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OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTERNo. 62, August 2017Old Fettesian Association
Keep in Touch with The Old Fettesian Association
Email: OFA@fettes.com
Phone: +44 131 311 6741
Spending your school days at Fettes College is a memorable
experience. You know that learning, living and performing
together creates strong bonds and life-long friendships. Every
Old Fettesian (OF) is an important part of the community with
shared connections and experiences. You are always welcome to
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next year in May when new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
come into force. Do look out for future communications on this subject, as
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Old Fettesian Association
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 1
From the President 2
Message from the OF Office 3
Michael Spens – Headmaster Extraordinaire 4
Immense gratitude to Debbie Spens 7
A view from the Common Room 2017 9
Five minutes with Dr Jo Twist OBE (Ar 1986-1991) 10
Five minutes with Melissa Wilson (CE 2009-2011) 11
Focus on sport 12
Prize winners 2016/2017 16
Polar Academy – an exceptional Arctic expedition 17
Arniston at 50 18
Celebrating 60 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 19
Centenary of Lt. Donald Mackintosh
being awarded the Victoria Cross 21
Old Fettesians taking us into the skies 23
Fettes Career Partnership Programme 25
2016 leavers: where are they now? 27
The Iain Macleod Award report 29
Old Fettesian Sporting Societies Review 2016-17 32
Commemoration Weekend 2016 34
Regional engagement 38
Fettesian succession 40
OF events 41
OF news 45
Sadly departed 50
OFA Office Bearers 2017 56
The Fettesian Trust 56
CONTENTS
12 17 23
2 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Andrew Pickles (Ca 1962-1967)
I have managed to survive two years as
President of the OFA! A great deal has
happened.
Firstly, we welcome Henry Gray into
the role of Old Fettesian Co-ordinator.
Thanks again to Graham Sanderson
for all his help in keeping things going
in this period of change. Henry has not
travelled very far to be with us as he
was at the Edinburgh Academy until
2009. Yes, a young man but with plenty
of energy and enthusiasm. Henry and
I are now working closely together to
get as many OF events as possible into
the diary. Over and above that, we
have two main targets in producing the
Old Fettesian Newsletter and later the
annual Commemoration Weekend on
the 6th, 7th and 8th of October.
There are changes ahead for the
school with Michael Spens retiring after
19 years. We have been very fortunate
to have had Michael Spens and his
wife Debbie in charge for so long. The
school has prospered in a number of
ways. The facilities are excellent, sport
is still to the fore and academic results
are first class. This is all evidenced by
the fact Fettes College was selected as
the Public School of the Year in Tatler
Magazine. Yes, Fettes is a great school.
The teaching staff and all the others
involved in sport, catering, finance and
health have so much to be thanked for.
I carried the principle of being involved
in a team though my life and that was
thanks to Fettes. A team player is hard
to beat as ‘together everybody achieves
more’.
I retire now as President of the OFA
and hand over to Amanda Forsyth.
I am sure Amanda, being much younger
than me, will have more energy and
I look forward to her time in charge.
Thanks to you all for your support
during my time on the OF committee.
It was not quite as good as being at the
school but it has been great fun.
Floreas Fettesia (forever)
Amanda Forsyth (Ar 1982-1984)
I am very excited to be taking on
the Presidency of the Old Fettesian
Association at such a pivotal moment
in the School’s history. As well as seeing
the transition from Michael Spens’
hugely successful years as Headmaster
to the new horizons offered by Geoffrey
Stanford, we are now accelerating
towards the College’s 150th anniversary
year in 2020. Andrew Pickles’ energy
and enthusiasm in the past two years
has given us an enviable momentum
in goodwill among the OF community
for the work we are doing, and I offer
Andrew my heartfelt thanks for the time
and effort he has expended on behalf
of Old Fettesians worldwide.
My own time at Fettes was
characterised by a realisation of the
enormous breadth of opportunities
that were available to be grasped;
whether in the classroom, the music
rooms or the chapel; on the playing
fields or simply in the common room
with other Arnistonians, the panoply
of potential was breathtaking. The
OFA has done much to build on that
potential for all of us, and as we move
on to the next exciting chapter in the
school’s history, I believe there is yet
more that can be achieved.
Looking to the next few years, your
Committee will be working harder than
ever to help OFs capitalise on the links
they have made and the skills they
have acquired within the walls of this
beautiful place; to understand what it
means to be an Old Fettesian, and quite
what a jewel we have each been given
to treasure. Above all, we will be doing
our level best to help as many OFs as
possible have as much fun as they can!
Floreas Fettesia
FROM THE PRESIDENT
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 3
Mox abimus iuvenes, Redituri fors senes,
Tui tamen memores, Nobilis Fettesia.
Floreas, Fettesia!
The fifth verse of Floreas Fettesia
suggests that Fettesians leave Fettes
College too young, that there is still
more to do, more to see and certainly
more to learn within these walls, but
that they will hopefully return in the
future, holding fast to those most
precious and formative of memories
all the while. As wistfully bittersweet
as the verse may be, it speaks of a
feeling that is the very foundation of
The Old Fettesian Association (OFA)
and the success it has found in the 96
years since its inception. The centenary
looms not far in the distance, but not
as close as the 150th anniversary of the
College itself in 2020.
As gears turn ever faster in the run
up to this tremendous anniversary, we
remain conscious of the here-and-now.
The Summer Term past was the last for
the Spens, and both the Headmaster
and his wife Debbie attended a huge
number of OFA events both near and
far. A whole host of ‘Spens Years’ Old
Fettesians from their era attended
these, many for the very first time,
to express their gratitude and say
their goodbyes. I am sure readers will
concur when I say we look forward to
extending the Spens a warm welcome
at future OF events.
Despite the prerequisite reflection
that occurs during any departure, the
OFA must always look forward. We
look forward to welcoming Geoffrey
Stanford as Headmaster. We look
forward to witnessing the benefits of
increased connectivity, both social
and professional, between OFs and
current students. We look forward to
a Commemoration Weekend that also
celebrates 50 years since the inception
of Arniston House. However, it is not
just big, one-off occasions we have on
our minds. The OFA is as much about
helping a young fledgling find their
feet in the wider world as it is about
the gatherings of friends, old and new,
together, keeping that inimitable Fettes
bond tight and flourishing.
Within this Newsletter, you will find
the Commemoration Weekend booking
form. Certain to be one to remember,
places for events across the weekend of
October 6th went on sale online earlier
this year. Do let me know if you plan to
attend as soon as you can, as places are
limited.
In my short time working with OFs
thus far, I have met more incredible
alumni than I can reel off in one sitting.
I look forward to meeting countless
more of you in the coming months,
whether at future events or when you
pop in to the College to have another
stroll through Fettes’ hallowed halls.
Henry Gray
Old Fettesian Co-ordinator
Fettes College
EH4 1QX
Tel: 0131 311 6741
Email: OFA@fettes.com
www.facebook.com/fettescommunity
www.fettescommunity.com
MESSAGE FROM THE OF OFFICE By Henry Gray, OF Co-ordinator
4 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
It is difficult to fill Headmaster posts
these days – and no wonder. To be
Head of any school is a phenomenally
demanding task, requiring a daunting
range of skills, talents and knowledge;
to be Head of a top boarding school
like Fettes is a challenge that few would
even contemplate undertaking and
even fewer could turn into a resounding
success.
Malcolm Thyne, through fierce
determination and force of personality,
supported by dedicated governors and
staff, restored Fettes’ reputation and
academic standards; when he decided
to retire, the search was on for a leader
who could build upon his achievement
and make Fettes one of the leading
schools in the UK.
In 1998 we who worked at Fettes
watched in trepidation as the short
list candidates and their wives (sexist,
but the case) were shown around the
campus. One of these men would be
our new Headmaster, and our jobs and
the future of the College would hang
upon his ability. Enter Michael Spens, his
wife and young family. Nineteen years
later, the success of his tenure is evident
in every aspect of the College and
Fettes richly deserves its outstanding
reputation in the UK and abroad.
I must, before I begin to write
about Michael, pay tribute to Debbie
and their children. They contributed
greatly to Michael’s success, both by
their own individual academic, artistic,
sporting and personal achievements
and involvement in the life of Fettes,
but also by their acceptance of the fact
that he would give so much of himself
to Fettes.
Over ten years of working closely
with Michael, first as Assistant Head and
then seven years as his Deputy, I learned
a great deal from him – and watched at
close quarters as he shaped and led the
school. My eight years as a Governor of
Fettes only added to my appreciation of
his skills. The qualities and attributes of
leadership are myriad and often subtle:
I have chosen to write about what I
believe are some of the most important
elements of Michael’s success. I am
sure that others who have worked with
him will identify different strengths,
but I hope that they will recognise the
aspects of his leadership that I have
observed and valued.
The quality that overwhelmingly
comes to mind when I think of Michael
as a Headmaster is energy. Yes, he
has run marathons and led the way in
the annual School charity runs and is
known for being at Westwoods waiting
for the staff to open the building
at 6.30am, but I mean something
more important and impressive than
‘fitness’. Through long days and weeks
and terms, he managed to approach
each successive task with full focus,
attention and commitment. In my
office the phone would often ring at
7.20am or so, and he would briskly ask
if I could spare a moment to discuss
a problem or an idea. He was already
fully engaged – and would continue
to be – through Chapel, phone calls,
interviews of prospective parents and
pupils, meetings (endless meetings…),
teaching a class, watching matches,
holding a tricky disciplinary interview,
showing up to watch a bit of a play
rehearsal and generally being engaged
with every aspect of life on campus.
More often than not the ‘day’ extended
well into the evening, yet there he
would be, fresh and full of warmth and
enthusiasm as he greeted prefects, or
parents, or governors for pre-dinner
drinks or met guests at a play or
concert. Days at Fettes are full ones,
and weeks are every bit of seven days
long. I am sure that he DID flag on
occasion – but it very seldom showed.
Following naturally from this energy
and full engagement is his remarkable
knowledge of all of the members of the
Fettes community. Most of us wish that
we were better with names – Michael is
a master. But he not only knows every
pupil’s name, he knows far more – the
difficult time one has had adjusting
to his Senior House, the ambitions of
a talented sportswoman, the family
conflicts of another. This thorough
knowledge extends to staff, OFs,
parents past and present, Governors
and the wider educational world and is
hugely impressive and powerful.
Michael takes great interest and
pride in the achievements of all
Fettesians – and in the early days that
led to some complications. He rightly
sees the selection of Prefects as a
very important matter which justifies
a long and meticulous process of
Housemasters’ and Housemistress’
nominations, whole school voting and
careful interviews by himself and his
Deputy, which takes two full evenings.
The interviews are an opportunity to
‘take the pulse’ of the school. Questions
such as ‘If you could change one
important aspect of life at Fettes, what
would it be?’ and ‘What has been your
most disappointing experience at
Fettes?’ have elicited invaluable insights.
The quality of our pupils is impressive,
and it can make selection of a body
of Prefects difficult. In his first year
Michael chose 25 – out of a year group
of just over 100. It was a disaster – and a
mistake he didn’t repeat!
I have some reservations about the
term ‘vision’. Vision alone – identifying a
MICHAEL SPENS – HEADMASTER EXTRAORDINAIREBy Judy Campbell (Staff 1995-2007; Housemistress Arniston 1995-1998; Deputy Head 1999-2007)
The quality that overwhelmingly comes to
mind when I think of Michael as a Headmaster is energy
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 5
6 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
noble goal or aspiration – is a relatively
easy thing to have. But to work toward
that goal – to develop the idea, consult
and refine it and push forward to
achieve it in its best possible iteration
with the agreement and commitment of
those with whom you are working – that
is an admirable ability, an ability that
Michael has demonstrated again and
again. The creation of Westwoods, the
refurbishment of the boarding houses,
the introduction of IB, the building of
Craigleith House and the attendant
changes to the structure of the Houses,
the creation of a fourth girls’ House,
Dalmeny, the McMurray Pitch, and
finally the brilliant new Spens building –
along with other projects and proposed
projects – this is an amazing record
of achievement by the Governors,
Senior Management Team, staff and
supporters of the College – and of the
Headmaster. Each project has added to
the excellence of the education offered
by Fettes. Michael did not simply
have a vision for the school – he had a
determined, unrelenting commitment
to the evolving development of today’s
outstanding Fettes College.
Nineteen years of leadership of
any organisation will, inevitably, have
difficult times that demand resilience
and resolve. A community as large
and complex as ours will face conflict,
human error, malice and heartbreaking
loss. In times of trouble it takes comfort
from a strong sense of identity and
mutual support. Through many testing
times Michael, supported by Chaplains,
Housemasters and Housemistresses
and staff, has led the school in
responding to difficult times with grace,
positivity and hope.
Michael has many other qualities
of leadership of course: (often cheeky)
humour, commitment to hiring and
supporting the best possible staff,
and compassion to name but a few.
Fettes has been immensely fortunate to
have Michael Spens as its Headmaster.
He leaves as his legacy a superb school
that enjoys the fierce pride and loyalty
of Fettesians around the world.
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 7
IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO DEBBIE SPENS
In 1998 Debbie Spens came to Fettes
with three very young children. She
made Fettes their home and quickly
balanced family life and Fettes
commitments seamlessly, rapidly
becoming part of the soul of Fettes.
Debbie has made countless personal
contributions to life at Fettes over the
last 19 years. She is caring, insightful,
energetic, enthusiastic and she has the
gift of all gifts a natural intuition to know
what is right.
We asked several members of staff
from key areas of the College to show
their gratitude to Debbie on behalf
of all the Fettesians who have passed
through these doors over the last 19
years.
Contribution to Sport by Steve Bates
(Director of Sport 2011-2017)
It is very difficult to do full justice to
Debbie’s contribution to sport at Fettes
College in so few words, such has been
the energy, enthusiasm and expertise
she has brought to this essential aspect
of the school. The understanding of
how important sport is at all levels
to the well-being of the pupils has
underpinned Debbie’s involvement,
both as a coach and as an ever-present
spectator. A contribution that all pupils
hugely valued and appreciated.
In more specific terms, Debbie has
been the driving force behind netball
and enjoyed great success with the club
at all levels. The girls have loved the
opportunities to play competitively in
Scotland but have also had the privilege
of touring to other countries, a result of
Debbie’s determination to provide the
best possible experience for the teams.
Debbie has also made an outstanding
contribution to tennis and promoted
that with equal enthusiasm and spirit.
In a world where coaching has
become more and more sophisticated
and complex, Debbie has managed
to brilliantly
maintain a sense
of enjoyment and
fun in all of her
coaching. She
has the innate
and wonderful
ability to create
an environment
where the girls
have thrived and
created special
memories,
whilst caring
deeply about
each individual.
(Everyone also knows that she makes
great cakes!).
Contribution to Careers by Tony
Reeves (Staff 1983-2017)
Working with Debbie in Careers has
been a real inspiration. She has such
intuition regarding the age and stage of
pupils always making careers lessons
interesting and relevant.
Fettes College Careers Days were
hers pure and simple. She blended a
potent passionate conviction about
the real purpose, with the deep
understanding of the pupils and
parents that this day is for. She added
her unique perspective, the one that
comes from living here amongst the
pupils, showing a deep understanding
of their true lives in so many areas. She
added to this a rigour over detail that
went right through to the last departure
of the day.
Debbie has so many ideas fizzing
about that has meant each Careers Day
has been quite different.
All of this has then transferred to
a range of career events ‘Lifting the
Lid’ on key industry areas and the
inception of the brilliant Fettes Careers
Partnership programme, harnessing
the combined power of the Fettes
Community to support each other
in pursuit of careers. Lots of blue-sky
thinking, heaps of practical detail and
the readiness to host so many events
in The Lodge, along with travelling the
country and indeed the world to get
initiatives embedded. We have been so
lucky to have Debbie amongst us for
the last 19 years, it’s been a joy to work
with her.
Contribution to PSE (Personal and
Social Education) by Sue Bruce, Head
of PSE and Housemistress of College
West (Staff 2000-Present)
Debbie is a lady with many talents. She
has particularly shone in the field of PSE.
With her mindfulness skill set as well as
her ability to turn her hand to any topic
to be covered. She has been invaluable
to the PSE department. There have
been constant laughs as we have talked
about STI’s, Gaming, Porn, Drugs and
other hard hitting topics. She has such
a natural ease with our pupils to get the
debates and discussions flowing whilst
illuminating the key messages in each
session with appropriate sensitivity. She
is a much-loved teacher, colleague and
friend to us all with her warm, caring,
fun and ever positive personality.
8 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Contribution to Dalmeny House by the members
of the House and the Housemistress Dr Kate Fairbairn
(Staff 2006-Present)
In Dalmeny House all leavers are gifted a poem. What better
way for the House to say farewell to their wonderful tutor
and friend Mrs Spens. Each verse was written by the girls from
different year groups, starting with the Third Form. You can
see the impact that she has made.
Mrs Spens
Though we have only been here for some time
We want to thank you and make this rhyme
We appreciate your kindness more than words can say
The spaghetti dish you cooked us made our day
Your reputation will proceed in many more cakes
And we all think there’s nothing you can’t bake
We thank you for your acts of kindness which we will never forget
You’re one of the nicest people we have ever met
Mrs Spens, you have spared no expense on court
Netball and tennis are just two of your sports
Driving, pivoting, dodging fun
We will all miss your coaching a hell of a ton
Coaching the firsts will not be the same
Without all the passion you have every game
Seeing you play tennis on our way to lessons
Makes us surprised that’s not your profession
Long distance running and a dip in the sea
You have many sporting talents we all do agree
You and Mrs Bruce are quite a pair
When teaching the class how to make the world fair
You’ve helped us with stress and coping under pressure
And because of your mindfulness, our souls feel fresher
You educated us on contraception
Because of you we’ll never get a sexual infection
We will miss you dearly in all our lessons
So we’ll never forget your great PSE sessions
A Dalmeny poem is known for its tales
And whilst we’ve heard rumours, we’re not sure of details
But by us you’ll be remembered for all the funny things
Like Podge and Jackson chewing our swing ball strings
Perhaps one night that’s worth some discussion
Is the time you dealt with that memorable concussion
Evening chats when you checked each dorm
Often resulted in late nights being the norm
It’s come to the end of a great 19 years
You will leave us in sadness and probably tears
Fettes had been your home, and you’ve done a great job
But on Founder’s Day, Dalmeny will sob
You’ll be remembered for your laughter smiles and cheer
And therefore, you will always be missed here
A kind hearted and warm tutor you’ve been
To the girls in Dalmeny, you’ll always be seen
As approachable, chatty, bubbly and more
And that’s why when you leave, Dalmeny will be sore
You’re such a part of everyone’s life
Teacher, tutor, mum and wife
We wish you success and good luck next year
Fettes will miss you and all your good cheer.
On behalf of all Old Fettesians we would like to thank Debbie
for all that she has given to Fettes and all that she has made
possible. For the many who have had the opportunity to get
to know ‘Mrs S’ please join us in wishing her the very very best
for the future.
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 9
For a year in so many ways momentous
in the recent history of the school, it
has been a curiously gentle one in the
Common Room with perhaps less
upheaval and significant change than
in any of the last four or five we can
remember. There’s been no major
new building to adapt to, no massive
exodus from classrooms or embracing
of radical new pastoral or academic
initiatives. The school has never seemed
to stand still in all my years of working
in it yet it has been an occasion to look
about us, to conclude that The Tatler
must indeed know what it’s on about,
to consolidate what we do best, to
tweak what we could improve and
to take the chance to reflect on the
legacy of Michael and Debbie Spens
as their nineteen year tenure running
the College draws to its conclusion.
Judy Campbell has in the preceding
pages been so eloquent on many of
that couple’s impact on the life of the
school and the year will be marked by
a good many glowing eulogies but the
view from the Common Room might be
a subtly different thing. The occasion
shouldn’t pass without our marking our
gratitude and appreciation for what
they have done for Fettes during their
time here.
Debbie has, of course, been a
tremendous colleague and ally in the
Common Room. Sending her own
children through the school has given
her a unique perspective on what we
offer and what we ought to offer: one
of her most notable characteristics
has been her readiness to see a job
that needs doing, to train herself up
and to get on with delivering it. It was
there in her willingness to help with the
running of careers, in her championing
of netball as a girls’ sport worth
developing, in her involvement in the
radical growth of PSE provision over the
last two years in the College. She has
a no-nonsense attitude which doesn’t
admit impediments and which always
has at its heart the needs of the pupils,
to so many of whom she has become
so attached over the years, the aspect
of the job she will perhaps miss most in
the future.
The Headmaster as a boss has been
an ever-driving force which has taken
Fettes to the pre-eminent position
its reputation now enjoys nationally.
A glance at this article over the last
few years reminds one that things are
always changing and moving on at
Fettes, change he has driven boldly and
innovatively from the year of his arrival.
Several key decisions have shaped the
College’s future but they needed a bit of
guts to contemplate: the jettisoning of
Highers in favour of the more testing IB;
the building of a sports centre shared
and significantly financed by private
membership; indeed, improving the
fabric of facilities which had remained
largely unaltered for decades; the
needed increase in pupil numbers
being ingeniously achieved by the
building of Craigleith, requiring a major
philosophical shift in the way we think
about provision for our most senior
pupils; and a large number of initiatives
which place the pursuit of academic
excellence at the heart of what the
School offers. The Headmaster’s
restlessness and desire to innovate
has ensured we have never stood still.
He has always expected the highest
standards from his staff yet has been a
sensitive and understanding boss when
that has been required. Occasionally
one hears from colleagues in other
schools of the paralysing effects of
indecisiveness at the top, a charge
which could never be levelled here!
To borrow a phrase of the moment,
Fettes has indeed been fortunate to
have enjoyed so many years of strong
and stable leadership and gratitude for
it will be felt long after the Spens have
left The Lodge. Old Fettesians who go
back further than the Spens may also be
interested to hear that our long-serving
one-man History of Art department
and the Common Room’s go-to cultural
and intellectual touchstone, Ralph
Hughes, also hits retirement after 32
years’ service. Much will be changed
in the College by this time next year
but we nonetheless now look with
excitement and anticipation to the next
chapter in the history of this unique and
remarkable workplace. Floreas Fettesia.
A VIEW FROM THE COMMON ROOM 2017By Rob Harrison, President of the Common Room (Staff 1991-Present)
The Headmaster as a boss has been an ever-driving
force which has taken Fettes to the pre-eminent position
its reputation now enjoys nationally
10 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Dr Jo Twist OBE (Ar 1986-1991) has
been CEO of Ukie (UK Interactive
Entertainment) since 2012. Previously
she was Channel 4’s Commissioning
Editor for Education, where she
commissioned Digital Emmy-winning
Battlefront II, free to play browser and
iOS games, and social media projects.
She is a London Tech Ambassador, a
VP of Special Effect, and am on various
boards and advisory groups, including
the BAFTA Games Committee.
In January you collected your OBE,
announced initially last year during The
Queen's birthday honours list. Do tell us
about how it felt receiving this prestigious
award.
At first, I thought it was the tax office
sending me some sort of letter. Then
I thought this must be a joke. After I had
re-read it several times, I was obviously
absolutely honoured. I did wonder
“why me?” but I very quickly decided
that if others thought I deserved this
I should respect their opinion, and of
course, accept. At school, I won prizes,
so I had been used to getting medals
for those achievements, not for what is
my job – my life. I still have my school
medals proudly displayed in my living
room. They are a constant reminder of
the opportunities I was given at Fettes
and how fortunate I am to have had
that privilege.
Your career has gone from strength
to strength. You started in journalism
for the BBC, and are now CEO of UK
Interactive Entertainment. What do you
think has been the key to your success?
I have been very lucky to be in the
right place, at the right time, with the
right measure of curiosity and need to
question everything throughout my
journey so far. My need to question and
sometimes challenge things came from
my time at Fettes. I was known as "that
feminist" because
I called for equal
treatment in all
aspects of Fettes
life – for boys
and girls. All I
was doing was
stating facts and
offering reasoned
arguments. The
key is to keep
questioning,
practice
resilience, learn
perseverance
(playing games
makes you good at that), keep learning
about people, have a strong sense of
empathy, and always have integrity.
The global games market is expected
to continue its growth, and the UK in
particular is an exciting market, having
produced some incredible successes
in recent years. Where do you see the
future of interactive entertainment going,
and does the UK have a part to play in
this progression?
The games industry is faster growing
globally than any other media.
Edinburgh is home to what is still the
fastest selling entertainment product
of all time. Grand Theft Auto V still tops
the charts four years later and has sold
over 80m units worldwide since release.
