Foundation Day - George Watson's College - Home · [email protected] Tel: 0064 3351 5058...

The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College Issue 26

July 2009

caritasFoundation Day

PlusSir Chris Hoy visits Watson’sA Postcard from Bulgaria

Regular FeaturesDevelopment MattersWatsonian NewsWhere are they now?

[email protected]

Tel: 0032 2 763 [email protected]

Tel: (905) 272 [email protected]


[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected]

Tel: 0064 3351 [email protected]

Tel: 002721 [email protected]


BahamasMargaret Bain

Belgium (Brussels)Andrew Brown

Canada (Toronto)Robert Chassels

France (Paris) Inez Forbes

GermanyMarkus Schroeder

GibraltarStuart Watkins

Hong KongMario Maciocia

South-East Asia(Thailand)Stephen Wise

New ZealandDouglas Bridges

South Africa(Cape Town)Brian Hogg

Spain (Alicante)Kate Burke

UK

Overseas

Watsonian Network forthcoming events

AberdeenBill Ferguson

BordersTom Kerr

South West EnglandSheena Carter

Highland and MorayIan Davidson

LancashireNigel Kirkness

LondonAndrew Burt

Perth WomenValerie Fox

YorkshireEric Ironside

Australia(Sydney)Pat Stevenson

Australia(Victoria) Sandy Robb

forthcoming events







Tel: 01738 629145




Watsonian Network

Sports ContactsIf you are interested in participating in any of the sports below please contact the appropriate person.

[email protected]


[email protected]




[email protected]

Tel: 0131 225 1119


Tel: 0131 446 6100

Rugby Martin Macari

Cricket Steve Lockhart

Curling Dan Lean

Golf (men) David McMurray

Golf (women) Mabel Montgomery

Hockey Darren Cavaroli

Rifle Beverley Burnside

Squash Brenda Carmichael

Swimming Ailsa Heine

MyresideOffice

forthcoming events

Worldwide Contacts Worldwide ContactsWorldwide Contacts

AnyenquiriesrelatingtoWatsonianmattersshouldbemadetotheDevelopmentOffice,GeorgeWatson’sCollege,ColintonRoad,EdinburghEH105EGTel:01314466008Fax:01314466102email:[email protected]

Worldwide ContactsIfyouwouldbeinterestedinattendingaMusic,SportorDramaeventatWatson’s

pleasecontacttheDevelopmentOfficeon01314466008oremail:[email protected]

forthcoming events

Switzerland(Geneva) Henry Meyerhoff

USA (North California)Brian WilliamsonJake Mackenzie

USA (East Coast)Robin Macdonald

Watsonian President Eileen Potts [email protected] President Keith Anderson [email protected] Roy Mack [email protected] David Mieras [email protected] Gareth Edwards [email protected] of Development Lesley McKean [email protected] Convener Ian A L Hogg 0131 667 4846Elected member Lorna Baird [email protected] member Martin Macari [email protected]

[email protected]

Tel: 001 415435 [email protected]@aol.com

[email protected]

Watsonian Council

Worldwide Contacts

Watsonian Network

Worldwide Contacts

Watsonian Network2009/2010 26July BordersWatsonianGardenParty25September HighlandandMorayDinner29September LondonNetworkingEvent10October SchoolOpenMorning 2009Reunion28October WatsonianBenevolentFundAGM Watsonian Club AGM Myreside AGM5November LondonWatsonianClubAGM6November CaritasDinner

The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College

cont

ents

2009 201011November RemembranceDayService2December BordersWatsonianDinner5December EnablementChristmasCeilidhandDisco10December MyresideChristmasLunch11December LondonWatsonianClubChristmasSupper15January CenotaphCeremonyandLunch,London20February WatsonianGolfDinner5March Founder’sDay19March 100thLondonWatsonianDinner26March WatsonianDinner

Every gift in every Will makes a difference.

For information about leaving a Legacy to

the George Watson’s Family Foundation please contact the

Development Office.

[email protected]


[email protected]




[email protected]

Tel: 0131 225 1119


Tel: 0131 446 6100

IfyouwouldbeinterestedinattendingaMusic,SportorDramaeventatWatson’spleasecontacttheDevelopmentOfficeon01314466008oremail:[email protected]

George Watson’s CollegeColinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5EG

Tel: 0131 446 6008 Fax: 0131 446 6102email: [email protected]://www.gwc.org.ukGeorge Watson’s College is administered by the Edinburgh Merchant Company Education Board; a charity registered in Scotland SC009747

The magazine of the former pupils and friends of George Watson’s College

EditorLesley McKean (Director of Development)

Design and Production David Brown (George Watson’s College)

CoverPrimary Pupils photographed on Foundation Day by Stuart MacLaren

cont

ents

Editorial

Sabatical 4

Watson’sPupilsareTops! 5

WatsonianNews 6

WhoAreWe? 8

TasteYeBack 9

DevelopmentMatters 10

WhereAreTheyNow? 12

ChrisHoyvisitsWatson’s 14

APostcardfromBulgaria 15

DesperatelySeeking 16

Well it finally happened, I reached the age of having a child sitting Higher exams. Now I realise what walking on eggshells actually means!

However, following the exam frenzy, the pupils have been able to get involved in other things. For the Senior School pupils this has included the School musical Jesus Christ Superstar, School sports, work experience, business dynamics, piping competitions, and school exchanges to name but a few. For the Junior School, activities included the excellent P7 performance of Olivia, trips to Gladstone’s Land, the Lower and Upper Primary sports and the excitement of the P7 Dance!

Watson’s continues to astound me with the breadth of opportunity our pupils are offered and the way that they accept responsibility. S3 Projects again challenged our pupils and many of them will have gained memories that will last a lifetime.

