Minerva Winter/Spring 2017

M I N E R VA THE NEWSLETTER OF KELVINSIDE ACADEMY WINTER/SPRING 2017

“Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

MINERVA be. I believe that this is a task that can be met through an innovative and varied curriculum that begins in classrooms before moving beyond them. I want to use this introduction to highlight three current KA curricular initiatives that are a little bit different. Before I do, I must share a quote from the educationalist Kurt Hahn, who as an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime fled Germany to found Gordonstoun School in Moray, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Outward Bound movement.

Hahn stated: “It is the sin of the soul to force young people into opinions - indoctrination is of the devil - but it is culpable neglect not to impel young people into experiences”.

Rector’s Letter As I sit down to write the introduction to the first Minerva of 2017, I can’t help but reflect upon 2016. It was a year which included extraordinary scientific feats, sobering international development statistics and dramatic political change.

For example, a clinical trial at Stanford University demonstrated that injecting modified stems cells into the brains of stroke victims can allow patients who have lost mobility to walk again.

Last January brought with it the troubling news that the annual number of global deaths attributed to pollution now outstrip those caused by HIV and malaria combined. And then of course there was Brexit and the American presidential election.

Subsequently, a chief task for all of us at Kelvinside Academy is to ensure that our youngsters are well placed not only to understand the world as it is, but to imagine it as it could

I think Hahn’s words resonate as strongly today as they did when they were first spoken in 1965.

It is not for schools to instruct pupils in what to think and how to act through times of change and uncertainty. Rather, they should provide pupils with ample opportunities to interact with real world issues in real world contexts. I think the three curricular initiatives that follow do just that.

In December 2016, Kelvinside Academy welcomed over three hundred pupils from throughout Scotland to debate challenging issues at an Ethics Conference which was the brainchild of RMPS teacher Mrs Nicola Mathews. The conference, now in its fourth year, explored topics from Religion, Medicine and Justice. During the event, distinguished philosopher and Vice Principal of Heythrop College Peter Vardy also challenged and stretched the thinking of all participants. Surely this sort of conference has a pivotal role to play in preparing our youngsters for life beyond school. I am delighted that as well as promoting

2016 Ethics Conference 2

WINTER/SPRING 2017 the intellectual and moral development of our own pupils, this initiative also provided a forum for young people from across Scotland to shape their views and opinions.

In coming to know Kelvinside Academy, I have been very impressed by the School’s well established commitment to voluntary service.

Indeed, I have enjoyed learning more from our Head of Sixth Year Miss Karis Leckie about the various outreach programmes that KA pupils have supported over the years, such as the Cadogan Soup Kitchen and the Voluntary Tutor Organisation. Throughout the Autumn Term a group of S6 pupils, supported by Miss Leckie and a few Academicals, worked hard to establish a new outreach programme named KARO Kelvinside Academy Refugee Organisation.

Working alongside volunteers from the Maryhill Integration Network our KARO members now teach English to Syrian refugees on a weekly basis. To facilitate this project, the School successfully built TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualifications into the S6 curriculum. Gandhi’s belief that ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’ rings true for the KARO initiative.

From listening to the pupils involved in KARO I know their endeavours have at times taken them outside their comfort zone, however, I am certain that this outreach project is well placed to develop open hearts and minds in our pupils.

Furthermore, I know that all involved will leave KA well capable of being a force for good in the world.

The final curricular initiative that I want to share finds its foundations in the thoughtfulness and generosity of the wider KA community. Indeed it was halfway through last term when current parent and Chair of the Minerva Trust Mr Mel Scott called me to ask if the School would like to take ownership of a thirty-foot sailing yacht named Level Best. I gladly accepted this offer and I am grateful to Mr Scott and Mr Jim Cuthbertson, for helping me retrieve the yacht on a chilly winter’s day before Christmas from Tarbert Harbour. Alongside open hearts and minds I know that our pupils will need a good measure of resilience and grit to succeed in life beyond the school gates, and throughout my career it has been my experience that these qualities can be well fostered through outdoor education. As such, I very much hope that in the years to come many of our pupils will be able to challenge themselves on Level Best around the

west coast of Scotland. I must note that Level Best has been kindly gifted by Mr Jim Asher.

Mr Asher is a friend of the School and I am grateful that he took the time to share with me some of the many exciting adventures that he enjoyed aboard Level Best.

Mr Jim Asher with the Rector

2016 was also the year which brought me to Kelvinside Academy, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the pupils, my colleagues and the wider KA community for making both Catherine and me feel so welcome in Glasgow.

The School is in good health and through ongoing curricular review and innovation I am confident that we are well placed to prepare our youngsters for the challenges of the 21st Century. Alongside my introduction, the pages that follow will add further colour and richness to KA life and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have.

Looking forward to 2017, we have to believe that youngsters everywhere can provide hope, reconciliation and answers to some of the big challenges facing humanity. Understanding Kelvinside Academy and its pupils and staff as I do, I feel optimistic. Everyday I work with teachers whose dedication and innovation inspires me. And everyday I work with pupils whose energy and kindness fills me with encouragement. I believe that at Kelvinside Academy we are a little different, and that much can be learnt from celebrating and sharing this difference.

Finally, as we move with the times, the School aims to use Twitter more frequently to share with the world the many engaging stories that emerge from KA on a daily basis. I can be followed @KA_Rector and I hope in the weeks and months ahead to record goings-on at the School via this account.

With the best of wishes for 2017

Ian H Munro Rector 3

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Nursery Forest Kindergarten Last term Kelvinside Academy Nursery began piloting its Forest Kindergarten.

One morning a week, children are pulling on their wellies and exploring nearby woods located just a five minute walk from our Balgray Campus.

Tracy Nugent, Head of Nursery said: “There are so many benefits to allowing children to play freely in woodland. As well as increased physical activity, the outdoors is a great place to learn as the children witness nature firsthand and discover more independence through real-life experiences.

“Research has shown that concentration levels are improved for children who learn outside. In fairy tales, forests are often a scary place, think of the ‘big, bad wolf’ in Little Red Riding Hood.

This allows us to show children what a diverse and beautiful place the forest is and encourages them to take an interest in the environment and biodiversity from a young age.”

St Andrew’s Day The children donned their tartan togs and enjoyed a celebration of all things Scottish when they marked St Andrew’s Day in style.

They delighted in exploring the map and finding places around Scotland that they knew or had visited.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017 Is there a baby in there?

This year’s nativity show was a wonderful performance of ‘Is there a baby in there?’ which played to a packed David Boyd Pavilion.

Our 3 and 4 year olds were not at all daunted by the large audience as they became the animals in the farmyard patiently waiting for a new baby to arrive. Would it be a lamb, a calf or a foal? They waited and waited and then as they slept a beautiful golden star shone over their stable and when the animals woke up they found a very special surprise waiting for them. Well done to all our Nursery pupils for their wonderful acting and singing.

Road Safety Pupils have been exploring the local community whilst learning about road safety. They carried on their learning back at the Nursery by designing and making a large road map with lots of vehicles, listening to ‘Ziggy’ stories and using the road signs in the garden.

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Junior School ‘Lights, Camel, Action’ – J2/J3 Show The Junior 2 and 3 children gave an outstanding performance in this production. The popular context of a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ style TV Show, proved to be a winning formula for yet another reinterpretation of the Christmas story.

The witty script was put across by some very talented young performers.

The presenters, played by Ren Buchanan (J3), Milly Hailstone (J3) and Zoe Onumonu (J2), were superb in linking all the scenes together and being heard right to the back of the Theatre (and, in Ren’s case, halfway down Byres Road!).

The hosts, played by Beth Scrimgeour (J3) and Tee-J Mwenebungu (J3) also added plenty of showbiz glamour to the proceedings. Talent show judges are often stars of their shows in their own right and everyone loves to hate the over-critical harsh marker, in this instance Caesar Augustus played by Aiert Mardaraz (J3) who took a while to get used to being booed almost every time he spoke!

William Paling (J3) and Evie Camp (J3) who played the parts of Mary and Joseph, gave a stunning solo to large applause. Two children who played the parts of the inn-keeper and his wife (Emily Christie (J3) and Rory Sims(J3)) added humour to the show with

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their wonderful comic timing and expression.

Dance performances by the inn-keepers, the shepherds, the wise men and the camels were well rehearsed and loved by the audience for their fun and energy.

All-in-all, Junior 2 and 3 children amazed their parents, grandparents and other relatives with the confidence shown in such a smooth performance. There was only one word for it fab-u-lous, darling!

WINTER/SPRING 2017 Christmas Concert The Junior School was ringing with Christmas cheer when our young musicians and singers gave wonderful performances at their Christmas Concert. The Infant and Junior Choirs entertained a packed Gilchrist Theatre, before making way for the Junior Orchestra and several impressive solo performances. Well done to all.

Autumn Photography Competition There were over 40 entries in the recent Inter-house Photography Competition.

The theme was ‘Everything Autumn’.

Entries were impressive and the judges, Mr Dickenson, Ms Tipping and three S6 photography students, had a very hard job trying to choose the winners. Watch out for details of the Spring Competition coming soon.

Winners J5-6 category - Sophie Russell (J5) J3-4 category - Freddie Scott (J3) J1-2 category - Sotiris Avgerodimos (J2) 7

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Junior School What a Hoot!