VR, AR, and eSports (competitive
gaming) are huge areas globally and in
the UK we have a massive strength. I, in
fact, see Nick Ferguson (Ki 1989-1995)
regularly as he is doing great things in
the games industry too!
Speaking of progression, or more
accurately the lack thereof, did the likes
of ‘Gamergate’ in 2014 cast a shadow
over any part of your work at UKIE? It
seemed to reveal a real dark underbelly
to a portion of the consumers of games,
exposing fundamental issues some
gamers had with women's presence and
voice in the industry.
The best reaction to what happened
to certain high profile women in
the industry during Gamergate is to
continue to encourage more women
and diverse creators into the industry,
and celebrate the different kinds of
games that diversity produces. Games
are a grown up medium, and part of
that means allowing people to be self-
reflexive about our art, and Gamergate
hasn't stopped brilliant women
excelling and making fantastic content
because of a small angry group.
You were Head of Arniston house whilst
at Fettes – what memories do you have of
your time there?
I remember finding the secret
passageway behind the prep room
lockers. It was like stepping into a bit of
history. It was a closely guarded secret,
covered in scrawls from past pupils.
FIVE MINUTES WITH DR JO TWIST OBE (Ar 1986-1991)By Henry Gray, Old Fettesian Co-ordinator
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 11
After leaving Fettes, Melissa Wilson
(CE 2009-2011) recently achieved
a First Class degree in English from
Cambridge. Whilst there, she took her
interest in rowing far, rowing as part of
the Blue squad in the historic 2015 boat
race, racing on the same course as the
men for the first time. With accolades
aplenty to her name, Melissa has an eye
firmly on Team GB at the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics.
Earlier this year you broke records and
gave Cambridge its first win in five years
(and only its second in ten) as part of the
Cambridge crew in the Women’s race
at The Cancer Research UK Boat Races –
how did that feel?
It was a very vivid experience, but also
quite surreal. I had been in the losing
crew for three of the previous four
years, and to be able to look at our cox
and feel my teammates behind me as
we raced the course to win was the
most amazing feeling.
You attained a First Class in English from
Cambridge. You must have found the sweet
spot in the university work/sports training
balance – how hard was this for you?
The years of my English degree
definitely involved a lot of learning
about balance. I remember after my
first Boat Race, sitting with my coach
and explaining that I thought
I wanted to stop rowing and return to
focusing on my degree (which, most
of the time, I loved!). However, he
was great at encouraging me to keep
going with both, saying that it offered
some perspective to have two things
that you’re committed to rather than
one. In sport, work or life there are
always going to be tough times – bad
supervisions, disappointing racing
performances and other challenges
– having several things I care about
means that it's more likely that a part
of my life will be going well enough
in those tough times to pull the rest
through with it!
You’ve said in the past you didn’t feel
particularly sporty whilst at school –
were you rowing before you arrived at
Cambridge? If not, what gave you the
impetus to start?
Sport was the area of Fettes life that I
clicked with least – which, in hindsight,
I really regret! Having said that, the
Fettes charity runs had a big impact
on me. I remember the Prefect team
decided to run the half marathon (I
will have been the most reluctant
member of that decision!), and I trained
with two lanky friends for a couple of
months beforehand. I’m pretty sure my
Housemistress was faster than me (!)
but I loved it, and continued running
through exam term. I still have such
clear memories of seeing the sunrises
over the sports fields, or getting up
round Arthur’s Seat at dusk. That
meant I had some base fitness when
I started at university after the summer,
and rowing was always something I’d
wanted to have a go at.
Were there lessons that you learned from
your time at Fettes that helped you get
where you are today?
I loved school for encouraging me to
stay busy – my memories of Fettes
are of days that started with a quick
breakfast and choir rehearsals, then
ran through until 10pm or so with more
rehearsals, debates, talks, drawing and
other bits and pieces thrown in. That
definitely helped me in balancing my
degree and the rowing. I was also so
fortunate with the teachers I had –
I can’t imagine having found another
half-dozen individuals who had so
much insight and gave so much
encouragement. That had a lasting
impact on me through my degree,
increasing my confidence so that in the
tougher times I had faith it would work
out.
What is the next step for you?
The day my exams finish I’ll be heading
through to Reading to train with the GB
Team. The World Championships are
in Florida this year, and actually only
end the day before my lectures start
in October, so it will be a long sunny
summer of training and racing. Then
I have a year left of being based in
Cambridge to finish my law degree.
FIVE MINUTES WITH MELISSA WILSON (CE 2009-2011)By Henry Gray, Old Fettesian Co-ordinator
12 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
We approached a number of Old
Fettesians who work in sport and asked
them to tell us a little about their career.
Flora Stewart (Inv, Ar 2000-2010),
Athlete in the British Sailing Team
I am an athlete in the British Sailing
Team. I became a full time member of
the team after I graduated from the
University of Bath four years ago with a
BSc(Hons) in Sports Performance. I sail
in a double-handed dinghy, the 470.
I work everyday with my sailing
partner to move towards our goal of
representing Great Britain at the Tokyo
2020 Olympic Games. As part of the
British Sailing Team we have an excellent
support team that we work closely with,
from race training, tactics, meteorology,
psychology and physiotherapy to help
overcome injuries.
The thing I love most about my job
is that I get to do what I love everyday.
You can’t really ask for more than that.
I get to push myself to the physical and
mental limits. I get to travel the world
seeing some amazing places. This
year (normally the quiet year after the
Olympics) I will spend just under 200
days training and competing abroad.
Working in elite sport is amazing as
everyone is pushing the limits and it’s an
environment I thrive off.
My ten years at Fettes has set
me up very well to succeed in elite
sport. I learnt important skills of
communication, time management
and also being focused and driven to
achieve success. After I worked out how
to balance missing Saturday school
with sailing every weekend, University
seemed significantly easier.
My advice for people who want
to work in Sport is “Just Do It”.
Unfortunately I am not sponsored by
Nike, but I believe they have a fantastic
motto. In Sport and in life if you want
something, just go get it. It’s a tough
environment working in sport where
expectations are high but it is also very
fulfilling.
An Olympic Campaign is very
expensive and we are always looking
for support. I would be delighted
to hear from anyone considering
corporate or personal sponsorship
fj.stewart@icloud.com.
Melvin Byres (Inv, Gl 1997-2004),
Director, MSB Concepts
In October 2016, after six years in the
industry I took a leap to setup my own
sports event consultancy. My main
client is the Volvo Ocean Race who
have tasked my business with running
the Hong Kong Stopover, the round the
world yacht race coming to Hong Kong
in January 2018. The other main projects
I have at the moment include various
services for my former employer the
Hong Kong Rugby Union in relation to
the Hong Kong Sevens and the Hong
Kong Rugby Union Strategic Plan.
On the side, I founded the Business
Of Sport Network, a networking club
for those working in the sport industry
in Asia, with 1000+ members across
branches in Singapore and Hong Kong
with other cities to follow.
The great thing about working
in the sports industry is working in a
field where everyone involved is so
passionate about what they’re doing,
from the athletes to the spectators, and
the 1000s of people working behind the
scenes. Being involved in making the
events happen and tens of thousands
FOCUS ON SPORT
Flora Stewart Melvin Byres
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 13
of people enjoying themselves is very
rewarding; it’s good to know you’re
doing something people care about.
Most of the soft skills I use in my daily
work were honed at Fettes. Everything
from sales to problem solving and
communication to leadership were all
skills which were honed at Fettes, both
in and outside the classroom doing
things like playing sport and the Duke of
Edinburgh Award.
The key thing is to get some
experience in the industry, even if it’s
not doing exactly what you want to be
doing long-term. The skillsets you learn
and connections you make have the
potential to be great stepping stones for
making the leap into your dream job at
some stage; if you make the most of the
opportunity. Remember that most large
sports events need a lot of extra helpers
during the event itself; that route can
be a great way into getting involved in
the industry; my years of volunteering
at the Hong Kong Sevens (which started
out when I was in Upper Sixth at Fettes)
no doubt contributed to me getting a
senior job there years later.
Colin Mayo (JS,Gl 1983-1991),
Founder and Owner Bramble Ski
As well as playing most sports at
Fettes, I started skiing while I was there
and often joined the Sunday trips to
Glenshee, with many wet and windy
days to remember! After leaving school
I quickly developed a passion for this
over and above any other sports, so
after a short career in engineering and
with a desire to live in the mountains
and have my own business, I started
Bramble Ski with a couple of university
friends. We are a luxury chalet company
providing a bespoke service which
includes private ski instructors as a core
part of the chalet team so that there is a
heavy emphasis on the skiing, as well as
the food and the property.
We have based ourselves from
Verbier, Switzerland, and now operate
close to 100 properties across five
resorts in three countries. We live year
round in the mountains and are able
to enjoy their incredible diversity and
opportunity!
To find out more about Bramble Ski
visit brambleski.com
Jake Wightman (Gl 2008-20012),
Athlete
I’m a professional athlete competing
over 1500m. I’ve competed at the
Commonwealth Games and European
Championships, and I have just won a
Diamond League race in Oslo (the first
European man to do so).
My sport allows me to travel around
the world competing and training,
which enables me to see many places
I wouldn’t have had a chance to
otherwise.
I got a great start in athletics
at Fettes due to the opportunities
provided by the P.E. department, and
the care they put into my development.
If you would like to work in Sport,
my advice would be to be patient as it
won’t always go to plan. In the end all
the hard work will be rewarded.
Chris Giffin (Inv, Mo 2002-2010),
Account Manager at CSM Sport and
Entertainment
I am currently an Account Manager at
CSM Sport and Entertainment, a global
sports agency, working predominantly
on HSBC’s sponsorship of the Hong
Jake Wightman Chris Giffin
14 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Kong Sevens and Hong Kong National
Rugby teams. My role is focused
largely around brand activation and
consultancy within this space alongside
new business support for the wider
CSM team.
The ability to travel the world and
work on some of the world’s greatest
sporting events has offered some
unforgettable experiences whilst
exposing me to new and exciting
challenges. I have also been extremely
fortunate to meet and work alongside a
number of the very best names in sport
which always keeps the job interesting.
The world of sport is very much
about relationship building and
remaining astute to new opportunities
or ideas within such a fast paced
industry. The interpersonal skills that
I developed during my time at Fettes
have undoubtedly helped in this regard
during the early stages of my career.
My advice to those wanting to
work in the Sports industry is that
persistence is key. The sports industry is
relatively small when compared to the
likes of finance or other global lines of
business and therefore opportunities
can often seem few and far between
when seeking employment for the first
time. Prospective employers within the
industry want to see more than just a
passion for sport but hard evidence of
exactly why you are the perfect fit for
a given role. Think about how you can
mark yourself out as different and
use this as your number one selling
point.
George Biagi (Gl 1999-2004),
professional Rugby player in Italy
Since 2013 I have played for the
Guinness Pro12 side Zebre who are
based in Parma, in the north west of
Italy. For the past two seasons I have
been captain in the European Challenge
and Champions Cup. In 2014 I won my
first Cap for Italy and so far have gone
on to collect 19 honours.
Like every pro athlete we are
incredibly fortunate, although just for a
shot spell, to do a job we love. Probably
the best aspects for me are: that you get
to travel the world, have lots of family
time and great changing room banter!
Although adhering to the rules
whilst at Fettes may have seemed liked
a burden at the time, (you can ask Mr
Spens about it…), it has been something
that both on and off the rugby field
has been fundamental. If you ask any
athlete, work ethos and self-discipline
are the keys to success. These days
talent alone isn’t enough.
If there is one thing Fettes teaches
you, it is to balance sport and study.
I have completed a bachelor’s degree
in international economics and
management and I am looking to start
an MBA in the next year. Unfortunately
you can’t play rugby for ever, so I am
getting ready for the transition into the
business world.
In our call for news for the Old Fettesian
Newsletter we asked for your sporting
memories. Here are a selection of
recollections.
Sports-Related Memories
Rory Macleod (Mo 1978-1983)
Sports Day holds a particularly fond
place in my memories of Fettes. On the
same occasion in 1983, as Captain of
Athletics, I was in a quandary. Heavy
rain had flooded the track, which is
where the new houses (Fettes Village)
now stand. Being Head of School
as well, gave me the opportunity to
mobilise everybody to assemble at the
track with welly boots in hand, in order
to bale it out – which we did and Sports
Day proceeded, albeit without the
weather for picnicking!
Richard Clark (Ki 1989-1994)
I am steadfastly re-immersing myself
into the Scottish Athletics track & field
scene and I was amused to see a chap
running last night wearing his Fettes
singlet. Obviously they look a lot more
modern these days than they did in
mine but there was no mistaking the
insignia.
Running from lane 6, George
Conner thrashed the opposition in his
race to win by 3.38s and would never
have seen another runner due to the
stagger. I ran in the next race also in lane
6. My time was 9.36 seconds slower
than my PB set in 1994 of 52.64s but
I will take it. I chatted briefly to George
afterwards and I imagine he was
surprised to meet another Fettesian at
the Open meeting in Livingston.
I actually bump into OFs and
teachers all the time and live in
Comely Bank but this would be the
last place I would expect to meet
anyone connected to Fettes. Having
discovered he is in Glencorse (I was in
Kimmerghame) George mentioned he
is hoping to break the school record
which in my day was held by Simon
Castle with 51.3s set in 1992. I am sure
it’s probably moved on massively since
those days but he’s clearly well on his
way to running fast times this summer
(Editor’s note – the Simon Castle
record from 1992 still stands at 51.3s,
however with George Conner winning
the Scottish Schools 400m with a PB of
49.4s, the record may well be broken at
Sports Day on 30th June 2017)
George Biagi
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 15
Ian Weatherhead (Gl 1946-1950)
In response to your recent call for
memories of sporting achievements,
I am prompted to send you a ‘tongue-
in-cheek’ athletics record of 1950.
While at Fettes I became obsessed
with the ‘pole vault’. It was an unknown
event for Fettes at that time, and I must
have persuaded the powers-that-be
to provide a pole or two. I remember
spending many happy hours down
the track and sometimes up and over
the bar at what seemed like dizzy
heights! I was blissfully unaware that it
was essential to be both sprinter and
gymnast to be in any way a successful
pole vaulter. Come sports day the
event, for some unknown reason was
included and I walked off with the first
cup awarded and the school record at
the enormous height of 8' – 10½".
Alastair Reid (Mo 1970-1975)
I learnt how to play hockey whilst at
Fettes (and later played in the 100th
anniversary game of Scottish hockey
played on grass at Fettes, complete with
long shorts and original sticks). I still
play hockey once a week and so clearly
was well set up at Fettes! My best friend,
Tom Davidson (Mo 1970-1975), who
sadly died very young, was a record
holder at 1500m. The Sports Day trophy
still bears his name for this distance.
Sinclair Robertson (Gl 1978-1986)
Sinclair sent us two videos of Sports
Day in 1986. One of him breaking the
High Jump record at 1.93m and a second
of the general ambience of the day
taken by his sister. To see them, search
‘Sinclair Robertson’ on YouTube.
Fettes College Sporting Representatives.
Back Row: Harry S Paterson, Ben M
Macleod, Jack Paterson, David C Hood,
George G Conner; Middle Row: Catherine
R Edwards, Brodie H Nicol, Ralph D
Weissen, Samuel P R Pooley, Samuel
Weissen, Robert A Edwards; Front Row:
Catriona L V Sutton, Rosie L Usher, Meg E
Harley, Alice M Younger, Cora A Simmons,
Abigail M C Wallace, M Elena Cariaga.
Our current pupils are performing well
at District and National levels.
Hockey
− Sam Weissen – Scotland and East
U18 Hockey
− Ralph Weissen – Scotland and East
U16 Hockey, Edinburgh Regional U16
Rugby Academy
− Brodie Nichol – East U14 Hockey
Rugby
− Ralph Weissen – Edinburgh
Regional U16 Rugby Academy
− Harry Paterson – Edinburgh
Regional U16 Rugby Academy,
Scotland U16 and U17 Squad
− Ian Stewart – Edinburgh Regional
U18 Rugby Academy
− Ralph Weissen – Edinburgh
Regional U16 Rugby Academy
− Jack Paterson – Edinburgh Regional
U20 Rugby Academy; Scotland U19
− The 1st XV won the Blue Conference
and replicated last season’s
achievement of an unbeaten run of
conference matches.
− The 1st XV reached the Plate
Final at the Rugby School’s 450th
Anniversary Tournament.
Touch Rugby
− Lydia Larkin and Katherine Allan
– Girls U18 Touch Rugby Scotland
Team.
− Amaya Larkin – Mixed U15 Touch
Rugby Scotland Team.
Cricket
− Catherine Edwards – Girls U17
Scotland Cricket
Athletics
− George Conner Scottish Schools
Athletics Championships 2017,
400m winner.
Lacrosse
− Alice Younger, Elena Cariaga,
Rosie Usher, Catriona Sutton,
Cora Simmons, Meg Harley and
Abigail Wallace were all selected to
represent Scotland at the U19 Home
Internationals held in Cardiff. Alice
Younger was selected as Captain of
the U19A Scotland Lacrosse Team
and Rosie Usher was selected
as Captain of the U19B Scotland
Lacrosse Team.
− The 1st XII won the Scottish Schools
Tournament and reached Division 1
down at Nationals.
− The 2nd XII won the Ryden Rose
Bowl Tournament.
Fives
− The 1st IV won the cup in the
Edinburgh Schools Singles
competition.
− The Colts IV won the Edinburgh
Schools Plate.
− Archie McCreath and Grant
Sperling became Scottish Schools
Champions.
− Archie McCreath won the
Scottish Schools Open Singles
Championships
− The Scottish Schools
Championships Evan Li and Jamie
Clark won the Plate Final
− The U16 Fives girls won the National
Schools Girls’ Fives Championship,
winning the U16 Doubles Plate and
the Bronze Medal.
16 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
PRIZE WINNERS 2016/2017
At time of print, the following recipients of prizes donated by
OFs were known:
General A John G D de Chastelain (CW 1950-1955) and
David D Russell (CW 1950-1955)
Class 1 Senior Piping
Torquil Le Roy-Lewis (Gl)
Edwin J G Doubleday (Mo 1992-1994)
Best turned out Band member
Matthew McKenzie (Ca)
M Hugo C Fraser (Mo 1962-1967)
Outstanding contributions to the life of the school
Lorcan Archibald (Ki)
Erin Bibb (Ar)
Thomasina Bowyer-Bower (CW)
Douglas Bruce-Watt (Gl)
Calluinn Cooke (Ca)
Sophie Cullis (CE)
Honor Halford-MacLeod (CE)
Sally Hughes (Ar)
Torquil Le Roy-Lewis (Gl)
Adam Lofthouse-Hill (Gl)
Angus Scott (Mo)
Benedict Thom (Mo)
The Rt Hon Iain Macleod (Mo 1927-1932)
Award for interesting and unusual projects
Oliver Watson (Ca)
The Rt Hon Iain Macleod (Mo 1927-1932)
Debating competition
Sophie Cullis (CE)
Luci Dennewill (Ar)
Andrew V M Murray OBE (Staff 1981-2003)
Class 3 Junior Piping
George Maxwell (PS)
George Preston (Sh, CW 1944-1950) (Staff 1955-1991)
Senior OF Science Award
Artur Makhnach (Ca)
Alastair Sharp (Gl 1957-1963)
Rugby – Fettes vs Loretto
Fettes
Malcolm T Thyne (Staff 1988-1998)
Inter-House Drumming
Moredun
Inter-House Piping
Moredun
The Evan Weir (SH 1939-1944) OF Citizenship Prizes
Citizenship Prizes for worthy Fifth Formers, who contribute
unselfishly to the Fettes Community
Christopher Jamieson (Ki)
Lucinda Worlledge (CW)
Torquil Le Roy-Lewis (Gl)
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 17
POLAR ACADEMY – AN EXCEPTIONAL ARCTIC EXPEDITION
Pupils from Fettes College and from
Broughton High School (via the FetLor
Youth Club) were invited to come
forward for selection to participate in
a ten-day Arctic expedition where their
physical and mental capabilities and the
very core of their character would be
tested to the limit. The Polar Academy
students were chosen over a gruelling
two day selection weekend where they
were put through their paces on the
Pentland Hills, submerged in the pool
and challenged on the climbing wall.
To finish off the long days they were
all asked to present to a classroom
filled with instructors and previous
Polar Academy students. A further six
pupils from both schools who were
selected to join The Polar Academy
Leadership Programme benefitting from
much of the same training and skills
development as the expedition team,
but did not go on the Arctic Expedition.
The Fettes pupils from the
expedition team include several with
OF parents, Harry Letts (Ca) son of the
late Charles Letts (Ki 1978-1983); Max
Roberts (PS, Gl) son of Nick Roberts
(Ar 1974-79); Lara Welch (PS, CW) son
of Jeremy Welch (SH 1974-1979).
Once the fitness training began
all students met on a weekly basis to
rapidly increase their endurance and
core strength. In October the team
participated in a training weekend
in the Cairngorms while in January a
fundraising event was held, an unofficial
world record attempt to haul tyres,
simulating the expedition experience of
sled pulling.
Twenty male and female pupils,
all aged between 14-17, took turns over
eight hours to haul a 15kg tyre around
a one-mile course within the Fettes
grounds. While the pupils’ mental
and physical strength was tested by
continuous tyre hauling, members of
the public were invited to actively test
their own fitness. Two of the challenges
on offer included helping to ‘haul’ a two
tonne Isuzu Yukon truck.
The Leadership team had their
chance to demonstrate their endurance
in February as they took on Aviemore
and everything it could throw at them,
battling snow and ice, receiving expert
tuition on winter mountaineering and
arctic survival methods. Three weeks
before the expedition departed, the
expedition team had the daunting
task of pulling tyres along St. Andrews
beach for seven hours, giving them as
realistic an experience as possible of the
duration of sledge pulling to come.
We are immensely proud of the
selected team completing such
rigorous training over ten months with
the support of their teachers, parents
and a handpicked team of experts
providing them with the mental and
physical fitness of elite athletes.
At the end of March the expedition
team were finally immersed in the
wilds of Greenland, each hauling
their 45kg sledge for 100km. Over ten
days, teamwork and resilience were
paramount as they cooked and camped
on the sea ice, met members of the
Inuit community, navigated through
some of the world’s most remote
terrain and marvelled at the Northern
Lights. Their confidence soared with
every step.
Each pupil has returned to Scotland
ready to speak to thousands of fellow
school pupils about their personal
challenges and experiences. The
fulfilment of their personal pledges
to become the living breathing proof
that ordinary individuals can achieve
the extraordinary, they are seeking to
inspire their peer groups, urging them
to overcome feelings of insecurity, self-
doubt and anxiety in pursuit of their
own dreams.
Fettes College Pupils: Harry Letts, James Mackman, Max Roberts, Iona Wardner and Lara Welch
18 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
To misquote (as most do) 1989’s Field of
Dreams, “Build it and they will come”.
2017 marks the 50th anniversary of
Arniston House, opened by Sir Knox
Cunningham (Mo 1922-1928) in 1967.
One imagines it was a response to
growing numbers of pupils, though
some might say it was an attempt of
sorts to encourage more pupils to join
Fettes, showing through this thoroughly
modern (at the time) building that the
College was looking towards the future.
The imposing block seen in the early
pictures seems far removed from the
impression one gets of Arniston these
days, strolling through the grounds,
under shady trees, now adjacent to the
Prep School’s charming William House.
Founded, of course, as a boys’
house, with W. E. K Anderson (Staff
1959-1970) as Housemaster, Arniston
later closed for boys in 1981 before
being re-opened in 1982 for girls with
Jean Weekes (Staff 1979-1994) as
Housemistress.
Being the first dedicated girls’
boarding house gives Arniston a
particular place in history, never, of
course, to discount the importance
of those 1967 Founder Members
and the fourteen years of their
male predecessors. Arniston gave
Fettesian girls a chance to develop
the same sense of camaraderie and
companionship the Fettesian boys
had always experienced, due to their
boarding experience, and put Fettes
on the path to the fully co-educational
school we see today.
Celebrations in honour of Arniston’s
50th anniversary begin in earnest at
Commemoration Weekend, with Old
Arnistonians and former staff being
invited back to House for a tea party
on Saturday 7th October at 2.30pm-
4.30pm. Commemoration Weekend,
while always open to all Old Fettesians,
is at its core, about anniversaries.
