The Hutchie Herald www.hutchesons.org
This Issue An Introduction to our new Chair In Conversation with Vivienne Maclaren C1992 The George and Thomas Hutcheson Awards
December 2020
Welcome
from the Rector
To borrow a phrase from my Director of Curriculum, Colin Bagnall, the “year of the asterisk”, where nothing is typical or as it seems, has continued to confound all our expectations and require much additional counter-Covid planning. School feels almost the most normal part of life. The children are back in classes and the teachers are back doing what they love; inspiring in person rather than teaching on screen. However, there are so many features that remind us of the enduring threat from the virus: face-coverings; one-way systems; bubbles at break times; staff having to maintain a careful distance both in class and the staffroom; work on paper and even library books being quarantined for 3 days; contact sport being locked down; self-isolating children being taught at home in parallel with their friends in school. There are some real positives that have emerged: our spacious playgrounds and our HGSPA-fundraised marquees; the
children spending all of their time outside at breaks (unless the weather is truly horrible); the removal of staff cars from the campus so increasing pupil social space; the PE Dept creativity in conjuring up novel distanced-exercises and activities; but fundamentally I have loved seeing the children enjoying each other’s company and their lessons so greatly. The contingencies we have in place for the SQA examinations were designed to work either with or without summer exams. We have known for some time that the National 5 exams had been cancelled, but the Highers and Advanced Highers have recently followed suit. Our plans about how best to gather robust evidence are being confirmed as the SQA subject-specific advice emerges. The reliability of the school in exam results continues to impress the Sunday Times Parent Power League with Hutchie being awarded the pick of the Glasgow schools and nationally being a close second only to George Heriot’s. The league
tables are narrowly focused on examination results, and do not even attempt to try to celebrate the incredible extra-curricular breadth and range of opportunity that we pride ourselves on and that parents and pupils love. Group music opportunities have been hit hard by Covid restrictions, but there will be a virtual concert coming in early spring that will be a fundraiser for the school charity Funding Neuro. We will be sending out links to you in the New Year and strongly encourage you to tune in to this unique event: you can anticipate a remarkable diversity of celebrity messages reaching out to us all, along with the pupil and staff talent on show. See you there!
An Introduction
Alistair Marr was appointed the Chair of the Board of Governors in September – taking over from Ruth Walker who left the board after three years at the helm. Alistair’s association with Hutchesons’ began on September 1st,
1967 when he joined in P5 and he is very thankful for the opportunities the school offered, both academic and social. He was a prefect, house captain and a member of the school rugby 1st XV. He said: “Hutchesons’ gave me friendships, a rounded education and sporting opportunities. There were teachers who made a positive impact on me. Sandy Strang, who was starting out his teaching career as I was in 4th and 5th year, made English, which I had thought of as dull at best, interesting. Also, the PE staff at the time who encouraged me to stick in at rugby which resulted in me playing 1st XV at school and for the FP Team.” Alistair, who married fellow FP Alison, has witnessed many changes from when he was at school and
when it was time to consider school when it was time to consider schools for his own children he was confident Hutchie was the right choice. He explained: “The school has changed dramatically in this time. Firstly in 1967 it was boys only at Beaton Road and Kingarth Street was girls only. Indeed it was not until I was in 5th year that there was a first tentative step towards co-ed. When I attended the school it was a much more stern place than now. By the time my boys were ready for school it was a much less austere place than in the 60s. When my wife and I were deciding on school it seemed a no-brainer to send them to Hutchie. At that time
league tables were coming in and Hutchesons’ regularly outstripped the competition locally on higher results, particularly so when com pared with our local East Renfrewshire school, as the school has done consistently since. “We also valued the continuity of primary and secondary, the ability to try a variety of different sports, the strong extra-curricular choices and the highly motivated and interested primary teaching staff. Many of the parents we knew who had sent children to the school in the previous years were delighted with the school.” As is the case for many of Hutchesons’ FPs, Alistair believes Hutchie
is far more than a school – it is a community where life-long friendships are made. He said: “This is absolutely true, as it is I am sure with many other schools. I am still in regular contact with several boys who started on the same day as me, indeed one of them, Brian MacBride is on the board of governors. I am also in regular contact with many of the guys I played rugby with and against. Indeed, during lockdown I have had a weekly video call with a group of Hutchesonians (including 2 former governors!)” Alistair is looking forward to taking on the role of Chair and will provide support to the Rector and the senior
team. He believes the job of the Board is to safeguard the longterm success and sustainability of the school and safeguard the wellbeing of all the members of the Hutchie community. He said: “During my three years in the Chair role I would like to see the school continuing to move forward on the plans that have evolved in the last couple of years. I would like to see the school continuing to improve on the quality of teaching and learning. I’d also like to see a continuation of our plans to upgrade the school estate. Our goal is to be regarded as the top independent school in Scotland year after year
Charity Update Earlier this year one of our senior pupils, Daniel, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumour. Pupils and staff decided to fundraise for Funding Neuro as it was the charity supporting Daniel and his family. Funding Neuro also campaigns for more research into childhood brain cancers. Sadly, Daniel passed away on November 30th. We will continue to support this charity to help fund research which will benefit other families and children with this illness. Our fundraising began with the launch of the first Hutchie mask, with all profits going to charity. These quickly proved to be a musthave item and raised over £1000. A festive edition proved equally popular and we look forward to the launch of a spring version! Our senior girls followed up by organising a charity hockey match. Decked out in their ‘Doing it for Daniel’ T-shirts they took to the pitch; some of them dusting off their sticks having not played since S4. A well fought match went to a penalty shoot out and was greatly enjoyed by all. The girls raised over £1700 with their efforts. On a particularly wet and grey Sunday in November we saw the first round of ‘The Great Hutchie Treas
ure Hunt’ organised by staff in the English Department. This was a fast-paced online socially distant competition that saw families and friends competing over 90 minutes to find as many items as possible. We saw entries from across the globe including Glasgow, London, New York, Dubai, Germany, and France. Despite the weather it was fantastic fun. In total, 88 teams took part in the event and over £2600 was raised for Funding Neuro. We hope to repeat this challenge in the spring. A lucky number lottery organised by Mrs Dodds, in Modern Languages raised a further sum for the charity and staff enjoyed a flutter by selecting their lucky number. In the absence of our annual Winter Fair pupils and staff came together to organise an online Christmas Raffle. Local community partners and the
wider Hutchie community donated a dazzling number of prizes in cluding luxury advent calendars, hampers, beauty treatments and vouchers for local shops and services. The raffle raised £6.200. Term finished with a charity fundraising non-uniform event at the senior school on our last full day of school. Teachers are also taking part and will be sporting festive jumpers and non-uniform to raise funds. We are delighted to report that over £12,400 has been raised in total this term and we look forward to many more charity events in the new year. Thank you to all our pupils, families, and the wider Hutchie community for their ongoing support. We are planning a virtual music concert next session. Look out for some celebrity contributors.
G&T Awards 2020
The George and Thomas Hutcheson Awards, affectionately known as the G&T Awards are presented “in recognition of Hutchesonians who are regarded by their peers as inspirational figures, whether by virtue of their academic or professional achievements, triumph over adversity or public spiritedness”. The 2020 G&T awards were held in the Fotheringay Centre in November, in front of a much-reduced audience thanks to COVID restrictions. We were delighted to welcome FP President Dorothy McFarlane to the platform, along with Rector Colin Gambles, who chaired the ceremony. Our Heads of School Moayad Karar and Molly-Jean Wilson introduced the female and male winners respectively. Music was provided by Sixth year pupils Calum Murray, Laura Mackie (piano) Glen Mouat and Lucas Myhill, violin.
Female award - Vivienne MacLaren Male recipient - Professor Anthony Warrens Vivienne MacLaren, C1992 is Head of Marketing at Owing to travel restrictions, Professor Anthony WarIdeagen and a major figure in women’s sports in rens could not be with us, but joined us live from St Scotland. Bart’s, where he reflected on his career path from Viv joined Hutchie in S1 in 1986. She was always heavily Hutchie to leading expert in transplant medicine. involved in sport at School and was an outstanding tennis Anthony Warrens DM PhD FHEA FRCP is Dean of player, being Captain of the School Tennis team, and win- Education and Professor of Renal and Transplantation ning numerous district representative honours. Medicine and consultant physician at Bart’s and the Viv was also a member of the 1st XI hockey team, and a London School of Medicine and Dentistry. keen runner. As well as being Vice President of Giffnock Born in 1959, Anthony joined Hutchie in P5 in 1968. Tennis Squash and Hockey Club Viv is a volunteer for He was School Vice-Captain, President of the History mental health and wellbeing charity, YAMS. She also is a Society and Senior Prefect. Dux in Chemistry, Biology, long-standing member of the Hutchie FP Council. and Proxime Accessit, Anthony also won the J DesViv took an MA at the University of Glasgow Business mond Milligan Prize for best student going forward to School and joined Scottish Power as their Business Mar- Medicine. He was highly placed in the Glasgow Uniketing Manager in 1996. Now one of the most respected versity bursary competition, where he gained a First in marketers in Scotland, Viv has worked with clients and Immunology, before completing his studies at Oxford, agencies for over 20 years in a range of positions, includ- where, in addition to BM and BS he subsequently reing consultancy work and running her own business. ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine. She has significant experience in many sectors, including Not content with these qualifications, he gained a financial services, retail, charities, tourism, media, educa- PhD, following research at the Hammersmith Hospital. tion, drinks, sports, automotive, technology and the arts. Further training as a post-doctoral fellow took him to Mindful of the way sport has impacted her life, Viv is the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital, part of committed to expanding the opportunities available to Harvard Medical School, women and girls to take part in sport. She is the current Anthony has been a Consultant in Renal Medicine Chair of Scottish Women’s Football - a position she has since 1996, most recently at the Royal London Hospital. held since October 2016. He became Professor of Renal and Transplantation She is also a member of the Scottish Women and Girls in Medicine in 2008 at Imperial College, a title he holds Sport advisory board and is Scottish FA Congress member at Bart’s and the London School of Medicine and Denof SFA. As Chair, Viv is proud to have led the transforma- tistry as well as Dean for Education. tion of the domestic game as “a brand, a commercial en- He continues his clinical work as consultant nephrolotity and as an environment in which girls and women can gist at the Royal London Hospital and was previously thrive in Scotland”, a point she emphasised in her address also Clinical Director of the Clinical Transplantation to the pupils. Laboratory.