We also said farewell to the Class of 2009 and to several of our colleagues who retired either during or at the end of session. We shall miss their support and camaraderie, but look forward to welcoming new pupils and staff at the beginning of session.

The current economic situation brings challenges for many and there will be difficult times ahead for some families. The more support we can secure for the George Watson’s Family Foundation at this time, the more we can help those who may find it difficult to finance a Watson’s education. Therefore I would ask anyone who can help, to contact us, and remind everyone that the Foundation’s Annual Fund is a wonderful way of supporting the School and information about this will be circulated next term.

Lesley McKean(née Scott, Class of 1981)Director of Development

Every gift in every Will makes a difference.

For information about leaving a Legacy to

the George Watson’s Family Foundation please contact the

Development Office.

Ann Allan Anne Charman Liz Hepburn

Fiona McCallum Linda Sharp Lewis Smith

Retiring Staff

co

lom

bia

4

One of the great joys of teaching in Watson’s is that you have the right to apply for a Sabbatical. This term I was awarded one by the school in order to take part in a Rotary Foundation programme called Group Study Exchange – GSE – in Colombia. This programme is an exchange between two Rotary Districts in different parts of the world. My District had decided to exchange with one in Colombia and I was chosen as the Team Leader to go to South America – a long time ambition of mine. My first job was to choose a team to accompany me and after a careful selection process reminiscent of The Apprentice I chose Liz, a mental health nurse, Kiran, a museum curator, Nicola, a housing officer and Jain who works for Save the Children. Team building began right away in July last year and over a series of meetings friendships were developed, plans made, outfits bought and presents for our hosts decided upon. Our presentations were discussed and practised as well. The team bravely decided to present in Spanish which was well received in Colombia.

One very important aspect of GSE is that team members have the opportunity to study their vocations and I was fortunate to visit a number of schools in Colombia and what I saw in some of them will stay with me for a long time. The first visit was to a Skills School run by a Christian Charity where 17–21 year olds were given the opportunity to become bakers, jewellers or hair and nail specialists. The second was to their school in a slum area of Bogota where we had to have bodyguards to protect us. The living conditions in that slum were appalling with mud roads, little electricity

and basic sanitation facilities the norm for

over 1 million people. 35,000 children living there have no school to go to. We finished the day with a visit to a boarding school in the countryside for girls who were in danger of abuse – a delightful place where they felt safe and were able to grow and develop in peace.

Visits to state schools were arranged and I saw two of them – or rather four – as each school building houses two schools – one in the morning from 5.30am until lunchtime and then another in the afternoon from 2.00pm until 9.30pm. Each school had different pupils, staff and administration with about 5,500 pupils all together per building. Most of the teaching in all these schools was in English which was studied from Nursery upwards.

The weekend was spent visiting a salt cathedral, presenting two disabled children with wheelchairs and going to the Sacred Lagoon of Guatavita which is where the El Dorado legend was born.

The following day the programme continued – well for the group if not for me as I had the chance to witness Colombia’s Health Service at close quarters. En route for the North I collapsed and was rushed to a GP clinic which was primitive, dirty, understaffed but cheap. I was transferred to a basic but clean hospital where I was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and as the surgeon got ready to operate the wife of the District Governor arrived and took charge, organising everything including the transfer to Bogota where I would receive keyhole surgery to enable me to recover faster and resume the programme. No ambulance could be found nor taxi to take me the two hour trip to Bogota so

the son of one of her friends drove me down carefully. After being greeted by a number

of Rotarian friends in the waiting room I was

operated on at 11pm that night. Given that some of these friends were

medics in the hospital they came with me right

up to the operating theatre

chatting away and keeping up

my spirits. The next day they all came in to see how I was from about 6.30am onwards! I was glad to go ‘home’ the next day for some R&R. After a week I was able to resume the programme and saw a number of other schools, including an impressive private school for boys which was run on English public school lines and the Montessori British school where all lessons from age eight upwards are given in English. In Cartagena we visited a school which like the village it served was built in and on a land-fill rubbish dump. Water was supplied by a well for the 2–3,000 people living in huts. We attended a First-aid class run by the Red Cross for 15-year-olds and some of their parents. In other schools in Cartagena we spoke to the people delivering Child Protection training to staff and pupils including the Psychologist whose job is to identify this abuse.

The highlight of the trip was the District Conference which lasted three days and involved about 600 Rotarians and their partners. Presenting to that audience in a kilt was a fabulous experience and the fact I gave the Governor a quaich and found some whisky to put in it and share around the room went down very well. If I had had a dollar for every photo I posed for in my kilt I could have retired a rich man.

One of the objectives of an exchange such as this is to improve language skills. As this was the first time I had lived as part of a Spanish speaking family for over thirty years I was able to do so in no uncertain terms. While I missed out on the Rotary and vocational content in week two, I still had the opportunity to speak Spanish all day every day experience which will rub off on my classes in the years ahead.Ian Geddes(Teacher of French and Spanish, Head of Resources for Modern Languages)

Sabbatical Visiting a favela – home to 10 people

Ian (pictured left) with the team

co

lom

bia

55

The main events which the pupils have taken part in this session have included; Foundation Day, where pupils in the School made a donation to the Foundation to wear their own tie for the day (Junior School) and dress down (Senior School). Over £4,000 was raised on the day.

Assemblies took place in the Junior and Senior Schools during the Spring Term to ensure that pupils understood the message of the Foundation. At the Senior School Assembly Suliman Bah (S6) showed part of a DVD he had produced which was greeted with great applause. He subsequently showed the DVD at lunchtimes and further donations to the Foundation were received.

