Page 98 - Herioter 2021

Esther Arthurson

Captain

The Godfather, Esther says with a little more relish that has helped her keep the show on the road polychromatically rendered at very short notice,
than you might have been expecting, having this session. dear reader, Esther can sort you out.
innocently asked her about the best film she’s She is also a bona fide legend of Quiz Club, Esther describes herself as ‘so ready’ to go
seen recently. She’s working her way through the immortalised on the walls of Mrs Massie’s clubbing with Mrs Franklin and Mr Fairclough
classics and something in this tale of the ruthless classroom as one of the fabled ‘Class of ’16’: the in London, so the cancellation of Heriot’s
pursuit of power seems to have appealed to la first Heriot’s quiz team to ever reach the finals Club events has become something of a bone
capitana Corleone (which is possibly ‘Arthurson’ of the UK Junior Challenge. Given her intended she wants to pick with the world this year. Mr
in Sicilian). Perhaps this explains why what she course of study for university, it’s no surprise Fairclough has nothing but praise for the way
has really missed in this strange year of captaincy that all matters religious and mythological were she has handled her Zoom-and-Teams based
in the time of Covid is sitting on what she calls, very much her area of expertise with, Mrs Massie captaincy: ‘Esther has led the pupil body with
with capitalisation hanging ominously in the air, recalls, eyes brimming with pride, some crucial enormous empathy and good humour, showing
‘The Thrones’ on the stage in assembly. ‘I wanted bonus questions nailed on that glorious, underdog herself to be incredibly resilient, positive, and
The Thrones,’ she repeats, and nods to herself. I run to the Grand Final itself – all of this despite adaptable throughout.’ He’s got a point: you
become worried I’m about to be made an offer I the considerable distraction of her dad in the don’t have to spend too much time in the
can’t refuse. crowd wearing the Heriot’s scarf that he kept on classroom with Esther to notice how naturally she
Esther was part of ‘The Family’ even before even for breakfast in the hotel. When Esther and includes everyone in what’s going on, and how
joining the nursery class, and could be found Felix Esche reunited for Raeburn in the S6 Inter- genuine she is in her interactions with people.
swinging on the Heriot’s gates as she waited House Quiz this session, the old magic was in full As much as she has loved her time here, Esther
to pick up her big sister, Abigail, back in what effect and Mrs Massie has kept the scoring sheet. is definitely ready to fly the coop and immerse
she calls ‘the day’ but which some of you may It may get laminated. Esther has that effect on herself in new places, new cultures and new
remember as the late-noughties. By her side people. communities.
since P1, and co-President of Team Flesther, has Given her palpable desire to pack a bag and She has a writer’s fascination with people and
been best friend Florrie, who recalls how a shared hit the road, it’s maybe no surprise that Esther the kind of eye for detail that found an outlet in
love of trampolines first brought them together. has spent some of her happiest times at Heriot’s the satirical magazine she got off the ground
It is a bond that has led them through movie- in the Gore-Tex embrace of the Geography to keep S6 amused over Christmas. As she talks
making projects, a million shared lunchtimes Department; you can tell how much she enjoys about her hopes for the next few years, it’s clear
and Esther’s attempt to get the word ‘Narma’ remembering her adventures on field trips and Esther’s ready for a new cast of characters and a
into the dictionary in P6 (which is still ongoing). she can’t speak highly enough of that ‘gem of a fairly dramatic change of scene.
It’s Esther’s ability to bring people on and bring human being’, Mrs Hughes. The S3 trip to Esther’s Whatever the future holds for Esther, by the
folk together that Florrie says makes her such a spiritual homeland of Sicily seems to have been a sound of it she’s never going to be too far from
brilliant friend to have, and she says that Esther’s notable highlight, although I’m not sure that the a ukulele and a notebook, and full of the kind
at her happiest when she’s being creative and original itinerary will have mentioned how much of addictive restlessness that will stop her from
putting out feelers for the next project, sharing time would be spent studying the formation, ever getting bored. ‘Whatever you think about
her enthusiasm and making you feel part of bifurcation and longshore drifting of Croatian something, you need to know your reasons,’ she
something very welcoming. lads partying on the beach all night. Mrs Hughes says, with the kind of instinctive insight that is her
There have been darker days too, of course. recognises a kindred spirit in Esther, in whom she hallmark. And with that, she gets ready to finally
From the projectile nosebleed in circle time on her is proud to see a very high level of appreciation for swing so hard on the school gates that she heads
first day in P1, to the bus ride back from Benmore the Geography mantra of ‘colour adds vibrancy to off over the horizon and into a future itching to
in S1 and the incident now immortalised as The life’, so much so that Esther has taken to wearing be written. Just don’t turn up on her daughter’s
Tale of Mr Maclagan, the Blue Gloves and the a rainbow of colour-coded pens in her blazer wedding day with a very poorly timed request.
Insecurely Fastened Bags of Sick, Esther has pocket for easy access at all times. If you ever
plenty of experience of the kind of toughing-it-out need a corrie or a U-shaped valley spotted and Mr Russell Gray

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