AGS Magazine September 1997

THE

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHODL MAGAZINE

Volume 100

September 1997

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 113th year No. 235 (New Series 102nd year No. 226)

Vol 100

September 1997

The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club each year

Interim General Editor

Brian K. Crookshanks, T.D., M.A., LL.B. 86 Queen's Road Aberdeen AB15 6YQ

Editor of Notes, Obituaries and Marriages

Brian K. Crookshanks, T.D., M.A., LL.B. 99 Fountainhall Road Aberdeen AB15 4EB

Secretary of the FP Club

John F. Hendry, LL.B. 36 Albyn Place Aberdeen AB 10 1YF

Treasurer of the FP Club

John D. Murray, LLB., C.A. 434 North Deeside Road, Cults Aberdeen AB15 9ET

The General Editor and Notes Editor are happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before mid-May 1998

In order to assist the distribution of the Magazine, members of the Former Pupils' Club are requested to advise the Secretary promptly of any changes of address

Contents Death of Mr Robert D. Gill School Section— Rectors Report School Office-Bearers School Prizes 1996-97 Extra-Curricular Activities (Clubs & Societies) Face the Music: Calamity Jane Charities Group Young Scientists School Board Parent Teacher Association Phil Love Trophy School Mini Bus General Section— Out of the Way Places Former Pupils' Club Section— Club Office-Bearers, 1997-98 Club Consuls Annual General Meeting President's Report Presidential Profile Centre Reports Club Centre Canada Edinburgh Glasgow London Section Reports Cricket Curling Football Golf Hockey Petanque Rugby Swimming Women's Hockey Annual Dinner Ottawa, September 1996 Re-Union of School Leavers 1947-49 Notes about Former Pupils Marriages Obituaries Abstract of Accounts

page

4 7 9 9 13 24 25 26 27 27 27 28

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32 34 34 35 38 41 42 44 45 46 46 47 48 48 49 50 50 50 51 53 53 54 55 63 65 80

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Death of Mr Robert D. GM Mr Robert Douglas Gill, Rector of the School from January 1973 to January 1987, died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 8 January 1997, after a brief illness. He was aged 73.

Mr Gill was born and educated in Aberdeen, his secondary schooling having been at the former Central Secondary School. Many will recall that between 1939 and 1943 the Grammar School buildings were shared with the Central School, and so it was within the School to which he was to return as Headmaster thirty years later that he sat and passed his Higher Leaving Certificate examinations. His studies at Aberdeen University were interrupted when in 1942 he was called to active service and commissioned in the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scottish Fusiliers in the 15th Division. He rose to the rank of Staff Captain at S.H.A.E.F., first as a Field Press Censor and later attached to the Control Commission in Germany. After demobilisation he resumed his studies at Aberdeen University, from which he graduated in 1949 with honours in French and German.

After training as a teacher he was appointed first to Larbert High School and then spent eleven years at Robert Gordon's College as a Special Assistant in modern languages. While there, he was also commanding officer of the Combined Cadet Force at the College. After a period as Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Peterhead he went to Perth Academy as Principal Teacher of German, before being appointed in 1969 as Rector of Beath High School. During his teaching career up to this point, Mr Gill had also been involved in ancillary aspects of the educational system. He was, for several years, a setter of examinations in German for the Scottish Certificate of Education Board, and from 1965 to 1969 he was Principal Examiner in Modern Languages to the Board. From early in his teaching career he had chosen to share in and later to lead many educational trips abroad, and in the session of his appointment to the School he was Commandant for the Scottish Schools Travel Trust.

When he came to the Grammar School it was, of course, not as Rector but as Headmaster of the re-named Rubislaw Academy (Aberdeen Grammar School). He had, for a start, to guide the School through the early stages of comprehensive education, which in this case included the change from a boys' school to a co-educational establishment. All this, and more, he did against a background of a policy of retention of School uniform, the continued pursuit of the School's long-standing aims of high standards both of work and of behaviour, and the maintenance of the traditions of the School in so far as these were compatible with its changed status. Considering the unpopularity of such attitudes in certain quarters, he was remarkably successful.

During his Rectorship there was never a year when changes of one kind or another were not being imposed on schools from all manner of quarters: new curricula, new methods of assessment and examination, new disciplinary procedures, new structures with Guidance staff and Assistant Rectors, all were introduced in his time. School Councils were introduced, pressure for Parent Teacher Associations grew, technology invaded the classroom and school life was ever more complex. Mr Gill faced all these and more, and was not resistant to change, rather welcoming it cautiously if it meant improvement, and was not simply change for its own sake.

Then, in July 1986, with retiral only a few months away, came the disastrous fire at the School which wiped out a significant part of the main building. Just as he had done in face of challenges throughout his Rectorship, Mr Gill faced the problem head-on, supported by staff and pupils, and where some people in high quarters thought the death-knell of the School had been sounded, he had the premises re-opened for business as usual in August.

His Rectorship of our famous old School stands comparison with that of any of his illustrious predecessors. In retirement he busied himself with a multitude of interests, enjoying bowling and bridge, and supporting the City of Aberdeen Probus Club of which he was a committee member at the time of his death. By his passing 4

the community is the poorer. Our sympathy goes to his wife Isabel with whom he was enjoying a walk when he became ill, and to his two sons and their families.

Addressing a packed Craigiebuckler Church at a Memorial Service on I I January, his former Deputy, Arthur McCombie said: Most of us gathered here today will share a sense of dismay and almost disbelief that one so active and vigorous should have been taken from us so suddenly and unexpectedly. I firs► encountered Robert Gill at University when, as a young boy straight out of school at the end of the war, I moved with some awe among the ranks of ex-servicemen who had returned to study there. One such who impressed me used to stride purposefully round the Modern Languages Department, always carrying a most impressive briefcase. Little did I think that a quarter of a century later our paths would cross when Mr Gill was appointed to succeed Mr Skinner, and that for thirteen years I would have the privilege and pleasure of working with him as his deputy.

On Mr Gill first fell the task of setting up a virtually new school—a comprehensive, mixed, district school. To this task came one who had already served in several capacities in the Scottish educational system, as teacher, principal teacher, examiner and head teacher in Fife. It is safe to say that none of these roles gave him greater satisfaction and fulfilment than the management of Aberdeen Grammar School.

One of the early problems was how to re-act to the mounting campaign by the Former Pupils to have the old name of the School restored to its historic simplicity.

I can still clearly recall the pair of us scheming to devise a way of producing an accurate (and honest!) answer to the question which we knew was bound to be asked—"What do the pupils think?" The outcome was to produce what may have been the first Australian-type election held in Aberdeen—everybody had to vote.

The happy outcome was that once again Aberdeen had a Grammar School and its Rector. The term Rector obviously causes some confusion in the South, and no-one enjoyed more than Mr Gill the correspondence addressed to him as the Reverend Mr Gill. On his next birthday he equally enjoyed receiving a card addressed to the Revered Mr Gill.

During his period as Rector not least of Mr Gill's concerns was the task of dealing tactfully and diplomatically with the tensions caused by the strikes and closures which arose from disputes between the teaching profession and the authorities. He often remarked privately that one of his most satisfying achievements as Rector was his success and relief at avoiding a legacy of rifts and bitterness among the staff.

Mr Gill was by nature a cautious son of the North-east, and his educational views and policies survived the time when to be classified as a traditionalist was seen in some circles as the Mark of Cain. Vindication of his management and policies came from an unexpected quarter, when the Parents' Charter allowed parents to vote with their children's feet and the education correspondent of the Daily Record (no less!) could confidently write that Aberdeen Grammar School was the most popular school in Scotland as more than 300 out-of-zone pupils besieged the school seeking admission and the school roll rose from 1250 to more than 1700.

Just when it seemed that turmoil and strife were over came the fires of 1986, and Mr Gill successfully resisted suggestions that the School should be split up and dispersed. To cope with the accommodation shortage temporary huts were established on the front lawn and he gleefully decreed that this area should be called "the Village"—an area for which he had a very soft spot.

You will have noticed that I have referred formally to "Mr Gill", and that was the public persona which he presented to the pupils and staff and he was probably regarded as a rather remote and slightly austere figure. But behind that public persona lay quite a different person, Bert Gill, a very kind and sensitive man, both sociable and hospitable, to whom one could turn with confidence for sound advice and counsel, for genuine sympathy and understanding, whether the circumstances presented to him were personal or professional, whether they involved parents, pupils, staff or public. He was someone with wide interests and many talents, some 5

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine surprising and unexpected. Who, for example, knows that in his earlier days he was the pianist in a dance band? He enjoyed convivial meetings in good company. He enjoyed his links with the Former Pupils' Club, particularly the annual gatherings in Aberdeen, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Yorkshire which he faithfully attended.

Enjoyment was to be found for Bert Gill in many areas—the generous hospitality he dispensed at home after the Christmas Carol Concerts, the sharing of jokes, the hilarity caused by someone regaling him with the latest comical episodes which school life so frequently turns up. He was an avid follower of football; he loved Germany and its language; but one of our most happy joint expeditions was to Pittodrie to witness Aberdeen beating Bayern Munich.

When one casts around for a suitable and appropriate epitaph for Bert, why not turn once again to the motto of the School he loved so much and say "Bon Record".

John Vass Skinner As this Magazine goes to press, we have learned with much sadness of the death in hospital in Aberdeen of Mr John Vass Skinner, Rector of the School from 1959 to 1972 and thus the immediate predecessor of Mr Gill. As is generally known he had been ill for several years. A tribute to Mr Skinner will apear in the next Magazine.

6

School Section Rector's Report Perhaps the biggest influences on all schools this year have emerged from attention being focused on the politics of a general election campaign and on security i❑ the aftermath of the Dunblane tragedy. All political parties gave education an extremely high priority, envisaging a range of reforms both far-reaching and rigorous. Nevertheless, the programme now taking shape in Scotland seems pragmatic and very much in harmony with developments already under way. Not surprisingly, security is receiving special attention and financial support. Identity badges for staff are now standard in schools, with video surveillance being planned for at least some. In our school, we continue to maintain good working relationships, the culture for a positive ethos, so that developments can proceed without disadvantaging present provision and in a safe, purposeful atmosphere avoiding either anxiety or complacency.

As introduced in the Magazine two years ago, the "Improving School Effectiveness" project in which we are participating is scheduled for completion this summer with results and data available in a national context in the autumn. The "focus and ethos" action plan which we devised to improve an already positive atmosphere of co-operation in school includes a list of practicable measures, most of which have now been implemented. Improvements like additional Parents' Information Evenings, more trust and personal development for S6, Punctuality Certificates SI—S6, and the Senior pupils' own Anti-bullying, "Buddy" and Paired Reading schemes, each has its effect as well as a cumulative effect on ethos in a subtle rather than a dramatic way.

The staffing position has had to be seen against a background of budgetary reduction nationally and regionally, one effect of which has been a staffing level which re-introduces maximum class sizes in SI and S2, having formerly managed to apply maxima of 26 or 27 rather than 30 in the less practical subjects. However I am very glad to confirm that further up the school the range of subjects, courses and levels has been fully maintained.

Staff changes have been largely the result of promotions, such as the appointment of Mr Athol Garden from Depute Rector here to become Rector of Bankhead Academy.

Miss Helen Innes has succeeded him as Depute Rector and in turn Mr Russell Gray has been appointed Assistant Rector. Retiring this summer after each providing 20 years or more of dedicated service to the school are three Principal Teachers—Mr Ian Milne (French), Mrs Pat Wood (Drama) and Mr Ronald Caie (English). Their departure will be marked by a special end-of-term dinner and we all wish them well in their futures beyond the school.

5 14 curricular developments are well under way, and perhaps a sign of the times is that one of our models of continuity in this sector has been the development of an allthrough Information Technology course. Higher Still developments for the 16+ age sector have been sensibly delayed for another year and are now scheduled for introduction in session 1999-2000, thus allowing more development time to support changes in content and assessment of courses. In preparation for this, the Scottish Examination Board (SEB) and the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEC) merged earlier this year to form the new Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the first step towards streamlining and rationalising different assessment traditions.

Once again I am delighted to report many outstanding individual and team achievements throughout the session, the details of which have been conveyed through newsletters and press reports. Public events like sports fixtures, matches and quizzes, dramatic productions, musical shows and concerts all reflect co-operation between enthusiastic pupils and committed staff. I trust that articles in this Magazine will help to convey the flavour of such events. Even the staff had a musical to raise funds for a new minibus, and our thanks are due to all who supported Dracula Spectacula last November as well as the Sponsored Walk and Spring Fayre during the session.

Reflecting on the last year and looking ahead, the only continuing bad news is the lack of a Games Hall and the need for development of modern facilities at Rubislaw so that sporting traditions can be not only sustained but improved. I will continue to campaign for these and to hope that there will be positive reports in future Magazines.

7

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Head Girl and Head Boy 1996-97

Nina E. Koruth and Keith S. Reid 8

School Section

School Office-Bearers Head Boy: KErrH S. REID

Head Girl: NINA E. KORUTH

Depute Head Boy: RYAN S. CUMMING

Depute Head Girl: SOPHIE L. HOBDEN

S6 Prefects DAVID J. ALLAN ANDREW J CLOUSTON CHRISTOPHER R. DUNCAN MARK J. DUNKLEY JAMES GILCHRIST RICHARD T. E. GILMOUR PAUL M. JONES GARETH S. K. KLOSE DOMINIC W. MILNE PATRICK J. O'DRISCOLL STEVEN J PATERSON GARY PORTER LEWIS D. A. THOMSON

JILLIAN A. BAIN FIONA E. CAMERON CHRISTINE A. FRASER GILLIAN M. E. GRAHAM LOUISE HARR IMAN ASHLEY J. JOHNSON PAMELA J. MCKAY FIONA M. REID NICOLA K SINCLAIR HANNAH SMITH JENNIFER A. SMULLEN ANGELA R. TAYLOR SUSAN E. THOMSON CATRIONA A. WEBSTER LYNSAY WILSON JENNIFER YOUNGER

S5 Prefects KEITH T. CROMBIE MARTIN F. GISBY ANDREW J. INNES SCOTT R. MORRISON JOHN S. C. MURRAY MICHAEL H. RENNIE NOSA R. UWAIFO GRAHAM C. WATTS

LYNNE M. ALLAN KERRIE BAVIDGE TAMARA A. BUCHAN SARAH J. CHRISTIE KRYSTINA J. COLLING GILLIAN L. FRASER LYNNE A. FRASER JULIA A. PATULLO JOANNA L. RATCLIFFE DIANE M. SMITH

School Prizes 1996-97 The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Biology The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Chemistry The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Computer Studies The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Geography The Former Pupils' Club Prize in German The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Home Economics The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Modern Studies The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Physical Education The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Physics The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Religious Studies The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Spanish (Equal Award) (Equal Award) 9

LEWIS D. A. THOMSON JAKE M. DUTHIE JODIE E. SMITH MICHAEL H. RENNIE JENNIFER YOUNGER CLAIRE E. SMITH IAN JACKSON PATRICK J. O'DRISCOLL DANIEL C. FENN VENETIA H. TRAYHURN JACLYN L. HENDERSON CLAIRE C. McFARLANE

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine JOSEPH B. N. LEIPER The Former Pupils' Club Prize in Technical Subjects JILLIAN A. BAIN The Samuel Pope Prize in Art NINA E. KORUTH The Arthur L. McCombie Prize in Art History JOANNA L. RATCLIFFE The Donald Paton Prize for Painting JODIE E. SMITH The John Muir Robertson Memorial Prize in Business Studies NEIL STIRTON The Gordon McMinn Prize in Computer Studies DANIEL C. FENN The Masson Bain Prize in English JENNIFER YOUNGER The Brebner Award in French VENETIA H. TRAYHURN The Charles Alexander Walker Prize in History DAVID BROWN The Jenny C. Archibald Prize in Home Economics in S4 The Campbell Connon Prize for Local Studies FIONA M. REID (Equal Award) JENNIFER A. SMULLEN (Equal Award) ANGELA R. TAYLOR (Equal Award) The Derek Stewart Memorial Prize in Mathematics LUKE SUMMERS (Equal Award) PAUL J. DEAR (Equal Award) The Alexander Thomson Prize in Mathematics in S3 LAURA S. M. ARMSTRONG The Hamish Adams Greig Prize in Mathematics and Science in S5 KERRIE BAVIDGE The J. Mortimer McBain Prize to the best Mathematical Scholar in S5 or S6 DANIEL C. FENN JAKE M. DUTHIE The George G. Whyte Prize in Mathematics in S6 The Gavin Falconer Memorial and Former Pupils' Club Prize in Music THOMAS D. LESSELS (Equal Award) TIM P. WRAIGHT (Equal Award) The Dr J. Minto Robertson Prize in Shakespearean Studies KATHRYN E. FLINT First LYNN INKSON Second ROSS WATTLE The Alastair G. Simon Memorial Prize in Spanish in S3 The May Thomson Scottish Poetry Prize to the best reciters of a Scottish poem in the North East Dialect CHLOE A. MORRISON First LYNSEY S. MORRISON Second DIANNE BRIDGEFORD Third The Aberdeen Grammar School Dramatic Society Award for outstanding contribution to Drama JOHN DONALDSON (Special Merit) FIONA L. M. LEMON (Special Merit) JOANNE E. TIMMINS (Special Mcrit) JAMES D. BELL (Special Merit) JAMIE C. BEGG (Special Merit) (Special Merit) SIBYLLE Y. BERNARDIN KEITH F. SMITH (Special Merit) KEITH S. REID (Special Merit) KERRIE BAVIDGE (Special Merit) { CATRIONA A. WEBSTER (Joint Winners) HAMISH R. WALKER The Edith & David Ritchie Bishop Prize for Public Speaking JOANNE E. TIMMINS (First) (Second) AMANDA D. BROWELL-HOOK NINA E. KORUTH (Third) The Sir J. J. Robertson Award for outstanding contribution to the School Magazine GARETH S. K. KLOSE ALICE R. SUTHERLAND (Equal Award) The Dr A. A. Cormack Prize (Equal Award) KATRINA D. THORNTON 10

School Section

The English Speaking Board Awards Senior Grade Two (Credit) Senior Grade Two (Credit) Senior Grade Two (Credit) Senior Proficiency (Credit) Senior Proficiency (Distinction) The Advanced Certificate in the Language Arts (Distinction)

LAURA GAWTHORPE MICHELLE HARKINS HANNAH McINTOSH EMMA CLIFFORD GEMMA CODY JOANNE TIMMINS

Drama Shields Playmaking—Senior I (Class Prize)

(Equal Award) ALICE E. RATCLIFFE SI/3 (Equal Award) AILSA E. HERBERT SI/3 Playmaking—Senior 2 (Class Prize) JOHN H. COCHRANE-BARNETT S2/4 The Aberdeen Grammar School "Face the Music" Award for an outstanding performance in the School's musical production (Equal Award) ANTONIA V. S. BAXTER (Equal Award) SARAH J. CHRISTIE (Equal Award) KEITH S. REID

Sports Awards The Isobel O. Anderson Medal for Swimming The Rector's Medal for Swimming The Girl's Cup for Swimming The Dr Morland Simpson Cup for Swimming The Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils' Club Rugby Football Section Trophy The School Colours Committee School Cap

KEVIN G. McPHERSON KEVIN G. McPHERSON SOPHIE L. HOBDEN SOPHIE L. HOBDEN SIMON J. SMALL JILLIAN A. BAIN PATRICK J. O'DRISCOLL

The Rector's Award for outstanding achievement in International Competition (Equal Award) KITTIYA JITTINORRASET (Equal Award) KEITH S. REID The Philip Love Trophy PATRICK J. O'DRISCOLL

All-Round Awards The David Alexander Irvine-Fortescue All-Round Award in S2 CHRISTINE A. M. WEDDELL The Norman Mackie Memorial Award in S3 (Equal Award) ROSS WATTLE (Equal Award) KENNETH C. M. WILSON The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Award in S3 LYNN INKSON The Former Pupils' Club Certificate of Merit FIONA E. CAMERON NINA E. KORUTH PAUL M. JONES PATRICK J. O'DRISCOLL The Former Pupils' Club "1965" Award for the greatest contribution to the life of the School SUSAN ROBERTSON LOUISE HARRIMAN 11

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The Runner-up to The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy for Girls The Runner-up to The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy and the Agnes Durward McDonald Prize The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy for Girls The Former Pupils' Club All-Round Trophy and the John Ivo Dawson Prize

SOPHIE L. HOBDEN RYAN S. CUMMING JILLIAN A. BAIN KEITH S. REID

Colour Awards Rugby

Full Colour Half Colour

Hockey

School Cap Full Colour Half Colour

Football

School Cap Half Colour

Basketball

Full Colour

Andrew Clouston, Ryan Cumming, James Gilchrist Simon Smail

Jillian Bain Fiona Cameron, Lesley Fraser, Stephen Murray Lynne Allan, Christine Fraser, Sophie Hobden, Alison Hume, Kyle Mutch, David Allan, Sean Coetzer, Gregor Gibb, Michael Scott Junior Colour Sara Kidd, Ruth McLennan, Sabrina Rossetti, Stewart Fraser, Andrew Hurman, Andrew McCurrach Stephen Ratcliffe, Keith Smith, Hanno Traybum Patrick O'Driscoll Stuart Findlay, Alan Jackson, Ian Jackson, Neil McLauchlan, Richard McRae, Adam McQueen, Matthew Paterson Junior Colour Stuart Duff Jaclyn Henderson, Katherine Johnstone, Shona Johnstone, Julia Patullo, Joanne Ratcliffe, Alison Sinclair Junior Colour Catriona Duncan, Lyndsay Fraser, Rebecca Hudson, Lynn Inkson, Kathy Lamb, Linsey McIntosh, Ruth McLennan, Maki MacNeil, Mhairi Neyedli, Judith Watts

Table Tennis Junior Colour Lindsay McIntosh NATIONAL SCHOOLS COMPETITION Small Bore Neil Stirton Half Colour Rifle Rowing

Junior Colour David McNeil

Swimming

Junior Colour Christopher Whitcombe

Extra Curricular Full Colour Music Half Colour

Music

Jillian Bain, Yong Woo Kim, Keith Reid Tony Baxter, Tamara Buchan, Louise Calder, Jennifer Fyfe, Martin Gisby, Jaclyn Henderson, Julie Patullo, Diane Smith Junior Colour Kate Kenyon, Tom Lessells, John-Carlo Marioni, David Morrice, Judith Nieman, Judith Pine, Andrew Smail, Simon Smail, Alice Sutherland, Stephen Watt, Tim Wraight, Ku Yin 12

School Section

Face the Music

Diane Smith, Lynsay Wilson Cormac Booth, Sarah Christie, Ashley Johnson, Victoria Stewart Junior Colour Simon Smail, Matthew Thomson

DramSoc

Half Colour

What in the World

Full Colour Half Colour

Kerrie Bavidge, Louise Bolton, John Donaldson, Hamish Walker Junior Colour Jamie Begg Half Colour

School Magazine Full Colour

Amanda Browell-Hook Gareth Close

Extra-Curricular Activities School Sports Clubs Senior Football Despite having a reasonable squad of players this season, the senior boys won only a few games this year, although they lost only a few and drew many.

The side finished in the middle of the league, and were defeated by Oldmachar Academy in the Aberdeen Cup. In the Scottish Cup, the Grammar defeated one of the competition favourites, Banff Academy, 5-3 on penalties in the first round at Rubislaw. This was without doubt the best performance of the season. The Grammar went out of the Cup in the third round by 0-3 to a very competent Perth High School side. There were some notable individual achievements with Andrew McCraw and Patrick O'Driscoll being picked for the Aberdeen Schools Select. Patrick was the captain of the Select and was later chosen to play for the Scottish Schools under-18 team in all of their matches this season.

The senior squad was: Stuart Findlay, Richard MacRae, Matthew Paterson, Dominic Milne, Andrew McCraw, Ian Jackson, Alan Jackson, Kris Petty, Adam McQueen, Neil McLaughlin, Patrick O'Driscoll, Matthew Park, Sean Robertson, lain Wilson and Gary Sutherland.

Under-15 Football The under-15 Grammar School team for 1996/97 started excellently, beating the reigning champions, Northfield, 5-1 at Rubislaw in our first full game together. This amazing result was achieved by our phenomenal work-rate and clever passing of the ball which broke down the opposition. After that game, on most weeks before a game the team squad made their way to Rubislaw for extensive training followed by a fun game. These training sessions involved up to 25 players who all gave their best effort.

A lot of our games after that first one were defeats, but not many were bad performances. One of our mottos was, if a player isn't playing well, then you play twice as well for him. We tried many different formations- some worked while some didn't. The spectators never saw the good attitudes, they just saw the defeats.

Unfortunately we could not repeat the Scottish Cup success of the team from a few years back, but we did inflict an 8-2 hammering on Peterhead which stands out 13

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

as one of our best games. One of our bravest performances was the 2-2 draw with St Machar, one of the strongest teams in the league. We fell behind 2-0 thanks to two magnificent goals, but clawed back to 2-2 thanks to sterling work up front from David Purvis and Ryan Brady. The defence stayed solid until the end and the midfield worked their socks off. This was a good result, as our first choice goalkeeper, Neil Douglas, fell ill minutes before the game. Substitute Keith Angus performed superbly on his first full game for the team.

On a personal note, I found the team experience to be a fantastic one. We all worked well for each other, were determined and exciting, and coached by Mr Adey we made up a formidable squad. My vice-captain, David McCurrach, like the rest of the team, was a great help, and I couldn't have done it without him.

The goal-scorers were Ryan Brady 7, David Purvis 6, Christopher Ogboke 4, Masoom Mohit 3, Billy MacRae 2, Jamie MacRae 2, Stuart Duff 2, Ewan Rossitor 1 and Keiran Symons I. On many an occasion we could have lost or drawn were it not for the heroics of the defence who were often hit with injuries but still managed to stay firm throughout the game.

