Page 31 - Quadrangle 40

Quadrangle Sep21 v9.qxp_Layout 1 08/09/2021 16:37 Page 30

30 31

IN She was always immaculately turned out and, complete with a smart of kindness, and she loved and respected the Head of the Junior School,

black teacher's gown, she would watch over her class like a hawk.
Gilbert Galloway and became a close family friend, visiting his remarkable
One of my favourite memories of her professionalism was when the widow, Mary until her own passing last year. Though no-one could quite
match up to Gibby, she also valued the leadership of Keith Pearson and,
MEMORIAM during debating practice, but Miss Simpson skilfully caught him in time at the end of her career, Stewart Adams, and they, in turn, valued her
tallest lad in the class fainted whilst standing at the front of the class
professionalism and her advice.
and gently put him into a seat.
Another strong memory of her eclectic teaching was when she showed us In the classroom and outside it, Rosemary had a particular place in her
a video of a clinical dissection of a human lung (!) to warn us against the heart for the more unusual, maybe more sensitive, boys, the ones who
harm of smoking, which she ended with the wry comment: "Well. If that didn’t always fit in with the stereotypes expected in this aggressively
doesn't put you off smoking, then I don't know what will!" sporty boys’ school and she was fiercely protective of them. In return,
Rosemary Simpson she won their loyalty for life. In helping young people, and, to be honest,
Her strength of character, kindness and passion for teaching sure left its
Junior School Teacher mark on me and others, and I'll always count myself extremely lucky and in helping adults, Rosemary was not just a listener, she was a problem
solver, and she had a great memory; your problems were her problems
Tributes from former pupils grateful to have been taught by her.
until they were problems no more.
Justin D’Agostino (1990) Leslie Baikie (1975) Peter Upton (1973)
Some people spend their life moulding others. We older boys in Junior School in the late 1960's considered "Miss I first set eyes on Miss Simpson on a crisp Monday morning early in
Simpson" quite an enigma: as someone who exuded elegance and
Rosemary was one of those people. September 1972. I, along with around 30 other new boys were called out
glamour (albeit with a rather stern demeanour) was she, perhaps, the
Generations of the young men and women of by name and made to line up in pairs and were led off by a rather
Heriot's version of Miss Jean Brodie? Although the boys in Class 9L had
Edinburgh were taught, nurtured and developed by glamorous lady in a long, black academic gown. She would have then
no direct contact with Rosemary, we were well aware of her reputation
Rosemary - a true teacher in every sense of the word.
Rosemary - a true teacher in every sense of the word. been in her mid-thirties, her hair collected in a high bun.
for strictness.
High standards. Pushing people to achieve greater Miss Simpson never revealed to us her first name, which we learned by
I got to know Rosemary during my Senior School days, largely through a
things. Those were her hallmarks. removing and reading the backs of postcards she decorated the
shared interest in drama, which she loved dearly and with which she was
classroom walls with. Miss Simpson started every morning with a spelling
part. She would often schedule rehearsals at the crack of dawn in the
She was formidable in the classroom. She was formidable on the stage.
She was formidable in the classroom. She was formidable on the stage. part. She would often schedule rehearsals at the crack of dawn in the closely involved. She guided me with my role in the Pageant of 1974 or
test, and a mental arithmetic test. Spelling was not a problem for me, but
I was one of the young men who benefited from her enormous talents. Chapel, and would patiently take me through my lines, offering 1975 when I played George Heriot and enlisted me into one of the the mental arithmetic was a painful, daily ordeal. Ten simple (I presume)
And I was especially lucky to have developed a deep affection for and painstaking feedback on every little aspect – posture, tone, expression, Edinburgh-based amateur dramatic companies, with whom she was a questions were posed, which required little more than basic mental
friendship with her in my adult life. projection, the works. That intensive training, and the sense of self- leading light, for a Fringe production during one of my last years at additions, subtractions and a knowledge of our times tables. A, for me,
confidence she instilled, were the bedrock of my S6 experience. She gave School. For my roles in both productions Rosemary was ever patient,
Until her dying day, she showed an interest in others. That was a gift that totally inadequate number of seconds was given to work out the answer,
me renewed focus, motivation and energy after a highly stressful year of encouraging and incredibly helpful in her direction.
never left her. and no notes or workings out on paper, the backs of rulers etc were
academic study in S5, and made me realise that – with determination
I have little doubt that her influence allowed me to spread my wings and It was through this drama connection that I got to know Rosemary as a permitted. The ten questions over, we had to swap our jotters with a
and hard work – you can do almost anything you put your mind to. And
to strive for greater things. warm, funny and caring individual who took a real interest in me and neighbour and mark each other’s answers. The ticking and crossing done,
the fact that she had faith in me to deliver, and shoulder the
many others - quite the opposite from the rather serious, forbidding jotters were returned to their owners. ‘Hands up those who got ten out of
To generations of Herioters, Miss Simpson played a key role in their lives. responsibility, was hugely important. Her guidance, wisdom and wicked
