AGS Magazine June 1977 by AGSFP Association

THE

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHML MAGAZINE

ABERDEEN

prinact for The Former Pupils' Club at- The University Press Price Volume 80

One Pound June 1977

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 9 jrd year No. 21/ (New Series 82nd year No. 2o6)

Vol. 8o

JUNE 1977

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

David K. Yule, M.A., I t Kinkell Road, Aberdeen ABI 8HQ

Editor of the School Section

William D. Hall, M.A., 45 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen ABz 4AX

Editor of Notes, Obituaries and Marriages

Alan G. Campbell, LL.B., zz Rosebery Street, Aberdeen ABz 4LI,

Secretary of the F.P. Club

John F. Hendry, LL.B., 36 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB9 1YU

The General Editor and Notes Editor are happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before mid-April 1978.

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

CONTENTS General Section—

. Aberdeen Grammar School and its Rector . . . . . The Rector's Message • . . . . The President's Report Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee . . . . . James F. Walker . . . . . . Miss Ogilvie . . . . . . Charles W. I lemingway . • Correspondent in Moscow and Peking . . Are Scottish Educational Standards Falling? . . . How I Became a Rugby Addict . . . . . . . Book Review . . . . . . The Chiels Amang Us . . . • . Byron Society Visit . Ist Aberdeen (Grammar School) Scout Group

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page 3 - 4 „ 5 „ 6 „ 7 » 9 „ to „ II •• 1 4 „ 17 „ 19 „ 20

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School Section— . School Office Bearers . Random Notes . • . . Meet the Prefects . Staff Changes . . . Mr. Henry Davidson . . Miss Gibb. . . . Mr. Alexander Tait . School Sporting Activities . . . Music Notes . • . C.C.F. Notes . . National Essay Award . Clubs and Societies . . The E.S.U. Debates . . "I Remember Mama". • • Science Projects Scottish Schtxils Soccer Cap

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26 „ 27 „ 31 „

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3 2

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33 •• 35 „ 42 •• 44 ,,

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47 •• 5 1 » 53 •• 54

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4 6

5 6

F.P. Section— . Club Office Bearers . Annual General Meeting . . Presidential Profile . . . Centre Reports . . Annual Ball and Dinner . . . Club Centre . . Section Reports • Notes About Old Boys . . . Marriages . Obituaries. . . • New Members of the Club . Accounts . Amenities Fund . F.P. Club Accounts . . Club Centre Accounts

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57 •• 59 „ 6o

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63 „ 64 ,, 64 „ 68 75 •• 77 "

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87 89 90

Illustrations— Aberdeen Schools Table Tennis League Champions • • . . . Byron Society Visit . Retirement of Mr. Davidson, Miss Gibb and Mr. Tait • • • . . . The Moir Twins

. between pages 46-47 1) 1.2 1, • „ . 1, 13 PP 0, •

Aberdeen Grammar School and its Rector "I hope that the Club will take such action as it can . . . to have the decisions of Ivo reversed, restoring the rightful names of the School and its Rector. . . . There are rays of hope on the horizon." (The President's Report, A.G.S. Magazine, June 1976)

As nearly all readers of the Magazine will be aware, on 31 March 1977 Grampian Regional Council approved the recommendation of its Education Committee that the titles of Aberdeen Grammar School and of its Rector be restored in preference to the substituted "Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Gra►nmar School)" and "Headmaster" which had been introduced along with the School's new comprehensive status in 1970. Although the Executive Committee and its officials had taken care to remain uninvolved in the later stages of the public discussion of the proposed changes, the restoration of the traditional names on 31 March 1977 was the final resolution of a long process which began with the formation of a Club Executive ad hoc Committee in October 1976. In December 1976 the Executive Committee approved that ad hoc Committee's report, which was submitted in the form of a document for the consideration of Grampian Regional Council. That document expressed the strong hope that, "if and when Grampian Regional Council come to review the School's name, they will give earnest consideration to reverting from its present name to the historic and honourable name of Aberdeen Grammar School," and "that the equally historic title of Rector will be resumed for the School's headmaster". Mention was made of a number of factors which were considered to be relevant to a review of the School name and, in particular, attention was drawn to the following points: From the thirteenth century until 1970 Aberdeen Grammar School under that name had served the citizens of Aberdeen. Despite the many changes—in educational and social systems, as well as in the School's buildings themselves—which affected the School throughout its long history, the one constant feature had been the School name, which had remained unaltered until 1970. Although the School was now comprehensive, it continued to maintain many of the traditions of Aberdeen Grammar School. Its pupils could not fail to be reminded of the old School name and of its honourable tradition, when they saw daily the War Memorials in the library to those Grammarians who fell in two World Wars, the names of School Duxes and the long list of Rectors which lint the main corridor, the many Aberdeen Grammar School trophies including silver arrows won centuries ago for archery, the gifts of old Grammarians (most notably the Shanghai Clock in the tower), and the statue of Lord Byron, on its pedestal in front of the School. Not surprisingly, in view of the reminders mentioned above, and in view of the efforts of staff and pupils alike to preserve what was best in the tradition of Aberdeen Grammar School, the general public, the press outwith Aberdeen, athletic and sporting calendars and many staff and pupils had always referred to the School informally by its traditional title.

The Education Committee of Grampian Regional Council considered the request at a meeting on z5 January 1977 and referred the 3

Aberdeen Grammar School .Magazine 4 question of the School name to the Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School) School Council for comment. The School Council met to consider the matter on 17 February 1977, by which time the results of a straw vote taken within the School were available. These indicated that 7o per cent of pupils and S7 per cent of staff favoured a reversion to the name of Aberdeen Grammar School. The School Council recommended to the Education Committee by votes of 13 to 6 and 14 to 3 respectively that the name of Aberdeen Grammar School and the name of Rector be reintroduced. The Education Committee approved the recommendation of the School Council by a vote of 9 to 6 at a meeting on 8 March 1977, and their decision was confirmed by a vote of 14 to it by a meeting of the Regional Council on 31 March 1977. From the end of December until some days after the Council's decision, considerable space in the local press was devoted to the issue of the proposed changes, and many conflicting views were expressed in the form of letters to the press. It is hoped, however, that readers of the Magatine, regardless of their political or educational persuasions, will welcome the restoration of both titles as a manifestation of the continuing strong links between the School and the Club, and as a token of the strength of the School to maintain its integrity and its identity while adapting to the needs of changing Scottish social and educational systems over a period of seven centuries.

The Rector's Message The decision taken by Grampian Regional Council on 31 March 1977, to call our School once again Aberdeen Grammar School has brought pleasure to many people, former pupils and others, in and outwith the City of Aberdeen. On the other hand there are those who regret the decision and regard it as harmful to the concept of Comprehensive Education. Whatever our personal views may be on this matter, the restoration of the name adds a further chapter to the long and varied history of Aberdeen Grammar School, without in any way altering the educational policy operating within the School at present. The School continues to provide its pupils with a wide variety of academic and extra-curricular opportunities, but the recently announced cut-back in staffing, whereby we expect to lose about twelve colleagues within the next few months, will probably necessitate some reduction in the opportunities available to our pupils. One can only hope that the situation will soon ease, thus allowing restrictions to be kept to a minimum. Once again I take this opportunity of thanking the Former Pupils' Club for its continuing support and of emphasising how much the Clubs and Societies appreciate the help so generously given. As a School, we are proud of our close links with the Former Pupils' Club and we sincerely hope that the happy relationship that exists between the Club and the School will continue to our mutual advantage.

The President's Report Forty Years On My last contribution to the Magazine was published in 1936 if I recollect aright. Presumably because he was short of copy for the School Section, the Editor appealed to George Farquharson (Fiery Bill), who, sifting through his sixth form essays, selected one I had done on "Fireworks". By such extraordinary workings of fortune, does one achieve fame! This time there will be no pyrotechnics! In writing what has become the traditional article contributed by the retiring Club President, I shall endeavour to express the reactions of someone who has been very much an exile from the Aberdeen scene. When the Executive did me the great honour of asking me to become President for 1976, I felt rather as a minister who has spent forty years in the mission fields must feel when he becomes Moderator of the General Assembly—rather out of touch with the local scene! At a time when so much has been happening to the School as I knew it in the 19zos and 193os, it is heartening to see how well it has adapted to the fundamental changes in the structure and curriculum now that comprehensive schools have come to stay—at least for a few years. The manner in which the Headmaster, Robert Gill and his senior colleagues on the Staff have responded to the challenge and tackled the problems created by the new regime merits the gratitude and recognition of the Club members. These past few years of transition and change have been difficult but the School has certainly not lost its sense of purpose and mission. In this connection, as one who has been far removed from these events and the inevitable debate and controversy which have accompanied them, may I say that the decision to change the name of the school, now happily reversed in these last days, always seemed to me the least logical or sustainable development of all. The School has borne the simple unadorned style of Grammar School down the centuries indicating that it was there to provide for the sons of the citizens of Aberdeen that basic education founded on Latin, which has been the cornerstone of the Scottish tradition. It was certainly not a name associated with privilege for the wealthy. The success of the new comprehensive system of education rests on a general levelling up of standards and not the levelling-down that is all too evident today and which is now the cause of so much concern to all interested and involved in education. The retention of the honoured name of an ancient seat of learning is therefore to be supported if this is going to instil in the pupils a greater pride in their school. It is very encouraging to sec at first hand how active the F.P. Club is in its various centres. I had the privilege of attending in turn the dinner of the Yorkshire Centre where a small group of "faithfuls" foregather for an evening together once a year with a fine disregard for the clock and the taximeters clocking up the "bawbees" outside the hostelry. The London Centre had its largest gathering for many years, 5

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

the main speech being given by Andrew Cruickshank in fine oratorical vein. The dinner in Edinburgh on the eve of the Scotland-Wales match was also well attended. The Executive has decided that whenever possible they will be represented at Centre Dinners in future. This is a development which I know will be welcomed by the expatriates and the warm welcome which the pioneer visitors received in London and Edinburgh is proof of this. Homer in the eleventh book of the Odyssfy thus describes a difficult sea voyage: 7:pan-a tdv elpecrin tteriiretra SE KaActi.os oipos For both the School and the Club there has been hard work at the oars these past years: let us hope that the future will bring a fair wind. ROBERT A. E. MENNIE (1924-36)

Message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee The successful request for the restoration of the School name is naturally the most publicised event of the year, and I am proud to have been chairman during this historic time. There are several other matters, however, that deserve comment. The executive committee has had to devote much time and thought to the Magazine. Two years ago, it was found necessary to increase the annual subscription to £a in the hope that a Magazine of the same size and standard could continue to be produced. With ever increasing costs this has proved to be very difficult and, although it was decided to make no alteration for this year, future committees may have some difficult decisions to make. It is appreciated that the Magazine is the only link between the club and its members outwith Aberdeen and I know that this point will feature in all discussions on the Magazine, but, if costs continue to increase, it may be necessary to make some change in the format. The editor would welcome the views of F.P.s outwith the city bearing in mind that to continue with the Magazine as at present may require an increased subscription. The usual activities of the Club have continued and it is hoped that by the time these words are in print a new photographic section will have commenced activities with their own dark room in the Club Centre. It is also hoped that a curling section will be in action next wi ntcr. This year the Executive Committee decided that its officials as well as the President attend the various Centre dinners. I attended both the London and Edinburgh Centre dinners and it was very heartening to see such excellent attendances and to appreciate the very real interest shown by the members in the School and the Club. The close liaison with the School continues. In addition to the usual round of visits to the school I was privileged to attend a most unusual and interesting ceremony. In June of 1976 the Byron Society visited

James F. Walker

7 the school to inspect the various relics of the poet. The Rector and I took part in a ceremony during which the President of the Society laid a wreath on the statue. At the annual prize-giving it was a pleasure to present the new F.P. award for the outstanding girl in the third year for the first time. It has been a great honour to have been Chairman of the Executive during the last two years, years during which many changes have taken place. The Club is in good heart and in good hands and well prepared to face the greatest change of all, the first evidence of which has now appeared by the admission of our first lady F.P. member, Miss Fiona Ross. N. I. W. MELDRUM (1925-37)

James F. Walker 1896-1977 When word came of Mr. Walker's passing, I am very sure that most of those who had known him, however briefly, and all those who had in any degree come under his influence felt that something of inestimable value had gone from us. In the silence that follows the recognition of death many will have felt a surge of regret for a teacher who had done the School and his pupils great service, for a scholar noteworthy equally for the scope and depth of his humane learning as for the modesty with which he carried it, and for a man whose nature and manners, sometimes in conditions of stress and frequently of physical pain, continued to be generous and sweet. And following on that impulse of regret, transfusing and eclipsing it, there will have welled up in many hearts a recognition and an acknowledgment of affection. For Mr. Walker, in a measure that I can find no parallel for, won from his pupils a respect and admiration that had no recriminatory undertones and was warmed throughout by affection. It may well be that schoolboys are not always the best judges of their own immediate educational interests, but they do by and large have a fine sense of justice, they recognise integrity when they meet it and they honour it. Though not Hamlets themselves they too know a hawk from a handsaw, a phoney or a chanter from a true man. And over the years a multitude of Grammar School boys understood the virtue of Mr. Walker and responded to his teaching, recognising that he always subordinated his own convenience to the advancement of their proper education and the maintenance of the more humane traditions of the School. His record in terms of times and numbers as it related to the Grammar School is in itself remarkable and perhaps unique. Attached to the School, regularly day-in and day-out over a period of 49 years, twelve of them as a pupil, thirty-seven as a master in the earlier part of his career teaching mainly English; and then from 1946, when after the Second World War there began the great re-organising of departments and curricula throughout the secondary schools of Scotland, as History master. Throughout that period he gave his time and active interest to all those school groups and societies which help to stretch the mind

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

and delight the sensibilities in areas outwith the narrower school curriculum—in music, for example, dramatics, the Film Society and the Literary and Debating Society. Mr. Walker never believed there was any instant recipe for success in teaching or in learning. He believed that a boy should be set to his task and should accomplish it to the level of his ability. He also believed that a master should be acquainted not only with the immediate matter of his lessons but also with the background and with the literature, both fiction and fact, that contained and vivified that background knowledge; discrimination and imagination were to him essential requisites to the understanding of history. As he grew older some may have thought that he appeared out of fashion. It was not an imputation that much worried him and he continued to pass on to many of his pupils his own regard for knowledge, balance and proportion. All this was in line with his concern for what, lacking a better word, we may call "style". "He writes well" was perhaps his highest praise for anyone who was studying history with him—meaning that the boy had made a complex unity out of what to the less discerning was still but a memorised agglutination of so-called facts. His own writing, as we know, was precise, spare and elegant. It displays an easy control of narrative, an eye for telling detail and a crisp economy in comment, all evidence of an alert mind, concerned with truth-to-fact rather than fancy, and suspicious of rhodomontade or mysticism. A good example of his interests and his manner can be found in the shape of an article over his initials in the School Magazine of June 1961, "The Four House Eponyms" records succinctly and wittily significant elements in the lives of the four men whose names were chosen to denominate four Houses of the School. It is an acceptable act of piety, and at the same time an admirable little piece of research, objective but not cold, sympathetic yet witty. It is very much Mr. Walker's style. Some people have found it strange that Mr. Walker who had so much to communicate was so often prone to silence. Certainly he felt no compulsion to be always talking. He could and often did remain quiet while all around him people were declaiming and dogmatising on matters of which they knew little and he knew a lot. But frequently he would interpolate a question or interject a highly relevant fact, and so bring discussion back, for a while at least, to reality. A word from this source carried much authority. Even in the company of his close friends Mr. Walker was often pleased to say very little over long stretches of time, happy to appreciate what was being said and done by the others, and communicating to them his appreciation and affection. It is a rare gift. All this is to say that Mr. Walker was a most private man, not secretive, but preferring the company of a few friends, with whom he spoke and joked with an infectious easy freedom. He might well have said, "There is not a fool can call me friend", but never with any arrogant accent, and he would not have followed it by saying, as Yeats did, And I may dine at journey's end With Landor and with Donne.

Miss Ogilvie

9 He might hope for that kind of fulfilment, but humbly, not as a claim, or expectation. For above everything else Mr. Walker was a truly modest man. He was charitable in word and more often in deed. Not only in school, but in the world at large, as a churchman and a citizen, Mr. Walker did good, as it were by stealth, and was embarrassed to be thanked for any service. As an elder and session clerk of his church, as its treasurer and Sunday school superintendent he did always far more than strict duty required, and this for most of the days of his life. Mr. Walker did not have an easy passage in his last days. As a young man he served with the 4th Gordons in the First World War and was wounded three times, the last time very badly. His leg was saved, but left him with a permanent disability and a legacy of pain which he bore with a silent fortitude beyond praise. He had, we may feel, the right occasionally to boast, "I was the man who suffered; I was there", but he never did. Searching for an image that might more fittingly express my regard—and the regard of those who had the privilege of knowing him—for James Walker, I think of two. The first is "the Leech-gatherer on that lonely moor" whose virtues give the title to Wordsworth's poem "Resolution and Independence". The other is that Mr. Standfast whose story concludes and consummates Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. We may well feel that the words that Bunyan puts into the pilgrim's mouth are words that though James Walker would have said were too high for him, make indeed a just memorial to him: I see myself now at the end of my Journey, my toilsome days are ended. I have formerly lived by Hear-say and Faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose Company I delight myself.

A.T.

Miss Ogilvie Former pupils who attended Lower School in the forties will have learned with regret of the death of Miss Ina Ogilvie (Mrs. Barron). Due to a felicitous arrangement whereby the teacher moved with the class, I had the good fortune to be taught by Miss Ogilvie in both Lower IV and Lower V, and there could have been no better preparation for the mental rigours of the Upper School. Although Miss Ogilvie later exchanged the classroom for the manse—the Church's gain, the School's loss—she remains indelibly in my mind as the teacher who above all others of my acquaintance had the supreme gift of imparting to a small boy the realisation that learning and knowledge did not have to be forcibly inculcated, but were a joy to acquire for their own sake. Miss Ogilvic's infectious enthusiasm could kindle a responsive spark in even the dullest mind. By setting a challenge and indicating the correct guidelines she would arouse the pupil's interest and so persuade him to think for himself, surely the most important essential in the development of the young mind. Miss Ogilvie's outstanding qualities as teacher, mentor and friend earned her the rare reward of the love of her pupils, and she will be greatly missed. Our deepest sympathies are extended to her relatives and friends. J.H.S. (1937-1o)

Charles W. Hemingway Mr. Charles W. Hemingway, Art Master at Aberdeen Grammar School from 1936 until his retirement in 1969, died on 5 June 1976. He will be remembered by the countless F.P.s who had the privilege to be taught by him as a man who had the power to compel the unwilling to treat Art as a serious subject, and the imagination to prompt the gifted to greater efforts. Most of all, perhaps, he will be remembered as one of the great "characters" of the School in the twentieth century. When Mr. Hemingway retired in 1969 there appeared in the June 1969 issue of the MagaVne a tribute to his career, which so aptly portrays the man and his contribution to the School, that it is without apology that the larger part of the text is reprinted at this time. A native of Strichen, he was educated there during the rectorship of the famous Benjamin Skinner, one of the last of the genuine breed of old country &minks. From Strichen School, where he gained the Leaving Certificate with five passes in the Higher grade and was awarded a special prize for Art, he proceeded to Gray's School of Art. Here he graduated D.A. in Drawing and Painting, and then qualified as a teacher of Art. The next few years, as young artists do, he continued his studies in Chelsea and in Paris, working in commercial art studios on book-illustration, poster design and whatever came to hand. In 19;4 he returned to Scotland to teach Art, first in Inverness Royal Academy, then at Gray's School of Art and finally at Aberdeen Grammar School, where he succeeded Mr. Leslie Miller as Art Master, the third imcumbent of that Office. Changes had begun in Mr. Miller's time: "Drawing" had become "Art", was extended to the Upper School and widened in scope. Mr. Hemingway set out to further this development and to bring a new variety and originality into the Art Department. That shrewd man Mr. David Andrew observed, the first time he saw the work of Mr. Hemingway's pupils on display, that he had never seen so much imagination in a classroom before. Art began to be regarded as something more than a harmless occupation for boys who were of no use at anything else. Meanwhile Mr. Hemingway was continuing to paint in his spare time, exhibiting at the R.S.A. and being "hung" in the R.A. itself. His work included landscapes, both rural and urban, but he inclined more and more to the most difficult of all types of painting—the portrait. His best known picture is the portrait of Mr. Frank Seorgie, late Director of Education. On Friday, I September 1939 the School reassembled after the summer holidays and Hitler invaded Poland. Presently Mr. Hemingway was called away to serve his country, first in the Royal Engineers and then in the Army Education Corps, ending his military career with a spell in India. In 1946 he returned to the School to find a new Rector in command and the winds of change blowing hard. The School was growing rapidly. The Art Department was now the Art and Crafts Department and was also developing rapidly. Instead of one solitary Art Master there were two, and later three. Design, printing, weaving, pottery, photography were some of the arts and crafts that were introduced. An Arts Club meeting on Friday evenings was started by Mr. Hemingway, where boys might pursue any art or craft that they chose with his help and encouragement. The Grammar School Film Society, one of the first of its kind in the country and copied by many other schools, was founded by him to show really good films suitable for boys, and to teach them to understand and appreciate this new and powerful form of art. Mr. llemingw•ay's work for the Film Society was one of his greatest contributions, embracing, as it. did, both the critical appreciation and the production of films, but scarcely any side IO

Correspondent in Moscow and Peking of the School's life and activity has not been helped by Mr. Hemingway. The Dramatic Society has continually made use of his ability as a scene-painter. The Athletic Sports have been immortalised by him in the form of a film. He has also conducted holiday tours in Italy and Spain, visiting some of the world's most famous Art Galleries. Mr. Hemingway's enthusiasm and devotion have made the Grammar School Art and Craft Department second to none in Scotland. His former pupils arc found teaching Art all over the North-East and beyond, and an astonishing number of them have kept in touch with their old mentor. Masters come and go but the School goes on. As one looks back, a few personalities stand out in the memory, men who have left their mark on the ancient institution. Charles Hemingway is one of these. The building itself bears the stamp of his influence in its internal structure and decoration. No one but he, for instance, would have thought of the Shrine in the Library, a memorial of the long history and an expression of faith in the future of the School to whose service he has devoted his life and many talents. As a teacher he will be remembered by his former pupils for the "evocativeness" with which he drew the best out of them by his understanding and sympathy. They will also remember that he had a temper like a sky-rocket, which fell as rapidly as it rose. Some will remember how, more than thirty years ago, he showed his independence of mind by growing a beard and wearing his hair in a manner that suggested a bush, long before unconventionality of appearance became de rigueur among intellectual and artistic youth. They will all remember that he always said exactly what he thought and stood no nonsense, and at the same time they will remember his kindliness and humour; he could even laugh at himself.

The tribute then continued, "But this is not an obituary". Sadly, such a disclaimer no longer applies, but the fact that Mr. Hemingway will be remembered with affection by all ages of former pupils can never be contested.

Correspondent in Moscow and Peking The following article is reprinted from a recent issue of Survey, to which it was contributed by David Bonavia (194,r-l3). David Bonavia was Moscow correspondent for The Times from 1969 to 1972, when he was expelledfrom the Soviet Union, and Peking correspondent for The Times from October 1972 until April 1976. He now works with the Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong. Bernard Levin, on learning that my wife and I were planning to take up a posting with The Times in Peking less than six months after being expelled from Moscow in 1972, commented : "You must be gluttons for punishment." We didn't, at the time, sec it in that light. To have studied Chinese academically, spent two years in Hong Kong and three in Moscow, and then pass up the chance of a posting in Peking, would have seemed asinine to a professional correspondent. So we went. We exchanged Igor (the Moscow driver) for Ho, and Tamara (the maid) for Comrade Chou, and subsequently Comrade Wang, and for the last year and a half we had no house-cleaning comrade at all,

Aberdeen Grammar School Afagazine

because they were more trouble than they were worth. In both Moscow and Peking, we considered it essential to employ drivers to minimise the risk of traffic accidents, though we did both drive in both postings when necessary. The first year in Peking, by comparison with Moscow, was like living in a warm bath. China was in the middle of its most intense be-friendlyto-foreigners period, and I largely saw eye-to-eye with the Chinese in their analysis of the general decadence and underlying nastiness of the Soviet Union. There was plenty to learn, travel facilities were opening up (even for Inner Mongolia), and of course the Chinese can be so extraordinarily agreeable when they want to. There were no provokatsii, no hassles with the security organs, no foul-ups of the type which Intourist and Aeroflot seem to specialise in. I was well used to dealing with a reporting situation in which normal Western techniques were not fully applicable, and on the whole I found officialdom reasonably frank on certain subjects. Almost the only times I lost my temper in the first year were when the Peking Railway Station Customs Bureau tried to charge me 1oz per cent. import duty on cat-litter, and when a China Travel Service representative at the Chien Men Hotel advised me to approach the Foreign Ministry for a ticket to the cinema. But if there were no clashes with the KGB and the Literaturna.ya Ga7eta, there were also none of the informal contacts with dissidents and ordinary people which made Moscow such a lively and fascinating post. In Peking, diplomats and correspondents live in fenced-off "ghettos", as they do in Moscow. The difference is that, in Moscow, the militsjya guard at the ghetto gate kept tabs on one's movements and guests; whereas in Peking, the security guards—both plain-clothed and in Army uniform—showed little interest in our own movements, but would have prevented any Chinese foolish enough to try and enter the compound without a written pass. There is, in short, virtually no informal contact with the Chinese people—the closest approach to it being a chat with one's driver or Chinese language teacher, or, more rarely, a chance conversation in a park with some young Chinese who might be too eccentric or too desperate to worry about the consequences. The foreign students at the various institutes and universities where they are allowed to study in China were beginning to "warm up" some of their Chinese room-mates in 1975-76, but the future of the student exchange programme is somewhat doubtful following the political crises and earthquakes of 1976. We lived in a psychological cage in Peking: unable to penetrate the surface of Chinese society to any extent remotely comparable to the penetration which correspondents continue to pursue and develop in Moscow. At least in Moscow one could subscribe to an almost unlimited number of periodicals: a dozen Moscow newspapers, principal organs of all the union republics, learned and literary journals, and so on. You could do a perfectly useful job of Russia-watching by sitting in your Moscow office all day and just reading. In Peking, we were forbidden to purchase the Peking Daily (the local city newspaper) or the Reference News (the Chinese-language tabloid

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazin! This slip is provided for the easy intimation of Notes about Old Boys, Marriages and Obituaries to the Notes Editor, ALAN G. CAMPi3ELL, 22 ROSEBERY STREET, ABERDEEN. Members may be assured that every contribution to the notes section is welcomed and that other readers all over the world arc anxious to learn of the careers of those F.P.s with whom they arc no longer in everyday contact. Members are also reminded that the General Editor would be glad to receive articles for inclusion in the Magazine, and would be happy to discuss matters related to the Magazine with any member. In particular, comments would be welcome at this time on any economies which may be necessary in the production of future Magazines. Material for inclusion in the June 1978 issue of the Magazine is welcome at any time, but must be received before mid-April 1978. DAVID K. YULE General Editor.

