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Issue 20 Summer 2015
The magazine for former pupils and friends of Robert Gordon’s College
Key Contacts
Robin Whyte
President
Gordonian Association
Dates for the
diary
Class of 1990 Reunion - Saturday 12th September
Alan Adie
Secretary
Gordonian Association
Angus and Perth Lunch for Gordonians and friends Tuesday 15th September
Aberdeen Lunch for Gordonians and friends Thursday 29th October
Laura Presslie
Director of Development,
Marketing and Admissions
Robert Gordon's College
Edinburgh Gordonian Dinner - Friday 13th November
Gordonian Association Dinner - Friday 4th March 2016
London Gordonian Dinner - Friday 27th May 2016
Laura Pike
Assistant Director (Alumni Relations)
Robert Gordon's College
The Pelican | Summer 2015
Published by:
The Development Office,
Robert Gordon’s College,
Schoolhill, Aberdeen, AB10 1FE.
For any enquiries: Tel: 01224 611211
[email protected]
www.rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk
Robert Gordon’s College is a charity registered
in Scotland, No SC000123
© Robert Gordon’s College 2015
In this issue
2. News from around
our community
including GA president’s report and other news
4. gordonians gather
with president of
google
“Vint Cerf is a wonderful role model - he is
truly a global leader and a very approachable
man devoid of airs and graces.”
6. gordonian events
Updates and photos from gordonian events of
recent months including reunions and dinners
6
8. SIR IAN WOOD
“In this fast changing world, you must be
constantly proactive to new approaches and
ideas. If continuous improvement is not in the
forefront of your thinking, you’re almost certainly going backwards. Complacency is the
real danger to you not realising your potential
which you must never underestimate.”
10. aRCHIVES UPDATES
The launch of an online Roll of Honour and
recent donations to the College
12. DOUGLAS CRAIG
8
12
14. LEIGH FAWCETT
Born and educated in Aberdeen, Leigh began
playing Hockey in primary six and has since
gone on to represent her country with 117
caps at senior level and is now Captain for
Scotland.
“It is important to ensure that the education
of the next generation of leaders in North-East
of Scotland will develop young people in all
skill sets, in performance as fully as in science.”
14
20
16. SPORTS NEWS
20. BOB CRAWFORD
“Bob held an eminent place in the recent
history of Gordon’s as a pioneering benefactor,
who wished to recreate the vision of the
founder of the College.”
What do you think?
We value your ideas for future issues of The
Pelican. Please do keep sending your news
and stories. You can do this by post to the
Development Office at the address shown on
the left, or by email to
[email protected]
The school magazine, produced as a record of
each school year, is still available to all members
who request it.
Any views or opinions expressed in submitted
articles do not necessarily reflect the views of
the College.
Front Cover:
Mark Urquhart,
2014 Founder’s Day Parade
The Pelican Summer 2015
News from around
our community
GA president’s report 2014 - 15
When I became President two years ahead
of the planned term of office, I did not
realise that very shortly thereafter, life would
change so much for me regarding my career
by moving from semi-retirement into a very
demanding full time position in Aberdeen
with extensive travel overseas.
So, with this in mind I wish to pay special
thanks to my fellow office bearers Robin
Whyte and Alan Adie who have stepped in on
my behalf on several occasions to represent
the Association and with their continued
support we have been able to deliver so much
which I am keen to share with you.
Back in 2013 I set out an agenda for change
for the GA and I am delighted that we have
delivered against that in many ways. So what
has been achieved? We are continuing to
make a difference with our financial support
of former pupil activities Sport, Arts, Music
and in some cases on an individual basis. I
would really like to see this continue going
forward.
I am also keen to ensure that we continue
to build on our relationship with the school.
The recent signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the GA and
the school was a real highlight for me as
this was a historic moment and sets out
the way we will work together with a clear
set of objectives. My lasting wish is that my
successors now carry forward this momentum
and deliver where it matters.
We have been particularly successful in
moving closer to young Gordonians. It is
really important that we build a conduit with
pupils before they leave school - they will be
our future. The appointment of Daniel Craig
and Louise Walker as two S6 representatives
serving on the GA Executive Committee has
reinforced our commitment to engage with
pupils and young Gordonians. It has also been
particularly pleasing to see the large number
of younger attendees at our dinners across the
country especially those who have recently
left school. Long may that trend continue.
And finally, a proud moment was launching
the Aberdeen Gordonian Bursary to mirror the
achievement of Gordonians in the Edinburgh
branch. These new Bursaries are a significant
development with many Gordonians coming
onboard to participate, and for some
reflecting on their personal experience and
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achievements from the bursary process
where they feel strongly about how they
have benefitted from the education that it
has brought them I sincerely hope that this
initiative chimes with many of you and that
you are able to lend your financial support
to this, no matter how small that may be.
In closing, I am proud to have been your
President for the last two years and I know
that my late father Atholl, who worked so
hard in his grocer’s shop in Bank Street,
Ferryhill all those years ago to support my
education would have been proud of his loon
being President of the GA.
New
Memorandum of
Understanding
agreed
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
has been agreed between the Gordonian
Association and Robert Gordon’s College to
enhance opportunities available to Gordonians.
The MOU has been established to provide
administrative support by the College to the
Gordonian Association and to help provide new
events and activities to Gordonians locally and
overseas. Alan Adie, Secretary of the Gordonian
Association says “Whilst the contents of the
MOU are very important, the most significant
and pleasing feature resulting from this MOU
is the very close working relationship which the
Association now has with the College. The MOU
has resulted in a sea change in the day-to-day
operations of the Association, and following the
AGM with the new elected Executive Committee
having a much wider age spread than previously,
the GA are in a position to earmark specific
projects which will be undertaken not only by
Committee Members, but with the assistance of
a number of other volunteers who have shown
an interest in our activities.”
If any reader has any
volume of the Aberdeen
University Roll of Graduates
which they would like
to sell or donate to the
Gordonian Association,
would they please contact
the secretary, Alan Adie on
07980-619932, or email:
[email protected]
Edinburgh Gordonian Fund From the Head
of College
Mark Urquhart
Allan Fraser
A new Bursary Fund has been set up by Gordonians in Edinburgh
after an idea by former pupils Allan Fraser and Mark Urquhart (Class
of ‘89). Allan and Mark have worked with their friends to crowd fund
the Edinburgh Gordonian Bursary to enable a pupil to attend school at
Gordon’s. The Fund is now in its second year and Allan is interested to
hear from Edinburgh based Gordonians who would like to participate.
He said, “Mark and I were both on bursaries at school and think it was
the major factor in enabling us to go away to university and achieve
professionally. We want to offer this experience to a boy or girl in the
north east who would not otherwise have this opportunity.” The cost
of the bursary is approximately £12,000 per year and the group have
signed up to affordable annual donations ranging from £200 to £1000.
Similarly, former pupil and Gordonian Association President Mike Fraser,
Class of ‘71 has launched the Aberdeen Gordonian Bursary with a similar
aim to allow a child from the north east the opportunity to benefit from
a Gordon’s education.
L TO R: DANIEL CRAIG, ANDREA ANGUS, MIKE FRASER, SIMON MILLS, LAURA PRESSLIE, ALAN ADIE AND
LOUISE WALKER
GA welcomes the appointment of
Gordonian Student Leaders
This school session saw the first appointment
of Gordonian Student Leaders to strengthen
the link between the current pupils of
Robert Gordon’s College and The Gordonian
Association.
Sixth year pupils Louise Walker and Daniel
Craig were appointed through the S6 Pupil
Leadership application process where they
each displayed a tremendous passion for the
school.
Mike Fraser (Class of 71) President of
The Gordonian Association welcomed the
appointment by saying: “The immediate focus
from both the GA and the College has been to
engage pupils from S4 to S6 through a series
of planned activities led by two Pupil Support
Leaders who will act as liaison between the
school and the GA. I am very happy that both
of these leaders, Daniel Craig and Louise
Walker have been invited to participate in
GA Executive Committee meetings and we
are already seeing the benefits of this. We are
looking forward to welcoming the GA Student
Leaders of 2015 – 2016 as this will be an
exciting time to join and continue the good
work that Louise and Daniel have started.”
Louise commented, “It has been interesting
learning more about how the GA works closely
with our school and the extent of support they
provide to numerous sports clubs and other
initiatives. It is rewarding to see pupils ideas
discussed at the quarterly meetings where
suggestions are carried forward to benefit
the pupils of Robert Gordon’s College now
and in the future. I would recommend the
position to anyone who is passionate about
our school and continuing the links between
current and former pupils.”
Daniel added, “Discussing current school
life at the Edinburgh Gordonian Dinner this
year was certainly a highlight for me. It was
a pleasure meeting former pupils and hearing
tales of their time at the college. It is incredible
to see how many Gordonians are generously
giving back to the college and share a vision
for providing support to the bursary fund.”
The warmth of the
Gordonian welcome
has been extremely
memorable since
arriving at the College
in August last year. It has
been an experience felt
over and over again at
events throughout the
year with former pupils reuniting and returning to
the Auld Hoose to tour their school or celebrate
with a Dinner, and at many Gordonian events
where the enthusiasm and goodwill experienced
has been terrific and each opportunity has been
unique and insightful.
As S6 pupils guide the Gordonian groups
around on Reunions, they swap stories from the
past and present. The shared bonds of experience
and outlook are the ones that convey themselves
most strongly. Much is learned in both directions
and it has been a great process to be part of. It is
clear that the unchanging nature of the Gordon’s
DNA has remained consistent over the years and
shows excellence across a swathe of activities,
recognition of educating the whole person and
the ongoing encouragement of young people to
be the very best that they can be.
Gordon’s continues to evolve, modernise and
build further opportunity for the young people
of the North East of Scotland. The new facilities
for Science, Technology and the Performing Arts
are quite breathtaking and will make a significant
difference to the ways in which teaching and learning
takes place. The commitment and generosity of
all who have assisted with this massive project
is very much appreciated. Over 100 separate
donors have combined to create the UK’s largest
Science and Technology teaching facility, which
is a hugely positive act. Specifically the significant
leadership of Sir Ian Wood through The Wood
Foundation and Douglas Craig of the Craig Group
has been pivotal in enabling this scope of work
to be undertaken. It is important to underline our
strength of appreciation to all who have supported
and continue to support this work.
It is also fitting to remember the outstanding
contribution made by Bob Crawford, the ‘Incredible
Crawford’, as Jack Webster describes him in his
history of Gordon’s. Bob’s remarkable life has enabled
opportunity for very many boys and girls at Gordon’s
through the provision of an annual Bursary and
the Crawford Travel Scholarship, this is outlined
very well in Alan Adie’s article in this issue of The
Pelican. It has been a life very well lived and we
celebrate Bob’s many and lasting achievements
with his great support of Gordon’s.
It has been a fast moving and enjoyable first
year at Gordon’s, with much to look back on
already. I look forward to meeting many more
Gordonians and hope that all feel very welcome
to come and visit.
Simon Mills
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Gordonians gather with
Vice President of Google
Internet and digital pioneer Vint
Cerf, widely regarded as one
of the ‘fathers of the Internet’
visited Robert Gordon’s College
on Monday 22 June where he
spoke to an audience which
included S4/5 pupils interested in
Computing Science and Business
Studies and invited guests from
the Gordonian community.
Mr Mills, Head of College said, “We are
honoured to have had Vint Cerf visit our
campus. Our vision at Gordon’s is to prepare
pupils for life, broaden their horizons and
encourage them to ‘Be the Best They Can Be’.
Vint is an exceptional and inspirational role
model to pupils and staff and he excelled in
sharing his journey of how he has become world
class in a field he greatly enjoys.”
Bob Ruddiman (Class of ‘83) commented:
“It was a great privilege to listen to and meet
a ‘father of the internet’ at RGC. Vint Cerf is
globally acclaimed for his pioneering work in
computing science and his speech was inspiring
and enthralling in equal measure. Vint shared his
experiences to date and his perspective on life in
the future in the context of ‘computers’. Whether
one was 15 or 55 this was an experience not
to be forgotten. Vint Cerf is a wonderful role
model - he is truly a global leader and a very
approachable man devoid of airs and graces.”
L TO R: SIMON MILLS,vint cerf and graeme gordon with RGC pupils
Bob Ruddiman left speaking to Vint Cerf with John Harris on right.
GA Award Former GA Awards to Pupils for Music and Art
The Gordonian Association is entrusted with the stewardship of the John Hall Davidson bequest,
Pupil Daniel
which was received in 2010. Hall Davidson as he was known attended RGC from 1900 to 1906 and
at the age of 88 in 1979. Hall's brother Alfred James Davidson also attended RGC from 1907 to
Kemshell, Class of died
1911 but sadly died in the First World War at the Somme in August 1916. In memory of Alfred, the
bequest by his brother was to fund an annual Music Prize for a College pupil. If he had survived the
‘14 for Music
war, Alfred Davidson was destined to be organist at Ripon Cathedral. In his own right, Hall Davidson
The Davidson Bequest has supported Former
Pupil, Daniel Kemshell with an award of £695 to
attend a 10 day course in July 2015 which will
comprise of instrumental sessions, masterclasses
with acclaimed jazz musicians, and a small tour
of performances around Scotland. Daniel has
been awarded a position as the guitarist for
the flagship National Youth Jazz Orchestra of
Scotland ensemble for the 2015 term.
was a talented amateur artist, and the solicitors administering the trust suggested that the bequest
should also be used to fund an annual prize in Art/Art & Design, in memory of Hall himself.
The Gordonian Association have introduced the awards for the first time at the annual Prizegiving
Ceremony in June 2015 with an annual sum of £750 being given in respect of each award as follows:
The Alfred James Davidson Music Prize is awarded to a talented pupil who has displayed exceptional
commitment and dedication in the pursuit of expanding their knowledge and technique in the
field of Music. The pupil should be seriously considering studying Music beyond school. This year
the Alfred James Davidson music award is made to Jonny Fitch (S4).
The Alfred James Davidson Art Prize is awarded to a talented pupil who has displayed exceptional
commitment and dedication in the pursuit of expanding their knowledge and technique in the
field of Art and Design.The pupil should be seriously considering studying Art beyond school. This
year the Hall Davidson art award is made to Thea Mayeux (S5).
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Naming Opportunities
We would like to offer the Gordonian community the opportunity to
name a seat in the theatre of the new Craig Centre for Performing Arts
opening after the summer. Seats are available for naming in recognition
of individuals, companies, year groups or in memory of a loved one. Your
name of choice will be recognised on your seat in a plaque designed as
a granite star. Each seat costs £2,000.
Name a Seat in The Craig
Centre for Performing Arts
CCF 2014 Annual Dinner
Gordonians joined Sqn Ldr Daniel Montgomery and Director of
Development, Marketing and Admissions Laura Presslie in London to
attend the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Association annual members’
dinner on 15th December. Former pupils Lord Nicol Stephen (‘78),
Isabel Bourne (‘03), Marcus Rose (‘12) and Laura Dedmon (‘12) were
in attendance.
The Periodic Table of Elements will be an impressive feature in the Foyer
of The Wood Foundation Centre for Science & Technology. Featuring all
118 elements, each element costs £5,000 and you can select an Element
of your choice subject to availability. Elements are available for naming
in recognition of individuals, companies, year groups or in memory of
a loved one. Companies may be interested in supporting Elements that
they work with on a daily basis.
Name an Element on the
Periodic Table of Elements
Founder’s Day speaker
Mark Urquhart Class of ‘89 delivered the 2014-15 Founder’s Day oration
on the year that marked the 40th anniversary of the mace.
Partner at independent global investment company Baillie Gifford
& Co, Mark specialises in global equities and was a MacKenzie Shield
winner at school. He went on to study Politics and Economics at the
University of Oxford and furthered this political academia at Harvard
University Kennedy School of Government, finishing with a PhD at the
University of Edinburgh.
Mark spoke proudly to pupils about his belief in the tradition of the
College to ‘be the best you can be’ and said of the day, “I walked through
the College gates as a pupil for the last time 25 years ago however the
opportunity it afforded and the values and lessons it taught is with me
every day. I was lucky enough to get a full scholarship to the secondary
school – a part of the College which I passionately believe should not
be underestimated. I left the pupils with a thought to give back, Robert
Gordon has no need to spend his fortune amassed as a merchant on
anyone other than himself but he chose the philanthropic route and set
up a hospital for maintenance, ailment, entertainment and education.”
Sharing your news
To name a seat or Element please contact Adam Hughes in the
Development Office on: 01224 656838 or [email protected].
sch.uk. You can donate online via our website: www.rgc.aberdeen.
sch.uk/onlinegift
Evie Rae & Daniel McFarlane, School Captains 2010-2011 both went
on to study Law - Evie In Edinburgh and Dan in Aberdeen. Evie has now
secured a Traineeship with Burness Paull while Dan begins his Law career
wirh a Traineeship at Aberdein Considine.
5
Gordonian events
It has been a bumper year for Gordonian events, including Regional lunches
for Gordonians and Friends, Gordonian Association Dinners and donor events
throughout the year.
6
are celebrating 25 years of leaving Robert
Gordon's College and we are hosting their
Reunion on Saturday 12th September 2015.
Staff will provide a whole school tour including
the new Science and Technology Centre, our
new Theatre Space, Drama and Music Studios
as well as some old haunts like the MacRobert
Hall and swimming pool! There are a number of
leavers who we are not in touch with, if you have
contact details for 'Lost leavers' please pass these
on to Laura Pike via [email protected].
sch.uk or 01224 611211.
Aberdeen Dinner
Our regional lunches in the Southern Counties,
Highlands, Angus and Perth, and Aberdeen
continue to be a success, it is hugely rewarding to
attend these events and meet Gordonians locally
and further afield. The affiliation and warmth
to the College is strong and we enjoy hearing
old stories and memories from days spent at the
College. Many attendees at such events now
attend annually and it is wonderful to see those
familiar faces and catch up in person.
