Lower School Reunion 1963-70

years to be available for inspection which provided some interesting information on the teachers at the time in “Lower School Notes”.

The big day arrived on Friday afternoon 5 October 2018 when the first event of the reunion, a tour of the School, was scheduled. I walked up the school drive from Skene Street wondering if anyone would actually turn up. I need not have worried because there was already a knot of middle aged men in front of the Byron statue. On meeting, some of them were recognised instantly but others not. It was a strange, perhaps even surreal, experience to meet all at one time numerous people you had not seen for over forty years. Attendees had come from far and wide, from places such as Budapest, Oman, Canada and Malaysia.

The school tour was led by Kirsty Stanger, an S5 prefect and daughter of school PE teacher Iain Stanger. She soon found that taking a group of 60-year old men on a tour is similar to herding cats. The tour was very comprehensive and firstly took in the Bennum building where the old Lower School was situated. Crossing the playground we were given the chance to reminisce about playing football with a sock ball, playing slides in the winter and getting fine pieces from the baker through the bars of the playground, activities no doubt now banned due to health and safety. The group followed on to the Hall, then the Gym Hall and the impressive Games Hall. Then on to the office corridor, passing the site of that den of iniquity, the old Prefects’ room (the Howff) and to the splendid library which was new to all, given that we attended the school before the old library was destroyed by the fire in 1986. Kirsty was presented with a well-deserved Amazon voucher for her efforts.

The evening was spent in a convivial atmosphere in a private room at the Grammar FP Club arranged with Dave Leighton, the FP Club Centre Chairman. Dave had organised a barrel of lager which ran out, a sure indication that things were going well. Although there was a competing function on we were predictably last out of the bar.

The next day at high noon the company assembled yet again at the Byron statue for a recreation of the class photographs which were taken in the 1960s on the grass at the front of the school. Alan Cowie made a grand entrance on his Harley Davidson. There was a special guest appearance by Eric Bain’s mother. Photographs were taken by Stuart McKay, another FP, drafted in as a late replacement as a professional photographer we had organised had a conflicting appointment. No-one knew what to expect from Stuart but everyone relaxed when he produced a tripod and long lens camera - an indication that he knew what he was doing. Then it was off to Rubislaw via the Club Centre once again, to see AGS take on Marr in a rugby match. Unfortunately AGS were defeated but at least one member of the party was happy – Bob Diament who we discovered was a Marr supporter, complete with Marr scarf which he waved about joyously.

On the Saturday evening, 6 October, the main event took place being dinner at the Atholl Hotel. We knew that one of our former teachers, Hamish Paterson, was 34

a regular attendee at the FP Club and could be easily found. He accepted an invitation to the dinner by return. Through a circuitous route we managed to locate another Primary Teacher, Phyllis MacKay, who had taught both the As and the Bs. She not only accepted her invitation but also provided us with more photographs and information. We also asked Doug Marr CBE, prominent educationalist and FP, who had taught some of us History in Secondary at the Grammar to give a speech which he agreed to do. Dinner went very well and there was a surprise as Hamish Paterson and then Phyllis Mackay made impromptu speeches to let us know how much they enjoyed teaching at the Lower School. After a few more drinks everyone went their separate ways with a promise to repeat the experience again.

However, the reunion was not quite finished. One of the B class, Alistair Gall, had greatly wanted to attend but could not leave work commitments in Vietnam. Chris Morrison and Alistair Marshall made up for this by both meeting Alistair in Vietnam shortly after the reunion.

Our thanks go to all those who attended, Doug Marr, Hamish Paterson, Phyllis MacKay, the staff at the Atholl Hotel, the tolerant late night barman at the Club Centre, Iain and Kirsty Stanger, Dave Leighton, Cammy Munro, Andy Martin and finally Janet Adams, Deputy Head at AGS.

Those attending the reunion were:- Gary Allan, Eric Bain, Tim Blaxter, Stuart Brown, Neil Coutts, Alan Cowie, Clark Cruickshank, Bob Diament, Leslie Forsyth, Dave Gellatly, John Hunter, Dave Lennie, Lewis Laird, Derek Lynch, Alistair Marshall, Alan Morrice, Chris Morrison, Callum McDonald, Forbes McLennan, Alan Niven, Jim Rickaby, James Rust, Alan Soutter, Richard Steele, Arthur Stewart, Dave Stewart, Mike Stobbie and Ian Strachan.

Apologies for inability to attend were received from Xavier Abrioux, Steve Brady, Norman Crichton, Derek Farquhar, Alistair Gall, Ian Hendry, Mike Henry, John Kay, Dave Mitchell and Roddy Scott.

Forbes McLennan

Was it really 50 years ago? 1962 – 68 Reunion

Friday 2nd November 2018 was the date when thirty-nine Former Pupils of the School gathered once again to walk through the doors of the School after a fiftyyear absence. In the intervening years our year group had drifted to all parts of the world fulfilling their aims and dreams after leaving School for the last time, so it took some time to get back in contact. Thanks to the internet and some