Name of F.P.(s)

Years at school (if known)

Contributor

NOTES

(continued overleaf)

Correspondent in Akron, and Peking which reprints material from foreign sources, but without the deliberate inaccuracies and distortions of Za Rubqhom). Even a delegation of British newspaper editors and proprietors who were taken round the offices of the Shanghai newspaper Fen Hui Pao in 1975 were not allowed to have souvenir copies—"because they reflect only local conditions". We were allowed to subscribe to the People's Daily, the Kuang Ming Daily and Red Flag, certain learned journals, a few political journals put out by various universities (including the notorious Study and Criticism from Shanghai), and the normal foreign-language propaganda materials such as Peking Review and China Pictorial. The bookshops, even by Moscow standards, were a desert, as were the music shops. The only theatrical entertainment was childish in its intellectual level, as was most of the television (3-4 hours an evening, one channel only). On the plus side, we were regularly invited (without our wives) to banquets at the Great Hall of the People, and to welcome and farewell ceremonies at the airport and the railway station, at which it was possible to see, photograph and very occasionally pass a word with Chinese leaders. No comparable contact has existed in Moscow since the days of Khrushchev. Another useful feature of these formal occasions was that they gave us correspondents almost our only real chance to have long conversations with the officials of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry (the equivalent of the Soviet Press Department). Two or three of these people were communicative enough to be worth plying with questions about recent political campaigns or other important events. At least if they had been given a line front above, they would seize that opportunity to shoot it, and it is important to know what the line is, whether one believes it or not. One of the most rewarding aspects of life in China for the correspondent is the chance to travel quite widely in the Eastern half of the country, and now, indeed, for a selected few writers from outside, in Tibet. Sinkiang is being slowly opened. The main areas which remain almost totally banned to foreigners are the south-eastern coastline opposite Taiwan, Kweichow, Anhui, Hainan and the Hsisha Islands, Kansu, Ninghsia and Chinghai. Szechwan is usually closed. Of course, as in the Soviet Union, access to part of a province/union republic does not necessarily mean access to all of it—indeed it never does. But the Chinese score in their willingness, nay their eagerness, to take foreigners out of the principal cities and show them the surrrounding countryside and production brigades. On the whole, the Russians are proud of their cities and ashamed of their kolkhotes; the Chinese are somewhat ashamed of the dilapidated state of their cities, and relatively proud of their undeniable achievements in rural irrigation and general agricultural development. The other great pleasure of travelling in China is that one is usually well looked after, comfortably and efficiently housed, and superbly well fed. There is no question, as there is in Kiev or Khabarovsk, of spending a whole day trying to get one's return tickets out of a surly and incompetent Intourist organisation. China Travel Service treats its guests like precious packages, and one may well be received to dinner

Aberdeen Grammar Selina/ Alagaine

and briefed by a group of senior cadres immediately on arrival at a provincial centre. Of course all this efficiency and courtesy in China (which can, by the way, wear thin sometimes) is really intended to control the foreigner as much as to please and impress him. The Chinese authorities simply cannot let a bunch of big-nosed foreign devils run around their cities untended: for one thing, it causes problems of crowd control because of the curiosity of the masses. In Russia, when we travelled outside Moscow, we refused official programmes because we usually found they were simply an excuse to waste our time or hoodwink us; we just walked round and used our eyes and picked up stray acquaintances. In China, it is an upset for one's hosts if one so much as leaves the guesthouse unaccompanied, except in such relatively sophisticated places as Peking, Shanghai and Canton. The reward for knuckling under to all this velvet-glove control is to be taken to a commune or a factory and given the chance to grill the Revolutionary Committee on their income, production techniques, work-point system, social problems, etc. On subjects of that kind, commune officials are usually fairly frank: they have little to hide. But it would of course be a waste of time to ask how much premarital sex went on in the hay-ricks after dark. All this jollying around the country picking up bits and pieces of background knowledge is stimulating and rewarding for the first year or two, but after that a certain sense of diminishing returns sets in. One begins to become unduly irritated by the long-winded "introduction" given by whatever Revolutionary Committee official one is visiting; the ritual tributes to the effects of the Cultural Revolution, the Thoughts of Mao, etc. One may argue, or seek less superficial information, and then the hosts may become very upset, even angry. I was told in Shanghai that the Number One Machine Tool Plant was "very dissatisfied" with me because I had argued with their concept that practice is always superior to theory. The fact that one by now knows enough to ask more penetrating questions acts against the possibility of getting meaningful answers. That is why I believe that for a correspondent who is seriously interested in China, the sanity threshold is about two years, though of course, it depends on the individual. After that, one might as well pursue further studies from Hong Kong, with the hope of occasionally visiting the mainland again to refresh one's view.

Are Scottish Educational Standards Falling ? The level of Scottish educational standards is very much a contentious issue at the present time. The air is blue with blast and counterblast as "informed" persons from the universities, the schools, employers' and industrial organisations, and the Scottish Education Department strive to obtain recognition for their efforts while blaming deficiencies in school leavers or college graduates on one or more of

Are Scottish Educational Standards Falling? the other parties. Unfortunately much of the debate is unconstructive because the protagonists use different meanings of "standards" in different areas of education. For example, if university staff say that "standards of school leavers are falling", does this apply to all school leavers over sixteen years, to those entering tertiary education, or only to the "top" 7 per cent. of school leavers who might have been the university entrants of twenty years ago? When the Scottish Education Department says that "standards of education in schools are rising" does this apply to those formerly very underprivileged schools of Central and South-West Scotland (which after all contains the bulk of the population) or does it include schools like our own? By "standards" do we imply the ability of a person to recite Euclid or Virgil, or the ability to tackle unfamiliar academic or practical problems, or the self-discipline of study, or the responsibilities of citizenship, or what? I shall not attempt to expand on all of these questions. However, for some years now I have been much involved with what is called the School-University Interface in the Physical Science area, and perhaps some personal comments will be of interest to F.P.s. We must observe at the outset that pupils crossing the School— University interface st ill represent a minority of their age group. Schools have a responsibility to the whole of society, and so it would be quite wrong for the curriculum to be geared only to the requirements of those pupils. On the other hand, those pupils arc now drawn from that quarter of the age group judged most able in academic matters, and which will probably supply the majority (though by no means all) of the "leaders" of our society in the next century. What we have seen in recent years is a move in curriculum development towards a structure which attempts to cater for all pupils. In my opinion this is both welcome and long overdue. But it is still terribly imperfect. Relatively little national thought or effort lies behind the syllabus and curriculum presented to pupils who, at present, achieve no (or very few) "O" grade passes. On the other hand many would say that, in pursuing laudable egalitarian objectives, we have sacrified the very testing development which used to stretch the most able to the limit of their capabilities. The situation has been complicated by simultaneous changes of a social nature. Thus the very much diminished expectation of homework (partly so that children from academically under-privileged homes should not be disadvantaged), has counterbalanced syllabus changes intended to encourage independent study and to lessen dependence on the teacher. In addition the motivation to study has diminished as more and more graduates appear to compete for constant, or in some areas diminishing, employment opportunities, and as contemporary society appears (to the young) to offer a decreasing correlation between hard work and financial reward. There can be no doubt that the expansion of the Scottish Universities has extended the benefits of such education to persons with a wider range of inherent academic abilities, particularly in science and engineering. But all university entrants today possess much the same

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

"Highers" as have been required for decades. So have the standards of these examinations fallen ? Those of us associated with the work of the Scottish Certificate of Education Exam Board arc extremely worried by this question, because almost all the evidence before the Board is that they have not. Mind you, only some of the evidence is objective. For example there has been no decrease in the facility values of multiple choice items pretested and re-used over several years. The important point is that the assessment objectives of the Exam Board are not to isolate a constant fraction of any age group, nor to estimate raw, inherent, academic ability, but to ascertain and testify that pupils have reached certain levels of competence in certain subjects. So "more" Higher passes in a subject does not necessarily mean "poorer assessment standards", it could equally mean "improved teaching of the required skills and abilities". But all the educational jargon in the world cannot hide the fact that some of the changes which have been made in schools have gone disastrously wrong somewhere. Changes in curricula, teaching methods and individual course syllabuses are made by well intentioned people, almost always with real experience of the teaching environment, and nowadays in full recognition of educational objectives, psychology and so forth. The trouble is that some effects of change only really show many years later. As an example, take numeracy. After a myriad of educational psychologists have laboured to facilitate the understanding of numbers in primary school, after a host of school and university mathematicians have evolved improved syllabuses for the secondary school, and despite prodigious efforts by teachers, we seem to have produced an age group which is innumerate everywhere except in the mathematics class room. The situation in universities is frightening. The Scottish Universities Council on Entrance has conducted tests on a large number of first year students and found wideranging inabilities in very basic essential mathematical techniques. Each year more students of science and engineering fail the mathematical or numerical parts of their courses. Students' curricula become hideously distorted as the students writhe to avoid anything quantitative and the universities struggle to keep failure rates below the level which leads to a Sunday Press pillory. Much first year teaching would, in the school scene, be called "remedial", and the ground lost is never totally recovered. By comparison with the most advanced courses I have seen in North America and Europe, the level now reached in many of our physical science degrees resembles a kindergarten. The consequences for our society are severe, because the immensely difficult technological problems of the future lie at the frontiers of knowledge, and need all our learning compounded with real practical experience for their solution. Unless we can once again bring certain young people to this position of expertise neither natural resources nor political manoeuvring will halt Scotland's stagnation and the inevitable decline relative to other countries. I should emphasise that these deficiencies are assessed in full under-

How I Became a RuAy Addict

standing of the ways in which the school syllabuses of today present different material, and often use different language, from those of yesterday. Part of the problem, of course, is the enormous growth of knowledge in science and engineering. The pupil or graduate of today has to cover material that took mankind centuries to discover (or myself decades to understand). It could be that in attempting too much, little is achieved. Even some progress in the rational selection of material and rejection of the unimportant must be an increase in "standards". I shall finish with a word for those younger F.P.s currently grappling with difficult university courses. Whatever may appear to be the case elsewhere in society, there is very definitely no effortless road to learning. All sections of the community are inter-dependent, and in the end there can be no society without education. Your abilities will set the standards, so get stuck in and good luck to you. ALASTAIR M. NORTH (937-50)

How I Became a Rugby Addict I started at the Grammar in 1939. 1 think it was during the week war broke out. Between then and 1947 or 1948 I took no interest in organised sport, which was, I suppose, unusual for an able-bodied boy, though not unheard of. I enjoyed cricket in Morningfield Road, with a tree trunk representing the stumps, but went out of my way to avoid the real thing, just as I went out of my way to avoid athletics. If it rained on the day we were supposed to muster at Rubislaw for an afternoon's running and jumping, and we were given the time to ourselves, I rejoiced. And even if it did not rain, I often played truant and stole down Union Street to the pictures, hoping that no roll-call in front of the pavilion would reveal my absence. So there you have a portrait of the shirker as a very young man. It was much the same in the classroom. One teacher said I idled my way through the lower school; and I did little better in the middle and upper schools, where my only achievements were to write passable essays and to be regularly thrown out of Mr. Hemingway's art classes (I believe I held the record at the time: three ejections). Both achievements came easily to me, so I must not brag about them. Yet how do I earn a large part of my living now? I write about rugby for a national newspaper: I, who used to abhor the game. What happened? How was I converted? Did I read MIN Brown's Schooldays and realise what I was missing? Not quite. I think the change came about inconsequentially enough, as such changes do. Perhaps my father, an ardent rugby man, suggested that I ought to interest myself in at least one of the School's sporting activities, if only out of loyalty. Perhaps Dally Allardice's example stirred me. At any rate, one Saturday in, I fancy, 1948 I crept unwillingly to Rubislaw to watch F.P.s. I can remember nothing of the

Aberdeen Grammar Selma/ Magazine

match itself, although the opposition may have been Highland, with the veteran D. J. Macrae in the centre. All I remember bcyond doubt is Edwin Hunter running along the left wing and being tackled into touch near me, and the crowd standing two or three deep on both sides of the pitch. They do not stand two or three deep now: a melancholy comedown that cannot be explained merely by saying that the present F.P.s are not as good as those of yesteryear. But that was the start. Eventually I found I enjoyed playing, too. When a games afternoon at Rubislaw was cancelled because of rain or frost, I was depressed instead of pleased. Matches did not go on long enough for me. I was a bad player but an enthusiastic one; after all, you have to be something of a hero to play rugby well, and I have never been a hero. I spent most of my time in the seventh or eighth XV. Occasionally I was promoted to the sixth, but having no head for heights I soon fell off that dizzy pinnacle. Michael Green says the chief characteristic of coarse rugby is that the teams arc invariably two or three players short. Well, we were coarse, on those Wednesday afternoons at Rubislaw nearly thirty years ago: and manpower, or boypower, was not the only thing we were short of. I left school in 1951 and played no more rugby until 1955 or 1956. During my army service football and snooker were my sporting diversions, casual rather than systematic. But I kept up with the rugby news. It was the period of Scotland's seventeen consecutive defeats, of forwards who were too light by half, and I can remember switching on the radio in Germany and hearing that they had lost yet again. The fact that they were losing so often diminished my surprise but not my disappointment. About a year after demobilisation I drifted into playing rugby again. I lasted two seasons, no more. I played for F.P.s' third XV from time to time, and if there was a fourth XV I cannot imagine that I did not play for it, too. I have no recollection of training. I just received my card and turned up, at Rubislaw, Seafield, Hazlehead, Bridge of Don barracks, or the point of departure for the coach to Lossiemouth, Dundee, or wherever. Predictably, nobody quite knew my best position—I myself was in the dark on that point—but I think there was a sort of consensus that I could do the least harm in the second row of the scrum. At that level of rugby, in fact, the second row seems to be regarded as the place to put all players of no fixed abode. What of the men of those days who really could play rugby, not just play at it? Edwin Hunter, as I have said, was the first player to make a mark with me—for no particular reason, except that that is the way our memories work. I suppose Allardice and Donny Innes and Eric Buthlay and Dyce Paterson, and perhaps even Doug Smith, were playing on that metamorphic Saturday in 1948, because the team that season was the best F.P.s have ever produced. There were good teams during the 195os, when the likes of Eric Cruickshank and Tim Smith and Doug Georgeson and David Grieve and Charlie Ritchie and Dick Cradock and Eric Craig and Ron Comber (still playing!) were around;

Book Review

but none to touch the 1947-48 assembly of talent. I am only sorry I came in nearer the evening of their day than the morning. And what of the boys ? There was, I remember, an outstanding school team in 1951-52. They were big, fast and skilful, and I think they went unbeaten through a season of fourteen matches. Ernie Michie was in it, and he subsequently played for Scotland and the British Lions. Comber was in it: he was a wing forward then, not a wing threcquarter. Did he not score two or three tries in a Murrayfield trial? On the wings were George Taylor and Ian Cavanagh, the centres were Jimmy Cheyne and Stanley Monro, and Billy Hutchison was at scrum half. The full back was Erroll Anderson—an exceptionally mature performer, the kind for whom you confidently forecast an international future. Among the forwards, apart from Michie and Comber, I remember Brian Grassick, John Bett and Andrew Noble. I cannot lay my hands on the records, but I think I have got my facts right about this team. The memory of it is still green. Over the years, however, my impression has been that a strong school team one season is no guarantee of a strong F.P. team later on. A great deal of rugby talent seems to be lost when boys walk out into Carden Place for the last time. I have been away from Aberdeen since 196o. My knowledge of Grammar rugby since then is fragmentary. But the fact that rugby is my job makes my early years in and around the game seem more vivid to me now than they might otherwise have been. I never dreamt that Richmond Athletic Ground would one day be as familiar to me as Rubislaw; or that I would gad about England and Wales- Blundellsands, Cardiff, Bristol, etc.—clutching a notebook and worrying about trains and telephones; or that, in due course, I would describe a match played on the Close at Rugby School, over which preside the ghosts of William Webb Ellis and Tom Brown. The match was between Rugby and an Australian schools side one cold, bright day in December 1973, and my opening sentence was: "Where better to begin a rugby tour of Britain than the place where the game began ?" And where better to end this article? GORDON ALLAN (1939-51)

Book Review The House With No Windows. Allan Jermieson (Blackie: £3.25). A schoolmaster's job, it will be mainly agreed, is 'to instruct his pupils. If he can also delight them—as a bonus not a substitute for the instruction—then he is a master indeed. And if above that he can write a book such as will catch the imagination of his pupils and perhaps keep them from their maths exercises and their French irregular verbs then he's doing something that very few have been able to compass; more often than not when the teacher turns to "creative writing" (to use the cant phrase) we can see very clearly the hands of the instructor— pedagogue manipulating the strings of his puppet creations.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

So it is with great pleasure, tinged with a little wonder, that I welcome this book by Allan Jermieson, a former Grammarian who is now teaching. This is his first published novel, and I'm sure it won't be his last. It is a book that is listed by the publishers as for children, and certainly it is a book that will attract and hold young people for the interest of the story and the imaginative quality of the conception. Yet it has qualities of writing that suggest that Mr. Jermieson will be happier when he is dealing with adult situations and adult feelings in a book fully addressed to adults. To say this is to compliment him on what he has achieved in The House With No Windows and to suggest very tentatively that he has tricd to put rather too much into this not over-long book. Donna Karen, the sensitive thirteen-year-old girl who is the central figure, is the means whereby we are made to sense the remoteness and the mystery of a legendary past that still has power to irrupt with demonic energy into our present century. The action is placed in the wild country near Hadrian's Wall, and in a developing kaleidoscope of adventure in the present and dreams of the past we are made to feel the brooding power of ancient earth forces that in the climax of the book smash the dams and electric pylons that the twentieth century engineers are building in the wild. It is a complex story, romantic, but not lush. It is stylishly written throughout. In a number of places a very conscious attempt to evoke atmosphere, both of the past and of the present, slows the narrative drive. In places the heroine is made, perhaps, to carry a too great weight of adult perception; one has the feeling that initially Mr. Jermieson may have planned a more complex interplay between the brooding untamed past and our present disregard of that power. But the book as it stands has many virtues; I look forward to seeing more of Mr. Jermicson's work, and commend this episode warmly. A.T.

The Chiels Amang Us Ours is a school that seems to attract a large quota of visitors, whether for a brief visit or a long. Here two visitors of longer duration, Mr. Allen Clayton of the Music Department and the U.S.A., and Miss Iona Macnab, of the Fourth Year and Australia, contribute some of the impressions made on them by us, and some impressions of schooling abroad.

I'll Remember Rubislaw Each year some ninety teachers from U.K. and U.S.A. exchange jobs. The mechanics of the swap arc handled by a joint committee of British and American government representatives who get together for a "matching-up" session sometime in the spring. First a screening process is done in one's own country in a personal interview, and here it is determined whether a candidate is worthy to represent one's country on the other side of the Atlantic. Happily the powers-that-be saw fit to propose an exchange between

The Chiels AmangUs

Mr. Tulloch of the Music Department and me. The headmasters of the two schools involved approved the exchange, and a flurry of letters between Mr. Tulloch and me began, each loaded with questions about one school and answers about the other. But as no amount of written information can ever take the place of being there, it was with great apprehension that I walked past Lord Byron and into Rubislaw Academy one August morning for the first time. And now two terms have come and gone as I write this. My first impression ? The pupils—all in uniform. That's what it was. They all looked alike. And so many of them. The corridors were spilling over. Even the girls were wearing tics. Such were the thoughts of a new American teacher as he made his way to the Music Department. As for the teaching, after a week I realised that some six hundred boys and girls had come in and out of my classroom, an overwhelming number to sort out. My timetable was ever clutched in my hand, and I referred to it constantly. In a jotter I frantically wrote down the material covered in each period. It was a confusing beginning, looking back on it. The personality of each class soon made itself known. One emerged as being a group of keen singers; another class remained shy and unresponsive; a third was difficult to handle and actively disliked anything having to do with music; a fourth was a joy because of the positive response to music. These all fluctuated and changed as the weeks went on, of course. Gradually though, I was getting to know the pupils a bit better as individuals. Soon a particular pleasure for me was recognising and watching pupils I had in class engaged in non-musical things. The fellow in the front row first period Thursday turned out to be a tremendous table tennis player. Two fifth year boys in Friday's class play in the football team, and I have seen them exhibit some mighty fancy footwork on the pitch. Two first year girls of last period Wednesday were marvellous in I Remember Mama. Another performed brilliantly in the Debating Society. The list could be extended easily, but it does bring me to the thought that, for me, one of the strengths of Rubislaw Academy (and there arc many) is that dimension beyond the classroom where pupil and staff work together in a non-academic pursuit which matters. The staffs of many comprehensive schools in America I know are out of the door before the pupils each afternoon, or at least not far behind. Here there seems to be a real sharing of interests, which is seen particularly in the many clubs and societies which flourish. The amount of pupil—staff energy spent is impressive and reveals something of the real spirit of the School. As I go back to America, I know I will remember Rubislaw Academy with affection for the two things which really matter in a school—the pupils and the staff, both of which elements have helped, probably unknowingly, to make this a special year for me. ALLEN CLAYTON

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

The Same; But Different As a foreigner, I am often asked what my school at home is like. Although it is not typical of all Australian schools, it is fairly typical of most Australian girls' schools. Situated 17 miles into the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Tintern Church of England Girls' Grammar School is on 5 z acres of land, but has only boo girls attending it, about sixty of them boarders. I live 7 miles from the school and travel to and from by train every day, as do many others. It was quite a change for me to attend a nearby, large co-educational school, like Aberdeen Grammar/Rubislaw Academy. I find the main differences between the schools are the rules, the attitude of the pupils towards their work, and in House spirit. Rules should be kept to a minimum in schools, because it is well known that no matter how many rules are made, they are still broken. "The Grammar" has very few rules compared to Tintern. At Tintern, each girl is issued with a school diary, in which there are four pages of school rules. I might add that these are only read by first years—the others don't pay much attention to them! Examples of Tintern rules are: hair to be tied back with ribbons if it is longer than the shoulder, no make-up, no jewellery, no eating in public when in school uniform, and blazers to be worn as the outer-garment when outside the school grounds. In addition, there are the rules like those of the Grammar: punctuality, homework to be done, and permission to be given to leave school early for medical appointments. In the pupils' attitude towards their work, I notice quite a difference —or maybe it is just that we are given so much work at Tintern, we often don't want to do it! At the Grammar everyone has an equal opportunity, and the competition for good results is not as strong as at Tintern. The classes here are allocated according to ability, e.g. in Maths, French and English, but at Tintern, if a girl cannot cope with the work the class is doing, she cannot be lowered a class because there is no class grading. I find the House spirit different too. Most people at the Grammar support their House by joining in some team game, like hockey, netball or rugby. At Tintern many girls can't be bothered joining in for their House, but they're the first to complain when their House loses. Practices for teams are usually held during the lunch hour [we don't go home for lunch] when many other activities are also held, resulting in the fact that there is only a small number of girls available for practice. As a Junior House Captain for the last two years, I know what a problem this is, because I had to hold sports practices and attend choir at the same time! Tintern used to hold the annual InterHouse Swimming Sports on a Saturday morning in February, but because of such a poor attendance, it was changed to a week-day so that girls could not miss it. School spirit at both schools is, however, much the same—when I went with the Grammar to the semi-final of the Inter-School debates, everyone was proud to have such good speakers representing the School. At Tintern last year, we watched our swimming team win the

Byron Soot* Visit, June 1976

Inter-School Swimming Sports, and everyone was proud of the school. Our pride doubled when the Athletics team won the InterSchool Athletic Sports in the same year. One thing we in Melbourne do not have to contend with is the cancellation of matches because of snow. When I arrived here, I complained that there was not enough of it—little did I know it would still be snowing in April I I've enjoyed my short stay, and I wish it could be longer. It has been a great experience going to a Scottish school, and I am sorry to leave after making so many friends. IONA MACNAB, IV

Byron Society Visit, June 1976 At the end of June 1976, a party of Byron enthusiasts under the sponsorship of the Byron Society came to the north-cast of Scotland to visit the places associated with the poet. Included in their numbers were representatives from seven overseas countries. On Monday morning, 28 June they included in their itinerary a visit to the Grammar School, where the company was joined by the Lord and Lady Provost of Aberdeen, and all were welcomed by Mr. Gill. Although the present building has few direct links with its most celebrated former pupil, our visitors were shown the old belfry and walked through the entrance which the poet would have used at the old building in Schoolhill. In the main staffroom, they were shown the grandfather clock which probably sounded out the hours of the poet's school day. The party then adjourned to the library where they were entertained by Mr. Gill and senior members of the staff. There they saw, among other relics of the School's past, the School register of 1798 with George Gordon's name erased and replaced by "Dorn de Byron", the old school bell, and the book used by Byron at Cambridge University (gifted to the School several years ago by Dr. Innes of Hull). The opportunity was taken in the library to have Mr. Nauss, the donor of a special Byron prize, hand over the first award to Alastair Garden, for a study on "The Vision of Judgment". After the reception, all adjourned to the front of the School where the pupils of SI and SII were drawn up round the Byron statue. There, with the wail of the pipes playing a lament in the background, they witnessed the laying of two commemorative wreaths by the Lord Provost and Mr. Michael Rees of the Byron Society. The Press and Journal, reporting the proceedings the following day, quoted one of the party as saying, "This is the highlight! This is the climax of the whole tour. This is what we came to Scotland for." We would like to think so. As a memento of the visit, Mr. Gill presented a small brochure showing a miniature of Byron as a boy and a picture of the old Schoolhill building. This was very well received by our visitors at the conclusion of this happy occasion.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

A specially welcome guest at the proceedings was Mrs. Craig, the last surviving member of the family of Dr. Morland Simpson, one of whose greatest ambitions had been to see the erection of a statue to Byron at the School. He unfortunately failed to live to see his great efforts in this direction come to fruition in 1923 with the placing of McGillivrafs notable work. It is with regret that we note that that was Mrs. Craig's last participation in the corporate life of the School with which she bad had such a long connection through her father and her two sons, Morland and David. Her death took place in April 1,977.

ist Aberdeen (Grammar School) Scout Group Now that our decision to retain our full name (despite our changed registration as an open group) has been vindicated, it was considered appropriate to draw attention to the group's wish to welcome more Grammar School pupils or sons of former group members to our ranks. Meetings are held in the Scout Hut, Forest Avenue Lane by the Cubs on Tuesdays, the Scouts on Fridays and the Venture Scouts on Thursdays. All three sections are running very successfully at present with a good team of leaders and an active programme. We are refiling our already extensive records, and hope to augment this with further information, photographs, logs, stories, etc., from former members. If we are succesful in this, we would like to compile and possibly publish a detailed history of the 1st Group, in time for our Seventieth Birthday, which we believe is next year. We would enjoy hearing from any former members of the group, with a view to reforming the group associates to enable a link to be maintained between members of the 1st, past and present. All interested are invited to contact Graeme Ross, 38 Carlton Place, Aberdeen (Tel. 1447z).

