Merchistonian Sep24 Digital Version

HEADMASTER’S WELCOME, AUGUST 2024

Welcome to the 2023-24 edition of the Merchistonian

This magazine chronicles another action-packed year at Merchiston and celebrates all that has been achieved. We pride ourselves on the rich variety of activities on offer here to our pupils, in the classroom, in the Houses, on the sports field, and beyond our gates, which enable every boy in our care to flourish and to be happy.

As I reported in my Prizegiving address, this has been another year of remarkable achievement. In the pages that follow, this achievement is recorded for posterity, and should prove interesting and enjoyable reading for all. The year commenced with the re-opening of the newly refurbished Chalmers Houses, which now provide outstanding and sector-leading facilities for our boys to enjoy. This development has also provided the opportunity to reorganize our Middle Years Houses to enhance our already excellent pastoral care. It is clear from the boys’ contributions to the House reports which follow that they have greatly appreciated the changes that we have made.

In addition to our primary function, the education of the boys, the academic year 2023-24 has also seen a wide variety of exciting international trips, increased diversity to

our sporting provision, continued success in our traditional sports, and a rich tapestry of non-sporting activities, all of which play a vital role in the fabric of Merchiston life. In every area, the key to success lies in the teams involvedof boys, of members of staff in all areas of the School, and perhaps most importantly, teams of boys and members of staff, working together.

Looking ahead, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of our new intake of pupils, the opening of our new Forest Nursery and Junior School in September, the continued embedding of the new Middle Years House structure, and the settlingin process of some of our academic departments in their new departmental “homes”. By the time that this magazine reaches you, stories will already be being created which will be recorded in next year’s magazine!

I extend my thanks to all who have written articles and contributed in any way to the publication of this magazine, not least to its editor, Philip Rossiter, the production team at Platinum, and to all who have led and participated in the many activities which feature in the pages that follow. I hope you enjoy reading the fruits of their labours.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

TERM DATES 2024-2025

COMMON ROOM

ARRIVALS, AUGUST

2023 – JULY 2024

During the period covered by this magazine, August 2023 – July 2024, we have been pleased to welcome the following as new members of staff at Merchiston, all of whom have quickly become valued members of our community:

JAMES AXON - Admissions

DAVINA BOWERS - Head of The Forest at Merchiston

MAY BURNETT - Charge Nurse

LAURA COUGAN - Head of Support for Learning

ALEXIS HARVEY - Finance Manager

FRASER HUTCHISON - Director of the Golf Academy

TIM LALLEMANT - Deputy House Parent in Chalmers East

NICK DE LUCA - Director of Sport & Activities

CALLUM NICOL - Deputy House Parent in Chalmers West

VALERIE PIQUIOT - Deputy House Parent in Laidlaw North

ALAN POTTS - Teacher of Mathematics

ANDREW THORNTON - Marketing Manager

KATHERINE UPTON - Teacher of English and Resident Tutor in Chalmers West

PAUL WILSON - Facilities Manager

TEACHING STAFF DEPARTURES, AUGUST 2023

– JULY 2024

During the period covered by this magazine, August 2023 – July 2024, we have been sorry to bid farewell to the following members of staff, thank them whole-heartedly for the important contribution which they have made to Merchiston life, and wish them every happiness in the future:

CHARLOTTE ARROWSMITH

Charlotte has made a really positive impact during her four years at Merchiston since joining the EAL Department in August 2020. She quickly understood the School’s ethos of putting the boys first, and this is at the heart of her teaching and interactions with the boys both inside and outside the classroom.

Charlotte taught EAL pupils across all age levels and English Language ability levels from Pringle to Sixth Form, both long-term and short-stay pupils. Her teaching covers both general and academic English at B1, B2 and C1 levels, IGCSE English as a Second Language and IELTS Academic.

Charlotte establishes a positive rapport in all her classes. She has high expectations and fosters a positive ‘can do’ attitude in the pupils. She has really brought the classroom to life with lively discussions and project work on such diverse areas as rugby, girls and education, dignity, and our first end-of-year EAL magazine.

COMMON ROOM

Charlotte also brought enthusiasm for wider School initiatives, which she was very happy to lead and facilitate, taking pupils on this journey with her. I know she feels that one of her main contributions to the School is bringing the community together and, specifically, helping the EAL boys to feel integral and valued. This has manifested itself through various whole School projects both in and out of the classroom, such as the Jubilee and Coronation street parties, Jubilee time capsule, Christmas Fair, International Week, Rights Respecting conference and presenting in assemblies and supporting boys to do so.

Charlotte is also committed to charity work. She is an ambassador for Hope and Homes for Children (HHC) and organised Macmillan coffee mornings. She also reinstated the Merchiston Community Service Programme, reconnecting with local schools and involving the pupils in various community projects to encourage respect, empathy and commitment.

Charlotte values being part of the educational community to which she belongs and, undoubtedly, she will continue in the same spirit when she embarks on her next career step in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at the King Fahad III University of Petroleum and Oil. She departs Merchiston with our thanks and very best wishes.

Susan Hardman, Head of English as an Additional Language

LIZ ATKINSON

Liz began her career as a Probationer Teacher at Merchiston in September 2022, having completed her PGCE training at the University of Oxford. She very quickly demonstrated the conscientious attitude, calm classroom routines and organised approach that helped to make her such a valuable member of the Maths Department over the following five terms.

She ably took on the challenge of teaching a V Form set in her first year and under her guidance, this group of boys achieved very strong IGCSE results. Liz also gained experience over her time with us in teaching pupils from Pringle to UVI, approaching each set with the same enthusiasm and care for the boys, and developing her knowledge of the IGCSE and A Level specifications.

A positive and highly motivated colleague, Liz willingly threw herself into all the events of the Department and regularly engaged in discussions concerning good practice, pedagogy and practical actions in the classroom. Her home-made chocolate brownies were also a very welcome addition to the Friday cake rota!

Outside of the Department, Liz worked as an Academic Tutor in the Middle Years, and as a House Tutor in Chalmers East, where she continued to set high standards and supported boys both academically and pastorally.

A keen climber and hiker, who gained her Mountain Leader qualification whilst at Merchiston, Liz contributed significantly to the School’s Duke of Edinburgh programme throughout her time with us. In 2023, she also started and led a popular indoor climbing activity as part of the Saturday Electives programme.

Seeking to broaden her teaching experience, Liz left Merchiston at the end of the Lent Term 2024 to continue her career at Firrhill High School. I am sure that the pupils there will benefit from her dedicated approach, as ours have done, and we wish her ongoing success in her new role.

Naomi Steen, Head of Mathematics

JASON CORDINGLEY

Jason Cordingley has left Merchiston’s Art Department after twenty-six years at its helm, moving to Portugal to be the

Head of Art at an international school in Lisbon. He has very strong ties with Lisbon and has property there which he plans to renovate, so this is a great opportunity for him. We congratulate him on his success.

Jason arrived at Merchiston in January 1998 to provide maternity cover. He immediately established himself as a first-class teacher and inspirer of young artists, quickly becoming Head of Art. Under his leadership, the Department has developed and thrived.

It was clear from the start that Jason was highly respected by his pupils, supporting them to develop their skills with an excellent mixture of humour and gentle authority. Being a very passionate, practising artist, Jason brings tremendous creative energy to his subject and has been prolific in his endeavours - inspiring, raising standards and encouraging the boys to be productive and to deliver their very best efforts.

Jason arrived at Merchiston with his wife, Marta, and two young children, who have enjoyed the spirit of Merchiston and been central to our community, becoming firm, lifelong friends with many.

Having been Assistant Housemaster in Rogerson West, in 2005, Jason was appointed Housemaster of Chalmers East, a post which he held until 2013. He expertly managed the young men in his care with sensitivity and enthusiasm, embracing the pastoral role with passion.

Of course, Marta has also been hugely involved in the Cordingleys’ Merchiston story. The School benefitted enormously from her input. Active within the boarding House, she was always gentle and supportive, baked for the House, and, with Jason, created a caring, positive atmosphere in Chalmers East. Marta also ran the School shop for many years, providing a valuable service for both parents and boys.

As a prolific artist, Jason’s latest studies have focused on the landscapes of our Scottish hills and coast-line. Many of his paintings hang on walls in the School and in the homes of parents, friends and colleagues. They are large, expressive and hugely impressive - he has always been a master of texture and colour.

Colleagues admire Jason as an empathetic, charismatic man. He is an engaging story-teller, with many a saga to share, delivered in his own witty and insightful manner. We are all sorry to see him go but are delighted at his good fortune to push on with other projects in a place that he and Marta love. We warmly wish them the very best of times and fortunes in Portugal.

Fiona Darling, Art Department

STEPHEN DOUGLAS

Stephen Douglas joined Merchiston in September 2017 as a Teacher of English. One of his most impressive credits at MCS is as founder and editor of The Hydra: The Arts Magazine of Merchiston Castle School - an annual publication which showcases the best prose, verse and visual work from across the student body Stephen himself is a talented poet, whose work has appeared in such wellknown Irish literary magazines as Automatic Pilot and A New Ulster, as well as featuring in the ground-breaking anthologies The Children of the Nation: An Anthology of Working People’s Poetry from Contemporary Ireland and From the Plough to the Stars: An Anthology of Working People’s Prose from Contemporary Ireland, published by Culture Matters in 2019 and 2020 respectively. During his tenure at MCS, Stephen also completed a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Stephen embodies the archetypal Merchiston figure in the sense that he is deeply rooted in academics, but he is also a formidable sportsman. He was previously contracted with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Ulster Rugby (2006-2009), featured in Ulster Rugby’s 2008 Magners League squad and represented Irish Rugby at the U19 and U20 Six Nations and World Championships. After retiring from playing rugby, Stephen became a fully qualified IRFU Stage 4 Head Coach, with sixteen years of coaching experience at school, club and age-grade levels. At Merchiston, he enjoyed a multitude of successes as head rugby coach of the U15As and U16As, including: 2018 Junior Sevens Lisbon winners, 2018 Langley School U15 Rugby Festival winners, 2018 Newcastle Falcons U15 Schools’ 7s Festival winners, an unbeaten 2018/19 season, and 2019 U16 Scottish Schools’ Cup winners. He continued as head coach of the U16As until 2023, and then served as assistant coach for his final year at MCS.

In addition to his roles in the classroom and on the pitch, Stephen has also played significant roles in the School’s pastoral life. He served as Resident Tutor in Chalmers East and Laidlaw South, Tutor in Chalmers West, Deputy House Parent in Evans, and, most recently, as Deputy House Parent for day pupils in Rogerson. Boys have always viewed him as a serious presence with high expectations, but also one who is equally caring, full of humour and invested in their successes.

Stephen leaves us to move back to his native Northern Ireland, where he will assume the post of English and Media Studies Teacher at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Stephen’s absence will be keenly felt by his colleagues, by the sporting community, and by all of the pupils who have

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been taught or coached by him over the years. In our department, we will mourn him particularly at break time, when we have grown accustomed to hearing Stephen’s acerbic one-liners. His boundless wisdom and wit have left lasting impressions on us all.

Kate Anderson, Head of English

LIZ DUNCAN

Liz arrived at Merchiston in September 2019 from Strathallan School, taking on the dual role of Examinations Officer and part-time Maths teacher. Over the last five years, she has fulfilled both aspects of her remit to an exceptionally high standard.

As a Maths teacher, Liz’s huge experience, dedication and care for the pupils have been invaluable. She has taught throughout the School, with boys from Pringle to UVI benefitting from her carefully created resources, structured approach and range of teaching strategies.

Whilst Liz’s teaching role may not have been full-time, her commitment in the classroom and beyond certainly was. Her frequent Academic Support sessions have been greatly appreciated by the pupils who attended, and she designed and co-ordinated a number of different activities through the Saturday Electives programme, including ‘Excel for A Level Maths students’, and ‘R for Beginners’.

Liz has also been invaluable to the Department for her flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond, including organising multiple events for Scottish Maths Week and taking on the teaching of additional classes as needed.

Always keen to develop her own knowledge and practice, Liz invests time in extensive reading on topics of pedagogical interest, as well as recently completing several university courses to extend her technical expertise. She has always been willing to share the key takeaways from her learning so that other members of the Department also benefit.

One quality that has been very apparent as Liz has carried out both sides of her role is her exceptional level of organisation; as both teacher and Examinations Officer, she managed numerous and varied deadlines, demands and pressures with aplomb. She ensured that pupils, Heads of Department, invigilators and external examination candidates all received the information they needed and that structures were in place to allow a complex process to happen as smoothly as possible. Many colleagues, indeed, were unaware of just how much time and effort was

needed behind the scenes, as Liz quietly and effectively got the job done.

A further important area in which Liz has excelled is the traditional Maths Department Cake Friday; her homemade cookies, cakes and pi-shaped shortbread have all been greatly appreciated!

Liz now leaves Merchiston to return to full-time Maths teaching at Lasswade High School. She will be greatly missed at Merchiston, and we wish her all the best for the future and every success in her ongoing career.

Naomi Steen, Head of Mathematics

JAKE MILLS

Jake’s warm and friendly personality has enabled him to build an amazing rapport with the boys in the School. He has developed our Strength and Conditioning programme into a sector-leading activity, which is one that other schools are trying to match. The Sports Scholars have loved his one-on-one gym tuition, which has had a massive impact on Merchiston’s sport, and has also helped many boys transition seamlessly into the world of professional sport. The culture has grown and is now flourishing, and Jake leaves our Strength and Conditioning programme in a better place.

Whether it’s early morning sessions or late-night workouts, nothing has phased Jake. He is a ‘jack of all trades’: he has played a key role in the co-curricular programme, contributing to tennis, cricket, rugby, athletics, mountain biking and golf.

Jake will be sorely missed by both students and staff. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.

Roddy Deans & Craig Harrison, PE / Sports Department

CLARE NUGENT

Clare arrived at Merchiston in 2014, taking on the role of Housemother in Pringle. It rapidly became obvious that she possessed many wide-ranging skills which would enable her to contribute much to our community. She immediately became involved with the Pipe Band, organising uniform and helping with trips, and with Golf and Young Farmers. She was invariably on hand when a volunteer was needed. In 2016, she relinquished her role in Pringle to become a member of the teaching staff, devoting her energies to the teaching of Design and Technology, and in 2020, she was promoted to the role of Head of Department, in which she proved herself to be

highly proficient, energetic and inspirational.

In her capacity as Head of Design and Technology, Clare established our sector-leading MerchiSTEM programme, guiding and inspiring those around her, pupils and staff alike, to match her enthusiasm and passion for the world of engineering, design and technology. As the Headmaster said in his speech at Prizegiving, “…. Clare’s gift in synergising talent across departments and in developing and nurturing both boys and colleagues is evident in the success her subject has enjoyed and the high esteem in which her department is held”. There is no doubt whatsoever that she has had an enormous impact on the boys who worked in her department and beyond.

We are very sad to see Clare relinquish her role at Merchiston, but are delighted that she is not leaving us completely: she will be returning to do some work in the Department in a part-time capacity.

CHARLOTTE ROSA

Charlotte joined Merchiston in September 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to her new role. Boys throughout the School had the opportunity to benefit from her expertise and dedicated approach: she taught some of our Pringle pupils at the beginning of their journey with the Maths Department, as well as ably taking on the teaching of Mechanics to our Upper Sixth Further Maths students.

Whilst Charlotte’s role was part-time, her commitment to, and concern for, the boys in her classes was enormous. She was an excellent colleague to have in the Department: always conscientious and organised in her approach, and eager to discuss elements of learning and teaching that could assist pupils in making progress.

Charlotte left Merchiston at the end of the Lent Term and has since been spending more time with her family. We wish all of them the very best and Charlotte every success in her future career, wherever it takes her.

Naomi Steen, Head of Mathematics

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

THE FOREST SCHOOL

We are thrilled to share with you the exciting news of the establishment of our Forest Nursery and Junior School within the historic grounds of Merchiston, marking a significant milestone in our journey of educational excellence. As we expand our offerings to embrace coeducation, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of small children into our nurturing environment for the very first time.

Nestled amidst our stunning, expansive grounds, our Forest Nursery and Junior School will serve as a beacon of outdoor education, harnessing the boundless benefits of nature in enriching the learning experience of our young learners. With a belief in the transformative power of the great outdoors, we are dedicated to be providing a holistic education that fosters curiosity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the existing

members of the Merchiston staff team for their unwavering support and invaluable guidance throughout the integration of this new addition. Their dedication and wisdom have been instrumental in ensuring a seamless transition, and we are immensely grateful for their commitment to upholding our shared vision of excellence in education.

Furthermore, we are thrilled to introduce our dedicated Forest Prefect team, which will play a pivotal role in establishing our young learners and providing the pastoral support they need in their formative years. With their passion for outdoor education and commitment to nurturing the next generation, they embody the spirit of mentorship and guidance that defines our School community.

In addition, we are delighted to announce that our recruitment process has been exceptionally strong, reflecting the high demand for our unique educational

approach. As we continue to grow, we welcome rolling enquiries throughout the year, inviting families to join us on this exciting journey of discovery and growth.

To all Merchistonians, past and present, we extend a warm invitation to visit our new School within the historic grounds and witness first-hand the fantastic flagship education offered in the junior years. As we embark on this new chapter together, we embrace the opportunity to welcome a diverse community of learners and create lasting memories within our cherished environment.

Davina Bowers, Head of The Forest Nursery and Junior School

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW 2023-24

2023-24 has been another year of positive development across all academic areas. We have really settled into the new timetable structure, so much so that it cannot really be called ‘new’ any longer! The Electives programme, which was introduced last year, has developed further to provide excellent opportunities for students to do something different, and has plenty of scope to develop further over time. This, alongside an increasing diversity in our wider activity programme, ensures that we can keep adding value to the experience of our students. Our work on developing “behaviours for learning” and “approaches to learning and teaching” has yielded some interesting outcomes, including a more cohesive programme of learning for staff, and we hope to see the impact of that over a longer period of time. Most immediately, there will be a sharper focus on aspects of our approach to Support for Learning in its widest sense. Another major development over this academic year has been a restructuring of our academic departments. The addition of new Head of Faculty roles has allowed us to move to a situation where we have four faculties: Global Affairs; Languages and Literatures; Science; and Technologies and Creative Arts. The Heads of Faculty will work closely with the subject Lead Teachers to ensure that these “communities within our community” offer the best possible experiences for our students and staff. These faculties now sit alongside the departments of English as an Additional Language, Maths, Physical Education, and Support for Learning. I am excited to work with the leads in these areas, who we will view as an “extended Academic Leadership Team”, as we continue to strive for excellence

across the board.

On the examination front, some headlines for 2023-24 include:

A Levels / Advanced Highers

• 100% pass rate

• 23% A/A* grades

• 85% A – C grades

University Outcomes

• One student to Cambridge, two to St Andrews

• One student to Cornell, two students to leading US colleges for sport

IGCSE

• 47% of entries at Grades 9-7

• 90% of entries at Grades 9-4

• 12 students with 5 or more Grade 9/8 equivalents

Higher and National 5

• 97% pass rate (A-C) at Higher

• 76% A/B grades at Higher

• 98% pass rate (A-C) at National 5

Once again, there is much to be celebrated on this front, and our students can take pride in the journey that they have taken as individuals in order to arrive at these outcomes. So many experiences, challenges, highs, and lows are woven into each story, but I am confident that all individuals are now ready, in their own way, to tackle whatever comes next for them. The upcoming articles by subject areas will give you a flavour of these experiences, and I hope you enjoy reading them.

Dale Cartwright, Deputy Head Learning and Teaching

ART

A high spot of the year was having a painting by one of our Upper Sixth Form artists, Finlay C, shortlisted for the Young Emerging Artist Competition 2024, organised by the Atelier Gallery, Edinburgh. We were also thrilled to be able to display so much exciting work on the Headmaster’s Easels outside the Memorial Hall throughout the year. Once again, our pupils have tackled a dynamic range of mediums, themes and styles. These ranged from the First Form’s mixed media cow compositions to the Upper Sixth Artists’ personal investigations of the interior spaces found at the National Museum of Scotland. The eclectic mix of Art

movements embraced in the Department have included Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Graffiti, Impressionism and Pop. Our senior pupils also benefitted hugely from hearing about the many exciting creative careers available to Art graduates from a speaker from SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design). The academic year ended with a vibrant display of the current GCSE and A Level work in the Department.

Jason Cordingley, Head of Art

Shell Form Art

Fifth Form Art

Lower Sixth Art

Second Form Art

First Form Art

CLASSICS

It has been a very successful and busy year in the Classics Department at Merchiston. The largest ever A Level Classical Civilisation set has just sat its examinations; the pupils have been a real pleasure to teach, and they have represented and promoted the Department with much enthusiasm and passion. The majority of this set attended the trip to Rome in November (a more in-depth review of the trip can be read elsewhere in the Merchistonian!) and proved themselves to be true leaders for the younger boys on the trip. They will be sorely missed once they move on to pastures new. This year also saw the largest ever uptake for the GCSE Classical Civilisation course in the Shell, another very pleasing statistic, which shows that Classics continues to be pursued with much enthusiasm by the boys within the School.

Next year will see even more exciting trips, with a trip planned down to London to see Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre, with the legendary Mark Strong playing the lead role. This opportunity to see one of the A Level set plays being performed live will be invaluable experience for the Sixth Form sets to develop their understanding of the play. In addition, trips to Hadrian’s Wall and the British Museum in London for the GCSE set are planned for the next academic year. The boys are very much looking forward to these trips and they will add great value to their learning; reading about the prescribed sources in a textbook is one thing, but seeing them in person is a totally different experience.

Matthew Hillier, Head of Classics

MerchiSTEM AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

The MerchiSTEM Activity continues to go from strength to strength. We have had an exciting year with an array of teams, including opportunities taking us (almost) the length of the country; from Inverurie to London!

In the Design and Technology Department, a variety of opt-in co-curricular STEM opportunities are offered through the weekly activity slots, as well as during the Saturday Electives programme. We have had some exciting projects this year - we hope you enjoy reading about them!

MerchiSTEM at the STEM Nation Expo

In March, following receipt of our STEM Nation Award and in recognition of our commitment to effective practice in STEM education, Merchiston was invited to host a stall at Education Scotland’s STEM Nation Expo, at the Glasgow City Chambers. Merchiston is the first independent school to win the Award, which consists of five key elements:

Leadership in STEM; STEM family and community learning; Employability and STEM partnerships; STEM curriculum and learner progression; and Equity and Equality in STEM.

The event began with inspirational speeches from Education Scotland and a number of local schools. The Expo proved a fantastic opportunity for practitioners and young people to connect with fellow STEM Nation Award recipients as well as to network with a host of dynamic partners and businesses. Activities and discussions allowed participants to find out about exciting and innovative practice in STEM, including Young STEM Leader programme, CREST Awards, the Institute of Civil Engineers and of STEM Ambassadors.

The STEM Nation Award is reviewed every three years. We look forward to meeting our agreed STEM goals ahead of the review in 2025-26. We welcome engagement from any STEM industries who would like to work with our Merchiston pupils.

Stewart Trailers Trip

March was a busy month! On 13 March, the IV Form EDT team, Young Farmers and A Level Product Design pupils visited Stewart Trailers in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. We have been fortunate to receive generous sponsorship from Stewart Trailers for the EDT Industrial Cadet team this year, in which part of the programme is to carry out a site visit to their Industry Sponsors. Given the work Stewart Trailers do, it was too rich an experience not to involve the A Level

Product Design boys and Young Farmers group. On their tour of the facilities, the pupils were able to see metal laser cutting, press forming, metal stock forms, hardox metal, welding, powder coating and painting, hydraulics, sand blasting, and industry-scale CAD/CAM facilities. The terminology used throughout the day was fitting for academic courses, so it was great to see the pupils engage with the design team and ask insightful questions. At the end of the tour, the pupils were shown some of the trailers and tractors in action, which was the highlight of the day!

We look forward to continuing our work with Stewart Trailers in the months ahead as they support the EDT Team in the run up to EDT report submission and graduation!

In-STEM-agram

Only 35% of STEM students in higher education are female and only 15% of engineering graduates and 19% of computing graduates are females. Around the world, we are steadily beginning to address these and other gender imbalances; raising awareness of them is just one method! To this end, we celebrated International Women’s Day by running a MerchiSTEM competition called InSTEMagram

Pupils were asked to submit Instagram-style posts, following research into an inspirational STEM figure. Over 70 entries made judging extremely difficult! The winners were Joshua M (Pringle) with Mary Anning; Sikai C (Middle Years) with Ruji Cao; and Julian M (VI Form) with Karen Petrie.

We hope this competition helped to raise awareness around the incredible things women have done and continue to do for the betterment of the STEM industries.

Awards in London

BIEA

Six Merchiston students - Hamish H, Fergus W, Sikai C, James Y and Anton S - spoke at the Houses of Parliament in October as part of the British International Education

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

Association’s Youth STEM Forum. This invitation followed their winning of the BIEA’s prestigious international Sustainable Building Design Award. Competing with hundreds of other schools from across the globe, including Poland, Pakistan, Canada and Spain, our pupils’ extensive research, pragmatic approach and pioneering design saw Merchiston receive this prestigious STEM award.

Fuelled by predictions that much of Leith will succumb to flooding by 2030, the team designed a versatile, floodresistant yet energy-efficient building. The comprehensive final report showcased a meticulously crafted solution that could be adapted to diverse global locales, demonstrating the group’s creativity, foresight, and pragmatism in addressing the climate emergency.

With the same project, the MerchiSTEM team was also short-listed in the Engineer Awards.

The Engineer Awards in London

In February, one of the MerchiSTEM Shell teams attended the prestigious Engineer Awards in London. The team members - Anton S, Fergus W, James Y, Sikai C and Hamish H - were Finalists in the Best STEM Initiative Award.

This year, the Engineer Awards were sponsored by Babcock, and there was a whole host of industry professionals there on the night, including representatives from Babcok, EJOT, Hays, igus, Megger, UKRI Science and Technologies Facilities Council and Engineering UK. The pupils were able to speak with industry professionals about their design proposal, as well as to learn more about their role(s) within the engineering profession.

The evening was hosted at the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) within their beautiful building, One Great

George Street, Westminster. The building in itself fascinated the team, with the interior architectural features from the 1800s and the painting on the ceiling of the main hall from the 1900s.

Unfortunately, on this occasion, the team were not the overall winners, but left inspired to pursue their STEM passions!

The next day, we spent time enjoying a private tour of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) building on John Adam Street. There, Hamish H serenaded us on the piano, the boys underwent a gruelling panel interview in the auditorium, and learnt about a whole host of inspirational STEM figures who have been an important part of the RSA past!

#DigiInventors Challenge

In November and December 2023, two Merchiston teams attended the Bootcamp and National Finals of the #DigiInventors competition in Glasgow, run by the Digital Health Institute. The teams were announced as two of the top four national finalists, out of over 130 entries nationwide. They spent time working with design and business industry professionals to develop their proposal into a viable product, presenting to a panel of industry professionals from the UK and the UAE.

The #DigiInventorsChallenge, in association with Glasgow Warriors, Raise Scotland, City of Glasgow College and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), asks young people to identify health and care challenges that could be helped by a digital solution. The finalists took part in a two-day bootcamp in Glasgow, where they learned how to present their ideas effectively to a panel of expert judges during the finals in December.

‘Anti BullE’, produced by Lower Sixth students Vincent N, Hamish J and Erik B, is a digital product that supports victims of bullying worldwide with the fundamental principles of Help, Detection and Prevention, which are realised in the three sub-applications in our all-in-one app:

Help: a digital therapist based on AI, who is immediately available at any time to help young people deal with their bullying problems and the associated health problems.

Detection: a smart physical bullying detection system that evaluates the data from the sensors of the user’s cell phone with the help of machine learning and thereby detects when the user is a victim of physical violence. If it is detected, emergency contacts are immediately alerted and will assist the victim as quickly as possible.

Prevention: a dynamic simulation game that instructs young people on the appropriate way to react in conflict or when being bullied.

‘ZenSoil’, produced by Fifth Form students Yuqi C, Ghani R, George A and Max A, is a digital product which is described as:

….. a remote watering plant pot which features an electronics compartment and a water reservoir. The electronics connect a water pump with a motor that pushes water through pipes and into the soil. An app comes with it, allowing you to activate the motor only after you answer a mental health questionnaire, where the answers will be saved for the user to look at later on. A signal is then returned to the plant pot to activate the motor. In addition, the plant pot features a water level sensor in the soil and reservoir. It is triggered due to the conductivity of ions present in non-distilled water and soil. These conductive ions allow the current to flow through the

soil, which closes the circuits, detects the water present and triggers the outputs. This results in a routine for the user where they complete the questionnaire and get to water the plant via remote signals easily.

The students took part in a two-day virtual bootcamp, which covered the marketing of ‘Find Your Feet’ too. Listening to presentations from business and design experts allowed the team to refine and develop their product and final pitch. This included input from Ted X and the Scottish Tech Army. Following the final pitch, the teams were asked a series of questions from a panel of judges, in both Scotland and Dubai, and performed incredibly well under pressure! Neither teams were picked as the overall winner, but it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved.

There were three more excellent entries to the #DigiInventor Challenge this year. ‘Hologram’ by Anton, Shiran, Arthur and Sam, is summarised by them as follows:

Our idea is a combination of three of our ideas. The first part is a bedside hologram that talks to the user and acts like a friend. This idea helps with bullying and peer pressure by allowing the user to talk about problems and what is bothering them. AI can then translate all the conversations into text, so that parents and guardians can also know about what is happening. The AI will also be able to reply with helpful comments, or just have a chat with the user. The AI will also talk to the user about environmental issues, spreading awareness.

The second part is an app, where the user’s parents / guardians can see not only all the conversations between the user and the hologram, but also all the conversations over days and years on such platforms as xBox, PlayStation, Windows and Nintendo. Saving conversations will be local to the device, so that servers won’t have to store the information. All the conversation can also be exported as PDF files. AI will also be able to highlight potentially harmful conversations and single them out from the rest.

The last part of our idea is the children’s app. Here, the user will be able to chat with the hologram’s AI, even when not near it. The customisation menu for the hologram will also be here. There will also be a couple of games on the app, which will teach the user about the environmental issues and how to help the surrounding nature.

‘BUBBLE’ by Hamish, James, Sikai and Fergus can be described as a phone app that comes with the shell of a VR headset. When you open the app, you will then slot your phone into the side of the VR headset and you will look around you and see your very own bubble. At first, you will look around and see an AI helper and a blank room, after which your bubble and its AI helper are fully customisable to anything that you can think of. You can play games, draw and even just have a chat with your very own AI helper. It is always there for you and you alone and can help with almost any mental health issue. ‘Bubble’ can help, educate, and entertain you, and is a safe space with just you and anything else that you may need. It is free and easy to get on IOS and android so it’s accessible to everyone.

And, ‘Recording Watch’ by Josh, Lewis, Matthew and Magnus is a product that –

…. will help prevent bullying by recording conversations with a click of a button, which are then sent to an app on a phone or computer. The audio will be able to be accessed by a guardian or trusted figure via the app, who will have such details on the audio as the time and person. The app, which the student will also have access to, can record audio on a phone and computer as well helping prevent bullying online.

We love that our pupils get to explore their creativity and innovation in a range of mediums working on these projects: sketching, rendering, 3D CAD modelling, rapid prototyping and block modelling, to name but a few.

CityZen

The Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) CityZen competition is a structured activity supported by an ICE STEM Ambassador, structured in two parts: a digital game played over 4 - 6 one-hour sessions, and a creative video project for students to pitch their idea of how civil engineering could be used to improve their local environment. It gives students the opportunity to develop skills for success, including teamwork, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving, and offers an insight into a respected, exciting and globally-vital career option. Our competitors also enjoyed how participation provided insights into STEM topics, including content relevant to Geography and Design Technology.

