2013 GA Magazine

THE GORDONSTOUN ASSOCIATION
Patron: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT
WINTER 2012/13
FORTY YEARS
Of GIRLS AT
GORDONSTOUN
THE GORDONSTOUN ASSOCIATION
ELGIN, MORAY,
SCOTLAND IV30 5RF
[email protected]
www.gordonstoun.org.uk/former-students/
+44 (0) 1343 837 922
Find us on Facebook by searching
for “Gordonstoun Association”
Chairman’s Welcome
Peter Ramsay
GA Chairman
The GA Magazine receives high praise from its readership and
the Committee will endeavour to produce a publication which
evolves and continues to be of interest to the GA community.
2
Chairman’s Welcome
3
The GA Committee
4
View from the GA Office
The overheads and postage costs for the magazine are
rising and will continue to do so. The committee are keen to
address this issue, especially with the increasing flexibility of
electronic media. With this in mind, at the beginning of 2012
the Committee sent out a questionnaire, by post to those without
email. For those using email, a link was established to an on
line survey facility. A total of 890 responses were received of
which 91% were via the online survey. Thank you to all who
took part.
5
Principal’s Welcome
6
The First Canadian Lass at Gordonstoun
7
The Time of our Lives
7
Obituaries
8
Gordonstoun Memories
9
Mars Time
10
Olympics 2012 from Down Under
11
A Moonlight Introduction to Orienteering
12
Lotus in the Dust
13
Good with Wine
14
One Careful Owner
15
Golden Aura
16
The Angel’s Share
17
Rivers of Kindness
18
Gordonstoun 1945-46
19
From School to Seaweed
20
Kurt Hahn Remembered
21
Ice Run 2012
22
Red Cross Emergency Response
23
Cumming House to PhD
24
Oh, To Be a Guv’nor!
25
Romania Project
26
Memories from an old boy
26
Unknown Faces
27
GA Events
The committee has been considering the responses to the survey
and your additional comments. 879 people responded to the
question, “Would you be happy to access the magazine electronically, with an option to
opt for a hard copy in the future?” Of those, a resounding 84% said “Yes”. The committee
has decided therefore, that this year a version of the Magazine will be made available
electronically. An email has been sent to all those for whom we have a current email address
to seek confirmation of whether they wish to receive the magazine in this way and at the
time of writing this report approximately 700 have responded positively.
We also asked, “Would you be happy if we offered advertising space, solely for members,
to offset the cost?” 89% of those who answered the question said “Yes”. The committee is
now looking at this in more detail and hopes to have the framework for this in place in time
for next year’s Magazine.
I would like to assure our readers that printed copies of the Magazine will always be
available.
As you know Lucy Wickens, the previous GA Office Secretary, left at the end of November
2011, and we were delighted to welcome her replacement Nicola Pargeter, who took the
new title GA Office Administrator and made an immediate impact. At the time of writing
Nicola is currently on extended leave and Varie Parker has been recruited to cover the role.
There have also been changes on the Committee side. At the last AGM I was delighted that
Amanda Campbell Lambert was elected to take on the Treasurer’s role. Amanda is a fully
trained Chartered Accountant, and is therefore admirably suited to the task. Due to work
commitments Karen Campbell has resigned from the committee. I would like to record our
thanks to her for her contribution.
I am delighted to report that work on the George Welsh Sports Centre is being completed,
and that major improvements to the Boarding accommodation are in the pipe-line. This
admirable level of capital investment will ensure that Gordonstoun remains a destination of
choice for those seeking the very best in education. The Governors and fund raisers are to
be congratulated on their efforts.
The Association continues to host events throughout the UK and further afield. Very
successful new ‘Gatherings’ have taken place this year in Canada, Dubai and Spain. One
of our more unusual events in 2012 was a “Day at the Races,” where a group of OGs and
guests enjoyed an excellent day’s entertainment. Information on future events is available on
page 28.
The committee is looking ahead to a significant milestone in 2014 when the school turns 80.
Watch out for events announcements.
I ask you to remember that The Gordonstoun Association is yours, the committee is there to
further the contact across all of the Gordonstoun family so please feel free to come to us with
ideas or suggestions.
I would like to thank all the committee, Steve Brown, Andrew Lyall, Nicola and Varie for all
the help they have given me as well as help from many in the school itself.
2
Contents
The GA Committee
Peter Ramsay
(Windmill 1973)
GA Chairman
Amanda Campbell Lambert née Brown
(Plewlands 1991)
Georgie Middleton née Housman
(Hopeman 1978)
GA Committee Secretary
Ben Goss
(Former Staff)
Keeper of the Gordonstoun Family
Andrew Clark
(Windmill 1973)
Marina Edge née Ford
(Plewlands 1991)
Nicky Montgomery née Hill
John Mulligan
Nigel Rimmer
(Hopeman 1980)
(Altyre 1981)
(Duffus 1960)
Andrew Lyall
GA Assistant Co-ordinator
Niki Pargeter
GA Office Administrator
Contact Information
The GA Office
Gordonstoun School
Elgin
Moray IV30 5RF
Tel: +44 (0) 1343 837922
Email: [email protected]
www.gordonstoun.org.uk/former-students/ga
Find us on Facebook!
HELP US
GO GREEN
The GA Office
Please let us have your email address so
we can email you news and events, rather
than printing and sending them on paper!
[email protected]
Steve Brown
GA Co-ordinator
Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this publication The Gordonstoun Association cannot accept responsibility for actions or
decisions taken by readers based on information supplied, that is subsequently changed or cancelled. Any opinions expressed are those of
the authors and not necessarily those of The Gordonstoun Association or The Gordonstoun Schools.
3
THE VIEW FROM GA HQ
Principal’s welcome
By Steve Brown, GA Co-ordinator
By Simon Reid, Principal of Gordonstoun Schools
How wonderfully appropriate in the year
in which Gordonstoun celebrates the 40th
anniversary of girls joining the school that two
of our alumni should perform so successfully at
the 2012 Olympic Games. I know the whole
of the Gordonstoun community was delighted
for both Heather and Zara. Heather said in last
year’s GA Magazine about her forthcoming
challenges. ‘I am excited and I hope I enjoy the
Journey’. Heather, we all enjoyed the journey!
Heather returned to school at the end of August
and allowed us all to live our lives vicariously
(however briefly) by holding the gold! She also returned at the beginning of
November along with eight other OGs to take part in the GA Careers day.
There has been further OG sporting success this year as Preston Mommsen
(Duffus 2007) became the first OG to play county cricket (for Leicestershire)
and he was subsequently selected to lead the Scotland team on a tour of
his native South Africa. Of course success has not been restricted to the
sporting arena and the articles in this magazine reflect the broad array
of challenges which OGs are prepared to tackle as well as providing an
opportunity to wallow in a little nostalgia.
2012 saw former pupils return to the school in record numbers both for
the more formal events such as GA weekend and for privately arranged
visits. It was wonderful to see so many OGs returning, many for the first
time in a number of years. In fact the ‘record’ was taken by Ian Farmer
who returned for the first time since he left as Guardian in 1947. 65 years
is a long time between visits but he thoroughly enjoyed his return and wrot
‘even in my day Gordonstoun was ahead of its time in its approach to
general education and the development of the young person. Then
it lacked most of the amenities that other schools enjoyed. Things
have changed dramatically and in spite of the school magazines
keeping me informed of the latest progress I was overwhelmed with
the magnificence of the estate.’ If it is some time since you last visited the
school, why not contact the GA office to arrange a visit? You would be most
welcome to join us for lunch, a tour of the school and to see some of the
exciting new developments on campus.
There have been a wide variety of events this year and they have been
diverse in both geography and content. In addition to events at school
Gatherings have been held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Windsor
and further afield in Croatia, Spain, Canada and Dubai. The wonderful
Carol Services held in both London and Edinburgh are always very well
attended and folk are returning to school for GA Day in record numbers.
This year as we celebrate 40 years of girls at Gordonstoun we would
encourage you all to make a special effort to attend. Some GA events are
more intimate affairs but nevertheless equally enjoyable. The inaugural
GA ‘day at the races’ was a very successful occasion at Royal Windsor
– especially for the lucky Round Square chap whose bank balance was
several thousand pounds healthier at the end of the day! We also had 3
different groups of OGs organising reunions – two year-group based and
one House based. The GA is always very keen to support new initiatives so
if you would like to explore the possibility of a gathering or event please do
not hesitate to get in touch.
We do hope that you enjoy reading this year’s magazine and we would
like to extend a big thank you to all of those who have contributed to this
publication. If you would like to write a piece for next year’s publication
please do get in touch and we are always delighted to receive items of
news for our web and Facebook pages. We look forward to hearing from
you.
News from Admissions
By Chris Barton, Director of Admissions
This has been a very busy year for the Admissions Department and I am happy to report that we have been pleased with the
recruitment totals which were almost identical to those encountered in 2011. Despite the impact of the recession the Aberlour House
roll rose by 10% and the number of girl boarders rose to full capacity.
A significant number of OGs have continued to send their children to Aberlour House, Gordonstoun and the International Summer
School. As ever, we have been hugely grateful to a large number of former students both at home and abroad who have attended
promotional functions and assisted in so many varied ways with the recruitment process. We are always open to advice over the
nature and location of our marketing efforts and please do make contact with us if you have any ideas with regard to increasing the
exposure of all three Schools in your area.
In the meantime do come and see us we would be delighted to welcome you back to Gordonstoun!
4
The year since my last article for the GA magazine has
been both fascinating and very exciting. Gordonstoun
in that time was educational home, if not actually
home, to about 600 students. Expeditions flourished;
as ever, sail training took our students out onto the
Moray Firth in droves; ‘Ocean Spirit’ took 276 students
out to and about the western islands from early April
to October, Gordonstoun sports teams competed in
and some won national trophies - most notably the
U18 Rugby Team that won the Caledonian Cup and
the U14 Netball Team that won the Scottish National
Schools Silver Competition; the drama department threw itself into outstanding
productions of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘As You Wish’ and, in August, A2
academic results reached heights they had not done before.
CAmpaign update
By Richard Devey, Campaign Director
With the official closing of the
Campaign for the George Welsh
Sports Centre in the summer of
2012, the Campaign office is now
in a quieter period of consolidation
and preparation. Consolidation in
terms of doing all we can to ensure
that what we have learned over the
past six years of campaigning is fed
in to our next plan, and preparation
for what is to come.
Perhaps most significantly, in April 2012 an announcement was made about
future capital expenditure plans for the school which involve the upgrading
of three boys’ boarding houses, the completion of the George Welsh Sports
Centre, the relocation of the Drama and Dance Department to a newly built
extension to the Ogstoun Theatre and a re-development of Round Square to
incorporate a curriculum centre and be accessible to all Gordonstoun students.
The excitement of these plans is fired largely by their underpinning even
more effectively traditions and educational principles which have been at the
heart of Gordonstoun School since its foundation. I appreciated very much
the opportunity to speak in more detail with past students of the school at the
excellent OG weekend held at the school in May this year. Equally, everyone
should have received from me a letter announcing the developments in
late April.
However, one aspect of our fundraising programme that never
ceases is our quest to raise funds through our Scholarship
and Bursary programme to support those less able to afford
the fees. Throughout the School’s history Gordonstoun has
always been truly comprehensive in terms of its intake. One
of the key qualities which makes the School so special is the
breadth of backgrounds of its students, and this is no different
today. At the moment over 30% of students receive assistance
with their fees, and we are determined to sustain this number
in the years ahead. However, it may come as a surprise to
many OGs to know that, unlike many leading Independent
Schools, Gordonstoun does not have a large endowment
on which it can draw to fund these awards. Rather, it
supports them largely through fee income, currently spending
approximately £2.2 million per year to support those who
cannot afford the full fee.
