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We have had the busiest of years at Lauriston Place, and this year's Quadrangle reflects this by illustrating the committed and growing community of Herioters.
Throughout this edition you can read how the school remains central to Former Pupils' lives. Visit page 4 to find out about upcoming events which you can get involved with and review the past years events on page 40, from Lauriston place to New York City.
We would like to draw your attention to page 10, and introduce you to the new Herioter President, Gillian Woolman (1982) whilst also saying a very fond farewell and thank you to outgoing Herioter President, Morgan Jamieson (1965).
This magazine exists thanks to the stories we receive from the Former Pupil community. If you have any stories or news, you would like us to consider for issue 46, please share with the Development Team.
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Quadrangle reaches former pupils, parents and friends of the school. To discuss advertising opportunities, please contact the development office.
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T: 0131 221 6716
E: development@george-heriots.com
W: www.george-heriots.com/being-a-herioter
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Development, George Heriot’s School Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EQ
We hope you enjoy hearing from Heriot’s. If at any stage you no longer wish to receive magazines, updates and invitations from Heriot’s, just let us know. Quadrangle is designed by Richy Lamb – richylamb.com
George Heriot’s School is governed by George Heriot’s Trust. Scottish Charity Number: SC011463.
Another year around the sun, and a busy year it has been. The Development Team was overjoyed to witness the Herioter Community come together to not only achieve the target for the We are all George Heriot campaign, but smash it and allow for not just one new six-year bursary place but two; you can read more of this on page 13 and how to get involved in helping the school in the future on page 18. This year the team travelled the country to meet Former Pupils from Aberdeen to London, and for the first time made a very special trip to America with the Pipe Band for NYC Tartan Week, where bonds were strengthened with Herioters state side, please read about this amazing trip on page 40.
This year we bid a very fond farewell to Ailsa Dent (nee Purdie) who left the team in July to take her fundraising skills to Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and we wish her all the very best.
I, Miranda, Eilidh and Julie are here and very much look forward to hearing from or seeing you soon at Lauriston Place.
Enjoy – Darren Donaldson.
Development Team
From left: Darren Donaldson, Miranda Henderson, Julie Beattie, Eilidh Hamilton, Ailsa Purdie.
We love to meet you: come and visit!
Welcoming Herioters back to school is one of the best parts of working in Development!
If you would like to visit, please let us know. With modern safeguarding and the need to keep our young people safe, all visitors need to be booked in on the visitor system in advance - it is no longer possible simply to walk in, which we are sure you will appreciate.
To book a visit, simply email dev@george-heriots.com or call 0131 221 6716.
When you book in advance, we will be ready for your visit and the Janitor on the gate will be able to welcome you in. This also allows us to research archive requests in advance or ensure spaces you may want to visit are available. i
Would you like to connect with other Herioters in your area?
Herioters live all over the world. In the USA there are 129 Herioters and 59 have now shared contact details. In London there are 295 Herioters; a group of 38 London Herioters is now connected via WhatsApp and this forum is beginning to connect with one another.
As the school continues the move away from the traditional Herioter Club network to the virtual networks of today, mixed with different events and online communications, we are hopeful that other geographically based groups can take off.
If you would like to start a WhatsApp group in your region, please get in touch and we can promote this to relevant former pupils via email.
The Herioter Hub desktop version offers bespoke class, sector specific and location groups for Herioters to join and connect with others, however the application provider has been slow in building the corresponding Herioter Hub app and so the functionality has not been there to truly make this forum dance. We are assured the mobile app functionality will be in place by the end of 2025 and will email Herioters to re-launch the app functionality as soon as this is confirmed.
The Herioter Hub currently has 2,544 former pupils with online profiles. Please help us grow this network by signing up
and encouraging your classmates to do likewise. It is a key portal for the school to promote news and forthcoming former pupil events.
Simply enter ‘Herioter Hub’ into your browser and follow the instructions to the site. Please note, if you are a former pupil, there will be a record for you on the system, however you may have to go through a few questions for the system to match you with the corresponding record.
Please join the ‘George Heriot’s School FPs’ group. There are 603 members signed up just now and we will be posting content to this group regularly from September 2025. The school group, ‘George Heriot’s School’ currently has 2,408 followers and on this platform, you can follow current school news.
Please follow current school news on Instagram (@george_heriots_school) for current news and updates. i
For all events, please visit the Herioter Hub for details and bookings
Sir Brian Langstaff Lecture Thursday 2 October 2025
The 2024 UK Infected Blood Inquiry Report: key outcomes. The first public lecture.
School Refectory from 18.00 – 20.00
This event has sold out, but a waiting list is now in place. Please contact dev@george-heriots.com for further information. Proceeds will be donated to Foundation and Bursary Funds.
Former Pupil Coffee Morning Wednesday 29 October 2025
Council Room, George Heriot’s School 10.00 – 12.00. Please book your ticket
London Drinks Thursday 27 November 2025
The Library Room, Old Queen Street Café, London, 18.30 – 21.30 Please book your ticket.
Usher Hall Drinks Reception Thursday 11 December 2025
Save the date.
An invitation will be sent to Donors and 1628 Society Members from the Development Office.
Christmas Former Pupil Coffee Morning Wednesday 17 December 2025
Council Room, George Heriot’s School 10.00 – 12.00. Please book your ticket
2026
Burns Supper
Friday 23 January 2026
School Refectory from 18.30 – 23:00 Burns Supper with Ceilidh, featuring the Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, poetry, music and games. Single tickets or as table of 8 or more. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets £95pp table of 8, £760
Former Pupil Coffee Morning Wednesday 25 February 2026
Council Room, George Heriot’s School 10.00 – 12.00. Please book your ticket.
Former Pupil Coffee Morning Wednesday 29 April 2026
Council Room, George Heriot’s School 10.00 – 12.00. Please book your ticket
After Many Years Reunion
Saturday 9 May 2026
For the classes of 1996-2006 Tours, buffet lunch. Please book your ticket. Tickets £40
June Day
Monday 1 June 2026
From 13.45 (to be confirmed)
Open to Former Pupils and Former Staff. Please book tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets: free
Former Pupil Coffee Morning Wednesday 24 June 2026
Council Room, George Heriot’s School 10.00 – 12.00. Please book your ticket
On the back of last year’s success in York and Aberdeen, the Development Team will once again be on the road making regional visits to a town or city near you.
Please sign up for email communications to make sure you hear from us. We will be in touch by email in the coming months if we are visiting your area.
To commemorate World Aids Day on 1 December, Advanced Higher biology students simulated an HIV outbreak using the ELISA protocol, to detect and track transmission of the virus.
This sophisticated procedure requires knowledge of antibody techniques, and we used the BIO-RAD ELISA Immuno Explorer kit to attach a primary antibody to the viral antigen, followed by a secondary antibody which contained a reporter enzyme, allowing both qualitative and quantitative results analysis.
Tracking back to the infected sample is made possible by knowing which samples were mixed and in which order. Diagnostic labs worldwide use this procedure to detect the presence of topical disease such as HIV, SARS, smallpox, anthrax, Zika, West Nile Virus and many others.
Ahead of the next assessment, this lab session was planned to showcase the theory in practice and allow AH level students access to materials and equipment not usually available in schools. i
In November, Sasha, Nathan and Rory (S2) led a team of approximately twenty pupils (from S1, S2, S6 and P1) to shift three tonnes of compost to fill four new planters using one wheelbarrow, some buckets and three spades, before planting over 500 bulbs –all within a double period (80 minutes!). Huge thanks to Dougie, Charlie and Team at Leith Men’s Shed for building the planters, and to Caledonian Horticulture for the compost. i
During the first term, S1RE helped to collect pens, batteries and milk bottle tops from classrooms for recycling. The pens will be taken to Rymans and TerraCycle UK for recycling and the bottle tops to a Rotary Club in the Borders who send them for reprocessing to raise money for cancer charities. i
Heriot’s is delighted to announce School Captains for Session 2025-26. Captain: Eleanor, Captain: Mylo, Vice-Captain: Amelie, Vice-Captain: Glynn. Congratulations and best wishes to all the captains for the coming session. i
Heriot’s pipers and drummers were busy during the period of Remembrance, proudly supporting Poppy Scotland and Royal British Legion events.
On October 21, Pipe Sergeant Rory (S4) performed at the Scott Monument for the opening of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance.
On October 31, the Pipe Band performed at the Edinburgh Poppy Day in St. Andrew’s Square.
On Remembrance Sunday, piper Eddie (S4), performed the lament The Flowers of the Forest along with the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at the ceremony on the Royal Mile in front of the City Chamber and St. Giles. Later in the ceremony, he performed Amazing Grace, once again with the SCOTS Band.
Lorne (S2) piped at the final event at the Garden of Remembrance on Monday 11th November. It is a great honour for Heriot's pipers and drummers to support these events. i
The British Rowing Club Championships 2025 held in Nottingham end of July saw Heriot's crowned British Champions!
S4 pupils Freya, Rosie, Isla and Kate competed in the Women's J16 Quadruple Sculls. After leading in the time trial and securing a very comfortable win in the Semi-final, the crew continued into the A Final where they finished first in Britain, 5 seconds ahead of the next crew!
Rowing at George Heriot's School gets stronger everyday. Mr Davidson and his coaching team are shaping great oarsmen and oarswomen. i
In May, Heriot’s pupil, Max (S5), was announced as the winner of the 2025 Young Emerging Commercial Artist Award.
Max’s painting “Oma’s House”, depicting the light and colours of her grandmother’s living room, captured the attention of the competition’s guest judge (artist, Alison Cowan) and combined with the public vote, earnt her the title of Young Emerging Commercial Artist.
“I am just delighted to be named as this year’s Young Emerging Commercial Artist. I would like to thank the Atelier Gallery, Alison Cowan, and everyone who cast their votes. I would also like to thank the Heriot’s community, who got behind my work and supported me by voting.”
Max now prepares for a mini feature show at Atelier Gallery later this year, where she will be exhibiting four more new pieces of art.
Max says that her grandmother, “Oma”, whose living room provided inspiration for her painting, is delighted with the news and thrilled that her home has become somewhat famous! i
Heriot’s S3 Business Management classes had a fantastic opportunity to take part in the Stoats Challenge, where pupil groups designed an oat bar and presented their idea to Stoats Director Olivia Stone (1999).
Aoife, Alex, Imani and Tom were this year’s winners with their amazing S’mores inspired oat bar. Stoats kindly manufactured and donated 400 of the limited-edition bars. All money raised has gone directly to Social Bite – a charity working to end homelessness.
Here is what the winners had to say about the Stoats Challenge:
“It was one of the most fun challenges we have ever done. Having full control over bar design, ingredients and market research was a great opportunity and one that we did not want to waste. We decided on making a S’mores flavoured bar filled with marshmallows, oats, seeds, milk chocolate chips, and a dark chocolate drizzle. We chose this because S’mores
Congratulations to Felix (S2) for his outstanding wildlife photography which saw him win this year’s Royal Zoological Society of Scotland junior photography competition. Felix’s picture of the otters features in the RZSS Wall Calendar 2025.
Felix has an extraordinary eye for detail and is developing skills to capture his subjects with knowledge, insight and sensitivity. As a biology student, Felix is inspirational and helps others feel connected with the natural world. He is a star in the making. i
are usually made at campfires, and they are places of memories and happiness; we wanted people to remember that whilst enjoying our bar. We wanted our bars to be popular among people of all ages and raise lots of money to go to Social Bite, so we made the presentation
eye-catching and engaging. We sold the bars in the playground at break and lunch. We’re glad that our hard work paid off and that we got the opportunity to sell our bars. Thank you to the business department and Stoats for this amazing opportunity! i
When I think back, I only spent three years at Heriot’s, one of the first girls to join in 1979. But those three years have had a massive impact on who I am, and my adult life.
The change in school was a decision made by my Mum, a woman who was obliged to leave school at 14, at the outbreak of WWII. Being denied a school education beyond 14, she was a huge proponent of grabbing every opportunity for self-improvement. She said the greatest gift you can give a child is the gift of curiosity.
Before me, in our Heriot’s family tree, is Peter Woolman, class of 1944. Due to his talent in mathematics he was trained in radar by the RAF, served in India (alongside my Dad) and stayed on as part of Mountbatten’s flight crew. After training as a CA, a job in the jute industry took him back to Calcutta and on to Chittagong. Both my brother (Stephen Woolman, 1971) and brotherin-law (Colin Snoddy, 1970) enjoyed their days at Heriot’s, making lifelong friends through sport and their chosen professions of law and accountancy. Following me was my son (Andrew Chavet, 2013). He immersed himself in a wide range of sport and activity and pursued his dream of becoming an architect. After a stint in London and overseas, you will shortly see the fruits of his labours in the Western Highlands…
For me the switch in school brought a renewed enthusiasm for really striving for academic excellence, and taking risks in the wider range of activities –but how quickly I was demoted from doing Salome’s Dance of the Seven Veils to being The Old Hag in a Gilbert & Sullivan production. I have always been a ‘generalist’ (nine Highers, Head Girl and Vice Captain of School) so after pursuing subjects I enjoyed at St Andrews (Economic and Social History with International Relations), I buckled down to a profession that would be a
passport to travel: chartered accountancy. Years were spent in the heart of Europe in both Brussels and Geneva. But, this is no CV. At 30 I resigned (to return to the UK), moved in with Mum and Dad in Goldenacre, was unemployed and a single parent. And there was one person with whom I did not need to articulate the challenges – a fellow FP who also found himself a single parent, through very different circumstances. Although at different ends of the country we would gee up each other, as we pursued professional roles, discussed childcare and were eternally grateful that we could command good incomes thanks to our education and resilience. On one occasion we met up in London – a picnic lunch on steps of St Paul’s, me representing the Scottish Government at Richmond House, him doing the final checks on transport arrangements for the 2012
London Olympic Games.
Life is hectic and demanding, when working, parenting and then with caring responsibilities. Personally, I have found that emerging from those years, one has the time to re-engage with one’s school peers, sometimes over a curry and beer. There is time to reflect on what school meant to me: support, encouragement, discipline – that you have to invest time and effort to get a return on that investment – and also know thyself and one’s limits – I still need to apologise to Martin Rutherford (Head of Music) for my feeble attempts to get the cymbals en point for the 1812 Overture…
As an FP I really care about the success of the school, that it keeps up with the times, that each pupil finds something they are really good at, and that the school looks to the future with confidence, whether that
be financial sustainability or relevance and attractiveness to families. I hope that it will continue to provide the opportunity to excel and ultimately shape young adults who are able to distribute chearfullie.
