Etcetera 23 by The Glasgow Academy

Number 23 Spring 2014

THE MAGAZINE FOR FORMER PUPILS AND FRIENDS OF GLASGOW ACADEMY AND WESTBOURNE SCHOOL

The Academy Summer Exhibition: 23 – 26 June 2014

Seri Oh (S4)

Karima Hassan (S6)

Jasmine Li (S4)

Ian Halliday (S4)

Do we have your e-mail address? It’s how we communicate best!

Karin Shaw (S4)

Editorial ‘Summer Term and the living is easy?’ Occasional visitors to The Academy at this time of year ask if the school is ‘winding down towards the end of term’. It’s quite likely that such visitors don’t know Glasgow Academy very well! As every teacher knows, the truth is that things tend to wind up towards the end of term rather than the other way round. And that is probably truer of this school than most. Along with the arrival of cherry blossom in late April and early May, of course, comes the exam season. Generations of pupils will remember that - as the days get warmer and beckon most of us outside with the promise of early summer - for them, it’s time to stay in and catch up on last-minute study! After the exams are over, however, there are a thousand things to keep our pupils busy in the ‘wind up’ to the end of term. Cricket matches, athletics competitions, music and drama events, rowing regattas, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions, prize-givings, trips to museums, university open days, Kindergarten 2

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Wei Peng (S5)

graduations, concerts, plays, weeks away to outdoor centres, a ‘Formula 1 Challenge’ for budding engineers, even a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party… it’s all happening! And, with every passing year, a whole raft of new and exciting happenings jostle for space alongside more established events. Compared to some of the items on that list, having been with us for only a decade or so, the Glasgow Academy Art Exhibition is still in its infancy. In a relatively short time, however, it has established itself as an indispensable part of the Summer Term - an event which annually gives parents and visitors to the school alike a glimpse of the fabulous creative output of Glasgow Academy’s art pupils. If you’d like to come along to the opening of the exhibition at 7 pm on Monday 23 June, just give us a call on 0141 342 5494.

Keeping in touch The External Relations office is situated in Colebrooke Terrace. Former pupils are always welcome to pop in for a chat and look round the school. Just give us a call to arrange a time. Our address is Colebrooke Terrace, Glasgow G12 8HE and you can contact us on 0141 342 5494 or at exrel@tga.org.uk The Glasgow Academical Club 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR President: Gavin Smith E-mail: gavinsmith@talktalk.net Secretary: Stuart Neilson Tel: 07771 845104 E-mail: stuart.neilson1@btinternet.com The Academical Club pavilion is available for functions. Academical Club’s London Section Secretary – David Hall, 20 Cadogan Place London SW1X 9SA Tel: 020 7235 9012 E-mail: ecj@aralon.co.uk Like us on Facebook; join us on LinkedIn

We’d be delighted to see you! Cover picture: Lucy McCall (S6)

Anecdotage Tea for… 35!! Few masters were as famous as Benjamin G (Baggy) Aston. Not only did I prosper under his tutelage, my father had also trod that path more than 30 years earlier. In September 1963, the story did the rounds that Baggy’s Higher English Class of the previous term had had a 100% success rate and – as a result – the entire class was invited chez Aston for a slap-up tea after school on Friday. The following week, the event was confirmed in graphic detail by those who had attended. We, in the next Higher group, decided to stake our claim to a similar outcome. The challenge was accepted! In September of 1964, on return after the Higher results, a quick poll soon

revealed that lightning had indeed struck twice and we were in line for our reward. It fell to me to jog BGA’s memory on this matter and a date was set. My recollection of the actual event is limited to one graphic mental snapshot of an enormous Victorian dining room with bay window. The sun was streaming in, illuminating a substantial linen-bedecked dining table, sagging with traditional fare. Today it might be chicken wings, pizza slices and wraps. Then it was sausage rolls, egg/ham/cheese sandwiches, homemade fruit scones with jam and cream and a variety of cakes, all washed down with a selection of juices and tea from a silver teapot (rather like something out of The Famous Five)! At the end of the room was Baggy, beaming

from ear to ear, propped up against a vast mahogany sideboard, clutching a cup of tea and endlessly puffing his way through a packet of Capstan, while Mrs A raced back and forth from the kitchen with additional supplies. I doubt if such an event would be allowed to take place in 2014. I wonder how many readers from 1963/4 remember being at these events? How many more years saw this celebration? I was pleased to note from my research that Baggy lived into his 90th year (despite the Capstan!). Douglas Macnaughtan (1965) P.S. BGA was also a published science fiction author (see http://www. sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/aston_b_g)

Roger Trythall (1962) contributes this photograph from his CCF days. He says: ‘I think it was taken at a gunnery course near Otterburn. The gun is a 25 pounder. In terms of who is who I think it’s as follows. Back Row (left to right): Orr (?); unknown; John I ‘Anson; unknown; unknown; Hugh Ormerod; myself Front Row: John McCluskey; Wilson (?); Harry Jackson; unknown; unknown; unknown.’

Anyone who thinks they recognise the missing cadets is welcome to send us their names.

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Two Little Boys and two Dinky Toys

demolished to make way for the school’s new, state of the art, science complex.

As a then avid collector of Dinky toys, I remember, at the Academy in the mid-fifties, forming a good friendship with my classmate and fellow Dinky enthusiast, Andrew Brown. Andrew lived in the ground floor flat of the traditional terrace block in Colebrooke Street, which has recently been

Way back then, I lived so far distant from the Academy that my commute home involved a journey by tram, train and a mile-long walk, so it was galling for me, at the end of the school day, to have to walk past Andrew’s house and to see him at his front room window, already home and dry, having only had to cross the street. He could be out of school and home in seconds.

nvy is not an admirable trait at any stage in life, but in a ten-year-old schoolboy it can be a powerful force.

Small objects of desire: The Mighty Antar Tank Transporter complete with Centurion tank

Mr Barradell-Smith

his gentleman (known to those who came under his tutelage as ‘Beery’) was responsible for teaching us English during my sojourn at the Academy. In the classrooms which we attended for various subjects there seemed to be no serious allocation of seats and we gravitated to a vacant space which we felt comfortable with (in my case somewhere near the back, well out of the orbit of close scrutiny – this habit continued through visits to the cinema during courting days, but for different reasons ). Once chosen, that was it for the remainder of the session. However Mr B-S had different ideas – probably because he was not very good at remembering names. He had us installed in his seating arrangement in alphabetical order – starting at the front of Row 1 with Anderson (a clever clogs, or ‘swot’ in our parlance), and ending with Veitch and Young at the very back of Row 4. I cannot recall the pecking order in between – apart from a Rolland and a Weatherhead (some connection with the university) except that we had a McFeat somewhere in the middle, who unsurprisingly was known as ‘Cheesy’. Mr B-S had one of the most prestigious classrooms in the building – it was commodious, on a corner of the building with plenty of light from two sides, and had raised flooring like a lecture theatre which meant that being a late C 4

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Andrew was also always lucky enough to acquire the very latest Dinky Supertoy model within days of its release. My pocket money never seemed to stretch quite far enough to follow suit. A new Supertoy was issued every month, and he would, naturally enough, always be keen to show this off to me as I trudged past (Cunningham), my appointed place was almost at the back of Row 1, and well away from the eagle eye of Mr B-S. Another advantage of this site of learning was if one happened to have an English period immediately preceding lunch and was a partaker of the delights of the Tuck Shop, then this particular classroom was immediately above the source of sustenance and, when the bell tolled, one had a head start in the queue for refreshment. This sounding of the luncheon break probably did far more than PE for training of quick movement and obstacle

his window, homeward bound. I bore him no malice, but all this made it more difficult for me to summon up a cheery wave in his direction, as a I set off on my epic trek. I felt a long way from home and sadly deficient in my Dinky collection. Many years on, I now look forward to seeing the Academy’s new Science block when it’s completed, but I wonder whether the pangs of schoolboy envy will resurface? When I look upon the new building, I expect to see the spectre of Andrew at a window, holding aloft his ‘Mighty Antar Tank Transporter’ – 19/6d in old money (or, as we called it then, ‘money’) complete with its ‘Centurion Tank’… an extra 7/11d! Jim Shearer (1964)

dodging, for those involved in obtaining a prime place in the Tuck Shop queue. For those at a Music or Art period prior to lunchtime – even with the prowess of an Olympic sprinter – a place at the back of the queue was likely to be your lot. Fortunately it was never my misfortune to discover what happened when the supply of Walter Hubbard’s fabulous Mutton Pies ran out. Jim Cunningham (1948) Archie McIntyre (1942) knows who all these smart young men from 1939/40 are, but does anyone else? Answers, please, to exrel@tga.org.uk

Favourite Teachers Remembered John Horrex

Follow The Highway Code and listen to The Weather Forecast…!

ention 1966 and inevitably someone will remind you that was when England won the Football World Cup! Other momentous events occurred in 1966, however – possibly in the reflected glory of that sporting triumph – Harold Wilson consolidated his Prime Minister-ship with a 96 seat parliamentary majority and a Glasgow Academy teacher made the Top 30 and came close to an appearing on BBC Top of the Pops!

mathematicians. But I still remember Horrex’s classes fondly. His excellent madrigal group stirred in me a love of choral singing, even though I never sang in the group myself.

Those of us over a certain age may perhaps recall the teacher was John Horrex, who died last year and his obituary featured in the previous issue of Etcetera. His group, The Master Singers, released a single of The Highway Code set to an Anglican Chant – a strange combination. Remarkably, their recording was actually produced by ‘The fifth Beatle’, George Martin CBE.

Code’ offered a valuable lesson to pupils at the time – it showed that it was (and is) possible to enjoy life outside of work. The record was an entertaining outcome of their efforts at achieving a ‘work-life’ balance – maybe rather a sophisticated concept for pupils in these days but an example from which I imagine many, including myself, profited during their subsequent working lives.

