AGS Magazine June 1982

THE

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOU MAGAZINE

ABERDEEN

prirtad for The Former Pupils' Club at Volumc 85

University Press June 1982

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 98th year No. 220 (New Series 87th year No. 211)

JUNE 1982

Vol. 85

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

David K. Yule, M.A., 11 Kinkel! Road, Aberdeen AB1 8HQ

Editor of the School Section

William D. Hall, M.A., 45 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen AB2 4AX

Editor of Notes, Obituaries and Marriages

Alan G. Campbell, LL.B., 22 Rosebery Street, Aberdeen AB2 4LL

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 1983.

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

CONTENTS General Section— Rector's Message . . . . . .

President's Report . .

Civil Defence in the United Kingdom . . . .

Professor J. J. R. Macleod (1884-93): Physiology Fifty Years On .

John Scott: Another Great F.P. of Nineteenth Century Literature .

From Pupil to Teacher, from Aberdeen to Kenya . . .

The Houston Trip . . . . . . . .

page •• ,.

•• ,. .. ..

3 3 5 11 13 17 18

.

•. ,. ..

•. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

20 20 22 24 26 27 28 29 40 40 45 49 50 51 51 52 52

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•.

53 55 56 58 60 69 70 76 78 85 94

School Section— School Office-Bearers . . . .

Random Notes . . . . .

Prefects' Notes . . . .

Mr Ron(nie) McLeod . . . . . . . . . . .

Staff Changes.

Mr W. D. Hall .

Music Notes . . . . . . .

School Sporting Activities . . . .

Schools Hockey Internationalists Combined Cadet Force . . . .

Clubs and Societies Staff Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . . .

Total Award: Paris Trip 1981 .

BP Schools Essay Competition, 1981.82 . . . . . . .

"Mor Bheinn", 4 .

Coinputers in Aberdeen Grammar School .

A .G.S. Markdorf Exchange . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

. .

. . .

.

.

. . .

. . . . . . . . .

Former Pupils' Section— .

• • Club Office-Bearers • • Annual General Meeting.

Our President . .

Annual Dinner . . . . .

Notes about Former Pupils .

Marriages .

• • • Obituaries . . .

• • Centre Reports . .

Section Reports Reunion of the Class of 1956 .

Abstracts of Accounts for year ending 3 I st December 1981

.

•

•• •• •• •• •• • •

Illustrations— Mr McLeod . . . . .

Head Girl and Head Boy 1981-82 Schools Hockey Internationalists 1981-82 .

A Fine Body of Girls . . . .

• Club President 1982.83 . . . .

A.G.S.F.P. Cricket VII . . . .

The Class of 1956 .

• •

. . .

• . .

.

.

• .

. .

•. .. ., .. .. ..

25 25 41 43 57 79 91

The Rector's Message Plus ya change. plus c'est la name chose—how true that maxim is when applied to the attitudes of people towards Aberdeen Grammar School.

Throughout its long history, Aberdeen Grammar School has been loved, admired, respected, envied, criticised and maligned. Today another chapter in the same vein is being written. How bewildering it must be for many who have been reading recently in the press, local and national, of the effect of the Parents' Charter which became law as from 15th February of this year. On the one hand they read of very considerable numbers of parents opting to send their children to Aberdeen Grammar School in preference to the school of their area—to date some 180 pupils have been enrolled in this category. On the other hand they read that this has caused surprise in some official quarters and has evoked comments such as 'elitist', 'posh' and 'snobbish' among others, when referring to the school.

Parents arc not required to give reasons for selecting a particular school and I would not presume to offer any for those who have opted for our school. As Rector of the School I feel it appropriate however to take this opportunity to respond to recent comments by pointing out that Aberdeen Grammar School is one of the most truly comprehensive schools in the area. It has a broad spectrum of intellectual ability and social mix, with its pupils coming from many areas of the city long before the Charter was introduced. If, by definition, a comprehensive secondary school is one containing a cross-section of the community, then Aberdeen Grammar School is indeed such a school.

The School has enjoyed success during the past year. Academically and in the many extra-curricular activities the high standards expected of our pupils have been maintained. Such successes are not achieved without the enthusiasm and support of the staff and I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of their efforts.

The retiral, after 37 years, of Mr. McLeod, Principal Teacher of Classics signifies in a way the end of the classical era. Because the number of pupils opting to study Latin has fallen over the years in our school (as in others across the country) the new post of Principal Teacher Classics/Russian has been created and this will be held by Mr. Galloway who is currently Principal Teacher Russian. We wish him success in his new role. An appreciation of Mr McLeod's career in Aberdeen Grammar School appears elsewhere in this Magazine. but I should like to express my personal thanks to him and to wish him and his good lady a long and happy retirement.

Mrs. Dutch has also retired at Easter, having been a Principal Teacher Guidance and English teacher in Aberdeen Grammar School for 7 years. I would thank her too for her valuable contribution and wish her also a long and happy retirement.

One other item of staff news, on a sadder note, was the untimely death of Mrs. Galloway last September. A valued colleague in the Chemistry Department, she won the respect of staff and pupils alike by her sincerity and genuine interest in her classes.

Finally, I would once again thank the F.P. Club and individual F.P.s for their continuing interest in the School.

President's Report The position as president of the FP Club is unusual and rather similar to that of a courtesan especially if he is a home president. He can spend the whole winter travelling the country and being dined and wined at the expense of 3

4

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

club centres, or sections or other kindred organisations, but his only real duty is to chair the Aberdeen dinner and hope that the paying guests will enjoy themselves. He does not have the trouble or responsibility of sitting through committee meetings making financial or other decisions, or organising anything but is, to all intents and purposes, a figurehead representing the Club, having received this accolade for services rendered in the past.

I must say that I have found the experience to be very pleasant and varied.

The centre dinners are all very pleasant in character but each is memorable in its own way. The couthy friendly get together of the Yorkshire centre all very informal and friendly is reminiscent of scripture—"Where two or three are gathered together." As Yorkshire is a large county, most of those attending spend the night in the hotel, so that not only do the party dine together but also see each other in the sobriety of Saturday morning and breakfast together.

There is real value for money as the proceedings also include the centre general meeting. All praise to the officials, who, despite all difficulties, keep this far flung but enthusiastic centre active.

On to London, and what a complete contrast. A dinner held in the splendour of the dining room of the Caledonian Club with tables set in a manner to complement the surroundings, and of course (this has been going on for years, as pre-war Magazine photographs show), the wives of members in their best finery. This year this dinner was made the more memorable by a magnificent speech by Doug Smith which few who heard it will forget. The sad feature was that London being the size it is, by midnight most members had to leave to catch trains home.

The Edinburgh dinner, strictly all male and held on the eve of the Calcutta Cup match, had its numbers considerably boosted by home F.P.s in Edinburgh for the match and it is very pleasant to see this development. This dinner was also made very memorable by the chairmanship of Mor Brown, the Edinburgh President, and a quite outstanding speech by Lord Birsay.

School activities have also to be attended, the prize giving, Christmas carol service, concert, welcome to school leavers,—all very pleasant and again no responsibility. I find it very interesting to see all the boys and girls in school uniform, when I remember how in my time at school, apart from those with first fifteen colours, hardly a blazer was to be seen in the upper school.

And so the year comes to an end with happy and memorable occasions and a knowledge that the rector and his staff are very keen to support tradition and the Club and to keep the connection as close as possible.

One or two sad thoughts, however, in conclusion. The Club Centre has proved to be a wonderful success, but I can only say how sorry I am that so few of my contemporaries have seen fit to join. Amongst F.P.s out of town it has become the place to visit when in Aberdeen and it has been very sad for me, when questions are asked about individuals, to tell the enquirer that the person in question will not join. The subscription is so small that one would have thought that membership would be automatically taken with membership of the Club.

Secondly, and this is no new development, it is again sad that so few former members of sports sections (who in their day complained bitterly about lack of support) fail to support the present day sections. Surely an occasional visit to Rubislaw would not be out of place.

However, nothing in life is perfect and I can certainly confirm that the Club is in good heart and can wish the very best to Jim Watt, my successor, with confidence.

NEIL I. W. MELDRUM (1925-37), M.A. LL.B.

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6

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

would recover from any nuclear assault would depend on the scale of the attack and on what is done before and after to mitigate its effects. This is what civil defence is all about; ensuring, as best we can within our means, the survival of people whose lives would otherwise be thrown away, and enhancing the basis of their rehabilitation. "As best we can" currently equates with about £40m per annum, that is, about 70 pence per annum for every man, woman and child in this country: but before anyone calls this a derisory amount wholly out of proportion to our spending on defence proper let me make the point that in - before you defence proper you have to invest hundreds of millions of pounds begin to get anywhere, whereas, in civil defence, the pay-off starts with the first pound you spend. And whilst on this tack let's beware of regarding as exemplary the Swedes and the Swiss, who have invested so heavily in civil defence. The other side of that coin is that neither of these countries is doing anything positive to prevent that happening against which they are preparing, so their civil defence policies must always stand in danger of becoming selffulfilling prophecies. If your aim is to prevent war, and you're staking your money on deterrence, then the amount of your investment in civil defence is influenced accordingly. I'd say that the Government has got the balance just about right—in policy and in funding.

So now to business, and first to the assumptions on which civil defence planning is based: these relate to the discernible warning of any attack on the West and the subsequent course of events. Obviously, these can be no more than 'informed guesses', based on the best political and military intelligence available to the Government and its allies. These planning assumptions are: (a) that there will be no more than seven days discernible warning that an attack on the West is in preparation—and possibly less; (b) that any war in Europe will start with a period of non-nuclear operations. possibly lasting weeks rather than days, during which time a sustained, nonnuclear air offensive will be mounted against targets of military significance in this country. including embarkation ports and airfields; (c) that if no early political solution is reached, hostilities will 'go nuclear' and eventually go all the way to strategic nuclear war, at the outset of which this country will suffer a massive nuclear strike designed to put us quickly out of the reckoning; (d) that this strike will destroy the apparatus of central control and break the country down into incoherent communities in varying states of physical, social and economic isolation.

That, then, is the crescendo of events against which we have to plan. What are the implications of these assumptions? Firstly, the fact that we cannot now count on having more than seven days discernible warning of attack means that many of the preparatory measures that might otherwise be left until a war crisis was actually developing have now got to be brought forward and become part of normal fife—as witness, for a start, the Government's new policy of more openness on civil defence, telling people now what they need to know about it and what they can do to help themselves in the unlikely event of war.

(And despite all the scorn and ridicule that pours from ignorant critics and paid workers in the public alarm industry, even the simplest self-help measures can greatly enhance the chances of survival of people no more than a few miles away from a nuclear burst). Secondly, our institutional emergency services lack the reserves of manpower and other resources needed to cope with a long period of extra-ordinary demand; which means that a sustained conventional air offensive against this country will soon find them overstretched and having to rely more and more on community self-help and voluntary support. And, thirdly. the prospect of widespread breakdown of communica-

Civil Defence in the United Kingdom

7

dons and services following any massive nuclear strike on this country means that local communities must be prepared to look after and support themselves, unaided, for some weeks after attack; which explains the emphasis now being given to community involvement and voluntary effort in civil defence—hence my appointment as co-ordinator of this effort in England and Wales and that of Mr Frank Armstrong for Scotland (lucky chap!). What we have to try to do is to build into communities a capacity to react spontaneously to emergency rather than to await institutional service. The prospect of general disruption means, too, that the load in survival and recovery will fall on local services, local recources and local systems of control: which is why local government carries the main load in war emergency planning. And, above all, it explains why the vital element in the government's plans to see us through the worst that might happen is the timely decentralisation of government and devolution of control of essential services. The idea is that when, in any developing war crisis, the Government judges that nuclear attack may be imminent, responsibility for all the internal functions of central government will be handed over to a nationwide system of regional and local wartime government headquarters. Local authorities as we now know them will go into suspended animation; by direction of central government the chief executive of each will take over from his council as the local governing authority and by grant of special powers become responsible for directing the whole process of survival and recovery in his bailiwick. At the same time selected Ministers of the Crown will be empowered as commissioners within the regional system, but their place will be in the wings until such time after attack as they can effectively come into the act. In his headquarters, each local Controller will be served by a small staff of pre-selected local government officers and be supported by a very small emergency committee of councillors to give him advice on policy—when asked—and to keep him in two-way touch with the surviving community. This is the so-called "machinery of government in war", but we mustn't expect to see this regional system swing into concerted action as soon as the survivors surface to take stock. Damage to communications of every sort will rule this out and, until such time as the situation is sufficiently restored to allow higher authorities to intervene effectively, those at the lower levels of control will have to operate on their own and for the good of their own communities.

One other important aspect of civil defence planning rates a mention at this point—the Government's policy on evacuation and shelter. For many years these have been closely linked in a policy that has been essentially negative— the 'stay-put' policy, under which no arrangements have been made to move people from likely target areas. Instead, the idea has been that in any developing war crisis the Government will aim to persuade people that their best hope of survival will lie in sitting tight in D.I.Y. refuges in their homes until told by their local controller that it is radiologically safe for them to come out. In defence of this policy it can be fairly said that in face of imminent nuclear attack one could scarcely contemplate the implications of attempting any rapid and controlled evacuation of some tens of millions of people from our urban centres to reception areas, that city-dwellers who spontaneously head for the wide-open spaces may well be placing themselves at great risk from radioactive fall-out, and that the authorities on whose mercies they throw themselves cannot be expected to have made provision to recieve them and care for them.

Furthermore, exodus is catching, and it would be foolhardy of people to leave the relative security of their homes in our smaller `untargetted . towns and cities just because they knew that the main urban complexes were being deserted by their inhabitants. On the other hand, it has not been right to hang the whole of the stay-put policy on the menace of radioactive fall-out and to take no proper account of the heat and blast effects of nuclear and other

8

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

weapons. But it must be said that when taxed with the question 'why no deep shelters for the population?' Ministers have invariably come out with the truth—we cannot afford the tens of billions of pounds that such a programme would cost, and in any case, so long as we maintain an effective defence in concert with our allies, the risk of war is not of an order to justify such an expenditure of public funds. This has been the policy situation for many years—on the one hand 'stay-put' as an unhappy compromise and, on the other, no communal shelter provision even for those in greatest need save for the recent charging of local authorities to survey such premises as would lend themselves to this purpose at tolerable cost in improving the protective factor against fall-out. However, the need now to plan to ride-out an extended period of non-nuclear air attack may lead to some modification of the 'stayput' policy to allow the emergency evacuation of certain classes of the population from likely target areas. And as to shelter, attention is being turned to the possibility of exploiting and developing the life-saving potential of certain existing underground facilities and systems.

Well, so much for policy, for the organisation and for the principal leads.

What about the action? And here I'm not going to dwell on the problems we face in devising war emergency plans across all vital sectors in our national life and economy that are not only sound in themselves, but of a kind, so that if ever war threatens we may achieve a well co-ordinated transition of the country from a peace to a war footing on the prompting of central government. Suffice to say that although very substantial headway has been made over the past few years, we still have a long way to go, and progress has slowed following last year's local elections. Nor am I going to dwell on the difficulties of contending with any sustained, non-nuclear, air offensive against this country. We may reflect we have been through all this only a generation ago, and weathered it, but there's more to it than this. Next time round, should it ever come, there will be the need throughout to keep ourselves braced against the possibility of nuclear attack with little warning; an entirely novel circumstance that will face every life support service—not least the wartime health service and its voluntary support—with the problem of choosing between the conflicting strategies and priorities of conventional and nuclear war. No, in the knowledge that interest in civil defence generally centres on its effectiveness in nuclear war, let us just imagine that at some time in the future a serious conflict of interests develops between East and West, that the Western leaders' best endeavours to avert war are unavailing, likewise their efforts to achieve an early political solution to the ensuing conflict; further, that under pressure of events all rational war aims are progressively abandoned and operations escalate ultimately to strategic nuclear war, at which stage this country suffers a disabling nuclear strike. In other words, let us go straight to the ultimate contingency—the battle of survival and recovery after nuclear attack.

For it will be a battle—a battle whose final out-turn w►ll be decided in the beginning at the lowest local level; a battle fought initially within communities by community leaders, and by local controllers and their staffs; not by the remnants of central government departments but by their wartime field organisations, not by a so-called elite in their so-called bunkers and certainly not fought by committees; a battle whose salient features will be the authority of relatively low level controllers over every service and facility in their bailiwicks and the charge on them to mobilise and manage surviving resources in the most effective way for recovery; a battle merging into a long war of attrition between man and an unsympathetic environment, in which his most valuable resources may be as much of the spirit as physical.

So what will we face in this predicament? Well, the over-riding factor is the industrial and economic texture of the country. Even in this small, highly industrialised and crowded island the likely nuclear target systems are well

Civil Defence in the United Kingdom

9

scattered, with the few nodes of industrial muscle that absorb two-fifths of the population lying close to the sea or to open country in which are only a small number of targets inviting nuclear attack. If we've got the enemy's strategy more or less right, he'll now go for our retaliatory strike bases, some other top priority military targets, centres ofcon trol, our ports, and centres ofindustry and population. Such an attack, successfully delivered, would lay waste most of the main urban complexes by blast and fire and blanket most of the country with radio-active dust, but leave physically undamaged much the greater part of the country and most of the smaller cities and towns. For these areas of the country, and for any urban survivors, the main danger will lie in radiation from fall-out dust, and the main hope ofsurvival will rest in people having gone to ground in refuges in their homes before the attack, and being prepared to stay there until 'released' by their Controller: for some this could mean sheltering for only a precautionary day or two; for others it could mean up to a fortnight, or even more. Despite the massive injury to our main urban complexes, which might see four-fdths °four productive industrial capacity knocked out, millions of people are likely to live through such an attack, to be cared for and led through a purposeful regeneration.

And what about the other effects of the attack? Many of the centres of wartime government will have been knocked out and the gaps will have to be filled as best we can. In the beginning, local self-help will be the order of the day. Damage to transport systems will make it difficult, if not impossible, to send help where it is needed, even if surpluses arc available for transfer and those in charge know where to send them: so our plans must assume that in hard-hit areas there will at first be little capacity for mutual support beyond "walking distance". Above all, communications will be wrecked in many areas, which means that information will be scarce and swamped by rumour.

And all the extremes of hardship that this implies will be hitting a battered, shocked, sick, dirty, deprived, hungry and isolated people: people who have grown up in all the ease, and comfort, and benefits and orderliness of life in a modern, advanced, industrial, democratic society. There will always be those in whom the will to win through will be unquenchable, but there will be others who, as time goes on, will grow more and more weary of the immense effort of adapting to primitive ways of life and methods of work, more and more distressed by the mounting toll of radiation sickness, and more and more resentful of their fate. And not only resentful of their fate, but, given any chance at all for complaint or grievance, resentful of authority. Indeed, we know that such is the capacity of the human mind for self protection that in such a situation it tends to turn, not against those who have brought it about, but against those who are trying to put things right.

All of which suggests that, in the aftermath of nuclear war, the one quality that is going to count above all else is leadership, and with it the ability of the crisis managers to achieve a satisfactory proportion of sound decisions in all the 'noise' of the nuclear aftermath: and to do this without that time-consuming, wasteful and debilitating anxiety that we call indecision. Everything will hang on this leadership at the top, for if the morale of the survivors is going to be sustained—which is just another way of saying if the battle of recovery is going to be won—then those in authority over others will have to be able to win their support; there will be no means ofcommanding it; the surviving police and military forces will be far too few to support any rule by force, even if this were ever to be contemplated. If they are to win this support and so achieve effective government by consensus, those leading the way must be able to spell out their objectives, to persuade people that these objectives are sensible and in the common good, and to gain their approval for the measures and methods by which they mean to attain them, however tough and uncompromising these might seem.

Now this very general review of the likely effects of nuclear attack on this

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country must not lead us to think that there will be any uniformity of misfortune across the country after attack, that we'll all be in the same boat and all face the same challenges in survival and recovery. As I have implied, the chances are that large parts of the country will come through more or less undamaged by blast or fire; once any fall-out radiation has decayed, they'll find themselves having to cope with a massive influx of refugees and to pull through without outside help or supplies of any sort and in varying degrees of social, physical and economic isolation.

But in these areas communications will have very largely survived, so the battle won't have to be fought at the lowest levels for very long; the link-up with higher levels of government will come about fairly quickly, and the leaders at these levels should be well placed to deploy resources across local boundaries where necessary and to embark on programmes of recovery. And just as communications will be the key to speedier recovery in the less damaged areas, by much the same token one would expect to see in these areas the earliest moves towards a return to democratic processes and democratic control, should this be the people's will. Elsewhere the picture will be very different. The main target areas will be so badly damaged as to be beyond self-help, and will have to await the time when adjoining areas get sufficiently on their feet to come to their aid, whilst in between these extremes will lie those parts of the country that have been hit hard, but haven't suffered a technical knock out, and so find themselves poised between recovery or further deterioration. Unless they can at once begin to revive, such areas will tend to go rapidly towards collapse. It's in these win or lose situations, where things may seemingly go either way, that the quality at the top will be decisive. Under good leadership and effective management the initial position will be held whilst the survivors take a deep breath and recover from the shock; ground won't be lost by default; sensible and timely decisions will be seen to be taken; the community will react favourably; and life will be ordered surely, even if slowly, towards recovery. The point in all this is that the way things go in these areas that are left poised between recovery and collapse will almost certainly decide the ultimate fate of the country as a whole, and how things go in these areas will rest, above all, on the unconquerability of the human mind—which many seem so prone to discount, on the plans and preparations made beforehand, on the value of our training programmes and, as I say, on leadership, in the event.

Lloyd George observed that wars were decided on a balance of blunders and resources, and the same may well be true of the battle of recovery after nuclear attack, though one would hope not. Should such a catastrophe ever befall us, the biggest blunder we can make will be to keep harking back to how things used to be, or used to be done. What will be needed is the ability to see what needs to be done and how best to do it under the extraordinary circumstances of the time. And the more thinking we do about this in advance the better will be our understanding and the more favourable the prospects of success. Such is the tide of emotional rejection and so deep the cynicism of the leading advocates for unilateral disarmament that, in seeking to promote our preparedness against a contingency which, unhappily, we are powerless to prevent absolutely, I—and others with me—stand assailed as Dr Strangelove freaks, with a vested interest in the inevitability—indeed acceptability—of war, and nuclear war, at that. Not so. Whilst no one can predict the behaviour of totalitarian leaderships under internal stress, I don't think that any of the events I've discussed will come about, provided that we and our NATO partners stand firm and keep up our guard until the forces of liberalisation emerge supreme behind the Iron Curtain. Until that day, some element of risk of war will persist and we have to take account of it. To me, that makes sense.

L.D.M.

Professor J. J. R. Macleod (1884-93): Physiology Fifty Years On The following article is contributed by Professor Derek Ogston (1937-39, 46-47). who was appointed to the Regius Chair of Physiology at the University of Aberdeen in 1977, very nearly fifty years after the appointment to the same chair of Professor]. J. R. Macleod (1884-93). who won the Nobel Prize in 1923. and served as President of the F.P. Club in 1930-31.

Prior to his appointment to the Chair of Physiology, Professor ()pion had been a member of the staff of the University's Department of Medicine engaged in clinical care, teaching and research, and, in his appointment as Professor of Physiology, he retains this triple commitment. His principal research interest is in the field of haemostasis.

Fifty-four years ago John James Richard Macleod returned to his alma mater as the Regius Professor of Physiology in the University of Aberdeen: he was already distinguished as a recipient of the most prestigious award available to scientists, the Nobel Prize.

John Macleod was born at Cluny, near Dunkeld, in 1876, a son of the manse.

His education, started at the Grammar School in the years 1884 to 1893, was continued at the University of Aberdeen from where he graduated M.B., Ch.B. in 1898. After a short period of postgraduate study on the continent and in London he migrated to the United States, taking up an appointment at the Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His reputation as a teacher and an investigator in the field of carbohydrate metabolism lcd to his appointment to the Chair of Physiology at the University of Toronto in 1918.

Diabetes mellitus is a common and important disease resulting from a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism described as early as the first century A.D. Through the classical experiments of Von Meting and Minkowski, reported in 1889, showing that the complete removal of the pancreas resulted in diabetes while implantation of a piece of gland under the skin prevented

this, it was established that the pancreas is the source of a hormone.

Subsequent attempts to prepare active extracts of pancreatic anti-diabetic agent were largely unsuccessful until Banting and Best, working in Macleod's laboratory in Toronto. succeeded in extracting the hormone from pancreas and reported in January 1922 that injections of the material, termed insulin,

reduced the high blood sugar and relieved the general toxic symptoms in patients with diabetes. Subsequent tests in various centres demonstrated the value of insulin in combating the manifestations of diabetes. Macleod's laboratory in which the work leading to the discovery of insulin was carried out has been reproduced in an exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with a display of a number of pieces of the original apparatus used: the facilities are a far cry from those of modern physiological or biochemical laboratories.

For the discovery of insulin Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923. However, not for the first time, nor the last, was the apportionment of honour for a scientific discovery the subject of controversy. The prize-jury has been blamed, partly for including Macleod since he had not taken an active part in the work and, indeed, had been away when the decisive experiment was carried out, and partly because Best was not given a share of the honour. Banting expressed his dissatisfaction by sharing his half of the prize with Best, whereupon Macleod gave a corresponding part of his to J. B. Collip who had participated with him in the purification and standardisation of insulin. In defence of Macleod there can be no doubt that his long background of research in carbohydrate metabolism and the facilities ii

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he was able to provide contributed significantly to the successful outcome of Banting and Best's experiments. In addition, following the isolation of insulin from pancreatic extracts. Macleod was instrumental in obtaining resources to expedite its final purification and to establish its availability on a scale appropriate for widespread therapeutic use.

Five decades have passed since Professor Macleod occupied the chair of Physiology at Aberdeen. During his tenure the Department was housed in its present site in Marischal College, but occupied only a part of two floors in comparison with the present four floors. In parallel with the expansion in accommodation, there has also been a substantial increase in staff numbers in common with many other University departments and in keeping with the increased number of students attending the University. In contrast to the five or six members of academic staff in Professor Macleod's time, there are now twelve lecturers and, in addition, the technical staff has multiplied to its present strength of sixteen. These increases arc even greater than may appear at first sight since Biochemistry, previously a branch of Physiology, separated to form an independent department in 1947: with the rapid growth of this discipline over the last few decades it is now a larger department than its parent. More recently, a further segment, that of Pharmacology, became a separate department in 1968: its first professor, Hans W. Kosterlitz, who has recently achieved international recognition for the discovery of enkephalins, having originally been attracted by Professor Macleod's reputation to join the Department of Physiology in 1936.

A further change from the 1930s lies in the orientation of the students studying Physiology. While the traditional and integral role for Physiology in the medical curriculum has not changed, its present contribution to degrees in biological sciences is reflected by the number of students taking a course in Physiology within the Faculty of Science. In comparison with the ratio of around 200 medical students (annual intake 100) to only two or three science students in the early 1930s, there are now some 250 medical students (annual intake 120) to 200 science students. A number of the science students take a full-time third and fourth year (Honours) course. Indeed, the importance of some knowledge of Physiology in a wide spectrum of occupations has led to the introduction of a one-year course available to students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Not surprisingly there are marked contrasts in the research interests and facilities available in the Department of Physiology between the 1930s and the present day. At the time of Professor Macleod the research endeavours were almost entirely directed towards his own area of interest, that of carbohydrate metabolism. Currently there is a wide spectrum of research projects being pursued by individual members of the Department, often in collaboration with staff from other departments, and utilising a range of sophisticated apparatus which is serviced by well-equipped mechanical and electronic workshops.

The technological advances are no better illustrated than by the ability to make electrical recordings from single cells with the use of very fine-tipped electrodes connected to precise electronic equipment and often coupled to a computer system. Such recordings from the inside of a range of single cells, including nerve and muscle cells, allow physiologists to obtain information on how the transmission of electrical activity along nerve and muscles takes place and how messages are passed onto neighbouring cells at synapses. In the Department there are current investigations into the effect of pressure, temperature, some chemicals and anaesthetic agents on giant nerve axons and neuromuscular junctions with the aim of determining the nature of the membrane machinery involving the carriage of minute quantities of ions across

John Scott: Another Great F.P. of Nineteenth Century Literature

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the cell membrane necessary for the generation of electrical activity in nerve and muscle cells. Further research projects are concerned with the nature of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) which transmit information between different parts of the brain.

In recent years there has been increasing inter-departmental co-operation in research projects. One collaborative project currently underway is in the field of fat tissue structure and function. Alterations in maternal body fat content are known to occur in human pregnancy, but neither the mechanisms responsible for these alterations nor their physiological significance are yet fully understood. In conjunction with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the relationship between the changing levels of circulating hormones in mothers at several stages during pregnancy and such factors as maternal total body fat content, fat distribution and the responsiveness of fat tissue to substances that control its metabolism are being investigated. The information obtained may have practical application in the management of maternal obesity. At the time of J. J. R. Macleod it had only begun to be appreciated that fat is not an inert tissue, but is metabolically very active: this project on fat tissue function in pregnancy is being executed in the context of the considerable body of detailed knowledge that has accumulated since then.

Collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics is also active in the field of blood clot formation and dissolution. Understanding of these processes was rudimentary in the 1930s, and the growth of knowledge in this area of physiology over the last few decades has been phenomenal with a proliferation in the number of blood components discovered to be involved. The current research programme is concerned with further elucidation of the factors which influence the mechanism for the dissolution of blood clots, and in the alterations in the mechanism which take place during normal pregnancy and in the complication of pregnancy termed pre-eclampsia.