Congratulations to the members of team MerchiCAN, who were announced as the top scorers in the Digital CityZen game, who all successfully completed the challenge this year: Geoff S, Emmanuel C, Sam Y, Adam H, Kit N, Rohan R, Cliff Z and Richard Z.

CanSat

The CanSat competition provides students with the opportunity to have practical experience working on a small-scale space project. They are tasked with designing and building their own simulation of a real satellite,

integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can. The challenge for students is to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system, into this minimal volume. After building, their CanSat teams are invited to launch events across the UK to launch their CanSats on small rockets, with their CanSats returning to Earth using a parachute designed by the students.

Before the Easter holidays, two Merchiston CanSat teams attended the regional launch at Strathaven Airfield. After working on their satellites, designed to fit inside a small soda can, for a number of months, both teams successfully managed to build and programme their satellites to carry out a secondary mission. Team ‘MerchiCan’ created an adaptable compartment designed to carry essential humanitarian aid, such as vaccines, painkillers, and other critical medical supplies. Team ‘Clash of Clans’ planned to establish whether there is a relationship between altitude

and radiation, taking into consideration how the atmosphere blocks out solar radiation. Thanks are due to Rohan R, Richard Z and Geoff S, who supported the teams throughout the project.

Well done to both teams for completing their CanSat Report, as well as building two successful, fully functional satellites. In addition to completing ESERO-UK’s CanSat programme, each pupil has also earned an Engineering Development Trust Silver Industrial Cadet Award: V FormYuqi C, Chester Y, Murray O, Max A, Ghani R, George A, Eithan L; and in Lower VI - Cliff Z, Adam H, Sam Y, Hector E, Hamish J, Emmanuel C.

Whilst the teams did not progress to the national level round of the competition, valuable knowledge was gained and friendships were formed.

Engineering Development Trust Industrial Cadets Bronze Project

The Industrial Cadets Bronze Project run by EDT (The Engineering Development Trust), is an exciting STEM challenge for teams of six pupils working over twelve weeks on a project based around the digital world, circular economy and renewable energy or the environment. They are tasked with finding a solution to the issue at hand and

presenting this through a written report, model(s) and an in-person presentation with a panel of judges. As well as graduating from the scheme as Bronze Level Industrial Cadets, national accreditation for STEM work, students gain such valuable employability skills as communication, problem-solving and project management.

Each team is supported throughout the project by an industry mentor from their partnering company who

provides valuable subject-specific knowledge and insight into their organisation and career journey. This year, we were paired with Stewart Trailers, Aberdeenshire. We thank them for all their help.

Massive congratulations go to six of our IV Form pupils – Iain, Josh, Adbuld, Toby, Matthew and AJ – who successfully graduated with their Industrial Cadet Bronze Award, as well as Bronze CREST Award and Young STEM Leader Level 4 Award. The team worked tirelessly on this project, and the graduation event took place at Heriot-Watt University.

In answer to the ‘Our Green Garden’ brief, the EDT Team have come up with ‘Merchiston in the City’: a communityled sustainable garden, that will be housed in the Merchiston grounds, as well as in planters across the city. The team summed up their project as follows:

The idea features a sensory garden as well as raised planters, so that everyone will be able to access and use the garden. We would love the garden to have a coffee and light food cart, which would be used at a variety of weekend events, the profits from which could go to the maintenance of the garden. ‘Merchiston in the City’ will bring the elements of the Merchiston garden into the busy city centre of Edinburgh. We hope that the planters would be made from upcycled wood, which would be really good for the environment and would also keep the costs down. People in the local community will be encouraged to use the planters. In the long run, it might be nice to incorporate benches with these planters so that they can be further enjoyed.

The team has been announced as finalists in the National EDT Competition, and we look forward to attending the Awards event in Glasgow in June.

Arkwright Engineering Scholarship programme

Since 2002, twenty-seven boys have been awarded the prestigious two-year Arkwright Scholarship. In addition, we see Merchiston’s bi-annual sponsorship of a homeschooled or state-sector candidate. Routinely, successful candidates have gone on to university, apprenticeships and careers across the diverse field of engineering disciplines.

As our three current scholars, Kit N, Rohan R and Richard Z move on to university in their respective disciplines, we have three V Form applicants awaiting news from The Smallpeice Trust on the outcome of their applications for 2024-26, and a further ten prospective applicants in Shell considering and preparing for a 2025-27 application.

Florence Chapman, Head of STEM and Head of Faculty – Technologies and Creative Arts

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

This has been another eventful year in EAL in which we have welcomed many nationalities to the Harvey Hub!

Exams focus!

Exams really work in helping to motivate pupils, especially those boys who are only here for a short time. Here is this year’s international cohort who had Cambridge Exam success at A2, B1 PET and B2 First levels. Very well done!

Gold Rights Respecting Accreditation

On our journey to achieving the Gold Rights Respecting award as a School, most of our EAL boys took part in a video on DIGNITY orchestrated by Miss Arrowsmith, outlining what the word meant to them.

In turn, this led to some of our international boys attending the Rights Respecting Conference hosted by MCS. All very good experience for their English!

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

International Women

In celebration of International Women’s Week and Day, the EAL Department was very keen to get behind the Merchistem initiative regarding inspirational females. The range of amazing international women was impressive; Helen Keller, Serena Williams, Rosalind Franklin, Ellen Ochoa and Ynes Mexia, to name but a few.

The Environment

Women in Education projects were worked on by various year groups looking at female education in Niger and Afghanistan, with Shell giving a highly professional presentation on Burkina Faso in Whole School assembly. Such an achievement!

Ynes Mexia, Botanist

Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut Helen Keller, author & disability rights advocate

The environment is a major educational topic across all subjects, and so too in EAL, with many of the four skills devoted to such issues as recycling, pollution, global warming, etc.

With this in mind, the IV Form and Shell boys went on a guided tour of Merchiston’s School kitchen to investigate how we are tackling waste, producing very informative articles.

Exciting new end-of-year EAL magazine!

The post-exams period is a great opportunity for project work in EAL and this year’s initiative was an end-of-year EAL magazine, written and put together by the EAL pupils and overseen by Miss Arrowsmith. See some of the boys’ many highlights and favourite moments.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

There have been lots of fun moments and celebrations in EAL throughout the year.

We celebrated ‘Movember’, but with the very serious message of raising awareness of men’s health issues.

or work collaboratively with their peers?

Who doesn’t like to talk about movies,

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

Celebrating festivals and birthdays is very important too.

END OF YEAR AWARDS 2023/24

Recognising effort, progress and contribution to EAL at the annual Prizegiving ceremony is always a difficult choice from such a fantastic bunch of EAL boys, but this year’s winners were:

Juniors - Pablo G P from Spain

Middle Years - Juan D L (Bauti) from Argentina

It’s

Seniors - Arsen R from Ukraine

been a great EAL year!

Susan Hardman, Head of EAL

ENGLISH

In March, our A Level pupils attended a performance of the touring production of Bluebeard at Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre. Devised by Emma Rice’s company Wise Children, Bluebeard reinvents the old folktale about a murderous man and his many unfortunate wives. Part cabaret, part magic show and part pop concert, the production was funny, flamboyant and surprisingly poignant. It was an excellent way to reinforce our cohort’s understanding of the Bluebeard story and how it influenced Angela Carter and Daphne du Maurier, whose works we study for the Gothic literature paper. To widen their knowledge of the genre, boys were also invited to attend a performance of the 2022 Reading Rep touring production of Jekyll & Hyde in January. We are already poring over next year’s theatre listings!

The English Department’s commitment to seeking out and sharing exciting new works of literature has led to the introduction of Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain (Booker Prize Winner 2020) and Jackie Kay’s May Day to LVI A Level studies. Stuart’s moving portrait of a young boy growing up in adversity has challenged students to think empathetically as well as critically, while Kay’s playful poetry has shown them how to have fun with language. Students have enjoyed reading and discussing these texts, especially their exploration of Scottish identities. Our curriculum development work for II to IV Form has been centred around ensuring a more successful transition from year to year.

This year, Dr Anderson and Mrs Finney-Callan have reestablished the well-missed Debating elective on Saturday mornings. The boys have been refining their debating skills: learning how to introduce effective opening and closing statements, formulate rebuttals, and improve their research skills surrounding controversial and provocative topics. The boys have dealt with each topic with sensitivity and maturity, evidenced in their excellent communication and ability to debate any topic, no matter what side they were assigned. Next year, we hope to get the boys involved in

local competitions with other schools. Dr Mechie’s Sports Desk was another elective which had the boys honing their English skills. Throughout the Autumn and Lent Terms, pupils were out and about on the sports pitchesnotebooks in hand! Their efforts were published in the Solid Castle Newsletter, and the hope is for more pupil coverage of Merchiston’s sporting excellence to be published next year.

Mrs Finney-Callan’s III and IV Form classes participated in the Young Writer’s Award Poetry Competition, which held the theme ‘Through Their Eyes,’ encouraging the boys to write from the perspective of another individual. Most boys chose an individual who suffers from prejudice, experiences severe hardships in life, and figures they are inspired by. They honed their poetry skills, learned in the Summer Term, and wrote beautifully insightful and empathetic pieces of poetry. Winners have the opportunity to win £50, a trophy, and be published in this year’s anthology, of which they will receive their own copy. The winners will be announced over summer! Ms Upton’s II Form pupils have entered the Martha Mills Young Writers’ Prize run by the London Review of Books, writing on the theme of ‘A Secret’. The prize honours Martha Mills, a talented young writer whose life was cut tragically short, by encouraging young people to write imaginative fiction. In staffing news, we are pleased to announce Dr Anderson’s promotion to Head of Faculty for the newly formed Faculty of Languages and Literatures. From September onwards, the English Department will have a new Lead Teacher, Mrs Finney-Callan. We are delighted to have Ms Upton joining us as a permanent member of staff with the sad departure of Mr Douglas. On a final, very cute note, the English Department welcomed two babies into the world this year: Dr Anderson’s son, Will, in July and Mrs Binnie’s daughter, Charlotte, in February.

Kate Anderson, Head of English

GEOGRAPHY

Yet again, geographers have rarely kept still for long! We have all enjoyed another year of busy action, dedicated study, lots of fieldwork, and adventure. Fieldwork has seen the Third Form undertake research into the coastal processes that created the landforms around Dunbar on the Lothian Coast. The Fourth Form, to consolidate their learning of glaciology, climbed Grey Mare’s Tail, an approximately 8km trek, to view, sketch, and discuss the formation of the 60m high waterfall cascading in the Moffat Hills out of a glacial corrie, and put into practice lichenology on the descent, to date the rate of the retreat of the glacier since the last glacial maximum. They also enjoyed a day of workshops exploring plate tectonic evidence and exploring the contrasting biomes in the Dynamic Earth exhibition centre in Edinburgh. The Fifth Form loved following up their start-of-year assessments with revision of their urban zones and coastal defences, by active research through Edinburgh’s suburbs, inner city, and CBD, followed by Portobello beach’s sea defences, and coastal processes.

Our Lower Sixth Formers explored the processes and landforms of several parts of the Lothian coast, to bring alive all the necessary coastal processes and landforms for

the ‘coasts’ unit of their A Level. This was followed by three days of coursework fieldwork, researching their individual research questions focused on the regeneration of Leith (the port of Edinburgh). Much of the latter part of their Lower Sixth year is taken up with undertaking and writing up their research, to achieve as many of the 20% of the marks of their final A Level grade as possible. Similarly, Shell boys undertook their rivers coursework fieldwork at the start of the Summer Term. This took place on an enjoyable sunny day, following the Lyne Water from its source in the Pentland Hills, flowing to its mouth as it enters the River Tweed, just west of Peebles. They have since been learning how to write it up in the form of a Literature Review of how rivers work, explaining their methodology by both description and annotated photos, presentation of data in a variety of graphs, calculating the validity of their findings using the Spearman’s Rank statistical analysis, drawing conclusions with regard to their three individual hypotheses, and finally evaluating the extent to which their research really has answered their research question. All year groups of pupils are to be commended for their energy, effort and application. They were sometimes also required to show tenacity to complete all parts of their

research to a good, if not excellent, standard.

During the fifteen days of the October half-term holiday, the Head of Geography, Dr Bower, ran the biennial Sixth Form multi-disciplinary expedition to the Tropics – always to a different destination: this time it was a traverse of the Central American continent, from the Pacific in the west to the Caribbean in the east, across Costa Rica, wild camping, and travelling entirely by cycling, hiking, white water rafting, zip-lining, and kayaking. Amongst many adventures, this involved the equivalent of four climbs of Ben Nevis in seven days, and was an amazing and challenging experience from beginning to end - see the separate entry in the Trips section of the magazine for further details.

The Fifth and Upper Sixth Formers have subsequently worked hard to be fully prepared for their external examinations. It is always a pleasure guiding the Upper Sixth pupils through their final four topics of Energy Security, Superpowers, Water Insecurity, Human Rights and Geopolitical Interventions. The causes and impacts of the 2014 Russia / Ukraine conflict have sadly been updated to the ongoing invasion of 2022 in our case studies - with so much of the Upper Sixth A Level syllabus having relevance to explaining world affairs in headline news, the relevance

of Geography today cannot be under-estimated. All pupils deserve to have done well, and we do hope the examinations have gone well for them.

We are delighted that some ten of our pupils are applying to read Geography at university this year –following in the footsteps of more than a handful in each preceding year as well. We hear reports of former pupils thoroughly enjoying a wide range of Geography degrees across the country, leading them into many an interesting career: many are focussed on the environment, sustainability and energy fields – all important careers of the present and future. We love hearing updates of what they are doing, and the amazing careers (and adventures that go with them) that are unfolding before them.

It is now time for us to tidy up from this year, and to motivate the Shell and Lower Sixth Formers to ensure that, over the summer, they have fully digested and learnt (through perfecting condensed revision notes and flash cards) this year’s work – the first half of their two-year external exam courses; and to reflect on all we have achieved. Thank you all, and congratulations on a good job done. We now look forward to the year ahead.

Tanya Bower, Head of Geography

HISTORY AND PPE FACULTY REPORT 2023-24

The world in 2024 looks like a more dangerous place than ever. Old threats appear to have re-emerged, as a land war in Europe continues to rage in Ukraine, whilst longstanding conflicts, such as those in the Middle East, appear to have become more entrenched and as far as ever from resolution. Closer to home, just as Britain appears to be emerging from one kind of economic crisis, new forms of political and financial instability seem to crouch just around the corner, and there are not many people who look to the future with a sense of optimism.

Thankfully, whilst subjects like ours might not be able to provide easy solutions to these problems, we might well be able to help the boys to understand why they are happening. History continues to be the only way to get to grips with the Gordian Knot of the conflict between Israel and its neighbours; Politics helps to explain the swings and roundabouts of UK Politics (on both sides of the border); Economics helps us to understand huge changes in the way the world manages its resources; and Entrepreneurship gives our boys the means – and, we hope, the optimism – to forge their own path in the economic activity of the adult world.

Uptake for our subjects remains strong, with a particularly hefty number of boys taking Economics and Entrepreneurship in this year’s Lower VI. Our first cohort of results for BTEC Entrepreneurship, from our 2023 leavers, was very pleasing, helping many of them to achieve some impressive university offers. Entrepreneurship continues to be at a trial stage for us as we pilot this new qualification in a Merchiston context, but we continue to monitor it closely to see whether it gives our boys the tools they need to develop in the world of business. Economics continues to give our boys fresh ways of explaining the world, and our Politics course continues to move at a lightning speed: the constantly shifting landscape of UK Politics and (especially) Global Politics means that our course rarely settles for more than a few weeks before a new development means we

need to reassess and re-evaluate old assumptions. However, one welcome development this year has been the extension of our co-curricular Politics offering. As part of our contribution to Saturday morning Electives, we have offered The Week in the News: an opportunity to discuss things that have been happening in the world that week and to use this to improve techniques of discussion and debate. In addition, Mrs McDiarmid has also piloted a Wednesday afternoon activity of The Week in Politics, which has seen an enthusiastic cohort of boys from IV Form to Upper VI signing up to discuss big events that have taken place that week and how they relate to things we study in class.

Our A Level History courses include the Russian Revolution of February 1917 and the birth of the USA at the end of the 18th century, both of which are events that throw long shadows forwards into our present day, particularly in the year of a US election, something that cannot be understood without reference to the work of the USA’s founding fathers.

Despite the uncertainties of the world around us, however, I remain optimistic that the subjects we teach give Merchiston’s pupils many of the tools they need to interrogate and explain the uncertainties of our world. Our subjects teach our boys to have enquiring minds, to challenge assumptions and to seek evidence for any assertions that are put to them; skills that are essential not only for the world of work but, increasingly, the personal world of social media and its dangerous echo chambers. Armed with the knowledge and the skills they gain from studying our subjects, we hope that they face a troubled world with curious understanding, but also the means to make some sense of it. And who knows: maybe one day they’ll be able to come up with some solutions.

Simon Thompson, Faculty Head of History & PPE

MATHEMATICS

The Maths Department returned to School in August 2023 with news of another set of really positive results from our exam classes. The IGCSE results were remarkably consistent with last year’s performance: once again, 53% of pupils achieved Grades 9-7, and we were delighted that every returning pupil entered LVI with at least a pass at Grade 4. In the A Level cohort, who were sitting their first ever external examinations, 50% of boys achieved either an A* or A grade, with some really impressive individual performances from pupils who demonstrated perseverance and hard work to gain the grades for which they were aiming.

This year we were pleased to see increasing participation in the Scottish Maths Challenge, with three of our Sixth Form pupils (Sam Y, Teiyoon K and James S) all achieving Silver Certificates and two of our Shell boys (Alasdair L and David D) achieving Bronze Certificates. Unfortunately, the Prizegiving ceremony, to which all these pupils were invited, took place during our summer half-term holiday and so the boys were unable to attend. The problemsolving skills, independence and perseverance that the boys demonstrated in completing two sets of extended questions over a period of several months will certainly be of benefit as all of these students enter examination years. All boys who entered the competition deserve commendation, in particular Fudail F, who joined MCS in

January and so was only able to enter the second stage of the competition, in which he scored a superb 19 out of 20 marks. We look forward to continuing success next year!

As usual, significant numbers of boys in Pringle, the Middle Years and Sixth Form took part in their respective UKMT Mathematical Challenges. In the Senior Maths Challenge, 37 boys achieved certificates: our second highest total since records began over 25 years ago! James S was awarded Best in School in his LVI year and he, along with Sam Y, earned a Certificate of Merit in the invitational follow-up round. In the Lent Term, Alasdair L, David D, Phillip G, Murray B and Luke D were all successful in achieving Gold Awards in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, with a large number of boys also earning Silver and Bronze Awards. In the Junior Maths Challenge, meanwhile, Stepan M and Ruaidhri V earned Gold Awards, and special mention must go to Oju F, who did incredibly well to earn a Bronze certificate while still only in First Form.

In September, Mrs Duncan ably took over the running of the now-traditional Scottish Maths Week quiz competition. In March, meanwhile, International Pi Day was marked with a number of activities, including very creative pi-ku poetry, some delicious pi-shaped shortbread and the collaborative creation of a paper chain in which each colour represents a different number from 0-9, with the chain then providing

Fourth Form boys help to construct the Pi Day paper chain.The UVI Further Maths students displaying a section of the Pi Day paper chain.

a visual depiction of the first few dozen digits of pi.

At Easter, we were very sorry to see the departure of Mrs Charlotte Rosa and Miss Liz Atkinson, two very talented teachers who, despite their short tenure, each made a big impact on the Department and on the boys whom they taught. We were pleased to welcome Mr Alan Potts in the Summer Term; despite the challenge of joining at this late stage of the year, he quickly settled into the MCS routines and took on the final preparation of two exam classes.

The end of the academic year brings further changes to the Maths staff. After five busy years at Merchiston, as both Maths teacher and Examinations Officer, Mrs Liz Duncan leaves us to take up a post at Lasswade High School. Approaching her role with dedication, reliability and a sense of humour, she has been a huge asset to the Department and will be missed; we wish her all the best in her new position. Dr Naomi Steen, meanwhile, is also taking up a new role of a different kind and will therefore be absent from the Department next year as she begins her Maternity Leave. Joining the Department in September, Ms Sarah Pearson is an exceptionally experienced teacher of Maths and will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the boys in her classes.

Throughout the changes, however, what remains constant is the desire of all the staff in the Department to inspire, support and challenge each boy to work hard, pursue excellence and experience success.

We look forward to seeing all that happens next year!

Naomi Steen, Head of Mathematics

Some of our Gold Award winners from the UKMT Junior and Intermediate Maths Challenges. Fifth Form Art

First Form Art

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

We have continued this year to offer a competitive range of languages to pupils through the School - Mandarin, French, Spanish and German are our main languages, with our long-standing teacher of Russian teaching a few boys by special arrangement. In addition, this session’s Electives programme included ‘Beginner’s Gaelic’ alongside the popular ‘Cultural Games’ option.

Educational visits and events have been varied. Mandarin learners had their usual celebrations for Chinese New Year - a dinner with St George’s at a Chinese restaurant. Later in the year, IV Form and Shell made their own Chinese food, ordering food using an online shop, before cooking hotpot (a traditional dish) and practising using chopsticks to eat it! Another group went to the National Museum of Scotland with their expert guide, our Mandarin Assistant, Ms Xie, to locate and write fact files on different Chinese artefacts.

Also, at the National Museum were First Form Spanish learners, who did a treasure hunt in the Grand Gallery and talked in Spanish about their favourite parts of the Natural World exhibition, before stopping for some churros. Third Form learners went to the National Portrait Gallery, practising their speaking skills describing portraits to their partners and then drawing their own versions; authentic food followed at ‘The Peruvian’, where Salchipapas and Tequeños were particular highlights.

Each year, we benefit from the generous support of outside organisations, and the interest in supporting languages is rising; Westminster and Scottish politicians, ambassadors and support groups are increasingly vocal about the need for speakers of other languages. The School is now facilitating the choosing of two languages for those who are interested and performing well, and the initiatives

of external bodies help us to feed this interest.

For example, Shell pupils again participated in GCHQ’s Language Competition. Pupils are set problem-solving challenges with linguistic, coding and logic tasks. We came further up the leader table this year, with our top team streaking ahead (Alasdair, William, Xander and Roddy). Different year groups benefitted again from the French Film Festival UK Learning Programme, which provides access to a selection of current films along with learning materials for schools. Similarly, the Goethe-Institut provides materials and opportunities for our increasing number of German learners.

We have also again worked with other independent schools in Scotland to provide Lower Sixth Immersion Days. Spanish and German learners went to Strathallan, accompanied by our Spanish Assistant, and French learners were at Stewart’s Melville for their event. On these occasions, pupils are challenged to participate in a series of challenges and to engage in different ways with the foreign language.

We are looking forward to working again with these partners and to extending our partnerships and trips

ACADEMIC REVIEWS

abroad next session. We will again have invaluable assistance from British Council Language Assistants and from our prefects, who contribute a great deal to creating a busy, relevant and achieving atmosphere in the department.

With the end of the year have come two bits of good news. In the Anthea Bell Competition for Young Translators, organised through The Queen’s College, Oxford, two Merchiston pupils were rewarded this year. Adam W received a Commendation for his translation from French and Halcyon H was the Scotland winner for his translation from German. With entries whittled down to a final group of 3,600, this is no mean feat; we are very proud of them.

In the last week of term, we learned that one of our leavers, Lincoln P, has been awarded a full scholarship to study for a year at China’s Fudan University, a major public research university in Shanghai. This is a generous and highly sought-after opportunity; we wish him the best of luck with his exciting next step.

Clare Flanagan, Head of Modern Foreign Languages

PRINGLE CENTRE OVERVIEW

2023-24

The Pringle Centre has had a busy year, with lots of learning, both in and out of the classroom. We have made the most of our fantastic location and brought learning to life with several trips and workshops; the boys have also enjoyed collaborative learning, with plenty of opportunities to take part in events with St George’s School.

Academically, the boys have gone from strength to strength. Maths Week is always a favourite in the Centre and this year was no exception. The boys helped Mrs Torrance with brain teasing puzzles and enjoyed having their brains stretched with daily questions to answer. They made an Apple Crumble (using ratios) and completed a Maths Olympics! Later in the year, boys took part in the Junior Maths Challenge. In the Robertson building, First Form boys were a huge help to Design & Technology Prefect and Head of House (Laidlaw North), Bruce L, in their D&T lessons. For his A Level, Bruce designed a junior-sized sled, similar to the one that the older boys use to train. Bruce gave a super demonstration of how the sled is used and then the boys got to work measuring grip sizes and their average heights - Maths, D&T and Sport all rolled into one! On World Poetry Day, we welcomed parents to the Centre and the boys had the opportunity to perform publicly in an informal poetry showcase. We had a range of different poems, from Scottish classics and narrative poems to nonsense and humorous poems. The boys were in charge of their own learning and had to take responsibility for memorising a poem of their choice - we were proud of their efforts. In Science, as part of their ‘Journey into Space’ topic, First Form carried out an ‘Egg Drop Challenge’. They had been learning about Forces and how space craft use different designs to try and reduce forces on landing. The challenge for the boys was to build a capsule to carry an ‘egg-a-naut’, which would protect them whilst being dropped from the top floor of Gibson House. Despite some

quite hard landings, they only incurred one major casualty and quite a few concussions amongst the brave ‘egg-onauts’!

In addition to Curriculum learning, the Centre always tries to engage with learning from around the world. One particular Wednesday was a highlight for the boys as they were able to come into School dressed as an animal of their choice. It was World Animal Day and we took this opportunity to encourage the boys to learn more about endangered animals, how we can support them and what our future looks like if we do not do more to help our planet. There was excellent research from all the boys and they enjoyed sharing this with their peers. It is sad to think of a world without such exciting and varied animals. Honey Day was a great success and a culmination of several weeks of work, researching bees, bee-friendly gardens and different types of honey. Alison Hanna, our Catering Manager, set a challenge through Chartwells, to design a bee-friendly garden. The boys did brilliantly, researching flowers and thinking about what a garden would need to attract bees. The winners of the competition were Liam, from Mrs Haston’s class, and Jason, from Mrs Torrance’s. During the day, the boys enjoyed a range of honey-themed treats and reflected on what we owe to our bees. National Read a Book Day was another opportunity for the boys to dress up and celebrate a day that is much-loved around the world. As well as creating fabulous outfits, based on books, the boys were tasked with making a literary bake. We started that Monday off as every week should start - with copious amounts of cake! The boys shared their bookthemed bakes with the two classes and everyone not only learnt about a range of different children’s books, but also celebrated literature with cream cheese frosting, decadent brownies, crunchy cookies and fluffy cakes! We were introduced to the worlds of Matilda, Alice in Wonderland,

Aesop’s Fables and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, amongst others. For Halloween, the boys celebrated the Day of the Dead. This lively Mexican celebration helps families honour their ancestors. Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico, starting in the early 1500s. It is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory. Pringle honoured this holiday with a huge picnic and a talk from the Mexican boys in our community. We had a professional face painting artist, who did a brilliant job of transforming the boys into skeletons. The reason that skeletons are so prevalent during this holiday is because they remind those celebrating that death is just a part of life. The start of International Week saw the prefects lead an assembly with Clan dancing and presentations from various Centre boys about their home countries. At Tuesday’s assembly, ‘Unison Anthems’ performed and the boys sang and danced along. This week is always a highlight as everyone learns more about the wider worldhistory, culture, food and traditions. The food in the dining hall is always incredible but this week, the boys were treated to food from around the world.

Outdoor learning has long been embraced in the Centre and we feel that it is important that boys understand about the world they live in, food production, the natural world and our place in that. Archie has frequently brought in his trail camera and the boys have set it up in the den, secret garden, on the playing fields and down at the Arena to capture the wildlife at Merchiston. They have become very good at identifying possible sites for the camera - evidence of animal droppings, living quarters and routes amongst the trees have all been evaluated in an attempt to place the camera at a good vantage point. Over the year, we have photographed foxes, deer, badgers and rabbits on site. We tied in our learning about ‘farm to fork’ with a trip to the farm in the Summer Term; the boys bottle-fed the 84 orphaned lambs and learnt all about life on the farm and how to raise livestock. The machinery was a particular highlight for some, and many are counting down the years until they can join the Merchiston Young Farmers activity, in which boys have the opportunity to drive quad bikes,

bed cows, work with sheep, power-hose machinery and take part in other farm jobs.

Miss Gibb, our Librarian, is forever encouraging our love of reading in the Centre. This year, she arranged a number of brilliant authors to come and inspire the boys to read and write. Cressida Cowell’s reputation as one of the most spellbinding children’s authors around was confirmed by her appointment as Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate for 2019-2022. Her magic captivated our boys and was a highlight in the Autumn Term. Alexandria Rogers, author of fantasy adventure, The Witch, the Sword, and the Cursed Knights, visited us later that term and was a great inspiration to the boys on how to pursue their dreams. In the Spring, Siobhan McDermott visited virtually and talked about how Chinese legends and Irish folklore inspired her writing. The Summer Term welcomed Annabel Steadman, author of the Skandar series, and was a highlight for all the boys. World Book Day - arguably one of the best days of the year in the Juniors - was celebrated in style by Miss Gibb in the Library; there was a hunt for the boys and several themed activities. Every year, this is an opportunity to celebrate our love of reading and all things bookish. Did you know that reading for pleasure can boost your mood, reset your focus and improve your whole day? The boys dressed up and started the day with a talk from award-winning author, Justin Davies, in an event based upon his latest book, Haarville

The Music Department has been a constant source of joy to our boys this year, with many of them taking up new instruments and relishing the opportunity to take part in performances throughout the year. The Junior Music Concert, in particular, was a highlight for all the boys. We had several boys performing, including Mrs Haston’s class on the recorders. Lucas, Rohan, Haoran and Ander had solos. Patrick played the 2/4 march with the drummers. The highlight for Mrs Haston’s class this year has been their weekly recorder lessons and they thoroughly enjoyed their trip to St Mark’s Unitarian Church, to take part in a Recorder Competition. Spirits were high as the minibus set off and everyone was busy remembering their part. On arrival, the boys went to wait for their 1.30pm slot - everyone was excited, with a few nerves. They did brilliantly and impressed the judges. The Music trip to New York was a

great success and enjoyed by both participants and families joining to support. The Pipe Band and Close Harmony Group set off for New York to take part in the 26th annual Tartan Day parade. They were joined by over 3000 bagpipers, highland dancers, clan organisations and Scottish dog breeds, marching proudly up Sixth Avenue to celebrate Scottish Heritage and Culture in the Big Apple. From the Centre, Rohan, Ernie and Liam went to watch. This was an exciting moment for the boys as Piping and Drumming have soared in popularity this year in the Centre, thanks to Mr Warren’s enthusiastic approach and organising of competitions throughout the year. Tuesday evening’s Chanter Club is particularly well attended. In the early Spring, The Pipes and Drums travelled to Hutchesons’ Grammar School to take part in a competition against numerous bands. The Firsts came 1st and the Development Band came 5th. This was a remarkable achievement, especially given that the boys had only recently started playing together. Congratulations to Patrick for having been chosen to take part. A matter of weeks later, he again joined the Pipe Band in Kilmarnock to compete against other Scottish schools in the Championships. The boys did brilliantly and came 7th. This was the biggest event that the Pipe Band has played at and they enjoyed the experience.