Hit-making schoolteachers were far from the norm at that time! Education in Art and Music was rather limited in those days – with single-handed teachers in each of these subjects. There were also visiting peripatetic piano and instrument teachers.

Having recently retired as a Consultant in England’s NHS, I am very much aware that nowadays so many of those in work are subjected to highly-pressurised, humourless, target-driven environments that encroach on leisure and family time. In these circumstances, it is really important to stand up for the work-life balance and the value of being able to smile occasionally! John Horrex certainly did that back in 1966.

The school then had a number of societies and the beginnings of wider travel opportunities (largely through the active CCF). Overall, however, the environment was not one that nurtured or really encouraged music or art development. Sporting success was rather more esteemed. The Academy then was really quite a conservative establishment – slowly beginning to embrace the tremendous changes in society that were emerging in the 1960s. The school focus was very traditional and worthy – geared to achieving University entrance, Oxbridge success especially – or preparation for traditional professions such as law, accountancy and medicine. The concept of a teacher doing anything other than teaching or assisting in school societies, sports or the CCF was quite unique: a teacher wasn’t supposed to have much of a life outside work, or so it seemed to pupils then! Looking back, I rather think the success and publicity achieved by ‘The Highway

Thanks to the miracles of technology and YouTube, we can still do so and enjoy the highway code and Weather Forecast – http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Qngi_jSaXlI and http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=4z2jwDcb9wI Alastair G Smith BSc, FRCP, FRCPath (1967) The whimsical chant ‘The Highway Code’ leapt from some long-neglected recess of my brain, on hearing the news of John Horrex’s passing. Horrex was a first-rate physics teacher, who (I recall) relied on his lively intellect rather than the leather tawse to tame the rebellious hordes. My own interests ran more to mathematics, taught by the quirky but enthusiastic EBC Thornton, inspirer of many aspiring Oxbridge-bound

Since my Academy days I have derived much pleasure from singing, in a capella choirs and Grammy-winning choruses. It goes to show how good teachers can influence, even tangentially. So in the words of my favourite madrigal by John Wilbye, Draw on Sweet Night, and rest in peace, John Horrex. Rod Little (1967)

JAT Richards In early December, we learned with much sadness of the death of JAT Richards. For several years, I had the privilege of teaching in the English Department alongside Tony. The affection in which he was held by colleagues and boys alike and the depth of his pupils’ gratitude to him can be measured by the following tributes. Malcolm McNaught Tony Richards’ passing stirred grateful memories. His enjoyment in teaching English was as evident as his ability to communicate it. He was a natural volunteer in any activity expanding the horizons of his students. He gave time to CCF, rugby, cricket, curling, and assorted drama enterprises, but most notably in organising the annual orienteering competitions on Mugdock Moor, involving most of the school, which reflected his own love of the hills. His natural gift for camaraderie ensured he never lacked the help of colleagues. He was the consummate schoolmaster. This wide experience gave him knowledge of, and sympathy with, the uncertainties of adolescence, which stood him in good stead when he succeeded the redoubtable Ken Waine as senior master, where his calmness, innate good humour and gentle, dry wit often defused difficult disciplinary situations. I was grateful for the friendship and support which he so freely offered to me Etcetera

and many contemporaries, both staff and pupils. David Gray (former Academy staff)

including write a book, without that critical intervention.

Mr Richards was one of several excellent English masters who I was lucky enough to have teach me at the Academy – and all of whose extra-curricular interests rubbed off on me (e.g. Mr Payman’s hill walking, Mr Spike’s sub-aqua, Mr Gray’s RAF Section) but Tony was probably the most influential of all.

Am very sorry to hear about Jack Richards. He was a truly inspiring teacher and I still vividly and often remember some of his feedback on my ‘florid’ language…

David Fraser (1981)

His teaching of Darkling Thrush was genuinely brilliant. I read every word of poetry that Larkin ever wrote on account of him. He was a truly inspiring teacher who opened up worlds of imagination for his pupils.

Between you, the English Department turned around the slightly-built stammering child with scrawling handwriting and terrible spelling into a youth who was ready to take on the world, and that in no small part through the power of language. It was Tony (or ‘Jack’ as the boys referred to him), who taught me through my Higher English (in which, much to my parents’ surprise, I secured an ‘A’). He was understanding of my lingering stutter, giving me time to make my contributions in class, and instilled the art of lifting and knitting together quotes to construct a credible and flowing persuasive argument. Tony also nurtured what has become my lifelong love of running, by leading a distance running group when I was in the latter years at school. I still occasionally head out along the Kelvin Way past the back of the school towards Anniesland. When doing so, I often cannot resist a wry smile at memories of the ‘Indian Running’ sessions in which the pace seemed to creep inexorably up as we each took turns at the front of the group before rotating to the back of the line on a long run. It was through running that I found a pressure release, a focus and determination, a taste of success and most importantly self-belief and confidence. Thirty years on, that legacy has been passed to another generation of runners (and triathletes too). Neil Amner (1984) I remember JAT Richards fondly as my English teacher. It was never my best subject, but he brought out the best in me in time for the Highers and I thoroughly enjoyed the year I spent as one of his pupils. Alastair Brown (1979) I found Mr Richards to be a wonderful 6

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William Forrest (1986)

JAT Richards

teacher who inspired me through his reading lists and his teaching of what English was about. My grammar, punctuation and sentence construction have remained as bad as ever but I read and imagine and take pleasure in all books I take up because of Mr Richards. John Monaghan (1972) I remember him as a quite inspirational teacher who somehow succeeded in helping me achieve a grade at Higher English which seemed significantly in excess of my abilities and was largely responsible for my University offers! Gordon Jack (1966) Thank you also for the notification of Tony Richard’s sad passing. I have a particular gratitude to him because he taught my class a method for success in Higher English in Fifth Year. Up till then I had found English a bit of a struggle and, while in the top set the previous year, the head of department’s teaching style really didn’t suit me at all (though it evidently did suit Niall Ferguson, to be fair). As a result, I was put down into the second top set in the Fifth Year and got Tony – one of the best things that ever happened to me. He had a systematic approach which was just what I needed and I went on to get a good ‘A’ in the exam. I really believe I wouldn’t have gone on to do the things I’ve done,

I first met Tony when I joined the Academy in 1974, and we struck up a pleasant friendship. We enjoyed going on stage together, and I can still see him in his Dame’s outfit one Christmas, smoking his pipe in the Green Room, which of course would not be allowed today! I liked his dry sense of humour, and recall when he left that he informed the assembled company that he was grateful for the money collected on his behalf, saying that he wished to buy a good quality scope with it to take with him to Tomintoul. He then made it clear that he did not simply wish to observe deer and the like with it, but to shoot them where allowed, and to eat the meat afterwards. I think the Rector at the time was somewhat taken aback, but all colleagues present appreciated his views! Alan Hutchinson (former Academy staff) Tony was a great friend and colleague to me during the sixties at GA, and – although we rather lost touch after that – we have always valued our association with him and with Maxie. Philip (former Academy staff) and Ruth Beattie Saddened to hear of this as he was one of my favourite teachers. Especially since he seemed to like my essays and I often got to read them out. He practised what many of his contemporaries did not; the most important function of a teacher was to be encouraging, and Tony always achieved that. He has certainly been an influence on my life. Malcolm Le May (1965) I am sure that many Academicals are very sad to hear of Tony’s passing. I thought that he was a gifted and natural teacher, and very popular. Throughout

my career, which is nearing an end and has been far from illustrious, many colleagues have said how well I put together on paper the right expressions for the right occasions in the right manner. I know that this skill was due entirely to being in Tony’s English class for only a couple of years. His tips on the proper use of grammar are with me to this day. Iain J Smith (1971) Very sad to hear of Mr Richards’ passing. He never taught me English, but I have fond memories of him taking charge of cross country running training on a Friday afternoon after school and driving us into interval sprints up and down the hilly sections of Kelvingrove park, and around the (then recently landscaped) areas beside Kelvinbridge underground station. Gordon Low (1984) So sorry to hear this. He was a great teacher. Colin Ingram (1987) Tony (JAT)Richards taught me English at the Academy. I enjoyed his classes although I only remember him teaching me for one year. But without the benefit of his teaching, I wonder what I would have been doing now. I owe it to him and the other English teachers that I became an author. At university my lecturers said I wrote well and asked who had taught me English. JAT was one of four I mentioned. Miller Caldwell (1969) He was a good man and a great teacher. He will be missed. Duncan McPhie (1986) Mr Richards taught me English and French and I probably would not have passed those exams without him. He also introduced me to Orienteering. J Charles Lewis (1973) That is indeed sad news. I was fond of Tony Richards – he was my second year form master. That aside, his English lessons were always engaging if for no other reason than the promise of a mint a Black Strip Ball from the large tin of them which he kept under lock and key in the cupboard of his classroom. There was also the challenge of identifying which pipe tobacco he was favouring from week to week, as well

as the gruelling winter ‘cross country’ runs on a Wednesday afternoon round Kelvingrove Park. Kenneth Good (1990) I had him in third year and always thought he was one of the best teachers I encountered. I seem to recall many hours spent on Keats’ The Eve of St. Agnes, and on a cold night I often find myself muttering, ‘St Agnes’ Eve- Ah, bitter chill it was!’... much to the bewilderment of the family! Dan Carmichael (1985) I remember in 1966 I was in 2A for English. I was hopeless in English and was bottom student. He wrote on my report ‘Has tried hard in a good set’. He wrote in Fountain pen and I can still see the remark in my mind. There is no other school remark I remember. I think he is one of the few teachers – apart from Archie Foster who taught Maths in the room next door – who made me feel good in my school days, which I really loathed. I think Mr Richards actually congratulated me on leaving school when I picked up two prizes. It was unexpected. That was back in 1970. Edwin R Lucas (1970) I remember with fondness the lessons and teaching that Mr Richards gave to me and my peers, during my time at Glasgow Academy. I was very sad to hear of his death. Philip Tam (1990) I am very grateful for the education that he gave me. One memorable anecdote I have is that in one lesson on a particularly soporific afternoon, circa 1980, he started stretching himself in front of us – no doubt he must have been stiff and restless at the time, having been a cross-country runner. By the end of the class, he was sitting cross-legged on the top of his desk going through the answers of an interpretation in the Art of English. This was made more amusing by the fact that he was wearing his black graduation gown at the time.

