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caritas July 2016 Regular Features Development Matters Watsonian News Where are they now? Plus Life at the Bar A Steely Ambition The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College Issue 40
Transcript of caritas - George Watson's College · Caritas was rated as our top method of communication with...
caritasJuly 2016
Regular FeaturesDevelopment MattersWatsonian NewsWhere are they now?
PlusLife at the Bar
A Steely Ambition
The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College Issue 40
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Tel: 001 905 272 2222 [email protected]
Please contact [email protected]
Tel: 0064 3351 [email protected]
Tel: 0034 96520 2906 [email protected]
[email protected]@aol.com
Canada (Toronto)Robert Chassels
France (Paris) Patrick Bartholemew
GermanyMarkus Schroeder
Hong KongMario Maciocia
South-East Asia(Singapore)Stephen Wise
New ZealandDouglas Bridges
South AfricaDouglas Scott
Spain (Alicante)Kate Burke
USA (North California)Brian WilliamsonJake Mackenzie
USA (East Coast)Robin Macdonald
UK
Overseas
Watsonian Network forthcoming events
AberdeenRichard Bathgate
BordersJenny Changleng
South West EnglandSheena Carter
Highland and MorayIan Davidson
LancashireNigel Kirkness
LondonAlan Mackie
Perth Women Fiona Wells
YorkshireJill Mitchell
Australia(Sydney)Pat Stevenson
Australia(Victoria) Donald Maclaren
Belgium (Brussels)Andrew Brown
forthcoming events
Tel: 01225 [email protected]
Tel: 01343 547275 [email protected]
Tel: 01565 [email protected]
Tel: 0412 041 [email protected]: Sydney Watsonians
Tel: 003 8344 [email protected]
Watsonian Network
Sports ContactsIf you are interested in participating in any of the sports below please contact the appropriate person.
Tel: 07860 248219 [email protected]
jonathan-moore@ netherbank.wanadoo.co.uk
Tel: 07767 406777 [email protected]
Tel: 0131 444 2365 [email protected]
Angling John Buchanan
Rugby Iain Leslie
Cricket Jonathan Moore
Curling Dan Lean
Golf (men) David McMurray
Golf (women) Val Barrie
Hockey Richard Gray
Rifle Ian Thomson
Squash Richard McIntosh
Swimming Alan J Masson
forthcoming events
Worldwide ContactsWorldwide Contacts
AnyenquiriesrelatingtoWatsonianmattersshouldbemadetotheDevelopmentOffice,GeorgeWatson’sCollege,ColintonRoad,EdinburghEH105EGTel:01314466008email:[email protected]
Worldwide Contacts Worldwide Contacts
IfyouwouldbeinterestedinattendingaMusic,SportorDramaeventatWatson’spleasecontacttheDevelopmentOfficeon01314466008oremail:[email protected]
forthcoming events
Watsonian President Roy Mack [email protected] President Robert Heatly [email protected] Melvyn Roffe [email protected] of Development Lesley McKean [email protected]
Elected member Fiona Hourston [email protected] member Martin Macari [email protected] member Bruce MacPherson [email protected] member Douglas McCallum [email protected] Elected member David Mieras [email protected] member Kathleen Morris [email protected] Pupil representatives TBC Session 2016/17
Watsonian Council
Watsonian Network
Worldwide Contacts
Watsonian Network
2016/20172016/20174September Classof1966(Ladies)ReunionLunch9September Highland&MorayWatsonianDinner9September BorderWatsonianDinner21September CaritasLecture24September Classof1978InformalReunion30September Classesof1955,’56,’57(Men)ReunionLunch30September Classof1956(Ladies)ReunionLunch8October GWCOpenMorning8October Classof1966(Men)Reunion8October Classof1976Reunion8October Classof1986Reunion
8October Classof1996Reunion8October Classof2006Reunion15October SouthWestEnglandWatsonianLunch27October Principal’sVisittoDubai29October SouthAfricaWatsonianDinner11November WatsonianGolfClubDinner4February2017 SydneyBurnsNight24March2017 TheWatsonianDinner7April2017 HongKongWatsonianDinner5May2017 AberdeenWatsonianDinner
Watsonian [email protected]
The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College
Worldwide ContactsWorldwide Contacts
8October Classof1996Reunion8October Classof2006Reunion15October SouthWestEnglandWatsonianLunch27October Principal’sVisittoDubai29October SouthAfricaWatsonianDinner11November WatsonianGolfClubDinner4February2017 SydneyBurnsNight24March2017 TheWatsonianDinner7April2017 HongKongWatsonianDinner5May2017 AberdeenWatsonianDinner
George Watson’s CollegeColinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5EG
Tel: 0131 446 6008 Fax: 0131 446 6102email: [email protected]://www.watsonians.orgGeorge Watson’s College is administered by the Edinburgh MerchantCompany Education Board, a charity registered in Scotland SC009747
The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College
EditorMorven Skirving (Development Officer)
DTPDavid Brown (George Watson’s College)
Cover Patrick Flockhart (Class of 1979)
cont
ents
MeettheDevelopmentOfficeTeam
Following 39 issues as Editor of Caritas, I am delighted to hand the reigns for this 40th issue over to Morven Skirving and hope that you will enjoy reading it. In the feedback from our recent 360 research, Caritas was rated as our top method of communication with Watsonians and other friends of the School. Please continue to give Morven your feedback on Caritas by contacting her on [email protected].
Every gift in every Willmakes a difference.
For information aboutleaving a Legacy to
the George Watson’sFamily Foundationplease contact the
Development Office.
LifeattheBar 4WatsonianDinner2016 5WatsonianNews 6CraiglockhartPavilionReopening 8
BoatClub60thAnniversaryReunion 8ACareerinCostumes 9DevelopmentMatters 10WhereAreTheyNow? 12
ASteelyAmbition 13
Principal’sParagraphs 14HeadingtoRio 15DesperatelySeeking 16
Lesley McKean (née Scott, Class of 1981) Director of Development
Jenny McGill, Deputy Director of Development
(maternity leave)
Carol Wood, Development Officer,
Administration and Compliance
Morven Skirving (née Kerr, Class of 1990)
Development Officer, Watsonian Network
Samantha Myers, Development Assistant,
Maternity Cover
Margaret Peat, Administrative Assistant,
Temporary
Lesley McKean(née Scott, class of 1981)Director of Development
Left to right: Elizabeth Smith, Elaine Bell, Heather Wilson, Anne Porteous and Catherine Jack
Retiring Staff
More on our retiring staff will be included in the next issue of The Watsonian magazine.