“You Can’t Be Wh
hat You Can’t See” - In Conversation with Vivienne MacLaren (C1992) Vivienne MacLaren, Chair of Scottish Women’s Football and digital technology company Ideagen’s Head of Marketing, was this year’s female G&T award winner at a ceremony held virtually on November 20th. She spoke to former pupil and trainee journalist Olivia McCann (C2017) of how her school years at Hutchesons’ have influenced her career path and why she would encourage current pupils to make the most of the opportunities available to them whilst at the school.
Levelling the Playing Field Vivienne is a strong advocate for equality in the world of sport and has been a board member of the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory for the past five years. In this role, Vivienne is involved in providing advice to the Scottish Government on how to encourage and increase the participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity throughout Scotland. She spoke fondly of the equal opportunity she experienced whilst she was at Hutchesons’ and how she wishes that this would be mirrored in reality. She said: “In terms of sport, I spend my life lobbying for women and girls in sport. But from my experience of Hutchie, boys and girls were treated the same. And when I look back, I think how amazing that is. Whether it’s sport or something else, you’ve got the same opportunities. And that’s what I love about the school – there’s equal opportunities. Sadly, that doesn’t represent the real world.” Participation Vivienne believes that gender imbalances in participation of sports and physical activity are, to a certain extent, due to a lack of female role models for women and girls. She argued that this often comes down to gender stereotyping in sports and is something of which parents can play a part in combating. She explained: “There will be parents who have a girl and a boy and send the girl to ballet and the boy to rugby mini kickers. I went to school with a guy who was in the 1st XV men’s rugby team who went to ballet when he was younger. His agility as a rugby player was fantastic. “For me, there’s a bit of a mentality in Scotland that boys have to do one thing and girls have to do another. And that is driven by parents a lot of the time. It shouldn’t matter. You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Jumping Over Obstacles Vivienne explained that some practical and emotional pressures can prevent women from participating in physical activity. She is enthusiastic about encouraging women to fit some form of physical activity into their daily routine and spoke passionately of her involvement in creating opportunities for women to stay active both with and without a competitive element. She said: “It’s about getting girls into sport, keeping them in, and also trying to get women back in who were involved in sport and perhaps life has taken over. “You don’t need to be an elite sportswoman to get enjoyment out of sport. We’ve created recreational leagues for women who just want to train and play a couple of times a week but don’t have to compete at a certain level. Opportunities “At school, there were opportunities everywhere and if you want to try something you’re not so good at, it doesn’t matter your level. In the real world though, it’s not like that.” Vivienne revealed she was highly involved in sports at Hutchesons’ and was always willing to try something new. She added that, at one point, she was the only girl in the school football team. She began playing hockey at Hutchie and was shortly appointed captain of the C Team. Vivienne recalled of how she eagerly came armed with a notepad and pen to the pitch on her first day as team captain to ask her P.E. teacher, Mrs Lang, for coaching and leadership tips. Coincidentally, Vivienne was also Hutchie’s women’s tennis captain in the same year that Leon Smith OBE was appointed men’s tennis captain. “Whatever it is that you want to do, do not ever doubt yourself”, said Vivienne whilst pointing out that she was ‘no straight A student’ at school and had to work hard to achieve good grades. She is a firm believer that obstacles are inevitable in the pathway of success and it is important to remember one’s capability in
overcoming them. The only thing which can truly prevent you achieving your best, she believes, is selfdoubt. “You are in control of your own destiny. Yes, you might hit obstacles – I think I had to appeal for what I needed to get into uni. If those obstacles come up, you will just have to batter them down. Don’t let them stop you. You will have things – whether it’s getting into uni, at uni, trying to get a job – thrown at you and you need to think about how you are going to smash those barriers down. Don’t let that stop you, there will always be support out there for you no matter what you need. Be your own person. It doesn’t matter what other people think. What you think of yourself is absolutely the most important thing that you can control.”
At The Top of Her Game Most significantly, Vivienne added that she has never once felt held back in her career because she is a woman – a mentality which she said she owes to Hutchesons’. She said: “I think the thing about Hutchie is it brings out the best in you. I’ve never felt, in my adult life, that because I’m female I can’t achieve something. So for me, it’s quite alien that some girls think that they can’t achieve things because they are a girl.” Influence She added that the influence which the school has had on her drive for ambition and success means that receiving one of this year’s G&T awards is all the more meaningful to her. She explained: “I was in tears when I found out I won this award. It felt hugely emotional for me to be recognised. When the Head Boy read out my intro, I didn’t realise how much I’ve been doing over the years. It is a huge honour for me – I think it’s one of the biggest honours of my whole life.”
Secondary News
Hutchie Writers Win Praise
Our talented mathematicians have not let Covid get in the way of their competition success. Maths challenges have continued to run online and In April, during lockdown, we had 39 pupils from S1 and S2 take part in the UK Maths Trust online Junior Maths challenge. Our amazing pupils achieved 4 Gold, 12 Silver and 4 Bronze Awards. Special mentions go to Lucy McQuilkin in S2 who scored 118/135, closely followed by Daniel Ogilvie with 112. In October five pupils from S4 to S6 took part in the elite Mathematical Olympiad for Girls (Delphie Nairn, Arianna Agnihotri, Esther Leung, Becca Augier and Ashmi Deb) This is an extremely demanding competition and the girls all trained extremely hard prior to taking part. Everyone performed very well and a special mention goes to Ashmi Deb who scored 38/50 putting her in the top 5% of scorers across the whole of the UK. Congratulations and well done to all the girls. This year the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge will take place online in early November and we are looking forward to seeing how our S5 and S6 pupils perform. Once again we are doing the challenge to raise money for charity. Every correct answer will help raise money for our school charity, Funding Neuro.
The Independent Research Project
Our S6 pupils have been working studiously on their IRPs, identifying and exploring a diverse range of topics including “The Impact of Covid 19 on Business and Finance”, “The Relationship between Religion, Culture and Medicine in Hinduism, Taoism and Bhuddism” and “The Causes of Scotland’s issues with Drug Addiction”. An overarching aim of The Independent Research Project is to crucially frame learning experiences which reflect tertiary and higher level study in our pupils’ post school lives. This affords the opportunity for critical inquiry into an area of personal interest, equipping our pupils with vital skills, such the construction of English for academic purposes, and planning the methodology of engaging in academic research. Participating in the IRP is voluntary and as such reflects an intrinsic desire to engage in self directed learning that is hopefully both enjoyable and sits at consonance with a sense of individual curiosity.
Secondary News
D of E Letter Writing Combats Loneliness S4 pupils had to get creative when seeking out opportunities for the skills section of their Duke of Edinburgh Award due to coronavirus restrictions. The Award encompasses four components: Expedition, Skills, Physical and Volunteering with the latter being particularly hard hit and few volunteering opportunities available. The pupils felt they wanted to help the over 70s - many of whom have been self-isolating in their homes since March. AgeUK run activities to help combat loneliness but have been restricted to a telephone befriending service currently. Our pupils liked the idea of writing letters and sharing their stories from Glasgow. They have partnered up with AgeUK and are now helping many combat loneliness. This activity also serves as their Volunteering section of their DofE Award. Max Miller said: “Mental Health can have a huge effect on elderly people and as I understand the problems caused by mental health, I was very interested in bringing some happiness to elderly people during this lonely time!” Pupil Samyuktha Kumar added: “I wanted to volunteer because I know how hard isolation can be for the elderly and wanted to help make a positive impact.”
