The Strathallian
V o l. 11
1975
No. 2
C o n te n ts
Page
A uthority
3
The Headmaster
5
Editorial
5
Notes
6
The Staff
6
Chapel Notes
7
Speech Day
7
Sixth Form Lectures
8
Salvete Valete
10
House Reports
14
M usic
18
"Journey's End"
19
Social Services
21
The Response to a request
26
Chemical Education
27
Societies
29
Literary Section
33
C.C.F.
41
Sport
44
Strathallian Club
66
A few facts
about Schoolwear
In schoolwear lasting appearance
depends on top quality materials
and manufacture.
Lasting appearance must be
coupled w ith ample allowance
fo r gro w th wherever possible.
It is also essential to hold prices
at a sensible level consistent w ith
present conditions.
A ll these vital factors are
embodied in our schoolwear
w ith the extra bonus of
3% discount on cash purchases
over £5.
No charge fo r alteratio n s to new
garm ents.
A fre e name tape sew ing service.
icnnnE
79 G EO R G E STREET.ED IN B U R G H EH2 3E T Tel 03 1 -2 2 5 1461
W e are official o u tfitte rs
v „ _ l_
to Strathallan School
School Authority
Head o f School
Vice-Captain o f School
Head o f Freeland
Head o f Leburn
Head o f N icol
I. A. D. Low (left Christmas '74)
A. C. McArthur
E. A. Ferguson (left Christmas '74)
A. D. G. W iddowson
E. A. Ferguson
J. S. Milne
N. E. Cope
A. D. G. W iddowson
Head o f Ftuthven
I. A. D. Low
D. F. Ferguson
Head o f Simpson
A. C. McArthur
School Prefects
Head Librarian
Editor o f "The Strathallian"
Sub-editors
Advertising Manager
P. D. Hunter (left Christmas '74)
T. S. Ling (left Christmas '74)
J. S. P. McDonald
G. J. F. Crowe (Summer '75)
R. I. Whitaker (Summer '75)
P. D. Hunter
G. J. F. Crowe
A. D. G. W iddowson
A.
R.
A.
R.
R.
K.
D.
D.
Cochrane
Linton
MacAdam
G. Powrie
B. J. Ball, Esq.
. . . and Farewell
4
THE HEADMASTER
In July Mr. A. D. D. McCallum retired,
after five years as Headmaster.
His
successor is Mr. C. D. Pighills. Mr. Pighills,
who was educated at Rydal School and
Christ's College, Cambridge, was form erly
a Housemaster at Fettes.
The
Chairman
of the
Board of
Governors w rites:
Mr.
M cCallum 's
departure
from
Strathallan marks the end of an era and a
unique period of service to the School. He
was first appointed in 1951 as Second
Master and until 1956 was largely re­
sponsible fo r carrying out the policies of
Mr. Hoare, w hich did so much to raise the
reputation of the School to the pre-eminent
position it now occupies.
In 1956, Mr. McCallum w as appointed
Headmaster of Christ's College, Brecon, and
from there he moved to the Headmastership
of Epsom College in 1961. His return to
Strathallan in 1970 on Mr. Hoare's retiral
was greatly w elcom ed by all w ho knew him.
Mr. M cCallum 's Headmastership has
given us continued progress through a most
difficult period of political, economic and
social change, and in spite of these
problems, there has been steady develop­
ment.
The Sports Hall, thanks to the
generosity of the Gannochy Trust, was com ­
pleted in 1972. Outside contractors' cater­
ing was introduced in 1973; in the academic
field, the greatest change was the re-introduction of the "H ig h e rs" in 1973.
In June this year the foundation stone
fo r the new boarding house was laid by
Duncan McCallum. That the second De­
velopm ent Appeal should have gone ahead
in these difficult tim es, is the greatest
possible tribute to his drive and enthusiasm
fo r an ideal. He gave unstinted support to
the fund raising efforts of the campaign,
travelling
throughout
the
country
to
numerous meetings. The new building w ill
be a reminder to us of his tremendous
efforts.
It is custom ary on such occasions to
make a passing tribute to the great man's
wife. In this year of W om en's Liberation,
such cavalier treatm ent is quite unjustified,
if it ever was. Rosemary M cC allum ’s contri
bution to the School's life has not been re­
corded officially but her influence behind the
scenes, her kindness, hospitality and gentle
presence w ill never be forgotten by those
w ho knew her.
To Duncan and Rosemary go all our
good wishes fo r a long, healthy and happy
retiral in Norfolk w ith our grateful thanks
for all they have done for Strathallan.
W
T. PATON
EDITORIAL
W hether the reader's main concern is the paym ent of school fees or the
purchase of an ice-cream, he cannot have failed to be acutely aware of the
effects of inflation. "The S trathallian " has not escaped the common illness.
Over the past eighteen months the cost of printing paper alone has more than
doubled, and the decision has had to be taken to reduce the number of pages.
W e believe that the m ajority of our readers w ould not favour further cuts in
the magazine content; and we have therefore reduced the size of type for
much of the magazine. W e trust that your enjoym ent of the magazine w ill
not be sim ilarly diminished.
NOTES
THE STAFF
Having
successfully
launched
Strathallan
Catering a la T ru st Houses Forte, M iss Smith
has le ft us to introduce a sim ilar system at
G ordonstoun.
The recording o f the broadcast of "D avie, the
Giant K iller", has sold w ell.
W ho sent those com bs?
police.
A sk the New York
Chapel services w ere led by members o f the
school on several occasions.
Congratulations to R. I. W hitaker, w ho toured
w ith the S cottish Schools rugby party.
A fte r
collapsed.
heavy
rain
part
of
the
causeway
Strathallan suffered a serious loss in Ju ly w ith
the departure o f M r. F. S. McNamara to take up
his new appointm ent as Vice-Principal of King
W illia m 's College, Isle of Man. Mr. McNamara
came to Strathallan in 1963 and has in these tw elve
years made a n o tew o rth y con tribu tion to the
School in a number of spheres. Quite apart from
firm ly establishing Leburn as a Senior House he
has, o f course, been the coach o f the 1st XV, and
in addition the general co-ordinator of all our
games activities. He has also directed a highly
successful and expanding Geography Department.
From the Maths. Departm ent Mr. D. J. Reed
and Mr. B. J. Gregory have also le ft us, to move to
Perth High School and M onm outh School respec­
tive ly. W e are very grateful to them not only for
the good w o rk they have done in the classroom,
but fo r all the a ctivitie s in w hich they have given a
helping hand. In addition, Mr. N. R. Colquhoun left
us at Christmas to return to his native Eton, after
three energetic years here.
M r. J. M ouland Begbie has, after fifteen years
at Strathallan, decided it is tim e to retire. An
appreciation o f his w o rk here appears under
"M u s ic ", but all members o f the Staff share, w e are
sure, in the sense o f privilege of having had him
w ith us.
W e w ish all these gentlemen and their fam ilies
success and happiness.
A s was foreshadow ed in these colum ns a
year ago, M r. C. P. Hewson has retired from the
Housemastership o f Riley, at the end of seventeen
Of an estim ated 200 fish in the pond, 400
years in that capacity. Of all Housemasterships,
were caught.
the Jun io r House is w ith o u t doubt quite the m ost
exacting, calling fo r great dedication. Strathallan
is greatly in his debt. M r. Hewson is, happily, not
C.
C. S. Magee w as appointed official Rabbit leaving us, and he can be found in his new rooms
in the main school at deep extra cover.
Catcher. Simpson have eaten w ell.
Slide projecting has been unim peddied by fir
cones.
The Prefect's
Arthurian manner.
Lawn
was w e ll rolled
in the
M r. H. C. A ddison has been appointed House­
m aster o f Leburn, and Mr. M. J. E. Wareham
Housemaster o f Riley. In place of M r. Colquhoun
w e w elcom ed in January M r. N. T. H. Du Boulay.
Sadly, news has reached us o f the sudden and
prem ature deaths of tw o form er members of staff.
The Rev. G. D. Buchanan was Chaplain from 1959
to 1964, and M r. P. S. Taylor w as Head o f the
M aths D epartm ent from 1967 to 1970.
W o rk is w ell under w a y on the new Houses.
MR. ARCHIE DOIG
Three tennis cou rts w ere re-surfaced.
The Choir sang in Dunkeld Cathedral fo r the
firs t time.
Congratulations to M r. B. J.
marriage to M iss Marie M cBurnie.
6
Ball
on
his
G enerations o f Old Strathallians w ill be
saddened to hear o f the death o f M r. Archie Doig.
Before his retirem ent he served the School w h o lly
and de voted ly fo r fo rty -fo u r years. In his early
days he w as Harry Riley's chauffeur; and thus a
link w ith our past is broken. There are many w ho
w ill long recall A rchie's sim ple honesty and
goodness; and in extending our sincere sym pathy
to his w ife and fam ily w e shall remember him w ith
gratitude.
CHAPEL NOTES
The fo llo w in g w e re confirm ed into the Church
of Scotland on 9 March: C. B. Biggart, G. K.
Cochrane, A. H. Cumming, J. Currie, Q. J. Davidson,
P. J. M. Fairlie, D. R. I. Fingland, W . Gibson,
D. M. N. Gillanders, R. D. G oodfellow , H. J. P. Gray,
D. T. Hay, P. A. Hill, D. L. Hinshaw, B. J. D. Lyburn,
A. D. M acAdam , J. S. P. M cD onald, K. C. S.
McLelland, R. N. MacLeod, A. W . B. M agill, J. H. B.
Malcolm , K. C. M arshall, A. B. N aism ith, D. R. M.
Park, A. R. Peddie, M. J. Prosser, R. F. Renwick,
D. T. Ross, H. W . R. Steedman, A. J. Tares,
C. J. W allace, A. G. W a tt, R. I. W hitaker, G. T.
W ordie and N. C. S. Yates.
Into the Episcopal Church on 16 March: N. B.
Lydon and J. L. Turner.
The fo llo w in g preached in the Chapel: the Right
Rev. M ichael Hare-Duke (B ishop of St. A n d re w s ),
the Very Rev. John A. Fraser (la te ly of A berdalgie),
the Rev. Professor James W hyte, the Rev. George
Hall, the Rev. W illiam McKane and the Rev. Robert
Giannini (all from St. M ary's College, St. A n d re w s ),
the Rev. R. L. W ilso n (M a n ch e ste r), the Rev.
Ronald Darroch (St. John's Episcopal, P erth), the
Rev. Harry Crooks (S t. Paul's, K in ro ss), the Rev.
G. S tew a rt Sharp (F organdenny), the Rev. U ist
Macdonald (A berdalgie), the Rev. Finlay M acdonald
(M e n strie ), the Rev. Hamish MacNab (K ilre n n y),
the Rev. Ian M ille r (M a d d e rty ), the Rev. W . B.
Johnston (C o lin to n ), the Rev. S te w a rt Lamont
(B.B.C. Religious Broadcasting D epartm ent), the
Rev. George Buchanan-Sm ith and the Rev. David
W eekes (bo th o f F ette s), the Rev. George M artin
(M e rc h is to n ), Brother Bruce (S o cie ty o f St.
Francis), R. L. Kirkland, the Headmaster and the
Chaplain.
C ollections w ere taken for the R.A.F. Benevo­
lent Fund, Bangladesh Flood Relief, the Salvation
A rm y, Sue Ryder's Homes, the Royal C om m on­
w ealth S ociety fo r the Blind, the M uscular
D ystrophy Group, Cancer Research, Earl Haig's
Fund, the R.N.L.I., the Red Cross, the Leprosy
M ission, the Star Centre for Disabled Youth, the
S cottish Spina Bifida A ssociation, the Samaritans,
the M ission to Deep Sea Fishermen, the Flying
D octor Service, the M issionary A via tion Fellowship,
the Save the Children Fund, the S cottish Council
fo r the Care o f Spastics, the British Diabetics
Association, the R.S.P.C.C., Queen Elizabeth's
Foundation fo r the Disabled, and the Chapel Fund.
Our thanks are due to the V ery Rev. T. T.
Irvine (Dean of St. A n d re w s) for continuing to
come out from Perth to in stru ct Episcopal Can­
didates fo r Confirm ation, and to conduct Services
o f Holy Communion three tim es a term . A lso to
M rs. M cCallum and her helpers for continuing to
provide and arrange the flow ers every w eek and
the other decorations fo r the Carol Services.
W .N .M .
Speech Day
After rain on the preceding few days, we
were rather looking forward to the traditional
Speech day sunshine; and we were not dis­
appointed. The occasion this year took place
on Friday 6th June, and the Guest of the Day,
at very short notice, was the Hon. Lord
Kincraig, B.A., LL.B., Governor of the School,
and Chairman of the Development Appeal.
The proceedings in the City Hall were
opened by Mr. N. A. Gillanders, w ho firstly
reported that the Chairman of the Governors,
Mr. W. T. Paton, C.B.E., T.D., was ill in
hospital at the time, but had been able to
prepare notes for his speech, and it w ould be
from these that he was speaking. He con­
gratulated Mr. Paton on the award of a C.B.E.
in the New Year's Honours List.
Mr. Gillanders then announced the loss
from the Board of Governors of Professor
Fordyce of the University of Glasgow, who
had given 28 years of valuable service to the
school, and who's place w ould be taken by
Professor Rankin. Turning to financial matters,
he assured us that the present economy
measures w ould never jeopardize the high
standards of education at Strathallan, pointing
out how favourably we compare w ith other
schools. Mr. Gillanders then acknowledged
the five years of hard work by the retiring
headmaster, Mr. McCallum, describing him as
a "to w e r of strength" to the school. A t this
point he broke off from Mr. Paton's notes to
add his personal gratitude to Mr. and Mrs.
McCallum, having been chairman himself for
three years. He wished them well for the future,
and then said that the governors had chosen
Mr. C. D. Pighills to be his successor — a
unanimous decision from ninety applicants.
They were confident that the new headmaster
w ould prove a w orthy upholder of the stan­
dards laid down by Harry Riley, and maintained
by his successors.
The Headmaster began by thanking Mr.
Gillanders for his kind compliments to himself
and his wife, and then reported on the
activities of the school.
He was able to
announce that the academic standards of
previous years had been equalled and suc­
ceeded, especially in the Sixth Form, where an
increased percentage of candidates had gained
University entrances. He also noted that we
had had a particularly good Rugger season
7
the 1st XV beating many formidable teams.
But he recognized that change was always
necessary, saying that the extension of
opportunities available was the most im por­
tant progression in modern public schools —
giving as an example the development cam­
paign, continuing in many schools in spite of
the economic crisis. It was building this
confidence in the future that was the part
education had to play in uplifting Britain, he
said, emphasizing the need for spiritual
values —“ this generation must find an ideal"
he stressed.
Dux
P. D. Hunter
The W illiam Tattersall A rt Prize
D. J. Fletcher
The Patrick Grandison Prize fo r Strings
D. R. I. Fingland and F. G. M cAdam
The Robert Barr M em orial Prize for M usic
D. R. I. Fingland
Mr. McCallum ended by thanking the
governors, the staff, the parents and their boys,
saying that he found the school a happy and
united community. His speech was extremely
well received.
Lord Kincraig, after presenting the prizes,
congratulated the Headmaster on his speech,
admiring the enthusiastic tone of it. He then
came to his own address, relating how he had
felt at his own school speech days, and
explaining that he w ould therefore be talking
mainly to the boys, believing that com m uni­
cating w ith youth was very important.
He began by saying to the leavers that the
effect of one's school career didn't end as soon
as one had left sch oo l; but that he hoped that
it would enable them to deal w ith the varied
circumstances of the w ider w orld beyond
school. "You start w ith a tremendous advan­
tage", he told them, and gave them his best
wishes for the future. As for the others, he en­
couraged them to enjoy themselves, but above
all to be productive, and to strive towards
w orthw hile achievements. He ended by thank­
ing the audience for being so patient and
attentive.
The concert, shorter than usual this year,
follow ed the speeches, and in the afternoon
parents were able to see many activities,
including the ceremony on the site of the new
buildings. The day ended with the spectacular
"Beating of the Retreat", a fine conclusion to a
fine day.
D.A.C.
SPEECH DAY PRIZES: JUNE 1975
M athem atics ................
Geography ....................
H istory
.........................
R. M. Jamieson
A. K Shortreed
A. R. Cochrane
Economics ....................
C hem istry ....................
B iology
.........................
Physics
.........................
A. R. Cochrane
I. Y. Buchanan
A.
K. Shortreed
A. D. G. W idd ow so n
A rt .................................
Geography Field W o rk
Economics Essay ......
N.
Menzies
D. L. Young
D. S. Lowden
SIXTH FORM LECTURES: 1974-75
Once again, w e express our very sincere
thanks to the gentlem en named below fo r so
generously giving o f their tim e to come out to
Strathallan to ta lk to the Sixth Form about aspects
o f public affairs in w hich they are closely involved.
H. T. STEARS, Esq.: Careers in C ivil and S tructural
Engineering.
J. F. S H AW , Esq.: The W ork o f the C onciliation
and A d viso ry Service.
R. GOODIER, Esq.: Man and the Environment.
D. J. G RAHAM -CAMPBELL, Esq., M .A.: The Tran­
sitio n from School to U niversity.
B. POUNDER, Esq.: Sea Birds of Tayside.
J.
H. LEVESON, Esq., B.Sc. (Econ.), F.C.I.S.,
M.B.C.S., M .B.I.M .: The W o rld o f Business.
Supdt. RONALD ARTHUR, LL.B.: The Rdle of the
Police.
The Lord Provost of Perth: Local Government.
S. R. PARR, Esq.: The Role of Insurance.
JAM ES LUMSDEN, Esq.: A ir Service Training.
The Smith Cup fo r Captain of School
A. C. M cA rth u r
The Houston Prize fo r A ll Round M erit
A. D. G. W id d o w so n
8
R. INGRAM, Esq.: Industrial Developm ents in the
S cottish Highlands.
J. D. M USH IN , Esq.: The Functions o f the Bank of
England.
ap p ro ved and
officially appointed
outfitters to
Strathallan School
R. W. Forsyth Ltd
Princes Street Edinburgh
phone 0 3 1 - 5 5 6 3 3 3 3
and at
Glasgow
S alvete/V alete
SALVETE
September 1974
Lower Sixth — MacLeod N. A. (R ).
IV — Gelzer P. A. S. (R ); G rant E. M. (F ); W a tt
G. A. (R ).
Hunter P. D. (R ). Came 682; I; Sch.; School Prefect;
M usic Prize 72-73; Grandison Strings Prize 73;
German Prize 74; H istory Essay Prize 74; Dux
74; Secretary of M usic Soc.; Secretary of
Debating Soc.; Secretary of Games Com m ittee;
Editor o f "The S trathallian"; Head Librarian;
Chapel Organist; Choir; Orchestra; Under Officer
(R .N .).
K irkto n Shade, K irriem uir, Angus.
Ill — B rew ster R. J. (S ); Brow n K. C. (S );
Callander J. B. (R ); Cuthbertson A. C. (N );
Ling T. S. (R ). Came 683; I; School Prefect; English
D ew hurst C. H. (F ); Haggart I. A. (L ); Headrick
Prize 74; H istory Prize 74; Economics Prize 74;
D. J. (L ); Lawson R. S. M. (L ); M cDonald
Economics Essay Prize 74; Grandison Strings
W . D. W . (S ); M cG regor W . M. (S ); M cIntosh
Prize 74; X V 72-74, Captain 74; Hockey XI 74;
J. D. (L ); M cN eill M. A. (R ); M clve r D. J. (R );
A th le tics 71-74; Campbell A w ard 74; Editor of
MacLeod R. R. (N ); M aitland-M akgill-C richton
"T he Strathallian''; Librarian; Choir; Orchestra;
C. W . (F );
Maude G. M.(L ); M illar G.M. (L );
Sgt. (A rm y ).
M orris
R.
H. (N ); Pollock J.
G.(R ); Prosser
Sandlea; Leven Rd., Lundin Links, Fife KY8 6AH.
D. H. (R ); Raeside C. N. (N ); Schofield R. H.
Low I. A. D. (R ). Came 67:i; I; Exh.; Head of School;
(S ); Serinyom 0 . (N ); Simpson S. D. (L );
Head o f Ruthven; Skiing 71-74, Captain 73-74;
S tone-W igg N. A. (F ); Turnbull J. M. (N );
Shooting 72-73; Fishing Captain 72-74; Chapel
Turnbull S. R. (N ); Yates D. (N ).
Organist; Choir; Orchestra; Under Officer (R.N.).
Riley — Baird W .; Barrie J. G. O.; Brown J. D.;
Tulach House, Blairgow rie, Perthshire, PH 10
Dawson K. C.; Dunbar R. F.; Ferguson R. A.;
6HN.
Foster J.
C.; Graham R. C.;Gray M. H.;
Gillanders T. R. T.; Goodbourn M . G.; GoodPhilips R. H. (N ). Came 703; III; Sch.; House
bourn
B.
M.; Johnston G. T.;LongC. D.;
Prefect; CpI. (R.A.F.).
McCausland I. H. M.; M cDougall N. L.;
Craig Barton, M o o r Rd., Strathblane, Glasgow
McDonald R. H.; M cIntyre A. J.; McLaren D. A.;
G63 9EU.
McPherson N. W .; M ennie N. R.; M ontgom erie
C. S.; M uir K. H.; Reid P. K.; Sm ith D. A.;
W o ller D. S.; W hite S. D.; W ood K. W . A.
Lower Sixth
January 1975
Lower Sixth — Gardner N. L. (L ).
Ill — Bain D. J. (N ); Baird G. G. (N ); Bradshaw J.
(L ); Burton K. C. ( N ); Chatwin C. R. D. (R );
Fairley A. E. (R ); Jackson E. F. (L ); M acG regor
N. H. A. (F ); MacPhie A. C. S. (F ); S tr 0 mmen
G. M. (L ); W o o la c o tt C. R. (R ).
Riley — Russell P. D.
April 1975
III — Blanche G. W . G. (R ); Booth A. M. (L );
Brabbs I. T. (S ); Ham ilton Smith G. P. (R );
M orton T. J. (F ); Serinyom A. (N ); Shepherd
K. W . A. (F ).
VALETE
December 1974
Schol. Sixth
Ferguson E. A. (F ). Came 693; II; Exh.; Deputy
Head of School; Head of Freeland; X V 74;
Hockey XI 72-74; XI 74; Captain Fencing 72-74.
Scottish Schoolboys Fencing Team.
Sgt.
(A r m y ).
c /o F.A.O., Oficina Regional de Am erica Latina,
Santiago de Chile, Casilla 10095,
10
Duff J. H. (N ). Came 703; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
M a p le w e ll Farm, W oodhouse Eaves, Leicester­
shire.
Inglis G. L. F. (R ); Came 711; III; XV 74; XI 74; CpI.
(A rm y ).
Inch o f Arnhall, Edzell, Angus.
M elville D. C. (S ); Came 711; II; Cdt. (A rm y ).
V ie w fo rth Hotel, Church W ynd, Bo'ness, W est
Lothian.
Niven H. B. (L ); Came 71s; III; Social Service.
P itlivie, Carnoustie, Angus.
V
Chalmers I. S. (N ); Came 713; III; L.S. (R .N .).
East Estate, Carey Island, P ort Kelang, Selangor,
Malaysia.
Constable N. R. (N ); Came 711; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
M erklands, Ballintium , B lairgow rie, Perthshire.
W alke r M. C. (L ); Came 693; I; Squash 73-75; Ldg.
Cdt. (R.A.F.).
18 B oclair Crescent, Bearsden, G lasgow G61
2AG.
IV
Patterson D. R. (N ); Came 733; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
11 B entinck Drive, Troon, Ayrshire.
II
Foulds G. P. (R i.); Came 733.
14 Lom ond Place, Linburn Place, Erskine.
Fingland J. A. E. (R ); Came 683; I; House Prefect;
Hockey XI 74-75; Sailing 73-75; Fishing 71-75.
L.S. (R .N .).
Balnacraig, Ancaster Rd., Callander, Perthshire.
W ylie A. S. (R i.); Came 733.
Druid Park, M u rth ly, Perthshire.
Grant K. C. (S ); Came 703; III; House Prefect;
Captain of G olf 75; L /C p l. (A rm y ).
7 Arran Drive, G iffnock, Glasgow.
July 1975
Ham ilton R. M. (N ); Came 733; L VI; Tattersall A rt
Prize 74; A.B. (R .N .).
High Trees, 23 Clayton Avenue, Hassocks,
Sussex.
Upper Sixth
A rthu r J. C. (S ). Came 703; III; L.S. (R .N .).
Knapps, Oakshade Rd., O xshott, Surrey, KT 22
OLF.
Baxter A. D. (S ). Came 703; III; House Prefect; X V
72-75; A th le tics 74-75; Skiing 75; CpI. (A rm y ).
K ildrochat House, Nr. Stranraer, W ig to w n sh ire
DG9 9BB.
Benzies D. B. (N ). Came 703; III; House Prefect;
Skiing 70-75, Captain 75; G olf 75; L.S. (R .N .).
The Loaning, M eigle, Perthshire.
Biggart S. D. (R ). Came 673; I; House Prefect;
Captain o f Fishing 75; Cdt. (A rm y ).
Slioch, Duchray Rd., Aberfoyle, Perthshire.
Bird A. A. (S ). Came 673; I; Exh.; X V 74-75;
A thle tics 72-75; C ross-country 73-74; Choir;
Orchestra; L.S. (R.N.).
Coniston, Prieston Rd., Bridge
o f W eir,
Renfrewshire.
Buchanan I. Y. (N ). Came 712; III; House Prefect;
Chem istry Prize 75; Choir; L.S. (R .N .).
Aros, N orth Connel, A rgyll.
Caird I. F. (N ). Came 7 H ; III; CpI. (R.A.F.).
Taybank, H ill St, M onifieth, Dundee.
Cameron D. A. (R ). Came 683; I; Sch.; House
Prefect; Maths. Prize 74; Physics Prize 74;
Chemistry Prize 74; Chairman o f Science Soc.;
Choir; Orchestra.
22 Rosemead, R A F. Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Cameron W . D. G. (L ). Came 672; I; Sailing 72-75,
Captain 75; C ross-country 73-75; CpI. (A rm y ).
Moorlands, 24 Tannoch Rd., M ilngavie, Glasgow:
Cope N. E. (L) Came 703; III; Head of Leburn; X V
74-75; XI 73-75; Orchestra; P.O. (R .N .).
Pitm urchie House, Torphins, Aberdeenshire.
Dewar D. J. (F ); Came 702; III; Cross-country 75;
Social Services.
Lewaigue Farm House, Dreem skerry, M aughold,
Ramsey, Isle of Man.
Ferguson D. F. (R ); Came 693; III; Head of Ruthven;
X V 74-75; A thle tics 74-75; Tennis 73-74; Squash
73-75; Cross-country 73-75, Captain 75; Choir;
Coxswain (R.N.).
7 Upper Sutherland Crescent, Helensburgh,
G84 9PQ.
Harrold M. J. (F ); Came 683; I; House Prefect;
Shooting 74-75; Librarian; F /S g t. (R.A.F.).
11 Tircarra Gardens, B roughty Ferry, Dundee
DD5 2QF.
Hay A. J. (R ); Came 702; III; X V 74-75; Hockey XI
73-75; XI 73-75; Curling; Choir; Social Services.
Panlathy, Carnoustie, Angus.
Jamieson R. M. (N ); Came 702; III; Maths. Prize 75;
Choir; L.S. (R .N .).
Balgowan, 91 Edinburgh Rd., Dum fries DG1
1JX.
Kirkland R. L. (L ); Came 703; III; House Prefect;
A rm y Scholarship; X V 74-75; Hockey XI 75;
A th le tics 71-75, Captain 75; Captain of Basket­
ball 75; Choir; Sgt. (A rm y ).
61 M id ton Rd., A y r KA7 2TN.
Lowden D. S. (F ); Came 683; I; House Prefect;
Economics Essay Prize 75; X V 73-75; A thle tics
74-75; G olf 74-75; Orchestra; P.O. (R .N .).
169 H am ilton St., Barnhill, Dundee DD5 2ftE.
Lydon N. B. (L ); Came 681; I; House Prefect; Cdt.
(R .A.F.).
62 Thorp A rch Drive, Boston Spa, W etherby,
Yorkshire.
M cA rth u r A. C. (S ); Came 683; I; Head o f School;
Head o f Sim pson; X V 74-75; Hockey XI 73-75;
S cottish Schoolboys Hockey XI 74; P.O. (R .N .).
G lenralloch Cottage, Tarbert, Loch Fyne, A rg y ll
PA29 6XX.
M cDonald J. S. P. (S ); Came 691; III;
Prefect; XV 74-75; Hockey XI 72-75,
75; XI 72-75, Captain 75; Campbell
C.S.M. (A rm y ).
W ales Estate, W est Bank, Demerara,
School
Captain
Aw ard;
Guyana.
M cIntosh D. S. (L ); Came 711; III; House Prefect;
X V 73-75; Hockey XI 74-75; Chairman of
Debating Soc.; Choir; CpI. (A rm y ).
Greenland Houses, C astletow n, Caithness.
M cIntyre J. I. (R .); Came 683; I; House Prefect; X V
74-75; A th le tics 75; Captain of Curling; CpI.
(R .A.F.).
Barbeth, Ervie, Stranraer, W igtow nshire.
M ackay A. H. (N ); Came 702; III; House Prefect;
S w im m ing; Choir; Librarian; Sgt. (Pipe Band).
Blackcraigs, By Perth.
11
McLenachan W . D. (N ). Came 682; I; L.S. (R .N .).
939, Watmestey Rd., Bury, Lancashire.
MacLeod R. N. (S ). Came 70s; III; House Prefect;
XI 74; C ross-country 75; Pipe Band.
2 Pim lico, Durham City.
Magee C. C. S. (S ). Came 703; III; House Prefect;
X V 74-75; A th le tics 72-75; fishing; President of
Y.F.C.; Chief Rodent Apprehender; L.S. (R .N .).
Carisbrooke, M y rtle Avenue, Lenzie, Glasgow
G66 4HW.
V ivian S. N. (L ); Came 693; I; House Prefect; XV
74-75; Squash 72-75, Captain 75; L/C pl.
(A rm y ).
17 Redlands Rd., Sevenoaks, Kent.
W a tt A. G. (L ); Came 703; III; X V 74; CpI. (Pipe
B a n d ).
Palmyra, 65 K eptie Rd., Arbroath, Angus.
Meade E. G. (F ); Came 69:i; II; Exh.; CpI. (R.A.F.).
Ballendrick V illa, Bridge o f Earn, Perthshire.
W id d o w so n A. D. G. (N ); Came 713; III; Deputy
Head o f School; Head of Nicol; Physics Prize
75; Houston Prize 75; XV 73-75; XI 74; Editor
of "The S trathallian"; Choir; Orchestra; P.O.
(R .N .).
Taybank, Colquhoun St., Helensburgh.
Menzies N. (L ); Came 703; III; A rt Prize 75;
Sw im m ing 72-73; Choir; F /S g t. (R .A.F.).
1 Sinclair Avenue, Bearsden, G lasgow, G61
3BT.
Young D. L. (F ); Came 703; III; House Prefect; XV
74-75, Captain 75; A thle tics 73-75; A rt Prize 74;
Geography Field W o rk Prize 75; L/S (R.N.).
Ben Sheann Hotel, Strathyre, Perthshire.
M ilne C. P. (S ); Came 713; III; Sw im m ing 71-75;
Fencing 71-73; Sgt. (R.A.F.).
c /o 13 Parkgrove Terrace, G lasgow G3.
Low er Sixth
M ilne J. S. (F ); Came 703; III; Head o f Freeland;
L /C p t. (A rm y ).
24 W itches Linn, Ardrossan, Ayrshire.
Pate A. I. (L ); Came 703; III; Chairman of Photo­
graphic Soc.; Sgt. (A rm y ).
Ashley, Hainault Rd., Foxrock, Co. Dublin.
Pearson A. P. (S ); Came 703; III; S w im m ing 72-75,
Captain 75; CpI. (A rm y ).
Lom ond, St. M ary's Drive, Dunblane, Perthshire.
Peddie A. R. (S ); Came 693; I; Treasurer o f Y.F.C.;
CpI. (A rm y ).
Coal Farm, St. M onans, Fife.
Renwick R. F. (R ); Came 703; III; House Prefect;
XV 74-75; Hockey 74-75; A thle tics 75; G olf 75;
Skiing 75; CpI. (A rm y ).
136 Henderson St., Bridge of Allan, S tirlin g ­
shire.
Heard K. J. (N ); Came 693; I; Choir; Cdt. (R.A.F.).
29 M ukonke Avenue, M ufulira, Zambia.
Hill S. L. (L ). Came 712; III; G olf 73-75; Orchestra;
L /C p t. (A rm y ).
27 Thom Rd., Bearsden, Glasgow.
M acAdam A. D. (L ). Came 703; III; Cross-country
75; Tennis 75; L /S (R.N.).
Low er Oranmore, 15 C rom w ell Rd., North
B erw ick, East Lothian.
V
Anderson V. W . (S ). Came 703; I; Cdt. (R.A.F.).
1 Rowan Place, Frazerburgh, Aberdeenshire.
Baxter P. R. (S ). Came 722; III; A thle tics 75; L/C pl.
(A rm y ).
K ild ro ch e t House, Nr. Stranraer, W igtow nshire.
Robertson C. B. (R ); Came 703; III; Shooting 73-75,
Captain 75; Drum Sgt. (Pipe Band).
45 Cherrington Gardens, Com pton, W o lve r­
ham pton W V 6 8AJ.
Carver J. M . (N ); Came 723; III; Skiing 73-75; A.B.
(R .N .).