The Independence debate at Glasgow Academy – in 1959 I live in Catalonia, in the countryside north of Barcelona. I now spend my time writing books and running courses in unusual topics. As in Scotland, the people here are contemplating independence. It is much more evident here, in the republican flags that hang from nearly every balcony, and in the fact that over a million people regularly turn out on demonstrations. There is also the substantial difference that, over here, Madrid is very hostile to any talk of self-determination, while London has at least signed the Edinburgh Agreement. All this talk of independence takes me right back to 1959 at the Academy. It was the year of a General Election, and the Conservatives were expected to win comfortably. So different from today where the Tory presence in Scotland is a pale shadow of what it used to be. We had a mock election at the school. Not surprisingly, the Conservative candidate won easily. What now strikes me, all these years later, is that there was an SNP candidate. If my memory serves me well, it was a chap named Gilchrist. When you think about it, it was a courageous thing to do in those far-off days of conservatism. Belatedly, I take my hat off to him. Chris Thomson (1963)

He had a relaxed demeanour, and it just seemed like a quirkiness on his part to sit atop his desk like a thin version of the Budda. Marcus Szilagyi (1982)

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My early life – and other adventures

was born in Scotland on 1 April 1928 in the house of my mother’s parents. My father was a dentist with rooms on the south side of Glasgow. As a family we used to cruise in steam-driven paddle steamers down the Clyde River to The Kyles of Bute. So, early in my life, my love of ships was fostered. In 1938 we sailed from Leith to London down the east coast of Britain to see Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A year later I sailed from Aberdeen to Lerwick, capital of The Shetland Isles, to stay with my uncle who lived in Cullivoe on the Island of Yell. After that glorious summer, War was declared against Germany in September. I attended primary school at Glasgow Academy, but by 1939 I has moved to the Senior School where Roydon Richards was Rector. Many of the teachers were male and quite a few were enlisted to fight for their country. Mr Orr, our Art teacher, was one and our Rector found a young lady to fill his place. On her first day she placed an orange on her desk and asked the class to draw it with crayons. Wanting to impress, I tried to draw the best orange ever. Our art mistress took one look, grabbed me by the ear, and took me to the Rector. I was caned there and then with no explanation. A Miss Walker from the primary school got word of this, and showed me some coloured cards. “Did you know you are colour-blind, Crombie?” she asked. I did not know, and had drawn a green orange. This was taken as my comment about our new teacher. The Rector never apologized and never forgave me. In 1943, my final year, the Rector told me I could sit my final exams, but he would not pass me, so I might as well leave school. This I did. My father found me a job with a local Marine Engineering, as an apprentice. I worked happily there for 18 months until I was called up for National Service. After Basic Training, I was posted to Catterick in Yorkshire in the Royal Signals, taught to drive and look after trucks. After a week-end leave, I was returning to Catterick by train. I was offered 11 am lunch, but I opted for noon. At Goswick the train gave a sudden lurch and braked violently. I

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The wreckage of John’s train to Catterick

The 20-year-old John Crombie pictured in 1948

looked out and saw the Restaurant car lying wrecked on its side. It subsequently came out that the driver of the steam locomotive had failed to read notices at the engine depot. These told him of track repairs at Goswick, where the train was to be diverted. He took the diversion at full speed. The locomotive, and eight leading carriages, plunged into the ditch. I was in the second last carriage which remained upright. Twenty-seven passengers were killed, and fifty-nine including the driver and fireman, injured. Many hours later a brought-in train took the survivors south, and I arrived at Catterick after midnight. I had overstayed my leave

pass. Absent without leave, I was put in the Guardhouse to await Company Commander’s orders. I had given my Army greatcoat to an injured passenger, shivering on a stretcher. I was charged. I explained why I was late and had no greatcoat. Somebody was sent for a morning paper, and I was believed! The Commanding Officer for Catterick must have learned of my ordeal because he referred me to WOSB to be considered for promotion to a Commissioned Officer. I was trained at the Officer Training Unit at Aldershot. I passed and became 2nd Lieutenant Crombie of the RASC. I was posted to Bielefeld in Germany, on the Rhine, via Harwich and The Hook of Holland. I became 2nd in Command of a Petrol Storage Platoon under Captain Gibbons. But not for long. Stalin had closed outside access to Berlin, threatening the population with starvation. The Berlin Airlift had begun. I was posted to Fassberg near Celle. This was an old Luftwaffe fighter base with a grass airstrip. The RAF had taken it over and were flying Dakotas to Berlin with five tons of bagged coal. This was inadequate, so the Americans took over. They covered the airstrip with perforated steel planking, and brought in four-engined Skymasters which could carry 12 tons of bagged coal. I became responsible for the German Prisoners of War as they loaded the planes with coal. On 14 November 1948, Prince Charles

was born to Queen Elizabeth! The RAF still officially ran the Officers’ Mess and drinks were declared to be free. The American Pilots, all in their 30s, thought this was great – and decided to get the Scottish 20-year-old Lieutenant Crombie drunk.

Holland to Harwich service: the Americans were flying a Skymaster to England to have the coal-dust removed from its innards. I was invited to sit on the coal-dusty aircraft floor. And so I got to England within hours, and caught the train home to Scotland.

I don’t know how I got to bed, but I woke early with a severe headache and had to get my Platoon on duty. The Berlin Airlift stopped for nobody.

I was demobilised after my two years’ National Service, with my self-esteem restored. I applied to Glasgow University to study Medicine. Without qualifications, I studied the London Matriculation Examination. I passed. As

At Christmas in 1948, I was granted leave. I did not need The Hook of

Books

an ex-serviceman, entry to University was easier then. I qualified MB,ChB in July 1956, and – after two years’ Hospital training in Surgery, Medicine and Obstetrics – I applied to Alfred Holt of the Blue Funnel Line as a ship’s surgeon. I sailed in the RMS ‘Rhexenor’, and was in Melbourne six weeks later. The rest is history. John Moir Crombie (1943)

Simon Wood, The Academy’s Head of History and Modern Studies, is the author of a number of history books. Simon is also The Academy’s archivist and is currently researching The Academy’s role in the First World War. So when Dr Anthony Seldon approached Glasgow Academy’s External Relations office seeking material for a new book he was planning about the Great War, it was to Simon that we turned. Here he reviews the resulting publication.

Public Schools and The Great War: The Generation Lost by Anthony Seldon and David Walsh shaping British foreign policy prior to and during the Second World War.

Published by Pen and Swords Books. The school motto of Serva Fidem means to keep faith. The Glasgow Academy, its pupils, staff and former pupils certainly had to keep faith during the years of the First World War. Over 1300 Academicals served in the various arms of the forces, with 327 paying the ultimate sacrifice. This sacrifice is acknowledged in one of the appendices of a new publication on Public Schools and the Great War by Anthony Seldon and David Walsh. The percentage of Academicals killed relative to pupils who served is 23.8% – one of the highest levels of sacrifice from a public school. This book is a timely reminder of the contribution and sacrifice made by public schools across Britain and the Empire in the First World War. Indeed it is the first piece of broad scholarship on the subject since the publication of The Old Lie by Peter Parker, which I read many years ago at St Andrews University. The foreword of the book acknowledges that public school boys were to die at almost twice the average rate for all those who served. The fact that many public school boys became the junior officers who led their men into attack as well as pilots in the Royal Flying Corps meant that their sacrifice was all the greater in proportional terms. The authors acknowledge that contemporary perceptions of public schools and the Great War are deeply inaccurate, based as they are on books

like Alan Clark’s Lions led by Donkeys and the fine comedy series Blackadder goes Forth. This book goes some way to redress that perception, looking at the impact of Public Schools on the various battle fronts as well as the contribution from Ireland and Public Schools from the Dominions. Life at school during the war, the end of the conflict and commemoration after the war are all covered in detail. The book finishes with two intelligent chapters on how public school alumni shaped the perceptions of the war after the conflict had ended – be it through the poetry of Sassoon or the paintings of Paul Nash – followed by reflections on the impact of The Lost Generation. This impact was profound. The Lost Generation has been blamed variously for everything from British economic failure between the wars to

Inevitably the book focuses on those schools which contributed most to the research phase. The Glasgow Academy features in a number of chapters, notably on the production of Fearnought gloves for sailors in the Atlantic and North Sea, as well as the sacrifice suffered by those who served in the Dardanelles. Of the ‘Scottish’ photographs in the book, The Academy can claim a strong link to two. One is of the Glasgow Academy officers who served in the 8th Cameronians [Scottish Rifles] who made that sacrifice at Gallipoli. The other is of the war memorial at Fettes College. The main figure on the memorial is that of Lieutenant Donald Macintosh VC. Prior to being educated at Fettes, he was a pupil at The Glasgow Academy. This book is a timely rejoinder to those who are critical of the privileges that a Public School gives. People are right to be critical, but there should also be recognition of the sacrifice very many made. The book is written in a fluent style that led me to devour it in about three days. It is a fine book that allows for a balanced appraisal of the Public School contribution to the war. Academicals, of course, kept faith with those who died and The Glasgow Academy was reborn after the war with the creation of The Glasgow Academy War Memorial Trust. Simon Wood (Academy staff) Etcetera

Mary Queen of Scots and her Escapes by AE McRobert

ince retiring, Sandy McRobert (1945) has researched aspects of Scottish history. His latest book relates to Mary’s escapes from her foes not in melodramatic or semi-fictional form but as history based on contemporary sources. In 1561, Mary returned from France at the age of 18. The young Catholic monarch had to thwart the powerful Protestant nobles, who were supported by England, and were determined to control or even get rid of her. She showed courage and resilience in countering a series of plots and rebellions accompanied by false allegations. The book revises traditional accounts of some of the escapes, stresses that she was not in love with Bothwell, and explains why – after the defeat of her forces at Langside in 1568 – she had good reasons to seek help from Queen Elizabeth. Mary Queen of Scots and her Escapes, ISBN: 978-1-907732-90-4, is widely available online.