The Gordonian Association annual dinner
took place at the Chester Hotel, Aberdeen on
Friday 6th March. We are delighted that the event
continues to attract over 200 attendees. This
year our guest speaker was Graeme Halkerston,
Class of '89, he now works as a Barrister for
Wilberforce Chambers. He spoke nostalgically
of his time at school recalling the “genuine sense
that you could achieve anything you believed in
and that the school genuinely offered the chance
for pupils to be the best they can be." Next year
we will revert back to our 'spiritual home' of the
Marcliffe Hotel, the date is confirmed as Friday
4th March 2016.
We are extremely grateful to Martin Gilbert,
'73 who continues to support the London
Gordonian Dinner at the Aberdeen Asset
Management Offices in the City, next year has
been confirmed as Friday 27th May 2016. Our
invitation is sent to all those living in and around
London, if you have not received an invitation in
the past this may be because we have an out of
date address for you, do please update this via
[email protected].
As well as meeting Gordonians at events
we regularly welcome Gordonians back to the
College for a tour. Over the past year we have
had Gordonians visit from all over the world. It
is fascinating to hear about your journeys in life
and how your time at Gordon's has impacted
on future decisions, working environments
and life long friendships. As always, you are
very welcome to visit the College and see the
changes that have taken place and reminisce
about your time here. Whether you are local and
haven't been back since you left, or are going
to be visiting on holiday do please let me know
if you would like to arrange a tour, you would
be made very welcome.
Looking forward the Class of 1990 Reunion
Dinners
We welcomed back over 170 Gordonians over six different year group
Reunions; the Class of 1963, 1964, 1969, 1974 and 1982 have all taken part in a
Reunion and we are happy to share a selection of photos from these events.
London Dinner
“Seriously – many thanks, thoroughly
enjoyed the experience.”
“It was a remarkable day, an opportunity
to refresh true friendships and re-kindle our
pride in something which is much more
than a school.”
“I confess I thought I would be very bored
but had a very entertaining time and
the evening flew past too quickly and I
did not manage to talk to everyone as I
would have liked! I am not very good at
keeping in touch and lost contact with
almost everyone when I left the school.
So it was nice to meet up again and the
years rolled away.”
Class of 1982
“It is only after an event such as this that
I realise how fortunate we all are to have
been a part of Robert Gordon’s College
and the part the school played in all our
lives.”
Reunions
“The dinner was a wonderful opportunity
to meet and chat, and I’m sure everyone
enjoyed it.”
Class of 1964
Class of 1963
Class of 1974
Class of 1969
7
Sir Ian Wood
Class of ‘60
B
orn and educated in Aberdeen,
Sir Ian Wood attended Robert
Gordon’s College from 1947 to
1960. He enjoyed school life with
good academic success and certainly
loved sports. He represented the school at rugby,
cricket, athletics and tennis. Nowadays Sir Ian
enjoys Tennis, Hill-Walking and Golf, a game
that his wife Lady Helen still beats him at.
In Session 1958-59 Sir Ian was awarded
Full Colours for Rugby and Half Colours for
Cricket and Athletics and in S6 was Captain
of the Gordon’s 1st XV rugby team, Captain
of the 1st XI cricket team and Captain of the
school tennis team. Sir Ian was actively involved
in extra curricular activities across the College
and was a member of the school choir and
the College debating society. In S6 Sir Ian was
Vice-Captain of the School and was a McKenzie
Scholar, visiting Africa as part of the award. It
was that trip and spending time with a number
of Aberdonians who had been very successful
in business there that led Sir Ian to think more
seriously about a business career.
On leaving Gordon’s Sir Ian went on to study
at The University of Aberdeen, graduating in
1964 with a First Class Honours Degree in
Psychology. He then joined the family business
John Wood & Son where he was made
Managing Director in 1967 and subsequently
evolved the organisation into two independent
businesses - J W Holdings, which became the
largest fishing company in Scotland and John
Wood Group PLC which was essentially a
start up in the oil & gas industry and over the
intervening years has grown to employ 43,000
people with $7bn sales, working in 50 countries
around the world and quoted on the UK stock
market in 2002.
Sir Ian was Chairman and Chief Executive
of John Wood Group PLC from January 1982
and Chairman from January 2007, a role from
which he retired in 2012. During that time, he
received an impressive list of awards for his
business and personal achievements.
Sir Ian received the award for Young Scottish
Photos from top:
Sir Ian Wood outside the Wood FOundation
Centre for Science and TEchnology
Rugby 1st XV 1959-60
The WOod Family
Cricket 1st XI 1960
8
Businessman of the Year in 1979 and was
awarded the CBE in the 1982 New Year’s
Honours List and a Knighthood in the 1994
New Year’s Honours List. In the intervening
period he has received five Honorary Degrees
from various Scottish Universities. Recent
appointments include Chancellor of Robert
Gordon University, a Member of the Scottish
Energy Advisory Board, Patron and Chairman
of various charity and fundraising appeals and
a Member of PILOT. He has recently led two
significant Government Reviews - Maximising
UKCS Oil & Gas Recovery (now known as the
Wood Review) for the UK Government and the
Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young
Workforce for the Scottish Government.
Among Sir Ian’s past appointments are
Chairman of Scottish Enterprise, Joint Chairman
of the Oil & Gas Industry Leadership Team, Board
Member of The Royal Bank of Scotland, Member
of the Scottish Economic Council, Member of
the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council
and Chairman of Grampian Enterprise.
In 2007 Sir Ian established The Wood
Foundation with his immediate family, Lady
Helen and his son Garreth (Class of ’96). This
is a Scottish based Foundation with a global
outlook. Its principal areas of focus is working
with 45,000 smallholder tea farmers in Tanzania
and Rwanda aiming to significantly improve the
yield, quality and price of the tea they produce
and thus take them out of their poverty status.
In Scotland, the focus is on a number of
programmes to enhance tolerance, global
citizenship and enterprise in young people
including the very successful Youth and
Philanthropy Initiative which is now active in
143 schools across Scotland, including Robert
Gordon’s College.
Other recent Wood Foundation contributions
include the offer of £10m to the construction of
a multi storey car park at Aberdeen’s foremost
hospital, and £5m to help develop an Oil & Gas
Institute and further research into remote health
care at Robert Gordon University.
The Foundation has made a significant
contribution of £2.25m to what is now called
The Wood Foundation Centre for Science &
Technology at Gordon’s. Sir Ian said “The STEM
subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and
Maths, will become more important in our fast
changing technology world and its great that
Gordon’s now has among the foremost science
& technology facilities in school education in
Britain”.
“In this fast changing
world, you must be
constantly proactive
to new approaches and
ideas. If continuous
improvement is not
in the forefront of
your thinking, you’re
almost certainly
going backwards.
Complacency is the
real danger to you
not realising your
potential which
you must never
underestimate.”
9
News from
the Archives
Launch of World War 1 Roll of
Honour on our Website
As part of the College’s commemoration of the start of World War 1, it was decided to produce
an online Roll of Honour of 289 pupils and staff of Robert Gordon’s College who gave their lives
serving their country. The original Roll, drawn up by The Former Pupils’ Association, contained
only the details of name, rank, regiment and date of death. The College Archivists have revised
and extended this Roll of Honour. For each person, there is now also a record of his years at
RGC, a photograph, where available, brief biographical details, military honours if any, and
place of burial. In the course of the research, they have discovered that some of our alumni
were unfortunately omitted from the original Roll and it is possible that there are others still to
be added. The Archivists would be pleased to hear from anyone who can provide them with
any missing information in this regard. Some entries are fuller than others - we would be very
pleased to hear from the Gordonian community about any photographs which might be made
available to us or about further information for a particular entry.
Lieutenant George Weir
Gifted to the College in 1965 by Charles Weir,
brother of George, this beautiful painting,
recently restored, hangs in the Auld Hoose.
George Weir was born in Muiravonside,
Stirlingshire, to William Weir and Margaret
Milne in January 1885. His father was a teacher
and the family moved to Strathdon after William
Weir's death from typhoid on 5th April 1887.
George entered class IIIB at Robert Gordon’s
College from Strathdon Public School on 28th
August 1899, aged 14 and left in 1900. He
had two older brothers: Charles Jamieson
Weir, a cashier aged 23 and William Weir,
aged 20, a law clerk. George subsequently
went to Glasgow where he studied Law while
working as a legal clerk for Thomas Scanlan &
Co. eventually qualifying as a solicitor.
10
On 18 February 1918, he married Emily Wattie
at 13 Albert Street, Aberdeen. Sadly, their
marriage was short lived as he died less than
eight months later. Emily died at Portsoy in
1967, aged 80.
George served as Lieutenant in the Royal
Horse Artillery and died in France on 5th
October 1918. He is buried in the Communal
Cemetery at St Germain-au-Mont-D’or.
Charles Weir had pursued a career in London
as a Chartered Accountant and died there in
1964. In his will, he bequeathed 1/5th of the
residue of his estate to Robert Gordon’s College,
the funds being directed to the building of a
new Science Block. He also gifted the beautiful
portrait in oils of his youngest brother, George,
painted in 1920 by Catherine Ouless.
Lieutenant Robert
Glegg
Robert Glegg was born on 19 May 1895, the son
of James Copland Glegg, Iron Merchant, and his
wife Agnes, a well-established and well-known
Aberdeen family. They lived at 60 Kings Gate,
Aberdeen. His grandfather had founded the firm
of Glegg and Thomson, Ironmongers and Metal
Merchants, whose premises were located in George
Street. The family has a very long association with
the College: Robert and his two brothers were
pupils here – Robert from 1907 – 1911, William
from 1904 -1908 and James from 1909 – 1912,
as were his great-nephews: Robert [1935-1946]
and Colin [1937-1949]. Maureen Glegg, [the
wife of Robert’s great nephew], taught Physical
Education in the Junior School for many years
and their son, Steven, was a pupil here from
1973-1986. Steven has a passion for history and
genealogy and generously allowed us access to
family photographs and documents amongst
which is a very moving letter written by brother
William to his parents in Aberdeen.
On leaving school, Robert entered his father’s
business and joined 2nd Company Royal Engineers
as 2nd Lieutenant on 25 June 1912. He was
promoted Lieutenant on 7 September 1914 and
volunteered for foreign service at the outbreak
of war. He subsequently went to France in 1915
and took part in battles of Neuve Chapelle and
Festubert while attached to 7th Division; he
was mentioned in Dispatches [London Gazette
1 January 1916] by Lord French for gallant and
distinguished service in the field.
Sadly, he was killed in action at La Quinque Rue,
near Festubert on 19 July 1915; he and his brother
William were serving in neighbouring trenches on
the front line and when Robert was injured, William
was summoned and was with him when he died.
He was 20 years of age. To read the letter which
William wrote to his parents, telling them of his
brother’s death, follow this link: www.rgc.aberdeen.
sch.uk/assets/0004/0684/Robert_Clegg.pdf
He is buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery,
Souchez.
Classes IVb and IVc of 1960 - 61
Do you recognise any of the faces in this photograph? Please get in touch
at [email protected]
Ecce Homo
Painting donated to Robert Gordon’s College 2014
Mr Chris Nussbaum, father of Peter, [1993-2003], and Rosa, [20022007], made a gift to the College in June 2014 of the painting Ecce
Homo, [oil on canvas, 90 x 70 cm] by Alfred Nussbaum (1919-2004)
– Mr Nussbaum’s father. As well as being an artist, Alfred Nussbaum,
born of Jewish parents, was a highly respected teacher of Physics and
before coming to the UK with his wife and family, he matriculated at
the University of Vienna in 1937 to study medicine but was forced to
flee after the annexation of Austria by Germany. He found himself a
stateless refugee in Palestine and, in 1948 he and his wife and children
came to live in the UK where he obtained a grant to study Painting at
the Rochester College of Art. He taught Art and subsequently Physics
in Bristol until his retirement in 1983.
Peter, his grandson, went from RGC to the Universities of St. Andrews
and Manchester to study medicine and is currently completing working
as a psychiatrist in Australia. Rosa pursued a career in Art and Graphic
Design, graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with First Class honours in 2013. She now works as a publishing designer in an academic
publishing house which is part of the Architectural Association in London. It is remarkable how the career path of their grandfather has
entwined with theirs.
The painting is to be hung in the new The Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology and the Craig Centre for Performing Arts
to reflect the family’s connection with both the sciences and the arts.
Gift of Orchestral Music to RGC
Music Department
In February, Mr Chris Pearson, Principal Teacher Learning [Music], received a very large quantity
of orchestral sheet music from the father of his colleague, Mr Kenneth Primrose, Head of
RMPS. The music had originally belonged to Aberdeen Orchestral Society and subsequently
came into the possession of Mr William Ronald Barrington Burnett, a generous benefactor
of the College, who died in February 1996. Ronald attended RGC from 1929 to 1935 and
distinguished himself as a brilliant scholar and musician. He won the Town Council Gold Medal
for Modern Dux in 1935 and the McLellan Prize for Mathematics in the same year. He was
also leader of the College Orchestra.
He continued as a faithful player in the first violins of the school orchestra well into his retirement.
It is gratifying to know that his connection with the music of the College will be maintained when
our current players play from the scores which once belonged to him.
The Burnett family has a long association with RGC. Ronald’s older brother, Joseph (Joe),
was a pupil here from 1924 to 1930 and was an outstanding scholar and Rugby player. He
was taken prisoner in Malaya and subsequently died in a POW Camp in Thailand in 1943. A
silver trophy in memory of Joe, The Burnett Memorial Cup, was donated by his mother.
11
Douglas Craig
Class of ‘67
“It is important to ensure that the education of the next generation of
leaders in the North-East of Scotland will develop young people in all
skill sets, in performance as fully as in science. It is pleasing to work with
a school that shares the same values in terms of quality and excellence
as the Craig Group. It is a privilege to be able to give back to the school
community what Gordon’s has given to so
many of our family.”
12
B
orn in Aberdeen, Douglas
is Chairman and Managing
Director of Craig Group
Ltd, a family owned global
shipping and energy services
company headquartered in
Aberdeen. Educated at The University
of Aberdeen, Douglas spent four
years with KMPG in Aberdeen,
qualifying as a Scottish Chartered
Accountant before joining the
family business in 1976 as Group
Accountant.
He was subsequently appointed Services Director
where he diversified and expanded the service
portfolio, enabling the group to become a
market leader in the areas of offshore support
and emergency response and rescue vessels,
oilfield procurement, offshore catering and subsea
electronics. In 1988 he was appointed Managing
Director and the organisation now operates the
largest wholly owned British fleet engaged in the
UK offshore industry and is one of Scotland’s Top
100 Companies.
Douglas has been heavily involved in a wide
range of business and voluntary organisations. These
include Chairman of the Institute of Directors along
with directorships of Aberdeen Enterprise Trust,
Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and ACSEF. He
has also been a council member for CBI Scotland, a
member of the Institute of Petroleum Engineering,
Vice Chairman of the local advisory committee of
Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fisherman,
Governor of The Robert Gordon University and
committee member of Princess Royal Carers Trust.
Supporting the development of the Craig Centre
for Performing Arts, Douglas said, “It is important
to ensure that the education of the next generation
of leaders in the North-East of Scotland will develop
young people in all skill sets, in performance as
fully as in science. It is pleasing to work with a
school that shares the same values in terms of
quality and excellence as the Craig Group. It is
a privilege to be able to give back to the school
community what Gordon’s has given to so many of
our family.” Three generations of the Craig family
attended Robert Gordon’s College - David Craig,
Class of ‘33, Douglas Craig, Class of ‘67, Steven
Craig, Class of ‘99 a,d Andrew Craig, Class of ‘01.
At school, Douglas enjoyed athletics and music,
participating in the varied sports activities at Seafield
and the musical events with the Orchestra in the
MacRobert Hall.
Douglas’s opportunity to study accounts and
political economy assisted and shaped his future
career and sitting higher Music also allowed him
to develop a lifetime appreciation of brass and
orchestral music. For school leavers, he believes
it is essential to choose subjects that are related
to your ambition, those that you perform best in
and choose a career that has good job prospects
either in the UK or internationally.
Nowadays Douglas enjoys music, golf and travelling.
Top: the class of 1967 5th year class
photo. douglas is second from the right
in the back row
Centre: Douglas and his late father
david with former head of college hugh
ouston
below: Douglas Craig with his son
andrew presented this sculpture of
his late father, David Craig. it was
commissioned in 2011 by the family
of David Craig. The other statue was
presented to the University of Aberdeen
in 2012 and is located on the top floor,
The Craig Floor, of the university library.
They were created by Candida Bond.
bottom: a young musician finalist plays
the grotien-steinweg concert piano
donated by the craig group.
13
“Always give it your be
Born and educated in
Aberdeen, Leigh began
playing Hockey in primary
six and has since gone on to
represent her country with
117 caps at senior level and
is now Captain for Scotland.
Leaving Robert Gordon’s
College in 2003, she went
on to study Physiotherapy
at RGU, has an MSc in
Exercise Science and is
now a Physiotherapist in
Edinburgh for NHS Lothian.
Leigh was recently named
as an ambassador for the
Aberdeen Youth Games
(AYG) which is delivered by
Robert Gordon University
(RGU) and Sport Aberdeen.
Shelley Lee interviews Leigh
on balancing a busy career
with representing Scottish
Hockey and developing
sport in youth.
You have already seen a great career
in Hockey, what has been your most
memorable sporting achievement so far?
“Competing at the Commonwealth Games last
year in Glasgow with the support of a home
crowd including family and friends was just
amazing. Team Scotland gave it their all and
narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot. More
recently it is an absolute privilege to be asked
to Captain Scotland. It is a really exciting time
for the team this year with a lot of young talent
coming through the programme.”
14
Leigh Fawcett
Class of 03,
Scotland
Hockey
Captain
Congratulations on being named as an
ambassador for the Aberdeen Youth
Games (AYG) this year. What is your role
in this initiative?
