The Merchistonian Magazine 24/25 by MerchistonSchoolEdinburgh

2025 MERCHISTONIAN

HEADMASTER’S WELCOME, AUGUST 2025

As another academic year closes, I am once again reminded that The Merchistonian magazine captures a moment in time; one of many that have shaped Merchiston, and one of many more still to come. Like every year, it brought us its share of the expected and the unforeseen; myriad achievements to celebrate, challenges to weather, all framed by the daily rhythm of young people ﬁnding their place in the world.

My thanks go to Philip Rossiter, who has once again curated these pages with care and formidable insight. His work gives shape to the story of another successful year and to many of the things that matter most at Merchiston.

As this marks the end of my time as Head, I was invited to write a few words of farewell as part of this introduction. It is not in my nature to take up the spotlight, but what follows is oﬀered with sincerity.

So - no fanfare, no grand farewell - just the quiet Irish ‘goodbye’. I move on (or perhaps back) to Belfast and a new challenge, and I do so without fuss or the need to linger. It suits me. And, I would argue, it suits the nature of leadership at its best; we are only ever here for a while, stewards of something that was never truly ours.

The past seven years have brought moments of great generosity, and I have been lucky to be surrounded by a close team whose commitment, good humour, and quiet excellence made the work a genuine pleasure. It is a rare thing to be part of a group so focused, not on credit, but on getting it right for every pupil - from the very youngest in our Forest Nursery to the young men of our Upper Sixth. I am grateful to them for all that they continue to do in support of Merchiston.

There was, too, a personal moment that was indescribably diﬃcult; I will never forget the kindnesses oﬀered by many at that time. There were those who chose to be less kind. I don’t dwell on the latter, but nor do I forget. We are all human, after all; something we must all remember.

Through it all, our pupils remained the heart of the School; the still point in a turning world. Despite the occasional noise of our adult agendas, they are what matters most. They remind us why we do this work, and why it still matters. I am also mindful of our parents, whose commitment and sacriﬁce so often happen quietly and behind the scenes. Their belief in what this School can oﬀer their children is both humbling and essential.

Leading Merchiston has been a privilege; complex, at times deeply testing, but always worth it. I leave with aﬀection for this place and one simple hope - that Merchiston Castle School continues to be a school of courage, substance, and heart in a world that too often forgets the value of all three.

Slán go fóill.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

CHANGES TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

GARETH BAIRD, outgoing Chair

of the Board of Governors, reports on the upcoming changes to the Board……

Over the past eleven years, chairing the Board of Governors has been an absolute privilege and one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. Together, we have steered Merchiston through some genuinely challenging times - navigating the uncertainties of Covid and, more recently, adapting to the introduction of VAT on independent school fees.

Yet through it all, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved. The Senior Leadership Team has delivered

remarkable successes: the comprehensive refurbishment of the Chalmers boarding houses, the successful launch of The Forest Nursery and Junior School, and this term's introduction of our innovative day and ﬂexi-boarding options. Each milestone has strengthened Merchiston's position and enhanced the experience we oﬀer our pupils.

Having supported the School's strategic direction for over a decade, including the transition of two new Heads, I believe now is the right time to step aside. With our new Head, Huw Jones, joining us in August and our Board recently strengthened with exceptional new governors, Merchiston is perfectly positioned for its next chapter.

Introducing our new Chair & Vice Chair

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Robert B Cook will become our new Chair of the Board of Governors. Following a formal interview process, Robert brings more than thirty years of leadership experience at the helm of some of the UK's largest leisure and hospitality businesses. His impressive career includes serving as CEO of Hotel du Vin & Malmaison, CEO of De Vere Hotels, and UK CEO of Virgin Active.

Originally from Aberdeen, Robert holds an honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University for his contribution to the hotel industry. His expertise in creating exceptional guest experiences and building strong organisational cultures makes him ideally suited to lead Merchiston into its future. He currently owns The Cookie Jar, a luxury boutique hotel in Alnwick, Northumberland, demonstrating his continued commitment to excellence in hospitality.

I am also delighted to share that Ian McCarlie has been elected to the position of Vice Chair. A respected commercial lawyer operating in the energy sector, Ian has been a valued member of the Board since 2022 and has been instrumental in commissioning a recent governance review. Ian is also a trustee of Make 2nds Count, a UK charity that helps and supports patients diagnosed with incurable secondary breast cancer.

Welcoming Our New Governors

Alongside Robert and Ian, we welcome ﬁve outstanding new Governors, who bring diverse expertise and fresh perspectives:

• Jay Crawford - entrepreneur developing sustainable rural businesses across Ayrshire;

• Kelly Foley - brokering international re/insurance solutions background;

• Andrew Marshall - impactful leader behind Scotland's award-winning Carlowrie Group;

• Caroline McLaren – experienced HR professional;

• John McKean - legal, commercial and marketing background.

These governors have already demonstrated their commitment, actively supporting both Huw's appointment and the development of our new fee structure.

I would also like to thank Neil Mitchell and Ann Deans for their continued support and guidance to the Board.

Acknowledging Dedicated Service

I want to express heartfelt gratitude to fellow Governors

Rob Elliot and Martin Judd, who are also stepping down this term. Rob has provided fourteen years of invaluable service to the Board, while Martin has contributed four years of dedicated support. Their wisdom, commitment, and strategic insight have been instrumental in Merchiston's continued success.

Looking Forward

As we enter this exciting new chapter, I am conﬁdent that Robert's leadership, combined with our strengthened Board and Huw's vision, will drive Merchiston to even greater heights. The School is blessed with an incredible community of teaching and support staﬀ, engaged families, and loyal alumni, who continue to champion our mission.

It will be my honour to deliver my ﬁnal speech as Chair at prizegiving on Saturday 21 June and oﬃcially hand over to Robert at the end of the Summer Term for this next exciting chapter in Merchiston's story.

Gareth Baird, outgoing Chair of the Board of Governors

TERM DATES 2025-2026

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ARRIVALS, AUGUST

2024 – JULY 2025

During the period covered by this magazine, August 2024 – July 2025, we have been pleased to welcome the following as new members of staﬀ at Merchiston, all of whom have quickly become valued members of our community:

VASCO ABREU - Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator and Resident Tutor in Laidlaw South

KATIE BURGESS - Social Media Assistant

JOSH FARQUHAR - Teacher of D&T

JOHNNY MILLER - Finance Manager

SARAH PEARSON - Head of Mathematics

POLLY PROSSER - Lead Teacher of Art

ALEX WICKHAM - Director of IT Services

LINDA YORSTON - Teacher of English

STAFF DEPARTURES, AUGUST 2024 – JULY

2025

During the period covered by this magazine, August 2024 – July 2025, we have been sorry to bid farewell to the following members of staﬀ, thank them whole-heartedly for the important contribution which they have made to Merchiston life, and wish them every happiness in the future:

JONATHAN ANDERSON

Jonathan took up the Headship at Merchiston in August 2018, moving into Castle Gates with his wife, Bethan, and their two daughters, Emily and Matilda. He arrived from Worksop College, where he had been Senior Deputy Head for seven years, and prior to that he had been a Housemaster at Christ’s Hospital for eight years. The depth and breadth of his school experience - across the pastoral, academic, co-curricular and strategic - was exemplary, and he came with a commitment to “ensure that all pupils enjoy an educational experience which is truly their own.”

And that remained his mantra throughout his seven-year tenure. Never one to seek the limelight, and only ever a reluctant recipient of the publicity which Headship brings, Jonathan’s focus on the health and success of Merchiston was unwavering. It was always about the School; never about him. He brought modesty and humility to a role which

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is so often attended by pomposity and bombast, and the position never trumped the institution, nor his care for the pupils and staﬀ in his charge.

Under his leadership, we have seen the School emerge from a diﬃcult period in its history, and the humility which he brought to his testimony in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has gone a long way towards restoring the School’s broader reputation as a place of decency and compassion. We have seen the resetting of our relationship with our regulators, a signiﬁcant boarding house renovation, the establishment of our Forest Nursery & Junior School, considerable improvements to numerous parts of the School estate, and the receipt of recognition and awards across a whole spectrum of facets of the School’s operation, from academic results to boarding facilities, from safeguarding and wellbeing to Rights Respecting, and from reading to the support of international pupils.

Such a legacy would be impressive under any circumstances, but is all the more so in Jonathan’s case, given the significant headwinds against which it was achieved. Chief amongst the challenges was the global Covid-19 pandemic, but this was accompanied by onerous and costly regulatory demands, the loss of charitable business rates relief, increases in employers’ National Insurance and Teachers’ Pension contributions, a cost of living crisis, a major national enquiry, the contraction of junior and international boarding markets and, to cap it all, the imposition of VAT on independent school fees. To negotiate such a minefield, whilst at the same time maintaining the defining quality of a Merchiston education and continuing to make it accessible to parents, a great number of whom are experiencing many of the same pressures, is a daunting task indeed, and such a relentless series of challenges would have seen off many a lesser leader.

And yet it was not the ﬁnancial constraints which posed the greatest challenge. Nor was it the regulatory hurdles, nor the logistics, nor the restructures, nor the enquiry. Instead, it was the most intensely private of tragedies, played out on the most public of stages. For any parent, the loss of a child will likely be their greatest fear, and for those few who are forced to confront that fear, it brings a pain and a grief which no-one who has not experienced it will ever understand.

When Jonathan was forced to confront the death of his youngest daughter, Matilda, he did so as a sitting Head, with all the attendant pressures. Whilst he stepped away from public duties for a few short weeks, he was never far from the glare of public scrutiny, and many of the private duties continued. During that time, Jonathan and his family experienced the very best and the very worst which

humanity can oﬀer.

At a time when ‘duty’ has perhaps become a little bit of an unfashionable concept, Jonathan bucked that trend. Quite where he and Bethan found the strength to look after themselves, each other, and Emily, whilst at the same time continuing to cope with the pressures of work is almost unfathomable.

It is all too easy to dehumanise leadership, to hide behind hackneyed clichés like, “That’s why he’s on the big bucks”. And yet a sense of humanity is fundamental to being a good leader. Even when you are struggling, you have to be there for others who are struggling. Even when you don’t have time, you have to ﬁnd the time to be there and to listen. Even when you don’t feel strong enough, you have to turn up for those who need your strength.

You have to see in a thousand shades of grey, but present in black and white; you have to worry and agonise and endure sleepless nights, but project clarity and conﬁdence. Everyone wants a piece of you. Everyone has a view on every action you take, every decision you make.

Theodore Roosevelt summed this up in his Citizenship in a Republic speech, given at the Sorbonne in 1910. That address is commonly known as the Man in the Arena speech, and the crux of it is this:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no eﬀort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

To our ‘man in the arena’, we owe a great debt, to be paid by grateful remembrance of the work he has done here, by the ﬁrm resolve to continue that work, and by our fervent promise that Matilda’s memory will always be treasured in this place.

Jonathan, Bethan, Emily - you leave us with heartfelt thanks, best wishes, and high hopes for a happy and prosperous future at Campbell College.

Danny Rowlands, Deputy Head Wellbeing

PETER GOLDEN

Peter is one of those rare people at Merchiston who have

stepped down from the same job twice! He ﬁrst joined us in September 2019 for just one term as a teacher of Economics and Entrepreneurship, before moving to Gordonstoun, which is much closer to Peter’s home on the Moray coast. However, he returned to take up the same role in January 2022, and he now leaves us for the ﬁnal time as he is about to embark upon his well-earned retirement.

Peter’s principal role at Merchiston has been as our Economics teacher, a role to which he has brought decades of experience and understanding garnered at other schools. His understanding of the speciﬁcation and his ability to explain complex concepts to our VI Form boys has made him an invaluable colleague, as well as an irreplaceable mentor to our many VI Formers who have taken the subject. Peter’s way in the classroom is relaxed and straightforward, thus putting at ease the boys in his care, but he has always brought a forensic eye for detail and a refusal to accept low standards. I have frequently glanced at his board and scratched my head at the forest of graphs and data with which it is covered, but the boys Peter has taught were always clear about every formula and shifting curve, and he prepared them very well for their many examinations.

He has always been available to them as well, however. On many evenings of every week, Peter has sat working quietly in his classroom in Mappa Mundi, making himself accessible to any boys who have struggled with any aspects of the work and, as a tutor in the VI Form boarding houses, I have regularly encountered boys who had just returned from seeing him of an evening with their understanding deepened and their curiosity enhanced. He has frequently gone the extra mile in the way he has supported boys through their exam years, and many are the boys who have beneﬁtted from this.

Nowhere was this more apparent than in Peter’s other major academic role, as Lead Teacher both of Economics and of Entrepreneurship. As well as running Economics within the Faculty of Global Aﬀairs, Peter has also been responsible for teaching and leading our BTEC in Entrepreneurship. He has supported both me and his coteacher Mr Glover in doing this but, more than anything, he has shouldered the incredibly heavy burden of administration that has come with BTEC. This is one aspect of the job that I’m sure he won’t miss, but he has left everything in the best possible shape for his successor, Mr Cochrane, to pick up the unforgiving mantle.

In addition to all of this, outside the classroom Peter has been a resident tutor in Laidlaw North, a role to which he brought much experience and expertise from his time as a Housemaster in other schools, and he has turned his hand to the coaching of many sports. Golf has been the one

closest to his heart, and he has put his golﬁng expertise to the service of two Directors of Golf and many boys. However, he has always showed willing to turn his hand to anything else that he was required to, and spent many months, in both spring and winter, coaching rugby to our Under 15s.

Peter prefers to refer to this next stage as 'repurposing' not 'retirement', as he intends to approach the next few decades with new focus and drive. The future likely holds more golf, as well as some travel, some writing and some consulting work, and I hope we are not saying a ﬁnal goodbye to him just yet. We give him hearty thanks for all the many roles he has fulﬁlled at Merchiston, and we wish him all the best for a long and happy 'repurposing'.

Simon Thompson, Head of Faculty of Global Aﬀairs

JAMES MAYOH

James joined Merchiston in 2017 following a short teaching stint in Peterborough. Prior to this, he completed his PhD at Cambridge University in “The enhancement and engineering of ﬁnite size eﬀects in superconductors”, before working as a Senior Researcher. I fondly recall spending time with a group of Dr Mayoh’s senior students doing some Google Scholar searches on the academic papers he had published. To say that the content of his research went over our collective heads was a bit of an understatement! Following his research work, James decided that his real passion lies in teaching.

James’ passion for instilling his intellectual prowess and knowledge of his subject into those he teaches in the classroom is second to none. His appetite for all things Physics comes across in everything he does and I have rarely come across a teacher so enthusiastic about their subject and delivering the key content. James took over as Lead Teacher of Physics and Electronics following the departure of Paul Nicholls in 2021. He has led the Department very proﬁciently, continuing to develop resources, schemes of work and introducing new practical work. During his time as Lead Teacher, he oversaw excellent departmental results, with particularly strong performances of boys achieving grades 7-9 in their GCSEs.

James has been instrumental in ensuring the continuing of Electronics here at Merchiston: his thorough and organised approach, as well as his understanding of what the boys will ﬁnd fun, has meant that the boys involved in this subject have gone from strength to strength. He has also demonstrated tremendous patience with his Electronics colleagues in training them up in the new schemes of work he developed.

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During Covid, James set up his distance learning teaching in the classroom as he was resident on site. His set-up was incredible; something that most ﬁlm studios would not be able to match! His passion at delivering live lessons, recorded lessons and recorded practical demonstrations went above and beyond what any other staﬀ did during this time and clearly demonstrates his dedication to the profession.

It was not just in teaching that James brought so much to life at Merchiston. He moved on site having completed his ﬁrst year and has gone on to undertake various residential positions over the past seven years.

James spent four years as a fantastic Chalmers West Deputy House Parent, showing his true care for all of the boys in all that he did in and around Chalmers West. His technical skills came to the fore when he helped sort out the house bank Excel spreadsheets, saving Mr OgilivieJones hours of work! Another memory from that time was the Covid-19 pandemic, when the virus spread very quickly through Chalmers West. At one point, there were 21 boys who had tested positive for Covid! James’ can-do attitude shone through as we constantly had to test and retest the boys, take their temperature and deliver food to their rooms, as well as some particularly horrendous bathroom cleaning duties!

After four years in Chalmers West, James moved down the path to Pringle House to start what would be an exciting chapter as Deputy House Parent. James certainly had the required energy and enthusiasm to help support a busy and bustling house of young boys over his years with us. It quickly became clear that, when James takes on a task, he fully commits to it - the attention to detail in his costumes for Halloween and musical evenings were like something from a West End theatre production! - not to mention his kitchen skills and ability to take cocktailmaking to a whole new level! The Science Faculty members were equally lucky and on the receiving end of his excellent culinary skills, with the amazing cakes and desserts he produced for a staﬀ leavers event at the end-of-year garden party.

As well as his curricular and pastoral roles, James was involved in many co-curricular events at Merchiston. Some of these oﬀerings aligned more closely to his subject remit - such as assisting boys in Lego and Robotics competitions as part of the Saturday electives programme. However, another massive contribution over the years has been his dedication to the School drama productions. James was a very organised and calm director and producer. His productions included Beauty and the Beast, Treasure Island and The Pirates of the Curry Bean. For the former production,

a memorable moment was the magniﬁcent prop that he developed; a rose, set in a glass dome, which opened up electronically right on cue! The rose was lit so dramatically and looked fantastic as a special eﬀect on stage - going above and beyond again and really demonstrating his technical and creative prowess!

In his spare time, James enjoys cycling with friends and plays the cello in a local orchestra. The Pringle team has very much enjoyed his performances over the past few years, and his Physics classes too, when using his cello to demonstrate particular Physics concepts around sound and resonance!

James now leaves Merchiston and heads south again, to Repton School, where he takes on the role of Head of Physics and resident tutor in the Orchard Boarding House. James will also be starting up a new Computer Science Department. Repton is very lucky to have him join its team. We wish James every success in the future and we will miss him very much.

Robin Greenwood, Lead Teacher of Chemistry (and others)

NAOMI STEEN

Dr Naomi Steen’s time at Merchiston began in 2014, appointed as a Teacher of Mathematics. With a doctoral background in Pure Mathematics and experience teaching undergraduates, she has been an invaluable asset, inspiring, stretching and challenging a new generation of Merchiston mathematicians.

Her greatest attributes in the classroom are undoubtedly her passion and skill, harnessing her real love of and talent for Maths to help each and every one of her students to make the best possible progress. It quickly became apparent in the classroom that her expertise was not just in high level teaching of advanced mathematical concepts. One of the triumphs of her early career at Merchiston was the stewardship of the stalwart 5E set. Clarity of communication, endless patience and constant belief in her students saw a remarkable 100% pass rate for this group. She is the teacher who takes time to make her subject relevant and relatable, relishing the opportunity to explain the profound consequences Maths can have or to ‘blow their minds’ with Mathematical argument (Cantor’s diagonal, anyone?). She also provided Maths tuition for students preparing for SATs, demonstrating her skill in identifying the gaps that needed ﬁlling and adapting to whatever background each student had to oﬀer specialised and individualized support.

It was no surprise, therefore, when she progressed to the role of Second in Department in 2018 and took on the Head of Department role in 2021, proving herself adept at inspiring and encouraging colleagues as well as pupils. Committed to collegiate working and continual improvement, she leaves behind a strong departmental legacy of a Maths Department determined to develop further and with a real sense of pride in all Naomi has achieved.

Many students know and love Naomi as a talented Maths teacher, but in her time here she has performed many other roles (official and unofficial) and been a constant of calm, logical and compassionate support. As a Resident Tutor from 2014 to 2022, she proved herself dependable and flexible, assigned over the years to multiple boarding houses across Rogerson, Chalmers East and Laidlaw South. Initially a junior member of the staff crossword club, she quickly proved herself adept at thinking laterally and cryptically and was soon challenging the senior members and saving the team from errors with her consistent determination to check every answer’s validity with rigorous examination of the logic!

As Costume Mistress, Stage Manager and ‘Sanity Saver’ from 2014 to 2019, she was the backbone of the Drama Department: organising, quietly supporting, sewing costumes (from minor repairs to full-scale vulture wing creations) and generally averting disasters for each respective Director of Drama. It is no exaggeration to say that productions would simply not have happened without her assistance in every area, willing to turn her hand to any task and bringing seismic change to the preshow atmosphere, calming and managing the whole team through her simple and organised approach. The costume cupboard was never in ﬁner shape than under her stewardship!

Equally, her love of a costume has been proven over the years with multiple joyful appearances at Library events, from the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland to Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, passionately supporting the events and proving to the boys that a mathematician can also be a bibliophile. Indeed, many of the boys have been amused by the ﬁrm friendship forged between the English and Maths Departments through a mutual love of Lord of the Rings and a shared penchant for Maths Challenges!

While we are sad to say goodbye, I know that the community joins me in wishing her well as she leaves us to spend time with her family. As the elves might say… “Mára mesta, gi melin.”

Steph Binnie, English Department

STEPHANIE BINNIE

Steph joined Merchiston as Teacher of English in 2005, having landed her very ﬁrst teaching job. The fact that she stayed for two decades is ﬁrm proof of her genuine love for this place and its people. It is a strong, enduring mutual love: Steph’s departure has rocked us all. But we are determined to honour Steph and what she means to us all by celebrating her ambitions beyond the ‘Castle walls’. As she has said, “it is time.”

Steph’s early years gave her many claims to fame as the first female to do various things at Merchiston: first female rugby coach, first female resident tutor and first female CCF instructor. In the years that followed, she would amass an impressive portfolio of key responsibilities across the School: Assistant Housemaster in Evans North and then Laidlaw; Director of Drama for nine years; Teacher of Classics and Latin for seventeen years; and Head of English for five years. From 2005 to 2018, Steph also served as Athletics Coach, specialising in the hurdles and brutal fitness sessions. She was resident SAT tutor, exuberant country dancing teacher, public speaking and leadership trainer and member of the staff crossword club. In the boarding house, she even taught baking basics, teaching boys that white chocolate is not meant to turn black when you melt it! Students could expect to find her in every possible location on the School site, always busy and always enthusiastic. She can do it all, and she can do it all phenomenally well!

Staff were recently asked to offer their recollections of Steph over the years. Kyle Warren, Director of Pipes & Drums, writes: “I heard Steph before I met her. It was the 2022 U18 Rugby Final at Murrayfield. I was sitting next to another staff member and at one point I said, ‘that mum is wildly enthusiastic’, commenting about the lady behind us who was shouting louder than a bagpipe: ‘c’mon boys’ and ‘c’mon Merchi’ at every tackle. The staff member replied: ‘that’s not a mum, that’s a member of staff!’ That was my first introduction to Steph Binnie. Louder than a bagpipe, very enthusiastic supporter at sports matches, and lovely when you bump into her in passing around School.” It will not shock anyone who knows Steph that Kyle was not the only colleague to write about Steph’s volume!

Steph’s voice is legendary (as is her laugh) and it has made her so eﬀective in her many roles. Steph’s long-time friend and co-curricular collaborator, Dr Steen, writes: “I know there are many former pupils who recall your (exceptionally carrying!) encouragement from the rugby side-lines and the way you made incredible Drama productions materialise through your hard work, force of personality and motivation of the pupils. To quote one,

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“Ma’am always shouts with love!” Many boys have told me about your incredible presence in the classroom and how much they loved your lessons, while the additional hours you put in and the results you obtained speak for themselves. You always get the best from the boys, because you always care - and they know that”.

It is so true: the word ‘care’ is a truly defining one when it comes to articulating what Steph does and means to the students and staff. Through the years, her fellow English teachers have benefitted daily from Steph’s generous mentorship. She has never declined to help a colleague, and she helps with so much pragmatism and energy that you feel a lot better and stronger for having asked. It would take serious calculation to work out how many students Steph has taught at Merchiston - but even her colleagues count themselves among that number. We have all learned so much from her: how to teach with dynamism, how to decode the cryptic language of Exam Board Specifications, and how to project our voices across a playing field! The latter skill we have learned in a more figurative sense as well - how to speak up for ourselves with dignity and conviction and how to make sure we are heard.

Steph ﬁrst passed through the gates of Merchiston on her own. Twenty years later, she exits them with the beautiful family she had always dreamed of - her wonderful husband Dave and their two dazzling daughters, Katharine and Charlotte. For many years, Steph has deftly balanced the competing worlds of motherhood and teaching, both so demanding in their unique ways. She has never ceased to master both worlds beautifully, and it has been an amazing thing to watch.

We salute you, Steph. What a hero you are.

Kate Anderson, Head of Faculty of Languages and Literatures

FI BLAIR

Fi Blair has worked at Merchiston since August 2009, but has lived on site with Nick since 2004, and has been a vital source of support for our pupils and staff over those sixteen years. Literally hundreds of boys have benefitted from her professional support and many a member staff too. She has been so much more than the School counsellor, being an ever-present member of the wider staff community and parental community. She has been very much part of the glue that binds a community like this together, and many colleagues have been heard to describe her as being part of the ‘beating heart’ of this place. She has also been instrumental in providing a structure for the Wednesday afternoon ‘Merchi Cares’ and outreach sessions, enabling

Fifth Form and Lower Sixth pupils to experience what it is like to support others, as well as learning about themselves, as they are challenged to step safely out of their comfort zone. As a husband and wife team, she and Rev Blair have hosted boys at their house twice a week for ‘Chaplain’s Curry Club’ - over 8000 individual visits in their twenty-one years living on site. She is also an active participant of Our Neighbours charity, organising trips to Zimbabwe, and involving pupils with the trips as well as project work back here in the UK. We wish Fi all the very best for the future, whilst being glad that she will remain part of the community. As she has said: “you know where I am if you want to pop in for a coﬀee” – there will likely be a queue of staﬀ at her door!

NATASHA CALLAN

Natasha joined us in August 2022 and straight away we could see that she was very motivated and dedicated.

A very knowledgeable and skilled teacher of English, Natasha is adept at disseminating her knowledge across pupil groups of varying stages and abilities. She has built clear and strong rapport with her pupils, who enjoy learning from her and respect her friendly but ﬁrm manner of teaching. She has been adored by her youngest and eldest pupils alike for her warmth and wisdom, both in and out of the classroom.

Natasha has been a great collaborative colleague, taking the lead on a number of projects to reshape and improve schemes of learning and resources which are now much more ﬁt for purpose. In her short time as Lead Teacher of English, Natasha managed the daily running of our small but busy Department and oversaw progress on longerterm initiatives related to learning and teaching.

In her pastoral role, Natasha has been a dedicated Middle Years tutor and a helpful member of the Pringle and Rogerson teams. She launched and ran the photography co-curricular activity, which was very well attended and much enjoyed by the participants.

Over the course of her tenure here, Natasha has experienced two major life changes: ﬁrst, her marriage to Daniel, and then the arrival of baby Sebastian. For those reasons, and because she has truly loved teaching the boys of Merchiston, we hope that Natasha’s memories of her years with us will always be very happy ones.

In September, Natasha will begin her new role as Teacher of English at Whitburn Academy. She will be so missed around here, and we wish her all the very best in her next professional chapter!

Kate Anderson, Head of Faculty of Languages and Literatures

FIONA DARLING

Fiona Blakeman arrived at Merchiston in the summer of 1990 as a full-time teacher of Art, under the headmastership of David Spawforth.

Following her qualiﬁcation at Goldsmiths College, she had taught at a comprehensive school in London before joining Merchiston, at a time when there were only three female teachers on the staﬀ, computers were just being introduced, reports had to be handwritten, and formal evening meals were still served in the Common Room.

Fiona has many, many fond memories of the School and recalls the fabulous camaraderie amongst the staﬀ. She is deeply woven into the fabric of the School, not just professionally, but personally. On 29 March 1997, she married Gordon Darling in the Memorial Hall and gave birth to her only son, Duncan (a future Merchistonian), in the same year. She handed in her notice at that point, but such was her excellence and dedication that she was invited back just six months later, not only to teach Art, but also to take on some Design lessons. Her son joined the School in the First Form and left after the Upper Sixth in 2016 - an experience she says was one of the greatest she could ever have oﬀered him.

A passionate teacher of Art and Design, Fiona’s teaching load increased year after year. She developed an outstanding working relationship with Jason Cordingley, with whom she shared the teaching of all year groups for twenty-ﬁve years. Jason speaks warmly of her contributions to the Department, how they worked together through

every change and challenge, from a time when the Art Department was home to “two broken-down Minis and more clutter than Steptoe and Son’s yard”, to the joy of ﬁnally moving into a purpose-built space with clean paper, real canvas, and the freedom to create. Fiona was right at the heart of each transformation. Jason recalls the “calm but quietly powerful magic” she brought to everything she did, particularly to exhibitions, where her creative eye and care made every piece shine. He speaks of how she never once made him feel unsupported and, likewise, I have spent this year knowing I have a trustworthy, experienced, and invaluable colleague throughout the whole time.

Fiona has never tired of inspiring pupils - especially the younger ones - always treating every child’s work as something to be nurtured and celebrated. She has continued to put her all into many aspects of School life, embracing DT teaching, new technologies, and CAD. Pupils still speak of how brilliant she was during the challenges of lockdown, setting creative work and keeping them engaged online - a far cry from those early, computerless days! There is certainly no sense that this is someone who is “ready to retire”.

Fiona’s energy and involvement have extended far beyond the classroom. On the artistic side, she could be found, year after year, sometimes twice a year, up a ladder painting and creating eﬀects for the School’s drama productions.

Then came the shift to House parenting in 2019. Initially working alongside Bruce Aitchison in the boarding house, she moved to Rogerson in 2023, supporting the day boys with Stuart Buchanan. Fulsome tribute to this aspect of her work is given by Stuart in the Rogerson House report in the 'House Reports' section of this magazine.

As if all this wasn’t enough, she also took on the organisation of the School ski trip for 20 years, guided by Merchistonian Stuart Murphy, whose company, Snowtraxx, helped provide unforgettable experiences in fantastic resorts.

Fiona has loved her time at Merchiston and speaks of “great boys, great staﬀ, great grounds, and great memories.” The time has come for her to relax, though it’s hard to imagine her inimitable force and passion slowing down any time soon. She leaves having truly experienced all things Merchiston. And as we say goodbye, it feels far more than that: we send oﬀ not just a valued colleague, but the soul of the Department, and a ‘Darling’ friend’.

Polly

Prosser,

Lead Teacher of Art & Design

(with contributions from Jason Cordingley, former Head of Art)

COMMON ROOM

ALISTER MACNEILL

Alister has played a vital role in the ICT infrastructure at Merchiston for an amazing twenty-ﬁve years, from soon after the opening of the Robertson Building, the home of ICT. He has expertly navigated the ever-changing world of technology to keep our School running smoothly and at the cutting edge, and has always shown impressive patience with colleagues who struggle to keep abreast of developments! His deep technical skill and calm problemsolving have been invaluable as technology evolved around us and ICT played an ever-increasing role in every department, house and oﬃce within the School, not to mention the increasing use of technology by the boys. Alister’s work is very much behind the scenes but is vital to the smooth-running of the School. We thank him wholeheartedly for all that he has done, and wish him every happiness in his future endeavours.

ALEXANDRA TORRANCE

When Alexandra arrived at Merchiston eight years ago, she brought with her a background in veterinary physiotherapy, a boundless sense of energy, and a vision for education that was anything but ordinary. From the very beginning, it was clear that Alexandra would not be conﬁned by the walls of a classroom. She was a whirlwind of creativity – a passionate believer in the power of outdoor education, hands-on learning, and the importance of connecting curriculum with the real world.

Her debut came that very ﬁrst December. The Pringle Junior School Nativity, relocated to the Secret Garden, opened with a First Form boy, dressed as a star, being winched sky ward in a climbing harness onto a scaﬀold, while Mary entered on a real donkey. Jed and Gracie trotted behind, dutifully cast as sheep. It was bold, brilliantly bonkers and ‘unmistakably Alexandra’! The boys never forgot it — and neither, if truth be told, did anyone else!

That same creativity threaded through her teaching. In Alexandra’s classroom, anything was possible. Maths could mean baking chocolate brownies in the Pringle House kitchen, focussing on ratios, doubling, multiplying and dividing. English interwove with Drama and a poem by Charles Causley was re-enacted in the actual Sheriﬀ Courts of Edinburgh. History came alive in the Dell, where boys in full costume recreated the clash between Celts and Romans. For Alexandra, learning was not simply about absorbing knowledge – it was about experiencing it.

She brought this same commitment to innovation and rigour to the Pringle Centre, where she led a thoughtful

overhaul of the curriculum. Drawing on her experience as Literacy Lead in London, Alexandra raised attainment and introduced a Guided Reading scheme that remains part of her academic legacy. But more than this, she championed the individual boy. Every learner mattered. She made sure they were heard, nurtured, and challenged – and they, in turn, rose to meet the high expectations she set.

Alexandra had a remarkable pastoral touch, known among the boys for being ﬁrm but fair. She led with compassion and consistency, and the boys responded with trust and respect. She also deeply believed in the therapeutic power of animals in education – something that came to life in the Pringle Centre’s much-loved rabbits, Domino and Parsnip, who provided comfort, calm, and endless companionship to many boys over the years.

Her impact extended well beyond the classroom. Alexandra established and led the Young Farmers programme in the Senior School, creating weekly opportunities for boys to get their hands dirty at Carsewell Farm – bedding cattle sheds, moving sheep, ﬁxing fences, driving machinery, and gaining real-world agricultural experience. Springtime brought lambs into the Pringle Centre for the boys to help care for – an unforgettable learning experience for many. Alexandra even went as far as registering part of the School grounds with DEFRA to pave the way for a smallholding of pigs – a project she never stopped championing.

Not content with hoof stock, she introduced polo - “the sport of kings” - to the co-curricular oﬀering. The boys went on to compete at the SUPA Championships in Cirencester, proudly representing Merchiston – alongside Kilgraston –against some of the top polo-playing schools in the country.

Within the Merchiston Juniors’ School Leadership Team, Alexandra was the natural facilitator of trips and activities. A visionary in every sense, she was full of big, bold ideas –and the drive to make them happen. Her strengths and skillset complemented those of her colleagues, with whom she formed a dynamic and deeply eﬀective team.

Eight years on, Alexandra departs, leaving memories of lambs in the corridor, brownies in the Maths books, and boys who know that learning can be audacious, relevant and unapologetically fun. More than that, she leaves a community shaped by her unwavering belief in kindness, high standards and the healing power of four legged friends.

Claire Haston, Primary Teacher

COMMON ROOM

In addition to the members of staﬀ who have been written about above, Merchiston would like to record its thanks to the following colleagues, who have only been working with us for a short period of time, or have returned to work at Merchiston brieﬂy. We wish them well for the future.

John BoagClerk of Works

Diane BoysIT & Systems Support Manager

May BurnettSchool Nurse

Xiaoyan CuiFinance Manager

Elaine DunneTeacher of Primary

Alasdair EvansHead of Hockey & Cricket

Steven GilmourHead of Cricket

Alexis HarveyFinance Manager

Tim LallemantDeputy House Parent

Xinyu LuLanguage Assistant

Romane MischlerLanguage Assistant

Clare NugentTeacher of DT

Alan PottsTeacher of Mathematics

Nicki SturzakerDirector of External Relations

Andrew ThorntonMarketing Manager

Becky TinsonTeacher of EAL

THE FOREST AT MERCHISTON

WELCOME

On behalf of everyone at Merchiston, I am delighted to introduce you to The Forest Nursery and Junior School. At The Forest, we take pride in our innovative and groundbreaking approach to education, designed to inspire and empower young learners. Our aim is to nurture conﬁdent, curious, and resilient children with a wide range of imaginative abilities.

With an exceptional curriculum that balances academic rigour with creativity, we focus on fostering both cognitive and emotional growth. This well-rounded approach ensures that every child experiences a truly enriching education, preparing them for future success in an ever-changing world.

NURTURING GROWTH THROUGH OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

At The Forest, we deliver a robust academic curriculum enriched by a dynamic outdoor education programme. Our approach blends high-quality, child-centred academic learning with meaningful outdoor experiences that bring classroom concepts to life. We follow a structured curriculum that ensures strong progress in core areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, and the humanities, while also encouraging creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Mrs Davina Bowers Head of The Forest Nursery and Junior School

Outdoor learning is not an add-on — it is woven into the fabric of our teaching. By combining inquiry-based academic learning with real-world exploration, we help children deepen their understanding, apply their knowledge in practical contexts, and develop essential life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience. We nurture the whole child — intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically — recognising that every learner is unique. Our supportive and inclusive environment helps children grow into conﬁdent, capable, and compassionate individuals, well-prepared for future academic and personal success.

At The Forest, children don’t just learn – they thrive.

THE FOREST CURRICULUM

At The Forest, our curriculum is designed to provide a rich, wellrounded education that nurtures academic achievement, creativity,

THE FOREST

and practical skills. We follow a structured and engaging academic programme that ensures strong progress in core subjects, while also oﬀering specialist teaching and a bespoke outdoor curriculum that brings learning to life.

In Mathematics, hands-on tools such as Numicon and real-life resources like money help deepen understanding and develop conﬁdence. Children build ﬂuency and problem-solving abilities across key topics including place value and the four operations, with a focus on applying knowledge to everyday situations. In Literacy, we combine synthetic phonics with high-quality reading schemes to foster strong reading skills and a lifelong love of books. Our writing curriculum includes grammar, handwriting, and creative expression, ensuring children become articulate and imaginative communicators.

Our pupils beneﬁt from weekly specialist lessons in Spanish, Science, Music, Physical Education, and sports coaching, all delivered by expert teachers. These sessions enrich our core curriculum and give children the opportunity to explore new disciplines in depth. A strong focus on expressive arts runs throughout the school, with opportunities to take part in choir, musical instrument lessons, drama, and art, encouraging creativity, conﬁdence,

and performance skills. Learning at The Forest extends far beyond the classroom. Our bespoke outdoor curriculum is central to our ethos, oﬀering pupils regular experiences in nature that complement and enhance their academic learning. Through outdoor exploration, children develop resilience, independence, and a deep connection to the natural world.

This broad and balanced approach ensures that every child is inspired, supported, and challenged – developing not only strong academic foundations, but also the curiosity, creativity, and conﬁdence to thrive.

FANTASTIC FRIDAYS

Fridays at The Forest are something truly special — so much so, the children have named them Fantastic Fridays! We begin the day with a thoughtful and inclusive plenary session, where children reﬂect on the week’s learning, consolidate their understanding of key concepts, and identify their next steps. This valuable time ensures that every child is heard, supported, and appropriately challenged. It’s also a safe space for children to share thoughts on their learning journey or express any social or emotional needs before the week ends.

Following this, the whole school — from Nursery to our oldest pupils — comes together for a shared break. These mixed-age gatherings foster strong, multi-generational relationships, where children naturally support one another, pass on knowledge, and build a compassionate and respectful community.

The remainder of the day is spent with all teaching staﬀ actively involved in rich, engaging learning experiences. We explore aspects of our bespoke outdoor curriculum, often through cross-curricular projects that integrate academic

learning in hands-on, practical ways. Whether they’re applying Geography and Maths skills in the ﬁeld or engaging with Science and Art through nature, children learn in a dynamic, meaningful context.

Fantastic Fridays conclude with a whole-school hike through our extensive grounds. These hikes oﬀer powerful opportunities for children to practise dynamic risk assessment, navigation, conservation, and woodworking with tools, while continuing to develop creativity, teamwork, and resilience.

This broad and balanced approach ensures that every child is inspired, supported, and challenged – developing not only strong academic foundations, but also the curiosity, creativity, and conﬁdence to thrive.

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW 2024-25

Once again, I am proud to say that 2024-25 has been a year of positive development across all academic areas. Collaboration between students and staff in subject areas has seen many enriching experiences brought to life and I have been particularly impressed with the number of external competitions accessed this year, including what I think was a record number of Maths entries to such competitions. This, alongside an increasing diversity in our electives and wider activity programme, ensures that we can keep adding value to the experience of our students. Our work on developing “universal support for learning” and “Faculty development” has yielded some interesting outcomes, and we are determined to develop these areas more deeply over a longer period of time. On the latter, we now have four Faculties which have at least one year under their belt: Global Affairs; Languages and Literatures; Science; and Technologies and Creative Arts. The Heads of Faculty have worked closely with the subject Lead Teachers to ensure that these “communities within our community” offer the best possible experiences for our students and staff. These Faculties continue to sit alongside the Departments of English as an Additional Language, Maths, Physical Education, and Support for Learning. Whilst we have made a good start on how these Faculties and Departments will operate, there is much to do and I am excited to see how we can continue to develop opportunities for students to excel, our support for staff to continue to develop our offering, and our ability to make sure the outside world hears all about it.

On the examination front, some headlines for 2024-25 include:

A Levels / Advanced Highers

• 98% pass rate

• 38% A/A* grades

• 64% A–B grades

University Outcomes

• One student to Imperial, one to UCL, three to St Andrews

• One student to Harvard, two students to leading US colleges for sport

IGCSE

• 55% of entries at Grades 9–7

• 88% of entries at Grades 9–4

• 15 students with 5 or more Grade 9/8 equivalents

National 5

• 81% of entries at Grade A

• 95% pass rate (A–C)

Once again, there is much to be celebrated on this front, and our students can take pride in the journey that they have taken as individuals in order to arrive at these outcomes. So many experiences, challenges, highs, and lows are woven into each story, but I am conﬁdent that each individual is now ready, in their own way, to tackle whatever comes next for them. The upcoming articles from Faculties will give you a ﬂavour of these experiences, and I hope you enjoy reading them.

Dale Cartwright, Deputy Head Learning and Teaching

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

We have had another eventful year in EAL, welcoming many nationalities to the Harvey Hub!

There are many reasons why international boys come to Merchiston. Sometimes it’s for the sport; we have internationally talented golf and tennis players who play a big part in school tournaments and competitions.

Sometimes it’s word of mouth: following in the footsteps of previous family members, Nacho and Marcos (from Spain) both had two older brothers who had been here previously.

Sometimes it’s part of a bigger cultural visit; such as the Mexican programme that Cristobal and Mateo were a part of, which bases them at Merchiston and takes them skiing in Switzerland and sightseeing and sailing in Greece.

Whatever their reason, they all have the common goal of improving their English during their stay, which means EAL in Harvey Hub!

Cambridge examinations

A good command of English is a life skill useful for travel and future careers. To that end, most international boys are keen to take an English Language exam. Exams really work in helping to motivate pupils, especially those boys who are only here for a short time. Here are some of this year's international cohort who had Cambridge Exam success at A2, B1 PET and B2 First levels. Very well done!

Additionally, this year we had three boys who succeeded in securing the C1 Advanced and C2 qualiﬁcation.

Christoph S, Germany – testimonial:

“Improving my English was my main goal when I came to Merchiston. Participating in the EAL programme was therefore a priority. Just as I was able to improve my colloquial English in everyday life at Merchiston, in EAL I had the opportunity to enhance my academic language, which would allow me to apply to my preferred university back in Germany. Due to a small class size, I received excellent support, tailored to my individual needs. As my group decided on taking the Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) exam, our lessons focused on preparing for it. I was given detailed and constructive feedback, fostering continuous improvements in writing, reading, speaking, etc. Although I only stayed for two terms, I never felt overwhelmed by the workload. The teachers engaged with us, helped us to tackle our problems and overcome our weaknesses, so that we felt very confident when approaching the final exam. I now have a very advantageous C2 qualification to take back, which ultimately was the principal aim of my visit. I would really encourage any international pupil to sign up and make the most of EAL”.

Cross-curricular EAL - in the subject classroom!

Seeing our EAL pupils in another setting and witnessing their interactions with other pupils and teachers is always interesting, and so it’s great to support our EAL learners’ involvement in other subjects. This year, we went into Third and Fourth Form Geography lessons. Input included adapting assessments, creating Quizlet study sets to help students learn key words and revision guidance. In Maths, the focus was on getting students to explain their work using Maths vocabulary. EAL students often know how to solve problems, but cannot always use the correct terminology, which is so important for understanding worded questions.

We also worked with the English Department, creating EAL-friendly resources for core texts, such as character proﬁles for Romeo and Juliet.

The Environment - how green is our School?

The Environment is a major educational topic across all subjects, and so too in EAL.

In January, the Fourth Form students devised questions to ﬁnd out how green Merchiston is. Mr Wilson, the Facilities Manager, kindly volunteered to be interviewed. The students followed this up by writing a formal email to thank him and to make suggestions as to how our School could become even more environmentally friendly. They then carried out a survey, looking at the recycling areas, the Science building and talking to staﬀ members. We discovered that there are solar panels in the Science building, and there is a garden next to the Art Department. All of this helped with understanding our local environment, and also gave students the opportunity to practise their English in a real-life context.

Kitchen tour, February 2025 - food waste

Our Fourth Form and Shell EAL students were invited by Mr Ackroyd, Head Chef, to do a tour of the School kitchens as part of our topic on the environment, looking at food waste at School. Food waste is a major sustainability issue, with approximately one-third of all food produced globally being lost or wasted annually. After putting on white coats, Mr Ackroyd showed us all around the kitchen zone, and even let us go into the cold room. He told us how the food waste is recycled. The kitchen does a lot to try and minimise waste and they also welcomed our ideas, like taking smaller portions and coming back for second helpings if still hungry. We were impressed with how the School tries to buy locally produced seasonal food. The students on the tour created posters to encourage their fellow students to think about food waste and to reduce the amount wasted at our School. Our conclusion was that small actions will make a big diﬀerence.

END OF YEAR EAL AWARDS 2024/25

Awards are made in recognition of eﬀort and progress in EAL at the annual Prizegiving ceremony. This year's winners were:

Juniors – Atsushi S from Japan

Middle Years – Bob L from China

My year at Merchiston!

Post-exams is a great opportunity for project work in EAL and this year's focus was an end-of-year compilation of the boys' many highlights and favourite moments. It’s been a great EAL year at Merchiston!

Farewell to Mrs Tinson

We bid farewell to Mrs Tinson, who had a busy and impactful year in the EAL Department. She taught EAL pupils across all age levels and English Language ability levels, from the Forest to the Sixth Form.

Additionally, Mrs Tinson was a VI Form tutor and was also happy to be involved in wider School initiatives, such as International Week and the Merchiston Community Service Programme, events which help boys to feel integral and valued. Boys throughout the School had the opportunity to beneﬁt from her expertise and dedicated approach.

Thank you, Mrs Tinson, for this year - you will be missed and our very best wishes for your future success.

Final words – Mr Anderson

The Headmaster had this message for all our international boys as he departs Merchiston:

Boys,

Thank you for being such an important part of our School. From every corner of the globe and across so many cultures, you have brought energy, texture, and heart to Merchiston; from the classroom to the sports ﬁeld, from the theatre stage to the piping circle, from everyday conversations to big moments. You got involved, you showed up, and you made our School all the better for it.

You didn’t just join our community - you helped shape it and make it whole.

As I move on, I will not forget the impact you have had and will continue to have.

Wishing you all the best on the road ahead, Mr Anderson

Susan Hardman, Head of EAL

FACULTY OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS

As you might guess from the name at the top of this page, this academic year has seen some exciting changes for the family of subjects that reside in the Mappa Mundi building. We have long been a faculty in Merchiston, one of the School’s ﬁrst, in fact, when back in 2019 History joined forces with Politics, Economics and Entrepreneurship to create what we called the Faculty of History & PPE. In the summer of 2024, however, we were joined by the Geography Department to create a whole new family of subjects.

Geography has been an excellent ﬁt. When we started talking about our new faculty, we quickly began to think about the fact that all of our subjects are based around studying how the world works; in the past, today, and with likely trends to the future. History looks at the past to explain why global events have taken the form they have, while Geography does the same with the world’s physical, human and scientiﬁc format. Politics tries to explain how global power works, while Economics, Entrepreneurship and Geography explain human behaviour in relation to the world’s limited resources and economic assets. So, after

much debate and many ideas, we decided to call ourselves The Faculty of Global Affairs, comprising Economics, Entrepreneurship, Geography, History and Politics. Our Geography colleagues moved across from Mount Olympus to Mappa Mundi, and brought with them some fantastic resources that have completely redecorated the building’s foyer, and now the different walls reflect on the world past and present with maps aplenty, both current and historical. I pay tribute to all of my colleagues in making the move work as smoothly as it has. There is always, inevitably, upheaval when a move like this takes place, but the Geography staff have been very constructive about the way they have handled it, and have come with lots of ideas to make it work better. And our already Mappa Mundibased teachers have extended the warmest of welcomes, thinking of ways to engage constructively with our Geography colleagues and to build meaningful links between us. Our faculty vision is to develop individuals who are engaged with and interested in the forces that formed the contemporary world and continue to shape it, and we are genuinely excited about the ways we can do this together.

The boys took to the change remarkably quickly, and we now have several boys in the VI Form who have all of their lessons in Mappa Mundi. As time develops, we hope that noticing the links between our subjects will help to boost the boys’ academic achievement. We have already seen this in boys who have taken, say, History and Politics, or Politics with Economics, and we very much hope that we can ﬁnd ways to bolster links between our disciplines and help the boys to go deeper into them as a family of subjects.

Geography moved across to Mappa Mundi in the strongest possible shape, as 2023-24 saw their strongest ever set of academic results, with a larger than ever number of boys achieving top grades at A Level and at IGCSE. History and Politics continue to do well at A Level: History, in particular, saw our biggest cohort in years going through the Upper VI to A Level, achieving strong grades to go on to good universities, and Economics continues to be as popular as ever, with Mr Golden piloting a much-largerthan-average class through A Level. He and Mr Glover continue to drive Entrepreneurship forwards.

However, we will soon be saying goodbye to Mr Golden as he heads towards a well-earned retirement, which is covered elsewhere in this magazine. His successor will be Mr Jamie Cochrane, who impressed us hugely when he came for interview. He is currently a teacher of Economics and Business at Craigmount High School in Edinburgh, having previously taught Economics and Business in London. We are very much looking forward to having Mr

Cochrane join us, and you will meet him in these pages before long.

Our co-curricular programme of visits took a big step forward this year with the reinstatement of our IGCSE History trip to Berlin. This was led by Mrs McDiarmid and saw 25 Shell and V Form boys going to Germany for four days studying sites that are linked closely to our IGCSE History course. You can read more about it in the Trips and Activities section of the magazine. Geography has been as busy as ever, leading expeditions and ﬁeld work trips both within the School grounds, within wider Edinburgh (to Colinton, Morningside and Leith) and much further aﬁeld (including the Lothian coast and Iceland), and is preparing for next October’s expedition to Peru.

We live in an ever more fractious world, where beliefs and opinions frequently divide us more than they unite us. Divisiveness seems to dominate our discourse, something that we see from the White House to our parliamentary debates, and increasingly people live in echo chambers where their own world view is reﬂected back to them rather than welcoming diﬀerent opinions and diverse views. I hope that, in our own quiet way, our new faculty can model to the boys, and to the wider Merchiston community, that there is another way of doing things, a way that brings us together and demonstrates that, working supportively with one another, we can achieve more than we could apart.

Simon Thompson, Head of Faculty of Global Aﬀairs

FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

We proudly introduce to our readers Merchiston’s newest faculty: Languages and Literatures, comprising English, Modern Foreign Languages, Classics and Religious Studies. We have enjoyed exploring the possibilities of our new partnership in this inaugural year, and we look forward to many mutually beneﬁcial opportunities in the future which will improve the way we work and – most importantly – the student experience in our subjects. We believe very strongly in the importance of what we teach, not just in our students’ school years but – crucially – in the years that follow. This is because each Department does so much to ‘open up the world’ for young people.

In Modern Foreign Languages, students develop their personal interest in the world and prepare to become global citizens. The study of Classical Civilisation and Latin fosters curiosity about the ancient world and understanding of its enduring impact on modern life and thought. In English, we help students to understand how literature reﬂects and shapes our world as they gain the skills they need to articulate their views maturely and conﬁdently through both speech and writing. Finally, through Religious Studies, students develop an appreciation of and respect for belief systems and engage with the challenging questions that are intertwined with faith.

Across the Faculty, our curriculum places a strong emphasis on language acquisition and a love of literature and we hope to inspire a lifelong enjoyment of these pursuits.

Kate Anderson, Head of Faculty

Modern Foreign Languages

A highlight every year, the Chinese New Year celebration saw 127 pupils go to a favourite restaurant. Many thanks to Lyall, who hosted for us, and to our performers: Luke sang a beautiful Chinese song, ‘Moon presents my heart’; Erik played a beautiful piano piece, ‘Ming ming Jin’ by Jay Chou; and Josh created a special repertoire for the bagpipes, giving events a Scottish twist. Rev Blair and Mrs Chang gave out the Chinese New Year envelopes and gifts were given to St George’s guests. It was a great success.

Sixth Form language learners took part in the annual 7school Language Immersion Days. These days are a great opportunity to explore language matters and practise more intensively. We visited other participating schools for the French and Chinese Days, and Merchiston hosted this year’s German and Spanish Day. Our thanks go to our guests - German Consul General Christiane Hullmann, a Goethe Institut student Language Ambassador, Chilean refugee and musician Carlos Arredondo, and Dr Mike Lynch

of Edinburgh University - and to our sponsors ISMLA (Independent Schools Modern Languages Association), and also to our Language Prefects and Captain of School, who helped on the day. Some of our German boarders were able to come, greet and listen in; also, our Shell German learners also had the opportunity to meet the Consul and speak some German - gut gemacht!

The whole of the Shell year group again took part in GCHQ’s National Language Competition, testing their literacy, language and logic skills. French classes across different year groups once more benefitted from the French Film Festival UK Learning Programme, with access to films, materials and competitions aided by our partners in the Institut Français

We also had some new events. Term timings meant that senior boys were able to beneﬁt from Heriot Watt University’s online Multilingual Debate, with expert witnesses discussing inﬂuencers and online business practices. Our Shell German class took part in a Munich Supercrew workshop with the Goethe-Institut, listening to the band, messaging in open forum in German and generally singing along.

We are delighted to have national achievements to share. In the Edinburgh University Mandarin speaking competition for schools, Luke D, Yuki C and Miles R were awarded 1st, 2nd and 4th places overall; this was an outstanding result. In addition, yet again, Merchiston has had success in the Anthea Bell Competition for Young Translators, organised by The Translation Exchange at The Queen’s College, Oxford - Yarema Y was named Area Winner for Scotland for his translation from Russian.

Congratulations all round!

Reports elsewhere in the magazine will tell you of our pupils’ experiences applying their Mandarin and German skills as participants on this year’s trips abroad!