In January, the boys travelled to St George’s School for a celebration of Robert Burns. They spent the morning dancing, ate haggis for lunch and enjoyed sharing poetry and music in the afternoon. Thank you to Dr Bower, who kindly worked with the boys, teaching them how to dance. They learnt the Gay Gordons, Canadian Barn Dance, Virginia Reel, Orcadian Strip the Willow and The Dashing White Sergeant. First Form wrote a ‘Toast to the Lassies’ and everyone had a role. Callum did the ‘Address to the Haggis’; Patrick, Zach, Callum, Angus, Archie and Harry piped and drummed; Omar, Freddie, Rayyan and Rory G performed My Heart is in The Highlands; Liam Z and Elgin performed A Red, Red Rose; Rohan and Lucas performed O Were My Love Yon Lilac Fair; Liam L and Harry performed The Gallant Weaver; Ander performed on the clarinet and Mrs Haston’s class played their recorders. It was a brilliant day. This was the start of numerous events between Merchiston and St George’s throughout the year. At Easter, we organised an orienteering Easter egg hunt on campus for both schools and everyone enjoyed an afternoon, albeit a wet one, of working together, building friendships and eating chocolate! In the Summer, we moved our annual ‘Wimbledon tennis’ event to St George’s, which hosted a wonderful day of sport. Next year, we have exciting collaborative learning planned; First Form will be doing an English unit alongside the girls in P6, based on Narrative Poetry and culminating in a trip to the Sheriff’s Court.

Activities continue to thrive, with Lego, Robotics, Skiing and Chess being particular favourites this year. The Junior Robotics Team competed in the First Lego League at Fife College. This was the first competition for these boys and was a great success; the boys came home with the Robot Design Award. Well done to Patrick, Liam and Harry, who have been working hard in Robotics all year. The boys took part in a number of challenges. They scored 120 in the first. They then presented their innovation projects and Robot designs. The second round was less successful because there was a problem with the wheels of their design, but the third round made up for it, with the boys scoring 125. The coding team (Patrick, Harry M and Alex W) also worked on their code. It was a great day and enjoyed by all.

Trips continue to bring learning to life and, as always, the Centre has embraced every opportunity, having so much on its door step to take advantage of. In the Autumn Term, the Centre headed to Whitelee Windfarm for the day. This was an exciting opportunity to bring Geography learning to life. Whitelee is the UK’s largest onshore windfarm, located on Eaglesham Moor, twenty minutes from central Glasgow. Its 215 turbines generate up to 539 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 350,000 homes. The boys walked around the site and saw the turbines up close, learning about the ecology of the site and the turbines themselves. They also took part in a workshop in The Learning Hub. Before Christmas, the boys went to watch The Snow Queen at the Lyceum Theatre. The boys were spellbound and it introduced the festive period beautifully. Other events in the lead-up to Christmas included the annual Christmas Fun Run and famed Christmas lunch. In the Spring, everyone boarded the number 10 bus and headed to The National Museum of Scotland for a morning workshop and afternoon exploring the exhibits. The workshop was based on animal adaptations and centred around birds and their beaks. It was excellent. George Nuku’s Ocean-themed artwork, made from recycled plastic, was of particular interest to the boys and provided the inspiration behind the boys’ own plastic-themed artwork in the Summer Term, in recognition of Earth Day. The sculpture exhibit delved into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. In the Summer, we made the most of the weather and visited Carsewell Farm, the National Museum of Rural Life, Port Edgar, where the boys took part in numerous water sports, and the National Museum of Flight. These trips provided an opportunity for the boys to cement friendships, celebrate their successes and learn new skills.

Alexandra Torrance, Pringle Centre Lead

PSHE AND LIFE SKILLS 2023-24

PSHE and Life skills are subjects that, although they are not formally assessed, are absolutely vital to the development of young minds. In the past year, the value of providing pupils with opportunities to reflect, discuss and engage with real-life topics could not have been more important. Providing a slightly less formal space for pupils where they feel comfortable to talk openly, learn about, and debate the topics at hand is vital. These lessons, in partnership with excellent work across the whole School, help to tie much of the Merchiston boy’s School life together. We continue to work closely with Mr Greenwood (Careers Co-ordinator) and Ms Williams (Skills Co-ordinator) to provide high quality opportunities for our pupils to develop both their academic and social skills. Our aim is to develop young adults ready to meet the challenges of life outside Merchiston with confidence and dignity.

Visiting speakers

We have been lucky to have had a variety of excellent guest speakers for both pupils and parents, including:

• Leonie Griffin and Catriona Scott of the Stewart Ivory Educational Trust, ran online financial workshops for the Sixth Form.

• Allison Havey, from The RAP Project, came to speak to both our UVI and V Forms. The focus for the UVI was to support them in the ‘BIG LEAP’ outside the School at the end of this term. For the V Form, aspects of mental health and the importance of healthy relationships were discussed.

• Emma Cole returned to Merchiston in November in order to speak with Shell about her experience of being HIV positive and on the topic of HIV and AIDS awareness more generally. Her frank, thought-provoking and entertaining delivery was very engaging.

• As part of LVI Life Skills, we partnered with the Medical Centre to provide the pupils with a 4-week Basic Life Support Course. This covered the basics of CPR and also moved them on the treatment and management of both minor and major injuries. Many thanks to Mrs Fallowfield for her support in this.

• Our V and VI Forms were fortunate to hear from Scotblood at one of our Senior Assemblies. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is the national blood, blood product and tissue provider. It makes up a Strategic Business Unit of NHS National Services Scotland.

Youth Philanthropy Initiative

Over the course of this year, the Fourth Form boys have been working hard in small groups to select and contact local charities and to present their chosen organisation to a panel of judges and pitch for a cheque for £3000. This culminated in June, when all groups made their pitches and were judged on a variety of criteria such as engagement, impact, passion, presentation skills & creativity. It was a hard-fought battle and all groups put forward a compelling case for a whole range of very worthy charities.

The importance of the topics and issues investigated in PSHE & Life Skills are central to development of fully rounded young adults. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our fantastic PSHE & Life Skills teachers for their commitment to putting their pupils at the heart of their practice.

Stuart Buchanan, Head of PSHE

SCIENCE AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM REPORT

The outdoor classroom is thriving with biodiversity. Our greenhouse is blooming with J4 to Shell Form experiments. The pond is thriving and playing host to a variety of organisms and the raised beds are growing an array of J4/5 vegetables. Upstairs in Gibson House is home to all our amazing animals that the boys love exploring and looking after. Our Science prefects have been a dedicated team, helping out with Junior classes and gaining leadership skills themselves. This year, we have increased our co-curricular Science provision and trips. We took III Form to the Glasgow Science Centre with our Lead Teachers in each Science discipline and we took the IV Form to the Royal Highland Show. We also introduced CREST awards to our III Formers, who have been busy working on their Bronze projects, designing experiments and testing them out. We held a Science information evening for IV Form this year, which involved a quiz, a ‘what’s inside the box’ game run by our prefects and an overview of the three Sciences at IGCSE, including the types of careers which they could lead on to. Our Wednesday Science clinics have been really well attended by V and UVI Form pupils. Each of our Science disciplines has also been busier than ever this year.

In Physics, we saw the return of Cosmos Planetarium, visiting the School in November. Boys from across the School attended and had the opportunity to hear about exciting work looking for life on other planets and new astronomical observatories like the Extremely Large Telescope being constructed in Chile. In November, the UVI Form took part in a trip to CERN to visit the large Hadron

collider. They had a guided tour of the ATLAS detector building and the superconducting magnet fabrication facility. Whilst in Geneva, they had the opportunity to visit the UN, Red Cross Museum and the Christmas markets, and also sampled the local cuisine with a fondue evening. During the Autumn Term, the UVI Physics class heard from the Edinburgh University Hyperloop Team, HYPED. First, there was a presentation to learn about the technology and benefits of a hyperloop system. The boys then visited the research facilities the following month to see how a real engineering laboratory works. There were multiple fascinating demonstrations, including a scale model of their accelerator and some full-sized pods. Throughout the sessions, there were lots of intriguing questions asked and high-quality conversations with many of the HYPED members.

There were lots of opportunities to take part in competitions this year, with the LVI entering the Senior Physics Challenge, receiving Silver awards, and the V Form entering the Intermediate Physics Challenge, receiving Bronze awards. The Shell pupils entered the Junior Physics Competition and II and III Form pupils entered the newlystarted Y7/8 Physics Competition, with four boys receiving Gold awards and the rest receiving Silver and Bronze awards. The junior robotics team launched this year, with a team of nine boys from I to III Form travelling up to Fife College to enter the First Lego League Competition. They did incredibly well for their first year, receiving the trophy for Robot Design. The boys continued to benefit from the

academic Electives Programme on Saturday mornings. They had the opportunity to take extension Physics classes and get an introduction to relativity and advanced experimental work, or to take part in the Robotics activity and learn about robot development using the VEX V5 system.

The Chemistry Department enjoyed more success in the RSC Chemistry Olympiad Competition this year. Three UVI students gained certificates and Geoff S did extremely well to achieve a Gold certificate. This put him in the top 5% of performers nationally in this challenging problem-solving paper.

For our LVI A Level Chemistry students, five boys enjoyed a trip to Heriot-Watt University, where they got to synthesise and analyse ester compounds using sophisticated equipment in a university environment. We have virtually the entire LVI Chemistry cohort participating in the Schools Analyst Competition, run by the University of Northumbria. The boys will compete in teams of three against each other and other schools in the region. There is also an opportunity for boys in this year group to participate in the LVI C3L6 competition, run by the University of Cambridge later in the Summer Term.

For younger students, we have also taken part in the RSC Top of the Bench Competition, with a team of four Middle Years boys participating in this regional Chemistry quiz. For the first time, the School participated in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge: this competition is run by the University of Warwick and over fifty of our Shell students took part. We await the results of this competition, hope that our students will gain success and that it was a rewarding educational experience for them.

For the younger year groups, we are taking a team of four III Form students to Heriot-Watt University for its Chemistry festival, where they will participate in various practical experiments and exciting lecture demonstrations.

In Biology, the boys have been very busy. The IV Form has been looking at human impacts on the environment and changes to biodiversity. Shell Form recently took part in the UKBC (Biology Challenge), our LVI Form in the Intermediate Biology Olympiad and our UVI in the British Biology Olympiad. We achieved some great results across the year groups in these challenging competitions. In February, we ran our annual forensic DNA day with UVI Form biologists. They used our own PCR machine to amplify DNA, ran it through gel electrophoresis and analysed it using our UV light to determine which suspect committed the crime. We also like to take our students out to learn from scientists in the ‘real world’. We took our LVI Form to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo) to learn more about biodiversity and exsitu conservation as it is carried out both in the zoo and at the wildlife park in Kingussie. We also took the LVI Form to the Anatomical Museum on one of its rare open days. We were pleased when a group of the LVI boys then took the initiative to attend a University of Edinburgh lecture, “From Mutations to Medicine”, on their own. We welcomed a lecturer from the University of Edinburgh to give a detailed talk to our V, LVI and UVI Form pupils about clinical trials. We also got this group of boys together to watch a personalised on-line lecture from a lecturer in Manchester on Pharmacy and the different careers linked to this industry. In addition, we ran a sustainability committee, which monitored recycling, lights and waste throughout the School, along with working with the catering and domestic departments to educate boys on the best ways forward.

We are very much looking forward to continuing all these exciting trips, competitions and initiatives in the next academic year.

Hannah Williams, Faculty Head of Science

CHAPLAINCY

CHAPLAINCY REPORT 2023-24

Whilst numbers do not always tell the tale, this year I thought it might be good to give an indication of some of the public and not-so-public work of Chaplaincy at Merchiston.

Assemblies: Junior, Middle, Senior and Whole School: 102 assemblies in total, with the over-arching themes of “One-Anothering”, “Live Well”, and “The Power of Pause”.

Sunday Chapel Services: 8 Whole School, 1 Confirmation Service and 16 Boarders’ Services.

Chaplain’s Curry Nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays):

about 40 different nights, 110+ different boys attended at some point, and over 400 individual visits. These are voluntary and offered free to the boys. Over twenty years, we reckon that figure is close to 10,000 individual pupil visits to our family home on site.

Lent Term Messages: 352 Pupils, Staff, Parents and Merchistonians voluntarily signed up (the largest number ever). One of the Daily Messages is included below: it was the one that got the biggest response.

Quiet morning prayer facilitated each weekday 7.458am throughout the Summer Term.

I wrote an article recently for the church that Fi and I attend, entitled Chaplaincy: the unseen glue of a community - not the snappiest title, I know, but one which expresses the part that Chaplaincy has in building, and maintaining a sense of community in a place. This was reflected in our Assembly themes. We coined a Merchiston verb, “one-anothering”, to reflect the various commands in the Bible to encourage, pray for, love, be kind to, forgive, etc, one another (the phrase is used over fifty times in the New Testament). The strength of a community can be measured by how we look after the needs of others in our community and beyond.

Our Whole School Services are perhaps the fullest expression of our Merchiston community of pupils, staff,

parents and family. At Remembrance, particularly, we include the members of our Merchistonian community. This year, we were privileged to have in attendance the family of John (Jack) Addie Forrest (MCS ’35 – ‘39), a Spitfire pilot during WW2, who passed away in February 2023 aged 101 - as far as we can tell, the last of that generation of Merchistonians who served in WW2. The address, delivered by Lt Col Douglas McKay, the father of two Merchistonians, Jamie and Xander, was a perfectly pitched and personal account of courage through the ages. He finished by saying that courage today meant that we should:

Speak out when we see or hear something that isn’t right; Support those struggling with their fears, or memories of a bad experience;

Be resilient when we don’t succeed the first time - bounce back and try again;

And, perhaps most importantly, to ask for help if we need it. One of the hardest things to do – especially amongst men – is speaking out when we are struggling. Courage is so much more than an act of heroism: it can be as simple as telling someone - a friend, family member or teacher - that we’re having a difficult time. For too long, there has been a stigma surrounding asking for help; be courageous and take that first step.

This was an event and a talk that will live long in the memory. Again, it had at the heart and forefront of it the theme of community

The Prefects’ Service, so ably led by our Senior Prefects, centred around the theme of belief - in God, in each other and in ourselves. It was a powerful example of community in action as they worked together to produce a service of quality and meaning.

Community can take many shapes and forms, and over the years, a growing number have joined together online to receive a daily email throughout Lent. There were over 350 signed up this year as we explored some of Merchiston’s parables (objects that tell a story) and linked them to biblical themes and to Jesus’s own journey.

However, without doubt for Fi and me, the weekly highlight is to open our home to “hungry pilgrims” for curry night – or, should I say, curry nights, having expanded it to two nights per week, covering Fourth Form to Sixth Form. The format changes little: a decent curry (I hope), chat, a passage from the Bible and a prayer - and it seems to be a popular formula. Mi casa es tu casa (My house is your house)

CHAPLAINCY

is a simple yet profound expression of a desire to be in community with others. It is a privilege for Fi and I that so many boys chose to come and share, our home, our food and our message.

And lastly, the Lent Message that I promised, which I was told on numerous occasions was a favourite: a true tale from some years ago, and its theme is at the heart of Jesus’s message……

The Cross: Where Justice and Grace meet

One of the first sentences a toddler learns to say is “It’s not fair”, but who teaches them this? Is it innate (we are born with it) or so deeply engrained in our psyche that we transmit a sense of fairness to our children which they absorb with their language? A sense of Justice or Injustice is there - it’s just there!

It is no surprise then that our Maker says that one of His core characteristics is Justice. The idea of Justice runs throughout the Old Testament into the New Testament. “Will the judge of all the world not do right?” (Genesis 18 v 25). And yet, Mercy and Grace are also central to God’s character. At the cross, Justice and Grace meet.

Buried in the bottom of a drawer in my classroom desk are these Blue Papers. We don’t use them any more, but for generations of boys, this was a standard form of punishment for any number of misdemeanours. They had to use their spare time to write on a subject of the teacher’s choosing, on Blue Paper. I think these Blue Papers date from about 2009: it must have been not long after I had read the book What’s so amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancey, and I probably kept them for just such a time as this. Here is the transcript:

Andrew, I wanted to teach you a lesson about Grace and Mercy this evening and so I thought of a rather unusual way of doing it. What you did in class this afternoon was wrong. It is never acceptable to deliberately copy someone else’s work and pass it off as your own. Worse still was the lying about it until the evidence became overwhelming. There is no excuse, you were in the wrong and justifiably got two sides…it probably should have been a detention. So why am I writing this on 2 sides of blue paper which I am going to shortly send to you, in order for you to hand them into me

tomorrow? Well, I hope you will read it and I hope to teach you a lesson about Grace and Mercy (you are lucky that I am preparing a sermon/talk on it just now so it is in my head).

If I had just ignored your cheating that would have said something about my standards and taught you that its ok to cheat and lie, if you get away with it. In the long term that would have been very damaging and I could not do that. My standards are that cheating and lying are not acceptable and must be punished... hence the 2 sides. But I thought that by writing them myself, having issued them, I might give you an even more important lesson.

Grace means “being given what you do not deserve”. This evening you have been shown grace... I have written your sides for you; the punishment has been recorded and has been served, you are free…all you need to do is hand them to me tomorrow. What have you done to deserve this? Nothing! And that is the point. You will have heard me talk in Chapel about God’s grace and I have treated you, on this occasion, as I believe God has treated me. On the cross, I believe he paid the punishment for all the wrong I have done. He could not ignore or bypass the wrong that I have done…it was treated seriously and punished. But the punishment was served by Him on the cross… it has been recorded and served and I am free. What did I do to deserve that? Nothing! That’s God’s grace… I find that amazing and that’s why the famous hymn talks about ‘Amazing Grace’. I can only accept it and hand it to Him when the time comes to do so. I hope this makes sense to you. No thank you is needed. The true thank you and sign that you have got it, is that it never happens again!

Best wishes, NGDB

Rev Nick Blair, Chaplain

CHARITY

MERCHISTON CHRISTMAS FAIR

Following on from last year’s successful event, we were delighted to host this year’s ‘A Very Merchiston Christmas Fair’ on Saturday 2 December. Held in the beautifully decorated Memorial Hall, the event provided the perfect occasion to get into the festive spirit purchasing luxurious gifts, sampling delicious treats, and also supporting the efforts of our Entrepreneurship students.

As Christmas is the time of giving and thinking of others, we were also raising funds for the Edinburgh Food Project, which works tirelessly to support those in need locally. From tinned food to curry sauce, cleaning products to festive treats, the Merchiston community managed to donate a whopping 492kg of items to those in need at Christmas. Alongside donations, the raffle and stallholders’ fees resulted in cash donations to the Edinburgh Food Project in excess of £1,500.

At the same time as the Fair, we held the inaugural ‘Winter Wonderland in The Forest’, welcoming the youngest members of the Merchiston community to make reindeer food, read by the fireside and toast marshmallows. It was a truly magical event.

Thank you to all the boys involved in running the Merchiston stalls and those who helped to decorate the Hall, as well as to everyone who came along and joined in the festive cheer.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING

We are delighted that over thirty of our Lower Sixth and Fifth Form boys have been volunteering in the local community over this academic year. This year, boys have been volunteering on Wednesday afternoons in three local schools: Braidburn, Longstone and St Mark’s Primary Schools. They coach rugby, help in classes, and assist with a Wednesday afternoon group. The boys have enjoyed this challenge and have been very well received. In addition, we hosted a Christmas party in the Theatre at Merchiston for some of the children at these schools, which was tremendous fun and greatly enjoyed by them.

Wednesday afternoon volunteering has always been

such a worthwhile activity for all involved. It makes a positive difference to our pupils and to those they are helping, and is a growing and learning time for all involved. It is great to watch our boys making this important contribution to the community and making such a positive impact. Our vision is that, after leaving School, they will continue to want to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the world around them. They have much to offer in a world in which there are so many opportunities to give service to others.

Fiona Blair

Upper VI Art

MUSIC

MUSIC REVIEW 2023-24

The academic year 2023-24 has seen a rich three terms of music making, highlights of which have been the Autumn Term’s Carol Service, the Lent Term Concert, and the Close Harmony Group and Pipe Band tour to New York, amongst a plethora of concerts, competitions and rehearsals.

The Autumn Term began with the Merchiston Juniors’ Teatime Concert, with some excellent performances from our pupils and a first performance from the J4/5 recorder group, which, in the Lent Term, went on to compete in the Edinburgh Competition Festival. The Teatime Concert series is a group of concerts that take place at 3.40pm on a Tuesday throughout the year for different families of instruments, and also includes the first rounds of music competitions, which gives students a safe platform on which to develop their performance skills. The first half term ended with the newly (re-)formed Chapel Choir performing the joyous Praise be to God.

The second half of the Autumn Term is one of the busiest for the department, with six Teatime Concerts, the Autumn

Term Choral and Instrumental Concert, two Carol Services, and an end of term set of band performances from our Junior School students. The Choral and Instrumental Concert took place on 24 November to a full Memorial Hall, with some great performances from the School’s ensembles - the Chapel Choir, Wind Band, Jazz Band and, in addition, the Piping Trio. However, many of the audience members’ favourite performance of the evening was Max R’s virtuosic performance of Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate on the violin. This concert was the first in a busy three weeks of performances. The second was the Junior Carol Service, a new service in our calendar, moved from the end of term to Friday 1 December, with some excellent performances from this year’s group of trebles, which is one of the best treble sections in my time at Merchiston, and featured a pitch perfect solo from Oju F. However, the most challenging performance for the Music Department this term is always the Whole School Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, which took place on Sunday 10 December, and

included no less than thirteen choral pieces learnt in just twelve weeks. The choir worked extremely hard over the course of the term, with some of our senior members juggling drama and musical commitments: the hard work paid off with certainly the strongest performance from a choir at Merchiston since Covid. Highlights were the descants from this year’s trebles, the choir carol Gold for a Manger Bed, and the tenor and bass performance of Silent Night.

The Lent Term is an exciting time for music, with an outreach programme, a host of Teatime Concerts, the Edinburgh Competition Festival and three internal music competitions. The students performed admirably throughout the term, particularly at the five outreach concerts at care homes in Colinton.

In the second half of the Lent Term, many students performed in the Edinburgh Competition Festival, and inside the School, it was time for our internal music competitions. The first was the Ogilvie Bowl, a relatively new competition in the School’s history, which provides an opportunity for performers of popular / contemporary music to compete as soloists. This took place on Thursday 7 March, with a record twenty-one competitors performing over fourteen styles of music, the high standard of which was commented on by Mr Beales, our adjudicator for the evening. Third place went to Hamish H for his jazz piano performance, second place to Yarema Y, who performed Wind Cries Mary on the electric guitar, and the Cup was won by Jad B, who performed Toxicity, by System of a Down, on the drum-kit.

The Forbes Bowl and McLeod Cup were contested on

Tuesday 12 March in the Memorial Hall. The McLeod Cup is for classical musicians in the Fourth Form and Shell. Quinton W was victorious on this occasion with his performance of the second movement of Mozart’s Horn Concerto in E Flat, with Sikai C coming in second place and Gonzalo S in third. The Forbes Bowl was a hotly-contested affair, and every performance was of the highest quality. The adjudicator, Mr Redfern, awarded Erik S third place for his performance of Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata; Ryan W came second, with his performance of Chopin’s Ballade no.1; and Adrian W won the Forbes Bowl, performing the third movement from Reinecke’s Concerto for Flute

The term concluded with the Lent Term Concert, which featured some blistering solo performances, particularly Ryan W’s repeat solo performance of Chopin’s Ballade no. 1 on the piano and Adrian W’s performance of the third movement of the Reinecke Flute Concerto. Not to be outdone, there were some strong performances from the School’s ensembles: a real highlight for me was the Wind Band’s performance of Queen on Stage, by Paul Murtha, conducted by long-serving department mentor Morven Bell. This was a wonderful evening of music making, and probably the strongest internal concert in my time at the School.

The term did not conclude for the department until Monday 8 April, as the Close Harmony Group and Pipe Band went on tour to New York, performing in its famous Tartan Week. This was the first tour for the department in six years, a full review of which features in the Trips and Activities section of the magazine.

The Summer Term was a quieter one for the department,

with the pupils enjoying some time to form bands in class and preparing for the final competition of the year, the Junior Music Cup. This was the largest competition to-date, with twenty-four entrants from J4 to Third Form, and was adjudicated by Ms Banyuls, former saxophone teacher and long-term friend of the department. The competition itself was superb, with all the pupils presenting and performing to a very high standard, which was commented on by Ms Banyuls. However, the winners were as follows: in J4/5, Haoran Z was victorious, performing Hansel and Gretel on the piano; in the First Form, Liam L and Rohan M (both pianists) shared the award, performing Song of the Seagulls and Minuet in G respectively; in the Second Form, best in year was shared between Francis B, performing Chopin’s Minute Waltz on the piano, and Joshua M, again on the piano, performing Sea Turtle; and in the Third Form, the winner was Horace S, who performed Mozart’s Horn Concerto in E Flat. The overall winner of the Junior Music

Cup was Aziz R, with an impressive and extensive performance on the piano of Divermire by Ludivico Einaudi. Certainly, the future of Merchiston’s music looks very bright, judging by the wealth of dedicated music students on display in this competition.

As the year draws to a close, there is much to be thankful for. Covid seems like a distant memory, but for musical activity, the two years without ensemble rehearsals took time to recover from. However, looking at Merchiston’s music, with instrumental and choral ensembles now back to and even exceeding pre-Covid numbers, with pupils performing in a host of internal competitions and concerts, performing in the community, competing in Edinburgh and beyond, and touring abroad, I think we can finally breathe a sigh of relief, or, perhaps, take a breath before next year’s musical endeavours begin.

Stephen Dennis, Director of Music

PIPES AND DRUMS 2023-24

The Merchiston Pipes and Drums have once again had a very busy and successful year. Standout highlights have included our tour to New York with the Close Harmony Group, as well as achieving the most successful competition results in the School’s history. Growth continues to be strong, with around 20% of the School now involved with the Pipes and Drums, all of which bodes very well for the future strength of the Pipes and Drums programme.

Such uptake has seen the creation of the Development Pipe Band this year, which competed for the first time in the Lent Term. Creating a player pathway through our Pipe Band Club, into the Development Pipe Band and, in time, progressing to the Firsts Pipe Band, now allows boys to hone their skills in active groups through a variety of performances and competitions, building skillset and confidence through these performance experiences.

The Autumn Term started with a bang, as we hosted a workshop from Ross OC Jennings, known online as ‘The First Piper’. Ross is bidding to become the first bagpiper to play in every country of the world. At well over one hundred countries visited to date, Ross gave an inspiring talk to our boys and shared a message I am extremely passionate about – that music can take you anywhere. It really was an uplifting way to start the School year.

Eighteen performances took place across the Autumn Term from members of the Pipe Band, ranging from solos

and small groups through to the Whole School Massed Pipe Band performance at our ceilidh fundraising event in November. This event was hosted by the Pipe Band in the Memorial Hall in aid of equipment and instrument upgrades. Drams Ceilidh Band provided top level music as parents and boys enjoyed a fantastic evening of music, dance and friendship. Near fifty boys performed as part of the Whole School Massed Pipe Band, which was a fantastic visual representation of just how much the Merchiston Pipes and Drums have grown recently. A raffle and an auction were generously supported and, as the night closed, a real sense of community and pride at the growing numbers and standard of the Pipe Band was shared by all.

Important ‘thank-yous’ for such a wonderful evening go to Mrs Carole Crawford and Mrs Catherine Armstrong for driving the organisation, as well as to Mr Mark Richards, who expertly ran the evening’s auction. Thanks also go to all families who donated prizes, purchased raffle tickets and who attended on the night. A special mention must go to Mr Steven Mulholland and Ms Helen Andrews, who very generously supported the Pipe Band on the evening too. Thank you to you all.

The Autumn Term also saw a big move for the Pipe Band into new teaching premises. The Pipe Band Building is now located in the former School Shop and offers a fantastic teaching space. Alongside smaller breakout classrooms, we

can now also safely store all equipment and uniform as well as conduct full Pipe Band practices in this new space. Having this new home of Pipes and Drums is another positive step forward for the programme.

The start of the Lent Term saw a surprise letter cross my desk from a Merchistonian. Mr Gray Mickel (1944-48) wrote that, now in his nineties, he no longer played his bagpipes and that he wished to donate them to the School. I had the pleasure of meeting Gray to receive the pipes before he flew back home to England and it was fascinating to hear of his memories of School, the Pipe Band and his life of piping at various events over the many decades that followed. The bagpipes were second hand even when Gray received them, though they are in pristine condition, which is quite remarkable.

The Lent Term also sees the start of indoor competitions. The Development Pipe Band made its debut at the Glasgow Highland Club contest, hosted by Hutchesons’ Grammar School. The boys did very well in their first outing, which set

them up well for the competitions which followed.

At the same contest, our Firsts Pipe Band won the Junior B Grade. This was the Band’s first victory in my two years at School and came somewhat earlier than expected - a fantastic example of the hard work the boys have put in and just reward in return.

Up next was a visit to neighbours, George Watson’s College, where our Firsts once again made the prize list with a third place against a very strong field of eleven other bands. Our Development Band came ninth, beating two other bands. For only the second competition for the Development Pipe Band and to already be placing above other established bands and schools was a fantastic result.

The final indoor contest of the term was the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, held in Kilmarnock. This is a huge contest, with nearly one hundred schools in attendance, competing in a range of different grades. The Firsts competed in Novice Juvenile B for the first time, the highest level the School has ever entered. The Band played very well and was placed seventh out of twenty-four bands, just missing out on the top six prize list. Our drummers were placed third, which was a phenomenal achievement – a credit to the boys and Mr Lawson for such results in such a short period of time working together. The Development Pipe Band was once again placed above other schools, finishing sixth out of nine bands - another great result and strong showing from this new group.

Towards the end of the Lent Term, focus very much came onto our tour to New York. With our fundraising efforts and generous support from Kinloch Anderson Kilt Makers, the Band members were issued with brand new uniforms, making the change from the Cameron of Erracht tartan to the School’s Merchiston Castle School tartan. The tartan is predominately blue, with a hint of red. It is great

to have the Pipe Band now representing the School in our own colours. May I place on record my sincere thanks to John Kinloch Anderson and his staff for their support of the Pipe Band. It is no mean feat to kit out forty-five members in new uniforms. We hope to continue to represent the tartan with great pride and success, having started as we mean to go on.

Ahead of our tour to New York, the Band received a generous donation, in memory of Karen McCarlie, for which I would like to thank Mr Ian McCarlie and family. Before we knew it, we were heading Stateside, expertly flown by the father of drummer Angus R. A separate trip report can be found in the Trips and Activities section of the magazine. Safe to say, memories of a lifetime were made and the Pipe Band highlight had to be seeing thirty-two boys looking smart and sounding strong as they marched up 6th Avenue – a true milestone moment in the Pipe Band’s growth over the past two years. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work by everyone and the end of the parade was a special moment to pause and enjoy with great pride.

The Summer Term brought more new experiences, including performing for General George, Chief of Staff of the US Army, who visited Merchiston to deliver the Theodore Roosevelt talk. General George made a point to come and shake hands with all the Pipe Band members, taking time to speak with the Band. Just like the All Blacks’ visit last year, this is another example of the unique opportunities that playing pipes and drums can offer.

Back on the competition field, the Firsts competed in Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association competitions for the very first time. Dollar Academy was the setting for the first competition and in fine Scottish summer weather of wind and heavy rain, the boys stood tall and finished second in a small contest of three.

This outing at Dollar did prepare us well, however, for the British Pipe Band Championships, held at Forres on 8 June. There are five major Pipe Band Championships held each year and this was the School’s first ever attendance at a major Championship. The Firsts competed against sixteen other bands, placing in the top six prize list and coming fourth, a truly wonderful achievement against many wellestablished bands. For our first ever attempt, it is hard to really put that result into words in order to convey just how ‘big’ it is. It is the most successful result in the School’s history. I guess those words somewhat do the result justice - a fantastic achievement.

The weekend did not end there, as on the following day, Merchiston played host to the CCF Pipes and Drums contest. Many solo events ran in the early afternoon and credit to the soloists who represented the School well: Pipe Sergeant Josh G, Piper Oscar B, Piper Oliver G and Drummer Gabriel C. In the afternoon, the pipe bands took to the Arena and our Development Band competed outdoors for the first time. A very steady performance had the Development Band finish in sixth place out of seven, again placing ahead of another established band, which was a great way to end its competition year. The Firsts played very well on the day and finished in second place with two 1’s in piping – a fantastic weekend of performances and results all-round.