Since then, a new year has started in all its busy colour and, at the risk of
seeming to give a blow-by-blow account of all events at the school, I should
like to select two which took place at St Christopher’s Chapel. The first is the
address given by Gold Medallist, Heather Stanning (Plewlands, 2003) at the
first Flag Service of the year. None will have missed, either in the flesh or on
TV, the happy image of Heather and Helen Glover’s delight when crossing
the line first in the Olympic final of the Women’s Pairs race. After lengthy and
thunderous applause when she arrived at the lectern here at the school, she
spoke memorably to a packed chapel about her perceptions of links between
this achievement and her life at Aberlour and Gordonstoun. We listened to
her unaffected celebration of the themes of engaging in life’s experiences with
passion, of tenacity, and of managing challenge with fortitude.
This obviously accounts for a significant proportion of our
annual running costs and we are determined that, over
the coming years, we do everything we can to reduce the
financial demand of these awards on the School whilst at the
same time maintaining the degree of support for students. To
this end, I am delighted to say that in recent years we have
had a good degree of success in finding supporters amongst
the OG body who appreciate the importance of maintaining
our Scholarship and Bursary numbers and have been happy
to support with either one-off donations or regular amounts
each month or year. However, it is a simple fact that we need
to find more people like these. Secondly, and on Wednesday 3rd October 2012, Gordonstoun Schools were
honoured to hold a memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr David Byatt
MBE. Conducted by The Right Reverend Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray Ross
and Caithness, this was an occasion which drew a remarkable number (about
350) and variety of people who taught, are present students or staff at the
School, or were students or staff when David himself was here as student or
teacher. It was also, for the many students who chose to attend the Service, a
glimpse of a person who had been a vital part of the School’s ethos and what
it continues to foster. The Memorial Service, though sad, created an echo of the
School as it was at a different time and provided a moment when understanding
of some of the underpinnings of the School in its relatively short history came
sharply into focus.
Perhaps you received help from an organisation or individual
to attend Gordonstoun yourself. Perhaps one of your best
friends at School did. What is certain is that every single
OG knew many such students who were only there from the
generosity of others, even if at the time nobody within their
peer group knew this.
These are two people who in very different ways have shaped and been shaped
by Gordonstoun. Long may it mould and be moulded by such outstanding
people. Both David Byatt and Heather Stanning - though I knew one and know
the other little – are united being known for extraordinarily humility; they are
people of whom we can be immensely proud.
I would appeal to you to think hard about whether you too
can help the Scholarship and Bursary programme to support
the next generation of Gordonstoun students with either a
monthly or a one-off donation. If, on reflection, your answer
to this is ‘yes’, do get in touch at [email protected]
or via telephone on 01343 837827. Thank you.
p.s. As a result of my travels in recent months I have heard of
a game called Round Square football, apparently with three
goals, played in the late 50s and early 60s. If anyone can
help me with a few more details of it I would be very grateful,
as it’s time it was resurrected!
5
THE FIRST CANADIAN LASS AT GORDONSTOUN
THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
by Ghislaine Friesen née Henderson (Hopeman, 1974)
by Ian M. Campbell (Altyre, 1974)
Now you might be wondering how a kid who was born in Ireland of
Scottish parents and living in Ontario, Canada came to be one of the
first girls to enrol in a well-known boys’ school situated in the spectacular
region of northern Scotland in 1972.
It came about because my Grandmother, living in Lanarkshire, Scotland
at the time read an article that Gordonstoun School was about to take an
enormous leap and slowly initiate thirty girls from around the world into
this challenging all boys’ school.
I vaguely recall a visit to our home by a gentleman who interviewed me
to see if I was an appropriate candidate to be the first Canadian female
Gordonstoun student. So it was settled. Soon I would be heading to a
new school with new adventures, new friends and lovely Scotland.
I was very excited to see the school but have to admit to being just a tad
nervous as to how I would be accepted. My first glimpse of Hopeman
House came into view. This was to be my new home.
So bear with me as I conjure up
some memories and share a few
vignettes of my great time at
Gordonstoun:
Our Headmistress.
Miss D. Witts and her assistant
Miss N. Smith welcomed us all
with open hearts. Both were
ready for the challenges that
thirty totally different girls
would bring. These women, our
guardians, were approachable
and kind. Our biggest challenge
was to be accepted – not only
as new arrivals – but as girls
who had the “right” stuff to be
there; who could take on the
challenges that embodied the history
of the schools strict curriculum. Yikes!
Ah, Morning Run.
If the boys could do it so could we. Donning those regulation, warmly
lined and shapeless bright red track suits we trotted out to the goal post
and back. I’m totally convinced that red was chosen to ensure we could
be seen and counted.
Showers.
Yes, we had the benefit of hot water. Thank you.
Making Our First Official Debut.
Leaving Hopeman House we walked to Gordonstoun House for our first
showing and meal. I remember turning the bend and… oh my… there
in front of us was a bevy of boys hanging out by the front entrance of
Gordonstoun House as others leaned out of the windows above.
“Hello. We’re here!” The boys were all very kind and welcoming.
“Higher, Please Higher.”
That was the cry and plea from us as we bombarded the poor ladies in
the linen room to raise our skirts above our knees. We were just keeping
up with the fashions – that and showing off a bit of our lanky legs. Such
brave souls we were, as we weathered the winter months with our new
fashion… the shortened skirts and knee high woollen gray socks. Styling!
High Sea Adventures.
Seamanship was at its best while under the watchful eyes of Barney
Robinson the first mate and Captain and Commander Edleston. With
those two gentlemen as our trusty skilled Sea Leaders I experienced a
respect for the waters, a taste for sea spray and the feel of wind tossed
hair.
Sea Spirit, the Lady of the Sea.
Yet another challenge. What a graceful ship it was that guided us safely
along the rugged coastline holding fast on the North Sea for a week
of high sea adventure. It was all enjoyable under the watchful eye of
Barney and Commander Edleston and through all kinds of weather we
were put to the test.
More Challenges.
There were some great ones. This takes me back to memories of that
wonderful Services Obstacle Course located adjacent to the lake. Oh
what fun. Not!
Climbing the Cairngorms.
Yes, another “sure, I can so do this” moment. What was I thinking? But
you know it turned out to be a blast and I have the picture to prove it!
Royal Arrival.
There was a definite buzz in the air as we heard that Prince Andrew
would be arriving to attend Gordonstoun. Talking with him (my first Royal
encounter) he was very nice, had a great sense of humour, and seemed
to have no problem fitting in. Prince Andrew was soon one of us.
Forty years is a long time. That’s how long girls have been going to
Gordonstoun. Before making the decision for the school to go coeducational, the Governors canvassed the opinions of the parents on this
question. My mother wrote that she thought it was a fine idea but could
they please wait until her son had finished school? Based on my academic
achievements in the Sixth Form this was a wise request.
Lower Sixth boys so certain strategies had to be developed to maximize
potential contacts and “quality time” together. No mobile phones or social
networks to help us out in those days. One strategy, which worked very
well, was joining Mr. Waddell’s fascinating Lecture Course on The History
of Art – nearly all the most attractive girls took part and I developed a lifelong interest in the Visual Arts.
Fortunately the Governors and Mr. Kempe ignored my mother’s wishes
and, in September 1972, the first girls arrived. Based on what I learned
about Life, with a capital L, this step-change was invaluable. Luckily for
me I had two sisters so I knew that it was possible to conduct an almost
normal conversation with the female half of the human species – even
aged 16.
Another essential step was to get invited to the School Dance. This wasn’t
easy because each girl was allowed to anonymously invite just one boy. I
missed the first dance but after that I got invited to each dance and to this
day I don’t know who invited me – but I do have my suspicions.
Once we heard that girls would be joining us at Gordonstoun some
of us had mixed feelings. We felt that we would lose some of the
uniqueness and traditions – which we did. On the other hand we gained
immeasurably more and community life did become somewhat more
normal.
The first intake of girls were real pioneers. They had to put up with the
inquisitive stares of 400 pairs of eyes. However as most of the “new
girls” seemed to have been selected on their good looks, intelligence and
strong nerves they were generously given a chance to prove themselves.
One change considered essential by the boys before allowing girls to
the school was that long trousers could be worn. Funnily enough the girls
didn’t make fun of boys wearing shorts and they (the grey shorts) soon
experienced a renaissance. I even went as far as wearing a (Campbell)
kilt!
The Services Obstacle Course Race always took place soon after the
summer holidays and “the Wall” and “Crossing-the-lake” were features
which commanded respect from most of the boys. The big question
was, how would the girls manage the Obstacle Race? Lead by A.L., on
exchange from Salem (First House Captain of Hopeman House), they did
an excellent job earning the boys’ respect. In fact, A.L. was so impressive
that M.S. fell tragically in love with her – I think that this was the first great
love affair in 1972 – any other suggestions?
OK. So the 30 girls were there with 400 boys to choose from; quite a
challenge – and not just for the girls. Of course the girls in the Lower Sixth
thought the boys in the Upper Sixth much more attractive than the boring
Teachers/Professors.
Gordonstoun had a vast array of highly intelligent and well educated
OBITUARIES
Teachers/Professors who instilled discipline and their love of professional
academic studies. I admired them greatly and all were very kind to me,
as was Mr. Kempe and his wife who welcomed the girls with a smile and
watchful eye.
IAN WAUGH – Altyre 1957
Medic!
Last, but not least, there seemed to be an unusual rise in rugby injuries
from years gone by. Hmmm… could it be that there were now girls
watching from the sidelines?
Well, that’s my glimpse into a few of my memories as one of the first
thirty girls. For myself, I feel privileged to be the first Canadian girl. I
loved my time at Gordonstoun, made many wonderful friends and it
gave me the opportunity to do so much more. To this day the motto
Plus est en Vous is very dear to my heart.
As I was a poor actor the other possibility was to take part in the School
Opera which, the following year, was Mozart’s “Magic Flute”. I only had
a small role in the Orchestra (playing the flute)
but there was loads of time during rehearsals
“to talk”. Once, in the interval of one our public
performances (I think it was in Aberdeen), a
girl came up to me, kissed me, and without a
word walked off. I never did quite understand
why but it sure made a big impression.
If you’ve got any old photos
The ultimate opportunity was, of course, the
you’d like to share with the
annual Sixth Form cruise on Sea Spirit in the
readers of the Gordonstoun
summer term. Seven boys and six girls in a
Association Magazine,
confined space for seven days! Neil Young’s
please send them by post
“Harvest” playing on a tape recorder in the
or email to the GA office
background and the midnight sun setting over
and we’ll feature them in
the Summer Isles. Wow!
these pages!
SHARE
YOUR
PHOTOS!
We did feel sorry for one girl who left after
three weeks. We were afraid that we had been
unfriendly to her but we never heard whether that was the real reason she
left. All the other girls stayed the course and we never regretted it. In fact,
we became quite proud of our new comrades and discovered again “Plus
est en Vous”!
All-in-all we were having the “… time of our lives…”
We were very privileged and fortunate to be part of this dramatic change
to school life – and some of us knew it .
Forty years is a long time but sometimes it feels like yesterday!