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It was whilst I was at Watson’s that I decided on a career in law but at that time, I saw it as a stepping stone to what I then really wanted to do: to become an MP.
Back in the early 1990s, practising at the Bar for a while was considered the best grounding for a political career, and with the benefit of wise careers advice from Mr MacDonald, I decide to head south to study English Law.
However, it was the ‘electorate’ at Watson’s that gave me the first indication that perhaps politics was not for me. April 1992 brought a General Election, and the opportunity to stand as a candidate in the Watson’s mock election. I stood as the Conservative candidate in what had previously been a safe Tory ‘seat’ and managed to come, I recall, a pretty poor third. My political ambitions did not last for too much longer.
Amongst the memories I have of Watson’s are: a third-year project trip to Orkney, the March Hare race (finishing last!), appearing in the productions of The Mikado, Oliver and Oh! What a Lovely War. I was also lucky enough to go to Rochester on the exchange with The Harley School: a wonderful experience.
After a brief excursion working in the tax department of a large accountancy firm in London (not the best job for someone who skillfully avoided taking Higher Maths) I started pupillage at a set of chambers in Lincoln’s Inn in London. Unlike solicitors, barristers are self-employed, but share premises and the services of clerks who are responsible for administering their practices. Pupillage back then was an odd mix of legal training and working as a (virtually unpaid) dogsbody, carrying out various tasks for my pupilmaster ranging from legal research, to photocopying, buying lunch and collecting a new lamp from a shop in Islington. The main object of pupillage was to persuade a set of chambers to offer a ‘tenancy’ or place in chambers from which to start my practice at the bar. I was fortunate enough to do so and started in 1999.
The various legal dramas on TV can give a misleading impression of life at the Bar:
it is rarely as glamorous or as exciting as programmes like the BBC’s
Silk portray it.Life at the junior Bar
invo l ve s l ong t r a in journeys to obscure parts of England and Wales (such as Rawtenstall, Truro, and Neath), making
hopeless applications to irascible judges and a fair
number of ignominious defeats: losing undefended claims in the
West London county court is something many a young barrister has on their list of achievements (myself included).
It is, however, still a relatively eccentric profession. To this day, many barristers don’t shake each others’ hands (it’s considered unnecessary, as members of an honourable profession don’t need to demonstrate that they are unarmed!). Also it remains, to my knowledge, the only profession where one of the requirements is to eat a certain number of dinners in order to qualify. All students for the Bar have to join one of the four Inns of Court, and to ‘keep term’ by eating a certain numbers of dinners in the hall of their Inn. Unless that has been done, the student cannot be called to the Bar.
Those who remember me from school will probably appreciate that eating dinners was one of the tasks I was most suited to.
I spent the next 15 or so years building my practice at the Chancery Bar (named after the Chancery Division of the High Court, which deals with cases related to property and business matters) and now spec ia l i se in cases relating t o t r u s t s and wil ls .
Whilst this area of practice doesn’t produce the colourful anecdotes that my friends at the Criminal Bar are able to recount, it does have the compensation of working in a wide range of jurisdictions, including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, but sadly not Scotland.
In 2016, I ‘took silk’, as one of the new QCs appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The process involved a lengthy application form and an interview, followed by a lengthy wait to see whether the application had been successful. The ceremony at Parliament is like something out of a Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta (bringing back memories of the School performance of The Mikado all those years ago): 107 new silks wearing the full ceremonial outfit (including patent leather court shoes, tights, knee breeches and full-bottomed wigs, as well as lots of lace) bowing to the Lord Chancellor who processed into Westminster Hall in his gilded robes and then receiving letters patent.
As if that was not enough, there followed further ceremonies at which we new silks were asked by various judges (again, in full ceremonial robes) “do you move?” the appropriate response to which was to bow and leave court.
Despite some of the eccentricities that I have mentioned, the English legal system is modern and relatively user-friendly. It attracts litigants from around the world, with the result that many high-value and legally interesting cases continue to be heard in London, which is one of the reasons why I consider myself so fortunate to be a part of it.Richard Wilson(Class of 1992)
Life at the Bar
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The annual Watsonian Dinner took place on Friday 18 March at Myreside, hosted by President Roy Mack. The night was a great success and took on a musical theme this year with some modern piping by Alastair Hutcheon, Andrew Spence and Christopher Milne, who left school this summer. Alastair has kindly piped in our guests since he was in S3.
After the delicious dinner and formal speeches by Principal Melvyn Roffe, Head Boy Calum Harris and Head Girl Jodie White, our guest entertainment was provided by Marcella MacDonald (née Holmes, Class of 1997) who brought the house down with her outstanding performances of songs from musicals.
Top table being piped in
Gerard Bentall warming up
Guests during dinner
Harry Waugh, Marion Davison, Marj Waugh and Pat Edington
Gerard Bentall, Scott MacDonald, Johnny Bacigalupo and Marcella MacDonald
Top table on the stairs
Lorna Baird, Anne Patrick, Pat Scott and Florence Mack
Guests pre dinner
Melvyn Roffe and Mario Maciocia
Marcella MacDonald (née Holmes, Class of 1997)
Rod Slater
Roy Mack, Iain Wylie, David & Stuart Guild
Watsonian NewsWatsonian News
Watsonian NewsWatsonian News
Watsonian NewsWatsonian News
Watsonian News
Watsonian NewsWatsonian News
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The Cenotaph
In January Melvyn Roffe attended The Cenotaph in Whitehall for the annual wreath laying ceremony, accompanied by Head Girl Jodie White.
TurnupsSome Junior School former s t a f f , t h e Turnups, have already enjoyed lunch and skittles at The Sheep’s Heid this year.
