Obituaries

Allan Burke (1953-60) died at his home in Lanzarote on 1 January 2018 following a long illness. J. Ross Baird (1952-64) writes: “After leaving Broomhill School to begin first year at Grammar, Alan quickly became a wanted man on the rugby pitch and played in the various year teams until eventually playing for Firsts where he was capped, fittingly alongside his second-row binding partner Bob Scace.

“He also had a long association with the Scout movement, joining the17th Aberdeen Grammar Troop, and working his way up to assistant scout leader. It was during this time that he met a young cub leader, Freida Leslie, an ex-High School girl, who originally came from Keith. They married and had a son and a daughter, who have themselves gone on to marry and have Alan and Freida’s beloved grandchildren.

“On leaving school Alan went to university in Aberdeen and went on to join Wiggins Teap in their trainee management programme. Again, he was successful in his endeavours and gained a high standing within the group, ultimately moving to Ivybridge in Devon to take over management of the paper mill there. Never forgetting his rugby roots he became heavily involved in the Ivybridge Rugby Club, and was instrumental in founding a clubhouse, with an extremely successful bar and social aspect.

“During their time in Ivybridge, Alan and Freida spent their holiday time in Lanzarote, and became so entranced with the island that they bought a villa, spending many happy holidays there. Some years later, Alan decided to retire early and they took the decision to live permanently in Lanzarote. They built a beautiful villa in the hills of Conil, and spent many happy years, with Alan indulging his love of sailing and fishing, and Freida as a tireless worker for the Church.

“Sadly, on the first day of 2018 Alan finally succumbed to pneumonia, after being ill for a time. Freida continued to live in Lanzarote until, just over a year later, she too succumbed to a similar ailment and passed away in April of this year.”

Allan is survived by his older brother Douglas (1952-55).

Former Club President

Richard Henry Whitby Cradock (1940-51) died peacefully after a short illness at his Aberdeen home on 21 May 2019. He was aged 85. In 1939 he was evacuated to Ballater and lived with boarders from Aberdeen High School For Girls, also evacuated. He returned as a boarder at the Grammar Boarding House. Dick’s lifelong sporting interests were first demonstrated at School where he was scrum-half in the 1st XV and wicket-keeper in the 1st XI.

Called up for National Service in the RAF he was posted to Singapore as an Air Traffic Controller and played both Rugby and Golf for RAF Malaya and for 82

Former Pupils’ Section Combined Services. On his return he played for FPs, served as 1st XV captain for a time, and was frequently selected for North Midlands, often as captain. He played for them against Australia in 1958.

Having joined the family business of Richard Irvin & Sons he became manager of their Fraserburgh business in 1963 moving to a similar post in North Shields before returning to Aberdeen in 1967. In 1985 he was appointed managing director. He retired in 1987.

Dick’s contribution to FP Club affairs was notable and effective. He was a founder member of the Club Centre, served on its committee and was Chairman from 1979-85. His interest was the keener as 86 Queen’s Road had been his grandfather’s house in the 1920s. Dick was for several years a member of the Club Executive Committee and was its Chairman in 1992-94 which coincided with the celebration of the Club’s Centenary. He put a tremendous effort into the arrangements for that event, all of which were acclaimed as highly successful. He served as Club President in 1998-99 and faithfully attended all the gatherings of members in the various Centres.

Dick was a natural ball-player with a skilled eye and a competitive spirit. He was a talented golfer whose ball-striking was exceptional. He was Club champion of Royal Aberdeen all his life and a regular member of the FP Golf Section in its heyday, always taking part in its outings. He was a founder member of the FP Club Pétanque Section and also a member of the Curling Section.

Dick remarried after the death of his first wife but is survived by their son and daughter. Sadly his second wife also predeceased him.

Joseph Craig (1926-1939) BSc (Civil Eng) died suddenly at Rubislaw Park Care Home, Aberdeen on 19 March 2019 aged 97. Joe’s younger son Neil Craig (1956-69) writes: “Joe was one of the very oldest Life Members of the FP Club. He had lived at the same address in Mannofield ever since 1946. His health deteriorated in 2018 and he went into care in August of that year.

“Joe was the eldest of four brothers, John (Ian) (1929-38), Eric (1934-46) and Ronnie (1940-52), but survived them all. They all attended the Grammar and, along with their half-brother George Murray, were all company directors in Craig Stores (Trawler Owners) Aberdeen with a fleet of twelve vessels at one time, as well as fish selling and processing businesses.

“From 1922 the family lived in Belvidere Crescent and from 1933 at 5 Woodburn Avenue. Both of these homes provided easy access to the School, from the first on foot and from the second by tramcar or bicycle. From School Joe attended Aberdeen University to study Civil Engineering, graduating BSc in June 1942. As the very first member of Aberdeen University Air Squadron he recalled being taken to Dyce early in 1941 and using the Link trainer frame in Marischal quad. He also remembered being on fire watch duty

on the roof of Marischal College and placing a certain item on top of the spire one Rag Week!

“Joe’s application to join the RAF VR was dated 6 February 1942. He was called up in October 1942, and reported to St John’s Wood, London. After attending Grading School at No.18 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, RAF Fairoaks in Surrey he was sent to South Africa (mainly 24AS at Nigel) for further training, gaining commissions as a Pilot Officer and then Flying Officer, instructing on De Havilland Tiger Moth bi-planes and also flying twinengine Airspeed Oxford aircraft.

“Early in 1945 Joe returned to the UK and flew 4-engine Avro York transports to Ceylon with 242 Squadron. He was based at RAF Stoney Cross near Southampton and in 1946 moved to RAF Merryfield in Somerset where he met up with his AUAS friend RGC Skinner, DFC (Bomb Aimer and ATC at Merryfield) who was almost his best man when he married Helen Menzies in May 1945. Her younger brother G Douglas Menzies (1934-44) was Canadian FP Consul in Edmonton, Alberta for many years. In February 1946, in the same week as Joe made Flight Lieutenant., he was demobbed!

“After a spell of civil engineering work including blowing up coastal anti-tank concrete blocks and working on early hydro-electric dams in the Highlands, Joe joined the family business Craig Stores (Trawler Owners) in Aberdeen where he was responsible for all aspects of the marine engineering of the fleet of trawlers. In the early 1970s, in the midst of the Icelandic Cod Wars and just before the North Sea oil boom, Craig Stores was sold to British United Trawlers of Hull and Grimsby. The fish processing business (D.T. Bruce) continued for some years but ceased in the late 1970s.

“Like his three younger brothers, Joe was very interested in rugby and, with his family, watched Scotland play the 2019 Six Nations matches on the big screen in his care home cinema room. He really enjoyed watching the record-breaking Calcutta Cup match just three days before he died. Other interests included golf, gardening, angling, hill-walking, cross-country skiing, curling, classical music and latterly indoor bowls.

