|
In
The News
The
information below is extracted from The Edinburgh Academy
News Sheet. Visit the News
pages of the EA website to read the latest issue (just
click on 'Current News Sheet'), browse
back
issues and sign up to receive it by weekly e-mail.
|
In The News - March 2009 |
We start with news of Mac Henderson (17-23), who has died at the age of 101. Mac played for the Accies from 1931 to 1933 and was picked for the Scottish XV in 1933, when Scotland won the Calcutta Cup and Triple Crown. Mac started life as a farmer but in the early 1960s, he and his wife, Janet, opened a farm food shop and Henderson's Salad Bar in Hanover Street. His sons Peter, Nick and Oliver all attended the Academy in the 1950s-60s. Fond tributes have appeared in, amongst other places, The Scotsman and The East Lothian Courier. The Scotsman also carried an obituary for Jimmy Campbell (32-41), until 1984, a GP in Rosyth. Jimmy had been Pipe Major when at the Academy and had continued his piping in the Royal Scottish Pipers' Society. He was also a keen member of the Territorial Army medical corps; other hobbies ranged from skiing and model boat building to raising chinchillas. His son, John, was also a pupil at the Academy (64-75).
There is a strong artistic theme to much of the news this month. Mid March saw three major exhibitions within a few metres of each other in Dundas Street. Jamie Primrose (77-90) had an exhibition 'Vivid Skies – magical vistas of Edinburgh' in the Dundas Street Gallery, John Brown (staff 88-97) had a show, 'Mekong Life' in the Scottish Gallery and the exhibition 'A Trail of Dreaming' by Kym Needle (staff 75-02) was on show at the Open Eye Gallery. All have received acclaim in reviews in the press. Kym's paintings were accompanied by a series of poems by Henry Marsh (staff 74-06) and Kym and Henry were heard on Radio Scotland's Radio Café, being interviewed by Clare English. In addition, Susie Johnston (87-89), now Susie Tiso, exhibited her own work and that of 40 other Scottish artists in her own gallery, Touchie Studios, in Fife. Half the proceeds of the show were to be contributed to Marie Curie Cancer Care, though Susie reported to The Scotsman that she expected some artists might donate the entire sum.
On a related scene, The Scotsman Magazine carried a feature on photographer John Rankin Waddell; this was written by Alex Hewitt (87-95), who appears in some of the photographs with his wife Charis. Alex is the acting deputy picture editor of The Scotsman. While on the media, Keith Broomfield (69-80), director of NB Media Ltd in Dalgety Bay, was interviewed for The Evening News in the middle of the month. When asked for his memories of school, he said that it was enjoyable and he made plenty of friends. He did reveal, however, that the school lunches of the day have put him off haggis for life. Things have changed a lot since then, Keith! The Scotsman Magazine too ran an interview with an Accie. Nick Ede (80-91) appeared in the column 'Dress Sense'. Asked about his favourite childhood outfit, he replied, "a pair of dark green corduroy trousers, a gingham check shirt, some Velcro-fastened white trainers and a black Puffa jacket. I was cool, even as a young boy at the Edinburgh Academy."
Not much in finance this month, but news that Harry Nimmo (62-75) has been named fund manager of the year by Citiwire. Harry runs the UK smaller companies fund at Standard Life Investments. To history, and The Scotsman ran a column by Susan Dalgety on David Livingstone, 'a national hero Africa will never forget'. Amongst her sources was Peter West (54-67), now Secretary of Strathclyde University. He confirmed that Livingstone's standing in Malawi was 'extraordinary'. Two of David Livingstone's grandsons, David and Alexander Livingstone Bruce, attended the Academy (1886-92 and 88-94 respectively).
There have been several other appearances in the media in March. Geoff Mawdsley (69-83) was on Radio Scotland's Morning Extra, discussing whether a wider choice of schooling might be made available through his ideas for grants. In letters to the papers, former members of staff, Colin Evans (staff 55-93) questioned why it had taken so long for MSPs to find a solution to compensation claims on slopping out and Francis Roberts (staff 83-94) queried whether there would be any enquiry into British involvement in the Kaliti detainment centre in Addis Ababa. Chris Tiso (76-84), whose business has been much affected by the tramworks in Princes Street wondered whether there would be any city businesses left to benefit when the trams arrived and Fenton Robb (38-39) discussed the difference between 'usury' and 'equity' as ways of lending money, suggesting that the former, as practised by banks, should perhaps be outlawed. But the prize for the longest, and possibly most controversial, letter of the month goes to Thomas Gough (52-63). Thomas attacked the 'false doctrine of man-made climate change' and questioned whether global warming had become the latest object of apocalyptic faith. He suggested that effort made to 'stop climate change' is a complete waste of resources, concluding that evidence shows there is likely to be cooling over the next few decades, which would be much more damaging than any slight warming.
It has been a long hard Six Nations for Mike Blair (86-99), captain and scrum-half, and Phil Godman (90-95), fly-half, in the Scottish rugby team. There was only the one victory, but some memorable moments nevertheless, and they live to fight another day. The Under 20s, with Paul Loudon (93-06) on the wing, and captain against Ireland, had a better run with three victories, but sadly for them also, a defeat in the final game against England. Tom Drennan, the Accies open-side, and son of Peter (66-76), was also in the Under 20s squad.
In the run-up to the Calcutta Cup weekend there were reports and pictures in the press bringing mixed emotions for Academicals. Mac Henderson was the subject of several warm press articles and obituaries as his international victories in 1933 were recalled. Nearer in time, there were pictures of the victorious 1990 Grand Slam team, including second row, Chris Gray (76-78). There were also mentions for other (besides Mike Blair last year) Calcutta Cup winning Academical Scottish captains, G.P.S. (Phil) Macpherson (09-16) in 1925, and J.B. (Brian) Neill (42-56) in 1964. Research showed just two Accies to have played in the only four (ever) winning Scottish sides at Twickenham, Duncan Macrae (25-33) in 1938 and Rodger Arneil (57-62) in 1971.
The Academy U15 success in the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup was well covered in several press previews and reports, along with a happy photo of Cameron Simpson (4M) and Alex Glashan (4B). Simon Mair (EA staff), their coach, was quoted at length in The Evening News, and generously praised the coaches at Edinburgh Accies minis and North Berwick minis for their contribution to the solid foundation of basic skills the Academy boys possessed. Assistance at training from David Blair (90-03) of Scotland ‘A’ and Edinburgh Gunners, and brother Alex (95-08), still sadly missing from the Accies team through injury, was also gratefully acknowledged.
Finally there was a cheering win to report from Raeburn Place on Saturday, when Danny Teague (86-99) led his Accies side, with Tom Brown (02-08) at full-back, to victory over West of Scotland. This ensures they will again be playing Division One rugby next season.
|
Return to the list of 'In The News' articles
|