However, we must never forget the
importance of the Houses in which Old
Fettesians grew up. Aspects will morph,
the faces will change and the boarders
(perhaps mercifully) no longer need to
queue to use the phones (not in the age
of Skype and FaceTime!). Nevertheless,
Fettes College boarding houses will
always feel familiar to those who spent
those most formative of times within it.
If you have memories of your time
in Arniston, or of Old Arnistonians,
and you would like to share them
with us ahead of the celebrations at
Commemoration Weekend, please
email OFA@fettes.com.
ARNISTON AT 50
Clockwise from top left: Arniston immediately following
construction in 1967; Arniston in the sun in 2016; The Founding
Members of Arniston in 1967
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 19
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARDBased on an interview with Dr Peter Coshan (Staff 1972-2005) with additional content from the Fettes College Archives
In 1957 Fettes College and Gordonstoun
were invited to be the first Independent
Schools in Scotland to try out the Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE),
which was then in the experimental
stage.
Nearly 100 boys applied to take part
at Fettes, but there were not enough
staff to cope with this demand so five
lucky participants were chosen from
each House.
Since then, thanks to a dedicated
team of Fettes staff more than 1200
Fettesians have received DofE Awards.
It would be remiss to write about
DofE at Fettes without mentioning Dr
Peter Coshan who ran the scheme with
such enthusiasm for 33 tremendous
years. Although Fettes pioneered the
DofE Award in its early days, when Dr
Coshan arrived in 1972 the scheme was
hanging on by a thread. He worked
hard to recruit boys (initially) from each
House and soon the number of pupils
involved in DofE increased.
Dr Coshan recalls many firsts,
including an early enthusiast, George
McDonald (Gl 1969-1974), who insisted
on walking in his kilt and the first ever
girl participating in DofE. This presented
him with the challenge of making the
necessary sleeping arrangements
during a freezing February expedition.
He recalls that poor Sarah Law (Ca
1971-1973) had to sleep in the minibus
as opposed to joining the boys in a tent.
She must have been very cold indeed!
Many other staff members have
contributed to the success of DofE over
the years at Fettes. It is with immense
gratitude that we must thank all who
took on the responsibility, as well as
those who ran the scheme, many
others were, and still are, involved in
expedition training, support, form filling
and assessments.
All DofE Awards require those taking
part to complete four activities, namely
Expeditions; Service; Skills and Physical
Recreation. In addition, the Gold Award
requires participants to undertake a
Residential Project.
Whether through the excitement of
the great outdoors, the experience of
camping, the sheer physical exertion
of carrying equipment and supplies
or the camaraderie, expeditions in
particular live long in the memories of
participants. In the early days, Fettes
expeditions involved walking in the
local Pentland Hills. They later moved
to Perthshire (Callendar to Killin) and
for the Gold expedition along to Loch
Rannoch. The challenges for the Master
in Charge was the remoteness and
need to monitor pupil checkpoints.
Dr Coshan recalled a time when the
minibus broke down at the end of an
expedition near Loch Rannoch delaying
the return to school by some while.
It is quite unthinkable these days that
one Master would be in charge of so
many pupils in a remote location and
that the only way to get word back to
school was by stopping at a variety of
phone boxes on route home to ask
Housemasters to spread word of the
delay. Nowadays there would be more
than one member of staff travelling with
these intrepid explorers and any delays
would be emailed back to Houses
straight away, with Tweets re progress
as well no doubt.
In the 1980s, with help from Tony
Reeves (Staff 1983-2017), expeditions
moved to the Lake District, where
access was better but the terrain none
the less gruelling. Today expeditions
take place across Scotland from
Balquhidder to north of the Great Glen
and from Cairngorm to Mull.
Expeditions began on foot in 1957,
but Fettes, leading the way in DofE,
soon expanded expedition possibilities
with Revd The Hon. George Buchanan-
Smith (Staff 1960-1981) permitting
some pupils, who were suitably trained
in advance, to make their expedition
on horseback. This must have been
quite an adventure! In Dr Coshan’s time
expeditions evolved to include canoes,
bikes and kayaks, all of which are still
possible today.
These days, it is difficult to imagine
using the equipment early DofE
participants had to use. There were
certainly no lightweight tents, Gore-Tex
jackets or comfortably fitted hiking
boots. They used open ‘Manpack’
carriers and had to bungee everything
on to them and their tents were either
a bivvy or had exceedingly heavy steel
poles.
Through the generosity of the Fettes
Thrift Shop, funds have been provided
over the years to enhance the DofE
equipment stores. Most recently, they
have facilitated the purchase of Vango
Equinox Tents, not only revolutionising
the weight of DofE expedition packs,
but also the speed of setting up camp
and general weatherproofing.
DofE is certainly character building.
The skills and experience gained from
DofE remain with those who take part
for life. From First-Aid, to cooking, to
route planning along with contributing
to society through charity or outside
service commitments, plus a long term
physical activity goal really do set you
up for life. The memories created as a
Fettes pupil are those to treasure. The
experience of DofE is certainly one of
those.
Today expeditions take place across Scotland from
Balquhidder to north of the Great Glen and from
Cairngorm to Mull
20 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Masters in charge of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
− Lt Col Sir Donald AG Bannerman (Staff 1952-1959)
Master in Charge of DofE when it began in 1957
− The Revd The Hon George A Buchanan-Smith
(Staff 1960-1981)
− Dr Peter Coshan (Staff 1972-2005)
− Colin Duncan (Staff 2001-2008)
− Brian Snedden (Staff 2009-2016)
− Iain Loudon (Staff 2005-Present)
Alastair Salvesen (Mo 1954-1960) recalls with some pride
being one of the first to achieve DofE Gold in 1959: “Fettes
and Gordonston were the ‘Trial’ schools to prove that the
proposed concept of The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme,
which was about to to be launched nationally would provide
the necessary challenge to enable young people to develop
the skills considered necessary. I was lucky to be one of these
guinea pigs!
“On my Bronze award camp we carried our one-man
tents, found dry wood and individually lit a campfire to cook
our dinner and breakfast. I learnt First Aid, started a stamp
collection and was challenged in athletics. The invitation to
attend the Awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace with my
mother in November 1959 along with two fellow Fettesians,
Grant W Matthew (Mo 55-60) and Iain RF Brown (Ca 56-60),
was memorable and The Duke of Edinburgh presented each
of us with our awards.”
Clockwise from top right: Dr Coshan and The Duke of Edinburgh;
Twenty years ago (1997); Sixty years ago (1957); Ten years ago
(2007)
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 21
Commemorative paving stones are
being laid throughout the UK under
a Government initiative in the birth
place of the 628 winners of the Victoria
Cross in the First World War. Two of
these were OFs: Lieutenant Donald
Mackintosh, 2nd Battalion, The
Seaforth Highlanders (Mo 1911-1914)
and Lieutenant Colonel William
Anderson (Mo 1895-1900), who
commanded 12th Battalion Highland
Light infantry.
Eleventh of April this year marked
the centenary of Donald Mackintosh’s
death at the age 21 on the third day of
the Battle of Arras and a paving stone
was laid on that day beside the War
Memorial of Glasgow Academy which
he attended for a few years before
moving to Fettes. In 2018 Lieutenant
Colonel Anderson’s act of bravery
will be similarly commemorated. His
school career also started at Glasgow
Academy and continued at Fettes. Both
men were born in Glasgow.
The Battle of Arras started on
the 9th of April and British units had
advanced from the South some four
and a half miles into the village of
Roeux, five miles East of Arras. The
attack, however, had foundered largely
because the ground was too soft to
allow adequate supporting artillery
to be brought forward. In what was a
rash and pointless move to improve
the situation, the 2nd Seaforths were
ordered to attack the village from the
West at noon on 11th April. Roeux was
strongly defended and the ground over
which the battalion was to advance
was without cover so that the German
machine gunners had it in their open
sights. The attack was a complete
failure but there was no lack of gallantry
and the Seaforths lost 12 officers and
363 other ranks. The average daily
casualty rate during the 39 days of
the battle was 4076, greater than the
daily rate suffered at the Battle of the
Somme.
The citation of the award of the
Victoria Cross which was awarded
posthumously to Donald Mackintosh
reads:
“For most conspicuous bravery
and resolution in the face of intense
machine gun fire. During the initial
advance he was shot through the right
leg, but though crippled he continued
to lead his men and captured the
trench. In the captured trench he
collected the men of another Company
who had lost their leader and drove
back a counter attack. He was again
wounded, and although unable to
stand he continued nevertheless to
control the situation. With only fifteen
men left he ordered his men to be
ready to advance to their final objective,
and with great difficulty got out of the
trench and encouraged his men to
advance. He was again wounded and
fell. The gallantry and devotion to duty
of this officer were beyond all praise.”
The 1917 Fettesian also carried a
lengthy newspaper interview with
Mackintosh’s sergeant:
“Without exception, Lt. Mackintosh
was the bravest officer who ever led his
men into action. Had it not been for his
bravery and self-sacrifice under great
difficulty we would have been wiped
out completely that day. As soon as we
went over it began to rain shells, and
as for machine-gun bullets, there were
enough flying around to give every
man of us a round dozen and still leave
plenty for the next-comers. We had
just got into our stride when the Lt.,
who now commanded the company,
was hit. He went down, and the men
hesitated. He shouted from where he
lay, ‘Never mind, Seaforths; keep it up.’
Then he got to his feet, and though
he was in great pain he persisted in
hobbling towards the position we had
to take. He led us straight at the enemy
parapet, and, with the assistance of two
privates, he got into the trench. The
enemy were forced back, but returned
to the attack later, driving before
them a company of ours which had
lost its officers and was out of hand.
The Lieutenant took it in hand, and
under his leadership the men got back
their confidence, repelling repeatedly
enemy counter-attacks, and gradually
making the position as secure as it
could be. Then Lt. Mackintosh was hit
again, and he lay unconscious for a
few minutes. The men dragged him
to safety, and, propped up against a
dug-out, he continued to direct the
operations. Soon he saw that if the
line was to be held it was necessary to
seize the part of the trench still held by
the enemy. Limping painfully, he made
his way out of that part of the trench
and led a file of the unwounded men
against the post it was necessary to
rush. It was the strangest sight you ever
saw. A doubly-wounded man, with the
CENTENARY OF LT. DONALD MACKINTOSH BEING AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSSContributions from Mackintosh’s nephew Donald Blair and David McDowell (Staff 2005-Present)
Lt. Mackintosh as a Seaforth Officer
22 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
nervous twitching of his face telling the
agony he was enduring, toiling painfully
along and encouraging his men as he
went. The little band kept on their way,
and rushed the position, from which
they drove out about ten times their
own number of the enemy. It was in the
moment of success that Lt. Mackintosh
fell. He tried to get up again and go with
the men into the trench from which
they had driven the enemy, but he was
then too weak from loss of blood to
do so. We could see he was in great
pain. He would not hear of any of us
assisting him until he saw the position
was safe, and whenever we suggested
aiding him he ordered us away. When
our troops were again in possession of
the whole ground, without fear of the
enemy getting it back, the Lieutenant
consented to be moved.
He was one of the bravest. The men
would have followed him anywhere
at any time. He was always thinking of
the men, and did all he could to make
things easy for them. He was not the
sort to risk our lives unnecessarily, and
he never spared himself.”
A portrait of Donald Mackintosh
painted posthumously was presented
to the school by his family in 1957. It
now hangs on the first floor landing
of the College building. A copy of the
portrait is shown with this article. There
is no documentary proof that when
the eminent sculptor Birnie Rhind
created the school war memorial,
depicting a officer of a kilted regiment
waving his men on to the attack, he
had any individual in mind, but school
myth insists that the young man
immortalised in bronze is indeed a
representation of this particular hero,
and the pupils often refer to him as
Mackintosh.
Eleventh of April this year marked the centenary of
Donald Mackintosh’s death at the age 21
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 23
OLD FETTESIANS TAKING US INTO THE SKIES
One hundred years ago one of the duo
of Barnwell Brothers who made such
significant global advances in flight
and aviation sadly died whilst testing a
Vickers FB26 Vampire night fighter in 1917.
These airborne Fettesians were
Frank (Ca 1894-1898) and Harold (Ca
1893-1897) Barnwell, who had built
Scotland’s first aeroplane. They started
with a glider in 1905, making their first
aeroplane in 1908. Followed quickly
in 1909 by building one which could
fly, making the first powered flight in
Scottish airspace. In January 1911 they
flew their monoplane for over a mile,
the longest flight of any Scottish aircraft
at the time.
Frank Barnwell’s book, Aeroplane
Design, published in 1916, was one of the
most influential works on the subject
ever written. He became Chief Designer
at the British Colonial Aeroplane
Company. He was the creator of a host
of aircraft, including the Bristol Scout
and the Bristol F2BB, the famous ‘Brisfit’
which took part in the first RAF offensive
as an independent air force. Very sadly
Frank was killed testing an aircraft in
1938, in Bristol.
Harold Barnwell worked for Vickers,
where he designed on his own initiative
the Barnwell Bullet, a fighter which was
developed into the Vickers FB19. Harold
sadly crashed a Vickers FB26 Vampire
night fighter at Joyce Green in 1917, one
hundred years ago, whilst testing its
handling in a spin.
We were keen to find out about
other Old Fettesians who have been
compelled to take to the skies and
were delighted to receive the following
contributions in response to our call for
aviation news.
Karl Stark (Inv, Gl 1996 – 2004) British
Airways Boeing 747-400 First Officer
Like most pilots, I always knew what I
wanted to do from as far back as I can
remember: fly. I took full advantage
of the air experience flights at Fettes
under the encouragement of Wing
Commander Andrew Murray, my
then-history teacher and head of the
school’s CCF. Working after university
as a Business Executive for a food
company, I decided that my future was
not in selling frozen pizzas, and enrolled
at a self-sponsored integrated flying
college in England. After qualifying
and a year of global job hunting, I
found myself flying the Boeing 737 in
Jakarta, Indonesia for Lion Air. A year
and a half later, I managed to find a
job in the Middle East for a slightly
safer charter airline in Jordan, flying the
military around Iraq and deportees
around Europe. Moving ever closer
to the UK, I transferred soon after to
a German charter company in Berlin,
and then onto Jet2.com in Edinburgh
where I spent nearly five years. Finally,
I was hired by British Airways, where I
currently fly the 400 tonne, four engine
Boeing 747. I feel incredibly privileged
to be where I am today, and can’t wait
until I realise my next goal of space
flight. My housemaster was certainly
correct when he said I had my “head in
the clouds”.
Captain Donald Macdonald
(CW 1955-1999)
I was selected for a short service
commission in the Royal Navy Fleet
Air Arm when I left Fettes at the end
of 1959. I did my flying Training at RAF
Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire and my
Helicopter Training at the Royal Naval
Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.
I flew Wessex HAS Mk. 1 Anti
submarine Helicopters with 815
Squadron which was one of the first to
carry out night anti-submarine sorties,
Karl Stark Hamish Ross
24 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
which entailed hovering over the sea at
night at 30 feet above the water. This
in the early days produced some very
exciting moments.
After five years I was sent to RAF
Ternhill to become an Instructor, and
spent the next three years as an A2
Basic Helicopter Instructor, this meant
teaching students from scratch up to
wings standard.
After leaving the Navy I spent over
40 years in Civil Aviation flying all over
the world including Iran, Nigeria, USA
and the UK North Sea. In total amassing
over 16 thousand flying hours on over
twenty different types of Helicopter.
I was also a qualified Instrument
rating Examiner for the UK CAA. I
finished my career teaching Instrument
Flying in a Simulator and finally was
forced into retirement at the age of 75!
Hamish Ross (Ca 1977-1981)
I was introduced to flying while in
Carrington. The CCF RAF section
promised all kinds of delights that
interested a boy who flew to the Far
East every holiday, in the days when
there was no in-flight entertainment but
you could go and look at all the dials
and the better view from the windows
in the cockpit.
Days out at Turnhouse waiting for
the weather to be good enough for
air experience flights – aerobatics if
you were lucky – then a gliding course
culminating in my first solo at Arbroath.
These set me on an uncharted path
with many unexpected turns. Flying
to all corners of the Earth, living and
working in France, Switzerland and
Dubai before ending up back in the
UK with my own company, Lupus Air
Services, training pilots on private jets.
If you’d asked me back in the seventies
I don’t think I could have imagined it!
David WA Macdonald (Gl 1947-1950)
I enjoyed the experience of being part
of the aviation section during my time
at Fettes. Dick Stoker (Staff 1946-1955)
was in charge and he convinced me
that I should do my national service in
the Royal Air Force.
In the RAF I was stationed in the
Canal Zone at Ismailia working in air
traffic control. The British were in
charge of air traffic for the eastern
Mediterranean from Malta to the Gulf
and from Cyprus to Khartoum. It was
a responsible job for a teenager but of
course I had acquired radio and map
reading skills at Fettes and I had learnt
a lot about aircraft during World War
Two. I was then posted to El Adem near
Tobruk in Libya. I was off duty when
Princess Elizabeth arrived enroute
to Tree Tops in Kenya, she returned
a few days later as Queen Elizabeth.
I managed to take some photos of
her arrival, which was a very special
moment.
Frank Evans (CE 1954-1959)
I was in the RAF Section of the CCF and
I remember that we obtained a jet
engine (Nene?), from a De Havilland
Vampire I believe. We studied it quite
closely and learned how it worked,
and there was talk of sectioning it. In
retrospect, it was little over 10 years
after WW2 and the engine must have
been one of the first jet engines to fly.
Other than that I remember going to
RAF Debden for my first annual camp.
We had to get up at 6am every day
except Sunday, but the hour went on so
we lost that too. We also went to camp
at Cranfield, where we did aerobatics in
a Chipmunk and they flew us down to
RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and back.
Adrian Jenkins (CW 1951-1954)
I was in the RAF Section at Fettes in 1954,
after moving to Canada I joined the
RCAF in May 1960, and served until Sept
1964 as a commissioned pilot. After the
RCAF I moved to USA and served as a
Captain with Northwest Orient Airlines
from April 1965 until retirement in April
1998.
Colin Cunninghame-Graham
(SH 1974-1977)
Nine years ago I gained my Private Pilot’s
License. I live in Florida and try and fly
about once a month. The discipline
taught to me at Fettes that has helped
me throughout my life continues to do
so in the continual ongoing training and
safety considerations of being a pilot.
Andrew V Murray OBE
(Staff 1981-2014)
This page would not be complete
without mention of Andrew V Murray
OBE (Staff 1981-2014). Many of you will
remember the talented history teacher,
you will also remember the additional
role that he took such pride in, as Wing
Commander in the Combined Cadet
Force (CCF). When Andrew retired from
teaching in 2003, he had spent 36 years
in the CCF, 22 of them whilst teaching at
Fettes making him one of the longest-
serving RAF volunteers in the country.
Andrew made a very significant
contribution to provide Fettesians with
the opportunity to experience and
enjoy flying through their participation
in the RAF Section. He was treated
to a fly-past by a Tornado from RAF
Lossiemouth upon his retirement from
the CCF in 2003.
With sincere thanks to Andrew V
Murray (Staff 1981-2014) for his
thorough research into the Barnwell
brothers for his article in the Fettesian
(2004) and to David McDowell (Staff
2005-Present) for his article on their
contribution to flight for the Old
Fettesian Newsletter 2014.
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 25
The Fettes Career Partnership
Programme has a very simple purpose,
to connect the Fettes Community in
pursuit of careers.
The provision of professional
support ranges from career advice
to internship access, with higher
education support ranging from an
Old Fettesian undergraduate chat to a
campus tour.
Our professional networking
events are proving popular with more
than 300 attendees over the year. The
event format is informal, usually over
breakfast before work, but not always.
We have no formal speakers and have
a soft start and end time to suit diary
pressures. This really does enable us to
focus on the networking. We are very
grateful to our recent hosts in London –
Maclay Murray & Spens LLP; Shepherd &
Wedderburn LLP and Quilter Cheviot. In
Edinburgh we have been hosted by HBJ
Gateley and by Skyscanner and in April
2017 we were thrilled to go global with
an event kindly hosted by Minter Ellison
in Hong Kong.
If you would like to host a Fettes
Community professional networking
event please do get in touch.
Professional networking is not just
for OFs, we run events back at Fettes
for Fifth and Sixth Form pupils to ‘Lift
the Lid’ on career areas. We are hugely
grateful to the many OFs who have
supported this initiative, coming back
to Fettes for an hour. We run seven of
these events over the academic year
taking place after tea and before Prep.
Pupils read speaker bios in advance
and then sign up to attend to hear
professionals from a particular sector
speak for just two minutes each. Pupils
then chat and network with these
professionals enabling them to ask their
own questions and further their own
career discovery.
LinkedIn is a natural home for the
professional Fettes network. We now
have a Fettes College page, which we
will use to promote the Fettes Career
Partnership and push out career related
messages to the Fettes Community.
Do please follow us the next time you
are on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/
school/16194443. We have over 2,700
OFs who have Fettes College listed
on LinkedIn within their education. To
optimise the alumni functionality on
our page – please take a moment to
amend your education by selecting
Fettes College from the pick list instead
of typing it in (and if you are a former
member of staff please select Fettes
College as your employer). Once you
have done this you will be able to see
the advantages afforded to you, being
able to see OFs at particular firms
you are doing business with or OFs in
particular companies that you would
like to do business with, or even work
for. We look forward to being able to
increase the everyday spontaneous
professional connectivity across
the Fettes Community through
LinkedIn.
If you would like to find out more
about the Fettes Career Partnership
Programme please do get in touch by
emailing fettes.community@fettes.com
We are very grateful to the many
OFs, Current Parents and Past Parents
who support the Fettes Career
Partnership Programme. The list below
shows the OFs who have helped us over
the year, in order of attendance:
Jezneen Belleza (Ar, Da 2009-2014)
Biomedical Sciences student with
Honours in Neuroscience (graduating
University of Edinburgh 2017)
Arthur Berkeley David Cole
(Gl 1997-2002) Horticulturalist,
Head Gardner at Colesbourne Park,
Gloucestershire
Andrew Soulsby (JS-Ar 1973-
1980) Program Manager, Keysight
Technologies. BSc Engineering
Charlie Boisseau (Gl 2001-2002)
Chief Technology Officer, Commsworld
FETTES CAREER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME
26 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Ross Turner (Gl 2004-2009)
PureMalt Products Ltd
Eline van den Haak (Da 2012-
2014) bachelor student of Industrial
Engineering and Management
Sciences in the Netherlands. She is
also the CEO and founder of a startup
company, Haak innovations BV. Haak
Innovations BV is currently realizing
their first product Soil optimizer for the
agricultural industry.
Nick Rogers (Gl 2011-2013),
Chemical and Process Engineering,
University of Strathclyde
Dr Julie Hardie (Ar 1993-1997) MA
Hons C Psychol, Clinical Psychologist
Barbara Graham (Gl 1975-1977),
Health Economist
Tatiana Spens (PS, CW 2003-2013),
BSc Undergraduate, Adult Nursing
Sophie Scott (PS, CW 2003-2013),
BSc Undergraduate, Child Nursing,
Dundee University
Charlotte Robson (CE 1995-
1998), Advanced Nurse Practitioner-
Cardiothoracic surgery
Alex Torrens (Ca 2000-2006),
Investment Manager and Co-Head of
Research at Walter Scott & Partners Ltd.
Dale MacLennan (Gl 1986-1990),
Investment Director, Global Investment
Specialists, Equity
Emily Collister (PS, Ar 2003-2010),
Analyst, Lloyd’s Banking Group
Harry Maitland (Ca 2000-2005),
Associate Director, Savills Country
House Department
Ele Robertson (CW 2009-2014),
Buyer Care Manager, Savills
Sunny Jain (Ki 2008-2012), Oxford
Education Group
Ed Stack (Mo 1994-1999), Founder
at tech start up SuperRational –
superational.com; co-founder and
creative director DECAGRAM.
Alexander Holt (Ki 1991-1996),
Head of Digital Communities
(Digital Directorate) at The Scottish
Government, currently running this
project: civtech.atlassian.net
Melanie Auld (nee Reid)(JS, CW
1985-1992), Founder and Owner of
Spice Pots (Indian cooking business)
Henry Philip (Inv, Mo 1999-2006),
Global Ambassador The Naked Grouse;
Founder of Henri James, Swimwear and
the beer and whisky blog Barrell & Butt.