J3 had their studies of the book ‘The Owl Who was Afraid of the Dark’ brought to life when Graeme Neilson (2002) of Strathblane Falcons brought some beautiful owls to visit them. Mr Neilson brought Bibi (6 month old Eagle Owl) and Boden (6 month old Tawny Owl) to meet the children and it was a fascinating encounter. The most exciting part of the visit was watching Boden fly around the lower gym exploring the wall bars and the high beams and then swooping down right over the heads of the enthralled audience.

Sky Academy As part of anti-bullying week J6 visited Sky Academy to make a news report about cyber bullying. Sky Academy Skills Studios in Livingston offer a half-day interactive learning experience that gives young people the chance to use the latest broadcast technology to make a TV report on subjects they’re studying at school. J6 enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour at Sky with hands-on experience of the purposebuilt studios where they wrote, produced and directed their own short news bulletin.

Digital Award In November the Junior School was announced as one of Education Scotland’s first ever ‘Digital Schools’.

The Digital Schools Awards Scotland programme was launched in September by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, to promote, recognise and encourage best practice use of digital technology in primary schools. So far, Kelvinside Academy Junior School is one of only four schools in Scotland to be recognised.

Mrs Joanna Maclean, Head of eLearning felt it was an opportunity to demonstrate the school’s digital credentials and spearheaded the application process. Joanna said: “It is a tremendous accolade for the Junior School and we are delighted that the new technology we have put in place, and the way we introduce it to our pupils from such a young age, has been recognised by Education Scotland.”

Rector Ian Munro said: “We are exceptionally 8

pleased and immensely proud that our strong commitment to digital technology and innovative teaching has been recognised. We do not view digital technology as a substitute for excellent classroom teaching, but we do see how it can enhance the learning environment for all our pupils. All schools should ensure their pupils have a strong grasp of the educational power of digital platforms so that they are well prepared for life after school.”

“Junior School teachers report wide ranging pupil advancements through use of the digital technology. Pupils are showing more initiative in all areas of learning and are reading text on websites and reference sources far more advanced than their reading age. The way children are discussing and sharing information with each other has been remarkable.”

WINTER/SPRING 2017

Senior School Christmas Concert The Senior School Christmas Concert was a wonderful celebration of musical collaboration with all of our choirs, orchestras and ensembles taking to the stage. One of the many highlights included The Rector, Deputy Rector and several Academicals joining the Senior Choir’s rendition of ‘I’m A Believer’! Well done to all - it was a wonderful evening of music.

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MINERVA

Senior School The Great Gatsby - Review Throughout the first term of the 2016-7 session the School’s theatre was host to a series of rehearsals, culminating in an ambitious staging of F Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, The Great Gatsby. A text of such complexity and subtlety would present some very substantial challenges for all concerned, not least because the novel has achieved huge popularity on the back of the lavish Hollywood blockbuster film. KA - perhaps more than ever before - had a lot to live up to…

The production was staged over four dreary November nights; but the contrast between the dour, Glasgow weather outside and the sparkle and glitz on the stage each evening could not have been more marked. A sumptuous set had been created within which heavy furniture, multiple performance levels, shimmering voile and golden lighting lent the staging enormous depth and splendour - you literally felt that you could wander into the set and just keep on walking into the phoney, but compelling magnificence of Gatsby’s world.

So much for the set; but the real challenge would

Monica Sloan (S5) 10

be this: how do you turn confident actors into hesitant characters? For Gatsby is a fraud and he has, ultimately, to be seen as such. And Nick, the central storyteller, has to guide us to some understanding of Gatsby whilst all the while not being sure himself about the truth and the lies that swirl around his friend. If this sounds hard…well…let’s just make it even harder: we’ll use double casting for the eight central roles!

That’s sixteen pupils from S5 and S6 occupying substantial parts: this fact alone is testimony to the spirit of inclusiveness from which pupils benefit hugely in the School.

So we had two Gatsbys: intriguingly, for all that they delivered precisely the same lines, we had two contrasting Gatsbys. Benjamin Paget (S6) created a beautifully judged performance; he looked the part in his white tuxedo and meticulous quiff, but his hesitant body language and worried frown, suggested a man perennially on the cusp of being found out - which is exactly what Gatsby is. I liked his gentle delivery and fragile confidence when he delivered the killer claim - that, of course, we can turn back the past. Matthew Morwood’s (S6)

WINTER/SPRING 2017 take on the character was intriguingly different.

He moved across the stage with elegant calm, even indifference to all others - save Daisy, of course. And when he delivered the same killer line, you almost believed that it could be done that someone as committed and single-minded as this Gatsby could turn back the past. This was one of the great pleasures of the double cast; ultimately we got two versions of the same play.

Then we had two Nicks. Lewis Merrylees (S6) delivered in his performance a complex portrayal of a man who finds himself lost within a world he doesn’t understand. He communicated in his body language the movement from mesmeric excitement at this new, glamorous world to a broken acceptance of how tawdry and morally vile is the cesspit he finds himself in.

Lewis delivered the great concluding soliloquy with finesse, creating a moving climax to the production. Max Craig’s (S6) Nick was a subtly different man; I particularly liked the way in which he would gaze for a moment, or pause to consider-inviting us to share in his perpetual questioning: what am I really seeing here? Max tapped into the uncertainties at the heart of the character; but he was contrastingly strong in delivering Nick’s emerging certainty: that Gatsby aside, these glamorous narcissists were a ‘rotten lot’.

Erin Corry (S6) & Max Craig (S6)

Of course Gatsby is better than they are because he is sustained by an ideal - the perfection that is Daisy. Erin Corry’s (S6) portrayal of the impossible object of Gatsby’s love communicated both the depth and the shallowness of the character; brave and decent one moment, cowardly and dishonest when the need arises, Erin delivered Daisy’s lines with great clarity and poise. Madeline Cairnduff, (S6) meanwhile convinced in allowing us to see how manipulative Daisy can be; she used tone to good effect, transmitting a combination of naivety and knowingness. Both actresses were hugely successful in a very difficult role. We have to see that for all that Gatsby lavishes on Daisy, she cares about him only insofar as is expedient. We saw, through Nick’s narration, but more dramatically through the performances of Erin and Madeline, the vacuity and hollowness of Gatsby’s ideal.

They are - all of them - a rotten lot: and none more rotten than the two Toms. He really is a piece of work: a pathologically jealous, insecure bully and chauvinist - Jack Graham (S6) and Robbie Harvey (S6) were poised and ready for lift-off! Jack’s portrayal depicted the restless energy and relentless need for reassurance that is the essence of the character; he stalked the stage, homing in on his spirited but

Mahee Mustafa (S6)

Monica Sloan (S5) & Jack Graham (S6) 11

MINERVA

Jack Graham (S6)

Hannah McGregor (S5)

Scarlett Green (S5) & Robbie Harvey (S6)

ultimately broken and beaten girlfriend, Myrtle.

You sensed from Jack’s performance that this was a man used to having his own way, with the capacity for terrible retribution if thwarted.

Robbie Harvey’s Tom, by contrast, was a more simmering and tightly-strung creature.

Robbie was very good at creating tension via his brooding body language and threatening undertones, so that when the violence did finally explode, it was shocking. Great credit to both actors. Tom is vile and it would have been easy to turn him into a monster-something he isn’t. Both players showed confident awareness of this requirement.

Gatsby’s female characters present real difficulties for players. They are powerful but vulnerable; they are generally a lot smarter than the men, but the victims of chauvinism.

Myrtle (Tom’s girlfriend) was played by Monica Sloan (S5) and Scarlett Green (S5).

Monica’s delivery was crystal clear and tonally convincing; she communicated the yearning for a better life, and self-loathing that the cost 12

Josh Stirling (S5)

Cian Shelton (S5)

might involve a lifetime of bullying at Tom’s hands. Scarlett, by contrast, was much more feisty and overtly confrontational, making the same lines seem more demanding and dismissive of Tom and foreshadowing his terrible violence to come. Some women hit back: Lucy Finlay (S6) and Hannah McGregor (S5) in the role of Jordan Baker showed that in this man’s world, a confident, perhaps reckless enough woman, could assume some level of control over her destiny. Both players strode across the stage with near predatory purpose.

The production was further enhanced by the confident performances of Victoria Ash (S5) and Nikki Burns (S5) in the role of McKee. They were especially convincing in broadening our understanding of how hollow and empty these glamorous lives are beneath the glitzy surface.

In the other central roles both Harry Gillies (S5) and Mahee Mustafa (S6) has a great time within the extravagant role of the gangster, Wolfsheim. Both actors set about the part with

WINTER/SPRING 2017

Benjamin Paget (S6)

Lucy Findley (S6)

Lewis Merrylees (S6)

tremendous brio and verve delivering laughs and outlandish feats of cigar-smoking along the way! Liam Dunseith (S6) and Cian Shelton (S5) played the part of the hapless and hopelessly bullied mechanic, Wilson. Both, were excellent in portraying a man who is victimised and so becomes a bully.

No production on this scale can succeed without the expertise and commitment of those who support the main players. In addition to the sixteen actors already mentioned we had: 26 dancers choreographed by Amal Karim (S6) and Leila Barr (S6), a 5-piece band led by Mrs Jenny Cunningham, a nine person stage crew, a seven strong props crew, a seven person lighting crew led by James Robinson (S6), a three man sound crew led by Lochlan Morris (S6), a four piece costume crew and a nine piece make up crew led by Daniella Barnard (S6).