“AYG is an innovative sport and physical
activity programme that promotes health and
wellbeing amongst Aberdeen’s young people
which involves sports coaching, healthy living
advice, and citizenship skills. It was lovely to be
asked to become an ambassador for the Youth
Games. I’ve always taken part and enjoyed
sport so it’s great to get involved. I’m keen to
get kids involved with physical activity and with
my experience I can help with giving advice
and motivation. It’s very exciting that hockey
is one of the sports that the Youth Games are
promoting this year and it’s a great opportunity
for kids to get a taste of the sport.”
Is there anyone who has really inspired
you, and why?
“It was great to see some familiar faces last year
in Glasgow who played a big role in developing
my hockey from an early age. In particular,
Scorge, Miss McNaught and Mrs Scotland were
instrumental in driving me forward and were a
welcomed support at a memorable moment
in my career.”
What motivates you to face the challenges
of balancing a busy career in Physiotherapy
with a hectic midweek training schedule
that takes you throughout Scotland?
“Playing a sport I truly enjoy and the sense of
achievement I get from representing my Country
is a huge motivator. I can’t thank NHS Lothian
enough for their flexibility in allowing me to meet
the training demands. Training four days a week
in Dundee, Stirling and Edinburgh sometimes
sees me in multiple cities in one day. “
est shot.”
girls’ 1st xi hockey team 2001. toni fawcett is 2nd left and leigh 2nd right in the top row.
You started playing Hockey at an early age
through your involvement in after school
clubs. How has this helped provide a good
foundation for your subsequent sporting
career?
“Participating from a young age allowed me
to adopt good habits and learn new skills at
the earliest opportunity. My friends all played
after school so it was a lot of fun. I also really
enjoyed Netball where I was involved in the
national youth programme.”
Last year, some of our primary seven
hockey players supported you at the
Women’s Hockey Champions Challenge
in Glasgow May 2014. How did it feel
seeing pupils and coaches from your old
school there?
“I was really overwhelmed to see the P7 girls
as it took me back to when I first started out.
Not only was it a great opportunity to catch
up with some of my coaches but to share my
experiences in the hope that this inspires the
next generation to aim high and reach their
full potential.”
You were greatly admired at school for
your dedication to sport and finished your
final year as Blackfriars House Captain
and also Hockey Captain. What is your
favourite school memory?
“Being part of the first Gordon’s winning
team at the Scottish Schools Indoor Finals
was a highlight for me in S5. It was such an
achievement for us all. My sister Toni (S6 at the
time) was Captain at the time and is therefore
quite a family moment for us as this was the
last year we played together.”
What’s next for you in terms of Hockey?
“This year the aim is to finish top 6 for Scotland
to maintain European A Division. We are
competing at the EuroHockey Championships
in London on 21-30 August at Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park. Any support would be welcomed
from pupils, families or Gordonians in the area
at the time. Personally, I am continually involved
in developing youth sport participation which is
an area I am really passionate about.”
Achievements:
•Scottish Woman’s National
Hockey Team
•Ambassador for Aberdeen
Youth Games
•Represented Scotland at 2014
Commonwealth Games
•Won a Bronze Medal at 2011
Champions Challenge in
Dublin Ireland
•named 2011/2012 Grove
Menzieshill Outdoor and
Indoor Player of the Year
•named 2006 Robert Gordon
University Sportsperson on
the Year
•Donated 2010 Dehli
Commonwealth Games
Scotland top to Robert
Gordon’s College which can
be seen at Countesswells
•part of the national
Champions in Schools
programme
Finally Leigh, we leave you with some
memories from school:
“Our key player, Leigh is a great talent. Our
captain has led us well throughout the season.
However, her passion has been quite loud! “ Alex
Walker, get it together!” Leigh hates to lose! A
Scotland U16 and U18 player, Leigh really has
been outstanding this year and we all believe she
can reach her foal of playing for Great Britain.
Good Luck Leigh!” Yearbook Class of 2003
Hockey Coach Stuart Scorgie (Scorge) said, “As
soon as I saw Leigh play in Primary 7 I knew
she would be an Internationalist as even at that
early stage she showed a willingness to work
hard and had a winning mentality. A highlight
for us all was watching the Fawcett trio play
together when Sheila McNaught put sisters
Toni, Leigh and Abbi (S6, S5 and S1 at the
time) on the pitch together. More recently, I
was personally very grateful to be invited and
proud to watch Leigh compete for Scotland at
the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Leigh was a joy to coach and our extended
thanks go to the family for their continued
support throughout the years.”
15
Sports News
Cricket
I am pleased to report that Gordonians Cricket
Club (GCC) continues in good health and with
a positive direction of travel, progressing well
on and off the field. There are also underlying
concerns which we will need help addressing. Since
my last Pelican report in March 2014, our four
weekend sides have continued to improve on field
performance and team spirit. We have celebrated
our club’s 90th anniversary in style renewing a
number of friendships, reconnecting with many
former Gordonian stalwarts and marvelling at
the timing of Buff Hardie’s after dinner deliveries.
The weekend in May 2014 was a great success
generating further significant alumni goodwill.
Hugh Ouston and his successor, Simon Mills,
attended the dinner at The Marcliffe. The Sunday
matches involved a young RGC team, a GCC
team, the 1994 Strathmore Union winning side
and a “Rest of the World” select. We hope there
will be a demand for further events.
We are now well in to the 2015 season. If
2014 was a season of progress and a case of
“what might have been” for both seniors and
juniors then 2015 promises much more. In 2014,
our 1st XI finished 3rd in the Strathmore Premier
league, the highest since winning the title in
1994, our seconds finished 3rd in Grade 2 and
our 3rd XI gained promotion to Grade 3. Our
overseas amateur, Aussie Hamish McMullan,
scored a club record 201 not out vs Strathmore
in Forfar and individual Strathmore and Grade
cups were won by Aman Arora, Hiru Doley and
Chamila Perera.
So far in 2015 our 1st XI are second in the
league and with a strengthened squad from
last season, an astute leader in Swapnil Rane
(joining us from Mannofield in 2014) and last
year’s professional, Kiwi Hamish Lewis, settling in
Aberdeen and scoring runs then, whisper it, the
Ladies Hockey
title is a real possibility. Our 2nd XI are unbeaten
and top Grade 2, our 3rd XI are competitive in
Grade 3 with both sides in cup semi-finals. Our
Sunday XI team of lads and dads continues to
be a truly development side - an opportunity
to travel to some interesting grounds and for
younger players, and juniors starting in adult
cricket, to learn from senior players in a fun
environment. There are lot of smiles around
the club and we are clearly getting some things
right. FP’s Andy Lowden, Craig Pettitt, Marc
Jones, Andrew Dolman, Ross McLellan, Alan
Adie, George Bews, Stuart Grant and sadly few
others continue to retain links with our heritage.
We sincerely hope the current players, many
of whom are not FPs but wear the Gordonian
badge with pride, have sustained and taken
our proud club forward not only for themselves
but also to enable RGC pupils, and hopefully
some staff, to come through the ranks in time.
A younger onfield cricketing leader with strong
Gordonian roots to work alongside our captains
would be ideal if you are out there.
We continue to work in partnership with
RGU cricket who are going from strength to
strength and gained promotion to the top
BUCS cricket league in Scotland in 2015. We
can offer excellent practice and playing facilities
at Countesswells. Our sponsors and partners,
Arrowdawn Limited, have again enabled us to
retain quality playing and coaching ability in
the shape of Hamish Lewis, and also to invest
further in our growing junior section.
Our key objectives continue to be to increase
cricket participation in Aberdeen, including
persuading more young RGC cricketers and
staff to come along, and to improve senior
players quality. With Sanju Mudkavi, a former
Aberdeenshire professional, coaching our seniors
and Anju Mudkavi, along wth ECB qualified
coaches, Stuart Dalgarno and Campbell Airey
coaching our juniors we are in excellent shape.
We now have U-13 and U-15 sides having fun
and giving Aberdeenshire and Stoneywood-Dyce
a run for their money. RGC’s wrap around care
team and GCC are co-operating to run two weeks
of cricket summer camp at Countesswells this
summer and uptake has been very positive. All we
lack is a junior convenor to plan and administer
all this great work. Help from a former player
or junior parent is welcome.
Donny and his team continue to excel. Our
home ground remains the envy of many cricketers
in NE Scotland. We hope that the school will be
able to add indoor nets to the gym under the
rugby stand. The ongoing support from Mike
Fraser and the Gordonian Association continues
to be very important. At the College we keep
in touch with Richie Anderson, Colin Filer and
coach, Anju Mudkavi who, along with the Head
of College, Simon Mills, are supportive of cricket
despite the many constraints. It remains for me
to thank my committee, our sponsors, everyone
who has made a donation and all our players.
We are a progressive and inclusive club, enjoying
our sport and looking forward to the challenges
ahead. You can be the best you can be with us
by contacting me, Paul Gray, the club secretary at
Gordonians Cricket Club [email protected],
our Club President Andy Lowden andylowden@
btinternet.com or on 07807 349810, and follow
our progress at our website http://gordonians.
hitssports.com.
And, whisper it again, but sometimes when
we shut our eyes and dream about the future
for RGC and GCC cricket we see increased
participation, developing some more Scottish
internationals, RGC playing the top Edinburgh
schools home or away, an RGC team touring
somewhere interesting, GAIL school/FP cricketers
having a route to overseas cricket in Scotland,
a GCC team packed full of committed pupils
and FP’s building the club of the future with a
clubhouse and spiritual home at Countesswells.....
Paul Gray – Club Secretary
AAM Merlins Gordonians continue to provide an environment for the elite athlete to compete, as well as the social player and our emerging
youth. This season there has been a steady increase in the membership of the Ladies Hockey Section and a lot of credit must go to the hard
work of the committee in developing the club. A number of RGC FP’s play regularly as well as some current RGC schoolgirls, although we
are hoping for more to be playing next season.
The 1st team finished 4th in National League Div 2 and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup in a narrow defeat by a Division 1 team!.
The aim is to achieve National League 1 status within the next two years.
The 2nd team had a very mixed season finishing 7th in North District Div1 but reaching the final of The Scottish District Plate and narrowly
losing on penalties at the end of a 2-2 draw. Hopefully they can build on this success and finish further up the district league next season.
The 3rd team which included six new youth players in the last few games were very successful winning North District Div 2. We declined
promotion as our 3rd team is a development team in which we want to develop youth players alongside experienced players and they are
not ready for Division 1 yet!
The indoor season saw our first ever indoor silverware where our second team were proud winners of the District Division 2 League.
Throughout the year we have had various social and fundraising events jointly with the men’s Hockey section and the Rugby section. This
year we are hoping to organise a ceilidh inviting the other sport sections.
Club training is at Countesswells on Tuesdays 7-8:30pm and we would welcome any RGC FP’s who wish to return to hockey to come and
join us.
16
Men’s Hockey
At the end of April Gordonians were beaten
by an aggregate score of 8-2 by Kelburne, the
outstanding team in the country, in a home and
away play-off for a possible position in next season’s
European Cup; this just two weeks after losing a
Scottish Cup Semi-Final match against Edinburgh
University, which they should undoubtedly have
won, by a single goal. A disappointing season
then? Well actually no, not a bit of it because if, at
the beginning of the season, we had been offered
a top four position in the National League Division
1 plus a Scottish Cup Semi-Final place, we would
have grabbed it with both hands. What in fact
it represented was a huge improvement on our
performances in recent years when much, if not
all, of our time has been spent in a constant and
at times desperate struggle to avoid relegation
and hold on to our Division 1 status.
The upturn in our fortunes this year came about
because we were able to muster a much larger and
stronger squad than of yore which in turn led to
a healthy competition for places and allowed our
coach, Mark Ramage, to insist that attendance at
training was now obligatory. Although we had lost
a couple of outstanding players from last year in the
form of New Zealanders Oscar Stewart and Dwayne
Rowsell, we were fortunate to welcome back three
young Gordonians in U-21 internationalists, Stuart
Allan and Adam Walker, plus Ben Walker, and also
to sign up two more U-21 internationalists in Craig
Falconer and Matt Connor, whilst Martin Babicky
returned from Prague for another season and took
with him his Czech international colleague, the
giant Reinhardt Nicklas. We were therefore able
to compete on level terms with all except Kelburne,
something which we have never been able to do
in the past, and it all led to a highly productive
and enjoyable season for both the players and
our growing band of supporters. Our objective
is now to maintain this level of performance next
year and in the years to come but this will not be
easy, particularly as it seems unlikely that we are
going to be able to afford the luxury of having two
overseas players in future years.
For the Club’s other teams the season was
generally rather disappointing for reasons which
were in the main outwith our control. Following
the withdrawal of all the Midland District teams
from the Scottish Regional League North, both
our 2nd and 3rd teams were left stranded in a
much weakened League consisting of only North
District teams and with the standard of and the
number of Clubs playing hockey in the District having
reached an all time low, the level of competition
was poor to say the least. As a result the 2nds
were able to win the League without ever having
to extend themselves whilst the 3rds, which were
run as a development team, would undoubtedly
have benefited from a stiffer test from many of
their opponents. Our 4th team too had a fairly
miserable season in which they played only two
matches after New Year, to a large extent because
of the inability of formerly strong Clubs like Ellon
and Inverurie to field sides, a very sad state of affairs.
The one bright spot was the performance of our
5th team which was made up almost entirely of
S2 to S4 schoolboys, aided by Martin Babicky and
coached and organised by Cameron Mowat, which
turned out almost every Sunday with a good deal
of success against adult opposition.
The Club’s Youth section continued to flourish
with a total Youth membership of over 100 boys
and girls, most of whom appeared each week at
our Tuesday evening coaching sessions. We were
able for the first time to run and host U-10 and
U-12 competitions against other Clubs and Primary
Schools on a number of Tuesdays, the brainchild
of Alex Walker, and these proved to be hugely
popular with both children and parents alike. Our
U-16s and U-18s also took part in their respective
Scottish Club competitions, although with only a
limited amount of success, but although we do not
have the numbers to mount a serious challenge
to the Clubs in the central belt, we do have an
encouraging number of youngsters with a great
deal of potential in both age groups. Thanks are
due to both Mark Ramage and Tom O’Kelly for
the time and effort they put into coaching the
youth teams throughout the season and also for
supervising the youngest squad of players we
have ever taken on a Tour to Holland during the
Easter holidays (all 15 and under) along with John
Mowat and the writer.
International representation last season was
Gordonians Hockey Club’s U-16 Boys squad and coaches setting off to fly to Amsterdam
for their Holland Tour in the Easter holidays. The squad played matches against five Dutch
clubs and recorded 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 defeats. They also had two coaching sessions
led by current Dutch and New Zealand internationals and watched two Men’s matches in
the Hoofdklasse premier league. It was the 10th youth team that Gordonians have taken to
Holland, but the first at this age group as all previous tours had been for our U-18 teams.
somewhat limited and whilst five of our U-16 boys
were selected for the Scottish U-16 Development
Squad, only one Club member gained International
honours, namely Andrew Webb, a s5 RGC boy who
won a number of U-18 Caps. He is an outstanding
player for his age and looks to have a bright future
in hockey ahead of him. An even better news story
emerged however as this article was being written
when Jamie Wong won his first full International
Cap against Wales in Glasgow. Jamie learned all
his hockey at Gordonians and RGC before he sadly
left Aberdeen 18 months ago to go to Edinburgh
University and he becomes the first Gordonian to
play for Scotland for some five years and the first
RGC boy to win a full Cap since Paddy Conlon
in 2005. I shall be very surprised if this is not the
first of many Caps that Jamie will win.
Finally I would just like once again to thank
our sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management
and Martin Gilbert personally for their and his
continued financial support of the Club, without
which we would not be able to compete at the
current level, and also to Donny Reid and his staff
at Countesswells for their help and co-operation
in dealing with all our various demands. As ever
it is very much appreciated.
AJI
Netball
The Gordonian Netball Club has had a very
successful season. The Gordonians have won
Division one of the Aberdeen District league
and The Pelicans have won Division 4.
Other achievements include: The
Gordonians won the Aberdeen Handicap
Tournament (where all opposition started with
a goal advantage against Gordonians) and
The Gordonians also finished in the last 12
in the Gold Section of the Scottish Cup. This
is the first year we have entered the National
Competition and hope to again next year.
National players this year included Emma
Love who has trained with the U17 National
Development Squad this year. She has another
season in this age group and we wish her well.
Thank you to CNR international, Caber
Coffee and the Gordonian Association for
their financial donations throughout the
year. The club continues to train at RGU on
a Wednesday evening 8-9pm and we would
welcome any new players at any time. Training
will commence again at the end of August
and if you are interested in joining the club
please contact [email protected]
Stacey Stewart
17
Rugby
This year we celebrated our Club’s 110th
Anniversary. Gordonian Rugby Football Club
was founded in 1904/05 exclusively for former
pupils of RGC and didn’t go “open” until 74/75
when the player base coming directly from the
College started to fall. This allowed Gordonian
Rugby to flourish and the club enjoyed its most
successful era in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
During this time the Gogo’s were promoted
to the top division in Scotland and welcomed
Hawick at the old Seafield pitches on day one of
season 80/81. Superbly Captained that season
by Club stalwart Chris Snape, the Gogo’s were
easy victors 26-13 in front of a crowd of 1500!
The Club’s fortunes did take a turn for the
worse after that, but through the hard work
of its members, in this 110th year, we are now
in a position where Gordonian Rugby is at the
best it’s been in a decade or more.
During the 2014/15 league the 1st XV had
an excellent record of won 14, lost 3, drawn
1. 11 of those 14 wins came with a bonus
point for 4 tries or more. On 71 points, GRFC
finished with more than double the points of
last season. Compared to last season’s league
table, winners Perthshire won the league with
14 wins, 3 losses and a draw, the exact same
as us this year. In total, the team scored 652
points and conceded just 283. The biggest win
came in the last game against Ellon (64-0) and
the heaviest defeat was away to Orkney (32-10).