Colin Gilchrist (Ki 80-84), Director,
Social Tailor
Alex Parsons (Ki 86-91),
International Political Strategy
Consultant
Rory Fyffe (Inv, Mo 1997-2003),
Technical Manager at RADA Studios
Mungo Strachan (Ki 2003-2008),
Senior Associate at Lascaux Partners
Rt Hon Lord Harry Woolf (CW
1946-1951)
Rupert Hammond Chambers (JS,
Gl 1979 – 1986), President US-Taiwan
Business Council and Managing Director
Bower Group Asia
Scott Perry (Ki 2008-2010),
Solicitor, Banking and Finance –
Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP
Victoria Stevenson (Ar 2001-2006),
Investment Manager, Quilter Cheviot
Sophie Gorman (Ar 2005-2007),
Head of PR & Communications at
Quilter Cheviot.
With special thanks to The Revd
Professor Norman Drummond,
CBE (Staff 1982-1984) and to Sir Bill
Gammell (Mo, Ar 1966-1970) for their
exceedingly insightful and relevant
sessions at Fettes College Careers Day
in February.
The Revd Professor Norman
Drummond, CBE (Staff 1982-1984),
utilised his life experience to engage
the Fettes College pupils at the very
start of Careers Day. With tales from
the gangland areas of Glasgow and
Edinburgh when Norman Drummond
was as a young Minister, he went on
to the Parachute Regiment and the
Black Watch, then to Fettes College
as Chaplain and then on to Loretto to
become Headmaster at the early age
of 32. Norman’s life has represented a
personal commitment to leadership
and developing talent in others,
which he drew upon when he spoke.
The Fettes College pupils were very
fortunate to have Norman engage their
minds on to ‘careers’ at the start of
Careers Day.
Sir Bill Gammell (Mo, Ar 1966-1970)
is passionate about developing people
and instilling a positive winning attitude
in both business and sport. Utilising
35 years in the oil and gas industry;
playing Rugby for Scotland (1977-1980)
and being Chairman of the Winning
Scotland Foundation and Chairman
of Genius Gluten Free, he provided an
impactful close to Careers Day. Fettes
pupils were left in no doubt that they
needed to think differently and to learn
through trial and error.
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 27
George Angell (PS, Ki 2010-2016) – Swansea University, Mechanical
Engineering with a Foundation Year
Alexandra Angus (PS, CE 2009-2016) – University of Aberdeen,
Geography
Maria Asta (Ar 2014-2016) – The University of Nottingham, French and
Politics
Emma Axon (CE 2014-2016) – Queen Margaret University Edinburgh,
Nursing 2017
Aisuluu Bakchieva (CW 2014-2016) – Oxford University, Biochemistry
(Molecular and Cellular)
Charlotte Becker (PS, CE 2009-2016) – RWTH Aachen in Germany,
Mechanical Engineering
Jessica Bennet (CE 2012-2016) – Oxford Brookes University, Business
Management/Film Studies
Katrine Bennie (PS, Ar 2006-2016) – Liverpool John Moores University,
Drama
Angus Bolton (PS, Gl 2008-2016) – Durham University, Accounting
and Finance
Sacha Bushby (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – University of Exeter, Sociology and
Criminology
Thomas Campbell (PS, Ki 2010-2016) – University of St Andrews,
History
Tiffany Chan (Da 2012-2016) – University of Bristol, Law
Miranda Clamp (PS, CE 2010-2016) – University of the Arts London,
Design Management
Abigail Clark (CW, Da 2011-2016) – Oxford Brookes University,
International Hospitality Management
Tom Clark (Ki 2012-2016) – University of York or Edinburgh Napier
University, Politics, International Relations, Social Sciences
Lucy Cogley (Ar 2012-2016) – University of Exeter, Law
Sophie Cooper (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – University College London,
Medical Sciences & Engineering
Caroline Crichton (PS, Ar 2008-2016) – University of Aberdeen,
Geography
Rachel D’Amours (Ar 2014-2016) – Newcastle University, Chemical
Engineering
Rory Darling (PS, Ca 2010-2016) – Durham University, Business &
Management
Matteo Davoli (Gl 2014-2016) – University of Rome, Engineering
Douglas Dawson (PS, Gl 2006-2016) – Oxford School of Drama
William Dirkin (Gl 2012-2016) – The University of York, Music
Technology Systems with a Foundation Year
Olga Ermolina (PS, Ar 2008-2016) – Durham University, Psychology
(Applied)
Anton Falco (Ca 2011-2016) – University College London, Information
Management for Business
Leander Gale (PS, CW 2007-2016) – Plymouth University, Hospitality
Management
Cameron Galloway (PS, Gl 2010-2016) – University of St Andrews,
History
Caroline Getley (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – Cardiff University, Modern
History and Politics (Integrated)
Eleanor Goodenough (PS, CW 2005-2016) – University of Sheffield,
English Literature
Lucinda Gray (CE 2011-2016) – Durham University, History
Fergus Haig (Gl 2011-2016) – Durham University, Business &
Management
Hector Halford-MacLeod (Ca 2011-2016) – Durham University, Music
Colleen Halliday (Ar 2011-2016) – University of Aberdeen,
Accountancy and Finance
Johnny Harley (PS, Mo 2010-2016) – Newcastle University, Accounting
and Finance
Maisie Harley (PS, Ar 2010-2016) – Durham University, Criminology
Emily Harley (CW 2011-2016) – Sheffield Hallam University, Real Estate
Rory Heppenstall (Ca 2014-2016) – Durham University, Law
Emily Heseltine (CW 2011-2016) – Durham University, Anthropology
Erika Inglis (PS, CW 2006-2016) – University of Bristol, Cellular and
Molecular Medicine
Kishwar Iqbal (Ki 2014-2016) – Durham University, Chemistry and
Physics
Alfie Jeavons-Fellows (Gl 2014-2016) – Drummer in Lost Tiger To The
Wild
Zac Jeavons-Fellows (Gl 2014-2016) – Lead singer in Lost Tiger To The
Wild
Elizaveta Karmannaya (Da 2012-2016) – University College London,
Psychology and Language Sciences
Sally Kerr (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – University of Exeter, Engineering
Maximilian Knight (Ki 2011-2016) – University of Exeter, History and
Politics
Michael Lai (Ca 2012-2016) – Loughborough University, Computer
Science
Aylin Laity (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – University of Glasgow, Biomedical Eng
Megan Leffek (PS, Da 2010-2016) – University of Exeter, Medical
Sciences (Human Genomics) with Professional Training Year (4 years)
Fiona Lin (PS, Ar 2007-2016) – Oxford University, Experimental
Psychology
David Don Lindsay (PS, Ki 2010-2016) – The University of York,
Human Geography and Environment
Sarah Lochhead (Ar 2014-2016) – University of Leeds, Geophysical
Sciences
Martha Lochhead (Junior School, Da 2006-2016) – Royal Holloway
University of London, Comparative Literature and Culture and Drama
Olivia Longstaff (Ar, Da 2011-2016) – University of Edinburgh, Fine Art
Sarah Lowry (CE 2014-2016) – University of Manchester, Economics
and Politics
Lewis Ma (PS, Mo 2010-2016) – Imperial College London, Civil
Engineering
Alistair Macdonald (Gl 2011-2016) – Sheffield Hallam University, Real
Estate
Max Mackie (Gl 2014-2016) – Durham University, General Engineering
Lucy MacMaster (Da 2012-2016) – University of Exeter, Economics
David Maitland-Biddulph (PS, Mo 2005-2016) – University of Exeter,
History
Anastacia Markoe (CW 2014-2016) – Wellesley College
2016 LEAVERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
28 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Massachusetts, Political Science and Russian
Kyle Martin (Ca 2011-2016) – University of Stirling, Accountancy and
Finance
Rory Martin (Mo 2011-2016) – Newcastle University, Geography
Bronwyn McCabe (CW 2014-2016) – Oxford University, English
Language and Literature
Zachary McCarroll (Ki 2011-2016) – University of Bath, Integrated
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Alexandra McKelvie (PS, Ar 2005-2016) – University of Bristol, Law
Georgina McKenzie Smith (Ar 2011-2016) – University of Edinburgh,
English & Scottish Literature
Hector McLean (Mo 2011-2016) – University of St Andrews, Geography
Cameron Mclellan-Watt (PS, Gl 2008-2016) – De Montfort University,
Business and Management BA (Hons)
Flora McMicking (CE 2011-2016) – Trinity College Dublin, Classics
Beatrice Middelthon (Da 2014-2016) – Durham University, History &
Economics
Juliet Millar (Da 2014-2016) – Newcastle University, History and Politics
Sean Milne (Ca 2012-2016) – Kingston University, Pharmacology
Stuart Milne (Mo 2011-2016) – University of Strathclyde, Biomedical
Engineering
Lorne Milne (Mo 2011-2016) – University of Exeter, Politics and
International Relations
Benedict Morillo (PS, Mo 2006-2016) – Oxford University, Law
Daniel Mullins (PS, Gl 2007-2016) – Parsons School of Design New
York
Hannah Nairn (Da 2014-2016) – London School of Economics,
International Relations and History
Olivia Nicholson (PS, Ar 2006-2016) – The University of Liverpool,
Zoology
Scott Noblett (PS, Ki 2007-2016) – Merchant Navy Officer Training,
South Shields
Amy Norton (PS, Ar 2010-2016) – Newcastle University, Marketing and
Management
Seamus O'Baoighill (Ca 2011-2016) – The Queen's University Belfast,
Music
James Ogilvy (PS, Mo 2008-2016) – University of Warwick,
Engineering
David Oh (PS, Ca 2010-2016) – University of Stirling, Applied
Computing
Christine Oh (PS, CW 2010-2016) – University of East Anglia, Medicine
Laila Petra (CW 2011-2016) – New York University
Mary Phillips (PS, Ar 2010-2016) – University of Aberdeen, History
Kyle Pirie (Ki 2011-2016) – The University of Nottingham, Politics and
International Relations
Abigail Pooley (CE 2011-2016) – Goldsmiths University of London, Arts
Management
Richard Raczkowski (Ki 2012-2016) – Heriot Watt University,
Mathematics
Iona Rae (Ar 2014-2016) – University of Aberdeen, Music
Benjamin Raper (PS, Mo 2009-2016) – IT Technician at Cargilfield IT
apprenticeship with QA with a view to studying Computer Science
Degree
Connor Reid (Ca 2011-2016) – University of Warwick, Philosophy,
Politics and Economics
Elizabeth Relph (PS, Da 2009-2016) – The University of Liverpool,
Veterinary Science
Korbinian Ring (Ki 2012-2016) – University of Bath, Natural Sciences
(with Professional Placement)
Camilla Robertson (CE 2011-2016) – University of Bristol, Law
Lucy Robertson (PS, CE 2010-2016) – University of Exeter, Law
Emma Rogers (PS, Ar 2008-2016) – University of Bath, Sociology
Jasper Roscoe (Ca 2011-2016) – University of Warwick, History of Art
John Rushworth (PS, Mo 2010-2016) – University of Amsterdam,
French
James Seto (PS, Mo 2007-2016) – University of Glasgow, Accountancy
Justin Sian (Ki 2014-2016) – University of Southern California,
Computer Science
Anna Simpson (CW 2014-2016) – Durham University, Anthropology
Matthew Spencer (PS, Gl 2009-2016) – University of St Andrews,
International Relations
Charlotte Steele (Ar 2011-2016) – University of St Andrews, Geography
Callum Stelfox (Ki 2011-2016) – University of Exeter, Economics*
Chloe Sutton (CE 2011-2016) – The University of York, Psychology in
Education
Gavin Tennant (PS, Mo 2010-2016) – Loughborough University,
History
Sophie Thomson (PS, Ar 2010-2016) – Newcastle University,
Geography and Planning
Joshua Thomson (Mo 2011-2016) – University of Bristol, Chemistry
Marie Urasaki (PS, Da 2009-2016) – Sophia University Tokyo, Liberal
Arts
Iona Warren (CW 2011-2016) – University of Bristol, Psychology
Evelyn Watson (CE 2014-2016) – University of Southampton, Natural
Sciences
Ali Waugh (PS, Da 2009-2016) – Aberystwyth University, Veterinary
Biosciences
Poppy Welch (CW 2011-2016) – Newcastle University, Linguistics
Harry West (Gl 2011-2016) – Leeds Beckett University, Sport Business
Management
Thomas White (Ca 2013-2016) – University of Aberdeen, Accountancy
and Business Management
Katie Whitelaw (Ar 2011-2016) – Heriot Watt University, Construction
Project Management
Fiona Williamson (PS, CW 2008-2016) – Heriot Watt University
Edinburgh Napier tbc, French and Spanish combined with either
business or intercultural communication*
Suka Wong (Ar 2012-2016) – Plymouth University, Medicine and
Surgery
Tom Worlledge (PS, Mo 2009-2016) – University of Warwick, Eng Lang
& Linguistics
Thomas Wright (Gl 2011-2016) – Sheffield Hallam University, Real
Estate
Nuowei Wu (Da 2012-2016) – University College London, History,
Politics and Economics BA
Izzkandar Zainol Izzet (Ca 2011-2016) – Newcastle University,
Accounting and Finance
* su
bjec
t to
co
ndi
tion
al e
xam
inat
ion
res
ults
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 29
I gained so much from the experience;
in my understanding of this period in
art, the painters that brought about
such a celebrated tradition, Italian
culture and their cities today and I hope
it’s not too much of a cliché to say that
I learned a fair bit about myself too.
It really was an experience that I will
always look back upon fondly and will
serve me in good stead as I continue to
explore Italian Art through my degree. I
am so grateful to the trustees for having
made this experience possible and
would recommend anyone to try for
this grant in the future.
I started my trip by spending three
days walking around one of the most
extraordinary cities in the world –
Naples. There really is nowhere like it.
It’s fantastically chaotic; Vespas jumping
out of nowhere, the outdoor living
and the jumble of flats. Narrow streets
were full of life with people selling live
fish and residents relaxing on their
balconies with their clothes hanging out
to dry, the earthen colours of the street
contrasting beautifully with the vibrant
multi-coloured washing-lines.
On the third day I climbed St Elmo
which was a fortress at the top of the
city. It was an astonishingly steep climb
for the centre of a city, taking about
two hours, but the view from the top
was breath-taking, stretching over the
rooftops to the other side of the gulf
of Naples towards Vesuvius. At the top
part of the city it seemed as though a
separate community had developed.
It actually had the feel of a small town
rather than any densely-populated city.
I saw very few cars here, a total contrast
to the traffic down below in the rest of
the city. Yet still plenty of people live
there. I imagine that they all work at the
upper levels as well and have no reason
to leave. I wondered whether the older
people that I saw struggling to walk
would ever leave the upper level again
since it would be such an effort to climb
back up.
Since applying for the Macleod
Award I had been interested in seeing
the Amalfi coast, in particular Positano,
which John Steinbeck wrote a famous
essay on. He described it as being a
“dream place that isn’t quite real when
you are there and becomes beckoningly
real after you have gone”. Two villages,
with a beach at the bottom, and the
most perfect turquoise water, made me
understand what he meant. In the two
days that I was there, I was constantly
in awe. I set out early in the morning to
hike to the nearby town of Priano along
the cliffs that both of these villages
are built on and saw a pink sunrise
over the water, reflecting off the white
rooftops. Having a coffee at the highest
point of the hike at a tiny, beaten-up
café was one of the most memorable
experiences of my life.
Naples’ Duomo is a spectacular
Cathedral, with an overwhelmingly
ornate Baroque interior. A painting by
Ribera (a Spanish painter who learned a
lot from Caravaggio and lived in Naples
at the same time) in the Duomo was
particularly striking and stays in my
mind very strongly today for its raw
emotion. Seeing works like that in a
religious setting makes one understand
how genius separates the masters so
easily from average painters.
From there I went to Pompeii and
Herculaneum to see the ruins of these
towns. Herculaneum has been less
heavily excavated and there is a modern
town built over most of the ruins. It is
amazing to see this glimpse into ancient
Roman civilisation alongside a modern
Italian town. However, Pompeii was
more impressive. I really got a feeling
of these people from so long ago and
THE IAIN MACLEOD AWARD REPORTBy Jasper Roscoe (Ca 2011-2016)
The Iain Macleod Memorial Trust was set up following the death of a statesman and Old Fettesian, The Rt Hon Iain Macleod
(Mo 1927-1932), in 1970. The Trust makes annual awards to Fettesians (single or joint) to fund interesting and worthwhile
projects.
30 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
their way of life. I was able to draw clear
parallels between their society and
ours. The experience was quite surreal.
The next stop was Rome. The city
itself is beautiful throughout. Being
built on hills means that there were
many viewpoints to admire the city
and its warm earth colours. Grandiose
Baroque palaces and ornate church
facades disrupt the arrangement of the
ordinary 17th century buildings around.
These churches and palaces contain
some of the greatest art works from this
period. The Palazzo Barberini houses
a spectacular collection of paintings
but by far the most astonishing work
was the ceiling fresco Triumph of Divine
Providence. This is a massive Baroque
fresco celebrating Maffeo Barberini’s
appointment as Pope, becoming Pope
Urban VIII. It is a remarkable illusion full
of interesting details. When I was there,
I had this massive room to myself and
I was able to lie on a bench and take
in every detail. I saw similar illusions in
the two main Jesuit churches in Rome
(the Church of Il Gesu and the Church
of St Ignatius Loyola). Even seeing it in
the flesh I found it hard to comprehend
where the architecture of the church
ended and where the fresco begun in
the Assumption of St Ignatius by Padre
Pozzo.
After Rome I was off to Perugia
which might well have been the
highlight of my trip and a very pleasant
surprise. I originally intended to stay for
two nights so that I could do a day trip
to Assisi and Urbino as there is a lack of
decent hostels in both towns. However,
on the day I arrived I walked around and
was immediately struck by the beauty
of the town and ended up spending
two whole days there. It is a perfect
Italian gothic town frozen in time on top
of a hill in Umbria with Raphaelesque
views all-around of the Umbrian
landscape. The city had few tourists
and I felt like I had found a hidden gem.
From Perugia, I went to Assisi where
I stayed one night. This was quite simply
the most spiritual place I have ever
been. It was easier to ignore the tourists
than I thought it would be and as I
walked from the bottom of the town
spending time in every church before
my walk climaxed at the top of the city
at the Basilica of St Francis; I felt a bit like
a medieval pilgrim. Nuns and Franciscan
monks were everywhere I looked. The
churches were beautiful examples of
Italian Gothic architecture. The one
thing that did disappoint me about this
place was that many of the buildings on
the lower levels had clearly undergone a
lot of restoration and felt a bit artificial,
in part due to the destructive 1997
earthquake.
However, what I most wanted
to see in Assisi was the Basilica of St
Francis where St Francis is buried. This
church houses frescos by Cimabue and
many frescos by Giotto. Admiring the
structure of Giotto’s works is always a
pleasure and there was one detail that
particularly gripped me; the multi-
coloured wings of an angel by Giotto on
the first level of the church that struck
me as being one of the most beautiful
figures I have ever seen.
Florence was my next stop, where
I would stay for over a week with
some friends that lived there. I have
been to this city many times before
and have always enjoyed the calming
atmosphere of the place as well as
the early renaissance structures. The
view across the river Arno in Florence
is always a special sight and there can
be no bridge more beautiful than the
Ponte Vecchio. Florence was the cradle
of the Renaissance and Brunelleschi’s
magnificent Dome standing tall is a
constant reminder of this.
Even after a week there was still
more art to see in Florence. The Uffizi
gallery has the greatest Renaissance
collection in the world with great works
such as Botticelli’s iconic Birth of Venus
and a great range of Raphael Madonnas.
In the Uffizi, I begun to realise the
genius of Agnolo Bronzino, a painter
from the Mannerist period whose work
I had never particularly enjoyed from
reproductions I had seen. However,
in the flesh the colours harmonise
perfectly and there is such satisfaction
in the strong three-dimensionality of
his figures. My appreciation for his
work grew further when I visited the
Palazzo Vecchio (the old town hall of
Florence where the Medici ruled the city
throughout the Renaissance), for there
lies a chapel painted from top to toe by
Bronzino. The same features of his work
that I admired in the Uffizi was present
here in an even more spectacular
way, but what struck me more was
his capacity to conjure emotion and
a sense of drama. His influence in
“…the colours are brighter, the tones are softer and
the church light completes the effect as the painting
sparkles…”
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 31
bringing about the Baroque period
might be underrated.
A chapel that struck a similar chord
with me whilst I was in Florence was the
Branccachi chapel, painted by Masaccio
and arguably the first complete
Renaissance painted work. Studying
this masterpiece in the flesh I begun to
understand what an excellent colourist
Masaccio was and also that his frescos
were not a million miles away from
Giotto’s work 100 years before. This
was significant for my understanding
because previously I would have argued
that Masaccio’s work exemplifies
a totally new kind of art than that
produced in the late Gothic period.
From Florence I went to Siena on
a day trip. This city was Florence’s
greatest medieval rival and its
monumental buildings are a testament
to their rivalry as both cities attempted
to communicate dominance through
architecture. Siena’s ‘Palazzo Publico’
is a magnificent sight and is used by
the Sienese as a meeting point. In
the square the Town hall tower soars
above whilst people below bask
in the sunshine. The Cathedral is
perhaps even more impressive as an
ostentatious expression of Catholicism.
Not only does the building dwarf the
viewer but a range of colours, piers
and lofty ceilings make the interior
space feel truly unearthly and spiritual.
Countless magnificent works can be
studied in the Cathedral including
Bernini and a minor Michelangelo. The
Baptistry is also worth a visit with relief
sculptures from some of the greatest
artists of the early Renaissance who
must have been selected at the same
time to create a rivalry that would spark
artistic innovation.
I finally left Florence to stay in
Mantua for a night and spent the
best part of two days there. This is a
beautiful city, home to the Gonzaga
dynasty that ruled here throughout
the Renaissance. This wealthy dynasty
attracted some of the best artists
and architects in Italy. Particularly
noteworthy is Andrea Mantegna, Alberti
and Gulio Romano (Raphael’s most
successful student). Alberti designed
a number of churches in the city, most
significantly the Basilica of San Andrea.
To see this building in the flesh was as
brilliant an experience as I expected it
to be but what I didn’t expect was his
innovation with regards to materials
that were quite contrary to Classical
design.
From Mantua I took the train to
Venice. One could hold their phone
up blindly in this city and take a great
photo. Perhaps the best experience
there was hanging out with people
from the hostel on the street outside
looking across to St Mark’s square and
the Doge’s palace from the other side of
the water as the sun set every evening.
However, the city is full of tourists and
this made it hard for me to picture the
16th century life of a Venetian during the
golden age of art.
The single painting that affected me
most during my time in Italy was the San
Zaccaria altarpiece by Giovani Bellini,
still in situ in the church of San Zaccaria.
I knew of it, but in the flesh, the colours
are brighter, tones are softer and the
church lighting completes the effect as
the painting sparkles in reflecting the
light. I visited the painting three times
whilst I was there and it was as brilliant
every time.
I visited three galleries whilst I was
in Venice; all were brilliant but the best
was the Doge’s Palace. This was the
building where the elected leader of the
Venetian empire (the Doge) sat. As well
as the historical significance of exploring
this palace, its artistic significance
is monumental since Doges of the
Venetian Renaissance commissioned
the greatest painters to produce works
of art that celebrate the glory of the
Doges that they painted for. The works
in here were of an astonishing scale
with practically every wall covered
from top to toe with paintings. It is
an overwhelming experience seeing
figures in all directions of a scale greater
than life and by names as celebrated as
Veronese, Tintoretto and Titian. I visited
many magnificent churches whilst
I was in Venice but by far the most
astonishing was the Basilica di Santa
Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. The church
was truly rich in significant works of art
with Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin
being particularly noteworthy. This is
perhaps Titian’s most celebrated work
and the High altar for the church. It is a
massive painting with figures being over
twice life-size. The colours and scale
communicate the miraculous nature of
the event in a powerful way. After some
time in Padua, and one more night in
Venice watching the sunset from the
pavement in front of the hostel, I was
then off home early in the morning.
32 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Old Fettesian Golf
Society Review 2016
We welcomed Richard Smith (CW
1965-1969) as our new President in
2016, taking over from stalwart Alistair
Pickles (Ca 1955-1959) after his four-
year term. Andrew Soulsby (Js, Ar 1973-
1980) remains as Captain for 2016, and
as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer for
the Society longer term.
The annual Senior Wayfarers fixture
was at Muirfield this year. After an
excellent lunch, Fettes accompanied
Edinburgh Academy in the qualifying
rounds on Saturday afternoon, finishing
fourth after a countback to the back
nines, and so were drawn against top
qualifiers, Merchiston, on the Sunday
morning. Unfortunately, a Merchiston
birdie at the 20th took them through
to the final, where they gained revenge
for last year’s loss by beating Edinburgh
Academy. Strathallan picked up the
wooden spoon. Many thanks to Keith
Oliver (Gl 1965-1970) for organising
the team accommodation at nearby
Renaissance Golf Club.
