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2007

Morrison’s Academy Crieff PH7 3AN

THE MORRISONIAN CLUB

01764 653885 www.morrisonsacademy.org

7 0 ’s D E C A D E R E U N I O N

FP: Co-ordinator: Tricia Halley THalley@morrisonsacademy.org

The Girls look back....

Standing in front of the main doors, sports photos of yesteryear flitted across the memory before stepping through the hallowed portals for the first time in 31 years. Hardly into the main corridor before meeting familiar faces to be followed by many more in the Memorial Hall. Everything possessed a curious familiarity, a kind of picking up where you left off feeling.

A posse formed and drifted from classroom to classroom everyone feeding off the others recollections of tales some long forgotten of teachers and classmates. The tour was temporarily suspended for Pimm’s and a warm greeting in the John Smith Building and a welcome opportunity to chat to those former members of staff – some politely straining their memories to breaking point - who had survived the intervening years. It was then onwards to Academy Hall for a pleasant lunch followed by further exploration: the old swimming baths looked and smelled just the same; looking out across Academy Park the almost palpable recall of commands of prefects to “keep off the banking” -one of many punishable sins – came to mind with a multitude of things remembered. The day passed in a welter of friendly reminiscence shared with many. It ended as it had begun as a glorious sunny day and despite the interregnum of so many years, pleasant memories and benign influences still remained.

School reunions are a bit difficult really. Is it best to leave all the memories, good and bad, consigned to the past? Who would be there? Difficult questions indeed. However my inherent sociable and nosey nature won through and off I trotted to the 70s Reunion one lovely sunny day last year.

Pimms and nibbles in the Staff Room were first up. I have to say, I was more than a little anxious heading in there but everyone was smiling and welcoming and chatting and laughing - quite a party atmosphere. This is quite painless I thought, in fact, enjoyable! Then David Glen, one of the school governors and also the Morrisonian Club President stood up on a chair to welcome us all.

Here we go, I thought, he is going to ask us for money for the School Foundation appeal. But no!

Great speech and we all set off to see round the school with a spring in our steps and the delighted thought that we are all welcome just because we are Morrisonians. It was a good feeling!

Seeing the school again was a bit weird it has to be said. The rooms were all in the same place but they seemed lighter and fresher somehow. Then over to Academy Hall for a lovely buffet lunch and the opportunity to sit down and have conversations with old classmates and other remembered faces.

There was a warm lively atmosphere, lots of laughing; it seemed to be enjoyed by everyone. After lunch, farewells were made to those who were not staying for the evening, e mail addresses and hugs exchanged.

It was such a nice afternoon some of us lounged on the grass outside the old boys’ school building.

Where did that view come from? I certainly didn’t remember seeing it before. Great food for the soul, which of course we probably all took for granted.

The evening turned out to be good fun too.

More Morrisonians arrived and after an impressive pig roast supper the bar opened and dancing to the disco in Memorial Hall was enthusiastically enjoyed.

What a pleasure it was to dip into the past for a day. The school looks great; it is obvious it is full of life and cared for. That’s a nice thought and I, for one, hope that continues long into the future.

Ian Crerar (Class of ‘75)

Anonymous (Class of ‘76)

The Boys look back....

DATES FOR DIARY Saturday 2 June 2007 50s Decade Reunion 19-21 June “My Fair Lady” Saturday 23 June 2007 AGM - 10.30am Art Exhibition Sport Day - Band leaves school for Dallerie at 1.15pm Sports start at 2.15pm Fund-raising Ceilidh - Academy Hall 7.30pm Sunday 24 June 2007 Tennis 11.00hrs Golf 12.00hrs Refreshments in refectory after the games Monday 25 June 2007 Cricket at 1.00pm Tea at Dallerie after the match Friday 29 June 2007 Speech day Saturday 14 June 2008 1960s Decade reunion -tbc Future events planned for Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Perthshire.

Remember to check the website!

20-40’S DECADE REUNION

The corridors and classrooms of Morrison’s Academy rang to the sound of reminiscences being shared and acquaintances being renewed on Friday 8 September 2006 as former pupils who had attended Morrison’s in the 1 9 2 0 s , 1930s and 1 9 4 0 s returned for a very special Afternoon Tea Reunion. Guests had travelled from all parts of the UK and from as far afield as Canada and inc l u d e d two former pupils who are now in their nineties!

Indeed the highlight of one gentleman’s day was to pay a visit to uncharted territory – his first visit ever to The Girls’ School!

S P O RT Once again the hockey season was blighted by bad weather with many matches cancelled. We look forward to the development of the Astroturf pitch at Dallerie as this will help to give more continuity for our fixtures as well as developing skill to a higher level. The 1st XI had strong leadership from Fiona Donaldson, and her fellow sixth year players helped provide the experience and drive which set the standard for the younger players to follow. Our notable successes were 5-0 wins against St. George’s and Loretto at the start of the season. These were followed by hard fought draws against Strathallan and the High School of Dundee.