The Caledonia Division 1 league is a fantastic
and very competitive league containing talented
players of home grown origin and clubs like
ours need to promote and encourage this and
we are exceptionally proud of the number of
ex-pupils of RGC that have and are returning
to play their rugby with us and are making a
positive contribution to rugby in the North
East. In addition to all the personnel behind the
scenes, the players and sponsors GRFC would
like to thank Craig McEwan for taking on the
mantle of Coach this season, filling
in the big shoes that Gordon
McMillan left. Craig more than
met our expectations. Also thanks
to Tom Williams for his excellent
stewardship on the pitch as he
stepped up to be 1XV Captain
this year in Craig’s absence. We
also said goodbye to Lisa Erskine,
she has been our physio now for
8 years and has been a massive
part of our success.
Looking forward to the 2015/16
season the club are looking to
push for promotion with both
the 1st and 2nd XVs, and to that
end would welcome anyone to
join the club regardless of ability in
our thriving club where enjoyment
and player development come first.
18
Golf
The 2014 golf season was once again a success.
Our first outing of 2014 was a “double header” on June 7th and 8th at Nairn Dunbar and Duff
House Royal. Around 15 attended both days and we were joined by another 8 at Duff House on the
Sunday. The Nairn Dunbar outing was won by Ian Hogg and the Duff House outing by Steven Miller.
The next outing was at Ballater on 17th August which again had a healthy turnout of 16. This
outing was won by Matt Verling. This was also the second round of the respective Club Championships
and the scratch was won by Matt Verling and the handicap by Steven Miller.
The final event of the season was the team event at Braemar on 14th September which was
won by John Gibb, Stuart Axten and Scott Beattie. As usual this event proved popular with eight
teams of three taking part.
The Queen Elizabeth Schools Tournament at Barnton was held the weekend of 21st and 22nd
September and despite a gutsy performance the team went down 2-1 to a very strong Glasgow
Accies team in the first round.
The 2015 season kicked off with a two day outing to Downfield in Dundee then Royal Montrose.
Both outings were well attended and the respective winners on the day were Neil Davidson and
Graeme Webster. Further outings will be held at Ballater in August then Braemar in September.
Full details of these outings will be on the club website. The season will be rounded off in the usual
style with a race night and prize giving at the Cults Hotel in November.
The club is currently doing well but we are always looking for new members to attend the
outings which are always great days.
Laurence McLeod, Captain
Gordonians
around the globe
Le Chemin de la Liberté
I was delighted to make contact recently with
Scott Goodall (RGC 1940-1951) who lives in the
Ariège département of the Midi-Pyrénées region
in France. Scott has been a key figure in keeping
alive interest in the Chemin, the "Freedom Trail"
high level route over the Pyrenees used by over
33,000 civilians and 6,000 allied servicemen
during World War II when attempting to escape
Nazi-occupied Europe by reaching neutral Spain.
Scott organises trips for military and other
groups and individuals who tackle the trail and
is involved in the official four day hike which
takes place in July each year to commemorate
the work of the guides, safe-house keepers and
couriers who, as Scott writes, "Kept this route
open during the last war and in many cases
sacrificed their own lives doing so". Perhaps
a project for our CCF cadets at some point!
Through his work on the Trail, Scott was
awarded the MBE in 2005 for services to the
history of the Second World War. He very
kindly presented the College with a signed
copy of his book, The Freedom Trail, in April
2015. Information on the Trail can be found at
http://chemindelaliberte.fr and details of how to
buy Scott's book can be obtained by emailing
[email protected].
D Montgomery, Teacher of Modern Languages
ScientistsPlus at
OTC 2015
Former pupils gathered in Houston on 5th May
at the Robert Gordon’s College reception during
OTC. This year the main theme was science,
technology and performing arts to mark the
upcoming launch of the new Wood Foundation
Centre for Science and Technology and the
Craig Centre for Performing Arts. David Rennie,
Class of ‘71 pictured above said “this year is
significant as these new facilities are being
opened at our old school. Gordon’s is providing
a regional centre for both science education
and the performing arts, and its outreach to
the wider community will support hundreds
of girls and boys across the region”
steve hutcheon (‘89), david dalgarno (‘76), rachel spatz (‘04), ewan milne (‘06),
prof harry mackay (‘55) and paul gallagher (‘05)
Former Pupils in Boston meet with pupils for
Science and Technology Trip
prof murray gibson (‘71)
Northeastern university
Seven former pupils living and working in Boston met with a group of forty-three S5 and S6 pupils
during a Science and Technology trip to Boston. The pupils travelled to Boston to learn about science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from world-class researchers and professors from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University and Northeastern University (NEU).
Former pupil Prof Murray Gibson, Class of ‘71, is now Dean of Science at North Eastern University
said “It was great to see Gordon’s pupils with an appetite for knowledge and adventure. In preparing
for meeting them I reflected fondly on how my experience at Gordon’s equipped me well for a life
of opportunity. I was particularly pleased to see young women and men in school colours - we’ve
come a long way since 1971!”; Euan Milne, Class of ‘06 moved to Boston to undertake his MBA at
North Eastern University, he said “Boston’s international standing as a hotbed of innovation shows
exactly what can be achieved with exceptional educational resources and a focus on STEM. The pupils
I spoke with were engaged, inspired and left with their eyes wide open” and Harry Mackay, Class
of ‘55’, North Eastern University Professor Emeritus “Talking with the pupils showed me that little
has changed in how Gordonians come across to strangers. They’re bright and friendly and it was
wonderful to meet more than 40 of them”.
19
Robert Gammie
Crawford
(1936-39) CBE 1990
B
ob received a foundation bursary at
Robert Gordon’s College in 1936. He
was a member of Collyhill House and
was a keen and talented sportsman.
The College archives show his activities to have
been athletics, rugby and cricket (for all three
of which he was awarded minor colours),
swimming (member of the demonstration team),
football, and Scouts. He was also a member of
the school orchestra. In session 1938-39 he was
awarded a prize in mathematics. Despite this,
by the time he reached the third year in 1939,
his progress was adjudged to have fallen short
of requirements and the financial support of
the Foundation was withdrawn. He left RGC
at the age of 15.
He earned enough money as a Post Office
telegraphist to enable him to enrol at Gregg’s
College, Crown Street, Aberdeen where he
pursued courses for entry to the Civil Service.
He also learned shorthand and typing to allow
him to consider a career in journalism.
On his 18th birthday in 1942 he was called
up and volunteered for the RAF, working mostly
in South Africa. He was eventually demobbed
in 1947 as a navigator flight-lieutenant. At this
time his thoughts had turned to Law, but he
had no Higher School Certificates, and he had
not been to university. He went to London to
see if it was possible to become articled to an
English solicitor. He was accepted into the lowest
rung of the English legal system, working for
a family firm of solicitors in Westminster. He
kept a modest profile, passed the necessary
examinations, and emerged as the hardworking, dependable Scot, who, whatever
his lack of qualifications, was blessed with an
abundance of common sense, which was to
be a major asset in the career which followed.
In 1951 he applied for a job with a firm of
lawyers, Ince & Co, dealing with the international
shipping scene. Within two years, and whilst still in
his 20’s, he became a partner. He had a number of
very high-profile personal clients, which included
Hong Kong shipowner C Y Tung, the man who
bought the Queen Elizabeth from Cunard, and the
perhaps better-known Aristotle Onassis, the Greek
shipowner. Bob’s modest comment on that is “Not
that I have ever claimed to be a great authority
on the fine points of international maritime law.
I was just lucky enough to get people to accept
me as an adviser - or an umpire to their disputes
- along common-sense lines.”
20
Onassis had a finger in so many pies, from
ships to Olympic Airways and much more, such
that Bob Crawford was spending half his time
out of the country. He would find himself on
board the fabulous yacht, Christina, with just
the owner and the owner’s legendary mistress of
operatic distinction, Maria Callas, for company.
If Bob Crawford had been a high earner in
that glamorous era, his fortunes turned sharply
upwards as his 50th birthday approached. In
1974 he surrendered his partnership in Ince’s
to accept an invitation to become President of
the Vlasov Group at Monte Carlo - one of the
world’s biggest ship owning groups. Bob had
reached the very pinnacle of his career.
In 1976 Bob joined other shipowners on the
board of the biggest maritime liability insurer,
the UK Defence Club. He remained in that
role for an astonishing 35 years, retiring at the
unprecedented age of 86.
His wise counsel was much sought for public
places. He became a member of the Executive
Board of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping and the
Civil Aviation Authority. In 1985 he was made
Vice-Chairman of the Port of London Authority.
During this time he continued to be a member
of Lloyd’s, Chairman of Silver Line Limited, and
of the UK Protection and Indemnity Association.
In 1986 he was given the challenging task,
as Chairman, to set up Highlands and Islands
Airports Limited. The award of a CBE in 1990
was the signal that he was proving more than
equal to the task.
A colleague of Bob from those days comments
on Bob’s “strategic vision, fierce focus on detail,
practical approach, and inexhaustible stamina
which enabled Bob to work all day and on
through the night when necessary”. The love
of detail gave him an extraordinary ability to
identify inconsistencies amongst voluminous
texts, and the discovery of such inconsistencies
are still referred to as a ‘Crawfordism’.
Bob had another stake in Scotland, having
from 1966 owned three farms at Lumphanan,
where he had a commercial beef herd, and he
was a breeder of pedigree Simmental cattle,
winning the Royal Highland A.S. Overall
Simmental Breed Championship in 1990 with
a home-bred female, the famous Angela.
Bob was an Elder in the local church,
following his faith.
Notwithstanding the pressures of a
high-powered and successful career, Bob
Crawford gave an unstinting
commitment to the Gordonian
Association. He was for 20
years the Secretary of the
thriving London Branch of
the Association, and went on
to be the London Branch President. In 1991
he was elected as President of the Gordonian
Association itself. He holds the record of being
the only Association President to have been
appointed who has not been resident in the
Aberdeen area.
What makes Bob Crawford an extraordinary
Gordonian is not only his astonishing career from
such humble beginnings, or his commitment to
the Gordonian Community, but his generosity
to the College. In 1972 - the year when he
was invited to give the Founder’s Day Oration
- he funded a Vocational Travel Scholarship, the
conditions of which, in recent years were varied
to allow it to be awarded to the Head Girl. It is
now known as the Crawford Scholarship. More
significantly, in 1994 he set up a major fund to
provide free education for up to 6 pupils at any
one time, from S1 to S6, i.e. throughout their
secondary school career.
Bob’s first wife, Rita, to whom he was married
for over 30 years, died in 2004. In 2010 he
remarried Margaret, with whom he spent 5
very happy years.
Successive Headmasters got to know Bob
very well on a personal basis, and the recently
retired Hugh Ouston had this tribute to make
“Bob’s openness, enthusiasm and affection
for Gordon’s - not to mention his life story made that and every conversation with him
both generous and stimulating. I never met him
without anticipation and never left him without
having become wiser. Bob held an eminent place
in the recent history of Gordon’s as a pioneering
benefactor, who wished to recreate the vision
of the founder of the College; what he was
interested in always was the practical context
of the real lives of individual pupils.”
Bob Crawford died peacefully at home on 2
May 2015, aged 91. He is survived by his wife
and his daughter Fiona.
Alan Adie,
Secretary of the Gordonian Association.
Bob Crawford
was brought
up in Hollybank
Place, Aberdeen
and attended the
nearby Holburn
Primary School
followed by
Ruthrieston
Intermediate
School. His father,
William, was a Post
Office Telephone
Engineer.
21
Obituaries
The Obituary Section in this issue of the
Pelican is much larger than normal, due
principally to the fact that it is thirteen
months since the last issue of the Magazine.
Several former pupils have commented that
this Section in the past has been merely a
list of dates of death and little else. In this
magazine every effort has been made to pay
a tribute, albeit in some cases a very small
tribute, to those pupils who have either
passed away since the last issue of the
Pelican, or whose death has been advised to
us since the last issue of the Pelican. If we
have not been able to include a tribute, it
is because we do not have contact details
for the family of the deceased, or the family
have been unable to supply a tribute.
On a daily basis the Development Office
attempt to match death notices from the local
press with names on the Alumni Database.
This exercise will never be foolproof, and in
particular will not catch those FP's who have
died outside the local area. The Magazine
team rely on friends and relatives to make
contact.
Information should be sent to Alan
Adie ([email protected] or Tel 07980619932), the Secretary of the Gordonian
Association, who has assumed the role of
obituary correspondent, or alternatively
to the Development Office at the College
([email protected] or
01224-611211). In every case we will try to
ensure that the contents of the final tribute
which appears in the Pelican is acceptable to
the close relatives of the deceased.
David Carnegie Arbuthnott (1938-41)
Date of Birth: 27/03/1926
Date of death: 11/08/2014 (Age 88)
David had to leave school aged 14 when his
father, a trawler ship chandler in Torry, died,
The fees, all of £12 per annum, became
unaffordable. A very caring and much
loved teacher ”Pa” Barclay, a former Head
of English, learning that the Commercial
Bank had decided to take one or more very
young apprentices to replace staff serving in
the Forces, suggested that David submit an
application. This was successful. Three years
later he in turn was called up and joined
the Navy. His fascination and interest in
aeroplanes led him to volunteer for the Fleet
Air Arm. He was sent to Canada for pilot
training. Being seconded to the U.S.A.F. for
further experience in American fighters, he
was likely to have been in the first wave of
the planned American assault on Japan.
After WW2 David was back in the UK for
retraining in seamanship. His divisional officer
on the course was Lt. Philip Mountbatten.
Demobilisation found him back in the Bank
where he was quickly promoted to Branch
Manager in Fraserburgh before moving to
the Head Office of the Royal Bank of Scotland
22
in the 1950s. David’s kindness and caring
nature for others were characteristics which
contributed to his eventual appointment as
Head of Personnel and to the Boardroom of
the Royal Bank.
He is survived by his wife Nora, three
children and four grandchildren.
[Submitted by William Alexander Copland
(1936-41)]
George Gordon Arthur (1940-45 and
Teaching Staff 1968-88) MA
Date of Death: 28/03/2015 (Age 87)
Gordon Arthur was a second generation
Gordonian, and attended the College during
the War Years 1940-1945. On leaving the
College he gained an Honours Degree
in Modern Languages from Aberdeen
University, and embarked on his career as a
Teacher of Modern Languages. After spells
of teaching at a number of Educational
Establishments in Scotland, including
Fraserburgh Academy, Harris Academy
and Aberlour High School, he returned to
the College as a member of the Modern
Languages Department in 1968. In 1982
he was appointed Head of the Modern
Languages Department and in 1988, after
some 20 Years of teaching at the College,
he retired. During his retirement he was
able to spend time travelling extensively,
spending several years in Cape Town, and
latterly living in Germany, where he passed
away in Munich on 28 March 2015.
[Submitted by his son, Philip Robert Gordon
Arthur (1966-74)]
James Fyfe Rennie Bews (1950-56)
Brian McRobert Scott Brown (1978-81)
Date of Birth : 31/03/1964
Donald Gray Chisholm (1935-48)
After leaving school, Donald joined the RAF
to do his National Service, followed by four
years at Gray's School of Art where he studied
Drawing and Painting, gaining his Diploma
in Art in 1953. After teacher training, his
first post was in Orkney, where he stayed
for three years, then Buckhaven in Fife. He
married in 1958 when he was transferred to
St Andrews where he remained for the rest
of his life, first in what was Junior Secondary
Burgh School and then in Madras College
Kilrymont.
He developed an interest in pottery and
went on a course in the Art College in
Dundee, so that he could create pieces for
use and ornament, but also teach his school
pupils. For some years he taught an adult
evening class.
He was always keen to take parties of
his pupils on camping or hostelling trips,
to introduce them to his beloved Scottish
countryside, particularly the hills, but
perhaps an even greater interest was sailing
boats. He made a Mirror dinghy for the
school and later designed an eight foot
fibre glass mould, from which he made ten
dinghies, most of which went to be tenders
for larger boats owned by members of the
St Andrews Sailing Club, of which he was
a keen member. He served as the safety
officer and later as the Commodore.
When he was 49 he developed cancer
and during the two years of treatment
(eventually successful), he started to work in
silver and made some beautiful pieces which
are still being worn.
Although he returned to teaching, he was
now prone to infections and he eventually
took early retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Heather, a son
and two daughters.
[Submitted by his wife, Heather]
Ian Cameron Clark (1952-65)
"Ian was one of the most valued members
of our staff and a close friend and comfort
to many. Although he has left a hole both
in our organization and in our hearts,
that hole is filled with fond memories of
a true gentleman, a scholar, and a warm
person who brought a calmness and order
to whatever he put his hand into. What I
cannot replace is his politeness and the way
he always treated people. He will be sorely
missed but fondly remembered."
This is just one of the many loving tributes
from the staff of Goodyear Tyre Company
where Ian worked from the age of 21 until
the day he died on November 10, 2014.
Ian's father, John, was a Science teacher at
Robert Gordon's College, and Ian's 13 years
of schooling was at RGC. After graduating
from Aberdeen University with a degree
in Mechanical Engineering, he joined the
Goodyear Tyre Company at their Glasgow
factory.
All his life was spent working with
Goodyear who sent him to do a Master's
Degree in Polymer Science at Akron
University in 1972 before despatching him
internationally on short special assignments.
During an assignment to the Philippines he
met Tessie whom he married in Aberdeen on
December 21, 1973.
After establishing a home at Stafford while
working for Goodyear at Wolverhampton,
Ian was assigned to Malaysia (18 months),
Jamaica (3 years), Indonesia (8 years), back
to Malaysia (3 years), Luxembourg (9 years),
followed by the Philippines (3 years). Ian
and Tessie finally settled in Thailand in 2002
where they developed a love of ballroom
dancing.
Ian was a very well loved person in all the
countries he was assigned to. Everybody
liked him for his gentlemanly manners and
calm disposition. He never got angry and was
known as a "peacemaker" at Goodyear!
