevitably have changed address

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 72 since leaving School and may be difficult to trace. For this reason it is requested that eligible former pupils who might wish to attend such a reunion or anyone able to provide up to date information about eligible former pupils who might be interested in receiving further details should contact Denis N. Yule, 23 Market Street, Aberdeen AB9 8DA, Telephone 0224-29015 (Business) or 0224-7023 51 (Home).

Reunion of Class 1951-65 While there have been many notable F.P. functions over the years, it appears that the dinner held in the Amatola Hotel on 29 December 1975 was a unique occasion, in that never before had a School year held a formal reunion.

The tenth anniversary dinner was supported by fifty-five former pupils, a most satisfying response from those who were eligible to attend by virtue of having been at any time part of the year which progressed through the School from 1951 to 1965. A suitably nostalgic atmosphere was created not only by the appearance of former pupils representing all facets of School life, but also by the awesome presence of Mr. J. V. Skinner, Rector when the year left School. Harry Millar, the Senior Prefect and All-Round Trophy winner of 1964-65 acted as chairman and the Rector and Donald Lamont, Deputy Senior Prefect in 1964-65, entertained the company with witty speeches.

Despite the potentiality for nostalgia acknowledged above, it was refreshing to find that, in the busy groups of conversationalists which emerged after the meal, there was much which was forward looking, and less of the rather futile (though immensely enjoyable), "Do you remember when ...?" sessions.

The company agreed that the surplus on the dinner should be put towards a gift to the School, and a lectern along with a small amount of money has been handed over to Mr. Gill on behalf of the year.

For many the reunion spilled on into the following day, when wives and families were included in a bar lunch at the Club Centre, and the whole venture's undoubted success justifies the organisers' expectations that it will be repeated in 1980.

A photograph of the 1975 dinner is included in the centre pages of the Magazine, and brief details of those who attended are set out below.

F.P.s who retain copies of old Magazines may wish to compare these notes with the "Whatever happened ... ?" articles in the December 1969 and June 197o issues of the Magazine which covered the careers of the primary classes in the 1951-65 year.

Batchelor, Martyn A.* (i959-65) )LA.(flonS.) 1969, Diploma Landscape Design (Univ. of Newcastle) 1971, Associate Landscape Architects 1974.

Assistant Senior Landscape Architect in Newcastle (1972-74), Principal Landscape Architect with South Tyneside Planning Department since April 1974. Married.

Helps to organise entertainments for Yorkshire Centre of the F.P. Club.

Reunion of Class z9yr-O

73

Borthwick, Neil M.* (1952-65) B.SC.(Hons.) 197I, PH.D.(Glasgow) 1974.

Research Fellow at Tenovus Institute for Cancer Research, Wales since 1974.

Campbell, Alan G.* (1959-65) LL.B. (1968), enrolled as solicitor 1970. Law Apprentice and Solicitor with Aberdeen County Council (1968-75), since 1975 Assistant Director of Law and Administration, Grampian Regional Council. Notes Editor for the Magazine, Aberdeen delegate to Scottish Cyclists' Union. Married with a girl of eight months.

Carrie, Brian J.* (1952-64) B.MED.BIOL 1968, M.B., CH.B. 1971, M.R.C.P. 1975.

Lecturer in Pathology, University of Aberdeen (1972-73), Registrar in Medicine, A.R.I. since 1973. Capped for Scotland at Water Polo on several occasions.

Clark, Hugh S.* (1952-65) Passed out from Royal Naval College Dartmouth 1968, graduated from Central Flying School 1974. Served on H.M.S. Lincoln (1966-70), Culdrose (1973'75) and on H.M.S. Blake (824 II.M.S. Ark Royal (1971-73)> Squadron Sea Kings) since March 1976. Piloted rescue aircraft which picked up survivors from M.V. Laval (,975) and M.V. Asia Freighter (1974). Married with two boys of four and two.

Clements, Cyril G. (1959-65) B.sc.(Hons.) 1970. Assistant Principal Teacher of Guidance with Strathclyde Regional Council since 1973. Married with a boy of five and a girl of four.

Costello, Patrick M. (1959-65) Member A.C.C.A. Management Accountant with Aberdeen Harbour Board (1971-70, Financial Controller with Intairdrill Offshore Services since 1973. Married with three children.

Cowie, George H. (1952-65) M.A. 1971 Employed with Williamson and Dunn (1971-72), Wood Group (1972-74) and Aberdeen Service Company from 1974.

Married with a child of three.

Crawford, George P. M. (1953-64) M.B., cn.B.(Hons.) 1970, M.R.C.P. (U.K.) 1972, m.o.(Hons.) 1975. Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen (1971-75), Lecturer in Department of Medicine since 1975, and recently appointed Consultant in the Hammersmith Hospital, London. Married with a girl of three and a boy of two.

Drummond, Bruce M.* (1959-65) M.A. 1968, B.Sc. (U.M.I.S.T.) Optics 1971.

Ophthalmic optician with Eddie and Drummond. Married.

Dunlop, Murray* (1952-65) M.A., C.A. Assistant Harbour Treasurer with Aberdeen Harbour Board (1973-74), Financial Controller with Smith International (North Sea) Ltd. since 1974. Married with a girl of seven and a boy of four.

Esson, Steven.). C.* (1952-64) C.A. 1970. Previously partner with E. C. Finlayson, c.A., but in January 1976, with a fellow F.P., began Cameron, Esson, Paterson, a new firm of C.A.s.

Farquhar, George G.* (1951-62) Check trader in family business of Gardiner and Farquhar. Married with two girls of five and four.

Gauld, Robert G.* (1959-65) Dip. Arch., Dip. U.D., R.I.B.A., A.R.I.A.S., Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology (1966-72). Architect with Baxter, Clark and Paul in thcir Glasgow office.

Gray, Russell* (1952-65) M.A. 1968. Returned to teach geography at the School in 1969 and is currently Principal Teacher of Guidance. Married. He is a captain with the School C.C.F. and secretary to Aberdeen T.A.V.R. Wapinschaw.

Hatrick, Alan A. (1959-65) B.sc.(lions.) 1969, A.I. Biol. 1971. Currently Head Teacher of Biology at Shelfield Comprehensive, Walsall.

Hay, Gordon W.* (1951-65) M.A.(Hons.) 1970. Teacher at Kincorth Academy (1971-74), Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Turriff Academy since 5974.

Hendry, John F.* (595s-65) LL.B. 1968. Solicitor with Campbell Connon and Company since 1968, latterly a partner in the firm. Married with a girl of three.

Secretary of Club.

Hepburn, Ian R.(1959-65) B.sc.(Hons.) 1969. Systems Programmer with National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride (1969-75), Computer Systems Consultant with Sperry Univac since 1971. Married with a boy of five and a girl of three. Worked abroad in recent years, living in Yugoslavia, Spain, Norway, Holland and Portugal.

74

Aberdeen Grammar School Afagaine

Houghton, Roger D.* (1959-64) A.1.B. (Scot.) 1972. Worked with the Bank of Scotland in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London but returned to University of Aberdeen and graduates LL.B. this year.

Lamont, Donald A.* (1951-65) m.A.(Hons.) 1970. From 1970 to 1974 held a number of posts with B.L.M.C. including P.A. to the Managing Director before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he deals with Law of the Sea questions, and, in this capacity, has attended many of the recent important international conferences on Law of the Sea. Leiper, William* (1959-65) M.A. 1968, D.M.S. 1971. Works with family business of Andrew Leiper and Sons. Married with a girl of two.

Lessells, Alastair M.* (1963-65) M.B., CH.B. 1971. Lecturer in Department of Pathology, University of Aberdeen. Married with a girl of three and a boy of one.

Letts, George C.* (1952-62) Qualified Colour T.V. Engineer with Alexanders Ltd. Mackay, Leonard J.* (1959-64) Wine and Spirit Representative with Scottish and Newcastle Brewers Ltd. Married with one child of six months.

MacNay, Gordon R.* (1951-64) M.A. 1968. Teacher of Guidance at Douglas Academy, Milngavie.

McCallum, Forbes* (1959-65) M.A. 1968, Dip. in Personnel Management, A.I.P.M. 1969. Personnel Officer with Glaxo Laboratories Ltd. (1969-73), Personnel Manager with Richards Ltd. (1974-75) and Lecturer in Personnel Management at R.G.I.T. since 1975. Liberal Parliamentary Candidate for Aberdeen North (1970-74).

MacKenzie, Alisdair G.* (1952-65) M.A.(HOI1S.) 1969. Since 1973 Personnel and Industrial Relations Manager with Rolls Royce Motors, Crewe. Previously in a number of different personnel posts with the same company.

Mair, Brian (1953-65) M.A. 1968. Reporter with Highland News (1968-70), currently sub-editor and translator with Agence France 1'resse in Paris.

Mak, Donald D. M.* (1952-66) 11.N.D. Agriculture 1974. Scientific Assistant with Marine Laboratory (1966-69), Pig Improvement Company, Oxford (1974-75), and since 1975 Agricultural Technician at Clinterty Agricultural College. Married.

Marr, Douglas* (1959-65) mr.A.(lions.) 1969, Dip.Ed. 1970. Returned to School to teach and is now Assistant Principal Teacher of History.

Millar, Henry R. (1952-65) B.Mcd.Biol. 1969, m.s., cx.s. 1972. After working as a House Officer and Senior House Officer at A.R.I. (1972-74), moved to Edinburgh where, since 1975, he has been Registrar in Psychiatry at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Married with two girls of three and one.

Millar, Michael R.* (1959-66) Currently Senior Claims Handler with Sun Alliance and London Insurance Group in Glasgow, but returns to Aberdeen as Claims Inspector in July 1976.

Morgan, Brian R. (195z-65) Nt.A.(Hons.) 1969. Since 1970 Lecturer at College of Commerce.

Morrison, Harvey E.* (1951-65) LL.B. 1969, C.A. 1973. With Williamson and Dunn c.A. since 1969 and assumed as partner in the firm in May 1976. Has held a number of appointments in sections of the Club including Captain and Treasurer of the Cricket Section and Treasurer of the Club Centre. Married.

Ncave, Ronald J.* (1959-64) Has held a number of appointments and has also been in business in his own account. Currently Materials Manager with Dyvi Drilling. Married with a girl of two and a boy of four.

Philip, Alan J.* (1952-65) M.A. 1969. Computer Systems Engineer with I.C.L. (1969-75) and since 1975 Systems Analyst with Holo-Krome Ltd. in Dundee. His present job involves frequent travel to the United States.

Rae, Richard B.* (t 959-65) B.sc.(1 Ions.) 1969. Since 1969 Procurement Executive with the Ministry of Defence near Basingstoke.

Reid, George G.* (1959-65) B.sc.(Hons. Engineering) 1969, M.Sc. (U.C.N.W. Bangor) 1972. Development Engineer U.C.N.W., Bangor (1970-72), Consultant Engineer with YARD Consultants since 1972.

Reunion of Class i9y1-O

75 Reid, Harry W.* (195z-61) B.A.(Hons.) Oxford, 1969. Since 197o employed by the Scotsman and is currently their Education Correspondent.

Reid, James A. (1963-65) 4.t.s. (Scot.). Since 1973 employed in the Mayfair Branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in London.

Reid, James D.* (1954-65) M.A.(Hons.) 1969. With the N.C.B. since 1969 and currently Head of Contracts, Opencast Executive. Sergeant in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary.

Rennie, Malcolm F. (1951-65) Diploma of the Central School of Speech and Drama, 1968. Various contracts in films, theatre and television, many of which have been reported in past Magazines. Most recent notable T.V. appearance was as P.C. Perry in "Softly, Softly". Married with one child of ten months.

Robertson, David J. F.* (1955-65) Dip. Comm. (Heriot-Watt) 1968. Principal teacher of commercial subjects at Kincorth Academy. Captain of the F.P. Grade XI. Married.

Shepherd, Charles H. (1959-65) &sc. 1972, m.sc. (Sheffield) 5973, PH.D. (Salford) 1975. For two and a half years Lecturer at Salford University.