School Office Bearers Prefects

Senior Prefect: WILLIAM G. WATT Deputy Senior Prefect: EDWARD S. ANDERSON BRIAN J. BAIN JEFFREY K. BREMNER ALAN F. CASSIE ALAN T. CROZIER MICHAEL C. J. DAVIDSON DOUGLAS A. DUNCAN CALUM D. FALCONER ANDREW R. GRANT GEORGE C. C. HENDERSON ROY S. INGRAM NEIL W. MCDOWALL ALASTAIR I. MACLEAN

ANDREW W. MARTIN STEPHEN B. MATHERS MICHAEL J. P. MIDGLEY JOHN M. MILNE PETER M. MILNE VINCENT W. MITCHELL KEITH W. MURRAY STUART R. PATTERSON PETER J. SHARP ERIC STODDART ALAN J. VEITCH KENNETH A. WARD

Sports Captains

Rugby WILLIAM G. WATT Hockey ALASTAIR I. MACLEAN

Soccer ALAN J. VEITCH Swimming BRIAN J. BAIN

Literary and Debating Society

President EDWARD S. ANDERSON I•ice President MICHAEL J. P. MIDGLEY Secretary PETER J. SHARP Treasurer NEIL W. MCDOWALL Dramatic Society

President ANDREW R. GRANT Cadet Force

Colour Sergeant MURRAY CRIGHTON Editors of School Section ALAN T. CROZIER

PETER J. SHARP

WILLIAM G. WATT

Random Notes Reports that Mr. Gill is hiring "Red" Adair to plug a blowout in Room t; arc purely fictitious. There's no stopping it/him. * * * The most Consistent Team of the Year award goes to the znd XV, which lust virtually every game it took part in. * * * cool working conditions, Miss Marshall in believer Although known to be a great threw her Sixth Year class into confusion when she requested that one of the boys remove his trousers. She later explained to the confused youth she'd meant him to discard only his waterproof overtrousers. * * * It has been decided that the band at next year's School Dance will be the London Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Ted Heath? *

This year certain prefects showed their moral responsibility by forsaking classes and spending an entire morning furiously scrubbing the furniture in an effort to make the Howff spotlessly clean, in word, thought and deed. *

Non event of the Year—the Unofficial Magazine. Runner-up—Mr. Allan's Fifth and Sixth Year dancing lesson. *

The touching concern of the pupils for the welfare of the staff was demonstrated when two petitions were circulated within the school. One requested the Education Committee reconsider its decision to cut the number of teachers at the school. The other, instigated by the Fourth Year "non-certificates", demanded that the entire staff be made redundant. * * * The following requests have been made by members of staff to the Film Society: Messrs. Addy, Falconer and Allan—"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Mr. McCombie—"Patton, Lust for Glory". The janitors—"Confessions of a Window Cleaner". Mr. Rodwell—"Easy Rider". Mr. R. Duncan—"The Mean Machine". Mr. Galloway—"I-lair". Mr. May—"The Battle of the Bulge". Mr. Hopkins— "Dirty Harry". Mr. Maclntyre—"Sivvin Brides for Sivvin Brothers". Messrs. Wilson and Stephen—"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". * * * The hardest workers in school were forcibly removed on 2 May, when the longestablished bee colony was dislodged, hive, honey and all, from its berth in the rafters above the upper corridor. Messrs. Williams and Jones of the Biology Department appropriately led the foray, while members of the School hierarchy, and of Rcntokil Ltd, kept a discreet distance. Story has it that the Geography Department aware of their territorial rights in the matter, arc in quite a wax about this violation of their preserves. * * * Memorable quotes of the year: "Whodunnit, Willie?" (inside the Howff). "What lovely pictures you have in here!" (ibid.) "Catharsis, eh? I think I'm best equipped to answer this one." (Staff Debate). "This is probably the worst rugby team ever." (W.W.). * * * 26

Meet the Prefects William G. Watt (Senior Prefect). Willie fearlessly "slugged his guts" out on the rugby field and controlled all subversive activities in the same manner: by leading from the front. The heavy burden of his responsibilities was shown by his frequent, but no doubt reluctant, absences from classes. lie has been seen on TV and quoted in the local newspapers, but failed to make the headlines when he recently crashed his bike and was taken to Foresterhill with several broken bones; Willie, it seems, was under the spell of some girl who has bewitched him. Still he is perhaps the most popular Senior Prefect for years, probably a sign of our bad taste. "For he by geometric scale could take the size of pots of ale"—Butler. "We would have won if

..."—W.W.

Edward S. Anderson (Deputy Senior Prefect). Eddie vainly chaired a few meetings of the Debating Society. In fact an element of vanity influences most of his actions. His well kept appearance, the result of hours of meticulous grooming, drew admiring glances from his too (sic) good friends in the Fourth Year, but as a law-abiding citizen he confines himself to learning to knit. His oratorical skills, amply shown in his compering of the "Muppet Show", failed him when he was caught indecently flaunting himself at a young immigrant in the tuckshop. Summing him up is easy: Eddie is a poseur. "A frog he would a-wooing go"—Nursery rhyme. Brian J. Bain. Doesn't take after his elder brother and is rarely seen in the Howff. Brian is the prefects' answer to Johnny Weismuller: lacking only a loincloth, he swims, rows and dates the natives. "Meet Brian, he swims like a fish"—adapted.

Jeffrey K. Bremner. "Fatty" is the original bestowed on this hunk of human(?) and we think he should audition for a part as Brian's chimpanzee. He was recently charged with treason against the Queen, having forsaken our company to mingle with stars of the small screen. Jeff and his young lady are still going strong . when she's allowed out late I "And they called it puppy love"—D. Osmond, P. Anka. "I'm sorry, I'm a mormon"—anon. Alan F. Cassie. Alan was top scorer in the 1st XV with quite a handful of points. Over the past year or so he has been doing his best to improve relations with the younger years and is a great believer in integration. He has rather strange interests, which include plumbing, interior decorating and—Vera. "Beer drinking don't do half the harm of love making"—E. Philpotts. Alan I. Crozier. This Alan holds the proud record of top own-goal scorer with the t st XI. Once he liked the fair sex, but since a disappointment at the School Dance he has declared that he will have nothing further to do with them. When not consuming snowballs, Alan passes the time making money, and after Ally's failure to run the sweepstakes it was decided that his skills should be employed to finance the decorating and catering in the Howff. This decision was immediately regretted as he "withdrew services" if anyone annoyed him. "Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy"—Spike Milligan. Michael C. J. Davidson. Some may say that Michael is a queer chap, but his exemplary attendance at French classes contradicts this view. Fashion-conscious 27

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine

Michael loves to love, and this has resulted in angry looks being flashed at him by Ally, whose loss is his gain. "Ceejay's" choice in female company is constantly getting him into trouble and thwarting his drinking habits. A good sinner led astray? "So fit's wrong NN, bein' a freaky?"—M.C.J.D. Douglas A. Duncan. Douglas drives not only his own car but anyone else's he can break into. His love of driving is equalled only by his passion fur good milky coffee, and it is rumoured that a desirable brunette has spent many hours perfecting the art of percolation for his pleasure. Next year he goes to Australia, and being of a violent nature "Big D" should get on well with the natives, who share his fondness for hitting things, including the bottle. "There aren't many left like him nowadays, what with education and whisky the price it is"—E. Waugh. Calton D. Falconer. Although he has difficulty in maintaining his grip on reality, "Jackanory" Falconer enthralls the Howl with a tale a day. Indeed "Yid" failed to heed the advice given to Pinnochio, which perhaps explains the size of his nose. ClIum has grown very fond of his driving instructor and deliberately fails his tests so he can continue seeing him; but his infantile craving for violence has made him one of the most feared members of the prefecture. P.S. The rumour that Donovan is resident in the Howff is completely unfounded. "Wanna tell you a story"—M. Bygraves. "Honest, this one's really gen"—C.D.F. Andrew R. Grant. "Stomper", whose escapades on rugby trips have caused much hilarity among his comrades, succeeded in making an even greater fool of himself at the Literary and Debating Society. His two great loves, rugby and acting, tend to get a little confused at times and he has been nominated for art Academy Award since his virtuoso performance against Gordon's. "An actor's a guy who, if you ain't talking about him, ain't listening"—Marlon Brando. George C. C. Henderson. When George isn't crystal gazing, he is to be found hanging around the Grand Central trying to pick up ideas for the Film Society. Unfortunately he has difficulty in conversing with people over the age of fifteen and can never forget that he is a Catholic. He tried, in vain, to sow the seeds of rebellion in the hockey team, but once he squared his bill they allowed him back and have been regretting it since. He blamed his failure to become Journalist of the Year on the laziness of his co-editors of the inauspicious unofficial magazine. "Georgie Porgic pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry"—Nursery rhyme. "What is called religion effeminates and demoralises"—Emerson. Roy S. Ingram. We were disappointed to learn that the recent TV documentary, "The Man with No Name", was not about Roy but some obscure film star whose income is probably smaller than his. Roy's partiality for all foods, even cat biscuits, has led him to test the security of the tuckshop on several occasions. For some reason best known to himself he is very keen on promoting Anglo-Spanish relations. A Hispanic manic, i'troth! "Let the artist have just enough to cat and the tools of his trade: ask nothing of him"—Clive Bell. Neil W. McDowall. Neil is a thoroughly nasty person. He take little interest in sport, rarely attends classes and doesn't like being a prefect. He is afraid of responsi-

Meet the Prefects

bility and reacts strongly against authority in any form. He also dislikes people who misrepresent him I "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff"—Shakespeare. "Hee-hee-hee"—Ed. Alistair I. Maclean. Predictably for one hailing from Aberlour, "Flatnose" professes a keen interest in African affairs. His native background may explain his dislike of wearing clothes. But when he caught a cold, Ally arrived wearing three tee-shirts and announced that he was going to sweat the fever out. Despite stiff competition, Ally undoubtedly said the silliest things in the Howffthis year, including a lengthy appraisal of the football skills of the Gers. Cries of "Five-one" do not meet with his approval and John Greig's influence is evident in the way he captains the hockey team. "The Queen is like having an expensive car and paying someone to clean it"— A. I. Mac. "Eh ?"—Howff. Andrew W. Martin. Andy's attempt to conquer the South Face of the Howff was abandoned when Mr. Rodwell paid a social visit and accidentally knocked him from Base Camp One. When not climbing things, Andrew spends his time, not in the Physics Department, playing cards with Vcirchay and claims that he always wins. "Crampons are not allowed in the Howff"—J.R. Stephen B. Mashers. "Mithers" will talk with anyone who will listen, especially tall girls. Although he considers himself a bit of a comedian, the only laughs he gets are for his shoes, which are a constant source of amusement. This year at the Debating Society, Folk and Poetry evening he was able to indulge in his hobby of wearing ridiculous clothes and singing silly songs. He blames his failure to become Journalist of the Year on George. "We are not amused"—Howff. Michael J. P. Midgley. Michael has found the academic strains of Fifth Year too much, for although he was Vice-President of the Literary and Debating Society, he was able to attend only a handful of the meetings. Pressure of work also prevented him from assisting John in the ruckshop, a fact which made Stephen very happy and everyone else very sad. "Midgley is Kent"—Wallposter. John M. Milne. He ruled the tuckshop with an iron paw, but only his great experience prevented the setting up of a rival operation across the corridor. John is easy to criticise, when he's not there, and Calum took advantage of this, much to everyone's disgust. "Because a man has shop to mind, In time and place since flesh must live, Needs spirit lack all life behind. All stray thoughts, fancies fugitive, All loves except what trade can give ?"—Browning Peter M. Milne. Peter is one of the most upstanding prefects and manifests a great preference for the simple things in life. His attempt to become a TV star was foiled by a tasteless editor, but he tan drive, which is something. "He intended, he said, to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet"—Orwell.

Aberdeen Grammar School Akgazine

Vincent H. Mitchell. In his youth Vincent was quiet, hardworking and honest, which makes his appointment as a prefect all the more difficult to understand. As the year has progressed, however, his psychopathic nature has come to the fore in several scandalous incidents. His purple prose style has not met with the full approval of all the staff and, as we never tire of reminding him, he came bottom in the S.Y.S. English Estimate exam, confounding the form-book. "Unless one is a genius it is best to aim at being intelligible"—Anthony Hope. "To be brutally honest, this is gibberish to me"—Mr. McC. Keith W. Murray. "Muzz' is one of the most unobtrusive prefects and practically his sole claim to fame is his unsuccessful attempt to murder Eddie by hurling him from his (Muzz's) scooter when travelling at high speed. We have never forgiven him ... for not succeeding, that is. `Discreet, certainly; virtuous, possibly." Stuart R. Patterson. He is rarely seen, except on the football pitch, but we know that he has great feelings for those on the other side of the counter. Still, we've yet to find out what he's afraid of. "Oh, no"—S.R.P. (To be said while sidling towards the door). Peter J. Sharp. Normally a quiet chap, Peter upset Mr. McCombie when he decided to practise his French horn within the confines of the Howff. He was reluctant to give his autograph to the P.E. staff at the beginning of the year and as a result missed several games afternoons. As secretary of the Literary and Debating Society, Peter was constantly pestering anyone who could string more than three words together. When he failed to find anyone so capable, he spoke himself. "He's not related to John Sharp, is he ?"—Mr. McC. Eric Stoddart. Eric's ambition is to be the Sex Pistols' drummer, but to date he has only been offered a contract with the school orchestra. One of the most diligent prefects in recent history, Eric delighted Mr. McCombie by booking eight felons in one interval, a feat without precedent. His absence from the school dance was explained by his keenness to book latecomers the following morning. Unfortunately the only names he collected were those of prefects .... "Name'n class ?"—E.S. Alan J. Veitch. Alanus Veitchay enjoys playing sevens and football, but little else. When the pressures on this highly sophisticated and temperamental star began to tell, he became involved in several controversies with the manager. Few people (Mr. May apart) fully understand anything he says in his broad north-east accent, but he seems not to mind. Alan has a Freudian fear of boiling water, and tears come to his eyes when he sees Ally holding the kettle. "Cheer up, the worst is still to come"—P. Johnston. "Fit a rat, ah'm tellin yes!"—A.J.V. Kenneth A. Ward. Kenny hasn't been seen since he broke his leg playing rugby and we suspect that his fragmented body is being used for medical research. "He still hasn't paid his result's money"—A.T.C. "Goodbye!"—K.A.W.

Staff Changes For all the talk of transfer and removal, this has not been a session of widespread staff change on the scale of some recent years. Yet age, though certainly not decay, has led three older members of staff into retirement, and it is appropriate that Miss Betty Gibb, Mr. Henry Davidson and Mr. Alexander Tait, who served the School for some 3o years, za years and 19 years respectively, should be accorded distinct and personal tributes from erstwhile colleagues. Mr. John Paton retired from the Mathematics Department in February. His teaching career had spanned almost thirty years, all within Aberdeen; the last four years were spent very profitably "up the hill" in the Rosemount Annexe, pupils and staff alike benefiting from his professional experience and personal sagacity. Mr. Paton has started a new career as an accountant in business, and we wish him success in this fresh activity. Two of our younger teachers have been deservingly transferred to more exalted positions elsewhere. Wellknown F.P., Mr. Douglas Marr, Assistant Principal in the History Department, was appointed Principal Teacher of History at Hilton Academy, and at Easter, Mr. Donald Morrison left to become Principal Teacher of English at Milne's High School, Fochabers. During his five years at Grammar, Donald Morrison had made a particular reputation as the instigator of several excellent theatrical productions: his versions of Sherriffs' "Journey's End" will long be remembered (for the best of reasons!) by those privileged to see it. As stalwarts leave the scene an' a' that, the School still persists for a' that, as it has done for so long. Newcomers arrive to fill vacancies created. On Mr. Davidson's retiral two new posts were created: Mrs. Thema/leek was promoted to Head of the German Department, and Mr. Ian Milne, an F.Y. himself, returned as Head of French after long service as Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Gordon Schools, Huntly. Mr. W. D. Hall came in Mr. Tait's stead. Formerly an Assistant Headmaster at Nairn Academy, he had taught latterly in Penang, Malaysia, leaving the old Straits Settlement to augment the colonising group of Gordonians on our staff. On the distaff side, if one may still so discriminate, Mrs. Kathleen Hay took over Mr. Mares position in the History Department, where she has as colleague Mrs. Jennifer Ransom, who joined us in August from Aboyne Academy; also at the start of session, Miss June Ritchie had taken the place in Business Studies of Mrs. Eleanor Gordon on her leaving for Cults Academy, and Mrs. Margaret Kinnaird had come to the English Department from Harlaw. Mrs. Patricia Alexander, appointed to the Chemistry Department only in January from Peterhead Academy, became an early "victim" of the staffing re-arrangements spoken of earlier, and in August is to return whence she came. To those who have left us and those who have come, the staff extend good wishes, whether for a contented retirement, a rewarding change of professional activity, or a pleasant and fruitful stay at the School. W.D.H. 51

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Mr. Henry Davidson detailed map of Scotland may reveal, roughly scrutiny of a A close between Tongue and Troon, the town of Wishaw where Mr. Davidson was cradled just before the First World War. After graduation at Glasgow University in the Honours School of French and German, he made his way to the North East by the circuitous route of Harris Academy, Hamilton Academy and North Berwick High School, arriving in the Grammar as Principal Teacher of French and German in 1954. The Second World War had, of course, interrupted his career and his energies were channelled into another sphere of education. Commissioned into the Army Education Corps, he dispensed dollops of culture to the rude soldiery of the day. His reminiscences of the Italian campaign have held many a captive audience in thrall and when he would finish telling the tale, one felt one would not hear the like again—for a week or so at least. It has become unfashionable, not to say uneconomic, to remain long in any one school. Gone are the days when a whole working life was devoted to the service of one institution. The few remaining oaks fall, inexorably, one by one, in the forest, leaving behind mere saplings to weather the storm. Harry, for so he is commonly referred to, gave twenty-two years to the Grammar, a goodly spell by any reckoning. During that time he witnessed many changes, not the least of which was the steady influx of women into what had been a male preserve since time immemorial. He viewed this invasion of the monstrous regiment with some concern but, with upper lip stiff and tongue at the ready, he realised he had encountered greater hazards in the past and triumphed gloriously. Harry was deeply versed in his subjects, widely read, possessing a very comprehensive knowledge of syntax. He was a stickler for accuracy. It was not uncommon to hear an appeal to his knowledge: "Harry, how do you say —?", "Would you accept —?" A full explanation invariably followed, given with all the authority of a Graeme Ritchie or a Mansion: And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew.

Language teaching has undergone radical change since the War. The pontiffs have thrust new methods on bemused teachers. Courses, purporting to create a new breed of French speakers, tumbled from the printing presses: "French without Tears", "Instant French", "French with Everything". Harry was wary of all these newfangled courses and, truth to tell, he had good reason for his caution. Gimmickry, in any guise, was alien to him and his well-thumbed copy of Whitmarsh bore ample testimony to his love of the well-trodden paths which led just where he wanted to go. Now Harry has taken leave of the Grammar to, we hope, "cultiver son jardin". A genial, kindly man, he liked nothing better than a good natter and a smoke. His slow, deliberate walk, right hand thrust deeply into his trouser pocket as he set a steady course for his classroom, will be missed. The best wishes of all go with him and Mrs. Davidson for a long, happy retirement.

Staff Changes

33 Miss Gibb The cnd of last session brought with it the retiral of Miss Betty Gibb, who joined the staff of Aberdeen Grammar School in 1946 and who, for the past thirty years, in her capacity as Rector's Secretary and more recently Administrative Assistant, was responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the School office. Throughout her long career Betty Gibb was respected for the highly competent way in which she discharged her duties. Over the years, the members of staff, the pupils and the parents who got to know her could not but admire the thoroughness, the careful planning and the close attention to detail, which were so characteristic of all her work. In the course of her career in the Grammar School Betty Gibb had to face the challenge of adapting to the varying requirements of three Rectors and she can look back over the years satisfied in the knowledge that all three appreciated very much her absolute loyalty, her discretion, her administrative ability and her willingness at all times to serve the School in every way possible. It cannot have been easy for Betty Gibb to accept the many changes which were inevitable with the introduction of Comprehensive Education in 1970; yet she set about the task of reorganisation with her usual skill and undying enthusiasm for work, and the transition had been completed by the day she retired. To show their measure of respect for Betty Gibb, former and present members of staff gathered in the Amatola Hotel on the evening of the 29 June, and it is appropriate that we join once again in expressing in this magazine the hope that Miss Betty Gibb will enjoy a long and happy retirement as a fitting reward for her outstanding service and devotion to our School from the moment she joined the staff in 1946 until she gave up office last summer. R.D.G. Mr. Alexander Tait At the close of session 1975-76 Mr. Tait retired as Head of the English Department at Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School), thus ending, after nearly nineteen years, his formal connection with the School. His teaching career began in Aberdeen at the old Central School, whose staff he joined in 1936 after graduating with First Class Honours in English at Aberdeen University. There he remained, except for the years 1940-46 when he saw service with the Royal Navy, until 1950. In that year he moved to Fraserburgh Academy, where, on his native pastures and as head of his department, he quickly showed his mettle in school and community activities. Then in 1957 a discerning Authority appointed him Principal Teacher of English at Aberdeen Grammar School. Such was the route that brought him to the School, where he was soon fully engaged in departmental activities. Moreover the interests looked through the man, and eager school societies took him captive. For all but two years of his stay he was School editor of the official magazine, and also strongly encouraged the unofficial one started by

Aberdeen Grammar School Alagazine 34 the senior pupils in the late sixties. He was deeply interested in the Dramatic Society, welcoming the enrichment of pupil experience it provided, and placing his scholarly knowledge at the disposal of its members. Quality he insisted on, as was apparent also in the activities of the Debating Society, of which he was Honorary President: he saw to it that the Society was civilised in its practice, respecting traditional methods and yet avoiding the arthritis of excessive formality. He also organised many cultural visits: to cinemas, the local theatre, to Haddo House, as well as more protracted excursions to the Edinburgh Festival; but it was with the welfare of the School Library that Mr. Tait's name was most strongly associated. He was firmly convinced that a library should be catholic in its range, appealing to general interests and not merely to departmental specialisms. The Library Committee found him an active and committed convener, and he presided over the reorganisation of the Library in its new quarters. Nevertheless, the School (apparently) did not exhaust either his energy or his time, and for two years he commanded the Aberdeen unit of the Sea Cadets. In sum, the range of his activities clearly demonstrates exceptional industry—and the truth of his frequent declaration that lie was lucky in his wife! Notices of the present kind are often a sort of viviscpultum, in which the retired are tributarily invested with a grace beyond the reach of fact. It is therefore pleasant to record that Nix. Tait has always belonged to the real world. He could flare with anger, chastise a pupil and castigate a colleague; moreover, he despised a charlatan and argued strongly on matters of principle. He had his limits, too: confronted by a refractory duplicator he would reveal that his engineering was as suspect as most engineers' English (if a certain sort of vocabulary be excluded). And with some pupils he also knew failure. But any of his teachers in difficulties, whether with work, class or health, could rely on his immediate and considerate help. A pretty shrewd observer of both boys and men, he carried with him the tradition of educationally more spacious times. In his pupils he strove to cultivate a warm, mature person with an alert, critical mind. Terms such as character, responsibility and leadership were deeply meaningful for him. At the same time he prepared his pupils thoroughly for their examinations, sending legions of them safely through the annual S.C.E. hurdle-races. As Head of Department he insisted that English was the supreme subject, the general instrument of thought, and that its literature enshrined the inmost secrets of man and society. Accordingly he set high standards for its teaching. Yet Mr. Tait was no dictator; he guided his department by persuasion and personal example, and believed in allowing a man his head so that the teacher in him might develop and mature. He seldom required a stronger curb than his quiet, penetrating comment. Mr. Tait retired with honour and the clear conscience of one who did not spare himself in the service of others. We wish him a long, active and happy retirement.

School Sporting Activities Rugby The past season was a most disappointing one with the weather proving to be an unbeatable opponent on far too many Saturdays. Even when mid-week practices were possible, enthusiasm for a match was often knocked on the head when Saturday came. The more senior teams, although undoubtedly fed up with cancellations, were more philosophical about it I But the disappointments were harder to take for the younger boys, and it was no easy task to explain that if it was sometimes unwise to play at Rubislaw, then games at other fields were even more unlikely. The 1st XV had an unhappy season. The saddest thing was that they never did as well as they could. When a team loses but does as well as their potential allows, then who can complain ? For various considerations (the approach to training and practice, the acceptance of responsibility and a responsible attitude, the mental approach to the game, the acceptance of their estimation of the inevitable are some) they did not come up to the same standards as in previous years. These criticisms may seem harsh, but the players concerned know in themselves how much truth is in them. It is a matter of regret that there were games which we lost too easily. Some games, to be fair, were lost which, with a bit of luck, should have gone our way. Then there were the usual better performances in the games which they considered more important: the Gordon's games and the F.P. games. Is it then all black with no white or even grey? This is a situation where some of last season's page may best be torn up, and the bit with the positive qualities must be kept to be written at the top of next season's sheet. Certainly there should be a nucleus of players available next year who will know better and, because there are players who are young to to be contesting places, some of the present incumbents will have to acquire a keener edge. An unfortunate run of injuries made consistent team work difficult. Kenneth Ward, now happily restored, was lost to us very early on and thereafter a sequence of readjustments had to be made in the back division. Several players had to play out of position, and Jeffrey Bremner in particular put in some hard endeavour in unaccustomed roles. Whilst some lacked the maturity to be expected from a 1st XV, others acted as a steadying influence and in so doing improved their own game. Several of these will be back next year and the others should come on by then. The captain, Willie Watt deserves special mention. He worked hard to pull his team up by the bootlaces. He tried incessantly to encourage and cajole, and he deserved to get support. If next year's "senior professionals" can provide the maturity and stability of which they are capable, if the younger players at present in the side improve as they should do, if they absorb their experience of this year, and if the upflow of young contenders realise that they've got what it takes to fight for a place, then there is certainly the basis of a good side for next season. A good team can be beaten, but it doesn't lose. 35

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Full Colours: J. K. Bremner, N. W. McDowall, K. A. Ward, W. G. Watt. Half Colours: R. W. Gordon, A. R. Grant, W. B. Whiteford.

