Fortunas 26 - December 2010

2 Fortunas 26December 2010

REGIONAL DOLLAR ACADEMY CLUBS

DATA PROTECTIONDollar Academy sends out copies of Fortunas and its enclosures in envelopes addressed to former pupils, former staff of the Acad-emy, and parents of current pupils. As such, recipients’ names and addresses are stored in our database. Any recipient who does not wish to receive a copy of Fortunas is asked to inform the Academy by e-mail, using Andrea Poulter’s address as given. Similarly, in order that we may keep our data as accurate as possible, you are asked to inform us of any change of address.

DOLLARSally Sutcliffe12 Princes Crescent NorthDOLLARFK14 [email protected]

DOLLAR ACADEMICALSIain MearsThe Cottage5 Chapel PlaceDOLLAR FK14 [email protected]

EDINBURGHFiona Frazer15 Cammo CrescentEDINBURGHEH4 [email protected]

NORTH OF ENGLANDDeirdre BuchananOne OakHallgarthPICKERINGNorth YorkshireYO18 7AW

GLASGOWWill Gibson7a Briarwell RoadMilngavieGLASGOWG65 [email protected]

HIGHLANDAlasdair Moodie25 Drummond CrescentINVERNESSIV2 [email protected]

LONDONMrs Elizabeth C Heath3 Redhill Close SOUTHAMPTONHampshireSO16 [email protected]

NORTH OF SCOTLANDDr Andrew A BurtCantlebraePitgoberDOLLARFK14 [email protected]

CONSULS

AustraliaSydney Jill Westwater [email protected] 0061 404 400 554Melbourne Mark Plummer [email protected] 0061 404 467 924

CanadaBritish Columbia Gordon Simpson [email protected] 001 250 370 9052Eastern Canada Bruce Buck [email protected] 001 905 468 1512

New ZealandNorth Island Bill Clague [email protected] 0064 4297 1753

ChinaBeijing Malcolm Thorp [email protected] 0086 1391 0075 452

The Netherlands Michelle Barlow [email protected] 0031 402 241 5865

USACalifornia Mohammad Diab [email protected] 001415 710 8438Arizona Wendy Hurley [email protected] 001480 284 8244/001 480 389 8692

Fortunas 26December 2010

3

Editor: Elspeth [email protected]: Peter [email protected] Registrar: Andrea [email protected]: Janet [email protected] readers: Janet Carolan, An-drea Poulter, Andrew PoulterPhotographers: Chris Cairns, Ronan Allum, Lewis Aitchison

The opinions expressed in this magazine belong to the individual writers and not to Dollar Academy.

CONTENTS

An Interview with the Rector 4

NEWS AND FEATURESPipe Band Championships 6Co-Curricular 10The Musical 23New Staff 26Staff Leaving 30Boarding 34The Prep School 38The Junior School 40Departmental News 44‘The Clock beneath your Feet’ by Bill Beveridge and Richard Johnson 46 ART 49‘Taking the Camera to Deeper Depths’ by Chris Cairns 53

SPORT 54

TRIPS AND TRAVEL 58

FP FORUMNews and Events 62‘Fighting Back from Injury’ by Jock Hutchison 68Obituaries 79‘The Enigma Codes’ by William Stewart 88‘From the Archives’ by Janet Carolan 90

Former Rector John Robertson walking his dog.

John Robertson said one of his favourite books was ‘The Crying of Lot 49’. The cover and plot of this book features the symbol of a post horn just like the one Mr Blezard is playing.

Answers to questions regarding the cover of the last edition of Fortunas


AN INTERVIEW WITH THE RECTOR

What do you remember of your own school days?I attended Dunblane Primary School where my favourite teacher was called Mrs Liggins, who was brilliant at reading stories aloud. I particularly remember her reading The Hobbit when I was in Primary 6. I also remember singing at the Perth Festival. After Dunblane, I went to Morrison’s in Crieff, where I played in rugby, cricket and tennis teams and was generally very happy.

How did you feel about returning to Scotland? I had been working in London for twenty years and I really loved it there, but was struck by the sense of community whenever I returned to Scotland. And of course, we have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. So, from the day I saw the post advertised, I felt really excited about the prospect. I am delighted to be back – and I would have to say my mother is just as delighted!

Has anything surprised you about Dollar so far?I did a lot of research before applying for the post and I think I knew what to expect. Dollar is an excellent school in every way. Perhaps what has surprised me most has been the maturity and spirit of the Form VI pupils. I have been really impressed by them. Also, I didn’t realise how much I had missed the sound of pipes and drums - I love listening to the Pipe Band. Finally, I didn’t expect to find such happy boarders.

Do you have an educational vision?Yes, I think I have, but it is hard to put these things into words. I am unashamedly old-fashioned about values such as honesty and courtesy. I also think it is important to maintain the idiosyncratic traditions that schools often have. But, on the other hand, I like to see happy pupils. I have seen enough to be aware that life needs to be lived in the present. Schools, rightly, are often focused on planning for children’s futures, but sometimes they overdo that. Some schools produce highly stressed


5

individuals and I don’t think they do the pupils any favours in the long run. I also think that it is important to have first-class facilities and to make the most of modern technology, because using a variety of approaches makes lessons more interesting. Sorry, that’s a long answer. Perhaps I should just have said I want to combine the best of the old with the best of the new.

You have been here for a few months now, are you enjoying it?I don’t want to tempt fate, but I am certainly enjoying things so far.

You always seem very relaxed – what annoys you?Pupil rudeness to cleaners or kitchen staff because I hate arrogance. Litter because I think that betokens a sort of arrogance as well. I am not overly keen on laziness either. I suppose that just goes to show that I am a product of the area I grew up in. I also get annoyed by parents who fight their children’s battles for them. I know they mean well, but it’s terribly counterproductive. You are never too young to learn responsibility and independence.

Is there anything you miss about London?A few things, but I believe life is about people and relationships, so mostly I miss friends from London. But I am sure we will stay in touch. Modern technology is so helpful in that respect.

What was your most embarrassing moment?Too many to mention. I don’t mind making mistakes – it’s better to get stuck in and have a go at least. My most recent embarrassing moment was at the Junior School Halloween party last week doing the Macarena. I jumped left when everyone else jumped right.

And your proudest achievement?In London I worked with the charity SHINE to set up Saturday enrichment lessons for primary pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds - mainly in English and Maths, but with some fun Science and Technology thrown in. I wasn’t sure that the children would want to attend, or that the teachers would be prepared to give up

Saturday mornings, but in the end it worked really well and I know the SHINE charity felt it was one of their most successful projects. It is still running.

What is your favourite time of the school week?Saturday morning watching sport; the lunchtime meeting with the Senior Six; coaching Form II rugby; anytime I visit a Prep or Junior classroom; anytime I hear music, especially singing.

What is the secret of good teaching? Inspiring interest in a subject and getting pupils to think for themselves. It is not as easy as some people think.

Do you play sport?I try to play tennis once a week, although I have only managed once a fortnight recently. I like golf, but never seem to find the time. I had a good skiing holiday last year.

How about music?I bash out a few tunes on the piano now and again. I passed Grade 5 at school but I don’t know how - I think the examiner must have been asleep.

Do you read regularly?Whenever I can, usually on holiday. I recently finished Melvyn Bragg’s The Adventure of English, which was quite good.

Do you have a favourite quote?I think Tobias Wolff wrote that the most beautiful phrase in the English language is ‘his father came running to meet him.’

Do you have any life advice for today’s teenagers?What a question! My advice is don’t ask the Rector for advice. He doesn’t know much.

I didn’t realise how much I had missed the sound of pipes and drums - I love listening to the Pipe Band. ‘

’


THE ROYAL SCOTTISH PIPE BAND ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010

This year, piping at Dollar Academy has set the standard for many years to come. In addition to our traditional calendar of events, where we have excelled in competitions such as the Scottish Schools CCF competition (which we have now won eleven years in a row), the Scottish Schools CCF Trios and Quartets, George Watson’s Mini Band and Solo contest, The Glasgow Highland Club Competition, and other events such as Piping for the Pope, the decision was made to measure ourselves against the rest of the world.

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association attracts entries from Pipe Bands the world over. We would be playing in the Juvenile Grade of the RSPBA competitions. This is the highest grade for pipers and drummers under the age of 18, where potentially around 80 Pipe Bands travelling from as far as America, Canada and New-Zealand could compete. We entered the five major championships, which consisted of the Scottish, British, European, World Championships and the Cowal Games. Whichever band achieved the best scores throughout

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dollar Academy has established itself as Scottish Champions by nudging the current World Champions into second place by one point.

The first of the Five Majors was hosted by Dumbarton, and attracted over one hundred and forty Pipe Bands from all over Scotland. The hard work did not start on that Saturday or, indeed, at the Gourock Highland Games, where four firsts were awarded, but in way back in September, 2009, when new tunes and drum scores were presented to the Band. Conscientious practice, coupled with routine and high levels of discipline, produced outstanding results at the George Watson’s Mini Bands Competition, and also The Glasgow Highland Club Pipe Band Competition. To the right are comments from the pipers and drummers as they made their way back to Dollar.

‘Mr Wilson’s face when they read out Dollar as Scottish Champions 2010 is a picture I will remember for the rest of my life!’

‘I was thrilled at hearing the success of the band and glad all our early mornings have been worthwhile.’

‘The band’s success was down to the determination of everybody involved and the work of our instructors who give up their time for the success of the band.’

‘The sun, the pipes, and the success made me feel proud to be a Dollar Academy pupil.’

‘To beat the World Champions three times in three competitions is an amazing reward for all the hard work put in by everyone in the band.’

‘For the first time in my life my skin is redder than my hair.’

‘My drone tuner and I will sleep well tonight.’

the five competitions would be named ‘Champions of Champions.’ The band had never competed in all five majors before, and we had little understanding of what we were letting ourselves in for…

World Champion Pipe Band


7

news & features

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

The journey down to Annan for the RSPBA British Championships was a smooth one – NOT! The bus was sent on a detour and the convoy of cars (co-pilot: Tom Hogarth) missed the turn off… Once on-site, after our compulsory bacon roll, we set about our business. The weather was warm and dry, the pitch of the Pipes kept on lifting and Mr Wilson and Mr Stewart were kept on their toes. The result was the best performance ever from a Dollar Academy Pipe Band - everyone was delighted. We left Mr Wilson in Annan to compete in the afternoon and collect the silverware as we all headed back to Dollar to open Sports Day and to compete in the day’s Athletics events.

Jamie McCannBRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPSGrade: Juv Piping Adjudicator 1: J Hutcheon Piping Adjudicator 2: C Edgar Drumming Adjudicator: G Craig Ensemble Adjudicator: A Aitken

RSPBA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Although the day of the European Championships began for us with a 4am flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland, the long journey to collect the European Juvenile title actually started over a year ago, when we last visited the Emerald Isle to compete in the Portrush Championships. So much has happened in that seemingly short period of time: 11 Scottish CCF Titles, RSPBA Scottish Champions, RSPBA British Champions, Glasgow Highland Club and Gouroch Highland Games winners to mention but a few - and it was a pleasure returning to Ireland to win again.

The long day had its rewards; in addition to the overall result, we won the Toyota Trophy and our Drum Corps collected the Jimmy Catherwood Trophy for the Best Juvenile Drum Corps, beating the current World Champions and a very good corps from Houston, Texas. The highlight of the day, however, has to have been watching our Pipe Major, Matt Wilson, being interviewed by BBC Northern Ireland. A huge thanks to our leading drummer, Louise Carson, and our instructor, Lee Innes, for all their hard work.

Craig Stewart

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At the RSPBA annual World Championships on Saturday 14th August there were over eight thousand pipers and drummers from sixteen nations on Glasgow Green, performing in front of more than fifty-five thousand spectators – so many that it took over an hour and a half simply to complete the entry of the bands into the arena for the march past finale. In the Grade Juvenile section Dollar’s ‘A’ band was up against powerful international opposition, including bands from the USA and New Zealand, as well as more local contestants like Vale of Atholl, Johnstone and George Watson’s College - the best of the world’s school-aged players. Yet again, however, Dollar’s twenty-three players under Pipe Major Matt Wilson impressed the four judges and as winners they were placed a clear two points ahead of Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, and three

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS:Grade: Juv Piping Adjudicator 1: G Lawrie Piping Adjudicator 2: A Ronaldson Drumming Adjudicator: G Parkes Ensemble Adjudicator: M MacKenzie

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPSGrade: Juv Piping Adjudicator 1: J Wark Piping Adjudicator 2: D Cardwell Drumming Adjudicator: S Steele Ensemble Adjudicator: D Clark

World Champion Pipe Band


COWAL GAMES

The Cowal Games challenge – well what can I say… Difficult conditions with changes in temperatures and showers of rain, tricky circumstances with a switch to MSR after several months of a Medley routine practised to near perfection, and, finally, extremely tough competition from bands across the country - all desperate to knock Dollar off our roll towards the 5 Majors Grand Slam.

The usual traumas occurred during tuning, with Matt having frequent mood swings due to chanters sharpening in the heat, then becoming flatter in the rain (making tuning nigh on impossible). The pressure then began to build in the lead-up to the starting line. A team talk from the Rector, Mr Knapman, inspired everyone to play to the very best of their ability and it turned out to be a clean, safe run; despite a couple of small slips, we were all pleased. The performance was good enough to warrant an interview by STV and an introduction to the Chieftain of the Games, Mr Sylvester McCoy. We celebrated in style as Mr Knapman cut the World Championship cake and divided it amongst band members, supporters and parents. Many thanks and a huge hug to Mr and Mrs Wilson for their generosity and support.

When the time of the massed bands and prize-giving came, Mr Knapman stood with the band to support us - win, lose or draw – and the result was a disappointing but still very respectable second place. We were happy to accept the ‘Champion of Champions’ Cup and, ‘Humble in victory, gracious in defeat’ - the phrase drilled into us time and time again, we shook hands and congratulated our opposition, despite our disappointment.

During the course of the day, the new Pipe Major and Pipe Sergeants of the band were decided upon by Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson and the Form VI band members. Congratulations to Ross Geddes, who firmly established his place as Pipe Major, the most sought-after position in the band,

and also to David Barcroft, Grant Blair and Nicole Abel, the new Pipe Sergeants. This day also marked the end of a journey for Jamie McCann and Catriona Jardine, both of whom have been with the band throughout this fantastic season. Jamie has been playing in the ‘A’ Band since 2005, and Catriona since 2007. Both members have been hugely influential, with Jamie being Pipe Sergeant throughout the past season and Catriona leading the Tenor and Bass section for the past year. Jamie and Catriona will be deeply missed in the following season’s competitions. Between them you could count on one hand the number of engagements they have missed over their eight years of service - an outstanding example of the fine level of commitment that we all wish to aspire to.

Finally, I feel it appropriate to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our instructors, Craig Stewart, Matt Wilson and Lee Innes, on their unbelievable levels of commitment and time, without which we would not have achieved these exceptional results and enjoyed ourselves quite as much as we have.

Robert Reid

COWAL GAMES

Grade: Juv Piping Adjudicator 1: I Wood Piping Adjudicator 2: A Wright Drumming Adjudicator: J Noble Ensemble Adjudicator: R Shepherd

The many hours of hard practice and tuning paid off - what a way to finish the season. It was disappointing not to have completed a clean sweep of all the majors, but at the end of the day we were simply not good enough – next year perhaps? Our thanks must go to Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson and Mr Innes. Without their help the sound of the band would not be what it is now. To be compared to a Mini Field Marshall and the top end of the Adult Grade Two by the experts on Radio Scotland is an indication of where we are now. We are all looking forward next year.

Ross Geddes

ahead of the American St Thomas Episcopal band.

Deputy Rector Geoff Daniel, who spent the day in Glasgow along with other members of staff, FPs and families of band members, commented, ‘The result is further testament to the immense skill and commitment of both the band members and their instructors who have continued to work hard over the summer break; the school is immensely proud of the band and the honour they have brought to Dollar’s reputation internationally.’

This has been an extraordinary summer for Dollar’s Pipe Band: in addition to becoming the CCF Scottish Schools’ Champions for the 11th year in succession and winning the Glasgow Highland Club title, they took three further titles in the major RSPBA competitions, becoming Scottish Champions in May, British Champions in June, European Champions in July and now, finally, World Champions in August. Enormous credit goes to the large number of pupils involved, to those who instruct them, and to the Master in Charge of Piping, Mr Craig Stewart.

The final challenge now remains to become ‘Champion of Champions’ in entering the fifth of the major Pipe Band competitions at the Cowal Championships in Dunoon on Saturday 28 August.

Geoff Daniel

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Grade: Juv Piping Adjudicator 1: J Wilson Piping Adjudicator 2: D Ingram Drumming Adjudicator: J Baxter Ensemble Adjudicator: J McInnes


9

news & features

A TRIBUTE TO BILL MCLAREN

The Dollar Academy Pipe Band was honoured to be invited to play a significant role in an evening’s program at Murrayfield in tribute to Bill McLaren, the ‘Voice of Rugby’ and a legend in his own lifetime.

The connection with Bill and Dollar Academy is strong, yet quietly understated - very much like the man himself: vocal by virtue of his profession, yet also an inspirational family man. He was a unique individual who brought pleasure, colour and excitement to the sporting world through his commentary phrases that brought rugby games to life for the viewing audience. The Pipe Band were one of only a few groups that contributed their music to this occasion which saw thousands of people turn up to acknowledge the impact Mr McLaren has had in the world of rugby.

The West Stand was packed out with people there to enjoy music, prose and life stories from many great men that have been touched by Bill. They came from the world

over; Sean Fitzpatrick represented the southern Hemisphere with other internationalists from all corners of the United Kingdom, all the way back to his home club of Hawick. The evening was MC’d superbly by Dougie Donnelly and ran smoothly thanks to the efforts of the Events Organisers from Murrayfield. The highlight of the evening, however, was when Bill’s grandson, Rory Lawson (FP 1990 - 1999, Head Boy), spoke so warmly and affectionately about his grandfather. I have never been so proud to be a part of Dollar Academy; to participate in such a momentous evening is one thing but to hear a former pupil speak so well, stealing the show from the best presenters and celebrity figures the rugby world has to offer is something

else.Bill McLaren was a man

who represented all that is best about Rugby Union He was known as the ‘Voice of Rugby’, not just because of the beauty of his tone and the delight of his imaginative phrasing, but because he portrayed our game as we would always wish it to be.

Donations received on the evening went towards the Bill McLaren Foundation, which works to develop the sport of Rugby and encourage and provide sporting opportunities for young people.

Craig Stewart


CCF MILITARY SKILLS TEAM TRAINING 2010

This year the CCF has quite literally started with a bang. Twenty pupils have been undergoing intensive training for the Military Skills Competition in Dreghorn. This competition is an extremely demanding 48-hour exercise run by the Regular Army.

To prepare the cadets, they have been assaulting enemy positions, saving lives, surviving on Army Field rations, completing Army Assault Courses and crossing the Pentland Hills at the dead of night. Many scrapes and bumps have been picked up along the way, with the legendary Sgt Weddell having to raise his voice on occasion to motivate tired bodies and limbs.

Many evenings, nights and weekends have been sacrificed by all and no doubt the cadets will be glad to get their lives back after the competition.

Capt Mark P Scott

CCF MILITARY SKILLS COMPETITION 2010

Twenty members of the CCF attended the 51 (Scottish) Brigade military skills competition earlier this year which was held at Dreghorn training area, near Edinburgh. Dollar Academy entered a boys team, led by WOI Callum Jones (Form VI), and a girls team, lead by Cpl Laura Dunn (Form V).

With the long nights drawing in, the girls and boys arrived just in time to set up camp before nightfall and, after a briefing on the competition, settled down for a fairly comfortable night’s rest under the stars.

The competition got underway early on the Saturday morning. Each team had to navigate between eight different stands which tested a variety of skills, including marksmanship, first aid, leadership and field training. Saturday night saw teams set out on a fairly demanding night navigation exercise; both teams

FIRST AID

The Dollar Academy Combined Cadet Force first aid team has, once again, had a very successful year staunching bleeding, treating shock and travelling the length and breadth of Britain. The first team, consisting of Bethan Collier (Form VI), Robbie Jones (Form IV), Robert Henson and Gail Scott (both Form III) have competed in three separate competitions while the second team, consisting of Lyndsey McKay (Form IV), Laura Dunn (Form V), Paul Dreczkowski and Neil McMillan (both Form III), competed in the Scottish. The Scottish Competition was held this year at Drumshoreland in Edinburgh on Saturday 4th June. This event was made up of a team test and four individual tests. Competing were a mixture of Combined Cadet Force, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps cadets, all hoping for the first-place trophy. The tests this year were a mixture of difficulties. They ranged from an asthma attack, sprained ankle and chemical burns to a screaming child. Both teams came out of the tests with a cautious hope but, at the end of the day, there could only be one winner. After several hours of anxious waiting, the results came in and the winner was revealed. Once again, Dollar Academy first team had claimed victory in the CCF competition, with the second team lead by Lyndsey finishing a worryingly close second. However,

performed well and completed the course, with the boys achieving the second fastest overall time, a fantastic achievement.

Sunday involved more physical tests, including a 0600hrs start, speed march, assault course and advance to contact shooting event. With no team knowing how they had performed until the prize giving, it was fairly tense within the pupil ranks as the scores were announced. Dollar boys came fourth and the girls came seventh. Although a little disappointed with the announcement, on reflection everyone from both teams had pushed themselves to the limits and could feel proud of their individual performances. All who participated played their part in a memorable and enjoyable weekend; it was a great team effort.

Capt Mark P Scott


11

the biggest surprise of the day came when it was announced that Dollar Academy was the first CCF to win the overall Scottish competition in the history of the competition. We were now officially the best first aid team in Scotland. The elated victory however was soon to be replaced with the next big challenge. Every year for the last four years, Dollar Academy have earned themselves a place in the Young Grand Prior Competition by winning the National Competition, a competition involving CCFs from all over Britain. This year, both competitions were held on the same weekend at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Dollar flew down with the first team and, for the first time, a CCF Young Adult team, consisting of Callum Jones, Blair Dick and Hattie Sire (all Form VI). This team, which had been told they would be competing a mere ten days before the competition, had only had one six-hour training session to make themselves ready for the competition. They would be competing against young adults and cadets who had been training since they were barely able to put on a plaster. A daunting prospect for any team. The nationals this year consisted of the same styles of test as the Scottish, but with the addition of a special team task. The injuries of this competition varied from a

shotgun hit to the chest, a drowned casualty, an open leg fracture and a drunken man. These scenarios were hard at the best of times, but when a professional judge is making comments on what you are doing and a group of spectators are watching your every move, the pressure makes them exceptionally difficult. The young adult team was not competing on this day, so it was down to the Dollar first team to make it through to the Young Grand Prior. We did not disappoint. With a large victory, Dollar won the best CCF section, with the highlight of the day being Robert Henson, who managed to achieve the highest individual score in the competition, dropping just one point. With this victory, we would be competing at a higher level and having the honour of representing the CCF for Britain in the Young Grand Prior competition the next day. The standards for this competition were extremely high. Professional casualties were used and the injuries had never been so realistic. This was because we were no longer just competing against other service cadet teams, we were now competing against teams from St John’s Ambulance, St Andrews, British Red Cross, the Order of Malta and many others whose corps activity is First Aid. The injuries on the day consisted of crush injuries, gory gashes, fractured jaws, anaphylactic

shock and several broken limbs. The young adults exceeded all expectations. Although they did not finish with a top score, their individual scores were equal to that of some of the most experienced teams there. Dollar, however, not only came second in the inter-services competition, but were also placed third overall in the Grand Prior. This was commendable as we were against the best first aid teams in Britain. We have never been placed in the top three before, so this was an outstanding achievement for all concerned. In addition to this, Robert Henson once again got the highest score in the competition, meaning that he was the best first aider in the competition, and so was awarded the Scott Quaich (or Quack as it was announced) for his efforts. Robbie Jones also won the Young Grand Prior best reserve, a first in Dollar Academy history, having successfully overcome the task of treating multiple injuries in a short amount of time.

CSM Tracy Scott, the team trainer, said that the team’s efforts were outstanding, and that all the hours of fake blood, gore and the screaming casualties paid off. She also wished to thank the not only the first aid competitors, but also the many casualties and helpers that have made this the most successful year ever in First Aid. The plane journey back was laden with Dollar Academy silverware, allowing some of the team to enter the cockpit and have photographs taken with the captain. The competition has been a great success for all of our teams, whether it was an experienced first team or the less experienced young adults. Both achievements are an incredible credit to the school. Dollar’s achievements for this year have exceeded any that we had before, and we hope to keep the bar high in future years. Practices will be at an all-time-high, and the first aiders will be pushed to their full potential - so bring on next year!

Robbie Jones (Form IV)


THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN: 10TH JULY- 31ST OCTOBER 1940

MEMORIAL FLIGHT

One of the highlights of this year’s RAF summer camp held at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, was the visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) - a spectacle that is all about remembering the majestic aircraft of World War II and those who flew in them.

A lone hangar at RAF Coningsby is home to a number of such aircraft. Standing in the hanger, one cannot help but be awestruck by the condition and presentation of these historical machines: Spitfires, Hurricanes, a Dakota and a Lancaster bomber stand as clean and fresh as the day they first came into service. But that is only half the story. These aircraft are far from retired and serve as more than static monuments to days gone by. Thanks to the skill

and dedication of the large team of RAF officers and servicemen, all of the aircraft are air worthy and make regular appearances at shows over the whole of the UK.

Air displays allow the BBMF to showcase their aircraft whilst commemorating their role in history. Spitfires and Hurricanes perform aerobatic manoeuvres by highly skilled pilots. Without the aid of onboard computers and state-of-the-art avionic systems, only the best are chosen to fly these priceless relics.

The unmistakable sound of four Rolls Royce Merlin Engines overhead signals the arrival of the Avro Lancaster, one of only two airworthy examples left in the world. This Lancaster, designated PA474, was built in Chester in mid-1945 and was scheduled for service in the Far East. The war with Japan ended before she

could take part in any action so she was then assigned to Photographic Reconnaissance duties with 82 Squadron in East and South Africa. In 1964 she was adopted by the Air Historical Branch (AHB) for display in the RAF Museum at Hendon and was painted in a camouflage paint scheme. Around this time, PA474 appeared in two movies: Operation Crossbow and The Guns of Navarone. At RAF Waddington, a major restoration programme on the Lancaster began, including the re-fitting of her top gun turret. She was declared airworthy again in the late 60s and she joined the BBMF in 1973, where she serves today.

PA474 now wears the markings of the Phantom of the Ruhr depicting a Lancaster that flew 121 missions with 550 Squadron and 100 Squadron. Like Lancaster PA474, the

‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’

Sir Winston Churchill, 1940


13

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Aircraft Recognition is part of the training syllabus for the Air Cadet organisation and cadets learn through pictures and station visits to identify the many aircraft flown in the world, historic and modern. If you can’t tell your Typhoons from your Tornados or your Sopwiths from your Sentries, then this ‘how to’ guide shows you how to distinguish between two classic Battle of Britain aircraft, the Spitfire and the Hurricane.

Earn Your Wings…The Spitfire’s wings have a rounded elliptical, shape whereas the Hurricane’s wings are more tapered. Easy to spot when they fly overhead.

Greenhouse Effect…The canopy of the Hurricane is made up of clear flat panels, rather like the glass panels of a greenhouse. The Spitfire has a moulded ‘bubble’ canopy made from Perspex.

Feet on the Ground…The undercarriage of the Spitfire folds up into the wings so the wheels can be seen when landed. The Hurricane

landing gear folds up into the fuselage and the wheels are obscured by the fairings when landed.

A PUPIL PERSPECTIVE

‘Seeing everyone going out together with the Spitfire allowed me to experience a part of the excitement of being a Spitfire pilot. It was overwhelming.’

‘What made the BBMF stand out from visiting the other hangars was the history, stories and background of all the old aircraft.’

‘It was pretty humbling to imagine all the conflicts that the aircraft had seen. They all had so much more character than the modern jets.’