Adding to the present diversity of research interests in the Department of Physiology are studies on the hormonal influences on the blood vessels of the human placenta, lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis, calcium metabolism in birds, the neural control of muscle performance and characteristics and the mechanisms underlying human vision.

The Department also provides an administrative base for an active unit examining the role of trace elements such as zinc and selenium in the physiology of man and in the causation of disease. This unit co-ordinates and collaborates with other departments within the University and with outside bodies such as the Rowett Research Institute and the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research.

The advances of knowledge taking place today are dependent on the foundations laid down by scientists of the past. J. J. R. Macleod's contribution to our understanding of carbohydrate metabolism and the alleviation of diabetes mellitus has been fully documented. Half a century later the spirit of Professor Macleod's endeavours continue to cast an influence on the present Department of Physiology.

DEREK OGST0N (1937-39, 46-47)

John Scott: Another Great F.P. of Nineteenth Century Literature "Who is Scott? What is his breeding and history? He is so decidedly the ablest of the weekly journalists and has so much excelled his illustrious namesake as a French tourist, that I feel considerable curiosity about him."

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So wrote Bishop Heber in the early nineteenth century, and it has to be regretted that for most of us even today his questions remain unanswered. This article cannot hope to satisfy fully the curiosity that Bishop Heber and others have felt about Scott's life and character, but it attempts rather to show why it is unfortunate that Scott has not received more recognition and attention, especially in Aberdeen, the place of his birth, and, more particularly, in this publication, the Magazine of his old school.

Scott entered Class IV of Aberdeen Grammar School in 1795, the same year as Byron entered a lower class, and maintained an acquaintance with Byron throughout his life. After Scott's death, Byron wrote, "Scott died like a brave man, and he lived an able one. A man of very considerable talents and of great acquirements he had made his way as a literary character with high success and in a few years." Such praise is all the more noteworthy, when one becomes aware that Scott had written a number of articles on Byron some of which are not as favourable to the poet (at least in dealing with Byron's private life) as one F.P. might wish from another!

The circumstances of Scott's death, to which Byron refers, could in themselves be sufficient justification for enduring, if sensational, celebrity, since he died, a young and successful literary figure, in a duel fought over a matter of principle, but characterised by tragic errors and misjudgements.

But Scott deserves to be remembered for more solid achievements. His was a literary success captured with the force and energy often associated with the Romantic Period, though of a less rebellious or self-conscious character than such a comparison may suggest.

He was born in Aberdeen in 1784, the son of an upholsterer in the city, and attended Aberdeen Grammar School from 1795 to 1796 before studying at Marischal College from 1796 to 1799. He did not remain at university for the fourth year necessary to graduate, but set off for London to seek his fortune at the age of only sixteen. While little appears to be written of Scott in general, details of his early life are particularly sparse, though there is a statement by Haydon, the painter, that he was "badly brought up and badly educated".

Haydon appears to have been quite close to Scott, and, if his description of Scott's early days truly reflects Scott's own views, one might speculate that this is one reason why the prophet may be without honour in his own country. It has to be said, however, in defence of the School and Marischal College, that Scott was reputed to be particularly well-versed in the classics.

There is also very sparse authoritative information about Scott's initial years in London, but it is thought that, though he was first employed as a clerk in the War Office, he was soon active in the literary world. This was the age of the great expansion of the periodical (in modern terms, the periodical then might be seen as replacing in importance and significance not only our own journals, but also radio and television and other elements of our media-conscious culture), so that it was not unnatural that Scott should seek employment in the world of journalism. It was not long before he was contributing to and possibly even editing periodicals such as The Censor (which he seems to have set up himself) and The Statesman.

From 1809 onwards, Scott's history becomes less sketchy. At the age of twenty-five he became editor of the Stamford News and remained so from its inception in 1809 until 1813, drawing particular attention to himself by the publication of his article entitled "One Thousand Lashes", which denounced the contemporary practice of military flogging. The consequence of this article's appearance was the imprisonment of the paper 's owner for eighteen months on conviction of libel. It should be noted, however, that there were many such convictions of journals which adopted a stance generally critical of the government of that period.

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During the owner's imprisonment, Scott began a London edition of the paper named (after the owner) Drakard's Paper, which he bought in 1814 and renamed The Champion. This paper, which Scott produced with success and merit until 1817 was an outspoken liberal weekly espousing neither the government line nor the more extreme radicalism of its rival as an independent journal, The Examiner, of Leigh Hunt. In this political stance and also in its perceptive appreciation of literary and artistic works, it is typical of the balanced but cr►tical approach which Scott later brought to his greatest success, the London Magazine.

In its political articles (written by Scott himself), it argues for parliamentary reform vigorously, but by evolution rather than by overthrowing the traditional principles of British society, in which Scott retained faith throughout his life.

The persuasive force of these articles were not lost upon the government.

In the field of art, it was Scott in The Champion, who drew national attention to the Elgin Marbles, which subsequently engrossed so many artists and men of letters (including, of course, Keats, whose Ode on a Grecian Urn owes something at least to the perception and persuasiveness of Scott's advocacy for the classical artefacts' acquisition). Keats was also indebted to The Champion as the first journal (on 9 March 1817) to give favourable notice of his poetry.

Despite the heavy commitment of editing and at times writing singlehanded a weekly journal of significance in both politics and the arts, Scott's activities in the period 1814-1818 were not restricted to journalism. Though he was fiercely patriotic and consistently upheld the natural supremacy of Britain, particularly at the expense of the French, Scott had an enthusiasm for travel and was especially interested in France. In 1814, 1815 and 1816, Scott visited France taking the opportunity to write travel books including A Visit to Paris in 1814 and Paris Revisited, published in 1816. These works appealed not only to Bishop Heber, but to many others, of whom Wordsworth is the best known.

In February 1816, he wrote to Scott, "Your Paris Revisited has been in constant use since I received it", and elsewhere he described Scott as a "master of prose" and declared that he would "attain an eminence in English prose which few of late have reached."

For the year between September 1818 and September 1819, in fact, Scott had almost given up the profession of journalism, travelling on the continent instead with his family and, indeed, had accepted a post with the East India Company, but a postal delay prevented the receipt of his acceptance, allowing the appointment to be made elsewhere, and leaving Scott free to accept (possibly with some initial reluctance) the editorship of a new London Magazine. This was a post, for which his past experience with The Champion and his knowledge of the continent and of European literature were to prove him supremely well qualified.

Most important of all, however, he was able to draw together writers of distinction; both Charles Lamb and William Hazlitt, for example, had written under Scott's editorship for The Champion and were soon signed up for the new magazine which burst upon the literary scene in 1820. It is asserted by a number of critics that both Lamb and Hazlitt produced their best work for Scott, and this fact seems to be recognised by Lamb when he wrote of the London Magazine after Scott's death, "Our second No. is all trash. . . . Why did poor Scott die? There was comfort in writing with such associates as were his little band of scribblers. . . ."

There are a number of such testimonials to Scott's worth as an editor from his London Magazine contributors, many of whom were writers of considerable reputation. His relationship with his celebrated contributors appears to have been one of mutual respect for each other's work, which enabled the many individual and occasionally eccentric writers to retain their individuality and yet function as a coordinated team.

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Scott's editorial policy for the London Magazine is historically significant not only for the cultivation of the literary talents of enduring masters of prose, though the distinction of drawing forth Lamb's Essays of Elia or Hazlitt's Table Talk might be enough for any man's reputation. (How a schoolboy's appreciation of these essays in the upper school might have been sharpened had it been known that they were written for an F.P. editor can only be guessed.) Under his editorship, the London Magazine led the way to a new concept of independent criticism. Previously, magazines had relied not only for their support but also for the views expressed within their covers on party or on publisher. The contemporary literary criticism of the London Magazine (much of it written by Scott himself) not only enjoyed (and still enjoys) a reputation for keen scholarly appreciation but it was also without bias, unlike the notices of other journals eschewing political prejudice or personal squabbles. And in its political commentaries, Scott fulfilled the following promise of impartiality which appeared in an early issue: "We are not very sanguine of making converts to doctrines; but we do think it possible that we may be able to shake the strength of inveterate prejudice in naturally welldisposed minds, and induce some people to consider and reflect over the public occurrences of the time, steadily, seriously and impartially, who have hitherto been accustomed to break away into violence on one side or other, at the mere sound of names, as on a signal which they were engaged to obey, rather than as acting under the influence of rational investigation." Such a policy is attached not only with the historical importance of pioneering journalistic impartiality, but, it may be ventured, also with a general application which would not be misplaced in politics or society today.

Regrettably, it was Scott's scrupulous care of fair play in the world of journalism that led to his tragically early death. The details of the disputes which led up to the duel arc complex and tedious to rehearse, but they began with a quarrel between Blackwood's Magazine and the London occasioned by Scott's disapproval of articles written by "Z" for Blackwood's which, since 1817, had poured vituperation on Leigh Hunt of the Examiner and other writers of what was known as the "Cockney School." Perhaps the best known of these articles was the cruel criticism of Keats, whose literary gifts Scott had been quick to appreciate. After a number of bitter exchanges in which blunders of misunderstanding predominate, Scott found himself facing a man called Christie on the night of 16 February 1821 in a field near Primrose Hill.

It seems likely that neither man wanted to fight, but, despite that, after the first exchange of shots when neither was wounded, and honour (according to custom) could have been satisfied, Scott's second insisted on another round, in which Scott was mortally wounded.

John Scott died eleven days later, but not before he had testified as to Christic's honourable behaviour, with the result that all concerned were acquitted in the trial arising from the discovery of the duel.

A public subscription was raised for Scott's widow and two young children, to which Lord Byron, being asked for £10, contributed £30.

It would be impertinent of this writer to do more than guess at the importance of the life of John Scott, but some of the following points would figure in an assessment of his worth.

Scott's own prose writing was admired by men of the stature of Wordsworth, Thackeray, Lamb and Hazlitt, and such admiration and respect seems to have been the cause of Scott's drawing out the best work of some of the greatest English essayists. His contemporary literary criticism of major artists, particularly Byron, Wordsworth, Keats and Sir Walter Scott, is recognised as sensitive and perceptive, and he moved among great writers as a friend. He was a fearless champion of fair play and impartiality in the fields of politics and

From Pupil to Teacher, from Aberdeen to Kenya

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literature at a time when partisan attitudes were all too common in both, and his influence both on the politics and literary criticism of his day was not inconsiderable. Finally, it should be remembered that the period in which Scott lived was a formative time both in politics (with the post-Napoleonic war movements for reform) and in the arts (with the great explosion of the Romantic movement), so that Scott's influence as a major figure in both fields should be viewed without limitation to his own age.

It is an extraordinary distinction that the School had within its gates contemporaneously two men of the stature of Byron and Scott, and it would be fitting if that distinction could be recognised by the publication in the Magazine of some thoroughly researched work on Scott's life and works to balance the quantity of material that has previously appeared on Byron. Any reader to whom such a suggestion commends itself may wish to note that the bicentenary of Scott's birth occurs in 1984, and that copy for the 1984 Magazine is required by mid-April of that year!

D.K.Y. (1951.65)

From Pupil to Teacher, from Aberdeen to Kenya Under the auspices of Project Trust, Sheena Naughton, who left School in 1981, has gone to teach for a year in Kenya. The F. P. Club was able to award her a grant to assist with the expenses of this voluntary undertaking, and in the following interesting letter to the Secretary of the Club, Miss Naughton reports on her progress as at March 1982 and expresses her gratitude for the assistance afforded to her.

Dear Mr Hendry, We are now now well into the first term of the year and the problems which I had to face at the beginning of the year arc slowly sorting themselves out. We no longer miss running water or electricity and we find that we are adjusting to using the available hours of daylight for work rather than having to write by lamplight after 7.00 p.m.

Teaching too has become a lot easier since the beginning of term.

After a fairly slow start to the term, the main delay being the admission and accommodation of 68 new Form Is. teaching eventually got underway. The first day I found myself confronted with classes and not having the faintest idea what I should be teaching them, but after getting hold of the syllabuses and a few textbooks I was able to make plans for lessons. Needless to say, my first few lessons were rather terrifying as all the subjects I am teaching I know little or nothing about. What authority have I, for example. to be teaching these girls the geography of Africa? World history was not so bad though I didn't have much hope if they asked me awkward questions other than using common sense. C.R.E. was, and still is, a bit nerve-racking as they all know their Bibles inside out. They are often asking me the chapter and verse of some minor event, the name of a distant relative of Moses or what the modern name for various Biblical lands are. On the whole though, I am a lot happier teaching now than I was before. I have learnt to keep my language slow and simple so that the girls can understand. This also makes teaching easier as it gives me time to think. The girls will usually tell me if they don't understand which is a good sign though many a time I feel very frustrated because no matter how I explain something they still seem unable to grasp it. It is always difficult to tell when it's time just to give up and go on for the sake of those who do understand. The whole education system is very much geared towards passing exams so we have to teach accordingly.

Facilities at the school are about average for the type of school it is—a Harambee (selfhelp) school. There are about 250 girls. five classrooms and eight teachers so we arc not overworked as far as lessons are concerned. Coping with 68 pupils in one classroom is still quite a task though! The girls have an odd assortment of textbooks, though in my subjects they have none that they can refer to during lessons. I am in charge of the one

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school geography textbook for Forms I and II! It is a boarding school and the girls sleep in three dormitories. Their diet is the same every day—maize meal porridge for breakfast and maize and beans for lunch and tea. Although we are eating simply, we have tremendous variety compared with the girls.

Outside school hours. I have started a Young Farmers Club. Our headmaster wants me to "grow maize, beans and potatoes and make lots of money for the school"! Once again I wasn't quite sure how to start but I've been given quite a lot of advice from our nearest V.S.O. volunteer who happens to be a graduate in agriculture and is out here helping in farming projects! So with a vague idea of how to go about things I set to work to clear some of the land which the headmaster wants us to cultivate. Now we are waiting for a tractor to plough up the land before we can spread fertilizer and begin sowing!

Matuu itself is on the Yatta Plateau which is around 3500 ft.—high compared to what we arc used to, but low down in Kenya as far as climate is concerned. The dry season. which we are in just now, is extremely hot with temperatures reaching over 100°F at midday. Although there are many times when we long to feel just a little cold, I am glad that I have come to this area so that I can experience such a totally different way of life.

All plants are virtually dried up now, except the thorn trees which seem to stay green all the year round. Apparently this year has been worse than most for lack of water. There is a distinct lack of fruit and vegetables in the market these days as everyone is waiting for the rains to come. It seems that for all we were told about the importance of water, this is the first time that it has really made an impression. We are fortunate in that as far as drinking and washing are concerned we never have a lack of water as we arc quite close to quite a reliable river. But we are still very much looking forward to the rains which should arrive towards the end of March.

I am really enjoying my time out here and I feel that I am benefitting greatly from the experience. Kenya is a beautiful country, a little of which I saw during the Christmas holidays, and I am looking forward to Easter when I will be able to see different parrs.

Thank you once again for all your help in giving me this opportunity. It is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely, Sheena Naughton

The Houston Trip "P Scr rugby correspondent Peter Mitchell reflects on a tour to end all tours. ten days and nights in the baking heat of Texas with the FP Rugby Section.

Imagine five rugby international weekends lined up end to end, and you have some idea of F.P.s' Easter tour to Texas, the culmination of months of planning and fund-raising.

Throw in throbbing heat, weak beer and girls with lazy drawls and y'all have some idea of the cultural shock the party of 27 experienced on their 10-day safari to Houston, San Antonio and the State capital of Austin.

"Just like Banchory." said one tourist as we came in to land at Houston after a painless nine hour, ten minute B. Cal. flight from Gatwick in the course of which most of the stewardesses were persuaded to swop badges if not phone numbers.

If we were surprised by the number of trees and greenness, we were soon aware that the Scots had been this way before. En route from the airport to Grif's Bar where we were to rendezvous with our host club, Houston Old Boys, we passed Elgin Street and travelled along Montrose Boulevard.

That we were in the South was made abundantly clear by a sign above a car sales establishment which read: "We finance anyone—even Yankees."

Former F.P. player Ray Young, the link man in Houston for the tour, was a busy man as. one by one, players were introduced to their hosts for the weekend before we all reassembled to sample motel life for the remaining seven days.

The Houston Trip

19

No praise can be too high for our Texan hosts and, equally, F.P.s can be proud that the tourists proved wonderful ambassadors, being told at tour's end that they were the best party yet to hit Houston.

F.P.s won both their games in Houston convincingly. First, they beat the Harts (short for the Houston Area Representative Touring Side) 38-6 at Bayland Park and on the same ground, but under lights, they beat the Old Boys 31-3.

Moving on to the fourteenth Austin tournament over the second weekend of the tour, F.P.s came through four tough games to win their event and with it a handsome trophy.

Never has champagne tasted sweeter than 37,000 feet above the Atlantic on the flight home as we toasted the tour's success.

Well, nearly all of us joined in the toast. School P.E. teacher Brendan Adey was deep in slumber as the cup was passed round, only springing to life when dinner was served.

Unabashed by the short shorts he was wearing for comfort, he stomped up to the galley to get two extra trays of grub.

The tour's elder statesman. Jim Andrews, demolished one of the trayfuls save for the prawns which I shared with Duncan Scott, a young man whose chunky frame and cherubic face proved irresistible to the Texas quines.

Tour "baby" Peter Grieve, however, was the pin-up boy both on and off the field, what with running in some fine tries and looking as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Now you may well ask what standard American rugby has reached if F.P.s were able to win all their games.

The truth is that they still have much to learn in certain aspects of the game, notably scrummaging. Despite having a considerable physical presence which helped at the lineouts, American packs were consistently outscrummaged by F.P.s.

But how the Americans could tackle and God forbid that you try to sell them a dummy. Dr. Alan Farquharson can vouch for the ferocity of that tackling.

During the Old Boys' game, he was carted off to the Memorial Hospital with a neck injury which looked a lot worse at the time. The ambulance actually drove on to the pitch while Alan told the paramedics what to do.

With Mike Gibb making a welcome appearance on a break from a family holiday, Alan went through X-rays which revealed he had pinched a nerve and could not play again on tour.

Among others to suffer injury on the bone-hard grounds were captain Brian Holden whose two tries took F.P.s to a win against the Austin Huns in the first round of the Austin tourney. Al Dalton, the muscle man from Turriff, and the dashing Ken Brown who didn't plan to come home until the end of May, lucky chap!

By the time the 60-minute final against Houston came round on the Sunday afternoon, even tour manager Ron Comber was limbering up on the touchline as a possible replacement. Two were allowed in each game.

Ron had a good tour despite the fact that his specially designed tour manager's hat was pinched by High Wycombe Rugby Club members at Gatwick.

To reach the Austin final, F.P.s came from behind to beat Tulsa in the second round on the Saturday and Houston Heathens in the semi-final on the Sunday morning. The day was overcast and, as a fine drizzle and Scotch mist descended, an Alan Mekie penalty and a Norman Stronach drop goal took F.P.s to a 6-0 victory in the final.

It should be added that a women's tournament was run in conjunction with the men's tourney in Austin. Seven sides from Texas, Colorado and Kansas did battle in the Zilker Park and the final between the Houston Hearts and the Denver Blues was a blood-curdling curtain-raiser to the men's final.

The Hearts won 6-4 but not before their scrum half left the field with blood pouring from her head.

While F.P.s never forgot they were in Texas to play rugby and trained accordingly, they made a hit socially by turning out in the kilt for the after-match receptions, led by piper David Duthie. Even the four Englishmen and New Zealander Drew Roberts looked the part.

The tour is bound to have a spin-off for F.P.s next season when they play in Division III of the SRU Schweppes Leagues. What price California in 1984?

School Office-Bearers Prefects

Head Boy: ALASTAIR J. HOULDING Head Girl: SusAN E. LEITH Deputy Head Boy: GRAHAM J. DAVIE Deputy Head Girl: CAROL A. SARGENT ADRIAN P. AllAN GILLIAN E. H. ALLSOPP PETER G. ARMSTRONG JANICE CLARK DIANE S. CORMACK WILLIAM DASER KATHLEEN M. EWEN STEVEN A. FORBES DAVID A. GALLOWAY LINDA J. GLENNIE GILLIAN M. HAY ANGUS A. HoGG DAVID S. HUTCHISON

CRAIG C. MICHIE NEIL A. MILNE SHONA MILNE WENDY MILNE WENDY NICOLL COLIN T. NOBLE MICHAEL M. SCOTT JOHN M. STF.ELE MARGARET A. SUTHERLAND SALLY-ANNE TURNER M. STUART WATSON R. RORY H. WEBSTER CAROLINE M. WILKIE Sports Captains

Rugby: DAVID A. GALLOWAY Hockey (boys): GRAHAM). DAVIE

Soccer: NEIL MACPHERSON Hockey (girls): CAROL A. SARGENT

Netball: SUSAN OI.IPHANT Literary and Debating Society

President: ALASTAIR W. BRIDGES Vice-President: M. STUART WATSON Secretary: DAVID A. GALLOWAY Treasurer: SUSAN E. LEITH Dramatic Society

President: SUSAN E. LEITH Combined Cadet Force

Senior Cadets: Sgts. DAVID BARBER. JAMES URQUHAR1 ANDREW COUPER

Random Notes Motoring mania is sweeping the Sixth Year at A.G.S.! One dedicated member of the Sixth blew a gasket in Glasgow when on a rugby outing and needed a decoke to get back on the road home. Appendicitis was just the layman's name for it.

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Others have sought their escape in foreign parts. Sheena Naughton went to Kenya, Rosemary Pitt-Watson took off in her trail, Sarah Collins is set for the Southern Sudan, and Margaret Macrae-Gibson is heading for a year in Egypt. Some blame Mr Gelly and the Geography Department for over-stimulating their pupils' interest in places far away: 20

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22

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Though hockey's a fairly civil pastime, hard hitting and pinpoint accuracy have been a feature of the School's 1st XI's game this season. One small caveat! Could we suggest that the target be confined to the ball? The human nose is softer and more awkward to replace. Or so says Donald W., but he's biased.

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The Parents' Charter is set to transform the schools of Scotland: numbers in A.G.S. are rising so sharply that 30-a-side rugby is to be tried out at Rubislaw next season.

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The Charter claimed a notable victim on April 1st when an excited Head Boy reported at the School Office for a scheduled interview with "Northsound" on the subject of the controversial Charter. And guess who didn't turn up! Life—or April Fool's Day—is like that.

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Meanwhile the School Car Park maintains a high standard of excellence. Appropriately the Rector's new Lancia Trevi rakes this year's "contours d' ekgance" award. Nice onc!

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The Colours Committee has apparently adopted a new and wholly commendable concept in making awards this year: the niceness quotient, whereby colours tend to be given to chaps of approved character, especially rugby-players. And it is stressed that full colours in soccer are available: to schooboy—or senior—internationalists.

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The School this while has been under attack! A gang of desperadoes, self-styled the Cone Gang. arc up to no good: a frozen chicken in the ornithological display. a chamber-pot in the archaeological exhibit, the eponymous cones atop the rooftop pinnacles. And "mair o' horrible and awfu', which even to name wad be unlawfu'."

Even the Bun Queue became for a day a place of jeopardy. Disgruntled gourmets claimed that an unseasonable display of flying fireworks had singed the bradies. Is nothing sacred?

Prefects' Notes Alastair Houlding (Head Boy). Enthusiastic both as socialite and as school captain.

Alastair gets somewhat emotional and confused on occasion: known to splash himself with flan and imbibe Brut.

"Bobs about on the hockey field like a chicken:" B.I.Fitz.

Susan Leith (Head Girl). Female domination is the name of her game: ask Alastair!

Diligent, resolute, even managed to submit her SYS English dissertation on time.

Maintains close and friendly links with former school prefects.

Graham Davie (Deputy Head Boy). Hockey star for School and Scotland. Graham plays an important part in all our lives as Keyholder to the Tuck Shop. Enthusiasm for SYS Maths is not a constant factor.

Carol Sargent (Deputy Head Girl). Hockey starlet for School and Scotland, Carol closely resembles (colour apart) her little green Mini, being compact and smooth-running and something you get fond of.

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24

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Colin Noble. Short, powerful. something of an acrobat. Known to fall off chairs in moments of excitement.

"I think I'm going bald."

Michael Scott. Mike's appendix earned him a lovely free holiday in Glasgow while with the rugby team. For a long time his hobby was trying driving tests, but he's passed now.

You have been warned.

John Steele. A rarity surely: a gentle Irishman with a taste for grapefruit juice. Rugby or hillwalking may claim his weekends, but he loves a break: an "Awayday to Montrose," no less.

Margaret Sutherland. A Modern Dancer and a Hockey Player, she seems actually to relish smoking patrol. Is she in the pay of the Scottish Health Education Unit?

Sally Turner. Skis a lot. Life seems a big downhill run to Sally, mostly down the hill to an establishment in Rosemount Viaduct, we hear.

Smart Watson. Star of the Debater, specialising in votes of thanks, Stuart can find the verbals to suit any occasion. Stuart's dance is the Birdie Song. which may be significant.

R. Rory H. Webster. A quiet fellow with quiet tastes: favourite group, Motorhead.

Reserved maybe, but the life and soul of the party—ever grateful for a lift home.

Caroline Wilkie. Angus is the only lad who can match her "high" standards. Loves geography, but then from her altitude she's able to see more of her environs than most.

Mr Ron(nie) McLeod At Easter. 1982 Mr Ronald McLeod, Teacher of Classics at Aberdeen Grammar School since 1945. and Principal Teacher of Classics since 1964, took his leave of the school he'd enriched with his presence for so many years. With him the school lost not only a teacher of distinction, but a man of substance and magisterial presence. Indeed it may very well be that the School will not sec his like again. Few these days choose to serve so long in one green place, and Ron was the last of a line in that he is not, strictly speaking, to be replaced as Head of Classics (see the Rector's Message).

Ronnie McLeod is very much an Aberdonian. albeit a man of wide interests and sympathy. He made his own way in 1929 from Kittybrewster School to Robert Gordon's College. There for six years he was taught by some notable and scholarly men: Walter Humphries developed his love of English poetry, Bill Copland and George Gibson trained him in the disciplines of Latin and Greek, and George Morrison and lan Graham Andrew were his headmasters. From 1935.39 he was a student at King's. graduating with an honours degree in Classics just in time to enlist in the Royal Air Force, which was to be the third and possibly the most influential institution to leave its mark and stamp on the young McLeod. He served in the R. A.F. throughout World War 11, seeing much active service as a navigator in Bomber Command.

At the end of 1945 he came on demobilisation to Aberdeen Grammar School, ostensibly to teach Classics in Andrew Milne's department, the department he was proudly to head from 1964 to 1982; but in fact he was also at various times to assist with' English, Maths and History, as well as being for a time the instructor in brass instruments in the Junior School. Such versatility, however, is part of the man, and for many years he contributed his skills as a trumpeter to the School Orchestra as willingly as he gave his services to the School community as referee and umpire. His chief co-curricular interest, however, lay in the Grammar School contingent of the Combined Cadet Force, which, as Squadron Leader McLeod, he commanded till 1977 and in which he made a host of friends both in School and throughout Scotland.

Mr McLeod

"Tarzan" in accustomed role

Head Girl and Head Boy 1981-82

Susan E. Leith and Alastair J. Houlding

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Friendship was and is one of Ron McLeod's greatest talents, and his pupils and colleagues came to revel in the warmth of his personality and in a humanity which has seen him serve and work selflessly for twenty years as Honorary Welfare Officer to The R.A.F. Association in Aberdeen. This was no austere classicist: "Tarzan" was as much at home at Pittodrie's Beach End as in Room 6. almost as enthusiastic about Thelonious Monk as about Thucydides, keener on Charlie Parker than on Plautus; for years his patrician profile was a feature of Aberdeen dance-bands; his anecdotes drew colleagues into school early to warm themselves in the glow of his good humour. And always he unselfconsciously set his colleagues an example of professional conduct. Nobody kept a secret better or gave advice more acceptably; few gave more loyal service to the school over three rectorships, those of). J. Robertson, J. V. Skinner and R. D. Gill.

Ron McLeod's misfortune professionally was to be in the right place at the wrong time: Head of Classics at Aberdeen Grammar School in recent years has not been the obvious pedigree for promotion in the new glass palaces; a lively interest in RomanoBritish archaeology has apparently little to contribute to a mixed-ability Contemporary Studies module or whatever. One hardly feels that Ron minded much and we, his colleagues, rejoiced in his extended posting here. Already he is keenly missed. But at least the Main Staffroom, deprived of his talk and company, empties more promptly now when the insistent bells tell us that yoking time is upon us . . .

Staff Changes This session to date has seen fewer changes than has been the case in some recent years. Nevertheless, given the impermanence of the human condition, it is inevitable that changes there have been, and some popular and much esteemed colleagues have moved to other places, or into the quieter challenge of early retirement, or into the welcome tranquillity of retirement at the end of a full career.

Departures With the retirement of Mr Ronald McLeod at Easter. 1982 the School lost an institution.

Full tribute is paid to Mr McLeod elsewhere, and the large turnout of staff. friends and excolleagues at his retirement dinner in School on the 31st March spoke volumes for the regard in which he was held. At the same dinner Mrs Mary Dutch was also honoured by her colleagues on her retiral from teaching. Mrs Dutch came to the Grammar School in 1974 as a yearteacher and teacher of English. Her incisive mind and her care for children guaranteed success in both her professional capacities. Such was her personality and impact on the school community that one felt surprised that she had been with us for "only" eight years. We miss the stimulus of her presence in staffroom and classroom.

