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OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 66, JULY 2021
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FETTES COLLEGE
Even a global pandemic did not stop us celebrating the milestone 150th anniversary of Fettes College. We would have loved to invite everyone back to Fettes to celebrate with us, but due to restrictions we had to change our plans and keep everyone safe. However, we did all that we could to mark this special occasion. The long-term plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary have had the beautiful book, Fettes: Our Place at the heart. We were therefore delighted to be able to launch the book (virtually) on 2nd October as planned with an interesting session led by much loved member of the English department, Rob Harrison (Staff 1991–2021). Rob directed questions to the author of the book Ralph Hughes (Staff 1985–2017), to our Archivist Craig Marshall (Staff 2014–present) and to Karen Jones (née Houston) (Ar 1989–1991, Staff 2012–present). The team was able to talk about the journey to create and curate the book, sharing their choice of favourite nostalgic photographs, printed materials and objects from across the generations, which reflect life at Fettes on our beautiful campus over the last 150 years. The event was recorded and is available to watch here: vimeo.com/466071475/ d15a413bb2.
Research into the archives showed us that the school had been granted a half day holiday in 1891 to celebrate the ‘coming of age’ of Fettes College. On the morning of 5th October 2020, the 150th birthday of the College, the Head chose to grant the students a birthday lie in. During this time, the Head Boy Torran Evans (PS-Mo 2013–2021) and School Prefect Ianthe Fraser (CE 2017–2021) joined the Head and Pipe Major Jamie Burnet (Mo 2016–2021) for a rooftop ceremony. The school flag was raised to the familiar sound of the bagpipes. After this small ceremony, those who were gathered on the roof descended to Callover Hall. They were joined there by School Prefects and Heads of Houses to hear the Head read the names of the first 53 boys to come to Fettes, exactly as would have been done by Dr Potts (Staff 1870– 1889) 150 years ago to the day. The Head, Torran and Ianthe then laid a laurel wreath at the bust of Sir William Fettes to commemorate all Old Fettesians who are sadly no longer with us, reviving a Fettes tradition dating back to the 1930s. The small group of Prefects and Heads of Houses, representing the school, then made their way to Chapel
Fettes: Our Place
Diary entry of 1891 showing half day holiday
150th anniversary rooftop ceremony