‘The BBMF was definitely the most amazing visit as all of the aircraft had really experienced flying and conflict above and beyond any other aircraft.’

‘The BBMF was spectacular. It was amazing to learn how old the planes were and how they had been restored.’

two Hurricanes and five Spitfires are regularly re-painted to commemorate specific aircraft that were destroyed or lost. Each aircraft is used in this way to help enrich its historic value and to keep the BBMF as an ever-changing source of historical information.

On this year, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, let us all remember ‘The Few’ who risked their lives and who live on in the spirit of the BBMF.

Simon Cochrane


STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE

As part of the Form VI post-exam programme in June 2010, Form VI took part in an all-day Stock Market Challenge organised by Mark Moore, the Business Education Department and the Top Six. This Challenge transforms trading on the financial markets into an accessible collaborative learning experience – and it’s also great fun. Working in teams, the pupils were challenged to

PIPE BANNER PRESENTATION

This Summer, Dollar Academy CCF were hosted by The Royal Regiment of Scotland 5 Scots at Canterbury. The pupils and staff took part in a variety of activities, including weapons displays, minefield clearance and a formal parade. The highlight of the trip was the presentation of a Pipe Banner to the regiment by WO Kerr Wishart, on behalf of the school. The banner will be worn by a piper on parades and proudly displays the school crest one side and the Royal Regiment of Scotland badge on the reverse.

Capt Niall Archibald, 5 Scots and FP 1994 – 2000, accepted the Pipe Banner on behalf of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, strengthening the long association between the School and the Regiment.

Capt Mark P Scott

use their skills to manage a portfolio of shares and foreign currencies. The participating pupil and staff teams made their investment decisions by interpreting and analysing information from the financial markets and simulated live trading was held over the whole day.

Business Education DepartmentPhotographs by Jan van der Merwe


15

news & featuresQUIZ TEAM – NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Our Senior Team narrowly lost the final of the Scottish Schools Challenge Quiz this year. This made it particularly sweet for the Junior Team, as we won our version of the same competition by quite a wide margin. To be honest, you might say the David Verghese won the Junior event, with marginal support from Jack McNicol, Calum Weir and myself.

Even better, we then headed off to play the Northern English champions in Lancaster – and beat them quite convincingly, despite having to put up with a certain teacher’s ‘jokes’ (including the dreaded ‘Monk Joke’) all the way there and all the way back. In fact, now I come to think of it, the Monk joke did indeed last all the way there and back.

With the scent of victory now in our nostrils,

we headed down by train to Winchester for the Grand British Final – and won that too, beating teams from every corner of the kingdom. Our winning margin in the Final of Finals is, we are assured, a record for that competition. That means that Calum Weir is the only one of the four brothers who can call himself British Quiz Champion (although his elder siblings Drew, Scott and Rory have all been Scottish Champions in their day).

Anyway, we are all too old to compete in this year’s Junior Championships this session, and probably too young still to hold out great hopes in the Senior (up to S6) Championships. But watch this space….

Duncan Cooper (Form III)


ENTERPRISING MATHS CHALLENGE 2010

Two teams from Dollar were entered for this year’s 2010 Enterprising Maths Challenge. Team P consisted of Adam Shannon (Form IV), Louis Stewart (Form IV), Robyn Maitland (Form III) and Ben Ward (Form III). Team Q consisted of Lyndsey McKay (Form IV), Julian Camerelli-Brennan (Form IV), David Verghese (Form III) and Katharine Hurry (Form III).

When we arrived at the front gates of George Watson’s we saw many other teams consisting of four mathletes getting ready. There were approximately forty teams from schools all over central Scotland. Round One began at approximately 9am when we were given ten questions on any aspect of Mathematics from trigonometry to quadratic theory, and, of course, the dreaded calendar calculations. This is not usually a good round for Dollar, although this time we did better then previously. Although I cannot speak for Dollar Q team, Dollar P worked together very well.

For Round 2, we moved around five different stations which required excellent mathematical skills and sound spatial reasoning. One station had tangrams which are abstract small shapes that fit together to make a larger shape. Another station had a numbers round like on Countdown. This is where six relatively small numbers can be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided to make a

chosen target number, we were not allowed to use powers or factorials. A third station consisted of six foam pieces which had to be slotted together to make a ‘happy’ cube. Unfortunately, this station was not completed well by any of the Dollar teams as each team was only able to make one out of the possible six cubes in a station. After this we had a lunch break where we had a choice of a sandwich with millionaire shortbread and a tropical fruit juice.

In the afternoon, we had our third and final round which was a relay round. This is where each team is split into two pairs. The first team is given a question; once answered, the other half of the team can then have a question, and so on. This is a very fast round where lots of points are available. The team who answers the most questions in forty-five minutes gets the most points. This was our favourite round of the day.

We had to wait a very tense twenty minutes for all the results to be totalled from each round and for each team. The results were announced in ascending order from third place. The final results placed Team P and Q in 15th and 21st positions respectively.

Adam Shannon (Form IV)


17

news & features

FORM I ACTIVITIES DAY

This year we moved the Activities Day to the beginning of the first term. The objective was to allow our new pupils in Form I a chance to really get to know their Form Class and, of course, their new Form Tutor. Everyone entered into the spirit of the event. The day was wet, but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants. There were four activities, which all seven Form Classes rotated around.

Across at the Games Hall, the basketball tournament, organised by Mr Hose, was a very popular event. Pupils competed in a two-hour, fast-pace round-robin tournament. Marie Keith was the top scorer of the event, with Gregor Stewart, Lisa Mukaro and Euan Drummond earning special commendations for their performances.

Moving up to the top floor in Science, Dr Keys formed groups of pupils into engineering teams. Pupils designed and created model beam bridges using plastic drinking straws and tape as their construction materials. Their goal was to build the

strongest bridge. Samantha Crabb, Shannon Jury and Claire McLeish now hold the record for their structure which supported a 2.1kg weight.

Mr Fraser devised an orienteering event to help familiarise pupils with the Dollar Campus. Pupils frantically searched the grounds trying to identify photographic clues. The pupils named their own teams, and the ‘Stanton Babes’, consisting of Frank Fitzpatrick, Murray Nicholson, Nicholas Reeves, Gregor Stewart and Shona Corr, broke another record, completing the course in seventeen minutes.

Pupils also participated in a series of fun-packed team-building tasks. They successfully built bridges over shark-infested waters; they joined together in teams of four to co-ordinate a pair of giant skis; they carefully manoeuvred through minefields, attempting to carry a giant red ball without touching it with their hands and they all finished with a fiercely competitive space-hopper race. Pupils loved the mental and

physical challenges devised by Mr Blezard.

Finally, at night, the Charities Committee took over and the fun was finally brought to a fitting end by partying the night away (or at least the early evening) at the newly named ‘Neon Ball’.

Cath Kelly


ALICE IN WONDERLAND

In the summer term 2010, twenty actors and actresses from Form I produced a wonderful panto version of Alice in Wonderland. The show was performed in the drama studio in the Maguire Building on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th June. After weeks of rehearsals

‘Pass me the ball!’

‘Who won…? Oh yeah, us!’

‘It was really energetic, great fun and a good team-building exercise.’

‘Give me the ball back! Oh wait… you’re on my team!’

‘You only live once, make the game count.’

‘Work as a team, beat their team!’

and learning lines, the important night arrived. Under the excellent direction of Mrs du Vivier, the cast produced a colourful performance which delighted the audience. Alice, played by Catrina Steel, was well looked after by her hilarious and flamboyant mother, Felix Principe-Gillespie,

and Hannah Leggatt as the very funny Joker. A modern twist to this well-known tale was that Alice and her friends had a sat-nav which turned out to be pretty useless as it guided them through Wonderland! The atmosphere was electric; everyone put in 100% and it certainly paid off.

Catrina Steele (Form II)

FORM II BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT


19

news & features

CHESS CLUB

After a bit of a lull in the previous session, the lunchtime Chess Club got back into full swing in 2009-2010; the trend has continued into the new session. The photo above shows a typical lunch break in P14.

Part of the reason for the huge upturn was the effort put in by Tom Newbigging and Owain Barratt (both Form VI) earlier in the year; they dragooned new members at the ‘Co-Curricular Fair’ with such catchy slogans as:

A pawn my soul!Be there – don’t be square!Check it out!Come and have a rook!You’ll never be board!Meet your mates!Enjoy a good knight out!You’ll be maKING lots of friends!

Neither pupil accepts any responsibility for the above, each blaming the other.

Astonishingly, it seemed to work. People started to come along – if only to find out whether the jokes could get any worse. Now on many days there are not even enough chairs in P14 for all would-be Kasparovs, and some have to be turned away disappointed. We had a strong team last year and we are pleased to report that a number of promising new recruits are currently being trained in preparation for next session’s competitions, when we will have to do without Jamie Hookham and Clemens Winter from last year’s Form VI.

Talking of competition, our team of four won through to

the Scottish Final for the first time in years. Unfortunately, they lost narrowly to James Gillespie’s, but the foundation has been built for, we hope, further glories down the line.

The Dollar team won their regional heat in a December jamboree held in the Captain’s Room; Dollar emerged victorious against four other East of Scotland schools, thus proceeding to the next round. Now they’ll be hoPINg FOR Killer instincts in the knock-out stages. (If you didn’t get the last two ‘jokes’, come along to P14 any lunchtime, and the obskewer references will be explained…)

Calum MacPherson (Form IV)

FALCONRY

The Falconry Club at Dollar Academy gives pupils the unique opportunity to learn how to handle, fly and look after a variety of birds of prey. The students are taught by professionals from the world of falconry who have had many years experience in teaching and flying birds of prey. The students also have the opportunity to take a government recognised qualification (LANTRA Award) which is desirable before owning a bird of prey and is a potential legal requirement. This also counts as a skill towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Once a year the club members put on a lunch-time display to demonstrate their skills at flying the different raptors. This year, three club members took part and successfully flew an owl, a Harris hawk and a kestrel. The flying is not the issue but the return to the fist or the lure can be. The lure is a piece of fur or feather which is swung on the end of a piece of string in a certain pattern to ‘lure’ the falcon back to the handler. This requires no small amount of dexterity and a good sense of humour as there can be a lot of laughter when a novice gets wrapped up like a parcel!

Last June, the Falconry Club also visited the Deer Centre at Cupar to experience handling different types of raptor and add to the evidence they need to gain their LANTRA award. The students handled different types of raptor including Harris hawks, Bengal owls and Peregrine falcons. They were shown how to tie a falconer’s knot which is used to fasten the raptor to its perch. They also flew the raptors to their fist and learnt about the different types of food that a raptor eats and how to prepare it.

Nicki Griffith

‘Never had an afternoon like that!’‘Great fun!’‘Didn’t like the food preparation’‘Realised how important it is to get the birds at the right weight’‘Yuck!’‘She’s so small’


DEVIL O’ THE HIGHLANDS: 43-MILE FOOTRACE

In August 2010, Mr Johns completed the second half of the West Highland Way (an article on his running of the lower half was in the last edition of Fortunas), but not in the way that most people do. Along with over one hundred other competitors, he ran from Tyndrum to Fort William, over Rannoch Moor and the famous ‘Devil’s Staircase’ in Glencoe and finished in a little under seven hours, taking twelfth place overall. Mr Johns leads the Running Club, which takes place every Tuesday after school for any interested participants.

GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD CEREMONY

Holyrood Palace, July 16th 2010

Congratulations to the Gold Award recipients from Dollar Academy, some of whom are pictured above at Holyrood Palace after receiving their Awards from HRH Duke of Edinburgh. (From left to right: Ailsa Hart, Heather Hale, Peter van Rhijn, Iain Hood, George Anderson, Sarah Johnston, Katie Sculthorp, Hannah Taylor)

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

The images above are from a four-day Gold training expedition during June 2010. The group walked from Achnasheen to Stathcarron in the North-West Highlands, following valley systems and mountain ridges to the south of the road, and through a very remote part of Scotland. On the second of three nights spent wild-camping, the group camped at over 2,000ft above sea-level, meeting a second group who were walking a similar route in reverse, and allowing for an evening stroll to the summit of the Munro Sgurr Choinnich. This allowed for a long third day over the Corbett of Beinn Tarsuinn and the Munros Bidean a’Choire Sheagaich and Lurg Mhor.

Andy Johns

The secret of success – rice pudding.


21

news & featuresFORM I AND II CHOIR

To be read to the tune of California

Girls…

Greetings Dollar, lets take a journey,

I know a place where the singing is

amazing.

Fun, mad and wild that’s Choir on a

Thursday.

Singing loud and clear.

Sitting in the Gibson building.

Choir is the best when we all sing in

harmony.

We could sing all over the world,

But nothing comes close to the

Usher Hall.

Once you’re singing with us,

You’ll be falling in love.

Form I and II Choir is unforgettable,

Tartan kilts and blazers on top,

When the sun shines through,

It makes us all sing in tune.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh,

Oh oh oh oh oh oh.

Form I and II choir in undeniable,

Every year we’re singing new songs,

When the sun shines through,

It makes us all sing in tune.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh.

Always having fun

With all the music teachers,

Singing all the time,

We could be on the radio,

We could sing all over the world,

But nothing comes close to the

Usher Hall.

Once you’re singing with us,

You’ll be falling in love.Catherine Goodwin, Hannah Worsely, Laura Gallagher, Heather Morrison, Lizzie Malloch

(Form II)

SOUND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENTS

Exciting things have been happening in the Gibson building during the summer holidays. The long awaited sound recording studio was installed with a full ProTools HD system. With this we can record up to twenty-four tracks at once and can engineer productions of the highest quality.

We are delighted to welcome Mr Jackson, our sound engineer and guitar instructor. He has been closely involved with senior classes and co-curricular rehearsals. Pupils in Forms I and II have been recording class projects and learning about microphone techniques. The Form III pupils who are taking the Performing with Technology course have been using ProTools to record their own performances and they have been editing class recordings. Pupils are enjoying the close relationship between sound recording and performance and they are benefiting hugely from regularly listening to themselves.

Co-curricular groups are also benefiting from the new studio. Senior pupils have been able to record Mixed Voice Choir and First Orchestra during rehearsals and they are gaining valuable experience for the Sound Engineering unit of their Higher course.

You can enjoy listening to snippets of lunchtime concerts on the Music Department web page. Our first concert this session was a young Jazz ensemble from the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music. The drummer in the group was Jonathan Silk, a past pupil of Dollar Academy. We are looking forward to enjoying many creative sound recording projects in the future and there is even the possibility that Dollar Academy will create its own recording label, watch this space…

Karol Fitzpatrick



23

news & features

EVITA

I must begin on a personal note: in the 30 plus years I have been teaching - a good number of them as a producer of musicals - I have never stood to applaud at the end of a school performance. For the last-night audience at Evita, however, a standing ovation seemed natural, inevitable even. We were impelled out of our seats by the sense that in this very demanding show we had witnessed a genuinely professional performance, of real artistic vision, with a consistency of individual and general excellence – something beyond what we had come to expect as the already high standard in Dollar Academy summer musicals.

We were given much: huge individual performances in a show that was sung throughout; moving scenes of high drama, of great pathos and moments of dark, sharp comedy; impressive orchestral responses to the challenges of the score; wonderful visions of set and lighting; choreography that amused, impressed, moved. We laughed, we wondered, we pondered and some – even I must admit to this – stifled the beginnings of a tear or two.

John McGonigle worked his usual magic and more in the remarkably short time available to Dollar musical producers, taking some unlikely raw material by way of chorus singers and making a unified, concerted whole. Gill Robb was the other magician who transformed the multitudes into shakers and movers; her imagination and energy transmits itself year on year to electrify not just the massed ranks, but in this case, a corps of eight dancers who led with real style. The 18-strong orchestra, graced by a visit from the wonderfully talented violinist Rowan McGirr FP, provided some thrilling interpretations of the famously difficult score, and delivered everything the principals and chorus needed; the work of Karol Fitzpatrick as assistant director was vital here.

Mr McGonigle was blessed this year with particular talent in the form of outstanding individual lead singers. The central role of Eva was split between two actors and it worked well, proving the doubters thoroughly wrong. The young Evita was beautifully presented by Danielle Barrett, vulnerable and hard-edged in equal measure; as a professional dancer herself, she

brought a sinuous dynamism to the role. Her mastery of the part was matched perfectly by the more mature persona of Alex Kirby who took us through the power years and the final decline. Power is the word: Alex’s singing voice resonates with clarity and emotion; she also had the depth of insight that made Eva so magnetic and yet so appalling. They both had that ability to fill the stage with their presence and hold the audience, absolutely. They needed to, sharing the space with the likes of the formidable Campbell Keith, appearing once more with his remarkable versatility, stage presence and sheer musicality; he was ideal as the Narrator, stitching the whole show together with irony and passion.

Ben Cousin as Magaldi was his irrepressible showman self once more – a performer to his fingertips, and the perfection of sleaze. A real discovery this year was Ruaraidh Ellison as Peron, a dark horse of a performer who gave us an impressively vocal and potent dictator. Catherine Shedden’s Mistress was all plangent simplicity - another tough yet vulnerable character; it was infuriating that the macrobert sound system was breaking down yet again as she sang Another Suitcase in Another Hall (think a young Emma Kirkby). It was a sign of her strength that she not only kept going, but beautifully so.

The set was impressive and versatile: the cast were well directed in the range of uses to which they put it, moving from the bedroom farce and nightclub frolics to the slapstick assassination scenes and the extraordinary power of the deathbed moment; the stage crew worked their proverbial socks off to keep this going. Unforgettable, too, was the number just before the interval as the whole company advanced downstage singing A New Argentina and the set rolled inexorably towards us. The lighting played a significant part then as it did very effectively elsewhere, and the costumes and make-up added notably to the ambience. Add to that Peter Nelson’s stylish programme and poster, and you have one extraordinary Dollar production. Certainly well worth getting to your feet for.

Geoff Daniel


CHARITIES COMMITTEE 2010-2011

The following pupils have been selected for this year’s charities committee. Thank you to the 65 people who applied and congratulations to the few who made it.Co-ordinator: Ruth ClarkeMinutes Secretary: Tom NewbiggingLetters Secretary: Niamh AllumTreasurer: Hashem Abu-ArafehResearcher: Emma LoedelCaterers: Finlay Millar, Donald SutherlandArt Team: Emily Bowerman, Carrie Brown, Navnena Kaur Powar, Lindsay FergusonPhotographers: Tiffany Emmett, Erin StanhopeReporter: Becky KeelyBoarders Liaison: Chelsey SidawayPrep School Liaison: Danielle BarrettJunior School Liaison: Maurice HealyForm I rep: Freddie KeithForm II rep: Fraser SouterForm III rep: Rachel MillsForm IV rep: Lucy BremnerForm V rep: Gordon MacPhailForm VI rep: Ailsa BridgesResources rep: Meredith AdamsRecycling rep: Conor Fraser

CHARITIES WEEK 2010

As the school year drew to a close back in June, the Charities Committee held its annual Charities Week and, as usual, there was a whole host of activities. The Junior School football championship was once again a memorable event for all involved, with the teams dressing up as a variety of different things, and everybody making sure they all had fun, while collecting over £230 in donations.

What probably gave many of the teachers the most satisfaction was the car wash – the Committee started out early in the day and toiled away until late, with a record number of cars being washed, £202 being raised, and everyone ending up extremely soapy and wet.

Not many people will have forgotten what came next – an event which relies upon the amusement created by one vital component: the cream pie. Amongst others, pupils bid to cover Ms Taylor, Mr Blezard and Mr Lindsay with custard and cream,

but it was the Rector, Mr Robertson, who attracted the highest donation (maybe something to do with the massively oversized pie reserved just for him).

The now-legendary Dollar’s Got Talent was also hugely enjoyable, drawing from a wide range of the school’s diverse and entertaining talent. The Assembly Hall was packed, and the audience were very supportive and enthusiastic (not to mention generous - the show raised £956).

By the end of the week, the total raised (with donations from Home Economics, the Staff World Cup Donation and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic) amounted to £1554. With some money left from the Sponsored Walk, ‘Cleft’, the ‘Teenage Cancer Trust’ and ‘Mercy Ships UK’ were all given £700, and the Charities Committee should be very proud of all that they achieved.

Becky Keely (Form VI)


25

news & features

MEET THE TOP VI

NICOLE ABELHead Girl

Nicole arrived at Dollar Academy in Prep 1. She says she is enjoying studying Advanced Higher Art at the moment but ultimately wants to study Law, planning to go straight to University after school and then hopefully finding a career she will enjoy. She likes to keep herself busy and is involved in hockey, pipe band, chamber choir, athletics, cricket, skiing and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, as well as spending most of her time outside of school dancing and rehearsing for musical theatre productions. When asked what her fondest memory of her time at Dollar was, she replies: ‘I have too many significant memories to be able to pick just one. However, some trips that I have been on are particularly memorable – ski tours, the Battlefields trip, the Malaysian expedition and the London Art trip.’

GRANT BLAIRHead Boy

Grant came to Dollar in Junior 2. He enjoys golf, choir and rugby and has particularly great memories of the Dollar Academy Rugby tour to Italy, where the team enjoyed unbeaten success. A committed member of the pipe band, he explains that nothing

can beat the nerves and adrenaline you feel before your first competition; to have experienced the accolade of winning the Scottish, British, European and World Championships with the band is something he will always remember. At school, Economics is his favourite subject and he plans on continuing his study in this area at University next year.

DAVID BARCROFTDeputy Head Boy

David has been at Dollar Academy since Prep 1. At school, he has always enjoyed studying Music but says that his favourite subject this year is Advanced Higher Chemistry. In the co-curricular arena, it seems there is little David isn’t involved in: he plays 1st XV rugby, cricket, pipes in the pipe band, sings in the chamber choir, plays trumpet in DAJO and is Head of Section in CCF; he also enjoys ballroom dancing, skiing, sailing and driving. After he leaves school, he hopes to study medicine – he also plans to buy his first Ferrari before his twenty-fifth birthday…

ALASTAIR FENWICKDeputy Head Boy

Alastair came to Dollar in Form I. His favourite subject is Economics and he wants to continue his interest in the subject after school at Edinburgh University, hopefully with a job in investment banking after that. He loves playing the guitar, playing in a band and listening to music, as well as drama and rugby – in fact, his fondest memory of his time at Dollar would be either beating Stewart’s Melville in Form III at their home ground, or putting a big hit in on a Watson’s player.

ALEX KIRBYDeputy Head Girl

Alex came to Dollar Academy in Junior 2. Her favourite subjects are English, Drama and Art and, although she says she hopes to study English after she leaves school, she also confesses her dream is to study Musical Theatre. Many people will know her from her incredible performance in Evita last summer, and so it comes as no surprise to find her involved in dancing, Chamber Choir, musicals, drama and plays: ‘My life basically revolves around the Music Department’!

LOUISE CUNNINGHAMDeputy Head Girl

Louise has been at Dollar Academy since Prep 3. Her favourite subject this year is Biology, which should prove useful in her chosen career as she hopes to go on to University to study Veterinary Medicine after she leaves school. She recently spent a whole month in Lumen, Germany, on a desk to desk exchange; during that time she met a lot of new people and even had the chance to participate a week’s work experience in a veterinary practice out there. She is involved in hockey, choir, athletics and horse riding and also enjoyed taking part in last term’s musical, Evita.


CATE BOSCHER

Cate was born and bred in rainy Brit-tany, France, a couple of streets away from the fishing harbour and the beaches and, more importantly, be-side an excellent bakery and creperie. She gained a degree in English with Spanish and teaching French as a sec-ond language as options.

She first moved to England as a French assistante in the school where her Cornish pen-friend used to be a pupil. This experience confirmed her ambition to become a languages teacher and led to her obtaining her PGCE certificate from St Mark and St John’s University. After teaching in the English state system, Cate taught at Loretto School, Musselburgh, and then at St Margaret’s School for girls, Edinburgh. While teaching, she com-pleted a Masters course in teaching French as a Foreign Language with the French Open University.

She is passionate about her subject, world cultures, music and travelling. After two trips to Brazil, she has now added Portuguese to her collection of languages and would be interested in learning sign language in the future. Cate has found Dollar Academy’s community very welcom-ing and is looking forward to the ex-citing challenges it has to offer.

CHERYL BOWIECheryl was born in Ayrshire in Scotland but moved to Hertfordshire at the age of nine. She trained at The Royal Ballet School for five years and had the opportunity to perform in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and some of the school’s performances at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. It was a real privilege for her to observe and work alongside some of the world’s most talented dancers and choreographers. She became interested in choreography and won a prize for her ballet Tam O’ Shanter in the Senior School Choreographic competition, which was judged by Sir Kenneth MacMillan who originally hails from Dunfermline!

So how did she end up teaching Modern Foreign Languages? It was when she was working as an English Assistant at a French Sixth Form College that she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in teaching. She completed her teacher training at The University of Cambridge at the same time as studying for her French Master’s Degree in teaching French as a Foreign Language. She stayed in Cambridge, teaching at St Mary’s School for eleven years but she was excited when the position at Dollar Academy came up as she was attracted by the wide range of languages, linguistic trips and co-curricular activities on offer. The School’s setting is beautiful and so conducive to teaching and learning. She has thoroughly enjoyed teaching here over the last couple of months and wishes to thank everyone for making her feel so welcome.

FRASER JACKSON

Fraser grew up on the West Coast of Scotland, attending Largs Academy, where he discovered his love for music and the guitar. Despite the lack of a guitar tutor in school, Fraser was encouraged by his music teachers to work hard and actively take part in as many musical projects as possible, performing with the regional choir at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall and playing in the pit for school musicals as well as organising band nights in and around Largs.

In 2008, Fraser graduated from University of Strathclyde with a 1st class honours degree in Applied Music. During his time at Strathclyde, Fraser specialised in Guitar Performance and Music Technology. Strathclyde provided the opportunity to study various styles of music, from rock to jazz and classical with everything in between. He performed with Strathclyde’s Guitar Ensemble as first guitar and various University jazz ensembles, as well as running a successful seven-piece soul band and four-piece rock band. Since graduating, Fraser has continued to perform with various bands and ensembles, including SYJO (Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra) who recently performed at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival. Strathclyde also provided opportunities in gaining teaching experience at schools in East Dunbartonshire, where Fraser held the position as guitar tutor and Guitar Ensemble Director during his third year of study. The East Dunbartonshire Schools Guitar

new staff


27

news & features

CLAIRE ABEL

Claire Abel is a former pupil of Dollar Academy who went on to complete an Honours degree in English at the University of Stirling. She followed her undergraduate course with an MLitt in Publishing Studies. Prior to entering the teaching profession, Claire spent several years working in the publishing industry. Over the years, she has put her enthusiasm for literature to good use as a Marketing Manager for both Oxford University Press and Edinburgh University Press, working across a variety of academic subjects including Literature, Philosophy and Politics. Having regularly contemplated a career change, Claire finally left the world of academic publishing behind in 2009 and undertook her PGDE at Moray House.

Away from school, Claire’s adventurous hobbies include reading, cooking, yoga and walking her two dogs in the beautiful Ochil hills. She feels very fortunate to be working in the welcoming and positive environment that Dollar offers.

Ensemble residential course was awarded ‘Project of the Month’ by the Scottish Arts Council and has performed annually in Glasgow’s RSAMD under his direction.

The technology side of the Applied Music degree provided Fraser with the knowledge and experience to engineer and produce industry standard recordings of virtually any style of music in a studio or live situation. He feels very fortunate and excited to have arrived at such a lively and well equipped Music Department in Dollar, where he is settling in comfortably and has been made to feel very welcome.

JANE GREENLEE

Jane retrained as a teacher at Jordanhill following a successful career in Software Engineering. She spent several years working in the oil industry in Aberdeen where she worked on geophysical modelling software. She moved to Hewlett-Packard and worked on mobile phone technology. Latterly she worked for a small engineering firm designing and writing software for ‘chip and pin’ machines.

Brought up in Elgin, she attended Elgin Academy before moving to Edinburgh and finishing her schooling at James Gillespie’s High School. She always wanted to return to the North East, however, and attended Aberdeen University, where she gained a BSc Hons in Mathematics and Computing Science.

