,
NEWS Spring 11
Beauty and the Beast
A sumptuous feast of fairytale elegance enchanted all those who saw the
recent production of Beauty and the Beast. Although the story is indeed, “A
tale as old as time”, a French folk tale dating back centuries, the Alan Menkin
and Howard Ashman musical, familiar to many from the Disney animation,
gave both musicians and thespians alike the chance to show their talents.
Hannah Johnstone’s captivating Belle was propelled with tremendous energy
between her handsome but narcissistic suitor Gaston, played with wonderful
self deprecating humour by Marcus Adam, and the Beast. Here, Ali Wood in
his first main musical role, captured the pathos and power to stunning effect.
Ski Trio Steal the Show
on the Slopes
Charlie Guest, Katie Guest and Hope Whitelaw
won the British Schools Championships in Flaine,
France. They had two fantastic days which
resulted in their coming back from the prize
giving with a haul of prizes. There was a total of
5 trophies, 13 gold and 4 silver medals, including
Golds for Best British School for Giant Slalom,
Slalom and Combined and Best Overall British
Team. Charlie was also Best Overall Junior 2.
Fifty four teams were present representing schools
from all over Britain.
The ensemble gave many other performers the chance to shine; Ellie Kemp
as Mrs Potts and Ryan Hornby as Lumière both took centre stage for
the main musical numbers. Hannah Cox, Amelia Inglis and Flora Hay all
managed to bring enchanted objects to life and coped with some interesting
costume predicaments on the way! Special mention, of course, must go to
James McAllister’s Cogsworth and Johnny Keddie’s Le Fou.
The production team were privileged and proud to work with so many
talented pupils who worked tirelessly to build the set, play the music and
perform on stage, giving the visitors a truly memorable evening.
Oustanding Otto
In early March, Otta
Kakhidze, experienced
what must have been
his busiest week ever.
Wednesday 10th saw
him in Edinburgh for a
debating competition.
The next day he flew
to Abu Dhabi where
he had been invited
to attend an interview
at the Abu Dhabi
campus of New York
University. He was
back to Strathallan
in time to take part,
on Tuesday 14th, in Perform in Perth in the adult
recitation class which he won with his performance
of Blake’s “The Tyger” and a section of Chaucer’s
“Pardonner’s Tale”, recited in Middle English. And
perhaps the crowning glory – a trip to The Daily
Telegraph’s offices in London on Wednesday 16th
to receive the Benjamin Franklin House Literary
Prize for entrants aged 18 – 25. For this, Otto
wrote a Socratic dialogue (as if using Skype)
between himself and Benjamin Franklin. The
topic was, “In politics, what can laws do without
Morals?”. His prize was £750. To Otto’s delight,
the runner-up was an Oxford graduate. What a
week for Otto!
www.strathallan.co.uk
Sport...
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National Selection
in Pentathlon
Callum Fletcher was selected to represent Great
Britain in a “Pentathlon Youth International” at
Hartpury College in March following his success
at an event at Bath University in February.
Callum finished eighth in a field of over thirty
competitors from Great Britain, Ireland, France,
Hungary and Portugal.
The event consisted of 200 metre swimming,
three hours of epée fencing, combined crosscountry running and target shooting. On this
occasion there was no riding event, although it
was still called a “pentathlon”.
It has been a busy winter for Callum who has
also been competing in Triathlons and Biathlons
as part of his training for Scottish Tetrathlon
Winter Series.
Scottish Ski Snowcross Champion
Swimming Successes
Fourteen year old Scott Garvie won the 12 -15 year old Male
Ski Snowcross at the Western Saab Scottish Snowcross
Championships at Glenshee in March.
The Swim Team has maintained its usual impressive results,
unbeaten in all Schools matches including wins over
Glenalmond and Fettes and a huge number of individual
medals at District events.
Over a hundred skiers and snowboarders from all over the United
Kingdom raced head to head in an action packed knockout
race along a course consisting of man-made and natural rollers,
jumps, kickers and banked turns, all at high speed.