“A keen golfer, first at Murcar and then, with his wife Helen, he was a very long-term member at Deeside Golf Club until he was 82. They were also both Country Members at Brora. Sadly, Helen passed away in 2001.

“In 2005, as an 85th birthday treat, I arranged for my father to take to the skies again in a Tiger Moth bi-plane from the Shempston grass airstrip very near to RAF Lossiemouth. He was fair chuffed!!!

“Dad maintained a life-long affinity for South Africa and travelled there aged 92 for the wedding of his only grandson to a Cape Town lass. He also really enjoyed a tour of the local wineries and kept the tour guide on his toes.

“Joe’s younger brother Eric was much involved in establishing the FP Club Centre in Queens Road and was President of the Club in 1989-90”. 84

Former Pupils’ Section

Joe is survived by his sons Peter and Neil, both still living in Aberdeen, his grandson in Surrey and two granddaughters both now also living in England.

John Martin Dalby (1946-60) died peacefully on 25 October 2018 aged 76. He was the son of John Dalby, head of music education in Aberdeen and organist at St Machar’s Cathedral. At School he was a tuba player in the Orchestra and in the military band. He left with a scholarship to The Royal College of Music in London to study viola and composition. He played with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He completed his studies in Italy on a Caird Travelling Scholarship.

Martin then took up a post as a music producer with the BBC in London before becoming a Cramb Research Fellow in Composition at Glasgow University. At about this time he was appointed to the Governing Council of the then new Scottish National Youth Orchestra.

In 1972 Martin returned to the BBC as Head of Music-Scotland where he stayed for almost twenty years. In 1980 the BBC decided to disband their Scottish Symphony Orchestra and five other ensembles. The musicians went on strike in opposition to the plans and were strongly supported by Martin. The SSO was left in a much weakened position and it is on record that it is thanks to him that the BBC’s SSO is still in existence today. He encouraged new Scottish composers by programmes devoted to their chamber music and at the same time increased the repertoire of the Orchestra, bringing in notable conductors and arranging UK and overseas tours.

Martin was a prolific composer, creating music for documentaries, films, churches, orchestras, chamber groups, television and radio. A press obituary described his orchestral works as exquisitely crafted, combining lyrical soul with biting modernism. He was chairman of the Composers’ Guild of Great Britain in 1995-98.

Martin loved bird-watching, hill walking and steam engines. He held a private pilot’s licence and frequently flew from Glasgow airport to survey Loch Lomond or explore a remote Scottish airstrip.

Martin is survived by his wife, Hilary, a former viola player with the SSO.

Alan Ewen Donald (1942-44) KCMG, BA, LL.B died peacefully at The Hospice in the Weald, Kent on 14 July 2018 aged 87. Born in Inverurie, his mother took her family to Aberdeen on the death of her husband when Sir Alan was only aged four. He entered Middle 1 from Inverurie Academy, but left after two years on being awarded a scholarship to Fettes College. He then completed National Service with a commission in the Royal Horse Artillery following which he was awarded a bursary to Trinity Hall, Cambridge from which he graduated with degrees in Classics and Law.

Sir Alan joined the Foreign Office in 1954 and was assigned as a Chinese language student, returning to University to study Mandarin Chinese. He was then posted to Peking as Third Secretary. He became a fluent Mandarin speaker and was an expert in sinology, the study of China. Sir Alan was posted to China three times between 1955 and 1991, but also served as a diplomat in Paris, Athens, Kinshasa and Jakarta. He served as British Ambassador to Zaire from 1977 to 1980 and to Indonesia from 1984 to 1988.

His next role was as Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China between 1988 and 1991, a period which coincided with the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing in June 1989. He and his wife sheltered more than sixty British subjects in the Embassy for several days while lorry-loads of Chinese soldiers fired indiscriminately in the surrounding streets including at the embassy.

Earlier, Sir Alan had been Under-Secretary of State (Asia & Pacific) at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1984 and was instrumental in the creation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration which was the first step towards the smooth handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Sir Alan retired from Beijing and from the Foreign Office in 1991 having already been honoured with the CMG in 1979 and KCMG in 1988. Living in Kent, he wrote his memoirs, taught himself to paint in watercolours, golfed and, as a gifted pianist, relaxed with music. He continued to be in demand as a Chinese specialist in both Britain and America.

Sir Alan was President of the FP London Centre for six years from 1994 and contributed an article Life in the Diplomatic Service – A Backward Glance to the 1996 Magazine.

Sir Alan is survived by his wife, Lady Janet, to whom he had been married for sixty years, by four sons and seven grandchildren. His younger brother is Graham Charles William Donald (1942-46)

Alexander Duthie (1945-51) died peacefully in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 13 January 2019 after a short illness. He was aged 86. He came to the Grammar from Linksfield School and found his love for all sports, playing cricket as well as 1st XV Rugby. His true prowess was in Swimming, for which he gathered many trophies including the Rector’s Cup and Rector’s Medal.

From School he joined the Civil Service in London before being called up for National Service. He served for two years in the RAF Regiment, mostly in Germany where he swam for BAOR. On his return home he joined Aberdeen City Police and served for thirty years, finishing with the rank of Sergeant. After playing football at Pittodrie and scoring the winning goal against Dundee, Alec delighted in telling the story and ‘forgetting’ to mention that he was playing for Aberdeen Police NOT for Aberdeen Football Club.

He continued his swimming over the years as a member of Bon-Accord Swimming Club and became a staunch regular on their water-polo team. As a 86

Former Pupils’ Section year-round sea swimmer he broke the record for what is certainly one of the hardest local open water swims, “The Dee to Don Swim” – a record which is his in perpetuity, since the advent of the oil industry prohibits swimming across the busy channel.

Alec is survived by Yvonne, his wife of fifty-nine years, and by his three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Graeme Scott Duthie (1964-77) MB.ChB, MD, FRCS died as the result of a fire at his home in Swanland, East Yorkshire on 30 May 2018 aged 58. He was the only child of Sandy and Jean Duthie and grew up in the Braeside area of Aberdeen. He enjoyed a happy childhood and was always enthusiastic in whatever hobbies and sports he took up, for example building and flying powered model aeroplanes. He regularly went on caravanning holidays; the family caravan was often pitched at Stonehaven over the summer months where Graeme enjoyed many happy days with his friends in the swimming pool or fishing off the rocks, whilst his father continued to work in Aberdeen. Graeme enjoyed senior school, singing in the choir in early years and playing hockey for the school teams in later years, usually between the sticks. He was an able pupil, particularly in the field of science; his mischievous peers attempting to disrupt his sixth year science projects by sabotaging some of Graeme’s important plant specimens!