Clare Flanagan, Lead Teacher of Languages

Classics

It has been another busy year in the Classics Department at Merchiston. Classical Civilisation numbers continue to be very strong; last year saw the largest ever uptake for the GCSE Classical Civilisation course in the Shell, which was followed by a set of almost the same size in this year’s Shell. It demonstrates that Classics continues to be pursued with much enthusiasm by the boys within the School.

This year also saw some exciting trips taking place; in November, the Sixth Form Classical Civilisation students travelled to London. They started at the British Museum, seeing some artefacts related to their A Level course. After lunch, they attended a matinee of one of their set texts, Oedipus, starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville. It was an intense and powerful performance with a modern twist, which provided lively and interesting debate on the journey home! It was a very valuable day out for the boys and a very useful trip for their A Level studies.

In addition, the Fifth Form Classical Civilisation set enjoyed the annual trip to Hadrian’s Wall. It is a fun day out but also a very useful one, which allows the boys to improve their knowledge in preparation for the War and Warfare GCSE module. They enjoyed visiting the Roman Army Museum and the archaeological site at Vindolanda, where they saw the remains of a real Roman fortress and learnt more about how the legion would have lived. This was followed by a walk along Hadrian’s Wall itself to see the remains of one of the Milecastles built by the Romans.

Matthew Hillier, Lead Teacher of Classics

English

As ever, it has been a busy and bustling year in English, replete with theatre trips and competitions alongside the usual packed schedule of the Department. The boys have outdone themselves in taking on every challenge thrown at them and excelling in so many diﬀerent ways.

October saw the inaugural Fright Night, with spooky stories written and read by the boys in the Junior School and Second and Third Forms, to the delight of pupils and parents. The Sixth Form reading leaders in scary costumes set the tone with a terrifying reading of Roald Dahl’s poem, ‘Down Vith Children!’ from The Witches. It was a delight to gather in the comforting warmth of the Library to read ghost stories and tales of horror on a dark winter’s night. We are very grateful for the enthusiasm and creativity of Mrs Gibb and her team of reading leaders, who threw themselves into the evening with gusto!

Having had so much fun, we could not resist hosting a Spring Festival with the Pringle Centre and inviting the girls from St George’s. This was an occasion for reading poetry written by the Second and Third Form students while decorating Easter eggs (or in some cases, monster eggs!) and creating origami blossoms. It was an opportunity to enjoy some the delights of a diﬀerent season, and we drew from a broad range of cultural traditions. We look forward to celebrating these events again this year!

This year, the boys entered numerous creative writing competitions. The Third Form received honourable mentions and book tokens in the Daunt’s Bookshop Competition and, in the Summer Term, thirteen boys were selected by the Young Writers’ Competition to have their short sagas inspired by fairy tales published. The boys in the Second Form also found success with the entirety of the year group’s poems on the theme of ‘escape’ accepted for publication by the Young Writers’ Competition. To have an entire year group accepted is an extraordinary achievement. In recognition, the English Department decided to award all the boys with the Kingsley Darling Verse Prize, an award in commemoration of a Merchistonian and poet killed in World War I.

It was a challenging year for Fourth Formers as well as they began to learn key skills ahead of GCSE, but they also found time to participate in competitions. Through the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, they reﬁned their research and presentation skills, learning about the important work of local charities while they did so. Invited speakers gave them ideas about how these English skills can be applied outside of the classroom in exciting and empowering ways.

As always, our Sixth Form students were treated to local trips to illuminate their studied texts for Higher English and

This acclaimed production from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre truly brought the text to life for the boys. November brought Carol Ann Duffy to Edinburgh, reading her poems at St Cuthbert's Church. What a perfect coincidence for our Higher English class, which happened to be studying Duffy’s work! Seeing and hearing her allowed the boys to approach their studies of Duffy’s poems with new understanding.

A department’s integrity and success are founded on its everyday commitment to its students’ engagement and achievement. This year, the English staﬀ have not stinted in providing support for students in their studies with weekly study support groups, which have been used regularly and with great success. It is inspiring to us as teachers to see the boys’ ambitions and enthusiasms. The Spawforth Library has hosted many more informal study sessions, thanks to the extraordinary commitment of Mrs Gibb for making this an open and welcoming space for all.

Katherine Upton, Lead Teacher of English

A Level Literature. In October, we saw Elizabeth Newman’s adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire.

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGIES AND CREATIVE ARTS

This year, the departments of Art and Design, Computing, Design Engineering and Technology, and Music have come together to form the Faculty of Technologies and Creative Arts. Over the years, our departments have been closely linked geographically, which naturally led to numerous collaborative learning and co-curricular experiences for our students. As such, the transition to our new uniﬁed identity has been seamless and a reﬂection of our ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Creativity is at the heart of everything we do. The Faculty of Technologies and Creative Arts strives to cultivate innovative problem-solvers, both individually and collaboratively. Our Faculty goal is to nurture the passions and creative potential of each student, empowering them to recognise and seize opportunities to broaden their skills, perspectives, and understanding of the world. Through a wide range of academic and co-curricular activities, students are encouraged to express themselves in diverse ways, enabling them to discover and reﬁne their unique talents and strengths.

Two specialisms within the Faculty are led by one dedicated professional. Our colleagues in Music and Computing are excited to be part of this vibrant new team. This year, we have focused on aligning our eﬀorts to ensure that, as one faculty, we provide ample opportunities for students to express their creativity in innovative ways. We are particularly excited to revive the Robertson Building end of year exhibition, set to take place in the Summer Term of 2026. This event will oﬀer our students an exciting opportunity to proudly showcase their work. We look forward to welcoming pupils, families and the wider community to this event. Academically, our subjects are thriving. Student enrolment in Art and Design and Design Technology continues to grow in both the Shell and LVI years, while Music and Computing attract talented and passionate students year after year. It has been immensely rewarding to see so many of our VI Form students continue on to further education in the creative disciplines they have come to love.

The co-curricular opportunities oﬀered by the staﬀ in the Faculty of Technologies and Creative Arts are dynamic and

enriching, providing students with valuable opportunities to hone practical skills, explore their creativity, and engage with real-world challenges. Maintaining a packed schedule, the Music Department continues to provide an extensive range of opportunities for students to explore their musical talents and creativity. Students are able to practise in afternoon slots on Monday, Thursday, and during Saturday morning electives. The Department oﬀers a music outreach programme as part of the Wednesday cultural activities, in which students from the senior school prepare a programme for performance in the Lent Term for residents of local care homes. The concerts are enjoyed by the residents and provide an excellent opportunity for the pupils to develop their performance skills.

Art and Design has been oﬀering photography experiences as part of the Wednesday Cultural Activities programme and looks forward to expanding its role in the co-curricular oﬀering for 2025/26. Meanwhile, MerchiSTEM remains a key initiative that brings together our faculty subjects, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. In November, MerchiSTEM took pupils to Paris - a fantastic experience that you can read about in the ‘Trips & Activities’ section. Furthermore, our LVI #DigiInventor Challenge team won the national competition in December with their answer to this year’s design challenge. Looking ahead, we are already planning our next MerchiSTEM trip to Japan in October 2026. MerchiSTEM continues to thrive, and we are eager to see the exciting opportunities the 2025/26 academic year will bring.

This year, we bid a heartfelt farewell to the exceptionally talented Fiona Darling. Mrs Darling has been an invaluable member of the Art Department for well over thirty years, where she has inspired and mentored countless students, helping them to pursue their artistic passions. Her contribution to the Department and the School community has been immeasurable, and her departure will be deeply felt by all. On behalf of the Faculty and pupils, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Mrs Darling for her dedication to the arts, her unwavering commitment to our School, and her lasting impact on the pupils she has worked with. We wish her all the best in her retirementmay it be ﬁlled with new adventures and the conquering of many more mountains!

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

The creative subjects - be it visual, musical, or technological - offer a sanctuary for unity and understanding. Recent events underscore the power of collective creativity in bridging divides; for instance, Kelly Hoppen, renowned interior designer, views music as integral to her design process, often using it to set the mood and inspire creativity, reflecting her belief that "music is design to me". Or in product design, a cyclist who sustained severe facial injuries in an accident has become one of the first patients to receive a 3D-printed facial prosthesis, showcasing the transformative potential of combining art, design, and technology in medical applications. As a Faculty we are embracing the transformative power of the creative subjects to cultivate empathy and collaboration; recent examples of pupil work include designing a handle for a hockey stick that contained biometric equipment that could monitor health and performance or an interchangeable, multifunctional table that can be attached to a chair for those receiving dialysis treatment. At Merchiston, we aim to demonstrate to our students and the broader community that by working together - whether through a shared melody, a collective brushstroke, or a unified design - we can create something greater than the sum of its parts. In this way, the creative subjects serve not only as a reflection of our diverse identities but also as a canvas upon which we can paint a more harmonious and united future.

ART AND DESIGN

It has been a super year of Art & Design at Merchiston. With the launch of this year’s theme, ‘Transformation’, all the students were able to work from the same starting point and transform their ideas into some very diﬀerent outcomes. They took risks, tried new techniques and processes and used new knowledge to inform rigorous investigations and ultimately, make exciting work.

As well as students having the opportunity to join the STEAM trip to Paris, we are fortunate to have many supportive galleries on our doorstep, and this year the students have been out and about. The Shell boys kickstarted their coursework with a visit to the Ade Adesina Exhibition at the Edinburgh Printmakers and their portrait project was informed by a visit to the Portrait Gallery. Our Lower Sixth Formers have also had the opportunity to visit galleries, including ‘Inked up’ at the Fruitmarket and Ibrahim Mahama at the City Art Centre.

Of particular inspiration was time spent with the Artist Robbie Bushe, RSA in his nearby studio, where he insightfully took Fifth Form, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth pupils through his own work processes. It was great to see this coming through in pupil books and our Lower Sixth boys checking in with ﬁnished work at the RSA annual exhibition.

Likewise, links with photographer David Healey and the Edinburgh Photography Society have led us to be able to get our photography darkroom up and running and students have made some exciting starts.

Both Chester and Max in Lower Sixth Form are to be congratulated on rising to Reverend Blair’s January challenge of producing an observed painting of the Memorial Hall, in public and under the time limit of his sermon. This piece inspired Chester to do a few more studies, one of which was shortlisted by the judges for the Atelier Gallery’s Young Emerging Artist Competition. He was pipped at the post by the public vote but,

nevertheless, his piece was well deservedly exhibited at the gallery in April. Well done, Chester!

Art is there to ‘comfort the disturbed’ and ‘disturb the comfortable’ and it has been so impressive this year to see pupils coming out of their comfort zones at times and pushing themselves into the unknown.

The exam candidates made individual journeys. Sikai immersed himself in the cinematic universe to inform both of his major projects, making original work inspired by both the fantastical, imaginary worlds presented to us in ﬁlms but also the visceral attack on our senses and ‘pop’ imagery of the whole experience of going to the cinema.

It was fantastic to see Angus exploring many aspects of the theme by looking at transformative eﬀects of erosion and explosion, both by natural weathering and man-made impact upon our architectural environment. Continuing with his passion for architecture, his ﬁnal project was inspired by internal and external structure.

Isaac set himself a series of challenges: never settling for shortcuts, he developed his own visual language in two major projects based on portraiture, showing intelligent reflection throughout. He made impressive work exploring the transformation of features according to mood and also explored how people style themselves to express different aspects of personality in his final project based on hair.

portfolio took us on an intriguing ride through many contrasting aspects of imagination, mythology, surrealism and storytelling in his explorations based on the fascination and fear of the wild and unknown. His second major project took us to a surreal world inspired by a spider's eye view of the kitchen sink.

Milo’s

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

And last but deﬁnitely not least, our Art & Design prefect, Hamish. His personal investigation examined the use of visual elements to put across, not only the immediate atmosphere of the places along the ‘silk road’, which inspired his work, but also how Art can express a sense of time and history.

His ﬁnal work experimented not only with the use of golden spiral in abstract composition but also investigates how we respond to and move around in architectural space. What an apt project for a student with a future in the world of architecture and design!

Not only did he lead the way in terms of ambition, hard work, rigour and scale, he always took the time to mentor the younger students on their own journeys, interested in their work and ideas and encouraging them along. He has set a great example as he hands over to Max and Chester as prefects this year.

This year it is with some sadness say goodbye to Mrs Darling: she has been in this department for well over thirty years and, although there will be a bigger article elsewhere in the magazine, it is worth mentioning here of the impact she has made. Not only has she sown the seed for our future junior artists, with her energy and technical skills, she is known and loved by all of the students throughout the Art Department, where her input has been invaluable. We wish her a rich and full retirement. Thank you!

COMPUTING DEPARTMENT

The academic year 2024-25 has seen the introduction of Higher Computing, oﬀering a wider range of experience for pupils who want to study Computing beyond GCSE. This is quite diﬀerent from the A Level in that the Higher does not include a self-directed project - rather there is prescribed coursework to be completed. The emphasis is also less on programming throughout.

The A Level cohort has again produced an outstanding range of projects. We compare favourably nationally in our outcomes for this area, and again the boys have not disappointed! Highlights from this year include a Rubik’s Cube solver, a Chess game with options for 2 players, or a basic AI opponent, a graphical calculator, and a Chrome extension for detecting AI plagiarism in Google Docs.

DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Junior Years

In the Junior Years (1st to 3rd Forms), students laid the foundation for future success by developing essential skills in Design and Technology. The year began with a focus on enhancing their drawing and visual communication abilities, helping them learn how to effectively express design ideas on paper. They were also introduced to computer-aided design (CAD), where they used modelling software to create and 3D print their own LEGO-style keychains; an engaging way to connect digital design with real-world results. In the workshop, students developed their practical skills through hands-on making, constructing a range of animal-inspired desk tidies. These imaginative creations were not only functionally designed to help organise their school supplies, but also allowed our students to inject personality and creativity into the final outcome. This combination of sketching, digital modelling, and practical skills gave our youngest designers a strong and confident start in the course.

Middle Years

In the Middle Years, students began to take on more ambitious projects that combined practical craft skills with deeper theoretical understanding and design thinking. Our 4th Formers spent the ﬁrst part of the year reﬁning their workshop skills, learning to use both hand tools and machinery with increasing precision. Their hard work culminated in the creation of custom-designed sweet

dispensers that were beautifully made, functional, and a huge hit when they got to take them home. Building on this momentum, they then turned their attention to digital design, using 3D CAD software to explore the concept of energy through a project that challenged them to create elastic wind-up toy race cars. This not only pushed their technical abilities but also encouraged them to think creatively about how motion and energy interact.

Our Shell year students began the ﬁrst stage of their twoyear GCSE course with a project focused on the iterative design process. Tasked with creating a children’s puzzle, they learned how to carry out meaningful research, respond to a design brief, and develop ideas into a ﬁnal product that met the needs of their primary user. This project laid the groundwork for the independent thinking and problem-solving skills they will need as they begin their GCSE Non-Exam Assignment (NEA).

Meanwhile, our 5th Form students have been fully immersed in this process over the past year, which challenged them to take full ownership of the design process from concept to creation. In response to this year’s OCR design contexts - Reducing Waste, Saving Money in Households, and Reinventing the High Street Environment - our students produced a diverse range of innovative outcomes. From waste management stations to food preservation containers and pop-up social spaces, each project reﬂected a strong personal engagement with the brief and a high level of design thinking. The NEA not only tested their ability to research, plan, prototype and evaluate, but also encouraged them to approach problemsolving with independence, purpose, and innovation.

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

Senior Years

In the Senior years, students took their design thinking to a more advanced and refined level, engaging with realworld problems and the demands of commercial design. Our Lower Sixth Form (LVI) began the first stages of their two-year A Level Product Design course by deepening their understanding of design considerations and the iterative design process beyond GCSE level. They also developed their knowledge of commercial manufacturing through a focused project centred on the safe storage of keys and strategies to prevent key loss. This project was designed to educate the boys on how to effectively apply design sketching, physical modelling, and rapid prototyping techniques using the Department’s laser cutter, enabling them to iteratively develop and test their ideas.

The Design Technology and Engineering Department continues to oﬀer an array of learning enhancing excursions. In June, the Lower 6th class attended the Scottish Makers Exhibition at Dalkeith Palace. The event featured a wide range of furniture, sculpture and woodworks from both established and emerging designer-

makers. Our Lower 6th Product Designers spent time analysing these products and using them for inspiration for their own NEA; chatting to the designers was a highlight for many of the boys, especially those considering Design in further education. The day was rounded oﬀ by a trip to IKEA for further product analysis and, of course, a trip to the restaurant for lunch!

Meanwhile, our Upper 6th Form students dedicated the ﬁnal year to completing their A Level NEA assessment; an extended and independently-led design project. The outcomes this year were both diverse and highly impressive, demonstrating technical skill, creativity, and a thorough understanding of the end user’s wants and needs. Final products included a medical installation to support dialysis patients, a bespoke workshop tool storage solution, and a thoughtfully designed pet accessory unit, amongst many others. Each project represented not just a response to a brief, but a meaningful attempt to solve genuine user problems through intelligent, well-crafted design.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Early Years

In the Junior Years (1st to 3rd Forms), students lay the foundations to be able to listen to, perform and compose music throughout their school careers. Students in the 1st Form study Grade One theory, learn to read scores and apply this to basic keyboard pieces and easy guitar, which they performed for parents in the Junior School’s Concert. Towards the end of term, the class wrote, recorded and performed their own Christmas song, The Spirit of Christmas, which raised a whopping £200 for Edinburgh Food Project. In the second and third terms, students develop skills in improvisation, play African drums and perform their own choice of songs and participate in the Junior School Battle of the Bands, developing skills in group performance.

The 2nd and 3rd Forms build on these skills, listening to, performing and composing Film Music, Reggae, Jazz and Blues and selecting their own Christmas songs and popular music for public performance.

Middle Years

Students in the 4th Form start their musical journey in South America, exploring the instruments, rhythms and songs of Salsa, performing and improvising in a range of pieces. They compose their own arrangements of polyrhythms before performing Christmas music at the Middle Years Christmas meal. In the Lent and Summer Terms, they learn about beat-making and compose and

perform raps for their very own Rap Battle, with this year’s winners performing an intelligent, satirical rap about the glories of eating toast. Finally, in the Summer Term, students choose their own music to perform. This year's choices included Kendrick Lamar, Mojo and NIna Simone.

Sixth Form

Students in the Sixth Form compose, listen to a wide range of styles, and perform recitals of between 12 and 18 minutes. In the Lower Sixth, Gabriel composed a piece for the School’s Jazz Band entitled Good Question, which was performed at the Lent Term concert and the Prizegiving BBQ. Freddie P wrote his third song whilst at School - a descriptive piece in the style of Sufjin Stevens.

In the Upper Sixth, Yarema Y composed a jazz serialist fusion, whilst embarking on recording his second album, a 13-track wonder piece, with songs in Ukrainian and English, instrumentals and experimental music - a truly wonderful and unique achievement and the ﬁrst time a student has successfully recorded an album by himself. Finally, Erik S, who has delighted audiences of parents and pupils in Whole School concerts with his piano playing, performed a beautiful piano recital of Schumann and Chopin which was received favourably from the visiting examiner, who described his listening experience as “a delight”.

Florence Donaldson, Head of the Faculty of Technologies and Creative Arts

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics at Merchiston: A Year of Achievement and Growth

It has been a productive and exciting year in Mathematics, with much happening beyond the standard curriculum. Clinic attendance has been excellent, and we have been thrilled to see meaningful progress from so many students. Particularly pleasing was the number of pupils who opted to continue their mathematical journey into the Sixth Form, following some truly outstanding GCSE results.

As in previous years, a large number of students across Pringle, the Middle Years, and the Sixth Form participated in their respective UKMT Mathematical Challenges. In the Senior Maths Challenge, 28 students earned certiﬁcates — a fantastic achievement. Sam Y was awarded Best in School, with David D (V Form), Philip G (LVI), Fudail F, Teiyoon K, and James S achieving Gold Awards.

We were especially impressed by the number of V Form pupils who chose to enter this challenge, which is typically

aimed at Sixth Form students — and even more so by the fact that every one of them earned a certiﬁcate. In the follow-up round, most students opted for the prestigious British Mathematical Olympiad over the Kangaroo. While the Olympiad proved very demanding, it was undoubtedly a valuable experience that sharpened their problem-solving skills.

In the Lent Term, Alasdair L, Kadyn P, and Xander M-B achieved Gold Awards in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, with many more students earning Silver and Bronze Awards. Kadyn P went on to secure a Gold Medal — the highest accolade — in the second round of the competition. Reﬂecting on the experience, Kadyn said:

“The questions were quite tricky and interesting, and I loved how they made me have to think about and solve questions in completely new ways to me.”

Alasdair L also qualiﬁed for the next round but was unfortunately unable to take part, as he was representing the West of Scotland in a tennis tournament that day.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Maths Challenge, Oju F — still only in Second Form — earned a Gold Award and was named Best in School. A tremendous accomplishment!

In March, we celebrated Pi Day with a variety of activities across all year groups. Pupils calculated π using the method of limits, solved number puzzles to complete a Pi mosaic, and even built a Pi skyline. There were also, of course, some wonderfully terrible Pi jokes — such as:

What is a mathematician’s favourite type of snake?

A pi-thon.

As the academic year draws to a close, we bid farewell to two valued members of the Mathematics Department.

Dr Naomi Steen, after eleven years at Merchiston — including four years as Head of Department — will be leaving us. Naomi joined as a relatively new teacher and has since become an inspiring leader, deeply committed to both her subject and her students. Her passion for Mathematics and her exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas have beneﬁtted so many students. Naomi has also supported the wider School community, contributing to drama productions and serving as a resident house tutor. She leaves to spend more time with her family and pursue some part-time teaching, and she will be greatly missed by staﬀ and students alike.

Also moving on is Mr Alan Potts. Though only with us for just over a year, Alan has made a strong impact. His

Junior UKMT Certiﬁcate Winners

enthusiasm for encouraging students to think deeply about the core concepts of Mathematics has been greatly appreciated. A keen cyclist, he has entertained us with many stories and played an active role in the Merchiston Cycling Club. Alan is joining St George’s School in September, and we hope he will keep in touch.

Taking over as Head of Department in September is Mr Craig Walker. Craig joins us from ESMS, where he has taught across all year groups and served as Head of Mathematics at Stewart’s Melville College for the past ﬁve years. He is also a Principal Assessor for Advanced Higher Mathematics. Outside the classroom, he coaches cricket and football and is a keen quizzer. We are excited to welcome him to Merchiston.

It has undoubtedly been a busy year, but an immensely rewarding one — ﬁlled with growth, achievement, and plenty of mathematical fun. We look forward to another inspiring year ahead!.

Sarah Pearson, Head of Mathematics

Third Form students participating in Pi Day

LVI Participating in Pi Day

PSHE AND LIFE SKILLS

PSHE and Life Skills are subjects that, although they are not formally assessed, are absolutely vital to the development of young minds. In the past year, the value of providing pupils with opportunities to reﬂect, discuss and engage with real-life topics could not have been more important.

Providing a slightly less formal space for pupils where they feel comfortable to talk openly, learn about, and debate the topics at hand is vital. These lessons, in partnership with excellent work across the whole School, help to tie much of the Merchiston boy’s School life together. We continue to work closely with Mr Greenwood (Careers Co-ordinator) and Ms Williams (Skills Co-ordinator) to provide high quality opportunities for our pupils to develop both their academic and social skills. Our aim is to foster young adults ready to meet the challenges of life outside Merchiston Castle with conﬁdence and dignity.

Visiting speakers

We have been lucky to have a variety of excellent guest speakers for both pupils and parents, including:

• Leonie Griﬃn and Catriona Scott of the Stewart Ivory Educational Trust, who ran online ﬁnancial workshops for the Sixth Form.

• Emma Cole returned to Merchiston in November in order to speak with the Shell boys about her experience of being HIV positive and on the topic of HIV and AIDS awareness more generally. Her frank, thought provoking and entertaining delivery was very engaging.

• As part of LVI Life Skills, we partnered with the Medical Centre to provide the pupils with a 4-week basic Life Support course. This covered the basics of CPR and also moved them on to the treatment and management of both minor and major injuries. Many thanks to Mrs Fallowﬁeld for her instrumental support in this.

Youth Philanthropy Initiative

Over the course of this year, the Fourth Form boys have been working hard in small groups to select and contact local charities, and to present their chosen organisation to a panel of judges and pitch for a cheque for £3000. This culminated in June, when all groups made their pitches and were judged on a variety of criteria such as engagement, impact, passion, presentation skills and creativity. It was a hard-fought battle and all groups put forward a compelling case for a whole range of very worthy charities.

The ﬁnal winners were Dominick, Euan and Monty, who put forward a highly persuasive case for supporting Andy’s Man Club, an organisation which seeks to provide spaces for men to meet and discuss their mental health.

The importance of the topics and issues investigated in PSHE & Life Skills are central to the development of fully

rounded young adults. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our fantastic PSHE & Life Skills teachers for their commitment to putting their pupils at the heart of their practice.

Stuart Buchanan, Head of PSHE

SCIENCE FACULTY

This year was another busy one, not only within the laboratories of Gibson House but also outside the traditional Science classroom.

We continue to embellish our core A Level oﬀering for senior students with various trips, external competitions and additional activities. In June, the Lower 6th Biology cohort visited Edinburgh Zoo to learn about primate behaviour. We enjoyed an informative presentation followed by a Q&A session. The boys were given a guided tour of the monkeys and apes to see examples of what they had just learned in the classroom, proving an invaluable experience to extend their learning experience beyond the classroom. We again ran our annual forensic DNA day with UVI Form Biologists - using our own PCR machine to amplify DNA, then running it through gel electrophoresis and viewing it using our UV light to determine which suspect committed the crime.

Not all trips went to plan this year as, unfortunately, our annual Physics trip to CERN was cancelled at the last minute by Storm Éowyn, which grounded all ﬂights leaving

from Edinburgh Airport. The boys did manage to ﬁnd out more about the work of CERN in a dedicated webinar given by Dr Alexis Kalogeropoulos, which aﬀorded a small amount of compensation for the planned visit to the chocolate factory (!).

Competition entry remains high across the Sciences for those taking A Level. The Biology Olympiad, two Chemistry competitions (C3L6 and RSC Olympiad) and the British Physics Olympiad all enjoyed strong participation, with some excellent results and Silver and Gold certiﬁcates achieved by several of our students. Of particular note in these competitions was Adam H’s performance. He achieved a Gold certiﬁcate in all Science competitions (despite not even studying Biology!). In the Physics competition, he progressed to round 2 in the selection for the British Olympiad team and placed in the top 1% of physicists in the UK - a superb achievement!

Continuing with science-related subjects beyond School remains a popular choice for pupils at Merchiston. Throughout the Faculty, we have supported students

through the UCAS process choosing to pursue pure Science degrees, Engineering and Medicine, as well as related degree areas such as Sports Science.

Lower down the School, high uptake of Science in the Middle Years continues. Much improvement has been made across the Faculty to our traditional learning and teaching resources. Chemistry IGCSE booklets have been revamped and the boys really enjoy the independent learning opportunities these resources oﬀer. The Physics Department has made good use of Isaac Physics to provide an additional resource for boys. Practical work is always to the fore. Supported by our able technicians, Kelly Ryan and Ilenia Ciani, 4th Form biologists have tried their hand at bread and yoghurt-making with a good degree of success. The boys were fascinated to learn how useful microbes have been used for thousands of years in food production. In Electronics, this year saw a major revamp to the 4th Form curriculum, with them undertaking large-scale electronics building project, “THE CUBE”, a radio/Bluetooth speaker and alarm clock. Dr Mayoh, with the support of the technicians, completely developed and designed this formidable project from the ground up.

The outdoor classroom has played host to several sessions for the 3rd and 4th Form classes, where the boys have tried out sampling techniques using quadrats and pitfall traps. Sampling the pond provided living specimens for observation, including leeches, ﬂatworms and pond snails.

We had a successful year with the robotics activities that form part of our co-curricular oﬀering in the Faculty. Our

junior robotics team entered the First Lego League Submerged season and competed successfully at Fife College against teams from across Scotland. The senior robotics team entered the High Stakes VEX V5 competition, competing at New College Lanarkshire and at the National Robotarium. They narrowly missed out on progressing to the national ﬁnals.

Last year's visit to the Royal Highland Show was such a success that we revisited this year with the 4th Form. The ever-popular Cosmos Planetarium visit continued this year, with boys from J4 to Upper 6th Forms taking part in amazing shows and learning more about the past, present, and future of space exploration.

And ﬁnally, as the Forest School has opened this year, we have enjoyed supporting our younger learners from the outset of their Science education. Specialist Science staﬀ have delivered weekly lessons to the P1-3 pupils and also delivered after-school Science clubs. This has been a whole new experience for our teachers and it has been a pleasure to witness the 6th Form prefects assisting with these (very) junior classes and enjoying the experience! Mr Greenwood even braved the cold to deliver two sessions to the Nursery!

This year sees the departure of James Mayoh, who has been an invaluable member of the Faculty for the eight years he has worked at Merchiston. He will be sorely missed from the Physics Department. James joined the Department in 2017 and has been the Lead Teacher of Physics and Electronics for the past three years.

Robin Greenwood, Lead Teacher of Chemistry

THE PRINGLE CENTRE

It has been a remarkable year for our youngest 'Pringle Centre' boys – one full of adventure, discovery, kindness and quiet achievement. Our boys have truly thrived, each of them supported by an individualised programme of learning and activities designed to meet their unique needs and aspirations. With smaller numbers, we have been able to personalise every part of the boys’ day, oﬀering them the time and space to develop conﬁdence, skills and independence at their own pace.

At the heart of everything we do in Pringle is our core value: kindness. This has been beautifully lived out by the boys, not in grand gestures, but in the everyday moments that build a strong and caring community. It’s been a joy to witness small acts of kindness – a boy sharing his stationery without being asked, another waiting patiently for a friend to ﬁnish getting changed, or inviting someone into a game to make sure no one feels left out. These small things are the foundation of the respectful and inclusive

culture we continue to build.

This year’s learning has extended far beyond the classroom walls. Our calendar has been packed with trips that have brought topics to life and created experiences the boys will remember for years to come. A visit to Edinburgh Castle was a particular highlight – standing in the shadow of the ancient ramparts, seeing the Crown Jewels up close, and hearing the One O’Clock Gun brought history into sharp, exciting focus.

The visit to the Lady Haig Poppy Factory was both moving and meaningful. The boys had the chance to meet ex-servicemen, hear their stories and see how poppies are made by hand. It was a moment of reﬂection, gratitude, and connection to a wider national story of service and remembrance.

Our cultural experiences continued with a trip to The Snow Queen at The Lyceum, where the boys were captivated by the storytelling and stagecraft. Meanwhile, a

visit to the Scottish Parliament gave them the chance to explore their learning on democracy and the importance of having their voices heard. Linking education to real-life contexts has been a key part of this year’s approach, and nowhere was this more evident than at Dynamic Earth, where a hands-on workshop on the journey through space and the centre of the earth sparked awe and curiosity in equal measure. A trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse gave History new relevance as the boys explored the world of Mary Queen of Scots, and delved into the story of David Rizzio’s murder – bringing their Tudor and Stuart studies to life. These moments outside of School help to embed learning in rich, real experiences, and the boys have engaged with enthusiasm and maturity.

Charity has once again been a strong theme. The boys threw themselves into our Christmas Charity Fun Run –dressed in festive costumes, of course – and took part in a sponsored walk along the Water of Leith. Their creativity also came to the fore in a particularly proud moment: our First Form band, The Christmas Crackers, released a charity single which raised funds and awareness while earning airtime on the radio – a true celebration of what can

happen when conﬁdence and creativity meet a cause worth supporting.

As the year drew to a close, we celebrated with some unforgettable outdoor experiences. Our Wild Outdoors Camp was a wonderful finale: boys went paddle-boarding, learned bushcraft skills, climbed trees, built dens, cooked over an open fire, and camped under the stars. It was everything childhood should be – adventurous, joyful, and shared with friends! A day at Yellowcraig Beach added the final splash of seaside fun, complete with ball games, sandcastles and exploring the dunes.

Looking back, it is hard not to feel an immense sense of pride in what the boys have achieved this year. They have grown into conﬁdent young men, shown resilience and curiosity, and brought a generous spirit to everything they have done. Whether in the classroom, on stage, or paddling across a loch, they have approached every opportunity with energy and a smile. We are so proud of them – and excited for all that lies ahead.

Claire Haston, Primary Teacher

CHAPLAINCY

CHAPLAINCY REPORT 2024-25

When I began working here in 2004, I never dreamt or thought that I would be writing a twenty-ﬁrst Chaplaincy report. 21 - the traditional age of maturity! Am I now a mature Chaplain?!

Chaplaincy, like teaching, is a seed-planting ministry or calling: you sow what you hope and pray are seeds of insight or wisdom, and hope and pray again that they will take root. Fiona (my wife) and I have been very blessed to have been around long enough to see some of those seeds take root.

Our guiding verse throughout our marriage and ministry has been Philippians 1, verse 6: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it”. I share this with our pupils often, because I believe that our lives are not just our own work, but the work and inﬂuence of many others and, ultimately, I believe, God’s work.

Community is in Merchiston’s DNA. I see it time and time again - it is a very precious thing. One of the essential expressions of the Merchiston community are the Sunday Whole School Services

Our Harvest Festival Service was a classic case in point. Our Rugby Tour had gone to South Africa in the summer of 2024 and, as part of this, had raised funds for projects in Langa, a township outside Cape Town. The boys raised over £25,000 to rebuild houses in the township, and at Harvest, we had a live link with ‘MC’, our guide in South Africa and link with all of this – it was humbling, inspiring and motivating in equal measure. We are going back to do more in 2026.

Our Remembrance Service is perhaps our biggest community service and so vital, as it links pupils past and present in a joint Act of Remembrance. A full account of this service is printed in the “Events” section of this magazine.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols took place, as usual, on the ﬁnal Sunday of the Autumn Term. Mr Dennis had the choir trained to perfection, and, combined with the quality of the readers, it made for an enchanting end of term experience, which was appreciated by the boys and the large number of parents attending, along with those who watched the service online.

Chaplain’s Curry Night

The Prefects’ Service took place in March. As I said before, I have been here for two decades, and this was without doubt one of the very best prepared and delivered Prefects’ Services in my time here. The Prefects took as their theme “From Failure to Success”. Archie C led a beautifully balanced service, which ﬂowed from “What is failure?” to “Managing Failure”, pivoting around “The Turn to Success”, and ﬁnishing with “Achieving Success”. It was a thoughtprovoking and inspiring service, led by the leaders not just of tomorrow, but today.

Some other seed-sowing highlights include -

Assemblies: Junior, Middle, Senior and Whole School: 96 assemblies in total with the over-arching themes of “One Anothering”, “Livewell”, and “The Power of Pause”, along with another 16+ Sunday Evening Services.

Chaplain’s Curry Nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays): about 45 different nights, and 100+ different boys attended at some point. There were over 750 individual pupil visits this year made to our home, which is a record. These are a mixture of food, faith and fun, and have proved amazingly popular. These are voluntary and offered free in our house (Me casa es tu casa) to the boys. Over twenty years, we reckon that figure is close to 10,000 individual pupil visits to our family home on site - seeds sown.

Lent Term Messages: these are Biblical-themed daily emails oﬀered through Lent. 467 Pupils, Staﬀ, Parents and Merchistonians and those from the local community voluntarily signed up - the largest number ever. This year’s theme was a challenge to learn a Biblical playlist.

And the seeds we hope have been sown? - some basic life rules, Biblical ones, we believe:

• Find a community, build a community - no-one is an island;

• Truth and integrity beat lies and deception every timeeven if it is diﬃcult;

• Take a joy in giving - because you have been given so much;

• And, in as far as it is up to you, journey through life with the intention to be a blessing to others;

• Always know that you are unique and precious to the One who made you;

• (And in all of this, ....) never be afraid to call upon God’s strength and help, because even if you are at the moment turned away from Him, He is always facing towards you!

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it – Philippians 1, verse 6.

Rev Nick Blair, Chaplain

Okke presents Enno with his Chaplain's Curry Club tie - awarded for 10 attendances

CHARITY

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CHARITY SUPPORT

When we say the word “community” at Merchiston, we are thinking not only of our own School family, but also of our place in, and involvement with, the community outside the School walls.

For many years, we have been involved in Community Outreach or Service on Wednesday afternoons. This is open to pupils in V Form and above, and in 2024-25 they were able to choose from four placements, which were:

• Rugby Coaching Primary 5-7 at Longstone Primary;

• Mentoring and Buddying at both Longstone and Colinton Primary;

• Helping with activities in Redhall Special School;

• Helping in the Classroom at Braidburn Special School.

Pupils are suitably trained for and supervised in their roles and each of the thirty pupils involved, without exception, said that they had learnt and been given more that they had taught or contributed. Here are some pupil comments:

“It is totally worth it… would completely recommend…. gives you a sense of fulﬁlment as well, as is always good to have on a CV or personal statement, which gets important once you get to the Lower VI.” - Will, LVI

“I enjoyed the feel of being a buddy with the kids as I got to feel a part of their weekly lives and I was able to make them feel happy. I also liked the sports games we did because of the inclusion aspect.” - Ewan, V Form

“I learnt to always keep a positive attitude and make sure you are ‘buying in’. You make sure that every child is doing it and not just sitting watching, as it makes them feel included and appreciated too.” - Archie, V Form

Charity fundraising and support

We believe that Leadership involves Service before self and that we have received in order to give…. whether that be of time, talents or ﬁnancially.

Here are just some of the charities and charity events that we have been involved with in 2024/25:

The ﬁnancing and rebuilding of three houses in Langa Township, Cape Town, South Africa, as part of the 2024 rugby tour. The tour raised over £20,000 towards projects in Langa. We hope to return in 2026.

Laidlaw North did an incredible ‘virtual row’, raising funds for Euan's Guide, an exceptional charity very close to our hearts at Merchiston. Before After

The ‘virtual row’, from Portsmouth to the beaches of Normandy, took place over the afternoon and evening of Remembrance Sunday. The full 170km course was completed with a tag team of eager participants.

Pringle boys took part in a 24-hour football game on the lawn outside the Rogerson Quad in aid of CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland). The boys took it in turns throughout, from 5pm Thursday to 5pm on Friday, to keep the game going, with the support of staﬀ and pupils throughout the day. Overnight, they got to play with the atmospheric background of a full moon and the Pentland Hills.

As every year, the festive period is a time when we come together as a School and take part in a variety of diﬀerent

fundraisers, which very much involve the wider community of staﬀ, parents and alumni.

In the context of our Christmas Fair, we again supported all of the incredible work carried out by the Edinburgh Food Project. The annual food drive raised a whopping 446.6kg of food donations, which went a long way towards helping the most vulnerable during the festive season and beyond. Alongside the food drive, we also saw our First Form pupils setting up their own fundraiser for the same charity, by releasing their very own Christmas song, The Spirit of Christmas. The boys have exceeded their own target by a long way, raising over £1,000 for the foodbank.

Our annual Advent Carol Service raised donations in support of another important local charity, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital. Collections from the service raised £610.30 and a further £440 were donated via the digital fundraising page, bringing the total to £1,050.30. A spokesperson for the charity commented:

‘To put things in perspective, it costs us roughly £1,000 in total to cover the expenses of our entire wellbeing service for a day. This includes everything from our youth team to performers, therapists, toys, and supplies.’

Rev Nick Blair, Chaplain

FUND-RAISING FOR THE LANGA TOWNSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

In the course of the run-up to the rugby tour to South Africa in August 2024, which is reported on in the “Trips and Activities” section of this magazine, the staﬀ and pupils involved formed a fund-raising connection with the Langa township, both as a result of previous tour visits there, and because of the fact that MC, the tour company representative accompanying the 2024 tour party throughout the trip, came from there. Numerous fundraising activities were planned, which raised £20,000. Whilst on their tour, the boys cemented the link with a visit to the Langa township, which provided lasting memories. With the link now ﬁrmly established, Merchiston’s support for Langa will continue.

At the Harvest Festival service in October 2024, Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby, spoke about the link with the

Langa township:

“The Langa township is now very dear to our hearts. My personal memories of and reﬂections on the Langa township are that many of its families have nothing, only the bare minimum needed to survive – yet they are happy in their lives and treat everyone with the utmost respect. They all accept what they are facing and support each other to make the most of every opportunity. A family of 4-6 lives in a shipping container, a quarter the size of a Laidlaw room. They make every little space work for them and again are grateful for just a roof over their heads to stay dry. There are countless adults living in the township, ranging in age from 30 to 70, who cannot aﬀord to buy any food, have no job, and merely survive day by day. Everyone in Langa has a story to tell and it was hard to understand

how this way of life is even possible in today’s world. They could easily make excuses, but they don’t: they roll up their sleeves and move forward.

I am very grateful that we all experienced Langa as it certainly gives you a reality check and makes you realise how lucky we all are. If I am having a bad day, I think back to the families in Langa who manage to maintain a positive outlook in the face of hardship.

We managed to raise an incredible £20,000 through many fund-raising initiatives, for which huge thanks go to the boys, parents and staff involved. This money will be used to start rebuilding homes in Langa which were destroyed by fire two years ago. The South African Government is not supporting these families, so our Merchiston community is doing so. We managed to meet the families we will be supporting and our plan is to return to visit in two years to meet the families in their new homes. Our goal in the selection of a fund-raising project was to find a meaningful project to support: this project is everything that we were looking for and we are very happy that we are making an immediate life-changing impact with our Langa families. We are not stopping at £20,000: we are going to keep this project open until we return in two years, with the aim of providing the funds to rebuild as many houses as possible.”

And Lyall R (Upper VI) writes below about the visit to Langa from the pupils’ viewpoint:

“On arrival at the Langa township, we were greeted warmly and graciously by the local rugby team. Despite their limited resources, we could see their passion for the sport and the pride in their club’s history. We had the privilege of taking bags of kit for them that we had gathered before our trip, hoping to give their younger teams a chance to play in matching gear. It was a small gesture, but the gratitude they showed us was overwhelming.

We were then given a guided tour of the township, and, as we walked through, the harsh reality of their daily lives quickly set in. It was hard to miss the stark contrast between their living conditions and our own, that we all so easily take for granted. The cramped shipping containers, housing families of four or more, and the lack of basic sanitation where food is prepared were truly sobering sights. It was impossible not to realise how much we take for granted in our own lives. The privileges that we enjoy every day became so clear, and in that moment, I could not help but feel sadness for the way these amazing people are forced to live.

What has stuck with all of us who went on the trip, however, was the fact that even though these people are

faced with some of the toughest living conditions on a daily basis, they are still the most kind, happy, generous, lively, and loving people we have ever met. Everywhere we went, we saw children with the biggest smiles on their faces waving to us, and people sitting together outside their houses enjoying a conversation. It was incredible to see how these people refuse to let their challenging living conditions become an excuse for negativity, instead embracing kindness and positivity - this is deﬁnitely something that we can all learn from them! They showed us that diﬃcult circumstances are not an excuse to lose hope or abandon kindness.

The people of Langa reminded us that happiness is not about material wealth, but rather about how we treat each other, how we come together as a community, and how we ﬁnd light even in the darkest of situations. It is hard not to feel guilty as we witness such tough conditions; however, Langa has shown us how much we all have to be grateful for as we put our lives and our worries into perspective, and I know I speak for everyone who went on the tour when I say that we are so incredibly grateful to the community in Langa for welcoming us so openly and amicably and for changing our lives.”

MUSIC

MUSIC REVIEW 2024-25

Hans Christian Anderson once said: “Where words fail, music speaks". So, whilst I attempt to summarise my favourite year of music at Merchiston to-date, I hope that, when reading this, it brings back memories for the performers, teachers and audience members involved that made this year so special.

The Autumn Term kicked oﬀ in usual fashion with a series of teatime concerts, for students to develop their performance skills and practise for Whole School concerts and competitions, without the pressure of a large audience. It was a delight to see so many new faces playing at a range of diﬀerent levels, exploring so many styles and instruments. The Merchiston Juniors’ concert, with performances from the First Form guitar group, J4/5 recorder group and Junior pipes, was a particular highlight.

As the Autumn Term gathered momentum, it was time for the November Choral and Instrumental Concert. This was an excellent evening of music, with strong performances from every ensemble, particularly the Close Harmony Group and Wind Band. It was great too to see the return of the School Ceilidh Band. Ensemble items were interspersed with some truly wonderful solos - in particular, Erik S’s performance of Ming Ming Jiu by Jay Chou on the

and Alan T’s performance of Prelude in C Sharp Minor, particularly after he had spent the day in the Medical Department after contracting the latest stomach bug to plague the School!

Prior to this concert, the Chapel Choir had performed admirably at our Harvest Festival and Service of Remembrance, before beginning work on the Carol Service, which was held on Sunday 8 December in a packed Memorial Hall. This was a particularly lovely evening of music, with a fantastic solo from Angus D, strong performances from the Close Harmony Group, and some excellent carols and anthems from the Choir. In my sixteen years at Merchiston, I cannot remember a better Carol Service - thanks for this must go to each individual member of the Choir, who tirelessly rehearse week in, week out.

If the first term had any more to give, it had to be rock music, with junior and senior bands performing at the Christmas meals. The Sixth Form band of Yarema Y, George A, Yuqi C, Chester Y and Jad B brought the house down on both occasions. The final day of term included a Junior School ‘elf run’, but just before this, every pupil in the Junior School performed Christmas songs in a classroom band to round off both a fun, and highly successful musical first term.

piano,

After a traditional ﬁrst term for the Chapel Choir, the pupils were delighted to switch genres and build a new sound, culminating in their Lent Term performance of ABBA. Before this, the Department visited two care homes in Colinton, Old Farm Court and Davidson House, where the pupils’ performances were enjoyed by residents, in particular Aziz R’s performance of a Bossa Nova on the ﬂute and Freddie P’s performance of Take me to Church by Hoozier.

As the term picked up pace, the Department held its annual Ogilvie Bowl Competition for Popular Music on Thursday 20 March. The evening was adjudicated by Mr Alasdair Parkinson, a jazz guitarist and composer. Fourteen contestants performed a range of popular, jazz and traditional music. The standard of performance was extremely high, probably the highest in my time at the School. The winners were as follows: in third place, performing RES by Cardiacs on the electric guitar, was Yarema Y; in second place, playing Schism by Tool on the drum-kit, was Jad B; and in ﬁrst place, Chester Y performed Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne on the electric guitar.

Merchiston is certainly a busy School where many activities take place, sometimes at the same time, and with so many boys away in national Sevens tournaments, it was decided that the Forbes Bowl, McLeod Cup and the Lent Term Concert would be held on the same day, Tuesday 25 March, creating a musical mega-day!

The Forbes Bowl and McLeod Cup Competitions were adjudicated by Nick Gleed, former Director of Music at Bedales School, who gave some insightful comments to the participants. The McLeod Cup is for students in the Fourth and Shell Forms, and the Forbes Bowl is for students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms. The standard of performance was high throughout the competition. In the McLeod Cup, Horace S was placed third, Evan M second and Aziz R was placed ﬁrst for his performance on the piano of Elegy for the Arctic by Ludovico Einaudi. In the Forbes Bowl, Quinton W was placed third, Adrian W second, and the competition was won by Erik S, who performed Chopin’s Nocturne in B Flat Minor

With just ﬁfteen minutes to spare, the Memorial Hall was transformed for the Whole School Lent Term Concert, with

performances from the Close Harmony Group (arguably, their finest in my time), Wind Band, Jazz Band (which performed our first student composition for an ensemble, Good Question by Gabriel P), and soloists, Adrian W, Erik S and Chester Y. However, in my opinion, the show was stolen by the Chapel Choir, which performed, largely from memory, Does Your Mother Know, Dancing Queen, Super Trooper and Mama Mia, to round off a wonderful day of music. The performance of the Ceilidh band was particularly enjoyable, but bittersweet, as it was Ms Blain’s final performance at the School, who has taught violin with us for many years.

With the breadth and quantity of music performed in the first two terms, the final term’s Prizegiving and Commemoration BBQ was an opportunity for the School’s Close Harmony Group and other ensembles to perform to parents, with some original music, composed by Yarema Y, performed by the ever-awesome Lower Sixth band, a staff band, led by Freddie P, with Sam B on the piano and a Junior School band. The musical year began with Merchiston Juniors and it finished with the Junior Music Cup, an excellent afternoon of performances, adjudicated by our School organist and former Head of Music, David Turner. With strong performances from all pupils, the winner on this occasion was Oju F, with a splendid performance of Norwegian Dance on the oboe. Second place was awarded to Rohan M for his performance of L’orange by Burgmuller on the piano, and third place was awarded to Francis B, for his captivating performance of Prelude 15 in G Major by JS Bach.

This was, in many ways, one of my favourite years of music-making at Merchiston to date, and thanks must go to our instrumental teachers, Mr Turner, the School’s organist, and to our pupils for their tireless work and dedication. In particular, I would like to express my thanks to this year’s Upper Sixth musicians for their many years of service: Nathan C, Ali J, Erik S, Adrian W, Sam Y, Cliﬀ Z, Adam M, and last and most of all to Lyall R, for his commitment to choral music, the Wind and Jazz Bands, and to music in general during his time here.

Stephen Dennis, Director of Music

PIPES AND DRUMS 2024-25

The Merchiston Pipes and Drums have once again had a very busy and successful year. Standout highlights include a rocking performance on stage with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, as well as achieving sustained competition success across the School year, culminating in winning the CCF Pipe Band Championships Junior Grade. We also maintain our strong pupil engagement, with the number of boys involved in the Pipe Band programme reaching over 20% of the School roll.

I have previously described the Autumn Term as ‘preseason’ for the Pipe Band. In a competitive sense, this is the time of year to learn new music, improve skillsets and manage squads, as players move up to the Development Pipe Band and others move up to the Firsts Pipe Band, replacing the senior boys who left the previous school year. At the same time, the Pipe Band ﬁnds itself very active with performances in this term, with a total of eighteen performances, ranging from solo pipers and mini-bands to our full Pipe Band.

A highlight of the Autumn Term once again was the Merchiston Castle School Ceilidh, hosted by the Pipe Band. In what is now an annual ﬁxture in the School calendar, the

Ceilidh brought School families together for a fun evening of music and dance. Money raised through the Ceilidh continues to help signiﬁcantly with the upgrade of uniform and instruments as the Pipe Band grows in size and stature. Anecdotally, our improvements, both visually and musically, have been well noticed in the wider Pipe Band world, which is something we can take great pride in.

The end of 2024 saw a fantastic opportunity as our boys joined Bagrock supergroup, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, at their sold out show in Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre in what was the ﬁnal performance of the band’s Scottish tour. This was a phenomenal experience: not only rocking on stage to ‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii, but also seeing back stage and behind the scenes how such a production comes to together, including being involved in sound checks and stage calls. Perhaps we have inspired some future touring musicians!

Rugby is often not far from the boys’ minds and it is always great when two passions, rugby and piping, come together. From supporting our boys at the U18 Cup Final at Murrayﬁeld with a pre-match performance, to Callum H piping the Springboks into School for their training session

MUSIC

ahead of the Autumn Test, bagpipes and rugby are never too far apart.

One of our Lent Term highlights was our chance to perform at the U20 Six Nations Scotland v Ireland match at the Hive Stadium. The boys were treated to great seats after playing pre-match to enjoy the game. Our relationship with both the SRU and Edinburgh Rugby continues to grow and, hopefully, more performance opportunities will come in the future.

The Lent Term also sees the start of indoor competitions. Merchiston attended the Glasgow Highland Club, George Watson’s College, and the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships.

Our Development Pipe Band performed well at all three contests. I was particularly proud of their performance at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships. Unlike the first two contests, where the grades (divisions) are somewhat mixed, in this final contest, our Development Pipe Band played against bands of a similar standard and therefore flourished in this environment with a strong midtable finish.

Our Firsts started this run of three contests well, placing third as a band whilst winning the piping with first places from both piping judges. The second contest at GWC saw the band finish fourth out of sixteen bands and, again, winning the piping with first places from both piping

judges – a fantastic result. Finally, the big one, the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships: against twenty-seven other Schools, we ﬁnished in the prize list with a fourth place. I would go as far as to say that I hold this result in higher regard than our fourth place at the British Championships last year. The British Championships had sixteen bands in attendance, most of which were there at this more recent contest. To be placed ahead of twentythree other schools was, in my view, a ‘statement result’, and I place it as the best result the School has achieved to-date. Boys in both bands should be rightly proud of their eﬀorts.

The Summer Term brings a mix of performances and competitions, whilst navigating the balance of exams and other commitments. We also start our hugely popular Summer Term ‘3 Massed Pipes and Drums’ practice on Friday mornings in front of the main School building. This is a fantastic way to bring almost all our learner pipers and drummers together, from our youngest J4 players all the way up to our leaving Upper Sixth players. This practice is the start of having an eye to planning for the next School year, especially when losing so many pipers this year in particular.

We concluded our contest season with a visit to Dollar before heading to the CCF Pipe Band Championships, hosted this year at the High School of Dundee. We have previously had strong performances and results over recent

years, third place in 2022 and 2023, second place in 2024, and now first place in 2025! Our boys played very well on the day. We competed with sixteen pipers, five snare and one bass drummer, the largest band to cross the line together to-date. Winning overall, and yet again with two first places in piping, shows the strength of the band to be placed ahead of very well-established rival school programmes. We are now firmly competitive in our division, and everyone else knows it too. Well done, boys – you should be rightly proud of this year’s success!

Looking back over the year as a whole, the Merchiston Pipe Band has again been a very public representation of the School: from local primary school performances, to CCF and Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association competitions, Curl Edinburgh for a Canadian team tour, Murrayﬁeld Stadium, U20 Six Nations, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Royal Mile performance for Edinburgh Children’s Charity, VE Day at Erskine Veterans’ Village, The Royal Highland Show and the Bo’ness Fair, amongst others. Each performance oﬀers fantastic opportunities for our boys to hone their musical and team skills, alongside their interaction with both the local and wider communities. They represent themselves, their families, the Pipe Band and the School with distinction every time, and we can all feel very proud of the togetherness and sense of community that creates this.

Now comes the time that we must bid a fond farewell to our Upper Sixth leavers: Firsts Pipe Major Joshua G, Firsts Pipe Sergeant John T, and Firsts pipers Callum H, Ross S, Fraser A and Hamish H, along with Development Pipe Band pipers Robert HP, George R, Maxwell H and Finlay B. All boys have not only been strong players for the Pipe Band, but have been fantastic team players and great characters. Their musical talent and personalities will be greatly missed.

Whilst they leave a rather large void to ﬁll, they have shown our younger players all that is required to be successful. The challenge now is for our up-and-coming pipers to ﬁll this gap.