Likewise Miss Doris Kinghorn, appointed yearteacher and teacher of French in 1976, had chosen early retirement in Summer, 1981; during her years at the Grammar School Miss Kinghorn impressed by her solicitous pastoral work, sound teaching, and quiet. dignified manner. All will continue to stay in Aberdeen; we wish then the reward of long and happy retirement, and look forward to seeing them in school and elsewhere.

The promotion last Autumn of Mr Neill Montgomery. to be Assistant Principal Teacher of Chemistry at Ellon Academy, also left a distinct gap in the School scene—and not just because of his physical stature. During his eight years at Grammar he had contributed greatly to the life—and fun-of the school: the table tennis club, Rubislaw, and the Staff Panto had all been enlivened by him, but his chief interest was the Hillwalking Club, as is warmly acknowledged in the recent issue of its magazine, Mor Bheinn. Mr John Jackson, Assistant Principal in the Physics Department, left last October to assume a post in England with a Christian charity organisation; Mr Jackson was an active leader of our Scripture Union branch and was also closely involved in the Chess Club. During the summer of 1981 Mr James Morrison was transferred to the staff of Hilton Academy: during his time at School Mr Morrison made a considerable contribution to the success of our junior cricket, and umpired frequently as well as travelling with teams.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

So. while pupils will remember him in the classroom and on the games field, his colleagues will remember him in the staff room, full of humour, pricking with caustic Aberdeen ribaldry any pretentious airs and graces, sharing with his fellow Gordonians Messrs McLeod and Will reminiscences of the "Auld Hoosc" and its more eccentric inmates and products, but yet prepared to discuss with shrewdness and insight matters of general or departmental concern. In the midst of all, one could not have asked for a more understanding and cooperative colleague in the midst of the sudden emergencies which can arise to upset the hoped-for calm of a school day.

Mr Hall was always in good voice, whether singing as a member of the Staff Gordonians male voice quartet or sending a summons or a reprimand echoing down the school corridors—many quaked at the sound of that inimitable voice—not all of them pupils!

To Mr Hall and to Mrs Hall who helped out so often in various capacities on the staff we would offer our thanks and best wishes for the future. It is certain that the boarders at Morrisons will benefit from the care and company of this couple who did so much for the school over these past six years.

Music Notes In June 1981 we were delighted to welcome again a group of pupils from the Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium in Regensburg. It was a very happy musical meeting, which culminated in a recital of music in St Machar's Cathedral. The German group let us hear some Bavarian church music and a Concert Suite by Telemann, and the opening item was the chorale "Wachet Auf ', in which the German and Grammar musicians joined forces. The final item again combined both schools in a performance of the Symphony No. 4 by William Boyce.

After the summer holidays we started preparations for the Christmas Carol Service in St Machar's Cathedral on 21st December. It again provided a happy occasion when parents, staff and pupils united in song. There were carols and hymns from round the world, and this theme was carried through in the readings.

The Auld Alliance was the theme of the Annual School Concert, held in the Music Hall in March 1982. What better start to the programme than the sound of the bagpipes! After some stirring marches and reels, the orchestra took over with a fine rendering of the Farandole (L'Arlesienne) by Bizet, and the Primary School Choirs, conducted by Laura Ross, enjoyed themselves in a group of French folk-songs. Good ensemble playing was heard in the Renaissance Scottish Dances, and skilful recorder playing in the French Court Dances. The senior choir, accompanied by the orchestra, sang "Lord Ullin's Daughter" by McCunn with dramatic intensity, and also charmed with their singing of "Think on Me" and "The Skye Boat Song". French orchestral music was represented when the orchestra played the Sicilienne by Faure and the "March to the Scaffold" by Berlioz.

Adding an authentic French accent, a group of pupils from the Total School, dressed in national costumes, delighted the audience with French folksongs which rang out with irresistible joie de vivre. The concert concluded with "A Scottish Fantasy", a work specially arranged for the concert by Shaun Dillon; and the massed choirs and orchestra performed with great fervour such favourites as "The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie" and "The Fairy Lullaby", while it would have been unthinkable to end with any song other than "Auld Lang Syne". The whole evening was clearly appreciated by the audience.

We are now looking ahead to our visit to Regensburg this June, and have started preparation of items for the concert there. A smaller group than usual is going on this occasion and we have changed from bus transport to flying; perhaps as we take to the air an appropriate theme tune for the occasion might be "On Wings of Song".

School Sporting Activities Rugby The season opened encouragingly with a 10-0 away win over Banff Academy by an inexperienced team, only four players having completed a full season of 1st XV rugby. This early promise was not to be sustained, however, and with the captain, David Galloway, off to Germany for three months, the team, under the leadership of John Reid, achieved only a solitary win over Abbey School by two penalty goals to one. Yet several other games, notably against Dundee H.S. and Gordonstoun, could have been won if territorial superiority had been converted into points. The Gordonstoun game was typical of the team's luck this season so far as injuries were concerned in that our loose-head prop, N. Glass, broke his collar-bone, an injury which forced him out of rugby for three months. And self-inflicted injuries almost forced two of our players, Reid and Allan, out of the already difficult game v. Stewart's/Melville College after a pre-match collision which resulted in concussion and a black eye respectively! On account of our run of injuries several young players had to be blooded in important games, with the result that continuity was very difficult to achieve.

Disappointing performances against St. Aloysius' College and Perth Academy were not entirely attributable to inexperience or injury, however.

The cancellation of the final two games before the Christmas break completed an inauspicious first term in which the strongest opponents faced were Heriot's, Stewart's/Melville and George Watson's, with Watson's undoubtedly the most impressive of the three schools.

Returning to school after Christmas, the team was clearly refreshed and despite the loss of the versatile Craig Michie, we started with four consecutive wins, a decisive 18-4 defeat of Dundee H.S. in our return fixture at Rubislaw being the highlight. The points were shared by the second-row pair of Reid and Galloway, but it was a good all-round team display with plenty of skill and spirit on show. A poor showing in Inverness against the Royal Academy resulted in a narrow defeat, but a fortnight later we were more successful against Northern opposition when Elgin Academy left Rubislaw with a 13-3 defeat despite our own rather ineffectual performance.

The following Wednesday saw one of our poorest performances of the season against old rivals, Robert Gordon's College, who beat us comprehensively, a try by Mark Young being our only consolation. Alas, this season we reserved two of our worst performances for the traditional bi-annual matches with the auld enemy, whose team, to our cost, was distinctly strong. Our next fixture, v Morrison's Academy, fell foul of the weather, but to have only four cancellations in one season is little cause for complaint. The usual end-ofseason game with Hutcheson's Grammar School provided an enjoyable evening in the metropolis and a lively final fixture. Prop-forward M. Scott was rushed to hospital at 3. a.m. on the Saturday morning, suffering from acutc appendicitis, and underwent an immediate operation; being short of a travelling reserve, we borrowed the Hutcheson's touch-judge as a substitute and put up a spirited show on a wet pitch: two late tries rather distorted the scoreline, which had stood at 10-6 with five minutes to go.

The last week of the season saw us participate for the first time in the Midland Schools Sevens at Perth, losing 18-3 to a predictably powerful Glenalmond side, and for the second time in the Aboyne Sevens, where injuries affected both our competing sevens. Between times we played host for the first time to Jordanhill College School. After playing well to merit a 16-4 half-time lead, we made numerous errors to allow Jordanhill to overturn the 29

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deficit and eventually win 27-16. A sad close to an initially promising and always enjoyable season!

Finally the team would like to thank Mr Welsh for his enthusiastic coaching, and Mr and Mrs Allan, and Mr Miller, at Rubislaw for the excellent pitches and training facilities and for the hospitality afforded to visitors.

The team pool consisted of D. Galloway (rapt.), J. Reid (v.-capt.), J. Barclay, J. Steele. G. Quirie, M. Young. N. Thompson, G. Thompson, K. Al!sop, A. Allan, M. Scott, N. Glass, H. Reid, P. Armstrong, C. Michie, J. Nethell, M. Dillon, A. Bustin.

2nd XV The Seconds regularly fielded a young side with many players from Fourth Year figuring in the selection. As a result, although the team often played well and did not lack talent and commitment, the opposition often possessed considerable height and weight advantage which was turned to good effect.

At no stage did the team lose heart, however, as was evidenced in the last three fixtures of the season. A close struggle versus Inverness R.A . went in Grammar's favour with a last-minute penalty making it 15-14; High School of Glasgow. a strong outfit, edged us 12-9 in an enthralling contest; and then the game v. Aboyne Academy 1st XV, the last of the season, produced some lively rugby, culminating in Alan Wilson's scoring a try reminiscent of Slemen's for the British Lions in South Africa in 1980! We lost, however by 26-4 . . .

Brian Daniel took over the captaincy from Greg Ritchie in February. The side are grateful to Mr Jones for all his interest and help over the season.

The team was normally selected from B. Daniel (capt.). N. Alexander, T. Azelbert, A. Bustin, I. Bingham, A. Couper, R. Haywood, D. King, J. Laidlaw, C. McLean, A. Moir, A. Petrie, T. Ross, M. Smith, N. Steele, N. Thompson. M. Tytler, G. White, A. Wilson.

Colts This session we found that many of last year's Juniors team drifted from rugby to other sports, and the freedom of choice has made it difficult to persuade players to devote their Saturdays to practising and playing rugby. For this reason our results have not been as good as we had hoped despite the enthusiasm of our regular players.

In our first game we were narrowly beaten by Banff and during the season were defeated by Gordonstoun, Hutcheson's, and Perth Academy. Excellent tackling by Alan Wight and quick bursts from Alex Herrera did much to reduce the score line in all matches. Our "Old Firm" games with Gordon's College produced the usual excitement as the rivals fought it out. The first game, which was closer than the final score suggests, ended 14-23 to Gordon's. The last game of the season was also against our old rivals, who proved too much for us as several of the team were ill and our captain, Douglas Watson, was playing for the Under-I5 South Grampian Select.

We did, however, have some very convincing wins over Dyce, Hazlehcad, Mackie, Montrose and Westhill Academies.

Our captain, D. Watson, played for the Under-15 Select and four other boys—Alan Wight, Antoni Kerr, David Thompson and Cohn Matthews took part in a trial for the Under-14 Select.

The team was selected from: A. Wight, I. Pithie, I. Smith, A. Kerr, T. Nethill, A. Ferguson, A. Herrera, D. Thompson, M. Pryor, V. Roberts, P. Davies, E. Flynn, C. Matthews, K. Hay, K. Duncan, C. Glass, D. Ritchie, D. Watson (captain).

Juniors If it could not be claimed that the Junior Rugby season went out with a bang, it would be equally wrong to say it ended with a whimper. As in the first year, the results were

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secondary, and often did not reflect the value of the games. As it was, we won as many as we lost, often winning when we played poorly, and losing when we had every reason to be satisfied with our play. Our skills have improved a great deal, with the exception, perhaps, of our tackling—often the only reason for some of our defeats. So be it!

Everybody seemed to enjoy playing and indeed a few even managed places in the Grampian Schools Under-14 Trial—Patrick Begg, Gordon Coupe', Jonathan Wood and Andrew McLean.

Now the Juniors will become next season's Colts and will come under the direction of some other glutton for punishment! And their Coach? He will be starting all over again with a new horde of 1st Year hopefuls.

Minors The Minors had their most successful season for many years. Their record of 15 games with only two defeats and one draw speaks for itself, but it becomes more noteworthy when one realises that they alone among all the school rugby teams drew with, and then narrowly defeated, Gordon's College.

As usual, the boys had to learn the game from scratch and they had hardly any opportunity of practising as a team once competitive games had begun. We were fortunate in having a large number of good games players who took to the game with great fervour and commitment from the very outset, and throughout the season other individuals emerged to allow us a pool of players from which to choose.

A feature of the team was its determination and spirit, and this was shown particularly at Blairmore where they were outplayed in all aspects of the game except determination, which saw them rally in the last minutes to snatch a victory of 8-4. This team spirit combined with the try-scoring ability of Tean Hatt, the all-round skills of Jeremy Seager, and the drive of Alan Stevenson in particular in the forwards meant that very decisive wins were recorded against Inverness Royal Academy, Cults, Hazlehead, Westhill, Mackie, Dyce and Aboyne among others. Our two defeats were at the hands of Montrose and Dundee High School.

The team pool was M. Robertson, D. Fleming, J. Seager, C. Smith, M. Sutherland, C. Wilson, T. Hatt, I. McCombie, H. Skene, M. Anderson, K. McBrearty, G. Megginson, G. Milne, A. Stevenson, I. Booth, C. Flynn, M. Bissett, G. Herrera, M. Emslie.

While these results promise well for the future, just as important was the wide interest shown by those who played regularly in the B and C teams. It was often difficult to arrange evenly matched games for these boys, but no matter what the results, they always were back asking for more fixtures. As a result of this general enthusiasm we could field three teams on a regular basis and on one occasion four teams, to represent the School.

Overall it was a most rewarding season.

Boys' Hockey 1st XI

With six players remaining from the team which had finished last season as the first eleven, the foundations of this year's team were already established.

Consequently it was hoped that we might be able to repeat our achievements of last year. Our high hopes were dashed, however, as early as our fourth fixture when a 1-0 defeat by R.G.C. "A" knocked us out of the District Cup. Contributing to this reverse was the new all-weather pitch at Seafield: we were unaccustomed to the surface and Gordon's made better use of the available width and space.

We were to fare much better in the league, however, losing only one match, again to Gordon's on their own pitch. Unfortunately the scoreline on this occasion was a more decisive 7.3, without question our worst performance of

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

the season. We dropped only one other league point, in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Northfield. This dropped point cost us the chance of a three-way play-off for the League title. Our best result in this competition came towards the end of the season when we defeated Kincorth Academy 5-2 at Kincorth without two of our regulars.

After the winter break we restarted with expectations of a good run in the Scottish Cup. Alas, we were narrowly defeated 3-2 by Kincorth after being 2-1 up with fewer than ten minutes of the game remaining! After this game David Campbell, our goalkeeper, stood down to play outfield for the seconds. He was replaced by Andrew Fowlie, an S. IV pupil. For all his enthusiasm, his inexperience has cost us the occasional goal, but his form to date bodes well for the future.

This year our games against private schools have shown that we could not only compete against, but beat teams which were on the whole older and stronger than we were.

We defeated Gordonstoun 3-2 away, but went down 5-1 to Abbey School, Fort Augustus. A four-hour bus journey did not help our cause in this match, and neither did the fact that School missed a penalty flick when we were 2-1 down. Positional changes were made following this match: David Hutchison and Brian Allan were drawn back into midfield to join the consistent Alastair Houlding and the much improved Charles Smith. Alexander Innes was moved forward onto the right wing, so changing the formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2. This made a great difference in our remaining games. Opposition teams found very little room in midfield and our own attacks became much more formidable.

In our return match at Rubislaw with Abbey we drew 2-2, and in Edinburgh we also drew 2-2 with Stewart's Melville after being two goals behind. On the following day we recorded a fine 2-1 victory against Fettes College. In our last fixture of the season, against Dundee High School, Grammar scored the opening goal after only 19 seconds. The final result of a fast and furious game was a disappointing 3-3 draw.

Eight players were selected for representative hockey. Graham Davie, David Hutchison, Stuart Nicoll, Brian Allan, and Charles and Ronald Smith were picked for North District (Under 19s), while James Macdonald and Andrew Fowlic played for Under 16 North District. Graham Davie went on to be selected for Scottish Schoolboys.

Finally, our thanks go to Mr Swanson for tireless work in coaching the teams, and to the ground staff at Rubislaw for consistently excellent pitches.

The 1st XI pool was: G. Davie (capt.), A. Houlding (v.-capt.), D. Campbell, A. Fowlie, I. Wallace, R. Webster, J. Macdonald, S. Nicoll, D. Hutchison, C. Smith, B. Allan, A. Innes, and R. Smith.

2nd XI This was the 2nd XI's second season in the District League, and the team was determined to improve on last year's performance. In this respect our league campaign was a success—but only just! Having captured four points in victories of 3.1 and 5-1 against Northfield and Gordon's College "C" respectively, we were awarded a convincing walkover against Linksfield which hoisted us to the dizzy heights of third bottom in the Senior League.

This year the 2nd XI was comprised mainly of fifth year pupils who had just failed to make it into the 'Firsts'. This included Alistair Howie, who finally found his niche at left back; Edward Reid, that stalwart defender on the right; Rory Webster, who hovered between teams all season; and John Deighan, the rough-spoken Irishman with a heart of gold. who would pl„y happily in any position. In attack, the speedy William Daser was our chief goal-scorer. The team was completed with three fourth year pupils: the

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versatile James Blacklaws, Alan Brown on the wing, and Nicholi Ochia. who did an admirable job in his first season between the posts.

Finally, a special mention must go to David Campbell, the disillusioned 1st X1 goalkeeper who made his debut at centre forward by scoring a hat-trick in a glorious 3-1 victory over R.G.C. "B" at Rubislaw.

2nd Xl team players: M. White (capt.), E. Reid, R. Webster, A. Howie, N. Ochia, A. Fowlie, J. Deighan, J. Blacklaws, F. Ross, J. Addison, W. Daser, K. Coutts, D. Campbell, A. Brown.

3rd Year Xl The season started with an enthusiastic group eager to learn the skills of the game and play to the best of their ability. The team entered the District schools league for junior players and, not surprisingly, started rather tentatively. As the season advanced, however, they improved almost with every game and indeed finished a very creditable third in the league.

They met some tough opposition during the second term, usually because the boys they played against were older, but the experience gained will stand the players in good stead in years to come.

Andrew Hutchison was an able captain throughout the season and had very good support from David Wallis, an ever-improving goalkeeper, Alan Drummond, and Lawrence Anderson. The main factor in a successful season, however, was that everyone played his part in a sound team performance.

Team pool: A. Hutchison (capt.), D. Wallis, C. McKay, R. Seager, A. Hutcheon, A. Drummond, L. Anderson. M. Laing, C. Howie. R. Montgomery. I. Walker, A. Mackie, S. Watt and K. Leil.

Girls' Hockey This has been a most successful season with more than 120 girls playing regular Saturday hockey. We started the season with a young and relatively inexperienced 1st XI, containing only three first team players from last season. Despite this the new players settled in well to produce an encouraging 4-1 win over local rivals, Cults Academy. This high standard was maintained in excellent games v.

Dunfermline H.S. and George Watson's College, resulting in 3-1 and 2-0 victories respectively. The St. Leonard's tournament, usually a high point of the season, was somewhat dampened this year by torrential rains. We ended up second in a very strong section, however, drawing with the eventual tournament winners, Harris Academy. In our best display of the season we defeated Dundee High School for the first time ever, by a margin of 2-0. In the games leading up to Christmas we also recorded wins over Morrison's Academy (4.3), Albyn (4-1) and St. Margaret's (5-0). Bad weather caused many of our January and February fixtures to be cancelled, but this enabled us to train the harder for the North District Schools Tournament. Our hard work paid off when we won the tournament, and all three of our teams played hockey of a high standard: the 2nd XI proved this by reaching the final and putting up strong resistance against our first team, losing only by a last-minute penalty flick. This win meant that our 1st XI could travel to Forfar to the Scottish Cup for the first time. We first gained useful experience in the Perth Academy 7-a-side tournament, losing no games and coming second in our section. At Forfar the 1st XI played to potential: we were undefeated in our ties, drawing with both Galashiels Academy and Hutcheson Grammar, and beating Madras College 1-0. We failed to reach the semi-finals, however, losing our section on goal difference to Madras College—the eventual Cup winners.

The 3rd Year XI had a successful season which saw them win their local tournament, while the 2nd Year XI also played well throughout the year, but had the frustration of seeing their tournament postponed twice and finally

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

cancelled because of bad weather. The four enthusiastic First Year sides played a lot of promising hockey that augurs well for the future.

All in all this must rank as a very successful year: the School 1st XI were undefeated throughout and the 3rd Year side won the junior North District school tournament, but players are aware that much of this success is due to the help and coaching given by Mrs Webster and all staff and umpires.

Senior League Team A strong 2nd XI set out in September in an attempt to win the Grampian Schools Senior League for the first time. We started well, beating Cults 3.0 at Hai-law, but morale sagged after a narrow 2.1 defeat by Hazlehead. We then had a break from league fixtures when we set off to Cowdenbeath, where we defeated Beath H.S. 4-0, and to Edinburgh, where we lost 2-0 to George Watson's in an excellent game of hockey. Just before Christmas we had a comfortable 7-3 victory over an inexperienced Westhill side, bur a more impressive display was that versus Albyn, whom we beat 3.2, a memorable goal being scored by Eunice Alexander. Two 2.1 victories against Mackie Academy and Bankhead were followed by a disappointing 3-0 defeat by Alford Academy, who were to become league winners. The team picked up again to beat Aboyne 2.1 and Northfield 2-0, this being our final fixture and one of the season's most enjoyable games. So at the season's end we had won 8 out of 10 league games and finished league runners-up.

3rd XI Our 3rd XI played some lively and promising hockey in matches against George Watson's, Beath High School, Dundee High, Gordonstoun, and in the senior District Schools Tournament. It is very pleasing that we are able to field three senior sides on a Saturday and gives School hockey a very satisfactory depth.

Girls' Representative Hockey This year Grammar School had four representatives in the two North District teams: Chloe Barclay, Zoe Barclay and Carol Sargent (VI) and Susan Swinton (V). Carol Sargent was chosen for the Scottish Schoolgirls squad.

The North first team had a very successful season, winning the District Cup for the first time ever, with a 1.0 win over South in a closely fought final. The District second team also had a profitable season, marked by several keen encounters.

Girls' Indoor Hockey Twelve girls from S.V and S.V1 attended regular coaching sessions on Tuesday lunchtimes from October to January to polish skills before the North District Indoor Tournament. A practice match against a senior Bon Accord team prepared us for the tournament itself, in which we won all our games and conceded no goals because of tight defensive play. A 1-0 victory in the final v. holders Kincorth Academy. saw us become outright winners of the contest.

Girls from Sly arc now benefiting from Mr Swanson's training sessions in preparation for next year and have already had some match practice against North Kelvinside SS from Glasgow.

Soccer 1st Xl This was a strong team, finishing third in the Aberdeen Schools League; but more it was an entertaining and attacking team, fun to watch and enjoying its own play. By the season's end Grammar were arguably the best side in Aberdeen, in a season when the overall standard was rather below par. Earlier, mistakes and misfortunes handicapped a team lacking in mature players. The

School Sporting Activities

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coaches were caught napping by the speed of the season's start, and important league points were lost before the team was organised. The departure in October of our only authentic keeper, Sean Martin, was never repaired. All season scoring chances were made and missed; as well as, to be fair, taken. It took six games for the team actually to win!

But improve the team did: all league games at home were won; only one game was lost (and that 3-4) after mid-November; there was a final run of seven straight wins. Goals came freely, with all players in the pool bar one scoring; and if goals were lost, only Hazlehead managed to beat Grammar by a two-goal margin.

Certain games stand out. The dreariest display saw defeat by the odd-goal at Mackie. Two tight matches at Cults ended in a 3-3 league draw and a painful 3-4 Cup loss, when three goals were lost to inswinging corners. Two big wins at Bankhead saw the team hit a fine rhythm; a splendid second-half v. Ltnksfield into a gale saw a 1-2 deficit become a 9-3 victory; there was a satisfying 5-2 win in a friendly return match v. league runners-up, Harlaw. At all times this was a running side, best going forward and always a force in the second-half.

Kevin Whyte, pressed by circumstances to perform in goal, played gallantly if never quite at ease; Brennan and Chapman were attacking full-backs; Hall and Davidson showed fine rapport, blending strength and skill; the accomplished Irvine and the fiery Dunbar provided the midfield impetus; Megginson, Gair and Nicholson all had their moments up front, where Kemp's marksmanship proved a great asset after his (alas!) delayed introduction. Unfortunately MacPherson's best days seemed behind him rather, but his deputy, Irvine, a miss when on District representative duties, lifted the team with his late-season form. With the likelihood of a good core returning to school, and with some useful "A" team recruits, the prospects for next season arc excellent. Those in charge of the side, moreover, will have learnt to avoid the early season sluggishness which affected this year's record.

The team owes much to Mr Allan and Hughie for the splendid Rubislaw pitch and for their friendly support and cooperation.

First team pool: K. Whyte, M. Brennan. P. Davidson, M. Hall, M. Chapman, N. MacPherson (capt.), B. Irvine, R. Dunbar, S. Kemp, M. Megginson, D. Gair, S. Nicholson.

2nd XI This season our soccer teams were picked on merit as opposed to year group. This. while strengthening the 1st Xl. obviously weakened our second team. Team members soon realised that being the only 2nd XI to figure in the Aberdeen Schools League was going to render the winning of trophies very difficult, and our playing record over the season in league and cup games (P15 WO DI LI4) pays tribute to their prophetic abilities!

While no individual players call for singling out, mention should be made of several boys who, although not making the pool of 13 for games, nevertheless turned up to weekly training-sessions and worked as hard there as team regulars. Likewise a 4-1 defeat at Bridge of Don was made more acceptable by the fact that on a freezing December morning, when there was no mini-bus and when some regulars were absent, 15 players still made their own way across town, which says much for team morale.

The most skilful football we witnessed all season was from our own 1st XI, when in an incredible twenty-minute spell in the second half they knocked seven goals into our net.

Undoubtedly the highlight for our players was the final week of the season, which saw a 5-4 victory against a Staff Xl followed the next evening by a 2-1 victory in a friendly at Dyce Academy—capped on the Saturday with a 5-5 draw away from home in our last league game of the season against the unbeaten league champions, Cults Academy!

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Second team pool: D. Barber, M. Beattie, E. Bjorkelund, T. Bruce, C. Clark, A. Cowie, P. Cowie, N. Clunas, K. Davidson, B. Flett (capt.), G. Hardie, G. McReady. P. Masson, C. Matheson, K. Mackie, G. Peat, A. Plotka, A. Watt, D. Wilson, T. Wood.

Netball The Netball Club had another good season with both senior and junior teams winning their respective leagues for the fourth consecutive year.

Competition was closer than ever, but the senior team maintained their unbeaten league record of several seasons' standing. The junior team, under the captaincy of Clare Waterman, was also unbeaten.

We showed up well in representative teams with Ann Middleton (II) and Anne Watt (IV) playing for the East of Scotland and Natalie Knaggs (VI), Ann Middleton (II), Marie Milne (IV), Clare Waterman (III) and Anne Watt (IV) all representing Aberdeen teams.

After poor attendance at lunchtime sessions First Year pupils were coached after school. This proved effective, as a First Year team went on to win the SI tournament. After a closely fought battle the Second Year team also won their tournament.

With the Scottish Cup Tournament still to be played we look forward with anticipation to meeting opposition from other areas and gaining valuable match experience.

In conclusion, all club members would like to thank Fiona Gillanders for coaching the First Year and, in particular, Miss Ramsay for all the help and encouragement given us throughout the season.

Senior Team Pool: Susan Oliphant (capt.), Judith Calder (v.-capt.), Fiona Charles, Nora Garvie, Natalie Knaggs, Marie Milne, Lesley Nicoll, Carol Sargent, Anne Watt.

Colour Awards 1981-82 Rugby Full Colours: David Galloway Half Colours.• Adrian Allan Peter Armstrong John Reid

Michael Scott John Steele Mark Young

Hockey (boys) Cap: Graham Davie Full Colours: David Hutchison Half Colours: Charles Smith

Stuart Nicoll Ronald Smith

Soccer Half Colours: Paul Davidson Barry Irvine Hockey (girls) Cap: Carol Sargent Fu ll Colours: Sarah Jane Reid Half Colours: Judith Calder Carol Cormack Margaret Macrae-Gibson Netball Full Colours: Susan Oliphant Half Colours: Judith Calder Fiona Charles Natalie Knaggs

Neil MacPherson

Susan Oliphant Margaret Sutherland Susan Swinton

Marie Milne Ann Watt

School Sporting Activities

37

Cricket The summer term of 1981 saw School teams collect six out of seven District cricket trophies—and though the Third Year side were knocked out of their cup competition, they had already made sure of their league title. Both the First and Second Year sides won their league and cup doubles, with some notable performances turned in by individual players such as Lawrence Anderson, Michael Pryor and Roddy Smith.

The Senior XI recovered after a shock defeat by Powis to share the league title with Bridge of Don Academy. Exams and difficulties of player availability made a league decider impossible. Senior players of note included Graham Davie, David Galloway, David Jack and Michael Smith. The Staff v. Boys encounter resulted in a comfortable win for the pupils over a somewhat creaky staff team!

Finally we must thank the members of the F.P. Club Cricket Section for their help in coaching the boys at evening sessions, and thank the parents who attended the various finals and lent their support.

Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association Last year's senior crew comprised two boys from Hazlehead Academy, two from Grammar School (Martin Cormack and James Mackie) and, in the wake of the Oxford boat, a Grammar girl as cox, Carol Cormack. The crew made a useful start to the season by coming second to a University crew in the local Head of the River race. Success continued at Castle Semple, where the crew finished first in one event and third in another, and at the Strathclyde Centenary Regatta, where they came a creditable third in the final of the junior championships. After the end-of-season regatta at Dumfries the crew split up as members left school.

A Grammar girls' crew has started rowing, however, on Sunday mornings on the Dee; some boys showed interest but not enough willpower. The girls have been training over the Easter holidays and are looking forward to the summer season. The crew will be composed of Carol Cormack, Diane Cormack, Elaine Davidson, Hilary MacDonald and Nicola Stephen (cox). More participants arc looked for, to row or to cox, to see rowing continued at Grammar as a lively, if minority. sport.