Graeme graduated in Medicine from Aberdeen University and then worked in Aberdeen, Cardiff and Edinburgh as a consultant before joining Hull & East Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust and moving to the Swanland area. He soon established himself as a leading consultant and helped found the Hull & York Medical School and the bowel cancer screening programme. He was very enthusiastic and committed to his job and made a significant contribution to the local medical field. Professor Duthie worked and taught at the Academical Surgical Unit at the University of Hull and at Castle Hill Hospital. He was deeply involved in his specialised field of surgery, was active in research and published articles frequently in medical journals. He became President of the Association of Gastro-Intestinal Physiologists. To ensure that his work and memory lives on within the Association and the profession, The Graeme Duthie International Award Bursary has been established to provide financial support to members. He travelled overseas to educate others in his specialities, was enthusiastic and innovative, for example training non-medical staff to perform certain routine procedures and reduce waiting times. He is greatly missed by his work colleagues who dedicated a garden seat at Castle Hill Hospital to his memory.

Graeme married Susan, a radiographer, and they had a family of three girls, Catriona (who also became a radiographer), Debbie and Wendy. They enjoyed family skiing and snowboarding holidays together. Susan sadly passed away in September 2006. He was passionate about his garden, he was proud of his children and his face would light up when he saw his grandchildren. Graeme had

to give up work in 2016 due to deterioration of his health and he was diagnosed with cerebral ataxia, a condition for which there is no effective treatment. He became bed-bound in 2017. Graeme is survived by his three daughters and grandchildren.

David Hastings Edwards (1954-58) died peacefully at Angusfield Care Home, Aberdeen on 11 January 2018 aged 68. David left at the end of fourth year in the Lower School for Drumtochty Castle and then Fettes College. There he played rugby and cricket and was a member of the Shooting VIII which competed annually at Bisley. David went on to study Hotel and Hospitality Management at Napier during which time he met his first wife, Susan.

Following graduation, he gained experience at hotels in the Lake District and North-east Scotland before establishing Atlantis Restaurant in Aberdeen. This quickly became a popular seafood restaurant, distinguished by its large lobster tank. Business suffered when the oil industry went into recession in the eighties but David successfully relocated Atlantis into the Mariner Hotel, where he was managing director until retiring in 2007 following the onset of vascular dementia. David was a keen golfer, a member of Royal Aberdeen and a regular at Banchory golf course.

David was cared for at home by his wife Doris until he required full-time nursing home care. He is survived by Doris, son Michael (now the Managing Partner of the Mariner Hotel) daughter Juliet and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Peter Gordon Edwards (1956-64).

David was a grandson of James Hastings Edwards (1894-99)

Norman Garden (1960-66) died peacefully at Roxburghe House, Aberdeen on 10 February 2019 after a long illness. He was aged 71. At School he was a second row forward in the 1st XV whose height was a great advantage in the line-out. He was awarded full colours.

Norman’s whole career was in the computer industry, firstly with ICI in England and Europe, then with Aberdeen City Council in the early 1970s. He joined Hertz Europe in 1976 as their Pan-European information technology manager based in London but with responsibilities in fourteen European, African and Middle Eastern countries.

In 1983 he joined BP Exploration in London as manager for major I.T. projects, transferring to Aberdeen and then in 1984 to Norway as I.T. manager. Two years later he returned to Aberdeen before moving to Glasgow when BP bought Britoil. He became leader of global teams responsible for I.T. in all countries where BP operated.

Norman’s next move was in 1995 when he joined S.A.I.C. as their UK general manager responsible for all operations in the UK and for developing their global gas business, which he then built from $8 million to $100 million per year. 88

Former Pupils’ Section Two years later he was appointed managing director, joining their European management team. After three years he gave up this role and, while still a director, worked only part-time. He then worked as a business angel on an individual basis or through his investment company. His investment focus was related to technology, especially information technology and the internet.

Norman had a long connection with the FP Club, being a member of the Rugby and Golf Sections. He served on the Executive for a number of years and was briefly its Vice-Chairman. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Club Centre, served on its Committee and was for a time a member of its Management Team.

Norman is survived by his wife, Moira, and by a son and daughter.

Harry Sutherland Walpole Golding (1926-37) MA died peacefully at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 25 February 2019 aged 98. Glasgow-born he came with his locomotive engineer father to Aberdeen, entering Junior Infants at the Grammar in 1926. On leaving he became an apprentice mechanical engineer with John M. Henderson Ltd. and expected to be reserved but the RAF needed men of his background to maintain and service aircraft. Called up in 1941 he trained in England before being posted to the Far East. He was stationed in Golden Rock Trichonopoly, later in Cawnpore and then at Lucknow. He worked on various aircraft and engines, including the famous Merlin engines. He worked in a team engaged in the refurbishment of the huge V12 engines.

He returned to Henderson’s in Aberdeen after demobilisation in 1946 and later worked for other engineering firms. After redundancy in 1961 he studied at commercial college to gain university entrance qualifications before becoming a mature student at Aberdeen University in 1963. He graduated in Arts in 1966 and obtained his Diploma in 1972. He became a lecturer in English and general studies at Aberdeen Technical College, remaining there until retiring in 1988.

His interest in railways continued and he became a member of the Great North of Scotland Railway Association. He was also involved with the Aberdeen Transport Society and in 1994 set up the Aberdeen Tram Rosette Appreciation Society whose interest was focussed on the iron fixings which joined tram overhead cables to roadside buildings.

Harry was one of the FP Club’s distinguished Nonagenarians and he was very proud to have been educated at the School and well aware that one can meet up with a Grammarian just about anywhere. In 1944, while a Leading Aircraftman, he was seated on a train in India when Sydney Durno (1935-37) chanced to be in the opposite seat and recognised him as having been at School. This was covered in Durno’s report of his own escape from Burma in the Magazines of June 1943 and January 1944 (vols. xlvi and xlvii).

Harry was predeceased by his wife , whom he married in 1954, but is survived by his daughter and two grandsons.

Leslie Green (1966-72) LL.B died suddenly in Glasgow on 15 April 2019 after unexpectedly taking ill in his hotel after attending a musical event in the city. He was aged 64. A Prefect while at School and Captain of Dun House he went up to Aberdeen University to read Law, graduating LL.B with honours in 1975. His entire career in practice was spent with Aberdeen solicitors George Mathers & Co. where he specialised as a criminal defence lawyer.

Les was a keen musician and in particular was a fan of bluegrass music which led him to attend concerts all over the country. He was also a talented cook with a passion for Spanish cuisine.

Les is survived by his wife, Gwen, and by two sons.

Ian Alexander Hogg (1958-67) MA died suddenly at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 2 January 2019 aged 70. Colin Munro (1954-67) writes: “Ian lived in King Street and went to the nearby primary school before entering Lower V at the Grammar. An interest in local history was fostered by having Sandy Farquhar as a teacher for two years, and in the Upper School we founded the Local History Society (later to become the History Society), with the support of Arthur McCombie.