Other events planned are Gosford House, Jupiter Artland, Lennoxlove House, and a trip on The Borders Railway.
Towards Christmas there will also be a hair and beauty event led by former pupils Marnie (Class of 2008) and Meggan Bringhurst (Class of 2003).
Légiond’Honneur,SirRogerYoung
Recently, former Principal, Sir Roger Young was awarded the honour of a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by the French Government. This award is presented to surviving Allied servicemen and women who took part in the liberation of France.
Sir Roger joined the Royal Navy in 1942 and saw early service in warships combatting the U-boat threat to convoys in UK home waters and the Atlantic. In the first six months of 1944, he was an officer aboard HMS Dakins, supporting the build up of military equipment in ports across the South of England to launch the Allied liberation of Europe. His ship participated in the first wave of reinforcing troops arriving in France, and Sir Roger in fact went ashore at Arromanches, where the early stages of a huge artificial harbour were being built, on D-Day+1.
HMS Dakins continued to escort convoys of troops and military equipment from the Thames Estuary area across to France throughout the remainder of 1944, the ports of destination moving gradually eastwards as France was liberated. These convoys were not entirely without risk, as the warship escort needed to deal with occasional attacks by German E-Boats and there was the ever-present threat of German mines. Sir Roger’s role in the liberation of France came to an end on Christmas Day 1944, when HMS Dakins hit a mine just off Ostend and Roger had to spend several weeks recuperating from injuries sustained in the explosion.Rhona Little (née Weston)(Class of 1970)
Principal’sVisittoDubai and South AfricaOn Thursday October 27 at 7pm Melvyn Roffe will be hosting a buffet reception for Watsonians in the Middle East. If you would like to attend this event please contact Morven Skirving in the Development Office on [email protected].
Melvyn will also be attending the South Africa Watsonian Dinner which is taking place on Saturday 29 October in Cape Town. If you would like to attend this event please contact Douglas Scott, SA Watsonian Club secretary on [email protected].
360SurveyProgress:Watsonian ChoirFollowing on from the results of the 360 survey, Watsonians expressed an interest in forming a Watsonian Choir. If you would like to join a choir, or even volunteer to run a choir we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact the Development Office to discuss.
Photo courtesy of Paul Gillis, Bath Chronicle
Thomas Halliday
We are delighted to announce that Thomas Halliday (Class of 2007) has been awarded The John C Marsden Medal. The medal is awarded annually to the author of the best PhD thesis in the field of Biology at any UK institution, in memory of the biochemist and long-standing member of the Linnean Society and its Council. Well done Thomas on such an achievement!
Thomas Halliday with Anjala Goswani, PhD Supervisor
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2016School LeaversAt Prizegiving we p re s en t ed t h e C l a s s o f 2016 with a new Watsonian lapel badge.
The Amazing MeetingIn the summer of 1950 when Anne Anderson (née Renton, Class of 1959) aged nine, finished her first year at George Watson’s Ladies College, she had no idea that one day she would meet her former teacher, Miss Burrows, some 60 years later and thousands of miles distant, in Toronto, Canada.
It was a happy and amazing meeting, and all through Scottish Country Dancing. Anne is a member of the demo team of the Toronto Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society; while Miss Burrows (now Margaret Day) had danced all her life from a five year old with George Square’s redoubtable Miss Graham, and then to serious Scottish Country Dance classes with the well known teachers, Allie Anderson and Florence Lesslie. From there she was soon demonstrating with the Edinburgh RSCDS and on arriving in Canada continued to dance in rural Ontario.
In the summer of 2013, Anne’s team was invited to demonstrate at Margaret’s church’s Summer Fair. Margaret watched every step with interest and approved their professionalism. After several dances, some of the ladies came to the ‘Bake Table’ where Margaret was helping to sell all the ‘goodies’. While chatting to one of the ladies (Anne Anderson), Margaret soon discovered they both came from Edinburgh which prompted the next question, “What school?” On learning that they had both attended George Watson’s Ladies’ College, Margaret, having graduated in 1940, had no illusions that they would have ever met. Anne, on the other hand, learning Margaret’s maiden name and that she had been a teacher there, immediately said, “Miss Burrows – you taught me!” and reminisced by adding “We all loved you – you were so young and fun!”
To say that both were absolutely astounded is putting it mildly! Margaret, alas, had to confess that she could not remember Anne, but this was rectified when Anne gave Margaret her class photo of July 1950. It now holds pride of place in Margaret’s living room much to the delight of her family as it is the only photo they have seen of their mother as a teacher.
Of course there followed a happy ending when Anne took her 90 year-old, former teacher, on to the floor to dance,The Flowers of Edinburgh, what else!
Hong Kong
On Friday 8 April the 20th Anniversary Hong Kong Watsonian Dinner took place in the Lockhart room of the Hong Kong Football Club, and was attended by over 50 people. An excellent meal was enjoyed by all and guests were presented with gifts including a commemorative tie. This year Melvyn and Catherine Roffe attended and Melvyn’s speech was commended by many as thoughtful and inspiring.
The evening also included the award of the ‘Watsonian Legend’ to Stephen Pengelly, who, in turn rewarded us with an amusing Myreside poem! Additionally we presented a note of appreciation, duly framed, to our originator of the Dinner, namely Alan Beattie who had travelled from Australia to attend.
It is satisfying that many people attend from all over the world annually, and we invite all to attend our 21st Dinner next year at the same venue, which appropriately is sited where the Club was formed by our most famous Watsonian in Hong Kong, James Haldane Stewart Lockhart.
HamiltonScholars/FellowsWere you a Hamilton Scholar/Fellow? Our records are unfortunately missing some names of participants from the earlier years of the exchange programme. If you took part between 1964 and 1980 please contact the Development Office ([email protected]).
WereYouintheJunior School in2000?If so, we have a stock of the photo taken of the Junior School pupils in 2000. If you would like one of these photos they are available to purchase at a reduced price of £5.00. Please contact the Development Office.
OnlineVideoArchiveWe are pleased to announce the imminent launch of an online video archive which you can access via Watsonians Online (www.watsonians.org/archive). This archive contains interviews with former staff including Donald Scott, Grace Durham, Mary Burke, and former pupil Lauchlan MacLean. More interviews are scheduled shortly and will be available to view in due course.
