Merchistonian Newsletter
May 2025
As spring gives way to summer here at Merchiston, we are delighted to bring you the May edition of the Merchistonian Newsletter
This month, we celebrate the enduring strength of the Merchistonian community from recent reunions and alumni achievements to school highlights and upcoming events
Whether you have recently walked the corridors of Merchiston or it’s been a few decades, we hope these updates bring a sense of connection and pride in the ever-growing network of Merchistonians around the world.
Thank you for continuing to be a valued part of our community.
Edinburgh Schools in Sydney
We were recently contacted by Pat Stevenson, President of the NSW Watsonian Club, with an invitation for Merchistonians in or travelling to Australia to join a special event during the British & Irish Lions Tour in 2025. To mark the occasion of the final Lions Test match, the Edinburgh Schools in Sydney are hosting a pre-Test
get-together to reconnect, celebrate, and share in the excitement of this iconic rugby event
The gathering will take place on Friday 1st August 2025 at The Dunkirk Hotel (The Loft private function area), 205 Harris Street, Pyrmont, from 6 30pm to 11 00pm
This informal event welcomes Sydneybased alumni as well as those travelling from across Australia and overseas for the match at Accor Stadium in Sydney, on Saturday 2nd August a potential series decider.
To express your interest, please drop a line to Pat at nswwatsonians@gmail.com or RSVP on Facebook via the event post here.
Merchistonians in New York
We are delighted to share that Teddy Bonfield (MCS 2006-2012) has kindly volunteered to act as the Merchistonian Club’s Overseas Representative for the New York area
If you live in or are visiting New York and would like to get in touch, Teddy can be contacted at teddybonfield@gmail com or by phone at +1 646 260 6556
We encourage all Merchistonians in the region to connect with Teddy for news, events, or simply to stay in touch with the Merchistonian community abroad
If you are a Merchistonian interested in getting more involved in your local area and helping to strengthen the alumni network there, please do get in touch we’d love to hear from you!
‘Who is the One?’
On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the Merchistonian Club proudly sponsored the publication of a poignant new book honouring the Merchistonians who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War.
Titled Who is the One?, this moving work shares the personal stories behind the names on the Merchiston War Memorial, preserving their legacy for future generations.
Written by Reverend Blair, the book highlights the unique and precious value of each life lost, offering insight into the impact of their sacrifice on their families, friends, and the School community It serves not only as a tribute but also as an educational resource to help future generations understand that behind every name is an individual someone’s son, brother, father, or friend
Who is the One? is available to purchase for £20 (plus P&P) at www.revblair.com or by contacting the author directly at nblair@merchiston.co.uk .
Thanks to the generous sponsorship by the Merchistonian Club, all proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion and Firefly International, a charity supporting children affected by conflict overseas. We shared details of this inspiring fundraiser in our last newsletter, and we are pleased to bring you an update on the incredible progress made so far.
This one is for Finlay
The fundraiser aims to raise £15,000 to support SAMH’s mental health and wellbeing peer support training across 12 schools in Edinburgh. So far, an incredible £18,724.11 has been raised from over 415 generous donations. Every £1,200 supports one school, so each donation has a direct and meaningful impact
Plans are underway to welcome Thomas back to Merchiston at the end of his run, and we are working to ensure that members of the Merchistonian community will have the opportunity to be part of this special moment
Further details will be shared in due course, so that anyone wishing to pay tribute to an incredible young man, and support Thomas in this remarkable challenge, can attend.
Donate or learn more here.
Merchistonian Thomas Robertson (MCS 2015-2023) is taking on an extraordinary challenge in memory of his best friend and fellow Merchistonian, Finlay MacDonald (MCS 2014-2023, who tragically passed away last summer
On 6th July 2025, Thomas will run from St Andrews to Edinburgh, covering a distance of over two marathons, in support of Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) The run will finish with a final lap around Merchiston Castle School a poignant tribute to the school where both boys shared lasting friendships and memories.
Autumn Test Matches
Merchistonians who requested tickets for the Autumn Test Matches at Murrayfield can now log into their SRU account to purchase them
Please ensure that you complete your purchase by 20th June After this date, any unpaid tickets will be automatically released for public sale
If you have any questions or issues accessing your SRU account, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk
Annual Cricket Match
On Thursday 22nd May, the Merchistonian XI took on the Merchiston 1st XI in their annual cricket match on a perfect sunny evening.
Batting first, the Merchistonians made an impressive 179 in their 20 overs thanks to some well struck 4s, big hitting 6s and great running between the wickets.
Chasing this total, the School lost a few early wickets to some accurate bowling and flawless catching and struggled to keep up with the run rate, eventually succumbing to losing the match all out
A huge thank you goes to the school staff for once again helping to organise this much-anticipated event, and to the catering team for providing a superb spread, perfectly suited to the occasion
Congratulations to the Merchistonian XI on their fine win and a special mention must be made for Todd B's lifetime best batting performance and Harry D's fantastic 'fifer' with the ball.