Wake Up Watson’s involved over 1,000 pupils and staff from the Nursery and Junior School, who took part in our largest ever aerobics session on the Grandstand pitch in March. A big thank you to all pupils, staff, parents and friends of the School, especially Kath Grandison, who helped make Wake up Watson’s a huge success, by raising over £10,000 for the George Watson’s Family Foundation. This year’s March Hare attracted a huge entry and over £600 was raised.

The P3 Oak Tree Design Company presented a cheque for £423 to Mr Roy Mack and Mrs Lesley McKean at the lower primary assembly which was raised from the sale of tea towels.

S6 had a ‘pyjama day’ and the Foundation was delighted to be named as one of the charities to benefit.

Other fundraising has taken place throughout the session and we would like to thank all of our pupils, staff, parents and supporters for contributing to the important work of the George Watson’s Family Foundation.

Watson’s Pupils are Tops!Each Spring term at Watson’s, the pupils’ fundraising focus turns to supporting our own charity, the George Watson’s Family Foundation.

S6 pyjama day

Two Junior School pupils present a cheque to Mrs Lesley McKean and Mr Roy Mack

from the Development Office

Both pictures above: Junior School pupils wear thier own ties to raise money for the Family Foundation

Both pictures above: The March Hare

The Foundation exists to provide financial support to enable pupils to attend the School who otherwise would be unable to do so. It also raises money for new capital developments on campus, and to support other areas of school life.

Dressing up for the March Hare

Watsonian NewsWatsonian News



Watsonian News


6

Joinusatthe2009ReunionIf you belong to the classes of 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 or 1999, we hope that you are able to attend this year’s reunion on Saturday 10 October. If you have not received information and would like to attend, please contact the Development Office on [email protected] or visit the Watsonians and Donors section of the School website.

London100thDinnerThe 100th London Watsonian Dinner will take place on Friday 19 March 2010 and we hope to encourage as large a turnout as possible. Please contact [email protected] for further details.

NetworkingEventA Watsonian networking event will take place in London on Tuesday 29 September 2009.

Fur ther informat ion wi l l be distributed nearer the time, please ensure that the Development Office has your up to date contact details, including email address, if you would like to attend.

2009WatsonianDinner

A highly successful Watsonian Dinner was held at Myreside in February. Pictured left to right are Duncan Finnie (Head Boy), Meg Young (Head Girl), John Nettleton (Guest Speaker), Tony Potts, Eileen Potts (Watsonian President), Gareth Edwards (Principal), Jo Nettleton, Jane Edwards, Pam Murray and Norman Murray (Chairman of Governors).

Founder’sDay

We were delighted to have the current and two former Heads of the Biology Department present at this session’s Founder’s Day. Pictured from left to right are Colin Gambles, Pat Edington and Jim Braithwaite.

Watsonian Travel GrantsFollowing a rigorous interview with the Watsonian President, Vice President and Secretary, a total of £2,750 was dispersed to this year’s successful recipients of the Watsonian Travel Grants. Pictured left to right are Rachael Cruikshank, Anna Gorzkowska, Duncan Finnie, Laurie Clark and Robert Scott Moncrieff.

Not pictured Rosie Telford.Pictured left to right: Alistair Crawford, Brian Adair, Charlie Hill, Jim Macmorran, Brenda Carmichael, Richard

McIntosh, Ronnie Sinclair, Alex Sinclair, Suzie Laughland, Paul Macari, Gerrard Clark and Martin Macari. Photo by Alexis Manson

Squash–75thAnniversaryDinner

7

Calling all CurlersYou may have curled while at School and you may or may not have continued thereafter, but the Watsonian Curling Club is looking to recruit new members or to welcome back former members.

The Club is open to all and we play at Murrayfield Ice Rink, adjacent to the skating rink beside the rugby stadium, and we have our own internal competitions plus matches against other Edinburgh clubs. Coaching, if required, can be arranged through the Edinburgh Curling Club and practice ice is available at certain times if you phone the ice rink.

If you are interested or want more information, please contact Dan Lean, President, Watsonian Curling Club, 0131 447 3768, [email protected].

Congratulations to Gillian Cooke (Class of 2000, pictured right) and her bobsleigh partner Nicola Minichiello on winning a World Championship bobsleigh gold medal at Lake Placid in February.

FormerStaff Return to School

Over 50 former members of staff arrived at Myreside on Friday 1 May 2009 for their annual get together.

The topic for this year was the School’s involvement in the Model United Nations and Rob Crawford and four senior pupils gave a detailed presentation followed by a question and answer session.

It was lovely to see former staff of all ages enjoy the presentation and then have the opportunity to chat over lunch.

Watsonian MagazineThe annual subscription for The Watsonian magazine is £5 for UK subscribers and £10 for those living overseas. Subscription forms are available from the Development Office.

Pictured back row left to right: James MacDougall, Neil Johnston,Gordon Bowman, Roy Mack, David

Wolstencroft, Rod Hathway, Martin Macari. Front row: Peter Stark, Edward Kelly, Paul Macari,

Hugh Anderson and Steven Mutch

Rugby Reunion 1986/1987

Past and present members of the 9th Edinburgh Scout Group with their guests at the Centenary Dinner at Myreside in September 2008

Scout Centenary Dinner

Watsonian Club AGMNotice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of The Watsonian Club will be held on Wednesday 28 October 2009 at Myreside at 7pm. As there is no longer a subscription for joining the Club, all Watsonians, as members of The Watsonian Club are entitled to attend and vote at this meeting.

Nominations for Office Bearers should be in the hands of the Secretary, Roy Mack by 7 October 2009.

Agenda 1. Notice calling the meeting2. Apologies3. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 29 October 20084. Business arising from the minutes5. President’s Report6. Council Report7. Development Office Report8. Accounts9. Election of Office Bearers10. Any other business

Note: Copies of the minutes of the 2008 Annual General Meeting, Council Report, and Accounts will be available from the School Development Office from 7 October 2009.