During his lifetime, he collected many
acquaintances and friends but he cherished
the friendship of a few schoolmates from
Robert Gordon's who stayed in touch with
him until his death. Ian is survived by his
loving and devoted wife Tessie and proud
son Chris.
[Submitted by his son, Chris Clark]
Thomas Collins (Teaching Staff 1955-89)
MA 1950
Tom Collins originally hailed from
Portmahomack in Easter Ross. After a few
years in Canada in his early childhood, he
returned with his family having acquired
dual nationality of Canada and Britain.
He attended Tain Royal Academy before
entering Aberdeen University, from which
he graduated MA in English, French and
Biblical Studies in 1950. After the completion
of his two years’ National Service as a
commissioned officer and teacher training,
he began his teaching career at Turriff
Academy.
In 1955 he became the first incumbent
of a newly created specialist post at RGC
of teacher of Religious Education. He held
this post for an unbroken spell of thirty
four years, playing a prominent part in the
developments of his subject and introducing
many new ideas current in the teaching of
RE at the time.
In addition to his academic teaching, Tom
was particularly involved for most of his
years at RGC as an officer in the CCF, one
who was always a regular participant at
annual camps and training courses where
his constant cheerfulness and aptitude for
outdoor activities gave invaluable support.
The Orienteering Club at RGC owed much
to the drive and initiative of Tom Collins
and several of its members went on to the
highest honours.
Outwith school he was always very
active; he engaged in marathon running,
Nordic skiing and hill-walking, where his
incredible physical fitness, agility and nimble
footedness were held in great awe by his
fellow participants. Long into his retirement
in 1989 he carried on his cross country
skiing, hill-walking and running.
Tom was a very well read, highly intelligent
man without conceit and self-importance
who took up the study of Russian at the
time of Chernobyl in 1986 and regularly
thereafter went to teach English to Russian
students at a university in Russia.
[Submitted by Urwin Woodman (Teaching
Staff 1964-2001)]
John Hughes Craigmyle (1945-55)
John worked with C Davidson & Sons
Limited, Paper Mills for most of his working
life.
He was a very keen musician, playing the
saxophone in a duo at many functions. In his
later years, when he moved into Rosewell
Care Home, he was a very popular resident,
continuing his love of music by entertaining
the other residents. John was married twice.
Michael John Traill Duffy (1968-76)
Michael was a gentle and generous man.
Even in illness, Michael touched people
with his humour, humility and kindness. He
passed away from brain cancer in Seattle,
Washington, USA. He is survived by his
wife, Tracy, and his daughters McKenna and
Lachlin.
[Above extracted from the death notice in
the local press]
Robert G Crawford (1936-39) CBE 1990
A special tribute to this eminent Gordonian
appears on page 20.
Donald Noble Duncan (1940-44)
Patrick George Davidson (1947-50)
MRCVS
Patrick enjoyed country pursuits more than
academic study and as soon as he sat his
Higher exams, he left RGC to work on farms
in Aberdeenshire, punctuated by National
Service. After taking a consignment of cattle
to Canada, he took casual employment
there before returning to manage a farm on
the Mull of Galloway. An accident restraining
an escaping sheep resulted in a broken back
and a decision to study in Edinburgh to
become a vet, working on nearby farms to
provide an income for his now expanding
family.
After graduation, Patrick was part of the
team tackling Brucellosis eradication in New
Zealand. His damaged back necessitated a
return to Britain for treatment and he then
became involved in turkey farming and
the Milk Marketing Board before returning
to Aberdeenshire to lecture at Craibstone
Agricultural College. Head-hunted for a vet
post in Canada, he stayed there for several
years.
Eventually, he returned to Britain and
took various locum jobs around the country
before settling at Balgairn, Ballater. Dog
kennelling and some veterinary work were
undertaken to provide income alongside his
favourite pursuits of training dogs to the
gun or to work sheep, lots of shooting and,
increasingly, playing the bagpipes.
Patrick played a key role in the formation
and development of the Ballater and District
Pipe Band and remained a staunch supporter.
His novel “I like to walk in this Field” was
eagerly adopted for publishing and is based
closely on his early years.
He is survived by his second wife,
Margaret, as well as a daughter in England
and a son and two daughters in Canada.
[Submitted by Norman Robertson Wisely
(1952-65)]
Stuart Farquhar (1938-43)
Stu and his two brothers were born
at Strichen. Their father was the local
pharmacist. He started his education in
Strichen but then, like his brother Ranald,
he went through to board at Sillerton House
and finished his secondary education at
Gordon’s. He started an apprenticeship at
the C.P.T. in Fraserburgh working on the
production of Merlin engines for the RAF,
interrupted by the two years of compulsory
National Service. Stu then went to work for
Finnie’s Quarries in New Pitsligo, responsible
for transportation.
Stu was an educated and well informed
person and always had an interest in the arts,
and soon he had enrolled at Gray’s School
of Art in Aberdeen where he developed his
skills in the field of sculpture. Even here that
independent streak was showing and he paid
his own way through college before going on
to teach art at New Pitsligo School. He then
moved to London where he started work with
the then General Post Office, work which
entailed acting as a Telecommunications
Traffic Officer for the then London South
Central Area; the Government offices, the
Palace and certain high profile figures who
required anonymity and strict security in
regards to telecommunications. Whilst
being in the metropolis he found he was
surrounded by museums, Concert Halls and
Art galleries which help feed his appetite for
these subjects.
Some of the musicians and composers he
had met in London, like Benjamin Britten,
visited Haddo where old friendships were
renewed. Whilst working for the G.P.O his
health deteriorated and heart problems
were identified. He was among the first to
undergo groundbreaking heart surgery at
Harefield in the early eighties, and although
it was successful he was left much weakened
and early retirement was called for.
The building of a studio at his home
enabled him to collect and display paintings
and ceramics, as well as continue with his
own artistic creations. With his stroke in
23
2008 he lost the power of movement and
speech which was a body blow for him. He
struggled and persevered to regain speech
and movement, and slowly his house was
modified for his impending return, despite
the fact that the professionals were insistent
that he would have to go into a care home..
His eulogy ended with "Stuart was a
character the like of whom we’ll nae see
again."
[Submitted by his niece, Helen Thomson]
Ronald Grant Fiddes (1951-55)
Date of Death: 24/10/2014 (age 75)
After leaving Gordon's, Ronald worked
with Lewis Shipbuilders, during which
period he gained an HND as a shipbuilding
draughtsman. When the company closed in
1961, he moved to George W Bruce Limited,
which later became Aberdeen Concrete Co,
where he became a Structural Engineer.
His career continued with the Aberdeen
Construction Group with a move to John
Fyfe Limited, Granite Merchants – a position
he held until 1997. Within John Fyfe he
then held a Health & Safety position at their
Kemnay Quarries, eventually retiring in the
year 2000.
Ronald played cricket at Gordon's College,
but his real sport was football, playing for
Kings Park, and then becoming a stalwart
with Cove Rangers. Later in life he and wife,
Margaret, had a love for bowling, and he
wrote a book on the history of Whitehall
Bowling Club. He was a major contributor
to David Smith's book of "Aberdeen in the
Fifties and Sixties". he particularly enjoyed
getting involved in a recent RGC Reunion for
the "Class of '57".
Ronald is survived by his wife of 52 years,
Margaret, daughters Carole and Anne, and
son Allan Robert Fiddes (1973-76).
Stewart George Connon Fowlie (195053)
After leaving Gordon's College, Stewart went
to work at Aberdeen Journals where he spent
his whole working life in various administrative
posts as part of the Advertising Dept. He had
a break of two years for National Service with
The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, with
whom he maintained a lifelong connection
being a Member of the Regimental
Association.
Stewart and I were married in 1965 and
subsequently had two sons, Brian, who is a
sports journalist and Ian, who works in the oil
industry.
Stewart's interests were mainly of the
active variety, he enjoyed walking, was for
many years an enthusiastic cyclist and played
badminton weekly up until he suffered a
severe stroke in March 2014. He was also
a car enthusiast and very much enjoyed
24
attending vintage car rallies around Scotland.
He also enjoyed travelling and visited the
Middle and Far East, North America and
many parts of Europe.
[Submitted by his wife, Muriel]
Jack Stanley Fraser (1931-42)
After leaving RGC, Jack started his electrical
engineering career as an apprentice with
Claud Hamilton for about three years. He
then moved to the North of Scotland Hydro
Electric Board, where he worked as an
Installations Engineer for 12 years, leaving
for a very short spell to C Davidson & Sons,
Bucksburn, but returning within one year
to Hydro Electric as an Electrical Engineer.
Having gained during this time a National
Higher City of Guilds qualification, Jack
was appointed as an Inspector of Electrical
Engineering with the National Inspection
Council for Electrical Installation Contracting
(NICEIC), a position which he held from 1957
to 1991. He was a Fellow of the Institution of
Incorporated Executive Engineers.
Outside of his career, hockey was his
passion. He played as a goalkeeper for
Aberdeen Academy FP's (who became
Hazlehead) in the 1950's and 1960's. He
umpired at District League and National
league in the 1970's and 1980's. He was
Fixtures Secretary and Umpires Convenor for
North District, followed by a spell as President.
He was Press officer for Hockey for the Press
& Journal for more than 40 years, and for
Scottish Hockey he was Match Secretary
and became an Honorary Life Member. His
contribution to the world of hockey was
recognised by Gordonians Hockey Club who
appointed him an Honorary Vice President.
He still had time to get involved with
other interests such as stamp collecting and
crosswords, and he was very keen on music.
He was also a church elder at Ferryhill Parish
Church for many years.
He is survived by his wife Mary, and sons
Peter John Fraser (1972-80), Martin Alan
Fraser (1975-83) and Andrew Neil Fraser
(1981-89) and keeping the RGC thirdgeneration tradition going - grandchildren
Stuart Michael Fraser (2005-11), Amy Helen
Fraser (2009-15), and Moray, Kirsten, Shona,
Dylan, Morgan and Conchur.
[Submitted by his son, Martin]
Colin J Frieslick (1972-78)
Gordon Bisset Fyfe (1935-48)
The first years of his working life were spent
in the oil industry until he was conscripted
into the R.E.M.E where he saw action
in Korea. After his army service he was
employed by Plenty of Newbury as a pump
fitter and maintenance engineer on the oil
rigs back in his beloved Scotland in the North
Sea. After this contract was finished he set
up his own courier company delivering parts
for Plenty, as well as other materials all over
Europe, until he reached retirement age,
Gordon was the son of Graham Fyfe,
who was Music Teacher at Gordon's College
from February 1945 until August 1946.
It is therefore not surprising that Gordon
had a passion for music, and his retirement
allowed him to be able to concentrate on his
involvement with the Newbury Town Brass
Band, where he was a leading light. This
Band was named Watership Brass, after
Watership Down, the home of the infamous
rabbits He toured many parts of the world
with the band even as far as South Africa,
and it was his love until ill health forced him
to give up. One of his proudest moments
was to accompany the band in 2010 to
Ypres and lay a wreath on behalf of Newbury
Royal British Legion, an organisation which
he served for many years both as a poppy
appeal collector and many other roles.
Gordon was also a very keen Golfer as you
would expect from someone from Scotland,
and loved walking in the countryside. He and
Dorothy (Dot) travelled extensively and went
around the world twice stopping off at many
countries. He had toured most of Europe
with the band.
He is greatly missed by all who knew him.
He never lost his Scottish accent and his
affinity to his home country.
Gordon is survived by his Partner of 33
years, Dorothy Huntley, his son Rodger who
lives in Australia, and daughter Wendy who
lives in Scotland.
[Submitted by Keith Williams]
Douglas Whittaker Gilbert (1966-73)
Douglas Gilbert was a private man and not
one to enjoy a ‘fuss’. He was sincere and
light hearted. Born in Malaysia in 1958, he
grew up in the family home alongside his
elder brother, Martin. Douglas loved the
outdoor lifestyle and, although he had a
quiet, thoughtful side to his character, he
was also more than capable of getting up
to all sorts of mischief. At the age of eight
Douglas joined his brother in attending
Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen as a
boarding pupil and, from then on, the two
travelled back and forth to Malaysia together.
A bright child, Douglas enjoyed school,
particularly the sporting activities. As a
young boy Douglas started playing golf on
his father’s plantation, and thus began a
lifelong love of, and dedication to, the game.
After school Douglas attended Aberdeen
University, where he studied accountancy,
thereafter securing his first job with Standard
Chartered Bank.
Douglas lived and worked in the UK and
abroad in this job and, in his mid-twenties,
he came out of banking and started his
own business. From then on he established
himself as a successful and respected
business man. He worked hard but he also
knew the importance of time away from
the office, and many hours were spent on
the golf course - Douglas was a member at
Royal Aberdeen and Deeside and he was
very proud of his low, single-figure handicap.
He was always very family focussed and
Yvonne, his wife, and Alan, his son, were the
most important people to him. Douglas was
also a much loved uncle and very good and
caring son to parents Jim and Win.
Through his business activities he was
very well-known, and Douglas enjoyed the
company of a wide range of colleagues
and associates over the years. He had a
great character; a straight talker who would
readily share his opinion on a huge range of
topics, he laughed often and freely.
Douglas’s death was sudden and a shock
to those who knew and loved him. He will
be deeply missed by many people. He was
a good man, a successful business man and
true friend; but above all he was a great
family man, a tremendous father, husband,
son, uncle and brother.
[Submitted by Beverley Tricker]
Brian Mark Goldsworthy (1982-87)
Brian Goldsworthy was so well known in the
Mountain Biking fraternity that he had the
nickname "Messiah". Brian's life was cut
short tragically at the age of 43 as a result
of a heart attack. He is survived by his wife,
Jacqui, and his sons Blair & Clark.
William Alexander ("Sandy") Mackenzie
Graham (1940-41) MRICS 1949
Notification of Sandy's passing has come too
late for a proper tribute to appear in this issue
of the Pelican. This will be corrected in the
next issue. Sandy Graham was co-founder
of the well-known national Chartered
Surveyor practice, Graham & Sibbald.
Michael Alastair Grant (1940-52)
After leaving Robert Gordon’s, Michael
served his accountancy apprenticeship at
Bower & Smith, Aberdeen, qualifying as a
Chartered Accountant in 1959. He then
moved to Dublin where he continued his
accountancy career in private practice. On
his return to Aberdeen in 1969 he took up
his position with George W. Bruce Limited,
which later became part of the Aberdeen
Construction Group. His career continued
with the ACG Group, becoming Financial
Director with John Fyfe Limited, Granite
Merchants – a position he held until his
retiral in 1993, when the Company was
acquired by Bardon Aggregates.
Michael enjoyed gardening, reading
and hill walking, and was very involved
with St Margaret’s Episcopal Church in
the Gallowgate, Aberdeen, where he was
married in 1962. Michael is survived by his
wife of 52 years, Margaret, his daughter
Patricia, son Michael, and four grandchildren.
Noel Trevor Gwynne (College Clerk &
Treasurer 1975-1993) ACIS
After leaving Trinity Academy, Edinburgh,
Noel turned down university to do National
Service in the Royal Army Pay Corps based
at Ashton-under-Lyne where he attained
the rank of B1 Lance-Corporal and Corporal
in the Territorial Reserves. In the Army he
became a distinguished athlete. Noel then
qualified as a Chartered Secretary and prior
to taking up his position at RGC in 1975, he
held various posts with The Shipping and
Coal Limited, Midlothian County Council,
Martin Currie & Co - Investment Company,
and Stewart Fund Managers Ltd. He was
involved in giving advice to the College
Governors about major events in the life
of the College: the sale of Seafield, the
acquisition of the land at Slopefield and the
construction of new playing fields and the
pavilion at Countesswells. His colleagues
held him in high esteem and knew him to
be both a gentleman and a "gentle" man.
Whilst at Gordon's he was actively
involved in orienteering with the family
and the College, where he led the junior
and senior school orienteering clubs for his
last few years at the College. In his spare
time he enjoyed his allotment in Cults and
spent many years as treasurer of the local
Conservatives.
After leaving Robert Gordon's, Noel went
on to gain notoriety for his fudge cart in
the Bon Accord Centre which was part of
a wider franchise he ran across Scotland,
continuing it as his own business prior to his
retirement when he was able to continue his
passion for gardening and enjoy time with
his dog for several years.
He is survived by three sons who are all FP's
- Mark Stanley Gwynne (1975-85), Douglas
Paul Gwynne (1975-87), Neal Christopher
Gwynne (1985-94), and his daughter
Christina.
Henry (Harry) Halcrow (1931-34)
Harry joined the city police in 1939. Two
years later he was transferred to the CID. His
time with the police was interrupted when
he served for three years with the RAF Glider
Pilot Regiment during World War II, reaching
the rank of Flying-Officer. After returning to
the police, he was promoted to Detective
Sergeant in 1950, to Detective Inspector in
1954, and then to Chief Inspector in 1963.
At that point he became head of the CID and
was promoted to Superintendent in 1965. He
had been involved in investigating some of
the city's most noted murder cases, including
that of Henry Burnett, who was the last man
in Britain to be hanged. In 1970, having by
that time become Chief Superintendent,
he retired from the force and moved to
Berkshire to take up a security position with
the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
A quote from a former police colleague:
"I remember Harry Halcrow very well. A
tall figure always immaculately dressed who
was well respected in Police circles." Harry
was very keen on classical music and opera,
and newspaper archives indicate that he
participated in golf foursomes for the police.
He was a very private man, and because of his
war time involvement with the RAF, he spent
his latter days at Alastrean House,Tarland,
where he died at the age of 95. He was
predeceased by his wife, Kathleen.
Harry was a bursary boy at Robert
Gordon's, and as is the case with many who
have benefitted in this way, the College has
been the recipient of a very generous legacy
from Harry's estate which will fund a bursary
for a College pupil, starting in August 2015.
