Page 14 - Quadrangle: 39th Edition

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HERIOT’S Jimmy with his brother Ken Johnstone (1965)
who was a Foundationer at Heriot's

TO HARVARD
- BUILDING A RUGBY LEGACY

CONTINUED

In the early ‘80’s, I undertook an instructive Blackheath and Racing Paris. Given our world
spell in the public sector, as CEO of the Scottish class playing facility, the Club is now in the
Council for Development and Industry, charged process of reviving these activities, attracting a
with attracting international investment and wider regional audience. The Harvard rugby
developing the country's exports. I continued community is in discussions with State and
as an independent consultant, with activities local authorities as to how we can develop
including the exploration of biomass to energy rugby in local schools, using our artificial all-
ventures in India using UK technology, the weather facilities and pool of coaching
development of a global marketing strategy expertise. Everyone is committed to expanding
for a US revolutionary mechanics hand tool the game we love – which I learned on the
innovation and working with Timelooper, a fields of Goldenacre!
leading developer of digital, immersive VR/AR
Tell us a bit about the support you’ve
visitor experiences at iconic sites worldwide.
received from the alumni of the Club?
I also advise senior executives on career
The ‘Old Boys’ Club has been a crucial part of
development strategies.
the support for HBS Rugby for many years. Led
What an incredible career. What have your by Mike Rush, former player and coach, they
experiences in business taught you? have toured multiple countries. Every autumn,
It has been a fascinating career involving many they arrange a weekend reunion for Old Boys
business sectors across five continents. I have and current Club members – reception, dinner
had my successes and failures but above all, and a game between the two parties! I have
I value the opportunities I have had to work been to several and enjoyed them enormously.
with people of many nationalities and cultures. They organised our 50th Anniversary in 2013,
George Heriot realised, way ahead of his time, attracting over 200 global HBS Rugby alumni
that education - especially for those in need – to the celebration. The ‘Old Boys’ are
was the key to opening up the world of important, continuing financial support for HBS
opportunities. My young brother, Ken Rugby, and making a substantial contribution
Johnstone, was a Foundationer at the School to the new $5 million field.
between 1959 and 1965 so I know first-hand
HBS Rugby Football Club is flourishing – at
how Heriot’s ethos of ‘distributing chearfullie’
home and away. An amazing 2,000 people
can impact a life. In my small way, I hope to
have played for the Club since its foundation.
have been amongst those who have proved
The sport of Rugby is open to all students at
our good founder right!
Harvard University – the College, the Graduate
As Founder of the HBS Rugby Football Club, Schools and women. I am so proud that this
do you keep up to date with developments part of my Heriot’s experience has been put
overseas? to such good use.
Given my international wanderings, I had little
And finally, what are your core ‘takeaways’
formal contact with the Club for many years.
from your school days?
Around twenty years ago I was contacted by
To sum up, I was challenged, encouraged,
the then captain, enquiring whether I would be
motivated and happy through my time at
interested in meeting up with the team, over
Heriot’s. I was able to lay the foundations of
for a tournament. I just asked ‘what took you
confidence, expertise, trust, friendship and
so long?’ and since then have been closely
ambition which were to serve me so well in the
involved with developments at the Club.
years ahead. I made friendships then which are
What are your hopes for the Club’s future?
still with me to this day, well over 60 years later.
During my years in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
we started a 7’s tournament which continued To find out more about Harvard Business
for 35 years. HBS rugby took the lead in School Rugby Football Club, please visit:
forming New England Select teams to play www.hbsrugby.org
Jimmy Johnstone (1958)
against overseas visitors like London Scottish,