The full squad who played in at least one game comprised Neil Douglas, Keith Angus, lain Wyllie, Rodrigo Aspe, Neil Davidson, Stuart Malcolm (captain), Danny Hodgins, David McCurrach, Jamie MacRae, Billy MacRae, Stuart Duff, Masoom Mohit, Keiran Symons, Ewan Rossitor, Ryan Brady, David Purvis, Christopher Ogboke and David Drain.

I would like to thank everyone in the team, the parents, Mr Adey, Mr Maclean, Mr Smith and everyone who came to our matches in the pouring rain; your support was vital to our confidence.

Stuart Malcolm

Girls' Hockey With the exit of a large 6th year hockey group, new teams had to be assembled quickly for the visit of Glasgow High in early September. Excellent turn-outs at practices and hard work brought steady improvement and slowly a more confident, determined outlook crept into play. The new look 1st XI did well to reach the final of the Knock-Out Cup, losing narrowly to Mintlaw by one goal. At a Tournament at Morrison's Academy, Crieff, the 1st XI were undefeated in play against a strong opposition. The one blip was at the Senior Tournament when goals would not come, and thus we failed to reach the semi-finals. A rather splendid water fight soon restored spirits and gave the teams the chance to pour affection on the out-going Captains, Fiona Cameron and Gillian Graham, who did much to inspire their respective teams over the season.

The 3rd Years, too, worked hard and were rewarded with a place in the final of the 3rd Years' Tournament. This was a close final, with Grammar missing a gift at one end while Gordon's found the net at the other. This was an excellent effort, and many thought that we were unlucky to lose.

1st and 2nd year hockey was supported with enthusiasm as usual.

Honours came to the following girls: Jillian Bain Scotland under-I8 Squad North Schoolgirls under-18 Squad Jillian Bain, Fiona Cameron and Lesley Fraser North Schoolgirls under-16 Squad Lynne Allan, Sarah Church, Ruth McLennan, Olivia Roach and Katrina Thornton Lynne Allan, Jillian Bain, Sarah Church, Lesley North Indoor Squad Fraser, Olivia Roach and Katrina Thornton 1st & 2nd Teams 14

School Section

Finally, thanks must go to Sari Johnson and Alison McLuskey who helped out when they could. Two things would boost school hockey, firstly an all-weather pitch at Rubislaw, and secondly the implementation of a suggestion by the Youth Commission whereby Senior Pass Backs would be from noon, thus giving priority to Youth and School Hockey, and hopefully (PLEASE) more helpers.

Boys' Hockey The new season started almost before we got back to school, with the first game being played on the last Saturday in August. Our opponents, as usual on the opening day, were MBC 'A'. The team had understandably little time to prepare, with new players coming in, some of them from last year's Colts side.

The players got down to the hard work required at the practices on Mondays at Keith Park, but it was evident that time was required to allow them to settle into a working unit. The first team's games consisted mainly of league hockey against local opposition and, with the exception of MBC 'A', which was virtually the District team, we held our own against the rest. Some good performances were recorded in the league, but the results did not always do us credit.

The second term games saw our traditional fixtures resume, and we started early in January against Dundee High School. This game, played at Keith Park, produced a much better performance than our previous encounter at Dundee in November and we managed a very creditable draw. Our first visit to Gordonstoun did not, unfortunately, co-incide with one of our better performances, but once again we played much better in the return match in Aberdeen, being beaten narrowly 1-2, the winning goal being scored late in the game.

Our match against Watson's College was once again cancelled because of the weather, as was the match against Fettes, but we did manage the trip to Strathallan on what was the most miserable day of the season, when we played in a downpour.

We played very well without being able to score, and unfortunately were eventually beaten 2-0. The last game of the year was played in Edinburgh against Stewarts/ Melville, and once again we were beaten on the unfamiliar hard pitch at Mary Erskine School.

Overall we had a rather mixed season, producing on occasions some very good hockey, but were generally let down by our lack of experience and by the introduction of much younger players. These players from S4 performed very well, and I am sure that if they show the same commitment and determination next year the team will undoubtedly benefit.

The team was well served by our captain, Stephen Murray, who did an excellent job on the pitch, especially when the heads went down on occasion. He was ably backed up by the senior players in the side, Gary Porter, Michael Scott, Gregor Gibb and David Allan, while special mention should be made of Sean Coetzer who took over in goal early in the season, never having played there before. The remaining squad players were Jonathan Watt, Mark Calderwood, Mark Ross, James Daniel, Stewart Coetzer, Andrew McCurrach, Scott Morrison, Blair Cumming, Jake Blair, Steven McGowan and Keith Crombie.

We were very proud when Stephen Murray was selected for the North U-18 team, this being the first time for quite a few seasons that a Grammar boy has been selected.

An area of concern to the school for a number of years is the lack of an astroturf pitch at Rubislaw where our teams can practice and play their home matches. The schools which provide opposition during the second term require games to be played on astroturf, and it would be a great pity if these ►ong-standing fixtures were to be lost because of this lack of facility. However, I remain optimistic about future plans for Rubislaw.

15

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Basketball Basketball continues to flourish within the school, with, for the first time in many years, the formation of an SI boys team—coached by Mr Adey—as well as over forty girls participating in the sport.

1996/7 proved to be a very successful season for both groups. The U-18 girls team had their first major win, beating Auchenharvie to win the U-18 Scottish Cup at Meadowbank. Needless to say, the occasion was well celebrated with vast quantities of pizza and more than one replay of the final whistle moment.

As well as taking part in the Grampian Schools SI Festival programme, the first year girls were able to contribute in the qualifying rounds of the Grampian Schools Open Cup. This set them up for a place in the final against Bankhead Academy. It turned out to be a close game, but the Grammar Grey Wolves came out on top, holding on to the title for the second year running.

The team also succeeded by remaining both Grampian Women's League and Cup champions. These matches provided an ideal insight for the younger players into a different level of basketball, while competing against larger and stronger opponents.

The U-16 National League proved to be a greater challenge, but the girls won eight out of twelve matches, which resulted in a commendable third place. Due to having an overall young group, most of the team can play again in the National League next season, where we hope to achieve first place.

Not to be upstaged by the girls, the Si boys had a very successful first season by winning the Scottish 'B' division trophy and going on to reach the final in the SI Grampian Schools Cup. In addition to the team successes, there were many personal achievements this season. Nine girls made the Grampian Schools U-I8 select. These girls and one other, went on to fill all but three of the thirteen places in the North and Midlands Select. A further three girls—we are delighted to add—have been awarded places in next season's U-16 Scotland squad. Furthermore, five of the senior players decided to extend their basketball career and are now certified probationary referees in the Grampian Region.

16

uoydas l amps

I

Back row from left to right: Shona Johnstone, Alison Sinclair, Jaclyn

_ 9- ---A

Henderson, Catriona Duncan, Kathy Lamb, Judith Watts, Rebecca Hudson, Lynn Inkson, Joanna Ratcliffe.

Front row from left to right: Julie Patullo, Gemma Reid, Main McNeil, Lyndsay Fraser. Lirsey McIntosh, Mhairi Neyedli, Ruth McLennon, Katherine Johnstone.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Clubs and Societies Chess Club In the Grampian League, the team finished third equal this session. Attendance at the lunch-time meetings has been dwindling recently.

Dungeons and Dragons This year the Dungeons and Dragons Lunch-time Activity again reached the Tournament round of the Inter-Schools Competition. At one point we nearly had two teams entered, such was the level of enthusiasm. Sadly owing to staff changes, the group is now looking for a new room and supervising teacher. We wish to thank Miss Sinclair for her encouragement—and forbearance—over the past years.

What in the World?!

"What in the World?" has had another flourishing year. This success is largely due

to the regular attendance of a group of young, but highly enthusiastic, first-years.

This allowed us to build a strong weekly club. "What in the World?" meets every Wednesday lunch-time. It aims to tackle a variety of current affairs topics, in a fun and relatively simple manner.

We started the year by watching a video on smoking. We then followed this by holding very interesting discussions on this subject. It has been a very busy and stimulating year. Highlights have included discussions leading to a poster on guns; a quiz review of 1996; a poster on impressions of homelessness; and a debate on the development of Aberdeen beach.

The club has been run by Amanda Browell-Hook, S6/2 and Nina Koruth S6/3.

As they have now completed their final year of school the reins have been passed into the very capable hands of Diane Smith S5/7.

Worldwise Quiz Two teams were entered for the Grampian heat of this Quiz, which is organised annually by the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers. Team A comprised lain Wyllie S4, Ross Wattie S3 and Scott Harrison S2, while Team B members were Stephen Watt S4, Laura Armstrong S3 and Adam Leith S2.

Both teams did very well against 12 other schools in the Grampian heat. Team A won while Team B were runners-up, with only one point separating the two teams.

Team A went forward as the Grampian representatives to the Scottish final at the Scottish Natural Heritage centre at Redgorton, near Perth, in March. Ross Wattie's place was taken up by Laura Armstrong as Ross was a member of the school Chemistry team which was in London the same week-end. Again the pupils put in a highly creditable performance and won their semi-final round to gain a place in the final. Although they were beaten at this stage the Team did exceptionally well to go so far in this Quiz, and are to be congratulated for the exemplary way in which they conducted themselves.

18

School Section

Book Club Due to a personal desire to broaden the reading tastes of Si and S2 I ventured to set up a new club on Wednesday lunchtimes in my classroom. My main aim was to guide the junior pupils in their reading habits to try to prevent the lull and often cessation of reading which can occur when they become bored with Roald Dahl and Point Horror.

Over the year around 20 pupils have come along; some on a regular basis, others for short periods of time. I am helped by Mrs Walker and Mrs MacLean. We try to create a free and easy atmosphere whereby the youngsters are encouraged to chat about their reading interests, sharing ideas and responses. They recommend their books to each other and we offer advice and suggestions for moving on in their reading.

The use of the school library has been encouraged by special `privilege passes' for book club members to use after they have attended the club. Consequently, we have now decided to move the club into the library to encourage more interaction amongst the book-shelves. We have also encouraged the use of second-hand sales and shops for those avid readers whose pocket money may not keep up with the pace of reading.

Our most notable success has been the recent Scholastic Book Fair which we held in the library for a week. All SI and S2 pupils had the chance to browse and purchase from the impressive selection of over 400 titles during English class time. The book club members helped man the Fair at lunchtimes when it was also open to pupils.

The library and the book club benefitted from the sales which came to just under £400 in that we chose f160 worth of free books as our commission.

I have been very pleased with the achievements of the club so far and hope the current members will help to encourage new younger members next session.

Miss L. Smith The book club is open to all first and second year pupils. This club aims to broaden your reading skills and help you to try out all different types of genre. The club recently held a school book fair which was very successful with the pupils. This club is fun as well as being educational. We have widened our choice of reading books, instead of just sticking to the same genre. The book club has been a great help to us over the course of the year and we recommend it to any first and second years.

Lucy Davies and Alexis Stirling 2/7

19

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Dramatic Society This year the Dramatic Society was given the mammoth task of performing a French comedy, "Tartuffe" by Moliere in March for three evenings. With a dedicated team of cast, crew and staff, a successful performance with outstanding technical effects, radiant costume and amazing set design made an impressive impact on our three audiences. The direction involved by Mrs Pat Wood was complicated and extensive and added to the effect of a most comical performance.

On first looking at the play in September the cast were a little daunted by the thought of the hard work ahead of them. Some of the most amusing scenes, with Tartuffe (Hamish Walker), Origon (Jamie Begg) and Elmire (Catriona Webster) required hours of rehearsal due to the extensive complicated directing needed for a comic effect. Some members of staff helped with their technical know-how, props being provided by Mrs Cromar, costume by Mrs Nicholson and stage management

by Mr Gordon. The crew this year were devoted pupils who worked very hard and helped with all technical effects such as lighting, sound and stage management. We were lucky enough this year to have excellent musicians of two violins and a cello, which greatly added to the realism of the play.

We were lucky to have such a good team who put in a lot of hard work and effort into making the production a success. This however is the last Dram Soc production in which Mrs Wood will be directing due to her retirement; we were very fortunate to have her as our director and hope that Dram Soc can carry on and be just as successful in the future.

20

School Section

AGS Radio Club—About the club The Aberdeen Grammar School Radio Club was established in March 1996. It is held in the department of Craft, Design and Technology. It has been a slow (hut we like to think steady) progression to the point we are at now. The club members have been a dynamic lot—but things have settled down now to a core set. The first task was to obtain funds to buy some equipment. Applications were made to the School Endowments fund and externally to the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. In the meantime a local amateur radio enthusiast and retailer, Graham Knight, provided the club with a general coverage receiver—a Yaesu Musen FRG-7.

This gave us the chance to scan around the bands generally—but we were confused by the vast amount of blips and blurps we could hear.

We obtained some information about STELAR (Science and Technology Educational Links with Amateur Radio). In one of our many attempts to tune in to the STELAR school net on Wednesday lunchtimes we tried taking the receiver out on top of the roof of the school and running a long wire antenna. This is not quite as perilous as it sounds, due to the fact that the extension science block has a nice easy access flat roof. We didn't find the desired radio network but we did find a great place to sunbathe during a summer-term lunch break.

STELAR presented the opportunity for the staff member to attend a one-week crash course for the Radio Amateurs Examination. One of the very handy things that came out of the STELAR week was bandplans. No longer would we fumble around listening to incomprehensible things all over the place. Now we could tune into specific sections of the frequency spectrum to listen to incomprehensible things.

The staff member later passed the RAE and operates under the callsign MMIBAE. Funds were made available to buy some equipment, but every opportunity brings with it problems. We did not have enough funds to buy the new all singing, all dancing kit we saw advertised in the magazines. Therefore buy second-hand. Buy what? The ads were full of things like: Kenwood XYZ3234J—Mk2 200 ukp as new But what is it? Is it worth it? What if we splash out our meagre cash to some gadgic on the south coast who then sends us a box of problems? We tried advertising on the appropriate interact news groups—same problem.

The problem was finally resolved when we saw an ad for Walters and Stanton, a company based on the south coast, who specialise in radio equipment.

Not long after the club took delivery of .. .

• Kenwood TM-221E • PK232 • WATSON W-10AM • qurtr wave dipole • cable Whoops—slipped into the mode already. What is a TM-221E anyway? PK232? W110AM? The plan was to try to move the club into packet radio. Therefore a tnc was needed. But it would be very handy if other types of data could also be decoded hence the AEA PK232. What a great piece of kit this is and we still have barely scratched the surface (of it's capabilities, not the box). It connects to the output of the radio and converts audio tones into computer-style characters.

The TM-221E is a 2m (or I44MHz if you are still trying to understand this band thing) transceiver. It allows voice or data to be transmitted or received.

The PK232 allows 2 radios to be connected to it. Therefore we connected the FRG-7 and the TM-22I E to it to allow a wide range of data to be decoded. It was 21

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine really easy to type that last sentence. This does not reflect the reality of it all. Trying to figure out connections took ages. Trying to figure out all the blips and blurps is on-going. Trying to get and run software to control the PK232 is on-going. Trying to master the 232 is on-going.

However, looking at it positively, we have made voice contacts on 2m with local amateurs directly and via repeaters we have been able to get onto the local packet node, GB7ABN, and have browsed the bulletin board there.

(Note: Notice to RLA, Radio has always been operated solely by MM1BAE— pupils not directly operating).

Future plans for the club • Start novice course for pupils • Get packet working properly (ie figure it out) • Try to use a satellite • Build circuitry and download SSTV The AGS Radio Club has been a success. The pupils involved have been great.

However things are progressing at a modest rate, due to time constraints.

We would welcome any FP who has an interest in Amateur Radio to contact us and maybe get involved.

73 AGS Radio Club Contact: acraigig®enterprise.net

22

School Section

"Calamity Jane"

Cormac Booth as "The Lovely Frances Fryer"

4

A Triple Wedding Brings a Happy Ending to the Show 23

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Face the Music: Calamity Jane The setting was the Wild West and after endless rehearsals the cast and crew were shooting and brawling with style. Hours of practice were put into every song, scene and dance step. The evenings of rehearsal built up to a crescendo of fluency and talent which did not deteriorate throughout any of the performances.

Only once were the improvisation skills of the cast tested. Kiko Sanchez, who played the charming soldier Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin, lost track of time whilst chatting in the dressing room and completely missed his cue. Scriptless and confused, Sarah Christie, who played Calamity, demanded from the two scouts Daniel Fenn and Paul Jones where her beloved Danny had gone. After some quick-draw ad-libbing Sarah returned to the wings to find the guilt-ridden soldier.

Despite the pressure rested on every individual, the light-hearted attitude taken by the cast and crew was the key to the success of the play. Laughing at other people's and your own expense was common place. Nobody escaped from the sharp tongued comics amongst us, who were like wolves around sheep, waiting for someone to falter.

The insults Cormac Booth, who played the lovely Francis Fryer, had to shoulder were tremendous, but like a true pro all jests were brushed aside to give way for a stunning performance.

The heart-throb of the performance for many ladies was Keith Reid, who played Wild Bill Hickock (lead male). His rendition of "Higher Than a Hawk" sent even the most conservative of girls into a fit of trembles!

As for unnoticed blunders, the most prominent one would have to be when Diane, who played the foxy Adelaide Adams, was unable to button up her dress in time before her cue to come on stage. The scene revolved around Diane singing and dancing with her adoring male fans. This had been practised many times and the guys found it hard to do, even without a distraction such as this. Fortunately everything went well and Diane was not dropped as she had been in many of the rehearsals.

An astounding performance was put in by Antonia Baxter, who played Katie Brown. Her singing voice was of the highest quality and as for looks, she certainly managed to keep Kiko interested during their kissy scene. Toni's only flaw was that when she tried to kung-fu kick Bill Hickock's hat off, she would either miss by a mile or end up nearly decapitating him.

Young promise came from Mathew Thomson who managed the character of Henry Miller with great skill and confidence. Simon Small (Joe), a favourite with the ladies, was convincing in his portrayal of a Barman. I'm sure he spent hours practising his polishing motion on glasses at home.

Senior pupils, Lynsay Wilson (Assistant Director) and Diane Smith (Choreographer) deserve a lot of credit for the production of Calamity Jane. Their patience and understanding helped nurture the talent that lay within us all.

Credit goes to the back stage commander, Mr Hutton, whose authority ruled the wings and destroyed anyone who stood in defiance. Anything electric or remotely technical was the responsibility of Mr Gordon whose experience carried us through without fault. The elaborate costumes were the creations of Mrs Belford who did a superb job! Propping up the props table was Mrs Cromar who, with her team of helpers, got the props to where they were needed when they were needed. Doing the cover girl look on all cast was Mrs Arthur, who with her team of beauticians did an excellent job. On the business side of things, was Ms Allard whose contribution was immeasurable. On the piano and in control of the band was Mr Jon Hall whose jazzy interludes at rehearsals were really cool, man!

Abundant thanks goes out to Miss Tomlinson whose relentless support and effort was fantastic. She made the show what it was. The pressure upon her to produce as good a show as had been done in previous years was immense, and we believe she did it.

24

School Section

Charities Group The Charities Group has had a relatively quiet year, with no main event organised by us this session. Funds which have been raised and given away (see the list below) have been through the normal channels of Tuck Shop profits and proceeds from school discos.

The sums listed below include monies to help another batch of pupils in their Third World placements this coming year, through Project Trust.

Mark Dunkley, 6/3 is heading off to Honduras Helen Cromar 6/2 is nipping away to Namibia Amanda Browell-Hook 6/2 is jaunting her way to Jordan Nina Koruth 6/3 will be on a soujoum to South Africa We wish them well.

A former pupil, Andrew Wilson, is now back from his placement in Egypt.

Between his studies at St Andrews' University, Andrew has found time to come and talk to Religious Education and Modern Studies classes about his experiences.

One significant move made by the Charities Group this year is to switch the focus of our child sponsorship assistance. Three of the children we originally sponsored when we began four years ago have now grown up and left home. At the time of writing, pupils are democratically voting on Oxfam schemes in Peru, Cambodia and Bangladesh, which benefit the whole community, not just individual families. A previous democratic vote by pupils agreed to continue with Third World assistance and a helpful Staff support group consisting of: Mrs Arthur, Geography Department, Mrs Belford, Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Sutherland, Home Economics Department and Mrs Stirton and Miss Ralph, Business Studies Department, researched and came up with the recommendation which pupils are currently considering. News of how our new scheme is progressing will appear in next year's Magazine.

Pupils have supported city-wide flag day appeals and their efforts have been greatly appreciated by the Charities concerned. A couple of these stalwarts now comprise the new Office Bearers to serve next session: Chairperson: Secretary/Vice Chair: Treasurers:

Rebecca Gane 5/6 Amanda Watt 5/6 Gillian Fraser 6/3 and Andrew Innes 6/6

Donations made by the Charities Group since 1 April 1996

World Vision Sponsored Fast Year Book for 6th Years Fund Donna Moir Meningitis Appeal Kincorth Urban Aid Project Care International Oral Re-Hydration Appeal School Mini-bus Appeal Children in Need Project Trust Helen Cromar Project Trust Nina Koruth Project Trust Mark Dunkley Project Trust Amanda Browell-Hook British Diabetic Association Grampian Society for the Blind Children with Leukaemia Rwanda Emergency Appeal Cornerstone Community Care MacMillan Cancer Research Appeal

25

£669.35 £50.00 £16.75 £400.00 £120.00 £101.58 £75.00 £150.00 £150.00 f150.00 £150.00 £100.00 L100.00 £100.00 £100.00 £200.00 £200.00

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Young Scientists The Royal Society of Chemistry Scottish Heat, Schools Analyst Competition In March. three CSYS Chemistry pupils, Jake Duthie, Paul Jones and Ryan Cumming, combined their chemical knowledge and expertise at Heriot Watt University when they took part in the 1997 Analyst Competition. The team gained second place, being beaten for the trophy by only one point. Better luck next time!

"Top of the Bench" Competition, 1997 Four Chemistry pupils, Andrew Rutherford S4, Ross Wattie S3, Ricardo Marioni S2 and Christopher Flint S2 won the Top of the Bench annual chemistry competition for schools organised by the Royal Society's Local Section, and went forward to represent the North of Scotland at the British Final in London. In London the competition was jointly organised by the Royal Society and the Science Museum.

Thirty teams took part in the competition final which comprised three events— a short written test of chemical knowledge, a practical chemical problem-solving exercise, and an information-gathering exercise in the Museum.

The team had a very successful trip and had time also to do some sight-seeing in London.

Cancer Researchers Two 6th Year pupils, who are to study Medicine at University, have won a trip to Milan to show-case their research on Cancer at the 9th European Contest for Young Scientists.

Kittiya Jittinorraset and Keith Reid, both 17, have been investigating substances in grain and vegetables which are thought to protect against the disease. Their project was compiled as part of their 6th Year Chemistry work. Kittiya and Keith won their section at the British Youth Science Fair at Manchester University in March, and go forward to represent the United Kingdom in Italy in September.

35 teams competed in the British Contest, and they will meet 24 other teams in the European Final, which will include a team from Russia and a guest team from the USA. Barbara Small, the regional director of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, said. "All the projects in Manchester were of the highest quality and represented many hours of hard work. Everyone who attended the Fair was impressed by the commitment of these young people".

School Social Functions Two social dances for senior pupils have been held this session.

The October mid-term dance attracted 270 dancers, and proved outstandingly successful. The full-time professional band, Manson Grant and The Dynamos, who made a special journey from Wick, once again supplied the music.

In March, the School waved good-bye to its leavers with the spectacular Annual Ball in the School Hall. The Rector, Mr Johnston, welcomed the large company at the dinner. The event for 270 pupils and staff was another "tremendous success".

The Redcoats Band delighted the dancers with a wide range of music to suit everyone.

For a few weeks before the grand affair, pupils practised traditional Scottish and modern dancing in the gymnasium during lunch hours. Instruction was given by school staff, Mrs Moncur and Mrs Belford. Social dance organiser, Mr May, and a committee of S5 and S6 pupils appreciate the support of Mr A. Smith and the Charities Committee, Mrs Thorpe, Mrs Shand, Mr Foulger and the Dining Hall staff.

Throughout the evening at the Leavers' Ball, individual and group photographs were taken by Mr McLeod of the Physical Education Department and Messrs Joe and John McLean. All photographs were displayed and were available to all who attended. All good fun. Same events already booked for next season.

26

School Section

School Board For the first time in a number of years, the Board visited the School to see it at work. This took place during a morning in September: members found it an enjoyable and impressive experience and were grateful to the staff and the Rector for making it possible.

In March, the Board and the Parent-Teacher Association organised a presenation for parents on the "Higher Still" reforms.

A persistent theme for the Board through the Session has been School funding, and meetings were held with the Directorate and the then MP, Raymond Robertson, to make members' concerns known. The story continues . . . !

Another matter taken up by the Board is the provision of a Games Hall and the Board is exploring ways of achieving funding for this project.

With regret, the Board said goodbye to Douglas Watson, co-opted member from the FP Club. Douglas' contributions to the Board's work have been much appreciated. In due course, members were happy to welcome Dr Angus Thompson as his successor.

All in all, this has been a busy, challenging and interesting year for the Board.

Parent Teacher Association 1996/97 has been a very busy year for the PTA, its Volunteers, and for the school itself. Members supported 10 Parent Evenings, 6 school play evenings, the Careers Convention and the School Fayre for the mini-bus.

The 200 Club reached 90 parent/staff members. Half the funds raised provide attractive draw prizes and the remainder is kept towards PTA support of school projects. The main fund-raising event was the annual PTA social, a Ceilidh with the popular Halley Racket Band, which raised some £700. Through this generous support of parents and staff there were sufficient funds to sponsor insurance for the Mini-bus fund-raising walk earlier in the Autumn term. We also expect to fund the further provision of wooden benches following the success of the bench and table for older pupils.

The Association has again provided an opportunity for the sale of school blazers and sports clothes through a 'School Uniform Sale' in school in June.

The Phil Love Trophy As always the award of this Trophy recognises excellence and achievement by an individual in a wide dimension beyond school-based activities. This year, the worthy recipient is Patrick O'Driscoll.