Finally, we had a series of musical interludes (linking the stage scenes) starring Josh Stirling (S5) with additional contributions from

Matthew Morwood (S6) & Madeline Cairnduff (S6)

Hannah McGregor, Scarlett Green, Lucy Findlay and Madeline Cairnduff. These performances were tremendously atmospheric; they created a 20s musical backdrop to and ambience for the onstage action. Jenny Cunningham merits special mention here in her role as band leader.

There will be some measure of duplication of role, of course, but this will be minor and I make the grand total no less than 85 pupils plus staff members! A tremendous level of participation and inclusiveness.

None of the above would, of course, be possible without the relentless determination, energy and expertise of the Producer and Director, Mrs Angela Schneeberger. She has established over the last five or so years a strong reputation for ambitiously diverse production. To tackle this iconic novel takes nerve and ambition; but to succeed so consummately in delivering something of this scale on a school stage takes both talent and peerless commitment.

Mr Joe Gilius Head of the Faculty of Languages 13

MINERVA

Senior School Annual Road Race Well done to the 241 pupils who took part in the annual Kelvinside Academy Road Race in mid December. The wet weather did not seem to dull effort or enjoyment, as pupils ran the distance competing for their House. It was a brother and sister victory for Stewart House as Guy Evans Haggerty (S6) won the Boys Race and Lily Evans Haggerty (S2) won the Girls Race in spectacular fashion. Congratulations to all runners and thanks to all staff and pupils who helped organise and steward the course.

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Boys Results 1st Guy Evans Haggerty (S6) 2nd Caolan Millard (S4) 3rd Oliver Wilson (S5) 4th Tristan Philbey (S6) 5th Hardie Brown (S5) Girls Results 1st Lily Evans Haggerty (S2) 2nd Jennifer Lewis (S6) 3rd Iona Paget (S3) 4th Nico Rigg MacInnes (S1) 5th Pippa Cooke (S3)

WINTER/SPRING 2017

It All Adds Up Hard work and focused minds added up to impressive success for four KA students in the UK Senior Maths Challenge. Asa Taylor (S6) was awarded bronze, Sandy Johnstone (S6) was awarded silver and both Peter Miao (S5) and Linda Lin (S5) were awarded gold awards.

Peter and Linda have now been invited to take part in the Senior Kangaroo, which is the next round of the competition.

Senior Choir at the City Halls The Senior Choir took part in an outstanding performance of Haydn’s “Nelson Mass” at the City Halls in October. Under the direction of Andrew Nunn, they joined the Bearsden Choir, RCS Junior Choirs and pupils from 8 other schools in a concert that was the culmination of an aspirational choral education project.

Our pupils enjoyed the chance to collaborate with a high level amateur choir as well as working with the professional musicians of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. They loved the chance to have all the benefits, joy and excitement of being in a huge choir.

Enterprise Time Our S1 and S2 pupils were extremely busy in the run up to the Christmas Fayre as this was the main selling platform for their new businesses.

The S1 enterprise classes took part in the ‘£10 Challenge’ and S2 in the ‘Micro Tyco challenge’.

S1 raised a total of £663.91 with one group, Xmas Corner, earning an amazing total of £135.94. S2 made just short of £250 for Micro Tyco (this is the charity arm of Wildhearts who fund micro loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries) which was impressive given their initial £1 investment start.

Opera Star Eden Power (S4) recently made her debut with Glasgow Light Opera Club starring as Chava in their production of ‘Fiddler on The Roof’ at The King’s Theatre. Eden was thrilled to audition and secure one of the main roles in the production which ran from 1-5 November and played to packed houses. Performing in such a large venue gave Eden a real feel for producing and performing on a stage graced by great Scottish performers as well as leading West End and Broadway stars.

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MINERVA

Trips Canoe Trip - Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond As a follow up to the S1/2 canoe trip at Luss Mr McAlister ran an additional trip to the eastern side of the Loch, Milarrochy Bay. What made it memorable for the pupils was being able to park on the stony beach, directly by the water’s edge. As we looked out onto the loch we noticed how calm the water was, this reminded me of a quote by Alan Watts when talking about relaxation - “Don’t try to.

If you do, you will be like someone trying to smooth water with a flat iron. And all that will do is stir-it up even more”. This is precisely what we intended to do, stir the water up even more.

When organising water sports I always use the acronym SEL (safety-enjoyment-learning) where the enjoyment and learning sections are interchangeable. The day would consist of three activities, kayaking, open canoeing and rafting all of which would be firmly in the enjoyment area.

Here are some pupils’ views about the trip.

“When we got to Loch Lomond and all kitted up, we got to try raft building and kayaking but my favourite was the canoeing. I was partnered with Isla for that and we were the first to capsize and our boat filled up with water. I enjoyed all of the challenges that Mr McAlister set us because they were all quite tricky and they made us fall in the water a lot.”

Emma Williams (S1)

“My favourite part of the trip was when we went canoeing. We started off by learning how to turn and reverse but soon moved onto harder challenges like standing on the gunwale and leaning back off the canoe to dunk our heads in the water without falling in or capsizing, they required a lot of cooperation. Then we played a game where we had to throw tennis balls into other people’s canoes to score points but they would deflect them with their paddles, it was great.”

Matty Nicholson (S2) I’m sure you can imagine after reading the pupils’ accounts, they had a good time. That ‘good time’ goes somewhat towards the qualities that the outdoors provides - responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, initiative and ultimately selfconfidence. It also delivers lots and lots of happy faces.

I’d like to thank Mr Simpson, Mrs Bottomley and Hamish Miller (2013) for all your assistance, enthusiasm and minibus driving. Without you it genuinely would not have even been possible never mind such good fun. Thank you.

Mr Mark McAlister School Staff Instructor

Natalie Binama (S1), Isla Bottomley (S1), Emma Williams (S1), Rachel Gray (S1), Molly Mackenzie (S1) & Cara Cook-Rankin (S2) 16

WINTER/SPRING 2017 Hill Walking Trip Ben Lomond Conquered I clambered out of my dad’s car and made my way towards the minibus, still half asleep. Today was the day that I was going on a trip to Ben Lomond with other S1 and S2 pupils. Whilst on the way there I talked to my friends, who were also still half asleep.

At last after around an hour we eventually arrived at Ben Lomond.

First an instructor told the group a little bit about safety, then we started our journey onwards and upwards. The first half an hour was fairly easy but as time went on my legs started to hurt slightly but I still trekked up. After an hour of climbing we had our lunch, it was so good to have a rest and get some energy. I got back up and waded my way up Ben Lomond and after an hour of wading I had eventually made it to the top of the most southerly Munro in Scotland. The view on top was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. It was so rewarding, the whole experience in general was amazing. The only

problem was that I now had to get back down. I fell countless times but it was all alright. It was called the hill walking “trip” for a reason. The journey on the way down was only slightly easier than the journey up. Once we had reached the bottom we thanked Jim, our other instructor, and then stumbled onto the minibus.

Everyone was really tired. I was so tired that I ended up falling asleep for a little bit of the journey back and woke up as we arrived at the school. I had to say goodbye to one of the most amazing, rewarding things ever. As I stumbled down the path a thought came to me “this is probably the most fun, yet challenging thing that I have ever done.” It was more challenging than any maths I had ever done.

The irony is the fact that is was so challenging, both mentally and physically, yet it was so rewarding.

That sheer glory of being at the top is what made the journey worth it in the end. I wish I could do it all over again.

Cara Cook-Rankin (S2)

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Trips Mountain Biking Trip – Mud Glorious Mud at Mugdock At the end of October, Mr McAlister took a group of us on a mountain biking trip to Mugdock Park. At 8:30am we all met up at the back entrance to the school and once we’d strapped the bikes to the trailer, we all got on the minibus and headed to Mugdock.

Half an hour later we arrived and we unstrapped the bikes and took them from the car park to the visitor centre where those who did not have bikes picked up their rented ones. Thankfully it was dry and not too cold. First of all we went to the overflow car park to do small circuits so we could test out the bikes and let the people who rented bikes practice changing gear and also to see how well everyone could cycle.

Once we were all warmed up we headed off on the mountain bike trails. At the start everyone was concentrating so hard that it was quiet, but soon we started to shout and laugh as we all got used to the routes and the bikes. Along the way there were jumps, steep downhill paths and uphill paths.

Everyone managed really well.

We had lunch at the cafe before heading back out to do more trails. The weather got better as the day went on. We even did some time trials to see who was the quickest round a set route.

A great day was had by everyone. A big thank you to Mr McAlister for organising the trip. If you haven’t tried mountain biking I would definitely recommend it.

Archie Speirs (S2)

Archie Spiers (S2)

Skye Stuart (S1)

Archie Spiers (S2), Matthew Webb (S2), James Pollock (S2), Ben Houston (S2), Skye Stuart (S1) & Skye McMurdo (S1) 18

WINTER/SPRING 2017

CCF Gairloch Fieldcraft Camp – December 2016 The gate loomed in the distance of the aisle, a joyous prospect the 5th and 6th years were used to feeling.

However, the terror-stricken supernatant outfit of 3rd year’s faces were changed to ones of frigidity.