Jane is married to David and has two boys at the Academy. In the little spare time she has, Jane is a keen runner and has completed numerous half marathons and one full marathon. Having moved to a house in need of ‘modernisation’, she spends much of her spare time and energy scraping wallpaper, fixing leaks and wondering when it will ever be finished.

Having completed two student placements in Dollar Academy, Jane is delighted to be teaching both Maths and Computing Science at the School.

JORDAN FORTUNE

Jordan completed his BA Single Hons degree in Ancient History at the University of Wales, Lampeter, in 2006. This degree also included Classical Studies and Classical Greek. During his time at Lampeter, he won scholarships to travel and complete research overseas, mainly in Greece and Italy. This was a great experience as it helped him to get a foothold on both languages.

After his time in Wales, he moved to London to complete his MA, also in Ancient History, at King’s College, London. Living in the capital was a pleasant experience for him as it allowed him to pursue his other passion: watching his beloved Arsenal. It was a welcome reward going to support them at weekends after all the studying that occurred during the week.

London was followed by a year in the Isle of Wight, where he completed his teacher training. He then decided to take a break from the UK and headed out to Italy for two years, where he taught History and Classical Greek in an English International School in Padova. His time in Italy is something he will never forget, given the things he got to see and do: from Michelangelo’s David to St Mark’s Square, he would highly recommend the country to all those who love art, architecture and proper pizza!

And so to the present - he has been made to feel most welcome by all members of the staff and students


at the Academy, which has made his first term here very enjoyable. He looks forward to seeing you all after the Christmas holidays.

KATIE CLEGHORN

In 2001, Katie moved to St Andrews University from Bedfordshire, to study Modern History. Well and truly bitten by the Scottish-life bug, she has stayed put ever since. She completed her degree in 2005, flirted with the idea of a PhD but after a year, in which she earned her MLitt, she decided her contributions to academic life would be better suited to the classroom. She then trained as a primary teacher at Moray House, Edinburgh from 2008-9.

Before completing her PGDE, however, she was accepted onto a reading project run by Learning and Teaching Scotland. She was placed at Trinity Primary School in Edinburgh, where she worked with reluctant readers, aiming to encourage both their enthusiasm for and stamina in reading. The results revealed more confident, more able and more contented children who could actively participate in many areas of school life. It was this experience that confirmed her passion for teaching and continues to inspire her on a daily basis.

Since living in and around Edinburgh, she has been aware of Dollar Academy’s fantastic reputation, both through alumni and the opinions of colleagues. She jumped at the opportunity, therefore, to work here

herself and feels extremely privileged to have been appointed to the Junior School. She is looking forward to making her contribution to such a positive and dynamic environment in as many ways as possible.

LAURA DUNCAN

An Aberdonian ‘quean’ born and bred, Laura recently moved to Dunfermline during the summer holidays. She graduated from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, in 2003 with distinction in teaching after completing the four-year BEd course. After this, she moved back to Aberdeen to undertake her probationary year in Dunecht Primary, a small rural school in Aberdeenshire. As it was a small three-teacher school, she was heavily involved in school developments and organised many whole school events.

She has always had a great interest in travelling, and took the opportunity to explore the world at the end of her probationary year. For six months she travelled through America, Australia and Singapore. In Australia she had the opportunity to visit a number of primary schools and shadow teaching staff. After returning from travelling, she took up a position in her own primary school, Westhill Primary in Aberdeenshire, where she stayed for the next six years, teaching middle to upper stages. Returning to the school, this time as a member of teaching staff, was a surreal, yet rewarding experience.

During her time at Westhill Primary, she contributed to and ran numerous events. She organised a

variety of enterprise projects, ranging from a car wash to raise funds to re-develop a school garden to designing jute bags with eco-friendly messages at a school fete. She brought areas of the curriculum to life by involving the children in ‘real’ experiences: she played the role of a billeting officer and organised a mock evacuation from Aberdeen to Inverurie, for example, and she took on the role of a Victorian teacher and taught the day’s lessons in a real Victorian classroom.

A keen netballer, Laura coached her previous school’s netball team for four years. Both teams were undefeated in the local schools league for the last three years. Together with Katie Cleghorn, she has reintroduced this sport back into the Junior School and they hope soon to establish/enter into a local league.

Laura still pinches herself as she drives towards the impressive bronze doors of the Playfair building and takes in the breathless, magical setting each morning. She feels enormously lucky and proud to be a member of the Dollar Community and feels she’s found her home at Dollar Academy.


29

news & features

LORNA BARLOW

Lorna is originally from Hawick in the Scottish Borders and, despite the local saying, ‘a day away from Hawick is a day wasted’, she left the town to study social anthropology at the University of St Andrews. After obtaining her degree, she decided to pursue a career in teaching primary school children and gained her teaching qualification at Moray House in Edinburgh. From there, she travelled south to Essex, where she taught Prep 2 at St Cedd’s Preparatory School in Chelmsford. She returned to Scotland to teach at St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh, where she spent seven enjoyable years - including a short stay in the Boarding House as a House assistant.

She married her husband Mike in 1995 and, after their son James was born, she was lucky enough to become a full-time mum. After a short break, she returned to teaching as a supply teacher in Fife, which was as rewarding as it was varied. She is now delighted to be working in the Dollar Academy Preparatory Department. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and has exhibited her work in a number of local exhibitions. She also enjoys walking her cocker spaniel, playing tennis and badminton, gardening and international travel.

NICOLA O’DONNELL

Nicola’s teacher of Home Econom-ics was her inspiration to follow a teaching career in the subject. After finishing Form VI at school, she left for Edinburgh, where she studied Applied Consumer Studies at Queen Margaret University, graduating with distinction in 1995. Nicola continued her studies in Edinburgh, complet-ing a PGCE in Secondary Education (Home Economics) at Moray House. Nicola subsequently taught in Alva Academy, followed by Lornshill Academy and, for the past ten years, in Wallace High School in Stirling. She is enjoying teaching in Dollar Academy immensely and has found both pupils and staff extremely welcoming.

SAMANTHA HOGANSamantha’s decision to pursue a career in Business Education was greatly inspired by her own school experience at Morgan Academy, Dundee. Business Education was

SUSAN LINDSAY

Susan attained a joint honours degree in English and History at Glasgow University in 2003 and went on to complete her PGCE at the University of Strathclyde the following year. She spent her first year of teaching in her home town of Dumfries, before moving to the Shetland Islands in 2005. For four enjoyable years she taught English at the Anderson High School in Lerwick and was pleased when her pupils decided to return the favour by teaching her some Shetland dialect.

After her island adventure, Susan is very happy to be back on the mainland of Scotland and feels very fortunate to be teaching in such beautiful (and tree-filled) surround-ings. She is thoroughly enjoying her time at Dollar Academy.

an area in which she excelled and it seemed the most obvious subject to continue at university level. Since high school, she has studied in Dundee, St Andrews and Aberdeen, gaining an Honours degree in Business Studies, a Post-Graduate diploma in Information Technology, and a formal qualification as a Business Education teacher. The proudest moment of her career to date is gaining her teaching qualification. This has enabled her to teach in a variety of schools in the Dundee and Argyll and Bute areas. Samantha feels very fortunate to continue her teaching journey at Dollar Academy and feels that she has been made most welcome.


FIONA GOUDIE

If values are at the heart of good teaching, and a good teacher is someone who believes passionately in the value of what he or she is doing, and places pupils’ interests at the heart of that endeavour, then Fiona Goudie has fully merited the extensive praise she received as she retired from Dollar in June 2010. Generations of pupils who passed through the Junior School have cause to thank her for the strength of the foundations they received at her hands, as do her Junior School colleagues for the support and guidance she has given them over the last 16 years. When Miss Goudie came from Finchley to Dollar in 1994 as Assistant Head Teacher, she brought with her a formidable record of classroom teaching, educational management, co-curricular involvement and wider personal interests. True to form, and true to the remarkable energy and commitment with which she invested all her life at Dollar, she continued powerfully in every one of these areas.

It was her proud and well-supported boast that she was a classroom teacher above all, because what happens in the classroom is central to the experience of children and staff in schools. I have enjoyed her lessons in Room 3 and I can attest to the humour, the warmth, the rigour and the clarity of her direction; she certainly knew what she was about and so did all her pupils. In her management of the Junior School she brought a directness of purpose

and a robust (she might say common-sense) approach that viewed new initiatives through the cool eye of experience; if the new idea could be shown to work, and it improved life for the children, she supported it wholeheartedly.

In her time, the Junior School expanded its sphere of operation to cover new trips out, developments in curriculum, methods of teaching and testing, new materials, new colleagues – but ever to her tried-and-tested standards of high expectation and good order. The result was a Junior School with a remarkable sense of identity whose two year groups bonded on their various ‘School Journeys’ to York or Ford Castle; who sang, played and performed hugely successful musicals and concerts; who swung through the trees at Dalguise or trod the rocks on the Holy Isle; every child mattered, was cared about, worried over, chivvied, chided, helped, and included.

Fiona Goudie was at the centre of it all, whether leading her beloved country dancing classes, or bringing up the rear of the Sponsored Walk, encouraging the halt and the lame over the 11 miles with her unique blend of compassion and vigour. She will thus be remembered with great affection, respect and gratitude for the contribution she made over the years to Dollar Academy and she goes with our best wishes for her retirement.

Geoff Daniel

JIM ALLAN

Jim Allan leaves us this October after an extremely long period of service – over thirty years. Generations of Dollar pupils have been taught French (and Spanish) by Jim over this period, and many will long remember the dry wit that was – and is –such a feature of his teaching and his persona. Jim long ago mastered the art of making a humorous observation while changing neither tone of voice nor facial expression, then moving straight on to another topic, leaving the bemused listener to puzzle over what had just been said. It would be interesting to know how many FPs now reading this article mistakenly pronounced an unsounded French consonant in his class and were told that it was ‘silent like the ‘p’ in swimming pool’; it would be even more revealing to find out how many were ready to retort that ‘the ‘p’ in swimming pool is not sil….’ – and then the penny dropped.

Jim hates clichés – to quote him, he avoids them like the plague – but it is hard to find anyone more deserving of the accolade of ‘solid, dependable professional’. He never sought to dazzle or to climb the greasy pole; he knew what his job was and got in with it with quiet, efficient organisation. Nonetheless, his estimable qualities were recognised by his appointment as Acting Head of Modern Languages during Grant Lindsay’s sabbatical, and, more recently, by the invitation to take on the running of Heyworth House. He and Ann have in the past seven years guided large numbers of girl boarders

staff leaving


31

IRENE MASON

The Sunday Times once ran a series in which experts in a particular field were invited to choose an exemplar from their peers: The Rock Stars’ Rock Star, The Politicians’ Politician, and so on. For the teachers’ teacher one need look no further than Irene Mason.

Irene began her long, successful and richly rewarding career in the Classics Department in 1989, covering as Head of Department for Chris Cannon. She continued to work part-time at Dollar until the mid 1990s, when she was asked to go full-time. She taught Latin, Greek and Classical Studies until 2010, serving as Joint Head of Department from 2004-8, and going part-time again

through their teenage years and Dollar careers. He has, in addition, been a stalwart of school badminton, mixed-voice choir, Ceilidh Band and numerous exchange visits to France and Spain.

Jim is an avid reader of all sorts of literature from a variety of traditions and languages, and we expect his retirement from teaching will provide him with great scope to take this interest further. Our hope is that his retirement will be long, enjoyable and peaceful; after thirty-one-and-a-bit years of chanting through irregular verbs, he deserves it.

David Delaney

ANNE KEAN

When Anne Kean joined the Home Economics Department in 2004, after many years teaching in Perth and Kinross, she inherited a Department steeped in tradition yet ready to embrace change. With tireless good humour coupled with large helpings of common sense, Anne rose to meet the challenge, creating as she went a centre of cookery excellence and a warm and welcoming hub at the heart of the Academy.

Many have been drawn in by the inviting aromas emanating from a Form I or Form VI cookery class and her recipes for fairy cakes and tiffin remain un-bettered by Nigella or Jamie. While Anne once described my recipe for chocolate brownies as being ‘too rich’ for sixth form survival cooking, she nonetheless sent countless Dollar pupils off into the big, wide world with a good chance not only of surviving but of impressing their peers with their gastronomic creations.

In line with the times, she was at the forefront in developing healthy eating and food hygiene courses and was quick to identify and then foster highly regarded links with Departments such as Geography and Science in areas of food heritage, food miles and the science of cooking.

Anne was a cheerful presence over coffee in the Junior School and offered enthusiasm, patience and level-headed good humour on her several Ford Castle excursions with Junior pupils. Always thinking of others, her commitment to raising money for charity has been enjoyed in countless tasty buns and she was a

for her final two years. She provided vital continuity during periods of considerable upheaval and maintained exemplary standards in all aspects of her teaching. In her retirement, she will continue to mark for the SQA. The exam board will be glad not to lose her.

A sound scholar, she had no time for intellectual pretension. In the classroom, she kept it clear and simple so that her pupils could understand her. Excellent results from Irene Mason were taken almost for granted. As a Latinist, she was well aware that the English term ‘pastoral care’ comes from the Latin pastor. Irene was the shepherd; her pupils the sheep. Not surprisingly, her Form classes were devoted to her, and she to them. Before coming to Dollar, she had worked in enough schools to appreciate the privilege of teaching here. Over time, she became ‘stitched in with the fabric’ as she put it, supporting and enjoying the musicals, the sports, the choir, the charity events, and the Christmas Dances. She loved to see the pupils enjoy these events, her own children among them. Irene was always a positive presence on campus, serving wherever and whenever needed – as a marker on Sports Day, at a station on the Sponsored Walk, or helping out with Badminton, which she did for several years.

Much of what made the job enjoyable for her was the sense of camaraderie she enjoyed with colleagues, by whom she was liked, respected and trusted. Staff, pupils, and parents alike will remember her as a superb classroom practitioner who always gave of her very best for her pupils.

David Hall

news & features


EILIDH DOW

Eilidh Dow started her time at Dollar as a Junior School teacher in August 1989 and, after a spell in both Junior 1 and Junior 2, she moved up the brae into the Prep School, where she continued to devote endless hours to her pupils, teaching in her meticulous and careful manner until her retirement in June this year. Despite great changes in the Scottish curriculum more than once in her teaching career, she embraced all the developments whilst carefully defending the basic building bricks of our primary profession. Her caring nature was fully recognised by her pupils and much appreciated by their parents. In recent years, she became a teaching partner with her colleague, Mrs McFadyean, sharing a succession of delightful Prep 3 classes. It is no surprise to her colleagues that her plans for the future, as well as joining us for trips and tours, involve voluntary work helping less fortunate youngsters.

Julia Adamson

NANCY BRIGGS

Nancy Briggs joined the staff for a short period in August 1994 and then permanently in August 1995. During her years at Dollar Academy, she taught in both the Prep and Junior Schools and pupils of all ages responded to her enthusiasm for inventing creative ways to learn. As ICT subjects became part of the curriculum for Prep and Junior pupils, she rapidly developed her enthusiasm for new ideas into designing exciting course work for all stages, and she demonstrated that even the smallest children benefited from access to computing skills and Smart Boards. Her Crest Science and computer clubs were always full of active, inquisitive pupils. In her final years in the Prep School, she researched and developed new and varied ways of extending and supporting learning using technology and left us with invaluable resources for the future. We have no doubt that her years after teaching will be spent just as creatively.

Julia Adamson

cheery champion of the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, an event indelibly printed in many a tearful leaver’s memory and smiling Prep 1’s recollection.

The warmth of welcome and lively yet cosy atmosphere in the Iona Building was a great attraction to both pupils and staff and we send Anne our thanks and our best wishes for a retirement which will undoubtedly be as busy and rewarding.

Alison Morrison

MARGARET NESBITT

Margaret Nesbitt began her years in Dollar Academy in 1988. During her time as a Prep 1 teacher, she embarked on advanced infant training and spent a huge amount of time and effort creating special resources for little children. An annual class photograph, organised by Form VI leavers who shared their Prep 1 year with her, was a testament to the affection they held for their former teacher. When she made the giant leap from Prep 1 to Prep 5, I was privileged to work as her stage colleague, and the Mary Queen of Scots project came to life when she inspired a group of parents to create a whole wardrobe of Stuart costumes. For years, she ran the Reels and Ceilidh Club and shared her personal enthusiasm for Scottish country dancing with many youngsters. Her great skill in analysing children’s learning needs and teaching corrective steps accurately and methodically were an invaluable asset to the Support for Learning team in recent years. After more than twenty years of devotion to our pupils, we wish Mrs Nesbitt a wonderful retirement.

Julia Adamson


33

news & features

RALF FARTHING

Ralf Farthing joined Dollar Academy in August 2007 and brought with him his own distinctive sense of style: Georgio Armani meets gentleman farmer. This was much appreciated by all his pupils, but even more appreciated was the real enthusiasm that he brought for his subject, especially for furniture design. Joining us from a background in this area, he was immersed in contemporary design and it is no surprise that he is moving on to a senior position in a cutting-edge design company.

He was also an innovator, and helped set up our Physics/Economics/ Technology course, affectionately known as PETs. This course for aspiring engineers has been developed in conjunction with Strathclyde University and is unique in Scottish education. He was also instrumental in establishing departmental links with other schools, believing that the sharing of ideas in this fast-moving subject could only be a good thing. He moved quite quickly in other areas too, as a rugby coach, for example, and on the hills, resplendent in plus-fours.

The attire that he adopted for clay-pigeon shooting is not recorded, but he certainly managed to drum up enthusiasm for the sport – whether from Form VI pupils simply looking for a break from talks and seminars in the last days of summer term, or from those young talents who have since gone on to take titles in the sport. We thank Ralf for his contribution to such an interestingly wide range of

VIRGINIE TURNER

The name Virginie Turner first came to the notice of Dollar Academy three years ago, when a young recently-qualified native-speaker French teacher informed the school that she had recently moved into the Dollar area. The lady was not looking for work, as she had two young children to look after, but did say she would be grateful for the chance to come in for a day or two, unpaid, to observe what we do and help out if she could.

In she came, we liked what we saw, and, when a single period of Higher French suddenly required a teacher, Virginie was the ideal person to haul in. Then, after Easter, she took on the rôle of French Assistante. So successful was she that, when we found out another colleague would be leaving, we needed to look no further. Everything Virginie did here more than vindicated the very positive initial impression. She was a superb teacher of French – as well as Spanish and PSE – and she did not hesitate, in her first full year of teaching, to take on the onerous task of organising a very successful Exchange Trip to Versailles.

While her induction into Dollar took place by degrees, her departure was quite sudden. Her husband’s contract in Sri Lanka changed from short-term to long-term, so family loyalties had to come first. However, a glimmer of hope remains. We note that she has rented out, rather than sold, her house in Dollar, which keeps alive the remote possibility that, should her eventual return coincide with the happy circumstance of a French teaching post being available, our end of session ‘adieu’ might turn out to be an ‘au revoir’.

David Delaney

SALLY GARDNER

After a few years in publishing, post university, northerly gusts steadily blew Sally back closer to the Highland landscapes of her own up-bringing and education. Her first teaching post was in Yorkshire before she finally made it back over the border and arrived in Dollar. Sally brought a certain city glamour to the Department, and quickly became famous for her pointy shoes and kitten heels, her long red hair and a certain fieriness. She also knew her own mind, made a mean latte, loved her Audi and everything to do with teaching film. In her three years at Dollar, she made a real contribution outside the classroom too, accompanying ski tours, starting up a Film-Making Club and being part of the boarding community in her role as House Tutor in Argyll. As she heads off to Germany she takes with her our very best wishes – though we do think she should have sung more for us.

Kate Murray

areas in the Academy and wish him every success as he moves on to new challenges in the world of design and innovation – and to life in one of the trendier parts of Edinburgh (of course).

Lesley Hutchison


20 QUESTIONS WITH THE ALLANS

In October of this year, Heyworth House bade a fond farewell to Jim and Ann Allan who have been Houseparents of Heyworth since 2004. Veselina Petrova, Karolina Brozozowska and Chelsey Sidaway (all Form VI) took the opportunity to interview the couple; bet you never knew…What was the most embarrassing experience you have had in Heyworth? Ann: It is difficult to think of one. Maybe playing a game called forfeits, when poor Mrs Robertson had to pretend to lay an egg as a chicken and Mr Daniel had to chat up the Christmas tree.Jim: Probably when we had to go shopping and buy fifteen pumpkins for Halloween. Also, one time I welcomed German exchange students to the house not realizing they had already been living here for a week!What was the happiest moment you have had in the House?Jim: There are too many.Ann: Things like Anda coming back after winning the SQA prize.What is the funniest moment you have had in Heyworth?Jim: When I returned to the house after a trip forgetting that I had my face painted as Spiderman – it caused a girl to scream.Ann: The chocolate fountain exploding was pretty funny - and more recently the toilet…How many toilet rolls do the members of Heyworth use a week? Ann: Too manyHow many packets of cookies do we go through a week? Jim: Oh! Ridiculous!Ann: A trolley full. What was the best House trip you went on? Jim: Go Ape!Ann: We once went to a safari park; I got soaked twice.What was the worst House trip you went on?Ann: We went on a ghost walk once which got interrupted by a group of drunken neds.Jim: The time we went on a trip to a sort of activity centre called ‘Time Capsule’. It is a nice place but I got told off by security guards for taking photos of kids ice skating. Also, Mrs Allan fell over twice!What was the girls’ most rebellious moment? Jim: We got hijacked!Ann: It was a game called ‘The Core’, where the girls jumped out at us covered in camouflaged paint, forced us upstairs and told us to obey demands which they had not even thought about. Even some of the house ladies and our daughter were involved. The worst part was that all the girls had wooden gun cut outs. Chelsey: How did you get away?Jim: It eventually fizzled out when the girls asked for more chocolate biscuits.

What would your advice be for the next Houseparents? Jim: Think again! (he says jokingly)Ann: Don’t lose your sense of humour… or your mind, for that matter.What was the scariest moment in the House?Ann: When the fire alarm occasionally goes off in the middle of the night.What are the best, the worst or the biggest changes in the House over the years? Jim: The recent renovation is definitely the biggest and the best change.What are you going to miss most about being Houseparents of Heyworth? Jim: Everything, we have really enjoyed the whole experience.Ann: The girls.What would you say is the most difficult part of being a Houseparent? Jim: Probably when things are going fine and suddenly there is a catastrophe that has to be dealt with…Ann: … like when the boiler and electricity went off in winter – that was miserable. On a separate note, it’s hard when you get people in the House who cannot realize that rules are there for everyone’s benefit.Where do you see yourself in ten years time? Ann: Sitting with my feet up having done all the work on the house and garden to make up for the last six years.Karolina: Not sending postcards to the Heyworth girls? Jim: I rarely send postcards, and if I do, they say: ‘Weather here, wish you were beautiful’ (… awkward silence) What are your bad habits? Ann: I accumulate clutter.Jim: I don’t have a habit … I am not a nun!Ann: Mr Allan does not take his shoes off.Who is your celebrity crush? Chelsey: For example, Justin Bieber?Karolina: Maybe someone off X-Factor? Jim: Annie Lennox, back in the day. Not now.Ann: Kevin Costner, his eyes are nice.Have you got a claim to fame? Ann: I held Kriss Akabusi’s gold medal! He had it with him at a motivation speech.Jim: I was in the same band as Annie Lennox!Ann interrupts: He actually means the same orchestra.What is your biggest fear?Ann: I am not fond of heights or flying.Jim: As a safari worker in Africa once told us: ‘I am not an afraid person!’Have you got a secret talent?Chelsey: Maybe licking your elbow like me?Ann tries to lick her elbow, unsuccessfully… Jim: I try to make sure I have a beret in my bag so that when someone asks me to do a party trick I can: CHUCK BERET! (‘Chuck Berry’; he demonstrates by throwing a beret across the room)Ann: Well, I can’t sing, I can’t dance, I can’t draw… Jim: Right, we are talking about talent, not lack of it!

bored???


35

TAIT & MCNABBSCOTTISH AND INTERNATIONAL

The boarding community is a great deal more than the wider school community in microcosm. It is inviting to perceive the boys and girls who live on campus as simply representatives of those many hundred more day pupils who make their way to Dollar on a daily basis from Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and beyond. However, what differentiates the boarding community is the sheer volume of international pupils to be found living on campus, spending nine months of the year throwing themselves into every aspect of Dollar life and, in turn, enriching the Dollar community.

This session has begun, therefore, like so many more before. The doors are unlocked, the rooms have been painted, dusted and cleaned and the staff await the many and varied groups of mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings delivering their boys into McNabb & Tait House. Some are returning for their final year with a great deal of boarding history already under

their belts. Some have made it through one year and return, fresh faced and eager to meet up with friends last seen in the first days of summer. Then there are the new arrivals, boys who have criss-crossed the globe to find their way to Dollar and to the beginning of what they anticipate will be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Those returning – our old boys so to speak – hailed not just from Scotland and England but from Japan, Nigeria, Nepal and Xian in China. Cosmopolitan does not even begin to cover the geographical profile of the boys within the Boarding House. They may all now communicate with ease in English, the Scottish lilt even obvious in many of their exchanges, but it is never unusual to hear a word or phrase – caught here and there – in Mandarin or Japanese. August of this year saw the international dimension of the House enriched even further. George Iverson (Form VI) is our ESU scholar this year and comes to us from Boston via Connecticut. He has very quickly found his niche, extolling the virtues of the US Constitution and the much misunderstood Republican Party against a tide of enthusiastic Obama

Who would you want to be in your next life?Ann: A Heyworth boarder!Jim: Lazarus, because then I would be resurrected and live forever.Vessy: Who was the Scottish guy in a movie who lived forever?Jim: Peter Pan?Vessy: No, he’s got long hair.Chelsey: Jesus?Karolina: Okay that’s everything!Ann: Are we getting paid for the interview? Vessy: No, fame is the reward!Jim: That’s not fair! I am already famous!

news & features


ARGYLL

The new session gets off to a good start, with everyone coming back happy to see one another after the summer. As well as getting to know our new housemates, we are all keen to see the changes in the House, such as our new and improved bathrooms where we now have a choice as to what temperature the water is! We are also very pleased with our new bedroom doors, which give Argyll a more homely touch.

We are pleased to welcome Catriona into Form V who, although originally from Scotland, has spent the last few years living in China with her family. We also welcome our other new girl from overseas, Sophie in Form III, who is joining us from Dubai and is already feeling the cold weather of Scotland as unappealing as the rest of us do! As for our new girls who aren’t too far from home, we have our new beauty expert Marley, who has been teaching us her unusual edible beauty methods… Following in her sister Lucy’s footsteps, we also have little Hannah in Form I, who will always give

activists already dwelling within McNabb & Tait. Kodi Philips (Form VI) arrived from Barbados on a Harry Bell scholarship and has quickly brought his very special brand of Bajan wit and wisdom to the wider community. Kai Hui Yu (Form V) from Fujian Province in China brings our mainland Chinese complement to two and has shown an admirable determination to get to grips with the both local cuisine and the Scottish accented vocabulary flying around the boarding house. Riccardo Imbriani (Form V) is a perfect example of the positive impulses behind European integration. Originally from Italy, he has been schooled from some years in Berlin and now joins us in Dollar – speaking at least three languages fluently – to take advantage of all that a Scottish education can offer. Alexei Koptsev (Form III) is our final overseas addition this session and his gregarious and generous nature, coupled with his instinctive Russian desire to make a lasting impression, have won him numerous friends in a very short space of time. These individuals only tell part of our story. Other new boarders, although British citizens, have made their way to the Hillfoots from places as diverse as Alaska and Nice. Travelling to and from McNabb & Tait House is, therefore, never anything less than an international adventure.

All our boarders bring with them a host of linguistic skills and cultural insights. They have so often seen far more than their peers, experienced numerous incredible journeys and lived under a variety of political systems. They come to Dollar both to learn and to share, to experience and to influence. That is the special nature of Dollar boarding, and what makes the wider school community truly Scottish and International.