As well as his many contributions to the life of the school in general, Patrick's forte has been in football. From third year onwards he has played in the school Football XI and he was a member of the victorious Scottish Schools' Cup-winning team in 1995. His representative honours in football include the under-16 Scottish Schoolboys team in 1996, when he was capped for Scotland against France, the North of Scotland under-15 Select, and the Aberdeen under-16 and under-18 Schools' Select. He was awarded a school cap in 1997.

For the past two years he has been a schoolboy signing with Glasgow Celtic F.C., which has involved quite a lot of travel to Glasgow at week-ends and during holidays for coaching and training. During this period he has played against such teams as Rangers, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Sparta Prague.

Patrick has also represented the school at District level in Athletics, and somehow found time to be a member of the school 1st XV Rugby team. He has therefore shown himself well qualified for the award of this Trophy.

27

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

New School Mini-bus The acquisition of the new school mini-bus represents the culmination of a tremendous effort by pupils, parents, staff and others in raising sufficient funds in just over six months so as to be able to purchase the vehicle and put it on the road in February 1997. It comes fitted with all the new and necessary safety features, and has already clocked up many happy miles supporting all manner of school activities.

Thanks are due to the many people who donated to the various fund-raising events, and without whose generosity the replacement of our ailing and illegal (no seat-belts) buses would not have been possible.

28

General Section

Out of the Way Places During the course of my 6'/2 years working with Bristow, I have worked in a number of pleasant island locations, notably the Shetlands and the Hebrides, but it came as a delight to be offered the chance to go somewhere a bit more out of the way.

My first thought was "That's half way to the South Pole, isn't it?" and I was right, it is. Somebody told me once that the Royal Air Force are a slick, efficient bunch of people, just don't ask them to get an aircraft into the air on time! To be fair, I only had to wait eight hours before we left for the Falklands and my curiosity about what was to come was not diminished by the delay. The journey is scheduled to take 18 hours with a two hour refuelling stop in Ascension (which also allows the passengers to make up for the fact that there is no bar on board). Once everyone has been poured into a bucket and placed gently back on the aircraft, it completes the 6000 mile journey and arrives at Mount Pleasant—the purpose-built Joint Services Base which houses the military presence in the Falklands. The flight was long (so long that I'd managed to make 293 words out of the letters in Fasten Seat Belts, No Smoking and Sick Bag—not all of them recognisable by English speakers!!!) but very much worth the endurance test.

Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA) is a jungle of offices, accommodation blocks, recreation facilities and military hardware, and if this is the first impression one gets of the Islands, one could be forgiven for being completely uninspired. But move away from MPA and the beauty of the place comes very much to the fore. During the course of the 12 months that I spent in the Falklands I was lucky enough to visit most of the many settlements scattered about the island group, which is about 150 miles long by 80 miles wide. The landscape is bleak, but breathtaking, rather similar to the West Coast of Scotland. The natural wildlife is astounding in its volume and variety, and the locals are as hospitable and as entertaining as one could hope to meet.

The essence of the landscape is vast areas of grass-covered plains or hillsides, peat-covered slopes giving way to tarns in the mountains and some spectacular cliff scenery where the South Atlantic beats against the coastline. In keeping with the Scottish likeness the weather is pretty changeable! Every day can bring sun, rain, snow (yes—even in summer!) or, most likely, just wind—the daily average throughout the year is about 25 mph. The advantage of the weather being so changeable is that it almost guarantees at least some sunshine most days of the year—and when the sun shines it is hot. One of those naughty holes in the Ozone layer moves over the Falklands in the summer and the effects of the sun (that traditional British Lobster Red) can be felt after even 15 minutes.

It's impossible to find a starting place to describe the resident wildlife, but just recalling the memories of traipsing through 6 foot high tussock grass in search of elephant seals; rounding a corner on a cliff to find oneself staring at a shimmering mass of 100,000 albatross clinging to their precarious nesting site in the rocks; or circling in the air above a Killer Whale teaching her calf how to feed by riding the surf and plucking unsuspecting penguins from the beach; hopefully these serve to reveal some of the amazing selection of wildlife at it's inspiring best. It was always possible to climb into one of the ubiquitous Land Rovers (the best things to brave the tracks which pass as roads) and drive ten minutes away, walk another ten minutes and find myself in a colony of Gentoo penguins, who after an initial flap and squawk were more than happy to let me sit and pass the time of day with them.

Mind you, you have to be careful where you sit in a penguin colony. Just outside Port Stanley, I remember walking down to the water's edge and slapping the surface of the sea. You're thinking "The man's a nutter!", but it is worth risking this defamatory epithet when two or three dolphins appear in the water no more than 6 or 7 feet away.

There are, of course, friendly people all around the world, but it is the only place I've been to where the locals, who don't know you from Eve (the p.c. alternative to 29

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Adam), are more than delighted to invite you to stay for as long as you want and make you feel very much at home. The island community spirit is notably different to the "keep ourselves to ourselves" mentality which is more prevalent at home.

You could turn up in the Islands tomorrow, open the (very thin) phone book and dial anyone's number—provided you are prepared to talk about yourself for the next couple of days and have some bacon with you (it's like gold-dust—rare and it can get stuck between your teeth), you'll have somewhere to stay.

Twelve months later, the posting ended and after another round of aeronautical endurance via Ascension, I came back to the UK with a selection of great memories and some good friendships. Ascension Island, by the way, is volcanic in origin and consequently the rusty, red rock and lava landscape gives it the appearance of a low budget, 1960's Star Trek set. Not having had the chance to escape from the drinking/ waiting area at the airport, I can only rely on others' reports that it is another interesting place to visit— no Klingons spotted as yet; apart from the one or two in the drinking/waiting area.

Last May, I was lucky enough to be sent the other way, towards the North Pole, well Spitzbergen, anyway. The journey was a somewhat arduous 15 hours via Stavanger, Oslo and Tromso, but just like the flight south, it was worth every penny of the outrageously over-priced airport gin-and-tonics. Arriving at two in the morning, with the sun unnaturally bright in the sky, my body clock pulled its duvet over its head and rolled over—normal seervice did not resume shortly! Like the trip to the Falklands, it was difficult to know what to expect of the place, but this time first impressions did last. As we flew over the south of Svalbard (as the Norwegians call it) huge mountain peaks rose out of the sea, climbing through the misty layers of cloud which sat in the glacial valleys; the harsh, jagged mountain tops smoothed by the liberal covering of what looked like Nivea cream from 25,000 ft, but actually turned out to be about 12 feet of snow and ice. The good thing about 24 hour daylight is that there is never a time when you can't see what is around you; so at 3 am, after arriving at the hotel, I sat outside in the road for half an hour and looked around. After all, it's not every valley you stay in that has a glacier easing along at one end and an iceberg floating past the other!

Situated almost at 80°N, there are fewer changes of airmass compared to other latitudes, which means there are long periods where there is little or no wind and the skies tend to be clear and very blue. The temperature although recorded at —15°C (don't lick your lips!) did not feel that cold, as the air was quite dry. During a snow-mobile trip to some of the most incredible glacial scenery, we stopped at the top of a 3000 foot plateau, our feet crunching in the powder smow which lay thick on the ravine. The electric blue sky was sparkling as the bright afternoon sun reflected off the millions of ice dust crystals hanging in the air—an almost hypnotic effect which was heightened by the deafening silence which filled the valleys. For some reason I thought of being stuck in the queue for the Loch Street car park on a wet Saturday afternoon; I do not know why!

Almost as if in competition with the Falklands, the indigenous wildlife showed itself off to us as often as it could. Beluga whales, walrus and seals, reindeer, arctic foxes and polar bears all made appearances which cannot be forgotten. The Spitzbergers (I don't suppose for a minute that they are called that, but you know who I mean!) also feature high on the league table of hospitality, giving us, as well as every other visitor, a very warm welcome. There isn't as much chance to stay with locals here as accommodation is somewhat temporary and at a premium, but they are delighted to socialise in one of the few hostelries which provide that all-important medicinal winter warmer. (You might consider applying for a small mortgage before buying a second round!)

By the time our six weeks were over the masses of snow and ice had melted off and the Star Trek set made it's northern hemisphere appearance for the summer season, the bland shale coating belying the beauty of it's winter cover. The sorrow of our parting was sweetened by the fact that we were taking our helicopter back to 30

General Section

the UK, rather than travelling with a scheduled airline. This involved a fairly risky leg to the north of Norway via Bear Island (yes, Alistair Maclean fans) and the best two days flying I can remember, routing down the Norwegian coast from Tromso to Bergen. The view from the aircraft of the lush, green pastures and forests which line the fjords (and they are every bit as beautiful as the Costalot holiday brochures make out) was stunning, broken only by the psychedelic clusters of brightly painted, wooden houses which dotted the scene.

Both trips meant a lot to me. Svalbard and the Falklands are two places that I would probably never have visited if the work opportunity had not arisen; they are out of the way places which didn't previously mean much in conversation. I am by no means a wildlife or nature fanatic, but both places showed me just how much natural beauty there is to miss and that it is often tucked some way away, along with some interesting people. I was fortunate and I know it. If you ever get the chance to go to either group of islands, you must go, whether it is to sense the open wildness of the place, or to see the unusual wildlife, or to make some new aquaintances.Throwing away such a chance should be punishable by, well, at least a strong telling offl Having joked about flights to both destinations, they are now served by convenient, comfortable and surprisinly affordable airlines—you might not get the chance to beat my anagram score. So if you haven't booked your holiday this year, or you're having difficulty making up your mind, you might consider somewhere different, somewhere out of the way, perhaps.

TR

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Former Pupils' Club Founded 11 September 1893 Club Office-Bearers, 1997-98 Honorary President: WILLIAM JOHNSTON, B.Sc., DIP.ED (Rector) Honorary Vice-Presidents: IAN G. MCPHERSON (1910-17) (President, 1965-66) EDWARD J. WOOD (1908-21), M.A. (President, 1966 67) ERIC Ros Malan (1920-22), C.A. (President, 1968-69) GEORGE E. C. BARTON (1923-26), M.A. (President, 1973-74) THE VERY REVD. J. FRASER McLusKEY (1920-31) M.C., D.D. (President, 1974-75) JOHN W. CRADOCK (1941-46), C.A. (President, 1977-78) WILLIAM L. CONNON (1930-40), B.L. (President, 1979—80) T. GORDON Courrs (1938-49), Q.C., M.A., LL.B. (President, 1980-81) JAMES A. N. WArr (1927-39), C.A. (President, 1982-83) BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), T.D., M.A., LL.B. (President, 1983—84) ERIC D. WATT (1937-50), B.Ed. (President, 1984-85) MAURICE CRAMB (1916-29), M.A., LL.B., LL.D. ALAN J. PETERS (1920-30), C.A. IAN LEWIS SMITH (1918-30), B.Sc., A.M.1.C.E., M.Inst.R. DOUGLAS N. GEORGESON (1929-40) (President, 1985-86) ANDREW S. NOBLE (1939-52), M.A., F.C.M.A., F.I.M.A. (President, 1986-87) PROF. PHILIP N. Love (1952-58), C.B.E., M.A., LL.B. (President, 1987-88) W. MORRISON BROWN (1933-46) (President, 1988- 89) ERIC CRAIG (1934-46) (President, 1989-90) T. IAN MORRISON (1934-47), T.D., B.Sc., M.Sc., C.Chem., F.R.S.C. (President, 1990-91) ARTHUR L. MCCOMBIE, M.S., F.S.A.(Scot) (Deputy Rector, 1973-90) DR J. R. S. INNES (1923-35), M.B., Ch.B. (President, 1991-92) A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-53), T.Eng.(C.E.1.), M.Inst.A.E.A. (President, 1992-93) IAN M. DUGUID (1938-43), O. du M., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.S., F.C.Opth., LL.D., D.O. (President, 1993-94) MELVILLE F. WATSON (1943-56), M.A., LL.B. (President, 1994-95) ANDREW M. MCLAREN (1926-39). (President, 1995-96) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59), R.I.B.A., F.R.I.A.S. (President, 1996-97)

President: J. EDWARD FRASER (1936-49), C.B., M.A., B.A., F.S.A.(Scot) Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: IAN H. McLEcm (1951-55) Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65), LL.B.

Treasurer: JOHN D. MURRAY (1961-74), LL.B., C.A.

General Editor of Magazine: Notes Editor of Magazine: BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), T.D., M.A., LL.B.

32

Former Pupils Section Secretaries of Centres Club Centre—STEVEN J. C. ESSON (1951-64), C.A., 86 Queen's Road, Aberdeen AB15 6YQ Canada—J. PETER JEFFREY (1944-59), 615 Willoughby Cres SE, Calgary, Alberta T2J I Z9, Canada Edinburgh—NIGEL G. M. WAIT (1963-69), W.S., 5 Melville Cres., Edinburgh EH3 7JA Glasgow—BASIL D. D. EMSLIE (1929-35), Flat 8, Westerton of Mugdock, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8LQ London—SANDY NICOL (1922-31), 4 Avenue Gardens, Acton, London W3 8HA Yorkshire—DOUGLAS SKENE (1959-64), 87 Main Street, Fulford, York YO1 4DN Secretaries of Sections Cricket—NEIL INNES-SMITH, 57 Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen Curling—BRUCE S. ALLAN (1953-58), 55 Carden Place, Aberdeen Football—MICHAEL H. CHEYNE (1976—81), 72 Irvine Place, Aberdeen Golf-PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967-73), LL.B., 10 Anderson Drive, Aberdeen Hockey—INNES WALKER (1979—85), 5 Rosebank Place, Aberdeen Petanque—STEPHEN J. C. ESSON (1951-64), Fairfield, 9 Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen Rugby -ALEX BUCHAN, 58 Devonshire Road, Aberdeen Swimming—PETER MULVEY (1952-62), 26 Mile-End Avenue, Aberdeen Women's Hockey—EMMA A. HENDRY (1985-91), 25 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen Executive Committee The Vice-President of the Club, Chairman JAMES M. CLARK (1947-59), Vice-Chairman The Secretary, the Treasurer and the General Editor of the Magazine, ex officiis The Rector of the School, ex officio BRUCE S. ALLAN (1953-58) GORDON M. INKSON (1986-92) ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) MELDRUM B. EDWARDS (1947-60) JOHN B. RENNIE (1947-53) STEVEN J. C. ESSON (1951-64) ALEXANDER STUART (1932-45) NEIL K. G. FALCONER (1973-79) ANGUS G. THOMSON (1946-57) H. ALAN S. HAMILTON (1943-56) LESLEY S. WATSON (1981-85) G. FRASER WEBS-TER (1949-62) Section Representatives Club Centre—A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-53) Cricket—IAN P. SOUTER (1947-61) Curling—BRUCE S. ALLAN (1953-58) Football—RUPERT SEAGER (1979-85) Golf—GORDON M. INKSON (1986-92) Hockey—BRIAN T. COCKBURN (1965-71) Petanque—RONALD R. COMBER (1947-52) Rugby—DOUGLAS M. WATSON (1980-85) Staff—RUSSELL GRAY (1951-65) Swimming—PETER M. ROBERTSON (1967-73) Women's Hockey—RHONA MACLENNAN (1981-87) Auditors Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.

Club Centre Committee A. KEITH CAMPBELL—Chairman STEvEN J. C. ESSON—Secretary HARVEY E. MORRISON—Treasurer BRUCE S. ALLAN—House Convener 33

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine R. R. COMBER, B. K. CROOKSHANKS, N. K. G. FALCONER, H. A. S. HAMILTON, J. F. HENDRY, I. HOPKIN, B. JOHNSON, D. LEIGHTON, D. MC-DONALD, I. H. McLEOD, J. D. MOH2, A. RITCHIE, A. STUART, G. TAWSE, J. WILLIAMS

Club Consuls Australia —JAMES W. HOWIESON (1937-50), 100 Curtin Avenue. Wahroonga, New South Wales 2076, Australia, Tel. 02-4873164.

Australia—DR FORBES SMITH (1945-57), 8 Naming Road. Mount Eliza 3930, Victoria, Australia.

Canada—G. DOUGLAS MENZIES (1934-44), 15414 74th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5R 2Y4, Tel. 403-487-6716.

Canada—GORDON B. SINGER (1949-50), 103 Lake Mead Drive, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3Z7, Tel. 403-278-6716.

Canada—IAN McG, MARK (1954-58), 4 Milne Crescent, Kanata, Ontario, Canada K2K 1H6, Tel. 613-592-2730.

Canada—SANDY WATT (1937-50), RRI Site 31A, C57, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada VOH IZO. Corsica-1Am WARES (1942-52), Via G. M. ANGIOI, 34, Cagliari, 09124, Sardinia, Italy.

Hong Kong—MARSHALL H. BYRES (1960-69), Messrs Ernst & Young, 15F Hutchison House, 10 Hardcourt Road, Central Hong Kong, Tel. 010 852 846 9888, Fax. 010 852 868 4432.

Ireland—ANDREW M. M. STEVEN (1936-50), 5 Beech Hill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 4NS. Malaysia—GRAEME W. KING (1966-72), Apt, 30-20-3 Jamnah View, Jalan Perindu Buluh, Taman S A, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel/Fax. 03-252-1105.

New Zealand—MICHAEL B. THOMSON (1938-51), 39 Jubilee Road, Khandallah, Wellington 4, New Zealand.

Thailand—PROF. ALASTAIR NORTH (1937-50), Asian Institute of Technology, GPO Box 2754, Bangkok 10501, Thailand. Tel. Business 516-2117; Home 373-2818.

U.S.A.—MICHAEL G. KING (1951-60), 4720 Fortuna Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124, U.S.A.

Annual General Meeting The ninety-fifth Annual General Meeting of Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils' Club was held at the Club Centre, 86 Queen's Road, Aberdeen on Monday 31 March 1997 at 7.30 pm.

Chairman's Report

The Chairman noted with regret the deaths during the past year of John Drummond, a stalwart of the Hockey Section, and of Mr Robert D. Gill, former Rector of the School.

Rubislaw Field

The recently formed Rubislaw Field Development Sub-committee had met on a number of occasions and progress, while slow, was now being made. Comprehensive proposals as to the requirements of all parties using the Field are now available which should allow headway to be made.

Magazine The Magazine had been produced in 1996, but at considerable cost. The Executive

recognising the importance of the Magazine to members, especially those away from Aberdeen, was striving to reduce this cost. The General Editor, Mr David Yule, to whom the Club was very indebted for resuming the Editorship temporarily in 34

Former Pupils Section 1994, had resigned, and the next issue would be the responsibility of a Magazine Committee.

Entertainments Congratulations were offered to Fraser Webster for his organisation of the Dinner and Ball, and in particular for re-arranging the venue for the Ball when numbers plummeted. The very successful Dinner also attracted less support than desirable, but had been a most enjoyable function.

Sports Congratulations were offered to the Rugby Section on its successful season culminating in well-deserved further promotion.

School The links between School and Club had been maintained in the usual ways, with the Club prizes being awarded as previously, grants continuing to be made on a generous scale from the Amenities Fund, and Club officials had had their annual opportunity to address School Leavers on the benefits of membership of Club and Club Centre.

Section Reports Section Reports were called for, and a full statement of such Reports appears elsewhere in this Magazine.

Accounts and Treasurer's Report The 1996 Accounts (reproduced at the end of this Magazine) were submitted and approved. The Treasurer expressed his disappointment at again having to report a deficit for the year, albeit not so large as in 1995. The principal cause was the high cost of the Magazine and the fact that the Entertainments account was in deficit as no raffle had been held at the Ball. The balance sheet remained in a healthy state, despite the loss, but the trend has to be reversed.

Election of Office Bearers Officials of the Club were elected in accordance with the list published elsewhere in this Magazine.

Auditors Messrs Bower & Smith, CA, were unanimously re-appointed Auditors of the Club and Section Accounts for the coming year.

President's Report When my predecessor Andrew McLaren handed over the President's badge at the AGM on 25 March 1996, he commented on how quickly his year in office had passed. Previous Presidents had made similar remarks, and how right they all were—my year as President has certainly passed all too quickly. But what a year!— a year full of travelling, some challenges, wonderful friendships and great hospitality.

No sooner was I installed in office than the invitations started to flood in. The very next day I received information on the proposed Canadian Centre events in September, and my wife Sheila and I sat down to arrange a holiday to co-incide with these celebrations.

On 30th March I was a guest of the Rugby Section at a pre-match buffet before the crunch league game against Livingston at Rubislaw—the narrow 28-23 victory set the side up for promotion hopes and was most exciting, which pleased the large support.

On 3rd May I represented the Club at the Aberdeen Watsonian Club's 50th 35

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Annual Dinner, held in the Northern & University Club. This was a most convivial evening, with good speeches, excellent company and superb hospitality.

Then on 24th May I had the honour to address the School at the Prize-giving, with Sheila handing over the awards. It was a memorable occasion, with the customary high standards of excellence being maintained. All FPs can be proud of the calibre of young men and women leaving our famous School to venture forth into the business world. They will assuredly uphold the great traditions of our School and continue to enhance its reputation for producing leaders in their chosen careers.

The Rector and staff are to be congratulated on their dedication, and on the continuance of the links with, and support for, the FP Club.

Following the summer recess, I spent a most enjoyable weekend with the Golf Section at Kenmore in Perthshire. In the ambience of the country's oldest Inn we had a surfeit of good food, ample beverages and convivial company.

Then I had the honour of playing golf at Bruntsfield on 28th August with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Centre members, and it was a delight to play on such a splendid course on a beautiful day, and to renew acquaintanceships with some old school friends.

On 30th August Sheila and I flew out to Toronto for our holiday and we had a memorable day with two old school chums at Lake Simcoe. After two weeks enjoying the vast splendours of Southern Ontario, including an exhilarating day on the Whitewater section of the Ottawa River, we arrived at the capital where we met up with Keith and Sheila Campbell. Our former President and his wife had been towing New England and had arranged to attend the Canadian Centre celebrations as well.

Keith's full report of this wonderful weekend can be found later in this Magazine; suffice to say that the weekend was a huge success and I was struck by the enthusiasm of our Canadian members. The bonds that tie us together as a Club, even over the miles, are attributable to the information gleaned from the Magazine, whose publication is essential and must never be allowed to cease.

We had no sooner returned to the UK, still suffering from jetlag and the awe of Niagara, than we were on our travels again, this time to attend the Yorkshire Centre Dinner in Knaresborough on 27th September. This is a cosy, friendly evening which, although poorly attended this year, was most enjoyable with the traditional Birse tea a well established finale. The time spent with Dick Tyson, Brian Gray and the Rector in this convivial setting is a memory I will long treasure.

Sixth of October saw the HAR Trophy being played for at Braemar Golf Club with our rivals Gordonians. Our success was assured when the opposition failed to appear.

The main event of the year, the Aberdeen Dinner, took place on 25th October at the Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel. Our principal speaker was Stuart Aitken, a local solicitor who ruffled some feathers with his controversial views on education. The meal was superb and the company a fine mix of youth and experience. The UK Centres were all represented, and the Head Boy and Head Girl enjoyed our company, as did the guests from other FP Clubs. The large turn-out of former Presidents was most encouraging and showed the continuing interest in the Club that all our Honorary Vice-presidents have.

The next month we were on our travels again, this time to London for their Annual Dinner. This gave me the opportunity to visit a former Dux of the School, Stuart John Mitchell (1948-61) and some relatives over the weekend. The heavy London traffic delayed the start of the Dinner, held in the Caledonian Club, but success was assured by having David Welsh as principal guest and another superb evening was spent under the able chairmanship of Sir Alan Donald. David Swanson represented the Rector on this occasion and excelled in this new challenge.

On 16th December Sheila and I were guests of the School at their annual Carol Service in St Machar Cathedral. This was a very moving service, with pupils participating in the orchestra, choir, brass ensemble and readings. A wonderful, vibrant evening showing the diverse talents of the pupils, this was yet another example of the dedicated work of the Rector and staff.

36

Former Pupils Section

Club President 1997-98

J. Edward Fraser (I936-49)

37

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The Annual Ball was held on 28th December in the Copthorne Hotel. Hasty lastminute arrangements had to be made to save the event, due to a very low response from members. This proved a superb evening and great credit must go to Fraser Webster, the entertainments convener, for salvaging what could have been a very substantial financial loss. Members must try to support this event and the new Executive will no doubt be looking at ways to attract support.

Seventeenth of January saw the Edinburgh Centre Dinner held in the Roxburghe Hotel on the eve of the Scotland v Wales Rugby International. The Dinner was another memorable occasion ably chaired by Brian Gray whose main guest, Leslie Davidson, entertained us royally. This is always an excellent evening and very well orchestrated by Nigel Watt, the hard-working Secretary.

The following Friday I represented the Club at the Aberdeen Stewarts-Melville FP Dinner in the Atholl Hotel. Again, a most enjoyable evening was spent in good company, and I was well looked after by generous hosts.

My next outing was to the Gordonian Association Dinner on 14th February at the Marcliffe at Pitfodels, and it lived up to its usual standard of hospitality, camaraderie and friendly banter.

My final guest appearance was at the Club Centre on 14th March when my wife and I attended a very well organised High School FP Club Cheese and Wine evening.

On 21st March we travelled to Glasgow for their Annual Dinner held at the Swallow Hotel. This was the final event of my Presidential year, and it was a most successful evening, due to the ever efficient Basil Emslie and the chairman, Gary Allan. This was a very well supported Dinner, graced by the ladies and this support augurs well for the future. The following day, a severely under-strength FP XV was comprehensively beaten by Glasgow Southern RFC in the Scottish Cup—a big disappointment for the many supporters who had seen the team clinch the league title the previous week.

My year of office concluded when I passed on the Badge of Office to Eddie Fraser at the AGM on 31st March. I commented that his year would pass quickly!