The znd XV suffered a bit by having to play the 1st XVs of other schools, a situation which will be altered next year. Nevertheless, in spite of consisting almost entirely of Fourth Year boys, they had some creditable performances. There are most certainly members of this team who, if they have the ambition and are prepared to work, have the talent to get into the 1st XV next season. Not only are there vacancies to be filled as indicated above, but there arc some other positions "up for grabs". The Colts had to function with a small squad, but an examination of their results shows that they did remarkably well. There is a great deal of ability there, some of it already evident and some of it to come with time. Here too there are possible candidates for a 1st XV place next year. . The Juniors and Minors were very hard hit by cancellations, but it was gratifying to see the large numbers who were prepared to come up to Rubislaw to play games even if they were often only hastily-arranged practices amongst themselves or, in an attempt to add variety, with other local schools. This enthusiasm and willingness to work away at the basics is most encouraging for the future and has prompted an increase of fixtures for next season. Once again a great many people have given their time, experience and enthusiasm to help individuals and teams. It is a truism to say that nothing could go on without them, but, for all that, our gratitude is no less sincere. Hockey 1st XI The 1st XI began to show some promise as a team only in a few games late in the season. Three main factors prevented the development of teamwork and also had an adverse effect on skills. Firstly the succession of wet Saturdays allowed a total of only twelve matches to be played, whereas the 1st XI would normally play between thirty and forty games in a season. Wednesday practices also were cancelled regularly so that practice became the exception, to the detriment of skill. To make matters worse, the Wednesdays when field was playable were so frequently damp, cold and uninviting that the main emphasis lay in non-stop six-a-sides to keep warm. As successive Saturdays saw matches cancelled, and the Dons flourished in the early part of the season, so the lure of Pittodrie proved too great for some of the boys, who, regrettably, opted to follow football and so depleted already thin hockey ranks. Secondly, as the girls move up through the School, the number of boys is drastically reduced, this being reflected in the number of boys prepared to play hockey for School on a Saturday, especially in matches outwith Aberdeen. In third, fourth, fifth and sixth years a total of about

School Sporting Activities

thirty-five boys has been our resource for most of the season, not enough to field three teams on a regular basis. On days when three teams have been required the team captains have had great difficulty in pressing players to make up the complement. Thirdly, as only about twelve boys in fifth and sixth years are willing to turn out on a Saturday it is impossible either to field a 1st XI from this group or to have a 1st XI practice at any time. This makes it impossible for the team to develop understanding and cohesion. Fourth year boys are now taking up first team places, and playing well, but lack of team practice is all too evident. In matches against local schools the 1st XI has done well. Against Gordon's College, School lost one game and won the other. There has been less success further from home although only Strathallan and Abbey were strong enough to overrun School. Lost For lVon Against Played 6 iz 6 43 34 Alistair Maclean has shown himself to be an excellent captain. He has demonstrated, skill, sportsmanship, determination and leadership. He is to be congratulated on reaching the final pool of the Scottish Under-i9 Select and on being selected as a non-travelling reserve for the Quadrangular Tournament against the Home Countries. The following boys played in the group from which the 1st XI was chosen: John Adamson, Michael K. Aitken, Murray Bissett, Graeme S. Duthie, Paul R. Gogolinski, David J. Goodall, Thomas C. Fraser, George C. C. Henderson, Robert B. McN. Howie, Jeremy Logan, Alistair I. Maclean, Alan J. Michie, Bruce C. Nairn. Awards Cap—Alistair Maclean; Full Colours—Graeme Duthie, Paul Gogolinski; Half Colours—Michael Aitken, Thomas Fraser, Bruce Nairn, Jeremy Logan. Alistair Maclean and Paul Gogolinski played for the under-i9 North District Select which won the Hancock Trophy, and Michael Aitken, Murray Bissett and Ian Strachan played for the under-16 North District Select, which has so far played, and won, only one game. znd XI The znd XI has been very much a scratch side, composed of players from third to sixth years as they were available so that their play has been characterised by honest endeavour and lack of success. David Goodall has cheerfully shouldered the burden of captaining this team and he is to be commended on his application to a thankless task. The team results are best allowed to remain in decent obscurity. 3rd XI The 3 rd XI played only ten matches and two of these were with ten men. Against other teams of equivalent age the 3rd XI arc able to give

Aberdeen Grammar Schaal Magazine 38 a good account of themselves, but in most of their games they were faced with older, more experienced players, who were able to run up too large scores. The team beat Linksfield Academy 4-1 and against Gordon's College they won z-o and drew i-s. Alan Kinghorn was a quiet, competent captain who had many difficulties to overcome in fielding teamsRowing Club The Rowing Club is now in its fifth season of competition since its re-establishment at the School. From an all-time high of twenty-threc wins in 1974 the success of the club crews in open and local regattas has levelled out at fourteen wins during 1975 and the same again in 1976. From the results at the time of writing this report, it would appear that the 1977 season will come up to last year's success rate. The 1976 season was notable in several ways. As in 1975, we produced the fastest Junior 15 coxed four in Scotland, recording wins at City of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Loch Lomond and Dumfries. Undoubtedly it would also have won the Scottish Championships but for a force 8 gale blowing down the course and causing cancellation of racing on the day of their event. This crew continued their rowing into July, and at the British Championships at Nottingham they just failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Junior 16 coxed fours event by the smallest of margins in a photo-finish. The performances of the club at the Aberdeen Regatta and even more at the Dumfries Regatta were memorable. At Aberdeen the club finished second to Edinburgh University in The Championship of the Dec, a trophy for the most successful club at the Aberdeen Regatta. In achieving this, the club had outright wins in Junior 18, 16 and 15 coxed fours and reached the finals of several other events. At Dumfries Regatta we entered crews in Junior 15, and 16 coxed fours and combined the two crews to row in Junior 18 eights. The junior 15 crew had little trouble with the opposition and won their event convincingly. A reformed Junior 16 crew took on George Watson's College in the semi-final of their event and beat them by 6 feet, before going on to win comfortably in the final. In the final of the eights, our crew took on the George Watson's Junior 18, the eight which had won the Scottish Championships two weeks previously. As it turned out, this proved to be the climax of the year for with only 40o m to go the School eight, which was almost a boat's length down, put in an amazing spurt which took them from one length down to a winning margin of xi lengths. Over the winter there has been considerable activity on behalf of the Junior 16 and Junior 18 fours. At the local inter-club Regatta on the Dec in November, both fours reached the three boat final with the University's second crew. In an exciting race, both school crews pulled clear of the University crew very quickly and the final verdict went to the Junior 16 crew by a margin of 3 feet. Since then both crews have attended training weekends with the

School Sporting Activities

39 course rowing Scottish National Rowing Squad at the new international at Strathclyde Park, and this will undoubtedly stand them in good stead in their bid for selection to row for Scotland at this year's International Regatta in London. 1976 Crews Junior 16: I. Duncan, C. Falconer, G. Alexander, B. Parker, N. Kelly. Junior 17(A): A. Peterson, G. Ewen, D. McClean, D. Wood, M. Gray. Junior If (a): I. Thomson, B. Bain, R. Bramley, A. Clark, M. Cormack. Girls' Hockey This year has been a very successful one for girls' hockey. At the start of the season the ist XI, consisting entirely of IVth year girls with the exception of one IIIrd year, were up against girls two years older than themselves. But this proved no hindrance when we came second in the senior tournement, beaten only by Cults Academy. With this great start both the 1st and 2nd XIs continued at a high standard of hockey, with hardly a loss in the year. The hockey season came to a great climax with the ist XI playing Dunfermline High School. As they come from an area where hockey (for girls) is by far the predominant sport, their standard is naturally very high. Although we were beaten by four goals to nil, the experience gained in playing this match was immense. It is now our aim, upon seeing such a high standard of hockey on the same pitch as ourselves, to build up our teams to that standard. The success of both the 1st and znd XI's is largely due to the ceaseless hard work and encouragement of Mrs. Webster, who has helped us considerably in the moulding of the School's senior teams. As well as her coaching, Mrs. Webster managed to plan an excellent fixture list for us, which enabled both the 1st and znd XI to experience a high standard of hockey continually throughout the year. Thanks should also go to Miss Rankin and Miss Souter, both students from Dunfermline College of Physical Education, who helped everyone with their enthusiastic work. In the IIIrd year, the standard of play has improved greatly through the season, with the climax again being the match against Dunfermline High School. This was a match of outstanding play, finishing in a 3-3 draw. Second year hockey, under the supervision and coaching of Miss Ramsay, has had a very successful year. The "A" team won most of their matches, having a very high goal scoring average and looking very favourable candidates for winning the Ilnd year tournament. Unfortunately because of weather conditions this was cancelled; a great disappointment to all of the players and staff involved I In first year we have a very keen group of hockey players, with a total of four teams taking to the pitch every Saturday. Each member of these teams gave 'co per cent effort in practice as well as in matches, and

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 40 there has been a great team spirit throughout the year. Their tournament, also, was cancelled, which was very disappointing, but they will all go forward to second year to make a large and very enthusiastic pool of players. Half colours: Claire Fitzpatrick, Ruth Hutchison, Victoria Irvine and Lynne Marshall. Soccer tat XI The past season was badly affected by atrocious weather, causing the cancellation of many fixtures. The senior league was also reduced to containing teams from only six academies, owing mostly to the reorganisation of secondary school soccer in Aberdeen. This, however, did not curb the enthusiasm of our team, who throughout the season developed an encouraging spirit and understanding. On Saturday mornings when we had no match, training sessions were held at Rubislaw which were so well attended that each team member knew that he had to sustain a continuous effort in order to retain his first team place. This healthy competition undoubtedly helped to maintain the high degree of endeavour during the season. Although we dropped only two points in our league campaign, we finished runners-up to Mackie Academy. In the Grampian Regional Trophy we narrowly lost in the quarter-final to Cults Academy, whom we subsequently defeated in the league. In conclusion I must take this opportunity, on behalf of the team, to thank Mr. Falconer for the time and effort he expended on arranging fixtures, and to thank Mr. Trail for his enthusiasm and guidance. Also, of course, we must thank Mr. Allan and his staff for their excellent work at Rubislaw Field. Full Colours: V. A. Dutch, A. J. Veitch, S. R. Patterson. Half Colours: A. T. Crozier, S. J. Flett, G. K. Garden, I. A. Kay, A. M. Milne. Netball Club The netball club consists of players from years I to IV and the club meets on a Monday night. This year Miss Ramsay entered one team in the Aberdeen Senior League and one in the Junior League. The Senior team lost only three games throughout the term, and so finished in a strong position in the league. The Juniors also did very well and finished third in the Junior League. Both teams have done extremely well and next year we hope to win both leagues. The first year girls coached by Mrs. Webster have been working hard to build up a team which may possibly enter the Junior League next year. Our most enjoyable game of the term was our game in the Scottish Cup, when we travelled to Glasgow to play Notre Dame. We lost this match 20-9, but we played well, and most important of all we gained a lot of experience. This year various players have had a great deal of individual success

School Sporting Activities

41 in representing their district. Margery Coutts and Lorna Simpson were chosen for the East of Scotland "A" team, and Vivienne Sharp was chosen to play for the "B" team. Four girls were chosen for the Grampian team: Grace Harkins, Vivienne Sharp, Lorna Simpson and Margery Coutts; Rosehelen Hannan was a reserve. Altogether the netball club has prospered this year, and we would like to thank Miss Ramsay and Mrs. Webster for the help and encouragement they have given us throughout the term. Hdfcolours: Lorna Simpson, Rosehelen Hannan and Ruth Hutchison. Table Tennis Club The club can look back on the past season as being its best to date. The playing record in the Aberdeen Schools' League and in the various individual local championships was second to none, but perhaps the most satisfying achievement was that for a large number of children the sport of table tennis has been lifted far from the realms of a knockabout on the dining-room table. The School's "A" team retained the Aberdeen Schools' League championship for a second time. This year, however, the competition was much stiffer than last, and the top three teams all won eight out of nine matches—so we won only on a higher points average per match. The "B" team did well to finish third in their league, winning eight matches out of ten. The flourishing nature of the club was reflected when thirty of its fifty members entered for the Aberdeen Schools individual championships. Despite the youthfulness of our club, we produced far more finalists than any other school. It was particularly pleasing to sec Denise Torrance, IV winning the senior girls' championship—the monopoly of Harlaw Academy being broken at last; Michael Aitken, IV won the senior boys' final beating Ronald Cowie, V in an all-Grammar final. Surprisingly enough, Michael and Ronald lost in the final of the open doubles, despite their being seeded Number i pair. The strength of the club lies not only with the senior boys but also amongst the more junior members. Kenneth Stephen, HI, Gordon Angus, II and Gordon Fraser, II were invaluable members of the "A" team—with the last mentioned being the most improved player in the club. David Galloway and Peter Smith contested the first year boys championship final, with David winning by two sets to one; and Gordon Angus was runner up in the 'Ind year boys' event. Since our tentative beginnings in the home economics huts at Rosemount, we have consistently been improving our playing conditions and next year hope to improve the lighting standard around the tables; to improve on this season's playing standard might be too much to expect! "A" Team: Ronald Cowie, Andrew Milne, Billy Hopkins, Kenneth Stephen, Gordon Angus and Gordon Fraser.

Music Notes The Music Hall was once again the venue for the Annual Concert of the choir and orchestra on Thursday, to June 1976. A lively BasseDanse played by the Brass Ensemble gave a fine start to the concert, and the orchestra gave a vivid account of "Finlandia" by Sibelius. They also excelled in music by Kodaly and Bizet. Michael Stobbie was the soloist in Tartini's "Concertino for Clarinet and String Orchestra", giving some fine playing and ending the work with great joie de vivre. The combined choirs of Ashley Road and Mile End Primary Schools were conducted through a Folk-Song Medley by Mrs. Isobel Houlding and, accompanied by recorders and harp, made a very welcome contribution. It was then the turn of the Augmented Madrigal Choir, who gave a much appreciated performance of "Beatus Vir" by Monteverdi. A Shanty Sequence was the opening choice for the Senior Choir. This allowed them their moments of glory, especially as hiccupping drunken sailors I Other items included Negro Spirituals and, from the gentlemen of the choir, a spontaneous, heartfelt rendering of "Vive l'Amour". The concert ended with Elgar's "From the Bavarian Highlands" and "Jerusalem"—a fitting conclusion to an excellent concert. At this point I would like to give my thanks to the pupils for their enthusiasm, hard work and attendance at rehearsals in the face of many rival attractions, and also to our many instrumental instructors for their assistance and encouragement. At the start of the new session, the Music Department took on a transatlantic flavour with the arrival of Allen Clayton, who is with us on a year's exchange in place of Mr. Tulloch, currently in Philadelphia. Mr. Clayton has adapted to our curriculum and has taken an interest in the extra-curricular work of the department, in particular the establishing of an early music group. He conducted the Girls' Choir at our Christmas Carol Service in December in St. Machar's Cathedral and their unaccompanied singing of "I wonder as I wander" was very much enjoyed. The Senior Choir provided some good choral singing, and all the carols were sung with obvious enjoyment. Our thanks must go to Donald Hawksworth (organ), who admirably supported the choir and congregation all through, and particularly in the "Shepherd's Pipe Carol" by John Rutter. The Madrigal Choir gave a very enthusiastic contribution and were conducted by Gillian Trusler. We arc now in the midst of preparations for this year's Concert and also for departing to foreign climes: on 23 June we undertake a musical visit to Regensburg to meet once again our many friends at the Werner-Von-Siemens Gymnasium. Lunch-time Recitals x977 For the opening recital of this season we welcomed back to the School Florence and Mackie Burns, who were so popular on their previous visit. They treated us to a fine selection of traditional Scottish 42

Music Notes

43 fiddle music, with pieces by Neil Gow and others. This recital brought home to us the fact that we have a great wealth of music in our heritage, and we are grateful to the Burns's for their part in keeping alive the spirited and emotional music of our fore-fathers. Our second recital was also a welcoming back of previous visitors: the Aberdeen Trio. This fine local group, comprising Donald Hawkesworth (piano), Bryan Dargie (violin) and Raymond Dodds ('cello), gave an excellent performance of Schubert's Trio in B flat. The next recital was also given by a trio, this time from within our own music department. Miss Gillian Trusler (piano) and Mr. Allen Clayton ('cello), two of our teaching staff, were joined by Colin Hunter (clarinet), who is one of their pupils. This group were well received on their performance of a Beethoven work. We returned to the Music Department for our fourth recital, which was one of the highlights of the season. Miss Irwin, one of our visiting piano instructors, gave an awe inspiring recital of music by Chopin, which included his First Ballade. Miss Irwin was in total control of the pieces throughout and treated us to a very colourful interpretation of Chopin, bringing out clearly the varying moods with a magnificent technique, leaving us with memories of an outstanding recital. For our first March recital we invited the Aberdeen Schools' Wind Quintet, comprising young musicians from the Aberdeen Secondary Schools who showed off their considerable talent in a varied programme. The following week two of our own staff treated us to what could be called a dual-purpose recital, firstly to entertain us and secondly to display the qualities of the Music Department's new "babygrand" piano. This recital was given by Miss Gillian Trusler and Mrs. Isobel Houlding, who played Dvorak's Slavonic Dances for piano duet and captured well the atmosphere of these folk dances with prodigious techniques (the new piano also fared admirably!). For our penultimate recital it was a pleasure to hear some of our younger musicians entertaining us. These musicians, from second, third and fourth years, form the Rubislaw Antigua Consort, and they treated us to music for recorders and other instruments of the Early Period. The final recital this season was given by Mr. David Allan, one of our visiting guitar instructors, who played a varied selection of music ranging from music for the lute to music from Spain. Mr. Allan's commentary on the pieces and the history of the guitar helped to dispel any image of the guitar as a raucous, electronically-amplified monstrosity by showing it to be an instrument with a long history and capable of very varied tone colours. Mrs. Anne Brown also took part in this recital giving us Hebridean working songs and English melodies for voice and clarsach (Celtic harp), for which music she is widely known. In short, we have had a very varied season of recitals with excellent performances by all who took part. We would like to express our thanks once again to all those who gave up of their time to entertain and edify us this year.

Combined Cadet Force Contingent The contingent has had another busy and successful year, with both Sections in a healthy state. There was a period of doubt, however, at the beginning of this session, as to the actual future of the contingent on several grounds. Firstly Squadron Leader R. McLeod's commission terminated in February 1977 and this meant that the contingent lost not only its commanding officer but also its R.A.F. Section commander, since he had been fulfilling both roles for the past couple of years. The immediate future of his section and, as we are established as a combined contingent, that of the whole contingent, was thereby put in jeopardy. The position looked bleak and at one point we were almost resigned to the fact that closure was inevitable. The cadets could have carried on their activities by joining outside bodies like the A.C.F. and A.T.C., but these would have had no formal connection with the School. What is more the whole network of C.C.F. contingents is under review at the moment due to financial and other restrictions, and this did not augur well for us if we were to be under-staffed in adult manning and hence have a numerical imbalance. Towards the end of 1976, however, after much discussion between the Headmaster, the officers of the contingent and the powers that be in the Army and the R.A.F., it was decided that if we could guarantee someone to look after, and take over command of the R.A.F. Section, then Captain R. Gray would take over command of the contingent with effect from February, and Lieutenant G. Lawrence would take over command of the Army Section from Captain Gray. This in fact took place; Mr. P. Scott joined us in January and has very successfully filled the post of R.A.F. Section Commander. So we have survived yet another episode in the struggle for survival and the contingent is now going from strength to strength. We have at the moment almost seventy boys between the two sections, with possibly room for a few more if they wished to join. Like that of the School, our name has changed back to Aberdeen Grammar School C.C.F., and by so doing we regain our place as first on the nominal roll of schools with a C.C.F. contingent in Britain I These notes must contain a special mention of Squadron Leader "Ronnie" McLeod. Ronnie has served since the early nineteen fifties in the C.C.F.—first as an instructor, then as an R.A.F. officer, then as R.A.F. Section Commander, and finally as Officer Commanding the Contingent. A large number of ex-cadets look back with pleasant memories to the times they spent in the cadets while Ronnie was serving. He has a vast knowledge of the R.A.F. and things military, gained not only during his war service, but also from experience built up through the years. He gained the respect of all cadets under his command and his own enthusiasm for what the C.C.F. stands for rubbed off on many of them. Ronnie has taken cadet parties of varying sizes from Orkney to half-way across Europe for camps and other training activities. He has also been an example to all the officers who have served with him and always did his best to see they were doing 44

C.C.F. Notts

45 things correctly. He has turned his hand to everything in the cadets, from driving trucks to being in charge of the kitchens. Nothing was too great a challenge. Camps have been made almost bearable on many occasions by his sense of humour and endless supply of anecdotes. A couple of years ago his services to the cadet movement were recognised by the award of the C.F.M. (Cadet Forces Medal). Unfortunately he had reached the age when his commission had to come to an end, and the contingent lost its longest serving officer and commanding officer. Ronnie must have countless acquaintances amongst R.A.F., V.R.T., T.A.V.R. and Regular Forces personnel, and I am sure they would all agree that he was an excellent example of a first class officer, a true gentleman and a most genial officer commanding. We will still have Ronnie in the School with us for a few years yet, so we might well be asking him to come back and give visiting lectures on various subjects, and we will most definitely be calling on his wealth of experience to help us with our administration and organisation. Thanks again, Squadron Leader, for your many years of service to the C.C.F. and the local R.A.F. Association, for which you still do much welfare work I Army Section The undoubted highlight of last year's training was the summer camp to Niemburg, on the River Weser, in West Germany. It was a superb camp, with tremendous weather and a really excellent training programme laid on by zi Field Regiment. To list all the activities the cadets took part in and the places they visited would take too long; suffice to say that a better summer camp would be hard to find. At the start of the session the level of enthusiasm amongst the cadets in the section was very high owing to their enjoyable camp. This meant that there was a very good turnout of last year's cadets, and we followed this up with an adequate number of recruits joining from Years Two and Three. Correspondingly, training has again been more continuous this year, and several cadets have gained promotion and passes at various levels. The training has followed the usual syllabus— shooting, map reading, first aid, battle craft, drill, signals, etc. There has been an increase in the amount of weekend training, and we have managed reasonable turnouts despite part-time jobs and other commitments precluding some members from attending. One venture we are involved in this year for the first time is the Highland Cadet Tactical Team Competition to be held in May at Cultybraggan. We are entering a team of eight plus a reserve for this quite arduous competition, and so far our team has done very well in preparation for it. We had a very worthwhile camp at Easter split between two centres —the Monymusk and Crathie areas—during which we hill walked, orienteered, abseiled and canoed. We were assisted greatly at this camp by the 81 Army Youth Team, who again proved invaluable with their expertise. During the training year we have also been indebted to Major White and the zz Cadet Training Team, who have given us a great amount of assistance.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

R.A.F. Section Last year's training was successfully completed at R.A.F. Binbrook, which was undergoing major renovations at the time although this did not detract from the enjoyment of the camp. This was to be Squadron Leader Macleod's last camp. While at R.A.F. Binbrook he told us of his imminent retiral from the C.C.F., and so we bought him a Binbrook station plaque. Squadron Leader Macleod inspected the C.C.F. for the last time on the 27 January and was presented with a Grammar School C.C.F. plaque by the whole contingent. Nevertheless there is no way the contingent and former cadets can adequately express their gratitude to Squadron Leader Macleod for the work he did for our R.A.F. Section and the contingent as a whole during his twenty-three years' service. Owing to Squadron Leader Macleod's retiral from the C.C.F. we have had rather a disrupted time, and so there has been no flying experience recently and few "proficiencies" have been gained. Mr. P. W. Scott of the Mathematics Department has now taken over command of the section and has gained his commission as a Pilot Officer. With Mr. Scott's arrival there were promotions of Cpl. A. Brano and Cpl. G. M. L. Coutts to Sergeant. Six R.A.F. Cadets went to East Camp in Upper Deeside. On 27 May about twenty cadets will travel to R.A.F. Turnhouse for flying experience. In June, Sgt. Brand, Sgt. Coutts and Cadet Rae will attend a continuous gliding course. The reviewing officer at this year's annual inspection will be an R.A.F. Officer. In preparation for the inspection we are now busy with a project on the theme "Survival on Land and at Sea". This year's summer camp will be held at R.A.F. Waddington, Lincolnshire, which we last visited in 1974. The section would like to express their thanks to the R.A.F. liaison staff who regularly make the journey from R.A.F. Turnhouse to the Grammar and whose expertise in all R.A.F. matters has proved invaluable.

National Essay Award David Mitchell (19) of last session's Sixth Form has been placed second equal with a pupil of Westminster School in the 1977 Robert Boyle Essay Competition organised by the Society for Analytical Chemistry. The topic he chose—the analysis of blood proteins—was based on a project he carried out while in VIth year at school. David is the second pupil from the Grammar School to have won a prize in the competition. In 1975 another pupil also studying Medicine at Aberdeen University, Ian C. Hunter, was placed first. This year's winner is a pupil at Oundle School, Northamptonshire.

Byron Society Visit

Some boys and girls of Byron House assemble below the Byron Statue an the occasion of the Byron Society Visit (see page 23).

A staff group on the occasion of the retirement presentation to Mr. Davidson, Miss Gibb and Mr. Tait, fourth, fifth and eighth from the left respectively in the middle row.

School Table Tennis Team, Aberdeen Schools Table Tennis League Champions in 1976 and 1977. Left to right: Gordon Fraser, Billy Hopkins, Andrew Milne, Ronald Cowie, Kenneth Stephen and Gordon Angus, with Mr. Neil Montgomery.

T!!R!

Dallas and Jeremy Moir (guess which?) whose cricketing exploits are recorded on page 65.

Clubs and Societies Over the years there has developed in school, thanks to the loyalty and enthusiasm of the staff, a very comprehensive programme of extra curricular activities. To allow parents and others an opportunity to see some of these activities the staff who run the clubs and societies held an exhibition in the school ball on Tuesday, 29 March. On show were displays of work done, collections of coins and stamps, as well as equipment used in some of the outdoor pursuits. Parents who wished could challenge club members at such games as chess and table tennis, while others tested their fitness in weight-training. To underline the social nature of the occasion, tea and coffee were served. The large turn-out of parents was most gratifying, and the evening was generally acclaimed an outstanding success.

Angling Club This year there has been a healthy increase in club membership, especially amongst first year pupils. Outings since the beginning of the session have been necessarily limited by weather conditions, the prolonged winter effectively depriving members of the annual foray fur pike or perch on one of the Aberdeenshire lochs. On the other hand, we have again been privileged by several visits from Mr. J. Somers, who valiantly tried to instruct us in the gentle art of casting a fly line. It is to be hoped that, with the advent of a new season, full advantage will be taken of this newly acquired technique. Finally, in the Clubs and Societies Open Night in March, the club stand drew a considerable number of spectators to what was a very attractive lay-out, provided entirely by members themselves.

Art Club The membership of the Art Club for this past session was forty-six, with a regular twenty to twenty-five meeting each Monday in Art Room 3 with Mrs. Smith. All age-groups were—and are—welcomed. During the winter months a variety of crafrwork was accomplished, including pottery, stone polishing, enamelling, jewellery and embroidery collage, as well as drawing and painting. It is hoped to continue this summer term with the extra meetings for outdoor sketching which proved to be successful last year, when members met alternately at Aberdeen Beach and at the Johnston Gardens.