As the band continues to grow, so does the support from parents and staff. Listing names will inevitably mean I miss someone. However, I must pay special thanks to Carole Crawford, Catherine Armstrong, Dawn Robertson and Kate Dunn, in particular, who were driving forces of this year’s successful ceilidh, along with Mr and Mrs Maclennan. Throughout the year, parents and staff have supported the Pipe Band’s efforts and I cannot thank them all enough. Pipe Band staff Mr Andrew Lawson and Mr Andrew Warren continue to offer the boys top quality tuition and support, and collectively are what makes our programme the success it has become.

As I conclude this summary of our year, and what a busy year on reﬂection, I would like once again to express how proud I am of our boys, how grateful I am for everyone's support of them and the Pipe Band, and to all the families of Merchiston who have supported the Pipe Band this past year.

The end of the Summer Term marks three years in my role here at Merchiston, in which time we have significantly closed the gap to what other Schools offer. I feel very confident to promote the Pipe Band at Merchiston as a rewarding and valuable area of the School for any boy to join and be a part of, both our current boys, and, indeed, prospective boys in the coming year and beyond. As I look ahead, there is lots more to come from the Pipe Band.

Ready Ay Ready.

Kyle Warren, Director of Pipes and Drums

DRAMA

DRAMA REVIEW 2024-25

Merchiston Senior Production 2024 - Treasure Island

If the cast and crew of Oliver Twist, our senior production in 2023, had a diﬃcult task in reviving drama at Merchiston after a four-year hiatus, the pupils involved in our 2024 show faced the perhaps tougher challenge of living up to the high expectations set by those talented students who had come before them. It was therefore so encouraging to see the growth in interest when auditions for Treasure Island, Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, were announced in a sketch written by our wonderful incoming drama prefects, Max and Yarema, back in June 2024.

Rehearsals started in September 2024 with 42 cast and crew members from III Form to UVI, amongst them students who had previously appeared on the Merchiston stage as well as many newcomers, all equally enthusiastic to build on the momentum from our previous senior production. The Treasure Island script was an ambitious choice, and our cast enjoyed getting stuck into the humorous dialogue and the fast-paced, action-packed scenes. A particular highlight for the actors was several workshops run by Stage Fight Scotland, where boys had the chance to learn the basics of stage combat and swordﬁghting from industry professionals. Their skills were put to the test in challenging ﬁght choreography, which they executed brilliantly on the performance nights, much to the delight of audience members!

The house was full for our two evening performances and audiences were impressed by the conﬁdent performances, comic timing and impressive physicality of our actors. Our youngest pupils brought great energy to group scenes and enjoyed learning the ropes from the

older boys. Many of our UVI cast members were taking to the stage as pirates once again, after their last performance in the Pringle production of The Pirates of the Curry Bean in 2019. Nathan C and Lewis M handled demanding lead roles with confidence and maturity, Lyall R and Adam M entertained as the show’s comic duo, while David O provided lots of laughs with his deadpan portrayal of Silver’s loyal parrot! A strong group of V Form pupils returned to the stage in key roles once again. Hamish H and Sam M showed their versatility by playing multiple roles, and William B impressed once again, convincingly delivering Ben Gunn’s rambling monologues. Our show was held together by Sam O, who excelled as the narrator, Jim, a challenging physical role which he played with great energy, including a memorable athletic stage fight against Bob L! Members of our backstage crew should also be commended for their professionalism. Sikai C was instrumental to the success of the production both on stage and off, designing and programming our lighting and training a new technical team as well as playing a principal role in the cast.

St George’s Senior Production 2024 - Beauty and the Beast

Our Drama Prefects, Yarema and Max, had a busy Autumn Term, with key roles in both the Merchiston and St George’s productions. Yarema was able to show his impressive vocal range and acting skills as The Beast, a great contrast to his comic turn as Grandma in Treasure Island, where he displayed his writing skills once again by creating skits for himself and Max to perform. Max took on a new challenge in the role of Lumiere, his ﬁrst time in a lead role in a musical, which he delivered with gusto and excellent comedic understanding. Both Max and Yarema have been

excellent trailblazers for Drama at Merchiston and their enthusiasm and willingness to throw themselves into every role or task will be greatly missed.

Junior Drama Showcase

During the Lent Term, junior pupils from J4 to II Form enjoyed taking part in weekly drama lessons. Boys had the chance to work on performance skills, including voice and movement, as well as devising their own short scenes using props and costume and building their conﬁdence on stage. Their eﬀorts culminated in our Junior Drama Showcase

in April, at which pupils performed the scenes they had been working on from A Monster Calls, Dodger and The Pirates of the Curry Bean to an appreciative audience of parents, staff and senior pupils in our Theatre. For many boys, this was their first time on stage and they gave assured performances, working well as an ensemble to maximise the humour of the pieces. John H showed excellent comic timing as Grandma and the bumbling Admiral, whilst Frank A confidently stepped up as an understudy to play a lead role.

Amy Warke, Head of Drama

……. And KATHERINE UPTON, Lead Teacher of English, provides her review of TREASURE ISLAND: “Seaward, ho!”

Following the success of last year’s Oliver Twist, the pressure was on to ﬁnd another show that would showcase the breadth and depth of dramatic talent at Merchiston. It took months of searching and discussion when Miss Warke came up with the inspired idea of the National Theatre’s adaptation of Treasure Island. It was clearly perfect. From the auditions to the ﬁrst cast read-through, it was clear that we had found our pirate crew and our band of heroes.

“Fifteen men and a deadman’s chest…”

Strongly led by a dedicated group of Upper VI pupils, the rehearsals were equal measures hard work and good fun.

Nathan C’s turn as Long John Silver shimmered with charm and menace. He was ably assisted in this by David O, who delighted the audience in his starring turn as Silver’s henchman, Captain Flint, the parrot. Together, Nathan C and David O commanded a terrifying band of pirate misﬁts,

including Lyall R and Adam M as the nefarious and incompetent Black Dog and Black Cat. Their double act had the audience roaring with laughter night after night due to their excellent comic timing and hilarious slapstick antics. These pirates were ﬁtting antagonists to Lewis McD’s bumbling Squire Trelawney, who led the heroes in their quest. It was a joy to welcome Lewis and the others back to the Merchiston stage in their ﬁnal year – and with so many competing demands on their time!

“Yo, ho, ho! And a bottle of rum!”

Not to be outdone, our senior drama prefects, Yarema Y and Max T, tried to steal the show again and again as Grandma Hawkins and Mrs Crossley. Complete with bonnets, gowns and moustaches, they opened the show each night with an original skit that they had written. Their commitment to ﬂying the ﬂag for Merchiston drama has been outstanding. Miss Warke and I are very grateful for everything that they have contributed. As senior drama prefects, they have set the standard high by acting, writing

and directing. Both were in Oliver Twist last year, Yarema as Fagin and Max as Mr Dickens. To recruit and inspire the next generation of Merchiston actors, they wrote and performed a piratical scene in multiple assemblies. In addition to their scene-stealing turns as the dames in Treasure Island, they found the time to participate in the St George’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Max’s comic genius and talent for languages were brilliantly expressed in the role of Lumiere; meanwhile, Yarema was very impressive as the Beast, once again demonstrating his ﬁne singing voice.

“Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!”

With so many Upper VI actors in this year’s production, it might be cause for concern for the future. However, there is no dearth of talent in the younger years at Merchiston. There were several V Formers returning again this year to show the range of their dramatic talents: Sikai C as the Doctor lent a gravitas to the stage through his calm air of competence, not least because Sikai also helped with the lighting and sound! Hamish H showed us the dramatic range he is capable of as the villainous Billy Bones and the upright Captain. Sam M reminded us of why he chilled us so much last year as Bill Sykes when he returned as George Badger, the petulant pirate. Will B’s return to the stage with his hilarious portrayal of Ben Gunn was a wonderful comic highlight each night. We also welcomed newcomers such as Fergus W and Jack R; we trust that this will not be the only time that we see them on stage! Special mention must go, however, to Sam O as Jim Hawkins, the narrator of Treasure Island. Sam anchored the production, learning an enormous number of lines and demonstrating a level of professionalism and maturity far beyond this years - never more so than in three complicated ﬁght scenes! Coached

and choreographed by Stage Fight Scotland, Sam performed flawlessly. His incredible fight scenes were rewarded by some of the biggest cheers each night. Shell were also brilliantly represented once again by Bob L and Ollie G. For the first time, we were able to include a group of III Formers as the dramatic ensemble, and they were brilliant in their various roles as sailors, pub dwellers and pirates.

“Sing! Sing!”

Acting is only a part of any production, however, and Treasure Island was no exception. No dramatic production is complete without music, so once again Xander M-B accompanied scenes on the fiddle with traditional tunes and sea shanties. Sam B played the piano for scene changes while Ollie G played “Skye Boat Song” on the bagpipes to start each performance. Keeping everything together backstage (despite the actors’ best efforts!) was the incredible stage management team, captained by Ali J and ably assisted by Youngwoo S and Tabraiz Y. Lighting was designed and magnificently executed by George A, Yuqi C and Sikai C. Ryan M, Ivan B and the rest of our wonderful front-of-house team looked after the audience, selling sweets organised by Carole Crawford and then guiding them to their seats and across to the Spawforth Library, where Mrs Gibb had arranged for a pop-up bookshop with the Edinburgh Bookshop and refreshments.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant"

Overall, it was a swashbuckling and fantastical year for Drama at Merchiston! It will be very exciting to see these boys ﬂourish in the future.

HOUSE REPORTS

PRINGLE HOUSE REPORT

2024-25

Pringle House continues to be a place of real warmth, connection, and purpose. As ever, our core value has been kindness, and our focus has remained on fostering strong relationships and building a caring community, where every boy feels respected, heard, and valued.

One of the most meaningful themes of the year has been our focus on gratitude and charity. In Junior assemblies and during House time, we have spent time thinking about how fortunate we are and how we might give back to others. The annual Christmas Fun Run once again brought the House together in good spirits for a great cause. As well as cash raised, at Christmas and also at our Harvest Festival, boys brought in food donations to support those in need, oﬀering quiet but powerful acts of kindness that reﬂected our shared values.

On 8 May, the sun shone upon us as we embarked on our sponsored walk along the Water of Leith Walkway. The boys raised an amazing £1,450 for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, a cause that is close to all our hearts at Merchiston. Of course, this coincided with VE Day. On return to School, we celebrated in style with an outdoor tea party of ﬁsh and chips and strawberry tarts underneath the bunting-strewn trees.

Archie M (Third Form) spoke so beautifully and poignantly to the Pringle boys and staﬀ at this event:

“I want to talk about something that means a lot to me. - not just as a student, but as someone who's part of a military family. That's VE Day - Victory in Europe Day - and why it still matters. And I also want to share a bit about what it's like growing up as a military child.

VE Day marks the end of World War Il in Europe, on 8 May, 1945. It was the day people across Britain and Europe ﬂooded the streets to celebrate the end of six years of war. Millions of lives were lost. Families were torn apart. But on VE Day, there was hope again. Celebrating VE Day isn't about glorifying war - it's about remembering peace, and the cost it came with. It's about honouring those who stood up to protect others. And it's about making sure we don't forget what happens when we let hatred and violence go unchecked.

For me, remembering VE Day is personal - because I live with someone who wears a uniform. My Dad has been in the military for over 25 years and we have been a military

family for all of my life. Being a military child means a lot of things. It means pride. It means resilience. But it also means goodbyes. My Dad often misses birthdays, school events, or even just dinner at home. Sometimes he is posted far away on operations, and we regularly move to new places and countries. Each time, this means a new place to call home and making new friends again and again.

When I think about VE Day, I think about all the families like mine during the war - kids like me who waited for letters, who watched the door hoping a parent would come home safe.

So, on VE Day, we don't just celebrate a victory - we honour the sacriﬁces. We remember the bravery. And as a military child, I carry that memory forward. It reminds me why service matters, why peace matters, and why remembering the past helps us shape a better future.”

Very wise and thoughtful words from one so young.

At the heart of our boarding experience this year has been a renewed emphasis on pastoral care and togetherness – a sense of living and learning as a family. A great deal of the strength in Pringle this year has come from the leadership of our prefects, who have been outstanding in every respect. They have led with humility, consistency, and genuine care for those around them. From supporting younger boys as they settle in, to setting the tone in House routines, their presence has been invaluable. They have demonstrated what leadership in a boarding house should look like – not loud or showy and shouty, but rooted in service and quiet conﬁdence.

With slightly smaller numbers in the House, we have embraced the opportunity to lean into the freedom and spontaneity that this brings. The quieter corridors have allowed for louder laughter, more tailored activities, and plenty of moments to say “yes” to the boys’ ideas – from impromptu trips to new adventures, and even the simple joy of doing something diﬀerent just because we could.

The boys themselves have played a big part in shaping the year. They have had a real voice in planning their weekends and suggesting activities that speak to their interests and personalities. We have taken full advantage of this, with a programme that has included something for everyone. From the thrill of watching ice hockey at

Murrayﬁeld to the peaceful wonder of The Snow Queen, and from the competitive fun of Top Golf to the highenergy chaos of AquaDash, the weekends have been vibrant and varied. There have been timeless days where the boundaries between School and home life gently dissolve, and the boys are simply boys, having fun.

Celebrations and cultural appreciation have also added colour to the calendar. Our Chinese New Year festivities were especially memorable – a wonderful mix of food, fun and cultural activities that gave the boys a chance to explore something new together.

Adam K, Head of House, comments:

“Reﬂecting on what has been one of the most rewarding and memorable years of my time at Merchiston, serving as Head of House has been far more than just a title, it’s been an opportunity to help, guide, support, and share in the lives of the younger boys.

Being part of a House filled with some of the youngest pupils in the School comes with its own kind of energy, full of excitement, unpredictability, and plenty of noise! But what really makes Pringle special is the sense of family that staff and boys build together. As a mentor, I’ve watched nervous new boys arrive, unsure on how they will fit in, and over time, grow into confident, cheerful members of our community. From helping with homework to settling dorm room disputes or offering a listening ear after a tough day, it’s these small, everyday moments that build trust and connection and the community we are proud of.

Relationships lie at the heart of Pringle. The bonds we form here, whether through shared meals, early morning routines, or late-night whispers after lights-out, are what truly make this place feel like home. I’ve learned as much from the boys as I’ve tried to teach them. Their endless curiosity, imagination, and sense of humour have kept every day fresh and full of laughter. One thing I know I’ll miss is our chaotic table tennis sessions. What starts as a simple game often turns into full-blown tournaments and running debates about who is the best (spoiler: it’s still me!). But it’s never really about who wins. It’s about the silly conversations, the laughter, and the unﬁltered joy of just being together.

And then there’s Darts Night, undoubtedly my favourite event from this year, and organised by all the prefects, showing their involvement and active interest in the House. From the dramatic walk-on music to the roaring laughter and theatrical entrances, it was one night where even the quietest boys took centre stage and ﬂourished. Whether the darts hit the board or the ﬂoor (or occasionally the ceiling!), the encouragement never stops. It’s a reminder of how powerful it is when a community truly supports one another.

As I look ahead to the next chapter, I know I’ll carry these memories with me. I’ll miss the chaos, the laughter, and the comfort of being part of something so genuine. But more than anything, I leave Pringle proud – proud of the boys, of the friendships we've built, and of the memories we’ve shared.”

Adam’s reflection on his time in Pringle certainly echoes the feelings of the staff team. We have a very strong foundation, that together, we continue to build and shape our community upon. We do this by supporting and championing each other. It is what we are about. The friendships and community that we work so hard to build goes far beyond the School grounds. These are friendships and ties that really do last a lifetime. One moment that stands out for many of us was travelling to Melrose to support our own Mr Gaddie, in his role as Melrosian for 2025. This is an honour which for centuries has been bestowed on the most competent, confident and capable of young men in the town. We could liken this to winning the 'Good Egg Cup' in Pringle. I am sure that many of you will know that Mr Gaddie is a very proud Merchistonian and it is no coincidence that some of his Merchiston habits have gone some way to ensuring his appointment. It was a joy to see many of Mr Gaddie’s fellow Merchistonian friends gather to support him too. It was a proud day for the School, and our boys absolutely relished the occasion. Seeing them take part in something so steeped in tradition reminded us all of the richness of our wider community and the pride that comes with being part of it.

Of course, much of what makes boarding life in Pringle so special doesn’t come from the big trips or grand events. It comes from the small, everyday moments – the laughter in the dining room, the friendly rivalry over a game of pool, the quiet support oﬀered during prep, or the shared conversations before lights-out. These are the moments that deﬁne who we are, and they are the foundation of the boys’ development – not just as learners, but as people.

As I look back over the year, I do so with immense pride. The boys of Pringle House have shown kindness, courage, humour, and heart. They’ve looked after one another, challenged themselves, shown admirable commitment and generosity. A great deal of fun has been had along the way. From camping to beach trips, from the cinema to the ordinary every day activities like shopping and having haircuts - all examples of the ways in which we have built our amazing little community. I look forward to doing it all again next year.

Ruth Maclennan, House Parent of Pringle

CHALMERS WEST HOUSE REPORT 2024-25

The boys of Chalmers West House have enjoyed a productive and positive year, marking the second year of the vertical boarding structure within the Middle Years. This system continues to foster a strong sense of community across year groups, with the boys quickly settling and forming meaningful relationships that span ages and stages.

The new IV Formers have particularly beneﬁtted from this model, receiving steady guidance and support from their older peers as they transitioned into Senior School life. The resulting environment has encouraged not only camaraderie but also leadership, as senior boys stepped up to set the tone and oﬀer mentorship.

Some highlights of the year have helped to further cement these bonds. Chief among them was the Hold Fast Teambuilding Challenge, now a staple of the start of the year. Taking place at the beach, this physically demanding day of group challenges sees the boys carrying logs, water - and often each other - through sand and sea. It is an event designed to test mindsets, build resilience, and develop eﬀective communication. The boys emerge from it with a deepened sense of pride and togetherness, setting a strong tone for the year ahead.

Socials with St George’s School for Girls have continued to be a much-anticipated part of the calendar, with the summer BBQs and games on the Chalmers lawns proving especially popular across all year groups. The V Form

celebrated the end of the mock exams with an ‘all-you-caneat’ buﬀet - an event much enjoyed by all. Foxlake, as ever, remains the most talked about and well-attended trip of the year, oﬀering a fun and active way for year groups to reconnect before the end of term.

The year concluded with the V Form’s week-long trip to the Highlands - a ﬁtting and memorable way to mark the end of their time in Chalmers West before moving on to Laidlaw and the Sixth Form. It has been a true privilege to work with this group over the past three years. The relationships built during this time are what make the role so rewarding, and I hope to remain a source of support for them as they embark on this next exciting chapter. I very much look forward to welcoming many of them back as prefects in the years ahead.

The House itself continues to reﬂect the vibrancy of its members. The recently refurbished interiors have been further personalised with student artwork now adorning the common areas. Notably, next year’s Head of House, Luke D, contributed a striking portrait of Michael Jordan, which now takes pride of place in the day room. New furnishings have helped to create a homely, modern space, and we look forward to continuing these developments in partnership with the boys next term.

Ian Noble, House Parent of Chalmers West

Notes from the boys:

“Obviously, our students who board in Chalmers West have a lot of fun in their boarding life. There are interesting events and enriching activities that provide many unique opportunities for our students to gain rare and practical experiences. They also have a profound impact on pupil wellbeing and promote a positive spirit within our community. The activities also promote friendships and teamwork. In addition, as the last boarding school for boys only in Scotland, the socials with the girls from St George’s are very important and very enjoyable. In conclusion, boarding life in Chalmers West is full of fun, and we look forward to this continuing next year.” - Bob L

“I arrived from St Mary’s Melrose, a prep school, as a new entrant to Merchiston this year. I have greatly enjoyed my first year, and am looking forward to what lies ahead because we did so many fun activities during the year. One of my favourite activities was the trip to Foxlake, which was really fun because it was basically a giant water fight with my friends! Of course, there are so many sporting activities to do here. Personally, I have really enjoyed playing in the rugby team, growing as a player and bonding with my team by facing some difficult matches, such as against Stewart’s Melville. Rugby at Merchiston is exceptional and we strive to be the best at what we do. We've finished the Summer Term off with many cricket matches, which were great fun and it was so satisfying to see how we improved as a team. Life in the boarding house is also great, with lots of activities to do, such as Saturday films and making pizzas. One of the outstanding trips for me was going to the Royal Highland Show, which was really good because there were so many different foods to try, animals to see and people to meet. Now we are allowed to go out into Edinburgh most weekends, it has been interesting to explore such an amazing city. I have been able to make some great friends in Chalmers West from all over Scotland and the world. I enjoy Merchiston life and enjoy all the opportunities. I had

a great time on DofE, which was challenging but fun, and I learned many new skills, such as how to use a compass and survive out in the wild.” - Gilbert G

“Moving from Pringle House to Chalmers West felt like closing one chapter and stepping into another. Both William R and I joined in Pringle at the age of 9, unsure of what to expect, but very quickly felt at home. In the classrooms and on the playing fields, I made memories I will never forget. Now in Chalmers West five years later, life feels a lot more grown up. There's a lot more independence and responsibility, and more stairs! I've gone from being one of the oldest boys in Pringle, to the youngest in my new environment. This change has been very smooth with the help of our marvellous House Parents, and it already feels like home again. Chalmers West is a fun House to be part of! It is the House that I wanted to join and I have made so many great new friends from so many different parts of the world.

With the addition of a lot of new boys, sharing their experiences from their lives before Merchiston, we have become great friends through all of the amazing opportunities that are provided for us to bond together in the best way possible. In the dorms, there are always lots of great conversations going on. We have been so grateful for this year’s activities, with trips down south with the Golf Academy, and Sunday afternoon trips, such as to Foxlake and Go-Karting.

We have developed a new sense of independence and conﬁdence within ourselves which will help us in our future lives through all that we have done in Chalmers West. We have the right blend of support and freedom in the House and around the School.

For boys coming into Chalmers West next year - you will settle very quickly and you will learn so much.

We now look forward to the start of our GCSE journey.”

Alan T, Will R & Will G

CHALMERS EAST HOUSE REPORT 2024-25

AUTUMN TERM

The beginning of the year was incredibly exciting and brought fresh opportunities for everyone in the House. Many of us were returning to familiar faces and spaces, whilst for others, it marked the start of their journey at Merchiston. The buzz was even greater as Mr Glover, our House Parent, and Mr Lallemant, our Deputy House Parent, continued to organise fantastic activities that brought us all together.

A major highlight of the term was attending all three of Scotland’s Autumn International rugby games at Murrayﬁeld, including matches against Fiji, South Africa, and Australia. The win against Australia was certainly the most memorable, and it was an incredible experience for many of us to witness international rugby for the very ﬁrst time.

This year, the V Form also enjoyed the Highland Ball, which included two lively practice sessions with students from St George’s, led by Dr Bower. The Ball itself was a spectacular evening, hosted in the Memorial Hall, where the boys proudly wore their tartan kilts and enjoyed a wonderful evening of food, music, and dancing.

International Week remains one of the most exciting parts of the Autumn Term. We celebrated the many cultures and nationalities within our community. The School came alive with vibrant displays, international cuisine, and presentations that allowed students to share stories about their home countries. Chalmers East was once again decorated with ﬂags and interesting facts about nations from around the world.

This year’s International Week was packed with new activities and delicious food experiences. We enjoyed a traditional Swedish ﬁka, complete with pepparkakor (ginger biscuits), as well as American pumpkin and apple pie, paired with fun American games. French croissants and a House pancake competition added some tasty excitement, whilst pineapple fritters gave us a taste of the Tropics. There was also an international quiz that tested everyone’s knowledge of cultures and countries. The House echoed with reggae music during the week, and we sampled Jamaican treats like gizzadas. A screening of Cool Runnings brought plenty of laughter, and we rounded oﬀ the celebrations with a movie night featuring a spread of international food snacks, making for a truly global experience.

Another hotly-contested event was the annual East v West football match. After a thrilling game, East emerged victorious once again, retaining their title with a hard-fought 4-5 win. Fingers crossed we can make it 3/3 next year!

Of course, socials with our sister school, St George’s, continued to be popular, featuring ceilidhs, BBQs, discos and opportunities to forge new friendships.

We also had the chance to enjoy the School play, Treasure Island, which saw some of our own housemates performing on stage and also supporting them behind the scenes.

As Christmas approached, the festive spirit took over Chalmers East. We enjoyed making crepes whilst listening to carols, followed by watching Home Alone and drinking hot chocolate - a perfect way to create a warm and cosy atmosphere to end the term.

LENT TERM

It can be diﬃcult to return from the winter break into January mock exams and some grim Scottish weather! However, as new faces joined us, conversations ﬁlled the corridors about holiday adventures and plans for the months ahead.

The House Forum once again played an important role, giving everyone a chance to share their thoughts and suggest improvements, fostering a real sense of community and collective ownership.

This year, Mr Thompson organised a wonderful visit to the Edinburgh Playhouse to see the musical Chicago as part

of the School’s Arts Programme. It was a unique cultural experience that many of us will remember for a long time.

Social events were plentiful, including a Shell disco with St George’s, a IV Form ceilidh, and an ice hockey trip in February to watch Edinburgh take on the Paisley Pirates; this was a really unique experience, and was something that many boys had not seen or experienced before.

Another favourite was our trip to Top Golf in Glasgow, which oﬀered a fun and competitive way to spend time together outside of School. We were also lucky to enjoy more international rugby in the form of the Six Nations. The whole House headed to see Scotland v Wales, which saw Scotland emerge as deserved winners.

SUMMER TERM

Each term at Merchiston feels like opening a new chapter, and the Summer Term was no exception. It was a busy time ﬁlled with internal and external examinations, especially for V Form students, who were focused on their GCSEs. Despite the intensity of exams, the House kept its vibrant energy alive with plenty of activities whenever time allowed.

This term, we enjoyed several exciting outings, including go-karting and an adventurous day at Foxlake, which involved water sports and obstacle courses.

A signiﬁcant highlight for the V Form was their OutwardBound Adventure Week at Loch Eil. The boys tackled challenges such as hiking Munros, raft-building, team-

HOUSE REPORTS

building activities, high ropes, abseiling, climbing, and even the traditional jog and dip into the icy loch waters. It was an unforgettable week that pushed everyone beyond their comfort zones while building strong bonds.

Another wonderful addition this term was the return of the Junior Chef Academy. Twelve boys from the House participated, learning to cook several diﬀerent recipes under the guidance of a professional chef every Wednesday evening. It was a fantastic way to pick up practical skills whilst having fun and sharing delicious meals with friends.

Social events continued as a highlight, including a joint social with St Georges, where IV Form and Shell boys enjoyed some summer parties and outdoor fun organised by Mr Farquhar. The tradition of DIY pizzas continued in Chalmers East and many of us are becoming experts with the house pizza oven!

CONCLUSION

Phew, what a year it has been! From unforgettable sporting events to new cultural experiences, the boys of Chalmers East have made the most of every opportunity. It has been another year of building traditions, strengthening friendships, and learning more about ourselves. I am incredibly proud of how the House has continued to grow as a community, and I am conﬁdent that the boys have gained memories and skills that will stay with them for life.

We have laid strong foundations for the future, and I look forward to all the adventures that next year will bring.

Richard Glover, House Parent of Chalmers East

With thanks to Teddy D, Joel B and Mateo P for their help in writing this article.

ROGERSON HOUSE REPORT 2024-25

As we come to the end of Rogerson's second year as a bespoke home for our Middle Years Day Pupils, it is a great opportunity to reﬂect. Having the opportunity to work with and support such a diverse, engaged and genuine group of young people continues to be a privilege.

You only need to walk up the main stairway and look at all the house photos, stretching back to the late 1950s, to understand that Rogerson has a long and rich history. After an incredibly successful ﬁrst year, we faced the prospect of delivering a good ‘second album’. However, I am proud that we have been able to build upon our positive progress and continue to forge our own identity within the School community.

Central to the success of this has been the pupils themselves. I therefore think it appropriate that we hear their voices in this summary of the year…

Message from the Fifth Form

In Fifth Form Rogerson this year, we all had a wonderful time, featuring School trips, sport and external exams. At the start of the year, we were all excited about what lay ahead of us. This passage should help you to understand what we got up to this year.

Senior football was a great way to relieve stress throughout the year. Playing with friends gave all of us a mental break from studying and certainly helped me to clear my mind. It provided time to make friendships and compete with and against each other. The social aspect of football was just as important as the physical beneﬁts. Spending time with friends on the pitch was a great escape from our books. The mixture of laughter and competitiveness was a great balance. Then, when we came together for ﬁxtures, it was always an exciting occasion, in victory or defeat.

With photography being one of the many activities the School had to oﬀer, many students participated in it as it was something new that we had not done before. We learned the inner workings of camera work, including adjusting the settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Through group projects and photo walks, we developed teamwork and communication skills whilst simultaneously having a lot of fun. Most importantly, the club fosters a supportive environment for self-expression and storytelling through images, encouraging students to build both

artistic skills and conﬁdence in their creative abilities.

One of the most memorable events of the year was the Highland Ball, a lively celebration of Scottish tradition and School spirit. The evening began with a spirited cèilidh, at which students of Merchiston and St George’s joined in energetic group dances, dancing to the sound of traditional Scottish music played by a live band, run by our very own Mr Thomson. Even those unfamiliar with the steps were quickly swept up in the fun. After the dancing, everyone moved over to the dining hall for a formal dinner, where delicious food was a nice contrast to the lively start!

During the 2024 season, the 1XV earned the honour of playing at Murrayfield in the Scottish Schools Cup Final through hard work and determination. Although this is a great achievement for the team, it is also a spectacular event for the whole School. The sense of community within the School makes it so special, even as a spectator. Parents, teachers and students fill the stands to get behind the School, and that's what it is all about. Despite the result, this was a great night for the whole School, which will definitely be remembered for years to come. This was definitely a good experience for those in the Fifth Form aiming to be in the final next year. This is always my favourite event and we would all like to thank all of the staff who played their part in making it a fantastic night.

In November 2024, the Fifth and Sixth Forms embarked on a STEM trip to Paris for a long weekend. This furthered our knowledge of STEM and how it shapes the world all around us. The mixture of cultural and historic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Seine river cruise, was greatly enjoyed. My highlight was definitely Disneyland Paris because of the exciting rides and intricate architecture and design. The setting was brilliant and the animated environment around us was special and will be remembered for a long time. We would all like to thank the DT staff for the organisation of the trip and giving us an enjoyable time. This left us all with our spirits high, looking ahead to Christmas!

My favourite memory from my time as a Fifth Former would deﬁnitely be the Christmas dinner. The food and entertainment brought a wonderful sense of community to the School, allowing everyone to come together and celebrate in a warm, festive atmosphere. A particular highlight was the “12 Days of Christmas” sing-along, which

ﬁlled the hall with laughter and joy as students and teachers joined in with enthusiasm. It was heart-warming to see everyone simply enjoying the moment. The entire evening provided an escape from the mounting pressure of academic work, especially with the January mock exams just around the corner.

The January mocks were most definitely a more intense period of our school journey, with it being the first serious set of exams that the majority of us had ever faced. Running up to the exams during the revision phase, it put many of us outside of our comfort zone as we were having to push ourselves by working hard and diligently. However, in the end, mock exams serve as important practice for the final examinations, offering the students a chance to experience real exam conditions. They teach time management techniques, and how to cope with pressure. Most importantly, they highlight the strengths and reveal the areas that need improvement, guiding students to adjust their revision techniques to better their performance. Overall, in my own experience, the mock exams helped provide a valuable insight into the future and helped nurture the skills I then would use for the final exams.

To celebrate the end of our January mocks, our year group went for a meal at Mr Basrai's World Cuisines. After weeks of revision and exams, it was the perfect way to unwind and enjoy each other’s company outside the classroom. The restaurant oﬀered a huge variety of dishes from around the world, so there was something for everyone, whether you wanted sushi, pizza, curry, or a mountain of desserts!

Some boys from the History class participated in the trip to Berlin. This trip involved diving into the historical background of Germany during the World Wars. The experience really developed the boys’ historical knowledge and furthered their interest in a practical environment. On their behalf, I would like to thank all the staﬀ who helped with the planning and supervision of this trip. What an amazing experience it was!

With revision being a key fundamental for academic success, we all had to start to develop essential skills. These skills included organizing notes, summarizing key points and practising past papers. Learning how to revise taught us time management skills and self-discipline, two very important attributes that can be taken away into the real world. The teachers and School provided us with revision guides and material, and, if that was not enough, we were able to go to the many revision clinics on oﬀer. During these clinics, we could ask the teachers for individual help on certain areas that needed improving. Overall, learning how to revise has made us take control of our learning and,

in turn, helped us become more conﬁdent in an independent environment.

With the first exam of the season being Geography paper 1 on 6 May, the nerves and anticipation were most certainly high. After an Easter holiday filled with lots of revision, it was time to put it all into practice. With most of the exams going well, we reached the half-term break, which allowed us to recuperate and prepare for what lay ahead after the holiday. At this point, everyone was starting to feel it, but we all had to keep going to push through the final weeks. Finally, on 18 June, with the DT exam in the morning, we finished our exams and started to look forward to the long summer holiday ahead.

All of us in the Fifth Form would like to thank Mr Buchanan and Mrs Darling for all of their hard work in Rogerson over the past two years. Their expertise and support as House Parents guided us all through some busy and stressful times with exams. Furthermore, we all want to wish ‘good luck’ to Mrs Darling on her departure from Merchiston and the adventures which lie ahead. Also, big thanks go to Mr Thomson for his immense eﬀorts in regard to the exams this season. With lots of timetable clashes, and ‘isolation’ to arrange, we cannot thank him enough.

William McL, Noah N & Laurie P

Message from the Shell Form

This year in Rogerson has been thoroughly enjoyablethe best year so far. I have enjoyed every minute, from the early morning gym sessions to prep and rugby in the evening and everything in between. The gym became a great way to start the day and the evening prep sessions helped me get my work done before going home. Throughout the year, the support from Mr Buchanan and Mrs Darling has been constant. They have both been there to help our year group find our muddy rugby boots and provide ‘pains au chocolat’ at break! I am involved in many sports, including rugby, hockey, cricket and fives. Some highlights of the year have been playing in the Scottish Cup Final for hockey and playing in many Scottish Schools tournaments for fives. Also, I was lucky enough to go on a cricket tour down to Bryanston School in Dorset: this was a great opportunity to spend time with my year group and enjoy the sun in the south of England. This year was my first year of GCSEs, and I am enjoying every subject. I really like my teachers and they make each lesson enjoyable.

Outside the classroom, I was lucky to go on two incredible trips this year - to China and Iceland. China involved visiting four main cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and Suzhou. In each city, we saw incredible sites like the

Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City and The Terra-Cotta Warrior Museum. We also went on a bullet train, which took us from Beijing to Xian. Iceland was another amazing trip. It involved seeing waterfalls, volcanoes, geysers and geothermal power plants. Both were amazing experiences that gave me a chance to explore completely diﬀerent cultures, and make some great memories with my peers.

James R

I have really enjoyed my year in Rogerson. The House Parents have been great, the facilities have been amazing and everyone is really kind. I joined the School in the Second Form, so I have experienced multiple houses. Rogerson has exceeded my expectations in many ways.

One story I can share from Rogerson is the breaktime snacks. Rogerson is very lucky with Mrs Darling as our House Parent as every break time she goes out of her way to produce delicious snacks for all of us. Sadly, she is leaving the School this year. Another personal experience I can share is that of going to the Hockey Scottish Cup Final. While this is not necessarily a Rogerson experience, it still is one of my highlights from the year. The ﬁnal story I would like to share is the Pipe Band, which has taken me to many cool places, such as New York, and even playing with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. However, the only reason the Pipe Band can function is with the friendly reminders of Mr Buchanan to remember to go to these practices!

This House and School are unlike any other in Scotland, just from the amount they care about their students. There are regular weekend trips for students to enjoy. I remember signing up for a sort of military training, not realising what I had got myself into. Although it was tough, it ended up being fun and was deﬁnitely worth it!

Thomas R

In Rogerson, our mission is to create a safe and positive community environment within the House. It is vital that the pupils feel a real sense of identity within the School. Our philosophy in Rogerson is driven by the four core values of kindness, respect, responsibility and achievement. I am sure that you will agree, these are traits worthy of recognition and praise whenever they manifest themselves.

One of the strengths of Rogerson is its combination of pupils from across the Middle Years. I am certain that this mix is a real asset to the House. Over the course of this year, I have seen how it has enabled the V Form to step up and take on the mantle of role models to our younger year groups. At the same time, pupils entering the IV Form, have had the opportunity to see the Shell and V Form at work,

providing an invaluable insight into the next stage of their Merchiston journey. Whether it be over cheese toasties in the kitchen prepared by Mrs Darling, or competitive games of table tennis or pool at breaktime, it has been brilliant to see all year groups mixing and socialising. I am proud of how well they have gelled over the course of the year.

Regardless of year group, academic studies have demanded more of the pupils’ time than in previous years. They have been expected to take on greater responsibility for their own academic progress, and needed to balance competing demands from multiple subjects. These are not easy skills to master, but I have been very proud of how well the pupils have all managed their competing demands.

I feel fortunate to have had such an experienced House Team consisting of Assistant House Parent Mrs Fiona Darling, and tutors - Mr Hall, Mrs Cougan, Ms Yorstan, Dr Bower and Mrs McDiarmid. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible support throughout the year.

A particular 'thank you' must go to Fiona Darling, who leaves us at the end of term. It is impossible to quantify the importance of the role she has played in making Rogerson the success that it is. It has been inspiring to work alongside someone so committed to supporting the boys around her. So much of what Fiona has done, whether it be an encouraging word, a beautiful display to mark an important occasion, a personalised birthday card, a tasty treat, or a ﬁrm reminder to take muddy boots oﬀ (!), has been instrumental in making Rogerson House a home for our pupils. Not only this, but she has been my 'right hand' over the course of the past few years and provided me personally with guidance and support that I have valued enormously. Fiona will be missed next year and I want to thank her for all that she has done.

I am also eternally grateful to my excellent UVI Prefects: Lewis McD, Hamish, Adam, Yaw, Lewis R and Alec. Their commitment to Rogerson and willingness to support the pupils and House team have been invaluable.

Once again, I would like to thank and congratulate all of the Rogerson pupils and staﬀ on a very successful year. I hope that they all take advantage of a much needed and deserved summer break!

Stuart Buchanan, Rogerson House Parent

LAIDLAW NORTH HOUSE REPORT 2024-25

As we draw the curtain on another vibrant academic year in Laidlaw North, it is with both pride and nostalgia that we reﬂect upon the myriad experiences that have ﬁlled our days. The year has been nothing short of energising, lively, and reinvigorating for all members of our boarding community, encapsulating a perfect blend of academic achievements, social interactions, and unforgettable memories.

The year commenced with the spirited Laidlaw North versus Laidlaw South competition, where our House showcased its prowess across several events, including football, basketball, and carol-singing! The rivalries were friendly yet ﬁerce, fostering a sense of community as students rallied together, ﬁercely supporting their teams. These competitions not only inspired camaraderie but also ignited a competitive spirit that resonated throughout the year.

Also noteworthy was our solemn act of remembrance during the Laidlaw North charity row on Remembrance Day, a moment that truly brought us together in reﬂection and gratitude for those who have served. This event served as a reminder of the important values we uphold as a community, including respect, honour, and gratitude, fostering a collective bond that transcends everyday life.

Our social calendar, robust and thriving, speaks volumes about the culture we have cultivated within Laidlaw North. From the popular Monday night quizzes, which have become a staple of our week, to the ever-popular tuck shop, students have had abundant opportunities to engage socially. The exciting changes to our break-time snack options have also created buzz among the residents, ensuring that everyone feels included and catered for. Moreover, our festive Christmas Dinner was a highlight, creating cherished memories that warm the heart and reinforce our House spirit. With so much more to come next year, including potential new events, we look forward to continuing this trend of social engagement and bonding.

Sporting contributions have thrived across the School, with numerous students stepping up to be signiﬁcant players in various team sports. Whether on the rugby or

cricket pitch or the basketball court, it has been heartening to see so many residents display diligence, teamwork, and the spirit of fair play. Their commitment to excellence in sport reﬂects our House's values and brings pride to Laidlaw North.

Particularly commendable are Yarema, Max, and Lyall, who have ‘led the charge’ in the Arts, showcasing their talents in the choir, musical, and drama performances. Their outstanding contribution to the production of Beauty and the Beast at St George's was nothing short of exceptional. The talent exhibited not only entertained, but also heightened the artistic culture within the House, leaving us all in awe of the remarkable abilities our residents possess.

As the year concludes, it is with a heavy heart that we bid emotional farewells to our outgoing Upper VI students. Over the past three years, they have exempliﬁed what it means to be committed, socially outstanding, and engaged in all we do in Laidlaw North. Their determination to excel in the small yet signiﬁcant aspects of life has set a high standard for future residents to aspire to. They leave behind a legacy that we will cherish and live up to in the years to come.

In particular, we extend our best wishes to Mr Golden as he transitions to ‘new beginnings’ at the end of term. His intellectual brilliance and insightful guidance have been invaluable to both students and staﬀ alike. His wealth of experience has enriched the Laidlaw North Boarding House, and his contributions will be fondly remembered. Mr Golden's counsel and nurturing presence have been pivotal in fostering an environment that prioritises both academic success and emotional wellbeing.

In conclusion, this academic year in Laidlaw North has been a remarkable tapestry, woven with laughter, learning, and lasting connections. As we look ahead to the next chapter, we carry with us the energy of this year and the motivation to build upon it, ensuring that Laidlaw North continues to ﬂourish as a model of excellence and camaraderie. Here’s to another exciting year ahead!

Michael Raikes, House Parent of Laidlaw North

LAIDLAW SOUTH HOUSE REPORT 2024-25

This year has been one of growth, spirit, and success for Laidlaw South and I am proud to reflect on individual and whole house achievements. This year has passed in a flash and the 2024-25 cohort has been absolutely wonderful in its participation, passion and pride in representing and residing in Laidlaw South. The beginning of the year is critical to set the tone for the year and integration and fun are top of the list; we kicked off with BBQs, bowling and team building, which included bubble football, archery, darts and football as a way of introducing everyone and celebrating the start of term.

After such a strong start, the Laidlaw South pupils, led by a wonderful prefect team, went on to some amazing achievements across so many areas of the School. As well as the new cohort coming to Laidlaw South, we have also renovated the dayroom social space in the House to both modernise and also be more in keeping with the social and academic requirements of the pupils. Everyone in Laidlaw South fully appreciates the wonderful facility and provision we enjoy in House and also across the School, and the pupils in the Sixth Form certainly embrace all that is available on a daily basis. Of my highlights is seeing the Sixth Form engaging with the Forest School, seeing LVI and UVI pupils heading down the drive to support its pupils.

The incoming prefect team for 2025-26 reﬂect on the year below and discuss some of their favourite memories.

Being named Captain of School has shaped my Sixth Form experience into something great. One of my highlights of the year was the leadership application process in the build-up to my appointment. The experience

taught me a valuable lesson in the importance of leadership, communication, and eﬀort. I think that being surrounded by an exceptional house leadership team and supportive friendship group has allowed me to write a strong application and move into the role seamlessly. A big highlight of my year was when a group of us went to Boroughmuir High School for a Leadership Conference. We were able to learn from other schools and take that knowledge and apply it in our own community, building on leadership skills, teamwork, and our prefect structure. In addition, we were able to give feedback to other schools' leadership teams and oﬀer our experiences too. Another moment that stands out for me is when we went to the TEDx event. This allowed a group of us to learn something new about the theme of “Voices of Change”. We thoroughly enjoyed the incredible public speaking and hopefully this is something that we ourselves can incorporate into next year's TEDx event. Looking back on this academic year, I feel extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given and I cannot wait to take forward the experiences I have had into next year.

Gabriel P

I joined the School at the beginning of this academic year. I was both excited and nervous as everything felt new. It was like starting a new life as everything was diﬀerent to what I was used to. From the campus and environment to the new pupils, I knew that Merchiston is the perfect place for me. I also play golf for the Golf Academy and I feel that, since arriving here, my golf game has improved beyond my expectations and will hopefully continue to do so.

One of my favourite experiences this year has been all the friends I made. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. At ﬁrst, I was a bit shy, but within a few weeks, it felt like I had known everyone for quite some time. I did face some challenges. One of them was adjusting to a routine that would match my academic schedule, but I have learned how to manage my time and ask for help when I need it. I have grown far more conﬁdent since joining Merchiston.

Another highlight for me was the Christmas dinner, which was an amazing experience. All the staﬀ here in Merchiston are very supportive and kind. I am very grateful to them.

Adam A-B:

Many Laidlaw South pupils were involved in music this year, and Chester Y won the Ogilvie Bowl. It was a very competitive event, with many pupils competing for the Bowl. Chester won the competition playing Crazy Train by Ozzy Osborne on the electric guitar. I was also competing by singing Take Me to Church by Hozier. Other South pupils were also involved in music concerts throughout the year. The Jazz Band performed a piece entirely composed by South pupil, Gabriel P - the ﬁrst time a band in School had performed a piece developed and composed by a pupil. It was an amazing experience.

Freddie P

Laidlaw South is also heavily involved in the rugby programme, with many boys representing South in the 1XV for Merchiston as well as regional development programmes. One standout is Luca M, who not only scored in the Scottish Cup Final, but has also represented the School and House at a national level, gaining a cap for Scotland U18s in the Six Nations. The House proudly came together to support the 1XV in the Scottish Cup Final, creating a positive and electric atmosphere and showing true Laidlaw spirit. At Merchiston and in Laidlaw South, there is a strong emphasis placed on physical development, with morning gym sessions heavily encouraged to help the boys grow into their full athletic potential. These sessions are led by Mr Abreu, the in-house gym coach and resident tutor, whose support and guidance have made a real diﬀerence. Rugby in Laidlaw South is more than just a sport - it brings a sense of togetherness, leadership and House pride.

Will W

All of these wonderful memories would not be possible without the determination, endeavour and wonderful talent of all the Merchiston pupils who are a part of the Laidlaw South community. A huge ‘thank you’ also goes to the resident and non-resident tutors, Mr Lieberman, Miss Nash, Mrs McGregor, Mr Abreu, Mr Thompson, Mrs Tinson, Mr McLaughlin, and Mr Garratt. All the very best of luck to our UVI Leavers 2025: they have all been wonderful friends, mentors and leaders to ensure the success of Laidlaw South this year and also in the future.

Nicholas Lieberman, House Parent of Laidlaw South

TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

RUGBY TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA

Daily blog, written by Hamish C and Lewis M (Upper VI)

Day 1

Our tour started at Edinburgh Airport at 11.45am. We were promptly split into our seven groups for various activities throughout the tour (these being the Bulls, the Cheetahs, the Pumas, the Lions, the Sharks, Western Province and the Griquas), each with a staﬀ member as group leader. After checking in and waiting for our gate to open, at 2.45pm, we boarded our 6hr 55min ﬂight to Doha, Qatar, which landed at 11.40pm.

Day 2

We arrived in Doha in the early hours of the morning and quickly transferred to our next ﬂight to Cape Town. We touched down in Cape Town at 11am local time, collected our bags, and went to meet MC, our tour lead, and Chris, our tour coach driver. We then travelled by coach to the Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch and had a relaxed afternoon in the hotel before going to watch Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys High School, one of the biggest school rugby games in the world. Paarl Gimnasium won a very entertaining match 30-8: everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time watching the match and experiencing the atmosphere of what is a ‘school game' in South Africa, at which the 20,000crowd made it feel much more like a professional club game. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel for a muchneeded night's sleep.

Day 3

Waking up refreshed, we had breakfast in the hotel at 7am and then proceeded to the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) training facility, where we had a great morning session on their indoor pitch, getting through a lot of work. After a 2pm lunch at the facility, we then had quite a physical pitch session on the Paul Roos pitch, ahead of our ﬁrst match against Tygerberg the next day. We then returned to the hotel for a quick change before going into the centre of Stellenbosch for dinner. Back at the hotel, we all had a quick ice bath session before going to bed, excited about the game the next day.

Day 4

The day started bright and early as we enjoyed breakfast before heading back to the SAS at 9.30am, where we had

a team run session followed by lunch. We transferred to Tygerberg, a team with some notable alumni, most significantly the South Africa International, Eben Etzebeth. The 2XV warmed up and went on to face a strong Tygerberg side and were valiant in their efforts, but, unfortunately, they were defeated. Then came the 1XV's first game of the tour, in which they showed their class with a 59-0 victory against a very physical and determined Tygerberg side. We then enjoyed a post-match BBQ dinner with our opposition, at which gifts were exchanged, and both teams were thanked for an excellent display of rugby. At 8.30pm, we returned to the hotel for our last night in Stellenbosch, exhausted after a long but enjoyable day.

Day 5

After another early breakfast, we checked out of Stellenbosch at 6.45am for the coach journey to Cape Town. At 8.30am, we dropped our bags oﬀ at our second hotel, Protea North Wharf Hotel, and then went straight for our Robben Island Museum tour, where we spent the morning on the island, learning about Nelson Mandela and old African culture. At 2pm, we returned to the hotel and had a pool session on the roof before going to the Waterfront for dinner, where we were given the freedom to choose our restaurant. An early night followed before our most important day of the tour, visiting Langa.

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Day 6

Another early breakfast started the day before heading to Langa, where our first stop was at the Langa Rugby Club, to drop off our Merchiston Samurai kit as a donation for the local team. After taking plenty of photos with the team, we then moved to the school area and split into our groups to be shown around the township, seeing the hardships faced there every day: despite everything, the residents we met were so friendly and cheerful - a real testament to the strength of their community. We visited a number of different buildings situated within Langa: Gug Sthebe, an arts and crafts centre; Doom Pass Museum; hostel housing, built for migrant workers in the past; and a visit to Dalikhanyo Day Centre. It was inspiring to see the houses that had been burnt down that our fund-raising would go towards rebuilding. We then enjoyed lunch with live music at Mama Sheila’s, before returning to the centre of Cape Town. A team run on the park next to the beach followed, in preparation for our game against Bellville the next day: the focus of the session was on how we can implement the hardships of ‘rock bottom’ that we saw in Langa in our rugby matches and for the rest of the season, grateful for what we have, no matter what the circumstance. The day ended with a team dinner on the Waterfront.

Day 7

After breakfast, we transferred to HTS Bellville to have a two-hour training session, focussing on the 2XV - the 1XV game had unfortunately been cancelled. The team was announced, and we headed to Tygervalley Mall at 1pm to enjoy a ﬁlling lunch before heading back to HTS Bellville. The 2XV players warmed up and were soon under way, playing expansive, entertaining rugby, achieving a good win in wet and cold conditions. A team dinner with our opposition followed, consisting of traditional South African food, and afterwards we were invited to the Bellville pupil talent show. At 7pm we returned to the hotel after an eventful day.

Day 8

After another 7.30am breakfast, we headed to the Surf Emporium, Muizenberg. After changing into our wetsuits and being split into our groups, as well as a quick game of beach touch rugby to get us warm, we collected our boards and dived in. The vast majority of us quickly found out how hard surﬁng is, especially in windy weather. However, there was deﬁnitely a real enjoyment and buzz amongst the squad throughout. We then had lunch at Hudsons - the Burger Joint, with some boys ordering milkshakes to complement their feast. Returning to the hotel at 3pm, a group visited Two Oceans Aquarium, which

was definitely a nice addition on our ‘day off’. To round off the day, we made our way back to the V&A Waterfront Mall, where we enjoyed dinner as well as celebrating Lyall R's seventeenth birthday.

Day 9

Our ﬁnal game day of the tour began with breakfast followed by a team meeting at 10.30am. We then split into our forwards and backs discussions to decide on our key goals for the game ahead, against Hamilton RFC, at Sea Point, the oldest rugby club in South Africa. After our team warmed up, with a view of the DHL Stadium as the backdrop, our 2XV faced a very strong Hamilton side, which was made up of Hamilton U16 Barbarians, most notably with some being from Paarl Gim and Paarl Boys. Unfortunately, the 2XV faced a 36-0 defeat after a very dominant performance from the hosts. Then, with the conditions deteriorating, our ﬁnal match of the tour was against a Hamilton U19 Invitational side. Our 1XV was resilient throughout and celebrated a 5-33 victory in miserable conditions. Afterwards, the whole squad enjoyed a well-deserved post-match meal with the Hamilton boys as well as our travelling support, made up of friends and family, before heading back to the hotel and getting some well-needed rest.

Day 10

After another early breakfast, we travelled to Cape Canopy Tour, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. After being split up into our groups, we got our harness gear on, were briefed on what was ahead, and then took a very bumpy ride up to the peak of the reserve hills. The first few zip lines were definitely quite nerve-racking for the boys, but they got the hang of it - overall, it was definitely a great experience and was thoroughly enjoyed. After all the groups had finished, we went to GOLD Restaurant, Green Point, where we celebrated Mr Noble's birthday and had another taste of traditional South African food, as well as playing the bongos and the majority of us dancing up on stage!

Day 11

A short coach ride to Boulder Beach followed breakfast, where the boys had a bit of time to themselves to play frisbee, football and touch rugby, whilst others decided to visit the nearby ice cream shop. At the beach, some local artists approached a few of us and convinced a handful of boys to buy some souvenir artwork from them. After our beach session, we transferred back to the V&A Waterfront Mall, where we divided into two groups: one enjoyed a boat tour around the Cape Town coastline, especially the breath-taking view of Table Mountain, whilst the others had some time to shop in the mall. After the tour had

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concluded, we enjoyed dinner on the Waterfront before returning to the hotel.

Day 12

A 4.30am wake-up initially took its toll on everyone. We then checked out of the hotel, and boarded the coach with a packed breakfast for a 6.45am check-in at the Aquila Private Game Reserve. After a short rest in our rooms, at 8am we had our first morning game drive, during which we got to see four of the ‘Big Five’ animals - we were unable to see the leopard, but in addition we did get to see zebras and springboks. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel for a discussion in our groups about how we can implement what we experienced at Langa, in our lives in general and in the season ahead back in Scotland. At 3pm, we went on our second game drive, during which we were able to walk around an area flooded with baboon monkeys - this was thoroughly enjoyed and was another real highlight of the tour. With the rain starting to pour down, we returned to our accommodation to say goodbye to the two absolute staples of the tour, MC and Chris, both of whom contributed hugely to its success and smooth-running. Before dinner, we gave both of them a significant tip for their outstanding efforts throughout.

