Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 2018

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 134th year No. 256 (New Series 123rd year No. 247) ________________________________________________________________________

Vol 121

September 2018 The Magazine is published under the auspices of The Former Pupils’ Club each year General Editor & Editor of Notes etc.

Brian K. Crookshanks, TD, MA, LL.B 99 Fountainhall Road Aberdeen AB15 4EB

Secretary of the FP Club

John F. Hendry, LL.B 36 Albyn Place Aberdeen AB10 1YF

Treasurer of the FP Club

John C.A. Michie, 391 Union Street Aberdeen AB11 6BX

Membership Secretary

John C.A. Michie, 391 Union Street Aberdeen AB11 6BX

The General Editor is happy to receive contributions for the next issue of the Magazine at any time before 31 May 2019

Former Pupils are encouraged to provide details about themselves or others for inclusion in the Notes Section of the Magazine Information may be sent by E-mail to editor@agsfp.com

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

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

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Contents page

School Section  Head Teacher’s Report School Office-Bearers School Prizes 2017-18 Extra-Curricular Activities School Sports Clubs School Activities F1 in Schools Charities Group Gardening Club The Phil Love Trophy General Section Luther Smith Bequest Another Bequest A History of the Magazine Mission Accomplished A Tale of Two Chairs A Year of Anniversaries Rewarding Success Former Pupils’ Club Section Club Office-Bearers 2018-19 Club Consuls Annual General Meeting President’s Report Presidential Profile Centre Reports Club Centre Canada Edinburgh Glasgow London Yorkshire Sports Section Reports Social Events – Annual Dinner Club Membership Subscriptions Long Service Members Notes about Former Pupils Marriages Obituaries Abstracts of Accounts

7 10 11 16 21 26 29 30 30 31 32 34 35 37 38 43 44 46 47 49 51 52 53 57 58 59 60 60 74 75 79 81 86 86 106

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

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OUR ADVERTISERS As a Club we are most grateful to all our under-noted advertisers who have supported the production of this Magazine by taking advertising space. Club members are encouraged, in turn, please to patronise our advertisers who would value our members’ custom every bit as much as we value theirs.

Aberdeen Solicitors’ Property Centre Aberdeen Standard Investments Anderson, Anderson & Brown North East Scotland College Atholl Hotel

Bain Henry Reid

Blackadders

Bower & Smith

Brewin Dolphin

F.G. Burnett

Campbell Connon

Country Ways

D.M. Hall

Inchmarlo Retirement Homes

Jamieson & Carry

Kenway Tyres

Langstane Press

MTM Construction

Marcliffe at Pitfodels

Michies the Chemist

Prestige Carpets

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Senior Pupils 2017-18

Rear: Cejo Matthew, Sophie Caroll, Jonathan Bell, Laurel Renton Front: Holly Imperiale, Miss Murison, Fergus Kennedy

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School Section

Head Teacher’s Report The following is the text of the Speech made by Miss Murison at the Prizegiving Ceremonies on 20 and 21 June 2018.

The inspiration for my address today is from a lovely note I received from a parent. In this she thanked us for the support and encouragement her daughter had received over her six years at Aberdeen Grammar School. She went on to say “she has been given so many fantastic opportunities and been so well supported, you really have been her cheer leaders.”

The sentiment expressed really chimes with my own philosophy regarding education. I truly believe that schools must continue to provide opportunities for young people to grow, develop and work towards achieving their ambitions. We have summed this up in our core values of Ambition, Growth, Success (AGS).

We are committed to continuing to provide and increase the opportunities our pupils experience and learn from. In this address, I will share with you the experiences our young people have benefited from this session.

Opportunities In the classroom I will start in the classroom as strong attainment and leaving school with an excellent set of qualifications is crucial. As we all know, qualifications open doors and open up opportunities.

As school leaders, ensuring high quality learning, teaching and assessment is our key function. This year, we have increased our quality improvement activities and have just completed 91 class visits. From this we can see that our provision in the senior phase is very good.

You may ask, what is the evidence of this? I will provide you with some of the evidence from the collated findings. In classes, we observed young people using SQA criteria effectively when planning their work and revision; they had a clear idea on how to reach their target grade. We saw independent learning being supported through the use of Google classroom. Pupils appreciated materials now being available on Google classroom as well as hard copy.

We observed high quality direct teaching and skilled questioning. Our pupils enjoy being challenged as this allows them to think more deeply and make progress in their learning. It is clear that teachers know their pupils well and provide support and challenge through a range of feedback strategies. We witnessed pupils accessing pupil support boxes for materials to support their learning.

Moreover, there is increased use of digital technology. For example, in some subjects, young people use iPads to analyse their performance and set next steps 7

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine in learning. Our strong examination results come from the hard work taking place in classrooms each and every day by teachers, pupils and support staff.

We are a dedicated team and we have a strong work ethic. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for supporting our young people so well.

Leadership Opportunities We have extended the range of leadership opportunities which our young people can access. For example, our S6 pupils have provided in-class support for younger pupils across S1-S3. Our S6 Science Ambassadors have been working in our feeder primaries and received very good feedback from the Primary Head Teachers on their work.

New S5 and S6 pupils have just received two days of training on how to be an effective mentor and support younger pupils with more challenging issues, for example the safe use of social media.

Many of our pupils across all year groups lead extracurricular opportunities within school here and in the primaries. For example, they take on coaching roles in netball, volleyball and football. Clearly, our younger pupils benefit from this work and the support given, as do those taking on leadership opportunities.

It adds substance to their UCAS applications and it also means that, when they are in an interview setting, they can talk about work they have led and the impact of this. However, the most important aspect is that such work really adds to the ethos of our school where we all work together and make a difference. Our young people have a real sense of pride when they talk about the work in which they have been involved.

Increased employability skills and positive leaver destinations I have talked before about the Scottish Government initiative “Developing the Young Workforce.” This centres on increasing opportunities for young people to develop their employability skills to support them achieve a positive and sustained leaver destination, whether that be in the workplace or in further and higher education. We have extended our business contacts and established a new business partnership with Ernst & Young.

Our careers programme has included more of an employability focus as have our learner pathways and course choice information events.

Next session, you will see a new learner pathways website which will contain information on all aspects of careers and course choice. Our aim is also to provide opportunities for more relevant work placements through our increased business contacts, the work experience unit and our former pupils.

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School Section Opportunities in the wider life of the school I will now highlight some of the other wider opportunities we continue to offer our pupils.

In Music, our triple Platinum winning Concert Band continues to thrive and competes successfully at the highest level.

Our school show last year “All Shook Up” was a great success and we are now working on the new show “We Will Rock You.” We have achieved the Gold Award from Sports Scotland for Physical Education and Secondary School of the Year for Sport. Again, this is all about working together and we receive great support from our FP Sports sections. We achieved this due to the vast range of extra-curricular sports we offer and the high rate of pupil participation. Our netball, hockey and volleyball teams have been very successful this year.

Our charity work this session has been second to none. We are now supporting Clic Sargent and have raised just over £18,000. This is a charity which supports young people going through treatment for cancer. We presented the cheque last week and Clic Sargent were overwhelmed with the amount raised and stated that the funds will make a significant difference.

We have a group just about to embark on a World Challenge expedition to South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. This will mark the school’s 6th expedition through World Challenge. Previous trips have been to Uganda, Costa Rica & Nicaragua, Tanzania, Peru, and most recently Vietnam and Cambodia.

Again, a fantastic and challenging opportunity for our young people.

Before I conclude, I would like to touch on parental engagement and give my thanks. I said earlier that attainment comes from hard work each and every day in our classrooms. However, parental support is equally important. Support from home is an essential piece of the jigsaw when we talk about attainment and achievement. The support you give us and crucially the support you give your sons and daughters cannot be underestimated. We thank you for that and look forward to working with you next session.

Please look out for our new school APP, this will be launched very soon and will increase our communication with you. Thank you to the PTA and Parent Council for their continued fundraising, encouragement and support. Also to Gillian, Alan and John from the Former Pupils’ Club. The Canadian FPs provided us with much needed funds to finish our Library refurbishment. On behalf of all of our pupils, thank you.

To conclude then, I am sure you will agree that our young people have had a successful year, full of opportunities. Look at our pupils in receipt of awards – they exemplify everything I have talked about today. They have set themselves high standards and taken advantage of every opportunity. Well done, I am proud of you.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine I know that, with the support of the whole School community, Aberdeen Grammar School will continue to offer these outstanding experiences and opportunities. We will not settle for mediocrity – excellence is the only standard worth striving for.

Aberdeen Grammar School, June, 2018

Alison Murison Head Teacher

School Office-Bearers - Session 2017-2018 Senior Prefects HOLLY IMPERIALE SOPHIE CAROLL LAUREL RENTON

FERGUS KENNEDY JONATHAN BELL CEJO MATTHEW

S6 Prefects: Mark Alderson, Eve Allan, Ailsa Anderson, Angela Barry, Hila Bidad, Aaron Blackwood, Benedikta Bokedal, William Booth, Sarah Burney, Grace Carolan, Katie Charles, Scott Coutts, Kieran Christie, Matthew Cumming, Leston D’Costa, Finlay Elder, Alex Elliot, Katie Fraser, Lewis Geddes, Kenzie Gibson, Cathal Gilmour, Patrick Hartley, Skye Henderson, Finlay Henry, Alec Howe, Hannah Ironside, Nadah Jodeh, Emma Johnston, Iona Johnston, Jade Lorimer, Calum Lynch, Lucy Logan, Nikola Malik, Rory Matheson, Harry McLeod, Aiden Milne, Lauren Milne, Alistair Mitchell, Megan Munro, Georgia Murray, Clark Nicol, Hayden Oliver, Meghann Paterson, Sneha Prothasis, Asia Purdie, Caitlin Robb, Rithin Robin, Andrei Rotariu, Charlotte Rutherford, Malik Salloum, Abdulmasair Shaikh, Souparnika Shaju, Febin Siby, Soumya Tangilara, Rahneda Veka, Joanne Watson, Josie Wigglesworth, Jane Wilson, and Kirsten Wilson.

S5 Prefects: Anoop Babu, Fiona Bender, Elias Bokedal, Becky Carstens, Eilidh Crofton, Catherine Denison, Job Dersken, Fiona Ewen, Rory Ferguson, Lucas Finlay, Cara Gardiner, Ailsa Gault, Alessandra Gentilucci, Charlotte Hume, Jennifer Herrara, Angus Hogg, Catriona Imperiale, Fraser Lambert, Rebecca Low, Stepohanie Low, Annabel Lunney, Lewis MacIver, Jenna McDonald, Kirsty McKendrick, Faraj Monnnapillai, Louise Morris, Struan Morrison, Alexander Morrow, Lew Olaosebikan, Karolina Omenzetter, Aidan O’Riordan, Deirdre O’Riordan, Matthew Oxley, Zuzanna Prusik, Liza Salo, Ben Schmitz, Megan Taylor, Kerris Wilson and Rebecca Wilson.

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School Section

School Prizes 2017-2018

The Joyce Tease Award for excellence in Modern Languages Angela Barry The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Modern Studies Erin MacDonald The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Physical Education Markus Kan & Kate Renforth The Hamish Adams Greig Prize in Biology Karolina Omenzetter The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Spanish Nicolas McCormack The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Drama Finlay Hendry The Former Pupils’ Club Prize in Home Economics Hannah Ironside The Samuel Pope Prize & Donald Paton Prizes for Art & Design Chloe Hillson The John Muir Robertson Prize in Accounting & Finance Lewis Fotheringham The ALBA Trophy for Business Management Cameron Thomson The Gordon McMinn Prize in Computing Studies Anoop Babu The Masson Bain Prize in English Yefizaveta Salo The William Brebner Prize in French Annabel Lunney The Charles Alexander Walker Prize in History Karolina Omenzetter The Campbell Connon Prize for Geography Anoop Babu The J. Mortimer McBain & George G. Whyte Prizes in Mathematics & The Alexander Thomson Prize in Mathematics Catherine Dennison The Gavin Falconer Memorial Prize in Music Ailsa Reid The CNR International Prize for Physics Karolina Omenzetter The CNR International Prize for Graphic Communication Struan Morrison The CNR International Prize for Chemistry Catherine Dennison The Caritas Cup for Contribution to Charities Group Activities Kieran Christieand Lauren Milne The AGS Dramatic Society Award for Drama Hannah Ironside The AGS “Face the Music” Award for an outstanding Performance in the School’s Musical Production Iona Johnstone The Concert Band Player of the Year Fraser Waddell The Concert Band Award for Outstanding Contribution Beth Morrison Prefect of the Year Meghann Paterson and Hannah Ironside The Rector’s Shield for outstanding contribution to Debating Cejo Mathew The Pied Piper 2000 Award Meghann Paterson The Montgomery Trophy Rory Matheson The Philip Love Trophy F1 Challenge The Jamie Blair Fiddes Award AGS Charity Group The Brian Robertson Prize for commitment to the School Rahneda Veka The AGS Junior Literary & Debating Shield Andrew Dennison Sports Awards The Arthur McCombie Senior Golf Trophy The David Swanson Junior Golf Trophy The Fowlie Cup for Swimming The Dr Morland Simpson Cup for Swimming The Rector’s Medal for Swimming The S1-S6 Isobel O. Anderson Trophy for Swimming The Damien Reidy Rugby Trophy

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Jonathan Bell Matthew Alderson Gaia Alcara Fergus Kennedy Innes McMilllan Alice Alcara Zeping Zeng

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The Ronald MacKinnon Trophy for Athletics Volleyball Player of the Year

Harry Hall Caitlin Robb

Inter-House Competition Awards The Inter-House Hockey Cup The Inter-House Basketball (Senior) The Inter-House Basketball (Junior) The Inter-House Volleyball (junior) The Inter-House Challenge Cup (Senior) The Inter-House Challenge Cup (Junior) The Inter-House Table Tennis Trophy The Inter-House Chess Shield The Inter-House Quiz Cup (Literacy) The Inter-House Badminton Shield The Inter-House Debating Trophy (Senior) The Inter-House Debating Trophy (Junior) The Inter-House Cookery (Bake Off)

Byron Melvin Byron Keith/Dun Melvin Melvin Melvin Melvin Melvin Byron Byron Melvin Melvin

All-Round Awards The Dr Alexander Cormack Award to the best all-round pupil in S1 Lewis Mair The David Alexander Irvine-Fortescue Prize – S2 Leah McAllister and Samuel Armour The Norman Mackie Memorial Prize Andrew Dennison The Edith & David Ritchie Bishop Prize Aaron Babu The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Award in S5 Megan Taylor The Former Pupils’ Club 1965 Prize Rory Matheson The Runner-up to the Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy Katy Fraser The Agnes Durward McDonald Prize (Runner-up) Fergus Kennedy The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy for Girls Holly Imperiale The Former Pupils’ Club All-Round Trophy & the John Ivo Dawson Prize Rory Matheson Dux Award

Malik Salloum

Colours Awards

Sport Athletics Badminton

Half Colours Junior Colours

Basketball

Half Colours Junior Colours

Chess Cricket

Full Colours Half Colours Full Colours

Ailsa Gault Aaron Babu, Sanjana Joshi, Jason Mathie, Thomas Robertson, Hanock Saji, Anoop Babu, Rema Harbi, Praise Iriele, Nada Jodeh, Sushrut Subedi Vida Adigwu, Zainab Afzal, Arif Ali, Aaron Babu, Caitlin Barry, Collie Begum, Tanuj Givi, Zuzanna Gorzkowska, Shunda He, Hannah Holland, Markus Kan, Semi Jabegu, Jopaul Jobi, Jardine Joji, Midhuna Jomon, Anna Macdonald, Ayah Mbarki, Tabitha Miles, Gregor Morrison, Evelina Orba, Stuart Paton, Santiago Rivett, Ayra Sherjil, Cameron Taylor, Raina Thakur, Dipshikha Uprteti, Andrew Woo, Heather Young Leston D’Costa Anoop Babu Leston D’Costa

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School Section Debating Football

Half Colours Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours

Golf Gym Hockey

Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours Full Colours

Half Colours

Junior Colours

Netball

Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours

Rugby

Junior Colours

Rowing

Full Colours Junior Colours

Swimming

Full Colours

T/Tennis Tennis Volleyball

Junior Colours Half Colours Half Colours Junior Colours Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours

Arts & Culture Chess

Full Colours

Patrick Hartley, Praise Iriele, Cejo Mathew Calum Lynch, Hamish Macleod, Jason Ritchie, Richie Troup Alex Cheyne, Scott Coutts, Alistair Mitchell, Ben Schmitz Mourad Ahmanache, Jordan Dutch, Joseph Hartley, Blair McGinigal, Arthur Morgan, Jenna Penman Jonathan Bell Ailsa Gault Anna Blues, Hannah Jarret, Anna McPhail, Lauren Reid Mark Alderson, Angela Barry, Sonny Cain, Sophie Carroll, Katie Charles, Kieran Christie, Emma Johnston, Harry McLeod, Megan Munro, Leon Potts, Ewan Rennie, Cammie Robson, Sam Sharp Lucas Findlay, Alessandra Gentilucci, Skye Henderson, Alex King, Nicolas McCormack, Louise Morris, Reem Satar, Kerris Wilson Alice Arthur, Jessica Barr, Samiha Begum-Uddin, Isabel Blackburn, Maisy Fan, Neal Fleming, Rebecca Freeman, Susannah Grant, Holly Hendry, Lewis Jeans, Abigail Jessiman, Ailsa Kennedy, Archie Lund, Atholl McMillan, Lara Morris, Gregor Morrison, Cameron Ogilvie, Madeleine Oxley, Nilda Pallares-Rodriguez, Jenna Penman, Fin Renton, Christo Saji, Georgia Tawse, Rohaanth Thangaraj, Ashleigh Woodrow Kenzie Gibson, Lauren Milne Jennifer Herrera, Jenna McDonald Anna Buchan, Mairi Christie, Robyn Davidson, Annabelle Hume, Kayla Macgregor, Harley Main, Georgia Miller, Eilidh Munro, Jenna Penman, Kate Renforth, Martha Webb Marcus Burns, Matthew Hughson, Atholl McMillan, Gregor Morrison, Zeping Zeng Michael McCrory William Bricknel, Gregor Charles, Ashley Geddes,Matthew Hughson Alice Alcaras, Giorgia Alcaras, Fergus Kennedy, Innes McMillan, Rory Matheson, Kirstin Wilson Molly Fiddes, Charlie MacDougall Elias Bokedal Catherine Dennison, Cara Gardiner, Fraser Lambert Jason Mathie Asia Purdie, Caitlin Robb, Joanne Watson Fiona Bender, Catherine Dennison, Cara Gardiner, Deirdre O’Riordan Jessica Barr, Yusef Butt, Annabelle Hume, Christy Lynch, Caterina Nespolo, Kate Renforth, Patrick Stenhouse, Martha Webb

Leston D’Costa

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Concert Band

Full Colours

Half Colours Junior Colours

Drama Face the Music

Half Colours Full Colours Half Colours

Junior Colours

Choir

Half Colours

Junior Colours

Choir & Show Full Colours Choir Half Colours Junior Colours String Orchestra Full Colours Half Colours Junior Colours

Pied Piper School Show

Half Colours Half Colours

Ailsa Anderson, Innes Christie, Rory Matheson, Beth Morrison, Emily Tomlinson, Fraser Waddell, Josie Wigglesworth, Jane Wilson Louise Morris, Lewa Olaosebikan, Matthew Oxley, Theo Sharp Isobel Anderson, Alice Arthur, Abigail Coles, Andrew Dennison, Martha Forbes, Rebecca Freeman, Stephanie Gibson, Susannah Grant, Grant Mutch, Patrick Stenhouse, Georgia Tawse, Finlay Waddell, Fraser Wilson Rae Garioch, Iona Johnston, Meghann Paterson Katy Applin, Scott Coutts, Eilidh Crofton, Annabel Lunney, Zoe Maunder, Lewa Olaosebikan, Zuzanna Prusik, Andrei Rotariu, Rhona Adam-Gair, Rowan Campbell,Rebezza Dargie, Aimee Davidson, Molly Fiddes, Felicity Gray, Sophie Hatrick, Mook Jaruwattanapradid, Holly Jobson, Anna Macdonald, Millicent McKenzie, Weronika Polec, Ailsa Reid, Meg Stanger Catherine Dennison, Peter Hammond, Catriona Imperiale, Zoe Maunder, Lewa Olaosebikan, Zuzanna Prusik Rahela Akter, Daisy Allan, Rose Barclay, Grace Campbell, Rebecca Dargie, Rebecca Freeman, Siobhan Glad, Sophie Hatrick, Amy Johnston, Holly Jobson, Ailsa Kennedy, Jordan Lee, Anna Macdonald, Millicent McKenzie, Poppy Marlow, Lara Morris, Calum Muldoon, Maria PinheiroAadhya Regmi, Elisabeth Sharp, Sandra Tijo, Eleanor Tuladhar-Douglas, Dipshikha Upreti, Martha Webb Hannah Ironside, Meghann Paterson, Holly Imperiale, Iona Johnston Fiona Bender, Eilidh Crofton, Lewa Olaosebikan, Zuzanna Prusik Lara Morris Malik Salloum, Kirstin Wilson Annabel Lunney Daisy Allan, Olivia Coman, Zalva Djayapertapa, Sophie Hatrick, Matthew Hughson, Namisha Jayasinghe, Millicent McKenzie, Hafren Vaughan Meghann Paterson, Rahneda Veka Angus Hogg

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Janet Adams, Gillian Thomas, Katy Fraser, Holly Imperiale, Rory Matheson, Fergus Kennedy, Alan Campbell, Alison Murison.

School Section

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Extra-Curricular Activities Sports Going for Gold In 2017 the School received two awards for the involvement of its pupils in sport within the School. The first was the Secondary School of the Year Award at the Aberdeen Sports Awards and the second was the Gold Award at the Sport Scotland School Sports Awards. We won these in respect of many different areas, the first of which was Physical Education within the School. The judges looked at our curriculum, at the activities done during PE, the home work-out and the social media accounts which have impacted the pupils both physically and mentally.

Another requirement which had to be met was the number of clubs in the school and the number of participants who attended these. 45% of the entire school body are registered and participate in active school clubs. In the school year 2016/17 the School was involved with fifteen local sports clubs to enhance school sport programmes. We have a strong link with the School’s Former Pupils’ Club.

There is a vast number of competitions and events which the School attends.

We are successful at local and national competitions and we attend such events as the Aberdeen Youth Games, the Giant Heptathlon and Scottish Schools CrossCountry. We are also widely involved with the local primary schools. We have the annual Grammar Games and Health Week.

There are opportunities for leadership such as sports committees and young ambassadors, while over 65 pupils lead school sessions. The staff do career-long professional training to develop skills to lead our clubs. The PE staff run an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook account – the Facebook page has over 700 likes and our Instagram has over 700 followers. These are a key tool for recognising our volunteers.

We nominate staff for awards, such as Mr Ross Allan, PE teacher and Principal Teacher of Pupil Support, who won the City Council Star Award. The School has four facilities which clubs all over Aberdeen can access and use – the Games Hall, the small hall, the Swimming Pool and the Astroturf.

We are proud of our amazing achievements, as only two schools in the city have the Gold Award and we are the most recognised school in Aberdeen.

Kenzie Gibson & Jane Wilson S6

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School Section

Football S1 First Year of Football Murray Hunter, Matthew McCaughtrie, Struan Linton and Alex Ross approached Mr B. Gibson to ask if they could take on the role of coaching the 2017/18 S1 Football team. Our first task was to pick a 16-man squad from the numerous pupils who would inevitably want to play football for Aberdeen Grammar School. We organised an informal S1 Football Tournament at which almost forty pupils attended. Splitting them into six teams we held a round robin tournament in which each team played each other, then we had a knockout section to obtain an overall winner. The boys and girls who attended this event all had a great time and enjoyed their first taste of football at AGS. We then went on to organise a football trial in order to pick a final group of pupils who would go on to be part of the S1 under-13 football team. We reduced the initial number of almost 40 pupils down to around 19 from whom we would choose each team on a week-by-week basis.

We held a trial game between S1 and S2 School football teams where the S1s gave a good account of themselves and scored two very good goals against the S2 team. Even although the S1s ultimately lost the match the team kept going and showed great attitude and determination to try to beat the year above. This match helped the coaching staff greatly in identifying the S1 team players with an additional eight or so players who would all go on to play an important part during the season to come. The new S1 team gave a great account of themselves especially considering this was their first outing as a team together and for some of them this was their first 11-a-side match. Even though it was a defeat the boys chosen did not let themselves down and kept going right to the final whistle.