The Gordonstoun Association is sad to announce the deaths of the following alumni and extends its condolences
to their family and friends. If you wish to notify the Gordonstoun Association of a bereavement, please contact the
Gordonstoun Association Office. Tel: +44 (0)1343 837922 or Email: [email protected]
OWEN (ALFRED) GRIFFITHS – Cumming 1949
DAVID A BYATT – Gordonstoun House 1951
Teacher of Biology and Deputy Headmaster 1971-93
MATTHIAS PANETH – Round Square 1940
JAN MICHAEL EINWÄCHTER – 1957
ROBERT H SWANNEY – Altyre 1958
MRS BETTE WELSH
wife of George Welsh, Head of PE 1965 -1984
RONNIE BERRY
Teacher of Music 2000-2012
GEORGE R HOFFMANN – 1940
CANON ANTHONY MONTGOMERY
Former Staff, Chaplain 1968-1993
LORD LEVEN AND MELVILLE
Former Governor
DAVID H PEAT – Round Square 1964
FRANK Y THOMSON – 1949
Full obituaries (if available) can be seen on our website: www.gordonstoun.org.uk/former-students/ga/obituaries
GORDONstoun memories
by Kenneth Marley (Duffus, 1946)
One reads tales of life in public schools and the imagination turns
to places like Eton, Harrow and the like. I was a little apprehensive
about what might be in store for me but it all turned out to be quite
different. “Berth Dhu” was the junior section of the school. On arrival
I was introduced to the dormitory leader and shortly after supper we
retired to bed. I had been allocated a bottom bunk. The following
morning I was aware of a face hanging over the side of the upper
bunk above me and a greeting in a thick Scottish accent asking me
my name. When I said Kenneth Marley the answer came back Scrooge. And that was my nickname from then on.
The housemaster was Mr. Kerr Campbell, a Scotsman and retired
army captain who taught us geography. He had a gruff rasping
voice and was obviously more interested in geology than geography.
A study period would start with a discussion on the distribution of
the population in some obscure part of Britain and this led on to
the physical lay of the land in the area, inevitably terminating with
weird drawings on the blackboard and notations about synclynes,
anticlynes, and the like. The French mistress wore glasses and her
pointed face, mouth with two front teeth in a prominent position and
severe bun hairstyle rose above a lean body. She was also very
generous with her distribution of bad marks; of which the Greek letter
“Γ” (gamma) was the lowest. It formed an appropriate basis for a
characteristic cartoon figure with whiskers, pointed ears and two
protruding front teeth.
“
One other master is also worthy of special mention. His name
was Norman Pares and he was a bachelor. He was much liked by
everybody and as far as I remember he taught us English and quite
successfully too. Outside the classroom he would engage in earnest
conversation with any boy who happened to pass by and often the
subject was the opposite sex.
although he had succeeded in
knocking in one of my front
teeth, he had to report to the
school matron and have his
forehead stitched
The early morning run was a devilish institution, especially in winter.
Having been turned out of bed and suffered the agonies of the
morning cold shower - sometimes impossible because the water
pipes to the showers were frozen - we then assembled in front of the
house, dressed in shorts and shoes only, our track took us down a
lane without lights (we were at war remember). During one of these
runs I was the last member of the group and must have erred onto
the wrong side of the lane because I suddenly experienced a large
burst of stars and a heavy blow on my mouth. The leader - Mark
Varvill by name - had run into me; sending both of us sprawling in
the frosty and frozen ditch. It was one of those events which could
have been termed a pyrrhic victory for Mark because although he
had succeeded in knocking in one of my front teeth, he had to report
to the school matron and have his forehead stitched. I now had the
painful experience of slowly pushing my damaged front tooth back
into its original and proper position; hoping the beastly thing
wouldn’t turn black or drop out. It did neither but since then, a
number of dentists have asked me how I managed to come by a
discoloured tooth.
Gordonstoun maintained a regular unit of the National Fire Service
with an appliance on the grounds of Plas Dinam and a “firemens
hut” where the boys on fire duty had to stay in the event of an
alert. During the holidays, a team of men, recruited from the local
population in Llandinam, took over these watch duties. They passed
their time in the evenings by smoking, reading and enjoying beer they
had brought along with them. Because of the blackout regulations, the
hut had all its windows suitably covered. During the holidays some
of us stayed in Wales because of the bombing. Another boy came
to me one day with a thunder- cracker firework, which must have
been overlooked or mislaid during one of the term-time exercises.
We thought it would be a great joke to set this thing off under the fire
hut one night when the local “yokels” were least expecting anything
exceptional. We crept up to the hut, placed our charge and when
conversation inside the hut was running at a high level, ignited
the fuse and withdrew to watch the
result. The firework exploded with an
almighty bang and within fractions
of a second the hut door flew open
disgorging a bunch of obviously highly
frightened individuals. A woodland
copse nearby housed a large number
of rooks and these also joined in the
general din with cries and squawks.
Such nocturnal activities did not go
unheeded by the staff in the main
house and although I don’t remember
what actually happened that night, I do remember we were both
summoned to appear before Hahn the following day for a lecture on
public spirit and our responsibilities toward fellow citizens etc.
MARS TIME
by Bryn Oh née Mowry (Windmill, 1991)
When Curiosity landed on Mars, NASA lead flight director David Oh
and his colleagues responsible for the rover’s operation were required to
live their lives on ‘Mars Time’. In the spirit of Adventure, David’s wife Bryn
(Windmill 1991) and their three children Braden, 13, Ashlyn, 10, and Devyn,
8 decided to join him! A day on Earth is 24 hours, but each Mars day is
24 hrs and 39 mins long! 39 minutes doesn’t sound like much but as Bryn
explains, the impact is dramatic. “40 minutes a day is like moving 2 time
zones every three days for a month! But I jumped at the chance to take
our family on to Mars time. Building a spacecraft and landing it on Mars is
a life-changing experience. I wanted the opportunity to
include our entire family, especially our children. There is
a sense of adventure, of traveling into the unknown, that
accompanies sending a spacecraft to Mars. We captured
a piece of that as our family followed the rover’s schedule
on Earth,” she explained.
“In the end, we chose not to add 39 minutes to each day.
We actually added 30 minutes to each day for the first
week or so until we started going to sleep after the sun
came up. That gave us the chance to start off “slowly” and figure things
out, plus it gave us more time to be awake during daylight hours. Once the
schedule really became inverted, we pushed our schedule an hour a day,
because the kids needed to be able to start school by the end of August.
One way of looking at it is that we went around the world in 30 days.”
“We didn’t do anything special to simulate living on Mars -- no space
rations, or anything. Instead, we embraced what it’s like to live in a big
city at night. We enjoyed a midnight picnic lunch at the beach, taught our
youngest how to ride a bike in an empty parking lot at 1 a.m., went bowling
at 4 a.m., and went on a lot of night walks.”
Bryn’s oldest son Braden documented the entire adventure, with pictures
and occasional video, on his blog which can be read at
http://marstimr.tumblr.com
Bryn’s husband David has his own take on the family’s experience. “First,
taking a journey around the clock really is a great adventure for the family
and a great bonding experience. It has been great to have the family
together on Martian time. There is nothing like coming home from a long
day at work at 4am, opening the door, and having the kids run up and yell
“Daddy” and then sitting down to eat dinner. It is invigorating, and livens up
a dark night. It has brought the family together to wander through the night
doing all these different things. I believe we are a closer family at the end of
this month than at the beginning.
Second, the city of Los Angeles is really a completely
different city at night than during the day. The weather cools
down, the traffic disappears, and you can travel from any
part of the city to another in 30 minutes by car. Parts of LA
have a reputation for being sketchy at night, but we never
ran into any of that. The people we met were invariably
kind, friendly, and happy to see us (happy to see the kids!)
wandering through at 4am; and they were invariably
interesting. The friendly waitress Nicole, Auggie, the space
enthusiast at the bowling alley, Andy at the 24 hours newsstand were all
great people we would never have met on Earth time. It was great to see a
wonderful side of the city that we had never seen before.
Third, it was hard to lose the social interactions with friends as we moved our
schedule though the night. We looked forward to coming back to Earth time
(coming back home!) and meeting our friends again.
Fourth, it is a privilege to work on the Mars program. There is nothing like
sitting in mission control at 2am looking at the pictures newly received from
the Rover, knowing that we in the room are the first people on Earth to see
them. It has been an honor to work with the most brilliant team of people I
have ever met in my career.
Both at work and at home, I will cherish the experiences we have had, the
knowledge we have gained, and the friends we have made on this two part
adventure: exploring Mars at work and living on Mars Time at home.”
Several other smaller episodes cross my mind but these would take
up too much space. Sufficient perhaps, to mention such events as
an ‘invasion’ by a squad of Italian POWs who took over the kitchen
and almost in the twinkling of an eye had spaghetti strings lining the
marble slabs in the pantry. The sight of Hahn on the hockey field,
wearing two or three sunhats and thundering down the wing issuing
instructions to some luckless boy to pass the ball to him. Visits to “Ma
Davis” who owned a cake and pastry shop just up the road from Plas
Dinam. Her chocolate iced cakes were a dream and obviously she
had no problems in obtaining eggs and butter to make them. And
finally, the occasion when our housemaster sent out a team of boys to
buy eggs from the local farmers. Not only did they come back well
laden but some enterprising farmer had also presented them with
a beautiful piece of well hung beef. That evening, every boy in the
house had four fried eggs on his plate and a large slice of meat; the
latter melting in the mouth almost in the same manner as the eggs.
And so on and so on; remember we were at war with Hitler during all
these facts.
9
A MOONLIGHT INTRODUCTION
TO ORIENTEERING
OLYMPICS 2012 FROM DOWN UNDER
by George Mathewson (Plas Dinam, 1943)
appeared in the Gordonstoun firmament but its
spirit in far off enemy occupied territory must
have been with us.
We got back before reveille and showered
before the school got up.
We later learned that bloodhounds had
been out searching for us during the previous
evening along with a lone bugler summoning
us back to barracks. In keeping with
regulations we had left an itinerary before
leaving so they had known where to look.
by Emma Barton (Windmill, 2007)
I was really lucky to have had an incredible time at Gordonstoun, with
amazing experiences, brilliant people and a wonderfully sport filled
five years. It wasn’t just playing sport that I loved; it was from PE lessons
on the sports hall balcony where I discovered a passion for the theory
behind it.
After leaving Gordonstoun, I headed to the South West to study Sports
Science at Bath University. Once again sport was a big part of life:
learning, playing and spectating. Mid-way through the course, there
was an option to take a placement year in the industry. Keen for an
adventure, I travelled to Australia to work with the National Cycling
team. After returning to Bath for final year, I was really fortunate to
be asked back to Adelaide and appointed as a Sports Scientist for the
Olympic Track Cycling Team.
In the months leading up to the games, every effort was made to
try to help the athletes go as fast as possible. From a sports science
perspective, this involved physiological testing, biomechanical
modelling, calculating aerodynamics in the wind tunnel, psychological
preparation, innovating new kit, performance analysis, skill acquisition,
training periodization; the list went on. In the gym, sprinters would lift
the equivalent of a car, and on the track reach speeds of up to 80kmph.
The endurance riders would generate enough power through the pedals
to supply the electricity for a small family home and produce lactate
levels that were off the scale. The ability of the riders to push themselves
beyond the limits was astonishing, and it was really exciting to be a part
of the team supporting them in their quest for an Olympic medal.
During the 2011/2012 world cup season, the team were showing
promising signs of heading in the right direction. At the World
Championships, World Records where being broken and races won
by 0.001 of second, the smallest margin measured in the Velodrome.
Despite a successful competition for the Aussie riders, there was still a lot
of work to do. The team had stepped up, but so had the rest of the world
and it was all to play for.
10
In the months prior to the games, we headed overseas to tour around
Europe for the final phases of preparation. First stop was Holland
for some road tours and shorter criterium races. Next the whole team
assembled in the Swiss Alps for a big block of training on the track at
the UCI centre and finally travelled to Italy for the taper, and to carry
out the final race prep. I must admit that flying to London for a home
Olympics with a team in green and gold rather than red, white and blue
felt strange, especially as Track cycling had been dubbed “the Ashes in
Lycra”, but when it came to cycling, I had become an adopted Aussie.
