Page 110 - Herioter 2021

reached out to share their memories of Kenny’s
time here at Heriot’s.
It is clear that Kenny will be remembered
for his social engagement with colleagues. His
innate ability on the dancefloor and ‘enthusiastic’
singing is the stuff of legends. Many of us have
had the pleasure of Kenny’s company on karaoke
evenings and more than one colleague fondly
remembers his performance as Elvis, in Grease,
back in the day – not to mention his dancing on
the tables.
More than anything, Kenny has been a good
Herioter: loyal to the school, and to his colleagues;
and committed to the welfare of those young
people placed in his care.
Kenny has been a popular teacher of
geography – one who is utterly devoted to his
subject and has high expectations of those he
teaches.
There is scarcely time here to detail all of
the extra-curricular activities that Kenny has
supported over the course of the past four
Ave et Vale so doing, ended up being here to keep us all in decades or so. That said, the many years that
Kenny was involved in the ‘Your Future in Europe’
good order and good spirits as we navigated the
conferences were mentioned by more than one
Kenny fallout from the pandemic. former colleague – not least because of the
As a man in my 50s, I have greatly appreciated
legendary status enjoyed by his journey-long
Kenny’s seemingly endless supply of ‘dad jokes’
Eurostar ‘I Spy’ challenges. These games, where
Ogilvie and his Tim Vine-style punning. I have lost count (typically) he didn’t allow a ‘giving up’ option,
of the number of times I have called across, ‘are
were also a feature of geography field trips, as I
you free?’, only for Kenny to come back with, ‘no,
I am very expensive’; or ‘I’ll put the kettle on’, understand it.
As I have already intimated, Kenny will always
It was a fine June day, back in the heady only to be asked, ‘will it fit?’; or, ‘are you all right?’, be remembered as a bit of a joker, with his
days of 1984. Bruce Springsteen’s (so often only to be informed that, ‘no, I’m half left’. Our great sense of humour catching out many an
misunderstood) Born in the USA blared from shared love of (and mutual gifting of) bacon unsuspecting colleague or pupil.
the open windows of cars as they passed along rolls and pre-PPT burritos and nachos have been He would tell pupils to fasten their seatbelts on
Lauriston Place, and former model Kenneth J another cornerstone of our firm friendship. the Eurostar as ‘Le Tunnel’ approached and then
Ogilvie (I am imagining John Travolta, circa Knowing that I was writing this piece, so many watch, convulsed with laughter, as they tried to
Saturday Night Fever) sauntered up Heriot’s main other colleagues and former colleagues have find the non-existent seatbelts. When arriving at
drive, in a lime green suit, to be interviewed for the Calais, he would explain that as the border patrol
post of geography teacher. Although he narrowly could not board the coach, everyone would have
missed out on the day itself, the successful to hold their passport up flat against the window
candidate was ultimately unable to take up the and avoid smiling so that their faces matched
post. The following day, the call went out to our the expressions on their photos; a prank he later
Kenny in Dalkeith, and the rest (as they say) is repeated with another group when crossing into
history. Switzerland, en route to a glacier (much to the
In an age where ‘one-school teachers’ (or bemusement of passing locals).
anything that comes this close) are like hen’s As many colleagues will know, Kenny is a
teeth, it really is an honour to have been asked to dedicated family man, whose sons both attended
write Kenny’s valedictory piece. Heriot’s.
In a Heriot’s career spanning some 37 years, He is also a keen gardener – one whose
seven Prime Ministers, and six First Ministers, allotment exploits are legendary. Latterly,
KJO has served variously as Geography Teacher, Kenny has become something of a ‘garden
PSE Principal Teacher, Guidance PT, Depute: encyclopaedia’ for those looking to revive
Head of Guidance, and (since 2014) Depute: struggling plants or increase the quality or
Administration. quantity of their vegetable crops. He certainly had
It is obviously in that most recent role that I the good sense to furnish my office with the only
have worked alongside Kenny, during my three things that he could be sure that I would not leave
years at Heriot’s, and I can only say that he has for dead; a fine clutch of spider plants.
been an absolute rock for me throughout: always So, it’s farewell, then, Kenny Ogilvie. An
calm, positive and constructive; ever willing and immensely colourful character, who will be
able to offer wise counsel when I am at risk of remembered fondly by former pupils and
making some or other faux pas. colleagues alike. A truly empathetic and caring
My predecessor, Robert Dickson, said that soul. A bit of a legend; one of a kind. You deserve
Kenny would ‘keep me right’, and he has certainly a long and happy retirement.
done his level best to do so. I can’t imagine what
it would have been like to be without Kenny for Mr Paul Fairclough
these early years in post and am eternally grateful Kenny Ogilvie left Heriot’s in June 2021.
that he delayed his retirement for a year and, in

108