An immediate respect was established for the debut camp of the MOI Cadre, Section commanders assertively, yet fairly, briefed the 3rd and 4th years for the camp ahead. The younger years showed immense zealousness, considering the mass saturation of lessons the section commanders (IC’s) and second in control commanders (2IC’s) impaled into their absorption throughout the 2nd and 3rd day’s of the camps endeavours. The final night consisted of an indirectly described task to which the section commanders of 2 platoon being Fergus Harvey (S5), Ahmadyar Mahmood (S5) and myself gathered this was going to be a foolish stab of the 6th year training team attempting to make us crumble. Marching from the front blinded with

blackness, scarcely distinguishing the silhouettes of the coppice. Silence. Nothing to hear, but the sounds of clattering combat boots tripping and stomping on and over fragmented chaparral. The patrol back towards our minibus home was riddled with ambush’s from the 6th year training team, all of which for 2 platoon either involved galloping from capture or engaging in a scrambling skirmish of combat. Most memorable of which was when we were stopped and rinsed by the RSM, RQMS, and CSM just before quickly fleeing their Russian personas due to our platoon’s sheer wit and guile.

Nothing beat a tussle and tumble with RQMS Conor Rea as he was devoured and discarded by my mighty frame. Overall, the camp helped instil a lot of theory into the younger years whilst giving the MOI Cadre a chance to put lessons into practice. Even through injury and gritty hitches the Company performed in a slick, smart and regimented manner.

Cpl Reagan Dempster (S5)

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MINERVA

CCF Glenmore Forest, Aviemore 2016 Where do you start when writing about the new Adventurous Training Camp that is designed to replace the revered CCF Easter trip to the Isle of Arran?

Glenmore Forest lies at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. It’s a great place to see what makes the National Park so special: forests that have been growing for centuries form a green sea around high, rounded mountains, and lochs with sandy beaches glitter in the sun. Rare wildflowers and birds thrive among the trees – much of the forest park is a National Nature Reserve.

There were a number of goals when planning this trip; it had to be team orientated, include as many outdoor activities as possible but above all be fun.

Help from our S6 pupils was also required and they rose to the challenge and proved how well rounded and capable our senior ranking cadets are.

A few cadets share their Aviemore trip experiences.

“Concentrate on your team not your team coming first. I find that personally I do work well within a team as it is less stressful and you can also delegate people to do certain activities, so this means that everyone has fun and no one is being left out. My team worked extremely well together and accomplished a lot as we got to know each other. We may not always have been the strongest or tallest or fastest team, but we worked so well together that we all had fun and after our experience we all now consider

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ourselves friends. This shows how teamwork can bring you closer to others.

Let’s take a look at the basics and what actually makes a good team. I do not think that physical attributes actually matter, as often the people who aren’t as physically fit tend to have a lot more empathy towards others and work perfectly in teams. This I find is a huge factor in any strong team.

I think that the team leader is just as important as he or she is the one that needs to decide whether they want a team that will come first, or one that will work well together and have a good time doing so.

That for me was an easy one because as the classic saying goes ‘there is no ‘I’ in team’.

I don’t look back on my Aviemore experience and think ‘we won’, but instead I look back and think of all the memories I shared with my team and also how much fun we had taking part.” Laurent Meharry (S6) “My favourite part of the CCF trip to Aviemore was when we climbed Ben Macdui, which is the second highest mountain in the UK. It was a wild and windy day, and it was a long and challenging walk to the top. Although the weather meant that we weren’t rewarded with good views into the distance, it was exhilarating just to be there. Using our navigational skills to get back down, we worked together as a team and made our way safely down to the bottom. By the end of the day we were wet and tired but felt a great sense of achievement. Overall it was a very enjoyable trip.” Imogen Philbey (S3)

WINTER/SPRING 2017

Dominic Ferrie (S3), Amal Karim (S6) & Andrew Devlin (S5)

“When we were away at Aviemore, we climbed three hills. On them all, the higher we were, the more ferocious the wind was; whipping us from every angle. The gentle breeze we had felt below became so powerful that every step taken was with caution.

Sometimes, we had to hold each other tightly to keep from going over the edge. The clouds became denser as we progressed upwards. Occasionally, they would bring little drops of rain but nothing too severe. On every hill, grass and ling heather surrounded us. The birds would hide within them as we passed, and we could hear their muffled squawking. I found that the wind was relentless. My face felt as if it was being stabbed by tiny knives constantly and my hands were instantly numb. I did not notice until the adrenaline had passed and the tiredness had crept in, that I had completed something I had never thought possible.

Somehow, when I was up the hills, I forgot that I had

thought it would be difficult. Despite the discomfort that I had felt, I can’t help but be proud of what I achieved, and that it was all worth it.” Abby Bryce (S3) Finally I would like to thank Jim Martin and Keedy Noble who were outstanding instructors; I will look forward to working with them again. I would also like to thank Dean Simpson who came out of retirement to assist on this trip, something that he selflessly agreed to way back in June. Without these wonderful people the trip would not have gone ahead.

So do I have any regrets about changing the location from Arran to Aviemore? No. But I will miss that view sailing back home; it’s always going to be there waiting.

Sgt Mark McAlister School Staff Instuctor

Dominic Ferrie (S3) 21

MINERVA

Sport

HOCKEY Madrid Hockey Tour 2016 In October a group of 18 hockey girls travelled to Madrid, Spain. We played three matches against teams of various abilities, which provided a great learning experience for everyone involved. We also took part in multiple team building activities, such as a murder mystery challenge, which improved the

dynamic within this newly formed tour side. During free time we also had the chance to explore Madrid, and were fortunate enough to be able to tour the Bernabeu Stadium which is home to Real Madrid.

Overall, the trip was a huge success and everyone who attended had a good time whilst also improving their hockey.

Lucy Findlay (S6) and Jessica Halley (S6)

Hockey BP Cup Runners Up The 1st XI were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Craigholme in the Final of the BP Cup. The game was evenly matched with both teams creating chances. As the game looked like heading to penalties, Craigholme mounted one more attack and were awarded a penalty stroke when the ball hit a KA foot on the goal line. In what was the final play of the game, the Craigholme captain held her nerve and slotted the ball home to win the plate.

The girls are all very disappointed but should be extremely proud of how well they played.

Mrs Fiona Cafolla, PE Teacher

International Goal Congratulations to PE teacher Miss Heather Lang who scored her first international goal playing for Scotland’s hockey team against Ireland in November.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017

RUGBY Italy Rugby Tour 2016 In October the Kelvinside First XV squad embarked on a tour to Italy. We left with a convivial atmosphere which was instantly challenged by a traffic jam as long as Mr Wilson’s coaching career. Nevertheless the boys found suitably tour-worthy distractions.

The first morning the team enjoyed a picturesque day out to Venice where Mr Lawson’s joker card terrorised the back pockets of team members, upon finding this card light-hearted humiliation was ensured. After our day out we went on to face our first opponent, CUS Padova. Under the flood lights on a rock solid pitch the Kelvinside team were dragged into a scrappy arm wrestle. Both teams lacked elegance and execution from torrential rain, a closely fought battle to the end finished with a 2212 win for the boys clutched from the jaws of defeat.

We joined the opposition for a meal together in true rugby spirit. Unfortunately the thunderous weather continued overnight, cancelling the rope course the following morning. Once again the boys were more than capable of entertaining themselves with boyish antics on the shores of Lake Garda. Bruised and battered the boys continued their crusade of Italy against Botticino Rugby Club. This side were much more formidable and we faced a team laced with brute power and pace on a fine 4G pitch. The boys initially struggled to find their way over the white wash, and even had a period of flustered defence, but soon enough our fitness told as we cruised under the posts for the first try. This score

invigorated the broken team to really outclass the strong opposition with the final result being 27-0 to Kelvinside. After yet another exquisite Italian meal the boys travelled back content with their triumph, feeling as though their Kelvinside rugby careers had reached their culmination. We awoke with a sense of adventure on the final day and journeyed to the amusement park, Gardaland, adrenaline wiping any trace of fatigue. Some embraced the adventure less keenly, holding hands as they were flung about on rollercoasters. We went on to thoroughly enjoy our final dinner in Italy engaging in some last night mischief. The effects of the tour finally took their toll during a drowsy exploration of the beautiful city of Milan early the next day before flying home already recounting what would become cherished sporting memories – “What is Bishopbriggs?”

Lorne Scott (S6) 1st XV Captain

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MINERVA

Sport Hurricane Force Congratulations to the KA Hurricanes who blew the opposition away at the annual St. Columba’s P7 tournament.

The boys were in Pool 1 against High School of Glasgow (Win 3-0), St Columba’s (Win 8-0) and Queen Victoria School (Win 6-0) KA topped their group and progressed to the final where they met St. Aloysius College. This was a very tough match and the boys had to dig deep against a big physical side. After defending hard for most of the opening 5 minutes of the first half the boys tried to strike wide and find gaps in the St Aloysius defence but they held firm and the first half finished 0-0.

It was clear that both teams were evenly matched and it was going to be down to who wanted it the most. It was nip and tuck at the start of the second half with both teams tackling hard to keep the other at bay. Then with 4 minutes to go, with KA having had a sustained period of pressure in the St Aloysius half, Gilli Jones (SP) out-paced the St Aloysius back line to score the decisive try. There was a nervous

HANDBALL National Schools Champions KA continues its run of National Schools Champions with the S5/S6 girls emerging as winners of the National Tournament in November.

final period where the St Aloysius boys searched for an equaliser but the KA defence held firm.

This was the first time Kelvinside Academy have won this tournament. The boys showed a huge amount of character to win the final and should be very proud of the efforts.

Mr Craig Lawson Head of Junior School Sport

GB Squad Selection The GB U17 Girls Handball Squad was announced in December, and all six of the Kelvinside Academy S5 girls that were invited to trial made selection.

Very well done to Scarlett Green, Monica Sloan, Hannah McGregor, Colette Elliott, Chloe Green and Cameron Faulds. 43 girls were invited to trial from throughout the UK and this was cut to a squad of 25.