Reading back over the 2022-23 Merchistonian, I am proud of the achievements the boys have made since then, and that our goals from the previous year have not only been met but have been far exceeded in many ways.

Looking ahead to 2024-25, I am excited for the programme to grow further in both numbers and quality, and I hope to continue to offer the boys exciting performance and competition opportunities. The World Pipe Band Championships are held every year in Glasgow in the month of August: I have this firmly on the radar and believe that, when the time is right, the School could plan to attend and challenge for such a title. It is certainly all ahead of our boys.

Of course, the time also comes to bid a fond farewell to our Pipe Band leavers: five fine musicians and equally fine young men - Pipe Major Harry D, Pipe Sergeant Campbell M, Development Pipe Major Alexander M, Lead Drummer Todd B and Drummer Gabriel T. It has been a pleasure to be a part of their Pipe Band journey and the Pipes and Drums staff wish them all the very best in their next exciting chapter of life. Whether at university or afterwards, we hope that they will find a local Pipe Band and continue to enjoy their music and everything that being in a musical team offers. Thanks go to them for their commitment to the Pipe Band - they leave very positive qualities for our younger boys to follow on from.

As I conclude this summary of our year, and what a year on reflection, once again I would like to express how proud I am of our boys, and how grateful I am to all the families of Merchiston who have supported the Pipe Band this past year. I look forward to what next year brings – there is definitely more to come!

Kyle Warren, Director of Pipes and Drums

DRAMA

DRAMA REVIEW 2023-24

The end of the Autumn Term was the culmination of months of hard work for our cast and crew of twenty-eight Merchiston pupils, from IV Form to Upper VI Form, who performed alongside seven girls from St George’s in Anya Reiss’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist.

When rehearsals started in September, it was hard to imagine that we would end up with such a polished ensemble piece that would delight audiences over three nights, as well as a dress rehearsal attended by our appreciative junior pupils.

Over 500 people came to see the show and reviews were overwhelmingly positive from parents, pupils and staff. Pupils on stage were praised for their confident performances, comic timing and impressive physicality! The members of our technical crew were also commended for their professionalism in dealing with a complicated lighting design, which really brought the show to life.

This group of pupils revived drama productions at

Merchiston after the enforced Covid gap, and should be extremely proud of their work as such a strong team. Their commitment to rehearsals and their resilience and courage to give the show their all was wonderful to watch.

Special mention must go to our Upper VI pupils, who were able to have a last, and for most of them, first “hurrah” on the Merchiston stage. Hugh L showed maturity and confidence in his convincing portrayal of Mr Brownlow, whilst Alec M again displayed his excellent comic timing as Mr Bumble, having last performed in the 2019 Merchiston production of A Christmas Carol. Richard Z, Rohan R and Geoff S used their technical expertise to programme and deliver the demanding lighting design, which added to the professionalism of the show.

Our younger cast members also impressed with their talent, showing that the future of drama is looking bright at Merchiston!

During the Lent and Summer Terms, boys from the Pringle Centre enjoyed taking part in weekly drama lessons as well as signing up for Drama Club as part of their activity programme. The lessons gave boys the opportunity to develop performance skills using voice, movement, costume and props. They were also able to get creative by devising their own scenes and sketches, including two humorous adaptations of Jack and the Beanstalk

The boys’ efforts culminated in our Pringle Centre Drama Showcase in May, at which they performed some of the sketches and scenes that they had been working on. The

boys learnt about the different roles that go into putting on a performance, including helping out with front of house and stage management. There were plenty of laughs from an encouraging audience of staff and parents, especially for both of our ‘talking cows’ (Ernie and Harry)!

The boys performed with confidence and enthusiasm – an impressive feat as, for most, this was their first time on stage. I am sure that we will be seeing lots more of these talented boys in future Merchiston productions.

Amy Warke, Head of Drama

HOUSE REPORTS

PRINGLE HOUSE REPORT

2023-24

PRINGLE HOUSE ON THE MOVE

The new Pringle – one year on:

It is hard to believe that we are we are coming to the end of our first year here and I am so pleased that the values that made ‘Old Pringle’ so special have continued in our new home.

Reflecting on the move, it is no accident that a building that was originally dedicated to care for boys has such a strong ethos of kindness, nurture and attention. Wellness of the boys is exactly what Pringle House was created for.

Originally built as the School’s Sanitorium, and able to look after up to 42 boys should there be an epidemic, I doubt that the pandemic of more recent years was ever imagined back in the 1950s!

The advances of modern medicine, however, meant that the Sanatorium became obsolete. With a burgeoning School roll and a large bequest in the late 1960s from JS Pringle, junior boarding at Merchiston was born and named in his honour.

John Summers Pringle attended Merchiston from 1896 to 1901 and went on to study at Clare College, Cambridge, before serving in the Great War as Captain, where he received the French Croix de Guerre. He was also a School Governor between 1923 and 1936.

Pringle House was a home-from-home to over 1,500 boys for 56 years, from 1967 until 2023. It has been a very special and much-loved part of Merchiston for boys and staff alike.

The Pringle legacy is so much more than a building. For me, Pringle means ‘generosity’ - generosity of spirit and time. It was time, however, for the wonderful young boys of Pringle to pass through a different door at the top of the drive, and so, over the summer holiday of 2023, amidst a great flurry of activity, we moved House!

Our new home is now in what many of you will know as the Evans building, and many Merchistonians will remember as Rogerson East, and it did not take long for the boys to adapt, settle in and start to enjoy many of the benefits of being in “the big school”. What stay the same, regardless of the building that we are in, are the most important things: the encouragement, cultivation of friendships, and a secure place in which to develop and grow.

Welcoming new friends to the House was, as it is every year, exciting and an absolute joy. We were joined by boys from Spain, Mexico, Luxembourg and France. The “old boys” were so welcoming, and they all quickly became part of the Pringle family. One of the highlights for us was introducing our overseas boys to ice hockey. We now have some die-hard Edinburgh Capitals fans!

The boys have shared so many wonderful experiences together this year, from the simplest of things like gaming, tuck nights and beach trips to parties, neon discos with the Kilgraston girls, crazy golf, 24-hour football, and a firm favourite – being introduced to the delights of a chip buttie!

To finish, I have asked one of our Third Form boys, Alan T, and our Deputy Head of House, Richard T, to provide their honest thoughts on the year that has just been.

HOUSE REPORTS

Alan

Transitioning from the familiar surroundings of the old Pringle House, where I spent the previous three years, to the new boarding house was a significant change. When I entered the new boarding house, I was warmly welcomed by Mrs MacLennan, and I immediately noticed a sense of familiarity. Unlike the single-floor layout of the old Pringle House, the new boarding house had three levels. The number of people per dorm last year was around 5-6, but now there were two-person dorms and even a large dorm of 11 (that is where the best fun happens!). This change was great because it made everyone happy - some enjoy the energy of the big dorm, whilst others prefer peace and quiet.

Moving to the new House has allowed us boarders to enjoy a later wake-up time, making mornings less of a rush. We don’t have to walk up the path any more, which has been a relief, especially in bad weather, which often led to getting wet before breakfast! The shorter distance to lessons has not only made it easier and quicker but has also made more time for break. I have also felt that I have been included in the main School more.

This year brought a new experience as, for the first time, several Mexican boys joined our year group. Their presence really helped us learn more about different cultures and gave us some really cool insights. It is with a heavy heart that we say ‘goodbye’ to them as they only joined us for the year, but leaving us with happy memories of their time with us.

The House Parents this year have been truly exceptional. They form the most supportive team I have experienced during my time here. They make me feel that we belong in the community, where we all can freely engage in conversations with any member of staff on duty.

Richard

Like some of the other prefects, my journey at Merchiston began in Pringle in 2018, when I joined the Third Form. It has been some time since then, but I still look back with

fondness on my time there, and so, when the idea of being a Pringle prefect came up, I jumped at the opportunity. Working and living in Pringle over the past year has been an enormous amount of fun and a learning experience for both myself and the other prefects. The past year, as I’m sure the boys would agree, has been a ‘blast’ and with several notable highlights. A personal highlight for me was the weekend trip to watch ice hockey, an experience that I had never had before: eventually, after some time, I managed to figure out the rules of the game!

I also enjoyed the ‘change of scenery’ with the move to being a residential prefect in Pringle. We have shared many moments together, such as birthdays, activities and laughs, and it was brilliant to share these moments with everyone. Kyle, Max and I have all enjoyed the increased responsibilities that we have had, both personally and within the House. These have been a learning experience for us all and, combined with the further responsibilities that come with being in UVI, will all stay with us as we continue our journey after Merchiston.

The boys have had many challenges and experiences over the year, such as the recently completed 24-hour football challenge, which I am sure will be a highlight for them when looking back on the year.

For myself and the other prefects, our time at Merchiston has come to an end, but for the boys of Pringle, there are hopefully many years left for them to enjoy and we hope that they have fun. We have learnt many lessons over these years, and we hope that they will too.

To Mrs MacLennan and the other members of staff, on behalf of the prefects and other boys, thank you very much for the work that you did for us. I wish the best of luck to the next group of prefects and to both the boys staying in Pringle and to the boys moving up the School, and for you all to make the most of your time here.

Thank you very much lads!

Ruth MacLennan, House Parent of Pringle, Alan T & Richard T

CHALMERS WEST HOUSE REPORT 2023-24

The academic year of 2023 - 2024 has witnessed the change in the Middle Years from horizontal to vertical boarding in the newly refurbished boarding houses of Chalmers West and East. With change come opportunities for growth and development, which I feel we have only just begun this year.

Within these developments, we have seen great improvements to the social areas of the House, including new technology in the common room to allow for gaming stations, modern cooking facilities in the kitchen, and a shared courtyard with Chalmers East (where the Ure Rooms / House kitchens were formerly located), to allow for greater movement and social interaction between West and East sides of the building.

Pupils have been planning further work, including new furnishings, artwork and library spaces, enabling the ‘pupil voice’ to design a homely interior which matches their own vision. The kitchen remains one of the most favoured spaces in the House, and, in addition to this, has been the pizza oven, which has allowed the pupils to enjoy creating their own recipes over the weekends.

Housing three year groups of boarders in the Fourth, Shell and Fifth Forms together has meant that the Chalmers West prefect team is now resident in the Laidlaw Houses, coming into Chalmers West to fulfil their prefectorial duties. The prefects have worked hard to build relationships with the younger pupils and to inspire them not only as role

models, but also through the support they provide. The prefects across the Middle Years have committed themselves to a new training programme which covers expectations, responsibilities, child protection, medical issues, counselling and leadership. This has been invaluable and the prefects remain one of the greatest strengths of the School.

Working across the three year groups brings different logistical demands and we have tested and tweaked different staged routines around timings, including bedtimes and meal times, alongside arrangements for prep and general privileges. This has been carefully planned so that it does not create a hierarchy, but with the goal of accommodating and creating the time and space each of the year groups may need. This can be something as simple as showering arrangements or providing tailored academic support.

On reflection, in the first term, it took time for the pupils to adapt to living alongside the different age groups. The changes have brought emphasis on already established values and behaviours around tolerance and community. One great area of progress from the new structure is working closer than ever before with the other two Middle Years House teams. This has not only enabled greater consistency across the three Houses, but has also allowed the three year groups to have time together during trips and socials specifically designed for them, such as gokarting and paintballing. Alongside these events, we have

HOUSE REPORTS

also delivered integrated trips across the year groups, including the Hold Fast Team Building Challenge, which brought out the best in the pupils’ commitment and support of each other during an unforgettable beach experience. It concluded at the end of the day with a welldeserved fish and chip supper on the road home. This is an experience we will repeat, as it brings the three year groups together, both day pupils and boarders.

One of the most memorable moments of this year came before a morning House meeting: it was early in the year, when the Fourth Formers, although very eager to impress

their older peers, were still adopting a cautious approach to them. The Fourth Formers arrived in the common room slightly late, and walked in to the Shell and Fifth Form boys, mid-way through performing an Abba Just Dance tribute, completely unphased by their younger peers’ arrival. It was the moments like this, when the pupils could just relax and enjoy their time together, that I am sure they enjoyed the most.

The pupils’ perspective is important to share, and so below are some notes from their own experiences of this year.

As soon as I first came through the doors of Chalmers West, on the first day of being a boarder, I felt immediately at home. When you come into the House, and you get to your bed space, it is very private and very easy to get on with your work without any distractions, which is perfect for me as I get distracted easily! The roll-calls take place four times every day, two in the morning and two in the evening. Whenever a pupil leaves the House, he has to have personal permission from a House Parent and he has to sign out. IV Form and Shell boys have their own dorms together, and V Formers share a smaller dorm between two pupils. The opportunities that being a boarder offers are just great.

All the House Parents and other pupils were so welcoming and patient with me. I settled in pretty quickly because it was easy to make friends here. You are surrounded by friends who will help you with almost anything, and adults who you can go and talk to if you ever need help or advice, especially when the exam season comes around. Even on weekends when boarders have stayed in School, the House Parents organise something fun to do like paintball or go-karting.

Lachlan M

As a boarder, you have a lot of freedom over how you manage your time. You feel a lot more like an adult, with responsibility and opportunities to manage your life. For example, I like to go for runs in the morning and go out to play games or practise in the grounds in the evening. I am surrounded by my friends and can easily organise a quick football game. Basically, everything that I need is here and that is great! The House team is really easy to speak with –and not just when you have a problem! It is nice to get to know boys in other years in the House and connect with them through rugby and other sport. It creates a lot of diversity and means that you make friends with a range of interesting people and can arrange to do things with them. Next year, I hope that we can do even more trips like paintball and bubble football. The trips organised this year have been great fun.

Lewis M

The best thing about being a boarder is the social life and the community that you are part of all the time. Being part of the new boarding house in Chalmers West is exciting because you are at the centre of life on campus. Living here means that I can take part in drama, sport, AudioVisual, CCF and art projects. There is always something going on! Being a boarder doesn’t just mean doing things in School, as I can go into town to meet with friends or even travel with them

to other places in Scotland, such as Glasgow, for the day!

The beautiful new facilities in the boarding house, such as the kitchen, mean that we can catch up over toasties and hot chocolate or help each other with School work. It is also where we celebrate our birthdays together with cake! There are x-boxes in the day room, where we can challenge each other, and a TV on which to watch the big sporting events. I really like the new dorm spaces for their privacy and comfort – I’m in a room with my friends but have my own space.

Sikai C

In Chalmers West, we are excited to welcome new students from all over the world. Meeting people from different countries is amazing because we get to learn about different cultures and make new friends. It makes our School a really interesting place to be, and we all get to learn a lot from each other.

With the arrival of spring, everyone was looking forward to the start of the cricket season. Cricket is a big deal here at Merchiston! Our cricket fields are some of the best, and it’s fun to see everyone practising and playing matches. It was unlucky for our 1XI to lose in the final of the Cup to George Watson’s College: all the boys were out supporting but they just fell short. Special mention should be made of my team, the U15Bs, which almost had an undefeated season, only losing to Fettes in two of our nine games.

Another highlight of our School year is the socials with St George’s School. These events are a great way to meet new people and enjoy time with friends. We have dances, parties, and other fun activities, where we can relax and have a good time.

Kyle D

The pupils have contributed so much to the School and to each other across this year. This is the strength of our community and what drives the pupils’ individual and group success. I am very much looking forward not only to seeing the benefits of the continuity of working with these pupils and staff over the year ahead, but also to seeing the development and progress of the new House identity, a process in which the pupils will play a major part. I look forward to seeing next year’s V Formers becoming role models to the younger years, the new entrants being supported by their prefects, and to the further development of the interior decor of the House.

Iain Noble, House Parent of Chalmers West

CHALMERS EAST REPORT 2023-24

AUTUMN TERM

The beginning of the year was incredibly exciting; this was my first year at Merchiston, along with many others. Everyone in the House shared my surprise at the remarkable newly refurbished boarding house we now called ‘home’ — it was all quite fresh. Throughout the year, Mr Glover, our House Parent, and Mr Lallemant, our Deputy House Parent, organised fantastic activities for us. The first weekend, which consisted of pizzas, ice breakers, and marshmallows, was a particular highlight. This allowed us to make connections with one another and to develop as a House community.

One of the highlights of the Autumn Term was definitely International Week, in which we celebrated the many different cultures and nationalities represented at Merchiston. I had the honour of presenting about my country, Argentina, in a Whole School Assembly. Alongside me were students presenting from China and Mexico, which was great. We then enjoyed the most incredible food, courtesy of our catering department, celebrating a different cuisine from around the world each day. Chalmers East was decorated with flags and adorned with posters with interesting facts about various nations. During breaks, we

enjoyed German Lebkuchen from Mr Lallemant, Mr Glover’s chilli, and Nigerian puff puffs, courtesy of Mr Alexander.

Another enjoyable memory from this term was our whole House trip to the DAM Health Stadium to watch Edinburgh v Connacht rugby. This was my first experience of professional sport in Edinburgh and was a thrilling introduction to rugby for me, despite the November cold! These types of trips were very important bonding experiences for all of us. We also enjoyed several socials with St George’s and Kilgraston, our sister schools, which included ceilidhs and BBQs.

In November, Mr Glover, alongside other House Parents, participated in the fund-raising effort for the charity Movember, for which he grew a moustache for the whole month. Whilst opinion was divided on how well the moustache suited him, it was certainly amazing to see how much money we managed to raise! As Christmas approached, I anticipated snow, but that, sadly, did not happen. However, the weather was still cold and we made crepes in the House to the sound of Christmas carols. This was followed by watching Home Alone and drinking hot chocolate, to create a warm and festive atmosphere in Chalmers East.

Bauti D L

LENT TERM

The Lent Term began with the predictable drag of postChristmas blues, but very quickly picked up the usual lively atmosphere. There was the usual talk of what others did over the holidays and whether anyone had done anything exciting. Since it was the start of a new term, we saw a few new friendly faces around School, which is always a welcome sight. Even though the House had only been refurbished at the start of the academic year, it felt familiar and friendly. With the Fifth Formers beginning the stressful period of mock exams, the support from Mr Glover and Mr Lallemant was greatly appreciated by them. The newlyestablished House Forum allowed the pupils to communicate their thoughts and suggest improvements for the House, which led to many new privileges and a sense of collectivism in the House.

Mr Lallemant organised a kilt walk for the House in support of the charity Cyrenians and its goal to end homelessness. This involved a day’s hiking in the Pentland Hills, which are right on our doorstep here at Merchiston. Despite a rather cold and wet day, the whole House set off and experienced the impressive Scottish wildlife that the Pentlands have to offer. We were all treated to a hot chocolate and some sausage rolls on our return to School. We managed to raise an impressive £750, which we are hoping to exceed next year.

As the mock exam period for the Fifth Form drew to an end, we had an enjoyable visit to Mr Basrai’s World Cuisine

buffet. With plentiful food choices, it was a very enjoyable experience, although the owners may want to reconsider their unlimited food policy after our visit!! It was a lovely way to celebrate the end of the Lent Term and one that was certainly popular with staff and students alike.

Torquil H

SUMMER TERM

Each term at Merchiston is like a new chapter, and the Summer Term was one in which I felt I was able to learn and explore more as a student. This term involved a lot of internal and external examinations for all year groups in the House, which made it difficult to balance studies and social time. When the weather permitted, we played many sports outside on the fields, such as volleyball, football and touch rugby with the other boarding houses, which was great fun!

For the Fifth Formers, they were in the midst of their final GCSE examinations and were busy studying in their rooms and working with tutors. Once exams started to tail off, we got to enjoy some nice weather and the usual raft of endof-year activities. One such highlight was the CCF Pipes and Drums Competition, which was held at Merchiston this year. This involved hundreds of students from across the country competing in various piping and drumming events.

We also had a social event with Kilgraston Girls’ School

HOUSE REPORTS

in Chalmers East for Fourth and Shell Form pupils. We were able to make new friends with girls from the other school, enjoy homemade pizzas and drinks, and we had a really good time watching the Scotland v Germany match. It was just a pity about the end result for Scotland! Making my own pizza was certainly a highlight of the year and we have all become quite the experts at cooking in our pizza oven!

Joel B

CONCLUSION

Phew, what a year it has been: the re-opening of the Chalmers building, the start of a new vertical pastoral model for the Middle Years, and my first year as a House Parent. I have certainly learnt a lot about myself managing all of this change, and I am confident that the boys have learnt a lot too. The best thing about this year was the ‘clean slate’ that it afforded us and the opportunity to establish brand new traditions. We have built a strong foundation this past year and I look forward to developing and improving our community next year.

Richard Glover, House Parent of Chalmers East

ROGERSON HOUSE REPORT 2023-24

As we come to the end of the year in Rogerson, it is a great opportunity to reflect. Without doubt, this year has been one of the most fulfilling of my career. Having the opportunity to work with and support such a diverse, engaged and genuine group of young people has been fantastic.

Change can often be daunting, and the move to a vertical house structure in the Middle Years has required all to adjust to some extent. You only need to walk up the main stairway and look at all the House photos, stretching back to the late 1950s, to understand that Rogerson has a long and rich history. However, from humble beginnings, I am proud of the way Rogerson has been able to forge itself a new identity as a ‘home away from home’ for our growing day pupil community.

Central to the success of this has been the pupils themselves. I therefore think it appropriate that we hear their voices in this summary of the year…

Message from the Rogerson Prefects

From the very start of the year, we knew as a Prefect team that we would have a challenge on our hands, with over 70 boys to look after and be role models to over the course of the year. It goes without saying that we had a number of significant responsibilities which needed to be fulfilled on a daily basis. Some examples of these included taking morning roll-calls and collecting mobile phones (which could sometimes be more easily said than done), helping Mrs Darling to make toasties for the boys during break-time

and, of course, taking prep duties to ensure that all of the boys were on task and getting their work done.

As a Prefect team, we agree that we have learned a lot from the past year and gained lots of experience which will be useful to carry over into the next stage in life: for example, being leaders and role models for the younger years to follow and look up to, solving problems and issues within the House, and, without a doubt, building strong relationships, not only with the boys but also with the staff and House Parents who we worked alongside throughout the course of the School year.

Some of our best memories from the past School year come from during prep time: this was, of course, when we would supervise the boys as they “did their prep.” This was also a time when we would try our best to stay on task and not be distracted - however, this was not always the case as the boys would often ask questions (some more relevant than others). Nevertheless, this was a time where we would get to know the boys as they would get to know us too. Although prep duty meant that we would have to stay late and take time out of our own evenings, we agreed as a Prefect team that prep time would be one of the more memorable times that we spent with the boys. Another favourite memory is the break-time chats that we would have with the boys, as well as the House Parents. This was a time when we would all socialise and enjoy Mrs Darling’s excellent toasties.

Sean L, Gabriel T, Alasdair B, Hugh L, Krish K, Edward McL & Myles McL

HOUSE REPORTS

Message from the Fifth Form

With the new House structure at Merchiston, a change in the day-to-day experiences for day pupils such as myself was to be expected. However, I can happily say that for myself and my fellow V Form pupils, the academic year has been full of happiness in Rogerson. Although the separation from the boarders and mixing of year groups was initially dreaded, I believe that it created an environment that increased sociability and expanded conversation between peers.

Additionally, the facilities and opportunities that we have been offered have increased the general well-being of our House, by being targeted at the needs of day pupils. Whether it be the daily toasties that were being provided by Mrs Darling at break time (a firm staple for me and many others), the mixed socials in and outside of the School, or the trips offered on Sundays, there was always something being planned to make the year more enjoyable.

As a V Form pupil, I particularly enjoyed the individual rooms that we were given as a “base”. These provided us with a sense of independence that will help us to make the leap into the Sixth Form. All rooms were close together and allowed for constant conversation and experiences in the rooms. Some of my favourite memories this year took place socialising in these spaces between lessons.

George A

Message from the Shell

The year started with a new system - the vertical House system. Despite initial nerves about this, Rogerson has been a good experience for us all. We were all excited about this change and ready to make the most of meeting new people. The opening day of the year concluded with a Middle Years social event; this was a demonstration of how the new system could work, with all the years mixing and the Houses coming together. The mixture of Fourth Form, Shell and Fifth Form, although splitting the year groups, began to build new friendships which would previously

have been impossible.

At the start of the year, many of the boys from Rogerson took part in the School’s production of Oliver Twist, either acting, as part of the stage crew, or in the Ceilidh Band. Many boys look back on the memories fondly – however, maybe not so fondly at the time of the long rehearsals! It is safe to say, however, that all of the boys had a great time performing for their family and peers, and special thanks go to all of the staff members who made that possible.

During the November exeat weekend, a few boys from Shell and Fifth Form went on a Latin and Classics trip to Rome, led by Mr Hillier. It started at three o’clock in the morning with a bus to Glasgow. Having lost Reggie H to a rugby injury only the day before we left, the small group making the journey became even smaller. Flying and arriving in Rome in the afternoon, we checked into our hotel and went out for dinner at a local pizza restaurant. The next day was filled with excitement as we explored the Colosseum with an audio-guide, taking in the different sights and their reasons for construction. The Latin boys got a chance to try some translations, which were much harder than they expected due to the use of Roman abbreviations. We then climbed Palatine Hill and finished the day with well over 25,000 steps taken! The next day was even more busy, with a visit to the Pantheon, Roman Baths and a museum where Rev Blair famously purchased a marble foot! The last evening was spent in a restaurant with good food, before heading back to bed for well-earned rest. The next day we flew back to Glasgow, arriving at Merchiston at 3pm inspired and exhausted.

Towards the end of the term, both the Merchiston U16 and U18 rugby teams were involved in a semi-final clash with Stewart’s Melville. The game was almost called off due to frost, but we arrived wearing many layers of clothing to support our classmates. The U16s fought a tough battle and narrowly lost to a quality ESMS side, whilst the U18s were also heartbroken in the last minute by a late interception try. Although the defeat was tough to take, the atmosphere was brilliant and it was great to see so many out to support our School.

Due to the continuation of frosty weather, a late rugby session was turned into a Middle Years team building activity in the Pentlands. All year groups took part in climbing Puke Hill backwards with guidance from a partner, and then a blind trek along a path, holding on to those in front of you. We then broke the ice with people from different year groups by involving people who we didn’t know in conversation back down the hill. This was a great activity and Mr de Luca really helped to build friendship and interaction between year groups.

At the start of February, we hosted St George’s in our first social of the year. However, this news was met with very little enthusiasm from the boys when the date was released - 2 February. Disaster! The prospect of missing the opening game of the Six Nations was a daunting realisation for some of the boys! However, despite this clash, nearly all of the boys gave glowing reports of the social.

During the Easter holidays, many of the boys from Rogerson travelled to New York with the Pipe Band and the Close Harmony Group. All the boys involved greatly enjoyed performing in such an amazing city. Some notable highlights included walking down 6th Avenue with the Pipe Band, the independence at lunch time, and the very enjoyable Nets basketball game. Thank you to all staff and organisers involved for such an amazing trip.

The Summer Term started with the highly anticipated Sunday go-karting trip. All the boys had great fun and certainly showed their competitive side when it came to racing on the track. Ilian A proudly took home the win for Rogerson, having fought off Roddy from Chalmers West in a dramatic battle.

After a pretty miserable winter and spring on the weather front, we were all ecstatic when the sun finally shone through the clouds. The Rogerson boys from Shell were very keen to use the plentiful supply of grass to play a variety of games after classes had finished - football, rugby and even NFL, you name it! These games created closer bonds between the boys as well as encouraging more social time with the Chalmers boys.

Towards the end of the year, we hosted St George’s once

again at our last social of the year. The boys enjoyed a variety of activities, including volleyball, football and a barbecue dinner. It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a sunny evening.

Having been postponed from earlier in the term, The Games took place on Thursday 13 June, with weather which neither scorched nor drenched the participants. The day was filled with the usual track and field events, but this year included new activities such as the 8x100 race, involving a member from each year group. The turnout from Rogerson was brilliant as almost all boys flocked to the track, either to support or take part in Sports Day. It was a great way to round off the year, and for many, to bring the end of exams and the end of term into sight.

This year has been a “blast”. Everyone has settled into the new House system, learning its advantages and how to use them. We look forward to returning to Mr Buchanan and Mrs Darling, but bid a fond farewell to Mr Douglas, who is heading back to Northern Ireland. He led the House through the Rogerson Forum and his impact in rugby and English (especially the Hydra magazine) will be sorely missed. Thank you very much, Sir, for a great year and we wish you all the best for the future.

Hamish H & Xander MB

Message from the Fourth Form

The Fourth Form has been a great year, full of new responsibilities and with more independence. A good thing about going into the Middle Years is you get to go to the Coop in groups to buy whatever you like! One of my highlights this year has been the Pipe Band, which has given me my first experience of piping competitions. My favourite piping competition was definitely the British Pipe Band Championships as it was the first time Merchiston has attended a major. At the Championships, we got to see the top pipe bands in the world and pick up things they do to make us better. My favourite term in the Fourth Form was the Summer Term, with Sports Day, Prizegiving and

celebrations of the year. The Summer Term also has good sports such as cricket and athletics, with athletics having many competitions in School and at Meadowbank. This year has been an exciting start to my Middle Years journey.

Alex P

This School year has been very enjoyable. This was my first year as a Rogerson pupil and it’s very different to Pringle. In Rogerson, you get your own space with 2-3 others. The Summer Term was a highlight for me, mainly because of playing cricket in the warm weather with my peers. The sports programme at School is very good, with rugby in the winter, then hockey, and cricket in the summer. If I were to choose a highlight of the year, I would say the cricket season - it’s just such a good sport for everybody to have fun and play. IV Form has brought many new things to our School career, such as mock exams and the privilege to go to the local Coop. Trips on a Sunday as well have been very enjoyable. I’m sure that we all look forward to next year after a good start to our Middle Years journey.

Freddie L

My highlight for the year was definitely the Pipes & Drums and Close Harmony Group trip to New York. Not only was the trip in itself an unforgettable experience, but it was very rewarding to see the endless practice that had been put in throughout the year pay off. During this trip, we saw major landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Flatiron Building and Central Park. Days were packed with events like watching a NY-Knicks basketball game and the Parade down 6th Avenue for Tartan Week, I’m sure everyone involved is extremely grateful to the staff for making this undeniably one of the best trips the School has ever done and a huge highlight in everyone’s Merchiston career.

This year, my year group did bronze DofE and it was a good experience for me. Before the real thing, we learnt how to erect a tent and how to read a map with a compass. We decided where our checkpoint would be. We packed clothes, food, stoves and other things that we needed for our trip. The DofE expedition took place in May, a two-day walk in the Highlands. Every group had a different route. Some groups went northwards while others took the other paths in different directions. My group of seven headed north-east, starting near Loch Lubnaig. First, we went uphill and walked a straight road to our first checkpoint. We had a break there and then set off to our second checkpoint. Apart from the first hill that our group went up, it was quite a straightforward walk. We successfully reached the other

checkpoints, though we arrived later than expected. We stopped in Glen Kendrum, put up our tents and rested for the rest of the day. On the next day, we started walking: some of the walk was uphill, but it was mostly downhill. When we reached the finish, we were exhausted but proud of ourselves.

Yuga F

In Rogerson, our mission is to create a safe and positive community environment within the House. It is vital that the pupils feel a real sense of identity within the School. Our philosophy is driven by four core values of kindness, respect, responsibility and achievement, traits worthy of recognition and praise whenever they manifest themselves.

One of the strengths of Rogerson is its combination of pupils from across the Middle Years. I am certain that this mix is a real asset to the House. Over the course of this year, I have seen how it has enabled the V Form to step up and take on the mantle of role models to our younger year groups. At the same time, pupils entering the IV Form have had the opportunity to see the Shell and V Form at work, providing an invaluable insight into the next stage of their Merchiston journey. Whether it be over cheese toasties in the kitchen prepared by Mrs Darling, or competitive games of table tennis or pool at breaktime, it has been brilliant to see all year groups mixing and socialising. I am proud of how well they have gelled over the course of the year.