Shirreffs, Murdoch J.* (1951-64 M.B., CH.B. 1970, D.OBST.R.C.O.G. 1973, M.R.C.P.G. 5974. House Officer A.R.I. from 197o-71 and currently G.P. principal at Bucksburn. Married.

Shirreffs, Richard C.* (1955-65) M.A. 1968, LL.B. 1970. Since June 1973 partner in Messrs. J. D. Mackic and Dewar and previously employed before that as apprentice and assistant. Secretary of the Cairngorm Club and of Aberdeen University Alumnus Association, and a member of the University's Business Committee of the General Council. Married with twin daughters of three months.

Stables, Ronald (1959-65) B.sc. x 969. Undertook postgraduate work at U.C.N.W., Bangor from 1973 to 5975 and was previously employed from 197o to 1973 by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Nassau, Bahamas.

1975. Employed in Stirrat, Roy G. L.* (1959-64) B.A.(Hons.) 1971, planning by Hampshire County Council (,971-73), Aberdeen County Council (1973-75) and by Gordon District Council since 1975. Chairman South Aberdeen Constituency Association of the Liberal Party and a member of the R.T.P.I. Scottish Executive. Married with a boy of one.

Tough, Laurence M.* (1959-64) LL.B.(Hons.) 197o. Partner in Stewart and Murray, Advocates since 1974. Married.

Traill, Alastair (1959-65) B.sc.(Hons.). Previously Assistant Teacher of Geography in Aberdeen and currently Principal Teacher of Geography at Wick High School. Married.

Walker, Derek James* (1959-65) DIP.A.I.B. (Scot.) 1975. With various bank branches in Aberdeen, Dundee and Aboyne until 1974, since when he has been Accountant with the Clydesdale Bank in Cults. Married with a child of six months.

Will, H. Oliver* (1959-65) A.I.B. (Scot.) 1970. Executive Assistant to the Director (Financial Operations), Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. ViceCaptain of Boroughmuir Cricket Club. Married with two boys of three and one.

Wilson, Alexander J.* (1959-65) /4.4.5969. Since 5969 Administration Controller with Marley Tile Company in Bishopbriggs. Married with a girl of three months.

Yule, David K.* (1951-65) M.A.(Hons.) 1969, Dip. in Personnel Management, 1971. Since 1971 employed in the University Office, Aberdeen, formerly as Technical Training Officer and since 1974 as Clerk to the Faculty of Medicine. Editor of the Maga#ne. Married with a boy of four and a half and a girl of three.

Annual Dinner The Club's Annual Dinner was held in the Royal Darroch Hotel on 3i October 1975 and was attended by 187 members and their guests.

The toast of "The School and Club" was proposed by Mr. Kenneth W. Dron, Rector of Brechin High School, and replies were made by Mr. Robert D. Gill, Headmaster, and by Mr. Alan C. R. Watt, President of the F.P. Club. The toast "Our Guests" was proposed by Mr. Thomas J. Morrison and the reply was made

by Professor Michael C. Meston, Professor of Private Law at the University of Aberdeen.

The School And Club Ken Dron came to the Dinner with a widespread reputation as a humorous and effective after-dinner speaker, and left the Dinner with his reputation even further enhanced. Rarely has a humorous speech evoked so much laughter at an F.P. Dinner. The company particularly enjoyed his masterly representation of a confused newspaper report printed with a mixture of a record of Town Council proceedings and a report of an F.P. cricket match. While this section of Mr. Dron's address perhaps resembled the best sort of comedy turn more than a formal speech, he also impressed and instructed the company with many eloquently expressed observations on educational institutions and the School and Club in particular.

He spoke of the value of a long tradition in a school, while echoing the view expressed by Mr. Cattanach at the previous Dinner, that traditions were meant to be developed. Co-education, he argued, should be welcomed at the School, as the day of segregation in schools was gone. The change of name of the School should not be attached with too much importance. His own school, Brechin High School had been styled the Grammar School of Brechin for almost too years until 1836, but no noticeable change had occurred as a direct result of the new title.

He did express certain reservations, however, about some aspects of comprehensive education. While he was satisfied that comprehensive education was an admirable system for the "middle of the road" pupil, and also welcomed recent developments in the responsibility for providing appropriate education for the handicapped child, he was seriously concerned about the effect of comprehensive education on the more academically gifted pupils. Already there was comment that university entrants were not prepared to the same level by the schools as previously, and the schools could not afford a further decline in academic standards. It was essential that the goal of equality should not be achieved by a desperate levelling down process.

Mr. Dron spoke admiringly of the Club and affirmed that it was a great tribute to the Club that so many school leavers continued to join. He regretted, however, that the Sports Sections had opened their ranks to others, as he felt that such a development weakened the Club's identity.

Mr. Gill's Reply Mr. Gill gave his customarily welcome report on the progress of the School in the past year.

He began by examining the reasons for the success of former pupils' clubs and concluded that they could only thrive by adapting to the demands of a changing society. He congratulated the Club on its ability to thrive in changing circumstances, and affirmed his view that the Club could offer an outlet for the training still provided by the School in personal discipline, sportsmanship and consideration for other people. In this connection he spoke of the growing awareness among the boys and girls that they are pupils of a school which expects them to have high standards of 76

The Annual Dinner

77

behaviour and effort, and of the School's continuing capacity to fulfil a complete programme of sport Saturday after Saturday.

The School's academic record continued to be upheld with ten bursary winners at Aberdeen University and two boys winning places at Oxford. Many other extramural successes had been achieved including John Wiseman's selection for the Schoolboy International XV and Boris Webster's solo cello performance with the S.N.O. Finally, Mr. Gill urged all concerned to take an active interest in the election of representatives to the new School Council.

The President's Reply Alan Watt who conducted the Dinner effectively and wittily throughout, gave the kind of speech which we have come to expect of him as a thoughtful but humorous President. He acknowledged the honour bestowed on him which he felt the more keenly as his father had been President twenty-nine years before. The Watts shared this honour with the illustrious Simpsons.

The Club, he reported, was thriving with the Club Centre providing a stimulus to Club membership. While it was regrettable that the Magazine was now published only once annually, it was to be hoped that its standard would be maintained. In reporting on the sporting sections, he made particular mention of the untimely death of Hector Aird and paid tribute to his many talents in the field of sport.

While there had been many changes in the School, it was clear from his experience on presidential visits to the School that it was in good heart, and it was unrealistic to suggest that the past history of the School was composed of only "good" old days. Nevertheless, one of the functions of the Club was to act as a watchdog for the School and to stand for tradition. Like the Club, the Education Authority was proud of the School, but it was regrettable that the latter had chosen to ignore the former's opinion. In particular it was to be hoped that the name of the School and its Rector would be restored.

Tim Morrison amused the company with an irreverent but well-calculated welcome to the guests, and Professor Meston did not permit the guests to remain as the only section of the company to be lightheartedly abused. Both speeches were warmly appreciated.

Neil Meldrum, Vice-President of the Club, provided a fitting conclusion to the proceedings by briefly but sincerely proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman.

He first drew attention to the fact that in 1975 the President, Vice-President and the Presidents of the London and Edinburgh were all drawn from the same year at School, but overcame his satisfaction with his own share in this ammo mirabilis to speak feelingly of the service which the Watt family had given to the Club. Theodore Watt's record of office as Secretary, Treasurer and Editor of the Magazine would never be equalled and Alan had taken over the Magazine from his father, continuing in the duties for ten years, before filling the post of Chairman of Executive in a most acceptable manner. No other family had done so much for the Club.

David Raeside Auld* (1947-61) was appointed Vice-captain of the British Columbia cricket team which toured Australia at the beginning of this year. He went to Canada in 1966 after completing his training at Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow and is now a physical education teacher at a private school in Victoria, British Columbia. He has played cricket for Aberdeenshire and was also Captain of the School XI. Martyrs Aubrey Batchelor* (1959-65) who completed a postgraduate course in Landscape Design at Newcastle University in 1971 was employed as landscape Architect to Newcastle City Architect's Department until Local Government Reorganisation. During that time he successfully completed his professional examinations and was elected an Associate of the Institute of Landscape Architects in January, 1974. Subsequently he has taken up an appointment as Principal Landscape Architect to the Borough of South Tyneside Department of Planning. A note on his brother appears below.

Neil Batchelor* (1964-70) who graduated with Joint Honours in Philosophy and English at Dundee University in July 1975, is at present working as a Library Assistant at Stirling University prior to commencing a post-graduate course in Library Studies in October, 1976.

John Douglas Gordon Bell (1950-64) worked for the B.B.C. for their house bands, Radio Orchestra, Radio Big Band etc., and then met the American singer Salena Jones for whom he did arrangements for cabaret, T.V. and recording sessions. He gained wide experience of the music industry through freelance work with orchestrations and arrangements for films, theatre and television. During the last year or so he has spent most of his time in pop music either writing backings for singers or adding orchestral sounds to pop group recordings. He has recently worked with The Moody Blues, Ginger Baker, The Who, Caravan, Lynsey de Paul and many less well known groups.

Robert Brown* (1932-43) M.B., CH.B., has been appointed Director of the Regional Psychiatric Centre at Kingston Penitentiary in Ontario, Canada. Colonel Brown has just retired after spending twenty-three years in the Canadian forces during which he was the Chief Psychiatrist at the forces hospital in Kingston from 1968 to 1973. He was thereafter deputy commanding officer at the hospital and in 1975 he was appointed to a post at training systems headquarters, Canadian Forces Base, Trenton.

78

New Q.C. Michael Stewart Rae Bruce (1943-49) M.A., LL.B., who practices at the Scottish Bar was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1975.

City Burgesses Charles Pirie Skene (1940-47) prominent photographer and Edwin Grieve* (1944-50) M.A. LL.B., and John Middleton Melvin* (1935-42) M.A., LL.B., both Advocates in Aberdeen have been admitted Burgesses of Guild by the City of Aberdeen District Council.

Findlay McRorie Coutts (I948-61) M.A., LL.B., is currently Director of Administration for Dunfermline District Council having, until Local Government Reorganisation, been Town Clerk of Cupar.

Brian Kerrington Crookshanks* (1934-46) T.D., M.A., LL.B., who was with the Aberdeen law firm of Cormack, Cramb and Gibb for several years has now joined the procurator fiscal service and been appointed a Depute Fiscal at Aberdeen.

Rector of Aberdeen University (1946-48) has been elected Rector of Aberdeen Cuthbertson fain University. He has come to national prominence in the successful "Sutherland's Law" television series in which he plays the west coast procurator fiscal.

Allan Cameron Frazer* (1925-30) w.s., is the Netherlands Consul in Edinburgh and was made a Chevalier in the Order of Oranje Nassau by H.M. Queen Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands. He has been elected President of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club in succession to Lord Tweeds muir.

Alexander Forsyth* (1923-30) B.sc., M.P.S., who retired from pharmaceutical business in Edinburgh in 1970 completed, in November last year, his five year term as a full time member of the Highlands and Islands Development Board. Initially he was responsible for industrial development and in 1972 took over responsibility for the Information Services and Tourism Divisions of the Board. He became a member of the Scottish Tourist Board at that time but relinquished this appointment on his retirement. Writing to the editor from Comerscroft, Fortrose, he refers to meeting F.P.s around the world and expresses the hope that many of those who have helped him in the past will now visit him.

Kenneth Michael Gorrod* (1947-61) B.SC., C.A., has recently been appointed Finance Director of Airfix Products Limited. After graduation at Aberdeen University and working with James Milne & Co., Chartered Accountants he was, for more than three years, senior consultant with Cooper Lybrand Management Consultants.

Eric John Grove* (1960-66) M.A., having taken an honours degree in history at Aberdeen University and the M.A. in war studies at King's College, University of London is now a Senior Lecturer in the History Department of the Brittania Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

He joined the staff as a lecturer in 1971 and is working on a book World War II Tanks to be published by Orbis in 1976.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

William Henderson Guthrie* (1939-5i) who started his engineering career with John Lewis and Sons Limited on leaving school is now Senior Designer with Teshmont Consultants Limited of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is currently working in their branch office at St. Johns, Newfoundland. Before emigrating he was a Design Engineer with the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board at Aberdeen and Perth.