Neil McFadyean

you a cheery smile as she is doing ‘lights-on’ for everyone in the mornings. Monica is also joining Form V here at Dollar, and while her music taste is not fully appreciated by the house, her chat always has us all in floods of laugher. Last, but by no means least, we have Tiffany in Form VI, who has joined the boarding life after attending as a day pupil last year. A warm welcome to all our six new girls as well as to Mrs MacDonald, who has taken over Monday nights from Miss Gardner - and is still trying to convince us that the library really is the best part of the school.

Elsewhere in Argyll, our new Head and Deputy Head of House, Kimberly Kruger and Olivia Walsh, have been a great help in getting everyone settled in. We have already had some wonderful trips and some chilly ones too, such as when Mrs Brooks took us all up to Kinlochard to go swimming in the freezing cold waters of the Loch; I assure Mrs Brooks that everyone has fully recovered from the coughs and colds that followed soon after. All boarders were also involved in a team-building trip to Crieff Hydro for the Mini Highland Games, in which several of the Argyll girls did very well with 1st and 2nd places being won by some of our girls. Even Anna and Charlie Brooks were able to enjoy a ride around the fields on the back of the quad bikes along with the McFadyean children. Once we all got back to school, the boarding community had our first formal dinner together in the dining hall to kick off the new session. And, of course, it would not be Argyll if we did not have the traditional Argyll Treasure Hunt, for which we were joined by the Heyworth girls in our attempt to find all the clues leading us around Dollar to be back in time for a barbecue with a game of rounders to follow. The day was greatly enjoyed by all, especially Argyll who won the game with a score of 34-4. We have made a good start to the new school year and we hope that the terms ahead will be as successful as the first one.

Emma Donaldson (Form VI)


37

news & features

STILL LIFEBeautiful golden headsRearing in the autumn twilight,Soaring, elevated above the ground.What could be more wondrous?Emerald leaves on olive stems, Swaying in the gentle breeze.Parrot green bundles.All at once the buds explode into bloom!Canary, lemon, sunshine and goldAll intertwine together In a symphony of delicate light.Hearing insects,Bees,Landing on their pollenBuzzing as they guzzle.Lofty, proud and straight,Defying wind and rain.Getting sleepy now,Drooping their tired heads.There they sit,Immobile yet bold as brassBeautiful.Not majestic anymore,Sleeping silently, unmoving,Still life.

Amy Pope (Junior 2)Drawing by Rebecca Johns (Junior 2)

WHISPERS FROM THE LIBRARY

National Poetry Day 2010To celebrate the ‘Home’ theme of National Poetry day, the Library hosted a tea party for Form I. The pupils worked very hard to memorise their favourite poems about home and came to the Library in their slippers for a recital. Congratulations to Rebecca Horner and Alex Thomson who were awarded first prize for their performance, and to all of Form I for their hard work.Whodunnit?After the unfortunate demise of Glinda the Good Witch, Library clubbers turned into super sleuths to uncover the culprit. After amassing various clues in a Murder Mystery afternoon, the villain was found to be none other than our very own Deputy Rector! Many thanks to Mr Daniel for getting involved and well done to all members of Library club for their detective work.Book ClinicThe Library will be offering a book clinic to pupils this year to help with their reading choices. Consultation forms will be available for pupils to complete, asking for details of favourite books, authors, TV programmes and films. Consultation forms should then be posted in the clinic box on Mrs McDonald’s desk and the book ‘prescription’ will be delivered to the patient’s Form Tutor. So if you are looking for a new book to read, why not come to the Library to try it out?

Eilidh McDonald


Prep 3 tell us about their thoughts and feelings and discuss the rules for starting a happy new year at Dollar Academy.

RULES FOR A HAPPY CLASSROOM

We try to respect each other.We move around the school quietly and sensibly.We treat other people as we want to be treated ourselves.We take responsibility for our work and our belongings.We are considerate to other people.We are always kind and helpful.We always own up.We protect the environment.We keep our arms and legs to ourselves.We listen to other people.We always try to get our maths right.We wait our turn.We try hard in our work.We take responsibility for our own behaviour.We play games together.

Eleanor Trace and Craig Sharpe

Sometimes I am in a crazy mood. I run faster and faster. I also like to jump or spin.Sometimes I feel sleepy. I lie in my bed or I will lie on the sofa.

Jay McFadden

Sometimes I like to cause mischief and be naughty.Sometimes I am helpful and I help my Mum in the garden.

Charlie Robins

Sometimes I am perfect because I love to play in the garden.

Elizabeth Stanton

Sometimes I feel mischievous so I scare my sister.Sometimes I feel kind so I help Mum.

Nicholas Mitchell

Sometimes I feel active so I play football against my Dad.Sometimes I feel adventurous and try to catch a rabbit.

Max Hunter

prep school


39

Feeling Angry...

When I am angry I stomp into my bedroom and hide under my green cover. I feel scarlet at the time. When my Mum and my Dad and I have sorted it out I feel much better.

Cameron Denham

When I am angry I get so cross and I feel like I want to smash something. When I do that my face turns red hot and it starts to puff up. I really don’t like being so tough but I don’t know how to stop it. Then Mum walks in and she puts a smile on my face and I feel much better.

Zara Kennedy

When I am angry I like to slam doors on my Mum and Dad. I go to my bedroom and start to throw my toys around the bedroom. When my Mum or Dad comes into my bedroom I come downstairs and say sorry.

Marc Taljard

Feeling Afraid...

I felt afraid when I went to the hospital and they told my Mum to go out and I felt a bit lonely.I was four.

Natascha Pert

I felt afraid when I was in the garden on a black night.I was six.

Ross Bathgate

I felt afraid when I was going to see the Doctor and I was so scared that I jumped.I was seven.

Ben Buchanan-Smith

news & features


CHESS

Chess

So tense, so exciting.

One move, an entire game.

Pawns move twice, left in a frozen line.

Bishops move three ways diagonally.

Rooks corner Knights.

The Queen rushes in five spaces.

BOOM! CRASH!

A white Rook hits the floor.

Battle has truly started.

Alistair Ward (Junior 2)

PLAYTIME

Underneath the big red hoop

Hands reach up so high.

Trying to catch the flying ball

Falling from the sky.

Left and right my balance tips

On the balance beam

Trying to swing from rope to rope

How much sweat does gleam.

Round and round goes the rope

Crash! ‘Oh no,’ I fall.

Help me get up off the ground

And I’ll help you catch the ball.

Forward go the ranks of pawns

Awaiting all their fate

When suddenly out comes a queen

Check, check and then checkmate.

Jonty Haywood (Junior 2)

junior school


41

news & features

JUNIOR 1 SUSTAINABILITY DAY

This year’s event took place on Friday June 4th and was organised by Dr. Scheuerl, the Junior Science Co-ordinator. It was a great success and enjoyed by pupils and staff alike.

The event took place in the Captain’s Room and began with a pupil-led role-play introducing the ideas of sustainability and conservation. The pupils benefited from the opportunity to go to local shops, where they were able to ask the local businesses about the steps being taken (planned and present) in relation to sustainability and environmental issues. We would very much like to thank those businesses which were so willing to give their time to the benefit of Junior 1 pupils.

Before lunch Mr and Mrs Niven, of Loch Leven’s Larder, gave an enjoyable presentation and demonstration about sustainable methods that can be used in farming and food miles. These experiences were all very valuable for the pupils. They were able to discuss what they had learned and then give their ideas and views on what sustainability meant in general, and in particular to them as individuals.

The day was completed by the pupils performing an energy audit of the school. Looking at environmental awareness and responsibility, they assessed what steps the school was taking and could take in future.

Orla Gannon


RATS!The choice for this year’s Junior 2 musical was RATS!, Nigel Hess and Jeremy Browne’s re-telling of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Hannah Parker introduced us to the beautiful setting of Hamelin town, with its bridge over the river Weser, where Market Day is about to begin. The hustle and bustle of the Market Place is interrupted by the arrival of some of the scariest rats around, to the dismay of the Market Traders. The haughty Town Council, under the leadership of the selfish Mayor, Gregor Stewart, ignore the pleas for help from the townspeople, preferring to spend the Council’s money on their own entertainment. Meanwhile the Rats, led by a very intimidating Isla Keith, continue to wreak havoc in Hamelin, and the townspeople

become unwilling to allow their children to play outside because of the dangers the rats pose. Imogen McLeod, an unconventional yet concerned Pied Piper, seems able to provide a solution to the Council’s problems with the promise that she will rid the town of the rats in return for a thousand guilders. The Council agree to the deal, and the rats are duly ‘rehomed’ by the Piper… in the river Weser. The Council reneges on its deal with the Piper, who takes her revenge by leading the children away - all except poor Hans, played by Sam Ward, who can’t keep up due to an injured ankle. The Mayor admits his responsibility, and promises to do everything in his power to have the children rescued from the mountain to which they have been taken by the Piper.

Every pupil in Junior 2 threw themselves into the


43

preparations for our production, and whilst most agree that the audition process was nerve racking, and the opening night had its fair share of excited anticipation, nothing approached the experience of performing in front of your classmates for the first time.

Lunchtime and after-school rehearsals with Mrs Leggatt and Miss Horne for solo and ensemble singing and for scene blocking made it feel as if the performances were drawing near. The search for costumes and props took pupils and parents to attics, charity shops, garden sheds and unexplored corners of the school. In the end, all the intense preparations resulted in inspiring dress rehearsals in front of Prep School pupils and Junior 1s, and the excited fun of three evenings of performances, proud parents and an exhausted but satisfied cast.

Mairi Leggatt

news & features


PREP 4 FABRIC

Prep 4 have learned about the 3 main colour groups which are warm, cool and neutral and they have chosen a specific colour scheme to make into a mini wall hanging. The pupils have been taught how to work with rug canvas, short lengths of wool and latch hooks.

FORM I FABRIC

Form I pupils proudly displayed their tote bags at the end of the summer term. Each pupil learned how to use a sewing machine safely and confidently to stitch their individual designs and assemble the bag.

FABRIC FUN

The new session is under way and a good selection of pupils have been attending the Fabric Lunch Club. Ages range from Form III, Form I, Prep 4 and Prep 3. A relaxed atmosphere allows pupils to acquire new skills and reinforce existing ones.

Chris MacIver


45

MATHEMATICS ACTIVITIES DAY

On the 2nd June, earlier this year, everyone in Form II took part in the Mathematics Activities Day. This was completely different from our usual lessons. We had to work together in our Form groups to solve all kinds of puzzles like Sudoku, polygon jigsaws, anagrams of the names of mathematical shapes and pentominoes. Because each activity gave us the chance to get points, we worked as fast as we could. Games like ‘Frogs and Toads’ made us work brilliantly as a team – on a line of chairs, frogs had to change ends with toads by hopping or sliding; we think we got better and better at this game, after a bit of debate! Other exciting games were the ‘Tower of Hanoi and Latin Square’ which really made us think. The funniest activity of the day involved giant inflatable balls and hands and an obstacle course – we had to work hard as a team to get this right. The winning class with the highest number of points was Form 2FC. Overall, it was a very good day and we had lots of fun.

Tara Barge (Form III)

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

On the 27th September, 2010, the Modern Languages Department celebrated the European Day of Languages, along with 800 million other residents of Europe’s 47 member states.

Our three groups of European exchange students and teachers from Fellbach, Buc and Guadalajara were in les-sons during the day. A multi-lingual meeting in the As-sembly Hall during period one allowed our 67 guests to be interviewed by Form III Dollar pupils in French, German and Spanish. Later on, our foreign visitors learnt Auld Lang Syne in preparation for their Scottish ceilidh the fol-lowing day. The day was rounded off by an International football match at Newfield. Unfortunately, the phrase ‘dislocated knee’ was learned by our foreign visitors – bad luck, Calum!

Elsewhere across the School, the Dining Hall served an excellent European lunch menu to cater for each Euro-pean language taught at Dollar Academy while other De-partments, including Mathematics, ensured a multi-lingual cross-curricular day by teaching part of their lessons in a foreign language. Several language classes also held poster competitions.

A language survey carried out throughout the school by form tutors and staff revealed that we are a very in-ternational and outward-looking community. Dollar pupils are currently studying eight languages (French, German, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English as a Second Language, Ital-ian and Japanese). In the past they have learned a wide range of languages, which include Japanese, Finnish, Ara-bic, Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin, Gaelic, Hungarian, Shona, Af-rikaans and Swahili. We have pupils who are fluent speak-ers of French, Italian, English, Mandarin, German, Urdu, Punjabi, Flemish, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Belarusian and Bulgarian amongst others. Many hope to study anoth-er language in the future, ranging from Russian, Manda-rin, Cantonese, and Arabic, (which were all very popular) to Dutch, Swedish, Japanese, Korean, Welsh, Portuguese, Xhosa (click language), Swahili, and Afrikaans. Pupils rec-ognised the benefits of knowledge of another language. They want to have the ability to: communicate with others; to travel, work and live abroad; to read foreign books and watch foreign films; to get better jobs; to earn good sala-ries; to improve business opportunities; to impress others or simply to understand English better through learning a foreign language.

There are 6,800 languages in the world. 75% of the world population does not speak English - go beyond English along with Dollar Academy!

Sandra Brooks

news & features


THE CLOCK BENEATH YOUR FEET

Next time you climb the steps to the bronze doors, spare a thought for a Dollar FP and the clock beneath your feet that never rests.Dollar Academy has a very strong tradition of producing top-flight engineers and scientists. One, Sir James Dewar, is perhaps best known today for the invention of the vacuum flask, now almost universally known as the ‘thermos’. This scientist, after whom Dollar’s Dewar building is named, had an insatiable thirst for understanding and his researches addressed many of the key scientific issues of the day. From improving the quality of drinking water in London, to determining the temperature of the sun, Sir James famously remarked, ‘Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.’

Working with Sir Frederick Abel, Dewar tackled the problems caused by the black powder used in ammunition of the time. This type of gunpowder produced such thick, black smoke that, within seconds of opening fire, any view of the enemy would be completely obscured. Dewar and Abel’s invention, cordite, became the smokeless propellant used in 303 ammunition for the next hundred years. Alfred Nobel was outraged, however, claiming that Dewar and Abel were infringing the patent on his own smokeless ammunition called Ballistite. Perhaps it is of some comfort to Nobel’s ghost that whilst Dewar was awarded some of the most prestigious awards for science, he would never receive one of the coveted Swedish Academy of Sciences’ award bearing Nobel’s name.

Amongst his researches, Dewar described several isomers of an important chemical called Benzene, the structure at the heart of all types of products from paracetamol to kevlar. For 70 years, Dewar’s ideas were forgotten until, in 1962, an American chemist, Eugene van Tamelen, published a paper that showed the successful synthesis of one of Dewar’s benzene isomers which had previously been thought to be a hypothetical structure without existence in reality. The substance synthesised by van Tamelen was named ‘Dewar Benzene’, in honour of our famous FP.

Dewar benzene is an isomer of ‘normal’ benzene (an isomer is a molecule with the same type and number of atoms as another but with a different structure).

C

C

C

C

C

C

H

H

H

H

H

H

C

C

C

C

C

C

H

H

H

H

H

H

C6H6

Dewar Benzene

C6H6

Benzene

Half life 2 days

Dewar benzene is not a stable molecule. The four membered rings in its structure are continually straining to break open. The carbon-to-carbon bond at the centre of a Dewar benzene molecule can break allowing the molecule to spring open into an extremely stable six membered ring. From the instant that a sample of Dewar Benzene is made, molecule after molecule will undergo this conversion process and, in only two days, over half of the Dewar Benzene originally made will have changed into normal Benzene.

Over the summer holidays, repairs to the iconic Playfair building exposed, for the first time in many years, the void underneath the steps- a perfect location for a ‘Time Capsule’ holding artefacts reflecting Dollar life in 2010. Each Department was invited to provide an item that may prove of interest to Dollar Academy students of the future. For Bill Beveridge, Head of Chemistry, the ingenious, unstable molecule named after Dewar provided the inspiration for a chemical clock, which will measure the passage of time within the capsule for centuries to come.

With a chemical half-life of just two days, however, a sample of Dewar Benzene itself would be useless. For a chemical clock measuring the passage of decades, if not centuries, a molecule is required that is in rather less of a hurry to disappear!

The speed at which Dewar Benzene molecules convert into benzene can be modified by replacing the six single hydrogen atoms in the structure with other groups of atoms. A paper published in 2008 by researchers working for the Eastman Kodak company provided the perfect candidate- a Dewar Benzene derivative with a half-life of 76 years.

C

C

C

C

C

C

CH2

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH2C

O

O CH3

Half life 76 years

CH2C

C

C

C

C

C

CH2

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3

CO

O CH3

The synthesis of such a molecule is far from straightforward so the expert assistance of Dr Alan Aitken, of St Andrews University Chemistry Department,


47

was sought. Dr Aitken’s research group synthesised the molecule with financial support from the local branch of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). After several months of very hard work in the St Andrews labs, sufficient amounts of the molecule were ready for collection.

For such a volatile chemical, to prevent evaporation and possible contamination of the entire capsule, the Dewar Benzene derivative needed to be sealed in a custom-made glass ampoule. There was no question of sending such a unique and valuable substance through the post. A trip to collect the precious chemical provided some of Dollar’s budding chemists with a chance to see

the newly completed teaching and research laboratories at St Andrews. Dr Richard Johnson, the Academy chemistry teacher co-ordinating the production of the chemical clock, took a Form IV Intermediate II class on a guided tour of the University’s new labs together with that of the research laboratories where the molecule was expertly synthesised. Dr Aitken showed the party around the building and gave an interesting overview of the practical demands of synthesising the Dewar Benzene derivative. The Dollar pupils were then shown the glass-blowing workshop where the custom-built ampoule used for storing the chemical was designed and built. An extremely impressive demonstration of this highly skilful, and now rarely seen, technique was then shown to the party by resident glassblower Mr Colin Smith, who made a glass swan from a simple glass tube using lots of heat and lots of lung-power. The swan is now proudly on display in lab D2 in the Dewar Building. After the visit, the party headed to St Andrews famous West Sands for a well-earned picnic lunch. Sufficient breeze was present for demonstration of another skill, that of kite-flying, and a game of rounders ensured that any excess calories from the lunch were burned off. An hour’s drive later and the party returned to Dollar with their valuable cargo intact and an extremely favourable impression of the facilities offered by St Andrews University.

As generations of Dollar pupils come and go through the bronze doors, beneath their feet the chemical clock will steadily measure the passage of the years, decades and even centuries. It is hoped that Dollar’s chemists of the future will realise the importance of this unique chemical clock and use it to date the capsule and reflect, perhaps, on the legacy of one of Dollar’s many illustrious FPs.

Bill Beveridge and Richard Johnson

news & features


YOUNG ARTISTS

Congratulations to Emma Buchanan (Form III), Ciara Sloane (Form III), Olivia Mears (Junior 1) and Eleanor Trace (Prep 3), whose art work was selected for prizes and exhibition at the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. A large group of twenty-seven Form III pupils also benefited from Emma Buchanan’s success, as they were invited to participate in a creative workshop organized by the National Gallery as part of Emma’s prize. These photographs depict a day that was both enjoyable and educational; pupils engaged with works of art ‘in the flesh’ and were introduced to new techniques in life-drawing that yielded surprising and exciting results.


49

art

Max Hunter (Prep 3)

Rachel Pollock (Junior 1)


Olivia Litster (Prep 3)

Murray Biggart (Junior 1)


51

art

Olivia Mears (Junior 1) Millie Hamilton (Prep 3)


Heather Dyllon (Prep 3)


53

TAKING THE CAMERA TO DEEPER DEPTHS

Chris Cairns, the photographer responsible for many of the stunning images that feature in Fortunas, reveals the story behind his latest remarkable shots.

My first dive of the summer holidays took place at Arrochar and, on Saturday 11th September at Ballachulish (my 6th dive), I took a camera down with me. I really need to save up and get one of my own as it’s a different world down there; everyone I know who has seen the photos is amazed at how clear it is. I’m loving every minute of it, it’s so different to taking a normal photo - you can’t sit and wait for something to happen as you’re on the move all the time. These photos were taken at a depth of 15 metres.

More recently, I visited the old Torpedo range in

Arrochar at the platform legs at a depth of 17 metres - lesson learned: NEVER go diving when suffering from the tail end of a cold! I thought my brain was going to explode as I had been trying to get rid of (man) flu for a couple of weeks. I felt ok on my first dive, though, and I am glad now that I took plenty of photos. On the second dive, we did a bit of compass work and were promised time to take photos around the platform legs, which I was really looking forward to. As we got to 10 metres, the pain started to get really bad and the dive had to be called off. I could have spent all day taking photos there but, as the saying goes, I guess there was bigger fish to fry…

Chris Cairns

photography


sports day winners 2010Sports D

ay 2010W

inners

Junior One B

oysJunior O

ne Girls

Junior Tw

o Boys

Junior Tw

o Girls

Junior Boys

Junior Girls

Intermediate B

oysInterm

ediate Girls

Senior Boys

Senior Girls

80mF. Fitzpatrick

G. Sum

mers

H. D

icksonB. Trevis

Long Jum

pF. Fitzpatrick

G. Sum

mers

F. FitzpatrickB. Trevis

L. Hetm

anA

. Gallow

ayT. Spencer-B

rown

H. A

itkenB. M

cWhirter

N. A

bel

High Jum

pR

.Simpson

G. Sum

mers

A. G

rahamE

. Deardon

J. George

J. Kennedy

C. T

homson

K. G

illespieJ. U

rquhartC

. Wishart

F. Fitzpatrick

800mR

.Simpson

G. Sum

mers

T. Henson

B. TrevisA

. Wilson

J. Kennedy

J. Cousin

K. G

illespieA

. Gillespie

J. Brow

n

JavelinG

. McG

regorT. M

arshallF. Fitzpatrick

S. Crabb

R. C

unninghamB. E

mm

ettB. H

unterC

. O’C

onnellC

. Smith

E. D

onoghue

Hurdles

F. FitzpatrickR

. JohnsF. Fitzpatrick

S. Carr

J. George

I. Cubitt

R. Sculthorpe

A. Loedel

J. Urquhart

T. Sarafilovic

ShotputG

. McG

regorA

. Ogilvie

A. G

rahamB. Trevis

R. C

unninghamL. M

ansonA

. Mackie

L. Duff

J. Urquhart

R. M

ills

200mF. Fitzpatrick

G. Sum

mers

H. D

icksonB. Trevis

M. R

obertson-JonesI. C

ubittR

. SculthorpeR

. McA

reeJ. U

rquhartJ. B

rown

1500mA

. Wilson

J. Cousin

K. G

illespieA

. Gillespie

M. G

illespie

Discus

I. Fleming

C. M

cPhersonL. M

ackayJ. U

rquhartN

. Abel

Triple Jum

pM

. JeffreyR

. SculthorpeT. H

ogarth

100mM

. Robertson-Jones

I. Cubitt

C. M

cPhersonR

. McA

reeJ. U

rquhartJ. B

rown

400mL. H

etman

J. Cousin

A. G

illespieJ. B

rown

300mK

. Gillespie

3000mA

. Gillespie

Relay

Mar

Argyll

Argyll

Argyll

Mar

Argyll

Atholl

Argyll

Stewart

Stewart

Cham

pionF. Fitzpatrick

G. Sum

mers

A. G

rahamB. Trevis

A. W

ilsonI. C

ubittR

. SculthorpeK

. Gillespie

J. Urquhart

J. Brow

n

sport


55

CRICKET: REVIEW OF THE SEASON

After an intense winter training regime, Mr Frost, the 1st XI Coach, was looking to push the boundaries of Dollar cricket (no pun intended) further than they had gone before – searching for an unbeaten season from a group of talented cricketers.

As is custom, the Academy played a strong Dollar CC team in the first match of the season. Having been put into field on a stereotypical April Saturday morning (cloudy with a hint of rain), a tight early season bowling display saw the school restrict the town team to a slightly below par 125 – 7 in 35 overs. Wickets were shared around, with Scott Bell taking the prize wicket from Mr Frost for only two runs. The highlight of the innings however was Mr Buchanan-Smith heaving his son George for a massive six over midwicket. Scott Bell then played the anchor role, scoring a fine, albeit lucky, 52 runs not out on his 1st XI debut. The target was easily chased down within 30 overs.

In the first school match, George Heriot’s were beaten easily thanks to solid knocks from Tom Hogarth 42 and Peter Ross 43 in a total of 159 – 5. A more disciplined bowling attack restricted the Heriots to 81 – 9 in their allotted 30 overs.

And thus, on to game number three against Strathallan. The optimism displayed by the Dollar team following their 2 wins out of 2 was quickly cut, pulled and driven away by batting prodigy Freddie Coleman (who was soon to make his full national debut for the Scotland

men’s team). His unbeaten 113 meant that Dollar needed 202 to win in 30 overs, and, in truth, the chase never really got started. Wickets fell continuously, although some defiant late-order hitting from Devine, Scott-Gray and Christie saw the team reach a credible 157-8. The number of dropped catches, which had been present during the first three games, was far from acceptable, and if one or two chances had been taken, especially one off Coleman behind the stumps, the result of this game could have been very different.

Only four days after this loss, the team ventured through to Edinburgh to play our rivals, Merchiston Castle School, and regain some pride. After Merchiston won the toss and chose to bat on probably the best day of the season so far, they were quickly made to regret their decision as pace-man Charlie McNish removed their two gun batsmen, both of whom have represented Scotland at youth level, with his array of swing, flight and changes in pace. No other bowler could bowl a consistent line and length, however, and this allowed the rest of the Merchiston team to score 203, although a devastating spell in the final overs from Hogarth saw him take 3 wickets in one over to finish the innings. More dropped catches and poor fielding let the opposition score 40 more runs than they should have - but surely the fielding would improve if everyone went to training...?

After losing Ross in the second over after he had struck two sublime fours, Hogarth again went about rebuilding the innings. Along with Scott Weir (20) and Craig Smith

(26), Hogarth’s second 42 of the season put the innings on the right track, but, once he was out, the innings imploded and the team went from 100 – 4 to 135 all out. Some outstanding Dollar bowling was behind a convincing win against Glenalmond College. On a very overcast day, and with a pitch to assist the quickies, the Dollar bowlers finally found their line and length. Jamie ‘PJ’ McCann set the tone, bowling 12 overs, 5 maidens, 12 runs for 2 wicket, while George Buchanan-Smith also bowled exceptionally well. Glenalmond were bowled out for 113, and, after captain and vice-captain – Ross and Weir – had put on 60 for the 1st wicket, the game was all but over. Weir was back to his fluent best during his knock of 54 not out and, to top it all off, he hit his first hard-ball six to take the team past the opposition score. And so, buoyed by this emphatic win, the game against Edinburgh Academy at home was much anticipated by the team. With almost perfect overhead conditions, anyone would have won the toss and batted... until they saw the pitch. The wicket was unbelievably wet, despite the fact that there had not been rain the whole week, but, regardless of this, Peter Ross won the toss and chose to bat. With Weir and Bell back in the hutch at the end of the 2nd over, Craig Smith came to the wicket and a strong partnership began to develop. While Smith pulled anything that moved on his way to a breathtaking 68, Peter Ross played second fiddle and nudged the ball around for a patient 52. Together they added 99 (perhaps an omen for Craig

sport


Smith?) before Smith ran past a legs-pinner and got bowled and, after that, the innings again fell apart: 103 – 3 became 153 all out which was at least 30 runs short of a good total. The inadequacy of this total was exposed as Edinburgh scored 155 – 3 in 30 overs and won very convincingly, thanks to wayward bowling without the exceptional McCann and also some weak fielding and some vital dropped catches.

The team was able to put this disappointing performance behind them however as the day came for the most prestigious match of the year – the crown jewel of the cricketing calendar – against MCC Scotland. As tradition states, MCC ‘won the toss’ and batted, with a batting line up featuring multiple SNCL players and a few current and past Scotland players. Only a bowler of quality would be able to make inroads into this line-up and, indeed, only one bowler did. After returning from an exam in the morning, ‘PJ’ McCann delivered an incredible spell, taking the only four wickets of the innings – clean bowling three of his victims. If he had managed to take a 5th wicket, Jamie would have been honoured with a trip to Lord’s Cricket Ground, the ‘Home of Cricket’, supplied by the MCC. This was not to be, however, and, after a truly delightful lunch, the MCC declared on 232 – 4. With only 34 overs left to bat, the target was optimistic to say the least, and so Weir and Ross, captain and vice, took the opportunity to impress and spend time in the middle on a glorious pitch and a beautiful afternoon. Both batters scored 57, although the more fluent Weir was eventually caught

behind while Ross remained not out. At stumps the result was a draw, but the total of 135 - 2 was a fair reflection of the ability within the Dollar team.