Regardless of year group, academic studies have demanded more of the pupils’ time than in previous years. They have been expected to take on greater responsibility for their own academic progress, and needed to balance competing demands from multiple subjects. These are not easy skills to master, but I have been very proud of how well the pupils have all managed their competing demands.

I feel fortunate to have had such an experienced House team, consisting of Deputy House Parent Mr Douglas and Assistant House Parent Mrs Fiona Darling. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their incredible support throughout the year. I am also eternally grateful to my excellent UVI Prefects - Sean, Gabriel, Alasdair, Hugh, Krish and Myles. Their commitment to Rogerson and willingness to support the pupils and House team have been invaluable.

Once again, I would like to thank and congratulate all of the Rogerson pupils and staff on a very successful year. I hope that they all take advantage a of much needed and deserved summer break!

Stuart Buchanan, Rogerson House Parent

Calum R

LAIDLAW NORTH HOUSE REPORT 2023-24

Welcome note

Welcome to the 2023-24 year of Laidlaw North. We are one of Merchiston’s Sixth Form Houses, comprising of around sixty boarders and approximately twenty day pupils. This year has flown by and has been full of activity, from sports competitions to the House Christmas dinner, and much more. It has also been great this year to welcome Sixth Form day boys into the House: these boys have really embraced the House spirit and have become prominent members of their community. The whole House is excited to welcome in next year’s Lower Sixth Formers and is ready for what next year brings us.

International Week and experience as an international student

Being an international student at Merchiston is a very enjoyable experience. As you set foot in Merchiston, you quickly realize that you are surrounded by a diverse group of students from all over the world. You can make friends from different cultures, and the School celebrates this by holding its International Week, during which you get to taste different cuisines from around the world, and in the Houses, activities are arranged which help you to learn about different cultures, for example quizzes and

international beer tasting for the Sixth Form! The School also provides a supportive environment in which everyone looks out for each other. And in your free time, you can participate in various activities together with your friends, such as sports, weekend activities and trips. The experience is not only about academics but also about personal growth, building lifelong friendships, creating memories and having an unforgettable experience in Scotland.

Erik

House sport

Laidlaw North’s friendly but vigorous rivalry with South runs throughout the year in a number of different sports. In the first term, we saw the legendary football match between Laidlaw North and South. South just clinched it after winning with ‘sudden death’ penalties (the referee was from South, I might add!). Boys who were not playing came along to support the players with plenty of singing and chanting. The House basketball match came soon after: both teams put up a well fought battle, but unfortunately South got the better of us again, a rare occurrence! Outside of enthusiastic House rivalries, we also love to use the facilities the School has for football, cricket, rugby, and other activities in our free time.

George R

Social events

Over the course of the year, we have enjoyed many social events within Merchiston. Every break time, Madame Piquiot very generously arranges socials for us, with a range of different food, the common favourite being cheese toasties. These socials allow the boys in Laidlaw North time to replenish and recharge, as well as to check in with our peers and relax during the busy days at Merchiston. Another great social experience for the boys in North is the 6A Club: a couple of nights a week, we are able to go there and enjoy the company of our friends and have a great social experience. Curry nights have also been thoroughly enjoyable social events for the boys in Laidlaw North, with amazing curry and great chat for all involved, making them lots of fun.

Ali

Carol-singing and the House Christmas dinner

The annual carol competition between Laidlaw North and Laidlaw South, which we have now won ten years in a row, is a very communal seasonal experience that, apart from carol-singing, involves true showmanship, with musical introductions played by instrumentalists in the House. The competition comes just before our Christmas dinner, likewise a memorable and highly sociable tradition, with great food and speeches. These events contribute greatly to Laidlaw North’s identity as a group and are a ‘rite of passage’ for every boarder.

Yarema

Written by the Laidlaw North Lower Sixth Prefect Team Elect

LAIDLAW SOUTH HOUSE REPORT 2023-24

Laidlaw South 2023-2024 has been wonderful. There were lots of activities, lots of highlights and many memories made. The year started with the Laidlaw South trip to Fountain Park: we went bowling at Tenpin but a lot of people spent their time at the ‘punching machines’ in the arcade, where it was a battle to be crowned the strongest! We finished the trip with an all-you-can-eat buffet at Mr Basri’s, which also turned into a competition to see who could eat the most plates of food! This trip was especially enjoyable because it allowed the new boys to get to know the others, and it also allowed international boys to see what activities you can do in Edinburgh. The first week was jam packed with activity to celebrate the start of the year and also helped to integrate the new Laidlaw South recruits. First up was team building on the astro: this was one of the highlights of the year because we did such activities as dodgeball, foot darts and bubble football. Bubble football, in particular, was utter mayhem as people were running for their lives while others were crashing into each other, and it got to a point where there was no football involved! However, this was a great way for us to gell with each other and create new bonds.

Jack R, Deputy Head of House 2024-25, recalls:

“I was a new student to the School this year. The change from moving from England to Scotland was huge and pretty daunting, but Laidlaw South made me feel welcome right away. I have to say that the staff and students were all really friendly and helped me and my twin brother to settle in really quickly. The social event for South in the first week of term was great for getting to know people and was really good fun too: doing activities such as bubble football was a great way to start the term. The House and communal areas like kitchens were a great place to chat and to meet people. The first few weeks were pretty tough, but by October half-term I’d really found my feet with how everything works at Merchiston, thanks to the welcoming community of Laidlaw South, and I’m really pleased that I joined.”

This year was a great year for the talented Laidlaw South football team as we took care of business against Laidlaw North in a nail-biting fixture. It led to extra time, with the score being 5-5, and then proceeded to penalties, in which Amos G scored the winning penalty to keep the Laidlaw South football winning streak alive. In-house socials are a regular thing and these events are arranged in evenings to

allow the boys and tutors to get together regularly. David O comments on Friday evening games nights with Mr Garratt:

“Every Friday, a board games evening is organised by Laidlaw South tutor, Mr Garratt, in the day room. People love gathering and playing the games, and surprisingly, the amount of games Mr Garratt has is endless, with games that will be fun for everyone”.

Oliver W comments on Football and Champions League nights with Mr Lieberman:

“The social events in Laidlaw South, especially on football nights like the Champions League, are always a highlight. These gatherings are filled with snacks and drinks, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. The competitive spirit is definitely visible, and I particularly relish it because, as a Manchester City fan, I often find myself in the minority! This dynamic adds an extra layer of excitement, making the experience even more memorable and fun (depending on the winner)”.

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the VIA Club opens, organised by Mrs McGregor, where both LVI and UVI socialise together. On Wednesdays, the tuck shop opens with soft drinks on sale, which everyone rushes into once the prep is over. There, great tunes are played by pupils, and people can talk to each other in front of the TV. Darts and pool are also available in the VIA Club, which are very popular with the students. On Saturdays, when it is organised by Mr Lieberman, pupils enjoy a selection of drinks, snacks and get along with each other by playing darts, pool, talking to each other, or just enjoying the flow of tunes. The VIA Club is only a privilege for Sixth Form students in the School, and as you enter the place, this is when you really realise you are one of the grown-ups in the School.

After the October half-term break, we were treated to Merchiston’s International Week celebrations, when each day we would eat cuisine from a different country. Laidlaw South is a very internationally diverse House in the School, which we like to celebrate all year round, but especially during International Week. Laidlaw South has students from Turkey, South Korea, Nigeria, Mexico, China and, of course, the United Kingdom. Both Nathan C and David O spoke in a Senior Assembly about their home countries.

There were loads of socials organised with our sister schools, St George’s and Kilgraston. Firstly, there was the Halloween disco, manned by Johann S on the DJ decks, fancy dress aplenty, with loads of Marios and attempted Men in Black characters, making it a most enjoyable evening.

One of the best Laidlaw South activities this year was the Top Golf trip, when around fifteen boys took the minibus across to Glasgow to enjoy an afternoon of Top Golf. This activity was loved by the boys due to the excellent game modes that were able to be played. David O remarks:

“My favourite game mode was the angry bird one: it was lots of fun and it was a recreation of the mobile game”.

The selection of food was also great. Rivalries were established between the boys and even with Mr Mills, resident member of staff in Laidlaw South, especially when a competition was set up to see who could potentially hit the ball out of the arena.

The annual trip to Toby Carvery is a long-standing Laidlaw South tradition experienced each year, held in the spirit of Christmas. Boys choose to stack their plates with mountains of turkey, gammon, and the correct choice of beef; alongside ladles of mash, a Yorkshire pudding and, occasionally, cabbage. The free-flowing soft drinks and Toby’s special recipe gravy were appreciated additions to boys’ meals, and in the spirit of Christmas giving, the boys gave themselves plenty of additional servings of festive sides. The mountains of Sunday roast on everybody’s tables was testament to the enjoyable experience of “Toby’s”; we dined with fantastic chat and full stomachs – it was a fantastic way to celebrate Christmas. On our return to South, we continued celebrations with ‘Secret Santa’: all the boys received a gift from another member of the South residents, all in good spirit, and finished with an impromptu sing-song of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Mr McLaughlin.

After the turn of the year, the weather was poor, and in February, a significant storm took down Merchiston’s Coastal Redwood tree. Lincoln P, South prefect and Upper Sixth Former, noticed this and decided to fill his tennis bag with cuttings of the Redwood. Since then, he has been growing about 100 genetic replicas of the Merchiston Coastal Redwood. He comments:

“I hope to plant back many of these trees around Merchiston when they are large enough for future generations to enjoy”.

Later in the academic year, Merchiston hosted the muchanticipated Highland Ball, with everyone in their finery and ceilidh dancing led by Dr Bower: this started off quite awkwardly, but as it went on, everyone really enjoyed themselves and had a good time dancing with pupils from our sister schools. During the evening, we enjoyed a fantastic meal served in the dining hall. One of the unique aspects of the ceilidh was the frequent switching of dance partners. This not only kept the energy levels high but also provided a fantastic opportunity for the boys to mingle and

get to know more people, not just from St George’s, but also other Merchiston pupils.

Some boys also went to the Kilgraston Spring Ball. We started with dinner at a round table with our names fancily placed on the table. After having a meal with a glass of white wine, we congratulated Kilgraston Upper Sixth Formers on finishing their exams. Then boys went to find their dancing partner and enjoyed the evening together, dancing and celebrating the end of term. Every boy was enjoying it so much that Miss Nash had to join in and drag us out for the coach journey home! Everyone slept on the bus, and when we got back to the boarding house, it was 12:30am! Everyone enjoyed it a lot as they were talking about it the day next as well, and the unusual experience of getting back to school after midnight, so it was definitely one of the highlights of the year. Teiyoon K, 2024-25 prefect, remarked:

“As someone born in Korea with little exposure to Scottish culture, attending the two balls was a fantastic experience. It wasn’t just about meeting new people; it was also wonderful to immerse myself in a different culture, and most other international students loved it too!”.

Carlos PM, from Mexico, also reported after the Kilgraston Ball, that “It was the best day of my life at Merchiston”

The Merchiston Arts Programme organised trips to a range of local and inter-school performances, from which students had to choose a minimum of one to attend. Amongst the options students were given was the renowned musical Hamilton: the boys expressed their enjoyment of the performance’s blend of American rap music, in relation to George Hamilton’s founding of America, and was a unique experience for some pupils. Students were also able to attend both a performance by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, as well as an orchestral performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The Jazz concert was a unique opportunity to listen to music which was unfamiliar to me, and the reverberations of big-band jazz blasted through the hall, and the individual solos from the players were enjoyed by all.

Rob HP took part in the Easter Music trip to New York. He writes:

“I was given the fantastic opportunity to travel to New York with the Pipe Band this year. The experience was surreal, especially as this was my very first time in the USA. As the Pipe Band in our School stretches across the entire School, this was a perfect time to strengthen bonds with each other and younger years. It is very difficult for me to highlight my favourite parts of the trip without listing everything, but if I had to pick

one thing, it would definitely be the food. The look some of my friends and I gave each other when we saw the size of the bagels, pizzas and donuts will definitely stick with me for a long time.”

Always wishing for summer weather, we arranged a summer hog roast BBQ with Kilgraston in June. The roast hog arrived in wind, we ate the food in sunshine and the social ended with rain – all the seasons in one evening! The summer BBQ is quickly becoming an annual tradition and it is great to celebrate the end of year with Kilgraston in the Laidlaw garden.

We finished the year with the ‘backyard ultra’, arranged by Mr Mills, in which the South boys ran 2.5 miles every hour for twelve hours and all in aid of OddBalls charity. It was a truly wonderful event and a fantastic achievement by all involved.

This year was amazing and we must give special thanks to the wonderful domestic and catering teams for taking care of us, with special mention to Pam, Sandra and Ewa

for all their help and support throughout the year. We would also like to thank the Laidlaw South tutors - Mr Thompson, Mr Garratt, Mr McLaughlin and Dr Anderson. We also send many congratulations and best wishes to Dr Steen as she starts her maternity leave.

A huge ‘thank you’ goes to Mr Lieberman, Mrs McGregor and Miss Nash, who organised lots of events which allowed us to make long-lasting memories and made Laidlaw South an amazing House. Very sadly, we say farewell and good luck to Mr Mills: he has been fantastic as a South resident and he has organised so many activities in the Sports Hall and trips out at the weekends. We also appreciate his early morning fitness sessions and encouragement to us in the gym - thank you.

David O, Jack R, Oliver W, Robert HP, Teiyoon K, Will T (the members of the Laidlaw South Prefect Team of 2024/2025)

TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

SIXTH FORM

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

EXPEDITION, COSTA RICA

On the first Sunday of the October half-term break, having first won Merchiston’s October Rugby Festival (in other words, some of the team were already exhausted!), the expedition team gathered in Laidlaw House on Sunday evening for a final luggage check, and a few hours’ sleep, prior to our 3.30am taxis for our flights to Costs Rica. We were all very excited, and did not really have a clue about the reality of what we were about to undertake!

This year’s Sixth Form expedition (they are run biennially and open to pupils in LVI and UVI only) was a coast-to-coast adventure crossing the Central American Continent, from the Pacific Ocean in the west, to the Caribbean Sea in the east, in Costa Rica, entirely by our own means (i.e. no vehicles, but by cycling, walking, rafting, zip-lining and kayaking only), a route and means of transport that would take us through every type of rainforest and landscape in Costa Rica that tropical countries typically contain.

What enticed us to Costa Rica is knowing that it has no army, whereby instead the Government spends its money on education and health care. It has the largest land area designated nature reserve compared with any other

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country, and so, perhaps, it is not surprising that Costa Rica is in first place in the UN’s measurement of ‘People’s Happiness’ – Number 1 in the ‘Happy Planet Index’. These were enough reasons for us to consider it was worth a visit!

We had so many adventures, from start to finish. Day 1 was spent swimming in the Pacific Ocean, getting used to the heat and humidity. In the evening, we had our first experience of rice and beans with fried banana – a staple we enjoyed throughout the expedition, sometimes both for breakfast and for dinner! We also learnt all the Costa Rican we needed to know: “Hi - Pura Vida; How are you? –Pura Vida; I’m fine: Pura Vida, Yes – Pura Vida, Thank you –Pura Vida; You’re welcome – Pura Vida” ….!

The next day, we left the warm, relaxing Pacific Ocean behind, were fitted with bicycles, and we headed off inland, marvelling at the beautiful scenery, wildlife, birds, exotic vegetation and insects, and the breathtaking views of steep volcanic ridges and slopes. We noted how every village and small town was centered around a football pitch. The rare time we passed a shop, it was an adventure to stop in the hope of finding a cold drink and any snacks

that looked edible! Time and time again, the scenery remained spectacular. We soon learnt the reality of the landscape in Costa Rica that was going to repeat itself for the entire length of our journey from west to east –everything in Costa Rica is volcanic hills up and down, to the extent that by the time we reached the east coast 15 days later, we had climbed the equivalent of four climbs of Ben Nevis, condensed into seven days’ travel. There was much teamwork involved in keeping one another going.

What we had hoped was going to be simple road cycling, proved often to be steep, treacherous, superficial gravel on hard compacted rocky surfaces, steeply downhill and steeply uphill, with many a river to be crossed and many an obstacle ready to trip up the unwary. Brake failures, broken chains, punctures, blisters, cuts and grazes, etc., were all sorted very speedily by our fantastic in-country leaders, Chris & Ulio.

Swimming in the plunge pools of waterfalls en route was a fantastic distraction from the rigours of cycling and hiking throughout the hot humid days. Again and again, the scenery was spectacular, and wildlife, insects, butterflies, vegetation, banana plantations, steep tilled fields and small village churches, were all a welcome distraction and fascination.

Hiking sections involved us navigating our way along mountain roads with spectacular distant views of clouds rising from the valleys; and along tracks in closed rainforest where you were not too sure what you were going to see on the next leaf or tree or around the next corner. There were rivers to cross, and wet feet ended up being refreshing!

Food was always going to be of critical importance!! And our in-country team did us proud, putting together makeshift kitchens each night and producing delicious cooked breakfasts, dinners, and super snacks, including lots of fresh fruit during every day.

On the night we were camping up on the continental divide at some 2600m altitude (the top of Ben Nevis is half that at only 1300m), prior to leaving behind the Pacific drainage to our west and before commencing our descent to the Caribbean to the east, we were woken at 4.45am by the earth moving beneath us (distinct up and down, followed by side to side steady rocking that lasted some 90 seconds) – an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude, described as ‘Moderate to High’, and we were only 5km from the epicentre! Luckily, we had already been briefed about how strict the Costa Rican Government is about all buildings in Costa Rica being built earthquake-proof, as the country has been formed over millions of years by the pushing together of two tectonic plates (the Cocos Plate to the west moving NE at a rate of 9cm per year into the Caribbean Plate to the east) – hence all the active volcanoes and earthquakes that characterise the country’s landmass.

Most of the descent from the continental divide to the Caribbean was achieved by white water rafting and kayaking, and we had thought this was going to be the least physically challenging part of our amazing journeyhowever, it proved to be anything but!! River levels were high and the high Grade 4 rapids that needed to be travelled down kept tipping one of our two rafts such that some members of our expedition team felt that they had travelled more under the water than on top of it for much of two days!! We were very ably rescued by our safety canoeist who accompanied our rafts - the amazing Costa Rican National Champion and World Champion Canoeist, Mario, who time and time again hauled team members out of the rapids and got them to safety beyond. There was a lot of reflection at intervals on temporary sand banks between one rapid and the next, until at last the rapids had been traversed.

The amazing river camp in the middle of this river rapids section of our traverse was well worth it too. We were given a day’s rest here, which was spent lazing in hammocks, listening to the birds, the insects, occasional distant alarm calls from howler monkeys echoing off distant hills, the wind in the trees; and at one point in the afternoon, the rain thundering overhead - the intensity of rain in a tropical rain storm has to be experienced to be believed! We also crossed the river in a human pulley-basket to enjoy a network (several km long) of zip-lining through the rainforest canopy, during which we enjoyed even more wildlife (such as sightings of the scarlet poison dart frog), birdlife, and the sounds and smells of the forest. We also learnt from the Costa Rican locals how one path of their rainforest provides them with the equivalent of a trip to the supermarket for us – knowing the use of all parts of the

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vegetation we were walking past.

After two days rafting, all we had left was some 50km by kayak. This required a 3.30am start, carrying our heavy kayaks by the light of our headtorches 2km to the river bank, and learning by experience how to paddle our twoperson kayaks in the direction we needed them to gowithout tipping, with the backdrop of a beautiful sunrise, and whilst keeping an eye out for crocodiles. We also enjoyed floating under sloths high in the tree canopy above, many a bird and insect fluttering past or overhead, and keeping an eye out for the many fat iguanas and bearded dragons perched precariously on the thin ends of branches overhanging the river, waiting to absorb the sun’s rays before they could become more active and hunt for food. When they heard us coming, they would slip off their branch, smashing through the lower branches, and plop into the water with a big splash to make their escape. – you didn’t want one landing on your head!

We could hardly believe it when at last, and quite suddenly, the rainforest opened out into the Caribbean Sea. We reflected on our amazing journey, the challenges we had faced that unfolded from one moment to the next, and all agreed how sad we were that our journey had come to an end: we wanted these extraordinary adventures we all experienced as a team together to keep on going – the teamwork, the new sights and smells, the new friendships made, and how we kept one another going were unique and will never be forgotten. Through thick and through thin in all aspects of our future lives, this Costa Rican journey we all travelled together will always be reflected upon for inspiration and positivity to get us through the next challenges of our lives.

Still somewhat numb from the amazement of our achievement and adventures, we drifted through one more day enjoying the Caribbean coast before our flight home – snorkelling, surfing, and swimming in the balmy hot sea, whilst our bags were raided by ‘thieves’ descending from

the trees (troops of black-faced monkeys, grabbing all they could get hold of), and intermittent ground attacks from families of ‘masked raiders’ (racoons - whilst you were photographing the cute babies on the periphery, mother was in your bag stealing your snacks) - all furry 4-footed thieves that were working in cahoots with one another! No expedition like this can happen, let alone be a success, without BIG ‘thank yous’ from the pupils on the expedition:

• Thank you to the in-country team, Fez, and Ulio - for guiding and taking care of us from start to finish so ably; Mao – the cook (it was amazing what big portions of delicious meals he could produce in the middle of nowhere from seemingly nothing), and Memo (amazing logistical support, getting what was needed to where it was needed throughout);

• Thank you also to the School Medical staff for their tireless organisation of our vaccinations, providing medical advice for travelling in the Tropics, and our First Aid kits;

• Thank you to Dr Bower for organizing this entire expedition, including months of preparation and paperwork, and for the assistance of Mr McLaughlin with all of this;

• Another ‘thank you’ to Dr Bower and Mr McLaughlin for keeping up with us and overseeing our safety and happiness throughout;

• Thank you to the Senior Leadership Team, specifically Mr Rowlands, for his support throughout every stage of the expedition preparation, and his in-school support every day the expedition was in progress.

These Sixth Form multi-disciplinary expeditions take place every other year, always to a different destination. And so, the next is open to the current Shell and Fifth Form in two years’ time. Wherever it may be to, one thing the current expedition team members can all promise you is it will be an amazing experience that will never be forgotten!

Tanya Bower, Head of Geography & Expedition Leader

CERN TRIP

During the November weekend leave, the Upper Sixth Physics students visited CERN and the Large Hadron Collider to support their studies of particle accelerators and particle physics. On arrival, boys spent time examining “Wandering the Immeasurable”, a steel structure that details the key scientific figures and their contributions to our current understanding. Tantalisingly, the end of the sculpture is left blank with space for more names to be added when the next great contributions are made. The boys also examined a chunk of a LINAC and learnt about how linear accelerators are used and their advantages and disadvantages. Some members of the group were

particularly impressed by the Lego model demonstrating the CERN facility and the 27km long accelerator ring hidden underground.

The group had a guided tour of the ATLAS detector building to learn about the cathedral-sized particle detector, located 100m below their feet. They also visited the superconducting magnet facility to learn about how the magnets for the Large Hadron Collider are constructed and tested. They learnt about the important role of the different magnets in the beam line for steering and focusing the beam of protons travelling at close to the speed of light. The group had the opportunity to ask

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questions of our expert tour guide – a current researcher working at CERN – and to gain a better understanding of what cutting edge research involves on a global scale. The group also visited the brand-new visitor centre to explore the different exhibits.

Whilst in Geneva, the boys had the opportunity to visit the ‘broken chair sculpture’ (a symbol of the UN’s mission and the precariousness of world peace), the Red Cross Museum (a fascinating, extremely modern and immersive experience documenting the vital and far-reaching work of the Red Cross organisation), and the History of Science Museum (featuring original experiments from the work of Voltaire and Coulomb, as well as many other fascinating exhibits). The group also visited the Christmas markets and

had the opportunity to sample local delicacies, such as Baumstriezel

Another highlight of the trip was the food. The group dined at an incredible family-run Italian restaurant, some boys taking the opportunity to try the escargots on the menu, whilst the less adventurous enjoyed their pizzas. On the final night, we ate at a Swiss restaurant and experienced a traditional fondue.

The trip to CERN has always been a highlight for Upper Sixth pupils and staff. This year was no exception, with the boys and staff having a busy, educational and hugely enjoyable weekend at this centre of scientific excellence.

James Mayoh, Lead Teacher in Physics and Electronics

CLASSICS TRIP TO ROME

During the November weekend leave of 2023, eighteen boys and three members of staff set off for the Classics trip to Rome. All the boys were studying either Latin or Classical Civilisation at GCSE or A Level. This was an opportunity to see artefacts, temples and monuments from their courses, translate Latin slogans and see the very locations and sites of some of the most important moments in Ancient History.

An early morning flight from Glasgow saw us arrive at lunchtime in Rome and we began the trip with a visit to Largo Argentina, the location of possibly the most famous moment in Roman history; the murder of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March 44BC. Only recently opened to the public, this was a fantastic starting point for the group. A coffee in the world-famous Piazza Navona was followed by a trip to our first museum, the Palazzo Altemps. Housed in a beautiful 15th century aristocratic mansion, it is often overlooked by tourists for more famous locations, but this proved to be the most popular museum of the trip!

The second day was jam-packed and the boys put in almost 30,000 steps each during the course of it. We started at the iconic Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, where the boys explored the location of countless gladiatorial contests, public spectacles and executions. This was a real highlight for many! From there we wandered past the Arch of Constantine up to the top of the Palatine Hill, where many of the imperial palaces were built, starting with that of Augustus; a key figure in the A Level Classical Civilisation course. The Roman Forum was next, the centre of day-to-day life in Ancient Rome, and a site heavily connected to both the GCSE and A Level courses. The boys saw where the Rostra was located, the exact spot where Tiberius Gracchus was killed, where Caesar’s will was read out and where Cicero’s head was put on a spike, not to mention the Temple of Vesta and the

House of the Vestals. A walk along the road overlooking the Imperial Fora culminated in a great view of Trajan’s Column, constructed in celebration of his military conquest of Dacia, which is an important part of the GCSE course. The day finished with a walk to the Circus Maximus, the Roman chariot-racing stadium, followed by some time exploring the Capitoline Museums.

Sunday started with a particularly Augustan flavour; a look at the Mausoleum of Augustus and then inside the Ara Pacis Museum. Full of Augustan propaganda, this is a prescribed source on the GCSE course and very useful for the A Level. To see the external friezes up close, rather than in a textbook, and to walk inside the altar and see its size, was invaluable and another real highlight of the trip. After this, we made our way to the Pantheon, another prescribed source; a remarkable temple with a rotunda at the back and an oculus in the roof open to the heavens - a feat of engineering in its time! A wander past the (always busy) Trevi Fountain followed, before the final afternoon was spent at the Baths of Diocletian, once the largest ancient baths complex in the world, and now the home of the National Museum of Rome.

The weather was fantastic throughout and the boys who brought shorts to wear were very happy! Much pizza, pasta and ice cream was consumed and the boys were impeccably behaved, gaining many positive comments from hotel staff and guides. It was a great trip, both on the educational front and also in terms of enjoyment. Thanks must go to Reverend Blair and Mr Ogilvie-Jones for accompanying me on the trip and to the boys for being such great company. The trip will definitely be repeated for future Classicists!

Matthew Hillier, Head of Classics

CLOSE HARMONY GROUP & PIPE BAND TOUR TO NEW YORK APR 2024

The Close Harmony Group and Pipe Band Tour to New York Tartan Week was a second attempt to undertake this trip: the first was in 2020, which had to be cancelled because of the Covid pandemic. And so, it had been some time, six years in fact, since a musical group from Merchiston had undertaken an international tour.

With 47 seven students (33 pipers / drummers, 13 singers and 1 singer / piper), the trip was an exciting prospect for everyone involved, including the staff team of Mr Dennis, Mr Warren, Mrs MacLennan, Mr Glover, Mr Lawson and Mr Lallemant.

The trip began at 4pm on Tuesday 2 April at Merchiston, with two dress rehearsals and an overnight stay in Laidlaw for almost all tour members, before the 4am coach trip to Manchester. The popular podcast, Diary of a CEO, says: “if you wanna find out who you really are, see how you are at 4am”. For almost all the students involved, the answer would be: “really tired”!

After an uneventful coach trip, we arrived at Manchester Airport, to be greeted by a wonderful team, led by Phil, and escorted by James through the process of check-in and security. The smoothness of this was thanks to Simon Rankin, a parent of one of our snare drummers and our pilot for both flights. The usually painful experience of transferring fifty tired travellers and a host of drums and bagpipes was a “breeze”, with several of the pupils performing at various points in the airport, much to the delight of fellow passengers and staff.

Seven hours later, we arrived in the Big Apple, with its jaw dropping skyscrapers, and boarded a coach for a drive that bought back so many images from Hollywood films. Despite the pupils’ fatigue, their spirits were high. After checking into the hotel, we enjoyed an evening meal at Bubba Gumps, probably the best meal of the tour, with some time to gaze at the colours of Times Square.

Thursday 4 April: the Close Harmony Group gave its first performance in the Cathedral of St John the Divine, which is an extremely impressive building, with its many chapels, a mixture of gothic and modernist art and ceiling of prayers. The Close Harmony Group members, having been preparing for the tour with performances in the Memorial Hall and

local care homes, marvelled at the acoustic space in which they found themselves.

Whilst the Close Harmony Group performed, the Pipe Band had a practice in the iconic surroundings of Central Park. A large crowd formed, including many parents of Band members, to watch the boys go through their paces for the first time stateside. It really was a “pinch yourself moment” when the Band, thirty-three members strong and having grown in size and standard over the past eighteen months, reached this point of performing in New York.

After a quick lunch, the group headed to the Natural History Museum, a vast labyrinth of every conceivable exhibition. We gave ourselves a couple of hours here, but could have easily spent a day happily exploring. However, with so much to see in New York, the group walked through Central Park before a quick dinner at Applebees and on to the evening’s entertainment, Aladdin the Musical - a colourful exhibition of vocal and acrobatic talent enjoyed by all.

Friday 5 April: breakfast, the New York Metro, and some photos in New York’s financial district before boarding the Staten Island Ferry (accompanied by an earthquake!). The boys enjoyed the views of the Statue of Liberty before a quick lunch and on to the afternoon’s sightseeing, the Empire State Building. With some incredible views, and a museum detailing the history of the building, the view from the Empire State Building showcases just how vast the New York skyline is.

The Pipe Band returned to the hotel for some muchneeded down-time, whilst the Close Harmony Group went on to its second and final performance of the tour - at the Second Presbyterian Church, located adjacent to Central Park. This was a wonderful evening of music-making and the culmination of a year’s hard work from the pupils, who should be proud of their efforts. Dinner that evening was at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, a restaurant where aspiring West End performers wait at the tables and sing songs from the musicals - the boys loved the experience and, between mouthfuls, sang along.

Saturday 6 April: New York Tartan Week Parade Day had arrived for the Pipe Band. First up was a performance in the beautiful Bryant Park, with the Carnegie Library our back

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drop. This was our first full performance wearing our brand uniform, including tartan designed and produced by Kinloch Anderson, proud supporters of the Merchiston Pipe Band. This performance eased the nerves before the boys took to Sixth Avenue to parade in front of thousands of spectators, including the famous actor Dougray Scott, who was this year’s Grand Marshal.

A musically successful end to our tour was followed by what was, for many, the highlight of the tour. Saturday night gave us the opportunity to see an American Football fixture, at the Barclay Centre in Brooklyn: the Detroit Pistons vs the Brooklyn Nets. As a final experience, with a close finish to the game, this was incredibly exciting, with all

members of the tour party on their feet screaming for the home team.

Congratulations must go to the pupils: their behaviour was outstanding and they truly represented the Merchiston Values. Our thanks must also go to the members of staff for their hard work on the trip. The group walked approximately twenty-six miles, or a marathon, in just four days, and definitely took a sizeable ‘bite’ from the Big Apple. Let’s hope there are many more opportunities for musical tours from Merchiston in the not-too-distant future.