League Campaign After the first team was chosen there is usually a training session to get the team prepared for playing together but Mr Gibson had already organised the first league match against Portlethen and there was no time to arrange and hold training. In the first competitive game the new S1 boys suffered a 6-1 defeat.

Despite this result they picked themselves up and endeavoured to bounce back, winning their second match comfortably 4-0 in a victory over Northfield. This was then followed up by a 1-1 draw in the local derby against Harlaw Academy, who had just beaten Portlethen 6-2 the week before. So the boys where pleased with the fact they had managed to get a draw against an already competitive team.

These vital points meant that the S1 team had qualified for the CNR International Division 1, meaning that they would have a chance to play against the best of their age group. Throughout the season the boys struggled to pick up points from the league matches despite their efforts and despite being extremely competitive 17

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine in every match. The team plays good football, and were the better side in most of their fixtures this season, but struggled to convert the pressure and possession into scoring goals and be clinical against lesser opposition. Overall the team put in a fantastic effort in their first season and there is a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

The Esso Cup The team provided a terrific cup run this season which has shown their potential not only in beating teams who had previously beaten them but also sweeping aside opposition that were probably, on paper at least, better than us. In the Esso Cup the team really started showing that they had a strong mentality and a strong drive to win games. In the first round of the Esso Cup they were up against Hazlehead Academy where our team put in a terrific display and ran out 3-0 winners away from home. The team were eager to get their revenge when they were paired against Portlethen at home. The team found themselves 3-2 down with 15 minutes to go. With their attitude and commitment they fought back and were rewarded by scoring a late equaliser with four minutes to go. AGS were dominating the game but got a lucky break when Aiden Milne found space on the edge of the box and then placed the ball perfectly into the path of Gregory Robertson who slotted the ball home to complete an amazing come-back and to book their place in the Esso Cup Semi Final.

In this they faced Ellon Academy. AGS were confident about getting a good result and playing well, even although they were aware of the experience of the Ellon Academy side and knew that Ellon were a more accomplished side than ourselves. In the match AGS dominated Ellon, who didn’t threaten our goal very much and perhaps only had one or two long range shots along with a couple of forays into the Grammar half. The AGS dominance was rewarded when we took the lead early in the first half and led one nil at half time. We scored again early in the second half as Aiden Milne dispatched the ball into the bottom right hand corner. This goal seemed to finish the game off, as the Ellon players’ heads went down. The more Grammar pushed forward the more Ellon became tired and a slack pass gave Callum McGregor the ball who played in Jamie Strachan who fired home Grammar’s third goal and booked their place in the Cup Final. Ellon pulled one back late on but it was too little too late for the Aberdeenshire side who were outclassed on the day. Thanks go to the Ellon coach Graham Wilson for the photo above.

The Cup Final was played against Kincorth Academy, whom we had dominated in a league match but lost a late goal to see them snatch a point away from us and deny us a win in a game where AGS were really unlucky not to walk away with all three points. We were confident going into the Final and were dreaming of cup success, but this came to a crashing halt, as within 30 seconds Kincorth went in front through a fantastic effort from a free kick just outside the 18

School Section box. We responded well by going up to the other end where Ethan Brown’s effort crashed off the cross bar, rattling the goal posts as well as the goalkeeper. From this, Kincorth flooded forward towards our end and were awarded another free kick. Again they scored, totally against the run of play, shaking the AGS team and leaving them slightly forlorn and dismayed. Just before half time Jake Blues forced through a driving run on the right side of the pitch and put in a terrific cross that found Aiden Milne whose shot was cleared off the line by the Kincorth goalkeeper. Kincorth then broke again and scored what would turn out to be a decisive third. AGS started the second half determined to turn the game around, but unfortunately they fell short and tired legs and tired minds played a part as they found themselves 6-0 down. But with two minutes to go Callum McGregor found the net after some fantastic individual play. This meant Kincorth ran out 6-1 winners, ending Grammar’s dream of winning the trophy. The whole AGS team put in a tremendous amount of effort and had numerous chances to level when the game was at 1-0. They could have been also been in front early on due to the amount of chances they had and when they were dominant, but Kincorth were worth the win, defending their goal well. It has to be said that the Kincorth goalkeeper played out of his skin and pulled off save after save to keep Grammar at bay in the opening exchanges. You could see that the team were all thinking “what do we have to do to put the ball in the net?” This is also a reflection of the match earlier in the season where Grammar beat Kincorth one all!

Overall the boys have had a tremendous season and should keep their heads held high. They always seemed to come up against teams that played their very best football against AGS and more than a couple of teams that could thank their goalkeepers for pulling off some incredible saves to deny this talented AGS team not only scoring more but winning more. They are a determined group of players, eager to right the wrongs of this season by doing much better in the league and the cups next season. The team have the ability and attitude to improve their performances and go on to start winning more games and eventually trophies.

Next season the team will be coached solely by Struan Linton and Alex Ross as Murray Hunter and Matthew McCaughtrie will step away from this year’s S1 team and will take the new S1 team in the 2018/19 season. What will be the new S2 team next season therefore have a lot to look forward to and should be in the running to win some silverware.

Aberdeen Grammar Games The Aberdeen Grammar School annual Grammar Games was, again, a huge success this year. A sunshine-filled day created a buzzing atmosphere which led to a great spirit with which to end the School year.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Hundreds of hopeful competitors spent the day running, jumping and throwing in order to gain House points. This year’s events included 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m races, long jump, shot put, and also high jump which had taken place in the Games Hall a few days prior to Sports Day. There were many notable successes in all the events, however Callum MacGregor of Melvin House stood out amongst all the other athletes and managed to grab the victory as the overall “Sports Champion”!

A tuck shop filled with snacks and drinks provided the much needed energy for competitors, teachers and spectators alike. From this a small profit was raised which will contribute to plans for a sports award night in the coming session.

Team spirit played a crucial part in this year’s Sports Day. This was made obvious by the countless pupils adorned in red, green and blue face paint who were cheering on all their fellow-pupils as the much anticipated House relays and tug of war took place.

As the end of the day neared the total points for each House were calculated.

Byron House had snatched the victory. They were closely followed by Melvin House with Keith & Dun not far behind.

This event marked a great beginning to the inter-House calendar for the coming school year and talk of next year’s Sports Day has already begun.

Meg Stanger, S5 20

School Section

Enterprising Maths Competition On 22 June four pupils attended the Aberdeen heat of the Enterprising Maths Competition. We started the day with a poster competition on the theme of Cryptography and Encryption. We had prepared for this in the weeks leading up to the competition, had completed research on the topic and designed and constructed a 3D model of a Cipher Wheel.

We then took part in four challenges – team, speed, swiss and relay. The team round lasted 45 minutes and we worked together to solve a set of questions which were all of high difficulty. The speed round consisted of eight practical and problem-solving challenges and we were allowed five minutes to solve each.

During the swiss round we had to play strategy games in pairs head to head against other schools. The day ended with a relay round in which we answered questions in pairs as fast and as accurately as possible. We had to run between each of our pairs delivering and collecting the questions.

We won three of the four rounds (the poster competition was judged separately) and we are therefore the overall winners in Aberdeen City for 2018, which means that we have qualified for the Scottish Final in Glasgow later this year.

AMOPA at Aberdeen Grammar School Success for Advanced Higher French Pupils Pupils studying for Advanced Higher French, including myself, took part in a competition promoted by the prestigious AMOPA (L’Association des Membres de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques). In order to enter the competition we had to create a piece of French and record it. Our criteria were that we must have good pronunciation, intonation and flow to get across to the listener our passion for our chosen subject.

I myself chose to speak about Edith Piaf, the world renowned French singer known for her guttering vibrato. Choosing to speak about Piaf’s songs not only allowed me to enhance my knowledge, thanks to my research, but also to gain experience in relating the songs to her life.

The AMOPA panel is made up of a group of native French speakers who assess the recording of each candidate and mark it appropriately. We were all very proud to achieve “Très Bien” for our performances.

Our certificates were presented by Professor Phillip Bennett of Edinburgh, and we received valuable feedback which helped significantly with our preparation for the final Speaking Assessment for SQA. Our participation in the 21

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine AMOPA awards enabled us to better prepare for the exam and work on technicalities such as pace, pronunciation and tonality.

It was a worthwhile experience which I would recommend to others.

“Bonne Chance aux Candidats de l’avenir” Iona Johnston S6

Developing the Young Workforce Careers Talk Developing the Young Workforce is the youth employment strategy of the Scottish government which aims significantly to reduce youth unemployment in Scotland by 2021. One of the main themes of DYW is that employers and schools should enter into long-term partnerships which focus on preparing young people for employment.

This Careers Talk came about through a flagship partnership between the School and big four professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP who are supporting the School in a variety of ways to promote themselves and career pathways such as apprenticeships and graduate-level entry to young people, to help them to improve their employability skills and also to support classroom activities by relating learning to an accountancy/business context.

The talk was delivered by three of EY’s Aberdeen-based apprentices to all S6 pupils in order to highlight the various routes which can be taken to obtain a career in this sector. It was followed up by an insight evening at their Aberdeen office.

Pupils will gain an insight into the ways to join EY and the chance to apply for the company’s summer business academy, and will get real life examples of the business world through a curricular link with the School’s Business Studies Department. As a collaborative relationship, EY will benefit from the chance to increase young people’s awareness of EY and hope to recruit some of their future apprentices from the School.

School staff have welcomed the arrangement and were pleased to see former pupils now working as apprentices with EY, whose recruitment adviser welcomes the School’s involvement in this scheme which can only benefit both parties to the arrangement.

The Framework of Design Eight Grammar pupils interested in careers in architecture were able to take part in a series of Architecture workshops which ran throughout the duration of an 22

School Section exhibition “The Framework of Design” organised by students from Robert Gordon University in the Bon Accord Centre in March.

The workshops involved working in teams to design and construct the tallest and most stable building out of a series of materials which the RGU students provided. The best group was showcased on RGU’s social media at the end of the week.

Pupils also had the opportunity to take part in a number of interactive points throughout the exhibition where they could obtain information about studying Architecture and learn about the process of design and how this fits into the degree course.

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Nicole Lloyd recently presented a STEM talk to pupils in S2 and S3. She is a NASA scientist who is currently studying for a doctorate in Microbiology at the University of Texas at Austin. Her presentation focused on her experiences and the opportunities which STEM subjects can provide in both an industrial and educational context. It was a very informative talk and Nicole took a range of questions on STEM-related careers.

Careers at Sea Northlink Ferry Visit During Tidal Tuesday, on 6 March 2018, five Grammar pupils took part in a tour of the m.v. Hrossey, one of the Northlink ferries,. The tour was led by two deck cadets who gave an insight into the career path which they had chosen. The pupils had a tour from the bridge to the engine room, highlighting careers from Deck Officers to Engineering Officers and many of the hospitality jobs involved on a ferry. The School is very grateful to Northlink for facilitating this visit.

The Merchant Navy Training Board’s ‘Careers at Sea’ campaign, for the first time, sponsored a day during National Careers Week in March to promote opportunities in the Merchant Navy. The campaign’s aim was to inform schools, colleges and youth groups of the careers available at sea for young people and the lifelong career prospects offered by the maritime industry, with emphasis on the diverse range of professional opportunities available to young people who choose to enter the UK’s most international sector, at a time when an ageing population and growth in the global shipping industry have led to increased demand for British seafarers.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Merchant Navy careers are an alternative to the university route and provide sponsored training, a professional qualification and worldwide travel. Using high tech equipment on the most advanced vessels in the world, a career at sea is like no other.

The Balfour Beattie Project All S3 pupils took part in the “I Built It” Project in November. The purpose of the event was to introduce pupils to the construction industry and to consider it as a potential career once they leave school. This fits into the Developing the Young Workforce agenda.

Staff from the three main contractors on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road – Balfour Beattie, Morrison Construction and Carillion – led the workshop, working with pupils to help them to design and build a new model town. Pupils were split into two main groups – the Dee and the Don – and produced various models to fulfil the brief which they had been given.

During the day pupils were given two main presentations about the construction industry, highlighting the different routes which they could take in order to gain employment, from apprenticeships to graduate entry. The potential career paths which pupils could take were also outlined. Overall this was a successful inter-disciplinary day which was enjoyed by both pupils and staff.

Project K A group of six of the School’s Young Engineers recently won a Project K competition held at Marischal College. They were competing against six other teams from across the city. The boys had spent a great deal of their own time on researching and developing their proposal which they had to present to a panel of four judges and an audience from the City Council.

Project K is a problem-solving competition designed to get young people between 14 and 18 years of age thinking about problems within their communities which could be tackled by using new technologies. The key problem-solving aspect of the project is framed around digital technology, design and software application development. Teams of young people work together on an ‘App’ which will address a particular challenge which they experience within their own community and/or environment. Aberdeen City Council run the competition by facilitating workshops and presentations and also provide the competition prizes of four 3D printers. The successful ‘App’ will be further developed where appropriate and either aligned to the ‘City Lab’ initiative or 24

School Section developed independently. Young persons involved have a guaranteed ‘goodwill’ offer of job experience to further develop their skills.

Chalk Talk – Battlefields In October 2017, my classmates and I had the opportunity to travel to Belgium and France to visit the battlefields of WW1. We set off early on Friday 6th to drive to Hull to get the ferry over to Zeebrugge which was west of Ypres where we were to be staying. As soon as we got off the ferry we went straight to the Black Watch Corner where an out-numbered Scottish force defended Ypres from some of the best German troops before getting reinforcements. We then visited Sanctuary Woods where we were able to walk in the trenches to experience the difficult life that soldiers had whilst living in them. There was also a museum at Sanctuary Woods which we had time to look around and see some original photos from the battles. Our next stop was the Pool of Peace which is a huge crater caused by a mine explosion. We also visited the Hooge crater museum.

The next day we went to the Newfoundland Park near Arras in France. We were taken around the park and told all about the battle of the Somme. In Newfoundland Park, myself and my classmate Ben laid a wreath at the 51st Gordon Highlanders Memorial which commemorates the men of the 51st Highland Division which captured the village of Beaumont Hamel on 13th October 1916.

Our next stop was the Thiepval Memorial where we learned about some soldiers who were awarded a Victoria Cross for their acts of bravery. There are the names of over 72,000 soldiers who died in WW1 written on panels around the Memorial. Maddie and Arthur laid a wreath. We then visited La Boisselle, Dartmoor Cemetery and Pozieres. The next memorial we visited was the Vimy Ridge Memorial commemorating all the soldiers who fought at the battle of Vimy Ridge.

The next day we went to Essex Farm where we were told the story of Valentine Strudwick who was 15 years old when he died fighting on the western front. He is the youngest known British soldier to die there. This impacted the group the most, as we are all 15 and if we were born 100 years earlier then that could have been one of us, if we were a boy. At Essex Farm, we also learned about the famous poem by John McCrae “In Flanders Field”. Our next stop was Poelkapelle cemetery where we were each given a poppy and assigned a grave on which to lay it. Over 80% of the graves in the cemetery were unidentified.

Our next stop was Passchendaele, after which we went to Tyne Cot where we learned about a former Aberdeen Grammar School pupil. We next visited one out of four German cemeteries in Belgium called Langemark. In Langemark there are 44,000 soldiers buried and there is a mass grave that contains 24,917

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine soldiers of whom 7,977 still remain unknown. All the known names of the soldiers are on blocks surrounding the grave.

We then had an hour and a half to go around Ypres near where we were staying before returning to our hostel where we put on our School uniforms and headed out for tea before going to the Menin Gate ceremony. At the Menin Gate ceremony two of my classmates, Guilandra and Patrick, laid a wreath. After leaving the Menin Gate we went back to Poelkappelle where we had our own private ceremony at which we laid another wreath while my classmate Kate read a poem and lit a candle.

The next day was our last day and we spent it in Bruges where we went sightseeing for the day in groups. After being in Bruges all morning and some of the afternoon we headed back to Zeebrugge to get the ferry back to Hull then to Aberdeen.

Overall the trip was an incredible opportunity which I will hopefully carry with me for the rest of my life.

Eilidh Munro

F1 Challenge in Schools Our F1 team of four pupils – Soumya Tangirala, Faraj Monnapillai, Arran Brunning and I – have just returned from the World Finals of the F1 Challenge in Malaysia. As reported in last year’s Magazine we were Team Vulcan at the School.

Our Journey: What is F1 in Schools? F1 in Schools is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based project which can be entered by all schools across the globe. Pupils are then arranged into teams and assigned roles based on their strengths. The aim of the competition is to create the fastest F1 car made out of a polyurethane-based block, otherwise known as “The F1 Block”. The dimensions for the F1 block are: length 223mm, width 65mm and height 50mm.

Folios, presentations and pit displays are all required at each stage of the Competition, to allow the judges to have an understanding of who we are and what we have done to create the most aerodynamic F1 in Schools car.

We went to the Regional Finals at Inveralmond High School in Livingstone and competed against teams from across Scotland. We won the judges’ recommendation award which allowed us to progress through to National Finals.

At the National finals at Silverstone, we competed against teams from across the UK and were awarded Scottish Champions, which entitled us to go to the World Finals.

The World Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2017 were an amazing experience. Our team were honoured to represent Scotland on the global stage. Although unplaced we did not disgrace ourselves and two of our team were 26

School Section

The F1 Team 27

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine given places in the top ten with offers of acceptance for real life Formula One training.

We met other participants from all over the world and made lasting friendships. We also were able to walk on the F1 track and then attend the F1 Qualifiers and the Grand Prix itself. It was amazing to see it in real life and experience the atmosphere and the noise of the engines of the F1 cars. It was brilliant to experience a different culture and foods.

Overall, the competition was a fabulous journey, a great experience and an amazing learning adventure.

Cameron Roe S6

Duke of Edinburgh Awards On the evening of 26th February 2018 Aberdeen Grammar School pupils were celebrating their success in completing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

The annual Aberdeen City Duke of Edinburgh Awards Ceremony took place at the Beach Ballroom and was attended by eleven Grammar pupils, along with Mr. Kerr, Miss Waddel and Mr Douglas. Over 180 pupils were in attendance from across all the city schools, making this year’s awards ceremony the biggest to date. Dozens of parents, teachers and volunteers were also present on the evening.

Over sixty Grammar pupils successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Award at either Bronze or Silver level in 2017 – one of the highest numbers of any Aberdeen school.

Volunteer of the Year Award On Thursday 26th October 2017 Aberdeen Sports Awards held an evening to recognise all the fantastic achievements that many people had done over the year in sporting fields. I was lucky enough to have been nominated, as one of four nominees, for the ‘Volunteer of The Year Award’. I was nominated because I have completed over 750 hours of voluntary service with Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust. During my volunteering I have done football coaching with people from all over the City and Shire aged between 3 and 70 years old. I have also been helping with dementia-friendly techno gyms for the over 65s and for dementia-friendly health walks around the City for over 65s. One of the participants I really enjoyed meeting was 104 years old. AFC Community Trust runs various programmes for under-privileged young people and I really enjoyed helping with these.

During the time that I have volunteered with AFC Community Trust I have been privileged to work with so many members of our community and can’t 28

Duke of Edinburgh Award Winners

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine thank the Trust enough for all the opportunities they have given me. I was thrilled to be awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the Aberdeen Sports Awards.

Jenna McDonald S5

Charities Group Our nominated charity this year was Clic Sargent. This charity was chosen because one of our S2 pupils, Molly McLeod, was diagnosed with cancer early on in the session and the charity were supporting Molly and her family as she underwent treatment.

Pupils of the School’s Charities Group raised awareness of the work of Clic Sargnt by presenting at assemblies and running information stalls at whole school events such as parents’ evenings and the School Show.

They also organised a number of fundraising events over the course of the year. These included dress down days, an S6 Christmas ceilidh, a Christmas Fair, and a quiz night with raffle. In the week of World Cancer Day, the Charities Group sold Band Against Cancer wristbands and also ran a fair in the assembly hall for staff and pupils.

Staff of the school were also very generous in supporting the fundraising effort. For example, some members of staff took part in Run Balmoral, a team of teachers, along with Molly’s dad Roddy, took on the Three Peaks Challenge, and one member of staff is taking on a sky dive during the summer holidays!

In total, the School has raised an incredible £18,673.87 for Clic Sargent!

In 2017 School’s chosen charity was Charlie’s House and the Charities Group organised a huge number of events to raise £3,689.23. In addition almost forty members of staff took part in various charity runs and cycles to raise funds for this very worthwhile charity and raised £3,534.01. This made an amazing grand total of £7,223.24. Staff and pupils were delighted to present a cheque to Dr. Sorcha Hume, one of our former pupils who was at that time working with Charlie’s House.

The Phil Love Trophy This year the Phil Love Trophy has again been awarded to a group of pupils rather than to an individual. Tremendous credit has been brought to the School by the F1 Challenge team whose exploits were narrated in detail in last year’s Magazine and whose attendance at the World Finals in Malaya is reported at page 26 above. The team of four, Cameron Roe, Soumya Tangirala, Farai Monnapillai and Arran Brunning having won through the Scottish and National finals of the demanding Challenge were excellent representatives of the School at the World Finals which were timed to coincide with the 2017 Malayan Grand Prix. The School is very proud of their achievement.

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Former Pupils’ Section

Large Bequest from Estate of Luther Kitson Smith (1928-40) Just as the deadline for copy for The Magazine was approaching we received intimation from solicitors acting for the late Luther Kitson Smith that the residue of his estate, which is in excess of £500,000, would be made over to The Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils’ Club.

The terms of Luther Smith’s will are very specific. The funds are to be paid to the FP Club to be kept separate from the Club’s ordinary funds and are to be used specifically to create golf competitions, comprising both match and stroke play, for the schoolboys and schoolgirls of The School with handicaps of 15 or over, and to be named ‘ The Luther and Muriel Smith Competitions’.

This magnificent legacy was complete news to us, both in the FP Club and in the School. The Club Executive Committee will require to invest the funds appropriately for disbursal to the School, probably on an annual basis, in terms of Luther Smith’s specific directions.

Luther Smith died in 2015 at the age of 92 and had resided latterly at Rowan Court Nursing Home at Cults. He was a widower and had no children.

He was a chartered surveyor by profession and a fuller note will appear in the next Magazine. He clearly retained a strong affection for The School over the years.

In the meantime it would be appreciated, if any of our members have recollections of Luther Smith or knowledge of his interest in golf etc, that they contact The Editor.

A.G.C

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Another Surprise Bequest The Bequest intimated on the previous page took everyone by surprise, not least the School, but this was history repeating itself. One day in 1928 the then Rector, Mr David Andrew, received a letter from Lord Alness, the Lord Justice Clerk and a loyal friend of the School, containing a cheque for £500 from Col. George Waters to be used in some suitable way as a memorial in the School to his brother, Mr John Waters, who had been a pupil in 1850.

It was suggested later that the Rector must have almost fainted from shock: it was as if a long lost uncle had died in America leaving his entire fortune to his nephew. £500 in 1928 was a huge sum of money. At least on this occasion the use to which the gift was to be put was left to the School authorities through the Education Committee. After lengthy consideration of a variety of suggestions it was resolved that the money be expended on the provision of a two-manual and pedal pipe organ in the School hall. A providential further gift to the school of £200 enabled the installation to be completed, with the pipework concealed within a lattice-work proscenium on the corridor side of the hall.

The convener of the Secondary Schools Management Committee, presiding at the inauguration ceremony on 24 January 1930, while admitting that he was not a trained organist, said that he was impressed by the skills of Mr E.H. Lawton, the Aberdeen organ builder, and the assurance that the instrument was ideally suited to the size of the hall and would enhance the musical reputation of the School.

The instrument had four stops on the Great organ, six stops on the Swell organ and three stops on the Pedal organ, with the usual couplers and accessories.

Mr. Gavin Falconer, the then Music Master, exhibited his characteristic great artistry in a recital at the close of the opening ceremony. He demonstrated the quality of the new instrument by playing the Allegro from Handel’s second organ concerto, “Barcarolle” by C. Roberts, “The Voice of Spring” by C. Vincent and the Processional March by C.M. Birch When the modern Hall was built in the 1960s the organ was removed and reinstalled where it now is to the left of the Platform. Whereas at the time of its first construction it was in daily use for morning assemblies and was also put to good use by pupils learning to play the instrument, usage is now infrequent.

