Merchistonian Newsletter - Dec. 2022

Merchistonian Newsletter

December 2022 We have come to the end of what has been a very busy and exciting Autumn Term. With all activities terminating last Wednesday, the boys have now left the School for a very well-deserved break with families and friends.

On behalf of the entire Merchiston Team we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Find here festive greetings from our Headmaster, Mr Anderson.

U18 School Cup Winners On Wednesday 7th December, our 1XV Team faced Edinburgh Academy at Murrayfield in the Final of the Scottish Schools Rugby Cup. The team, led by co-captains Isaac C. and Tom C. and coached by Mr Deans (Mr Aitchison, Mr Mills & Mr. Noble), put in a wonderous performance beating the EA side 19-7.

Merchiston thus successfully defended their Scottish Schools under-18 Cup title, extraordinarily bringing home the trophy two years in a row.

The game, played on one of the coldest nights of the year, saw Merchi dominating the first half and heading into half time 19-0.

The second half was tougher with a very effective EA defence and a try only scored in the final minutes of the match. Both teams played a brilliant game of Rugby and truly gave it their all on the pitch. Isaac C. was named player of the match and it was wonderful to witness the celebrations pitch-side with many Merchistonians, who had lifted the Cup just last year.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the Team: pupils, staff, parents and alumni. Support from the crowd is such a motivational aspect of a high-level game, especially in a setting such as Murrayfield. In the words of coach Deans “To win back-toback titles is a very difficult thing to do.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve had a really good group of boys and some real star-dust players. Isaac C. and Tom C. are two players who will surely go on to play at a higher level and I thought Ben R. was outstanding today”.

Golf Academy Merchiston have been selected to represent Scotland in the ISGA Home Internationals 2023.

Well done to all the boys who are competing in the tea: Tim R. (Captain), William A., Archie C. and Jacobo K. merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk

EDITION #4

19.12.22

Obituaries The Merchiston Community extends its deepest condolences to the family of Christopher R. Hill (MCS 2000-2007)

Christmas Events at Merchiston Merchiston Christmas Fair

On Saturday 3rd December, Merchiston hosted its inaugural ‘A Very Merchiston Christmas Fair’ in Memorial Hall. We were delighted to be joined by some wonderful suppliers, as well welcoming back Alumni and former Parents with their own businesses.

The event was a resounding success with over 300 people joining us throughout the afternoon for some festive shopping and refreshments.

A special thank you should be extended to our Sixth Form and Pringle pupils who helped running the Merchiston stalls and sold Merchiston Merchandise during the day. A huge well done to our Merchiston Pipe Band for welcoming visitors at the door and performing a cheery rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’ on stage.

Donations at the door, raffle proceedings and stallholders’ fees amounted to an astounding £1,500+, which will be pledged in support of Braidburn School. Thank you very much to everyone who came out to support the event, contributed to the donations and assisted with some fantastic raffle prizes.

Advent Carol Service

Our annual Advent Carole Service was hosted in our wonderfully festive Memorial Hall, on Sunday 11th December.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Service – and to those who watched via our livestream.

It was a lovely festive occasion, beautifully accompanied by Mr Dennis (Head of Music) and our Choir and a great way to lead us into the last few days of Term.

A fantastic £676.90 was raised at the Service which will be donated in support of Breakfast Bothy, a charity set-up with the aim to provide a hot meal and drink to those who are unable to provide for themselves, at the start of the day. Find out more about their mission here.

If you have missed the Service, a recording of the livestream is available via the School's Vimeo account. Watch here.

merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk

New York Tartan Week The Merchiston Pipe Band, under the leadership of Mr Warren, has been selected to participate in the renowned New York Tartan Week in 2024.

This exciting project, which will see them travelling to New York in April 2024, is a fantastic and clear goal to work towards. The main aim between now and the event will be to grow our Pipe Band numbers, raise our musical ability and modernise our equipment.

Winter Concerts

In the last month, Memorial Hall was also the setting of our Winter Concert series. The events kicked off in late November, with our Choral and Instrumental Concert held on Friday 25th . Mr Dennis, Head of Music, was extremely pleased with the boys’ performance and the feedback from all attendees was incredibly positive.

It can be difficult to perform in front of such a wide audience and for some boys this would have been their first large-scale performance, as it often happens in the first Term of the year.

Their hard work and practice, together with Mr Dennis’ guidance, have certainly paid off.

Just days before the Christmas break, it was Pringle’s turn to brighten Memorial Hall with their Winter Concert. It was an evening filled with Christmas songs, festive jokes, poems and musical performances – topped up with an extravaganza of Christmas jumpers and elves costumes. The boys, together with the Staff, worked extremely hard to deliver a wonderfully merry performance.

Alumni Reunions With some Reunions already in the calendar for 2023 (and beyond), please do contact us at merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk if you are interested in organising a year group Reunion and need assistance in circulating a message and/or wish to have a tour of the School. The School Calendar can be consulted here please note that we are unable to accommodate Reunions during Term Breaks and Weekend Leave, due to staffing requirements.

The next upcoming Reunion will be that of the Class of 2012 in February 2023. A message has been circulated on 08.12.2022 to all class members for whom we hold valid email addresses.

Please do contact us if you haven’t received your invitation, are in this year group and would like to get involved.

merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk

The Band will have just under 1.5 years in order to look and sound their best, as they parade down 6th Avenue. We wish them all the best of luck in their preparations.

Our Burns Supper event on January 27th will include an Auction of Promises to raise funds, which will be split equally between Cyrenians and our Pipe Band. If you are interested in donating any lots for auction, please contact Mr Ogilvie Jones at wogilvie-jones@merchiston.co.uk .