2009ArtExhibition

Pictured above at this year’s School Art Exhibitionare the current and three former Heads of Art. Back row left to right: Bill Robb and Mike GillFront row: Nick Adair and Kathleen Schofield

Who Are We? How Do We Support Watson’s?

8

Have you ever wondered what makes up the Watson’s community and how that community supports the School?

Perhaps not! However, we would like to present a

few interesting facts, provide recognition for the support that there currently is for the School and hopefully give examples of opportunities for all of us to help to support the unique educational establishment that is George Watson’s College.

It has been a long held view in America that investment in your school or university is of paramount importance, because the stronger your educational establishment, the more valuable your education is perceived by future employers and other key people. Therefore an inbuilt psyche of supporting these institutions has developed.

As an independent school in Scotland with a sporadic history of giving, mostly built around capital campaigns, the

psyche is slightly different, but is definitely changing. The George Watson’s Family Foundation was established in 1997 to perpetuate the philanthropy shown by George Watson all those years ago and since then we have built on a strong former pupil and parent base and continued to develop a community that has a very real interest in George Watson’s College.

Records for members of the Watson’s community are held on the Development Office Raiser’s Edge database. We communicate regularly and arrange events for different ages and interest groups. We have around 17,187 up to date records, with people living throughout the world, but predominantly in Scotland (77%) and in England (19.7%). The main groups on our database are former pupils, current parents, former parents, staff and former staff. The remainder is made up of John Watson’s former pupils, Merchant

Company members, grandparents, and other friends of the School. Our donors are all ages with 68.5% of our donors aged over 60. Also, 69.8% of our donors are male, 30.2% female and 55.5% of our donors are former pupils.

We have many different occupations with some of the more popular being in the legal, financial, medical, education, and government sectors.

Support for the School takes many forms and includes donations, volunteering and paying the fees! Examples of such support is highlighted in the photos. The more support we can encourage over the coming years, the stronger George Watson’s College will become. There are many other wonderful examples of support and we apologise that it has not been possible to include them all.

We would be grateful if you could consider any way in which you could help. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Angus Mackie (Class of 1980) on S3 Projects Parents’ Association Summer Fair

Enablement Ceilidh

Thrift Shop Caritas Dinner

Sponsored Aerobics

Telephone Campaign

9

As I tasted one of the best Moussakas of my life, I thought back to the “Mock Moussaka” I had to make at George Watson’s Ladies’ College four decades before. For the divine moussaka was not served in Athens or Crete but in Edinburgh, at Watson’s, in a Ready Steady Cook house competition I was judging. As oppose to this skilfully prepared dish, I recalled with horror the mock version (no aubergines, sauce made of margarine, “dayglo orange cheese” instead of feta) from my school cookery days as well as other delights such as “Danish meat cakes”, “Grilled Savoury Haddock” and Bourbon Biscuits. I was hopeless at cookery at school, but always loved eating, which is a bonus in my profession now as a food writer.

Over the years, I suppose my cooking skills must have improved a little. I left Watson’s in 1973 then attained an MA in French from Dundee University, before working as a journalist at DC Thomson. While there, I married an RAF pilot from Leuchars and ended up living at various RAF stations for the next few years, bringing up three small children. When my husband left the RAF to join BA, we moved back to Edinburgh where, while running a small jam-making business from home, I entered BBC Masterchef in 1991. Under the critical gaze and palates of Loyd Grossman and Albert Roux, much to my amazement, I won. Since I had trained as a journalist I knew more or less what to do when I was subsequently offered columns and book deals and because my youngest child was about to go to Nursery School, I was able to launch the career I have loved for

the past 18 years. As well as writing, I also do cookery demonstrations and occasional cookery slots for STV’s Five Thirty Show.

As I write my cookery books these days (I am working on my 14th), I occasionally think back not only to Watson’s cookery lessons, but to school lunches. What a combination of joyful expectation and dread these were. We were allowed large portions of some dishes and the ones I loved were “American Pie” (shepherds pie with baked beans) and any steamed pudding, though the accompanying custard was invariably a disaster. I vividly remember the jugs of custard, stagnant with thick, globby skin on top. Even once this was pushed aside, underneath there was usually a great lumpy solid mass which did nothing to enhance the steamed puddings. Also, rather magically, the custard changed colour depending on which pudding it was served with: chemical white with chocolate sponge, lurid pink with plain sponge.

I was discussing the unpredictability of a custard jug with Sheena McDonald who was in my sister Carol’s year. Like me, Sheena loved semolina with jam, which when all swirled together, became a fetching fuschia-colour. I was interviewing Sheena for my latest book, Taste Ye Back (to be launched at the Edinburgh Book Festival, August 2009) in which I have spoken to 70 prominent Scots about their childhood food memories. This has been utterly fascinating, with gems such as Midge Ure’s family being so poor they could not afford a table till he was 12. Gordon Ramsay the boy aspired to be the hunky caber-tossing Scot on the front of the packet of Scotts porridge oats.

And Andrew Marr told me he was such a greedy child it was not unusual for his dad to give him bicarbonate of soda and send him into the garden to be sick.

As well as Sheena, other Watsonians I interviewed for the book include Sharman Macdonald (Keira Knightly’s mother), Bill Pryde the artist, Jason White and Gavin Hastings. The childhood food memories of all my interviewees have been illuminating, people from all walks of life discussing what they ate. There are of course recurring themes, such as mince and tatties, soup and fabulous home-baking. The accompanying recipes are also interesting: Alan Cummings’ Vegetarian Stovies, oxymoronic though they sound, are divine. Kirsty Young’s lentil and ham hock soup is fabulous and Gordon Brown’s blackberry crumble delicious. Since some of my royalties are going to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), I have been fortunate enough to have Ewan Macgregor giving not only a recipe but also a foreword.