Form Activities While we haven’t been able to follow our usual routine this term, S4 have been taking part in a range of activities. Every week the pupils take part in the “Morning Mile” walk around the track, getting a chance to socialize with their friends out in the fresh air. The fortnightly news quiz has been a great source of competitive fun, and has proved how much our pupils keep up to date with what’s going on in the world. In the absence of whole-school religious assemblies, we’ve held informative class assemblies to mark the festivals of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Diwali. The last of these included a traditional Indian dance video by our own Kavya Vusikala. The whole year took part in the Random Act of Kindness challenge. Every pupil was given a randomly selected name from the year group, and tasked with doing something nice for that person.
Race Presentations English Teacher Melina Valdelievre spoke on the subject of race at two high profile events this session. Melina, who represents her trade union on the Scottish Government working group Teaching in a Diverse Scotland: Increasing and Retaining Minority Ethnic Teachers in Scotland’s Schools, was asked to give oral evidence at the European Human Rights Commission for their ongoing inquiry into Race, Employment and Skills. She also gave an informative presentation at the ScotEd conferance on anti racist edication, sharing good practice and discussing some of the challenges teachers might face when attempting to diversify and decolonise the curriculum. She said: “As I have been researching the concept of racial trauma more recently, I explained how racism and certain graphic content in classes (such as videos of police brutality, or images of lynching) can affect the mental wellbeing of pupils of colour. Racial trauma refers to the psychological and physical symptoms that people of colour may experience when exposed to particularly stressful experiences of racism – be this in person, on social media or even in the classroom.
Getting Married?
The Fotheringay Centre in the southside of Glasgow is the prefect venue for couples who desire intimate weddings in a traditional church setting. The beautiful red sandstone Fotheringay Centre stands in the leafy suburb of Pollokshields and was originally home to the Pollokshields United Reform Church. Hutchesons’ purchased the church and following a refurbishment programme opened the Fotheringay Centre in 2004. To make an initial enquiry and to check availability please call our Events Co-ordinator Karen Peterkin on 0141 433 4466 or fill in the form below.
Primary News Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award Success The Primary School achieved the bronze level of UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Award at the start of term. This award was made possible by last year’s RRSA committee and demonstrates the school’s commitment to respecting the rights of children. Despite the constraints of Covid, we have continued in 2020 with a new, keen Committee, who have been busy spreading the rights respecting message throughout the school through assemblies and within classrooms. All children and staff are working hard to achieve Silver: Rights Aware in 2021 and we will keep you posted of our progress.
Leadership Award Launch This year, we hope to award our first Leadership Certificate which can be achieved by demonstrating some of the skills required to be a successful leader, such as problem solving, collaboration and communication, amongst others. We know that our pupils have these talents in abundance and want to celebrate them by awarding points which in turn will lead to a certificate. To kickstart our drive, the pupils were asked to create a collage within the outline of a head using pictures to represent their interests. The portraits were decorated with hair in House colours and are now proudly displayed in Kingarth Street.
Outdoor Learning Spending time outdoors is as important for children’s development as learning to read and write. When teachers take learning outdoors they report some powerful impacts. Children’s focus improves and individuals who might find learning in class tricky often thrive in an outdoor environment. Earlier this term, Primary 1 had their first outdoor adventure to Pollok Park. Teamwork was the focus and the children worked well together to build dens, be sound detectives and go on a scavenger hunt. An exciting visit for all! Queens Park is just a short walk from Hutchesons’. The Primary 2s took advantage of this green space to observe seasonal changes. Focusing on their senses the children were then tasked with writing descriptive stories about Autumn.
Primary News Junior Duke Goes Global
The Junior Duke Award which was created at Hutchesons’ in 2007 now has over seven thousand children taking part throughout Scotland, England, Wales, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Australia. The award offers children the opportunity to participate in a variety of new experiences and they are challenged to learn new and wide-ranging skills from P2 through to Primary 7. Its aim is to encourage children to seek independence and not to be afraid of ‘having a go’. It helps them to develop the resilience they will need throughout their lives. Children aged six to twelve are provided with a series of progressive life-skills challenges, including things like: First Aid, cookery, fire-building, budgeting, fixing punctures, trip-planning and domestic duties which expose them to many skills they will require in the real world. The Junior Duke booklets are improved and updated each year with new challenges added and less popular ones removed but, this year more than any, saw big changes. After speaking to Head Teachers overseas it became apparent that there is a need for children to learn more about the culture of their countries. Many children in International schools have quite a transient lifestyle and many learn little about the geography, culture and customs of the country in which they live. Due to this need, we created an extra four challenges per year group. This international version of the Award is being trialled in Hutchie this year and, although there is extra work involved, we are hearing positive comments from many parents and children.
Eco Club At Hutchesons’ we are proud to be working towards our third international Eco-Schools Green Flag. Members of the Eco-Committee have been meeting weekly and they created a video, which was shown at assembly, to remind pupils of the different ways that waste is currently managed at Kingarth Street. This includes recycling paper, batteries and stationery. Primary 5 litter pickers have also ensured that our playground environment is kept clean. The committee learnt that indoor plants filter the air we breathe and are also great for improving our sense of well-being. With the support of the Pupil Council, the committee was able to buy plants to display on three of the communal stairwells.
New Book Club Initiative Although the coronavirus has put some of our usual library activities on hold, particularly those of a ‘drop-in’ nature, we have been determined to find a way to cater for the numerous Hutchie bookbugs in the primary school. November saw the start of a new initiative: concurrent, voluntary book groups for P6 and P7. Anyone can join, as long as there is space. Since they are unable to meet as a mixed group due to Covid restrictions, book club members are reading different titles according to their form classes. They will come to the library in their class groups for some discussion (and snacks!) in the last week of the winter term. The main aims of the book clubs are to get keen leisure readers to broaden their tastes and challenge themselves.
Fair Trade School
In September, the school was awarded Fairtrade School status, reflecting the commitment and variety of projects undertaken by the children over the past 3 years. These projects have included the 90kg Kilombero Rice Challenge, which involved selling 90kg of Fairtrade Malawian rice, and the creation of an animation, A Fair Tale, about Fairtrade cocoa from Ghana. A grant was awarded from the Scottish Fairtrade Forum to carry out this project, and the animation has since been used by the Fairtrade Foundation as one of its key learning resources. It can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/WvO5YcZiDUs.
V.E. Day Celebrations
Holiday Club During October Holiday Club the children enjoyed a range of activities including, Tshirt & tote bag design, parkour free running, pumpkin carving, baking and gameshow days. Although things were very different during Holiday Club due to Covid 19 the children had a fantastic time and embraced new challenges head on. Children developed an array of skills during den building sessions and learnt how to create a fire pit, toasting marshmallows being the highlight!
Bagpipe Demo
World War II was finally at an end and the P7 pupils celebrated in COVID friendly style! Dressed as soldiers, sailors, pilots, land girls, and evacuees they lit up the corridors with their joy and enthusiasm. However, it was not all fun and games. In the true spirit of war, codes had to be cracked and socks had to be mended. They also had to perform a play to keep the troops entertained.
P3 pupils were treated to a bagpipe demonstration from piping teacher, Mr Nevans. They learned about the history of the bagpipes and what the different parts of the instrument are called.
The Arts at Hutchie
Creativity During Covid Pupils across all year groups have continued to produce beautiful art, design and photography work despite the safety restrictions being put on them in the classroom. Practical lessons have been adapted to enable pupils to explore a variety of new materials and techniques. Much of the creative project work this term has had to be modified and graphic design and illustration has become a key feature of the National 5 and Higher Design folios this year. A new online photography course has been designed for those pupils wishing to complete the skills section of their DofE award. Pupils have been set different tasks and have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with a Glasgow-based visual artist and photographer, Morwenna Kearsely. Pictures above. Despite working under such challenging circumstances, pupils continue to show their resilience, determination and creative spirit.
Seasoned Artists Our Primary pupils have been using the autumn season as inspirtation for their artistic endeavours - and the pieces they have created have impressed. Using flowers as their subject matter, P7M explored tonal drawing. The pupils learned the effect produced by pencil strokes applied so closely together makes the colour appear to merge. Primary 1 pupils have been exploring line and pattern to create these autumnal leaves. They studied the colours of collected leaves closely to identify autumn colours.
The Show Must Go On The Drama Department has looked very different during this session; however, it has been our challenge to find creative and innovative ways to deliver our courses whilst still allowing our Junior students to have fun and work productively together; and our Senior students continue working towards their final qualifications. In the true Christmas spirit, we decided we had to celebrate the festive season and asked for staff volunteers to join us in our Christmas Grotto. Each member of staff had a part of the story of “T`was The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore. This was released on the school network to share a bit of Christmas cheer. In more recent news, S3 recently watched Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcom and with the help of our technician, we had a Q&A session with the Lighting Designer - Zoe Spurr. Zoe happily shared her knowledge and advice and welcomed working with her in the future. Our Stage Crew have been meeting in small numbers to help around the drama department. We have been doing some miniature lighting workshops and selected pupils have been able to come into the technical gallery and help with lighting and sound for the work that is able to go on. All the crew were extremely excited and keen to get involved. Despite the circumstances, it has been a busy time…but this is the way we like it, and as always our pupils have risen to the challenge!