Chess Club It has been a very successful year for the Chess Club, culminating in our team's reaching the semi-final of the Grampian Schools Chess League competition. There our opponents were Turriff Academy, who to our chagrin, but deservingly, defeated us 5-1. This is the first year that this competition has been held, and it was contested by twenty-three schools. Our regular team was M. Harley (V), D. Machray (V), D. MacLennan (V), D. Torrance (Ill), D. Midgley (III), and D. Galloway (I). Attendances this session have also been encouraging, particularly from the First Year. New members are always welcome, whatever their standard of play. The Club continues to meet on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4.o5 p.m. in Room so. The members' thanks go to Mr. Galloway for his invaluable help, and to Messrs. Montgomery, Hopkins and Hall for their services as drivers to away fixtures.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Electronics Club

The club has just completed another successful year. The projects this year have ranged from a simple light meter to a sophisticated WARSSBAWN (wind and rain sound synthesis by analysis of white noise). The stalwart of the club proved to be Gordon Walters, who was often so wrapped up in his Electronic ideas that some days it was difficult to bring him out of orbit. On the Club Open Night the parents were entertained and intrigued by the wide variety of fascinating instruments ably constructed by members of our keen and enthusiastic young team.

Hill Walking Club The club is still being strongly supported m ith an encouraging number of new members from the First Year. In the magnificent summer of last year, the junior weekend at Aviemore provided unbroken sunshine and marvellous hill walking. On the other hand the seniors achieved the near impossible by spending four days in the Torridon area amid heavy rain and strong winds, even seeing a waterspout on one high-level lochan. At the September holiday weekend, spirits N4 ere raised after a very wet traverse of Ben Lawers on the Saturday by sunshine two days later on Schiehallion. The day trips during autumn and winter have been well supported despite some very snowy conditions, and thoughts have now turned to the junior weekend at Aviemore in May and the seniors' visit to Cannich and Glen Affric in June. May the weather increase our enjoyment!

Literary and Debating Society This has been another successful year for the school's Literary and Debating Society. Attendances have, in the main, been good especially so for the "highlights" of the syllabus, when attendances were well over the seventy mark. Moreover these highlights, viz. The Staff Debate, the Bishop Prize for Public Speaking and the Folk and Poetry Evening, proved even more successful than they had done in recent years. Perhaps the most appreciated of all meetings was the Staff Debate when we were entertained by the debating skills of Messrs. Kincaid, W. D. Hall and A. Hall, and Mr. W. May's highly individualistic and unorthodox presentation. The motion was "The older you get, the worse school becomes". After a prolonged struggle Mr. W. D. Hall and Mr. May, opposing the motion, were voted victors. The Folk and Poetry Evening was also well received, a prefect trio's rendering of its own song, "Hippy Prefect", providing, if not the musical, certainly the visual climax to the evening. In this year's Bishop Prize for Public Speaking, the competitors were asked to deliver a short speech on the topic "Privacy". The standard of speaking was consistently high and eventually the judges decided to award a joint first prize to Neil McDowall (V) and Andrew Grant (V) and a third to George Henderson (VI). Also very popular were the General Election and Mock Trial, both of which added variety to the syllabus. Robert Howie and Andrew Grant, two prominent Society members, had con siderable success in the English Speaking Union Debating Competition. Their efforts can be read of elsewhere in this Magazine. Along with these successes the Society has had its disappointments: finding guest speakers proved to be exceptionally difficult, and in spite of considerable efforts by the committee no suitable speaker could be found. The decline in the number of Inter-School Debates was also disappointing, but this was due to factors outwith the control of the Society. The future of the Society looks very bright, for as the year progressed an increasing number of junior members contributed to the Floor Debates. Also pleasing is the ever-increasing part played by the girls in the Society. Indeed in the A.G.M.

Clubs and Societies

Ruth Hutchison (IV) was elected Vice President, thus becoming the first girl to hold office in the Society's long history. Finally, on behalf of the committee, I thank Mr. MacIntyre for all the indispensable assistance and guidance he has given us throughout the year.

Orienteering Group The group was formed in response to the enormous interest shown after an inconspicuous "ad" in the daily news sheet, in early December. After a crash course in the basic techniques, we plunged straight in at the deep-end by running our own event with only sixteen hours' notice, due to the cancellation of the major "Grampian Orienteers Event". In perfect weather, if up to our knees in snow, an enjoyable day was had by all. It's amazing that the faster you run, the further you get before you discover that you arc lost I A second event, versus Harlaw Academy, was held slightly later—another very enjoyable day! The climax of our season, so far, has been the "big event", with an entry of over 300, organised by Grampian Orienteers, where the "other" competitors gave the day's events an extra edge. The opening of the Forestry Commission's permanent Way-faring course, at Kirkhill Forest, will prove a boon in providing extra scope for practice close to Aberdeen.

Railway Society This session, following an invitation from Lady Aberdeen of Haddo House, the society has begun to restore the collection and lay-out of the late Lord Aberdeen. Much of this creditable collection had been rendered inoperable by the overzealous attentions of a generation of grandchildren and house-guests. In the five visits to date, much of the collection has been restored to working order. One lay-out is operational awaiting rewiring for zone control, and a statt has been made to landscaping the lines. With mixed feelings, we have just completed a major "flit" from the old familiar "Railway" room in Westfield to a more compact, but less spartan home in the projection room at Rosemount Annexe. With plenty of facilities at hand, our new premises will provide more than a touch of luxury, especially if next winter is as cold as the last.

Rifle Club The Club uses the facilities of Portlethen Rifle Club, Holbum Street, which offers the use of a twenty-five yard range with adjoining club room. We own four .22 target rifles, which are available for use by all Club members. A large membership this year has caused us to form two groups within the club, each group shooting fortnightly on alternate weeks. For the first year we have had several girl members whose greatly improved scores throughout the season show that good shooting is not a male prerogative! Unfortunately the Club, by law, is limited to a maximum of thirty members from years H 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. D. Scott (now a member of staff of I.inksfield Academy) and Mr. R. Trail for their support and assistance in the smooth running of our Club.

Scientific Society The Aberdeen Schools' Scientific Society had more than sixty members from the school this session and the meeting and lectures were well attended by Rubislaw Academy pupils.

Aberdeen Grammar School Alagaine

The meetings and lectures held during the session were most interesting and covered many science topics. In October, a well presented and illustrated talk on B.P. Geology in the North Sea was given by Mr. M. Davidson. In November, Professor Dunnet gave a lecture entitled "Sea Birds" at the Zoology Department, Aberdeen University and, in addition, members were given the opportunity of seeing the various exhibits in the Zoology museum. In December, members of the Scientific Society together with members of the Aberdeen University Chemical Society were astounded at the antics of froths and bubbles which Professor Meares amply illustrated in his lecture at the Chemistry Department, Aberdeen University. In January, Miss C. Walker of Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology gave a lecture which dealt with the physics of music and finally, in March, Mr. Mitchell of Aberdeen Hospitals' Physics Department gave a lecture on physics' applications in medicine. Owing to the fact that we had so many members in this school, internal school lectures were arranged for our own members. These included a lecture given by Dr. I. Lockie of Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, Aberdeen entitled "Sound Absorption and Insulation". We hope to arrange further lectures of this nature in future sessions.

Scottish Country Dancing The Scottish Country Dancing Club meets every Wednesday lunchtime. Usually about twenty-five girls come and we have great fun doing the dances of our choice. Our favourites are the "Gay Gordons" and the "Virginia Reel". This year we entered the Scottish Country Dancing Festival, which was held in the Music Hall. We all had to work hard and we had a few extra practices until we were more than competent at the test dance, which was called "The Laird of Milton's Daughter". Although we didn't win anything, both teams enjoyed the competition. We are very grateful to Miss Ramsay and Mrs. Cowie for giving up so much of their valuable time and hope that the group w ill continue to flourish. New members are always welcome.

Stamp Club Session 1976-77 has been a good session for the Stamp Club. Attendance was much improved, reaching thirty at some meetings. At the Open Night, the Club put on a display, the centrepiece being the collection of the Club President, M. Pittock. The Club is grateful to Mr. Scott and Mr. Will for arranging such a full programme, Mr. Scott's "Omniphil" approvals proving very popular. Thanks, too, to F.P. Peter Elliot, who exhibited his interesting (and extensive) collection towards the end of session.

Sub-Aqua Club Although Mr. Ian Spence is no longer teaching at the Grammar School, he very kindly returns on Monday afternoons so that the Club may continue in existence. Since his departure there has inevitably been rather less activity, but happily this has not deterred several new members from joining, amongst them two members of staff. We arc grateful for their support and hope they will succeed in giving the Club a new lease of life. This year, for the first time, pupils from Hazlehead Academy have joined us for our weekly training sessions and one or two of them have become proficient divers. Also for the first time, girls have been allowed to join, although so far there has been little response. We hope the day will soon come when more members cf the fair sex will, metaphorically, burn their bra's and storm our formerly male stronghold. We can assure them of a warm, if wet, welcome.

Clubs and Societies

Regrettably there has been little opportunity for out-door activities in the past twelve months and we have sadly missed out weekend trips to Oban, although some of the Club's more experienced members have dived in pairs off the east coast. However, we look forward to anothlr trip on the schooner Roberi Gordon this summer when a mixed party from the Grammar School and Hazlehead Academy will sail from Inverness to the Orkney Islands. Divers in the group will have the opportunity to explore the water of Scapa Flow and, hopefully, bring back from the depths a number of captive crustaceans.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards This year saw a further growth in the award scheme, with a total of seventy-two pupils participating. Bronze Award standard was attained by twenty-seven Fourth Year pupils, and a further forty Third Ycar pupils have almost completed the Bronze standard. Silver Awards were gained by four Fifth Year boys, while ten other pupils arc at the mid-stage of this award. Four boys about to enter Sixth Year hope to reach Gold standard. With so many pupils participating, the range of interests and activities to be catered for is now very large. For example this year we have had help from the Police, Fire Service, W.R.V.S., Beatson Gordon (Hairstylist), the local floral art club, and The Golf Foundation to mention but a few. The pupils would like to convey their thanks to all these organisations. Within the school, many of the clubs and societies adapted their programmes to accommodate the interest sections of the award, and this simplified greatly the running of the scheme. The actual running of the award scheme now involves approximately twenty of the school staff and the pupils concerned would like to thank the staff for so willingly giving of their time and expertise.

The E.S.U. Debates This year saw the School once again entering the English Speaking Union's Schools Debating Competition. This is a knock-out competition run under the aegis of the English Speaking Union and Conoco, and is open to teams from schools throughout Scotland. 29 September was the date on which we made our entry into the fray. Our team, Andrew Grant and Robert Howie, had to oppose a somewhat light-hearted motion: "That Men are Clay for Women to make Mugs of". As the only male speakers that evening, and as unrepentant believers in the Divine Right of Males, we felt ourselves obliged to do well in this debate since beating the teams of ladies from the other schools competing would make a nonsense of the motion. This debate was one of the more lively debates in the competition, particularly with regard to the floor debate. Whether we did win that night or not we never discovered, but we did do sufficiently well to reach the next round. The second round was held at Hazlehead Academy in the Academy's amphitheatre. The motion was a topical motion, namely "That this House would vote Republican in the U.S. Presidential Election". The motion was proposed by speakers from Robert Gordon's College and we opposed it. Hardly surprisingly, the debate was rather more serious

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine Sa than the previous debate, but it gave the speakers a good chance to display their prowess in the art of political oratory—a far cry indeed from the witty speaking required in the previous debate. The argument was, however, varied (from Watergate and Dr. Kissinger's Foreign Policy to the personality clash between Messrs. Ford and Carter) and not in the least stodgy. The debate was won by our team and allowed us to progress to the Area Semi-Finals in Elgin. A bitterly cold November evening found us at Elgin Academy for the Area Semi-Finals. In this debate there were schools from Lochaber and Elgin competing, in addition to Robert Gordon's College and ourselves. As it was the last round of the competition before Christmas, it was hardly a surprise to discover the theme of the debate—Christmas! The motion was "That this House thinks that Christmas is Crackers". This motion was the cause of considerable confusion, and not a little consternation in the School camp .over its interpretation. Following a fifty-five minute incarceration in a classroom, we were taken into the hall and the debate began. The debate held yet more consternation for at least one of our speakers, who suddenly found himself receiving a third point of information—a distinctly unusual situation! Like the debate at Hazlehead the area covered was large and varied—the subjects ranging from the Midnight Mass to the commercialisation of Christmas. Again, we were able to survive the judges' axe, and we proceeded to the Area Final. The Tayside/North of Scotland Final was the climax of the competition as far as we were concerned, and so a bus-load of supporters went to Dundee with us. It was held in a lecture theatre at Dundee College of Education. To call the theatre plush would be an understatement—it was a magnificently upholstered and very spacious theatre: a fact of which one immediately became aware when going on to the stage to speak. In smaller amphitheatres, like that at HazIchead, the audience seem to come in towards one and to hem one in, but there were no claustrophobic problems like that in Dundee, if only because the battery of spotlights blinded the speakers so that they were unable to see the audience. The actual motion under discussion that evening was "That the Quality of Life in Britain will not improve until this Country is on its Knees". Again the debate was varied, as each speaker put his own particular interpretation and stamp upon the debate. Some speakers took a light-hearted view of the motion, while another attacked lightheartedness in connection with this motion as dangerous flippancy and needless frivolity. After the evening's debates the judges announced their verdict and presented the rose-bowl to the winners—Menzieshill High School. We came second. The competition was a very enjoyable one and, for the speakers, a useful piece of experience in different types of debating under formal conditions. Although this year's team did not disgrace itself, it is hoped that next year the School will be able to improve upon this performance and, perhaps, win the rose-bowl.

Clubs and Societies

Junior Dramatic Society : "I Remember Mama" For the second year running the younger members of the Dramatic Society went West for inspiration. Last year Thornton Wilder's inimitable Our Town looked at humanity in the context of the mid-West small town; this year John van Druten's heart-warming I Remember Mama illuminated the life of a family, the Hansons, in the San Francisco of the early twentieth century. Both plays are unmistakably American, in their values as well as their idiom, and yet both have an irresistible universality too. Soap operas both, skilful blends of sentiment and emotion, they also have much to say about people and relationships that strikes an audience as valid and true. As the plays are somehow of a piece, so this production matched last year's in sensitive interpretation and characterisation: the youth of the players was largely forgotten so much did they, and the audience, identify with the Hansons and their family fortunes. Skilful grouping, especially on the apron stage, and inventive lighting suspended disbelief, and certainly disassociation, in the well-engaged audience. Continuity was well sustained, though the School might be well advised to invest in a mechanical traverse curtain to accelerate scenechanging. The upsurge of females throughout the School is clearly going to have an energising effect on School drama. This play offers great scope to the actress. The Hanson Saga is viewed through the sharp eyes of Katrin Hanson, the literary fledgling in the nest, and Amanda Taylor showed great skill and greater stamina in sustaining an exhausting role; with foreseeable maturing she will develop a full emotional range and become a considerable performer. As "Mama", Julia Morricc displayed redoubtable maturity and prescience, achieving a matriarchal warmth and forcefulness that quite gainsaid her youth. If these young ladies maintained the play's momentum, other female cameos sparkled: the winsome Sarah Stankler, Donna Canale as the vinegary Aunt Jenny, and Valerie Sweeney, so acutely responsive to the action around. And all are in First Year! Almost inevitably the young bucks had to play second fiddle to these precocious females: at the Junior Dramatic Society age nature rather arranges it thus, and van Druten also wrote it thus. Yet all the boys played their parts with competence and confidence, content mainly to let the wenches hold the limelight. Alastair Grant, as the self-effacing Papa to Miss Morrice's charismatic Mama, gave a very sympathetic performance, while, as the flamboyant Uncle Chris, David McLeod had to preserve the equilibrium of the sexes and the play. Big in stature as of voice, he provided much of the fun, playing a splendid drunk and smoking a skilled cigar, and taking the audience with him in moods boisterous and sad, in a most professional way. Casts are large and reviews short. Let the other players, denied mention here by pressure of space, be understanding of the critic's plight and assured of his admiration. Space must be found, however, to thank all the backstage team of pupils and staff for their labours on and before the night(s). Gordon

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 54 Walters and his men coped splendidly with the play's rapid scenechanges; the make-up was discreet; Mrs. Reid's wardrobe obtained full marks from discriminating eyes in the audience. As producer, Mrs. Pat Wood reaped the rewards of her work. Mrs. Wood knows the theatre; she can also inspire a young cast to give of their best—how well those American accents lasted and faltered not! Next session Mrs. Wood will be full-time Speech and Drama teacher in the School, an appointment which pleases now and promises pleasure to come, for pupils and audiences. W.D.H.

Science Projects University of Stirling Department of Management Science and Technology Studies: School Prize Competition, 1976 Each year the above department offers prizes for the best entries from U.K. schools of project reports dealing with problems of interaction between science, technology and society. In 1976 the first prize went to a Rubislaw team made up of pupils from V and VI: D. Duguid, G. Duthic, D. Anderson G. Murray and N. McDowall. This was the first time a Scottish school had won the competition. The theme chosen was "Technical and economic factors influencing farmers in their choices of barley strain and fertiliser application in Eastern Scotland". Engaged on a problem affecting an industry in their own area, the team carried out quite detailed surveys (by questionnaire) of a range of farms and farm-types in the region, to ascertain the type of problems facing barley producers; they combined this with laboratory work on the efficiencies of various fertilisers on various strains of barley and on various soil types, and effected an ambitious statistical analysis of their results. The economic decisions affecting individual farmers and the industry as a whole were touched upon, as were ecological problems for the community resulting from agricultural run-off into local rivers. B.B.C.-TV "Young Scientists of the Year", 1977 Entry On the basis of work done for the Stirling University project, a late application was made to gain a place in the above competition. Mr. Peter Bruce, producer of the series, came up to Aberdeen. Our entry was accepted, but we were urged to take the project wider and deeper, and so Part Two was born! D. Duguid VI, and G. Duthie VI were named as the School's TV representatives. A questionnaire was again first choice for information-finding, but this time not 5o but over 1,000 were sent out, to farms from Shetland to the Borders and from Edinburgh to Mull. The processing of this information was too much to be taken on by hand, and so we approached Dr. Young of the Computing Science Department of Aberdeen University, who agreed that we might use the University computer. Again, barley plants were grown in pots; but this time we were interested not only in finding an accurate optimum rate for fertilisation,

Clubs and Societies

55 but also what effects were produced by the interaction of the fertilisers. Again the scale of enquiry was extended, from 8o pots with 16o plants to 500 pots with 1,5oo plants; the Macaulay Institute's Director and staff assisted us in analysing the plants for their uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Attention was also paid to matters of pollution and economics, and we were assisted by our fellow-pupils, G. Henderson and I. McConnachie. The experience of making the programme was very exciting. A film crew had arrived during our October holiday to make an introductory film in situ, and in January we made the trip to Pebble Mill, Birmingham. By then the survey results, the pollution study and most of the economics were completed; the barley plants we were leaving for the final if we got that fart The day before the recording, we were shown round the studio and gained an insight into the complexities of making a TV programme. The day itself, however, was all hard graft. In the morning we spent about three hours with the judges explaining our project, and after lunch we had a rehearsal of the "show". Both of us were extremely nervous, but somehow we managed to contain our stammers during the actual recording of the programme. Alas, we lost our heat, losing to the eventual title winners, Yeovil College. Despite this, the project is still progressing to completion, and we hope in the near future to produce a research paper with the final results. The experience benefited the team involved in many ways: in finding out information, writing reports, making necessary "contacts", and, most important of all, in working on our own. Our thanks go to Mr. May for his guidance and drive, and to the many members of staff and other individuals who assisted us in diverse ways. BP Schools Essay Competition, 1976 The BP Schools' Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the British Petroleum Co., Ltd. and organised by Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology. Associated with the lecture is a competition for an essay on a related topic, entry being restricted to pupils aged fifteen or under. This year's title was "The Contribution of Oil to Farming and Food Production". The first prize of L5o went to Barbara Blacklaws, IV; second and third prizes went to Inverness Royal Academy and Ellon Academy pupils; all three consolation prizes came to pupils of Rubislaw Academy as then was: Helen Holliday, Ruth Hutchison and Lesley Williams. The 1975 BP Essay first prize was won by Stephen Lynch, now in V, and minor prizes went to his classmates, Michael Elrick and Gordon Walters. Mathematical Challenge—Scottish Mathematics Council Competition Brian Bain V, Jill Meldrum and Jennifer Dron IV, each won a prize in the 1976-77 test, in competition with pupils from the whole of Scotland. As the nature of the task demands both mathematical insight and a great measure of perseverance, these pupils deserve full credit for their achievement.

Scottish Schools Soccer Cap A valued and talented performer for the School in many sporting activities, Andrew Doman, IV realised in March the ambition of many a Scottish boy: to play at lVembley against the Auld Enemy. His football career began at Mile End at nine; later he playedfor Aberdeen School Selects at Primary and Secondary levels, and currently plays for a local youth team. He is also a schoolboy signing with Aberdeen F.C. His international debut occurred after intensive national trials, and two other "caps"followed. By request he describes The IVembly Experience. On a Thursday, having previously been provided with a "Scottish" tie and blazer badge, Innes Skene of Hazlehead Academy and I linked up with the other East Coast players in Edinburgh and travelled on the overnight train to London, where we met the West Coast contingent, and put up in the luxury Esso Motor Hotel, an experience in itself. That day we had a light training session and then went shopping. On the Saturday morning we were shown round the Stadium. From the playing surface Wembley seemed even bigger than it is. From outside the Stadium had looked old, but inside everything was in immaculate order. The pitch was at its best, well turfed but not too heavy, and the dressing rooms were gleaming white, with individual chairs and lockers. The great moment duly arrived. We walked out of the wide tunnel and on to the pitch. The atmosphere was electric: 6o,ooo English schoolkids were screaming their heads off and their team on. After the official introductions, the National Anthem was played and the game suddenly was under way. Immediately we were aware of the considerable physical advantages of the English players. They attacked strongly and with confidence, but it needed a kind break off one of our defenders to give them a goal after 16 minutes. As the game progressed, Scotland came more and more into the picture, but we could not turn pressure into goals. The predictable happened: against the run of play the English scored, when a 45 yard free-kick was misjudged by our goalkeeper. So the game ended. The o-z defeat hardly did us justice. My own future now is fairly clear. I hope sooner or later to join Aberdeen F.C. as a full-time player. I shall be happy to establish myself in the Dons' Reserves and see what happens then. Football can have its disappointments as well as its great moments.

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

Club Office-Bearers, 1977-78 Honorary President: ROBERT DOUGLAS GILL, M.A. (Rector)

Honorary Vice- presidents: GEORGE E. C. BARTON (1923-26) M.A. ERIC Ros BIRKETT (1920-22), C.A. JOSEPH ROBERT CARRY (1918-30),ELB.E., T.D. DOUGLAS PATERSON COCHRAN (1906-15), F.INST.1,B., A.A.I.B. ALLAN CAMERON FRAZER (1925-30), M.A., LL.B., W.3. ALEXANDER GRAY (1910-22), M.A., LL.B. THE HON. LORD JOHNSTON (1913-26). JOAN ADAM LILLIE (1893-1903), LL.D., M.A., LL.B., Q.C. JAMES FRASER MCLUSKEY (1920-31) IAN GOWANLOCK MCPHERSON (1910-47). SIR LESLIE DEANE MAYOR (1923-33), K.C.B., A.F.C., R.A.F. ROBERT A. E. MENNIE (1924-36), M.A. 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., J.P. (Rector, 1959-72). ALAN CROMBIE ROBERTSON WATT (1925-37), M.A., LL.B. EDWARD JAMES WOOD (1908-2I), M.A.

President: JOHN WHITBY CRADOCK (1941-46), C.A.

Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: I)ouGLAs N. GEORGESON (1929-40)

Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65), LLB. 36 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB9 IYU

Treasurer : COLIN C. ALLAN (1936-45), C.A. 63 Gray Street, Aberdeen AB1 6JD

General Editor of Magazine: DAVID K. YULE (1951-65), M.A. 11 Kinkell Road, Aberdeen, AB' 811Q. 57

Aberdeen Grammar School MagaVile

Secretaries of Centres: Edinburgh—NIGEL G. M. WATT (x963-69), w.s., to Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8HE London—ANDREW S. NOBLE (1939-52), M.A., F.C.M.A., 6: Woodside, Wimbledon, London SW 19 Yorkshire-J. A. N. WArr, (1927-39) 5O Southella Way, Kirkella, Hull HUto 7LS Ireland—ANDREw M. M. STEVEN (1936-5O), 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 AB: IRH Golf—Comm C. ALLAN (1936-45)) c.A., 63 Gray Street, Aberdeen AB: 6JD Hockey—DENIs N. YULE (196o-66), LL.B., 7 Denmore Park Estate, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen Rugby—JAMES A. LEASK (1960-66), 6B Queens Road, Aberdeen AB' 6YE Swimming—MELVILLE F. WATSON (1942-56) B.L., 2 Bon-Accord Crescent, Aberdeen AB: zDH

Executive Committee The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman. Vice-Chairman—BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46) The Secretary and Treasurer, and General Editor of the Magazine, ex officiis The Rector of the School, ex officio. ALLAN A. BOOTH (1970-76) DOUGLAS MCALLISTER (1961-74) ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) KENNETH G. MACKIE (195O-64) Dr. JoHN L. DUNCAN (1958-71) DALLAS G. Mora (1969-74) A. J. M. EDWARDS (19O8-21) HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) HARRY A. FORBES (1943-56) CAMPBELL R. F. PATERSON (1959-72) PROF. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58) CHARLES RITCHIE (1945-51) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59) GEORGE A. ROBB (1946-6O) Section Representatives : Club Centre—Estc CRAIG (1934-46) Cricket—Ds. W. A. STEWART (x939-47) Golf—MICHAEL G. H. GIBE (1942-46) Hockey—DENIs N. YULE (x96o-66) Rugby—JAMES A. LEASK (196O-66) Staff—Roy S. FALCONER Swimming—H. A. BARRIE HARPER (195O-57) Auditors: MESSRS BOWER 6: SMITH, C.A. 58

Annual General Meeting The Seventy-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Club Centre, 86 Queen's Road, Aberdeen on Monday 18 March 1977. Executive Report The following are extracts from the Executive Report submitted to the meeting by the Chairman. Membership Total membership stood at about z,ooo, of which approximately three-quarters were represented by Life Members. The Edinburgh, London and Yorkshire Centres were all in good heart. In 1976 the Executive had decided that Club Officials should attend Centre Dinners, and it was to be hoped that the practice would be continued in future years. Social Mr James Lyon was to be congratulated on the first year of his period of office as Entertainments Secretary, during which he had organised two highly successful functions in the Annual Dinner and Ball. Magazine The increasing cost of producing and distributing the School Magazine had been a cause of concern to the Executive Committee, but it was proposed that, in the meantime, efforts should be made to continue to produce the Magazine in the same format and to the same standard as in previous years. School A decision on the possible restoration of the school name was to be expected within a week. Close links continue to be maintained between the School and the Club. The Amenities Fund had provided grants for between twenty and thirty different School societies and activities, and the Wilson Trust would now provide a further £too per annum for the benefit of School activities. New Sections Proposals had been received for the formation of both a Curling and a Photographic Section. General Business Reports on the year's activities were submitted by representatives of the Sections and of the Club Centre. The Accounts for the year, duly audited and certified were submitted and approved. A summary of the accounts is published at the end of this Magakine, and the full statement of accounts is available from the Secretary. Office bearers for the year '977/78 were elected in accordance with the list recorded elsewhere in this Magazine. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman not only for his conduct of the meeting, but more particularly for the energy and enthusiasm with which he had directed the business of the Club in his two years of office.