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Former Pupils’ Section

Sunday The Denner past wi’ din and clatter, Oor faces shined wi’ soap and watter, Aaf tae the kirk the family traivelled, Tae hear the knotty points unraivelled, Wi’ mony a warnin’.

In pews we sit wi’ solemn faces – Tae mak’ a noise wid fair disgrace us; Wi’ collars stairched we suffer sairly; We hope to hear the Amen early That lats us oot.

Ootside the kirk the birdies sing, And in the sun they tak’ their fling, Bit we maun sit sae douce an’ proper, And fan the plate comes gie oor copper For ither heathen.

The bees drone roun’ the ivy wa’s, The preacher drones wi’ ne’er a pause, An’ now and then wi’ baleful e’e He turns aroun’ an’ glares at me For nae attendin’.

Oor mither sits just up the pew, She keeps her e’e on me an’ you, For weel behaved her loons maun look; What pains wi’ us she surely took Tae mak’ us guid.

The sweetie passed aneath the seat, To keep us quait she hid tae dee’t; And foo – at last the sermon endit – Our parents ay we sair offendit By rinnin’ oot!

The folk a’ gaithered roon’ the door And fauts in sermon they’d deplore, While to the Burnie we would rin; Oor boots were aff, and we were in And happy widein’ This trim Doric poem was first published in the Magazine of October 1914 and again in June 1957. It speaks of a time long gone – what a change one hundred years can bring.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

A History of the Magazine Club Members ask from time to time about the history of the Magazine which reaches them every autumn, and the Editor is often asked for an explanation of the italicised line on the front page under the title of the publication. Repeated below is the history as last published on page 20 of the December 1956 issue.

1885 1885-93 January 1894

First Issue Nine issues published “New Series” started.

(Hence the reference to “New Series” under the heading on p.1) 24 Sept. 1907 A Special General Meeting of the F.P. Club resolved inter alia that the Magazine be enlarged to contain a section entirely devoted to matters of interest to former pupils in all parts of the world; and that henceforth all members of the F.P. Club should receive a free copy of the Magazine. It was arranged, too, at that time that financial control of the Magazine should pass to the F.P. Club.

October 1907 The first issue under the new arrangement was published.

(The late Dr. Theodore Watt was appointed Editor-in-chief in October 1907 and retained that office until his death in 1946).

The Magazine has been published continuously since 1894. ******* While looking for the Magazine history printed above the Editor discovered an item on page 23 of the 1956 Magazine written by an FP who had just visited the Klondike via the Inside Passage and on to Alaska. This was in the days before modern cruise liners started regular trips to that part of the world. The writer was John Young who had been a pupil at the Grammar in 1889-94. What attracted the Editor’s attention was the reference to two writers and a poet whose impressions of the gold prospectors in the Yukon had been handed down to posterity in prose and poetry, one of the writers being Jack London and the other Robert W. Service.

Mr Young narrates the various means of travel from Vancouver north to Alaska and comments that steam-boat passage, by the time he was making his trip, was a thing of the past. That said, the last leg of his journey to Vancouver was by steamer from Squamish which he found to be a fitting climax to his visit.

He then referred again to the writer Robert Service and wrote of his amusing ballad “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, continuing “It is interesting to note that 34

Former Pupils’ Section the ballad was inspired by the actual cremation of a frozen body in the fire-box of the ‘Olive May’, a steamer which had become ice-bound on Lake Le Barge.

Dr Sugden, a friend of Robert Service, did the actual cremation and carried the ashes back to the police at Tagish.”

What attracted the astonished Editor’s attention to this article is that he had not heard of Robert Service until earlier this year, when he received the Canadian Centre report on their 2018 Reunion in Ottawa, printed below at page 55. There it is reported that during the week-end, which was also a memorial to the late Peter Green, Peter’s family presented his copy of the Robert Service book to the Centre and it, bearing Peter’s name plate on the fly-leaf, has in turn been presented to the School to be placed in the Library.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Senior Pupils’ Study Area The Canadian Centre has reached its goal of providing financial support to the School for the creation of a Senior Pupils’ Study Area. The project, to assist part of a larger reorganisation of the Library area, was launched at the Centre’s reunion in Victoria in September 2017. The project was successfully concluded four months later with the presentation to the School of a cheque for £2,750 on 25th January 2018. The presentation was made by Gillian Thomas, Secretary of our Centre (and President of the FP Club). Those present to receive the gift on behalf of the School were Alison Murison, Head Teacher, Janet Adams, Deputy Head Teacher and two S6 pupils, Fergus Kennedy and Holly Imperiale, who are Head Boy and Head Girl for 2017-2018.

This project grew out of discussions which Canadian representatives had with the School in May 2016 and March 2017 about ways and means whereby the Canadian Centre could continue to support the School. The prospect of support for a new, quiet study area for senior pupils crystallised at the latter meeting and the appeal for support was launched at the Centre’s 25th anniversary reunion in September 2017.

The Senior Pupils’ Study Area is to be created in what was the trophy room, a location immediately above the original main front entrance to the School and adjacent to the main library. The School will undertake physical preparation of the new study area. Support provided by the Canadian Former Pupils will enable the School to furnish this space, with layout and facilities planning undertaken in consultation with the very pupils who are to benefit from its creation. The outcome will be a much-needed contribution to School life which will benefit pupils as they complete their final year of study at the School and contemplate advanced education and future careers.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Presentation of Canadian Centre cheque Refurbished School Library

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Former Pupils’ Section

The Canadian office-bearers acknowledge with much appreciation those FPs from Canada, the United States and from Aberdeen who have stepped forward and made this project possible. Their generous support of this undertaking and their prompt response has helped to provide the School with the wherewithal to create a facility that S6 pupils will use for many, many years to come. The School has expressed its appreciation for our support.

Contributions for the Senior Pupil’s Study Area were received from the following: William (Willie) Balfour (1949-58), Roy Brown (1932-43), Peter Edwards (1956-64), Michael Green [in memory of his father Peter Green (194657)], Anne Gregory (in memory of Peter Green), Michael (Mike) Hardie (194859), Peter Jeffrey (1944-59), Michael (Mike) King (1951-60), John Michie (1944-58), John Muir (1958-71), Thomas (Tom) Paton (1952-60), Kenneth (Ken) Pirie (1948-57), Robert (Bob) Scace (1954-60), Lorna Stephen [in memory of George Stephen (1936-42)], Anthony (Tony) Stewart (1962-75), Gillian Thomas (1975-80), Alan Thomson (1951-64) and James (Jim) Watt (1950-56).

Heartfelt letters of thanks from both Alison and Janet were received within a couple of days of the presentation.

A Tale of Two Chairs Robert Scace (1954-60) has published a fascinating book tracing the thinking behind the presentation by the Canadian FP Centre of new chairs to complete the furnishings on the platform of the School Hall. Careful research has been undertaken to set matters in the context of a school whose pupils came at one time from a wider background than the city where it was located and whose former pupils have gone to all corners of the earth.

Robert has illustrated the growing tendency for Grammar-educated boys in the 17th and 18th centuries to move, initially to Europe, but later to the Americas and the Far East, to pursue a wide variety of careers in business, education, the armed forces and politics. Naturally, he lays emphasis on the historically close links between Scotland and Canada, and traces the large number of those links with the Grammar School.

The history of the existing platform furniture is traced and put into its historical perspective with its strong links with the FP Club. From this are developed the considerations dictating the scale and design of the planned new furniture.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The author explains in fascinating detail how the commissioning of the work to make the chairs was tackled and the connections between various enterprises in and around Calgary who were brought together to carry out the work. The final problems were created by the Great Flood of June 2013 which brought chaos and widespread damage to large parts of Calgary and to the nearby High River area where the chairs were manufactured. Robert completes the Tale with an account of the presentation of the chairs to the School and the excitement which the occasion created.

This is a carefully researched book with well cross-referenced sources and is well illustrated by photographs of the chairs themselves in detail and of them in their final location. This is an eminently readable book.

A Tale of Two Chairs is now available for purchase and a limited number may be obtained from Michie the Chemist at 391 Union Street, Aberdeen.

Otherwise copies may be ordered by contacting the author at rscase@teleplusplanet.net

2018 - A Year of Anniversaries (1) The Former Pupils’ Club On 11 September 1918 the Club marked the occasion of its Silver Jubilee. No formal celebration of the event took place on account of the still continuing War, but the Executive noted the significance of the date, which coincided with the Silver Jubilee of the arrival of the Rector, Dr. Morland Simpson, who had taken up his duties on 14th August 1893 at the start of a new school session. It says much for his strength of character, dynamic personality and his enthusiasm for the School to which he had just been appointed that in less than a month of starting his duties he had called a meeting to propose the setting up of a club for former pupils of his school.

The reasoning behind the formation of the Club is best explained by quoting the report of a speech made by the new Rector at function held at around that time: “All the great schools of England had their Clubs of ‘Old Boys’. Few, if any, of these schools had a record so ancient as the Grammar School of Aberdeen.

None of them came within a century of being of equal age – Eton, Harrow, and even Winchester being, in comparison, schools of yesterday. It was a matter of regret that the School which was so much the pride of their city should have been so long without a Club such as that which had now been started to draw the members together from time to time for social purposes and for the pleasure of meeting old schoolfellows again. Many of the pupils who had gone forth into the world and distinguished themselves were proud to call themselves ‘Old Boys’ of the Aberdeen Grammar School. It seemed desirable that the opportunity should 38

Former Pupils’ Section be seized and a Club formed, not merely for athletic purposes, but in order to combine all interests – social, athletic and the like, and so tend to bind together the past and present pupils of the School.”

The Club was therefore founded at a meeting held at the School on 11th September 1893, and it is interesting to read the minute of that first meeting: “In the senior classroom of the Grammar School, Aberdeen, a conference of Old Boys with Mr. Morland Simpson, Rector of the School, was held on the evening of Monday 11th September, 1893.

Mr. Simpson took the chair at 8p.m., and in a very interesting, suggestive and rousing address pointed out the advantages which might be gained from an Old Boys’ Club.

A motion for the formation of an Old Boys’ Club was then proposed and seconded and unanimously carried.

It was thereafter unanimously resolved that arrangements should be at once made for organising an Old Boys’ Football Club.

With a view to the carrying out of these motions it was agreed that an Executive be appointed to arrange the general business of the Club – this body to consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, three members now attending the University, three members not at the University, and three senior present boys – and that a Committee be appointed to control the affairs of the Football Club.

[There then follows a list of the first Office-bearers and Committee; Mr. Morland Simpson was elected as the first President.]

On the motion of Mr Morland Simpson the names and addresses of those present at the meeting were noted, in order that a record of them might be kept.

The meeting was then declared at an end.”

No time was lost in following up what had been started at that meeting, and on 18 October 1893 a General Meeting was held at which the name “Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils’ Club” was adopted and the first Rules and Constitution were approved.

The foregoing history means that this year marks the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the FP Club.

(2) The Great War All three issues of the Magazine in 1918 shed light on the anticipation of the end of the Great War. There are, of course, listings of Former Pupils who had been killed in action and of those others who were missing. There were also lists of those who had been decorated in respect of their War service, including a significant number whose actions had earned them the Military Cross. In each issue, however, the end of the conflict was anticipated.

The new Playing Field at Rubislaw had opened in September 1916 and was in full use but even as the official opening took place the need for a pavilion was 39

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine recognised. Following discussions in the next year it was clear that there was much support for a proposal that such a building be erected as a memorial to those of the School who had fallen in the War. While the War continued the matter was not pressed, but it was made known that the subscription list was open and a steady response was made.

The Magazine of December 2018 contained notice of a public meeting to be held in the School Hall on 26th December at which definite proposals would be submitted. These proposals were (a) to erect at the School Recreation Ground a Pavilion containing adequate dressing-room and other accommodation to complete the equipment of the Ground for the conduct and practice of games and athletic sports, and to inscribe upon the walls of the Pavilion a complete Roll of the names of the fallen, and (b) to complete and publish the ‘Roll of Old Boys’ now in course of preparation, and to embody therein a record of war services of all Former Pupils.

The proposals were unanimously adopted and the formal appeal for donations was at once under way.

Building work was not commenced until a sufficiency of funds had been raised but it was completed by the summer of 1924. The plan to have the names of the fallen inscribed on the walls of the central hall was not implemented as the War Memorial in the School Hall, containing these names, had been unveiled.

The new Pavilion was open for public inspection on School Sports Day, 21st June 1924.

(3) The National Health Service This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the National Health Service in Britain. Amidst the celebrations which have taken place to mark this significant date the names of various persons of note who played major roles in the events of 1948 have been identified.

It has often been alleged that when any major event or development occurs a former pupil of Aberdeen Grammar School will be found to have played a part.

In the events of 1948 that former pupil was Sir William Wilson Jameson who had been a pupil of the School in 1892-1902. In 1903 he graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University, following this with a degree in Medicine in 1909 and a Doctorate in Medicine in 1912. After clinical training he turned his attention to public health and preventive medicine, obtaining his diploma in public health at London in 1914. He was commissioned in the RAMC as a hygiene specialist during the 1914-18 war. Post-war he studied law and was admitted a barrister of the Middle Temple in 1922. Three years later, when the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine was established, he was appointed to the Chair of Public Health and became Dean in 1931.

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Former Pupils’ Section On the outbreak of war in 1939 Sir Ian was appointed chairman of the Medical Research Committee on problems of preventive medicine. It was as a result of his efforts in the early war years that the majority of the country’s children were immunised against diphtheria leading to a remarkable fall in the incidence and death rate from this disease. Worried about the prevention of malnutrition he devised a scheme to ensure that more vulnerable sections of the community received a proper quota of the diminished national food supply.

Sir Wilson had been Chief Medical Adviser to successive Ministers of Health, and had been heard to compare the Whitehall Health Department to a chaotic girls’ school. One of these Ministers, Walter Elliot, a Scot who had trained at the Rowett Institution, took the decision to appoint Sir Wilson as Chief Medical Officer. He at once revolutionised the Department, ending many oldfashioned practices and involving the public by way of regular press briefings.

He became the first civil servant to broadcast when he promoted the case for diphtheria.

In 1945 Aneurin Bevan pledged to do the seemingly impossible by launching a National Health Service within three years. His permanent secretary and the Chief Medical Officer were poles apart from Bevan in their attitudes and their outlook but they managed to establish a bond of mutual trust which enabled the delivery of the NHS on schedule. Sir Wilson played a prominent part in the preparation of the Bill which became the National Health Service Act, and in the long and difficult negotiations which took place before the new service was inaugurated.

On his retiral in 1950 he was very modest about his achievements, notably describing himself as “an average boy from Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen University and a pretty poor golfer”. He died in 1962.

A Backward Glance The Magazine of June 1978 contained a tongue in cheek assessment of the principal officials of the F.P. Club on the pattern of the then familiar ‘Parkinson’s Law’ and it may be that it bears updating in these times forty years on – still with tongue firmly in cheek! …. For All Their Hard Work Over the years readers of the Magazine cannot fail to have been impressed by the expedition and efficiency with which the affairs of the Club and the Club Centre have been handled by their respective committees and officials. It will come as no surprise then, to learn that, in their deliberations, the Executive Committee and the Club Centre Management Committee have been guided by an established code of principles which, though one would seek for it in vain in the official records of the Club, regulates the conduct of committee members with the same 41

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine authority as, in their schooldays, the Shanghai Clock regulated their movements.

Permission has at last been granted for the publication of the following extracts from the code, in order that all members of the Club may have a closer insight into the Club’s management system.

Michie’s Law If anything can go wrong, it will.

Campbell’s Addendum Michie was an optimist.

Michie’s Second Law If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.

Campbell’s Commentary The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone he can blame it on.

The Vice-Chairman’s Truism The trouble with most jobs is the resemblance to being in a sled dog team.

No-one gets a change of scenery except the lead dog.

Hendry’s Law The anatomy of any Club Committee includes four kinds of bones: 1 wish bones – go along with any idea but want others to do the work; 2 jaw bones – talk a lot but do nothing; 3 knuckle-bones – knock everything everyone else does; 4 back-bones – who do all the work.

Chairman’s Rules for Decision Avoidance 1. When it is not necessary to make a decision it is necessary not to make a decision.

2. If you can avoid a decision, do so without delay.

3. If you can get someone else to avoid a decision, don’t avoid it yourself.

4. If you can’t get one person to avoid the decision, appoint a committee.

Definition of a Club Committee A collection of the unfit chosen from the unwilling by the incompetent to do the un-necessary.

Chairman’s Committee Rules for Club Officials (and Editors) 1. Hide.

2. If they find you, lie.

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Former Pupils’ Section

Rewarding Success Having just attended the Senior Prize-giving at the School in June, and been impressed yet again by the success of so many pupils in so many fields of study and other activity I am reminded of the reply made by Rector Robert Gill to the principal toast at the F.P. Club Dinner in 1977 when he said: “We in the School, staff and pupils, are very conscious of the strong ties which exist between us and the FP Club; we appreciate the genuine interest shown by the Club in what goes on in the School and we are grateful to the Club and to individual Former Pupils for making available to the School prizes and other awards for outstanding achievements, because in these awards I see the encouragement of a spirit of competition. In work, in sport and in personal standards a healthy spirit of competition has proved its worth over the years. Like so many other ways of life once taken for granted, however, competition has become for some an ugly word; there are those who frown on awards for outstanding performance because, they maintain, such awards are divisive; there are even those for whom competitive games are no longer healthy or characterforming. With the element of competition removed, pupils soon lose the incentive to give of their best. In other words there are those in our society who believe that to excel in any aspect of life – whether it be in work or in play – is not to be encouraged. To support mediocrity, and to be satisfied with less than the best, is for some the philosophy of life.

We in the Grammar School do not accept that philosophy. Competition in work, in play, in whatever aspect of life you care to think of, is healthy; it is exciting and stimulating. I encourage our pupils to aim high, to reach for the top – all are capable of excelling in something – and if we strive for success life becomes more meaningful. Boredom and lack of purpose are significant factors in the problem areas of our society. Motivation and healthy competition would help solve some of these problems”.

It is encouraging to know that this continues to be the philosophy of the School, that it stimulates positive reactions from the pupils and is appreciated by their parents.

B.K.C.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Former Pupils’ Club Founded 11 September 1893 Club Office-Bearers, 2018-2019 Honorary President: ALISON MURISON MA (Head Teacher) Honorary Vice-Presidents: T. GORDON COUTTS (1938-49), QC, MA, LL.B (President, 1980-81) BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46), TD, MA, LL.B (President, 1983-84) Prof. PHILIP N. LOVE (1952-58), CBE, DL, MA, LL.B, LL.D (President, 1987-88) A. KEITH CAMPBELL (1944-53), TEng (CEI), FInst AEA (President, 1992-93) JAMES C. LYON (1953-59), RIBA, FRIAS (President, 1996-97) J. EDWARD FRASER (1936-49), CB, MA, BA, FSA(Scot) (President, 1997-98) RICHARD H. CRADOCK (1940-51) (President, 1998-99) RICHARD F. TYSON (1944-49) (President, 2000-01) DOUGLAS G. FOWLIE (1950-64) MB,ChB, FRCPsych. (President, 2002-03)) IAN H. McLEOD (1951-55) (President, 2004-05) GORDON G. MILNE (1950-61) MB.ChB (President, 2005-06) DAVID L. ALLAN (1945-58) QPM, LL.B, MPhil, FCMI (President 2006-07) GARY J.G. ALLAN (1963-76) QC, LL.B (President 2007-08) JAMES M. CLARK (1947-59) (President 2008-09) NEIL BORTHWICK (1952-65) BSc, PhD (President 2009-10) DONALD A. LAMONT (1952-65) MA (President 2010-11) TRACEY J.H. MENZIES (1981-87) MBE, DCH, LL.B (President 2011-12) NIGEL G.M. WATT (1963-69) LL.B, WS (President 2012-13) J. MARTIN JEFFREY (1942-57) BSc (President 2013-14) MARGERY G. TAYLOR (1975-81) (President 2014-15) MELDRUM B. EDWARDS (1947-60) MBE, BSc, MICE (President 2015-16) DOUGLAS R. HARPER (1944-58) MB,ChB, MD, FRCSE, FRCS (President 2016-17) (Specially Elected) ALISTAIR M. NORTH (1937-50) OBE, BSc, DSc, PhD, FRSE, FRIC (Elected 2004) J. PETER JEFFREY (1944-59) MSc (Eng) (Elected 2010) H. ALAN S. HAMILTON (1943-56) (Elected 2012) GRAHAM LEGGE BEd, MEd, (Rector 2004-15) (Elected 2016) President: GILLIAN A. THOMAS (1975-80) President-Elect: IAIN S. HOPKIN (1962-68) Vice-President of Club and Chairman of Executive: ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) CBE, LL.D, LL.B, Secretary: JOHN F. HENDRY (1951-65) LL.B Treasurer: JOHN C.A. MICHIE (1944-58) General & Notes Editor of Magazine: BRIAN K. CROOKSHANKS (1934-46) TD, MA, LL.B

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Former Pupils’ Section Regional Centres President –NIGEL G.M. WATT (1963-69) Secretary – JAMES H. RUST (1963-71) james@jjrust.co.uk Glasgow: President – MALCOLM GAULD (1947-61) Secretary – MARGERY TAYLOR (1975-81) marg7ery@ntlworld.com London: President – DONALD A. LAMONT (1952-65) Secretary – SANDY NICOL (1962-71) alexandernicol@mac.com Yorkshire: President – DOUGLAS SKENE (1959-64) Secretary – DAVID GALLOWAY (1976-82) davegalloway1964@hotmail.com Canada: President – WILLIAM GUTHRIE (1939-51) Secretary – GILLIAN A. THOMAS (1975-80) gillianthomas@shaw.ca Edinburgh:

Secretaries of Sections Cricket – RICHARD S.T. FERRO Curling – NORMAN PATERSON (1947-61) Football – MALCOLM ROBERTSON Men’s Hockey – DUNCAN HARRIS (1985-91) Women’s Hockey – EMMA MAIR (1985-91) Pétanque – KATIE McDONALD

theferrofamily@lineone.net nwp21tp@outlook.com grammarfps@gmail.com dharris@technip.com emma.mair@gmail.com katiebarnett126@gmail.com

Executive Committee ALAN G. CAMPBELL (1959-65) Chairman DOUGLAS MARR (1959-65) Vice-Chairman The Secretary, the Treasurer and the General Editor of the Magazine, ex officiis The Rector of the School, ex officio RICHARD L.C. DARGIE (1964-73) RUSSELL GRAY (1951-65) GRANT A. HAMILTON (1988-94) J. MARTIN JEFFREY (1942-57) JOHN LAWSON (1959-61) NEIL J.G. LAWRIE (1961-74) EMMA A. MAIR (1985-91) JOHN C.A. MICHIE (1944-58) GEOFFREY E. MORRISON (1992-98) HARVEY E. MORRISON (1951-65) BARRY J. SHEPHERD (1988-94) ANGUS J. THOMPSON (1969-75) DAVID R.D. WALLIS (1979-85)

Section Representatives Club Centre – DAVID LEIGHTON (1959-62) Cricket – SAM KNUDSON (2004-10) Curling – COLIN R. SUTHERLAND (1947-60) Football – Golf – DALLAS G. MOIR (1969-75) Men’s Hockey – Pétanque – Women’s Hockey – EMMA MAIR (1985-91) Staff – JANET C. ADAMS (1980-86)

Auditors

Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Club Centre Committee DAVID LEIGHTON – Chairman CHRIS CLELLAND – Secretary COLIN BROWN – Treasurer BEN JOHNSON – Membership Secretary S.A.C. ESSON, G.M.E. GRAHAM, L. LAMBERT, K. McDONALD, J. MELHUISH, J.C.A. MICHIE, L.MITCHELL, D.G. MOIR, G. MORRISON, H.E. MORRISON, W.M. MURRAY, H. SMITH, G. THOMSON, L. TOMKINS

Club Consuls Australia – JIM W. HOWISON (1937-50), 98A Hull Road, West Pennant Hills, New South Wales 2125, Australia, E-mail: howison@tech2u.com.au Tel. 00 61-2-98751296 Australia – Dr. FORBES J. SMITH (1945-57), 242 Main Creek Road, Main Ridge, Victoria, 3928, Australia E-mail: forbessmith@alphalink.com.au Tel. 0061-3-5989-6234 Canada – GORDON B. SINGER (1949-50), 2421 Erlton Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2S 2V9 E-mail: singsing@shaw.ca ; Tel. 00 1-403-266-6448 Canada – DAVID R. AULD (1947-61), 2187 Lafayette Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8S 2P2 E-mail: davidauld@shaw.ca ; Tel. 001-250-595-0616 Corsica – IAIN WARES (1941-52), Via G.M. Angioy 34, Cagliari 09124, Sardinia, Italy.