Richard James Monro Hamilton (1954-67) who graduated with first class honours in maths at Aberdeen University is now Financial Controller for Standard Telephone Cables in Wales.

Professor of Moral Philosophy Ronald William Hepburn (1936-44) M.A., PH.D., has been appointed to the Chair of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University. A classical dux of the School he graduated with honours in Moral Philosophy/ English at Aberdeen University. After taking his Ph.D. in 1954 he was appointed as a lecturer at Aberdeen University and six years later became one of Britain's youngest professors when he was appointed to the newly created Chair of Philosophy at Nottingham University. Since 1964 he has been Professor of Philosophy at Edinburgh University but has now transferred to the Chair of Moral Philosophy. He is the latest in a long line of eminent philosophers to fill this historic chair which was founded in 1583.

Keith Greig Jones* (1937-66) LL.B., has been appointed Principal Solicitor with Kincardine and Deeside District Council having previously been in private practice in Stonehaven.

Robert Neil Irvine (1965-70) graduated from Aberdeen University last year in psychology and is studying at Leicester for a PH.D. Last year he was a script writer for the Aberdeen University student show and appeared at the Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival in a production which he wrote and which was performed by Aberdeen University Revue Group. The Chairman of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is well known F.P. actor Andrew Cruickshank* (1919-15).

New Deputy Lieutenant James William Irvine-Fortescue* (1928-30) M.A., c.a., J.P., was in June 1975 appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kincardineshire.

Professor of Public Law Francis Lyall* (1944-57) M.A., LL.B., LL.M., PH.D., IS now Professor of Public Law at Aberdeen University and has been appointed to the University's first chair in that discipline.

Andrew Alexander Macaulay (1962-75) has postponed University studies for a year to help build a Primary school at Botswana under the auspices of a voluntary body—Project Trust—which selects school-leavers for work in the developing countries. Sandy's brother Ian Macaulay* (1960-73) worked in Tasmania for Project Trust three years ago.

81 Notes About Old Boys David McDonald* (1961-67) who was for five years a teacher at Smithfield Primary School, Aberdeen, has now moved to Shetland where he and his wife arc proprietors of the Sullom Voe Hotel. The hotel which has been modernised and extended is in the middle of the multi-million pound complex being constructed for the development of North Sea Oil and is fully booked for several years.

Honorary Doctorate of Laws (1926-28) B.SC., F.E.I.S., c.B.E., is to be awarded Mackie* Maitland an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Aberdeen University.

Active in public life and a former Chairman of the North-east Scotland Development Authority he has been appointed to a five-man committee to examine the involvement of Scottish Industry in North Sea Oil. The death of his father Maitland Mackie (1897-1902) is recorded elsewhere in this magazine.

John Harvey McLaren* (1945-59) R.I.B.A., R.I.A.S., M.R.T.P.I., studied at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Aberdeen, and on qualifying in 1965 moved to Edinburgh to postgraduate study in Town & Country Planning. During this period he carried out Planning Research in Italy and Poland. He is a partner in J. & F. Johnston & Partners, Chartered Architects, Town Planners & Structural Engineers with offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. At present he is on the Council of the Edinburgh Architectural Association (George Alexander MacNab* (1936-44) is president of that Association) and the R.I.A.S. He is Convener of the R.I.B.A. Regional and Special Category Competitions for Fife, the Lothians and the Borders, and promotions convener for the National Playing Fields Association—South East Region and a member of the company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh.

David Leask Mann* (1960-66) following an Honours Degree in biochemistry at Aberdeen University was subsequently awarded a PH.D. at Strathclyde University in 1973 for research into the changes in wheat flour lipids during dough-mixing. Since then he has been employed as a meat protein scientist with Unilever research near Bedford.

Brian John Martin (1941-52) studied piano and organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he now lives. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and is organist to the Third Church Christian Scientist in Mayfair. He has presented a series of recitals in well-known London Churches and has given a broadcast recital from Westminster Cathedral.

Alexander John Kirby Monro* 933-37 and 194o-46) B.SC., D.P.E., is now Principal Teacher of Physical Education at Perth Academy, having taught Physical Education at Robert Gordon's College for over thirteen years. In 1972 he was awarded an Honours Degree in Economics from London University as an external student and since gaining a teaching qualification in that subject at Aberdeen College of Education he has helped out in the Economics Department of Perth Academy.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Lewis Middleton* (1919-32) retired earlier this year from the post of managing director of Hunter Construction (Aberdeen) Limited.

Previously a rugby and golf player of some note he is now a croquet enthusiast taking part in the championships of the Croquet Association at Bournemouth, Eastbourne and Edinburgh.

Thomas Ian Morrison* (1934-47) T.D., B.SC., F.R.I.C., is adviser in secondary education to Tayside Regional Council and was recently in Brunei, North Borneo directing the final stage of a course in modern science for trainee teachers. He has previously taken part in similar courses in Malaysia. Recently he served as President of the S.H.A. Peter Alexander Murphy* (194-51) M.A., who taught at the School before becoming principal teacher of English at Summerhill Academy is currently headmaster of Logic Secondary School, Dundee. At the beginning of next session he will take up the post of Rector of the new Whitfield High School, Dundee.

Robert Garden Murray* (1933-36) M.B., CH.B., M.F.C.M., D.P.H., was the last medical officer of health of the County Borough of Rochdale, Lancashire. Following the reorganisation of the National Health Service and Local Government he has been appointed the first Area Medical Officer to Stockport Area Health Authority.

Alexander Nicol* (1962-71) graduated from Aberdeen University in July 1975 with a B.sc. Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering and has joined Rolls-Royce Motors (Car Division) in Crewe as a Graduate Trainee.

Andrew Stephen Noble* (1939-52) M.A., F.C.M.A., left I.C.I. Limited two years ago to take up an appointment as Director of Development Projects and Planning with Debenhams Limited, the retail group. He still hears occasionally from John A. S. Bett (1946-5z) who emigrated to the U.S.A. about fifteen years ago and who is with Pratt & Whitney, the aero-engine company in Stamford, Connecticut.

Raymond John Nugent* (1968-7o) B.sc., is now an Assistant Teacher of physics and general science at the School.

Thomas Winchester Ogg* (1952-58) has been appointed Consultant Anaesthetist, New Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. He graduated M.B., CH.B. at Aberdeen University in 1964 and went on to obtain the Diploma in Anaesthetics and to become a Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons in 1971.

He has worked in hospitals in Inverness, London, Germany, West Africa and latterly at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. From 1973-75 he was Chairman of the Junior Hospital Doctors Committee for the Grampian Area. Much of his research has been published in the Medical Journals and in 1975 he was invited to address the Royal Society of Medicine (Anaesthetic Section) in London.

Ian Michael Scott Park* (1942-55) a partner in the Aberdeen law firm of Paull and Williamsons has recently been appointed as a temporary Sheriff. He will continue to practise as a solicitor but can be called on to sit in any Sheriff Court in Scotland when required.

Gordon Grieve Peters (196o-66) who obtained an honours degree in Biochemistry at Aberdeen, an M.SC. at Aberystwyth and a PH.D. at Edinburgh Universities is now engaged in post graduate doctorate

83 Notes About Old Boys research in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

His elder brother David James Peters (1957-63) who graduated in engineering at Aberdeen University and was awarded the m.sc. at Glasgow University is now Senior Group Leader (Water Pollution Control) in the Water Services Department of Tayside Regional Council.

Charles Duncan Rice (1949-60) M.A., PH.D., is assistant professor of History at Yale University and Dean of Saybroke College. He has just had published The Rise and Fall of Black Slavery, which the Times Higher Educational Supplement described as "scholarly, sympathetic and readable" and "providing a means of surveying the distinctiveness, scope and importance of black slavery". He has a holiday house at Old Deer, Aberdeenshire.

Robert Scott Rilley* (1947-55) who joined the Bank of Scotland on leaving school has now returned to Aberdeen as Assistant Manager of their Castle Street Branch having previously worked in Dundee, Perthshire, Grangemouth and Edinburgh.

Charles MacDonald Ross* (1917-25) was, prior to his retirement in October 1971, Medical Superintendent and Consultant Psychiatrist, Hollymoor Hospital, Birmingham. He now lives in the village of Fladbury, Worcestershire and, in a note to the Editor, advises that he is "at present trying to learn the Double Bass".

Donald Forrester Ross* (1946-6o) M.A., C.A., who had been assistant Treasurer of the Church of Scotland at In George Street, Edinburgh since 197o has now been promoted to the position of Deputy General Treasurer. He is also Secretary of the Church of Scotland Trust, the body responsible for holding and managing the Church's investments as well as being Honorary Treasurer of the Presbytery of Edinburgh.

F.P.s at the Scottish Office Bruce Stephen Allan (1953-58) R.I.B.A., R.T.A.s., joined the architectural staff of the Scottish Office at the end of 1g74. He was previously with the Scottish Special Housing Association.

James Duncan Gray (1960-66) joined the Government Statistical Service after graduating with an honours degree in maths at Aberdeen in 1971. His current post as senior assistant statistician at the Scottish Office involves housing records and statistics and he is shortly to take up a similar promoted post at Newport.

James Hamill* (1951-61) M.A., is a Principal in the Planning Division of the Scottish Office with particular responsibility for the implementation of the Community Land Act, 1975. He previously was closely involved in Housing Legislation.

Gordon Frederick Hendry (1928-39) M.A., and John Forrest McClellan (1944- 5 o) are both Assistant Secretaries in the Scottish Office with the Scottish Development Department and Education Departments respectively. Gordon F. Hendry has also been Chairman of a highly successful Christian Giving Campaign at Cluny Parish Church, Edinburgh.

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Dons player John Alexander Scott (I96o-63) moved to Aberdeen Football Club at the beginning of the 1975-76 season and has had a successful first season with the Dons. He won a Scottish schoolboys cap at soccer before joining Chelsea in 1963 and Dundee a year later and was a member of Scotland's initial pool of forty for the 1974 World Cup finals. He has played in two internationals, against Denmark and Russia in 197r.

Harry Edward Ross Shand*( 1925-34) has now retired after fifteen years as Group Finance Director of Rank Xerox Limited in London.

George Alexander Sharp* (1922-24) M.B., CH.B., retired from General Practice in Bishop's Stortford in 1973 and since then has joined the British India Company as part-time Ship's Surgeon on the educational cruise ship Uganda.

British Polar Medal Robin Arthur Smart (1919-3 i) C.B.E., M.B., CH.B., retired from the R.A.M.C. in 1972 in the rank of Major-General. He then joined Esso and last year was appointed Chief Medical Officer of that Company. His home is now in London but he retains his links with Aberdeen.

Ronald Ian Lewis Smith* (1946-60) B.sc., PH.D., has been awarded the British Polar Medal. He is head of the botanical section of the life science division of the British Antarctic Survey based at Cambridge and his field work has included spells at Signy Island in the South Orkneys group and in South Georgia. It is understood that the medal will be presented at a Buckingham Palace ceremony.

It is interesting that the Polar Medal was also awarded to Dr. Robin Arthur Smart (see note above) in 1958 in respect of his leadership of the Royal Society's International Geophysical Expedition to Antarctica in 1956-57.

Army Air Corps Tie of Merit Gordon Robert Spate (1950- S9) M.A. was recently presented with the Army Air Corps Tic of Merit for his part in a dramatic mountain rescue. He is a Flight Lieutenant serving with 661 Squadron and has completed his second tour of duty in Northern Ireland. He was the pilot of a helicopter in South Armagh when a mountain rescue team asked for help in locating a family lost on one of the highest peaks on the Mourne Mountains. Although low cloud and turbulent wind had stopped all flying Flt. Lt. Spate decided not to be deterred and after a remarkable and arduous flight in darkness located and rescued the family.

James Keith Stewart (t959-65) is a merchant banker with the Italian International Bank at their London Office and commutes to the City from his home in Bishop's Stortford.

Marriages

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James Sinclair Stewart* (1941-44) M.D., was recently awarded the F.R.C.P. (London). He is a consultant Physician on the staff of the West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, London.

Alexander Young Stirrat* (1911-20) lives in Alderney, Channel Islands and writes that Alex. McGregor Thom (1911-2o) lives in Guernsey and has recently decided to take up flying again and now has his own plane.