The Midland District Age-Group Championship was a
particular highlight this term in which four swimmers, Sandie
Smillie, Abigail Evans, Maggie Luck and Joe Lipworth secured
a total of twenty two medals, six of which were Gold.
The Riley Girls swim team also enjoyed a successful meeting
at the Kilgraston Gala this term with the U13 team winning the
trophy.
Basketball
The Boys Basketball
Team has enjoyed
considerable success
in the Scottish
Schools Cup winning
through to the quarter
final which they lost
to Portobello High
School.
Spring 2011
International
Rugby Selection
Keith Buchan and Alex Henderson
played for Scotland U18 against
Japan Schools in the last match of
their campaign. Both have been
regular members of the Caledonia
squad over the past three years and
alongside Tom Wilson have been
part of the U18 District squad who
defeated teams from Edinburgh,
Borders and Glasgow.
Cross Country Cyclist
Cross country cyclist, Findlay Kinloch, showed that he was made
of stern stuff when he and his three team mates from the Perth
City Cycles Team completed the Strathpuffer 24 hour Cross
Country Bike race. The team finished an impressive 11th place
out of a field of 79. The race involved each member completing
two laps of the 11km Torrachilty Forest course before handing over
to the next team member throughout a 24 hour period.
Findlay, the youngest member of the team, is currently ranked
ninth in Scotland for his age group.
He is currently preparing for the Scottish Cross Country Bike
Series and is also working towards Scottish Selection and
competing in the British Nationals later on this year.
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National Cricket Selection
Sixteen year old Nick Farrar is the youngest player to be selected
for the Scotland U19 Cricket Squad which will tour in India for
two weeks at the end of March.
Nick played for the U17 and the U18 Development Squad last
year and has progressed through to the U19 Squad this year.
The U19 squad, which trains weekly in Edinburgh under the
instruction of coach Craig Wright, is also looking forward to
the World Cup Qualifying tournament to be held in Ireland this
summer.
Minors Ski Championships
Chris Guest won the individual prize in the boys’ event at the
Scottish Schools Minors Ski Championships in January.
Chris’s twin sister, Kirsty competed alongside Amber Garvie and
Megan Inch in the girls team which finished third overall.
Independent Schools Netball Champions
The Girls of the 1st VII Netball team retained the Independent Schools Cup again this year winning all five matches in the round
robin and defeating Kilgraston 21 – 9 in the Final.
The Championship saw six schools competing for the title. The Strathallan Girls proved formidable opponents and won every
match with relative ease.
Spring 2011
Midland Winners
Both the U16 Girls and U16 Boys teams emerged from the
Midland District Competition as winners.
The Teams were to represent the Midland District at the U16
National Finals in Aberdeen but the boys event was cancelled
because of snow. The girls tournament was able to go ahead and
the Team made it through to the Semi-Finals.
Girls Hockey
The 1st XI Girls Hockey team was on winning form again this term
as they defeated Dollar Academy in the final of the Midland Knock
Out Cup. The girls also won the U18 Indoor District Tournament.
Boys Hockey
The Boys hockey had a disruptive season due to the weather conditions
however the 2nd XI Team enjoyed victories in all their games. The 1st
XI had a mixed start to the season but went on to produce wins against
Fettes, George Watson’s College, Loretto and a strong Strathallian
team. The highlight of the season was a 12-3 victory against Loretto.
International
Selection for Hockey
Murdo Elwis and Nicky Cochrane have
both made International Selection for
Hockey this term. Murdo will play for
the Scotland U16 hockey team in a
tournament in The Hague, Holland this
Easter, while Nicky was selected for the
Scotland U18 Hockey team to compete
against Ireland in March.
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First World War Battlefields Trip
It was a cold and dark evening when the sixth ‘Strathallan Pals
Battalion’, otherwise known as the Third Form Historians, began
their long journey to the Western front and the battlefields of the
First World War.
Their journey got off to a relaxed start with renditions of early war
songs and a day in Bruges where many of the ‘troops’ replenished
their reserves and indulged in some Belgian chocolate and crêpes.