Day 13

After a 6am wake-up and breakfast, at 7.30am we checked out of our hotel, and headed to Cape Town International Airport. After arriving at 1.00pm and getting through security and baggage checks, a 9hr 45min ﬂight back to Doha International Airport followed.

Day 14

After landing in Doha at 12.15am and a long walk to the next gate, we then boarded our ﬁnal ﬂight of the tour back to Scotland. After an exhausting 7hr 35min transfer, we arrived at Edinburgh Airport at around 7am, where the squad parted ways to return to their homes.

A massive ‘thank you’ from all the boys must go to all coaches and staﬀ involved in the organisation of the tour, notably Mr Deans, Mr Noble, Mr Wells, Mr Gaddie, and Mr Evans. A huge amount of eﬀort was put into each and every day - we hope that they enjoyed the trip as much as the boys. This was certainly a life-changing experience. A massive ‘thank you’ must also go to Mrs McLean and Mr Rae, our medical and physio team on tour, who were there for each and every one of us. No matter what the injury or illness, they had smiles on their faces and a joke to crack each step of the way! Thank you, everyone!

CHINA TRIP

Over the October half-term break, the Mandarin cultural trip to China took place, providing those studying the language in the Shell to Sixth Forms with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language, the rich cultural heritage, and, of course, the country’s famous cuisine. The trip lasted for ten days, visiting Beijing, Xi’an, Suzhou and Shanghai.

After the immense 11-hour flight, we began our trip in Beijing, the heart of China’s history and culture, where we visited many of the landmarks, as well as exploring the Hutongs, the mass communes of Beijing, where we were invited in for lunch by one of the locals, who provided us with an insight into the archaic customs. Along with visiting the beautiful sites and buildings which display the unique Chinese architectural style, seeing such landmarks as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, that reflect the grandeur of the ancient dynasties and the depth and intricacy of their traditions, provided an intoxicating sense of surrealism and gave us a much deeper insight into their histories. After experiencing the historical and cultural significance of Beijing, on the sixth day of our trip we took a Bullet Train to Xi’an Province.

In Xi’an, we visited the site of the Terracotta Army – an army of life-sized statues, created over 2200 years ago as part of a grand mausoleum complex which was intended to protect the Emperor in the afterlife. Through this complex, Qin Shi Huang, who uniﬁed China for the ﬁrst time, sought to ensure his legacy and continued authority beyond death. The intricate craftsmanship and sheer scale of the Terracotta Army were awe inspiring, emphasising the power and grandeur of Ancient China. Our visit to Xi’an, a

OCT 2024

city once at the heart of the Silk Road, also gave us the chance to enjoy its famous cuisine and bustling markets. In addition, we took a bike ride on the Xi’an City Wall, providing both a unique way to explore the ancient structure that once served as a defensive fortiﬁcation and to see the blend of old and modern Xi’an. After a meal at a traditional restaurant and exploring the vibrant shopping streets, we boarded an overnight train to our next destination, Suzhou.

Suzhou has become known as the “Venice of the East” because of its picturesque canals and classical gardens. There, a visit to an embroidery workshop allowed us to witness the meticulous artistry of traditional Chinese embroidery. In addition, a tranquil boat ride on the Suzhou canals oﬀered serene views of the historic water town, and the Lingering Garden, one of the city’s most famous classical gardens, provided a tranquil escape with its beautifully arranged rocks, water features and pavilions.

From Suzhou, we travelled to Shanghai, a city of contrasts where the past and future collide in the most spectacular way. There, we explored the Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden amidst Shanghai’s urban sprawl, and enjoyed shopping in the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar. The iconic skyline of the Bund at night was a breath-taking experience, oﬀering views of Shanghai’s futuristic skyscrapers intermingled with its Colonial Era buildings. Our visit to the Shanghai Museum, regarded as one of the best in China, which showcased an impressive collection of Ancient Chinese artefacts, from ceramics and jade to calligraphy, deepened our appreciation of China’s artistic heritage. Other sight-seeing visits included the TV Tower

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and the Shanghai Urban History Museum, which highlighted the city’s rapid transformation from a ﬁshing village to a global metropolis. The day concluded with dinner at the TV Tower, giving us panoramic views of the illuminated city. On the ﬁnal day of our trip, we took the Maglev train to the airport, marvelling at its high-speed technology, which is typical of China’s modern innovations.

Reﬂecting on this remarkable trip, it not only enriched our understanding of Mandarin and Chinese culture, but also fostered a deeper appreciation of both the traditions and advancements of one of the world’s most dynamic countries.

Josh G, Upper VI

MerchiSTEAM TRIP TO PARIS

On the ﬁrst day of our trip to Paris, we landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the morning and travelled straight to the Eiﬀel Tower. The sight of the Tower was truly astounding, and we were fortunate to have tickets to explore the gardens around it. Walking around the base, we marvelled at its impressive architecture and learned about its design and construction. Although we did not go up the Tower, we made up for it with a relaxing boat trip along the Seine. The audio guide shared fascinating insights into the engineering behind the city’s landmarks, and we were even surprised by a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty. After a busy day of sightseeing, we were all quite tired, but excited for what lay ahead.

Day Two was ﬁlled with excitement as we visited Disneyland Paris. Whilst it is known for its entertainment, Disneyland also gave us a chance to see how design, engineering, and creativity come together. The rides, especially Hyperspace Mountain, showed us the impressive technology behind them, and we were amazed by how storytelling is combined with engineering to create unforgettable experiences. We also enjoyed the immersive worlds of Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Meeting beloved Disney characters was a real highlight, and it was wonderful to escape the usual School routine and be fully immersed in the magic of Disney. By the end of the day, we were exhausted but ﬁlled with great memories and feeling inspired.

On Day Three, we visited the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Europe’s largest science museum. With over

NOV 2024

30,000 square metres of exhibits, there was so much to explore. We spent a lot of time in the Chauvet Cave section, where we learned about early humans through digital recreations of cave art. We also explored the gaming exhibit and spent time in the interactive dance experience. One of the highlights was boarding the Argonaute submarine, where we experienced what it might have been like for French submariners.

Later, we visited the Fragonard Perfume Museum, where we learned about the ingredients and diﬀerent concentrations of perfumes, like Cologne, Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Parfum. We were then shown a selection of Fragonard’s fragrances and had the chance to sample them. After that, we explored the exterior of the Louvre and took photos in front of its famous glass Pyramid. We also visited the almost fully restored Cathedral of Notre-Dame, admiring the architecture and learning about the history of the building.

We ﬁnished the day with a climb to the top of Montmartre to visit the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. The view of Paris from the top was stunning, and, as the sun began to set, we reﬂected on our amazing day. Afterwards, we had a well-deserved dinner at a friendly local pizzeria, enjoying hot pizza and ice cream to end the trip on a high note.

George A (Lower VI), Angus J (V Form) & Chester Y (Lower VI)

BERLIN TRIP

This year saw the return of the History IGCSE trip, running for the ﬁrst time since February 2020. On this occasion, we decided to focus entirely on Berlin and to open our trip to all boys in the Shell and Fifth Forms, not just boys studying History. We were delighted that Dr Flanagan and ﬁve boys studying German were also able to join us. In Berlin, symbols of Germany’s vibrant modern democracy of today sit side by side with the remains of its dramatic twentieth century history, in a way that make it uniquely interesting and best enjoyed on foot, accompanied by Mr Thompson’s expert commentary. Over the course of the weekend, our

boys visited the Reichstag building and its new glass dome, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall, a Stasi prison and the very moving memorial and museum dedicated to the Jews who were murdered during World War Two. They climbed the TV Tower in Alexanderplatz and bought souvenirs in the Ampelmann shop and the famous Rausch Chocolate House. By the end of the weekend, Mr Glover’s step counter was registering 56,000 steps and we all returned to School exhausted but having thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Lesley McDiarmid, Lead Teacher of History and Politics

Boys at the Brandenburg Gate

Boys at the statue of Marx and Engels in the former communist East Berlin

BIENNIAL EXPEDITION TO ICELAND FOR IV FORM AND SHELL APR 2025

Biennially, the Geography Department is delighted to take keen and eager IV Form and Shell pupils to experience the amazing and extreme active landscapes of Iceland - 1 to 5 April 2025 was this year’s trip. What the pupils were unaware of was a call from Iceland to our trip leader, Dr Bower, when we were on our way to the airport, to say that the Grindavik Volcano, close to the airport, had started erupting that morning, but as the airport was still open, we were to proceed with our trip. As this was the morning of 1 April, Dr Bower took a lot of persuading that this was not an April Fools’ joke! Examination of live news coverage showed it was not! Staﬀ double-checked First Aid kits for inhalers, should we be arriving into air full of volcanic dust and gasses, and we hoped to see the volcanic lava display from the plane windows on landing. In fact, the eruption had already gone quiet by the time we arrived, and only some fresh lava could be seen approaching the airport road – probably just as well!

From Keflavik Airport, the coach took us through our first experience of miles and miles and miles of flat lava fields as we headed to Reykjavik, the capital city, and its geothermally heated municipal outdoor swimming pool (and its many steam baths / hot tubs / ice baths). After such an early start at School in Edinburgh that morning, we loved being able to let off steam in this novel environment, capped by attending a nearby flight simulation over Iceland’s landscapes, which helped put into perspective the diverse and dramatic landscape of the country we had just landed in, and would be exploring over the coming days.

Every night we were staying in a different hotel: reveille (organized military-style by the very able Lt Col Ewing) and breakfasts were early, giving us as long days as possible for our adventures and exploring. Day 2 started with a closeup tour and exploration of an enormous steaming geothermal power station, learning all about how it creates power from the natural heat of the earth, which is never far beneath our feet in Iceland. We were also shown how carbon capture works at this plant, which is going to be such an important activity in everyone’s future. We then travelled on to the Secret Lagoon to swim in the naturally hot pools of surface water, where we had to be careful because water was bubbling out of the ground 100 degrees hot, and the surface pools were naturally full of salts and gloriously hot to relax in. As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, we then reached the amazingly large Gulfoss Waterfall, where a main river plunges 33m over a plate boundary, and then a natural Geysir - which erupts boiling water out of the ground at intervals of its own choosing, which means it is very difficult to photograph - just as your camera battery closes down and switches your camera off, the Geysir erupts again!

After this, we hiked along the Mid Atlantic Ridge. This is clearly visible on the land surface in the vicinity of where Iceland's outdoor parliament has met since 930AD. The views of the open landscape are spectacular and the silence is eerie. Everyone enjoyed being photographed astride the diverging plate boundary, which means one foot is on the North American Tectonic Plate and the other

is on the Eurasian Tectonic Plate. Exhausted but exhilarated, we arrived at our hotel for the night - we could see the sign from the road but could see no building. However, the coach proceeded up a farm track until a collection of low buildings was visible, surrounded by farmland. Much fun was had playing football and hide and seek around the grounds until night fell (only a lack of light got the pupils back inside - their energy seemed limitless).

Day 3 started all too early with a hearty breakfast, followed by travelling to the ferry on the south coast, which took us over to the Westman Islands and, more speciﬁcally,

the harbour town of Heimaey, half of which was destroyed in lava ﬂows by the nearby Eldfell Vocano, which last erupted in 1973. We had a fascinating tour of the local museum, exhibiting excavated homes buried from the lava and lots of video footage of the events and recollection of residents, who only just escaped with their lives. We then had a challenging hike up to the crater of the volcano. The views of the half-buried town were spectacular from the dusty top. All pupils loved the ferry journeys there and back - the blowing of water by whales just visible at a distance, many birds nesting in the steep cliﬀ faces of the islands our

electric-powered ferry motored past, the strong winds on the top deck that blew one over, and the beautiful view of Eldfell's Crater disappearing into the distance as we left. That night, we were back on the mainland, this time in another rural area, close to the spectacular black basalt beaches of the south coast at Vik, which we enjoyed exploring the next morning. We were also very lucky that night to enjoy a display of Northern Lights not too long after supper. These are an unforgettable sight and experience.

Day 4 brought what many had looked forward to mostwe travelled to the Solheimjokull Glacier, learnt how to attach crampons to our boots, and, wearing a hard hat and with ice axe in hand, we hiked up onto the glacier and along its gnarled and crevassed middle spine. We drank from glacial streams, could hear the creaking of the slow glacier movement, and carefully followed in single file to avoid falling down a crevasse or sink hole, which could have killed us! Again, the spectacular views were breath-taking. On our way back east, our final outdoor adventure was visiting two very spectacular waterfalls: the first, where we could walk (carefully) along the backwall behind the water flowing over a former sea cliff plummeting some 15 m in front of us; and the second, where you had to wade along the river to enter a cave where the waterfall was falling through the cave roof it had carved by hydraulic action.

On our way to our final hotel, we were all sad that this was our final full day of adventures in Iceland. We stayed in the very characterful Viking Hotel and had our final dinner of locally caught fish with chips, surrounded by Viking artifacts. A post-dinner prizegiving was held, at which every pupil on the expedition seemed to have come first or excelled the best in something! It was then time for bed, with a 3.30am wake-up call for a 4am breakfast, to return to the airport to fly back to Scotland.

Exhaustion is an understatement! Many a loud snore was heard on the journey back to School. A big ‘thank you’ goes to the whole staﬀ team (Dr Bower, Head of Geography & Trip Leader; Lt Col. Ewing, Contingent Commander of the School’s CCF; Mr McLaughlin, Teacher of Science & Chemistry; Dr Mayoh, Lead Teacher of Physics & Electronics; Mr Gaddie, Graduate Assistant & Rugby Coach) who organized and ensured our enjoyment and safety throughout this trip – this was no easy undertaking! This trip will be remembered by all for many years to come. We recommend it thoroughly to the younger year groups, who will get an opportunity to sign up for the next one in two years’ time.

Tanya Bower, Head of Geography and Trip Leader; with the help of three of the Shell pupils on the tripJames R, Freddie L, and Adam W

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME

This past year has been another highly successful one for the boys participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. For those unfamiliar with the Award, it formally recognises the wide range of activities that our young people already take part in, encouraging them to develop new skills, experiences, and friendships. The Award consists of four main sections: Expedition, Physical, Skill, and Volunteering. With the wealth of opportunities available at Merchiston, our boys have no trouble ﬁnding something that suits their interests and talents.

At Gold level, participants also undertake a 5-day / 4night Residential, working with unfamiliar people on a shared project. Past examples have included residential cookery courses, university-run “pre-Med” programmes, and placements at outdoor activity centres. The Award, at all levels, is a fantastic way of broadening horizons, developing character, and building resilience.

DofE is perhaps best known for its Expedition section. Weekly training sessions for this run each Wednesday afternoon throughout the Autumn and Lent Terms. This year, for the first time, Bronze participants joined these sessions. The programme covered all core requirements for an effective expedition: team-building, navigation, first aid, campcraft, and emergency procedures. External providers commented that this was one of the most capable and well-prepared cohorts they had ever worked with.

I am pleased to report that all Expeditions were successful and largely incident-free. The Bronze boys explored the Trossachs near Lochearnhead on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year - plenty of water and rehydration tablets were essential! Silver and Gold groups completed a 3-day Practice Expedition in Peeblesshire, followed by their Qualifying Expedition in the rugged Corrour Estate. The weather was less forgiving, but every group made it through - albeit a little damp and footsore!

As ever, the success of the DofE programme relies on a dedicated team of staﬀ. My sincere thanks go to Mr Peter Garrett, Mr Robin Greenwood, Mr Ewan Dobbin, and Mr John Chambers for their unwavering support of both the boys and myself.

Here’s to another great season ahead!

David

Thomson, DofE Award Manager

FIFTH FORM OUTWARD BOUND ADVENTURE WEEK

In June, our V Form students embarked on the ﬁrst end-ofyear adventure trip. This took place after exams and was a challenging and rewarding way to round oﬀ a busy academic year. This year’s trip took place at the Outward Bound Centre at Loch Eil, near Fort William, surrounded by some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery.

Monday: The week began bright and early with breakfast in Laidlaw House, where the boys were welcomed by their new House Parents and prefects. Spirits were high as we boarded the bus for the journey north. On arrival, the boys settled into their accommodation and were quickly thrown into some ice-breaking team-building activities and name games with the Outward Bound instructors. The highlight of the day was the traditional “jog and dip,” which saw everyone take a run around the site before bravely leaping oﬀ the jetty into the chilly waters of Loch Eil! The evening ﬁnished on a thrilling note with the “leap of faith,” where the boys climbed a tall telegraph pole and launched themselves into the air on a harness to try and hit a suspended target.

Tuesday: Tuesday marked the start of the boys’ overnight expedition. After packing their kit, the group set oﬀ to climb Gael Charn, a nearby Munro. Despite the rain making conditions challenging, the boys persevered and reached the summit, demonstrating great resilience and teamwork. That evening, they pitched camp on a beach, cooked dinner together, and settled down for a night under the stars. Sleep was certainly a challenge, but thankfully the evening stayed dry and no rain could be seen!

Wednesday: After packing up camp, only Mr Glover proved brave enough to take an early-morning swim in the

loch! The group returned to the Outward Bound Centre and quickly prepared for the next adventure: gorge walking. This exhilarating activity involved scrambling and swimming up a local stream and taking some impressive and slightly nerve-wracking jumps into deep pools of water. In the evening, the boys gathered around a campﬁre to reﬂect on their expedition experiences, share stories, and enjoy some well-deserved s’mores

Thursday: Thursday was packed with further physical challenges as the boys spent the day hiking, climbing, and abseiling around the foot of Ben Nevis. Many were pushed out of their comfort zones as they tackled high abseils and technical climbs, building conﬁdence and trust in one another. That evening’s “Mixed Bag” activity saw the boys racing around the centre on a scavenger hunt, hunting for obscure items and completing creative challenges.

Friday: The final day of the week featured raft buildinga firm favourite. Provided only with barrels, planks, ropes, and the option to ask five strategic questions, the boys split into teams to design and construct their own rafts. The results were mixed: one raft floated triumphantly, while the other spectacularly fell apart mid-race, much to everyone’s amusement!

Overall, the V Form Outward Bound Adventure Week was a huge success. It oﬀered the boys the chance to build resilience, develop leadership skills, and strengthen friendships in a stunning natural environment. It was the perfect way to conclude a busy year, and we are already looking forward to planning next year’s adventure for the new V Form cohort.

Richard Glover, House Parent of Chalmers East

RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL AWARD

We are a Rights Respecting School – we hold Gold Award level accreditation. As a Rights Respecting school, we are:

• teaching about rights;

• through rights and for rights;

• the adults in our Merchiston community are the duty bearers;

• our pupils are the rights holders.

What impact does the Rights Respecting Schools Award have on Merchiston?

It provides a set of values that improves the environment for learning and behaviour for learning. This leads to an improved relationship between staﬀ and pupils, due to a common Rights Respecting language.

Scotland has become the ﬁrst devolved nation in the world to directly incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law. Only a small number of nations have directly incorporated the UNCRC into domestic law and Scotland is the ﬁrst country in the UK to do so.

The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act means that children’s rights are now part of the law in Scotland. The UNCRC sets out the human rights of children and young people, including the right to an education, the right to the best possible health, to nutritious food, to a safe, warm house, to social security, and the right to protection from abuse and neglect. Having these rights in law is a legal change, but also a cultural one.

As a Gold accredited Rights Respecting School, Merchiston was already fully prepared when the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act came into force on 16 July 2024.

Merchiston achieved the Gold Award in UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools programme in January 2024, and continues to work on Rights Respecting activities, with a newly-formed Wellbeing Committee being set up by our Medical Centre, with staﬀ and pupils getting involved.

Merchiston Rights Respecting activities continue in earnest with the following projects being progressed by the Pupil Rights Respecting Group:

Working with other schools:

• We continue to work with other schools on Rights Respecting projects – listening to their ideas and experience as well as staﬀ presenting to Junior and

Primary Schools;

• We hosted the ﬁrst Edinburgh-based Rights Respecting Conference last year and followed this up with our second conference this year;

• The Pupil Rights Respecting Group members were involved in the planning of this year’s Rights Respecting Conference – designing the Conference booklet and lanyards, as well as the programme for the day itself. They supported the Conference on the day – as Conference Ambassadors (greeting the Conference delegates, handing out Conference packs and helping with the smooth-running of the day);

• During the morning sessions, the delegates presented the work they are currently doing within the Rights Respecting Schools Award;

• In the afternoon, the schools divided into mixed groups and worked on designing a framework for a Rights Award, that organisations / services / people could be awarded - if they are championing children’s rights through the work they do;

• All of the ideas generated from the Conference workshop will now be progressed by a Rights Award Pupil Working Group;

• Also presenting at the Conference were representatives from the Scottish Youth Parliament, who shared their work as a MSYP, as well as explaining how a young person could become a MSYP;

• The visiting staﬀ had an opportunity to speak to Jenny Price – UNICEF RRSA Professional Adviser (Scotland: North & South), and ask her key questions about gathering evidence and the Rights Respecting Accreditation process. We are very grateful to the City of Edinburgh Council for their support of both this year’s and last year’s Rights Respecting Conference.

Introducing Rights to our JuniorForest Nursery and Junior School:

• We are going to introduce the concept of Rights Respecting to our new Forest School, which has boys and girls from ages 3 to 7;

• We are going to look at any local nurseries that have introduced the concept of Rights Respecting, to see if we can learn from them and ﬁnd out some good ideas to use for ourselves;

• We have been told that the boys and girls of the Forest School and Nursery love stories, learning through play, investigating and creating, revisiting learning and teaching others;

• We know that working with the younger boys and girls will be exciting but also presents a challenge in terms of understanding what they can understand and what they are interested in.

Introducing a Rights based Rewards System:

• We are going to use the concept of Rights Respecting to introduce a new School Rewards System;

• The criteria for our Rewards System will be based on our Core Values and our Merchiston Community Charter.

Promoting rights:

• We have designed posters that are put up around School – helping to remind all of our School community about the Rights Respecting Principles;

• We will be presenting at School assemblies – reminding our peers and staﬀ about the UNCRC and the Rights Respecting Schools Award, explaining the beneﬁts of being a Rights Respecting School and suggesting what the School could be doing to ensure that it is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted;

• In PSHE lessons, pupils are taught about the UNCRC and the concepts of Rights Respecting;

• We have continued to add material and information to the Rights Respecting Google Classroom;

• As we are a school in Scotland, the rights of the child are the driving foundation of the GIRFEC pastoral approach (www.gov.scot/policies/girfec/principles-and-values/).

Celebrate key days:

• We celebrate key days and events, such as Mental Health Awareness Week – Rights Related, with discussions taking place in tutorial times and assemblies.

As part of the ‘Introducing Rights to the Forest School’ project, the First Form students visited Edinburgh Academy Junior School to attend its Rights Respecting Conference. Our boys presented the work they have been doing to introduce the concept of 'Rights at the Forest School at Merchiston'. They explained how they had visited the pupils of the Forest School, to talk about the role of the Duty Bearer and that all children are Rights Holders. Also, they spoke to the Forest School pupils about the 'ABCDE of Rights' and used Article 31, which focuses on the right to play, rest, leisure, and participation in cultural and artistic activities.

As well as presenting about their own work, the First Form boys heard other schools talk about their work, learning about culture days and Rights being embedded across the curriculum. They also took part in a number of activities – from representing a UNCRC Article through a Lego construction to Rights Snap and Pictionary. The boys very much enjoyed the conference and they will continue to work towards embedding Rights at the Forest School.

Will Ogilvie-Jones, Rights Respecting Lead

INTERNATIONAL WEEK 2024-25

JUNIORS

With the help of our Japanese students, the International Week assembly for Pringle was all about Japan. Atsushi, Yuga and Oju all gave very informative presentations.

These were followed by three hands-on activities for Pringle students to enjoy. There was a team relay race, using chopsticks to move jelly beans from one table to anothernot as easy as it sounds! Then we had a table set up for students to paint their name in Japanese script. Thank you to Oju and Yuga’s mum for help with this. And the third activity was origami, where students made a variety of animals and objects, depending on their skill level! A big

‘thank you’ to Arjun for helping with this activity. This was a wonderful interactive assembly that was very much enjoyed, and we all learned a lot about Japanese culture.

It was also a busy week in Pringle House. There was a food quiz and general knowledge quiz run by prefects.

The Juniors also got very sticky in house with cup cake decorating. They were tasked with creating ﬂags on cakes in icing!

MIDDLE YEARS AND SENIORS

International prefects 2024-25 - Erik S and Arsen R

Always a highlight of the School calendar, International Week 2024 was no diﬀerent and, as you can see, it was action-packed with a range of food, activities, music and presentations on oﬀer.

Whole School Assembly was a presentation on the amazing visit to China in October. Thank you, Mrs Chang, for organising such a memorable trip!

MIDDLE YEARS

Presenters and musicians from Middle Years Assembly, proudly presenting their countries and demonstrating their musical prowess.

Fun and games in Chalmers!

SENIORS

Senior assembly presenters:

Laidlaw

Thank you for all being so supportive and contributing to such an important week, highlighting the diversity and inclusion in our School community.

Susan Hardman, Head of EAL (English as an Additional Language)

Currywurst & Champions League in Laidlaw South!

North international quiz – not at all competitive!

Swedish biscuit-making in the Middle Years followed by water pong!

FOOD AND MENUS

A massive THANK YOU! has to go to the Chartwells catering team for pushing the boat out yet again in terms of lunchtime cuisine and dining hall decoration. It seems that American cuisine got the boys’ vote while the staﬀ loved the spicy and fragrant Thai dishes!

MerchiSTEAM AND THE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

The MerchiSTEAM Activity continues to thrive and grow, oﬀering a dynamic space where students from all disciplines can come together and have many opportunities to showcase their STEM and creative passions, share their unique expertise, and collaborate on innovative solutions to real-world challenges. It has been another exciting year for the boys, with opportunities to collaborate with industrial partners and even travel overseas. For example, in the Design and Technology Department, a variety of co-curricular STEM opportunities are oﬀered through the weekly activity slots, as well as during the Saturday Electives programme. We have had some exciting experiences and projects this year - we hope you enjoy reading about them!

#DigiInventors Challenge

In November and December 2024, our Merchiston team attended the Bootcamp and National Finals of the #DigiInventors competition in Glasgow, run by the Digital Health Institute. The team winners were delighted to have been announced as the winners of this year’s challenge, out of over 60 entries nationwide. They spent time working with design and business industry professionals to develop their proposal into a viable product, presenting to a panel of judges from the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

The challenge, in association with Scottish Hockey and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, asked young people to reinvent the game of field hockey using digital technologies and e-gaming to promote health and participation in sports. Our finalists took part in an all-day bootcamp in Glasgow, where they learned how to develop and communicate their ideas effectively before presenting to the other finalists and judges in December 2024.

‘EvoGrip’, produced by Lower Sixth students Yuqi C, George A, Ghani R and Eithan L, is a sports accessory product that promotes healthy participation and competition amongst experienced and new hockey players by tracking their physical performance statistics on the ﬁeld and relaying the information to a social mediastyle app to track individuals’ progress, score points amongst friends and set improvement targets.

The winning team had the pleasure of attending an awards ceremony in January 2025 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, at which they pitched their product proposal to an audience of technology enthusiasts and company representatives before receiving the #DigiInventors 2024 Award and individual prizes. The boys are already excited to get involved in next year’s challenge and we are eager to see what they will achieve next!

CanSat

From October 2024 to March 2025, two teams from Merchiston collaborated with STEM Learning to compete in the 2025 CanSat competition. This annual, hands-on event provides students with the exciting opportunity to design, build, and launch miniature satellites. The competition oﬀered valuable experience in space technology, challenging the students to plan and carry out a primary mission that involved measuring air pressure and temperature with their satellite, then transmitting the data back to a ground station.

The project began with brainstorming mission objectives, where students carefully considered their goals and sourced the necessary components for data collection. Through teamwork and feedback, they successfully planned and designed their satellites. Tasks were divided among specialised groups, focusing on CAD design, parachute development, electronics, and soldering.

In addition to the given primary mission of measuring both air pressure and temperature, each team had to develop a secondary mission of its own. The first team focused on using artificial intelligence to analyse images captured by the satellite, while the second team concentrated on measuring air quality and pollution at different altitudes. As part of the competition, each team wrote a report explaining the rationale behind their secondary mission, justifying its real-world relevance and potential applications in advancing science and technology. This was required before they could participate

in the regional launch event.

Through their hard work and perseverance, both teams earned the opportunity to take part in the regional launch at Strathaven Airﬁeld. Here, they loaded their prototype satellites into fuelled rockets for launch, reaching an altitude of over 300 metres before deploying. The boys were in high spirits as both satellites’ parachutes deployed as expected, ensuring a safe descent. Despite some challenges, such as antenna damage during the process, the mission was still considered a great success and the experience underscored the importance of early preparation and consistent testing.

Participating in CanSat was an invaluable educational experience for students interested in STEM as it helped them develop essential skills in teamwork, communication, time management, programming, and electronics. For anyone considering a career in technology or engineering, getting involved in projects like CanSat is highly recommended, and the teams are excited to compete again next year and welcome new members!

Arkwright Engineering Scholarships

Since 2002, twenty-nine boys have been awarded the prestigious two-year Arkwright Scholarship. Routinely, successful candidates have gone on to university, apprenticeships and careers across the diverse ﬁeld of engineering disciplines. Our two current scholars, Anish M and Yuqi C, are preparing for university in their respective disciplines; we have one V Form applicant awaiting news from The Smallpeice Trust on the outcome of his application for 2025-27. During the Summer Term, the application process is advertised to the Shell year group, who build a portfolio of evidence ahead of the application portal opening in the autumn. We wish all of them the very best of luck!

Josh Farquhar & Clare Nugent, Design & Technology Department

COMBINED CADET FORCE 2024-25

The CCF has gone through a transitional period this academic year with the introduction of a new syllabus, which will be fully implemented from September 2025. In the light of this, we have introduced parts of this new syllabus as a trial run in the 2024 - 25 academic year. The new syllabus is a work in progress with Cadets Branch at Regional Command. It is hoped that some of the compulsory aspects may be moved to Saturday electives, as fulﬁlling them has proved to be rather time-consuming and staﬀ-heavy.

The Shell year group has completed a comprehensive first year. This included the standards and values of the cadet movement; drill to establish a base-line disciplinary level; pride in the wearing of the cadet uniform; weapon training, raising a higher degree of self-discipline in all the safety aspects of maintaining, operating and handling any and all weapons; and fieldcraft, which embodies teamwork and the importance of communication and understanding of their position within a section of eight cadets. Throughout the year, confirmation of all these elements has been through the use of paintball rifles within the School grounds. The acquisition of these paintball rifles has been a revelation in the training of our CCF Cadets and will be a great asset towards achieving the new syllabus.

The senior cadets have been given instruction in supervisory and low-level leadership roles. As part of the new syllabus trial, they have also completed a Cadet Forces Instructional Techniques Course (CFIT) over the course of the Lent Term. This will allow these cadets to engage in instruction to the recruit cadets and enhance their understanding of the elements of Command.

During the Summer Term, the cadets have had extensive training on the cadet rifle and, at the time of writing, more than 75% have passed the Weapon Handling Test. The cadets have also (with paintball rifles) been through an exciting package of static firing, introducing Fire Control Orders and Close Quarter Battle Training (CQB) in pairs, highlighting the necessity of good communication in a very confusing and quickly changing environment. Lastly, the cadets have had the opportunity to train in house clearing, a very intense environment requiring the highest level of teamwork and communication skills.

At the end of the academic year, members of the contingent will deploy to CCF Camp at Barry Buddon for a week. Unfortunately, due to other MOD operational requirements, the defence estate available to our cadets has been reduced. Our attendance numbers at Barry Buddon have been reduced as we now share the camp with CCFs from Northern Ireland. From our two schools within the contingent, we are taking 29 cadets (normally 70 -100). This drop in numbers, however, does not detract from the fact that an exciting and informative week has been prepared for them. As in years gone by, no doubt echoed by those former cadets reading this, it will be an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Lt Col Alan Ewing, Contingent Commander

THE SPAWFORTH LIBRARY

2024-25

The past year has been a busy one in the Spawforth Library with events, trips, awards and lots of ‘bookish’ fun. Throughout the year, we continue to host classes and book groups, and now our lively new Dungeons and Dragons club twice weekly.

Book Groups are popular: with lively chat over tea and cake, we have discussed varied texts. Reading Leader and Book Group member David O reflects: “At first, I wasn’t really into novels at all, but being in Book Group over the past 23 years has allowed me to see a different perspective on books and the positive impact they can have on people, from loads of author visits and the World Book Day event. It also helped that Mrs Gibb baked amazing snacks for those attending each meeting!”.

The Autumn Term saw our Reading Leaders take on new challenges in both the School community and beyond in order to secure our status as a Scottish Book Trust Reading School, and to be awarded the prestigious gold award. The Reading Schools programme is an accreditation programme for schools that are committed to building a reading culture for their learners and communities, where every pupil is encouraged to feed their imagination through books. The programme is open to all schools in Scotland and there are currently over 1200 schools taking part across core, silver and gold levels. We have become the ﬁrst independent school in Edinburgh to achieve the gold award.

critical thinking, creativity, empathy and resilience. At Merchiston, we have built on strong foundations as a reading community and developed this by sharing our passion for reading across year groups, the staﬀ body and with outside parties, to establish ourselves as a gold standard Reading School. The Reading Leadership Team, made up of boys from the Middle and Senior years, has been instrumental in using ideas and initiatives to enhance reading for pleasure as an inviting and rewarding activity: leading inspiring assemblies, hosting reading-based campaigns, and organising large-scale author events. Constructive reading behaviours have been role-modelled, books and authors celebrated, and consequently, a signiﬁcant uptake in reading has been observed.

Achieving the gold award is especially signiﬁcant following recent reports that reading for pleasure is in decline in young people. However, the commitment and enthusiasm for reading exempliﬁed at Merchiston contradicts this and the Library remains a popular spot for reading, research and activities at the heart of the School.

With eight UVI Reading Leaders leaving us this year, applications have been open for new team members, and a signiﬁcant number of boys have come forward to ﬁll these roles and be ambassadors for reading. The desire to be involved in the Library and all it does is evident. Library Prefect, Henry W, notes: “being a Reading Leader is important as we are able to be role models through reading to the younger boys and, hopefully, inspire them to begin a reading journey”.

We love to welcome authors to School and this year have had exciting visits from debut authors as well as beloved favourites. With The Forest Nursery and Junior School now open at Merchiston, we have been keen to ensure that the little ones do not miss out, and in October we were delighted that our juniors and special guests from Colinton, Longstone, Bonaly and Cargilﬁeld Schools could share in the magical story Tree Spirits with author and photographer Louise Wannier, who ﬂew in from California to be with us. The interactive story time inspired us to look closely at nature and discover the spirit of nature and the stories we can form from the world around us. Louise was delighted to walk with the children amongst Merchiston’s own beautiful trees.

Reading for pleasure is central to supporting wellbeing, improving attainment across the curriculum, and boosting

Our Middle Years were also treated to an afternoon of book chat from best-selling author of eighteen crime novels, Doug Johnstone. As well as writing novels, we learned about Doug’s career as an arts journalist, the football team he founded, his rock band and his PhD in Nuclear Physics. The boys had questions on all of this and much more, and we are incredibly grateful for the time we had with him. Doug’s new Enceladons trilogy is set locally in Portobello, and book one was picked by our V Form Book Group as its autumn choice. We had great discussions in our next meeting about The Space Between Us and absolutely recommend it to sci-ﬁ and thriller fans!

Later in the summer, we were delighted to host bestselling author, publisher and sports podcaster Peter Burns, for an exceptional and interactive event based upon his new book, Shadow Thieves. Peter told us about his story, characters and plot and tested our own skills in solving enigmatic puzzles and scrambling through ‘lasers’ to reach treasures. The boys had lots of fun and bookish (and rugby!) chat with Peter over book signing, and we can’t wait to have him back to visit again when book two in the series comes out, and also to speak to our older boys next year about careers in the rugby industry.

Our youngest readers have also been treated to their very own author event over in The Forest. Stuart Lloyd Gould brought us his story Nuts! and introduced us to all the characters in the book. The staﬀ and children learned about Cyril the Squirrel and his missing nuts, and had fun

taking part on stage and dashing about the Forest. We can’t wait for book two to come out.

This year, we have had some great events in the Library. At Halloween, the Reading Leaders dimmed the lights, dressed up, and hosted the juniors for ‘Fright Night’. Over spooky snacks, we learned about each other’s favourite gothic tales, and the juniors were invited to share their own creative writing inspired by gothic ﬂash ﬁction, dark and dangerous stories and murderous mysteries. We were all thoroughly spooked!

At Easter, our friends from St George’s School joined us for a perfect spring poetry event. We explored seasonal themes and were delighted to hear poems written by a number of the juniors, take part in spring craft activities and share Easter snacks.

We were delighted to welcome the St George’s girls again on World Book Day when, after an inspiring and lively event with favourite author Justin Davies, we set oﬀ in teams around the School campus to solve literary puzzles,

riddles and clues at diﬀerent locations, before crowning the winners over lunch and presenting them with bookish prizes. Our guests, Reading Leaders and staﬀ also got into the bookish spirit in sporting fetching book-themed costumes. This was a huge event, with many parties involved in ensuring the day went to plan.

In the summer, the Spawforth Library turned pink and hosted the ﬁrst ever literary event just for the ladies of the Merchiston community. Pretty in Pink was held on a beautiful summer evening and our Merchiston mums, friends and relatives were treated to an evening of romance, held in conjunction with The Book Lover’s Bookshop. In an intimate ‘ﬁreside chat’, with bookshop owner, Caden Armstrong, and Elliot Fletcher, author of Scottish set romance novel Whisky Business, we heard about the rise in the popularity of the romance genre and about Elliot’s writing career and inspiration for her popular trilogy. We enjoyed pink prosecco, strawberries and canapés and had a wonderful chance to browse and buy from an expertly-curated selection in a pop-up bookshop, brought to the Library especially for that night. This was a wonderful opportunity for the ladies of the School community to socialise in an intimate setting and we look forward to hosting more events like these in the year ahead.

For the ﬁrst time this year, we put forward a team for the National Literary Trust Reading Champions Quiz. Alan, Sam,

William G, William R and reservist Logan worked hard against 25 teams and emerged victorious as the regional winners for Scotland East. I was so incredibly proud of the boys and how they applied knowledge and intuition to come out on top as clear winners. In June, accompanied by Mr Ogilvie-Jones, we set off for a day in London to attend the finals. The 4am start did not dampen the excitement and we were delighted to meet the other teams in the final as well as quiz host, Mr Dilly. We did not win (this time) but had a wonderful day out, full of treats and a well-earned pizza tea, and had lots to tell the others when we saw them the next day.

The Spawforth Library is a wonderful space at the heart of the School and, as well as being our centre for reading for pleasure, research and relaxation, it is home to book groups, meetings and the place where ideas are formed and reading initiatives brainstormed. This incredible space is named after David Spawforth, Headmaster from 1981 to 1998, and who opened the Library twenty-ﬁve years ago in May 2000. David passed away this year, but his legacy continues to serve the School, and the haven which the Library has been and will be for so many is a ﬁtting tribute to an incredible man. We were delighted to welcome returning Merchistonians, friends and family into the Library following the memorial service held at School in April.

The year 2024-25 has been a whirlwind of activity in the Library, and, as ever, I am grateful for the support of our incredible English Department and the continuous help from the IT and domestic managers and their teams in enabling me to do what I do. This year, we say goodbye in the Library to treasured and inﬂuential English teachers Steph Binnie and Natasha Callan, and to eight wonderful UVI Reading Leaders, led by Library prefect Henry W, who were instrumental in the School attaining the Gold Reading School award, as well as our longest attending book group member (Ali J, 10 years!). Integral to the Library community, their impact will be long-lasting, and we wish them all well in all future adventures.

‘What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?’ - V. E. Schwab.

Rachel Gibb, School Librarian

ARTS PROGRAMME 2024-25

This year, the Arts Programme had a typically wide range of events on offer. Musicals are always the most popular things with our boys, and we could take advantage of some big touring productions this year. Perhaps the most surprising of these was Come from Away, a hugely popular recent musical set in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland on the day of the 9/11 attacks on the USA. It was to the huge airfield in Gander that many international flights were redirected when the terror attacks hit New York and Washington, and the musical is a wonderfully heart-warming story of a community that comes together to support outsiders, and the way differences are broken down in the face of terrible adversity. There were some great tunes, too, including many where you could ascertain the influence of Scottish folk music. Some more conventional West End blockbusters came to visit, too, including & Juliet, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of a Juliet who refuses to kill herself just because her boyfriend did so, and the musical Mary Poppins, with its remarkable stage illusions and mixture of new and familiar songs.

Music is always a part of our programme. This year, we went to a jazz concert from the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and some classical music, where we make sure we pick things that will be a good way in for boys who have never tried it before. This year we went to two concerts from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra: one that featured Grieg’s famous Piano Concerto and Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony (with its “swan theme” in the ﬁnale), and the other featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No 4 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto - a particularly exciting performance because Alena Baeva, the violinist, was a latereplacement for the previously advertised soloist.

We also went to lots of straight theatre, including a harrowing performance of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire at the Lyceum, a play which is also a set text for several of our VI Form students of English. We saw Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, another American classic, starring Scottish actor David Hayman, and a visiting American production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, which played with the theme of racial diﬀerence in a way that resonated powerfully with a 21st century audience.

Our Arts Programme is important because it widens the boys’ horizons and gives them the opportunity to attend events that they may otherwise never go near. Its real benefits might not be seen in our boys until long after they have left Merchiston. I hope that, one day in the future, they’ll walk past a poster advertising an opera or a ballet or a concert, remember their experience of that at Merchiston, and buy a ticket because they enjoyed it once so they might do so again. It’s one of the most important things we offer at Merchiston, and I think it makes us unique as a boarding school. Thank you very much to all the boys who have given it a go, to the staff for coming along and supervising, and to all the parents who pay the cost of the ticket on their end-of-term bill. Without you, none of it would be possible!

Simon Thompson, Head of the Faculty of Global Aﬀairs & Director of the Arts Programme

ECO CLUB 2024-25

This year has seen the Eco Club at Merchiston go from strength to strength, with boys showing a genuine commitment to making our School more sustainable, responsible, and environmentally friendly.

From hands-on action to strategic planning, our members have been busy. We began with regular litter picks around campus – a small but vital act of care for our shared spaces. From there, the boys took on the maintenance of our outdoor classroom - weeding, composting, and ensuring it remains a welcoming space for learning and reﬂection.

One of our most impactful initiatives was auditing the boarding houses to ﬁnd practical ways to be more ecofriendly. The boys led this initiative themselves – checking that lights and taps were turned oﬀ when not needed, encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags and water bottles, and improving recycling across houses.

The club also turned its focus towards the younger end of our School. We were proud to present to the Forest

School about sustainable living and even helped them set up new allotment beds to grow their own produce. A favourite memory was planting a wildﬂower meadow in the Paddock. This project not only brightened up the area but also played a part in encouraging biodiversity and supporting pollinators.

Sustainability was also on the menu when we visited the School kitchens to learn how we can help reduce food waste. Following this visit, the boys designed informative posters for Food Waste Awareness Day – a brilliant display of creativity and purpose.

In Assembly, Eco Club members shared their work with the wider School, raising awareness and inspiring others to get involved. All this hard work was recognised with the awarding of the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag – a ﬁtting reward for a year of dedication and initiative. The future is green, thanks to the vision and action of our Eco Club.

Claire Haston, Primary Teacher

YOUTH PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE

Once again this year, the Fourth Form boys have undertaken the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. For this initiative, the boys divide into small groups and select a local charity to support. After much research, they present their charity to a panel of judges for the chance to win £3000 on behalf of their charity. They are judged on a range of different criteria such as engagement, impact, presentation skills but, most importantly, passion. YPI has the benefit of educating the boys about important challenges facing the community while also building their capacity to advocate for others. This year, all the groups put forward persuasive, passionate arguments about why their charity would benefit from the money and also, movingly, how they themselves have changed as result of this initiative.

YPI is run as a joint project between PSHE and English. In PSHE, the boys spend two terms exploring and considering the importance of the social issues that people face here and now. They learn about the importance of communities and how these local charities build community and support local people. This year, there was a wide range of issues and charities that they chose to support, including youth work, homelessness, men’s mental health and food banks. Boys begin to learn about the charity’s work through their own research and inperson visits in these PSHE lessons. It is an intensive process; the boys were supported throughout by Mr Buchanan and Mr Ogilvie-Jones, who tirelessly helped them by advising and facilitating the boys’ work. Overall, it has been an invaluable opportunity for the boys as part of the

Merchiston community to put principle into practice by helping others.

In English, the boys spend the Summer Term, honing their research and presentation skills. They learn how to retrieve information from diﬀerent sources, evaluate it and present the information into compelling arguments. These skills are essential for building their digital literacy and their understanding of media; skills critical to their future success. They work on developing their rhetorical skills to engage, inform and persuade. In order to get the boys to understand the practical value and applications of these 21st century skills, the School invited two guest speakers: Katie Burgess, Merchiston’s Digital Marketing Oﬃcer, and Scott Douglas, head of Holyrood PR. Miss Burgess talked to the boys about how to create an impactful social media video, linking it to the power of storytelling. It was impressive to see the boys learn from this and create their own delightful videos about their charities. Mr Douglas inspired the boys by talking about his career in journalism before entering into the world of PR; his example of how to make a career from curiosity, passion and communication skills was greatly appreciated by the boys - and their English teachers!

The ﬁnal presentation was a proud moment for all involved, and the boys should feel immense satisfaction in their hard work. On behalf of the boys, the staﬀ would like to extend their profound thanks to all the people involved who made this such a rich and valuable experience for them.

Katherine Upton, Lead Teacher of English

VERBATIM DRAMA PROJECT: CREATIVE BEGINNINGS

As the drama programme grows at Merchiston, we are always looking for new opportunities to showcase the boys’ talents and build a broader base of skills. How can we do this? One of the biggest challenges of youth drama is the lack of writing by young people for young people: they are told what is important and what to perform - which is ﬁne, perhaps, but not ideal. But what if we wanted to change that? How could we give the voices of young people a bigger platform? How would we ensure that the concerns of young people are focused on and listened to? How could we empower young actors and young writers? In the Summer Term, as part of the Wednesday Cultural Activities programme, I had the opportunity to start a new creative project with the boys, considering these questions and drawing on their dramatic skills to undertake this challenge by exploring another area of interest and excellence in the School - rugby.

Drama and rugby are not the most obvious pairing, admittedly. Plays and films about rugby do exist, although you might struggle to name these titles. Creating a play about rugby would not be an easy task; creating a verbatim play, which is made up of interviews, about rugby might be even harder. However, there are a number of reasons why this has been a dynamic, productive and exciting project, precisely because of the crossover of drama and rugby, and precisely because it is challenging in all the right ways. Firstly, rugby is a pursuit that a large number of the boys follow devotedly. Pupil interest - check. Secondly, it is an interest that they love to talk about – a lot. Pupil voicecheck. Thirdly, because of their enthusiasm and knowledge, the boys have significant expertise in this area. Pupil power - check. Lastly, the School’s longstanding excellence in rugby meant that we could draw on a broad and deep community that would support us, cheering us on even while we were finding our feet.

That unwavering support of the Merchiston community has been awe-inspiring, and it has given momentum to this project. Initially, the boys were daunted about the idea of creating a play, but when we discussed how we could do this by interviewing their rugby heroes, they were excited. They saw it as a challenge worth stepping up for. A project of this scale does not happen overnight: the boys have had to train for it as team or a company. Our focus this term was on learning how to ask questions and hold conversations with people to learn more about them in preparation for future interviews. The boys researched diﬀerent questioning approaches and then put this into practice with each other, thereby building their conﬁdence as well as their sense of community. They ran drama drills, working as a team to keep talking about a certain topic - sometimes while also passing a rugby ball and while the opposing team tried to distract them into hesitating, deviating or repeating! A highlight of the term was the talk given by David Ferguson on his career in sports journalism. Mr Ferguson spoke to the whole Shell year group before giving a masterclass in interview technique. The interview was all the more fascinating as the interviewee was none other than Roddy Deans! The boys were riveted as Mr Ferguson and Mr Deans covered a huge range of topics and they had a chance to ask their own questions.

Next term, the company will move to asking for interviews with rugby players, hopefully with some Merchistonians, and conducting these interviews themselves. We have the support of all the Merchiston Sports Department, particularly Mr Deans and Mr De Luca. The boys are now ready for this, full of curiosity, conﬁdence and enthusiasm. We will see where the next stage of the project takes us!

Katherine Upton, Lead Teacher of English

INTERVIEW WITH THE 2024-25 CAPTAIN OF SCHOOL

ARCHIE C, Captain of School 2024-25, was interviewed in May 2025 about his role in his ﬁnal year at Merchiston.

When did you join Merchiston and in which year group?

I joined Merchiston in September 2020 in the IV Form from Mowden Hall School in Northumberland.

What brought you to Merchiston?

The biggest attraction at Merchiston for me was the fantastic Golf Academy here. The culture around sport which Merchiston creates allows individuals and teams to excel in sport. I also loved the School when I visited it: the boys, the staﬀ and also the location were all big factors in deciding to come here.

Have you always been a boarder?

At Mowden Hall School, I started boarding on a ﬂexi basis at the age of 8 and became a full boarder at the age of 11. I truly do love it.

What have been the highpoints of your time at Merchiston, prior to becoming Captain of School, and what have been your most significant achievements? This, for me, is extremely difficult to answer. Waking up every morning, knowing I have the opportunity to improve in a fantastic School like this, makes me very fortunate. I have always enjoyed sport, so reaching the final of the Scottish Schools Cricket Cup and being involved in national events with the Golf Academy have been my main highlights. I would say that my biggest achievement is becoming Captain of School here: I have been very proud to lead my peers and all the pupils at Merchiston.

How have you balanced your golﬁng and academic commitments through your time at Merchiston, to which the duties of Captain of School have now been added?

I have always been someone who loves to be busy. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but the support I have received when trying to excel in golf, whilst managing my academics, has been extremely helpful. Being Captain of School has brought extra duties for me, but having someone like a Housemaster to lean on to help you balance commitments is a real help and makes life much easier. Also, the Director of Golf is always trying to make sure that I’m on top of my academics when representing the School.

What have been the most signiﬁcant changes which you have seen at the School during your time here?

I would say that the most obvious would have to be the boarding system. When I joined Merchiston, you boarded in your year group up until the Sixth Form. With the new boarding house facilities and structure, I think that more ﬂuidity between year groups has been created, whilst still being able to be close with your own year group.

Sum up your time at Merchiston in three words. Memorable, enjoyable, fortunate.

How has your time at Merchiston shaped you as a person?

My time here at School has shaped me as a person in many ways: it has given me the opportunity to improve my leadership skills; it has given me conﬁdence, along with multiple other attributes, which I can now carry into life past School; and it has shaped me for the outside world where I can grow further as a person.

What advice would you give to a new pupil starting at Merchiston?

We use the term “buying in” a great deal here at School. It doesn’t matter if sports are not your forte, or music or academics: buy in and try new things out - we certainly have a lot to oﬀer here at Merchiston.

What, for you, is your favourite or most signiﬁcant event in the Merchiston calendar?

I’ve been asked this question multiple times! Having been in Laidlaw North now for three years, the black tie Christmas dinner on the Monday before the end of the Autumn Term is my favourite event of the year, along with the Graduation Ceremony at the end of year.

What will you miss about life at Merchiston after you have left?

I’ll miss the Merchiston community, the friendships I’ve made for life, and being part of this wonderful School.

What subjects are you studying at in the Sixth Form and what are your future plans?

I am currently studying for three A Levels here at Merchiston in Economics, French and English. I plan to go to study International Business in America whilst pursuing my golf career on a Sports Scholarship at Georgia State University.

Why did you want to become Captain of School, and what personal qualities / experiences do you bring to the role?

I wanted to become Captain of School for many reasons. I feel that I have been in fortunate positions in the past where leadership has had to be shown and I wanted to further that life skill. I think that I am well respected within my year group and in the School as a whole, so I felt that I would be able to lead the School in an appropriate manner.

What skills are you learning through your duties this year which will be useful to you in the future?

I think the most obvious one would have to be public speaking, something I had very little experience of before my role of Captain of School, but it’s something I certainly feel more comfortable with now. I also think that sometimes it can be diﬃcult to be a leader within your own year group and your friends, so that’s something I have had to balance whilst maintaining great relationships with all of them.

What have you learnt about the School through your role this year?

I would say I have learnt a lot about the community. Having visited all the boarding houses in the evenings, it’s been lovely to see the close-knit community that we have here.

I have also learnt how tirelessly all the staﬀ here work for us, which is something we possibly don’t appreciate enough in the younger years.

What are the regular duties which are part of your role?

On a weekly basis, I speak at the Tuesday Whole School Assembly. I have weekly meetings with the Deputy Heads and Headmaster as well. I also try to be visible within the boarding houses as much as possible, along with the new Forest School that has opened this year.

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of your role this year?

Being a busy man is certainly in my nature! Trying to balance academics, sport and my leadership role in the School is certainly sometimes a lot, but I have found the support around me massively beneﬁcial in managing this.

What achievement has meant the most to you this year as Captain of School?

The Senior Prefects’ Service was a real success for me and my fellow Senior Prefects. Trying to organise eighteen boys, all my peers, is never an easy task to say the least, but I was massively proud, as I know others were too, of the eﬀort we put into the service.

What advice would you give to those who will follow you as Captain of School?

My advice to future Captains of School would be to enjoy the experience. There is only one person from each year fortunate enough to have the honour of leading the pupil body at School, so grasp the opportunity with both hands and enjoy the journey.

Thank you, Archie

MARKETING & ADMISSIONS NEWS 2024-25

International Recruitment:

India

Last autumn, Dr Cartwright, Deputy Head Learning and Teaching, visited India as part of our international outreach eﬀorts, gaining valuable insights and making promising connections — particularly in Mumbai, where there was clear interest in UK schools oﬀering summer programmes or with a local presence. Whilst follow-up engagement is still ongoing, the trip highlighted meaningful opportunities for future growth. With rising enthusiasm for areas such as cricket, hockey, STEM, and tennis, there is strong potential to strengthen our presence in the region through a more targeted and strategic approach.

