Page 12 - Quadrangle: 39th Edition

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12

HERIOT’S

TO HARVARD

- BUILDING A RUGBY LEGACY

In Autumn 1963, Jimm y Johnstone (1958) f ounded the Harv ar d Business School
In Autumn 1963, Jimmy Johnstone (1958) founded the Harvard Business School
y F
ootball Club - the first Business School rugb
(HBS) Rugby Football Club - the first Business School rugby club in the world and
(HBS) Rugb
y club in the world and
first competitive, representative HBS organisation.
Today, Harvard University is a recognised ‘hub’ of US rugby excellence with
strong clubs: the College has 3 teams, the Women's Club has 2 teams and the
strong clubs: the College has 3 teams, the Women's Club has 2 teams and the
Business School also has 2 teams (which draws from the whole Harvard graduate
Business School also has 2 teams (which draws from the whole Harvard graduate
community). The University boasts one of the best playing fields in the US which took $5million in alumni
community). The University boasts one of the best playing fields in the US which took $5million in alumni
donations to build 5 years ago. In short, rugby at Harvard is thriving, with approximately 2,000 HBS rugby alumni around
donations to build 5 years ago. In short, rugby at Harvard is thriving, with approximately 2,000 HBS rugby alumni around
the globe and over 3,000 from the College.
Without Jimmy’s dedication, vision and passion for the sport, this would not be the case.
Quadrangle caught up with Jimmy to find out about the inspiration behind HBS’s rugby set up and how Heriot’s shaped
his professional life…
You joined Heriot’s when you were 11 and Thinking back, how did your time at for my future accomplishments at the school.
shortly after, started playing rugby. How Heriot’s impact you?
What are your abiding memories of your
did Heriot’s influence your decision to set It changed my life completely! I was an 11 time at Heriot’s?
up the HBS Rugby Football Club? year old pupil at Niddrie Primary and lived in a
I worked hard and achieved mostly top grades
From my start at Heriot’s in the Junior School, nearby small coal mining community – Jewel
which, importantly, enabled me to maintain
rugby played an important role in my life. Cottages – as my father was a miner. The
a full scholarship right through. I am always
I discovered that the school values were headmaster of Niddrie, John Hunter, was a
grateful for the quality of teachers, many real
reflected in the values of the game – friend of then Heriot’s headmaster William
‘characters ‘at the senior point of their careers.
competition, application, fairness and McLaren Dewar. I was introduced to him and,
I had the same head teachers for six years in
comradeship. This continued at Edinburgh following an interview, was admitted to the
three subjects - ‘Abers’ Abercromby in French;
University and Heriots FP rugby clubs. When Junior School in January 1952. The far-sighted
‘Kipper’ Heron in English and ‘Mogul’ Gould in
I arrived at HBS, there was no organised, support of my working class parents was
History. I was in the School scouts and joined
competitive sport. My formative Heriot’s crucial. It was not easy at first, - my accent and
the CCF - enjoying camps and activities;
experiences, together with strong Business background were different from my peers. Yet I
I became a member of the ‘Lit’ and learned
School classmate support, particularly fellow had an outgoing personality, multiple interests
debating and presentation skills during many
Scot and Strathallan friend Morris McInnes, - and I discovered rugby! By the start of Senior
fun Friday nights in the Old CPLR, ending up as
sparked my decision to start a rugby club at School, I was well integrated and had made
Treasurer. This sparked an interest in amateur
HBS and it worked! My rugby playing days good friends. I believe that this successful
dramatics and I was involved in numerous
finished in Japan, where I was based in 1973. integration process was a crucial foundation
House and School plays. I have mentioned the