The Show Must Go On Although we have been limited to what we can do regarding performing music, the department has been busy as ever with projects. Without being able to sing or play woodwind or brass instruments indoors, it has meant that the choir has been furloughed for this term, although we did manage to record a 6th form choir for our Remembrance Day. The choir sang Orlando Gibbons ‘drop, drop slow tears’ and was filmed and recorded outside for the service which was broadcast to the whole school via Teams. Mr Rhodes played the last post and to add to the occasion, the school bagpipers played Highland Cathedral at the end of the service as the wreaths were laid at the war memorial. During the term we have had a number of senior pupils also performing at assemblies.
Sport at Hutchie
Covid-19 has brought many challenges throughout the school community and the restrictions on sport and physical education have been significant. The requirement for all physical education to take place outdoors as well as the postponement of competitive fixtures, both mid-week and on Saturday mornings, has been challenging. However, the staff and pupils of Hutchesons’ Grammar School have adapted and overcome to ensure the values and benefits of sport and physical education have remained. Their resilient and determined approach has enabled all lessons to continue, with pupils exploring and discovering new activities and experiences. Additions to the PE curriculum of rugby and football for the girls and hockey and handball for the boys have been examples of this. During level 4 lockdown orienteering allowed pupils to develop problem solving, numeracy, and map reading skills. Saturday morning fitness sessions with staff went online, pictured above.
Development News
Making Connections A school like Hutchie offers pupils so much more than just an excellent education and a vast array of extra-curricular opportunites - it is a place where fruitful social and career connections are formed. The school’s Development Office plays an important role in creating opportunities for current pupils and former pupils to connect and learn from one another. Depute Rector for Alumni and Development Jim McDougall said: “These interactions are so beneficial for our current pupils. “In May we ran a series of informal online “fireside chat” conversations with some of our younger FPs who shared their experiences with senior pupils of leaving school and forging careers, often going in unexpected directions. “The overall lesson was to be open to new ideas and to grab opportunity when it calls.” Ally Ferrans, Head Boy C2010, described how determination and persistence finally paid off when he got the chance to work for Spotify, where he is now Global Lead,
Studios. Like Ally, Andrew Watson, C2007, attended St Andrew’s and while there followed his interests in student radio, before landing a job as the Pan-EU Account Executive for Amazon Advertising. Singer-songwriter Crawford Mack (McInally Kier), C2010 spoke about his early musical influences at school, and his latest debut album ‘Bread and Circuses’. Several alumni recorded and sent in short clips about their careers, which were made available to senior pupils as they consider their university and career option. Special thanks to Gordon Jack, C2008; Susan Buchanan, C1995; Ally McCluskie, C2011; Ben Shenkin, C2013; Jodie McKenna,C2010 and Eve McIntyre, C2019. In October, pupils applying to medicine heard from Prof Iain McInnes, CBE C1982, Vice Principal and Head of College of Medical, Vet and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow and a leading specialist in rheumatology give some valuable insights into medicine as a career. In November, Iain Stewart, MP, minister at the Scottish Office, C1990
talked to our S3 Modern Studies class live from Westminster about his career in politics, taking tough questions on a range of topics from Independence, Brexit, Covid, foodbanks and attitudes to sexuality in the House of Parliament. Mr McDougall added: “Online events have their upside, and we have been delighted to welcome former pupils into school courtesy of our online platform Teams. Indeed, this has meant we can speak to FPs at the other end of the country or even further afield, allowing opportunities for our pupils that may not otherwise have arisen. I’m hoping to run a further series of online chats- if you’d like to take part, please get in touch. The senior pupils really enjoy hearing from our alumni, so whether you are in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, America, Asia or Europe, drop me a line - you need never leave the comfort of your own home! If you would like to take part please email mcdougallj@hutchesons.org
Lifelong friendships are made at Hutchie From time to time the Development Office receives updates from former pupils and they all share a common theme - the strong friendships they have made at school. Here’s a recent letter we received from Carol Meldrum (Gillies ) C1969 When I started Hutchie my mum was told by a neighbour that the friends I would make at Hutchie would be friends for life and today, 51 years later, I can vouch for the truth in these words. Over the years, many of my “old” school friends have kept in touch but this year in particular has proved what a strong bond we made at Kingarth Street in the 1960s. Technology When we first went into lockdown Friends... Mhairi Lawson ( McInnes ), Moira Skingley ( Niccol ) and in March it was suggested by one of Linda Fallon (Wright) and Carol Meldrum (Gillies). my friends that we set up a Whats App group. What a wonderful idea Miss Ross (Science), Miss Kilner when we all went off to have that was and thanks to smart phone (French), Miss Howie (PE) to name careers and raise families. We still technology we have been meeting a few and not forgetting our Princi- kept in touch, meeting when we up every fortnight since. pal, Miss McIver or Bella as she was could at various celebrations, but At first we talked about the panbetter known. Naturally we had our life takes over and suddenly it was demic and our current situation, own nicknames for them all ( best I our 40 year reunion. That was a discussing families, politics and the don’t divulge!) momentous occasion after which I inevitable state of the weather. wrote a long poem about the day. Tonic Since we are spread from the north In sixth year when we suggested we This is one of the verses; of Scotland to the south of Engcould perhaps be the first year to “Ah memories, it’s been so long. land it is always interesting to hear have a school dance, Bella agreed “The time has flown, our bond is of the variations in weather and as long as we brought our partners strong restrictions in our 4 different areas to meet her beforehand! That idea “Hair styles have changed, our of the UK. was quickly dismissed. What a bodies too Reminiscing tonic it has been to re-live so many “Our voices are the same, that’s It wasn’t long before the reminisc- good times. Our minds have been true ing started and the tales of school transported back to Castle Toward “But through the eyes our souls days began. reside hockey camp and memories of We tried to establish how we had mischief and fun. It was like a real “The little girls are still inside.” become such close friends - was it life Malory Towers adventure and Connections Ah happy days indeed and thanks in 1st year? – we were not all in the we were lucky enough to go there 3 to these happy days we have a consame form class. consecutive years. nection which unites us as friends This then made us think about We talked about smells too – the our form teachers and by jogging dinner hall, the Gestetner machine for life. Although we have kept in touch and our memories to picture faces and outside Mr Crabb’s room and of spent a few weekends away, this classrooms, amid the white tiled course the gym. Home Manageyear has given us the opportunity walls and marble floors, we were ment was a subject for 3 of us and to have regular contact and share able to name many. we all still use the cooking techwonderful memories again, - a The ones who seem to have had niques taught by Miss Shedden and positive outcome from lockdown and this horrible situation with lasting significance were Miss Miss McAra. Murdoch (Maths), Miss Knox (Latin), There was a time after leaving school Covid 19.
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Development News Looking Ahead We can’t wait to meet our FPs in person and are planning events for later in 2021 and beyond. The Hutchie Ball, planned for 2021, will be rescheduled for 2022, and we hope to recommence our London gatherings as soon as the situation eases. In the meantime, we are always happy to hear from FPs who are considering a reunion in their own area. Let us know your plans, and we will be happy to help make contact, and publicise your event. The first live event - all going well - is already booked, as the Class of 1976 meet on 21st June at One Devonshire Gardens. In the meantime, we’ll continue to make the most of digital technology with more online meetings planned in the New Year.
Our first online FP reunion marked the annual Toronto gathering which we were unable to hold this year for the first time in 18 years. While Covid put a stop to international travel it wasn’t going to put a stop to the annual get-together. We kept to the original date, and were delighted to be joined by Granite Club stalwarts as well as new guests, who thanks to Teams were able to attend, even while living in parts of Canada normally too far away. With very little fuss, apart from the usual injunction to “unmute”, everybody saw and heard everybody else. We were pleased to hear from Head Boy, Moayad Karar ( calling in from Birmingham) and Head Girl, Molly-Jean Wilson, and even more so when Molly-Jean’s mum, Dr Anne McGinley, C1983, joined the call to catch up with family friend Ruth McSween, C1983. Graham MacAllister, C1962, reflected on the importance of the Canadian link and emphasised the school’s gratitude for the annual donations, which collectively support the Canadian bursary. Rector Colin Gambles outlined how the school had responded to the challenge of moving online and devising new ways of teaching and learning. We all missed the immediacy of the chance to mingle over drinks and nibbles, but as a way of keeping in touch, we felt the experience worked well.
Fundraising Update
Congratulations!
Former governor Asgher Mohammed, Managing Director, Abbey Chemist, Paisley and Founder, Scottish Sadaqah Trust, was awarded MBE for services to Pharmacy and charity. We send Asghar our very best wishes for an award richly deserved.
Every donation is important - big and small - it shows us that people are interested in Hutchie and in our pupils, especially at this difficult time. Thank you to all our donors, named and anonymous, and to the parents who very kindly waived their fee discount for the lockdown summer term, effectively a donation of almost £27,000. Raising money for our bursary and other funds is an ongoing priority. We know that making a regular commitment in these times is challenging However, it is possible to help us even in a modest way by donating a small amount every month - for example the price of a coffee.