My hope is that the book succeeds, not only because of the deserving charity, but also because of its role as a piece of social history, a fascinating insight into the food of Scottish children over the decades. Melville Ogilvie’s winning Moussaka judged this year at Watson’s might even be mentioned when those talented 6th formers are interviewed themselves in years to come.

And PS, for those who recall that I was in Melville at school, I want to make it clear I was not the only judge and the verdict was unanimous…..but I must confess, I was rather pleased! Sue Lawrence Class of 1973

Taste Ye Back

Development MattersDevelopment Matters

Development Matters

Development

Development MattersDevelopment Matters

Help to make a lasting difference through a legacy to the Foundation.For further information please contact the Development Office.

10

Auction Prize Serves Up a Treat

Pictured left to right are Mario and Nadia Alonzi and Anne and Chris Brobbel. Anne and Chris successfully bid for Nadia to prepare and serve an Italian meal for their guests in their own home at the 2008 Caritas Dinner. Nadia and her husband Mario ensured that everything ran smoothly and the hosts and their guests were delighted with what was a fabulous meal.

CaritasSocietyEventWe were delighted to welcome members of the Caritas Society and other guests to the School Art Exhibition on Tuesday 16 June 2009.

The quality of Art at Watson’s continues to impress and our guests were treated to a feast of talent from our young artists.

This year 19 pupils sat A level art – we wish them and all the other pupils who have had exams all the very best for their exam results.

Since it was introduced Gift Aid has increased in size to be worth nearly £1bn a year to UK charities and their donors. When an individual, sole trader or partnership gives money to the Foundation through Gift Aid, we can take their donation – which is money they’ve already paid tax on – and reclaim basic rate tax from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on its ‘gross’ equivalent – the amount before basic rate tax was deducted.If a donor is a higher rate taxpayer, they too can benefit from the tax relief as they can claim back the difference between the higher rate of tax at 40 per cent and the basic rate of tax at 20 per cent on the total value of their gross donation.

This means that for every £1 donated, the Foundation can claim an extra 25 pence. In addition, HMRC will automatically pay the Foundation a further three pence for every pound donated. This ‘transitional relief ’ – to adjust to the fall in basic rate tax (from 22 per cent to 20 per cent) – is available until 5 April 2011.

This means for every £1 donated, the Foundation can receive 28 pence, so the total value of the donation is £1.28.

Details of next session’s Annual Fund will be circulated next term, please help us to make HMRC our largest donor!

Seat Naming OpportunitiesSeat naming opportunities are still available in the Jack Martin Music School at George Watson’s College. For £350 you can choose an inscription (maximum 50 letters) to be engraved on a brass plaque and attached to the back of a chair in the Auditorium. For further information, please contact Roy or Lesley in the Development Office.

Parents’ Association

The recent Ball held at Prestonfield House was a tremendous success attended by over 300 people. The proceeds of the Ball will be shared between the George Watson’s Family Foundation and the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. This event followed on from a successful PA Summer Fair held on 30 May which raised funds for Riding for the Disabled and the Junior School.

CuttingEdgeofDevelopment

On Wednesday 6 May, Development Professionals representing Fettes, Edinburgh Academy, Heriot’s, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools and Watson’s headed for Morrison’s Academy (in a Fettes minibus!) for the Institute of Development Professionals (IDPE) meeting.The meeting was hosted by Nadine Leonard and topics included the Transnational Giving Europe Scheme, the impact of the current recession and the use of DVD’s for fundraising and corporate giving. Eighteen people attended from 15 independent schools throughout Scotland. In June, the annual IDPE conference took place in London and provided excellent speakers and ideal networking opportunities. The importance of maximising our fundraising income is crucial during these uncertain times and learning from others can be highly beneficial. Nearly 200 people attended the conference, pictured left to right at the IDPE conference are Roy Mack, Lesley Humphreys, Millfield School and Lesley McKean.PA Ball Organising Committee

Photo by Images of Morningside

11

The University of EdinburghKerr-FryAwardsandKerr-FryPhD ScholarshipKerr-Fry AwardsAvailable for people wishing to undertake research or experimental work in an area of their choice. Preference is given to applicants who are; able to demonstrate ties with Scotland; not less than twenty-five years old and both a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and a former student of at least three years standing at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh.

Kerr-Fry PhD ScholarshipOne scholarship will be available to former students of at least three years standing at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh who have been accepted at the University of Edinburgh on a full-time PhD degree programme in any subject offered by the University. The scholarship will have a value of £10,000 per annum and subject to satisfactory progress will be tenable for up to three years. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit with candidates requiring a first-class honours degree from a UK university, or the overseas equivalent.

Please visit www.scholarships.ed.ac.uk/kerr_fry.htm for further details.

David Ferenbach (Class of 1993) is currently in receipt of a Kerr-Fry PhD Scholarship.

“After leaving Watson’s in 1993 and graduating in Medicine I have specialised in Nephrology, the treatment of kidney disease and transplantation. I had always been fascinated by the science behind the conditions we see and attempt to treat as doctors – and was keen to spend a period in full-time research to further our understanding of kidney failure. The financial support of the Kerr-Fry Bequest has been an invaluable aid to funding my PhD examining the mechanisms by which our innate immune systems contribute to the development of acute kidney failure- a disease which has a high mortality despite current best treatment. This work has yielded novel insights into this devastating clinical condition, which I hope may translate into new therapies for our patients.”

New Governing Council ChairmanAlan Hartley (Class of 1965) has recently been appointed as Chairman of the George Watson’s College School Governing Council.