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Did you row at Wa t s o n ' s ? I f you would like to be part of the 60th Anniversary Reunion in 2017 please contact [email protected]. More information about this reunion will follow in early 2017.
We were thrilled to officially reopen the Craiglockhart Pavilion on 13 April, with Kim Hughes, Watsonian Cricket Club Professional 1976 and Captain of Australia 1979–84, performing the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon. The much needed refurbishment was made possible by a legacy left by John D Martin (Class of 1948) and School funding.
Craiglockhart Pavilion Reopening
Representatives of the Girls’ 1st XI cricket team with coach Liz Smith and Kim Hughes Representatives of the Boys’ 1st XI cricket team with Kim Hughes
Boat Club 60thAnniversaryReunion
Boat Club Crew 1959/60
British Championship Eights, 1989/90
Boat Club Crew 1979/80
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Born a ‘Sassenach’, I arrived in Edinburgh when I was five. Thanks to a scholarship I entered the then George Watson’s Ladies’ College.
I proudly wore my uniform and loved School. At 12 I dropped the German and Maths I loathed and studied what really interested me; Art (Mr Henderson), History, English Literature (Miss Brown) and, curiously, Biology. Meanwhile, I haunted the local library for books on the history of costumes. My mother enjoyed amateur theatre work and I used to dress up in leftover costumes at home, for fun… Then everything changed!
My mother remarried and my stepfather got a job in Geneva. I just managed to do my O Levels and we left! I was heartbroken. I remember my French teacher (Miss Gilbert) saying to me, “you realise they speak French over there?”
I turned 16 a week after our arrival. I honestly must say that that first year was the worst of my life with three hours of French every morning to drill it in. It was impossible to join a Swiss school, the curriculum was too different, plus language problems and the International School was too expensive, so I did two A Levels by correspondence.
Finally, thanks to mum’s persistence, I was admitted to the École des Arts Décoratifs in a section called ‘peinture décorative’. In four and a half years I learned all sorts of painting and engraving techniques, things like mosaic, tapestry and stained glass window making, as well as theatre design.
Diploma and first prize in my pocket, I set off to find a job. After a while, I started the round of the theatres. After all, I’d also learnt to paint sets! The Grand Théâtre de Genève (the Opera House) was looking
for extra hands in the sets department and took me on part-time. I stayed there for a year and a half, the only woman amongst about 20 men! Then they said “sorry, we’ve no more work for you”. Meanwhile, a new costume department was being set up.
I’d become friends with the young head of department and one day she phoned me and said “Hey, we’ve got to ‘paint’ some costumes for our next production, nobody here knows how to do that, could you come back?” Well, I didn’t know how to either, but I whizzed back and soon learned!
When there was a lot of work just before an opening night I’d work into the night. As soon as things calmed down, I’d take my extra hours as time off. Sometimes I was away for two months or more. This permitted me to do private designing work.
I worked often with the Early Music Director, Gabriel Garrido, and producer (now filmmaker) Eugène Green. I was invited three times to the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Sicily; to the Poznán Opera, Poland (where I also designed sets) and to the Národni Divadlo, in Prague amongst other places.
In Geneva I initially worked alone in a separate part of the costume workshop; responsible for all of the decorative accessories, headgear, embroidery, jewellery, dyeing or ageing fabrics. I would generally get a costume once it had been fitted and finished and then I would either ‘embellish’ it or ‘demolish’ it. Self-taught, I learned all I knew by doing it.
I eventually asked to be moved into the sewing part of the department. I initially cut for men, but tailoring is such an art in itself that it quickly became evident that I was of more use doing all the weird things! Seventeenth century costumes with wings on, female dancers dressed in sexy ‘box-wood’ tree costumes, animals etc.
I worked through the reigns of six House Directors; some wonderful designers like John Macfarlane, Scotland, Thierry Bosquet, Belgium, Ezio Toffolutti, Italy and Bob Wilson, USA.
I have, of course, many stories from my work; like dressing the baroque singer Adriana Fernandez, pregnant to her eyeballs, as a fluffy angel; or travelling to Palermo on a plane with a dragon’s head
strapped to the seat next to me; or making mouse costumes for all the male dancers in our company that had to inflate just before going on stage; costumes that had to look like paintings of Fernand Léger, and I have a pair of eighteenth century style trousers made for Luciano Pavarotti that he never wore, measuring some 180 cm (72 inches) around the waist!
It was an incredible job. You never did the same thing twice and just when you were getting sick of the designer/singer/costume or your colleague, the first night came along and everything started anew and differently.
I retired from the Grand Théâtre de Genève two years ago, after 40 years of service.
Now I enjoy doing historical dancing, baroque and Jane Austin and the times of Napoleon III periods. And often in costume with a group of ‘nutties’ here in Geneva. It gets me travelling around.
I am currently designing sets and making costumes for a ballet version of the story of the medieval jester Till Eulenspiegal here in Vevey in December this year.
I also hope to have another exhibition of my work when I find enough time to prepare it! And with all that I live in a sort of barn that I partly restored and converted.
Let’s hope destiny gives me some more years of fun!Marina Harrington (née Smith) (Class of 1969)
A Career in Costumes
Background image: Drawing for Palermo, la Daphné by Marina Harrington
Marina Harrington in costume with another historical dancer
Marina adjusting Gerd Turle’s headdress
Development MattersDevelopment Matters
Development Matters
Development MattersDevelopment Matters
Help to make a lasting difference through a legacy to the Foundation.For further information please contact the Development Office.
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FoundationTermWe’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in and helped with Foundation Term. Staff and pupils all over the School took part in activities to help raise money for the George Watson’s Family Foundation.
The Junior School raised over £10,100 through sponsored activities and the GWC Bake Off.