180 Campaign We’ve done our sums and have worked out that if 180 former pupils or families pledged £6 a month for a full year, we could offer one full bursary place. That’s just the price of a coffee and pastry, but it could make a big difference to a young person! More details about how to support this campaign will be posted out to FPs in the New Year.
Sandy Bursary Thanks to Mary Fisher’s generosity we kick started the Sandy Strang Bursary Fund in 2018. This has been set up in memory of the late Sandy Strang to further our goal of helping talented youngsters who may not otherwise be able to join us. With Mary’s significant donation, together with contributions from alumni and money raised at the Hutchie Ball we are at about £150 000 of our target of £400 000, the amount that secures enough capital to generate a complete, transformative bursary. Former pupils and sisters Catherine Stobbs néeCroft C1938and Margaret Croft C1940 recently celebrated their 101st and 99th birthdays respectively at Barlochan Care Home. Catherine and Margaret are both proud Hutchesonians. Margaret became headmistress of the junior part of St Columba’s school in Kilmacolm. Catherine’s best subjects were art and piano playing. She married Lt Commander Thomas Stobbs DSC.
From The Archives S6 pupil Cameron Rodgers has been spending one lunch time a week since S4 helping out in the archive. As part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award he took on a special project, cataloguing a collection that was gifted to the school by the sister of Berwyn Williams, a former pupil at Hutchesons’ Grammar School who died aged just 19 during World War I. Cameron first listed everything that was donated to the school in the box. By doing this, he was able to see the range of the collection, assess its condition and he was able to see the emerging subject areas that would help him form his catalogue. Once he had chosen his catalogue headings and assessed their levels of importance, he was then able to list each item under the series in chronological order to form his catalogue. Cameron’s catalogue is now available to use, aiding researchers to find any information they might need quickly and easily. This is the first, completed catalogue in the archive so far, with each item now labelled with a unique identifier and repackaged in archival envelopes and tissue so that they can be protected for the future. When the school reopened after the summer Cameron was able to put on the school’s first full archive display on Berwyn Williams which coincided with the school’s Remembrance Day service. He chose the items from the collection that interested him and which reflected both Berwyn’s time at school and during the war. Cameron is the school’s first ‘Pupil Archivist’ and has done a lot of great work so we would encourage any other interested pupils to volunteer once a week at lunch time. The archivist can be contacted archives@ hutchesons.org. Cameron and the school’s archivist, Ms Devenney, have been researching the lives of all the former pupils who fell during both wars and we would like to kindly ask anyone who may have some further information on these men to contact the archivist at the above email address.
In Memoriam Steven Dick C2000, 1982-2020 Helen J Douglas C1942, 1924-2020 Annabel J Ronald C1946, 1929-2018 William Iain Munro C1963, 1945-2019 Crawford Dick C1956, 1937-2020 Howard Berkeley C1966, 1947-2020 Sylvia Scott née Hind C1958, 1940-2020 Alexander Duncan Lauder C1950, 1932-2019 Dr Eleanor M Howie née MacIver C1948, 1930-2019 Jean Barclay née Curwen C1962, 1944-2018 Janet Northcott née Austin C1946, 1928-2019 Ena Hibberd née McIntyre C1953, 1935-2019 Adrianne M Cook née Duthie C1959, 1941-2019 Myra Davidson née Liddell C1956, 1937-2019 Edith MacMillan née McAulay C1948, 1929-2019 Norma Duncan née Balharrie C1970, 1952-2019 E Doreen Nicol née Young C1948, 1930-2020 Marian Hicks née Jeffrey C1940, 1922-2020 Wendy Falconer née Cuthbertson C1944, 1926-2019 Margaret Louise Brock née Roberts C1973, 1955-2018 Greta (Margaret) Doig née Forrester C1951, 1933-2020 Moira Cherrie née Blain C1946, 1927-2020 Agnes (Marie) Dougans née Martin C1944, 1926-2019 Dr Catherine McCrone née Henderson C1949, 1931-2019 Margaret M L McKenzie C1950, 1931-2020 Leslie Ingram-Brown C1965, 1947-2020 * W Donald Galt C1957, 1937-2020 * Richard C Allan C1958, 1939-2020 * Ronald (Raoul) Gilbert C1952, 1934-2020 J Patricia Oliphant C1946, 1928-2020 Dr Carl Edward C1946, 1928-2019 Lorraine Kennedy C1961, 1943-2019
Former Staff Glynis Calder, Former Head of Strings, Died Nov 2019 Dorothy Steele, Chemistry Teacher 1979-1990, Died June 2020 * John McKie, Head of Classics Nan Crawford Avril Sloane * Full obituary expected to appear in the next issue of the Hutchie Herald.
John McKie, Head of Classics (1967-2004)
John McKie taught in the Classics Department at Hutchie, joining in 1967, becoming Principal Teacher of Classics in 1973 and retiring in 2004, spanning, as man and boy, many chapters in the story of Hutchesons’ Grammar School. With his gown, tweed jacket and pipe, John was the quintessential schoolmaster, an unfailing advocate for the merits of the Classics as a training for the mind and as a civilizing influence who believed, in the words of one FP “that Hutchie was-and should always be-a place where young people of talent, but relatively modest means, should be able to advance themselves, not necessarily materially, but certainly culturally”. Sandy Steele (C2005) described John as “one of the most interesting, and I would say good, people I’ve ever met”. Sandy outlined John’s teaching process thus: “his classes were what we might call ‘dialectic’: the process of asking and answering questions. Classes were not just vehicles to exams; you actually learned about the subject you were doing. He inspired us to aspire to greater levels; in his classes, you always strived for the best which you could attain”. Sandy recalled that John’s method would often be to answer a question by beginning with an entirely unrelated subject. “Gradually one would begin to see the strands of where he is going, an excellent and remarkable teaching tool, which always helped to elucidate the subject in hand. Outwith the classroom, this learned and well-read man was, as Myops, the compiler of the notorious Wee Stinker crossword and the eagerly awaited themed Jumbo crosswords at the Festive season, where quotes from Shakespeare and the classics would rub shoulders with contemporary culture or Scots idioms. A devoted and beloved family man, John leaves behind his wife Lorna, (former Head of Hutchie Primary), and children Andrew, Jane. John, David and Polly, all Hutchie alumni. Of the many tributes to John, one stands out. Alastair Bell (C1988) observed that John was a “great man, an amazing teacher; he gave me a love of linguistics and of learning, and the world is a little dimmer for the passing of this light.” Avril Sloane, Former Trust Staff 1993-2015, Died January 2020 Avril was educated at Eastwood and Glasgow High Schools and took her degree in Economics and Commerce at Strathclyde University. Eight years of teaching at Eastwood, Castlehead and Mearns Castle was followed by six years as manager of a small construction company. In 1990, she embarked on a . three-year professional course with Walkers Chartered Accountants qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1993. Avril joined Hutchesons’ Educational Trust, as Assistant Bursar, in 1993. She was promoted to Deputy Bursar and served as Interim Bursar from 2005 to 2007. Avril’s contribution to the School and Trust over the years was immeasurable. She was instrumental in the establishment of the After School Club and also introduced the Bridge Club to the School In 2016, she joined the Merchants House of Glasgow as assistant collector and was an active member at the time of her death. In her spare time, Avril enjoyed playing bridge and was secretary of the Scottish Bridge Union from 20172019. She resigned in 2019, due to ill health and sadly passed away in January 2020 Avril is survived by her 2 children: daughter Caroline C1998 and son Jonathan C1994.
Nan Crawford, Assistant Rector and Teacher of History (19651991) Nan Crawford joined the staff of HGS Girls in 1965 as Principal Teacher of History, following positions at various Glasgow schools including 10 years at Hyndland. A studious girl from an early age, she took M.A. (Hons) in English Language and Literature at University of Glasgow, to which she later added a M.Ed. in Education and Psychology. A keen historian, Nan later took an external Honours degree in Medieval and Modern History from the University of London. After six years as Principal Teacher of History, Nan was promoted to Assistant Principal of the Girls’ School, a post she held until the merger of the two schools when she became Assistant Rector, remaining in post until her retiral in 1991. Nan was a dedicated teacher, intellectually sharp and asking high standards of her pupils in their preparation and essay writing. As Assistant Rector, Nan had responsibility for advising pupils on their Higher Education applications. Former Rector David Ward recalled Nan as “cautious in judgment, allusive and given to understatement”. Independent and self-contained, Nan had a long retirement during which she continued to look after her parents and spend time travelling. Nan Crawford was the embodiment of the reticent, but sharp witted and dedicated, teacher of the old school.
Clare Virginia Morris BSc CEng MBA MIMechE, C1982, 1964- 2017
Clare went to Glasgow University reading Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering and joined the RAF. Her first tour in 1988 was at RAF St Athan: she followed that as one of the first female Junior Engineering Officers on the Tornado force. There she met Dave Morris, a navigator, and they were married in Elgin. Dave was posted to Australia at RAAF Amberly and Clare left the RAF. She worked in the Veterans Department of the Australian Government and they spent their spare time travelling around the antipodes. On their return the UK, their first daughter, Julia, was born and Clare completed her Strathclyde MBA in time for a posting to Belgium, where Genevieve was born. Clare became a proficient French speaker. When Dave left the RAF they settled in Buckingham. Clare worked as secretary in the English Department at Buckingham University: her colleagues described her as their oracle and their anchor. The University has endowed an annual prize in her name. Clare was very family-centered. She was also hard working, tolerant, bright and she faced cancer with typical determination, sending regular emails from hospital. One standout email was about her daughters: ‘They came in to see me this afternoon and looked lovely as ever. All the nurses tell me that they both look lovely which always makes me blush with pride no many how many times I hear it.’ Through her life she enriched everyone else’s: family, friends and work.