Although somewhat confined to home as a single parent, out of work hours I was Treasurer and Trustee for the Scouts and undertook payroll for the church (on one occasion having an HMRC audit around my dining table…). Following retirement (from being an Audit Director in Audit Scotland for over 20 years) I am hugely enjoying very varied roles, on the boards of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal High School Preservation Trust, and as a church treasurer – everyone seeks an accountant.
I reflect that being one of the first girls at Heriot’s wasn’t the only ‘first’ for me. I was one of two women who were the first female appointed auditors to central government bodies in the United Kingdom, in 2001, and I am one of the first lay trustees of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in over 500 years, and the only female lay trustee.
My now extended FP friends have been a huge source of fun and conversation, especially as I sadly lost my husband Tom in 2022. I am so very grateful that when we arranged an informal gathering marking 40 years post-school, in 2022, Hugh Henney (1982) stepped into the breach and was a fabulous host. There is a such an empathy amongst us, starting with shared values, that a new network is forming in these later years, which we all hugely enjoy.
I am greatly looking forward to finding out more about the school of today and to share that across the FP network, to meeting up with FPs of all ages and stages, and to learn, through the Development Office and others, how best FPs can be of assistance. But I think one of the main things we can share between FPs and today’s pupils, is the reality of how I Distribute Chearfullie works in practice and in a lifelong manner. It makes the difference to our friendship groups, our communities and ultimately our wider society.
Gillian Woolman (1982) i
It is with genuine thanks, appreciation and respect that we say farewell to Morgan Jamieson (1965) after his two years as Herioter President. Morgan brought both gravitas and warmth to the role and committed himself to ensuring he represented the Former Pupil body. From joining his fellow Herioters at Coffee Mornings, to
speaking with candour and honesty at the annual Governors’ Dinner or laying wreaths at Remembrance Sunday, Morgan fulfilled the role with the humble knowledge of the life changing power of a George Heriot’s education. We know you will all join us with a heartfelt thank you to Morgan for his time as Herioter President.
The invitation, two years ago, to take on the role of Herioter President, was as unexpected as it was gratefully accepted. Although geography and work commitments hindered much direct involvement with the school in the past, my sense of connection, affection and gratitude to Heriot’s, and particularly the Foundation, has been a constant throughout my life, and the opportunity to serve in this role a very real privilege. It has been a particular pleasure to have had the chance to interact with a range of former pupils and to sense their shared appreciation of the start in life
the school provided. Based on my own experience I am very confident that my successor, Gillian Woolman, will equally enjoy and value her time as President – and I am equally confident that she will bring to the role not only a settled commitment to the history and ethos that continues to shape the work of Heriot’s, but also a wealth of experience from which the school will undoubtedly benefit. I wish her well.
Beyond all that I would simply wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Principal, and to all in the Development team, for the support, friendship and encouragement they have offered over the past two years. i
Through the generosity of the Heriot’s community and that of over 270 donors who supported this fantastic campaign, the school successfully achieved the target set of raising £98,640 which will enable a new Senior School Bursary pupil to take their place at Heriot’s from 2025 to 2031.
Not only was the original target achieved, but it was smashed during the evening of the We are all George Heriot Gala Dinner at Prestonfield House, with a further £33,245 raised. The final sum tallied at a phenomenal £136,231.60.
Further to this activity we launched the Bursary Today Club (you can learn more about this and how to get involved on pages 18). Through those Former Pupils who have signed up and committed to this new fund we raised a further £26,686.23. We are now close to providing a second six-year senior school bursary from the original campaign.
And as we put together the finishing touches to this article, we have received the wonderful news from a Former Pupil who has now pledged to make up the difference and donate a tremendously generous £34,000 which will allow the school to confirm this second bursary place and offer a transformative education at George Heriot’s from 2026 to 2032. This brings the final total to £196,917.00.
Once more, thank you for your kind generosity, the success of this campaign has only been made possible through the support, enthusiasm and involvement of the whole Heriot’s community. i
I’m delighted to be here tonight among old friends and to talk a little about George Heriot and his four-century-long legacy from which we have all benefited.
I owe my career as a writer of novels and non-fiction and as a broadcaster and journalist to our school and to George Heriot’s generosity.
In all these roles I am well aware that the best way to communicate is to tell stories. And so that’s what I intend to do tonight – including some very personal ones.
We all have our stories of Heriot’s. So here are some of mine.
Some years ago I wrote a book about leaders I have met.
Leaders tell stories to connect with the rest of us.
The book is called Lessons From The Top and those leaders were at the top of their various professions and callings for many years.
They include Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, King Abdullah of Jordan, Jacques Chirac, Angela Merkel, Angelina Jolie and my great hero … Dolly Parton. I will save the Dolly Parton stories for later, so that you stay tuned…
I’m boasting and name-dropping. That’s because I would have met none of these leaders and written no books at all, if not for George Heriot.
That’s part of my personal story.
Your stories will all be different but we have this sense of gratitude in common.
Part of the insight of Lessons From The Top is that every leader I have ever met tells three stories. Those three stories are always in the same order:
Who am I? as a person.
Who are we? as a group – it could be
Herioters, or Rugby Players, or Members of the Conservative party, or Americans, or in some cases – as we will see –terrorist leaders in Northern Ireland.
Leaders in all these groups tell stories about themselves.
Then – if you buy into the WHO AM I? story and the WHO ARE WE? story –political leaders and the others all end up with the final sales pitch:
Where is my leadership going to take us?
What’s interesting is that the Who Am I? stories of the most impressive leaders are almost always very humble.
Angela Merkel wanted to tell me of her time as a schoolgirl in a Protestant religious family in East Germany. She used to listen to BBC radio under her bedcovers. she was so brilliantly “normal” her German nickname was “Mutti” –mother, or mama.
Margaret Thatcher – as well all know –was proud of being “a grocer’s daughter from Grantham” and of helping to create the Mr Whippy style of ice-cream.
Margaret Thatcher was of course many other things too. But the “grover’s daughter from Grantham” connected as being “just like us.” It was brilliant story telling.
Then there was Bill Clinton. One of the most brilliant story-tellers of his generation.
The first time I met Bill Clinton I literally bumped into him while he was out jogging. He was Governor of Arkansas at the time.
One of the first things he told me was that he was “just a boy from Hope” –Hope, Arkansas is a lovely little town where he was brought up.
When I visited Hope, Arkansas, they were very proud of Bill Clinton – but they also said that he did most of his growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
It’s a spa town where gambling was permitted.
Bill Clinton – very sensibly – tended to talk less about that.
And then there was the day I received a telephone call from someone I knew in a paramilitary organisation in Belfast. It was – as they say – an offer I could not refuse.
“Someone wants to meet you,” the caller said. "You need to meet him.”
I thought about this very quickly.
Going to meet this person might cause me problems.
NOT going to meet this person would definitely cause me problems.
We made arrangements.
I turned up to a dusty hall in East Belfast. I was told to wait, alone, in a corner of the hall.
After about twenty – somewhat nervous – minutes, the door opened.
A tall, thick set, heavily muscled man walked in.
In my memory he was such a heavily built man that the floorboards creaked – but I could possibly be making that bit up.
“The first time I met Bill Clinton I literally bumped into him while he was out jogging. He was Governor of Arkansas at the time.”
I stood up. He walked towards me and stood a few inches from my face.
Before I could say anything he said:
“I am speaking to you as someone deeply involved in violence.”
That was his “Who Am I?” story. It made quite an impression.
“Hello”, I said. “Good to meet you.”
We shook hands. And we talked – and argued – about what would be called by some terrorism, by others armed resistance, by still others patriotism and defence of a community.
Surprisingly we had a long series of conversations over several years.
That person was later murdered.
I am telling you these “Who Am I?” stories because I would never have heard them until my own “Who am I?” story was fundamentally changed by someone no one in this room has ever met.
This person is someone to whom I – we –all owe the deepest debt of gratitude.
That person is George Heriot himself.
Every one of us has been transformed by George Heriot’s generosity.
Every one of us I am sure is grateful for the doors which have opened – the chances we have been allowed to take –the impression it has left on us and I hope our mark in making a better society in Scotland and elsewhere.
That is part of our common “Who Are We?” story as proud – and grateful Herioters.
And so I hope you will let me tell you a little of my own story. It may echo your own.
I was born in Glasgow. We lived in a council house in Clydebank. I lived with my parents, my widowed grandmother and two aunts – six of us in a small council house.
I almost died at three weeks old. I was saved by an operation performed by the National Health Service .
My parents could see that Clydeside itself was dying. The shipyards and the Singers
sewing machine factory would not last forever.
We moved to Edinburgh.
My family was like many working class families of that post-war generationupwardly mobile – ambitious for their children – very keen on education – and short of money.
My parents figured they could just about afford to send me to Heriot’s if I could pass the entrance exam. I did.
But then something truly miraculous happened.
I won a series of bursaries that continued until I left Heriots.
Thanks to the generosity of George Heriot I went through my education at Heriot’s without my parents having to take what for them would have been a significant financial hit.
They themselves prospered over the years. They were able to buy their own home –the first in the family to do so. They had a comfortable life.
By the time I was 16 my father was promoted to a good managerial job in Northern Ireland – during the Troubles.
As a family we took the decision that I should complete my Highers at Heriot’s.
I moved into a council house in Currie, with a long time Heriot's friend – Murray. Murray was a Foundationer.
In other words, Murray – like me – was someone who thrived as a result of the generosity of George Heriot and of Herioters.
In the 1970s I was therefore the first in my family to go to university.
I was going to be a doctor then – partly because of living in Northern Ireland during the Troubles – I decided to be a writer, journalist and broadcaster.
I did a postgraduate degree and earlier this year I finished two five-year terms as Chancellor of the University of Kent.
In Canterbury I have tried to make it my business to help those students who – in the jargon – are from “non traditional
university families.”
They – like me – never wanted a HAND OUT.
What we needed was a HAND UP. George Heriot gave that to me. One thing we did was to bring to the university children’s authors and popular writers – Francesca Simon of the Horrid Henry stories, Michael Morpurgo of Warhorse, Sir Ian Rankin, Mark Kermode and many others.
That meant aspiring parents – like my parents – who were never in their lives on a university campus, could see that universities are not shining cities on a hill. They are resources for social mobility, education and fun.
I am so proud of them – and of those who helped them.
Then – our school – as we all know – is located next to Greyfriars.
The “Grey Friars” were medieval Franciscans whose ethos was to help the poor and the less privileged. It’s a tradition that we continue.
I am telling you these stories because we communicate through stories.
Who Am I? we’ve touched on my personal story. I’m a grateful kid from Clydebank who loved my time at Heriot’s.
Who Are We? as Herioters? Well, we are people who form a community that is grateful for what we have received. We try to be generous in return.
“Heriot’s as you know has a long history of helping those – whatever their background – who need a chance in life.”
Like Heriot’s school.
Why am I telling you this? Because Heriot’s as you know has a long history of helping those – whatever their background – who need a chance in life. That’s all. Just a chance to shine.
In 1916 – again as many of you will know – some 27 Serbian boys who had escaped the horrific occupation of Serbia by Austro-Hungarian forces in World War One were welcomed in Heriot’s. At least one teacher learned to speak Serbian to make the newcomers feel at home after the horrors they had witnessed in their homeland.
As a teenager playing rugby for Heriot’s I had two team-mates who were the sons of Polish families who in World War Two or its aftermath had escaped either the Nazis or the Russians or both. They were offered a hand-up.
I am proud to have been a bursary boy. I am proud that we represent a school which understands the importance of an education for all.
And I recall an American bumper sticker on the car of a neighbour who was a university lecturer near me when I lived in Washington DC.
“If you think education is expensive,” the bumper sticker said, “you should try ignorance.”
The biggest problem in our world, it seems to me, is that ignorance means we tolerate some in positions of power and influence who want to create problems rather than solve them.
George Heriot was a problem solver. The problem he tried to solve was that of people with ability who lacked opportunity.
I am in a room of Herioters who are people of ability – BUT who also are grateful for the opportunities we have had.
That is our “Who Are We?” story – and I am very proud of it.
So let me conclude with the final part of how leaders tell stories.
Yes, they all begin by introducing themselves – with “Who Am I?” as a person.
Then they talk about “Who Are We?” as a group.
Finally all great leaders discuss where our leadership may take us.
George Heriot’s leadership of course depended on money.
Good intentions are fine. But good works often demand cash.
Heriot had the means. But he also had the morality of leadership through enlightened self-interest.
Offering a helping hand, like the helping hand offered to me and my family as a bursary boy and my friend Murray the Foundationer, was wonderful for us as individuals.
I hope it was also good for the wider society if we can as citizens play a positive role.
And that – you’ll be pleased to hear –brings me back to Dolly Parton.
She is for me a model of a good citizen.
One of the reasons I wanted to interview Dolly was not specifically about her music.
To be honest, I like music from John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen a lot more than country music.
But I admire Dolly Parton very much.
She grew up in the most humble circumstances in the Blue Ridge mountains of Tennessee.
The people who were called “Hill Billies” were often staunch Protestants and their forebears were supporters of William of Orange.
They lived in the hills – they supported “King Billy” – they really were HillBillies.
I spent the day with Dolly Parton at her extraordinary home in Nashville.
Part of our conversation and TV interview turned on her charitable works.
She makes sure children in homes where perhaps the only book is the Bible have access to other books to read.
She employs people of all backgrounds at her theme park called Dollywood.
Interviewing her I was able to put questions from viewers, questions which tended to be more rude than I would ever have risked asking.
“Do the dumb blonde jokes get on your nerves?” was one such question.
“No honey,” she said. “Because I’m not really dumb. And I’m not really blonde.”
“How long does it take you to do your hair?” was another.
Dolly replied: “I don’t know – because I’m never there.”
Then one from me:
“Do you ever think of running for president?”
“No,” Dolly replied, “because there have been enough boobs in the White House without mine.”
This year on the 400th anniversary of his death in London in February 1624 I suspect you did not think that a celebration of George Heriot would end
up with a celebration of Dolly Parton.