The High School of Glasgow provided an easy win thanks to 3 wickets each from Bell and McCann, followed up by another solid 57 not out from Ross to take his team across the line. This led to the game against the XL club, who fielded some oddly youthful players and, ironically, the Dollar XI that started the game comprised entirely of Form VI players. An average bowling performance which saw all ten of the Dollar fielders bowl meant that the home team was chasing a challenging 218 in 40 overs. With half of the team having to leave early for musical rehearsals, it meant the batting line-up was slightly altered, but this meant that Craig Smith had his chance to take centre stage. From his very first delivery he timed the ball perfectly, hitting anything loose for four. While he raced past his fifty, wickets continued to tumble around him and he was running out of time. With only 5 minutes before Craig had to leave for musical rehearsals, he entered the nervous nineties and was soon on 99, facing the deadly off-spin of coach Mr Frost. Time was ticking for Craig to reach his maiden school hundred, and when he saw a ball floated up wide of his off stump, he swung hard but only managed to edge the ball up in the air for an easy catch to be taken at mid-off. Had Smith not been pushed for time, one is certain he would have reached his ton and, indeed, would have won the game for Dollar. Instead, the last batsman came and went, resulting in a close

win for the XL club. Winning ways returned to

Dollar on the following Saturday, with perhaps the most pleasing and thorough all-round performance of the season against Fettes College. Truly outstanding bowling from the pacemen Jamie McCann (4-24) and Craig Smith (3-4) meant that Fettes were bowled out for 78, which thoroughly pleased the Rector, John Robertson, who happened to be umpiring in this game. Small totals are sometimes the hardest to chase, but with Peter Ross scoring yet another unbeaten half-century, Dollar won by 8 wickets.

The win against George Watson’s was the most convincing by a very long way. Although the Dollar bowling was not up to the previous game’s standard, the batting made up for whatever complacency there had been in the field. Having been set 160 to win in 30 overs by a fairly strong Watson’s team, Ross and Weir set out to start the innings. No-one would ever have thought that they would both return 22 overs later with the job done. The innings was dominated by a superb 101 not out from skipper Ross. Having dispatched the first ball of the innings for 4, he never looked back. His timing, especially when playing his trademark cover drive, was exceptional, and the partnership of 160 with fellow Scotland under 17 batsman Scott Weir must surely having statisticians rummaging through the record books.

After such a high came such a low, as Dollar lost the last inter-school game of the season to Stewart’s Melville. With Peter Ross away on International duty, it was up to Weir


57

sport

2010 ATHLETICS

The Athletics Club is open to everyone from Junior 1 to Form VI and caters for all abilities. It is one of the few physical clubs where all ages train together. The older pupils act as role models for the younger aspiring athletes and camaraderie is built during the mass-participation training session. For most, competing in Sports Weekend is an achievable target; for some, their goal is to attain a place in the Athletics team; for the elite, there is a chance to perform at a National level.

The Boys and Girls teams competed in only two matches this season. The Morrison’s Academy competition was held in Crieff. As this was also the Form III activities day in Aberfeldy, the athletes from this year group cut short their afternoon and travelled by mini-bus in order to participate - grateful thanks go to Mr Hose who embarked upon a long cross-country journey to drive them to the match. The result was favourable, further extending Dollar’s unbeaten run and particular mention should be made of the Intermediate Girls team who did not lose an event.

The second match was a triangular match with George

Heriot’s and Morrison’s Academy and was held in Edinburgh this season. This is a competition for Form I and Form II teams. The match was very intense as the athletes were not only competing against each other but against the prospect of monsoon conditions which eventually made the passing of the baton during the relays problematic. The outcome of the match saw Heriot’s in overall first position with Dollar a worthy second.

Forms I-III always look forward to the Forth Valley Championships, which are held at the Grangemouth Stadium, as they have the opportunity to perform against a wider field and also enjoy the experience of running on a faster track. This year the Dollar team won twenty-one individual medals, comprising seven Gold, six Silver and eight Bronze. The 4 x 100m relays are always hotly contested and great pride is taken in the execution of a polished performance. To their credit, out of six relays, Dollar’s tally was two Gold, two Silver and one Bronze.

At the Scottish Schools Track and Field Championships Dollar was represented by three girls. Emma Donoghue (Form VI) and Nicole Abel (Form V) competed in the over-17 Javelin event and won gold and silver respectively. It is rare to have two athletes from one school compete in the same event so it was particularly pleasing to see the girls rewarded for their services. While we have become accustomed to the accolades afforded to Kathryn Gillespie (Form II), her accomplishments at this year’s Championships were nothing short of spectacular. The Championships are held over two days and at this level there are heats before the final. Kathryn won through in both the 800m and 1500m and finished with a Championship Best Performance in the 1500m. Her dedication to her sport is second to none; she is a very modest young lady who has already made her mark on the record books and will hopefully continue to do so for a very long time.

Christine Galloway

to captain the side, and, despite his best efforts, the team could not pull off a win, although a competent 53 from hard hitting James Tree almost got the side across the line.

A very entertaining win against the Rector’s XI made for a thrilling end to the season. This game signalled the retirement of the Rector, John Robertson, whose passion for cricket has been evident throughout his time as Rector. He has been an avid supporter of all the Dollar teams, and when he is not busy umpiring or watching from the balcony of the pavilion, he can be seen over at the nets giving valuable advice to any youngster who will listen. His enthusiasm and devotion will be sorely missed, and one can only hope that Mr Knapman will take as big an interest in the cricket club as Mr Robertson did. Back to the cricket: with Dollar set 184 to win in 30 overs, the rain decided to intervene, meaning that the target was reduced to 122 in 20 overs. Thanks to a very spirited performance from the younger players, the score was chased down with 2 balls to spare.

Overall, it was a respectable season for the 1st XI. Looking at it statistically, 7 wins out of 12 matches (as well as a drawn match against the MCC) depicts a successful season but, in my opinion, we could have been more successful had we not had a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with regards to our batting. Batsman of the Year went to captain Peter Ross, who scored 472 runs at an average of 79, although there were valuable contributions from Scott Weir (264 at 29) and Craig Smith (248 at 35). The impressive Jamie McCann thoroughly deserved the Bowling Prize for his 18 wickets at 12 runs a piece, while Scott Weir won the Fielding Prize.

Special thanks go to Mr Foster for all his hard work in organizing the fixture list and sorting out all the cricket kit, and a ‘thank you’ should also go to: Mr Meldrum, the head groundsman, and his team for all their hard work in preparing the wicket, the dining hall staff for

their excellent catering (especially at the MCC and XL Club games), Mrs Ross for her continued commitment as scorer, and to Les Redford for his experience and skill as our umpire.

Peter Ross (Ist XI Captain)


On the first of July this year, at some ridiculously early time in the morning, forty Form I and II pupils climbed into a coach and travelled sleepily to Edinburgh Airport to embark on the wonderful adventure that was the Alps Trip 2010.

Upon arrival in Switzerland everybody was fully awake as the sugar eaten on the plane had kicked in. As the airport doors opened, the hot air hit our faces and we headed to our first activity: the UN office in Geneva. Despite being incredibly sleepy it was a nice start to the trip.

Waking up next morning was a shock to the system as it was an early start and we were all tired. Our excitement got us down to breakfast and we were soon munching on rolls and chocolate spread. The daily routine involved an early breakfast with visits for most of the day, before returning to our hotel for dinner, some prearranged activity and plenty of chill-out time, mostly spent in the games room or playing with Mr McConnell’s 30p frisbee, which sadly died on the last day - RIP! It was well used during the expedition. In the games room there was also table tennis and table football. In the evenings we had tournaments which

everyone joined in with.During the daytime we took

part in activities including the cable car to Aiguille du Midi, studying glaciers, exploring ice caves, visiting a chocolate factory and going to a water park. Our favourite parts were admittedly the chocolate factory and water park although going swimming after the chocolate sampling room was maybe not the best combination… During the more educational visits, like going up the mountains, we discussed glaciation and geographical features. Seeing it in real life did help us to understand the landscape more.

Something else that occurred regularly were thunderstorms. We had them almost every night, crashing thunder and thick lightning bolts filling the sky. It was quite the geographical picture when taken in with the mountains in the background.

The Geography Alps Trip is certainly one that Forms I and II should go on. It is great fun with your friends and you learn a lot of valuable frisbee skills (and of course some Geography too!)

Emma Buchanan and Emma Fenwick (Form III)

GEOGRAPHY ALPS TRIP JULY 2010

trips & travel


59

On the 9th June 2010, a group of Form III pupils and teachers set off, filled with excitement, on the exchange they’d been waiting for for months. Destination: Versailles. Everyone was apprehensive, as some people had only seen their exchange partner’s picture and exchanged a few emails beforehand. After a rather bumpy plane ride, the group arrived in Paris CDG, and it wasn’t long

before everyone was on the way back to their exchange partners’ homes to meet their families. For many, their first night consisted of getting to know their host family, having their first French meal and getting to bed early after the long day travelling.

Day One: All the Scottish pupils got to go for a day out in Paris, much to the envy of their exchange partners who were stuck in school.

The day consisted of taking the metro and then walking to the Eiffel Tower in the pouring rain, where certain people took advantage of the umbrella hats on sale… Then we took the Batobus along the Seine, a very convenient way of seeing a lot of the major sights in Paris without the hassle of walking. The weather began to clear up, just in time for a wee bit of shopping beside the Louvre, where many spent their spending money on ‘J’adore Paris’ t-shirts, and various other souvenirs. All the exchange pupils then returned by bus and train to Buc, the town where the school was situated, just in time to catch the bus home with their exchange partners. For some, the evening consisted of swimming at the local pool; for others, there was the opportunity to get a well-deserved rest after a long day out in the capital.

Day Two: French and Scottish pupils alike were more than pleased to be heading off to Parc Astérix, a French cartoon themed Theme Park, for the day. After around

This photograph shows the Rector and some Dollar staff with sixty-seven visiting exchange pupils and six visiting staff from our partner schools in France, Germany and Spain.

From 21st September until 1st October, Dollar hosted all three groups and a variety of multilingual activities culminated in a Farewell Ceilidh, where various continental variations on the ‘Dashing White Sergeant’ were on view. The entire 2010 programme will be rounded off when fourteen Dollar pupils make the return visit to Guadalajara, Spain in the October Break … after which letters advertising the 2011 exchange programmes will be issued and another generation of Dollar pupils will aim to sharpen their linguistic skills on foreign soil.

David Delaney

EXCHANGE VISIT TO THELYCEE FRANCO-ALLEMAND DE BUC

exchanges


MALAYSIAN EXPEDITION 2010

Despite increasing costs, principally due to the collapse in the international value of the pound, more pupils than ever took part in the ninth expedition to Malaysia in July this year. For the first time, we took over thirty pupils and added an extra member of staff, Jane Inglis, to help cope with the numbers. All were from Form V, which made for easy organisation.

To help reduce costs we curtailed the length of the stay by one day, losing that time on Tioman Island, which had previously been taken up with some fieldwork on the nearby beach and mangrove swamp - the plan is to follow the same pattern this year. When we started out in 2000, the cost of the trip was under £1400, now it’s close to £2200 (but you might be surprised to learn that this represents an increase of less than 5% per annum.) Moreover, we still compare well with other foreign trips run by the School and

three hours of travelling, yet again by bus and train, everyone was relieved to have arrived. Once everyone had entered the park, we were left to explore the various rides throughout. The attractions varied from log flumes to wooden high-speed roller coasters, ensuring a very enjoyable day for everyone. The journey home was filled with chatter about favourite attractions and general impressions of the day (all very positive). As the bus reached the school, everyone said goodbye for the weekend, which was to be spent with French families.

Days Three and Four: Each person’s experience of a typical weekend spent with a French family varied, due to the vast amount of things to see and do in and around Versailles. Many pupils got another chance to visit Paris, this time to do things they missed out on the time before, like going up the Eiffel Tower, or stopping their camera being stolen by ‘un cambrioleur’ by accidentally knocking him out… Others had a rather more peaceful weekend, going sight-seeing, bowling or shopping, or even all three.

Day Five: Monday morning was spent in French classes, which was a different experience for everyone. Classes included German, English (A relief from the previous subject, as everyone could understand what was going on!) and French, giving everyone an idea of the differences between the two countries’ school systems. Everyone on the exchange then got a bus into Versailles for lunch, in the very continental ‘McCafe’. We then took a walk through Versailles, and enjoyed lovely views of typical French streets and houses. Everybody then went to play pool, before heading home or staying in Versailles to shop and go to the cinema, where a few people discovered how very complicated Sex and the City 2 is in French!

Day Six: The final day of the exchange was spent partially in classes, and partially sight-seeing. Many people spent the morning in Chemistry, where they were given the opportunity to do an experiment,

explained in French, which luckily was grasped by everyone and didn’t cause any accidents! For lunch, Dollar pupils got to experience French cafeteria food, which was very healthy and tasty and came with an ice cream (a major flaw in Dollar’s dining hall…). In the afternoon, all the Scottish exchange people got to visit Versailles Palace, as many hadn’t yet visited it. After spending a while going round the Palace and its beautiful gardens, everyone was let loose to do whatever they pleased for an hour or two. Whilst many did a bit of last minute shopping and sightseeing, a certain ‘Segway Trial Run for 5 Euros’ business caught the eye of many Dollar pupils (and teachers), which they eagerly took advantage of, nearly knocking down a few tourists in the process. Everyone returned to their family’s homes satisfied with their last day en France and with cases to pack, many of which were bursting with various souvenirs and gifts from host families. The next day, after a quick last visit to a local French supermarket to top up on food only available in France (proper French baguettes, Kinder chocolate multipacks and French Nutella specifically), everyone said their goodbyes, having made great friends with a lot of the French pupils and already excited about their return visit to Dollar in September. Overall, the exchange was a great experience of French life and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of how good their French is, as it was a genuinely enjoyable trip and everybody’s French improved. ‘Thank yous’ must be said to Mme Turner, Mrs McDonald and Mr Morton for taking time to organise and look after everyone on the exchange, as well as M Schlinger and all of the host families, who were all very kind and helpful.

Laura Thompson (Form IV)


61

art & literature

we are much less expensive than the commercial package school tours sold by large UK-based companies. I like to think of ‘cost per day’, to make a fair comparison, and we are running at around £160 per day now.

A full account of the trip can be read on the home page of the school website. We had our moments but, as always, everyone had a wonderful time, including the teachers. If it weren’t for the good behaviour of the Dollar Academy pupils on these occasions, our expeditions to Malaysia would have stopped a long time ago.

Plans for the tenth trip will be at an advanced stage by the time you read this and, once again, we are taking more than thirty pupils.

Andy Morton

trips & travel


Jen McIntosh became Scot-land’s most successful athlete of the Commonwealth Games, shooting her way to gold in the 50m prone singles to match her pairs display with Kay Copland, and her 3P pairs bronze. Jen recorded a near faultless score of 597 ex 600 over six cards to record a new Games record, smashing the previous score by a significant seven points and equalling the current world record. Jen completed her six card marathon in under 32 minutes, having to wait a further 43 minutes before success was guaranteed. Putting 57 shots in the ten ring, which is the size of a five pence from a distance half the length of a Rugby pitch, finishing first off the range and first overall, are signifi-cant achievements.

Here at Dollar, we benefited from up-to-the minute news from Seonaid (Form III), her sister, also a very capable marksman, and news from her mum, Shirley (FP 1978 -

1983), herself a double medalist from the Canadian Commonwealth Games in 1994 and again in the Malaysian Games in 1998. Emotions ran high as everyone that knew Jen followed her results with interest. Her perfor-mance has helped place shooting as the most successful Scottish sport of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Jen made the decision to be-come a full-time athlete upon leaving school: ‘Forget the studying and gap year thing, that’s what everyone else is doing - I want to win some medals.’ This focus and single-minded deter-mination is what she is all about. She has always shown a level of maturity that belies her age and experience. Jen’s will to win, constant training and meticulous preparation have helped her achieve her goals. There are les-sons for us all here.

Jen has dealt with the media attention well, describing the sport she loves as ‘Simply awesome,’ be-

fore adding ‘It’s not just about what shooting can do for me personally. In our case, it’s a chance to show our country what our sport is really about. I have got so much out of my sport, it amazes even me sometimes. It’s taught me a discipline and an ap-proach to life that I didn’t have be-fore. It’s given me a chance to travel the world. I’ve met a lot of interest-ing people and made an awful lot of very good friends, often people I wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for this sport. I was never very good at the ‘conventional’ sports at school - rugby was for boys, I had pretty poor hand-eye co-ordination, so hockey and tennis were out, and I was far too gangly for gymnastics. The only sport I was ever any good at was basketball but I really didn’t thrive in a team. Fortunately, because of my parents, I got a chance to try something that most people don’t. My school, Dollar Academy, was better than most when it came to offering a wide range of activities for everyone and I probably would have fallen into shooting even without my parents’ help because of that but not to the same level. So I was lucky, but not everyone is. I think everyone should be given the chance to find the sport that they’re good at, because sport teaches you something that you can’t learn in the classroom. I think these Games can help kids do this because they’ll have a chance to see these elite athletes up close. I think these Games have the potential to inspire a generation. I’ve been all around the world with my sport but I think the Glasgow 2014 Common-wealth Games could be one of the most important competitions of my life and I can’t wait!’

Craig Stewart

Try ‘googling’ your own name; you know things are looking good when the search engine produces a hit on the first page - you also know it is something quite significant if it is the top hit, but it has to be something quite special before you dominate the first page and get a picture as well. Jennifer McIntosh (FP 2001 - 2009) has achieved just that.

FP WINS DOUBLE GOLD FOR SCOTLAND

fp forum


63

FP TAKES GOLD AT KENTUCKY WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES 2010

In a fantastic day for British Vaulting on October 10th this year, Joanne Eccles (FP 1998 - 2006) won the gold medal for her freestyle performance at the World Championships in Kentucky.

Joanne has been horse vaulting since she was eight and started to compete in the individual female class in 2004. She started to

win small International Vaulting Competitions (CVI)I**s in 2005 and won her first big international CVI** in 2006. She also achieved a top ten placing at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2006, continued to win major CVI**s in 2007 and came 4th at the European Vaulting Championships in Hungary. 2008 saw her continue to work towards her goal and she achieved 5th at the World Vaulting Championships in the Czech Republic.

In 2009 she won Great Britain’s first medal (Gold) at the European Vaulting Championships in Sweden and, in 2010, she was selected as Great Britain’s top female vaulting individual for the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Competing amongst the best in the world, after four rounds of competition, Joanne took the Gold medal position (the first time that Great Britain has won a medal in Equestrian Vaulting at a World Equestrian Games).

Joanne’s horse, W. H. Bentley (Warmton Henry Bentley) is called Henry at home or Henry the horse, by the vaulters. He was bred in Scotland and the Eccles have owned him since he was 5. He is now 16 and is probably one of the best known vaulting horses on the international circuit. Henry has participated at 35

international events, mainly in Europe and is still more than sparky enough to try to buck you off when he does not get his own way!

Horse Vaulting is a family affair for the Eccles. Joanne’s younger sister Hannah (FP 1998 - 2009) also competes and came 16th at the World Equestrian Games. However Hannah’s main goal this year was to win a medal Pas de deux (pairs) class. She and Joanne took the Silver medal in this class at the Championships. Their father, John (FP 1968 - 74), trains and lunges Henry for them. He also coaches Joanne, Hannah and other young vaulters, so their success has been particularly special.

Joanne with fellow competitor, her sister Hannah, and their horse Henry

Joanne’s coach working the lunge whilst his daughter vaults to victory.fp forum


NAVY FENCER ACHIEVES DOUBLE BRONZE MEDAL AT THE COMMONWEALTH FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Representing Scotland in the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, Lieutenant Keith Bowers (FP 1991-1998) Royal Navy, claimed the bronze medals in the both the individual sabre and as part of the Scottish sabre team.

The Commonwealth Fencing Championships have been held separately from the main Commonwealth Games since 1974 and this year took place in Melbourne from the 29th September to the 5th October. The individual sabre competition saw Keith placed 11th after the seeding pools; he then beat his fellow Scot in the Last 16, cruised past Antony Selling of Australia 15/3 to reach the last 8 and then Stuart Marshall of England (currently 9th in the British Rankings) 15/11 to move into the semi-finals, where he unfortunately lost to Ratneswaren, another English fencer, 15/7. The team competition saw Scotland reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Australia before managing to win the play off against India to establish themselves as the 3rd placed team.

It is usual for a fencer outside the Services to compete at only one weapon, but Keith has established himself as a very competent fencer at a service level having, over recent years, been Navy Champion at all 3 weapons (foil, epee and sabre). However, it is at sabre that he excels at both a service level as well as competing on the national circuit. 2010 has seen him maintain his position consistently in the top 30 in the British rankings to achieve his selection for Scotland for the Commonwealth Championships.

Keith describes events: ‘The chance to represent my country in a major championship such as this has been an awesome experience! The trip to Melbourne was one filled with nerves and trepidation about what to expect, about how I was going to perform. If anyone had said I was going to win a bronze medal before I travelled I would have laughed at them, my expectations were much lower, hoping to finish in the top 16. As a men’s Sabre team our focus had been on preparing for the team event and gaining a reasonable seeding from the individuals to give us a good chance of winning a team medal. The team

we built was a very close and supportive unit focused on helping each other to deliver their best performance.

On the day of the individual event I had just about managed to master my nerves and got off to a good start, winning 4 out of 6 matches in the seeding round which placed me 11th in the knockout stages. It was at this stage I found out I had to fence a team mate to proceed to the next round. We had been working with each other a lot in training and he had been getting the better of me on most occasions so I was very nervous. In the end I won out but hated having to knock out a team mate. The next round was fairly straightforward, but I couldn’t have asked for a better draw as my opponent had knocked out the 6th seed in the previous round. I was jubilant at having made the top 8 and, by this point, there was a lot of adrenalin flowing. I then had to fence a club mate from Sheffield called Stuart Marshall, who had got the better of me in our last 4 encounters. I was so overjoyed when the fight finished and I had won and I knew I had secured myself a medal. The support from the whole Scottish team through this fight was sensational. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much vociferous cheering all for me! I then fenced a GB Junior International fencer who unfortunately was just a step too far for me.

My result, coupled with the others, gave the Scottish Men’s Sabre team a seeding of second behind England and ahead of Australia. The team event was scheduled for three days after the individual and the next two days had to be focused on resting and regrouping so as to be able to deliver another strong performance on the piste. For me it was very hard to get my mind back in the game and focused as I was still riding the high of my first medal. In the end we had a very good match where we cruised through Guernsey and then met a very strong team in the form of Australia in the semi-finals. We had the lead early on but then they established their authority in the 4th bout and ended up winning 45-35. We then met India in the 3rd place play-off who had proven in their semi-final against England that they were a strong team. We had to work very hard as a team to overcome the disappointment of not making the final and to ensure that we gave everything to the match against India. In the end we won 45-40 in what was a very hard-fought match. It was our team spirit in the end that I think enabled us to achieve what we did. Winning a second Bronze medal was the crowning glory for me - I would never have believed that I would be coming back from Melbourne with two medals, let alone one.’

The last Naval fencer to win a medal whilst serving at the Commonwealth Championships was the Royal Marine Bob Anderson in 1950 in epee, when the event was part of the main Games, then known as the British Empire Games. Anderson subsequently competed in the Olympics and coached the British Olympic team for 6 games prior to becoming a Hollywood fight director on films such as Star Wars; he won medals in sabre in 1954 and 1958 but this was after he had left the RN and Barbara Williams


65

FP NEWS

Congratulations to FP Blair McWhirter (FP 2004 - 2010)who, in June of this year, signed a full-time contract with Dunfermline Athletic FC. He remains with the U19 squad who had a great 2009/2010 season and were 2nd in the U19 SFL League, which is a super result considering it was a part-time squad. Blair has been offered a place at Stirling University but has decided to start in 2011. This will give him a year in full-time football before he needs to decide on his future career. We wish him all the best.

fencing for Scotland was part of their silver medal team in 1970 prior to joining the Navy.

Lieutenant Bowers is currently serving on the fourth Type 45 Destroyer - DRAGON - as the Deputy Weapon Engineer Officer. The Type 45 Destroyers are the largest and most powerful Air Defence Destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. DRAGON was launched in November 2008. Lt Bowers is part of the BAE Systems Surface Ships and MoD team preparing the ship for her first sea trials scheduled to begin in November this year.

In addition to his duties onboard Lieutenant Bowers is Secretary of Navy Fencing and also the current Navy Champion at Arms, having taken both the sabre and the epee title at the Navy Championships. Keith has competed under the RN banner on the National fencing circuit and regularly represents the UK as a referee on the fencing Grand Prix circuit (top level of international competition). Keith also gained a coaching qualification this year as he is determined to pass on his skills to the Navy and the wider communities located around his postings. As one of the senior British sabre referees, he is currently hoping to partake in the London Olympics as a referee.

UNIVERSITY NEWS

The following Former Pupils are to becongratulated on their recent achievements:

University of AberdeenMurray Alexander UCHE (Science)Leslie Cruickshank MBBSMichael Cullens MA 2:1Romey Giles MBBSFaizan Jabbar MBBS BSc 2:2Stephanie Malcolm MA 2:1Jane Malone MA Donald Sutherland LLB 2:1Caroline Ward MBBS BSc 2:1James Wright UDHE

University of CambridgePeter Galloway 2:1 (will now go on to study medicine at Wolfson College, Cambridge)

University of Edinburgh Graeme Carlyle MA Classics 2:1Amanda Fisher English 2:1Lauren Gibson LLB Law 2:1Katherine McIntosh MA Geography 2:1Ben Thomas BSc Mathematical Physics 1st Kirsty Thompson LLB 1st

University of GlasgowEuan Alexander MA 2:2Martin Connelly LLB 2:1Jennifer Cruickshank BSc (Med Sci) 2:1John Evans M Eng 1st Jordan Henderson BA (Hons) 2:1Harriet Holdsworth BScKatherine Macdonald MA meritDavid McKeown MA 2:1

Heriot Watt UniversityStuart Whyte BA

Napier UniversityMark Robson MSc Human Resource Management

University of Newcastle

Robyn Daniel MBBS Medicine (with Merit)

University of Strathclyde Alanah Toye MSc Distinction

fp forum


BIRTHS

CHADWICKTo Sally (neé Watson, FP 1991 - 1992, Argyll House) and Richard, a son, Callum William, born on 4th May 2010.CHRISTIEOn Wednesday 9th June 2010, to David (FP 1985 - 1990 and member of Staff) and Gabriella Christie, a daughter, Olivia.DOUGALLOn 16th May 2010 in West Middlesex Hospital, Twickenham, to Craig (FP 1984 - 1995) and Kyrstynn, a son, Blair William Jan. A grandson for George Dougall (FP 1965 -1967).DRUMMONDOn 14th September 2010, to Sandra (née Kay, FP 1985 - 1993) and Willie Drummond, a daughter, Darcy Davina, a sister for Annabella.FREWINBorn on 12th January 2010, to Charles and Ruth (née Barnes, FP 1984 - 1990), a son, William Arthur, a little brother for Daniel and Rebecca.FRYERShoena (née Payne, FP 1984 -1990) and Justin Fryer are delighted to announce the birth of their baby daughter, Annalie Mary, on 10th July 2010. Annalie is the second grandchild of Patricia and David Shearer Payne (Former Staff 1982 - 2005).HARRISOn 8th November 2009, to Rob and Catriona (née Stephenson, FP 1991 - 1995), a son, Fionnlagh.HUDSONIn Cairns, Australia on 11th August 2010, to Chris (FP 1988 - 1996)and Darani, the gift of a daughter, Ualani Rose Helen, a baby sister for Leathan.JAMIESONAlasdair (FP 1972 - 1978) and Marion are delighted to announce the birth of Lilly Ilené on the 8th March 2010 at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, a little sister for Isla.