Singapore & Bangkok

Another international trip during the Autumn Term involved Headmaster, Jonathan Anderson and Admissions Assistant, James Axon attending the BESSA (British Education and School Show in Asia) Shows in Singapore and Bangkok as part of our international recruitment eﬀorts. The Singapore event, held at the Grand Hyatt, was well-attended and generated strong interest, particularly from families seeking schools with strong rugby programmes — despite rugby not being a major sport locally. Gordonstoun was the only other Scottish school present, highlighting our distinctive presence. In Bangkok, the event took place at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, where Mr Anderson delivered a well-received talk on "What makes a good Boarding Student”. As Thailand is a relatively new market for us, this visit provided a valuable opportunity to connect with local educational agents and raise awareness of our oﬀering.

Saudi Arabia and Dubai

In early February, the team travelled to the Middle East to take part in the Anderson Education Shows across Saudi Arabia and Dubai. With stops in Al Khobar, Riyadh, and Dubai, the trip provided a meaningful chance to connect with families exploring future options for their sons — and to share what makes life at Merchiston so unique.

The event showed a clear interest in Middle Years boarding, with many families thinking well ahead and eager to understand not only the academic oﬀering, but

also the day-to-day experience of boarding life. In Dubai especially, conversations often focused on STEM subjects, with parents looking for schools that could nurture those interests in a supportive and structured environment. Merchiston’s all-boys approach and strong rugby tradition gave us a distinctive voice among the many UK schools present, and our well-connected location — particularly with the return of daily direct ﬂights between Edinburgh and Dubai — proved to be a real draw.

A number of strong leads are actively being followed up, with some families already making plans to visit the School over the summer.

A recurring theme across the shows was interest in summer programmes as a way for international pupils to ease into the boarding experience. It was a helpful reminder that the journey to joining our School often starts long before a formal application — and that our global community continues to grow through meaningful, faceto-face connections such as these.

Domestic Recruitment:

Junior Coaching Clinic at Melrose 7s, 2025

On Friday 23 May, over 100 enthusiastic young players gathered in Melrose for Merchiston’s Junior Rugby Clinic at the Melrose 7s 2025, enjoying a fantastic sunny session full of energy, skill-building, and fun.

This clinic, delivered in partnership with St Mary’s, Melrose Prep School, is an annual highlight in the School calendar. It oﬀers budding rugby stars from the Scottish Borders and beyond a unique chance to learn from experienced Merchiston coaches alongside world-class instructors, combining expert training with the excitement of the iconic Melrose 7s environment.

With Merchiston’s strong ties to the Scottish Borders and a rich rugby history, this event is not only a celebration of junior rugby talent but also a fantastic recruitment opportunity. Coaches focused on developing key skills, such as passing, tackling, and teamwork, inspiring the next generation of players and encouraging many to consider continuing their rugby journey at Merchiston.

The session was a great success, showcasing the spirit and talent of our junior rugby community under perfect

weather conditions at Melrose, and reinforcing Merchiston’s commitment to nurturing rugby talent from this passionate rugby region.

BBSN London Event (Nov 2024)

Last November, Merchiston was represented at the BBSW event in London by Assistant Head Pupil Support and Teacher of Electronics, Mr Ogilvie-Jones. The event brought together over 320 delegates from more than 100 schools, 120 Approved Agents, and several service providers. This exclusive gathering for BBSN Member schools and agents provided a valuable opportunity for face-to-face networking through scheduled meetings in a friendly and professional environment, allowing Merchiston to strengthen connections and explore new collaborative opportunities.

Recruitment and Innovation

Showcasing the Merchiston Experience

The academic year kicked oﬀ with our traditional Whole School Open Day in October, followed by a sun-drenched Open Morning in the Lent Term. Both events welcomed prospective families to experience the full spectrum of Merchiston education — from our co-educational Forest Nursery & Junior School through to our all-boys Senior School. Visitors were greeted by the stirring sounds of our pipers whilst exploring our grounds and facilities. These events remain crucial for demonstrating the ‘Merchiston diﬀerence’: our blend of academic excellence, sporting prowess, and the supportive environment that has shaped generations of Merchistonians. Each Open Day allows us to forge deeper connections with prospective families, encouraging personalised visits where they can truly experience the Merchiston spirit.

New Initiatives for the Next Generation

This year saw the launch of our Junior Discovery Day — a new immersive event targeting boys in P6, P7 and S1. Prospective pupils participated in engaging STEM and Modern Language lessons before showcasing their sporting talents. The overwhelming success of this half-day experience has secured its place in our Autumn Term calendar.

Leveraging Our Sporting Heritage

Many Merchistonians will appreciate how our sporting reputation continues to open doors across Scotland. In November, we hosted an exclusive dinner at the Hotel du Vin in Glasgow, where Director of Sport, Nick De Luca, alongside Merchistonians, Jamie Dobie, Staﬀord McDowall, Ben Afshar and Fin Richardson, shared insights into their

remarkable sporting journeys. Special thanks also to Merchistonian Ewan Mackay for his invaluable support in bringing together this event.

In February, our Sports Team travelled to Inverness to conduct specialist rugby clinics with youth development teams at Highland Rugby Club. Following these sessions, prospective families joined us for an inspiring Q&A with Merchistonian and Scotland national player, Jamie Dobiea wonderful example of how our alumni continue to represent Merchiston at the highest levels.

The Forest: Growing Strong

The Forest hosted its own delightful recruitment event in June — the 'Summer Berry Bash'. Families with children up to age 10 enjoyed a variety of activities in the Walled Garden, complemented by a traditional strawberry tea. Since its launch last September, The Forest has ﬂourished, steadily growing in numbers and establishing an excellent reputation across Edinburgh.

A New Way to Belong

In response to the introduction of VAT and the evolving educational landscape, the Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team have developed a new competitive Day oﬀering. This initiative, launched after Easter, mirrors the day provision of other independent schools in Edinburgh but with Merchiston's distinctive character and quality. Early indications suggest it has opened conversations with families who might not previously have considered Merchiston, strengthening our position for the future.

Digital Developments

Our digital presence continues to evolve to better serve both prospective families and our Merchiston community. We are currently conducting a comprehensive audit of our website to ensure content remains fresh and relevant. Similarly, we are reviewing our social media strategy to respond to changing online trends and better connect with alumni, current families, and prospective pupils.

As Merchistonians, your support in sharing these developments within your networks helps ensure Merchiston continues to thrive. If you would like to get involved with future recruitment events or share your own Merchiston journey with prospective families, please contact the Marketing Team.

Nicki Sturzaker, Director of External Relations

MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

NEWS FROM MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 2024-25

Merchiston International School in Shenzhen, China, is an overseas branch of Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh. As a British international boarding school, we uphold the rich traditions of our Scottish heritage whilst preparing students for global success. In 2024-25, we celebrated academic excellence, character development, and a thriving Merchistonian spirit.

DEVELOPMENTS

Launching in 2024, the Ivy Academy oﬀers a tailored academic programme for high-achieving students, oﬀering access to American AP courses and examinations. Designed to prepare students for top universities in the US and worldwide, it provides an academically rigorous environment with an emphasis on leadership, research, and independent learning.

GOLF ACADEMY

Our new MIS Golf Academy nurtures talented young golfers through expert coaching, access to state-of-the-art

facilities, and competitive opportunities. Our golf scholarship programme supports exceptional players, combining academic excellence with elite training.

MIS hosted its inaugural University Fair in March 2025, welcoming representatives from top global institutions to guide students on their higher education journeys. The event provided valuable insights into university applications, course options, and career pathways, empowering students to make informed decisions about their futures. Workshops, panel discussions, and one-onone consultations ensured personalised support for students and parents. With universities from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong in attendance, the Fair reinforced Merchiston’s commitment to academic excellence and university readiness. This milestone event marks the beginning of a strong tradition in preparing students for world-class university destinations.

IVY ACADEMY

MERCHISTON UNIVERSITY FAIR

AIMING FOR OXBRIDGE

Our ‘Aiming for Oxbridge’ programme provides tailored support for high-achieving students aspiring to Oxford and Cambridge. Through specialised mentoring, interview preparation, critical thinking workshops, and personal statement guidance, students gain the skills and conﬁdence needed for competitive applications. The programme fosters academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and leadership, preparing students for success at the world’s top universities. This also provides the ﬁrst opportunity for MIS to link up with the experts at Morley May Tuition, based in the UK.

MIS CAFE

During the summer of 2024, the ground floor of the MIS Longhua campus underwent extensive renovations, including the opening of the MIS Café. This café has been a welcome addition to the facilities offered at MIS for staff, students, parents and visitors.

ACADEMIC NEWS

2024 EXAM RESULTS

Merchiston International School students achieved outstanding results in the 2024 IGCSE and A Level examinations, with a record number securing A*-A grades. Our students’ dedication, combined with the expertise of our teachers, reﬂects the school’s commitment to academic excellence.

A Level Grades achieved: 29% A*, 58% A*-A and 71% A*-B

Subject Performance: The following subjects all achieved 100% A*-B grades: Biology, Chinese, Further Maths, Geography; and over 70% in Economics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

I/GCSE Grades achieved: 43% A*, 62% A*-A and 78% A*-B

Subject Performance: The following subjects all achieved 100% A*-B grades: French, English Literature, PE, Music, Further Maths, Art, Textiles; and over 90% in Physics, Maths and Chemistry.

CAMBRIDGE OUTSTANDING LEARNER

Now in Year 12 at MIS, Kaman was awarded in October 2024 the Outstanding Learner Award for receiving the highest score for IGCSE Design and Technology in China during the summer 2024 exam season.

PEARSON EDEXCEL AWARD

MIS was honoured to receive the ‘Breakthrough Innovation Award’ at the Pearson Edexcel China Annual Conference in recognition of our remarkable growth, development and increasing inﬂuence in the local market.

The Class of 2024 celebrated remarkable university oﬀers, with students gaining places at top global institutions across the globe. Graduates are now pursuing diverse ﬁelds, from Engineering and Business to the Arts and Humanities.

University College

London

University College

London

University of New South Wales

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Hong Kong

UC San Diego

The University of Manchester

King's College

London

UAL, London

Swiss Hotel Management School

Medical Innovation and Enterprise

Global Humanitarian Studies

Business Studies / Computer Science

Astrophysics

Engineering / Economics and Finance

Biochemistry

Accounting and Finance / Mechanical Engineering

Digital Media and Culture / Biomedical Science / Social Sciences

Design, Media and Screen / Graphic Communication Design

Hotel Management

The picture is looking very positive for the future as MIS students have already received oﬀers for 2025 admission to top universities including Cambridge, Imperial College, UCL, University of Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Manchester, King’s College and many more.

COMPETITIONS

Students excelled in prestigious competitions such as The World Scholar’s Cup, International Mathematics Competition, and various Olympiads. Our teams secured impressive rankings, demonstrating critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills on a global stage.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (CCA)

A vibrant co-curricular programme enriches student life at MIS. Students develop essential skills beyond the classroom, fostering teamwork, resilience, and personal growth.

OUTREACH

Our Outreach programme has gone from strength to

MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

strength, creating links with a local animal shelter, a special needs school in the local district and a home for the elderly. In addition, the Outreach team has led the way in developing a host of ‘green’ initiatives to help make MIS a more environmentally sustainable school. Community service remains a core value, with students actively supporting local charities, environmental initiatives, and fundraising campaigns. Our Outreach eﬀorts reinforce the importance of social responsibility and global citizenship. All of this amazing work culminated in a nomination for the MIS Outreach programme at the 2024 China School Awards.

SPORT

With such a strong link with Merchiston Castle, it is ﬁtting that in recent years our sporting events and teams representing the school in both Juniors and Seniors have gone from strength to strength. Our annual Cross-Country, Swimming Gala and Sports Day events have been exhilarating, with clans competing for much needed clan points. In addition, our volleyball, football and basketball teams have won an array of medals across all age groups in the Shenzhen International Schools League competitions.

ARTS

The Arts at MIS continue to ﬂourish, with students excelling in Art, Drama, Music and Textiles. As a result, we have seen performances and exhibitions showcasing student creativity, from classical concerts to contemporary theatre productions. One highlight fondly remembered is the school’s ﬁrst MIS Fashion Show in 2024.

IMPORTANT ANNUAL EVENTS MERCHISTON DAY

In MIS’s seventh anniversary celebration, we gathered with students, parents, staﬀ and distinguished guests to witness this important milestone moment of MIS to celebrate Scottish heritage and school spirit. The day featured traditional games, performances, awards and an iconic bagpipe performance from MCS alumnus, Mr Angus McGregor.

CHALLENGE WEEK

This year has seen the launch of the Key Stage 3 interdisciplinary inquiry challenge week, which now takes place every November at Wanlv Lake in Guangdong. Students engaged in a range of activities including hiking and kayaking, whilst also visiting the Nongfu Spring (bottled water) factory and exploring the Nanyuan Ancient Village to learn about Hakka culture.

INTERNATIONAL DAYS

MERCHISTON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Students embraced cultural diversity through International Days, exploring traditions, languages, and cuisines from around the world. These celebrations promote global awareness and appreciation of diﬀerent cultures. Highlights in recent years have been Halloween, Book Character Day, 100 Days of School, Earth Day and many more.

WINTER SHOWCASE & CHRISTMAS MARKET

Our Winter Showcase dazzled audiences with musical and theatrical performances, whilst the Christmas Market brought festive cheer, oﬀering student-made crafts, international food stalls, and charity fundraising activities.

CHINESE CELEBRATIONS

From the Lunar New Year to the Mid-Autumn Festival, students and staﬀ have embraced Chinese traditions through performances, calligraphy, and cultural workshops, fostering a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and heritage.

MCS CULTURE DAYS

As a way to strengthen the understanding of our students about Merchiston Castle and our Scottish heritage, regular cultural events have been organised

throughout the school year. A recent trip to a local golf course, to celebrate St Andrews being the ‘home of golf’, was a particular highlight.

BOARDING

Boarding at Merchiston International School oﬀers a home away from home, fostering independence, resilience, and lifelong friendships. With a strong pastoral care system, enriching evening activities, and a warm community atmosphere, our boarding students thrive academically and socially. Students have been able to enjoy a wide range of activities and events throughout the year, including movie nights, a life-skills course, academic tutoring, regular nights out and monthly trips.

CLAN

The Clan system is the heartbeat of MIS and fosters a strong sense of belonging, teamwork, and friendly competition. Students take pride in their Clans, competing in academic challenges, sports events, and co-curricular activities throughout the year. This system builds leadership, resilience, and camaraderie, ensuring that every student feels part of a supportive community whilst embracing the school’s Scottish heritage.

GRADUATION

Our graduation ceremonies honoured the achievements of Year 6 and Year 13 students, marking important milestones in their academic journeys. These events celebrated their growth, resilience, and future aspirations.

NEWS FROM MIS QIANHAI (FORMERLY MIS SHEKHOU)

Following the guiding principles of the holistic Merchiston Castle education and the British national curriculum, MIS QianHai is an innovative Juniors branch of the Merchiston family of schools. MIS QianHai provides a British international education to families in the Greater Bay area of Shenzhen.

A GROWING COMMUNITY

This year, we have welcomed new students, new staff, and even more enthusiasm into our halls and classrooms. Seeing our school expand has been truly exciting, and what is even better is watching the children settle in, form friendships, and develop their confidence. Whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field, or during our creative performances, every student has had the chance to shine.

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Education at MIS QianHai is about more than just lessons – it is about experiences. From hands-on science experiments

and ﬁeld trips to immersive arts projects and dress up days to celebrate reading and Chinese New Year, this year has been packed with opportunities for discovery. Our playgrounds, sports ﬁelds, and classrooms have been alive with activity, as children have tackled new challenges, explored their interests, and developed a love of learning.

SPORTS AND CREATIVITY

We have had an action-packed year of Clan Challenges, with students showcasing their skills in football, Maths, and more. There have been some serious displays of athleticism (and a few funny tumbles) and academic ﬂair, but most importantly, there has been teamwork, perseverance, and plenty of school spirit. Our creative side has also been on full display, with incredible artwork, music, and performances bringing colour and energy to the school.

SPORT

SPORTING REVIEW 2024-25

INTRODUCTION

I would like to begin, untraditionally, by saying ‘thank you’ - right at the top, where it won’t be missed or skimmed past! A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the grounds staﬀ, the coaches, the medical team, the catering team, and of course, the parents.

This year has been a well-publicised challenge for the independent sector, and we have not been immune to that. However, despite the distractions, what has happened in our sporting world this year is nothing short of remarkable. I cannot possibly mention every successthere’s too much to capture - and apologies to anyone I may miss. However, I hope this gives a ﬂavour of just how extraordinary the year has been.

Tennis has once again set the standard:

• U15 and U18 Scottish Champions;

• Scottish Tennis School of the Year;

• Countless individual wins and accolades.

The Tennis Academy continues to thrive, with a coaching team who work tirelessly and deserve every plaudit.

Golf at Merchiston continues to gather momentum under Fraser’s Hutcheson’s expert leadership. With a training camp in the USA, the introduction of Swift Tours, and a growing number of pupils involved, the programme has never been stronger. Bespoke support in such areas as sports psychology, strength and conditioning, and game analysis now complements on-course development, helping our players raise their game on every front.

Recent highlights include:

• Our Golf Captain signing with NCAA Division 1 powerhouse, Georgia State;

• U15 team ﬁnishing 2nd in Scotland;

• Another member of the Academy was runner-up in the GCC Middle East Championship in Saudi Arabia, and also leading Oman to the team title.

Big wins. Memorable moments. A new chapter for Merchiston Golf is well underway.

Rugby had a landmark season:

• U18 Conference Champions (undefeated);

• Scottish Cup Finalists;

• October Festival Champions (retained).

However, the real success was in the boys' response to challenge. Many of these players had lost nearly every match at U16 level. Their hard work, resilience, and maturity in defeat have been a masterclass in growth.

Cricket was a joy to watch this season, with the 1XI narrowly missing out on Team of the Year (which was awarded before they won the Cup!). They played with conﬁdence and character, led superbly by senior players and supported by Mr Raikes, Mr Da Costa, and Mr Evans. Mr Evans, who also guided the U15 hockey side to a national ﬁnal, added yet another feather to his cap with the U18 Scottish Cricket title - won on the second last day of term!

Elsewhere, Basketball and Badminton both reached the Scottish Finals, our Fives programme celebrated the emergence of a new British Champion and our Athletics team delivered Silver medallists at the Edinburgh Schools and National medallists at both the Relay Championships (O17) and also at the National Individuals.

We also had individual internationalists and major wins across Basketball, Rugby, Golf, Cricket, Tennis, Swimming, and Volleyball — a remarkable spread of high-level talent.

Yes, performance is thriving - but equally important is our commitment to wider participation and opportunity. Clan sport continues to grow, and the addition of the Forest School at Sports Day still brings a smile. Look out for the new Clan Darts event called Brotherhood & Bullseyes taking place on International Men's Day!

Over 150 Athletic Development sessions were delivered this year, Judo was introduced, Boxing grew in popularity, and the Trail Running Club brought out a gritty spirit in many. We will continue to innovate and broaden our oﬀering, because sport is for all - and every boy deserves to ﬁnd his sport.

We are working to build a culture of lifelong belonging through sport. Are we there yet? No; but we are getting closer every year.

Here's to another brilliant year ahead, both on and oﬀ the pitch.

Nick De Luca, Director of Sport and Activities

1XV RUGBY

What a season it’s been! We kicked oﬀ with an unforgettable tour to South Africa, where, on the ﬁeld, we made the most of every opportunity and played some beautiful rugby in the backyard of the World Champions.

Oﬀ the ﬁeld, we embraced every experience, learning valuable lessons beyond the game.

So, what does touring teach us?

• Making new friends and connections, both locally and internationally;

• Stepping outside our comfort zones and embracing new cultures;

• Witnessing how others face life’s toughest challenges;

• Creating lifelong memories with friends and teammates;

• It sets the tone and standards for the season ahead. Our boys represented our School and their families in the best possible light. Every contact left an impression, and from our tour rep, MC, to Chris, our bus driver, the feedback was unanimous - this was the best tour they had ever worked on in over twenty years’ experience. It allowed our senior group to grow closer and stronger as a team, and I personally believe our experiences in Langa laid the foundation for our on-ﬁeld success. The tour is reported on fully in the “Trips and Activities” section of the magazine, and our Langa fundraising in the “Charities” section.

Turning to our performances this season, our ﬁrst big test

came away from home against an impressive Strathallan. The game was played in ideal conditions, with both teams eager to play expansive rugby. We made a fast and powerful start, which allowed us to score first-half tries through Luca M and two from our skipper, Ross S. We were winning the collisions and starving them of any lineout ball, which allowed us to build pressure and momentum. Our conversion rate was very high in their gold zone, which gave us a healthy lead at half-time. Strathallan came back into the game in the second half; however, we managed to score a well-crafted quick tap play through Ethan C to finish the game. As a group, we were extremely happy with the marker we had set down as Strathallan is always a tough place to get a result. It was very rewarding to see our boys grow in confidence during the game, and a special mention must be made of the performances of Robert HP, Lyall R & Lewis M, who realised they could compete physically at 1XV level. I often talk about the “penny dropping”, and I could see in their eyes that this season, they meant business.

Next up, we hosted Fettes College under the Friday night lights. Again, it was another beautiful day, with the pitch in perfect condition for running rugby. Our boys certainly embraced our philosophy of playing at speed with width and emerged as victors 64-12. We attacked from deep and constructed skilful, free-ﬂowing rugby. We challenged the

boys to back their skill set and they certainly delivered, scoring 10 tries. Henry W and Ethan C were on ﬁre with a hat-trick each.

Just before our weekend leave, we travelled up to play at Robert Gordon's College in the Scottish Cup. We put together a very professional and clinical performance, winning 61-12. This was a good opportunity for some of our younger boys to gain some valuable time in the saddle.

After our weekend of rest, we turned up with real sharp focus and welcomed Dollar Academy. Another lovely morning for running rugby allowed us to showcase our combination of power, speed and skill. We managed to score 13 tries, winning the game 79-19. It was one of those days when everything clicked for us and the squad was really starting to take shape, with Luca M displaying his power and pace, scoring a hat trick of tries.

Next up was our ﬁerce rival, Stewart’s Melville College. Over the years, this game has always been very close and we knew again this would be a battle until the end. The game played out exactly that way, with us winning the game with the last play. The lead changed hands many times over the seventy minutes. With time up on the clock, we displayed impressive maturity, resilience and composure to launch one last attack from lineout. It was time for our new boy Jake D to step up, displaying incredible skill, threading a lovely weighted grubber into the dead ball area for Luca M to win the race and dot down for the win. This was another cracking high-level game of

rugby between two well coached teams.

After a short turnaround, we travelled through to face Kelvinside mid-week. This proved another good opportunity for us to grow our squad and we delivered a strong performance, emerging 42-19 winners. It was time to rest up and recover for a few days before our October Festival.

Returning after our October holidays, it was into the business end of the season, when, on a dreich morning, we faced our oldest rivals, a ﬁred-up Edinburgh Academy. As ever, this was an emotional and highly-charged game, vocally supported by two very passionate sets of supporters. The game was very tight and we struggled to stamp our authority on the game. Edinburgh Academy had their tails up and we were under intense pressure. I was very impressed with our ability to remain calm and trust our process, especially when we went down to thirteen men. Our game leaders stood up and we managed the game perfectly by tightening up and using our powerful forwards to take us over the line. A special mention must go to Fyfe D, who was a constant dominant force during the game and scored two vital tries to give us the victory for another year.

The big games kept coming and our neighbours, George Watson's College, were up next. They hit us hard from the start and we found ourselves very quickly 14-0 down. Again, we managed to stay composed and found our way back into the game through sustained pressure in the right areas of the ﬁeld. I often talk about game changing

moments: we certainly had one, with the scores tight at 1421, when our talented fly half, Henry W, scored a world class try through individual brilliance. Henry collected a loose kick, accelerated towards the defence, delicately chipped the ball over, regathered on the bounce and beat the trailing defenders to take us to 14-28 before half-time. With confidence high, we managed to kick on and finish the game off 24-40, displaying the ability not to panic, stay in the fight and execute our game plan.

As a coaching group, we are extremely proud of our boys finishing top of the Schools Conference and winning every game. This is the first time in my eleven years that we have won every game, which just shows how difficult it is to go unbeaten in the Conference.

We welcomed a buoyant Howe of Fife in the Scottish Cup quarter ﬁnal, fresh after their 5th round victory over Edinburgh Academy. We managed to exert our power and pace early in the game, which allowed us to emerge 60-5 winners.

We travelled east for our semi-ﬁnal to face a very strong Loretto side, which had previously recorded very impressive victories all season in their own Conference. They came out the traps very fast and we found ourselves 29-7 down due to their forward power and elusive backs.

After each try conceded, we took in some air, remained calm and discussed “trusting the process”. We then started to claw our way back into the game and scored two tries before the break, taking the half-time score to 29-19. Losing Henry was a very big blow for us; however, the team remained focused and knew we were back into the game. After the break, Jake D and Adam K used their smart rugby intelligence to execute our kicking and pressure game plan to perfection. We managed to get into the right areas, trust

our system and go on to win the game 36-41. This was a game for boys to step up, and Jake D, scoring 22 points, certainly caught the eye of the neutral spectator. At no point did our boys panic, instead showing pure composure and trust within the team. I love the way they faced adversity, under the most intense pressures, to come out the other end victorious. This performance was a full squad eﬀort and every single player stepped up for the Castle.

Back to Murrayfield to play in our third Cup Final in four years against Stewart's Melville College. We started poorly and were certainly caught asleep at the wheel in the first ten minutes of the game, and found ourselves 14-0 down. As had been the case all season, we hung in and found a way to get back into the game through a try from Zander M and Luca M. We then made a few tiny system errors and quickly found ourselves 28-14 down at half-time. In the changing room, we spoke with clarity and precision about how we would get back into the game and we certainly did, after half-time scoring first through Lucas F. This was an incredible piece of individual skill, with a Jake D crossfield kick which was expertly controlled on the foot by Lucas F, who finished it off like a world-class winger. At this point of the game, we started to gain some control and territory, after defending our own line as if our lives depended on it. Myles R was our ‘super sub’, who managed to score our fourth try to take the game to 24-28. At this point, we were playing with momentum and tried everything to break the Stewart’s Melville defence: however, we just ran out of time. On reflection, I felt we just did not do enough to win the game with our overall performance, and Stewart’s Melville players were incredibly clinical and resolute over the seventy minutes. Sometimes, you have to take your medicine and put your hand up, as

we did not execute in the big moments - however, that is sport at the highest of levels. I am also a big believer in making your own luck and, on this evening, we had already used our ‘get out of jail card’ a few times over the season. I am always very proud of our boys regardless of the result, and was extremely proud of this group to be within a score of winning the game when, at times, we looked dead and buried.

Let's go back to the tour and look into how we found our way for the 2024-25 season. Our theme before and during our South Africa Tour was – ‘Everest’. In order to reach our ‘Everest’, we would need everyone to become an honest ‘Sherpa’. On tour, we had daily ‘Sherpa’ awards for boys / staﬀ who were leading by example:

• Displaying a selfless attitude on and off the field;

• Continually supporting others and helping each other at every opportunity - being the ‘glue in the group’;

• Being kind, looking out for each other and making new friends;

• Doing the unseen hard work in order to succeed as a team;

• Setting the standards on and oﬀ the ﬁeld - work rate / organisation / leadership;

• Leading by example and being a strong role modelﬁrstly being a good person.

There were more than 20 Sherpa hats awarded over the tour, which clearly showed that we were starting to think about the team and how we could positively inﬂuence the people around us.

Interestingly, there was plenty of ‘external noise’ and questions were being asked outside the ‘Castle walls’. Would this team be able to step up to the plate? Where were the leaders in the team? Could this group of players execute under pressure when out on the ﬁeld? People looking at their results / statistics when in the V Form were certainly adding fuel to the ﬁre within the schoolboy rumour mill. This situation always suits us down to the ground, as we are well aware of what we have within our walls. Everyone knows the answers to those tough questions,

winning 17 of 18 games. Whilst the Cup Final loss stings, it has been a season full of individual and collective growth and achievement. Our senior players, many of whom were part of the U16A XV that faced a tough season, have proved many people wrong and developed way beyond expectations. Our rugby programme continues to help players evolve and grow. However, our boys display incredible commitment and dedication to ﬁght for their brother next to them in the defensive line. Boys within our senior group have maximised every inch of our rugby programme in order to develop into an integral cog within our squad. Looking at the bigger picture, this season has really taught me some very valuable lessons, which I am extremely grateful for as I am still developing as a coach and person every day, even after twenty years of teaching and coaching the game.

As a senior squad, our boys have been amazing at supporting and looking out for each other, from Cape Town to Murrayfield. The 1XV can only ever be successful if the 2XV and 3XV are pushing hard at training and adding that element of competition. Every week, it is a difficult job for us as a coaching group to pick the squad. Yet again, it has been a huge collective squad effort and every player has contributed to a very successful senior season.

Thank you to all the players for their eﬀort and dedication. I am the proudest man in the world when standing under the posts at Colinton, watching us play the traditional “Merchiston Way.”

I complete this article with my email to all staﬀ following the Cup Final, which sums up my feelings over the season and my time at Merchiston:

The dust has settled slightly so just touching base with a good news story and to say “Thank you”.

I was so very proud of the whole School community on Wednesday evening and our performance on and off the field was simply first class. We didn’t get the result we wanted on the field and I will replay the game in my head for a while. However, I do feel that Stewart's Melville just deserved to win. I have stood on the side of a rugby pitch since I was a wee boy

and my gut was telling me that we were just losing the big moments and the bounce of the ball – that’s our game. The way in which our boys dealt with pressure and continued to show resilience and fight was nothing short of remarkable, and some of the skills on show in tough conditions were worldclass. Our boys have had an incredible season overall and can be extremely proud of their achievements. The big win in all of this is the way our boys behaved, in the stand and out on the pitch. We constantly talk about winning and losing well as a team. The way in which Henry sprinted onto the field to support Jake at the final whistle tells us everything we need to know about our boys and culture.

Ben Hall spoke to the boys in the Old Library after the game and his message was absolutely spot on. The feeling we all have in our belly means we were alive and kicking. Not many people in life go out of their comfort zone in life. Not many people get to step onto the Murrayﬁeld grass. Not many people get to feel the extreme highs and lows of team sports. We are incredibly lucky to have felt all these emotions and we will all beneﬁt from these experiences in later life. The way in which our community comes together is like nothing I have seen before. The noise coming from behind us in the stands makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I feel very privileged

to have taken another team to Murrayﬁeld and to continue to lead our rugby programme. I also can’t put into words how good the team around me is. I have always said that you are only as good at the team around you. Our sports team is the best in the country – thank you. Every department in the School does its very best to support the boys. This all contributes to our boys’ successes in the Houses, classrooms and in every activity – thank you.

Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby

ROSSLYN PARK 7S

After a strong start to the main sevens campaign with a win at the George Watson’s sevens tournament, coming runners up at Glasgow and gaining the overall crown of ‘kings of the 7s’, it was time to test the depth of this year's 7s squad at the prestigious Rosslyn Park Sevens. We knew that going there would be a challenging assignment, as the Vase competition into which we were entered was made up of around 250 teams, meaning that a loss in one of our pool games could be fatal.

Our first match was against a very well-equipped Leeds Grammar School side, which we knew would come with some fight after having analysed the type of sevens which they played. However, we came out with real intent in hot, dry weather, which allowed us to demonstrate our full capability. We started strongly, scoring three tries in the first half, which were a real team effort. Everyone knows how important it is to make a strong start in sevens as it gives you that front foot advantage, which we managed to accomplish. However, we kept our heads calm as we knew how a game of sevens can turn around very quickly. Our play in the second half displayed just as much quality, with

the substitutes making a real impact when stepping onto the ﬁeld. Some more outstanding tries allowed us to put our ﬁrst game to bed with a 33-7 win.

Our second pool tie soon came upon us, where we were faced with a strong Oratory team. We knew again that this game could be crucially important for us to stay in the tournament. However, due to a few errors in our game, as well as a noticeable player in the other team who took control and managed to score some early tries with individual talent, it meant we ended up a few tries down. Having to respond to this is always difficult: after digging deep and scoring a few tries to help keep us in the game, it was not quite enough, and the game finished with us falling short with a 28-12 loss. Knowing that this could mean the end of our Rosslyn journey was hard to take. However, we still had one game left, in which we needed to score as many points in as possible, so that if deciding the winner of the pool went down to points difference, we could still have a chance to push for Day Two.

We played Tiﬃn School in our last pool game. We were also lucky enough to play this game on pitch RE1 with

NextGenXV live streaming. Our plan was to play as fast as possible, to give us the best chance of winning and putting as many points on the opposition as possible. We displayed determination in the first half, scoring five tries, bringing the score line to a 35-point lead, with some excellent individual performances. With substitutes bringing fresh legs to the second half and again making an impact, it allowed us to get some more points on the board, with the final whistle being blown with the score at a well-earned 52-7. Unfortunately, the Oratory managed to secure a win in their last game as well, which meant our Rosslyn campaign came to an end. Nevertheless, the whole squad

thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing in a wellknown tournament with a high quality of rugby on display. This was my second experience of this tournament, and was a very memorable one. It provides a great opportunity to take our Scottish talent south of the border and play against some of the best English schools. Thanks must go to Mr Deans, Mr Noble and Mr Wells, who allowed us to participate in this tournament, and for providing the coaching which allows us to play at such a high level.

John T (Captain)

2XV & 3XV RUGBY

The 2XV and 3XV play a vital role in the rugby programme, helping to develop all players but also creating some real competition within the senior rugby squad. If the 3XV is strong, it makes the 2XV strong, and then the 1XV strong as well - that was certainly the case this year.

The 3XV managed to secure an unbeaten season this year, winning games against Strathallan, Peebles, Stewart’s Melville and close rivals, George Watson’s. The Strathallan game really stands out from the start of the season, where special mention must go to Finlay B’s length of the pitch try to secure the victory. This try was a close second to the ‘try of the season’ which came from Ben S against his previous school, George Watson’s, also to secure the victory. During the same Watson’s game, they had a scrum on our 5m line, a great scoring opportunity: I will never forget the look on the opposition faces when we deployed our very own version of the bomb squad; Fraser A, Max T and Jason M. There was no shock when the reverse lights came on in the Watson’s scrum and we won the ball against the head. Finally, special mention must go to Hamish H for always bringing his unique sense of humour and energy to the group, moving onto the wing this year and bringing a real buzz whenever he got the opportunity. It was a great season and one I will remember for a long time, so ‘thank you’ to the boys involved.

And now, on to the 2XV, another key cog in the Merchiston rugby machine. The 2XV ﬁnished the season

with 7 wins and 3 losses. One of the stand-out victories came against Strathallan in the ﬁrst game of the season, in which we played some very mature and creative rugby, building on the experience gained in South Africa. Another victory by over 50 points came against Dollar, highlighting the real strength within our group. I can vividly remember Amos G tearing them apart from full back and then 13. Finally, the ‘big one’, the Edinburgh Academy game: the 2XV triumphed with a 55-0 victory. However, the special thing about these games was that when we took a squad of around 25-28 boys, every single one of them played a key role in securing the victories. I must mention three of the newcomers to our Merchiston community who really stepped up this year and became vital to our success: George R, Otto and Okke: they have all faced and overcome some injury challenges and their commitment and willingness to learn and improve their rugby have not gone unnoticed. I am very excited to see how they and the rest of their year group progress in their rugby next year.

I cannot round up the season’s review without mentioning our favourite backs’ move, Reptile, which was part of all our games, enabling us to score some really special tries, particularly in our 50-5 win against Robert Gordon’s.

Overall, both teams had very successful seasons, relationships were built, memories were formed and there were plenty of laughs and smiles along the way.

Struan Wells, 2XV & 3XV Coach

MERCHISTON OCTOBER RUGBY FESTIVAL 2024

We welcomed a very strong group of teams from all over the UK to our sixth Merchiston October Rugby Festival. In order to give more Scottish players an opportunity to play at a higher intensity and experience new styles of play, we again invited Edinburgh and Glasgow to take part. We also had some new additions, which certainly raised the standard of rugby across the weekend. We have had many more requests for new teams to take part in October 2025, which tells us that we are doing something right!

On Day One, we recorded impressive victories over Scarborough and Wycliffe College. As ever, we embraced the nature of knock-out rugby and attacked from the first whistle. It was rewarding to see us scoring many freeflowing tries, with a large squad of boys getting the opportunity to put their hand up and add to our competitive squad. Our last game was a winner-takes-all against an abrasive Finborough. We were clinical in the first half and scored two well-worked tries. After the break, we

took the game away from them and ﬁnished up 24-12 winners.

On Day Two, we faced the impressive Dulwich College. We again started quickly, with Kieran W scoring from an Adam K cross field and Jake D finishing off a wellconstructed short side return play. Dulwich came back into the game with a penalty and a well-constructed try to make the game 12-10. With the game in the balance and Dulwich pushing hard, our defensive lineout guru, Robert HP, stepped up to steal their attacking lineout to allow us to move into the semi-finals.

Boys were fatigued and hanging together. However, they were very excited to take on the challenge of Glasgow, who were also undefeated over the two days. Both teams were very well matched across the field. Glasgow hit first, with a beautiful attack from a deep chip ahead and a top-quality finish in the corner, to go 5-0 ahead. At half-time, we discussed playing in the right areas and applying pressure

to force an error. From deep in our own half, Jake D used his trusty left boot to go deep and ﬁnd space, and an excellent follow-up tackle from Finlay W resulted in a penalty - a 60 metre gain of territory. We then launched eﬀectively from lineout and Fergus F ended up scoring after a multi-phase attack. Jack D nailed the conversion to go 5-7 up. Glasgow had the ball for long periods and our defence was solid. However, their relentless pressure resulted in a penalty. They opted for the penalty, which hit the post and rebounded into our hands to seal our second tournament win. The game can often be won by inches and big moments: this was certainly both, with luck being on our side.

We are delighted with the success of our Festival and very proud of how we keep managing to develop and improve the level of rugby year on year. Winning the Festival was the icing on the cake for us. However, giving all players the opportunity to test themselves in new environments will always remain our main goal.

Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby

PLACINGS

1. Merchiston Castle School

2. Glasgow Caledonia

3. Seaford College

4. Boroughmuir RFC

5. Dulwich College

6. Finborough School

7. Mount St Mary’s College

8. Stewart’s Melville College

9. Edinburgh Reivers

10. Norwich School

11. Dame Allan’s School

12. Sherborne School

13. Durham School

14. Barnard Castle

15. Wycliﬀe College

16. Scarborough College

U16A RUGBY

At the start of this season, in the U16s, we embraced the idea of linking the weekly challenges to speciﬁc Olympic events. It allowed us to view each match as a unique obstacle and focus our individual performances on seeking ‘gold medals’, which were vital. However, it was the commitment to teamwork and unity that truly set the squad apart. We aimed for collective success; and it was during high-pressure moments that we found out who we truly are as a team and how well we had prepared ourselves as a unit.

Throughout this season, we encountered many challenges that tested resolve and character. However, the players remained focused on a common goal: to support one another to the end, to trust the system and each other within the squad, and to enjoy each moment, even in the face of adversity. Our philosophy was grounded in the belief that winning the small battles, that we worked hard in the right areas, and that trust in what we accomplished together, became the bedrock of our achievements.

We kicked off the season with the formidable fixture against Strathallan at home. This was no ordinary match; it served as a significant test against a physically larger side. Although we faced a heartbreaking last-minute loss, it laid down a foundation for the team’s identity. We set our intent right from the outset, showcasing a style of play that was not afraid to stretch our opponents and, more importantly, lay claim to our ambition.

Another encounter was with Dollar Academy, which proved to be one of our more disappointing performances. However, this setback served a greater purpose; it ignited a spark within the team. It was a moment of reﬂection, where the players came together and determined who they truly wanted to be as a team. This was a pivotal turning point in the season - even though we do blame Mr Gaddie for his ﬁrst half refereeing performance! The win against Edinburgh Academy in the Cup became a showcase of our growth and evolution. This time, we executed our gameplan beautifully; our performance was outstanding, as we put 40 points on our neighbours from Stockbridge.

The rematch against Strathallan in the Cup is one of those lasting memories that I will cherish. Despite being labelled as underdogs, the boys deﬁed the odds and dug in for an unbelievable victory against potential favourites. Just as a marathon runner ﬁnds a second wind, their ability to rally together, staying tough and resolute, was admirable. They fought not just for victory but for one another, trusting the process that had been laid out for them. Moments such as these typify a season: this was an epic moment and one to remember for seasons to come!

In the semi-ﬁnal against George Watson's, whilst facing strong competition, the U16s continued to demonstrate immense resilience. Invaluable lessons were learnt that day, keeping engaged in the battle even whilst wrestling with being muscled out of the game. I was proud of the intent

the boys displayed - their commitment to playing rugby the right way and continuing to hold their heads high was inspiring.

Considering our match against Robert Gordon's, this is perhaps one of the best examples of our whole squad. Operating under signiﬁcant pressure, heavily aﬀected by injuries, we found ourselves behind at half-time. However, the team did not falter; instead showing tenacity and heart. That last-minute try to secure the win is what legends are made of! A truly remarkable moment that will be recounted in stories for years to come – a perfect example of our season.

When attention turned to the 7s competitions, the players’ growth became even more evident. Each tournament showcased extraordinary performances, demonstrating how far they had come. We had highlighted the Robert Gordon’s 7s Tournament at the end of the season as a ﬁtting way to ﬁnish with a win, which was thoroughly deserved. It did not disappoint, and in monsoon conditions, they played some outstanding running, inter-linking rugby to set themselves apart from any of the competition - a true display of the ‘Merchiston Way’, and testament to their hard work and determination to get the job done in a clinical and professional manner.

This season has been a privilege for me as a coach. I have had the honour, alongside Mr Gaddie, to guide an extraordinary group of young men who have showcased

humility and unwavering dedication. They all displayed kindness, thoughtfulness, and honesty - truly character traits that define a proper team. This commitment has not only elevated their game but has also succeeded in exceeding many expectations (some people even writing them off before the season began!). I firmly believe that each player has set the stage brilliantly for the challenges that they will face in senior rugby next year. It has genuinely been an honour for both myself and Mr Gaddie to coach this remarkable group, and we wish them all the best in their upcoming season at the top of the School. Awards for the season were made as follows:

• The Solid Castle Award to Arthur B, who epitomises dedication and has been present at every game and every 7s tournament. He consistently aims to lift his team-mates, has played a crucial role supporting from the side-lines and from behind the camera, and always wants the best for his team.

• The Most Improved Player Award to Lewis F, a talent we spotted at rugby camp and throughout pre-season training. He showcased incredible hard work, utilising his skill to become a vital asset to the team, particularly in the set piece and in open play; as evidenced by his scoring of two crucial tries during the season, including the stunning eﬀort against Strathallan in the quarterﬁnals and the winning try against Robert Gordon's.

• The Players’ Player Award to Samuel M, who has been a pleasure to coach this season, when he is not complaining about his blisters! When he came to us in September, his physical traits were clear to see: powerful, dynamic, quick and strong. To take his game to the next level, we challenged him to work on his softer skills, hand catch and pass and lowering his body height in the contact. Mr Deans often talks about ‘the penny dropping’, and with Sam this came at Newﬁeld against the Academy, when he was almost unplayable. He worked incredibly hard across the season and we are really excited to see how he develops within the senior rugby programme.

• The Coaches’ Player Award to Jack R, who possesses an effortless grace on the pitch; he has time on the ball and executes kicks beautifully both out of hand and off the tee. He leads with a spirit that is genuine, and his kindness and honesty have earned him the affection and respect of his teammates. I see a likeness in him to Cam Redpath, and I can confidently say, “watch this space”!

Congratulations go to all the players in the U16 squadtheir hard work has not gone unnoticed, and I look forward to all that lies ahead.

Michael Raikes, U16A Coach

U15A / B1 RUGBY

The B1s began the 2024–25 season with one of the largest and most competitive rugby squads in the School’s recent history. The ability to regularly ﬁeld both an A and B side at U15 level, each with a strong bench, was a testament to the impressive depth of rugby talent in the Shell group.

The B1s recorded an outstanding 11 wins from 12 completed matches, with several additional fixtures unfortunately cancelled due to inclement weather. This superb win rate reflected both the team’s dominance on the field and the positive, committed attitude displayed throughout the campaign.

The season got off to a flying start with emphatic away victories over Strathallan (50–10) and Fettes College (50–0). These early performances, defined by attacking flair and defensive resolve, set the tone for what would become a season of consistency and excellence. A hard-fought home

win over Dollar Academy (40–22) soon followed, reinforcing the team's momentum.

Mr De Luca placed a strong emphasis on maintaining high standards and preparing the team for tougher challenges ahead. This preparation paid oﬀ in a thrilling 35–33 victory over ESMS, an intense contest that showcased the team’s tenacity and refusal to let the game slip, despite sustained pressure from a fellow Edinburgh school.

Home ﬁxtures proved to be a strong foundation, with convincing wins against Edinburgh Academy (40–19), Robert Gordon’s College (48–5), and Peebles High School (54–10). Throughout the season, players were encouraged to develop their problem-solving skills and tactical understanding, skills which became increasingly evident in their structured play and game management.

The B1s’ only defeat came in a close away match against George Watson’s College (21–27). Whilst the loss was

disappointing, it served as a valuable learning experience. Players were reminded that setbacks are an inevitable part of their rugby journey, and that such tight contests will only help them grow in resilience and skill.

After the winter break, the B1s returned with renewed focus and determination. They secured another victory over Dollar Academy (27–5), before excelling in a triangular ﬁxture where they comfortably overcame both Dumfries Saints RFC (36–0) and Lathallan School (28–0). The season concluded on a high with a commanding 43–22 home win against Ayr RFC.

Three aspects stood out as deﬁning strengths: attacking accuracy, defensive organisation, and squad depth, underpinned by strong leadership. Averaging over 40 points per game, the B1s' attacking prowess was exceptional. Players such as Calum R, Toby G, Gabriel C and Matthew R were relentless try-scorers and key attacking threats throughout the season.

Defensively, the squad demonstrated remarkable improvement, registering several clean sheets and showing grit in tightly contested matches. Adam W, Winston K and Dino R exempliﬁed the team's defensive resilience with their determined tackling and work rate.

The depth of the squad allowed for eﬀective rotation of players, ensuring energy levels remained high and providing opportunities for many players to contribute meaningfully. Leadership, both on and oﬀ the pitch, was evident, with numerous players stepping up in critical moments. Co-captains Adam W and Calum R led with maturity and composure, guiding the team through both triumphs and challenges.

Reﬂecting on the year, Calum R summed it up best:

“This rugby season has been the most enjoyable season I’ve

had in my time at Merchiston. This year group is an extremely talented group with a lot of potential, and I think that people really stepped up and showed that oﬀ. Statistics are not the only factor to determine a good season or not; however, if you look at this season’s record - only one loss and coming away with a trophy in the sevens season - it deﬁnitely bodes well for the future.

With some of the boys getting call-ups for U16 games, it allowed new faces to make their impression in the ﬁrst team, and lots did. It is brilliant to see the amount of competition that there is to make the ﬁrst team, even in such a small year group.

Some of my favourite parts of the season were the game against Peebles, where we fought harder against hypothermia than we did winning the game, a convincing win on ‘EA Day’, who were big opponents, and, of course, the win at the HSG Sevens. A moment that also stood out was our only loss this season, to a strong GWC team: despite this, come next year, when it's time for our U16 Cup run, we will know what to expect and can give the Cup a real shot against these strong sides.

I am so looking forward to seeing what this group can do and maybe get ourselves a run-out under the lights on the big stage. Huge thanks go to all the coaches and staﬀ involved in giving all of us the absolute top-end support and opportunities to develop ourselves. Now let’s do all that we can individually to get the most out of next season. Thank you, boys.”

Mr De Luca, Mr Hall, and Mr Glover would like to extend their sincere thanks to all players for their outstanding eﬀort, teamwork, and commitment throughout the season. We wish everyone the very best as they prepare for U16 Cup action next year.

Richard Glover, B1 Coach

U15B / B2 RUGBY

The 2024/25 B2 rugby season was a rewarding and positive campaign, marked by both commendable results and, more signiﬁcantly, by the development of the team and the individual progression of players throughout the year.

B team rugby invariably poses challenges, particularly due to the ﬂuid nature of player availability, as individuals are frequently called up to the A team. This often disrupts team consistency and makes it diﬃcult to establish settled combinations. Despite these challenges, the squad began the season with an impressive 50–12 victory over Fettes, taking full advantage of a rare period of minimal injuries.

The second ﬁxture of the season proved to be one of the most memorable. The team hosted Temuco, a touring side from Chile, who brought great intensity and motivation to the match. Trailing 21–5 at half-time, the team responded magniﬁcently following an inspiring team talk from Mr Deans and the inclusion of a small number of A team players. A determined second-half performance led to a thrilling 28–21 comeback win. Hosting an international touring team is always a special experience, and this occasion was no exception, leaving lasting memories for all involved.

The team continued its strong form with a hard-fought 22–12 victory over Dollar Academy — an opponent which never makes for an easy contest. At this point, with three consecutive wins, aspirations for an unbeaten season began to emerge. However, the team was brought back down to earth with a disappointing loss to Stewart’s

Melville, a match which served as a timely reminder of the importance of discipline and attention to the fundamentals of the game.

To their credit, the players responded with a closely contested 43–34 win over Edinburgh Academy. However, the following week saw a heavy 71–21 defeat to a particularly strong George Watson’s side. This contrast in performances epitomised the inconsistency that came to deﬁne the latter part of the season.

Ongoing injuries within the A team had a significant impact, occasionally leaving the B2 squad severely depleted. This was most evident in the away fixture at Dollar, where the team finished with only 12 players due to injuries in the A team, resulting in a 42–24 defeat, despite a valiant effort.

One of the stand-out performances in the second half of the season was the dramatic 31–29 victory over Hutcheson’s Grammar School. In a match where momentum swung repeatedly, the team displayed great character and resilience, clinching the win with a try and conversion in the ﬁnal play.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the players for their dedication, resilience, and positive attitude throughout the season. Particular appreciation is due to Mr De Luca and Mr Glover for their invaluable contributions during training and match preparation. I look forward to watching this talented group of players continue to develop in the seasons to come.

Ben Hall, B2 Coach

U14A / C1 RUGBY

As the season draws to a close, we look back on what can only be described as a remarkable year for the C1 rugby team. It has been a year that not only brought success on the ﬁeld, but also captured the spirit and values that deﬁne our School. At the heart of this season has been the idea of seizing opportunities, and this team has done exactly that, with heart, commitment, and unity.

This was never a team deﬁned by size or reputation. With just nineteen players in the squad, and sometimes only ﬁfteen available on match day, it would have been easy to doubt what was possible. Amongst those players were three who had never played the game before: Mateo, Zander, and Ignacio. That, in itself, was a challenge, but what followed was a testament to the power of teamwork.

These new players were embraced and encouraged by their team-mates, welcomed into a culture of support and togetherness. It is that sense of belonging and belief in each other that makes this group so unique.

Despite the challenges, the C1s did more than compete; They excelled…

Winning the U14 Conference was a standout moment, a proud achievement that reﬂected the team’s resilience, discipline, and determination. However, the success goes far beyond the scoreboard: it is also about how this team played. The brand of rugby was skilful, intelligent, and full of spirit. The boys played for each other, always giving everything, and always with purpose and pride.

There were a few matches that deﬁned the season, moments that will live long in the memory. One of those came on the 1XV pitch at Stewart’s Melville, where the boys snatched a dramatic win by just two points in the ﬁnal minute of the game. That thrilling victory, against all odds and in such a prestigious setting, will surely be a memory that the players carry with them for years to come. It was a game that captured everything special about this team: belief, perseverance, and the refusal to give in.

Another highlight was the home win against a strong George Watson’s outﬁt, when the C1s delivered a convincing performance, full of power and control. That day, Logan McK and Gilbert G were true warriors. Their eﬀorts on both sides of the ball gave the entire squad the energy and intensity needed to overcome a quality opponent. It was a performance that summed up the team’s identity — fearless, united, and inspired.

Leadership was key throughout the season. Jack D and William G captained the team with strength and maturity. Jack’s steady presence and dedication were matched by William’s energy and emotional intelligence. Together, they guided the group with a sense of responsibility and a

growing awareness of what it means to lead well.

Although every player contributed to this incredible journey, a few individual achievements are worth special mention.

Leo C received the Most Improved Player Award. At the start of the season, he was a raw talent, but through commitment, feedback, and hard work, he has developed into a powerful and capable second-row player. His growth has been impressive and there is no doubt that he has much more to oﬀer in the years ahead.

The Players’ Player Award went to William R. Respected by his team-mates, he showed remarkable adaptability in taking on a new position and quickly made it his own. His performances have been consistent and his potential is clear.

The Coaches’ Player Award was given to William G. His presence on the ﬁeld has been a game changer, and his energy has lifted the entire team. Week after week, he delivered standout performances. Beyond the pitch, his leadership and character have had a lasting impact.

Raife S received the Solid Castle Award. Always dependable and always willing to help, Raife has been a quiet but essential part of this team. From supporting training sessions to lending a hand on match day, he has given his time selﬂessly and consistently. His actions speak volumes about his dedication and his belief in the team.

This season has shown what can be achieved when a group of individuals comes together as one. The C1s have gone above and beyond expectations, and there is every reason to believe they will go even further next year. They have earned our respect, inspired those around them, and strengthened the values we hold dear.

They have ‘made this castle stronger’.

Well done, boys. You have made us all incredibly proud.

Craig Harrison, C1 Coach

U13A / D1 RUGBY

As the 2024/25 season got under way, there were lots of battle-hardened and seasoned players from last year, with two of them stepping up to lead the side most regularly –Harry L and Cadell W. This included a notable ﬁrst, as the D captains spoke at the rugby dinner in front of the other older squads. The captains and the squad represented themselves and the School excellently throughout the season, serving as outstanding role models and ambassadors.

The season started in similar fashion, with a rugby masterclass, as we prepared to go to battle that weekend. The boys returned in good shape and it was clear many of them had been active over the holidays. The ﬁrst weekend saw a quadrangular against two of our great city rivals and our friends from up north, Dollar. The boys’ impressive hunger for tackling and rucks meant that the day was a good one: a win vs Heriot’s and then a hard-fought draw vs Watson’s on the D1 roadside pitch. A gladiatorial battle in the middle of the pitch ensued, with no-one giving an inch. The boys then ﬁnished with a polished display against a strong Dollar side.

If we ever want a real test, we can always rely on our friends at Cargilfield for it. Our first Wednesday fixture was just that: a back and forth tussle vs a very physical team. Our boys stepped up and, in particular, the hard running of Harry D and offloading of Logan D were a constant thorn in the Cargilfield side - an incredible match, which we eventually lost by 3 points.