Ralph Isaacs (1952) worked with the British Council in Burma from 1989 to 1994, learning some Burmese language and acquiring insights into Burmese Theravada Buddhist culture. In this beautifully-produced and wonderfully illustrated book, he introduces us to Sazigyo, Burmese tablet-woven bands for binding palm-leaf manuscripts. Although he playfully describes its subject as ‘so recondite it may be of little value’, we certainly enjoyed reading it.

From Colebrooke Street to Pole Position

t is a bright November morning in Orlando. Having just visited Academicals in Colorado, California and Houston – and not quite sure what time zone I am in! – it is a little strange to turn on the television to see Ryan Dalziel (2000), whom I am to meet later that morning, being interviewed on Good Day Orlando. Realising that this is the type of media work Ryan is used to – and very comfortable with – makes me all the more grateful that he is willing to spare some time in his busy schedule of practising, promoting and racing to do an interview for Etcetera. Ryan joined Glasgow Academy in 1990 in Prep 4. He enjoyed many happy years at the school. Art and Design was his favourite subject in the Senior School and he remains grateful for the encouragement and support he received from both Jamie McNaught and Kim Fraser. He also liked English lessons with David Gray – and enjoyed being referred to as ‘Scholar Dalziel’ in his class. However, around Easter in 1998, Ryan realised that juggling the demands of motor racing with the rigid

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expectations of school was just not going to work – so he took the brave decision to pursue his dream and boldly walked down the Rector’s Steps and away from Colebrooke Street. Despite considerable success in his karting days (he became a Scottish champion aged 9, began competing across the UK at 10 and was racing in Europe by his mid-teens), Ryan had to start at the bottom rung professionally; in his first year he lived in a caravan and was a runner and general apprentice with Team DFR in Longtown near Carlisle. He began his professional racing career proper in 1999 in Formula Vauxhall. He also drove in British Formula Renault and British Formula 3, before relocating to the United States a few years later.

Victory at Indianapolis

From 2002 until 2004, Ryan spent three years in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, finishing runner-up twice, before moving to the American Le Mans Series in 2005. After several years driving part-time with various teams in a Daytona Prototype in the Rolex Sports Car Series, 2010 was his breakthrough year. It started with victory

at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ryan then joined the Starworks Motorsport team for the remainder of the season and finished 5th in the driver standings. In 2011 he was with Starworks again in the Grand Am Rolex series and finished the year with a victory at the finale in Mid Ohio. 2012 was Ryan’s ‘fairy tale’ season. His team expanded into the FIA World Endurance Championship – which they won – and this included wins for Ryan at the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans and the 12 hours of Sebring. Ryan also captured pole and finished runner up at the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona and competed in the American Le Mans Series, winning races at Long Beach, Baltimore and Petit Le Mans. As Ryan says himself, ‘It was a huge year for me – I won tons!’ The Scottish Motor Racing Club honoured his success at their annual dinner and awards in Edinburgh in December 2012 by awarding him the William Lyons trophy for the best performance by a Scottish driver in a sports car. Highlights in 2013 included victory at Indianapolis and 2nd place finishes at Road Atlanta and Circuit of The Americas. A major development for Ryan towards the end of 2013 – a year which included

yellow flag in the closing stages. This early success means Ryan now believes ESM are ‘ready to soar this season’. We certainly hope so. You can follow Ryan’s progress at his next events at Monterey and Detroit in May via his website: www.ryandalziel.com

Ryan the family man with his niece

victory at Indianapolis and several other podium finishes – was his surprise move to Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM). Early results suggest he has made another good move in his career. In March at the Mobil 1 12-hour race at Sebring (Florida), he set a team record with both ESM, Tequila Patron-sponsored cars finishing in the top five. Ryan’s car only narrowly missed the top spot on the podium due to a controversial

I was intrigued by what Ryan would drive off the track. His spotless bright red Porsche certainly did not disappoint but it became clear when we sat in the Florida sunshine at Starbucks that the simple things in life – such as spending time at home near Florida with his wife Jessica and their extended families, walking the dog, going to the gym and taking time for a holiday – are more important to him. His responsibilities as both a husband and a son mean he remains conscious of the dangers of driving at up to 200mph on a regular basis. There were six fatalities in endurance motorsport in 2013 and two good friends were involved in serious crashes last year. At the same time, Ryan seems relaxed about the perils of his profession: he simply says, ‘It [crashing] happens every now and again…’ before adding with a grin, ‘I had a good one in October!’ Mark Taylor

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Academical Club A word on Rugby from your President…

fter a flood of key player retirals and the departure of 1st XV coach Davy Wilson at the end of last season, new Rugby Section Chairman, Nigel Campbell (1979), and his committee, drew up a 3-year development plan to build upon the good work already achieved. Key to this plan was the ‘capture’ of 2012-13 SRU Youth Coach of the Year, John Couper and his no.2, Graham Boyle (formerly of Garnock RFC). From the start, their impact was significant and – supported by Academical Chris Reid (1977) who is also involved as an SRU development officer – we have developed an exciting style of expansive rugby.

Gavin Smith, with his daughter Val, at the London Section Dinner in February

We have been fortunate to attract some extremely talented youngsters to the Club – and their progression into senior rugby has been great to watch as their

game develops and their confidence grows. Sitting in a credible third place, our highlights so far have included two wins out of three over GHK, a 6-try hammering of Allan Glen’s at home, and a training session from All-Black, Hika Reid. We are also pleased to support Women’s Rugby and to provide the SRU with training and gym facilities for their Youth Development Programme. There is no complacency and we are keen to recruit further support – both on and off the pitch. Support of Academicals far and wide has been fantastic but we would always welcome more! Whatever your level of interest in the game whilst at school, why not come down to New Annniesland to see the progress we’ve been making, meet some old friends and enjoy some exciting rugby? You’d be most welcome! Gavin Smith, President

Glasgow Accies Ladies’ Hockey

he Ladies’ 1st XI are sitting fourth in the 1st Division of the Scottish Hockey Championship league. Their goal is to finish 3rd at the end of the season. Division 1 is dominated by

Clydesdale Western teams and strong sides from Edinburgh and Dundee. It has not been an easy season but the Ladies’ 1st XI have risen to the challenge with some really well-earned results.

The Ladies’ 2nd XI are sitting third bottom in West District 1. Their goal is to avoid relegation this season. With only a couple of games left, they hope that with a lot of hard work and a spot of luck they might just pull it off! It has been a tough year for those playing and organising the 2nd XI – issues such as availability, injury, new players and old players moving on have really affected the team’s performance. They look forward to starting afresh next season and really building on 2014. Accies 2nd XI played in the quarter finals of the Scottish District Plate on

2nd XI – Ladies Hockey

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12 April – further details are available on the website – www.glasgow-hockey.com We encourage anyone interested in playing hockey to come along and try out summer hockey at Glasgow Accies. Everyone over 14 years of age is welcome – male/female, pupils, school leavers, former pupils, teachers, parents and all friends of The Academy. For more information, please email Stephanie Hermes – stephaniebarnet@hotmail. com We thoroughly enjoyed taking three tables at the Accies’ Sports Ball on Saturday 5 April – an excellent excuse to get dressed up, enjoy some ceilidh dancing, and socialise with all members of the Glasgow Academical Sports Club. Past, present or future members of the hockey section are always welcome to come to this event. On a sad note we say goodbye to one of our longest-serving players; Lynne Moore (née Allan). Lynne is off to Dubai with her husband, Ali, who has been offered a new job as a pilot for Fly Dubai. Lynne will be working as a physio and the plan is to return within 5 years and settle somewhere in Europe. Lynnie – you are most welcome back at Accies if you ever return to Glasgow. We wish you good luck and Bon Voyage. Anyone wishing to join Accies, please visit our website. For more information about Glasgow Accies please email us via the contact us page on our website – www. glasgow-hockey.com We are especially keen to welcome pupils and school leavers in the Glasgow area.

Men’s Hockey – end of Season

Men’s Hockey

lasgow Accies men’s hockey team has survived – and performed well recently with victories over Helensburgh (1-0 Away) and Giffnock 2nds (4-1 Away) whilst fielding only ten men! We have some talented hockey players amongst us; however, we need more to strengthen the squad. Home games are played at Windeyedge on the new ultra-modern water-based pitch and Monday nights are set aside for training sessions of drills and skills, usually followed by a short game played in good spirits. We are reasonably well-played in the Glasgow West District Hockley League. In the summer months we join forces with our ladies and play in a mixed league against a variety of teams. These matches are open to non-Club members and are competitive; however, they’re also good fun. We hope to get the BBQ set up this year! Our hockey facilities are on a par with the other clubs against whom we compete, so please get in touch if you or any family members or friends have any interest in playing hockey with us. Paul Harrison pauljharrison47@gmail.com

Our thanks to Hugh Barrow (1962) who sent us this photograph of the Scotland Team for the First Empire Games (1930). Back row in white is Accie Ian Borland (440 yards).