“From School Ian went to Aberdeen University where he read Languages and History. A teaching career followed at Perth High School, where he taught History and organised a youth club for pupils which became the largest of its kind in the country. Ever a loyal Aberdonian, he returned to the city regularly, and was active in amateur cricket and football and later in coaching and refereeing. He is survived by his younger brother Malcolm who was, however, educated at another place in Schoolhill”.

Brian Tomlinson Jones (1956-69) BSc(Eng) died peacefully at his home in Aberdeen on 17 January 2019 following a long illness. He was aged 68. He went up to Aberdeen University to study engineering and graduated in 1973. He joined Aberdeen City Engineer’s Department before transferring to Grampian Regional Council’s Department of Water Services where he became heavily involved in the provision of the infrastructure for the then booming North Sea oil industry. He became a chartered engineer. In 1980 he moved to work with the operational side of the water industry, latterly in a managerial post.

In 1996 Brian was transferred to the North of Scotland Water Authority and became Production Manager for the Grampian area. He had senior management responsibility for the water treatment works and reservoirs serving the North-east of Scotland. He later became a government-appointed Reservoir Supervising Engineer to provide expertise for the safe operation and maintenance of large reservoirs. He retired a number of years ago.

Brian is survived by his wife and family. 90

Douglas George Joss (1947-54) died peacefully at his home in Penegoes, Powys on 6 February 2019 after a short illness. He was aged 79. After leaving School he attended Robert Gordon’s School of Navigation and thereafter joined the merchant navy. He travelled to many parts of the world and recalled that his was one of the last vessels to make it through the Suez Canal at the time of the crisis of 1956.

Doug later joined the motor trade and held several different positions with the Chloride Company which saw him move from Inverness to Dundee, Yorkshire and finally to Manchester. He retired in 1988 having been a director of Chloride Motive Power for many years. When in Yorkshire he was a keen supporter of the FP Club Yorkshire Centre, attending a number of their reunions. After living in Hale for many years Doug and his wife moved to Wales to be near family.

Doug’s sporting interests included rugby, squash, scuba diving and watching Formula One racing. He enjoyed travelling but also liked to return to Scotland. Over the past four years, having developed Parkinsons, his condition became increasingly troublesome, involving frequent hospital admissions.

Doug is survived by his wife Heather and by a son and daughter and two grandchildren. His brother Gary Anthony Joss (1953-66) has lived in Tasmania for the past forty years but the brothers were able to visit each other quite often.

Jeremy Neil Kemsley (1941-51) CA died peacefully at his home in Guernsey in February 2018 aged 84. At School he was Cricket Vice-captain of Melvin House and a member of the 1st XI. On leaving, he moved to Edinburgh to train as an accountant, was apprenticed to Messrs. Whirton & Crawford and qualified in 1957.

While in Edinburgh Jeremy played cricket for Grange Cricket Club and was awarded his first Scottish Cap against Ireland in 1955 as twelfth man in Dublin. He was later capped against the MCC against whom he became the second member of a Scottish team to score a century. He was also awarded a cap for Scotland in Badminton. Sport was Jeremy’s great love.

In 1957 he decided to spread his wings and signed a contract with Deloitte & Co in Southern Rhodesia. The climate was perfect and he continued to play cricket and badminton against visiting teams from abroad. When he stopped playing he started to play golf, squash and tennis. In 1977 he became captain of the Royal Salisbury Golf Club. He was associated with the then Central African Centre of the F.P. Club.

After several happy years with Deloitte & Co. Jeremy left to become Financial Adviser to the Electricity Supply Commission in Salisbury. Independence came to Rhodesia with signs of change in many areas. In 1984 he was offered a position with an investment company in Guernsey which, with a heavy heart, he accepted and moved to the Channel Islands.

In 2005 Jeremy developed serious health problems necessitating a triple heart by-pass. Specialists tried to control poor lower leg circulation but in the end both lower legs were amputated. He took this bravely and resigned himself to life in a wheelchair.

Jeremy is survived by his wife, Joan, and by two daughters and two sons. His younger brother is Alistair Murray Kemsley (1943-51)

George James Hutcheon King (1946-54) died suddenly but peacefully at his home in Inverurie on 24 January 2019 aged 79. After leaving School George spent a year gaining farming experience near Banchory. A keen skier, he met his first wife, a Hungarian, at Mar Lodge ski resort and they lived in London for a number of years before he was posted to Hong King to work for the Swire Group.

Swire are described as a diversified conglomerate, and his work took him variously to China and other parts of the Far East. He travelled extensively. His wife and children moved to Australia in the early ‘80s and he planned to return to Scotland, buying first a cottage in Banchory and then a house in Inverurie.

George retired from Swire in the late ‘90s and moved to the Philippines where he met and married his second wife. He returned to the Library at Keithhall where he indulged his love of restoring and racing his classic Jaguar XK150 in which he took great pride and to which he added a Jaguar E-type. He was also a keen collector of antiques.

In recent years George has been a member of the FP 1957 Club, attending their regular lunch meetings. He is pictured in a reunion photograph published in the 2017 Magazine.

George is survived by three daughters and four grandchildren.

Former Club President

James Cay Lyon (1953-59) RIBA, FRIAS died at Roxburgh House, Aberdeen on 21 September 2018, after a long battle with cancer, aged 77. His funeral service was held at Westhill Community Church, which was packed with family and friends paying tribute to a man who achieved a huge amount during his lifetime and whose influence touched so many of his profession, the Grammar FP Club and his local communities in Westhill and Aberdeen.

Jimmy went to Woodside Primary School where he played football, winning the Aberdeen Primary Schools Cup Final at Pittodrie, with the help of a promising youngster Denis Law!

In 1953 Jim moved to the Grammar, where he initially played rugby before taking up hockey. He was always quick to acknowledge the important role that Bob McNay (an ex-professional footballer for Motherwell) played in the development of all those who were part of a ‘golden era’ for FP hockey during the sixties and early seventies. Jim’s schoolboy role model was Eric Watt (who 92

Former Pupils’ Section received his first international cap whilst still at the School). Along with other lifelong pals including Keith Campbell, Peter Donald, John Drummond, Jim Gauld, Chippie Hampton, Fred Lawson and Joe Leiper they formed the basis of the formidable FP and North District teams which challenged for and won many Scottish national trophies. During their hockey careers this group amassed many representative honours. Jim was a formidable and uncompromising goalkeeper, but was equally talented at full back. He captained most FP teams and served as Club Captain.