Janet E. Wallace M.A. (née Niven) C1951, 1932 - 2019
Janet joined the senior school in 1945 and was elected Head Girl in session 1950 -51. She retained a life long friendship with her former classmates, and co-organised well attended class reunions in 1975 and 1995. After school she graduated from Glasgow University to become a teacher in English and Geography. Her first assignment was to an East End city school under headmistress “Bina Barr” who had been her teacher at “Hutchie” and who became a life-long friend. Janet married in 1957 and had a family of three. She later returned to teaching, first at Drewstainton Primary in Bearsden and then at Glasgow High School. On her retirement, she became a tutor to dyslexic children and found great reward in the progress of all her pupils. She is remembered also as an accomplished artist, dressmaker, gardener and cook. She died on 31st March 2019 in Inverness, from Alzheimer disease bravely and quietly suffered over the last 10 years.
Douglas G Goold C1984, 1966-2019 Following Douglas’ time at Hutcheson’s Grammar, Douglas went on to complete his BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Strathclyde University, graduating in 1987. Douglas achieved Chartership status with The Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2002. A career within the motor industry saw Douglas work for Rover, Land Rover and also Bentley Motors. Douglas’ retirement gave him the opportunity to pursue his interests in computers, music and guitar. He died suddenly at home on 5th September 2019 and is survived by his wife Marjorie, daughter Laura and granddaughter Mia.
Sylvia Steel (nee Archibald) C1942, 1924-2020
Sylvia attended the Girls School from primary, and after leaving school joined the civil service. Sylvia made many lifelong friends at school, including May Taylor and Thea Amery. Sylvia joined the Hutchie FP dramatic club and there met Jim Steel (C1945) and they married in 1954. They had 2 daughters, Alison Marr (C1975) and Barbara McDevitt (C1983) and lived in Muirend. Enthusiasm for amateur dramatics continued at Merrylee Parish Church dramatic club. Shortly after Jim’s death in 2017, Sylvia moved to a retirement flat close to the family home in Muirend and enjoyed spending time with her family. She died on August 16th, aged 95. She is survived by her daughters, sons in law Alistair & Jim, grandchildren Andrew Marr (C2005) (and Andrew’s wife Emma (C2005) Fraser Marr (C2008) Heather and Hannah McDevitt and great grandsons Jamie & Alex. One of Sylvia’s sons in law, Alistair Marr (C1975) is currently chair of the Governors of the School.
Elsa (Elizabeth) Morrison (née Stewart), C1942 1924 – 2020
Elsa Hutchesons’ joined Hutchesons’ Girls Grammar School in primary 5. Elsa was clever and studious winning the Dux medal for the intermediate school in session 1938-39. During the Second World War when school closed and ‘Hutchie’ was evacuated to Sanquhar in Ayrshire, where she learned how to knit in the Sanquhar pattern. Elsa left Hutchie in 1942 and went to Glasgow University where she gained a MA in modern languages. After Teacher Training at Jordanhill College and other teaching posts, Elsa joined the staff of Hutchie in 1970. Elsa also took evening classes to learn Czech and after she retired in 1988, continued at Glasgow University. Through the British Council she taught at Brno one summer and went again the following year. Elsa had always enjoyed her sports; particularly golf, yoga, badminton and swimming. As a good swimmer she had taken part in the Olympic swimming training without actually going on to compete in the Olympics. During the winter months Elsa attended the Monday night FP Badminton Club until she was 89 when she fell and broke her hip. Elsa was always very proud of her long association with the school and as a Hutchie FP Life Member, attended events whenever she could. In January 2015 Elsa was diagnosed with dementia and began living with Anne and eventually Jack moved in too. Elsa and Jack celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary but just they fell short of their 70th and Jack of his 100th birthday. Elsa had enjoyed good health for all of her life, only succumbing in her last week, at the age of 96, in July 2020. She is survived by her children, David, Anne and Graeme, grandchildren Gavin, Ross and Melanie and great grandson Callum.
Meta Percy (née Goodale) C1945, 1926-2020
Meta was brought up in Newlands Road on the south side of Glasgow and joined Hutchesons’ Grammar school in S1. As a school girl, Meta learnt to play the piano and often played for the girls when they were entering the school from the playground. She played hockey for the Hutchie school team and was also a keen dancer. Meta attended the School for Domestic Science or ‘Dough’ school as it was fondly known. She trained to become a Domestic Science teacher preferring to teach sewing rather than cookery. She made many of her own clothes. Meta’s teaching career was spent in schools in the Gorbals and Castlemilk. Meta met her husband Jim at Weirs tennis club and they married on 3rd July 1953. After retiring they enjoyed several cruises around the Caribbean and Mediterranean. They played badminton in Kings Park Parish Church badminton club and they were also active members of Mount Florida bowling club. When Jim died in 2002, (they had been married for almost 49 years), Meta became a ‘lady who lunched’. She had made several life long friends while at Hutchie and they regularly met for coffees, lunches and lots of chat. They often attended the annual ladies luncheon in Kingarth Street. Meta passed away on 26th May 2020, age 93. Her grandchildren Karen McQuarrie (c2009) and Stuart McQuarrie (c2013) are also former pupils.
Kathleen Atkinson MBE C1953, 1935-2020
Born in Perth, Kay spent her childhood in Glasgow, alongside her brothers Peter and Colin and younger sister Margaret. Her early education was in the hands of her mother, a gifted Primary teacher, before moving to Hutchie. It was here that her love of Sciences and Sports developed and these two disciplines featured largely in her ongoing life. From school she went on to study Botany at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a BSc (Honours) in 1958. In association with the University she continued Research work firstly at Millport moving thereafter to a permanent position with the Institute of Freshwater Ecology at Ferry House, Windermere. During that time she made further Research visits to Malaysia which she greatly enjoyed. Throughout her life she took an active part in many sports including hockey, badminton and swimming but it was in athletics that she excelled and she was the Glasgow University Women’s Discus Champion 3 years in a row. Kay made a huge contribution to life in Windermere and Cumbria. She was a Liberal Democrat Elected Member of the South Lakeland District Council and thereafter became a Windermere Town Councillor, acting for a period as its Deputy Mayor. In 1996 following her work at the Institute including investigating how birds, particularly wildfowl, transport algae and other microscopical life from one lake to another, she was awarded an MBE for services to Science. Kay was greatly supportive of her wider family and will be sorely missed. She kept in touch with school activities and her last visit was a very happy one to mark the occasion when her niece Hilary C 1997 was invited to give the Founders’ Day address.
Helen Elva Allan (née Simpson) C1950, 1931-2020
Elva Allan, who has died shortly before her 89th birthday, was an all-round sportswoman who inspired at least three of her pupils to become PE teachers. After primary school at Kirkhill, she joined Hutchesons’ Girls Grammar School in 1943 where she played netball, badminton, hockey and tennis for the school. She left “Hutchie” at the end of her fifth year and attended Dunfermline College of Physical Education, graduating in 1952. On leaving, she joined the Old Students’ Association and was an active member right up until her death, attending almost every AGM. She taught at Whitehill Senior Secondary School in Glasgow in the 1960s, where she ran six hockey XIs. In 1965, she married Scott Allan and Margaret remembers the 1st XI standing outside the church forming an arch with their hockey sticks. Elva played hockey for Hutchie FPs and was part of the Scottish touring squad to the United States in 1963. She joined Cambuslang Tennis Club in 1942 and was an active member until well into her eighties, when hip problems brought her tennis playing to a reluctant close. In 1994, Elva completed her certificate in sport and recreation for work with people with disabilities, and taught at the Carnbooth Residential School for the Deaf-Blind in Carmunnock. She organised Grassroots Tennis coaching for children for a number of years. Elva was a dedicated sports enthusiast who made a huge impression on her pupils.
Prof. James (Jimmy) Dunn, C1957, 1939-2020
Professor James (Jimmy) Dunn, Emeritus Lightfoot Professor of Divinity (1982-2002) at Durham University, who has died aged 80, was an internationally known New Testament scholar and writer, an active Church member and above all a family man. He could teach, supervise and write with authority on almost every aspect of the New Testament, and this range and versatility made him one of the best known and most influential British New Testament scholars of his generation. A prolific writer - 50 books in 50 years - many of which remain key texts for Theological studies around the world. Following his three older brothers, he was educated at Hutchesons’ Boys Grammar School, where through the Scripture Union, he came to the faith which marked his life. At Glasgow University, he gained an M.A. Hons.( Econ.), a B.D, (Theology) and a wife, Meta, whom he married in 1963. Then came ‘His Great Awakening’ with PhD studies at Cambridge University in 1965. Here his eyes were opened to so many larger worlds and confirmed by two years as Chaplain to Overseas Students in Edinburgh, before rejoining academia in Nottingham and Durham University. His enthusiasm for his subject, the depth of his faith, the warmth of his personality, his smiles and hugs, ‘the ‘Call me Jimmy’ greeting, won the hearts of all he met. But it was his family that was the bedrock from which all else flowed. Almost every book he wrote acknowledged the immense ‘debt’ he felt he owed to his wife, three children and seven grandchildren.