But what they have in common – and I think this is true of everyone here – is that both Dolly and Jinglin'’ Geordie were hugely successful in their chosen callings.
But in the end they were – and are –Givers not just Takers.
They are people who are prepared to see the best in others.
They are people prepared to see that most people when offered a helping hand will seize opportunities they could only otherwise have dreamed of.
I am so grateful at the opportunities I received from being at George Heriot’s school.
Those opportunities have literally opened doors for me - doors in the White House, the German Chancellery, the Elysee Palace and Westminster - doors extending from the BBC to Dolly Parton’s mansion in Nashville, Tennessee.
So - thank you Dolly, and Bill, and Maggie, and Angela and all the others.
But mostly thank you George Heriot. You changed my life for the better.
You have changed the lives of the people in this room - and the lives of many, many thousands of other former pupils at our great school.
Here’s to 400 more years. i
The 1628 Society is a group of people united by a shared want to support Heriot’s place at the forefront of education and to ensure Heriot’s’ ethos endures.
Everyone who makes a personal pledge of a legacy gift to Heriot’s is invited to join the 1628 Society. Members are invited to special events and receptions through the year and, on joining, will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Principal and a hardback copy of Former Pupil Brian Lockhart’s (1963) history of Heriot’s –Jinglin’ Geordie’s Legacy.
Can you pledge to support George Heriot’s School in you Will? A pledge from as little as 1% of your estate can make a huge difference for children in the future.
No pledge is legally binding; it is simply a statement of your current intention. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the Development Office on dev@george-heriots.com
A little more information on the Bursary Today Club
After the success of the We are all George Heriot campaign and the generosity of those who supported this endeavour, the school has now received enough funding through donations to offer two new sixyear Senior School bursaries places from 2025-2031, and a second further pupil from 2026 –2032. You can read more of this on pages 13.
On the back of this wonderful generosity and after speaking with many
of whom supported the campaign, the Bursary Today Club was born.
We are inviting support from Former Pupils and the wider Herioter community to help raise funds for more new bursary places, with funds raised being used at the most immediate moment to widen access. This fund will allow you to specifically support the school’s important Bursary scheme, a scheme that we know is close to many Herioters hearts.
On this occasion we are encouraging donors to set up a direct debit for this fund. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the team in Development and we will be happy to assist. Email: dev@george-heriots.com
At the heart of George Heriot’s School is the Founder’s family motto: I distribute chearfullie.
Each year, the School welcomes children who come in under the mantle of the Foundation or as a Bursar. For both these groups, means testing and success in the admissions assessment are key to ensure Trust income is spent where need is greatest, and that access to an independent education is widened.
In a year where the political landscape has had such a direct impact on employee independent schools in the form of national insurance increases and VAT on fees, now more than ever Heriot’s needs your support.
In the 2024-25 Session, Heriot’s had 61 Bursary recipients and 54 Foundation pupils studying in school - it is our honour to be able to welcome each and every one of them.
It is because of support from donors that we are able to offer supported places, and we are incredibly grateful to all donors – both published and anonymous, who support the school in this way.
There are several ways in which people can offer financial support to Heriot’s, by donating in a way that best suits you. Donations can be made to the Foundation 400 campaign, an endowment fund which seeks to fund Foundation places at the school in perpetuity, to the broader Bursary scheme, to the new Bursary Today Club, through a legacy in your will, or indeed donations to the school without specific caveats, which enable the Trust to develop the school and campus in other ways.
If you would like to be part of this giving network, please get in touch. Support can be as little as £10 a month, or it can be a life changing lifetime donation or legacy in your will. However you choose to support Heriot’s, you are directly impacting the lives of young people who walk through the gates of Lauriston Place, as you once did.
Giving to Heriot’s can change a life.
For information or for an informal chat, please contact the team in the Development Office on 0131 221 6716, or email dev@george-heriots.com. i
For the Academic year 2024/25 George Heriot’s School Funded 54 Foundation places. For the academic year 2025/26 there will be 51 pupils funded by the Foundation.
Costs fluctuate annually based on the number of current pupils enrolled under the Foundation and the level of support they receive; variance may also be caused by individual requirements. These costs arise from trips, music lessons and travel costs,
detailed below as ‘allowances.’
The annual cost for the academic year 2024/25 was £970,510. This comprised £920,785 in fees and £49,725 in allowances.
The annual cost of one Foundation place for the session 2025/26, inclusive of fees, and expected allowance is:
Junior School(P6/P7): £14,808 Senior School (S1-S6): £18,476
*Costs other than fees are expected average costs per pupil. As pupils’ interests, activities and circumstances vary significantly, these figures are a guide only.
**VAT is not applied as a cost to Foundation places. i
The Principal and Governors wish to express their warmest thanks to all Herioters, Current and Former Parents, Current and Former Staff and Friends of the School who generously made donations this year. Your gifts are so gratefully received and allow us to maintain Heriot’s excellence for future generations.
Class of 1940’s
Lawrence J. Buchan
David Burnett
Alex Gillies
Maurice McIlwrick
Class of 1950’s
Norman and Maureen
Anderson
Bill Christie
Maxwell Dow
David Doyle
In loving memory of James Douglas
Dunsmure
Mrs Margaret Flannigan on behalf of her late husband Dr Brian Flannigan
Gerald Gauld
George Gordon
Professor George Gordon
In Loving Memory of Mr Douglas Hill
Tom Jessop
Jim Johnstone
Ian Lumsdaine
Hunter Mabon
John Mackenzie
Will Mathieson
In loving memory of Bill McClure
Willie McVicar
Jim McVicar
Ian Alexander Millar
Ronald Rangecroft
Eric Robertson
James Robertson
Hamish Stears
David Syme
Bob Todd
RJM Wilson
Class of 1960’s
Jack Aitken
James Baxter
David Bishop
J Borthwick
Charles K. Brown
Alec Brown
Dougie Bruce
Gerard Dott
William Drummond
I Duncanson
Charles Edmond
John R R Fowler
George McNaught
Mr Mike and Mrs Win
Gilbert
Ian Douglas Gillian
Duncan Grant
Ian Herok
In Loving Memory of George Holywell
John Hunter
Morgan Jamieson
Sir Brain Langstaff
Christopher Lee
Norman Leslie
Iain Mackintosh
The Late Douglas J May
Rennie McElroy
George McNaught
Andrew Milne
Brian Milne
Graham Noble
R V Pringle
Willie Revolta
Frank Ritchie
Douglas W. Roberts
Alastair Smith
Malcolm Smith in memory of Jean
Patrick helped by Heriot's in the 1930s
David Turner
Bruce Warman
Gordon Watson
David Wilkinson
Dr. John Wrench
Class of 1970’s
Robin Carmichael
Charles Clark
Stewart Cowe
James Coxson
Malcolm Cutt
Nigel Huxtable
Andy Irvine
Alastair Kerr
Will Mathieson
Graeme McCabe
Alan Sibbald
Robin Thomas
James Thomson
Cameron Wyllie
Class of 1980’s
Rhona and Richie Adams
Stuart James Bell
Michael Beveridge
Robert Brown
Colin Burnett
Bob Dewar
Hugh Dickson
Patrick and Anna
Edwardson
Niall Garvie
Dave Goodwin
Graham Harkness
Harry Hogg
Richard Hunter
Torquil Macleod
Margaret and Bean Philips
Bursary for Music
Phil Read
Class of 1990’s
Paul Bateman
David Currie
Justin D'Agostino
Anton Nelson
John and June Suttie
R J M Wilson
Class of 2000’s
Chris Sibbald
Michael Tai
Friends of Heriot’s and Former/Current Staff
Stewart and Lindsay Adams
Michael and Alison
Browne
C F Todd
Cuminga Family Trust
Robert and Janice
Dickson
Mr Rob Dobson and Ms Judith Wilson
Darren Donaldson
Eiydn Ltd
Lesley Franklin
Miranda Henderson
William Jackson
Michael Kerr in memory of my beloved wife
Dorothy
Tracy Kirke
Emma Lawrence (formerly Griffiths)
W T Lee
Julia Maguire
Mrs and Mrs Marquis
Norman and Maureen Mathison
Michael and Angela McFee
Marlene Miller
Mr and Mrs R Moonie
Jocelyn Ogorkiewicz
Sandy Paton
S & P Quinn
Crichton Ramsay
Joan and Lesley Ritchie
Maggie Salmond
Our very grateful thanks to all our donors.
If you are a donor and would like to be publicly acknowledged, please advise the development team.
Paul Sanders
Neil Short
Graeme Simpson
Craig Smith
Deborah and Dan Sorin
Simon Stevens
Margaret Tait
Laura Thomas
Gordon and Paddy Turner, New Zealand
Moira Williams
Alexander & Eloise (Ben Nevis climb)
We Are All George Heriot Campaign
All those who generously supported the We Are All George Heriot Campaign in 2024.
George Heriot’s is extremely grateful to all those who pledged to leave a legacy to the school in their will. In 2024 – 2025, the Foundation and Bursary Programmes benefitted from the transformative gifts left by legators whose generosity will continue to impact generations of Heriot’s pupils.
We would also like to express our warmest thanks to those donors who wish their gifts to remain anonymous.
You can find it in the shop section of our website. We have
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In May 2023, I spent three weeks in Nepal with GVI, a non-profit organisation that partners with local communities to implement sustainable development programs worldwide, as part of their women’s empowerment program.
During this time, I taught English to a group of inspiring women - many of whom are survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, while others have faced barriers to education due to family responsibilities and social expectations. Despite the challenges they’ve endured, their determination to learn and grow was nothing short of remarkable.
Although my time there was relatively brief, I witnessed firsthand the significant strides these women made in both their language skills and selfconfidence. Each day brought moments of connection, learning, and mutual respect that deeply impacted me. Seeing their enthusiasm in the classroom and their pride in their progress reminded me of the transformative power of education
The class of 1974 shared images of their most recent reunion, by the looks of the evening a great time was had by all involved. If you are planning an event with your fellow Herioters, do let us know and we'll share any photos of the event you are happy to share with us. i
and community support. One of my favourite parts of the programme was the financial literacy classes, which played a crucial role in helping the women feel more independent and empowered in managing their own finances.
Beyond the classroom, I was fortunate to meet and bond with fellow volunteers from around the world. Together, we shared experiences,
supported each other, and formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime. This experience was not only educational but also profoundly moving and humbling. It was truly a lifechanging and memorable chapter in my life – one that has left me with a renewed sense of purpose and perspective.
Annsia
Nabi (2018) is a Trainee Solicitor i
We said a fond farewell, and good luck to the Class of 2025. Another great cohort on their way to begin life After Heriot’s. We look forward to hearing from them all and watching them prosper beyond the gates of Lauriston Place. i
Former Pupil Tegan Browning (2022) left Heriot's in 2022 and crossed the pond to San Antonio, Texas where she took up a scholarship to play college soccer. After a successful run stateside, she returned to Scotland, taking up positions on Boroughmuir Thistle and then Hearts. Tegan played at an international level for Scotland U19's and in June last year, signed with Spartans FC. When not playing football, Tegan is studying Geography at Edinburgh University.
Tegan is now sharing her knowledge with the next generation of football stars by providing weekly coaching sessions for Heriot's Girls' Team. The players are thrilled to be learning from such a successful and enthusiastic coach and we look forward to seeing how they get on this season.
Please join us in welcoming Tegan back to Lauriston Place and wish her the best of luck for the upcoming season.
Great to know there is a Herioter representing woman's football in these great times! i
Ed Watt (1992) is often asked, do you keep them, or do you knock them down? To which the answer is, always, dismantle and think of something else!
After creating a large and detailed model in LEGO bricks of one half of the Old Building, displayed in the Quadrangle in the Autumn term of 2022, the question became - what next? The natural successor was, for Ed, what he knew as the Senior Hall in which far below the hammer-beam ceiling he sat the school entrance exam in 1985 before the horizontal partition took place.
The impetus for (what is now called) the School Hall project was the We Are All George Heriot campaign and for which Ed imagined that, unlike the half cross-section of the Quad, a full model of all elevations and roof might be achieved. With a trace of the Flodden
Wall and a yellow line on Heriot Place for historical and contemporary accuracy.
And so, on the afternoon of the October 2024 We are all George Heriot Gala Dinner at Prestonfield, Heriot’s welcomed Ed’s scale model, “anatomically correct” as he says, replete with roof, turrets, steps, ornaments and also visible through the main windows the marks of the horizontal division that can now be seen from the exterior.
Again, a large proportion of the pieces used in 2024 came from Ed’s childhood collection and are over 40 years old.
At the Prestonfield dinner, Ed was challenged by a parent of children at both Heriot’s and Merchiston Castle whether he might be capable of much the same for their main building as a fund-raising exercise for pipe band equipment. Challenge accepted, that
was finished in around three weeks - in time for their gala dinner – again in four elevations, and over 150cm in length.
And when those pieces were returned earlier this year, the natural choice to pursue was a scale model of the South facade of the main stand at Goldenacre, resplendent with its famous vertical stripes in School colours, as visible from Dundas Street.
These educational edifices came after a number of Edinburgh villas, a Temple of Ephesus and a smaller-scale replica of a whole block of the Rue de Rivoli.
One can only ask: what next? Though to break with his own tradition Ed says “Actually I might keep the Goldie one for a while. It took no time at all to build but I’ve been planning it in my head for years!”
Thank you Ed! i
Legendary acting teacher George Hall (1942) celebrated his 100th birthday in February 2025 and in this newly written article he remembers his time at George Heriot’s school in the 1930’s and 40’s. Having served in the RAF during WW2, George has since enjoyed an eightyyear career as an actor, writer, musician, director and teacher.
He was Director of Acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama 1964-87 and then spent a decade teaching in Yale, 22 years with Guildhall School of Music and Drama and joined the Royal Academy of Music in 1995 where, astonishingly, he still gives weekly zoom lessons on the history of musical theatre!
George has worked closely with an extraordinary range of actors including Sir Lawrence Olivier, Dame Edith Evans, Sir Noel Coward, Leslie Caron, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Stanley Baxter, Dame Maggie Smith and Jennifer Saunders, and his pupils have included Carrie Fisher, Graham Norton, Jodie Whittaker and Orlando Bloom.
To help celebrate his birthday a large
On 28 March Malcolm Reading (1975) attended Buckingham Palace to receive the award of Lieutenant, Royal Victorian Order from The Princess Royal, on behalf of the King, for services to the Royal Family.