On reflecting over the past year, I have been encouraged by the enthusiasm of the few—the stalwarts of our Club—the Secretaries, Centre Presidents and committee members, the hard core of dedicated FPs; by the fantastic support of the Rector and his staff; by the Club Centre Steward and his staff's commitment to maintaining the quality and the ambience of 86 Queen's Road; by the support from the sporting sections; by the quality of the Magazine; and by the generosity of the London Centre and its yearly hospitality to two senior pupils during their visit to the Capital in the summer term.

Although I have been privileged to be President of various clubs and professional bodies during my career, the honour of serving as President of this wonderful Club is the highest accolade of all. This year has been a memorable experience and a great honour which I will for ever cherish. May I congratulate Eddie Fraser on his appointment as President, and may I wish the FP Club continued success in the future.

J. C. LYON (1953-59)

Presidential Profile James Edward Fraser CB, MA, BA, FSA(Scot) (1936-49) President 1997-98 "Cos2A + sin2A always equals unity." The occasion was a Gordon's-Grammar interschool debate in 1948, and these were the opening words of the speech by a 38

Former Pupils Section

Grammar School boy, Edward Fraser, proposing the motion, "That the artist is more beneficial to society than the scientist". I being a Gordon's College boy (and I readily own up to being a trespasser on these pages) and not having met him before, they were also the first words I ever heard Eddie Fraser speak, and they made a deep impression on me, because 1 realised then (and over the succeeding 49 years have had it frequently confirmed) that here was someone who, when he spoke, dealt only in the eternal verities. It was a chastening discovery to make for one whose conversation was limited largely to worthless ephemera designed (but usually failing) to raise a cheap laugh.

Admittedly, few at that debate were persuaded by his arguments on behalf of the artist in society, but I must have been, and he must have been himself, because the following year, 1949, we both embarked on an Arts degree at Aberdeen University.

There, thrown together in the quite sparsely populated Classics Department (sparsely populated, yes, but at least there was one then) we began an uneasy friendship which was never going to last and, indeed, may well come to a premature end if he ever reads this Profile.

At this point in a Profile of the new President of the FP Club it would be appropriate to list his achievements at school. Not having been with him at school, 1 must rely on hearsay evidence, of which significantly there is no shortage. "Too numerous to mention" might be the cliché to describe his triumphs at school: suffice to say, in 1949, undaunted by his failure to convince in the inter-school debate, he was Dux of the School; in St Machar's Cathedral that year he gave a towering performance as Thomas a Becket in the school production of Murder in the Cathedral; and he was an inspirational P.L. of 1st Troop (A.G.S.) Boy Scouts. Former members of the Troop still recall with awe his advice to them at summer camp that last thing at night they should change into their pyjamas and then put all their outdoor clothes back on again on top of their pyjamas before going to bed. Thus did the fledgling boy scouts of 1st Troop learn to avoid hypothermia while maintaining hygiene under canvas. The advice they received, based on Eddie's knowledge of the insulating properties of the layers of air necessarily present between the several layers of clothing demonstrated that for all his advocacy of the Arts he wasn't lacking in, nor did he disparage, the odd bit of sophisticated scientific know-how.

At Aberdeen University he graduated with first-class Honours in Classics, and towards the end of his final year he won a Scholarship in Classics to Christ's College, Cambridge. But these academic successes were not achieved to the exclusion of energetic participation in extra-curricular activities. Of these, the treasurership of the Scottish Country Dancing Society and the arduous office of honorary auditor of the University Classical Society were effortlessly taken in his stride (and note the early exposure to the mysteries of high finance); he was a reforming and influential editor of the student newspaper, Gaudie; an effective member of the Union Management Committee; and an enthusiastic participant in the Students' Show, as performer and, significantly in the light of subsequent events, as administrator.

The post of administrator of the Aberdeen Students' Show is no sinecure. The Students' Show is an institution which, to its great credit, survives today in a televisiondominated world. In the early 1950s, when Eddie Fraser was administrator, there was, it is true, no competition from television, but each year there was a considerable task to be completed from scratch: there was a production team to be assembled and writers and performers to be recruited, there were thousands of tickets to be sold, there was a budget to be set and prudently managed, and there were warring artistic temperaments to be reconciled (or, if you like, petty childish squabbles to be settled). All in all, the job of Students' Show administrator was a challenging test of management skills and an admirable training ground for one destined to reach the higher echelons of the Civil Service.

After graduating from Aberdeen, Eddie did his National Service in the Royal Artillery, and for the second of his two years' service he was Staff Captain "Q" at Tel-El-Kebir. Not too many servicemen made the rank of Captain; that Eddie did 39

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surprised none of his contemporaries who were aware of, but never mentioned either to him or to each other, his sharp mind, his coolness, his organisational ability and his leadership qualities. These qualities were exercised on an occasion very early in his National Service after Eddie and another hapless squaddie had committed some mild misdemeanour on the parade ground and the sergeant-major ordered the bombardier to "give them a dirty job". This was a not uncommon fate for the National Service recruit during his basic training, but Eddie spotted that the bombardier was having difficulty in thinking of a dirty job to give them. Helpfully, and because he knew it would be a lot less dirty than many other jobs which, given time, might occur to the bombardier, Eddie suggested that they might sweep out the training hut. And so it came to pass that Eddie and his fellow-miscreant, a dour Lancastrian, found themselves in the training hut, equipped with a sweeping brush each. As Eddie began sweeping he was aware that his comrade had seated himself in a chair and was showing no sign of getting to work. "Do you expect me to do all this job myself?" asked Eddie, to which came the uncompromising reply, "You asked for t'booger".

After National Service, Eddie took up his Classics Scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge. But his two years in the Royal Artillery had not been spent with a copy of Aeschylus' Agamemnon in his knapsack. For one thing there would have been no room for it in there because of the presence of the Field Marshal's baton which, on the evidence of the heights he scaled during his National Service, would undoubtedly have been his by the age of approximately 29. So he deserted the Classics (not as an interest but as a subject of academic study) and at Cambridge he read Law. Before graduating in that subject he successfully sat the Civil Service entrance exams and in the autumn of 1957 he entered the administrative grade of the service in the rank of Assistant Principal, and his whole working life has been spent in the Civil Service. His entry in Who's Who in Scotland shows that he retired in 1991 as an Under-Secretary in the Scottish Home & Health Department, having on the way been Private Secretary to, successively, the Permanent Under-Secretary of State and the Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Scottish Office, and had jobs in the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, the Scottish Office Finance Division and, as Under-Secretary, in the Local Government Finance Group at the Scottish Office. That bald, and indeed inadequate, summary masks a career of high quality public service. Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes, Prime Minister is a sublime comic creation, but he merely represents the amusing dimension of the mandarin civil servant pushed to a ludicrous extreme. Beneath it Sir Humphrey is a high-calibre person of the kind that all of Britain's top civil servants are, and of which Edward Fraser, CB, is an example of whom the Grammar School should be proud.

That entry in Who's Who in Scotland referred to above also shows that Eddie is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a past-President of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Branch of the Scottish Hellenic Society. And for two years after his retiral he was Secretary of Commissions for Scotland, I understand, though not very well. One last credit to Who's Who in Scotland: it gives one of his interests as D.I.Y. This was a revelation to me and one which I found hard to bear. Bad enough to have to affect friendship for a man of high ability, sharp intellect, undeniable charm and enviably original wit; that he is practical too was, I felt, an accomplishment too far.

The Aberdeen University Students' Show, which has already had more coverage than might have been expected in this profile of a retired civil servant, not only enabled Eddie to cut his administrative teeth, it influenced his whole life (as it has others') by providing him with a wife. The girls of the Students' Show dancing chorus have always been pretty, and in Patricia Stewart Eddie married one of the prettiest.

They have two sons, Paul and Mark, and rejoice in an exquisite granddaughter, Sophie.

In 1952 the aforementioned Aberdeen University newspaper Gaudie said wittily of Eddie: "Selection for his house Hockey XI on the occasion of the absence through 40

Former Pupils Section illness of one of the twelve members of the house who played hockey represents his highest achievement in the realm of sport". It is true that, not blessed with good hand-eye co-ordination, he has not won fame through participation in sport. It is true also that he has lived away from Aberdeen these past 45 years or so. For these reasons, while he was a popular and highly successful President of the Edinburgh Centre, to many FPs he may be unknown. The loss, I would submit, is theirs. In Eddie Fraser the Club has elected one of its most distinguished Presidents. I am in no doubt that his presence will enrich every FP occasion which he attends in the forthcoming year.

W.D.H.

Centre Reports Club Centre We are pleased to report that membership in 1996 increased from 684 to 699 at the year end, whereas it is usual for there to be a drop in the number of renewals subsequent to an increase in suscription rates, as was implemented in late 1995. We have to report with regret the deaths of a number of well-known members who have supported the Centre over the years. This include former Rector, Bert Gill, Seamus Fettes, John Drummond. Bill Ewen, Peter Walker, Margaret Forbes and Helen Ritchie.

The Committee initiated moves to enhance membership numbers and during the year over 80 aplications were approved. Committee members were asked to, propose at least one new member each, and this proved fairly successful. A joint venture with the Rugby Section was negotiated and the block arrangement brought in 52 new members. This proved to be a mutually advantageous arrangement for both the Section and the Centre. The system is open to all sports sections, but so far there has been no further uptake.

It would appear that the best method of recruitment is by personal contact and persuasion, and we would encourage members to bear this in mind when introducing anyone to the Centre. Without a healthy membership and full utilisation of the Centre we cannot function viably and get ourselves back into at least a break-even financial situation.

On the subject of finance, you will see in the accounts (printed at the back of this Magazine) that there was a deficit for 1996. The recession and the general lack of money over the last few years is still having an effect on the ability of members to spend on entertainment and relaxation, and as a Club we are by no means alone in this respect. However, all is not gloom, as we detected towards the end of the year a slightly better set of monthly figures. We hope that this trend will continue, but we do need the spending power of the membership as we are not out of the woods yet.

Investment in the Club Centre facilities will go some way to improving the situation. The availability of new catering facilities with the conversion of the "snug" has proved popular for ad hoc snacks, and the conversion of the dining room to a TV room has made the bar more accessible to viewers. Sky Sport TV has been installed and hopefully this has prevented the exodus of members elsewhere whenever there is a high profile sports screening.

The establishment of the Fitness Room with a £14,000 investment in the facility is now beginning to attract a number of regular users and hopefully, as time progresses, it will be a good source of income. The user rates set have been pitched at an attractive level. The work was carried out in the main by our Club Steward, George McKenzie, and we acknowledge his enthusiasm and dedication to the project, which was his inspiration in the first place.

At this point we would like to acknowledge and record the contributions made by individuals and commercial enterprises by way of sponsorship and donation of 41

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

equipment and materials, and the financial contribution of the Rugby Section.

Members of that Section also gave of their time to labour on some of the heavy physical work at various stages. To all, thank you! Without their efforts the Fitness Room may not have come to fruition, and would certainly have been much more costly.

Ongoing maintenance to property has continued as usual, but the upheaval of the major work in the Fitness Room and conversion of the "Me!drum Toilet" may have left the impression that maintenance has suffered. The Committee is addressing maintenance matters, but has to prioritise tasks in light of the general finances of the Centre. Various suggestions to enhance the general ambience of the Centre have been put forward for consideration by the Committee. In the ideal situation, where finance is no problem, the Centre would have been able to look at these constructively, but a fine balance has to be drawn between what is essential, what is viable and what is desirable in the longer term. It would be irresponsible at this point to commit the Club's finances to vast investment only to burden memberss with excessive subscription increases or debt repayments which might be counterproductive in the long term. We are grateful to all who have contributed to the discussions, which have always been in the interests of the Centre as a whole.

The active involvement of the Club members is essential. The Entertainment Committee has attempted to bring members in for special occasions to boost business when ordinarily the Club is quiet, for example for a Quiz Night and for a Trivial Pursuit evening. These have not been supported, only 12 appearing for the Quiz Night and none for the Trivial Pursuit. The exception was the Burns Lunch, organised

by Dave McDonald, which was well supported. It is certainly one which deserves continuing support. Other ideas and suggestions would be welcomed by the Committee. The Club Centre is the focal point not only for the FP Club but for the sports sections as well. Moves are afoot regarding development at Rubislaw. Whilst the Club Centre has no direct involvement in the plans, it has a supportive role to play, as any benefits which arise should bring a spin-off of business to the Centre.

We all hope for a positive and speedy outcome.

Finally we would like to record our appreciation of the efforts of George McKenzie and Muriel Massie and the part-time staff who look after all our needs and make the Club Centre the convivial place which it is.

Canada The Canadian Centre held its Annual Dinner on Saturday 14 September 1996 in Ottawa, Ontario.

The weekend started with AGSFPs joining the Ottawa Senators Over-40s Rugby Club cocktail party at the RCAF Officers' Mess. The Senators have a strong connection with Aberdeen as they played the Strollers in 1985 in London, England and the Strollers came to Ottawa for a week of rugby in 1989. Continuing in the rugby vein, Saturday afternoon was spent at Twin Elm Rugby Park watching U.S.A. v Argentina and Canada v Uruguay.

The annual dinner, held at the historic Laurentian Club, was a most pleasant evening attended by 35 FPs and guests. We were delighted to have the parent Club represented by Jim Lyon and his wife Sheila, and Keith Campbell and his wife, Sheila. In his capacity as FP Club President, Jim Lyon presented the Canadian Centre with a beautiful President's Badge of Office as a gift from the parent Club.

As is now the tradition, the Ian Duguid decanter was presented to this year's Canadian Centre President, Peter Green.

As a fitting close to a memorable weekend, many FPs, spouses and guests enjoyed a leisurely Sunday brunch at Fortune Lodge in the lovely Gatineau Hills in Quebec.

Our thanks to Peter Green and his organising committee—Phil Barron. Mike 42

Club Centre Fitness Room

Former Pupils Section

4;

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Hardie, Ian Marr and Ken Pixie—for planning and hosting such an excellent weekend.

The following FPs attended the Dinner: F. F. Gauld (1938-44), Vancouver, BC; R. McIntyre (1938-51), Ottawa, Ontario; W. D. Jenkins (1939-44), Edmonton, Alberta; E. Anderson (1944-57), Manotick, Ontario; A. K. Campbell (1944-53), Aberdeen; J. P. Jeffrey (1944-59), Calgary, Alberta; P. J. Green (1947-57), Ottawa, Ontario; P. Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; M. J. Hardie (1948-59), Almonte, Ontario; K. E. Pixie (1948-59), Aylmer, Quebec; W. Balfour (1949-58), Westmount, Quebec; A. F. J. Home (1951-58), Etobicoke, Ontario; D. Cox (1953-58), St Lambert, Quebec; J. C. Lyon (1953-59), Aberdeen; I. Thomson (1953-60), Nepean, Ontario; T. Dempster (1954-58), Don Mills, Ontario and I. McG. Marr (1954-58), Kanata, Ontario.

This year's Canadian Centre dinner, hosted by Gordon Singer, President for 1997 and FP Club Consul in Calgary, will be held on Saturday 13 September at the top of the 90-metre ski jump tower at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, with a brunch the following day at the home of Peter and Judy Jeffrey. The weekend co-incides with the Masters Show Jumping Championships at the world-famous Spruce Meadows venue. All FPs and their spouses, whether resident in Canada or visiting, are welcome to attend. Any interested should contact J. Peter Jeffrey, Secretary AGSFP Canadian Centre, 615 Willoughby Crescent SE, Calgary, Alberta T2J IZ9 (Tel: 403-271-0704, Fax: 403-278-7240.

Edinburgh The Centre held its Annual Dinner on Friday 17 January 1997 in the Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh. President Brian Gray welcomed the company of forty-seven members and guests who included Jim Lyon, President of the Parent Club, Bill Johnston, Rector, David Pollock, representing Edinburgh Gordonians, Dick Tyson and Gary Allan, Presidents respectively of the Yorkshire and Glasgow Centres, Ian Duguid, representing the London Centre, Head Girl Nina Koruth, and Head Boy Keith Reid.

The principal guest was Leslie Davidson, a Gordonian and former Chairman of Unilever Plantation (International). He is a close friend of our President and proposed a toast to "The School and the Club" in a most amusing vein. Replies were made by the Rector and the Parent Club President. A most enjoyable evening was greatly helped by the excellent chairmanship of President Brian Gray.

As has become the practice, the Centre had invited both the Head Boy and Head Girl to be guests at the top table—both Nina Koruth and Keith Reid enjoyed the occasion, and were guests of the Centre at the Welsh Rugby International at Murrayfield the next day. At the end of the evening Mor Brown thanked Brian Gray for his year as President and for chairing the proceedings.

During the course of the Dinner the Centre, as usual, held its Annual General Meeting. Mor Brown was elected President for his second term of office—he was President for eight years in the 1980s; Douglas Harper was elected Vice-President; Nigel Watt was re-elected as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer; and the new committee members are Mike Beanie and Sandy Monro.

In late August the annual golf match with the Glasgow Centre was played within the Centre's Annual Outing at Bruntsfield—as has become the norm, Edinburgh won! The Outing itself was won for the third time by Ronnie Smith with s Stableford score of 34 points. Glasgow member Gordon Barron was second with the same number of points but a worse inward half, and Centre Secretary Nigel Watt was third with 33 points. Parent Club President Jim Lyon participated and enjoyed the afternoon, which had a record attendance of eighteen. Excellent fellowship was enjoyed in the Clubhouse after the golf, and Centre President Brian Gray presented the prizes. This year's outing will be held at Bruntsfield on Wednesday 27 August, and will incorporate the match with the Glasgow Centre.

44

Former Pupils Section Next year's Dinner will be held in the Roxburghe Hotel on a date to be confirmed.

Any reader who has recently come to the Edinburgh area and who has not received any communication from the Centre is invited to contact Nigel Watt at his new business address of 5 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7JA—Telephone 0131-200-1020.

The following FPs attended the Dinner: G. J. G. Allan (1963-76), A. M. Beattie (1944-57), D. A. Brittain (1943-49), W. M. Brown (1933-46), A. H. Cairns (1943-56), J. P. Cairns (1945-57), A. K. Campbell (1944-53), J. M. T. Cheyne (1939-52), D. L. Cowie (1942-44), S. W. Cummings (1965-69), I. M. Duguid (1938-43), B. D. D. Emslie (1929-35), J. E. Fraser (1936-49), A. J. Gardiner (1940-51), N. Garden (1956-67), B. S. Gray (1943-49), D. R. Harper (1944-58), D. G. Kilgour (1938-50), J. F. Kirk (1937-47), A. R. Lyall (1935-46), J. C. Lyon (1953-59), J. A. McGregor (1935-44), A. J. K. Monro (1933-46), W. A. MorrisonGill (1923-26), A. E. Philip (1943-56), R. S. Rilley (1947-55), D. P. Smith (1945-47), R. G. C. Smith (1926-37), C. R. Sutherland (1947-60), R. F. Tyson (1944-49), N. G. M. Watt (1963-69) and R. A. Williamson (1928-36).

Glasgow This year's joint function organised by High School FPs for Gordonians and ourselves was a visit to Burns Country on 14 September. After an enjoyable lunch we visited the "Tam O'Shanter Experience" at the new Burns Centre near the famous Cottage at Alloway. The Glasgow members appreciated being again invited to the Edinburgh Centre's Annual Golf Outing at Bruntsfield Golf Club. Our small number of Golfers? failed to bring any honour back to Glasgow, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The Centre's Annual Dinner was held on Friday 18 March in the Swallow Hotel (managed by Willie Woods (1970-76). President Gary Allan hosted 58 members and guests, including ladies. As our principal speaker we were pleased to welcome Rev Ian Mackenzie, of North-east descent, having been born in Strichen, educated there, at Peterhead and at Sorento. Ian, who was head of Religious Broadcasting in the BBC entertained us with an outstanding address. He referred to Aberdeen as "the city of mica-glittering granite". The Rector, Bill Johnston, and President Jim Lyon kept us up-to-date with the progress of the School and the Club, not forgetting the Rugby team's success. Vice-president David Allan closed a very happy and enjoyable evening with a multiple vote of thanks.

A short A.G.M. took place immediately after the Dinner, when the following were elected as Office-bearers for 1997/98: President David Allan Secretary Basil Emslie Treasurer Peter Cairns Committee Gary Allan, Andrew McLaren and lain Fergusson Gary passed on the Badge of Office to David and wished him well, and thanked his committee and the members of the Centre for their support.

The following FPs attended the Annual Dinner: Ian Munro (1911-21), Andrew McLaren (1926-39), Basil Emslie (1929-35), Mor Brown (1933-46), Ian Duguid (1938-43), Hunter Cairns (1943-56), Dick Tyson (1944-49), Peter Cairns (1945-57), David Allan (1945-58), lan McLeod (1951-55), Jim Lyon (1953-59), lain Fergusson (1959-66), Brian Law (1960-65), Gary Allan (1963-76), Ray Davis (1963-66), Nigel Watt (1963-69), Willie Wood (1970-76), Lesley Galloway (1974-80), Marjorie Coutts (1975—81), David Reid (1975-80), Tracey Rollo (1981-87), William Johnston (Rector), Nina Koruth (Head Girl) and Keith Reid (Head Boy).

Future Events are: Wednesday 27 August—Golf v Edinburgh Centre at Bruntsfield Golf Club; Saturday 13 September—Joint Function with Gordonians and High School FPs at Ross Priory; Friday 20 March 1998—Glasgow Centre Dinner at the Swallow Hotel, Glasow.

45

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine It would be appreciated if any FPs resident, even temporarily, in the West of Scotland would contact the Secretary at 8 Westerton of Mugdock, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8LQ or by telephone-0141-956-4299.

London The Annual Sixth Form London Visit took place from Sunday 7 July to Saturday 13 July. As is the custom, the participants were the Deputy Head Girl and the Deputy Head Boy, in this case Lucy Parslow and Stewart Fowlie. Accommodation during the visit was once again provided by Sandy Nicol and his wife. The programme included visits to J. Sainsbury plc, Bentalls plc, The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London Underground Engineering and Kleinwort Benson Private Bank. Cultural and tourist pursuits were not neglected, being catered for by a London Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Barbican and a Harrods Sightseeing Tour respectively.

The AGM at the Caledonian Club on Monday 15 July attracted an excellent turn-out of members. Sir Alan Donald KCMG was re-elected as President, with Sandy Nicol as Secretary and Ron Caie as Treasurer. The other commitee members are Ian Duguid, Duncan Hopkin, Malcolm Lyall, Andrew Noble, Hamish Norbrook, John Tosh and Harold Watt. After the formal proceedings, an excellent supper was enjoyed in the Club.

On Friday 22 November we gathered at the Caledonian Club once again for the Annual Dinner, ably hosted by our President, Sir Alan Donald. We were hugely entertained by our principal guest, David Welch, Chief Executive of the Royal Parks and Aberdeen's former Director of Leisure and Recreation, who proposed the toast of "The School and the Club" in a very witty fashion. Replies were made by the Parent Club President, Jim Lyon, and the Principal Teacher of Physical Education in the School, David Swanson. Douglas Skene represented the Yorkshire Centre and Colin Mitchell the London Gordonians.

The following FPs attended the Dinner: R. Boyne (1951-54), I. M. Carry (1960-73), K. Coutts (1944-58), J. G. Dawson (1921-34), Sir A. Donald (1942-44), I. M. Duguid (1938-43), D. Hopkin (1955-61), R. F. Kitson (1946-58), M. G. Lyall (1935-47), J. C. Lyon (1953-59), N. F. Matthews (1958-61), S. J. Mitchell (1948-61), S. Nicol (1962-71), H. T. E. Norbrook (1959-65), E. A. S. Porter (1949-58), R. Reid (1947-52), D. S. Robbie (1936-48), J. L. Sinclair (1947-59), D. Skene (1959-64), J. L. S. Thomson (1920-27), J. S. Tosh (1947-48), M. Wagrel (1943-49), M. G. Walker (1946-57), H. M. R. Watt (1926-38) and G. S. Williams (1933-46).

Finally, one must report with great sadness the death of Robert Falconer (1945-58) (whose Obituary appears elsewhere in this Magazine). Though dogged with bad health, Bob gave sterling service to the London Centre and sat on the Executive Committee for many years. He regularly supported our functions and contributed greatly to the success of the Sixth Form Visits. Our condolences go to his wife Eva and to his family.

Section Reports Cricket Season 1996 was a disappointing one for the 1st XI. They finished lower in the Strathmore Union than for a number of seasons, and made an early exit from the Cup Competitions. The main problem was the batting, with too few players making significant contributions. The one exception was Richard Ferro, who made two centuries and easily topped the batting averages. Jeremy Moir was the next highest contributor with the bat, and was again the leading wicket-taker and topped the 46

Former Pupils Section averages. A number of other bowlers also contributed but all too often their efforts were undone by the lack of runs.

The Ist XI was captained by Peter Redhead, who made considerable efforts both off and on the field to improve matters. For 1997 he has been replaced by his brother Alan as captain and this season has opened more promisingly. Hopefully the 1st XI will finish near the top of the Strathmore Union this season.

The 2nd XI finished third in Grade 3. At one stage it looked as if they might seriously challenge for promotion, but unavailability of players meant that they failed to win certain vital matches. The team was again captained by Rob Fryer, who finished third in the Grade 3 averages. The leading bowler was Stephen Murphy, who finished fifth in the Grade 3 averages and shows considerable potential for the future.

The 3rd XI was the most successful in the Section, and finished second in Grade 5, which was a great improvement on the previous season. The team was captained

by Neil Simpson who topped the bowling averages and took all 10 wickets for 22 against Crescent. This may be the first time in the history of the Section that any player has achieved this feat, and it is certainly the first time for many years that anybody has achieved it in Aberdeenshire Grade Cricket. Martin Webster and Gary Stewart also made significant contributions with the ball. The runs were mainly scored by I. Hopkin, H. Morrison and M. Cottle, who all finished in the top five of the Grade 5 averages.