Stephen Dennis, Director of Music, & Kyle Warren, Director of Pipes and Drums

SKI TRIP 2024

In the first week of the Easter holiday, four members of staff accompanied thirty-four boys on our biennial School ski trip to Nassfeld in Austria. It was a huge success.

The boys, from Second Form to Upper Sixth Form, were split into four mixed age groups according to ability and experience, and benefitted hugely from five hours of lessons each day from specialist British and Austrian ski instructors. We had a range of abilities on the trip, from beginners to advanced, seasoned skiers, and quite a few great snowboarders too! Just before we arrived, there was a bit of snowfall and then the first four days provided beautiful ‘blue-bird’ ski conditions. At this time, we took the opportunity to ski down to Italy for a lunch outside in the sun as a group. The last couple of days gave us rain and snow, allowing the boys to practise their skills in a range of conditions. They all seemed to maintain their morale and some said they even preferred the lower visibility!

Nassfeld was a great resort. The ski area itself is a gem; the slopes were very quiet and often it felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. It had an extensive ski area with a total piste length of 110 kms. Our hotel was right next to

the slopes and only a 50-metre walk to the ski lifts. It provided delicious food for us and had a great pool and relaxation area that the boys could use after skiing. The boys really made the most of this, with some often spending many hours down there before and after dinner!

In the evenings, the boys also enjoyed walking to the local shop, having a pizza evening, sledging on the ski slopes and a quiz night. The sledging was a particular highlight, with various types of sledges and some speedy slopes. The quiz night was also a huge success: the boys worked across year groups to answer questions on pictures, sport and general knowledge, including a ‘fun impressions’ round, which left everyone laughing.

Everyone returned home after the week having improved their skiing or snowboarding, with many new experiences and having made new friends for the term ahead. The highlight for me was when the hotel staff said that they had been by far the best school group they had seen that season. We very much look forward to seeing some of them again on the 2026 ski trip!

Hannah Williams, Trip Leader

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME

The 2023-24 season has been another busy one for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE) here at Merchiston. For those who are unfamiliar with DofE, it is a well-regarded Award, which gives formal recognition to the many co-curricular activities which young people engage in. At Merchiston, boys usually complete Bronze in the Shell Form, Silver in the Fifth Form, and Gold during the Upper Sixth Form (or beyond).

The DofE Award Scheme is perhaps best known for the Expedition section of the Award. This is where the boys undertake an adventurous journey in remote terrain - selfsufficient, and camping overnight. The other sections are Physical, Skill, and Volunteering. As you can imagine, our boys quite easily find something to do with the huge range of activities and opportunities that we have on offer! Finally, the Gold level requires a 5-day / 4-night residential stay with unfamiliar people, working on a project together. Past examples for Merchiston boys have included conservation projects in the Lake District, learning to SCUBA dive, and working at a horse-riding camp for children with disabilities.

I am pleased to report that the expeditions this year were all successful and largely incident free! Beyond the twin terrors of the Scottish weather, and the Scottish midges, all boys came through largely unscathed, although quite tired

and “pungent” by the end! Our Bronze groups had a great two days in the Trossachs near Lochearnhead (a beautiful part of Scotland, which is well worth a visit!). Silver groups had a 3-day practice expedition in Peeblesshire, before their qualifying expedition, which was in the Ben Alder area. Gold groups were offered both canoeing and walking as a mode of transportation. The canoeists went to Loch Awe and Loch Lomond, and the walkers were in the same areas as the Silver groups, making mutual support and logistics for staff a lot easier.

Completing an award at Bronze, Silver, or Gold level demonstrates resilience, commitment, and a well-rounded personality. We have had nearly 25 participants completing their award throughout this year, including some Merchistonians currently studying at university. They have all worked hard for this, and it is my hope that the experiences and skills developed through doing so will enrich their lives for many years to come.

As ever, running DofE requires a dedicated team of staff. My thanks go to Mr Robin Greenwood, Mr Ewan Dobbin, Mr John Chambers, and Ms Liz Atkinson for their supportboth of the boys, and to me personally. Here’s to another great season next year…!

David Thomson, DofE Award Manager

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REPORT

The School Sustainability Committee is dedicated to promoting environmental guidelines and sustainable practices within our School community. Our mission is to raise awareness, implement initiatives and inspire action towards a more environmentally friendly way of living.

This year, the committee consisted of boys from IV Form to UVI Form who were keen to make changes. They researched some ideas that could be done in schools, looking at examples from schools around the world, and organised a meeting with the catering and domestic teams at Merchiston to set some initial goals for the year ahead.

The committee first prioritised adding recycling bins to the newly-refurbished Middle Years boarding houses, and spoke to the boys living there about how to use them appropriately, as well as the importance of them. Extra paper recycling was also added to departments around School, under the initiation of IV Form boys. Then, they carried out a light audit from around the School after dark, noting down areas in which the lights are often left on and sharing this information with the relevant staff. They also surveyed the former Pringle House, working out where the furniture could be reused, and bringing some of the unique pieces to the Drama Department for productions.

The boys on the committee were keen to discuss the importance of their roles to the student body and presentations were given in the Whole School assembly, by Fergus M-B, and sectional assemblies, by Fergus F. They shared some quick hints and tips for living more sustainably that they got from the domestic and catering teams and made a plea for boys to try to incorporate these into their daily lives. Finally, they were given a talk by a former teacher here, Dr Richard Lilley, who runs Project Seagrass, a charity advancing the conservation of seagrass habitat. This inspired the boys and they were keen to find out how they could work with this charity in the future.

The School Sustainability Committee members are proud of the progress made this year. We remain committed to our mission and look forward to continuing our efforts to inspire positive change within our School community.

Hannah Williams, Head of the Sustainability Committee

RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL AWARD

Merchiston has achieved the Gold Award in UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools programme. We previously achieved UNICEF’s RRS Bronze Award in June 2019, followed by Silver in March 2022. The Gold Award is the most challenging to obtain, with only 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales having gained this recognition.

Established by UNICEF UK in 2004, the Rights Respecting School initiative puts the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practices. The prestigious Gold accolade is the final stage of the RRS programme and is awarded to schools that have demonstrated the utmost commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights at all levels of school life.

The assessment process entailed a School Evaluation: Gold Standard report submitted by Merchiston in advance of an accreditation visit, during which UNICEF assessors spoke to parents, staff and 40 students.

UNICEF praised the evident passion and confidence our pupils felt towards human rights and the high levels of student participation, which enabled boys to feed into decision-making throughout School life.

Merchiston was also commended for the strategic approach of senior leaders to embed a rights-based approach at the core of the School’s ethos.

Of particular note was Merchiston’s use of the Orah App to foster wellbeing across the School and record concerns flagged by students. One pupil was reported to have commented: “If you are feeling sad and don’t want to speak up, you can write how you feel on Orah and know

someone will listen and help”.

As part of our Gold Rights Respecting efforts, on Thursday 29 February 2024, 14 senior schools, from both independent and state sectors across Edinburgh, took part In a Rights Respecting Conference at Merchiston.

During the morning sessions, pupils shared with each other the stories of their Rights Respecting work, promoting further discussions on key Rights themes. Merchiston pupils presented about our Rights Respecting journey and specifically the work done by the EAL Department on exploring Dignity.

Some of the feedback we have received from the visiting schools is as follows:

• Thank you so much for all your work to make Thursday such a successful day. I found the balance of the day superb, with so much time and space for the pupils to share their work. It really was pitched so well. I think it is telling that some of our schools chose to present on the day, a testament to the safe and secure environment you created to allow them to enjoy many of their rights through the day.

• Thank you very much for organising the day: from the moment we arrived, you and your pupils made us feel so welcome, and the opportunity to come together with so many other schools was a really useful and enjoyable one."

Our Key Note Speaker was Mr Peter Radford (https://www.beyondthis.co.uk/), who spoke on 'Being an Outstanding Global Citizen in 2024'. He addressed some of the big Human Rights challenges that are facing our world today and the challenge to the concept of Human/Children's Rights itself. He asked:

Why are Human Rights under threat? How can we defend and extend Human Rights when so many are seeking to undermine them? How can schools navigate an increasingly polarised political landscape in ensuring that Children's Rights are respected?

The event was supported by The City of Edinburgh Council and attended by some Council members: Strategic Lead (Edinburgh), Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Award, Children, Education and Justice Services. The conference

was also attended by a representative of the Children and Young People's Commissioner - Scotland www.cypcs.org.uk.

Merchiston continues to work on Rights Respecting activities, with a newly-formed Wellbeing Committee, set up by our Medical Centre, with staff and pupils getting involved.

Will Ogilvie-Jones, Rights Respecting Lead

INTERNATIONAL WEEK 2023/24

We hope everyone enjoyed celebrating Merchiston’s International Week 2023/24. It was an informative and enjoyable week, sharing food and activities together as well as learning more about such countries as Turkey, Nigeria & Argentina, to name but a few, and celebrating through dance and music.

This year, we welcomed back Unison for Whole School Assembly. Once again, they had everyone bopping in the aisles with their fusion of Scottish pipes and Indian dohl drumming. The boys really let loose and had a great time learning Indian dance moves. National dress, sports tops and flags brought colour and vibrancy to the Memorial Hall.

RIGHTS RESPECTING

We are proud to be awarded the Gold award as a Rights Respecting School and International Week plays a big part in this across all ages and stages of the School.

JUNIORS

Kicking off International Week in style at Monday’s Pringle assembly, Mexican and Spanish boys were very proud to tell us all about their country .

Waka Waka proved infectious as all the Pringle boys bust a few moves to Shakira.

The Pringle International quiz, with food tasting was very successful, with boys trying to work out which countries poki and fudge came from!

MIDDLE YEARS

Thank you to Jessie and Bob, and Beltran and Bauti, who presented enthusiastically on China, Spain and Argentina respectively.

Pianist, Phillip G, played the very beautiful ‘Flute and Drum at Sunset ’ and Samuel demonstrated his skills on saxophone.

The Middle Years Houses all joined forces for their international quiz, hosted by Rogerson. The national anthem round was a particular challenge!

SENIORS

The pipes and drums heralded the start of Senior assembly, thanks to Harry and Todd.

This paved the way for really interesting cultural presentations on Hong Kong (Geoff), Ukraine (Yarema), Turkey (Nathan) and Nigeria (David & Daniel). In turn, these were followed by a truly accomplished violin piece: Ziegeunerweissen by Pablo Sarasate, played by our EAL violinist from Germany, Max R. The Memorial Hall was stunned into silence at the beauty of the piece.

Then it was time for a bit of fun, and what could be more fun than Laidlaw South being challenged to create the Eiffel Tower out of wafers!

Meanwhile, Laidlaw North took part in American football and international beer tasting in the 6A Club

Elsewhere, the School’s Arts Programme saw many boys attending their first ever opera, The Barber of Seville, during International Week. This is one of composer Rossini’s most popular works, with memorable arias, captivating music and a delightful blend of humour and romance - a good introduction to opera, indeed!

As can be seen, it was another action-packed International Week! A number of people were instrumental in making these events happen: Prefects and House Parents in Houses, subject teachers, library staff, tutors and sports coaches and, of course, our International Prefects, Fedor and Dalton.

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive and contributing to such an important week, highlighting the diversity and inclusion in our School community.

Without doubt, one of the highlights of International Week and the thing everyone has an opinion on is the food. A massive THANK YOU has to go to the Chartwells catering team for really ‘pushing the boat out’ in terms of lunchtime cuisine and dining hall decoration. It was difficult to choose a favourite menu but Mexico and the US seemed to be this year’s favourites with the boys!

Susan Hardman, Head of EAL (English as an Additional Language)

THE SPAWFORTH LIBRARY

2023-24

This year has been another busy and successful one, with lots of new ideas, challenges, events and plenty of reading happening in the Spawforth Library.

We began our Autumn Term with enthusiasm and excitement for the year ahead, and the superb news that one of the world’s best loved and most celebrated children’s authors, Cressida Cowell, MBE FRSL, would be joining us for an event based on her newest book, Which Way Round the Galaxy. With specially invited guests from Longstone, Oxgangs, St George’s, Compass and Cargilfield Schools, the Memorial Hall was packed with fans, including members of our own staff and senior boys. We were treated to stories of Cressida’s life and love of reading, and the inspiration behind her amazing novels. Afterwards, there was time for questions and an opportunity for us all to meet Cressida, have photos taken and get cherished books signed.

Later in the term, we looked at the role that reading has

in our lives, the benefits of books and how fortunate we are to be able to read the books we love. In October, we learned about Banned Books Week, which takes place every year. When books are banned, people and perspectives are silenced. We believe in standing up for stories, the power of literature and the right to read. Reading ‘banned books’ also motivated many readers and created a renewed interest in such classics as Nineteen Eighty-Four and To Kill a Mockingbird

Just before we broke up for Christmas, our Middle Years boys had a visit from best selling and award-winning author, Alan Bissett. Alan spoke frankly to the IV, Shell and V Forms about his latest book, Lads: a Guide to Respect and Consent, and about life, culture and the challenges young people face today. Alan’s talk was expertly illustrated with brilliant anecdotes and relatable scenarios, and amongst the fun there were serious issues discussed, with important

and highly relevant messages. The boys were fortunate to be able to meet with Alan afterwards, to chat further and have books signed. Feedback from this event has been great.

Themed book days with quizzes and trails for International Week, Halloween and Christmas brought lots of excitement to the Library, with prizes issued and happy readers returning for extra turns. In the Lent Term, our highlyanticipated ‘Blind Date with a Book’ incentive delighted all ages, with new favourites found by choosing a book based only on its description - many were chosen which would never have been picked by the cover alone. Some of these books are now our most recommended by boys to their friends, considered five star reads, and displayed on our 'favourite books' shelf!

Book groups continue to be incredibly popular, and on rotation, the VI, V, Shell and IV, III and II Form groups all meet regularly in the Library to chat over tea and cake about our

current read. Some interesting choices have been made this year, with lots to discuss and differing opinions offered. Together we have investigated fantasy lands, scrutinised murders, been stowaways on ships, flown through galaxies, and more. Always informal and very relaxed, book group chats allow for friendly debate on books, authors and topical issues.

Our Lent Term brought with it sunny skies and much enthusiasm for Library events, in particular, World Book Day, which, for librarians and book fans, is one of the most joyous days in the calendar. We began our day with a superb visit from award-winning and highly engaging author Justin Davies, who spoke to our juniors about his flying career and move into writing full time. We heard all about creepy town Haarville from his latest book and, in an interactive section, helped design a disgusting café menu using literary techniques and lots of imagination! We had

photos taken with Justin, which were particularly wonderful as our juniors had dressed up in book-themed fancy dress for World Book Day, and chatted with him as he signed our books. It was wonderful to see the rest of the School engage with World Book Day too; with thanks to our catering staff, our menus were book themed at lunch and our Medical Centre Team invited staff and students to share their favourite books. Later in the day, the juniors enjoyed World Book Day cookies and puzzles in the Library during book group.

In April, we were delighted to be able to welcome back to School the author of the record breaking Skandar and the Unicorn Thief series, A.F. Steadman. Annabel first visited us in 2022, when she had just signed an incredible six book deal with the launch of her debut novel. Now a global megastar, Annabel flew from the USA to speak with us, the first school in Scotland, as part of her tour for the latest book in the series. Huge excitement and anticipation preceded this event, and we invited guests to join us from Longstone, Cargilfield and St George’s Schools for the morning. We learned more about the incredible world Annabel has built, and together we designed a completely new unicorn, which Annabel expertly wove into an exciting and fast-paced reading for us. We had lots of questions and were happy to hear about the upcoming Skandar movie in progress too. Our Skandar superfans had books signed and there was an interesting hush following the event as everyone was engrossed in the latest instalment in this epic series. Throughout the year, our Reading Leadership Team members have been expertly working in the Library and with the whole School community to promote and demonstrate the huge benefits of reading for pleasure. The team is made up of boys from Third through to Sixth Form, who, as role models for reading, have engaged all year with staff and students in imaginative ways to foster good reading habits and help instil a lifelong love of books. Sixth Form Reading Team members took assemblies for our Middle and Junior years, where they spoke about their own reading journeys and favourite books, and invited those who look up to them to follow their lead. The Reading Team has also created displays, taken part in social media relays, encouraged staff to display their current read in their classes, and helped with bookshop visits to choose Library stock and all the books that were for sale in the Summer Book Fair in the Library. They have also taken part in a book trail, gifting books to lucky finders in the School community, helped with author events and taken time to test out the new Library beanbags! As a result, lending statistics are up and visits to the Library are increasing. Reading Team member and this year’s Library Prefect, Finlay, sums up his thoughts;

‘For me personally, being a reading role model is so important because it can help both introduce people of all ages to the idea of reading and also help those who already enjoy reading to continue to broaden their horizons. I have been a lifelong reader and have always found the variation and different options that come with reading to be a very enjoyable use of my time’.

As the year came to an end, we celebrated reading by taking part in judging the Yoto Carnegie Book Prize: although the books were all incredible, our Reading Leaders chose The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander as our overall favourite, and gave this book our vote. Alan summed up his thoughts:

‘An absolutely phenomenal book. The plot is absolutely genius and the many conflicts in the story just make you want to read on forever. It explores a very indigenous lifestyle, with rising conflict along the way. It is very easy to read because it is written in verse almost every page. It is definitely one of the best reads out there.’

So, if you are looking for something new to read, we all recommend this superb book!

This full and successful year in the Library has been a joy, but none of our activities would have been possible without the support of the English Department, IT and the Reading Leadership Team.

Rachel Gibb, School Librarian

ARTS PROGRAMME 2023-24

Merchiston’s Arts Programme is one of the things that makes us unique. We are a boarding school on the edge of Edinburgh, so we have quick access to the great outdoors and the wide-open nature of the Pentland Hills. However, we also have easy access to the wonderful facilities of a capital city, including some first-rate theatres, concert halls, galleries and performances. Merchiston’s Arts Programme gives our boys the opportunity to sample some of the Arts and Culture that Edinburgh has to offer and, we hope, to light in them a spark of interest that one day they will want to take further.

This year, the Arts Programme was back to full postpandemic strength, and we attended a range of events across a full range of art forms. Musicals generally go down very well with our boys, and a highlight came when sixty students went to see Hamilton when its UK tour arrived in Edinburgh. We also went to see the stage version of Disney’s Aladdin, which, in fact, turned out to be probably our broadest-range Arts Programme trip ever: normally the Arts Programme begins when the boys get to IV Form, but Aladdin also drew in boys from II and III Form all the way to Upper VI.

We also went to several classical music events, including two concerts from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. One of those featured a huge orchestra playing Richard Strauss’s spectacular tone poem A Hero’s Life, whilst the other featured music from the most successful film composer of all time, John Williams. We took more than twenty boys to see Scottish Opera’s production of Rossini’s sparkling comedy The Barber of Seville, and we had the unforgettable experience of watching Finnish violinist,

Pekka Kuusisto, leading the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons that interspersed Vivaldi’s music with his own improvisations on Nordic folk tunes.

It Is understandable that our boys are always a little reluctant to try something new: this risk factor puts them off, and they often prefer the familiarity of Aladdin or John Williams to something that might push them out of their comfort zone. They are representative of the wider public in that regard, but it means we missed out on trips to several new plays that were being premiered in Edinburgh, mostly because our boys did not want to risk the unknown – that is something that I would really like to work on in the future.

For now, however, I never lose sight of the fact that the Arts Programme is important because it widens the boys’ horizons and gives them the opportunity to attend events that they may otherwise never go near. I often reflect that the real benefits of the Arts Programme might not be seen in our boys until long after they have left Merchiston. I hope that, one day in the future, they will walk past a poster advertising an opera or a ballet or a concert, remember their experience of that at Merchiston, and buy a ticket because they enjoyed it once so they might do so again. Thank you to all the boys who have given it a go, to the staff for coming along and supervising, and to all the parents who pay the cost of the ticket on their end-of-term bill. Without you, none of it would be possible!

Simon Thompson, Faculty Head of History & PPE, Director of the Arts Programme

MERCHISTON METAL DETECTING CLUB: MAKING HISTORY AND FINDING HISTORY

On Wednesday 17 April, the first-ever Metal Detecting Club meeting at Merchiston took place. Six intrepid treasure hunters, under the guidance of Rev Blair, set out, having been suitably educated on the practical and legal ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’, to see what they could dig up. As happens SO many times, the “metal detecting gods” decided to hook the firsttime detectorists by allowing them some nice finds. Freddie found a lovely and relatively rare George V 1919 penny coin.

Calum found a 1958 Elizabeth II two-shilling coin… again, a rarity for this site.

All in all, out of seven digs, five coins were found; a very good ratio. In addition, Ollie found an old brass alloy bullet casing, dating from the time when the Cadet Force used blank rounds in the School grounds, circa 1940s/50s.

A very good beginning, a fun afternoon and lots of incidental learning going on; did you know, for example, that on a British coin, the current monarch faces the opposite direction from his / her predecessor? And remember - “the real treasure is the hunt”.

(We didn’t find the car!)

Rev Nick Blair

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

In December, Merchiston participated for the first time in a Model United Nations event. Organised by St George’s, the day of committee and plenary meetings was attended by independent and state schools. Our team - David, Nathan, Erik, Hamish, Krish and Max - was allocated South Africa as its nation state. All from Lower VI, they devoted their free time to researching thorny issues: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project; Cluster Munitions; Tuberculosis; the crisis in Niger; the conflict in Kashmir; and Stateless People. They found fascinating details on South African policies and voting history, as well as on past UN Conventions.

This was a great opportunity to learn fast about international relations and about methods of supporting and influencing decision-making, maintaining alliances and drafting resolutions. The boys represented the School extremely well, despite their relative lack of experience, and Nathan’s brave contributions to the closing plenary session

finished the day off beautifully! Thanks again to the organisers at St George’s, and well done to our lads for being ‘Ready Ay Ready’ for the challenge.

Clare Flanagan, Head of Modern Foreign Languages

PREFECTSHIP AT MERCHISTON

Over the years, the role of Prefect at Merchiston has changed considerably. Isaac F, Captain of School 2023-24, writes about prefecting in the School today.

“Today, prefects at Merchiston have endless roles, and the importance of the prefects cannot be overstated. There are a multitude of roles available, from House prefects to subject prefects. The responsibilities of the prefects vary, depending on the role, but nonetheless, all are vital to the everyday running of the School. All boys in the Lower VI have the chance to apply for a prefect role in the School, and they submit their application in their LVI year. They are then assigned a role within the School based on their preference and also their suitability.

Subject prefects play an important role in supporting both students and teachers within their academic department. Subject prefects can serve as a bridge between the pupil and staff bodies, whilst also helping to grow the profile of the department within the School. The duties of subject prefects range from helping to teach lessons to making quizzes for younger year groups. All the while, these prefects manage to balance their various duties with their own studies and other extra-curricular activities. Although the duties of subject prefects are less extensive than those assigned to House prefects, they nonetheless play an important role in the School. As an added bonus, the responsibilities and experience gained from a role like this will undoubtedly bring value to UCAS applications and working life in years to come.

Another prefect role within the School, possibly the most integral, is that of a House prefect. Each House, from Pringle to Laidlaw, is assigned a ‘prefect team’ for the academic year. These prefects act as a source of support for House parents and also help to ensure the smooth-running of the House. House prefects have assigned ‘duty’ nights when they will spend the evening in their respective Houses, helping tutors and House Parents to look after the House. Despite these ‘duties’ being allocated, one of the real privileges of a House prefect is to really get to know the boys in their House, whether they are Pringle or the Upper VI. The bonds formed between pupils and their prefects are special and stay with boys as they progress through the School. For example, I remember all of my prefect teams throughout my time at Merchiston, and they have had a huge impact on my School experience. In particular, the example they set in and out of the House was something that my peers

and I certainly learned from. All prefects, and House prefects in particular, are role models throughout the School, and whether they are aware of it or not, their behaviour is noticed and reflected in the younger pupils. So, it can be said that the most important aspect to the role of House prefect is to set a good example and to act as a role model for the rest of the School.

This year, the role of prefect changed slightly, with the exciting re-development of the Chalmers Houses and the relocation of Pringle House. This meant that the presence of resident prefects in Houses was lost, mainly in the Chalmers houses. All Laidlaw prefects are residential anyway, and Pringle has space for a residential Head and Deputy Head of House. The prefects of the Chalmers Houses are now all non-residential, which is a big change from previous years. However, both the boys and the School have adapted to this change seamlessly. There have been many benefits to this change, such as the boys having more space within the House, and also the prefects having a quiet, private workspace in Laidlaw as well as in their assigned House. It is important for the prefects to be present in their House, including the day boy House, Rogerson, and the prefects this year have made an outstanding effort to balance their busy schedules with their in-house duties.

The final roles in the prefect team within the School are the senior prefects. There are sixteen senior prefect roles, ranging across all Houses. These include the Heads and Deputy Heads of all Houses, the Academic Liaison Prefect, the Captain of School and the two Vice-Captains of School. The main roles of these prefects are to act as a bridge between the pupil and staff body, to behave as role models and to set an example which trickles down through the whole School. Although these prefect roles come with slightly more responsibility, they are just as important as the others. One of the definite highlights of being a senior prefect is getting to organise the Senior Prefect Sunday Service in the Lent Term. Being able to plan our own talks, hymns and topics was an extremely rewarding experience. Additionally, planning our dance-themed intro, albeit unsuccessful as it turned out, was extremely enjoyable! However, the importance of prefects, especially senior prefects, goes way beyond silly dancing!

I think that all prefects would agree that our role within the School has not only been extremely enjoyable, but also

humbling and rewarding. The skills and lessons we have learned over this past year will stand us in good stead for life, and I whole-heartedly encourage all who come after

us to get involved and make the most of any prefect role which is offered.”

INTERVIEW WITH THE 2023-24 CAPTAIN OF SCHOOL

Isaac F, Captain of School 2023-24, was interviewed in May 2024 about his role in his final year at Merchiston.

When did you join Merchiston and in which year group?

I joined the School in 2015, in the J5 year group.

Have you always been a boarder?

I haven’t always been a boarder at School. I was a day boy for my first two years. Then I started boarding two nights a week in the Second and Third Forms, and I moved to fulltime boarding in the Fourth Form.

What have been the highpoints of your time at Merchiston, prior to becoming Captain of School, and what have been your most significant achievements? I have had so many highs at Merchiston that it is such a difficult task to choose a favourite. Some notable highpoints would definitely be winning the Scottish Schools Rugby Cup at Murrayfield, and various School trips, such as to South Africa and Costa Rica. It was also very special to win the Scottish Schools Cricket Cup, and also the Merchiston Rugby Festival, both for the first time in the School’s history. Off the sports field, some more highlights would be achieving my GCSE grades.

What have been the most significant changes which you have seen at the School during your time here?

A lot has changed in my time at the School, but a lot has remained unchanged. One significant change would be the increase in the variety of opportunities both in and out of the classroom. The variety of sports on offer has broadened greatly during my Merchiston career. With the introduction of the Wednesday Cultural Activity Programme, many more unique opportunities are also now being offered at Merchiston.

Sum up your time at Merchiston in three words. Active, unforgettable, connections.

How has your time at Merchiston shaped you as a person?

The lessons and behaviours which have been instilled in me during my time at Merchiston will stay with me for ever. Immersing myself in the Merchiston way of life has allowed me to grow as a person, alongside my peers, whilst being nurtured and mentored by the members of staff. The friendships and connections I have made at School have also been hugely influential in shaping my personality and will stay with me long after I leave.

What advice would you give to a new pupil starting at Merchiston?

I would simply advise any new pupil to just get involved in as much as you can and do not let opportunities pass you by. There is so much to get involved in at School and it is such a fantastic way to make friends and build connections with both staff and pupils.

What, for you, is your favourite or most significant event in the Merchiston calendar?

I have always been a big fan of the Christmas period, so the annual Christmas Dinner is always a highlight for me, in particular the Laidlaw North meal. They are always fantastic events and enjoyed by all. Singing the ‘Twelve days of Christmas’ is a tradition which I hope continues to be upheld with the same vigour and pride as it has in my time at Merchiston.

In the middle of your Merchiston career, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. What are your memories of your schooling during this period?

I remember the exact day on which Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, and we were all sent home early from the Lent Term. I remember being very confused and uncertain of when we would return to School. I also recall the periods of on-line learning in which we had to adapt to a different style of learning. The video calls and morning roll-calls

INTERVIEW

restored a familiar aspect of School life in a completely different and strange learning climate.

What will you miss about life at Merchiston after you have left?

The thing that I will miss most is definitely the time I spend with my peers on a daily basis. I have built such strong connections with so many boys in my year group, having been at the School for a long time. There is no doubt that I have made lifelong friends here: I will greatly miss spending every day with them and making memories to last a lifetime.

What subjects are you studying at in the Sixth Form and what are your future plans?

I am currently studying for my A Levels in Geography, Chemistry and English. My plans for the future are to attend university to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography. After university is a whole new challenge for me, and I’m still unsure of what is in store for me.

Why did you want to become Captain of School, and what personal qualities / experiences do you bring to the role?

All the way through my Merchiston journey, I always had an awareness of the Captains of School and saw them as role models. It was always a goal for me, and it was a huge honour to be given the role for my final year in School, especially being given the opportunity to represent the School having been at Merchiston for so long.

What skills are you learning through your duties this year which will be useful to you in the future?

My role this year has definitely exercised and improved my skills in public speaking. Having the opportunity to address and present to the whole School, although daunting at first, has hugely benefitted my confidence in this skill.

What have you learnt about the School through your role this year?

It has become clear to me how interconnected the School is. From spending time in the various Houses, I have noticed the strong relationships between different year groups and also between pupils and members of staff.

What are the regular duties which are part of your role?

As part of my role, I meet with the Headmaster and the Deputy Head during a couple of break-times every week. These meetings include talking about what is happening in the School and also some relaxed chat about life at School. I also write a speech and present in the Whole School Assembly every Tuesday, at which I can relay notices

and also give my own messages to the School. I also play a role in Sunday services, which often involves a prayer or a speech of some kind. Along with the other members of the Triumvirate, I try to get around the Houses when I can: it’s sometimes hard to fit this into a busy timetable but it is fantastic spending time in them.

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of your role this year?

I have loved getting to know so many other boys around the School, but it is definitely a challenge to spend time with every year group and in every House. It is certainly a challenge to remember everyone’s name and develop personal relationships with every pupil, but I can certainly say that I’ve become a lot more connected with the School.

What achievement has meant the most to you this year as Captain of School?

Since becoming Captain of School, I recall feeling an immense sense of pride on winning the Merchiston Rugby Festival. I think leaving a legacy at the School for after I am gone is hugely important to me and being the first team in the School’s history to achieve this is certainly a way I can achieve this. I was part of the team which lost in the final the previous year, so being able to ‘right those wrongs’ in a more senior role was hugely rewarding. Away from the sporting field, I am also very proud of this year’s Senior Prefects’ Service. Having attended eight of them before this year, I didn’t appreciate the planning and thought that goes into a service like that. It meant a lot to me and the other senior prefects to put together a service which we were very proud of.

What advice would you give to those who will follow you as Captain of School?

The first piece of advice I would give is to remain humble. Take huge pride in your role but always remember that you are no better than any other pupil. Take time to talk to younger boys and be as present around the School as you can. I would also implore my successors simply to throw themselves into every aspect of School life. Get involved with everything and give your all to maximise your last year of School because it will fly by and you will sorely miss it. Finally, I would simply say to try to leave the School in a better place. Although it is your final year and your Merchiston career is closing, it is important to leave a positive impact and leave the School in a better place for every Merchistonian in the future.

Thank you, Isaac.