In the matches against the other
schools, we lost to Tonbridge, beat
Marlborough at Sunningdale, beat
Loretto at both Worplesdon and at
Muirfield, and drew with Merchiston
while beating Glenalmond in the annual
triangular match at Panmure. The
match against the School at Bruntsfield
was lost – the silver lining is that the
victors become eligible to represent the
OFs in future years!
In the Queen Elizabeth Trophy
at Royal Burgess, Will Spens (Inv, Ki
2001-2011) made his debut for the OF
team. We were drawn against Cranleigh
in the first round, winning 2 ½ – ½, with
Soulsby and Spens securing the half
with a birdie up the eighteenth. On the
Sunday morning, we lost to Eton 3-0
though all matches were decided on
the 17th or 18th hole.
Our Commem golf day was well
supported as usual. The format is
a relaxed meeting of old friends for
lunch and golf and this year’s entry
form will be in your Commem packs –
all are welcome. At around the same
time of year, the annual London Golf
Day is held at Denholm, where all OFs
are made to feel very welcome by
organiser, Jim Shackleton (Ki 1954-
1958). If you want to join the OFs in
London this year, contact the OFGS
Secretary who can pass on your details
to Jim.
In 2016, our early season
tournaments have been enjoyable as
ever. At Elie, Fettes finished mid-table,
despite beating winners Merchiston of
the Stenhouse Quaich. The Halford-
Hewitt side lost their first round tie
against Sherbourne – a team we beat
in a close match last year. It was rather
more one-sided this year. In the Plate
competition, we won our first round
before going out to Forest on Saturday
morning. Many thanks go to Stuart
Murray (Mo 1961-1966), our Halford
Hewitt reserve, who hosted the team
in a warm up at Rye on the Monday of
that week, and represented the team
commendably in the Plate competition
at Princes.
All OFs are welcome to join the
Golfing Society. All our individual
matches and the London Golf Day
are handicap events, so all standards
of golfers are catered for. The annual
subscription is £20, and, on payment
of your first subscription, you will
receive an OFGS tie. Finally, we are
offering free membership to OFs who
are under 25. If you want to join, please
contact Andrew Soulsby, the Honorary
Secretary, either on his mobile phone
(07984-789761), by email (andrew_
soulsby@keysight.com), or by post at
8 Northlawn Court, Easter Park Drive,
Edinburgh EH4 6SB.
Thoughts from Donald Steel
(Gl 1950-1955)
Of all the benefits of being an Old
Fettesian, there is nothing remotely
comparable to the lasting joys of the
OF Golfing Society. Contrary to some
beliefs, it is not for the elite few, it is for
everybody. There are nineteen year
olds and ninety year olds. Whether you
seek competition or camaraderie, it
supplies both. For those of a sensitive
nature, nobody is looking and nobody
is counting.
Golf allows access to some of the
most beautiful places on earth and to
some of the finest courses. Some of
these can be found via the OFGS. When
you leave school, it is not the end of
Fettes. Rather is it the beginning – if only
you will allow it to be. Rugby, cricket or
athletics may have been your sporting
forte but golf can take your fancy when
age plays its hand – and don’t forget,
golf is the only sport where the poorest
can challenge the best and still have a
meaningful contest.
All golf has to have its measure
of competitiveness and nobody has
ever convinced me that it is not more
enjoyable when you win. Old Fettesian
golf can boast a long string of fine players
but more than half the fun is the team
element in the annual fixtures that
are a central part of the calendar. The
Halford Hewitt, The Queen Elizabeth,
The Grafton Morrish, The Cyril Gray, The
Stenhouse Quaich. You have to earn your
spurs to take part and most regard it as
their duty to try. The Halford Hewitt, in
particular, is a unique event at Deal and
Sandwich and financial help is available
to defray some or all of the costs but
there are also a string of matches against
other schools at delightful venues that
are, quite literally, open to all comers of
whatever handicap.
A good link is maintained with the
school to flag up those with genuine
OLD FETTESIAN SPORTING SOCIETIES REVIEW 2016-17
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 33
aspirations but nobody should be
shy at coming forward. My 55 years of
connection with OF golf has been like
no other. It has proved that loyalty is
ingrained in most OFs and Fettes needs
you. My life would have been much the
poorer without it.
Donald attended Fettes from 1950-
1956 and was Head Boy, before going
up to Cambridge in 1957 to study a BA
in Agriculture. After graduating, he
was The Sunday Telegraph's first golf
correspondent from 1961-90, and a
prolific golf course architect, with studies
to review bunkering, planting and
overall layout completed on over 500
courses. Proficient enough to have taken
take part in the 1970 Open Championship
at St Andrews, and to have represented
England at International level, he
was a regular contestant in amateur
championships and occasional
professional events (as an amateur).
In addition, he won the Oxford and
Cambridge Golfing Society’s famous
President’s Putter on three occasions –
18 years apart, and was a member of the
Fettes’ Halford Hewitt winning team
in 1964.
OFA Summer Shooting
Club Review 2016
Century Range seemed a little quieter
than usual in 2016 for the Ashburton
and Veterans matches, due no doubt
in part to the changes in regulations for
school shooting which have presented
significant challenges to some of our
peers. However, the Old Fettesians
were in good form as ever, putting in
entries for three teams of five for the
Veterans match, and benefiting from the
seemingly endless goodwill of Sergeant
Watty Burns (Staff 2010-Present) and
the College VIII, giving of their kit, time
and talents to help with the Grand
Day Out.
The lion’s share of the work fell to
two of the youngest OFs on the team.
Poppy Macdonald (CW 2010-2015)
and Ian Brotherston (Gl 2001-2012)
both came equipped not only with
their own rifles, but also with the all-
important safety certification that the
NRA now requires shooters to have
– or to be coached, 1:1, by someone
with the necessary clearance. Both
these stalwarts therefore followed
their own entries on the firing point
by spending the rest of the afternoon
dutifully coaching every one of the
other OFs who had come along on the
day; after which experience there is no
doubt that a reviving cup of tea was
hard earned and well deserved! With
several experienced members of past
VIIIs showing up on the day, the A team
put in a very respectable total score of
234.15.
Shooting completed, we decamped
to the garden of Elcho Lodge, by kind
permission of Mrs Rosemary Meldrum,
to enjoy a barbecue and prize giving.
The Old Fettesian Tankard for the best
score in the Ashburton was won by
James Ogilvy (Ki 1994-2000), and
the Stewart Cup for the highest 600
yards score to Johnny Harley (PS, Mo
2010-2016). The Franks Salver for the
highest score in the Veterans shoot was
awarded to Vasily Shenshin (Ca 2009-
2013).
OF attendees: Grant Matthew
(Mo 1955-1960), Anthony Cleary (CW
1959-1964), Jamie Johnston (In, Mo
1998-2006), Ros Ramsay (Da 1984-
1986), Vasily Shenshin (Ca 2009-2013),
Rupert Macdonald (CW 1952-1957),
Amanda Forsyth, née Baker (Ar 1982-
1984), Poppy Macdonald (CW 2010-
2015), Ian Brotherston (Gl 2001-2012),
Barbara Graham (Gl 1975-1977), John
MacGill (Gl 1944-1949).
Winter Shooting
Dr Robert Concannon (Staff
2014-Present) continues to support the
OFs in small-bore shooting at the Grassie
Range. We usually meet twice per
term in the Autumn and Spring terms –
contact Amanda Forsyth for more details
at ofshootingclub@gmail.com
Call for Help!
I am stepping down from organising the
Bisley shoot following the 2018 event,
after ten extremely enjoyable years.
As the image shows, there is a long-
standing tradition of OF attendance
at the Veterans shoot – pictured is the
late, much-missed Rick Craig-Wood (Ki
1959-1964) and yours truly in 1987. So,
a vacancy is going to arise for someone
to organise the day. It helps if you are
based in the south of England, but
isn’t essential. Do let me know if this is
something you can take on.
Amanda Forsyth née Baker
(Ar 1982-1984)
Vice President,
Old Fettesian Association
Trustee, The Fettesian Trust
Co-ordinator, OF Shooting Club
(ofshootingclub@gmail.com)
34 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
In 2016, Commemoration Weekend or
Commem, as most of us know it, took
place from Friday 30th September to
Sunday 2nd October.
The Old Fettesian (OF) golfers tee’d
off the weekend early at Bruntsfield
Links before events began at Fettes
from the Friday evening. Many more
OFs than usual chose to join the Friday
evening wine and cheese party not least
because Fettes College were hosting
us in the new Spens Building. The
building is a remarkable feat, slotting
into the beautiful Fettes campus so
innocuously. It provides so many bright
and spacious modern classrooms along
with the stunning Salvesen Art School
and a particularly clever enclosure of
the old North Building Courtyard to
create the performance space in the
exemplary Culachy Music School.
On Saturday morning the AGM for
the Old Fettesian Association was held
and OFs had the opportunity to tour
the school with a current pupil. Many
took the chance to go in to Chapel and
walk the still very familiar corridors of
the main College Building.
During the afternoon there was
lunch in the Dining Hall for those who
had planned ahead and reserved a
space. The Fettes Campus was then a
buzz as a large cohort of Old Fettesians
took the opportunity to spend Saturday
afternoon back at Fettes reliving their
memories: watching sport (supporting
Fettes!) and visiting Houses. There were
many hugs, handshakes, laughs and
photographs shared.
Over Commemoration Weekend
Debbie Spens (Staff 1998-2017)
invited the five and ten year returners
(leavers of 2006 and 2011) to come
and speak to the Lower Sixth Form
pupils about their career journey,
Higher Education and ‘life after Fettes’
over a hog roast lunch. Pupils and OFs
alike found the conversations very
rewarding. This event will be repeating
over Commemoration Weekend this
October. Please sign up on the booking
form if you are able to help us.
We are exceedingly grateful to the
following returners who joined us at the
event:
Christina Baird (CE 2006-2011) is a
medical student at Dundee University.
Sunayna Best (CW 2001-2006)
graduated from University College
London Medical School with
Distinction. She is now the first Clinical
Fellow in Genomics at Great Ormond
Street Hospital where she forms a link
between the clinic and the laboratory
for the 100,000 Genomes Project.
Alexandra Buchan (PS, Ar 1998-
2006) works at Waverton Investment
Management as a portfolio manager
running bespoke equity portfolios for
private clients and also manages the
Waverton UK Fund.
Thanakorn Cheung (Gl 2009-2011)
studied History at Warwick University
where he specialised in Russian and
Soviet History. He moved to Paris in the
summer of 2015 to pursue a Masters
degree in International Development
with a focus on Russia and Latin
America.
Gilli Cuthbert (CE 2006-2011) has
started her own business as a freelance
Graphic Designer in Glasgow. Gilli went
to Dundee University and studied
Graphic Design.
Tilly Dawson (Ar 2006-2011) went
to Durham University and read English.
After she graduated she worked at an
all-girls boarding school, Wycombe
Abbey, for a year as a Resident Tutor.
She then studied her (PGCE) through
Teach First and currently teaches
Reception (4-5 year old) at a school in
North West London.
Poppy Empson (CE 2006-2011)
went to Oxford University and studied
French and Russian graduating with
a BA Hons in Medieval and Modern
Languages. She is now working for the
Scottish Government in their EU Office
in Brussels.
Sarah Flemming (CE 2004-2006)
went to Oxford University and did a BA
(now MA) in Chinese Studies (including
a term at Peking University). Sarah is
Brand Manager for Talisker in Europe
having started with Diageo on the
graduate scheme four years ago.
Andrew Fyffe (Gl 2001-2006)
is a Recruiter for McKinsey & Co,
a management consultancy firm
in London. He went to Edinburgh
University and read Spanish and
History.
Lucy Fyffe (PS, CW 1999-2006)
is specialising in Portraiture, at the
London Atelier of Representational Art
(LARA), with a view to working as a self-
employed artist and is also training to
be a teacher. On leaving Fettes she went
to Wimbledon College of Art to do an
Art Foundation course. She then went
to Oxford University to read English.
Amelie Gerlach (Ar 2009-2011)
went to King’s College, London where
she completed a BSc in Business
Management. She is now Project
Manager for Private Labels at LoveCrafts
in London.
Monica Gilbert (CW 2006-2011)
went to University College, London for
both her undergraduate and Masters
Degrees. She is now on a graduate
training scheme at Sweaty Betty.
Katie Gray (CE 2009-2011) went
to Northumbria University to read
Geography. She is now Customer
Relations Co-ordinator at St George
PLC, in London.
Claudia Gusmitta (CW 2009-2011).
went to Robert Gordon University
and studied Management with
Marketing. She is currently working as
an Operations Assistant at Westhall
Partners in London, a company that
COMMEMORATION WEEKEND 2016
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 35
introduces Asian Fund Managers to
institutional investors based in the UK,
Europe and America.
Cat Hayhoe (PS, Ar 2004-2011)
went to Aberdeen University and
completed a History degree. She is
now at Edinburgh University taking the
graduate LLB.
Ross Ledden (Ca 2007-2011) went
to The University of East Anglia to study
Business Management. He now works
as an Assistant Tax Advisor at Ernst &
Young LLP and through the firm he is
currently doing the ACA qualification.
Ross Lyon (Ki 2006-2011) chose
not to go to University. Instead he tried
a number of paid jobs and eventually
he chose the Merchant Navy. He was
successful in getting a cadetship
with Clyde Marine, with the goal of
becoming a Deck Officer. He tells us
that he has seen (lots of) the North
Sea, crossed the Atlantic, crossed the
Equator and rounded the Cape of Good
Hope to see Asia.
Ava Maitland (nee Dennis) (Ar
2004-2006) went to Leeds University
and graduated with a first class honours
degree in English Literature after which
she went to Edinburgh University to
gain her accelerated Law qualification
(LLB) which she passed with Merit.
She worked as a trainee solicitor at HBJ
Gateley and has recently begun a new
career as a PR and Marketing manager.
Max Martin (Ki 2006-2011)
graduated from Bristol University with a
Masters in Mechanical Engineering.
Maddie McKenna (Ar 2009-2011)
went to Wesleyan University in America
where she received a Bachelor of Arts
Degree. She now works in the film
industry.
Kym McWilliam (Ar 2000-2006)
studied Fashion Design at Grey’s School
of Art, then took a Masters Degree in
Graphic Design. Kym is now a freelance
Graphic Designer and a full time farmer
having recently returned to the family
farm.
Harriet Myzak-Douglas (Ar 2006-
2011) went to York University to study
History and to Durham University to
study International Relations. She now
works for Orchard House Foods as a
National Account Executive.
Alexander Oldroyd (Gl 2004-2006)
went to Lancaster University to study
Medicine. He is now a Rheumatologist
and Academic Clinical Fellow at
University Hospital, South Manchester.
Katherine Orthman (Ar 2009-2011)
went to Durham University to study Cell
Biology and is now studying Veterinary
Medicine at Edinburgh University.
Gordon Park (PS, Ki 1998-2006)
attended Art School at the Cumbria
Institute of the Arts in Carlisle, studying
Ceramics. He has since worked at Blair
Drummond Safari Park.
Rory Peyton Jones (Ki 2009-
2011) went to Lancaster University
to study Business Management and
did a one year internship with IBM in
London. Following that Rory did a
10 year Leavers (2006)
36 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Masters Degree in Design Management
at Lancaster where he received a
Distinction. He is now an Account
Executive at Arc London.
Gordon Robertson (Ca 2006-2011)
is working as a musician and performer
as well as being in his final year
studying for a BA (Hons) Performance
Industries. He has studied at the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland and is now
at the Academy of Music and Sound
in Glasgow, in conjunction with the
University of Wolverhampton.
Stuart Rylance (Gl 2007-2011)
graduated from Southampton
University where he studied Mechanical
Engineering.
Will Spens (PS & Ki 2001-2011)
studied Ancient History at Bristol
University. He is currently undertaking
the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP
Law School and has a law traineeship
specialising in Corporate Law with
White & Case LLP.
Jai Srivastava (Ki 2006-2011)
studied PPE at Oxford University and
is now working in the Banking Audit
Department at KPMG in London.
Victoria Stevenson (Ar 2001-
2006) went to Edinburgh Napier and
completed a Law Degree (LLB Hons)
and then went on to complete an
Investment Management Certificate and
Masters in Wealth Management whilst
working at the same time. She currently
works as an Investment Manager at
Quilter Cheviot in London.
Johanna Stewart (PS, CE 2001-2011)
went to Northumbria University to
study Performance and is currently at
Dundee University completing her Post
Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
Philippe Traem (Gl 2009-2011)
attended Bayreuth University in Bavaria,
Germany where he studied Law
Charlotte Young (PS, Ar 2003-
2011) studied Theatre and Performance
at Leeds University and is now Hires
Administrator at Carnival Chaos
Productions in Edinburgh.
Amy Stirling (Ar 2006-2011) studied
History and Middle Eastern Studies at
Exeter University and is now an Account
Executive at the Creative Agency Clinic.
Robbie Scott-Larsen (Ki 2009-2011)
studied Engineering at the University of
Edinburgh.
Charlotte Rettie (CW 2002-2006)
is now an Equity and Derivatives Analyst
at Citi. She studied Events Management
at Leeds Metropolitan University
followed by an MA in journalism at
University of London.
Rebecca McConnell (Inv, CE
2000-2006) is a Primary Teacher
having studied Social Anthropology at
Newcastle University.
On Saturday evening more than
200 OFs enjoyed a wonderful black
tie dinner in the Dining Hall, which
commenced with a Drinks Reception
and the opportunity to view old
photos and highlights from the Fettes
of their time. Leavers sat with their
contemporaries and thoroughly
enjoyed catching up. Andrew Pickles
(Ca 1962-1967), OFA President, thanked
the Headmaster, Michael Spens (1998-
2017) on behalf of all Old Fettesians for
his incredible leadership of the College
in the approach to his retirement, and
made a presentation to him on behalf
of the OFA.
On Sunday OFs had the opportunity
to join the College Chapel Service with
an address from Peter Sutton (SH 1979-
1984). OFs always report how moving
it is to sing in Chapel again after time
away.
The formalities of Commemoration
Weekend ended at this point, but
those who wanted to see more of
Fettes were warmly welcomed at
Fettes College Open Day which took
place during Sunday afternoon and
ended spectacularly with the Pipe Band
beating retreat on the Queens Lawn.
Something worth staying for.
Newmen of 1946: Malcolm Ferguson (CE 1946-1951)
and Donald McNab (Ki 1946-1951)
Ben (Mo 2001-2009), Alastair (Mo 1956-1961)
and Tim (PS, Mo 2006-2012) Morrison
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 37
20 year Leavers (1996)
30 year Leavers (1986)
5 year Leavers (2011)
38 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
The Old Fettesian Association
continues to bring OFs together as their
lives unfold after leaving Fettes College,
providing a through-line of support that
is accessible at every age and stage of
an OF’s life. Evidence is in the success
and continued growth of the OFA – OFs
like to get together. Whether it has
been to share expertise on matters
professional, personal, or simply to
have a roaring good time, where there
is even a small pocket of OFs, there
will always be a warm welcome and an
invitation to a seat at the table.
We have an incredible roster of
Regional Secretaries across the world
who make it their mission, no matter
the scale, to be the contact for OFs in
that area, whilst organising and hosting
events. While we have this wonderful
network in place, there is always room
for expansion, and one person in each
location can only do so much. Fettes
naturally breeds tight connections and
bonds that are not easily broken, and
we know so many of you remain friends
for life. If there are groups of you in
locations that regularly meet up, and
you feel you might like to extend the
invitation to other OFs, for whatever the
purpose, we are here to support you. In
every social gathering there is potential
for a fantastic special OF occasion, and
we would love to hear about it.
We work with OFs who run one
annual social gathering a year in a set
location, but also OFs who organise
an almost bi-monthly gathering in
a rotating location. It will never be
one-size-fits-all, but the beauty of this
global network of thousands is that
every single OF has a voice that can
spill forth fantastic ideas. The work the
OFA does is guided and defined by the
energy, drive and creativity of the OFs
themselves.
Of interest to many will be that we
have identified almost one thousand
Old Fettesians living and working in the
London area, roughly one fifth of all Old
Fettesians worldwide, and that we have
begun to focus in on increasing the
number of OF events down south. Look
out for further details of new events in
the pipeline coming soon.
REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
UK
Northern IslesBarbara J M Graham (Gl 1975-1977)Orkneye: bjmgraham@gmail.com
Aberdeen Quentin Rae (Gl 1989-1994)Kintore e: quentinrae75@gmail.com
Highlands & Islands Position vacant
TaysidePosition vacant
Central ScotlandSandy Park (Ki 1965-1970)Glasgow e: broich.52@btinternet.com
EdinburghIan MacIntyre (Ca 1953-1958)Edinburgh e: ian_macintyre@icloud.com
GlasgowAndrew Pickles (Ca 1962-1967)Ayre: andrewpickles@outlook.com
The BordersDouglas Slight (Jnr, Ca 1973-1977)Lauder t: 01578750225 (H) e: slight001@btinternet.com
NE EnglandHenry Cave (SH 1980-1984)Newcastle-upon-Tynet: 07738685999 (M)e: henry.cave@kingswalklaw.com
NW EnglandNorman Rowbotham (Ca 1963-1968)Cumbriat: 01539 620421 (H) 07747141666 (M) e: normanrowbotham@aol.com
YorkshireHamish Patrick (Ki 1980-1985)Harrogatee: hamish@winyatesherd.co.uk
MidlandsRobert Gardner (Ca 1953-1957)Bromsgrovet: 01527872789 (H) e: robmgardner@btinternet.com
LondonJames Macpherson (Gl 1997-2002)Londont: 07929233772 (M) e: jfsmacpherson@hotmail.com
London Carol ServiceDavid Simpson (Mo 2001-2006)Londont: 07896818167 (M) e: davidmoodysimpson@icloud.com
SW England Graeme Beattie (Ki 1973-1978)Swindont: 01793695992 (H) 01793600694 (O) e: gjb2@tinyworld.co.uk
Northern IrelandJason Johnston (Gl 1988-1993)Banbridget: 02840622462 (H) 07971206972 (M)e: jason.johnston496@gmail.com
Channel Islands Jeffrey Giovannoni (Ki 1989-1994)St Helier, Jerseyt: 07797751337 (M) e: jeffreygiovannoni@voisinlaw.com
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 39
OVERSEAS
Argentina Sean Cameron (Mo 1978-1982)Loberiat: +5492262409044 (H) e: scameron@infovia.com.ar
Australia (Eastern) Position vacant – if you are interested please contact ofa@fettes.com
Australia (Tasmania) David Graham (Ki 1946-1950)Hobart, Tasmaniat: +61362285261 (H) e: davidkategraham@netspace.net.au
Australia (Victoria) David Taylor (CE 1947-1952)Melbourne, Victoriae: digit9@optusnet.com.au
Brazil Colin Pritchard (CW 1954-1958) Sao Pauloe: colinpri.alp@terra.com.br
Eastern Canada Alastair Samson (Gl 1955-1960)Ottawae: alwend@rogers.com
Central CanadaRichard McGivern (Ca 1981-1986)Calgarye: richard.mcgivern@surespan.com
Western CanadaNigel Grant (Ca 1949-1952)West Vancouvere: pngrant35@shaw.ca
ChileDonald Filshill OBE (CE 1949-1952)Santiagoe: dmfilshill@gmail.com
East Africa Alexis Sarikas (Mo 1978-1982)Nairobi e: flexnbi@hotmail.com
Eire/Republic of IrelandDavid Baxter (Mo 1983-1988)Dubline: dbaxter@algoodbody.ie
France Neil Robertson (Jnr, Mo 1973-1980)Parise: NROBERTSON@bignonlebray.com
GermanyCordelia Pilz (née Harrison) (Ar 1982-1984) Hattersheim-am-Maine: cordelia.pilz@eu.jll.com
Hong Kong S.A.REdward Fitzgerald (Jnr, Ca 1990-1997)Hong Konge: edwardjohnfitzgerald@gmail.com
IndiaDuncan Watkinson (Ca 1961-1965)Bangaloree: duncan.watkinson@turbocam.com
JapanShizuka Harada (Okamato) (In, CW 1993-2000)Chibae: shizy999@gmail.com
Mexico Ian MacLeod (Mo 1955-1959)Guanajuatoe: ianmacleod@prodigy.net.mx
Middle EastGreer MacLean-Sherman (In, CE 1992-1998)Dubaie: greeramac@hotmail.com
New ZealandJames Purves (SH 1980-1985) Nelsone: jamespurves@mac.com
South Africa (Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State & Lesotho)Stephen Fish (SH 1980-1981)Midrande: fishman@iafrica.com
South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal)Dave McLennan (Ki 1959-1962)Durbane: davemclennan@sai.co.za
Western CapeTara Baum (née Hudson) (SH 1986-1988)Cape Towne: tbaum@endcliff.com
Singapore and MalaysiaRosie Thompson (née Leckie) (SH 1984-1986)Singaporee: rosiethompson68@gmail.com
SwitzerlandNorval Gough (Ar 1976-1980)Nunningene:Norval@Perso.ch
Chris Milne (SH 1974-1979)Coppete: christophermilne@hsbc.com
ThailandGeorge Morgan (Mo 1967-1970)Bangkoke: gmorgan00x@gmail.com
Eastern USADavidson Gordon (Gl 1957-1962) New Yorke: dtg629@aol.com
Western USAMiss Sophie Cheetham (In, CW 1993-2001)San Diegoe: soph_cheetham@yahoo.com
Hawaii Sandy Causey (CE 1968-1972)Kaneohee: alexcausey@cox.net
ZimbabwePosition vacant – if you are interested please contact ofa@fettes.com
40 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Our records show the following Old Fettesians currently have
descendants studying at Fettes (including the Prep School).