Tigh-na-Bealach, Empress Road, Rhu, Dunbar­
tonshire.
Robertson D. C. A. (F ); Came 713; III; Exh.; House
Prefect; Ldg. Cdt. (R .A.F.).
351 A lb e rt Drive, Pollokshields, G lasgow G41
5PH.
Fairlie P. J. M. (L ). Came 721; III; Squash 73-75;
L /S (R .N .).
Craig W allace, Bridge o f Allan.
Shannon K. S. (F ). Came 683; I; A th le tics 74.
38 N ewlands Gardens, Edinburgh.
Fidler G. S. (S ). Came 72*; III; Cdt. (R.A.F.).
M aryville , Ladies-W alk, Stranraer, W ig to w n ­
shire.
Shedden R. K. (F ); Came 682; I; House Prefect;
President of Y.F.C.; Pipe M ajor.
M id -S tra th ore Farm, Thornton, Fife, K Y I 4DF.
Shortreed A. K. (F ); Came 703; III; Geography Prize
75; Biology Prize 75; C ross-country 75; CpI.
(A rm y ).
K ip p ila w Mains, M elrose, Roxburghshire.
12
Fingland D. R. I. (R ); Came 702; I; Barr M usic Prize
75; Grandison Strings Prize 75; Orchestra.
Balnacraig, Ancaster Road, Callander, Perth­
shire.
H irst A. M. (S ). Came 713; I; Cdt. (R.A.F.).
Claverhouse, K irk b y Lane, W ood ha ll
Lincolnshire.
Spa,
Houston J. B. (N ). Came 72s; III; Sailing 75; A.B.
(R .N .).
The Rigg, Castle park Drive, Fairlie, Ayrshire.
Lyburn B. J. D. (N ). Came 69:l; I; Tennis 75; Pipe
Band.
South Gask Farm, Coupar Angus, Perthshire.
McDonald G. B. (S ). Came 731; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
W ales Estate, W e st Bank, Demerara, Guyana.
McKenzie J. C. (S ). Came 72s; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
33 Dunstan Rd., Causewayhead, S tirling.
Maclean H. F. (N ). Came 72s; III; L /S (R .N .).
Flat 2, W orsborough Hall, W orsborough, Nr.
Barnsley, Yorkshire.
M cN icol N. A. (R ). Came 72s; III; L/S . (R .N .).
7 7 Beverley Rd., Newlands, G lasgow G43.
M alcolm J. H. B. (F ). Came 70s; I; Cdt. (A rm y ).
Gerail, 74 Thornly Park Avenue, Paisley,
Renfrewshire.
Nimmo J. L. (F ). Came 731; III; Shooting 75; Cdt.
( R A F .) .
Holltrees, Barbieston, By A yr. K A 6 7EF.
Sproat W . S. (F ). Came 72s; III; Shooting 75;
Fishing 75; A /B (R.N.).
Lennox-Plunton, Borgue, K irkcudbright.
Tem pleton G.M. (L ). Came 72s; III; Cdt. (A rm y ).
N ethercliffe, Beauclerc St., Alva, Clackmannan.
Turner J. L. (R ). Came 72s; III; A thle tics 75; L /S
( R N .) .
7 Cranbrook Rd., Tenterden, Kent.
IV
Gregor K. E. (S ). Came 74l ; III; S w im m ing 75; Cdt.
(A r m y ).
373 Valim a H ill, Lantoka, Fiji.
Ill
Kelly K. (F ). Came 72s; I.
23 Birch Avenue, Torbrex, Stirling.
M cCleave E. J. W . (S ). Came 72s; I.
Farm Cottage, M u irco ckh a ll Farm, Kingseat,
Dunferm line, Fife.
M ontgom erie J. D. (L ); Came 731; I.
27 Rupert Road, llkle y, Yorks.
II
Postlethw aite K. F. (R i). Came 73s; I.
79 H am ilton Place, Aberdeen AB2 4BU.
I
M ontgom erie C. S. (R i); Came 741; I.
27 Rupert Road, llkle y, Yorks.
Those darned rabbits!
13
House Reports
FREELAND
W ritin g this as one is in the steaming heat of
high sum m er last Septem ber seems further aw ay
than usual. But perhaps an initial com m ent about
the w eather is not inappropriate, for th is has been
a year more than usually dom inated by it. Indeed
apart from the usual m id w in te r rain and gloom , all
school and house a ctivities have flourished in often
unbroken sunshine.
And fo r the m ost part it has been a very good
year in the house. Some of the m ajor trophies, it is
true, eluded us again, but this w as largely com ­
pensated by our w inning the rugger and hockey
league cups. R. K. Shedden and D. C. A. Robertson
deserve much cred it fo r leading their teams w ith
such enthusiasm and com m itm ent. Boxing remains
very much a Freeland province at the moment.
Once again Shedden and D. L. Young organised and
trained a huge entry and in the w inning team eight
reached the final o f w hom A. W . Ferguson, J. M.
Hunter and K. Kelly w on medals. Pleasing too has
been our success in the House Shooting where
M. J. Harrold and C. R. M. Sm ith achieved notable
scores. Finally in the Spring term w e w on the
ju n io r Squash Cup, a result w h ich one fe lt was
predictable and only over-confidence could have
prevented. There is considerable sporting tale nt in
the lo w er half of the house w h ich one hopes w ill
continue to develop in the years ahead.
House reports can easily descend in to a
catalogue of w inners w hich is both pom pous and
n ot fu lly inform ative. So much of the best a c tiv ity
goes on where no prizes are w o n. This was
particularly so th is year: in S w im m ing, C ricket and
A th le tics the house perform ed more than creditably
and th is w as largely due to the unstinting efforts
and efficiency o f K. J. Shannon, D. J. Dewar and
D. L. Young. Our young tennis team w as also
unfortunate not to retain the cup losing to Leburn
in a close final, w h ils t our three man sailing team
yet again did us proud com ing a good third . W e
also played a notable part in the ever increasing
social service activities; w h ethe r it be painting the
houses o f the elderly or running dow n the A .90 to
beat Fettes, it w as all done w ith obvious
enthusiasm and satisfaction!
If I have le ft our cultural a ctivities to the end,
it is not th a t they are least im portant; indeed this
year the reverse is the case. A lthough our overall
position was only raised by one, there w as a co n ­
siderable increase in the q u ality of our musical
offerings. In particular, our soloists, all o f w hom
have another tw o years at school, did w e ll to come
2nd. A. R. Cochrane did an enormous am ount of
q u ie tly efficient w o rk in bringing it all to the fore.
The a rtis tic m erits of ou r jo in t house play w ith
Nicol are discussed elsewhere; the im portant point
to record here is how satisfying it w as to see so
many o f the house w ith no previous acting
experience having the courage to come forw ard
to subject them selves to such an unnerving
experience! By the end, however, as confidence
w as gained one fe lt it w as enjoyed more than
endured. Certainly I have never know n a more
harmonious atm osphere both behind and on stage.
14
It w as good to see so many from each house
finding a satisfying jo b to do.
The achievem ents on the school front are
considerable this year. The fo llow ing w on prizes:
A. R. Cochrane (H isto ry & Econom ics), K. J.
Shortreed (B io log y & G eography), D. S. Lowden
(Econom ics Essay), D. L. Young (Geography Field
W o rk ). Sports colours were achieved by D. L.
Young (1 st X V and A th le tic s ), D. S. Lowden (1st
X V ), D. Sim (1 st X I), C. R. M. Sm ith (S ho otin g),
A. W . Ferguson (S quash), M. D. Kirk and E. G.
Meade (Sum m er H o ckey), D. M. S. S tew art
(S w im m in g ). C. R. M. Sm ith and K. W . Macmillan
were again regulars in the Tennis Team, and finally
R. K. Shedden w as a conscientious Pipe-M ajor and,
as was his right, deservedly w on the Piping Cup.
I end by thanking a tru ly excellent body of
prefects and their respective Heads of House, Ewan
Ferguson and James M ilne, fo r all the ir w illin g and
unstinting efforts; they have set high standards for
the ir successors to fo llo w . M ay they and all the
leavers achieve the success their definite efforts
deserve. W e w ish them all good fortune.
Heads of House: E. A. Ferguson, J. S. Milne.
Prefects:
D. S. Lowden, D. L. Young, M. J Harrold,
R. K. Shedden, A. R. Cochrane,
D. C. A. Robertson, M. D. Kirk.
Captains o f S port and A ctivitie s:
Rugby, A th le tics Sailing
D. L. Young
Hockey, G olf
D. S. Lowden
C ricket
D. J. Dewar
Boxing
R. K. Shedden
M usic
A. R. Cochrane
Sw im m ing
K. J. Shannon
C ross-C ountry
A. K. Shortreed
Tennis
K. W . Macmillan
Shooting
M. J. Harrold
Squash
P. A. C. Cameron
Ski-ing
M. D. Kirk
House Colours: D. C. A. Robertson, R. J. H. W ilson.
M.B.
LEBURN
This has undoubtedly been a very happy and
successful year in all respects. There w as an
extrem ely good performance by the boxers early in
the year w h ich, although the team w as narrow ly
beaten in to second place, set the standard and
approach fo r the rest o f the year. It w as also good
to see early in the year J. G. Leishman being
awarded the prize fo r the best " 0 " level results and
Taylor and M ontgom erie getting form prizes in the
Christmas term . It w as sad to see M r. Colquhoun
leave us at the end o f the same term to take up
an appointm ent a t Eton and one takes th is op p o r­
tu n ity to thank him fo r all th a t he did as the House
Tutor. M r. Du Barclay joined the House in January
and is already very much at home w ith us and
being of great value to the House. W e are very
pleased to w elcom e him.
The firs t term o f the school year is the one
which gives the tone o f things to com e and N. E.
Cope as Head o f House tog e th e r w ith his prefects
R. L. Kirkland, N. Menzies, D. S. M cIntosh, S. N.
Vivian and N. B. Lydon could be w e ll pleased w ith
the general sp irit in the House as the Easter term ,
and the m any House com p etitio ns approached. It
is, I think, fair to say tha t the rugger cup is the
m ost sought after in the school and it w as a
splendid performance to bring the cup back to the
House. A good team perform ance under R. I.
W hitaker's very effective captaincy. The House also
were runners up in both the senior and ju n io r
league com petitions. Having w on the rugger cup a
very nice balance w as established by the m usicians
under D. R. N e w ton 's and R. L. K irkland's guidance.
N ot only w as it good to have the music cup fo r the
first tim e but even be tte r to w in against strong
com petition. The cross cou ntry is alw ays a good
indicator o f House s p irit and it w as a very fine
perform ance to come second.
The Captain,
W . D. G. Cameron, is especially to be congratulated
on w inning the senior race. S. N. Vivian led the
squash players to v ic to ry in the senior com p etitio n
to com plete a very good term. There were, of
course, com p etitio ns where the House did not hit
the to p but in fa ct were never placed lo w e r than
third and this showed a very healthy state of affairs.
R. I. W hitaker and R. A. McPherson w ere appointed
prefects during the term .
The summer term brought furthe r successes
starting w ith a fine v ic to ry in the House G olf
com petition. The team had a convincing vic to ry
under S. L. Hill and this w as added to by P. A. Hill
w inning the individual G olf cup. To strengthen the
House's aspirations to cultural excellence N.
Menzies and D. J. Fletcher were awarded the A rt
Prize and The W illiam Tattersall A rt Prize respec­
tiv e ly on Speech Day. The sw im m ing spo rts saw
the House making the ir strong est challenge yet and
some very good perform ances were produced
giving second place overall and T. R. W a terbu ry
became the Jun io r V ic to r Ludorum. The Caithness
tw in s were the backbone o f the tennis team w hich,
apparently against the quoted odds, did so w e ll to
w in the com petition. W ith the end o f term rapidly
approaching and the shelf becom ing som ew hat
congested news came from the Tay tha t W . D. G.
Cameron and his men had w o n the House sailing
com petition. A nd finally on the last day o f term
further congratulations were due to A. B. Caithness
and S. D. Simpson on the ir form prizes and to R. L.
Kirkland and D. J. Headrick on becom ing senior
and ju n io r V ic to r Ludorum respectively in the
athletics. The above is m erely the bare bones o f it
and there are m any om issions but it seems to show
w h a t a splendid year it has been.
During the year House Colours have been
aw arded to N. E. Cope, D. S. M cIntosh, R. I.
W hitaker, R. L. Kirkland, W . D. G. Cameron, S. N.
V ivian, A. G. W a tt and P. J. M . Fairlie.
To all o u r leavers w e w ish every happiness in
the future and hope that they w ill keep contact
w ith the House. Head of House next year w ill be
R. I. W hitaker.
M ay I finally on my departure to pastures new
end on a personal note. M y very sincere thanks to
all members of Leburn House, both past and
present, fo r all th a t the y have done fo r the
House. It has been great fun and w ill always be
remembered, and thank you also fo r the very kind
g ifts to us w h ich w ill be treasured. To M r. A ddison
and the House much happiness and success in the
years to come.
F.S.McN.
NICOL
House Captain; A. D. G. W idd ow so n.
House Prefects:
A . H. M ackay, R. H. Philips (le ft Dec 74),
I. Y. Buchanan, S. J. Newing, D. P. Benzies,
D. A. R. M unro.
"T h is tea tastes of onions . .
No, not
actually M unro speaking at the ne w ly form ed Food
C om m ittee but R. M acLeod in Journey's End. W hat
was th a t MacLeod doing in a N icol/Freeland play?
W ell, he w as very keen to act in a School play, and
as there w as none w e were the gainers, fo r he
contributed a lo t o f fun. Sadly, pipe-sm oking Uncle
Osborne-M ackay was killed half-w ay through the
plot, fo r he held the stage in a m ost w ise
and com petent w ay. C old-tea-w hisky sw igging
Stanhope-W iddow son was the last alive on stage,
though it w as a near thing tha t he actually survived
the barrage o f sand and w o od gleefully throw n
dow n at the collapse of the bunker by Hamilton
and M unro. W id d o w so n gave an excellent per­
form ance in a challenging part. MacLenachan and
Buchanan, conducted by M r, D utton, provided a
dram atic display of gun-fire and noise* which
nearly reached the decibels o f the S tudy corridor.
The play w as a great fillip to the morale of the
House, and w e were very grateful to M r. Barratt
fo r producing it. Some Freeland boys also helped!
To tell the tru th , so did W ilso n o f Ruthven. M ackay
has also con tribu te d som e dram atic performances
to several services in Chapel conducted by the
boys very genuinely.
Caird and Ham ilton proved a t the Social
Service "W in e and Cheese" after the Carol service
that if " A " levels do not come up to expectations
the y can get jo bs as bo w -tie d w aiters. Both they
and R. Jam ieson, the V lth Form Science Librarian,
have given devoted service to th is new and
expanding group at School both in term and in the
holidays.
15
CAIRDS
1
1
■y
L
1
■>
Cairds are official outfitters to
Strathallan School — and so it's
only natural that our selection of schoolwear
is second to none. But Cairds quality
doesn't stop here. W e stock a large selection
of day-to-day wear and clothes for leisure
activities — plus a wide range of
sports equipm ent and accessories. And w ith
an opening order there's 5% Discount
for cash w ithin seven days.
Y ou'll find uniform excellence at
Cairds — w hatever kind of
clothing you
need.
R e fo rm S tre e t, D undee
16
The Choir and Orchestra have had long service
from W idd ow so n and Newing in particular, and
they have played in every kind o f Hall, room and
cathedral this year. Ham ilton and the Seriniyom
brothers have been outstanding artists, but many
others have con tribu te d very greatly in these
artistic activities. I have been very pleased to see
our ever increasing interest in carpentry.
D. P. Benzies and his skiing team at last beat
Hiley and w on the Cup, and it is to his great cred it
that he has nursed and encouraged our young team
since he joined it in the 1971/2 season. Our
greatest sporting success was a loss. T w o short
corners gave the Simpson giants the Hockey Cup
(revenge fo r tw o years ago), but w e nearly toppled
them thanks m ainly to M unro's goalkeeping, and
the team surpassed themselves.
The ju n io r cricke t team con vin cing ly retained
the remains of the Argentine T rophy, but where oh
where is the Jun io r Rugger Cup?
Knox gained another School record in A th le tics,
R. M itchell captained the Jun io r C olts XI and F.
Benzies, Currie, Evans, M orris, O gilvie, Raeside,
Smellie, J. Turnbull and Yellow lees have made
specially good con tribu tions in varying sports and
games.
W e w ere very sorry tha t Elkins had such a
bad tim e in hospital and hope to see him back soon
fit and cheerful.
The Pipes and Drums s till have a lo t of Nicol
faces, and w ho can rem em ber when A. M ackay
was not the Big Drummer?
Heavy fire doors now separate our dorm s,
though they do not act quite w e ll enough as sound
barriers. O ccasionally a boy's w h isp e r after Lights
Out is heard by the Headmaster, fo r example.
I am particularly grateful to W id d o w so n
w ho
hasparticipated and tried in alm ost every School
a ctivity and to the House Prefects w h o have guided
a very happy House.
M ost House reports talk about Cups, so I w ill
note that Raeside's men w on the Pre-Service Cup,
and Gray the Jun io r Piping. If I had confined this
report to cups, it w o uld have been rather short, so
I have mentioned people. This year w e had hardly
any cups, but 58 people. Next year when w e only
have one person in the Upper V lth perhaps w e w ill
have some cups.
T.C.G.F.
The follow ing were awarded the ir House Colours:
RUTHVEN
"M o d e ra tio n in all th in g s" is a laudable
precept, and by th a t yard stick Ruthven has had a
very laudable year. Our athletes, w o rth ily retaining
the Rowan and A th le tics cups, w ill protest — not to
m ention the Jun io r Rugby League X V — but overall
it has not been our year. True, our three Cambridge
candidates. Hunter, Low and Ling, were all
successful; true, Robertson and S. A. Ferguson
w o n individual drum m ing trophies; true, M cLelland
w on the individual music com p etitio n; true, D. H.
Prosser and Straiton w on boxing medals; true,
D. R. I. Fingland w on a small fortune in music
prizes; true, C. B. Campbell w on the 3B form prize;
true, D. T. Hay w o n the m iddle cross-country. But
where were the others? W ell, the vast m ajority
w o rked , played, sang, and co n stru ctive ly filled
the ir tim e as w e ll as ever, as reports throughout
the magazine te s tify . The musicians perform ed
excellently, teams played hard, newspapers were
collected, stages managed, brewing rooms painted,
fish caught, m otions debated and society served.
A s ever, the atm osphere in the senior year infected
the rest o f the House, and D. F. Ferguson and his
fe llo w prefects did a splendid job. W e w ish all
our leavers every success in the future.
D.A.R.W.
Head of House:
A. D. Low (A utu m n T erm ); D. F. Ferguson
Prefects:
T. S. Ling, P. D. Hunter, S. D. Biggart,
D. A. Cameron, R. F. W ilso n, J. I. M cIntyre,
R. F. Renwick, J. A. E. Fingland, D. G. Inglis.
Rugby
Hockey
C ricket
A th le tics
Boxing
Sw im m ing
Cross-country
Skiing
Shooting
D. P. Benzies, Munro, W idd ow so n.
Sailing
Tennis
House captains o f sport:
G olf
Squash
M usic
Rugger and cricke t
W idd ow so n
Hockey
M unro
A thle tics, boxing and tennis
Buchanan
Swim m ing, shooting and cross-country M ackay
Skiing and g o lf
Squash and music
Benzies
Captai ns, etc.:
J. I. M cIntyre
R. F. Renwick
A. J. Hay
D. F. Ferguson
R. F. Renwick
C.
D.
R.
C.
B.
F.
F.
B.
Robertson
Ferguson
Renwick
Robertson
J.
D.
A.
D.
D.
A. E. Fingland
F. Ferguson
W . B. M agill
F. Ferguson
A. Cameron
House Colours:
T. S. Ling, I. A. D. Low, A. J. Hay, D. F. Ferguson,
J. I. M cIntyre, R. F. Renwick, J. A. E. Fingland,
C.
B. Robertson, D. G. Inglis, D. T. Hay.
17
SIMPSON
There seems little do ub t th a t the House
continues to flourish. The loaded tro p h y shelf
bears w itn e ss to the ath letic successes, the
cheerful atmosphere to the general sp irit, and,
hopefully, the exam ination results, when they come,
to the academic standard.
On the sporting side, the ju n io r rugger cup
w as retained in a m ud-bath final, w h ile w e also
managed to keep the cross-co un try title , w ith
Gregor providing the w in n e r o f the ju n io r race. It
was pleasing (n o t to say a relief) to collect the
hockey cup after a final w hich w e n t to extra
tim e — I did gain the im pression tha t a num ber of
the team w o uld have preferred n o t to have reached
the final o f a six-a-side com p etitio n in Perth that
morning! In the summer, the cricketers showed
both the ir m athem atical and playing a b ility by
calculating the scoring rate necessary fo r v ic to ry
and then achieving it com forta bly, and the s w im ­
mers as usual had a convincing success. Individual
d istin ctio n s w ere gained by J. S. P. M cDonald
w ith the Campbell A w ard, C rowe on the tennis
courts, and F o o ttit as m iddle V ic to r Ludorum on
Sports Day.
There w ere a number of new a ctivitie s during
the
year. "D o -it-y o u rs e lf” w as extended from
studies to brew ing room, where an extrem ely
thorough and efficient redecoration w as carried out.
Indoor games came in to fashion, w ith M onopoly,
Cluedo, M asterm ind and bridge all having their
addicts, although perhaps the m ost popular w as
the one devised and m anufactured by A rthu r.
Magee managed to get him self appointed Official
Rabbitcatcher to the School (m erely a transition
from de facto to de ju re ), w h ile Macleod con­
trived a dram atic (b u t fortun ately only tem porary)
transfer fo r him self to Freeland/N icol. On the agri­
cultural front, A. R. Peddie is to be congratulated
on w inning him self a trip to Strasbourg as leader
o f the school's YFC w inning pro je ct in the national
com petition.
A lasdair M c A rth u r managed to com bine his
duties as Head o f House and Head of School
adm irably, and to him and the other prefects go
m y thanks fo r the ir assistance in running the house.
However, I th in k that they w o uld agree that the
w ell-being o f a house depends on the efforts o f all
its members, and this has certainly been in evidence
this year. To those who are leaving, I offer my
best w ishes fo r the future, and to those w ho return
or join the house, the hope of another happy and
successful year.
Head of House: A. C. M cA rthur.
Prefects:
J. S. P. M cDonald, A. D. Baxter, G. J. F. Crowe,
K. C. Grant, R. N. MacLeod, C. C. S. Magee.
House colours were awarded to:
A. D. Baxter, G. J. F. Crowe, C. C. S. Magee.
A.M.P.
Music
Although there has been no major musical
undertaking this year the choir and orchestra
have had a very busy time w ith more than the
usual number of outside commitments.
In the w inter term choir and orchestra
performed in the North Church, Perth where
the choir's main contribution was M onte­
verdi's "Beatus Vir", The choir sang from the
gallery on either side of the Church and this
gave added point to the antiphonal singing
between the tenors and basses on the one
hand and the trebles on the other. A t St
John's Kirk, Perth in the Easter term the choir
sang very different music — six modern set­
tings of the psalms entitled "Psalms for
Today'' by Hubert Chappell and "Allelujah
Psallat" by W illiam Mathias. In the summer
term at St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh choir
and orchestra performed Vivaldi's M agni­
ficat.
The Cantata Choir has performed on
several occasions. In the informal concert at
the end of the w inter term they sang Christmas
Carols by Vaughan W illiams and William
Walton, in the Eastern term some of the move­
18
ments of Mozart's Requiem and the Chappell
"Psalms for Today", and in the summer term
Britten's "Rejoice in the lam b" and "Zadok, the
Priest" first of all in the School Chapel and later
in Dunkeld Cathedral. On these last tw o occa­
sions they sang particularly well.
Tenors and basses not in the Cantata
Choir have sung music in a more secular
style — three songs by Aaron Copland at the
informal concert and Sw ingin' Samson by
Michael Hurd at the Speech Day concert.
The School orchestra has played quite a
variety of music ranging from the accompani­
ments to horn concertos by Mozart and
Michel Corrette to the rather heavier style of
Holst marches and the "1 8 1 2 " overture. The
Strings have had the most work to do, but
although they have been a small group
numerically and therefore grateful for the
support of Jane Frere and Bridget Spurgin
from the convent at Kilgraston, they have
played w ith plenty of confidence.
The second orchestra played particularly
well on Speech Day and the newly constituted
third orchestra acquitted itself very creditably
on its first public appearance at the concert
given to the I.A.P.S. headmasters. Members
of the Second orchestra also contributed
considerably to the success of the orchestras'
one day orchestral course for 'prep' schools
held on the last Sunday of the Summer term.
In the Music Competition which took place
in the Easter term the overall standard was
high in comparison to previous years and all
the orchestral ensembles produced acceptable
sounds. The choirs, too, were good but the
outstanding item was Leburn's version of
King Herod's Song from “ Jesus Christ,
Superstar". This was most convincingly put
across. Leburn were the winners in all three
sections and for the first time the long line of
Ruthven successes was broken.
We are very sorry that Mr. Begbie has felt
that he must retire from teaching the violin
and viola at Strathallan. He has taught at the
school for 15 years getting very good results
from his pupils, doing valiant w ork w ith the
second orchestra and being a tower of
strength as leader of the School orchestra. It
has been a great privilege to have him at the
school and he has served it most loyally. We
are going to find it very d ifficu lt to fill his
place and we shall miss him very much and
also his w ife w ho has seldom missed a school
concert. We wish him a very happy retirement.
G W.
Anthem s sung in chapel this year have been:
Creation's Hymn (B ee thove n); Loving Shepherd
(Barry B all); The Spacious Firmament (John
Graves); I w ill praise Thee (Reginald BarrettA yre s); V aliant Hearts (Barry B all); Sleepers
Aw ake (B ach); Lead me. Lord (W e s le y ); Holy,
holy, holy (S ch u b e rt); Allelujah Psallat (W illia m
M athias); Ride on (M alcolm W illia m so n ); God is
gone up (C ro ft); Let us now praise famous men
(Vaughan W illia m s ); The Shepherd B oy's Song
(Barry B all); Jubilate Deo (Barry B all); Zadok the
Priest (Handel) and excerpts from Beatus V ir
(M o n te ve rd i); M agnificat (V iv a ld i) and Rejoice in
the Lamb (Benjamin B ritte n ).
The task of selecting a school or house
play is never a simple one, and at Strathallan
it tends to be less simple than is the case else­
where. The customary pattern at other schools
is that there should be a major school pro­
duction annually, in w hich the aim is to
educate rather than to entertain and where
such difficult areas as Shakespeare, Greek
tragedy, Restoration comedy and modern
serious drama can be attempted, and at least
The fo llo w in g boys have passed Associated
Board M usic Examinations:
Fingland D. R. I., V iolin, Grade 6 (d is tin c tio n ).
M cLelland K. C. S., Oboe, Grade 6.
Henderson A. T., Piano, Grade 6.
Macadam F. G., V io lin , Grade 5 (d is tin c tio n ).
Johnson I. L., Piano, Grade 4 (d is tin c tio n ).
Gillanders D. M. N., Viola, Grade 4 (m e rit).
MacLachlan D. A. C., Viola, Grade 3 (d is ­
tin c tio n ).
McPherson N. W ., Piano, Grade 3.
Russell M. A., Trum pet, Grade 3.
W ith e r J. G., Trum pet, Grade 3.
W id d o w so n R. D. W ., Horn, Grade 3.
MacEwan G. J., Horn, Grade 3.
M uir A. A., Oboe, Grade 3.
M acm illan F. A., Oboe, Grade 3.
McPhail J. M „ Flute, Grade 3.
Rankine H. A., Piano, Grade 3.
Davidson Q. J., V iolin, Grade 2.
Studman C. M., V iolin, Grade 2.
Julier G. H. N., V iolin, Grade 1.
Macfarlane P. A ., Piano, Grade 1.
The fo llow ing have passed theory exam inations
the grade being given in brackets:
McLelland K. C. S. (5 ), N ew ton D. R. (4 ),
Sm ith C. R. M. (3 ), Steele B. W . (3 ), Johnson
I. L. (3 ), W allace C. J. (3 ), Gerrard G. A . (2 ),
M itche ll G. W . (2 ), C raw ford K. J. (2 ),
Rankine H. A. (2 ), Hastings N. R. (2 ), Locke
A. J. H. (1 ), Smith D. I. (1 ), Macfarlane W , G.
(1 ), Strachan N. (1 ), Dun M. A. 0 . (1 ), Peddie
P. R. (1 ), Julier G. H. N. (1 ), Ramsay M. H.
(1 ), M acfarlane P. A. (1 ), Duncan R. J. (1 ),
V o ig t N. J. (1 ), Campbell J. P. (1 ), Postleth w a ite H. R. (1 ), Gardner C. D. M. (1 ),
Reid N. J. (1 ), G ow G. T. (1 ).
once a year a house play, in which the aim is
clearly to entertain. Thus, in most schools, a
house play tends to be a romantic comedy or a
detective thriller or something on that un­
demanding intellectual plane. A t Strathallan
the problem is different. We only stage plays
once every three years, w ith the result that
recent producers have tried to have the best
of both worlds — to educate and to entertain
simultaneously.
19
In this context, the choice of 'Journey's
End' was an extremely sensible one. The play
has a simple and universal plot, from which
every one can derive something to satisfy his
own prejudices; it has a manageable number
of interesting and clearly delineated charac­
ters; it is not particularly long, an important
factor at Strathallan where rehearsal time is
eroded in a community where the same boys
seem to do everything; and it contains no
parts for girls, whose presence at recent pro­
ductions, while brightening the scene, has
proved distracting and a lim iting factor on
rehearsal time. Above all, it fulfils the tw o
conditions outlined above.
It is certainly
entertaining; and it can be claimed to be
educational, if only to prove that serious drama,
regarded normally by most Strathallians as
tedious in the extreme, can be interesting,
illuminating and even gripping.
'Journey's End', then, was a good choice;
and the production was predominantly a
successful one. The idea of a claustrophobic,
nerve-wracking dugout was skilfully put over,
w ith some interesting and w ell-th o ug h t-o ut
decor contributing to a very realistic and
impressive picture. The costumes looked like
World War I uniforms — though after the raid
scene they still looked as neatly pressed as
before. The props, if one excepts a whisky
bottle complete w ith anachronistic screw-top,
were convincing, and very sensibly used by the
cast — not excessively, but sufficiently for
their hands never noticeably to be unoccupied
■
— a very important point in school productions.
All the characters spoke clearly and slow ly
enough to be audible and intelligible and
there was, to the producer's credit, little
screening or crowding, w ith only one instance
of a speech being delivered direct to the back
of the stage. Perhaps the best production
moment was the collapse of the set at the end —
a spendidly managed theatrical climax.
The producer was lucky, too, w ith his
cast, especially w ith his tw o main characters,
A. D. G. W iddowson as Stanhope and A. H.
Mackay as Osborne, and w ith R. N. McLeod
as Trotter. The role of Stanhope is a very
exacting one — apart from learning a very
large part, the actor must cover a considerable
range of emotions, earning the sympathy and
disgust of his audience in turn. That W id d o w ­
son failed to master the role completely is not
surprising or even a matter of criticism, for this
is a role that requires an experienced profes­
sional actor to probe into all the emotional
tensions of the man beneath the surface.
20
W iddowson was happiest when at the ex­
tremes of his role, either when obviously in
control of himself or when control had com ­
pletely been lost, but the subtleties and
gradations often eluded him — and it was a
particular pity that the tension of the letter
scene was so lost. This Stanhope certainly
commanded the stage, but he was too jovial by
far. It w ould have been interesting to have
seen how Mackay w ould have tackled this
role, for he made much of the part of Osborne
and has shown himself in the past to be an
actor w ho is capable of tackling a considerable
variety of parts. He was, indeed, a successful
Osborne, but one feels that his versatility has
not been adequately taxed here — a schoolboy
actor w ho moves and speaks so well, and
w ho understands the stage so well (complete
w ith splendid use of the pipe) can surely do
much more.
R. N. McLeod also moves and speaks
well, and clearly has a fine understanding of
what stage-acting is all about. His portrayal of
Trotter, the unimaginative, sardonic 2nd Lieu­
tenant, was undoubtedly the acting highlight
of the evening. It is not often that one comes
across a schoolboy actor w ith such gifts as
McLeod's — his tim ing and inflection were
impeccable, he made considerable and effective
use of his eyes and to see him sitting at the
table was to understand the man — a splen­
didly observed piece of comic acting. His
success, in fact, highlighted the one failure
of the production; for he was so dominant in
his role, surely intended by the author to be
mere comic relief, or, at the most, contrast,
that, for many, he tended to obscure the
tensions that are the main point of the play and
w hich really did not come across.
Often
moments of dramatic importance were rushed
through in a strangely frenetic manner, as if
everybody felt the need to return to humour as
quickly as possible. I except from this criticism
the final scene, which was extremely well
done.
A word or tw o needs to be said about the
minor roles. K. J. Crawford made a good
Hibbert as long as he was acting the part of a
coward, but was not up to the drunk or hang­
over scenes. C. R. M. Smith was encouragingly
good in the d ifficult role of Raleigh.
He
managed to convey quite strongly the inno­
cence of youth and, if he was not altogether
successful in showing eager, unthinking en­
thusiasm for the job which needed to be done,
his empty stare after the raid was one of the
best moments of the production.
A. R.
Cochrane, was a very effective Mason and his
amusing cross-talk w ith Trotter was well
done. C. S. Russell coped adequately w ith
the awkward role of Hardy, especially on the
Saturday night when considerable trouble w ith
the opening curtain failed to unnerve him —
full marks to him for aplomb.