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London Section We continue to increase our membership with the arrival in the London area of recent school and university leavers. Those who do not contact us immediately soon hear of the London Section through Facebook, through The Academy office or by word of mouth. We would encourage all Accies to make contact with the London office when they know they are relocating to the London area. (Please see the contact information below.) In addition to our normal events, we have in the last 12 months organised a drinks evening which was held at Barrio Central, W1. This event attracted some new faces along with some regulars and the evening was a great success. Our thanks go to our Vice-President, Karen Greenshields, for initiating this event. Our Annual Dinner was held on 28 February at the Caledonian Club and we were delighted not only to entertain 74 Accies and their guests during the evening, but also to have representation from Glasgow, in the form of the Rector, the President of the Glasgow Academical Club, Malcolm McNaught, Mark Taylor and Emma Fitzpatrick from the school – as well as representatives from the Smith Clan. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for Accies of all ages to

Notices mix in the excellent atmosphere of the Caledonian Club. Judging by the noise in the Johnnie Walker Room, there was a great deal of reminiscing and conversation. Cammy Wilson presided over the dinner with our Vice-President, Karen Greenshields, welcoming the Rector and the President of the Parent Body, both of whom responded with detailed accounts of the School and the Club respectively. Cammy introduced our guest speaker, Mr Jamie Matheson, who – despite being educated in Edinburgh! – recognised the attributes of The Academy. Colin Ingram proposed a very witty Vote of Thanks and the evening concluded with a large gathering in the bar afterwards. The London Section has already started planning for its 2015 Annual Dinner and I would ask you all to make a note in your diaries that this event will take place on Friday 13 March 2015 (eve of the Calcutta Cup match) at The Caledonian Club in London. I would like to reiterate that if any Accie is planning to move to or near to London, do get in touch with the London Section on 020 7235 9012 or at ecj@aralon.co.uk David Hall (1961)

Some of the younger Academicals who enjoyed the Annual Dinner on 28 February

Academical Club AGM Tuesday 3 June 2014 GLASGOW ACADEMICAL CLUB Notice is hereby given to members that the Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 3 June 2014 in the Pavilion, New Anniesland, 21 Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow G13 1RR. The Secretary will make available copies of the Report and Accounts to any member, on request to the above address. Stuart W Neilson Secretary The Glasgow Academical Sports Club Annual General Meeting will be held prior to the above meeting commencing at 6.00 pm in the Pavilion, New Anniesland.

2014 – 2015 Subscriptions Following a review of Club subscription levels, there has been an increase to most membership categories for the new subscription year, 1st April 2014 – 31st March 2015, with ordinary membership increasing to £40, and Rugby/Gents’ Hockey/Ladies’ Hockey/Gents’ Cricket going to £110. There are to be no changes to Gents Golf, Ladies Cricket, or Non-playing/Social subscriptions. You should have received your 2014-15 Subscription Form at the end of March but, if you didn’t, please contact Iain Jarvie, Membership Secretary at iainjarvie152@ btinternet.com, or on 07803 855394

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Westbourne Section

Class of ‘66 Reunion

Update

Death

Fiona Kennedy Clark (1973)

Marjorie A Brash (1976)

s most reunions probably do, our class reunion came about over lunch! Four of us have met regularly since school and one day Mary joined us as a surprise – she was the catalyst! Each of us was in contact with someone, each of these had a contact or two and with the help of Emma’s ‘list’ we soon had about 50 names – after 48 years this was amazing! We had 72 in our class – the Post-War Baby Boom! So by e-mail and snail mail initial notices were sent. Not all replied, but it was good to hear news of many and, on the day, we had 20 for lunch at Anniesland. There was much talk and laughter – everyone looked great and we were all delighted to be in each other’s company again. There was complete disbelief that so many years had passed and great hilarity when photographs were produced. What hairstyles we all had – not helped by the ‘hairband’ era! Great pictures also of the ski trip and the school teams and someone even produced a class project, a beautifully-written page by each girl – possibly produced especially for the ‘Show of Work’ at the end of the summer term.

Received an OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list for services to music and charities. Last year Fiona also became a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire. She still sings, produced a show called ‘The Kist’ and gets up to mischief!

Marjorie Anne Brash died peacefully in Edinburgh on 23 March. On leaving Westbourne, she gained a place to study German at St Andrews University where she graduated MA (Hons) in 1981. Marjorie was a dear sister of Alan and Granger and a proud aunt and great-aunt.

The Laboratory Appeal – On Target The Westbourne Appeal to name one of the laboratories in the new Science and Technology Building now stands at £22,500. With just a little more help, we can ensure we will have a Westbourne Laboratory in the new building. Please give what you can.

The Academical Pavilion was the perfect venue – we all felt very relaxed and under no pressure to eat and drink up and leave! It was a very happy occasion and we hope that we may all meet again some day. With many thanks to the staff at Anniesland and to Emma for her undoubted skills in co-ordinating it all. Alison Young (Scott) (1966)

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Events The Independence Debate – in 2014

n Friday 28 March The Academy held its great debate on Scottish Independence.

We were delighted to welcome four experts to present the evidence for and against Independence and to debate the topic in front of an audience of Senior School pupils eligible to vote in September’s referendum. In the ‘Yes’ corner were highly-successful entrepreneur and former pupil, Ian Ferguson-Brown and the SNP Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism and current parent, Fergus Ewing. Presenting the opposing case were local MP and

former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office, Anne McKechin, alongside former pupil and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Jackson Carlaw MSP. Taking the questions from the floor and generally keeping the peace was our own

James Mortimer (S6), President of The Glasgow Academy Debating Society. After it was all over, one member of the audience commented that it had been one of the most informative and best-tempered debates that she had heard on the subject of Scottish Independence.

The Iain Muir Spring Lunch

he annual lunch for 1945-1955 school leavers took place on the traditional date of the first Friday of March. Now known as the ‘Iain Muir Spring Lunch’ in memory of its founding organiser, since Iain’s untimely death at the beginning of 2012, this year’s event was held at the School, having settled over the past few years into a pattern of New Anniesland and Colebrooke Street in alternate years. Forty ‘golden oldies’, several from far-flung Academical outposts in the United Kingdom, sat down after a drinks reception provided by the School to a splendid repast created by the School’s catering staff and including a generous quantity of wine and soft drinks – all for a bargain ‘ticket’ price which couldn’t have been matched elsewhere. Thirty-six apologies with messages of warm greetings brought the total number of responses to approximately a third of the overall circulation list, indicating a continuing interest in, and enthusiasm for, this annual get-together. This year, the invited guest was Gavin Smith, current President of the Glasgow Academical Club, who got an attentive hearing when in a short address he delivered a snapshot review of the widespread activities of the sports sections of the club. Gavin also gave a 16

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titillating glimpse of plans being formed to celebrate the Club’s 150th anniversary in 2016. The adjoining photograph describes better than words the non-stop conversation and camaraderie which

was only curtailed when the gathering reluctantly dispersed as the Cargill Hall was occupied for lecture purposes by present-day pupils. John B Park

Dates for your Diary Thursday 5 June Monday 23 June Thursday 4 September Friday 19 September Thursday 25 September Friday 3 October Friday 24 October Friday 24 October Friday 7 November

Sell It for SciTech! Antique selling event Donor Thank You Reception TGA Dinner with Sir Steve Redgrave Kelvin Foundation Lunch GA Careers Event ‘Class of 1994’ 20-year Reunion ‘Class of 2004’ 10-year reunion Gasbags Lunch GAC Dinner

2015 DATE TBC

‘Class of 1995’ Reunion

The Canada Prize

he Canada Prize was first presented to a pupil at the Glasgow Academy thirty years ago. The idea of the prize was conceived one evening some three years earlier in a Chinese restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tony Kozlowski, then living in Toronto, was in Vancouver on a business trip and dining out with his old school friend, Sandy Ferns. As the evening progressed, the conversation eventually gravitated to the old school, the usual pattern of these dinners. At the time, Tony had been coordinating an active section of the Academical Club in Ontario and it soon became apparent from the information which he had accumulated that there was a growing number of Academicals residing not only in Ontario but throughout Canada. In those far-off days there was minimal reference to Academicals living abroad in any of the school publications. But times were changing. Academicals were emigrating, seeking employment abroad or simply exploring the world in ever-increasing numbers. Remarkably, it was apparent that, although they were unable to enjoy the camaraderie of an afternoon’s rugby at Anniesland or attend a school function, distances did not diminish the feeling of attachment which they continued to hold for their old school. This sense of belonging was evident in the Academicals that Tony and Sandy had come across in Canada and they started to think of ways that they might turn this fact to the school’s benefit. It wasn’t long before they came up with an idea of establishing a Canada Prize to be presented as part of the annual Prize Giving ceremony. They hoped that the presentation of such a prize would generate awareness among the pupils, staff and parents that many

