Page 21 - Quadrangle_Autumn_2017

20 21

IN Former Heriot’s Deputy Born in Scotland, his schooling took and music or in debate about the last
game at Easter Road. He had that
place in London as a boarder at Mill
Headmaster, the greatly
Hill School before he headed back
enviable gift of calming both sides
admired Hugh MacLennan, died
north to become a student of French
and engineering a lasting peace when
MEMORIAM in April 2017. and German at Glasgow University. His others might have fanned the flames.
undergraduate degree was followed
… He was also admired for his ability
by a teaching diploma at Jordanhill
to spot the moment to drop a note of
College. His early working life took
him to France where he worked as a
pupils or staff.”
Language Assistant for two years first support, sympathy or congratulation to
in Chateauroux and later Cologne.
Back in Scotland his career as a teacher In his retirement Hugh enjoyed hill
flourished at Morrison’s Academy in walking and was a volunteer with
game continued after he National Defence College. This was followed Crieff where he was also a housemaster. the Samaritans. He also continued to
left. Unfortunately a bad by three years as Parliamentary Clerk for the be involved with education both at
head injury early into his Foreign Office; responsible for the procedural Described by current Principal Cameron The eulogy at Hugh’s funeral was given Heriot’s as a Governor and as Chairman
diplomatic career, brought elements of steering the European Wyllie as a “kind, wise and very by his close friend and former Heriot’s at St Mary’s Music School.
his rugby playing days Communities Act through Parliament. His intelligent man”, Hugh MacLennan Headmaster Keith Pearson, who also
to an abrupt end, just as views on ‘Brexit’ were trenchant and going came to Heriot’s as Principal teacher paid tribute to him in this year’s Hugh died peacefully in April and is
he was breaking in to the to the polling station in person to vote of French in 1972 and was Deputy Herioter writing: “He related easily to survived by his wife Chris, children
National team. Remain was one of his last expeditions. Headmaster from 1985 until his young people and commanded their Kenneth, Catriona, Janet, Alistair and
retirement in 1995. interest, be it in his beloved poetry Lindsey, and 10 grandchildren.
With a desire to travel, he 1975 saw him posted to Washington DC and
moved to London after then on to Bangladesh for a brief spell before
leaving School in 1949 and arriving in Colombia in 1981 in the midst of
joined the Foreign Office, the Colombian Drug Wars and just a matter Wilkinson, William Stanley (Stan) (1945)
where he remained for of months before the start of the Falklands We regret to announce the Gordon, William Stewart (1954),
over 60 years, latterly as War. The fact that Colombia was the only deaths of the following former died January 2017 died January 2017
the Special Representative Latin American country to support the UK pupils and friends, brought to Hay, Major David M (1947), died May 2017 Young, David James (1960),
of the Secretary of spoke volumes to Mac’s diplomacy skills. our attention by family, friends, Henderson, William (Bill) Gebbie (1947), died November 2016
State for Foreign and solicitors or mention in the press. died March 2017
Commonwealth Affairs. In 1986 he was appointed British Copies of any available obituaries Staff and Friends
Ambassador to Paraguay and then in 1989 can be obtained on request from Ireland, William G (1950),
During his National Service, the British Ambassador to Panama; the the Development Office. died March 2015 Edwards, Patricia M, Borders Heriot Club,
he enrolled for paratroop same year he was awarded the CBE. He Johnstone, Chris J (1944),
training, before transferring and Jean returned to the UK in 1992 with Former Pupils died November 2016 died March 2017
in to the SAS reserves. It plans for a peaceful retirement. However, Heatlie, Wilson, Geography Teacher (retired),
was a training that stood this was put on hold when he was asked to Borthwick, Kenneth (1931), Kaufman, Leon (1944), died March 2017 died June 2017
him in good stead for later work for the EU Monitoring Mission based died August 2017 McFarlane, James (Jim), (1950), May 2017
life. Shortly after marrying in Zagreb covering Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dawson, G Stuart (1954), McLeod, Ian S (1948), died March 2017 Henderson, Kelda, Drama Teacher,
his wife Jean in 1955 he died January 2017 died July 2017
received his first overseas Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and the Phillips, Robert Sneddon (1950),
Foundationer John “Mac” Grant posting to Switzerland and in 1960 he was Republic of Macedonia. After several tours Donaldson, Neil (1983), died March 2017 died February 2017 Robinson, Samuel (Jim) James, Biology
of duty, Jean finally managed to persuade
MacDonald (1950), who had a posted to Cuba together with Jean and their him to start enjoying retirement but Mac still Forsyth, Donald H D (1950), Stears, Douglas (1947), died July 2017 Teacher (retired), died March 2017
distinguished 60 year career in 3 young children. While he was there he kept his link with the FCO running training died March, 2017 Thomson, Ian Alexander (1964), Strang, George Logan, Biology Teacher
witnessed the beginning of the Castro era
the Foreign and Commonwealth and was a first-hand witness to the Bay of sessions and acting as Special Representative Gordon, Eric (1959), died August 2017 died April 2017 (1966-1978), died March 2017
Office (FCO) and whose sense of Pigs conflict. He was awarded an MBE for his for the Secretary of State.
adventure took him on amazing support of Anglo Cubans during the troubles An adventurer to the last, in his late seventies
journeys across the world from that ensued. Mac joined the British Antarctic Survey
Antarctica to Zagreb, has died His next overseas posting was to Peru where on board the RRS Ernest Shackleton’s first BROTHERS IN ARMS Herioters who “came back” to help out; their
aged 85. his sense of adventure led him to drive an voyage of the year to resupply the bases in CONTINUED from page 14 families would be living far from the School.
But the more sobering reason would be the
automatic Austin Cambridge across the Antarctica. age of those who served; over half the boys
Growing up in Craigentinny, it was at primary Andes, encountering bandits, landslides The story of the Potts family was not unique but
school that a teacher recognised Mac’s and terrifying bridges constructed of two Throughout his exciting life, Mac never forgot it reflects the harsh reality of the time. who died were under 26 years old.
potential and encouraged him to apply to single parallel girders. This Indiana Jones- Heriot’s and in his retirement became an
Heriots as a Foundationer. He was accepted style trip not only won the admiration of the active member of the London Heriot Club, With so many young Heriot’s casualties of A trawl through the records came up with only Joseph Potts Henry Potts
and never looked back; always grateful for manufacturer (as it had never been done), but being elected President twice in 2007/08 the war, we may surmise that there would four children of Herioters named in the Roll
his Heriot’s education. While at Heriot’s he also helped with the planning for the 1970 and again in 2011/12. have been a torrent of applications for the of Honour who were admitted between 1916
developed his huge intellectual curiosity, a World rally. Foundation in the following years. However, and 1922: James S Downie , George Nicol
love of reading and meeting new people. He He died peacefully at home in April 2017 although the number of places offered and John Nisbet and Charlotte Seggie . The
also discovered a love of rugby and was proud During the early 1970s, back in the UK, he and is survived by his three children Fiona, increased, this does not appear to be the case. three boys entered Heriot’s and Charlotte was
to have played for Heriot’s. This love of the participated in the inaugural course at the Margaret and Iain. One factor in this would be the number of supported at Edinburgh Ladies College. Robert Potts