The atmosphere in the velodrome was incredible. The British team were
on phenomenal form, going quicker than anyone had imagined in front
the roars of an awesome home crowd. The Aussies battled hard in
some fantastic racing, demonstrating tremendous physical and mental
strength. Medals were valiantly won in the Team’s Pursuit, Team Sprint,
Sprint and Omnium, but Team GB had top spot on the podium in almost
every event.
In the last race on the boards, Anna Meares was on great form in the
Sprint Final. An amazing athlete, a previous gold medallist in Athens,
who also won Silver in Beijing, a remarkable feat having broken her
back 6 months previously in an horrific crash on the track. Despite
the media hype of the rivalry between Pendleton and Meares, Anna
fought hard, and with an outstanding performance won Gold in an epic
encounter. Although not everyone came away with the result they had
hoped for, it was a fantastic performance from the young squad and
they were one of the most successful Australian teams of the games.
A week after competition it was back to Europe in preparation for the
Road Cycling World Championships. Now briefly back in Adelaide, the
focus moves quickly to this World Cup season and the lead up to the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.
It has been an unforgettable summer of sport. The extraordinary stories
and performances of so many athletes from around the world (including
some amazing OG achievements) have been inspirational, and this
sporting endeavour is one place where the school motto can most
definitely be seen in its purest form.
“
Part of Kurt Hahn’s philosophy was to develop
a boy’s character and self-confidence by
searching for and developing hidden talents.
Thus those like me who did not shine in the
academic world or on the sports field but had
an ability to manage bloodhounds or ferrets,
to fish or play an instrument, were encouraged
to develop these latent gifts. I think it would
be this philosophy, which led him to suddenly
appoint one of my peers as what we might
now call a “Head of Orienteering”.
We later learned
that bloodhounds
had been out
searching for us
during the previous
evening
I found myself faced with this newly promoted
individual who was, as intended, basking in
his newfound glory! Fortunately we were good
friends.
He thrust a prismatic compass and
an ordinance survey map of central
Montgomeryshire (now Powys) at me, his sole
guinea pig, and ordered me, “to prepare
immediately a compass course for a day’s
outing!” He then disappeared to collect the
rations and other necessities.
I had received little training in this pursuit
so was forced to do some quick thinking in
preparing a plan. Luckily my proposals were
accepted without hesitation!
We departed by train south on the now
disused railway line from Llandinam to St
Harmon and then walked east by road and
track to Abbeycwmhir. There we visited the
village store where I noticed a bar of chocolate
that had been nibbled by mice! I tried to
persuade the lady shopkeeper to let me buy it
without a ration card as it was shop soiled, but
my plea fell on deaf ears as she had already
earmarked it for her children! From here a
further trek by forest track and by-road took
us to the hamlet of Swich-y-sarnau, where the
“orienteering” began.
As I had received very little instruction in
compass work I had not felt competent to plot
a cross-country course nor did I want to lose
face by revealing my ignorance. However I
did know where the big luminous arrow was
on the instrument and I also knew that it faced
magnetic north. I had noticed that Swich-ysarnau lay almost due south of Plasdinam and
so no complicated bearings were necessary.
All we had to do was to march northwards
following the compass.
As so often in my early lifetime, schedules and
the need for haste never entered my head, so
the serious trudge of the outing cannot have
started till late afternoon. Thus we proceeded
more or less in a direct line up hill and
down dale. Obstacles in our path had to be
surmounted rather than circumvented. However
the steep drop down to the Severn valley never
appeared and doubts as to the validity of
the compass arose in our minds. Were there
mineral deposits somewhere in this lonely
moorland that were distorting its reading?
Fortunately a wonderful starry sky appeared
and I knew that the leading edge of the plough
always pointed to the pole star. There it was
and thus there was no need to panic, but just
to plod on. “Plus est en vous” had not as yet
Hahn appeared with a smile on his face
and the cheery remark that he had been
contemplating phoning our parents to tell
them that we had disappeared. I received a
medical inspection from our charming Welsh
GP to make sure that I had not strained myself
as by this time we had convinced all and
sundry that as we had been walking for 18
hours we must have covered nearly 30 miles.
Such was my self-conviction that I “dined out”
on the achievement for nearly 40 years till “the
unrealised truth found me out”!
Time and fortune’s wheel had brought me
back to Powys as one of Her Majesty’s Cattle
and Sheep Advisory Officers. One day I was
sitting in a farm kitchen laying forth about my
prowess as a young walker when the farmer, in
his courteous Welsh way, quietly informed me
that he had often walked from Abbeycwmhir to
Llandinam in half a day. Somewhat crestfallen I
checked and double-checked the distances on
the map; alas we had only managed a total of
16 miles!
11
LOTUS IN THE DUST
GOOD WITH WINE
by Rina Kumari (Hopeman, 1997)
by Jamie Haselock (Altyre, 2003)
I was born in Northern India; when I was two my father contracted
leprosy. Lepers were then treated as social outcasts; people still believed
leprosy was contagious. My father was asked to leave his village and
mother took her family to live with our grandparents.
Fortunately, at that time, there was a Christian missionary priest named
Christdas, who had been working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta. He
realised the need for a Treatment Centre in our region, North Bihar,
as the facilities in Calcutta were insufficient. In 1981 he travelled from
Calcutta and established a Treatment and Accommodation centre which
he named Little Flower in a village called Sunderpur (‘beautiful’ in Hindi).
Since then he has been instrumental in the
building of a hospital, he has also overseen
the introduction of a school, dairy farming, silk
weaving, clothing manufacture and farming.
My family were very fortunate, and after three
years, we were all reunited in Sundepur as my
father’s treatment was successful and his foot
saved; some patients were too late to be saved
and had lost hands or legs. I was then aged
five.
I continued at my village school in Sunderpur
until I was seven when I sat the Entrance exam
for a very prestigious school called St Teresa
Girl’s High School (like Gordonstoun but in
India); this was run by the Holy Family Sisters.
I did well in the exam and they were very keen to have me at their
boarding school free of cost.
I studied for eight years at St Teresa’s. Alongside sciences I was taught
classical music for two years and won several prizes for dance music and
academic performance. The Sisters were very proud of me and I was
chosen to be Head girl at the school and hostel. I finished at High School
in June 1994, aged fifteen, having sat the Metric exam, which is the
equivalent to GCSE in England.
I now wish to introduce you to an amazing lady called Daphne who had
heard about Christdas’s work and wanted to help. Despite having six
children to look after, as well as her own family life she chose to help
Christdas and raised money so leprosy sufferers could live a better life.
In January 1994 she arrived at our village, Sundepur, accompanied by
Lady Puttnam; having already previously arranged a scholarship for a
child from our village to Gordonstoun.
Thankfully, I was also awarded a scholarship to Gordonstoun arriving in
the UK on 24th June 1994. Lady Puttnam agreed to look after me both in
London and Bath so I could experience English culture.
I started at Gordonstoun and absolutely loved it despite not knowing any
English, everyone was so understanding; I well remember Mrs Clenaghan
who was very kind to me at Hopeman House; also Mr Pyper for having
faith and believing in me; my heartfelt thanks go out to Jenny (Mr Pyper’s
wife) for her support during my stay at Gordonstoun. I studied for three
years learning English in my first year followed by two years learning
sciences. Gordonstoun has a very special place in my heart; I have very
sweet memories of my time there; I felt at home.
12
On returning to my village, Sundepur, aged eighteen, I wanted to teach
and help other children with their education; my ambition was that every
child should be educated and have the opportunity to achieve their
dreams. I have now been able to educate two of my sisters and two of
my nephews; my younger sister is now a teacher and the other has a
Master’s degree in Nursing.
Fairly early in life, one sustained element of an as yet unknown future
career was already clear to me: it appeared that I liked drinking. But
how to turn this into a career, now there was the question…
It’s been a long maturation process; from glugging Jacob’s Creek at
Saturday Night socials to sniffing, tasting - and actually appreciating Bordeaux First Growths, which is a facet of what I now do for a living.
Three years later, Lady Puttnam visited again and invited me to apply to
study Pharmacy at Sunderland University; I agreed, and after completing
my pre- registration training in Newcastle, I qualified in July 2006
aged 27.
That same year I was accepted to study
Medicine at the University of East Anglia
in Norwich and, after having taken a year
out to provide financial support to my sisters
and two nephews, I am delighted to have
qualified as a doctor with an MBBS degree
from Norwich University this summer.
I have decided to return home to India for
a year where I will be working as a junior
doctor in the Kurji Holy Family Hospital,
Patna, capital of my home region North
Bihar. This is where my sisters live and where
my youngest sister is responsible for nurses’
training in the same hospital. Hopefully, I
wish to return to England in a year’s time.
I have had several helpers along the way; I couldn’t have achieved
all of my ambitions without the help of others and my thanks go
especially to John Higgins, my long-term partner for his emotional
and financial support.
“
Upon leaving Gordonstoun I was lucky enough to embark on a gap
year of adventure, a period of which saw me based in Los Angeles,
where I spent several months following the sun, fun and the great
grapes of California’s Napa Valley; now this was where my love
of fine wine was born. Though more recently my wine loyalties lie
predominantly in France, the experience I gained during this time in the
US taught me to appreciate the structure of a fine wine, also – crucially
– giving me regular epiphanies (often after midnight, naturally) around
exactly what it was about wine that I loved.
The jump from selling wine at
£250 a case to £25K+ a case
should have seemed really
daunting, but I loved
it immediately
Returning to the UK after a fantastic and fulfilling year, the next three
years at University left me no further along the path of potential career
choices. Obviously I still liked drinking, and needed to find a way
of paying for my habit, so it was clearly time to embrace a bit of
entrepreneurial spirit and set up my own business.
Champers & Hampers enabled me to combine the things I loved.
Good wine, lots of parties, and the opportunity to be front of house.
Built on the concept of a mobile champagne bar for use at private
parties, sporting events or summer shows, the first thing I had to do
was establish a brand; a fox in tails, carrying a bottle of Champagne
and a picnic hamper seemed to make sense, ideally to symbolize me
and the look and feel of what I was trying to achieve! Several years
on Champers and Hampers is still trading but remains a side-line to my
main career.
In 2008 I was employed by a small wine merchant in Exeter,
which took me on to the next level in terms of my knowledge and
appreciation of fine wine, but it was not long before I realised the
only place to accelerate my career was London, where I might seek
my fortune dealing with higher end wines, higher end clients and
potentially higher end opportunities.
Since early 2011 I have been with Provenance Fine Wines, a fine wine
investment management business, part of the Lenagan family group of
companies which includes Oxford United FC, Wigan Warriors RLFC
amongst other businesses within the Software, Sport, Hospitality &
Education sectors.
The jump from selling wine at £250 a case to £25K+ a case should
have seemed really daunting, but I loved it immediately. Managing
clients’ wine collections on a much grander scale than anything I’d
done before, I realized that this is what really gives me a buzz, and my
career is moving along rapidly.
I now have a much more targeted insight into fine wine and the
investment potential of fine wine – it’s not merely a question of being
good at selling wine, it’s more about analysis and the appreciation of
ever-evolving market trends.
Fine wine has long been considered a “natural hedge” against
the vagaries of wider economic influences, particularly in times
of recession; and the period we find ourselves in these days is no
different. That, accompanied by the tax-efficient status of Fine Wine as
an asset class means that these days the market is becoming more and
more mainstream, to be considered as seriously as one’s yearly ISA
allocation.
I like to think that my time at Gordonstoun has played a huge part
in my success these days – the confidence to be comfortable in any
given situation, as happy maintaining relationships with clients who are
Teachers, High Court Judges, Prison Officers and Painters & Decorators
(all true!) is largely down the benefits of being on the receiving end
of the holistic approach to education there, for which I will always be
grateful. Cheers!