Academicals of all eras were now living in Canada and, regardless of the distances involved, they continued to appreciate the benefits which they obtained from Academy schooling. When the proposal was first put to the rector, he suggested instead an endowment to the library – a worthy idea but not quite in keeping with the original vision. So it was not until the arrival of Colin Turner that the Canada Prize project really got under way. Long-serving Academicals Jimmy Murray (1950) in Montreal and Doug Gibson (1962) in Toronto quickly endorsed the concept and their advice and active support have ever since been freely given and gratefully received. The concept as approved by Colin Turner was for a book on a subject relevant to Canada and or Academicals, to be presented for studies in History or Geography, together with a small monetary gift. The book would be chosen each year by the Academicals in Canada and would contain a unique tile or plate that would identify it as the Canada Prize. In light of his involvement with the Ontario Academical Section and the preponderance of Academicals living in the Province of Ontario, Tony Kozlowski was in the ideal position to commence raising funds with the goal of providing a sound financial base for the prize in the future. Some eight years later, at the suggestion of the rector, the cash award was phased out. This created a dilemma as to what might happen to the Canada Prize in the future when the Academicals who conceived it were not able to manage the process. The Indian Trophy provided the seed for thought and it was decided that a permanent memento along the lines of the Indian Trophy would be the best way to guarantee the continued existence of the Prize. When it was deemed that adequate funds had been raised, the question naturally arose. What form would the trophy take? The only component in the decision which was sacrosanct was that the trophy had to represent some element that was totally Canadian and immediately recognized as such. This decision prevented the comment of ‘not another silver cup!’. It was Tony Kozlowski’s proposal that the trophy should be an Inuit carving and this satisfied both the inviolable requirement and the artistic sense of those involved in the project. It was

agreed that the final form the carving should take was that of the Dancing Bear, a deeply revered and integral part of the culture of the Canadian Inuit people that depicts the transformation of the dancing Shaman, the ‘medicine man’, into the body and soul of the Great Bear, the most powerful of all native animal spirits. This, to the prize’s founders, seems to epitomize the awakening of the mind that is the heart of Glasgow Academy education. Tony arranged to meet Koomutuak Curley, a young Inuit carver from Cape Dorset on Baffin Island, who was gaining a well-deserved national reputation for his art and at the time of contact was exhibiting at a Toronto gallery. He was duly commissioned to carve the Dancing Bear out of dark green serpentine rock, a much more demanding and exciting medium than the ubiquitous soapstone. By coincidence, ‘Koozie’ Curley was born in 1984 – the year the Canada Prize in its original form was first presented. A commission was also given to an Ontario wood carver with historic connections to Scotland to create a base of North American Black Walnut and, finally, to connect the Dancing Bear tangibly to Scotland, a well-established Glasgow jeweller created the silver bands and inscription plates on which provenance of the Prize and the recipient’s name would be inscribed. The resulting trophy is a magnificent piece, almost two feet tall and is undoubtedly a worthy tribute to the Canada Prize winners past, present and future and to those Canadian Academicals whose enterprise and education took The Academy’s name and reputation to foreign shores with such success. Sandy Ferns conceived the initial idea for a prize and he sums up his vision thus: ‘The Canada Prize, as represented by the Dancing Bear, should not only be a symbol of our pride in our new beginnings and new homeland but should also honour our roots and Scottish heritage, specifically our time at The Glasgow Academy, which provided us with the education, confidence and spirit to seek and settle in the greener pastures ‘across the water’. We trust that it provides similar inspiration to those Academy pupils who follow.’ Sandy Ferns (1960) and Tony Kozlowski (1962) Etcetera

SciTech Update

Construction Begins! SciTech Facts – the new building will provide: • 37,000 square feet over four floors • A 175-seat auditorium • A food technology department • A hospitality suite for community, school and FP events • 15 state-of-the-art laboratories for Biology, Physics and Chemistry

SciTech Donations by Year Group Many parents – as well as a number of trusts and foundations – have made generous contributions to the SciTech appeal. Nevertheless, former pupils have still given the largest portion of gifts and pledges to date. The following tables highlight which year ranges and which particular ‘Classes’ have raised the most for SciTech so far:

Appeal total update

35%

65%

Support still required

Gifts banked to date

Thanks to the generosity of so many former pupils, parents and friends of The Academy, we were able to begin construction on our new SciTech building in January. You can watch live progress of the work on Colebrooke Street via our webcam: www.theglasgowacademy.org. uk/fps/sci-tech-webcam

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We need your help to raise at least £1,000,000. Because of the generosity of The Academy community, we have now banked £650,000 in gifts, not including legacies. We are extremely grateful for all gifts – large or small. With your help, we will be able to complete this transformational project – and SciTech can open in 2015.

TGA Alumni Gift Summary Year Gifts and Range Pledges

Number of Donors

1925 -1940 1941-1945 1946-1950 1951-1955 1956-1960 1961-1965 1966-1970 1971-1975 1976-1980 1981-1985 1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2013

10 11 20 24 17 14 12 7 5 14 3 1 1 1

£96,278 £58,975 £94,947 £53,017 £88,163 £44,031 £9,545 £10,500 £8,289 £132,178 £20,000 £625 £2,500 £1,250

Year Group Gifts – Top 5 ‘Class of’

Amount Raised

1981 1947 1957 1943 1952

£129,115 £74,738 £65,000 £62,625 £26,806

Major Naming Opportunities Nearly all of the major spaces in the building have now been sponsored. If you would like information on the last few naming opportunities available, contact Mark on 0141 342 5494/ Mark. Taylor@tga.org.uk for more details and Gift Aid benefits.

Name your seat! The 175-seat auditorium will be at the heart of the new building. You can name your own seat in the auditorium.

You can make all the difference Contact Mark on 0141 342 5494/ Mark.Taylor@tga.org.uk for more details on naming options and gift aid benefits.

Gifts of a Lifetime Generations of Academy pupils have benefited from the generosity of lifetime gifts. Legacy gifts allow us to provide fund Bursaries for talented pupils – as well as providing the best facilities for all.

Reducing Inheritance Tax Gifts to charities such as The Glasgow Academy are 100% exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT). In addition, if you make charitable gifts in your Will that amount to 10% or more of your chargeable net estate, the IHT rate on the whole estate will be reduced from 40% to 36%. After your gift is made, the tax saving will be passed on to the other beneficiaries.

Make a difference Every bequest makes a difference to The Academy and we are deeply grateful for the legacy gifts we receive, whether it is a cash gift, a specific item or a percentage of your estate after taking care of your family. There are various ways in which you

might consider leaving a gift to Glasgow Academy in your Will:

Types of Legacy • Residuary: Provides a part or all of the remainder (or a share of the remainder) of your estate after other liabilities and bequests have been satisfied. • Pecuniary: Allows for a specific percentage or sum of an estate to be left to a named individual or organisation. • Reversionary: Leaves assets to be administered by trustees so beneficiaries (e.g. a spouse) enjoy the income during their lifetime and the whole – or a portion of – the estate reverts to the school upon their death. • S pecific: Permits the leaving of specific, personal possessions. Examples might be property, investments, life insurance policies or works of art. • Conditional: Provides for the eventuality that no named dependants survive the benefactor

If you already have a Will and wish to add The Academy as a beneficiary, your lawyer can attach a codicil to your existing Will. (The Glasgow Academy’s Charity Number is SC 015638)

The Kelvin Foundation All who pledge or make a legacy gift to Glasgow Academy are invited to join our Kelvin Foundation. Members are invited to an annual event, hosted by the Rector. All legators (unless they ask for their bequests to be anonymous) are also remembered publicly and permanently in our Book of Thanks, which is kept in the Rector’s Study. If you are thinking about remembering The Academy in your Will, we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice from a solicitor. We cannot, of course, offer any legal advice but if you would like to discuss a legacy gift to the school, please contact Mark on 0141 342 5494 or at M.Taylor.@tga.org.uk

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Announcements Births

Far left: Jessica holding baby Willow Rew Allan

Paul Allan (1995)

Left: Gregory Colin Macdonald Atkinson

My wife Sara and I had another baby girl on 13 January 2014. The photo is of Jessica holding her new baby sister, Willow Rew Allan (all 8lbs).

Michael Atkinson (1999) My wife, Alison, and I are delighted to announce the birth of our second son, Gregory Colin Macdonald Atkinson, on 31 January 2014 in Edinburgh. Gregory’s middle name, Colin, is in memory of his late grandfather, former GAC President and Chairman of GAC Sports Club, Colin Atkinson. Murray (born 2012) is very pleased to have a little brother!

Below: Team Caldicot! Finlay James Chassels

Scott Chassels (1998) Jen and I welcomed our first child, Finlay James Chassels, into the world on 19 August 2013. This is a picture of our little man.

Alison (Kemp) Caldicott (2000) The Caldicott family are delighted to welcome Jacob Alexander to join their clan! He arrived on 11 February 2014, at home as planned, weighing 10lbs. Big brothers Nathan and Joshua are very proud.

Elizabeth (Gilchrist) Maitland (2000)

Baby Ewan Watson McMaster and George John McMaster

Elizabeth and Douglas Maitland are delighted to announce the arrival of their daughter, Isla Margaret, at The Royal Berkshire Hospital on 2 January 2014.

John McMaster (1996) Pictured is George John McMaster (born 15 April 2012) and his little brother Ewan Watson McMaster (born 10 October 2013) in their Scotland rugby tops.

Scott McMaster (1993) Scott and his wife Kate are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter Kim Patricia McMaster on 11 November 2013. Born a healthy 8lbs 10oz at Glasgow’s Southern General Maternity Hospital.

David McNaught (2002) David and Ruth are delighted to announce that George Morrison Ross McNaught was born – four weeks early – on 9 March 2014 weighing in at 5lb 2oz. Currently, George’s name is slightly longer than he is – but he’s catching up fast!

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Isla Margaret Maitland

Kim Patricia McMaster George Morrison Ross McNaught

Special Birthday Happy Bitrthday, Ken Waine! It’s not every day you’re 90 – and in celebration of the event Ken Waine’s family got together for a big party for his birthday in March. Ken’s many friends in the Academy family join in wishing many happy returns of the day!

Moving up, moving on… Conrad Rafique (1983) Conrad Rafique has made the full career transition to Fitness and Motivation Coach and is currently completing his masters in Personal Training, Fitness and Nutrition with the European Institute of Fitness at Lillieshall National Sports Centre. The new business is called Rock Mountain Fitness www.rockmountain. co.uk

Engagements and Marriages

Alan Barrie (1979)

John Howie (2002) On 15 May 2013 I got married to my wife, Claire, at Drumtochty Castle in Aberdeenshire and we had a wonderful day. We are both living and working in Aberdeen. I’m an Assistant Project Manager with Subsea 7 and my wife is an Analyst with Rushmore Reviews.

Lydia Petersen (2013) I recently got engaged on 7 February! I’m engaged to David Morrow.

My eldest son is working in Tierra del Fuego (most southerly tip of Argentina) from the middle of March to the beginning of September 2014 as part of his Edinburgh University 3rd Year Languages. I am keen to see if there are any contacts down that way who would be available in an emergency or indeed to offer hospitality. (Please contact the External Relations office exrel@tga.org.uk or 0141 342 5494 if you can help.) Etcetera

Neil Amner (1984)

across Scotland, in the rain or sunshine and series two of the show is set to be just as exciting.