The group arrived travel-weary at their ‘barracks’ in Ypres ready
to begin their tour of operations. They started with a visit to the
southern tip of the Ypres salient, travelling along the Menin Road
and past ‘Hellfire corner’ to visit sites such Messines Ridge and the
trenches at Sanctuary Wood as well as Hooge Crater and Hill 60.
On day three the group travelled to France to visit the 1916
Somme battlefields which bore witness to ‘the blackest day’ in
the History of the British Army. The day started with a visit to the
‘Sheffield Memorial Park’ which remembers all those who died as
part of Kitchener’s Pals battalions.
The group also visited the Canadian memorial at Beaumont Hamel
and Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme which is a
major war memorial to 72,195 missing British and Commonwealth
soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme and who have no
known grave. Several of the ‘Pals’ were able to locate family
members at Thiepval and lay their crosses of remembrance in
honour of their relatives’ sacrifices. The day finished with a visit to
the awe-inspiring Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge.
On the final day the ‘Pals’ returned to the Ypres Salient but this
time in the North and the day started with a very poignant visit
to the remote grave of George Mollison, head boy of Strathallan
School who was killed while on active duty at the age of twenty.
Visits were also made to Essex Farm cemetery where John
McCrae penned the poem “In Flanders’ fields” in 1915 as well as
Passchaendale Tyne Cot cemetery which, with 11,654 burials, is
the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.
With the end of the trip rapidly approaching the group made
one last outing to witness the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin
Gate and to conduct their own personal tribute to all those who
lost their lives in the First World War. The ‘Pals’ all appreciated
how lucky they were to be returning home safe and sound
but the trip had served its purpose: in the words of Laurence
Binyon, ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We
will remember them.’
Spring 2011
French Trip to Rouen
On Saturday, 12 February, fourteen pupils, Mrs Thompson and
Mr Dunn left in the freezing cold and drizzle to spend a week
in freezing cold and downpours in Rouen in Normandy. The
main purpose of the trip was, of course, the study of the French
language and consequently pupils stayed with French families,
eating real French food (not all snails and frogs’ legs, you know)
and communicating in French. They also had lessons in the
morning and learned French grammar through the medium
of French culture. Then they had the afternoon free and the
group visited the Bayeux tapestry, Omaha beach war cemetery,
Arromanches and the Mulberry Harbour, the Musée des Beaux
Arts – possibly the best gallery in France outside Paris and, best
of all, we all learned to make macarons (very traditional French
sweets/cakes which are considered the height of the pastry chef’s
art). Various problems delayed our return, yet the party, with
typical Strathallian grit and determination, kept cheerful, positive
and resourceful to the end. Chins up all round!
Berlin Trip
The History and German Departments led a most successful
Fifth Form trip to the German capital Berlin for four days during
February half term. The group took in many of Berlin’s famous
landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint
Charlie, on foot as well as sampling travel by tram, bus,
U-Bahn and S-Bahn!
The trip focused on sights and exhibitions relevant to the
History GCSE in-depth study on Germany 1919-45 and
included visits to the German Reichstag and the Holocaust
Memorial as well as excursions to the 1936 Olympic Stadium
and Sachsenhausen Concentration camp, the Nazi ‘model
camp’.
The evenings were filled with trips to Alexanderplatz and
the Sony Centre at Potsdamerplatz. In addition, the group
enjoyed a 360 degree bird’s eye view of Berlin from the top of
the TV tower which, at 368 metres tall, is Germany’s highest
building. Students also sampled the local cuisine and ordering
‘currywurst’ and ‘strudel’ gave them ample opportunity to
practise their spoken German. The group arrived home having
enjoyed the wealth of culture and history that this vibrant
European city has to offer.
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Hopetoun House
On Friday 11th March, Sixth Form pupils Marcus Adams, Ciara Elwis and Hannah Johnstone were invited to take part in a
charity concert for “Hope and Homes for Children” at Hopetoun House, organised by singing teacher Ms Heather Boyd.