PISCATORIAL PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT
Golf, Hockey, Cricket and Rugby participants have long been catered
for within the GA; but some of us are interested in “hunter-gatherer”
pursuits ... to wit the noble art of fly fishing for Trout (and Salmon).
Other “old boy” associations have such (Loretto for one) who meet and
fish for a day then repair to a suitable hostelry for a dinner (with not too
many formalities). Meetings would be at a suitable venue such as Lake
of Menteith , Loch Leven or other water to achieve maximum support;
or perhaps tagged onto the GA weekend (venue possibly Glen Rothes
Fishery) or an established dinner venue such as Edinburgh.
We are now seeking to find out if such a group within the auspices of
the GA would find supporters. Please E-mail or snail mail/phone
Steve Brown at GA office and advise.
ONE CAREFUL OWNER
GOLDEN AURA
by Alex Christou (Altyre, 1999)
by Milina Lunavat née Agrawal (Hopeman, 1998)
It took me eleven years after leaving Gordonstoun to work out what
I really wanted to do for a living and that was to become a writer.
Writing had been a central part of my university studies and my career
as a communications specialist but I really wanted to move away from
the corporate environment to write engaging stories. In truth, I probably
had a romantic view of the life of a writer. I reasoned that I could work
anywhere in the world and engage with any topic that caught my
imagination. I was sure it would be a more interesting path than the one
that I was on and I was drawn to the idea of engaging with my creative
side.
course and with a lot of help and support from
my husband and our families, auraonline.co.uk
was born.
When I started the business I decided that in
addition to the diamond jewellery, which my
in-laws pioneer in, I wanted to start a new
fresher and younger range involving silver
and semi-precious stones. My emphasis was
always on quality and value for money. Hence
all stones I use are natural, I only work with
sterling silver, (and gold?) and all my jewellery
is handmade with excellent attention to detail
on the craftsmanship. I attended several trade
shows in London and abroad. I started small,
initially buying ready-made pieces, and from
there went on to work with suppliers to design
new styles. After a lot of hard work I finally
had a new range of jewellery that I was really
happy with and I could call my own.
electric car company and had an article about the car show published
on the website of my favourite car magazine. Taking this as a sign that
I was on the right track I threw myself into the world of motoring and
began chronicling my experiences.
When I was younger I had it in my mind that I was going to be a
businessman of some sort. I would work in an office and wear a suit.
My father and step-father had done this and I assumed that this would
satisfy me too. Looking back, even my A-level choices were based
on a belief that I should do something ‘serious’ as opposed to the
more creative subjects I had been most
interested in. In time I made my way up to
a senior management position for an oil
and gas contractor in Aberdeen but after a
particularly tumultuous period it dawned on
me that my ambitions lay elsewhere.
After numerous discussions with friends
and family I made the decision to leave
my job and to leave Aberdeen. I sold my
flat and moved to London where I intended
to write my first fiction novel but when it
came down to it I found myself drawn to
something different. Instead of thinking
about character and plot development I
was thinking about cars. For years I had
marvelled at magazine articles about
Lamborghinis tearing across the snowlined Alps, tales of Ferraris being driven to
or from the factory at Maranello in Italy,
and stories about Porsches tackling the
Nürburgring. The more I read, the more that I wanted to emulate these
journeys.
I came to realise that there was a demand for motoring stories that went
beyond the pages of magazines and I wondered whether I might be
able to blend my two passions. I began by arranging a trip to Monaco
to attend the press conference for a luxury car show, hoping that I
would find inspiration there. It turned out to be a great trip. By the time
I returned to London I had arranged an interview with the owner of an
Over a period of nine months I travelled thousands of miles around
the UK and Europe in a Ferrari. I took on the legendary Nürburgring
circuit in Germany, visited the Pagani factory in Italy and took part in
the Gordonstoun classic car rally in Scotland. I drove some iconic cars,
including the Morgan 3 Wheeler and the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage.
I went out of my way to meet established car enthusiasts to hear about
their evolving passion for motoring.
The result was One Careful Owner, a book that blended travel writing
and motoring journalism. It took much longer than I expected to get
the book from first draft to the finished product, partly because no
publishers would consider my book as I wasn’t famous enough!
Having already had two chapters published as feature articles in The
Scotsman and having built a strong network of motoring enthusiasts
through social media, I knew that there was an audience for the book. I
had done all the hard work and wasn’t going to let my book gather dust
on a shelf, so I started my own independent publishing imprint, Sloane
Books.
It was very satisfying taking my book from concept phase right through
to publication and I learnt a huge amount in the process. Of course the
most satisfying experience was receiving positive feedback from those
that had read the book, particularly friends and family, and seeing it
recommended in the motoring press. Now I have found my calling I
can’t wait to write the next one.
One Careful Owner is available to buy in paperback and ebook.
My love and passion for jewellery goes back to
when I was a little girl. Growing up in a family
where jewellery is more than just an accessory,
it is a piece of art passed on from generations,
made me be in awe of every piece of jewellery
I came across.
After two wonderful years of high school
at Gordonstoun, I went on to read a B.Sc.
in Management at the London School of
Economics. From there, as most LSE graduates
do, I went on to work in the City for a large
Investment Bank. I spent more than 7 years in
Finance, but after my first daughter was born I
did not want to go back to it. However, I still
wanted to work and do something that would
keep me busy and provide enjoyment, while at
the same time providing flexibility with working
hours.
My husband’s family have been jewellers
for over 20 years. After getting married, I
spent time with my mother-in-law learning this
fascinating trade – from designing to getting
the pieces through to making an actual sale.
So when I was looking for something different
to do, entering the jewellery business was an
obvious decision to make. In March 2009 I
decided to go back to studying – this time at
the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) to
become an Accredited Jewellery Professional
(AJP). I loved my course and met some
wonderful colleagues. Following on from this
current, as well as to reach out to a wider
audience. In summary, Aura has taken a lot of
hard work and dedication, but been great fun.
I have many exciting things planned for the
future and look forward to it all very much.
Armed with my new collection, I began
approaching shops with both the diamond
and the silver jewellery, with the aim of getting
them to stock it. All the pieces were very much
appreciated and many shops in Chelsea and
the Bond Street area started buying them. This
was a very exciting time and it pushed me to
work harder. I decided to start selling some of
the jewellery directly to customers. To begin
with this was by word of mouth through family
and friends, which then blossomed on to
holding stalls at various Corporate Christmas
fairs. One of my most satisfying retail days was
when I had the opportunity to set up a stall in
Portobello market, Notting Hill. The experience
of standing there and selling to complete
strangers in such a busy market was second to
none.
Now with my business over its nascent stage
I continue to sell privately, at exhibitions, and
also supply wholesale to shops. I also make
bespoke diamond and gold jewellery for my
clients and have an established clientele who
count on me to buy any jewellery they want – a
treat for themselves or a present for a loved
one. It feels great to know that my customers
fully trust me on both quality and the price, a
goal I had set out to achieve.
As my business grows, I look forward to new
challenges. Currently I am looking to expand
into other accessories, such as handmade
scarves and shawls. I am also working on
setting up an e-shop on my website to give my
clients easier access and keep my business
15
THE Angel’s Share: Altyre in forres, 1958
RIVERS OF KINDNESS
by James Gunn (Round Square, 1963)
by Debbie Johnson née Newman (Hopeman, 1984)
As a 14 year old Gordonstoun schoolboy living in the Forres-based Altyre
House annex leased to the School by Sir William Gordon-Cumming,
Saturdays were for fun!
Water is used throughout the process being added to the barley to
promote germination, mixed with ground barley grist to create a mash and
to dilute most whiskies before maturation and, ultimately, bottling.
My first intoxicating single malt “experience” happened late one afternoon
as I was cycling back to the school from Forres along the 4 mile drive,
long and winding and lined with rhododendrons and mostly up hill!
Helping Hands developed out of my response to all that I saw. In
consultation with friends in Uganda and the UK I began to form a team
and shape a healthcare programme based on interactive lessons for young
children and the provision of free medical treatment and essential disease
prevention measures such as mosquito nets and latrines.
It was a chilly autumnal day and the sun had set. There was no breeze
and then it hit me! I felt exhilarated and uplifted.
The wonderful aroma of distilling whisky totally enveloped me as I cycled
towards the Dallas Dhu Distillery. This small, independent distillery, I later
learned, was the last one to be built in the 19th century. Its pure, although
a little peaty, water was taken directly from MY Altyre Burn which was the
focus of my activity every Saturday during the summer months.
It was here, just by the distillery itself, that I “guddled” (tickled) my first
brown trout, lying away from the shadows on the bank and very carefully
following the instructions of one of my friends, “Keep away from casting
a shadow on the water, Laddie. Slowly, lower your hand into the water
and then, very slowly, feel your trout and slide your hand under him. Now
flip him onto the bank”. It worked and there was my Sunday supper. Here
I fished for “brownies” when the burn was in spate and here I watched
kingfishers catching the myriad small fish in the shallows.
The memory is a vivid one and, years later, I was able to indulge my
interest in Single Malts.
Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are categorised into the following whiskyproducing regions:
Highland
Island
Speyside
Islay
Lowland
Campbelltown
Each region produces widely differing tastes.
What then, are the variables that determine the flavour of the whisky
Water – from my Altyre Burn is definitely “peaty”
Malting
Mashing
Fermentation
Distillation
Maturation
Bottling
The definition of a Single Malt Scotch is that it must be distilled by a single
distillery in a pot still and use malted barley as the only grain ingredient,
in Scotland. It must also be matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least
three years and one day!
So each batch in the production process is different from any other.
In 2004 I spent a year in Uganda as a teacher trainer. Whilst in the
Kamuli District I faced crowds of Ugandan children suffering for the lack
of healthcare. One girl called Christine was losing her hearing simply
because no-one would provide her with antibiotics for an ear infection that
had plagued her since birth.
Initially, Helping Hands employed only one nurse to work with 1700
children in eight different school communities. As the numbers of schools
and children rose, so the team of staff and volunteers has grown. Helping
Hands also works in community development with a particular emphasis
on assisting the more vulnerable families who are identified through our
schools work. In 2013 a new project in Turkana, Kenya will be established,
to work with a group of mothers and children initially.
One very critical step is in the germination first and then after 3 – 5 days,
the drying of the germinated barley. It is here that peat smoke (more, or
less, according to the flavour required) is introduced . The three smokiest
and peatiest malts are: Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin – with Lagavulin
probably the peatiest and most “smoky” flavoured of them all. All three
come from Islay.
Maturation in oak casks – usually used sherry barriques - for 3 years or
more, now takes place. It may well remain in these casks for 20 years or
more. During this time the volume and alcohol content decreases and the
taste changes as the oaked sherry casks infuse the liquid.
The lost volume through evaporation while it is casked is referred to as
“The Angels’ Share”
So what happened to Dallas Dhu? It produced whisky from 1899 to 1983.
Closed during The First World War, the owners, Wright and Greig sold
it to J.P O’Brien of Glasgow and, on their liquidation in 1921, Dallas Dhu
was sold to Benmore Distillery.
Substantial investment was made but a bad fire damaged it in 1939.
Production finally began again in 1947 and continued until 1983 when,
largely as a result of a shortage of water, it finally closed.
The Altyre Burn, I am happy to report (because I have personally checked
out its good health), continues to flourish.
James Gunn
Altyre House, Forres 1958-1959
Round Square, Gordonstoun 1960-1963
When many of us think of
African children we see
images of malnourished,
sick little ones in rags
languishing in their mother’s
arms or sitting desolate in
the dust. I have seen that
too, many times in fact, but
I have also seen something
so much brighter and so
much better. I have seen
children exchanging their
begging bowls for open handed and hearted generosity towards others.