Tel. 0039-070-652508 Hong Kong – MARSHALL H. BYRES (1960-69), 2A Hatton House, 15 Kotewall Road, Hong Kong E-mail: marshall.byres@hk.ev.com ; Tel. 00852-2846-9878 Ireland – ANDREW M.M. STEVEN (1936-50), 5 Beechhill Avenue, Saintfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT8 6NS. Tel. 028-9070-2315.

Thailand – Prof. ALASTAIR M. NORTH (1937-50), 79/78 Soi 7/1 Mooban Tararom, Ramkhamhaeng Road Soi 150, Saphan Soong, Bangkok 10240, Thailand E-mail: amnorth@ksc.th.com ; Tel. 0066-2-373-2818 United States – Michael G. King (1951-60), 806 Northpointe Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103-3346 USA E-mail: michaelking806@comcast.net Tel. 1-801-363-3097

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Former Pupils’ Section Annual General Meeting The One-hundred and sixteenth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Club Centre in Aberdeen on Monday 26 March 2018, with Mr Alan Campbell, the Vice-President, in the Chair. The Chairman reported as follows: The past year has been a challenging year in the annals of the FP Club. Members will know from communications during the year that the already precarious financial position of the Club and Club Centre has been compounded by the termination of the lease of 1 Bayview Road, with the consequent loss of an annual income of £27,000 which had been shared equally between the Club Centre and the FP Club. The Executive Committee considered all the options available and concluded that the only viable option was to market 86 Queens Road and 1 Bayview Road. This was a step which was taken with the greatest regret, as the Club Centre has been a focus for the Sports Sections and Club generally for nigh on 50 years. A number of us in this room this evening were very active in the concept and opening of the Club Centre. The management of the Club Centre have done an excellent job in really difficult circumstances and have been innovative and hard-working, but changing social habits have made the operation of social clubs such as ours an unviable proposition.

The Executive have taken extensive independent professional advice on how best to market the site, bearing in mind the condition of the property market in Aberdeen following the oil and gas recession. The property has now been on the market since the beginning of February and if the Executive Committee consider that an acceptable offer has been received then a Special General Meeting of the FP Club will be called to consider their recommendation before a decision to sell is taken. I should point out that it will be a condition of any possible sale that the Club Centre will continue to operate at No 86 until the end of the rugby season 2018/2019.

On a more cheerful note the Canadian Centre continues to set an excellent example and during the year made a presentation to The School of £2750 to be used for facilities in the newly refurbished library. The presentation was made by our President, Gillian Thomas who is, of course, a long-serving office bearer of that Centre. The School greatly appreciate the support and funding from the FP Club and a future meeting of the Executive will be held in the new library and will hear from the Head Teacher.

This is the first year of the innovation of having a President Elect of the FP Club and I am delighted to say that the nomination is of Iain Hopkin – also known as Hoppy – who is well known and respected for his support of FP matters.

In conclusion I would like to extend my thanks to those who, through hard work and commitment, give us the various activities both sporting and social which make The Club. In particular may I refer to the Annual Dinner, which we 47

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine thoroughly enjoyed on Friday, and The Magazine, which is a highlight of the year. Many thanks on your behalf to Neil and Brian and, indeed, to all those who give freely of their time and talents.

General Business Section Reports Reports were submitted by representatives of the various Sections and of the Club Centre, and similar Reports appear elsewhere in this Magazine.

Accounts and Treasurer’s Report The 2017 Accounts (reproduced at the end of this Magazine) showing a surplus of £9,847 were submitted and approved. The Treasurer stressed how dependent the Club remained on the generosity of members who had responded positively to the Appeal made in late 2016. Attention was once again drawn to the consequences of supporting the Club Centre while it is under pressure, although it was pleasing to record that the Centre had again shown a profit in 2017.

Election of Office-Bearers A proposal carried forward from the previous AGM that a President-Elect be identified who would succeed to the Presidency a year later was adopted and Iain Hopkin was elected as the first holder of this office. Other officials 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.

In closing the meeting, the Chairman again expressed his thanks to the members of the Executive and of the Club Centre Committee and all those others who have given their time to support the Club’s activities.

Former Pupils’ Club A.G.M. In terms of the Constitution, the Annual General Meeting is held on the last Monday in March.

The 2019 A.G.M. will therefore be held on Monday, 25 March at 7.30 p.m. in the Club Centre, 86 Queen’s Road, Aberdeen

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Former Pupils’ Section

President’s Report After being elected as President of the Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils’ Club at the Annual General Meeting in March last year I began a very enjoyable, but busy, year in office. I started out with a trip to Aberdeen in April to attend the Edinburgh Centre Dinner and to be on the interview panel for the All Round Trophy awards at the School. It was a pleasure to interact with the talented, motivated and compassionate senior pupils. What they manage to pack in to each day on top of their studies is a credit to them and the supportive members of staff at the School.

I returned to Aberdeen in June to attend the junior and senior Prize-giving ceremonies. I enjoyed seeing pupils from S1 to S6 being duly recognised for their achievements. We enjoyed musical interludes from individual performers and from the Platinum Award-winning Concert Band.

In September I attended the annual Canada Centre reunion weekend in Victoria, British Columbia. The fact that the reunion was the weekend following my daughter’s wedding in Victoria meant that I was able to have my father, Brian Crookshanks, and my brother Gordon in attendance. As it was the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Centre, the Canadian FPs wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion. As is reported elsewhere in this Magazine, we decided to start a fund-raising campaign to provide funds for the refurbishment of a Senior Pupils’ Study Area in the main School Library.

At the end of September I attended the Yorkshire Centre Dinner and at the beginning of November, I made my last trip across for 2017 to attend the Glasgow Centre Dinner. I was delighted that a group of my classmates were there to support me.

In January, after we wound up our fundraising for the Library refurbishment, I made a trip over to present the School with a cheque to cover the cost of the renovation. The School promptly acknowledged our ongoing support to the School and pupils, all the way from Canada! The timing of this trip allowed me to attend the Stewarts Melville Aberdeen dinner as a guest.

In March, I made what I thought would be my last trip as President, to preside over the Annual Dinner. This was a most enjoyable evening, as many of my family members, and a group of friends with whom I hill-walked in the ‘70s were there to support me. Even living thousands of miles from Aberdeen for thirtyfive years has not diminished the bond which I have with the city and, especially, with the Grammar School.

It has been a great pleasure to have had so many positive interactions with staff and pupils over the course of my Presidential year. It is clearly evident that the School is in good hands, and the children are thriving. I am also very fortunate to have had the support of my ‘team’ in Aberdeen – Alan Campbell, John Michie, and my father, Brian Crookshanks.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Gillian A. Thomas (1975-80)

President 2018-19

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Former Pupils’ Section

Presidential Profile Gillian A. Thomas (née Crookshanks) (1975-80) The author of the Profile on Gillian in last year’s Magazine, Peter Jeffrey, was the person who had originally suggested to the Club’s principal officials that she would be an appropriate candidate for the office of President. She having been elected, the Editor naturally approached Peter to write the Profile. When he began it by remarking that she had achieved a double first in FP Club affairs he could not have foreseen that she was to make that a triple first.

To being the first daughter of a former President to hold this office and the first overseas member of the Club to attain this office she has now added a third as she is the first President to be elected for a second successive term. The only other President to serve twice was Dr Douglas Simpson, the son of the Rector and founder of the FP Club, H. F. Morland Simpson. He was President in 195354 and was specially invited to serve again ten years later in 1963-64, the year which marked the Centenary of the School’s move from Schoolhill to Skene Street.

Brought up in Aberdeen, Gillian attended Mile End Primary School before entry to the Grammar in 1975. She played hockey, badminton and tennis and was a keen member of the hill-walking club. She graduated as a teacher of Primary Education in 1983 and after marrying she moved to Calgary in Alberta. Over the next number of years her husband’s employment in the oil industry took the family to Yemen, from which civil war compelled their urgent evacuation to Britain in 1994. They later moved to Indonesia before spending several years in the U.K. in Windsor before returning to Canada in 2003.

Since then Gillian has associated herself with the Canadian Centre of the FP Club, serving as its President in 2003-04, the first lady President of any Centre.

Since 2010 she has been Centre Secretary and is a wonderfully enthusiastic supporter, energetically pursuing any lead for new members. As one of the youngest Canadian FPs she brightens any gathering of the Canadian Centre and keeps a kindly eye on everyone. Her enthusiasm reaches Aberdeen, too, where she encourages Aberdonians and other FPs to join our Canadian Reunion weekends – and they do!

Gillian also has a strong interest in encouraging Canadian FPs to give back to the School, and she played a key role in planning the Canadian Chairs Project.

She has stayed in touch with the School and again was a key operator in the Library Study Area project which has just been completed.

It has been an added bonus for Gillian that the eldest of her three daughters is now working for Nexen Petroleum in Aberdeen.

All FPs will wish our President well in this further year of service to our Club.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Centre Reports Club Centre In 2017 the Centre continued to be the focal point of FP social activities and Aberdeen Grammar Sport, and it is pleasing to advise the membership that a reasonable surplus in trading was achieved. Full details of the accounts are printed elsewhere in this Magazine.

It is disappointing that the negative trading factors, as noted in detail in last year’s report, remain and the profitability and sustainability of the Centre has been further compromised with the loss of the rental income, which was shared with the FP Club, following the loss of the long standing tenant of 1 Bayview Road.

The Centre is fortunate to have a very vibrant and diverse committee and I am indebted to my fellow members for their support and the huge commitment which they make in running the Centre in a diligent and professional manner.

Our staffing levels have remained constant for the last few years now, but given the current sale process which 86 Queens Road is undergoing and the continued negative trading conditions, all areas of expenditure will again be examined with whatever savings necessary being invoked to allow the Centre to continue to trade in the most cost effective manner possible.

The Rugby Section continues to be the Centre’s largest customer and our biggest contributor to bar turnover. The dozen or so home games during the season give us a very noticeable boost to trade. Ladies’ and Gents’ Hockey and the Cricket Section are also very regular and loyal customers. Special mention and our warmest congratulations are extended to our cricketers who, in season 2017, won the Aberdeen Grades Association league 1 for the first time since 1942.

In recent years we have encouraged the use of the Centre for external lets for events such as gin-tasting nights, BBQs, quiz nights, charity fund-raisers and group re-unions. The success of these events do make a significant contribution to reducing the Centre’s running costs and all FPs are encouraged to make more use of our outstanding facilities, especially for any external function with which they may have an involvement.

Sadly, FP membership of the Centre is waning, and given the impending major change in the circumstances that both the FP Club and Centre will face in the near future I would encourage all FPs to rekindle their interest and commitment to the Centre by renewing their membership. It is in all our interests to support the Centre for the next year or so and perhaps beyond.

David Leighton Club Centre Chairman 52

Former Pupils’ Section

Canada The 25th annual Reunion of the Canadian Centre of the FP Club took place during the weekend of the 8th to 10th September 2017 in Victoria, British Columbia and was enjoyed by sixteen FPs along with spouses and guests from across Canada, the UK and the United States. This was the 25th consecutive annual reunion since the first gathering at Fort Edmonton in 1993. There was the traditional sequence of events – a Friday evening informal ‘meet and greet’ in the Bard & Banker’s Sam McGee Room; a Saturday night Dinner at the University Club, University of Victoria; and a Sunday brunch at the home of Peter and Judy Jeffrey in North Saanich. The weather added to the weekend’s mix, ranging from Friday’s smoke-filled sky fuelled by fires in Washington State, through much-needed rain on Saturday to sparkling sunshine on Sunday.

The occasion was noteworthy in that in attendance were four FPs who had been present at the inaugural reunion in 1993 – Peter Edwards, Peter Jeffrey, Tom Paton and Bob Scace.

On the Saturday Tom Paton was installed as President and invested with his badge of office. Peter Jeffrey cited many of the Centre highlights over the years and then, having pored through issues of the Magazine, quoted interesting pieces about all of the FPs present. Special mention was made of Editor, Brian Crookshanks, who had proudly witnessed his daughter Gillian’s ‘homecoming’ to the Canada Centre as President of the FP Club.

Tom Paton proposed the toast to the School and the Club, reflecting on his days at the School and on a medical career which had taken him from Alberta to Botswana and back to Alberta. The President in reply outlined her vision for the Club liaising with both School and the Cub Executive as the Club seeks to realign its role and activities in a world of value adjustments and social media arrangements which affect FPs and School-leavers alike.

The ever industrious Bob Scace reported on his plans for a History of AGS FPs in Canada and sought support and input for this to supplement his ongoing research.

At brunch on Sunday a display of School memorabilia was laid out, bubbly was on hand for this anniversary and the ample conversation on the deck and in the house revealed that after two days of get-togethers those present still had much to say about matters of common interest.

The following FPs attended the Reunion (listed in order of entry into the School): Brian Crookshanks (1934-46), Aberdeen; John Michie (1944-58), Aberdeen; Peter Jeffrey (1944-59), Vancouver Island, BC; David Auld (194761), Victoria BC; Phil Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; Kenneth Pirie (194857) Sidney BC; Ian McLeod (1951-55), Aberdeen; Mike King (1951-60), Salt Lake City; Alan Thomson (1951-64), Victoria BC; Ian Thomson (1952-60), Nepean, Ontario; Tom Paton (1952-60), Edmonton, Alberta; Ian Annand (195353

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Canadian FP Reunion Dinner at University of Victoria

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Former Pupils’ Section 60), Naramata BC; Robert Scace (1954-60), Calgary, Alberta; Peter Edwards (1956-64), Okanagan Falls BC; Gillian Thomas (1975-80), Calgary, Alberta and Gordon Crookshanks (1979-85), Aberdeen The 26th consecutive annual Canadian Reunion took place in Ottawa, Ontario during the weekend 18th-20th May 2018. Normally held in early September, this reunion was moved to the Victoria Day weekend in consideration of a Celebration of Life to remember and honour the late Peter Green, which took place on the Sunday in nearby Almonte.

Weekend activities began with an informal Friday evening get-together at the home of Ian and Norma Thomson on the western outskirts of Ottawa. Situated betwixt the wide expanse of the shining, blue Ottawa River and the “fifty shades of green” in the foliage of the surrounding neighbourhood, the Thomson’s home was a perfect setting for enjoyment of the colours of spring. Nature’s palate was a welcome antidote to a long winter which had proved particularly challenging across Canada.

On Saturday, the Annual Dinner was held at La Roma restaurant in Ottawa’s “Little Italy” district. Those present were welcomed by Bob Scace on behalf of the Canada Centre. Among the small but august body attending from near and afar (the latter being from British Columbia and Alberta), there were six past presidents of the Canada Centre as well as the incumbent President of the parent club, Gillian Thomas. A special welcome was extended to Linda McCartney (1977-83) who was attending her first Canada Centre reunion with husband Colin. First on the evening’s program was the installation of William (Bill) Guthrie as the 2018-19 President of the Centre. The installation was performed

by Gillian Thomas in her capacity as President of the parent FP Club. Bill observed that a “good blether” seemed appropriate to the occasion and proceeded to entertain with anecdotes from life that pointed to the merits of pronouncing oneself as a “Grammar FP” during sticky moments as the odds were in favour of another FP being present to help defuse an awkward situation. Bill then proposed the Toast to the School and the Club.

Grace before dinner was led by Norma Thomson. The Toast to Absent Friends followed the meal. Peter Jeffrey conveyed several messages of regret and best wishes from absent FPs. Peter spoke to the passing of Peter Green, a very strong supporter and contributor to the success of the Canada Centre.

Rescheduling the annual reunion to coincide with the next day’s Celebration of Life for Peter was particularly appropriate because not only had he attended the inaugural reunion of Canadian FPs in 1993, but thereafter for two decades when reunions took place in Ottawa Peter and Anne had hosted seven Sunday brunches at their homes in Kemptville and Prescott. On these occasions not only had Peter reminded FPs of their Scottish “foodie” heritage with his stupendous array of home-made goods, but he had also intrigued everyone with his ambition to bake 55

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine the perfect buttery or rowie. Fain would we suggest he may well have achieved perfection on more than one occasion!

The Secretary’s Report from Gillian Thomas touched on matters pertinent to both the Canada Centre and the parent Club. In regard to the former, progress was reported in resolving the outstanding issue of repairs to the Rubislaw Clock, the School’s gratitude for the Centre’s gift of funds for the new S6 study area adjacent to the library, and a possible venue for the 2019 reunion (Calgary was mooted as a strong contender). On matters pertaining to the Club, Gillian reported that since the last reunion in September 2017 she had made five crossings of the Atlantic to attend to her responsibilities. These included attendance at a meeting of the Executive Committee when the decision was taken to place the Club Centre on Queen’s Road on the market, attendance at annual reunions in York, Glasgow and Aberdeen, plans to make the Club more appealing and useful to young FPs, and her acceptance of the Club Executive’s request that she undertake a second term of office for 2018-19.

Under Any Other Business a lively discussion ensued on means to maintain interest and participation in the Canada Centre as, like the parent club, there is limited inflow of younger FPs. The suggestion from Colin McCartney that a Twitter account be opened met with a positive response, the account duly being opened following the evening’s formalities! The evening closed with a Vote of Thanks to Mike Hardie and Linda McCartney for their endeavours in securing a venue for the dinner.

On Sunday, reunion FPs were joined by William Balfour (1949-58) of Montreal as they journeyed to The Olive Garden in Almonte to join other celebrants. FPs were a readily visible group in the old log barn where many among family and friends were to speak to Peter Green’s humanity, his kindness, his love of family and life and his remarkably versatile career with Hudson’s Bay Company (becoming conversant in Inuktituk) and government agencies (latterly the federal Treasury Board), and as Boy Scout leader, rugby player, library supporter and avid book reader and author, photographer, thespian, traveller and purveyor of witty emails. Likening his life story to chapters in a book, Peter Jeffrey observed that two of those chapters would speak to his school days at Aberdeen Grammar School and his support from the outset for FP activities in Canada. Indeed, Peter’s deep affiliation with all things Scottish permeated the afternoon’s proceedings – many elements responding to his wishes; a piper was on hand to play a pibroch, FPs gave voice to his choice of bothy ballads and six expressions of his favourite malt Scotches were on hand to be imbibed. We are deeply grateful to Peter’s family – his widow Anne Gregory, son and daughter Michael and Andrea, his grandchildren and extended family – for their invitation to FPs to join in celebration. In no small tribute to a man who spent many years living in and loving Canada’s North and his acute sense of humour, his family joined in presenting Robert W. Service’s The Cremation of Sam McGee. Peter 56

Former Pupils’ Section would have approved, happy in the knowledge that the FP reunion had been rescheduled so that we could join his family and friends in fond remembrance of a life well lived. A copy of the book, bearing Peter’s name plate, was presented to the School on Prize-giving Day to be placed in the Library.

The following FPs attended the Reunion, (listed in order of entry to the School): Bill and Pat Guthrie (1939-51), St. Catherines, Ontario; Peter and Judy Jeffrey (1944-59), North Saanich, B.C.; Mike and Betty Hardie (1948-59), Almonte, Ontario; Phil and Joan Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; Ian and Norma Thomson (1952-60), Nepean, Ontario; Bob Scace (1954-60), Calgary, Alberta; Gillian Thomas (1975-80), Calgary, Alberta and Linda McCartney (1977-83), Ottawa, Ontario.

Edinburgh The Edinburgh Centre was to have held its Annual Dinner on Friday 20th April 2018 in the Clubhouse of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society. However, several factors combined to frustrate the best laid plans, such that with less than a week to go before the dinner the confirmed number of FPs and their guests was scarcely into double figures. With great regret the decision was taken to cancel.

This most disappointing and somewhat unexpected turn of events will now be reflected upon by Nigel Watt, the current Edinburgh Centre President, and the local committee. Age takes its toll, of course, but more concerning is the absence of the “younger” generations of FPs. It may be that an Annual Dinner is a format which has had its day, at least so far as Edinburgh is concerned. Social media allows people to keep in touch without having to engage in the more traditional methods of doing so.

In the absence of a formal AGM, which is traditionally held during the Annual Dinner, Nigel Watt continues as the Edinburgh Centre President and James Rust continues as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.

If there is to be an Annual Dinner of the Edinburgh Centre next year, then details of this will be intimated in due course.

James Rust would welcome receiving views on alternatives to Edinburgh’s Annual Dinner format which might attract wider interest from FPs and, more generally, on the future role of the Edinburgh Centre.

Any FP who has recently come to the Edinburgh area and who has not received a communication from the Edinburgh Centre is invited to contact James Rust, at his home address, 19 Denham Green Terrace, Edinburgh, EH5 3PE (Tel. 0131 552 6603) or by email to james@jjrust.co.uk.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Glasgow Our Annual Dinner was held on Friday 3rd November at the GoGlasgow Urban Hotel on Paisley Road West, with Glasgow President, Malcolm Gauld, welcoming thirty members and guests (including Doug Skene, representing the York Centre, Nigel Watt, representing the Edinburgh Centre, Brian Crookshanks, the Editor of the AGSFP Magazine and Evelyn Parbrook, the Glasgow President of the High School FP Club), with the traditional cry of 'HULLAWRER PEEPUL'. After an excellent meal, the A.G.M. of the Centre was held, with the accounts, confirming that we were still solvent, approved, and the committee, yet again, unanimously re-elected.

In welcoming Doug Allsop, Malcolm reported that he graduated from Aberdeen University in English and Philosophy before forging a career in the oil industry, later specialising in emergency media response in times of crisis. He dealt with the media during the tragedy of 16th July 1988 when 167 workers were killed in the Piper Alpha explosion and in several high profile helicopter accidents since then. Doug proposed a very interesting and informative Toast to the School and the Club, with memories of his education and business career and with words of encouragement for the younger members of the audience.

(Interestingly, his toast, and our dinner, was mentioned in the 'Bottom Line' column in “The Herald” on November 9th. Thank you Scott.)

The Head Teacher, Alison Murison, very ably assisted by Holly Imperiale, Head Girl, and Fergus Kennedy, Head Boy, giving the pupils' perspective, replied to Doug's Toast on behalf of the School, updating us on all that was happening within its hallowed grounds, highlighting its many successes both academically and in the vast range of extra-curricular activities. Once again we were all impressed by the calm self- assurance of these excellent representatives of our school In introducing Gillian Thomas, the President of the Parent Club, Malcolm reminded the company that she is not only the third lady to achieve this high office but the first to hail from the Commonwealth. A keen sportswoman (school colours for badminton), she became a primary teacher before marriage and emigration to Canada. She gave an excellent reply to the toast with a summary of her most enjoyable time in office, however, with the continuing concerns of all involved at the heart of the Club in building and sustaining links with all members, she explained her intention to improve the Club's profile on social media with a view to engaging with younger FPs. Past Head Boy (1995-96) Stefan Colling proposed a most witty and appropriate Vote of Thanks and the assembled company gradually disappeared into the night, well fed and very well entertained.

The Committee intend meeting during the summer to discuss whether our Dinner will be held in October or November and whether we should change the 58

Former Pupils’ Section format that we have used for many years. Hopefully our existing membership will come along and support our efforts and any FPs new to the area or those interested in ascertaining more, should please get in touch as indicated below.

This season, for the 14th year, our curling team took part in the 6-team Wanderers League. Sadly, despite the valiant efforts of our squad of Stefan Colling, Malcolm Gauld, Alistair Fyall, Jim Leask, Margery Taylor and the occasional guest, we came bottom of the table. However we are not disheartened and hope to do better next season. New players, even ‘ice virgins’, are always most welcome, so contact Malcolm on 01355 237039 or mwrg@hotmail.com.

Again the 'annual' golf match against Edinburgh did not take place as we could not raise a team of three. So far we have been unable to find enough players for a match in 2018. Where are all our golfers?