Great-grandfathers
Forrest Carnegie (Ca 1917-1921) (Deceased)
Ian Milne (Mo 1872-1876) (Deceased)
James Grant (Gl 1918-1922) (Deceased)
Adam Darling (Gl 1898-1900) (Deceased)
Hugh King (Ca 1902-1906) (Deceased)
John Burnet (Mo 1901-1905) (Deceased)
Kenneth Macleod (GL 1899-1905) (Deceased)
Teddy Orr (Ca 1916-1917) (Deceased)
Grandfathers
Christopher Grant (Gl 1947-1951)
Duncan Ferguson (CW 1953-1958)
Nigel Ward (Ca 1946-1950)
Patrick Barty (Ca 1945-1950)
Tom McCreath (SH 1944-1947)
William Carnegie (Ca 1950-1955)
Thomas Darling (Ca 1932-1937) (Deceased)
Fathers
Andrew Getley (Gl 1979-1984)
Andros Symeonides (Gl 1992-1996)
Ben Pei (Ar-Ki 1980-1984)
Bruce Dingwall (SH 1973-1978)
Charlie Maclean-Bristol (SH 1980-1985)
David Henderson (Ar 1977-1982)
Eric Young (Ar 1969-1974)
Gordon MacLeod (Ar-Mo 1978-1983)
Hugh Bruce-Watt (Gl 1972-1976)
Jeremy Welch (SH 1974-1979)
Jonathan Norrie (JS, Gl 1981-1989)
Malcolm Scott (SH 1977-1982)
Michael Wood (SH 1977-1982)
Murdo Maclean (Ki 1992-1996)
Nick Roberts (Ar 1974-1979)
Peter Sutton (SH 1979-1984)
Robin Sperling (Gl 1977-1981)
Roger Grant (Mo 1964-1969)
Ross Leckie (Gl 1971-1975)
Scott Gordon (SH 1982-1984)
Stuart Buchanan-Smith (JS, Mo 1976-1984)
Tom Usher (JS, Gl 1979-1986)
Willy Inglis (Ki 1980-1985)
Charles Letts (Ki 1978-1983) (Deceased)
Hamish Newlands (Ki 1979-1984) (Deceased)
Mothers
Amanda Mair (CW 1985-1989)
Mairi Mickel (CW 1986-1990)
Amanda Forsyth (née Baker) (Ar 1982-1984)
Annabel Newlands (née McQuillan) (Ar 1978-1979)
Caroline Lindsay (née Donaldson) (CE 1988-1990)
Clare Martin (née Cockburn) (Da 1985-1987)
Cordelia Pilz (née Harrison) (Ar 1982-1984)
Elaine Halligan (née Little) (Ar 1982-1984)
Emma Schneider (née Forbes) (Ar 1982-1982)
Fiona Banatvala (née Davidson)(Da-SH 1984-1986)
Fiona Pollock (née Vaughan) (Ar 1983-1984)
Jo Prosser (Ar 1983-1983)
Leesa Tulloch (Ar 1983-1988)
Lorna Duff (née Bennett) (Ar 1988-1993)
Louisa McEwan (née Greatrex) (Ar 1983-1984)
Sarah Law (née Telfer) (Ar 1981-1983)
Seonaid Macpherson-Raffell (née Macpherson) (Ar 1982-1986)
FETTESIAN SUCCESSION
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 41
Central Scotland
The Central Scotland Lunch Club have
continued to have multiple enjoyable
and fruitful gatherings throughout
2016-2017. The Central Scotland
Lunches began back in the early eighties
when a couple of OFs from different
parts of the country had to meet for
professional reasons. However, being
OFs, after business there was always
time for some social interaction (a wee
sensation or three and a bite to eat).
The profit made from the cost of the
lunch is returned to the College once
a year to help support a pupil centred
activity. Over the years, we have helped
to support Sporting, Musical and
Cultural Tours as well as helping to buy
a new electric piano for Dalmeny house,
requested by the Girls themselves. We
now usually hold six or seven lunches
a year and meet at The Star & Garter
Hotel in Linlithgow. We are presently
updating our mailing list so that we can
ensure OF’s interested in attending the
lunches are kept in the loop.
Sandy Park (Ki 1965-1970)
Edinburgh
The ninth Edinburgh Old Fettesian
Lunch was held on 19th May at the
Royal Scots Club but this time we were
delighted to welcome as our guests
the Headmaster Michael Spens and his
wife Debbie. This resulted in a record
attendance of 44 OFs old and new, and
the normal venue, the Douglas room,
changed to the Hepburn suite, which
was larger and, as it had its own bar,
was very convenient.
Ian MacIntyre (Ca 1953-1958)
welcomed the assembled company
and asked Peter Sutton (SH 1979-1984),
who has recently been inducted as the
new minister of St Cuthbert’s, Princes
Street, to say grace. Peter used as his
theme for this valedictory grace the
letter F for Fettes and later presented a
copy to the Headmaster.
An excellent lunch was served
by the Club staff and before coffee
Alastair Salvesen (Mo 1954-60) gave
a succinct résume of Michael Spens’
achievements during his time at the
helm of our school and very impressive
they were.
The Headmaster then replied and
said how much he and Debbie had
enjoyed their time at Fettes but felt that
after 19 years it was time to move on.
Ian MacIntyre thanked them for
attending the lunch and wished them
all good fortune for the future.
Peter Lee (Ca 2008-2014) has made a
remarkable recovery following his life
changing accident whilst on holiday
with his Fettes friends in the summer
of 2014. We were delighted to hear
that Peter came out of rehabilitation
in Portugal at the end of May 2017
and was finally able to travel home
to South Korea. He managed several
days in Edinburgh on his journey. OFs
pictured here were delighted to enjoy
dinner with Peter. This quote came
with the photo which needs no further
explanation. ‘It was the most incredible
evening. Peter is such an amazing
person. We are all so proud’.
Whilst back in Edinburgh, Peter
also spent time in Carrington with the
Housemaster James Weatherby and his
family and the Headmaster.
OF EVENTS
Front L-R: Rory Hardie (Ca 2012-2014), Alasdair Grassie (Gl 2008-2014),
Peter Lee (2008-2014), Jerome Lam (Moredun 2009-2014), Ben Thornton (Ca 2010-2012),
Orlando Pritchard Barrett (From Glenalmond). Back L-R: Lewis Rasmusen (2009-2014),
Ele Robertson (CW 2009-2014), Emma Weston (Ar 2009-2014), Hector McMicking (Gl 2009-
2014), Jamie Eedle (2004-2012), Rory Martin (2010-2014), Ruaraidh Gale (2009-2014)
42 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Singapore: Nicola Pickavance (2015-Present)
and Rosie Thompson (SH 1984-1986)
Eurozone
Norval Gough kindly hosted the
2016 Eurozone Weekend in Basel
the weekend of 16th September. In
attendance were: Ralph Shabetai (Ki
1946-49), Sandy Orttewell (Ca 1954-
59) and Elaine Orttewell, Douglas
Bruce (Ca 1955-60) and Marie-Claude
Bruce, Gavin Peebles (CW 1956-60),
Norval Gough (Ar 1976-80) and Jenny
Gough. This year’s Eurozone weekend
will be hosted by John Murphy (Ki
1963-1967) on Lake Como, from 15th-
17th September 2017. One whole villa
has been booked out by OFs already!
If you would like details, please email
OFA@fettes.com.
Glasgow
A small group of OFs gathered once
again on 19th February at Rogano’s in
Glasgow to enjoy a fine lunch amid fine
company, alongside Glasgow Regional
Co-ordinator and President of the OFA,
Andrew Pickles (Ca 1962-1967).
Hong Kong/Singapore
In March, the Headmaster, Debbie
and Nicola Pickavance, Director of
Development, travelled to Asia where
they hosted three events to which all
OFs in the region were invited. The first
was a Drinks Reception in Singapore
where some 30 guests comprising
OFs, parents and prospective parents
gathered together on the rooftop
terrace of The British Club. This was
attended by the OFA Regional Secretary
for Singapore, Rosie Thompson (née
Leckie) (SH 1984-1986). Then, a couple
of days later, 60 guests including many
OFs attended a Drinks Reception at
The China Club in Hong Kong. Both
events were an opportunity for those
gathered to hear an update on recent
developments at Fettes from the
Headmaster and, of course, this being
his and Debbie’s last trip to Asia for
Fettes, to say farewell to them. Both
events were wonderful gatherings with
happy Fettes memories being shared
across the generations. Finally, on their
last day in Hong Kong, the Headmaster,
Debbie and Nicola hosted a Business
Breakfast for the Fettes Community
at law firm Minter Ellison. This venue
was kindly provided by current parent
Fred Kinmonth and allowed some 25
members of our community to gather
for business networking purposes. All in
all the trip was a great success!
On 7-9th April, Victor Tsien, Alex
Potter, William Leung and Kwong Yu
Lam had an Old Fettesian Reunion in
Hong Kong, keen to attend the Hong
Kong Rugby Sevens matches together.
They all fondly recall life in Carrington
together from 1985-1989.
L-R: Kwong Yu Lam (Ca 1985-1989),
William Leung (Ca 1985-1989), Alex Potter
(Ca 1985-1989), Victor Tsien (Ca 1985-1989)
Ireland
The fourth and final All Ireland
OFA Burns Supper was held, as in
previous years, at the Ulster Reform
Club on February 10th 2017. We were
particularly pleased to welcome our
President, Andrew Pickles Esq, who
had undertaken an arduous, yet
thankfully uneventful, journey by ferry
from Cairnryan to join us in Belfast.
Once again the all-Ireland dimension
was happily reflected by the good
number of OFs and their guests who
had travelled up from the South for the
event: most notably the Baxter Brothers
(Warren (Mo 1981-1986), David (Mo
1983-1988), Max (JS, Mo 1984-1992))
and Mr and Mrs Michael Shiell (Gl
1962-1967) all of whom have supported
this event from its inception. It would
be remiss not to mention thanks to Mia
Johnston (Da 2012-2014) for raising
at least half of the party from the
u25 group some of whom were OFs
form beyond these shores. We were
delighted to see the return of Zach
Cunningham-White (Ki 2009-2014)
who came back to Belfast again this
year despite last year’s incessant and
somewhat inane questioning: “which
Cunningham are you: Co. Antrim or
Co. Down?”. We must also give special
mention to Oscar Chan (Mo 2010-
2014) whose Fettes suit was a sartorial
joy to behold. I mentioned that this
was the final All Ireland Burns Supper
and must explain that this is due to the
fact that I have been asked to address
the haggis at the Ulster Reform Club’s
own Burns Supper and I am afraid that
The Headmaster and Debbie Spens with Hong Kong-based OFs
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 43
I do not have the constitution, despite
rigorous training over the last 25 years (a
reliable source of vexation for John Foot
(CE 1963-1967; Staff 1977-2010) in the
Glencorse years), to take on two such
events in close succession. However
I am pleased to advise that the plan is to
replace this event with a drinks party in
the Spring of 2018. Is there such a thing
as a Fettes Martini?
Jason A. Johnston (Gl 1988-1993)
London
James Macpherson (Gl 1997-2002)
once again kindly organised the London
Old Fettesian Drinks Party, held at
Gallery 8, 8 Duke Street St James’s on
17th May. London-based OFs were
treated to a private viewing of Visions
of the Scottish West Coast by Jolomo
(Dr John Lowrie Morrison OBE), while
bubbles were generously provided
by Nyetimber’s Hannah Heerema (Ar
1999-2002). OFs from a wide spread
of years attended, coming in from the
rain to share stories and make new and
renewed connections. A good time
was had by all. We hope that at the
next drinks party an even larger group
can journey on to the Golden Lion Pub
around the corner – rain be damned.
London Carol Service
On 15th December 2016 the third OFA
Carol Service was held in London at St
Michael’s, Chester Square. Over 250
OFs, family and friends joined for a
special service led by Revd Ashley Null
(Chaplain 1994-1995) and addressed
by Revd Robin Weekes (Jnr, Mo 1983-
1991). David Thomas (Director of Music
1993-1998) brilliantly coached and led a
choir made up of 20+ ex-Chapel Choir
members. After the service friendships
old and new were developed over
mulled wine and mince pies.
A retiring offering was collected for
the FetLor Youth Club in Edinburgh,
founded 85 years ago by members of
Fettes College and Loretto School.
Many thanks to the Headmaster and
to Debbie Spens for being involved in
their last OFA Carol Service as staff of
the College.
We are delighted to announce
the OFA London Carol Service will
be happening again on the 13th of
December 2017 at 7pm at St Michael’s,
Chester Square. The speaker will be
Revd Bob Marsden (Staff 1995-1999).
Do contact David Simpson (Mo 2001-
2006) if you would like to be involved
in any capacity (davidmoodysimpson@
icloud.com).
New York
The annual gathering of OFs in the USA
took place at a Dinner in the Yale Club
in New York on 28th April 2017, thanks
to the efforts of Davidson Gordon (Gl
1957-1962), the OFA’s Regional Secretary
in the area. Some 40 guests gathered for
a very pleasant dinner, which was also
attended by Michael and Debbie Spens
and Nicola Pickavance from Fettes.
Guests included several Trustees
from Fettes US-based charity, The
Friends of Fettes Inc (FFC Inc), who
do a tremendous job supporting
fundraising and assisting with the Fettes
Career Partnership Programme in the
US. Their President, Graham Cole (Ca
1961-1962), stood down at the FFC
Inc. AGM that same afternoon, so this
Dinner was a wonderful opportunity
for the Headmaster to present him
with an engraved Quaich and thank
him for his loyal service to Fettes. In
return, Graham took the opportunity
to express his gratitude to Michael and
Debbie Spens for their loyal service to
Fettes. He also wished his successor as
President, Jones Pharr (Ca 1995-1996)
very well.
This year we were also honoured
to welcome Hope Sim, the widow of
Ian Sim (Ca 1956-1960). Ian served on
the FFC Inc Board from 2011 and sadly
passed away in October 2016.
North East England
As ever there was a wonderful turn out
at the North East Dinner in Newcastle,
which was held on 13th January at the
Northumberland Golf Club. Colin
Smith (Gl 1974-1979), hosted the
Dinner, which was once again kindly
organised by OFA Regional Secretary
Henry Cave (SH 1980-1984). This
year the North East Branch of the OFA
welcomed the Headmaster and his wife
Debbie as their special guests to bid
them farewell and they were joined by
former Headmaster, Malcolm Thyne
(Staff 1988-1998). There was a fantastic
turn out with almost 60 OFs present on
the night. Those gathered heard from
their host Colin, former Head of School
Steve Baker (Gl 1979-1987) and from
the Headmaster who reminisced about
many happy evenings over the years
spent with OFs in the North East.
North West England
The North West Old Fettesian dinner
was held again this year at The Swan
with Two Nicks on 24th February.
We were delighted to welcome
the Headmaster and Debbie Spens
along with Nicola Pickavance (Staff
2015-Present) and the President of the
OFA Andrew Pickles (Ca 1962-1967).
The Haggis was notably addressed by
Allan Paterson (SH 1975-1979) before
Chris Faux (Gl 1953-1958) updated us
on the sad death in mid November of
Ken Bett (CE 1947-1952), who for years
has addressed the Haggis in his own
unforgettable manner. We all remember
him with very fond memories and will
miss him in the future. The Headmaster
gave us a review of his time at Fettes.
We all wish him and Debbie every
happiness and good fortune for their
future, whatever that may be.
Malcolm Currie (Gl 1960-1966)
was, as usual, the very first to reply to
the invitation and we were delighted
to welcome Alexander (Gl 2004-
2006) and Jennifer Oldroyd for their
first NWOFA Dinner. Chris Eddleston
(CW 1964-1968) and his wife, Gill, flew
back from holiday especially to be
with us. Euan McMaster (Ki 1961-1965)
and Eddie made their annual trip up
from London. There were, this year 28
attendees and we hope that more may
swell our numbers next year on 23rd
February 2018.
Norman Rowbotham (Ca 1963-1968)
44 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Northern Isles Lunch
The third Northern Isles OFA lunch,
hosted by Northern Isles Regional
Co-ordinator Barbara Graham (Gl
1975-1977) on 29th May went very well.
A party of six met at the Kirkwall Hotel
for a most enjoyable lunch. One of
the party, Alastair Skene (CE 1966-
1970), had taught physics at Kirkwall
Grammar School to Barbara’s son and
to the children of George Leslie (Ca
1949-1952) and his wife Sandra, so they
were more accustomed to seeing him
at parent – teacher evenings! It was
interesting to hear what it was like to
be at Fettes when the first girls arrived,
and at the same time as Tony Blair (Ki,
Ar 1966-1971). John Leith (Gl 1949-
1951) and George Leslie had been close
friends from the age of 12 at Fettes, are
now in their 80s, and enjoyed a laugh
about some of the things they used
to get up to. Special mention must go
to John and Muriel Leith who travelled
north from Aberdeen specially to
attend the lunch.
South Africa (Gauteng)
The 2017 Gauteng OF Reunion was
held on March 11th at the home of
Hitesh Desai (SH 1976-1981) and his
wife, Sonia, in Dainfern Golf Estate,
north of Johannesburg, on a beautiful
sunny day on Saturday 11th March.The
reunion was attended by: Don Elliot
(Ca 1966-1971) and wife, Kathy; Stephen
P Fish (SH 1980-1981) and wife, Maria;
Margaret Fish, mother of Stephen;
Colin G Macdonald (CW 1948-1953
& Staff); Mike North (CW 1946-1950)
and wife, Cilla; Fleur Rollason (Gap
year tutor 2005) and partner, Nick and
finally, outgoing Regional Co-ordinator
John Rollason (CW 1962-1966) Sonia
continued the tradition of us enjoying
themed meals and had prepared a
middle Eastern menu. Our senior
OF, Mike North, kindly delivered the
Fettes Grace.At our last reunion chez
Desai the heavens opened whilst we
were still enjoying our lunch, but on
this occasion the weather was perfect
and all thoroughly enjoyed the Desai
hospitality.John states: “I have been
Gauteng Hon Sec for more years than I
care to remember, so I was grateful that
after an excellent lunch Stephen Fish
kindly offered to take over this role, a
move that was heartily seconded and
approved by all present.”
John Rollason (CW 1962-1966)
Yorkshire
Immediately prior to taking over the
mantle of Yorkshire Regional Secretary
from Hamish Patrick (Ki 1980-1985),
Dariel Pitt (née Brown) kindly hosted
this year’s black-tie dinner in Harrogate
at The West Park Hotel on 31st March
2017. A great time was had by all, with
an intimate dinner enabling fantastic
conversation. In attendance were, from
left to right; Nick Duxbury (Ki 1978-
1983), Rob Shepherd (Mo 1978-1982),
Dariel Pitt, Dominic Busby (Ca 1982-
1986), Malcolm Scott (Gl 1973-1979),
Simone Mallett (Ar 1981-1983), Freddie
Fuller (Mo 2008-2012) and Andrew
Pickles (Ca 1962-1967).
Gauteng OF Reunion
Yorkshire
Northern Isles lunch. L-R: Alastair Skene (CE 1966-1970), Muriel
Leith, Barbara Graham (Gl 1975-1977), John Leith (Gl 1949-1951),
Sandra Leslie, George Leslie (Ca 1949-1952)
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 45
1930s
Vice-Admiral Sir Roderick Macdonald
(Gl 1935-1938): A cottage on Skye
where Second World War veteran
Vice Admiral Sir Roddy Macdonald
retired to paint has officially opened
as an artists’ residence by Wasps
Studios, called The Admiral’s House.
Sir Roddy’s former home near Portree
has been restored since his death in
2001, with the addition of two extra
studios in its grounds. The 79-year-old
was described by Creative Scotland as
one of the island’s “most remarkable
characters”. His wide-ranging
community involvement included as
chieftain of the Skye Highland Games
and president of the Skye Piping
Society. The keen watercolourist retired
from the Royal Navy in 1979 to paint
at the cottage at Ollach, overlooking
Raasay. Sir Roddy learned to paint at
Fettes, and is said to have taken his
brushes everywhere throughout his
40-year naval career. Early evidence of
Sir Roddy’s skill came in highly-skilled
line drawings and watercolours in
his midshipman’s journal during the
Second World War.
1940s
Sir Robert Walmsley (Gl 1954-1958):
2016 passed with the usual crop of
surprises: started 4th year as Chairman
of the new benefits system, Universal
Credit; arrival of 9th grandchild; and
appointment of my eldest daughter as
CEO of GlaxoSmithKline – a bigger job
by far than any of mine.
For 2017 I hope and expect that
David Seager also (GL 1954-1958) and
I can put various unsolicited medical
interventions behind us and resume
our frequent fishing jaunts in northern
Scotland.
1950s
Donald McNab (Ki 1946-1951): I stood
down after 25 years from running my
charity ‘Friends of Scottish Rugby’ and
raising £1M. HRH Princess Royal spoke
at my farewell dinner in the Caledonian
Club.
General John De Chastelain (CW
1950-1955): Since finishing in Ireland
in 2011, and a brief involvement since
then advising authorities in Colombia
regarding their peace negotiations with
the FARC, I am largely retired although
still involved in giving speeches and on
the boards of a number of pro bono
organizations.
Derek Ferguson (Mo 1952-1956)
has retired from Kuwait and is now
assisting in the new family venture,
GlobalGrandparents, which is an
innovative communication platform
specifically designed for families
separated by distance and time
zones to keep in touch and to share
updates, photos, videos and events.
The business has been born out of
personal experience of being a family
dispersed around the world, and, on a
personal level, it has greatly improved
the contact with his grandchildren in
Sydney who are writing almost daily
updates on his Family Activity Page,
which is wonderful. No more navigating
different sites – everything is in the
one place, stored safely to be shared
and treasured – a family history in the
making. Further details can be found at
www.globalgrandparents.com, which
includes his contact details.
Frank Evans (CE 1954-1959): I
married my fiancée Lyn in 1963 and we
had over 53 wonderful years together,
but sadly she died in February this year.
It seemed the best approach for me
was to be as active and outgoing as I
could, so what better than to go back to
rowing! When I got to Cambridge after
leaving Fettes and stood on a bridge
over the river, I really felt I wanted to
row though I had never done so before.
I was strongly advised that this was
incompatible with a science degree,
however three years later when I left I
did have a degree in physics, a fiancée
and a trophy oar – Fitzwilliam House 1st
May Boat 1961. The boats are different
now, Cornish Gigs instead of an Eight,
but the feeling is the same (and I’m
much the same weight). Too old at 76?
Well no, I keep up well and one of the
active members is 92. Life after Fettes?
Definitely, but I can see its legacy in all
this.
1960s
Douglas Bruce (Ca 1955-1960):
Following his second recital at Princeton
University as part of his 11th tour of
the US, Douglas continues his prolific
touring schedule as an organist, with
recitals in Germany, Ukraine and
Poland.
Richard Thorpe (CW 1956-
1961): I have after four years recently
completed the editing of Kenneth Rose
Journals, 1944-2014. Weidenfeld and
Nicolson are going to publish the book
– a volume of about 100 pages – in April
2018. The title is Who’s In, Who’s Out: The
Journals of Kenneth Rose, 1944-2014.