Alan was a pupi l a t George Watson’s College, where he became a Foundationer following his father’s death in 1961. A Chartered Accountant, Alan was a Tax Partner with KPMG for 20 years. Alan currently is a Director of many companies including Mactaggart and Mickel Group Ltd and Cornelian Asset Managers Group Ltd. Alan was also Master of the Merchant Company from 2005 to 2007.

This is Alan’s second time as a Governor of Watson’s. During his first term he was a member of the School Finance Committee and also Chairman of the Foundation Committee where he welcomed the opportunity to repay some of the good fortune he had benefited from while at Watson’s.

In his youth Alan spent some time on Britain’s speedway circuits on his 500cc Jawa under the pseudonym of Bengt Mudgaardt! He has also been the British Veteran’s Speedway Champion, although he seems to be losing his touch. On his last two visits to California he has fallen off his hired Harley Davidson. His wife Lorraine now refuses to go on holiday with him!

Alan holds a private pilot’s licence, and was once listed as one of Scotland’s most eligible bachelors. Alan and Lorraine have one daughter.

FarewellAnne

After 13 years at Watson’s, Anne Charman (Development Administrator) retired at the end of June. In her time at the School Anne very quickly became an integral member of the Development Office team and provided a calming influence in a hectic office. She acquired a high level of skill on our fundraising database, Raiser’s Edge, and often acted as a sounding board for technical difficulties others in the voluntary sector were experiencing.

We wish Anne and her husband Derek a long and happy retirement which will be spent with their grandchildren, friends and hopefully on the golf course. We hope to see them at many Foundation and School events in future.

EasyfundraisingThe George Watson’s Family Foundation is registered with www.easyfundraising.org.uk. On the website you can choose from over 600 of the UK’s best known retailers and when you shop using the links on the site, your charity benefits. It doesn’t cost a penny extra to shop and can raise valuable funds, and as many retailers now give extra discounts when you buy online you can even save money.

Chaired by

Martin Ricardo MacariThis will be

with a fab auCtion and RaFFLEand so much more!

A Night to RememberA Night to Remember

Oh What a Night!Oh What a Night!

Catering by the award winning Heritage Portfolio

Friday 6 november 2009

presents

at the 2009 Caritas Dinner

Scotland’s Top Female Tribute Show

George Thornton Classof1983

Following a very enjoyable 13 years at Watson’s, George joined The Royal Bank of Scotland, where he has remained ever since! He is currently a communications manager and has a marketing degree. George lives in Edinburgh and has maintained close ties with the school. He runs the Watsonian Hockey Club’s youth section, which has 270 players, is married to a Watsonian (Carolyn) and his son David (16) is going into S5 at Watson’s.

LindaGibsonClassof1999

On leaving Watson’s in 1999 Linda went on to study BA (Hons) Social Sciences and achieved a 2.1. All she’d ever known was that she enjoyed working with people and this led her to work as a mental health support worker and then in her current role in an Edinburgh charity – Fresh Start who aim to help homeless people re-settle. She manages volunteers and staff and really enjoys this varied role! She has had a few turbulent years as she was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2007 but is still hitting the gym and fighting fit (which is the opposite of school as she hated exercise)! She is currently studying an Open University Management Course, it’s been a while since her head was in a book!

Where are they now?Where are they now?Where are they now?

Where are they now?Where are they now?

Where are they now?

news on the whereabouts of former pupils

12

Linda Gibson

KenandWendyMacLeod (née Speirs) Classof1976

After s tudying in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Ken’s research took them to southern California. They returned to the UK in 1986 and settled in north-east London. Ken is a Reader in Cardiac Medicine at Imperial College and Wendy heads up Electoral Services at Epping Forest DC. She compiles the voters roll and administers elections for all tiers of government from Parish Councillors to MPs and MEPs. Despite living down south, both of their sons are proud of their Scottish heritage. Peter is a St Andrews graduate and Simon is studying at Heriot-Watt. They all love sport – and play tennis (separately), golf (sometimes together!) and ski. They enjoy travelling and would love to go “Down Under” one day. What strikes them is that Watson’s gave them a much wider general knowledge base than most of their English friends!

David Harris Classof1978

David graduated from Watson’s after three great years armed with fewer qualifications than his parents had hoped for and more than his tutors expected, and with absolutely no idea what he wanted to do. A year out turned into two, until he eventually enrolled to study for a degree in Chemistry, mostly because he had to do something, and followed this up with a Masters at UMIST. His first job was in the steel industry in Clydebank, and his second was with BP. He then moved into the whisky industry where he has been ever since. Seventeen years and three companies later he is now MD of a whisky company in Broxburn and has been for the last five years. He lives in Craiglockhart and is married to Stephanie Anne. They have two boys and one girl all at Watson’s. He travels and plays, coaches or watches sport at every opportunity.

Ken and Wendy MacLeod (née Speirs)

George Thornton

David Harris

Alasdair and Kay Robertson Alasdair:Staff1984–2003 Kay:Staff1988–2003

Alasdair and Kay Robertson left Watson’s in 2003. Alasdair had worked in the Junior School for 19 years and Kay for 15 and a half years. They left Edinburgh six years ago to live in Crieff as Alasdair was taking up the post of Head of Primary at Morrison’s Academy.

They are still in Crieff and very settled with their life in sunny Perthshire! Their children Emma and Robbie are also very happy there and enjoy Morrison’s Academy. Emma will be in S5 next session and Robbie will be in S1. Emma has recently had exams and took part in the School musical, Oklahoma. Robbie is in the School pipe band and enjoys rugby both with the School and Crieff rugby club. At the time of writing this the girls are having a quiet week as both Alasdair and Robbie are off on the P7 residential week to Kindrogan. In October Emma will travel to Munich with the School orchestra.