We would be delighted, to hear from any FPs interested in becoming involved in any of our activities or even just going onto our mailing list to be informed of future events. Please contact our Secretary, Margery Taylor on 0141 562 9638 or at marg7ery@ntlworld.com Thanks, as always, to our local committee Gary Allan, Peter Cairns (Treasurer), Stefan Colling, Malcolm Gauld, Jim Leask, David McNay and Margery Taylor.

The following FPs attended the 2017 dinner (in order of entry into School) :Brian Crookshanks (1934-46), Peter Cairns (1945-57), Malcolm Gauld (194761), Graham Watt (1957-70), Douglas Skene (1959-64), Jim Leask (1960-66), Nigel Watt (1963-69), James Rust (1963-71), Brian Davidson (1968-74), Gillian Thomas nee Crookshanks (1975-80), Judith Anderson (1975-80), Alison Nicolson (1975-80), Margery Taylor (1975-81), Aileen MacVinish (1975-81), Malcolm Daniel (1975-81), Margaret Allsop (1976-80), Doug Allsop (1977-78) and Stefan Colling (1990-96)

London FPs may be forgiven for wondering just what has happened to the London Centre.

After a progressively declining active membership over the past few years, and a few false dawns of possible revival, we are essentially moribund. This is clearly not satisfactory, and I would like to reach out to FPs in the London area to make an effort to help revive the Centre in a form more relevant to the times.

As a first step, I would ask any FPs interested to contact me, preferably by email. We can then perhaps arrange some informal meetings with the intention of putting together a modest programme embodying the views and ideas expressed. From there, we can look to developing matters further.

Sandy Nicol alexandernicol@mac.com

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Yorkshire The 59th annual Dinner of the Yorkshire Centre was held at our now traditional venue, The Grange Hotel in Bootham, York. For the first time we did not have representation from the School, a tradition which dates back to 1959, but we do understand the constraints on time and finances for the School to travel the considerable distance between Aberdeen and York.

We were well supported by FPs travelling from other Centres, Glasgow and Edinburgh in particular, and we were delighted to welcome Brian Crookshanks back to York for the first time for many years – he reckoned his last visit was in 1998. We much appreciate his colossal work in producing the Magazine which means so much to members living far from their former homes.

We were also pleased to welcome Gillian Thomas, only the third lady to hold office since the Club was founded and the first President from overseas. Her clear, concise and warm approach was particularly well received and clearly her term in office will have been marked with energy, charm and a determination to see a more proactive approach to building up the Club membership. Gillian has laid down a foundation for others to follow.

Next year will be a landmark event as we hold our 60th Dinner and the Grange Hotel is booked for Friday 28 September 2018. We hope to welcome anyone who has been at our Dinner in the past – we have two rooms and hope to fill them for this special occasion.

Former Pupils attending the Dinner (in order of entry into School) were:Wilson McIntosh (1932-45), Brian Crookshanks (1934-46), Robert Cromar (1944-49), Brian Bruce (1946-51), Michael Walker (1946-57), Malcolm Gauld (1947-61), Ivor Douglas (1952-57), Alan Campbell (1959-65), Douglas Skene (1959-64), Nigel Watt (1963-69), Ian Fraser (1962-68), James Rust (1963-71), David Galloway (1976-82) and Gillian Thomas (1975-80).

Section Reports Cricket 1st XI The 2017 season will go down in history as one of the most magnificent and dramatic in the Club’s history as the 1st XI claimed their first Grade 1 title in 75 years and their first major league title since the Strathmore Union side triumphed in 1990. While it is somewhat of a cliché, it was a true team effort with all of the eighteen players used during the season contributing at different times.

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Former Pupils’ Section In what had looked for long spells like a season of what could have been, a dramatic swing on the penultimate weekend, when long time leaders Bon Accord had a catastrophic defeat to Inverurie by ten wickets and handed FPs the initiative, which they hammered home in style by routing Kemnay/Kintore on the final day. Bon Accord then losing again meant that the winning victory looked comfortable, but it was anything but, we having battled with the neversay-die heavyweights Bon Accord all season. It was very satisfying that Bon Accord finally succumbed to FPs’ pressure after four successive titles and seven titles out of the last eight.

Long-time veteran Roland Knudson was the man who took the league-sealing wicket as FPs recorded the fourteenth point they needed on the final day. It was a remarkable turnaround for the club legend, who had ended the 2016 season in the 2nd XI, looking like his 1st XI days were over, only to roll back the years and end up with the best bowling average with 25 wickets at 10.5. The team was expertly lead by new captain Rob Swiergon who replaced Geoff Morrison after five years. Morrison slotted back into the ranks with great enthusiasm and looked a more relaxed and happy being, able to concentrate on just playing. His opening partnership continued to bear fruit with Alex Keith, Keith’s class showing through with 513 runs in the season to end up top scorer, while Morrison was happy to play in his own style, frustrating the opposition with his carefree approach. He was also freed up from the responsibility of the captaincy to act as something of an enforcer on the field, a role he relished.

Having lost Rory High, FPs recruited young all-rounder Callum Herd from Mannofield and he brought a verve, a fun-loving attitude and a great level of socialising to the team. He also bowled some good offspin taking 10 wickets and made 113 runs, happy to take on whatever task was asked of him. The key capture however was Eddie Steinson from Stoneywood, who brought real class to the top order, the left-hander making 344 runs at 43 to win the 1st XI batting average trophy. His 100 against Academy was a superb effort as FPs racked a barely conceivable 305 for 7 at Rubislaw, Alex Keith also making 75 that day.

Captain Swiergon batted superbly at number 4, with three 50s, as he recorded 358 runs at 25.6. The irrepressible Karan Anand showed his all-round class as well, making 344 runs at 26.5 and hitting the majority of his runs in sixes, in some scintillating attacks. He was also the only player in all of the Grades to take a five for and make a 50 in the same game, the feat achieved in the title clinching game. He was the leading wicket taker with 31 victims at 14.6 and claimed the Stewart Runner-up Trophy. He was also the winner of the Allrounder Trophy and shared the Fielding Cup with Arul Senthil and Rob Swiergon.

Chris Clelland also once again became a first-team regular and took over the gloves from Geoff Morrison mid-season, allowing Morrison to excel in the outfield and Clelland to claim eighteen victims. He was an invaluable tactician 61

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine and all-round calm head scoring 146 at 20.9 and was the man who struck the winning runs in a tense game against Bon Accord, which set up FPs’ run to the title. Overall with the bat it was a good all round effort with Geoff Morrison 185 at 17.0 and Arul Senthil 146 at 14.6 also passing 100 runs. Youngster Leston D’Costa who scooped many of the 3rd XI awards, as well as young player of the year, was a star when he played for 1sts and showed tremendous spirit and enthusiasm and more than held his own against supposedly more illustrious opponents. He will be key going forward.

As well as the bowling exploits of Karan Anand and Roland Knudson and the ten wickets of Callum Herd, the other three main performers with the ball were the ever-improving Harry Mapplebeck who set the tone at the top of the order claiming 23 victims at 14.0 but in reality deserving far more. Sam Knudson who, despite the local press gifting all of his father’s wickets to him, still did well taking 20 at 19.8 and produced a magical 5 for 26 against Cults at Rubislaw. The ageless John Thomson also chipped in with 14 at 23.7, but will tell anyone who is willing to listen that he should have had as many again in LBWs alone. Sajid Hameed took 11 at 25.2, but unfortunately missed large parts of the season, making the league triumph all the more remarkable.

One masterstroke from Swiergon was the use of the part-time bowlers to snare key wickets where Eddie Steinson, Swiergon himself and even Geoff Morrison nipped in with surprise wickets. A special mention also has to go to Rob Rutnam who, despite playing only two games while in Aberdeen for University, made an impact as his ability to bowl in excess of 80 mph put the wind up a Cults side in an early-season encounter.

While it is easy to linger on the key game mid-season against Bon Accord where FPs sneaked home by three wickets, the win against Cults on the second day was vital and perhaps set FPs on course for a historic season. It was a game that could be best described as bad tempered, FPs feeling aggrieved by some decisions in the first innings as they collapsed from 75 for 2 to 122 all out on a ground they had not won on in over thirty years. Cults looked well set to record a comfortable win, but the combination of some excellent pace bowling, good fielding and a sporting pitch ensured it was FPs who won by 51 runs as they dismantled Cults for just 71. Karan Anand (3-5) grabbed the headlines with a stunning hat-trick to seal the win, but he was well supported by Sajid Hammed (3-19) and by openers Rob Rutnam (2-28) and Harry Mapplebeck (1-13).

There was seemingly little to note with the bat for FPs that day with only Geoff Morrison (39) and Rob Swiergon (16) making an impression but at least sharing a vital stand of 54. A possible champagne moment of the season was when Karan Anand stopped mid run-up to remind everyone it was for a hat trick, only to turn round and clean bowl the unfortunate Cults number 11 to seal the match.

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Former Pupils’ Section The Small Clubs provided FPs with quite an adventure as we were drawn away to Irvine, a 350 mile round trip. At the start Irvine only had three men, but did have the advantage of two being the South African professional and overseas amateur and they won the toss. Despite a gallant effort, FPs had no real reply to the searing pace of the South Africa under-19s man and fell to defeat. It was testament to the team that they managed to enjoy the event far more than their opponents, who were involved in an unsavoury row with the umpire and then with each other, despite a position of dominance. FPs were only defeated by the professional being out of his class; ironically Irvine won the competition despite the other nine players offering limited threat. The day was also punctuated with Callum Herd falling down a well, much to the amusement of all his teammates.

The 20/20 competition and the Aberdeenshire Cup were sources of disappointment as we lost to Knightriders in both, each being games that we should have been capable of winning. These were two rare bad days in the season with our only other two defeats coming at the hands of old foes Bon Accord in a game we should have won. All chances of the title looked gone when despite a dogged half-century by Eddie Steinson we slipped to defeat to bogey team Knightriders; however, it was to prove the spur to raise us to greater feats to sensationally capture the league.

The league was won with bat, where we consistently posted big scores, but our bowling was under- rated with various bowlers stepping up at different stages when it was needed. The team boasted a good blend of youth and experience and importantly everyone enjoyed their time together and enjoyed socialising after matches. The team played with a determined yet freewheeling spirit where everyone was encouraged to play their own game and everyone knew their role in the team. The success of 2017 should not be a one-off and we should look to build on it in 2018. It was brilliant to win the league but was even better to do it having fun with a great bunch of determined guys who also made sure to play in the right spirit.

2nd XI FPs 2nd XI began their season in a situation of turmoil. Finding themselves in Grade 3, Captain Barker declaring himself unavailable due to his new position with the police and Vice-captain Whyte’s attention directed to a new arrival, they were nonetheless reminded of the Club’s aim of promotion back to Grade 2.

Remarkably, the season began in phenomenal fashion through beating eventual promotion challengers Aberdeen Super Kings by 189 runs after an unbeaten 163 run stand between academics John Eagles and Aly Macdonald.

Eagles finished on 90 not out and Macdonald on 50.

Similar work continued the following week. Despite a scare away to Dunecht, some resolute batting from Lord was complemented by the hitting out of Sood 63

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine & Haider to secure a four-wicket win. The latter claimed MOTM after earlier taking four wickets. Sadly, the following week saw a severely under strength team host a Stonehaven side already flexing their own league-winning muscles and who ran out 9-wicket winners after FPs could only manage to score 46.

Usual service was resumed the next Saturday when returning all-rounder Whyte took four wickets as FPs restricted Grampian 2nds to 145 and knocking them off for the loss of only two wickets with Penman top-scoring with the bat with 39 and extras on 48. After rotational captaincy up until this point, player form and some crafty work in the transfer market allowed Nattrass to assume leadership of the team going forward, his first challenge being away to Crathie.

Luckily, Whyte again spared blushes as his aggressive hitting of 84 not out sped the team on the way to victory, whilst Sood ably supported him. Due to keeper shortages, Nattrass donned the gloves to have the best view as Roland Knudson took 3 for 6 from 10 overs to lead FPs to a 44 run win.

Club Diplomat/Secretary/Fixer Clelland pulled enough strings the following week to get the 2nds a game at Sheddocksley against Portcullis. This ensured he finally played a game there himself, having avoided the pleasure thus far in his Grades career. Gubbala and Nattrass led the way, scoring 58 and 31 respectively, as FPs posted a nervous 161 from 44 overs. Sharp fielding from FPs provided three run- outs to account for the top three batsmen and was backed up by tight bowling from Eagles (4-45) and Roland Knudson (3-16).

At the halfway point of the season, FPs looked to have a strong shout of promotion. Stonehaven looked runaway winners, already having not lost a game, and Aberdeen Super Kings tightly following FPs. Away to ASK, another collapse saw FPs fall 47 short after chasing 146, despite superb bowling efforts from Monnapillai and Eagles. Only Penman, stand-in skipper Sood and Whyte managed to reach the 20s with the latter stranded at the end.

Dunecht at home provided a further chance for Eagles to nail his colour to the all-rounder mast, scoring 60 with the bat and taking 2 for 19 with the ball in another 44 run victory. Stonehaven away was an experience of how strong a team an opposition can be, with FPs losing by 129 runs after a team packed with schoolboys travelled down the coast to be met with batsmen scoring 50s, and struggled to take wickets. When resistance from D’Costa & Gubbala was broken, a collapse followed and the result secured for the home team.

The following day saw a similar outcome against the same opposition in the Reid Cup following a rain-abandoned game from the previous weekend.

After a week’s break due to more bad weather, FPs next played host to Crathie and returned to winning ways following Nattrass grinding out 52 in double slow time to set Crathie 116 to win. Whyte again starred with the ball, taking 5 for 21 as he refused to give up the ball and FPs won by 20 runs in a nailbiting finish.

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Former Pupils’ Section The final game of the season saw Portcullis come to Rubislaw but their batsmen were no match for the older Monnapillai brother, as his pace and hooping swing caused serious problems in tandem with Whyte as they claimed 3-3 and 4-13 respectively. Lord then cautiously set about knocking off the 58 required runs, and after being joined by D’Costa the run rate was upped with ease. Lord finished on 18 not out with D’Costa ending the season on 33 by hitting a six to win the game and ensure promotion to Grade 2.

Cup Match aside, only losing three games all season (two to a very strong and worthy title-winning side) was a great achievement by the Seconds and thanks must go to all who turned out, whether for one game or the whole season as it really made a difference.

Notable contributions are led John Eagles with 169 runs (Top Score of 90) as well as Sood & Whyte scoring 119 and 116 runs respectively whilst all three also took their fair share of wickets.

Mentions also go to the schoolboys/juniors who turned out and stepped up to Grade 3 standard through taking wickets and scoring runs in their valuable efforts.

We now look forward to the 2018 season back in Grade 2, were we shall look to cement ourselves in there and continue to develop the younger club members at a standard which is another step towards Grade 1 and 1st XI cricket.

3rd XI The 2017 season for FP's 3rd XI in Grade 4 was just about as bad as it could get, with only two league games and one cup match. The reasons for this state of affairs were the cancellation of so many games (only Methlick did not scratch any games), and several wet weekends. FP Cricket struggled to field three full team most weeks, with 3rds scratching two games mainly due to exams and holidays. Fortunately for the players, especially the schoolboys, FP's decision to join the Strathmore Recreation and Development (North) Sunday League paid dividends, with seven matches being completed.

The Grades season finally started for the 3rds on 3 June with a Johnston Rose Bowl cup defeat by Cults 2nd XI. Aly MacDonald top scored for FPs with 61 in a total of 177 – 8 off 40 overs, but for Cults Lawson scored 103 and took 3-8.

The first Grade 3 match was on 17 June against 2nd Methlick. Schoolboys Leston D'Costa (83) and Jason Alexander (42) batted brilliantly, with a 95 run partnership the highlight of FP’s 200 – 5 wickets. Unfortunately, the inexperienced bowling line up with four schoolboys told as we lost by five wickets.

The second and last Grade 4 match took place on 5th August at Harlaw and saw FPs beat Turriff by five wickets. Qasim Farhan, playing his first Grades match, took 3 – 17, Leston D'Costa 3 – 22, Divyesh Selvaraj 2 – 45 as Turriff 65

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine scored 151 – 8 off the allotted 45 overs. In reply, D'Costa again starred, scoring 67 not out as FPs won by 5 wickets.

Top batsman for FPs was Leston D'Costa who scored 150 runs in two innings, followed by Ali MacDonald who scored 102 runs and Jason Alexander scored 56 runs in their two innings. D'Costa had a great summer playing for all three FP Grades teams and has progressed beyond recognition this season.

D'Costa also topped the bowling averages with five wickets, followed by Qasim Farhan and MacDonald with three, Selvaraj with two, and Alexander and Matthew McCaughtrie with one each.

The Development team played seven matches, winning four and losing three.

The matches were usually played with a more flexible format, allowing the number of overs to be reduced where weather conditions and time dictated.

The main reason for joining the Development League was to ensure that the schoolboys batted and bowled higher up the order, and in each match one or more of the boys made a significant contribution to the team.

The batting highlights were Leston D'Costa scoring 88 runs in three innings, with Qasim Farhan and Jason Alexander also batting well. Ali MacDonald topscored with 110 runs.

The seven boys who bowled all took wickets –Arif Ali, Faraj Monnapillai and Divyesh Selveraj topped the bowling with six wickets each, Jason Alexander took four, Leston D'Costa three and Matthew McCaughtrie two.

All bowled well against some very good opposition and enjoyed the matches, their enthusiasm and commitment impressing the various 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI players who helped to make up the teams.

Football Grammar FP Football, now in their 30th year, started off in Division 3 of the Aberdeen Amateur League and, as in previous seasons, started very slowly, only winning five games in the first half of the season and drawing two. This was mainly due to a squad shortage, suspensions, injuries and struggling to get a settled team on the park every week. Severe weather hit our fixtures between November and February, with only a handful of fixtures being fulfilled. Once the weather improved we had a fixture backlog which saw us play every week and twice weekly when the lighter evenings came. We had trained hard during the winter period and we started getting a settled team together so that the results dramatically changed. We won eight of our remaining nine games to go from third bottom to a fourth place finish. This was a great achievement by all the players and earned us promotion to Division 2 for the season ahead.

Sadly, at the end of the season we lost our manager, owing to his personal commitments, but we have recruited a fitness coach and a new manager to take the team forward.

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Former Pupils’ Section As with previous seasons, we are finding that there is a lack of Former Pupils in the Section and the in-feed from the School has not been as successful as in past years. Anyone interested in coming along to join the Football Section, to train and also to play, should get in touch with our Secretary, Malcolm Robertson at grammarfps@gmail.com and they will be made most welcome.

Men’s Hockey Our 2017-18 season was marked by some difficult times. The Hockey Section extends our heartfelt condolences to Rob Parfitt following the untimely passing of his wife Kathy. Rob and Kathy have become friends to many of us since their arrival in Aberdeen. With Rob turning out for 3rds and 4ths regularly, and Kathy playing for the Ladies’ Section, they have both been great supporters of Grammar Hockey. Kathy was due to participate in this year’s Courage on the Catwalk, raising funds for Friends of Anchor which is indeed a worthwhile cause. A memorial game was played recently in what will become an annual event and was a fitting tribute to the support and friendship which Rob and Kathy have provided to the Club.

Moving to Hockey related matters and some positive news, it can be reported that our First team won the Men’s National League 3 by seven points clear of Highland, who were in second place, scoring 57 goals and only conceding 18, a little over a goal a game, which is an outstanding achievement.

Our Men’s Second team finished third in National Division 1 behind Gordonians, and reached the final of the District Plate. This was another solid effort from the second team.

There was disappointment for the Men’s Third and Fourth Elevens, 3rds finishing second from the bottom of District League 1. Having amassed 11 points, which was a reasonably decent return, they were deducted 6 points for their failure to field a team on no less than four of our eleven fixtures. If we had fulfilled these fixtures we would have finished fifth in the league.

Our 4th XI continue to turn out and support the youth development.

Indoor was also reasonably successful with Men’s 1st cementing their position firmly in North District Indoor League Division 3 with a mid-table finish, and 2nds/Youth winning the District Indoor League.

Pétanque The Pétanque Section for 2017 had 31 paid up members, which was similar to the previous year. The season runs from May through to September. The weather was fairly kind to us, with only the Family & Friends day being re-scheduled due to heavy rain.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine We hosted Collieston Boulle Club in early August, when a very close competition took place, with FP Petanque winning back the Challenge Quaich.

The Family & Friends day took place in early September and was a busy afternoon, while the Round Robin Competition continued throughout the season.

Boxing Day saw twenty members braving the cold to have a fun chuck.

The Trophy presentation and lunch took place in March 2018 and the AGM was held in early April 2018.

The following are the results of the 2017 competitions: Singles Championship Winner: Peter Henderson Runner up: David Earp.

Doubles Championship Winners: Sheila Ritchie and Patrick Buik Runners-up: Liz and Gordon Stott.

Triples Championship Winners: Derek Young, Richard Cradock and David Earp.

Runners-up: Stuart Duncan, Jennie Duncan and Roger Bartlett.

Peter Tawse Memorial Trophy (Summer Solstice) Winner: Stuart Duncan Runner-up: Barbara Buckett Maurice Chevalier Trophy Winner: Patrick Buik Runners-up: Derek Young, Richard Cradock.

Ronnie Comber Trophy Winner: Richard Cradock Runner-up: Stuart Duncan.

Alastair Ritchie Plate Winners: Derek Young, Liz Stott, Stuart Duncan and Jennie Duncan.

Runners-up: Robert Hughes, Gordon Stott.

Round Robin.

Joint Winners:

Richard Cradock and Philip Henderson.

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Former Pupils’ Section The Pétanque Section is always looking for new members at all levels and age and anyone interested in joining us should contact Katie McDonald katiebarnett126@gmail.com. for further information.

Office Bearers: Captain Barbara Buckett

Secretary Treasurer

Katie McDonald Karen Vass

Rugby The season 2017-18 started with the election of Mike Cox as Chairman of the Club.

Coaching remained under the direction of Alisdair O’Connor assisted by Rob Parker, Ian Stanger and Duncan Massey. The First XV were led by Alex Ratcliffe as Captain whilst Doug Russell remained as Club Captain. The First XV finished the season 7th in a league of 12 (National 1). The Second XV finished 7th in a league of 12 (Caledonian North 2). Both teams recorded 50% win rates.

Bryn Perrot was called up to the Scotland U-20 training squad and was voted player of the season.

The local economy made it another difficult year for sponsorship, but due to the previous hard work in restructuring, the Club broke even for the financial year 2017 -18.

The highlight of the season was beating Gala at Netherdale for the first time in a decade. Aberdeen Grammar remain in the top twenty club sides in Scotland through great efforts by players, coaches and members who devote a huge amount of time, effort and money to maintaining the Club as the pre-eminent Club in the North of Scotland.

Scottish Rugby is undergoing wide ranging re-construction of the top end of club rugby. In season 2019-20 the first part-time professional league commences involving Stirling, Watsonians, Heriots, Boroughmuir, Melrose and Ayr. The remaining few clubs in the Premiership will be joined by the top six clubs in the new championship. This will be the pinnacle of amateur rugby in Scotland and it is therefore essential Aberdeen Grammar finish in the top half of National 1 in season 2018-19.

With the legislation changes made by the SRU to youth player exposure to games at weekends most clubs have had no option other than to merge their youth operations. Heriots and Stewarts Melville are now known as Ferry Road Colts having followed our example in forming Granite City Colts with Aberdeen Wanderers. Our mini section, with almost 150 children, play on a Sunday and as they move on to secondary education they then join Granite City Colts. We currently have five coaches operating in this combined set up.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Duncan Seller (sellerduncan@gmail.com) has created a very interesting Twitter feed for the club as well as Facebook and the website is www.aberdeenrugby.org.uk. The live Twitter feed, including film coverage, is provided on all First XV matches and we are delighted to have attracted 5,000 followers to this social media enterprise.

The news of the potential sale of the clubhouse at 86, Queens Road is very disappointing. We accept that change is inevitable as years endure and priorities change. Nevertheless this club has a high profile status within the SRU and is hugely respected nationally. We, as the current custodians, can only endeavour to leave future generations with something better than that which we inherited.

A history of 125 years proves that some very good management decisions were taken by those who preceded us and we do hope that good management will continue.

Can I ask you all to consider joining the Rugby Club and to support the team at their home games at Rubislaw and whenever else possible. I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday 1st September when we welcome our opponents Jedforest for the first game of Season 2018-2019.