The programme featured several professional musicians alongside our pupils, and all were reunited with former Strathallan
Director of Music, Mr Neil Metcalfe, who was the accompanist for the evening. A grateful audience of over 200 thoroughly
enjoyed the musicians’ performance, with over £5000 being raised for the charity.
Choral Scholars
The Choral Scholars took part in
an Area Choral Day this term. All
Episcopal churches from within the
diocease of St Andrews and Dunblane
were invited to St Ninian’s Cathedral to
a ‘come and sing’ event which ended
in a Choral Evensong led by the Choral
Scholars and the Cathedral Choir.
The day was such a success that it
is intended to replicate it in the near
future.
Congratulations go to Megan Crawford
who was received into the Cathedral
Choir as a Choral Scholar on Sunday
13th March.
Form Concert
Pupils from Forms III and IV entertained an appreciative audience in their Form Concert in early February. There was a
diverse range of performances varying from Mozart’s Franz Lehár’s Velia from ‘The Merry Widow’, sung by Rosie Beech, to
a Piping Ensemble performed by Crawford Niven, Hermes Manos and Cameron Hirst.
Spring 2011
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Music.....
House Music
According to adjudicator Mr Vaughan Fleischfresser, House Music
this year was the best show he has seen, having adjudicated at
countless concerts around the globe.
The Sports Hall was packed with standing room only for the annual
competition. Parents, friends and the whole School community
turned out to support their Houses and each other.
Each House performed three pieces of music, a choir featuring
all members of the House, an ensemble and a solo. The musical
pieces all chosen, arranged and performed by the pupils without
any staff involvement, covered a wide variety of styles, from Mozart
to Snow Patrol and provided an evening of excellent entertainment.
The winners in the boys choir section were Simpson House, who
performed The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Thornbank House won the
girls choir prize for their performance of It’s Raining Men.
The ensemble prize went to Freeland House, for what was judged
to be the most entertaining performance of the night.
The standard of soloists was outstanding according to Mr
Fleischfresser who said that while listening to them if he had closed
his eyes he could have been at a professional gig. Stephanie
Strozhova from Glenbrae won this section with her beautiful
performance of Hallelujah.
The Winners of the 2011 Strathallan House Music Competition
were Glenbrae, although Mr Fleischfresser summed up the
evening’s entertainment by saying, ‘Music has really been the
winner here tonight. The power of music is incredible in schools
and as I travel the world music is actually under threat in education
systems all around the world. This is a shining light as to why it
should continue to be taught in schools’.
National Youth Choir
of Great Britain Selection
Two Sixth Form girls, Hannah Johnstone and Ellie Kemp have been
selected for the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.
The girls will join other talented young people, between the ages of
9 and 22, to enjoy the benefits of the NYCGB experience by taking
part in a programme of residential courses and concerts. Courses
include intensive rehearsals, individual voice coaching and lessons
in musicianship, a combination that encourages the development
of both teamwork and leadership skills.
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Riley Perform
The opportunity to perform in public is an important part of the Riley programme and this term
has seen them take to the stage on a number of occasions.
The Inter-Divisional competitions commenced with the ‘Div’ Plays. Pupils in each Division wrote
and produced the plays and performed them in front of their family and friends.
The Inter-Divisional Music competition came next and the adjudicator, Mr Fyffe, was impressed
by the talent and the way the children enjoyed the performing aspect so much.
The term ended with the ever popular Riley Informal. Parents and friends squeezed into Riley
Common Room to enjoy various groups, ensembles and choirs perform a diverse programme.
Spring 2011
Talks...
T-shirts on for
an Arctic Heatwave
Dr Phil Porter, a Senior Lecturer in Physical
Geography from the University of Hertfordshire
gave an insightful talk into glaciers in Svalbard,
the northernmost part of Norway, which is inside
the Arctic Circle.
His research examines arctic glaciers as they are
sensitive indicators of climatic change. Dr Porter
described the various techniques used to study
the glaciers and also highlighted the dangers
involved. Polar bears are one of the major
threats, as they are known to attack without
warning. It was therefore compulsory for the
team to carry out shooting exercises in order to
defend themselves should the need arise.
