Page 3 - Herioter 2020

From the

EDITOR

Welcome to The Editor
For several days I mused over the words
THE HERIOTER I should write here. How do you sum up
the session of 2019-20 in a sentence or
a paragraph? I realised I could not – and
so I will let the pages that follow do it
for me.
Little did Jonny know, as he worked The structure of the 2020 Herioter is
through the year, that everything chronological, celebrating the month-
would change in March 2020 and that, by-month goings-on at George Heriot’s
ironically, this new format would enable School in what was a typically creative,
busy and happy session – until, that is, we
him to document the impact of the reached March, a month without compare
COVID-19 pandemic on the Heriot’s in living memory.
community. The Herioter, nonetheless, kept going,
documenting the impact of a pandemic
This evidence of the final months of on the school and its pupils. The
session 2019-20 will be looked back challenges of March and the months that
upon with interest, just as we have followed are not glossed over – it was
looked back recently at old Herioter a difficult, stressful and upsetting time,
editions in our archives. The pages of and we should never forget that – but in
The Principal photographs and writing, undertaken many ways it brought out the best in the
Heriot’s community: our work ethic, our
during lockdown, deal sensitively with commitment to ‘distributing chearfullie’
Welcome to the 2020 Herioter!
anxieties and draw attention to and our stoicism.
I would like to thank our talented, positive moments. They show the I am sorry, too, that The Herioter is
hard-working editor, Jonny Muir, for Heriot’s community working together late. It should have been published and
producing such an exciting and thought- to help others. distributed three months earlier, but
provoking edition. nothing is normal in the ‘new normal’. We
I must pay tribute to Jonny for dealing got there in the end.
As you will see, Jonny has taken a new so well with the practical challenges
approach this session. This Herioter is regarding production of this edition. Finally, I am indebted to the numerous
pupils and staff who have contributed
presented in a monthly format and it Thanks also to all those who to The Herioter this year, but particularly
works tremendously well. Not only does contributed and assisted. to Sophie Hoyte, who coordinated
it show how the school year works, but the collation of much of the Junior
it also prompts memories of events by As always, The Herioter is a joy to read! School content, Amanda Thomson,
association with the time of year. Mrs Lesley Franklin who organised the pages of art that
act as dividers between each month,
and Roy Munro, our outstanding school
photographer.
Our publisher, Barr Printers, has had its
own issues to overcome and I am grateful
for the flexibility and skill of designers
Fiona Scott, George Blackie and Ann
McHattie.
Please read on and enjoy this record of a
session like no other.
Mr Jonny Muir
Published annually by George Heriot’s School
Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EQ
Telephone: 0131 229 7263
Fax: 0131 229 6363
Email: enquiries@george-heriots.com
www.george-heriots.com 5