Gordon Thomson

Women’s Hockey The Hockey Girls began the 2017-2018 season with the impossible task of outperforming the results of the hugely successful 2016-2017 campaign. The first XI and first indoor VI had recorded unprecedented sets of results in 2016-2017, finishing their campaigns as worthy Champions of both the Indoor and Outdoor North District Divisions One. The final league statistics from 2016-2017 (which did not make last year’s AGSFP magazine but are certainly worth recording) were as follows: 2016-2017 Indoor 1st VI – Champions for the second successive season P 11

W 9

D 0

L 2

For 66

Against 18

Points Deducted 0

Points 27

2016-2017 Outdoor 1st XI – Champions and undefeated – outstanding!

P 18

W 18

D 0

L 0

For 48

Against 2

Points Deducted 0

Points 54

These results were quite simply the girls’ best ever. One very lovely feature of the remarkable season was the number of FPs playing regularly in the 1st XI 70

Former Pupils’ Section

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine namely Captain (and right midfielder) - Hannah Mitchell, goalkeeper - Jill Bain Christie, sweeper - Helen Bruce, central defender – Emma Mair, midfielder – Alexandria Grant and two of the 5th year girls from School, Katie Charles and Angela Barry. The hockey girls had a brilliant year and the team spirit was superb throughout.

This 2017-2018 season began with another rebuild of the team. Again, the girls faced challenges of long-term injuries and a couple of the players moved away which added to the headache for ‘new’ Captain Helen Bruce and her CoCaptain Lisa Tomkins. They rallied the troops and took on the league with their usual commitment and intensity. As the season progressed the girls lost another couple of players to work relocations and pregnancy and the Club can be commended for getting a team out every week regardless of the challenges and excitements facing the playing staff!

All things considered, fourth place in the final league table was an amazing result. Sadly, the girls did feel robbed of third place (they finished equal on points with the team who took third place) with some umpiring decisions going against them in the last few fixtures of the weather-extended league! Three games in one week in May (making up for some poor weather conditions during February and March in particular) did the girls no favours whatsoever! The team played in their usual good spirits and can, in fact, be very proud of their final results: P 18

W 9

D 4

L 5

For 41

Against 18

Points Deducted 0

Points 31

The outdoor second XI played with their usual determination and doggedness. They took some big steps forward in terms of results and enjoyed playing with a great blend of youth and experience. Their captain, Sheila Reid, worked tirelessly with her Vice-Captain Emma Williams to get a team out every week. They did a remarkable job given how often the 1st XI had to borrow players to shore up their team! In fact, the team finished the season in fourth place. It was so lovely to see both of the AGSFP ladies’ teams finishing in the top half of their leagues this year.

FP 2nd XI P

W

D

L

For

Against

18

8

4

6

49

42

72

Points Deducted 0

Points 22

Former Pupils’ Section The Club is forever indebted to Martin Fraser, Peter Goldie, Andy Deady, Alasdair Freeman, Hannah Mitchell and others for their help with schoolgirl coaching at Aberdeen Grammar School. It is hoped the future is even brighter as there are a super group of primary school players beginning their hockey careers, with FPs’ own Emma Mair, Tony Duguid, Ben Johnson, Howard Smith, Lisa Tomkins, Wendy Bradford and Fred Lawson guiding them. The AGSFP women’s section has also directly benefitted from a very supportive set of parents and Active Schools working with us and the children across all the age groups.

Long may these relationships be strong.

It has been another busy year for the girls’ Hockey Club Committee who have ensured the players are all insured and registered appropriately as well as attending all the other meetings associated with running the Hockey Club.

Thanks to all those involved. Thanks also to Eileen for her years of service as President; she has handed those reins back to Helen Bruce for this coming season.

Indoor Update The 1st VI had a tremendous indoor season and won the Indoor League for the third year in a row. This was a simply marvellous achievement for the Club given how tough the indoor game is and how much younger some of the other teams are! The team worked incredibly hard and thoroughly deserved their championship. Again, it was a delight to have some of the schoolgirls starring alongside some of our more regular (and slightly older!) players. FPs playing regularly were Jill Bain Christie, Helen Bruce and Emma Mair. It was a treat to have Angela Barry and Katie Charles playing alongside the ‘older’ brigade. Lisa Tomkins was the victorious Captain for the third year running…the competition was as fierce as ever this season and the girls deserve a huge amount of credit for how much they put into their precious league title.

FP 1st VI P W 12 10

D 1

L 1

For 41

Against 14

Points Deducted 0

Points 31

The 2nd VI really enjoyed their indoor season. Normal service resumed with our 2nd VI playing in Division Two this year. Again, the team spirit was commendable. Many thanks to Claire Drummond for getting a team out every week and an umpire too. Well done to all those who played this season.

FP 2nd VI P W D 10 2 2

L 6

For 13

Against 14

73

Points Deducted 0

Points 8

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine In other news, two of our players, Helen Bruce and Sheila Reid, were again selected to play for Scotland in Masters Teams in Four Nations events this summer. Sheila has in fact been able to add to her honours by playing for Scotland in the World Masters event in Barcelona this summer too. Well done to them both!

Finally, many, many thanks are due Murray Bissett, the girls’ coach! Sincere thanks also to all this season’s umpires, in particular to Gillian Graham and Rob Parfitt among many others for all their efforts in this regard, the teams are very, very grateful.

As ever, if you are keen to take up hockey again or have never played before you are very welcome to come along to training to see how you get on. Training is on Tuesday evenings at Rubislaw from 7.00pm – 8.30pm and starts on the second Tuesday in August. This coming season we are delighted to be offering P7/S1 and S2 the chance to play in another weekly session from 6-7pm on Tuesdays before senior training time.

For further information, contact: Emma Mair, Secretary - emma.mair14@gmail.com

Annual Dinner The Annual Dinner was once again held in the grand atmosphere of the Royal Northern & University Club on Friday 23 March 2018. The attendance was once again disappointing. As is the usual practice there were representatives from other Former Pupils’ Clubs both local and from further afield. Our own Edinburgh and Glasgow Centres were represented by their Presidents.

We were delighted to welcome Alison Murison, the Head Teacher accompanied by Laurel Renton, Depute Head Girl and Jonathan Bell the Depute Head Boy. Also present were seven of the Club’s Honorary Vice-Presidents.

The President of the Club, Gillian Thomas, took charge of the evening’s proceedings in a firm but calm manner and the company enjoyed an excellent meal in keeping with the standards for which the RNUC is celebrated and we enjoyed wines from their high class cellar. Following the meal raffle prizes were distributed to the successful winners.

The traditional toast to “The School and the Club” was proposed by Professor Margaret Ross, a Vice-Principal of Aberdeen University. She recalled that she had had close contact with Aberdeen Grammar FPs since her time in practice with Campbell Connon & Co where she had to fight her corner with no fewer than four of her colleagues from that background. She and some of her family had been long associated with the Club Centre and had happy memories of social functions there. She was full of admiration for the current supportive ethos of the School from what she had observed of the educational, sporting and extra-mural 74

Former Pupils’ Section activities available to the current generation of pupils which would benefit them as they prepared for life after school.

Replying on behalf of the School, Miss Murison reported that the School is one of the highest performing schools in Scotland. This success is not measured just by examinations but by continuing assignments. Events of a variety of kinds are ongoing including on many evenings. She made reference to the refurbishment of the Library including a new study space for senior pupils for higher learning and expressed the School’s gratitude to the Canadian FPs who had raised funds towards the provision of this space.

The two pupil deputes gave a wonderful glimpse into the wide range of activities from which pupils benefit in the musical, dramatic and sporting fields.

They put stress on the awards received by the Concert Band, including the award for the most outstanding soloist. Reference was made to the Formula One Challenge in which the School team reached the final in Malaysia and although unsuccessful in the final they obtained offers for two of the team to have work opportunities in Formula One in real life.

Replying for the Club, the President reflected on some of the high points of her year in office, one of the most significant being her participation in the selection of the winners of the All Round Trophy awards when the extent of volunteering work in school and community was revealed in addition to the candidates’ prowess in sport, music and other fields. She had also been able to attend all Centre Dinners and reported on the ongoing support to the School provided by the Canadian Former Pupils.

Mr Alan Campbell, Vice-President and Chairman of the Executive proposed a toast to the guests and a vote of thanks to Neil Lawrie for the arrangements for the evening. He also thanked the RNUC for the excellence of their attention to our requirements.

The following FPs attended the Dinner (in order of entering School): B.K. Crookshanks (1934-46), H.B. Paterson (1941-50), R.H. Cradock (1940-51), D.R. Harper (1944-58), J.A.C. Michie (1944-58), D.B. Galloway (1944-58), P.N. Love (1952-58), J.G. Davidson (1947-60), M. Gauld (1947-61), M. Wolkoff (1947-61), H.A.B. Will (1947-61), A.D. Milne (1950-58), I.H. McLeod (1951-55), M.S. Davidson (1952-56), I.W. Douglas (1952-57), W. Hutcheon (1952-58), J.C. Lyon (1953-59), D. Hopkin (1955-61), A.G. Campbell (195965), N.J.G. Lawrie (1961-74), I. Hopkin (1962-68), N.G.M. Watt (1963-69), K. McHardy (1964-73), A. Milne (1964-76), D.G. Moir (1969-75), A. J. Thompson (1969-75), A. Martin (1970-81), D. Ewen (1972-78), S. Lynch (1972-78), K.A.M. Nisbet (1972-78), M. Rust (1972-78), J. Morrice (1974-79), C. Ewen (1974-80), G.A. Thomas (1975-80), J. Montgomery (1978-84), G.K. Crookshanks (1979-85), D.R.D. Wallis (1979-85) and T.J. Rolfe (1982-86)

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Next year’s Dinner will be held at the Royal Northern & University Club on Friday 22 March 2019.

Bon Record The Bon Record book was written by Brian Lockhart and the late Arthur McCombie as a history of the School from its medieval origins through to current times. The book was originally published at a cost of £25 + p&p and a number of books are still available for sale at the reduced price of £15 (postage paid in UK), £22 (postage paid to Europe) and £27 (postage paid to the rest of the world).

The book covers many fascinating aspects of the history of the School and comes highly recommended. To purchase a copy please send the appropriate remittance along with your details to the Membership Secretary, John Michie, 391 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BX. Payment can be remitted on line to Bank of Scotland, Sort Code 80.05.17, A/c No. 00103055 in name of Aberdeen Grammar Former Pupils’ Club. Any questions prior to purchase should be addressed to membership@agsfp.com

General Data Protection Regulation The attention of Club members is drawn to the following Privacy Statement in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation which came into force on 25 May 2018.

About us The Aberdeen Grammar School F.P. Club is a small not-for-profit organization.

No officials receive a salary. Any reimbursement is on a receipt only basis.

The information we collect The only information held about you will be names, postal and e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and years at school if you have provided this information.

The basis on which we hold this information is “Legitimate interests”.

Information about you will only be held for the following reasons: 1. To communicate with you regarding membership and subscriptions; 2. To communicate with you about FP Club or School events; 3. To enable FP Club Magazine distribution.

Telephone calls You may be contacted from time to time for the purpose of informing you of Club and School events or for maintaining your membership subscription.

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Former Pupils’ Section Your Data Your postal details only will be sent to the printer to enable Magazine distribution.

Requesting your Data You may request details of personal data which we hold about you. Any have the right to request that your personal data is erased from the records if you are no longer a member of the FP Club.

Amendments to our Policy Any information found to be incorrect will be corrected as soon as possible.

You amendments necessary will be intimated at the AGM or in future communications to you.

F.P. Club Membership Subscription Rates The current policy of the Executive is to review Subscription rates annually, but in normal circumstances we would hope that it will only be necessary to amend them every 5 years. The Life Member “Top up” scheme – which has been hugely successful – involves a payment of £20 to cover a five-year period. Topups are now due for the period 2015 to 2019 inclusive. A number of members’ Top Ups from prior periods remain unpaid. The Life Fund is stronger than it was, but still requires further “topping up”. The £20 “Top up” works out at just £4 per year for the 5-year period and greatly helps to offset the ever-increasing cost of producing this Magazine. We also draw down 5% of the Life Fund each year which works out at roughly £1 per Life Member, so that, when this is added to the £4 from the “Top up”, the Club receives £5 per Life Member in total each year. This doesn’t yet match the £10 or so we receive from Annual Members, but is moving in the right direction and we are certainly much better off than we were before the “Top up” scheme was introduced in 2000. We had a tremendous response to the introduction of the scheme, which is voluntary, and the vast majority of Life Members have responded very positively. These payments are a vital part of the Club’s income.

Subscription rates for 2017 are as follows:Life Membership: New Life Members: £100 plus a £20 “Top up” every 5 years, the first “Top up” being payable 5 years after Life Membership is taken out.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Existing Life members: £20 “Top up” every 5 years Annual Membership: Ordinary Members: £12.50 by cheque or £10 if paid by Standing Order School Leavers: Free up to five years from leaving Note: School Leavers may also become Members of the Club Centre when they reach the age of 18 on application to the Club Centre Secretary.

Special Notes for Members over 75: Historically, all members of the FP Club become “Long Service” Members from 1st January in the year following the year in which they reach the age of 75. Thereafter Life Members are no longer expected to make “Top up” Payments and Ordinary (Annual) Members no longer have to pay Subscriptions. However, as a very significant number of members are aged over 75, it is suggested that they might continue to make Top-up and Annual payments on a voluntary basis.

Payment of Subscriptions: Subscriptions should be sent to: The Membership Secretary, John Michie, who will also deal with all queries about Membership, changes of address etc: His address is: 391 Union Street, Aberdeen AB11 6BX. Tel: 01224 – 580641 Email: membership@agsfp.com Donations and Bequests The Second Century Fund was set up in 2000 to receive all Donations and Bequests. This Fund is used to finance specific School and Club projects, and is not used for normal ongoing Club expenses. As will be seen from the Accounts elsewhere in this Magazine, the total from this source in 2017 was £2550 of which £200 was placed in the Second Century Fund. Our grateful thanks go to everyone who has contributed. It is hoped that this Fund will receive a significant boost from the current round of Top-up payments now being requested.

New Members of the Club – 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 Annual Members Eunice M. Alexander Graham Barron James Cummings Helen L. Dargie

1976-81 191982-85 2004-10

Samuel G. Knudson Steven J.C. Paterson Douglas Russell

2004-10 1970-74 2004-10

Congratulations to the following members of the Club who will attain the age of 75 during 2018 and so will become Long Service Members on 1st January 2019.

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Former Pupils’ Section Life Members David R. Auld Eric A. Beverly Alexander R. Burnett David R. Clark William Crighton Robert Dingwall Thomas J.D. Erskine Norman Esslemont John Fraser Malcolm W.R. Gauld Garth W. Glentworth Kenneth M. Gorrod James Hamill

1947-61 1956-62 1948-59 1947-61 1955-61 1949-61 1955-58 1948-52 1947-60 1947-61 1948-61 1947-61 1951-61

John G. Hyland Duncan J. Hopkin Ian C. Keith Chas G. Kennaway Fred K.S. Lawson David C. Leslie Ronald Lewis-Smith Alasdair MacLeod Gordon G.Milne Brian Murray Ian P. Souter Ivan C.F. Wisely Michael Wolkoff

1947-58 1955-61 1951-61 1948-59 1948-62 1947-62 1946-60 1947-61 1950-61 1948-58 1947-61 1948-61 1947-59

Annual Members James A. Dargie Alexander J. Ewen John C. Hollifield

1947-60 1952-60 1952-60

James Keay Alistair McKenzie

1954-60 1954-61

Long Service Members For several years now we have published the names of our Nonagenarians.

Sadly, two of these died in the past year, but seven others have been added to the list who have attained the remarkable age of 90 or will do so later this year. We congratulate them all and thank them for their continuing interest and support.

The full list, with their dates of birth, is as follows:Donald D. Pennie Geeorge C. Hadden Harry S.W. Golding Joseph Craig Eric G. Sangster Ian B. Taylor Gordon F. Hendry Eric Johnston Neil C. Irvine Robert J. Bain Joseph Farquharson Alastair G. Robertson Peter Rennie John C.G. Brown Roy Brown Michael P. Littlejohn Ellis M. Philip Alastair H. Tawse

1928-37 1925-37 1926-37 1926-39 1927-39 1933-40 1927-39 1935-40 1928-34 1929-41 1929-43 1930-40 1938-43 1930-42 1932-43 1939-43 1937-43 1930-43

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12 October 1919 22 May 1920 15 January 1921 29 September 1921 3 May 1922 6 June 1922 7 June 1922 15 October 1923 12 January 1924 13 April 1924 27 April 1924 30 November 1924 29 December 1924 10 May 1925 29 July 1925 26 September 1925 15 October 1925 31 December 1925

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine William J. Farquhar Peter Cooper Eric A. Alexander Quintin A. Aitken Harry L. Warder George W. Warder James G. Matheson Peter C. Millar A. Wilson McIntosh Frederick M. Gardiner James A. McGregor Arthur W.A. Main William J. Coulson Norman K.B. Robson Ian Stuart Forbes K.Sellar Neil Scott F. L. Pierre Fouin

1938-42 1938-44 1935-43 1939-45 1939-44 1935-46 1939-45 1933-34 1932-45 1937-44 1935-44 1939-45 1936-44 1933-40 1933-46 1932-45 1937-46 1944-47

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17 March 1926 23 April 1926 28 May 1926 14 July 1926 3 October 1926 3 October 1926 24 December 1926 19 February 1927 23 April 1927 20 July 1927 31 August 1927 15 January 1928 12 March 1928 31 March 1928 5 April 1928 4 September 1928 13 September 1928 20 November 1928

Former Pupils’ Section

NOTES about FORMER PUPILS Honours and Awards Queen’s Birthday Honours Companion of the Order of the British Empire Graham Charles Murray Watt (1957-70) BMedBiol, MB,ChB, MD, FRSE was appointed a Companion of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to healthcare. Graham has held the Norie Miller Chair of General Practice at Glasgow University since 1994. Previously he worked for the Medical Research Council Epidemiology and Medical Care Unit at Glyncorrwg, South Wales, where he gained accreditation in community medicine (public health) and general practice. As well as his teaching role at the University, he is the co-ordinator of General Practitioners at the Deep End, where he listens, captures, expresses and adds to the views and experience of general practitioners working in the most deprived communities in Scotland.

The Editor has apologised to Graham for erroneously down-grading him to Membership of the Order in the last Magazine.

Royal Air Force Commendation Colin Glynn Frederick Brockie (1955-60) BS, BD was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2017 as being awarded the Commendation of the Air Officer Commanding 22(Training) Group for his service as a Chaplain in the Air Training Corps. He retired as minister of Grange Church, Kilmarnock some years ago but continued to serve as Chaplain to Glasgow and West Scotland Wing of the Air Training Corps and to 327(Kilmarnock) Squadron ************* George Alexander Boyne (1967-73) MA, MLitt, PhD has been appointed as Principal of Aberdeen University. Currently pro-Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University and head of the college of arts, humanities and social sciences there.

He will take up his new post this summer.

Kyle James Coetzer (1996-02) continues to captain Scottish Cricketers, and led his side to its outstanding victory over England by six runs in a one day 81

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine international at the Grange in Edinburgh in June. The Scots had never previously beaten England and this victory demonstrated the remarkable progress made by the Scots since missing out on the 2019 World Cup. Kyle commented that his team had created history.

Jonathan Mahram Daube (1951-53) MA, EdB has published a biography of Harry Rae, a distinguished educationist who was in turn teacher, headmaster and professor. The book is Educator Most Extraordinary, The Life and Achievements of Harry Rée, 1914-91. One of the endorsements on the cover of the book says “Harry Rée was a humane, open-minded, generous-spirited and engaging educationalist. He thoroughly merits Jonathan Daube’s humane, open-minded, generous-spirited and engaging account of his influential life”.

Alan John Drummond (1979-85) M.Phil, having studied building surveying at Glasgow College of Building & Printing and then Facilities Management at Strathclyde University, emigrated to Vancouver in 1995. He had previously played hockey for the under-16 Scottish team and continued to play in Vancouver, with a few years’ break to play ice hockey. He returned to field hockey about eight years ago and also coaches the hockey team in which his daughter plays. Keeping up the family tradition, his daughter also plays in the under-16 British Columbia team. Alan has been selected to represent Canada in the international over-50s Field Hockey Tournament in Barcelona in July/August this year. As was noted in last year’s Magazine, Alan was at Rubislaw to play in the annual John Drummond Trophy matches marking the twentieth anniversary of the institution of the Trophy.

John Laing Duncan (1958-71) OBE, MB.ChB, ChM, FRCSE, FRPSG, FACS, FFSTE has been a general and vascular surgeon in Inverness since 1992. He is now the Director of Undergraduate Teaching for the University of Aberdeen MBChB Programme in Inverness and Vice-President of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. In 2015 he received an OBE for services to healthcare in the north of Scotland.

After graduating from the University of Aberdeen, he trained in Aberdeen, Inverness and Sheffield and spent a year as a Research Fellow at Harvard University. As a senior registrar in Sheffield he was surgical controller for the Northern General Hospital during the Hillsborough tragedy and gave evidence at the Warrington inquest.

In 2002, John set up the Highland Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme which was the first such programme in Scotland and led on to the development of the national programme which launched in 2012.

He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1981 and after examining for some years was appointed Honorary Secretary, 82

Former Pupils’ Section becoming Honorary Treasurer in 2009. He is now Vice-President. He is a Fellow of the America College of Surgeons and the Faculty of Surgical Trainers.

Martin Ewan (1987-93) MA, LL.B, LL.M, MSc, is a partner in the Aberdeen office of Pinsent Mason, solicitors, where he specialises in advising oil companies on corporate matters and commercial issues. After qualifying in 1999 he spent seven years with Ledingham Chalmers and six years with McGrigors, both in Aberdeen before joining his present firm in 2012. He has just been elected as senior VicePresident of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.

Philip Christopher Hannaford (1973-76) MB,ChB, who is presently VicePrincipal (Digital Strategy) at Aberdeen University, has been elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is an internationally recognised expert on the safety of contraception, especially the contraceptive pill.

His other research interests include women’s health and primary care epidemiology. He trained as a general practitioner in Sheffield before moving to Manchester where he developed his interest in epidemiology and its use to answer important primary and public health issues. He returned to Aberdeen in 1997 on his appointment to the NHS Grampian Chair of Primary Care. He has been a member of various committees for organisations including the World Health Organisation, the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority.

David William Jack (1975-81), who has been in business as a quantity surveyor in Aberdeen for many years with the former Murray Montgomery Partnership is now a partner with the McLeod & Aitken cost-management consultancy in the city following a merger of the two firms. The enlarged business also has offices in Glasgow, Leeds and Oxford as well as in Melbourne and Sidney.

David Law (2002-08) who has been golfing since leaving School ten years ago, had his maiden Challenge Tour victory in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at the Macdonald Spey Valley course in Aviemore in June. David, who is a member of Hazlehead Golf Club, was the winner of the Scottish Boys’ Championship at Royal Aberdeen and of the Scottish Amateur Championship at Troon in 2009.

Two years later he turned professional and had a couple of wins on the EPD Tour (now known as the Pro Golf Tour). He beat some seasoned campaigners in the paid ranks to land two Tartan Tour titles, the Northern Open and the Paul Lawrie Invitational. David also writes on golf topics for the Press & Journal.

David William James McLennan (1972-78) BSc has retired to Deeside following a career with BP in various areas of operation lasting over thirty years.

Prior to that he was for a short time a programmer with British Airways and was 83

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine involved in software development. Having joined BP in 1985 in Aberdeen he held posts in Columbia, Alaska and Venezuela before becoming IT operations manager for Latin America. He then spent several years in London before the chance to retire arose from company re-structuring.

Ian Edward Massie (1961-74) CA, FCSI qualified as a chartered accountant (still his proudest achievement) with Whinney Murray in Aberdeen and joined Paull & Williamsons as an investment manager in 1980. In 1985 he and his wife moved to Edinburgh where he joined Dunedin Fund Managers, continuing to be involved in investment trust management. In 1993 he had an acoustic neuroma removed and after four months’ recuperation he returned to work in investor relations at Dunedin. He stayed with its successor, Edinburgh Fund Managers, which was then acquired by Aberdeen Asset Managers and he was involved in investment trust investor relations with AAM until retiring in 2012.

At School Ian played cricket and hockey, and has been a member of Aberdeen-shire Cricket Club for nearly fifty years. Since his two children moved to London Ian and his wife Gill, who still live in Edinburgh, travel extensively watching sport throughout the world, while Ian continues to follow the Dons home and away.