At School he became an Air Cadet, enjoying visits to RAF bases and trips in gliders and planes so much that he applied to join the RAF in the hope of becoming a fighter pilot. After successfully completing all the necessary physical and mental challenges he was told he was ‘too tall to fit in the cockpit’ and he rejected the offer to become a navigator. On returning to Aberdeen he enrolled at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture. Half way through his long course he took a sabbatical year, and with Sheila together they built their first house at Dunecht.

After his FP 1st XI hockey playing days were done, Jim enjoyed many more years with Grammarians and North District Auld Craws (veterans sides). He was in his element when touring….both telling stories and being at the centre of creating new ones. Just ask his Thursday Night pals about Fort Augustus, Kortrijk, Cork, Paris, Aberystwyth or Terneuzen….to name drop but a few. Some of these friends were inevitably subjected to his witty doric poetry, particularly on big birthdays.

Jim enjoyed hill walking and golf, regularly partnering his great pal Keith Campbell at Westhill. He was a stalwart and Captain of the FP Golf Section, attending more than twenty weekend outings to Taymouth Castle. His height and excellent vision were invaluable for wayward ball spotting which, combined with his conversation, made him an ideal partner.

Another sphere in which Jim excelled was public speaking. He had joined Aberdeen Speakers Club at an early age, and the clarity of his presentations, humour, wit and delivery were widely acclaimed. He served as President of ASC and as a member and subsequently was President of the City of Aberdeen Probus Club. More recently he was a member of the local committee of the National Trust for Scotland.

Within the FP Executive Jim held many positions including Entertainments Convenor, Vice-President and Chairman of the Executive and member of the 1993 Centenary Committee.

Jim felt honoured to be elected President of the FP Club in1996-97 and was the first to attend a Canadian FP Dinner, held that year in Ottawa. He undertook the many duties with his customary workmanlike efficiency and great pride. His after-dinner speaking skills made him a marvellous ambassador for both the School and FP Club.

Jim’s enthusiasm for everything with which he became involved has been his hallmark, along with his scrupulous attention to detail. During his apprenticeship and early years he worked with three local architect firms and then during the mid-seventies started his own business, which subsequently became Lyon & McPherson. Amongst the many private and commercial contracts with which Jim was involved was one of special interest to FPs – the Rugby Stand at Rubislaw.

Jim held many positions within the Aberdeen Society of Architects including that of President. He was also a member and then Senior Vice-President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. Jim was an External Assessor for the final Part Three Student Examinations between 1976 and 1988.

Soon after retirement Sheila and Jim moved to Westhill to be nearer family, church and golf. Jim acted on behalf of the ‘client’ during the design and building phases of the Westhill Community Church which hosted a Celebration of his Life.

Jim was an inveterate traveller and, in addition to Canada, his travels took him to the USA, China, India, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand and to many countries throughout Europe. His experiences stood him well and added to his wealth of knowledge on many subjects on which he could speak out with authority.

Jim gave of his time willingly and used his many talents to help the School he loved, the FP Club, his Church and many other organisations in Aberdeen.

Even towards the end of his illness Jim’s strong character shone through. His final ‘public act’ was as a male model at the Beach Ballroom…. helping a ‘Brave’ fund-raising event for ‘Friends of Anchor’.

In so many ways, Jim has been a towering figure in Grammar School and FP circles for more than 65 years - not just because of his stature (6ft 4ins), but because of his abilities, character and considerate nature. He was a perfectionist (particularly with hockey team mates); and his many friends will all have stories, and will tell them with a smile. We miss his genial company, his warmth and his generosity.

Jim is survived by his wife Sheila, who was always a great support to him, particularly during the period of his illness, and by his son Alistair, daughter Wendy and their families.

Ian Robert Lyle McDougall (1956-67) died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 26 December 2018 following a short illness. He was aged 67. He left School at the age of sixteen, not exactly what his parents expected of him, but with the determination which typified his life he enrolled at the then School of Navigation in Aberdeen and qualified as a master mariner.

Ian was involved with the offshore industry and worked on anchor handlers, platform supply vessels and dive support ships. He was for a time an Aberdeen harbour pilot. He joined Marex, an Aberdeen-based marine and risk consultancy formed in 1998 as a response to a requirement for safety case authorship 94

Former Pupils’ Section introduced under the Cullen Report into the Piper Alpha disaster. Ian’s role was as a marine team leader overseeing oil rig moves and other operations. He was appointed as managing director and major shareholder in 2007. One of Ian’s strengths was his interest in providing training opportunities and personal mentorship to allow young people to succeed and develop their careers.

While at school Ian joined the 9th Troop of Scouts, then one of the Grammar School troops, and remained associated with the Troop throughout his life. The Scout motto was reflected in his business activities and his personal life.

Ian is survived by his wife, Karen, who is also a director of Marex, and by five daughters and a son in addition to three step-children. His brother is Neil Anderson McDougall (1959-72) while his father Duncan Herdman McDougall (1921-36), a well-known Aberdeen chartered accountant, one of five cousins who were all at the Grammar in the 1920s, died in 2007.

Alexander Wilson McIntosh (1932-45) MB.ChB, DPH, MD died peacefully in a York nursing home on 3 March 2019 aged 91. From School he went up to Aberdeen University to read Medicine, graduating in 1950. After house posts in Aberdeen hospitals he undertook National Service in the RAMC, mostly in York and Barnard Castle. He then spent two years as a trainee general practitioner in Aberdeen before becoming a doctor in Barnard Castle.

Wilson returned to Aberdeen as assistant Medical Officer of Health and obtained his Diploma in Public Health in 1956. He obtained his Doctorate from Aberdeen University in 1962 for a thesis on “Terminal Care at Home – a followup study on 503 male patients discharged from the general wards of Aberdeen hospitals”.

In 1965 he went south again and his career thereafter was in the Yorkshire area. He was appointed Deputy County Medical Officer and Deputy Schools Medical Officer for the North Riding of Yorkshire. In 1976, following reorganisation of the National Health Service, he became District Community Physician for York and six years later District Medical Officer for York Health Authority. He retired in 1989 but continued as a part-time specialist in community medicine for some time.

Wilson was a faithful and long-serving member of the FP Club’s Yorkshire Centre, serving for many years on its committee and was elected President of the Centre in 1993.

Wilson is survived by his wife Mona, to whom he had been married for sixtyfive years, by a son and two daughters as well as by two grandchildren.

Kenneth James MacLeod (1932-43) BSc, FRMetS died peacefully at his home in France on 12 December 2018 aged 80. He had suffered cancer for nine months. Born into a farming community in Conon-Bridge, Ross-shire he came to the Grammar from Dingwall Academy, entering second year of the former Middle

School. From School he proceeded to read Science at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1960.