Neil Amner, partner at national business law firm, DWF, has been appointed as Deputy President of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce at its annual general meeting. Neil joins newly-appointed President, Vic Emery, for a two-year term and will help the Chamber to achieve the objectives of the city’s economic development strategy. Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s leading transport, environmental and parliamentary lawyers, Neil heads up the Construction, Infrastructure & Projects team at DWF in Scotland. He has particular expertise in rail, road, aviation, ferry and infrastructure matters and also works closely with clients undertaking Scottish Government and other public body consultations, as well as overseeing Bills and Orders before the Scottish Parliament. Neil has been a Board Member of the Chamber for more than seven years, chairing its Transport and Infrastructure Export Panel. As well as his work with the Chamber, he is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and a member of the European Freight and Logistics Leaders’ Forum. Talking about his appointment, Neil said: ‘It is an honour to be appointed as Deputy President, and to hold this important position during such a significant period of the city’s growth and development. As a long-standing board member, I have witnessed first-hand the excellent work this organisation has done to promote Glasgow as a place to do business. I hope my experience will benefit the Chamber by helping it to make important decisions that will have widespread advantages for the city’s businesses and people.’

‘I’m especially looking forward to tracing my family tree at the Scotland’s People Centre in Edinburgh and heading to Orkney and standing in the middle of the Ring of Brodgar. Please do get in touch if there’s anything you think I should go and visit when I’m embarking on my travels, and definitely say hello! You can follow me on twitter @shionamc for all the updates or on instagram @shionapics to see photographs of my journey.’ http://www.realradio-scotland.co.uk/ shows/ewen-and-cats-guide-to-scotland/ shionas-challenges/a7411

Shiona McCallum (2004) After tremendous success last year, ex-Academy pupil Shiona McCallum is gearing up for even more adventures in 2014 as she travels the country as Real Radio and Visit Scotland’s Roving Reporter. ‘It really is my dream job; travelling our wonderful country and trying the best of what’s on offer in each region. When the opportunity presented itself to me last year, I couldn’t believe my luck. Like many of us, I’ve been all over the world, but not seen enough of what’s on my doorstep. ‘Visit Scotland and Real Radio had me on the longest zip wire in Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, staying in bespoke cottages along the Caledonian Canal and champagne tasting in St Andrews. Last year we rolled out the programme, not knowing what to expect, but now it’s back by popular demand. ‘My personal recommendation for the wow factor is catching the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig. It’s really a journey that stands out, not just nationally, but globally. Why had I not done this before? Taking in the unparalleled scenery and breath-taking views of the richest of landscapes, I was in awe. ‘Now I don’t claim to be an ‘outdoorsy’ type and I certainly don’t own a pair of robust hiking boots or even a practical waterproof with a hood, but I’m up for the challenge of being out and about

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Katie wins her first world title! Former Glasgow Academy pupil Katie Archibald (2012) won her first world title and becomes Scotland’s first female world champion in cycling. Alongside teammates Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott and Elinor Barker – Katie claimed Britain’s sixth women’s team pursuit world title out of seven and a first gold of the 2014 event at the Track Cycling World Championships in Cali, Colombia in late February. It was a first world title for Katie, 19, after she joined the squad full-time at their Manchester training base in November. She has been described as a ‘revelation’ since joining the team. Well done, Katie!

Deaths James P Bannerman (1953) 24 May 1935 – 28 March 2014 James (Jim) Pirie Bannerman OBE died peacefully at home in his sleep. Beloved husband of Marjie, much-loved dad of Grant and Julie and a loving grandfather.

T Bonnar Fulton (1971) 29 April 1954 – 29 December 2013 Bonnar packed a lot into his near 60 years. He was born at Dalmuir and started school at Jackton Primary – where he spent many hours of his first week hiding his head below a sink through shyness. Bonnar attended Glasgow Academy from 1963 to 1971. In his final year he played for the 1st XV before leaving as a confident young man with his own – very firm – ideas on fashion and hairstyle! Bonnar attended Strathclyde University and obtained a BSc before joining the family business, HF Electrical. By 1981 he was a major player as one of the directors of the firm. He worked hard and played hard. He took up fishing and played golf, becoming a member at Pollok. Bonnar also served the community: his charitable work included serving as Chairman of the Glasgow branch of The British Heart Foundation. T Bonnar Fulton

Bonnar Fulton died without pain, worries or fears in late December. He lived his life his way and made many friends along the way. In early January in a crowded Fenwick Parish Church a memorial service was held. He gave his farewell toast after the memorial service at the Lochgreen Hotel ‘in absentia’. Bonnar is survived by his wife, Susan, and their son, Bonnar Euan. Susan was his dear and caring wife to the end. HM Fulton (1969)

Charlie Grant Gordon (1944) 21 August 1927 – 21 December 2013 Charles Grant Gordon was born in Glasgow on 21 August, 1927, eldest son of William Grant Gordon, a distiller in the family firm, and Janet Grant, a doctor. He was a great-grandson of the founder, William Grant. He attended Glasgow Academy between 1933 and 1939 before going on to Ardvreck and then Rugby. Aged 17, Charlie joined the Royal Navy, just after the end of the war in 1945. Mostly based in Malta, he served aboard the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex, replenishing RN submarines, and ended his service in 1948 on board the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He returned to spend three years at Glasgow University, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1951 and joined the family business. His father died just two years later and – as eldest son – Charlie became a director of the company. He was later joined by brother, Sandy, and their uncle, Eric Lloyd Roberts. Together, they transformed the family firm into a global player. In 1954 Charlie married Margaret Charlie Grant Gordon

Louise Eccles, a radiographer at the city’s Western Infirmary, and settled in Westbourne Gardens. Having served as director, and sometime chairman of Grant’s, he was named life president in 2008. Following the death of Louise, as she was mostly known, he married Francesca Canales and together they pursued his other great loves beyond his family, philanthropy and the whisky business – ocean sailing. He and Louise had started with the yacht Yala – their three infant sons’ prams secured to the mast! He and his second wife Francesca made their last transatlantic crossing when he was 85 and at the helm. He was on his way to London and Scotland for business meetings in November when stricken by pneumonia. He died in hospital in New York City with Francesca and other family members by his bedside. Charles Gordon is survived by his wife, Francesca, three sons from his first marriage to Louise, and nine grandchildren.

Peter R Gordon (1947) 13 August 1928 – 27 December 2013 Peter Russell Gordon’s early years were spent in the Sind – a Himalayan sub-valley of the Vale of Kashmir in India – where his father was building dams for the Indian Public Works Department. He attended boarding school in Scotland from the age of 4, initially at Stanley House in Bridge of Allan, before coming to board at Glasgow Academy, where he appreciated the kindness of Mrs Coleman Smith. Peter thrived at The Academy. He was an industrious pupil and won prizes in Latin, General Knowledge, English and Modern Languages. In his last few years he was Captain of Kelvin House, captain of the 1st XV and School Captain. On leaving school – before taking up his major scholarship to study Modern Languages at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge – Peter completed his national

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service. He spent much of it in the Intelligence Corps in Germany. After graduating from Corpus, Peter joined Burmah-Shell and spent a few years in Calcutta. This was followed by posts in London with the Joint Iron Council and Portsmouth with the Associated Coal and Wharf Company. He was delighted when he gained late entry into the Civil Service and became a Principal in HM Treasury in 1966. Peter felt at home intellectually at the heart of government; he relished the atmosphere and the work. He remained at the Treasury, where he was promoted to the level of Assistant Secretary until he retired. In his spare time, Peter was a voracious reader and a regular walker. He developed an interest in art and music and, especially once he and his wife, Isabel – whom he married in 1960 – retired to the Scottish Borders, he went regularly to concerts and exhibitions. Peter died peacefully, after a short illness in December. He is survived by Isabel, two sons – John and Graeme – and his brother Alastair (1949).

The Very Rev Dr William J Morris (Former Academy Chaplain) 22 August 1925 – 31 October 2013 William James Morris KCVO, JP was minister of Glasgow Cathedral for 40 years and served Glasgow Academy as

Chaplain from 1976 until 2004. He was elected an Honorary Governor in 1995 and continued to take an interest in – and support – The Academy in this capacity until he died late last year.

moved to Rutland to live with David (1978), who survives him. Dr Morris was respected by all who knew him and will be sorely missed.

Dr Morris was born in Cardiff and educated at Cardiff High School. Later he studied at the University of Wales, graduating in arts from Cardiff and in divinity from the United Theological College at Aberystwyth in 1949. Later he took his PhD at New College, Edinburgh.