Pupils were given the opportunity to question
Dr Porter further over an informal dinner
following the talk. It was a most enjoyable and
informative evening.
Life in the Death Zone
– The Ascent of Everest
Mr Russell Lamb, a lawyer from London, was invited by the
Geography Department to visit Strathallan and talk to the
Sixth Form Pupils about his expedition to the summit of Mount
Everest in aid of Cancer Research in 2007.
Mr Lamb chose to climb Mount Everest by way of the South
East Ridge, the same route that led to the successful first
ascent by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. He
talked of his experience, the extreme environment and the
methods adopted in order to cope with the high altitude.
It took three weeks to reach base camp with the aid of
Sherpas and yaks carrying the vast amounts of equipment
including one hundred oxygen tanks, food and water. During
the ascent the team encountered many features such as
crevasses, ridges and glaciers and had to use ladders and
ropes in order to cross them. The Sherpas managed to cross
them with ease, but the group were more wary due to lack of
practice and the daunting drop below. Mr Lamb explained
that the locals were much more efficient at climbing Mount
Everest as they do not have to acclimatise to the altitude. The
ascent of Everest is not very technical, but the high altitude
and unpredictable weather causes one in ten of those who
attempt the climb to die each year. The last stretch from the
Hillary Step to the summit required an extremely early start to
reach the peak at sunrise. Unfortunately it was only possible
to absorb the spectacular views for a maximum of ten minutes
because of the low oxygen levels at this height. This was a
highly motivational talk which was enjoyed by all.
DJ Jim Gellatly Talks
to Sixth Form
On the 7th of February, DJ Jim Gellatly was the guest speaker for
the annual Strathallian Club Lecture.
Jim talked about his life and times as a Radio DJ promoting
up and coming bands within Britain. For over 25 years he has
introduced new acts such as Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro, The
Fratellis , Amy Macdonald and KT Tunstall and received the ‘John
Peel Award for contribution to Music Radio’ in 2008.
After the lecture a group of Sixth Form pupils joined Jim for a
meal to discuss their views on music and to get to know more
about the bands he has found throughout his career. As an
added bonus Jim offered advice to up and coming Strath bands.
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Oxbridge
Four pupils have been successful in gaining
places at Oxbridge this year. Amar Hodzic has
an offer to read Engineering at St Edmund Hall
and Alice Inglis Philosophy and Psychology at
St Anne’s. Jamie Parker has a place to read
Classics at New College and Ainslie Johnstone to
read Natural Sciences at Homerton.
German Exchange
Programme
Strathallan continues to develop strong links
with our German exchange School, Max-PlanckGymnasium Trier and this term saw the German
pupils and their teacher, Frau Keck, arrive at the
school for a week’s exchange.
Sixth Form Ball
After weeks of dress and suit shopping, hype and excitement, on
Saturday 5th February the Annual Sixth Form Ball was finally upon us.
The location was the dining hall, which on a day-to-day basis is used to
seeing us in our Uggs and tracksuits, looking weary after a busy day of
lessons, games and other commitments. But this was not the case, for
it had been transformed this year into a Wonderland, as the theme was
Alice in Wonderland, complete with a giant tree, clock and teacup (which
everyone insisted on sitting in!)
After many photos from every angle with our House parents we
proceeded to the theatre to admire the fantastic turnout of dresses, kilts
and suits. Then to the dining hall, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner
of salmon, roast beef and sticky toffee pudding. The tables were then
cleared and high heels were discarded for the Celidh dancing including
many favourites such as ‘Strip the Willow’, which was definitely not a
wise decision after a three course meal! After much swirling and twirling
a DJ concluded the night with more energetic music and dancing and on
return to your Houses bacon rolls and other delicacies with one’s House
parents.
Thanks are due Mr. Barnes, the catering staff and the student-led ball
committee, who worked tirelessly to ensure every detail from the props
(which, just to keep blood pressure high arrived the afternoon of the
ball) to our invitations and menu were in place and ensured a thoroughly
enjoyable evening for all.