The trial standard was high and squad selection is a testament to their huge commitment and hard work over the past few years. The final 16 players that will travel to the international tournament in Lithuania will be announced in June 2017.

GB Team Congratulations to KA Handball Coach Miss Sarah Carrick who gained another cap playing for GB Women against Belgium in November.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017

Charity Activity Guide Dogs Scotland The Junior and Senior School are both supporting Guide Dogs Scotland this session and have been involved in some very energetic fundraising throughout the Winter term.

Halloween What a spooktacular day as Junior and Senior School enjoyed a Halloween ‘non-uniform’ charity extravaganza. Junior School enjoyed some traditional Halloween games in the playground and Senior School were awarded house points for effort.

Special mention must be given to Miss Karis Leckie who looked particularly ‘scary’ in class that morning!

Santa Hat Dash The Junior School took part in a colourful and energetic sponsored Santa Hat Dash, running around the Botanic Gardens as many times as possible in 30 minutes.

The scene was impressive, Santa hats bobbing away in the distance and the sound of laughter filled the park.

Christmas Jumper Day There was huge support for Christmas Jumper Day throughout the School – with most staff and pupils strutting their stuff in a jumper only worn once a year!

To date these events have raised a combined amount of £5,200.

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MINERVA

Charity Activity 12 Days of Christmas S6 wrote their very own version of ‘12 Days of Christmas’ to raise awareness for their Christmas Charity Mission. Their facebook video was clever and amusing but the message was very serious as they asked pupils and parents to give donations for the Glasgow North West Food Bank. Each of the song verses asked for a donation of a specific food

or toiletry item in the run up to Christmas. They even managed to enlist the help of Deputy Rector Mr Dan Wyatt, who was in very good voice for the ‘Fiiiivvvvveee tins of beans’! The response from our KA community was wonderful and allowed our S6 pupils to take a full minibus of food parcels to the Food Bank immediately before Christmas. The video of the song can be seen on the School’s Facebook page.

Choir in Princes Square

Milly Mouse Visit

The Senior Choir enjoyed a festive afternoon singing Christmas carols in Princes Square and raised £218 for the Quarriers charity.

St Margaret’s Hospice asked Milly Mouse to pick up a cheque for £461 from our Nursery. This money was raised by 6 members of staff who completed the 5k Midnight Walk in memory of David Boyd.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017

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MINERVA

The David Boyd Sports Pavilion

Mr Donald Wilson (1980) & Mr Ian Munro, Rector

The KA Community enjoyed a great day at Balgray in early October in memory of former Groundsman, David Boyd and Academical Jack Smart (1975). Our 1st XV played High School of Glasgow prior to a sporting lunch.

David Boyd sadly passed away in July last year and the Pavilion at Balgray has been renamed in his memory. David worked at the School for over 44 years and looked after a vast number of pupils and academicals. Chairman Donald Wilson (1980) unveiled the new signage and led a minute’s silence. The 1st XV played well and enjoyed a great win against their close rivals with the final score 19-8.

We also remembered Jack Smart (1975) who sadly passed away in 2012. Jack’s wife Anne has been fundraising for the Goodyear Laboratory who have been researching multiple myeloma. The Academical Club

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The Boyd Family

made a donation in Jack’s name towards this research from funds raised on the day.

Jim Taylor (1972) also received a cheque for £5,000 for Hearts and Balls from GHK Rugby. Many pupils, parents and Academicals thoroughly enjoyed the day.

WINTER/SPRING 2017

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MINERVA International Homestay Initiative As one of Scotland’s leading independent schools it is perhaps not surprising that we receive a number of pupil applications from overseas. Looking ahead to Session 2017-18, we have received interest from Australia, Hong Kong, America and throughout Europe. We believe a fundamental strength of KA is its diverse pupil body and we would like to build on this quality and extend our recruitment to a small number of international pupils. Obviously these pupils’ families would not be based in Glasgow and so the pupils would need local accommodation.

We are keen to recruit some families with KA connections who would like to welcome an international pupil and provide their term time home. The commitment would see a homestay family provide ‘home from home’ support to an international pupil for two school years during their S5 and S6. Pupils would be 16 years and over.

Although new to KA, the approach has been used in various educational contexts. There are significant benefits to a host family when they host an international student. It is an opportunity to broaden family horizons and for host children to experience first-hand the benefits of learning another language and sharing another culture. Host children also learn that they too can step out of their comfort zone and benefit from a new and challenging experience.

Importantly, hosting an international student demonstrates that inherent culture differences are immaterial to personal relationships and that global citizenship is very much part of life.

Furthermore, Homestay families will receive up to £7500 payment for each academic year of hosting they provide. (This is the tax exemption threshold

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under the HMRC Rent a Room Scheme.) International pupils and their families are responsible for all their day to day costs and any school based expenditure, although Homestay families must provide a breakfast and evening meal throughout the week, and all meals at weekends.

In exploring this initiative we have partnered with Edinburgh based guardianship agency Academic Families who work with a number of leading independent schools throughout the UK. They recruit and place international pupils at UK schools and provide guardianship through their network of local host families. They take on the role of Guardian for each international pupil. They are dedicated to supporting pupils from around the world to ensure their British school days are happy and successful.

We recognise that homestay is at its most effective when the fit between the host family and the international pupil is a good one. By working with Academic Families we are confident that good matches can be made therefore allowing for a strong and positive relationship to develop between homestay families and international pupils.

We are absolutely convinced that promoting internationalism and cultural awareness amongst our pupils is exactly the right thing to do, so that they can be a productive force for good when they move on from Kelvinside Academy. At the same time, this proposed initiative will allow youngsters from around the world to benefit from a KA education.

If you would like to know more about our Homestay initiative, please email Kerry Bottomley, Director of Admissions at kerry.bottomley@kelvinsideacademy. org.uk.

WINTER/SPRING 2017

Minerva Educational Trust Update

Academical Club Lottery We are really excited about the new Lottery initiative from the Kelvinside Academical Club to fund two Academical Club Bursaries per annum. There will be three draws per year, Spring, Summer and Winter, with the very first draw taking place at the end of

June. Thereafter the draw will take place at the end of each term.

The Lottery will take the form of monthly direct debit of £10.00 per month, each monthly payment acts as a ticket so by the time the draw is due you will have a number of chances. The prizewinners will receive the following:1st Prize £500.00 for 1 person 2nd Prize £150.00 each for 2 people 3rd Prize £100.00 each for 3 people 4th Prize £50.00 each for 10 people To take part, please complete the enclosed Direct Debit Form, with your payments set for the tenth of each month, and return to Development Manager, Elaine Solman.

Loyalty Card More Academicals and Parents have added to the great offers that are available to the Kelvinside Community. Please visit the website (www.kaloyalty. co.uk) to find out more. If you would like to be included and promote an incentive please contact kaloyalty@kelvinsideacademy.org.uk.

EVENTS KA Celebration Party A fantastic night was held in Oran Mor late November with approximately 140 parents and Academicals enjoying the sound of Donald Wilson’s (1980) Band, the M8’s and Robert McKinnon’s Disco. The next Party is planned for October and you will receive details in the coming weeks. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Sarah Sloan for her sterling work with the Ball Committee. Sarah was also part of the Committee that raised funds for the Library Project.

Loyalty Card

invited and will not need to purchase a ticket. If you would like any additional information please contact Allan Neilson (1990) at allanneilson@ymail.com.

Business Breakfast We are delighted to announce that our next Breakfast will be held at Balgray on Friday 9 June 2017. Our speaker will be Amanda McMillan, Managing Director at Glasgow Airport. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet other members of the KA family and promote your business.

Ladies Day Fashion Show This year our Ladies Day will be a buffet lunch, welcome drink and fashion show on Sunday 14 May 2017. This will again be held in Oran Mor and tickets will cost £20.00 per person. These can be purchased from Reception.

Gents Day Out This is a new event for this year and will be held at Balgray on Sunday 4 June 2017. The fun will kick off with a five a side football tournament followed by a BBQ and Drinks. Tickets will cost £10.00 per person and these can be purchased from School Reception. Please note Senior 6 boys will also be 31

MINERVA Parent Teacher Association We would like to thank the PTA for the fantastic job they did last term and for the many events that they organised for the Children. The Annual BBQ was a roaring success, the Senior School Ceildhs were thoroughly enjoyed by all the pupils and, as always, the arrival of Santa over the festive period was met with great excitement.

The biggest event so far this year, which was greatly appreciated, was the Christmas Fayre. The time,

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organisation and hard work on the day ensured that everything went smoothly. We would also like to thank all our parents who supported the events and donated to the tombola and the home baking.

Chairman, Mrs Yvonne Craig, deserves a special mention for managing to bring everything together as well as look after the very popular PTA Breakfast Service at Balgray!

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Academicals Welcome to the Former Pupil Section The Club is going from strength to strength and we are looking forward to the upcoming Academical Weekend, which is being held on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March.

We are delighted to advise you that Laura Baxendale (2008) had now joined the Junior Committee. Laura is a fantastic ambassador for our younger members and will be at the Annual Dinner and the Academical Hockey Match.

There will be a number of networking events taking place throughout the year and we would be grateful if you could advise us of your email address to ensure that you are

Academical Weekend Dinner Invitation from the Club President David Rowand (1986), would be delighted if you were able to join him at the Academical Dinner on Friday 17 March. The dinner will be held in the School and Dress is Black Tie. Entrance to the School is through the front door and everyone will be meeting in the Kennedy Mall at 6.45pm for 7.15pm. To reserve your place please complete the enclosed form and return to the School or contact elaine.solman@kelvinsideacademy.org. uk who will be able to organise places for you.