Willson Davidson Taylor* (1950-63) M.D., M.R.C.P., is now in Hong Kong as a dermatologist in the medical division at the British Military Hospital. While there he hopes to meet up with Peter J. N. Stewart (1952-63) M.A. news editor of the Hong Kong Standard and establish an unofficial F.P. Centre.

Royal Marines Sword of Honour Gordon Duthie Webster (1963-67) was recently presented with the Commandant General Royal Marines Sword of Honour for being the most outstanding young officer in training. On leaving school he joined the Marines as a junior musician having previously been a member of the Aberdeen Youth Orchestra but in 1971 he decided he wanted to become a Royal Marine Commando. During the arduous training which followed he was awarded the "King's Badge" for being the best recruit, was subsequently accepted for officer training and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant.

New Sheriff at Elgin and Nairn Roy Alexander Wilson* (1937-42) w.s., has been appointed Sheriff of Grampian Highland and Islands at Elgin and Nairn with effect from December, 1975.

William Stewart Wilson* (1942-55) who is depute rector of Banchory Academy has been appointed Scottish Headquarters Commissioner for Scout Leader Training. His career with the Scouts started in the 1st Aberdeen (School) Troop as Cub and Scout and then Scoutmaster. He was Assistant County Commissioner in charge of Leader training until 1968 when he was made County (Area) Commissioner.

Means Bruce Watson (1920-29) B.SC., PH.D., has recently retired from the post of Head of Chemistry at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, Aberdeen. His son Roderick Bruce Watson (1955-61) M.A., PH.D., is an English Lecturer at Stirling University.

Marriages Bavidge* (1964-7o).--At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 31 July 1975, DEREK DOUGLAS BAVIDGE, only SO11 of Mr. and Mrs. D. Bavidge, 17 Devenick Place, Aberdeen to Linda Ann, only child of Mr. and Mrs. T. Fyfe, 7 Craigiebuckler Place, Aberdeen.

Caie (I959-65).—At Toronto, Canada on 18 October 1975, Com-NI [COS] FRASER CAIE, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Caie, 75 Ivanhoe

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Road, Garthdee to Jeannie Marie, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Stevenson, Montclair, New Jersey.

Drummond* (1959-65).--At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen on 9 April, 1976. BRUCE MACKENZIE DRUMMOND, younger son of the late John A. Drummond and Mrs. Beatrice Drummond, 2 r Richmondhill Place, Aberdeen to Maureen Baxter, younger daughter of the late Henry S. Roberston and Mrs. Ella Robertson "Glenstruan" 32 Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

Forbes* (i96o-66).—At St. Ninian's Episcopal Church, King Street, Aberdeen on rz August, 1975, STEWART LUMSDEN Foams, only son of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Forbes, in King's Gate, Aberdeen to Lorraine, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Thomson, 51 Kildrummy Road, Aberdeen.

Fraser (1954-67).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 15 October, 1975, KEITH GORDON FRASER, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon M. Fraser, 4 Rosehill Crescent, Aberdeen to Margaret Kathryn, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ian Murray, zr North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

Grant* (1960-66).--At Mertoun Kirk, St. Boswells on 2.2. September, 1975, DONALD ALEXANDER GRANT, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grant, 19 Cairnview Crescent, Aberdeen to Christine Rosemary, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Benson, Mertoun, St. Boswells.

Grant* (1955-68).—At Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire on 26 July, 1975, ROBERT JOHN GRANT, son of Rev. and Mrs. A. G. H. Grant, 435 Great Western Road, Aberdeen to Christine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Wickins, 124 Houghton Road, Dunstable.

Hepburn (1957-63).—At the Hotel Dupont,Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. on 19 April, 1975, STUART PHILIP HEPBURN, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Hepburn, 233 Union Grove, Aberdeen to Jeanne Martin of 112 Hughes Avenue, Gloucester, New Jersey, U.S.A. Inkson* (196o--66).—At Aberdeen Registry Office on 26 September, 1975, DENNIS WRIGHT INESON, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Inkson, 18o Rosemount Place, Aberdeen to Lesley Anne Sarah only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Allan, roo Mile-End Avenue, Aberdeen.

Kennedy* (196o-73).—At St. Ninian's Church, Aberdeen on 20 September, 1975, JOHN KENNEDY, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kennedy, 101 Mastrick Road, Aberdeen to Jennifer Jane, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Simmons, 29 Eden Drive, Peterhead.

Lawrence* (1958-71).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 5 August, 1975, EuAN JAMES LAWRENCE, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ian H. Lawrence, 145 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen to Corrinne Sutherland, daughter of the late Mr. C. H. Sutherland and of Mrs. Ina Sutherland, 4 Drumfada Terrace, Corpach, by Fort William.

Muir (196z-68).—At Aberdeen Registry Office on 3o December, 1975, ROBERT BOYD MUIR, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Muir, 47 Woodburn Gardens, Aberdeen to Hilke, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Davidson, 1 Fernielea Road, Aberdeen.

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Paterson* (1941-5o).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 8 July, 1975, HAMISH BARRON PATERSON, son of the late Wm. Paterson and Mrs. Paterson, 92 Bon Accord Street, Aberdeen to Irene Frances, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Lancaster, 5 Woodstock Road, Aberdeen.

Posgate (r963-69).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 19 July, 1975, RICHARD GRANT POSGATE, only son of the late Capt.

I. P. Posgate and Mrs. K. Posgate, zo Forest Avenue, Aberdeen to Diane, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hill, S4 North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

Reid* (1954-62).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on zo October, 1975, GORDON FINDLAY REID, only son of the late Mr. Alfred Rcid and Mrs. E. C. Reid, 86 Dcsswood Place, Aberdeen to Barbara Helen, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Knight, 42 Contlaw Place, Milltimber.

Robertson (1962-68).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 15 July, 1975, ALISTAIR JOHN ROBERTSON, younger son of Mr. Francis S. Robertson and the late Mrs. Robertson, 81 Craigton Road, Aberdeen to Frances Elizabeth, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Smith, 3 Jackson Street, Inverurie.

Shand (1953-66).--At St. Mark's, GI-embank Church, Greenock on 19 July, 1975, RORY ALEXANDER SHAND, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Shand, 216 Great Western Road, Aberdeen to Barbara Howie, daughter of Sheriff and Mrs. J. B. Patrick, Greenock.

Sim* (196o-73).—At St. Andrew's Church, Turriff on i November, 1975, ALISTAIR JOHN SIM, younger son of the late Wm. G. Sim and of Mrs. Margaret Sim, 9 Westfield Terrace, Aberdeen to Lisa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Ross, Brownhills Croft, Turriff.

Stephen (1949-63).—At Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen on 9 August, 1975, PETER GILLIES STEPHEN, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Stephen, r Windsor Court, Dirleton Drive, Glasgow to Patricia Ann, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Gammack, ro Summerhill Crescent, Aberdeen.

Stephen (1958-67).—At Aberdeen Registry Office on az July, 1975, WILLIAM SIMPSON YOUNIE STEPHEN, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. John Stephen, Irvine Place, Aberdeen to Jacqueline Ann, only daughter of Dr. James Gordon and the late Mrs. Gordon, Airyhall Gardens, Aberdeen.

Sweeney* (1966-7z).—At Union Grove Baptist Church, Aberdeen on 7 July, 1975, DAVID GORDON SWEENEY, only son of the late Mr. George Sweeney and Mrs. Ann Sweeney, z6 Stanley Street, Aberdeen to Anne Winifred, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander King, 97 South Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

Tawse (1959-65).--At Woodside North Church, Aberdeen on z8 June, 1975, IAN SINCLAIR TAWSE, only son of the late Mr. Norman Tawse and of Mrs. A. Tawse, 55 Short Loanings, Aberdeen to Sheila Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Greig, z86 Clifton Road, Aberdeen.

Taylor—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 28 April, 1975, MICHAEL WILLIAM TAYLOR, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Taylor, Durrisdeer, Denside of Durris, Kincardineshire to

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Anne Marshall, only daughter of Col. and Mrs. H. G. Skinner, 26 Rosshill Drive, Maryburgh, Ross-shire.

Wallace* (1958-71).—At McCheyne Memorial Church, Dundee on 2 August, 1975, WILLIAM ANDREW WALLACE, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wallace, 28 Airyhall Place, Aberdeen to Margaret, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Gowans, 24 Jedburgh Road, Dundee.

Yule (i956-69).—At King's College Chapel, Old Aberdeen on 6 November, 1975, ROYAN CHARLES YULE, 409 Holburn Street, Aberdeen to Gwendoline Margaret Innes, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, 17 Wallfield Crescent, Aberdeen.

Obituaries Hector MacQueen Aird* (1946-61) died, at the age of 33, in hospital in Aberdeen on 29 September, 1975 after a short illness.

It was a mark of the esteem in which he was held that the gathering of mourners representing all age groups and walks of life was so large that it could not be accommodated in the crematorium.

His contribution to school life was unstinting and whole-hearted.

Captain of the 1st XI and 1st XV gaining caps in both, he was also the All-round Trophy winner in 1960. Quite apart from these sporting achievements he was respected in the School for the manner in which he carried out his duties as a most popular Prefect. On leaving School it was not surprising that he joined Aberdeen City Police in view of the disciplined appearance and bearing which he displayed in all matters. He subsequently worked for an Insurance Company in the town and at the time of his death was an accountant with a firm of wholesale chemists.

Hector played for the F.P. 1st XV side and captained the Strathmore Union XI but his greatest achievements were in the fields of refereeing and umpiring—a sphere of endeavour on which he had not long embarked. He was Aberdeen's only Division 1 rugby referee and had become particularly well known and respected in Edinburgh and the Borders where he handled many leading games. He was considered by many as destined to referee at International level. A member of the Scottish Counties Board Panel of Umpires, he also found the time to coach and encourage young sportsmen in the City.

Always interested in and ready to help in the various sections of the Club he also had links with the Aberdeen Exiles Rugby Club, Rugby Referees' Society and Aberdeen Wednesday Rugby Club. The enthusiasm, thoroughness and organising ability which he contributed to these and other organisations will also be much missed. Any task which Hector undertook, however important or humble was done properly.

89 Obituaries He was a "character", with a highly distinctive manner of expression, modest of his own achievements but determined in his views. It is almost a clich6 to say that a Club has suffered a loss by the death of one of its members but in Hector M. Aird the Club has indeed lost a member the like of whom we will never see again.

Peter Sinclair Brown (1935-46) died in hospital in Aberdeen on z3 December, 1975 at the age of 45.

Peter Brown joined Aberdeen Journals Editoral department on leaving school as a copy boy in the reporters room. He became a reporter on his return from national service in the R.A.F. Later he moved to the Press and Journal sub-editors table handling sport at first and then transferring to general news. While with the sports desk he was also a racing tipster under the nom-de-plume of "The Colonel" and in this capacity won the Sporting Chronicle Gold Cup for having the most successful nap selection during the 1965-66 National Hunt season.

It was perhaps as the Press and Journal rugby correspondent that he was best known to F.P.s. He was a well known visitor at Rubislaw and was also recognised as a great supporter and champion of the smaller clubs.

Peter Crombie* (1919-zo and t9zz-z4) M.B.E., M.A., died suddenly in Aberdeen on I November, 1975 at the age of 63. He was taken ill after attending the Club Dinner.

After graduating in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1933 he joined the Indian Civil Service and was posted to Madras. District work in Trichinopoly, Tuticorin and Malabar followed and he then became Assistant Private Secretary, and for a time Private Secretary, to the Governor of Madras in 1941-4z. In 1943 he was Under-Secretary in the Home Department, and in 5944 controlled the distribution of motor transport. The following year he was in charge of food procurement and rationing in Malabar, and in 5946 was in charge of food imports and movements in the province. The following year he was appointed Deputy Secretary, Finance Department and was awarded the M.B.E. He retired from the Civil Service in 195o and became adviser to the Indian Tea Association in Calcutta.

About four years ago he retired to Newmachar.