Basketball (Under-13) 1981-82 saw Aberdeen Grammar enter for the first time a basketball team in. the Regional school leagues. Although the Under-13 squad's record of one victory in six league outings hardly makes impressive reading. all the games were played in a highly competitive, though sporting, spirit. Indeed in all but one of the games the margin of defeat was only one or two points.

Moreover, as the season progressed, there were signs of improvement in many aspects of the team's play, culminating in a decisive 22-12 victory over Hazlehead—a team which had twice previously beaten us in the league.

For further progress next session much work will have to be done by players and coach alike, but a significant start has been made.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Swimming After junior and senior relay teams had participated in the St. Margaret's and Albyn galas, our individual swimmers took part in the South Grampian Schools event. Mark Fraser (II) was second in the 100 m breaststroke; Ian Cameron (III) was first in the 100 m breaststroke and second in the 100 m freestyle; Zandra McRobb (III) won the 100 m breaststroke and freestyle; Elspeth Chisholm (III) was first in the 100 m butterfly and second in the 200 m individual medley; Eunice Alexander (VI) was third in the 100 m freestyle. In the relay races Sill girls were first and the senior girls' team second.

An admirable performance!

This was the first year for some time that a lunchtime swimming club was held. The club, for girls in SI and II, was well attended. Senior girls helped with coaching: basic training and some elementary lifesaving were taught.

In the School swimming galas individual medals were won by Pamela Middleton and Stuart McIntosh (I); Joyce Murray and Mark Fraser (II); Zandra McRobb and Ian Cameron (III); Deborah Leslie and Andrew Couper (IV); Eunice Alexander and Alistair Foote (V/VI). The individual Medley Awards went to Eunice Alexander and William Daser.

Badminton The badminton team completed their second season in Division I of the local schools' league with mixed success. The team improved on last season's placing with a record of five wins and three narrow defeats. A variety of players were used throughout the season because of injury and illness.

A team was entered in the U-14 league for the first time. To their great credit they ended up as Division 2 champions and were presented with a trophy donated by the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society. This looks good for the future as Jeremy Scager (I), Kirsten Pont (II) and Pauline Reid (II) provided the core of the team's success.

In the South Grampian Schools Tournament, played at Christmas, we also showed up well. Kirsten Pont and Pauline Reid won the U-14 girls doubles title, and, after a thrilling three-set match, Fiona Pont and Susan Oliphant were narrowly beaten in the U-16 girls doubles final. Jeremy Seager again played well, defeating seeded players before he was eventually beaten in a close semi-final of the U-14 boys singles.

In conclusion, all badminton players would like to thank Mrs. Shand for her work with the first and second years, and Mr. Duncan for inspiring the senior team to an improved league position.

Table Tennis Session 1981.82 brought about the end of a notable era for the Table Tennis Club with the departure to Ellon Academy of the dynamic and ubiquitous Mr Montgomery, Mr Thomson stepped in to fill his shoes, no easy task even discounting the differences in their stature!

The club continues, however, and a membership of around twenty-five meet at lunchtimes and after school each Thursday in the Rosemount gym.

On the team front, the club this year entered a 1st Year team and a senior team in the Aberdeen Schools T.T. Leagues, where both teams finished reasonably placed in the middle of their respective leagues, Linksfield and Powis Academics maintaining their status as the strongest table tennis schools in the city.

The school also entered twenty pupils in the Aberdeen Schools T.T. Tournament, where Diane Jeffrey, IV did particularly well in winning the Senior Girls Championship.

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Schools Hockey Internationalists It is a source of pleasure and pride that both Carol Sargent, this year's girls' hockey captain, and Graham Davie, this year's boys' hockey captain, have won Scottish Schools hockey caps during the current season.

Since her fourth year at Grammar School Carol has played for the School 1st XI and for North District Schoolgirls. Always a skilful ball player and no mean scorer of goals, Carol, during the past two years has given so much attention to other technical and tactical aspects of her game that she thoroughly deserves her recent Scottish Schoolgirls' caps.

In spite of the various outdoor and indoor honours which she has received, Carol has kept her own hockey in perspective and this year captained a very successful School 1st XI. While regretting her departure we wish her every success in her future hockey.

Graham Davie captained the school 1st XI during the season 1981-82 and in that time has displayed the qualities of a captain on and off the field of play.

His own playing standards have steadily improved over the years and it is CO his credit that he still practises the skills of the game with an enthusiasm which rubs off on his younger and less mature team members.

Mention should also be made of Graham's association with the F.P. Club, who have helped him in many ways throughout the season; not the least of these was to sponsor him in a hockey coaching course run by the National Association.

Both players have brought credit to Grammar School Hockey and can look forward to future representative honours in the game.

Combined Cadet Force There have been some memorable years in the history of the Aberdeen Grammar School C.C.F. There have been many noteworthy cadets. Indeed it is difficult to single out the most significant event or personality from the contingent's proud record. But January 1982 witnessed an event that had not happened before—an event which some said might never happen and others decreed long overdue, an event which opened a new chapter in the history of the School contingent.

For the first time girls were taken on the strength of the Army Section and were issued with uniform to take their place alongside the male members of the unit. We are not the only, nor indeed the first, school to enrol girls as cadets; there have been schools with female cadets for a few years now. After careful consideration and the usual extended administrative process, the Ministry of Defence granted permission for us to enrol fifteen girls—initially the intake number is based on a percentage of the total unit strength. Right away the smallness of the authorised number presented problems, e.g. to which year membership should be made available, the method of selection should there be too many applicants, etc.

It was decided to open membership to Third Year girls, which meant that pupils could serve for up to two years before they might leave school. We did this and ended up with 57 applicants! The only fair way to reduce this number to the permitted 15 appeared to involve seeing applicants individually and discussing with them questions such as their motives for joining, their thoughts on a forces career, and their present hobbies and activities. Holding such interviews seemed to make selection even more difficult because so many of the girls proved to be equally suitable candidates. The job was done, however, and eventually we arrived at a list of fifteen names. These girls appear in the photograph accompanying this article and show themselves to be neat, tidy, and a credit to our unit.

40

Schools Hockey Internationalists 1981-82

Graham Davie and Carol Sargent, who were capped for Scottish Schoolboys and Schoolgirls respectively in season 1981-82

42

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Concurrent with the enrolling of the girls we were in the process of commissioning the contingent's first female officer. It was with great pleasure that we welcomed to our unit Lilian Paterson, a member of the Geography staff, who has been granted a commission and now holds the rank of Second Lieutenant. The experience of Second Lieutenant Paterson in schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award made her a most suitable candidate for this important post. In the short time she has been in charge of the girls' section she has demonstrated her efficiency and her willingness to organise things quietly and pleasantly.

As I welcome these innovations, so I should like to mention the retirement from teaching of Squadron Leader Ronnie McLeod, our last contingent commander. When I took over from Ronnie, I commented on the loss it was to the contingent when he relinquished the role. Ron was still with us in school and staffroom, however, and I found my way along to see him from time to time to seek his counsel, based on his great experience of cadet matters. Now, as from April, Ron has retired from teaching and I shall miss being able to use his services as a consultant! As a cadet officer and latterly as our contingent commander, he gave generously and willingly of his time, as he still does to the R.A.F. Association, particularly through their welfare branch. The contingent thanks Squadron Leader McLeod for all that he has done on its behalf, and we wish him and Mrs McLeod many years of happy and fulfilled retirement. He has a standing invitation to visit us at the C.C.F.H.Q. whenever he can, and I am sure it will not be long before we see that familiar figure, as always immaculately turned out, inspecting the ranks with characteristic zest and expertise.

Further comment on the state of the Sections is contained in their reports that follow; these I think bear out the fact that the unit has had another enjoyable year, largely attributable to the work put in by Section Officers.

Congratulations go to Flying Officer Scott on his well deserved promotion in January to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. We have recently applied for an increase to our permitted establishment figure, and having to make such a move underlines the strength and the stable future of the cadet unit in the school.

R.G. Army Section So far this session we have had a busy time. There have been all the usual ingredients of an Army Section's training syllabus, and on top of this we have held two very successful weekends with the cooperation of the 22nd Cadet Training Team and the 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders Army Cadet Force.

One weekend was based at Aboyne, when 22 C.T.T. took cadets on a day's abseiling, followed by a twenty-one mile windy and blistering trek the following day. The other weekend was a two-day set of intensive shooting range work and military skills periods based at the A.C.F. training centre at Bridge of Don. Both weekends proved two things: one, the invaluable assistance we get from the regular army members of the cadet training teams: and the other, the enjoyment and benefit gained from inter-unit involvement and joint training sessions—basically they arc the same cadets even if they wear a different badge or title.

We also linked up with the A.C.F. and Air Training Corps at the Inter-Cadet Sports in February. Although we did not retain the Sports trophy, our joint team (from Robert Gordon's College C.C.F. plus our own lads) put up a good show. At the end of the day only a few points separated the first three teams overall.

The introduction of girls into the section has created no real problems. The pace of their training has been impressive and has enabled them to catch up with their male equivalents who joined a few months before them.

A Fine Body of Girls

Lady Officer and Cadets of the CCF (Army Section) 1981-82 Back row (! to r): Angela McLaughlin. Morag Whitt. Susan Wilson. Fiona Ewen, Nora Garvie, Ruth Sassella. Mandy Butler. Susan Butler Front row (Ito r). Susan Summers. Lorraine McKenna, Denise Robb. 2/Lt. L. Paterson, Sharon Montgomery, Jan Eddie. Lynne Henderson (Absent): Shona Robb

44

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

The spirit of the Section has been good this year with a sound core of more senior cadets, a regular turnout of new recruits, and a varied programme of military, shooting and recreational periods. The senior section has been busy training for the Highland Cadet Tactical Team Competition to be held at Barry Buddon in June. Before that, however, we hope to catch the last of the winter's snow at a four-day ski camp in the Cairngorms during the Easter holiday. At the end of June there is the Annual Inspection, immediately followed by Summer Camp at Cultybraggan, when the entire section, boys and girls, will spend eight days carrying out the consolidation of the year's training as well as indulging in other activities, like watermanship, which cannot be practised during term time.

As ever we arc indebted to and grateful for the service and help we receive from the staff at T. A. Association headquarters in Dundee and at the Prince Charles Barracks in Aberdeen.

R.A.F. Section The Royal Air Force Section Cadet Roll was around sixty-five cadets throughout the year. About thirty recruits were enrolled from the Second Year at the beginning of the session. These recruits were kitted out in complete uniform in record time and we are grateful for the good management and efficiency of the Senior Liaison NCO, Flight Sergeant J. Gray, who made this possible. In addition, we should like to express our appreciation for all the help and assistance we obtain from Flt. /Sgt. Gray throughout the session.

During the session, a number of cadets have been promoted in rank. These include Cpl. Andrew Couper, who is now a Sergeant; Junior Corporals Ewen, Mellis, Moir and Ritchie, who are now all promoted to Full Corporals; and Cadets Anderson, Gibson, Glennie, Parkinson, Ritchie, Sutherland and Wallis, who became Junior Corporals.

Syllabus work on Proficiency I, II and III has been undergone throughout the session.

This involves cadets in attending lectures on various topics such as Principles of Flight, Aircraft Operations, Foot Drill, Map Reading, Shooting /Safety, Navigation and Meteorology. The Proficiency I work was completed at the end ofJune , 1982 and we arc pleased to report that almost all the cadets involved at this stage in training gained their Proficiency I Certificate. Both Proficiency II and ill work will be completed in December of this year, and the cadets involved at these stages must sit a written examination set by Headquarters Air Cadets.

Over the session, groups of cadets attended Air Experience Flying at RAF Turnhousc, Edinburgh where they were flown in Chipmunks. Now that the defence spending moratorium has been lifted we have been able to send a few cadets to RAF Kinloss for flying in Nimrods. However, these trips arc very difficult to arrange and the number of cadets who are given this opportunity is always a very small proportion of the cadet roll.

The RAF Section was split up for the Annual Summer Camp. Twenty cadets attended a camp at RAF Leuchars with Flying Officer R.J. Nugent, and fifteen cadets attended a camp at RAF Lossiemouth with Flight Lieutenant P. W. Scott. Most cadets were given the opportunity to fly in Chipmunks or Wessex Helicopters. As with most summer camps, the cadets were shown around the various sections which make up a typical RAF Station. These include the Air Traffic Control, Fire Section, Air Force Squadrons, M.T. Section, Photographic Section, Supply and Engineering Section, and the Search and Rescue Squadrons.

Several outdoor exercises were organised throughout the year. There were two successful exercises in the winter months. The last of these was quite eventful: a number of falling parachute flares set alight tinder dry gorse bushes and these fires had to be put out. There were also the usual Orienteering and Initiative-type exercises.

Six cadets and Flight Lieutenant Scott attended Easter Camp at RAF Bruggcn, Germany. The party visited a number of places of interest in Germany and in the Netherlands. These included the Philip's Science Museum at Eindhoven, the open-air war museum at Overloon, and German and British war graves. A pleasant day was spent exploring the city of Cologne. Cadets stayed in tents, which proved adequate despite frequent heavy rain and occasional snow. On the return journey, cadets took the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum whilst in London.

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46

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Electronics Club

This year saw a large influx of youngsters from first arid second year wishing to start electronics. All set to work enthusiastically on a series of elementary experimental projects in order to investigate the properties of a variety of electronic components. As the months passed, the numbers thinned leaving the remaining enthusiasts to carry out the more complex experiments, including the operation of light dependent and heat dependent switches.

With this basic understanding behind them, these newcomers to electronics should soon be working on individual projects.

Film Society This session's elected year representatives voted and agreed on the following list of films: "Tommy", "Heaven Can Wait'', "Escape from Alcatraz", "Porridge".

"Golden Rendezvous" and "The Eiger Sanction". Throughout the year, too, society officials were called on to show three rugby films and to assist with Modern Languages, Heart Foundation, and ornithological films.

Projectionists for the year were Graham Davie, Neil Milne, Colin Noble and John Steele. The other committee members were Neil Anderson, John Lawson and Derek Ritchie.

We are indebted to Mr Garrow, Mr Gordon and Mr Will for their advice and assistance, and to the janitors for their help and cooperation.

Hillwalking Club This session the Hillwalking Club got straight down to serious business by tackling the famous Lairig Ghru on 13 September 1981, and this with two first year pupils! The Grammar party set off from Loch Morlich by Aviemore while simultaneously a party from Hazlehead Academy, led by Mr Ian Spence, began the same walk from the Braemar side. This conveniently allowed the interchange of buses and reduction in costs.

The weather was favourable, and most of the journey was covered at a cracking pace.

Later that same month a party of first year pupils set out to scale Bennachie. They showed their mettle by ascending Mither Tap despite strong winds and torrential rain.

At the end of October, Lochnagar was the venue for our activities. The senior members climbed White Mounth as well as Lochnagar, while the main party followed the tourist route and returned along the scenic shores of Loch Muick.

The walkers set out from lnverey on 15 November to conquer Cain Liath. A large part of this walk was marred by rain and fog, and few managed to stay upright against the force of the winds at the summit. However, despite these adverse conditions, the outing proved successful.

Snow conditions prevented walks during January and February 1982. but a large contingent of the club was to be found donning skis and still enjoying the pleasures of the hills.

Unfortunately, the club bade farewell this session to Mr Montgomery, who has taken up a post at Ellon Academy. His knowledge of the hills, warm personality and infectious enthusiasm will be sadly missed.

Literary and Debating Society This year the society benefited from and flourished under the presidency of Alastair Bridges. All meetings were courteously and correctly handled and his ability to address most of the many members by name made the society all the friendlier. Meetings, events and topics for debate were varied and almost always entertaining. The standard of speeches was generally high—well researched and delivered with confidence.

We had, as usual, several inter-school debates—and so reinforced our links with other schools in the city. We were glad to welcome two guest speakers, James Logan and Chris Anderson. A particular highlight of the year was the "Mock Trial". Prominent legal

Clubs and Societies

47

figures in the city—Sheriff Muir Russell, Mr Melville Watson and Mr Brian Crookshanks—were good enough to give up their time to come along and charge one of our members with assault! To a packed library, the case was tried and the accused found not guilty. Our final event was the Staff against the Pupils Quiz; the Staff just managing to retain their dignity with a win.

In competitions. those for both public speaking and debating, we have had a most successful year. Seven competitions were entered in all. Our team appeared on television in the quarter-final of the English Speaking Union Public Speaking Competition. We won through to the finals of both the United Nations Speechmaking Competition, held in Edinburgh and the English Speaking Union Debating Competition, held in Dundee.

Fabulous prizes eluded our grasp. We hope next year to win something, having been so near, so many times.

This year's large membership was encouraging and we hope that our most junior fellows will continue to come along and participate.

One O'Clock Club The School's long list of extra-curricular activities was recently extended by the creation of a new club.

The One O'Clock Club is designed to cater for pupils in S.I and II who find themselves at a loose end during the lunchbreak. Thanks to the generosity of School Chaplain, the Rev. Ronald Montgomery, and the Kirk Session of Melville-Carden Place Church, members are allowed the use of the church hall on Albert Street as their club premises.

A substantial amount of equipment has been acquired, and the club now boasts three table tennis tables and two snooker tables. In addition, club members are encouraged to bring table games with them, while others prefer to catch up with homework or have a quiet seat and chat. Many bring packed lunches, which they can supplement with soft drinks and crisps on sale on the premises.

The club had its first meeting in mid-February and has since met twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with an average attendance of 25 members. Staff members, prefects and other senior pupils have rallied round to ensure that facilities are ready for use at 1 p.m. and that the club is adequately supervised. The atmosphere at meetings has been very pleasant, and members have shown a proper and refreshing care in the use of premises and equipment. As the club develops. it is hoped to increase the membership and to allow members an increasing part in its running.

Club organisers would like again to thank Mr Montgomery and the congregation of Melville-Carden Place Church for the generous use of their hall, and look forward to next session as a time to consolidate what has already been achieved.

Photographic Club The Photographic Club meets every Thursday after school in the Darkroom. Because of the small size of the room and the large number of members, a rota system is used, which allows two or three members a week to do film processing or printing.

Schools' Scientific Society As in previous sessions, the programme of lectures this year covered a wide range of scientific subjects. The attendance and total membership this year has not been as high as in the past. The membership fee is still only 10p and for this small charge, each member may attend all six lectures scheduled for the current session.

The titles of the lectures and the speakers for the past session were as follows: "Quasars and Radio Astronomy" (Dr. Pim, Aberdeen University); "Tightrope Walker" (Dr. I. McInnes, Jordanhill College); "Coloured Glass" (Dr. Duffy, Aberdeen University); "Role of the Chemist & Biologist in North Sea Oil" (Dr. Williamson, Shell Expro); "Red Deer" (Dr. Blotter, Rowett Institute); "Science in Santa-land" (Dr. Sugclen. Aberdeen University).

48

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Scripture Union

This year we have gone back to the arrangement of having one open meeting a week for all who are interested in the Christian faith, regardless of age. Spectrum, as it is now called, is held on Wednesdays during the lunch hour, and there have been speakers and discussions on a number of important topics including, Parents, Friendship, Money, War, the Occult, Why I believe in God, God the Father. Jesus-God Incarnate, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity. Numbers attending have averaged about thirty each week including some who have joined us only this year. We welcome anyone who cares to drop in, there is no "membership" as such, and there is no subscription to pay.

For pupils interested in deeper Christian commitment and understanding, a prayer and Bible study group meet on Friday lunch-times, and all those who have been attending have felt this has been very helpful.

The highlight of the year was what has become our annual "weekend" in March. This time we went to Cullen (despite snow and blocked roads) and had a most enjoyable time both in and out of the Centre there. Our padre was Ken Martin of the Edinburgh S.U. staff, who developed the theme of "Guidance" for us. There were a number of ploys involving such varied items as tea-bags, pillows, the King of Siam, and a sponsored jump-in (fully clothed) at Cullen harbour!

Other events included the New Year patty at Rubislaw Church Centre. A barbecue is planned for June, and we shall probably be organising another Gospel Rock Concert to raise money for Carlos, our sponsored child in the Dominican Republic.

We who are leaving would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the discussions. friendship, and fellowship during the year, and to wish God's blessing and help for another ycar to those who remain.

Ski Club This season has been a vast improvement on that of the winter of 1980-81, with only a short break in February due to lack of snow. Before the start of the season the club purchased ten sets of equipment with the aid of a loan from the School, which is in the process of being repaid. This accession of equipment has enabled the club to organise coach parties CO Glenshee on Sundays and to give many pupils the chance to experience skiing for the first time.

After last year's successful overseas excursion to Italy, the club organised a similar trip at Easter to Pejo in Northern Italy. which was enjoyed greatly by thirty-two pupils and four staff.

From September to December the School club enjoyed the use of the artificial slope ar Kaimhill on Saturday mornings. This allowed pupils to find their ski legs before encountering the real thing.

Thanks are due to the members of staff who gave freely of their time to allow the above activities to take place.

Dramatic Society: "The Front Page" A.G.S. Dramatic Society scooped an exclusive with this year's production, The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, a thought-provoking American drama set in Chicago in 1928. It asks a lot of school pupils to take on roles enacted on the screen by Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, and indeed Grampian TV's North Tonight reporter. interviewing producer Pat Wood. asked her if she felt the cast were mature enough to tackle this play. She said they were, and her judgement was substantially borne out.

As might be expected from its setting in time and place. the play deals with selfinterest and corruption, and centres on the anticipated hanging of an anarchist murderer, his escape, and his re-arrest after having been re-discovered hidden inside a bureau desk in the press room of the Criminal Court building. At times the obvious youth of the cast, though partly disguised by a range of moustaches, and the lack of

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL FORMER PUPILS' CLUB CENTRE Membership Application Form Date Name (in full) (BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE)

Address

Category of Membership (please indicate with X ) (See Note 2) F.P.

❑

Junior F.P. (under 25)0

Family (wives of members)O Country (resident over 50 miles from Club Centre) E Occupation

years at school (F.P.s only) 19. . . to 19. . .

Date of birth (junior applicants only) Proposer (Note 1)

Seconder (Note 1)

Name Membership No Signature

Note 1. The proposer and seconder must both be former pupils of the school and members of the Club Centre.

2.

Applicants who are former pupils of the school must be members of the former pupils' club. If you are not, please tick here ❑ and an application form will be sent to you.

3. When completed this form should be sent to: The Secretary, A.G.S.F.P. Club Centre, 86 Queens Road, Aberdeen.

JOIN NOW Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils' Club Centre

86 Queens Road, Aberdeen AB1 6YQ

Lounge Bar Sports Bar /Function Room Billiards, Snooker, Pool, Table Tennis.

Bar Lunches served Wed. to Sat. Rooms can be hired for Meetings and Private Parties.

Greater use of facilities is welcomed—contact Secretary or Steward at Club Centre.

JOIN NOW

Staff Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

49

height of some of the police and criminals seemed incongruous; but the film &ivy Malone set a precedent and the actors were so committed to their pans that, with a certain willingness to suspend disbelief, the audience could accept them for what they claimed to be.

The central characters were especially convincing. Ross Parsons, maturing fast and giving his best performance to date, held the stage and the audience as the ace reporter torn between love of his profession and love of his "goil". His accent was remarkably consistent, and physically, tall, slim and relaxed, he was right for the part. Jill Hutchison, respectable in lemon and white in the black, pinstriped milieu of the reporters, was no Miss Prim; strongwilled yet tolerant, she let us see why Hildy Johnston was attracted to her. And Donna Cranston, as the naughty Mollie Malloy. revelled in her Mae West role, strutting and hipswinging across the stage, resplendent in red satin, feather head-dress, and a garish green boa. Perhaps the key figure in the play is a character who initially is only a voice, with words booming through the theatre to evoke a sense of malign power: Walter Burns's lean and hungry presence is just as powerful, and Alistair Bridges conveyed Burns's power and lack of scruple most effectively. Not the suicide of Mollie and not the marriage and future happiness of Hildy can check him; The Herald Examiner is what counts.

There were moreover some solid supporting vignettes. Peter Montgomery looked at ease as the lawman. Woodenshoes Eichorn; Shaun Broussard's genuine, home-bred intonation gave an edge to his lines as the poker-playing Murphy of The Journal; George Tweedie was suitably pale and nervous as the sensitive hypochondriac, Bensinger of The Tribune; and Diane McGhee, made middle-aged by cloche and fur-collared coat, was properly outraged at being kidnapped for the sake of a scoop.

Norman Constable's backcloth to this blend of comedy and corruption was an atmospheric and seedy set. Mouldy mustard and dismal brown walls had doors that opened on to ghastly green corridors and a blue-tiled, obtrusively piped washroom. The period was defined by Vogue-type fashion pictures, a "His Master's Voice" calendar, and the obligatory drink dispenser. while newsroom activity was well conveyed by typewriters, wire mesh in-out trays, and numerous authentic telephones (kindly lent by British Telecommunications). Costumes complemented the effect, from the cleaners' paper curlers to the vamps' feathers, satins and lures, and the reporters' pinstripes, worn with relish. Sound and lighting were also effective. The repetitive crashing of the gallows' trapdoor echoed oppressively through Act One, while the searchlights in Act Two were a vivid reminder of the police hunt in progress. The escape of Earl Williams at the end of Act One, amidst blackout, searchlights and sirens, took hold both of Hildy and the audience.

Though not always big enough physically, the cast rose well to the challenge of a demanding text and complex characterisation. The production, however, could not have succeeded without the efforts of many members of staff. To name individuals would be invidious, but Mrs Wood's drive and energy motivated the enterprise.

Staff Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs For this year's Christmas entertainment the Byron Players had an original script full of local and topical reference and, as was to be expected with Ron McLeod and Doug Ritchie as scriptwriters, replete with verbal humour and groan-producing puns! With such material the staff went to town. In colourful and bizarre costumes, products of the individual's ingenuity and Enid Blaikie's talent, they enjoyed themselves and gave enjoyment to their audiences.

There had been fears that the loss to Ellon of Neill Montgomery, a comic lead previously, would seriously weaken this year's production. Such misgiving proved excessive. Success was assured from the moment Flora (Bob Duncan) and Marge (Jack Thomson) spread their charms across the stage. Formidable as "wifics" in headscarves, pinnies and male-battering handbags, or provocative in punk wigs, knee-length boots and mini-skirts, they successfully foiled the advances of Lilian Paterson and Shirley

50

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Emslic as froward Aberdonian chiel-dwarfs. Still more redoubtable was panto newcomer Doug Ritchie who, as the Demon King. ranked in the best John Cleese manner, reducing a magnificent Manuel (Ian Milne) to a quivering wreck. But for malice he could not match the Duchess of Dallas (Eva Cowie), once more matrimonially paired with Ian Galloway, a less sinister tycoon than his TV counterpart, "J.R."!

Ellie Whyte was an accomplished Snow White, captivating het Prince (Peter Henderson), an uncanny lookalike of Prince Charles in his naval uniform. The dwarfs, disguised as bears or outrageous in football gear, provided a strong supporting chorus.

The Fairy Godmother (Moya Cromar)—a happy casting for the School Nurse—sparkled with special effects, while the Mirror (Enid Blaikie), set in an ingenious mobile dressingtable, castigated the Duchess in a forthright fashion. But tradition was set aside when Macbeth and the Witches entered Pantoland! Cackling over the cauldron. Grant Bruce, Brian Gordon and Catherine Reid tried in vain to find their rightful play. Macbeth (Brian Anderson). his crown a-bounce with Christmas tree baubles, attempted to direct them, but got a custard pie in retaliation in a riotous F.P. Club sequence.

Ron McLeod, in cap and dirty raincoat as a billboard man. punctuated the show with his ambivalent animadversions; Pat Wood had a cameo role as the Genie; and Lawrence Murray and Jim Will, in authentic Grampian Police uniforms, convincingly embodied The Law, and Justice finally prevailed.

Behind the scenes good-humoured teamwork was a feature. Norman Constable saw expertly to the sets; Jenny Watson created props inventively; Brian Gordon used lighting effectively; and, out front, Tom Henderson, Laura Ross and Russell Gray made music most acceptably. The support of the pupil stage crew was invaluable.

And what of next year? It stays something of a secret, but Ron McLeod is not to retire his scriptwriting talents, for he and Doug Ritchie are lined up to write the 1982 script, which is rumoured to involve characters from Sherwood Forest and from Transylvania and places in between. If it is as lively as this year's show (and as usefully profitable), it will be well worth anticipating. Pat Wood's efforts as Producer have seen the Byron Players' Panto quickly become an annual event not to be missed.

Total Award: Paris Trip 1981 The 1981 winners of the annual Total award were Kirsten Fitzpatrick and Melanie Florence. Thefollowing is an account oftheirone week visit to Path andto the Totalplant.

Paris—a city rich in history and art, with a reputation for good food and wine, the home of haute couture, where the graceful Eiffel Tower still dominates the skyline, despite the many soaring skyscrapers of more recent years. During our visit to Paris we had the opportunity not only to discover these features of the city, but also to see some modern aspects of Paris and its environs, in the shape of Total's oil operations.

One of the highlights ofour busy week came when we had dinner with Katrine Ross on a bateau mouchc. The excellent meal, to the accompaniment of a harp, and the views of Paris by night, especially of Notre Dame. combined to provide us with an unforgettable experience. Another very enjoyable evening event was the son et lumitre at Les Invalides, which really "brought alive" the moving history of this magnificent building.

We visited Orly Airport and saw the whole operation from the arrival of the oil pipeline from the refinery to the actual fuelling of the aircraft, as we drove around the airport, stopping to let planes go past. An unexpected pleasure was our visit to the Concorde prototype.