The ﬁrst few games also saw debuts for a few of our new Third Form pupils, Matthew, Maxime and Duncan. Their impact on the squad and our matches has been paramount to a successful season. The season also gave the opportunity for a lot of the Second Form students to step up and try out the level of rugby at D1. I am pleased to report they more than coped and have been great assets to the D1 team this year – well done to Harry M, Oju, Jason, Archie and Angus. Congratulations also to Rory, who occasionally snuck on the pitch and earned the nickname ‘Mighty Mouse’!

The season followed a similar path to last, with very little down time and game after game coming in thick and fast. We saw the team welcome Bell Baxter High School, when we got a chance to stretch our legs, and ran in some wonderful tries. It also saw us welcome Craigclowan for a well contested match, with our suﬀocating defence, often led by the trio of Barney, Harry and Cadell. The pistons were

pumping for Henry all year round as he burst through tackle after tackle. And Archie M ran length after length as his try tally went sky high!

Fettes were next up in a festival with Gordonstoun and Strathallan. The boys once again showed great resilience and determination to play three diﬀerent oppositions backto-back and come away with two strong wins and a draw against Strathallan. In the Strath game in particular, we had some lessons to learn as we struggled to contain Dave, as he scored three tries to our three team tries. This was a lesson we almost ﬁxed but Strathallan managed to trump us in the last play of the Ardvreck 7s as they went on to win the tournament. It was a great day out, which included great results against other schools, including a hotlycontested draw vs the might of Sedbergh – possibly on the smallest pitch in world rugby!

The season continued apace, with the boys racking up performances and results, including avenging the defeat against Cargilﬁeld, beating a strong and talented St Mary’s, nailing Edinburgh Academy and beating Ardvreck with another appearance from ‘Mighty Mouse’.

One of the highlights came that week, with World Champions South Africa training inside the Castle Gates. The boys were treated to chats, autographs and photos with the world’s best. We look forward to hosting NZ this year!

With the boys on a high and the season going well, it was time to be tested by Watson’s. Would we turn a draw into a victory? Alas, sport can be a cruel master and Watson’s gave us a lesson in all things rugby as we came oﬀ second best in that game - a really humbling experience for all of us. The boys had to remember that, although you can be beaten, if you turn up and go again, you can never be defeated. And that is exactly what we did: back to the training ground to graft and craft to make sure next year we can challenge them. The 15s season ﬁnished with good

performances and results against Peebles, Longridge, Robert Gordon’s, Dollar and Ayr, with a loss against a good and physical Marr side.

The 7s season followed the 15s and one of our ﬁrst events was an enjoyable trip down to Terrington Hall. The boys all got game time as we prepared for the National Sevens and we enjoyed being tested by strong English opposition. From the size of Yarm to the speed of Barnard Castle, the boys got to be challenged in all areas of the game. Archie M was once again leading the way with some ‘worldie’ tries and Cadell enjoying the pressure of being the ‘wheels’ for the team!

A few 7s events up in Scotland often ended in disappointment, but we trained our minds to learn the lessons and leave the emotion. This allowed us to reset for the next weekend. It paid oﬀ as we headed to Rosslyn, excited about what the squad could achieve.

The sun was shining and the boys looked ‘solar powered’ in their ﬁrst match as they ran out strong winners against Worth School, resolute in the tackle and clinical in attack. This gave us conﬁdence into the second game but we were brought back to reality when Aldro beat us 20-10, a real reminder of how possession is king in 7s and we just gave away too much cheap ball.

Highfield School was our closest match of the day, with both teams throwing their bodies into the game. With some great brave defending, we managed to come out on top 20-15 before we took on the might of Millfield. Despite the result of this encounter, losing 25-10, the performance was outstanding. We struggled to stop one of their pace men but we played great 7s and looked like a proper team out there. Spirits were still high going into our last match vs Fulham School, in which the boys, tired and a little bit red, put Fulham to the sword, ensuring our Rosslyn experience finished with a high, and, as always, lots of stash!

The next day brought some respite with a trip to Thorpe Park, which contains Europe’s biggest and fastest roller coaster! Surprisingly, it was only the staff that went on itthe boys were more interested in winning fluffy toys and ghost trains!

Saturday brought us to the ‘jewel in the crown’ of our season, the highly competitive and live-streamed Caldicott 10s! Highlights were chased and the season’s best performances achieved in our toughest contest of the year. Teams from across the globe were present, with Kenya, Dubai and France all being represented. Jack was back to his stepping best and, despite high shot after high shot and a lack of referee intervention, the boys ground out an impressive win vs Sedbergh in game 1.

Game 2 took place under the big lights of the main pitch, with commentary and against the hosts, Caldicott. This was

a titanic and bone-crunching contest, destined to be a draw, but alas, Caldicott’s impressive ball player jinked, darted and found a gap in our boys’ tired legs as the hosts went on to win 10-5.

Our last pool match saw us face IAPS Kenya, a select team all the way from Africa. It seemed that we had left all our ﬁght and spirit in that second game as the boys struggled to ﬁnd the same heights. A second half response kept it respectable, but the gas and skills of the Kenyans proved too much on this occasion.

After the group came the seeded games, and we started well against a large and impressive Taunton, mustering up enough energy for a draw. However, this was the beginning of the end: the tired legs, the glorious sun and the volume of rugby over the past 48 hours caught up with the boys. We got through the last few games with help from some friends as we caught the train back to Scotland after a wonderful few days.

All those involved this season have worked hard and improved immeasurably – special mention must go to Duncan, Kwame and Atsushi, who grew game on game, and to Oscar for winning the ‘most improved player’ award. This was alongside those at the dinner who won awards: Harry - Players’ player

Barney - Coach’s Player

Cadell - Solid Castle Award.

Special mention must also be made of Henry and Archie, who were unlucky to miss out on awards and had sensational seasons. If there was a ‘bravest’ award, Angus F would take that for consistently finding and throwing himself at the biggest opposition player, setting the tone for the whole team’s defensive effort! Finally, we bade farewell to two players who will be missed: Harry M, who left after a great first season, and our speedster, Oliver, who we will see on the circuit soon.

Nick De Luca, D1 Coach

U12A RUGBY

The U12As enjoyed another successful season of rugby this year, although it took a slightly different shape to previous years. With a squad very much blended with youth and experienced players, the team enjoyed a hybrid season of touch and contact rugby fixtures. The group came together really well, and made huge improvements throughout the season. There was clear progression made by all players, and it was heart-warming to see some of the more experienced players stepping up to help the firsttime ‘rookies’ to the sport.

The season started with an epic back and forth encounter with Cargilﬁeld, which culminated in a last minute try thriller, ﬁnishing 35-35: a game of rugby played how it should be played, and a perfect introduction to contact rugby for some of the boys.

This was followed with a touch tournament, involving us, St Leonards, Fettes and Clifton Hall. This provided an opportunity for boys who were not quite ready to play contact rugby and the chance to get a taste of some competitive matches. Despite coming away with three wins, the biggest victory was the lessons all the boys learnt, particularly in the importance of staying connected and playing as one unit.

All this was excellent preparation for us to take on Belhaven Hill and St Mary’s, Melrose in consecutive weeks, who we knew would both provide strong opposition. In two excellent tests for the boys, the team competed hard and came away with one victory and one defeat - a combination of some outstanding individual tries and

However, St Mary’s were too strong for us on this occasion, but provided a great opportunity for the team to learn some valuable lessons.

With the weather taking its toll on a number of fixtures, the season wound up with some final fixtures against Arvreck and Fettes. With a number of boys stepping up into the D1 team, this allowed others more game time, to put all their hard work into practice. A 60-40 victory over Fettes provided a fitting conclusion to the season.

Overall, it was a very productive and positive season for the whole group and they were a pleasure to work with. The way the group came together off the field was the biggest win for the season. The balance of touch and contact was a huge success, not only allowing the boys to develop different skills, but also keeping some boys in the game who might have been lost to it. Rugby really was the winner this year!

Alasdair Evans, U12A Coach

gritty defence getting across the line against Belhaven.

RUGBY AWARDS 2024-25

Senior

Solid Castle Award – Lyall R & Robert HP

Tackler of the Year – Theo DM

Most Improved Player – Fyfe D

Try of the Year – Lucas F

(SMC match 4/12/24)

Service to the 1XV – Ross S

3XV Players’ Player of the Year – Fraser A

2XV Players’ Player of the Year – Nicholas DV

1XV Players’ Player of the Year – Zander M

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Henry W

U16

Solid Castle Award – Arthur B

Most Improved Player – Lewis F

U16A Players’ Player of the Year – Sam M

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Jack R

U15

Solid Castle Award – James R

Most Improved Player – Matthew R

B1 Players’ Player of the Year – Adam W

B2 Players’ Player of the Year – Freddie A

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Calum R

U14

Solid Castle Award – Raife S

Most Improved Player – Leo C

C1 Players’ Player of the Year – William R

Coaches’ Player of the Year – William G

U13

Solid Castle Award – Cadell W

Most Improved Player – Oscar M

D1 Players’ Player of the Year – Harry L

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Barney G

SOUTH AFRICA “WORLD CHAMPIONS” VISIT MERCHISTON

In November, the current Rugby World Cup Champions selected our School and grounds as their training venue to prepare to play Scotland. This was a huge honour, but was also very special as we had just toured South Africa in the summer. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our boys, staﬀ and parents to meet the most famous rugby players on the planet.

Rassie Eramus invited our coaches in to watch training, which was simply the best CPD opportunity available to any rugby coach in the world. Our boys also had the opportunity to watch them train and meet the players. It is not surprising that the players were extremely humble, open, friendly and engaging people - another very valuable lesson for everyone involved in the experience. To see our 1XV captain, Ross S, speaking to Siya Kolisi was an amazing sight.

A huge ‘thank you’ goes to Stuart Chalmers and his team, who put in a huge shift all year round. We have the best pitches in Scotland, which allow our boys to play the highest quality rugby. The Springboks agreed, saying our pitches were by far the best grass pitches in Scotland and that they will return to Merchiston every time they are touring Scotland.

Rugby is all about making connections and looking after each other. We are very lucky to have built up a strong relationship with South Africa. We tour South Africa again in 2026 and the Springboks Manager said that he will look after us in Cape Town.

As we keep saying to our boys, “Every contact leaves a trace”.

Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby

1XI CRICKET

It has been another very busy and successful season for the 1XI cricket side this year. With the Scottish summer weather playing its part, the team managed to complete 17 ﬁxtures across the term, the highest we have seen for a number of years. With a young and enthusiastic group of cricketers, the season held a lot of promise, both from a performance and development point of view.

The season kicked off with a very productive three-day pre-season trip to the north-east of England, involving two games of cricket and the opportunity to enjoy a day watching some County Championship cricket: a perfect way to get the team back into the swing of playing and to start to bond with each other - connections which we knew would be incredibly important. On the field, the boys enjoyed two excellent games of cricket, starting with T20 on the Friday against RGS Newcastle. The hosts were restricted to 141, thanks to 3 wickets from Josh C and two from Cameron S. The Merchiston chase never really got going, finishing on 122-5. The boys bounced back quickly, however, to enjoy a 23-run victory against Durham School the next day. Playing a 40-over fixture gave the team a chance to expose their skills to a different challenge, and captain Fergus F stood up to that challenge admirably, scoring 106 off just 80 balls. The boys were ready for the season ahead!

Unfortunately, the good preparation of pre-season did not translate into immediate success. Early season losses to Strathallan, Stewart’s Melville College and Edinburgh

Academy did not provide the ideal springboard for the team to take into their ﬁrst-round Cup game against Heriot’s. Despite the results, however, these three losses had given the team some really good lessons and learning which would end up vital to the rest of the season. Starting to put these lessons into practice, the team made its biggest score of the year in T20, setting Heriot’s a target of 182, with contributions from Jack D - 73, Fergus F - 62* and George R - 40. This was followed an all-round disciplined team bowling performance, bowling Heriot’s out for 131.

This set a quarter ﬁnal clash with Stewart’s Melville College, and the prospect to get revenge for the ﬁrst meeting of the year. However, due the ever-busy Summer Term schedule, this game could not be played for almost another month. This provided the team with the opportunity to build some momentum into, what is always, a busy last month of the season.

And some momentum the team achieved, with not one, nor two, but three last over thrillers to build a battlehardened outfit. Firstly, a match against Fettes saw Archie C and Nick D scrambling a leg bye off the last ball to tie the game. This was followed by Archie V and, once again, Archie C, getting the team across the line against the XL Club, the latter hitting 3 off the penultimate ball to win the game by 1 wicket. This all before Josh C, defending five to win off the last over against George Watson’s College, took three wickets in six balls to secure victory by three runs. The team was ready…

As the last few years have shown, Cup competitions are where Merchiston teams thrive, and this certainly showed in the quarter finals. Batting first, the team once again put the game out of sight in the first innings. Thanks to half centuries from George R and Fergus F, the team posted 162-2. Once again, the bowling unit pulled together, restricting Stewart’s Melville to 134-8. Finals day was calling…

With a 3-wicket win against Fettes, a 100-run win against Dollar, including Josh C taking 5-18, as well as losses to the MCC and George Watson’s College, once again a last over nail biter, the team was primed and ready to go for the ﬁnals.

With the rain winning for the first time this season, finals day was cancelled. Having been drawn as the away team, this meant that the team had to travel to Aberdeen to play Robert Gordon’s. Being asked to bat first, the team dug deep on a wicket that had had overnight rain, and thanks to a mature innings beyond his years from Jack D, and another meaningful contribution from Fergus F, the boys managed to set a defendable total off 141. After a couple of early wickets from Archie C, Robert Gordon’s batters got to work, putting on 85 for the third wicket - the game was going to the wire. With only 3 overs to go, the equation was 20 runs needed from 18 balls, so the game was in the balance. Step forward Fergus F and Archie C once again! The pair only conceded 6 runs in the last 3 overs. The team was off to its third final in a row!

The final once again brought the team to face a familiar foe in a strong Edinburgh Academy side. Having had their biggest defeat of the season earlier to our rivals across the city, there was an extra edge and focus to the team as they arrived at the ground. Once again batting first, the game got off to the worst possible start, with both openers being

dismissed in the over. In a way that only this team knows how, the boys dug even deeper and took the attack to bowler. Leading from the front, Fergus F put in a captain’s knock of 53 to wrestle back the momentum, and, ably supported by a late innings partnership from Henry S and Nick D, the team set a very competitive score of 144.

It was then over to the bowlers, and, as they have done all year when they have needed to, as a group they stepped up. Knowing that they had very little margin for error, they all bowled to the plan, bowled straight, and hit the stumps. And although the wickets did not come early, there was no sign of panic. The run-rate crept up and pressure kept building. Special mention has to go to both Hamish F and Angus R, who both showed composure beyond their years and got the rewards. With a wicket apiece in a 3-over spell, the game was swinging more and more Merchiston’s way. However, as has been the theme of the season, it was never going to be that easy. As momentum swung back and forth, there was only one way this was going to end – in a last over thriller. Needing 20 off the last over, the game really was going to have a photo finish, and for what felt like the hundredth time this year, the responsibility fell on Archie C’s shoulders - and there was no better man to do it! Making everyone sweat, he took it down to EA needing 6 off the last ball, but it was never in doubt. For the second time in three years, the 1XI were U18 Scottish Cup Champions.

In a season that can only be likened to a firefighter jet taking off, starting slowly and roaring into life, the whole team has stuck together. It was a small squad of 14 players, but all of them played their part. Never getting too high and never getting too low and leaving their egos at the door, it really was the epitome of winning as a team.

Alasdair Evans, 1XI Coach

2XI CRICKET

It is often argued that "cricket and Scotland" is an oxymoron - surely the ‘summer’ weather isn’t consistent or warm enough to entertain the idea? But alas, how wrong the critics can be! The sun shone, wickets were rarely wet, and the ball hummed through hot, dry days. It was a season to savour.

However, a spanner in the works appeared that we didn’t see coming. It was a bizarre season - not because of the weather, but for other reasons. Six games were played, honours even… and ﬁve games were cancelled. Our opposition were either unable to ﬁeld a team or trembling at the thought of George’s razor-sharp wit and world-class sledging! Articulate and cutting, George used everything from boats to Henry VIII - even the local chip shop batter got a mention! A stellar addition to the 2XI!

The team remained as welcoming and spirited as ever, with 18 players featuring throughout the season - including cameos from a few Scottish Cup winners. Several Fifth Formers made their debuts, and two went on to win season awards: Angus J for best batter and Ibrahim K for best bowler. The joyous energy of Ewan was a welcome addition to any team, lifting spirits during tough matchesparticularly against Edinburgh Academy.

In his first year as captain, Reggie H led from the front with skill and maturity. He impressed with the ball throughout the season, never more so than in the final match, when he swung it magnificently and pinned Watson’s down.

The season itself was full of quirks - we couldn’t keep a wicket for the ﬁrst half, and then suddenly it felt like we were playing a ﬁve-day Test as the run rate plummeted but our wickets stayed intact! But all the ingredients are there for another great year in 2026: full of memories, mates, and maybe even a few more wins - though that’s not really why we love it!

Highlight of the year? Undoubtedly the final game: Max A under a high ball - a juggle, a flick, a drop? No! A diving save from Murray BO - teamwork at its finest.

A special mention goes to our departing UVI players, John T and Ed S, who have given their heart and soul to the 2XI over the years. They have been paragons for the squad, and we wish them every success in their future cricketing careers.

Finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to the grounds staﬀ and all the coaches who make the season possible.

Nick De Luca, 2XI Coach

3XI CRICKET

3rds cricket is not so much a sporting entity as a philosophy.

“Respect the game, respect the opposition, and realise that the whole thing is meant to be enjoyable…it’s a 3rds team, for goodness sake!”

As the great WG Grace probably said, when no-one was listening: “On the whole, I’d rather play for the 3rds”!

And it has been really enjoyable, despite, at time of writing, being winless (but always darn close….at least in the re-telling in Third’s man weekly, our regular newsletter)! We have had twenty diﬀerent players, ten of whom earned their 3rds tie (pictured below) for the ﬁrst time. It’s awarded for one appearance for the 3rds and all proceeds go Our Neighbours, a Zimbabwean charity looking after orphaned children.

Every game is a “cup game” and so we have played for, and retained, according to RCB rules (and because we didn’t tell the opposition):

The 1908 2nd place 100 yards Tankard

The 1889 Merchiston Horn

The Collins Cup for Pringle Fiction

The 1903 Steeple Chase Bon-Bon Dish

Outstanding performances this season were:

• Adam K v Stewart’s Melville took 4 for 18 - with 4 dropped catches!

• Max A batted superbly v Dollar, scoring 57. Agonisingly, we fell 9 runs short because the player they lent us had to catch a bus home!

• Zander McT hit an unfeasible innings of 45 against the 2nds, taking us from 10 runs for 6 (embarrassing!) to 84 all out. His previous 3rds batting average was 0.3 recurring! We didn’t win, but we maintained our dignity! Senior players this year have been as per the photograph above: Zander McT, Jasmer S, Matty P, Lewis McD , Hamish H ( vice-captain), RHP, Sam F, Fraser A (captain), Ethan C, and Adam K.

As our 3rds Latin motto says: “Defyus Expectationus“!

Nick Blair, 3XI Coach

U15A CRICKET

The Under 15A cricket season of 2025 turned out to be an exciting and rewarding journey for our young cricketers, who showed incredible enthusiasm and resilience throughout the term. Our main aims as a group focused on enhancing our overall cricketing intelligence. This meant getting a better grasp of various match scenarios, developing appropriate field placements, and refining our ability to analyse bowling and batting strategies, helping us problem-solve effectively during games.

We kicked off the season on a high note against Strathallan, when we bowled impressively and batted sensibly to chase down a modest total. Our fielding stood out as we executed our first run-out of the season, which became a key emphasis moving forward.

One of our signiﬁcant goals this year was to cut down on the number of dot balls we faced while batting. This became very apparent in our match against Stewart's Melville, when we struggled to ﬁnd our rhythm at the crease. It was particularly frustrating since we knew we had the capability to win, which pushed us to focus on our batting strategies in the coming games.

A similar story unfolded against our friends from Inverleith, when we were narrowly beaten by Edinburgh Academy at home. Nevertheless, we looked forward to another chance to play them later in the season during the National Cup, provided we got past Cargilfield Preparatory School in the first round. Luckily, we stepped up to the challenge, putting in a solid performance against a younger side and ensuring that we provided Cargilfield with a fantastic experience. It was heartening to see them bravely enter a Cup draw against teams that were two years older!

Our matches against Glenalmond were especially

memorable; we first faced them in a Twenty20 match, securing a victory against a strong top order. Our bowling was sharp, but our fielding truly shone, reflecting our growing understanding of the game. Then we took part in the annual six-a-side competition at Glenalmond, which turned out to be an amazing day of cricket. We breezed through the group stages, defeating Strathallan, High School of Glasgow, and Robert Gordon's, before triumphing over the hosts in a thrilling final, which crowned us champions – a definite highlight of our season!

Following strong wins against Fettes College and Robert Gordon's, we were on a roll. However, the week ahead was tough, with matches against George Watson's College, then Edinburgh Academy in a National Cup quarter ﬁnal, and Stewart's Melville again. We faced some challenges, losing a heartbreaker to George Watson's in the last over and narrowly falling to Edinburgh Academy, who ended up being the eventual winners. Thankfully, we closed the week on a high by beating Stewart's Melville, illustrating how much we had learnt throughout the season.

The annual Under 15A Festival capped oﬀ our fantastic season at sunny Bryanston School in Dorset. This trip provided the boys with a wonderful opportunity to bond and test their skills against great cricketing opposition. Whilst we faced narrow losses against Nottingham High School and Glenalmond, we managed a brilliant win against the hosts, Bryanston, leaving us on a high as we returned to Edinburgh.

For our season finale against George Watson's College, tired bodies were evident as our opponents built momentum, managing to score 131 runs off their overs. However, our batting held strong against a skilled bowling attack, needing ten runs off the last over. We came up just four runs short, which was disappointing, but it also highlighted how far this group of players had come in their cricketing abilities.

Whilst it was not the outcome we set out for, it provided a solid ﬁnish to our season. This group of talented young men has proven to be extremely coachable, gifted, and genuinely fun to be around. Their commitment to the game has been commendable, and I am excited to see how they grow as they continue their journey within the School. Cricket at Merchiston is deﬁnitely in safe hands, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

Michael Raikes, U15A Coach

U15B CRICKET

It Is not often that we enjoy a full cricket season in Edinburgh, where early summer weather is often wet and unpredictable. This year, however, we were fortunate that, despite a chilly start, May and June brought dry and sunny conditions, allowing for a thoroughly rewarding term of cricket.

Our first scheduled fixture - away at Strathallan - was unfortunately cancelled due to poor weather, but the team began its campaign at home against Stewart’s Melville on 29 April. A disciplined bowling performance from our pace quartet - Mylo C, Finlay S, Finn C, and David F - restricted the visitors to 102. Our batsmen responded with a composed run chase, reaching the target in the 18th over for a five-wicket win.

That momentum carried into our next match against Edinburgh Academy. Batting ﬁrst, we posted a competitive 124, with the top order, particularly Finn C and Lachlan M, getting oﬀ to a strong start. David F top-scored with an impressive 34, supported well by Abdul W and Lucas S. EA had some dangerous batters, but Finlay S’s three key wickets, along with two each from Alex P, David F, and Mylo C, saw them dismissed for just 70.

On 13 May, we hosted Glenalmond at home during the height of the Scottish summer. Having elected to field first, we produced another solid bowling and fielding performance, including three sharp run-outs, to restrict them to 105. Our reply was swift and confident: Finn C (38* off 33) and Rory M (33* off 15) guided us home in just 12 overs.

A trip to Fettes the following Saturday began to establish a pattern of consistent victories. Chasing 106, Finlay S

played a mature innings of 33 to anchor the chase. Special mention must go to Alex P, whose excellent control and deceptive pace at the death often proved crucial in securing breakthroughs.

Facing George Watson’s College, always a formidable opponent, the boys rose to the occasion. The bowling attack kept the dangerous Watson’s batsmen to a modest 110. Thomas W led from the front with a superb captain’s innings of 54 not out, showcasing a range of elegant shots against a strong bowling attack. He was well supported by Lewis K, who made valuable contributions throughout the season; Winston K, whose intelligent batting and sharp running between the wickets were a real asset; and James B, whose promise in the nets was not always translated into match performances.

The return ﬁxture against ESMS produced arguably our best bowling display of the season. A much-improved Orhan B impressed with some excellent wicketkeepingreward for his hard work and dedication throughout the term. ESMS were bowled out for 95, and, despite a minor top-order wobble, Finlay S saw us home with a calm and composed 42.

Fettes returned to Merchiston on 10 June, and this home fixture brought our most straightforward win of the season. Bowling first, we restricted them to 96, thanks to strong performances from our pace attack, with valuable support from Winnie K and Hal H. Rory McK then stole the show with a blistering 51 not out, off just 33 balls, earning a welldeserved promotion to the A-team tour.

Heading into our final game, we had an unbeaten season to protect. A shaky start saw us lose three quick wickets in the opening overs, but the middle and lower order - David F, Winston K, Alex P, and Ian D - batted with maturity and intent, running well to post a competitive 125. Our bowlers and fielders applied early pressure, but despite a brief flurry of wickets, Watson's openers ultimately chased the total down in the 14th over, bringing our excellent run to a close.

It has been a genuine pleasure for Mr Greenwood and myself to coach this group. The U15B team has been exemplary in both attitude and conduct, and to come within one match of an unbeaten season is a testament to their quality, teamwork, and commitment. Well done, boys!

Ben Hall, U15B Coach

U14A CRICKET

The season started with a home game against Strathallan. Batting ﬁrst, we amassed a colossal 181-7 in 20 overs, with Struan T top scoring with 52*. In response, the opposition managed only 78-7, with Issa K taking 2 tickets for 4 runs in his 3 overs. A victory by an enormous 103 runs!

Next up was a trip to Stewart’s Melville. On a rare visit down from the U15As/1XI, Jack D scored a stunning 100* oﬀ 64 balls, as we reached 149-5. Stew Mel put up a good chase, but ended on 128-5 (Ibrahim K 3-22) as we won by 21 runs.

A good Edinburgh Academy side came next and we struggled to rotate the strike in the early part of the innings. However, a late surge from Logan M (35* oﬀ 29) and Raife S (30* oﬀ 21) got us up to a defendable 130-4. However, with the ball, we were unfortunately too wayward (bowling 27 wides!) and EA cantered to an 8-wicket victory.

We bounced back in an excellent fashion with an away match at Dollar. In Jack D’s second (and ﬁnal) appearance of the season, he scored 68 as we reached 154-7. Hector E was particularly impressive with the ball, taking 3-15, as we ended up as victors by 25 runs.

A trip to Fettes was next, and bowling ﬁrst, we skittled the opposition out for only 100 runs. Hector E was again the pick of the bowling with 4-19. However, we too gave our wickets away too cheaply and, despite a valiant 25 from Theo W, we fell 18 runs short. A frustrating loss!

The theme of giving wickets away unfortunately continued against George Watson’s, where we made only 76 runs in our 20 overs. This was never going to be

defendable and we came out as losers by 5 wickets, despite Leo C taking 2 wickets for 13.

A rematch against Stew Mel followed and a lack of runs was again the story of the day, as we were bowled out for our lowest score of the season – only 70 runs. Stew Mel knocked this oﬀ quickly, winning by 9 wickets.

The second game of the season against Fettes saw a marked improvement in our batting as this time we reached 122-7, with Will G scoring a ﬂuent 47 oﬀ 41 balls. Despite this, Fettes were just too strong with the bat and won by 7 wickets.

The penultimate game of the season saw a visit from Newcastle School for Boys. Bowling ﬁrst, we bowled the opposition out for only 102 runs, with Logan M taking 2 wickets. In response, we kept our nerve to win by 2 wickets in the 19th over.

The final game of the season was an absolute cracker, as we had a rematch against Watson’s. Batting first, Alan T scored 100* off 67 balls, ably supported by Will G’s 47*, both filled with powerful hitting and strong running. Watson’s gave it a seriously good chase, but Will G held his nerve in the final over as we just came away with a victory, by a single run!

Overall, it has been an enjoyable season for the U14As, ﬁlled with learning and development. I look forward to seeing how they progress at U15 level and beyond.

Matthew Hillier, U14A Coach

U14B CRICKET

The 2025 cricket season was a rollercoaster of highs, lows, cancellations, and breakthroughs for the U14B squad. The team’s record of two wins from eight completed ﬁxtures only begins to tell the story of a campaign deﬁned by resilience, progression, and a deepening sense of team identity.

We opened the season with frustration, as our muchanticipated away fixture against Strathallan was called off due to weather - an early reminder of the unpredictability that comes with Scottish summer sport. The first competitive match followed soon after, away at ESMS, where the side fell short by 48 runs. Despite the loss, early glimpses of promise emerged with solid bowling spells from Aziz R and skipper Ibrahim I, and flashes of intent from the top order of Euan M, Alfie R and James P.

Just two days later, and when we could have done with a bit more time in the nets, the team travelled again - this time to face a strong Edinburgh Academy side. That match proved a tough challenge, with the team losing by 10 wickets - despite the best eﬀorts of Tedman N and Jason K in the ﬁeld. The result was a reminder of the level of competition in our circuit and the need for application in both batting and bowling disciplines, and for time in the nets!

A fortnight later, against Fettes away, another tough outing came around. Although Zander D dug in with a battling 17 n/o over more than 50 balls, our total never looked like climbing high enough as our opponents controlled the match from the outset, winning convincingly by 10 wickets. It was a humbling afternoon, but also one which reminded the team of the need for consistency and adaptability in diﬀerent conditions.

June brought a ﬂurry of ﬁxtures and mixed fortunes. First up was a home game against George Watson’s College, which ended in another 10-wicket defeat. The match highlighted the importance of early breakthroughs with

the ball - something the team struggled to achieve, despite Max M, Monty D and Horace S all making real progress with their bowling now that we had had some nets sessions. The extras count had started to come down, even if the wickets count had not yet started to rise! The following Saturday saw the second Twenty20 against ESMS, and once again, our opponents took the spoils, this time with another commanding 10-wicket win.

Perhaps the most frustrating loss of the season came in the third and ﬁnal meeting with Fettes College. Despite signs of progress with the bat, the team ultimately succumbed by nine wickets, unable to capitalise on early momentum.

Our penultimate fixture, scheduled at home against Watson’s, was unfortunately cancelled - another victim of the ever-unreliable weather. But the team saved its best for last. In the final game of the season, away at Watson’s, the players produced a spirited performance with both bat and ball. Posting a defendable total, the bowlers rose to the occasion with energy and accuracy, sealing a 17-run win and ending the season on a deserved high. ‘Man of the match’ in this season-defining win has to go to Mateo PO, whose three wickets ultimately derailed the Watson’s chase, although Ibrahim I, with 46*, pushed him close by helping set up our competitive total.

While results were mixed, individual performances and the team’s attitude throughout the term were commendable. Leadership on and off the field improved, and many players showed notable development in confidence, decision-making, and tactical awareness. No one exemplified this better than Ignacio JE, who takes the ‘MVP award’ for his cheerful disposition, positivity in the field and the smiley, encouraging way that he adapted to a completely new sport.

Calum Mechie, U14B Coach

PRINGLE 1XI CRICKET

When I moved to Merchiston from Yorkshire, people teased me about playing cricket in Scotland! They said it would be freezing, and the wickets would be horrible. They got it so wrong - it has been brilliant. And the standard of cricket has been impressive.

I know we’ve been fortunate with the weather - I think there has only been one game cancelled because of the weather, but we didn’t miss out too much because we had a fantastic ﬁelding session, sliding about on the grass in the rain!

We have worked hard as a team and put the effort in during nets and fielding practice - this has been reflected in our results. We have lost to just one school team, Bellhaven, which was an unlucky loss yet, but we could have fielded better. We also lost to a club, Carlton Cricket Club. To be fair, they are a quality side, with bat, ball, and fielding. They set the benchmark.

The low point of the season was the Merchiston Super 8s. It was frustrating and I think it was just one of those days when we did not perform individually or collectively. However, we got on with things and put in a good performance in our next game against Ardvreck, beating them by 163 runs.

We have real depth in the batting line-up, and everyone is capable of scoring runs. That has allowed us to mix the order up and has given everyone an opportunity. There

have been some brilliant performances – notably Harry L and Angus D, who have chipped in with some fantastic innings. Mention must also be made of Logan D, Harry D and Henry D for their attacking style of batting, which is always great to watch.

With the ball, Archie M, Barney G and Harry L have shown great consistency and picked up crucial wickets during matches. But what has been so great is that everyone has been able to bowl important overs this year and take wickets.

In the ﬁeld, we have done okay, but it’s an area for us to work on, so that we can put real pressure on the batters.

A couple of games stand out for me. Firstly, the game against Edinburgh Academy - a close game that we won, and a real team performance when everyone contributed. And secondly, the game against Watson’s at the end of the year, where we were chasing 142 and got the result with around 8 balls to spare.

Overall, we have learnt a lot and improved over the season. It has been great to have so many parents who supported us. We have all really enjoyed the cricket and the ﬁne Scottish weather. It has been a very successful season and I am sure that we will continue to develop and improve and be ready for next season.

Duncan W, Pringle 1XI Captain

PRINGLE 2XI CRICKET

The Pringle 2XI players kicked oﬀ their season with a very impressive soft ball game against two diﬀerent Craigclowan teams, in a shortened pairs format. This allowed the boys to get a good bit of cricket under their belt as excitement began to build for the season ahead.

Having had this enjoyable “Pre-Season” game, attention shifted to a difficult away game against Fettes - a thoroughly enjoyable game, which led to a Merchiston victory. The difficult games continued to come, and next up was Edinburgh Academy at home. This was our first loss of the season, but allowed the boys an opportunity to learn from mistakes made and decisions made within the game. These games were a big step up in terms of starting to understand the tactical elements of cricket and being able to manage different moments within the game. Next up was Ardvreck at home, in a tough mid-week game. The whole group was brilliant in this game, fuelled by half-time match teas - a luxury! The team managed to get over the line in a great match, winning by 92 runs.

The next few ﬁxtures posed new challenges against some incredibly tough opponents, with very narrow losses to both Loretto and St Mary’s at home: a lot was learnt in

two tough battles. The last few fixtures of the season highlighted the amount of growth there had been from the start of the season to the end, with impressive victories against both ESMS and Cargilfield, both at home on the brand new “Pringle 2XI Square” - unofficially named, of course! With the penultimate game of the season against The High School of Glasgow cancelled due to the weather, the last battle for the group came against Belhaven, away. This was a tough defeat, but spirits were not dampened as, yet again, there were some impressive individual performances, further highlighting the growth of the players and the squad as a whole.

The final season roll shows 9 fixtures played, 5 matches won and 4 matches lost. However, the growth as both individuals and as a squad led to feelings of success as we reflect on the season.

Thank you to the boys for all of their eﬀorts this season, as well as to Mr Evans for allowing the boys to continue to improve. I wish all of the Third Form boys all the best as they move on into Middle Years cricket next season.

Lachlan Gaddie, Pringle 2XI Coach

GOLF ACADEMY 2024-25

The 2024-2025 school year kicked oﬀ with a burgeoning Golf Academy. Numbers were up signiﬁcantly and, with that, a necessity to shape and structure the year ahead was essential. To accommodate the required level of support for the boys, two external coaches were brought in to support Mr Hutchison, covering all facets of the game.

Firstly, from the technical swing, short game and putting perspective, Mr Aran Sinclair, a PGA coach at Swanston Golf, and secondly, Mr Will Kelly, a Performance Psychologist who specialises in the ‘brain’ game with golf. Both professionals have been a huge asset to the Academy, providing weekly one-to-one sessions as well as group training sessions. Moreover, the players have engaged and enjoyed additional support from external experts, and the training provided across the year has translated into positive performances on course.

This year saw a hybrid of school golf leagues for the Academy, competing in both the Independent School Golf Association (ISGA) and Swifts Schools Golf Tour respectively. With a greater number of boys in each tier in the Academy, this aﬀorded the opportunity for ALL players to compete and represent the School in a variety of tournaments. The variety in tournament play has been key this year. Furthermore, the addition of World Amateur Ranking (WAGR) events locally, nationally and internationally, has been fantastic for our high-performance players.

Prior to the competitive calendar starting, the Golf Academy ventured to Ramside Hall Golf Club for a friendly vs. Durham Sixth Form Academy and Edinburgh Academy - an early opportunity to play up to 12 players to ascertain form. A collective aggregate of 10 scores from 12 identiﬁed the winning team, which was Durham, closely followed by Merchiston and then Edinburgh Academy.

The beginning of the competition season saw a series of round robin foursome matches in the Swifts Schools Tour. Merchiston, being in the south Scottish region, included matches vs. Loretto and Edinburgh Academy, and also the north region vs. St Leonards, Glenalmond and Dollar. The welcome addition of both Under 18 and Under 15 matches allowed for a greater number of players to be rotated and included in the matches. Following the Autumn Term matches, the Under 18 team ﬁnished with a ranking of #3, just behind St Leonards and Loretto. The rankings for the Under 15s went down to the ﬁnal match between Merchiston and Edinburgh Academy. After a fantastic win

vs. Loretto, a win for Merchiston vs. Edinburgh Academy would see the Under 15s ranked #1 in Scotland! Alas, the boys just fell short by the closest of margins - however, they ﬁnished a fantastic #2 in Scotland!

From a strokeplay tournament perspective, the Under 18 team(s) competed far and wide. The first WAGR Swifts event was at Scotscraig Golf Club and attracted the strongest field possible. The format was 54 holes over two days and a real test of endurance for the players. The team performed admirably, additionally with Captain Archie C just being pipped on the 54th hole in the individual event - so close, but a real learning opportunity as Archie played the whole tournament with the lead until the final hole.

On to October half-term and the Golf Academy had the unique opportunity of a trip to the USA. Based at the International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA), Bishops Gate in Orlando, Florida, Merchiston travelled with the respective Golf Academies of Edinburgh Academy and Rossall for a 10-day training camp. Each day consisted of a variety of training in the mornings, using the world-class facilities at Bishops Gate. On site, players had access to the gym and other sporting facilities, as well as accommodation within walking distance of all facilities. While the category 5 Hurricane Milton was avoided by a matter of 48 hours, the boys thoroughly embraced the US experience. Additional trips to a US university campus and the PGA Superstore complemented a memorable trip.

The finale was a WAGR tournament including the three UK schools and the IJGA US-based players, equating to a 54-hole event with 100+ players. The level of talent and competition was first-class. After round 1, Merchiston’s Archie C was leading and was in the mix until the conclusion of the tournament, finally finishing in 5th place - a fantastic effort and yet another WAGR event (this time overseas) that Archie was contending.

Shortly after the US trip and having visited Eastern Michigan University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Georgia State University, Captain of the Golf Academy and Captain of School, Archie C, put pen to paper and signed a National Letter of Intent with the Georgia State University Panthers. Keeping up the tradition of Merchiston Golf Academy players heading to the US, and following in the footsteps of the likes of Cameron Adam, Archie begins his career as a student-athlete in the USA from August 2025. The culmination of ﬁve very successful years at

Merchiston has led Archie to this point and another exciting chapter awaits at Georgia!

The start of 2025 heralded the announcement of Merchistonian, Luis Masaveu Roncal, being selected by Sergio Garcia for the Fireballs Team, on the LIV Golf League - the ﬁrst Merchistonian into the top level of the professional ranks, and the opportunity of a lifetime for Luis. Luis’s selection by Garcia was perhaps not so much of a surprise as he had a decorated amateur career reaching #16 in the WAGR, reaching the semi-ﬁnals of the US Amateur and qualifying for the Open Championship at Royal Troon (and making the cut).

Another Merchistonian also making the news was Cameron Adam. Having just graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, USA, Cameron enjoyed an awardwinning career as a student athlete in the US. This was exempliﬁed recently when he won the St Andrews Links Trophy over the Jubilee and the Old Course, moving him to within touching distance of making the 2025 Walker Cup Team. Moreover, with his win in St Andrews, he tops the amateur order of merit rankings and with the European Amateur Championship remaining, if he maintains his position, he is in line to qualify for The Open 2025 at Royal Portrush.

The British Schools Strokeplay Championship teed off in January and Merchiston was drawn vs. Glenalmond in the Scottish final, in a home and away fixture. The tournament consisted of a four-person team with the three lowest scores to count. The first leg was the away fixture,

competed over Crieﬀ Golf Club, where Merchiston came out on top with a 13-shot lead. On to the following week at Craigielaw Golf Club, and again Merchiston performed strongly to win the home leg and the overall tournament to qualify for the national championship.

More success would follow later in February with LVI player Adam Al-B representing his country (Oman) in the GCC Championships in Saudi Arabia. Adam performed superbly well, leading the Omani three-man team to victory and also securing a runner up place in the WAGR individual event.

Moving into March, the Under 18 team travelled to Moortown Golf Club in Leeds for a Swifts League strokeplay WAGR event. Although a couple of key players were missing due to international commitments, there were some fantastic individual performances from Javier P and Henry H, both reducing their handicaps on a very tough layout. At the same time, Captain Archie C was competing in La Manga, Spain, in the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Invitational WAGR event, against a loaded field. Going into the third and final round, Archie was leading once again, the third time in a WAGR event. However, taking head from previous experience, he held firm and won the event, thus securing a coveted WAGR status. A fantastic effort!

After Easter and into the Summer Term, the ﬁxtures did not stop, nor did the opportunity to rotate players. At the end of April, we welcomed friends from Sedbergh School for a series of four-ball matches at Craigielaw Golf Club. A close-fought match saw Merchiston come out on top 3-1,

and even more encouraging was the performance by players deeper in the squad. The following week was an Under 15 match away at Glenalmond, and keeping with the momentum, the boys again played some fantastic golf to win 2.5 – 0.5.

Into June, and an opportunity to play seven events in four weeks. Was this possible? Not by fielding the same team; so, with much logistical and team planning, juggling boys’ exams and seeing who was and was not available, the sequencing of teams naturally came together. First up was the Under 15 Swifts National Finals at the East Berkshire Golf Club, outside London. The strongest possible field assembled on a very tough course and the Merchiston boys once again delivered, especially in the individual category. Jack D finished in T10 and Toby C came in at 17th, both in the scratch category. This was quite the performance with many players in the field on low single figures: Jack D reducing his handicap to 6 following the event and Toby C finishing in 17th while playing off 14. Suffice to say, Toby also received a welcomed handicap reduction. As a team, Merchiston finished 5th from 12 teams - another very solid performance and an opportunity to play more players.

At the same time as the East Berkshire Finals, a team assembled back home at Swanston to take on local friends / rivals from Loretto Golf Academy. Two four-ball matches provided the format, and in very windy conditions, and again with diﬀerent players in the team, the boys did themselves and the School proud by winning the match! The following week featured a composite team made up of Under 18 players and Under 15s vs. Albyn School from Aberdeen: another win! A few days later, it was over to the Murrayﬁeld Golf Club for the ESMS Scottish strokeplay, an individual event for both Under 18s and Under 15s. Numerous strong performances were given, but none better than IV Form player Jack D, who won the Under 15 title! Rapidly on to the following Monday and 12 players headed to Elmwood Golf Club in Fife for a 36-hole strokeplay match vs. Edinburgh Academy. There were some

quite incredible performances, with Evan M shooting a 79 in the second round playing off 25, and Logan M grinding out two scores that easily beat his handicap. Furthermore, Toby C shot 78 and 76 off 12 to once again lower his handicap to 10 after starting the school year at 26. Our talisman, Javier P, was runner-up in the scratch division with a pair of 74s, Toby was third, with Evan M and Logan M coming first and second in the handicap respectively. What a run!

Approaching the end of the year came a real treat for the boys: the opportunity for the whole of the Golf Academy to play the Renaissance Club, just weeks before the Gensis Scottish Open. The stage was set, grandstands and signage up, and an amazing opportunity for the boys to experience a tour level course set up. Once again, we are indebted to Mr P Stevenson for his generosity for this outing, as was the case in June 2024. The boys were buzzing! The final week of the Summer Term saw a unique opportunity for the Golf Academy, this time playing with 100+ year old clubs at the stunning Kingarrock Hickory Course in Cupar, Fife, part of the National Trust of Scotland. Whilst this was the end of year finale, there was a semi-serious element with the School’s Palmer Glove trophy up for grabs! The boys played 18 holes with a bag of just 5 clubs, all Hickory, and with balls flying at some interesting angles, what a fantastic way to end the year. The boys had a ball! Very well played to Jack D, who came out on top, winning the Palmer Glove trophy for 2025 with an impressive 76 scratch!

At the end of my second year at Merchiston, there are too many highlights to mention: twenty-four events across the 2024 - 2025 year, involving local, national and international travel, WAGR events, matches vs. numerous schools and many fantastic courses the boys have learnt so much from playing. However, the most encouraging aspect must be the togetherness and team camaraderie within the Golf Academy that has been so evident this year. Here’s to 2025/2026 and continuing to ‘make the Castle stronger’!

Fraser Hutchison, Director of Golf

TENNIS 2024-25

With one of our strongest and most successful years this year, we have seen success at both ends of the tennis pathway.

The rise of Merchistonian, Jacob Fearnley, has taken the tennis world by storm, with noteworthy performances from him on the biggest stages of world tennis against some of the biggest names in world tennis. This is a wonderful example of a boy from our School ‘seizing opportunities’, and what an example for our boys to look to and follow. Well done, Jacob!

Our current boys’ teams have also been performing at the highest level, both individually and for our School teams. Notable achievements include:

• 6th place ﬁnish in the Glanville Cup British U18 Schools Championships;

• U15 Scottish Champions;

• U15 North of England Champions;

• U15 2nd place ﬁnish in British Schools Championships;

• U18 Scottish Schools Champions.

Please see team details below.

Glanville Cup U18 National Schools Championships

6th place ﬁnish at the LTA U18 Youth Cup British Championships in Nottingham.

The team consisted of the following players:

• Lance N

• Henry S (Captain)

• David D

• Alasdair L

• Louis W

A very impressive run to a top 6 ﬁnish, when you consider that 324 schools started the event.

U15 National Schools Championships

2nd place ﬁnish in the U15 National Schools Competition in Bolton.

The team consisted of the following players:

• David D

• Alasdair L

• Tom F

• Severijus S

• Ollie W (Captain)

This was an amazing run to the ﬁnal, resulting in the team also becoming Scottish and North of England Champions in a competition that started with 650 schools. Well done, boys, on a great run of results over a 6-month period!

Scottish Schools U18 National Schools Championships

Winners at the Scottish Schools Championships in Glasgow.

The team consisted of:

• Tom F

• Sushanth S

• Dominik C

• Alasdair L

• Ray G

• Severijus S

GB/Scotland Representation

Well done to Fraser N and Dominik C, two of our newest members, who have both been involved in British and Scottish National Competitions. Both boys played for Scotland in the 4 nations event early in the year and then were involved in British Training Camps in Spain and France. Fraser also represented Great Britain in France. It is really nice to see the international cap legacy continuing whilst the boys attend Merchiston.

School of the Year

28 March saw the Tennis Scotland Awards evening take place in Stirling, with over 500 oﬃcials from all over British Tennis coming to together to celebrate the evening. It was a great evening for recognising the achievement of many clubs, counties, schools, coaches, players and volunteers. Merchiston was awarded ‘School of the Year’ for accomplishments in Performance and Participation (see below). The coaching team attended the dinner with our Captains Oliver W, Luke D and Arka W. In addition to our school award, our Lead Academy Coach was presented with ‘Performance Coach of the Year’ for his work with Fraser N - a double achievement on a night of high achievement!

Category of Performance:

• Jacob Fearnley (Merchistonian) breaking into the top 100 in the world;

• David D (British National Champion in Doubles + Scotland Team representation);

• Alasdair L (GB National Championship competitor);

• 6 players currently on the British Player Development Pathway (again, not many schools can say that!).

Category of Participation/Community:

• 80 families brought into the School, raising 4k for the Edinburgh Food Project;

• 111 players accessing our school community programme each week (53 girls make up that number);

• Supporting East of Scotland County/Area Training. This in turn supports Tennis Scotland Performance Plan.

And Finally ……

Thomas Edison once said that ‘Vision without execution is hallucination’ and that is something we keep remembering as we ‘execute’ our Tennis Academy vision and plan - not always easy to do, but with clarity of focus, it keeps us on our toes! We are particularly happy with the

recruitment into the School via the Tennis Academy, which grows from the success we are enjoying.

An update is provided below for the period up until June 2025.

Simon Pender, Director of Tennis Academy

ATHLETICS 2024-25

The athletics season has once again highlighted the depth of talent, spirit and determination amongst our boys. As a School, we take immense pride in pushing beyond expectations, and our athletes have done just that, competing with resilience and poise against some of the most experienced individuals on the national circuit.

The season got under way indoors at the iconic Emirates Arena in Glasgow, where a number of our athletes had the opportunity to test themselves in a highly competitive environment. These indoor events are always a particular challenge as they coincide with the heart of our rugby and hockey seasons. Nevertheless, it was a valuable experience that gave the boys early-season benchmarks and helped ignite their passion and ambition for the summer ahead.

A signiﬁcant and successful part of our programme continues to be the Meadowbank ﬁxtures against other leading boarding schools, such as Strathallan, Fettes, and

Loretto. This initiative, which we introduced a few years ago, gives our boys the chance to compete on a high-quality tartan track and to get used to the demands of regular competition. These three back-to-back meets are not just about winning – they are about building conﬁdence, sharpening focus, and giving athletes a sense of the rhythm and routine of elite-level track and ﬁeld.

Over the summer half-term break, we were proud to join forces with St George’s School for the Edinburgh Schools Championships, again held at Meadowbank. This collaborative eﬀort allows our athletes to participate in more varied and mixed-gender team formats, which is both socially enriching and highly competitive. We extend our sincere thanks to Mr De Luca, who took charge of the team comprising Will G, Oliver S, Calum R and Arjun K. Of special note, Calum and Arjun performed exceptionally well, helping the combined team to secure a silver medal

in the U17 category through a cumulative eﬀort in the 800m, 100m, long jump and shot put. This was a great example of how teamwork and school partnerships can yield real success.

The Summer Term itself brought some excellent weather and, with it, some of the ﬁnest performances we have seen in recent years. Our boys rose to the occasion with enthusiasm and composure, delivering results on the biggest stages. At the National Relay Championships, our Over-17 4x100m relay team - Henry W, Ben S, Jake D and Lucas F - stormed to a bronze medal with a conﬁdent and well-executed race. Meanwhile, in the middle-distance events, we were thrilled to witness the emergence of a remarkably talented and young 3x800m team: Joel VB, Gregor A and Adam W. Their bronze medal win is even more impressive considering all three boys are still early in their School careers, with at least three more years of eligibility ahead of them. A fantastic foundation has been laid for future success.

In the national individual events, our athletes continued to shine:

• Henry W delivered once again, claiming bronze in the Over-17 Shot Put;

• Daniel R threw superbly to earn bronze in the Over-17 Discus;

• Will G brought home silver in the Under-15 Shot Put.

One of the most eagerly anticipated events of the calendar, our annual Sports Day, took place on 22 May, just before the half-term break. Bathed in sunshine, the day was

filled with house spirit, fierce but friendly competition, and some stand out athletic efforts across the board. Although no official records were broken during the main event, we were delighted to see a new Pringle Clan Relay record set the previous day during the Prep School programme. A Redford Clan team consisting of Archie G, Rory G, Archie M and Barney G ran a lightning quick 57.12 seconds, beating the previous record of 1:00.00 - a proud moment that reflects the strength coming through the younger year groups.

Finally, it is only right to give a special mention to our Captain of Athletics, Henry W. Throughout his time at School, Henry has embodied everything we value in an athlete: commitment, versatility, humility, and leadership. He is the very deﬁnition of a multi-eventer, having won medals in sprinting, jumping, and throwing disciplines. His inﬂuence goes far beyond the medals: he has inspired those around him, supported the younger athletes, and led by example every step of the way. His presence at the athletics arena has been one of joy and motivation for coaches and pupils alike. Thank you, Henry, for your tireless dedication and for being a role model to so many. You leave behind a legacy of excellence.

As the season closes, we reﬂect not only on medals and records but on the memories, friendships and values that athletics fosters. The future of the sport at our School is bright, and we look forward to building on these successes next year.

Craig Harrison, Head of Athletics

CROSS COUNTRY

The Lent Term brought the welcome return of our evergrowing cross country programme, an initiative that continues to gain momentum each year in both participation and spirit. Set against the stunning natural backdrop of Colinton Dell, our weekly sessions welcomed a mixed ability group of pupils, each eager to rise to the challenge. Whether new to the sport or seasoned runners, every pupil brought energy and determination, setting personal goals and steadily building both ﬁtness and conﬁdence as the weeks progressed. The atmosphere was one of camaraderie, persistence, and fun - hallmarks of what cross country is all about.

Alongside weekly training, pupils had the opportunity to compete in a range of external events, showcasing their talent and resilience across various terrains and conditions.

The Hamilton College Cross Country event saw our boys face tough weather and demanding ground at the Hamilton Racecourse. Though we did not come away with medals, our runners gave it their all and displayed outstanding grit and team spirit, gaining invaluable experience in the process.

The Belhaven Prep Beach Trail Run oﬀered a unique setting, with ten of our Pringle athletes embracing the challenge of running along the picturesque East Coast sands. They represented the Junior School with real determination, putting in strong performances and supporting one another throughout.

At the National Championships, held at the impressive Hopetoun House estate, four of our standout athletes, Gregor A, Sushanth S, Louis W, and Ollie S, tackled one of the toughest courses of the season. Battling through some of the harshest weather of the term, each runner rose to the occasion with performances that were nothing short of inspirational.

Later in the term, our attention turned to our very own Prep School Relay Championships. This event continues to ﬂourish, with this year’s competition featuring over 200 athletes from across the region. Our U11 Pringle team delivered a standout performance, earning a hard-fought silver medal out of 17 competitive teams - a superb achievement and a proud moment for the School.

Another major highlight was the Whole School Cross Country Championships. Despite the freezing conditions, almost every pupil took part with enthusiasm and resilience. The event captured the very essence of School

spirit, and it was fantastic to see pupils across all age groups push themselves and cheer on their peers. Redford emerged as the overall Clan champion, a reﬂection of consistent and outstanding performances across the board.