I have begun to see something beautiful in Uganda, true transformation
which begins on the inside and works its way out.
It took one older boy to step forward and offer his sole coin, worth around
three pence, to break open the dam which then released a flood of
generosity. Many children in school after school did a similar thing, giving
up the money which would have bought them some water or a small snack
during a long school day. A few of the younger children brought maize
cobs hoping that I could carry them to Kenya.
Earlier this year two of us from Helping Hands travelled to the Turkana
region of Kenya to carry the kindness of our children, combined with that
of many of our own supporters. It was such a delight to be a “postman”
and deliver their gifts to their new friends. Our Ugandan children had
adopted the role of givers, inspired by the love shown to them by children
in the UK. Such a transformation in the presence of their own continuing
need shows that something very special has happened in their lives.
Debbie Newman
www.helpinghands-uk.org
Through our relational network in east Africa I heard of a pastor struggling
to offer help to a hundred young and hungry children in Turkana, Kenya.
These were more victims of the savage drought that has been plaguing
the Horn of Africa for several years now. When I shared this with our
wonderful children in Uganda I was overwhelmed by their response.
£££ The GA 200 Club £££
You could be in with a chance of winning £1000!!!!
The GA 200 Club requires more members. Membership of the GA 200 Club costs just £30 a year. If you join the GA 200 Club you will be
doing your bit to help current students. The surplus money that the GA 200 Club generates goes into a fund known as The Student Support
Fund which is available to students who require financial help in order to participate in overseas projects, such as the Thailand Water Project
and Sinai Project.
The annual 200 Club £1000 prize is drawn during the AGM, which this year will be held on GA Day, at the School, on Saturday 4 May 2013.
As well as the £1000 prize drawn in May there is a £500 prize which is drawn in November and also a £40 prize drawn during each of the
ten remaining months of the year. Please sign up as it is for such a good cause. If you are interested in becoming a 200 Club member, please
contact the GA Office by email [email protected] or phone 01343 837922 to request an application form.
16
GORDONSTOUN 1945-46
FROM SCHOOL TO SEAWEED
by Cdr Tony Rendell (Round Square, 1946)
by Robbie Mutton (Duffus, 2001)
Price Louis. Note the jibboom and fidded
topmasts. She was built in 1878!
Norman Pares. Unfortunately, a very poor
quality photograph.
Group Left to Right: Makepeace,
Bendal, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown,
Howe, Marette (his son also went to
Gordonstoun), Russell
I first came to Gordonstoun in September 1945.
The school had been occupied by the army
during the war and they had burned part of
Gordonstoun House. This had been repaired in
a very rough and ready way with unplastered
concrete walls and floors of very inferior pine. It is
hard for anyone who was not there at the time to
visualise what Britain was like then. The Country
was bankrupt and everything was rationed. A
number of the senior boys had come up during
the summer holidays to help set the place up and
things were in reasonable running order, but life
was a bit primitive. My first House was The Naafi.
This was an enormous nissen hut in the grounds
which had indeed been the Naafi when the
army was there. We were told it was to be called
Bronfellen (or Ffronfellen) after a house in Wales
but nobody called it anything but The Naafi..
The routine was different then. We were called
at 6.30 and went for a half mile run. Next a cold
shower, then 45 minutes housework. We then had
breakfast. Two 45 minute lessons were followed
by a period of athletics, or a cross country run.
More schooling, then lunch. In the afternoon there
was rugby or cricket, sailing and ‘practical work’
which was a euphemism for doing work on the
estate: I have vivid memories of shovelling coal.
Another cold shower, then supper. Lastly there
were two more school classes. I may not have
got the exact sequence correct, I am recalling
events over 65 years ago, but it is essentially
correct. In addition to the school routine one had
one’s Training Plan. This was central to the whole
Gordonstoun System. I cannot remember much of
it but it involved, daily, the above-mentioned two
cold showers, sixty skips, ten press-ups and much
other strenuous activity. There were also good
habits like not eating between meals which I have
always more or less adhered to. Here I should
add that we were very well fed. How it was
managed with food rationing so stringent I do
not know. The housekeeper was a Miss Stewart,
and I have no doubt she is now catering to the
Archangel Gabriel.
The student body during my time at the school
was, to say the least, mixed. I suppose there were
about 300 of us altogether of whom perhaps just
over half were there because it was the school of
their parents’ choice. Then there were a sizeable
number of boys who had recently returned from
America where they had been evacuated during
the war, usually to family or friends. (I was to
have gone to the American branch of our family
but the scheme was stopped when a shipload
of children was torpedoed). These boys had
had a comfortable and often luxurious war and
Group Left to Right: Rendell, Spivey,
Unknown, Unknown, Varley, Unknown
must have had a problem adjusting to a Britain
in the grip of stringent austerity. In addition there
were a lesser number of former Eton boys who
failed to maintain the academic standards of that
school. I will spare their blushes and not name
any of them. Then there were those under the
Conway-Gordonstoun Scheme, of which I was
one. This started in 1943 when applications for
the merchant navy training ship H.M.S. Conway
exceeded the ship’s capacity. An arrangement
was made, for the younger members of each
term’s Conway intake to spend their first year at
Gordonstoun which was badly lacking in pupils.
A master from the Conway, Capt. Macgregor
came to Gordonstoun to accompany the Conway
boys, and he became Housemaster of Hopeman
House. It cannot be said the scheme was a happy
one. The Conway boys did not want to be there;
they wanted to be in naval uniform under naval
discipline. Wearing shorts, having cold showers
and doing cross-country runs was not what they
had applied to the Conway for. The Gordonstoun
chaps, on the other hand, regarded the Conways
as uncouth and with some reason. The Conway
was a Mersey-side training ship and her
catchment area was mainly the north-of-England
(then) industrial towns. Friendships between
the two groups were rare. I was something of
an exception, coming from a family of country
builders in rural Wiltshire. Generally I was more
at home with the Gordonstoun boys, though I
was ragged for my Wiltshire accent. One friend I
made was Jonathan Janson, . He went on to win
a bronze medal in the Dragon class at the 1956
Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
One event I recall which is worth recounting.
In early 1946 two Old Boys who had served in
the Navy during the war came to tell us about
their experiences. One was Mark ArnoldFoster,the other man was a Lieutenant Prince
Philip of Greece. He had been at the Battle of
Cape Matapan and gave us an account of that
notable action which managed to be both vivid
and humorous. He was very smartly dressed in
blazer and flannels and kept one hand in his
blazer pocket; this led a chippy Conway boy from
Manchester to say, “Huh! He’s a Prince and he
puts his hand in his pocket”.
I never really enjoyed subjects at school that involved a lot of writing.
Having dyslexia didn’t help and neither does having the most appalling
handwriting. Fortunately I always enjoyed science at school. Here
were subjects that rarely required more than a few lines of text in order
to convey an answer, plus I got to do experiments.
When it came to decide about going
to university, studying chemistry
seemed the natural choice for
me. I moved to Newcastle and
started a degree in chemistry with
medicinal chemistry. I think that
during my undergraduate degree I
didn’t fully appreciated the amount
of work that I needed to do and
as a consequence I got a 3rd
class honours degree. During my
undergraduate degree my enjoyment
for medicinal chemistry had grown
and the prospect of researching
and developing potential new
medications was of great interest
to me. Knowing that further study
would help in my career progression
I undertook a Master’s in drug
chemistry, also at Newcastle University. Half of my Master’s course
involved conducting a research project and I found doing research was
quite rewarding. I went from one extreme to the other, going from a 3rd
class Bachelor’s degree to achieving a Master’s degree with Distinction.
This extreme transformation made me realise that I might actually be
good at this research stuff! With this new level of confidence I decided
that doing a PhD could be a productive step in my career.
My research showed that seaweed from Caithness is a rich source of
chemicals that possess antibacterial, anti-cancer and anti-parasitic
activity, leading to the possibility that new medications could be
developed from seaweed found on our own shores. I was also
able to show that seaweeds do produce chemicals that can inhibit
the biofouling process and I am proud that this
research has now been taken forward for further
development. I am currently preparing the results
of my research for publication and have been
fortunate enough to present my research at a
number of international conferences in locations
including Athens and Hawaii.
Writing my PhD thesis was perhaps the most
challenging thing I have done yet. There were
plenty of times when I wondered whether it was
worth it, whether I was good enough and whether
I should stop being a student and get a real job
instead! I chose to persevere and continue writing.
Eventually I submitted my thesis, passed my viva
and finally graduated in July 2012.
I am currently working at Bangor University as a
research scientist. I am part of a project that works
with local companies in North Wales to extract
and identify chemicals from plants, usually grown or supplied by our
partners, for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries.
Another critical part of this project is to develop greener technology for
the extraction of chemicals which traditionally use large quantities of
organic solvents which can be harmful to the environment.
I never thought that I would have been able to achieve the things that I
have and perhaps there is some truth in the school motto after all!
Finding an institute that would actually accept me was a challenge
in its self, despite the good Master’s degree, my grade from my
undergraduate degree let me down and I really did wonder whether
I was a suitable candidate to undertake a PhD. Eventually I found a
position and it was a little closer to home in Moray than I imagined.
The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) based in Thurso is part of the
North Highland College which in turn is one of the Academic Partners
of the University of the Highlands and Islands. The ERI aims to address
current environmental issues within its unique setting and to explore the
sustainability of our natural resources.
My PhD project was to investigate naturally occurring compounds from
seaweed species found around the Caithness coast. Why seaweed
you may ask? In many parts of the world, including the Highlands
and Islands of Scotland, seaweed has a history of use in traditional
medicine. However, there has been little research into identifying the
chemicals responsible. In addition it is thought that seaweed can
produce chemicals that may inhibit the growth of unwanted marine
life, such as barnacles, often found on submerged marine surfaces; a
process called biofouling. Thus, these chemicals may have benefits in
the marine industry in developing potentially less toxic antifouling paint
than those currently used.
19
KURT HAHN REMEMBERED
ICE RUN 2012
by Simon Limpus (Altyre, 1999) with Dave Murray (Altyre, 1999)
by Peter Carpenter (Duffus, 1940)
When I arrived in Gordonstoun in 1938 at the age of 16, the headmaster
was Kurt Hahn. No one who came into contact with him could remain
unaffected; such was the force of his personality. His appearance alone
- tall, stooping figure, prominent forehead, penetrating blue eyes – was
awe inspiring. He cast a spell which few were able to resist. His total
sincerity and the moral stance he invariably took earned him admiration
and respect, rather than love. Yet he was kind at heart and possessed
an impish humour with a disarming smile. Hahn’s unwavering faith in the
goodness of human nature made him look for, as he put it ‘pure gold’
in his pupils.. With problem boys he was at his most successful. They
presented him with the biggest challenge and he lavished his attention on
them with infinite patience. So intense was the interest in the welfare of his
pupils, every one of whom he knew through and through, that it could be
overwhelming.
“
Back in the UK with all fingers and toes (7 each is correct?) We
completed the ice run in 11 days, 1 day over our target, and
travelled over 2500Km in this time.
It was an unbelievable experience and demanding riding. Twice we
rode through the night to make up time, and some tracks required all
our concentration just to stay on. Navigation we learned the hard
way, dead ends and trapped in snow, we quickly learnt that it was
better asking the locals where the new road was as they change
every year. Maps are useless, so we navigated mostly by local
knowledge and compass.