A fascinating visit to the oil refinery at Le Havre also gave us the chance to see some of the beautiful Normandy countryside. After an interesting film and a talk, we were shown around the vast refinery. Although all the explanations were given in French, between us we managed to follow them, with Kirsten understanding the science and Melanie, the French. We also visited the new oil port of Antifer, and, although it was foggy we had a wonderful view of the sea and the oil terminal. The whole day was a unique experience in that we were lucky enough to see things most people only read about.

One evening our imaginations ran riot, over dinner on the Champs Elysies, trying to

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52

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Computers in Aberdeen Grammar School

Just over a year ago Aberdeen Grammar School was gifted a Commodore Pet microcomputer by a former pupil. This computer became extensively used in the Sixth Year Studies Computing course and achieved a significant improvement in its organisation.

Previously programs had to be written out, sent to the College of Education for entry on a computer. and returned several days later with errors indicated, A few minutes' work corrected the error, but another week had to elapse before the next error was discovered.

With our own Pet, pupils could type in their programs. correct errors immediately, and generally complete in half an hour what had previously taken three. weeks.

In Autumn 1981 it became Regional policy to supply Apple computers to schools. We were therefore delighted, of course, to take delivery of an Apple, complete with twin disc drives and a printer. In addition the Mathematics Department has purchased four Sinclair ZX 81 computers.

This year the Pet has been used to give every second year pupil one week's instruction in computing. In future it is intended that the ZX 81s will be used for basic instruction; then as pupils become more proficient and more ambitious in their programs, they can progress to the Pet and the Apple.

Several members of staff are gaining experience with the Apple with a view to starting a Computing Club. Members of the Physics and Mathematics departments have also developed a few programs which may be used in departmental administration.

This has been largely an experimental year, with staff and pupils alike learning just how much the machines are capable of performing. As experience is gained, however, we can look forward to introducing more and more applications of the computers to our classroom teaching.

A.G.S. Markdorf Exchange Last June a group of 30 young German pupils, accompanied by their teachers. Herr Schneider and Frau Konig, from the town of Markdorf on Lake Constance, visited the school as guests of our pupils. Although it was their first visit, they were no strangers, as a group of 33 Grammar pupils accompanied by Mrs. Thomaneck, Mrs. Cowie, Mr. Cruickshank and Mr. Montgomery had visited Markdorf the previous year, attending classes at the "Bildungszentrum" during the forenoon and getting to know the surrounding area in the afternoons.

During their 10-day visit, the young Germans had a packed programme, visiting Dunnottar Castle, climbing Lochnagar, touring the Glendronach Distillery, and driving round Loch Ness, as well as attending a talk on the history of the school by Mr. McCombie, who also accompanied them on a bus tour of the city and suburbs.

Highlight of the visit was undoubtedly the Ceilidh held in the school hall on the eve of their departure and attended by the host families. Norman Constable of the Art Department decorated the hall magnificently to suit the Scottish theme, and Scottish dress was the order of the evening. Music was provided by Alistair Hunter and the Lorne Scottish Dance Band, who generously played without a fee (the band's pianist. Mrs. Cruickshank, was herself one of the host parents). Mr. May of the Chemistry Department was master of ceremonies and responsible for organising the varied programme, which included the Pipers and Drummers of the Deeside Ladies Pipe Band. a team of dancers from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, our own Highland Dancers, Susan Jaffray, Heather Mitchell and Lesley Reid, and solo performances on the guitar and fiddle by Florence and Mackie Burns. Sustenance was provided by Mrs. Reid of the Home Economics Department, helped by Mrs. Davidson and senior girls.

So successful was the exchange that it is being repeated this year, with twenty Grammar pupils all set to visit Markdorf in June to renew old friendships and forge new ones.

Former Pupils' Club Section (Club Founded 11 September 1893)

Club Office-Bearers, 1982-83 Honorary President: ROBERT DOUGLAS GILL, M.A.

(Rector) Honorary Vice-presidents: THE RT. HON. LORD MESTON (1901-02). (President, 1929-30) JOHN A. LILLIE (1893-1903), Q.C.. M.A., LL.B., HON. U.D. (President, 1952-53) DOUGLAS P. COCHRAN (1906-15), F.A.I.B. (President, 1957-58) J. LENNOX RIDDELL (1907-16). (President, 1958-59) THE HoN. LORD JOHNSTON (1913-26). (President 1961-62)

IAN G. MCPHERSON (1910-17). (President, 1965-66) EDWARD J. WOOD (1908-21), M.A. (President, 1966-67) JOSEPH R. CARRY (1918-30), M.B.E.. T.D., D.L.. F.B.C 0. (President, 1967-68) ERIC ROS BIRKETT (1920-22), C.A. (President, 1968-69) ALLAN C. FRAZER (1925-30), M.A., LLB.. W.S. (President, 1970-71) JAMES S. G. MUNRO (1922-28), M.B.E., T.D.. J.P., B.L. (President, 1971-72) JOHN V. SKINNER, M.A., M.LITT, J.P. (Rector, 1959-72) AIR MARSHAL SIR LESLIE MAYOR (1923-33), K.C B.. A.F.C., D.L.,

R.A.F.

(President 1972-73) GEORGE E. C. BARTON (1923-26), M.A. (President, 1973-74) J. FRASER MCLUSKEY (1920-31), M.C., D.D. (President, 1974-75) ALAN C. R. WATT (1925-37), M.A.. LL.B. (President, 1975-76) ROBERT A. E. MENNIE (1924-36), M.A.. F. INS-r. PET. (President, 1976-77) JOHN W. CRADOCK (1941-46), C.A. (President 1977-78) ALFRED J. M. EDWARDS (1908-21), M.A.. B Com. WILLIAM L. CONNON (1930-40), B.L. (President, 1979-80) T. GORDON Courrs (1938-49, 1950-51), Q.C.. M.A., U.B. (President, 1980-81) NEIL 1. W. MELDRUM (1925-37), M.A.. LL.B. (President, 1981-82) President: JAMES A. N. WArr (1927-39), C.A. Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: PROF. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58), M.A., U.S. Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65), U.S. 36 Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB9 1YU 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 Kinkel! Road, Aberdeen AB1 8HQ 53

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Secretaries of Centres Edinburgh—NIGEL G. M. WATT (1963-69), W.S., 10 Athol! Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8HE. London—ROBERT A. E. MENNIE (1924-36), M.A., F. INST. PET. Rookery Cottage, Norton End, Wendens Ambo, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JS. Yorkshire—A. J. M. MILLER (1942.55). M.A., C.A., 13 Wenlock Drive, Escrick, York.

Ireland—ANDREW M. M. STEVEN (1936.50), M.A.. LL.B., Dip.Eo . 5 Beechill Avenue, Saintfield Road. Belfast BT8 4NS. Secretaries of Sections Cricket—DR. W. AusTAut S rEWART(1939.47), 56 Forbesfield Road, Aberdeen AB16PA. Curling—ALAsTAiR C. MArILAND (1943-52), I Harlaw Terrace, Aberdeen ABI 6YU. Golf—PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967-73), LL.B.. 102 Stanley Street. Aberdeen ABI 6UQ. Hockey—DENis N. YULE (1960-66). LL.B.. 14 Lochside Road, Bridge of Don, AberdeenAB2 8AE. Photographic—HUNTER A. B. WILL (1948-62), 132 South Anderson Drive. Aberdeen ABI 6LU Rugby—MICHAEL G. H. GIBB (1942-46). 25 Viewfield Road, Aberdeen AB1 7XL. Swimming—ROGER D. HOUGHTON (1959-63). LL.B.. 31 Woodburn Crescent.

Aberdeen ABI 8JX. Executive Committee The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman ERIC CRAIG (1934-46), Vice-Chairman The Secretary, the Treasurer and the General Editor of the Magazine, ex officio The Rector of the School, ex officio JAMES C. LYON (1953.59) ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) DOUGLAS McALLETER (1961-74) RONALD R. COMBER (1947-53) W. DOUGLAS MITCHELL (1946-61) PETER GRIEVE (1974-80) FIONA M. A. McComBiE (1975.81) H. ALAN S. HAMILTON (1943-56) JEREMY D. MOIR ,(1969-75) DEREK A. HARLEY (1974.80) MARIE J. MOSER (1976-80) LAIN S. HoPtoN (1962-68) DENIS N. YULE (1960-66) — Section Representatives Club Centre—RICHARD H. W. CRADOCK (1940-41, 44-51) Cricket—IAN P. SouTER (1947.61) Curling—ALASTAIR C. MAITLAND (1943-52) Golf-PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967.73) Hockey JOHN A. SMITH (1966-72) Rugby—IAN M. GILBERT (1969-72) Staff-IAN T. STEPHEN Swimming—H. A. BARRIE HARPER (1950-57) Auditors Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C A Club Consuls Australia—JAMB GREIG (1937-42), 24 Chicquita Avenue, Seaford. Victoria 3198, Australia.

Canada—G. DOUGLAS MENZIES (1934-44), 15414 74th Avenue. Edmonton. Alberta.

Canada TSR 2Y4.

Kenya—REV. GEORGE B. C. SANGSTER (1928-37), do St. Andrew's Church, P.O. Box 41282. Nairobi, Kenya.

Malawi—ALASDAIR H. MCLEOD (1947.61). P.O. Box 30045, Lilongwe 3, Republic of Malawi, Central Africa.

United States—BRIAN S. GRAY (1943.49). 8113 Fenway Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20034.

United States—MICHAEL G. KING (1951-60). 42 Richard Road. Edison, New Jersey 08817.

Annual General Meeting The Eightieth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Club Centre, 86 Quern's Road, Aberdeen on Monday, 29 March, 1982 .

Executive Report The following are extracts from the Executive Report submitted to the meeting by the Chairman.

Membership and Finance There had been a slight decrease in the number of members to a total of 2077 at 28 February 1982. Recruitment of new members from school-leavers remained good, but the number of existing members who had failed to renew their subscriptions was disappointingly high. This phenomenon might not be unconnected with the rise in subscription rates, which, because of increasing Club costs, had been introduced with effect from 1 January 1982. Certainly, the anticipation of higher subscription rates had provoked an increase in life members.

The Executive had approved an increase in the level of honoraria paid to the principal Club officials and the Editors.

Deaths of Members and Former Members of Staff It was sad to have to record the deaths of a number of prominent members and former members of staff in the course of the year. In particular, two former presidents of the Club, Alexander Gray and Arthur Adams, had died, and W. Wallace Porter, a longserving member of the Executive had also died, leaving a legacy of £500 to the Club.

Brian Haddon, who was appointed to the Executive only in Spring 1981, had been killed in a tragic road accident, and the deaths had also occurred of Robert Wilson and Ethel Mary Stewart, two former members of staff who had given long and devoted service to the School.

Social Appreciation was expressed of the endeavours of Alan Hamilton in promoting successful functions in the Annual Dinner, which was attended by 131, and the Annual Ball which was attended by 388 members and guests. Jeremy Moir was also to be thanked for organising the raffle at the Ball, which made a welcome contribution towards offsetting the costs of the Club.

Centres There had been a continuing healthy level of activity in the London, Edinburgh and Yorkshire Centres, but it was disappointing, particularly in view of the encouragement given by the parent Club, that the Glasgow Centre had still not been revived.

School Links between School and Club remained strong. In particular, the Executive had appointed a sub-committee to consult with the Rector and the Depute Rector, and to undertake a comprehensive review of School prizes. The Executive had awarded a grant to Sheena Naughton, who had only recently left School, to assist her in taking a teaching post in Kenya in a scheme under Project Trust.

General Business Reports on the year's activities were submitted by representatives of the Club's Sections and the Club Centre. Similar reports appear later in this Magazine.

The Club's accounts for the year were approved. An abstract of the accounts is printed at the end of this Magazine, and the full statement of accounts is available from the Secretary.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Office-bearers for the year 1982-83 were elected in accordance with the list immediately preceding this report. Miss Fiona McComhie. a former head girl, became the second lady member to be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee, and Messers Bower and Smith were appointed as auditors of the Section accounts in addition to their longstanding appointment as auditors of the Club accounts.

In demitting office as President of the Club. Mr Meldrum took the opportunity to thank members for the honour they had done him by electing him to the office of President. He had been deeply conscious of that honour and had enjoyed his term of office, but wished to express his disappointment both that certain elder members of the Club demonstrated a confirmed reluctance to join the Club Centre, and also that there was a reluctance among members in general to support the Sections of the Club. He hoped that the Executive Committee would strive to make some improvement in these two areas.

Our President James A. N. Watt (1927-39), C.A. For some years now it has been the policy of the Executive Committee in alternate years to propose to the Annual General Meeting the name of a loyal servant of the outlying Centres as President of the Club. It has been the Executive's opinion (and it has been endorsed unaminously by successive general meetings), that the Club would wish to honour those who had served its members long and well without necessarily ever attracting the limelight which has bathed more celebrated former pupils. Jim Watt is the man for whom this policy might have been enunciated. His record of quiet but dedicated and enthusiastic service to the Club in exile is one which demands the recognition that only appointment to the Club's highest office affords.

Entering the School at the age of five, Jim progressed through all the stages of Junior Infants, Infants, Lower, Middle and Upper School performing well enough academically to be awarded class prizes, though without attaining special distinction in any subject. Of his school sporting activities he says, "Duncan MacGregor gave me up as hopeless, preferring in the end to let me go swimming rather than get in the way on the rugger pitch."

It was into scouting, however that Jim channelled his enthusiasm from the age of eight, as a novice Cub, onwards. He was active in the 9th Group throughout his schooldays (at a time when the School troops were closely integrated with the School and with the pupils' education), and indeed has maintained his affection for the 9th throughout his life, recalling his enjoyable scouting days with fondness and comparatively recently taking the trouble to travel north for a 9th Group reunion.

Leaving School in 1939, Jim took up a C.A. apprenticeship in Glasgow, but before he had a real opportunity to begin his new training the war intervened, and he found himself learning instead the techniques of a wireless operator in the R.A.F. Throughout most of the war Jim served on R.A.F. ground-staff in India. ending with six months as part of the force occupying Saigon after the Japanese surrender.

At the end of the war, Jim renewed his apprenticeship, qualifying C.A. in 1948, and subsequently entering the field of industry in 1951. From that date. he spent thirty years (more than half of them as Secretary and Chief Accountant) with a substantial company concerned with non-ferrous metal production, first in Bristol and later in Yorkshire.

Jim's first official Club appointment was as Secretary of the Glasgow Centre. a post which he held for a year or two on his return to Glasgow after the war.

Club President 1982-83

James A N Watt (1927.39), C.A.

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His principal service to the Club, however, has been with the Yorkshire Centre, which he supported actively for quarter of a century, becoming Secretary of the Centre in succession to the late Arthur Adams, a recent past President of the parent Club. Those of us who have had the privilege of attending a Yorkshire Centre annual dinner have become aware that the post of Secretary is one of the key functions within the whole Club. Though the dinners arc attended by small numbers, the unique atmosphere of comradeship, gentlemanliness and fun generated by that little band of exiles (of disparate age and from a widely spread area extending much further than the title "Yorkshire" would suggest) is something of which any Club would be proud, even if that was all it had to offer. No Aberdeen Club official, who has had the good fortune to travel south for one of those occasions, has returned without a new and refreshing sense of purpose for the Club. And for the past several years, it has been Jim Watt's unobtrusive but scrupulous and rigorous efficiency that has held together this group scattered by age and geography, but bound by the ties of School and Club, and has maintained thereby a miniature but flawless example of the traditions the Club should uphold.

In these times of swiftly changing fads and fashions, it is reassuring to find someone, who, though all his adult life has been spent furth of Aberdeen, has been involved with and has remained committed to the F.P. Club all that time, first in Glasgow, then in Yorkshire—and now in Edinburgh, for it is understood that, though Jim has only recently taken up residence in his retirement home in the Borders, he has already "signed on" with his namesake, Nigel, as a member of the Edinburgh Centre.

Though his manner is quiet and kindly rather than ebullient and imposing, there is a firmness and assurance about Jim Watt which, by his presence alone, will command attention and respect at F.P. functions in the forthcoming year.

It is fitting that Jim Watt be honoured with the office of President, and it is certain that that honour will reflect back on the Club itself by the manner in which the new President will conduct himself in office.

Annual Dinner The lady F.P.s who made such a welcome first appearance at the 1980 Dinner returned to grace the Royal Darroch Hotel among the 138 former pupils and guests at the Annual Dinner on 30 October 1981. The presence of ladies at the Annual Dinner, of course, has already earned the cachet of a cherished tradition of the Club, which, it is hoped, will be maintained and developed over the years. Nevertheless, though the 1980 Dinner might be distinguished as "Ladies' Night", at the 1981 Dinner, the ladies were quite overshadowed by an F.P institution of much earlier establishment—Neil Meldrum.

In the profile of the President, which appeared in the 1980 issue of the Magazine.

Neil was said to be "not one whose presence in any company can pass by unnoticed", and the company at the Annual Dinner was to prove no exception to this rule. Neil had spared no effort in impressing upon the Chairman of the Executive, the Secretary of the Club and the Entertainments Secretary his conviction that the Dinner should be "a fun occasion''—and so it was, but whether the credit for this fortunate outcome is entirely owing to Neil, or whether it was more appropriately attributable to the personal qualities of the speakers and the very nature of the function itself, is not a question that will be answered here.

For a number of years the Entertainments Committee has wrestled with difficulties of urging upon speakers the need to hold their enthusiasm in check, lest the undue length of their address may lose the attention of an audience impatient to rise from the tables to hold more general conversation, but only our President had the boldness to produce a

Annual Dinner

59

fifteen minute hour-glass timer at the top table, the sands of which he warned speakers to cross at their peril. The speakers recognised the timer as part of the "fun occasion", and none spoke a second too long in delivering their uniformly entertaining addresses.

Professor Hamish Kcir, head of the Department of Biochemistry (and subsequently appointed Vice-Principal) of the University of Aberdeen, proposed the toast, "The School and the Club." While he spoke eloquently of the difficulties which the University was facing as a consequence of the public expenditure cuts (then only recently announced), and persuasively of the importance of maintaining the strong relationship that existed between the School and the University, his speech was characterised predominantly by humour, which provoked appreciative and hearty laughter on all sides. That he had carefully assessed the mood of his audience was evident from his early remark about the sad case of the Gordonian who had had the sense to leave the Scofield Club for the F.P. Club Centre only to lower the I.Q. of both establishments!

The Rector's reply to the toast fell into two main parts. Firstly, he spoke of the serious consequences of unemployment, which he judged to be cruellest of all for schoolleavers. He advocated an extension of the existing schemes for unemployed young people, providing a balanced programme of compulsory apprenticeships, day release classes and job training, such as already existed elsewhere in Europe. Within schools there was also a need for increased funding, more staff and a revision of the old curriculum to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of pupils who were driven by the prospect of unemployment to return to school in SV and SVI, but without the same motivation towards academic study previously expected at that level. Secondly, Mr Gill gave his customary satisfactory report of the School's activities and achievements over the year. There had been the usual pleasing level of success in S.C.E. presentations (including for the first time nine successes in '0' grade Drama), the award of shields for both boys' and girls' hockey, a clean sweep of local cricket championships, victories in junior and senior netball competitions and successes in girls' athletics and in a modern dance exhibition. The company was left in no doubt that the School was in good heart.

Andrew Noble, the President and previously long-serving Secretary of the London Centre proposed the toast, "Our guests", and Gordon Masson, a local solicitor, replied.

This combination might almost have been a double act, for the two had spent their schooldays in sporting rivalry as representatives of Aberdeen Grammar School and Robert Gordon's College respectively. The result was greatly to the benefit of the company's amusement, and Mr Masson's speech, reminiscent in its diction and delivery of Scotland the What sketches, was particularly well received. He enhanced his popularity, no doubt, by admitting that he had played six years for Gordon's College, five years for University and a further two years for Gordonians before he beat a Grammar team! 0 tempora, o mores!

In his reply on behalf of the Club, Neil spoke in a way that defies analysis, but with a conviction and spirit that demanded acceptance of the importance to him of the "indefinable quality of the School and Club." Brian Crookshanks too, in proposing the Vote of Thanks to the Chairman, spoke of Neil as one whose enthusiasm for the Club could be equalled by few throughout the Club's history, and at the conclusion of the speeches Neil gratefully and emotionally acknowledged the Presidency of the Club as one of the greatest honours in his life.

As the company rose to leave the tables, Neil announced that we would dispense with the customary toast of "Bon Accord" and proposed instead, "Here's tae us, fa's like us, damned few, and they're a' deid!" This toast, though generally deemed undesirably chauvinistic, is one that Neil can propose with confidence. He has served the Club with almost unique industry and unquestionable zeal for forty-five years, and no doubt his gift for "fun" will enliven us for many more.

D. Stewart Allan (1959-64), trained for the hotel and catering industry on leaving School. He has since been in hotel management posts both at home and abroad and is currently in charge of catering on a North Sea offshore installation. He is resident in Portsoy.

W. H. Kerr Anderson (1955.68), B.Sc.. Ph.D.. after more than four years at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, U.S.A., has been appointed, from January 1981, lecturer in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He returned to Aberdeen for a brief spell in July last year and met some friends and wishes to say to the others he missed, "Sorry but I'll try harder next time".

Dougal W. Bannerman (1972-78), who is studying advertising at Aberdeen College of Commerce, is a racing cyclist of considerable promise and has joined Scotland's premier road racing club in Edinburgh to gain wider experience of top-level competition. He recently finished a four-stage road race in which the 80 leading cyclists in the United Kingdom, both professional and amateur, competed. He is known for his fearless descending.

Martyn A. Batchelor (1959-65), M.A.. Dip. L.D.. A ,L.i.A., Inst. P.R.A., who briefly took up a post in landscape design with the City of Glasgow Council has now returned to his former post of principal landscape architect with South Tyneside Planning Department. Away from the drawing board he has been attempting to arrange a theatre evening for the Yorkshire Centre.

Eric Ros Birkett (1920-22), C.A., a former President of the Club, continues to travel as he has since his retirement in 1969. During the autumn of 1981 he and his wife joined an inter-church tour through the Holy Land and first made the acquaintance of Thomas G. Whyte (1919-26), although they had been contemporaries at School. ERB reports that they had a very interesting, enjoyable and satisfying visit to Bethlehem. Jerusalem, Jericho, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, Capernaum, Haifa. Acre and Tel Aviv. During this time they bathed in the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee and reminisced about Caesar (Geroge Middleton) Spicy (William Morrison), Pickles (James Davidson), Pim (Spiers), Corbo (Alex Cormack) and other former members of staff, including Gourlay (English), Macleod (Maths), Max Mackie (French). Archie Hyslop (Latin), Summers (Gymnastics) and Bill Kennedy (Janitor).

Edward Kerr Borthwick (1933-42), B.A.. M.A.. Ph.D.. since 1955 has been Lecturer, then Reader in the Greek Department, Edinburgh University and in October, 1980 was appointed to a personal professorship in Greek.

David B. S. Brown (1956) a left-handed opening batsman for the Aberdeenshire XI represented Scotland in a match against Surrey in August, 1981.

Stuart W. Brown (1963-75), M. A., has taken up an administrative post with the Greater London Arts Association after a time with Grampian Regional Council in Aberdeen as an administrative assistant in the Department of Law and Administration.

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Notes About Former Pupils

61

Russell George Budge (1956-69), B.Sc.. Royal Navy, has been appointed Lieutenant Commander. His recent appointments have included Deputy Weapon Engineer Officer of the Frigate H.M.S. Lowestoft, and Seawolf Missile System Officer at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aberporth. He is currently working on the improvement programme for the Navy's anti-missile missile at the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsmouth.

Brian ). Carrie (1952-64), M.B., Ch.B , B Med. Biol.. M.R.C.P.. who has been in California since 1977 and is resident in Menlo Park has just commenced in private practice in that area. He was previously a consultant in kidney diseases at Stanford Medical Centre and will be continuing with that work and with some teaching at the San Jose Hospital.

In his spare time he takes full advantage of the wide range of recreational facilities available in the sunshine (and unmarried) state.

David R. Clark (1947-61), B.Sc., M.Sc.. F.S.A. (Scot.), is a Principal in the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority's headquarters in London. He is a strong contender for the Scottish team in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, having come seventh in March this year in the Rome Marathon in a time of two hours fifteen minutes (a personal best) and the eighth fastest Scottish marathon performance of all time. The event was won by Puttemans of Belgium in a time of just under two hours ten minutes. Last year he competed in the Berlin Marathon and finished third out of a field of three thousand five hundred runners. He came seventh in the 1982 London Marathon. is with the Royal Insurance David R. Cormack (1963-67), B.Sc..

Company in Kingston Upon Hull.

John W. Cradock (1941-46), C.A., who is a former President of the Club, has been elected captain of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club for the season 1982-83.

Eric Craig (1934-46) has been selected by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club to represent Scotland in a curling competition in Germany in November 1982.

He is thought to be the first F.P. to achieve national recognition in the sport.

Brian K, Crookshanks (1934-46), T.D., M.A., LL.B., who has just completed a three-year stint as Vice President of the Club and Chairman of Executive is a procurator fiscal depute in Aberdeen when not attending to F.P. business and the business of Aberdeen Grammar School Council, of which he is chairman.

He has been elected to the Council of the Procurators Fiscal Society. An irresistible raconteur, his move some years ago to the Fiscal Service has been greatly enjoyed by those who appreciate talcs which observe both human frailty and ingenuity in the courtroom setting.

Stuart W. Cummings (1965-69), M. A., M.Sc. graduated Ph.D. in Health Services Operational Research from Strathclyde University in 1978 and worked initially for a small pharmaceutical company in the South of England. Since 1980, he has been living in Brussels where he is employed as a medical statistician with the American company, Merck, Sharp & Dohme. A keen rugby player, he has played regularly for the Aberdeen Exiles XV since 1973 and in May this year toured Western Canada with the Brussels British Rugby Club.

Robin W. Glashan (1938.39) and (1940-51)MB., Ch.B., F.R.C.S.E . FRCS.G.. is a surgeon in Huddersfield and has recently been lecturing in Czechoslovakia.

Stuart C. Glover (1960.66), M.B , Ch.B., M.R.C.P., has moved to Bristol as Consultant Physician with a special interest in communicable and tropical diseases. He is based at Ham Green and Southmead Hospitals, Bristol. He is a former member of the F.P. 1st XV. Kenneth Spark Haining (1943-48), until recently manager of the Aberdeen Branch of the Royal Insurance Company, has been appointed manager of their Edinburgh Branch.

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He joined the company in Aberdeen in 1948 and after initial training served as an Inspector. In 1958 he joined the Coventry Branch, where in 1964 he received his first managerial appointment as agency superintendent. The following year he bacame assistant branch manager at Derby and in 1967 deputy manager at Leicester. He returned to Aberdeen as manager in 1973.

Derek Alexander Harley (1974.80), who was Deputy Head Boy in 1979/80 and winner of the All-Round Trophy in 1980 is now a member of the Club Executive Committee, the Hockey Section and captain of the Cricket Section's Reserve Grade XI. He has been awarded a German scholarship by Aberdeen University to study in the Univesity of Kid, Schleswig-Holstein. In addition he has been awarded a George Watson scholarship and a Scottish Universities' Stevenson Exchange scholarship. lain A. L. Harrow (1939-45), M.A., LL.B., is to be standing as the Scottish Nationalist Party's candidate for the Culter Division in the Regional Council elections. At the time of writing only one of the 54 Grampian Regional Councillors, Robert Middleton (1944-48), the leader of the minority Labour Group, is a former pupil. He has been adopted as the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for South Aberdeen, Denys Hartley Henderson (1938-49), M.A.,11.B., was appointed a Director of Barclays Bank International Limited last December. He is a Main Board Director of ICI and is also a Non-Executive Director of the Dalgety Group.

Duncan James Hopkin (1955-1961), B.Sc.. M.Sc . M R.S C.. M.B.I.M. graduated at Aberdeen University in 1965 with a First Class Honours Degree in chemistry and went on to do research in spectroscopy at Aberdeen before joining Procter and Gamble in Newcastle. He worked on the development and launch of washing products such as "Arid". In 1970 he was appointed lecturer in physical chemistry at Slough College of Technology and during his three year spell there he was also active in establishing the Open University in that area.

He joined Roche Products Limited in 1973 as Personnel and Training Officer at their new vitamin manufacturing complex in Dairy, Ayrshire and in 1975 moved to Head Office in Welwyn Garden City as Personnel Services Manager. Since 1979 he has been Personnel Manager for the Orion Insurance Company P.L.C., a member of the international Nationale Nederlanden group of Insurance Companies. In addition to its interest in the U.K. non-life market the Company is a leader in the international marine and aviation insurance markets and counts the Concorde, Space Shuttle and North Sea oil rigs amongst its risks.

He now lives in Folkestone, Kent and plays table tennis in the local league, an interest he developed at University where he was Club Captain for several years. He is also an active member of Round Table and various business groups in the Kent area. His brother, lain Stanley Hopkin (1962-1968), M.A., M.A.A.T., graduated from Aberdeen University with an Arts degree in 1973 and worked for two years with the John Wood Group (Aberdeen) Ltd. before joining a local cleaning concern. He resigned from the board of that firm in 1979 and commenced employment with Gardner Cryogenics Ltd., who arc involved, world wide, in the supply of helium based diving gases.

Since leaving school he has been an active and prominent rugby and cricket player in the F.P. Sections captaining both the 2nd XV and 2nd XI, and having been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Club in March this year.