Primary 1 took part in a hunt around campus for their lovely landmarks project, producing collages of the School through their eyes. Primary 2 enjoyed their wonderful water activity showing off their steady hands as they transported water from one container to another and Primary 3 took time out from learning about the Egyptians to build their own pyramids, thankfully not in the searing heat of Egypt but in the gym hall. The Upper Primary, not to be outdone, in addition to their sponsored activities held the third GWC Bake Off which has been another great success raising £1,154.79
Joining in the activities, the Senior School had bucket collections at concerts raising over £850 from kind donations by concert attendees.
FoundationDayThe Senior School also celebrated Foundation Day which marks the importance of the George Watson’s Family Foundation and the legacy of philanthropy left behind by our founder, George Watson. On the day, £3,300 was raised by pupils dressing down and making a contribution to the Foundation.
Our friends and supporters also made online donations following our Foundation Day appeal raising a further £2,640. Altogether, an incredible £16,890 was raised during Foundation Term for the Foundation.
Thank you to all those who made Foundation Term a success, whether you organised or took part in an activity, held a bucket or made a donation, George Watson’s College and the Development Office want to say a big thank you!
Having a Ball at the BallThe Parents’ Association Ball held on Saturday 11 June was a huge success. The total raised is to be confirmed and will be spl i t between the Foundation and School Lunches for Kamuli.
EdinburghRugbyGeorge Watson’s College has formed a partnership with Edinburgh Rugby to enable the professional rugby team to play fixtures on our Grandstand pitch next season.
Edinburgh Rugby will trial six home games at Myreside between January and May 2017. If this trial period is successful, a longer term partnership would see Edinburgh Rugby playing here full time from the beginning of season 2017/18.
Edinburgh Rugby is no stranger to playing at Myreside. For over 100 years Edinburgh sides have played occasional matches at the ground, from a meeting v Paris in 1898 to fixtures against international touring teams and, more recently, against Ospreys in the league in February 2015.
The partnership sits well with plans the School has to develop the campus. Melvyn Roffe, Principal o f G e o r g e Wa t s o n’s C o l l e g e said: “We are excited about the potent ia l for th i s par tner sh ip to build on our rugby heritage and achievements and to enable the School to have a pos i t ive impact in the wider Edinburgh community. The School’s plans for the campus wil l shortly be finalised and the partnership with Edinburgh Rugby will help us to achieve our aspirations.”
Jonny Petrie, Managing Director of Edinburgh Rugby reiterated the importance of fan and player experience saying: “This is a hugely positive step for Edinburgh Rugby and we are delighted at the opportunity to play our home matches at Myreside. This is about building a strong future for the club at a home ground in the city that better suits our needs.”©giles-guthrie.com
©giles-guthrie.com
©giles-guthrie.com
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Swire Chinese Language programme
The groundbreaking partnership between George Watson’s College and local state schools Boroughmuir and James Gillespie’s High Schools to promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture is well underway.
The partnership sees Watson’s co l l abora t ing wi th co l l eagues in neighbouring schools, firstly of fer ing tas ter ses s ions in the pr imary schools before g iv ing children the opportunity to move on to take National Qualifications in Mandarin when they are ready. This programme builds our relationships cross sector, whilst utilising Watson’s long and successful experience of teaching Chinese.
The Swire Trust has generously funded the initiative as part of the Swire Chinese Language Programme, for a minimum of five years.
Gift Aid Rules Have ChangedThis concerns donors to the George Watson’s Family Foundation who have completed a Gift Aid Declaration. We would like to advise you that there has recently been an amendment to the Gift Aid Declaration by HMRC.
If you pay less Income Tax and/or capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year it is now your responsibility to pay any difference. Currently we can reclaim 25p for every £1 you give.
If you have any questions regarding Gift Aid or the Foundation, please do get in touch. You can call the Development Office on 0131 446 6008 or email [email protected].
LifeasaFoundationerIn preparation for writing this I realised that 11 years after graduation I never thought about what my time at Watson’s had done for me. Since leaving I worked in music for a number of years before undertaking a degree in Politics and Internat ional Relat ions , and I am now making d o c u m e n t a r i e s . Rather than focus o n w h a t I ’m doing now, I’d like to instead reflect on the e d u c a t i o n t h a t g a v e m e t h e g r o u n d i n g that has led me to where I am today.
I will try to explain how it felt to be brought into Watson’s, and how those years have shaped my character.
In 1999, I was on course to go to a state school in Edinburgh. Unsure it was right for me, my mum and I looked for other opportunities. One day she showed me a newspaper clipping – an advertisement from Watson’s about the Foundation. We applied, I took the tests, and got in, and found myself dressed in maroon, enrolling for First Year.
The transition from state to private education was not particularly smooth. I’d left one world behind but I wasn’t sure I fitted in with the new one. Thankfully, my mum made me see that being different was good. That my instincts were important and relevant.
And I was happy. We were allowed to be children. The environment was nurturing, kind and open. I was shown that I was valued and I was in turn able to value myself. I am not saying this is exclusive to Watson’s, or to private education, but it can be acknowledged that it is a privileged place. The School provided an environment that was full of possibility. It was possible to take risks, and it was easy to focus on my own development. I naturally gravitated towards arts, performing in a number of concerts and plays and taking the lead as Sandy in our S6 musical, Grease.
My background or circumstance didn’t affect my relationships with pupils. Who
you were took centre stage, and rightly so. None of this is to say money wasn’t an issue for myself or fellow pupils. But school was where that could be forgotten about.
The School inspired confidence. I expected to succeed at whatever I set my mind to.
Not, why would I succeed? But rather, why wouldn’t I? The
distinction between these mindsets is
often what I think separates people, t h e f o r m e r restricting, the latter enabling. I b e l i e v e d not only that I wa s good
enough, but that I deserved the best
for myself. The time at high
school determines how a child will grow into an adult.
I suppose it’s obvious that school, to a certain degree, raises children. Parents know this and must feel an enormous pressure when choosing an institution. I know my mum did. Perhaps it’s an obvious observation to make but from a child’s perspective, while you are caught up in the tornado of youth and puberty, that cultivation goes unnoticed, and our affected behaviours are unconscious. Which takes me back to the start, to what Watson’s did for me.