MACKLINOn 26th May 2009 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to Katriona (née Dougan, FP 1992 - 1994) and Jonathan, twin sons, Fletcher and Bertie. In November 2009 the Macklin family moved to Zurich.McQUAKEROn 19th April 2010 in Borders General Hospital, to James and Alison (née Bowie, FP 1985 - 1993) a daughter, Charlotte Alexandra, a sister for Olivia Grace.MOOREOn 30th August 2010, to Heather (Staff) and Alan, a son, Stirling, a brother for Ethan.RORKEOn 7th April 2010, to Philip (FP 1981 - 1989) and Vicky (née Stout, FP 1983 - 1989), a daughter, Annabel, a sister for Andrew.WADDELLOn 20th June, to Lorna and Robin (FP 1982 - 1990), a daughter, Emily Isla.

DEATHSCARRRichard Carr (FP 1989 - 2000) on the 14th September, 2010. See obituuary page 79.COLMANJ Arthur Colman (FP 1940 - 1943) on 15th June, 2010. See obituary page 80.COWANOn 5th February 2010 in Nelson, British Columbia, Gordon Douglas Cowan (FP 1939 - 1949, Tait House). See obituary page 81.CRAMGeorge B Cram (FP 1934 - 1940, Head Boy) died in September 2009 in Dundee.DOWAnne Brunton Dow (née McArthur, FP 1939 - 1946, Head Girl) passed away following a stroke on 21st March 2010, surrounded by her children. Anne studied medicine at Edinburgh University. She met her husband, Alexander Dow (who died shortly after her), when both were working as house doctors in

Jamaica. They married in 1955 and later moved to Sunderland, in the north east of England, where they remained and raised four children. Anne worked as a GP and then an audiologist until her retirement.FREWJames Shearer Frew (FP 1927 - 1935, Milne and Kennedy Medalist), died very peacefully in Turret Villa Retirement Home, Berwick on the last day of summer, 2010. See obituary page 82.FYFEDr John Fyfe, peacefully at home in Perth on 9th October 2010 at the age of 79, beloved husband of Isobel and much loved father of Alastair, Anne and Neil. See obituary page 81.KEILLARIan Keillar (FP 1935 - 1941) died in Elgin on the 16th October, 2010, at the age of 85.KENNEDYJames Richard Pringle Kennedy (FP 1931 - 1938). Born 14th October 1919 in Hyderabad, India. Died 1st August 2010 in Eastbourne, Sussex, aged 90. Survived by his children Helen and Ian, his eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was a great man - a larger-than-life figure with a strong, ethical character, who will be so sadly missed.MOOREBenjamin James Moore (FP 2000 – 2001, McNabb), died on the 13th September 2010, aged 25. See obituary page 82.RATTRAYGeorge Balharrie Rattray (FP 1935 - 1940), on the 2nd December 2009 at his home in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. See obituary page 84.REEDCaptain Alastair Reed, Master Mariner, (FP 1932 - 1938) died in Australia on 1st August 2010, aged 87. Loving Husband of Josephine Pryde and father of Fiona, Catriona and Philip. An obituary will appear in the next issue of Fortunas.

fp forum


67

fp forumREXOn the 15th April 2010 in Edinburgh, Jean Rex (FP 1937 - 1945, née Hedderwick). Jean had happy memories of her years at Dollar Academy and always spoke fondly of the time she lived in Dollar. On leaving school Jean studied to be an architectural technician at Edinburgh College of Art. Throughout her life she gained great pleasure from her love of painting and her keen interest in her garden.RICHARDSONA B S ‘Dickie’ Richardson (FP 1923 - 1927), of Firth Road, Troon, died peacefully on Thursday 16th September at the Sun Court Nursing Home, Troon, aged 99. Loving husband of the late Helen (née Grant), much loved father of Peter and the late Ailsa; father-in-law of Sally and James; grandfather of Andrew, Fiona, Bruce and Jacqueline; great-grandfather of Samantha, Jennifer, Joshua and Nicola. See obituary page 85.WARDILL Mary (FP 1938 – 1946, née Younie) died after a short illness on Saturday 26th June 2010 in Sudbury, Canada. Mary, who attended Dollar with her sisters Helen and Elspeth, graduated from Aberdeen University BSc MBChB and, in 1959, married James C Wardill FRCS (deceased 2003). They lived and worked in Sudbury very happily with their five children: Jake, Max, Jane, Quin and Patricia, and six grandchildren.WEIROn 7th December 2009, John Weir (FP 1949 - 1952) of Dunfermline passed away. He is survived by his partner Myra, three children and three grandchildren

MARRIAGES

BORROWMAN - BROWNOn 3rd July 2010 at Doune Castle, followed by a reception in the marquee at Dollar Academy, Lyndsey-Anne Borrowman (FP 1992 - 2000) daughter of David (FP) and Elan (Staff) to Peter, son of Tom and Winifred Brown. Many FPs, both old and young, attended with a surprise performance from the prize-winning Pipe Band who led the bride and groom down to the marquee.

PATERSON – FULLEROn Sunday 8th August 2010, at Hyndland Parish Church, Glasgow, Fiona Paterson (FP 2000 - 2001) to Jonathan Fuller. FPs Gilly Roche and Anneka Thomason were bridesmaids and FP Fergus Dunnet piped for the occasion.

MCGONIGLE - FERGUSONOn 15th October 2010, at Oran Mor, Jill McGonigle (FP 1991 - 1999) to Graeme Ferguson.PARTINGTON - SUMPSTERCongratulations to Catriona Susan Partington (FP 1972 - 1980) and Jerry David Sumpster from Guildford, Surrey, who married in Inverness on the 13th September 2010.SIMPSON – SERAFINIThe marraige took place on 31st July 2010 between Fiona Simpson (FP 1991 - 1998) and Charlie Serafini at Lennoxlove House, Haddington.TURNBULL – COCHRANEOn Thursday 8th July 2010, Claire Turnbull (FP 1995 - 2002) married Dr Ian Cochrane at Airton Castle. Ian and Claire are currently living and working in Glasgow.WATSON – CHADWICKOn the 29th May 2010, on the Isle of Arran, Sally Watson (FP 1991 - 1992) to Richard Chadwick.WILSON - FORDE On 11th September 2010 in Florence, Italy, Jennifer Wilson (FP 1989 - 1995) to Samuel Forde.


FIGHTING BACK FROM INJURY

Dollar Academy has had a long association with the military. It has also had a long association with the Hutchison family. Both my mother and father attended the School and both later played a large part in the School’s former pupil organisations, with my father ending up as a governor and mother twice elected as chairperson of the Dollar FP Club.

I attended the Academy from 1965 to 1980, and my two brothers and my sister followed in my wake, trying desperately to restore the family name. Like the vast majority of people who are fortunate enough to receive an education at Dollar, I took it for granted that I would remain friends, and stay in touch, with the folks with whom I had been educated. It was not until I left that I fully appreciated the sense of family that the School generates amongst its pupils and former pupils, and that, sadly, this is not the case with all schools.

On leaving school I was one of those people who had no idea what to do in life until I joined my next family. The Royal Marine’s Commandos are a family of men trained to take on any challenge and do so with the utmost professionalism, and with integrity and humour. Like the Academy, this family generates powerful bonds between those who serve and, similar to the School’s FP clubs, there is an organisation, The Royal Marines Association, that keeps ex-marines connected with each other and the corps.

As most of you will be aware, for the last few years the Royal Marines, alongside other military forces

from Britain and elsewhere, have been involved in the grim and uncompromising fight to restore safety, freedom from repression and a benign political order in Afghanistan, and snuff out a serious terrorist threat at its root. What you might not know is that for every death announced in the press, there are five or six men seriously injured with what the medics call ‘life-changing’ injuries (the boys call it being ‘spanked’).

The primary medical care for these men is world class, ensuring that many are able to return to the UK and survive injuries that would have been fatal a mere ten years ago. The recovery pathways for these men are long, gruelling and painful, requiring humbling reserves of courage and determination to adapt to the new bodies they find themselves left with after losing body parts in a foreign field.

Two years ago, after moving to a farm on Royal Deeside, I became fully aware of the damage these men were suffering from. The tales I heard from my Royal Marine friends who were still serving convinced Emma, my wife, and me that we needed to do something to help. We had always intended to breed horses on our new farm and immediately saw the benefit of getting recovering troops involved. The challenge of riding and the freedom and mobility it provides, combined with the therapeutic value in recovering self-esteem and soothing shattered nerves that is a feature of connecting with the horses was the starting point for Horseback UK.

Over the past two years we have formed a team and an organisation that has the following aims:

Firstly - to empower wounded men themselves through a direct input to the recovery pathways of comrades returning home as well as other disadvantaged people within society. ‘The boys’, as they are known, are already powerful and meaningful support to disadvantaged youngsters and many other charities in the north east. The fact that the boys themselves have suffered at the hands of fate gives them a particular and unique voice and approach in this work.

Secondly - to prepare the men for a civilian life beyond the military by exposing them to as many rural occupations as possible (most of us don’t want desk jobs) and by engaging with Colleges and Universities (Robert Gordon’s University and the Scottish Agricultural College) to ensure that the men can gain qualifications during their recovery pathway.

The third aim is to integrate the men into a vibrant community where interaction with civilians can take place without the need to be ‘wheeled out’. The commandos were originally formed by gamekeepers and ghillies from

‘I did not hear a click or the bang, but I knew I had been blown up.’


69

fp forum

Scotland and there is great synergy to this day between the two ways of life.

Finally, inclusivity, by which we mean no matter what the injury or with which branch of the Armed Forces a man or woman served, there is a place for them here. We have veterans working with us, some physically injured, others suffering from mental health problems as a result of their time serving the country. All feel entirely at home with the serving troops recovering here.

As an organisation we have achieved a great deal over the last two years, but we still have much work to do. We hope that the fact we have received our first tranche of funding from Help for Heroes and by co-ordinating with BattleBack and the other organisations involved in the recovery programmes of our service people, we can have a major input into ensuring that men and women that gave so much for all of us are able to move forward with the hope and dignity they deserve.

What follows is a typical story (Marines call them ‘dits’) of one of the men who is at the heart of Horseback and who was wounded in Afghanistan. Men and women such as himself do not want sympathy or pity but do need time, space and a supportive, familiar environment to adjust to a new body, come to terms with the anxieties and psychological harm that active service can induce, and begin to equip themselves for the demands of our civilian world.

THE DITI was a member of 4 Troop, X-Ray Company 45 Commando Royal Marines, and deployed with them on Op Herrick 9 to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Robinson, Sangin Valley, Afghanistan. On the 5th November 2008, as we

were patrolling to the west of our company location, I was involved in what became a life-altering experience as I stepped on a randomly placed IED (Improvised Explosive Device).

I did not hear a click or the bang, but I knew I had been blown up. I do remember hitting the ground and the pain not yet registering. There was a quiet and still feeling with echoed pinging sounds, followed by a pulsing throbbing sensation. Then the world seemed to speed up as if it had just stood still.

The lads were shouting to me to breathe and talk and I felt a member of the troop tightening a tourniquet. I then acknowledged a thump to my thigh as the auto injector pen was administered to my upper leg. I was rolled, lifted and carried by the lads running in thirty-five degree heat to the ERV (Emergency Rendezvous) nearly 2km away in full kit after a long patrol. The lads, well drilled and rehearsed for such an incident, were going hell-for-leather to get me to the inbound Vector casevac vehicle, whilst still professionally patrolling. Twenty-five minutes later and I was in the vehicle heading for the FOB’s helicopter landing zone. There, I was given another dose of pain relief via auto injector and, at this point, I recollect hearing the incoming helicopter Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) over the top of the words of encouragement by one of the attendees. Once I was placed on the Chinook, the medical team asked me a few questions. Due to the injuries to my face I could not see them but heard and answered as best I could before being given stronger pain relief.

Although I was in and out of consciousness, I do not remember where I was for the coming days. I can only remember awakening in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, after nearly two weeks. Mumbling to my wife and after initially thinking I was still in Afghanistan and sometimes in combat situations, the reality started to sink in of what had happened. Luckily the people who had looked after and visited me had written best wishes and things I had said and done during my induced coma in a couple of diaries. I was able to read these later on so that I would not have completely lost so many days of my life.

Surgeon Commander Lambert RN and the team at Camp Bastion had done a fantastic job, but still, my heart sank as the doctor informed me of my injuries: I had lost my left leg below knee, three digits to my right hand, my left eye, and sustained severe facial disfigurement as well as nearly losing my arm to a piece of shrapnel that had torn an artery during the blast.

After the tremendous initial efforts of the lads of 4 Troop X-Ray Company, the MERT, the Field hospital at Camp Bastion and then Selly Oak Hospital, I was ready to start the road to recovery. I was moved from the ICU to the infamous S4 ward with the rest of my injured comrades. There I was given Unit towels, wash kit, track suit, shorts, Unit T-shirt and crucially a Commando Green Beret - all courtesy of 45 Commando’s welfare package.


The Unit welfare team was extremely supportive, not only to ourselves but to all our families.

From Selly Oak the next target is Headley Court Military Rehabilitation Centre. But this takes time as each individual must undergo various stages according to their specific injuries. Most often it is ICU, Physiotherapy, a wheel chair onto crutches and then off, but not before a visit to the local public house, namely the ‘Country Girl’ that is situated down the road from the hospital – both a manageable walking and wheeling distance I found!

Five weeks at Selly Oak and I was allowed home for Christmas. The transition of coming home was made easier by the welfare and Base Company MT staff back at the Unit who arranged all our travelling needs. After a great time at home seeing family and friends, civilian and Royal Marine alike, it was time to head down to Surrey and Headley Court, but not before attending a good Christmas party and social gathering organised by 45 Commandos Royal Marines Association. I would like to pay a special tribute to the RMA for their support which many in my position value; bringing their experiences of past conflicts really does enhance the welfare package. The ability, in my view, to be able to speak with former Royal Marines in our own language, knowing that many of our kind have experienced similar events during previous conflicts, greatly aids recovery.

Headley Court is a kind of shock to the system from hospital life. Routines are based on a military program and mornings start with a 08.25 parade, followed by physical exercise in the well-equipped Trafford gym over-watched by extremely capable remedial instructors. Then, onto specifics with the physio or sessions with the occupational therapist. Integrated within the week are appointments with the prosthetic department preparing or tweaking limbs to individual needs. The regime I adhered to was a tailored, individual training program which can be tiring after weeks in a hospital bed. However, weekends are your own to pursue sport or hobbies organised by the MLOs (Military Liaison Officers).

After two three-week stints at Headley Court I was discharged back to RM Condor 45 Commando to carry on my rehabilitation and return to work within the Unit. Having arrived at Headley in a wheel chair, I left able to walk unaided and with the foundations for starting to run – a real testament to the work Headley does for all its patients. In March/April 2009 and ‘champing at the bit’ to return to Unit life, I then started a program at camp with the Unit Remedial Instructor and Physio along with working within X-Ray Company again, helping with administrative tasks.

Thanks to the dedication, professionalism, advice and backing of the many agencies, family and friends, we then started to integrate back into full Unit life. Many of us have further bridges to cross on the long road to full recovery, but, in true Royal Marine Commando fashion, these challenges are being met head-on and injured lads are now returning to their former status within the Corps, albeit with some adaptation!

It was at this point I was made aware of HorseBack UK. A few colleagues and I visited Jock and Emma where we immediately saw and felt the benefits of being in such tranquil surroundings, conducting energetic, rewarding, challenging and worthwhile activities. HorseBack UK has already given many of us a renewed spark and enthusiasm to life. I myself was then ‘drafted’ by the Royal Marines to join the team at the farm to help build and run courses for others that have to travel the recovery pathway. Injured servicemen and women are able to attend courses that give them an insight into horsemanship as well as rural activities and careers within the local area, should they wish to pursue them during or after their service term. Many injured service personnel will look to leave the service, and so such insight is crucial to the transition to civilian life. Being able to be a part of such a project is totally and unequivocally rewarding. To help fellow comrades and brothers in arms is based in every services ethos, but to help others within the community is sheer fulfilment in itself. For me personally, HorseBack UK has given me a purpose once again to serve the people of this country, which I have always been proud to do. The reaction from servicemen, injured servicemen, former servicemen and the local community is outstanding. With collaboration and co-ordination with other charities, HBUK will trail-blaze the way for injured and needing groups to help each other in such troubling times. This is really only obtainable with your help. For further information look at www.horseback.org.uk

Jock Hutchison (FP 1965 - 1980) and L/Cpl Jay Hare, 45 Commando Royal Marines


71

fp forum

BLOOD, SWEAT AND YEARS

When I read in the Sports Day programme for 2010 that there was to be a tennis match between pupils and the FPs I was genuinely very excited at the prospect. I emailed immediately to tell the School of my availability if required.

To give you a bit of background information on boys tennis when I was at the school (1970 – 75)… The game was played at team level by the girls in the summer but not by the boys - ‘Tennis is a girls’ sport - cricket or athletics for the boys in the summer’ (try telling John McEnroe that!) There were six of us who were very keen tennis players and, to be fair, Mr Carmichael, the Geography teacher, was in our corner and tried to arrange a couple of matches for us against other schools – he went out on a limb for us and we thank him profoundly. Because we were not exactly ‘encouraged’ to play at the school we joined the local tennis club in Dollar. We represented the local club and played matches against other clubs in the region. We also entered various tennis tournaments, where we enjoyed considerable success. In our final year, we eventually won the Central Region Club Team Trophy – our team photo is still on the wall at Dollar LTC. We were a very proud and close team and, over the years since we left school, we have had occasional reunions at the local club. We have really enjoyed meeting up and playing against each other again.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when I heard talk of an FPs’ match – recognition (of a sort) for the boys team at last! Alas, I was to discover it was only the girls who would be playing… I am afraid to say that this was a case of ‘light the blue touch paper and stand well back’ – I went off on one! It seemed the School had not changed since we all left in 1975 and we would have to continue to hold our reunions on Sports Day at the local tennis club in Dollar, where our achievements were recognised and where we had been encouraged to play as boys back in the 1970s. No wonder Andy Murray had to go to Spain to improve his skills.

On receipt of my ranting email, Andrea Poulter (FP Registrar) was tremendous and she contacted David Hall, a teacher at the School who was very keen to try to arrange a male FPs’ tennis match. By now we were running out of time if we were to play on Sports Day – I had to work quickly to get a team together. I managed to get three

of our team to agree to play at short notice: Ian Forgie, Vincent Finlayson and myself. David Hall agreed to play for us to make up a team of four and he would arrange for four boys from the school to play against us – we were at last up and running. Unfortunately David had a couple of last-minute call-offs from the boys so he ended up playing for the pupils, Matt and Tom, against us. The match was a great success and, as a result, it is now going to be an annual event – well done to all who took part.

So on to the day itself, the match results and a brief rundown of the individual performances... The weather conditions for the match were ideal: 21 degrees, not much wind with a lot of sun. The new block of tennis courts/hockey pitch looked tremendous and will, I am sure, prove to be a big attraction for the School. I always knew that it was going to be tough playing against the boys - with a combined age of over 150 years for the three FPs and less than half that for the boys team, we were going to be up against it. David Hall as ‘the boys’ team captain announced the format for the match: three doubles matches and three singles matches. Personally I had not played singles for around 10 years so playing against a 17-year-old was a tough prospect. Anyway, we persevered and all had a wonderful day.

Andrew Chalmers and Vincent Finlayson v Tom Henderson and Matt Williamson: Andrew and Vincent lost narrowly to Matt and Tom (6-5). The FPs took a bit of time adjusting to the pace and bounce of the new surface (that’s our excuse and we are sticking to it).

Ian Forgie v David Hall: Ian beat David (6-4), despite a late rally from David with some trademark blistering forehands. This left the match evenly balanced at 1-1.

Vincent Finlayson and Ian Forgie v David Hall and Matt Williamson: David and Matt squeezed home against Ian and Vincent (6-5), despite some impressively accurate serving from Vincent. Unfortunately Vincent sustained an injury after a fall while chasing down a ball – leaving some of his skin as a momento on the new surface!

Andrew Chalmers v Tom Henderson: after a very long match full of rallies, Andrew’s greater match experience proved invaluable. After some impressive shot making from both players and match points on both sides Andrew eased ahead and won (6-5). All square going into the final set of matches.

Andrew Chalmers and Ian Forgie v David Hall and Tom Henderson: Andrew and Ian closed out a desperately tight doubles (6-5). With neither side willing to give in, the match went on and on and on! The old team of Chalmers and Forgie ground out a memorable victory.

Vincent Finlayson v Matt Williamson: Matt played incredibly well and his big hitting took its toll, despite some incredible serving from Vincent. Matt won the match (6-4) and so the final result of the inaugural boys FP match was an honourable draw (3-3).

Andrew Chalmers (FP 1970-75)


GEORGE HENRY PAULIN EXHIBITION

A highlight of Sports Weekend was the exhibition on George Henry (Harry) Paulin. This was a unique chance to see sculptures, paintings and photographs of work by this excellent Scottish sculptor.

Harry was born in Muckhart and attended Dollar Academy. Although mainly remembered now for the war memorials he created, his output of other work was large. The Paulin family kindly lent many items, including small busts and sculptures, and three portraits, two of them self-portraits. There were also thirty much enlarged black and white photographs of his larger sculptures. The Music Auditorium proved to be a very suitable display area.

The exhibition was researched and set up by Janet Carolan (Archivist) and Ryan Welsh (History Department),

with much help from Jeremy Paulin, Harry’s grandson. Mary Witherow, Harry Paulin’s younger daughter, opened the exhibition, which attracted many visitors on both the Saturday and the Sunday.

A short biography of Harry Paulin was written for the exhibition by his son-in-law Marcus Witherow and was printed by the school. Very little biographical information was previously available and this book fills a gap. The exhibition, the biography and the press coverage have all helped to raise the profile of one of Dollar Academy’s most eminent Former Pupils.

Mary Witherow, Harry Paulin’s younger daughter, is presented with flowers after

opening the exhibition by Jenny Walls, Junior One.

Mary Witherow, John Robertson and Janet Carolan holding Harry Paulin’s statuette of Dr Andrew Mylne (Photos by Jan van der Merwe.)

Three portraits by G.H. Paulin. Two self-portraits and one of his granddaughter

Sheila MacKenzie (resting on Harry’s own easel).

Some of the items lent by the Paulin family and the statuette of Dr Andrew Mylne (on the right) which belongs to the School.


73

fp forum

HOUSE OF LORDS WINE AND CANAPES

Below are comments from some of the 250 guests who attended a very special evening at the House of Lords on the 18th June, 2010.

‘The London Dollar Academy Club meeting on the 18th June was a fantastic event and a fitting send-off for the Rector, John Robertson. The tour of the Houses of Parliament was a great start to the evening and, with our guide insistent on testing our historical and political knowledge at every spectacular turn, we reached the Peers’ Lobby feeling we had earned at least one glass of champagne! As ever, the evening was a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and rub shoulders with FPs of various vintages. However, as this was the London Club’s farewell to John Robertson, this meeting also had an added significance. The respect and appreciation for John’s contribution to Dollar over the past seventeen years was clear and, as someone who was lucky enough to have seen this contribution firsthand over many of those years, the feeling was magnified.’

Euan Mackay (FP 2002)

‘Yet another stunning location with the winning combination of wine and more than a dusting of history. What more could you want but to tread the hallowed halls of Whitehall and surreptitiously rub the foot of Winston Churchill.’

Thomas Rose (FP 2008)

‘It was a hugely enjoyable evening and fascinating to see ‘behind the scenes’ at the House of Commons. Such a variety of attendees and, as always, a number of non-Dollar people who said how much they wished they had been at Dollar with us! The wine and canapés were absolutely delicious too (let’s hope the Government don’t cut their catering budget this year!)’

Kirsty Gillies (FP 2002)

‘The Dollar Academy London Club summer drinks party at the House of Lords was an unqualified success. Many took the opportunity to take one of the tours round the Westminster, culminating in the room where the House of Lords gave their last ever judicial decision in 2009 before becoming the Supreme Court. Thereafter, hordes of FP and guests congregated for a drinks reception as guests of The Earl Howe. That the room was rather cramped was testament to the high turnout from

Academicals of all vintages. From 9pm onwards, attendees dispersed, many heading for the pub while one group went for dinner, appropriately enough, at Albenach, the Scottish Restaurant by Trafalgar Square - a fitting conclusion to a fine evening.’

David Grant (FP 1994)

‘We thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening and we are so glad to have made the effort to come down for it as sometimes good events present themselves and are really worth it. The tour was excellent. We now want to delve into the building’s history in more depth - why didn’t we have a school visit in Form V? Then there was the added spice of Sandy Campbell’s near incarceration on entry - off to the Tower! Finally there was the generosity of the House of Lords’ reception - delicious canapés and wine that really flowed.’

Caroline Watson (FP 1969)

EX-GOVERNOR ‘COLLARED’ AT HOUSE OF LORDS Sandy Campbell, ex-Dollar Academy Club Representative Governor, was detained by the House of Lords Police Department for being in possession of a lethal pen-knife while trying to gain entry to the Peers Dining Room. The weapon has now been rendered harmless and Mr Campbell, severely rebuked, was lucky not to be sent to the Tower. In a comment afterwards, he is purported to have said ‘It was a fair cop. I was going to cut up the canapés to make them spread a bit further. Honest Guv!’

From right to left: Maggie Munn, Wendy Cook, Jackie Aitken, Sheila Campbell and Heather Cruickshank.


NORTH OF ENGLAND CLUB AUTUMN LUNCH

Sunday, 3rd October was the date set by our new President, Adrian Grant (FP 1966), for us to gather at Samlesbury Hall (between Preston and Blackburn) for a tour before lunch. The Hall, a 14th Century Manor House, is a very attractive black and white, wood, wattle and daub building, with the Great Hall, the oldest part, being built in the 1320s. The tour was fascinating and included a significant number of well documented stories of ghosts and apparitions.

There was nothing ghostly about the twenty-six FPs (the most we have ever attracted to this event) and the gathering included many new faces. Congratulations to Adrian for organising such an excellent venue that attracted new blood. Included in the company were Saul and Sarah (FP 1990), Judith Cropper (FP 1962), Barry (FP 1957) and Susan Fisher, Peter and Liz Hansen (FP 1963), Graeme (FP 1942) and Margaret Lockwood, Peter and Elsbeth (FP 1963) Stafford and Bert (FP 1958) and Veronica Suttie. Joining them were Adrian with his wife Alicia, Alan and Marilyn Kenny and regulars Sandy and Sally Goodall, David and Grace Hunter, Robin (Past President) and Sheila Wight, the brothers Keith and Gordon Wilson and, yours truly, Deirdre Buchanan. Our Governor, Andrew Webb, and his wife Rosemary were very sorry they could not be with us on this occasion.

We enjoyed a hearty lunch and there was much to talk about once we had wrestled with Adrian’s ‘Lancastrian Colour Quiz’. After the meal, Adrian thanked us all for our attendance; I added that I hoped the newcomers would join our Club and we then mingled, swapped more stories and eventually tore ourselves away.

The torrential rain we endured on the cross-Pennine journey had, by then, disappeared and we drove home in lovely autumnal sunshine, reflecting on the success of the day. Our thanks go to Adrian and Alicia for all the arrangements and we hope to see many of our North West of England FPs at our Annual Dinner in Pickering on Friday 25th March, 2011.