An advocate for design excellence, Malcolm founded Malcolm Reading Consultants in 1996 after six years as Director of Design and Architecture at the British Council.
He has created a unique competitions service, which is trusted by architects and attuned to the realities of successful capital projects.
Trained as an architect, Malcolm is widely recognised within the profession. He has set new standards in procurement and is known for his loyalty to demanding projects. i
group of his friends and former students created a very entertaining new five-part podcast series, ‘George Hall at 100’ where they chat to him about his life and career and share their own memories of being taught by him.
Contributors include Sir Tony Robinson, Zoe Wanamaker, David Robb, Lyndsay Duncan, Rufus Sewell, Belinda Lang, Neil Pearson, Harriet Thorpe, Kevin Whately, Tessa Peake-Jones, Peter Davison, Fern Britton, James Purefoy,
many others.
In this newly written article, George recalls his years at the school and how his Edinburgh childhood introduced him to his lifelong love of theatre and set him on a path where he may have seen more theatre productions than anyone alive. i
A chance email from the Development Office last spring asking for former pupils to welcome the We are all George Heriot Cycling Team with refreshments en-route to London was an ideal opportunity for me to rekindle my connection with the school. We shared refreshments at the end of their long day, and we reminisced about my days at George Heriot’s school as a first girl in S1 in 1979.
This subsequently led to a trip back to Edinburgh last June to attend the George Dalgleish lecture about George Heriots life as the royal jeweller to King James and his wife Queen Anne of Denmark, who is believed to have been his best customer frequently commissioning valuable pieces.
At the lecture reference was made to the Eglington Jewel, the only known surviving piece of jewellery crafted by George Heriot for Queen Anne. Intrigued by this last remaining jewel, and after a bit of research, I discovered that the Eglington Jewel is held at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge near to where I live, so had to see it for myself. Unfortunately, it had been removed from
public display for restoration however I was delighted when the museum arranged a private viewing of the jewel for me.
The Eglington Jewel was commissioned by Queen Anne and was given as a wedding gift to her lady in waiting Anne Livingston in 1612. The enamelled case by George Heriot features the Queens intertwined letters AR set in diamonds beneath an enclosed Imperial crown. Inside the case is Queen Annes portrait painted by a member of the Nicholas Hilliard studio.
Although I wasn’t able to handle the jewel it was a real privilege to see it close up and to appreciate the intricate workmanship that George Heriot put into this beautiful piece. Undoubtedly it was his skill as a royal jeweller that allowed him to leave his legacy to the foundation of George Heriot’s School that lives on today.
With grateful thanks to the Fitzwilliam Museum for allowing me to share the Eglington jewel with you. Susan Strand (Mair 1985) i
In June 1995, Mirela Delibegovic (1995) and Ross Abernethy (1995) left Heriot’s for different pastures new. Fast forward precisely 30 years to Aberdeen in June 2025, when each of their children coincidentally graduated from the same school, Robert Gordon’s College.
Mirela, together with Alan Neill (1980), is fronting the newly formed Aberdeen Herioters group. If you live in or near Aberdeen and would like to join this, you can contact Alan and Mirela via the Herioter Hub ‘Herioters in Aberdeen’ regional group. i
Many congratulations to Former Pupils Brodie Watson-Massey and Christopher Happs on their success in winning the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships with Inveraray & District. Brodie (2020) and Christopher (2021) both started their piping journeys at Heriot’s and went on to be pupil Pipe Majors of the school band.
They have enjoyed great success throughout their piping careers, and this continued with winning the biggest pipe band prize of all at Glasgow Green on the 17 August 2024.
Well done Brodie and Christopher: Heriot’s is proud of you! i
The Development team was delighted to welcome Graham Garvie (1960) OBE to school in early April. Graham kindly brought in a copy of his book, A Life in Service, which speaks of the importance to humankind of the common good, empathy and kindness, an attitude so clearly illustrated in our Founder’s legacy.
The book cover features a picture of Portobello Open Air Pool from the 1950s, with Graham on the diving board. It was where Sean Connery used to work as a lifeguard!
The book is available for sale from Graham via his email is ggarvie@btinternet.com. All proceeds are going towards the Borders Samaritans.
Graham also recollected the silly Porridge poem, which used to entertain pupils in the 1950s:
“In days of old, when knights were bold And schools were made of porridge They got a lump and made a dump And called it Watsons College”. i
It is all quiet at the school as I arrive for a visit with Darren of the Development Team – turns out the school is on a two week Autumn break (why did they not have this in my day?!), but nothing can detract from the grandeur of this magnificent edifice in which I spent 13 of my most formative years. As solid as Castle Rock looming large over the school, with a seemingly maternal embrace, I become acutely aware of how this venerable old school has pushed out generations of outstanding young men (and since 1979, outstanding young women - what a wonderful tradition the Board of Governors started with this decision).
After a coffee and a biscuit, Darren delves into the task at hand of obtaining my candid impressions of my time at Heriot's.
I mention that, in my sixth senior year, Mr. Patterson of Junior School started a rowing program in which I participated as a crew member. Darren tells me that rowing is now a major sports programme for boys and girls and when he says, "See what you started!" I glow with warm satisfaction. He enquires about my former teachers (who were good? Who was bad?) And I cannot think of a single teacher in my experience who was less than patient and nurturing - but of course, sometimes, stern like Mr. G.A. Scott ("Gas") who, like most teachers, liked to issue ‘lines’ to miscreants who talked in his classroom. The poor unfortunate pupils who were aware that 100 lines was the normal punishment would be ecstatic to find out that ‘Gas'
only demanded 25 lines only to discover that one line from him consisted of "When Mr. Scott is teaching biology, I must not, repeat must not, talk in class, otherwise I must suffer the consequences" thus rendering any hoped-for savings in penmanship moot (and every comma had to be precisely placed!!). How do I remember this little nugget so clearly? I was one of those errant pupils myself once! Then of course I remember "Fabian" McCall (Latin), one of the younger
staff members but one of a select few teachers who could actually make Latin an interesting subject. I used to help my good friend Hamish More with his homework and once Fabian returned a test paper with a check mark but also an annotation "cuius auxilio" (with whose help), Fabian's tongue-in-cheek way of saying "I am on to you, Hamish!!"
I am also at the school specifically to purchase a copy of Memories of Heriots and to make a contribution to the Foundation programme, one of many programmes the school has offered from time immemorial. This has always been one of the most noteworthy of George Heriot's legacies and it is so satisfying to see that this programme continues to be funded in a very meaningful way.
While I sit outside on the terrace (due to enduring a brutal tendonitis in my Achilles tendon) waiting for Darren to return from very kindly hailing a taxi to take me back to my hotel a cold wind whips round the corner of the building (aye, man, you ARE in Edinburgh!) and I am looking directly over to the buildings housing the primary and junior schools and I realize that Darren and I have not even touched on the wonderful ladies in those classes at my time (Miss Gall, Miss Redman, Miss Hamilton - a stellar teacher!! et al.) who started me off on my early journey - ladies who, even when forced to administer the belt, appeared to do it with such a sense of caring and empathy that the pain rapidly dissipated!
As the taxi rattles along the city streets, which would have been a disgrace in mediaeval times (what does Edinburgh Corporation do with all the monies which must accrue from tourism?) I chat with the driver and find out he is from Algeria and we have a very good conversation about when, as a university student in 1963, I spent a summer at the University of Marseille just after the war in Algeria with so many refugees in the city and hills above. If it were not for the teachings of ‘Peggy’ Arneill (Geography) and ‘Bouncer’ Stott (History/English) my interest in these two subjects would never have been piqued and nurtured.
In the quiet of my hotel room I start to randomly leaf through my Memories of Heriots and mirabile dictu!! There
on page 158 is a photograph of myself appearing to be keeping counsel with my loyal subjects (one of whom, a good friend, George Stewart is now sadly deceased per last year's Quadrangle). What a wonderful book this is, and many kudos must go out to the Development Team and the many contributors who provided input for it! And now I see a two-page spread of all the teachers and staff, and memories come flooding back. There is the dour but gentlemanly Charlie Broadwood, doing his best to avoid cracking a smile, the deliciously eccentric ‘Algie’ Inglis (Latin), ‘Huck’ McPhee (Maths) and the avuncular Mr. Brown (Maths), two teachers I was particularly close to because they were our resident commissioned officers in the RAF section of the CCF, in which I was the Flight Sergeant. I look at this collective body of educators and marvel at the profound
effect they have had on so many young lives over so many years.
Although I cannot claim to have attained the stellar milestones of some Herioters, I look back, at 84 years of age and 66 years removed from the school, on a life of satisfying achievement afforded to me from my educational experience at George Heriot’s School. I now realize that unbeknownst to me, George Heriot has been standing on my shoulder through my life's journey, exhorting me to "Work hard. Be kind. Be yourself."
So… George Heriot, a profound thank you — and to the present-day Development Team which is doing such an excellent job in keeping all Herioters wherever they may be in the world up to date. It is so exciting to see how all the ‘young kids’ of recent years are carving out such successful lives based on their passage through the old school. i
There are people who touch our lives in profound ways. We remember how they made us feel, those emotions are broad and can encompass joy and hurt. Misunderstandings and deeds from the past including from our school years can remain with us for the remainder of our lives.
Whilst attending a recent medical conference in Edinburgh, I had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from Heriot’s. As always, part of the fun is in planning any trip from Australia. I hoped to be able to contact Mrs Joyce Cheyne, a superb chemistry teacher who had had a major influence on me. My memory of Mrs Cheyne was of a strong woman who made me believe that anything was possible and demonstrated discipline and intelligence whilst being caring.
I contacted Miranda in the Development office and Anne Skinner (1987), a fellow Herioter who has done so much to keep the class of 1987 connected.
Miranda put me in touch with Jo Blakey, who interestingly, as I found out, had been mentored as a young teacher by Mrs Cheyne. Jo had a mobile number but did not hold much hope as the number was at least 25 years old. After accounting for the 8-hour difference, I tried it anyway. On answering the call, Mrs Cheyne remembered me! After agreeing on a time for a catch up, we were set to have afternoon tea 38 years after our last meeting. The afternoon tea lasted nearly seven hours; we couldn’t stop finding out more about our respective
journeys. It was an opportunity for me to express my thanks to an inspiring teacher who had helped put me on a life course that I could never have imagined. Without realising it, Mrs Cheyne had made me think that everything was possible. This was in an era when women being pregnant and working was met with embarrassment, and few women taught science - although Heriot’s was exceptional in accepting and supporting working women teachers.
Meanwhile, Anne had given me the sad news of the passing of a school friend, Gillian Peters (1987) (nee Shiels). However a celebration of her life was planned, and I was kindly invited. It was filled with laughter, fun and beautiful memories shared with classmates who
came along. Attending Gill's celebration meant a week of catching up with incredible Herioters.
I attended June Day followed by the Greyfriars Kirk service. Despite my state of permanent forgetfulness, I was able to sing all the verses of The Merry Month of June without looking at the programme! June Day released an unexpected wave of emotion - and contact with yet more names from the past.
When saying farewell to S6, I remembered the hope and trepidation of leaving school. I was not, however, leaving the Heriot’s community. To bring me back to reality a gentle voice called out “Is that you Vanita?” Well blow me down, it was Vineet Lal (1983), one of the school Governors who was four years above me
and also attending June Day. We went to the Greyfriars Kirk service together. Vineet magically organised a catch-up later on during my trip with Alan Jeffreys, an FP, former parent, Egyptologist and playwright who wrote The Aten. This was the ambitious 1983 whole-school drama production (a world premiere!) with Vineet playing the lead role of Akhenaten, while I was in the cast as was Anne Skinner as one of the six daughters of Nefertiti.
I experienced immense joy during my trip. Principal teacher Gemma Hay had organised for me to spend time with her S5 class, some of whom took me on a tour of the school. The taxidermy specimens were still in the biology laboratories - rooms now transformed into bright, modern facilities. Sadly, you can no longer light the gas taps! Mr Cowan's former Geography classroom brought back happy memories of Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday being played on a tape recorder for each of his form group on their birthday. With the benefit of hindsight, I now realise the joy he shared with us in doing this.
The trip evoked memories of challenging times (both at school and in later life) for some of those who I met. The ability to discuss difficult life events with ease among trusted school friends is testament to the enduring nature of connections created at Heriot’s,
and I hope these conversations helped to provide some healing and resolution. We are hoping to organise a 1987 get together for our 40-year leaving anniversary.
During the trip I took time to tour Edinburgh, visiting the National Library of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and the Surgeons’ Hall Museums. I am embarrassed to admit that I had never visited them when I lived in Edinburgh, nor had I recognised or paid much attention to the history of this magnificent city. It was for the first time that I learnt about the Edinburgh
Seven, the first group of women doctors to matriculate in medicine who experienced considerable resistance. I was touched to receive a copy of their story with a handwritten note from the author, Janey Jones, also an FP, organised by a wonderful fellow Herioter who also attended Gill's celebration.
It is my sincere hope that as Herioters we continue to care and enable ongoing healing for each other. In fond memory of Gillian Peters (nee Shiels, 1987) and thanks to whom so many old friends were able to reconnect. Thank you, Gill. i
“If you want to work in the UK film industry, you have to be determined!”
…so says Andrew Orr, current Head of Original Film at Sky. ‘A love of film’ is not enough, you have to be driven and want this role!’
‘In the UK film and TV sector, we punch above our weight commercially, we create leading actors and film directors, think of Christopher Nolan and Tom Holland as just two examples.
When I started out, most of my friends were taking established routes
into careers such as accountancy and medicine. Film has no structured pathway! There is a natural filtration system which requires you to be hungry, resourceful and determined, with a huge amount of enthusiasm.
I grew up during the 1990’s when there was a huge explosion in independent cinema with films like Pulp Fiction, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Trainspotting. Seeing Shallow Grave, which was filmed in Edinburgh blew my mind!
I studied law at Aberdeen and spent two years looking for openings in film. Most of the film industry work takes place in London, pre-email so there were many months of letter writing and long trips by train for interviews, often cancelled at the last minute by which time you had spent 9 hours travelling.