H. W. R.
Steedman, M. J. Yellowlees, and G. A. M.
Gerrard each strove eagerly to fill the other
parts, but, though each had their moments,
each betrayed their inexperience in different
ways. All w ill have learnt much to benefit them
in the future.
This was a very good effort, especially
when one considers that it was only a House
play, for it was well up to the standard of
School productions. It is to be hoped that
its success w ill not be wasted, and that it w ill
not be a decade before we have another
serious play at Strathallan. Freeland and Nicol
have shown us how it can be done. They did a
marvellous job w ith scant resources and time,
and their example should be followed.
M.J.E.W.
M ake-up and Costumes:
Mrs. T. J. M acLeod, Mrs. M. Barratt,
Mrs. A. L. K. Dutton, Mrs. T. C. G. Fairbairn.
Lighting and Sound:
A. L. K. D utton, Esq., I. Y. Buchanan,
W . D. McLenachan.
Front o f House: T. C. G. Fairbairn Esq., J. S. M ilne.
Stage Manager: R. F. W ilson.
Properties: M . T. M anson, A. M, Jamieson.
Stage Hands:
I. F. Caird, E. G. Meade, D. A. R. M unro,
K. J. Shannon, A. K. Shortreed, R. J. H. W ilson
Producer: M. Barratt, Esq.
THE CAST
Captain Hardy .......................................... C, S. Russell
Lieutenant Osborne ............................. A. H. M ackay
Private Mason .................................... A. R. Cochrane
Lance-Corporal Broughton .................... B. W . Steele
2nd Lieutenant Raleigh .................... C. R. M . Smith
Captain Stanhope .................... A . D. G. W id d o w so n
2nd Lieutenant T ro tte r ..................... R. N. MacLeod
Set designed by: T. J. MacLeod, Esq.
2nd Lieutenant Hibbert .................... K. J. C raw ford
The Company S ergeant-M ajor ... H. W . R. Steedman
The Colonel ...................................... G. A. M. Gerrard
Set painted by: R. M. Ham ilton, D. L. Young.
A German Soldier ......................... M. J. Yellow lees
PRODUCTION
Social Services
The Social Services section continued
many of the projects initiated last year and
were given the opportunity of participating in
other community projects. These are described
in detail below by those involved. Most boys
in the School were involved in one way or
another in one or more events during the
session and in particular the R.N.L.I. sponsored
Road Race to Edinburgh in the Summer Term.
Social Service w ork is now an integral
part of the School life for many boys and it is
through their interest and efforts that the
success of the section lies.
This social education — working for and
amongst the less fortunate sections of our
community — can only add to the full appre­
ciation and understanding of our society as a
whole.
J.B.B.
1.
Swimming Instruction
During the session the boys o f the sw im m ing
club have instructed the children from Scone Home
(origin ally situated at Kippen House, Dunning) in
the art o f sw im m ing. The lessons were conducted
tw ic e a w eek in the school sw im m ing pool, the
children arriving each tim e in a large w h ite m inibus
w hich w as invariably crammed full. The firs t
session w as m et w ith some apprehension on both
sides, but this dissolved as soon as the youngsters
discovered th a t there w as such a thing as a shallow
end! Having gained confidence, it w as very difficu lt
to persuade them that it w as tim e fo r them to
leave. It w as only a m atter of a fe w sessions
before many, w h o were previously afraid o f the
w a te r, w ere show ing a natural aptitude for
sw im m ing, and a determ ined battle commenced in
w hich the children strained to sw im the firs t w id th .
U nfortunately, as soon as the kids learn
the basics o f the spo rt the y leave the home
to be replaced by new faces. Our aims to pro­
duce O lym pic sw im m ers, therefore, are som ewhat
hampered!
A.P.P.
?1
2.
Paper Collection
A fte r lunch on the firs t Saturday of each month
the landrover, three boys and Mr. Brow n set off
to collect the papers le ft out by people of
Forgandenny and the surrounding d is tric t. A fte r
the landrover has been filled, the paper is taken to
a storage po in t at Southfield farm. From there it is
collected by firm s w ho recycle the new sprint. The
money collected is put to w a rd s the Christmas and
Summ er outings fo r the Senior Citizens o f the
d istrict.
J.I.M.
3.
Log-Cutting
Since starting last year, it has become a
regular Sunday occurrence throughout the w in te r
for a few boys to go tree-felling. The trees are
sawn up and the logs are subsequently d istribu te d
around the Bridge of Earn d is tric t, under the
guidance o f M r. Gomme-Duncan, Chairman o f the
Dunbarney & D istrict Senior Citizens Association,
to w hose members this service is directed. A ll
those n o t catered fo r last year were com pensated
and Forgandenny w as added to the distrib u tio n
area. The w o od is given free to the pensioners and
since they appreciate it so much, it looks like
becoming an annual event.
C.C.S.M.
4.
Hospital Visiting
V isiting in the G eriatric W ards of Bridge of
Earn Hospital continued in the w in te r and spring
term s but ceased in the sum m er term . During the
year it became increasingly apparent th a t the
interest o f the patients o f the hospital was waning.
This w as largely due to the in tro d u ctio n o f a
com m on room at Bridge o f Earn. In short, dominoes
gave w a y to television. It w as a p ity to cut the link
w ith the hospital but it w as generally fe lt th a t our
lim ited tim e could be spent to b e tte r effect
elsewhere.
A.R.C.
5.
Christmas Cheese and W ine Party
A lthough the w hole idea of a Cheese and W ine
Party w as looked dow n upon by the school
sceptics, eight of the Social Services C om m ittee
M embers d u ly turned up on December 11th, the
last night o f term , dressed in w a ite rs' jackets
(cou rte sy o f Gleneagles Hotel) after 200 ticke ts
had been sold in the w eeks beforehand.
As the music room had already been decorated
fo r the M aster's Ball w e decided to hold the party
there in the atm osphere of a Paris Boulevard. In
order to leave as much space as possible in the
music room itself, the tables w ere laden w ith
various type s o f s o ft and hard cheeses and red and
w h ite w ines were placed in the conservatory.
The w a iters spent several hours carrying
precariously balanced glasses and plates over the
ice and snow from the Dining Hall and preparing
fo r the exodus from the Chapel but they w ere
unable to cope w ith the rush o f parents from the
Carol Service. However, after the in itial onslaught
the party g o t under w a y and the w a iters in an air
22
o f Brylcreem and Brut 33 managed to persuade
m ost guests to drink more w ine than they had
originally intended to and everyone, including the
C om m ittee, enjoyed themselves very much.
One thing w h ich many parents found par­
tic u la rly valuable w as the chance to have an
inform al chat w ith Housemasters, other Masters
and the ir W ives. M any o f us, including som e of
the Staff, hope tha t this function w ill become an
annual event in the School calendar.
The to ta l am ount produced, including donations
w as £233. £60 w as spent on expenses, £65 on
taking the children from Scone Children's Home on
a day trip to Edinburgh — to the Zoo, and to a
pantomime. The rem ainder w as placed in the Social
Service Fund and used fo r gardening tools,
decorating equipm ent and other requirem ents to
furthe r any social service w o rk in the Bridge of
Earn and Perth areas.
A.R.P.
6.
Children's Visit to Edinburgh
The money raised by the Christm as Cheese and
W ine Party held a t the end of the w in te r term was
used to give the children from Scone Children's
Home an outing. Seven boys from Strathallan were
asked to help the houseparents take care of the
eighteen children — m ost o f w hom were from
broken homes. The trip to o k place on Saturday 5th
January. The bus le ft Scone at 10.30 a.m. after
boys had arrived from Dundee, Dunblane, Glasgow,
Lanark and Blackford.
A packed lunch w as provided on the bus. The
afternoon w as spent on a to u r of Edinburgh Zoo.
The order o f 30 fish suppers fo r tea, in the evening,
caused some concern, but these were soon pro­
duced and consumed. The group then proceeded
to the King's Theatre to see "Babes in the W o o d ".
The bus le ft Edinburgh after the pantom im e w ith a
tired , but happy, group o f children and arrived back
at Scone at 11.30 p.m.
K.W .W .
7.
Visits to Colonsay House
Colonsay House is a home fo r deprived
children w hose parents fo r social or financial
reasons are unable to look after them. It is situated
in a housing estate in Perth. The children's ages
range from only a fe w m onths up to sixteen years.
On Sunday afternoons during the Easter term
three or fou r boys visite d the home to see the
children, fo r although it has a delightful and
dedicated staff and is w e ll equipped w ith a colour
television, record player and hundreds o f toys, an
auro o f boredom hangs over the home. Thus the
ob je ct o f our vis its w as to entertain the children
and g ive the staff a fe w hours rest from a very
demanding job.
On our firs t v is it the younger children too k to
us straig ht away. The older ones were rather
w ith d ra w n , but as the y were practically free to do
w h a t the y w anted, our efforts w ere m ainly directed
to w a rd s the younger ones.
U nfo rtu na te ly as the v is its w ere on Sundays
w e w ere unable to take the children to. the Ice Rink,
fishing or sw im m ing as w e w o u ld have liked to have
done. Instead w e to o k them to the nearby play­
ground or played "g o lf” in a field w ith a ru sty old
go lf club and a battered ball. O ther tim es w e w o uld
spend hours lying flat on our stom achs playing
marbles on the grass.
The children seemed to enjoy our visits
immensely and welcom ed us en thusiastically when
w e arrived. I thin k the benefit o f the vis its w as
mutual, w e always looked forw ard to going and
always le ft w ith a w arm feeling o f satisfaction of
having done som ething w o rth w h ile .
A.A.B.
8.
9.
Murray Royal Folk Concert
The fo lk singers o f the school, along w ith the
m ore "tra d itio n a l" artistes produced a varied
program me o f song, mime and dance fo r the
patients o f M urray Royal Hospital, Perth. The
audience seemed to appreciate m ost o f this. There
was even a brief stoppage w h ile one patient was
carried out! The programme finished w ith several
carols w hich the audience enjoyed and the
atm osphere on the return journey to school showed
the perform ers enjoyed it as much as the audience.
A .W .B .M .
Bridge of Earn Cheese and W ine Party
Four boys w e n t to the Cheese and W ine party
in aid o f the Dunbarney Senior Citizens Fund to act
as w in e w aiters. They were aided by fou r girls
from Kilgraston. Through the evening there were
tw o raffles and an extrem ely amusing auction.
U nfortunately the prospective buyers w ere not very
interested in the goods up fo r sale, and thus it
required a great deal o f persuasion on the part o f
the w e ll know n auctioneer to sell his goods. A
tw o man band w ith accordion and violin provided
dance m usic fo r the night w hich w as enjoyed
by the local residents o f Bridge of Earn and
Forgandenny.
K.J.S.
ARDARGIE
LO DG E
HOTEL
10. Senior Citizens Film Show
The Dunbarney and D istrict Senior Citizens
were show n a film in the 6th form block on
Tuesday 18th M arch. The film w as entitled "The
Lost V a lle y" and gave an interesting account o f the
T h irty Years W ar. Boys assisted in the projection
room and in the "a u d ito riu m ". A fte r an unforeseen
technical hitch the film started around 3.30 p.m.
and ended at 6.00 p.m. Tea and biscuits were
served in the interval. In the evening the film was
re-show n to the 6th form "H isto ria n s". The
occasion w as appreciated by all attending.
R.M.J.
BAR SNACKS
LUNCHES AND HIGH TEAS
35 ACRES OF PRIVATE GROUNDS
S W IM M IN G POOL
TENNIS COURT
FORGANDENNY
FISHING
(5 minutes from Strathallan School)
Fully Licensed Public and Lounge Bars
Telephone: BRIDGE OF EARN 234
23
11. Gardening in Perth
During the w in te r, parties o f about 8 boys
w e n t to various senior citizens in Perth to dig their
gardens on Friday afternoon. The T ow n Council
gave us spades each afternoon. H ow ever after the
Cheese and W ine Party w e were able to use some
o f the money raised to buy our ow n spades and
forks. The old people appreciated th is service very
much and it gave them a chance to ta lk to the
boys over a cup o f tea after they had com pleted
the ir w o rk.
W.D.G.C.
12. Football v Friarton
W e have only played one game against the
young offenders o f Friarton th is year, and due to
the demands of M asters in charge o f rugby it w as
a greatly weakened team th a t faced them . A fte r
a very poor start, in w hich the Strathallan team lost
three goals in the firs t fifteen m inutes, the team
settled dow n. Reward fo r extra effort in the
second-half came w ith goals from Shortreed and
Meade. However, despite added pressure the
Friarton XI held out and scored again them selves
late in the game.
Strathallan 2, Friarton 7.
E.G.M.
13. Decorating
This year three o f us undertook a new project
in the social services. This w as to redecorate rooms
in the houses o f the more unfortunate, elderly
Perth citizens.
It w as decided th a t the jo bs should be under­
taken on Sunday afternoons, giving us about five
hours a w eek to w o rk on the room s w hich needed
redecorating.
A s decorating is a very tim e-consum ing
operation (w o rk on a house may last as long as
five w e eks) w e have only com pleted three houses
so far, tw o in Letham and one in Hunter Crescent.
T h e firs t jo b w a s c o m p a ra tiv e ly e a s y , p a in tin g
w as all th a t was involved. The second and th ird
w ere painting and w allpapering. W e had to learn —
and discover by accident — the techniques and
m ethods em ployed in redecoration.
The senior citizens to w hom w e had offered
our services w ere extrem ely gratified, as living in
one room , a change in decor is of great significance
and makes a w elcom e change. On our second
assignm ent the lady w as quite amazed th a t three
teenagers should offer th e ir assistance to a senior
citizen. She said th a t before w e had done so, she
fe lt th a t all was lo st w ith our "n e w generation".
W hen w e had com pleted the jo b, she assured
us — th a t her faith in our generation had finally
been restored and th a t the future of the w o rld was
no longer at stake!
R.M.H.
14. Sponsored Road Race
The idea o f a sponsored road race from
Strathallan to Edinburgh seemed a very novel idea
when it came up at one o f the regular Social
24
Service Committee meetings. It was decided to
run this as the major project of the year whose
prime purpose was to involve as many people as
possible in order to aid the cause.
Fettes College w ere approached and asked if
they w o u ld participate in the race. The idea was to
run the race,
consisting of tw o teams o f 21
runners, as a baton relay race w ith each runner
doing tw o miles before passing on the baton.
The race w as run in aid of the RNLI as it was
th e ir 150th anniversary and the aim was to raise
enough money to provide a replacem ent Inshore
Lifeboat fo r the RNLI station at Kinghorn, Fife.
Each team w as to be started off by their
respective Headmaster and in the baton the runners
were to carry a cop y o f the ir school's coat of arms
and a message o f g o od w ill to the receiving school.
The race itse lf was run on Sunday, 4th May,
com m encing at 1400 hrs GMT. The route taken
w as from Strathallan, along the W icks of Baiglie
road and then on to the A90, by M ilnathort,
Kinross and Cowdenbeath on to the Forth Road
Bridge.
From the south side o f
the
Bridge,
Strathallan ran into Fettes College via Barnton.
The 42 mile race w as in fact w o n by Strathallan
in a tim e o f 4 hours 21 m inutes, ju s t a mere seven
m inutes ahead of Fettes College. A to ta l of £1200
w as raised, £1094 by Strathallan and £106 by
Fettes. The Lifeboat w ill be installed at Kinghorn
early in 1976.
A cheque fo r the £1200 w as presented to Mr.
A . M ackay, ex-coxsw ain of Broughty Ferry Lifeboat,
representing the RNLI, at a cerem ony in the Dining
Hall on 1st July.
D.F.F.
15. Ochil Tower, Auchterarder
During the sum m er term w e visited the
C hildren's Home a t Ochil T ow e r in Auchterarder.
The v is it to o k place every Friday afternoon between
3.00 and 5.00 p.m.
W e developed a plan that the group should be
s p lit in to tw o . The larger group taking care o f the
physical w o rk w hich w as needed. This invofved
the rebuilding o f a stone dyke w hich w as in danger
o f collapsing — turning out to be a very large
reconstruction job. The smaller group played w ith
the children in the grounds o f the School.
A.J.H.
16. Blackford Highland Games — 31st M ay, 1975
This w as the third , and m ost successful, year
tha t the Social Services have attended the Games.
W e only ran a Prize Draw — firs t prize was a gallon
bo ttle of w h is k y — and pro fits were increased by
the generosity o f retailers w h o donated prizes. The
donations w ere encouraged by an arrangement
made w ith the Games Com m ittee fo r the School
Social Services to advertise on behalf o f the
retailers in the Games Programme. There was no
problem selling tic k e ts and a to ta l of £130.10 was
raised, £24.85 w as deducted fo r expenses which
meant th a t a grand to ta l o f £115.25 was handed
over fo r the Blackford Senior Citizen's Association.
R.F.W.
25
The Response to a Request
"In next year's magazine", I said, "I hope to
te ll you w h ethe r the response w as miserable or
tru ly m agnificent". It w as in th a t article asking for
Old Strathallians to let me kno w som ething o f the
earliest days of the school.
W ell, I had a m agnificent response from a
m iserably small num ber o f people, so th a t any
so rt o f system atic survey o f the early years cannot
be taken any furthe r than w h a t is already published
in the past issues o f the Magazine.
M o st interesting o f all, apart from one detail
tha t I find alm ost unbelievable, w as the picture I
g o t o f the personality o f "The B oss" him self. From
m ost valuable co n trib u tio n s sent by David Bogie,
John Fraser and Douglas M uir, w e get the
fo llo w in g picture.
Harry Riley "held no un ive rsity degree but
w as undoubtedly a man o f outstanding qualities.
He w as dynam ic, extrem ely capable, w ith a natural
business acum en” . A ga in st this, "a practical
Yorkshireman is the last description I w o u ld have
applied. A Yorkshireman, yes, w h o never w o re
anything but the fin e st w o rste d and strange
rectangular ties; but practical? I th in k he surrounded
him self w ith practical m en". The facts, however,
bear out the firs t o f these vie w s, since it needs
m ore than idealism to "s ta rt in 1913 w ith very
little capital in Bridge o f Allan w ith a handful o f
boarders. The numbers increased yearly and the
reputation of the school gre w very quickly. By
1919 there were five buildings in the school, the
original Fernbank and W o lf Crag, Glenranald,
Birkenwald and Grahamville. It w as a grow ing but
scattered com m unity, w ith one house used for
classes, one fo r catering, and three fo r residences".
"Three o f his staff” , w e are to ld , "la te r started
schools o f the ir ow n, but none exist to d a y ". His
survives and so I am n o t ye t ready to w ith d ra w the
w o rd practical.
S till, he is said to have been "v e ry e m o tion al".
Blub Sunday, the last o f each sum m er term , w as
when "h e preached his valed ictory serm ons to his
boys going o u t into the w o rld w h om he'd never
see again and could not then see fo r the enormous
tears coursing dow n his cheeks". The w rite r is
speaking of 1940, however, when no teacher could
be unmoved by the know ledge o f w h a t w as w a itin g
fo r so many o f them . W as th is sad farew ell also
a feature o f the earlier years o f peace?
And w h a t w as H R. like to the boys? "In
m y earlier years he seemed both rem ote and
frightening. A lm o st m y only recollections are those
connected w ith aw fu l misdemeanours, when I was
summoned to his office and given fo u r o f the b e st".
A gainst this vie w , "H e knew each o f the 120 boys
personally — th is know ledge being acquired by
sittin g at table at m ealtim es w ith them and w alking
each day w ith a different boy to and from class­
room s". "In the evening, after giving out the day's
news in chapel in the style o f our present day
broadcasters, he w o u ld personally hand out the
incom ing mail to each receiver, yet another w a y
o f getting to kn o w each bo y under his care” .
A ctua lly, you know , there is not really a
con tra diction. The w rite r w ho found him so rem ote
is talking o f the years in w hich his health w a s in
26
decline. A sad picture o f him in those later years
gives him "a horror o f damp, so that he actually
beat people w h o sat on the grass in June at noon,
instead of on tartan ru g s", and he "w a s reduced to
a strange huge figure w h o loom ed, distraught and
m um bling, in the dark, to frighten people out of
th e ir w its and then offer them purple cough
sw e e ts".
Everyone agrees th a t "K in g Harry” was a
superb teacher "able to teach any subject to a
spellbound cla ss". I like the idea of him "assuring
a prospective parent from South Am erica that
Spanish w as tau ght at Strathallan. The boy was
enrolled and w as in fact taught Spanish by H.R.
w h o him self knew none un til after he had promised
it" .
(N ow adays the General Teaching Council
w o uld not allow him to teach it w ith a university
degree in Spanish, unless a Training College had
added its Diplom a.) A bove all, he had the ab ility
to "im p a rt know ledge to the du lle st and give
m uch-needed confidence to the struggling. And,
w h ile he had a good team o f masters, he was
alw ays ready to do extra teaching in the evenings
to help those w h o had fallen behind".
The discipline seems to have been hard and
"th e means he used to obtain his inform ation may
be open to qu e stio n ", but he managed to get some
boys to be tte r th e ir more clever friends by w orking
harder and "m a ny a boy in later years realised the
w isdom of his w o rd s ". Certainly as a master here
I m yself have received from those old boys o f his
tim e a strong im pression o f gratitude and affection
fo r him.
There is a gap in the school tha t one w rite r,
and I to o , find surprising. " I t seems to me an
astonishing thing, and this im plies some criticism ,
th a t the school existed till 1930 w ith o u t a library".
To s ta rt one, the w rite r w as made to "g o round
the do rm itorie s at the end o f term and ask for
co n trib u tio n s o f books to be brought back after
the holidays. W e certainly received a w onderful
response". (T ry it n o w and you m ight get tw o
dozen copies o f "H e r Sinful S k in fu l" w ith not a lot
of Dickens.)
The same w rite r agrees w ith m y suggestion
th a t "th e re w as considerable bias tow a rds com ­
mercial p u rsu its". He says "th e re w as no sixth
form , o f cou rse", but w e also learn th a t "q u ite a
fe w boys w e n t to O xford, Cambridge, and other
universities to fo llo w an academic career". And
w e can see from all the law yers, doctors and
accountants w ith w hom w e meet at Old Boys
Dinners th a t there m ust have been som ething like
a sixth form under another name. The w rite r
him self, claim ing little know ledge of the Business
Club, says tha t he w as able to "hive off to try to
becom e a scholar in Greek and Latin". And part
of the education m ust have leaked in to the
holidays, since there are tw o m entions o f Harry
Riley's car full of seniors on the continent, which
managed to appear in A ustria fo r the Anschluss, in
Czechoslovakia in 1938, and in Danzig in 1939. The
boss even g o t him self m istaken fo r a spy called
Riley and flung into a Polish gaol.
But th a t detail I m entioned. It concerns a Mr.
Thom son — not Norman o f recent years but another
one.
One o f m y correspondents says "M r.
Thomson w as a keen tree-clim ber and I w as taught
m ost of m y Greek and Latin in the upper branches
of a tree, above the W ood fam ily graves". M ind
your head on th a t tom bstone, laddie! A n yw a y, I
propose to see if it has now gro w n big enough to
hold the w hole o f 4B H istory. No, on second
thoughts I am afraid the new headm aster w ill
im itate the founder w ith a brusque "O h, but you
can't do that, you can’t " , and w e w ill be sent back
to an ordinary classroom.
Thank you very much to those w h o w ro te .
And may this stim ulate those w h o can cap it or
w ho disagree w ith anything to give me som ething
fo r next year. I envisage lo ts o f Strathallians
reading last year's article and resolving to do
something about it. A nd then le ttin g it go. I w as
asked by one correspondent w h y the magazine
never has news o f those w h o tau ght here in Riley's
tim e, to w hich the answ er is tha t w e have alm ost
lost touch w ith all o f them. If you kno w where any
of them are living, do suggest to them th a t they
should w rite in too. There w ere p o st-w a r troubles
th a t seem to have p u t a barrier between us and
those w h o were teaching here before th a t tim e.
B ut tw e n ty five years is surely long enough to
m ellow the relationship. A s I indicated in last
year's article, the thing I find m ost unusual about
Strathallan is the absence of a published record of
its earlier years, as though oral recollections at
assorted reunions w ere all the past deserves.
Please w rite to me.
Denis Young.
Chemical Education
Chem istry is concerned w ith chem icals and
although there are only ab ou t 100 elem ents the
number o f com pounds form ed when these elements
enter in to chemical com bination is legion: In fact,
today, there are about 7 m illion com pounds know n
and one o f the purposes o f teaching che m istry in
schools is to fam iliarise pupils w ith a fe w o f them.
Even more im portant than this, pupils need to be
made aware of the potential clangers involved in
handling all chemicals both inside and outside the
laboratory. For example, m ost pupils, a t an early
age, learn tha t concentrated sulphuric acid is
dangerous; they see w h a t happens if it is s p ilt on
the bench or on a piece o f paper o r mixed w ith
water. They should certainly be be tte r inform ed
than one of the occupants o f a car w h ich w as
recently involved in a crash w ith a tanker o f oleum
(the m ost concentrated form o f sulphuric a cid ). A
passenger in the car g o t out after the accident and
tried to paddle through the sp ilt oleum. There was
very little le ft fo r the police to make any form al
identification. But another dangerous chem ical,
4,4'-dim ethyl b ip yrid yl chloride, com m o nly sold as
the w eedkiller paraquat, has also been in the news
recently because ve ry small doses, if taken orally,
are alm ost invariably fatal. The result is a slo w
painful death and as yet, there is no know n
antidote. Even such apparently innocuous chemicals
as detergents should be treated w ith respect.
M any housewives have suffered unpleasant skin
troubles as a result of using some o f the more
"p o w e rfu l" w ashing pow ders, e.g., the so-called
biological detergents. These chemicals have also
caused a lo t o f pollution in rivers running close to
the factories. Far to o many chemicals to d a y are
being made available to the general public before
they may have been tho ro ug hly tested. Thalidom ide
is another w e ll-kn ow n example but, of course, in
this case the ill-effects o f the drug were not
im m ediately obvious. M any com m on hair dyes are
suspect at the present m om ent because they
contain chemicals th a t can, under certain co n ­
ditions, produce cancers in animals, should the y be
banned? It could take many years before it is
possible to correlate any single case o f human
cancer w ith the use o f a particular hair dye. The
same controversy occurred a sho rt w h ile ago over
the use o f cyclam ate sweeteners in s o ft drinks.
Some research w orkers in the United States found
th a t large doses o f cyclam ate could produce
cancers in laboratory animals. The press made a
great deal o f th is and cyclam ates were banned
from use in s o ft drinks in the States. However, it
w as soon realised th a t these were not really
parallel situations and th a t the risk to human beings
w as probably negligible. The use o f cyclam ates has
also been banned in th is cou ntry and I th in k it is
im p ortan t that, although w e should be aware o f
the potential dangers of adding chemicals to food
and drink w e m ust nevertheless keep a sense o f
proportion. Laboratory situations are not neces­
sarily d ire ctly related to everyday life.
Today, m ore than ever before, chem icals are
in trica te ly w oven in to the pattern o f our day to day
existence. A lo t of people are w o rrie d about it,
but there's ve ry little any individual can do.
Chemicals have been added to our food, the y have
been put in to the air w e breathe, they have been
added to the w a te r w e drink to say nothing of
th e ir use in m edicine, cosm etics and toiletrie s. It
w o u ld be ve ry d ifficu lt in this short essay to give a
com prehensive account o f the variety o f chemicals
th a t are added to our food and a fe w w e ll-kn ow n
examples m ust suffice. M any people have been
disturbed about the addition of hormones and anti­
b iotics to animal feedstuffs to im prove the q u ality
and q u a n tity o f protein produced. Fortunately,
there are n o w fa irly s tric t regulations governing
the use o f such chemicals on the farm b u t w e m ust
appreciate that these are rather special chemicals,
one m ight call them biochem icals, in as much
as they can have a profound effect on the
chem ical reactions taking place in the living
organism. A n tib io tic s have been used far to o
indiscrim inately. The medical profession has been
g u ilty o f prescribing them fo r all manner of m inor
infections w ith the result th a t strains o f bacteria
have no w evolved w h ich are resistant to some o f
the com m on an tib io tics like penicillin.
Chemicals are som etim es added to food as
preservatives, fo r example, nitrite s are used to
preserve fish. How ever, fish contain amines and,
under certain con ditions, these com pounds can
react w ith nitrite s to produce the highly carcino­
genic nitrosam ines. This becomes a very real
danger if the fish are partially decayed. However,
a num ber o f foods, e.g. ham, bacon, sausages.
27
contain nitrosam ines in very small quantities and
once again, the risk to the population as a w hole is
probably negligible.
Dyes are som etim es added to food to im prove
the appearance. The next tim e you are w alking
past a butcher's shop and adm iring a particularly
succulent looking cut of beef, bear in mind th a t a
red dye may w e ll have been added to im prove the
appearance.
The w idespread use of agricultural sprays and
dusts has resulted in certain chemicals getting into
our food accidentally. The chlorinated hydro­
carbons like DDT are a case in point. The latter
is concentrated in the liver o f animals and although
the long-term effects on man are s till in dispute the
effects on many animals and particularly on the
food chains are w e ll docum ented. In consequence,
the use of such chemicals has been restricted in
recent years, but there is no sim ple answ er to the
problem. The possible dangers of using DDT have
to be w eighed against the know n advantages. For
example, it has been stated th a t the w ith d ra w a l of
DDT w ith o u t replacement by a suitable su b stitu te
could lead to a recurrence of endem ic malaria in
areas where the disease is now under control.
in industrial areas, noxious gases, e.g. sulphur
dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, are s till allow ed to
pollute the atm osphere causing added d iscom fort
to those people suffering w ith chest com plaints;
e.g. chronic bronchitis. Car exhaust fumes present
another hazard polluting the atm osphere w ith not
only oxides of carbon and nitrogen, but also w ith
lead (from one o f the additives in p e tro l). There is
strong evidence to suggest th a t increases in
atm ospheric lead could result in a higher incidence
o f mental disease. Recent w o rk has shown a
correlation between the lead co n te n t o f the
atmosphere and the I.Q. o f children living in such
areas.
An interesting and rather unusual case o f
atm ospheric pollution concerns the use o f aerosols.
The concentration o f aerosol gases in the upper
atm osphere is steadily increasing and you may w e ll
ask w h y this should give rise to concern. One of
the gases com m only used in aerosols is freon,
dichlorodifluorom ethane. In the upper atm osphere
it converts from ozone to oxygen. N ow the ozone
layer in the upper atm osphere form s a protective
barrier, cuttin g out much o f the ultra vio le t rays
from the sun. If this layer o f ozone should be
reduced, then more u ltra vio le t light w ill get through
to the earth and this could result in a higher
incidence o f skin cancer. W ho could p o ssib ly have
predicted such a chain of events?
M odern agricultural practice has resulted in a
great increase in the use of chem icals, not only
fertilisers but also insecticides, herbicides and
fungicides. Of course, these chem icals are essential
if crop yields are to be im proved but, on the other
hand, the w idespread and som etim es in discrim inate
use o f them has frequently caused a serious
inbalance of nature. If the y are washed dow n into
lakes and rivers th e y may cause an excessive
g ro w th of the vegetation such tha t the lake o r river
becomes choked or alte rna tively the y may cause
the death o f plant and animal life resulting in
stagnation. The use o f herbicides in Vietnam , for
no sound biological purpose, has devastated vast
areas w h ich w ill take many years to regenerate.
For some tim e now there has been serious
28
debate on the question of adding fluoride to
drinking w a te r. There is little do ub t tha t fluoride
reduces dental decay in young people but, on the
other hand, w h a t are the long term effects? W e
d o n 't really kno w and it is quite right that doubts
should be expressed about adding such a chemical
to our w a te r supplies. However, in certain parts of
the co u n try a lo w incidence of dental decay can
be correlated w ith the natural content o f fluoride
in the drinking w ater. For this reason, I think it is
w o rth the risk although a more satisfactory alter­
native m ight be to encourage children to use
fluoride toothpaste.
So far, I have n o t m entioned radioactive
chemicals. In the 1950's the accum ulation of radio­
active m aterials in the atm osphere was increasing
at an alarming rate. Fortunately, sanity eventually
prevailed and atm ospheric nuclear tests were
s tric tly lim ited by the great powers. Today, the
main problem is the disposal o f radio-active waste
from nuclear reactors. Large quantities o f nuclear
w aste are being buried in sealed containers under
the sea and also in underground tanks but there is
alw ays a danger o f leakage. W ith the developm ent
of the fa st breeder reactor the problem becomes
more acute, the am ount o f radioactive material
produced exceeding the am ount used in the reactor.
Into the bargain the product is plutonium , intensely
radioactive and supposedly one o f the m ost highly
carcinogenic chemicals kno w n at the present time.
Plutonium can be used in nuclear w eapons and
there is the additional problem o f security par­
ticu la rly in these days o f te rro ris t a ctivity.
W orkers in the chem ical industry, I suppose,
are m ore vulnerable than anybody else to the
dangers o f handling chem icals. Today there are
very s tric t regulations th a t safeguard the health of
w o rkers in this industry. Even so, these regulations
are co n sta n tly under review . The plastic P.V.C. is
made from a chem ical called vin yl chloride and it is
o n ly recently tha t the dangers o f inhaling the
vapour o f th is chemical have become apparent.
The level of vin yl chloride vapour in the factories
m ust now , by law, be kept at a very lo w level but
th is is ye t another example o f the dangers not
becoming evident fo r many years.