Alasdair is very involved with life at Morrison’s but when he does get spare time he has taken up golf. Kay is Principal Teacher at Doune Primary School in Stirlingshire and loving her job.

The photo was taken at Lake Garda where the family enjoyed a holiday last summer. They are looking forward to travelling to France this summer. Kay has recently completed a qualification to teach French in the Primary and Alasdair is looking forward to the possibility of her actually speaking in French this year as normally she opts out!

They do keep up with many friends at Watson’s and do like to keep in touch with people and hear all the news and are always happy to have visitors to their home in Crieff.

13

Graham McVitie

Kay and Ali Robertson pictured with their two children, Robbie and Emma

For g

irls

and

boys

from

pre-s

chool to 18

George Watson’s College is administered by the Edinburgh Merchant Company Education Board; a charity registered in Scotland SC009747

www.gwc.org.uk

NE SCHOOLNE C

AM

PU

S

OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2009

George Watson’s College provides an unrivalled choice of subjects and extra-curricular activities

Financial help available for P7 and S1 entry – including free places

School buses run from East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and Haymarket Station

Contact the Admissions Secretary: 0131 446 6007 [email protected] Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5EG

Graham McVitie Staff1976–2001

Since retiring in 2001, Graham has spent a lot of time with his wife, talking, walking, lunching, gardening, reading. European and British travel has featured too. Family and friends are important – they see a lot of their son and daughter. Graham has even managed to produce some large ceramics and small sculpture. Before he came to Watson’s in 1976 he taught sculpture and ceramics in London at King Alfred School and Sutton School of Art. Blissfully, they have now reverted to type not rising before 10am each morning. Joy!

CricketOver the summer why not come down and watch the cricket. For dates and times see

www.watsoniancricket.co.uk

Festive SeasonNow taking bookings for the Festive Season.

CONTACT US0131 446 6100 [email protected]

MyresideMyreside

MyresideMyresideMak

e M

ore

of M

yres

ide

Assistance SoughtFormer President of the Watsonian Club, Liz Smith, would like to hear from any one, Watsonian or otherwise, who is able to provide any information which might assist her in making contact with family relatives of Dr Charlotte Ainslie (Headmistress GWLC 1902-26). This is in connection with extending the GWLC school archive. If you have any information, please contact the Development Office: [email protected] or 0131 446 6008.

14

Sir Chris Hoy visits Watson’sWe were delighted to welcome Sir Chris Hoy (Class of 1994) back to Watson’s on Thursday 23 April.

Chris joined us in the morning, and throughout the day he visited assemblies in the Senior School, Junior School and nursery, taking part in question and answer sessions before joining guests for lunch in the Stewart Lockhart Suite.

He also presented certificates to pupils to acknowledge the work they and their fellow pupils had undertaken in support of the George Watson’s Family Foundation and met some of our senior school pupils who aspire to reach the highest level in their particular sports.

As you can imagine, pupils and staff were delighted to have our Watsonian Olympic champion back at School and we hope that he enjoyed his day.

14

15

Officially, Scotland and I date back to August 1997 when as a 17-year-old Bulgarian student, I landed at Edinburgh Airport. However, it was much earlier that the magical picture of Scotland – a mystical green ‘terra antiqua’ – started emerging in my mind, either through random exploration of photographs, or through the very detailed lessons on the different parts of Britain we had at the English Language School. Embarking on a series of exams and interviews for an Open Society Foundation scholarship to study abroad, I was attracted to the idea of ending up in Scotland and although the chances were rather slim from a strictly scientific probability point of view, I did. My first trip to Scotland was somewhat comically disastrous, but all’s well that ends well. A staggering day of delayed flights, most of which I spent worrying how efficient my knowledge of English would actually prove once I was within the milieu. After that – a bemusing encounter with a Heathrow Airport employee who was very kind to assist me get through airport procedures in the fastest possible way and board the last flight to Edinburgh for the day. However, the moment I saw her Air France tag and recognised the accent, it confirmed my above-mentioned fears concerning my actual ability to understand British people. However, at the very end of the day, at Edinburgh Airport, a reassuring meeting with housemaster Paul Dean and wife Celia finally settled down my anxiety regarding communication.

I am sure Scotland must be just as beautiful to Scottish people even though they are used to it. It was and still is fascinating to me; the stone cities, the green meadows, the hills, the lochs, the purple haze, the castles. Bulgarian countryside and the many historical heritage sites in my country have always been an object of my affection and yet nature in Bulgaria is subjected to constant changes by the continental climate and Bulgarian historical sites bear the mark of centuries of changing

inhabitants and rulers. Scotland, on the other hand, seemed a true constant in its green exuberant charm and an embodiment of steady consistent self-sufficient development – a separate small universe.

Watson’s and the friends I made there are certainly the other major factor for my attraction to that part of the world. Being a teenager when I entered the school and a whole new world, I did have my fair share of immaturity. I have kept many a hilarious memory of blunt remarks thrown at teachers or friends, fond as I was of them. For instance, asking a teacher how old he was and then stating that although he was the same age as my mother he looked much older. Comical bits aside, not only the sense of novelty that normally accompanies moving abroad and the impressive new people and locations, but also the actual studying process at Watson’s proved a most enjoyable experience. I had always been considered a good student before going to Watson’s, but studying and achieving good grades once there somehow seemed effortless and stress-free. I have a recollection of telling my parents that teachers at the school were like friends to the students. Enthusiastic friends who help you achieve your best, as opposed to our teachers at the English Language School back home, who with a few, but very important and memorable exceptions, were very knowledgeable but far too strict and cold. Certainly, this difference came partly from the specifics of the Scottish/British education system, but the better part of it I would attribute to the actual attitude of the people who taught us at Watson’s. I have always been more the arty and humanitarian type of person, but Maths with Mr Stark and Mrs Mack was pure fun and this positive change in my attitude to it later helped me a lot at university. Language classes in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, as well as English Higher possessed the kind of motivating informal atmosphere that lets one feel there is no pressure in studying but only interesting material to learn. And of course my fondest memories of Watson’s

lie with the Art Department and the most wonderful teachers in the world, Mr Robb and Mr Coutts. Also the whole constellation of people who were on the A Level Art course with me. Due to its attraction and immediate proximity to the ‘Bug Hut’ (New Myreside Boarding House), the Art Department was pretty much a second home during my stay at Watson’s.