I had no film industry connections. A friend of a friend of my mothers had directed episodes of Taggart, but sadly he couldn’t help. In my late teens I worked as a runner on a local film being made in East Lothian but soon learnt I had no interest in going into production – my aim was to be involved with the business side.
Finally, one of my letters landed. I was interviewed and offered a role after I graduated with Universal Pictures International (formerly Polygram) as an assistant to the Head of International Distribution. The British film industry is small. The one person who helped me 25 years ago is someone I still work with today.
Universal was a terrific learning curve. As an assistant I did everything- including filing, worked at a granular level. The first film I released was Notting Hill, a great film to start with. Everyone wanted it, so coordinating worldwide distribution was a brilliant baptism of fire. My final slate involved releasing Micky Blue Eyes, Being John Malkovich and a small film called The Dancer which, when that title could no longer be used, changed to Billy Elliot.
Fairly early on I took a job in a sales company to market British films abroad via to markets in Berlin, Toronto, Cannes and LA. A while later I was approached to set up a sales company which I ran for 15 years, including using my law degree to negotiate contracts and handle acquisitions whilst also reading scripts. We produced films such as We Need Talk About Kevin with Tilda Swinton, The Falling, starring Maisie Williams and Florence Pugh and Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans. We also worked on the financing and international distribution of films such as What We Did on our Holiday starring Billy Connolly, Moon starring Sam Rockwell, Starred Up starring Jack O’Connell and Exit Through the Gift Shop, a documentary made by Banksy. It’s fair to say I’m a generalist in my career. I can do many different things, which is useful in a small sector.
At school I was academic and did well in my Highers. I played a lot of sport and played the Trumpet - in the Orchestra and in the Concert band, – I did everything I could and a lot around music. We played some great film themes including the theme from the Indiana Jones movies and Beverly Hills Cop, cementing my love for film soundtracks! This variety certainly helped my career.’
Andrew is a third generation Herioter. His grandfather, Sir John Orr was a Foundationer at Heriot’s and the Chief of Police for Lothian and Borders as well as the President of the SRU. His father, John Orr studied at Heriot’s, was a surgeon at the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh and President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Andrew’s brother John Orr also attended Heriots and is an Anaesthetist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. i
Former Pupil Profile Feature
Former Pupil Hugh Dickson (1981) is sailing across the Pacific Ocean. The good news is that after 4,208 miles and 34 days at sea without seeing land, he arrived safe and sound in French Polynesia. It was a good spot to relax and enjoy the sunshine, whilst also starting the never-ending rounds of boat maintenance and cleaning. Hugh’s arrival anchorage is shown alongside, with some new neighbours… Manta rays! There were about 20 of them spending time by the boat! After hanging out with the mantas, Hugh covered a further 1,000 miles through the Marquesas, Tuamotos and Society Islands archipelagos, and is now in Bora Bora. The islands are very different: the low-lying atolls of the
Tuamotos, with classic beaches and palm trees, to the mountainous terrain of Bora Bora and the Society Islands. Along the way, Hugh has met more neighbours, from the tiki sculptures ashore to the sharks of the Tuamotos. The image of the grey reef sharks was taken on Founders Day – a slightly different assembly from the Founders Day in the Quad that Hugh remembers. i
I have had an affinity for small boats ever since mucking about in variously decrepit versions as a young lad on the Forth at Fisherrow. So, it was natural that I leapt at the chance when I could choose rowing as my school sport. The spartan amenity of the boathouse at Craiglockhart did not deter (George Watson’s next-door was luxurious by comparison), nor did a weed-choked canal, nor aggressive swans. Pretty soon I discovered that I could row rather well. This was by no means a cause for boast, it simply came naturally, and under the encouraging tutelage of our rowing Master, T.J.C. Dennis, I was soon in the stroke seat of the First Crew.
The bow man, Ian McGee and I were relative lightweights, whereas Ian Wellesley at 3 and John McDonald at 2 were massive yet tidy and our talented coxes, Angus, succeeded by brother Kenneth Macdonald demanded discipline and good boatmanship. As can sometimes happen by luck rather than design, we five individuals knitted perfectly together, both physically and mentally. On the Union Canal it is impossible to have side-by-side races and so gauging competitive speed was difficult, but to our surprise we started winning regattas, first winning the Schools Cup at the Clyde Regatta of 1960. It may be of interest to recall that in those days the Clyde was so polluted that anyone unlucky enough to fall into the water had to be taken swiftly to hospital and their stomach washed out! Our potential must have been recognised, for good old Mr Dennis
arranged for the school to buy a brand new boat for the club. I can still smell the fresh, gleaming varnish and recall the way the seats seemed to glide on air, not runners. I guess the investment was rewarded, because wins followed in the coxed four at Edinburgh University Regatta, Loch Lomond Regatta and the 1961 Clyde Regatta. The successes of which we were most proud came at the end of that season, winning the Scottish Junior Championship on a choppy Loch Lomond and, sweetest of all, beating arch-rivals George Watson’s to become the Scottish Schools Champions of 1961, after a very tight final on the Clyde.
Four of us left school that year to go in different academic directions and, as far as I know, I was the only member to continue rowing. I entered Medical School and rowed for Edinburgh University First Eight; although training was mostly in fours, we competed in eights, including in the gruelling Tideway Head of the River Race, over 4.25 miles from Mortlake to Putney on the Thames - the same course as the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race in the opposite direction!
In 1963, or thereabouts, we rowed against Glasgow University in the final of the Scottish Universities Championship in Aberdeen, finished at least a length ahead of Glasgow but were disqualified after Glasgow appealed on the basis that we had steered under the wrong arch of the bridge over the Dee, despite the fact that, by doing so we had actually rowed a longer course! We offered a re-row but that was rejected by Glasgow, a blatantly unsportsmanlike decision. I don’t think our splendid cox ever recovered from the embarrassment.
My career then took me to Churchill College, Cambridge where I had the privilege of rowing in the College First Eight, and of being coached by Canon Noel Duckworth, who had been the cox of the British Eight at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. We won the ‘Head of the Cam’ Fairbairn Cup in 1970 on home water and competed in the Tideway Head. However, we failed to achieve the magical three overlaps in the May Bumps of that year.
I coached various Churchill crews on the Cam, including ladies' crews bursting
for the recognition they deserved, and also rowed occasionally in the Rob Roy Rowing Club eight but it was in a much smaller craft that my most enjoyable rowing days were to be. Arranging training outings to suit the timetables of the nine crew members of an eight is difficult. I frankly never liked the rather impersonal feel of an eight compared with a four, and so the opportunity to row a coxless pair with Dr Dan Moore, a post-doc from Princeton working in Stephen Hawking's lab, seemed a perfect solution.
The Churchill boat was aptly named ‘Three’s a Crowd’, and training was easily arranged daily on the Cam, with coaching by Canon Duckworth, and circuit training twice a week at the famous Fenner’s Gym (featured in Chariots of Fire). Dan and I were lightweights and well balanced. Dan rowed bow, and for those not familiar with these boats, he was responsible for operating the rudder through a complicated mechanism of a swivelling foot-piece and wires running aft. Over the mid-to late 70’s, with our 35-foot pair tied to the roof of Dan’s faithful Volvo, we competed at regattas across the Southeast including Marlowe and Molesey Sprint, winning
the Prince Philip Cup for Elite B coxless pairs at Oxford Royal Regatta in 1973. We competed, unsuccessfully, in the Silver Goblets and Nickall’s Challenge Cup event at Henley and, gluttons for punishment, twice rowed the 30.6 mile Lincoln to Boston Marathon, finishing second-fastest pair in 1977.
When my family and I returned to Scotland in 1980, my competitive rowing days were over. Well, almost. I organised and participated in relay rowing marathons on Loch Fyne, from Lochgilphead to Tarbert and back, in everyday small rowing boats with sponsorships in aid of the Argyll and Bute Hospital. Most, but not all of my rowing miles were achieved on a sliding seat!
I owe many things to George Heriot’s, and certainly not least the introduction to competitive rowing that enriched twenty years of my life as a participant, and that continues to be a source of pride and enjoyment. The success of Scottish rowers at Olympic level in recent decades would have been unimaginable in 1960, and it is now truer than ever that a start on the Union Canal can put you on a course where the sky is the limit. i
Starting on Saturday 24 August 2024, when the 2’s and 3’s finished the season with victories. The 3’s crushed Morton 2’s by 9 wickets, enabling us to pip Dunbar to 8th place in Division 4. One of the few benefits in the tardiness of my communication is that I can confirm that, because of Edinburgh South’s emerging victory from the Eastern Premier League Play-Off, the 3’s will be competing in Division 4 again next season. The 2’s overcame Livingston by 5 wickets, with Skipper, Hammer instrumental in the run chase with a knock of 87. This ensured a 4th place finish in a competitive Championship, meeting the aim of being the highest placed 2nd XI in the division.
Whilst the 2’s and 3’s were doing business at Goldenacre, the 1’s headed to Victory Park. An excellent bowling performance saw Meigle skittled for 91, thanks in large part to 5 for 45 from Niall Alexander. The figures were even more impressive given that he was required to bowl 12 balls to complete his second over! This total was comfortably chased down, with Peter Ross continuing from his ton the previous week and adding another 42*. Given the swift finish, I was back home when the news came through that Grange had lost to RHC, thereby handing us the title with a week to spare. We were League and Cup winners.
The following weekend, we took
our title winning team to Lochlands, Arbroath, and confirmed our winning credentials in style with a 216-run win.
As winners of the Eastern Premier League, this ensured that we had one last game to play, taking on Western Premier winners, Clydesdale, in the Premier League Grand Final. This is a fixture in which we had appeared twice previously but were yet to win. Gavin Main was the man charged with the task of bowling the last over and did a magnificent job, taking the final wicket with 2 balls to spare, securing a 4-run
Former Pupil Ian Maxwell (1973) has been busy doing research on the school’s Sub-aqua group and is writing an article about the group for our next issue of Quadrangle.
Ian was a member of the Sub-aqua group from 1968 to 1973, and for a few years after he left school. As it was an unusual school activity, Ian is interested
to find out more about how the Sub-aqua group started and what happened to it when he left.
If you were a member of the Subaqua group during your time at Heriot’s and would like to share your memories or stories of being in the club or contribute to Ian’s research, please don’t hesitate to contact Ian on imaxwell@gn.apc.org i
victory. We were treble winners! Nods to Gav and Watty who both took 3 for in defending the run chase, and a special mention for the safest hands in cricket, Ryan Brown, with 3 catches including that of the Berrington.
We now have 3 trophies on display in the Old Pavilion and if you wish to see them in the flesh, we will be holding our End of Season Awards on 26 October and the AGM on 30 November - timings to follow.
Alan Hogarth i
The Heriot's FP Golf Club has celebrated the season successes at its annual dinner held at Goldenacre, hosted by captain Grahame Clarke (1983).
We were superbly entertained by our main guest, former football referee and lawyer, Willie Young. The audience was in constant laughter. He was ably supported by Chris Donkin (Captain of Braids Utd), who replied on behalf of the guests, recalling fond memories of his teaching practice at Heriot's in 1981. Donald Gray (1983) provided the toast to the guests, suitably making joyful fun of our kindred club guests. Our resident prize and raffle compère, Ian Thomson (1979), provided his usual wit and good humour.
Both as part of the club and as individuals, Herioters continue to have great successes. Innes Christie (1983) has completed a career hattrick of winning club championships at Junior, Men’s and this year at Senior level by winning the Mortonhall Seniors. Our young bucks of Scott Dickson, Steven Sinclair, Sam Hall, Fraser Christie, Elliot Innes and Ben Alexander were triumphant in winning the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Trophy (QE), defeating Glasgow High in the final at Royal Burgess GC.
Dave Campbell (1983) picked up a bundle of club prizes but also won the Lothian Seniors Championship. A terrific performance by Sam Hall saw him win the prestigious Lothians Championship, the Heriot Club Championship, as well as being a member of the winning QE team.
A special mention also to elder statesman and former school PE teacher Stewart Barnes, winning both the 'B' Championship and Ronnie Middleton Trophy. Still proving that age is no barrier to winning.
The Captain's Prize was awarded jointly to Graham Ewart, our retiring Honorary President, for his services to the club and wider Scottish golf over the past 70-years, and to Sam Hall for his tremendous achievements on the golf course.
The Golf Club currently has 196 members, easily the biggest non-course owning Golf Club in Edinburgh. We are eager to grow the membership further and break the 200 barrier. It's a great opportunity to keep in touch with former pupils and make new and lasting friendships. There are outings, competitions, and matches against other clubs. Membership is open to all former pupils, male and female and of all golfing abilities.
If you would like to join, please email secretary@heriotsfpgolfclub.co.uk or grahameclarke@aol.com. There is a small annual membership fee of £20, reduced to £5 for those under 25-years of age. i
Friday 31 October 2025. 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Carfraemill Hotel, Lauder TD2 6RA
This is our 69th Dinner and your attendance would be most welcome. If you can try and bring a friend or two along with you, it could make the evening even more enjoyable.
The ticket price this year will be £36 per person and £270 for a table of 8.
It would be brilliant to see a good turnout at the dinner this year, building on last year's great attendance.
Please contact Hugh directly in regard to booking your tickets and for more information.
hugh.henney1@gmail.com 07818 013 124 i
The FP Rifle Club has an illustrious history. At the outbreak of the Great War, Sir George McCrae raised a regiment to serve in France and facilities at the School were made available in the early years of the war for billeting and training of the men. These were far superior to the modest accommodation provided at other training grounds in the area and indeed a bridge was constructed from the playground to the Castle Brewery in the Grassmarket where men were more than happily billeted!
The rifle range beside the Greyfriars Gate was established in 1914 with funds provided by Former Pupils and our Rifle Club was founded in 1924 as target shooting had by then developed as a popular sport. A wall plaque in the range commemorates the event.
In our time we have had our successes and multiple champions worthy of mention include J Carruthers (the head janitor!), Bill Sivewright, Joe Myles, Struan Robertson, Ken Birss, Stewart Mackenzie, Chris Watson and David Aitken.
Regrettably the range was closed in 2014 and for some years we enjoyed the hospitality of Merchiston Castle School before securing use of the range of Balerno & Currie Rifle Club. The Heriots FPs are very grateful indeed to Balerno & Currie for offering use of their facilities.