Academical Matches Saturday 18 March 2017 On Saturday there is a brilliant line up at Balgray starting with the Ladies Hockey match at 9.00am.

This will be followed at 10.00am with Academical Rugby Teams aged Over 35 playing on the top pitch and then the Under 35’s kicking off at 11.00am. If you would like to relive those glory days on the “Field of Dreams” please contact Marc Taylor (2008) or Chris Breckenridge

kept up-to-date with School and Club News. (elaine.solman@kelvinsideacademy.org.uk) We would like to take this opportunity to thank Colin Neil (1972) for keeping the Academical Club Facebook Page up to date with all current news items and historical notes of interest.

You can keep up to date with School and Club news on Facebook, Twitter @KACGlasgow or Linkedin.

Elaine Solman Development Manager (2003) to play in the Under 35’s or email David Rowand (1986) to play for the Over 35’s.

Our Academicals can relive their excellent achievements and play against the KA 1st XI. This is always a great match and if you would like to be part of the team please contact Emma Cowan (2009).

After the matches there will be a delicious lunch served upstairs for both players and spectators and you can reserve your ticket by returning the enclosed form or contacting Development Manager Elaine Solman.

Elaine Solman elaine.solman@kelvinsideacademy.org.uk David Rowand david@cairnestateagency.com Marc Taylor marc@tayletting.co.uk Chris Breckenridge thebreck@googlemail.com Emma Cowan emmacowan444@hotmail.com

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MINERVA SPONSORSHIP Rugby and Hockey Tour Thank you to Alasdair Sloan (1987) for sponsoring the kit for the 2016 Rugby Tour to Italy and also thank you to our Academical who wishes to remain anonymous for sponsoring the kit for the Hockey Tour to Madrid.

1st XI Cricket Thank you to the Academical Club who have kindly offered to sponsor the 1st IX Cricket this season. They have sponsored the kit and some equipment.

LONDON SECTION The date has now been set for the Annual London Section Dinner 2017. The Dinner will be held in the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, London SW1X 7DR on Thursday 16 November 2017. Further information and tickets can be obtained by contacting Secretary, David McGill (1972) at scotlandend@btinternet. com. The 2016 dinner was a great success and we were honoured to have former England Rugby Player, Lionel Weston as a guest. Lionel Edward Weston taught at KA for three years from 1969 to 1972. He was a well loved sports master who presided over the only KA 1st XI to go through a season (1971) unbeaten. Lionel played for Kelvinside Academicals and then West of Scotland where he gained two

caps for England. His debut was against France at Colombes on 26 February 1972 and he played one further game for England against Scotland at Murrayfield on 18 March 1972. Lionel was selected to tour SA with England in the summer of 1972 but unfortunately broke his collar bone and had to fly home. On moving south he played rugby for Rosslyn Park, Surrey, London Counties and the Barbarians. It was a delight to catch up with him after so long and Colin Neill, John Burleigh, David McGill, Graeme Lambert and Alastair Johnstone shared many memories over the evening. Lionel gave us all a surprise by producing a telegram that the prefects had sent him prior to his match with Scotland. He has kept it in his wallet for 44 years!

Lionel Weston & Colin Neill (1972)

AUSTRALIAN SECTION Had another gathering in Sydney which by luck rather than design was on St Andrews Day. They managed to find some haggis and a fantastic evening was had by all.

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Pictured below from left going round the table are:Sandy Smith (1987), Charles McAlpine (1992), Andrew Peters (1984), Murray Wright (1979), Stuart Allison (1989), Ian McAlpine (1984), Graeme MacLennan (1959), Ian Blackie (1966).

WINTER/SPRING 2017 Ronald Brash (1942) - Part 2

Prefects

In the last edition of Minerva we reported Ronald’s death and printed part one of Ronald’s History of the Evacuation to Arran. This was written as a pupil during his time in Evacuation and we are honoured to be able to print part two in this issue.

As in Glasgow prefects were appointed, the most senior boys being chosen but now they had much more to do than formerly, as they had to go the round of the dormitories every night to see that everyone was in bed at the proper time and to take suitable measures if such was not the case. The prefects for this year were Tom Risk and Eric Gibson, the senior members of ‘A’ set.

There was also another boy, Nigel Kennedy who was a prefect as well but he left a few weeks after we had come to Dougarie and was not replaced. The prefects were responsible for keeping order and had certain powers which enabled them to give lines to offenders although an appeal could be made to Mr Muirie when this was considered unfair in certain cases. It was rather unfortunate that because accommodation was so limited at Dougarie, the prefects were allowed to sit with the members of the staff and so lost touch with the members of their own class and the rest of the boys, which made them fail to come to an understanding with them on certain matters as a result of which they became rather unpopular. With the removal to Tyndrum, however, they again mixed more with the boys and so repaired their former popularity as they were both extremely decent fellows and were on the whole well-liked and respected.

System of Working For the first week only a little work was done, the different masters moving round the classes here instead of the classes shifting after every period as was the custom in Glasgow. This was very advantageous as far as the boys were concerned because it meant that books could be stored in one room and the time wasted by boys bringing the wrong books into the class and having to go back to get their correct ones was avoided of course, after the books arrived, a regular timetable was drawn up. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays there was school till 2.35 and after that an hours football followed by a further school period from 4.40 till 5.20. Tea was at 5.45 and prep from 6.30 till 7.30. On Tuesdays and Thursdays there was no school after 2.35 until prep and a Saturday there was only school in the morning and no prep. On Sundays breakfast was at 9.30am instead of 8.45am as on weekdays and we were free all day to do what we pleased within reason except when there was a climb organised of which I shall give details later.

The First Climb On the third Sunday after our arrival some of us with Mr Clark and Mr Dale climbed Sail Chalmadale, 1,579 feet and had a fine time as the weather was magnificent.

The Rules The rules which were of course absolutely necessary were not numerous and were perfectly reasonable and understandable. There were official lights out times for the different dormitories which varied according to the ages of the occupants. The time for the two dormitories inhabited by members of ‘B’ set, my class was 10pm.

Rambling Many a happy afternoon did I spend wandering amongst the hills and dales with all the beauties of autumn making everything look delightful. It was difficult to imagine while standing at the top of a hill looking down on the brilliant blue and sunlit sea with the Kintyre hills beyond that there really was a fierce war raging at the time. On two occasions we organised longer climbs and went in a party.

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MINERVA The Second Climb Later one Sunday afternoon about the middle of October we attempted a more ambitious scheme . In this only members of ‘A’ & ‘B’ sets were present and Mr Dall came with us. We cycled to Imacher and parked the cycles behind the same house as Harry Abram and I had stopped at before when we first heard war had been declared. From there we climbed the foothills and came in view of the mountain itself. It looked a rather formidable proposition but we gallantly assailed it and despite the high wind that was blowing which nearly swept us away all save three reached the summit, as a photograph of the party taken at the cairn and ‘now in my possession’ will prove. We were rewarded by the fine view obtained and on returning to Imacher we had a real slap-up tea at the small hotel there and then made for home in time for the ordinary supper to which we did not do the accustomed justice. All were naturally rather tired but all who were present still count that adventure as one of the pleasant reminiscences of Dougarie.

This mountain which we climbed was Beinn Bharrain, 2,345 feet.

Games and Recreation And now to turn to a pleasanter subject, - if the prefects will excuse me!, - that of games. As mentioned before, in front of the lodge there was a large, flat expanse of field which we divided into three good football pitches and soccer and rugger were played despite the extreme hardness of the ground. The first game of the season was played on the first Friday we were at Dougarie after tea and was a match Staff and Prefects V a team from the boys, - seven a side, in which the Staff were beaten and Mr Muirie was unfortunate enough to receive a rather serious kick on the shin which disabled him for a few days. Two more games of this type were played during our stay at Dougarie but then they were discontinued and have not been

resumed since doubtless for the sake of the staff and the prefects. As regards the other activities there was a little sea-bathing in the early days when it was still warm but the chief pleasures derived were either fishing or climbing and exploring the surrounding hills.

Fishing

Dormitory 20

Fishing was also a popular sport with many as the Iorsa Water which flowed through the policies was reckoned as a good trout stream. This burn was truly amazing in the quickness in which it rose in spate after rain and often burst its banks in several places. I well remember on one of these occasions setting out with some others well clad in oilskins and wellington boots and walking through drenching rain and mist along the flooded path to Loch Iorsa from which the Iorsa water flowed.

At one point we had to cross a tributary of the Iorsa, Alt Seaftigell, by stepping stones which was usually perfectly simple but this day it was a raging torrent that tore past and the tops of the stones were at least a foot under water. After looking to see if there was a better crossing-place to be found further up and not finding one we ventured over in convoy, step-by-step and arrived safe and sound on the opposite bank.

Almost as popular as this room was the dormitory inhabited by the other five members of ‘B’ set in the main building, No 20. One of the occupants, a certain Archie Graham, had a large collection of different magazines which were continually being replenished and perhaps the most useful of all, a portable wireless.