Presidential Profile John Whitby Cradock, C.A., President of F.P. Club ign-78 John Whitby Cradock was born on 28 June 1929 and at the age of forty-seven is the youngest President in the history of the Club. John came to Grammar in 1941 and soon established himself as an all rounder. As a resident of the "Bug House" he quickly mastered the art of self preservation and became adept at table tennis, poker, liar dice etc. With maturity came responsibility and his appointment as a prefect was no surprise. He represented the School in the first teams of both rugby and cricket and was always known for his golfing ability. His fondest memory of school rugby must surely be the day that he played a major part in inflicting on Dollar Academy their only defeat of the season by kicking some spectacular goals. Since then he has been known as "The Foot"—well at least until we went metric! John's sporting abilities enabled him to contribute valued service to the Club's Sport Sections after he left school in 1946. He played rugby for the F.P. zst XV at second row, having been a full back at school and played cricket for the 1st XI. His skill as a golfer was capped by an honour considered by many to be the highest in international golf—he captained F.P.s for a season! Golf is now his main recreation and he plays regularly to a handicap of four at Royal Aberdeen, where he served on the Council. John began his business career by joining the firm of Bower and Smith, C.A. in 1946 as an indentured apprentice, qualifying as a C.A. in 1952. He was then called up and served in the R.A.F. for two years as a Pilot Officer (and to think we had an Air Marshal as President in 1972!). When he had completed his service, John joined the firm of Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd. He began as a fish salesman's clerk and progressed through office manager and company secretary to managing director. His career in the fishing industry has been quietly spectacular. Apart from running one of the major fishing companies in Scotland John has been involved with various associations at local and national level. He was Chairman of the Aberdeen Fishing Vessel Owners' Association and President of the Scottish Trawler Federation and is currently a member of the British Trawler Federation, a member of the Aberdeen Harbour Board and a Trustee of the Aberdeen Savings Bank. Despite the many demands on his time arising from business and related commitments, John's interest in the F.P. Club has never waned. The measure of that interest was most clearly demonstrated by John's service as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Club from 1973 to 1975, when his unique blend of modesty, tact and firmness created an atmosphere conducive to the expeditious conduct of Club business and the sound formulation of Club policy. The Club now bestows its highest honour on this distinguished F.P. John Cradock has served the Club and his profession with dignity and is a man we can be proud to have as our President. L'.C. 6o

Centre Reports Edinburgh In recent ycars the activities of the Centre have been restricted to an Annual Dinner, but over the last year two further "gatherings" have been arranged. A very successful "Cheese and Wine" party was held in the Caledonian Club, Abercromby Place last December which was attended by forty F.P.s and guests. The evening was informal and new friendships were made and old ones renewed. Later in the year it is intended to repeat this function and to invite members of the Edinburgh Centres of both the Aberdeen High School F.P. Club and the Gordonian Club. A Golf Outing has been arranged at Bruntsfield on Wednesday zz June and as intimated last year the Centre would like to issue a golf challenge to the Glasgow Centre. If any F.P. in the Glasgow area is interested in helping to organise such a match, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our secretary. The Annual Dinner was held in the Caledonian Club on the eve of the Scotland—Wales international at Murrayfield with thirty-seven F.P.s and guests attending. Professor George M. Burnett, D.SC., F.R.S.E., the Principal of Heriot-Watt University, proposed the toast "The School and the Club" and suitable replies were made by the Headmaster, Robert D. Gill and the President of the Parent Club, Robert A. E. Mennie. One of the highlights of the evening was the very amusing and well prepared reply to the toast of "The Guests" made by Ronald McLeod, Principal Teacher of Classics at the School. Our President D. Ian K. MacLeod unfortunately could not attend, but his deputy Rev. George B. C. Sangster, D.S.C., B.D. (President 197O presided over proceedings and his excellent chairmanship ensured a successful evening. Next years' Dinner will again be held in the Caledonian Club on Friday 3 February—the eve of the Scotland—France international at Murray&Id—under the Chairmanship of our new President D. R. Bellamy Cay whose post Annual Dinner hospitality has been a feature for many years. The Hon. Secretary of the Centre is N. G. M. Watt, w.s. (1963-69) who will be pleased to hear from any members of the F.P. Club in the Capital or surrounding area. The following F.P.s attended the 1977 Dinner: Robert D. Gill (Headmaster), John A. Lillie (1892-1902), Frank C. B. Black (1914-17), Dr. James Dow (1919-28), James Craig (1924-29), Robert A. E. Mermic (1924-36), Allan C. Frazer (1925-30), Neil 1. W. Meldrum (1925-37), Dr. Louis S. Rusack (1923-37), Alan C. R. Watt (1925—37), Dr. Andrew A. Shivas (1927-39), Rev. George B. C. Sangster (1928-37), D. R. Bellamy Cay (1935-46), David G. Kilgour (1939-3o), William D. D. Wallace (1939-311. David A. Brittain (1943-49), Douglas R. Harper (1944-38), John H. McLaren (1945- 59), Dr. Forbes J. Smith (1945 - 57), Stanley A. Howard (1947- 58), Robin S. Rillcy (1947-55), Alistair B. Shewan (1949-62), John F. Hendry (1951-65), Harvey E. Morrison (193i-63), Dennis W. Inkson (196o-66), Nigel G. M. Watt (1963-69). 6s

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

Yorkshire The Annual Dinner was held on 8 October 1976 at the Bluc Bell Inn, Arkendale, near Knaresborough, and the enjoyable evening passed all too quickly. We were delighted to have as our guests the President of the Club, Mr. Robert Mennie, and Mr. Gill, the Rector, who is one of our most loyal supporters. Members present were: G. L. Cruickshank (1918-23), A. J. Adams (President) (1920-30), W. J. Finnie (I93o-33), I. D. Innes (1933-38), J. A. N. Watt (5927-39), W. J. Alexander (1931-43), R. W. Glashan (1938-51), A. Miller (1942-55), M. A. Batchelor (1959-65). Any members of the parent Club, who find themselves within reach of Knaresborough on the second Friday in October 1977 will be welcome to join us and should contact J. A. N. Watt, the Secretary of the Centre, at his address which is given elsewhere in this Magaine. His telephone number is 0482-650544. London After experiencing a decline in activity over the last few years, the London Centre showed vigorous signs of life in 1976 no doubt encouraged by having its own President, Bob Mennie, also as President of the Parent Club. The first half of the year showed little change with the Committee abandoning the monthly meetings on "The Old Caledonia" because of lack of support. Nonetheless, this decision spurred members on to seek new initiatives. These were endorsed at the A.G.M. in May and the Secretary is pursuing various ways of encouraging young F.P.s to join the Centre. In this he is receiving invaluable help from John Hendry. The Annual Dinner on Friday, 3 December 5976 signalled, we hope, a real revival with a total attendance at the Caledonian Club of sixtyeight of whom forty-four were members of the Centre. For the first time dress was informal, a move seemingly welcomed by all although the Secretary had forgotten to tell some of the principal guests! The toast of "The School and the Club" was proposed by Mr. Andrew Cruickshank (5959-28) in inimitable style. He gave deeply grateful thanks to the School not only for an early opportunity to act in Greek tragedy but also for giving him a wide and civilised education on which to found his career in the theatre. He then turned to the great importance to Scotland of nurturing her brains and her skill so that she could return to being her own true self, "a nation of metaphysicians". The end of this unusual and much appreciated discourse was greeted with loud applause. The Headmaster then gave some reassurance to Mr. Cruickshank and to members that Aberdeen Grammar School at least was thriving and would surely survive its recent vicissitudes to serve Scotland as well in the future as in the past. Bob Mennie replied briefly on behalf of the Club and paid tribute to the foresight and generosity of the Executive in deciding to give increased encouragement and support to centres outwith Aberdeen. Then came the keenly awaited

Centre Reports

"Archie" (for the uninitiated Mr. A. G. Baxter, formerly Deputy Headmaster and a teacher for forty-one years at the Grammar) and the audience was not disappointed—indeed we could have sat all night listening to his reminiscences, told with dry wit and kindly comparison. This was a marvellous climax to a memorable evening. Lastly Andrew Noble welcomed all the guests with a special word for Neil Meldrum and Doug Georgeson. He also thanked the Executive for the gift of a badge of office for the President of the London Centre. This was designed by the architect and film designer Mr. John Clark, a former pupil of the School. If those who did not attend the dinner think they missed something, they did. Hurry now to book for the next great performance on Friday, a December 1977—same place, same time. Those attending the 1476 dinner were: Donald S. Stewart (1906-18), A. G. Esslemont (1908-2o), William W. Georgeson (1911-23), John W. Bcnzie (1912-19), R. D. Bruce (1915-22), Walter Graham (1913-19), T. Robertson (1913-19), G. A. Riddell (1915-26), Andrew Cruickshank (1919-28), E. R. Gauld (1919-23), R. A. Smart (19'9-31), James L. S. Thomson (1920-27), Rev. J. F. McLuskey (192o-31), Alfred Walker (1923-25), R. A. E. Mennic (1924-36), N. I. W. Meldrum (1925-37). W. J. C. Meldrum (1925-35), A. W. C. Lobban (1925-55), J• A. N. Watt (1927-39), George L. MeEwan (1929-35), D. N. Georgeson (1929-40), D. W. C. Smith (193040, Herbert W. M. Reid (1929-41), Robin Adam (1928-33), John G. C. Brown (1930-42), L. G. Johnston (1 932-45), George W. Stewart (1932-35), H. C. Alexander (1932-40), Norman K. B. Robson (1933-40), I. J. M. Sutherland (1933-41), R. C. Steven 0933-40, Gordon S. Williams (1933-46), Malcolm G. Lyall (1935-48), J. W. Baird (1956-46), D. S. Robbie (1936-48), Ian Dugu id (1938- 43), Andrew S. Noble (19i9-52), Eric H. Cruickshank (1940-49), Martin J. Wagrel (1943- 49), Kenneth Coutts (1944- so), Robert Falconer (1944-58), William Yule (1 945- 5 8), Kenneth M. Gorrod (1947-61), Kenneth S. Duncan (1948-54), John Clark (195°52), Donald A. Lamont (1951-65), James D. Reid (1954-65), James A. Reid (t96365), R. D. Gill (Headmaster), A. G. Baxter (formerly Deputy Headmaster), representatives of Dollar Academy, Heriots, Gordonians and the Glasgow High School London Clubs and fourteen members' guests.

Annual Ball and Dinner For the first time in many years the Annual Ball was held in the Music Hall, Alterations to the Beach Ballroom had prevented its use by the Club over the Christmas period, and for some time there was doubt as to whether it would be wise to attempt to hold a Ball which, some said, might damage the reputation of the excellent functions provided in the Beach Ballroom in past years. In the event, the views of the optimists, who insisted on continuing the function at a changed venue, were fully vindicated by an excellent ball at the Music Hall, accounted by many as equal in enjoyment to its highly successful predecessors. Another change in the entertainments programme occurred with the appointment of Jim Lyon as Entertainments Secretary. That change has been acknowledged to be as acceptable as the change of venue for the Ball. In circumstances which were not always favourable, Jim contrived to arrange an enjoyable and successful Annual Dinner, held as usual at the Royal Darroch. The F.P.s and their guests, who attended the Dinner were addressed by Professor R. V. Jones, the Rector, Mr. John MacRae, Mr. John Drummond and, of course, by the President, Mr. Robert Meanie. "Plus ga change, plus c'est la meme chose." There is a sameness about F.P. Club functions over the years, but fortunately it is a sameness of high quality.

Club Centre At the end of 7976 the Membership of the Club Centre stood at 1,oz5, including 44 Life Members, as compared with 757 at the end of 1975. The current membership figures indicate that 1977 will also show a useful increase, and it is encouraging that a considerable number of new members are derived from each year's school leavers. The new Lounge Bar has now been in use for nearly two years and has proved an invaluable facility, admired by members and guests alike. The Management Committee now have in hand plans for substantial improvements to the basement bar, which it is hoped shortly to place before the general body of members. These will increase the size of the bar and enhance its appearance and atmosphere, providing improved facilities for Club functions, with emphasis on the needs of the younger members. Over the past ycar some useful improvements have been made to the premises, including refitting the kitchen and installing doubleglazing in the lounge bar windows and central heating in the Steward's house. Bar lunches arc now served on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and last but not least real beer has been introduced into the lounge bar and has quickly acquired an enthusiastic following. Financially the Club Centre remains sound, the year to 31 December 7976 showing an operating surplus of £5,ooo. The current year indicates a certain drop in bar trading, but earnings from the gaming machines and subscription income continue to be satisfactory. A small but useful income is also derived from the letting of rooms for meetings etc., to various bodies, which helps to fully utilise the premises for the benefit of members. Further information regarding the letting of rooms can be obtained from the Secretary. Forms of application for membership are available at the Club Centre or from the Secretary. If you are not already a member please join now—you will certainly obtain good value from membership whether you live in Aberdeen or elsewhere, and there are reduced rates for country members. Bill and Mrs. Mackie and their staff continue to do a great job in running the Club Centre so pleasantly and efficiently, and mention should also be made of the voluntary and often not fully recognised work of various members of the Management Committee and their wives in the everyday running of the premises and Club Centre functions.

Section Reports Cricket Season 1976 was one of mixed fortunes for the two sides. The Strathmore XI had another successful season, again finishing third in the Strathmore Union. The Grade XI however, had a rather disappointing summer, finishing in the lower half of Grade III. The main strength of the Strathmore Union side lay in its ability to 64

65 Section Reports bowl out opposing sides. Dallas Moir, Jeremy Moir and John Pickard regularly turned in fine bowling performances which put the side in a winning position. Dallas Moir won not only the section's bowling cup, but also the Strathmore Union bowling cup as the leading amateur, his average being bettered by only one of the three professionals in the Union. This was a remarkable achievement by such a young player, and was the first time that the cup has been won by an F.P. since Eric Tyson won it in 1948. The batting, although potentially strong, was a disappointment on a number of occasions. Numerous reasons have been suggested for this failure—lack of good practice facilities, somewhat variable wickets, lack of concentration and application by various players. To try to remedy the situation an all weather wicket is being acquired for practice, a lot of work has been done on the square at Rubislaw, and it is hoped that individual players will apply themselves more fully in 1977. The batting cup was won by Sam Rennie, although, by his own high standards, 1976 was a poor season for him. Dallas Moir was the only batsman to fully realise his potential batting ability, but as he did not play a sufficient number of innings, he was ineligible for the batting cup. He was compensated, however, by being the first winner of a new trophy donated by our President, Dr. W. A. Stewart, for the person who contributed most to the section during the season. The Grade XI suffered from a shortage of players and often in fact turned out with less than eleven men. This lack of players, coupled with a resultant lack of enthusiasm on the part of certain team members, led to a lack of team spirit with consequent poor results. Attempts are being made to recruit more players for season 1977 and it is hoped that the Grade XI will enjoy improved fortunes this summer. Anyone wishing to join the Section will be made very welcome at net practice at Rubislaw on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The Section was again indebted to its officials for all the hard work they put in, to Dr. W. A. Stewart for umpiring, to the groundsman for preparing the pitches and to its very loyal tea ladies. It has to be said, however, that if more people were prepared to help with the running of the Section, the willing few would have to bear a less heavy burden. The following officials have been appointed for 1977: W. A. Stewart (President), A. M. Davidson (Secretary), J. B. Rennie (Match Secretary), H. E. Morrison (Treasurer), I. P. Souter (Captain Strathmore Union XI), R. S. T. Ferro (Vice-Captain), J. G. N. Fraser (Captain Grade XI). Hockey The Section have had mixed fortunes this season. The 1st XI set out to stay in the First Division of the National League and have succeeded in so doing. Bad weather played havoc with fixtures and the results often reflected the fact that prolonged enforced rests affected the standard of play. Games were often lost by the odd goal but undoubtedly the outstanding game was F.P.s 3-2 victory over Grange in Aberdeen. Next season will prove even more difficult for F.P.s with Bill Urquhart, Stephen Davidson and John Blacklaws all leaving to take

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

up appointments outside Aberdeen. In addition John Drummond is forsaking his hockey stick for a whistle, and with his knowledge of the game there is little doubt that the District and S.H.A. umpiring will gain from F.P.s' loss. We all wish John every success in his new role and hope that he will achieve the national honours which have so far eluded him on the field of play. The znd XI have had a season of poor results although in the last few games since their Highland tour they have not lost a match and, at the time of writing are fifth in the District League. A number of young players in the znd XI must be looking towards a place in the National League team next year and possibles are Murray Carnie, Gavin Fraser, this year's Captain, and Alastair Waite. It is a pity that such a wide gulf exists between the standards of play in National and District Leagues, but the recent appointments of John Drummond and Gavin Gray as joint club coaches should prove of considerable benefit to prospective ist XI players. The 3rd XI have had varying results, but had it not been for a bad result against a strengthened Varsity team they could have been in contention for the league title. John Smith has proved to be an able captain and having had to make the best of a number of changes in personnel has shown his judgment to be accurate. Grammarians under the guidance of George Somerville continue to flourish with stalwarts Jim Lyon, Tim Morrison, Bill Gatt and Peter Donald to the fore. The ability of these players is undoubtedly a great asset to any club and their services may be called upon if the Club is to maintain a position in the National League next season. F.P.s have had representative honours this season but it is regrettable that the Scottish selectors did not see fit to include any of our 1st XI pool in the Scottish trials when every other team in the 1st National League had a representative. Ian Middleton, Neil Buxton and Martin Campbell have all brought credit to the Club in the role of umpire at high levels of the game. Highlights of the season were our social, when Tim Morrison was presented with a salver by the Section in recognition of his service as S.H.A. President 1974-76, and our Easter tournament, when we entertained, among others, Cork C of Ireland Y.M. Association on a return visit. The tournament was a great success although we were narrowly beaten in the final by Stepps. This year saw the first presentation of the trophy in memory of the late Graham Fraser, an award recognising the most improved player during the season. This season's winner was Kenneth Walker and the presentation was made by Graham's father, Mr. Tom Fraser, at our Annual General Meeting. Mr. Fraser honoured the meeting with a most moving speech. Our elected officials for next season are: Keith Campbell (Club Captain), Ken Walker (1st XI Captain), Alan Christie (Vice-captain), Victor Crockford (znd XI Captain), Gordon Cook (3rd XI Captain), George Somerville (Grammarian XI Captain).

Section Reports

Golf is busy recovering from its Section the writing At the time of hibernation in preparation for the first outing to be held in the 1977 Season at Huntly. Six Outings were held in 1976 at Montrose, Macduff, Braemar, Turriff and Ballater. Attendances averaged around forty and with the hot summer some excellent scores were recorded. The Section, once again, successfully retained both the H.A.R. Trophy and the Challenge Cup against Gordonians. In the Queen Elizabeth Tournament at Barnton, F.P.s lost in a nail biting finish to Stewart Melville F.P.s at the nineteenth hole in the second round. M. G. H. Gibb was elected Captain for Season 1976/ 77 with R. H. Cradock as his Deputy. At the 1976 Dinner and presentation of prizes, the toast of the Golf Section was brilliantly proposed by D. H. Dickie to which the Captain ably replied. The toast of "Our Guests" by Dr. G. G. Milne and the reply by Dr. D. W. G. Gray were cleverly and tersely in rhyme. The Annual Dinner has been arranged for Friday, it November 1977, in the Northern Hotel. Trophy Winners for 1975/76 were: Alison Fowlie Russell Henderson J. M. Clark Trophy R. H. Cradock Cup G. F. Webster W. D. Mitchell Carry Cup Walker Cup A. C. Maitland Maitland Bowl W. M. Miller Jeffrey Mug J. G. S. Hay Craig Spoon Gibb Thow Trophy J. C. Lyon Rugby Season 1976-77 started well with our blend of experienced campaigners and enthusiastic youths seeming to gel, and we set off with high hopes in Division III of the national league. However, our programme started with an away defeat at Clarkston and some poor results followed, not helped by injuries to key players. We recovered to gain five points before the end of the first part of the leagues. The weather devastated rugby for the next two months, but despite this the players continued to train and we restarted very well, going eight games without defeat and including a maximum six league points. The playing record of the 1 St XV was: Points Against For Drawn Lost Won Played z87 10 15 27 418 2 The znd and 3rd XV fixtures were badly upset by the weather, but when given the opportunity, good rugby of a high calibre was played. The Club has been strengthened by a crop of excellent youngsters from School, a few of whom have been blooded in the ist XV and it is hoped that they and the players now two, three, and four years out of School will maintain their commitment and be the back-bone of a strong club for many years. The znd XV will be participating in a Midlands District League in

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 1977-78 and it is certain that the extra competitiveness will be beneficial to all the players and to the Club. Representative honours were earned by John Murray and Rab Buglass, who were selected to play in all three of the North and Midland District under 23 fixtures and by Alan Booth and Ian Gilbert who played in one game each. Full colours for season 1976-77 were awarded to Graham Reid, Ian Gray, John Murray and Graeme Clark and half colours to Robin Craig, Jim Andrews, Norman Stronach, Ian Gilbert and Alan Mitchelson. The officials elected for season 1977-78 are Dick Cradock (President), Graham Reid (Captain), Ian Gray (Vice-Captain), Jim Leask (Secretary), Mike Gibb (Fixtures Secretary), Geddie Hay (Treasurer) and Alan Nicolson (Team Secretary). Our thanks are extended to everyone involved on the coaching, management and fund raising of the Section and to the support they were given. Our especially warm thanks go to Doug Georgeson and Charlie Ritchie. Doug has been involved in all aspects of the Section for nearly forty years. His dedication and commitment to rugby and to the Section are second to none and he is a fine example to all of us. Charlie has been Secretary of the Section for twelve years and has done a great service to the Club. We all wish him well on his new appointment as Secretary of the North District Rugby Union.

The Notes Editor will be pleased to receive information for this section of the next issue of the Magazine. A pink slip is enclosedfor the convenience of correspondents. Gordon Allan (1939-50, who has contributed an article to this issue of the Magazine, has been a Sports journalist with The Times newspaper in London since 1965; until 1973 as a full-time sub-editor and since then on a freelance basis. He has reported rugby every season since 1965, with occasional articles on other sporting topics. He began his career with Aberdeen Journals in 1951 and has since worked for, among others, the Daily Telegraph, the Scotsman, The Guardian and the Press Association. Keith Manson Anderson (1959-72) graduated B.A. with merit at Edinbnrgh University in 1975 and has, since March 1976, been Assistant Press Officer to Grampian Regional Council based at their headquarters in Aberdeen.

Notes About Old Boil

William Gillespie Gilbert Bruce (1929-34) M.Sc. has elected to retire. A former student of Robert Gordon's Technical College he served his apprenticeship with the Aberdeen firm of Davidson & Kay and then emigrated to South Africa in 1948. While on the staff of the Durban School of Pharmacy he pursued research leading to the D.sc. of Potchefstroom University in 1966. Relinquishing his Headship of the School of Pharmacy in 1967 he joined the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Durban—Westville as a Senior Lecturer and retired as Head of Pharmaceutical Technology and Practice in this Department. He maintains a specialist interest in chemo-therapy and in the development of reasonable clinical orientation in Pharmacy practice and feels that specialist consultants in drug-therapy are now called for in patient treatment, working with the physician. Gordon Henry Buchan (1969-72) M.A. who graduated last year with an honours degree in music at Aberdeen University has joined the Royal Academy of Music in London and has been awarded a Sir James Caird's Junior Travelling Scholarship to assist him to the extent of £1,OOO in his first year of study. Alfred Gordon Cameron (1913-34) is now living in Monifieth, Dundee and is Assistant Commercial Sales Manager with Scottish Gas for their Central and Northern Area which covers Scotland from the south coast of Fife to Shetland and Stornoway. His youngest son Ranald Scott Cameron (1964-7o) now lives in London where he is a Sales Advertising Administrative Assistant with White Horse Distillers. Alistair John Clark (1959-65) who is serving with 234 Signal Squadron in Malta, holds responsibility for the maintenance of the telephone network for the services on the island. While at school he was runner-up in the Scottish Schoolboys Fencing Championships and was capped for the Scottish Schools Hockey XI. He maintains those interests by playing hockey for a civilian side in Malta and by fostering a fencing club for services personnel and dependants on the island. Meldrum Barclay Edwards (1946-60) B.sc. who is a Civil Engineer and the first F.Y. to have represented Scotland in a cross-country international continues to distinguish himself in that sport. In June 1976 he was second-placed in the first race to be run across the Cairngorms from Braemar Police Station to Aviemore Police Station (via the Lairig Ghru). He finished the z8-mile course in a time of 3 hours 13 minutes, only one minute behind the winner. Williamson Jackson Finnie (1918-31) B.sc., M.B., CH.B., D.A. who was Consultant Anaesthetist to the Bradford District Hospitals and who won an international reputation for developing the "Bradford Vapouriser" has retired. The anaesthetic vapouriser which was marketed under Bradford's name was developed by Dr. Finnie in 1954. After graduating in medicine at Aberdeen University and holding Junior Anaesthetic appointments at Ipswich and Ilford he joined the R.A.M.C. for four years serving mostly in India. In 1947 he went to Bradford and at the inception of the National Health Service was appointed Consultant Anaesthetist to the City's Hospitals. A Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists he maintained a wide interest in teaching,

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

research and writing and lectured at Bradford Institute of Technology and at Bradford University. He is a former President of the St. Andrews Society of Bradford and a staunch member (and past president) of the Yorkshire Branch of the F.P. Club. Allan Cameron Frazer (1925-30) w.s. is, as intimated in the last edition of the Magazine, the Netherlands Consul in Edinburgh and has been appointed Dean of the Consular Corps in Edinburgh—Leith. John Hay (1913-19) has been farming his own property in the State of Parana, Brazil since 1944 where he is engaged in the cultivation of coffee and breeding zebu indian cattle and raising pigs. In a note to the Editor he states that he is always very interested in following events through the Magazine. John Simpson Heath (1958-63) B.A. who studied at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology and trained at Dartmouth Naval College after leaving school is now serving in the Royal Navy as an Air Traffic Controller with the rank of Lieutenant. Last year he was capped B.A. at Westminster Hall, London after graduating at the Open University. Ian George Howard (1957-70) M.A. gained a Fine Art honours degree from Edinburgh University before embarking on a course of postgraduate study. He has been awarded the Helen Rose Bequest Scholarship worth L75o which is presented by Edinburgh University and at the R.S.A. Exhibition last June be won an award for painting open to all Scottish Art students. Dennis Wright Inkson (1960-66) B.SC. has just commenced on a two-year contract with Dubai municipality as a civil engineer. He was previously with the Lothian Regional Council Highways Department. William Dalton Ironside (1914-24) A.R.I.B.A. retired in 1971 and is now living in West Wales. He studied architecture at Robert Gordon's Technical College and Gray's School of Art becoming A.R.I.B.A. in 1930. During the war he attained the rank of Major and was mentioned in despatches in 1944 for work in France, Belgium and Holland. Invalided out of the Army in 1945 he farmed for fifteen years and then returned to professional practice as an architect in Kent. During this time he became Vice-Chairman of the Weald of Kent Preservation Society, one of the most influential community societies in southern England. His brothers Oliver Dalton Ironside (1904-13) who died in 1919, and Redvers Noel Ironside (1907-17) who died in 1968 were both at the School. Neil Cullen Irvine (1929-34) in a note to the Editor records that his son Robert Neil Irvine (1965-7o) attended the School as does his daughter Victoria Catherine Irvine who was one of the first intake of girls in 1972. He enquires if any other F.P. can put forward a similar claim to history? James William Irvine-Fortescue (1928-30) M.A., C.A., D.L., K.L.J. was recently appointed Chairman of the Valuation Appeal Committee for the Grampian Region. In May 1976 he was installed a Knight of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (K.L.J.). Allan Jermieson (1959-65) who is a School Teacher in Dumbarton