Graham Cameron Hamilton (1931-36)
ACIS, MBE 1976
Date of Birth: 31 March 1919
Date of Death: 7 June 2015 (Age 96)
Graham was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire,
but the family moved up to Aberdeen in
1928 when his father was promoted to
Sheriff Clerk Depute at Aberdeen. Graham
attended Ashley Road School and won a
bursary to Robert Gordon’s. He joined the
Aberdeen Savings Bank straight from school
in September 1936, but as with many others
his career was interrupted by being called up
for National Service. He was a Signalman
with the 51st Division (Highland) Royal
Signals, and was captured at St Valery in June
1940, spending the next 5 years as a Prisoner
of War in Prussia. He wrote a book on his
experiences as a POW, which regrettably has
not yet been published. Writing the book
was a means of overcoming his continued
frustration that the horrific actions of the
Russian Red Army at the end of the War
were not widely acknowledged.
After the War Graham returned to the
Aberdeen Savings Bank where he was
a Branch Manager for some six months
before entering the Bank's Administration
Department. Graham had an extremely
successful career in Aberdeen Savings
Bank, becoming General Manager for the
Aberdeen and Inverness area, between
1972 and 1983. Under his leadership the
Bank enjoyed considerable growth and
25
success. In 1976 he was awarded an MBE for
his services to banking. During his later years
with the Bank he worked on the committee
which oversaw the amalgamation of the UK's
Trustee Savings Banks into TSB Group plc.
During the 1950's he was Treasurer of
the Aberdeen Lads' Club, and for nearly 20
years devoted much of his free time to the
role of Treasurer at St Nicholas (Union Grove)
Church, and latterly the Langstane Kirk.
He retired in 1983, and was able to spend
more time in his beloved garden, whilst also
indulging his love of water-colour painting.
He and his late wife, Sheila, who died in
2012 after 62 years of married life together,
spent frequent holidays in Mull - a place they
adored. Latterly he became very frail, but
he continued his interest in current affairs,
crosswords, and his family.
His two brothers also attended RGC Thomas Hamilton (1930-34) and Graham's
twin, Andrew Miller Hamilton (1931-35).
There are very few people who are aware
that Andrew was responsible for singlehandedly building the entire drystane dyke
round Countesswells Playing Field.
Graham is survived by his daughter, Susan,
his son, Bruce Alexander Hamilton (196775), three grandchildren, and eight great
grandchildren.
David Ian Harding (1966-73)
David left Robert Gordon’s College in
1973 and went on to study Forestry at
The University of Aberdeen. He travelled
widely and independently over the years,
often to Norway, but lived most of his life
around Aberdeen. He was introduced to
archaeology in the 1970s by a friend and
spent the rest of his life as an archaeologist,
working with Aberdeen City Council and
latterly as independent consultant. Dave
was quite a quiet and private person who
valued a smaller group of friends. He never
married and had no children. Dave died at
Roxburgh House in Aberdeen on 21st April
2015.
[Submitted by his friend, Stewart McPhail]
Malcolm Macaulay Herdson (1938-48)
Malcolm emigrated to Montreal in July
1949. He quickly became involved with
the Boy Scouts and after years of Scouting
he became a Sea Rover leader and then a
member of the Provincial Council of the Boy
Scouts.
In August 1977 Malcolm and his family
moved to Vancouver and once again he was
asked to join the Provincial Council of the
Boy Scouts. The move to British Columbia
was a corporate move where he worked as
Director of Purchasing for an international
mining corporation.
26
Malcolm and Virginia travelled to
Aberdeen for the 250th Anniversary of
Robert Gordon’s Collage in 2000 – an
occasion he thoroughly enjoyed as it brought
back so many memories.
He was a man with a great sense of
humour and a love of life and laughter. He
is sorely missed by his family, friends, fellow
curlers, and citizens of Agassiz, B.C. Malcolm
is survived by Virginia, his wife of over 53
years, his son Callum and daughter Susan,
and 2 grandsons Ryan and Dustin.
[Submitted by his wife, Virginia Herdson]
Bruce Millar Ingram (1944-50) MA 1953
Bruce served in the Intelligence Corps from
1953 to 1955, then moved to Aberdeen
Training College.
[Above information extracted from Aberdeen
University Roll of Graduates]
James Edward Irvine (1959-62)
James Edward Irvine passed away peacefully
at home on 2nd February 2015 after a brave
battle with cancer. Born in Aberdeen, James
lived in Udny, Aberdeenshire where he
dedicated all of his working life to the family
farming business. James was a keen bowler
in his spare time and a much respected elder
at Belhelvie Church. James will be lovingly
remembered by his wife of 44 years, Phyllis,
daughter Helen and son James, as well as all
other friends and relatives.
Peter Jackson (1931-42) BA 1979
After leaving the College, Peter served
in the Merchant Navy from 1942-46
(Second Officer, Clan Line) in the Atlantic,
Mediterranean and Japan after VJ Day. He
earned his UK Merchant Seafarers Veteran's
Badge. He was well known in Jacksons, the
newsagent in Rosemount, where he spent
his entire working career until he retired in
1991.
Peter is well-remembered by many in
Gordonians Hockey Club as a "fearless"
goalkeeper in the 1940's and the early
1950's. Peter recalled being a member of
the Robert Gordon's school party who went
to the opening of the Stonehaven outdoor
pool. Peter was a member of Deeside Golf
Club, with his indoor sport being bowling.
He interested himself in foreign languages,
having learned to speak quite fluently in
French, Spanish and Italian.
Peter is survived by his wife, Edith, a
daughter, son and two granddaughters.
[Submitted by his daughter, Elizabeth
Jackson]
Ian Innes Macaulay (1944-51) MBChB
1959 DObstRCOG 1961
Ian, known affectionately as "Pop", was born
in Lybster, the son of a doctor and nursing
sister. Ian followed the medical career of his
parents, and immediately after graduating,
Ian spent four years working in hospitals in
Aberdeen and Dundee, finishing up as a
Registrar at Stracathro Ian then moved into
general practice in Dunblane, Fortrose and
Alloa before returning to Aberdeen in 1968.
[Information extracted from the Aberdeen
Douglas Robert McGregor (1951-57) BSC
1961, PhD
After leaving Aberdeen University, Douglas
joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy
Authority (UKAEA) at Dounreay, but decided
after two years to move to move to Glasgow
University to carry out doctoral research at
Glasgow University into X-Ray crystallography.
Along with a fellow student he wrote a
computer system to solve crystal structures
that was used for a decade and accelerated
the process from months into days. This led
him to switch from chemistry to computer
science. After his PhD, he spent a further 3
years with the UKAEA in Oxfordshire.
In 1972 he joined the newly formed
Computer Science Department at Strathclyde
University. At a time when computers were
vast devices, and programming languages
were appearing at a bewildering rate,
Douglas and his colleagues created their
own version of MULTICS, an American
system which allowed users to have direct
access to a computer, and to file, edit and
submit their programmes online. At the
time different operating systems would
produce different results for programs.
With his colleagues, Professor McGregor
designed a new language, STAB 1, which
was highly distinctive for its time in its
ability to return identical answers for a
program, no matter what computer was
used - and was a precursor of widely-used
software that does the same job today. By
the late 1990's he was working on systems
designed to accommodate moving images
in low-capacity channels, foreshadowing the
technology seen in today's smartphones.
In 1977, at the age of 38, he developed
Hodgkins Lymphoma, and endured fierce
chemotherapy for several years while
continuing to work. To prove he was well
again, he twice ran the Glasgow Marathon.
This was the first of several major illnesses
which he overcame with cheerful optimism
and courage over almost four decades.
He was a very happy man who lived life
to the full. Above all he was devoted to his
family, sailing with them on Loch Lomond,
and travelling extensively with the family
caravan. Despite a re-occurrence of Hodgkins
Lymphoma in 1998, he continued to work
until he was forced to retire in 2002, after
a major stroke that left him unable to walk,
talk or write. Against all odds he recovered
and became active in the Centre for Lifelong
Learning in Strathclyde. Now unable to play
the clarinet, he learned to play the flute
instead, performing in the Traditional Music
Club in Strathclyde.
Douglas is survived by his wife, Myrtle, and
his daughter, Esther, son John, and five
grandchildren.
Robert Ernest Williams McKay (1948-52)
On leaving Robert Gordon’s College, Bob
joined the architect Ivor Hopkins in Albyn
Place, followed by Allan, Ross & Allan in
Bon Accord Square, before being called
for National Service in the Royal Engineers
at Farnborough. Two years later he moved
to Glasgow and joined Honeyman, Jack &
Robertson Architects. By this time he was
married to Lorna (nee Marr), whom he had
met briefly as a classmate in Ashley Road
Primary School, then later, as a colleague in
Allan, Ross & Allan.
From Honeyman, Jack & Robertson, Bob
moved to the marble & mosaic specialist,
Toffolo Jackson, and was appointed
Manager for Northern Ireland, where he
supervised much of the marble cladding
work on the Stormont Parliament Building
through the early 1960s. A move south to
Galway in 1965 followed, when he joined
Irish Marble as the Production Director,
during which time he was involved in the
development of several marble quarries in
Connemara and in Galway itself.
His next career move in 1970 was back to
Scotland, when he joined Veitchi Scotland
Ltd. Flooring Specialists. Based in the
Edinburgh office, he led the business both
there and in Aberdeen. Back to his roots
in Aberdeen, Bob enjoyed meeting many
of his old friends through business, which
suited his well-known friendly and outgoing
personality. Bob retired from Veitchi in
2001, and died on 30th January 2014 in
Edinburgh.
He is survived by his wife Lorna, his
2 children, Susan and Alan, and his 4
grandsons.
[Submitted by his wife, Lorna]
Norman Mackenzie (1938-43) BSC 1950
PhD 1953 MLitt 2007
Date Birth: 04/07/1926
After leaving Gordon's College, Norman
went on to Aberdeen University where he
graduated with BSC and PhD degrees in
chemistry. A move to the North of England
took him away from his beloved Aberdeen,
but after 10 years with Imperial Chemical
Industries ("ICI"), he seized the opportunity to
return home in 1963. He started a consultancy
service at Robert Gordon's Technical College,
a forerunner to today's University. He later
assumed greater responsibility in the running
of the College, when he took charge of
public relations and publicity. This role evolved
into promoting student recruitment, and
arranging school visits and exhibitions, before
he retired in 1985.
Throughout his working career Norman
devoted much of his time to voluntary
work. Retirement allowed him to increase
his involvement. At various times he was
chairman of both the Royal Workshops for
the Blind and the Aberdeen & North East
Deaf Society. Other organisations which
benefitted from his wealth of knowledge
and organisational skills were Camphill
Schools and Aberdeen Bridge Club. Norman
was also a General Commissioner of Taxes
and a member of the North of Scotland
Valuation Panel. Norman was a keen curler,
bowler and bridge player and a member of
St Machar's Rotary and Bon-Accord Probus
Clubs.
But at the age of 79, he decided to go back
to University and began studying for his third
degree - this time in ethnology and folklore.
He selected an Aberdeen icon as his subject
for a book - dancer Madame Isabel Murray.
Over 60 years Madame Murray taught many
people to dance, including Norman himself,
but she also taught boys to dance at Robert
Gordon's College for 32 years. The book
was published when Norman was aged 81
and he graduated with a MLitt degree, more
than 50 years after his previous degrees from
the same University.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel,
daughters Fiona, Carol and Sue, and five
granddaughters.
Roderick McKenzie (1949-62)
Roderick McKenzie was the only child
of Mac and Betty who were well-known
in Aberdeen at the time, as they owned
Aberdeen Photographic Services.
Roddy, as he was known to all, attended
Robert Gordon’s College from 1949 to
1962 and then took up his studies at Scott
Sutherland School of Architecture.
At College he was a gifted all-rounder –
bright academically and very keen on many
sports. He excelled at rugby and athletics,
especially sprinting, and captained the senior
team. He went on to play rugby for the
Gordonian 1st XV for many seasons and was
an enthusiastic administrator for the Club.
He was also an accomplished rugby referee
at a high level.
Roddy was a very skilful self-taught
musician, a talent inherited from his father.
As well as piano, he could play several other
instruments and jazz was his favourite genre.
After completing his architectural studies,
he went to work for Mackie, Ramsay &
Taylor. Following this, he was employed as
an architect by Aberdeen City Council. One
of his legacies was designing Aberdeen’s
Beach Leisure Centre, which opened in
1992. Because he had been the architect
of this building, he was granted the honour
of being the first person to go down the
flumes. He was employed at various other
architectural firms, including Atkins, Haynes
& Barrow, and completed his working life as
Chief Architect with Plymouth Council.
Roddy married Rosemary and they
had two sons, Malcolm and Robin. After
Rosemary and he separated, he did marry
again, but he spent his later years as a single
man.
Roddy had a great sense of humour and
a ready dry wit. With a chirpy nature, he was
a popular and frequent guest as an afterdinner speaker. He was a sociable man - the
Seafield Club, the Boat Inn in Aboyne and
the Cults Hotel being a few of his favourite
haunts. He also enjoyed travelling, with the
West Coast of Scotland being a favourite.
Unfortunately Roddy’s health deteriorated
quite rapidly when he was in his mid-60s. He
developed dementia and his decline resulted
in his death in the Immaculata Care Home in
Langport, Somerset on 6th December 2014.
[Submitted by Doug Johnston (1958-64)]
Charles Thomson McLachlan (1944-50)
Date of Death : March 2015 (Age 82)
John Crichton MacMillan (1969-77)
After leaving school, John graduated from
Aberdeen University with his first medical
degree at the age of 22. He went on to
study neurology and clinical genetics at the
University of Cardiff, where he researched
aspects of Huntington's disease. The data he
produced at Cardiff is still used. He became
founding director of the Queensland Clinical
Genetics Service in 1994, which remains
amongst the largest in Australia.
John went on to specialise in MachadoJoseph Disease ("MJD"), a rare, mostly
inherited disease which leads to lack of
muscle control and co-ordination, memory
deficits, difficulty with speech and swallowing
and eventual paralysis, and is prevalent in the
Northern Territories. MJD was discovered in
1972, and is without a known cure, though
treatment of its symptoms is improving. He
was so committed to helping the indigenous
population that he learnt the language and
other parts of their culture, and spent time
living with them in their own communities
on his annual holidays. He worked at the
MJD Foundation since it was founded in
27
2008. In 2013 he was awarded the Rowan
Nicks Russell Drysdale Fellowship, which
funded travel for a year to Arnhem Land,
where he resided among the indigenous
community and helped sufferers of MJD. It
is now the intention of the charity to make
an educational programme in his name in
order to mark his achievements with the
charity. Staff at the charity were also keen
to pay tribute to him. The President of the
Human Genetics Society of Australia, Joanne
Dixon, said "John will be sadly missed by the
genetics fraternity. His contribution will not
be forgotten".
Professor MacMillan died less than a year
after being diagnosed with an aggressive
form of cancer. He is survived by his wife,
Sarah, children Lucy, Ewan and Kieran, and
two grandchildren. His mother, Dorothy, still
lives in Aberdeen.
John Alexander McRae (1938-42)
Iain Stuart Marshall (1951-57) MA 1962
FCII
After leaving Gordon’s, Stuart went to
Glasgow University to gain an honours
degree in French and German but chose
to enter the Insurance business, initially in
central Glasgow but in 1966 he moved to
Guisborough in north Yorkshire to become
a director in a Insurance Broking Company,
RCCM.
His thorough understanding of insurance
aspects and attention to detail captured the
respect and trust of an extensive range of
clients. He studied to become a Fellow of
the Chartered Insurance Institute and later
he was asked to lead the local branch of
this professional body in Teesside for several
years.
Having been a boarder at Sillerton House
he maintained a regular contact with George
Barton.
In retirement he mastered that burgeoning
technology - computing - and within the
U3A became a dedicated leader of the
Walking Group.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and a
daughter; but a son died in 1978.
[Submitted by John Mowat (1944-57)]
Alexander Masson (1924-29) MBE 1949,
OBE 1956
Alex Masson was educated at King Street
School and Robert Gordon's College,
becoming an Apprentice Engineer while
studying at Robert Gordon Technical College,
now Robert Gordon University.
Alex joined the Fire Service in 1935
serving at 3 stations in Surrey, transferred
28
to Stretford and Urmston (Lancashire) Fire
Station in 1939, serving as Sub Officer and
Station Officer operating throughout the
Northwest during periods of enemy action
during the 2nd World War. After further
study he became a Member of the institution
of Fire Engineers.
Appointed Firemaster of Clydebank Fire
Brigade in 1941, at the inception of the
National Fire Service, he was appointed
Divisional Officer in charge of the area Clyde
Coast from Langbank to Irvine, Argyll, Bute
and their islands together with Clyde Estuary,
which were then the largest and busiest
Royal Navy and Merchant Navy Anchorage
in Britain. In 1946, Alex was promoted to
Fire Force Commander, No.8 Area, Scotland,
which included the Perth and Kinross
Area. On the return of the Fire Service to
Local Authority control in 1948, Alex was
appointed Firemaster of Perth and Kinross.
Alex retired from active service in 1975,
having been awarded an M.B.E. in 1949, the
O.B.E. in 1956, and the Queens Fire Service
Medal in 1975.
Alex joined the Rotary Club of Perth in 1964.
He deemed it a great honour to be presented
with the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Club,
and the Club themselves deemed it as a
great honour that they had him as a member.
A quote from one of his Rotary colleagues
"Alex is an inspirational character, an
example to us all, and epitomises the Rotary
ethos 'Service Before Self'.
Alex Masson died at the ripe old age of 101,
one of the very few RGC FP centenarians.
Malcolm Nicol Mearns (1968-76)
David Alexander Miller (1942-47)
David was born in Woodside, Aberdeen.
He was Dux of Woodside Primary and won
a scholarship to Robert Gordon's. Whilst
sitting his Higher examinations, he heard
that his only brother Ian (aged 19) had been
killed in Palestine. Despite his grief he sat the
rest of the exams and passed.