Stuart Murray (Mo 1961-1966):
Calling all O.F. golfers in the south east.
Please get in touch. stuart.murray@
murraywise.com
Ed Todd (Gl 1961-1966): I “retired”
from the position of Director of USA
Rugby Referee Department in 2014,
but remain on contract. I spend most
my time on Discipline and Appeals, a
role that has spread to World Rugby
for whom I’ve been the Delegated
Disciplinary Officer at the HSBC Sevens
for both the men and women the last
two years, as well as last year’s historic
test match between New Zealand and
Ireland in Soldier Field. I’ve also been
OF NEWS
46 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Match Commissioner for a number of
test matches over the last two years.
Not bad for a 2nd XVer.
Michael Gascoigne (Ki 1962-1967):
I can reveal, some 49 years on, that,
in the left-hand photo on page 102
of A Keen Wind Blows, the right-hand
bridesmaid is me, aged just 14. It was
the Kimmerghame House Play which
was put on in the Spring term of 1963
(the photo’s text is incorrect in that
respect).
John Lang (Ca 1962-1967): I have
just completed a three week adventure
in Namibia, which included seven days
under canvas on the Skeleton Coast
and in the Red Desert, supporting
about 100 ultra-marathoners who
were competing in a 250km race.
Duties included rising every morning
at 4.30am in order to set up and man
the various checkpoints. Temperatures
reached 45 degrees C in the desert and
about 20% of the contestants dropped
out of the race. En route to Namibia, I
stopped off in Johannesburg for two
nights and enjoyed a dinner reunion
with John Rollason (CW 1962-1966),
who used to be the OFA’s Regional
Secretary for the Gauteng region of
South Africa.
Doug Chalmers (Gl 1964-1969):
A memory: I was Captain of cricket in
the year that the famous Glencorse fire
occurred and at the time was playing
"at home" under the guidance of David
Pighills (Staff 1960-1975). Being a
resident of Glencorse I hurried back to
house during the tea break in the Pavilion
to see my dormitory etc going up in
smoke. I reported back to the Pavilion
and advised David Pighills (Staff 1960-
1975) of the news to be told not to worry
about it and that if I continued with my
in swinging bowling then we had a good
chance of winning the game! After the
game I joined the rest of the Glencorse
contingent who were making their way
to Arniston as this had almost been
completed (but had no contents or any
other furnishings) and by the evening
it had become our “new home”. There
were mattresses on the floor (no beds)
and as I was still in cricket whites (having
lost all other belongings and clothing in
the fire). There was a large cardboard
box in the foyer where all other pupils
could "donate" spare clothes to the
Glencorse men!
1970s
Jack Cowdy (Mo 1967-1970): This is
the 50th anniversary of the four OFs
(pictured) arrival at Fettes. I arrived
January 1967, Chris Brown (Mo 1967-
1971) arrived summer term 1967 and
Willy (Mo 1967-1970) and George
Morgan (Mo 1967-1970), ‘the Morgan
twins’ arrived September 1967.
L-R: Chris Brown, Ann Peebles (a friend
and pupil at St George’s while we were at
Fettes), Jack Cowdy, George Morgan, Willy
Morgan
The photo commemorates our own
reunion on 13th April 2017. Willy, George
and I have met up from time to time
over the years but this is the first time
that Chris Brown has been with us all
since 1970.
I live near London as does Chris
Brown. Willy Morgan currently lives in
Acapulco, Mexico and George lives in
Bangkok, Thailand so this reunion was
not easy to coordinate!
Dr Antony Wong (Ca 1974-1979):
Antony is married with two daughters,
and is a dental surgeon at BUPA in
London.
Colin Grassie (Mo 1974-1979): The
Scottish Rugby Board unanimously
voted Colin as its new Chairman, taking
over from Sir Moir Lockhead OBE
with effect from 1 January 2017. Colin
joined the Scottish Rugby Board as an
Independent Non-Executive Director
in July 2012 having been UK CEO and
a member of the Group Executive
Committee at Deutsche Bank. He was
re-appointed to the Scottish Rugby
Board in July 2015 and will take on the
role of Chairman for a 3-year period
commencing in January 2017. Scottish
Rugby CEO Mark Dodson said: “In
Colin we are fortunate to have another
highly experienced business leader to
help us deliver on our strategic plans to
secure the game for the future and I am
looking forward to working closely with
him in the coming years.”
Alastair Reid (Mo 1970-1975): I
continue to serve as Headmaster at
Ballard School, New Milton, Hampshire.
My wife, Rosalyn, was a Latin teacher
at a neighbouring Prep School and
recently successfully helped prepare a
pupil for entrance to Fettes. Our three
children are all married and we have
a three year old grandson. Recently
I turned 60 and had a surprise party
at Ballard with friends and family
over several generations attending –
including Dr Peter Coshan (Staff 1972-
2005) who started his teaching at Fettes
when I was there as a ‘new man’.
Andrew Lownie (Mo 1974-1979)
is a literary agent, broadcaster and
writer. He is a trustee of the Campaign
for Freedom of Information and
President of the Biographers Club.
He has just held a visiting fellowship
at Churchill College, Cambridge and
been elected a Fellow of the Royal
Historical Society. His most recent
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 47
book Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of
Guy Burgess won the St Ermin’s Hotel
Intelligence Book of the Year and
has been published worldwide. It is
currently being made into both a BBC
documentary and a film. He is now
writing a joint life of Dickie and Edwina
Mountbatten.
1980s
Lindsay Buchan (Gl 1976-1981): was
listed by Country Life in their “Secret
Diary” feature as one of only four
Scottish Architects in their top 100
Architects, Builders and Interior and
landscape Designers in Britain.
Andrew Macdonell (SH 1979-1984)
is settled in East London, South Africa;
where he lives with his wife, Claude, and
two teenage daughters. He continues
to work as a Consulting Engineer in the
Rural Water Supply sector. He is an active
member of the local Caledonian Society
and, for 2016-17, was elected Provincial
Chieftain of all the Caledonian Societies
in the Cape Province.
1990s
Grace Tam (CE 1988-1992): obtained
her PhD in Psychology in 2016 from
Northcentral University in the USA.
Adam Gordon (Ki 1988-1992): My
wife and I had our second child on
January 28th; a girl called Òran Lesley
Jean Gordon. I acquired Social Media
Search, the company I founded in 2009,
from my joint-venture partner Norman
Broadbent plc on December 30th and
have also launched Candidate.ID, the
world’s first talent pipeline software
platform. I celebrated my 40th birthday
with a party at Pollokshields Burgh Hall
on 9th March. Sarah Chambers (née
McCaig) (Ar 1991-1994), Piers MacLeod
(Gl 1988-1995), Gordon MacFarlane (Ki
1988-1993), Helen McCallin (Ar 1990-
1995), Charlie Keenan (Gl 1990-1995),
Kay Bennett (Ar 1990-1995), Sam Paton
(Mo 1987-1992), Mark Henderson (Mo
1988-1995). Also present Catherine
Gordon (Inv 1991-1992).
Emma Vandore (CE 1991-1993) and
Paul Kanabahita welcomed a daughter,
Grace Hilary, on 12th December
2015. She is a happy, smiley, laughing
little girl who likes singing, dancing,
banging things, splashing, reading and
scribbling.
2000s
Debbie Gore (CW 1992-2000)
married Brian Stephen O’Connell on
25th February 2017 at Le Talbooth
in Dedham, Suffolk. They were
surrounded by family and friends, and
enjoyed a Scottish Ceilidh.
Otto Bell (Ki 1996-2000): After
a career in advertising, this year saw
the release of The Eagle Huntress,
a Kazakh-language documentary
produced and directed by Otto, about
a young Mongolian girl attempting to
become the first female eagle hunter
to compete in the eagle festival at Ulgii.
Narrated and executive produced
by Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley and
with a soundtrack featuring singer-
songwriter Sia, the film was shortlisted
for an Academy Award for Best
Documentary Feature and was a BAFTA
Award nominee.
Dr Neil Mackenzie (1993-2001):
Following his tragic death in a climbing
accident in 2015, Neil’s family have set
up The Neil Mackenzie Trust, which
gives grants to residents in Scotland
for outdoor skills training, and for
expeditions and challenging adventures
to people who would otherwise not be
able to afford them.
The Bell’s Bothy Challenge is a
year-long, worldwide event and the
main fundraising event of 2017. It is a
“positive challenge” for anyone who
wants to test themselves, improve the
environment, meet and make friends,
raise money for the Trust, and help
to publicise the Trust by encouraging
donations and posting on the blog.
Although the main event took place at
Camasunary in early May and early July,
anyone can participate, anywhere in
the world, at any time during the year.
The first participants, two great friends
of Neil’s, Lewis (Gl 1998-2002) and Jorg
Luyken (Gl 1997-2003), canoed down
part of the Murray River, in Australia in
January. Their trip report can be seen
in the Blog section of the Trust website.
theneilmackenzietrust.wordpress.com
Amie Routledge (Ar 1994-2002):
After leaving Fettes, Amie studied
Architecture at Newcastle University
and went on to work for some of
Edinburgh’s leading commercial
practices before fully qualifying in
2013. Yearning a change in creative and
professional scenery, she then enrolled
in the HND Garden Design programme
at SRUC Edinburgh, graduating
with a distinction and setting up
AJR Greenspace in 2016. Drawing
from her architectural background,
she offers over a decade of design
experience, a keen eye for detail and,
above all, a passion for rejuvenating
landscapes. Amie has just returned
from RHS Chelsea where the nursery
The Fettes contingent at Adam Gordon’s 40th
48 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
was awarded its fifth consecutive
gold medal. Plants have become a
major passion in Amie’s life and she
wholeheartedly believes in the positive
effect of green spaces, regardless of
scale, in the hustle and bustle of our
busy everyday lives.
Should you wish to contact
Amie, please do so using amie@
ajrgreenspace.com or visit her website
www.ajrgreenspace.com
Chris Park (Ki 1996-2002) and
Christine Harris became parents to
Eleanor Maria on 31st May 2016.
Lynsey Balfour (née MacDonald
CE 1995-2003): Lynsey got married
on Saturday 8th April to Michael
Balfour. They had a wonderful day
and the weather was stunning. She
felt fortunate to have so many of her
Fettesian friends celebrating with her,
who after 14 years are still her dearest
friends.
All four bridesmaids were OFs:
Charlotte Douglas (CW 1999-2003),
Olivia Hunter (CE 1997-2003), Catriona
Gamble (CW 1998- 2003) and Muriel
Taylor (née Macpherson) (CE 1996-
2003).
They had an OF mini pipe band,
one drummer and three pipers – Pipe
Band: Edward Young (Ki 1998-2003)
and the Red Hot Fettes Pipers; James
Bartolo (Gl 1998-2003), Chris Medlock
(Ca 1998- 2003) and Hamish Irvine
Robertson (Gl 1997-2003).
Bell Ringers; Jamie MacKenzie (Ca
1996-2003) and Alexander Cadzow
(Ca 1996-2003).
Oliver Lang (Ca 1999-2004): I
graduated from Bath University in
2009 with a Masters degree in Civil &
Architectural Engineering and returned
to Hong Kong (where I was born)
to work. I obtained my MICE (Civil
Engineering Chartership) in record
time (minimum working time before
sitting the review is three years, I did it
in three years and six days and passed
first time), and worked for a further
year, unsatisfied. It was a real struggle to
imagine myself in a job that didn’t have
decent financial prospects and perhaps
a respected/successful title, but after
a lot of internal conflict, I quit my job,
travelled a little and spent one of the
best years of my life in New Zealand on
an intense 1-year course to obtain my
Diploma in Outdoor Education. I never
thought in a million years that I would
want to ‘teach’ but when I saw the
profound impact these adventures had
on kids and adults alike, I was moved
and pursued a career in the outdoors.
The pay is much less, the hours are
longer but I am by far a happier person
and I feel like I am doing something
impactful – both to people’s lives and
to the environment by exposing clients
to our beautiful outdoors and the
tremendously detrimental impact we
currently have on it. These courses are
far more than fun outdoor pursuits –
they force the clients to look up from
their devices, learn how to interact with
their peers and create a connection
with each other and everything around
them.
Dennis Ho (Gl 2000-2004) got
married to Doris Cheng on 12 November
2016 at the Airport World Trade Centre
Club in Hong Kong, with Andy Ng (Ki
2000-2004) officiating as the best man.
In attendance were Kate Chan (CE
2000-2004) and Andy’s wife Phoebe.
Richard Yardley (Ki 2003-2005):
married Miss Lucy Pearsall 0n 9th July
2016.
Arran Black (Mo 2000-2007): After
leaving Fettes some ten years back, my
partner and I opened our first children’s
nursery in Barnton (Edinburgh) last year.
We are seven months in, and just got
shortlisted for the NDNA’s Nursery of
the Year award (one of three in Scotland
and the only one in Edinburgh). I believe
Lynsey Balfour (nee MacDonald CE 1995-2003) wedding: The photo from top to bottom:
Jamie MacDonald (Gl 1995-2001); Ben Pentland (Gl 2001-2003); Oliver Cotterell (Gl 1996-
2003); Alexander Cadzow (Ca 1996-2003); James Bartolo (Gl 1998-2003); Sondra Baxter
(née Sheriff) (CW 1996-2003); Edward Young (Ki 1998-2003); Chris Medlock (Ca 1998-
2003); Dominique Adams (CE 2000-2003); Francesca Macintosh-Walker (née Walford)
(Ar 1997-2003); Natasha Edwards (née Dempsey) (Ar 1999-2003); Olivia Hunter (CE 1997-
2003); Charlotte Douglas (CW 1999-2003); Lynsey Balfour (née MacDonald) (CE 1995-
2003); Muriel Taylor (née Macpherson) (CE 1996-2003); Daniela Quillet (née Pickup)
(CE 1999-2001); Helen Rollo (Ar 1999-2003); Catriona Gamble (CW 1998- 2003); Kirsten
Robertson (née Waddell CE 2002-2003); Jamie MacKenzie (Ca 1996-2003); Hamish Irvine
Robertson (Gl 1997-2003); Thomas Ogilvy (Ki 1996-2003); Frank Gamble (CW 1966-1970)
(missing from the photo)
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 49
we even have a Fettes staff member on
the waiting list.
www.flyingcoloursnursery.co.uk
Blair Bonar-Campbell (Mo 2003-
2008) became a father to identical
twins Giorgia and Emilia on the 6th
March 2017.
2010s
Michael Brideoake Gray (Mo 2003-
2010) was commissioned from
Sandhurst in August last year into The
Royal Regiment of Scotland, and is now
a 2nd Lt. with the Black Watch, which is
the 3rd Batt. Of the R.R.of S.
Stuart Pringle (Mo 2007-2012)
got an MEng (1st Class Hons) at
Northumbria University.
News From The College
Scottish Design Award
Page\Park Architect’s recently
completed project for Fettes
College, the Spens Building, won a
Scottish Design Award recently in
the “Education Building” category:
www.scottishdesignawards.com/
scottish-design-awards/scottish-design-
awards-2017#60006. Now in its 20th
year, the Scottish Design Awards reward
top architecture firms and design
agencies for their contribution to the
country’s historic and contemporary
design culture. The awards are open
to all Scottish companies and those
outwith who have a Scottish client.
The awards are exclusive to Scotland
to celebrate the best design and
architecture in the country.
Tatler Public School of the Year Award
It was an exhilarating moment at the
Tatler Schools Awards ceremony, which
was held at the London Landmark Hotel
on Thursday 8th September, when
Fettes College was announced as the
winner of the Tatler Award for the Public
School of the Year 2016.
Everyone at Fettes College is
delighted and honoured that the
school has received this highly coveted
accolade. The Tatler Schools Guide
has become the definitive reference
for those seeking information and
guidance about potential schools for
their children, and the Editors of the
Guide are rigorous and discerning in
their research of individual schools.
Winning this award is a powerful
testament to the qualities of the pupils
and the staff, and to all members of the
wider Fettes community.
FetLor Building Completed
FetLor Youth Club was established
in 1924 in memory of the 387 young
Officers of Fettes College and Loretto
School who lost their lives in the First
World War. It has served generations
of Edinburgh’s young people since,
adapting to their changing needs. Ten
years ago FetLor launched an ambitious
campaign to build a dedicated youth
work hub for North Edinburgh’s young
people. This marvellous new facility,
opened towards the end of 2016, has
now been completed and is serving the
needs of hundreds of children every
week. The FetLor Board are hugely
grateful to those who have made
this possible: the donors, including
many OFs, who had faith to back
their ambition, the professionals who
worked with young people to create
an inspirational space that will serve
the community for generations and the
many individuals who, in their own way,
just made it happen. The young people
themselves also played a part in raising
funds for their Club and helped to raise
the £2.6 million that was required to
make this project happen. The Board is
now working with a team of dedicated
staff to build and run a youth work
programme that will deliver on its
commitment to North Edinburgh. To
read more about what is happening at
FetLor today please visit their website:
www.fetlor.org.uk
Professor Sir Angus Deaton
(Gl 1959-1964)
On Sunday 11th June, Fettes College
was honoured to welcome OF and
Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Angus
Deaton to Chapel and to open the
Spens Building immediately afterwards.
Professor Deaton is currently Professor
of Economics and International Affairs
at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public
and International Affairs at Princeton
University. He was in Edinburgh for
a few days with some of Princeton’s
most generous donors who enjoyed a
packed programme of events across
the city including an event at St Giles
Cathedral, featuring Fettes musicians.
Professor Sir Angus addressed
the School in Chapel speaking about
the Nobel Prize, how it was awarded,
his current work, his early life and
some wonderful Fettes memories.
He also spoke of his father’s ambition
for him to attend Fettes and of how
grateful he was to receive a Foundation
Scholarship. He then officially opened
the magnificent Spens Building for the
students of Fettes College. The whole
School assembled to watch Professor
Sir Angus unveil a special carved stone
to mark this momentous day.
FetLor www.photographyandfloorplans.co.uk
50 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
1940s
Alexander Colquhoun “Sandy”
Grant OBE (Ca 1940-1944) born 4th
October 1926 in Rangoon where his
father worked; Died 16th March 2017 in
Kirriemuir. Younger brother of the late
Jim Grant (Ca 1938-1942). He attended St
Mary’s School in Melrose before coming
to Fettes College. While studying Law
at Edinburgh University he was active
in amateur dramatics. On retiring from
Nigeria, he settled in Kirriemuir, taking
an active role in communal, social and
church life. He bought, did up and
expanded Inverquharity Castle, living
there until its sale, which was notably
featured in the documentary film Keys
To The Castle, for which director Darren
Hercher won a Scottish BAFTA.
Neil Herbert (Ki 1940-1944) passed
away on 17th February 2017. On leaving
Fettes College Neil was called up,
serving with the Fleet Air Arm for two
years before, on being demobbed, he
went to the Heriot-Watt College to gain
a Nat. Dipl. & A.H.W.C. in Mechanical
Engineering training with I.C.I. and then
Nobels Explosives Co.
Mike McGeorge Mo (1941-1945)
Regional Co-ordinator for Zimbabwe
Mike McGeorge sadly passed away
in April 2017 at the age of 89. Always
proud of being an Old Fettesian, Mike
was a key driver of many fantastic Old
Fettesian gatherings. His family are
coming to visit Fettes College in the
summer, a trip that was to be part of a
90th birthday celebration for Mike, but
will now be a reflection on his life, but a
celebration nonetheless.
Alexander Hamish Philip Grant
(Ca 1946-1948) passed away on 17th
October 2016, on what was the 62nd
anniversary of his marriage to Joyce. Son
of D.W. (Mo 1909-1913), Hamish was in
the shooting VIII, returning to Argentina
running on his ranch in Vivorata,
province of Buenos Aires. He was a
stalwart of the OF community there.
Major Peter Noel Thompson (CW
1945-1948) passed away in January
2017. One of the Newmen in Tom
Goldie-Scot’s half of Schoolhouse in
the East, but settling a year later as S.W.
or College West, Peter spent a year
doing the General Course in the VIth,
was in the Naval Section and debated.
On leaving he joined the Royal Marines
serving in Malaya, Cyprus, Suez, Malay
Peninsular and the Persian Gulf before
retiring to London.
Atholl Iain McCrostie (Gl 1944-1948)
passed away on 29th September
2016, aged 86. Born 13th January 1930.
Husband to Patricia, Father to Karen
and Charles and Grandfather to Lauren
and Bryony. A funeral service was
held at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery
Chapel on Thursday 13th October
2016. After graduating from Edinburgh
University and completing his National
Service, Mr McCrostie was admitted
to membership of ICAS, the Scottish
professional body of Chartered
Accountants, on 26th March 1958.
After qualifying, he took a position with
Thomson McLintock & Co, was later
General Manager at Smith MacKenzie
& Co Ltd, and prior to retirement was
Financial Director at Gilman & Co Ltd
(Inchcape).
Keith Randolph Stephen-Evans
(CW 1945-1949) passed away on 14th
October 2016. A stalwart member of
College West, Keith was in the Classical
VIth and fully involved in many out of
school activities – choir, chess, debating
and natural history. He left to do his
two years National Service with R.A.S.C.
before training with the Roy. Insur.
Co. Ltd to become a Claims Manager,
retiring in 1988 to be a Director of The
Abbeyfield Reading Society Ltd., and
Church Treasurer.
Jock Smith (Ca 1944-1949) President
of OFA 1996-1998, died peacefully at
home on Wednesday 13th July 2016.
John was beloved and caring husband
to Rion, a loving father to Mark, Andrew
and Diana and loving grandfather to
Jessica, Luke, Miranda, Venetia, Angus,
William and Ollie. A service was held
at Warriston Crematorium Lorimer
Chapel, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 26th
July.
Jock was a member of the Law
Society Council for 15 years, joining
as the council representative for
Stonehaven, Peterhead and Banff in the
early 80s and serving as president 1987-
88. He retired from Council in 1996.
During Jock’s presidential year he
steered the society and the profession
SADLY DEPARTED
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to those family members, colleagues and friends who have notified us of the deaths of
the Old Fettesians listed in this edition of the Newsletter. This list includes news of Old Fettesian deaths we have been made aware of
this year up until mid-June 2017. If you know of any omissions, please do let us know by emailing OFA@fettes.com or by telephoning
0131 311 6741. Throughout the year, when we are notified of the death of an Old Fettesian we update our website, viewable at
www.fettescommunity.com/#sadlydeparted.
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 51
through a period of immense change,
including the introduction of the first
ever advertising rules for Scottish
solicitors, the establishment of the
new Legal Aid Board in Scotland and
the coming into force of the Financial
Services Act 1986.
Jock was instrumental in securing
the best possible arrangements for
Scottish solicitors in the new UK
financial services regime. He was a
very skillful negotiator and excellent
ambassador on behalf of the
profession. He held clear views as to
how the profession had to adapt to the
demands of modern business while
maintaining the highest professional
and ethical standards.
1950s
Alexander Graham Cairns Smith (Ca
1945-1950) was born 24th November
1931, in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. Died,
26th August, 2016, in Uplawmoor,
East Renfrewshire, aged 85. The ideas
of Edinburgh-educated Scottish
scientist Alexander Graham Cairns-
Smith about the origins of life and
consciousness struck a chord with
the popular imagination in the 1980s,
and today are still being explored. The
most striking among his propositions,
the “clay hypothesis”, has been the
subject of television programmes,
books, and lectures around the world.
This is the idea that the workings of
complex structures such as DNA – “the
building-block of life”, of which the
molecular make-up was discovered
in 1953 – may have been preceded by
similar processes in minerals such as
clay. The way that tiny crystals in clay, an
inorganic substance, continually break
and re-form as “daughter” crystals,
he suggested, may have prefigured
genetic activity, and their patterns may
have been taken over by more complex
organic molecules – the beginnings of
life. His book Seven Clues to the Origin
of Life (1985) caused controversy and
inspired new thought. It has been
translated into nine languages and sold
more than 40,000 copies. Known to
friends and family as Graham, Cairns-
Smith did his first degree, in chemistry,
at Edinburgh University and completed
his PhD there before transferring, in
the 1950s, to an academic career at
the University of Glasgow. Glasgow
University made him an Honorary
Senior Research Fellow, and he
was a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh. Cairns-Smith was for the first
20 years of his university career also a
noted artist, giving one-man exhibitions
of his landscape and abstract works
in watercolour and oils. When in 1972
Cairns-Smith decided to give up his art
to concentrate on organic chemistry
and molecular biology, his then art
master, the figurative painter William
Crosbie, is said to have reproached him:
“A pity you chose science.” As Senior
Lecturer and Reader in Chemistry at
the University of Glasgow, Cairns-Smith
became a much-loved teacher. His wife
and two daughters, and his sister, Joan,
and brother, Michael, survive him.