The big reveal is that it’s really just hidden in plain sight. My Watson’s education and experience is part of my make up. It shaped how I would understand the world and my place in it, affecting how I act today, what I have gone on to do since I left, and how I think of myself. What I mean to emphasise in saying all this is how instrumental the Foundation was for me, and will be for future pupils.
The equality of opportunity afforded by the Foundation means a lot to me. A good education is a right every person should have. Unfortunately a good education is not available to all. I was lucky, and I am grateful for the guidance, education, confidence and for being fortunate enough, due to the existence of the Foundation. Long may it continue. Debbie Butts (Class of 2005)
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Where are they now?Where are they now?Where are they now?
Where are they now?Where are they now?
Where are they now?
news on the whereabouts of former pupils
SarahHume(néePatterson)Classof1975
It’s been over 40 years since Sarah set foot in George Square, yet she harbours fond memories of her thespian debut as Gwendoline alongside Martha Kearney’s Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. It was a great production! She has worked in the television industry since graduating from Warwick University, emigrating to Washington in 1992. After working at National Geographic Sarah moved to Discovery where she is VP, Production Management. Opportunities have ranged from filming Titanic to working with intellectual luminaries like Günter Grass and adventurers like Bear Grylls. She credits much of her good fortune to the solid education provided by GWLC!
PedramValianiClassof2008
Pedram obtained a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy at Edinburgh University and works as an engineer at BuroHappold. At Watson’s he broke a record, achieving a Higher B in Mathematics without studying Standard Grade credit level. Despite never studying music formally at Watson’s, Pedram loved playing at the Halloween Rock Night. He has been touring with his bands (Frontierer and
Sectioned; both extreme metal). Pedram recently did an interview with Rolling Stone magazine and has upcoming festival performances and shows in Germany, Italy and the USA. Pedram also records bands from his home studio, a self-taught passion.
Alison Barnes (née Watt)Classof1990
After leaving Watson’s, Ali studied Geography at Glasgow University followed by a Masters at Strathclyde University. She then worked in the IT industry and later founded her own business. All the while continuing with her passion of rowing for which the foundation had been laid in S1 at Watson’s. Ali competed in four winning Glasgow University v Edinburgh University Boat Race crews, represented Scotland on numerous occasions and became British National Champion in 1999. In 2001 she moved south to follow her dream of rowing for GB and went on to represent GB internationally and won a gold and a bronze medal for Scotland at the Commonwealth Regatta in 2002. She now lives in London with her husband and three daughters, working part-time in a primary school. On a recent visit to Edinburgh the whole family enjoyed a tour of Watson’s which brought back many fond memories of happy school days.
Sarah Hume (née Patterson, Class of 1975)
Alison Barnes (née Watt, Class of 1990)
Pedram Valiani (Class of 2008)
80thBirthdayCelebrations,GWLCClassof1954On 22 April 2016, 22 ladies from the Class of 1954 enjoyed a wonderful buffet lunch at Myreside, in part a reunion, in part to celebrate their 80th birthdays. Laughter, smiles and warmth of friendships were shared by all and expressed the happy years they had spent in George Square. Memories of teachers often occurred in conversation, especially by one former pupil who had been running along the “dark passage” which was forbidden. On the corner she bumped into a teacher and
knocked her over. She was in big trouble! Another recalled being summoned up to the gallery during morning assembly. In front of the whole school she was given a severe reprimand for talking in prayers.
To this day she claims she was innocent but remembers the tears flowing as she returned to her class.
D e s p i t e t h e s e m o m e n t s o f embarrassment, they are so grateful that they were pupils of such a wonderful school as George Watson’s Ladies’ College. They would also like to thank George Watson’s College today for allowing them to gather at Myreside Pavilion to share friendships and an excellent lunch. A great turnout on a lovely day for the ladies whose friendships have lasted over 60 years.
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Ninety-five percent charm and five percent effort was what Mr Braithwaite said about me when I left Watson’s in 1979 aged 18. I’d been there from primary one and was still work in progress! Miss Boyle was impressed when I rose to the challenge of doing well at French in fourth year, but was not over the moon with the extra complimentary O Grade I left with in sixth year. One of quite a few I should say.
Funnily enough despite being dyslexic, rubbish at sports and poor at most academia, in my adult life I became fluent in a number of languages, evolved into an international steel ‘expert’ and built a global news, data and events business, covering steel and iron ore. Not sexy, but fundamental to modern life! There the editors banned me from writing and publishing anything! Miss Collins, who had spotted my English language challenges at Watson’s would have been proud of me, but doubtless agreed with the editor’s wise precaution. NB I probably would not have been so successful without her timely care.
So how did it all happen – global career, becoming good at languages, business success? Luck! Especially having been led astray at Watson’s by my friend David Skirving, who was primarily interested in activities that could get you locked up or a slap in the face. However, I also had a dream. At home we had always had international visitors and my brothers travelled when they were relatively young. So, like many younger siblings I wanted to do the same or better. The incredible Chinese collection at school also intrigued me; it seemed to be from another universe, incomprehensible creations.
In practical terms after doing an MA at Aberdeen, which I had hoped would be honors, but was not (something to do with lack of application), I found myself bounced into a business course by my parents. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but as I was offered a grant at the last minute and had nothing else to do, why not? I discovered that running businesses was just like organising clubs at University; there was fun and adventure in it. Coming out of Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology there were no jobs, but one cold, miserable March evening I came across a life saving advert in the Press & Journal. “George Watson Scholarship For Young Business Men To Go Overseas and Learn A Foreign
Language.” I had heard there was something happening in the Yellow Sea. Thus, I thought I’d give it a shot.
I was awarded the Scholarship in June 1984, but it took until January for the Chinese Authorities to agree to let me in. The deal was that I’d teach English! Slight problem in view of my inability to spell and do grammar. Fortunately, the Chinese had factored this in and provided me with bright students, who corrected both. A lot of fun was had there in Nanchang not only with Chinese colleagues and students, but also I had a cook! Zhang Hwa Zhen was a highly bright woman, who’d been transferred from Shanghai to Nanchang during the Cultural Revolution, and was not pleased with having to look after a young white foreigner. But she took pity on me and our meals were hilarious as I learned Mandarin via onomatopoeia.