A celebratory dinner was held in the Royal Scots Club on 21 November when our Captain, Stewart Mackenzie was presented with an award from the National Small-Bore Rifle Association
in recognition of his service to target shooting and not to be outdone the members presented Stewart with an engraved silver quaich to mark his service to the Club.
We do not know what the future holds. Small-bore target shooting is not as popular as it once was and we are now fewer in number but were delighted to reach our Centenary and being able to celebrate with our guests and members, past and present. But there does seem to be renewed interest in shooting at the school and we were pleased to host a number of pupils at Balerno in June last year for a friendly match – we hope this will signify a revival in this very addictive sport.
John R R Fowler (1968) i
Join the Hub today and build connections across the Herioter community, access career opportunities, enjoy events and reunions, upload thought pieces, life milestones, and explore ways of supporting Herioters around the globe or on your doorstep. Or just meet for a coffee with a like-minded Former Pupil, once a Herioter, always a Herioter. All from a simple profile.
To compliment your profile, you can get involved with these great online opportunities:
• Mentoring
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From Australia to South Asia, get to know your community from one of the 9 online.
Top fact:
We
• Professional Groups Networking with one of 14
• Special interest groups
Reconnect with your former extracurricular activities or start one of your own, currently we have 18 to choose from.
welcomed over 200 new online members, totalling some 2544 total online members from across the world, but we have lots more to go.
Will you help spread the word?
up?
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Add your name, answer the questions as required, and link with your school record Upload your photo (show us your good side)
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21 pupils from the Heriot’s Pipe Band enjoyed a spectacular few days in New York in the early part of the Easter holidays, featuring a Pipe Band Recital for parents, guests and former pupils in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church and culminating in a march down Sixth Avenue as part of the New York City Tartan Week Parade celebrations.
Of the 129 former pupils that live across the States, the Principal Gareth Warren and Development team (Ailsa Dent and Miranda Henderson) were able to meet with Bob Dewar (1980) based in Virginia, Alanna Dible (2004) via a Teams chat, based in Los Angeles, Ian Gallacher (1974) based in New York, David Gray (1981) based in Washington, Neil Gillies (2003), Graeme Hawkins (2002), Luke MacCleod (2012) and Justin Sharon (1987) based in New York, Cameron Letters (1980) based in Connecticut and Alf Merriweather (1972) based in San Francisco.
The US Herioters group is gathering momentum and if you would like to connect with US-based former pupils
listed above, please do reach out to them via the Herioter Hub, or contact the Development team.
The US Herioters group aims to foster connections and support networking for Herioters while in
the USA, as well as to help support the school in its fundraising efforts to generate funds for Foundation and Bursary places at George Heriot’s School.
For more information, please contact the Development team. i
Thank you to former pupils who spoke to S1 and S2 pupils in March as part of Careers Week. The School Hall was buzzing with stories of success, changed paths, lessons learned and busy lives.
Speakers featured creative leadership coach Nat Shering (1995), film producer Ken Petrie (2004), actor Emun Elliot (2001), Director of the Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre Dr Mirela Delibegovic (1995), Chair of ACE Scotland and a women in engineering
advocate Sarah Peterson (1991), Chief Risk and Credit Officer at Fitch Ratings, Richard Hunter(1986), Olympian rower and surgeon, Dr. Polly Swann (2006) and entrepreneur Graham Christie (1985). Herioters, we are so proud of you!
If you are interested in supporting the school through mentoring or careers advice, please contact the development team on dev@george-heriots.com to discuss this further. i
Heriot's held its first event for Foundationers on Saturday 21 June. Although the haar was hovering over Edinburgh, the weather did not dampen the BBQ festivities, as 40 Former Foundationers and a few current Foundationers came together to re-connect and reminisce over the time they spent at Heriot’s.
Governors Kate Cherry and Vineet Lal joined the event, with medals being presented to S6 leaving Foundation pupils.
Dean Goodfellow (2000) gave an emotive speech about the impact of the Foundation on his family, and S6 pupil Max spoke movingly about the support he had received from the school.
This event showed the importance of the Foundation and why it is still at the heart of Heriot's today. i
We were delighted to welcome back 60 Former Pupils to this year’s June Day celebrations which took place on Monday 2 June. Former Pupils joined us from all over the UK and others even made the journey from as far afield as Australia and the USA. Our Founder, George Heriot, was remembered by a wonderful ceremony on the lawns, followed by a lovely service at Greyfriars Kirk and then refreshments in the Staff Room (Old Refectory).
Former Pupils recalled memories of their own June Days whilst at school and tales were told of how June Day celebrations had changed over the years. We hope you can join us for next year’s celebrations, please book via the Herioter Hub. i
On Friday 11 October, George Heriot's hosted a magical evening at Prestonfield House to celebrate the closing of the We are all George Heriot campaign. The evening proved a celebration, with current and former parents, former pupils, staff and Governors, friends of the school and valued donors enjoying all the evening had to offer.
Guests experienced a five-star evening facilitated by James Thomson (1976) and his wonderful team at Prestonfield House. The charming host, Grant Stott, kept us entertained, laughing and to time. Throughout the evening guests were entertained by
Edinburgh Magician Grant Mitchell and the wonderful Eliot Murray Band. Guest speaker Gavin Esler (1971) offered context to the evening, speaking with passion about the transformative power of education, telling those gathered how a George Heriot's Bursary and education changed the path of his life. Gavin recounted a selection of fascinating stories included in his next book, covering personalities from the world of politics and beyond, such as Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, and best of all the leading lady of Country Music and Philanthropy, Miss Dolly Parton. As Gavin said, who thought a night about George Heriot would draw so many similarities to the Queen of Country! Please take the time to read Gavin’s speech on page 14.
The purpose of the evening was to raise funds for the We Are All George Heriot campaign to provide a six-year bursary place for a new Senior School pupil: guests did not disappoint. The Silent Raffle saw one lucky guest leave with a beautiful Gold and Diamond Necklace, valued at £1,550, kindly donated by Paterson & Co, all for the price of one £20 raffle ticket. The evening continued with a fun game of Hit & Miss, and spectacular Silent and Live Auctions which helped raise a massive £33,245. This brought the total amount raised for the We Are All George Heriot campaign to a phenomenal £135,091.00.
Thank you to all our guests and of course donors to the evening; for providing such generous auction prizes, and to James Thomson for supporting the event with his typically modest generosity.
A wonderful end to a year that brought the Heriot’s community together and witnessed such a huge show of generosity through donations, time, effort, commitment and support.
Thanks to every single person involved. i
The School welcomed family, friends, donors and many others to a wonderful night of music at the Usher Hall in December 2024.
The pupils had a fantastic evening performing and impressed all those in attendance with their marvelous musical talents.
Thank you to the pupils, music department and audience for making the evening such a success. i
A June trip to Aberdeen saw 7 former pupils gather at Malmaison for coffee and drinks.
We were delighted to meet Mirela Delibegovic (1995), Alan Neill (1980), Laura Sarkis (1997), Lynne Brooks (Meikle) (1990), Sandy Macdonald (1959) and Jim McDonald (1970). Lynn’s father Bob was a Foundation pupil from Leith, and she recalled being an RAF Cadet and having the chance to fly from RAF Turnham, where Jimmy McPhee was a commanding officer. Jim, as the son of Former Principal Alan Macdonald who retired in 1983, had stories of school, of Willie Waitt, and of the Junior School teachers Miss. Stenhouse, Miss Redman and Miss Murray.
Mirela and Alan are leading a ‘Herioters in Aberdeen’ group so if you live in the area, please do join this regional group on the Herioter Hub. i
In November 2024, Herioters from across six decades joined together at the festively cozy surroundings of The Old Queen Street Café, Westminster.
We hope Former Pupils enjoyed the evening, including hearing about the successful School inspection, the monumental fundraising efforts to
secure new Bursary places and the launch of the new Bursary Today Club.
We look forward to seeing you again at the next Winter drinks event, once more, at Old Queen Street Café on the 27 November 2025. Book your free ticket today via the Herioter Hub! i
Thirty Herioters came together at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square on the 3 June to celebrate the life of George Heriot. Together we enjoyed a heart-warming service led by the Reverend Andrew Woodward, who reminded all gathered of the importance of George Heriot and his legacy.
Miranda Henderson and Julie Beattie attended from the school, and we were delighted to see them. We sang the school song before retiring to the ‘Lightwell’ for refreshments and then on to a local hostelry for more FP chat and merriment. Did you know that the ‘Heriot Lamp’ hangs in St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, the resting place of George Heriot?
Covid had its impact upon meetings of the London Heriot community, so we were delighted to see a sizeable group of Former Pupils get together for our own June Day celebration and over the last year, at other social events. Class of 1988 saw five FPs reunited (Caroline Easton, Graeme McLellan, Jonathon Lands, Emilia Yau and Robert Brown) and there was much to catch up on after so many years! Younger members have brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the London FP community, and we hope that all Herioters moving to London will feel welcome and encouraged
to build an active alumnus for the future.
Inspired by the marvellous 400Year campaign led by the school last year, a group of London Herioters got together and now the group has its own momentum. We are an open and friendly group and enjoy social catch ups and an active WhatsApp group. If you are in or around London, or even passing through, please get in touch as we would love to see you.
We are determined to build our London community and to encourage and maintain friendships and help and support FPs who have moved south. Please don’t be shy! Get in touch and you will be warmly welcomed at events and social gatherings. The next is run by the school on 27 November at the Old Queen Street Cafe, sW1H 9HP, tickets are available for this event via the
On Saturday 10 May we welcomed back the classes of 1985 –1995 to the After Many Years reunion. With Heriot’s basking in sunshine, 65 Former Pupils enjoyed tours of the school, which evoked powerful memories and tales of their time at Heriot’s.
The tours were followed by a drinks reception and lunch in the Refectory. Nat Shering (1995) gave a compelling speech about the lessons she learned at Heriot’s and how the Heriot’s ethos and staff prepared her for life after Heriot’s.
Kerstin Danert (1990), one of the first girls to be School Captain also spoke fondly about her time at Heriot’s. Kerstin enjoyed pushing the boundaries as one of the first girls, breaking rules that applied to boys but had not yet been revised to include girls and told her fellow classmates about how Heriot’s motto of ‘Distributing Chearfullie’ continues to inspire and influence her long after her school days. i
Herioter Hub. The London group is also planning a Burns Supper for January 2026.
We are keen to grow our network, across ages, and build a community that embraces the ethos built by George Heriot, distributing friendship, knowledge, experience and contacts chearfullie.
Contact Connor Lurring (me@ connorl.com) to go onto our distribution list and Caroline Evans (caz44evans@ gmail.com) if you want information on our next events.
You can also contact the development office if you have any queries.
Robin Baxter (1969) i
An excerpt from the war diary of Corp William Adamson (1931) February 1945 – 6th Seaforth Highlanders
William Adamson was a Foundationer
Pupil at George Heriot’s elected 1 July 1924 and attended until July 1931, from his records we note the following comment on William as a pupil: ‘Quiet demeanour, neat handed, tidy, good workers, Polite, obedient.’
After School and before the war, William was apprenticed on October 1931 as a Linotype operator at the Edinburgh Evening News, with a school subsidy allowance until May 1935.
On the death of his Father, Roy Adamson discovered his father's diaries and has kindly supplied the school with excerpts from his war diaries, some of which is in copy here.
From June 1940
City of Edinburgh 292 Heavy Anti-Aircraft battery – Royal Artillery
17 March 1941 – Monday Sighthill, Edinburgh
The weekend leave party straggled off the Corporation bus at Sighthill terminus and with long faces and dragging steps made their way along the Calder Road towards the Sighthill camp. As we approached that hutted encampment, the trained eye observed some unfamiliar goings-on inside the perimeter fencetwo sentries at the gate (instead of one) and Sergeant (forever the show off) parading up and down in front of the guardroom with a rifle and fixed bayonet (fixed bayonet! - unheard of) slung over his shoulder. He did not appreciate the banter as we entered the guardroom and were signed in but gleefully informed us that the camp was now closed to the outside world and that all further information would be forthcoming at the first parade. We didn't need two guesses to know what that would be! The long expected had caught up with us. We were on the move!
1 May 1941 – Thursday
At Sea – RMS Aronda
Since I finished the last letter, we are away at sea. The weather has been good. We have had a few showers, but they never last long. There has been a bit of wind too and that has caused the sea to rise a little and make the boat rock. I have been seasick. I thought I
would have been able to take it but well there it is. Perhaps if I had been on an ocean liner with a grand cabin to sleep in I might have been able to keep "all" down, but the stuffiness, in the morning, when we get up has been a match for the strongest stomach. It is only in the morning that I really feel bad. I got a tip from one of the boys to eat plenty of biscuits. I took his advice. Thursday morning, I shoved my breakfast down with an effort, but it was no sooner down, then up it came.
We are gradually moving souththings are getting warmer. This is Friday. There has been a strong wind but the sun is shining out of the clear blue sky. You ought to see my face - it is the colour of a beetroot. We saw a sailing ship todayaway to the starboard. We do not know
its nationality - but it was strange to see a ship sailing alone and unattended. Just as if it had stepped out of a page of history.
9 – 14 May 1941
Docked Freetown, West Africa.
10 May 1941 – Saturday
First Port Of Call – Freetown, Sierra Leone – West Africa.
We have reached our first port of call – restrictions forbid me to mention its name or where it is situated. All I can say is that it is a foreign land. It was good to see land after having seen nothing but water for quite a while. We saw it early in the morning at 5 o’clock, as a misty headland rising out of the horizon. Gradually it took shape as we rounded the headland into a bay
the like of which many of us had never seen before. Hills, covered with trees and shrubs rolled down to the sea. There were trees about the size of oaks growing along the shore and among those trees and dotted about the hills were houses and bungalows. We dropped anchor and it was not long before the bumboats came along side. These boats are canoes of all shapes and sizes and colours. They contain anything from mangoes, bananas, pineapples, baskets, scarves, candles and live chickens. The means of transport between customer and salesman is a basket on a long piece of cord. The cord is weighted and slung up to the deck then the customer hauls up the goods. It is not so much money they are after but old clothes. I believe you would get a boat etc for a good suit. However we were not allowed to buy anything. The Medical
Officer is afraid of contamination and fever, for you can never tell where the goods have come from. But it is annoying to see all the fruit sailing by and not be able to do anything about it.