Notes About Old Boys

71 has had his first book—a children's story entitled The House with no Windows published by Blackies. A review appears elsewhere in this issue. William Alexander Johnston (1942-44) has been appointed Road Safety Training Officer for Strathclyde Region. "Sergeant Bill" as he was known to thousands of Aberdeen children between 1958 and 1966 was the first Road Safety Officer to train deaf children for the Cycling Proficiency Test. He was appointed Assistant Road Safety Organiser for Lanarkshire in 1966, and Organiser three years later. He was the first Chairman of the Scottish Area Group of the Institute of Road Safety Officers and his Highway Code for deaf children has been translated into many languages. John Lowell Kilgour (1936-41) M.13., CH.B. is now Under-Secretary and Chief Medical Adviser to the Ministry of Overseas Development, as well as being Senior Principal Medical Officer and head of the International Health Division in the Department of Health and Social Services in Whitehall. He is the U.K. delegate (Chairman 1976) to the Council of Europe Public Health Committee, Delegate to the World Health Assembly 1971-76, and a Member of the WHO Expert Committee on the international control of communicable diseases. He is a member of the governing bodies of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation, the Royal Postgraduate Hospital Hammersmith, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Ross Institute. He serves also on the national committees of LEPRA, the British National Ophthalmic Committee, the Red Cross and St. John and is an Associate of the Institute of Development Studies. Donald Alexander Lamont (1951-65) M.A. who joined H.M. Diplomatic Service in August, 1974 has been dealing with Law of the Sea questions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has attended three sessions of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. He is now in Vienna as a First Secretary on the U.K. Delegation to UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). Frederick Keillor Smith Lawson (1947-62) has been appointed Area Representative for the Grampian Region of the largest Safe Company in Scotland, Fishers for Safes Limited. Previously he was Manager of the Carlisle and Aberdeen branches of Initial Services. He has represented Scotland more than fifty times at international level on the hockey field. James George Lobban (19S4-6o) M.A. is now principal teacher of music at Hazlehead Academy, Aberdeen. James Lewis McAllan (1931-34) M.A., 1.L.B. has recently retired from the post of Director of Law and Administration with the Grampian Regional Council. He was, prior to Local Government Reorganisation in 1974, Depute County Clerk with Aberdeen County Council. He contnues to take an active interest in hill-walking, choral singing and railways. Maitland Mackie (1926-28) B.SC., F.F..1.S., C.B.E., Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Aberdeen was in July 1976 presented with the

Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine 72 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of extensive public work, particularly in the realms of farming and education. Neil Mackie (1963-66) who studied at the Royal College of Music in London following graduation from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama is tenor soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and during 1976 made his debut at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts in the Royal Albert Hall. Alan William McLeod (1956-69) has been appointed Assistant Branch Manager at the Aberdeen Office of the Bristol West Building Society. John McLeod (1946-5o) is director of music at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh. He learned to play the clarinet during national service with the R.A.F. in Germany and after demob studied music in London, specialising in the clarinet, but later, finding even greater talent in composition, he began to restrict his work to this field. He realised an ambition earlier this year when top European conductor Janos Furst conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a performance of his large-scale orchestral work "The Shostakovich Connection"— in memory of the Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich, who died in 1975. He has also been successful in having his recent compositions broadcast both in this country and in Germany. Alasdair MacRae (1964-65) B.sc. who graduated with a first-class honours degree in Civil Engineering at Strathclyde University has been working on Civil Engineering projects in Nigeria and Bahrain. He has now returned to Aberdeen and is engaged in works at the gas plant at St. Fergus. Duncan Macrae (1948-52) has been appointed Deputy Managing Director of Hong Kong United Dockyards, the major ship repair yard in Hong Kong. He served his ship draughtsman's apprenticeship with Hall, Russell and Co. Ltd., Aberdeen and has been in Hong Kong since 1962. Appointed Chief Ship Draughtsman in 1966 and Assistant Shipyard Manager the following year he was given control of yard operations in 1973 on the formation of Hong Kong United Dockyards. A member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects he serves on the Council of the Employers' Federation. James Irvine Melville (1917-21) is now living in Sib Paulo, Brazil having been manager of the Royal Bank of Canada there and Consul of the Club for many years. Robert A. E. Mennie (1924-36) the President of the Club (1976-7-7) has taken up his appointment as Director of Public Affairs, Scotland with the British Petroleum Company. In this capacity he advises and acts for BP and for the Chief Executives of BP Oil, Petroleum Development, Chemicals and Proteins on the political, governmental and public relations aspects of their operations, policies and plans in Scotland. James Glegg Moir (1928-34) M.B., CH.B. retired earlier this year after thirty years medical service to the Ballater Community. Dr. Moir's retirement presentation was made by Alan C. R. Watt (1925-37), past President of the Club, former Town Clerk of Ballater and now Industrial Tribunal Chairman.

Notes About Old Boys

73 Gordon Grant Morrison (1963-69) C.A. has recently qualified as a Chartered Accountant and is currently with Messrs. Arthur, Young, McClelland, Moores & Co., C.A. in Edinburgh. Alastair MacArthur North (1937-5o) B.sc., PH.D., D.SC. who has contributed an article to this issue of the Magatine, is Burmah Professor of Physical Chemistry at Strathclyde and has been appointed VicePrincipal of Strathclyde University. He is a former School dux and gold medallist and all-round trophy winner. Derek Ogston (1937-47) M.A., M.D., PH.D., D.SC., D.T.M. & H., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.P.E. has been appointed Regius Professor of Physiology at the University of Aberdeen. From 1962 to 1976 Professor Ogston was employed in the University's Department of Medicine, being appointed Reader in tl-e department in 1975. From 1967-68 he held a M.R.C. Travelling Fellowship in Cleveland, Ohio, and his principal contribution to medical research has been in the field of haemostasis. He has been involved with the admission of students to the medical course, and for the past two years has served as Convener of the Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Medicine. His brother, William Duncan Ogston (1935-49) M.B., cx.s., was appointed Director of Psychiatric Services in the Tacoma V.A. Hospital, Washington. He had previously held the appointment of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mental Health of the University of Aberdeen since 1968. Stuart Kerr O'Hara (I958-7o) graduated M.B., CH.B. in July 1976 at Aberdeen University gaining distinction in obstetrics and gynaecology. Ian Spiers Quigley (1959-64) LL.B. has been assumed as a Partner in the Glasgow Legal Firm of Messrs. Maclay, Murray & Spens. John Marcus Raffan (1912-24) has now retired to the village of Marthem in Norfolk. After some forty years in the shoe retailing business in Aberdeen he moved to Edinburgh in 1964 and three years later opened a similar business in the Blackhall Area which he sold in March last year before retiring with his wife to Norfolk. While waiting for their new house to be completed he is resident with his daughter and her husband, Terence Morrison (1955-61) B.D.S. Charles Ritchie (1945-5 1 ) insurance office manager and former F.P. and North-Midlands hooker has been elected Secretary of the North District of the Scottish Rugby Union. He retired from playing in 1971, was Secretary of the F.P. Rugby Section for twelve years until demitting office earlier this year and has been a North-Midlands Selector for five years. He succeeded Philip Noel Love (1952-58) who relinquished the North-District post after five years in office. Graham Robb (1962-68) who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music has composed a musical work "Above the Hill" which was recently premiered at the Music Hall, Aberdeen. The composition is basically jazz/rock with symphonic construction written round the idea of travelling not only in physical terms but in emotional reactions and experiences, and is set for three saxes, three trumpets doubling flugelhorns, three trombones, lead and bass guitars, drums, electric piano and soprano voice.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Alastair Graeme Robertson (1930-40) M.R.C.V.S. who continued his schooling in Western Australia returned to Edinburgh to qualify at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Edinburgh in r952. After a spell in general practice and fifteen years with the Ministry of Agriculture in Aberdeen he has, since 1971, been with the Department of Agriculture in Western Australia. In a note to the Editor he recommend Western Australia to anyone "wishing to flee Britain's ills" and comments that he wishes he had gone to Australia some fifteen years previously. Robin Simpson (1971-73) is one of just five from I,OOO applicants to be chosen by British Airways as a Trainee Helicopter Pilot. Steven William Frederick Somers (1964-7o) has been appointed by the Reo Stakis Organisation as Depute Manager of the Gantock Hotel, Gourock. After obtaining the Higher National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management he joined the Stakis Organisation in 1973 at the Royal Darroch Hotel, Cults and a year later became Assistant Manager of the Station Hotel, Stirling. Alastair James Smith (1936-69) B.sc., PH.D. who graduated with a B.sc. Honours degree at Aberdeen in 1973 was, last year, awarded a PH.D. from Edinburgh University and is now working with the Ontario Hydro Board on research and design in nuclear reactors, and is based in Toronto. Charles Edward Smith (1923-24) has retired to live in Bournemouth. He has for many years represented a large London-based provision house on the south coast of England. From 1929 to 1934 he was a rubber planter in Southern India and on returning to the U.K. embarked on selling as a career. James Bruce Smith (1918-25), previously Club Consul in Chicago for several years, has now retired and is enjoying the opportunity for salmon fishing in Lake Michigan, which is only a short distance from his home. He has written to the Secretary to say that he would be pleased to meet any F.P. who is visiting Chicago. Peter James Neilson Stewart (1952-63) M.A. has been appointed Chief Editor of Rediffusion Television in Hong Kong. As such, he is head of news and current affairs programmes for both the Chineselanguage and English language channels of RTV with a staff of fifty producing seven news programmes each day and seven public affairs programmes each week. He has been in Hong Kong for over five years, with the China Mail, then as news editor and business editor of the Hong Kong Standard before taking up his present post. He started work with the Inverness-based Highland News group and was editor of the Caithness Courier in Thurso before working for a spell on a Hertfordshire evening paper and then moving to Hong Kong. Douglas Chalmers Hutchison Sutherland (1935-36) m.c. has just had his fourteenth book, Strike! published by Heinemann. It is his first work of fiction and is set in Clydeside in the late 197os in the midst of a world crisis which has its origins in Scotland. During a varied career he has served as a Liaison Officer for Viscount Montgomery of Alamein winning the NI.c. and the Croix de

Afarriages

75 Guerre, worked as a gossip columnist, played Bridge for England, and stood as a Tory candidate for Dundee West. James David Taylor (1937-48) who was formerly accountant at the Fraserburgh branch of the Bank of Scotland has been appointed manager at Stonehaven. Nigel George Morley Watt (1963-69) LL.B., w.s. Secretary of the Edinburgh Centre of the Club has been assumed as a Partner in the Edinburgh Legal Firm of Messrs. Hagart & Burn-Murdoch, w.s. For the last two years he has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Scottish Universities Golfing Society. George Fraser Webster (1949-6z) has taken over as Aberdeen manager of Sedgwick Forbes, insurance brokers. He previously ran his own business in Aberdeen. Alexander John Wilson (1959-65) M.A. who was previously Administration Controller with the Marley Tile Company at their Scottish Headquarters in Bishopbriggs has been promoted to take charge of that Company's depot in Poole, Dorset. Alexander R. Wilson (1912-25) B.SC. retired in 1973 from the post of General Manager of the Pittodrie Granite Turning Company Limited, Aberdeen and is now living in Ellon.

Marriages Alexander (I961-7o).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 3 September 1976, GRANT WILSON ALEXANDER, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Alexander, 17 Forest Avenue, to Susan only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. King, Kingsacre, North Deeside Road, Cults, Aberdeen. Anderson (196z-66).—At St. Ninian's Church, Aberdeen, on 9 July 1976, DENNIS GEORGE CRICHTON ANDERSON, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Anderson, 8 Rubislaw Den North, Aberdeen, to Sheena Grace, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Hall, 5 Mile-End Place, Aberdeen. Bisset (x 95 z-65).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 16 April 1977, JOHN ROBERT BISSET, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Bisset, iz7 Spynie Street, Elgin, to Carol, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Richardson, 33 Dean Gardens, Westhill. Borthwick (1951-65).—At Newport, Gwent, on 9 April 1977, NEIL MATHESON BORTHWICK, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Borthwick, The Granary, Kingston, Morayshire, to Gail, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Harvey, 13 Palm Square, Newport. Boyd (1963-69).—At Inverness East Church, on 3 September 1976, BRIAN STEWART BOYD, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. James Boyd, "Dunvegan", 104 High Street, Inverurie, to Margaret, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Morrison, 54 Kenneth Street, Inverness. Boyd (1965-71).—At Gospel Hall, Woodside, Aberdeen on 17 April 1976, KENNETH BOYD, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. James Boyd, "Dunvegan", 104 High Street, Inverurie to Susan, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter MacPherson, 94 Hilton Place, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Brazendale (1965-71). -At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 15 July 1976, WILLIAM BRAZENDALE, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Brazendale, 4 Gilcomstoun Court, Aberdeen, to Elaine, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. Wallace, 26 Wall&ld Place, Aberdeen. Buchan (1965-71).—At King's College Chapel, on I I October 1976, GORDON ANDREW BUCHAN, only SOU of Mr. and Mrs. A. Buchan, 82. Hilton Street, Aberdeen to Andrea, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mackay, 74 Springfield Road, Aberdeen. Campbell (I958-64).—At Holburn Central Parish Church, Aberdeen, on z8 August 1976, DOUGLAS BRUCE CAMPBELL, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Campbell, 6 Oakdale Terrace, Aberdeen, to Claire Frances, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Keeling, 33 Highmore Drive, Bartley Green, Birmingham. Christiansen (I964-7o).—At Cults East Church, Aberdeen, on 3o December 1976, JON HARRY CHRISTIANSEN, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Christiansen, i Provost Graham Avenue, Aberdeen, to Anne, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cramond, 43 Cults Avenue, Cults, Aberdeen. Davie (1964-7o).--At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 10 September 1976, MICHAEL JAMES DAVIE, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Davie, to Belvidere Crescent, Aberdeen, to Dorothy, only daughter of Mr. G. Napier and the late Mrs. Napier, 13 Willowpark Place, Aberdeen. Ewen (1932-44).—At Dysart Kirk, St. Serf's, on 4 September 1976, WILLIAM MILNE EWEN, 63 Westburn Drive, Aberdeen, to Margaret, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Meikle, Seaview, Dysart. Heatherwick (x961-67).—At Kingswells Church, on 3o July 1976, JAMES KEMP HEATHERWICK, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Heatherwick, 624 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, to Aileen, elder daughter of Mr. J. Forbes and the late Mrs. Forbes, Langside, Kingswells, Aberdeen. Hendry (1963-69).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on I2 April 1977, ALAN LEITH HENDRY, second son of Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Hendry, 41 Albyn Place, Aberdeen, to Phyllis, second daughter of Mr. D. Brown and the late Mrs. Brown, 263 Union Grove, Aberdeen. Kynaston (196o-66).—At Aberdeen Registry Office on 18 June 1976, COLIN MOFFAT KYNASTON, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Kynaston, Craigton Avenue, Aberdeen, to Catherine Leslie, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Low, 268 Queen's Road, Aberdeen. McCraw (1960-66).—At St. Andrew's Church of Scotland, Golspie, on 7 August 1976, GEORGE LESLIE MCCRAW, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter McCraw, 138 Osborne Place, Aberdeen, to Jean Gwendolyne, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Bruce Weir, Burnside, Duke Street, Golspie. MacNay (1951-65).—At New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden, Glasgow, on 23 October 1976, GORDON ROBERTS MACNAY, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon R. MacNay, Shelligoe, 2 Springfield Place, Aberdeen, to Jocelyn, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Faill, "Ebani", 68 Drumry Road, Clydebank.

Obituaries

77 Michie (I966-72).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 27 August 1976, EDWIN MICHIE, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. H. Michie, 8 Matthews Road, Aberdeen, to Fiona, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. McWilliam, 65 Derbarth Crescent, Aberdeen. Porteous (1939-71).—At Hope Park Church, St. Andrews, on z6 November 1976, DAVID JOHN PORTEOUS, son of Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Porteous, 140 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen, to Rosemary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Baird, "Ashtead", 89 Hepburn Gardens, St. Andrews, Fife. Ross (1966-7z).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 25 June 1976, KEITH Ross, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Ross, 129 Raeden Crescent, Aberdeen, to Katherine Grace, third daughter of Professor and Mrs. W. M. Millar, 16 The Chanonry, Old Aberdeen. Ross (1960-73).—At The Langstane Kirk, Aberdeen, on z1 August 1976, LESLIE WILSON Ross, youngest son of the late Mr. W. Ross and Mrs. E. Ross, 3 Beattie Avenue, Aberdeen, to Margaret, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Hosie, 37 Murray Terrace, Aberdeen. Strachan (1953-64).—At West Church, Cults, Aberdeen, on zz May 1976, MALCOLM STEPHEN STRACHAN, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. B. Strachan, 10 Sunnyside Terrace, Aberdeen, to Helen Margaret. only daughter of the late Mr. Alexander Barclay and Mrs. A. K, Barclay, 18 Dickson Terrace, Northfield, Aberdeen. Wilson (I954-67).—At Holy Trinity Church, Barkingside, Ilford, on it September 1976, GRAEME MCCRAE WILSON, only son of the late William Wilson and Mrs. Wilson, 3 Duthie Terrace, Aberdeen, to Julia, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren, 19 Roundaway Road, Clayhall, Ilford.

Obituaries James Smart Abernethy (1925-26) M.A., w.s. died on z5 May 1976 at the age of sixty-eight. The All-Round Trophy winner of 1926 he went on to Aberdeen University where he graduated in Arts in 1929 and then in Law. He was a magistrate in the North Borneo Government Service when war broke out in the far east and was captured and interned by the Japanese. After the war he joined the Colonial Service and held office first in North Borneo and then in Tanganyika as a Resident Magistrate at Dar-es-Salaam. In 1949 he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh and after a spell in Australia returned to Tanganyika as Town Clerk of Tanga. In 1966 he was appointed Registrar and Legal Adviser to the Lands and Surveys Department in Sarawak. John Brebner Barnet (1911-25) M.D., CH.B. died on 24 April 1976 at the age of sixty-nine. On leaving school he initially studied agriculture and went to Malaya where he supervised a rubber estate. He returned to Aberdeen in the 1930s and graduated in medicine in 1941. For the remainder of the war he served with the R.A.M.C. and when peace resumed he took up a post as an assistant in general practice in Aberdeen. In 1948 he

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moved to Dundee where he rapidly established a flourishing practice. In the 196os he was active in an attempt to form a Dundee branch of the F.P. Club. Robert McNie Campbell (192o-30) died suddenly in Aberdeen in April 1977 at the age of sixty-two. On leaving school he joined his father in the family business of D. J. Campbell, Drapers. He remained with this business and took it over in the 195os, having served during the war with 6i z Squadron. He was a keen golfer and a member of the Deeside Golf Club. His brother, ANDREW C. CAMPBELL (1916-27) is now retired and living in Old Aberdeen. George Adrian Carroll (1905-12) died at his home at Chalfont, St. Giles, Buckinghamshire on 17 January, 1975 at the age of eightyone. From 1913 to 1923 he served with the Imperial Indian Police in the Central Provinces and in 19zo he was awarded the King's Police Medal for special gallantry when he was Assistant District Superintendent of Police at Sieoni. In 1923 he joined the Indian State Service and was for fourteen years Administrator of Khetri, a feudatory estate of the Jaipur State, Rajputana. From 1928 he had the additional work of being guardian to the Minor Raja of Khetri and from 1937 to 1941 he was tutor guardian to the Raja of Chamba, one of the Hymalayan states of the Punjab. In 1941 he joined the Indian Army. For a time he was in charge of the Welfare organisation of Burma with the rank of Major but from 1942 he worked in New Delhi, in various capacities, finally as a Lieutenant-Colonel in Intelligence, where he had the task of organising the security of all military depots in India. He was also on the Council of the State as Minister in Charge of Public Works and Supplies and, at a time of great grain scarcity, had to organise a very thorough wheat-securement scheme which was the most effective in Northern India. On his return from India in 1947 he was appointed Welfare Officer to the Paddington estate and settled in retirement in Buckinghamshire. Robert Rannie Cook (1 899-1908) died at Gcrrards Cross, Buckinghamshire on 23 October 1976 at the age of eighty-three. Like his brothers ALEXANDER CHARLES COOK (1886-?), HARRY WINFIELD COOK (1895- i 904), JAMES DICKSON COOK (1894-19o2) and WILLIAM LYON COOK (1891-97) he attended the School for the whole period of his schooling. In a written tribute received by the Editor it is recorded that "his school and his parental upbringing produced a perfect gentleman in every good sense of the world". Before the First World War he became a rubber planter in North Borneo, and from 1916 to 1918 served as a rifleman in the British North Borneo Volunteers. After the First World War he continued to be engaged in rubber estates in Malaya and during the Second World War he worked for the Malayan and British Refugees Association in Sydney, Australia. The work of this organisation was the collecting of information regarding civilians missing in Malaya and Borneo and the Magazine of December 1948 relates that after the Japanese surrender the first ship to the civilian and P.O.W. camps in Singapore from

Obituaries

79 Australia contained two copies of the Magazine addressed to two fellow F.P. planters. After the war he bought a farm in Kenya and in the 195os returned to the United Kingdom. During recent holidays in Aberdeen he was an enthusiastic visitor to the Club Centre at 86 Queen's Road. Proud of the School and its traditions he provided a photograph of Lower III (t9ot-z) which was reproduced in the June 1955 edition of the Magazine together with details of the twenty-eight class members. George (Taffy) Davidson (1901-11) died in Aberdeen in October 1976 at the age of eighty-three. He was formerly curator of both Am Fasgadh the Highland Folk museum at Kingussic and of Aberdeen University's Picture Collection, dividing his time between the two posts. An expert on Scottish antiquities, antiques and folklore he held a senior fellowship in arts and crafts at Aberdeen University when he was appointed curator of Kingussie Museum twenty years ago. The following is an extract from a tribute by Professor R. D. Lockhart which appeared in the Press and Journal. "Taller than average, a fresh complexion with never a wrinkle, a twinkle in the eye, sombre tweed suit, a generous expanse of waistcoat, strong boots, and always the most expensive grey homburg hat in a large size, he belonged to this North-east land. "About zo years old on the eve of World War I and already possessed of Gray's Art School diploma in drawing and painting he went to Holland, on his own to paint, and ever remained an ardent admirer of Rembrandt. "As war broke out he got the last trawler home and enlisted in the 4th Gordons next day. Asked what he was, he said: 'An Artist'—and was sent to paint latrines. "Posted to France and badly wounded the afternoon before the big battle of Loos, he lay on his back in hospital for nine months, carried shrapnel for the rest of his life, and would not have a war pension. "Declared unfit for active service and sent to recuperate in Northern Ireland he landed in the Sinn Fein rebellion, to be issued with rifle and become a soldier again until the end of the war. "With the award of the Brough travelling scholarship he returned for a year to Holland and while he continued painting and exhibiting his pictures at Aberdeen Art Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy he became side-tracked by antiques and their time-consuming acquisition. "The very name `modern art' was anathema to him. As a member of a particular committee he told the late Principal Sir Thomas Taylor: 'I ought to resign, I'm always saying No'. `Just keep on saying "No".' said Sir Thomas. A piece of sculpture was being considered with mixed reception. At last, someone said 'It might look well in a stony background."Yes', agreed Taffy, know the very place—the bottom of Rubislaw Quarry.' The first time his advice was carried. "A connoisseur of the arts, crafts and customs, the weapons and dress and history of the clans and an artist in his own right he delighted in displaying the etching upon a powder horn, the tooling of the

Aberdeen Grammar School Alagazine

leather upon a sword handle, the exquisite shapes of ancient pots and kettles or the skill of the travelling caird with whom he almost enjoyed a brotherhood. "The anthropological museum at Marischal College has a rich array of his donations for many years past—targes or, as he maintained targets, dirks, pistols, two-handed swords, snuff boxes, marriage chairs back to 1618, sometimes one set of initials removed I "Arbuthnot Museum, Peterhead has acknowledged the deep and wide range of George Davidson's folklore and his many professional services all given anonymously and always free. "It was a privilege and delight to see Taffy's immediate reception when he inquires about a Scots pistol in Copenhagen Armaments Museum and the strict decorum in presenting the weapon for inspection upon a white napkin; his hastening steps at the baronial castle museum Skokloster, near Sigtuna, Sweden, where portraits of Scots Chieftains in full Highland regalia arc ranged at the top of the stairway; and the brotherhood between artists as he examines the famous small picture of the Linnet, by Carl Fabritius, at The Hague and asks the curator: `Do you have any comparable paintings of such merit?' to be received with the acclamation and open arms—an honoured guest." Alexander Victor Reid Don (1913-15), m.s., cx.m., died at the age of seventy-nine in hospital at Ashford in Kent. He had lived in Ashford since joining his father in practice there after three years as an Assistant in the Department of Anatomy of the University of Aberdeen. Austin Leslie Smith Duthie (1960-45) M.B., CH.B. died on 15 April 1976 at the age of forty-eight. A graduate of Aberdeen University he had been in practice in Leeds for some years prior to his death. Arthur Hercules Peter Ferguson (19o5-14) died in Perth, Western Australia on 3o December 1976 at the age of eighty. During the First World War he enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders in 1914 and served until 1919 when he was a Lieutenant in the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. After taking a planters course at Aberdeen University he went to Africa and was in Nyasaland prior to 1939 when he returned to the U.K. and joined the R.A.F. At the end of the Second World Wax he settled in Edinburgh but in 1971 he and his wife went out to Australia to be near his grandchildren. He was the brother of SIR JOHN FREDERICK FERGUSON (1904-9) whose death was recorded in the last Magazine. Alexander John Findlay (1898-1904) c.m.G., M.A., B.SC. who had a distinguished Colonial Service record died at Aboyne Cottage Hospital on 3o December i 976 at the age of ninety. Born in Elgin he moved to Aberdeen as a youngster and after leaving school graduated M.A. and B.sc. (Agriculture) at Aberdeen University. He then took a diploma in Agriculture at Leeds and diplomas in dairying at Kilmarnock and spent a time as an Assistant in Agricultural Chemistry at the North of Scotland College of Agriculture. In 1912 he received the Government appointment of Assistant Superintendent of

