March 2023
As we circulate this issue of the Merchistonian Newsletter the School is rather quiet and our Pupils & Staff are enjoying a well-deserved Easter break.
As always, the Lent Term is a short, but busy one and as things start to return to normality, we have had many year groups contacting us with the intention of organising Reunions and rekindling their Merchistonian connections. At the end of February, we had the pleasure of welcoming back the Class of 2012 to the School and we are currently working with lead organisers on the 10- and 20-years Reunions for the Class of 2014 & 2004, coming up next year.
Any year groups looking to organise a Reunion should please contact merchistonans@merchiston.co.uk - we can support you with mailshots and year group lists.
Thanks to Mrs Coyne’s expert coordination, we are also welcoming an ever-increasing number of Merchistonians to the School, in the context on our Careers Café
This is a hugely important aspect of our Careers Programme and a terrific way to connect our current cohort to our Alumni, whilst offering them an insight into different industry fields and all-important advice on their next steps.
This is a very action-packed issue of the Newsletter with a lot of exciting news from the Club, overseas representatives, and a little preview on an upcoming piece of research, in which Merchiston will take part.
We hope you enjoy it.
Alumni Research
The International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation (ICHIRF), is hoping to collaborate with Merchiston's Alumni on a project to look at the attitudes and outcomes of previous concussions during school life. This would be in the form of an anonymised, voluntary, online questionnaire (that would only be accessible to volunteers from the Alumni)- details will be circulated via separate mailshot.
A similar project has already been completed with a number of major boys’ schools in South Africa and the results have proved to be of significant medical interest. Merchiston was chosen because Scottish schools have traditionally had 2 terms of rugby, as compared to 1 term of rugby in England, and because rugby was a compulsory sport for all pupils in the past. In addition, many families and alumni have a long association with the school, which provides an added generationby-generation stream to the information, making Merchiston an ideal model for this project.
The project will be coordinated by Dr Michael Turner at ICHIRF (michael@ichirf
org) and Niki Fallowfield at MerchistonReunion - Class of 2012
On Saturday 25 February we were delighted to welcome back to Merchiston 20 representatives of the Class of 2012. 10 years after they left the School they returned to reconnect with each other, share memories and chat to members of staff who had seen them grow throughout their Merchiston journey.
A huge thank you to Mr Blair and Mrs Binnie for looking after the group and ensuring they had a great visit to their old stomping ground. Many thanks also to the chief organisers Mr Rupert Thomson (MCS 2005-2012) and Mr James Gell (MCS 2002-2012) for pulling together the event so smoothly.
A full report of the Reunion will be featured in the next issue of the Merchistonian Magazine
Magazine Advertising
We are still seeking advertisers for the next issue of the Merchistonian Magazine, which will be distributed in October 2023
We are currently offering Full and Half Page options - if you are interested in advertising your business and/or services, please get in touch at merchistonans@merchiston co uk
Obituaries
We were very saddened to hear of the passing of the following Merchistonians:
Roger J. Connell
1939 - 2022
At Merchiston: 1952-1957
De Havilland Ltd ; London Univ 1961 BSc
Careers Cafe - Prof. Hutchison
Earlier this month we welcomed back to Merchiston Prof. Norman Hutchison (MCS 1974-78) to lead our property session of the Career Café. Prof. Hutchison is a property valuation and commercial property specialist. He is currently Chair at the University of Aberdeen, and his research focuses on retirement and care properties.
This was a hugely well-attended appointment of the Careers Cafétestament to the interests of our current student body, as the fields and topics are proposed by them on a yearly basis. Prof. Hutchison led a very interactive talk, engaging with the boys and prompting questions and suggestions from the audience.
He talked to the boys about his own experience – from running a family bakery business to his property valuation passion, turned profession For those boys interested in pursuing a career in his field Prof Hutchison recommends studying geography and business – and reminds them this is a people business after all!
Thank you very much to Prof Hutchison for taking the time to visit and inspire our young men
Elec. Eng.; MIEE, C Eng.; Solartron‐Schlumberger 10 yrs ; formed PPM Instrumentation Ltd, 1973-92, then sold to investor; re-started new business in same field; now selling to US supplier; ran Classic Car Restoration and race preparation business until 1993; raced TVR Griffith in Historic car races; HSCC Championship Winner, 1986; seven time Class Winner, 1982-97; TVR Tuscan Championship, 199495; Thoroughbred Sportscar Championship, 2002-; Driver of the Year, 2007; author, various technical articles for magazines
Graham J.C. Laing
1963 - 2023
At Merchiston: 1975-1982
son of Thomas G Laing (MCS 1945-49); Car Sales Manager
Sporting success
We are always pleased to hear from our fellow Merchistonians and celebrate their successes after they leave the School.
Alumnus Tom Diggle (MCS 20082016) recently reached out to share the brilliant news of his selection to be part of the GB Squad at the next Rifle & Pistol World Cup held in Baku between 8th – 15th May.
Tom has had a fantastic season allaround, adding 2 Silver medals at the Intershoot event in the 10m Air Rifle to his record, as well as winning the Scottish GP series, again in the 10m Air Rifle.
But his stellar performance does not end here: he also is a tied holder of the Scottish 10m Record and finished 2nd at the latest British 10m Championship.
Tom’s talent in the target shooting discipline was already very much apparent during his time at Merchiston. He was awarded the Wishart Cup for smallbore shooting 3 times, as well as being a recipient of the Col Corsar’s Prize for Service to the CCF
Tom’s winning stride is going from strength to strength with him also claiming the title at the Scottish 10m Championship on March 13th – and he shared the podium with another Merchistonian, Bertie Galloway (MCS 2014-2020) who took 3rd place.
Merchiston History
In the last couple of months, Merchiston has been very lucky to be returned two wonderful pieces of the School's history in the form of two books, awarded at Prizegiving (see images on the right)
The stunningly well-preserved Chalmers Prize for Mathematics (189192) and Merchiston Arithmetic Prize (1855 or 1856) are now on display in the Old Library
The former, ‘Shelley’s Works’, was presented to Ernest CH Wolff (MCS 1886-92) by John Rogerson Headmaster (1863 -98); Mr Wolff also received the Hope Prize, before progressing to Trinity College, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1897
The second book, ‘The Wonders of Science’ was presented to Alexander Crawford (MCS 1855-62) in either 1855 or 1856, by John Gibson, Headmaster (1850 –1856)
Merchistonians around the world
Following on from last month’s piece on Merchistonians around the world by Clive Steeper (MCS 1968-72), we were delighted to received news and images from other Merchistonian communities resident around the globe. Lovely to see 4 Merchistonians at the Cayman Island Burn supper last month!
The above image, kindly shared by Mrs Clark, a Former Parent, depicts left to right: Harry Clark (MCS 2005-2010), John-Ross Clough (MCS 2014-2019), Dr Virginia Hobday (Mr Clough’s mother), Alistair Bird (MCS 200-2005) & Nick Quin (MCS 1995-2000).