There is very little twilight here. And it is dark in about ten minutes. There is little or no blackout. Lights twinkle among the trees and from the ships. It makes one think of peace and the better things of life. It was really a wonderful night. Calm sea, cool breeze, twinkling lights and a great yellow moon shedding its light over the water, we have had plenty of time to wallow in the wonders of a tropical night just now but, personally, I would rather have an east wind and rain in " Auld Reekie " any time. This is mainly about HEAT. Heavens! I have never been so hot. Every time I move the sweat runs off me. It
soaks everything. As I was sitting at tea tonight, all I was wearing was my gym pants. After drinking tea, I could see the sweat oozing out of my arms and I could feel it running down my back.
At mealtimes the heat is at its worst. That is when everyone is in the mess deck. It’s terrible. While we are in port and every night we cover ourselves with cream and hope that it will keep the mosquitoes off. (We do smell grand).
16th May 1941
Crossed Equator at 17.48 hours. No Ceremony.
21 May 1941
Dreadful storm around Cape.
25 May 1941 – Sunday Storm At Sea
Things began to hum here on Friday night. There has been a high wind all day and banks of mist hanging around. The real trouble started about 2.30 on Saturday morning. The boys sleeping on deck were rudely awakened at that unearthly hour by a downpour of heavy rain. This sent most of them below in a hurry where they proceeded to awaken the rest of us with their moans and groans. Once having been awakened it was not easy to get to sleep again. It was then that I felt the heavy rolling of the ship. Dishes were rattling in their cupboards and Dixies were sliding about under the tables. I heard water running on the floor followed by an oath. What the ******? A ventilation shaft
from our deck and under which a chap was sleeping had collected a basinful of the briney and deposited it in the unfortunate’s hammock. When 6am came the boat had decided to roll and it was all one could do keep balanced while shaving. One or two left hurriedly from the breakfast table, but very few. It was a fine morning when I came on deck. The wind was howling through the rigging and the sea was running high. I had to walk along the ‘sharp end’ of the boat just to see the sea and got soaked for my inquisitiveness. At mealtimes, dishes slid all over the place and it was often difficult to know whether you were eating out of your own plate or that of the chap next to you. Things came tumbling down off racks. One or two lads got nasty smacks with tin hats. Very few folks, if any, slept on deck that night. We got our hammocks up and went to bed. It felt queer to look along the rows of hammocks and watch them all swinging too and fro in perfect harmony. I dropped off to sleep and then CRASH! Bright lights twinkled around me for a moment before I could gather what had happened. The right side of my face was stinging. I looked for the cause of my misfortune and found a tin hat and a gas mask lying in my hammock. You can imagine my feelings towards that ‘companion set ‘. I lifted it delicately between forefinger and thumb and tossed it on to the floor. It could do no more harm there. I was awake now and took stock of my surroundings. Oh boy! Were we rolling! She must have been doing 45 degrees
to either side. After my accident I slept fitfully. Every time the ship lurched a little heavier than usual I would cock my eye up to the racks and wait, but nothing else came my way.
Round the Cape of Good Hope Breakfast was a bit of a nightmare. Dishes went sliding along tables and crashed on to the floor. We had boiled egg and bacon and it became a common sight to see an egg bouncing down the table and disappear over the end. You could not stop it either. You were too busy holding on to your own goods. Then someone would forget to hold a plate or mug and the offending article would come rushing down the table clearing everything before it. The table was soaked in tea and the floor was swimming in water. Many lads had a slide along the floor at the expense of a pair of wet pants. However, once on deck, what a sight! Great walls of water surrounded the ship and seemed to engulf her one moment and then we would be ‘way up’ a 'sky’ looking down at it all. You would stand at the rail and see a great wall of water about 30 feet high come racing towards you. A funny feeling would come upon you. What if the boat did not rise again and all that water came pouring onto the deck? But the wall would disappear under the boat and leave you looking down into a great blue- green pit. It was only when you caught a glimpse of some other boats, rearing and tossing, that you realised what was happening to yourself.
On Monday morning the wind
was still high and the sea rough but the worst was over. By teatime the wind had dropped and the sea was a gentle roll. This was followed by the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. The sky was cloudless, and, as the sun sank on the horizon, it turned all shades of red and orange as far as the eye could see. The sky went through a similar change. It went from sky blue to powder blue and then gradually deepened to navy blue - then it was dark. The stars were very bright and there was no moon.
This is Tuesday morning and a beautiful morning too. We have sighted land! All that it amounts to just now is a low coastal range of hills with a higher and more rugged range for a background. I have seen smoke rising from several points but could not make out the cause of it. We expect to be in port very soon. We hope to get ashore but as far as we can gather we are not to be allowed to sightsee on our own. We are to go in parties with an N.C.O. (this will be great fun). Can you imagine the time I will have if I get into a party who are fond of pub-crawling? We've just had a glimpse of the harbour. It looks great. Behind the great cranes and sheds we can see very modern buildings. They are of the American type, slim, high and gleaming in the sun.
End of excerpt.
A more complete version has been stored the school archives, and an electronic copy can be requested through the Development Office. i
The activities of Former Pupils worldwide from Canada to Australia feature in these pages, but one of the most loyal groups is one that meets in Belgrade, Serbia to celebrate every June Day. The group are not Former Pupils, but descendants of the twenty-seven Serbian refugee boys who were educated at Heriot’s during WW1, having survived starvation and unimaginable privations before they were welcomed into the School that would change
their lives. The first ten arrived in 1916 and were joined by another seventeen during the course of the war. The last of the boys left the School in 1919, most going on to Higher Education either in Edinburgh or Serbia.
The School turned the tattered and bewildered group of boys who arrived at Waverley Station in August 1916 into fluent English speakers. It also turned them into rugby players who started the first rugby club in Serbia after the
war. It was said that the Serbian refugee students who were educated in Britain returned to their homeland as atheists and Bolshevists. Heriot’s however sent them back as engineers. It also returned a doctor, economist, postal worker, bank manager, school teacher, dentist, army officer, geographer, and director of an insurance corporation. They were the most devoted of Former Pupils who met annually in Belgrade until the early 80s. The last of the boys, Dimitije Dulkanovic, died in 1995, aged 95, and was buried in Zemun, outside of Belgrade, in his old school tie.
Their descendants continue the June Day tradition and met in Belgrade in February 2025. In the photograph are Branislava Stefanovic-Skoko, the daughter of Dr Dimitrije Dulkanvovic, Jelena Stankovic, the grand-daughter of Zivoin Kovacevic and Svetomir Marjanovic, who shares the same name as his grandfather.
A note from Louise:
My involvement with the descendants of the Serbian Herioters was the lucky result of going down a rabbit hole, one of many, while writing a book on Flora Sandes, the only Western woman to enlist and fight in the First World War after she joined the Serbian Army in 1915. This rabbit hole led me to email Fraser Simm, Heriot's thenarchivist who couldn't have been more helpful in showing me the School's collection on these boys. These archives were featured in two documentaries that were broadcast in Serbia, alongside other national publicity, following which a number of the descendants of these boys came forward. In 2016 I worked with Gemma Hay to bring nineteen of them, plus two Ambassadors, to the School's June Day celebrations, one hundred years almost to the day of the arrival of their fathers and grandfathers. It is now a family affair, with Tom (S5), also involved in flying the flag for Heriot's during our visits to Serbia. i
The CWGC Venray War Cemetery is situated on the outskirts of the village of Venray in the South-East of the Netherlands. Here rest 692 Commonwealth servicemen and 1 civilian (a war correspondent). Most of the men were killed during the liberation of the area around Venray and the Northern part of Limburg between October 1944 and March 1945.
The Dutch foundation Stichting CWGC Venray War Cemetery is a small private foundation. The main goal of the foundation is to keep the memory of the 693 men buried in Venray alive. To achieve this goal, members of the public were given the opportunity to (symbolically) adopt a grave; all graves have now been adopted. The Foundation asks its adopters to visit the graves regularly and to lay flowers. In addition, the Foundation, together with its adopters and researchers, are looking for photos and information of the soldiers and airmen.
These photos are printed on metal plates that are placed in front of the graves on Remembrance Day, Christmas Eve and on other special commemorative occasions. Where possible we also try to give each man his story; where he lived, his job, how he died, etc.
The Foundation has now found almost 500 photos but sadly that also means that almost 200 photos are still missing.
On Sunday, 13 October 2024, a special memorial service took place at the Venray War Cemetery to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Venray. These young soldiers and airmen,
who gave their lives for the freedom of others were remembered. The Stichting Adoptiegraven Foundation invited the families of the fallen to Venray to commemorate their loved ones. We were blessed to have over 100 British guests who all made the journey to Venray to honour their family member, some of whom did not even known where their relative was buried before we reached out to them.
After the service, the British guests along with the adoptees of the graves, were invited to lunch at the Town Hall with the Mayor of Venray. This was followed by a film made by a local man, a war veteran from the Dutch Army, and an adoptee of one of the graves. This moving film showed the 178 days in the life of his adopted soldier from landing on D-Day to his death. The weekend concluded with the planting of a Liberation Tree in the town of Venray.
If you look closely at the photograph above, you will see the faces of our Venray soldiers and airmen, and we continue to search for photographs.
We hope that the above gives you some insight into what our Foundation does and how important it is to the families, the adoptees, the Foundation and the Dutch people that these men are remembered.
Stichting Adoptiegraven CWGC Venray War Cemetery
info@adoptiegraven-venray.nl www.adoptiegraven-venray.nl
If you can help with any of the 200 photos that are still missing, do get in touch with the Stichting CWGC Venray War Cemetery Foundation. Remembering our war lost is important, some of our very own Herioters found their final resting place across Europe. i
Continuing our series of Generations of Herioters, we are delighted to introduce the Walker Family. We sat down with Euan Walker (1961), to discover a family connection to Lauriston Place dating back almost 150 years.
The Walker family’s association with Heriot’s began in 1880, when Euan’s maternal grandfather, Robert Charles Moore (1886), was accepted as a non-residential scholar to the school. Following 6 years as a pupil at Heriot’s, Robert went on to work as a Printers Manager at T&A Constable in Edinburgh.
In 1906, Robert’s daughter, Margaret Moore was born. Margaret followed in her father’s footsteps to Lauriston Place and gained a position in 1934 to teach in the infant department at Heriot’s, a source of great pride for her father.
Whilst teaching at the school, Margaret fell in love with fellow teacher Gilton McAllister Walker, who was an Art teacher appointed in 1932; Margaret and Gilton were married in 1938. As was the custom at the time, Margaret left her position as a teacher and dedicated her time to raising her family.
The couple had two sons, Alan Robert Walker (born 1940) and Euan Walker (born 1943). Continuing the family tradition, both boys spent their school lives at Heriot’s with Alan leaving in 1957 and Euan leaving in 1961. During
the boys’ time at Heriot’s, their father continued to teach Art at the school. Mr Walker became well known amongst the pupils, heading up many school trips to Austria in the 1950s.
During the mid-1950s Gilton led a number of Easter trips to Austria. On one occasion, Mr Walker and 2 staff members took 30 pupils to Igls in the Austrian Tyrol, who were accompanied by Principal W McL Dewar, together with his daughter (pictured left). Towards the end of the trip problems arose because of a strike by French railway drivers which caused all trains to be cancelled, leaving the Heriot’s party stranded in Austria. Fortunately, Mr Walker worked quickly with the local tour agent Frank Burre and arranged travel back home for the Heriot’s pupils and staff through Germany, using the original tickets and at no additional cost!
Gilton continued to work as an art teacher at Heriot’s until his retirement in 1970. Prior to that date the Principal teacher of the Art Department – My J Ryrie – retired and a new head was appointed – Alastair McCheyne, who happened to be Gilton’s cousin. Euan’s connection to Heriot’s remains strong to this day, as he recently came back to visit the school to share his family history and a wonderful archive of photographs.
If you have a family connection to Heriot’s that you would like to share, the Development Team would love to hear from you! Please contact dev@georgeheriots.com or 0131 221 6716. i
I left Heriot’s in 1965, so you can imagine a horror mixed with delight when I cried out one day: ‘They’ve taken in girls!’
The changing times had crept up on my old school and ‘boys only’ wasn’t paying the bills. My past met my present. A new-found emotional susceptibility was stirred, and my schooldays opened up like a flower. Life is not just about today—it’s about all your days. What I was once, I told myself, is a part of what I am now.
That once was a little Edinburgh
schoolboy in a blue blazer who got off the Number 18 bus and strolled up Lauriston Place, his khaki gas-mask bag full of books, to his alma-mater—George Heriot’s. ‘Till that day I learned of girls being admitted, I’d thought little of it, other than when the occasional person I’d meet in London or Aberdeen said they’d heard of it. It was famous! By then I was a teacher myself in modern schools that had no history or cachet to compare with Heriot’s. They had dinner halls and breeze block walls, while we had a ‘refectory,’ ‘turrets’ and a ‘quadrangle,’ the latter filled on Founder’s Day with hundreds of voices belting out The Merry Month of June. I became proud again that I’d attended such a famous school, though living as a child in Edinburgh you became blasé about ‘famous schools.’
I went back during the holidays. I walked under the gateway and round the orange gravel of the terrace and stood looking over the balustrade to the tarred playground where we’d played football with a tennis ball. Memories like blowing up balloons only for reality to burst them: that space, remembered as a tarmac desert, had shrunk. You could easily throw a ball from one goal to the other. While I stood there in the shadow of that ancient building, I saw myself, a wee boy, his knees trembling under his grey trousers as the two best players would ‘pick sides.’ He’d stand there while two pairs of hard eyes scanned those left for the best of a bad bunch. One by one boys would be picked ‘till only the slow, the disliked or the unskilled were left. Cue me. I’m
always there, watching the captains’ eyes evaluating my size, my hair, that open goal I missed the other day. I laugh now, knowing I was playing football when I was fifty-five. That memory led to another in that playground.
One day, in a rush, I collided with Mr Hastie the games master. Heedless and distracted, I came to a halt against a wall of cloth. I looked up. A red face I knew stared down; a huge hand seized my collar. I was frog- marched past amused faces to his tiny room which smelled of sweaty gym-shoes and wet rugby balls. He opened a drawer and lifted out his old brown belt with the two stiff tongues. I offered my hand as you always did. One stroke. The sting like that of a large angry wasp. Another stroke. The sting again, even more painful. I was ushered out clutching my ruddy hand with a ‘Watch where you’re going in future!” Such casual violence was de rigeur, and later, as a teacher myself, I succumbed. Latterly in my career the belt disappeared, replaced by more humane punishments. Perhaps there would be happier memories inside where the bald Headmaster, gown flowing, would sweep through the classrooms with a ‘No need to get up-just passing through..’