This season the girls participated in the Midlands District Indoor Tournament with a greater sense of self belief after their exploits the previous season. The tournament was held at the High School of Dundee where 5 teams competed in a round robin competition. We managed to go through the tournament unbeaten with victories over Dundee Wanderers and the High School of Dundee. The pivotal game came against Strathallan. They had to win - we were in the more comfortable position of only requiring a draw to be champions. The game was played at a frenetic pace. Strathallan took an early lead, however our girls did not let their heads go down and Fiona Donaldson (Capt) drove the team forward and scored a magnificent equaliser. She gained possession of the ball inside her own half, drove into the circle and managed to hold off two defenders to calmly slot the ball past the goalkeeper. This season we had managed to go one step further and for the first time in sixteen years Morrison’s Academy were

Boys in Olympic Parc

U18 Midlands Indoor Champions.

Fiona Donaldson and Laura Halley were both selected to play for the U18 Midlands Indoor Team. Of the younger players Madeline Riddell was selected for the Midlands under 16 squad.

Much was expected from this season’s 1st XV and the group of boys involved delivered. A record of 16 wins and 3 defeats was a testimony to the hard work and effort they put in throughout the season. This was also allied to a sound tactical sense and a good general appreciation of the game.

The hard work and commitment was evident from the first pre – season training session in August when a large number of boys turned up wanting to be part of this team. They made this a memorable season.

Colin Rae ably led the team in a quiet and efficient manner and he put to good use his previous experience of playing in the backs before reinventing himself as a very efficient yet mobile prop forward. He along with the senior members of the squad helped create a tremendous team spirit throughout the group and this was evident in the way they worked for each other on the park. This remained throughout the season and was magnificent in their final performance at Dallerie against Hutchesons’ GS when the highly fancied Glasgow side hardly got into the game and were left to contemplate a 29 – 3 defeat that they never imagined happening. It was a shame that this team was not seen more often in action as nine games were cancelled for various reasons. Still they managed to score 128 tries – an average of over 6 a game.

The team had a good balance of players from across the years. The three players out of S4 Graeme Clow, Mark Marchbank and Adam Stone all adapted to the faster game quickly and made a major contribution – a fact recognised with their selection to the Caledonia under 16 squad. John Ramsay was the team’s top points scorer and controlled the game ably from standoff. Of the senior players Jason Hill was top try scorer from number 8 and had many displays when his power running was too much for the opposition. When school commitments permitted he also played for the Crieff RFC 1st XV and was selected for the Caledonia under 17 team.

The combined hockey and rugby tour to Barcelona in October was an undoubted highlight and certainly helped bond both sets of players. The

Rugby team at Sitges

contrasting surfaces the boys played on - astroturf, poor grass and sand were an experience in themselves. The complex at Sant Cugat with the magnificent clubhouse and astroturf pitch will remain long in the memory. Who could fail to play well there? The standard of the opposition varied but our boys’ displays won them many friends as they strove to play a fast and open game. The girls enjoyed their tour and again played in magnificent facilities including the stadium used for the 1992 Olympics. Both the boys and the girls were again very grateful to the Morrisonian club for their very generous donation towards the purchase of kit for this tour.

FP NEWS A s m a l l a m o u n t o f FP news - l o t s m o r e o n t h e w ebsite!

Emma Brankin 2006 Now studying for a B.A. in Drama at the University of Hull after graduating with an HNC in Acting and Performance from the Adam Smith College.

She is part of the University of Hull Netball team travelling to Spain this Easter for the University Games. She is also appearing in a show with the University Drama Club later this year at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Mohd Jamel 1993 Went to UMIST for B.Sc in Polymer Material Science. Worked for PETRONAS upon returning to Malaysia in 1998 as Polymer Technologist.

Joined The Dow Chemical Company in 2003 as Plastics Application Speacialist. Married December 2005. Expecting a son Sept 2006. Now with Sabic Europe based in Sittard, The Netherlands.

Kieran Barnard 2002 University of Aberdeen - Sociology.

After having trained as a safari guide I spent a year nature guiding in South Africa thereafter conducting private safaris throughout various reserves in Kenya including the Masai Mara. Currently working in Tanzania.

“Memories of a Boarder” Norman and Margaret Waddell (nee Dow) were both boarders during the 1930s and the early 1940s and we are grateful to them for sharing with us some of their memories from that period.

Norman : “In 1939 at the end of the summer holidays, we were all back in the House by the beginning of September. We all knew that war was imminent, so on the 3rd of September we were all in the Common Room listening too Prime Minister Chamberlain saying we were at war with Germany. That afternoon the bigger boys were told to report to Janitor Mavor (ex RSM Scots Guards) on the Knoll by the large mound which was about 50 yards down left of the Art Building. When we got there each of us was handed either a pick or shovel and told to dig slit trenches according to the layout already prepared by the janitor. We spent the whole afternoon digging trenches (3 feet wide by 5 feet deep) on the mound in the case we were bombed. Needless to say these trenches were never used.”

Margaret: “The School rules forbade us talking to the boys one to one even though the two schools were in same grounds.