Hugh Ogilvie Campbell Cruickshank (1924-36) M.A., died in Aberfeldy on to December, 1975 after a short illness. A. J. M. Edwards writes: "Hugh Cruickshank, whose death came as a shock to a wide circle of friends, was one of the best rugby players and cricketers produced by the School in the period between the Wars. He was captain of a competent first fifteen in Season 1935-36 playing at outside-half, and captained the eleven in 1935 and again in 5936.

Among those who played under his leadership either at rugger or cricket were the rugby internationalists Dallas Allardice and Donny Innes. At the time of his death he had completed twelve years of teaching Geography and Modern Studies at Breadalbane Academy having graduated Master of Arts with Honours in Geography at Aberdeen University in 1965. He was a devoted educationalist and

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine had achieved remarkable results in his presentation of pupils for S.C.E. Examinations. His colleagues at Breadalbane Academy where his widow, Helen, is senior mistress, held him in high esteem and he has been much missed by staff and pupils alike. In attendance at the Academy are his two sons, Neil and Colin."

Thomas Thiselton Curr (1908-18) died in Inverness on October zo, 1975 at the age of 72. He had been a partner in the long established family business of Thomas Curr & Company, tea and coffee merchants, Aberdeen and served as a pilot officer in the R.A.F. during World War II. Thomas William Nicol Davidson* (1929-40 died suddenly at his home in Cults on 14 January, 1976 at the age of 53.

Formerly a trawlowner he had wide business interests in the City and was a director of several companies. The trawling firm founded by his grandfather set the family on a diversified course of business interests, several of which were ancillary to fishing. Although he withdrew from active participation in the trawling industry some years ago he continued to pursue his other interests as vigorously as his health permitted.

His son RALPH ALEXANDER DAVIDSON* (1955-67) is also a former pupil.

John Murray Easton* (1895-1905) died on 19th August, 1975 at the age of 86.

During the First World War he served with the London Scottish in France and was severely wounded in the arm.

He served his apprenticeship as an architect in Aberdeen and then became a partner with Sir Howard Robertson in the London firm of Easton and Robertson, from which he retired in the early 1960s after more than forty years in practice. During this time he had been concerned in the planning and construction of buildings all over the world, notably hospital and university developments in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as at Oxford, Cambridge and London. His best known projects include the Royal Bank of Canada in London, Shell Headquarters in London, part of the Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street and the Royal Horticultural Society's New Hall, Westminster. A past President of the Architectural Association, and a Vice-President of the R.I.B.A. he was awarded the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1955.

He was a fine conversationalist with a sparkling wit and was recognised as a man of considerable culture with a keen appreciation of the visual arts.

Major Sir John Frederick Ferguson* (1904-9) C.B.E., D.L., died in a Sussex Nursing Home on 29 May 1975 at the age of 83. Sir John served in the Army (Durham Light Infantry) from 1912 to 1933 and was wounded and taken prisoner in Palestine during World War I. After Army service he was appointed to the Metropolitan Police as Chief Constable and was Commandant of the Metropolitan Police College from 1938-39 and after the war was successively Chief Constable of Sussex, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Chief Constable of Kent. He was knighted in 1953.

Obituaries 91 The Magazine of December 1961 records that he and Lord Bridges were appointed to carry out the independent enquiry into the theft of Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery.

He retired in 1958 and had been living in Rye in Sussex.

William Edgar Ferrier (19o1-5) died recently in Aberdeen at the age of 86.

While at the School he had a part-time job with Aberdeen Combworks and when he left school he accepted an invitation to join the firm as a clerk. He eventually became managing director of the firm and held this post until his retirement in 1963.

In his younger days he was a keen golfer and regular attender at meetings of the Businessmen's Club.

Robert Forgan (1898-1908) NI.C., M.D., died in hospital, after a short illness, on 8 January, 1976 aged eighty-four. Sir Landsborough Thomson* (1899-1909) writes: "Robert Forgan was born at Montrose in 1891 and was educated at the School and at Aberdeen University, where he graduated in Arts in 1911, in Medicine in 1915 and as M.D. in 1924. He served as Lieutenant and Captain in the R.A.M.C. 1915—zo, mostly in France. He was at first with a Field Ambulance—being awarded the M.C. and mentioned in despatches in 1916—and later with a V.D. clinic at base. After demobilisation he took the D.P.H. at Cambridge.

In 1921 he was appointed Executive Medical Officer to the Lanarkshire Joint Committee on Venereal Diseases and held this post until 1929; during part of this time he was also a member of the Glasgow City Council. In 1929 he was elected M.P. for West Renfrewshire in the Labour interest, but later transferred to the New Party formed by Sir Oswald Mosley. He unsuccessfully contested the seat as a New Party candidate in 1931, but continued organising work for the British Union of Fascists and became deputy leader; he resigned in 1934 when the Union began to campaign against the Jews, and he thereafter took no active part in politics. After a short period of general practice in London he joined the medical staff of the pharmaceutical manufacturing firm of May & Baker Ltd. at Dagenham.

He continued as a part-time consultant with the company after retiring age. Almost to the end he engaged in part-time editorial work. He wrote well, and he was a fluent and on occasion witty speaker. His warm personality gained him many friends at home and abroad.

At the University he was successful as a middle-distance runner.

He was an original member of the A.G.S. Former Pupils' Club Hockey Section, and he was once capped for Scotland. He also climbed for one season in the Alps. Later he travelled extensively in the course of his professional work. He was a keen gardener at his home in Essex. He is survived by his wife, by the daughter of an earlier marriage, and by a son and two daughters of the second."

William George Kneen (1958-62) died recently at the age of 29 after a long illness.

On leaving school he worked with the Inland Revenue before

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 92 joining the wages department of a city engineering firm. After a spell at the College of Commerce he gained entrance to Aberdeen University but illness interrupted his studies.

Most of his free time was devoted to following football and athletics and to photography.

Robert Francis Gordon McCallum (1910-17) M.A., died in hospital in Edinburgh in April 1976, aged 76.

He graduated with first class honours in classics at Aberdeen University and during his student days his interest in drama began when he took part in a number of student shows. He also became involved in the early days of the B.B.C. in Aberdeen, in both script writing and broadcasting. During his teaching career, he was headmaster of Queen's Park School, Glasgow and head Classics Master at Glasgow High School, he maintained his interest in radio, as well as writing scripts for a number of programmes for the B.B.C. in Glasgow.

He was probably best known for the popular children's radio series "Down at the Mains" which he wrote for fourteen years.

Maitland Mackie (1897-1902) O.B.E., D.L., died on 30 July, 1975 at the age of 9o.

One of the most prominent farmers in the North-East he had farmed at North Ythsie, Tarves since 1904 and was known as an innovator who pioneered progressive methods in agriculture particularly in poultry and pig rearing. His abilities were recognised nationally, he was president of the Scottish National Farmers' Union, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws of Aberdeen University in 1957 and he was awarded the O.B.E. for his services to agriculture.

The Minister who conducted his funeral service has kindly agreed that part of that service which gave an insight into the character of the man might be reproduced here: "He was 45 when, with Mary his wife, and John Massie of Nethermill, he came into the vestry of Holburn Church and said to a very young man (still indeed a student) `Would you like to come to Tarves ?' `Tarves ?', replied the student, `I've never heard of it'. And as they were leaving I remember saying, `I'm sorry; but what did you say your name was?' He turned and smiled. `Mackie,' he said `Maitland Mackie.' So it began for me—Tarves—Mackie, Maitland Mackie— and here, forty five years after, the student returns, just to say, `Well I know you now, and I've come to say `Thank you—for Tarves—and for Mackie, Maitland Mackie'.

"There's a word in the Psalm where David says, `Thy gentleness hath made me great.' Greatness was not in the student; but if it had been, the gentleness of this man would have made him. For gentle he was. I never knew him to raise his voice. He must have, surely, sometimes. But I never heard it, or heard of it. Even when there was some reason for sharpness, he was gentle. A summer evening in 1929 and the student now `the minister' (a' nonsense ower young, as he over-heard one of his elders saying)—sleeves rolled up, busy at the manse back door, when Maitland came quietly up to him asked

Obituaries 93 kindly questions about this and that, and then, again with a smile, says casual like, `There's a Kirk Session in vestry waiting for you'. I was horrified. My first Kirk Session, and I had forgotten all about it 1 `It's all right' he said, seeing my distress, `They'll be enjoying their news. I'll wait for you'.

"A gentle man; and a believing man. Reticent about that, brought up in a tradition that was reticent about that. But when he was ill, which was but seldom, he would push the Bible towards me and say, `Read a bittie.' So we'd `read a bittie' and `pray a bittie'. And in these last days as I sat whiles beside his bed `readin' a bittie' I was also giving thanks for him, and for this family of his that have distinguished themselves in so many ways."

His sons, all former pupils of the School, have distinguished themselves in public life—JoHN MACKIE (1924-26) former Labour M.P. for Enfield East, GEORGE YULE MACKIE (1933-35) D.S.O., B.SC., now LORD GEORGE BALLINSHOE, a former Liberal M.P. and Chairman of the Liberal Party and MAITLAND MACKIE* (1926-28) C.B.E., B.SC., Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and convener of Aberdeen County Council until local government reorganisation. His grandson MAITLAND MACKIE (1946-54) also attended the School.

William Grant Marshall (1919-23) died recently in London at the age of 7o. He was the third generation in the firm of Wm. Marshall & Sons, timber merchants specialising in hardwood timbers and was recognised in the London area as an authority on trees and timber.

Sheriff William Ogilvy Pattullo* (1934- 41) M.A., LL.B., died suddenly at his home in Lanarkshire on 1 November, 1975 at the age of S4. He graduated in Arts and Law at Aberdeen and after a short time as a solicitor in Aberdeen practised at the Scottish Bar from 195i to 1959. He was appointed senior lecturer in Mercantile Law at Aberdeen University in 1959 and three years later he was appointed to the bench and was a Sheriff at Glasgow until his death. In an appreciation a colleague writes: "The death of Sheriff William Pattullo at the age of 54 came as a bitter blow to his colleagues and friends. Bill Pattullo was a shy and retiring man whose sensitivity and gentleness were perhaps not always apparent in his chosen career, where he discharged his duties with firmness and impartiality. Bill never expected a standard from others which he did not live up to himself. Perhaps his outstanding quality was courage which was reflected in the way he faced the death of his wife in the Clarkston disaster".

Herbert Ritchie* (1904-16) M.B., cx.s., died at his retirement home in Cowes, Isle of Wight on 24 July, 1974 at the age of 75. He was the last surviving son of Adam Ritchie, "Heliopolis", Aberdeen. After leaving school, he graduated in medicine at Aberdeen University, and went into general practice in Long Eaton, Nottingham where he spent his entire professional career before retiring to Cowes in 1964.

Cecil Arthur Grant Savidge* (1913-24) M.B.E., M.A., died on 9 December, 1975 at his home in Buckinghamshire.

He is remembered as a schoolboy for the equal ability he displayed at

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine 94 his studies and games. The All-round Trophy winner of 1923 he will also be remembered by many Scouts of the Grammar Troops, first as a member of the 9th and thereafter as the first Scoutmaster of the 17th.

After graduating M.A. at Aberdeen he entered the Indian Civil Service in 1928 and served in various localities, including Deputy Commissioner in the North West Frontier Province, Under Secretary of External Affairs to the Governor of India and Political Agent in Quelta Pishin. In 1941 he was seconded to Iraq on special duty with the rank of Major and for his service in the Indian Civil Service he was awarded the M.B.E. in the New Years Honours, 1941.

After the war, Cecil was seconded by the Indian Civil Service to the responsible but at the same time perhaps the most romantic appointment, as Director General of Revenues to the man who was then probably the most colourful and powerful potentate in India, the Nizam of Hyderabad. After partition in India he was appointed to the newly established and very onerous post of Chief Commissioner to the first Governor General of Pakistan. In 1949 he was to retire for health reasons but after approximately two years he was appointed Assistant Director of the International Chamber of Commerce, whose headquarters are in London, and shortly thereafter appointed Director.

This post involved him in regular visits to the capital cities of the world until his retirement.

A loyal F.P. he presented the School with a new Banner in 5947 and acted as F.P. Consul in all his stations in India. It was indeed fitting that Cecil A. G. Savidge was appointed President of the Club for 1964-65.