Whole-School Cross Country Championship Results:

Junior Event

 Winning Clan: Redford

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: Cristobal U M

 2nd Place: Archie G

 1st Place: Harry L

Middle Years Event

 Winning Clan: Redford

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: Louis W

 2nd Place: Gregor A

 1st Place: Joel V B

Senior Event

 Winning Clan: Spylaw

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: Gabriel P

 2nd Place: Nicholas D V

 1st Place: Oliver W

Sprint Winners

 Juniors: Oliver F

 Middle Years: Toby G

 Seniors: Lucas F

In addition to the cross country highlights, the Summer Term opened with a fantastic performance in the Aquathlon, held in Fife. Representing the School with great pride were Ruaidhri V and Joel VB, who took part in this multi-discipline event combining swimming and running. Both boys were superb, handling the transitions and challenges of the course with focus and athleticism. It was a wonderful event to kick oﬀ the term and a testament to

the growing versatility of our young athletes. All in all, it has been a truly outstanding year for cross country and endurance sport at the School. Well done to all who took part - you have done yourselves and your School proud!

Craig Harrison, Head of Physical Education

BADMINTON

The Merchiston badminton team has enjoyed yet another successful and rewarding season. With much of the squad returning from last year, the addition of Samuel F and several enthusiastic Fourth Form boys joining Friday afternoon training has strengthened the team’s depth and energy.

As in previous years, our competitive ﬁxtures were run in partnership with St George’s, allowing us to participate in both regional and national competitions.

Our first outing of the season was against The Royal High School in the Edinburgh Schools Championship. We travelled with a strong squad and came away with a convincing 10–1 victory. With a bye in the second round and another school unable to field a team, we progressed directly to the semi-finals, where we faced a formidable ESMS side at Stewart’s Melville. This was always going to be a challenging match, but the team showed exceptional resilience and composure under pressure, securing a hard-fought win and booking our place in the final.

BASKETBALL

A huge “well done” to the boys for this season, which, with the inclusion of the Scottish Schools League, was a much busier one. With many of last year’s squad remaining in the School, we were excited and ready to get stuck into the ﬁxtures. This season, Gabriel P (LVI) was named captain, stepping up from his role of vice-captain last year, with Jack C (LVI) as the new vice-captain. Both have had a few years’ experience in the team and their input and drive for the team to succeed this year was clear from the start. Their leadership during training sessions made sure we were preparing ourselves to the best of our abilities throughout the long season.

Our ﬁrst game of the season, a brilliant ﬁrst challenge, was away against Strathallan, in which both teams played with lots of energy and passion. Gabriel led from the front with the ball in hand, scoring 34 points during the match.

In the final, we came up against George Heriot’s, the defending champions. Despite a valiant effort, they proved too strong on the day, and we were defeated 8–3, finishing as runners-up in the Edinburgh Schools Trophy.

In addition to the regional competition, we also competed in the prestigious Gibb Memorial Secondary Quaichs at Scotstoun, the home of Scottish badminton. Due to availability issues, we took a younger team to this national tournament. Whilst the standard of play was exceptionally high, our boys rose to the occasion and ﬁnished in a very respectable 5th place - a fantastic achievement given the level of competition.

It has been a season full of eﬀort, improvement, and pride. Well done to all the boys who represented Merchiston so well this year!

Craig Harrison, Head of Physical Education

Despite a huge effort from the whole team, the score unfortunately finished 57-56 to the home team: a loss, but a lot was learnt. The boys were ready to compete with the best this season. We would play again against Strathallan later in the season, which again came away with a victory, 42-63. This is always a challenging fixture that brings great competition played in the best spirit.

The second game was away against another tough opponent, Fettes, which we would again play twice over the season. We started strongly, competing well, winning the 50/50 balls, and making our pressure with the ball count. Jack C and Martin H were challenging for every ball and helped the team transition fast from defence to attack. Fettes did not give up and slowly got control of the game as the clock ran out. The ﬁnal score was 60-67: another tough loss, but another 42 points scored by Gabriel,

however, with brilliant defence, clinical attack, and again, a lot to be proud of. The later League ﬁxture against Fettes was more challenging, and with our captain away, the boys lost 17-57: a tough loss, but again, many lessons were learnt.

Our next game was the ﬁrst League game of the season, against George Heriot’s. It was clear that the boys were up for this game, showing excitement, energy, and the desire to win. It ended 45-30 to Merchiston. Seb W was named ‘man of the match’ for his unrelenting eﬀort throughout, and a few very calmly taken 3-pointers. You could feel the momentum beginning to build!

Our second League fixture, against Stewart’s Melville away, followed swiftly, in which the momentum from the first win was still very fresh with the boys involved. The score ended 64-43: another strong win, in which Joel B played his most confident game for the team, showing off his pace and power around the court. The improvement over the season was such a joy to observe, and the new confidence a lot of the players had found led to a much more flowing performance with each passing game.

In the remaining League games, we beat Edinburgh Academy 68-38, and George Watson’s 51-48. Gabriel continued to lead brilliantly as the captain, showing true leadership on the court, and scoring an average of 30 points per League game. Milo S, James G, and Eithan L all showed a massive improvement, stepping up in these games to make the selection for the starting team very diﬃcult.

Despite the final League game being a loss to Fettes, we finished in second place, which qualified us for the quarter finals of the Cup, in which we were drawn to play against

The Glasgow Academy. We travelled across to Glasgow and were instantly thrown into a thriller of a game. At half-time, we led by eight points, but two minutes later we were back behind. The boys battled for every ball, every point. With thirty seconds to go, we were ONE POINT behind. Then, the ball bounced oﬀ one of our players and looked to be going out of play. However, James G made his best ‘Superman’ dive, slapping the ball back into play, which Seb received, passing quickly to Gabriel, who was up for the lay-up, resulting in a one-point lead. Brilliant defence led to the ball being won back, and an extra point from the Free-Throw line closed the game out at 55-53, putting us into the ﬁnals!

The finals weekend took place in Stirling on 9 March. We arrived early and watched the first semi-final between Strathallan and Fettes. This helped to prepare us for what we knew was going to be a challenging day, but the excitement and focus from the boys was clear. Soon it was our turn: we were up against a strong Gordonstoun side, undefeated through the season, and the eventual winner of the Cup. The final score was 84-37; however, the effort and attitude of the boys were incredible. Unfortunately, Gabriel had to miss the occasion due to a very important game with Edinburgh Kings in England, but the rest of the boys stepped up and gave a very positive account for themselves and the School.

The boys deserve massive credit for their commitment throughout the season, and it was a pleasure to coach them. With no-one leaving the basketball team at the end of this academic year, we are setting our sights on repeating our success and going for the Cup next year.

Callum Nicol, Basketball Coach

FIVES

It has been another excellent year for Merchiston ﬁves, with some strong performances at Scottish and UK National level.

In the U18 Scottish Schools Singles, Reggie H led the way for Merchiston, winning his group before winning his quarter-final 15-11 and his semi-final 15-13, both of which were gruelling encounters. He fell short in the final, but finishing as runner up in Scotland was a great achievement. Reggie again reached the final a week later in the U18 Doubles, partnered with Lucas F; they won the first game 11-9, before falling 5-11, 5-11 in the final two games. They will be back next year looking for revenge!

On Sunday 9 March, six Third Formers headed to London for the U13 UK National Fives Championships. Five out of the six boys reached the last 16 of the Singles Cup, with Archie M going out in the quarter-finals and Harry L reaching the semi-finals. In the doubles, Harry and Archie went one stage further, reaching the Cup final, where they lost 6-11, 6-11: a great effort to finish as runners-up against the best players in the UK.

Two weeks later, four U14s travelled to London for the U14 National Schools Fives Championships. In the doubles, Alan T and Raife S finished as runnersup in the Plate. Will G and Logan M lost a very close semi-final in the Cup, 1012, 11-3, 6-11, in an epic match that lasted well over an hour. They went on to win the bronze medal in the 3rd/4th play off. The biggest achievement, however, came in the U14 Singles, where Will G played some fantastic fives to win his group, before moving through the knock-out rounds. He had a little too much power and fitness in the final, winning 12-10, 11-6 to become the U14 Singles Champion for the first time in the School's history!

Matthew Hillier, Master i/c Fives

FOOTBALL

Merchiston football continues to thrive year on year. Our participant numbers continue to grow and we see many young people developing their skills and playing in competitive matches. Our greatest pleasure comes from seeing pupils in the Shell and V Forms training, playing matches and becoming a stronghold in the 2XI and 1XI teams. Our U16 and U15 teams enjoyed tangible successes this season, which fuel real enthusiasm for next season.

We are extremely lucky to have professional coaches come to Merchiston to run our training sessions and lead the teams in fixtures. We started the season with Kevin McDonald from the Kevin Thomson Academy. Kevin has coached at Merchiston for seven years, alongside his commitments at a number of semi-professional clubs, and in January he moved on to be Dunfermline Athletic Assistant Manager, which is a fantastic position in full-time senior football. We wish him well for the future. Replacing Kevin is Josh Walker, a former Middlesborough and Aberdeen midfielder as well as an U20 England International. And, although he famously scored a goal for Aberdeen vs Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup in 2008, this notable achievement does not define a wonderful professional career: Josh also owns and runs Foot Forward Football Coaching Academy and coaches Edinburgh South Youth football teams - and remains one of Dr Mechie’s alltime footballing heroes!

Merchiston’s 1XI 2024/5 season started with a real sense of ambition and determination to succeed. The 1XI consisted of players who had played together for two years already and were an established group of experienced players, both in Merchiston and externally with a variety of clubs. Sadly, the 1XI season did not turn out the way we had hoped or expected; our team was competitive in all matches and looked impressive but lacked the killer instinct to ﬁnish oﬀ matches and win. This resulted in a disappointing U18 Cup campaign in SISFA and Lothian Cups.

Some highlights of the season were our solitary victory of the season against new opponents, Hamilton Collegegreat to play an up-and-coming team - and also our ﬁnal game of the season against Fettes, which ended in a closely fought 3-3 draw. Goal of the season was scored by Nathan C, who scored a “worldy” against Clifton Hall, which has been likened to Maradona’s goal vs England in the 1966 World Cup on our new Sports Desk Podcast! Nathan initially intended to pass to a team-mate but, with no options available, he went for it. Nathan’s description is as follows: “I sprinted past one player, beat another with unreal skills and then realised I had beaten everyone and only the goalie was ahead of me. I was too close to the ‘keeper, so I ran around him and tapped it in”. Carl N commented that Nathan’s subsequent celebration went on far too long. As

a result, he had to be substituted immediately afterwards due to exhaustion and cramp from over-exertion. A wonderful moment!

More encouragingly, the U16 and U15 teams had great success and showed real development and motivation to learn and succeed in their matches. The U15 team reached the quarter ﬁnals of the U15 SISFA Cup competition after beating Clifton Hall in a thrilling penalty shoot-out at the Merchiston Arena. Albyn were our next challenge in the competition, which was very exciting as we travelled up to Aberdeen in a coach - not the usual minibus driven by Mr Lieberman or Dr Mechie! This really helped to build the anticipation for the game and also the pride in reaching this stage of the competition. The U15s scored ﬁrst very early in the game, although they were eventually beaten by a very good Albyn team. The boys did themselves proud and managed to score three away from home.

The U16s are a very promising group of players, many of whom crossed the 1XI, 2XI and U16 squads throughout the season. They play fantastically well together and have played some very exciting games, notably against George Heriot’s both home and away, winning the home ﬁxture 5-3.

Logan B was 1XI captain this year and has played for the 1XI for three years. He also has a very promising career away from Merchiston. He started the season playing for Spartans’ U20 team, including starting in a First Team pre-season friendly vs Livingston. He then made a move to Kelty Hearts U20s in January on a Pro Youth Contract. His success continued and he has flourished at the new club; he scored five goals in the final two games of the season and he is due to play in the U20s League Cup Final at the end of the season. All the very best to Logan in his football career postMerchiston.

A fantastic moment this season was to have two sets of brothers play in the 1XI, Hamish & Angus J and David and Sam O played in two ﬁxtures together - a lovely moment as Hamish and David are both in the UVI and leave the School this year.

We say a fond farewell to a number of long-serving players as they leave following their UVI year; thank you to Logan B, David O, Nathan C, Carl N, Teiyoon K, Magnus vO, Amos G, Yaw A, Kieran W, Tommy F, Hamish J, Ali J, Max H and Krish M.

David O leaves us as the person with the highest number of appearances for Merchiston 1XI, having been in the team since he was 15 years old. There is no way of quantifying the impact David has had on Merchiston football; he has been a superb performer and a wonderful and inﬂuential leader. Good luck to him in the future.

Nick Lieberman, Senior Football Coach

HOCKEY

It has been another very busy and successful year for hockey at Merchiston, with clear indication that the sport is going from strength to strength. Building on the change in the Lent Term timetable last year, which saw boys in the Middle and Senior years replace a rugby session each week with an additional activity, as well as the continuing commitment to a 50/50 split between rugby and hockey in Pringle, the performance on the hockey ﬁeld has made huge strides.

Out of all the teams, the 1XI had the most difficult season. With the early rounds of the Cup always taking place before Christmas, there is always limited opportunity for boys to get as much preparation in as they would like. Despite falling short to the eventual winners, Fettes, in the first round, the boys showed application and fight, which was promising.

However, once we moved into the Lent Term, providing the team the chance to start training together regularly, the shoots of improvement started to sprout. After a narrow 20 loss to Glenalmond, the team learnt its lessons quickly to beat Watson’s Development 1XI 2-0. This was followed up with a good performance in a losing cause, against a strong Heriot’s side, before an epic 2-2 clash with Fettes 2XI. It was at this point that the season lost some momentum, just as the boys were getting going. Week on week, due to circumstances out of our control, matches were cancelled and the team could not capitalise on the early season improvements which had been made. With 90% of the side being made up of V Form and LVI, it was very much a transition year, proving a great opportunity for learning and development.

As has been done over the past few years, the U15s and U14s combined once again to make two Colts teams, one aimed at performance and one aimed at development. After agonisingly missing out on the Junior Cup Final last year, the Colts As set their sights high, looking to go one better. Enjoying the luxury of a bye in the ﬁrst round, the team travelled to Glasgow to take on a Jordanhill side full of regional and club hockey players.

With only a few sessions under their belts leading into the game, the early parts of the match showed signs of understandable rustiness, and, despite some excellent saves from Angus J, the team found itself 2-0 down. In what became a theme for the season, the players dug deep and stuck to their structure and principles: half-way through the second half, they ﬁnally got their reward, with Toby G taking

the ball around the opposition’s keeper from a tight angle. This set up a barn-storming ﬁnal ten minutes. Weathering a late onslaught of Jordanhill penalty corners, the game became end-to-end, with both keepers making saves. With less than a minute to go, however, the youngest player on the pitch stood up to make the diﬀerence. After a break down the left, involving Thomas R and Tom B, the ball found its way into the D, where Fionn M found himself in the right time and place to slot it home. Once again, this found the boys facing penalty strokes to decide their fate.

Learning their lessons from the year before, the boys stepped up admirably, with a much more conﬁdent performance. After one round of penalties, the game was still tied at 3-3; however, Angus J then pulled oﬀ a brilliant save, after which Jack D calmly buried the ball in the corner to take the victory 4-3 on penalties.

This set up another semi-final against old rivals, this time Loretto. At Musselburgh, the boys found themselves outnumbered on the side lines, apart from a small, merry band of travelling fans (Logan M, Hector E, Alfie R and Mr Abreu). This did not dissuade them, however: starting fast, they were unable to find the elusive opening goal. Once again, that went the way of the opposition, half-way through the first half - the boys like to do things the hard way! From the start of the second half, the boys dominated the rest of the game, and with about fifteen minutes to go, found the goal they deserved, with Tom B providing a simple finish to the ball bouncing around Loretto’s D. Once again, however, we could not build on the momentum created, and were made to rue those missed chances, and so, once again, it all came down to penalties! Full of belief after the performance in the match and the memory of the last shoot-out victory, the five penalty takers strode up confidently to take their shots. With a couple more excellent saves and strong conversions from the spot, the team won convincingly 4-2, to take the School to its first ever Hockey Cup Final! All credit must go to Jack D, Hamish F, Adam W, Toby G and Tom B for having the courage, in both matches, to step up and take a penalty for the team.

On Friday 7 March, the Colts As travelled to the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow, for what was a historic occasion for the School: never before had a Merchiston team been to a National Schools Cup Final. This was the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication to their hockey from the boys. Their prize was a match against a strong Stewart’s Melville side, which they approached full of

confidence after a competitive match against the same side only weeks before. Stewart’s Melville started quickly, and, as was the pattern throughout the Cup run, the opposition went ahead early. Unable to clear our lines properly, Stewart’s Melville managed to bundle the ball over the line, the nerves having got the better of the Merchiston boys. As has always been the case this season, the boys then rallied! Led by one of the co-captains, Gregor A, the team increased in confidence as the game went on, working incredibly hard to press the opposition defence high up the pitch and to put them under real pressure, making it very difficult to get the ball out from the back. Thanks to some outstanding defending from Adam W and Hamish F, as well as saves from Angus J, repelling the counter-attacks, the game entered the final five minutes with still one goal in it. Pulling the goalkeeper to play with eleven outfield players, the boys just could not get the bounce of the ball, going agonisingly past the post two or three times. Sadly, a win was not to be!

With other wins against Hutcheson’s and Balerno, a narrow loss to Fettes, and beating Watson’s for the ﬁrst time in an U15A match, it was the most successful season achieved by a Merchiston Middle Years’ team. Huge credit has to go to the whole squad - the future is very exciting for this group.

The Colts B XI, under the stewardship of Mr Nicol, had a really positive season. With most players not having played a huge amount of 11-a-side before the season started, it was a great season of learning. Playing seven games, all ending with the sides being separated by a goal either way, it was a very competitive year. There was no shortage of desire and commitment from the group, and, coming away with two victories and two draws, it was a very successful season.

In Pringle hockey, this was another year with an extensive fixture list, and with fixtures against Cargilfield, Fettes, Watson’s, Heriot’s, St Mary’s, Craigclowan, Ardvreck and Belhaven, the group was provided with a lot of stiff competition.

The U13As led the way magniﬁcently, almost managing

to achieve an unbeaten season - only losing one game and winning the remainder. This outstanding achievement included drawing 1-1 with Cargilﬁeld, the ﬁrst time a Merchiston side has managed to avoid a defeat. There were also excellent wins against Ardvreck, Belhaven and Fettes, to name but a few.

The U13Bs and U13Cs also had a packed season, with a full term of competitive ﬁxtures, and with both teams consistently putting in high levels of performance. The U13Bs came away with mixed results that did not reﬂect their season, often playing against other schools’ A teams, showing how far they have developed. The U13Cs managed to win all but two of their games, showing true quality.

The win against Fettes came on the same day that all four Pringle sides (U13As, U13Bs, U13Cs, U11s) were victorious - just reward for the eﬀort they have put into their hockey this year. The mantra for the season for all junior teams has been ‘hard work plus fun equals performance’ - the results have really shown that this formula rings true.

Once again, the finale to the season for the juniors was the U11 hockey tournament. After the success of last year, this year's tournament saw the competition expand to eight teams from different schools, coming from all over Scotland to meet for a morning of enjoyable and competitive hockey. With two groups of four teams and then final placing games, all matches had something on them and everyone got to play against good competition. Starting off strongly against a good Watson’s side, Merchiston managed to start with a draw. Unfortunately, unable to build this momentum, defeats followed against St Mary’s and Belhaven. However, not to be left downhearted, the team finished with its strongest performance, a good win against Ardvreck.

A special mention must go to Tom B (Shell Form), who has again been selected for the Scottish Hockey Emerging Boys Squads. He has shown incredible dedication to his hockey in the past couple of years.

Alasdair Evans, Master i/c Hockey

EVENTS & SPEECHES

MERCHISTON’S SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION AND PRIZEGIVING 2025

HEADMASTER’S SPEECH

Ladies and Gentlemen, invited guests, Governors, Staﬀ and Boys - good afternoon.

Today, as is traditional at this gathering, we bring together our commemoration of the foundation of Merchiston Castle School and our Prizegiving Ceremony. In doing so, we begin by remembering the history of our glorious School and its founder, Charles Chalmers, with the following citation.

“Having started a School in the late 1820s, Chalmers took the lease of Merchiston Castle, the former home of John Napier of logarithm fame, which at that time stood in rural surroundings, and was it was there, in May 1833, that Chalmers opened his Academy. Charles Chalmers started with thirty boys. We took on the Napier motto “Ready, ay Ready”, which exists to this day and remains embedded within our School values. Like his famous brother, the mathematician, physicist and theologian Dr Thomas Chalmers, Charles was an original thinker in Maths and Science. However, his vision was also broader than that, and a depth of intellectual curiosity in the wider arts was also fostered. As Merchiston grew, so did the boundaries of the City of Edinburgh. After WW1, in 1919 the School applied to the city council for permission to build a memorial hall. Permission was refused, so the Governors made the enlightened decision to move the School to Colinton so that the 210 students should once again enjoy the advantages of both town and country; the new School opened its doors in 1930 and continues to ﬂourish.”

This afternoon we celebrate the founding of this School and honour those who had and have the vision to make it what it is today.

Today I am delighted to welcome Sean O’Boyle to Merchiston as our honoured guest and speaker. Sean has played just about every role a school can oﬀer; Mathematics teacher, Housemaster, Director of Studies, Cocurricular Director, Deputy Head, timetabler, and coach of both rugby and tennis. I will have missed many, many roles in that list, I know. But beyond the titles, he has always been a man of rare thoughtfulness and quiet inﬂuence. In my

early career at Christ’s Hospital, where I worked alongside Sean for fourteen years, he was a mentor to me; he modelled a kind of leadership that combined precision with patience, rigour with warmth. Though a mathematician by training, Sean also has a remarkable way with words - perhaps unsurprisingly, as he is also a lexicographer and highly regarded crossword setter for The Times. Among the many words he introduced me to, my favourite remains atavism - the idea of inherited traits, of something ancient and enduring resurfacing in the present. It is ﬁtting, not only because we share Irish heritage, but because his impact on those around him has always had that kind of quiet, lasting depth.

You will hear more from Sean later. For now, let me turn to reﬂecting on this past year at Merchiston...

Prizegiving is always a day of recognition, of gratitude, and above all, of celebration. It is a moment to take stock, to recognise excellence in its many forms, and to acknowledge the shared eﬀort that makes a school more than just a collection of lessons and timetables. Last year, I stood here and spoke about the challenges ahead for independent education, including the then-looming VAT on school fees. That is no longer looming - it is now reality. As ever, we will adapt. Schools like Merchiston have weathered many changes over the years, and what has sustained them is not privilege or tradition alone, but a profound belief in the value of what they oﬀer: a humane, thoughtful, and rounded education. That remains our compass, no matter how the landscape shifts. Today, however, I will not be looking too far ahead. Sean, our guest speaker will rightly take up that theme, casting an eye to the future - what it may ask of you, and what you might bring to it.

My own future will take me elsewhere, and Merchiston will continue under new leadership. It gives me great conﬁdence to know that Huw Jones will be taking the reins, supported by colleagues and Governors here. He brings with him not just experience, but a keen sense of purpose and integrity. The School is in safe hands.

EVENTS & SPEECHES

Independent education is, at its heart, a paradox. On one hand, it is a choice - a deliberate decision made by families, often at considerable sacrifice, to place their children in a particular kind of environment. On the other, it carries a burden - a responsibility not merely to excel in academic performance, but also to justify its existence through the values it cultivates and the people it shapes. We live in a time when independent schools are often under scrutiny. That is not something to be feared - in fact, we should welcome it. Accountability sharpens purpose. The real danger would be to assume our value is self-evident. The public debates tend to focus on measurable outcomesgrades, university placements and facilities. These matter, of course, but they are not the full story. The real justification for independent education lies in what you might call the ‘unquantifiable dividend’ - those things that resist league tables and inspection reports: confidence without arrogance; curiosity without cynicism; compassion without condescension. This is what we must championnot in defensive tones, but as advocates for the kind of education that forms the whole person. A rounded education is not just a slogan; it is a lived philosophy. It is visible in the life of Merchiston - in our weekly celebration assemblies, on our many sports fields, backstage at the School play and School concerts, and in those quiet acts of service that never make the Headmaster’s Headlines. It is in the moment a young person learns to lose gracefully, or speaks out for someone else, or dares to risk failure in front of their peers. It is in the teachers who stay late to help, or to listen, or just to be there when it matters.

The 19th century academic and theologian John Henry Newman once wrote that “education is a high word; it implies an action upon our mental nature, and the formation of a character”. That formation cannot happen without time, trust, and texture. And it cannot happen in places where education is reduced to instruction or schooling is reduced to testing. At Merchiston, we insist on breadth, not because it fills a timetable, but because it stretches the individual. A school like Merchiston must be judged not only by where its students go next, but by who they become along the way. Do they lead with humility? Do they disagree well? Do they serve others? These are the true markers of success. We offer a culture in which the Arts are not an afterthought, where sport is for the many and not the few, and where pupils can develop the quiet courage to become themselves, not someone else's idea of them. In short, what independent education should offer, and what I believe Merchiston does offer, is freedom. The freedom to explore. The freedom to question. The freedom to grow, in the deepest sense. But freedom is not

licence. We must also form conscience, community, and character. As another wise educator, Kurt Hahn, founder of Gordonstoun, put it: “There is more in you than you think”. Such beliefs - both demanding and hopeful - are cornerstones of true education.

This year has brought many moments to savour, and more than a few to stretch us. I look around and I see a Merchiston that is constantly evolving; responding to the world as it is, not as it once was. And that is right. Schools should never fossilise around tradition for its own sake. The best traditions are living ones; they grow, adapt, and endure. A ﬁne example of that evolution is the opening of our Forest Junior and Nursery School this year - a bold step forward that speaks to both our roots and our future. It represents not just an expansion of our provision, but a deepening of our educational philosophy; that curiosity begins early, that the natural world belongs at the heart of learning, and that strong foundations start young.

And over the past academic year, our community has been enriched by a remarkable array of experiences that reﬂect the true spirit of a rounded, evolving education. From the inspiring landscapes of Iceland, to the cultural centres of Paris, London, and Berlin, pupils have embraced global learning through travel.

Sporting excellence ﬂourished too, with stand-out moments including our U15 hockey team’s impressive runner-up ﬁnish in the Cup, our recognition as School of the Year for Tennis in Scotland, and winning our own nationally recognised Rugby Festival in October. Meanwhile, our golfers competed in the USA, and in the week ahead, the senior tennis squad will battle it out at the Glanville Cup, while the 1XI aims to regain the Scottish Schools Cricket Cup.

Equally inspiring were the academic and creative milestones that highlighted the diverse strengths of our students. Our Green Flag Award in January and collaboration with local and state schools for STEM Day underlined a commitment to sustainability and science, while achievements such as the Gold Award in the Reading Schools Programme and our success in the National Reading Champions Competition celebrated Merchiston’s love of literature.

Our Pipe Bands continue to grow in number and by reputation: the unforgettable performance of our Pipe Band with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers brought energy and pride to the new year, and their ﬁrst competition win at the CCF Championships were real highlights.

Community Outreach remained at the heart of many things we did this year, from hosting another Rights Respecting Conference to raising funds for a wide array of

charities across Edinburgh and beyond. This array of experiences proves that education is not conﬁned to the classroom; it is lived, felt, and shared. If education is to remain meaningful, it must equip students not just to navigate the world, but to shape it. That means encouraging initiative, empathy, intellectual rigour, and resilience. It means preparing young people for a world that may well be more volatile, more demanding, and more ethically complex than anything my generation coped with at their age. That requires a broad education, a range of experiences, and the opportunity to try new things. It is a

challenge to engage many parts of society on the importance of this. But I remain optimistic. Why? Because of the young people before me. Because every week, I see evidence that the future is in safe hands - not because these young men will inherit the world, but because they are already shaping it. They are seizing the opportunities that Merchiston provides. It is easy to be cynical about the next generation. But spend any time in this School and you will ﬁnd that cynicism dissolves quickly. Merchiston pupils are not just bright, they are brave; not just well-taught, but well-grounded; not just prepared for exams, but for life. That

EVENTS & SPEECHES

is something of which we can all be proud

Now, to those receiving prizes today - congratulations. You have earned this moment. However, do not let your award become a full stop. Let it be a comma in your story; a pause before the next sentence begins. To those who did not hear your name called – do not think for a second that your work went unnoticed. Prizegiving is a celebration, not a deﬁnition. There are many forms of excellence, and not all of them come with trophies.

Now, at this stage, I would like to turn to recognise those colleagues who leave us at the end of this term.

We say goodbye to May Burnett, Ally Evans, Allan Potts and Becky Tinson as they leave after a short spell with us. We wish them all the very best as they move on from Merchiston.

Though only with us for three years, Natasha Callan brought boundless energy and passion to our English Department. Her enthusiasm has been infectious, inspiring both colleagues and students alike, and she quickly became a bright spark in our community. We are grateful for the positivity and dedication she shared with us and wish her all the best in her next chapter!

I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Peter Golden for his dedication and impact since ﬁrst joining us in 2019. With decades of teaching experience, Peter has been an invaluable mentor to his Sixth Form pupils, combining a relaxed yet high-standard approach that truly prepared them for success. Beyond the classroom, his commitment was clear, whether supporting students late into the evening, managing the Entrepreneurship programme, or contributing as a resident tutor and coach. As Peter moves into retirement, or, as he calls it, “repurposing,” we wish him all the best in his golf, travels, writing, and consulting. Thank you, Peter, for everything.

James Mayoh has been an indispensable part of our community for eight years, expertly balancing his roles as Resident House Tutor, Lead Physics Teacher, and drama enthusiast extraordinaire. His passion for Physics is matched only by his love for all things technical and robotic, bringing a hands-on, creative spirit to both the classroom and the stage. Whether directing a drama production or designing intricate props, James’s inventiveness and ingenuity have inspired countless pupils. Always ready with a unique sense of style and enthusiasm, he leaves behind a legacy of innovation, warmth, and unforgettable performances. We thank him deeply for all he has contributed here and wish him every success as he moves on to Repton School.

Alexandra Torrance has been a pillar of inspiration in the Pringle Teaching Centre for the past eight years, serving as a committed and caring Lead Teacher for much of that

time. Her genuine warmth and steady leadership have helped shape the young minds in her care, fostering a love of learning and conﬁdence in every child. Alexandra’s enthusiasm extends beyond the classroom; her passion for farming and polo has brought a unique energy that has enriched School life for pupils. A steadfast supporter of both academic and co-curricular activities, we are truly grateful for Alexandra’s years of service and wish her every success and happiness in her future endeavours.

Naomi Steen joined us from Northern Ireland, bringing a remarkable blend of intellect, precision, and that unmistakable Ulster graft, which has deﬁned her approach to teaching. As Second in Department then Head of Mathematics, Naomi has guided her boys with unwavering dedication, fostering not only their academic success but also their conﬁdence and curiosity. Beyond the classroom, her role as a resident tutor has seen her support pupils with warmth and insight, building strong relationships and a real sense of community. Naomi’s commitment has left an indelible mark on the School, and we are deeply grateful for the expertise and care she has shared throughout her time here. We wish her all the best for her future career.

Fi Blair has worked at Merchiston since August 2009, and has been an important source of support for our pupils over those sixteen years. She has been much more than the School counsellor: she is also an active participant of Our Neighbours charity, organising trips to Zimbabwe, and involving pupils with the trips as well as project work back here in the UK. She has also been instrumental in providing a structure for the Wednesday afternoon pupil service and outreach sessions, enabling Lower Sixth pupils to experience what it is like to support others, as well as learning about themselves, as they are challenged to step safely out of their comfort zone. Fi is an ever-present member of the wider staﬀ community within Merchiston, supporting numerous staﬀ members as a listener for them too. We wish Fi all the very best for the future, whilst being glad that she will remain part of the community.

Steph Binnie leaves Merchiston this summer after twenty years at the School. She joined the English Department in 2005, fresh from her probationary year. To say that she threw herself into Merchiston’s busy life would be the grossest understatement. She taught across departments and took on senior positions in boarding houses. She became our Director of Drama, and was, we think, the first in this position to play a part in one of our productions. She then took on the role of Head of English, overseeing truly outstanding results over many years. Steph’s years at Merchiston have been defined by hard work, by infinite care of pupils, by friendship and by

laughter – much laughter. We wish her all the very best for her exciting new endeavours, and for family life with Dave and the family.

Alister MacNeill has been a quiet, steady force behind our ICT infrastructure for an incredible twenty-five years, expertly navigating the ever-changing world of technology to keep our School running smoothly and at the cutting edge. His deep technical skill and calm problem-solving have been invaluable as technology evolved around us; from school computers of the early 2000s to today’s hugely different digital landscape. Though often working behind the scenes, Alister’s impact has been profound, ensuring that staff and students alike benefit from seamless, modern tech solutions. We are immensely grateful for his service and wish him all the best as he leaves us.

Fiona Darling has been a vital member of the Merchiston family since 1998, arriving during the headship of the late Mr Spawforth. Throughout her time here, she has been a gifted Art teacher, whose creativity and passion have inspired generations of pupils. But Fiona’s contribution has gone far beyond the classroom; of late, she has been a steadfast housemother and assistant houseparent, oﬀering care, guidance, and a warm presence that has helped shape the character and well-being of many boys. For many years, she was our ski trip co-ordinator; she brought that adventure to School life, ensuring unforgettable experiences for all involved. Fiona’s unwavering commitment has made her an all-round pillar of the Merchiston community. With her departure, we truly mark the end of an era. We extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Fiona for her decades of invaluable service, wishing her all the best in the future.

I would also like to take a moment to recognise some of the people who have played a vital role in the life of the School this year. My ﬁrst thanks go to our student leaders: Archie, Lyall and Robert have led the student body with maturity, humility, and good humour. They have set the tone not just in how they have represented the School, but in how they have served it and each other. Alongside them, the House Captains, Senior Prefects, Prefects, and our wider team of student leaders have all contributed signiﬁcantly to the fabric of daily life at Merchiston. As has become tradition, we will honour our Prefects more formally at next week’s Graduation Service, but I hope you will join me today in showing our collective appreciation for everything they have given to the school this year. Gentlemen, thank

you.

To my colleagues and the Board of Governors: thank you for your steadfast support and your belief in what this School can be. My whole-hearted thanks go to Gareth Baird, who has served the board for last eleven years. A Merchistonian to his core, his care for this place has been evident in every conversation I have had with him. I thank him for his service and his counsel. I also want to oﬀer a special word of thanks to the Senior Leadership TeamPippa Axon, Dale Cartwright, and Danny Rowlands. Their wisdom, energy, and resolve have been invaluable. Much of what is best about Merchiston is down to their tireless and often unrecognised eﬀorts behind the scenes. I am deeply grateful to them.

And of course, a school is never just its classrooms. It is also the people who keep it running, often quietly, and without fanfare. Our academic, boarding, and sports staff give so much more than their job descriptions could ever capture. They are the pulse of the place, shaping lives moment by moment. Alongside them, enabling all that is done, are our operations teams: the estates and grounds staff, the domestic and catering teams, the IT team, our front office staff, finance, HR, admissions and marketingeach of them plays a vital role in making sure this School functions smoothly, cleanly, and safely. Their work is rarely in the spotlight, but it is always indispensable.

And ﬁnally, a word about the transition ahead. This will be my last Prizegiving as Head, and though this role has shaped much of my life over the past seven years, this day is not about that. I have no farewell song to sing. Just a quiet word of thanks; to those who made the work meaningful, and to the students who reminded me daily why we do what we do.

To Huw Jones, who will take on this role from September, I oﬀer my best wishes to him and his family. He inherits a school that is strong, purposeful, and ready for its next chapter.

So, as we bring this year to a close, I simply want to say ‘thank you’, to my colleagues, to the families who entrust us with their children, and most of all, to the boys of Merchiston Castle School and the boys and girls of The Forest, whose energy and promise are the best reward any Head could ask for.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS' SPEECH

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I extend a very warm welcome to you all this afternoon and thank you for attending in such large numbers for this important event in the School calendar.

I would also like to welcome our guest speaker today, who, as you have just heard from our Headmaster, has a stellar involvement in education both in school and further education. Sean, we are delighted to welcome you here today and look forward to your address.

The purpose of the Chair of the Board of Governors’ address to you is really that of a ‘state of the nation’ update. Looking back at last year`s address to you, I highlighted some looming threats, which arrived much earlier than many of us had anticipated, particularly with the imposition of Value Added Tax on 1 January 2025. For you, the parent body, this has been a dreadful addition to what is already a significant financial burden on our families. I do wonder if Miss Reeves and her colleagues understand the financial carnage that she has imposed on families who are trying to do their best for their children. The three schools on whose Boards I have served as a Governor can all be characterised as consisting of middle-class families in the main - families who are sacrificing much to see their children through independent education which is frequently financed by more than one generation. The horrible irony of this tax is that it will have the direst proportional impact upon the likes of Merchiston families, rather than the very elite schools` parents, who might well have been at the centre of the Chancellor`s thinking when this awful policy was dreamt up. Back on the ground, in Bursars` offices around the United Kingdom, this new tax has been extremely difficult to administer, with absolutely no help from HMRC in setting up systems to guide the gathering of this unwelcome tax. It is of huge credit to our Bursar, Pippa Axon, that she has managed to adapt systems to deal with VAT and to unearth what is due and what can be reclaimed.

However, there is absolutely nothing to be gained in wasting time whingeing about the imposition of this tax. We have clearly been victims of unwelcome change and it is imperative that we adapt to deal with the consequences of it. One of the gravest concerns of the Board was that young couples with family would turn away from the independent sector at an early stage, understandably considering that embarking on a journey through independent education was ﬁnancially unfeasible. Merchiston is a relatively small School and one advantage of that is that we can be more ﬂexible than larger schools

and be light on our feet. An example of this was the introduction of The Forest, which is growing steadily and provides an early entry point, which demonstrates to young parents what the Merchiston community can provide for their children.

We were also able to adapt our fee structure, adding two new price points, again in an attempt to provide choice to new and current parents in shouldering the burden of School fees. The flexibility offered to parents to move around within those fee points as circumstances change will, we hope, prove beneficial to our parent body. I truly believe that our School punches far beyond its weight in lots of areas, and long may that continue.

Alongside external change, there has been much change internally with the appointment of a new Headmaster, Huw Jones, in succession to Jonathan Anderson, and with the appointment of six new Governors to the Board. Following the retirement of Rob Elliot after fourteen years of service and Martin Judd after four years of service to Merchiston, we thank and wish these two Merchistonians all the best for the future. Their input around the Board table has been incredibly valuable. Rob was extremely helpful in helping the Board to understand Chinese custom and business processes in the setting up of Merchiston International in Shenzhen, and Martin brought his ﬁnancial expertise to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the wider Board. We were delighted to welcome Robert Cook, Andrew Marshall, Kelly Foley, Caroline McLaren, Jay Crawford and John McKean onto the Board. They have brought expertise across a number of sectors to the Board and their passion for the School and the energy they bring have been seriously impressive. All have deep connections with the School. We ask a lot of our Governors, particularly in these diﬃcult times, and I am very grateful to retiring, remaining and new Governors for their input and devotion to the School. I am thrilled that Robert Cook will succeed me as Chair of the Board of Governors following the end of this term. Robert brings exceptional business experience to the post, alongside massive passion for the School, and a real appetite for success for Merchiston. Robert, I wish you huge success with your refreshed Board and all the best for the future.

You will all have been aware of the recruitment process to ﬁnd Jonathan Anderson`s successor, following Jonathan`s appointment as head of Campbell College in Belfast. This is a stellar appointment for Jonathan, and it was with very mixed feelings that I spoke to my opposite

number at Campbell College when he called me for a reference for Jonathan following ﬁnal interviews. I say ‘mixed feelings’ because, as soon as I heard his voice, I knew that he had got his man and that clearly meant that we were going to lose Jonathan. I was very sorry that we were going to lose him, for I have worked with him for seven years and have valued his honesty, his intellect and his resilience. I have stated on several occasions that I would not be a headmaster for all the ‘tea in China’ – it is the most stressful of occupations, and if there is a more demanding position out there, I dread to think of what it entails. During his tenure as Headmaster of Merchiston, he has had to deal with all manner of challenges, ranging from a pandemic through to the saddest of personal loss. Throughout all these diﬃcult sets of circumstances, he has displayed

extraordinary levels of resilience, application and clear thought, and, whilst he is too modest to make a song and dance about it, Merchiston owes him a huge debt in ensuring that the School kept moving forward. Two particular sets of circumstances will remain in my mind. Firstly, the manner in which he and his excellent Senior Leadership Team dealt with keeping the School going and delivering for the pupils during the Covid pandemic. Faced with a unique challenge of educating our boys at home, they set up an online curriculum which delivered so well for the boys and kept the momentum going. Secondly, his statement to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, when his young daughter Matilda was so ill, was nothing short of extraordinary. I had attended the Inquiry for eleven days whilst Merchiston was being considered, and I watched

EVENTS & SPEECHES

with awe as Jonathan delivered the School`s ﬁnal statement, which Jonathan had written, to Lady Smith and her QC. I gather that the SCAI report on Merchiston will be released next week, so we will see what that entails, but the QC`s words to me afterwards, regarding the stance that Merchiston had adopted, were very complimentary indeed. Amidst all these challenges, we have seen the refurbishment of the two Chalmers Houses, the launch of The Forest, and perhaps his greatest achievement here, one delivered with his excellent staﬀ, a tranche of happy boys and extremely impressive leavers every year. Jonathan, we wish you, Bethan and Emily a great future in your new position and in your new home, and it goes without saying that we hope that you will come back and see us on a regular basis.

Following a very strong application to succeed Jonathan, the Board was wholly unanimous in selecting Huw Jones as the next Headmaster of Merchiston. Huw is Deputy Head at Warminster and he will arrive at Merchiston at the beginning of August with his wife, Kerry, and two boys, Sam and Louis, both of whom will go into the Junior School. Huw has been up to Merchiston earlier this term, meeting his new team and some of the boys, and I am sure that you will all extend a warm welcome to the Jones family when they arrive.

Finally, just some personal reﬂections. The Baird family has a long association with the School – our Dad was a pupil and Governor here, he sent his three sons here, two of whom have been Governors, and between us we sent our three sons here, so this is hardly an unbiased view! I believe that schools put their stamp on a pupil and I have always loved the Merchiston stamp. It was never better articulated than in the brilliant Young Men of Integrity video, and I have seen those qualities time and time again in Merchiston boys and Merchistonians. My wife and I missed our involvement in the School when our son Tom left, but

as hordes of his former year group descended on our farmhouse, and still do, we should not have worried. When I was asked to join the Merchiston Board and having looked at the accounts and School results, I went and sat quietly in the stairwell outside the Old Library, just to listen to the dialogue between staﬀ and boys, in order to ensure that the ‘magic’ was still there – I need not have worried!

Just after Tom had left Merchiston, I sat down to write a letter to Jonathan`s predecessor, Andrew Hunter, who had appointed Tom as Vice-Captain of School, who was positioned in Laidlaw, split new houses with a young, firsttime Housemaster. Throughout the year, I saw them both grow with their responsibility, and I wanted to thank Andrew for giving Tom the opportunity. At that point, I made a dreadful error in totting up the school fees that Kirsty and I had paid for Tom and his two sisters, and I was so shattered that I could not write the letter! Andrew Hunter was then diagnosed with a horrible pelvic tumour, and I knew that I had to write to him – what allowed me to do so was by dividing that awful figure by three, and then considering what alternative investment could be made for each of our three children instead of their education. The value of what their schools gave to them far exceeded the value that any financial investment could have delivered, so I hope that our story helps you, our parent body, when writing these huge cheques.

I have been enormously fortunate to have been involved in this superb School – the support from our marvellous staﬀ, the fellowship from the wider Merchiston community, and probably, most of all, witnessing the quality of these young men we launch out year after year into the wider world, will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you.

Gareth Baird, Chair of the Board of Governors

SPEECH FROM GUEST SPEAKER AT COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING SEAN O’BOYLE

Occasions such as these serve manifold purposes, amongst which are to mark the formal end of the academic year, to recognise and congratulate academic excellence and achievements, and to bid valedictions to leavers. This last point is especially poignant since, amongst the leavers, is your Headmaster; I know that Merchiston’s loss will be very much Campbell College’s gain.

So, where are we now and what does the future hold?

Some thought they knew:

- “Cars are just fads.” - Henry Ford’s manager, 1903;

-“Recorded music will destroy all musical ability.”composer Henry Sousa, 1906;

- “Everything will be made of steel.” - Thomas Edison, 1911;

- “Nuclear energy is impossible.” - Albert Einstein, 1932;

- “The Beatles have no future.” - Decca Records, 1962;

- “There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any signiﬁcant market share. No chance.” - Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, 2007.

I think we can safely say the future is not what it used to be! Given the accuracy of what has gone before, I’m tempted to predict that Donald Trump will serve a third term as US President!

Despite uncertainties about the future, it is true, however, that you will all, in time, have to grapple with ongoing legacy issues. As Billy Joel (and I gather more recently, Fall Out Boy) said: “You didn’t start the fire but there will be plenty of fire-fighting to do…”

Trump in the White House, genius or Mickey Mouse?

He leads the world a merry dance, assisted by JD Vance.

Old world order up the spout, Nato get your chequebooks out.

Tariﬀs on the Chinese, rest of world is on its knees.

Russians in the Ukraine, send them home to think again.

More like famine than a feast, uproar in the Middle East. No time to be a farmer, blame it on Keir Starmer.

VAT on our schools, governed by a ship of fools.

Art students short of dosh, poor old Rennie Macintosh. Oxford cuts its Classics course, Cambridge dons show no remorse.

Mobile phones are out of school - source of woe or useful tool?

Old style jobs are blown sky high - should we blame or praise AI?

Global warming at our door, threatens both the rich and poor.

The ﬁres are lit they burn so bright. can you make the future right?

Given the alarming and bewildering rapidity with which the world ﬂickers this way and that, how then does school help? So, what’s the point of school? How does it help? You may well ask…

Let’s look at a few subjects. A recent article in The Economist posed the same question and focused on curriculum content – what’s the point of the modern curriculum? Is it just training to become an economically valuable unit in the economy or something more?

Modern Foreign Languages: I can hover my mobile phone over a piece of text in any language and read a word-perfect translation. The age of the Douglas Adams’s ‘Babel Fish’ - a device placed in one’s ear which simultaneously hears and plays back in English (or SerboCroat, if you prefer} into one’s ear a translated edition - is surely to become reality soon.

Economics: the ﬁeld of Economics is sometimes described as the discipline which can predict, with almost perfect accuracy, what happened to the economy in the past! Despite the most sophisticated models, no country seems yet be able to implement an economic model which ﬁxes all, or even most, or even some of the underlying problems.

Mathematics: I can type any algebraic equation or integral into Wolfram or GeoGebra and receive the solutions instantaneously - together with correct working.

Essay subjects: the use of ChatGPT Bard to write cogent, ﬂuent essays on any topic is well documented - a friend of mine used this to create a speech in the House of Lords no less, which he recited gleefully verbatim, without suspicion of its provenance, though, admittedly, a high percentage of the audience may well have been asleep!

It doesn’t stop there. In the wider curriculum, municipal sports clubs abound, providing high order coaching for those who voluntarily wish to play team sports. Similar opportunities exist for modern music - usually the garages of long-suﬀering parents! Or, in the case of so-called Art, Tracey Emin’s notorious ‘unmade bed’. Are the spaces, intellectual, physical and creative, once the preserve of schools, being eroded into thinner and thinner spaces and

ultimately redundancy?

Whilst there are undoubtedly challenges, I think not. An example from my own subject, Mathematics. Berkeley University in America was sued over gender bias. The university was able to prove that for every department, women were more likely than men to be admitted – but it lost a case of discrimination against women! It transpired that over the university as a whole, men were more likely than women to be admitted, even though each individual department showed the opposite. This famous case (an example of Simpson’s paradox) demonstrates that merely calculating the numbers and following the algorithm slavishly does not mean that the data are properly understood.

Compare these:

Mary was great with child / Uncle Geoﬀ is great with children.

Asking Google to translate the following two sentences will give similar literal results. Obviously, a human understanding of the nuance is essential to distil or translate the correct meanings. John Searle famously made this point with his Chinese room thought experiment in 1980.

Oscar Wilde famously observed that a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Properly educated economists, I think, understand the meaning of value as well as the prices and numbers they analyse. As for the distinction between education and training, one could ask if one’s children should receive sex education or sex training in school! My assertion is, of course, that school is necessary to properly understand the subjects you study and to value the concepts at a deep level. But this must be done with what my generation called ‘character’:

Research ﬁndings all point to the same conclusion: character counts. People who overcome adversity and realise their full potential tend to exhibit many of these traits. In simple terms, these traits can be thought of as a belief in one’s ability to achieve, an understanding of the relationship between eﬀort and reward, the patience to pursue long-term goals, the perseverance to stick with the task at hand, and the ability to bounce back from life’s inevitable setbacks. These various attributes encapsulate the notion of ‘character’.

A word from the wise to the teaching staﬀ:

Plato wrote: “Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”

And, in conclusion, to the boys:

Think not that school is merely a preparatory phase and that education thus far has had the sole purpose of readying you for “real life”. Likewise, I’m sure that your teachers, to whom you owe much, strive to equip you for university, work, or even a heady and heuristic gap year. They have done so not to enable you to live in their cosy past, but in your challenging future. Instead, see your schooldays as part and parcel of your journey and cherish the lessons learned. If you have not won a prize today, take not a prize but pride in the things you have achieved, small or great - helping a junior pupil in distress, scoring a try in the under 15s or going easy on a teacher having bad day are all a microcosm of the experiences which will serve you well for times to come.

And it is your future. Yes, there will be things to fix, and what the future holds is a mystery. But part of the answer to this age-old conundrum is to frame the issue differently. Your mission is not to respond to the ineffable vicissitudes of future fates - the fires you didn’t start - but rather to shape and mould what is to come differently. The blend of skills and knowledge you are accumulating at school will enable you to be the masters of your own destiny – not the servants of a deterministic cage of experience. The things instilled in you here - fairness, generosity of thought, kindness, the spirit of enquiry, forbearance in the face of adversity, good manners etc, together with your adaptability and judgement, resolute as a rod of iron or flexible as a hosepipe as the occasion demands - all these should enable you to uphold traditional values whilst meeting the demands of contemporary imperatives. I am sure you will do so with aplomb and, one last thing – have some fun along the way. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal; enjoy the journey.

Thank you

LEAVERS’ PRIZEGIVING CEREMONY

HEADMASTER’S

SPEECH

Seven years ago, I stood here as a new Head, full of plans and predictions. And, like most new Heads, I thought I knew what lay ahead… Of course, I didn’t! Life at Merchiston, like life anywhere that really matters, turns out to be more complex, more challenging, and far more human than any job description suggests.

But today, this isn’t really about me. This is about you, our leavers. This is your moment – your time is now, to lean on a line from a favourite hymn of mine. You have crossed the ﬁnish line of School life; though in truth, it’s not a ﬁnish at all, but a kind of launch. What lies ahead is unknown, but I hope you carry something from here that readies you for and steadies you in the world outside. You have been part of a School that values tradition - yes, but also change. It is a place that teaches you how to think, how to listen, how to lead and, perhaps most importantly, how to get back up when things don’t go to plan. And let’s be honest, over the last few years, things haven’t always gone to plan! You have weathered a pandemic. You have adapted to change. You have shown up, spoken up, and often, you have made us laugh when we needed it most. You have reminded all of us that school is not just about exams or achievements; it’s about you, its pupils - the friendships, the shared challenges, and the sense of belonging. Those things matter - more than any examination grade? Maybe.

You may not remember every lesson or any of my instantly forgettable assemblies, but I hope you remember this: the feeling of being known here and the feeling of being part of something special.

One of the best descriptions I have heard of a great school is that it should feel like both a launching pad and a safe harbour. I hope that’s what Merchiston has been for you: a safe place that gave you the confidence to take off, and the grounding to know who you are when you do embark upon that next exciting adventure. As you leave, there will be noise, distraction, and plenty of pressure to chase the immediate. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. Stay curious. Be kind. Keep your sense of humour. And don’t confuse success with significance – they are not the same thing. And know this - you go with more than just a tie and

a prize or two. You go with the experience of having lived and learned in a community that cared about results –yes: but it also cared about so much more than just that. It cared about you. You go as ‘Merchiston boys’, and that stays with you. You have been our still point in the turning world. It’s your questions, your mischief, your growth that remind us daily why this place matters.

Now, while this happens to be my ﬁnal term too, I won’t make a fuss about that. Leadership is always a temporary role. The School was here long before any of us arrived, and it will continue to thrive long after we go. That is how it should be.

And so, as you take your leave, I’ll quietly take mine too - not with a fanfare, but with a huge pride in you, and in the School we have shared, and have both had the privilege to call our home.

Congratulations, good luck, and thank you.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

ADDRESS GIVEN BY REV NICK BLAIR

Matthew 28:

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Good Morning, everyone.

Just to play to form, why don’t you turn to the person beside you and say?

“Morning. Do you know why the man at the front is wearing a blue tie with a red question mark on it?” And then why don’t you reply with a knowing look:

“I suspect he’ll tell us soon”.

… And I will!

But I want to start with the passage from Ecclesiastes , read to us by Lyall. There is a time for everything.

In life, there is a time to move on - you cannot stay in the same place for ever. Leavers: you are moving on – it’s time; our Head is moving on; our Chair of Governors is moving on; and some staﬀ are moving on - it would be fair to say, wouldn’t it, with various degrees of pleasure, surprise and sorrow.

“There is nothing new under the Sun”, it says in Ecclesiastes. There is a time for everything. That is the way life is, and without wanting to play the ‘old guy’, I have seen it all, and I have seen the various emotions that leaving brings. A true community rejoices with those who rejoice and weeps with those who weep. So, today we laugh and cry, because it is both an ending and a beginning. However, I want to give one last positive message to our leavers of every vintage - pupils and staﬀ.

I am not quite sure why I was asked to speak. Perhaps the thought was that the Chaplain’s forty-ﬁve minute message would propel you out the door, quicker and more grateful to leave! This is my third time speaking at the Leaver’s service - however, what a privilege. A last message: a diamond? a gem of advice? forged in the ﬁre of experience? Well, we will see……

When I knew I was speaking at this service, I happened to be reading Matthew 28 and it struck me what a challenge Jesus had set as he was leaving his disciples: Go and make disciples….. Go and make….Disciples?