In thanks for the terrific friendship I received there I created a small prize/scholarship, called The Ross Cup. It is aimed at helping improve students’ communication skills and is in memory of my father who was rightly fussy about people misusing language.
The experience in China set me up for the next stage in my life, with British Steel. I travelled the world and learned seriously about people, industry and trade. But it seemed to me (incorrectly) that steel was in decline and so after 12 years I took myself to Cranfield School Of Management. There I acquired the tools to eventually build a global business in my own right. Luck and China also played a part in that story, which ended in 2011 when I sold Steel Business Briefing and The Steel Index to McGraw-Hill.
Now aged 55, I am part of a portfolio of interests run by my wife, Linda. This includes three dachshunds (Hamlet, Tubs and Maginus), about 200 ducks, geese, hens, quail and guinea fowl and helping the local Humbie Hub (check it out!). She also farms me out as chairman of Lothian Broadband Networks Ltd, which is getting broadband to places other normal providers don’t and I am allowed a few other business interests including attempting to rebrand myself as a business coach.
My philosophy about effective business is nothing new, and is about enabling people. The sting in the tail is that most businesses have negative people, who I call “drainers.” The job of management is to get these drainers to see the light and be positive or, for the greater good, to move them on. Easier said than done, but I for one believe that life is for living and that means positive action.
PS Surprisingly, the George Watson Scholarship had nothing to do with Watson’s.Patrick Flockhart(Class of 1979)
A Steely Ambition
Nanchang
Patrick pictured with his wife, Linda
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Principal’s Paragraphsbe able to do better. It is what is known in jargon as a “growth mindset”.
As a large school we have the scope – and some might say the responsibility – to have big ideas for ourselves and how we work with others. The vision of this School over generations has never been small and there is no reason why it should diminish in the twenty first century as we face new and unpredictable challenges.
But equally, we have never been a school that has revelled solely in size. The personal is what makes Watson’s the place it is and we build success at scale by attending to the detail of things and trying to get that right first and foremost.
So what does that mean for the future at Watson’s?
It means creating schemes such as those that have been developed this year with local state schools and the The Swire Trust, which will provide generous funding for us to build on our excellent record of teaching Mandarin Chinese and enable us to teach this increasingly important language to pupils throughout South Edinburgh.
It means looking for opportunities such as our partnership with Edinburgh Rugby, which if all goes well will see Pro-12 Rugby played regularly on the Grandstand pitch once again and will enable us to invest still further in facilities and opportunities for all sports at the School, whilst carefully balancing the needs of professional Rugby with those of the Watsonian Sports Sections and the School itself.
We have also been looking at our Foundation Places scheme to see what more we should be doing to broaden its educational and social impact, for example by encouraging applications from a wider range of pupils who would benefit from a Watson’s education and who would benefit us by being here.
I had the privilege of working closely with Gareth Hoskins (Class of 1985) and his team at Gareth Hoskins Associates in drawing up a vision for the future of our School campus.
At the start of this session we celebrated the fortieth anniversary of Co-Education at Watson’s, the culmination of a process instigated by a policy statement from The Merchant Company in 1967 and completed at the beginning of the 1975/76 school session. That process created the Watson’s we know today: a school of well over two thousand pupils on one site where we take it for granted that both boys and girls will have the same opportunities and will be treated and respected equally, where we are comfortable with difference and can celebrate our achievements together – whoever we are.
Since I joined the School two years ago we have spent a lot of time considering what the next forty years might look like. Discussions have involved pupils, staff, parents, and Watsonians around the world as well as members of the public, the business community and colleagues in Higher Education whom we count as Friends of the School.
It was no surprise that we concluded that many of the roots of our future success already exist in the present. They lie in our staff and, of course, in our pupils and in the ethos that has been cultivated here not just over 40 years but throughout the School’s existence. These roots need nurturing, we should turn over the ground and nourish them from time to time but what is solid should not be needlessly disturbed.
But we also concluded that a school that is well rooted has the strength also to reach out to form partnerships and alliances which bring mutual benefit for pupils and the community as a whole and to begin to reimagine what good a school like Watson’s can do in the world.
And it should challenge itself to do better. Not because what we do at the moment is in any way bad, but because we should always be seeking to be the best we can be as individuals and as a school, and we know that given the right support and opportunities we will always
The brief for the masterplan was to look at every aspect of our School buildings and how they could be improved over the next 15 to 20 years by gradual and judicious investment.
Sadly, Gareth died suddenly at the beginning of this year in the prime of life and at the peak of his career and I will miss him as we begin to explain the exciting vision for the campus and explore how we can see at least some of it come to fruition in the next few years.
It was obvious to me that Gareth believed as I do that whilst attractive and efficient buildings are crucial to a school, schools are fundamentally not about buildings but about people and how they act towards each other within the community and how they value each other.
George Watson’s College is very fortunate to benefit not only from a superb pupil body and a dedicated and skilled staff team but also from the active support of such a broad community of Watsonians here in Scotland and around the world.
My wife, Catherine, and I have greatly enjoyed meeting many Watsonians and other friends of the School as we have travelled to places as far afield as Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Yorkshire in the last year. Wherever we have visited the welcome has been warm as has been the interest in and commitment to not only the past of the School, but also its future.
In a world that daily seems to become more unpredictable it is good to know that the support for George Watson’s College and what we stand for is both broad and deep.
In his annual report 40 years ago, my predecessor, Roger Young, wrote of the success of the amalgamation of the Schools. It had, he said, created a school with special qualities to offer, not only to education in Edinburgh but also to the wider community of Scotland and of Europe.
These qualities, he wrote, will be distinctly constructive, distinctly caring, distinctly excellent and distinctly Watson’s.
Whatever change may come, may that be forever true.Melvyn Roffe Principal
The Principal was among over 10,000 people who attended the Commemorations of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme at Theipval in France on 1 July in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the President of France, the President of Ireland, the former President of Germany and many other dignitaries. He laid a wreath at the Memorial in memory of the 608 Watsonians who fell in the Great War, their comrades-in-arms and those whom the misfortune of war had made their enemies.