W h ils t on the sub je ct o f inhaling vapours, I
thin k I w ill conclude by saying ju s t a fe w things
about sm oking. The evidence is fairly conclusive
th a t sm oking can be harm ful and this is not really
surprising. Tobacco sm oke contains a high percen­
tage o f the poisonous gas, carbon m onoxide; it
also contains traces o f radioactive chemicals. The
ta r from tobacco contains many chemicals several
of w hich have been show n to be carcinogenic in
animals. It is w o rth clearing up one common
m isconception, namely th a t nicotine, a colourless
crystalline material, is the dangerous chemical. This
in fact, is m ost unlikely. N icotine is a stim ulant
and is probably no more harmful than alcohol.
On reading this through I fear tha t it does
sound rather like a scrip t fo r the T.V. programme
"D o o m w a tc h ". Y et I do feel very strong ly that
education in chem istry should include education in
the handling o f chem icals both in the laboratory
and in everyday life. Children m ust be encouraged
to tre a t all chem icals w ith respect, even if they
are not actually classified at the tim e as hazardous,
and it is to be hoped th a t future generations w ill
be more aware o f the potential dangers o f handling
chem icals than the ir forbears.
. p a .B.
DEBATING SOCIETY
FISHING CLUB
Since the beginning o f the year w e had four
debates, one w ith in the school, tw o w ith Kilgraston
and one at Dundee High School. W ith a great deal
of variety, each occasion has been thoroughly
enjoyed.
In December the School Pond w as drained of
water. This proved to be a m istake as, due to cost,
a mechanical digger could n o t be hired. Manual
removal of marginal reeds w as, on the w hole,
ineffective because o f the sheer size o f the task,
despite squads of 3rd Formers and volunteers
w o rking on Friday afternoons fo r several weeks.
M oreover, little aquatic weed w as killed as,
unfortunately, there w as little fro st during the
w inter. The only consolation w as that the Pond
needed airing as 1974's sto ck had die o f oxygen
starvation because o f excess decaying matter.
Last February, four members of the Lower
Sixth participated in the firs t debate of the
spring term . R. K. Linton and D. A. R. M unro
proposed the m otion "U .F .O 's are fo r real"
w hile D. R. New ton and J. M. W aldie opposed.
A ll the speakers prepared th e ir speeches w e ll and
delivered the ir facts in a logical w ay. Both R. K.
Linton and D. A. R. M unro spoke w e ll and
carried the m otion.
The next debate th a t term w as certainly a
crow d puller and every chair in the Sixth Form Hall
was occupied. D. S. M cIntosh and C. C. S. Magee
proposed the m otion "T h a t people d o n 't really
marry for lo ve" w h ile Kilgraston opposed. The
debate was certainly a success and con tribu tions
from the floor w e re o f a high standard.
In M ay w e were invited to Dundee High
School together w ith Kilgraston. The m otion "T ha t
society is best served by its rebels" was debated
tw ice. Dundee High School " A " team and S trath­
allan in the persons o f A. R. Cochrane and D. A.
Cameron proposed the m otion against Kilgraston
and Dundee High School " B " team. A. R. Cochrane
spoke first in the second debate. He dealt w ith
historical facts w h ile D. A. Cameron tied up loose
ends and generalised. The m otion was carried and
Kilgraston w on the prize fo r delivering the best
speeches.
In July w e w ere invited to Kilgraston. The
m otion w as that "T his house prefers M arx and
Engels to M arks and Spencers". Each side involved
both schools, R. A. R. W h yte opposing and P. A. S.
Gelzer seconding the m otion. Both are fourth
formers and this was the firs t tim e they had spoken
in a debate. Gelzer w as particularly convincing.
Debating this year has been great fun. A ll
w ho too k part enjoyed them selves and th is is the
prime objective.
D.S.M.
There w as ju s t enough w a te r in the Pond at
the beginning of the Sum m er Term fo r it to be
stocked w ith 200 fish ranging from 8 " to 12", 50
12" fish were put in, the biggest fish the Pond has
ever been stocked w ith . Superior spo rt ju stified
the extra expense. 64 fish above the 11" lim it
were rem oved from the Pond during the Term,
C. C. S. Magee being the m ost successful angler.
As usual fishing tailed off as the Term progressed
but there w as a revival in early July, despite weed.
Again the match against the Old Boys was
held at the Lake o f M enteith on 5th July. Despite
the fact th a t it w as hot and sunny this w as the
second m ost successful Old Boys v. the School
com p etitio n, 37 fish being caught. The Old Boys
w o n, 21 fish to 16, 15 lbs. 6 oz. to 11 lbs. 9 oz.
M r. Biggart and D. L. Young, Old Boy and pupil
respectively, each had five fish.
I w o u ld like to thank the Old Boys for
in viting the School Fishing Club to the Lake. The
School Team all enjoyed the day's fishing and the
evening meal afterw ards imm ensely.
S.D.B.
M U SIC SOCIETY
The fo llo w in g concerts w ere held this year:
ELECTRONICS CLUB
This has been a m ost successful year fo r the
Electronics Club, w ith the intake o f over a dozen
new members. An interesting and large display
was shown on Speech Day, and again for the
visito rs from the Preparatory Schools. A num ber
of projects have been and are being com pleted.
These include: a guitar, AC-DC po w e r supplies,
intercom s, remote control units and fuzz boxes.
The construction o f a closed circu it T.V. camera
has also begun. A p a rt from this, Sinclair S cientific
and Cambridge electronic calculators have been
m ost popular.
B.W.S.
Music Staff Concert (N ov. 5 th ): This w as a
very entertaining concert indeed, and a good one
to start the year w ith . The m ost exciting piece
played w as the "L u c y Long Theme and V ariatio ns"
played b rillia n tly by M r. M cLeary (bassoon)
accom panied by Mr. Ball (p ia n o ); this sounded
fiendishly difficu lt, but M r. M cLeary put in a great
performance. O ther item s on the list were Mr.
Thomson playing "A Concert Piece" by Haydn,
on the tuba — th is to o required a fair am ount of
d e xte rity on the instrum ent; M r, M orrison (clarinet)
had us aghast ye t again w ith his rendering o f an
"A rd a n te w ith va ria tio n s" by Sphor; M rs. S tow e ll
(c e llo ), M r. Begbie (v io lin ) and M r. W e s t (flair)
came tog ether to form a fine trio playing the
"G yp sy R ondo" by Haydn; and a num ber o f piano
pieces were played by either M r. Ball or Mr. W est
or on one occasion both.
A.D.G.W .
9Q
Peter Cooper piano recital (Feb. 15th): Peter
Cooper, a New Zealander, came up from London to
give this C elebrity Recital.
enormous am ount of w o rk had obviously been put
into this particular piece, and it was a resounding
success fo r all concerned.
The M usic Room w as filled to capacity and
the audience was not to be disappointed. Peter
Cooper played a num ber of fam iliar piano pieces,
and his performance w as greatly enhanced in his
explanations and intro du ctions to each w o rk.
Particularly enjoyed w ere M ozart's "T urkish Rondo",
Beethoven's "M o o n lig h t Sonata" and "The M inute
W a ltz" by Chopin (w h ich was played in 85
seconds). The concert ended w ith tw o encores
which were greatly received by the audience. Mr.
Cooper has already expressed a w illingn ess to
return to Strathallan, and w e aw ait that tim e w ith
anticipation.
B.J.B.
The concert then diverged, as w e moved back­
w ards in tim e from the 1940's to the 18th century
where the choir gave a polished and rousing
performance o f Handel's great coronation anthem
"Z ad ok the P rie st". The firs t m ovem ent was
rem iniscent even, o f King's College Cambridge
choir, as the trebles really hit the to p notes — a
great sound. The choir obviously found the fast
runs in the "G od Save the K in g " tric k y , but on the
w hole the cho ir gave the ir all, and produced a fine
sound throughout.
A lto g e th e r th is w as a firs t class concert and
one that w ill be remembered fo r some time.
P.A.S.G.
Three Ages of Church Music. The Cantata
choir. Director: Barry Ball. A ccom panist: Gordon
W est.
The Concert w as held in the School Chapel on
Saturday 15th March and w as attended by a
disappointingly small but appreciative audience of
about 60 people. The six modern psalms by
Herbert Chappell w ere sung w ith confidence and
enthusiasm and the balance between tenors/basses
and tre b le s /a lto s w as good. A . D. G. W id d o w so n ,
the bass soloist deserves special m ention fo r the
positive lead th a t he gave in all these items.
The m usic o f J. S. Bach, w ritte n some 200
years earlier, provides an interesting contrast.
The Fugue in G M ajor illustrates the essential
architecture o f a fugue whereas the A M in o r starts
in the classical style and progresses into a
delightful fantasia w ith an exhuberant finale. I'm
quite sure all those present w o u ld agree that
Bach's music is anything but dull when played w ith
such enthusiasm and v irtu o sity. M y only d is­
appointm ent w as that I w as unable to see Barry
Ball at the keyboard.
M ozart's last w o rk, the w e ll-kn o w n Requiem
Mass, provided a fittin g end to the concert. Dies
Irae, depicting the Day o f Judgem ent, w as firm and
resonant, a notable achievem ent considering the
size o f the choir. The last tw o extracts, Hostias
and Sanctus, w ere w e ll perform ed although, at
tim es, I fe lt the choir w as rather stretched.
I very much enjoyed the evening and, judging
by the applause at the end, so did the audience.
P.A.B.
"Rejoice in the Lamb" and "Zadok the Priest"
(5th Jun e): This w as another Cantata cho ir concert,
and again a highly contrasting programme was
performed.
The first, w as B ritten 's "R ejoice in the Lamb".
This was ob vio usly a difficu lt w o rk to tackle w ith
a school choir, nevertheless the choir put in an
excellent performance, indeed, in m y opinion, the
best piece o f singing th a t the Cantata choir have
ever done.
It w as noticeable tha t the choir
responded very w e ll to the dynam ics o f the w o rk,
w hich is a necessary ingredient if, fo r example,
one o f the m ovem ents is all on the same note. An
30
Music Society Speech Day Concert (6th Ju ly):
This w as a chance fo r our tw o very good violinists
D. R. I. Fingland and F. G. M cAdam to perform in
"p u b lic ". They to o k the ir chance in both hands and
played a Corelli duet in three m ovem ents w ith
great verve. A. D. G. W id d o w so n (ho rn) played
the theme tune from "A lc e s te " by Gluck, and a
startling little piece by Adam Carse, accompanied
by M r. Ball on the piano. K. C. S. McLelland treated
us to a "R om ance" by Neilson played in a tru ly
professional manner. The concert ended w ith the
Brass group consisting o f Mr. Thomson (tu b a ),
S. L. Hill (tro m b o n e ), G. J. McEwen and A. D. G.
W id d o w so n (ho rn) and N. E. Cope, R. F. W ilson,
R. G oodfellow , B. Russell and G. W ither, w ho
played "B lues in Eb" and "C om e all you Roving
Rangers", both o f w hich w ere good entertainm ent
value.
This concert closed our series of Music
S ociety concerts on a very high note, and thanks
m ust go to M r. Ball for organising, endlessly
rehearsing, and conducting over the year.
A.D.G.W .
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The S ociety's "b u rs t fo r fam e" continued this
year w ith a few more members joining, and the
num ber o f members remained ju s t above that of
last year at about 25.
The recently revived annual com petition was
held again this year and once again the society is
extrem ely grateful to the panel o f masters who
gave up part of a w eekend to judge the many
entries w hich came m ainly from the half dozen
m ost active members.
The annual general meeting was held ju st
before Speech Day during w hich the prizes for the
com p etitio n w ere awarded and the office bearers
fo r the fo llo w in g year were elected. The problem
of enrolling new members w as also discussed.
W ith the fee at £1 a year m any juniors are reluctant
to jo in and those in the m iddle and senior school
have other a ctivite s, so a proposal to give new
members a tria l period was suggested and thought
to be a good idea.
A s last year, there w as a display held in the
dining room foyer, arranged by R. K. Linton and
D. M. N. G illanders. Besides black and w hite
photographs, there were also some colour pictures
belonging to members o f the school w hich served
to brighten things up.
W e are very much in debt to M r. Gray, the
Club's president in more w ays than one, as his
pocket has tem po rarily financed our latest purchase
— a contact printer from A. C. M cA rth u r, the Club's
treasurer, w hich should prove a useful investm ent.
I w ish to thank both M r. Gray and A. C. M c A rth u r
for their invaluable help through the year.
D. M. N. Gillanders
2nd
R. K. Linton
3rd
J. P. S tew art
R. K. Shedden
Senior Drumming
C. B. Robertson
Jun io r Piping
H. J. P. Gray
Jun io r Drumming
S. A, Ferguson
It is w ith the deepest regret that w e bid
farew ell to Drum M ajor D. W ilso n, w ho has taught
drum m ing at Strathallan fo r fourteen years.
M any thanks also to Mr. Henderson for
organisation w ith in the band and to M r. M urray
fo r teaching piping.
R.K.S.
C om petition results:
1st
Senior Piping
ST. ANDREW 'S NIGHT 1974
Office bearers '75-'76:
Once again our annual dance w ith Kilgraston
and various members o f the staff came around.
Chairman: R. K. Linton
Treasurer: D. M. N. Gillanders
A.I.P.
PIPE BAND
A large contingent from the Convent added to
the enjoym ent o f the evening, w hich included a
varied m edley o f S cottish co u n try dances. The
dancing of Strathallan w as of a higher standard
than previous years, m ainly due to the patient
coaching o f M essrs. Barratt and Fairbairn.
The band lost a lot of good pipers w ith the
1974 leavers but despite th is our premiere per­
formance on St. A nd raw 's night w as encouraging
and hopes were high fo r the summer.
W e ow e our thanks to
enchanting Gaelic songs and
his piping solo, to M essrs.
fo r organizing the gym nasium
to the girls o f Kilgraston.
Morale sank to an all tim e lo w in the Spring
Term as a result o f many hours practice, but
it was tim e w e ll spent as w e w ere abie to play the
w hole com petition set by the end o f that term — a
previously unheard o f achievement!
Overall a very pleasant and successful evening
was enjoyed by all.
D.S.M.
W e started the Summ er Term w ith a burst of
enthusiasm, but this w as som ew hat blunted when
our prom ised new uniform s failed to arrive.
Nevertheless w e were soon back in business w ith
our usual vigour, and at the W e st o f Scotland
com petition w e were second to a good Dollar
band. A t the Edinburgh com p etitio n w e played w ell
and had a good day until w e heard the result.
H owever Drum Sgt. Robertson w as 9th in the
solo drumm ing and Sgt. Gillanders and P /M
Shedden were 9th and 5th respectively in the solo
piping.
As always the band had many other engage­
ments including Blackford Highland games (w here
a certain drum m er spent a shade to o long in a
certain te n t!). W e played on Speech Day as usual
and happily w e rose to the occasion (one of our
better ha bits). Our other sunset parades were
the best fo r some years.
Glenfarg gala day, as our final outing, w as a
great success, particularly so as our ranks had
been swollen by three new pipers and a new
drummer. Sadly this extra bulk did not prevent us
from being beaten in the sem i-finals o f the
tug-o-w ar com petition in w hich w e to o k part.
The school solo com p etitio ns w ere held as
usual in July, and after some close decisions the
results were as follow s.
M rs. M urray fo r her
to her husband for
Barker and Macleod
in to a dance hall and
COUNTRY DANCING
A fte r some tw e n ty years M iss Helen Farquhar's
Highland Dancing classes have come to an end in
The Senior School, and w e should like to thank her
fo r her long and loyal service. This came about
not due to any lack of enthusiasm on her part but
sadly because o f the lack o f pupils w ho w ished to
take classes. I fear this m ust be a widespread
fashion because fo r the firs t tim e ever there w as no
com p etitive Highland Dancing in The Band Com ­
petition in Edinburgh th is year.
A t the same tim e M iss Le M esurier fe lt that
the tim e had com e to retire from her evening
K ilgraston-Strathallan Ballroom Dancing classes,
and w e should like to thank her to o fo r her patience
and her frien dly discipline over many years o f
mixed classes.
Happily some o f the gaps le ft by these, have
been filled by a new C ountry Dancing Club run by
Mr, Barratt, w h o no bly drives a m inibus full o f
girls to and from the Convent each week. The
practice and fun they have had w as shown in the
much im proved dancing on St. A n d re w 's Night, and
a great deal o f the success o f the Club is due to
the enthusiasm of M r. Barratt and of D. S. M cIntosh
whose idea it all was.
T.C.G.F.
31
SCIENCE SOCIETY
The fo llo w in g
com m ittee
members
elected at the beginning o f the year:
were
Chairman: T. J. Blaxter.
Treasurer: A. R. Peddie.
Secretary: R. M. Jamieson.
Com m ittee: A. I. Pate, J. G. Leishman, M. J. Harrold.
M ost of the film s th is year w ere of the
traditional nature, how ever tw o of them, "C olo ur
by Num bers” — a film w hich show s how colour
affects our everyday lives — and "The Choice is
Y ou rs" — a good film w ith a serious message
showing, w ith the aid of cartoons, the effects of
alcoholism — w ere particularly good and enjoyed
even more than usual by 58 members.
A "S tum p the S c ie n tis t" session w as held for
the so cie ty's 300th meeting and although m ost of
the questions w ere censored before the meeting,
one interesting question on aphrodisiacs w as asked.
Mr. Ford — backed up by M r. Gray and M r.
Barker — managed to answ er it very w e ll w ith o u t
going too red!
"H o w the other half live s", by Alan Ackbourn
(P itlo ch ry Festival T heatre).
A play in w hich the action revolves around the
extra-m arital antics of three different couples, in tw o
different houses, on tw o different evenings — all at
the same tim e — needs a great deal of concen­
tration . On leaving the school, the party agreed
tha t the play should be very interesting, if some­
w h at com plex. W hen w e arrived at the theatre in
tim e fo r the start o f the second act (our bus had
broken d o w n ), to talk o f the play as "co m p le x”
w as to make rather an understatem ent of the whole
affair. The look o f be w ilderm ent on Strathallan
faces when one couple appeared to be having
dinner w ith tw o other couples, a t tw o different
dining-tables and on tw o separate occasions, at the
same tim e, w as as hilarious as the play itself. But
the author, as if know ing o f breakdowns, gives a
lo t of clues to the p lo t in A c t T w o, and as a result
w e knew w h at w as happening, and were thus able
to appreciate the large am ount o f first-class com edy
in the play.
A.J.H.
In Novem ber the S ociety w elcom ed Dr.
D. W . F. W heater from Dundee U n iversity to give a
lecture on "P o llu tio n — the M odern Problem ". In
February 15 boys w e n t to Dundee O bservatory.
They also visited the Planetarium.
Our thanks to Mr. Barker fo r turning out
fa ith fu lly every Saturday night to show the films.
A.R.P. and R.M.J.
THEATRE VISITS
Our firs t v is it o f the year w as to a performance
of "H a m le t" by the Cambridge Theatre Company.
M any o f us w ere hopeful th a t w e w o uld gain some
useful know ledge fo r English A-Levels. In this we
were disappointed. The audience w as very poor
and the play w as never allow ed to com e alive.
The play is w ell know n to m ost, so suffice it to say
th a t the performance w as creditable, considering
the behaviour o f the audience. In future w e shall
confine ourselves to going to sm aller theatres ihan
the MacRobert.
A.R.C.
Once again an A rth u r M ille r play done by the
Dundee Rep. succeeded in giving the S ociety a
highly entertaining evening. The play "A ll M y
S on s" is a pow erful and penetrating drama about
g u ilt and resp on sibility. An intricate w eb of
love-hate relationships enmeshes the principals If
the ob je ct o f drama, is to make the audience "w a it
a bit, cry a bit, and laugh a b it", then this pro­
duction certainly achieved its aim.
A.D.G .W .
32
YOUNG FARMERS' CLUB
As w e ll as three first-class talks on A rtificia l
Insem ination, Pollution, and the Future o f Farming,
w e had a con scie ntiou sly w orked out programme
o f film s w h ich catered fo r both the budding
ag ricu lturalists and the ordinary laymen of the
school. However, despite the fa ct th a t this had
increased our m em bership to an all-tim e record of
120, the com m ittee decided tha t to o much attention
was being focussed on the la tte r and th a t the Club
w as becoming more like a second-rate film guild
than a young farm ers' club; so w e hope to amend
this in future years.
The Club did, however, enter the "B e tte r
C ountrym an” com p etitio n. This was open to all
school young farm ers' clubs in Scotland, and
involved a select team from the Club deciding how
Dalreoch Farm, near Dunning, could be improved
for conserving nature w ith o u t spending too much
money. Due to the effort put in by the team we
w o n the com p etitio n, and w e were rated highly
enough to be entered in the "O u r Countryside in
2000" C om petition, to be held in Strasbourg in
November. The Club w ill also have a chance to
carry o u t some o f the w o rk suggested in the
project, under sponsorship by the S cottish C ountry­
side C om m ission.
The com m ittee fo r 1974/75 was:
D.
G. Inglis (Ruthven representative, and
S ecretary), A. R. Peddie (S im p so n ), B. Lyburn
(N ic o l), C. W allace (Le bu rn), M. Kirk (Freeland).
.
A.R.P.
Literary Section
Explanation
W ith a view to increasing the number of articles entered for the section
it was decided to offer some token prizes for the best pieces submitted.
The response was overwhelming, much to the relief of the sub-editor
w ho w ould otherwise have had to add pen to paper and scribble furiously
in the fashion of some reincarnated Byron. The Gods (and perhaps the
cash incentive) looked favourably on his plight. Due to the size of the entry
and economy cuts we are in the position of having to reject over half the
entry. The editors have, however, tried to publish as broad a spectrum as
possible of the original entries.
The winners w e re :
The Answer
by D. A. Cameron (VI3)
Fog
by E. G. Meade (U VI)
The Lone Rider
Consequences of a Dance
A.R.C.
M Y PET
He sits by the fire
And takes all the heat.
Yet he expects me to w ait on him
As if it was he and not me
Who was the master.
C.
W.
M AITLAN D -M A KG ILL-CRICHTON
(III B)
THE QUESTION
And so my son the time has come,
Your tongue has asked the fateful one,
Before 'twas just the simple things.
But now you have a different quest,
Your thirst for wisdom w o n 't be quenched,
Till I have answered this last request.
I cannot say for you to know,
The choice is yours, not mine.
For I have chosen long ago.
'Tis my belief, 'twas their conceit
That led them to their belief,
That we were here to serve a cause.
Guided by an all-governing Lord
But we are just a freak of space
Not destined for a holier place.
D. C. A. ROBERTSON
33
(R. M . H a m ilton )
34
C O NSEQUENCES OF A DANCE
A friend of mine was at a dance,
A jovial affair,
And during conversation
Got drunk while he was there.
The sergeant was taken by surprise,
A t the antics of this man.
He wasn't accustomed to such things,
So he took to his heels and ran.
And when the time had come to leave
He thought perhaps he might
Stroll along the main street,
Not knowing he was tight.
Our happy drunk fell on the ground,
Laughing at the sight
Of the burly copper turning tail
With a face that had gone quite white.
This perilous task he undertook.
And went upon his way,
Tottering from side to side
With a curious sort of sway.
But M cAngus by now had forgotten his 1
And returning like the tide,
Came round the corner once again
With a constable on each side.
Alas whilst half-way up the street
Around the corner came
The local sergeant of police,
McAngus was his name.
Alas our friend stood not a chance
The odds were three to one.
He lay upon the pavement
And knew his time had come.
Now though our friend was not quite sane
He still had got his pride,
A large post-box was near at hand.
An admirable place to hide.
They grabbed him by his hands and feet,
And now his face was pale.
One final croak came from his lips,
As they carted him off to jail.
McAngus took the place by storm,
Marching down the street,
He had a very pompous air,
Despite his flattened feet.
So now this story is complete,
It's the only one of its kind,
Our friend alas was sentenced
And tw o pounds was he fined.
A. T. HENDERSON
Our friend behind the post-box
Waited for his cue,
And as McAngus was passing by,
Leapt out w ith a loud YAHOO !
LONELINESS
Here I sit alone again ; my w ife has just walked out.
You see we had an argument, that really made her shout.
Just because I came home late, and never told her why,
And because I went out early that morn, w ith o u t saying goodbye.
She said I was unfaithful, and didn't love her true,
Of going out w ith another girl, and being a drunkard too.
She told me all my habits, and of w hat irritated her most,
And because of all these things, I w ould have to pay the cost.
The divorce is next week sometime; of course, I'll have to pay,
She's going to take the children, but I can see them in the day.
She demands I buy her a flat somewhere, in which she's going to live.
My life w ill be a misery, w ith ou t my wife, my kids.
C. B. Campbell (IIIB )
FOG
Down on the w ater-front the fog-bell sounds, warning the returning
trawlers of the dense fog-bank descending as a curtain along the length
of the pier. Coughing fishermen curse the damp blanket now surrounding
their bountiful catch. The silvery glint of fish-scales in the morning sun is
engulfed by the many clouds of ice-cold fog.
The neighbouring beaches, where on summer mornings children play,
assume the visage of a dark and barren wilderness. Shrouded in deathly
grey the morning beach-comber is silhouetted. Colour is lost this morning ;
shades of grey expel the warming light of the rising sun.
On the valley farms the dairy cattle walk slow ly from the warmth of
their byres to the harsh, biting cold of a new, grey dawn. Sheep-dogs
roam the hills endlessly searching for missing sheep. The thick morning
mist provided for them an obscure smoke-screen to a temporary freedom.
The lighted w indow s of the valley towns can be vaguely distinguished
through the opaque haze, like car head-lights in the driving rain. The
unwanted fog w ill be the isolated tow n's only visitor to-day. The tow ns­
folk have no welcome for their watery intruder; their now fog-bound,
narrow streets assume a menacing appearance; tunnels disappearing
into the heart of the darkness.
The w inding road to civilisation stretches across grey-green hills, a
light grey concrete river carrying goods and men to the turmoil of the city.
Fog-lamps illuminate the travellers' progress across the hills, leading
from misty yet pure air of the mountains to the sm og-filled atmosphere of
the metropolis. Virginal lungs of country-dwellers w ill soon be violated
by the smoking streets of the city.
Fog joins smoke in the suburbs of the city. Cars speed to the centre
of the sprawling complex. The grimy buildings look threateningly down
on the pedestrians, choking, coughing, their lungs as grimy as the faces
of the ancient warehouses. Buildings and people alike look on grey­
faced, strangled, powerless as the smog corrodes their very being.
Aircraft lie immovable on runways covered in a hundred feet deep
carpet of fog. Their is no escape from the eternal and invincible enemy,
Nature. A mother pushes a pram through the streets. Her baby coughs. As
she passes the many bill-boards on her way tot he shopping centre, one in
particular catches her eye. 'Smog can kill young children’, but the
coughing from the pram has already stopped.
E. G. MEADE (UVI)
36
THE LONE RIDER
THE A NSW ER
Nobody knows where he comes from,
No-one knows where he goes,
The most one sees are his leathers.
For his face he never shows.
Blind Science I With your formulae and laws,
You answered every question put by me
Until I asked of you the Final Cause.
T w as then I learnt that only fools trust thee,
'We're just a freak of space', was whatyou said;
But 'chance' conflicts your mechanistic view !
And so, to this conclusion was I led :
That Reason is by Reason proved untrue.
0 Science, I've found the truthful answer now
But not from thee the Revelations came -—
The prophets' ancient words have shown me
how ;
But I'll not waste my breath to slight your name,
And to the dead, in vain the answer s h o w ;
Let those w ho share the Life, my meaning
know I
None can ride beside him,
His bike is far too fast.
He has no friends, no near ones.
His social days are past.
His mind is closed to reality,
He lives for himself alone.
He comes and goes as he pleases,
The country is his own.
We never see him talking,
His bike is all to him.
It is his only pleasure,
It is his only sin.
A. T. HENDERSON
D. A. CAMERON
(V.A.)
AN OLD M A N
POLLUTION
As he sits there
In his bath chair,
He thinks and dreams
Of cold clear streams —
And the good old days.
Fumes blackening the air
Just like a giant blanket.
People try hard to stare,
But they can't see the sunset.
Litter flooding the ground,
Spoiling the countryside beauty.
Though there are bins around,
Mankind never has pity.
But then he wakes
From his eyes he shakes,
Tears shed from sentiment
For the good old days.
His hair is grey and old,
His face as if attacked by mould,
His eyes are dim —
Not as they were in the good old days.
And then he sighs,
Then dies.
Not the way he w ould have liked
In the good old days.
C.
W.
M AITLAND-M AKGILL-CRICHTON
(H IES)
Chemicals dumped on earth,
And rivers smelling of sewage.
Innocent birds at birth
Die w ith oil on their plumage.
Slums w ith disease and poverty,
The fate of starvation and strife,
Shadow the concrete beauty,
With no hope for healthy life.
Pollution w ill defeat man
If no-one tries to stop it,
People must do all they can
To make to-day the limit.
J. P. GENASI
(VA)
37
IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CLICHE
Once upon a time, we were sitting in our studies, when it suddenly
behoved us to embark upon a quest for the Lost Cliche. We knew that
in our search, many things in this modern world w ould lead us up the
garden path ; but we were prepared to leave no stone unturned, no avenue
unexplored searching high and low even to the very ends of the earth, in
order to fulfil our chosen purpose. Thus we, that is, the tw o of us, if you
take our meaning, packed our belongings and set off on our way.
The obvious and most w orthy place to start was among the fifth-form
contributions to the 'Strathallian'; but, after much beating around the
bush, we realised all their cliches were w ell-w orn, as it were, and we
were about to call off our w ild goose chase when fate led us to the office
of the (cliches) Daily Expressed, in Feet Street.
Here, we w ould surely come across the cream of clicheists, men who
earned their daily bread by the employment of dog-eared phrases covering
the whole spectrum of human affairs, right across the board. It came as no
surprise, therefore, when, in place of the same old story, we were directed
to a dank cellar, deep beneath the bustling city. At last, we were no longer
searching for a needle in a haystack —- we could see light at the end of the
tu n n e l! Light indeed ; a single candle shedding a dim religious light upon
piles of dusty, old, cliche-ridden newspapers. Tension hung in the air, as
we threaded our way towards the corner of the room .. . and there it was —
the Lost C lich e !
Our hearts leapt. Our trials and tribulations were over, and here was
our Shangri-La. We knew we must strike while the iron was hot, but
there was one property of the Lost Cliche we had not bargained fo r; our
quest was there one minute, but, as fate w ould have it, a moment later it
was gone, never to reappear for a thousand years ! Our quest had been in
vain; but w e were ready to pick up the pieces of our former existence,
realising that such disappointments are all part of the broad tapestry of
life. As to whether the secret of the Lost Cliche w ould ever be discovered,
only time could tell. Our task was finished; we got on our horses and
rode off into the sunset.
T. J. Blaxter.
D. A. Cameron. (UVI)
(I C. M cG regor)
39
Leadershipwhere thought and action
meet.
There are a num ber of ways
of becoming an Army Officer.
At 16 you could qualify for
an Army Scholarship, which
enables you to study for ‘A ’
levels (or equivalent).
You could enter Sandhurst
at 18 — or University as a
University Cadet, where you,
40
and your fees, are paid by the
Army.
To find out more about these
and other ways of becoming an
Army Officer, write to the
following a d d re ss :
Schools Liaison Officer,
H.Q. Scotland (Army),
Edinburgh EH1 2YX.
Combined Cadet Force
Another thirty-six invigorating and exciting
Friday afternoons have gone by. Thick-knit
sweaters are less tickly than the old Battle
Dress, though the R.A.F. section and the
Band (alas !) still have to itch.
Amidst all the Proficiency training, some
have bathed in the river Artney on Field Day in
October, have hopped in the glider (only on
Inspection Day of course), have sailed,
canoed and rowed even though the plug was
let out of the pond, have been dazzled by the
flashing lighthouses on the West Coast in
drawing-pin order, have camped — in the
Barratt w a y —-near Ben Lawers, have tele­
printed dubious messages at the Signals
Quicksilver Display and have failed their
driving tests after numerous lessons. Others,
finding hospital dominoes repetitive, have
spread their Social service wings, and others,
yet have taken off in Turnhouse Chipmunks,
have crawled through the Causeway waterpipe to complete victory over the enemy patrol,
have been guided on the Round the World
Yacht Race by Lt. Cdr. P. Bryans, R.N., or
have disturbed the G.C.E. exams, in helicopter
lifts. Most of the contingent have turned aft to
sunset under heretical R.A.F. control more
times than they care to remember, and the
Pipes have played Retreat as the drums
flourished for St. Andrew. The Empire has been
tested, and the orienteering punches have
been, well, mislaid. The R.A.F. in their com ­
missionaire's w hite gloves have marched
smartly all over the School in different direc­
tions and silence, a spoilt Army scholar has
had a holiday playing rugger in Germany w ith
the R.A., and a certain R.A.F. cadet has
extolled the virtues of gliding. We welcomed
Mr. B. Ball very warmly as 2 i/c of the R.A.F.
Section.
2 Lt. N. R. Colquhoun, the only Army
Officer actually prepared to crawl in the mud,
has deserted our Assault course and Fieldcraft and has returned to replan Waterloo. His
enthusiasm and ability to run uphill were
greatly missed at Army Camp at Cultybraggan
where some Officers and all cadets swam
over Ben Ledi ridge, camped in thunderstorms,
burned their boots, fired blanks at rabbits and
got soaked three times a day, which was
thought to be horrid, as well as in Loch Earn
w hich was thought to be fun.
For some years now Sq. Leader Henderson
has smiled upon our R.A.F. fortunes as a real
friend, R.S.M. Dannells has kept all the Army
cadets (and the OC and Officers) in excellent
order, and our own Mr. J. Reed has attended
numerous adventurous training camps. To all
these gentlemen who are disappearing from
our scene, we are particularly grateful.