Dr Bruce Moreton Henderson (Ki 1946-
1951) passed away on 13th October,
2015 surrounded by his loving family,
aged 81. Dr Henderson was born
in Sao Paulo Brazil. He received his
medical degree from the University
of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1958 and
completed surgical residency training
at the University of Alberta Hospital and
Miami Valley Hospital. He followed this
with a paediatric surgical fellowship
at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He
received his training in paediatric
urology at Mass. General. Upon
completion of his training, the lure of
the gulf enticed Dr Henderson to make
Corpus Christi and Driscoll Children’s
Hospital his home.
For almost 40 years, Dr Henderson
provided surgical care to thousands
of children with serious congenital
abnormalities, traumatic injuries
and acute surgical emergencies.
He performed countless life-saving
operations that made lasting
differences in the lives of extremely
premature infants, children and
adolescents. For many of those years,
Dr Henderson worked without a
partner as the sole paediatric surgeon
at Driscoll. During that time, he was
selflessly committed to his patients and
never refused to see a sick or injured
child, no matter the time of the day
or ability to pay. Dr Henderson was
indissolubly committed to the care of
children and exemplified the very best
of what the ethos of being a doctor is
all about.
Dr Henderson served as Chief of
Staff and Chief of Surgery in addition
to many other leadership roles at
Driscoll. He was a visionary, introducing
new techniques and technology to
reduce complications and improve
recovery times which later became
the standard of care in paediatric
surgery. He continuously advocated for
children and families to ensure that all
children had the opportunity to lead
productive lives. In 2003, the National
Conference for Community and Justice
(NCCJ) presented Dr Henderson with
it esteemed Humanitarian Award in
recognition for his many years of service
to the children of South Texas.
In his limited free time, Dr
Henderson most enjoyed spending
time with his family and sailing on his
beloved boat The Jinty (seven different
boats each named in honour of his
wife). He is survived by his devoted
and much loved wife of 57 years,
Janette, sons Adrian (Mary), Chad and
Craig (Jennifer), daughters Angela
(Chris), Marina and Melanie (Rip) and
10 grandchildren, Andrew, Cameron,
Aiden, Abarrane, Brady, Cormac, Kara,
James, Chad and Anderson all of whom
will miss him dearly.
Alan Jackson (CW 1947-1952) passed
away on the 7th February tragically
followed a week later by his wife Jean.
Alan was solid member of College West
– House Prefect, Choir, Photographer
and playing for the 2nd XV and 3rd XI.
He was a Cadet (1st Class) in the R.A.F
Section which led to his career with
the RAF from 1959 -94, rising to Group
Captain and being awarded the O.B.E.
In retirement he was editor of Through
the Green, the Brit. Golf Collectors Soc.
Quarterly Journal.
Ian B Purvis (Mo 1947-1952) passed
away on 1st November 2016. Husband
to Suzy, loving father of Jenny and Mark
and grandfather. Moredun House
52 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Prefect whilst at school, Ian was in
the English VI and Sgt. I the CCF. On
leaving he did his National Service
with the Black Watch then as a Capt.
R.A.S.C. (T.A.) from 54-62. He read Law
at Southampton graduating in Law in
1959. He became a Barrister 60 and Sen.
Leg. Adv. & Gen. Counsel, Age Concern
England.
Kenneth Bett (CE 1947-1952) passed
away on 17th November 2016. Kenneth
is greatly missed by all those who
knew him. He was a generous, kind
gentleman who was much liked by
those with whom he came in contact.
Beloved husband of Margaret and
father of Andrew, Alison and Alasdair.
John Laurence Boyd (Gl 1948-1953)
formerly of St. Andrews, passed away
peacefully, at home in Devon, on 6th
May, surrounded by his family, loving
husband of Pat and father to Marion,
James and Anne Louise, affectionate
grandfather to Jessica, Tom, Josh and
Jasmin, brother to Mary and the late
Robert (Gl 1952-1955). A service of
Thanksgiving was held in Chagford,
Devon in December.
Frank Olaf Steenberg (Mo 1950-1954)
of Corbridge, Northumberland, passed
away on 18th May, aged 80. Loving
husband to Brigitta of more than 50
years and father to Axel, Catrina and
Christian, affectionate grandfather to
Jamie, Poppy, Ellen, Cara and Anayia,
brother of the late Richard (Mo 1940-
1943), uncle to Nicholas (Mo 1969-
1973) and Julian (Mo 1978-1980).
A service of Thanksgiving will be held
in Corbridge, Northumberland, in June.
Dr George Hartley de Goldthorp
Hanson (CW 1950-1955) passed away
on 2nd February 2017, one day short
of his 80th birthday. When Hartley
left Fettes he studied medicine at
Kings College Newcastle which at that
time was part of Durham University.
After qualifying he worked for a time
in the E.N.T. department of the Royal
Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, before
specialising in micro-biology becoming
a Senior Registrar. He then moved to
General Practice in Pelton, County
Durham, from which he retired early
following a myocardial infarction.
During his time at university he played
rugby with the Medicals RFU and was
cox of both the University and county
eights. He was Senior Medical Officer
of the Tyne Division RNR and the
Royal Marine Reserve, receiving the
Territorial Decoration. He was also a
keen Freemason belonging to several
orders and being awarded a fifty year
certificate. He was very widely read
and possessed a phenomenal memory,
taking delight in solving the Telegraph/
Times crosswords without filling in
the answers He was unmarried and
there are no known children. He was,
however a respected Great Uncle to
Bob Hanson’s (CW 1947-1953) five
grandchildren.
David Walker Shepherd (Gl 1953-
1956) on 27th June 2015 aged 76. Our
apologies go to David’s family for the
delay in publishing this notice of his
passing. This tribute was written a few
months after David’s death by his sister,
Anne Weatherhead, who at that time
was back living in Kirriemuir where
she and David were brought up. Since
then, Anne and her husband, The Very
Rev James Weatherhead CBE, a former
moderator of the general assembly
to the Church of Scotland, who was a
governor of Fettes in the 1990’s, have
moved to Edinburgh. Sadly James
Weatherhead passed away in May 2017.
David W. Shepherd died in June 2015
in British Columbia, having spent all his
adult life in Canada. His leadership and
management skills were recognised
not only in the automobile dealerships
he led, but also in the prominent part
he played in the development of the
sport of pickleball within Canada. Golf
remained his main sporting interest,
however, having been nurtured by his
father on the attractive small course
in Kirriemuir, during holidays from
Lathallan and Fettes. His ready smile,
gentle manner and pleasing personality
remained with him throughout his
life, making him a friend to many. He
developed a very personal interest in
international relations and will be sorely
missed by his wife Shirley, two sons and
a daughter and by his sister Anne.
Frans ten Bos (Gl 1951-1956), born April
21st 1937, died September 1st 2016, aged
79. Frans was an English-born rugby
player of Dutch parentage who played
for Scotland, winning 17 caps between
1959 and 1963.
His family fled when the Nazis
invaded in 1940. Frans’s pilot father, so
the story goes, was on the Nazis’ “most
wanted” list and he drove his family
across France to Bordeaux, where they
boarded a cocoa boat heading from
West Africa to Britain. Young Frans was
subsequently evacuated – alongside,
as he recalled, a great many “wee
Glaswegians” – to Argyllshire. Struck
dumb by his experiences – not speaking
a word of either Dutch or English – the
three-year-old Frans was sitting with
his mother and some friends having
tea at the Rusacks hotel in St Andrews,
overlooking the Old Course, when a
Spitfire roared over the bay from the
nearby Leuchars base.
Frans, in broadest Glaswegian,
cried: “There’s mah dah-dy!” His
mother, horrified by the accent, quickly
packed him off to prep school. He
attended Lathallan Prep School, before
moving on to Fettes College, then the
strongest rugby school in Scotland, its
First XV not losing a school match in five
years. Frans was a dominant figure in
that team, though its mastermind was
the future Scotland and British Lions
fly-half, Gordon Waddell.
After National Service as a second
lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders, he went to Oxford
University, at a time when Oxford
and Cambridge Blues still regularly
featured in international teams while
still undergraduates. It was no surprise
when Scotland selected him for the
Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham in
1959. He was one of three Fettesians
in that Scotland XV, the others being
Waddell and James Shackleton. The
game ended in a draw 3-3.
The broadcaster Bill McLaren told
an anecdote about the powerful ten
Bos, recalling that after a dinner in Paris,
the night before a game against France,
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 53
he and Hugh McLeod, the “Hawick
hardman”, bumped into ten Bos.
“Frans,” said McLeod, “ye think ye’re
a guid forrit but really ye’re just a big
lump of potted meat. If ah was half yer
size, I’d pick up the first two Frenchmen
that looked at me in the morn and
ah’d chuck them right over the bloody
stand.” Ten Bos tapped McLaren on the
shoulder and said: “You know, I’d follow
him anywhere.” Scotland won a rare
away victory the next day.
Ten Bos had a successful printing
business in London and, after selling
up, retired to Glen Prosen in Angus.
There he enjoyed shooting, fishing and
playing golf, and was re-acquainted
with many of his old school rugby
adversaries, some of them still bearing
the scars to prove it.
He is survived by his wife Teresa
and his three daughters from his first
marriage.
John Malvern FRCSE FRCOG (CE 1951-
1956) died peacefully on 5th February
2017, aged 79. Beloved husband of
Katharine and father of Susan, Joanna
and Jack. Leaving school in April 1956,
John went south to London Hosp.
Med. Coll. where he shone winning
the Anatomy Prize, Captain of Squash
gaining his B.Sc. (1st Cl. & Schol) in 1961.
From then on the record is relentlessly
upward – L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. 63; M.B., B.S.
63; F.R.C.S.E. 68; F.R.C.O.G. 70, Council
77-98, Hon. Treas. 91-98; Cons.Obst. &
Gyn. Surg; Queen Charlotte & Chelsea
Hosp. 73-01 (Emeritus 02-); Hon Gyn
Surg., King Edward V11 Hosp. for Officers
(St. Agnes). As well as this his interests
were wide – Wine Tasting, Adv. Cert.
Wines & Spirits (Class1) 02; Cellarer
R.C.O.G. 03; Travel; Arts; Clubs: Royal
Society of Medicine; Worshipful Society
of Apothecaries; Gynaecological visiting
Society; Queen Charlottes Dining Club;
Edwardian Club; Hurlingham Club; Rolls
Royce and Jaguar owners Club.
Roderick (Roddy) Forbes Jones (Mo
1953-1958) died on September 30th
2016, leaving his wife Sue and sons Alex
and Nick. There was a celebration of
Roddy’s life took place at Dunblane
Cathedral, on Monday, October 10,
preceded by private committal at
Falkirk Crematorium.
After Fettes Roddy graduated
B.Comm at McGill University and
then qualified as a C.A in Edinburgh.
Following a spell in South Africa he
joined his father, Forbes Jones (Mo 1924-
29) in the family iron-founding business,
Jones&Campbell, in Grangemouth
and spent the rest of his working life
there. Sadly, his retiral coincided with
the firm’s closure because it could
not contend with heavily subsidised
continental competition. Roddy was
also a non-executive director of James
Jones Ltd and Stella-Jones International,
both timber business, the first in the UK
and the second in Canada.
Roddy was a fine and competitive
golfer, always demonstrating the keen
eye for a ball inherited form his father,
who in his day had been a notable
cricketer and played for Scotland in
the 1930’s. As well as playing in Old
Fettesian outings and matches, Roddy
golfed at Brora, where he and Sue had
a holiday house, and at Muirfield where
he took part in a large number of Club
matches during his retirement.
Roddy and Sue also holidayed
on Colonsay for many years enjoying
the freedom of its countryside and
beaches. Roddy was a gentleman in
every sense, who is sadly missed by his
extended family and many friends.
Dr Norman (Nick) Keith Ian McIver,
OBE (CW 1954-1959) died in hospital
on 15th September 2016 aged 76.
Born in 1940, Norman Keith Ian McIver
(“Nick”) was the key UK diving physician
during the early years of the North
Sea oil industry. He pioneered clinical
treatments, medical support for the
offshore gas industry, and medical
standards. He also worked as a GP
for 28 years. In 1982 Nick became an
early member and later fellow of
the newly established Faculty of
Occupational Medicine. He was diving
medical consultant to the top UK, US,
and Norwegian oil and construction
companies and supported many
diving projects in the Far and Middle
East remotely from the UK. He was
president of his local BMA division in
1990 and retired as the senior partner
in Gorleston Medical Practice in 2000.
He continued with consultancy work
in occupational medicine until 2006.
Much loved husband of Rita, father
of Catherine (and Paul), Bruce (and
Louise), Jonathan (and Audrey),
grandpa of Tabatha, Josh and Fin.
1960s
Allen Charles Tucker (CE 1956-
1960) died on 4th July 2016 aged 73.
Allen Charles Tucker CA who lived in
Chang Mai, Thailand, died on 4th July
2016 aged 73. He was born on 18th
July 1942 in Stokesley, educated at
Fettes College, and was admitted to
membership on 18th November 1969.
After qualifying, Mr Tucker worked
with Whinney Murray Ernst & Ernst
in Spain and later Liberia, Hong Kong
and Taiwan. He subsequently moved
to Lowe Bingham & Matthews in Hong
Kong and Tapei before working in the
tobacco industry in 1974 with Universal
Leaf Tobacco. Mr Tucker remained in
the industry for the rest of his career,
holding financial director and managing
director positions until his retirement
in 2015 as consultant from Alliance One
International based in Thailand. He is
survived by his wife Kobkaew and son
Edwin.
Ian Mackenzie Sim (Ca 1956-1960)
passed away on 30th October 2016 at
his home surrounded by his wife Hope
and his loving family. Ian was born on
14th August, 1942 in Queenstown, South
Africa on a Royal Air Force Base and was
the son of the late John and Margaret
(McLean) Sim. Ian was a 1964 graduate
of Amherst College and a US Army
Veteran. He worked for Standard Oil
in CT for many years. In addition to his
wife Hope, Ian is survived by one son:
Alistair Sim of Brooklyn, NY and two
sisters: Ruth Morgan of Norwalk, CT and
Pam Soper of Patagonia, AZ. The funeral
was held in Westport, Connecticut,
with Davidson Gordon (Gl 1957-1962),
an OF and Friends of Fettes College
Inc Trustee (FFC Inc.), attending to
represent Fettes. He then served in the
United States Army from 1967 to 1970.
In 1978, Ian started the Amherst Textile
54 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
Mills NYC. From 1990 until 2010, he was
Director of Marketing for Standard Oil
of Connecticut. He promoted rugby
in the US at various functions and was
one of the first graduates of Fettes to
attend college in the United States. He
was a FFC Inc. Trustee since 2011 and
as such supported their engagement
and fundraising efforts. In recent
years, during his illness, he took more
of a back seat but enjoyed receiving
updates from FFC Inc President
Graham Cole (Ca 1961-1962) on the
telephone.
John Swinburn Wilson (Mo 1958-1961)
passed away on 13th August 2016 aged
71 years. Dearly beloved husband of
Pattie, loving father of Guy, James
and Alexandra, proud grandfather of
Amelia, George, Rory, Annabel, Henry,
Isobel and Jemima. Although John left
from the Lower VI, he gained his Bigside
Colours and was in the 4th XI. He
studied Law to become a Solicitor and
District Judge in Northumberland.
James Alexander Smith (CW 1956-
1961), elder brother of Richard (CW
1965-1969), passed away on 24th April
2017. A Foundation Scholar, Sandy was
a House Prefect, took a major role in all
musical activities and was Captain of
Golf. He went up to Univ. Coll., Oxon
to graduate in 1965 and obtained a Dip.
Ed. a year later. With this, he joined his
House Tutor, John Ingram (Staff 1956-
1959), at Harrow for 22 years rising to
be a Housemaster. On retiring he took
up his pen to publish Athens under the
Tyrants, and joined the staff at Stowe.
Douglas Anderson Scott (CW 1960-
1964) sadly passed away on 22nd
December 2016.
After leaving Douglas read History
& Politics at Sheffield University to
graduate in 1968. He became a Solicitor
in 1973 and was Legal Advisor (UK) to
ABN Amro Bank.
Christopher Dunnett (Gl 1960-1964)
died peacefully in Wetherby Manor
on 3rd March 2017 aged 69. Devoted
husband of Jenny, much loved father
of Catherine and Charles and a very
special grandfather to Alexander,
Sophie, Fraser and Alastair. A service
of thanksgiving took place at St.Mary’s
Church. Boston Spa on Monday 20th
March 2017 at 12:00 noon. A wonderful,
loving and selfless person who will be
missed by all who knew him.
Dr Ian Edward Lowles (CW 1963-1967)
died peacefully at Burnfoot Nursing
Home, Ecclefechan, on 27th November,
2016, after a long illness, husband of
Jenny, loving father of Adam, Timothy
and Joanna and beloved ‘Grumps’ to his
nine grandchildren.
Dr Michael K. Palmer (CE 1965-1969)
died on 30th January this year. For
most of his adult life, he lived and
worked in London. Michael completed
his radiology training at St George’s
Hospital in London after training initially
in Edinburgh, and was subsequently
appointed at St Helier Hospital in
Carshalton in 1983. Outside the medical
world, Michael was an accomplished
amateur pianist.
1970s
Simon Tonkin (SH 1973-1978) died on
25th February 2017. After leaving Fettes,
Simon went to Aberdeen University
where he studied for an MA in History
of Art. He also joined the University
Air Squadron. On graduating, he
joined the RAF and served in a range
of roles including Royal Security
before becoming officer in charge of
recruitment for the West of Scotland.
He rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
After some years in the RAF, Simon
resigned his commission and took
civilian appointments better suited to
his qualifications. He worked at The
Courtauld Institute and for the Royal
Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
Having been raised as the child of
a serving RAF officer, he had travelled
all over the world in his youth and
soon found England was becoming
restrictive and too cold – he hated the
weather. So he moved, with his partner
Clive, to Mexico where they opened a
hotel on the Pacific coast in the tourist
hub of Puerto Vallarta. He remained in
Mexico for 14 years until serious illness
forced him to return home.
After a brief time in hospital, Simon
settled into a post working for AXA
Insurance in Royal Tunbridge Wells. But
once again he began to find England
restrictive and so, five years ago he
moved to Thailand and was able to set
up a small business there.
Simon retained contacts in Mexico
and America and often travelled
between the three locations, helping
with the interior design premises in
Guadalajara, Mexico, and, latterly,
overseeing the restoration of Liberace’s
mansion in Las Vegas to its original
condition. It is now a popular tourist
venue.
But Simon’s main focus remained
in Thailand and the businesses he was
running there. It is there he suddenly
took ill this year. He was cremated
and is buried where he died in Chiang
Rai Province, Thailand. His family has
arranged a memorial service for him
at the last church he attended before
going to Thailand, St James’, Tunbridge
Wells. The service of remembrance
will be held at 11.30 on Saturday,
5th August 2017. Any contacts to
petertonkin@tesco.net.
1980s
Iver Salvesen (Mo 1982-1987) died
suddenly whilst volunteering in Tanzania
on 11th July 2016, aged 47. Iver was on his
first ever expedition with the Edinburgh-
based The Vine Trust helping construct
homes for orphan children in the Moshi
district of the African country. Son of
Major Robin Salvesen (Mo 1948-1954)
and Sari, brother of Francis (Mo 1979-
1984), Thomas (Mo 1980-1985), Ferelith,
Alice (Ki 1978-1980), Tabitha (Ar 1979-
1981) and Emily. Husband to Wendy and
father of Oscar, Iona and Henry. He ran
an ecological construction business,
Ecofitter, and hit the headlines three
years ago when he build Scotland’s first
straw house for one of his workers at his
home near Stow, Selkirkshire.
1990s
William Peter Stansfield (Mo 1989-
1993) was born on 22nd June 1976,
died suddenly on 7th December 2016.
Peter is succeeded by his daughter
OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017 55
Andie Jane Walby, aged 15. Peter was
a Christian, to which faith he was
introduced by Revd David Weekes
(Staff 1974-1994), and his son Robin
(JS, Mo 1983-1991). At a young age Peter
became a keen cricketer, especially
bowling. His father used to train him
with a hard ball against the wall of the
church where the final celebration of
his life was held earlier this year.
Whilst at Fettes, Peter underwent an
operation for spondylolysis where his
bottom two vertebrae had to be fused
together. As a result contact sport was
ruled out. He took up both swimming
and running. He was a terrific swimmer
and became a Beach Life Guard,
working in the USA at Myrtle Beach for
some time. Peter went to Edinburgh
Napier and achieved an HND in Business
Studies.
STAFF
Rev. Richard B. Gorrie (College
Chaplain 1960-1974) passed away
in September 2016, at the age of 89.
With a first class degree in history from
Oxford and ordained in the Church
of England, Richard joined the staff as
part-time Anglican Chaplain in 1960,
taking his share in leading chapel
worship each morning before classes,
and at the full service (then compulsory
for the whole school) on Sunday
evenings. Communion according to
the Book of Common Prayer was held
on Sunday mornings before breakfast
and provided a secure, inspiring place
of tranquillity. RBG’s quiet and studied
commitment to Christ, and his gift of
simple yet profound and searching
preaching, were valued both by the
specifically Anglican community of
pupils and staff, and by the wider
fellowship of the Christian Study Group
and those who knew him through
his primary calling: leading Scripture
Union’s involvement with independent
schools across Scotland. He left the
staff on accepting a wider role in SU-
Scotland. Few men of his generation
can have inspired so many to take up
vocations in Churches and professions
across the world. A bachelor during his
time at Fettes, Richard later enjoyed a
long and happy marriage to Margaret
Allan.
Betty Cole-Hamilton (1920-2017)
died peacefully Sunday 19th of March,
aged 96. She was the wife of the
late Richard Cole-Hamilton (Staff
1938-1991), fondly-remembered
housemaster of Kimmerghame and
later Acting Headmaster 1977-1979,
ultimately remaining Keeper of the
Register until 1991. She is survived by
their sons Robin, Simon and Jimmy.
Dr Catriona Collins (Staff 1996-2006)
passed away 6th April 2017. Catriona
was invited to take up her post at
Fettes by the Headmaster, Malcolm
Thyne, as her transformation of the
Learning Support department at
George Watson’s college had been
groundbreaking. She was Head of
Learning Support and as an Educational
Psychologist was responsible for
testing pupils to highlight the need for
extra support. Although her speciality
was dyslexia, these tests could bring
out many other learning difficulties.
Catriona would always find an
individual way to teach each pupil as
every need is different. Catriona worked
far more than full time. She saw pupils
before school, during lunch and after
formal lessons. If there were any more
hours in the day, Catriona would have
used them.
56 OLD FETTESIAN NEWSLETTER NO. 62, AUGUST 2017
OFA OFFICE BEARERS 2017
THE FETTESIAN TRUST
President
Andrew Pickles (Ca 1962-1967)
Vice-President
Amanda Forsyth (née Baker) (Ar 1982-1984)
OF Governor
Eric Young (Ar 1969-1974)
Hon Secretary
Georgie Hill (CW 1990-1993)
Hon Treasurer
Richard Llewellyn (Mo 1987-1992)
Auditors
Messrs Chiene and Tait, CA
Committee
Nigel Westwood (Ca 1963-1966)
Sandy Park (Ki 1965-1970)
Alan Thornton (Ca 1971-1973)
Andrew Soulsby (JS, Ar 1973-1980)
Barbara Graham (Gl 1975-1977)
Henry Cave (SH 1980-1984)
Cordelia Pilz (née Harrison) (Ar 1982-1984)
Sue Whatmore (née Barnard) (SH 1984-1986)
Daniel Thain (JS, Mo 1983-1991)
Trustees
Andrew Pickles, President OFA (Ca 1962-1967)*
Amanda Forsyth, Vice President OFA, Secretary and Treasurer
(née Baker) (Ar 1982-1984)*
Eric Young, OF Governor (Ar 1969-1974)*
Ian Boyd (CE 1953-1957)
William Carnegie (Ca 1950-1955)
Ian Gardiner (Mo 1963-1968)
*Ex-officio Trustees (OFA)
Edited by
Henry Gray, OF Co-ordinator
Designed by
Kenneth Gray
www.kennethgray.co.uk
Printed by
J Thomson Colour Printers
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