The exchange partners spent several days
experiencing classes and activities in school, and
also did some sightseeing in Edinburgh, Stirling
and Perth. Our pupils are now looking forward to
their trip to Germany in April.
Spanish and German
Conference
The crystal-clear, frost-sharpened air of an early
morning in March helped hone the wits of the
Lower Sixth Spanish and German pupils as
they set out in the company of Dr Flanagan, Mr
Kennedy and a visiting group from our partner
school, the Max-Planck-Gymnasium, Trier,
to attend the second in a series of Modern
Languages immersion days hosted, on this
occasion, by Fettes College.
Participants were going to need their wits in order
to get the most out of a challenging occasion on
which they were given the opportunity to engage
with expert speakers of the languages that
they are learning and with their peers in a purely
target-language environment. All lived up to the
occasion, acquitted themselves exceptionally well
and despite a certain apprehension, did actually
enjoy themselves.
The muffins, danish pastries and real(!) coffee
generously provided by our hosts did a great
deal to ensure that things went swimmingly
and that participants were fortified to deal with
the intellectual rigour of the speech ably and
informatively delivered by Antonella Sorace
Laurea MA PhD FRSA FRSE, Professor of
Developmental Linguistics at the University of
Edinburgh on the topic of language-learning and
brain development in the final part of the day.
The immersion days are the brainchild of the
recently-formed Five schools Conference, a
group comprising Heads of Department from
Strathallan, Glenalmond College, Merchiston
Castle, Stewart’s Melville College and Fettes.
Strathallan hopes to host an event of our own
devising in a similar vein in November.
Autumn 2010
Eco-Schools Presentation at Forgandenny Primary School
Fifth Form pupils James Spalding and Alex Bannerman visited Forgandenny Primary School in January to give a hands on
presentation to the pupils about miniature photovoltaic cells and wind turbines.
After explaining how the different components of the renewable energy sources function, they encouraged the children to get
involved, assembling various circuits and machines. Putting their new-found knowledge to the test the Forgandenny Pupils were able
to use the sun and wind to power components such as a small propeller, a light and a buzzer.
James and Alex also took along other equipment such as bird feeders and recycling bins which they received from Scottish Power for
the 56000 credits or ‘leaves’ awarded to the School for being eco friendly.
All the children enjoyed learning about such an important subject and the role of the Eco Committee at Strathallan.
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Sixth Form Burns Supper
Reading Scheme
The Music
Room once
again provided a
beautiful setting
for the annual
Sixth Form Burns
Supper. Mrs Irene
McFarlane chaired
the event. The
haggis, piped in
by Freddie Hunter,
was addressed
by Mr John
MacLean. Hannah
Cox delivered
the Selkirk Grace
before traditional
supper of haggis, neeps and tatties. Olivia Quick delivered
an informative and humorous Immortal Memory. Josiah
Bircham, in the Toast to the Lassies, made ample reference
to Burns, but illustrated his opinions with many School
references. But he met his match in Rosie Beetschen,
in her Reply. Ben Melville gave an excellent Toast to
Strathallan, to which Mr David Barnes gave a humorous
Reply.
Earlier on in the session, Mr Barnes invited staff to suggest
additional activities for Strathallan’s Prefects who were eager
and willing to take on more responsibilities in their new role.
Christina Stephenson recited “Address to the Toothache”.
The Burns Supper experienced “a first” when Otto
Kakhidze recited part of the “A Man’s a Man for a’ That” in
his native Georgian, before completing it in Scots.
Musical contributions were provided by Anna Olafsson,
Christina Stephenson, Kirsty Glasgow and Alice Inglis.
They responded enthusiastically to the invitation to become
paired readers for Riley pupils and, after an initial meeting to
iron out the practicalities of the scheme, the prefects and their
prospective younger partners met to choose books and to
arrange meeting times.
The scheme has been an outstanding success for the pupils
involved, both junior and senior.