However there were many ways of getting together especially if one had a brother at one or other of the boarding houses. The boys would stand under the big tree on the West Wall and talk to us as we passed by and brother and sisters would act as letter carriers. We got very good at meeting our special friends up the Knock or down Lady Mary’s Walk instead of going down town on Saturdays and sometimes at night the boys would sneak up the grassy slope to the basement windows and chat and kiss their particular girlfriend. It was all very exciting and dangerous.”

The 1954 Band Race With help from Bill and Margaret Kavanagh (nee Gibson) we have now been able to identify all the participants in this 1954 Band Race. They are from left to right – Brian Jamieson and Isobel Adamson (hidden) aka ”Cider”, Margaret Gibson and Stuart Jack aka ”Wis”, and Graham Murray and Marjory Grant. Margaret Gibson has also kindly sent us a recent photo.

Some Fun from the Archives

A FOND FAREWELL Jim Harley : 1980-2007

Bill Clark : 1985-2007

Doreen Hunter : 1978-2007

It has been a great privilege to have served the Morrison’s community for the last 27 years. When I started in April 1980 it was with the thought that I would be a Principal Teacher of History for five or six years and then move onwards and hopefully upwards. Clearly that did not happen and for that I have absolutely no regrets as I have enjoyed the various challenges that Morrison’s has put my way. Variety, they say, is the spice of life and the roles I have performed at Morrison’s have certainly been varied, Principal Teacher of History, Examinations Officer, Senior Principal Teacher, Assistant Rector, Head of the Senior School and finally Depute Rector. Some might consider the responsibilities of the last two as being onerous, however, I have considered them to have been a privilege. I now look forward to being able to holiday at times of the year which have never been possible before and to a concerted attack on my golf handicap!

After fifteen years teaching at Loudoun Academy in Ayrshire I came to Morrison’s in 1985 as assistant to Bill Hall in Academy House and to teach maths with Alan Wrench, the newly appointed Head of Department.

Outwith the classroom I became involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition section and was happy to see many of our pupils through to Gold, with long walks in the Cairngorms and the Laggan area an excellent alternative to teaching sums in the summer term.

My other main interest at that time was running the Boys Hockey X1, and for a number of years our team was strengthened by the superb skills of our Malaysian boarders.

Latterly I have established the John Muir Award for younger secondary pupils, and I have taken on the development of digital photography and encouraged successful entries to the national Focus competition. My abiding memories of Morrison’s will be the natural friendliness of the pupils and teaching and non-teaching staff, together with the superb outlook from our maths department windows.

It will be a sad day leaving Morrison’s.

I will miss the children coming into P1 and doing their trip round the whole school wide eyed and then leaving full of confidence in 6th Year. I enjoyed everyday I worked in the school as there was never a dull moment. However as one door closes another one opens and I shall think of the school from time to time as I go traveling doing all the things I never had enough time for and enjoying special times with my grandchildren.

OBITUARIES

Harry Beattie OBE On Wednesday 20 December 2006. Harry’s association with the school started when he enrolled his son Harry as a Boarder in 1959. At that time Mr Beattie was General Manager of the Assam Railways and Trading Co. On his retiral from overseas he took on the position of Housemaster of Glenearn House in September 1977, and his encouragement and advice helped many Morrisonians find the right career paths.

On his retiral from the Boarding House in 1985 Mr Beattie and his wife Retta continued to live in Crieff and took a very keen interest in the community serving on many committees.

Hubert William Strathairn On Sunday, 25 June 2006 After education at Morrison’s and Merchiston Castle School, Hubert received his Territorial Commission and served in Malaya until the country’s independence when he returned to the UK. He served as secretary to the Morri-

son’s Boarding House Association and was able to continue the tradition of service to the school set by his father and grandfather (the latter having been headmaster at the school).

Hubert was instrumental along with John Downie in researching the Roll of Honour for those Morrisonians who had served in the Second World War, and their names are recorded in the new Panels in Memorial Hall, which were dedicated on 11 November 2005.

Margaret Mary McColl (nee Comrie) on Sunday, 1 May 2005 Dr Ronald McNeil on Thursday, 25 May 2006 Allan Clark, on Friday, 28 July 2006 Christine Lunt (nee Stormonth) on Sunday, 13 August 2006 James Douglas on Thursday, 3 August 2006 William Milne on Thursday, 8 February 2007 Shena Dewar on Sunday, 22 April 2007 We appreciate that there will be others about whom we do not know and would ask that you notify us by contacting Tricia Halley at the School. THalley@morrisonsacademy. org

It is with sadness that the Morrisonian Club has received news of the following deaths.

Our thoughts and sympathies go to their families.

Mark Dickins On Friday, 21 July 2006, in tragic circumstances, Mark Christopher George Dickins, aged 42, Gerry and Sylvia’s much loved son, Simon’s brother and Christopher and Stephen’s father. Mark was a boarder at Glenearn House from 1978-1982 and was a godson of the late Alan Andrews.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions Perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.”

(Henry David Thoreau)

The end of term sees us bid farewell to some well-known faces who have given long and dedicated service to the School over many years. We wish them well in their retirement “careers.”