Some cadets, I have heard, think the Corps
is dull and not their favourite pastime. Well,
there seems to be plenty of activity and fun,
and Captain McCrum, R.N. seemed pretty
pleased on G.l. day, and so am I. It has been an
excellent year.
In conclusion, I should like to thank the
Headmaster for his real support of the C.C.F.
over the past difficult five years, when hair
has grown and grown, and also him and Mrs.
McCallum for their kind hospitality to C.C.F.
Officers and visitors. I doubt if we w ill see
gown, hood and mortarboard 'On Parade' ever
again.
T.C.G.F.
R .N
repeated later in the S cottish C.C.F. championships
at H.M.S. Lochinvar where Strathallan came 2nd in
the Bosun Class.
Once again H.M.S. Cochrane provided an
interesting field day. Sea training w as provided on
the Firth o f Forth by a fleet tender and H.M.S.
Caledonia — the artifice r training school — gave an
insight to a fascinating part o f the Royal Navy.
A fte r a full day's programme the section was
entertained by the Captain in the wardroom . W e
are m ost grateful to Captain Lindley and Com ­
mander Evans.
W e w elcom ed Captain Lindley to Strathallan
in Novem ber when he came to inspect the R.N.
section.
A sm art captain's guard under Cox.
Ferguson and a full afternoon's programme showing
our varied a ctivitie s kept all cadets on their marks.
Captain Lindley w as kind enough to give the head­
m aster an excellent report.
S E C T IO N
Coxswain: D. F. Ferguson.
Petty Officers:
Lowden, W id d o w so n , M cA rthur, Cope, Blaxter.
The section enjoyed a full range of a c tiv ity
this year com bined w ith considerable success in
camps, courses and com p etitio ns. The firs t im p or­
tant event in the calendar w as the C.C.F. national
regatta in Chatham during the th ird w eek-end of
September. This w as the firs t occasion that
Strathallan participated in this event and it is w ith
great pleasure that I record tha t Sub.Lt. Clayton
and his team gained both a 2nd and 5th place in
com petition w ith the "g ia n ts ” of the south — and
Strathallan in sailing parlance is now a name to
remember. This initial sailing success w as to be
41
Camps were w e ll attended throu gh ou t the
year and advanced certificates obtained in sailing,
canoeing, diving, gunnery leadership, air rotary and
submarine acquaint. 20 cadets w ere rated A.B.
and 15 cadets passed R.N. proficiency. A ll Petty
Officers qualified fo r R.N. advanced proficiency.
Sub.Lt. Clayton gained his sailing in stru cto r's tic k e t
and as a result is D ivisional In stru cto r at H.M.S.
Raleigh fo r tw o camps. Lt. Macleod w as Divisional
Officer at the post-p roficiency leadership course
at H.M.S. Royal A rth u r — the highlight o f this being
the Black M ountain tre k in North W ales.
This year m ust be historic in th a t our Senior
N.C.O.s consisted of m ost o f the House Captains
and Captain o f School. As a result both Section
Officers were able to rely on first-class co-operation.
To all Senior N.C.O.s our thanks. Cox. Ferguson
is destined to be part o f the new R.N. C.C.F.
handbook in tha t his photographs in various R.N.
rig are to be the illustratio ns in the chapter on
dress.
Training at school throu gh ou t the w in te r and
spring term s can never be as exciting as
in
summer. Classes fo r both A.B. te st and proficiency
necessarily occupy m ost o f the tim e. There is also
o p p o rtu n ity fo r maintenance and Sub.Lt. Clayton
and his "s a ilo rs " did a splendid jo b o f refurbishing
the R.N.S.A. dinghy and A.S.C. w h ile Lt. Macleod
and the "a rtis ts " constructed the new seamanship
room w hich w ill prove invaluable next year. A
useful P.L.T. task w as incorporated over the neck
of the pond w hich w as to be a highlight for both
Captain Lindley's v is it and general inspection.
U nfortunately fo r practical sailing and canoeing
the Factor "p ulled the plug o u t" o f the pond. A s a
result initial sailing was lim ited and the section
m otor boat was unable to be launched as a n tici­
pated. This much needed weeding w ill undoubtedly
be advantageous fo r next year when I have no
do ub t sufficient rain w ill refill the pond.
In the sum m er term w e are once again very
grateful to M r. Goody fo r his invaluable help in
taking R.N. cadets sailing on the Tay. Our success
in R.N. regattas is due in no small measure to his
making the Sailing Club fa cilitie s available to
us
and his enthusiastic training.
This year w e had a naval general inspection
when the Inspecting Officer w as Captain M cCrum m.
I fe lt the R.N. Section gave a good account o f
them selves, particularly in the guard o f honour.
Because w e had so many senior boys involved
on the Tay w e undoubtedly suffer in the Retreat
as w e have to parade a lo t o f ju n io r cadets. The
Retreat did go surprisingly w e ll however, once
again w e are grateful to Tayside Regional Council
fo r the use o f Perth Harbour Launch to take the
Inspecting Officer to inspect the Tay sailing.
Captain M ille r is alw ays a very good friend to
Strathallan, particularly as H.M.S. Cam perdown is
unable to help us on these occasions.
The highlight o f the sum m er term w as the v is it
o f the helicopter dem onstration team. A ll R.N.
cadets and m ost o f the A rm y and R.A.F. sections
w ere given a five m inute trip in the W essex
helicopter. As m ost boys summed up — an un­
forgettable experience seeing the school from the
air. W e are m ost grateful to Captain Turner, the
R.N. Schools Liaison Officer, fo r arranging this.
Summ er cam ps are as usual varied and this
42
year involve canoeing, diving, air acquaint and Lt.
Macleod and Sub.Lt. Clayton have 12 cadets on a
fleet tender on the Clyde from 3-9 September.
Our thanks to C.P.O. Heaton for his invaluable
help throughout the year, C.P.O. Gent of H.M.S.
Cochrane, C.P.O. Jeffries o f H.M.S. Camperdown,
and the retiring headm aster M r. M cCallum for his
co-operation.
Prom otions decided:
Coxswain: P.O. Newton.
Petty Officers: L.S. Schneeberger, L.S. Holland,
L.S. Ferguson W.R.
T.J.M .
R A F S E C T IO N A N N U A L R E P O R T
W .O.
R. F. W ilson
F /S g t. M. J. Harrold
F /S g t. N. Menzies
F /S g t. K. A. D. Peddie
F /S g t. R. K. Linton
F /S g t. G.
F /S g t. A.
F/S gt. K.
Sgt.
CpI.
CpI.
CpI..
CpI.
CpI.
CpI.
CpI.
CpI.
C. P. M ilne
M . D. Kirk
J. I. M cIntyre
D. R. M. Park
J. G. Leishman
J. F. Crowe
W . B. Magill
W . W illo x
G. I.
F. Inglis
E. G.
Meade
I. F. Caird
D. A. R. M unro
As usual, during the A utum n term w e concen­
trated on Proficiency Examination w o rk; 19 cadets
sat Part II, all passed, 9 obtained d istin ctio n s and 7
obtained credits. Part III results, on the other hand,
were disappointing; 3 passed (1 d istin ctio n ) and 3
failed. W e only entered tw o cadets for the
Proficiency exam ination at the end of the Easter
term ; both obtained distin ctio n s, one in Part II and
one in Part III. During the year three cadets were
awarded th e ir Advanced Proficiency.
Cadets joining the section last Septem ber
spent the firs t term w orking fo r the ir Proficiency
Part I, essentially orienteering, map reading, weapon
training and drill. I am very grateful to Captain
Barratt, w h o to o k charge of this part o f the w ork,
and gave the cadets a thorough grounding in basic
training.
For Field Day the section was sp lit in to three
groups. A fe w cadets spent the day flying at RAF
Turnhouse, the rem ainder spent a night aw ay from
the School, one group visiting RAF Kinloss, the
other group going to RAF Lossiemouth. A t half
term I to o k a sm all group o f cadets to Lossiemouth
fo r gliding and Shackleton flying.
During the Spring term w e had a full
programme of RAF film s and the occasional general
interest lecture. This proved to be very popular
and I thin k the cadets learnt a lot about many
aspects o f life in the Royal A ir Force.
Easter Camp this year w as held at RAF Shawbury, near Shrew sbury, 18 Cadets and 3 N.C.O.'s
attended and, in spite o f rail disruptions, everybody
managed to arrive on the same day although some
of us were a fe w hours late. The program me was
very good and I g o t the im pression that everybody
thoroughly enjoyed the ir stay at Shawbury. There
was plenty o f chipm unk flying, 303 shooting and a
number of excellent o u td o o r exercises. Into the
bargain, m ost boys obtained th e ir sw im m ing
proficiency. Food w as good and accom odation
very superior, each bo y having his ow n room. I'm
pleased to say, Strathallan w on the inter-schools
com petition and, at a form al parade on the last day,
w ere presented w ith a very imposing certifica te by
the Station Commander. A d m itte d ly , there was
only one other school present but nevertheless they
w ere very keen and w e had to w o rk extrem ely
hard to w in the com petition.
Seven senior cadets attended an RAF Camp at
Laarbruch in Germany, during the Easter holiday
and, from all reports, had a m ost enjoyable tim e.
This has been a particularly good year as far as
gliding is concerned. Six boys have successfully
com pleted their gliding proficiency and w e now
have a to ta l o f ten boys in the section w ith their
gliding w ings.
During the Sum mer term w e concentrated on
outside activities, m ainly as a preparation for
General Inspection Day. This year w e tried som e­
thing rather am bitious, a small squad o f 22 boys
specially trained in co n tin u ity drill. They w orked
extrem ely hard, often practising in very cold
weather at m ost inconvenient tim es but, in the end,
a very high standard was achieved. This w as given
due recognition by the Inspecting Officer on
General Inspection Day and also by the parents on
Speech Day. The d rill squad also represented the
RAF Section in all the Retreat Parades held during
the term and made a very po sitive con tribu tion to
the overall high standard of these parades. It is
particularly creditable considering that m ost o f the
boys were new recruits to the Section.
During the Summ er term w e also ran our
usual course of 1st A id lectures and the 6 boys
concerned laid on an excellent dem onstration for
G.l. Day. They all passed the Interm ediate C erti­
ficate of the St. A nd rew s Am bulance A ssociation
at the end of term and I m ust thank Mr. Gorrie
and M iss Fairweather o f the A ssociation fo r giving
up so much o f the ir spare tim e to come out to the
School and in stru ct the boys. O ther a ctivities
during the Sum mer term have included training on
the prim ary glider, leadership exercise and a few
o f the senior cadets have made a good jo b
renovating the RAF Hut. Driving instruction has
also been a very popular and successful a ctivity.
T hroughout the past year, on alternate Friday
afternoons, w e have been sending a few cadets
over to Turnhouse fo r flying in stru ction in chip­
munks. This is a very w o rth w h ile a c tiv ity and
several cadets have show n great prom ise as pilots.
I m ust thank the Reverend W . N. M on te ith, an
e x-p ilo t him self, fo r looking after this part o f the
training.
W e haven't done a great deal o f shooting this
year but w e did put in a big effort for the Assegai
Trophy. 72 schools throu gh ou t Gt. Britain too k
part and I was very pleased when w e came 18th.
A t the beginning o f the year w e w elcom ed
Pilot Officer B J. Ball to the Section. No stranger
THE ROYAL ASR FORCE
O ffe r y o u a career
in t h e a i r
a n d on the g ro u n d
For full details in AIRCREW, GROUND CO M M ISSIO NS & TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIPS
w rite , phone or call
R.A.F. CAREERS INFORMATION OFFICE
171 OVERGATE, DUNDEE DD1 1QF
Telephone: 0382-26839
43
to RAF custom s, Mr. Ball has been a trem endous
help to me personally and has undoubtedly c o n tri­
buted much to the overall success of the Section
during the past year.
In conclusion, I w o u ld like to thank all the
NCO's for their lo ya lty and enthusiasm and, in
particular. W arrant Officer R. F. W ilso n w h o has
been so efficient that m y task has been made
com paratively easy. There has been a genuine
sp irit of co-operation in the Section during the past
year and this has greatly encouraged me to
organise as many and as varied activitie s as
possible.
Squadron Leader Bob Henderson, the Schools'
Liaison Officer, is retiring from the RAF in Sep­
tem ber. Few boys in the Section w ill appreciate
ju s t how much w o rk Bob Henderson does, behind
the scenes, in order tha t w e and many other
schools may have a good training programme. I
d id n 't realise th is m yself u n til tw o years ago, when
I to o k over the Section, I came to rely heavily upon
Bob Henderson and his NCO's. I can say, quite
sincerely, th a t but fo r his help and encouragement
during th a t year I d o n 't th in k that I could possibly
have coped, single handed, w ith organising a regular
w e e kly program me for 60 cadets. I'm sure every­
body in the RAF Section at Strathallan w ill be
sorry th a t he has now le ft us and w ill w a n t to
w ish him all the very best in the future. A t the
same tim e, I w o u ld like to thank all those w ho
are leaving the Section and the School, fo r their
co n trib u tio n to w h ateve r measure of success we
may have had during the past year and to w ish
them also a very happy future.
P.A.B.
It is regretted that due to pressure on
space, individual camp reports have been
omitted. W e apologise to those who gave
up their time writing them.
Sport
RUGBY
Although there w ere some disappointm ents
there is no doubt that the 1st X V has enjoyed a
highly satisfa cto ry season. During the season
itse lf it was perhaps a little unfortunate that the
more notable achievem ents came in the early and
la tte r parts so that there w as a tendency to forget
some extrem ely fine perform ances as the season
progressed. But fine perform ances there were and
the X V produced some o f the best rugger of recent
seasons.
It does not de tra ct from the essential team
effort to say tha t the foundation for success lay
w ith a very strong, mature and determ ined pack
w ho alw ays gave as much, and usually more, good
possession as any team can w ish for. The backs
were very useful players in many respects but
never quite acquired the slickness of ball play to be
assured o f alw ays capitalising on the ir forw a rds'
possession, but again the season brought some
very exciting threequarters w hich should not be
forgotten.
The opening match against PANMURE gave
good reason fo r op tim ism as the school was
fielding nine experienced players, and the fact that
the pack more than held the ir ow n w as perhaps
the m ost pleasing aspect. The team was:
Hay A. J.; Bird A. A., Lowden D. S., Ling T. S.
(C a p t.), Ferguson D. F.; Cope N. E., W h ita ke r R. I.;
Young D. L., Baxter A.D., Vivian S.N.; Ferguson
E. A ., Renwick R. F.; M cIntosh D. S., M cIntyre
J. I„ Magee C. C. S.
For an early season match both a v ic to ry and
the indication th a t the selection was ob vio usly
very close to the best X V available w as a
heartening situation. Tries w ere scored by Ling and
Lowden.
For the OLD BOYS match W id d o w so n , Inglis
and M cA rth u r replaced D. Ferguson, Ling (in jure d)
and M cIntosh respectively. The Old Boys produced
one o f the best teams o f recent years w hich made
for a very close and exciting game. Tries were
scored by Inglis and W hitake r (w h ich Renwick
44
con verted ) and Cope dropped the firs t o f several
useful goals. The firs t school match of the season
saw the return o f D. F. Ferguson and R. L. Kirkland
replaced Bird on the w ing and M cIntosh returned to
the back row . A ga in st a generally younger team
the school's strength w as too much for PERTH
AC A D E M Y and tries were scored by Ling, M cIntyre,
Kirkland and Ferguson. Cope and Renwick each
converted trie s and Renwick added a penalty goal.
A lthough a good result there w as evidence in this
game o f some poor finishing w hich had a more
vita l effect later on. There follow e d a m ost useful
game w ith St. A nd rew s U n iversity Freshers in
w hich the school played some very controlled
rugger. This w as a hard fast game w hich proved
excellent preparation fo r the firs t m ajor school
match.
For the FETTES game J. S. P. M cDonald made
his firs t appearance at full back but otherw ise the
team was now w e ll-se ttle d . This proved to be
perhaps the m ajor highlight o f the season. The
forw a rds alm ost starved Fettes of any w o rth w h ile
possession w h ils t giving the school ample oppor­
tu n ity to score points from virtu a lly continuously
w inning second and third phase ball. The backs
to o k the ir op po rtu nitie s w e ll and despite some
excellent defence Ferguson, Ling and Lowden
scored trie s and the im portance of goal kicking was
dem onstrated by R enw ick's tw o conversions and
tw o penalties. This w as the school's m ost con­
vincing perform ance against Fettes and a very fine
display of rugger.
A spe ctator absent during half-tim e could be
excused fo r thinking th a t in the EDINBURGH
AC A D E M Y match the teams had changed shirts
during the interval! The school started badly and
did not settle at all during the firs t half. The
Academ y had all the op po rtu nitie s for establishing
a useful lead at half tim e but in fact penalties by
Renwick and Cope gave the school the lead at
half tim e over the A cadem y's one try. The penalty
w hich gave the A cadem y the lead appeared to be
the incentive that the school needed. The pack
settled and possession o f the order seen in the
Fettes game m aterialised. Despite the absence of
Lowden, w hich badly disrupted the school back
division, the school produced continuous attacking
play w hich brought a drop goal by Cope and a try
by Kirkland.
Lowden's injury in the Fettes game w as in fact
the firs t o f a string o f injuries w hich certainly
played a significant part in the games to come.
Although Lowden returned fo r the GLENALMOND
match Ferguson had broken his arm in the Academ y
game. The game at Glenalmond w as far from the
dour struggle than one m ight associate w ith a
scoreless draw. In fact it w as one o f the m ost
exciting games of the season. The school produced
some firs t class attacking play w hich w as
thw arted tim e and again by the excellent Glen­
almond defence. A t tim es it appeared inevitable
that the breakthrough w o u ld com e but it w as not
to be, but the school could be w e ll pleased w ith
their performance. The really disastrous aspect of
this game was that Magee — a vita l ba ll-w in ner in
the maults — and M cDonald — w h o w as show ing
excellent form — received injuries w hich kept them
out of the team fo r the rest o f the season.
The last game before half-term saw a som e­
w hat depleted and tired but nevertheless unbeaten
and o p tim istic team taking the field at LORETTO.
It w as im m ediately obvious th a t all w as not w e ll
when the pack could not produce the dom ination
on w hich the school had come to depend. Loretto
were sharper in all respects fo r m ost o f the game
and also produced some excellent goal kicking.
A fte r half tim e the school w ere playing w ith the
w ind w hich one expected w o u ld enable them to
gain the lead. Ironically it w as not until Hay had
to leave the field m id-w ay through the second half
that the forw ards, reduced to seven, really showed
their true form . Although Cope's drop goal and
Kirkland's try reduced the lead and the school
attacked persistently in the Loretto tw e n ty -fiv e fo r
the last ten m inutes Loretto defended m agnificently
to maintain the ir lead.
The season resumed after half term w ith the
home match against MERCHISTON and Powrie was
brought in at full back. This w as the firs t match
where conditions were rather d ifficu lt and although
the school did not perhaps make the m ost o f all
their scoring op po rtu nitie s the eventual outcom e of
the game, w ith the forw a rds again being dom inant,
was never really in any doubt. Tries w ere scored
by Kirkland ( tw o ) and Lowden. Ling w as not
available fo r the Keil game and in fa ct only tw o of
the firs t choice backs was playing. A lthough in
the early stages it appeared th a t the school were
going to have a relatively easy game Keil recovered
from a shaky start, w hich the school failed to
exploit, and in the end the result w as much closer
than should have been the case. Both in th is game
and the previous one it w as apparent th a t there
was a certain lack o f edge to some aspects of play
and although it w o uld be w rong to suggest th a t
there was com placency there appeared to be a
certain lack o f urgency at tim es.
Although Ling had returned fo r the M ORRI­
SON'S match the school were not allow ed to
settle in this game and it w as not un til the very
end that Lowden, producing his third successful
"je lly-b a b y" of the season scored the try w hich
gave the school v ic to ry in a match w hich could
w ell have gone the other w a y. There w as some
disastrous handling and muddled play, particularly
in the firs t half, w h ich should never have occurred
and w as a good example o f how a fast defence
can d isru p t attacking situations. The school's
other points came from tw o penalty goals kicked
by Renwick and W hitaker.
It had looked as though the school were
heading fo r a defeat in the near future and this was
to be the case at DOLLAR. In fa ct the team played
much be tte r on th is occasion and the forw a rds in
particular did w e ll to maintain their self-discipline
in a match w h ich became rather chaotic at times.
The school certainly had the ir scoring chances and
tried a variety o f moves w hich showed promise,
but again Low den’s th ru s t w as missed in the centre
and a reorganised back division lacked fluency. It
w as good to see the team playing so hard right
to the end even though there w ere signs o f fru s ­
tration.
The con ditions at KELVINSIDE were appalling.
The pitch w hich had stood up w e ll to very heavy
rain w as slippy and there was a vicious cross-w ind.
The back division w as now intact, more or less,
and it w as a p ity th a t although con ditions did not
encourage it the y did not atte m p t to run the ball
rather more as it w as on the fe w occasions that
th is happened th a t the school looked m ost
dangerous. On the day a draw w as perhaps a fair
result, the school's points com ing from Kirkland's
try and a penalty by Renwick.
The last school game o f the season against
G LASG O W A C A D E M Y w as played under brilliant
blue skies on a pitch w hich was firm beneath a thin
layer o f sand. A p a rt from M c A rth u r w h o had come
into the team fo r the Keil game and stayed, and
W id d o w so n , now playing at full back, the team
w as the same as w as fielded against Fettes. The
school ended the term in fine style w ith a standard
o f rugger w hich they had not produced consistently
since the beginning o f the season. The forw ards
n ot only m onopolised the set pieces but also
produced some excellent sup po rt fo r the backs
w h o were m oving p o sitive ly and effectively.
W h ita ke r w h o had an outstanding season at
scrum -half deservedly scored tw o tries in this game
w ith others com ing from Kirkland, M cA rth u r and
Ferguson.
The on ly tw o games played in the Easter term
w ere against W EST OF SCOTLAND COLTS and
SCOTTISH WAYFARERS. If the G lasgow Academ y
game w as a fittin g w a y to end the school's season
it w as particularly pleasing th a t the season as a
w hole, w h ich by any standards w as successful,
should end on such a high note w ith a very fine
w in over the W ayfarers. It is always difficu lt to
single out individual players particularly when Ling
could be w e ll satisfied w ith not only a good team
but also a very happy one. How ever, am ongst the
forw a rds it w o uld be unfair not to record the part
played by D. L. Young, A. D. Baxter and J. I.
M cIntyre and of the backs R. I. W hitake r and D. S.
Lowden could alw ays be relied on for admirable
perform ances and readers w ill already have noted
Kirkland's consistent scoring.
The results o f the other senior teams were not
as good as last year but this was in fact
anticipated. H ow ever no team fell sig nifica ntly
below fifty per cent success and there is no doubt
that the m ost w as .made o f the ta le n t available.
Certainly the various teams showed a keenness
45
and w illingness to w o rk hard a t the game and this
is the m ost im portant thing, and w ith o u t it the ir
various records w o uld not have been as satisfactory.
The Senior Colts could be w e ll satisfied w ith
the ir season. They were a considerably im proved
team from the previous year and recorded some
praisew orthy victories. There w ere signs perhaps
o f a certain brittleness in defence w h ich m ust be
guarded against in the future but u n do ub te dly there
is considerable potential for future 1st X V 's. The
Jun io r Colts had an indifferent season although
there were tim es when they produced some co m ­
petent rugger and again there are certainly players
here w ho w ill develop w e ll. The M in o r C olts w ho
now have a form idable fixtu re lis t were con sis­
te n tly up against larger teams and w h ils t they did
not have a bag of victories the y approached the
game w ith the correct attitud e and the ir experience
w ill certainly cou nt in the future. The changing of
the age groups next season to under 14, 15, 16 for
ju n io r rugger should give a much be tte r spread of
talent in the ju n io r X V 's.
Finally thanks are again due to all those w ho
have given so w illin g ly and enthusiastically o f the ir
tim e to Strathallan rugger. One feels tha t the game
is in a healthy state w ith considerable enjoym ent
and enthusiasm in evidence. Naturally there are
those team s w hich are alw ays the focus of
attention in school rugger but one of the m ost
im p ortan t factors in the interest o f the school in
the game comes from the fa ct that even in the
more lo w ly areas of the game players are getting
good attention and com p etitive rugger in the form
of the House Leagues, and one particularly appre­
ciates the part played by the "n on -p rofession als".
Special thanks also are due to M rs. Plizka w ho,
w ith fixtures com ing very often w ith in a fe w days
of each other, has managed to turn out a very good
looking 1st XV.
F.S.M.
RUGGER
Won
29
Won
22
Won
13
Drawn
0
Lost
7
Won
12
Won
11
Won
10
Cancelled
Lost
0
Drawn
7
Won
20
12
4
7
0
12
0
9
6
13
Lost
Drawn
3
Cancelled
Won
21
Won
8
15
3
12
7
0
M ATCHES)
Old Strathallians
West of Scotland Colts
Edinburgh Wanderers Colts
Scottish Wayfarers
Panmure
0
0
S C H O O L S : Played 11, Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 2, Points for
131, Against 69.
ALL M A T C H E S : Played 15, Won 9, Drawn 3, Lost 3,
Points for 176, Against 87.
46
12
18
31
3
4
54
4
14
0
Played 9, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 4, Points For 90,
Against 140.
XV
Perth Academy 2nd XV
Queen Victoria School
Fettes
Glenalmond
Edinburgh Academy
Loretto
Merchiston
Rannoch 2nd XV
Dollar Academy
Glasgow Academy
Won
30
Lost
14
Lost
0
Lost
6
Lost
3
Won
31
Lost
8
Won
7
Won
10
Cancelled
4
15
4
12
40
6
14
3
0
Played 9, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 5, Points For 109,
Against 98
4 th X V
Rannoch 3rd XV
Fettes
Glenalmond
Dollar Academy
Won
Lost
Won
Won
30
0
6
38
4
22
0
0
Played 4, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Points For 74,
Against 26.
Glenalmond
Lost
7 16
Rannoch 3rd XV
Lost
7
9
Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Points For 14,
Against 25.
X V (S C H O O L M A T C H E S )
X V (C L U B
Drawn
12
14
Lost
Lost
3
Won
13
Won
9
Lost
0
Won
7
Cancelled
Lost
0
Won
32
5 th X V
RESULTS
Perth Academy
Fettes
Edinburgh Academy
Glenalmond
Loretto
Merchiston
Keil School
Morrison's Academy
Gordonstoun
Dollar Academy
Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow Academy
XV
Fettes
Glenalmond
Edinburgh Academy
Loretto
Merchiston
Rannoch 1st XV
Morrison's Academy
Dundee High School
Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow Academy
6 th X V
Glenalmond
Rannoch 4th XV
Lost
Won
0
10
11
0
Played 2, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Points for 10,
Against 11
S E N IO R
C O LT S X V
Edinburgh Academy
Fettes
Loretto
Merchiston
Keil School
Gordonstoun
Dollar Academy
Glenalmond
Kelvinside Academy
Rannoch School
Glenalmond
Edinburgh Academy
Won
50
Won
22
0
Lost
4
Drawn
Won
15
Cancelled
Won
28
Lost
0
Won
64
Cancelled
0
Lost
6
Lost
0
4
10
4
0
0
13
4
6
9
Played 10; Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost 4, Points For 189,
Against 50.
p irifrg e o f J u t n t
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the new owners are pleased to announce
that once again they can offer excellent cuisine,
both from the table d ’hote and a la carte menus,
with a number o f exciting dishes
being prepared for you and your guests at the table.
Only three miles from Strathallan School
the hotel is ideally situated for parents who wish
to entertain their families.
LUNCHEON
12.15-2.00 p.m.
AFTERNOON TEA
3.00 - 5.00 p.m.
HTGH TEAS DAILY
4.00 - 6.00 p.m.
DINNERS
7.00-9.30 p.m.
R esident Proprietors: IA N and JENNIFER FRASER
47
J U N IO R
C O LTS X V
0 36
Edinburgh Academy
Lost
Perth Academy
Won
4
0
6 20
Queen Victoria School
Lost
Morrison's Academy
Lost
0 32
Drawn
0
0
Fettes
Won
7
4
Loretto
Merchiston
0 40
Lost
Dundee High School
Cancelled
10 30
Dollar Academy
Lost
Glenalmond
Lost
3 16
Won
24
0
Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow Academy
Cancelled
0 46
Glenalmond
Lost
0 36
Edinburgh Academy
Lost
Played 12, Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 8, Points for 54,
Against 260.
M IN O R
C O LT S X V
Edinburgh Academy
Rannoch
Morrison's Academy
Fettes
Loretto
Merchiston
Dollar Academy
Lathallan
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Won
Lost
Cancelled
0
14
0
8
4
12
0
52
22
32
14
8
0
22
Played 7, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 6, Points for 38,
Against 150.
RILEY H O U S E X V
Won
Hurst Grange
6
0
Fettes
Lost
3 12
Belmont House
Won
52
0
Ardvreck
Cancelled
0 54
Craigflower
Lost
Cancelled
New Park
Clifton Hall
Lost
9 21
Rannoch
Cancelled
St. Mary's, Melrose
Lost
0 18
Lost
6 32
Larchfield
Played 7, Won 2, Drawn 0, Lost 5, Points For 76,
Against 137.
HOUSE M ATCHES
J U N IO R
FIRST ROUND:
NICOL
SECOND ROUND: NICOL
LEBURN
FINAL:
NICOL
13
RUTHVEN
3
(after extra time)
10 FREELAND 7
6 SIMPSON 21
0 SIMPSON
3
S E N IO R
FIRST ROUND:
NICOL
3
SECOND ROUND: FREELAND 6
SIMPSON 12
FINAL:
LEBURN
3
HO U SE LEAGUES:
JUNIOR WINNERS:
SENIOR WINNERS:
48
RUTHVEN
FREELAND
FREELAND 24
LEBURN
10
RUTHVEN
0
SIMPSON
0
HOCKEY
It rained all o f January and February and by
half-term hockey specialists, tuned to a high pitch
by w in te r S ports Hall sessions, began to look
doleful.
But a remarkable transform ation too k
place in March and, although w e started on
quagm ires, a drying easterly and vigorous rolling
com bined to produce some o f the fastest, truest
surfaces seen at Strathallan.
Some o f the best hockey was played by the
Jun io r X I's. The Senior C olts had a fine season and
if the ir forw a rds had been able to convert more of
the chances created they w ould have had a 100%
record. The Junior Colts had purple patches but
in the ir short programme were never able to
sustain the ir skills throughout a com plete game.
There w as less strength in depth in the Senior XI's.
The 2nd XI played w ith enthusiasm but in hockey,
where ball-playing a b ility is at a premium, this was
not enough to bring success, and, although the 3rd
XI did not lose, fe w of its players looked very
capable.
W ith five old colours available expectations
for the 1st XI w ere high, but, although it w as not a
poor season, on balance it m ust be considered
disappointing. W e began w ell on a bum py and
m uddy
Big
A cre
by
trouncing
RUBISLAW
AC AD EM Y, reputedly an excellent side. The for­
w ards looked goal-hungry from the start and
casual marking helped to ensure a 4-1 lead by halftime.
Ftubislaw scored tw o early in the second
half but the issue w as never in do ub t and S trath­
allan punctured a disorganised defence three more
tim es.
A fte r such a good s ta rt the lackadaisical per­
form ance at PERTH A C A D E M Y w as a disappoint­
ment. The Strathallan XI looked out o f its depth
in the face o f accurate square passing and the
clever use o f the deflected ball.
Man for man
Perth's skills w ere be tte r and our best chance
was to fluste r them by raising the pace o f the game
but on a grassy pitch this w as difficu lt and Perth
were com fortable winners.
A n epidem ic of epidem ics caused cancellation
of the eagerly aw aited v is it to GORDONSTOUN,
but the LORETTO and FETTES fixtures w ere fulfilled
on good, fast surfaces.
Both were played in a
rather frantic w a y w ith the accent on individual
efforts rather than co-ordinated team w ork. In the
Loretto game S fa th a lla n conceded an early goal
through slack marking but qu ickly equalised and
begun to get the upper hand. However, as the
tem po o f the match increased both sides' skills
evaporated, the hittin g and stopping begame ragged
and fe w genuine shots were made. Neither side
deserved to w in a poor game. A gainst Fettes we
began con fide ntly and ought to have been tw o up
in the firs t five minutes.
A converted penalty
stroke put us in the lead but a solo effort by the
outstanding Fettes player q u ickly follow e d. The
slo w -tu rn in g op po sition backs were then put under
considerable pressure and the lead regained. Fettes
increased the speed of the game in the second half
and the ir vigorous approach allied to the narrowness
o f the pitch began to w ear dow n the Strathallan
defence.
Short corners came in abundance and
fina lly a rising shot beat M cIntosh, w h o had kept so
bravely and sk ilfu lly for the last quarter o f the
match.
The final school match of the term , against a
young PERTH HIGH SCHOOL side, w as w on co m ­
fortably, M cDonald producing an exciting display
of controlled dribbling and scoring three goals.
W ith some trepidation w e accepted an in vita ­
tion to play in the Perth Academ y six-a-sides.
Although w ith no experience of this typ e o f game
w e played w ith great elan and easily reached the
final, only to encounter, once again, the be tte r skills
of Perth Academ y.
In the S.S.H.A. Public Schools trials four
Strathailan players com bined w ith Fettes and
Loretto representatives to produce an XI w hich
easily overcame a depleted Northern Schools side,
largely provided by A bb ey School. The standard
of play w as not high and only four boys, including
A. C. M cA rth u r and A. J Hay from Strathailan
were selected fo r the Final Trial. A t present the
Public Schools are suffering in com parison w ith the
State schools w hich play hockey throu gh ou t the
year and develop be tte r s tic k w o rk through more
indoor practice.