Alastair Macarthur North (1937-50) OBE, PhD, FRSE is still active in academia as a visiting Professor at Mahidol University, Bangkok where he supervises a couple of postgraduate research students and also does a small amount of lecturing on Polymer Molecular Physics. He is an adviser to a firm which imports speciality chemicals from overseas and markets them to Thai clients. He comments that he has been away from Aberdeen for sixty years and from the UK for thirty-four.

Thomas James Grindley Paton (1952-60) MB,ChB has just stepped down from the Presidency of the Canadian Centre. After obtaining a degree in Medicine at Aberdeen University he spent three years as a medical officer in Botswana before going to Canada to study paediatrics in Ottawa. He then joined the Medical Faculty of Calgary University before taking up a post with Alberta Health, the Edmonton Board of Health and Glenrose Hospital which he held until 2002. He later returned to part-time practice which he shares with time spent travelling to homes in France and South Africa.

David James Pitt-Watson (1972-74) MA, MBA, who is an Executive Fellow at London Business School, is commercial director of the Focus Funds managed by Hermes Fund Managers. He founded Hermes Equity Ownership Service which aims to ensure that shares owned by pension funds are used to promote good management practice and sustainable investment. He has advised policy-makers, 84

Former Pupils’ Section particularly Labour leaders, on issues of industrial and financial policy, corporate governance and financial market regulation. He has been honorary treasurer of Oxfam since 2008 and was chairman of the United Nations environment programme’s finance initiative in the run-up to the Paris Climate summit.

John Robertson Primrose (1992-98), having studied international relations, has for the past fifteen years been involved in humanitarian aid work, operating in crisis-hit countries such as Ethiopia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Southern Sudan.

This work mainly involved in emergency assistance to places hit by earthquakes and disasters. He recently moved to Nigeria to take up a role with the UK Government’s Department for International Development as the deputy head of its Nigerian office. He is working to put structures in place to allow the poorest in Nigerian society to access education and work. North-east Nigeria is beset by war fuelled by religious extremism, including Boko Haram and Islamic State, a famine, high maternal death rates and malaria. Nigeria is the fourth largest source of human trafficking to the UK. Hannah Renton (2009-15), who was a Depute Head Girl in 2014-15 and joint winner of the Phil Love Trophy in that year, continues her musical career. She is in the third year of her undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music in London, studying under an internationally renowned violin teacher. She earned a place in the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland at the age of 9 and became its leader at the age of 13. While at School she was involved as leader of the Grampian Youth Orchestra, the Aberdeen City Schools Symphony Orchestra and the City Schools String Ensemble.

Charles Francis Roe (1937-49) MB,ChB after a time as a Harvard research fellow undertook metabolic research and eventually had a career in vascular surgery in the United States. He later changed careers and became a full-time writer of fiction. He has fourteen novels and medical mysteries in print, several of which have been book club selections and two of them national best sellers. He is now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Henry George Roe (1940-52) emigrated to Rhodesia in 1957 and worked in the BMC plants in Umtali, Nigeria and Malawi. He remained in Rhodesia until just before independence when he came back to settle in Belgium. He worked in the Hôpital St Luc in Brussels for a number of years and then, until retirement, at Recticel, manufacturers of polyurethane foam. He is now occupied writing internet sites.

John Anderson Sleigh (1936-40) was recently honoured by the Russian Government for his part in the Merchant Navy’s Arctic convoys during World 85

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine War II and subsequently, in the same connection, he and others were feted aboard the Royal Yacht in Edinburgh.

Neil Stirton (1992-98) was awarded a Silver Medal in the 50-metre Prone Rifle Shooting competition at the Commonwealth Games in the Australian Gold Coast in April. This was Neil’s fourth Commonwealth Games. He won Silver in Melbourne in 2006 and Gold and Bronze in Delhi in 2010. Neil’s shooting experience goes back to his schooldays when he represented the School alongside competitors from schools throughout Britain. He was the S.S.R.A. Scottish Junior Short Range Champion and the N.S.R A Scottish Junior Long Range Champion. He was awarded the Phil Love Trophy at School in 1998 for his dedication to the sport and the Magazine note about that commented that he had an ambition to represent Scotland at a future Commonwealth Games, and having beaten a Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in the Scottish Individual Championship for seniors two years previously he was likely to fulfil his dream.

History since shows that he has well and truly achieved that ambition.

Colin David Taylor (1958-63) has been appointed chairman of Sport Aberdeen, the arms-length body which manages the city’s swimming pools, golf courses, gyms and other facilities. He was admitted as a free Burgess of the city in 1996 and following service as an assessor and senior assessor was elected Dean of Guild in 2014. He is presently the interim chairman of the Aberdeen Seafarers’ Centre and Treasurer of the Golf Club at Hopeman, from which he hails.

Marriages Steele (1963-76) – At Auchtertoul Church, Fife on 20 May 2017 Richard Archibald Steele to Jennifer Ramsay

Obituaries James Douglas Aberdein (1943-55) BSc(Agri) died suddenly at his home at Coull on 19 June 2017 aged 79. From School Doug proceeded to Aberdeen University to study Agriculture and he was an enthusiastic member of the Air Squadron. He graduated in 1959 and joined the Royal Air Force, going on to fly a variety of aircraft including the T11 single engine fighter and eventually becoming a helicopter pilot. He saw active service in Aden and revelled in telling, among other tales, of the time he landed on the carrier Ark Royal without permission and to the consternation of her captain.

After leaving the Air Force Doug returned to the North-east and joined Bristow Helicopters, flying in the Gulf region for some years before moving to Norfolk to fly to gas platforms in the North Sea. He was offered the job of 86

Former Pupils’ Section running the Bristow Aberdeen operation but turned it down in order to follow his dream of having his own farm so he bought Lachlanbrae at New Deer. To supplement his income from the farm Doug then trained as a teacher and, after a placement at Peterhead Academy, took up a post at Cumineston Secondary School. His next move was to Aboyne Academy at which point he bought land at Coull. He was appointed headmaster of Lumphanan Primary School before finally teaching at Banchory Academy.

In 1978 Doug returned to farming, buying two farms at Torphins. At this time he built, almost single-handedly, his dream six-bedroomed house at Coull, with spectacular views of Morven.

Doug was in regular touch with his former school friends and attended their reunions, which invariably finished with him hosting a Sunday barbecue at Coull.

Doug is survived by his wife, Ethel, and a son and daughter. His brother was Alan Sinclair Aberdein (1944-45 & 1949-50).

Bruce Stephen Allan ((1953-58) died peacefully in Edinburgh’s Western General Infirmary on 17 March 2018 following a long illness. He was aged 77.

Hunter Cairns (1943-56) writes: “From school Bruce began his career in Architecture at the City Architects Office in Aberdeen, as one of two apprentices taken on that year. In September 1960, he transferred to the full-time course at the Scott Sutherland School in Garthdee, graduating in 1965. He then moved to Edinburgh to work for Ross Smith & Jamieson. After obtaining the required period of post-graduate experience he became an Associate of the Architects’ Incorporation 1967. After a variety of posts Bruce joined the Scottish Special Housing Association and was involved in a variety of planning work but found working as a project architect limiting, and began to look for something with more responsibility. He found this it at the Scottish Development Department, where he was given the task of writing a new Design Guide for Scottish Housing.

“Bruce, by this time married, moved for a time to Dunfermline, working in private practice. On his father wishing to retire Bruce was persuaded to return to Aberdeen to take over the family business of Taylor & Ogston, an architectural sign-writing firm which he ran together with a small private architectural practice. He also built up a flourishing practice doing hotel work for a Dunfermline firm, amongst other things.

“Bruce was a keen cyclist - he and his younger brother cycled all over Europe in the summer he left School. He was a good artist and copyist and he was one of the few people able to play the piano without any formal lessons. He was also a great cook, and linguist, cultivated a ready wit, and spoke Romance languages well, especially French.

“When the time came to retire Bruce and Margaret chose to sell the family business and move to Barnton, Edinburgh but Bruce retained his interest in 87

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Architecture by keeping up his private practice. With a name like Allan, he was high on the list of private Practitioners in the RIAS Directory and consequently was never short of work.

“Bruce developed Non-Hodkinson's Lymphoma in the Spring of 2015, which he bore very bravely, (with his wife by his side), but despite a heroic fight by Bruce, Margaret and his medical team it soon became clear that this would not be easily shrugged off.”

While working in Aberdeen Bruce involved himself with the FP Club. A keen curler, he was for some years the Curling Section’s representative on the Executive Committee. He became House Convener of the Club Centre and was heavily involved in various developments at 86 Queen’s Road.

Bruce is survived by his wife Margaret, by his sons Stephen James Allan (1983-89) and Robert Walker Allan (1985-91) and their children.

Clive Brebner (1943-52) died peacefully at Bellfield House, Banchory on 4 October 2017 aged 82. He had been living in care due to indifferent health for some years. Having started his schooling in Cults, Clive entered the Grammar in Lower 1 aged eight.

He was descended from a family with a long connection with the trawling industry in Aberdeen and from School he joined his father in the Bon-accord trawling business. His father was also associated with the grocery trade and was a cinema manager in the city and Clive joined him in these enterprises.

Over time, Clive was associated with a wide variety of businesses, many of them connected with fishing, and he earned a reputation for straight dealing and keen attention to the needs of his customers and colleagues alike.

Clive was a keen golfer and never happier than when playing on Deeside Golf course at Bieldside.

Clive is survived by his wife, Shirley, with whom he celebrated their Golden wedding in 2011, by a son and daughter and by two grandchildren.

Sinclair George Broomfield (1947-59) MA died peacefully in hospital in Melrose on 21 July 2017 aged 76. From School he went up to Aberdeen University where he graduated with honours in Psychology in 1965. He moved to York where he took up a post in the Human Relations Department of Rowntrees. Six years later he returned to Scotland to a post as Personnel Manager with the BXL Chemical Company at Grangemouth.

Sinclair decided on a change of course in 1972 and obtained a Diploma in Teaching from Moray House, Edinburgh. In 1973 he was appointed as a lecturer in Social Sciences at Queen Margaret College, eventually progressing to become Head of Department.

In 1969 Sinclair changed course again by forming his own Management Consultancy, working mainly with medical staff on time management and 88

Former Pupils’ Section personnel development. As well as working with the National Health Service he carried out training programmes for teaching staff at colleges in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with Queen Margaret College.

Sinclair retired in 2002 and went to live in Portsoy, in Banffshire, subsequently moving to Kelso in the Borders in 2013. Sinclair wrote a book and several papers on his subjects.

Sinclair is survived by his wife, Hazel, with whom he celebrated their Golden Wedding in 2015, by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his elder brother William McIntyre Broomfield (1945-54).

Gerald Leslie Crighton (1943-55) DA, ARIBA FRIAS died unexpectedly but peacefully at Borders General Hospital on 25 January 2018 aged 79. His education was completed at Harris Academy, Dundee after his parents moved from Aberdeen. He studied architecture at Dundee College of Art from which he graduated with a Diploma. He worked in Aberdeen for a time before returning to the Dundee area in the late 1970s. His career was spent in local authority planning and architectural services. After a number of years as an assistant director with Tayside Region in Dundee he was appointed deputy director of the Architectural Services Department of Borders Regional Council. He is survived by his wife, Anne, two daughters and a son and by two grandsons.

Gerald is also survived by his younger brother Irvine Coull Crighton (195455).

Henry Ogilvie Cameron (1952-58) BL died peacefully in The Wellington Hospital, London on 11 September 2017 aged 77. From School, where he was a rugby player, he went up to Aberdeen University to study Law, graduating in 1961. He then trained as a chartered accountant with Messrs. Flockhart & Grant in Aberdeen, spending four years as an accountant and director of motor and agricultural engineers in the city.

In 1968 he was apprenticed to Messrs. C. & P.H. Chalmers, advocates, with whom he was a partner from 1970. He set up the partnership of Cameron & Thom in 1978 and later merged with a number of other legal firms to set up the practice of Peterkins. He specialised in aviation and other expanding local industries and became a director of several companies. As a result of these appointments Henry became heavily involved in the fishing industry and later in the developing oil industry.

Henry’s interests in the oil and gas sector led him to establish contacts with companies operating in Russia where he based himself for a number of years. In particular he was, for several years, chief executive officer of Pentex Oil Ltd. and of Sibir Energy Ltd., the latter being the biggest company in the AIM market. As a result of his involvement with these and other companies in the industry he developed strong links with the Russian hierarchy, acting as a consultant and 89

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine adviser on oil and gas related matters. Some years ago he returned to the United Kingdom, living in West Sussex, where he remained active as a consultant.

Henry is survived by a son, daughter and grandchildren of his first marriage and by a son of his second.

Henry John Gray Connochie (1937-47) BL died peacefully in a care home in Aberdeen on 26 May 2018 aged 89. At School Harry was a second row forward in the 1st XV and Athletics captain of Dun House. He underwent National Service on clinical staff with the RAMC in 1947-49 before commencing law studies at Edinburgh University and entering into an apprenticeship with an Edinburgh law practice. He later returned to complete his studies at Aberdeen University where he graduated in 1957.

Harry completed his apprenticeship with his father’s firm of Gray & Connochie in Aberdeen, became an assistant in 1957, a partner in 1960 and senior partner from 1966. In all, he spent over forty years with the firm before retiring.

He was a member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. His speciality was court work and handling compensation claims, in which connection he was, from 1976, a director of the North of Scotland branch of the Eagle Star Insurance Group. He was for several years a tutor on Finance and Investment for students studying at the University for the Diploma in Legal Practice.

Harry was a regular attendee at the periodic reunions organised by the 194749 Leavers of the FP Club and enjoyed reminiscing with his former classmates.

Harry was predeceased by his wife but is survived by his son William Gray Connochie (1964-77).

Robert Weir Donald (1943-52) ARIBA died peacefully in Northcote Care Home, Aberdeen on 5 January 2017 aged 82. He had spent five years in medical care following a major stroke in Australia. Born in Hilton Drive, he went to his local Primary school before entering Lower III at the Grammar. Sport was his passion and he was a successful middle distance runner and javelin thrower. He was also a keen rugby player and was a member of the 1952 1st XV, described by the press as the greatest ever rugby team to represent the School. He was a Prefect, House Captain of Byron and captain of Athletics., From School Robin went up to the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and graduated in 1958. After working for a time with London County council he returned to Aberdeen in 1963 where, with two colleagues, he established the partnership of Thomson, Taylor, Craig & Donald, architects and planning consultants. The practice eventually opened offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dingwall, and local developments included Hill of Rubislaw, the St Nicholas Shopping Centre and Invergordon Distillery, a development of which he was particularly proud. Robin became a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen.

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Former Pupils’ Section Robin’s enjoyment of sport continued; he played rugby for FPs and also played squash, tennis as well as skiing. His real passion became golf when he joined Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. After retiring, although he took particular pride in his garden, golf was his main interest and he spent many happy hours with friends on the golf course and many golfing holidays with his wife and good friends.

Robin is survived by his wife of over fifty years and by his son and daughter who, with their children, all live in Australia.

Distinguished Public Servant Angus Farquharson (1939-44) KCVO, OBE, KStJ, DL died peacefully in Aberdeen on 10 January 2018 aged 82. Born as Angus Roderick Durie Miller in Northumberland, his family moved to Aberdeen at the outbreak of war in 1939.

He entered the Kindergarten Department and left the Lower School aged nine to attend first Lathallan, then Drumtochty Castle and finally Glenalmond College.

At the last, just before he was due to leave, he encouraged the 1 st XV to hand launch a glider with him as pilot. The machine crashed resulting in his breaking his back. He had to forgo an air cadet scholarship to Australia and New Zealand and was unable to carry out National Service. He went up to Cambridge University in 1953 to read archaeology and anthropology, graduating in 1956.

He trained as a chartered land agent, worked briefly as assistant factor at Dupplin estate near Perth and then moved to Fochabers to work for the Crown Estates.

In 1961 he married Alison Farquharson and agreed to assume her surname in recognition of her family association to the Barony of Finzean. Her father gifted them the Finzean Estate where he settled and began a lengthy period of public service. He became an elder of the Church and went on to serve on the Church’s Board of General Trustees. He served on the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, the regional advisory committee for the Forestry Commission, the Red Deer Commission and the North-east committee of Scottish Natural Heritage. He was president of Kincardine & Deeside Scouts and a director of the Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre. He became an officer of the Order of St. John in 2002 and was made a Commander in 2009. The award of an OBE in 1995 recognised his services to forestry and the community.

Sir Angus’s commitment to his community was legendary and he assisted many enterprises in the Finzean area including the school, the church and the local shop. He donated land for a sheltered housing scheme and made available low-cost sites for young families with ties to the area. He was instrumental in the creation of the Birse Community Trust, a charity created to preserve the historic water mills but which now manages woodland and buildings for the community.

He became a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire in 1984, Vice Lord Lieutenant three years later and served as Lord Lieutenant from 1998 until 2010 91

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine in which year the Queen made him a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. In 2008 Sir Angus wrote Finzean: The Fair Place, celebrating the Farquharson family’s 400-year association with the area.

Sir Angus suffered a severe stroke in 2013 which brought his lengthy period of public service to an end, but despite this he never lost interest in what was going on in his beloved community. His wife died suddenly in 2016, but he is survived by his daughter, two sons and eight grandchildren.

George Alexander John Reid Findlay (1942-49) died peacefully at his home in Westhill, Aberdeen on 17 March 2017 following a short battle with lung cancer. He was aged 83. After leaving School he spent two years as a Sea Cadet on the training ship HMS Worcester on the river Thames in London. On completion of his training he joined the Merchant Navy, starting as a 3rd Mate and working his way up to Captain. His career took him all over the world, often leading to long periods away from his family, with Clan Line, Bowater, Safmarine and Blue Star. With the decline of the Merchant Navy George, like many other people, moved over to work in the oil and gas industry. He finished his working life as a representative for Numast, the Seaman’s Union now known as Nautilus International.

George is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he celebrated their Golden Wedding in 2014, and by two sons.

Ian Ross Fraser (1942-48) OBE, MA, EdB died in August 2017 aged 87. Born in Carmyle, near Glasgow, he came to the Grammar at the age of twelve. From there he went up to Aberdeen University, graduating in 1953 with an honours degree in Geography. While there he was one of four FPs in a party of ten students who spent some time in Cyrenaica on geographical, botamical and archaeological research. In 1954 he was the best graduate at the then Teacher Training Centre and he followed this by graduating with honours in Education and being awarded the George Macdonald prize for Teaching.

He taught for several years at Stirling High School before becoming head of the Geography Department at Elgin Academy in 1960. Six years later he was appointed Rector of Wade Academy, Anstruther. He took up the post of Rector of Inverness Royal Academy in 1971 and continued to serve there until his retirement in 1993.

From 1980 until 1983 he was chairman of the Scottish Committee on Social Subjects and from 1983 was a member of the Council on the Curriculum. He was for a time President and later Secretary of the Head Teachers’ Association and served as a governor of Aberdeen College of Education.

Ian was awarded the OBE in the 1989 New Year Honours in recognition of his services to education.

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Former Pupils’ Section Ronald Macgregor Gordon (1944-46) BSc (Eng), AMICE died peacefully at Inchmarlo House, Banchory 0n 30 December 2017 aged 88. His early schooling was at Peterculter and he entered the Grammar in Upper IV. He later went up to Aberdeen University to study engineering, graduating in 1954. In 1955 he was appointed assistant Port Engineer for the Aden Port Trust, going on to become assistant resident engineer with Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Berry & Partners on the Riverside Quay construction at Hull.

Ronald was admitted as an Associate of the Institute of Mechanical & Civil Engineers in 1959 and then became a resident engineer with Levesy & Henderson engaged on harbour construction at Puerto Acajutla in El Salvador.

In 1961 he was appointed as civil engineer to the corporation of Trinity House, London before spending three years as manager of the construction department of MB Dredging Co. at Erith. He became a section leader for Rendel Pelmex & Tritton in 1966 and from 1968 was civil engineering inspector of factories.

Gordon was predeceased by his wife but is survived by his son and daughter.

Brian Douglas Miller Grassick (1938-52) MB.ChB, DObst, RCOG died at home in Aberdeenshire on 30 August 2017 following a long illness. He was aged 83.

At School he was Athletics captain of Dun House, Captain of Swimming and was an enthusiastic wing-forward in the 1st XV in a season in which the 1st XV won all its matches with only one try and one penalty being scored against them in the whole season.

Doug went up to Aberdeen University to study Medicine, graduating in 1961.

After the usual house appointments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary he obtained a doctorate in Obstetrics in 1965 and went on to hold posts in Kirkcaldy, in Sarawak in Borneo and in Nassau in the Bahamas.

In 1970 Doug took up an appointment as a General Practitioner in Slough where he remained for the rest of his career. He played a major part in the development of Wycombe Industrial Health Service based in Slough and catering for the needs of employees of many factories and industrial concerns in the area.

Accidents were commonplace and the clinic which he operated was highly valued.

Doug’s early enthusiasm for rugby had continued at University and he later played for the Golden Oldies.

Doug was the middle of three brothers who all attended the School The eldest, Roderick W.G. Grassick (1938-40) died in 2004 while the youngest, Kenneth Alan Grassick (1940-53) died in 1989.

Canadian Centre Founder Member Peter James Green (1947-57) BA MBA died peacefully in Ottawa on 19 November 2017, the day after his 79th birthday, following a stroke. Born in Banff 93

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine and having spent his early schooling at a Sheffield preparatory school he entered the Lower School of the Grammar in April 1947.

On leaving school Peter at once signed up for the Hudson Bay Company and worked in various settlements in Northern Canada as a clerk, fur trader and an Inuit carving manager. He became one of only a few non-Inuit who could converse in Nonavut. In 1959 he founded the first ever Boy Scout Troop of Inuit in Baker Lake, Nonavut. In 1961 Peter was at Cape Dorset 200 miles from his brother David who was at Frobisher Bay. In 1963 Peter, now married, returned to the Arctic to begin a career with Northern Affairs as the area Administrator for Cambridge Bay and then Baker Lake and both his children were born in the North. In 1967 he returned south to attend Carleton University in Ottawa from which he graduated with a BA degree in Political Science. He later graduated MBA at the University of Western Ontario Ivy School of Business in London, Ontario. During summers he returned to the Arctic and on one occasion hosted Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at Pangnirtung.

Having obtained these qualifications Peter worked as a management consultant for the Research & Productivity Council of New Brunswick before moving to Ottawa to work at Veteran Affairs and later the office of the Comptroller-General of Canada. He moved to the Treasury Board in 1989, became the Director of Departmental Accountability and a lead founder of the Performance & Planning Exchange.

He retired in 2001 to pursue his various hobbies of gardening, photography and reading. He volunteered with his local Friends of the Library and with Prescott’s Shakespeare Festival. He was a past President of Eastern Ontario Rugby Union and played for the Beavers and later the Senators as a ‘Golden Oldie’. He also performed in community theatre.

In 1993 Peter was one of the founder members of the Canadian Centre of the Former Pupils’ Club and was one of its most enthusiastic supporters. He was President of the Centre in 1996 and with his wife, Anne, organised the first Reunion to be held in Ottawa. Two years later, again in the east, Peter and Anne catered for the first of seven brunches which they were to host at Reunions in the East over the next twenty years. Peter’s notable dishes at the brunches included gingerbread, kedgeree, Ecclefechan tart, barley cream pudding and homemade butteries.

Peter’s last visit to Aberdeen and his old School was in June last year when he attended a 60-year reunion of those who left the Grammar in 1957. An account of the event appeared in the last issue of the Magazine complete with a group photograph.

Peter is survived by his wife, Anne Gregory, by his first wife, Judith, his son and daughter and five grandchildren. His elder brother David Alexander Green (1947-57) died several years ago.

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Former Pupils’ Section Robert Lynch (1935-47) MB,ChB died peacefully in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock on 5 January 2018 aged 87. He was the son of Mr John Lynch, for many years deputy Rector of the School. At School he was a keen hockey and cricket player and was awarded full colours for hockey. He went up to Aberdeen University to study Medicine, and was one of fifteen FPs to graduate in 1953. He played hockey for the University 1st XI and was awarded a half-blue. He was chosen on at least two occasions to play for a Scottish Universities Select team.