character which she conveyed to her pupils and the wider community of ten?... Nine out of ten?... Eight out of ten?..... three out of ten? Two out of
Generations of Herioters will be forever grateful for her influence. sense of humour have stayed with me ever since. She was just so
boys. I concluded that the "Miss Simpson" known to the boys was, in ten?!’ Mercifully she never asked for those who got 1 or fewer correct to
incredibly funny: she would ply me with sheaves of notes after each
reality, Rosemary playing a part she had fine-tuned to perfection in daily identify themselves, though when I and a handful of other
Vineet Lal (1983) rehearsal, and one of the most common was "Vineet, for God's sake
performances over the years. I will always remember her as laughing, mathematically impaired unfortunates put our trembling hands up for
Sometimes a teacher comes into your life who leaves a lasting don't just sit there like a fish supper" (I often wondered what a fish joking and being great company, whether at the Fringe Club after a the two out of ten call, she would utter in dismay ‘Ye gods! You should be
impression. Who changes the way you view yourself and the world. Who supper ‘sat’ like, and never had the temerity to ask). show, or in the Old Refectory following a Founder's Day ceremony long shot!’ I am sure the idea we deserved capital punishment against a wall
helps you realise your true potential. Someone who brings out the best in In recent years I was pleased to have had the opportunity to reconnect after I left School. Truly, she was a great lady, teacher and friend who will for failing simple maths questions was entirely humorous, but we never
you, and helps you become the best you can possibly be. with Rosemary, to reminisce over those formative years at GHS and to be sorely missed by me and, I'm sure, many others. quite saw the funny side of it and were just grateful to be allowed to live
Rosemary Simpson was one of those rare individuals. A truly inspirational relive some of those memorable shared moments. She always had a for the rest of the day!
teacher, mentor, actor and friend (and stylish to boot). She was both an mischievous sparkle in her eyes, and the razor-sharp wit that seduced us Cameron Wyllie (1975)
Miss Simpson came across as glamorous but grave, a serious teacher who
amazing Junior School teacher and a passionate ambassador for drama all as pupils, parents and friends never left her. I will miss her terribly, but An excerpt from the Eulogy, delivered by Cameron at Rosemary’s funeral:
took her job seriously. I had never felt so impelled to work hard. She
at George Heriot's School for decades. She masterminded a host of give thanks that, like so many others, I was privileged to have known her. Rosemary was a great teacher. She didn’t stand for any nonsense at all; worked us hard, but she also taught us excellently. I learned grammar, the
productions over the years, some of which attained classic status as She was indeed one of a kind. she expected the best from her pupils but she understood that different history of Roman Britain, geography, the art of letter writing, and possibly
shows that will forever be remembered. boys – because for the majority of her time at Heriot’s it was a boys’
Peter Warburton (1980) even a little maths. We were genuinely a little afraid of Miss Simpson, but
I was incredibly fortunate to be cast in one of her productions, The Aten, school – had different talents. She had a keen sense of humour – she she was someone with a genuinely caring and kind side to her. We were
I joined GHS in 1972 in the P6 intake when I was 10, and Rosemary
in my final year (1982-83) at Heriot's. This was a highly complex play always loved a laugh - but didn’t suffer fools. She was, in the 60’s, a enjoined to put up our hands and approach her if we were genuinely in
Simpson was my first teacher at GHS, and my introduction to GHS.
about Ancient Egypt, written and co-directed for the school by an FP and progressive, and was brought into the school knowingly to liven up the difficulties, and when one arrived close by her at her desk, she exuded a
parent, Alan Jeffreys. It was perhaps the most ambitious production GHS My brothers, Michael and Johnny Warburton had already been taught by proceedings. Many of the staff in the 60’s had been there since the war, warmth and kindness that even now brings tears to my eyes. She was
had put on at that time – elaborate costumes, lighting effects, mime, her, and both of them had told me about this very strict and smartly and Rosemary and May (and in time a few others) shook them up a bit. It someone we were genuinely in awe of. Like God, she was both terrible
crowd scenes, a chariot, even a barge sailing down the Nile, not to dressed lady. took time for this new glamorous girl to be accepted in their midst, but and immensely caring.
mention a controversial menage à trois – but helped to cement the As I soon found out, Miss Rosemary Simpson, (as she was always referred always Rosemary knew she had the backing of those in charge. Rosemary A remarkable woman whom one of my classmates described as a cross
school’s reputation as a centre of excellence for the dramatic arts. to then), was quite a character and a formidable and caring teacher. was never one automatically to show deference to someone simply between Miss Jean Brodie and Maria Callas. I am indebted beyond words
because they were senior to her, or, in particular, because they were a
Over the many months of rehearsal, I was privileged to spend many She also had a wonderful striking make-up and hair style reminiscent of the and mourn her passing. RIP, dear Rosemary.
man! But she understood about quality and integrity and the importance
hours being coached by Rosemary for what was a huge and challenging great opera diva Maria Callas that you couldn't fail to be impressed by.