Ken took up a post as meteorologist in Nairobi in 1961 serving under the Kenyan government in that field for the next fourteen years. In 1974 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Meteorological Society. In 1975 He joined UNEP – the United Nations Environment Programme based in Nairobi, Kenya – as a Scientific Officer in the Planning Unit. This was a department which covered Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika (as it then was) and was a very big change from pure meteorology in East Africa. As its title indicates, UNEP was and is in the forefront of the whole question of climate change and all its speedy ramifications. This was very interesting for Ken and he found himself attending UN meetings in New York on the ozone layer and other environment related subjects. In 1980 he was offered employment in the UN World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva (WMO) - also with high importance on the subject of climate change - where he became Chief of the Aeronautical Unit until his retirement in 1998.

Ken married Anita in Kenya in 1968. She had been born in Kenya, with both sides of her family being “colonials”, her mother’s family as farmers and her father’s in commerce. It was a big adventure to leave Nairobi for Geneva but a very good one. The children were educated in Switzerland, but both went to university in Scotland. Anita also worked in Geneva for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), but they actually lived in neighbouring France from 1982.

Ken and his wife (who retired at the same time) then bought a small farm in Provence. It was very different from Ken’s family farm in Conon Bridge, but enormous fun - and he had a tractor which he loved! They moved nearer to the village to a smaller and easier home in 2014.

Ken’s over-riding passion was Rugby having played it at School, university and all over East Africa. He had been an internationalist for Uganda. In retirement he was an avid armchair fan of Scottish Rugby.

Andrew Donald Nisbet (1958-71) B.Sc(Hons), PhD died on 5 February 2019 after a climbing accident on Ben Hope in which his climbing partner Steve Perry was also killed. Andy was 65. Born in Aberdeen in May 1953 he excelled academically at the Grammar School, becoming Science Dux in 1971. After leaving school he studied for a BSc(Hons) in Biochemistry at Aberdeen University, where his father was Professor of Education and his mother was a Senior Lecturer in Zoology. He continued to do a PhD in Biochemistry and subsequently three years of post-doctoral hospital work. Robin Grant (1955-68) writes: “Andy’s parents had both been keen hillwalkers and took him up his first Munro when he was just five, though it was not until a number of years later that he developed the enthusiasm for the Scottish hills that 96

Former Pupils’ Section was going to prove so important to his later life. At the Grammar he became a regular member of the Hillwalking Club, and quickly latched on to the culture of Munro-bagging which was prevalent in the school at that time. By the time he left school Andy had climbed most of the Munros, and when he finished the full set at the age of 19 he became one of the youngest to have done so at that time.

“After compleating the Munros, Andy and his friend Alfie Robertson (196270) decided to start rock climbing, initially on the sea cliffs near Aberdeen. A rock climbing course and then a winter climbing course at Glenmore Lodge followed, helping Andy and Alfie to become a strong climbing team. In 1982 Andy gave up full-time work to allow him to concentrate more on his climbing, taking short-term jobs to see him through. In 1985 he was offered seasonal employment as a climbing instructor at Glenmore Lodge, and this work continued until the early 1990s. From 1989 through to 2008 he worked as a guide with Martin Moran’s Mountain Adventure Company based in Strathcarron, where he was a regular resident over the winter months. During this period he also guided on five Himalayan expeditions with the same company.

“It was in 1991, whilst leading a Himalayan trekking expedition, that Andy met his wife to be, Gill. Gill was already a very accomplished climber by this time, and a member of the Alpine Club. They were married in 1993 and made their home in Boat of Garten, an ideal base from where they could plan mountaineering trips to the Cairngorms and throughout the Highlands. As a climbing partnership they established many new routes both in summer and winter. Sadly, Gill died of cancer in 2006.

“During his climbing career Andy became especially well known as a winter climber and in total is thought to have climbed over one thousand new Scottish winter routes. Because of his inspirational enthusiasm for the Scottish mountains and his invaluable contribution to climbing through his work in guidebook writing, he was presented with the seventh Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture at the Fort William Mountain Festival in February 2014. Andy’s unique contribution to Scottish climbing and to the Scottish Mountaineering Club is described in more detail in a full article elsewhere within this Magazine.

“Although he will primarily be remembered for his contribution to Scottish climbing, Andy continued to enjoy hillwalking throughout his life. By the time of his death he had finished five rounds of the Munros, and had also climbed all the Munro Tops and Munros Furth of Scotland. Together with his wife Gill, he compleated the Corbetts in 2000.

“Andy is survived by his sister Liz, who lives with her husband in Banchory.”

David Romer Paton (1941-43) OBE, KStJ, DL, FRICS, FSAScot died peacefully at his home at Grandhome near Aberdeen on 4 February 2019 following a long illness. He was aged 83 and was the 9th Baron of Grandhome. He entered the old

Lower School in 1941 but remained for only two years before completing his education at Gordonstoun and Oxford.

He spent some years in the former Southern Rhodesia working on a tobacco farm and later was a sugar-cropper in Natal. On his return to Grandhome he involved himself in public life giving major support and guidance plus inspired leadership to Aberdeen Civic Society, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen Foyer, the North-East of Scotland Preservation Trust.and the built environment. He served on a wide range of committees but always chairing, directing and managing. He devoted his life to improving the lives of those around him, finally playing a key role in the development of the new Grandhome housing estate with its variety of modern house styles and its own shops and businesses.

David Paton was instrumental in bringing Aberdeen Harbour Board into the modern era, developing it as a 24-hour business independent of day or tide to meet the needs of the oil industry. He joined the Board in 1984, became vicechairman in 1991 and chairman in 1994. He retired in 2008 leaving it in a much healthier state than he found it, having championed millions of pounds of investment and encouraged record levels of traffic. In this area, as in all others with which he was involved, his secret was that he was fully briefed and totally prepared ahead of meetings. One press obituary described him as enthusiastically embracing everything in life except lost causes.

Baron Paton is survived by his wife, Juliette, two sons and three grandchildren.

Charles Francis Roe (1937-49) MB,ChB died peacefully in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 19 March 2018 after a period of indifferent health. His death came just four days after his 86th birthday. He was one of three brothers, the sons of Prof. Frederick Roe of the French chair at Aberdeen University, all educated at the Grammar.

From school he went up to read Medicine at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1955 and being awarded prizes including a gold medal for surgery. After the usual internships he was called up for National Service in the RAF, training as a fighter pilot and also serving as a Flight Surgeon. He then worked as a ship’s surgeon for a time, travelling to Burma and the Far East before returning to do surgical research in Aberdeen.

He was invited to the United States as a Harvard research fellow and engaged in metabolic research. He also invented a number of medical electronic devices and founded a company to produce and market them. He completed his surgical training at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. He perfected several innovative surgical techniques and published many research papers and text book chapters

Former Pupils’ Section

A number of years later Francis decided on a career change and he became a full time writer of fiction, with fourteen murders and medical mysteries in print. Many of these were book club selections and some were best sellers.