As a current teacher at Watson’s and former pupil, I look back fondly over the memories I have playing hockey for the School. It was here that I realised my passion for the sport and went on to play internationally, until I was ruled out of the game through injury. As I was keen to stay involved, I started umpiring and was quickly fast tracked through the grading system in Scotland. I was appointed to various tournaments in Europe and was invited to be part of the three year European Umpiring Development Programme, which offered me many opportunities to improve my officiating skills.
Heading to Rio
Rio Dream Realised
Grace Reid (Class of 2014) has secured her place at the Rio Olympics in the women's individual 3m springboard event.
Well done Grace! We will all be cheering you on!
According to the Olympic schedule Grace will be diving in the Preliminary 3m springboard on 12 August from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm (UK time). The finals are scheduled to take place on 14 August from 8pm to 9.30 pm (UK time).
Commonwealth Games, Europeans
and World League semi-finals. I am heading to the
Rio Olympic Games as the only female umpire from
Great Britain in a group of 15 umpires from around the world. It is the pinnacle of any athlete’s sporting career and I am very honoured to have been appointed to the greatest sporting event in history. I have been so fortunate to travel to many different and exotic locations through hockey and I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have been given. Sarah Wilson(Class of 2006)
“I am so honoured to have been appointed to
the greatest sporting event in history.”
After eight years of umpiring, I was upgraded to the World Development Panel and appointed to major world events, such as the Junior World Cup,
15
Watsonian Sport Reaches the HeightsIt has been a successful past few months for Watsonian Sport, with Watsonian Rugby 1st XV winning the BT National League 1 title to secure a place in the BT Premiership for 2016/17. The Watsonian Men’s 1st XI Hockey team gained promotion to National League 1 and the Ladies’ 1st XI successfully maintained their position in Women’s National League 1. With the cricket season going well and the continued success of all of our ten sports sections it is definitely the time to be a part of this success. Contacts for all of our sports sections are available on the inside front page of this edition of Caritas.
A free public lecture hosted by GeorGe WAtson’s colleGe
7pm WednesdAy 21 september 2016
future perfect? Will We still be human in
the next century?professor lord robert Winston
cAritAslecture
for free ticketsemail: [email protected]
tel: 0131 446 6000
20
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Desperately SeekingDesperately Seeking
If you know up-to-date addresses for any of the following former pupils, please contact the School’s Development Office
DataProtection
Information received by George Watson’s College is processed fairly and lawfully and is used in support of our operations. The information will be controlled by George Watson’s College in accordance with the Schools’ Data Protection policy. It will be processed for educational, marketing, PR, fundraising, and event management purposes.
Sonia Cohen née Levinson
Katherine Jamie
Alexander Leitch
Elizabeth Atherton née Melville 1937
Douglas Stewart 1939
Colin Forrest 1944
Isobell Forwell née Stuart 1944
Joan Gordon née Reid 1946
Brian Clapp 1947
Sheila Millar née McDonald 1948
Malcolm Scott 1948
Dorothy Perham née Williamson 1949
Edith Glass née Baxter 1950
Charles Burnett 1955
John Dunlop 1959
Patricia Murdoch née Robertson 1959
Anne Moir née Nimmo 1960
Evelyn Lander née Birkett 1962
Thomas McKechnie 1962
Stuart Bowie 1963
Gordon Porteous 1963
David Pope 1965
Angela Stillwell née McLeod 1969
Paul Dundas 1970
Elspeth Nicolson née Forbes 1973
Robert Reed 1973
Tim Smyth 1973
Gordon Muchall 1974
Jill Parker née Murray 1974
Susan Murray 1979
Lawrie Nisbet 1979
Yvette Annand 1980
Alistair Hardie 1981
Alistair MacDonald 1981
Hilary Forsyth née Owen 1983
Mark Howitt 1983
Jill De Fresnes née Hendrie 1986
Desperately Seeking
Colin Cutting 1987
Kirsty Mackay 1987
Elizabeth Foster 1988
Alasdair Grant 1988
Lynn Watt 1989
Suzanne Fannin 1990
Julie Millar 1990
Isabel Mackay 1991
Christine Robertson 1991
Beatrice Taylor 1991
Chris Cornhill 1992
Jonathan Goldberg 1992
Niall Hume 1992
Sheila Elo née Burchell 1993
Stephanie Lock 1993
Kirsty McLaren 1993
Helen Reid née Wright 1994
Martin Brown 1995
Paul Goldberg 1995
Kenneth McKnight 1995
Matthew Smart 1996
Marcus Hope 1997
Lynsey Hunter 1997
Paul McLeod 1997
Louise Potter 1997
Stewart Scougall 1997
Ruth Simpson née McLelland 1997
Stuart Ballantyne 1998
Amy Sharpe née Fairlie-Clark 1998
Laura Swan 1998
Stuart Fleming 1999
James Jerome 1999
Christopher Nisbet 1999
Stephanie Palmer née Holmes 1999
Shona Pugh 1999
Rebecca Carter née Ewart 2000
Catherine Patrick 2000
Desperately SeekingDesperately SeekingRuth Rollo 2000
Steven Hunter 2001
Sarah Fisher 2002
Lynsey Flockhart 2002
Stuart Lambert 2003
Ben Steele 2003
David Gill 2004
Elizabeth McNiven 2005
Jan Tyler 2005
Alice Brodie 2006
Kirsten Cameron 2006
Bruce Green 2006
Darren Hau 2006
Euan Henderson 2006
Paul Mackay 2006
Douglas Mackenzie 2006
Rebecca MacLean 2006
Neil MacLeod 2006
Mark Morris 2006
George Porter 2006
Catherine Reeves 2006
Lucy Rhody-Nicoll 2006
Victoria Robinson 2006
Jennifer Stenhouse 2006
Kyle Strachan 2006
Adam Fisher 2007
Catriona White 2007
Michael McNiven 2008
Jacob Burnett 2009
Zack Gardner 2009
Corin Reavie 2009
Zeth Gardner 2011
Chantal Aitken 2012
Aksha Ramaesh 2012
Chiara Iorizzo 2015
Omar Khan 2015
Isabelle McNabb 2015