David Easton Sharp (1897-1907) B.SC., F.I.c., died in June, '975 in Ardrossan at the age of 86. A graduate of Aberdeen University he studied chemistry at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow where he was, from 1912 to 1915 a lecturer and assistant. He then joined Nobel's Explosives Company (now part of I.C.I. Ltd.) at Ardeer, Ayrshire where he became assistant manager but retired early owing to ill health. He lived in retirement at Ardrossan.

Ian Murray Shaw (1908-16) died in Blairgowrie on 7 February, 1976 at the age of 74.

Born in India where his father was an accountant with a railway company he trained as a marine engineer at Edinburgh and Manchester Universities. In 1928 he went to Malaya as a rubber planter and during World War II enlisted with the Federal Malayan Volunteer Forces.

The 1944 Magatine records that he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and an entry in the 1946 Magazine records that he and many other F.P.s had been freed after three and a half years' imprisonment.

On returning to Britain in 1949 he ran a newsagent's business in Blairgowrie until 1965. An enthusiastic and dedicated church worker he was an elder of St. Andrew's Church, Blairgowrie.

Andrew Thomson Skene (1945-57) died in December 1975 at the age of 33 in a fire aboard ship in Nigeria.

He studied at the School of Navigation in Aberdeen after leaving school and went to sea when he was seventeen and had travelled

Obituaries

95 cermaster's his gained he 1973 In round the world several times. tificate and had becn working with an international offshore supplies company as master of an oil rig supply vessel based in Nigeria. cx.s., died in Nottingham in Ian Robert Spark* (1912-14) October 1974 at the age of 77. His medical career started in the Navy in the First World War where he served as a surgeon probationer and after the war, in 1921, he qualified in medicine at Aberdeen.

Two years later he moved to Nottingham and shortly afterwards was appointed consultant anaesthetist to Nottingham City Hospital, taking up a similar post at the General Hospital the following year.

He retired in 1962. Since the start of the National Health Service Dr. Spark had been chairman of major hospital medical committees and was also a past president of the Nottingham Medico Chirurgical Society. A fine rugby player he took part in Scottish trials on five occasions. He turned out regularly for Notts. R.F.C. and was also keen on fishing and shooting.

His four brothers ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS SPARK (1905-I0) M.C., major (retired), ARTHUR PERCY SPARK (1905-I1) M.B., CH.B., CECIL VIVIAN SPARK (1914-16) M.B., CH.B. and JAMES CHRISTIAN SPARK (1918-21) F.I.W.M., M.I. MECH.E., M.I. LOC.E., all attended the School.

Sir George Alexander Williamson* (t9o4-I z) B.L., D.L., died in Adelaide, Australia on 23 June, 1975 at the age of 77.

Sir George served with the Indian Army from 1916 to 1923 and was mentioned in despatches during the First World War. He took his law degree at Aberdeen University and became the senior partner in the Aberdeen legal firm of Paull and Williamsons. Always greatly interested in politics he first came to prominence in 1934 when elected to Aberdeen Town Council. Three years later he resigned from council work and served on the Central Executive Council of the Scottish Unionist Association and was Convener of their eastern divisional Council, becoming chairman in 1951. He also had strong links with the South Aberdeen Unionist Association and in 1953 was knighted for his political services.

His interest in military matters continued after he left the Indian Army and in 1939 he was appointed controller of the newly formed Observer Corps in Aberdeen which he ran throughout World War II. He became Commandant of the Scottish Area, Royal Observer Corps, and in 1958 was made assistant to the Corp's U.K. commandant. He was awarded the R.O.C. medal in 1953 and was for seven years an honorary T.A. Colonel.

During a thirty-eight year connection with Aberdeen Savings Bank be became a trustee and member of the management committee and in 19 53 succeeded his father as Chairman. He was also, for twenty-three years a director of the local branch of the Bank of Scotland and among his business interests was the Scottish Northern Investments Trust of which he was director from 1938 to 1943, then chairman until 1971.

Recognised particularly as having great skill in the field of finance and investment Sir George's great interest and knowledge extended also to the spheres of travel, philately, world affairs and politics.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

His brother, R. B. Williamson* (1906-18) is a past president of the Club.

Alexander George Wilson (1959-65) M.A., died tragically at the age of 28 while out alone on the hills in Norway in June 1975. After leaving School he graduated M.A.(Hons.) in Music at Aberdeen University and then for a time continued at Cambridge University his studies of Bartok's Quartets before joining the Bergen Symphony Orchestra in 1973. Although he was equally talented as an academic musician, his many friends will remember him more from their association with him as a violinist of rare ability, both as a soloist and as a member, often leader, of orchestras and chamber ensembles.

In the latter he could always draw the best from those less able than himself, his skill on his own instrument being always matched by a patient understanding for the problems of others. His death at a time when his fullest talents had perhaps yet to emerge is a great loss to the Club as well as to the musical community.

Douglas Moir Wood* (1918-29) M.A., LL.B., died in hospital in Dundee in July 1975.

He began his legal career with Messrs. Edmunds and Ledingham, advocates, Aberdeen and was, from 1933 to 1940, chief legal assistant to Aberdeen County Council. He then served the County Council of Orkney for thirty-two years as their County Clerk and Treasurer.

Some of his most valuable work came during and after the Wheatley report on the reorganisation of Scottish local government. The outcome of that reorganisation has given Orkney virtual autonomy in her affairs with the present single-purpose regional authority.

John Morgan Yule* (3934-39 and 1923-24) died, at the age of 68, on i i June 1975 in Salisbury, Rhodesia after a long illness. He went to Rhodesia several years before the outbreak of World War II and in 3939 joined a Rhodesian squadron of the R.A.F. He saw almost continuous war service in North Africa and in Persia as an air gunner and wireless operator.

New Members of the Club (22

April 1975-31 March 1976)

Life Members (Including conversions from Ordinary to Life Membership) ABEL, Richard W. (t95>-70) AITKEN, Robert (1928-37) ALLAN, COMB M. ([961-75) ALLAN, Dr. D. S. (1948-60) ANDERSON, Dennis G. C. (x962-66) ANDERSON, Gordon F. R. (1955-65) ANDERSON, Graeme K. (1953-1 ANDERSON, William F. (1958-64 ANDERSON, William H. K. (1955-68) ANDREWS, James G. (1948-62) ARCHIBALD, Eric G. (1958-65)

ARCHIBALD, Graeme C. (1962-68)

BAIRD, John W. (x936-46) BARTON, Rae C. (1942- 55) BATCHELOR, Martyr A. (1959-63) BEATTIE, Norman R. (1921-31) BELL, John G. (1957-72) BEVERLY, Eric A. (1956-62) BLACKLAWS, John E. (1968-74) BLAIR, Donald C. (1960-65) BOUM W. G. Rowntree (1913-21) BONNER, W. N. B. (1957-7o) BORTHWICK, Neil M. (1952-63) BOTHWELL, William A. (1915-23)

New Members of the Club BROOKER, William D. (1937-50) BROOMFIELD, William M. (1945- 54) BROWN, David S. (1950-64) BROWN, Ronald Scott (1946- 35) BROWN, W. Barton (1943-57) BUDGE, Russell G. (1956-69)

Iimuce. Alan (1933-60) BURNETT, A. Roy (1948- 59) BURNS, Michael (1966-71) BuxtoN, Neil K. (1948-38) CAIRNS, David S. (1961-63) CAMPBELL, David A. (1954-62) CAMPBELL. N. Kenneth (1952-58) CARRIE, Dr. Brian J. (1952-64) CARRY. Ian M. (1960-75) CARRY, Michael R. (1953-66) CARRY, Peter D. (1957-70) CARSON, Marcus H. (1926-36) CARSWELL, Robert F. (1933- 43) CATTO, Alexander de B. (1933-39) CHAPMAN, Douglas H. (1936-48) CHRISTIE, Henry G. (1938- 44) CLARK, Alistair J. (1959-65) CLARK, Hugh S. (1951-65) CLARKE, Peter N. (1963-74) CocKIE, Bruce M. (1930- 43( COLLIER, Peter M. (1960-65) COLLINS, Peter M. (1960-66) COMBER, Ronald R. (1947-525 CONNON, William L. (I930-40) CooK, Gordon J. (1960-66) COOPER, Ruairiali A. (1962-75) COULL, David E. (1966-71) COULSON, William J. (1936-44) CRAIG, Dr. Alan G. (1933- 46) CRAIG, Graemc (1943-55) CRAIG, Joseph (1926-39) CRAIGMYLE, Roy M. (1946-52) CRANSTON, Robert J. (1962-68) CRESWELL, Ian F. (1946- 49) CRIGHTON, William (1955-61) CROMAR, Neil (1957-63) CROMAR, Peter L. (1942-48) CROOK, Graham D. W. (1968- 74) CRUICKSIIANK, Ronald L. (1967-73) CUMMINGS, Stuart W. (1965-69) DAVIDSON, James W. L. (1968-74) DAvrosoN, Ronald L. (1962-68) DINGWALL, Robert D. (1948-61) DONALD, D. M. C. (1926-32)

DONALD, Peter B. (1944- 49) DOUGLAS, Dr. Geoffrey A. (1960-65) DOWNIE, Norman W. (1951-62) DowN1E, Robert J. (1949- 52) DOYLE, Leslie S. (1952-63) DUFFUS, Dr. Alan A. (1900-1t) DUGAN, William (1963-68) DUGUID, Peter W. (1958-71) DUNCAN, John L. (1958-71) DUNCAN, Kenneth S. (1948-54) DUNCAN, Richard W. (1963-69) DUTHIE, Robert 1'. (1923-35) DUTHIE, Roderick F. (1969- 74) EDWARD, Dr. Neil (1948-55) EDWARDS, Peter G. (1956-64) ERSKINE, John L. (1960-64) FARQUHARSON, Derek 13. (1954-66) FETTES, Royan M. (1955-68) FIDDES, James R. (1924-37) FINNIE, A. Scott (1925-35) FLANS, John D. (1936-40) FORBES, Harry A. (1943-56) FoRBES, Sinclair T. (1947-56) FORDVCE, Ranald J. (1958-71) FORSYTH, Michael A. (1958- 64) FoUIN, Dr. F. L. Pierre (1944- 47)

FowLIE, Dr. Douglas G. (1950- 64) FRASER, Ian A. (1962-68) FRASER, J. Edward (1936- 49) FRASER, iohn (1947-60) FRASER. Ohn G. N. (1942-sS) FRASER Dr. Robert (1922-3o)

GALLON, Peter R. (1967-73) GAMMACK, Graham F. (1961-74) GARDEN, Norman (1960-66) GARIOCH, Peter W. (z945-58) GARVIE, Alistair J. (1960-69) GAIT, William (1944-48) GAULD, Dr. James H. (1956-62) GAULD, Ranald S. K. (1961-74) GAULD, Robert G. (1947-52) GEORGESON, Blair R. (1961-75) GIBS, Michael (1947-61)

GILL, James C. 1. (1967-73) GILLAN, J. T. Clifford (193('-46) GILLAN, Robert F. (1941-55) GILLIEs. Alan W. (1954-59) GORDON, John K. (1958-71) GRANT, Donald A. (1960-66) GRANT, James (1938-50) GRAY, Alfred (196o-65) GRAY, Ian (1960-66) GRAY, Russell (1952-65) GRAY, W. Gavin (196o-66) GROVE, Eric J. (1960-66) HADDEN, Brian J. (1951- 54) HAMILL, James (1951-61)

HANsroau, Paul M. (1968-74)

HARPER, Alan P. (1962-75) HARROW, lain A. L. (1939-45) HASTIE, Michael C.(1959-63) HAY, Dr. Arthur C. (1920-33) HAY, Dennis C. (1962-68) HAY, Gordon W. (1951-65)

HENDERSON, Michael G. (1948-60)

HENDRY, Dr. William G. (1960-66) HENDRY, Dr. Wilson S. (1957-70) HoLDSWORTII, John S. (1953-64) HOPKIN, lain S. (1962-68) HOUGHTON, Roger D. (1959-64) HUNTER, Kenneth W. (1928-41) HUTCIIIsON, John (1926-39) HYLAND, Jeffrey (1946-58) IRELAND, Alexander F. (1942- 47) IRONSIDE, Leslie (1947-58) JACK, Dr. E. Munro (193o-38)