A fte r the end o f term a party o f tw e lve en­
joyed the biennial v is it to the Public Schools
Festival in a damp and w in d y O xford. The final
record w as slightly be tte r than on the last occasion
and w ith a little more luck perhaps only Cranleigh
w ould have defeated us. W e began w e ll easily outscoring a rather lethargic and unco-ordinated Bristol
Grammar School side.
On the second day the
Perse proved far more skillfu l opposition but
Scottish vigour to o k its to ll and w e were qu ickly
tw o goals in front. O nly penalty strokes in the
last seconds of both halves o f the match gave The
Perse a v ic to ry they barely deserved. Kelly College
should have been beaten had w e played our best
hockey but in an un tid y game o f fe w clear scoring
chances a converted penalty stroke w as enough to
give them a w in.
On the final morning terrib le
errors by our sweeper q u ickly cost us three goals
against Framlingham, but a courageous figh t back
brought us level and w ith more accurate shooting
in the final ten m inutes the game w o u ld have been
won.
Cranleigh w ere one of the best sides in
England, and although losing 5-0 w e played some
of our best hockey against them on the final a fter­
noon. T erritorially the game w as quite even but
matches are w on in the circle and, despite a fine
series o f raids by M cDonald, w e w ere never able
to match the ir shooting and goalkeeping.
In such a busy season a great deal of w o rk
falls on the Captain and Secretary and M cDonald
and M cA rth u r are to be congratulated on the ir
efficiency and determ ined enthusiasm both on the
field and in practices. They made the task o f the
master-in-charge much easier and more enjoyable.
J.N.F.
O x fo rd F e stiv al
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Bristol G.S.
The Perse
Kelly
Framlingham
Cranleigh
Won
Lost
Lost
Drawn
Lost
Rubislaw Academy
Perth Academy
Loretto
Fettes
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
5-2
2-3
0-1
3-3
0-5
2n d XI
v.
v.
v.
v.
1-4
1-2
0-2
0-1
3rd XI
v. Loretto
v. Fettes
Won
Drawn
3-1
3-3
Drawn
Won
Won
Drawn
2-2
4-1
4-0
3-3
Lost
Won
1-2
3-2
Won
3-2
Won
Drawn
2-0
1-1
S e n io r C o lts
v.
v.
v.
v.
Rubislaw Academy
Perth Academy
Loretto
Fettes
J u n io r C o lts
v. Loretto
v. Fettes
M in o r C o lts
v. Loretto
R ile y
v. Fettes Junior School
v. Craigflower
O v e ra ll R ecord
Played 25, Won 9, Drawn 7, Lost 9, Goals for 56,
Goals against 50.
H ou se M a tc h e s
Preliminary round
Semi-finals
Final
Simpson
Simpson
Nicol
Simpson
(Simpson
ners)
2
3
2
2
won
Leburn
Ruthven
Freeland
Nicol
on short
0
1
1
2
cor­
H o u se Leagues
Won by Freeland.
Te am s
1s t X I. J. S. P. McDonald (Capt.), A. C. McArthur (Sec.),
D. S. McIntosh, J. A. E. Fingland, R. L. Kirkland, A. J.
Hay, A. T. D. Brewster, G. J. F. Crowe, R. I. Whitaker,
R. F. Renwick, D. T. Hay. Also played : A. W. B. Magill.
D. S. Lowden (Capt.), A. A. Bird, J. I. McIntyre,
K. A. D. Peddie, H. J. P. Gray, E. G. Meade, D. A. R.
Munro, W. D. Gibson, D. L. Hinshaw, R. K. Shedden,
A. W. B. Magill. Also played : N. D. Kirk.
2n d X I.
S e n io r C o lts X I. C. M. Cunningham, A. W. Ferguson, I. F.
Results
1st XI
v. Rubislaw Academy
v. Perth Academy
v. Loretto
v. Fettes
V. Perth High School
Won
Lost
Drawn
Drawn
Won
7-4
1-3
1-1
2-2
4-0
Gerrard, R. A. Stonewigg, J. Currie, S. B. Knox,
B. J. D. Lyburn, G. D. Robb, M. J. Yellowlees, A. O.
Inglis, G. B. McDonald, N. C. St. J. Yates.
J u n io r C o lts . M. J. Grant, E. W. Hamilton, A. C. S. Macphie,
D. Sim, J. D. McIntosh, G. R. Millar, J. D. Mont­
gomerie, C. R. Taylor, N. R. Hastings, R. M. Mitchell,
M. A. McNeill, R. J. Brewster, A. J. E. Turner.
49
SUMM ER HOCKEY
From the po in t of vie w of the w eather, the
season was very successful, but the results of the
matches played can only be described as d is­
appointing. W e started w ith a 2-2 draw against
Edinburgh Academ y, all the goals com ing in a fivem inute spell at the end o f the firs t half. Glen­
almond beat us 3-0, although the last tw o goals
only came at the very end when m ost o f the de­
fence w as engaged in trying to show the forw ards
how to score the equaliser. Some pride was re­
gained in overwhelm ing Rannoch 8-2, but there­
after w e were on the receiving end against the Old
Boys (3 -1 ), Grange (4 -1 ), and Barbarians (6-0 ).
It may sound paradoxical, but our strength lay
in defence, where M unro m ust be singled out for
some outstanding saves.
The forw a rds proved
rather goal-shy, and th is tem pted the halves to go
up too far in support, leaving gaps w hich ex­
perienced opponents w ere quick to take advantage
of. The main lessons to be learned were the need
fo r careful con tro l o f the ball on bum py surfaces,
and quicker shooting.
The fo llow ing played fo r the Sum m er Hockey
XI:
A. C. M c A rth u r (c a p t.), A . T. D. Brew ster, J.
A . E. Fingland, H. J. P. Gray, M. D. Kirk, A. W .
B. M agiil, E. G. Meade, R. F. Renwick, D. A.
R. M unro, (all awarded sum m er hockey
co lo u rs); G. J. F. Crowe, J. Currie, D. L.
Hinshaw, P. J. Holland, H. M el Pearson, C.
S. Russell, G. T. W ordie.
A.M.P.
CRICKET
In the higher reaches o f the School, this
season threatened in the firs t fe w games to become
the non-event th a t it turned out to be. From the
ou tset w inning w as the last thing that the First
Eleven seemed to have in its collective m ind. A fte r
the firs t fou r fixtures the record was one w in , one
draw and tw o losses, and so the tone o f the season
w as set. The w ins came against Perth Academ y,
M erchiston, Grange and the losses came against
Perth Farmers, Dundee U n iversity Staff, Fettes,
The Strathallian Club and Glenalmond.
Seven
matches w ere drawn and tw o matches never
started.
As I have ju s t m entioned, the tone w as set
early in the season, and from this po in t o f v ie w it
was a p ity that the Edinburgh A cadem y match was
rained off. Latterly w e haven't done very w e ll over
there but the match its e lf m ight have put more
edge on the side. A s it w as, having show n no
interest in going for the w in against Crieff, and
having made very heavy w eather over beating a
very w eak Perth Academ y side, the side managed
to th ro w aw ay the game against Perth Farmers, the
tail-enders neither deciding to play properly fo r the
draw nor to go properly fo r the w in . Then at
Dundee the bow lers bow led sufficient tripe to en­
sure a com fortable w in fo r the U n iversity Staff.
The game against FETTES looked a disaster.
50
therefore, from the start, M cDonald w on the toss
and decided to bat, in itself an ill-advised decision
since the team had le ft the k it on the bus which
w as by then w e ll on its w a y back to Forgandenny.
A poor s ta rt w as made against the accurate bow ling
o f Darling, and Inglis, Peddie, W hitaker, Sim and
M cDonald were soon back in the pavilion. Both
Cope and Park survived until lunch-tim e, but shortly
after both w ere out, and except fo r some sm art hits
by M cPherson no-one had anything else to offer.
The targe t w as not one to daunt Fettes particularly
as Hay and M cDonald both bow led very short. The
match w as all over by 3.30.
A gainst MORRISON'S the side fared a little
better. M orrisonian ta ctics consisted o f bow iing
short to make the ball rear up chest high and of
setting a Player League field. Since the ball came
off the bat rather less w e ll than a lump of stone
runs came very s lo w ly. Sim collected a leisurely
22 and Cope grafted to 49, ge tting runs by lofting
the ball w ith a cross-bat over the off-side field. A t
49 he w as declared upon.
Despite early break­
throughs the bow lers were unable to dispose of
the M orrison's tail, tw o sim ple catches being put
dow n in the last three overs.
The scores in the LORETTO game w o uld
suggest a good contest. This w as far from the
case.
It w as a b itte rly cold day, such as only
M usselburgh seems to have, and both sides bowled
badly to fielding tha t w as little better. In fairness
to the fielders it m ight be added th a t in addition to
the cold both captains seemed to vie w ith each
other to put fielders in the wrong positions so
m aking the task more difficult. Loretto opened to
such effect th a t 80 was on the board in an hour.
The Strathallan attack had been reduced to looking
like a prep school 2nd XI in a poor year. For­
tu n a te ly Tares im m ediately removed W otherspoon
and C raw ford hit a bad one like a rocke t at square
leg. O ther successes w ere few and far between.
Cope getting both Paton and Cullen at the end of
the innings.
The Strathallan reply started slo w ly and after
the early loss o f Peddie, M cDonald (52) and Sim
(23) laid the foundations fo r a run-chase. Cope
made a sizzling 56 in 35 m inutes, but both he and
W hitake r were out together, and thereafter the
ta rg e t proved, ju s t too much to get.
Q.N.C.C. maintained
its unbeaten
record
against the School. M o s t o f the School batsmen
made some runs and A. J. Hay showed th a t he
bow led be tte r against the M asters than against
other schools.
Nevertheless N. T. H. du Boulay
found tim e to make the w o rs t 50 o f the season on
The Lawn, and A. P. F. Alexander, w hom some of
my older readers w ill remember, made a fe w lusty
hits. It w as D. A. R. W illiam s, though, w ho showed
us how to play Hay. Perhaps w e should all hire
bats from the Long Room at Lords!
The game against DOLLAR A C AD EM Y took
much the same course as the M orrison's game —
to o long to get the runs, though W hitake r hit the
bow ling around ju s t before and ju s t after tea to
75 not out.
The declaration gave Dollar little
chance of getting the runs, despite the ir possessing
tw o or three stylish batsmen, and gave Strathallan
even less chance to get them out.
That they
finished w ith seven w ic k e ts dow n w as due more to
batting in discre tion s than good bow ling.
The STRATHALLIAN game saw, w e are told ,
several po sitive ly last appearances w hich w e shall
believe when w e see it or, rather, d o n 't see. Hugh
Parker captained the side ably, and w e are grateful
to him fo r giving up a club game to come and play.
The precedence of club fixtures is alw ays a snag
and one w ishes more cricketers not involved w o uld
w rite in to Donald Turner early. I saw at least
three ex-1st XI cricketers o f recent vintage on the
ground.
Hugh Parker and Donald Turner opened the
innings. For some tim e Hugh w as kept quiet by
McPherson w h o w as bo w ling a good line and
length.
Nevertheless w e were treated to some
vintage Parker w ith some scin tilla ting shots through
m id -w icke t and extra c o v e r(l). Donald Turner was
not in his usual edgy form — perhaps the dud bats
that the m aster i.e. cricke t kept palming off on him
did the tric k
S hortly after lunch he w as out.
Then Tom Gibson chopped a ball onto his stum ps,
W ill M elville hit one to m id-off and, apart from
some lu sty hits and equally lu sty misses by Bruce
W alker, the innings came to an untim ely end.
The school's reply w as less than convincing.
Of the early batsmen only M cD onald looked like
making runs.
Peddie was com prehensively leg
before, Sim dollied a catch to short leg, W hitake r
hit a full toss to short extra where the su b stitu te
delightedly too k the catch and s p lit his trousers at
the same time. Alas fo r David Anderson, he can­
not be officially named in the score card. There­
after Cope played about three shots at a M elville
off-break none of w hich w as successful in making
contact. Inglis w as picked up b rillia n tly at slip by
Alan Sloan, w ho, until th a t point had successfully
been given an im itation o f one asleep.
Up to this po in t both M elville and W alke r were
bow ling a little be tte r than the y both m odestly
claimed. However, McPherson and Tares put the
School back in the game w ith a vengeance.
McPherson hit M elville all over the ground and
Tares hit him out o f it. Eventually, though, both
succumbed and the Club scraped in by tw o runs
looking as if they were going to w in com fortably.
The fo llow ing w eek came the game against
MERCHISTON. A fte r a fair start only Sim batted
w ith any concentration and the remainder of the
side, save Park, w ho thrives on these disasters, soon
devised w ays of getting out. A t the tim e 89 looked
a poor score. W e were not to kn o w tha t M erchiston.
too, could devise other w ays o f getting out. Their
openers were soon out and after numbers three and
four, tem pted by the short boundary, had both
been w e ll taken by Peddie in fro n t of the M usic
Room, more than a ray of hope began to shine.
McPherson w as able to find enough in the w ic k e t
to remove tw o furthe r from the m iddle order and it
was not until M cCorquodale and K night g o t to ­
gether th a t any stern resistance w as met. Three
catches were dropped w ith the last pair in, too,
until Hay managed to get through Ball's defence.
The M ichelin Men dealt w ith short bo w ling and
showed th a t the School's batting w as ye t again
not up to chasing a m odest to ta l, and a poorish
Grange side, having collapsed in a heap, threatened,
at one tim e, to do the same to the School.
The final match o f the season against GLENALM O ND, provided no com fort.
The bow ling
lacked penetration to start w ith , and despite the
loss of an early w ic k e t, Glenalmond looked set fo r
a big score. But Tares coming on had a good spell
and w as assisted at the other end by Cope. There­
after Everett to o k root, and M cCaulay proceeded to
dem olish Hay before being caught off a skier. S till
124 w as to o much fo r our fragile batting.
M cDonald w e n t early putting a short ball to gully,
and Peddie, having run o u t the one batsman w ho
looked like scoring runs, g o t ousted him self imm ediatedly after. Park then ran out Cope w ho was
only notified o f Park's intentions when Park was
half w a y dow n the w ic k e t and the ball w as in the
fielder's hand.
Fortunately Yates and W hitake r
w ere able to restore some sanity to the situation,
and the School m ight still have w on if W hitake r
hadn't carefully hit a full toss straight at mid-on.
Such w as the School season. Anyone, as they
say, fo r tennis?
In view ing individuals and over-all ta ctics it
w o u ld be difficu lt not to be rude. The w hole side
had some collective ideas that it w as be tte r to bat
second despite experience's proving regularly to
the contrary. Even as I w rite the same crazy notion
seems to have penetrated to Edgbaston, w ith dire
consequences. A more attacking frame of mind
w ill be needed next season and this w ill have to
be attack based on sensible playing in, not the mad
helter-skelter w h ich som etim es passes fo r attack.
M ore advantage, too, w ill have to be taken of
w in te r nets. Everyone know s tha t the Lawn Nets
have serious lim itations when it comes to learning
technique.
Bow lers, too, should learn from ex­
perience. An off-spinner w h o has no floater is only
half a bow ler, and a slo w medium pacer should
never try to bow l tw o balls an over at Lillee pace
— a cricke t side is no place fo r schizophrenics.
On the "p lu s " side, however, there is some
promise. Sim scored con sisten tly and, in fact, was
at the w ic k e t longer than anyone else in the side.
Tares fo r the first tim e ever scored more runs than
he g o t w icke ts. Yates, at the end o f the season,
gave up the pursuit o f scoring the longest nought
and began to blossom as a batsman. McPherson
bow led w e ll after half term , but s tili tends to bow l
short on occasion.
The Second Eleven had an unfortunate season,
not made any better by the ir losing tw o fixtures
because of rain and the in ab ility of the other school
to raise a side. Second Eleven cricke t is becoming
problem atical. There aren't enough sides around
to play and the Senior House M atches have proved
less than an adequate substitute.
W hile the
problem remains it w ill be tha t much more difficult
fo r the 1st XI.
The th ird Eleven were m oderately successful.
M o st of the successful players, alas, have now left.
The Senor Colts never quite managed to fulfil
the ir promise.
W ith o u t do ub t there is some
prom ising talent.
Y ellow lees, Smellie, Evens,
Gerrard and A. W . Ferguson are all capable of
making runs and ju s t need to sharpen up on basic
techniques and, also, to adopt a more positive
frame o f mind.
Benzies is a prom ising le ft arm
b o w le r — he had one game fo r the 1st XI and
bow led very tid ily — and Gall, S. Ferguson and A.
Ferguson could be useful. O gilvie is beginning to
be tid ie r behind the w icke t. Some of these players
could w e ll be pushing fo r places in the 1st XI next
year.
51
The Jun io r Colts are also studded w ith talent,
though not all of them are gifte d w ith patience.
Nevertheless, if they all fu lfil the ir prom ise, they
w ill be a d ifficu lt side to get out next season.
A final m ention m ust go to Riley. They d id n 't
quite give M r. Hewson a final unbeaten season,
and they w eren't, perhaps, quite as good technically
as the previous year's Riley side. However, despite
some crooked bats, the keeness w as there.
R.N.J.
S a tu rd a y 2 4 th M a y v. F e tte s (A w a y )
S tr a th a lla n
D. G. Inglis, c. Cope, b. M istry......................................
K. A. D. Peddie, c. Hay, b. Darling..................................
R.J. Whitaker, c. Cope, b. Darling..................................
D. Sim, l.b.w. b. Darling................................................
N. E. Cope, c. Smith, b. Darling......................................
J. S. P. McDonald, l.b.w., b. Darling...............................
D. R. M. Park, b. Cope....................................................
A. K. Shaw, st. Smith, b. Cope......................................
A. J. Tares, b. Darling....................................................
R. A. McPherson, not o u t ..........................................
A. J. Hay, c. Darling, b. Cope.........................................
Extras ............................................................................
2
1
3
4
21
2
25
0
0
15
0
12
1st XI A VER A G ES
BATTING
N. E. Cope
N. C. St. J. Yates
R. I. Whitaker
D. Sim
J. S. P. McDonald
R. A. McPherson
K. A. D. Peddie
A. J. Hay
D. G. Inglis
A. J. Tares
BOWLING
R. A. McPherson
CatInns. N.O. H.S. Runs
A v. ches
14
2
54 * 288 24.00 4
6
26
55 18.33 3
3
14
1 75* 219 16.84 7
0 32
201
15.46 2
13
14
0
52
201
14.28 3
11
4
24
84 12.00 4
0
22
105
8.75 5
13
4
7
14*
24
8.00 1
70
7.77 5
10
1 17
9
O.
102.5
116.2
A. J. Tares
70.1
J. S. P. McDonald
144.5
A. J. Hay
56
N. E. Cope
2
16
M.
30
29
14
44
20
45
R.
295
332
207
340
104
6.50
W.
30
29
16
25
7
7
Av.
9.83
11.44
12.93
13.60
14.85
All the above were awarded Colours. The following also
played : A. K.Shaw; D.T. Hay; R.D. G.Powrie; F. S. Benzies.
R E S U L TS
Sat. 3rd May v. C r ie ff C ric k e t C lu b (Home)
Crieff C.C. 124 (A. J. Hay 4-19; J. S. P. McDonald
4-37). Strathallan 102-8 (R. I. Whitaker 30). Drawn.
Sat. 10th M ay v. The Edinburgh Academy (A w a y ).
83
Darling 6-15; Cope 3-26.
Lost by 7 wickets.
Fettes
Cameron, c. Peddie, b. McPherson ...............................
Hay, c. Park, b. McPherson.............................................
Wilson, not o u t..............................................................
Young, c.Cope, b. Hay....................................................
Merchant, not o u t...........................................................
Extras .............................................................................
(3 skts.) 84
A. J. Hay 10-2-32-1; J. S. P. McDonald 6.4-1-26-0.;
R.A. McPherson 4-1 -11 -2.
Lost by 7 wickets.
T u esd ay 2 7 th M a y v .M o rris o n 's A c a d e m y (A w a y )
Strathallan 119-5 (dec.), (N. E. Cope, 49 *, D. Sim 22);
Morrison's 36-8 (A. J. Hay 3-6; R. A. McPherson 2-9
J. S. P. McDonald 2-4).
Match drawn.
T h u rs d a y 2 9 th M a y v. L o re tto (A w a y )
L o re tto
R. B. Crawford, c. Park, b. Tares..................................
J. L. E. Wotherspoon, b. Tares.................................. .
J. F. Paton, b. Cope.......................................................
D. N. Winton, c. McDonald, b. McPherson....................
IM. J. R. Cullen, b. Cope................................................
M. B. Sloan, not o u t.......................................................
Extras.....................................................................
Thurs. 15th May v. P e rth F a rm e rs (Home).
Perth Farmers 133 (A. J. Tares 7-4 3); Strathallan 121
(N. E. Cope 37; D. Sim 22). Lost by 12 runs.
S tra th a lla n
J. S. P. McDonald, c. Maclver, b.Crawford...................
K. A. D. Peddie, St. Reid, b. Stuart..................................
D. Sim, c. Crawford, b. W inton......................................
R. I. Whitaker, b. W inton................................................
N. E. Cope, b. Sloan.......................................................
D. G. Inglis, b. W inton....................................................
D. R. M. Park, not o u t....................................................
R.A. McPherson, c. Cullen, b. Sloan...............................
N. St. J. Yates, not o u t....................................................
A. J. Tares and A. J. Hay did not bat
Extras ......................................................................
52
52
11
23
27
56
13
7
1
0
11
for 7 wkts. 201
Thurs. 22nd May v. D u n d e e U n iv e rs ity S t a f f (Away)
Strathallan 130-9 (dec.) (N. E. Cope 5 4 *); Dundee
University Staff 132-4. Lost by 6 wkts.
39
23
56
30
47
1
15
for 5 wkts. (dec.) 211
A. J. Hay 23-6-49-0; R. A. McPherson 10-2-46-1;
A. J. Tares 12-2-55-2; N. E. Cope 13.5-4-24-2;
J. S. P. McDonald 4-0-19-0.
No Play — Rain.
Tues 13th May v. P e rth A c a d e m y (Away).
Strathallan 71 -7 (dec.) (K. A. D. Peddie 23; N. E. Cope
20); Perth Academy 36 (R. A. McPherson 6-3). Won
by 35 runs.
33
33
8
2
1
7
Swan 2-24.
Match drawn.
we're
banking
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C all on th e M a n a g e r o f a n y B ra n ch o r w r ite to :
STAFF M A N A G E R , C lyd e sd a le B a n k L im ite d ,
3 0 S t V in c e n t P lace, G la s g o w G1 2 H L
Strathallan 155-8 (dec.) (R. I. Whitaker 30; N. E. Cope 32;
K. A. D. Peddie 22); Q.N.C.C. 1'22-6 (N. T. H. du
Boulay 52; A. J. Hay 3-28).
Match drawn.
R.A. McPherson, c. Vitel, b. Lobban...............................
D. R. M. Park, c. Vitel, b. B a ll.........................................
A. H. Tares, c. East, b. Ball ............................................
N. St. J. Yates, l.b.w., 6 V ite l.........................................
A. J. Hay, not out
Extras .....................................................................
T u e s d a y 2n d J u n e v. D o lla r A c a d e m y (H o m e )
B.Vitel 3-1 6.
S a tu rd a y 3 1 s t M a y v. Q .N .C .C . (H o m e )
3
12
2
0
0
4
89
Strathallan 150-6 (dec.) (H. I. Whitaker 75*; D. Sim 32);
Dollar 65-7 (A. J. Hay 3-32).
Match drawn.
T h u rs d a y 4 th Ju n e v. C. B. E. S o m e rv ille 's X I (H o m e )
No Play — rain.
S a tu rd a y J u n e 1 4 th v. S tr a th a llia n C lu b XI (H o m e )
S tr a th a llia n C lu b
J. H. R. Parker, c. Whitaker, b. McPherson....................
D. I. Turner, l.b.w., b. McDonald ..................................
T. Gibson, b. M cDonald...............................
W. B. Melville, c. Cope, b. McPherson...........................
A. J. Sloan, c. A. Hay, b. Tares......................................
D. R. Nicol, l.b.w., b. McPherson ..................................
B. Walker, c. D. Hay, b. Tares.........................................
J. E. Hamilton, c. Whitaker, b. McPherson...................
A. G. Johnston, b. McPherson ......................................
W. A. M. Lambie, l.b.w., b. McPherson ........................
N. I. Schneeberger, not o u t.............................................
Extras ..................................................................
55
13
6
5
0
0
13
4
2
5
0
16
119
A. J. Hay 6-1-27-0; R. A. McPherson 13.3-7-16-6; N. E.
Cope 4-0-14-0; A. J. Tares 12-1-32-2; J. S. P.
McDonald 6-1-11-2.
36
6
1
17
4
2
3
3
24
14
3
4
117
A. B. Walker 16.2-5-25-5; W. B. Melville 16-1-74-4;
T. Gibson 1-0-8-1.
60
A. J. Hay 11.2-9-4-3; R. A. McPherson 14-4-34-5; A. J.
Tares 12-8-13-1 ; N. E. Cope 7-3-4-1.
Won by 29 runs.
S a tu rd a y Ju n e 2 8 th v. M ic h e lin M e n (H o m e )
Michelin Men 137-6 (dec.); Strathallan 112-6 (J. S. P.
McDonald 27; D. Sim 26).
Match drawn.
S a tu rd a y J u ly 5 th v. G ra n g e C .C . (H o m e )
Grange 74 (A. J. Hay 3-8; A. J. Tares 5-28); Strathallan
76-8 (D. Sim 27).
M o n d a y 9 th J u ly v. T r in ity C o lle g e , G le n alm o n d
G le n alm o n d
A. J. E. Stevenson, c. Whitaker, b. McPherson
A. J. D. Hope, c. Inglis, b. Cope......................................
F. C. Small, c. McDonald, b. Tares
A. J. Robson, l.b.w., b. Tares.....................................
J. D. A. Grieve, b. Cope ................................................
N. S. K. Booker, c. McDonald, b. Cope...........................
R. B. Macaulay, c. Yates, b. McDonald
D. J. M. Ramsey, c. McPherson, b. Tares........................
D. Everett, not o u t...........................................................
N. H. M. Pringle, b. McPherson................................
G. L. R. Batten, l.b.w., b. McPherson...........................
Extras......................................................................
7
21
12
1
8
36
0
15
2
13
124
Lost by 2 runs.
A. J. Hay 9-1-33-0; R. A. McPherson 9.2-2-26-3; A. J.
Tares 9-4-27-3; N. E. Cope 8-3-18-3; J. S. P.
McDonald 3-1 -7-1.
S a tu rd a y J u n e 2 1 s t v .M e r c h is to n C a s tle (H o m e )
S tra th a lla n
S tra th a lla n
I. S. P. McDonald, c. Coats, b. McCorquodale.............
K. A. D. Peddie, b.V itel....................................................
D. Sim, l.b.w.. I). Vitel ....................................................
R. I. Whitaker, b. McCorquodale..................................
N. E. Cope, c. Knight, b. Lobban......................................
D. G. Inglis, St. Nisbet, b. Knight......................................
54
4
7
11
0
1
0
1
12
7
6
6
5
Won by 2 wickets.
S tra th a lla n
J. S. P. McDonald, b. Walker
K. A. D.Peddie, l.b.w., b. Walker
D. Sim, c. Parker, b. M elville.........................................
R. I. Whitaker, c. sub.b.,Gibson.....................................
N. E. Cope, b. M elville....................................................
D. G. Inglis, c. Sloan, b. Melville ..................................
D.T. Hay, b. W alker.......................................................
A. K. Shaw, b.Melville
R. A. McPherson, c. Melville, b. W alker........................
A. J. Tares, b. Walker
A. J. Hay, not o u t...........................................................
Extras
M erchiston
C.
W. Nisbet, c. Whitaker, b. H ay....................
K. M. Lobban, l.b.w., b. McPherson..............................
T. S. A. East, c. Peddie, b. McPherson.....................
A. W. M. Milne,c. Peddie, b. McPherson......................
R. Robinson, c. Whitaker, b. McPherson
M. G. Steven, c. Tares, b. McPherson...........................
D. N. Coats, b. Cope.......................................................
B. F. Vitel, b. Tares..........................................................
K. D. McCorquodale, c. Tares, b. H ay...........................
A. W. Knight, not out ...................................................
M. R. Ball, b. H ay...........................................................
Extras .....................................................................
17
12
22
4
5
8
J. S. P. McDonald, c. Batten, b. Robson........................
K. A. D. Peddie, c. Stevenson, b.Ramsey......................
D. Sim, run o u t..............................................................
N. E. Cope, run o u t.......................................................
D. G. Inglis, b. Robson....................................................
D. R. M. Park, b. Pringle................................................
0
6
4
0
11
N. C. St. J. Yates, b. Robson.........................................
R. I. Whitaker, c. Robson, b. Batten...............................
A. J. Tares, st. Everett, b. Batten......................................
R. A. McPherson, not o u t .............................................
A. J. Hay, b. Robson.......................................................
Extras......................................................................
26
19
0
0
10
12
95
Robson 4-36.
Lost by 29 runs.
12th June v. Fettes (Away)
Strathallan 124 (Gerrard 30; Benzies 25; Yellowlees
20); Fettes 127-7 (Benzies 5-51). Lost by 3 wkts.
24th May v. Fettes
Strathallan 61 ; Fettes 63-4. Lost by 6 wkts.
29th May v. Loretto
Strathallan 80; Loretto 83-3. Lost by 7 wkts.
21st June v. M erchiston (Home)
Strathallan 152-6 (dec.) (Gerrard 46, Yellowlees 32,
Evans 25); Merchiston 154-8 (Benzies 4-49). Lost
by 2 wkts.
21st June v. M erchiston
Strathallan 68; Merchiston 70-8. Lost by 2 wkts.
Lost by
Team from: I. G. Ogilvie (Capt.); M. J. Yellowlees; I. F.
Gerrard; A. O. Inglis; D. A. Smellie; A. W. Ferguson;
F. S. Benzies; D. S. Gall; K. D. Evans; S. A. Ferguson;
W. M. Potts; C. B. Campbell; J. B. Callander; J. P.
Stewart. Scorer: A. L. MacKay.
JUNIOR COLTS
3rd XI
24th May v. Fettes
Fettes 196 for 3 dec.; Strathallan 145 (Watt 57). Lost
by 51 runs
27th May v. M orrison's 2nd XI
Morrisons 56 (Waldie 5 for 27, Cumming 5 for 28);
Strathallan 60 for 8. Won by 2 wickets.
29th May v. Loretto
Loretto 76 (Waldie 5 for 45, Cumming 4 for 22);
Strathallan 62. Lost by 14 runs.
3rd June v. Rannoch 1st XI
Strathallan 127 for 9 dec. (Heard 47); Rannoch 75
(Hinshaw 6 for 19). Won by 52 runs.
12th June v. Dollar Academy Colts
Strathallan 156 for 3 dec. (Heard 86 n.o.); Dollar 109
(Cumming 4 for 25). Won by 47 runs
21st June v. M erchiston
Strathallan 80 (Heard 41); Merchiston 83 for 2. Lost
by 8 wickets
7th July v. T rin ity College, Glenalmond
TCG 159 for 9 dec.; Strathallan 133. Lost by 26 runs
SENIOR COLTS
10th May v. Edinburgh Academy (Home)
Strathallan 40; Edinburgh Academy 7-0.
abandoned — rain.
27th May v. Glenalmond (Away)
Glenalmond 156-6 (dec.) (Benzies 3-23); Strathallan
66. Lost by 90 runs.
29th May v. Loretto (Away)
Strathallan 90 (Benzies 2 8 *); Loretto 92-8 (Ferguson,
A. 4-17, Benzies 3-30). Lost by 2 wkts.
2nd XI
7th July v. Glenalmond
Glenalmond 188-7 (dec.); Strathallan 83.
105 runs.
24th May v. Edinburgh Academy (Away)
Edinburgh Academy 107-7 (dec.), (Benzies 3-33);
Strathallan 67-4 (Yellowlees 28). Drawn.
Match
20th May v. Perth Academy (Home)
Perth Academy 27 (Campbell 8-16). Strathallan 32-0.
Won by 10 wkts.
10th May v. Edinburgh Academy (Home)
Edinburgh Academy 63-7 (Strommen 3-9).
abandoned — rain.
Match
20th May v. Perth Academy (Home)
Perth Academy 14 (Kelly 6-1; Jackson 4-13);
Strathallan 15-0.
24th May v. Edinburgh Academy (Away)
Strathallan 104-7 (dec.) (McDonald21 ; McIntosh 22);
Edinburgh Academy 46-4. Drawn.
22nd May v. Glenalmond (Away)
Strathallan 108 (Mitchell 41; Jackson 2 2 *); Glen­
almond 109-8 (Velley 3-38, Strommen 3-17). Lost
by 2 wkts.
29th May v. Loretto (Away)
Strathallan 132-5 (dec.) (Hamilton 70; McIntosh 2 6 “);
Loretto 85-3. Drawn.
12th June v. Fettes (Away)
Fettes 120-8 (dec.) (Kelly 4-24); Strathallan 98-7
(McDonald 30; Mitchell 24).
21st June v. M erchiston (Home)
Strathallan 78 (McDonald 27); Merchiston
(Kelly 4-17; Jackson 3-24). Won by 34 runs.
Senior House Matches:
Junior House Matches:
44
Simpson.
Nicol.
THE RILEY XI
20th May v. New Park (Home)
Strathallan 172-6 (dec.); New Park 41.
131 runs.