I trudged up the steps of the Southeast tower, more worn than I remembered and found my English Classroom. Through the glass panel on the door, there I was, sitting reading Charles Lamb’s The Essays of Elia. Even the title of a thin little book called Roots and Derivatives’ came back to me:
how English words derive from Latin and Greek roots. Couldn’t imagine my own pupils these last thirty-odd years settling for that. Time didn’t change at the same pace as it does now, nor had the notion of ‘relevance’ dawned on the teaching profession. That book may have been studied in that room for forty years or more. I imagined my little fingers following the Latin “trans” down the page, to arrive at “transubstantiation.”
‘In a sentence please, Gartshore.’ Always your surname.
‘My teacher was transubstantiated from a horse into an admiral…’
But the horse’s transubstantiation was not wholly whimsical.
Each Friday, Cadet Corps day, scruffy Mr Gauld wore his naval uniform: black with gold crowns on the epaulettes and thick gold braid round the cuffs. I was taught English by Lord Nelson! ‘I see no relevance’ he should have said, looking through his telescope at our books. Friday was the day we came in our uniforms. Mr Gauld was of the Naval persuasion and consequently dressed as if he were an admiral. On Friday most of us were turned into little soldiers, sailors and airmen (officers of course, in embryo) waiting for three-thirty when we’d march round the playground to be barked at by sixth year boys. ‘Lef, lef, lef right lef…’
Thursday night you bulled your boots, applying a thick coat of black dubbin, heat a teaspoon, and rub the hot teaspoon into the polish. If you were clever, the grain of the leather on your toecap would be smoothed down ‘till it resembled
black ice. A shiny toecap was a badge of honour as was a knife-sharp crease in your trousers. The trick was to soap down the inside of the crease then iron it on the outside till the soap dried stiff, holding the crease tight. Shiny boots, sharpcreased trousers and that Tam-o’-shanter with the red bobble and you were set to board the number 18 bus.
Once a year the army cadets would board a train at Waverley Station and alight at Gleneagles for the camp at Cultybraggan near Comrie in Perthshire to sleep in bunks in a long cold Nissan Hut that had previously housed German prisoners of war.
We were issued with a rifle, a Lee Enfield 303 affair that was as heavy as a sledgehammer and had been used by troops in The Second World War. What might have felt fine for a man was a beast for a small thirteen-year-old - I can still feel the weight of it as my shoulder screamed. I drank gallons of Coca Cola in the Naffi and failed a Signals course. Spooling out drums of cable, learning call-signs and codes was not my bag. These were the days that framed me as todays will frame another generation. Now there are new buildings and Heriot’s girls in kilts with long shiny hair. The classroom made me smile. I had such fun at Goldenacre though the first fifteen was an unattainable dream.
I didn’t thrive at Heriot’s: I discovered my talents later, but I’ve never felt anything but pride that I was once a Herioter. i
Erik H. Forrest
Born 13 January 1925
Died 16 October 2024
Erik Harrower Forrest was born on January 13, 1925, in Edinburgh, Scotland to Sarah and Robert Forrest. He died in his sleep on Tuesday, October 16, 2024, at the age of 99 at home in San Diego, California. He was preceded in death by his wife A. Danuta Rumsza Forrest and is survived by his son Andrew K. Forrest and his daughter Fiona H. Forrest. As a child he attended George Heriot’s School.
In 1941 Erik enrolled in the Edinburgh College of Art and discovered a strong interest in Art Education –which would later become his focus and profession. The war paused his studies while he flew for three years in the British Fleet Air Arm Squadron. Then his studies continued in 1945 with a specialization in Drawing and Painting, and then to the University of Edinburgh for his diploma in Art Education in 1949.
He moved to Leeds, England and was an assistant Lecturer at the Leeds College of Art until 1962.
In 1957 he spent a summer in Salzburg studying Lithography. In 1962 Erik took a position as Senior Lecturer in Art Education at the Birmingham College of Art. In 1965 he was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, exchanging jobs and houses with an artist who took his place in Birmingham. In 1967 he did graduate work at the University of Warwick in Philosophy, then returned to Birmingham.
In 1969 he was Associate Professor of Art at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside. From 1977-1980 he was the Director of the School of Art at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Erik completed a PhD at Ohio State University in Philosophy in his 50’s. He then led the Art in England program at
Ohio University into the 1990s, retiring from his professorship in 1992.
In his late 60’s He moved from large scale oils and acrylic paintings to working on a computer. He shared this introduction to an exhibition of his gicleé prints: “Although principally a painter, I have worked also in etching and lithography. Recently I have begun to make gicleé, or inkjet prints, using a Macintosh computer and Photoshop software. The images are ‘drawn’ or ‘painted’ directly using a graphics tablet and then printed on a professional Epson printer. I use watercolor paper and archival inks. The sources are many and varied including subjects from previous paintings, direct observation, mainly in Ohio and California, and various imaginative reconstructions of events, moods, and feelings. And some at least started out as explorations of the fascinating things that the computer can do. I think that I’ve only scratched the surface of the aesthetic and technical possibilities, but I’m anxious to guard against the obvious temptations that the computer also offers. However, the ways
in which images may be manipulated are compelling, and I look forward to a long period of discovery.”
In 2012 Erik and Danuta moved to San Diego, California. He continued drawing on the computer until his last three years when he painted with watercolours. He also joined the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSD and enjoyed writing short life histories as an active member of the Memoirs class. Active until his final days he walked daily, read voraciously, and continued to enjoy the sunshine and flora in California.
Note: There have been one-man shows of paintings, prints, and drawings in Britain, Canada, and the United States. Articles have been published in British and American journals. His works can be found in collections of the Scottish National Gallery, Wakefield City Art Gallery, Nottingham City Gallery, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Beaver Work Art Gallery in addition to the Dairy Barn Gallery in Ohio and many private collections.
Fiona Forrest (Daughter) i
Memories of Bill Grant (1960)
Born 28 May 1942
Died 2 August 2024
I first met Bill in1955 when he was introduced to 89th Morningside Scout Group by his classmate Norman Anderson. They were in the year above myself.
The group was affiliated to Bruntsfield Church, Bill didn't have any Church connections but mixing with the Church Guide Company after Scouts he soon integrated, joining the Sunday Bible Class, junior badminton club on a Saturday afternoon, as we grew older, senior badminton on Saturday evenings and Youth Fellowship on Sunday.
When Norman was working towards his Queen's Scout award, one of the tasks was to build a bridge over a burn at Bonaly Scout campsite at Colinton. Bill and I were part of the team of builders. This bridge had to be built with poles and rope using all manner of scout lashings. It had to be sufficiently strong to pull a trek cart over. Of course we triumphed!
He seemed good at everything he touched, Rugby and Athletics for Heriot’s and Edinburgh University and of course badminton but always unassuming, a friend to all and with a lugubrious sense of humour.
About 1959, on Hogmanay, I recall sharing a can of McEwans Export with Bill at his parents' home, 'babysitting" his younger sister; his parents were out! BBC Scotland were bringing in the New Year with The White Heather Club, or a similar television programme, Duncan Macrae recited "The Wee Cock Sparra" which had us both in stitches, how many other FPs remember that? Possibly the McEwans had something to do with it!
We left Heriot’s, he went off to Edinburgh University, and our meetings were more sporadic, mainly in holiday time.
We did however get together at Norman Anderson 's wedding when Bill was Norman's Best Man, (I managed as an Usher)
George Ross, Class of 63, took over from Bill as Leader of the Owl Patrol and later when George went on to study Brewing, at Edinburgh, (good choice George), Bill was a demonstrator in the laboratories while doing his PhD.
Bill was offered a post at Leicester University; he had many offers and many scientific achievements to his name. He had worked through the ranks to become Professor with more than 260 papers published and many patents. Bill was a pioneer in the study of extremophilic microorganisms, found a new genus
which was named after him, ‘billgrantia’. He was pleased to tell me that three "bugs" were also named after him and the new genus. It is humbling to learn of the range of his accomplishments. He was contemplating sending an item to Margaret Peat for inclusion in Quadrangle, but Margaret retired before he wrote it, and it fell by the wayside.
His other loves were his wife Susan and his MG-GT. I think it only went out on sunny days with no hint of rain!
His birthday and mine are five days apart, we 'spoke' on my birthday in June, we discussed the oncoming summer not knowing what was ahead.
Gordon Paterson (1959) i
Former Pupils
Allen, Matthew (1947) died 11 April 2025 (Palo Alto, California)
Balfour, D Graham (1957) died 27 June 2025
Campbell, Hamish (1948) died 22 March 2025
Chalmers, William (Bill) (1944) died 6 July 2025
Clark, Pete (1967) died 5 April 2025
Cochrane, Derek Grant (1967) died 29 July 2025
Cohen, Brian (1957) died 16 May 2025
Cooper, James Morrison (1954) died 9 March 2025
Cowan, Jack David (1951) died 28 June 2025
Cumming, Crawford (1960) died 11 January 2022
Currie, Joseph McDonald (1955) died 12 September 2024
Dall, Graham (1993) died 9 May 2025
Doran, Iain A (1975) died 27 September 2024
Dredge, Sandy (Alexander) (1973) died 5 July 2025
Duncan, James (Scott) (1963) died 14 June 2025
Duncan, Neil J (1945) died 31 March 2024
Forbes, John D (1958) died 25 June 2024
Forrest, Erik (1941) died 16 October 2024
Flannigan, John Greig (1965) died 16 January 2025
Fleming, Ian (1950) died 6 February 2024
Grant, William D (1960) died 2 August 2024
Henderson, Grahame (1953) died 17 December 2024
Holywell, George (1962) died 22 January 2025
Hume, David (1972) died July 2025
Hutchinson, James Hogg (Jim) (1953) died 20 January 2025
Kellock, Brian (1981) died 27 May 2025
Kirkwood, Sandy (1961) died 16 November 2024
Mackay Smith, Robin (1957) died 10 May 2024
MacCallum, Duncan (1969) died 25 July 2024
Mallach, James (1955) died 23 March 2024
May, Douglas (1964) died 25 January 2025
McCaskey, Geoff (1983) died 7 June 2024
McClure, William (1958) died 21 October 2024
McMaster, Lawrence (1976) died Jan 2024
Meikle, Robert Scott (1964) died 10 July 2024
Munro, Rognvald T. L. (1962) died18 October 2024
Munro, Alan (1955) died 19 January 2024
Meldrum, Ian (1949) died 16 February 2024
Milne, David (1977) died 12 August 2025
O’Malley, Peter (1958)
Former Pupil and Former Governor died 15 December 2024
Orr, Thomas (1959) died 30 September 2024
Nicoll, Willie (1956) died 22 August 2024
Rankin, Robert Hugh (1958) died 31 May 2024
Stevens, William C (Bill) (1952) died 25 December 2024
Stoddart, Jeff (1952) died 1 April 2024
Suttie, Eric (1957) died 9 March 2024
Sykes, John Dawson (1959) died 16 November 2024
Tait, Eric (1963) died 31 May 2023
Taylor, David Sinclair (1961) died 6 June 2025
Thomson, Colin (1986) died 8 January 2025
Wake, Alexander (Sandy) died 9 February 2025
Barclay, John Fromer Master of Geography died 31 January 2025
Copland, Iain
Former Teacher of Business Studies died January 2025
Wake, Alexander (Sandy) Former Trust Office died 9 February 2025
Collated during lockdown and in the long contemplative months which followed, Memories of Heriots contains reflections from 87 former pupils, from 1935 through to 2003, recording stories from an array of characters who attended George Heriot’s School during these years.
From war time air raid duties and bombwatching to stories about cracking milk bottles in the playground, and the shocking consequences; from tales of memorable teachers and the notorious riding of a motorcycle into school; from the ‘12:10’ rush for lunch to playing the train times to one’s advantage, it is certainly a varied, unpredictable, and fascinating read.
The wonderfully curated opus ultimately paints a familiar and nostalgic picture of the pathway that pupils from Edinburgh, and beyond have walked over many sessions during their formative school years.
This 180-page, 245 x 280mm-sized book costs £65 (+ P&P) would make a superb gift for a fellow Herioter or an opportunity to personally purchase your own treasured snapshot in the 400-year history of the school.
Memories of Heriots can be purchased on the school website via the shop: www.george-heriots.com
It occurred to me whilst reading through Issue 45 of Quadrangle the significant work that is invested in creating such a publication. The coordination of articles, images and design is no small feat and when presented with each edition for my review and final piece, it is evident from the numerous edits and mark-ups the significant thought and diligence that goes into each contribution. This thread of personal industry continues with the authors behind each article capturing through imagery or surfacing memories of the past, a rich, interesting account of a ‘moment’ in their lives.
I am always fascinated by the stories that are unearthed or offered by our community. Corporal Adamson's war memoires, Serbian June day traditions, the generational attachment to the School and of course the individual visits and stories told with such affection. Maurice Gartshore’s bleak account of visits to Cultybraggen drew a wry smile, having lived close-by and visited the camp on numerous occasions, what was a ‘basic’ experience still with ‘slammer cells’ in operation, made a sharp contrast to the exploits of our CCF contingent who participated on 4 separate camps this summer. It is through these activities, whether CCF, the Pipe band, academic or sporting successes that draw a line connecting each class and each Heriot’s generation.
Heriot’s is in great health and has withstood the challenge of the introduction of VAT on fees that has inflicted damage on schools across
Scotland and the UK, some to their eventual demise. Whilst recognising that we need to build on our reputation and continue to be the School of choice, we recognise that affording fees is becoming out of reach for many families. Critically, we will need to retain our demographic spread if we wish to retain the culture, the feel of our school and whilst the market settles down over the next 5 years, a key goal is to raise funding for Bursary and
Foundation recipients. Quadrangle details the options of supporting the School in this endeavour, and any help you may give is gratefully received.
To close, I wish to convey my personal thanks to Morgan Jamieson for his stewardship of the Heriot’s FP’s during his tenure as Herioter President and a warm welcome to Gillian Woolman; I look forward to working with her. i