HAHN sent me an article of his
inscribed: To Peter, a trusted
brother in arms
Because I was older than other ‘new’ boys I had difficulty in adjusting
myself to the Gordonstoun ethos. I did not see much of Hahn, partly
because he was often away in order to find more money and pupils for
his fledgling school (started only four years earlier with 13 pupils). When
I did see him it was mainly because I was in trouble. Let me give you one
example: I was practising throwing the javelin on the north lawn when a
boy emerged from the copse at the far end. If I had hit him I would have
broken the world record, he was that far away. But what I had done was
to break an important safety rule. I was summoned to see the headmaster,
expecting to be at the receiving end of the cane. He was sitting behind
his desk at the far end of his study called the Long Room. By the time I
reached the desk my knees felt like jelly. Hahn sensed that I was in distress
and that beating someone of my age would only breed resentment.
He downgraded the punishment. That was a solitary walk to Hopeman
harbour and back, on the only precious free afternoon a week, during
which one was to reflect upon one’s sins.
In one respect I did not disappoint Hahn. I was a bit of an athlete, made
the school relay team (third from left on the photo), gained the Moray
Badge at Senior Silver (the highest) level, and a Half Blue for the long
jump when at Oxford - incidentally Hahn’s old university.
Some years later a meeting took place to decide the future of the Outward
Bound Badge, when he and I found ourselves on the same side. We lost,
but that episode transformed our relationship. He sent me an article of
his inscribed “To Peter, a trusted brother in arms”. Following his death in
1974, by then living in Cambridge, I became more and more convinced
that something needed to bedone to give Hahn the public recognition
which was his due. For instance, how many people knew that The Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award had its roots in the Moray Badge and that, but for his
taking the initiative in 1954, there would be no Award today? Hahn had
been responsible for a scholarship scheme which operated in Oxbridge
between 1958 and 1965. Typically it was not called after him but after
G.M. Trevelyan, a former Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and a
great admirer of his. That gave me an idea: To mark the centenary year
20
Two OGs taking an Old Russian Ural motorbike with sidecar up the
River Ob across frozen rivers and ice roads to the Arctic Circle.
Peter Carpenter is third from the left
of Hahn’s birth with scholarships which this time would bear his name.
I put the idea to Prince Philip, Chancellor of Cambridge University, with
whom I had kept in touch since we were contemporaries at Gordonstoun.
With his help the Kurt Hahn Trust was established in 1986. The Trust,
together with the German Academic Exchange Service, awards ‘Kurt
Hahn Scholarships’ to German students towards one year of post-graduate
study at Cambridge University. It also makes awards to students from
Cambridge, to enable them to continue with their studies in Germany
(where he is known even less, though it is the country of his birth). During
that year the Scholars not only learn about his ideals but visit one of his
foundations. They now play their part in ensuring that the name of Kurt
Hahn remains in the public domain. Some of them might even discover
that there is “more in them than they thought.”
“
Camping took up a lot of time packing and unpacking (it takes
about 45mins to prepare your sleeping area and get into bed!) but
it was the most enjoyable part for us. I have never seen so many
stars. We tested all our kit out and really experienced living in these
extreme temperatures. Part of my beard came off twice as it froze to
my velcro on my jacket and face mask!
Despite the obvious hardships there were some great highlights
too; watching Dave getting his tongue and lip stuck to his metal
cross bow was quite entertaining and I had to pour hot water
over him to save his lip! Trying to ride for 50km stuck in 4th gear
through a forest till the next town without losing speed was another
‘interesting’ experience. The camaraderie amongst the teams was
really inspiring; one team towed another 400km to the finish line, a
truly incredible achievement.
Our biggest challenge apart from the -35° degrees cold was
without doubt the bike’s reliability. Total brake failure for 95% of the
journey, loss of back wheel due to sheared bolt, loss of gear box 2
days from the end, multiple gear box issues until complete failure
(reverse not working, gears popping out, stuck in gear, snapped 2
front suspension forks so no front suspension, oil leaking at a rate
total brake failure for 95% of
the journey
Every team, where needed, helped each other out and whether
it be towing to the next village or aiding in a mechanical repair,
everyone got involved. We stopped multiple times when we bumped
into a fellow broken down Ural. This camaraderie amongst the other
teams added to the spirit of pioneering adventure. Every Russian we
met thought we were all crazy, but no team would have been able
to complete the Ice Run without their hospitality and mechanical
expertise on the Ural bike. The Russians we met are the kindest and
friendliest people I have known and in this very cold and isolated
environment a breakdown can mean certain hypothermia. Their
friendship saved the lives of more than one of us, myself included.
On the flip side getting towed by a Russian in snow and ice is very
dangerous. We were towed 90km through snow ice and horrendous
roads. It was mentally and physically very demanding to keep the
bike up right.
of a litre a day, new ignition coil and timing reset, replacement of
plugs… x 6, no lights, clutch cable replacement, loss of front fairing
and windshield, new battery…Other than that she ran like a dream!
We actually pushed the bike ourselves the last 2km over the finish
line. It was an epic adventure. Together Dave and I have raised
over £5,000 for our charities.
We got to see Siberia up close and personal and to camp in
the heart of its beautiful scenery, and last but not least we were
interviewed on Russian national TV. This was at times the most
frustrating and coldest challenge I have experienced but I loved
it. It focussed the mind like nothing else. Life is simple; look after
yourself, your team mate and trust your own judgement and skill
that you will find a solution to the situation you are in. I am already
thinking of another trip but until the next time, thank you all for your
support and donations.
13
RED CROSS EMERGENCY RESPONSE
CUMMING HOUSE TO PHD
by Lucy Atkinson (Plewlands, 2007)
by Seun Arorami (Cumming, 2004)
I read International Relations and Modern
History at the University of East Anglia,
and although I found aspects of the course
interesting, I also felt very detached from the
situations I was reading about, a million miles
away. At the end of my second year, in the
voluntary spirit of Gordonstoun, I began giving
time to the British Red Cross Refugee service as
a volunteer caseworker.
In 2004 I left Gordonstoun and Cumming House, places that had
come to feel more like home to me than anywhere else at the time,
contemplating my future at university, anxiously wondering how life
there would compare to the two year long adventure at Gordonstoun.
In October 2004 I began my undergraduate education in Mechanical
Engineering at the University
of Bristol. One of my reasons
for choosing engineering was
that it would hopefully enable
me to innovate, not just amass
knowledge. In a careers test
I’d shown that I might have
an aptitude for Mechanical
Engineering, and I had also
been told it was a versatile
degree, good to do if you didn’t
really know what you wanted
to do!
The people I met and helped support made the
world a smaller place for me. The situations
I was reading about were not a million miles
away: I met and knew people hurt and
affected by them. I sat face to face with them
in Norwich.
I now look after both the Refugee and
International Tracing and Message Services
in East Anglia. We support those who are
exercising their right for asylum as stated in
the United Nations 1915 Refugee Convention;
‘ ...owing to well-founded fear of being
persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, … or political opinion, is outside
the country of his nationality and is unable or,
owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself
of the protection of that country....’
The British Red Cross is an emergency response
organisation, we provide support which
addresses the immediate needs of refugees
and asylum seekers. These vary and change
at different points of a person’s journey
through the asylum system. This journey,
and the relationship that we build with those
we support, puts us in a strong position to
advocate on their behalf. We raise issues,
concerns and observations at various different
levels, including at local forums, at regional
stakeholder meetings with the UKBA, as well as
with key representatives at a national level.
I also work closely with our Youth and
Schools team to promote awareness and
understanding of asylum and migration in
schools. Following a successful pilot we ran
last year, this academic year the University of
East Anglia launched an accredited module
on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and
Refugee Law. As part of the pilot students
22
delivered IHL workshops to local schools,
educating and raising awareness of the laws of
conflict and the challenges they pose.
We also support a number of children who
arrive in the country alone to seek asylum.
We are able to support them with case work
through our Refugee Services on a practical
level, and by working closely with Youth and
Schools we can also deliver a holistic response.
We run six weekly blocks of activities that
aim to develop life skills and confidence. This
summer we went to Wales, where we climbed
Snowdon, and amongst other things taught
three young people how to ride bikes. Leading
these activities really made me value my time
at school and what I learnt. The confidence,
strength and teamwork that grew in a week
in the outdoors were extraordinary.For these
young people the week was simply a chance
to forget the worries that they were burdened
with.
Although our International Tracing and
Messaging Service is not exclusive to asylum
seekers and refugees, these services sit
closely together. Under IHL and the Geneva
Conventions, the International Committee of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC)
is mandated to provide a service that offers a
way for families to keep in contact and share
family news when war or disaster has broken
down communication networks. Approximately
15 per cent of our caseload relates to relatives
missing as a result of the Second World War.
Where people are trying to contact missing
family members, we gather detailed
information and messages. We then work with
the ICRC field workers to use this information
to try and trace the lost relatives, dependent
on local circumstances, and often security
situations.
As well as sending tracing requests out to
the Red Cross movement, we receive similar
requests from colleagues trying to trace people
who may be in the UK. I too have found
‘Sought People’, knocked on doors and sat in
living rooms, delivering news of lost family.
In this line of work, a positive outcome is
indescribable. But ITMS is complex and
challenging, and many of the stories shared
are full of horror and pain. Sometimes we have
to accept we’ve reached a ‘No Trace’, which
answers no questions but creates more.
I am humbled daily by the strength and
resolve of those I have the privilege of
working alongside and find myself constantly
challenged by the concept of ‘Home’. What is
it? Where is it and what is there? At the end
of each day I go to a place I call Home. It’s
a place where I am not waiting for a letter of
acceptance or refusal on which my whole life
hangs.
Half way through my first year
I found myself tempted to give
up and switch to a degree in
Physics. The course was tough, lots of labs and more lecture hours
than most other degrees. I had no idea if all the work would really
be worth it or whether it would lead me into a career that I might
actually enjoy. At the time I did not have the courage or perhaps
the impulsiveness to simply quit. I decided to stick it out, and drew
strength from the life I had outside of lectures.
nine in the morning or four in the afternoon, as long as I got the
work done, no one minded. Not being a ‘morning person’ this was a
particularly desirable feature.
When I returned to Bristol to complete my final year I began to
investigate PhD opportunities. I was eventually able to obtain a
department scholarship to pursue a PhD in Electro-Active Polymers
(EAPs) - rubber like materials which move when high voltages are
applied to them. This was right up my street, to work on something
that I could actually see move in front of my eyes would be cool.
However, prior to commencing my PhD my confidence in my
academic abilities had been knocked having not achieved the
1st class degree which I wanted and which was also required by
scholarship. Thankfully, I was still permitted to progress on to my PhD
with my 2:1 degree and did this with a newly acquired humility. This
humility, I believe, contributed greatly to my success at PhD as it made
me willing to perform ‘grunt work’ - seemingly basic and uninteresting
research tasks set by my supervisors, very willing to accept help from
others around me.
Three and half years later I found myself in a good position with
my PhD and sprinting to finish my thesis in time to begin a volunteer
project I’d signed up to do in Bangladesh. The project had come
about because I’d wanted to do something adventurous and distinct
from my PhD as well as a way of washing out my brain after all my
My persistence, or cowardice, depending on your point of view, was
rewarded in the second year. The abstract fundamentals gave way to
more interesting areas of study. Suddenly the application, the useful
and tangible end-result of engineering, was being made clear. My
third year at the University of Illinios, in the US, further consolidated
this. It was a year of tough academic grind, the US university system
favouring a regular monitoring approach: weekly home-works and
regular exams as opposed to one final exam at the end of the year.
However, I was able to increase my knowledge of the subject, getting
to grips with the practicalities of engineering through hands-on lab
sessions using shiny and expensive lab equipment.