The Section also ran under-18 and under-15 teams, and although the results were somewhat disappointing the future of these two teams is very important to the Section, as they are the main source of young players. The Section is anxious to improve the facilities at Rubislaw, by the creation of an all-weather wicket, a re-laid square and better practice facilities. These are vital to the future of the Section as, unless improved facilities are available, it will continue to be very difficult for the Section to attract new talented players to improve the overall standard of the Section.

Much thought has been given to the needs of the Section, and hopefully the necessary work to upgrade the facilities will proceed in the reasonably near future.

Curling In this, the first full year of The Ice Rink Club, the new name of the Ice Rink at Stoneywood, all the doubts as to the future of Curling in Aberdeen have been laid to rest. The redecoration of the rink, together with the fact that it is now a properly constituted club and not a limited company, has created a different and much more friendly atmosphere. It is to be hoped that the removal of the initial joining subscription will encourage more new curlers.

The Grammar Club has gained a few new members but unfortunately lost a few and, as always, we are keen to recruit new members, both rookies and those who have played before at whatever level. Within the Club, the Autumn League was won

by Barton Brown's rink, the Spring League and the Pairs Competition by John Paterson's rink, the Knock-out Competition by Geddie Hay's rink and the Bonspiel

by George Cruickshank's rink.

In competitions outwith the Grammar Club our only success was with Norman Patterson's rink which was part of the North-east Province team which won in Elgin.

The annual contest against the Gordonian curling team was won by the "Auld Enemy" this year, but the usual social atmosphere and the buffet afterwards at the Seafield Club helped to make this a pleasant evening. Our Annual Dinner was a great success, held for the second time at the Atholl Hotel.

Anyone interested in joining the Curling Section should contact the Secretary, Bruce Allan, Tel: 642557.

47

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Football After achieving promotion in season 1995/96 the Grammar FP Football team entered season 1996/97 in the previously uncharted territory of Aberdeenshire Amateur League Division 4. Co-inciding with this new status was the change to green and purple stripes which confirmed that the team was certainly unrecognisable from that of just a few seasons ago.

The season saw a number of changes in personnel, with some of the older faces stepping aside to let new blood into the team. New young uns Greg Taggart, Alan Western and Neil Collins all made their mark in a debut season for Grammar, as did older arrivals Ian Hazzard and Derek Allan. Come-back men Raymond Duncan, John Ryrie and Gordon Smith supplemented regular stalwarts Paul Davidson, Gavin Hendry, Henry Houston, Tom Hyslop, Kenny MacPherson, Greg Mann, Kevin Martin, Richard Nicholson, Rupert Seager and David Sinclair. Again the team was guided through the Reason under the able direction of team manager Ian Corsie, whose position must be one of the safest in the cut-throat world of football management.

Following a slow start to the season, the team started to pick up form by the turn of the year with promotion to Division 3 a distinct possibility at that stage. However, with there being many postponements over the winter period and involvement in a number of cups, our league form started to slide. This slide in form was compounded by the loss of key central defender Kevin Martin, who suffered a serious leg break during a game. This injury has probably ended the football career of a valued player who served faithfully a number of teams including, finally, Grammar FPs. Away from the inconsistent league form, the high-point of the season was probably the run enjoyed in the North of Scotland Cup where the heights of the semi-final draw were reached. The fact that we only actually reached the last sixteen was irrelevant since a number of notable scalps were taken along the way.

In an indifferent season the success story was surely that of Gavin Hendry whose consistently first-rate performances led to him being named as Player of the Year 1996/97, together with nomination as team captain for next season. A mention should also go to David Sinclair who, despite missing a number of games, still finished the season as top scorer.

Although not wholly suriwgsful, the season must be viewed as a transitional one, with younger players gaining experience by the game, and the team as a whole establishing itself in a new higher division. With a solid base of current players and the possibility of a few additions in the close season, it is hoped that a real push for silverware can be made next year.

Golf The Golf Section is celebrating its 50th Birthday this year, and a commemorative Dinner is being held in the Atholl Hotel. It is hoped that many of the original members will be able to attend. The traditional Golf Section Menu, including Skink and Sorbet with Russian cigarettes will ensure a temprano toast to Her Majesty.

During 1996, Outings were held at Braemar (two) and at Ballater. The annual weekend at Taymouth Castle was a great success and is already over-subscribed for 1997. The winner of the 54-hole competition must be able to consume Lebanese red wine and swing with a degree of consistency the morning after. Whilst there is not a shortage of the former quality, the latter is in limited supply, and Keith Campbell held off Derek Young to win the Carry Cup. The Section records the untimely deaths of John Drummond, a past Captain, and Peter Walker, both of whom helped to contribute to the enjoyment of previous Taymouth weekends. We were beaten by Old Pocklingtonians in the second round of the Queen Elizabeth at Bamton. Doug and Andrew Fowlie won their match, but Peter Robertson/David Leighton and Gordon Inkson/lan Creswell both lost. Sadly, Gordonians were beaten in the first round.

48

Former Pupils Section Hockey On the whole the past season has been a successful one for the Hockey Section in general. The First Xl, under the captaincy of Simon Tomkins, started the season with all the expectations of Captain Edward Smith on the Titanic's maiden voyage.

Unfortunately, after the first five league games we were in similar trouble, at the bottom with one point. There was no explanation for this, as we played some exceptionally good hockey during these games (apart from the four card massacre against Dundee Grove). With our socks pulled up to Royal Aberdeen standard we went on to win 11 of the remaining 13 league games, finishing third and narrowly missing out on promotion.

Mark Rayfield took on the unenviable task of captaining the Second XI and introduced a novel idea, structure! Under his master plan the team played good hockey over the season, providing well-modelled players for the Firsts when required. Although taking points off all District teams, with the exception of Gordonians A, the team finished a disappointing fifth. The highlight of the season was a good run which saw the team progress to the quarter-finals of the Reserve Cup. The opposition, Dundee East, can only be described as poor at the best and the SHU decision for the game to be played in Dundee on blase (a relic of the past) was ultimately the Seconds' downfall. The game was lost due to a combination of weather, the surface and the pundits' favourite, an extremely dodgy umpire on the opponents' behalf.

The third and Fourth XIs had mediocre seasons, both finishing mid-table in District 2 and 3 respectively, although the Third Xl did sparkle during a foggy game in Dundee which was reminiscent of one of London's famous "pea-soupers".

Captains Watt and Veitch are to be thanked for getting teams out every weekend, which is becoming harder as more and more of their games are being scheduled for Sundays.

Once again it was left up to the old boys to provide the silverware with Grammarians sweeping all before them to win District 3. Tony Duguid led the "white label gang" to the pennant, only losing one game along the way. The mixture of old heads and legs combined with the youthful enthusiasm of a couple of schoolboys was too much for all the opponents even if they did have to dip into the medicine cabinet for the cod liver oil from time to time.

1st X1 2nd XI 3rd XI 4th XI Grammarians

P 18 18 18 16 16

W 11 7 7 3 15

D 1 4 6 4 0

L 6 7 5 9 I

F

A

43 37 33 25 57

33 36 36 49 22

Thanks must go to Dan Wright for the teams' turn-around through structured training which has seen all teams playing the same system and patterns of hockey.

Individual honours were won by Gary Nichol!, Duncan Jeffery and Kenny Steele, who all represented Scotland at under-21 level. Peter Williams won the Graham Fraser Trophy and, not surprisingly, Grammarians took the Stronachs' Cup. The Craig Clark Memorial game raised over £200 for Meningitis Research, with the under-23 team soundly thrashing the others in a game in the best of spirit. It was with great sadness that the club lost another dedicated member who will be greatly missed. John Drummond was a key player during the Club's most successful period, and went on to serve the Section and the FP Club with great distinction.

The Hockey Section would like to thank the Club Centre, its steward and staff for all their help over the season, and the Rugby Section for supplying a suitably rigged boat race squad.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Petanque The Section meets regularly every Sunday, when the number of games played is in direct proportion to the number of pints sunk.

Two excellent barbecues were held in conjunction with the Summer Solstice and Section Championships in June and August respectively.

Competition results in 1996 were: Summer Solstice

Arthur Sinclair

Club Championship: David Earp Aaron and Ron Comber Arthur Sinclair, Gordon Inkson and Graeme Craig.

The Annual Dinner was held on 20 June 1997 in the Club Centre. The Section is in good heart, and welcomes interested new members.

Singles Doubles Triples

Rugby Season 1996/97 has been one of the most successful in recent years, with the Club winning National League Division I and promotion into the newly re-organised Premiership, which will comprise the top 30 teams in Scotland. The success owes much to the leadership of our Captain, lain Stanger, the inspiration of our Director of Rugby, Steve Coward, and the hard work and administration of the Executive Committee, chaired by Derek Younger.

The success in the League competition was further enhanced by the Club progressing to the semi-finals of the Shield competition of the SRU Tenet's Cup. At 2nd XV level the Club once again proved to be too strong for many of the opposing teams. The 3rd and 4th XVs both enjoyed mixed fortunes this season, but have continued to provide an avenue for the more social player to show off his skills. At Youth level the Club goes from strength to strength, with teams participating at all age groups and a Mini and Midi Section with a membership of more than 150 boys and girls attending throughout the season. The indebtedness of the Club is due to George Crooks and his committee for their continual enthusiasm for the future lifeblood of the Club.

Finally, it is with great pleasure that the Club looks forward to the nomination of Charlie Ritchie as the next President of the Scottish Rugby Union, following a long line of distinguished FPs who have preceded him in this position. The Club's congratulations and best wishes go to Charlie, in a year which will no doubt present many new challenges, not only for him but also for the Game and the Club. We look forward to your continuing support.

Swimming A substantial increase in the membership subscription has been a factor which has resulted in a significant reduction in numbers over the past year, to a point where the viability of the Club is now threatened. New members, both family and individual adults, would therefore be very welcome and, at an annual cost of approximately £40 per family, the membership fee still represents very good value for money.

The Club meets every Tuesday during School Term time, commencing with the Family Session at 6 until 7.30 pm, with Adult Lane Swimming until 8.30 pm and free swimming thereafter until 9 pm. Children are only permitted in the water during the Family Session and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

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Former Pupils Section

Enquiries regarding membership should be made to the Club Secretary, Mr Peter Mulvey, telephone Aberdeen 634621 Club officials of the year are as follows: President: Treasurer: Secretary:

Roger Houghton Norman Marr Peter Mulvey

Women's Hockey Following on from the success of last season, when the 1st XI won the North District Division 1 title for the first time, was always going to be very difficult. The most difficult thing was motivating the teams to do well again.

The season started very well for the 1st XI, who did not drop any points in the league until just before Christmas when they drew a match. The team had been hit by a number of long-term injuries and had done very well to maintain such a good record. All season their biggest rivals were Aberdeen Wanderers, who were also having a good run, and before long the league had turned into a two-horse race.

Two further draws for the team cost them valuable points and with four games to go the league could have gone either way. The team then faced a University side which had been playing particularly well, and Grammar were narrowly beaten on a night when they really should have won the game. With only three games to go (two of which were against Wanderers) there was still a chance, but the team knew they had to beat their arch rivals on both occasions to stand any chance of success.

The scene was set and the two games went ahead only ten days apart. The 1st Xl rose to the challenge on the first night, with the odds stacked against them as four regulars were missing for the event, and won the game 2-I. The result set up an electrifying final game for the Grammar 1st Xl against Wanderers, who still had two games in hand. A large crowd was there to see what turned out to be a highly entertaining game which Grammar won. Once again, 2-1 was the final score. This was the first time that Grammar had defeated Wanderers in both games in one season, about which the members of the team were a little more than delighted.

Sadly, Wanderers did not drop any further points, so the Grammar girls lost the league by just one point. Nevertheless we were pleased to have finished as runners up.

The 2nd XI also enjoyed a very successful season, and comfortably held on to their place in North District Division One with some gutsy performances and good old-fashioned hard work. They had a number of players unavailable due to work commitments over the season and did very well to adapt to the conditions in some appalling weather. Overall they finished in seventh place out of twelve teams, and were very proud of their achievements.

In the Scottish District Cup there was even more to be pleased with, as the 2nd XI got the furthest they have been in the Cup in their history. Meanwhile the 1st XI battled hard and reached the semi-final stage in this, the top competition for District hockey in Scotland. They knew that there was a good chance of playing another North side, as three of the last four were from North District. Surprise, surprise!

Grammar were drawn against none other than their biggest rivals, Aberdeen Wanderers.

The contest took place in Stirling, and Grammar were delighted by the number of supporters who travelled to encourage them. At full time the score was 1-1.

Each team then took a set of five penalty strokes and at the end of these the score was still level. The next stage was to take sudden-death penalty strokes.

Sadly, Grammar lost the match at this point when one of their penalties hit the crossbar. The team had done well to get so far, and came as close as possible to making the final, which will make them all the more hungry for the Cup next season.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

The Club's social skills were tested, as usual, at regular intervals over the season and we can report that at no point were these found to be questionable. The biggest test was undoubtedly the Club's trip to Dublin, with four days of hockey and, even more challenging, four nights "on the town". Well done to all those involved who made it, there and back, in one piece.

On matters of a more serious nature now, the Club would like to thank all the umpires who have officiated over this season. In particular special thanks should go to Richard Wallis and Brian Cockburn who have both travelled and given up a lot of their time to help Grammar girls. Without their assistance the matches would not go ahead and their efforts are much appreciated. Our supporters have been fantastic this season and their encouragement has been gratefully received. Rhona MacLennan also deserves a mention as our long-suffering coach. On Wednesday evenings, at training, Rhona has to battle against all the gossip from the weekend for the attention of the players, which is no mean feat!

Finally, a big thank you to all the players and Club members, without whom none of this would be possible.

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Former Pupils Section

Annual Dinner Although the number attending the 1996 Annual Dinner in the Marcliffe at Pitfodels on Friday 25 October 1996 was marginally greater than had been present the previous year, it was still a poor turn-out. Once again the proceedings were under the direction of Fraser Webster who has a fine touch for this sort of function. In the belief that an evening of speeches is not what the modern FP wants, Fraser's committee had, in its wisdom, decided that fewer after-Dinner speakers would make the occasion more enjoyable and give it back the FP-appeal which it seemed to have lacked for a few years. It is perhaps a pity that the only people who knew of this new approach were the members of the Club Executive.

The re-constructed evening, on this new pattern, was really not so different from the old style, except that what had often been the high point of the Dinner (and, let's be honest, often the saving feature of the evening), namely the Toast to the Guests by an FP with a Guest reply (these speakers often especially selected for his/their powers of entertaining public speaking) was omitted. Whether, on news of this being noised abroad, a dramatic rise in the number of diners will be brought about remains to be seen. Selecting speakers is in itself a matter calling for a degree of skill, but it should not be beyond our committee to put together a Toast List which can satisfy the most choosy of our members and send the company home with a sense of satisfied well-being not altogether obtained from the bar.

It has sometimes been argued that late notice of the Dinner caused by late production of the Magazine is a significant factor, because little time has remained in a few recent years in which to submit applications for places, but that reasoning is not valid. For as long as most of us can remember, the Dinner has been held on the last Friday in October, and if members really cared they could enter that in their diaries as soon as they get them. As this is written, it is hoped that this Magazine will be issued at the end of August.

Readers may wonder why all this has been said under the heading "Annual Dinner", which usually heralds an account of the proceedings, with comment on the themes taken by the speakers in an attempt to convey to the non-attender a flavour of what they have missed. Not so this time. The General Editor having resigned and a successor not having been appointed, no-one took the necessary notes to even try to give such a report. Something similar, although for different reasons, must have happened in 1995, because the Dinner report contains not as much as a whisper of what anyone said, and it cannot be that what they said did not bear repeating. Suffice to say that at the 1996 Dinner the principal toast, to the School and the Club, was given by Stuart Aitken, an Aberdeen solicitor, with replies by the Rector on behalf of the School and the President on behalf of the Club, and these were followed by a well thought out vote of thanks by Ian McLeod. If High School FPs can have 80 at their dinner, all members of their Club, for it is not their practice to have private guests, and Gordonians can have around double our number at their Dinner (and they have a total of 7 speeches) where have FPs gone wrong? All that is needed is for a few to arrange for friends and contemporaries or like-minded groups from, for example, the Sports Sections, to organise table parties.

Surely that is not too much to ask of motivated Former Pupils of the Grammar.

Ottawa, September 1996 Canadian Centre Dinner At the Dinner in Aberdeen in October 1995 the then President of the Club, Andrew McLaren, mentioned to me how disappointed he was that he did not know that the Canadian Centre Dinner was to be in Victoria, British Columbia the previous month, especially as he had been visiting Vancouver Island the week before the Dinner. What is more, he could easily have delayed his return. The invitation to attend had arrived at his home while he was on holiday.

53

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine By chance, I was sitting next to Jim Lyon and I remarked to him (anticipating his election to the Presidency in 1996) "What about attending the Dinner in Ottawa in September next year'?" Needless to say we required no further persuasion, and Jim and I arranged separate holidays in America and then met up to attend the Dinner at the Laurentian Club in the centre of Ottawa.

The details of the Dinner itself appear elsewhere in this Magazine. What I wish to highlight is the magnificent welcome we both received from the Centre members who attended. Some, indeed, had travelled further than Jim and I had done to make it to Ottawa, and one had driven for ten days across Canada from the West. Now there's dedication and enthusiasm for the Club and all that it means in these far away places!

While the weekend revolved around the Dinner, we were introduced to fellow-FPs at the Friday reception, and for the most part they were strangers to us. After a few drinks and, to say the least, a great many reminiscences, the atmosphere was decidedly relaxed. As well as our hearing about the well-being of our Canadian friends, they were equally keen to learn at first hand about the School and the Club. I think it surprised both Jim and myself how knowledgeable everyone was about FP matters, and in many cases the information sought from us was in the way of fine tuning. I would hasten to add that the FP Magazine is their Bible on FP affairs, and as such is an essential prerequisite of continuing contact with the Club and their fellowmembers. Long may its continued production fulfil this role.

So far I have refrained from mentioning specific names, but I am sure that our Canadian friends would not mind if I mentioned two. Peter Green and Peter Jeffrey.

Their team-work meant that everything ran smoothly, and both Jim and I would like to record our appreciation of their hard work. Their instructions were explicit, even down to being asked to speak at the Dinner, a great honour indeed.

I should, however, mention at this point that the risk of having to speak should not deter any FP travelling to Canada in the future from making every possible effort to fit in their visit to co-incide with the Dinner, wherever it is held in the Provinces. Undoubtedly we arrived as strangers but we departed as friends uniquely bonded by our connection with the School.

Our sincere thanks go to all whom we met. We hope that many FPs will take up the challenge, be true ambassadors for the Club and return home with a great sense of achievement by continuing to foster the strong links between FPs wherever they may be.

A. K. Campbell (1944-53)

Re-Union of School Leavers 1947-49 After an interval of three years a repeat gathering of pupils of the War Years took place on Friday and Saturday 16/17 May 1997. Beginning on the Friday afternoon, several participants enjoyed a round of golf at Culter, while others relaxed in the Athol! Hotel over coffee, with photographs and memorabilia on display.

At 6.30 pm thirty-eight FPs assembled in the Beechgrove Suite with guest of honour, and former Principal Teacher of Classics, Mr Ron McLeod, when Alan Macdearmid extended a warm welcome and outlined the evening's arrangements.

The company then enjoyed an excellent dinner, during which animated conversation continued unabated.

Fred Lynch paid tribute to Fraser Durno, an active member of the organising committee, who sadly died in April 1997 after a long period of ill-health. (An Obituary appears elsewhere in this Magazine).

Our guest, Ron McLeod, was introduced to the company by Fred, who congratulated him on his sparkling state of health, attributing this to the skill and expertise of a medical practice which modesty prevented him from naming! Ron then entertained the company as only he knows how, playing his audience with some 54

Former Pupils Section excellent bait in the form of anecdotes, ranging from Pittodrie to Pakistan, and finishing with the Toast to the School and the Lads of the Forties—the extent of the ovation showed the appreciation of his efforts.

Doug Robbie, in responding manfully to Ron's wide-ranging delivery, expressed his pleasure at meeting up with school friends after so many years, and he emphasised the value of the FP Club in keeping alive the valuable contacts between FPs in all parts of the world. The remainder of the evening was given over to informal chat which continued well into the early hours of Saturday!

The after-effects of prolonged discussion showed starkly on Saturday morning, when only 30% of the number of guests who had declared an interest actually turned up to view the School. The majority of the company eventually surfaced to assemble at the Atholl Hotel for coffee and farewells until 1 pm, when departures were taken, coupled with murmurings of "Millenium".

A. M. (1941-48)

Honours and Awards Honorary Degrees At Graduation Ceremonies at Aberdeen University in 1996 Honorary Degrees were conferred on three Former Pupils who have distinguished themselves in their different spheres of activity, and not least in their contributions to the life of the University. Quotations follow from the laureation addresses delivered on each occasion.

At the Summer Graduation in July 1996 the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) was conferred on Maitland Mackie (1946-54) CBE, MA, BSc. Professor Derek Ogston (1937-39, 1946-47) presented him as "a North-east loon, born into a wellknown and distinguished Aberdeenshire family. After Daviot Primary School and Aberdeen Grammar School, he proceeded to take a B.Sc in Agriculture at this University, graduating in 1958, and returning some twelve years later to study for an MA in Economics.

"His full and successful life has been centred in Agriculture. His involvement in the management of the large family farm at Rothienorman increased progressively until he took full control by 1970. The business remains family-owned with his children now participating in its management. There is currently a staff of 75, 400 cows and an annual turnover of £6 million. Throughout this period he has been at the forefront of agricultural innovation, developing and embracing the technological advances of the farming industry, indeed often anticipating the changes in the world of agriculture.

"Not surprisingly Maitland Mackie's talents, ideas and vision have been harnessed by a number of agricultural research and development advisory bodies. There have been lengthy spells on the Scottish Agriculture Research and Development Advisory Council, the Agriculture & Food Research Council, including chairmanship of both 55

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine its Food and Animal Committees, and the National Farmers' Union for Scotland, serving for five years as its Vice-President. He was the founder and Chairman of the Scottish Pig Industry Initiative, through which the whole industry, producers. processors and retailers were brought together to design and implement self-help development programmes, most notably the world's first 'Farm Assurance' Scheme, recognised and supported by the major retailers. Most farm produce sectors now have similar schemes.

"Mr Mackie's public service has not been confined to the agricultural industry, and in 1995 he took up the prestigious appointment of Chairman of Grampian Enterprise, the organisation committed to the economic development of the region.

As convener of the Quin Ag Group of graduates his efforts on behalf of the University Quincentenary Campaign have been prodigious. He has channelled his energies, persuasiveness and personal magnetism into raising in excess of £150K for the appeal. The oak trees donated by him as part of this fund-raising programme are now planted and growing the length and breadth of Scotland.

"Maitland Mackie's services to agriculture have been recognised by Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies and by the award of the CBE. Today we add our accolade not only for his contributions to the national farming industry but also for his input into the local economy and its development, and his enthusiastic help to this University and its future in its Quincentenary year. Quite remarkably it is an honour bestowed by the University of Aberdeen on both his grandfather and father; we now make it three generations".

At a Graduation ceremony in November 1996 the degree of Master of the University (MU) was conferred on William Dixon Brooker (1938-50) BSc. Professor Thomson presented him as "a son of Aberdeen and North-east Scotland who is nationally recognised as one of the great men in the history of Scottish mountain climbing.

"He took a BSc in Geography in 1953, returning after National Service for an honours year. and then spent eight years as a teacher in Aberdeen, Aberlour and Keith, and in Cyprus. In 1966 he returned to the service of the University as Tutor/Organiser in the Elgin office of the Department of Adult Education, organising a wide-ranging programme of courses for the general public in the North of Scotland. In 1969 he moved to the Department's Aberdeen office, becoming its Director in 1981 until his retirement in 1987.

"Scottish mountaineering began as a sport in the 1880s with the establishment of the Cairngorm Club in Aberdeen and shortly afterwards the Scottish Moutaineering Club. The early techniques of rock and snow climbing were accompanied by a rising number of journals and books on the new sport. Against this background, in the 1950s a small group of young men put up a series of magnificent routes on Lochnagar, Ben Macdhui and the other Cairngorm hills in both summer and winter. using nailed boots on the formidable mixture of granite, grass, snow and ice. They also explored the fine coastal cliffs of North East Scotland.

"Bill Brooker was the leader of this group, with over twenty first mountain ascents between 1949 and 1960. Their equipment came mainly from Mckay's ex-army store in Aberdeen and their transport was a mixture of Strachan's Deeside 'bussies' and motor-bikes. Bill was referred to as 'the young Lochinvar', cutting a dashing figure as he took his accepted seat of honour in the Bob Scott's Lui Beg bothy.

"Other first ascents were put up on Skye, where Bill had got off to a good start with a solo ascent of the Inaccessible Pinnacle at the age of fourteen, and in the Alps where the log book speaks of epic trips by motor-bike and rail, and more dubious exploits involving the conflagration of an elderly mountain hut on Mont Blanc.

"Such exploits drew Bill first into membership of the Scotish Mountaineering Club in 1957, and then into its service as a Committee member, Vice-President, and President in 1973-74. In 1978 he became Editor of the SMC journal for ten years— no mean burden for a sport with its fair share of opinionated but often reluctant authors. In 1993, on the Club's centenary, Bill produced as editor A Century of Scottish Mountaineering, and he is the current SMC Honorary President.

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Former Pupils Section "His enthusiasms have not been confined to Scotland. Bill has apparently been unable to go anywhere without scaling the nearest hills to hand, whether in Greenland, the Alps, Spain, Kenya, New Zealand or California. Ski-touring both on the Scottish hills and in the Alps has long been an enthusiasm. His spirit has survived even motor neurone disease, as shown by articles in the Leopard magazine and snorkel expeditions of various pools in the River Dee." On the occasion of the installation of the new Principal of Aberdeen University in December 1996, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) was conferred on Ronald Scott Brown (1946-55) MA, LLB. Professor Ogston, in presenting him, remarked that many of the crucial decisions on which the well-being of the University hinges depend on the advice and counsel of the lay members of its Court, who give their time, experience and wisdom to assist the institution. There has been no more helpful and valuable representative of this small dedicated group than Ronald Scott Brown.