After his National Service in Gibraltar,
he joined Aberdeen City Police. Most of
his service was within the CID, retiring as
Detective Chief Inspector. He then joined
Occidental Petroleum as Head of Security,
a position he held during the Piper Alpha
disaster.
David was a fine athlete in his school days,
and he had a passion for all sports, especially
golf, rugby and squash. He was also a
long standing member of the Cairngorm
Hillwalking Club and a member of Deeside
Golf Club until his death.
David had tremendous energy and enjoyed
life to the full. He was well read with a sharp
intellect. He loved a funny story and had a
great capacity to laugh. He had an uncanny
ability to communicate with people from all
walks of life and treated everyone equally. He
was loyal and true to his family and friends.
David is survived by his wife, Joan, and
children Carol, Ann and David, and 8
grandchildren.
[Submitted by his wife, Joan Miller]
John Dow Booth Miller (1955-61) MBChB
1968, FRCS Ed 1974, Fbiol 1985
Jack was a Woodside "loon" whose family
owned and ran Miller's Bar, a well known
hostelry in Woodside. His schooling started
at Kittybrewster Primary School before he
entered RGC in 1955. Jack was a popular
figure at School with a warm, mischievous
smile and a welcoming personality. Jack was
a doughty Prop and he and I both played
in the College Rugby 1st Xv. We then both
entered Aberdeen University Medical Faculty
on leaving School, and we finished our
course together in 1968. Jack headed for
Surgery and made a big name for himself in
Bariatric Surgery [look it up in the dictionary
{"Web" now allowed}, as your RGC teacher
would have told you].
Jack also championed Dr Gray's Hospital
in Elgin and convinced the Health Board to
increase the scope of the Medical Services
there to include Orthopaedics, Trauma
Surgery and to increase the Surgery staffing
at his Hospital. In addition, he became
President of the "Moray Scanner Appeal"
and, I am sure, as a result of his personality,
£1 million was quickly raised to enable Dr
Gray's to acquire its own Scanner. He died
of Pancreatic Cancer on 19th March 2015.
A very strong family man, Jack is survived by
his wife Isobel, by his daughter Leah, and by
his sons, John and David, both "medics".
Well done, Jack. Your Final Report Card: EXCELLENT
[Submitted by John Gordon Gregory
Davidson (1948-61)]
Archibald Cousland Milne (1935-41)
MBChB 1946, DA Eng 1952, FFA RCS Eng
1954
Archie Milne, retired consultant anaesthetist,
was born in Hawick in 1923 before his
parents’ teaching careers brought the family
north and finally to Finzean, from where,
in due course, Archie took the daily bus to
attend school at Robert Gordon’s College.
After graduating in medicine from Aberdeen
University, he completed his National Service
in Malaya before returning to Aberdeen to
take up his first post in the new National
Health Service, in which he was very proud
to serve throughout his career. Soon he
accepted a post in Edinburgh, where he
continued to train and work until he retired.
A loyal family man and staunch friend,
Archie was always anxious to do whatever
he could to assist and support those around
him. He gave many years of service in his local
parish as an elder of the Church of Scotland.
Throughout his life, he had a passion for
learning, always interested in acquiring
and sharing knowledge, and he thoroughly
enjoyed the opportunity to follow up many
interests, new and established, during his
retirement.
Archie died on 14/12/2014 at Marian
House in Edinburgh, where he had been
most kindly cared for after suffering a severe
stroke. Archie is survived by his wife Mary
Noel, three daughters and a son, and nine
grandchildren.
[Submitted by his daughter, Ruth Martin]
Douglas George Morton (1954-57) BSC
(Eng) 1960
Douglas graduated from Aberdeen University
in 1960 - B.Sc (Eng.) - and commenced work
with Wm Tawse on the Farrar Hydro Electric
scheme and later on the Cruachan scheme.
From there, he worked on the construction
of the pulp mill at Corpach near Fort William.
For the next few years, he was engaged in a
number of projects in the south of Scotland
(Stirling, Ayrshire and Galloway). Under
a new employer he was engaged in the
construction of the aluminium smelter on
Anglesey. He then successfully applied for
a post in the Public Works Department of
the Hong Kong Government. This largely
involved road and bridge works and he also
participated in the Cornhill Development
there, a major and complex scheme. After his
tour of duty in the Hong Kong Government,
he decided to re-enter the private sector and
was employed by Freeman Fox which was at
that time closely involved in the design and
construction of the HK Mass Transit railway.
It was during that period that he developed
a major interest in immersed tube tunnels.
Freeman Fox became part of the Acer Group
and Doug was latterly Managing Partner of
the Far East section. He was associated with
major works in the Far East (Taiwan, the
Philippines and also Australia). It was at this
time that his health began to suffer and he
returned to Scotland in 1991 to work out
of Edinburgh and later Yorkshire. He retired
shortly thereafter and moved to his home in
Aberdeenshire.
He is survived by his wife, Anne, and their
three children, Siobhan, Paul and Nicolas.
[Submitted by his wife, Anne Morton]
Donald Arthur Edward Mowat (1942-47)
OStJ, MBChB , FRCGP 1989, Dip Occ Med
In 1942 Donald left Lybster to join his
older brother Bill at Sillerton House. After
graduating from Aberdeen University in
1953 he married Eileen Soutar in 1954. He
completed 3½ years in the RAF (Medical
Branch) as a Squadron Leader before
entering general practice first in Bolsover,
then Newtyle, before settling in Montrose
where he was a GP from 1965 until his
retirement in 1989, serving also as the
local Medical Officer for Glaxo Smith Kline
("GSK").
A lifelong supporter of the church he
served as session clerk of Montrose Old
Church for more than 30 years and was a past
vice chair of the Church of Scotland Board of
Social Responsibility. A keen sportsman he
was a past captain of Edzell Golf Club, an
active member of the Aberdeen Medicals
Golf Society and at various times Doctor,
Director and Vice Chairman of Montrose FC.
As recognition for his services to the local
community he was appointed an Officer
Brother by the Order of St. John.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen, daughter
Fiona, and his two sons who are also Former
Pupils of RGC, and also followed their father
into the medical profession - Donald Hugh
Ross Mowat (1963-73) and Andrew John
Mowat (1967-77).
George Duncan Nicholson (1930-43) BSc
(Eng)
After school George passed out of Aberdeen
University with honours in electrical
engineering.
He then worked for the Scottish Hydroboard
in Edinburgh, when he was posted up to
Pitlochry to the training facility, (electrical
distribution) where he met Isobel, who
he married in 1952. In 1964 he took a
position in Pakistan, taking the family with
him. For the following thirty years, he and
the family travelled to various parts of the
world. During his career he reached the top
of his profession, earning a very respected
reputation within his field. He retired in
1994, and lived very happily in Brightons, a
small village near Falkirk.
Always a sports fan, cricket was his
passion, much to the bewilderment of many
whom he met in his travels in foreign parts.
George played in the 1st XI at College, but
his bowling performances for Gordonians
1st XI, not only whilst still at College, but also
after leaving school, was a major factor in
the success of Gordonian cricket during the
period of World War 2.
Pre-deceased by Isabel in 2011, George
passed away on the 9th July 2014 at Forth
Valley Hospital surrounded by his family. He
is survived by his three children Jane, Carole,
and George.
George Duncan Nicholson was the twin
brother of Alexander ("Alastair") Wares
Nicholson (1930-43) who died in 2008.
They are the older brothers of William
Dallas Nicholson (1932-42), whose obituary
follows.
William Dallas Nicholson (1932-42)
MBChB 1949
Dallas (as he was known) attended Aberdeen
University from 1944 to 1949. After
graduating in 1949 he left the UK to serve
in the RAF for his national service, attaining
the position of Squadron Leader. After short
spells as a hospital doctor in Ormesby and
at the ARI in Aberdeen, he decided to go
into general practice, firstly in Altrincham,
then Fleetwood, before settling in Sale in
Cheshire where he practised as a GP until his
retirement in 1991.
His sporting interests were rugby and
cricket, and at RGC he was in the 1st XV and
1st X1. After leaving school he played cricket
for West St Clements, and at Aberdeen
University he played rugby and cricket for the
University teams in 1947 and 1948. Whilst
in the RAF he represented the RAF Middle
East cricket team v. the oil companies, and
he also became a proficient and competitive
polo player during that time.
He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter
Lesley, son Ashley and 4 grandchildren.
[Submitted by his daughter, Lesley Shaw]
John ("Jack") Lister Pirie (1950-54)
Date of Birth: 08/01/1939 (Thurso)
Date of Death: 15/07/2014 (Melbourne,
Australia) (Age 75)
Jack emigrated to Australia in 1966 but,
after a four year stay, returned to the United
Kingdom. His return trip to Australia in 1971
proved to be a more permanent one, and he
made it his home thereafter.
Jack had a long and full career in the
Building Services Industry, from being a
student and lecturer at what was then
known as the “National College for
Heating, Ventilating, Refrigeration and Fan
Engineering” in London, through to cofounding (in 1973), managing and becoming
the Chair of Fantech, which he grew into
Australia and New Zealand's largest fan and
ancillaries group. Although Fantech was
sold in 2000, Jack continued as Chairman
until his retirement.
Jack’s many and varied passions included
travel, fine food and wine, making
marmalade, golf, correcting his children's
grammar and ocean swimming.
Jack passed away in Melbourne, Australia
on July 15th 2014 after a prolonged
and courageous battle with leukaemia,
surrounded by his closest family. He is
survived by his wife Clelia (Clare) whom he
married in 1975, his children Stuart, Katrina
and Andrew and their spouses Helena, Avik
and Alison. A loving and doting grandfather,
he is also greatly missed by his grandchildren
29
Lukas, Isabella and Mia.
Jack was proud to be part of the
Australian community, but remained forever
a Scotsman - "You can take the Boy out of
Scotland, but you can't take Scotland out of
the Boy".
[Submitted by Stuart Pirie]
Graeme Alan Porteous (1976-84)
Graeme Porteous, universally and
affectionately know as "Podge", joined RGC
in 1976 in P6. He quickly became a highly
popular and talented pupil and excelled at
sport, representing the school at basketball,
badminton, swimming, tennis and rugby,
gaining full colours at basketball and rugby
and captaining the successful 1st XV in his
sixth year.
Graeme gained an honours degree in
Engineering at Edinburgh University, where
he also played rugby for Gordonians and the
University 1st XV's.
Podge headed to London, specialising in
the oil and gas industry where he held a
number of senior roles at JP Morgan, UBS,
Mobil and Vitol. His success allowed him to
take a step back from full time employment
and he became a much respected angel
investor.
Sport remained a key part of his life and
was involved both as a player and supporter
at London, Scottish and Bedford rugby clubs
and Woking GC. He was also a much loved
member of the Gnomes Golfing Society,
where no fewer than 14 of the class of '84
meet at least once a year for a tour.
Graeme became heavily involved
with charity work and was chairman of
Rugby4Change, which in connection with
the Dallaglio Foundation helped numerous
under privileged children through the
medium of rugby.
His family was hugely important to him
and he was a wonderful husband to Alex
and doting dad to Charlotte, Olly and Josh.
His tragic death in a skiing accident leaves
a huge hole in their lives and those of his
many friends.
His memorial service drew over 400
people and was standing room only, a fitting
testament to a wonderful guy who made
friends wherever he went.
[Submitted by Allan Davidson Macleod
(1971-84)]
George Wright Rennie (1956-60)
Date of Death: Nov 2014 (Age 70)
George was brought up at Kinghorn
Farm, Newmachar, and was educated
at the local country school before going
to Gordon’s College. After his studies he
started his engineering apprenticeship with
the Aberdeen Harbour Board. From there
he stayed in various parts of Scotland and
30
England. After he married Jean, work called
him to places like Milngavie and they stayed
in Mitcham, Caterham, Sanderstead and
Berkhamsted. George and Jean had three
of a family – Lora, Paula and Lewis. George
was greatly loved for his sense of fun, as well
as for his hard work and imagination. He
passed away in November 2014 at his home
in Berkhamsted.
{Extracted from the death notice in the local
press]
Ian John George Rennie (1952-65)
Upon leaving RGC, Ian spent three weeks
working in Woolworths, before deciding on
a career in banking. He joined the British
Linen Bank, working in Aberdeen, Inverness,
then Bonar Bridge, at which time British Linen
was absorbed within the Bank of Scotland.
In 1978 Ian returned to Aberdeen for a short
period, before moving to the Buckie area
for 17 years where he was subsequently
appointed Branch Manager at Cullen.
Ian's banking career was brought to a
premature end because of a motor accident
in 1998 which rendered him partially
paralysed down one side of his body. He was
obliged to retire from banking at the early
age of 51. With typical determination, Ian
overcame this disability and became a coach
driver for a Inverness Company from 2000
until he was obliged to retire in early 2011
due to ill health. Ian and his wife moved
south to Ayrshire later that year to be nearer
the family.
Although very much a family man, Ian
volunteered to assist many local bodies, from
being treasurer of the Ardgay Pipe Band to
being Chairman of the Buckie Royal National
Lifeboat Institution, where he supervised
exceptional fund raising. During his short
spell back in Aberdeen Ian had a spell as a
Special Constable. Ian was a member of the
Institute of Advanced Motorists, and had a
love for caravanning, and for motor bikes,
kit cars, and camper vans - anything which is
wife Rosie would describe as "oily".
Those who remember Ian from school will
recall someone with an absolutely wicked
sense of humour, a character trait very often
associated with what Scots will know as a
"thrawn" disposition. This approach made
life for the Rennie family more bearable
than it otherwise would have been when
confronted with disability and ill health.
He is survived by his wife Rosie, his
children Kenny, Jimmy and Liza, and three
granddaughters.
George William Ross (1936-42) BSC 1946
PhD 1950
Outstanding in maths and science, winning
the Basil McLellan Prize for mathematics and
the second science bursary for the University
of Aberdeen in 1942 he benefitted from
Gordon’s broad education with “Highers”
also in English (with history), Latin and
French. His slim agile figure was more suited
to hockey than rugby, with athletics and
rowing in summer; he added serious rock
climbing as a student in the Cairngorms and
the Cuillins in Skye.
He soared into a BSc course at the
University of Aberdeen to achieve a First
in Organic Chemistry in 1946. A gifted
scientist, he was more valuable to the war
effort aged 18 in 1942 as a student than
in uniform, when most of his peers were
called up. A PhD, also at Aberdeen, followed
in 1950 with thesis entitled “The photo
polymerisation of methyl acrylate in the
liquid phase”.
As a research chemist, first with Monsanto
then the British Rubber Producers’ Research
Association, his main occupation was with
ICI (Plastics Division) from 1956, his home
base was in Welwyn Garden City.
Early retirement was imposed when ICI
closed down his area in 1981 when he
was 57. A trial of teaching mathematics in
schools did not satisfy, but his grandchildren
benefitted from his long tutorials (at least
in the longer term) on their frequent happy
visits to the welcoming home in Welwyn.
He diversified into being an enthusiastic
coach for Joselyn’s running career as she
won medals in progressive age groups and
achieved world records. Respected in his
local community, he was a Rotarian, with
its presidency for two years, a member of
the Round Table then Forty-One Club, and
a governor of a local comprehensive school.
Was it his frugal upbringing in Aberdeen that
determined an interest in economics (always
from a base in first principles), finance and
investment to deal successfully with his own
pension pot?
An Aberdonian rarely loses a great affection
for his native city and North-East Scotland.
He arranged reunions with a few of his
contemporaries at school and University in
their 60s and 70s at various rather splendid
hostelries in the cold shoulder of Scotland.
He was still slim and straight.
Pre-deceased by Jocelyn in 2012, after some
years of her increasing disability requiring his
loyal support, he leaves two sons and three
grandchildren.
[Tribute by Professor Calbert Inglis Phillips
(1938-41)]
Ian Gordon Sangster (1927-32) AIB (Scot)
Ian was brought up in Argyll Place, Aberdeen.
1947 he married Jean Scott, from Northern
Ireland, whose parents were Scottish. They
enjoyed three holidays in a year to the Lake
District, Austria and the Yorkshire Dales
where they walked many miles - that being
their exercise as Ian had no sporting interest.
During the second World War Ian gave
Army Service in North Africa - Egypt in
particular where he always said he would
not return - and also Italy. He was a bank
accountant in the Royal Bank of Scotland in
Tain and Fraserburgh. Away from work Ian
was a member of many Clubs, and as you
can imagine was Treasurer of most - all in
Fraserburgh: 3 Bridge Clubs, Toastmasters,
Probus Club, Friends of the Hospital, Talking
Herald, Motor Club, Burns Club (President
in 1983), and the Walking Club, where Jean
and Ian organised the routes and rehearsed
them.
Jean died in 2007. Ian & Jean had no
family. Ian died at his home - 24 Queens
Road, Fraserburgh - on 4th April 2014.
Ian & Jean were a very sociable couple
who had many friends. Ian had a great
sense of humour - we miss him.
[Submitted by Jack & Audrey Provan]
David Atholl Scott ( 1944-49) CA 1956
Atholl Scott qualified as a CA in 1956,
and founded the well known accountancy
practice of Atholl Scott & Co. He left an
express wish in his will that there should be
no obituary published.
Kenneth Mackenzie Shirley (1952-54)
Date of Birth: 01/08/1937 (Jamaica)
After leaving RGC, Ken did a 5 year
steel fabrication apprenticeship at J & M
Henderson in Aberdeen from 1953 to
1958. In 1960 he moved to Canada where
he stayed for the rest of his life. He worked
as a steel fabricator in Toronto, moving to
Montreal, then Victoria, and from 1965 to
1972 with Weststeel Rosco in Vancouver,
the first five years of which were spent
completing a sheet metal apprenticeship.
Remaining in British Columbia, he worked
from 1972 to 1979 for the school board in
Delta, before moving to Grand Forks, also
in BC, where he was a steel fabricator for
over 20 years. From 2000 to 2009 he owned
his own company "Ken's Heating", doing
heating and ducting. He did this until his
retirement at the age of 72.