At an evaluation meeting, it was heart-warming to hear a Form
I boy enthuse about his experience with his readers. He said
he had made new friends and read books he would never have
opened on his own. He thoroughly enjoyed the project and is
keen to be involved in the scheme next year. Others admitted
that they had been reluctant readers prior to being involved in
the scheme but have now gone on to read independently. The
only complaint from the Riley pupils was that some of them
would have liked to have seen even more of their readers.
The seniors were also enthusiastic about the scheme, explaining
that, apart from enjoying some of the books their partners had
chosen, they also enjoyed being involved with the younger pupils
in Riley House.
The scheme is entirely voluntary. English teachers were asked to
identify pupils who might benefit from paired reading and pupils
who wanted to be part of the scheme were allowed to join in
whether they were identified as being potential beneficiaries or not.
Autumn 2010
Fairtrade Fortnight
Three groups of Fourth Form pupils studying Business Studies have been running businesses to promote Fairtrade
awareness by selling products in ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’.
Each class has followed the principles required to set up a business beginning with a detailed business plan in
order to entice a potential investor, Mrs Ingram-Forde, to loan them £50.
After the initial market research was completed to identify the suitable products, the groups established the best
times and location to sell their wares and created posters which were displayed around the School advertising the
events.
Fairtrade helps fight poverty through trade bringing direct benefits to producer communities and helping
individuals develop their skills. The purpose of this form of ethical trading is to change the rules that govern trade,
challenging injustice and encouraging changes in public and political attitudes.
The project has been a great success and each group has had to order more stock to satisfy the demand.
Edinburgh Festival Speech
and Drama
In the Edinburgh Festival Speech and Drama Day, our pupils
achieved a number of awards. The Bible Reading U13 medal
went to Lauren Dundee, Christina Stephenson won two medals,
for Prose and Bible Reading, and came first in the Sonnet class.
Caitlin Donald recited Shelley’s “Ozymandias” and won the U13
Verse Speaking medal. Rosie Beech also left with two medals,
for Public Speaking and Prose Reading.
Rosie’s reading from “The Diamond of Drury Lane” was judged
the best performance of the day, and she was invited to take
part in the Final Concert in the Queen’s Hall, on March 12th, of
highlights of the 2011 Festival, chosen by the Adjudicators.
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Two Strathallians in Edinburgh pack
In the Magner’s League Fixture against Cardiff on 3rd March
Struan Dewar made his debut for Edinburgh Rugby after
outstanding performances for Heriot’s and the Scotland
Sevens team. Struan was central to Scotland’s Bowl
success in Las Vegas scoring the crucial try against Wales
in the semi final and featuring as a key player in the final
success against Canada.
Alongside Struan in the Edinburgh pack was another
Strathallian, Steven Turnbull who has played a number of
times this season.
Simpson House Reunion
Simpson House held a reunion in early March. The last in
the series of House reunions saw Strathallians representing
a wide range of years
(1946-2000). Memories
were exchanged and
Thomas Baxter delighted
all by wearing his 1st XV
cap from 1946. Head of
House, James McAllister
and Captain of School
Ben Melville then took
the group on a tour of
the School – stopping
off at Glenbrae for an
unscheduled visit to
admire the view from the
top floor of the new girls’
Boarding House.
Strathallian Dates for the Diary
Strathallian London Dinner
Thursday 28th April, 7.30pm for 8pm
Caledonian Club, London, Tickets £60
Strathallan Drinks Reception
Thursday 16th June, 5.30pm until 8pm
Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
Strathallian Angling Day
Sunday 22nd May, 8.45am
Frandy Fishery
Strathallian Day
Sunday 5th June, 11.30am until 6pm
The School
Scottish Game Fair
Friday 1st July – Sunday 3rd July
Scone Palace Grounds
Scottish Dinner
Saturday 1st October, 7.30pm for 8pm
The Royal George Hotel, Perth
Strathallian
16
If you are interested in attending any of the above
events, please contact Aileen Wilson on 01738 815082
or [email protected]
Forgandenny Perth PH2 9EG Scotland UK
T +44 (0)1738 815003 F +44 (0)1738 812549
Scottish Charity No: SC008903