Perhaps the time when this room was busiest was on Saturday nights when hordes of boys and perhaps even a member of the staff also (Mr Dall occupied the next room) would come crowding in to listen to “Band Waggon” a pre-war programme which had been so popular, the BBC had revived it.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017 The Debating Society Another indoor activity was the Debating Society which had always flourished well in Glasgow and which continued to do so under the Presidency of Mr Clark and with Eric Gibson as Secretary. Debates were held every fortnight on Sunday evenings and these were well attended. There were some sparkling debates during the year but information regarding them will be found elsewhere so I shall not pursue the subject further.

Full accounts of all the debates held that year and the next session (1940-41) will be found in the respective Minutes Books in the possession of the Secretary.

Table Tennis Another novelty was the table tennis games played on the long table in the “B” classroom which served admirably for the purpose.

The Autumn Holiday On Monday September 25th, as there were many parents visiting the place and as it was the Glasgow Autumn Holiday, morning school was dispersed with and many of us went up to the wood behind the tower and helped to fell a tree with the help of Mr Deside, the gamekeeper.

Logging It was very exciting working with axe and rope until the tree was brought crashing down. It was sawn into pieces and transported to the lodge for use as firewood.

Hairdressing On the same day also arrived the hairdressers and I had my first experience of a haircut at their hands. They were two women from the Arran Pharmacy, referred to rather irreverently as the “fat lady” and the “thin lady”, the former being a strong believer in close cropping as many found to their great misfortune. I was fortunate enough to receive moderate treatment from the other. Mr Forrester, especially, aroused considerable amusement by emerging from the torture-chamber well-shorn, evidence of the handiwork of the dauntless “fat lady”.

Wheatley Mention has already been made of Wheatley, the janitor, in Glasgow whose duties here were somewhat different here, as besides ringing the bell at the end of the periods as formerly, was employed in all sorts of handy jobs like making black-out screens for the windows and such like things. He also was employed in carrying the food at mealtimes from the kitchen to the dining-room to be divided out there as the distance was extremely great, another instance showing the bad planning of the building.

Meals It should also be stated that because of lack of space, the meals for juniors and seniors were at different times which must have proved a great inconvenience to the kitchen staff with limited accommodation they had for cooking.

Despite this, the food was excellent and in two dishes especially they excelled, vig. Macaroni and cheese and French toast which sometimes made their appearance on the menu.

The Mid Term holiday During the weekend at Hallowe’en we were allowed away as this was the half term holiday. Along with many others, I spent the weekend over at Brodick as we were not to be allowed off the island, and even there, it seemed as though one had returned to civilisation from a wilderness that seemed completely cut off from the rest of the world.

On returning on the following Monday a Hallowe’en party was held in the assembly hall of the boathouse which in the ordinary way served as Mrs Youngs’ classroom and “F2 sets common room. We played games, “dooked” for apples in a tub, and had a fine feed of different kinds of cake. The person chiefly responsible for this was Miss Gibson who, as I said before, was so capable and useful that all were extremely sorry when she left us.

Dissatisfaction with the Place But as the days grew shorter and colder the lack of adequate lighting and heating began to be realised.

Despite the magnificent surroundings and healthy atmosphere it was felt that we would be unable to endure the winter months in such primitive conditions and the fact that Arran was an island and rather difficult of access made it desirable that a more suitable place should be found situated on the main land with easier facilities for travelling. Accordingly the Governors set about looking for a place, eventually deciding upon the Royal Hotel, Tyndrum on the Western extremity of Perthshire which although even further away from Glasgow was more easily accessible being served by two railways and a bus twice a day in each direction. Besides parents could motor up at the weekends when they could get sufficient petrol. Also, the accommodation provided in the hotel was greater than at Dougrie and the whole school would be housed under one roof. There was also electric light and central heating to be had, a most useful commodity for the long winter months.

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MINERVA “Mr Reside”

Discussing the Prospect of Removing

Another great character was Mr Reside, the gamekeeper. He would often be found seated on a large rock outside the archway entering into the stable yard smoking his pipe accompanied by the two spaniels.

Often in passing I would be greeted with the usual “Fine Day” and before I had realised it, would be drawn into conversation like the unfortunate Wedding Guest with the Ancient Mariner and would be compelled to listen to innumerable stories about “the man down at Shiskine” or “the stag we shot up on Beinn Bharrain last year” accompanied by frequent spits. On the whole, however, Mr Reside was a very entertaining person and would often invite some of the boys to accompany him when he went deer-stalking or rabbitshooting. His knowledge of Arran was naturally large and I obtained through him much valuable information about the place.

On hearing this at first many of us were extremely sorry at the thought of leaving the place and the affair was widely discussed. A good opportunity members of my class (‘B’set) had for talking about it was during the Art periods on Mondays and Fridays from 4.40 to 5.20. At these times we were in the boathouse with Mrs Young and while the weather was warm we sat outside and drew pictures of the landscape, but later we remained inside and talked with Mrs Young about the removing and listened in between times to records on Mrs Young’s’ gramophone, the most popular of which was a beautifully-orchestrated selection from “The Dancing Years”. Whenever I hear even yet the lilting melodies from this fine play, it always makes me think of the boathouse at Dougrie and the happy times we spent there. We discussed the prospect of the great improvements we would find in our new home, of how we would be able to expand the school because of the greater space, of the larger number of common-rooms that would be at our disposal, of the greater comfort and warmth to be had, of the better classrooms which would make our study easier, and finally of how we would thrive with the magnificent food that would be prepared for us as it had been said that Mr Kidd, the Manager, had very good ideas on feeding. This we found afterwards to be perfectly true but not as we had looked at it. What vain hopes we conjured up of the benefits we would receive through moving. It is interesting to recall now or opinions then and what actually happened afterwards and note the similarities and differences of events.

A Visit to the Church

The Morning P.T. Class Another feature which was introduced by Mr Dall was voluntary physical training every morning at 8am down at the boat house for which there was, at first, great enthusiasm but this soon faded out as the mornings got darker and colder. In an effort to entice more to be present it was reduced to three times per week but there was little response and gradually the original number of sixteen dwindled to two. It certainly freshened you up and gave you a good appetite for breakfast.

The Final Date Eventually it was announced that we would be leaving Dougrie on Friday, November, 24th. This meant great preparation for packing up all or belongings and a great amount of work would be entailed. Before giving an account of this however I should like to mention two instances which happened shortly before we left – both on Sundays.

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The first was a visit one Sunday morning accompanied by two others of the same class to the Free Church of Shiskine. (In case the title is rather misleading a collection was taken as usual). Arran churches have rather a reputation of being places weird and wonderful and this was no exception. Indeed there is the story about one of them whose minister it is said, despite his age, used to make a practice of sliding down the pulpit bannister-rail to show his congregation “how easy is the decent to Hell” and then attempt to pull himself up the rail again to show “once there, how difficult it is to regain the eternal heights”. In this church, however, the minister did not resort to such athletic accomplishments but it was rather strange to one who had not been used to their style of service to see the procedure of the service such as sitting to sing psalms and standing to pray. However it was extremely interesting.

The last night I wandered down to the jetty on that last night and looked across the Kilbrannan Sound. It was a lovely moonlight night and I wondered if we would be as happy in the next place as we had been here. Truly winter was coming, the tops of the Arran mountains were already tinted with snow, but I confess I felt really sorry to be leaving.

WINTER/SPRING 2017 Tea at Machrie

The departure

The other event occurred on the last Sunday before we left when a party of us from “A & B” sets went in to Machrie and had tea at Mrs Weir’s where for the very reasonable sum of 1/6 per head, she provided us with a fine feed. This was one of the several acts of kindness which she bestowed on us while we were there and all of us were very pleased to give a subscription to buy her a present when we left. Presents were also given to Miss Brown and Miss Gibson who were leaving us after we removed as their services would no longer be required, and those resident in the Tower, gave a special contribution for a present for Mrs Reside for her kindness shown to us while we were there.

The next day we were up early to make the final preparations for departure. We were going home via the Campbeltown steamer as we would then be in Glasgow in daylight as the usual Arran boat now sailed from Fairlie. After breakfast I made the final round of the place and we assembled outside the lodge waiting for buses to transport us to Lochranza. Insufficient had been sent but again the Weirs of Machrie came to our assistance and sent three cars and so with a bit of a squeeze we got in and started off with a last look at Dougrie and a wave from Mr Reside at the gate. We arrived at Lochranza in heaps of time for the boat which was, as usual, late. After waiting some time the steamer, S.S. “Dalriada” conspicuous by her very large funnel and painted completely in wartime black came sailing in and the luggage and ourselves embarked.

Preparing for Departure School was continued on the last week up till Wednesday morning after which there was too much to be done for further school work. Unfortunately on Tuesday I developed a very sore throat which kept me in bed during Wednesday and part of Thursday. In the ordinary way it would not have been serious but as I had to get up and help with the packing when I would have been better in bed, on reaching home it developed into a rather bad attack of tonsillitis. Of course at that time everyone was so busy that I had to forget about my throat and actually I recovered sufficiently to be able to take some part in the fun on the last night. All the school property and all school books were packed in large containers, ready to be transported direct to Tyndrum along with all our bedding but all our clothing had to be packed in our cases and taken home. All the cases were packed and taken over to the lodge by Thursday night, the hall resembling the Central Station and the Fair Holiday Weekend.

FINALE The “Dalriada’s” engines were gathering speed as she rounded the “Rock of Arran” and sailed across the Sound of Bute heading for Gourock. Standing on the deck at the stern with some others I stared back at the island which for the last few months had been our home now every minute becoming more distant. The lofty peaks had never looked more beautiful and it must have been with mixed feelings that we gazed at the

massive spectacle. As we rounded the Garroch Head and sailed up past Toward Point towards the boom, the highest peaks were still visible over the low hills of Bute as though they were determined not to leave us.