Ivor Llewellyn Bowman Hopkins (1921-33), R.I.B.A., F.R.I.A.S., retired in June, 1981 from the Aberdeen office of Jenkins & Marr, Chartered Architects.

He was in practice on his own from 1945 to 1967 when he joined Jenkins & Marr as a partner. He qualified in Architecture in 1939 and was an external lecturer for 12 years and examiner for 2 years in professional practice at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture. He was a member of the Council of

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the Aberdeen Society of Architects, its President in 1967-69, a member of the Council of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland from 1965 to 1971 and represented the Incorporation on the Scottish Advisory Council to the Secretary of State on Building Regulations for 6 years.

In 1932-33 he was one of the three pupils in Mr Millar's special Art Class, one of the others being Leslie Mayor (1923-33) now Air Marshal Sir Leslie Mayor and one of the Club's Honorary Vice-Presidents. He was a founder member of the Aberdeen Telephone Samaritans in 1960 and of the Aberdeen Crime Prevention Panel in 1969 and was its first civilian chairman from 1978 to 1980. He was appointed in 1972 to the Aberdeen Valuation Appeals Panel and still serves on these last two Panels. He was an Officer and later Captain of the 54th Coy. of the Boys' Brigade when the 1981 President of the Club. Neil I. W. Meldrum (1925-37), whose father was the minister of the Church, was a member of the Company. He has recently been appointed to the Aberdeenshire Branch of the British Red Cross, whose Director and Secretary is James S. G. Munro (1922-28), another Honorary Vice-President.

Dennis W. Inkson (1960-66), B.Sc.. after a two year spell in this country, has returned to Dubai Municipality to take up a civil engineering post. Until his recent departure, he was Secretary of the Club Centre.

Douglas K. Jackson (1970-76) after managing the now sadly closed Queen's Cinema, Aberdeen for some years, has been accepted for a course at the University of Keele. The Queen's opened in 1909, was destroyed by fire in 1936 but re-opened and continued until its closure in the autumn of 1981.

William A. Johnston (1942-44), who was formerly Road Safety Training Officer for Strathclyde Region, is now Head of Road Safety, West Yorkshire County Council.

He was the first Chairman of the Scottish Area Group of the Institute of Road Safety Officers and his Highway Code for children has been translated into many languages.

Thomas G. Lamb (1969-73) works for Gateshead Libraries' promotion team and has appeared on television's Nationwide to explain the team's aim of bringing the service to the attention of the public and adapting it to meet the expectations of the 1980s. Notification of his marriage appears elsewhere in this Magazine.

David Lefevre (1960-66), B.Sc., who joined theJohn Wood Group in 1974, and who is a Director of Wood Group Offihore, has been appointed to the Board of the John Wood Group (Oilfield Logistics and Supplies) as Logistics Director.

Bruce Philips Lenman (1946-56), M.A., graduated with First Class Honours in History at Aberdeen University and, since 1972, has been a member of the History Department at St. Andrew's University, latterly as senior lecturer in Scottish History. He is to be the British Academy Fellow at the Newberry Library, Chicago this summer studying the break-up of the Clan System after the '45 Rebellion. He is the author of several books on aspects of Scottish history.

Frederick Lloyd (1958-65) worked in the City of London for one year in the Post Office Contracts Department, before returning to Aberdeen Technical College to train for the Post Master General's sea-going wireless telegraphy certificates. These were obtained in 1968/1969 along with the (then) Board of Trade Radar Maintenance Certificate. He joined the P and O Shipping Company in 1969, and served for five years in their Bulk Shipping Division (Tankers) as a Radio Officer, before transferring to P and O Cruises (Passenger Division) as Third Radio Officer in 1974. He has been permanently employed with passenger vessels since then, including the Himalaya, Arcadia, Canberra and Uganda. When the Himalaya was finally scrapped in Hong Kong in November, 1974, he crossed Siberia by train in the depths of winter from Vladivostock to Hook-of-Holland then Harwich, Kings Cross and Aberdeen, a total journey of over 10,000 miles in 10 days. For the past five years he has

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

served mainly in the Canberra, rising from Third Radio Officer in 1976 to his present post of First Radio Officer in 1980. He also served as Chicf Radio Officer on the school-ship, Uganda, briefly in the summer of 1980. While on leave in Aberdeen, he enjoys photography, especially up in the Loch Ness area during the colourful autumn months.

He anticipated he would currently be serving as First Radio Officer on the Canberra's annual Round World Voyage, and expected to visit Kwanchow in Red China with a passenger tour as the Magazine went to press, but, as a result of the emergency in the Falkland Islands, his ship has been requisitioned by the armed forces.

Jeremy Logan (1963-76) is now working as a cameraman for Scottish Television in Glasgow, having completed his initial training with Grampian Television.

William Alan John Longmore (1945.51) on leaving School embarked upon a years's practical farming at Banchory with a view to taking a University course.

Instead, he took up a post on a rubber estate near Serembam, Malaya in 1952 and worked from 1952 to 1979 in the Malaysian Peninsula plantations, planting rubber, oil, palm and cocoa, first as an assistant to 1957 and thereafter as a manager of estates in various parts of the country. In 1980 he moved to Sarawak. Malaysia, planting oil, palm and cocoa and is now resident six miles south of Miri.

Professor Philip Noel Love (1952-58), N4 A . LL. B.. "Advocate in Aberdeen, was unanimously elected President of the Law Society of Scotland for the year 1981/2. Professor Love is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Aberdeen and is the Professor of Conveyancing and Professional Practice. He is a Consultant to the firm of Campbell Connon & Co. and past Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Legal Education, the immediate past Chairman of the Board of the Society's Examiners and Chairman of the Diploma Planning Committee." Thus read the official notice in the Annual Report of the Council of the Law Society.

It is remarkable that Professor Love, or Phil as he is generally known in F.P. circles, is only the second Aberdonian to become President of the Law Society of Scotland and that he immediately succeeded the first, I. M. S. Park (1942-53), M.A.. LL.B., C.B.E. Phil was senior prefect and all round trophy winner at the School and has played a prominent part in F.P. Club matters with many years of service on the Executive Committee, culminating in his appointment as Chairman in March 1982. He arranged the annual dinner and ball for a number of years and made a significant contribution to Club life as Chairman of the Club Centre Management Committee in the first formative five years after the acquisition of 86 Queens Road in 1969.

A regular F.P. 1st XV player for sixteen seasons until 1974 when a knee injury forced him to retire, he has also served the game as Secretary of the North District and as a selector for the North-Midlands District.

Having listed only some of his achievements it is easy to understand why the Law Society of Scotland, which represents over five thousand solicitors, should select him to be their chairman and spokesman at a time when the profession is being subjected to ever increasing pressures and scrutiny and when the rate of change is more dramatic than ever before.

Lest it be thought that the position of President is an honorary sinecure, it should be observed that the President is actively involved in the myriad Standing and Ad Hoc Committees of the Law Society, and in public appearances and liaison with other professional bodies and equivalent societies in other countries. In these days of the micro chip the Law Society has accepted the challenge to move from the quill pen to the word processor and the image

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65

of the solicitor straining over closely written parchment. while not entirely destroyed, has become very much less apt as the profession has become progressively modern in its outlook. The activities of the Law Society in relation to legal education, the new Diploma in legal practice (in which Professor Love has been a driving force), public relations, professional ethics (including complaints procedures) and the Law Reform Committee demonstrate that the Law Society moves with the times and is an agent of change rather than unnecessary conservatism.

The President's year was even more hectic than he might have anticipated as it commenced with a lengthy civil service dispute which closed the courts and the Registers with consequent disruption to the administration of justice and the legal process. There has also been continuing scrutiny and criticism of a minority of the profession particularly in a recently instituted Scottish Sunday newspaper.

On a more positive note, advances were made in the last year with a new system of registration of title, the new Diploma in legal practice (which course now follows the LL.B. degree for intending solicitors) and in the field of legal education with the publication of law books and the production of audio cassettes.

The President's year ended with his Chairmanship of the Law Society A.G.M. and Conference and it will come as no surprise to Former Pupils who have attended Club meetings at which Phil has officiated to hear that he carried out his duties on this occasion and throughout his term of office with the skill, tact, efficiency and good humour which are his hallmark.

John Meston (1975-80), a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F. , has recently been stationed at R.A.F. Finningley where he has been attending an Air Navigation Course.

Dallas G. Moir (1969-75), as reported in the last Magazine, has joined Derbyshire Cricket Club and in his debut for the first team in August, 1981 helped his side to a convincing victory over Lancashire. He shared in a seventh wicket stand of 64 in that match.

Roger Mortimer (1951.57), has been appointed Chief Assistant to the head of Radio Scotland.

He joined the B.B.C. in London as an engineer in 1964 before moving into programme production with the B.B.C.'s World Service to Africa. After a spell at Radio Bristol, he move to Radio Derby in 1973 as a producer-presenter.

Five years later he moved to B. B.C. Aberdeen as senior radio producer, latterly programme organiser, and has been responsible both for expanding output to the network and developing B.B.C. Radio Aberdeen's _programmes.

Marie J. Moser (1976-80), the first lady member of the Club's Executive Committee, is a student at Aberdeen University and Publicity Manager of the 1982 Students' Charity Show "Fit's On".

Hugh M. Munro (1951-64), 13A.Mling,CA. has recently been admitted as a partner in Arthur Andersen & Co., Chartered Accountants, London. He was based in the Glasgow Office where he was head of the Audit Division. He has recently moved to Aberdeen where he deals mainly with clients in the North Sea Oil Industry.

He gained an Arts degree with honours in Accountancy at Strathclyde University and after joining Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1968 was admitted as a Chartered Accountant in 1971. He has subsequently been awarded the degree of Master of Engineering in Production Management by Glasgow University.

During his career he has spent time in South Africa, Italy and Belgium and 9 months on secondment to the Department of Industry in London engaged on the installation of a financial reporting system for government research expenditure.

He is regularly in contact with Kenneth E. Dawson (1954-64), KR (Agri.), who is managing director of a turf growing and sales company in Yorkshire, which specialises in "roll-on"' grass which has been used in a number of sports and recreational sites, including Wimbledon's "outside" courts.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

W. Michael Murray (1945-54) has been chosen by the Bank of Scotland to establish and develop a new regional office in Manchester. He is currently manager of the Castle Street branch in Aberdeen and doubles as manager of the Waterloo Quay oil branch.

He is chairman of the Crime Prevention Panel, a past Council member of Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and vice-chairman of the local centre of the Institute of Bankers. He was awarded a Jubilee Medal in recognition of his services to banking.

F.C.M.A.. F.I.M.A.. was appointed Andrew Stephen Noble (1939-52), recently as Managing Director, Store Operations and Services, of Debenhams PLC, one of the country's leading retailers. He is Chairman of the Association of Retail Distributors, a member of the Retail Consortium and of the NEDC for the Distributive Trades. He is the current President of the London Centre of the F.P. Club. Outside his direct business interests he is a member of the Council of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and is particularly interested in promoting the better teaching and understanding of mathematics in our schools. This year he is to give the Institute's Schools Lecture in various cities throughout the country under the title "Mathematics and the Business Manager".

Derek Ogston (1937-39, 1946-47), F.R.S.E., M.A., M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., D.T.M. & H., F.R. C.P.. F.R.C.P.E.. who holds the Regius Chair of Physiology of the University of Aberdeen, and who has contributed an article to this issue of the Magazine, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March 1982.

1. Michael S. Park (1942-53), M.A.. U.B.. recently President of the Law Society of Scotland was made a C.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List.

A partner in the Aberdeen firm of Paull & Williamson, Advocates, he makes regular appearances on television as "Mike Park, Law Society" where he explains the intricacies of the law in a down-to-earth manner, and ably defends uninformed criticism of the profession.

Kenneth Jamieson Peters (1929-41), C.B.E., M.A.. has been appointed a Director of Thomson North Sea Limited and Thomson Scottish Petroleum Limited. To enable him to assume his new post with these companies, he is relinquishing the Chairmanship of Aberdeen Journals limited but remains a Director of the Company.

He is a former editor of both the Press andJournal and the Evening Express and has served on the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society since 1960, including two two-year periods as President. He was a member of the Press Council for three years.

He was made a C.B.E. in 1979, is a Deputy lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen, a Justice of the Peace, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a member of the National Trust for Scotland. In addition he is a Burgess of Guild in the City of Aberdeen; President of Aberdeen Publicity Club; a member of Aberdeen Civic Society Executive Commitee; serves on Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Council; is a member of the Committee of Films of Scotland; has been closely connected for a number of years with the Scottish Council (Development Industry) and is a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Norman H. Reid (1953-66), C.A.. who has been Chief Accountant of the Northern Co-operative Society since 1979 is leaving that post to become Financial Controller for the Greater Midlands Co-operative Society based in Birmingham. The annual turnover of that Co-operative Society is more than 4'120 million. He was previously with St. Cuthbert's Co-op Association Limited in Edinburgh and The Scotsman Publications in Edinburgh.

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67

Roy Reid (1947-52), B.Sc., has been appointed British Rail's mechanical and electrical engineer for the North-west of England. He Joined British Rail 25 years ago and in his new post, based in Manchester, will be responsible for all engineering, except track and signals.

Douglas Stewart Robbie (1936-48), M.B., Ch.B., F.F.A.R.C.S. Eng., D.A.Eng., has been resident in the London Area for many years and is now the Senior Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Marsden Hospital which is a Cancer Hospital of international repute. He was early in the difficult area of the management of intractable pain and for some years was associated with St. Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham with the group directed by Dame Cicely Saunders.

E. Alistair Smith (1943-57), M.A., Ph.D., was recently appointed by the University of Aberdeen to direct and establish a Development Trust Fund set up by the University which will be used to finance projects which could not otherwise proceed in the current financial climate. It is proposed that the development fund will be established in co-operation with industry, the community and graduates.

Dr. Smith, who is a lecturer in geography at the University, was appointed in 1981 by Mrs. Margaret Thatcher to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in Scotland. He was previously President of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Union and explains that as Deputy Chairman he proposes to provide stimulus and encouragement to the party in Scotland.

Antony K. Stewart (1962.75), B.Sc.. who has spent the last two years as a programmer at the Medical Computing Centre at Foresterhill, Aberdeen, has now moved to Edmonton, Alberta to work as a Computer Consultant in an endeavour, in his own words, "to satisfy his wanderlust". Just 200 miles away his brother Arthur D. Stewart (1963-76) is in his second and final year as a Physical Education student specialising in Outdoor Pursuits at the University of Calgary.

Douglas). Stewart (1953-63), Ch.M., M.B., Ch.B.. F R.C.S.E., studied medicine at Aberdeen University and specialised in surgery, training at Aberdeen (1969-76) and Edinburgh (1976-81). Last year, he was appointed Consultant General Surgeon in Preston.

Douglas Lunan Stewart (1944-55), B.Sc., was previously a structural engineer employed by Grampian Regional Council and is now a freelance designer and inventor and has devised a simple plastic propeller which rotates in the slightest wind to reflect the light of oncoming headlights. The device is the first self-cleansing reflector invented since the "cats-eye" and solves the problem of roadside warnings being covered in dirt thrown up by passing vehicles. The Glowline, as it is known, is covered in conventional reflective material and is cheaper to use than flashing lights or bollards. It secured a prize for Aberdeen Junior Chamber in the American Express Export Competition.

He is best known for the Visirail road safety barrier which gives drivers and pedestrians a much clearer view of each other at danger spots. lain Johnstone MacBeath Sutherland (1933-41), C.M.G., M.A., the British Ambassador to Greece has been made a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in the New Year's Honours List, He was born in Edinburgh, educated at the School, Aberdeen University and Oxford. Following army service he joined the Foreign Service in 1949.

In 1974 he went to Moscow where he held a position second only to the Ambassador, and in 1976 he returned to the Foreign Office in London as Assistant Under-Secretary of State responsible for European matters. In 1978 he was appointed to Greece.

He is the son of the late David M. Sutherland, Principal of Gray's School of Art and the late Dorothy )ohnstone, the well-known artist.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

A. Frost Taylor (1929-35) has just retired for the second time. He went into insurance after leaving School and eventually became the manager of the Guardian Royal Exchange in Aberdeen. He retired at the age of 55 and proceeded to become a rent officer with the Scottish Development Department's Registration Service. In this second career he has been involved in fair rents in the private sector determining disputes between landlords and tenants, in Moray and Deeside mainly. Now, at the age of 65, he is retiring for a second time and plans to devote more time to golf, bowling and gardening. is currently Manager Michael Boyd Thomson (1938.1951), of Norwich Union Life Insurance Society, based in Edinburgh, but also responsible for offices in Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness. Prior to this he was the Norwich Union Manager for East Africa, and before that Manager for Pakistan and the Arabian Gulf. His brother Kenneth Alexander Thomson (1945-1957) was managing a tea plantation in Malawi for 11 years before returning to Scotland where he owns a licensed grocer's business in Kilbarchan. He represented Malawi at Rugby on many occasions. Their brother Angus Graham Thomson (1946-1956) resides in Aberdeen and owns "Flower Vogue" in Rose Street. He has just opened a second shop "Always Flowers" in Rosemount.

The death of the fourth Thomson brother who attended School, Ian William Cruickshank Thomson (1935-1947) is recorded in this Magazine.

Richard F. Tyson (1944-49) is the landlord of the Egon Ronay recommended St. Vincent Arms at Sutton on Derwent, near York.

Ian Stewart Watt (1928-40), B.Sc., a Forestry Commission officer at Llandovery, South Wales, has been made an M.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List.

During World War II he served in R.A.F. Bomber Command as an observer, and after the war he graduated in Forestry at Aberdeen University in 1948. He worked in Perth and Edinburgh before proceeding to South Wales in 1970.

Thomas Watt (1968-74), M.A., has been appointed Remedial Teacher at Northfield Academy, Aberdeen. He was previously a Maths Teacher at Lossiemouth High School. He has developed interests in computer assisted remedial education, is currently on several committees looking at the use of computers in school, and is an assessor in computer studies for the Scottish Education Department.

Harry Lyon Williams (1926-36) , A.R.I.B.A., Dip.Arch. (Abdn.)., A.R.I.A.S. is now a partner with the firm of P. J. Sheahan & Partner in Limerick where he is in charge of a team of Architects involved in the design and construction of the new £11,000,000 hospital in Tralce, Co. Kerry.

He was a Major in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War and served in North Africa and Burma where he was mentioned in dispatches.

His brother Robin Vawer Williams (1935-40, 1941-46) was a SurgeonCommander in the Royal Navy until his death in a road accident in Malta in 1970.

Colin James Youngson (1960-66), M.A., was one of a team of ten runners from Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, who broke the record for the 850 mile John 0' Groats to Land's End Team Running Record in a time of 77 hours 24 minutes 8 seconds. The team ran in pairs with each pair running for two hours before handing over to another pair. He is the 1981 Scottish marathon champion and teaches English at Kemnay Academy. Douglas McAllister (1961-74) was a member of the back-up team for the John 0' Groats to Land's End run.

Royan Charles Yule (1956-69), LL.B.. has just taken up an appointment as a solicitor in the Law and Administration Department of Grampian Regional Council in Aberdeen. He was previously in private practice in Aberdeen.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Obituaries Arthur James Adams (1919-30), B.si (vet .), M.R.C V.S , who was President of the Club in 1978/79 died suddenly at his home in Bingley on 26 January 1982. He was 71.

The son of P. C. Adams (1876-1878), who was in business as a draper in Aberdeen, he played for the First XV in his last two years at the School, and was Vice-Captain of Swimming in his final year.

On leaving School he commenced study at the Royal Dick Veterinary College qualifying M.R.C.V.S. in 1934. He graduated B Sc.(vet.) from Edinburgh University in 1935 and in that year took up a position with the former West Riding County Council and later at the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1941, he joined a private veterinary practice at Bradford in order to experience a wider field of practice and continued in private practice in Yorkshire until his retirement.

He was a former President and Secretary of the Yorkshire Veterinary Society, a founder member and former official of the Pudsey Rotary Club and past President of the Bradford St. Andrew's Society.

While in veterinary practice in Yorkshire, he had the opportunity, which he declined, of joining the practice which in recent years has featured in James Herriot's much-acclaimed arid commercially successful accounts of life as a vet in rural Yorkshire.

As a former pupil Arthur Adams was a founder member of the Yorkshire Centre, responsible for maintaining its vigour, Centre Secretary for some 14 years and also the Centre President.

When the announcement of his election as Club President appeared in the Magazine it was stated that "those who have had the good fortune of being acquainted with Arthur Adams, possibly through the functions of the Yorkshire Centre, speak of an unassuming man with a quiet sense of humour who may be expected to delight the company at the Club Annual Dinner." As those who were present at the Club dinner in 1979 can amply testify that prediction was absolutely correct and indeed the Magazine of June 1979 records that "his couthy chairmanship of the whole proceedings was greatly appreciated." It was clear throughout that although he had been away from Aberdeen for 40 years, he had a deep affection and loyalty CO the School and the City in which he had been brought up. Several members of the Yorkshire Centre have written to record their sadness at his passing and the loss to the Yorkshire Centre and Club.

Charles Grant Brown (1921-24), M.A., LL.B. died at Aberlour on 11 August 1981 at the age of 73.

Dux of the School, he was president of the SRC at Aberdeen University where he graduated in Arts and Law. He began his legal career in 1926 with Burnett and Reid, Golden Square, Aberdeen and was senior partner until illness forced him to retire and take a consultancy with that firm in 1979.

He was well known for his practice in agricultural law and land and estate management and was, for many years, regional secretary to the Scottish Landowners Federation as well as being active in the commercial field as chairman and director of a number of companies.

He was also a long-serving director and until his retirement, chairman of the regional board of the Bank of Scotland and a director of the local board of the Sun Alliance and London Insurance Group. He served as a trustee of Aberdeen Endowments Trust and a number of other educational trusts and was a founder member and secretary of Aberdeen and District Motor Club.

A knowledgeable and accomplished sportsman, he owned an estate at Aberlour.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

banking in Tain), was both literally and metaphorically a tower of strength and ensured that Bill was taken out and about.

On leaving school, with Highers, he took an accounting job with Crombie Mills at Grandholm. Illness prevented him from working with that company beyond November, 1980.

'Bill Diack refused to submit to his handicap and his cheerful, uncomplaining disposition was a lesson to us all."

Denise Findlay (nee Shepherd) (1973-75) died in hospital in Aberdeen after a long illness on 7 April 1982 at the age of 20.

She was married with a two year old daughter.

William Alfred Beaumont Forbes (1932-42), Q.C.. M A. died suddenly on 4 May 1981 at the age of 54.

He was one of the Law Commissioners for England and Wales.

He graduated from St. Andrew's University with First Class Honours in Modern History and then went to Cambridge where he took First Class Honours in Jurisprudence in August, 1952.

He was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1953 and taught law part-time at Magdalen and Brasenose during his early years at the Bar. He had a wide ranging practice in common law and criminal cases, and from 1968 to 1972 he was Junior Prosecuting Counsel to the Board of Trade. He took Silk in 1972 and became a Recorder in 1974.

In 1977 he was appointed a Law Commissioner and took charge, in particular, of the Commission's work in the field of Criminal Law. In 1978 he was appointed as a member of the Royal Commission on Criminal Law Procedure on which he did notable work. Among his last achievements was the great contribution which he made to the Commission's Report on the law of Criminal Attempts and the influential evidence which he gave to a House of Commons Select Committee.

He was devoted to the cause of law reform and in particular to the ideal of the comprehensive codification of the whole of English criminal law. His imaginative and learned approach to the law and his lively personality will be greatly missed by his colleagues and his many friends.

He was the son of the late Mr. Bill Forbes, teacher of English and History at the School and a brother of Patrick Beaumont Forbes (1937-42, 1949-50), M.B., Ch .B

Alexander Gray (1910-22), M.A. LL.B, President of the Club for 1962 /63,died on 10 October 1981 at the age of 77.

Past President of the Society of Advocates, he was a senior partner in the firm of Gray & Kellas which his father, Mr. John Gray, started in 1898. He had been a partner since 1930.

The following tribute has been received.

"It was with a deep sense of sorrow and loss that his numerous friends learnt of the death of Alec Gray on 10 October 1981, his 77th birthday. Alec Gray spent all his school days at the Grammar School and after taking his law degree at Aberdeen University he joined the family legal firm of Gray & Kellas of which latterly he was senior partner. Wherever his interests lay Alec Gray took them up with enthusiasm. He had a natural gift for a humorous speech and although remaining a bachelor himself, he was "best man" at the wedding of most of his friends. Alec Gray lived life to the full. Apart from his many business and sporting interests he found time to take office as President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen and President of the F.P. Club but perhaps his greatest interest was in the Franco-Scottish Society of which he was an ardent member and acted as General Treasurer for Scotland. He received four Awards of Merit for his services in fostering good relations between Scotland and France. Alec Gray was also very knowledgeable in French wines and made

Obituaries

73

several visits to the wine chateaux in France. This interest was recognised when the honour of Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite was conferred on him at a ceremony in Bordeaux. Alec Gray loved life and living—his joie-de-vivre was infectious and enriched all our lives—and sadly with his passing last October—the world somehow seems a much more silent place." J.B.E. Brian John Hadden (1951-54) died suddenly as a result of a road accident on 6 October 1981 at the age of 42.

He was an insurance claims investigator with the Eagle Star Insurance Company at their Aberdeen Branch and had previously been with the Northern and Employers Insurance Group where he became associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Scotland.

A prominent member of Aberdeen Wanderers-Accies Rugby Club, he played for the Club until the 1980 season. He was also a member of Murcar Golf Club.

He had recently been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Club as the Golf Section representative.

Edward Alexander Hutchison (1959-63) died on 17 January 1982 after a short illness at the age of 34.

While a pupil at the school, he was a versatile musician playing the bagpipes, accordion, piano, guitar, violin, Jew's harp and recorder. By the time he was 15 he had played several times on BBC Radio both on his own and accompanying Aberdeen folk-singer Jeannie Robertson. Although he continued to play for pleasure he did not become a professional musician but became a director in the family scrap-merchant business of R. G. S. Hutchison.

James Urquhart Lindsay (1964-68) died on 8 June 1981 at the age of 28. He had suffered from Hodgkin's Disease for six years but a four-year remission allowed him to carry on with his career. He was regional sales manager of Drilling and Servicing U.K. Yuson Loo (1914-15) died in Kuala Lumpur on 25 August 1981 at the age of 79.

He was one of three Malayan brothers who attended the School at that time at the instigation of their father who was a firm believer in a Scottish education.

The other two brothers both died in their home town of Kuala Lumpur, Yew Cheuk Loo (1907-15) died in 1916 and Yew Hoi Loo (1907-14) died in 1965.

Yew Hoi and Yuson were involved in the family banking business in Kuala Lumpur.

Neil Shillinglaw Mercer (1929-38) died suddenly in Woodend Hospital on 3 September 1981 at the age of 61.

He came from Ballater and was a boarder at the School and a member of the School 1st XV. On leaving School he joined the Shell Oil Company and in September 1939 joined the R.A.F, where he served as an air gunner on Wellington bombers until captured after a raid over Cologne in July, 1941. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war.

On his return home he rejoined the Shell Oil Company. In 1951 he went to Bahrain with the Caltex Oil Company and spent the next twenty-six years with oil companies there, in Iran, New Zealand and Australia before returning to Aberdeen. His untimely death prevented his return to his home in Sydney, Australia.

Charles Watt Michie (1923-35), M.A., O.B.E., C.M.G. died in March 1982 at his home near Cupar, Fife. He was 74, The son of a Durris farmer, he graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1929 and joined the Colonial Service as a cadet in the northern region of

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Nigeria where he went on to serve for thirty years becoming permanent secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture at Kaduna, Nigeria. The Magazine of January 1946 records how another Former Pupil was introduced to him in a club at Kaduna through seeing him wearing the F.P. tie.

He was also a former H.M. Consul for Spanish Guinea and retired in 1959.

He was awarded the C.M.G. in the 1960 New Year's Honour List. He later served as secretary to the Scottish Universities Entrance Board.

William Wallace Porter (1915-23) died in hospital in Aberdeen on 16 December 1981. He was 76.

He retired in 1966 as a Director of the Aberdeen timber firm, George Gordon and Co. Ltd., where he had worked for 40 years.

In 1963 he was awarded the Silver Acorn, one of the principal Scouting Honours, in recognition of over 30 years of outstanding service to scouting. He was a former assistant County Commissioner for Wolf Cubs in the City of Aberdeen.

He held office as President of Aberdeenshire Cricket Association from 1939-55, the longest presidential term since the Association was formed in 1884 and was a generous patron of that club and several others. He was also President of the Aberdeenshire Football Club for which team he had played in his younger days.

He had been a member of the Club Executive Committee and was a regular and conspicuous attender at the Annual Dinner until his death.

As a token of his affection for his School and Club, he has made a bequest to the Club of £500 to be used at the discretion of the Executive Committee to which he gave many years of service.

Walter Alexander Reid (1897-1909), J.P. died on 21 January at the age of 88.

After studying agriculture in Aberdeen and after farming in Aberdeenshire, Normandy and Canada, he returned to farm at Clochie, by Edzell. He later farmed at West Kintrockat, by Brechin. He served the community in his capacity as Justice of the Peace and as Chairman of the local District Council for 30 years.

A First World War volunteer in the Scottish Horse, he was severely wounded and later transferred to the Royal Artillery.

He was the last survivor of four brothers who attended the School: the others being Lt. Col. Charles Reid (1895-1906) Col. Edward Birnie Reid (1902-1913) and James Meston Reid (1896-1907).