Douglas Jessiman C1980, 1962-2020
Douglas was born in Glasgow on 17th April, 1962. Like his father Ian, he attended Hutchie and was a stalwart of the FP Club first as a player, and latterly, like Ian, as one of the best after dinner speakers. Douglas won the Classics and Rugby prize in his final year. On qualifying LLB in 1986, Douglas entered private practice, but by 1992 itchy feet had set in, and he and his wife Elaine gave up respective jobs and set out around the world on the adventure of a lifetime – something neither of them ever regretted. By 1994 Douglas had joined Tyndall & Oates, now BTO, becoming a partner in 2000. It was here that Douglas found his niche, and by his retirement in June this year, he was recognised as one of the best medical negligence defence lawyers in the UK. Sadly, Douglas never got to enjoy his retirement, and he passed away at the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice on 22nd October. He leaves two children, Robbie and Shona, of whom he was very proud, his wife and partner in all his adventures, Elaine, and, as his brother Al said at his funeral, an irreplaceable Douglas-shaped hole in his many friends’ hearts.
John (Ian) M Mather C1949, 1932-2020
John Macgregor Mather was a proud former pupil of Hutchesons’ Grammar School. He left school early to pursue his dream of becoming a banker. Here he excelled coming top of the class for the whole of the UK in the banking exams. His talent for business shone through and he rose quickly through the ranks to become General Manager International and with it a glamorous and hectic lifestyle travelling the world. There were many tales of adventures during this time from being involved in an African coup to being in a lift with former American president George HW Bush! His hugely successful business career ultimately saw him rise to become Director, Treasury and Capital Markets where he was responsible for the foreign exchange and trading arm of the bank. In hindsight, the first signs of his numerical talent and business acumen were actually very evident in those early years at Hutchie. Contrary to school rules (and certainly not to be encouraged) he bought pies from the local grocer shop only to sell them on to his classmates for a profit. When a fellow competitor had to drop out after being caught, it only led John to merrily increase his prices. His love of deals never deserted him, and the bigger the bargain the better. In retirement he lived in St Andrews with his wife Eileen where he enjoyed many happy years and well-earned relaxation. Family life was very important to both John and Eileen and they greatly enjoyed their three children, Sheila, Elizabeth and Angus and grandchildren Kirsty, Iain, Fiona, Fergus, Katrina, Malcolm, Duncan and Cara. John sadly passed away peacefully on Friday July 31st at the age of 88.
Prof John MacQueen C1946, 1929-2019
John MacQueen joined Hutchesons’ Boys’ Grammar School in September 1940 and spent six happy years at Hutchie, an experience about which he often reminisced in later life. A regular member of the “Old Sixth Form”, the group of 1946 leavers which met annually from then until very recently, he also had affectionate memories of his teachers, not least the Rector, W Tod Ritchie, whose scholarly interests in Scottish language and literature he would follow in his own academic career. Upon leaving Hutchie, he went up to Glasgow University to study English Language and Literature along with Greek. It was in the Greek and Latin classes that he met Winifred McWalter, a Hutchie Girl from Clarkston; they eventually married in June 1953. Before that they had proceeded with their first class Glasgow degrees to Cambridge, where further academic glory awaited them both. His study for a doctorate was cut short by a call to National Service in the RAF from 1954 to 1956. By the end of his time in the RAF, the first of his three sons had arrived, and the opportunity of a professorship at Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, was too good to miss. He took up a lectureship in medieval English and Scottish Literature at Edinburgh in 1959 and became Professor of Scottish Literature and Oral Tradition in 1971. He had nine grand-children and eight great-grand-children. His life was long, full and productive and he never ceased to acknowledge the debt he owed Hutchie.
Dr Jean McDougall (née Roberts) C1940, 1923-2020
Jean died in April 2020, aged 96. An only child, she was born and brought up in Mosspark, where she attended Mosspark Primary School before going to Hutchesons’ Girls’ Grammar School. Jean loved her years at Hutchesons’ where she excelled academically, receiving many prizes in a range of subjects, culminating in the Dux Medal in 1940. Jean was very proud of her school and the excellent education which her teachers provided: the values - hard work, determination and resilience - instilled in her there, remained with Jean throughout her life. On leaving school, Jean studied medicine at Glasgow University, where she met her future husband, Neil McDougall, a fellow medical student. After graduating, Jean worked in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow and in Paediatrics and Public Health in England. In 1951, Jean and Neil set up in General Practice in the north of Glasgow. They were both committed to the newly established NHS and were happy caring for the people of Milton. Jean also served the citizens of Glasgow for 3 years as Lady Provost. Jean loved being a doctor, but she created a happy, secure home for her husband and family, always finding time for them despite her busy life. Jean and Neil fortunately enjoyed a long retirement together, pursuing their shared love of travel and music. They regularly attended concerts and operas and travelled extensively. Jean was dedicated to her family and is sadly missed, especially by her 3 children and 4 granddaughters.
Dr Alison Mack MBE, (née Mitchell) C1955
Dr Mack left Hutchesons’ Girls’ Grammar School in S5 in 1954 to study medicine at Glasgow University, where she graduated MBChB in 1960. When she graduated, Dr Mack and her husband started their family and had three children quite quickly under the age of three so became a school health and GP locum to fit around her family. Following a trip to Kenya in 1965, she became interested in family planning and was innovative in changing attitudes and getting family planning and women’s services into the medical curriculum which led to a career in School health and General Practice. In 1974 she was head-hunted into a big general practice in the Gorbals. She set up the surgery which included family planning, well men, well women, baby immunisation and well baby clinics. Other innovations included getting involved in the community, catching up with women and babies who didn’t turn up at clinics and testing for HIV. She was awarded an MBE on retirement for services to Glasgow medicine. Dr Mack died peacefully on Sunday 8th March 2020, in the loving care of The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. Beloved and loving wife of Alistair, devoted mother of David, Ian and Jennifer and loved mother-in-law of Elaine. Proud and adored Gran of Cameron, Jamie, Garie, Lauren and Callum.
Dr David A R Williams C1965, 1947-2020
David joined Hutchie in 1959 and spent 5 years in the school. He was a member of the Rowing Club and excelled in maths, physics and chemistry. He studied the latter at Glasgow University. He gained his PhD from Stirling University, followed by fellowships at York and Liverpool Universities. He became a lecturer then senior lecturer at the now Manchester Metropolitan University. He very much enjoyed teaching and working with students and his research in organic chemistry. Whilst there he began to undertake expert reports in relation to legal claims by individuals alleging damage at work through exposure to chemicals. He left the university and established his own consultancy firm, travelling all over the UK undertaking inspections, interviewing claimants and giving evidence in courts. A keen photographer from boyhood, in retirement he developed this interest. David and his wife Anne travelled extensively, especially in Africa which they both loved. They had a holiday home in Dumfries and Galloway visiting regularly and enjoying walking. David always valued his education at Hutchie and was a member of the 1641 club. He and Anne regularly supported the annual events and he attended several reunions. He left a substantial legacy to the Bursary Fund and for a camera to film experiments and support learning.
Dr Grant G Simpson, C1948, 1930-2019
Dr Grant Gray Simpson died in Aberdeen on 14th December 2019 at the age of 89. From Mosspark, he joined the school aged 11 and quickly established himself as an ‘A’ boy in the senior school. Having obtained Highers in Latin and Greek as well as Dux in English, he more than confirmed his academic potential by coming 3rd in the first 100 in the Glasgow University Bursary Competition of 1948. Inspired by James Whyte, principal teacher of history at Hutchie, he opted for an honours degree in History rather than English at Glasgow University, graduating in 1952. After two years national service in the RAF, he obtained an Assistant Keeper (Archivist) post at the Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh (now the National Records of Scotland), where he acquired invaluable knowledge of and expertise in the original records of Scotland. These were to bear fruit following a notable career-change in 1969 when he joined the history department of the University of Aberdeen as lecturer and latterly as Reader, specialising in Scottish medieval history. The very high regard in which he was held by the academic community for his publications, teaching abilities, and engaging personality, was shown by the standing-room-only turn-out for his funeral in King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen. He is survived by his wife, Anne Turner, one of his students, whom he married in 1979.