Obituaries

Agriculture for Southern Nigeria and was promoted Superintendent in 1918. During the First World War he served with the Third Battalion Cameroons Expeditionary Force and later returned to the Colonial Agricultural Service in Nigeria until 1931 and was then, for six years, in Zanzibar retiring from the post of Director of Agriculture there in 1938. Before his return to this country he represented the Colonial Service at the World Fair in New York from 1939 to 1940 and at the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow. In the 1937 Coronation Honours List he was made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in recognition of his work in the Colonial Agricultural Service. The Magaine of June 1957 contained a photograph of his class in 1902-5th Classical. Graham Fraser (1965-7z) died, at the age of twenty-two, on rz January 1976 as a result of a road accident. The following tribute has been received: "His energy and enthusiasm were boundless, and he was held in high regard in many spheres of activity within the City of Aberdeen. "After leaving school he graduated with a Diploma in Primary Teaching and took up a post at Portlethen where he taught for only six months prior to his death. "He had a keen appreciation of music and was Church Organist at Crown Terrace Baptist Church and Secretary of the Aberdeen Branch of the Organists' Association at the time of his death. "He was actively engaged in youth work, being the youngest ever President of the Presbytery of Aberdeen Youth Fellowship Council and a Junior Officer in the Boys' Brigade. "He also played Hockey at school and thereafter, while at College of Education, he succeeded in playing both for the College Team and for the Club Hockey Section and became Sports Convener of Hockey at the College. He was elected Captain of the Club Hockey Section 3rd XI for season 1975-76 but his playing ability was such that he spent the first part of the season playing for the znd XI. His play continued to improve and he would without doubt have attained a regular place in the 1st XI. "In his memory, the Hockey Section have inaugurated `The Graham Fraser Trophy' which is to be presented each season to the member of the Section who has shown the greatest improvement in his play and club spirit during the season. The trophy was presented for the first time by Graham's father, Mr. T. C. Fraser, at the Annual General Meeting of the Section in April 1977. "It is to be hoped that the Trophy will be regarded as a fitting memorial to one who was always seeking to improve his own standards in the many activities in which he was involved, and who will be greatly missed." George Patterson Fyfe (1916-24) m.p.s. died on 14 April 1977 in Hospital at Aberdeen at the age of sixty-eight. After School he gained the M.P.S. in Edinburgh and thereafter ran a Pharmacy in Aberdeen for some years before joining Fisons Pharmaceutical in 1948. As a medical representative for that organisation his work took him from Fife to Orkney and Shetland. A special policeman

Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine

for thirty-three years he retired in 1973 with the rank of Deputy Chief Commandant. Major General Rudolf William Galloway (1902-6) c.a., C.B.E., 0.5.0., M.B., CH.B. died in March 1976 at the age of eighty-five. First commissioned in 1914 he had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Army Medical Corps and reached the rank of LieutenantColonel in 1917. Between the wars he was, for a period, Senior Medical Officer in Shanghai, and during the Second World War he held a variety of high medical appointments and was based in France, North Africa, Tripolitania and Sicily. He was made a C.B.E. in 1943 in recognition of his service, a C.B. in 1944 and, until 1946, he was Deputy DirectorGeneral of Army Medical Services at the War Office. In 1947 he was appointed honorary surgeon to King George VI. John King Grant (1914-16) mai., CH.B., died on 22 March 1976 at the age of seventy-eight. On leaving the School he enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders and served in France, Belgium and Italy. On demobilisation in 1919 he returned to Aberdeen and qualified as a Doctor. He was for a short time in General Practice in Aberdeen after graduating in 1924 and then was appointed an Assistant Physician at Aberdeen Royal Mental Hospital. He later joined the staff of the Royal Asylum, Montrose and held the post of Senior Medical Officer there when he left to become Physician Superintendent of Renfrew Mental Hospital. He held that post from 1939 until his retirement in March 1956. After his retirement he was resident in Forfar. Alexander Robertson Gray (1910-16) M.A., LL.B. died on 6 November 1976 at the age of seventy-seven. After the First World War, having served in France and been commissioned in the Royal Naval Air Service, he returned to Aberdeen where he graduated in Arts in 1921 and Law the following year. A medical journalist and former sub-editor of the British Medical Journal he travelled a great deal and held a number of posts in medical journalism including editor, Sociological Review and executive editor, Medical World. James Olav Jeffery (1923-29) died in hospital in Aberdeen on 5 June 1975. A civil engineer he worked for the Public Works Department in Tanzania from 1948 to 1962. On his return to this country he then joined Harbour Engineering, Aberdeen until he retired due to ill health. Eric Douglas McDonald (1909-13) died in Keighley, Yorkshire in October 1976 at the age of seventy-eight. On leaving the School he joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Saskatchewan. After the First World War, during which he served for four years with the Canadian Army being seriously wounded on the Somme in November 1916, he joined the West Riding Constabulary. Promotion came to him rapidly; he was made a Sergeant in 1927, Inspector in 1931 and a Superintendent in 1938. He was always anxious to assist his old School, and the Magaine of November 1938 records an invitation "to any of the senior boys or young F.P.s who are thinking

Obituaries

of the Police Force as a career to contact him so that he can give them some idea of what is required and what is the best way to approach the job". On retirement he was Chief Superintendent of the West Riding Constabulary and some years ago donated the Agnes Durward McDonald Prize to the School. It was his wish to give a prize for all the qualities which he thought a boy who had gone through the Grammar School should possess and as there already was the Former Pupils All Round Trophy his prize is awarded to the runner-up. William George MacMillan (1912-22), B.sc., PH.D., F.R.I.C., F.I.c.(Ind.) died peacefully at his home in Kirk Andreas on the Isle of Man at the age of seventy-one. The following tribute has been received : "Bill MacMillan graduated from Aberdeen University with first class honours in Chemistry in 1926. He obtained doctorates in philosophy from Aberdeen in 1929 and from Cambridge two years later. In 1937 he went out to India, where he directed the research activities of the Indian Jute Mills Association, Calcutta for twenty-eight years, until his retirement in 1965. He was regarded as a pioneer in jute technological research. He became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry in 1939, of the Textile Institute in 1945 and of the Institution of Chemists (India) in 1956. He contributed extensively to scientific literature on jute and textiles. "He was in his time an outstanding athlete, representing Aberdeen University at rugby, golf and tennis. He captained the tennis team throughout an unbeaten season in the late 1920s. He had a warm and charming personality and was regarded with respect and affection by his family, his former colleagues and a wide circle of friends." John Hall Ritchie (1903-9) M.A., B.SC. died in 1976 after a long illness, at the age of eighty-eight. After graduating B.SC. in Agriculture at Aberdeen University he joined the Indian Civil Service. During the First World War he enlisted in the Mahratta Light Infantry and served on the North-West Frontier until the end of the War. He continued in the Indian Civil Service and was an enthusiastic F.P. Club Consul for India when based in Bombay. His brother JAMES GARRICK RITCHIE (1910-14) died in 1919 after serving in France and Belgium. Douglas Campbell Sangster (1906-13) died in Aberdeen on 20 May 1976 at the age of seventy-seven. On leaving School he entered a draper's business in Aberdeen and was to remain connected with the retail drapery trade throughout his working life. During the First World War he served with the Royal Engineers in Belgium, France and Italy. He left Aberdeen in 1925 to join Harrods of London and served with them in Buenos Aires until 1931, and then, for the next thirteen years, he was with Messrs. Lewis Limited in Glasgow. Later he became General Manager of Fraser and Sons, Glasgow and was with Pettigrew and Stevens, also in Glasgow before returning north to take over as Manager at Watt and Grants, Aberdeen. He retired in 1965. William Smith (1911-30) B.SC., M.B., CH.B. died on 27 March 1977 in Salisbury, Rhodesia at the age of sixty-four.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

An F.P. 1st XV player, he graduated in both science and medicine at Aberdeen. He went on to serve for six years in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was in charge of the field hospital in Brussels following D-Day. After the war he was in practice in Brixton, London for five years and graduated in radiology before emigrating to Rhodesia in 1951. There he served at St. Anne's Hospital in Salisbury for twenty-six years as a Consultant Radiologist of considerable repute. He was an active Rotarian and never missed an opportunity of forging Rotary links when he was overseas. He is survived by his wife and daughter in Rhodesia and a son who is a radiologist in Aberdeen. His brothers JOHN MORRISON SMITH (1920-32) and ROY SMITH (1930-40) are resident in Nairobi and Aberdeen, respectively. The former is manager of A. C. Baumanns a subsidiary of Steel Bros. of Dorking of which he is a director. George Joss Taggart (1910-16) M.A. died in Aberdeen on 3i March 1977 at the age of seventy-eight. On leaving School he enlisted as a Private in the Gordon Highlanders and served in France with the 810th Battalion. A graduate of Aberdeen University he began his teaching career in West Lothian before becoming Headmaster of Crudie School, near New Pitsligo in 1927. Four years later he moved to Rathen as Headmaster of the Junior Secondary School and served there for thirty-one years until his retirement in 1962. He was a Justice of the Peace and a keen bowler. Sir (Arthur) Lands borough Thomson (1899-1909), C.B., O.B.E., D.SC., LL.D. died on 9 June 1977 at the age of 86. Sir Landsborough gained his first degree and his D.SC. from Aberdeen University and was subsequently awarded an honorary LL.D. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1919, the C.B. in 1933 and, in 19S3, he was knighted for his services on the Medical Research Council. It was as early as 1909, while he was still an undergraduate, that he pioneered the Aberdeen University bird-ringing scheme which, after its development by H. F. Witherby, achieved organised national status from the British Trust for Ornithology. Sir Landsborough was then elected as Chairman of the Ringing Committee, and the scheme which he directed was accepted as a model internationally. After distinguished service in the First World War, Sir Landsborough Thomson was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Medical Research Committee in October 1919 and continued to serve that body (subsequently the Medical Research Council) for a period of 38 years. On his retirement in 1957 he continued to serve part-time on special duties at the Council's headquarters, and remained Chairman of the Board of the Public Health Laboratory Service, which he had been instrumental in founding. During his long service, the Council expanded its activities enormously with a consequent vast increase in staff and administrative organisation. Sir Landsborough's gift for organisation and persuasive Scottish charm did much to smooth the Council's path over that expansion and his twin qualities of administrative skill and scientific understanding helped the Council to maintain the administrative

Obituaries

flexibility required for the proper pursuit of scientific research. As a result, his advice was widely sought, not only by administrative colleagues, but also by research workers throughout a wide range of disciplines. Appreciation of his service to the research community beyond the field of the Medical Research Council was recorded in 1962, when the Royal Society paid him the rare distinction of awarding him the Buchanan Medal in recognition of his outstanding ability as an administrator in research. The appointments of distinction which Sir Landsborough held are too many to list in full, but they include the Presidency of the British Ornithologists' Union 1948-55, the Chairmanship of the British Trust for Ornithology and of the British Ornithologists' Club, Honorary Membership of the American and French Ornithological Societies, Presidency of the Zoological Society of London (the reorganisation of which he directed in collaboration with Sir Solly Zuckerman), and latterly Chairmanship of the Council for Nature from 1964 to 1969, and Chairmanship of the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) from 1967 to 1969. His awards included the two premier awards in the field of Ornithology, the Godman-Salvin Medal of the British Ornithologists' Union, and the Bernard Tucker Medal of the British Trust for Ornithology. Sir Landsborough's books on bird migration are still valued as the standard works on the subjects (although written mainly in the 192os and 30s) and it is for his work in the field of migration that Sir Landsborough was best known to naturalists. Perhaps his greatest contribution, and probably the finest memorial to his work was the publication in 1962 of "A New Dictionary of Birds" which he edited and which covered the birds of the world in no less than half a million words. Sir Landsborough continued writing throughout his life, and the second volume of his history of the Medical Research Council, "Half a Century of Research", was published as recently as 1975. Despite Sir Landsborough's eminence, he had a reputation for avoiding pedantry and undue ceremony and for the love of the informality which he could enjoy through participation in bird watching excursions with young enthusiasts. He was, of course, an Honorary President of the Club. Robert Bertram Williamson (1906-18) a former President of the Club died on zo July 1976 at the age of seventy-five. The following tribute was received from the then President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen, G. F. Collie (1916-26): "The death of Bertram Williamson after a short illness brings to an end a remarkable life of great public service to Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland. "In all of his many activities people will remember him not only for his professional ability and far-sightedness, which was considerable but for his tact and warmth of personality. "Growing up during and just after the First World War at Aberdeen Grammar School his membership of the 9th (Grammar School) Troop

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine of Boy Scouts formed the basis of many life-long friendships. After school, he continued with the Scouts to become Commissioner. At Aberdeen University he graduated with distinction in Law, and after a brief spell in Edinburgh, was for nearly fifty years a partner in Paull and Williamsons. "Having served in the 51st Highland Division Signals as a territorial, the outbreak of war in 1939 took him, at the age of thirty-eight, to France. In the brief, but fast-moving campaign which ended in his being taken prisoner of war at St. Valery in June 1940, he earned a well-deserved D.s.o. "The five long years away from his wife and young family he bore with tolerance and engaged himself typically in helping others. In acting as interpreter and running the camp canteen. `Bertie' Williamson will be remembered with affection by many ex P.O.W.s. "From his return in 1945 he and his brother Sir George Williamson (1904-12) (whose death in Australia in June 1975 was recorded in last year's Magazine) set about the task of developing the legal firm of Paull and Williamsons which had been in the able but elderly hands of their father R. M. Williamson and the late J. G. Paull. "In the course of this R.B., as he was known to many friends and colleagues to distinguish him from his brother G.A., moved through a series of activities any one of which would have satisfied lesser men— directorships of many commercial companies, secretary of the Aberdeen Granite Association, Secretary of Albyn School for Girls, ViceChairman of the business committee of the General Council of Aberdeen University and Aberdeen Association of Social Services. "He was also honorary Manager of Aberdeen Savings Bank, Chairman of Deeford Church of Scotland Home for Working Lads, an enthusiastic bee-keeper and a keen gardener. "It was perhaps in his Chairmanship of Richards Limited that he found his greatest satisfaction and found an outlet for his curiosity in matters mechanical, his astuteness and far-sightedness in matters financial and commercial—but above all, his judgment in building a team of men of ability and his warmth and humanity in enabling that team to work together with such manifest success. "Bertram was a great `creator' and nowhere more so than in his home and garden. To everything he applied a schoolboy curiosity and inquisitiveness to know not only how a thing worked, but why it did, which he applied to people and machines alike. "He will be greatly missed in many walks of life." Ronald Sutherland Wood (1938-5o) died at his home in Aberdeen on 15 July 1976, at the age of forty-two. He was a Director of the family trawl owning business, George Wood (Aberdeen) Limited, Albert Quay, Aberdeen. 86

New Members of the Club (April 1976-April 1977) Life Members (Including conversions from Ordinary to Life Membership) BAVIDGE, D. D. (1964-70) BINNER, R. A. (1960-68) CAIRNS, A. H. (1943- 56) CALDER, R. I. G. (1945- 50 CLARK, G. M. (1966-72) CRAIG, R. S. (1940-52) DAVIDSON, J. B. (1947-60) FLETT, J. (1963-69) FOWLIE, D. A. (1944-57) FIFE, D. G. (1968-71) GLENTWORTH, G. (1948-6i) GRATTIDGE, M. A. (1962-68) GRAY, A. A. (1959-62) GRAY, Dr. A. J. (1932-45) HENDERSON, M. J. G. (1946-59) HENDERSON, S. I. (1932-38)

HUNTER, J. G. (1963-76) INGLIS, J. E. (1957-64) LAWSON, J. (1958-61) MALLOCH, H. A. (1970-76) MIDDLETON, D. C. (1965-71) McKoREENDALE, K. A. (1969-72)

McI.Nrroso, R. P. (1946-52) McLEoo, D. I. K. (1952-54) NEAVE, R. J. (1959-63) PHILIP, I. B. (1956-68) SHEARER, Dr. A. F. (1959-65) STEWART, P. J. N. (1932-63) SUTHERLAND, B. (1963-69) THOMSON, Dr. A. D. (1951-64) URQUHART, W. S. (1955-69) YEATS, I. M. (1946-59)

Ordinary Members ADAM, R. W. (1929-33) ALLAN, G. J. G. (1963-76) ANDERSON, E. S. (1971-77) ANDERSON, G. J. (1470-76) ANDERSON, R. F. G. (T951-56) ANGUS, B. (1960-69) ARGO, D. W. (1971-76) BAIN, E. G. (1963-76) BAVIDGE, P. H. (1964-76) BEGG, C. M. S. (1968-74) BEVERIDGE, S. A. (1971-72) BLAXTER, T. J. (1963-69) Boom, A. A. (1970-76) BOWMAN, P. A. (1970-75) BRADFORD, C. N. (1947- 56) BUTHLAY, 1. (1960-73) BYRES, M. H. (1960-69) CALDER, G. A. (1964-76) CAMPBELL, B. J. (1964-76) CAMPBELL, J. H. (1959-63) CARSEY, N. R. (1970-76) CARSON, G. T. (1971-76) CARTER, K. C. (1962-68) CHITTLEBURGH, M. G. (1971-76) CLARK, M. G. (1969-74) COOK, D. E. (1968-69) COSTELLO, P. M. (1959-65) COWIE, A. A. (1971-76)

CRICHTON, N. T. (1963-76) CURRAN, J. W. (1963-69) DAVIDSON; S. J. (1967-73) DAVIE, N. F. (1968-70) DINNES, A. J. (1967-72) DONALDSON, J. M. R. (1955-68) DOUGLAS, A. R. (1970-72) DUFF, T. A. V. (1960-68) DUGUID, P. W. (1958-71) DUTHIE, G. S. (1964-77) EDWARD, M. L. (1971-76) EDWARDS, P. G. (1956-69) ENSUE, N. (1959-70) ESSON, S. J. C. (1952-64) FINNIE, J. (1967-72) FORBES, D. (1958-64) FORSYTII, L. J. (1963-76) FRASER, N. A. (1961-74) FRASER, W. G. (1968-70) GALL, A. (1963-75) GARDEN, A. H. (197o-76) GIBSON, A. R. (1963-76) GILL, B. H. (1956-60) GILBERT, S. T. (1968-74) GORDON, E. B. (1971-76) GOVE, A. J. (1961-63) GRAY, W. A. (1972-76) GREGOR, A. (1971-76)

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

GREIG, K. J. 404-74 HANNAFORD, P. C. (1973-76) HEAL; B. (1966-72) HENDRY, I. J. (197o-76) HENRY, C. M. (1963-76) HOLMAN, C. T. (1968-75) I loop, A. W. (i970-76) Home, A. R. (1963-76) Howie, D. N. (196o-61) HUMPHRIES, M. R. (1974-76) INGLIS, J. E. (1957-64) IRVINE, G. W. (1965-71) JACKSON, D. K. (1970-76) JAMIESON, I. F. (1968-74) JEILMIESON, A. (1959-65) JOHNSTONE, J. F. (1969- 74) KEAY, J. M. (1948-56) KELLY, M. P. (1974- 76) KELLY, P. J. (1970-76) KIDD, D. C. S. (1969-72) KING, A. (1954-59) LAING, D. (1960-66) LAMB, D. E. (1971-75) LAMONT, G. A. (1964- 77) LENNIE, D. R. (1963-76) Low, G. (1972-76) LYNCH, D. (1963-76) LYNCH, M. J. (1958-72) LYON, A. A. (1961-67) MACK, J. (1967-73) MAIN, J. (1961-63) MANN, R. A. M. (1956-68) MARION; P. E. (1971-76) MARSHALL, A. W. (1971-76) MASSON, R. A. L. (1954-67) MATHIESON, M. C. A. (1944-56) MELDRUM, M. D. (1971-76) MERSON, R. J. (1963-69) MILLAR, D. G. (1948-61) MILNE, A. C. (1953-61) MITCHELL, D. G. (1963-76) MORRIS, H. D. (1969- 74) MCBAIN, A. (1964-69) MACDONALD, B. (1945-51) MACDONALD, K. (197o-76) McEwEN, K. J. (1962-68) MCINTOSH, C. S. (1952-58) MACKAY, A. W. R. (1967-73) McKlmmin, I. E. (1967-68) MCLEOD, B. (1973-77) MCLENNAN, F. F. (1963-76) MCPHERSON, A. E. (1965-69)

McWILLIAm, P. G. A. (1961-62) NUTTEN, I. W. (1965-69) PETRIE, A. R. (1972-77) PETRIE, M. W. (1964-76) PHILIPS, R. J. (1958-71) PIRIE, H. S. (1949-55) PORTER, A. J. (1961-72) REED, D. (1967-70 REED, G. G. (1963-69) REED, 1. A. (1951-63) REED, I. (1972-76) RICKABY, J. R. (1963- 74) ROBB, M. I. (1964-70) ROBERTSON, I. (1969-75) ROBERTSON, J. D. (1971-76) ROBERTSON, N. (1959-63) ROBERTSON, P. M. (1967-73) ROBINSON, G. C. ( ) Ross, D. A. (1967-73) Ross, Miss F. D. (1973-77) Ross, N. A. R. (1970- 74) SCOTT, C. McG. (1968-74) Scorr, R. W. (1983-76) SHARP, J. 0. (1970-76) SHARP, P. J. (1964- 77) SHEARER, J. M. (1955-68) SHEARER, R. D. (1954- 67) SHEWAN, A. B. (1949-62) Sim, G. C. (1966-72) SMITH, B. A. Mc. (1958-6;) SMITH, B. L. (1972-76) SMITH, G. Mc. (1965-71) SOUTTER, A. (1963-76) STEELE, L. D. (1970-76) STEPHEN, D. (1970-76) STEWART, A. D. (1962-76) STOBBIE, M. G. (1962-76) STRACIIAN, I. C. (1963-76) SUMMERS, D. (1950-64) SUTHERLAND, G. (1967-73) SWAN, C. B. (1971-76) SWINBL'RN, A. V. (1964-7o) TAIT, A. R. Mc. (1968-74) TAYLOR, A. (1964- 75) TAYLOR, G. I. (1959- 64) TAYLOR, W. J. (1962-69) TEES, P. C. (1967-63) THAIN, A. (1964-70) TilomsoN, J. (1947- 5 1) TODD, 13. (1970-75) TOOREN, M. V. D. (1963-68) TURNER, A. A. (1965-7o)

Aberdeen Grammar School Amenities Fund WAITE, A. J. O959-7O WAIT, F. (195I-62) WATT, W. F. (1971-77) WATSON, A. G. (1970-73) WILKINSON, G. (1954-67)

WILLIAMS, S. G. P. (2963-76) WILLOX, K. (1941-52) Woon, N. R. (1964-7o) WOOD, W. I. (1970-76) YULE, G. K. (1963-67)

Staff Members

NucENT, R. J. STONE, Mrs. A. C.

BRucE,D. R. DUNCAN, R. B. MORRIS, D.

Aberdeen Grammar School Amenities Fund REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1971

£41f Interest from investments (net) 298 Income Tax recoverable

£424 229

£613

£653

£63i Grants made 16 Honoraria and Administration Expenses

£622 28 65o

£649 £4 Surplus carried to Balance Sheet

£3

BALANCE SHEET

£1,174 302 113

INVESTMENTS-AI COSI SUNDRY DEBTORS BANK OF SCOTLAND-CURRENT ACCOUNT

£1,929 Represented by: £1,997 CAPITAL ACCOUNT

(68) REVENUE ACCOUNT SUNDRY CREDITORS

£1.929

£5,627 5c6 201

£6,334

£5,997 (1 41 ) 478 £6,334

•'llierdeen Grammar School Magazine

Abstracts of Accounts for year ended 31 December 1976 F.P. Club Income and Expenditure Account 1 97/ £4I8 Subscriptions 937 Revenue from Investments (Gross) 131 Transfer from Life Member Capital Fund at 5?„ 212 Magazine Sales and Advertising Revenue 2,100 Donation from Club Centre 27 Miscellaneous Income

£614 595 6c9 307 3,950 48 £6,173

£1,i63 £97r 1,177 386 8r 44 16o 1,227 df

Working Expenses, including Honoraria Loan Interest Income Tax School and Trophy Medals Capitation Grants Expenses of Visits to Other Centres Magazine—Cost of Printing and Postagcs Miscellaneous Expenditure

£1,412 2,400 — 103 15o 437 1,85o 237 6,589

£4,Io9 £(246)

£(416) 1,O71

DEFICIT FOR YEAR

— Income Tax recovered for prior years £(246) BALANCE TRANSFERRED TO CAPITAL ACCOUNT

£655

BALANCE SHEET

£8,081 7,142 4, 846 2,678 4,774

HERITABLE PROPERTY—At cost less loans INVESTMENTS—At cost ROBERT G. WILSON BEQUEST INVESTMENTS LIFE ASSURANCE POLICY—Premiums paid SUNDRY DEBTORS CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND

£7,12 3 5,142 1,1 54

5,654 4,86o 3,936 £27,869

£ 21,1 21

Less: £1,031 410

SUNDRY CREDITORS ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE

£2,1 57 435

£1,141

2,59 2

£24,0 80

£25,277

Represented by: £701 12,743

70,6:0 200

£24,0 80

ENTERTAINMENTS RESERVE LIFE MEMBER CAPITAL FUND CAPITAL ACCOUNT ROBERT G. WILSON BEQUEST FUND OTHER FUNDS

£478 12,5 24

I0,825 1,25O 20O

£25,277

Club Centre

Club Centre INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1971 £14,134 2,906

Gross Profit on Bar (Sales 52,57r 0975 -38.360D Annual Subscriptions 7,10y Gaming Machine Revenue (net) 711 Other Income

£20,469

5,431 6,801 976 £33,694

£23,061 £7,069 2,32f 1,934 306 1,212

2,100 1,119 111

— 171 1,144 O8

Wages and National Insurance Rates, Insurance and Feuduty Heating and Lighting Telephone Repairs and Maintenance Donation to F.P. Club Other Donations and Interest Administration Expenses Steward's Pension Scheme Honoraria (2 years) Miscellaneous Expenses, Cleaning etc. Depreciation

£I 1,046 2 448 3,082 376 1 ,993 3.950 1,460 6 35 522 1,700

1,426 972 29,710

L19,371 £3,689

SURPLUS FOR YEAR

£3,984

BALANCE SHEET FIXED ASSETS £ 1,711

Furniture, Fittings and Equipment—At cost less depreciation

£1,106

CURRENT ASSETS

Loan Account—A.G.S.F.P. Club Stock in Hand Sundry Debtors 44 Cash in Hand

3,140 1,072

£51,840 4,25 2 1,708 490

£13,768

£58, 290

£ 48,882

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Sundry Creditors 2,812 Subscriptions in Advance 10,613 Bank Overdraft

£14,871

£15,910 3,353 8,311

£28,300

£27,574 30,716

£21,468 £31, 213 y,i73

Less: LONG TERM LOANS

£21,838 NET ASSETS

£36,222 8,975 -£27,247

Represented by: £1,397 16,441

£21,838

CAPITAL ACCOUNT—Appeal Fund and Other Donations SURPLUSES

£6,822 20,425 £27,247