Verden Anderson Sykes (1923-28) died on 24 August 1981 at the age of 67.

His death has ended the connection of his family with the Aberdeen firm, Galloway & Sykes. His father was a founding partner in the company which started around. 1878 and Mr. Sykes was himself connected with the firm for over 50 years.

He was well known in musical circles in Aberdeen.

A close friend writes: 'Mr. Verden Sykes served on the committee of Aberdeen and District Organists' Association. He was a vice-president of Aberdeen Orpheus Choir and was a member of Aberdeen Choral Society. He was organist for some years in the former Skene Street Congregational Chruch.

In more recent years, in his capacity as a free-lance organist, his slight figure was familiar to many local church congregations who were temporarily without the services of their regular organist.

He was also involved with a hymn-singing group in regular fortnightly Sunday evening visits to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

When not otherwise engaged he was in the choir at St. Nicholas Congregational Church, Belmont Street, where he served as a deacon."

Obituaries

75

Ian William Cruickshank Thomson (1935-47) died in Nairn on 29 July 1981 at the age of 50.

One of five brothers who attended School he had farmed at Nairn for over 25 years.

A brother, Alan Douglas Robertson Thomson (1933-45), died in 1980. A note about the surviving Thomson brothers appears earlier in this magazine.

Norman Stanley Whitehead (1911.1918), died on 23 September 1981 in hospital in Aberdeen. He was 78 years old and had been ill for some time.

He was engaged in the family business of builders from which he retired in the late 1960s.

An enthusiastic tennis, badminton, and golf player he enjoyed a full retirement pursuing his hobbies of motoring and photography. He was also interested in early hi-fi sound reproduction equipment, and was an avid attender at Pittodrie.

*

*

*

Mrs. Jean M. Galloway. It was was with profound sorrow that colleagues, friends and pupils learned of the untimely death of Mrs. Jean Galloway on 14 September 1981 after a long illness. She is survived by her husband John, her daughter Isobel and her son Hamish.

Mrs. Galloway was educated at Morgan Academy in Dundee and graduated with an Honours degree in chemistry at the University of St. Andrews thereafter. On 24 August 1977 she joined the staff of the Chemistry Department of Aberdeen Grammar School, and she quickly established herself as a colleague respected by staff and pupils alike, for her enthusiasm and genuine interest in her classes. She was by nature a friendly person. who, until illness struck her down, devoted herself with equal success to her family life and to her career as a Chemistry teacher.

Although with us for a relatively short time, Mrs. Galloway will long be remembered as a most popular colleague and successful teacher.

Edwin Hunter, Games Teacher at the School from 1947-1956, died in Perth in April 1982. He was 59.

Born and educated at Montrose he had been Assistant Rector of Perth Academy for the past eight years.

He was a member of the F.P. Rugby XV by virtue of his staff membership and was a member of the legendary 1947/48 side. He is remembered as a very fast three-quarter and in his rugby career he represented the North Midlands on several occasions and was a regular winger for the F.P. team for some years.

He once played against the Wallabies.

During the Second World War he served as a Lieutenant with the Cameronians and saw service in India and Italy.

Regrettably this is the second death recorded in this Magazine of a member of the 1947/48 side who featured so prominently, and deservedly, in word and picture in the June, 1980 edition of the Magazine.

His brother J. C. Hunter who was Games Master at the School and was a forward in the same side, has recently retired from the post of Adviser on Physical Education to Grampian Regional Council Education Department.

Miss Ethel Mary Stewart, who taught at the School for forty-four years, died on 29 January 1982.

She will be remembered by many, many hundreds of former pupils all over the world. In her latter years at the School she was teaching grandchildren of some of her first pupils. Her unbroken and devoted service and the affection in which she was held are such that it would seem appropriate to reiterate a tribute made on her retirement in 1966.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

"Her name had come to be a legendary one, for how many young A.G.S. pioneers arriving in Singapore, Nairobi or Hudson's Bay have been greeted by other former pupils with the question 'And how is Ethel Mary?' Such is fame!

To her teaching she always brought a tremendous wealth of interest culled from her extensive travels in many parts of the world and enhanced by her acute powers of observation of people, places and things. One would be as liable to bump into her riding on horseback over the desert sands near Petra, on the slopes of Mount Kenya or in the Street called Straight as in the Lower School playground, the Swimming Pool or in a country lane near Banchory gathering hips and haws for study in the classroom. We shall never forget her brisk step and straight back as she walked across the playground going to and from School, an earnest of her equally business-like approach to her daily darg.

Her devotion to the School extended far beyond the narrow confines of its four walls, for she gave unsparingly of her services at the never to be forgotten Grammar School Fair, Sports Day, concerts and so many other extra-mural activities."

Following upon her retirement she undertook a world tour and it was absolutely in character that she went armed with the addresses of her former pupils in far flung places and then delighted in meeting them again.

In addition to the School and its pupils the things near to her heart were her church and choir, her interest in foreign languages and bonne cuisine and her many charitable works.

Robert Wilson, M.A., former classics teacher at the School, died suddenly on 1 November 1981 while on holiday in Australia to visit his daughter. He was 76.

An Honours Graduate of Aberdeen University, Mr. Wilson taught classics and history at Grantown Grammar School from 1927 to 1941 before moving to the School- where he taught until he retired in 1972. A quiet, methodical, erudite and mild mannered man, he was primarily a classics teacher but also, on occasions, taught Geography. He assisted with the School Cadet Unit during its early days in the Second World War and was often in attendance at Rubislaw as a referee or umpire. A keen sportsman and hill walker he climbed Ben Macdhui when he was 75.

His retirement was spent in Aberdeen until 1980 when he moved to Grantown-on-Spey.

Centre Reports Club Centre The Club Centre has had another successful year and financially is in a healthy position. With the increase in operating costs, however, additional income from new members would be most welcome. The Club is an excellent place for meeting friends and has first class facilities as can be seen from the advertisement in the centre pages of this Magazine.

Dick Cradock continues as Chairman and is assisted by the two principal officials, Harvey Morrison, Treasurer, and John Paterson, Secretary, who took over as Secretary from Dennis Inkson upon his departure for Dubai.

Thanks are extended to Bill and Mrs. Mackie and the other staff for their continuing geniality making the Club Centre a welcoming establishment. A special mention is made in this respect of the newly appointed Assistant Steward, Mr. Graham Flett.

Membership Application Forms are always available at the Club Centre, 86 Queen's Road, Aberdeen AB1 6YQ.

Centre Reports

77

Edinburgh The Centre held its fiftieth Anniversary Dinner on Friday 15 January 1982 in the Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh. Our president, W. Morrison Brown, welcomed the company of forty-seven members and guests, who included N.I.W. Meldrum, Preisdent of the Parent Club, Brian K. Crookshanks, Chairman of the Club Executive, Robert D. Gill (the Rector) and Alexander Thomson, representing Edinburgh Gordonians.

The Annual General Meeting of the Centre was held as usual during the Dinner, and our President was unanimously re-elected for a third year in office—this has not happened since the days of Lord Mackay and is a well deserved honour in view of Mor's well known passion for both the Centre and the Club—former Secretary, Allan C. Frazer proposed this popular nomination in his usual eloquent manner. David L. Cowie and Nigel G. M. Watt were re-elected to the offices of Vice-president and Secretary respectively.

The Honourable Lord Birsay, K.T., C.B.E., T.D.. Q.C., proposed the Toast of the "The School and The Club" in most amusing fashion and replies were made by the Club President and the Rector. The Toast of "The Guests" was proposed by Brian K. Crookshanks and replied to by James T. Aitken, a close friend of the President.

As usual, a golf outing was held at Bruntsfield in June and the trophy was won by David Cowie—unfortunately the attendance was disappointing, but we hope that numbers will improve this year at the same venue on Tuesday 22 June.

A very successful cheese and wine party was held in the Caledonian Club in November with thirty-two F.P.s, wives and guests attending.

Any reader, who has recently come to the Edinburgh area, and has not received any communication from the Secretary, is warmly invited to contact Nigel Watt at 10 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh—031 229 8851.

The following F.P.s attended the Annual Dinner: F. C. B. Black. Dr. N. M. Bonhwick. D. A. Brittain. W. M. Brown, A. H. Cairns. T. G. Coutts, D. L. Cowie, B. K. Crookshanks, Dr. S. W. Cummings. J. E. Fraser, A. C. Frazer, M. G. H. Gibb, R. D. Gill (Rector). H. A. Hamilton, J. F. Hendry, Rev. Dr. J. F. Kirk. D. McAllistair, Dr. G. M. McAndrew, G. A. Macnab. K. I. Masson, N. I. W. Meldrum, Dr. W. J. G. Meldrum, J. D. Moir, H. E. Morrison. J. B. Rennie, C. Ritchie. A. B. Shewan, A. M. Sim, J. N. F. Smith, W. D. D. Wallace, A. C. R. Watt, N. G. M. Watt, R. A. Williamson.

London The Annual General Meeting of the London Centre was held in the Court Room of the Royal Scottish Corporation. 37, King Street, W.C.2 on Friday. 29 May, 1981. Mr. Andrew Noble was unanimously elected President for a two year period in succession to Mr. J. G. W. Jones. Dr. Douglas Robbie and Mr. Robert Mennie were re-elected Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Messrs. A. Nicol, Ian Carry and A. D. R. Fiddes were elected to the Committee.

The Annual Dinner was held on Friday, 13 November, at the Caledonian Club. The toast of the School and the Club was proposed by Dr. "Doug" Smith. Neil Meldrum, the Parent Club President, and the Rector responded.

It was a very happy occasion, and general satisfaction was expressed that it had been possible to return to the appropriate setting of the Caledonian Club for our Annual Dinner. A total of fifty-nine members and guests attended. The London Centres of Gordonians, Glasgow High, Heriot's and Dollar were represented.

A list of F.P.s attending the Dinner is given below. It is encouraging to note

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine that the "younger generation" is supporting the London Centre both on the Committee and by attending the A.G.M. and Dinner.

The 1982 Centre Dinner will be held on Friday, 12 November in the Caledonian Club. Any North-East F.P.s who are likely to be in London on that date will be most welcome.

Leslie Johnston, a member of the Committee, resigned in September on moving to Edinburgh. We wish him well in his retirement.

The following F.P.s attended the Annual Dinner: W. Georgeson (1911-23).

W/Cmdr. R. Bruce (1913-22). Dr. J. Thompson (1920-27), Dr. W. J. G. Meldrum (1925-35), R. A. E. Mennie (1924-36), E. Sangster (1927-39), J. Brown (1930.42), I. M. Duguid (1933-43), M. Lyall (1935.48), J. Baird (1936.46), D. Robbie (1936-48), A. D. Fiddes (1936-43), J. G. Jones (1937-47), A. S. Noble (1939-52), A. Miller (1942.55), R. Falconer (1944-58), J. B. Davidson (1947-58). J. W. Clark (1949-51). M. F. Rennie (1952.65). R. S. Anderson (1959-65), I. M. Cary (1960-73), A. Nicol (1962-71), P. Still (1962-75), M. J. Adam. D. B. Galloway, A. Hardie, I. A. Reid.

Yorkshire The annual reunion dinner was held on 2 October 1981 in the traditional informal style at the Dower House Hotel, Knaresborough.

We were delighted to have as our guests the President of the Club, Mr. Neil Meldrum, the Rector, Mr. Robert Gill, and we were particularly pleased to welcome the President of the London Centre, Mr. Andrew Noble; we hope that the presence of representatives of the other Centres will become a regular feature at future Dinners. The members of the Centre are conscious of the loyal support given by the officials of the parent Club and by the Rector and look forward to getting the latest news of the progress and developments of Club and School.

Unfortunately family commitments prevented Arthur Adams from attending the Dinner—possibly the only one he had missed since the first in 1948—and his loss to the Yorkshire Centre and in wider circles will be keenly felt. As a founder member of the Centre and one of its most stalwart supporters he had a unique place in its affairs and we shall greatly miss the pleasure of his company.

The 1982 Dinner will again be held at the Dower House Hotel, Knaresborough, on Friday 8 October, and all members of the Club who are within reach of Knaresborough that day will be most welcome and should contact the Secretary of the Centre, Alistair J. M. Miller, 13 Wenlock Drive, Escrick, York, Telephone 0904-87-480.

The following attended the 1981 Annual Dinner: Neil I. W. Meldrum (1925-37), President of the Club, Robert D. Gill, Rector, Andrew S. Noble (1939.52), President, London Centre, William J. Alexander (1931-43), President of the Centre, David R. Cormack (1963-67). William A. Johnston (1940.44), Sir Leslie Mayor (1922-33), Alistair ). M. Miller (1942-55), James A. N. Watt (1927-39), I. Nicholas Reid (1954.63, 65-67).

Section Reports Cricket Strathmore Union Xl

The Strathmore Union XI will be able to look back with some pleasure on individual and team successes during 1981 although no doubt there should be a twinge of regret at what might have been achieved with a little more luck and application.

The team finished fourth in the Union despite losing three or four crucial

A.G.S.F.P. Cricket VII Winners of the Press andJournal "Sevens" 1981

Back Row: I. S. Hopkin, J. D. Moir, R. S. T. Ferro, J. A. Hardie.

Front Row: M. W. Webster, G. Welsh, P. Redhead.

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Section Reports

matches when winning would not have been difficult. The most exciting match ended in a disappointing draw when we failed by only 2 runs to pass Mcigle's total of 157.

Jeremy Moir again served the Club very well with ball and bat. His aggressive bowling won him the Union bowling averages—most notable performance being 8 for 29 against Blairgowrie. Duncan Thomas produced the outstanding individual performance of the season. He more than fulfilled the potential he showed in his first year with the club, by taking all three Union batting awards with an average of 50.77, an aggregate of 660 runs and the fastest century in 105 minutes. This last feat formed part of an innings of 166 not out against Forthill out of 224 in 130 minutes! He is the first member of the Section to win a Union batting award since 1955 and deserves warm congratulations.

In the Three Counties Cup we again defeated the Aberdeen area opposition—easily beating Mannofield (with professional) but having a closer tussle with a strong Gordonians side. However, we lost the semi-final by a large margin to a good Perthshire Grades XI who never loosened their early hold on the game.

The team are fortunate to have a backbone of experienced players (albeit a little stiff these days!) together with several more flexible younger players who all contributed to the seasons's successes.

The Section won two seven-a-side trophies. The Press and Journal Competition is featured elsewhere in this issue. In some very exciting matches we also won the Mannofield "Sevens", beating old rivals Gordonians ►n the final.

It has also been a sad season however, as both Harvey Morrison and John Rennie have retired from full time Strathmore Union cricket. They have both made an immeasurable contribution to the Section as players and office bearers over many years and through their commitment to the Section have been a fine example to all. On the positive side, we have certainly not lost their services entirely and we look forward to seeing their familiar figures in white coats and possibly occasionally in white flannels in the seasons to come!

Grade XI

The 1981 season was memorable for the fact that promotion was earned to Grade I by finishing in second place behind Balmoral Cricket Club in Grade II. Of 18 games played, the team won 10, drew 4 and lost 4.

A number of games were exciting right to the end, but the most enjoyable result was the defeat of the league winners at Rubislaw by 75 runs when the opposition were dismissed for 33 with Stan Rae taking 4 for 4 and Peter Tees 3 for 8.

The closest games were the defeats at Rubislaw of St. Ronald and P. O. Bon Accord by 2 runs and 2 wickets respectively, the winning runs against P. O. Bon Accord being scored off the second last ball of the game. The most siginificant game, however, was the defeat of our promotion rivals, Fraserburgh, at the end of September in the Arctic conditions of Sheddocksley. F.P.s had to win the game to attain promotion, and Fraserburgh set out to make sure that our object was not achieved by batting for 67 ovcrs. Fortunately their batsman tied temselves up and scored only 62 runs for the loss of all of their wickets. It should be noted that their opening batsman batted all 67 ovcrs for 30 not out. In the deepening gloom F.P.s scored 63 for 3 in 19.3 ovcrs and a celebration was held in the Club Centre.

Notable bowling consistency during the season was achieved by Brian Proctor with 50 wickets and Ally McLean with 34 wickets and on the batting side by lain Hopkin, Neil McLean and John Fraser with 334, 251 and 238 runs respectively.

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Brian Proctor had the distinction of achieving a hat trick in the game against Artisans and the match ball set on a plinth was presented to Brian at the A.G.M. to commemorate this event.

Other trophies awarded at the A.G.M. were Proctor Batting Cup lain Hopkin, Hopkin Bowling Cup Brian Proctor, Fielding Cup lain Hopkin, All Round Trophy Brian Proctor.

As well as winning promotion to Grade I the team was also extremely successful in cup competitions . . . at least until the final. The full side reached the final of the Bon Accord Cup by defeating Stonehaven and Academy, but unfortunately did not perform to full ability against St. Ronald in the final and the game was lost. In the two "sevens" competitions held by Fochabers Cricket Club our "sevens" side reached both finals but again succumbed to the opposition at the very time it counted most.

It is to be hoped that the experience gained this year will stand the team in good stead during 1982 and that another successful and enjoyable season's cricket will be the outcome.

Reserve Grade X1

1981 can be regarded as a season of considerable success for the Reserve Grade XI, in its second year of competition in the League. Not only did the team carry off the Johnston Cup (and thus maintained its record of never having lost a Cup match), but they also kept up a high standard of play in League matches, finishing the season in third position for the second year running, with a strong Stoneywood side topping the table. Of thirteen matches played in the league, we won 8, drew 2 and lost 3.

Admittedly the season began in the worst possible fashion with the first three games being lost when they really should have been won. However, before anyone could write us off, the team bounced back to last season's form with an unbeaten record which stretched from May until the end of the season in early September and our final position in the table did us justice for the amount of effort put in throughout the year. It can be said that we had more than our fair share of good fortune in both League and Cup games and we will be lucky to have another season quite like the past one in terms of excitement, tension and dramatic turn-arounds.

Our run in the Cup began with victory over a strong Mannofield side, continued with a win against Gordonians in the second round and, after disposing of Cults in a hard-fought semi-final with a nail-biting finish, we were ready to take on Lads' Club in the final, seeking to reverse the result of our earlier League encounter. Having been put into bat, F.P.s slumped to 25 for 5, but when Martin Webster came to the crease he put all his long cricketing experience behind him and swiftly knocked up 45 not out to take the score on to a reasonable total of 118. W►th great determination, accurate bowling and some excellent fielding, the team dismissed Lads' Club for 69, Martin Webster collecting 6 for 30 to add to his impressive batting score. Our consistency and will-to-win thus paid off and taking the Cup away from holders Cults gave the whole team great pleasure.

In the League, a number of matches spring to mind: our thrashing of a young Inverurie side by 203 runs perhaps provided most entertainment value, when Rob Healy demonstrated on eight occasions how to hit a six out of the ?round; he went on the make 71; our equally crushing victory over our 'friends" Cults by 9 wickets was sweet revenge after last season's encounters; a nine-man team beat Westburn by the skin of their teeth, a last-wicket partnership holding out to secure victory for us; and Anchorians more than doubled their last season's total against us—scoring 26 against our 162, Ron Pesten hitting a half-century.

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As regards individual performances by players in the League. Ron Pestell topped the batting table with 212 runs at an average of 35.33. Rob Healy was second at 27.40. Bill Blazek, in particular, developed more confidence as the season progressed, and his characteristic batting-style helped us to victory on a number of occasions. Ron Pestell also won the bowling average (7.33), narrowly beating Martin Webster, whose total of 37 League wickets at an average of 7.59 is indicative of the major part he played in our success.

Fielding was good on the whole with some splendid catches taken, but occasionally costly lapses of concentration on the field were to have a bearing on the outcome of the game.

1982 should prove an equally competitive season, with two additional teams entering the League. It is to be hoped that F.P.s will continue their form of last season in the League and that every effort will be made to retain the Cup.

Curling The curling season is in its final few days as this report is written. Most curlers will be glad when it is over this year as conditions at the Ice Rink have made curling more of a lottery than a game to be enjoyed. Unfortunately none of the numerous remedial measures taken by the Ice Rink have improved the situation.

Happily our league matches were completed before the worst of the problems and "Rink C" skipped by Jeff Hyland (though mostly led by Sandy Cameron) swept into an early lead and held on well to win the MacDonald Cup. The other members of the rink were Colin Allan, Alan Gray, Mike Hastie and Jim Rae. They were beaten, however in the preliminary round of the knock out competition by "Rink A" skipped by John Cradock, who then went on to reach the final by beating Robin Craig's ' Rink B". Doug Mitchell "D" and Fraser Webster "E" have still to play off for the other place in the final.

A Trophy (as yet unnamed) has been presented by Alan Gray (F.P.) and Alex Urquhart (Gordonian) to be played for in an annual match between the two clubs. The first such match took place on Good Friday, and Gordonians provided hospitality at the Seafield Club for players and their ladies. The winners of the Trophy were F.P.s.

On the social side the club continues to thrive. Our Annual Dinner for 1981 was again a great success and we also joined with the Petroleum Curling Club to hold a "Curlers' Court" when six of our members were "made".

In Area and Province competition this season our entries were more successful than in the past, which suggests that the policy of set rinks is working.

Fraser Webster has done much as Match Secretary to improve our efficiency and, in particular, the Secretary's job has been made much easier since his appointment.

Golf There were six outings last year—two each at Ballater and Turriff and one each at Brechin and Braemar. Subscriptions were paid by 38 members and 5 associates and attendances averaged 30, slightly lower than the previous year.

The competition for the H.A.R. Trophy was held at the Turriff outing in September when F.P.s retained the Trophy by thrashing a very strong Gordonian side.

The Queen Elizabeth Tournament was played at Barnton in September. A disappointing performance by F.P.s allowed Old Giggleswickians to defeat them at the first hurdle.

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At the A.G.M held after the Ballater outing Jim Lyon was elected Captain for the coming season, with Harry Forbes as his deputy. Sandy Simpson retired after a three year stint as Secretary/Treasurer and Peter Robertson was elected in his place.

The Annual Dinner of the Section was held as usual at the Crescent Hotel in November. The main speaker was David Proctor, Head of Casualty at Foresterhill, who proposed the toast to the Section, and the reply was given by the Captain, Cohn Allan. The toast to the guests was proposed by Peter Robertson and the reply by Alec Frame.

Trophy Winners for 1981 were: Russell Henderson Cup W. D. Mitchell Allan Trophy I. F. Creswell Walker Cup B. J. Hadden Jeffrey Mug J. C. Lyon Gibb Thow Trophy A. C. Maitland Allison Fowlie Trophy Dr. P. M. Walker Carry Cup C. C. Allan Craig Spoon Dr. W. A. Wilson Maitland Rosebowl No Award

Hockey The improvement in the fortunes of the Section which were reported last year have been maintained during season 1981-82 and it is a pleasure to make the following report.

Our 1st XI, which is going through a transitional stage, nevertheless comfortably retained National League Division 2 status and early in the new year they were even candidates for promotion. A number of new club members and younger players have established themselves in the 1st XI and we have high hopes for the future.

The 2nd XI, who were promoted to the first division of the local league at the end of last season, have done well to finish in the top half of that league and next season they will be joined by our 3rd XI, who won promotion from local division 2. It is a happy indication of the reserve strength of the Section that we now have two teams in Division 1, and that, in addition to their excellent league results, both the 2nd and 3rd Xls reached the semi-finals of their respective Scottish Cups. These teams arc to be congratulated on their success both in the playing sense and in upholding the best traditions of F.P.s.

The 4th XI in only their second season finished third in Division 2, which is a fitting reward for another excellent season after their rapid promotion last year.

Our Grammarian XI continue both to play an active part within the Section and to win more matches than they lose.

Three of our members have received honours this season. Murray Bisset has played for the North District XI and G. Davie has been selected for Scottish Schoolboys. John Drummond our club umpire officiated at the Scotsman Cup Final, which is a well deserved recognition of years of good umpiring.

First team colours were awarded to Murray Bisset and Club colours to S. MacLean, D. Leighton and S. Thomson.

Next season's officials arc Vic Crockford (Club Captain), W. Urquhart (1st XI Captain), M. Cope (1st XI Vice-Captain), D. Leighton (3rd XI Captain), L. Kessack (4th XI Captain).

Rugby The playing record of the Section in 1981/82 was as follows: P W L D Points For Points Against 1st XV 24 14 8 2 412 302 2nd XV 20 13 7 0 367 161 3rd XV 21 12 0 329 9 269 4th XV 10 4 6 0 150 105

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For the second time in three years the 1st XV have gained promotion to Division 3 and this success was justified by a good team performance.

Although we stuttered briefly in mid-season, we finished with two good wins against Hutcheson's and Glenrothes. Several experienced players have joined the Section in key positions and this has strengthened the whole club. At the same time, the Section has good cause to thank the long-serving Jim Andrews and Ian Gray. who played a major part in gaining promotion.

The other success story has been the 2nd XV who until Season 1981/82 had been in the bottom three of the Midland 2nd XV League since its inception.

This season, however, under the captaincy of Iain Hopkin, they went from strength to strength and finished third in the league. lain well deserves the Clubman of the Year Award, which the Section bestowed on him in appreciation of his hard work.

The 3rd XV have slipped slightly but we have tried to field several schoolboys and hope that, under Ron Comber's watchful eye, they will develop into established club players.

We have run a 4th XV fairly successfully this season, mainly for fun, but, as a bonus, in mid-season we gained a lot of extra players. Jock Hendry did a lot of good work here and we hope to continue this XV next season.

The Section congratulates John Murray and Brian Holden on playing for the North Midlands against Australia and also in other district games and Peter Grieve and Neil Riddle who played for the Under 21's.

The Section's financial situation is good, and the investment of more of our funds in the Club Centre is currently under consideration.

We are still desperately short of non-playing committee members who would be prepared to help with any of the Section's activities and any F.P. or Associate who would be prepared to help, is urged to contact the Secretary, Mike Gibb.

At the end of the season, a party of twenty-seven players and officials toured in Texas with great success. They worked hard to to raise the money required for the trip, and they set out with the Section's best wishes.

Swimming Support for the Section remains as strong as ever with a membership of fiftysix at the time of writing. Fees had to be increased during the present session because of increased charges for using the pool. The annual fee now stands at £6 per member, but there have been no complaints as it is generally agreed that the facilities arc superb and represent good value. Our thanks once again go to the janitorial staff for their assistance in maintaining the facilities and keeping a good liaison with the club as a whole.

The system of "sessions" is now working well with various members keeping to their own "bands". To remind those interested, "sessions" are held on Tuesdays as follows: 6.30-7.30 p.m. Families and learn to swim 7.30-8.30 p.m. Recreational swimming/training 8.30-9.30 p.m. Free session New members of both sexes arc welcome. Committee members, Norman Marr, the Treasurer, and Roger Houghton, the Secretary, are usually in weekly attendance at the pool.

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Reunion of the Class of 1956 Previous Magazines have reported reunions held by the 1965 School year in 1975 and 1980, but, though the class of 1956 has waited rather longer to take up the sport. they will claim without fear of contradiction that the twenty-fifth anniversary of their leaving school was celebrated in a grand style befitting "bigger boys", and set a new standard which their juniors can only aspire to emulate in the future.

The reunion dinner, held in the Station Hotel on 28 August 1981 was attended not only by 34 former pupils but also honoured by the presence of the Rector, Mr Gill, and

by Messrs. Baxter. Bruce. Flett, (J. C.) Hunter. McLeod. Stephen and Wilson, all of whom were on the School staff in 1956. At the conclusion of the meal, the company was agreeably educated and amused by Mr Gill. who gave a light-hearted report on the changes in the School since 1956, while Mr McLeod abandoned the classical balance of delight and instruction which characterised his Latin classes, and unreservedly entertained the company with an address conservatively described as hilarious.

The evening's festivities concluded at 1 a.m. after much cordial rekindling of friendships, but the reunion itself was far from complete. On the following morning former pupils joined by wives and families enjoyed a tour of the School buildings conducted by the Rector and members of the School staff, after which a company of about eighty former pupils, families and staff adjourned to the Club Centre for a most enjoyable buffet lunch and further get-together which, for some, continued into the evening.

Two further sophistications of this excellent reunion conceived and ably organised by Melville Watson deserve mention. Firstly, conference name tags were issued to all those attending the dinner to save the embarassment of any failure of recognition (the 1965 reunions have so far refused to lower themselves to such a procedure, but, as hair disappears from accustomed places and sprouts on new physiognomical territory, this is a show of pride they can ill afford) and secondly, an impressive brochure of pen pictures of the year compiled by Douglas Kynoch was provided for all those attending and is reproduced below.

The success of the reunion may be judged by the determination of the year to repeat it in five or ten years' time.

James Douglas Aberdein (1949-55) after taking a degree in agriculture and a teaching diploma, was consecutively an RAF pilot, helicopter offshore pilot in the Persian Gulf and North Sea, farmer, teacher and builder. He is now both farmer and builder in Aberdeenshire, is married and has two children: Angela (14) and Alan (11). Farmers, as we know, have no time for recreation.

Edward James Barron (1953-55) took a medical degree. His twelve months as House Officer (at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and City Hospital) were followed by a year as Resident Medical Officer at the General Hospital at Burnie in Tasmania, where he has been in general practice ever since. With a wife and four children (18, 16, 15 and 14), he still finds time to slip off to the local Rotary.