Having been energetic and enthused about his medical research work and later devoted to his writing he took badly with his declining fitness with which he found it hard to cope.

Francis is survived by two sons, two daughters and two grandchildren. His brother Henry George Roe (1940-52) lives in Belgium. His elder brother Maurice (1934-45) died 2017.

Roderick William Scott (1963-76) MA, CA died peacefully at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 27 April 2019 following a brave battle with cancer. He was aged 60.

Roddy entered the Lower School in 1963 in the penultimate intake of Lower School pupils. In Secondary School he became a school prefect and was a member of the Hockey 2nd XI in 1974-75 and the 1st XI in 1975-76.

His favourite subject at school was modern history but he pursued a career in accountancy, graduating from Aberdeen University in 1979. He trained with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in Aberdeen and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He then worked in the oil industry before becoming a Principal Accountant with Grampian Regional Council Education Department in 1989. In 1993 he took up a position as Director of Finance and Administration and Vice-Principal at Aberdeen College. He was involved in the expansion of the College by amalgamation from a local college into one of the largest further education colleges in Scotland. In November 2013 he became the Vice-Principal of North East Scotland College after the amalgamation of Aberdeen College and Banff & Buchan College.

He decided to retire at 60 and was very much looking forward to it. Tragically, he was diagnosed with cancer just before his 60th birthday in the same week as his retirement. This meant he also had to cancel his participation in a charity walk along the West Highland Way which was to coincide with his retirement.

His lifelong passions were Aberdeen Football Club and golf. He was a season ticket holder at Pittodrie for many years and a veteran of numerous cup finals as well as a certain match in Gothenburg in 1983. It was fitting that he asked those attending his funeral to wear a touch of red. In his young day he was a member of Hazlehead Golf Club’s three time winning Junior Pennant team and had remarkable skill on the greens, with putting as his forte. He was also heavily involved in his wife and daughter’s equestrian pursuits, albeit by keeping a watching brief. Another interest was travelling. He visited Australia on holiday in early 2018 and was looking to repeat the experience.

Roddy was a man of razor sharp wit and intelligence who doted on his wife and daughter. He was looking forward to attending the Lower School reunion for

his year which took place in October 2018 but could not do so due to his ill health. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen and daughter, Catherine.

President of the Yorkshire Centre

Douglas Skene (1959-64) died peacefully, aged 72, in York on New Year’s Day 2019 after a short illness. Neil Borthwick (1952-65) writes: “Doug was one of the most popular and respected members of our year. He had been President of the Yorkshire Centre since 2002, a role he held with pride and distinction, and had just celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Centre at their Annual Dinner. The Yorkshire Dinner was always a great pleasure to attend and Doug went to great lengths to ensure that the occasion was always memorable. His speeches were warm and witty and he knew how to make the evening entertaining. He particularly enjoyed dispensing the Birse Tea which has been the traditional finale of the Yorkshire Dinner for years, providing a welcome dram for any guest in need of further refreshment at the end of the evening. Doug was always immaculately attired whether formal or casual and always looked as though he had just come from a visit to his tailor.

“Doug joined the School in 1959, having received his primary education at King Street School along with several other members of the year who remember him with high respect. A keen sportsman throughout his school career he played rugby enthusiastically, reaching the dizzy heights of captaining the 3rd XV, but his first love was football. As this was not a school sport at that time he started playing with Aberdeen Lads Club and then for Cove Rangers, including winning a trophy after playing a game at Pittodrie.

“On leaving school Doug embarked on a lifelong career in the world of insurance, firstly with Norwich Union in Aberdeen followed by a move to their Leeds branch. Promotion saw him return to Aberdeen and, after a few years, he entered the Insurance Broking side of the profession with a local brokerage and then moved to national brokers, Stewart Wrightson. In 1978 he decided to return to Yorkshire, joining brokers Clarkson Tiley & Hargreaves in Bradford where he met his wife Gina. In 1983, along with an ex-Norwich Union colleague, Doug established his own Insurance Brokerage which was subsequently acquired by a larger firm in 1996. A desire to work for more local and personal relationship brokers saw Doug move on to other firms until two years ago when he again decided to create his own brokerage to offer a bespoke and innovative service to professional clients.

“Doug was a proud Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and Member of the Institute of Risk Management. He was meticulous in his dealings with his clients and Insurers and was very much respected in the insurance market.

Former Pupils’ Section

“Moving south did not mean a loss of Aberdeen interests; he read the P & J on a regular basis and followed the fortunes of Aberdeen FC religiously. If the Green Final had still been in existence no doubt he would have had it delivered.

“Another bonus of living in Yorkshire was his love of tea rooms particularly his favourite, The Hairy Fig in York and several branches of Betty’s Tea Rooms throughout Yorkshire. Indeed, the breakfast visit to Little Betty’s in York on the morning after the Dinner became a feature of the weekend.

“Doug continued his football career in Yorkshire. When he lived in Leeds he played for Woodhouse Moor and Farsley Celtic who were a top amateur side. During this time he was selected to play against an all-star team of ex-Leeds United players including Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton and John Charles. He set up Fulford over-35s team and was a great player with a cultured left foot who enjoyed setting up goals more than scoring. He continued to play well into his 60s.

“Doug was an avid supporter of the Dons and always kept up-to-date with the squad and results. In younger days he had been to a number of cup-finals with his father and carried on this tradition with his son Adam whose first game at Pittodrie in 1994 saw a victory against Hearts. This was the start of many games. They travelled far and wide together watching Aberdeen play with several visits to Edinburgh and Glasgow and also glamour away-ties against Athletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. Other less famous venues such as Hartlepool and Bradford for pre-season friendlies, and even Hamilton for an evening match ensured that Adam maintained the family tradition of supporting Aberdeen FC through thick and thin. It is fitting that Doug should have seen the Dons last Europa League game at Burnley in August.

“Doug is survived by his wife Gina, son Adam, daughter Louise and grandson Liam.”

Golf Legacy Donor

Luther Kitson Smith (1928-40) died peacefully in a care home in Aberdeen on 20 August 2015 after a short illness aged 92. On leaving School he began an apprenticeship with Walker & Duncan, civil engineers, architects and surveyors which was interrupted in 1943 when he joined the RAFVR. Initially he served with the Airfield Construction Service before transferring as a cartographic draughtsman to Geographical Section General Staff. Following D-Day he was attached to the Photographic Interpretation Department at Fort Belvidere in Calcutta and then at Singapore.

On discharge in 1947, with the rank of Leading Aircraftman, Luther completed his apprenticeship and joined the Inland Revenue valuation office in 1949. He qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1953 and remained in the office until retiring in 1983.