We had, indeed, had happy times there; whether the same would apply to the place we were going would remain to be found out as time advanced. With these thoughts, we saw the top of Goat Fell finally disappear away in the South.

Reunion 2009 39

MINERVA John Mann 1889-1915 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) The following article has been supplied by Mrs Pam Lyly, who is the wife of John Mann’s great nephew John Mann (Jnr) was born in Glasgow in September 1889. His father, John Mann, owned ‘Mann & Summers’, which was a wholesale stationers in Hanover St, Glasgow. He had an elder sister Jenny, and a younger brother James. The family lived at 14 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, but later moved to Symington, Lanarkshire.

After school, including Kelvinside Academy, he worked in the family business, but in 1913 left Glasgow to travel to Chicago. There he worked for a large publishing company, presumably to gain further experience and skills to benefit his family firm. He was still in Chicago in August 1914 when war was declared. His letters home at the time indicate a strong patriotic desire to enlist, and a concern that he would miss the fighting. Rather than delaying his enlistment by travelling home, he was so anxious to volunteer that he decided to enlist with the Canadian Army. The overall tone of his letters suggested a young man eager to join the war, and he expressed the hope that his father would understand his strong desire, as he was certain his father “wouldn’t like to see his sons lagging behind whilst others went forward”.

killed by gas and buried by the Germans. John had an older sister Jenny, with whom he was very close. At the time of the battle she awoke from a terrible nightmare having dreamt that her baby brother was drowning.

The telegram informing the family he was missing, presumed dead, arrived some days later. The grave of John Mann was never found. His body was buried by the Germans, but the area was decimated and obliterated during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendale) in 1917.

After the war and having no known grave, John Mann’s name was recorded and engraved on the Menin Gate in Ypres, along with 54,000 others whose bodies were never found. He is also recorded on the Symington War Memorial in Lanarkshire, and the Kelvinside School Memorial. He has never been forgotten by his family.

His testimony and lasting legacy is of a young man enthused with patriotic fervour and eagerness to do his duty, one that meant the ultimate sacrifice.

He left Chicago and travelled to Quebec where he enlisted as a Private soldier in A Company, 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada), one of many ‘Scottish’ battalions in the new Canadian Expeditionary Force.

He began his life as a soldier at Valcartier Camp in Quebec. A letter dated September 1914 to his father described camp life and basic training. He is put into a signalling squad and refers to his old training at KA, (Kelvinside Academy), “coming in very handy indeed”.

In October 1914 he sailed to England and arrived at Salisbury Plain for further training. During this period we believe he visited Glasgow to see his family, thus the photograph in a Canadian uniform. The battalion finally left for France in February 1915. They eventually moved to the Ypres salient in Flanders, and moved up to the front line near the village of St Julien.

The Second Battle of Ypres started on 22nd April 1915.

This battle is historically significant as it was the first time gas had been used successfully by the German Army. On the morning of the 24th April chlorine gas was released by the Germans and directed towards the Canadian line. The troops were ill prepared for this type of warfare and instructed to urinate on handkerchiefs and to hold them over their faces, a rather inadequate defence. It was here that John Mann fought bravely and died overwhelmed by the effects of gas and heavy artillery fire. He was one of many initially posted as missing and later confirmed to have been killed. A letter from a fellow serviceman confirms that John was 40

John Mann: Photograph taken in Glasgow Winter 1914-15, prior to embarking for France.

WINTER/SPRING 2017 What a Small Word Former staff member, Neil Fischbacher, who is now based in Cambodia, was on a school trip and met Kieran Hitter (2000) Neil wrote “I thought you might like to know that I bumped into Kieren Hitter in the middle of a National Park (more or less jungle) here in Cambodia.

I think, that of all the times I have bumped into a former pupil, this is the most unexpected. Keiran is travelling around Asia with his girlfriend and we hope to meet up for coffee now that we are both back in Phnom Penh” David Jerdan (1964) and his wife Sue, were visiting their daughter Helen, who is Head Coach Field Hockey at Michigan State University and watched the game against Ohio State University when Mackenzie Brown (2015) scored her first goal for MSU.

News James Baxendale (2006) Congratulations to James on his marriage to Ann Robertson at Glasgow University Memorial Chapel on 8 September 2016.

Ian Carter (1960) has given us the following update.

“My wife, Mary Ann and I, spend half the year in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and the other half in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We are both retired, (I am an Architect, my wife is a Psychologist) and are enjoying travel, reading, watercolour and acrylic painting, learning Spanish (Mexican), playing our instruments, members of La Banda sin Nombre, and travel to Europe every year. We return to Vancouver at the end of March.

Our children joined us in San Miguel for Christmas. We are going to Cuba in January, and Russia in May, then back to San Miguel beginning of September.” Ian has also recently had his own Art Exhibition and Sale in Vancouver. Below is a sample of his work.

Chris Breckenridge (2003) Congratulations to Chris on his marriage to Samantha on 20 August 2016 in Mugdock.

Andrew Cowan (1980) The Senior 2 Industry Day was once again a great success. Thank you to Andrew for chairing the event.

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MINERVA Michael Ferguson (2009) is now the Strength and Conditioning Coach for our performance athletes.

He is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the SRU Glasgow U16 and U18 Pathway players and has professional experience of coaching in two SFA Scottish Premiership elite football youth academies.

Michael himself is an international and record-holding powerlifter, educated to MSc level in Sport and Exercise Science.

Mark Hogan (1999) and his wife Caroline were delighted to welcome their second daughter, Anna, to the world on 30 September 2016. Anna is now 3 months old and growing rapidly. A much welcomed younger sister for eldest daughter Isla, who recently turned 3 years old and a wonderful addition for grandparents Alastair Tear (1974) and his wife Pamela. Mark recently celebrated 10 years working in the family company as Marketing & Sales Manager.

Colin Neill (1972) It was great to see Colin back in School presenting to our Senior 6 pupils.

Mel Scott (1979) and David Sturgeon (1979) have now joined the Senior School Choir and performed with the pupils at the Christmas Concert and the Carol Service.

Rachael Scott (2014) is featuring on the #thisbucsgirl sports campaign for Glasgow University. Rachel was KA’s first ever Rowing Captain and earned her 3rd international cap coxing the Scottish Senior Women’s squad to victory at the Home International Regatta in Cardiff in July 2016. She earned her first two while still at school and is now in her 3rd year of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow.

Jack Wright (2011) has graduated from the University of Dundee with a First Class Honours Degree in Biological Sciences (Immunology). Jack is now studying for his PhD at the University’s School of Life Sciences.

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WINTER/SPRING 2017

Jonathon Williams (1986) has agreed to coach the 1st XI this season. He played cricket for Kelvinside Academicals, Aberdeen University, Grange and West of Scotland. Jon played for many Scottish age sides and representative XIs including 14 times for Scotland “B” before gaining a full cap for Scotland in a rain affected match against the MCC at Greenock Cricket Club in 1989. His brother Gideon was captain of the 1st XI in his final school year.

Jonathan being awarded his cap by the President of the Scottish Cricket Union

OBITUARIES It is with great sadness that we report the deaths of the following Academicals. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families.

Morton Grainger Bisset (1929) died on 9th February 2015 peacefully at home in Whaley Bridge. Morton, aged 98 years,a much loved father and grandad. He will be sadly missed by all his loving family and friends.

Dr Ian Edward Lowles (FRCOG) (1967) died peacefully, at Burnfoot Nursing Home, Ecclefechan, on 27th November, 2016, after a long illness, husband of Jenny, loving father of Adam, Timothy and Joanna and beloved ‘Grumps’ to his nine grandchildren.

Graham David Dall (1968), much loved husband of Janis passed away after a short illness on 24 October 2016.

Graham was a fine athlete, who ran the 100m for Scotland, rugby player and occasional cricketer who will be remembered fondly by many Academicals. Our thoughts and those of the school are with his family at this time.

Graham spent most of his working life as an Ink Technologist for JP Coats. This took him to many countries including Carolina and Norway. He took early retirement and was then able to spend time helping residents of his beloved village, Farmborough. The

lovely comments below are from many villagers who feel it was an honour to have known him.

“We have got to know Graham well over the past few years and the village has not been the same since his illness and his loss is deeply felt. We are all so used to Graham and his little cart, keeping the village spick and span with a wave, a greeting and often an observation which made you laugh out loud.”

“Graham was invaluable to the Memorial Hall Committee, Farmborough Community Speedwatch and Farmborough Parish Council. He was everybody’s friend and confidante, he was incredibly thoughtful and his memory is woven into the fabric of our community”

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MINERVA

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY For additional information on any of the following events or to reserve tickets please contact Elaine Solman, Development Manager at elaine.solman@kelvinsideacademy.org.uk.

Academical Weekend

Dinner Matches Lunch

Ladies Day Fashion Show KA Celebration Party London Section Dinner

Friday 17 March 2017 Saturday 18 March 2017 Saturday 18 March 2017 Sunday 14 May 2017 Saturday 7 October 2017 Thursday 16 November 2017

Data Protection

Advertising in Minerva

Academicals sometimes contact the School requesting addresses for other Academicals and the School is pleased to provide such information. Academicals who do not wish their address to be given to another Academical should inform the School.

If you are interested in featuring your company in the next edition of Minerva please contact Elaine Solman, Development Manager at elaine.solman@ kelvinsideacademy.org.uk.

We would welcome your support.

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