Deirdre BuchananHon Secretary

RATHMORONS AT THE HOUSE OF LORDS

While squeezing through the packed FPs at the recent London Dollar Academy Club reception at the House of Lords, I was fortunate to bump into five former Rathmore Boarding House boys. Back then, in the 50s, we were collectively referred to by one of the maths masters, ‘Speedy’ Smith, as ‘Rathmorons’, all in good spirit, I believe…

The reason this group is interesting is that they span 20 years at Dollar, from 1946, when the first one arrived, until 1966, when the last one left. Rathmore, no longer a boys’ Boarding House, was located just past St Columba’s church on the Muckhart Road. It was contiguous with Rosemount, a girls’ Boarding House, with only a wall separating two of the dormitories. An elaborate set of knocking signals allowed us to secretly communicate with the girls next door, which at the time seemed quite a daring recreation. Both Houses were privately owned - Rathmore by a Mrs Tennant, who kept us in strict good order. Interestingly, most of the conversations at the reunion, enlivened by several glasses of wine, were about our experiences with her. Discipline was tough: the Head Boys were allowed to mete out punishment to the younger ones, usually by applying the working end of hard-soled Cambridge slippers to pyjama-clad backsides (since one of the main crimes was ‘talking after lights out’). I know because I was a repeat offender. Apart from that, there were many cheery times and I know we all benefited from our shared companionship. The ‘boys’ in the picture are, from left to right, Ralph MacWilliam (arrived in 1946), Douglas ‘George’ Smith, John Buchan, Hamish Buchan, Roger Robertson (left in 1966) and Angus Robb. The reception, organised by Elizabeth Heath, was one of the best in my memory and was attended by a record crowd of jolly FPs. Congratulations, Elizabeth.

Angus Robb (FP 1951 – 1957)


75

fp forumDATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Glasgow Dinner Wednesday, 9th March, 2011Western Club

North of England AGM and DinnerFriday, 25th March, 2011White Swan

DARFC DinnerFriday, 24th June, 2011Dollar Academy Dining Hall

SYDNEY REUNION

A reunion is planned for Saturday 8th January, 2011, in Sydney, Australia, to coincide with the Ashes. All FPs and partners welcome! If interested, please take a look at the website for further details and how to register for this event.

1963-1966 FPS AND FRIENDS Next summer, Dollar FPs Peggy McAree (from New Zealand) and Heather Cormack (from Australia) are planning to visit the UK. We thought it would be nice if we could contact as many old friends as possible to arrange a mini-reunion at Sports Weekend on the 25th - 26th June 2011. If there were enough of us we could reserve a table at the Saturday night dinner in the Marquee (last Saturday in June, as usual).

If you would be interested in participating could you please let Andrea Poulter at [email protected] know as soon as possible to enable us to arrange the reunion. Please see the school website for accommodation in the Dollar area.

Peggy and Heather look forward to seeing many friends from the 1960s.

1960 REUNION

On the Friday evening immediately preceding Sports Weekend 2010, the 1960 leavers year and 1959-1960 1st sports teams held a 50-year reunion in the Captain’s Room. Forty-six FPs, ten spouses and two invited guests (Andrea Poulter, FP Registrar, and husband Andrew) made the trip from near and far, with the long-distance prize going to Ross Sharp and John Buchan and his wife Moneca, all from Vancouver, Canada.

Although the reunion doors opened at 5.30 pm on the Friday evening, two warm-up events had already set things in motion: an impromptu get-together over drinks in a local Dollar pub on the Thursday evening and a sandwich lunch followed by golf at Dollar GC on the Friday afternoon. So, with everyone present and name-tags distributed, amidst steadily mounting sounds of enjoyment, the Rector, John Robertson, joined us bang on time at 6.30 pm. After a short address, during which he reviewed the considerable progress at Dollar over the last fifty years, Mr Robertson left to officiate at the traditional Friday evening theatre piece in Stirling.

During a short welcome message, Henry Ferguson described the evening ground rules (which he compared to those often in effect at Swiss weddings): a maximum of informality, impromptu speeches if anyone so wished, no top table, lots of milling around facilitated by the buffet format and, to thunderous applause, he also broke the good news that wine, beer and soft drinks would be included in the overall price for the evening. On a more sober note, this was also the moment to remember deceased classmates and those with whom the School has lost contact. Collective thanks were expressed to those who had, in some way or another, worked to make the evening a success: the small group of organisers (Janet Rorke (Carolan), Sandy Goodall, Derek Napier and Henry Ferguson), the broader group of willing helpers (Karen McCuaig (Macdonald), David Christie, Alistair Robinson and Michael Todd), John Robertson, Geoff Daniel, and other members of staff too numerous to mention. Finally, as a token of our gratitude for services rendered over and above the call of duty, Andrea Poulter was presented with a floral arrangement.

Then the evening really got started; an excellent hot buffet was spiced up by Derek presenting the world


premier of his latest poem, 50 years on, a short but noisy raffle took place (three of the top prizes being generously offered by the Poulter family) and Colin Manlove rose to the Swiss wedding challenge when he made a short speech emphasising the importance of the School’s intellectual, as opposed to sporting, outputs. And then, as midnight drew closer, the entire group was led by conductor Willie Jarvis in a rousing rendition of the School Song (the Here in a Fair Green Valley version...) During at least two of his formal speeches at subsequent Sports Weekend events, the Rector was heard to say that, on his way home from Stirling, he and his wife had seen the roof of the Captain’s Room jumping up and down. I suspect that nobody present would want to argue with him!

The evening wasn’t only fun and games, and in an ultra-rapid business session, it was agreed that the next reunion would be held in 2015 (the hope being that this would give sufficient advance notice to allow down-under classmates to make suitable family and travel arrangements).

A significant number of those present elected to stay in and around Dollar for most (if not all) of the entire Sports Weekend and, aided by the good weather, the various opportunities for maintaining contact with fellow classmates (Saturday lunch at the Harvieston Inn and the Sunday BBQ at Pat and Pete Wall’s were excellent examples) proved to be the icing on the cake.

Roll on 2015...Henry Ferguson

FIRST CUSTOMERS AT THE GOLF CLUB

I first heard about ‘The Glen’ in an e-mail to FPs from Andrea Poulter. ‘The Glen’ is the name of a brand new flat for rent on the top floor of the Dollar Golf Club and my wife and I and a couple we know from Texas were the inaugural renters during part of May, 2010. The reason for our visit to Scotland was to show our friends, who are avid golfers, the famous Scottish courses and, of course, the Academy. Dollar is a great starting point for the tour, with St Andrews, Gleneagles and Carnoustie close by. ‘The Glen’ consists of two double en-suite bedrooms and a spacious kitchen and living room with all mod cons and wrap-around views. The north view is of Dollar Glen and the golf course (see photo) and the south view is of the village. The flat is managed very efficiently by the club and residents have access to the golf course, the dining area and the pub. The pub food was great and the local company affable. We played the course, each taking bogies at the notorious second hole. ‘The Glen’ is an ideal spot for visiting FPs with friends or family and is superbly run by the most congenial staff. If you’re lucky, you’ll also have good weather and be awoken each morning to the skirl of the Academy pipe band at practice.

Angus Robb (FP 1951-1957)


77

Junior Photograph circa 1954John Hamilton/Galbraith ? John Brown, Edwin White, Philip Glen, Ian Thomas, Peter Kirkwood, Robin Dodds,

Frank EtchellsSandy Morrison, Peter Forbes, Andrew White ? David Coutts?, Fraser Campbell, Robin Shaw, Robert Malcolm, Jamie

McAreeSheila Henderson ? Rita Wearing, Sandra Simpson, Angela Gray, Helen Marshall, Sandra Galloway, Ivy Moodie, Robina

FraserCharmain Jones, Shona Galloway ?

OZZIE MEETING ALMOST 60 YEARS ON

On my last trip to Brisbane to visit my son, I was invited by his mother-in-law to accompany her to her local Probus meeting where I was delighted and astonished to meet Jamie McAree (FP 1949 - 1962), who was in my year at Dollar.

I must admit I had the advantage of seeing the name James McAree in the Probus prospectus and I thought there was the possibility that it might be him as his surname is quite unusual. Also, my friend said she thought he could be Scottish but he didn’t have a Scottish accent.

Jamie didn’t recognise me but the minute he walked through the door I knew it was him as he hadn’t

fp forum

changed a bit! After a little while, and being slightly shocked, we started reminiscing as though our school days had been yesterday. After the meeting, we caught up again over a leisurely lunch, together with his wife Carol and other members of the club.

Jamie and Carol have recently moved to Bundenberg, north of Brisbane, but we have promised to keep in touch and I will certainly look forward to meeting them again on my next visit to Oz.

Helen Young (née Marshall FP 1948 – 1959)


fp forumSCHOOL ORCHESTRA

Watching the BBC Proms last night, they featured Rogers and Hammerstein - I was immediately taken back to the school orchestra of 1958-60 when we played the very same pieces from South Pacific.

Our leader back then was Mr ‘Reggie’ Barnet who must have been quite progressive to select the score from a film that had only been out a few months. He suggested I take up the double bass for two reasons: firstly, I was quite tall and, secondly, the only other bass player was due to leave at the end of the academic year. I can remember a few good concerts, including one in Bridge of Allan where the whole orchestra travelled in one double-decker bus - with me and my bass on the rear footplate there being insufficient room inside the bus. Mr Barnet also generously allowed us to use the school instruments for a jazz quartet that we formed and this continued long after the orchestra folded (due to the fire and because Mr Barnet moved on to another school.)

During our house move two years ago I unearthed all my school reports some with fulsome praise from Mr Barnet. Also tagged on to these were reports from my piano teacher, Miss Mackie, who had also chosen a South Pacific selection for me to play. I am glad to report I still have the music and can still play it.

Of the other players from the orchestra I can remember only a few, such as Jakie Gordon on the French horn, Craig Moodie on the clarinet and Ruth Innes (now my sister-in-law) on the viola. Can any other members of the orchestra remember those days and are there any photographs available? How many folk are still playing instruments that they learned at Dollar? For me it was a very happy time and music has given me great pleasure over subsequent years.

Gus Carnegie (FP 1958 - 1964)

WHO’S WHO?

I was quite excited to see the photo of Parkfield House in 1960/61 submitted by Graham Hornel in the June issue of Fortunas. My brother, Ian, and I entered Parkfield a couple of years later. He now lives in Accra, Ghana, and I am in Seoul, South Korea. Here, for interest, are photos of Parkfield in 63/64 and 64/65 with people identified as best we can.

Mike Breen (FP 1963 - 1965)

1963/64Top, left to right: Michael Breen, Timothy Mitchell, Simon Black, Ian Breen, Ron Johnson,

Donald MacDonald, Gordon Shaw Standing, left to right: Alan Stevens, Ian MacDonald, Ronald Cairns, Kenneth Swann, DJ

MacDonald (not related to Ian or Donald), Lorne Cuthbert, Ian (?) Ferguson, Graham Fallon Seated, left to right: Robin Crosthwaite, RD Young, Ian Dickie, Housemaster Mungo

Robertson, Robert Aitken, Stuart Robertson, Bill Muirhead Bottom, left to right: Stuart (?) Dickie, Alan Cofflard (?), Eric McClennan, Kenneth Johnson

1964/65Top: Michael Breen, Ian Breen, Ian MacDonald, Lorne Cuthbert, Ronald Johnson, Graham

Fallon, Alan Stevens. Middle: RD Young, DJ MacDonald, Ronald Cairns, Kenneth Swann, Robert Aitken, Bill

Muirhead, Robin Crosthwaite, J. Ferguson. Seated: Colin Campbell, S. Liddell, Graham Hornel, Mungo Robertson, Iain Dickie, Andrew (?)

Fallon, Stuart Robertson. Front: Timothy Mitchell, Gordon Shaw, Simon Black, Donald MacDonald.


79

RICHARD GEORGE RAYMOND DUNCAN CARR MA 23rd March 1982 - 14th September 2010FP 1989-2000

Richard was a car fanatic who was carried into his first race in 1982, when his father was racing the first Carr Racing MG Midget. He grew up with racing, and was often to be seen in his diminutive racing overalls, leaning over the cars of his heroes and asking pertinent questions of the drivers and mechanics. His knowledge of the sport flourished; he devoured Autosport and was a constant companion (and severe critic) of his father’s racing efforts.

When fifteen, he attended his first Scottish Motor Racing Club dinner and was introduced to David Coulthard and Dario Franchitti, amongst others, and, on telling them that he wanted to design for Mercedes, their advice was to ‘stick in!’ - which he did, gaining a place in the Dollar Academy First Fifteen, representing

Scotland with them in Japan and playing in the final of the Scottish Schools Championship. He gained a reputation for being able to turn the scrum and did so in that game against Merchiston - when he took the field, the chant of ‘Ooh Ahh Richard Carr’ could distinctively be heard.

Obtaining a place at Coventry University, he achieved an Upper Second Degree in Vehicle Design, and during his time there he played for Coventry City Rugby Club, alongside several international exponents of the game. The Motor Racing Engineering course at Cranfield University followed and, after he found the engineering not to his taste, he went to Loughborough University to return to his first love: design. He continued his rugby career in Milton Keynes RC and even had a foray into rugby league.

While studying for his Masters in Industrial Design, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and extensive surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed. He rallied in late 2009 and graduated on the 15th December 2009.

His race driving career, while spanning only a few years, encompassed many cars - starting with a ‘sports/GT Fiesta’. He was ever-willing to try any vehicle and raced a Daimler, aV8 Sierra, a Fiesta Challenge car and even tried a Mallock, when he worked in a placement with that manufacturer (although he did say that he had to sit sideways in the car due to his size!)

His television debut on Top Gear came when an outspoken Richard was pulled from the audience by Jeremy Clarkson and asked to explain his comment that the Lamborghini was ‘uncool’! His final racing car was his beloved space frame Sunbeam Imp and, during his work on this car, he was making employment overtures to Team Lotus GP.

His enthusiasm for the sport never diminished and, although unable to drive or indeed walk, he kept up with the Sports Car and F1 scene. His encyclopedic knowledge of the sport was unsurpassed, and he was known for what became labelled ‘Richard’s Rants’ on car websites... His final outing was at the wheel of a classic E Type Jaguar at Knockhill on his 28th birthday, the 23rd March 2010. He deteriorated thereafter and died in West Park Care Home in Leslie, but he managed, at the last, to witness the Italian GP on television. His life was one of enthusiasm and driving ambition and his love for and pride in Dollar Academy never faltered.

Dr Bill Carr

obituaries


ARTHUR COLMANFP 1939 - 1943

Arriving fresh from Rangoon, when we first saw our new family home in Ancon, Ecuador, there were tears. Replacing the colonial splendour of the Burmese capital was a brown, desert landscape with low wooden bungalows and a few squatting vultures. It was 1965 and another international move in the peripatetic career of Arthur Colman, who had spent his entire working life until then as an exploration petroleum geologist in exotic locations such as India, Pakistan and Burma.

Arthur was a very successful geologist. Technically able, he was equally at home with core drilling samples as he was with a slide rule, creating fearsomely complex profiles of geological substrata. Always much more interested in the technical aspects of his job than he was in general management, he was highly respected by the teams of professionals and technicians he led, and was often at the forefront of Burmah Oil’s exploration activities.

Born in Glasgow in 1925, the eldest of three children, he was educated at Glasgow Academy and then Dollar Academy, where he was a boarder from 1939 to 1943. Academically strong, he excelled particularly in the sciences and played an important part in broader school life. He was a Colour Sergeant in the CCF and a fixture in the shooting team that competed at Bisley. In the years to come he enjoyed teaching his sons to shoot a .22 air rifle.

Arthur attended Glasgow

University from 1943 to 1946, completing a four-year course in three years and emerging with a 1st Class degree in Geology. He joined Burmah Oil that same year, keen to get into the field. There followed an intense introduction to the world of work - four and a half years without leave, often in testing field conditions and sometimes with soldiers to protect him and his men from armed insurgents.

Nancy and Arthur married in Aberdeen in 1959, and their first home was in Chauk, Upper Burma, thereafter in Rangoon. Children soon made their appearance - Gordon in 1960, Gavin in 1961, and Graham in 1963. Regime change in Burma led to our move to Ecuador in 1965. This was challenging career-wise and an interesting country in which to bring up a young family. We spent three years in the sandy coastal oil town of Ancon, where Arthur game-fished for dorado at sea, played golf on grassless courses (‘browns’ instead of ‘greens’) - and took us exploring in our racy Morris 1100. There followed several years based in the capital city, Quito. We had occasional trips out to the jungle to visit Arthur on his field trips, made all the more exciting by journeys in small planes across the Andes, helicopter transfers, talk of headhunter tribes and strange wildlife.

Arthur and Nancy moved on to Perth, Australia, in 1972 before the great expansion of exploration in the North Sea brought them back to the UK in 1976. Once again, Arthur was at the forefront of a new push, and his extensive experience made him an

important contributor to this highly complex work.

During his postings Arthur took the opportunity to learn something of the local culture and languages, including Burmese, Hindustani and Urdu in which he passed the required exams. After going to Ecuador he obtained an ‘A’ grade in Higher Spanish. In later years he would surprise Bangladeshi waiters in the UK by addressing them in something approximating their own language. Arthur’s global lexicon would have been impenetrable to outsiders, incorporating random Australian slang, Spanish and Asian words into his own personal patois.

One constant in his life was a love of fishing, which started in the Dollar Burn and ended at Glenquey Reservoir in Glendevon when he was 84. He was never more at home than when he was in waders in a river or rowing across a loch. He was an accomplished fly fisherman and I remember him teaching us to cast a line (shortly to be followed by untangling a nasty fankle) and to tie fishing flies. A long-term member of the Devon Angling Association, he spent many a fruitless hour up to his thighs in the river, pondering the apparent inadequacies of the stocking policy. But he was in his element in this world, demonstrating an ease of manner that he sometimes lacked in other environments - out on a windy loch his trademark black beret seemed entirely appropriate.

After retiring, Arthur’s interests remained wide, and he contributed in many ways to Dollar life: on the town council, as a member


81

of the Devon Angling Association and on the Civic Trust. For 20 years he walked the Dollar Glen every week as a volunteer ranger, undertaking minor repairs, reporting damage and making recommendations. A discreet bronze plaque on the newly made Windy Edge Bridge recognises his contribution over the years. He was the lynchpin of the Burmah Oil Society for fourteen years, editing its international quarterly Newsletter and conducting a voluminous correspondence with members.

An avid reader with particular interests in history and heraldry, his memory was formidable. We found it a constant irritation when playing Trivial Pursuit, in which our only solace was the pink questions (Films and Entertainment) which, on principle, he would not answer. An ongoing bone of contention was his habit of answering other people’s questions - clearly a source of amusement and good-natured devilry to him. He also enjoyed the world of stocks and shares, and was an enthusiastic and successful investor who even took occasional calls from professional asset managers seeking his advice.

It is sad to think that it was my father’s restless and adventurous spirit which caused the illness to which he eventually succumbed. His pale Scottish skin proved vulnerable to the harsh tropical sun. He bore his illness with stoicism and dignity, never complaining and using his waning strength to set his house in order, thus making things easier for others. In July 2010, two weeks after his 85th birthday and a few months after his Golden Wedding Anniversary, he passed on. I like to think that somewhere he is still out there, with his black beret and his colourful Burmese shoulder bag, quietly giving us the guidance that was so useful to us all our lives.

Gavin Colman (FP 1971 - 1979)

GORDON DOUGLAS COWANFP 1939 -1949

Gordon was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1931 and died suddenly on February 5th 2010, at the age of 78. From the age of seven, Gordon attended school at Dollar Academy. He joined the British Merchant Navy at the age of seventeen and travelled the world for five years before emigrating to Canada in 1954, where he began his studies in accounting. He completed his accounting degree in Calgary, married and eventually moved to Nelson, BC, where he raised his family and owned and operated ‘Cowan Office Supplies’ for many years. He retired in 1995 and spent his retirement years at his lakefront home, tending his garden and spending time with his family. Gordon had many fond memories of his time at Dollar Academy and always enjoyed receiving the magazine. He is dearly missed by his loving family.

JOHN FYFEFP 1940 – 1950

John was born in Oldham in 1931 to Scottish parents. After being evacuated during the Second World War, he and his brother Andrew attended Dollar Academy where John was an exceptional all-rounder. He was a sergeant in the CCF, Vice President of the Literary and Debating Society, Captain of Castle quint, Head of McNabb House, Vice Captain of Cricket, Captain of Rugby and, ultimately, Head Boy. John was also selected to play for the Scottish Schools but was sadly unable to play due to a knee injury. Always a keen sportsman, he played cricket for the Mayfield Cricket Club well into his fifties and he and his wife Isobel took up bowling and curling in the 1970s. The highlight of his curling career was being selected for the 1993 Scottish Rotary Tour of Canada to contest the Strathcona Cup, an event that only occurs every ten years. He went on to participate in several events in the USA and Canada and, in 1998, his Perth and St Johns team won the Rotary World Championship. John was curling regularly until March of this year, when he sustained a fall.

When young, his aim had always been to become a doctor and, on leaving Dollar, he read Medicine at Glasgow University. It was while he was in Glasgow that he met his wife Isobel and they married in Belfast in 1959. John went on to achieve his childhood dream and worked as a GP in Perth for 32 years. He will be sadly missed.

obituaries


BEN MOOREFP 2000 – 2002

Benjamin James Moore died aged 25, on 13th September, 2010, from cancer in the Highland Hospice, Inverness. He was diagnosed in summer 2009 and underwent several courses of chemotherapy and massive orthopaedic surgery as well as other treatments, but the cancer was already too serious. Although Ben tried hard to stay well, it was too much and he sadly lost his battle.

After attending Form VI at Dollar, Ben went to RCMS at Cranfield University, Swindon, to study Aeronautical Engineering; after one year he switched to Civil Engineering at Edinburgh, but left the course after two years. Ben lived and worked in Edinburgh for a couple of years, but had always wanted to be a pilot and so he was thrilled to be accepted for pilot training at Oxford Aviation Academy. He started the course in March 2009 but, sadly, on the first day he had a sore hip; this eventually led to his cancer diagnosis.

Most of Ben’s fellow pupils in Dollar and in McNabb seemed to move abroad and he was unable to keep in contact easily. He enjoyed his time at Dollar and McNabb and particularly recalled a memorable hike with a group of pupils as part of his silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It was very hot and sunny and I remember Ben saying they had to walk in the cooler evening and night-time and rest up during the day (that must be unusual!) Ben was a very caring and considerate guy and he loved helping with CHV (Children’s Holiday Venture) in Edinburgh. He was a lovely son and brother and we shall miss him very much. Ben is buried in Daviot Churchyard. If any former friends wish to contact the family, we are still at Craggiemore Farmhouse, Daviot, Inverness. Best wishes to his year-group, housemates, teaching staff and House-parents and family at MacNabb, all those who remember Ben.

Sally Moore

JAMES SHEARER FREWFP 1927 - 1935

James Frew was born in Norwood, East Burnside, on the 10th December 1917, the youngest of three children of Catherine and John Frew, who was Head of Mathematics at the Academy from 1910 to 1929. The family moved from Norwood to 6 Academy Place, then round the corner to Burnside House, West Burnside, before moving to Sauchie, where John was appointed Headmaster at the local school. James’ elder sister and brother, Muriel and Johnny, both had distinguished academic records at the Academy.

James began his education at ‘Ma Brem’s’ primary school, now Argyll House (in which his two sons were to board), and was a pupil at the Academy proper from 1927 to 1935. He was the outstanding student of his year, winning the Kennedy and

Milne Medals in successive years. His best friend there was Johnny Garlick, whose wartime heroism was described in Fortunas of June 2009. Whenever James visited Dollar, he would always pay his respects to Johnny at the War Memorial.

James went on to study Medicine at Glasgow University, qualifying BSc in 1938 and MB, ChB, when he was awarded the Brunton Memorial Prize as ‘the most distinguished graduate in Medicine of the year 1941’. After six months as House Physician at the Western Infirmary, James joined the RAF Medical Service, serving as pathologist at various RAF hospitals. At RAF Church Village in Wales, he met the love of his life, Peggy, who was head of the local WAAF section. They were married in March 1943.

James was later posted to North Africa and then Italy, where his arrival in Naples coincided with the first major eruption of Mount Vesuvius since 79BC. It was here, in


83

March 1944, that he learned of the birth of his first son, Michael (FP 1957-62). James was demobilised in August 1946, exchanging his Squadron Leader’s uniform for a white coat and stethoscope, working at the Western and the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow. James, Peggy and Mike had their first home together in Clarkston, south Glasgow, and were delighted to be joined in April 1947 by a second son, Christopher (‘Kiff ’, FP 1959-65). The family was complete in 1952 with the birth of a cherished daughter, Alison.

In 1950, James, having gained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians in London, accepted a consultant post in Dundee, with one incentive for his decision to work there being the ‘imminent’ construction of a big new teaching hospital. When, eventually, the new hospital was completed (in 1974) James was one of the most senior consultants to move there. On the day of the royal opening, however, senior consultants were not on the official guest list – this posed a difficulty as James had to visit a patient. Undeterred, he ignored the pomp and security at the front doors, quietly slipped round the back, climbed in through a ground floor window, tended to his patient and returned the way he had come. This would surprise no-one who recognised the determination beneath the quiet, courteous manner - what a friend called his ‘shy charm’. James spent the rest of his professional life in Dundee, where he came to be much loved and respected as a doctor and teacher.

James retired in 1982 and was at last free to spend more time with

Peggy and to pursue the interests so often sidelined by professional duty. His main relaxation was golf and, as a member of the Royal and Ancient in St Andrews, he won trophies several times in the spring and autumn medal competitions. He took up bird watching ‘to get me out of the house’ and became a keen and knowledgeable twitcher. He was also able to catch up on his reading, notably the history of railways (steam!) and the First World War. His favourite author was Dickens, whose complete works he possessed, although he was also a keen student of The Beano, especially the Bash Street Kids. A favourite TV programme was Tom & Jerry, the ritual bashings being intriguingly at odds with his gentle nature. As a native of Dollar, James also took a keen and continuing interest in the school’s affairs, being invited to give the Founder’s Day address in 1957, and serving as President of the North of Scotland Dollar Academy Club in 1961.

The death of Peggy, from cancer in 1999, was a devastating blow from which James never quite recovered. In 2004 he moved to Turret Villa retirement home in Berwick, not far from Mike and his family, and where he was looked after with great care and kindness. James, for his part, was regarded with great affection by the staff for his gentle wit and courtesy.

James left a fragmentary memoir of his life in Dollar, in which he describes the excitement of waiting for the train to take the family to Glasgow for some treat. It is still possible to get down on to the platform at the bottom of Station

Road, and this beautiful evocation should kindle the memory of all who ever stood on it:

‘There was an escalating series of excitements: walking on ‘the day’, setting out to walk to the station, buying of the tickets, then the descent to the platform. All this was done in good time. One then looked eastwards, to the hill slope some two miles or so distant, to watch for the smoke – a staccato white plume rushing along it disappeared from sight. A minute or two later, the train itself would be seen, still small and distant but now certainly a train, slowly crossing the viaduct over the Devon river, passing again from sight until the huge engine suddenly came from behind the signal box, its giant panting breath as it drew into the station sending thrills of excitement through me.’

The onset of Alzheimer’s gradually erased James’ memory but, mercifully, also the pain of Peggy’s loss. Within his reduced area of focus, however, he was often capable of sharp observation and a warm smile (most notably at the birth in 2009 of his first great-grandchild, Mollie, who shares his birthday) almost right up to his departure on the last day of summer 2010.

Mike Frew (FP 1957 - 62)Kiff Frew (FP 1959 - 65)

obituaries


GEORGE BALHARRIE RATTRAY1921 – 2009FP 1935 – 1940

George was born at Forfar, Scotland, on 27th December 1921. He grew up in rural Scotland in the difficult period between the two World Wars. His father was a lucky survivor of Gallipoli and the years on the Western Front. Working hard at the village school, George won two scholarships - the first to Dollar Academy, under the Rectorship of Harry Bell, where he was an outstanding pupil, winning the Kennedy Medal and the Dewar-Lammie Cup in 1940, and the second to St Andrews University, where he graduated in Organic Chemistry in 1943. While undertaking a postgraduate course at Christ’s College, Cambridge, George first met Rita, his future wife. George then sailed to Trinidad to undertake a course at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture.