Luther enjoyed angling and golf, being a long-term member of Banchory Golf Club. His generous legacy to the FP Club for the purpose of encouraging pupils at the School to take up golf was explained in the last issue of the Magazine and arrangements for its implementation are being set in place. He was predeceased by his wife and had no family.

Cecil Roland Smylie (1944-49) died in St. Fillans, Crieff on 7 February 2018 aged 84. He left School from 4th year and entered the Merchant Navy as a cadet studying for his First Officers’ Ticket. His career thereafter was as a merchant seaman eventually with the rank of Captain. Before retiring he was Head of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.

After retiring he lived in the St. Fillans area and had various business interests as a company director. He was managing director of The Wellington Trust and a former manager of the Fairdeal Group of companies. He was heavily involved with the St Fillans Community Trust Ltd providing financial assistance and guidance to community ventures and initiatives supported by the community and raising funds for these.

Alastair McIntosh Sutherland (1939-51) died peacefully on 19 April 2019 in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after a short illness. He was called up for his National Service shortly after leaving school and spent two years as ground crew for the Royal Air Force. On completion of his National Service in September 1954 he joined the family firm, Granite Supply Association (established by his grandfather around 1907), working for his father. He subsequently took over the reins as Managing Director where he remained until the company was taken over in the late 1980’s. He then left to start his own business in the abrasives industry. He travelled in connection with his work at least once a year from the ‘60s to the ‘80s to Scandinavia, India and South Africa, and his business partners in these countries often became firm friends. He retired in 1995.

Alastair was a keen Badminton and Tennis player in his youth and was also an enthusiastic aero-modeller. An active performer and member of the Aberdeen Magical Society, he was its secretary and treasurer for thirty-four years.

Alastair is survived by Lindsey, his wife of 61 years, by three children, six grandchildren and one great grandson. His elder brother John (1935-48) died in Coventry in 1997.

George Abel Taylor (1946-52) MB,ChB, MRCGP died peacefully in hospital in Aberdeen on 10 February 2019 following a short illness. He was aged 85. He was born in North Queensland, Australia but when his family relocated to Aberdeen he attended Mile End Primary School before entering the Grammar. From School he went up to Aberdeen University to read Medicine, graduating in 1958.

Former Pupils’ Section

Following the usual house officer appointments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Woodend Hospital he was called up for National Service in the RAMC, serving in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Western Isles in 1960-62. On his return to Aberdeen George entered general practice with the Elmbank practice where he was a much admired and respected doctor for the rest of his career. He was awarded membership of the Royal Council of General Practitioners in 1972.

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

George’s brother Alexander Abel Taylor (1944-49) died in 2004.

Former Club President

Richard Frederick Tyson (1944-49) died peacefully in a care home in Norwich on 6 April 2019 after a long period of poor health following a stroke in 2015. He was aged 87. Being a son of the legendary cricketer and Rubislaw groundsman Eric Tyson meant that Dick’s home in his schooldays was the flat on the upper floor of the Rubislaw Pavilion. From School Dick joined the Bank of Scotland in Aberdeen before being called up for National Service, mostly spent in Aldershot where he attained the rank of Sergeant. On his return to Aberdeen and the bank he enlisted with the Gordon Highlanders TA. He then moved to the Bank of India in London and joined the London Scottish TA. He captained the Bank cricket club and was vice-captain of rugby.

In 1956 Dick joined the Elder Dempster Shipping Line, moving to Lagos as assistant passenger manager. He played rugby on Lagos racecourse. After a few years he returned to the UK and entered the catering industry. He was a hotelier in the home counties, and became the area manager of a London company for whom he looked after their Yorkshire interests. He recalled with pride producing lunch for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh when they opened a new hospital in Hull.

Dick was elected to various hotel and inn-keeping associations. On moving south again Dick looked after fifty establishments, including catering at the Tower of London. Yorkshire kept calling and he and his wife had their own free house for ten years before spending nine years in York He retired in 1997.

Dick had a long association with the FP Yorkshire Centre including eight years as its President. He was President of the FP Club in 2000-01 and was warmly welcomed by members wherever he visited.

Dick’s wife died in 2016. He is survived by his son and two daughters and by his grandchildren. His brother Kenneth (1945-48) died in 1996.

Former Member of Staff

Hamish Rawden Cruickshank died peacefully in an Aberdeen care home on 3 August 2018 aged 88. Educated at Robert Gordon’s College, he went on to study at Gray’s School of Art, where he obtained a Diploma in Art in Painting. He first taught in Banffshire but moved to the Grammar in 1970, remaining until his retirement in the mid-90s. His love of painting took him in search of perfect views to the Aberdeenshire countryside. He also travelled to favourite spots in Portugal and Andalucia. A skilled violinist, he played in the University Orchestra. He was heavily involved with Venture Scouting and led trips abroad and in Scotland. A proficient skier, Hamish also worked for the Venture Scouts Mountain Rescue Team at Glenshee. A skilled cricketer, Hamish played for many years for the YMCA Grade team, later Queen’s Cross Cricketers.

Abstract of Accounts for Year ended 31 December 2018 Former Pupils’ Club

Income and Expenditure Account

2018 2017 £ £

INCOME

Subscriptions Existing Members – Annual New Members Life Members Transfer from Life Members’ Account Top-up Payments 2,740 -

592 866 1,944 -

615 1,239

Donations Club Centre Members’ Donations & Bequests 2,382

Less : Transfer to Second Century Fund Chairman’s Appeal Donations Interest Magazine – advertising Fund Raising – Big Draw Share of Rent – 1 Bayview Road Book & Tie Sales 1,000 1,000

2,382 -

1,350 140 - 2,899 2,865 2,805 1,811 2,083 2,250 13,500 330 85 14,656 27,660

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 Miscellaneous Bayview Road Property Expenses School Donation

SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR

4,414 4,057 342 1,010 - 120 59 472 750 1,000 - 212 500 700 3,500 3,500 3,166 200 1,290 1,440 428 3,166 160 603 395 1,705 (244) (372) 10,267 453 25,480 17,813

(10,824) 9,847

Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2018

HERITABLE PROPERTY

INVESTMENTS

CURRENT ASSETS

Stock Debtors Donations due from Club Centre Club Centre – Loan Drawdown Bank Accounts

CURRENT LIABILITIES

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

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

Life Members

REVENUE ACCOUNTS

The Big Draw Second Century School Prize Fund General

2018 2017 £

181,172 181,172

5,109 5,109

1,800 10,850 18,500 85,000 9,847 125,997 1,806 3,305 17,500 85,000 15,499 123,110

- 9,723 74,064 74,064 7,640 1,732 6,698 2,478 43,005 31,219

56,000 43,500 182,441 167,682

(56,444) (44,572

129,837 141,709

11,248 11,840

3,924 4,380 21,565 21,565 5,470 5,470 87,630 98,454 118,589 129,869

129,837 141,709