Later on, the Art Department at university was also a favourite refuge of mine while studying architecture here in Sofia. The Architecture course was as intriguing as anticipated and the studio I’ve been working with for the last two years has granted me a most challenging job. It is satisfactory in terms of projects, contacts and travel, taking part – and receiving recognition – in international competitions and exhibitions, which are as much entertaining as they are important for setting standards to measure one’s own work against. So I have to say I am pretty much living the dream, fighting the war with the transition aesthetics in my country and in my free time, traveling to exciting locations and reunions or simply roaming the countryside and the mountains – of which Bulgaria has quite a few, most of them over 2000m high, all picturesque and alluring. Whenever I stop by a place where traditional Bulgarian arts, crafts and scenery are still well preserved, when I take photos of colourful Bulgarian tartan fabrics, or whenever I get the rare chance to listen to Bulgarian bagpipes, my thoughts rush back to Scotland and I have now made myself a promise to return as often as I can.Antonina Ilieva (Class of 1998)

Bulgaria

A Photo from my days at Watson’s – reveals my space in the Art Department

A postcard from

Desperately SeekingDesperately Seeking

Desperately Seeking

If you know up-to-date addresses for any of the following former pupils, please contact the School’s Development Office.

Data Protection

We have an obligation to ensure that information is processed fairly and lawfully. Information received by the Development Office is used to further the development of George Watson’s College and The Watsonian Club. The information will be controlled by the School Development Office in accordance with policy from our IT Services department. It will be processed for marketing, PR, fundraising, event management and educational purposes. Anyone wishing no further contact from the School should inform the Development Office.

McFarlane Mrs Christine née Penney 1939

Short Mrs Doris née Ross 1950

Thin Mrs Marjorie née Pollitt 1950

Ferguson Mrs Helen née Manson 1950

Munnoch Mr Keith 1951

Brady Mr Colin 1960

Dallas Mr William 1960

Paton Mr Alastair 1960

Porteous Dr Hugh 1961

White Mrs Hilary née Wade 1969

Stenhouse Mr T 1969

Larson Mrs Elaine née Davidson 1969

Skulina Mrs Elizabeth née Gilchrist 1969

Arnott Mrs Rosemary née Batchelor 1970

Semeonoff Mr Alexander 1970

MacLagan Mr Donald 1970

Dunn Mr John 1971

Grahame Mrs Jennifer née Senior 1971

Ironside Mr Douglas 1979

Kerr Miss Kirstie 1980

Herbert Mr Graham 1980

Sampson Dr Mark 1980

Doyle Mr Alan 1980

Boyle Mr David 1980

Wishart Mrs Julie née Burns 1980

Adair Mr Colin 1980

Bunker Mr Graham 1980

Mercer Mrs Angela née White 1981

Desperately SeekingDesperately Seeking

Latimer Ms Elspeth 1981

Ross Mr Iain 1981

Hall Smith Mr Ian 1981

Hardie Mr Alistair 1981

McNiven Mr Andrew 1981

Bowman Mr Calum 1989

Meah Mrs Lynn née Watt 1989

Bethune Mr Graeme 1989

Bowman Mr Fraser 1989

Chalmers Miss Nicola 1989

Forsyth Mr Alex 1989

Goodfellow Ms Rosemary 1989

Gifford Mr Alan 1989

Malloch Ms S 1989

Marshall Ms Nicola 1989

McEwan Mr Paul 1989

McNicol Ms Alva 1989

Mackay Mr Colin 1989

Forde Mr Nicholas 1989

Mepham Miss Rhian 1989

Rollingson Mr Timothy 1990

Low Mr Hamish 1990

Osgood Miss Mary 1990

Perry Miss Kim 1990

Reynolds Miss Joanna 1990

Brown Mr Gordon 1990

Hoenigmann Mrs Joanne née Walton 1990

Laidlaw Mr Simon 1990

Desperately Seeking

Hardie Mr Peter 1990

Barron Mr Stacy 1990

Goodwin Mr Craig 1990

Franklin Mr Francis 1990

Easton Ms Gillian 1990

Boyd Mr Mark 1990

Cully Mrs Rosemary née Bennet 1990

Chaudhry Ms Fiona 1990

Crow Mr Andrew 1990

Forsyth Mrs Carolyn née Davidson 1991

Graham Mr David 1991

Graham Mr James 1991

Kidd Mr Jerome 1991

Bauermeister Mr Richard 1991

Goodenough Miss Louise 1999

Jamieson Ms Kirsty 1999

Ley Mr Jonathan 1999

Gilson Mr Mark 2000

Farquhar Miss Rachel 2000

Allison Miss Catriona 2000

Caldwell Miss Jemma 2000

Keegan Miss Jill 2000

McLucas Miss Laura 2000

Margiotta Mr Stefano 2000

Leonard Miss Pamela 2000

Carter Miss Helen 2001

Moore Miss Gemma 2001

Foundation Day - George Watson's College - Home · [email protected] Tel: 0064 3351 5058...

Documents

Transcript of Foundation Day - George Watson's College - Home · [email protected] Tel: 0064 3351 5058...