In 1946, George was appointed to the Colonial Service and posted to Kenya as an Agricultural Officer. He mastered the Kiswahili language, of which he retained a good command for the rest of his life. Rita joined George in 1947 and they were married in Mombasa in June in the 1950s. George worked on animal disease research and was responsible for establishing the Agricultural Training Centre at Embu. As Principal of the centre he developed training programmes in agricultural science and trained officers in the field.

Home leave in Cambridge in 1955 was memorable for two

reasons: their daughter, Rita Elinor, was born, and George took delivery of a new Rover P4 car, having it shipped to Kenya. By 1959, Kenya was moving towards independence, life was becoming increasingly dangerous, and the Overseas Civil Service was preparing to withdraw, so the Rattray family and Rover P4 returned to the UK. They settled in Cambridge, where George taught science. In 1960, he was appointed to a lectureship in Chemistry at Culham College of Education. In 1969, he was appointed Head of the Science Department.

A proven gifted and inspirational teacher, George contributed to many aspects of the College’s life. He had charge of the College gardening staff and greatly enhanced the appearance of the campus. He also applied his considerable photographic skills to capturing the College’s theatrical productions on film. This interest in photography continued to the end of his life - he won many competitions and moved on into the digital era.

When the College closed in 1979, George took early retirement and completed an MSc in Agricultural Extension at Reading University. At the age of 58, George was fully retired and turned his attention to many activities. He restored his beloved Rover and attended many Rover Rallies, where he won a number of awards including one for the ‘longevity of his meticulously documented ownership’. In 1999, he and the Rover were the subject of a TV Channel Four documentary, Classic British Cars, Wild Rovers, which was filmed in and around Abingdon,

Oxfordshire. George and Rita were

supporters of St Mary Magdalene Church, Shippon. He served for many years as treasurer while she, an excellent musician, was the Church Organist. In 1985, George, the Vicar, who doubled as the Padre of RAF Abingdon, and other friends realized that the village needed a church hall, so they set to, and built one themselves. It took a year or more and made full use of George’s considerable DIY skills. The padre described this whole venture as an excellent example of local church fellowship. While in Kenya, George had begun to play by ear on the violin. Then, encouraged by Rita, he took lessons in Abingdon and soon was playing Scottish reels and jigs.

Sadly, Rita died in 1995, bringing a great change to his way of life. He did not lose his love of travel, setting off to Cape Town in his eighties to visit his old St Andrews friend of 69 years, and met with a circle of St Andrews alumni - he followed this up with a second visit. He enjoyed several grand tours of Scotland with his daughter, exploring his boyhood haunts and admiring new areas. He became a proficient cook and treated many friends to memorable meals and his music gave him great pleasure, bringing many more friends as they enjoyed musical soirees and meals up to the time he died. George is survived by his daughter, Rita Elinor.


85

A B S ‘DICKIE’ RICHARDSON18TH DECEMBER 1910 - 16TH SEPTEMBER 2010FP 1923 - 1927

Arthur Blair Stewart Richardson was born on Halgalla tea estate, near Nawalapitya in what was then Ceylon and is now Sri Lanka, where his father was a tea planter. ABSR was known as ‘Fishy Richardson’ at Dollar, as ‘Blair’ to his wife, as ‘Dickie’ to his friends and, latterly, as ‘Pop’ to his family.

Dickie Richardson had two sisters, also born in Sri Lanka. The family moved from Sri Lanka to South Africa when he was about 10, where he described the schooling as ‘tough’. From a school in South Africa he went to a school near Clifton, tougher, and then to Dollar Academy, where his two sisters, Innes and Sheila, were also boarders. Dickie Richardson boarded in Parkfield, where his son, Peter, also went in the 1950 after spells in Milne and Dewar Houses. His late daughter, Ailsa, attended Dollar from 1949 to 1957.

All his life, he had a natural affinity with all things mechanical and intended to pursue a career in the Royal Navy but colour blindness put a stop to that. His parents decided he should be a banker and he joined the Union Bank in Dunoon where he met his wife-to-be, Helen Grant. He often recalled the characters who ruled the roost in Dunoon, demanding, for example, that the steamers wait

until they were ready to board. He next joined the Mercantile Bank of India, spending time in their London office before going out East. While in London, he rode his motorbike every weekend to Glasgow to continue his courtship of Helen; he said that he regularly did the trip in six hours on a Norton. No Gatsos in those days.

His first posting was from June 1933 to March 1938, working in branches in Singapore, Penang and Kuantan. After leave in 1938, during which he married Helen, they went out to Galle in Sri Lanka in January 1939. He was active in the Volunteer forces in Singapore and the Straits Settlements and in Sri Lanka. His wife and daughter, Ailsa, were evacuated to South Africa for much of the war, returning in early 1945, by which time he’d worked in Jaffna and Colombo.

Over the next 20 years he worked in Calcutta, Delhi, Khulna, Chittagong, Madras and Ipoh before retiring in June 1960. In those days, tours of duty were three years followed by six months leave; many leaves were spent in Troon where he and Helen settled 1960. His retirement didn’t last long; he joined the Civil Service and worked as a Civilian Assistant at Dundonald Junior Tradesmans Regiment, until

finally retiring in about 1975. He took up golf in his 50s

and played until his 80s when he found it difficult to have ‘spotters’ as he simply couldn’t see the flight of the ball well enough.

He was initiated into East and West Lodge no 5410 EC at Freemasons Hall in London in November 1938 and remained an active Freemason until well into his 90s. He visited and was associated with dozens of Lodges in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia and, of course, several in London and in Ayrshire; he received many awards.

With a ripe sense of humour and an openness of spirit, Dickie Richardson made friends at all levels and in all walks of life. He got on well with most people but when he (rarely) took a dislike to someone it was hard to get him to change his mind. He was what was called a ‘man’s man’ and enjoyed his life. It is said that at Dollar he and two or three other boys rolled some goods wagons from the railway viaduct into the station where there was a bit of a smash-up. Part of the Science Lab was damaged by fire when he and others floated some burning material down the wooden channels in the floor. Out East, pianos might have gone through windows and when there were penalties they were accepted without complaint or grudges. He smoked a pipe all his life and enjoyed a dram until the end (when he poured a guest a dram, the guest had better not have been planning to drive for a day or two…) He had a fund of stories, not all of which are repeatable but which were heartily enjoyed by his friends.

His funeral at Masonhill Crematorium in Ayr was well attended by family and friends who had come from Australia, Afghanistan, London and Aberdeen. At his request, the singing raised the roof.

Peter Richardson (FP 1950 – 1961)

obituaries


MEMORIES OF THE 1950S

Campbell (Charlie) Miller was Head Boy at Dollar in 1952-53 and his successor but one, Roy Chapman, was Head Boy in 1954-55. They never met at school, but fate brought them together in February 2003, when they were on a cruise and struggling with towels and swimming trunks after a snorkelling trip off Antigua. Both are now regular cruisers and have met up again almost every year since then. Inevitably, talk has revived memories of Dollar days and the various characters who taught them…

With the advent of league tables and school inspections, we both regret the fact that there may be less and less room in the staffroom for the sorts of characters of yesteryear. Dollar seemed to have a bountiful supply of them in the decade of the 1950s.

John Mitchell (aka ‘Johnnie’ and ‘Mickie’) taught Junior 2. He had lost an eye during the war – on a railing in the dark, so the story went. On occasions, he extracted his glass eye and gave it a polish in front of the class. The single eye may have impaired his aim with the Lochgelly Repeater (the belt) because he sometimes missed his target. Far from the miss being counted as one of the prescribed strokes, another (scoring) stroke was always added. Those were the days when leaving a milk bottle on the desk during break (we were given one third of a pint of milk per pupil per day) could incur a belting, albeit sometimes with only one of the two tongues of the belt. In spite of this, Johnnie was deemed to be a good teacher.

In the senior school, the Classics Department was well stocked with characters. EAG (‘Geordie’) Junks was the Head of Department and had a teaching style all of his own. His classroom had two banks of old-fashioned benches which seated three pupils on each bench. We were required to chant our ‘amo,

amas, amat’ round the class. If someone made a mistake, Geordie went on round the class along the benches until the correct answer was forthcoming. Thereafter, the person producing the correct answer moved, lock, stock and barrel, to take the place of the person who had made the mistake and everyone else moved down a place. So there was constant movement around the class but at least the basics of Latin were certainly ground in. Geordie seldom felt the need for corporal punishment, but, when he did, offenders were given a tap with anything up to a dozen rulers before being required to choose for themselves the one to do the real business…

Another classicist was James Munro, known as ‘Moonie’ to all and sundry. He had been a good cricketer in his youth - a superb slow bowler, he said – and it was one of the aims of his pupils to divert him onto the subject of cricket in order to provoke him into uttering his stock phrase of ‘Only fools bowl fast’. His classes were open season for ‘louting’; we remember boys disappearing out of a window at the back of a class before running round to the classroom door, knocking noisily and re-entering as they excused themselves for being late. On one occasion, a boy put his hand up and declared that he thought he was going to die - ‘Well go and die quietly in the back seat, boy’, came the reply!

The Modern Languages Department had a fearsome battery of men. Head was John (‘Jock’) Milne, an Aberdonian standing 6 foot 6 inches tall who struck the fear of death into most of his pupils. Many were the breaks and lunch hours during which his pupils could be seen testing themselves or each other on their vocabulary lists. He rarely needed to administer punishment, but, when he did, he would tell the ‘lassies’ to leave the room… Next door was W (Bill) Strachan; he was as short as Jock was tall. His appearance was characterised by a little black moustache and a regular shrug of the shoulders. He drove to school

every day in an ex-military armoured car and, on one occasion, he caused consternation by threatening to drop some miscreant out of his (first floor) window. Needless to say, no one took many liberties with him. For all his fierceness, however, he had a weakness for a pretty face and we remember his being totally floored on another occasion when, in the middle of a translation, a pretty girl looked him straight in the eye and asked him innocently ‘What is the French for ‘sin’, Sir?’

The Maths Department had two very good teachers. Head was James (‘Jum’) Miller, who was also Housemaster of Parkfield. He was another tall, imposing figure, but he taught efficiently. His second-in-command was George (‘Speedie’) Smith, who was also Housemaster of Tait House. He was much smaller than Jum, but he too was a good teacher. He was said to be an insomniac; from time to time, he would lose his temper, blackboard dusters and chalk would fly and he would start to gibber. This also happened – more frequently – on the cricket field because, as well as being a good coach, Speedie was no mean cricketer. Indeed, he was captain of Clackmannanshire for several seasons. He was a prolific opening batsman, but, even more than most, he hated to be given out. Boys in Tait House would be regaled on Saturday evenings with detailed accounts of the deficiencies of umpires who had had the temerity to give him out ‘lbw’ or caught at the wicket.

Derek Burrell was a breath of fresh air to the English Department. He introduced his classes to literature away beyond the set texts and opened minds to new ideas and a completely new style of teaching – one based on dialogue between teacher and pupil. Pupils, often for the first time, were encouraged to think for themselves rather than having dictated notes.

History was run by Edward (‘Squelch’) Taylor who had acquired his nickname when he was Housemaster of MacNabb House: as he drove the serving spoon into a plate of stodge, one lunchtime, he


87

fp forumsaid ‘Squelch’ – and the rest is history. He never moved from his seat behind his long desk, but he controlled his classes with his beady bespectacled eyes. His tests on homework always took the form of ‘ten simple searchers’. It was not considered wise to fail his tests, but he never seemed to resort to punishment.

Geography was headed by David Sherriff. Like Derek Burrell, he was a breath of fresh air. Unlike Squelch, he was constantly on the move, aided and abetted by a blackboard pointer which was efficiently and effectively used to prod anyone whose attention showed signs of wavering. The only occasion we know him to have resorted to the belt was when he caught a boy inadvisedly playing book cricket in class. He was very keen on instilling the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate with the chant: ‘Warm wet winters with westerly winds, hot dry summers with sizzzzzzzling suns.’ He was also a good rugby player and coach.

In Science, just leaving as we arrived was Mr Donald, known universally as (‘Wally’) Ploof. There was a rumour that he had been a good footballer in his youth, and had played left back for Queen’s Park. Whenever he was asked if this was true – which was not infrequently – the reply was always: ‘It wasn’t left back, it was right back. It wasn’t Queen’s Park, it was Rangers. It wasn’t me, it was another man.’ Chemistry was taught by Alan Todd, who also ran the RAF section and was a good rugby coach. He was nick-named variously ‘Lord Todd Almighty’ and ‘Scruff ’. The latter was probably due to the fact that he was always immaculately dressed. James (‘Jimmy’) Baxter taught Biology and for many gave the introduction, with many an (encouraged) giggle, to ‘the birds and the bees’.

The Arts were very much a poor relation in those days, apparently regarded as something of an ‘add on’ for the mildly eccentric. In charge of Art was Ian Campbell, usually known as ‘Pop’, which distinguished him from A Diarmid (‘Big Bill’) Campbell,

who taught in the Junior School. Pop was a very good artist in his own right, and was a beacon of distinction at a pretty philistine period. He was assisted by another man mountain, Neil Foggie, who was a first-class rugby referee in his spare time. Both men would doubtless have loved to teach with the facilities and attitudes currently existing at Dollar.

‘Gym’ (now P.E.) was run by JB (‘Jimmy’) Rae. He was assisted in the gym by James Jardine, always known as ‘Ji’. He also commanded the OTC, now the CCF. In those days, there was always a formal parade in front of the school, with much foot stamping and shouting. Drills, fieldcraft, the duties of a sentry, section and platoon battle drills and Certificate A were all carried out in the full itchy, serge uniform. Denims were not issued except to a chosen few at annual camp. There was much ‘bulling’ of kit before each parade to ensure that brasses were clean and boots shining.

As boys, we were not familiar with the lady teachers, but an exception was the very attractive P.E. teacher, Miss Berwick, who featured in many of the fantasies of the senior boys. The latter were deeply disappointed when she left to marry a top footballer of the time, Billy Williamson.

One man who was vital to the running of the school was the Janitor, Mr McGregor. A book of advice passed down by successive Head Boys included the stern warning not to fall out with ‘Mr Mac’, as he was known to a select few. This smart little man in a uniform and peaked cap took the register round every class every day in the period before break. He ruled the cleaners and his assistant, a man called Alec, but usually known (behind his back) as ‘Greasy Eck’, who was permanently dressed in a grubby blue boiler suit and a cloth cap and would exchange words with anyone - unlike Mr Mac who was too conscious of his dignity and his position to hobnob with mere pupils – except to tell them off.

Which brings us to the two

colossi at the top of the school. Miss (Winnie) Williamson was Lady Superintendent – a name more redolent of a penal establishment. As well as being responsible for the girls, she was Housemistress of Playfair House. She was permanently encased in her gown. To the boys at least, she did not appear fierce – rather more like a maiden aunt. She was a very good foil to the Rector.

The latter was of course Harry Bell, usually known as ‘The Bull’ or ‘The Bullfrog’. He was a big man in every sense. His roar on the touchline was calculated to strike fear into opposing teams as well as encouragement to Dollar teams. He himself warmly applauded those who had participated in events such as the annual cross country (‘the Cross’), even if they had come in last. This was a thinly veiled condemnation of those who had not made the effort to participate. He set the highest standards himself and he expected others to follow suit.

We were at Dollar in the days of post-war austerity. It might be difficult to argue that our schooldays were always fun, but we were conscious of receiving a good education and we were proud of being at Dollar. The values which the School stood for have remained with us ever since. Memory plays funny tricks, especially after over fifty years, and it can be very selective. And indeed we have been selective in describing the characters we remember. There were doubtless others. It is our fervent hope that league tables and inspections have not deprived Dollar of characters, even eccentrics. Our generation learned that there is more to education than teaching – and long may it remain so.

Roy Chapman (FP 1945 - 1955, Head Boy) was Headmaser of Malvern College 1983 - 1996 and Rector of Glasgow Academy 1975 - 1983. While at Dollar Academy he was Milne Medalist and won the Harkness Scholarship to St Andrews. Campbell W Miller (FP 1946 - 1953, Head Boy) has been Chief Exec of ZOPCP, Chairman of BP(Sierra Leone), Councillor, Borough of Hornsey and then of London Borough of Haringay and Committee Chairman.


Bill Stewart (FP 1927 - 1938) has enjoyed a fascinating career and played a vital role in the decryption of German coded messaging during World War II. In part one of his account, he reveals some of the facts behind the cracking of the Enigma codes: so-called communications encrypted by an ‘Enigma’ machine the Germans believed were impenetrable to the Allies. Part two of Bill’s writing, in which he recalls the Civil Service, will appear in the next issue of Fortunas.

THE ENIGMA CODES – THE VIEW FROM ‘H’ HUT, BEAUMANOR PARK

‘All wireless traffic is high treason’ (advice given to his signallers by a German General on the eve of WWII)

Recruited by the ‘Y’ service in 1941 (then a most secret organisation) Bill trained at Fort Bridgewoods, Chatham, as a special wireless operator to intercept German army signals. Posted to the War Office ‘Y’ Group at Beaumanor Park, Woodhouse Eaves, a village north of Leicester, he joined the most experienced interceptors in the service. Some of the old hands (all ex-regulars) had cut their teeth on the crude form of the Enigma used by the German Condor squadrons sent to aid General Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). More recently, Bletchley Park had judged their intercepts as key to the breaking of the war-time Enigma.

The German stations were organised in groups working to a central control. Each group provided the communication net for an army formation: a division, corps or one of the big Panzer arrives on the Russian front. A single operator covered a group of seven to twelve stations during an eight-hour watch. Bill’s first operational watch (10pm to 6am) was a nightmare. The frequency was crowded, the morse he was trying to read was weak and frequently being swamped by other signals. To add to his difficulties he was beset by a variety of noises - some natural, some manufactured by the Germans, to thwart the ever-present eaves-dropper. Despite their unshakeable faith in the security of their codes, the Germans, with their own ‘Y’ service, knew all about interception, and of the fruits that might be obtained from it. They entered the war having broken the British Naval Code and were to go on to break the convoy code, almost winning the U-Boat War.

While the main focus was on Wehrmacht traffic, Beaumanor also intercepted high grade Luftwaffe traffic, which RAF Chicksands Priory could not handle due to a weakness in its aerial configuration. Kreigsmarine signals were left to the Admiralty. Fortunately, this division of labour did not stem the flow of intelligence between the three armed services. The course of the Bismarck, then lost to the navy in an Atlantic fog, was culled from an exchange of Enigma signals between Berlin and Athens

passed on a Luftwaffe net. All the intercepted traffic, Enigma-coded signals

sent to and from stations, were despatched to Bletchley Park under armed guard. Earlier, teleprinted to the Park, were the call signs (changed every 24 hours, at midnight),

and the message preamble. This followed a set pattern:-

The six-letter discriminant, derived from the three rotors of the army Enigma machine, was key to the breaking of the coded message. It was the only part of a signal repeated by the sender. Other repeats were made infrequently and only on demand.

The call signs identified the sender and receiver. Every intercepted station was plotted on a huge map of Europe held at Beaumanor from bearings provided by the stations D/F chain. This stretched from Thurso, in the north, to Chancewater (Cornwall), in the south, with intermediate stations at Montrose, Perton (near Wolverhampton), Moulton and Croft Spa (N. Yorkshire) and Sutton Valence (Kent). The map, together with each unit’s combat readiness report, gave the German order of battle, information vital to the success of the D-Day landings.

Following the preamble, the body of the message was sent in coded five-letter groups. As received, it meant nothing to the interceptors. However, it would be quite wrong to think that they worked completely in the dark. The German signallers leaked intelligence in the chitchat that held a net together in quiet periods, lapses into German, and direct breaches in security. All these asides went into the operator’s log, a minute by minute record of his watch. Everything, however trivial, went into the log (even, for example, the signalled absence of a German operator making a five-minute visit to the loo.)

Every interceptor has his own collection of odd signals. Bill started his in the wee small hours of Christmas Day, 1941. His Germans were doing little more that exchanging festive greetings when a foreign signal cut across their partying. Bill called the supervisor over to discuss his catch. The signal strength placed the transmitter within a mile of Beaumanor. In Bill’s opinion, the sender was either a German or someone German trained. Unusually, this new enigma message ended with the letters ‘HH’. When he returned, the supervisor told Bill to forget what he had heard ‘as someone else is looking after that joker’. In neither conversation was the word ‘spy’ uttered – it was just left hanging in mid-air.

A second very odd signal was made by our Africa Corps Signaller. In German, he announced the fall of Tobruk. No call signs, nor the morse ‘CQ’ (all stations call), were attached to this signal. It was short, just two words: ‘Tobrusch Gefallen’ repeated three times. Why was it sent,

SSD KRK 0132 5TLE 3TL 240 =RELTIH=

Priority PrefixTime Sent

No. Parts Part (3/5) No Letters Discriminant


89

and to whom was it addressed? Bill concluded then, and believes to this day, that the German, with a wing in his direction, had meant it for the eavesdropper - he knew was always there, always listening. Such a conclusion was not all that far-fetched. Interceptors worked with and not against their Germans, in a close, cheek by jowl, relationship. No one in ‘H’ hut had the time, nor inclination, to think of their Germans as dangerous foes. Indeed, some German Signallers, met frequently over the airwaves, became well-known characters. Two in particular remain in Bill’s memory. Obviously friends, as a personal way of keeping in touch, they added flourishes to their morse – meaningless, but still a serious breach in security. Each time they came on the air they identified their division (21st Panzer). Another (unwitting) breach in security occurred when a signaller added, as a PS to an enigma message, her full name and home address! This was the first ‘H’ hut knew of women serving in German base stations.

As the war entered its final stages, a marked falling off in the quality of some of the new recruits was noted among the German signallers. Proof positive came in an astonishing exchange between two stations. In perfect wireless conditions, a receiving station kept demanding repeats amounting to one group out of every three. His demands were excessive. Exasperated, the sender stopped and, after a brief pause, returned to direct at his colleague a stream of invective, of which he had an extensive vocabulary. To ensure his outburst was received he sent it at 10 words per minute (50 letters). The German operational speed was 18 wpm (90 letters). Chatham operators easily read 20 wpm (100 letters), and a few 25 wpm (125 letters).

Two other intercepts connected to the RAF bomber offensive are of interest. On the night of the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne, the Chief of Police was on leave, settling his family in the country. His request for a 48-hour extension provoked an explosive response – ‘Return immediately or face charge of desertion’. An operator in Berlin stopped transmitting in mid-message, sent ‘Tommy above’, and went silent. He never returned to complete his message.

‘These are my hard core, on their skill everything depends’ (Lt. Col. Ellingworth, Co. Beaumanor, to a brass hat

visiting ‘H’ hut, 1943)

Skill was certainly required by the code breakers at Bletchley Park. Foremost amongst those deployed was ‘fist’, the ability of one wireless operator to recognise another by his morse key ring – as individual as a signature. Bill’s introduction to ‘fist’ came when he saw an old hand write ‘Sender is an Italian’ following an intercept. No question the station was on the Russian front, but the operator was right. Then, unknown to the western allies, Italian units were arriving in Russia.

Luck, and the part it sometimes played, must not be overlooked. A classic example is that of an operator on

general search, a chore normally assigned to the weakest operator on watch. He had complete freedom to roam the airwaves logging call signs and intercepting the odd signal. Bored to tears, our friend decided on a wild change of frequency and, giving his tuning dial an almighty twist, landed on two stations exchanging call signs. He noted these, intercepted an enigma message, measured the frequency, and moved on. Next day, the watch was astonished to learn that their chum (thick as two planks) had hit the jackpot. The signal was from F/M Paulus to Berlin, in which he informed Hitler that he was negotiating with the Russians the surrender of the remnants of the 6th Army, then surrounded at Stalingrad.

‘Who goes home?’ (Mr Speaker, House of Commons, London)

At 07:59 hours on 7th May, 1945, the ‘H’ hut operators made their last wartime intercept – the message from General Jodl’s HQ accepting the allies’ terms: unconditional surrender. All hostilities to cease at midnight on 8th/9th May 1945. The airwaves now silent, their Germans in POW camps, the civilian Chatham operators, with neither fuss nor fanfare, simply drifted off home. A group, which included Bill, Royal Signals (TA) Reservist’s, were recalled to the colours, to be formally demobilised.

The huts at Beaumanor (of brick construction) still stand. Only ‘J’ hut retains its wartime letter. ‘H’ hut is a listed building and houses a Museum. The aerial park with its forest of masts and niches of wires, which marked Beaumanor out as a wireless station, is gone. During the war, much misinformation circled the place. Many locally thought it a communications centre, part of, and managed by, the G80. A young GP was surprised at being asked to sign the Official Secrets Act before discussing his problems with an interceptor suffering from a work related breakdown. She had time on her books as a post office employee. Others, including the local families with whom the interceptors had lodged, had to wait 30 years to learn the truth, and of the part played by Beaumanor in the Enigma story. William (Bill) Johnston Stewart

FURTHER READINGThe Hut Six Story by Gordon Welchman (Alan Lane 1982), Enigma: the Battle for the Code by Hugh Sebag Montifiore (Weldenfeld & Nicolson 2001).

On the value of the Enigma, to those charged with the strategic direction of the war at the highest level, little has been written. However, it is possible to get a handle on this from the many references to intercepts in: War Diaries 1935 – 45 F/M Lord Alenbrooke (Weldenfeld & Nicolson 2001).

fp forum


CLASS TICKET: 1842

This class ticket is dated 1842-3 and is signed by the first Rector, Dr Andrew Mylne. Thomas Spowart would have had to present it to the teacher of each class he attended to prove that he had paid his fee for that class. We can see he attended Maths, French, Drawing and Geography. Until the 1850s, pupils could choose which classes they would attend.

Fees were paid quarterly. The card was used for a whole year, so it is not surprising it looks a little worn - in fact, it is surprising it has survived at all. Dollar Academy was known as ‘John McNab’s School’ or ‘Dollar Institution’ until the school’s centenary in 1918.

Thomas was 14 in 1842 and left in 1843. His class ticket was given to the school by his great-great grandson, Mr W.B. Robertson, who tells us that after a gap of 157 years, members of his family are again pupils at Dollar Academy: Angus and Donald Robertson.

TUG OF WAR: 1916

John Tuckwell was Captain of the 1st XV and also captained the winning Britishers’ team in the Tug of War against the Foreigners in 1916. The Dollar Magazine says: ‘Tuckwell’s eight gave short shrift to the Foreigners under Bennie. The latter, overweighted by several pounds, were pulled over with little trouble.’

John left school that year and joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was reported missing in Lebucquiere, France, in March 1918 and is remembered on the memorial in Arass and also on the school war memorial.

John Tuckwell was a splendid sportsman – he was in the 1st XV for three years and won medals for putting the weight and 120-yard hurdles, as well as Tug of War. His medals were returned to school recently by his niece, Mrs Lloyd-Williams, who hopes the pupils visiting the Battlefields will also remember her uncle.

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL ARCHIVE AND COLLECTION


91

EARLIEST CLASS PHOTOGRAPH: 1887This is the earliest class photograph in our archives. It depicts the senior girls at Dollar Institution in 1887. The only girl who can be identified is Jemima (Minnie) Anderson, who is second from the left in the front row. Uniforms were not worn at Dollar until the 20th century; these girls are wearing their best clothes – those with hats were probably in the top class. The photograph was donated by her grandson, Don Jamieson, who visited the school during the summer.

PRIZE BOOK: 1829This prize book was presented to the School in the summer term and is now the earliest in our collection of prizes. It was awarded to William Adam in 1829. He was a boarder with Mr Tennant, one of Dollar’s first teachers, who wrote Anster Fair and later became a professor at St Andrews University.

We know very little about William because the school registers do not give the names of his parents or his address. He was apparently not related to the donor, Mrs Roma Adam. She says the book was probably bought in a second-hand bookshop by one of her family because of the Adam name in the inscription.

I thought William might have been one of the Adams of Blairadam as he must have come from a fairly wealthy family – boarding fees with Mr Tennant were 50 guineas a year. However, William is not in the Blairadam family tree, so his origin remains a mystery.

Janet Carolan, Archivist

from the archives

Documents

Fortunas 26 - December 2010