Towards the end of my study abroad year I was asked by one of my
professors to continue a research project I’d begun with him. Reluctant
at first, as it would require me to stay on campus another month when
all my friends would have left, I eventually accepted, reasoning that
I would have nothing much to do if I did go back to the UK as most
of my friends would be in the midst of exams, the US academic year
ending before the British one. The decision would have a profound
effect on the direction of my life as I found myself thoroughly enjoying
the autonomy and freedom of research work. I could start work at
studies. I’d be working for an engineering consultancy which consults
with textiles factories, helping them to become more sustainable,
efficient and socially responsible. Roughly a month after passing my
PhD viva, the Dragon’s Den verbal examination which everyone must
pass in order to obtain their PhD, I set off for Dhaka. I truly enjoyed
the two months that followed, but as a result I realised that I wanted to
continue with a career in research and not in industry.
Now I am about to embark on my next adventure, a postdoctoral
research position at EPFL, a University based in Lausanne,
Switzerland. I am not exactly sure what to expect in this new phase of
my life but, unlike when I left Gordonstoun, I’m full of excitement and
eager to embrace it.
23
OH, TO BE A GUV’NOR!
by Tanya Rose Simpson née Rose (Windmill, 1983)
It’s such a joy to take a moment to look back and reflect on my time
as a Governor as it seems to run in direct parallel to the warmth I felt
about being at a pupil at Gordonstoun. When I received the call from
James Weatherall the ex-Chairman of the Board of Governors and an
ex OG himself, it had been 20 years since I left the school and headed
out into the world for my life in Paris and London.
There is a wonderful sense of familiarity about everything when
arriving at Inverness Airport. I was met with the wonderful surprise of
being collected by Jennifer Maclean, daughter of Jimmy Sutherland
the amazing taxi driver who took us everywhere during my time at the
school between 1979 and 1983. Elgin, airports, drop offs, Jimmy was
an institution, so being met by his daughter immediately transported
me not only to the school but back in time. On the way to Gordonstoun
from the airport we reminisced about old friends and teachers and all
our adventures laughing all the way.
When we arrived and began the journey up the long driveway to G
House, I felt a wash of emotion and excitement just as I did all those
years ago when my Sister Lisa and I arrived on our first day. It was
like coming home, full of safe reassurance and security. And such a
contrast to the feelings I had experienced the night before my visit while
watching a Panorama special on the pressures of being a teenage
girl in London. The documentary was full of disturbing tales of peer
pressure, anorexia and a total lack of self esteem.
ROMANIA PROJECT 30TH JUNE – 14TH JULY
by Tony Le and Hannah Oladugba
Once I was inside and meeting all those lovely, bright, vivacious,
intelligent, confident and self assured girls and boys, I was reminded
immediately of what a positive impact Gordonstoun has on young
people. I hope that like me they will one day fully appreciate what
a special place it is, and how it informed and nurtured the solid and
caring relationships I have as an adult and a parent. The essence and
DNA of Gordonstoun was alive and well, and it made me happy to
know it was still there and thriving. Buildings full of happy, smiling
children clearly enjoying every minute of it.
Working in the world of Luxury Travel and PR and having a passion
for theatre, my role on the board as Chairman of the Fundraising
Campaign was tailor made for me. Having been on the Board of the
Almeida Theatre and of various children’s charities was the perfect
grounding to take on these responsibilities. That said little did I know
that the school motto of “Plus et en Vous” was about to take on its true
meaning.
My seven years have been a total joy and I am thrilled that we
managed to raise £5 million under the superb guidance of Richard
Devey who not only managed to establish the development office,
but also built the George Welsh sports hall and added much needed
money to the scholarship and bursary foundation. Richard and I visited
some schools in the USA to see how they ran their development and
in the process realised what incredible things we managed to achieve
with a small team, quite phenomenal.
Equally thrilling was the opportunity to see HRH the Princess Royal
the Patron of our Campaign close up and in action with invitations
to Buckingham Palace and St James Palace. As a person who has
to speak frequently in public, I was in awe of her amazing natural
ability to speak so eloquently without notes and manage to inject such
passion and commitment into her speeches about the school. She is
extraordinary and the school is extremely lucky to have her as their
Warden.
As I look back on this time as a Governor I know I will really miss my
dinners with the CBs and the staff, and the wonderful hospitality of Ben
and Anne Goss who made me always feel at home. And of course the
special nights of burning the midnight oil with a wee dram alongside
Sophie Kueffer (nee Upton) and George Grunebaum, warmed by the
fire and our lively conversations.
Gordonstoun is intrinsically part of my life and who I am, so I say
with genuine heartfelt gratitude, thank you. I wish nothing but the best
always for Gordonstoun and I look forward to another chapter of my
life when I shall return with my son Jake in September 2016 as he
begins his life at Gordonstoun, something that we will share all our
lives too.
First and foremost we would like to say thank you for providing us with
such an amazing opportunity. Without the tremendous support of the
Gordonstoun Association we would not have been able to be a part of
the Romania 2012 project. We were told by many that it would have an
impact on the orphans’ lives, what we didn’t expect was the remarkable
impact the project made on our lives. I am sure you would like to know
how it went so we will try putting some of our experiences into words.
During the summer holidays, we were involved in the Romania
international service project,
just one of the many projects
Gordonstoun runs every year.
We were part of a team of ten
students and two teachers, and
despite some apprehension on
the nature of what we would be
facing; we had been looking
forward to it all term.
The project revolved around
the summer school that was
organised annually by Little
John’s House – a rather small
yet homely orphanage – and
this was where we stayed. As
well as the six children who
were permanent residents of
Little John’s, between twenty
to thirty children from other
local orphanages or schools attended the summer school every day.
This was where we were really challenged; this was the everyday
test of connecting with these children, some of whom were autistic or
physically disabled and making their time at Little John’s special, as
this was literally all they had to look forward to in their lives. We put
on various activities for the kids, for example every day we did face
painting, trampolining, some creativity-based activities such as bead
making, as well as sporting games such as football or basketball.
However, in order to mix it up a bit, we also did specially themed days
such as “Pirate Day” or “Olympic Day” so as to avoid repetition. We
also rehearsed several songs and dances which we performed every
day and by the end of the two weeks we both agreed that we had
enjoyed every moment, whether or not it was outside our comfort zone!
We went from being weary about how to talk or play with the children
to just doing everything and anything with them! We grew as a team;
we learned to deal with situations trained staff would face. We also
had the chance to visit another orphanage (one of the most emotional
moments of the trip) and put on a little show and we were overcome
with sheer emotion.
Whilst not as physically challenging as, for example, the Thailand
Water Project, Romania has served to give us all a new perspective on
life, making us realise how fortunate we are and how big a difference
young people such as ourselves can make in a community. By the
end of the summer school, we had all made special friends we would
remember for the rest of our lives, and it is an understatement to say
24
that we had become attached to some of the children. Leaving was
undoubtedly the hardest part of the project, but we left Romania with
the knowledge that it was irrefutably a life-changing experience that
everyone could benefit from.
Tony – ‘Retrospectively, whilst it is clear to me that I’ve taken a lot of out
the project in how it has developed my character, I also feel as though it
has also influenced my future aspirations such that I believe that my time
in Romania will be hugely beneficial in the work place. Having worked
around difficult circumstances
in the orphanage, I have
acclimatised to consistently
being out of my comfort zone
and while I may never work
around children professionally
in the future, it has undeniably
helped that I have been in
such a situation. Furthermore,
because English was scarcely
spoken by not only the kids but
also the orphanage staff, I have
improved my communication
skills through other non-verbal
means, such as body language
and actions. After experiencing
a hugely immersive two weeks
of volunteering, it has also
inspired me to fulfil further
charity-based ventures in the
future, which may even possibly include another foray into Little John’s
House in the forthcoming years. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank the Gordonstoun Association without whose help I would not have
been able to partake in the project and would have missed out on the
two most difficult and challenging, and yet beneficial and unforgettable
weeks of my life to date’.
Hannah – ‘Before my participation in the project I had thought that
perhaps I wanted to work with children when I am older and I hoped
that this project would help me with that decision. Well this project has
definitely served its purpose, and has made me realise that it is indeed
my passion to work with children! I even intend on going on the project
again! Your actions have made such an amazing impact in my life, from
the bottom of my heart I truly thank you. I hope one day I could do for a
young person what you have done for me’.
FROM AN OLD BOY
UNKNOWN FACES
by Keith K. I. Murdoch (Cumming, 1962)
Help us identify photographs!
I really enjoyed my time at Gordonstoun and can still turn a mattress
and go outdoors. ‘Plus est en Vous’. The school got me into Aberdeen
University, where I graduated with an Ordinary General mixed-subject
degree in 1966, chiefly in English Literature. This got me a job in Paris,
teaching English as a foreign language. Next I went down to Morocco,
passing through the enclave of Spanish Morocco, which is virtually a
country of its own, with borders. After heading home to the Highlands,
I spent a year in Edinburgh, working in The Arts. I wrote a novel (first
attempt), and gave Poetry readings. I also assisted at The Traverse
experimental theatre. The following year I went as a tourist overland
to India and Nepal. One could see Mount Everest pink with the setting
sun. After a rather eventful return journey, I went to Brighton for a job
interview with Safari, but didn’t take this driving job. Having met a
brilliant astrologer-Yogi, I started studying these two subjects, and still
do. When in India I went to a lecture by the Maharishi. Next I went
to Malta, and sold a few watercolours. After many jobs, on return, I
was taken on by the Highland Folk Museum, now closed, except for a
branch in Newtonmore. During the holidays I was in Athens and Crete,
and have been in several other countries over the years. Now retired,
I don’t travel far, but always wash my face in cold water. At school in
my day, you sometimes had three cold showers a day, if you include
morning break activities. My expeditions were to Loch Duich in Kintail,
pouring rain, and two to Sutherland with Bex, (Dr Richter, Biology
teacher,) to watch red and black- throated divers, and corncrakes.
The other was to Boat of Garten, where we cooked sausages in the
sunshine. I didn’t go on expedition in the 5th year, because of exams.
Did Business studies at Inverness Tech., and Art at Inverness College.
They are building a University there. Also got some Creative Writing
certificates from National Extension College. Married, divorced, one
child, two grandchildren in Australia.
As ever, we get a lot of fantastic old photographs that come through
the GA office, but we’re not always provided with names for the
people featuring in the images. In this issue alone we’ve got numerous
photographs featuring unidentified OGs! If you can help by letting us
know the names of any faces you recognise, please get in touch!
26
ASSOCIATION EVENTS
Several of the boys shown above in this photo from Cdr Tony Rendell
are unidentified –can you help us find out who they are?
FRONT COVER – MISSING NAMES!
We loved this photo so much we used it on the front cover of this issue,
but we’re not sure who everyone is! if you know who the two students
in the right of the image below are, please contact us
at [email protected]
19
UPCOMING EVENTS
For up-to-date information on all events and gatherings, please see our website:
www.gordonstoun.org.uk/former-students/ga/gatherings
or phone the GA Office on +44 (0) 1343 837922
Calcutta Cup Weekend
match OG vs. London Scottish, 2nd Feb 2013
(venue: London Scottish)
GA London Dinner
(hosted by Nigel Rimmer) Fino’s,
London 15th March, 2013
OGGS Ilkley Golf Event
(Organiser Martin Scriven) 12th April, 2013
OGGS Match v. School
AT Lossiemouth
(Part of GA Weekend Events) 2nd May, 2013
OGGS Spey Valley Golf Event
at Aviemore
( Part of GA Weekend Events) 3rd May, 2013
GA Day at School
4th May, 2013
OGGS Bruntsfield Event
Edinburgh 31st May, 2013
GA Edinburgh Dinner
New Club, 23rd August, 2013
Do you have a story you’d like to see published in the next edition of this magazine? If so, please get in touch with the
GA Office: [email protected] | +44 (0) 1343 837922