Won by
24th May v. Lathallan (Away)
Strathallan 30; Lathallan 27. Won by 3 runs.
55
31st May v. Larchfield (Home)
Strathallan 160-3 (dec.); Larchfield 72. Won by 88
runs.
3rd June v. B elm ont House (Away)
Strathallan 148-8 (dec.); Belmont House 52.
by 96 runs.
Won
Occasionals 219-9 (dec.) (N.
N. T. H. Du Boulay 63).
Won by
Cope 75;
Dorset Rangers 120-7 (P. L. N. W alker 4-32).
v. Denstone W anderers.
Croftinloan 47; Strathallan 50 for 4 wkts. Won by 6
wickets.
Runs for:—821 for the loss of 48 wkts., an average of 17.10
per wicket.
Against:— 413 for the loss of 70 wkts., an average of 5.90
per wicket.
Played 7.
Won 6.
L o s tl.
Drawn 0.
STRATHALLAN OCCASIONALS
A lthough news o f the club has appeared but
infrequently in these pages, the Occasionals still
flourish in England. This year’s to u r w as as
successful as the one in 1974, despite the fact
th a t there w ere fe w e r matches because of increased
touring costs. The to u r provides an o p p o rtu n ity to
meet old and new friends and I th in k it can be said
tha t an O ccasional's touring side is becom ing a
force to be reckoned w ith . Here is a sum m ary o f
results:
v. Bristol Bedouins.
H.
Du
Boulay
32;
B ristol Bedouins 84-6 (P. L. N. W alker 4-31).
M atch drawn.
v. Old Cliftonians.
Occasionals 234-8 (de c.) (H. C. A ddison 60;
P. L. N. W alker 54; G. W . Searle 30;
N. D. M cKenzie 26).
Old C liftonians 238-4 (N. E. Cope 3-90).
Lost by 6 w k ts .
v. South W ilts C.C.
South W ilts C.C. 183-2 (de c.).
Occasionals 130-7 (N. E. Cope 50; N. T. H.
Du Boulay 32).
56
E.
Match drawn.
1st July v. C ro ftin lo a n (Away)
M atch drawn.
Occasionals 194-0 (N. T. H. Du Boulay 96*;
G. W . Searle 8 0 *).
v. Dorset Rangers.
Clifton Hall 134. Strathallan 97. Lost by 37 runs.
Occasionals 124 (N. T.
P. L. N. W alke r 28).
M id-S om erset 193-5 (dec.) (D. A. H. W illiam s
4-74).
W on by 10 w k ts .
14th June v. C lifto n Hall (Home)
21st June v. C ra ig flo w e r (Home)
Strathallan 164-7 (dec.); Craigflower 40.
124 runs.
v. M id-S om erset Clubs.
Occasionals 209-4 (dec.)
G. H. Searle 34).
(R. L. Settles 107;
Denstone W anderers 139 (R. L. Settles 4-21).
W on by 70 runs.
The hard and good w ic k e ts meant a great deal
of w o rk fo r the bow lers and hours of in a ctivity for
the lo w er order batsmen as Nick Du Boulay, Graham
Searle and others ground op po sition attacks. Nick
Du Boulay ju s t missed making the third century in
the club's existence but amends were made by
Ross S ettles in the final match of the our — our
congratulations to him fo r a fine performance in
the match. A consolation for Nick Du Boulay was
th a t he and Graham Searle figured in the highest
stand fo r any w ic k e t in the club against the
M id-S om erset Clubs.
W e w ere glad to see that Nick Cope returned
to his pre-Half Term 1st XI form . Indeed on the
harder w ic k e ts he w as even better. His 50 against
South W ilts , w as invaluable and his 75 at W e y ­
m outh destroyed a com petent Dorset Rangers'
attack. Given the chance he w o uld surely have
made runs against Denstone W anderers; as it was,
going in w ith fou r balls to go to the declaration, he
made 15 including a m ajestic straight six. His
batting average fo r the w eek w as ju s t over 39.
One w ishes th a t more of our be tte r players w ould
take the o p p o rtu n ity to play in a good class of
cricke t w hile at school.
Our bow lers had a less successful tim e in
term s o f w ic k e ts but M essrs. W illiam s, McKenzie,
W alker, Cope and S ettles all plugged aw ay to keep
to ta ls do w n and the bow ling attack against Den­
stone W anderers on a w ic k e t that was beginning
to go on to p w as an excellent co-operative effort.
It is hoped to hold the tou r again in 1976. On
a short to u r 13 is about the optim um number and
anyone w ishing to go on it (dates 20-26 July)
should w rite to R. N. Johnson at the School,
preferably before Christmas. Some interest has
also been expressed in a revival of some o f our
S cottish fixtures. Again anyone prepared to give
practical sup po rt to such a venture (the games
w o u ld m ainly be Sunday ones) should w rite to
R. N. Johnson as soon as possible.
ATHLETICS .
Despite the menacing prospects o f doom
looming over us from last year's report, it was
pleasing to w atch this year's squad buckling dow n
to the task before them. Mr. Henderson had not
provided us w ith many seniors (m o st "o p tin g ” to
take cricke t) and by the firs t match numbers had
dw indled to 10, 9 of those actually com peting w h ile
K. J. Shannon did an adm irable jo b w ith the score
book.
For the first match w e were host to the strong
EDINBURGH A C AD EM Y team, w hom the seniors
lost to by 3 points. Perhaps had one notable
member of the relay team — w ho shall remain
nameless — not fallen over w e m ight have beaten
them in the seniors. A s it w as our revenge came
later — at "S co tsto u n M ee ting ". In this R. L.
Kirkland had 4 firsts — 100, 200, 400 and High
Jump; R. F. Renwick w on the Shot and D. F.
Ferguson the Javelin, and also n a rrow ly lost an
exciting tussle in the 1500. The m iddles, w h o
lacked experience, did not perform as w e ll as
expected, although H. J. M. F o o ttit w on our only
track event — 400 — w h ile P. A. C. Cameron to o k
the High Jum p and Javelin, and S. B. Knox the
Shot. The match was lost by 12 points.
In our second match w e over-ran our visito rs
FETTES COLLEGE on a sunny, w in d y day. In the
senior events our vice-captain D. L. Young had a
good day, running a fine 2nd in a Personal Best of
11.35m. to Kirkland, and w inning the Javelin.
Kirkland achieved 3 more firsts in his events. The
relay redeemed some lo st pride and w on c o m fo rt­
ably in 46.6. M eanw hile the m iddles w h o had
undergone an immense im provem ent in the tw o
w eeks, only lost 1 event. F o o ttit had a fine day
w inning the 100 in 11.5s., 200, 400 and Long Jum p
in 5.42m. w ith R. W . G allow ay a good second in
5.34m. J. Cuthill ran w ell com ing 2nd in both
200 and 100 where he had a P.B. of 11.7s. B. W .
Parker to o k the 800 and 1500 in fine style, R. K.
Linton running a good second. S. B. Knox w on
the Discus in 36.21m. and the Shot Putt, w hile
Cameron w o n the Javelin. The match was w on
by 57 points.
Three days later w e travelled to GLENALMOND
to com pete in w h a t w as predicted to be the closest
match o f the season. On a sw eltering day many
personal records were made although a school
record still evaded us. On the track the seniors
lo st only 1 event, Kirkland w inning 100, 200 and
400. Ferguson w o n a very thrillin g and im portant
1500m., and although 2nd in the 800 in 2.6.1s. was
disqualified w h ile A. D. Baxter w as 3rd in a P.B.
of 2.11.5s. But a different sto ry on the field meant
that w e only w on one event, the Javelin, where
Ferguson th re w a P.B. o f 39.39m. C. C. S. Magee
found it hard going in the Discus although throw in g
a P.B. o f 27.94m. The m iddles im proved again for
F o o ttit w o n the 100, 200 in 23.4 and 400 in 53.6
both P.B’s. On the field J. Turner and Cameron
w ere 1 s t= in the High Jum p at 1.60m., then
Cameron w e n t on to w in the Javelin and was 3rd in
the Shot w ith a th ro w o f 12.14, a P.B., w hich Knox
w o n in 12.61. A s the afternoon came to its climax.
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They may be persuaded to treat you to lunch or dinner in the Ox and Claret
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57
Gienalmond led by 1 p o in t before the relays, there­
fore w e w o u ld have to w in both. U nfortunately
the m iddles found the opposition to o tough and
were defeated although the seniors w on c o m fo rt­
ably in 46.3. Coll. ran out w inners then by 1 point
in this exciting, w e ll-co ntested match.
A fte r a 3 year gap w e re-opened our relations
w ith LORETTO. For th is Open m atch, a com ­
bination of seniors and m iddles w as chosen and w e
eventually proved too strong fo r our rivals. The
100m. fell to Kirkland, w ho also held off the Loretto
captain Bow ser to w in the 200m. F oottit, on whom
the events of the last w eek seemed to have
taken the ir to ll, only managed 3rd in 200m. and
2nd in 400m. to Kirkland, w h o w as 0.1 outside the
record of 52.2s. The Baxter brothers, A.D. and
P.R., provided an entertaining race in the 800m.
coming 1 s t= in 2.13.2. Ferguson w on the 1500m.
in a P.B. o f 4.29.4, Parker being 3rd in a P.B. of
4.35.2. In the High Jum p, Cameron jum ped a P.B.
of 1.70m. to w in , and R. F. Renwick w on the Shot
Putt.
Follow ing the freedom o f half-term , no-one
seemed able to face the rigours o f a match so soon;
fo r some, on their firs t day back. On a sunny,
w indless day, RANNOCH travelled dow n to us w ith
a strong team and a good season behind them.
The 100m. provided us w ith the firs t school
record o f the season, going to Kirkland in 11.0s.,
equalling the previous tim e. His 200 w as also a
P.B. o f 23.2 and also w on the 400m. Young
running for the firs t tim e, did a P.B. o f 24.2, as did
R. F. V o ig t in the 400m. in 56.1. No field events
were w o n, as expected, the likes o f C. B othw ell
and Bugge proving tw o strong fo r us. The m iddles
were exceptional on this day w inning 7 events.
F o o ttit to o k the 100, 200, 400 and Long Jum p, w hile
Parker and Baxter ran P.B.'s of 2.12.1s. and 2.12.6s.
in the 800m. Knox achieved a P.B. o f 12.72m. in the
Shot and Gillanders D. M. N. is to be congratulated
in achieving a distance o f 37.50m. in the Discus,
to obtain the only exclusive record o f the season.
The relay also achieved a best of 47.2 and the
match w as w on by 16 points.
The season was thus concluded and in many
respects a more satisfying season than last year.
I w o nd er if it w as the realisation of the tru th of
last year's report th a t "p ricke d the sides of our
in te n t" or w as last year's reporter displaying an
im pulsive harshness at the season's relative
failings. Our defeats this year ensued at the
hand o f Edinburgh Academ y — 12 points and Glen­
a lm o n d — 1 point, both o f w hich could so easily
have gone the other w ay. This year I feel there
was a much more concerted effort from the team,
everyone playing his ow n part. There w as much
less dependence on outstanding figures, although
there were some, such as H. J. M. F o o ttit in the
middles, w ho deservedly g o t colours and w ho
never lost on the track after the EDINBURGH
AC AD EM Y 400m. A lso this year's captain w ho
w e n t all 5 matches w ith o u t defeat on the track and
S. B. Knox w ho, as a firs t year m iddle, had a
trem endous season and m ust be a good bet fo r the
future, as m ust prospects as a whole.
The fo llo w in g w ere privileged to w e ar the new
"c o lo u rs " tie:
R. L. Kirkland; D. L. Young; R. F. Renwick;
D. F. Ferguson; H. J. M. F oottit.
R.L.K.
58
"SCOTSTOUN REPORT"
Five seniors and three m iddles undertook the
pilgrim age to the Scottish Schools A thle tics
meeting, this year held at Scotstoun. Although not
as rew arding as recent years valuable experience
was gained. P. A. C. Cameron and S. B. Knox were
unplaced in the 15-17 Javelin and Shot Putt
respectively, both throw in g w e ll below the ir best.
R. F. Renwick w as 6th in the 17-19 Shot Putt,
throw in g his season's best, w h ile J. I. M cIntyre
was unplaced in the 17-19 Discus.
In the 17-19 100m. D. L. Young w as eliminated
in the heats w hile R. L. Kirkland w on through to
the sem i-finals. In this he w as 4th as w as H. J. M.
F o o ttit in the 15-17 group and were both informed
by the officials that they were not in the ir respec­
tiv e finals. In fact, both had made it, and F oottit
was disqualified fo r not turning up, and Kirkland
had to run at 1 m inute's notice, not physically or
m entally prepared and came a disappointing 8th,
w e ll below his best time.
Our last hopes then rested on the 17-19 Relay
team: D. L. Young - R. F. Renwick - D. S. L o w d e n R. L. Kirkland. In their heat, drawn against
Edinburgh Academ ey and Glenalmond and 5 others
w e w on easily in 46.0s. The other heat w as w on in
46.9s. w h ich only served to raise our hopes to the
point o f expectancy. By the tim e the final arrived,
w e had all been doing our separate events and
w e lo st by a yard to last year's w inners — St.
Colum ba's, again running 46.0. A t the tim e, the
silver medal did not seem quite good enough, and
the journey home ensued in mixed em otion. But
now o f course in retrospect it seems quite an
incredible feat for w e alm ost did not go because
they w ere not good enough.
R.L.K.
Inter-House Competition
W inners — Ruthven.
Victores Ludorum
Jun io r — Headrick (L ).
M id dle — F o o ttit (S ).
S e n io r— Kirkland (L ).
The Rowan Cup for Standards
W inners — Ruthven.
SCHOOL SPORTS RESULTS
100m.
100m.
100m.
100m.
200m.
200m.
200m.
200m.
400m.
400m.
400m.
400m.
800m.
800m.
800m.
1500m.
1500m.
1500m.
High Jump
High Jump
Riley
Junior
Middle
Senior
Riley
Junior
Middle
Senior
Riley
Junior
Middle
Senior
Junior
Middle
Senior
Junior
Middle
Senior
Riley
Junior
Ogilvie
Headrick
Foottit
Kirkland
McDougall
Headrick
Foottit
Kirkland
Ogilvie
Headrick
Foottit
Kirkland
Ferguson
Hay
Ferguson
Raeside
Hay
Ferguson
McDougall
Callander
High Jump
Middle
Cameron
High Jump
Long Jump
Long Jump
Long Jump
Long Jump
Discus
Discus
Discus
Javelin
Javelin
Javelin
Shot
Shot
Shot
Senior
Riley
Junior
Middle
Senior
Junior
Middle
Senior
Junior
Middle
Senior
Junior
Middle
Senior
Kirkland
McDougall
Hunter
Foottit
Renwick
Brewster
Knox
McIntyre
Muir
Cameron
Ferguson
Stewart
Knox
Magee
Relays
4 x 1 00m.
4 x 100m.
4 x 1 00m.
4 x 100m.
Riley
Junior
Middle
Senior
Islay
Freeland
Leburn
Leburn
(L)
(S)
(L)
(L)
(S)
(L)
(L)
(S)
(L)
(F)
(R)
(R)
(N)
(R)
(R)
(R)
(F)
(L)
(F)
(S)
(R)
(S)
(N)
(R)
(R)
(F)
(R)
(F)
(N)
(S)
McDougall
Smith
Leishman
Young
Ogilvie
Hunter
Leishman
Young
Houston
Melver
Leishman
McDonald
Raeside
Cameron
Baxter
Ferguson
Parker
Hay
Graham
Headrick
(F)
(L)
(F)
(F)
(L)
(F)
(R)
(L)
(S)
(N)
(F)
(S)
(F)
(R)
(R)
(L)
Turner
(R)
Pearson
Ogilvie
Headrick
Gardner
Kirkland
Ferguson
Gillanders
Magee
McIntosh
Yates
Cope
Scott
Cameron
Renwick
(S)
(L)
(F)
(L)
(F)
(R)
(S)
(L)
(S)
(L)
(N)
(F)
(R)
Drumfinn
Nicol
Freeland
Simpson
Hamilton
Ruthven
Simpson
Freeland
BASKETBALL
Throughout the W in te r term a handful of
enthusiasts endured the Thursday evening games.
As tim e progressed w e found ourselves getting
quite proficient in this rapidly grow ing and m ost
popular sp o rt in the w o rld . Inevitably the w o rd s
"te a m " and "m atches” emerged and this attracted
more soldiers to the grow ing ranks. From th is, a
squad form ed and individual members began to
make tim e in the day to practice skills and
shooting. It w as the incredible keenness and
dedication to the spo rt tha t enhanced the games
which ensued at the end o f a training session.
By the Easter term it w as not unknow n to be
having 5-6 games a w eek in an effort to make up
for lost tim e over the years, where, as young boys,
w e should have first learnt our skills. A match
was arranged w ith AUCHTERARDER, the county
champions, w hom w e beat 66-60 at home in a very
exciting game after being dow n 27-12 at half time.
In the Summer term w e w ere in vited to A U C H ­
TERARDER fo r the return game. On th e ir small
Houston
Hunter
Cuthill
Lowden
Houston
Millar
Cuthill
Renwick
McDougall
Raeside
Cameron
Voigt
Brewster
Parker
Hay
Gregor
Gardner
Baxter
MacKay
Sim
f Linton
^Gillanders
Hay
Johnston
Ferguson
Hay
Voigt
Stewart
Cuthill
Cope
Gregor
Knox
Young
Gall
Currie
Vivian
(F)
(F)
(F)
(L)
(F)
(R)
(N)
(F)
(R)
(S)
(R)
(R)
(S)
(L)
(S)
(F)
(L)
(R)
(R)
(F)
(R)
(R)
(F)
(F)
(L)
(S)
(N)
(F)
(R)
(N)
(L)
13.7 secs, (record)
12.2 secs.
11.3 secs.
11.35 secs.
28.2 secs.
25.6 secs.
24.5 secs.
23.0 secs.
65.7 secs.
58.8 secs.
54.0 secs.
52.8 secs.
2m. 23.6 secs.
2m. 11.7 secs.
2m. 0.4 secs.
4m. 46.3 secs.
4m. 34 secs.
4m. 37.4 secs.
1 m. 43 cm.
1m. 54.5 cm.
1m. 55 cm.
I m. 67.5 cm.
4m. 65 cm.
4m. 90 cm.
5m. 23.5 cm.
5m. 53 cm.
28m. 08 cm.
37m. 63 cm. (rec.)
31 m. 15 cm.
32m. 41 cm.
44m. 59 cm.
40m. 83 cm.
9m. 03 cm.
12m. 50 cm.
I I m. 25 cm.
68.5
51.2
48.2
48.5
secs.
secs, (record)
secs.
secs.
co u rt w e beat them by one po in t and emerged the
firs t team ever to beat them at home. A fte r this,
play w e n t off the boil as A-Levels drew near. W e
lost to RANNOCH after an A th le tics match. A
week later FETTES beat us in a rough match from
w hich w e learnt a great deal and put it to use
against GLENALMOND, w hom w e beat on a very
slippery surface due to high hum idity. For our
games w e donned either the ye llo w strips or black
strips w hich M r. Henderson had kin dly obtained
fo r us.
R.L.K.
BOXING
The C om petition this year attracted eighty-one
entrants w h o set about learning the skills from M r.
Henderson during M onday evening activities. The
sessions saw the rapid preparation o f defences and
attacks, and by the beginning of the Easter Term
the Gym to o k on the atmosphere o f a Kuala
Lumpur climate.
59
As alw ays the standard of the bouts varied
considerably, but this year the attention and
support focussed upon the lighte r:w e ig h t contests,
which provided more evenly matched bouts, w ith
skill outdoing muscle. The boxing personality was
undoubtedly Turnbull. A lthough a beaten finalist,
he provided a very attractive boxing style. Thanks
are in order fo r M r. Burnet w h o kin dly presented
the prizes, in the absence o f the headmaster, and
to Mr. Henderson, the Judges and tim ekeepers. The
tro p h y w as con vin cing ly w on by Freeland and the
results of the finals were as follow s:
D iv is io n :
W inner
Runner-up
Mosquito
Fly
Bantam
Feather
Light
Light-Welter
Welter
Light-middle
Middle
Light-Heavy
Heavy 'A'
Straiton, C.
McGregor, W. M.
Prosser, D. H.
Gregor, K. E.
Caithness, C. G.
McEwan, G.
Hunter, J. M.
Kelly, K.
Ferguson, A. W.
Smellie, D. A.
Henderson, I. A.
Turnbull, S. R.
Stonewigg, N. A.
Dewhurst, C. H.
Stonewigg, R. A.
Miller, G. R.
Baird, A. C. B.
Locke, A.
Callender, J. B.
Cunningham, C. M
Stewart, D. M. S.
Benzies, F. S.
A.C.M .
CROSS-COUNTRY
Captain: D. F. Ferguson.
Junior
Senior
Middle
Rannoch
14
18
18
Strathallan
27
21
26
41
Morrisons
46
Rannoch was first overall and Strathallan, second.
8th March Scottish Schools Championships
The S cottish Cham pionships were held on land
adjacent to St. Am brose High School in Coatbridge,
Lanarkshire. The course w as flat and uninteresting,
unlike last year's "c lim b ", but spectators had an
excellent view o f the runners' progress. The Senior
Team came in 7th out o f 37 participating Schools,
and the M iddle w ere placed 12th out of 77 Schools.
The Jun io r and Riley teams w ere unplaced.
14th March v. Dollar Academy (A )
The team travelled to Dollar for the only away
fixture apart from the S cottish Schools. The course
w as on the hills behind Dollar Academ y. Dollar
came out top in both races.
Senior
Middle
Dollar Academy
15
13
Strathallan
21
26
18th March v. Fettes College (H)
This match closed the season w ith an overall
v ic to ry fo r Strathallan. Fettes had some good
runners in the ir Senior team but lacked this
strength in the M iddles.
Total
Senior
Middle
11
31
20
Strathallan
41
13
31
Fettes College
Vice-Captain: W . D. G. Cameron.
The cross-co un try team had its fair share of
success this season and m aintained the standard
set by the team in 1974, even though they had a
very small number o f boys in the Senior age group.
Jun io r teams ran in tw o inter-school fixtures but in
future seasons only Senior (17-19 years) and
M iddle (15-17 years) boys w ill run as games policy
in the School now excludes Jun io r boys from
running.
27th February v. Perth Academy v. Waid Aca­
demy (H)
This firs t match gave our runners a good start
to the season, coming in first in each race.
Junior
Senior
Middle
Strathallan
14
Perth Academy
36
Waid Academy
38
Strathallan was the overall winner.
13
33
44
16
28
29
4th March v. Morrison's Academy v. Rannoch (H)
Rannoch fielded good teams in all age groups
and were firs t in all races. Chisholm (M o rris o n 's )
broke the School record by 1 m inute 38.5 seconds.
M orrison's had no Junior team.
60
18th/19th February
Country
School
Inter-House
Cros
The normal School courses were used. Co
dition s were excellent fo r the races.
Junior
Senior
Middle
Results
N
S
S
1
L
R
L
2
F
S
L
3
R
F
R
4
N
F
N
5
Total Points:
1
2
3
4
5
S
L
R
N
F
21
16
11
9
8
Individual medals were presented
Burnet to the w inners o f each race.
SENIOR
W. D.G. Cameron
26 minutes
MIDDLE
D. T. Hay
20 minutes
JUNIOR
K. E. Gregor
17 minutes
by
Mr.
15.00
37.13
20.10
A ll M asters w ho assisted, marshalls and the
catering staff are thanked fo r th e ir co-operation
during the season.
J.B.B.
GOLF
The Club again thrived encouragingly during
the Sum mer Term, when a large number o f en­
thusiastic golfers roamed the New Course pittin g
th e ir varying degrees o f skill against the elements
and the sub tletie s o f the course, the greens in
particular! In spite of the chancy nature o f the
g o lf as played here, it is s till found to be m ost
enjoyable and w o rth w h ile by the m ajority of
members.
Taking things chronologically one m ust first re­
po rt on our dism al perform ance in the S tocks Cup,
played as usual over the Cairnies course at Glen­
almond in September. Alas, w e were last out of six
com peting schools, the Cup being w on deservedly
by Perth Academ y. Once again w e entered the
A er Lingus Schools C om petition and our per­
formance in the area qualifying round at Ladybank
in March w as very creditable. W e were seventh
out o f 18, and the 3 counting scores of 83, 87, 87
as supplied by Ken Grant, Peter Hill and A nd rew
M agill respectively were quite good considering the
tense atm osphere of the occasion. The w inners
were Perth Academ y w h o w e n t from strength to
strength in this national com p etitio n ending up by
beating the English, W elsh and Irish Finalists at
Ballybunion in May. W ell done Perth Academ y!
They finished off a memorable year by w inning the
Perthshire Schools League in June.
O utside the league matches in the sum mer
w e played our tradition al end o f term match against
Glenalmond in absolutely blissful w eather and.
CURLING
This report in evita bly m ust be very brief since
there has been little action on the curling scene
this season. Perth Ice Rink introduced an extra
session into the ir daily programme and this meant
a re-organisation of tim es w hich, unfortunately, did
not fit in satisfa cto rily w ith our school routine,
and consequently, no coaching w as possible this
w inter. However, in spite o f this severe handicap
we managed to field three rinks against the Old
Boys in November. The firs t tw o rinks acquitted
them selves very w e ll, the firs t w inning the 10 ends
by 7-6 the second losing by the same margin, but
our scratch rink was much too inexperienced and
lost 17-2. The Old Boys thereby retained the Barr
Cup. Our thanks again to the Old Boys fo r a very
enjoyable match and fo r the ho sp ita lity afterw ards.
Clearly it w ill be more difficu lt to field a
respectable team in the future but w e w ill do our
best to maintain the continuance of the match
against the Old Boys.
The fo llo w in g played against the Old Boys:
Rink A: J. I. M cIntyre (s k ip ), G. L. F. Inglis, D. G.
Inglis, R. F. Renwick.
Rink B: J. S. M ilne (s k ip ), A. J. Hay, D. T. Hay,
R. M. Jamieson.
Rink C: A. D. Baxter (s k ip ), R. H. Philips, G. S.
J. C. Arthur.
■Jr
K ■ E. Gregor
W . D. G. Cameron
D. T. Hay
61
although the result w as no better than usual from
our po in t of vie w it was nevertheless a m ost en­
joyable encounter. The other "frie n d ly " match was
against the M asters w h o contrived by a variety
of means to chalk up the ir firs t ever victo ry against
the Boys. The Head retired on a w inning note,
overpow ering Strachan Hill, and insisted that it
was his ow n good g o lf end nothing else which
w as responsible fo r his victo ry. O ther news which
filltered through during the course of the afternoon
concerned the w elcom e return to form of RNJ in
his com eback year, the devastating play of Ken
Grant, the collapse of Mr. du Boulay from a
position o f 4 up, and the w anderings o f Mr. Ball
and John A rthu r w h o saw more of the Ladybank
course than most.
Leburn lifted the House Cup, Peter Hill
(Leburn) w on the Club Cham pionship and Mr. du
Boulay (Leburn) beat Graham Fidler in the final of
the handicap kno ckou t com petition.
Finally, a w o rd of thanks to Strachan Hill
secretary, w h o w o rked so en thusiastically
efficiently fo r the Club, and to Ken Grant,
captain, w ho played very w ell at the to p o f
team and was ever cheerful.
the
and
the
the
RESULTS
Perthshire Schools League
v. Auchterarder Secondary
School
— Lost 3-1 (Auchterarder)
v. Glenalmond
—Lost 3-1 (Cairnies)
v. Morrison's Academy
—Halved 2-2 (Auchterarder)
O ther M atches
v. Glenalmond
—Lost 6J-1 i (Cairnies)
v. The Masters
—Lost 4 J -3 J (Ladybank)
Team: K. C. Grant, S. L. Hill, P. A. Hill, A. W. B. Magill
(League team), R. F. Renwick, D. S. Lowden, S. J.
Newing, J. C. Arthur.
Links supervisor: J. C. Arthur.
SAILING
W e had hoped fo r fou r or five sailing matches
this term , un fortunately w e only managed to have
tw o , against Loretto and Rannoch both o f w hich
were raced on the w aters o f our opponents.
A t Loretto there w as a stiff breeze blow ing
and after tw o very close races w e ju s t managed
to come out on top.
Results — 1st Race
1st Strathallan II (Fingland, J., Fingland, D.)
2nd Loretto
3rd Strathallan I (Cameron, Ferguson)
4th Loretto
5th Strathallan III (Carver, Newton)
6th Loretto
Pts.
3
42
3
4
5
6
2nd Race
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Pts.
3
4.
2
3
4
5
6
62
Loretto
Strathallan II
Loretto
Strathallan I
Strathallan III
Loretto
Total
Strathallan
Loretto
191
213
Result
Strathallan win.
A t Rannoch the w ind on Loch Rannoch was less
strong than w e had had at Loretto and after the
firs t race on a course th a t neither team fu lly under­
stood, the course w as changed fo r the second
race but un fortuna tely w e could not pull up on the
result.
Results — 1 st Race
1St Rannoch
2nd Strathallan I (Cameron, Ferguson)
3rd Rannoch
4th Rannoch
5th Strathallan III (Carver, Newton)
6th Strathallan II (Fingland, J., Fingland, D.)
Pts.
2
A
2nd Race
Pts.
a
4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
2
3
4
5
6
Rannoch
Rannoch
Strathallan III
Strathallan I
Strathallan II
Rannoch
2
3
4
5
6
Total
16^
25
Rannoch
Strathallan
Result
Rannoch win.
The other events w ere the S cottish School
Boys and the House com petition.
Cameron, W . D. G., and Fingland, J. A. E.,
w ith "Ja cko ra n d a " represented the school and w ith
tw o 2nd's in the firs t tw o races they dropped to a
5th in the third race. Overall they were 2nd to
Forfar w ho are the S cottish Youth Champions.
The House com p etitio n w as held on the last
sailing day o f term w ith the same procedure as
last year — draw fo r boats and tw o races; one for
first crew s and one for second crews.
Results
1st Race
House
Leburn
Nicol
Freeland
Ruthven
Simpson
2nd Race
Total
Position
Pts.
Position
Pts.
Pts.
2
1
3
4
5
2
1
3
4
5
1
3
2
5
4
1
3
2
5
4
1
4
5
9
9
Results — Leburn win.
J. A. E. Fingland was awarded his colours f<
th is season.
SHOOTING
During the Sum mer Term, there was no co m ­
petition organised by the British Schools Sm all­
bore Rifle Association. So w e contented ourselves
w ith practising fo r the com petition against the Old
Boys. And when the day came w e showed that
our practising had benefited us, and w e managed
to beat them.
During the tw o "w in te r" term s tw o teams
competed in the com petition organised by the
British Schools Sm all-bore Rifle A ssociatio n, w ith
"lim ite d " success.
The friendly match against
Rannoch w as a disappointm ent when w e d is­
covered w e had lost. W e were also disappointed
when Cheltenham College beat us in the S taniforth
com petition.
The in te r House com p etitio n w as w o n by
Freeland, and Henderson, A. T., w on the individual
shooting.
Unlike other years a new Captain was not
chosen at the beginning o f the Summer.
It is
therefore le ft to me to bring you up to date. Only
one team entered the sum m er com p etitio n and in
this w e had some success. Once again w e beat
the Old Boys, w ho produced a som ew hat better
team than the previous year.
Shooting colours were awarded to Henderson,
A. T.; MagiII, A. W . B.; Macadam, F. G.; Smith,
C R M.; Cameron, I D.
During the year the fo llo w in g shot for the " A "
Team:— Robertson, C. B.; M agill, A. W . B.; M ac­
adam, F. G.; Henderson, A. T.; Sm ith, C. R. M.;
Cameron, I. D.
" B " Team: Cameron, I.
Sproat; Harrold, M. J.; Nimmo.
D.;
A rthur,
J. C.;
The Captain for next year is Cameron, I. D.
C.B.R.
S K IIN G
As last year, the School's ski-ing season
started in earnest w ith a return v is it to Sauze
d'O ulx in the Italian A lps; a trip w hich last year
proved to be a great success.
As one w e ll known guide to ski-ing in Europe
has said, "S ki-ing at Sauze is a relaxing exercise",
and I'm sure a num ber of those w ho paid a visit
to the village w o uld be inclined to agree, if only
because of the lim ited number o f runs ski-able as
a result of an uncom m only lo w snow fall prior to
our stay.
Despite this general shortage o f snow , the
trip appeared to have been enjoyed by all. Much
credit for w hich m ust go to the J.F.C. and his
w ife for the friendship w hich they extended to all
members of the party. It is hoped that a sim ilar
trip m ight be arranged for next year although at
the mom ent response is poor — a result perhaps of
escalating costs.
R.D.G.P,
M eanw hile back in the Glen, the Captain
w atched snow flakes fall and melt. The snow at
last came in the th ird w eek of January. The cover­
ing th a t came was good enough for a bus to be
run every week from then till the end o f term.
There w as so much snow one w eek that w e did
not get up! The season's w eather has treated us
really w ell. A t this po in t I'd like to m ention Guarin
Clayton w ho came w ith us m ost weeks and
brought sunshine and great snow every tim e; w e
hope he'll com e more often.
On the racing scene the School has made a
good participation but maybe not such a big im ­
print as in the past (and fu tu re ). The National
Schools' Race at Hillend was given a miss because
m ost racers w ere in Italy at the tim e. This event
has become increasingly an Edinburgh schools
event and anyw ay w h o likes ski-ing on plastic?