THE MERCHISTON PARENTS’ FORUM

Merchiston’s Parents’ Forum was inaugurated in the 1998/99 academic year, as a means of providing a vehicle for communication between the School and the parents, and so has now been in existence for some twenty-five years. It provides a two-way communication opportunity: through it, the School is able to present to the parental body strategic initiatives which are being considered or proposed, whilst also providing an opportunity for parents to express views and make suggestions to improve the management of aspects of School life, other than particular parental concerns about individual boys. Forum meetings also provide opportunity for the School to present news about its academic performance or other issues which it is appropriate to raise with the parental body, and parental members can express their views on matters which the School or other members raise. Whilst the Governors, Headmaster and senior members of staff determine the strategies to secure the future of the School, the Forum provides a platform for the School to discuss its strategies and, on occasion, the School may adapt its strategies in the light of debate at Forum meetings.

Each year group in the School has representatives on the Parents’ Forum, whose contact details are given to all parents in that year group, with both boarding and day communities well represented. Unless parent representatives wish to withdraw from the Forum, they serve for an initial three-year period, at the end of which they can decide whether to renew their involvement or stand down. Whenever vacancies occur for year group representatives, new members are sought.

As well as the parent representatives, meetings are attended by the Headmaster and members of the School Leadership Team, and other members of staff as relevant

to the points raised for discussion. The meetings are chaired by a Governor, and the Chair of Governors may also attend meetings. These take place in the Old Library and can be attended by Zoom when representatives are unable to attend in person.

The Parents’ Forum meets once a term, this academic year in November, February and June, and Forum members are invited to submit topics for discussion which have been suggested by parents in the year group which they represent. The School communicates with all parents to make them aware of the upcoming meeting and the mechanism for submitting points for discussion. It then compiles the agenda for the meeting and circulates it to members of the Forum. This provides sufficient time to prepare for the meeting, so that discussion can be fruitful and relevant members of staff invited to attend. There is an opportunity for Forum members to intimate other business to the Chair at the start of a meeting, which will then be discussed if it is possible to do so.

There is a consistent cycle of themes for each meeting across the three terms (Autumn, Lent & Summer): Academic, Pastoral & Co-curricular. In recent times, examples of topics which have been discussed at meetings have been: boarding house refurbishments, the Forest School, the new timetable, exam results and university destinations, pastoral initiatives (such as the Orah Nurture platform), updates on piping, drama and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Communication and engagement with parents is key to the success of the School and the Parents’ Forum provides a crucial space in which this can take place.

CAREERS ACTIVITIES 2023-24

The Careers Café programme has continued to thrive during the Autumn and Lent Terms in a similar format to recent years, with regular speakers either attending in person or online to present to the boys. The cafés consist of a talk related to one career sector, followed by an informal question and answer session, with the pupils attending on a voluntary basis. Some talks this year were given in the evening to facilitate more external speakers coming in. This year, we saw some of the highest recorded attendances in recent times, with audiences of between 25 and 35 attending in the Old Library.

The boys who attended listened to, and engaged with, professionals at various points in their careers. We hosted talks from recent graduates setting out on pathways in the Engineering and Environmental sectors, learning about renewable energy infrastructure projects in Scotland. Another talk was delivered by an engineer who had worked on projects on all three of the Forth Bridges. Parents of current pupils came to speak about their roles in the insurance and hospitality industries and former pupils who are carving out careers in the financial sector also offered excellent advice to current pupils. I was particularly impressed by how Teddy Bonfield related the skills he uses in his current role at Blackrock to the skills learnt during his time at Merchiston when studying in the Sixth Form.

Other highlights for the boys were the entrepreneurship talk by Shane Corstorphine (Merchistonian and former SkyScanner CFO) and the visit by three Merchistonians to present on the theme of Careers in Agriculture. We welcomed back Neil Armstrong, Jay Crawford and Douglas Bonn, who all attended the school in different decades (70s, 80s and 90s!), for a fascinating insight into different areas of agriculture and how important the sector is to every aspect of our lives.

We are, as ever, very grateful to the speakers who presented this year who come from the wider Merchiston community, including former pupils, parents and staff contacts, for their continued willingness to deliver these talks. The intention moving forward is to film future talks so there is an archive available for viewing at any stage, via the pupil careers intranet page, for those that were not able to attend the actual talk.

Away from the external talks, boys continue to engage with the Unifrog platform as their primary resource for careers guidance in School. This powerful portal is continually updated with new and exciting resources. Boys have carried out skills surveys and are encouraged to sign up to Virtual Work Experience opportunities that are offered. This platform also offers courses that can embellish and enhance applications going forward: those who have accessed these have enjoyed these alternative educational experiences greatly.

During the Autumn Term, I was fully engaged with individual career interviews for the entire Fifth Form cohort, starting to support in developing their thoughts into their future as they progress into narrowing their subject choices prior to Sixth Form. Drop-in sessions have also been available for those who require a bit more time to talk things over.

Taking over the role of Careers Co-ordinator from Karen Coyne was always going to be a challenge, given her high level of experience and the time she committed to helping the boys. I hope, continuing with the role next year, that I can build on the Merchiston offering, bringing further benefits to the boys and supporting them in this key area when considering their lives beyond School.

Robin Greenwood, Careers Co-ordinator

SPORT

SPORTING REVIEW 2023-24

Sport holds a special place in our hearts at Merchiston, and it has been a joy to be welcomed into this loving and ambitious community as the new Director of Sport.

I truly believe sport is for all, just not all sport. That is why the team and I have worked hard to diversify our offering, to create a stretching but supportive environment, to allow every boy to find his talent and excel.

It has been incredible to see the numerous achievements across a broad range of sports this year. We have had an Epee champion (Adam H), Scotland basketball captain (Gabriel P), Scottish volleyball (Gabriel C), 2-times Scottish tennis champion (Lance N), success in the pool with Scottish national age grade champion (Ru V), and the same on the track in the 200m and 300m (Toby G), sharp shooters for the Scottish team (Richard T, Ryan W and Jake

M), and ISGA Open winners (Roland G and the Junior Academy team). And this is to just name a few!!

However, it isn't just for those who excel: sport should be a place for all to belong, for physical and mental wellbeing. It should be a place where we can create memories, but also a space where everyone feels like they belong.

So, enjoy reading our highlights from the year, as they have been numerous, all leaving their mark and their legacy on the School. But, rest assured, this is just one year in our story, and we will continue to support, to stretch and ensure every boy can shine through sport at Merchiston.

Nick De Luca, Director of Sport and Activities

1XV RUGBY

Our season started with a pre-season week at St Andrews University, with over 70 players in attendance from both U16 and U18 squads. It was the ideal location and environment to kick start our preparations and to set our standards for the season. The group enjoyed working very hard on the training field, whilst having plenty of fun off the field. We finished our action-packed week with a hit out against The High School of Dundee, in which we ran out comfortable 50-19 winners, playing with real tempo and width. As a coaching group, we loved the way the boys earned their opportunity to pull on the 1XV jersey for the first time. Our post-match recovery consisted of a teambuilding day at the Navy Holdfast Challenge outside Perth: this was an interesting way to see how our boys responded to high pressure whilst under extreme fatigue.

Our first big test came at us pretty quickly after the start of term, against our fierce neighbours, George Watson’s College, who were coming off the back of their pre-season tour to South Africa. The game was played in ideal conditions, with both teams trying to move the ball at every opportunity. Just after half-time, they managed to grab hold of the game and score two quick tries through their pace out wide. We displayed impressive resilience to wrestle the game back and finished very strongly. However, we left too much to do and narrowly lost the game 24-27. As a group, we were happy with our collective performance, considering Watson’s were ahead in their season’s preparations. This set a good marker for us to kick on.

Another big test came in week two against Stewart’s Melville College at Inverleith. We managed to win the game 20-15, scoring four well-worked tries. We were in control for most of this game; however, they never went away and always played a high tempo and dangerous brand of rugby. Again, we had to display character at the end of the game, to defend our own goal line and win the game through our backs turning the ball over. This was the first time in their School career that many of the boys had beaten Stewart’s Melville.

After our weekend leave, we returned to play George Heriot’s School in the Scottish Cup. We put together a very professional and clinical performance, winning 74-7. Myles M displayed his raw pace and power to score his first hattrick for the 1XV.

With the wind in our sails, we travelled up to play Dollar Academy. This was one of our ‘performances of the

season’, playing with a real mixture of power, speed and skill. Our captain, Hamish M, led the way with a hat-trick of tries. Our 55-5 victory was built on a very disciplined and physical defensive effort. A very well-respected opposition coach commented that it was the best defensive performance he had ever seen from a schoolboy team.

Returning after our October holidays, we were into the “business end” of the season, facing our oldest rivals, Edinburgh Academy. On a dreich morning, we travelled across town with one goal in mind: to return to Merchiston with the Sesquicentenary Trophy. As ever, this was an emotional and highly-charged game, being vocally supported by two very passionate sets of supporters. The game was extremely tight, ebbing and flowing for sixty minutes, until we managed to launch a piercing counter attack to score the try of the season through Myles M - a truly fitting way to win this prestigious fixture.

We welcomed a very physical and in-form Loretto to Merchiston in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final. The game started at a frantic pace, and Loretto displayed their direct and physical presence, scoring the first try of the game. Our boys did not panic and displayed maturity in our ability to play in the right areas, which allowed us a foot-hold back into the game. Half-time came at a good time for us. After the break, we managed to execute our intelligent kicking strategy, which allowed us to score three tries through our multiphase counter attack. We progressed into our third Scottish Cup Semi-final in a row with a 27-13 victory.

Next up was another historic rival, Fettes, who came firing out of the blocks and played with real ambition and pace. Our boys weathered a storm until half-time, after which our experienced bench made an immediate impact, displaying a strong tactical awareness, turning the Fettes team and applying pressure in the right areas. We emerged 38-18 winners, again scoring some beautiful tries through our clinical attacking phase play.

We travelled back across to Inverleith for the Scottish Cup Semi-final, where we knew it was going to be an epic encounter against Stewart’s Melville College. We were aware that they were looking for revenge for the last game and the previous Cup Final loss. From minute one, we knew this was going to be a tight contest, with both teams fully committed on both sides of the ball. At half-time, we were right in it at 24-17, and we knew the next try was vital to the momentum of a high-pressure Cup match.

Unfortunately, Stewart’s Melville managed to control the game for the next fifteen minutes and scored points through our poor discipline and their sustained pressure. At 34-17 down, the game could have gone away from us; however, we found a way and managed to get back to 3429, playing with more speed and precision. In the final play, we had the momentum and were pushing for the win. Unfortunately, a well-timed interception took the game away from us. In hindsight, over the season we had already used our “get out of jail card” a few times and, on the day, the opposition played very well and deserved the victory.

As I said to the boys, “you can’t win them all”. Our boys knew that they were slightly off in this fixture: we made uncharacteristic skill and system errors, we did not execute clear try-scoring opportunities, and our discipline was poor, mainly due to the relentless pressure and intelligent game plan of the opposition. We had the opportunity to go and win the game: however, when you are chasing a game, you often push the boundaries and we were found out in the cruellest of ways. Life often throws up difficult ‘bumps in the road’ and I am a stickler for measuring how people respond to adversity and the next challenge ahead. It was then time to lick our wounds and test our resolve after our Cup loss, with a fixture against a strong Strathallan side. This game was played in very testing conditions, with both teams being well matched across the pitch. The game was very much in the balance at half-time. However, we rolled up our sleeves and managed to hold them out on

our own line and then scored very quickly, which flipped the momentum our way. This took the sting out of them, which allowed us to kick on and finish the game stronger, winning 26-12. Oliver G had to step up and move from back row to centre for the majority of the game, which displays our adaptability and ability not to panic. The manner of our victory made me very proud as we had to dig deep for long periods and again found a way to win after a huge disappointment the week before. I talk to the boys about dusting themselves down and getting back on the horse. We certainly delivered in this fixture and ended our Conference campaign on a real high, with 6 wins out of 7. In contrast, last season we won 5 out of 7, so, on paper, we were more successful this season.

We all measure success in different ways and our boys set the highest of standards, so not winning our third Scottish Cup in a row was obviously a huge disappointment, so, ultimately, the season could possibly be viewed as a failure. Human nature is to measure ourselves against the teams and individuals that have gone before us. It was always going to be a huge challenge to win three Scottish Cups in a row. This is only natural with the legacy that has gone before us. As humans, we all over-analyse when things do not go to plan and in life, we often cannot see the wood for the trees. It’s important in life to stop, take a deep breath, reset and look at the bigger picture. If you look at performance statistics over past seasons, our current Upper Sixth win percentage was under 50% across all Conference

fixtures. This season, our percentage was hitting 85%, which shows an impressive growth across the board. My head will always take me back to the ‘what ifs’ and losing the Cup Semi-final; however, my heart will always allow us to recover because of what our culture and environment delivers for our boys and coaches every single day.

The next stage of the journey?

As a Sports Department, we all talk from personal experience and value the lessons that sport can deliver over your life. The important points below for the boys supersede winning titles and will hopefully continue to help shape their journey as they move on to their next stage of life post-Merchiston.

And now, speaking to the boys, I ask them to answer the following questions:

• Did you have fun playing rugby and did you challenge yourself?

• Are you making your friendships stronger and making new friends?

• Are you learning how to stay fit and healthy?

• Did you learn how to win well?

• Did you learn how to deal with the disappointment of losing games, being out of form and not being selected?

• Did you learn how to support each other when under heavy pressure?

• Have you improved and developed, firstly as a person and as a player through our environment?

• Have you made special memories on and off the field at

Merchiston?

• Have you added to the jersey and left it in a better place?

• Have you added to the rich legacy within the Castle Gates?

Selection is always the ‘elephant in the room’, but let’s embrace this. Not many schools of our size will have the level of competition that we have. This is a compliment to how hard you have all worked over the years. Selection is always a subjective opinion and I am sure everyone would pick different starting teams each week. Selection is a way of life and the natural selection process will be even more evident after leaving Merchiston and moving out into the big wide world.

I firmly believe that having experienced fierce and consistent competition will stand you in a better place in the next stage of your journey, whether it’s university, applying for jobs or your next rugby club. Many of you have experienced not being selected over your School career and have had to work hard to gain your selection opportunity. These lessons will be valuable for the rest of your life.

Your connections are key. You now have each other for the rest of your lives and you have the game to keep opening doors and giving new opportunities. So, my message to you is simple: continue to squeeze every drop, enjoy yourself with friends and keep making special memories. That is what is important. It’s been an absolute pleasure to spend time with you and watch you develop. Thank you for all your committed daily efforts to squeeze every drop and make our CASTLE STRONGER

Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby

ROSSLYN PARK 7S

Our first match was against a strong RGS Guildford side, which had enjoyed a good amount of success throughout its 7s season, so this presented a good test for our team. Due to the relentless nature of the Rosslyn Park tournament, the boys knew how important a good start would be against what was supposed to be the strongest team in our group, as a loss or draw could have spelt the end of our involvement in the tournament. Fortunately, the pitches were in much better condition than last year, having suffered from far less rainfall: this combined with relatively calm weather conditions to allow us to play our brand of 7s, which we felt could bring a lot of success against the English schools. Putting two early tries past RGS Guildford gave us the lead going into half-time, and we proceeded to build on this with two more scores in quick succession after the break. Despite a late fightback from the opposition, the boys were able to stay strong, preventing RGS Guildford from threatening our lead. The match finished with a well-earned win of 38-17.

We then looked to capitalise on the early momentum in our two other group matches, against Sutton Valence School and Scarborough College. In both of these fixtures, scoring early was the key to our success, as we were able to score three tries at the start of both matches whilst

keeping the opposition out. I cannot stress enough the importance of the strength and depth of the substitutes in allowing us to achieve the success that we enjoyed throughout this tournament, and the substitutes’ value was certainly seen in these two matches. The boys coming off the bench were able to prevent any real fightback from both opposition teams, showing great physicality and a brilliant understanding of our defensive system. They were also crucial in allowing players to be rotated, and rested, which undoubtedly allowed us to progress further into the competition. With two and three tries in the second halves of the respective matches, we were able to progress into the first play-off round of the competition with a great deal of confidence.

To finish off Day 1, we faced a strong Queen Ethelburga’s side, which had also been unbeaten in its group. We had limited knowledge of what sort of challenge they would pose for us, but we had a lot of trust in our own ability and the system that we had used throughout the 7s season. Almost a recurring theme, scoring early once again gave us the upper hand in this match, with a fourteen-point lead at half-time. Queen Ethelburga’s showed a high level of fitness as they pushed us right to the end of the match, but our early lead proved insurmountable and we finished with

a 33-22 victory.

Day 2 began on Rosslyn Park’s main pitch, and the boys had the exciting opportunity of appearing on the NextGen livestream. To start off our second group, we faced a fast and skilful Magdalen College School side, which had come out of Day 1 unbeaten with an impressive set of results. Learning and gaining confidence from Day 1, we had reached the conclusion that we had enjoyed a lot of success through keeping possession and restricting the time and opportunity that the opposition had to score. This proved vital against Magdalen, as we kept the ball for the first two-and-a-half minutes of the match, until a break from Myles M down the left-hand side gave us the lead. Magdalen then struck back, but some excellent sweeping and defensive work from Teo T prevented them from scoring more than one try. Our superior fitness and workrate showed in this match, as we were able to score consistently and put the opposition under great pressure whenever they had the ball. The match ended a 24-7 victory, which set the tone for the rest of Day 2.

We then suffered our first loss of the tournament to Strathallan, which capitalised on our errors. Although this was a loss, it did not mean the end of our tournament and we learned a valuable lesson on the importance of discipline and keeping the referee on our side. We then bounced back from this admirably with a close win against a very strong Kingswood School side, which was one of the favourites in the competition. We took our opportunities and fought hard to the end of the match, with the substitutes once again playing an important role in our

success. We managed to score in the final minutes of the game to take the score to 19-17, showing the vital importance of making our kicks, credit for which goes to Henry W.

To finish our tournament, we faced two very strong sides in Cheltenham College and Millfield School, once again having the opportunity to play on the NextGen livestream. In the Cheltenham match, we managed to limit their success in the first half with some strong and clever defensive play. With one try scored against us, we were down by seven points at the break. We then scored at the start of the second half, but unfortunately Cheltenham proved to be too strong, and we lost the match 10-22. Special congratulations must go to Lucas F, who, despite being an Under-16 and a travelling reserve, when given the opportunity to take the field, made the absolute most of his time on the field, showing physicality and skill and appearing very much at home. In the final match of the day, against a very skilful Millfield side, we fought well and battled to the very end, unfortunately losing by a single score.

I have been lucky enough to be a member of two of Merchiston’s Rosslyn Park teams, and must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience this year. It was a great example of a team embracing a style of 7s that best suited our players and skillset. A huge ‘thank you’ must go to both Mr Deans and Mr Noble for allowing us to take part in this tournament and enjoy the success that we achieved.

Oliver G (Upper Sixth)

2XV RUGBY

The 2XV enjoyed another successful season, both in terms of results and development. Training together, from thirds to firsts, ensures that all players benefit from the best coaching alongside developing great relationships across the squads.

Fixtures this season meant that we would be tested against the strongest opposition across the first three weekends.

George Watson’s College is always a highly competitive fixture and often comes down to the smallest of margins. The result swayed in the opposition’s favour with a 26-31 defeat, but great learning was experienced both tactically and individually in this fixture. There was a step up for the members of the Lower Sixth in terms of physicality and playing in the right areas. Jake M and Sam McT were the real stand-out performers of this day with their working of the ball in defence and contact.

Into week two, Stewart’s Melville provided another excellent test: this time, the team held on to a 31-22 victory away from home. The game was sealed when fly half, Freddie J, held up a player over the line, showing his great game awareness.

The momentum and learning gained from this first block came to fruition against Dollar, with a resounding 77-0 win away from home. The team was playing full-flow attacking rugby, with confidence in its systems and multi-option plays. The backs really came into their own, scoring from first phase set plays, as well as from their own half counterattacks. John T, Ethan C and Callum H have exciting futures ahead next year, and Krish K and Kyle McG were also excellent with their pace and finishing ability.

3XV RUGBY

The mighty 3XV started this year’s campaign by taking on our neighbours from Myreside, George Watson’s College, at home. With players battling for a spot in the starting team and potential opportunities to make the jump to the 2XV, we were focussed on the task at hand. An energising

Many members of the 2XV earned their place in the victorious Merchiston Festival squad in the October break, including this year’s captain, William G. The run of good form continued against Edinburgh Academy, winning 510, before a lack lustre performance against Fettes, resulting in defeat. Before Christmas, the team showed grit to overcome Strathallan with a 17-14 win, with spirited performances from Teiyoon K and Adam K.

Into the new year, the focus for development and squad rotation becomes even more important. Many of the forwards demonstrated great development from their commitment to the programme both on and off the pitch. The sevens fixtures also offer a continuation of development for many of the backs, with four players travelling to Rosslyn Park who predominately played 2XV rugby.

The leavers rounded off their season with a trip to The Greenyards in Melrose, which was played with great spirit and sportsmanship. I wish them the best in their next steps and hope that they can enjoy staying involved in the game. A special mention must go to the captain, William G, who modelled great commitment and seized every opportunity. Coming from a long-term injury lay off to playing senior rugby and pushing for 1XV places, demonstrates what can be achieved with a great attitude towards learning and a willingness to contribute to others. These are the attributes that we strive to develop: I am sure that the players will be able to utilise these as they move forwards across different areas of their lives.

team talk from Fergus MB provided us with the passion and clarity we needed to dispatch the boys from Myreside with a tight 17-12 home win for the Castle.

Looking to keep our momentum and take on another of our local rivals, Stewart’s Melville, we were met with a

Iain Noble, 2XV Coach

cancellation due to a frozen pitch. This forced us to wait three weeks for our next fixture, this time a rematch against George Watson’s, who were no doubt looking to avenge their last performance. With a fairly settled squad and some experience coming down from the 2XV, we gained a few early tries; however, Watson’s did not let off. Our relentless work-rate in defence proved not quite enough as they squeezed a 17-24 win. That made it one win each in a set of matches that would later grow in importance and following from the rest of the community at the Castle.

Next, we were on the road to Fettes. With a mixed 2s and 3s line-up, the team looked slightly different. However, one thing remained: our aim to play the most aesthetic rugby Fettes had ever seen. The rain was pouring and the physical warm up meant the colour of the strip was slowly fading to brown! After eighty minutes of tough, physical battle and many, many scrums, we came out on top, finishing with a 22-17 win away from home.

Next up… you guessed it, George Watson’s were back, this time with Peebles RFC for a triangular fixture. With an improvement in the weather conditions from previous weeks, we were looking to play some more expansive rugby to utilise some of the blistering speed we held on the wings. We took a loss from Watson’s with the last play of the game, finishing up 3-7. Having exhausted ourselves in the first game, Peebles dominated physically and came out on top with a convincing 5-14 win.

After this disappointing result and looking to prove ourselves, Dollar were up next. With an incredible collective performance, with LVI stepping up and UVI leading, we

dispatched Dollar with surprising ease, ending on 77-19. Keeping the momentum, Stewart’s Melville came back for the second time and, having gelled as a squad, we sailed past with a 43-15 win. The following week, we welcomed back, for the fourth time, George Watson’s, for a final showdown and a chance for us to make it 2-2 in the overall standings between us. It’s fair to say that the boys were hyped for this one. In poetic fashion, we displayed a defensive masterclass, not allowing Watson’s a single score. The game finished up at 19-0 and a 2-2 draw overall. However, we were not done there as our friends from the Borders had come up for another triangular fixture. So, after a quick five-minute breather and some words of encouragement from the supporters, we were back on. We made some early line breaks but they led to nothing. Peebles were physical but we were dealing with them, until their outside centre cut us in half and sailed through for the first and last score of the game, which ended 0-7 to Peebles. A 42-22 win at home against Stewart’s Melville was a convincing and pleasing way to round off the season. It has been a pleasure to coach the 3XV this season. It has been great to see a group of boys who have a genuine passion for the sport share the field together, every time growing closer as a squad and group of mates. I hope there have been many positive memories made and I hope to see their rugby careers continue long past Merchiston.

Jake Mills, 3XV Coach

MERCHISTON OCTOBER RUGBY FESTIVAL 2023

We welcomed a very strong group of teams from all over the UK to our fifth Merchiston October Rugby Festival. In order to give more Scottish players an opportunity to play at a higher intensity and experience new styles of play, we collaborated with the Scottish Rugby Union to invite Edinburgh and Glasgow to attend as select academy teams. This certainly brought a new, exciting and challenging dynamic to our ever-developing Festival.

On day one, we recorded impressive victories over Ayr

RFC and St Benedict’s School. As ever, we embraced the nature of knock out rugby and attacked from the first whistle. It was rewarding to see us scoring many freeflowing tries, with a large squad of boys getting the opportunity to put their hand up and add to our competitive squad. Our last game was a winner-takes-all against a strong and physical Durham team. After a very close battle up front, we managed to progress as group winners with a 7-0 victory. After a gruelling day, it was time

to rest up and recover for day two.

On day two, we started slowly against Dollar Academy, and again had to display reliance and composure to come back from behind to win, with Hamish stepping up to score a try and kick a penalty to win the match 10-7. In the closing stages, we defended our goal line for multi phases and Theo DM came up with a match winning turn-over.

Next up, we faced an emotionally charged Durham side looking for revenge. This was another very close and bruising encounter, in which we managed to stay in the fight until the last play. With time up and 10 - 7 down, Durham had a line-out on half way: Lewis K successfully managed to apply pressure at the line-out, Olly G gathered the loose ball, Teo T made his trade mark outside break and Adam K ran an intelligent support line to score from twenty metres out, taking the score to 14 -10, which took us into the final against Glasgow Warriors.

Boys were fatigued and hanging together; however, they were very excited to take on the challenge of Glasgow, who were also undefeated over the two days. Both teams were very well matched across the field and, after a sustained period of testing each other out, we managed to force a penalty, which allowed us to kick into the corner. After a strong line-out set up, Oliver G rumbled over with a solid drive maul set up. Hamish M then nailed a beautiful conversion from the touchline. Glasgow then hit back with a well worked try, to bring the score to 7-5 at half-time. After the break, we played with intelligence and kept turning Glasgow with our pinpoint kicking game, with Hamish on one leg and Isaac displaying tactical maturity to keep Glasgow deep in their own half. Our impressive defensive sets again managed to force a penalty: opting for the conversion, which Hamish pushed wide, however, gave us the opportunity to attack from a goal-line drop out.

After a sustained period of multi-phase attack, Todd B managed to break the Glasgow ruck defence to allow us our first Festival victory on home soil.

We are delighted with the success of our Festival and very proud of how we keep managing to further develop and improve the level of rugby year on year. Winning the Festival was the icing on the cake for us. However, giving all players the opportunity to test themselves in new environments will always remain our main goal.

PLACINGS

1. Merchiston Castle School

2. Glasgow Warriors

3. Durham School

4. Seaford College

5. Edinburgh Rugby

6. Dollar Academy

7. Mount St Mary’s College

8. Boroughmuir RFC

9. Barnard Castle School

10. Collegiate School

11. St Benedict’s School

12. Dame Allan’s School

13. Norwich School

14. Peebles RFC

15. Wycliffe College

16. Ayr RFC

Thoughts from our Director of Sport and from Boroughmuir RFC:

“Having the district sides in was really good: our boys really had to step up in the final. It did add a new and interesting dynamic. There’s a lot of discussion around state and club versus independent sector, but there’s no reason why we can’t collaborate to give everyone exposure to good quality rugby and coaching. From my point of view, this weekend has been a real success.”

For Boroughmuir, fourth in last year’s Merchiston Festival, it was a tough and demanding tournament. On day two, the Meggetland side ended up playing Edinburgh and Glasgow, but they had the satisfaction of achieving wins in the group stages over Norwich School and Wycliffe College. Their last match was against Mount St Mary’s College, against whom they lost by one score in the Plate 3rd/4th place play-off.

“We had a fantastic time at the weekend,” offered Richie

Lockhart, the Boroughmuir under-18 head coach. “I’m hugely proud of how the boys played. Their energy and physicality were first class. We learned a lot about game management and execution in particular, playing against the two regional sides in three games.”

“I’m also delighted that we played all of the squad across the weekend, rotating regularly, and everyone stood up really well. We’d love to have more opportunities to play really challenging games like these. Hopefully, Scottish Rugby can find a way to blend schools, clubs and even regional sides more regularly. Challenge and stretch has to be a core principle in the development of young talent.”

Hopefully in the future, we can continue to collaborate more with the Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish Clubs in order to keep further developing our future talent, which will ultimately improve the standard of our national game.

Roddy Deans, Director of Rugby

UNDER 18 BARBARIANS

Todd B (Upper VI) writes about the experience of selection to play for the Barbarians Rugby Football Club…

In December 2023, my Merchiston friend and teammate, Teo T, and I were selected to play for the very prestigious Barbarians Rugby Football Club against Rugby School, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the invention of rugby.

Ecstatic with the news of being able to be part of something so special, which will never be repeated, we headed south for our trip, which spanned a long weekend. Having arrived at Rugby, we were quickly thrown in at the deep end with a training session with the other Barbarians boys, who were drawn from the best rugby schools around the UK – it was amazing to play with such quality players. After a quick introduction, training commenced, for which we were given some new Barbarians kit, which was amazing to have. After a high-quality training session, we were presented with our new U18 Barbarians playing top by the Chairman of the Club - a very special memory. We were able to work with some great coaches, including Simon Brown, Alex Grove and Tim Stimpson. Having such high-quality coaches and players made the experience even more special.

Playing against a very strong Rugby School team, we clearly wanted to win. This was a whole new experience for Teo and myself as we had previously not played many of the big English schools. Despite only having had a onehour training session, we managed to build up a lead of 210, with Teo being the first ever Scottish U18 Barbarians try scorer – a huge achievement for him, which I was very proud to share with him on the pitch. Sadly, eventually we lost the match by one try, but it was an amazing experience to play on “The Close”, where the sport started. After the game, we were treated to amazing hospitality by Rugby School, and enjoyed having the opportunity to socialise with its players.

Speaking for both Teo and myself, this was a day that we will never forget. We are hugely grateful for the opportunity that Merchiston gave us by nominating us for selection for the U18 Barbarians team. Special thanks go to Rugby School and Barbarians Rugby Club for creating such a special event for us to participate in.

Todd B (Upper Sixth)

U16A RUGBY

The 2023 - 24 season marked the culmination of five years of dedication, growth, and camaraderie for the Merchiston U16As. As the team’s final season together before transitioning into the senior rugby programme, it was a time for reflection, consolidation of strengths, and preparation for the challenges ahead. Guided by the principles of “Ready, ay ready”, “Squeezing every drop”, and “Winning well as a team”, the U16As embarked on a journey defined by resilience, teamwork, and unwavering determination.

The season commenced with a pre-season trip to St Andrews, providing the team with an opportunity to bond and prepare alongside the 1XV. This experience set the stage for the challenges that lay ahead, fostering a sense of unity and determination within the squad. The first game against George Watson’s served as a stern test, offering valuable lessons that would shape the team’s approach for the remainder of the season. A tough encounter against Stewart’s Melville further emphasised the need for hard work, sacrifice, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Despite early challenges, the U16As embarked on a fivegame winning streak, showcasing their ability to overcome obstacles and emerge victorious through collective effort and determination. Notable highlights included a hardfought battle against Marr College in the Cup quarter final, demonstrating the team’s unwavering resolve and competitive spirit. The Cup semi-final against Stewart’s Melville proved to be another fiercely contested encounter, with the U16As narrowly missing out on progression. Nevertheless, the team’s performance throughout the Cup campaign exemplified its commitment to “winning well as a team”. Ending the Autumn Term in third place in the Conference, with significant wins against formidable opponents, underscored the team’s progress and resilience.

Following the Christmas break, the U16As enjoyed a successful 7s season, reaching two out of three finals and showcasing their skill and competitiveness on the rugby 7s stage. Additionally, several players earned representative honours for the Edinburgh district squads, highlighting their individual talents and contributions to the wider rugby community.

As the season drew to a close, the team bade farewell to Mr Douglas, a coach, mentor, and inspiration to the players. His leadership and guidance were instrumental in the team’s development, and his departure marked the end of an era for the U16As.