Following a year as a house doctor in the North Ormesby Hospital in Middlesborough he spent two years of National Service in the RAF based in Cornwall. He then spent a year as a trainee general practitioner in Hatton before joining his uncle in Kilwinning, the Ayrshire town where his forebears had lived for 150 years.

He was an active member of the community, known as Dr Robert to his patients, and always willing to attend to emergencies arriving at his front door even when he was off duty. He was a police surgeon, trained railway staff in first aid and was an honorary life member of the British Red Cross. He served for twenty years on the Ayrshire and Arran GP sub-committee and was chairman of the area Medical Committee in 1984-85. He was a founder member and past President of Kilwinning Rotary Club, a member of Irvine Golf Club and an elder of the Abbey Church.

Predeceased by his wife, Morna, Robert leaves a daughter and two sons. He was the brother of Frederick Passmore Lynch (1936-49) and uncle of four and great-uncle of three of his family, all Former Pupils of the School, one of whom was Head Girl in 2008-09.

Leading International Architect John Harvey McLaren (1946-59) RIBA, FRIAS, MRTPI died peacefully in the Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh on 7 April 2018 following a short illness. He was aged 76. From School he spent six years studying at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen, graduating in 1965. He was a prize and medal winner and received an honourable mention in an Aberdeen Corporation competition for civic architecture for his design for a marine aquarium and museum.

John moved to Edinburgh for post-graduate study in Town & Country Planning at the city’s College of Art, and two travelling scholarships enabled him to do planning research in Italy and Poland. In order to gain public sector experience before entering private practice he then worked for some time with the Scottish Special Housing Association, where he worked with his own small team on special projects. These included the restoration of the historic core of Jedburgh and his involvement in this earned the Association a Saltire Society 95

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Award, the Civic Trust Medal and the Europa Nostra Award. He also advised the Scottish Development Department on the restoration of the historic core of Kelso.

John was then offered a partnership in J&F Johnston and Partners who were keen to develop the firm into a multi-discipline organisation, which appealed to him and led him, in 1984, to found the international organisation J&F Johnston Overseas Ltd. as a subsidiary company. In the early ‘90s he helped to establish a joint venture consultancy practice in Accra, completed a hotel project in Ghana and was later involved in a United Nations project to restore Cape Coast Castle, which had originally been a Swedish fort. It had later been the government and military headquarters when Cape Coast became the capital of the British colony of Gold Coast. John’s main work at this stage was in hotel design for operators including Golden Tulip International, Sheraton, Four Seasons and Holiday Inn in Egypt, Ghana and Lebanon.

At home, John was involved in the redevelopment of St Pancras Station in London, the development of the new waterfront for Edinburgh and the restoration of Midmar Castle.

In 2007 John merged his company with John R. Harris & Partners of Dubai and became managing director of JRHP Scotland and a director of JRHP International. He retired some years ago but continued to live in Edinburgh.

In the earlier years, when based in Edinburgh, John was involved with the Edinburgh Architectural Association, the Council of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the Association of Consulting Architects in Scotland and the National Playing Fields Association. He also served as an Assistant to the Master’s Court of the Edinburgh Merchant Company, as a governor of The Mary Erskine and Stewarts Melville Schools and as Moderator of the High Constabulary of the Port of Leith.

John himself said that he did not shine at sports at school, but since has enjoyed car rallying, skiing, riding, badminton and swimming; he has also ‘had a go’ at shooting, jet skiing, sailing, plus micro-light and small aircraft flying.

John’s first marriage ended in divorce but he is survived by his second wife, Yvette, by three daughters, four sons and four grandchildren.

Colin (Mac) McLean (1948-60) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 23 October 2017 following a period of ill health. He was aged 73.

Jim Andrews (1948-62) writes: “Colin and I first met as precocious four-yearolds in the Aberdeen Grammar School Kindergarten, and there started a seventyyear friendship.

“We grew up with various common interests which included sport, Cubs/Scouts, Army Cadets, snooker, coffee bars, rock and roll, girls etc, with some quality education thrown in.

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Former Pupils’ Section “Colin`s specialist subjects included racing bicycles, drumming in the Aberdeen Scout Pipe Band, guitar playing, and perfecting the harmonies of the Everly Brothers. He constructed his own bikes in the basement workshop at his home in Kincorth – always using the best equipment he could afford. Colin always liked the best.

“At 16 Colin passed the entrance exam and followed brother Ian (1945-56) as an apprentice navigation officer in the Merchant Navy, a career choice which he had decided on years before. He loved it. He was proud of the uniform and even enjoyed the long 9-month trips. This enabled him to get his sea time in quickly for the various Mates tickets, culminating in his full Masters ticket and eventually sailing the world as Captain of his own vessels.

“Somehow in this period he managed to meet and woo the love of his life, Norma and, as a first mate on the Silver Line , he was able to take his wife on a couple of trips to faraway places with warm climates and romantic sunsets, while we were making the best of dreich Aberdeen weather.

“Colin and Norma were delighted when daughter Shona was born, and they set up home in the old village of Portlethen....with a great view of the sea, of course.

“Some years later Colin felt that the Merchant Navy had changed due to new chartering arrangements, and at the same time he was missing out on home life, so when the opportunity arose to join Shell in Aberdeen as an OIM on the North Sea rigs he jumped at the chance. He was also able to follow old and new interests. He started cycling again and went on mini tours with other lycra-clad mature pals. He bought a motor bike, passed his test and the advanced motor cycle course, and got another bike. Cars, motor bikes, and bicycles were kept in immaculate condition.

“Then his world came crashing down, literally, when he was involved in the Brent Spar tragedy, when a helicopter toppled off the helideck and six men died.

Colin sustained serious injuries, the worst being a badly shattered leg, which took more than a year of dedicated physio and gym work to put right. He returned to work in the Shell office and featured in a safety training documentary. He continued with Shell for a few more years before deciding to take early retirement.

“While enjoying his new-found leisure time, he was made an offer which he couldn’t refuse by the Craig Group in Aberdeen to be their maritime superintendent. He was back with boats and totally in his element. So began his third career, which lasted a further ten years. He was also home-based and valued the time he spent with his family, particularly his three grandsons Harry, Jack, and Noah.

“Latterly, Colin and Norma enjoyed their frequent holidays, particularly in America, often in areas associated with the Civil War, in which Colin had an abiding interest.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine “Colin`s was a life well spent. He was honourable, gregarious, a true friend, a valued workmate and, above all, a devoted family man....... but he couldn’t master golf!”

Iain Charles Stewart Michie (1947-56) died peacefully in Alamba, U.S.A. on 6 April 2018 after a long illness aged 79. He was born in Tomintoul, where his father was a doctor, and began his schooling at Banff Academy. At the Grammar he was a Prefect and a second row forward in the 1st XV, described as their lineout expert – no doubt on account of his height. He was an active member of the Stoneywood Scout Group with whom he earned his Queen’s Scout Award.

It had been expected that he would proceed to University but he opted instead for the great Canadian outdoors and was made leader of nineteen other Scots sailing from Liverpool in 1956. There he joined the Hudson’s Bay Company and was posted initially to Frobisher Bay, moving to Fort Chino, Quebec Province in 1958. He spent ten years in the Arctic, learning Inuit and trading with the Eskimos, often as the only non-Innuit on the post.

He made regular trips home to Aberdeen, returning from one such married to Rhoda Sinclair. After the birth of their second child the family moved south to the Great Lakes area and then to Montreal, where Iain enrolled at McGill University and took a degree in Accountancy. He then left the Hudson’s Bay Company and switched to the commercial side of trading. He was for a period in Port Harrison, Quebec where he served as a Justice of the Peace.

Some years later Iain moved to Dallas, Texas working in commercial finance as a credit manager, later rising to be chief executive officer and president of his bank. He was head-hunted in 2012 to become vice-president of the licensed bank Crestmark FDIC. Iain’s first wife, Rhoda, died in 1987, but he is survived by his second wife, the two children of his first marriage, two children of his second, and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Iain is also survived by his elder brother Ernest James Stewart Michie (1947-52).

Alistair James Mitchell Miller (1942-55) MA, CA died suddenly but peacefully at home in Boroughbridge near York on 29 August 2017, aged 79. Alistair was born in Aberdeen, the son of Alfred Miller who was a distinguished Actuary of Aberdeen Savings Bank. He lived at the top of King’s Gate and schooled throughout at Grammar where he was a popular but quiet pupil. During his time at the School he was a member of the 17th Scout Troop, the school orchestra, the Cadets and the Rambling and Mountaineering Club.

From School Alistair went up to Aberdeen University, graduating MA in 1959. While at University he was an active member of the Charities Campaign Committee, the University Training Corp, the Athletic Association, the University Motor Club and the Squash Club, but his over-riding accomplishment 98

Former Pupils’ Section was to be elected President of the Students’ Union in session 1960-61 – a significant appointment at the time. He was also greatly envied for his red MGA. During the University holidays he drove taxis (Rolls Royce, Daimler and Humber!) for Campbell & Sellar in Aberdeen, worked as a grouse beater in the Cairngorms and, during a trip to Canada, worked for the Canadian Pacific Railways.

In 1958 Alistair joined James Meston & Co., Chartered Accountants, Golden Square, Aberdeen as a trainee. After qualifying he worked for a brief time with Cooper Brothers & Co, London, before becoming Assistant Secretary of Newman Henderson in Stroud in 1965. In 1970 Alistair was appointed Company Secretary of Pegler-Hattersley, Engineers, Doncaster – a position which he held for a number of years before working as a CA on his own account.

Alistair was a keen supporter for many years of the Yorkshire Centre of the FP Club, acting as Secretary for a number of years. He greatly enjoyed membership of Ripon Golf Club, and local walking groups. Alistair always maintained his love of cars, travel and a good americano.

In 1965 Alistair married Barbara Young, after meeting at Aberdeen University, and together they had two children. They later divorced in 1986. He is survived by his partner, Jo, and his son, Andrew, his daughter, Jane, and grandchildren Lana and Quinn.

Former Aberdeen Businessman John Thomson Low Parkinson (1942-50) BSc(Eng),MIME, MIEE, MIHVE, MRSH died peacefully in Victoria General Hospital, British Columbia on 28 December 2017 following a lengthy period of ill health. He was aged 84. At School he was a member of the Army Cadet Force and took part in gliding and cycling. He went up to Aberdeen University, graduating with a degree in Engineering in 1954. He was awarded an Associateship of the National College of Heating, Ventilating, Refrigeration & Fan Engineers of London before post-graduate training in electrical engineering with GEC in Birmingham.

John was a development engineer at the Atomic Energy Authority at Dounray for a year before joining the family firm of J.T.L. Parkinson in Aberdeen as a heating and electrical engineer in 1959. He was a director of the company from 1963 and managing director in 1968-71. After becoming a director of Aberdeen Construction Group he carried through a merger of the two businesses of which he became managing director.

John was for time a member of Grampian Regional Council, was a Burgess of the city and was a past Master of the Hammerman Incorporation of Aberdeen’s Seven Incorporated Trades.

John enjoyed his later years in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia where among other interests he ran Sunday School, youth groups and 99

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine was a stalwart fund-raiser for the Presbyterian Church, as he had also done in Scotland.

John is survived by his wife, Betty, who he met in her Helmsdale home while he was working in that area in 1956, and by four sons and four grandchildren to whom he was devoted. His brothers also attended the Grammar – Alexander Tough Parkinson (1943-55) and David Kelly Parkinson (1945-59).

Maurice Robert André Roe (1934-45) MA died peacefully in hospital in Lyons, France, on 19 September 2017 aged 89. The eldest of three sons of Professor Frederick Roe of the chair of French at Aberdeen University, Maurice went up to the University from School to study Classics. He graduated with honours in 1949. For the following two years he underwent National Service at Catterick and later at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow. He was awarded a commission in the Royal Army Education Corps.

Maurice then spent several years in teaching in various schools in France before going into consultancy and journalism. In 1960 he was working as an industrial consultant in London and Paris and went on to obtain a qualification from Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He finally settled on computer systems, founding IAS and had a successful career designing and marketing a package accounting system which was installed in several international companies, notably in France, Italy and Belgium. He was for a time President of Integrated Business Systems at Issy-les-Moulinaux.

Maurice’s brothers are Charles Francis Roe (1937-49) and Henry George Roe (1940-52).

Douglas Harkess Smith (1968-74) LL.B died peacefully in an Aberdeenshire hospital on 5 October 2017 following a long illness. He was aged 61. He went from School to Aberdeen University to study Arts and Law and after qualifying as a solicitor was in practice for a number of years. He was for a time an associate solicitor with Paull & Williamsons in Aberdeen and thereafter was a partner in the Edinburgh legal firm of Bonar MacKenzie, W.S. Thereafter Douglas was a director of more than twenty property development companies in and around Aberdeen and was listed as a solicitor in Ballater.

He had a keen interest in sport of all kinds and played both golf and cricket.

He became chairman of Christians In Sport Trustees in the 1990s and pioneered the development of sports ministry in Scotland, working closely with Christians in Sport and Ambassadors Football.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, by two sons and by grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother George Bruce Pirie Smith (1951-64) Peter Gillies Stephen (1949-63) ARIBA died peacefully at Morningfield House, Aberdeen on 14 April 2018 aged 73. After leaving School he studied at the Scott 100

Former Pupils’ Section Sutherland School of Architecture from which he was awarded his diploma in 1969. He was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1971 and joined the Aberdeen architectural firm of Thomson, Taylor, Craig & Donald in the late 1970s. He later set up in practice on his own account, mainly on new private house design. Peter was a director of St Margaret’s School for Girls in 1999-2001.

He is survived by his wife, Pat, a son and daughter and by a grand-daughter.

Ernest Sutherland (1951-55) died peacefully in a care home in Aberdeen on 20 March 2018 aged 78. At School he was a wing three-quarter in the 1st XV. On leaving, he joined Merz & McLellan, civil engineers in Newcastle, with whom he trained. He remained with that firm after qualifying as a consultant engineer and in 1965 he was stationed in Brokenhill, Zambia where he was in charge of the erection of a second transmission line from the Kariba Dam to the Copper Belt.

From 1972 to 1993 he lived in Southern Africa where he was a construction civil engineer working on major contracts at steel plants and at coal, gold and diamond mines and processing plants for uranium and other precious metals.

Ernest later had a spell in the Kalahari Desert with temperatures close to 40 degrees in the shade. He was then working in wet paddy fields in the heat and humidity of Vietnam where he headed the civil construction firm SGS Geneva.

Although he left school aged 16 Ernest kept in touch with his contemporaries and was present at some of the reunions arranged by the 1957 Leavers in recent years.

Ernest is survived by his wife, Anne, to whom he had been married for over fifty years, by a son and daughter and by grandchildren.

Alexander Cooper Thomson (1930-41) died in St Andrews on 30 April 2018 aged 94. He was one of two brothers who attended the School in the years before World War II. His younger brother, Ronald Cooper Thomson (1931-42) died some years ago.

Sandy left School to study mechanical engineering at Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology but, due to the War, he was assigned after a year to work for Rolls Royce at their main factory in Derby producing Merlin engines for a wide range of military aircraft. Later he moved to Rolls’ Barnoldswick factory in Lancashire to work on the then secret development of the first jet engines.

After the War he returned to Robert Gordon’s to complete his studies, graduating about 1948.

Subsequently Sandy had a long career in manufacturing, initially in the glass industry, working for Chance Brothers in Birmingham and then for Pilkingtons in St. Helens. The expansion of the motor industry in the early 1960s with the opening of new factories in Central Scotland, accompanied by component 101

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine suppliers, saw him appointed factory manager for Triplex Glass, who supplied windscreens for vehicles assembled in Scotland. After only a few years the motor industry in Scotland began to recede and Sandy became a production manager for a Glasgow company making welding rods for the growing North Sea fabrication industry.

He retired to St Andrews in 1984 and enjoyed a long and active retirement, and particularly enjoyed gardening. He was a member of the St Andrews Probus and Investment Clubs, attending meetings until only a few months before his death.

Sandy’s first wife died in 1975. He is survived by his second wife, Poppy, and by two sons and two daughters from his first marriage, by four step-daughters and grandchildren.

F.P. Club Consul Michael Boyd Thomson (1938-51) ACII, APMI died peacefully in Wellington, New Zealand on 5 October 2017 following a short illness, although his mobility and zest for life had been greatly affected by a stroke suffered in 2011. He was aged 84. Mike was the third (and last survivor) of five brothers who attended the Grammar from 1933 onwards, and all were the sons of Douglas Robertson Thomson (1909-14) and grandsons of William J. Cruickshank (1887-92). Alan (1933-49) died in 1979, Ian (1935-48) died in 1981, while Kenneth (1944-57) and Graham (1946-57) both died in 2005.

After leaving School Mike was called up for National Service with the Royal Army Service Corps, largely spent in Yeovil in Somerset. He was commissioned and later served as a Captain in the Territorial Army in charge of an RASC detachment of 152 Field Ambulance in Aberdeen. He had originally had thoughts of becoming a vet but the prospect of six years of study was discouraging so he advertised his services in the Press & Journal and in 1953 joined the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society in Aberdeen – with whom he was to spend the rest of his working life around the world.

In January 1958 he was appointed to the company’s Nairobi office and in the following year established an office in Dar es Salam – the same year in which he married Isobel in Nairobi. While there he organised two concerts for Louis Armstrong. In 1961, at the age of twenty-eight he was appointed Manager for Pakistan, where his two children were born. In 1969 he returned to Nairobi as manager for East Africa and five years later returned to Scotland as manager for Scotland. He lived in Edinburgh for nine years, thinking his days overseas were finished. In 1983 he moved to Wellington as deputy manager for New Zealand, becoming general manager six months later. He retired in 1992. He served as Chairman of the Life Offices Association while in both Nairobi and Wellington.

102

Former Pupils’ Section Mike was a member of Round Table and while in Edinburgh was an active member of the Edinburgh Centre of the FP Club. In New Zealand he served as FP Club Consul for New Zealand. He was a keen golfer.

Mike is survived by Isobel and by a son and daughter, all living in Wellington.

Norman Morley Lawson Woodman (1938-49) died peacefully at his home in Edinburgh on 5 December 2017 aged 86. After leaving School he joined Aberdeen Journals as a sub-editor under the guidance of Cuthbert Graham.

During the 1950s he was the film critic for the Evening Express, writing under the name ‘Scenario’. In 1957 he moved to Fleet Street where he continued a successful journalistic career with the London Evening News and latterly with The Mail on Sunday for which he wrote as a Television critic. Norman retained an interest throughout his life in the arts and in sport.

In 1997 he returned to Scotland, spending his retirement in Colinton where he found much happiness. ** ** ** **

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

This and the following page are clearly un-used and they ought not to be.

The Editor seeks help from members from whom he invites contributed articles on topics of either general or particular interest to readers.

Poetry would be most welcome!

He has heard all the excuses for not writing for the Magazine but despite this still pleads for support in providing a volume acceptable to Club members.

Can YOU help to find additional advertisers to take space to make their goods and services known to our readers and help to defray the costs of publication.

Advertising rates are readily available for anyone who can help

104

Former Pupils’ Section

105

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine

Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2017 Former Pupils’ Club Income and Expenditure Account

INCOME Subscriptions Existing Members – Annual New Members Life Members Transfer from Life Members’ Account Top-up Payments Donations Club Centre Members’ Donations & Bequests Less : Transfer to Second Century Fund Chairman’s Appeal Donations Interest Magazine – advertising Fund Raising – Big Draw Share of Rent – 1 Bayview Road Tie Sales Book Sales

1,550 200

EXPENDITURE Magazine – Printing, stationery and postage Club Secretary – Printing, stationery & postage Website Operations Stationery & Printing Honoraria Travel and accommodation Grants – Capitation to Regional Centres School – Amenities Fund School Prizes Accountancy Fee Corporation Tax Bank Charges Bank Interest paid Cost of Sale of Ties Bon Record Book Stock Write Off Miscellaneous

SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR

106

2017 £

2016 £

1,944 -

3,076 -

615 1,239

640 1,031

1,000

1,000

1,350 140 2,899 2,805 2,083 13,500 45 40 27,660

3,743 10,915 2,904 2,395 1,346 13,500 120 40,670

4,057 1,010 120 472 1,000 212 700 3,500 200 1,440 3,166 603 1,705 17 (389) 17,813

5,116 450 120 515 2,275 1,552 800 1,250 1,138 3,282 798 5,164 62 9,872 (529) 31,865

9,847

8,805

Former Pupils’ Section Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2017

2017 HERITABLE PROPERTY INVESTMENTS CURRENT ASSETS Stock Debtors Donations due from Club Centre Club Centre – Loan Drawdown Bank Accounts

CURRENT LIABILITIES Bank Overdraft Bank Term Loan Club Centre Loan Subscriptions in advance Life Member Top-up Payments Creditors Loans from Members (repayable on demand and interest free)

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES CREDITORS DUE OUTWITH ONE YEAR Bank Term Loan NET ASSETS CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Life Members REVENUE ACCOUNTS The Big Draw Second Century School Prize Fund General

107

181,172

2016 £ 181,172

5,109

5,109

1,806 3,305 17,500 85,000 15,499 123,110

1,823 10,129 16,500 85,000 88,785 202,237

9,723 74,064 6,698 2,478 31,219

47,753 9,708 74,064 6,917 2,062 41,097

43,500 167,682

43,500 225,101

(44,572)

(22,864)

-

(31,184)

141,709

132,233

11,840

12,306

4,380 21,565 5,470 98,454 129,869

4,740 21,110 5,470 88,607 119,927

141,709

132,233

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2017 F.P. Club Centre Income and Expenditure Account 2016 £ 116,170

4,405 44,060 48,465 4,084 44,381 71,789

16,363 144 6,050 13,207 12,240 2,260 2,803 124,856

43,552 733 21,595 8,617 502 5,979 1,000 3,107 5,386 5,823 484 116 5,031 1,920 4,051 955 201 2,179 5,540 1,989 118,760 £ 6,096

£ BAR ACCOUNT BAR SALES

£ 122,558

COST OF SALES Stock on Hand at 31 December 2016 Bar Purchases Less Stock on Hand at 31 December 2016

4,084 48,927 53,011 4,447 48,564 73,994

GROSS PROFIT ON BAR – 60% MISCELLANEOUS INCOME Annual Subscriptions Gaming Machine Revenue (Net) Room Hire Rent (net) from 1 Bayview Road Surplus from Car Parking Donations Interest Received Miscellaneous Income

17,839 2,597 13,207 13,620 2,139 14 1,716 125,126

OVERHEAD EXPENSES Wages & National Insurance Employer’s Pension Costs Rates and Insurance Heating and Lighting Telephone (Net) Repairs and Maintenance Donation to Former Pupils’ Club Interest Payable to Former Pupils’ Club Administration Expenses Cleaning & Waste Management Bank Interest Taxis Miscellaneous Expenses Stocktaker Entertainment Credit Card Charges Machine Games Rental Equipment Leasing Corporation Tax Depreciation

45,695 302 27,618 9,499 366 2,646 1,000 3,107 7,132 5,756 1,220 47 503 1,920 2,488 899 1,200 3,826 1,779 117,003

SURPLUS FOR YEAR

8,123

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Former Pupils’ Section

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2017 2016 FIXED ASSETS £ 1,687 9,585 11,272

74,064 4,084 2,986 31,636 1,036 113,806

38,866 2,467 3,613 44,946 68,860 80,132

294 4,277 5,000 85,000 94,571 (14,439)

13,495

(27,934) (14,439)

Furniture and Fittings Equipment

Cost £ 1,687 9,585 11,272

Added

588 588

CURRENT ASSETS Loan Account – AGSFP Club Stock in Hand Sundry Debtors Cash in Bank Deposit Account Cash in Hand

Depcn. £ 253 1,526 1,779

£ 1,434 8,647 10,081

74,064 4,447 5,980 27,886 20,000 864 133,241

CURRENT LIABILITIES Sundry Creditors Subscriptions in Advance Bank of Scotland Loan A/c

41,149 3,126 3,524 47,799 85,442 95,523

LOANS Bank of Scotland Loan A/c Heineken UK Ltd Other Loans AGSFP Club

12,883 3,956 85,000 101,839

NET (LIABILITIES)

(6,316)

CAPITAL ACCOUNT Appeal Fund / Donations

13,495

SURPLUSES/(DEFICITS) Amount per last B/Sheet Surplus for Year

(27,934) 8,123

109

(19,811) (6,316)