In the National races both D. P. Benzies and
W . R. Ferguson finished d ifficu lt courses in the East
o f Scotland Championships. The Old Strathallians
played a greater part in this race, David Butchart
com ing third in the Combined w ith Douglas Low
fourth. In the Tennant Trophy, the fun team race
o f S cottish ski-ing, w e were offered fou r places in
the S tirling team. D.P.B., W.R.F., M . D. Kirk and
R. D. G. Powrie raced and nearly beat the runners
up Glencoe being deprived of glory by a tim ing
mix-up. It w as a great race despite the weather
and everyone enjoyed it.
Thanks m ust go to
Paddy Orr for in viting us to race. Out of the 64
com p etitors there were about a dozen Strathallians,
four of whom , three Lows and a Robertson were
in the w inning team, Dundee. For D. R. D. Low
and C. J. Robertson this w as ju s t another trium ph
for they had already steered Cambridge to victo ry
in the V a rsity race and w ere then largely in stru ­
mental in the British U niversities rare w in over
the ir S w iss counterparts.
In the Neish T rophy w e entered ten racers in
a field of th irty . W e managed to obtain placings
from about 15 to 25. This year there w as no
challenge from the Dundee Ski Club Juniors w ho
w ere all too busy w ith national training.
A fte r many problem s both registering and
qualifying three juniors, J. M Carver, F. S. Benzies
and R. J. Duncan managed to obtain entry to the
North o f Scotland Championships. They did them ­
selves ju stice in the race and results were reason­
able, Duncan at only 12 has another four years in
ju n io r events and ought to be quite a threat in the
future.
The house race w as free from po litics and
seemed all set to be a very relaxed race. How ever
Guarin Clayton was otherw ise com m itted and so
the w eather w as foul. Ruthven has at long last
stepped dow n from the cham pions' pedestal in
favo ur o f Nicol w h o seems all set fo r a sim ilarly
lengthy reign. The course set by the snow con­
dition s w as placed by J.F.C. and D.P.B. It was a
tig h t course w hich favoured the small skiers. A fte r
a spo t o f trouble w ith a stray gate the final result
w as Nicol 1st, Riley 2nd. W . R. Ferguson had the
best individual tim e of the day. Congratulations
m ust go to R. J Duncan w ho in order to get Riley
a place coached his fourth member dow n on foot.
This is of course no breach of F.I.S. rules. I hear
63
Duncan is com ing in to Nicol next year. Special
thanks m ust be given to all gatekeepers who
shivered fo r several hours and to M essrs. R. J.
Benzies, J. Duncan and Clayton for managing the
race organisation.
The Schools races looked like being success­
ful enough. The " B " team of R. D. G. Powrie,
F. S. Benzies, D. L. Young and R. F. Renwick
qualified for the final in the National event. The
tw o teams set off fo r the Cairngorms early one
Saturday morning in March.
The " A " team
managed to retain a place in the to p ten and R. F.
Renwick put up a good perform ance fo r the "B "
team but other than that there w as nothing o u t­
standing about it at all.
The Perthshire Schools event w hich for the last
five years w e have dom inated w as the anti-clim ax
o f the term. Through a series o f mishaps and m inor
disasters w e were pipped at the post in all three
sections.
W e did how ever w in tw o individuals.
J. M. Carver w on the interm ediate section and R.
J. Duncan the junior.
In the Shaw Cup w e had an entry of four
D.P.B., F.S.B., R.J.D. and J.F.C.I I'm glad to be able
to report a vic to ry by F. S. Benzies (o n ly because I
fe ll).
For the remainder o f the season there was
plenty of snow right till the very last. M y only
regret w as th a t I had to come back to school for
the Sum mer Term when I could have been ski-ing.
As usual w e m ust thank J.F.C. fo r all the tim e
he has spent on the ski club, despite his apparent
desertion to the sailing club. To the big question
of w hether we can ever get back to the top I can
only say th a t all w ill greatly depend on the attitud e
taken by the School to ski-ing in the future.
D.P.B.
It is hoped th a t by next year squash fixtures
w ill be properly organised and it should be
possible to have six or seven school matches.
The Jun io r Team, led by A lis ta ir Ferguson, won
all of their fou r matches; th is seems encouraging
fo r the fixture especially as there are a fe w very
keen juniors around in the form of Gerrard and
Stone-W igg.
Individual C om petition results fo r the season
were som ew hat be tte r than the team ones. Peter
Fairlie played the No. 1 seed in the first round of
the S cottish under 18 cham pionships and not un­
expectedly lost but he did do w e ll by getting
through to the final of the plate and narrow ly
losing 3-2.
Simon Vivian reached the \ finals
before he w as knocked out.
In the Edinburgh
Schools tournam ent Simon Vivian reached the
sem i-finals and Peter Fairlie g o t through to the
third round.
The only other com petition entered fo r was
the Royal Bank. The school came fifth out of about
tw e n ty entries and it is possible th a t if the seeding
had been kinder w e m ight have done better.
Overall the season was more notable for its
individual achievem ents than for the team results.
How ever if all the Juniors continue playing at their
present rate the school should have an extrem ely
strong team in about tw o years time.
Played for Senior team: S. N. Vivian, P. S. M.
Fairlie, D. F. Ferguson, A. W . B. Magill, A. W.
Ferguson, G. K. Cochrane, P. A. Hill, M. C. W alker.
Played for Juniors: A. W . Ferguson, R. A.
S tone-W igg, N. Stone-W igg, I. Gerrard, B. C a le n ­
dar, P. A. Hill.
House M atch Results:—
Senior Final: Leburn beat Ruthven 3-2
Jun io r Final; Freeland beat Leburn 5-0
SQUASH
A t the beginning of the season it seemed as
if the team for the year w ould be a relatively strong
one. How ever when the tim e came to play the
firs t match, David Ferguson, an experienced player
w ho w as in the side the previous year had sus­
tained an unfortunate injury to his w ris t.
The
first match was against the Beavers and although
Peter Fairlie and Simon Vivian both w on their ties
the team did not have enough depth and the school
w e n t dow n 3-2. The next fe w matches were all
close but the balance was tipped slig h tly against
the school, the only bad defeat w as the league
match w ith Glenalmond when the team lost 5-0.
David Ferguson w as fit again fo r the follow ing
term but by then the term had suffered another
blow as M ike W alker, the No. 3, had le ft school.
A t this point the coach decided to drop out of
the Crieff and D istrict League, the idea being to
concentrate on School matches instead. However
it w as really too late on in the season to arrange
fixtures and so consequently the only game o r­
ganised w as one against Glenalmond.
The result how ever w as pleasing; the w hole
team w on except fo r the No. 5 w h o was rather
young and inexperienced.
64
S W IM M IN G
This year sw im m ing has proved to be more
successful than it has done for a number o f years.
A fte r effectively w inning the Bath Cup five years
ago sw im m ing w as som ehow allow ed to slip d o w n ­
hill.
Consequently
some
po tentia lly
brilliant
sw im m ers were drow ned, the ir talent being com ­
pletely w asted. Nevertheless, a driving few per­
sisted at the sport, endeavouring to keep it alive
and
eventually, th is
year, all efforts
were
rewarded as numerous juniors decided to fo llo w
the sport. Training then progressed and after a
lo t of w o rk the foundations fo r a good swim m ing
team were established.
U nfortunately the tim e
available fo r training is som ew hat lim ited, the boys
being involved in various activities, and the pool
being used a great deal by other enthusiasts. H ow ­
ever, all those concerned are keen, and w ith
sufficient w iil pow er and determ ination it is my
opinion th a t they could go a long w a y . . . . perhaps
even to w inning the Bath Cup!
The inter-house sw im m ing com p etitio ns to o k
place during the " A " and " 0 " level exams at the
end of the sum m er term .
They were arranged
and run by the sw im m ing master, M r. Kay, and
it was ow ing to his organisation th a t they moved
so sm oothly.
For the th ird successive year Simpson w on
the com petition being follow ed by Leburn, Free­
land, Ruthven and Nicol respectively. A s always
the relays were the highlight o f all the events,
m ost of the school turning out to w atch them. The
general standard o f sw im m ing w as higher than it
has been for a num ber o f years and future p ro ­
spects for sw im m ing at Strathallan are good.
RESULTS OF INTER HOUSE S W IM M IN G
Individual Events
Backstroke
Junior — 1st: Callander (R) 33.7; Waterbury (L ); Hamilton
— (F); Stewart (F).
Middle — 1st: Powrie (S) 1.20.0; Potts (R); Smith (F);
Peddie (S).
Senior— 1st: Willox (L) 1.20.5; Robertson (R ); Russell
(F); Cuthill (F); McGregor (S).
Junior — 1st:
(L );
Middle — 1st:
(L );
Senior — 1st:
(F);
Breaststroke
Waterbury (L) 39.0; Gregor (S ); Nicolson
Grant (F).
Waldie (S) 1.25.5; Lamb (S ); Cochrane
Cunningham (F).
Pearson (S) 1.17.5; Pearson (S ); Shannon
Fairlie (L).
B u tte rfly
Junior — 1st: Waterbury (L) 15.3; McFarlane (N ); Bain
(W ); McGregor (S).
Middle — 1st: Cunningham (F) 36.25; Powrie (S );
Lamb (S).
Senior — 1st: Pearson (S) 32.7; Fairlie (L); Mackay (N );
Milne (S).
Freestyle
Junior — 1st: Waterbury (L) 29.2; Gregor (S ); McFarlane
(N ); Bain (W).
Middle — 1st: Powrie (S) 1.6.0; Cunningham (F);
Russell (S ); Gardener (L).
Senior — 1st: Mackay (W) 1.4.9; Pearson (S ); Willox (L );
Cuthill (F).
A.P.P.
SPORTS AND LEISURE
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By M any British and European Designers
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MODERN FOOTWEAR
A pproved by Champions o f Today
Full Range of Accessories
EXQUISITE LUGGAGE, LEATHER GOODS AND GIFT SECTION
ALSO
TOYS, GAMES AND MODEL DEPARTMENT
Com plete Repair and A fte r Sales Service
Expert A dvice — Catalogues on Request — Enquiries W elcom ed!
For FASHION, ELEGANCE AND QUALITY come to
ALEXANDER SPORTS CENTRE
10/ 12 FRIAR’S STREET, STIRLING
Telephone 2426
65
TENNIS
The three older courts had become badly poholed, so were out o f use from the beginning of
term pending repairs. They were re-surfaced in
m id-term and look good (at any rate they seem
to drain very w e ll) but by the end o f term the
contractors had not replaced the back-netting, so
the courts are still out o f use. A pity. The new
courts were kept busy w ith regular players and,
in A c tiv itie s , w ith players o f more im portant games.
The team consisted of G. J. F. Crowe (ca p ­
ta in ), R. F. W ilson, A. B. Caithness, C. G. Caith­
ness, C. R. M. Sm ith and K. W . M acm illan. R. K.
Shedden, A. D. Macadam and B. J. D. Lyburn also
played in some matches.
They looked a prom ising bunch at the start
but did not come on quite as w e ll as m ight have
been hoped, po ssib ly because o f a general s lo w ­
ness to grasp that doubles are more often won
from the net than from the baseline. They beat
Madras ( A ) , Dollar (H ), Glenalmond (A ) and the
Old Strathalians but lost to Edinburgh Academ y
(FI), Fettes (A ) and M erchiston (H ). Five of the
team, however, are com ing back next year, so
results may im prove. They also played a happy
afternoon of mixed doubles w ith St. Leonards,
com plete w ith um pires and ball-girls.
The singles com p etitio n w as w o n by Crowe,
and the House com p etitio n was w on by Leburn.
M r. Ian W o o d cra ft continued his excellent
w e e kly coaching sessions.
W .N .M .
Strathallian Club
1975
Hon. Office Bearers, Office Bearers and
Mem bers o f Council, etc.
HON. PRESIDENT
D. J. BOGIE
J. B. M. CO W AN
A. D. D. M cC ALLU M
HON. VICE-PRESIDENT
W . N. S. HOARE
PRESIDENT
J. H. SMITH
VICE-PRESIDENT
ERIC C. GILLANDERS
HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER
DONALD I. TURNER
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Retiring 1975
D. R. Anderson
H. Parker
Retiring 1976
J. M. Low
D. R. Nicol
Retiring 1977
R. T. W . S tocker J. R. Marshall N. I. Schneeberger
A. J. F itzpatrick
Hon A u d ito rs
C. M. Biggart, C.A.
A. Nairn, C.A.
Trustees for the Club
D. W . Lewis
A. S. Headrick
CLUB MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
J. Harry Allen
SECRETARY (GOLF SECTION)
A. S. Cook
SECRETARY (ANGLING SECTION)
D. A. Biggart
66
The President
1974-75
J IM M Y SMITH w as at
Strathallan from 1936 to 1940.
He was Vice-Captain o f the
School and Captain of Free­
land House in 1939/40, and
Captain of cricke t 1940.
In
the w in te r term of 1940 he
was Captain o f the School
and a member of the firs t XV,
and in the same year w on the
R. A. Houston Gold Medal.
He was also a keen sw im m er
and w as Junior Champion in
1937 and Senior Champion in
1938/40.
He was com m issioned as Observer in the Fleet
A ir Arm and on his return to civilian life joined the
Glasgow S tock Exchange in 1951, and entered into
partnership w ith his father as a stockbroker.
He has always taken a very keen interest in
the School and Club and served on the Council
in the years 1950/53.
Jim m y's be tte r sport, however, was cricke t
and throughout the p o st-w ar period he played fo r
Glasgow Academicals Club and captained the XI
in 1961/62 and eventually became President of
W estern D istrict Cricket A ssociation in 1966/67.
He is also a very keen rugby enthusiast and al­
though injury term inated his playing career in 1948
(he insists his playing career w as undistinguished)
he became A ssista n t Secretary o f the Glasgow
Academ icals Club and Secretary in 1954. He still
holds this post and adm its to being the longest
serving Rugby Secretary in Scotland.
Despite his various sporting interests, Jim m y
has taken a considerable am ount of interest in the
charitable field where he was Deacon of the In­
corporation of M asons of G lasgow in 1966/67.
Jim m y is married w ith three sons and w hile
he has little tim e for relaxation, he enjoys sailing,
fishing and curling.
67
A.G.M. AND ANNUAL DINNER
The 41st A.G.M. of the Club took place on
Saturday, 23rd November, 1974 in the Station
Hotel, Perth. The President, W . M. Nairn, w as in
the Chair and 25 members attended.
The Council's report and A ccou nts fo r the
year ended 30th September, 1974 were approved
and 45 new life members were elected.
James H. Smith w as elected President of the
Club fo r the ensuing year and Eric C. Gillanders
was elected Vice-President.
The Annual Dinner follow e d and was attended
by 102 Strathallians and the ir guests.
The
speakers were:—
M r. Nicholas Fairbairn, M.P.
The President
The Headmaster
The V ice-President
Mr. James Laird
LONDON BRANCH
The President attended the London Branch
Dinner on 3rd A pril, 1975. 22 members attended,
together w ith the Headmaster and Mr. David Piglills .
S tew a rt Ritchie was in the Chair.
The
evening was highly successful.
The Branch Secretary, David A nderson, 194/
200 Bishopsgate, London EC2 (Tel. 01 283 6767)
s alw ays glad to hear from London-based S trath­
allians.
DINNER DANCE
Alan F itzpatrick convened a thoroughly enoyable evening in the Excelsior Hotel, G lasgow on
31st January, 1974. There was a reduced atten­
dance — only 156 members and guests attended!
The evening is to be recommended and the
’ resident hopes that the Dance on 16th January,
I976 in the same hotel, w ill be a sell-out.
He
lopes th a t Strathallians of all ages w ill regard this
)s a first class reunion o p p o rtu n ity and bring the ir
riends.
Please note the date: 16th JANUARY, 1976
\NG LING CLUB REPORT 1974/75
The school magazine w ill have to change
:heir publication date because at present the
\n g lin g Club Report has to cover part o f tw o
seasons.
The last com petition of the 1974 season w as
leld at the Lake o f M enteith, and as it w as our
00th com petition all taking part w on a prize! The
vinner o f the com petition was Robin MacGregor,
vhose father-in-law and Club Captain lain Hender­
son, presented him w ith a suita bly engraved
ankard.
The bottom prize was w on by Robin
Turner — a box of to ile t paper!
58
The to ta l catch for the season was 61 trout
w eighing 43lbs. — not very good. A s the result of
one rather large catch the Club Cham pionship and
G rossit Trophy, the John Hall Salver and the Fing­
land T rophy were all w on by David Biggart.
George and M argeret Turner were hosts at a
m ost enjoyable Annual Party. W e held an Annual
General M eeting fo r w hich this year there are
M inutes.
Eric W a tt, our new Captain, started off the
1975 season in an exem plary manner, not only
w inning the firs t com p etitio n of the season at
Loch A w e , but setting a new Club record in the
process catching 6 tro u t weighing 4 lbs. 3 oz.
In M ay at the Lake of M enteith, v/e had a lucky
w in against S cotland's leading Angling Club "The
Phoenix" — 7 tro u t — 7lbs., against 3 tro u t —
2 lbs. 13 oz. (I do not propose to add that all the
tro u t w ere in fact caught by members of the
Strathallian C lub). Robbie Bow ie, all the w ay from
Dornoch, w on the com petition.
A t Loch Leven in June one boat was late back
and their 6 tro u t did not count, but as W illie Nairn
had 6 fish weighing 9 lbs. to his ow n rod, they
did not really suffer.
In July w e did battle w ith the Boys from
School and this year I am happy to be able to
report tha t w e w o n, catching as many as 21 tro u t
— weighing 15lbs. 6 oz. against their 16 tro u t —
weighing 11 ibs. 9 oz. David Biggart had the best
Club catch, w h ile Lindsay Young's son, David,
w on the reel, presented fo r the best Boy's catch.
W ith tw o com p etitio ns still to be fished w e
have already had a record season w ith 86 trout,
weighing 74 Ibs. 12 oz., but more im portant, we
have had a m ost pleasant season.
W e w ould
w elcom e more members, young o r old, w ho w ould
like to partake o f our pleasures on future occasions.
Details of Club activities can be obtained from
the Secretary, David Biggart, 307 W e st George
Street, G lasgow C2. (Tel. 041 221 7206).
GOLF CLUB
Queen Elizabeth Trophy. Our team this year
w as ably captained by Gordon Lowden. His team
was Jam ie M offat, S tuart Lowden, Rich. W illia m ­
son, Bob Howie and Donald Turner. It is necessary
to rep ort th a t w e did not w in the tro p h y however
the w hole team are agreed th a t w e beat tw o strong
teams before being defeated by Old Epsonians. In
the firs t round the m ight o f M essrs. G. Lowden and
M offat, tog ether w ith S. Lowden and W illiam son,
was sufficient to overcom e Old M alburghians; the
perform ance o f Howie and Turner need not be
m entioned!
Glasgow High School F.P.'s have a daunting
reputation in this com petition but your Secretary
is happy to report th a t they w ere dism issed w ith o u t
gaining a point. A t th is point, however, the story
is at an end since w e were defeated by tw o
matches to one against Old Epsonians.
Annual Meeting 1975. It w as agreed by the
membership th a t in an endeavour to revive interest
in the Golf Section w e w ould play fo r three
trophies over one week-end. To this end some
twelve only golfers assembled at P restw ick G olf
Club on Saturday, 15th March — the g o lf varied
from the incredible to the unbelievable. M embers
w ill kno w th a t w e have three trophies w hich are
to be played fo r annually. Over this w eek-end the
Reid Salver w as to be presented to the player w ith
the lo w est medal score over tw o rounds — the
Johnston Trophy fo r the best stableford score on
Saturday — and the Bogie T rophy fo r the best
score against bogey on the Sunday.
I am happy to relate that your G olf Secretary
won tw o out of the three possible! Ian Gray
winning the Bogie Trophy. M ost o f us were based
at the excellent Marine Hotel, Troon, and the
m ajority were accompanied by w ives. Some had
more than ju s t w ives; some had children.
A
dinner dance w as enjoyed on the Saturday night,
in fact, m ost golfers were more tire d after dancing
than they were after golfing. The w e athe r was
kind fo r g o lf — all in all, the week-end was voted
a success.
Our thanks to P restw ick G olf Course fo r
allow ing us the courtesy o f this m ost testing of
Links courses and to the Marine Hotel fo r putting
up w ith some unusual guests
In vie w of the success o f this first week-end
it is hoped tha t the 1976 week-end, venue un­
decided; w hich w ill probably be held over the
week-end 27 /28th March, 1976, w ill be supported
by greater numbers.
A.S.C.
CLUB TIES ETC.
Please note that all Club ties etc., are now
obtainable at R. W . Forsyth Limited, G lasgow and
Endinburgh.
NEWS OF OLD STRATHALLIANS
AITKEN, G. R. (1961/68) has been appointed as
manager w ith Station Supreme Limited, a
subsidiary of Texaco Limited.
ASHTON, T. (1963/68) w ith the Royal A rtille ry
and due to go to Northern Ireland in Septem ­
ber. He tells us he m et Rod Jenkins (Freeland
'66) w ho is also in the R.A. He has also met
Malcolm McLellarid (1953/58) and M ike Hardy
(1958/63) who are both in Colchester w ith the
47 Regiment, Royal A rtille ry.
BALFOUR, G. W. (1961/68) H.N.D. (A g ric .)
He
is under manager o f a large estancia in
Southern Argentine and com ing home in the
new year to be married.
BROWN, A. J. G. (1930/35) Secretary o f the
Medical Faculty o f Dundee U niversity.
His
fam ily have taken over the King's o f Kinloch
Hotel, outside Meigle, Perthshire, w ith son
and daughter managing hotel.
They w ould
welcom e any Strathallians w ho care to call.
BUTCHER, M. J. (1955/60) is M arketing D irector
of General M ills, a French to y group of
Companies in Paris. He requests inform ation
of any Strathallians living in Paris.
BUDGE, A. D. J. (1953/58) is a Field Officer w ith
C.S.B.P. and Farmers. He tells us he m et N. F.
Clark recently and enjoys the barbecues that
he holds.
CAMPBELL, A. D. K. (1955/59) w as prom oted to
Squadron Leader in Ju ly 1974 and is now
Flight Commander o f O perations on 41 Squad­
ron flying Phantoms.
He has also been
appointed R.A.F. official old boy fo r Strathallan
School in succession to W ing Commander E.
J. K. Smith.
CARSWELL, R. A. (1957/60) has joined Neil Foley
Limited, 104 W e st George St., Glasgow. He
te lls us he met J. G. Leighton (1957/60) w h o
is now managing a branch o f Chequers Stores
in Ladysmith, South A frica.
CLARK, N. F. (1955/58) has recently transferred
to W estern Australia and is based in Perth as
State Manager fo r Rural Division o f I.C.I.
Australia Limited. The Secretary has no doubt
that the barbeques w hich he holds, and which
A rth u r Budge enjoys so much, w ill be of
interest to new Australian im igrants— Messrs.
I. S. Gray, G. G. H. Gordon and J. W . Linn.
CRAWFORD, B J. F.
Ch.B., in July 1974.
(19 63 /6 8)
qualified
M B .,
C U M M IN G , A. M . (1960/65) is w o rkin g fo r B P.
Chemicals International Limited as a Com puter
Program m er/A nalyst.
DINNEN, G. S. (19 64 /6 9) in A ug ust o f this year
he w ill com plete his firs t to u r o f the Far East
w ith the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Group.
DUNLEY, P. G (1945/49) is now a D irector of
K.G. Flexchloach Produktion Cmbh. and Co.,
Lubeck, W e s t Germany. He tells us that he
met Aiden Ball w ho is presently involved in
the to u ris t business in the S tirling area.
EADIE, G. R. (19 55 /6 6) now a System s Pro­
gram mer at Durham U n iversity after taking
Ph.D. at Leicester U niversity.
ERIKSEN, S. S. (19 63 /6 9) is Managing D irector o f
a Truck Rental Firm in Johannesburg specialis­
ing in heavy tru ck hire.
FRASER, E. A. (1954/61) is now Managing Director
of Alex. Fraser Ltd.
FRASER, T. R. L. (1944/46) he tells us th a t during
the E.E.C. Referendum Campaign he was
Secretary of the all-party "S cotland in Europe"
Executive Com m ittee.
G ALLO W AY, W . R. (19 58 /6 0) graduated B.Sc.,
M .A .(H o n s.) in A p ril 1975 at Queen's U ni­
versity, O ntario, and awarded a Research
Council of Canada Scholarship fo r Doctoral
Research into some effects o f alchoholic beve­
rages upon the sleep cycle.
(The Secretary
thinks that this ought to be of considerable
interest to many S trathallians!)
GIBSON, T. (1958/65) w as assumed as a Partner
in M alcolm Jack and M atheson, S olicitors,
W alm er House, East Port, Dunfermline in
A ug ust 1974.
69
GORDON, G. G. H. (1955/60) is em igrating to
Australia in A ug ust 1975. The Secretary w o uld
like to thank Graham fo r h is're ce n t w o rk as a
mem ber o f Council and w ish him and his
fam ily success in the future.
GRAY, I. S. (1954/61) has been appointed Group
Investm ent Manager, Collin Holdings, Australia.
Looking forw ard to meeting G. G. H. Gordon
and J. W . Linn out there and hopes to organise
a dinner fo r Strathallians in Australia!
GILFILLAN, C. (1 9 6 9 /7 3 )' taking B A .
(A rts )
Degree at Edinburgh U n iversity having ju s t
com pleted his second year.
GILLANDERS, C. S. Y. (1961/68) in 1947 graduated
B.Sc. (Econ.) Honours (Special subject ■
—
G overnm ent), U n iversity o f London and is w ith
the Advance Group of Companies in Putney.
He tells us Keith Gillanders (19 61 /6 8) was
married in June 1975 and is Civil Engineering
in London, and A lic k M ulhall (19 61 /6 8) was
married in A ug ust 1974 and is living in East
Kilbride.
GILLANDERS, F. G. R. (19 67 /7 4) is now in his final
year at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dart­
m outh and hopes to pass out as a M id sh ip ­
man in December.
GRANT, E. (19 62 /6 9) now in A uckland, New
Zealand, w ith Strathallian, Donald M cDonald,
form erly o f Cardross.
DE LA HAYE (1969/73) w as com m issioned on 8th
November 1974 as 2nd Lt. 1st. Bn. Royal Scots
and has served in Cyprus fo r 3 m onths w ith
the Royal Regiment. He tells us th a t M. W .
H. Cran is now a Lt. in the 1st Bn. Royal
Scots.
LEWIS, R. T. (1970/74) taking B io lo g y/C h e m istry
Course at S tirling U n iversity having ju s t co m ­
pleted firs t year.
LINN, J. W . (1956/61) is m oving to A ustralia in
A ug ust 1975 to w o rk fo r Ross McFadyen and
Co., 17 O 'Connell Street, Sydney 2000.
MILLAR, W . S. H. (1965/69) has been appointed
A sst. Hospital Engineer at Leavesden Annexe
and A b b o ts Langley Hospitals.
McKEEVER, B. (19 60 /6 4) is M arketing and Pub­
lic ity Manager w ith a large dried fru it Com pany
in Naples.
PARKER, J. L. W . (19 65 /6 1) has recently been
appointed
Senior
Registrar at
Gartnavel
General Hospital.
PATERSON, J. B. N. (19 60 /6 5) has been appointed
an A ssociate M em ber o f the British Institute
of M anagement (A .M .B .l.M .) and is now
General Manager w ith W a tt and Grant, Union
Street, Aberdeen.
PATON, W . T. (19 31 /3 5) The Council w ish to
congratulate Bill Paton on being awarded the
C.B.E. in the New Year's Honours list.
PENNIE, D. N. F. (1965/70) Graduated M .A. at
Dundee in 1974 and is ju s t com pleting a
Graduate Course in Physical Education and
Geography at Loughborough College w here he
has been playing hockey and running for
Loughborough College.
70
PHILIP, R. (19 48 /5 3) is now A d m in istra to r of
Lucayan M edical Clinic and presently taking
his p ilo t's licence. He tells us that Dr. Jason
M cC arroll is a very busy general practitioner
in Nassau and also one o f the leading yachts­
men o f Nassau Sailing Club.
PICKEN, C. (19 71 /7 4) is now a Partner in a Frozen
Food Business.
QUARRY, W . W . (1959/64) has been appointed
Commercial Property Manager w ith S tru tt and
Parker, Edinburgh.
ROBSON, A. I. (19 66 /7 3) taking B.D.S. Course in
D e ntistry at N ew castle U n iversity and pre­
sen tly com pleted 2nd year.
RYMER, D. (19 60 /6 6) (S taff) has been appointed
to the Drama Panel o f the A rts Council o f
Great Britain. He gives us news o f Jim Black
(1958/64) w h o is w ith Esso Petroleum in Hull,
and B. M. S. Borland w ho is a Veterinary
Surgeon in Drayton.
ROBERTSON, C. (19 67 /7 1) A t Magdalene College,
Cambridge and hopes to graduate in June
from an Engineering Course.
Has been
U n ive rsity Ski Captain and a member o f the
A n g lo -S w iss team w h o beat the S w iss at St.
M o ritz in January.
SCHNEEBERGER, N. I. (1969/74) presently taking
an H.N.D. Course in A ccountancy at Glasgow
College of Technology.
SCOTT, R. H. (19 55 /6 3) s till w ith "S h e ll" as
Petroleum Engineer, the Hague, Holland, but
due to move in O ctober. He tells us th a t his
brother John is still tea planting in India.
SETTLES, R. L. (19 61 /6 8) has been appointed
Head o f Latin Dept, at Dulwich College, Cranbrook, Kent.
TAYLOR, I. W . G. (19 50 /5 3) has been appointed
D irector o f McLaren, Dick and Co., Ltd.
Chartered Loss A djusters (U.K. and Ireland).
T H O M AS, A. (19 63 /6 7) is n o w teaching Physical
Education at W inch ester College.
TRUSDALE, T. (1 9 60 /6 6) Emigrated to Canada on
1st A ug ust 1975
TURNER, J. S. (1964/71) graduated LL.B.(Ord.)
from Dundee U n iversity in 1974 and is now
w orking in Edinburgh.
ENGAGEMENTS
Balfour, G. W . (19 61 /6 8) to M iss Sheila Rankin of
Jedburgh.
MARRIAGES
A itke n , G. R. (19 61 /6 8) to M iss Anne Strathdee
on 8th December, 1973.
Bell, I. P. G. (1959/61) to M iss Hazel O'Hara on
27th June, 1975.
Bruce, J. R. T. (1964/69) to M iss Jane W ilson on
1st November, 1974.
Carver, G. A. R. (19 57 /6 3) to M iss Barbara Moira
Sm uts on 27th December, 1974.
Crawford, N. J. F. (1963/68) to M iss P. M. Jackson
on 26th June, 1974.
M illar, W . S. H (1965/69) to M iss Susan Ord on
5th July, 1975.
McGill, S. R. (1961/66) to M iss Marilla A. Cawall
on 4th October, 1974.
BIRTHS
Aitken, I. M. (1953/58) to M r. and M rs. I. M.
A itken, a daughter, Susan Clare, on 30th July,
1974.
Benson, B. (1954/59) to Mr. and Mrs. B. Benson,
tw in boys, Peter and A nd rew , on 16th Decem­
ber, 1974.
Birnie, G. W . V. (1957/62) to M r. and M rs. G. W .
V. Birnie, a daughter, Rona Louise, on 5th
June, 1975 (a sister fo r Neil Robert born 29th
October, 1973).
Bucher, M. J. (1.955/60) to Mr. and M rs. M. J.
Bucher, a daughter, Nathalie born November,
1974.
Eriksen, S. S. (1963/69) to M r. and M rs. S. S.
Eriksen, a daughter, Caroline on 11th A ugust,
1974.
Fraser, E. A. (1954/61) to Mr. and Mrs. E. A.
Fraser, a daughter, Jennifer Ann, on 16th
March, 1974.
Galloway, W . R. (1958/60) to Mr. and Mrs. W . R.
G alloway, a daughter, Fiona M argaret, on 30th
April, 1975.
Keech, J. R. N. (19 59 /6 4) to M r. and Mrs. J. R. N.
Keech, a son, Michael on 3rd June, 1974.
M elville, W . B. (19 58 /6 6) to Mr. and Mrs. W . B.
M elville, a son, S c o tt Balfour, on 8th Decem­
ber, 1974.
M on te ith, J. D. (19 61 /6 3) to Mr. and Mrs. J. D.
M on tieth, a daughter, Clair Catherine Elizabeth,
on 5th June, 1974.
M cG ill, J. M. (1956/61) to M r. and M rs. J. M.
M cG ill, a son, David, on 31st O ctober, 1974.
Pate, A. M. (19 54 /6 1) to Mr. and M rs. A. M. Pate,
a son, on 9th A pril, 1975.
Parker, J. L. W . (19 56 /6 1) to Mr. and Mrs. J. L. W .
Parker, a son, A ndrew , on 15th O ctober, 1974.
Stocker, R. J. W . (1953/58) to Mr. and M rs. R. J.
W . Stocker, tw in sons, Edward Robert and
Thomas Stephen, on 8th June, 1975.
Taylor, I. (1960/64) to Mr. and Mrs. I. Taylor, a
son, Gregory, on 11th A ugust, 1974.
Turner, D. I. (19 55 /6 2) to Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Turner, a son, A lastair John, on 25th Novem ­
ber, 1974.
DEATHS
MacLeod, A.
Gardens,
S cott, A. R.
go w G41
R. (19 38 /4 1) o f 21 Queensborough
Glasgow, on 20th June, 1975.
(19 28 /3 4) o f 17 Dolphin Road, Glas­
— January 1975.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The Hon. Secretary requests th a t Strathallians
n o tify him p ro m ptly on all changes of address, in
order to save the Club unnecessary postage costs
and confusion.