JAMES., Alexander S. (1940-50)

JAPPY, Joseph S. (1951-53) JEFFREY, J. Martin (1942-57)

JErEREv, J. Peter , x944-59)

JOHNSTON, Colin F. (1945- 57)

ONES, Brian T. (1956-69) J ONES, Keith G. (1957-66) JONES, Norman W. (2928-40) Joss, Douglas G. (1947-54) KEMP, Peter F. (1928-39) KEMP, William C. (1953-59)

KING, Michael G. (1951-60)

KINGHORN, Harry K. S. (1943-56) KIRK, Rev. John F. (1937-47) KITSON, Richard F. (1947-58) KNOWLES, Cli,rleS S. (1933-46) KNOX, T. Marshall (1932-35) LAING, Kenneth G. (1967-73) LAMONT, Donald A. (195t-65) LAMONT, John W. (1961-74) LAMONT, Winiam E. (1948-53) LARGE, Keith D. (1947-60) LAWRENCE. Dr. William C. M. (1940-43) LAWSON, Fred K. S. (1948-62) LEIPER, Joseph (1953-59)

I.EirER, William W. (1944- 55)

LEITH, David B. (1970- 72) LESSELLS, James S. (1963-69)

LOBBAN, Douglas Y. (1922-34)

LONGMUIR, Wilson S. (1956-60) Love, Prof. Philip N. (1952-58)

Low, George D. (1969-74) McBAIN, Alan G. (1941-50) MCCALLUM, Forbes M. (1959-65) MCDONALD, Angus D. (1954-66) MCDONALD, David (1961-67) MACDONALD, Hector A. M. (1949- 55) McDoNALn, Roderick A. (1951-64)

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MCDONALD. Ronald W. (r947-5o) McDotmaLL, Ian A. (1915-26) McFaaLaNa, Harry L (1957-69) MeGaErma, Dr. Colin M. (1951-64) McGREGOR, David W. (1963-69) MCINT0s11, Dr. A. Wilson (1932-45) MCI NTOSH, Sandy (1953-66) MACKAY, Leonard, J. (1959-64)

McKay. Ronald S. (1049- 57) MACKENZIE, Alisdair G. (1952-65) McKenna, David (1966-72) McKaNziv. John M. (1964-661 MACKIE. Kenneth G. (1952-64) MACKINNON, Ronald L. (1932- 45 MACLENNAN, Alastair (1923-29) MACNAY, Gordon R. (1951-65) MacNay, Ian D (1949-63) MrNAV. Robert (ex-Staff) MCPHERSON, Dr. Harry (r947-53) MACPHERSON, Dr. Harry G. (1938-44) McINEasoN, Ian G. (1910-17) MCPHERSON, Ronald S. (1946-52) MCPHERSON, Stuart F. (1963-72) Pk-Woman. David A. (1966-73) MAIN, Donald D. M. (i952-66) MAIN, Tan L. (1956-69) MAIR, Robert C. (1962-74) MANN, Dr. David L. (196o-66) MARK, Douglas (1959-65) MASSIF, George C. (1924-38) MASSON. J. LaMerin (1939-46) MASSON, Keith I. (1959-72)

NIATIIIFSON, Alan J. (1967-73) MEECHAN. Brian (1966-71) NIeLviN, John M. (1935 - 42) MENZIES. Gilbert 1) (1933- 43) MENZIES. W. Neil (1928-201 MILLAR. Michael R. (1959-661 MILLER, Alistair J. M. (1942-55) MILLER. David G (1953-60) MILLER, David W. (1968-74) MILNE, Alan N. (1969-75) MILNE, Andrew W. (1961-73) MILNK, David R. (1954 - 57) MILNE, Gavin (1930-42) MILNE, Dr. Gordon G. (1950-61) MILNE, James (1935-47) MILNE, James C. ([944-5o) MILNE, James C. ( 1 947- 59) MILNE, Ramsay G. (1958-71) MILNE, Stuart M. (1971-75) MILNE, William A. (1948-52) MITCHELL, Dr. Stuart J. (1948-61) MITCHELL, Wilfred J. (1958-71) MITCHELL, W. Douglas (1946-61) MORGAN, James A. (1907-9) MORRICE, Keith A. (r966-72)

MomusoN, Gordon G. (1963-69) MORRISON, Harvey E. (x951-65) MORRISON, J ames D. (ex-Staff) MORRISON, Terence (1955-61) MULVEY, Peter (1952-62) MUNRO, Dr. Hamish D. (1954-60) MUNRO, John G. (1951-57) NAIRN, Daniel R. (p33-42) NAIRN, James If. . ;1929-38) NELSON, G. Desmond R. (193E-51) NICOL, Alexander (1962-71)

NicoLs0N, Alan (1966-72) NICOLSON. Gordon B. ( 1 940-47) NISBET, Robert M. NI. (1 943- 52) NOBLE, Andrew (1939-52) NOBLE, Andrew (1952-62) NORBROOK, Hamish T. E. (1959-65) O'HARA, Stuart K. (1958-70) PFDDIE, Richard W. (1959-73)

Pamir, John G. W. (1946-51) Nome, William ([919-21) PIRIE, Alan 1.). (196x-66) PLOWMAN, Michael (1949-60) POTTER, jOhil L. (1921-29) PRETT, Dr. Michael A. (1948-61)

Puossuu, Alan j. ( 1 054 -6 7) RAE, Richard B. (1959-65) RAIrr, Norman G. (1946-51) REin, George G. (1959-65) REID, Henry W. (1951-61) REID, Ian W. (1967-73) REID, Robin D. (1958-63) Reim, Douglas (1924- 35) RENNIE, Ewen F. N. (x955-68) RENNIE, Kevin R. (1964-70) RICHARDS, Dr. Robert L. (1922-34) RICHARDSON, John J. S. (1964-70) Rtu.EY, Robert S. (1946-55) RITCHIE, Dennis A. (1943-46) RITCHIE. Donald A. (1942-49) RITCHIE, George M. (1963-69) Rona, George A. (1946-6o) ROBERTS, Alasdair G. (1957-64) ROBERTSON, David J. F. (1954-65) ROBINSON, Iain W. (1961-74) ROBINSON, Nicolas (1968-74) Ross, Donald F. (1946-60) Ross, Graeme A. (1958-71) Ross. Lain G. H. (1957-63) RYAN, Dr. Terence D. R. (196o-66) $ANDISON, Famish J. B. (1963-69) SANGSTER, Eric G. (1927-39) SELLAR, James C. (1924 - 34) SHAND, James G. (ex-Staff) SHINNIE. Ian G. (1918-28, SIIIRRIFPS, Dr. George G. 0947-571 SIB, George H. B. (1043-55) SIMPSON, Alexander J. (1954-60) SMITH, Alastair R. (1947-61) SMITH, Dr. Forbes (1e44- 57) SMITH, Gordon M. (1962-68) SMITH, John B. (1 954-67) SMITH, Murray R. (1937-46) SMITH, Thomas G. (1936-43) SOUTER, Ian P. (1947-61) SPENCE, J. Rognvald (1962-64) STEPHEN, Duncan (1970-71) STEPIIEN, John L. (1921-28) STEVEN, Andrew M. M. (1936-50) STEWART, Clement A. (195/-59) STEWART, David W. (1963-75) STEWART, Ian J. (1923-29) STILL, Peter D. (1962-75) STOTT, John (1954-67) STRACHAN, Robert D. (x912-19) STUART, Dr. Ian (1933-46) SUTHERLAND, David I. M. (x951-55) SUTHERLAND, Dr. Kenneth T. (1937- 45) TAINSH, John A. (1958-70) TAYLOR, A. Frost (1929-33) TAYLOR, Dr. Willson D. (1950-63) THOMAS, Hugh W. L. (1947-56) THOMSON, Alexander C. (1930-41) THOMSON, George M. (1943-45) THOMSON, Dr. James L. S. (1920-27) THOMSON, Roy H. (1 941-5o) TOSH, Alastair H. (1946-53) TOUGH, Lawrence M. (1959-64) TYSON, Richard F. (1944- 49) U'REN, William G. (1958-64) VERDON, Terence M. (1973- 74) WALKER, Alfred (1923-25) WALKER, David A. C. (195o-35) WALKER, Gordon H. M. (x945-54) WALKER, Kenneth P. (1964-70) WALKER, Dr. Peter A. (1946-59) WALKER, Ronald G. S. (1941-46) WALLACE, William A. (1958-71) WALLACE, William I). D. (1939-51) WARRACK, Dr. John H. (1937-42)

Warr, Nigel G. M. (1963-69) WArr, William A. (1964-70) WEBSTER, G. Fraser (1949-62) WEBSTER, Malcolm S. (1949-57) WEIR, Michael J. (1965-67) WHYTR. David C. (r962-68) WILL, Hunter A. B. (1948-62)

New Member.; of the Club WOOD, David 13. M. (1954-67) WOOD, David M. (1958- 71 )

WILLIAMSON, James M. (1948-51) WILSON, Alexander J. (1959-65) WILSON, Dr. W. Alan (1946-6o) WILSON, W. Stewart (1942-55) WISELY, Dr. Ivan C. F. (1948-61)

YULE, David K. (1951-65) YULE, Denis N. (196o-66) YULE, William (1945-58)

Ordinary Members ALEXANDER, Grant W. (1963-70)

ANDERSON, Bryan R. (1962-74) ANDERSON, Ross C. (1968-74) BARRIE, Douglas J. (1968-74) BEEDIE, George A. (1969-75) BISSETT, James G. (1969-74) BLACK, Iknnis (1964-70)

BROWN, Kenneth A. (1971-75)

BROWN, Stuart W. (1963-75) BRUCE, Derek W. (1969-75) BURNS, Gordon (1927-33) CAMERON, Duncan R. (1974- 75) CAVANAGH, Michael (1969-75) CAWDRON, David A. (1970-75) CLARK, Brian M. (1969-75) CHAPMAN, A. Eric (1961-75) CRADOCK, Alan 1. (1962-75) CRERAR, Fraser D. (1969-75) DAVIDSON. Douglas J. (1969-75) DUGU1D, Laurence M. (1969-75) DUNCAN, Bruce M. (1969-75) DURWARD, Stuart J. (1964-69) DUTHIE, 'Tarnish M. (1962-75) DUTHIE, Philip G. (1962-75) ELLIOT, Peter (1962-75) FETTES, Raymond P. (1970-75) FINDLATER, Duncan (1962-75) FORBES, Alexander G. (1967-72) FORBES, James G. W. (1968- 74) GALLON, Christopher (1962-75)

Garr, Nigel F. (1962-75) GILL, Kenneth J. (1969-75) GRANT, Alan J. (1974- 75) GRAY, lain G. ('969-75) GRAY, W. Morris (1945- 54) HARDIE, Graham J. (1965-7o) HAY, Alistair (1968- 74) HAYWOOD, Coliu D. (1969-75) HENDRY, lan Gordon (1963-75) HEPBURN, Colin F. (1969-75)

HENDRY, Douglas T. (1968-74) HORNE, lan (1969- 74) HUNTER, Alexander I. A. (1969-75) HUNTER, Ian C. (1969-75) KIDD, George M. (1962-75) LAIRD, Gordon A. (1963-75) LEDINGHAM, Gordon J. (1962-75) MCDONALD, John (1962-75) McHaativ, Cohn (1969-751 MACKENZIE, Ian (1962-75) MACLEAN, Neil (1971-75)

ManEasoN, Neil A. M. (1969-75) McRolm. Kenneth A. (1962-75) McRonnie, Stuart J. (1963-75) MAIN, James A. (1961-66) MARE, Alan W. (1969-75) MATHIESON, Neil A. (1973-75) MATTHEWS, Michael (1969-75) MIDGLEY, Peter D. (1969-75) MITCHELL, Ian (1969-75) MOIR, Dallas G. (1969-75) MoIR, Jeremy D. (1969-75) Mom, Keith (1969- 74) MORRICR, Michael (1969-75) MORRISON, George (1963-75) MORRISON, Roy R. (1969-71) MORRISON, William G. (1969-75) Nicol-, Alastair K. D. (1962-75) NIVEN, Stewart G. (1963-75) NUGENT, Raymond J. (I968-7o) OWEN, Christopher M. (1969- 74) PATTERSON, Philip (1969-75) RALPH, George A. (1970-75) REEVES, W. E. (1954-60) REID, Gordon (1969-75) RITCHIE, Graham L. (1962-73) ROBERTS, James (1961-66) ROBERTSON. Stuart W. (1969-75) ROBINSON, Jeremy (1969-75) Ross, Alan W. (1972-75) Ross, David I. (1969-75) SEABROOKE, Stephen R. (1971-75) Smarr, Charles G. T. (1946-59) SCOTT, Guy J. (1956-59) SELLER, Douglas S. (1969-75) SHAND, Robert C. (1962-75) SIMPSON, Gavin C. (1969-75) SIMPSON, Kenneth W. (1962-75) SLORACH, Ian F. (1969-75) STEEL, Leslie (1962-75) STEPHEN, Ian C. (1959-66) STEWART. DCIek. H. (1970-75) SUTHERLAND, James B. (1969-75) SWANSON, Graeme G. (2969- 74) TAVENDALE, Ian A. (1969-75) TOUGH, William R. (1962-75) STEWART, Antony K. (1962-75) THOMPSON, Angus J. (1969-75) THOW, James R. (1956-69)

WILLIAMS, Geoffrey C. R. (1969-75) WRIGHT, Ian K. (1956-62) YEATS, Graham A. (1962-64)

McLEon, Ian ('970-75)

Staff Members CARTER, Miss Jenffer M. T. CRUICKSIIANK, Gordon D.