Elphinstone Forrest 4th December C1959 1940 -2020
Alph attended Hutchesons’ Grammars Boys’ School at Crown Street between 1953 and 1959 He was known to most as either Alph, Elph or Elphy. He was captain of the Rugby 1st XV 1957-58 & 1958-59, a prefect and school vice-captain. he was also a sports’ champion and held the school record for the mile. It was during those years that he formed friendships with classmates and team-mates that lasted a lifetime. In 1959, Alph began his working life. He joined a shipping and forwarding agency and embarked on successful career which took him to countries as diverse as Nigeria, Russia, Iran, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the USA, Canada. He kept working in this industry until 70 as the Scottish Rep for the British Institute of Freight Forwarders. He also maintained a position as a director of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Glasgow Freight club. Rugby was a way of life for Alph rather than just a hobby or a pastime. Having started at school on the wing, he moved to wing forward as an FP and latterly played in the front row. When he could no longer play, he remained actively involved in the game by refereeing both school and FP matches. He was a sociable and gregarious individual fond of good company, good cheer and great singing. He is survived by his wife Diana, his son Grigor (also a former pupil), his daughter in law Julie and his three grandchildren: Ava, Alex & Rory.
Dr Douglas Marr C1971, 1952-2020
Douglas Marr passed away in May 2020. He attended Hutchesons’ from 1965 to 1970 when he went to study medicine at Glasgow University. At school he took full part in sporting and extracurricular activities attending many clubs and societies in addition to his studies. At university he took up weightlifting and was awarded a university blue in addition to becoming British universities powerlifting champion. 1n 1983 Douglas emigrated to Ontario, where he worked as a psychiatrist for many years, until he lost his battle with cancer, just as he was about to take the next step to retiral. Douglas was a strong advocate for mental health through his 37 years of practice as a psychiatrist working with children, seniors, and the First Nations community of M’Chigeeng, Canada He was well known for his work with adults with ADHD. Douglas was an avid and passionate cyclist, weightlifter, and trail runner. He greatly enjoyed reading, learning, and sharing his knowledge with others. He is survived by his wife Sadie, 3 children and 9 Grandchildren in Canada and many nieces and nephews in UK . His younger brother Alistair is current Chair of the Board of Governors.
Gordon Farquhar C1951, 1933-2020
Gordon was a civil and structural engineer who played a major part in transforming the landscape of Glasgow. He was project design engineer for many major motorway contracts including the western flank of the inner ring road. He was brought up in Stepps and joined Hutchesons’ in 1945 where he excelled in Latin, Greek and Maths. He later graduated from Glasgow University with a first class honours degree in civil engineering. For his National Service period he was fortunate to be drafted, as an assistant lecturer, to the Royal Military College of Science. He then spents periods working on structural research projects in the nuclear industry and on civil engineering projects in Nigeria before taking a post graduate degree course at Imperial College. He returned to Glasgow in 1962 and joined Fairhurst & Partners, becoming a partner four years later. He went on to become Managing and then Senior Partner during a period of expansion. Gordon had a keen interest in sport and he was member of the School’s tennis and cricket teams. In retirement he loved to travel the world. He lost his wife Jill earlier this year after a very happy 62 years of marriage.
Our Donors Patron Mr Walter & Mrs Helen Ross Mr Kevin D Sneader The Alexander Stone Foundation Jonathan Quin
Chancellor Dr James Dougall Mr M Allan Heath* Mrs Flora G K Henderson* Mr Roger H Lomax Miss J Patricia Oliphant* Mr Gavin D L Ralston Mrs Cristina Ronald Mrs Elliot W Ross Mrs Anne M Russell Dr David A R Williams*
Fellow Mrs Mary M Henderson* Mrs Dorothy Jenkins Dr Matt L Manson Dr Roger & Dr Jennifer Quin Mr William Russell Dr Charles Shearer* The Silverstone Trust Mr Alastair B T Smith
Scholar Mr Robert J Alexander Mr & Mrs Stuart Biggart Ms Deborah Crowther Miss Elizabeth J Dalzell* Mr Graham W A MacAllister Dr Karen McLeod & Dr William Knight Mr Andrew Normand Mr Roy M Pinkerton Mr & Mrs Arthur J Priestly Mrs Catriona G Shedden Mrs Anne Simpson Mr James M Stirling OBE Mr Andrew Watson Prof John M Wilson
Founder Mr Ross G Anderson Lady Biggam Mr R Bruce Bissell Mr Douglas T Boyd OBE Mrs Vivien Campbell & Family Mr Bill and Jean Carswell Mrs Marjory A Cassells Mr Graham Currie Mr David H Dobson
Mr Keith M Dunlop Mr George M Duthie Dr George S Dyker Mr Gordon F Farquhar* Dr Nathaniel Fell Mrs Muriel Goodall Dr Gwen Halbert Mr Gordon Harris Mrs Lorna A Howieson Dr Alan W Hulme Mr Satoshi Kojima Sir Kenneth Macdonald Mr Ronald R Macdonald Miss Lorna M Mackenzie Prof Lorna Macpherson Dr & Mrs David S Mathie Mr Stuart W McCallum Mr & Mrs Alexander McCartney Mr John M F McKail Mrs Margaret Munn Lady Foley* Mr John D C Simpson The Alix Stevenson Trust Mr Gavin B Summers Mrs Lindsay A Wadey Prof Brian O Williams South Western District Scout Council
Pioneer Dr Graeme P Adam Mrs Irene M Allison Mr Suhit Amin Mrs Isla Ashcroft Mr John S Beattie Mr Malcolm G Bell Professor Irving S Benjamin Mrs Sheena C M Birch Mrs Eleanor Bremner Ms Susan E Briggs Mr Andrew M Broom Ms Claire Burgess Dr Valerie M Cairns Rev Alastair Cherry Mrs Katrina Clarke Mrs Isobel G Davidson Mr David M Dick Mrs Margaret Donaldson* Mrs M Barbara Dunn Mr Thomas B Dunn Mr J Duncan Fyfe Mr Colin Gambles Mr Craig S Goldie Prof Gwyn Gould & Dr Helen Lyall Dr & Mrs Michael Gow Mrs Margaret A Gray Mr Ian Harrow Mrs Helen Hood* Dr Janet H Horner
Mr Walter Hutchison MBE Prof Ivor Jackson Mrs Jane C Johnstone Mr David Lamb Mrs Avril Levy Mr Gordon C Livingstone Mrs Linda McCormick Dr Catherine McCrone* Mr Richard W McIntosh Mr John C McLellan Mr Christopher R McMillan Dr Fiona McMurtrie Dr Evelyn M McNicol Mr Asgher Mohammed MBE Mr & Dr David A Orcharton Mr John R Park Dr Alison J Ram Miss Anne M Reid Mrs Janette C Shepherd Dr Jeevan K Shetty Prof Blair H Smith Mrs Eunice Smith Mrs Kathleen Steer Mr W Gordon Stewart Dr Iain K Tweedlie Prof & Mrs Deepak Uttamchandani Mr Thomas F C Walker* Mrs J Moira White Miss Rachel M Williamson Mr Richard F Worsley
Friend Mrs Joy Allan Mr Andrew S Anderson Mrs Mary E Baird Mrs Gillian Bell Mrs Rachel Bisland Mrs Alison M Blake Mr Ephraim J Borowski Dr Heather Cochrane Mr & Mrs George Coyle Mrs Beth F B Day Mrs Kathleen A Dingwall Ms Carla Foxworthy Mrs Pamela M Freedman Miss Helen Gibson Dr Allan B Girdwood Mrs Anne R Gore Mr Robert Y Hamilton Mrs Morag M Hogg Mrs Catherine Keddie Mrs Elizabeth Kennedy Mrs Gillian E Kyle Mrs Evelyn Lennie Mrs Valerie Lindsay Dr Sandra Lonie Mrs Isabel F MacDonald Mrs K Joan Macdonald
Friend (continued) Prof William J MacLennan Mr Iain A MacLeod Mr Alistair E Marr Mrs Patricia M Marwick Mrs Deirdre McCarthy Mr Colin McCay Mr Jim McDougall Dr Anne L G McGinley Mr Fraser Meighan Mrs Laura Munro Mrs Elaine Prentice Mr Usaamah Ramzan Mrs Christine D Robinson Mrs Lilias A D Ross Mrs Patricia M Rowan Mrs Jennifer M Russell Mrs Mary Russell Mrs Helen Stewart Miss Christine J Thomson Mr Edgar Trotter Mrs Sheena A Williams Dr Richard G D Williamson Mrs Marie Windows Mrs Helen P H Wright
US Bursary Fund Dr Robert A Browne Mrs Moyra M Traupe
Canadian Bursary Fund Miss E Jane Dargie Dr & Mrs Gavin James Mrs Laura A Mallick Mr Iain A McNicol Mr & Mrs Kenneth Smith Mrs Barbara J Speakman Mrs Cristina Ronald Mrs Patricia A Bewers Mr Brian W Conway Mr & Mrs Vic Hepburn Dr Matt L Manson Dr Ruth MacSween Mrs Margaret Hamlett Mr Graham W A MacAllister
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A huge thank you to all our donors including those who wish to remain anonymous. * In memoriam
Hutchesons’ Grammar School 21 Beaton Road Grammar School is governed Glasgow Hutchesons’ by Hutchesons’ Educational Trust, Registered G41 4NW Charity no SC002922.