"Although born in India, his forebears hail from the North-east of Scotland. He graduated MA in 1958 and LLB in 1950. Early in his law career he became involved in investment management, this later becoming a full-time activity. In 1983, with two colleagues, he set up Abeerdeen Fund Managers, later becoming Aberdeen Trust, the holding company for the group providing a wide range of investment management services through Abtrust Fund Managers Ltd. This has now funds of around £3 billion under management, and offices across the world. His abilities in financial and company affairs have been reflected in his appointment to directorships of a number of Investment Trusts and the local board of the Bank of Scotland.

"Intertwined with this period of his legal and financial career were a number of contributions to the University. He began his long association with the provision of investment advice, while in the late 1970s he joined the Scottish team that compiled the handbook for the Finance & Investment course component of the embryo Diploma in Legal Practice, and he acted as the course leader at the University for the first five years of the Diploma's existence.

"Always keeping a close interest in the affairs of his alma mater, his involvement became even closer through his election to the Business Committee of the General Council in 1988, and his appointment to serve on the University Court in 1990. He subsequently became Convener of the Business Committee in 1992, a position he still holds with diligence and dignity, and through it has assisted the University in many ways, notably in the celebrations of the Quincentenary.

"During his six years on the University Court, Mr Scott Brown has given quite outstanding service. Apart from his contributions at Court meetings he has convened various important committees and been a member of numerous others. His business skills have been harnessed in the management of the University commercial companies and he has been Chairman of Offshore Medical Support, and on the Board of AURIS Ltd, King's College Centre Ltd and the AUU Trading Company. He has served on countless appointment committees and working parties. Indeed his attendance at the University is such that he could well pass for a full-time member of the staff.

"In all his university activities, often facing difficult problems and confrontational situations, Mr Scott Brown is invariably courteous, patient, never ruffled, and always seeking sound and fair solutions. He has given of his time and manifest skills both generously and effectively over many years."

George Gordon Allan (1939-51) has just had his fourth book published. Fleet Street Round the Clock (Alpha Press, Brighton) is the story of his career in journalism, starting with Aberdeen Journals in 1951 and culminating in over 30 years with The Times, first on the staff and then as a freelance. He has also had spells on the Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman in Edinburgh. His other books, as mentioned in previous issues of the Magazine are Bowling Enchanted Woods; A Sporting Wanderer and Not All Mud and Scrums. He now lives at Carshalton, in Surrey.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Dudley Nicolson Amsted (1939-51) MA, LLB retired in April 1997 after forty years in practice as a Solicitor. After serving his apprenticeship in Aberdeen, he became an assistant with Robertson Dempster & Co., WS in Perth, returning to Aberdeen in 1959 as an assistant to Esslemont & Cameron, advocates, whose senior partner at that time was the late George Forbes (1902-08). He became a partner in 1961 and has been senior partner of the firm for the last twenty years. He was for eleven years City JP Fiscal for Aberdeen, dealing with prosecutions of all juvenile offenders in the city, and was for fifteen years a member of the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal—the "High Court" for solicitors in Scotland. He continues his association with Esslemont & Cameron as a consultant. Since 1979 one of his partners has been Tom Davidson (1967-72) whose mother, Mrs Ethel Davidson, taught him whilst in the Classics and English Departments of the School from 1944-48.

Ronald Scott Brown (1946-55) MA, LLB, LLD, whose recent honorary degree is noted above, has been appointed chairman of the North-east committee of the Scottish Council Development and Industry, of which he has been an ordinary member for the past three years.

Stuart Andrew Clarkson (1968-73) has opened the first public house in Aberdeen's Rosemount, the Queen Vic. It is in traditional English style, with wooden panels and carpeted floor, and aims to be a focal point for the local community.

FP Foreign Secretary Robin Finlayson Cook (1950-60) who has been Labour Member of Parliament for Livingston since 1983 has been appointed Foreign Secretary in the new Labour government which came to power in May. He has shadowed this post over several years in opposition, and was made a Privy Councillor in last year's Birthday Honours List.

John Bruce Clark Conn (1960-73) followed his clarinet lessons at School by studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, from which he enlisted in the Scots Guards and almost at once joined the Regimental Band. He has played at many important engagements around the world including America, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Saudi Arabia and most of Western Europe. As assistant Band Sergeant-Major he played with the Band at the 1996 Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Patrick Julian Davidson (1983-93), who throughout his time at School was a keen member of the CCF and a frequent visitor to the Army Careers Office, enlisted in September 1993. He spent ten months at the Royal Engineers' Army Apprentice School in Chepstow before moving to the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham, where he trained as a fitter/machinist. The final stage of his training was at Gibraltar Barracks, Surrey where he trained in combat engineering. He passed out in June 1996 with the top Combat Engineering Award having scored a record course average mark of 95.2%. He has since been posted to the Falkland Islands.

Stephen James Davidson (1967-73) MA, has been apointed chief executive of the cable giant TeleWest Communications, a US-controlled company of which he was previously finance director. The company is the second largest cable firm operating in Britain. After studying maths and statistics at Aberdeen University he joined the NM Rothschild merchant bank, arranging financial packages for airline and shipping companies to enable them to lease planes and ships. Two years later he joined America's Chemical Bank in New York, working on similar projects and on film finance for movies such as Local Hero and The First Lieutenant's Woman. In 1984 he moved to Hollywood to become treasurer at Lorimar Pictures, producers of 58

Former Pupils Section Dallas. When Lorimar was bought out he returned to Britain and joined Bankers Trust, involved in financing Britain's then fledgling cable industry. He moved to TeleWest in 1993.

David Smith Greig (1943-49) who left Aberdeen in 1954, has now retired after a career in insurance which took him to the Far East, West Africa and latterly his company's head office in London. He says that his only claim to fame is that he once went to a coronation—his own! Just before he left Nigeria in the early '70s he was installed by the Alake of Abeobuta as a chief of the Egba tribe with the title of Baba Sale Ake. Emma Alison Hendry (1985-91), who was Head Girl in 1990-91, graduated BSc. (Hons) in Technology and Business from Robert Gordon University in the summer of 1995. She is now working as a sales engineer in Aberdeen for Nautronix Ltd, an Australian-owned marine electronics company. Emma is also currently Captain of the very successful FP Women's Hockey Section.

Pioneering Children's Surgeon David Charles Jaffray (1962-68) MB, ChB, FRCS, who is consultant orthopaaedic surgeon at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, Shropshire, is pioneering a new type of surgical treatment for children suffering from cerebral palsy. The procedure was first developed in the US, and tackles the over-active nerves linking the spine to the leg muscles of such children. These nerves cause the limbs of sufferers to move in a spasmodic way so that it is both difficult and exhausting for them to walk. The operation works by selectively paralysing the most sensitive nerve roots to the most affected muscles in the legs, in order to control the spasms, but leaving in place the more normal roots which preserve sensation and motor function. All patients so far have improved, some dramatically; some have gone from being wheel-chair bound to actually walking, while one who previously could barely stagger is now working on his father's farm.

Philip Luke Jeffers (1980-86), who has been international officer for Robert Gordon University since 1992, left for Bangalore in March. He is to be a freelance student recruiting agent there, representing a number of British universities, including Aberdeen, Robert Gordon and Heriot-Watt. His Study Overseas office will cover all of southern India. The market for this type of assistance is huge in the area, which is at the centre of India's silicone valley. There, education is much in demand and there is considerable interest in what British universities have to offer.

Graeme William King (1966-72) MA, ACI1, FCILA graduated as a Master of Arts from Aberdeen University, majoring in Accountancy. He entered the insurance industry and is a Chartered Loss Adjuster and Chartered Insurance Practitioner by examination. He has been based in the Far East since 1985, serving tours of duty in Singapore (twice), Indonesia and Malaysia, where he is now permanently based and where he recently married. He has recently been appointed FP Club Consul for Malaysia, and is a committee member of the Selangor St Andrew's Society and of the Malaysian Aberdeen University Alumni Association.

Martin McArthur Lees (1947-52) MB, ChB, MD is a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion and at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He is also a senior lecturer in these subjects at Edinburgh University and chairman of the Area Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is a Medico-Legal Adviser in his area of speciality to the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland and is a member of the Council of the Union.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Andrew Francis Lovie (1950-55), who retired recently from a career as an engineer with British Telecom, has this Spring received the degree of BSc from the Open University. On leaving School he began training at the old Telephone House in Aberdeen before National Service with 19 (Air Formation) Signal Regiment. He then resumed his interrupted career, at the same time joining 51 (Highland) Signal Regiment TA in Aberdeen. Much of his recent work has been with the exchange construction staff, concerned with converting and extending exchange equipment as modern technology constantly transforms methods of communication. He has seen, over forty years, the change from manual exchanges to automatic, to STD and then to International STD, to electronic and now to digital equipment.

Alexander Aitchison McConochie (1965-67) who has been senior depute assessor to the new Grampian Valuation Joint Board since 1996 has now been appointed Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer following his former chiefs retiral. He has been in local government since leaving School, starting as a trainee in the Aberdeen City Assessor's department. He then qualified as a chartered surveyor and in 1975 was appointed as a principal valuer with the former Grampian Regional Council at the time of local government re-organisation in 1975.

Alexander Edward Mcllwain (1945-51) CBE, MA, LLB, SSC, WS has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland to the newly formed Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Panel, which will deal with appeals against the decisions of the Criminal Injuries Compenation Authority throughout the United Kingdom. He has also been appointed to the Judicial Studies Committee, a body set up by the Secretary of State for Scotland to promote training for the judiciary in Scotland. He is a former President of the Law Society of Scotland and is currently President of the Temporary Sheriffs' Association.

Timothy Euan McKay (1976—81), who has been principal teacher of Guidance at St Machar Academy in Aberdeen, has been appointed Assistant Head Teacher at Banchory Academy. His wife, Fiona Margaret Anne McCombk (1975-81) MB, ChB, is a partner in a busy general practice in Inverurie. They live with their young son at Kemnay.

Damien Martin McLeod (1969-73) has returned to NorthSound Radio after an absence of five years. He is now the presenter of the mid-morning weekday show on NorthSound 2. He was among the first presenters with the station when it came on air in the early '80s, but more recently has been involved in the retail trade. In 1994, along with his brother he acquired the business of Alex Scott Kiltmakers in Aberdeen and has concentrated on increasing the international side of the business.

Pauline Margaret McLeod (n€e Reid) (1980-86) qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in Edinburgh and worked for a time in Oxford. She met her Australian husband in Edinburgh, and now runs her own physiotherapy practice in Melbourne. She is still a keen tennis player and swimmer. She has two young boys. Her elder brothers David and John also attended the School, and notes about them appear below.

Colin Campbell Reith Macpherson (1935-44) MA, BD has retired after 38 yeaars in the ministry of the Church of Scotland. After graduating from Aberdeen University with honours in History in 1952 and obtaining his Divinity degree with distinction in 1955, he studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge as a Carnegie Research Scholar. He became assistant minister of the Auld Kirk, Ayr in 1958, before his call to Inverurie West Church in 1959. He held the charge of St Margaret's Parish Church, Dunfermline from 1966.

Derek George Marnoch (1940-52) BSc, has stepped down as chairman of the Science and Technology Regional Organisation North Scotland after eleven years.

60

Former Pupils Section Norman George Marr (1949-55) has recently been presented with the Long Service Certificate of the Church of Scotland in recognition of his 40 years as organist and choirmaster at Denbum Parish Church, Aberdeen (formerly known as Gilcomston St Co1ms). He recently took early retirement from his post as Director of Planning with the former Kincardine & Deeside District Council.

Stephen Charles Taylor Matheson (1951-57) CB, MA has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. After graduating with Honours at Aberdeen University in 1961 he entered the Civil Service, joining the Inland Revenue in London. He progressed steadily upwards, and from an early stage realised that management had to be a more valued job. In 1976 he was seconded to the Treasury to be Private Secretary to Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey.

He was then put in charge of the Revenue's Information Technology development, and his success in this field has been recognised by the naming of the Development Centre building "Matheson House". He has been a member of the Board since 1989.

Society of Advocates' President Alastair Merchant Mathleson (1943-57) MA, LLB, is this year's President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. He was formerly a partner of Messrs Paull & Williamsons, advocates, and is now a consultant to them.

Robert Leslie May (1939-44) BL, latterly sole partner of the Aberdeen law practice of Mackenzie & Wilson, has now merged that business with Raeburn, Christie & Co, with whom he continues as a consultant. His former associate, Mandy Jane McGlashan (1978—83) LLB, is now an assistant with the new firm.

Lucy Mitchell (1985-90), who is a constable in Grampian Police, sustained serious injuries in a road accident in March and was for some time critically ill in hospital.

She hopes to return to duty with the Police Traffic Division in Banff in early summer.

Previously stationed at Elgin and Keith, Lucy lives in Fochahers, and is the daughter of William Douglas Mitchell (1946-61).

Thomas McHardy Naskret (1963-70) has worked in the insurance sector since leaving School. He was with the Commercial Union from 1970-79, and then spent eleven years with Reed Stenhouse, followed by five years with U.K. Provident. Since 1985 he has been employed with Eagle Star International, based in London. He has recently been appointed Chief Executive (International Development) responsible for major international development of business for the Group, involving countries such as China, India and Brazil.

Michael John Ord (1957-63) MA, DBM, CIPFA has been appointed Director of Finance at Aberdeen University. He graduated in Arts from the University in 1966 and was awarded the Diploma in Business Management of Strathclyde University in 1967. He was a systems analyst in Glasgow, a financial analyst in Coatbridge, a financial accountant in Edinburgh from 1978, and most recently has been chief executive of Fife Healthcare.

Stephen Anton Pacitti (1947-56) MA, returned to Scotland last year after nineteen years as lecturer in Biblical Studies at Yu Shan Theological College, Hualien, in Taiwan. He was inducted in February this year to the charge of Coulter linked with Libberton and Quothquan, near Biggar in the Borders. This is a new and somewhat experimental form of ministry which may become a pattern in scattered rural areas, and his experience there will be observed by the Church of Scotland with interest.

Before going to Taiwan he spent nine years as minister at Dundonell and five years at Duncaim, Pollokshields.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Ian Michael Scott Park (1942-55) CBE, MA, LLB was recently installed as an Honorary Sheriff of Grampian, Highland and Islands at Aberdeen. He is no stranger to the Shrieval bench, having served for several years as a Temporary Sheriff, sitting in various parts of Scotland. Having retired from full-time practice a few years ago, he remains a consultant with Paull & Williamsons, Aberdeen and continues to be a very active member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. He is a former President of both the Law Society of Scotland and the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

David Thomas Graeme Reid (1975—80) is Scottish Licensed director of Christie & Co, the national surveyors and valuers. As such he is concerned in the surveying and valuation of licensed premises of all kinds in Scotland. He is based in Glasgow. His younger brother John Kevin Martin Reid (1976—82) studied science and engineeering after leaving School and worked off-shore for a time. He changed direction three years ago, and now lives in Bangkok, where he teaches English to Thai children.

Sports Personality Tracey Jayne Robb (1981-87) LLB, was awarded the first prize in the Aberdeen Sports Personality of the Year Awards, 1996. Scotland's number one hockey goalkeeper, she was first reserve for the British Women's Hockey team which competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Tracey coaches Scotland's under-I6 team.

She is now in practice as an assistant solicitor with an Aberdeen firm.

Graham John Russel (1967-73) MA, CA graduated from Aberdeen University in 1976 and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant while apprenticed to Williamson & Dunn, Aberdeen. In 1979 he joined KPMG Peat Marwick and commenced a career overseas in auditing and latterly management consultancy. He left KPMG in 1983 while in Kingston, Jamaica, to join NCR Corporation (of Dundee fame) and has since had assignments in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dayton, Ohio, and he is currently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he is chief financial officer for NCR's operations in the Caribbean and Latin America Region. Graham is interested in learning of any 25-year re-union activities planned for next year by the class of 1973.

Charles Pirie Skene (1940-47) OBE, has been appointed to a visiting professorship of entrepreneurship studies at Robert Gordon University in recognition of his experience as an entrepreneur and his long involvement with education. This has included a period as a governor of the former RGIT in Aberdeen and an appointment as an Industrial Consultant to the Scottish Education/Industry Committee. As a PriceBabson Fellow of the Babson College, Boston, he has played a key role in fostering strong links between Scottish universities and best practice in entrepreneurship studies in American universities. He played a major role in the winning of a Scottish Enterprise initiative by a consortium of Robert Gordon, Napier and Stirling Universities to set up an Exemplar Centre for Entrepreneurship excellence in 1995.

He is a former chairman of both Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

Michael Jonathan Smith (1978-84), as a star batsman in the Scottish XI, played a leading part in their performance in Malaysia this Spring, which culminated in the defeat of Ireland. Scotland thus qualified for the World Cup in 1999. With 44 Scottish caps to his credit, he continues to play for Aberdeenshire, who were the Scottish champions last season.

Colin Andrew Stephen (1976-81) who was until 1995 an executive officer in the Sheriff Clerk's office in Aberdeen, has been in Albania since Septembeer 1995 as a 62

Former Pupils Section missionary for a church in the town of Shkoder. He remained during the violence in the country earlier this year, and has expressed his determination to stay. His elder brother Robert Philip Stephen (1972-78) says that having heard about the problems in Albania, he went on a visit to see for himself, and decided to stay.

Colin Robert Sutherland (1947-60) BScEng, CEngMICE was appointed Managing Director of Hall & Tawse (Scotland) Ltd and its English subsidiary Hall & Tawse (North-East) Ltd in August 1996 with a seat on the Group Board. After graduating in civil engineering from Aberdeen University in 1963 he worked for Sr Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd for sixteen years throughout the UK and in the Bahamas. He joined a subsidiary of John Mowlem & Co plc based in Grampian in 1979, becoming Managing Director of Mowlem Scotland Ltd in 1984. Through Rotary International he organised a sun-flower growing competition for 4000 primary school children in the Dunblane area, where he now lives, in the summer of 1996 involving Jim McCall of the BBC's Beechgrove Garden who wrote the growing hints and presented the major prizes.

Brian Alfred Taylor (1962-68) who has worked as a pollution control officer and is at present manager of a waste management company and completing a part-time course for a law degree from Aberdeen University, was the Referendum Party candidate for Angus in the recent General Election.

Gordon Scott Williams (1933-45) retired in April 1996 from his post as design consultant to the Italian company Soltrici Binda. He is currently coaching hockey at schools in the Farnham area to 9 to 13-year-olds keen to learn the game. He was formerly employed by Wiggins Teape Group (now Arjo Wiggins) for forty years. He would welcome hearing from any hockey-playing FPs interested in playing for clubs in the Guildford or Hampshire areas.

Marriages Aiken (1976-81)—At Nigg Kirk, Aberdeen on 3 February 1996, Peter Christie Allen, son of the late Mr & Mrs Ian Aiken, 16 Whitehall Place, Aberdeen to Jacqueline Allardyce, daughter of Mr & Mrs Bill Allardyce, 37 Usan Ness, Altens, Aberdeen.

Blacklaws (1980-86)—At Stracathro Church on 8 June 1996, David Alexander Blacklaws, youngest son of Mr & Mrs John E. Blacklaws, 48 Morningfield Road, Aberdeen to Beckie Wood, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ian Wood, Smiddyhill, Stracathro.

Booth (1981-87) and McCready (1973-83)—At Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen on 20 October 1996, Graham Robert Kenneth McCready, son of Mr & Mrs Kenneth McCready, Glasgow to Sarah Jane Booth, daughter of Mr & Mrs Michael J. Booth, 54 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen.

Bowling (1983-89)--At Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen on 30 August 1996, Don Clarke, Perth, Australia to Philippa Mary Bowling, younger daughter of Dr & Mrs Dudley Bowling, 28 Grove Crescent, Aberdeen.

Cheyne (1982-88)—At Craigiebuckler Church, Aberdeen on 5 October 1996, James Peters, Adelphi, Aberdeen to Nicola Mary Cheyne, daughter of Mr & Mrs Henry Cheyne, 46 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen.

Cowie (1976-81)—At Almond Beach Village, Barbados, West Indies on 2 November 1995, David Ogilvie Cowie to Laura Clark.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Deans (1982-88)—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen on 12 April 1997 Norman Bruce Deans, younger son of Prof & Mrs Norman D. Deans, 13 Rubislaw Den North, Aberdeen to Donna Anne Goodrum, daughter of the late Mr & Mrs Goodrum, Dyce.

Drummond (1979—85)—At Mannofield Church, Aberdeen on 30 May 1997, Alan John Drummond, son of the late John Parkinson Drummond (1947-58) and of Mrs Drummond, 53 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen to Isla Audrey Hutton, daughter of Mr & Mrs John Hutton, 7 Mundurno Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

Ducat (1982-88)—At St Mary's Star of the Sea, Leith, Edinburgh on 12 October 1996, Gary Melville, Perth to Claire Jane Ducat, daughter of Mr & Mrs Thomas N. Ducat, 15 Devanha Gardens West, Aberdeen.

Geddes (1982-88)—At Craigiebuckler Church, Aberdeen on 28 December 1996, Steven Drummond Geddes, son of Mr & Mrs Reginald D. Geddes, 2 Burns Gardens, Aberdeen to Mhairi Duncan, daughter of Mr & Mrs E.. R. Duncan, 32 Woodburn Crescent, Aberdeen.

Gordon (1983-89)—At West Bridgeford, Nottingham on 10 August 1996, Michael Stuart Gordon, son of Mr & Mrs E. Brian Gordon, 426 Great Western Road, Aberdeen to

Tracey Jane Trumpess, daughter of Mr & Mrs B. Trumpess, Oakham, Leicester.

Harms (1986-87)—At Kildrummy House Hotel on 8 February 1997, Steve Wilde, Edinburgh to Karen Margaret Harcus, daughter of Mr & Mrs Magnus Harcus, 67

Forest Road, Aberdeen.

Hardie (1978-82)—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen on 2 November 1996 Grant Duncan Murray Hardie, son of Mr & Mrs Ian Hardie, 86 Stanley Street, Aberdeen to Sheena Nicol, daughter of Mr & Mrs Robert Nicol, Bridgend, Pitcaple.

Herrera (1981-87)—At St Mary's Chapel, Blairs on 31 August 1996, Gregory John Herrera, son of Mr & Mrs Derek F. Herrera, 5 Beechwood Place, Westhill to Kirsteen Donna Morrison, daughter of Mr & Mrs Douglas Morrison, 97 Clifton Road, Aberdeen.

King (1966-72)—At Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 1996, Graeme William King, eldest son of Mrs M. Yule and of the late Mr William King, Aberdeen to Shirty Soo Wei LLB, daughter of Mr & Mrs Soo Leong Ging of Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia.

Leiper (1981-87)—At Holbum West Church, Aberdeen on 13 July 1996, Graeme Callum, son of Mr & Mrs Dennis Callum, 21 Gordon Lennox Crescent, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen to Suzanne Leiper, daughter of Mr & Mrs John Leiper, 30 Annfield

Terrace, Aberdeen.

Middleton (1983-89)—At the Salvation Army Citadel, Aberdeen on 7 September 1996, Cameron Fraser, Dean Road, Kilmarnock to Nicola Jayne Middleton, daughter

of Mr & Mrs Brian Middleton, 152 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen.

Ritchie (1981-87)—At Holburn West Church, Aberdeen on 2 December 1995, William Reid, son of Dr & Mrs Tom Reid, 14 Beverley Avenue, Newtownards, Co. Down, Northern Ireland to Anne Jane Ritchie, daughter of Mr & Mrs James A. Ritchie, 6 Woodhill Place, Aberdeen.

Sutherland (1981-87)—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen on 19 October 1996, Michael Sutherland, son of Mr & Mrs James W. H. Sutherland, 23 Forest Avenue,

Aberdeen to Jennifer Shearer, daughter of Mr & Mrs Norman Shearer, 5 St Margaret Place, Aberdeen.

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Former Pupils Section Taylor (1978-84)--At Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen on 28 September 1996, Robert Kane, 37 Whitehall Road Aberdeen to Pamela Sarah Taylor, daughter of Mr & Mrs Ronald Taylor, 146 Midstocket Road, Aberdeen.

Wilson (1982-87)—At Strathbogie Church, Huntly on 12 April 1997, Gordon Robert Shand, only son of Mr & Mrs Gordon Shand, Craigenseat, Huntly to April Jane Wilson, daughter of Mr & Mrs William Wilson, 150 Ashgrove Road West, Aberdeen.

Wiseman (1983-89)--At Maryculter House Hotel, Aberdeen on 14 September 1996 Andrew Farquhar, 60 Victoria Road, Aberdeen to Diane Wiseman, younger daughter of Mr & Mrs Alexander Wiseman, 80 Cornhill Road, Aberdeen.

Obituaries Donald Morgan Bain (1943-52) died in hospital in Aberdeen on 1 October 1996. He was aged 60. After leaving School he served in the RAF before later joining his father in the fish trade in Aberdeen. He was proprietor of the city's Highland Fish Merchants and was a keen golfer. He is survived by his wife and son.

Joseph John Baker (1916-20, 1925-27) BCom, died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 8 January 1996, aged 85. After leaving School he studied at Aberdeen University, graduating Bachelor of Commerce in 1931. He then entered the family business of J. W. Baker Ltd, china merchants, becoming managing director in 1937 and chairman in 1943. He retired in 1971.

Robin William Ingram Band (1924-26) MA, BA died in April 1996 aged 88. He was born in China, the son of missionaries, his father later becoming Presbyterian minister in Singapore. His early education was at Glasgow Academy and he entered the Grammar in Classical V. He graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1929 and then went on to read History Honours at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was awarded an Eastern Cadetship in the Home & Indian Civil Services and after studying at the London School of Oriental Languages he joined the Malay Civil Service and was sent to China to learn Cantonese. He became a District Officer administering Christmas Island and in 1938 joined the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force. He was promoted to Captain in military intelligence and posted to the 8th Australian Division. He landed in Singapore on one of the last flights before the Japanese captured the island in February 1942, and was at once taken prisoner. He was transported on a horrendous rail journey in dreadful conditions followed by a forced march during the monsoon to Thailand and then to the Kanyu River camp.