Rae Colledge Barton (1942-55) studied law at Aberdeen University. He practised as a solicitor in Aberdeen till 1979, when the call of the great beyond took him out to Aboyne. Commutes from town, where he lives with his wife, his daughter (16) and a son (11). Relaxes with golf clubs, skis and music. )ohn Gray Bell, "Jocky" (1945-56) studied accountancy; and after a variety of-management positions with subsidiary companies of the Transport Development Group Ltd., he is now a company executive. As figure-conscious as any Accountant, he keeps his own in trim with the help of swimming and badminton. He lives in Croydon with his wife and two boys (13 and 10).

Donald). F. Birnie (1948-56) is a medical practitioner in Aberdeen, having graduated M B.. Ch.B. in 1962. He holds a Diploma in Anaesthesia from the

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Royal College of Surgeons and became a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1970. As a GP, he puts himself out for his patients; as Clinical Assistant in Anaesthesia, he puts the patients out too! He has a wife and two boys (14 and 9) but it's his dog he takes for walks.

George Brander (1950-55) trained as an architect. After appointments with Lanark County and East Kilbride Development Corporation, George entered private practice in East Kilbride and has been a partner in his firm since 1973.

An elder in the local church, he takes a special interest in youth and education.

He's also a Rotarian. George is married, with three of a faimily: Morag (17), Fiona (16) and Graham (14).

Douglas Bremner (1950-56). Since graduating in zoology, has worked as a whaling inspector for the Crown Agents, as a Technical College research assistant, as Assistant Warden then Warden of a field centre in Yorkshire, and as Principal and Chief Ranger at Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire. He is now Chief Ranger and Countryside Adviser for the National Trust for Scotland. His interests include wildlife sound-recording and photography. He is married and has three sons (12, 11, and 8).

James Charles Norman Wood Burr (1943-56) trained as a Pharmaceutical Chemist and worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a short spell after qualifying, before moving into retail pharmacy in Nuneaton. He now has four shops of his own, with an interest in two others. (What's his prescription for success?) A past chairman of Round Table, James is at present a chairman of school governors and a Member of Rotary; he also bowls and acts as hockey umpire. Married, he has three sons: twins of 14 and a boy of 11.

A. Hunter Cairns (1943-56), whose name denotes stone heaps, appropriately took up architecture as a profession. With the City Architect in Aberdeen for two years, Hunter then worked in private practice in Glasgow before joining the Scottish Special Housing Association, first as leader of their Erskine Design Team, then as Principal Architect and Head of Research and Design. He has lectured at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh since 1979.

He's married, with two daughters (8 and 6) and lists among his recreations sailing, photography and electronics.

John Grant Christie (1948-56) studied engineering at Aberdeen and applied maths at Harvard. Appointments with ICI Billingham and ICI Plastics led to his present position as company director with Camvac Ltd., clearly a sinecure, which leaves him time to enjoy golf, hockey, squash, badminton and music, as well as being active in local politics and singing in a Barber's Shop Quartet. Do his wife and two boys (18 and 16) ever see him?

Gordon John Collier (1949-56) was apprenticed as a Chartered Accountant till he found his talents lay elsewhere. Entering the world of newspaper advertising with the local papers in Aberdeen, he went on to work for a variety of well-known papers, including The The Sunday Times and the Daily Mail. He now publishes Girl About Town magazine in London; and as a man-abouttown himself, enjoys "armchair sport, wine, women and song". Gordon is widowed.

Tom Gilbert Connon Dutton (1951.57) took an HND in mechanical engineering and a Diploma in Management Studies before spending 111/2 years with Rolls Royce in East Kilbride. In 1975 he emigrated to South Africa where he works now as a Marketing Manager in the field of engineering equipment. He is married and has four daughers (19, 16, 15—and 4!) His hobbies include amateur dramatics, electronics and photography.

Neil Edward "Ned" (1948-55) studied medicine at Aberdeen and at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. Instructor in Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia for a year, he returned to his Alma Mater as Lecturer in Medicine in 1973. Now a Consultant Physician, he is also Clinical Senior

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Lecturer in Medicine. Golf is the most virulent of his own diseases, with ski-ing and music listed as milder contagions. Neil and his wife have a daughter (13) and a son (12).

Harry Alastair Forbes, "Fishy" (1943-56) is Depot and Services Manager for an oil-related company. Still keen on sport, he's a selector for North and Midlands Rugby Union. He also selected himself a wife.

Sindair Thomson Forbes, "Finkel" (1947-1956) graduated B.Sc (Hons. Nat. Phil ) and M.Sc. (Physics) at Aberdeen University and now works at the Marine Laboratory specialising in fish detection by sonar and underwater acoustics in general, a job which takes him to cold but interesting places like Greenland and Faroe although he has recently been visiting Ecuador. While working with British Nylon Spinners in South Wales he played County Hockey for Monmouthshire. He's married with 2 sons Alastair (14) and Colin (10). But as Finkel is an Elder in Rubislaw Parish Church, tenor leader of the choir, sings with the Lyric and still turns out to umpire hockey, they probably don't see much of him.

John Irvine Glashan (1953-56) trained as a C. A., and worked as an Accountant in Aberdeen till 1967, when he became Depute County Treasurer of Moray and Nairn County Council. Since 1975, he has been Director of Finance of Ross and Cromarty District Council. He rates bridge, fishing and golf highly. John is married and has three children: Kenneth (7), Alison (4) and Derek (2).

Henry Alan Hamilton "Hammy" (1945-56) is another of our Architects. He has spent almost all of his professional career in private practice, becoming a partner in his present firm in 1976. Alan serves on the FP Club Executive and is responsible for organising the annual dinner and ball. He's one of the shootin' and fishin' set; but prefers curlin' to huntin'. Hunted successfully for a wife though, and now has two girls (8 and 6) and a boy (4).

John Y. L. Hay (1943-55) studied law at Aberdeen University and claims membership of the very select band who have never passed a Latin exam and are consequently designated Bachelors of Law rather than Laws. Apprenticed with J. D. Mackie and Dewar, he joined Cooper and Hay on qualifying and is now a partner in the firm. Always an avid mountaineer, he spent his holidays at Zermatt this year; and, presumably, did more than just look at the Matterhorn. Married to Elizabeth Anderson, he has three children: Rosaleen (16), Kenneth (14) and Andrew (9).

Norman John Home "Nocko" (1950-56) took first class honours in Classics at Aberdeen and entered the teaching profession. After five years at Hamilton Academy, he became Principal Teacher of Classics first at Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, then at Inverness Royal Academy. He was appointed Assistant Rector at Inverness High School in 1972 and has been Rector of Milne's High School, Fochabers since 1977. A combination of table tennis, jazz and golf contrive to keep him looking remarkably youthful; and certainly too young to be the father of two girls (17 and 16) and a boy (12). But never ask to see the portrait in the attic!

Harry Kinghom (1943-56) switched from medicine to dentistry at a fairly early stage of his training. On qualifying, he assisted in an Aberdeen practice for three years, before setting up on his own account in Ellon. Harry feels he's too long in the tooth for hard games nowadays; but finds that golf and hillwalking still give him something to bite on. If you want to know what it's like having a dentist for a daddy (or indeed a daddy for a dentist!) ask Scott (14), Grant (12) and Fionna (11).

Douglas Robert Kynoch (1948-56) graduated in arts, trained as a teacher and taught for a year in Germany. Entering broadcasting in 1961, he appeared in turn on Grampian Television from Aberdeen and on BBC Scotland from

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Glasgow. There followed a year in Christian radio, since when, Douglas has free-lanced with BBC Radio Scotland. Current affairs were once his business and verse-writing his hobby. Now, it's the other way round!

John Alistair Laing (1953-56) took a B.Sc. in civil engineering and was engaged successively by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd., Duncan Logan Contractors Ltd., and the Tarmac Group. He helped to build the Tay Road Bridge; indeed, at some sacrifice to his "Roman nose", when part of the new structure fell on top of it. He has worked in Nigeria since 1971, at first in Lagos, now in Kaduna, where he started his own civil engineering contracting firm. Alistair enjoys sailing, polo and motor sport. He is married and has two daughters (17 and 14) at school in Aberdeen.

Gordon McArthur Lees (1948-55) took a medical degree at Aberdeen and later a Ph.D. After his year as House Officer, he spent four years as Research Fellow at the Univers►ty's Department of Physiology, before taking up lecturing, first in that same department then in Pharmacology, in which he is now Senior Lecturer. Gordon has twice been Visiting Professor at Loyola University Strich School of Medicine, Chicago. In his leisure hours, he exchanges human bodies for heavenly ones and medical instruments for musical ones. He's married and has two children Timothy (16) and Clare (14).

Bruce Philip Lenman (1946-56) read history, taking an M.A., at Aberdeen and an M.Litt. at Cambridge. He has held teaching posts successively at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Queen's College, Dundee, the University of Dundee, and is now Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of St. Andrews. He serves too on a Scottish Education Department consultative panel, and is the author of several books, the most recent of which, "The Jacobite Risings In Britain 1689-1746" was most glowingly commended in The Times (so Paasie didn't waste his time on all of us!).

Standing between Bruce and his next publication are an interest in squash, golf, climbing, Scottish country dancing and gardening, a wife, two sons (12 and 5) and a daughter (10).

James McIntosh (1945.56) spent a year in accountancy and two in the Royal Signals, before turning coach operator, taxi proprietor and farmer. He has a fondness for horses, though whether he breeds them, rides them, or backs them he doesn't say. He has, on the other hand, bred a son and two daughters; and already (Take courage, classmates!) he is a grandfather.

Ronald Innes Malcolm "Sugar" (1943-56) took M.A. and M. Ed. degrees at Aberdeen and taught both in Dundee and Lanarkshire. He was appointed Assistant Director of Education for Moray and Nairn in 1972 and has been Divisional Education Officer for the Highland Regional Council since 1975.

His confession to going down the slippery slope (albeit with skis on) may confirm the worst fears of all who know him. Ronnie and his wife have a girl (13) and a boy (11).

Miller Charles Alexander Mathieson (1943-56) trained as an Accountant, and has successfully contrived to combine his professional life with his interest in sport, holding appointments in turn as Secretary of a Polo Club in Midhurst, Sussex, Accountant to Douglas-Angus Estates, Secretary of St. Mirren Football Club, and Commercial Manager of Motherwell Football Club.

Now back in Aberdeen with Hydrasun Ltd., he continues to maintain a keen interest in sport and is Secretary of Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club. He married a High School girl and has three children: Miller (16), Duncan (12) and Katherine (15). lain C. S. Michie (1946-56) studied credit and financial analysis. After many years in Canada (where he was a Justice of the Peace for the North West Territories), he moved to Dallas, Texas, where he is now Credit Manager and Vice-President of the Crocker National Bank. (He's bound to know J.R.!) lain

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and his Bucksburn-born wife, Rhoda Sinclair, have two children: a daughter (20), who graduated with Honours this summer from Texas Women's University; and a son (16) who is a talented swimmer. Not to be outdone, father also swims and plays American football and ice hockey.

Alistair James Mitchell Miller (1942-55) graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University and went on to study accountancy being apprenticed to James Meston & Co. of Golden Square. Since qualifying, he has worked with companies in London and Gloucestershire and is now Group Company Secretary with Pegler-Hattersley Ltd., of Doncaster, manufacturers of fluid control equipment. Alistair plays squash, golf and tennis; swims, gardens reluctantly, collects histories of Aberdeen and goes walking on the Yorkshire moors and dales. He's Secretary of the Yorkshire Centre of the F.P. Club and a parish councillor. Married to a former head girl of St. Meg's (Barbara Young), he has two children: Andrew (12) and Jane (9).

Neil Malcolm Munro (1942-56). After short periods as University student, trainee pilot with the Fleet Air Arm (medical discharge) and uncertified teacher, Neil studied chartered surveying on day release at Robert Gordon's Technical College and Heriot-Watt University, qualifying as A.R.I.C.S. He has worked as Assistant Quantity Surveyor with companies in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Guernsey; and since 1968, has lectured in his subject at Dundee College of Technology, of which he is also a Governor. Extra-murally, he surveys the garden, the squash court and the golf course; and he is an assistant cub-scout leader.

W. M. Murray (1945.54) is a bank manager in Aberdeen.

Ian Michael *oft Park (1942-55) studied law at Aberdeen University and has practised as a solicitor in his home town since qualifying. Secretary of the Aberdeen Granite Association, he holds a number of other distinguished but regrettably undecipherable offices, all however paling into relative insignificance, compared with his past Presidency of the Law Society for Scotland.

Michael golfs and gardens; and has become a regular and accomplished broadcaster on legal subjects. A family man, he has two sons (15 and 8).

Alistair E. Philip (1943-56) graduated in Psychology at Aberdeen University and took a Diploma in Clinical Psychology at Edinburgh, where he later studied for a Ph.D. He has been Principal Clinical Psychologist for West Lothian and Scientific Officer of the Medical Research Council in Edinburgh.

Currently, he's Coordinator of Clinical Psychology Services for Lothian Area, and he serves too on the Committee of Management of the State Hospital.

Alistair still plays hockey and takes a "casual" interest in antiquities. He and his wife have two girls (7 and 9) and a boy (5).

George McCartney Phillips (1950-55) had a "first career" as apprenticed accountant, before switching to mathematics, in which he took an Honours t After a year as Assistant in the University's M.A. at Aberdeen, as well as an M.S. Maths Department, and a year of school-teaching in Devon, he joined the staff of the University of Southampton. Since 1967, he has been at St. Andrews University, first as Lecturer (taking a Ph.D. the while), then as Senior Lecturer.

Now Reader, he is also Pro Dean of the Science Faculty. He travels widely and is the author of two books, one of them on computers. He enjoys music and five-a-side football, has recently run his first marathon and wonders if Eddie Hunter ever did that! George is married, with two boys (15 and 12).

W.). Riddell (1950-55) qualified as a Surveyor at the College of Estate Management in London. He has worked as a Quantity Surveyor with various companies, becoming Estimator and ultimately Managing Director of North East Building Services (Aberdeen) Ltd. He is at present Operations Manager with Mackan Energy Group Ltd. , specialists in energy conservation; but expends his own surplus energy on golf and squash. He and his wife have three boys (18, 17, and 12).

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Walter S. Robb (1947.57). A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Walter followed an Aberdeen apprenticeship with posts as Assistant Quantity Surveyor with Stirling County Council and Senior Assistant with a private firm. Then, as Chief Q. S., he joined Robison and Davidson Ltd., a building company in south-west Scotland, of which he is now Company Director. Walter is another squash player; and both teaches and coaches swimming. He has a wife and two boys (20 and 13).

James H. Rose (1950-56) graduated in science at Aberdeen and trained at Aberdeen College of Education. After doing National Service with the Royal Engineers, mainly in Germany. he taught first at Oldmeldrum and then at Bankhead, where he is now Assistant Principal Teacher on the maths department of the Academy. A married man, with two girls (13 and 5), he's given rugby, football and badminton up for golf. (Is this idolatry or old age?).

William Lee Sleigh (1947-55) is in the advertising world. He's a member both of the Institute of Marketing and of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising; a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors (sic). When all these commitments allow, they're pleased to see him at T.C. Bench Ltd., the company of which he's Managing Director. Bill also golfs and takes an interest in antique silver. He and his wife have a son (11).

Edward Alistair Smith (1943-57) is a geographer with an Honours M.A. and a Ph D from Aberdeen University. After doing research at Uppsala University in Sweden (where he also lectured in 1968), he joined the staff of his own Alma Mater as Lecturer, a post he has held since 1963. Extra-murally, he has been President of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association (which allowed us to see him on "telly" at election times), while travel and photography are among his other interests.

Hugh William Lawrie Thomas (1947-56) lists his recreations as rugby football, motor cycling and beer. A married man, he has three children: Andrew (7), Eva (5 1/2 ) and Dawn (4) Mario Luigi Vicca (1951-56) studied law at Aberdeen and went into private practice. He's now a partner in the firm of Stork, Cruden and Simpson. Ask what his hobbies are and he'll tell you he has a wife and five children! there arc three boys (17, 14 and 10) and two girls (15 and 7).

Melville Forsyth Watson "Melly" (1942-56) is an Advocate in Aberdeen.

He too studied law locally and, like Mario, is now a partner with Storie, Cruden and Simpson. whose typewriters have pounded long and hard on behalf of the class of '56. When not organising reunions, Melly chairs the local Appeal Tribunal under the National Insurance Acts, as well as the Voluntary Service Aberdeen organisation. He swims, golfs and goes caravanning with his wife and two boys (15 and 14).

Philip Barron (1950.56) is Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Ottawa. Married, with two children, he sails, swims, skis and squashes.

Malcolm Booth (1950-55) is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, being an Associate both of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors. Apprenticed in Aberdeen. he spent two years thereafter with a professional office in town, eight years as Chief Quantity Surveyor with a contracting firm and two with the Foreign Office in Trinidad.

Since 1972, he's been a Cost Consultant in Washington DC, USA. His leisure pursuits include painting, soccer, wargaming and photography. Malcolm is married, with two children: Kevin (15) and Pamela (12).

Graeme Findlay Bryce (1942-56). Graeme is a biochemist. Gaining a B.St at Aberdeen, he went on to read for a Ph .D at University College. London; and spent two years as a Research Fellow at Indiana University Medical School.

From there, he went to Yak University as a Molecular Biophysicist; and since

Class of 1956 Back row Ito r.: Neil Edward. Hunter Cairns, Alan Hamilton, Alistair Miller. Gordon Collier, Mario Vicca, Harry Kinghorn, Jimmy McIntosh, Douglas Bremner. Bill Sleigh, Alistair Smith, Douglas Kynoch Upper middle row 1 to r,: Mike Park, Norman Horne. Mike Murray. Gordon Lees, John Hay, Douglas Aberdein, George Brander. Donald Birnie, Ronald Malcolm, Alistair Laing. Harry Forbes, Neil Munro Lower middle row l to r.: Ed Barron•., Mr Ian Stephen. Mr Robert Wilson, Mr Ronald McLeod, Mr James C. Hunter. Mr Robert D. Gill (Rector), Mr Archibald Baxter, Sinclair Forbes, Mr Alexander Bruce, Mr John A Flett Front row / to r.: Melville Watson, Millet Mathieson. John Christie. Alistair Philip. Bruce Lenman, Jhoin Glashan, George Phillips, James Burr

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

1968, he has been Research Group Chief with Hoffman-La Roche at Nutley, New Jersey. Married and the father of two daughters (12 and 8) and a son (7), he relaxes with golf, squash, running, reading and astronomy.

Gordon M. Cheyne (1952-55) is in Australia, in medical practice in Anaesthesia. He qualified as a doctor in Aberdeen, going on to take a Diploma in Obstetrics in London and a further degree in Melbourne, where he now lives. Life in the Victoria State Capital seems to suit him very well: he possesses, he'll tell you, no coat, scarf or gloves but has at least half a dozen bathing suits! He is Vice-President of his rugby club, still turning out for the "geriatrics"; and he follows the local New Orleans jazz. Married to an Elgin girl, Sheila Telfer, he has three sons (16, 13 and 9); and, Australia being an overgrown village, they see something of the Donald Nicols (Sydney) and the Ed Barrons (Tasmania). Gordon and Ed attend wine festivals together, all in the interests of anaesthetic experiment!

Graham M. Connell (1945-55), after leaving Grammar, spent a brief time at Fettes, and then spent a further term at Ealing Grammar School. He joined the Royal Insurance Group in 1957 and in 1965 joined ICI where he is now Managing Director of Imperial Chemicals Insurance Ltd. He is also on the Board of an ICI financial holdings company and UK firm of insurance brokers and travels abroad a fair bit because he is also on the board of half a dozen overseas insurance companies as far apart as Australia, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Eire. He is married with two children, Bruce (9) and Kirsty (7). He plays golf—Handicap 21, and has played hockey, rugby and sprinting, becoming a member of Wimbledon Athletic Club. In responding to the last British Heart Foundation appeal Graham has with some pride, managed to lose over a stone in weight.

Kenneth J. Durnin (1954-56) is also an antipodean; but in Western Australia, just a little too far flung to be on visiting terms with the others.

After graduating from Aberdeen University (M.A., Dip Ed.), he trained in Manchester as a Teacher of the Deaf and attended the College of Education in Aberdeen. He taught at St. Peter's Primary School in Aberdeen and at the school for the Deaf. Emigrating in 1970, he spent seven years in Deaf Education and is now Deputy Principal of a 450-pupil Catholic Primary school in Perth. He and his wife have four children (17, 15, 14 and 10).

Kenneth MacKenzie Duthie (1943-56) worked for the Hudson's Bay Company for nine years after leaving school. He started his own Fur Trading business at Pukatawagan, Manitoba in 1965, moving to Gimli, Manitoba, where he bought a hardware business in 1974. Fond of the outdoor life, Ken fishes, camps and waterskis. He and his wife, Linda have three children: Beverley (15), Robert (10) and Joanne (8).

James Fowler (1953-55) joined the Aberdeen branch of the Royal Insurance company on leaving school. National Service in the RAF intervened, before he joined the company's Manchester branch in 1963, moving in 1968 to Head Office in Liverpool. where he is currently Assistant Organisation Manager.

After-work interests have included the ATC, night school lecturing, fostering problem children and looking after unmarried mums: but he's married to the mum he lives with and is not only the father of three children: Susan (20), Michael (18) and Carole (16) but a grandfather into the bargain.

David Thomas Kinnear (1949-56) joined the army after leaving school and is now a Lieutenant Colonel, commanding a regular regiment in the Royal Corps of Transport. "At ease", he enjoys climbing and off-shore sailing. He is married and has two boys and two girls.

Frank M. McPherson (1947-56) studied psychology at Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities. Acquiring degrees and distinctions as the rest of us acquire books and bad habits, he now has an M.A., a Ph.D., a Dip Clin. Psychol. and

Reunion of the Class of 1956

93

an F.B Ps s He lectured at the University of Edinburgh from 1960-68 and was a research fellow for two years and Visiting Professor at the University of Western Ontario in 1970. Since 1971, he has been Director of Tayside Area Clinical Psychology Department and senior Lecturer at the University of Dundee, as well as sitting on various "quangos" and advisory bodies. He relaxes with music and mountains (like Julie Andrews!), and is married, with two children (16 and 14).

Donald Ross Nicol (1942-56) our Head Prefect at AGS, took an honours physics degree at Aberdeen. For three years he was Scientific Officer with the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Aldermaston, before going to Canada as a member of the scientific staff of RCA Victor Ltd. Research Labs. in Montreal.

For four years thereafter, he was Senior Teaching Fellow at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (where he also gained a Ph.D.). Since 1970, he has been head of the Physical Laboratory of AWA Research Laboratory, Sydney. For recreation, he follows Rugby Union (though he hung up his own boots in 1970) and sails, having competed in four Sydney-Hobart ocean races. A married man, he has a son (5) and a daughter (9 months).

Stephen A. Pacitti (1947-56) took an Arts degree at Aberdeen, before studying Divinity at Christ's College. A probationary year as assistant minister in Aberdeenshire was followed by his first charge at Dundonnell in West Rossshire (1963-72). From 1972-76, he was minister at Pollokshields Glencairn church in Glasgow, from which he went out to Taiwan as a missionary of the Church of Scotland, working with the Presbyterian Church as Lecturer in Biblical Studies (sometimes in the Chinese language!) at the Theological College in Hualien. Pacitti's predilections are for piano-playing, painting, poetry and planes. He and his wife, Sylvia have three children: Susan (16), Mark (14) and Benjamin (6).

Alexander T. Parkinson (1943-55) on leaving school in 1955, studied medicine at Aberdeen, his first post-graduate year being spent as Rotating House Physician at the Royal Infirmary. Thereafter, he trained in Pathology at Edinburgh University Medical School, and emigrated in 1966 to complete his training at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachussetts. In 1968, he became Associate Pathologist at the Center, concurrently serving as Assistant Professor of Pathology at the Medical College at Albany N.Y. He moved in 1975 to Atlanta, Georgia, where he now works in private practice on the staff of various local hospitals. Photography, tennis and golf are his principal diversions, shared where possible with his wife, Paula, and three children from a previous marriage: Neale, Jennifer and John.

Alan Keith Gordon Paterson (1943-55) took an honours degree in Spanish at Aberdeen and lectures in that language at the University of London. He is married and has a young son, Andrew.

Stewart M. Scarlett (1948-56) is Director of Guidance and Teacher of English at the United World College of South-East Asia, Singapore. He and his wife, Hazel have two daughters.

Jim Shimmins (1946-56) is a medical physicist. Armed with an Honours B.Sc. in Natural Philosophy from Aberdeen and a Ph.D from Glasgow, he joined the Royal Radar Establishment at Malvern in 1960. Since 1962, he has worked with the Department of Clinical Physics of the Greater Glasgow Health Board. Jim enjoys reading, hill-walking and listening to music. He is married and has two boys (13 and 15).

James Simpson Maxwell Smart (1942-56). Max trained as an Architect at the Scott Sutherland School in Aberdeen. Since qualifying, he has worked in private practice. With Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall and Partners of Edinburgh, he worked mainly on Stirling University. With Ian G. Lindsay and Partners, for whom he now works, he's been engaged on university projects,

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

94

on the conservation of Newhaven, Orkney Islands Council Offices, Inverary Court House and Thirlestane Castle, Lauder. As a hobby, he sings and designs for Ediburgh's Gilbert and Sullivan Society. As a hubby, he's the father of a daughter (11) and a son (9).

Ronald Laurence Urquhart (1948-55) after leaving school, spent three years in the Royal Air Force as an Air Wireless Fitter. He then joined the Civil Service, attached to the Air Ministry Works Directorate and to the Ministry of Public Building and Works. This brought him to Edinburgh for some years.

Since 1972, he's been with the Department of the Environment and the Property Services Agency in Croydon. He's active with the local Chapter of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International and does some gardening and sailing when time permits. He has a wife, two boys (10 and 6) and a girl (7).

Elliot Williamson (1943-55) is a Doctor in Canada.

Abstracts of Accounts for year ended 31st December 1981 Amenities Fund INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1980 £502 — 150 202 £854 .f904 25 £929 £(75)

Interest from Investments (Net) Interest from Investments (Gross) Donation Income Tax Recoverable Grants made Honorarium to Treasurer

/251 368 150 108 £877 4'809 25

Surplus carried to Balance Sheet

834 £43

BALANCE SHEET £6,609 INVESTMENTS—At cost 101 SUNDRY DEBTORS 2 CASH AT BANK £6,712 Represented by: £6,609 CAPITAL ACCOUNT .3 REVENUE ACCOUNT 100 SUNDRY CREDITORS £6.712

£6.609

71 £6,680 £6.609 46 25 £6.680

Abstracts of Accounts

95

Club Centre INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

1980 £28,922 Gross Profit on Bar (Sales £81,403 (1980-874,316) 6,239

£29,933 6,557 21,303 1,445

Annual Subscriptions

24,531 Gaming Machine Revenue (Net) 2.338 Other Income £62,030

£59,238

£17,491 Wages and National Insurance 7,204 Rates, Insurance and Feuduty 5,761 Heating and Lighting 343

Telephone

5,048 Repairs and Maintenance 4,325 Donation to F.P. Club 3,569 Other Donations and Interest

1,264 Administration Expenses 1,196 Stewards Pension Scheme

2,000 Honoraria 2.955

Miscellaneous Expenses, Cleaning. etc.

740 Depreciation £51.896 £10,134 SURPLUS FOR YEAR

£18,225 8,562 6,511

389 6,544 4,400 2,265 1,188 1,1% 2,500 5,590 823 58,193 81,054

BALANCE SHEET FIXED ASSETS £4,160 Furniture. Fittings and Equipment—At cost less

£4,650

depreciation CURRENT ASSETS

£84,077 Loan Account—A.G.S.F.P. Club 5.361 Stock in Hand 2.587 Sundry Debtors 873 Cash in Hand

£92,898

£18,003 4.155 14.260 £36,418 £56.480 £60.640 9,000 £51,640

885,678 6,932 3,090 759 £96,459

CURRENT LIABILITIES Sundry Creditors Subscriptions in Advance Bank Overdraft

£20,830 4,655 15.239

£40,724

Less: LONG TERM LOANS NET ASSETS

55,735 £60,385 7,400 £52,985

Represented by: £8.647 CAPITAL ACCOUNT—Appeal Fund and Other Donations 42,993

£51,640

SURPLUSES

£8,947 44,038 £52,985

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

96

F.P. Club INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1980 £1,565 1,090 734 744 4.325 407 72 £8,937 £2,516 2,323 156 225 614 1.439 £8,275 £662

Subscriptions Revenue from Investments (Gross) Transfer from Life Member Capital Fund at 5% Magazine Saks and Advertising Revenue Donation from Club Centre Entertainments Account Surplus Miscellaneous Income Working Expenses, including Honoraria Loan Interest School and Trophy Medals Capitation Grants Expenses of Visits to Other Centres Magazine—Cost of Printing and Posrages

£1,893 1,180 782 640 4.400 460 4 £9,359 £2,954 2,400 144 315 450 2,663 8.926 £433

SURPLUS FOR YEAR TRANS. TO CAPITAL ACCOUNT BALANCE SHEET

£6,454 10,443 1,668 1.248 8,673 5.526 1,296 £33,308

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

Less: £3,620 SUNDRY CREDITORS 1,213 ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE £4,833 £30,475 NET ASSETS £13,950 13.409 1,668 1,248 200 £30.475

Represented by: LIFE MEMBER CAPITAL FUND CAPITAL ACCOUNT ROBERT G. WILSON BEQUEST FUND MRS. ISABELLA GRANT BEQUEST FUND OTHER FUNDS

£4,853 12.073 1,638 1.380 9,350 6,098 1,436 £36.828 £3.448 1,472 4,920 £31.908 £14,848 13.842 1,638 1.380 200 £31.908

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