JAT Richards

Between 1949 and 1951, Dr Morris was Assistant Minister at Canongate Kirk and then Minister at the Presbyterian Church of Wales at Cadoxton and Barry Island. He then held further ministries at Buckhaven and Peterhead before he was elected Minister of Glasgow Cathedral in 1967. He cherished the setting and traditions of the Cathedral and quickly earned the respect and affection of his congregation. He also went on to make an impact on the wider affairs of the Church of Scotland, including as convenor of the Kirk’s Advisory Board between 1977 and 1990. As well as serving as minister of the Cathedral, Dr Morris was chaplain of The Academy, Strathclyde Police, the Trades House and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club. He also served as an honorary President of the Glasgow Council of Social Service and Chairman of the Iona Cathedral Trust, on the Independent Broadcasting Authority and was Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland from 1991 until 1996, having been one of the Queen’s chaplains since 1969. Dr Morris married his wife, Jean Howie, in 1952. (Mrs Morris went on to make her own impact on Scottish life, most notably as Chair of the Parole Board for Scotland for 12 years.) They were a devoted and inseparable couple. Indeed, despite his myriad cathedral and civic responsibilities, family life was always the priority of Dr Morris. His son, David, recalls the constant encouragement and support of his father: ‘He would even take me to rugby matches at Anniesland with my kit – when not in a team – in case someone had to call off and volunteer me to play!’ Dr Morris retired in 2005. He was pre-deceased by Jean and recently The Very Rev Dr William J Morris

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(Academy Staff 1960-1991) Tony Richards had many facets. Tributes sent to the family describe a teacher ‘truly inspiring’ and ‘influential’ who ‘nurtured… my lifelong love of running’, ‘brought out the best in me’ with ‘ innate good humour and gentle, dry wit’. I remember going to the annual pantomime in the Cargill Hall sitting as a young girl on those shiny, hard wooden seats, seeing Dad replete in shiny blue dress, his thin legs in white tights, wig, full make up and a fairy wand. Dad retired in 1991 to a remote cottage near Tomintoul, doing The Times crossword, tending his garden, skiing when the snow fell and shooting (legitimately) a red deer for the freezer from his bedroom window. Sadly this lifestyle ended abruptly with a debilitating stroke in 2010. Dad bore the limitations of a care home with stoicism. Mostly. An independent spirit whose wings beat against a frail body and institutional bureaucracy. I once asked if he spoke to other residents. ‘Yes, there are some less glassy-eyed than others,’ was his wry reply. It was fitting that Dad’s last journey was from Bridge of Allan back to Tomintoul. The hearse negotiated Glenshee, wheels JAT Richards

crunching through the overnight frost and first snows. Looking back, Dad would have been impressed with the next vehicle to summit, driven by a former colleague who executed an elegant 180° skid.

illness. Ged was the beloved husband of the late Patricia, father of Michael and Ian (Sandy) and a proud father-in-law, grandpa and great-grandpa. Also brother of Audrey and the late Alistair D Robin (1943).

We read Larkin at the funeral with the Minister concluding, ‘It is always a relief to reach the end of Larkin without encountering any swear words.’

John Ramsay Stevenson (1936)

Dad is now at peace in Tomintoul, looking out to the surrounding hills. If not his homeland, certainly where his heart was happiest. Apologies for any grammatical errors, Dad! Kate Richards (W1980)

Gerard M Robin (1946) 5 December 1928 – 31 December 2013 Gerard Marriot Robin (Ged) was a pupil at Glasgow Academy from 1939 to 1946. On several occasions he was a class captain and in Form 5 he played for the 1st XI and won his 1st XV colours. In his final year at school he was also a member of the winning House (Morrison) rugby 7s team. After school, the Academical Club became an important part of Ged’s life. He joined the Club in 1947 and became very involved at Anniesland. He played for the Accies XV for many years and for the 1st XI cricket team. He died peacefully, at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, after a long J Ramsay Stevenson

30 August 1919 – 27 January 2014 Ramsay was born in Kelvinside and educated at Glasgow Academy. During the war he was a Commissioned Officer with the Highland Light Infantry and then the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Ramsay saw service in Africa, Burma and India. After WWII he worked in the glass industry for 37 years. A keen golfer, he was a member of Buchanan Castle Golf Club and Glasgow Golf Club. He enjoyed fishing and was a past president of Milngavie Angling Club. Over and above anything else, Ramsay will be remembered for being a gentleman, always impeccably polite and smartly dressed right to the end. He was predeceased by Doris, his wife of 53 years.

William Graham Desmond Wright (1933) 5 August 1916 – 29 April 2014 William Graham Desmond Wright (known as Desmond), one of our oldest Academicals, has died at the age of 97 years. He was born in the middle of the First World War, in Helensburgh, and attended Larchfield School before coming to the Academy for his senior school years.

Helensburgh as the whole of Greenock went up in flames after being bombed, and spoke of the desolation of the Clydeside blitz. Desmond enjoyed his bachelor days longer than most, getting married at 37 years old to Betty Weir having met her at a Scripture Union conference in Alloa soon after she had relocated to Milngavie from London. They were married in September 1953 and were inseparable for 54 years until she passed away in 2008. He continued in Chemical Engineering in Glasgow until his retirement, working in the world of soaps and greases. He was inordinately proud of supplying the grease to the slipways of the great Glasgow shipbuilders including, lastly, the Queen Elizabeth II. His voluntary Christian Service – including many years running Crusader groups and camps for boys – was central to his life. He supported and worked with Scripture Union Scotland, latterly as their Chairman. Desmond tolerated getting old but did not dwell on it apart from latterly lamenting the fact that he could not understand why God had not taken him ‘home’ sooner to be reunited with Betty. He finally passed away in his sleep at the age of 97. He was hugely proud of being an Academical and saw his period at the school as central to his personal development and lifelong service to his fellow men and women. W G Desmond Wright

In 1933 Desmond went to the Royal College of Science and Technology (now part of Strathclyde University) in Glasgow to study chemistry. He then taught Chemistry there for two years until the Second World War started. He and his contemporaries were in the Officers’ Training Corps and spoke of weekly parades wearing their kilts and carrying rifles for interminable drill. Tragically, most of them never came back and this grieved him greatly as he had rubbed shoulders with them every day at the Academy. He was in a reserved occupation, setting up a sub-department of the Ministry of Supply in Glasgow researching new explosives. He combined this locally with volunteer ambulance driving for the Red Cross. He watched from Etcetera

Picture Post Dear Mark and Malcolm I was astounded to see in the latest edition of Etcetera, a photograph of me teaching a Prep 4 class in 1962-63. I had totally forgotten Cuisenaire rods, but I do remember they were quite an innovation. I know I enjoyed using them and the boys are obviously engrossed in what they are doing. Yes, I am the same Doris Johnston as the Doris Vaughan (née Johnston) who visited the Academy last summer at the age of 90!

The story in between these two times is that in 1983 I retired at the age of 60. I went over to America for a retirement trip and stayed with friends there. I was taken out and about a lot by Dr Robert C Vaughan, the minister of 2nd Presbyterian Virginia, who had done an exchange pastorate with my minister in Kilmacolm. His first wife who was with him then had died of cancer about five years earlier. To my amazement Bob Vaughan asked me to marry him, which I did and went to live in America. We lived happily ever after – at least for 28

years till I lost him in April 2012.

On the same page is a photograph of Harvest Camp and the caption ‘Mr Gilmore (Tom Thumb)’. John Gilmour (I think) taught us maths in class 2C. I believe he had returned to teaching to fill one of the staff vacancies during the war. We called him ‘The Wee Man’, never Tom Thumb, and we loved him to the extent that at the end of the year we bought him a pipe. I can still feel and see the moment: the wee man with tears filling his eyes and 13-year-olds knowing

they had brought joy to an old teacher’s day.

So that is my story. I am now living in a retirement community in Richmond, Virginia, where I have a lot of friends. I still play golf occasionally and score very badly but I still enjoy it. So a big thank you to Michael Warren for finding that photograph and writing about it. And the best to all my friends from Glasgow Academy, Doris Doris (Johnson) Vaughan (Former Staff)

Dear Malcolm Jimmy Murray (1950) evokes memories of GA in Etcetera 22 – Anecdotage – Winter 2013. Jimmy was my hero, captain of the school. He lived in Hyndland – as I did. On occasions, we would travel on the same No 10 tram to school and he might see fit to sit beside me and chat. As a lowly second former, I was flattered to receive this mark of favour from such an eminence. Ginger or not, I have never forgotten the kindliness of the captain of the school.

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I hope that these memories might be of interest for Etcetera which gives me great pleasure to read in this far way land. Yours sincerely Kerr Chatfield (1954)

Harvest Camp

have to say, however, with all due deference to George, that it is not as the phantom piper, nor as CCF band Pipe Major, nor indeed as a leader of Gurkhas that I remember George, but as King of Middle Study marble football. I will forever see him, with trusty six-inch ruler, playing the game on the middle study floor while at the same time supplying the sound effects of the crowd.

Dear Malcolm My most sincere thanks go to Sandy Strang for supplying the copy of the boarding house photograph that I was seeking. The list of names given with the picture was also a

Dear Malcolm I much enjoy reading Etcetera and congratulate you and the team involved in its creation and production. My wife and I receive quite a number of school/ FP magazines and we think that Etcetera comes out on top. In the Winter 2013 edition you asked if any of your readers could help to identify members of a rugby team photographed circa 1963. I happen to appear in that photograph and will have a go at supplying some of the

great help, and many memories and personalities have been recalled. The memories were enhanced with the inclusion, in the current issue of Etcetera, of the story of the ‘Phantom Piper of Chester.’ I remember the incident well. I

Again, my sincere thanks to Sandy, for the copy of the photograph, to George for the additional memories, and to you for making the ‘meeting’ possible. Kind regards Alistair C McLean (1957)

names! Nicknames seem to stick in the memory better than first names! Other readers will have done better than me but I hope that I have helped a bit. With best wishes David Welsh (1964) and Academy staff (1973-1978) [Ed. Thanks to Peter Salmond (1963) who identified most of the same names and whose memory for faces was almost as good as David’s.]

Back Row (l to r): Mr John Maxton, Windy Wintrup, .... Jeffrey, David Goodall, Ian Lang, .... Coulthard, Pete Salmond, Moray Anderson Front Row: David Welsh, Kenny Scott, Waddy Frame, Boogie Barclay, Ally Pretsell, W.A.G. Mackie, Jock Gaylor

Last comments on Tony Hatfield’s photo In Etcetera 22, Arthur Hill identified himself in the rugby photograph sent in by Tony Hatfield. Douglas Walker (1955) offers the following comment: ‘Arthur, you were right and your wife was wrong, It was not you, bottom right. It was definitely myself, Douglas Walker (full back). However, did you have in your family, a namesake, who was a Scottish International tennis player in the 1930s? If so, I would be pleased to hear from you, as my father, Percy Walker, was a contemporary of his.’ [Ed: Arthur, Douglas Walker can be contacted through the External Relations office.] Nick Rogers (1956) has informed us that he is the unidentified lad in the back row, second from the right.

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