He was involved in the construction of the infamous Thailand-Burma railway but contrived to endure the privations forced on the prisoners by their captors.

After the War he returned to Malaya, and following various other posts he became Secretary to the Malay Federation's Minister for Education, and as such was responsible for drafting Education Ordinances in 1952 and 1953 which formed the basis of the education services of the emerging Malaysia. Described as a man of retiring and scholarly disposition, he was an outstanding administrator and a skilful diplomat. He retired from Malaysia in 1957 and returned to Britain where he set up his own business with a home in Surrey. In 1962 he was appointed secretary of the International Folk Music Council, and compiled the first worldwide Directory of Institutions and Organisations concerned with folk music. In 1965 he decided to enter teaching and joined the staff of Stepney Green Comprehensive School in East London as teacher of French and Physical Education. He also acted as librarian and careers adviser. His war memoirs Heights and Depths have been accepted for the archives of both the Imperial War Museum and Rhodes House, Oxford. He published 65

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his autobiography My Dear Sons in 1963 and was also the author of two comedies, Unfair Sex and Mary. He was predeceased in 1984 by his wife, whom he had married in Australia in 1941, but is survived by his son and daughter.

Findlay MacRury Coutts (1948-61) MA, LLB died at home in Dunfermline on 15 November 1996, aged 53. A prefect and secretary of the Literary & Debating Society in 6th year, he graduated from Aberdeen University in Arts in 1964 and in Law in 1966. He made his career in local government, first serving his apprenticeship with Hamilton Town Council. He then became Town Clerk of Cupar in 1969. In 1975 he was appointed Director of Administration for Dunfermline District Council. He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter.

His two younger brothers also attended the School—Walter John Coutts (1950-63) and Graham Webster Coutts (1950-64).

Charles Robertson Cruickshank (1925-39) died on 4 April 1995 aged 74. Captain of Dun House and Vice-captain of the School 1st XV, as well as a prefect and cricketer, he served in the RAF during the Second World War. After the War he played rugby for FPs for several seasons. He was 1st XV captain in 1946/47 and was Vicecaptain in the following 1947/48 season, when FPs topped the Scottish unofficial championship table. He was in business in Aberdeen as representative of a national company in the food trade. After retiral some years ago he moved to Ballater. He was a member of the FP Club Executive for a number of years. He is survived by his wife, Bunty, whom he married in 1944.

Alan Alexander Dinnle (1931-44) died peacefully in hospital in Kirkwall on 6 June 1996 after a long illness. He was aged 70. After leaving School he served with the RAF for the remaining period of the War. A keen rugby player and a member of the School 1st XV in 1943-44, he played for Aberdeen Wanderers for a number of years and was several times selected for representative games. He was, for a few years, a representative for a wines and spirits company until joining William Hay & Sons (Aberdeen) Ltd as sales manager. After his retiral in 1990 he went to live in Orkney, but retirement was blighted by ill-health. He is survived by his wife.

Hockey Stalwart John Parkinson Drummond (1947-58) MA, FCOptom, died peacefully in Roxburgh House Aberdeen on 29 August 1996 after a brave fight against cancer. He was aged 55. Jim Lyon (1953-59) writes: At School, John was a pupil who enjoyed the company of his schoolmates. A natural sportsman, he excelled at athletics and hockey. A prefect in his final school years and a member of Bob McNay's "All Stars" hockey XI (an honour shared with future Scottish Internationalists Dennis Hay and Neil Buxton) John was a natural leader and a passionate player, always fair but expecting and giving no quarter.

After graduating MA from Aberdeen University in 1961 John attended Stow College in Glasgow where he not only studied opthalmic optics but also met his wife, Dianne. After a year in practice in Dunfermline he returned to Aberdeen in 1966 to join the family firm of Eddie & Drummond. Whilst in Glasgow, John was a prominent member of Western Hockey Club, and on moving to Dunfermline he played for Carnegie.

After his return to Aberdeen, John was very active in the wider aspects of opthalmic optics, replacing his father on the Scottish Committee of Opthalmic Opticians in 1969, and going on to become chairman of that body in 1976-78. He had a second term as chairman in 1989-91 after its change of name to the Scottish Committee of Optometrists. John was also active at local level in the Association and was twice local chairman. He was regularly consulted by the local Health Board 66

Former Pupils Section on optical matters, representing his profession on the Scottish Committee, and at the time of his death he was still chairman of the Area Optical Committee. His dedicated service to his profession was characteristic of the man, and his charisma will be a great loss to his colleagues who served with him.

But John will forever be remembered for his years of service to the FP Club, and especially to the Hockey Section. He played hockey with a passion he enjoyed the challenge, always gave of his best, was a great leader and a great inspiration to all who had the privilege of playing with him. Above all, he was a team player. For thirty years he was involved with FP Hockey, captaining all the XIs, being Club Captain, encouraging youngsters and umpiring to national level. John was a prominent member of the North District Hockey Association, Captain, President and selector. His prowess at the sport led to his selection as a member of the Picts touring side which he captained on many occasions. It is a mystery to many players of his vintage that he was never capped for his country. Towards the end of his playing career he was a member of the North Veterans Hockey Club (The Auld Craws), being captain and President.

Hockey apart, John was a staunch supporter of all aspects of the FP Club--a regular attender at FP Dinners and Annual Balls, a long serving member of the Executive and Club Centre Management committees, an active member and past Captain of the Golf Section, and a member of the Curling Section. He latterly took up bowls and was a member of Seafield Bowling Club, which he represented on many occasions.

Apart from parlour games, trivia nights, murder weekends and participation in the Thursday night "training" at the Club Centre, John loved card games, especially Bridge which he played with his brother Bruce as a partner. His ready banter and honest opinions endeared him to his large circle of friends. A generous host with an outgoing personality, and a trustworthy and staunch companion, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

John has left behind him a legacy in optometry through his wife, Dianne, his brother Bruce Mackenzie Drummond (1959-65) and his daughter Sally Louise Robertson (1981-87), all of whom continue the optical tradition. He is also survived by his son Alan John Drummond (1979-85), whose marriage is reported elsewhere in this Magazine, and who now lives in Vancouver, B.C. Gordon Fraser Durno (1939-47) died in hospital in Aberdeen after a long illness on 1 April 1997, aged 66. He was the son and nephew of farmers and began his farming career in partnership with his mother at Jackston, Rothienorman. In 1964 he acquired Cairnbrogie which he built up into a 610-acre operation with 180 cows producing over a million gallons of milk annually. He served on the board of North Eastern Farmers for 34 years until 1996 and was a director of the Aberdeen & District Milk Marketing Board for 29 years until retiring in 1991. In 1966, at the age of 35, he became the youngest director of the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland. Fraser was one of the organisers of a Re-union of School Leavers of 1947-49 (who style themselves the "Kids of the War Years") in May 1994 and was an active member of the committee arranging another gathering for this year (reported elsewhere in this Magazine) but sadly died six weeks before it took place. In a press tribute, a business colleague said "his determination always shone through, but in the years when he was unwell it became his hallmark. Fraser was loyal, enthusiastic, and a gentleman throughout".

He is survived by his second wife (his first having died some years ago) and by two sons and a daughter.

William Milne Ewen (1932-44) BCom, ACCA, died suddenly on 8 September 1996 aged 69. He went from School to Edinburgh University where he took a degree in Commerce in 1947. He then took up an appointment with a wharfage firm in London, before returning to Aberdeen to a post with Williamson & Dunn, chartered 67

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

accountants. In 1956 he took first place and prize out of 730 candidates from all over Britain in the final examinations of the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants. He remained with Williamson & Dunn as assistant to the late Andrew Scott Finnie (1924-35), until moving with the latter to the Aberdeen office of Whiney Murray in 1975. He retired in 1989.

Bill was methodical and meticulous in all that he did. He was deeply interested in music and was invariably to be seen at most of the classical music events in Aberdeen. He was treasurer, secretary and adviser to many societies, and not just in the musical field, and was described in one tribute as "a pillar on which a great deal of the artistic and cultural life of the city rested". Bill was a man of many interests, and in his younger days was closely involved with FP Cricket. He served on the FP Club Executive for a number of years in the 1950s and '60s, and was a founder member of the Club Centre. His love of music was shared with his wife, Margaret, by whom he is survived.

Former London Centre Secretary Robert Falconer (1944-58) MA died suddenly on 12 February 1996 aged 55. Prof.

William Yule (1945-58) writes: One of the immediate post-war entrants who spent his whole schooldays in the Grammar, Robert (Bobby or Bob, depending on when one met him) underwent some of the earliest open heart surgery as a teenager. He excelled in maths and classics, becoming Classical Dux in 1958, in which year he was also one of the School Editors of the Magazine. From the days of Maggie Mac he was active in the 1st Scouts, becoming leader of the Cubs while still at school—a role he maintained throughout his University days. There he met his future wife, Eva Slessor, a sister of William Ross Slessor (1946-59) BSc and Iain Kesson Slessor (1947-59). At Aberdeen University he began studying mathematics, but switched to psychology, graduating with honours in 1963. From that scientific base he moved into the developing field of market research, first with Cadbury's in Birmingham and then in London. With two partners he formed Communication Research Ltd where he worked for 21 years, latterly as managing director. In 1990 he set up his own company, Falcon Opinion Research for Marketing Ltd. He was admired in his profession for being able to combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to market research, a combination that had its roots in his early university studies. Bob enjoyed travelling and transport.

He made his home in Surrey and only towards the end of his life did he find the journey to London irksome. Throughout his adult life he had to have further heart surgery, and he always gave credit to the surgeons for giving him the strength and time to lead a very active life, which included an association over a long period with the London Centre of the FP Club, of which he was for several years the highly efficient Secretary. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Harvey Ferries (1925-39) BL, died in hospital in Aberdeen on 3 December 1996 aged 76. Following War service with the RAF, he studied at Aberdeen University where he graduated in Law in 1950. He was admitted to the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen later that year and at once joined his father the late John George Duncan Ferries (189405) in practice in Aberdeen. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Harry Alastair Forbes (1943-56) died suddenly at his home in Aberdeen on 9 May 1997 aged 58. He had been in indifferent health for some years. After leaving School he attended Aberdeen University with a view to qualifying as a solicitor, but soon decided that this was not the career for him. After a spell in insurance in Glasgow he returned to Aberdeen and worked for a number of years for J. M. Henderson Ltd, engineers. He was for several years Depot and Services manager for an oilrelated company until forced by ill-health to retire. His rugby skills were first 68

Former Pupils Section recognised at School and he was a regular member of the 1st XV during his final two years. He continued to feature in the FP 1st XV for a few years, and was thereafter a very involved supporter, seldom absent from the touch line. He was for many years a selector for North Midlands District. Sadly, Harry's wife, Margaret, died very unexpectedly just a few months before his own death. They had no family.

Thomas Forbes (1918-28) died peacefully at his home in Dundee on 3 December 1996 aged 84. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, he was a prominent actor-producer in Aberdeen and other Scottish centres. He founded the Green Room Theatre Company, one of the first repertory groups in the 1930s.

After returning from War service he was the producer of several Student Shows in Aberdeen and was later involved in a number of operatic productions in the city and in Perth and Kirkcaldy. He also broadcast on both radio and television, the latter including Dr Finlay 's Case Book and Sunset Song. He was for a time in the 1950s proprietor of a food business in Aberdeen.

William Lumsden Forbes (1924-28) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 22 April 1996, aged 83. After leaving School he joined the family granite firm of James Forbes & Son Ltd from which he retired through ill health in 1966. On the outbreak of War in 1939 he was called to serve in the local Fire Service. After two years he was called up to the RAF and served at bases throughout Britain as a ground crew member. During retirement his interests were gardening and bowling, indoor at Summerhill and outdoor at Woodend. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and his son Stewart Lumsden Forbes (1960-66).

Distinguished Political Researcher Lord Fraser of Kilmorack (Richard Michael Fraser) (1925-29) CBE, BA, MA died on 1 July 1996 aged 80. The son of an Aberdeen doctor, he finished his schooling at Fettes College before proceeding to King's College, Cambridge where he graduated BA in History in 1947 and MA in 1945. During the War he served in the Royal Artillery as a staff officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was awarded the MBE (Military) in 1945. In the light of his subsequent career, it is interesting to note that one of the duties which fell to him during his army service was to instruct a young Edward Heath in gunnery. Immediately after the War he joined the staff of the Conservative Research Department, becoming its joint director in 1951, its sole director in 1959 and ultimately, in 1971, its chairman. He had responsibility for policy, Paliamentary affairs and administration, and was described by Conservative Central Office as "the party's chief back-room boy". He had also been secretary to the Shadow Cabinet during the Conservatives' years in opposition in 1964-70 and 1974 until his retiral. He worked closely with five successive Conservative Prime Minister, from Churchill to Heath. While director of the Research Department between 1951 and 1964 he also worked closely with R. A. Butler, who was chairman of the Department during that period. He retired in 1975.

Michael Fraser was advanced to CBE in 1955, knighted in 1962 and was created a Life Peer in 1974. In retirement he became a director of Glaxo Holdings in 1975 and of Glaxo Enterprises in the United States in 1983. He was also on the board of the Whiteaway Laidlaw Bank until 1994. He was president of the Old Fettesian Association in 1977—80.

Lord Fraser is survived by his wife and one son, a daughter having predeceased him. The Club President, James Edward Fraser (1936-49) is a cousin, as is John George Nevill Fraser (1942-55).

Alan Begg Gair (1925-36) died in Forfar in 1995. He was on the staff of the Factorial Section of the City Chamberlain's Department in Aberdeen prior to serving with the 69

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Royal Artillery from 1939 to 1946. He then joined the City Architect's Department as a Quantity Surveyor's Clerk before moving to a similar post with Angus County Council and latterly Angus District Council. He retired in 1983.

Richard William Geater (1938-47) died in Toronto, Ontario on 26 January 1997, at the age of 67. He left School in February 1947 when his family moved to Canada, and became a life member of the FP Club on the same day. In Toronto he entered the employment of the British American Oil Company. In 1952 he played a leading role in the re-formation of Toronto Scottish Rugby Club which he then captained for a number of years. His enthusiasm for the game took him later to Toronto Barbarians and he coached a University of Toronto team which he took on tour to Scotland some years ago. He was for many years from 1952 the FP Club Consul for Ontario. He retired from Gulf Oil Canada (which had taken over British American Oil) in 1985 and in retirement he enjoyed golfing both in Canada and in Mexico, where he liked to spend the winter months. He is survived by his wife Pat, whom he married in 1963, and one son.

Former Secretary of Malayan & Yorkshire Centres William Scott Gilchrist (1929-36) BL died suddenly at his home in Boston Spa on 22 August 1996 aged 78. After leaving School he joined the Merchant Navy and during the war served with the Royal Naval Reserve. He then changed careers and, after studying at Aberdeen University, graduated in Law in 1950. He was admitted to the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen in 1951 and later that year left to join a firm of solicitors in Kuala Lumpur. After three years, during which he was FP Club Consul for Kuala Lumpur and Secretary of the Malayan Centre of the Club, he returned to Scotland to take over a law practice in Stonehaven. He was in business there and in Aberdeen for a number of years. He then qualified as a teacher and taught in Aberdeen from 1964 to 1973. After five years as an administrator in the offshore oil industry he retired to Boston Spa, near Wetherby, Yorkshire. He was a keen member of the Yorkshire Centre and was its secretary from 1987 to 1993. He is survived by his wife, whom he married in 1942, a son and a daughter.

Maurice Gordon Gullies (1923-30) MA, LLB, TD, QC died peacefully in Edinburgh on 19 January 1997 after a short illness. He was aged 80. He attended Edinburgh University, graduating in Law in 1939. He served throughout the War in Field Artillery and commanded a battery of 33 Field Regiment in the North-west Europe campaign of 1944-45 and subsequently in Germany after the end of the war. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in July 1946, quickly establishing a sound general practice. He became an Advocate Depute in 1955 and was the prosecutor of the serial murderer Peter Manuel in 1958. Law made in that case is still founded on in the criminal courts today. Later in 1958 he took silk and in October he was appointed Sheriff Substitute at Lanark. An Obituary in the Scots Law Times says that "he had that rare quality in a Sheriff that his view of the law and his judgement on fact were accepted by those in his Sheriffdom and beyond. His cases were seldom appealed and rarely with any success". In 1982 he was made Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway, an area stretching from Airdrie to Dumfries. He was a keen and highly proficient golfer. He is survived by his wife.

Stephen Goodbrand (1927-40) MA died suddenly at a nursing home in the Borders on 28 January 1997, aged 75. He graduated in Arts from Aberdeen University in 1949 and returned to study Divinity. He had the rare distinction of being President of both the University Students' Union in 1943/44 and of the Students' Representative Council in 1951/52. He was student assistant at Aberdeen's West Church of St Nicholas, and after being ordained in September 1952 went as locum tenens of St 70

Former Pupils Section Andrews Scots Kirk in Colombo, Ceylon for six months. He became minister of Hobkirk Parish Church, near Hawick, in 1954 where he remained until compelled by ill-health to retire in 1983. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of Hawick in 1959/60 and was later the first Moderator of the reconstituted Presbytery of Jedburgh. He acted as Chaplain to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly in 1956 and 1957. He was the son of the late William C K. Goodbrand (1905-07).

Kenneth Terence Gruer (1927-32) MC, MB ChB, died suddenly while on a family visit in Pennsylvania, USA on 31 May 1996, aged 76. Born in India, where his father was a High Court Judge, he left the Grammar after Lower School. He was a medical student at the outbreak of War in 1939, but volunteered for military service.

He was commissioned in the Royal Horse Artillery and served with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy. He was wounded during the siege of Tobruk. He was awarded the MC for distinguished service in Italy, where he risked his life in bringing about the destruction of an enemy gun position in the Tiber Valley. He then returned to Aberdeen University, where he graduated in 1950. After hospital appointments in Aberdeen he entered general practice at Kemnay in 1953. In 1967 he joined the Scottish Home & Health Department in Edinburgh as a regional medical officer. He retired some years ago and is survived by his wife, four children and eight grandchildren.

Alastair George Brand Halliday (1923-32) MC, MA died in Worthing on 14 September 1996, aged 84. He graduated from Aberdeen University in 1937, with honours in Classics. He was a teacher of physical training in various schools in Aberdeenshire until the outbreak of War. He served with the Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa and Italy, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in Italy.

In 1947 he was appointed Warden of the Royal Caledonian Schools at Bushey, Herts. where he succeeded Roderick Macrae, a former Grammar Schoolmaster. In 1969 he entered training for the Presbyterian ministry at Westminster College, Cambridge. He was briefly an assistant in Harrow before being ordained and inducted to Trinity URC in Streatham, South London. He retired some years ago to Goringby-Sea, Worthing. He is survived by his wife, Rae, whom he married in Inverurie in 1946, and by two daughters and a son.

Distinguished Medical Researcher Alfred Alexander Harper (1918-25) died on 17 November 1996, aged 89. In his Schooldays a keen artist and winner of the Samuel Pope Medal for Art, he went on to Aberdeen Univesity where he took a first class honours degree in Classics in 1929 before turning to medicine. In this he was inspired by the lectures of Prof J. J. R. Macleod (1884-93) then Professor of Physiology at Aberdeen and winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923, which had a major influence on his choice of career. Following a series of junior clinical posts, he moved into academic work in the University of Leeds, St Thomas's Hospital, London, and in the University of Manchester, before being appointed in 1949 to the Chair of Physiology in Newcastle (which was, until 1963, part of the medical School of Durham University). After his retiral in 1972, he continued his research in the field of pancreatic function, in which his discoveries led him to establish a firm basis for diagnostic criteria. He recalled from schooldays the heavy classical bias in the curriculum for those hoping to proceed to University; even the Religious Education period was made to serve the ends of a thorough Classical education by having the pupils read the new Testament in Greek.

An Obituary in The Times remarked that "the benefits of Professor Harper's early Classical training remained with him all his life, his scientific papers being always written with a clarity that was the envy of his peers".

71

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine lain Alastair Lewis Harrow (1939-45) MA, LLB, died suddenly on 12 February 1997. He went from School to Merchiston and later to Aberdeen University, where he graduated in Arts in 1965 and in Law in 1968. He served his apprenticeship in Aberdeen and Stonehaven, working for a time for Messrs. Kinnear & Falconer, solicitors in Stonehaven. He underwent heart surgery on a number of occasions, but in spite of this stood, unsuccessfully, as the Scottish Nationalist candidate for the Cutter Division of Grampian Regional Council in 1982. He made his home in Brechin.

Arthur Desmond Fraser Hay (1923-31) died peacefully in Inverurie Hospital on 6 July 1996 after a period of ill-health. He was aged 78. He trained with the old North of Scotland Bank, with whom he worked from 1935 to 1938. He then joined the family firm of William Hay & Sons (Aberdeen) Ltd, with whom he was a country representative covering the area between Edzell and Dingwall. After leaving the firm he was for a time in a clerical post with the Tait paper mill at Inverurie. He has been retired for many years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Gordon Nicol Henderson (1926-37) BSc, FICE died peacefully, after a short illness, in hospital in Aberdeen on 27 July 1996, aged 76. His studies at Aberdeen University were interrupted by War service with the Royal Engineers in the Far East. He graduated in 1949 and joined his father's firm of Arch. Henderson & Partners, civil engineers in Aberdeen. He was senior partner from 1972 until retiring in 1984, during which time the firm expanded enormously as a result of the impact of North Sea oil. He continued to take an active interest in the firm until a few weeks before his death. A keen golfer and bowler, he was a past captain of Deeside Golf Club and of the FP Golf Section. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

James Gray Kilgour (1909-16) MA, died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 14 November 1996, aged 94. He studied at Aberdeen University, graduating in Arts in 1923. Thereafter he entered the family business of Kilgour & Walker of Berryden Mills, Aberdeen, of which he became managing director. He later also ran a hosiery company in Inverurie. He served for many years as a Justice of the Peace and was for over seventy years a member of the Weavers Incorporation of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen. A keen golfer in his younger days, he had to have both hips replaced in 1969 and 1970, an operation which had to be repeated when he was in his mid-80s. Described by someone who knew him well as "the most unselfish, loving and determined man you could ever wish to meet" his spirit was undiminished by these problems and he remained cheerful to the end.

Gray Kilgour was the son of David M. Kilgour (1876-82) and is survived by his two sons, David Gray Kilgour (1938-40, 1945-50) and Lindsay Kilgour (1943-52), and by his daughter Denise.

David Littlejohn (1944-56) died suddenly at his home at Westhill, Aberdeen on 4 March 1997, aged 57. After leaving School he was employed as a soft-furnishings salesman with John Falconer & Co., later House of Fraser, and for several years, until the business closed, he was with Galloway & Sykes in Aberdeen. Having first learned to play the trombone at School, music became his consuming interest. He played with the Skokian Jazz Band at the University Union and was a former member of the Sandy West Jazz Band in the city with whom he had been on stage with such celebrated musicians as Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and Chris Barber. He is survived by his wife and daughter. His older brothers were James Henry Littlejohn (1936-49) and Alistair George Littlejohn (1940-53).

Charles Kenneth Mackay (194.4-50) BSc, died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 4 September 1996 after a long illness. He graduated from Aberdeen University in 1954, trained as a teacher and completed National Service in the Royal Army Education Corps. He taught at Ruthrieston Junior Secondary School in Aberdeen 72

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for two years before taking up a post in 1961 as County Educational Psychologist in Bedford. In 1964 he was appointed to a lectureship in the department of Psychology at Aberdeen University in 1964, becoming a senior lecturer in 1972. He retired several years ago on account of ill health and was in hospital for a lengthy period prior to his death. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Farmer & Businessman of Vision Sir Maitland Mackie (1926-28) BSc, FEIS, CBE, LLD died suddenly at his home, Westertown, Rothienorman, on 18 June 1996, aged 84. Born at North Ythsie, Tarves, he was a son of the late Maitland Mackie (1897-1902). When he first entered School in Upper IV as a country boy, the other boys laughed at the boots which he wore. Although he had shoes which he could have worn, he continued to wear boots just to show them. He graduated from Aberdeen University with a degree in Agriculture in 1932 and started work as his father's grieve at Thomastown, Huntly. He farmed at Westertown from 1935 after his marriage and there then began a truly remarkable career of farming and public service. He was from the outset a pioneer; he was the first farmer north of the Tay to have a combine harvester, the first in the area to make silage and the first to introduce loose housing for dairy cows.

He developed a successful milk retail business, but sold it in the 1960s. He was chairman from 1965-82 of the old Aberdeen & District Milk Marketing Board, where he was responsible for the development of the Twin Spires Creamery at Bucksburn. He was a governor of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture from 1968 to 1982, and was its vice-chairman for four of these years. He was a governor of the Rowett Research Institute from 1973 to 1982, and of the former Robery Gordon's Institute of Technology.

His first foray into public life came in 1951 when he was elected to the former Aberdeenshire County Council. He was chairman of its education committee for fifteen years (where, again, he showed himself to be an innovator), and was convener of the Council from 1967 until local government reorganisation in 1975. He failed to secure election to the new Regional Council, but was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire from 1975 to 1987. While he did not agree with the trend towards politics in local government, he did twice stand for election to Parliament as a Liberal in both East and West Aberdeenshire. He was unsiirrpcsful on both occasions, unlike his two brothers—Lord John-Mackie (John Mackie) (1924-26) Labour MP for Enfield East from 1959 to 1974, later a Life Peer, who died in 1994, and Lord Mackie of Benshie (George Yule Mackie) (1933-35), Liberal MP for Caithness & Sutherland for several years and later a Liberal Life Peere.

