Page 103 - Herioter 2020

Ave et Vale: friendships and memories. Arranging
such exchanges is a major undertaking
Mark Grant and, despite them involving much of
his extra time, Mark carried them out
with savoir faire, aplomb and cheerful
Kick off
enthusiasm, such was his dedication to
Mark Grant was born in Edinburgh and his managerial role.
brought up just a stone’s throw away
from Tynecastle, home to his beloved Goal!
Hearts. Yes, this love of football began Mark will be remembered fondly not
at a very early age! His family then only for his professionalism, enthusiasm,
moved to Linlithgow where he attended excellent teaching and sense of fun in
his local schools, including Linlithgow the classroom, but also for his support of
Academy, where he excelled in languages girls’ football both in and out of school.
– French and German – and then further At Heriot’s, this kicked off in 2000 with
studied both, and interpreting and modest numbers and Mark took real
translation, at Heriot-Watt University. Half time whistle pride in seeing how the sport has grown
Shortly after graduation, he married Working in such a large and diverse to its current pool of over 60 registered
Jane and they spent their first year in department brought many rewards and players from P6 to S6. Great runs by
Wolfenbüttel where he was a Foreign challenges, but Mark always regarded teams in the Scottish Cup and to the
Language Assistant. This placement it as a privilege to teach pupils who national finals of numerous 7-a-aside
not only further fuelled his love of had a constant thirst for knowledge tournaments rank among his highlights,
German, it also introduced him to many in his classes from P5 through to S6. as does running both the competitions
local delights and delicacies, including To beat the traffic, he was always in and national squads for the Scottish
Jägermeister, and, being so close to school by 7am, preparing for the day Independent Schools FA, through which
the former East German border, to ahead and dealing with departmental he was able to support Heriot’s players
another local favourite, the mighty administration and was often the last in achieving selection at regional and
Trabant! Interestingly, being able to see member of staff to leave of an evening: national level with both the SFA and
East Germany on a clear day, he could a real captain of the team, always giving the Scottish Schools FA; indeed, such
observe the watch towers behind the 110 percent. On Fridays, I enjoyed is his commitment and interest that he
Iron Curtain which afforded him first- listening to the throbbing beats of continues to support some of these
hand experience of the impact of the industrial metal from Rammstein and players through club sponsorship. And
Cold War. electronica from Kraftwerk emanating let’s not forget Boroughmuir Thistle,
from his classroom! Yes, his love of where Mark continues to coach the
Goal! goalkeepers, following ten years
all things German even extended to
His time as an FLA served to confirm music… and football! Anyone who had fulfilling the same role at The Hibernian
what he was cut-out to do in life: be a been in Room 143, either to be taught Girls’ Academy of all places! A great
teacher! So, he pitched up at Jordanhill or as a spectator, was always struck by advert for the game, indeed.
to train and, during that year, learned yet the truly wunderbar visual displays of
another language skill: how to parliamo football memorabilia of such teams as Two minutes to go!
Glasgow! His first teaching post was Borussia Mönchengladbach and most Mark bade farewell to Heriot’s in March
at home at Auchmuty High School in of all the (now sadly not so) mighty FC with our best wishes to go back to
1990 where he was given the nickname Kaiserslautern… as well as his novel way teaching at Auchmuty High School.
‘Henry’ after the legendary Hearts of passing a small German team football Although he thoroughly enjoyed his time
goalkeeper, Henry Smith: so began his to the next pupil he wished to answer a at Heriot’s and found it both fulfilling
association with goalkeeping. This was question! and enjoyable, he readily admits that
followed by his transfer to be Head of he will not miss the long commute
Department at Lochgelly High School in International friendlies and looks forward to being able to
1995: so began the commuting, albeit Appreciating the importance of learning spend more time with his wife and
a relatively short one. In August 1999, outwith the classroom, Mark managed, children, Alistair and Jenny, as well as
keen to seize the opportunity to run a oversaw and participated in a variety his beloved dog, Max. He will, though,
larger department, he was unveiled as of language exchanges, both home maintain his commitment to girls’ and
the new Head of Modern Languages at and away – from Marburg and Munich women’s football. Take care, Mark, we
Heriot’s: so began the long, sometimes in Germany, to Versailles and Nantes shall certainly miss you and wish you
very long, commute! As regards this in France, from Zaragoza in Spain to continued success and enjoyment. Wir
journey, he did, latterly, consider Shanghai in China – thus affording wünschen dir für die Zukunft alles Gute.
travelling by his beloved Trabant but, on opportunities for our pupils not only Final whistle!
reflection, thought this may make the to develop greater knowledge of both
commute even longer and certainly less the language and culture of a country, Mr Kenny Ogilvie
friendly to the environment. but also to make lifelong international Mark Grant left Heriot’s in March 2020.

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