And my consternation was based on a misunderstanding of what the word ‘disciple’ means. I had in my mind that a disciple was a fully signed-up, on the line believer, hook line and sinker…. I believe!!

You cannot make anybody believe anything: even if I had wanted to try, it’s not possible. Trust me - I have had twentyone years’ experience!

But I had misunderstood the word ‘disciple’: it really means ‘follower’ and ‘learner’ - someone who decides to follow a direction and keep learning. For me, this turns Jesus’s words from ‘mission impossible’ to ‘mission possible’. Indeed, I think, hope and pray that this is what we have encouraged in you in a secular way, and perhaps in a spiritual way too. I hope and pray we have encouraged you to know a direction in life. I think it’s a good direction to follow.

Here’s at least part of the direction I hope we have encouraged you to follow:

EVENTS & SPEECHES

• To seek to be part of and to build a community - for noone is an island;

• To act with truthfulness and integrity;

• To have a selﬂess mindset – Service before self;

• And in as far as it is up to you, journey through life with a heart to be kind and to bless people. “For long after they forget what you said and did, people will remember how you made them feel” - to ﬁnd a joy in giving.

There is a direction, a path ahead, and I might add as a Chaplain, journey with God, for He will give you the strength to include others when you don’t want to include them. He’ll help you to tell the truth when you want to lie, help you to serve when you are weary in the well doing, and give you the strength to love, forgive and be gracious when you really don’t want to - because of how He loved, forgave and showed grace to us.

I am going to say, Leavers, that I believe you have started on this journey. Now be a disciple; follow this direction; it is good and it is wholesome. It will bless your lives and the lives of those around you. To repeat:

• Seek to be part of and to build a community - for no-one is an island;

• Act with truthfulness and integrity;

• Have a selﬂess mindset – Service before self;

• Find a joy in giving;

Now I’m picking up vibes: there is unsettlement in the room. You think I’m finished, but I can hear you ask: why hasn’t he said anything about the question mark on his tie? And I’m so glad you ask me that, because I’m not finished. Cue even more unsettlement! And I’m glad you asked me that because its shows you are not finished either - you are still asking questions.

Of course, a disciple follows a direction, but a true disciple also keeps learning and keeps learning by asking questions.

Now we get to it. I’m into my metaphorical ties! Leavers, young men, disciples, if you will: alongside your Leavers’ tie, put this one on every day - your ‘question mark‘ tie. Every day is a learning day. Rudyard Kipling wrote a little, mostly forgotten poem called Six Honest Serving Men

I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who.

Leavers, I want you to ‘What’, ‘Why’, ‘When’, ‘How’, ‘Where’

and ‘Who’ your way through life. A lifetime filled with curiosity and wonder is a lifetime of fulfilment. I’m not necessarily talking about agonising, soul-searching questions about the meaning of life. However, to go back to our first reading, there is a time for that: a necessary time to ask “What am I for?”, a time to find out your ‘Why’?

But if you follow the direction given and keep your curiosity up, then I am conﬁdent that, with God’s help and his good time, you will ﬁnd your ‘Why’.

But keep asking the next question, delve a little deeper, take joy in asking questions of others, of nature, and of God. Nothing is too trivial, nothing too grand - ask ….ask….

‘What’, ‘Why’, ‘When’, ‘How’, ‘Where’ and ‘Who’ the best out of life - squeeze every drop, to coin a phrase.

And so, after a little rhetoric, a couple of gifts to add the practicality.

I’d like to give three gifts to three of the leavers on the stage.

Gareth, I don’t know if you know this, but you are tenth in a long line of Chairs of Governors of this School that stretches back 100 years, to when the Limited Company was founded. I thought you might appreciate a little booklet of photographs of you and your predecessors. I have rather ruined the gravitas of the present by calling it Ready ay Chairy, but I hope it might be of interest.

Headmaster: a little book that I hope will spark your curiosity. How Merchiston made Northern Ireland - the stories of some interesting Merchistonian characters who, for better or worse, were instrumental in forming that little part of the world you and I call home. Merchistonians literally did make Northern Ireland!

And Archie, Robert and Lyall: what else could I give you but a real version of my metaphorical tie. Archie, you can have the one literally from oﬀ my neck, “slightly used”! Robert and Lyall - you get one each still in the pack. For the rest of you - a metaphorical tie, I am afraid, but wear it with pride. I guarantee that, when you wear it, people will come up to you and ask you “Why are you wearing a tie with a question mark?” And you can smugly say – “For this very reason”.

Gents, follow the direction that you have been guided in, and keep asking questions. Go and be disciples - for the world so needs those with a ﬁrm direction and an enquiring, passionately curious mind. And I look forward to seeing and hearing where life takes you and how God guides you.

Thank you for listening.

CAPTAIN OF SCHOOL’S SPEECH

Good morning, Parents, Staﬀ, Friends and Boys.

Today marks a truly poignant moment in our lives. After around 1,250 roll-calls, which, in theory, I attended, though Mr Raikes might have a different view, we’ve finally made it. The day we thought would never come: Graduation. Standing up here now feels surreal, emotional, and honestly, a very proud moment for me. I’ll do my best to keep it together - not just for my own dignity, but to avoid the absolute grilling I’ll get from the boys later if I get too sentimental! When I first sat down to write this speech, I really struggled to know where to begin. How do you sum up five years of your life in just a few minutes? There are so many memories and moments to mention - some that fit neatly into a speech like this, and others that are best left behind closed doors… permanently!

With that being said, I think we can all agree that leaving our ‘home away from home’ is not an easy thing to do. Merchiston has been all we have known for the past however many years - the same routines, the same people. We’ve lived side by side - through dorm room chaos, missed deadlines, the suspense of waiting for the Laidlaw North House Quiz results on a Monday night, and the sacred tradition of the Rev’s ‘Curry Club’ on a Tuesday. Through it all, I have been blessed to have been surrounded by the people of Merchiston: I’ve made the best friends that anyone could ask for, and have been taught and guided by the best teachers anyone could ask for. And for that, I am forever grateful. My next chapter is ‘across the pond’ in America, which is extremely exciting. However, this place is going to take some beating.

I’d like to say a little about my journey. I arrived at Merchiston in 2020, right in the middle of the dreaded COVID pandemic - something I know I’ll get told oﬀ for mentioning by my Mum! It was deﬁnitely a strange way to join a new school: meeting people through face masks, social distancing, and, of course, that week when we all fell ill in Chalmers West, with Mr O-J heroically trying to hold it all together. But honestly, it was during that time that I began to understand what Merchiston is really about. The ‘buying-in’ attitude to every part of School life, the friendships that formed so quickly, and the sense of community that’s grown into what you see sitting in front of me today. As an only child, friends have always meant a lot to me - and I can comfortably say, without being called ‘cringe’, that I, and we, have made brothers for life. Year by year, we have grown and grown into the outstanding group of young men that stands before me today, and without stating the obvious, I am immensely proud to have

gone through our School lives together.

Being a Merchiston boy has been one of the proudest chapters of my life. Over the past five years, this School has given me so much - lessons, memories, and values that will stay with me forever. It’s taught me confidence, not just in the classroom, but in the small moments too - like how to shake someone’s hand properly and look them in the eye. It’s taught me far more than what’s in the textbooks. It’s taught me resilience, independence, how to lead, how to follow, how to win with humility, and how to lose with grace. But above all, Merchiston has shown me the value of showing up - not just in person, but with heart, with intent, and with purpose. This isn’t always the case in schools. Not only does this come from my peers, but it also comes from an incredible team of staff we are lucky to have at Merchiston. Your resilience, care, dedication have allowed us as a year group to maximise life here at School. If I had an hour to talk, I could probably fill that with thanks to all the staff, but to the catering team, the groundsmen, the subject teachers and, from a personal point of view, to the sporting staff - thank you for everything. There are a couple of individuals I would like to give particular thanks to this morning. Thank you to Rev Blair, for your unwavering positivity in both chapel services and also at the famous ‘curry club’. Thank you to Mr Anderson for guiding me this year in my role as Captain of School. You have led this School once again in such fine fashion and I personally would like to wish you the very best of luck in your future role back home in Ireland. And finally, to the House Parents, and, in particular, Mr Raikes. Thank you for always being there for us - for your open office door whenever we are feeling down or are just wanting a catch up. Thank you for making Merchiston our second home. And so, boys, I think it is fair to say that all members of staff within our ‘castle walls’ deserve a huge round of applause.

And now to the parents, where do I even begin? Thank you - from the bottoms of our hearts. Thank you for trusting this place with us, for standing behind us through every high and low, and for always being there, even when we didn’t say we needed you. Mum and Dad: thank you for giving me the chance to live my school days here at Merchiston, for your endless support, your guidance, and your belief in me - I wouldn’t be here without it. And to all the parents here today: thank you for raising the boys sitting in front of you - a year group full of spirit, character, and loyalty. We’ve been through a lot together, and we’ve come out of it stronger, and closer, than ever.

EVENTS & SPEECHES

Now I would like to turn my focus to the Leavers. The feeling I have had over the past couple weeks has been strange and I have come to one key message. Albeit sad to leave, we should all be extremely excited about what lies ahead. So, what has this journey all been about? How will we measure how far we have progressed? Will it be the exam results? Will it be the sporting achievements? Will it be what grade we achieved in a music exam? Quite frankly, no it won’t! I would like to remind each and every one of my peers that this journey will not be encapsulated in exam results or into whether or not you passed a music exam. The Merchiston journey we have been through is in our blood, it’s in our hearts. The achievements are not the products of the School - we are. We, as a cohort, have ‘made the castle stronger’ each and every day. The values instilled within us are what we will carry forward. We will be the product when we move on to our next steps in life, no matter where they may be - whether holding the door open for someone or meeting new friends at university. For us, Merchiston has been about the successes, the memories, and the friendships we have all shared. And I personally have absolutely no doubt at all that all seventyone of us will leave this place and have a bright future, no matter where that is in the world - and I know that the world will be a better place with you all in it. This is not by any means me saying we are the ‘ﬁnished articles’, but we

are Merchiston Leavers, and as long as we carry this forward, the future is very bright.

And today, we leave as Merchistonians - and that word carries real meaning. It stands for resilience, respect, and pride. It means we’ve been shaped by something greater than just a School; we’ve been part of a tradition, a brotherhood, a community that will stay with us far beyond these ‘castle walls’. Being a Merchistonian means having a shared history, a common identity, and knowing that no matter where life takes us, we’re never truly alone. We’ll face challenges out there - life won’t always be straightforward - but what we’ve gained here has prepared us for whatever’s next. And the most important thing is that we’ll always have each other. This group of boys, this year group, has built bonds that won’t break with distance or time.

Whether we’re across the world or just down the road, we’ll always be able to pick up the phone, meet for a drink, or lean on each other when it matters most. That’s what it means to leave here as a Merchistonian.

I am now well aware that I have spoken for way too long, so I'm going to wrap this up now. One last thing: we came in as boys; we leave as brothers.

Thank you - and farewell, for now!

Archie C, Captain of School 2024-25

PRIZEGIVINGS

UVI LEAVERS’ BALL

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE,

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2024

Merchiston’s Remembrance Sunday service has long been one of the most signiﬁcant occasions in the School’s annual calendar. Our Memorial Hall, plans for which, at the School’s previous site at Merchiston Castle, were originally drawn up and published over a hundred years ago. The failure to obtain planning permission, coupled with the City Council’s plans to widen the Colinton Road, reducing the land occupied by the School, resulted in the move to Colinton and the School that we know today. The Memorial Hall, in which our School Services are held, is central to Merchiston life in every respect, was built as a memorial to former pupils and members of staﬀ who gave their lives in the Great War, and now serves as a memorial to those members of the Merchiston community who lost their lives in the two World Wars. It is very similar in its design to the original design from the early 1920s. On the plaques of names at the entrance to the Hall, there are 178 names from the First World War and 82 from the Second World War. Every year on Remembrance Sunday, wreaths are laid at the War Memorial by the Chair of Governors, the President of the Merchistonian Club, the Headmaster, and the Captain of School.

Every year, a great deal of thought goes into the planning of our Remembrance Sunday service in order to make it relevant and special to the Merchiston pupils of today. Within the service, individual stories, meticulously researched by the Chaplain, are told of Merchiston pupils who gave their lives in the two World Wars, using archive photographs and anecdotes, which bring them back to life. This year, in addition to remembering the names on the plaques, the School remembered ﬁve Merchistonians who have died whilst on Active Service since 1945, and crosses

were laid in the Garden of Remembrance in memory of FAB Fasson (George Cross), who attended Merchiston Prep (those who attended the Prep only are not included on the 1939-45 plaques) and who died in October 1942, and in memory of Ivan Zizak (MCS 2009-13), who was tragically killed in action in October 2022, defending Kherson with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This year’s Remembrance Service included a reading by the current Captain of School, Archie C, of Bill Donaldson’s poem Who is the One? Bill, a former pupil and member of staff, had only passed away two weeks before this service at the age of 94. He was Captain of School in 1948 when the WW2 Memorial was unveiled: it was his task to read out the names of each “unique” boy on the Memorial at a dedication service packed with the relatives of those who had died. This provided a fitting theme for part of the 2024 Remembrance service, in which the stories were told of a few of the “ones”: the stories were told of Ian Bell (by Josh G), George Nisbet McDougal (by Philip G), Robert Primrose Yellowlees (by Robert HP, Vice-Captain of School), Francis Anthony Blair Fasson (by the Chair of Governors), and Ivan Zizak (MCS 2009 – 13). The latter was particularly poignant as it was delivered by Dr Johnny Tam, a friend and contemporary of Ivan’s when he was at Merchiston, sitting in the same pews and attending the same Remembrance Service less than fifteen years ago.

Our guest speaker at the service was Lt Col John Barry, Commanding Officer of 3 Rifles and former pupil of the Headmaster. His thought-provoking address focussed on his memories of his own military service, and hearing over military communication that someone had been killed and who the “one” was. He then shared about some of the “ones” he remembers personally on Remembrance Sunday, commenting that “there are many other days which support those who have served and are serving, but this day, above all, is about those who did not return and made the ultimate sacrifice”. Colonel Barry’s address was a vivid evocation for many parents and Merchistonians of their own military service, and we are very grateful that he, as Commanding Officer of 3 Rifles, took the time to be with us.

We will remember them.

THE MERCHISTONIAN CLUB

Fellow Merchistonians

I write this having recently welcomed the Class of 2025, including my son, into the Club, handing them each their ties at this year's Prizegiving prior to them setting oﬀ on their ‘Merchi March’.

Listening to the outgoing Captain of School's address, we were all reminded that being a Merchistonian stands for resilience, respect and pride. It means we have been shaped by something greater than just a school. We have been part of a tradition, a brotherhood, a community that will stay with us for beyond our Castle walls. Being a Merchistonian means having a shared history, a common identity and knowing that no matter where life takes us, we are never truly alone.

This year, there have been many notable sporting successes, domestically and internationally, by Merchistonians and it is clear that our Tennis and Golf Academies are still producing the goods. With the 1XI winning the Scottish Schools Cup, cricket remains strong at School, and with the Class of 2025 also providing the 1XV coach with his best ever season, it will not be a surprise to hear of future successes on the rugby ﬁeld - indeed, there were 15 Merchistonians and 3 pupils playing at the Melrose 7s and several were in the Melrose Kings of the 7s squad.

Earlier in the year, we again welcomed a number of Class reunions and held a London Dinner prior to the Calcutta Cup match. This year sees my own 40th Class reunion,

among others, and the return of our Annual Club Dinner, this year held at The Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh on Friday 7th November, the night before the 1XV v Boroughmuir conference match and the Scotland v New Zealand match.

As the Club endeavours to oﬀer more events and ways of keeping in touch with School activities and with fellow Merchistonians, I am indebted to Philip Rossiter for his help again with this year's magazine and to our Committee Members, Sports Secretaries and Area Representatives for their assistance in the Club's aﬀairs. We are always looking for Area Representatives, so please let us know if you would like to put your name forward.

Our link with the School is essential and I would like to thank our Club Secretary, Giada Canderle, for corresponding with members, organising international rugby tickets, assisting with Class reunions and keeping us all updated with key dates and School activities through regular emails, newsletters and social media postings. I would appeal to you all to make sure we have your current details (and those of others you may regularly be in contact with) and that you sign up to our social media accounts.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of your Merchistonian magazine.

Ready ay Ready

W Andrew McDonald (‘79-‘85) President

Dear Merchistonians

As we look back over the past year, it has been a pleasure to see the strength and spirit of the Merchistonian community continuing to thrive - both at home and around the world.

Throughout all three terms, we have had the privilege of welcoming alumni back to School for milestone reunions. It has been wonderful to see Merchistonians return - often bringing family and friends with them - to reconnect with former classmates and rediscover their School roots. A particular highlight for many was seeing the beautifully refurbished Chalmers boarding houses, which sparked fond memories and renewed appreciation for how far the School has come.

One of the most poignant events of the year was the Memorial Service for David Spawforth, when we gathered to honour and celebrate a truly transformative Headmaster who helped propel Merchiston into the modern era. His legacy continues to inspire and shape the School today.

We also marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a very special publication - Who is the One? by Rev Nick Blair. This meaningful project, which honours stories of faith and service, was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Merchistonian Club, which fully ﬁnanced its publication.

Another important moment this year was the retirement of Gareth Baird from the School’s Board of Governors, after 11 years of dedicated service. As a committed Merchistonian, Gareth brought wisdom and deep

understanding to the role. His contribution has helped guide the School through a period of signiﬁcant progress and we extend our sincere thanks for his outstanding commitment.

Our connection with the School has never been stronger. Merchistonians have played a vital role in supporting the School’s recruitment eﬀorts this yearappearing as guest speakers, attending open events, connecting on overseas trips and representing the School with pride and passion. Their contributions not only enriched these events, but stood as a powerful endorsement of the values and lifelong impact of a Merchiston education.

I would also like to thank all of you who continue to stay in touch through our monthly newsletter. Your emails, updates, and photos from across the globe remind us how far the Merchistonian spirit reaches. Please continue to send your news to us at merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk — we love hearing from you.

As we look ahead, the sense of shared history and global connection within our community remains a powerful force. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing even more of you - whether at a reunion, event, or simply back on campus in the year ahead.

Giada Canderle Club Secretary

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.

Entitled 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 Rev Nick Blair, Merchiston’s Chaplain, 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

A Year in China

LINCOLN PAYNE (2018 – ‘24), 2024 Leaver, successfully applied for a full scholarship to study at Fudan University, Shanghai, for the academic year 2024-25. Below, he describes how he came to apply for this prestigious award and writes about his amazing experiences in China…

I started my Merchiston journey seven years ago, joining in 2018. One of the primary reasons I chose the School was its strong Chinese programme. Even back then, I saw the rising inﬂuence of China and the importance of being able to communicate with an emerging world superpower. Upon joining Merchiston, Mandarin was always my favourite subject. A combination of an engaging teacher (thank you, Ms Chang) and a fascinating subject made it easy to enjoy. Learning a language is more than just memorising characters; it’s a window into an entirely diﬀerent world, culture, and way of thinking.

There is absolutely no way I would have made it to Fudan University without the help of Ms Chang. From guiding me through the application process to helping me sit the necessary exams, she was there every step of the way. What stands out the most is her unwavering faith in me. She never doubted my ability to succeed, even when I doubted myself. Ms Chang gave so much without expecting anything in return, and it’s because of her support that I have this incredible opportunity to study in China today.

After graduating from Merchiston in 2024, I took the leap and moved to Shanghai to study at Fudan University for a year. It has been a place of immense discovery for me — both of self and the world. With 800 international students from over 70 countries, I am exposed daily to diﬀering viewpoints and challenging discussions. Most of the students at Fudan are aged 22 or older, so conversations often revolve around philosophy, politics, and business. I have found myself constantly learning, even outside the

classroom.

Fudan has also oﬀered an incredible range of extracurricular activities. There are over 110 clubs, and I’ve joined several, including ping pong, badminton, tennis, football, debating, running, and business. Sports have been a fantastic way to meet people and immerse myself in student life here. The university environment is competitive but welcoming, and I have enjoyed challenging myself both academically and socially.

Beyond university life, I have had the chance to travel around China, which has been an eye-opening experience. I visited Suzhou and saw its famous traditional gardens, where people still dress in period clothing, bringing the past to life. I stood in solemn silence at the Nanjing Massacre Museum, learning more about the tragedies of the Second World War. I wandered through the beauty of Hangzhou’s West Lake and climbed the steps of ancient pagodas. Each trip has given me a deeper appreciation of China’s history and its modern development.

What has made Fudan especially valuable for me is that so many students here study more than just language. Many are enrolled in courses related to their actual Major, such as Business or Engineering. This has given me the opportunity to engage in discussions and events beyond just language learning. I was invited to a startup convention at which I listened to talks from CEOs and founders, including developers from Rovio, the company behind Angry Birds. Being surrounded by driven and ambitious people has fuelled my own interest in entrepreneurship and ﬁnance.

Adapting to life in China has come with its challenges,

however. One of my most frustrating and hilarious experiences happened within my ﬁrst few days of using Didi, China’s version of Uber. A taxi driver was trying to ask me something about my phone number, but his pronunciation was so unclear that I couldn’t understand a word! Unwilling to use a translator, he resorted to just shouting at me for a few minutes. Eventually, I ﬁgured out that he only wanted the last four digits of my number. To this day, I still struggle with the taxi driver dialect, but it was a crash course in real-world Mandarin!

Food has also been an adventure. I’ve tried blood tofu and pig brain — both of which I was hesitant to eat. Surprisingly, they just tasted like any other meat, but the thought of them still unsettles me. However, food has also been a way to bond with friends. Sharing hotpot meals, discovering the best street food, and debating which restaurant has the best dumplings has been a huge part of my experience here.

I was also lucky enough to be visited by the Mandarin trip and Ms Chang in October. It was a wonderful feeling to catch up with students and teachers, almost like being back at Merchiston for a day. Seeing my old classmates experience China for the ﬁrst time reminded me of my own journey and how far I had come.

One of the moments when I truly saw my progress was when I visited the ‘fake’ market. The first time I went was with Merchiston students and Ms Chang, and I struggled to haggle effectively. Four months later, when I returned on my own, I realised how much my bartering skills and my confidence in speaking Mandarin had improved. I was no longer the confused foreigner but someone who could hold his ground and negotiate well. It was a small but

signiﬁcant moment of growth.

Being in Shanghai has also given me the chance to explore beyond China. Its location makes it easy to travel around South East Asia, and I took trips to Vietnam and Thailand with friends. These experiences have not only given me incredible memories but have also expanded my world view.

A typical day at Fudan consists of around ﬁve hours of lessons, followed by sports or other activities. Social life is a big part of my time here — whether it’s playing badminton with friends, joining in debates, or simply having dinner and discussing the latest global events. Unlike School, university life allows for much more independence, and I’ve learned a lot about managing my time, making decisions, and balancing work and fun.

My time in China has been transformative in ways I never expected. From struggling to understand a taxi driver to conﬁdently debating business strategies at a startup convention, every experience has contributed to my growth. The support I received from Merchiston and Ms Chang gave me the foundation to take on this challenge, and I will always be grateful.

For any Merchiston students considering studying abroad, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap. It will challenge you, surprise you, and push you beyond your comfort zone — but it will also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Whether it’s learning to navigate a foreign subway system, trying food you never imagined eating, or simply making friends from around the world, the journey is worth it. Merchiston gave me the tools to begin this adventure, and Fudan is helping me shape the future. Who knows where the next step will take me?

From Merchiston, Edinburgh, to Merchiston International School, Shenzhen

Angus McGregor (‘11-‘21)

Background

My name is Angus McGregor, and I attended Merchiston, Edinburgh, from 2011 to 2021. During my time as a pupil, the Merchiston International School (MIS) project was launched, with the goal of taking a high-quality British boarding school education to China – an educational model that is world-renowned and highly sought after in China.

In 2018, a small group of us from the Close Harmony Group was selected to travel to China to perform at the opening ceremony of MIS, accompanied by Mr Stephen Dennis, our Director of Music, and Mr Simon Thompson. Alongside Will Nugent, one of my fellow pupils, I was chosen for my ability to play the bagpipes. During our visit, Mr Lyu Jianjun – a key investor and driving force behind the founding of MIS, and the father of a Merchistonian –extended an invitation for us to join the school as members of staﬀ once our education was complete. I was fortunate to have my application to work there accepted after ﬁnishing my studies at the University of Exeter.

My roles and responsibilities

At MIS, my role was diverse, involving contributions to the

sports programme, a leadership position in the boarding team, and teaching Year 7 students.

As at Merchiston, Edinburgh, MIS follows a holistic education model. Whilst in Edinburgh, the sporting focus in my time was on rugby, athletics, cricket and crosscountry, MIS places greater emphasis on sports more popular with local students – basketball, volleyball, football and badminton.

The faculty at MIS is predominantly international, with staﬀ from South Africa, the UK, Canada, the US and Australia, creating a vibrant and multi-cultural work environment. Having a degree in History, my teaching responsibilities were centred around the Humanities. I worked as a teaching assistant for students with limited English proﬁciency and led the ‘Global Perspectives’ class for Year 7. The teaching was both rewarding and challenging, as the students were well-behaved but some struggled with English comprehension.

The boarding environment at MIS closely resembled that of a traditional British boarding school, complete with house parents, prefects, and even resident cats, fostering a homely atmosphere for the students to live in.

Cultural diﬀerences

Living in China provided me with a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture, cuisine and language.

MIS hosted an impressive Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, at which staﬀ members were encouraged to wear traditional Chinese attire and participate in performances of songs, poetry and dance. In contrast, to the great amusement of the students, the school also held a St Andrew’s Day celebration, at which they were introduced to haggis and the Scottish kilt – leading to plenty of questions about why they were being asked to eat “strange food” and wear a “skirt”! I also had the privilege of playing the bagpipes for this event, as well as for Monday morning assemblies and various other school occasions.

Chinese cuisine proved to be vastly diﬀerent from the British Chinese meals that I was familiar with. Local delicacies included chicken feet, beaks, insect snacks and ﬁsh heads,

to name but a few! Thankfully, the school dining hall oﬀered both British and Chinese meal options, providing international staﬀ with more familiar options when needed.

Co-Curricular Activities

Outside of school, there was a thriving expatriate community, and for me, with Shenzhen just a twentyminute train ride from Hong Kong, rugby played a signiﬁcant part in my life. I was fortunate to play several matches for the Shenzhen Bulldog Dragons, the local rugby team, and even had the opportunity to play for Sandy Bay in Hong Kong.

Acknowledgments

I would like to extend my gratitude to several people who made this opportunity possible: Mr Lyu Jianjun, Mr Mark Bridgeman (Headmaster), and my mentors Mr Simon Siad and Mr David Killelea, amongst many others.

From Merchiston to Professional Rugby

In April 2025, Roddy Deans, Merchiston’s Director of Rugby, asked four former pupils, STAFFORD McDOWALL (MCS ‘14 – ‘16, Glasgow Warriors & Scotland), JAMIE DOBIE (MCS ‘12 – ‘19, Glasgow Warriors & Scotland), MATT CURRIE (MCS ‘12 – ‘19, Edinburgh Rugby & Scotland), and DAVE CHERRY MCS, ‘02 – ‘09, Edinburgh Rugby & Scotland), to answer three questions about their Merchiston experience and how it prepared them for the professional game at club and national level. Their responses are detailed opposite.

Staﬀord McDowall Jamie Dobie

What does Merchiston mean to you?

SM: Merchiston is a place with endless opportunities, allowing you to fulﬁl your true potential.

JD: Merchiston still does and always will mean a lot to me. It provided an environment to challenge myself and grow as a sportsman, but, most importantly, as a person. There are so many good memories to look back on, both from boarding life and sport in particular, but my all-time favourite has to be winning the Scottish Cup in 2018/19. There were so many boys in that team who had been at the School for years, so to bring the Cup back to Merchiston with a group of best mates was unbelievable.

MC: Merchiston was a place that gave me so many opportunities and pushed me to achieve my goals. I’m hugely grateful for the group of mates that I made during my time there and for all the memories that it has given me. My fondest memory would be our rugby tour of South Africa in 2018. We got the chance to see and play in some amazing places, and it was a great experience being there with the team.

DC: I will cherish my Merchiston experience for ever. If I could, I would do it all over again. My fondest memory was winning the Scottish Schools Cup in 2007/08 and the celebrations after.

How did Merchiston prepare you for professional rugby?

SM: It did this through the professional strength & conditioning set up, the high level of coaching and guidance, and the many high-quality matches, including across the Border.

JD: The whole environment at School is as close to a professional rugby one as you will get anywhere. Having an awareness of and access to the beneﬁts of strength & conditioning coaching, nutritional support, the mental side of the game, rugby analysis, and the coaching we received from such a young age meant that slotting into a professional environment was as seamless as possible when leaving School.

MC: Merchiston was huge in preparing me for the demands of professional rugby. The access to high level coaching across all aspects of the game, from on-pitch skills to nutrition, was massive for me. Training and playing in a highly competitive environment really pushed me on as a player and helped me make the step up to professional rugby.

DC: Merchiston played a massive role in preparing me for professional rugby. From day one, the School instilled a sense of discipline, structure and high standards –both on and oﬀ the pitch. The rugby programme was intense and competitive, but it was also supportive. I had access to top-level coaching, conditioning programmes and regular high-quality ﬁxtures that improved my ability.

Describe Merchiston in a few words.

SM: endless opportunity.

JD: Motivating, supportive, and full of good times.

MC: Memorable, supportive, fun.

DC: Tradition, excellence, brotherhood.

Matt Currie

Dave Cherry

Merchistonian News

Class of ‘94 Reunion

Saturday 9 November 2024

On Saturday 9 November, some members of the Class of 1994 met in an Edinburgh pub for a few beers and to watch the Autumn Internationals before moving on to The Magnum for dinner. Several went on to watch the Scotland v South Africa match at Murrayﬁeld. A very convivial time

was had by all. Photographed from left to right are: Will Lindsay, Tim Sanderson, Sandy Macfarlane, Bob Forman, Grant Milligan, Andrew Marshall, Keith Murray, Mike Bremner, Charlie Russell, Ewan Mackay, Iain Fullarton and Guy Winter.

Class of ‘99 Reunion

(A journey back in time)

Saturday 2 November 2024

Driving through the familiar gates of “fortress” Merchiston back in November felt like stepping into a time machine. Thirty years ago, those same gates marked the beginning of an adventure: a journey through education, friendship, and the forging of lifelong bonds. This time, I wasn’t alone; accompanied by around ﬁfteen of my former classmates, each of us carrying stories and memories from our past, ready to relive and celebrate our shared history. The occasion was our 30-year reunion since joining the School, which consisted of three distinct events, and which was cleverly tied to the historic and internationally renowned

Merchiston v Edinburgh Academy rugby ﬁxture.

The reunion was more than just a nostalgic gathering; it was a testament to the enduring spirit of Merchiston, a School that not only educates, but also shapes young men into brothers for life.

Our day began with a nostalgic return to our School days, starting with watching a Merchiston rugby match.

This was followed by a trip down memory lane, literally, by taking the No. 10 bus route into Edinburgh for lunch – a route many of us had taken every weekend as boarders, oﬀering a small freedom that felt like a big adventure back in the day. The city had changed, but the excitement of revisiting our old haunts remained unchanged.

The third event of our reunion was the rugby international at Murrayﬁeld. Whilst the game itself wasn’t the most memorable, it would have taken a match of epic proportions to tear us away from our reminiscing. The day was about more than just the sport; it was about connection, laughter, and the joy of shared experiences. In the spirit of full disclosure, we left Murrayﬁeld early – not for the lack of excitement, but because our conversations were far more engaging than the match. Yet, the highlight, without a doubt, was the Merchiston 1XV’s convincing victory – a hard-fought win that provided the perfect cap to our day.

To the current students and staﬀ of Merchiston, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. Your victory was not just on

the scoreboard but in the spirit and camaraderie you displayed. The atmosphere at the match was electric; a real testament to the future of rugby in Scotland. The new chants and routines from both sets of supporters were a delightful evolution from our time. It’s heartening to see the traditions we cherished evolve and thrive.

In closing, this reunion wasn’t just a look back, but a celebration of where we’ve been, where we are, and where the next generation is heading. The friendships we’ve cultivated over the years, the memories we’ve made, and the legacy of Merchiston Castle School are all part of a tapestry that continues to grow richer with each passing year. Here’s to another thirty years, to the next game, and to Merchiston for shaping not just scholars but a brotherhood that stands the test of time.

Cheers to all involved, and here’s hoping the next reunion will be as memorable. After all, now we can oﬃcially say “back in the day” with pride.

Ross Halliday (’94 – ’99)

Class of ‘13 Reunion

Saturday 2 November 2024

On Saturday 2 November, twenty members of the Class of 2013 held a reunion, in the course of which they gathered at Merchiston for a tour, to watch some rugby

matches, and to share memories. The event was organised by Matt Flett and Jamie Campbell.

Class of ‘15 Reunion

30 May - 1 June 2025

Over thirty members of the Class of 2015 gathered in Edinburgh for the weekend of 30 May - 1 June to mark the tenth anniversary of their graduation from Merchiston. Organised by Jamie Maran and Patrick Clarke, the weekend opened with a dinner on the Friday evening. On the Saturday morning, although everything was very quiet at Merchiston because of

the half-term holiday, they gathered at School for a tour and the opportunity to relive many memories, led by Rev Nick Blair, who was joined by current members of staﬀ Naomi Steen and Steph Binnie, and former members of staﬀ Marion Muetzelfeldt and Chispa Prini Garcia. Other activities followed and a good time was had by all.

London Dinner

Friday 21 February 2025

On Friday 21 February, a group of Merchistonians gathered in London, ahead of the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, to enjoy an evening of conversation and a much-awaited catch-up. It was a night to remember and we hope we can get to do it all again soon!

In the photo above, left to right: Graeme Smith (‘94 – ‘99), Alan Thompson (‘81 – ‘86), Geordie Mungavin (‘06 – ‘14), Geoﬀ Tuluhungwa (‘84 – ‘89), Logan Mair (‘80 – ‘86), Andrew McDonald (‘79 – ‘85) and Simon Cowan (‘88 – ‘89).

Memorial Service for David Spawforth

Saturday 12 April 2025

On a gloriously sunny April morning, a large number of former pupils, parents, governors, and members of staﬀ, gathered in the Memorial Hall for a Service of thanksgiving for the life and service of David Spawforth, Headmaster of Merchiston from 1981 to 1988. Guests of honour were David’s wife, Yvonne, along with Graham (son), Fiona (daughter), grandchildren and other family members.

After a welcome from the Headmaster, Jonathan Anderson, David’s favourite hymns were sung and readings were given by Andrew McDonald, President of the Merchistonian Club, and Lyall R, current Vice-Captain of School. Tributes were given on behalf of former Merchiston staﬀ by Peter Hall (1984 – 2017), former pupils by John Kinloch Anderson (1985 – 90), the Spawforth family by Graham Spawforth, and closing thoughts came from the Chaplain, Rev Nick Blair, who had planned the service.

Photographs of the “Spawforth Era” were projected onto the screen, whilst Highland Cathedral was played by Kyle Warren, Director of Pipes and Drums. Proceedings concluded with a vigorous rendition of Ready, ay ready

The service was a magnificent and fitting tribute to a Headmaster who played a major role in the development of Merchiston in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Afterwards, many gathered in the Dining Hall for refreshments, to reminisce, and to look at a further display of photographs. Tours of the Spawforth Library were then offered for those who wished.

This was a very successful and happy Merchiston event, a ﬁtting tribute to David Spawforth, and provided a wonderful opportunity for former members of our community to gather and share their memories.

Finlay MacDonald Memorial Rugby Match

Saturday 9 November 2024

On Saturday 9 November, a Merchistonian rugby team took to the field in St Andrews against a University of St Andrews select team, in memory of their friend, Finlay MacDonald (’14 – ’23), who died in June of this year, aged just 19. Finlay left School in June 2023 and had just finished his first year at the University of St Andrews. The event was organised by (from left to right) Callum Brown, Freddy Archer, Isaac Coates and Thomas Robertson, and was well

supported by a large group of Merchistonians and their families. Alec, Finlay’s brother, was there, as well as his mother, Liz. Funds were raised for men’s mental health charities associated with Movember, and also Euan’s Guide, a charity set up by Finlay’s late father, Euan MacDonald.

The result of the match, which was both immaterial and yet really important, was a win for the Merchistonians!

Charity run in aid of Scottish Action for Mental Health

Edinburgh - Sunday 6 July 2025

In a powerful display of endurance, community spirit, and heartfelt tribute, Thomas Robertson completed a remarkable fundraising run on Sunday 6 July in memory of his best friend and fellow Merchistonian, Finlay MacDonald.

Setting oﬀ from St Andrew's Madras Rugby Club, Thomas ran an extraordinary distance - covering over two marathons - before arriving at Merchiston, where he crossed the ﬁnish line with a symbolic lap of the School’s cross-country course.

The run, held in support of Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), has already raised over £26,000, a testament to Thomas’s dedication and the support of the wider Merchiston community. Parents, pupils, staﬀ, and former pupils rallied behind him - some joining him for stretches of the run, others cheering him on from the side-lines or oﬀering support when the journey grew toughest.

This fundraiser was not only a powerful tribute to Finlay MacDonald, but also a remarkable act of resilience and hope. Thomas turned personal grief into purposeful action, raising both awareness and vital funds for mental health support in Scotland.

Thomas’s achievement stands as a moving example of friendship, determination, and the strength of community.

Giada Canderle, Merchistonian Club Secretary

Obituaries

In the course of the academic year 2024-25, we have been informed of the passing of the following members of the Merchiston community, thank those who have submitted obituaries, and send our condolences to their families and friends.

David M Spawforth, Headmaster of Merchiston (‘81-’98)

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of David Spawforth, Merchiston’s former Headmaster, in the night of 4 January, after a short illness. His funeral took place in St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Galashiels, on Saturday 25 January, and a memorial service at Merchiston on Saturday 12 April. David leaves his wife, Yvonne, his son, Graham, and daughter, Fiona – Merchiston sends its sincere condolences to them and other family members, and remembers fondly the outstanding contribution that he made to Merchiston and the lives of its pupils and staﬀ during his tenure as Headmaster.

In tribute to David, we include the thoughts expressed by the then Chairman of Governors, Neil Kilpatrick, at the

Every eﬀort has been made to ensure that the information included within the obituaries is accurate and we are grateful to the Merchistonian community for sending in newspaper clippings and published articles for this section.

1998 Prizegiving, after which David retired as Headmaster.

David Spawforth made a magniﬁcent contribution to Merchiston over his seventeen years of service. He joined Merchiston in 1981 from Wellington College, Berkshire, where he had been an outstanding Housemaster. He had no experience of Scottish education, but he brought to the position the enthusiasm, energy and charm to make himself very quickly accepted here. His tenure was one of continual change and improvement, which can be summarised in three main areas.

Firstly, his vision and attention to planning detail were stamped all over the new facilities which were added to the School during his Headmastership: the Sportshall and Theatre building, the classroom block which is now named Mappa Mundi, the extension to Pringle House, the upgraded Chalmers and Rogerson Houses, and the Robertson Building, which houses Music, IT and Electronics.

Secondly, his drive and energy, coupled with his outstanding marketing skills, combined to raise and sustain the numbers at Merchiston in a period when many competitors were forced into co-education.

And thirdly, David Spawforth raised the academic standards at Merchiston to a level that rivalled and bettered our main competitors, leading to extremely good university placements for our pupils. He achieved this through good staﬀ selection, good management of changing academic curricula, in the insistence on high standards, and in the focus on results.

All of this was achieved alongside sustained sporting excellence. At the end of his Headmastership, David left the School in good shape and more than ready to meet the challenges of the future.

It is impossible to acknowledge David’s contribution to Merchiston without mentioning his wife, Yvonne, who was an essential part of the School’s fabric – entertaining visitors and pupils in Castle Gates, organising numerous events and raising money for charities, good causes and internal projects. Theirs was a great “double act”. Many former pupils remember with aﬀection the regular socials that they were invited to attend at Castle Gates. It was therefore highly appropriate that when the former Music Auditorium was converted into the Library, the decision was made by the

Governors to name it the Spawforth Library.

In retirement, David’s joie de vivre remained steadfast to the end. For a period, he maintained his interest in education through his work as Liaison Oﬃcer Scotland of the Arkwright Trust and as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of St Mary’s Preparatory School. He loved his beautiful home near Galashiels beside the River Tweed, holidays in the UK and abroad, and his involvement with his local church in Galashiels.

JW (Bill) Donaldson (‘44-’49)

At the end of October 2024, Merchiston was saddened to hear that Bill Donaldson had passed away peacefully, at the age of 94. Bill was steeped in Merchiston, and remained strongly attached to the School until his death. His strong family connection to the School was further strengthened through his marriage to Sarah, who was the niece of Cecil Evans (Headmaster 1936 – ’57). The free-standing cross, which takes pride of place on the stage in the Memorial Hall, was presented to the School by his family.

Bill followed his father (JR Donaldson, 1916 – ’21) to Merchiston, both holding the position of Captain of School. Bill was the oldest surviving Captain of School and Captain of Rugby: he was Captain of the 1XV for two years and played for the team for four years. One of his responsibilities as Captain of School was to sing the ﬁrst verse of the (then new) School song as a solo. In 1948, at the unveiling ceremony of the WW2 Memorial, Bill, as Captain of School, was responsible for reading out the names of the Merchistonians who had died during the war. The Dedication Service was packed with the relatives of the fallen. It was an experience that never left him.

After School, Bill enlisted in National Service, and, when commissioned, was posted to Kenya to the King’s African Riﬂes, a life-changing time, he always said. Amongst other things, he learnt Swahili. Seventy years later, he was able, to her amazement, to talk to his Kenyan carer in Swahili! After the army, Bill went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to study Modern History. He returned to Merchiston to teach English and History from 1955 to 1973. In the course of that period, he coached the 1XV and other teams, and was Housemaster of Chalmers East (’63 – ’68) and Chalmers West (’68 – ’73). After a one-year course in Oxford, in 1974 he was appointed Headmaster of The High School, Newcastle-under-Lyme, a boys-only grammar school. In 1981, Bill was appointed Principal of the newly independent Newcastle-under-Lyme School. This came about with the joining of the boys’ grammar school with the sister Orme Girls’ Grammar School nearby. It was a challenging time of uniting two schools, two staﬀ bodies and going independent.

1990 brought retirement and Bill and Sarah back to Colinton, where they lived in Westgarth Avenue until the autumn of 2022, then moving to Cambridge to be nearer to the family. During the time in Colinton, Bill was a regular supporter of a multitude of School activities, always, if possible, attending and sometimes taking part in the Remembrance Day Service. He was involved in a number of organisations in Edinburgh - Chair of the Jubilee 2000

and Chair of the Victoria League, welcoming overseas university students. In Colinton, he was an Elder of Colinton Parish Church, President of the Colinton Literary Society, on the Christian Aid committee, and sang in the Colinton & Merchiston Choir. In addition, he became an author, publishing four books of poetry and reﬂections, which showed his strong Christian faith. One of his poems, entitled Who is the One?, was read at the School’s 2024 Remembrance service, just after Bill’s death, and was used by Rev Nick Blair in his book of stories behind the Merchiston War Memorial. Bill’s ﬁnal visit to the School took place in September 2022, and was recorded in the 2022 –23 edition of the Merchistonian

Bill’s funeral and a Thanksgiving Service took place in the south. They were followed by a Thanksgiving Service in Colinton Parish Church on Saturday 30 November, led by Rev Nick Blair.

Merchiston sends its sincere condolences to Sarah, James and Julia, and to all members of his family.

Ross Gilchrist (‘99-’08)

Ross died peacefully on 14 February 2025, aged 34, after battling major illness.

Ross studied Rural Surveying and Town Planning at the University of Aberdeen. He then worked for many years for Metro / Evening Standard / Mail Online, London. Subsequently, he was Senior Business Development Manager, Strategic Sales Partner, and then Partnerships Manager ITV from January 2023. His funeral service took place on 27 February.

Ted (subsequently known as Eddie) Goodbrand (‘69-’74)

23 August 1956 - 16 July 2024.

Eddie was popular at Merchiston, all the more for being so positive and displaying such courage and dignity on being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in the summer after his second year at School.

On leaving School, he took an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at Aberdeen University. Whilst at Aberdeen and subsequently, Eddie gave of his best and lived life to the full. It is no exaggeration to say that he touched the lives of everyone he met. As the disease progressed, Eddie’s virtues of dignity, courage and social engagement increased against all the odds. Working in engineering and then in the banking sector until his health prevented him from continuing, Eddie then became more involved in his local church, always determined to do his best. Despite being chairbound, he was well travelled: Rio de Janeiro and the Great Wall of China being two examples among many. He married into a large and welcoming Fife family, leaving his wife, Linda, and ﬁve step-children. Although by that stage, his health resulted in him needing help on a daily basis, he contributed and enjoyed life to the end.

Eddie died as he lived, with dignity, courage and, indeed, humour.

We can all be proud to call him a Merchistonian and, for me, it was a great privilege to have been a close friend for the half century since he left School.

Johnny McMahon (’70 – ’75)

James Alexander (Sandy) Milroy (‘60-’65)

Sandy admitted that he might have applied himself more fully to the academic side of School life, but, despite this, or perhaps because of this, he often said that he found his time at Merchiston a liberating experience. In his ﬁnal

year, he was a prefect, played hooker for the 2XV and, whilst not being built for distance running, he could turn in impressive times over the mile.

On leaving School, Sandy was employed by a packaging company in the West of Scotland, before moving to Newcastle to work for Collins, the publisher. He did not ﬁnd his vocation until he joined Shelter, the housing charity, in Aberdeen in the early 1970s, where he was party to setting up a housing advice centre. The rest of his career was spent in the social housing sector. As co-director, he established Langstane Housing Association as a major provider in the city. He then moved to the Dundee area as CEO of Gowrie Housing Association. Living in Broughty Ferry, he began to pursue in earnest a passion for sailing, which he inherited from his father, and he gained his yacht master accreditation shortly after retiring. He acquired a share in an ocean-going boat and, over the years, lured relatives and friends away for trips to the Western Isles. Sandy ﬁnished his career as CEO of Ark Housing Association in Edinburgh, where he continued to live after retirement.

Sandy was divorced from, but remained in close contact with Jane. He was a devoted father to Matt and Anna and gained huge pleasure from his three grandchildren in his ﬁnal years, moving to the south-east of England shortly before his death to be close to them. He died, aged 77, at the end of 2024.

Scott EM Roberts (‘69-’73)

Scott Rober ts died on 18 December 2024 in Mendolla, Italy, aged 68. At Merchiston, he was a Junior Prefect, was a keen and able fencer, was a member of the tennis team and awarded his Colours, acted, was a CCF member, and was a qualiﬁed life saver. As a fencer, he was awarded his Colours and the Drummond Cup for Fencing, and was a member of the Scottish Schools Fencing Team. His career was initially in oil rig construction and then in marketing. He lived and married in Italy, where he maintained his lifelong passion for rugby, coaching the local team. On 24 May, a memorial rugby match was played, at which a trophy was awarded to the best player.

Gordon Campbell (Former Master i/c Pipes & Drums)

Merchiston was sad to learn of the death, on 1 January 2025, of Gordon Campbell, former Master i/c Piping and Drumming, following a long battle against illness.

Gordon joined Merchiston in 1988 as one of the School’s piping instructors, bringing with him extensive experience

as solo piper, band member and teacher. Over the years, he also taught at Glenalmond, Fettes, St George’s, St Margaret’s, and St Denis & Cranley Schools.

Gordon instilled a passion for piping in countless Merchiston boys, which has continued long after leaving, and was loved and respected by them. His role at Merchiston gradually expanded to the point that, in 2005, he was appointed Master i/c Piping and Drumming. In this capacity, he continued to teach individual piping pupils, directed and led the School’s Pipe Bands, organised internal competitions and concerts, and took boys to compete in local and national competitions. In addition, under his direction, the Pipe Band performed at innumerable Merchiston events, including the annual Burns Supper, and he played a vital role in the School’s “Sounds like Friday” initiative, working with pupils from local maintained sector schools, which, unfortunately, came to an end when Covid restrictions were imposed.

Many Merchistonians will remember fondly the tours to Guingamp and Cholet in Brittany, and to Russia and Canada, along with the annual trip to play at the Bo’ness Children’s Fair. Many will also remember the 100 Pipers and Drummers who played on Remembrance Sunday in 2018, organised by James Lascelles, with Gordon’s major input.

Gordon retired as Master i/c Piping and Drumming in July 2022, with the intention of continuing to do some work at Merchiston as a piping instructor – unfortunately, ill health prevented him from doing this.

A former member of the Pipe Band and pupil of Gordon’s

sent us his memories of him, which are worth sharing here:

I feel that Gordon’s gift was in making connections with every boy who passed under his tutelage, whether a young shy pupil or member of the 1XV. The Pipe Band wasn’t just something you aspired to for the tie: he made it a group that you intrinsically wanted to be in. By simply being so dedicated to the School, so dedicated to the Band and so dedicated to the boys, he made the Pipe Band a space of solidarity with a sense of belonging.

…. Gordon never loved the limelight, and never needed or wanted the Pipe Band to be about him. Generations of Merchiston boys play the pipes thanks to him – to his brilliance, his kindness and his decency. He is one of the reasons that I am who I am today. He gave me the conﬁdence to believe that music was something that I could do, and the belief and conﬁdence that the Pipe Band was something that I could be in, opening up doors and friendships around the world which I never knew would have existed.

We send our sincere condolences to Gordon’s family and remember fondly his major contribution to the life of the School.

Philip Rossiter

D Alan Craik (’74 – ’80)

Passed away on 14 November 2024, aged 62.

Hillary Fisher (‘00 – 02)

WMJ (Liam) Gillon (’84 – ’88)

Passed away in August 2024. Son of Mrs R Gillon, former member of Common Room.

Brigadier Roy E Ratazzi, CBE (’61 – ’65)

Passed away on 6 June, aged 77. A full obituary will be printed in the next edition of this magazine.

Ronald Fleming Young Smith (’49 – ’55)

Robert Wilson Michael Wallace (’47 – ’49)

Passed away on 4 August 2024, aged 91.

Ronald Duncan Emslie Young (’54 – ’58)

Passed away peacefully at home on 13 April 2025 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer ’s disease. He originated from Onich in Nether Lochaber, and at the age of six, went to Lathallan Preparatory School. In 1954, he followed his brother (IAS Young, ’50 – ’54) to Merchiston.

Sport

MERCHISTON ALLERMUIR CAERKETTON SUMMIT CHALLENGE

MACS 7K SUMMIT CHALLENGE

FRIDAY 22 MAY 2026

MERCHISTON ALLERMUIR CAERKETTON SUMMIT

Are you ready to conquer the hills?

Calling all Merchistonians and current Merchiston Castle School pupils (IV Form and above) - the MACS Challenge

Take on the 7K test of grit and endurance across two of the Pentlands’ iconic peaks: Allermuir and Caerketton. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just hungry for a challenge, this is your moment to push boundaries and rise above.

SPECIAL REWARD

Run the route under 45 minutes and earn yourself a limited edition MACS ﬁnisher’s tee shirt - a badge of honour only for the swiftest summit conquerors.

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Then lace up and get in touch:

Mr Harrison – charrison@merchiston.co.uk

Mr De Luca – ndeluca@merchiston.co.uk

You’re up for the challenge. Are you in?

Craig Harrison, Head of Physical Education

Curling Report 2024-25

This season, we welcomed Robin Copland and John Cleat to the squad. As regards the Wanderers' League, with the matches held at Greenacres Ice Rink, the withdrawal this time of Aberdeen Grammar reduced the number of teams competing to four. With wins against Glasgow Accies and Glenalmond, and a loss to Kelvinside, the latter having lost to Glenalmond, for the second year running, we had to wait for a count back. In the end, the Merchistonian side had the better points diﬀerence, and thus

retained the trophy, which it had been awarded last year for the ﬁrst time since 2003.

Of the other members of the pool, John Mitchell, Don Rutherford, Douglas Harvie, Alastair Campbell, and John Duthie, we are grateful to the former for his eﬀorts to date in keeping the average age of the Merchistonian team to under 70!

New recruits for next season are welcome: please contact the Curling Convenor, John Duthie –john.duthie@ntlworld.com / 0141 632 5123.

Shooting Club Report 2024-25

This past year saw new members join the Shooting Club community of marksmen from the Class of 2024 leavers. Sadly, we were not able to arrange the usual Summer Term match with the current School pupils: we are now looking into arranging a match in the second half of 2025, and are already thinking about a date for the match in 2026. Bertie Galloway has been ﬂying the ﬂag for us, competing for Scotland GB at World Cups and the like. Congratulations to him!

Tom Diggle (’08-’16)

Golf Club Report 2024-25

After the last two years at Duddingston, we moved the Golf Club’s Annual Meeting back to Luﬀness New on 1 September 2024.

Given that the meeting was held on a Sunday, we also changed the format by having lunch in advance of the golf and the prizegiving in the Smokeroom, once all scorecards were returned.

Forty Merchistonians with an age range of 63 years gathered at Luffness, well up on the twenty-five who have attended the two previous meetings. Also worthy of note was the fact that 40% of the field were aged under 30. With a tricky east wind blowing and very difficult rough to

contend with, many were not in a rush to leave the very convivial atmosphere of lunch in the Clubhouse!

As expected, good scoring was tricky. However, an excellent one over par 71 from Mike Rolland was good enough to win the Gold medal by a couple of shots from Freddie Ward. The Silver Medal was won by the Club President, Andrew McDonald, with a Net 69.

A summary of the trophy results is below.

It was fantastic to have so many attend the event. Special thanks go to Max Dissars and York Pﬁtzenmaier, who ﬂew over from Germany solely to take part.

Sandy Robertson (’75 – ’79)

Gold Medal

Mike Rolland 71

Silver Medal Andrew McDonald 69

Abram Jug – Under 30 Stableford

Merchistonian Quaich – Under 30 Scratch

Centenary Trophy – Under 40 Stableford

Max Dissars

Will Nugent

Freddie Ward

Biggart Donaldson Trophy – O40 and U60 StablefordAndrew McDonald

Ness Tankard – Over 50 Net

Allan Salver – Over 50 Scratch

Biggart Memorial – Over 60 Scratch

Hewat Driver – Over 60 Stableford

Tujoh Puloh Tappit Hen – Over 69 Stableford

Team Event

Andrew McDonald

Chris Cowan

Harry Thomson

John McKean

Fraser Low

Chris Dudar, Hugh Leggat & Robert Lamont