Sir Maitland was the first chairman of the North East of Scotland Development Authority from 1969 to 1975, and as head of the oil policy committee he led the first Scottish oil trade mission to Houston, Texas. He was chairman of Peterhead Bay (Management) Co Ltd and a director of several companies, among them Highland Hydrocarbons Ltd, Scottish Telecommunications Board, Morgan Grenfell (Scotland) Ltd and Aberdeen Cable Services. He served on numerous government committees. He had a life-long interest in Scouting, was a former scoutmaster, and was for twenty-five years an assistant commissioner. He was frequently honoured for his distinguished public service, such honours including the award of the CBE in 1965, Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies in 1974, an Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from his alma nutter in 1976 and his knighthood in 1982. He was a Knight of the Priory of Scotland of the Most Venerable Order of St John.

Speaking at a memorial service, Sir Ian Wood said, "He always had a twinkle in his eye and was a businessman of vision and an international ambassador at the start of the oil industry in the North-east. He clearly showed the hard-bitten oilmen of Texas that he was a man of authority and wisdom who could command their attention," 73

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Sir Maitland was twice married; his first wife, by whom he had four daughters and two sons, Maitland Mackie (1946-54) and Donald Elrick Mackie (1951-53), died in 1960; his second wife predeceased him in 1993. He was a devoted family man and latterly patriarch of the extended Mackie family consisting of 203 direct descendants of his grandfather. 165 of whom attended a clan gathering at Westertown in 1995.

Harold Samuel Milne (1913-26) BSc, MIGasE, died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 28 August 1996 after a long illness. He was aged 90. After graduating from Aberdeen University in 1928 he trained as a civil engineer with Aberdeen Harbour Commission. There followed posts with various gas companies and local authorities and he gained experience in the erection and operation of vertical retort installations at Aberdeen. Edinburgh and in Denmark. He returned to Aberdeen in 1938 as depute gas engineer to his father, whom he succeeded as gas engineer in 1939. In 1949 he was appointed divisional gas controller for Aberdeen and the North under the newly formed Scottish Gas Board. In 1957 he became divisional general manager for Aberdeen, and in 1959 he was appointed deputy divisional manager at Aberdeen of the Central and Northern Division of the Board. He retired in 1964.

Distinguished Academic David Donald Murison (1922-29) MA, BA died peacefully in Fraserburgh on 17 February 1997, aged 83. He was born, and received his early education, in Fra.serburgh, entering the Grammar in Middle I. He studied Classics at Aberdeen, graduating with first class honoure in 1933. He read classical philology at Cambridge and was awarded a first class honours degree. He became an assistant lecturer, and in 1955 lecturer, in Greek at Aberdeen University. In 1946 he was invited to become deputy editor of the Scottish National Dictionary, working from Aberdeen. The editor, William Grant, had begun work on the dictionary in 1929 on his own retirement from academic work in Aberdeen, and when he died later in 1946, having completed two volumes covering the letters A to C, Murison succeeded to the editorship. Considering that Grant's work was the product of data collection, research and fieldwork which he had started in 1907, the zeal, dedication and industry which the new editor brought to his task can be judged by the fact that the whole work, ten volumes and supplement in all, was completed in 1976. Until 1954 he worked in Aberdeen, but thereafter in Edinburgh. The whole work was undertaken against a background of financial stringency, and despite funding from the Scottish universities much had to be done to raise the necessary money—and Murison proved a tenacious and successful fundraiser.

It is hard to comprehend the immensity of the task. The Dictionary records the Scots language from 1700 to the 20th Century and contains nearly 70,000 entries.

The Dictionary became a grander work under Murison's direction, and the Supplement with which it ends is a comprehensive re-writing of the earlier letters.

Entries contain detailed definitions, with carefully chosen illustrative quotations for each sense of a word, etymological information, and notes of pronunciation, grammar and usage. Each entry was personally overseen by Morison.

In 1979 he retired to Fraserburgh where he continued to work, producing what he called "wee bookies" on the history of Fraserburgh and on local place-names, and this latterly against the handicap of Parkinson's Dist-Ace He was a man of considerable charm and humour with a rich store of anecdotes appropriate to any situation or subject. He was convinced (probably rightly) that the Dictionary had not received the support which it deserved and this, together with his extreme modesty about his own achievements, and his dislike of self-advertisement, led him to refuse all academic honours and other recognition, and he even absented himself from the reception 74

Former Pupils Section held to mark the conclusion of the Dictionary. It was characteristic that his final instruction was that there was to be no public announcement of his death and that he was to be taken to Kirkton Cemetery at Fraserburgh without ceremony of any kind. Beyond any doubt, he is one of the great Scots of this century and his unremitting energy to preserve the Scots language will be his lasting memorial.

Robert Edward Page Nutten (1926-38) MB, ChB, died in hospital in Aberdeen on 20 March 1997, aged 77, after a short illness. He graduated in Medicine at Aberdeen in 1943, after which he served as a Captain in the RAMC with the Ghurkas in Quetta, India. He was briefly with a practice in Inverurie before returning to practise, first in Great Western Road and later at the Denbum Health Centre. He was noted as a popular doctor, with one of the largest patient lists in Aberdeen. He was also for several years physician to Royal Cornhill Hospital. He was a former chairman of the Aberdeen Constitutional Club and a lifelong member of Aberdeenshire Cricket Club. He is survived by his wife, whom he married in 1945, a daughter and his son Frederick Robert Nntten (1958-71).

Geoffrey Laurence Paterson (1960-65) died suddenly at his home in Stonehaven on 30 January 1997 aged 49. He studied at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology and took a degree in pharmacy. He was manager of Michie's, chemists, in Stonehaven for several years, and was then in business on his own account in Inverbervie. Latterly he was for nine years manager with Norco pharmacy in Aberdeen and then with Moss pharmacy who took over their business. He was a member of the committee of the Pharmaceutical Society in Abeerdeen. He was an elder of Dunottar Parish Church and was its Presbytery elder, and he was a former president of Stonehaven Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife and two teenage daughters.

Douglas Lamont Paul (1933-40) BL died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 3 September 1996 aged 74. Prefect, House captain of Byron, and 1st XV captain in 1939/40 he went on to War service in the Royal Navy. He then studied at Aberdeen University, graduating in Law in 1949. He was admitted to the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen in 1950 and became an assistant with Butchart & Rennet, advocates.

He gave up legal practice in favour of farming near Fraserburgh. He was predeceased by his wife in 1985, but is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Gibb Niven Pennie (1923-26) MA, BD died in Glasgow on 2 May 1996 aged 87.

He graduated with honours in Classics from Aberdeen University in 1930 and after training was, for a short time, in the teaching profession. In 1934 he entered the Scottish Episcopal Theological College in Edinburgh and was ordained in 1936.

Following a number of curacies, he was appointed as a lecturer at the Theological College in 1938 and from 1942-45 was College chaplain. In 1944 he graduated in Divinity with distinction at Aberdeen and returned to the parish ministry in 1945 at Dalbeattie and Hamilton before moving to St John's Church, Greenock in 1957.

From 1961 until his retiral in 1977 he was also Canon of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow. He preached at Longside in October 1971 on the Anniversary of the Birth of Rev. John Skinner ("Tullochgorum"). He is survived by his wife and two sons.

His three brothers also attended the School—William Alexander Durance Pennie (1924-29) who died as a result of an accident in 1931, and Ian Durance Pennie (1926-33) and Donald Durance Pennie (1931-37), both of whom are retired from medical practice.

William Albert Porter (1946-52) died on 23 May 1997 aged 62. On leaving School he at first planned to make a career in insurance, but soon saw an opening in journalism.

He began with the Inverurie & District Advertiser before joining the Scotsman in Edinburgh. There he was Transport Correspondent at the time of the Beeching 75

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine railway cuts and his reports were recognised as authoritative and reliable. He became chief reporter of the Edinburgh Evening Despatch and then news editor of the merged Edinburgh Evening Times & Despatch. In 1965 he changed to public relations in

the railway industry. He was chief press officer for British Rail in Scotland until 1970, then public affairs manager for Eastern Region and later for InterCity, with responsibility for all media and political matters relating to the East Coast main line from King's Cross to Aberdeen. When rail privatisation approached he changed career again, this time to designing and editing company newspapers, producing video scripts and writing books, all from a home-based business. His books include A Backward Look about the forebears of Lord Thomson of Fleet, A Brutal Inheritance, being a Porter family history, and Tarves Lang Syne, a social commentary on parish life in Scotland down the centuries. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

William Jack Watson Rae (1929-41) MB, ChB, DPH, died peacefully in hospital at Aberdeen on 15 January 1997, aged 72. Following War service, he studied at Aberdeen University, graduating in Medicine in 1950. After hospital appointments in Aberdeen he was briefly in general practice in Goole and Aberdeen before being appointed junior assistant Medical Officer of Health for Aberdeen in 1957. He was later senior assistant and junior deputy MOH before becoming assistant senior medical officer to Aberdeen Regional Hospital Board in 1968. He was later specialist in community medicine with Grampian Health Board. He had followed in the footsteps of his late father Harry James Rae (1898-1904) who was Aberdeen's Medical Officer of Health for over twenty years. Dr Rae was predeceased by his wife but is survived by a son and daughter. His brother is Harry James Rae (1923-26, 1929-35) who held a regular commission in the Royal Corps of Signals.

Nils Reinecke (1989-93) died as a result of a road accident near Munich, Germany on 27 October 1996 aged 21. He had been working at a hotel near Munich for the previous six months, and was driving home from work in the early hours. He was interred at Leer, Germany and a mark of his popularity is found in the presence of twelve of his friends from Aberdeen at the funeral. His younger brother Tim Ulrich Reinecke (1989-95) is in Aberdeen.

Distinguished Botanist John Grant Roger (1920-26) BSc died on I March 1997 aged 87. He trained in tropical agriculture and worked for two years on a tea estate in Sumatra before returning to study at Aberdeen University where he took an honours degree in Botany in 1937.

He was curator of the North-east Regional Museum in Aberdeen before moving in 1944 to become Assistant Keeper in charge of botany at Manchester University Museum.

In 1951 he was appointed head botanist to the fledgling Nature Conservancy in Edinburgh. Later, as Regional officer for North-east Scotland, he had a pionering role in the development of nature conservation in Scotland, including the establishment of the National Nature Reserves of the Cairngorms, Caenlochan, Sands of Forvie, Moor of Dinnet, St Cyrus and Morrone Wood at Braemar. His lectures on the Scottish flora and historic castles and houses were masterly and were illustrated by his own high quality photographs. He retired from the Conservancy in 1969, but continued to lecture until he was 83. He was president of the Edinburgh Botanical Society in 1966-68, a Fellow of the Linnean Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries and an honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Zoological Society. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Francis Miller Selbie (1935-39) died suddenly at his home in Aberdeen on 1 June 1996, aged 74. Following War service with the Gordon Highlanders he entered the licensed trade in 1947, when he acquired the Ferryhill Tavern in Aberdeen. After 76

Former Pupils Section running it for thirty years he worked in various licensed premises in the city before a ten-year spell as steward of Gordonians' Seafield Club, prior to his retiral in 1994.

Ronald George Simpson (1925-38) MB, ChB, FRCP(Lond & Edin), died on 25 July 1995, aged 74. After graduating in medicine at Aberdeen University in 1943 he served for four years with the RAMC, mainly in India. He returned to hospital appointments in Aberdeen in 1948 and obtained his MD with honours from Aberdeen University in 1949. After four years as Senior Medical Registrar at Woodend Hospital he was appointed Consultant Physician in Geriatrics at Perth Royal Infirmary, where he built up the geriatric unit and founded the first geriatric day clinic in Britain. He was for many years senior lecturer in geriatric medicine at Dundee University. He was a past president of Perthshire Cricket Club, of the Scottish County Cricket Board and of Perthshire Medical Curling Club.

Former London Centre President August Henry Klie Slater (1922-25) MA died in London on 15 December 1996, aged 79. Classical Dux of the School in 1935, he proceeded to read Classics at Aberdeen University, graduating with First Class Honours in 1939. He served with the Royal Artillery from 1939 to 1945 in the UK, North Africa and Italy, and he was mentioned in despatches. At the end of the War he was attached to the Intelligence Organisation of the Allied Commission to Austria. On leaving the army, he studied at Merton College, Oxford, where he was a Classical Exhibitioner, graduating MA in 1952. In 1947 he had been successful in the Civil Service competition, and he joined the staff of the Public Records Office. He held a number of Private Secretaryships, including two successive Lords President of the Council. In 1958 he was appointed to the Atomic Energy Authority working at its Vienna Headquarters. From 1964 he was on the staff of the Department of Trade & Industry and dealt with trade to Russia and Eastern Europe during the period of the Cold War. His tact, knowledge of several languages, as well as his genuine interest in the countries he visited, made him a popular figure despite the then suspicion of the West. He was a member of the Egypt Exploration Society, its treasurer from 1962, and Governor of its Great Britain-Eastern Europe Centre during 1968-72.

Harry Slater was a loyal son of the Grammar and an enthusiastic member of the FP Club. He was for many years a regular contributor to the Magazine. In 1948, when the London Centre of the Club was re-established, having been in abeyance during the War years, he was elected as its secretary and devoted his considerable talent for organisation to the great benefit of the Centre. Its flourishing state now is in large measure due to the basis which he laid then. His long association with that Centre included a term as its President.

Harry is survived by his wife, Mary, whom he married in 1945, two daughters and a son.

John Manson Sleigh (1914-16) BSc(Eng), AMICE, died peacefully in an Aberdeen nursing home on 10 October 1996, aged 97. After leaving School he served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Vickers & Co. Ltd at Barrow and studied engineeering at Glasgow University, where he graduated in 1923. He was an engineer with contractors working on the Gezira Irrigation Scheme on the Blue Nile in the Sudan. In 1926 he became an assistant engineer in the Public Works Department of Nigeria and was then offered, and accepted, the post of Forest Engineer in Nigeria.

He trained for this at Oxford University, in India, the Philippines, Borneo, Germany and Sweden. He took up his new post in 1930, but in 1934 returned to the Public Works Department as Executive Engineer. After a period as Senior Executive Engineer he became Director of the Department of Public Utilities in Gambia. In 1951 he retired from the Colonial Civil Service, having latterly been Regional 77

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Deputy Director of The Nigerian Public Works Department. He then became deputy chairman of John Howard & Co. (Africa) Ltd at Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia but with interests in the whole of Rhodesia. He was for a number of years FP Club Consul at Lusaka. On his eventual retiral he lived for a time in Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Sleigh was predeceased by his wife, Helena, who was the daughter of the late Mr James Davidson of the School staff. He was the son of the late Charles W. Sleigh (1874-79). His brother Frederick Roberts Sleigh (1914-17) died in 1979.

James Souter Stephen (1919-29) MA, BD, PhD, died in hospital in Elgin on 29 April 1997 aged 86 after a short illness. At School he played for the 1st XV for four years and was Athletics Champion in 1928. At University he gained a Blue for Athletics and was President of the SRC in its Jubilee year. He graduated in Arts with honours in 1934 and completed his PhD in History in 1936. He was a senior trainee with Unilever in Leeds and London, playing rugby for Headingley. He went back to Aberdeen University to study Divinity, graduating BD in 1943. While there he was appointed the first organiser for Blood Transfusion for Aberdeen and the North-east. He was minister at Mortlach, Dufftown for twenty years from 1942, during which time he served on the Religious Advisory Committee of the BBC and on the executive of the Scottish Association of Boys' Clubs. In 1962 he moved to the neighbouring parish of Botriphnie and was minister of the linked Botriphnie and Boharm charge from 1971 until his retiral in 1982. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. His brother Major General Robert A. Stephen (1919-25) died in 1983.

Rowland Fraser Stephen (1920-29) died peacefully in hospital at Huntly on 28 April 1997 aged 83. From School he entered the family fish merchants' business of John R. Stephen and continued as home trade sales co-ordinator after the firm was taken over by Claben Ltd. He retired in 1975. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Kenneth Ernest William Tyson (1945-48) died suddenly at his home near Forfar on 13 July 1996 aged 63. He studied at Dundee College of Education and at St Mary's College of St Andrews University. After a brief period at Douglas and Angus during the 1970s he was called to St Ninian's Church, Corby, where he spent five years.

There he was also chaplain to the local British Legion, Corby Pensioners' Parliament and the Kettering & District Caledonian Society. He then returned to Scotland as minister at Fettercairn linked with Auchenblae and Glenbervie. After a period of illhealth he retired to Roundyhill, by Kirriemuir. He had a keen interest in Great Danes, and with his wife was involved in judging and showing the breed. He is survived by his wife. His brother is Richard Frederick Tyson (1944-48).

Peter Anthony Walker (1945-59) MB, ChB, FRCSE, FRCPath, died suddenly at his home in Kirkcaldy on 13 October 1996, aged 54. He studied medicine at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1965. After hospital appointments in Aberdeen and Glasgow, and two spells as a lecturer in pathology at Aberdeen, he joined the Pathology Department at Aberdeen as a lecturer in 1972 and was an assistant to the Forensic Pathologist. In 1981 he was engaged by Fife Health Board as consultant histopathologist at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

Douglas Mitchell Wood (1918-29) died in Jersey on 18 December 1996 aged 84. From School he joined the former North of Scotland Bank in Aberdeen as an apprentice, moving later to Barclays Bank (Overseas) in London for further training. In 1936 he went to Accra, Gold Coast, with Barclays Bank (DC&O) to start a lifetime of banking in various parts of Africa. In 1938 he moved to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and ten years later to Nairobi, where much of his career was spent. He retired several years ago and made his home latterly in Jersey.

78

Former Pupils Section Last year's Magazine contained, at page 87, an Obituary paragraph about the late Isabella J. R. Park (nee Mackintosh) who taught in the School from 1940 to 1947.

On behalf of those many of her former pupils who benefitted from her enthusiastic contribution to Scouting in the School, "J.E.F." writes: The obituary notice about `Maggie Mac' in the 1996 Magazine paid deserved tribute to her sterling contribution to the life of the School in the 1940s, but it lacked one important dimension: her service as Cubmistress (Akela) to the 1st Aberdeen (AGS) Scout Group. Those of us at School during the War owe an immense debt not only to those who reinforced the depleted ranks of the teaching staff, but also to those who kept extra-mural activities going in conditions of great difficulty. Training in her Pack provided the 1st Troop with a constant stream of recruits, but her work had a much wider motivation—the overall education and development of each individual, through encouragement to realise to the full latent skills and abilities far beyond expectation. To be taught Maths by Maggie and to be trarined in (or help with) her Pack was to be doubly blessed. Her style was direct, energetic and firm (as firm as was her application of grease paint to the budding Thespians in School productions). As the 1996 notice remarked, she had a warm personality. Transgressors against her clear concept of acceptable behaviour sensed a warmth akin to that of liquid steel; and she had an uncanny knack, in classroom or in hut, of identifying the epicentre of any deviance. The cub who audibly described the logistics for a Clinterty excursion as a `palaver' will remember her lightning excoriation to this day. But this was all part of her concern for all the aspirations of her flock in every respect. The main memory which survives is of the warmth of her kindness. I last met her, after a lapse of many years, at a 1st Group reunion, when I was in my mid-fifties. Her first greeting was, "You must get your hair cut, Edward". I did.

79

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 1996 FC Club Income and Expenditure Account

INCOME Subscriptions Transfer from life members' account Donations—Club Centre Donations—other Dividends Gain on maturity of investments Magazine—advertising Magazine—donations Magazine—Beyond 500 Entertainments—surplus Miscellaneous

EXPENDITURE Printing, stationery and postage—magazine Printing, stationery and postage—other Honoraria Travel and accommodation Grants—capitation School—prizegiving School—London trip School—Amenities Fund School—prefect's badges Audit fee Corporation tax Entertainments—deficit Miscellaneous

SURPLUSADEFICTT) FOR THE YEAR

80

1996

1995

£

£

1,934 793 3,500 57 753 1,450 4,260 6 1,708 — —

2,072 819 3,500 711 1,470 364 1,920 56 1,759 492 74

14,461

13,237

7,097 497 3,500 767 600 365 564 450 318 529 183 245 441

9,249 759 3,500 1,086 600 425 454 450 — 528 367 — 56

15,556

17,474

(1,095)

(4,237)

&dame Sheet 1996

1995

£

£

111,381

107,906

INVESTMENTS

4,160

10,602

CURRENT ASSETS Stock Debtors Bank accounts

850 14,640 13,923

984 11,975 11,984

29,413

24,943

91,475 249 8,545

88,000 220 11,595

100,269

99,815

HERITABLE PROPERTY

CURRENT LIABILITIES Club Centre loan Subscriptions in advance Creditors

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES

(70,856) (74,872)

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Life members Robert G. Wilson bequest Miss Isabella Grant bequest

REVENUE ACCOUNTS Robert G. Wilson bequest Miss Isabella Grant bequest Beyond 500 Centenary General

81

44,685

43,636

17,059 1,923 1,050

15,552 1,733 1,000

20,032

18,285

770 636 2,338 5,947 14,962

632 632 2,326 5,704 16,057

24,653

25,351

44,685

43,636

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Accounts for Year ended 31 December 1996 FC Club Centre Income and Expenditure Account 1995 £

£

£

BAR ACCOUNT 123,796

120,693 BAR SALES COST OF SALES 4,414 Stock in Hand at 31st December, 1995 66,081 Bar Purchases

4,616 64,991

70,495 4,616 Less: Stock in Hand at 31st December, 1996

69,607 4,956

65,879

64,651

54,814 GROSS PROFIT

59,145

MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 11,636 Annual Subscriptions 15,299 Gaming Machine Revenue (Net) (166) Snooker and Pool 1,216 Miscellaneous Income 515 Interest Received (Net)

11,709 11,216 (165) 1,685 142

83,314

83,732

OVERHEAD EXPENSES 33,861 Wages and National Insurance 16,918 Rates and Insurance 11,278 Heating and Lighting 400 Telephone (Net) 4,564 Repairs and Maintenance 3,500 Donation to Former Pupils' Club 630 Other Donations Bank Interest 1,505 Administration Expenses 1,278 Steward's Pension Scheme 6,010 Cleaning 5,000 Honoraria 3,501 Miscellaneous Expenses 897 Depreciation

33,725 18,129 12,667 444 4,033 3,500 630 41 1,756 1,320 6,316 5,000 4,518 1,253

89,342

93,332

(6,028) DEFICIT FOR YEAR

(9,600) 82

Balance Sheet 1995

FIXED ASSETS £ 2,300 Furniture and Fittings 2,785 Equipment

Per last Balance Sheet £ 2,300 2,785

Added during year £ 328 10,895

Depcn. £ 358 895

£ 2,270 12,785

5,085

11,223

1,253

15,055

5,085 CURRENT ASSETS 88,000 Loan Account—A.G.S.F.P. Club 4,616 Stock in Hand 3,034 Sundry Debtors 17,757 Cash in Bank 250 Cash in Hand

91,475 4,956 4,659 5,985 2,051

113,657

109,126

CURRENT LIABILITIES 28,012 Sundry Creditors 6,905 Subscriptions in Advance

36,475 7,381

34,917

43,856

78,740

65,270

83,825

80,325

Less: LOANS 6,300 A.G.S.F.P. Rugby Section 10,150 Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc

9,300 13,250

16,450

22,550

67,375 NET ASSETS

57,775

Represented by: CAPITAL ACCOUNT 13,495 Appeal Fund and Other Donations

13,495

SURPLUSES Amount per last Balance Sheet Less: Deficit for year per foregoing Income and Expenditure Account

53,880 (9,600)

53,880

44,280

67,375

57,775 83

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Grammar FP Magazine goes online!

Grammar EP are getting together with InterNet For Business IA to put AGSM' on the World Wide Web. IFB Ltd. are Aberdeen's largest local Internet Service Provider and they put dozens of businesses online every day. Not only that. their MD is also a Grammar FP! Because InterNet For Business l.td. is an Aberdeen based company it is ideally positioned to work with the Executive. ensuring that what goes online meets the needs of FPs the world over.

If you have access to the Internet you can now point your browser to http:/lwww.agsfp.ifb.sset and take part in deciding what the Grammar FP Web Site will contain. We hope that the site will provide a point of contact for Former Pupils and act as an electronic meeting place. It you want to find out more about taking part in this exciting new

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IFB can help you get started, it's fast, it's easy and it doesn't cost the Earth. Phone: 01224- 333- 370 today and see what the Internet can do for you.

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SCOTTISH BREWERS

Alterations Extensions New Buildings Large Sc Small

Lyon Tel 01224-313000 Fox D1224-312022

cPherson Architects & Planning Supervisors

Ruth/is Howse 5 Ruthrlwiton Road Abordoon AB I 0 7JR

For a secure professional approach, and personal attention contact AVM M11.44,60,11.

RIBA. FR1AS.MAPS.

CHRISTIE & CS2 SURVEYORS. VALUERS & AGENTS Christie & Co is acknowledged as the leader in the provision of valuation and agency serviceS loi Hotels, leisure. Resialtrunts & Wine Ranh Freehouscs. Retail and Healthcare businesses.

We have 13 offices throughout the UK including an office in Edinburgh and Glasgow and are committed to supporting the above industries promoting professionalism. quality and good service.

For further details please contact David Reid, Scottish Licensed Director Tel: 0141 204 3000 • Fax: 0141 204 1693 Christie & Co Scottish Offices: Charles Oakley House 5 Logic Mill 125 West Regent Street Logic Green Road Glasgow G2 2SG Edinburgh EH7 4HG

Tel: 0141 204 3000 Fax: 0141 204 1693

Tel: 0131 557 6666 Fax: 0131 557 6000

r George Bennett Mitchell & Son CHARTERED ARCHITECTS

For a Full Professional Service Covering Domestic, Commercial, Educational Healthcare & Housing Projects

Partners: Bob Alexander - ARIAS, RIBA Alan Hamilton - ARIAS, RIBA

I West Craibstone Street ABERDEEN ABII 6DL

Tel: 01224 588277 Fax: 01224 591701

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