Ken loved the outdoors, camping, fishing,
and was most passionate about sailing. He
also curled and coached soccer for a few
years.
Ken died in Grand Forks, British Columbia,
Canada on 21 October 2014. he is survived
by his wife, Anne, and his son, Murray, and
daughter, Janet, and two grandaughters.
[Submitted by his daughter, Janet Wiebe]
Alfred (Fred) Skinner (Teaching Staff
1954-65) BSc 1951
Fred Skinner was born in the Black Isle village
of Cromarty. He attended Fortrose Academy
where he excelled in Maths, sciences and
sports.
After his Military Service in the Armoured
Corps where he attained the rank of Warrant
Officer, he attended Aberdeen University as
a mature student. He graduated with a BSc
in Mathematics and Physics in 1951. During
his student days he was a keen sportsman
- in particular football, rugby, swimming,
water polo, tennis and badminton. He
also possessed a fine Tenor voice and was
in several University and church choirs.
He understudied Kenneth McKellar in the
university production of The Messiah.
After Teacher Training College, Fred’s first
teaching position was at Powis School for 1
year before joining the staff at RGC in 1954.
He taught Maths at Gordon’s until 1965
which he often referred to as his happiest
and most rewarding period of pupil / teacher
interaction. After several years of nomadic
classrooms, Fred moved to Room 24 in the
Auld Hoose- often referred to as "Room At
The Top". During his time at RGC, Fred was
actively involved in the School Choir, the CCF
as well as “coaching” many of his form years
in a variety of sports
In 1965, Fred moved to Aberdeen
Technical College as Deputy Head of the
Maths and Science Department and taught
there until he retired in 1991.
Fred was a lifelong Don’s supporter having
been a season ticket holder for over 50
years. Being strategically seated close to the
Aberdeen Director’s box, they often had to
endure his “words of wisdom” on players,
Managers and Directors alike. Ian Donald, a
former pupil of Fred and Director of AFC, can
attest to this fact. Unfortunately, his advice
to look at a very young Dennis Law from
Powis School was not acted upon and the
rest is history.
Fred’s other passions were gardening,
singing and taking long continental holidays
in his caravan. His garden overlooking the
cliffs in Newtonhill was always full of flowers
and vegetables, a throwback to his family
home in Cromarty. Fred and Diane were
recognised by the local community in several
Villages in Bloom competitions
Fred died peacefully at home having borne
his cancer with dignity and great courage.
Fred is survived by his wife Diane, three
children, Gordon, Hilary and Andrew and five
grandchildren and a great-grand daughter of
whom he was very proud.
[Submitted by his son, Gordon David John
Skinner (1957-70)]
Ian Munro Slessor (1944-50) MBChB
1956 MRCGP 1967 MSC 1978
After graduating in medicine, Ian had 3
two-year spells in hospitals in Aberdeen,
Dundee, and then back in Aberdeen, before
going into general practice in Aberdeen from
1962 to 1969. He then moved to Watford
to become medical advisor with Astra
Chemicals.
[Above information extracted from Aberdeen
Marshall Alexander Hosie Smith (194044) MA 1950 MEd 1952
While at Gordon's, Marshall was noted for
his outstanding ability on piano and organ.
He progressed to the University of Aberdeen
where he graduated M.A.(1950) and M.Ed.
(1952) after studies in German, Latin,
Psychology and Education. During this
period he was student organist in Kings
College Chapel. He also wrote and directed
the music for the annual Student Shows.
National Service in the RAF began at the
Combined Services Language School at the
University of Cambridge with the remainder
of the time spent as a Russian/German
interpreter in Germany.
On return to Aberdeen he worked as a
psychologist in the Child Guidance Service
for a few years before locating to Singapore
in 1968 as senior educational psychologist
Far East Military Command at St John's
School. When the school became the
United World College of South East Asia in
1971 he became the consultant psychologist
until retirement in 1984. During this period
he was also organist of the Orchard Road
Presbyterian Church and gave recitals from
time to time. In a lighter vein, he was an
occasional accompanist on piano in Noel
Coward revues together with musical friends
at the old Raffles Hotel.
Back to Aberdeen he rejoined the
Education Service until retirement in 1992.
From 1984 until 2009 he was organist of
Glenmuick Parish Church, Ballater and
giving recitals to mark special occasions such
as the Church Centenary and a broadcast
Songs of Praise for the combined churches
of Upper Deeside.
[Subbmitted by Dr Gordon Smith]
Alex John Smith (1939-44) MA 1952 MBE
1959
Alex Smith was born in Findochty, the son
and grandson of fishermen. The family
moved to Aberdeen where he attended
school, although he often returned to
his grandparents’ house in Findochty for
the holidays. He was conscripted into the
RAF but at this point in the war few pilots
completed training and Alex told his family
that his military experience involved nothing
more taxing than acting as a DJ in Saffron
Waldon. After being demobbed Alex
attended Aberdeen University, graduating
31
MA in 1952. He married Isobel (nee McKay)
in June 1953 and a fortnight later they left
for Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) to start
his career as a Colonial Officer. He served
in this capacity for 15 years. His service was
recognised by the award of MBE in 1959
and, in the same year, he was presented
with the bronze medal of the Royal Humane
Society for saving several lives during floods.
In 1962 Alex had a year’s sabbatical at Kings
College, Cambridge to study international
relations.
Alex and Isobel returned to the UK in 1968
and settled in Rottingdean, near Brighton.
Alex worked for the British Ports Association
(BPA) in London. He became increasingly
involved in international maritime affairs
and in the early 1980s he became the first
European representative of the International
Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH),
initially as part of his BPA role but latterly this
international role became full time. He was
awarded Honorary Life Membership of IAPH
in 1993. Alex retired aged 73 in 2000, after
he and Isobel had spent almost 20 years
travelling the world with his work. Their
travels brought them great pleasure and
many happy memories.
Isobel and Alex moved back to the family
house in Findochty after retirement. Alex
spent his time keeping up with current
affairs, on which he remained extraordinarily
knowledgeable, reading thrillers from the
local library and watching sport, especially
golf and football. He died at home after
a short illness and is survived by his wife
Isobel, children (Tracey and Leigh), grandson
Alexander, and his sister Helen Wilson.
[Submitted by his daughter, Tracey Dart]
James Davie Smith (1925-27)
From records which are held, Jimmy Smith
was the longest-living Gordonian when he
died. [With such a long life story, we have
decided that a slightly longer than usual
obituary is quite appropriate.]
Jimmy was a proud Fittie loon. He
attended St Clement Street School where he
did so well that he obtained a Foundation
scholarship to Robert Gordon’s College.
He left school at 14 as higher education
would have been a financial impossibility,
and obtained an apprenticeship with Dey’s
garage, the Bentley's agents in Thistle
Lane. The Bentley’s senior mechanic visited
Aberdeen and Jimmy never forgot his
advice ‘Be thorough, James, be thorough’.
That guided him all his life… he was never
slapdash, and an engineer to his fingertips.
He spied an opportunity to earn some
money and gain some experience by joining
the Palestine Police as a mechanic, and
remained with them for 2 years. A job
opportunity arose in Elgin, and as his work
was pretty well exclusively concerned with
32
maintaining the army vehicles at Pinefield,
he was not called up to the forces when
World War 2 broke out. Such was Jimmy’s
thorough approach to everything that the
trellis he built for roses and clematis in his
Elgin home is still standing sturdily in the
garden some 60 years later. During the Elgin
years he developed his love of fishing.
In 1955 the family moved back to
Aberdeen when Jimmy took over as works
manager at Claud Hamilton’s garage in
Union Street. An opening arose with the
London & Lancashire insurance company
as their motor claims assessor covering the
whole of the north of Scotland The L&L was
taken over by the Royal Insurance Company,
and Jimmy continued with them until his
retirement in 1976. Very sadly, his wife for
43 years, Agnes, died in 1982 after a brief
illness, but Jimmy was able to pick up the
pieces and made new friends when he took
up bowling at Cults. He was also able to
continue with his love of gardening in his
Mannofield home.
Jimmy was a legendary raconteur. His
memory was phenomenal, with complete
retention of dates and occasions from his
earliest years. His move to Inverness came
when he felt that he could not cope with the
Aberdeen house and garden. His mobility
had become poorer, and he moved to a
specially adapted house in Inverness 6 years
ago to be near family members. His 100th
birthday was celebrated in 2013 with all the
family round him, and friends and relations
coming from a’ the "airts". In November of
last year, Jimmy had a fall and was admitted
to the Royal Northern Infirmary. When it
became clear that the hospital could not do
anything further, he moved into Kingsmills
Care Home where he died on 1 April 2015.
One of his mantras was ‘As ye sow, so
shall ye reap’. His long life and supportive
close family bore ample testament to that.
[Submitted by his daughter, Alison Marr]
Ian Haigh Watson Strachan (1952-56)
Haigh, as he was known in his younger
years, had a career in farming and associated
trades in Angus, Suffolk and Aberdeenshire.
He was a very able cricketer, playing for the
College 1st XI, and then for 16 years with
Gordonians Cricket Club, captaining the
Strathmore 1st XI in seasons 1969, 1970 and
1971, winning his colours in 1971. He is the
brother of William Reith Strachan (1948-55),
Alexander (Sandy) Taylor (School Janitor
1970-93)
Sandy Taylor was first appointed to the post
of Boiler/Fireman at the St Andrews Street
premises of RGIT in October 1968 and
remained in this position until September
1970 when he was appointed as nonresident Assistant Janitor at Robert Gordon’s
College, Schoolhill. Prior to joining the staff,
he had completed 2 years National Service
in the Royal Engineers and subsequently
served for 23 years with British Rail at the
Kittybrewster depot, latterly occupying the
post of driver. When he came for interview,
he listed his leisure pursuits as gardening,
snooker and bowls and he pursued the
latter sport into his retirement, enjoying
weekly matches at Bon Accord Bowling Club
with former colleagues, John Gordon and
Shewan Duthie. Sandy’s excellent service
was duly acknowledged in July 1975 when
he was appointed as Head Janitor for the
College and moved into the Janitor’s house
next to the swimming pool where he and
his wife, Margaret, lived until he retired in
December 1993.
Whenever Sandy’s name comes up in
conversation amongst his friends and
former colleagues, the word which comes
to everyone’s lips is “gentleman”; he was
indeed a man with “gentle” disposition,
always having a kindly word for those with
whom he came in contact and always ready
to help those with a problem – even those
who endeavoured to park illegally in the
front quad! On Founder’s Day, he donned
his navy blue suit with silver braid and white
gloves and proudly marched at the head
of the procession, bearing the ceremonial
mace to the church of St. Nicholas. He was
highly respected by the staff and pupils of
the College. Our sympathy and condolences
are extended to his two daughters, Susan,
Sandra and their families.
[Submitted by Tom Cumming (teaching Staff
1980-2012)]
James Findlay Walker (1956-61) MBChB
1967, DObst RCOG 1971
Date of Death: 25/09/20
Findlay, as he was always known, first
attended RGC in 1956, leaving in 1961.
Findlay starred at School. He was a good
sprinter for the Athletics team, but that was
not the arena in which he really made his
name. Douglas Tees was a bold innovator in
the Music Department and arranged that the
all boys' school put on "The Mikado" with
proper costumes hired in for the occasion.
It was a brilliant production, and Findlay, as
Nanki-poo, stole the Show with the rendition
of "A Wandering Minstrel I". Denny Reid, a
contemporary, recalls that at the Gordon's
Christmas Concert with the Choir singing
Handel's "Glory to God in the Highest", it
was Findlay's voice that dominated at the
highest note.
On leaving School in 1961, he entered
the Medical Faculty at Aberdeen University,
graduating in 1967 - MBChB. After hospital
posts he worked as a GP in Edinburgh from
1970 to 1973. Then he switched direction
entirely, and, moving to the USA, he took
up a post as Medical Director with Merck,
Sharpe & Dohme. There he worked for
25 years, latterly as Senior Director in their
International Marketing Division. Findlay
then took a long Sabbatical re-entering
the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2001 with
Daiichi-Sankyo in London. In 2010 he did
retire and moved back to South Carolina. He
died in his sleep shortly after attending his
Medical Class Reunion in Edinburgh.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years,
Yvonne, a fellow Aberdonian, and his
three children - Claire, a Medical Graduate
of Aberdeen University, Philip and Paul. I
should add that Findlay was a most generous
benefactor of Aberdeen University and
greatly helped the University in raising funds
in the USA.
[Submitted by John Gordon Gregory
Davidson (1948-61)]
Murray Watson (1957-61)
Murray was bor n in Ponteland,
Northumberland, just weeks before the end
of the Second World War. The Watson family
moved to Aberdeen in 1949 and lived in
Cults. Murray attended Cults Primary School,
and Robert Gordon's College where he won
the Abercrombie Prize.
Murray's professional life was spent in the
Insurance industry, initially with Federated
Employers, where he became proficient in
all aspects of the business, but working later
in Birmingham, Norwich and Edinburgh,
with Commercial Union and Norwich Union.
Murray joined the Clydesdale Bank where,
over twelve years, he became a familiar
and popular member of the counter staff at
Queen's Cross Branch, Aberdeen, working
there up until his recent illness. Whilst
employed with the Clydesdale Bank, Murray
was awarded two Ovations - cocktails and
dinner aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and
a Virgin Hot Air Balloon flight.
Inheriting his love of railways from his
father, Murray was not only a founder
member of the Great North of Scotland
Railway Association, but was also a member
of all the Scottish line societies.
For many years Murray helped to
distribute the Milltimber, Braeside and Cults
Community Council Newsletter.
Murray is survived by his sister Cynthia, who
lives at Crathes.
William Michael Wilson (Teaching Staff
1972-88)
Michael (Mike) Wilson (a.k.a. (Batman)
hailed from Perth where he attended Perth
Academy and met his future wife, Kit.
He went on to St Andrews University
to study Classics and Mathematics and,
although being highly competent in both
areas of study, he chose to continue with
Classics, graduating with a good 2nd Class
Honours degree.
He entered the teaching profession and
after being an assistant teacher in Classics
at Kilsyth and Stirling High School he
became Principal Teacher of Classics at Alloa
Academy and then at Albyn School. In 1972
he took up a similar post at Robert Gordon's
College, which he held until his retirement
in 1988.
Mike had already acquired a high reputation
for writing school text books, suitable for the
considerable changes in the Classics at that
time, as well as for his scholarly edition of the
works of the Latin author, Tibullus.
Upon his retirement he was able to follow
his hobbies of gardening and of constructing
doll's houses to scale.
He was an extremely able Classicist and an
outstandingly successful teacher, popular
with his pupils and highly respected by his
colleagues.
Mike died on 1st July 2014 , having been
predeceased by his wife Kit a few months
earlier.
[Submitted by Urwin Woodman (Teaching
Staff 1964-2001)]
RGC Shop order form
ITEM
QUANTITYTOTAL
Golf towel
Gordonian tie
Cufflinks
Whisky Glass
Mirror
Pen
Umbrella
1968 DVD (free p&p)
TOTAL COST
POSTAGE & PACKING £2.95
AMOUNT DUE
Name
Address
Email
Postcode
Payment by cheque
Please make your cheque payable to: Robert
Gordon’s College and return it to
The Development Office,
Schoolhill,
Aberdeen
AB10 1FE
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Name on card (IN BLOCK CAPITALS)
Card No:
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(Last 3 digits on signature strip). This information
will be destroyed after gift has been processed.
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Please fill out the order form on the previous page.
Prices include VAT. To place an order online go to www.
rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk/shop
Office Bearers of the Association
President: Robin Whyte 07717 762803 [email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer:Alan Adie 07980 619932 [email protected] Magazine Liaison: Alan J Innes 07786 396217 [email protected]
UK Branch Contacts
Whisky Glass and miniature
£22.50
Golf towel
Luxury velour £12.50
Gordonian tie
100% pure silk £17.50
Glasgow Edinburgh London Derek Buchanan 07786 511187 [email protected]
Evie Rae 07979 458990 [email protected]
Lucy Mitchell 07736 649671 [email protected]
Cricket
Golf
Men’s Hockey
Ladies Hockey
Rugby
Netball
Paul Gray 07743 699695 [email protected]
Laurence McLeod 07866 339486
[email protected]
Alan J Innes 07786 396217 [email protected]
Janice Moir 01224 584079 [email protected]
Rob Fraser 07737 256301 [email protected] Stacey Stewart 01224 646346 [email protected] Gordonian Sports Section contacts
Overseas Contacts
Pen
Engraved with The College crest £14.95
Cufflinks
The College crest in enamel £30.00
Umbrella
£25.00
Australia (Brisbane)Ian Frazer [email protected]
Australia (NS Wales)Heather Cowie [email protected]
Canada (Ontario) John Ritchie [email protected]
Canada (Western) Ian Middler [email protected]
Cayman Islands David Bird 0034 5947 1903 [email protected]
Cyprus Colonel D H Smith 003 572 593 5426
France (Paris) Graeme McKenzie [email protected]
Latvia Brian Gray [email protected]
Middle East George Carr 00 968 24120249 [email protected]
Netherlands Alan Scott [email protected]
New Zealand Robin MacLachlan [email protected]
Russia John K Milne 004 751 998 460 [email protected]
South Korea Kevin Smith +82 10 3071 8531 [email protected] Trinidad, Venezuela & Suriname Marcus Knaggs 001 868 622 6231 [email protected]
USA (Florida) Michael Dodds [email protected]
USA (New York) .
Sandy Needham 001 212 580 9885 [email protected]
Compact mirror
Engraved with The Auld Hoose £12.50
Schoolhill,
Aberdeen,
Scotland
AB10 1FE.
Gordon’s in 1968
Original footage DVD £10.00
Robert Gordon’s College is a charity registered
in Scotland, No SC000123

File - Robert Gordon`s College

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