DOWNIE, Mrs. Jean M. FRASER, Archibald P. HALL, Alan HENDERSON, Thomas W. JOHNSTON, COILI1 KEIR. Mrs. Elizabeth H.

KINCAID, Michael

LOBBAN, David A. R.

MACRUARY, Angus E. G. MAYCOCK, Mrs. Helen R. NEWTON, Robert RAMSAY, Miss Sandra SHAW, Mrs. Jeanette THOMANECK, Mrs. Guinivere TRAILL, Graeme M. WEBSTER, Mrs. Joy D.

99

F.P. Club Accounts INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for year ended 31 December 1975 1974

INCOME £,68 Ordinary Subscriptions Received prior to January 1975 263 Ordinary Subscriptions Received in 1975 . . .

74 Arrears Recovered in 1975 • • . . .

•

£183 257

• •

•

•

•

•

14

£$05

334 Revenue from Investments (Net) 240 Transfer from Life Member Capital Fund at 4% 34 Magazines—Sales 252 Advertising Revenue

1,925 Donation from Club Centre — Miscellaneous Income

•

£458 619 S31 £45 167

.

212 2,100 25

•

£3,290

£3,945

1974 £472

EXPENDITURE

Working Expenses, including Honoraria to Secretary and Treasurer and Magazine Editors 55 Honorarium to Auditors for 1974 2,575 Loan Interest . . . . . . . .

— Income Tax . . . . . . . . . .

School and Trophy Medals . . . . .

49 .

Capitation Grants: erliln c • • • • • • £30 30 Edinburgh . .

9 • 9 Yorkshire . ...

• 5 5 ro3

Expenses of Visits to Other Centres . .

Sports Prize Fund . ....

Magazine—Cost of Printing and Postages .

935 Miscellaneous Expenditure . . .

—

•

•

•

20

£906 65 1,575 63 81

44 trio

•

20 1,227

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

45

- - _

£3,253

-

£37

4.191

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR YEAR ,

£(246)

•

BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 1975 ASSETS

1 974

I. HERITABLE PROPERTY, 86 Queens Road, Aberdeen—At cost including alterations as at 31 December 2974 . . .

Cost of Improvements during year . . . . .

(Value at 31 December 1975 estimated by Professional Surveyor at £15o,ooo) Less: Heritable and Other Loans: Club Centre . . . ... . .

Standard Property Investment Co. Ltd.. . .

£i3,o9o 27,873 £71,963 £48,882 15,ooo 63,882

4.774

II. INVESTMENTS (At Cost)

£3,350 9% Treasury Stock 1994 • £3,400 n% Treasury Stock 1987/90 .

3,850

•

mount realised on sale of shares held at 31 December 1 974 Less: Cost thereof Gain transferred to Capital Account . . .

Note: A Capital Gains Tax liability will arise on this gain which will be negotiated with the Inland Revenue

8,081

Market value at 31.12.75

Cost

£2,215 2,338

£2,550 2,592

5,142

4,553 £ 10,84o 3,850 £6,990

III, LIFE ASSURANCE POLICY on the Life of Mr. W. 13. Hogg in

repayment of Loan from Standard Property Investment Company Limited Balance as at 31 December 1974 Add' Prenuum paid during year

4,039 I00

.

4.039 807 4.846

F.P. Club Accounts IV. SUNDRY DEBTORS

£2,235

.

.

..

101 £2,678

•

•

•

4,774

V. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND

/3/

£25,52I

£15,029 LIABILITIES . .

• • • • Sundry Creditors Ordinary Subscriptions Paid in Advance Balance of Ordinary Subscriptions received prior to . .....

January 1975 . .

Subscriptions received in 1975 for future years

Less: 2,275

.

£1,031

£226 184

410

408

1,441

2,683 £22,346

£24,080

NET ASSETS

/1//Miii•

REPRESENTED BY:

2 974 ENTERTAINMENTS RESERVE

• Balance at 31 December 1974 Add: Bank Deposit Account Interest

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

£500 2 £502

Less: Loss on Entertainments Account (after Honorarium to • . . .

Entertainments Secretary) . £Soo

LIFE MEMBER CAPITAL FUND

December 1974 • Amount at credit at Life Members Subscriptions received in 197$

• .

• •

Less: Transferred to Income and Expenditure Account 7,754

£501

•

-

.

•

£7,754 5,520

.

.

£15,274 531

.

£3,892

1 2,743

CAPITAL ACCOUNT

Amount at credit at 31 December 1974 • Add: Gain on Realisation of Investments

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

6,990 £10,881

Less: Deficit on Income and Expenditure Account for year 3,892

OTHER FUNDS

Magazine Fund—Donation A. N. Geddes Legacy .

200

£22,346

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

. .

.

246

. .

£100 100

10,03(1

200

£24,oho

Account for the year ending ABERDEEN, 23 March 1976.—We have examined the foregoing and found the Account 3t December 1975 and relative Balance Sheet as at 31 December 1975 the position of the Club as at states Sheet correctly Balance that the opinion of the We are correct.

Funds at the close of the supporting Securities 31 December 1975. We have verified the various the Accounts.

Bowan & SMITH, C.A., Honorary Auditors

Club Centre Accounts BAR TRADING AND GENERAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS for year ended 31 December 1975 1 974 £26,907

£38,360

BAR SALES COST OF SALES

£r,oo6 17,299

Opening Stock .

Bar Purchases •

. .

. .

.

. .

. .

. .

£78,305 1,367

Less: Closing Stock

.

.

.

.

.

..

. .

. .

£1,361 25,805

.

27,166 3,140

£16,944

24,026

£9,963

£14,334 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

2,262 3,987 13r 96 588 —_____ £77,027

2.906 5,109 too

Annual Subscriptions Gaming Machine Revenue (Net) Commission on Insurances and Other Commissions Billiards and Pool Table Revenue Donations and Other Miscellaneous Income . .

209

406 _____-_ £23,064

OVERHEAD EXPENSES

£3,844 7,368 1,330 45 7,064 1,925 60 782 26 318 Ill 400 97 478 392

Wages and National Insurances etc.

Rates, Insurance and Feuduty Heating and Lighting .

• Telephone (Net) • • • .

Repairs and Maintenance . .

Donation to F.P. Club • .

• Other Donation.

Loan Interest . . . .

Bank Interest . .

• • Administration Expenses .

Cleaning . . .

Honoraria. .

Television Rental and Licence . .

Miscellaneous Expenses .

Depreciation . . .

..

..

.. ..

.. .

£7,069 2,325 1,934 306 1,212

.

2,100 103 352 664 551 514 575 103 929 633

... .

.

..

.

£11,740

£5,287

19.375 SURPLUS FOR YEAR

•

•

•

...

£3,689

.

BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 1975

1974 £2,690 811

As per last Balance Sheet £2,690 Six

A dded during year £2,455 427

Depen. £515 123

£4,630 1,115

£3,501

£2,882

£638

£5,745

.

..

.

. ..

..

.

•

FIXED ASSETS

Furniture and Fittings Equipment . .

• •

£3,50, CURRENT ASSETS

£24,317 1,361 1,498 664

Loan Account—A.G.S.F.P. Club .

Stock in Hand .

Sundry Debtors. .

• . .

Cash in Hand . .

.

£48,882 3,140 2,052 694

£27,840

£8,731 700 775

£53,768 Less: CURRENT LIABILITIES .

Sundry Creditors .

Subscriptions in Advance Bank Overdraft

. .

• .

£70,226

• .

.

£14,875 2,812 10,613 25,300

£17,614

2 5.4 68

£27,115

£31,213 I02

103,

Club Centre Accounts £9gr 1,700 1 ,175

Less: LONG TERM LOANS Scottish Rugby Union .

A.G.S.F.P. Rugby Section Individual F Ps

'

'

'

'

£7,000

'

1,200

1,175 £9,375

£3,866 £17,249

NET ASSETS .

'

.

.

.

CAPITAL ACCOUNT

r2,752

•

•

•

•

•

•

£21.815

REPRESENTED BY:

1 974

£4,497

.

Appeal Fund and Other Donations

•

.

.

SURPLUSES Al1100111 as per last Balance Sheet

. . . . .

Add: Surplus per foregoing Income and Expenditure Account

£5,397 £12,752 3.689 -

16.441 £2i ,83S

£27,249

the year ended ABERDEEN, 23 March 1976.—We have audited the foregoing Accounts for our 31 December 1975 and Balance Sheet as at 3r December 1975. We certify that, to the best of are correct. us they given to explanations and the information BOWER & SNIT'', C.A.

Aberdeen Grammar School Amenities Fund REVENUE ANDEXPENDITURE ACCOUNT for year to 31 December 1975

EXPENDITURE

REVENUE Interest from Investments (less tax) Income Tax Recoverable

£455.41 197.55

Grants made (list attached) Honorarium to Secretary Administration Expenses Surplus to Balance Sheet

£633.25 12.60 3.15 3.96 £652.96 •••••

£652.96 BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 1975

LIABILITIES

CAPITAL

CAPITAL ACCOUNT

INVESTMENTS

£4,000, 9% Treasury Stock £2,973.47 1994 at cost £3,083.99, 94% Treasury Stock 2,500.00 1999 at cost 153.16 CASH AT BANK on Current Account 302.30 INCOME TAX REPAYMENTS

Amount per last Accounts Less: Adjustment per Minute of 15/11/72

£6,074.71

- 77.935,996.78

REVENUE ACCOUNT

Deficit per last Accounts 71.81 Less: Surplus brought 3.96 down

67.85 £5,996.78

£5,996.78

Grants made in 1975 Grant to Headmaster for Incidental Expenses Grant for Sports Teams Travel Grant towards running costs of School Minibus Thomas Fattorini Ltd. for Prefects' Badges Aberdeen Photographic Services Ltd. for Prefects' Photographs Aberdeen University Press Ltd. for binding Geographical Magazine C. Bruce Miller 5: Co. Ltd. for Tape Recorder for Physical Education Dept. (for Country Dancing Club) Aquatron Marine Ltd. for service and overhaul of Sub Aqua Diving Equipment Rossiya Sport for Table Tennis Table Springhill Nurseries Ltd. for seeds and fertilisers for School Garden (instruction of non-certificate pupils) James E. Henderson Ltd. for colour prints of School Grant to Headmaster for cost of construction of canoes

£100.00 100.00 50.02 36.71 38.40 17.00 59.95 43-69 75.00 20.00

50.0o 42.5o £613.25

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