The 2023/2024 season was a testament to the resilience,

unity, and growth of the Merchiston U16As. As they prepare to embark on the next chapter of their rugby journey in the senior rugby programme, the players can look back with pride on their accomplishments and the bonds forged over five memorable seasons. With a foundation built on teamwork, dedication, and unwavering determination, the U16As are poised to continue their journey towards excellence, both on and off the field.

Michael Raikes, U16A Coach

B1 RUGBY

This year, the B1 rugby team embarked on a challenging yet rewarding season, marked by intense games against the likes of Stewart’s Melville College and memorable victories against Dollar, Strathallan and Edinburgh Academy. Despite facing setbacks against some of our renowned adversaries, the team showcased resilience, determination, and remarkable sportsmanship throughout the season.

This season, we had old and new faces in the coaching team, which included Mr Glover, Mr Hall, Mr Wells and Mr Golden. This team of coaches was instrumental in helping students to develop their game and move the team in the right direction as a whole. Competition for places also increased and we had more boys competing for B1 positions than ever before, which was promising to see.

The season started off in challenging fashion with backto-back games against local Edinburgh rivals Watson’s and Stewart’s Melville College (ESMS). Despite demonstrating

commendable effort and skill, the B squad experienced a tough defeat against a seasoned opponent in Watson’s after only a week back at School. The match served as a learning experience, highlighting areas for improvement, which were duly addressed going into the ESMS game just a week later.

Despite a slow start to the fixture, resulting in the MCS side trailing 0-14 after just ten minutes, the boys kept their composure and fought their way back into the game. With ten minutes to go, the score was 31-40 to ESMS after an exciting second half of rugby, which witnessed excellent attacking rugby from both sides. A last minute try for ESMS resulted in a 31-47 loss. However, it became a big turning point for the team, despite being in the early stages of the season. Never before with this group of students have we got this close to ESMS, who have historically beaten us quite convincingly.

The tenacity in defence, the ability to continue to score

tries, and to keep ourselves in the fight and not give up, was a credit to the players. The momentum gained from this game was crucial and certainly contributed to our next victories against Dollar and Edinburgh Academy. The Bs started to demonstrate some really fluid attacking plays and the mentality of never giving up and focusing on the ‘next job’ were key factors to success.

In the Lent Term, one fixture that stood out was a very close 30-29 loss to Dollar at home. Despite the defeat, it was another example of where the players kept themselves in the game; coming from behind on several occasions, only to come up short in the dying minutes of the game. This game was followed by a final fixture against Hutchesons’ Grammar, in which the Bs won convincingly 33-12.

Moving into the 7s season, the squad secured an impressive record of finishing 2nd, 1st and 3rd in each of the three respective tournaments it competed in. In the first tournament, hosted by Merchiston, we beat ESMS in the semi-final before facing Watson’s in the final. The clash with Watson’s presented another formidable challenge, against a team we have never beaten. Despite displaying moments of brilliance and unwavering determination, the

B2 RUGBY

This year, the B2 squad has had an impressive year in so many ways. The boys have been ably led by Hamish H and William M, who both led warm-up sessions and discussed positioning and strategies in a very open and collegiate manner. The team came very close to beating Dollar twice this year but disappointingly fell short. However, it managed to secure three excellent marginal wins over Strathallan and Stewart’s Melville C, twice, in the Lent Term, showing tremendous character in doing so. We also managed excellent wins against a very hard and powerful Lasswade Club and George Watson’s C.

Even when defeated, the gap was rarely very high. Many players have made significant progress in their development and are pushing for A team rugby next year, which is very healthy from a School perspective. Indeed, this year a good number of players were given the chance

team ultimately fell short against a well-organised and competitive Watson’s side. However, the match showcased the team’s fighting spirit and ability to compete at a high level, which would be demonstrated in the second leg of the tournament series.

Easing into the finals at Glasgow Academy, Merchiston once again faced off against Watson’s in the final. In a thrilling showdown, the players delivered a stellar performance, securing a memorable victory, 14-28. Through cohesive teamwork, strategic execution, and sheer determination, they dominated the game, earning a well-deserved triumph and garnering praise from the onlooking parents and 1XV squads. It was a truly exceptional highlight to the season.

Overall, the B squad has shown excellent growth and maturity this year. Notable performances throughout the season have shown these players that they can absolutely compete against the very best out there. We, as coaches, have been delighted with the efforts and coachable nature of this squad and look forward to their future endeavours in the U16s!

Richard Glover, B1

to play B1 matches, which helped to develop a sense of team work across the year group. This camaraderie was nurtured by regular well-drilled whole year group training sessions from Mr Hall and Mr Glover. Many individuals can be named for their contributions, but I would highlight the impact of two new players. Jessie M (Player of the Year) and Guillermo V, who, along with Lewis M, added pace and tackling skills to our back line. Noah N, James G and Cameron B were the pick of the regular forwards this year and Blair A and Archie S were our ever-present dependable half backs. Congratulations to all the squad who made this season a memorable, highly enjoyable and successful one in so many ways.

Coach

Peter Golden, B2 Coach

C1 RUGBY

The C1 rugby team has had an outstanding season, marked by numerous highlights and remarkable achievements. The team played a total of nine fixtures, emerging victorious in eight of them and succumbing to defeat in just one. However, the boys did not let that loss deter them: the team sought revenge in its second encounter with Stewart’s Melville, and emerged triumphant on the hallowed grounds of Inverleith, winning 26-24.

The addition of such new faces as Dino R and Lachlan M brought depth and versatility to the squad, providing additional options both in the forward pack and the backline. One of the stand-out players this season has been Toby G, whose exceptional skill and determination saw him emerge as the leading try-scorer, notching up an impressive eighteen tries across the nine matches. His contributions were invaluable to the team’s success. Supported by Arjun K on the other wing, the team boasted speed and agility on both sides of the pitch. Gabriel C’s successful transition to full-back further strengthened the team’s line-up, whilst the development of Tom B as a scrum-half was evident, particularly in his strong connection with Hamish F, which proved effective in all matches. Additionally, the forwards pack demonstrated exceptional strength, providing the team with crucial frontfoot ball and enabling it to maintain a high tempo that often overwhelmed its opponents. Defensively, the team was outstanding in all games, notably in the matches against Strathallan, Edinburgh Academy and Fettes. The team’s success can be attributed to its exceptional teamwork, resilience, and leadership, exemplified by the outstanding performances of co-captains Calum R and Adam W. Their leadership on and off the field has been instrumental in guiding the team to many victories.

Recognition was given to individual players for their outstanding performances: Winston K was awarded the Players’ Player Award, a testament to his tackling and breakdown skills; Gabriel C was acknowledged as the Most Improved Player, highlighting his commitment to personal growth and development throughout the season at fullback; and the Coaches’ Player Award was bestowed upon Calum R, recognising his outstanding leadership and performance throughout the season.

Beyond individual accolades, one of the most notable aspects of the team’s journey this season has been the significant improvement in the team dynamic. Over the

course of the two terms, the team has grown closer, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity that has undoubtedly contributed to the success on the field. As the coach, it has been a pleasure to witness the growth and development of this incredibly talented team over the year. The boys’ dedication, passion and teamwork have been truly inspiring, and I have no doubt that they will continue to achieve great things in the seasons to come. Congratulations to them all on a truly remarkable season!

The Sevens season brought another exciting opportunity for the players to showcase their speed and power on the field. However, due to differences in date-ofbirth requirements between the 7s and 15s seasons, some players transitioned to the age above category, creating openings for other players to step up and vie for positions in the squad. This turnover provided fresh opportunities for aspiring players to prove themselves and potentially earn selection for the Rosslyn Park 7s, a highly-anticipated event in the rugby calendar.

Throughout the 7s season, the team participated in three major competitions in Scotland: one hosted at Merchiston,

another at The High School of Glasgow, and the final one at Stewart’s Melville. Each competition posed its own challenges, testing the squad’s skills and resilience. Despite the challenges, the team delivered commendable performances, showcasing the players’ capabilities on the field. Notable amongst the emerging talents was Nico J, who solidified his position as a regular starter in the team and demonstrated his potential for selection for the upcoming trip down south. Additionally, the squad received reinforcement from such players as Will G, Will R and Jack D, who joined from the D1s, further strengthening the team’s line-up and adding depth to the roster.

As the season progressed, the team embraced the opportunities presented by the 7s format, leveraging their collective skills and determination to compete at their best in each competition. With each match, the squad continued to grow and evolve, laying the groundwork for future successes on the rugby field.

The Rosslyn Park 7s Tournament provided an exciting opportunity for the boys to test their skills against some of the top schools from south of the border. The team made an impressive start on the first day, dominating their pool matches with victories over Llangatwg Community School, Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Oundle School and Kirkham Grammar School in the elimination round, showcasing its talent and determination on the field.

Progressing to day 2, the team faced tougher opposition in the Cup competition, being placed in another pool against such formidable opponents as King’s College School, Wimbledon and The King’s School, Macclesfield, the national 15s champions. Despite a valiant effort, the pool concluded with each team winning one game. Unfortunately, Merchiston narrowly missed out on progression to the next round, with King’s Macclesfield advancing based on try count and conceding fewer tries. Although it was disappointing to exit the competition in such a manner, the boys demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience throughout both days of the tournament. Despite the challenges of tournament rugby, the team performed admirably, leaving a lasting impression on the competition. The trip provided memorable experiences for the boys, fostering camaraderie amongst the team members. Special thanks were extended to Mr Raikes for his invaluable contribution to coaching the team, further enhancing performance and development. Overall, the Rosslyn Park 7s tournament was a rewarding and memorable experience for all members of the team, highlighting their talent and potential on the rugby field and providing valuable lessons for future competitions.

Craig Harrison, C1 Coach

C2 RUGBY

It has been an exciting season for the C2s and one that has built momentum as it has progressed. Early season fixtures saw the team start on a high, with a good win away at Watson’s. This was followed by three highly competitive matches, in which we fell just on the wrong side of the results to good Stewart’s Melville, Dollar and Edinburgh Academy sides. Despite these results, our performances showed that this was a team with great potential, a team that clearly deserved more, and that the team’s cohesiveness and confidence was growing week on week.

After a few weeks of frustration because of the weather and other factors outside our control, we finally got our rewards for all the hard work and commitment. An excellent, hard-fought victory away to Kelvinside, 33-26, was the springboard the team needed, after which it did not look back. The remaining seven games of the season were all wins: there were comprehensive wins against Fettes (47-12), Strathallan (63-0), and Hutchesons’ (65-15), as well as turning the tables against Stewart’s Melville after our earlier loss - turning a 45-14 loss into a 54-17 victory.

The success came down to the hard work of the boys, built around a simple style of play and identity that the team owned. This team identity focused on three factors:

• Strong ball carrying;

• Line speed in defence;

• Tenacity at the breakdown.

These, combined with the desire to keep the ball alive as much as possible, have led to the consistent improvement of the group as the season has progressed.

For a team that ranged from some boys having zero rugby experience to boys with three/four years of experience behind them, the overall growth from each player is a credit to them all. Not only that, the development of the boys as a group was also a pleasure to see. With weekly changing of personnel, the group might have been derailed, but they did not let this happen. It became common practice to see boys taking up new positions each week and trying their hand at different roles. However, to an outsider looking in, this would have been impossible to detect. Overall, this was a successful season for the C2s.

Alasdair Evans, C2 Coach

D1 RUGBY

Rugby is the ultimate team sport, or so they say, and this season has seen the whole squad buying into the shared and expected values and behaviours of the team. Everyone wants to win, but not everyone is willing to put the work in to achieve that. This group of young men were willing and have reaped the benefits: long may their hard work continue as they climb the School, getting better and better each day.

But where did it all begin? Well, I asked the boys themselves about the season and their favourite memories, and I got a lot of them reliving their first try. However, I do not feel that reciting this would be a great read, even if Barney insists his was the first pick-and-go try or Cadell trying to make a 2-metre dash into a Van der Merwe world beater!

So, instead I’ll try my best to summarise the season…

Believe it or not, it started in sunshine at home versus Cargilfield and St Mary’s: a first chance for the boys to play together and they were champing at the bit. From day one, their competitive edge and spirit were clear for all to see and, as a coach, I knew that they would be a joy to work with. There were a lot of familiar faces from previous years - Logan M, Theo W and Jack D - but there were also some great new additions in Will G, Cadell W and Max M, adding their own strengths to the group.

In the first Conference match, we were up against the

might of Watson’s. Before the match, the boys had talked about being relentless and supportive, the who they wanted to be. They also defined what success looks like, with the brilliant basics being at the heart of what they did. A clear focus on the Attacker – forward, feet, fend and fight and our second man in, the Bullet, being early, engaged and eyes up. This is a small insight into the kind of messages the boys received. Little did we know it, but this game would be our toughest of the year, with a winning margin of only two points, with Will R managing to dislodge the ball from the GWC player as they dived over the line for a stoppage time win - relentless indeed! Will R throughout the season often was the difference.

Our regular foes and friends from Cargilfield were up next, by far the strongest prep school on the circuit. Their sport is impressive and to have such a great rival in the city always pushes our boys to the limit. Throughout the season, the boys represented themselves well, knowing that every contact leaves a trace, and wanting to win, but win well with everyone enjoying the experiencespectators, referees, coaches and even the opposition. Cargilfield, hopefully, felt this as we played hard and fair and made friends along the way.

The season continued with the boys continually going back to their scoreboard for success, with process goals and person goals. Soon the language aligned with the rest of

the rugby programme and boys were ‘Ready, ay ready’, squeezing every drop and winning as a team to make the Castle stronger.

There was still plenty of bespoke language for the squad as we experimented with different messages and words to inspire the best from the boys. Whether it be ‘berserkers at the breakdown’, ‘grim reapers’, ‘giving nightmares’, everyone bought into what we were trying to achieve.

The season also included hosting friends from Aysgarth and Mowden Hall and visiting Terrington for its 7s tournament: possibly these became the best performances of the year, in particular against the ‘Giants from Yarm’, as our very own Boulder Bashers and the rest of the demolition crew went to work!

We measure ourselves not by others, but against ourselves. And when the boys stop to look at how far they have come, hopefully they can be extremely proud of their season. From Archie M (“on the wing for Scotland”) chopping down trees, Henry D finding his accelerator button, James P (Jimmy P) demolishing defences or hot stepper Harry L, each and every one of the boys has grown and got better.

The end of the season saw us with a mini-tour to the Rosslyn Park 7s, followed by our first involvement in Caldicott 10s. Fifteen boys took the train down with Mr De Luca and were met by Mr Gaddie, who heroically had driven for twelve hours in the minibus to meet us there.

The sun was shining, the pitches were firm and the boys put on a show at Rosslyn Park. A tough group saw each match only finish within a score or two, with Merchi coming out top in some, and not in others. With one ‘down day’, we headed for an inspirational tour of Twickenham and then off to Caldicott 10s.

With teams from Kenya, Dubai, Wales, England and Scotland, it was wonderful for Merchiston to be there representing and playing in this global tournament. Every match was live streamed and the boys had the opportunity and freedom to chase highlights, playing to their strengths and wowing the crowd. Special mention has to go to Jack D, who led the team so well and performed with flair and precision at Caldicott, and to Will G, the ‘one man wrecking ball’, who smashed, danced and glided his way to double figure tries over the few days.

It was an incredible way to finish what has been a memorable season for this wonderful group. It has been a pleasure to be part of their journey.

Nick De Luca, D1 Coach

D2 RUGBY

The boys in this squad were an excellent group and really came together as the season progressed. In September, we had boys who had never played rugby before and we had boys who had a good understanding of the game. By March, we had a group of boys who all had a good understanding of the game, with a strong desire to work together and a will to win. Our training sessions took place in all weather conditions and contained lots of drills focusing on the basics: basics done well is a theme taken from the All Blacks but is something that is vital in the early stages of rugby. Between September and March, the handcatch-pass standard drastically improved, with the ball being passed from touchline to touchline. Bravery in a tackle is something that can never be taught, only the technique. Watching the last few games from start to finish, the boys were throwing themselves into tackles and hardly missing any. This drive to want to tackle was fuelled by the desire to win. The desire to win was demonstrated through the passion shown by every member of the D2 team. This passion was driven by a strong Spanish cohort, which started the year unaware of what rugby was, but finished the season having played a very significant role within the team. The boys

F1 RUGBY

I love seeing the rapid development of F1 players from the start of the season to the end. This year was no different. We assembled in September with a number of players starting contact rugby for the first time, so there was lots of work to do!

New to the School and the game were Ernie and Liam L, and over the course of the season, these two lads grew enormously in confidence, developing their catch-pass skills and getting on the score sheet towards the end of the year. Harry developed himself into an excellent linking player in the middle of the field, with a solid catch-pass that often released the wingers to score in the corner. Jason

always supported each other on the pitch, and, most importantly, when the substitutes were waiting for their opportunity, they would often be running up and down the touchline supporting their team mates.

As a young team, we faced some challenging games against the likes of Kelvinside and Lasswade, but the boys dug deep and fought right until the end in every single game. The fondest memories of the year would definitely be from the match against Fettes, in which both teams were evenly matched, there was a great display of both attack and defence, and, above all, a great display of sportsmanship.

To round it all off, this group was a joy to work with, and the passion and work ethic were second to none. I hope that these players can stick together as they progress through the School. A lot of the Second Formers gained vital experience that they will be able to use next year as they become the top year group in the D teams. We finished the season having played 24 fixtures, winning 10 and losing 14, some of the latter being close games.

Struan Wells, D2 Coach

added some real strength and size to the team, carrying the ball well and putting in some fearsome tackles. Oju, a speedy winger, made some “dinky” runs and got himself on the score sheet many times, with some excellent celebrations! Lucas developed his confidence in the contact situation, making some solid tackles with good technique. Callum was one of the most improved players, specifically with his catching and passing technique. Rohan has one of the best tackling techniques and put it to good use in the matches in which he played. Zachary learnt the game very fast, gaining promotion from the u10s. Patrick used his experience from last season to guide the team,

again being the main man to win the ball at the breakdown. Angus, also in his second year of F1, continued to show his all-round game, with dynamic and balanced running, solid defence and improved decision-making. A large percentage of our tries came from the electric pace and dynamic running of brothers Archie and Rory, finishing off some excellent team tries. Both boys were also key parts of our defensive game.

A highlight for me was the triangular with Boroughmuir and Kelvinside, in which we played some excellent running rugby, scoring in two closely-fought victories.

After a shaky start as a team unit, we developed into a more cohesive team. I would like all the F1s to remember the most important lesson of the year; that supporting your team mates in a positive manner, no matter what happens, will always be the best way to work towards the results that you want.

Thank you to all the F1 players for your efforts.

Stevie Gilmour, F1 Coach

U10 RUGBY

This was very much a development season for the Lords. We had fixtures against Belhaven, Craigclowan, Fettes, Loretto Junior, Cargilfield, Ardvreck and St Mary’s. All of the boys played well and increased in confidence as the season progressed.

We have been impressed by the amazing running and side steps of Freddie. His commitment during fixtures and training has been faultless; always finding that bit of extra energy to go a step further for the team. Rayyan has been developing his skills and it has been fantastic to see his confidence in rugby rocket this term, such as staying onside and supporting well. Zachary’s ability to allow the flow of our attacking play to continue by taking a pass, then a tackle, and then passing out of that tackle, has been great to watch. This energetic and selfless interplay has led to many of our tries.

Elgin has improved in his rugby this term, showing more awareness of being able to pass the ball, as well as running forward and into space. Omar has played well as a link player, taking on the ball and creating space for others to

run into, whilst Mila’s speed in attack, down the wing, has led to some excellent tries.

Rory has displayed some solid defensive skills, working hard to get around the pitch in order to support an attacking play or be part of a defensive line. The team has benefitted from Ander’s strategic approach to the game; he reads the game well and shows off his understanding of what is required in attack and in defence. Dravin has put 100% into every fixture and training session, showing willingness to improve and hone his skills.

Haoran has been fearless in defence, with his attacking game improving week on week. Alfie threw himself into each fixture, a scrum half in the making, ready at each break down to feed the ball.

Liam’s sniping runs are his trademark - looking for space and creating a depth of attack.

I would like to thank all of the U10 boys for their efforts in training and fixtures.

Will Ogilvie-Jones, U10 Coach

RUGBY AWARDS 2023-24

Senior

Solid Castle Award – Sean L

U18 Barbarians – Todd B & Teo T

Tackler of the Year – Euan R

Most Improved Player – Lewis K

Try of the Year – Myles M

(Edinburgh Academy match)

Service to the 1XV – Hamish M

3XV Players’ Player of the Year – Fergus M-B

2XV Players’ Player of the Year – William G

1XV Players’ Player of the Year – Oliver G

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Hamish M

U16

Solid Castle Award – Spencer B

Most Improved Player – Miles R

U16A Players’ Player of the Year – Daniel R

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Fergus F

U15

Solid Castle Award – Ben H

Most Improved Player – Magnus T

B1 Players’ Player of the Year – Jack R

B2 Players’ Player of the Year – Jessie M

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Sam M

U14

Solid Castle Award – Bob L

Most Improved Player – Gabriel C

C1 Players’ Player of the Year – Winston K

C2 Players’ Player of the Year - Nico J

Coaches’ Player of the Year – Calum R

1XI CRICKET

The eagerly anticipated cricket season for Merchiston’s 1XI began with high hopes following a national Cup win the previous year, with the return of nine boys in the UVI adding to the excitement.

Unfortunately, the planned pre-season tour in the North of England had to be cancelled due to heavy rain during the Easter holidays. The weather continued to be a challenge at the start of the new season, with torrential rainfall forcing a hold on proceedings.

The season kicked off with a challenging T20 match against Fettes, showcasing strong batting from our side but ending in a tight loss, with just two balls to spare. However, we quickly bounced back in our Cup run, securing a victory against The High School of Glasgow in the early stages.

Throughout the season, we faced such formidable opponents as Stewart’s Melville and Edinburgh Academy, experiencing both victories and defeats. Notable wins against Loretto and Fettes in a longer format game demonstrated our team’s resilience and skill.

As the season unfolded, thrilling matches against George Watson’s College and a successful Cup quarter-final against Glenalmond kept the momentum going. The team showed determination and improvement with each game, building towards the Cup Finals day hosted at Merchiston.

Although the journey towards back-to-back trophies fell short in the final against George Watson’s, the team

displayed exceptional sportsmanship and skill throughout. The traditional fixture against the MCC provided valuable experience, despite the challenging opposition.

Ending the season on a high note, a decisive victory against George Watson’s showcased the team’s growth and unity. The dedication and performance of the entire squad, including the current UVI and departing players, have truly elevated Merchiston cricket to new heights.

Looking ahead, the future of cricket at Merchiston appears promising, with emerging talent across the age groups. The team eagerly anticipates the upcoming seasons, hoping for better weather and continued success on the field. Congratulations to all involved for a terrific season of cricket, setting a standard for excellence and sportsmanship.

As the sun sets on this season, the team eagerly looks forward to the next chapter with renewed enthusiasm and ambition. We go again, united in our passion for the sport and the spirit of cricket that drives us forward. Thank you to everyone who made this season memorable and successful. Onward to new challenges and victories ahead!

Overall, it was a season filled with the highs and lows of competitive cricket, showcasing the dedication, talent, and camaraderie that define Merchiston’s cricketing spirit.

Michael Raikes, 1XI Coach

2XI

CRICKET

The 2XI started the season in a buoyant mood, looking forward to building on a successful season in 2022-23. The weather had other ideas, however, meaning waterlogged pitches and ducks of the wrong variety were more likely to be found! It did eventually dry up, and, with overtime from the grounds staff, our playing surfaces were still top notch.

The 2XI took time to settle on a captain, but Gabriel T eventually took charge, an all-rounder who was strong all year with bat and ball - so strong, in fact, that he ended up in the 1XI for its Cup run and finals day.

The season was not as fruitful as the team would have hoped for and, despite the dry weather, there were still far too many ducks! The great news is the team is young, with many members in their first senior year. They have learnt the hard way that if they fail to

U15A CRICKET

After a very wet Easter holiday, it was a miracle that we were able to play our first game of the season away at Fettes. Bowling first, we kept Fettes to 105-5 in their 20 overs (Angus R the pick of the bowling with 4-0-10-2). In response, we lost regular wickets and early season nerves got the better of us as we fell an agonising 3 runs short of our target, despite a well controlled 46 runs from Hamish F.

A game at home to Strathallan followed, who we restricted to 114-5 from their 20 overs. In response, we won comfortably by 5 wickets with 7 overs to spare, Dylan O top scoring with 40 off 29 balls.

The first round of the U15 Cup was next, with a match away to the High School of Dundee. Bowling first, we skittled the opposition out for 84 runs, Egan H starring with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 11 runs. We cantered to a 7wicket victory in the 7th over, William M top scoring with 33 off 19 balls.

Next was Loretto, who we bowled out for only 69 runs. The 9-wicket victory took only 8 overs, with Egan H making 36* off 30 balls.

prepare, they had better be prepared to fail!

Highlights include the win away at Fettes, where the team won by five wickets. Lucas F was caught on his first ball, thankfully a no-ball, and then went on to score heavily for Merchiston. The internal match vs the 3XI also has great memories for some, and nightmares for others!

Cameron S won 2XI ‘Batsman of the Year’ and Jake M ‘Bowler of the Year’. Gabriel T went on win a Major Games Tie for the 1XI and his dedication and performances merited the award.

The team set out to have a fun and competitive season: this was ultimately achieved and we are already looking forward to the next one!

Nick De Luca, 2XI Coach

Against Dollar Academy, we had our first 50 of the season, where Angus R made 53* off 53 balls as we scored 143-1 in 20 overs. Unfortunately, rain curtailed the game when we had the opposition at only 20-4, with Ewan G taking 2 wickets for 5 runs.

A rematch against Fettes followed, and with a few of our boys missing, we were thoroughly outclassed. A 69-run loss was the result, despite a valiant 42 from Dylan O.

The first fixture of the term against George Watson’s was next. Watson’s made 117-7 batting first, with Egan H taking 3 for 28. A good run chase followed, as we won by 4 wickets in the final over. Hamish F top scored with 33 and a late flourish of 16* off 16 balls from Lewis F was vital in getting us across the line.

The much-anticipated quarter final of the U15 Cup was next, with a home tie against Stewart’s Melville. Unfortunately, we did not perform with the bat, as we were bowled out for only 86 runs. Despite a valiant effort in the field, including William M bowling 4-1-14-2, we ended up as losers by 5 wickets. The U15 Cup dream was over for

another year.

However, there was still much cricket left in the season. Another game against Fettes was next, who restricted us to 117-5 in our 20 overs (Angus R 53*). Despite Hamish F taking 3-17 off his 4 overs, Fettes won the game by 6 wickets.

We again fielded a weakened side in our re-match against George Watson’s, who amassed an impressive 1638. In response, we worked hard to reach 122-8 but ended up losing by 41 runs.

The annual U15 Cricket Festival took place in the penultimate week of term, this year hosted by Glenalmond. On the first day, we took on Bryanston from Dorset, who scored 147-6 in their 25 overs. An excellent run chase followed, with Dylan O leading the charge with 50 off 39 balls, as we were bowled out in the final over, leaving us 7 runs short.

The longest game of the season, a 40-over game, against Glenalmond, followed on Day 2. Batting first, we amassed an impressive 249-8. Egan H was the star of the show, scoring 102* off 54 balls, which included 8 sixes! We bowled Glenalmond out for 168, resulting in a comfortable 81-run victory.

The final day of the Festival saw a T20 against an

unbeaten Nottingham High School side. Bowling first, we performed admirably to restrict the opposition to 119-6 in their 20 overs (Ibrahim K was the pick of the bowling with 2 for 16). However, Nottingham were a bit too strong with the ball and bowled us out for 90, resulting in a 29-run loss. Despite the result, the Festival was a great success, with boys raising their performances on the pitch, and behaving impeccably off it.

The final game of the season was a special one, as we hosted the Scotland Women’s U19s in preparation for the U19 World Cup. Bowling first, we were disciplined with our line and length, and backed the bowlers up superbly in the field, as we restricted the opposition to 91-7 from 20 overs (Hamish F 3 for 17). We paced our response well, winning by 8 wickets in the 15th over, Jack D top scoring with a patient 29*.

Overall, the season was a very successful one. A great group of boys, who played positively and respectfully throughout; they have been a pleasure to coach. I wish them all the best as they move up to senior cricket next season and look forward to seeing their progress.

Matthew Hillier, U15A Coach

U15B CRICKET

This year’s iteration of the Merchiston U15Bs is surely one of the finest that this proud old School has known. Expertly led by Sam O as Captain, supported wonderfully by Blair A and Kyle D as Vice-Captains (and to a far lesser degree by Mr Hall and Dr Mechie as coaches), the U15Bs exemplified everything that is great about cricket as a participation sport. We won six of our ten games - which would quite possibly have been seven of ten had the rain not so prodigiously intervened to force our game against Dollar to be abandoned - scoring 852 runs and taking 73 wickets.

However, it is not really about the results, impressive as they were: it is about the spirit in which the games were played - which was always exemplary - and about the individual and collective memories that come from them. We had Noah N taking two wickets from the last two balls of his only over against Strathallan, the same game in which Roddy M-S battered us to victory with 20 not out. We had Arthur B running round from wicketkeeper to take a steepling catch against SMC; we had Archie S taking an absolutely blinding one-handed catch to dismiss a nuggety, set batsman in our home victory over GWC. We

had unbeaten 50s from Will M, in an unsuccessful chase to Fettes, and Jack R, in a powerful win against EA. We had loads and loads of unbelievable ground fielding: no-one scores runs where Will B fields; Joel vB’s arm is not to be run against; Xander MB and Hamish H build the fastest of long barriers to stop twos and threes becoming fours.

The boys developed their skills with bat and ball, and it was great to watch James Y and Laurie P becoming wickettakers and Fergus W a wicketkeeper. Guillermo VM and Jessie M had never played cricket before but have learned to bat, bowl and to field and will be welcomed on to social cricket teams wherever they go!

For many of the boys, the last game of an Under 15B season represents the end to a cricketing journey, but that will not be the case for a number of this year’s vintage, who will be assets to cricket teams of the future at Merchiston and beyond. Well done, boys, on a fantastic season and a huge thank you from your coaches, who have loved working with you this year!

Calum Mechie & Ben Hall, U15B Coaches

U14A CRICKET

It was a challenging but brilliant season for the U14A cricket team. The full squad, including the B team, which often had players ready for the call up when needed, showed immense effort and determination, both in games and training sessions across the short but busy term. Overall, we had eighteen boys step up and represent the School at U14A. This showed the positive competition amongst the squads, with players pushing each other to keep improving.

The first game of the season took us away to Strathallan, starting off the season with a 37-run win. Jack D and Will G, playing a year group up, hit 54* and 44*, demonstrating a very mature and technical batting performance, with the team finishing on 160 from 20 overs. A strong fielding performance closed the game out, restricting the opposition from scoring runs.

We then travelled the next week to Stewart’s Melville College, who showed a very spirited performance to scrape a win, with one wicket to spare. Gabriel C took 2 for 7 from his 4 overs, almost closing the game out. Despite losing the fixture, the boys learnt a very valuable lesson of focussing on the basics. We lost but we learnt!

Edinburgh Academy was up next for the boys, who again showed a real determination against a strong opposition. We lost by six wickets in the end. However, James R (22) and Gabriel C (21) showed a spirited fight at the lower end of the batting order to post a respectable run chase. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete the victory, with some strong performances with the bat from EA. We continue to build.

Our first of three matches against George Watson’s was a nail biter. Despite being restricted to only 89 runs after the 20 overs, with Ruraidh V 21* at the end, we managed to bowl and field brilliantly, with Freddie A taking 3-10 and James R 2-8. This left GWC 78-9: however, they were able to get over the line, with Merchiston throwing everything they had at them to get that final wicket.

We then travelled back to Stewart’s Melville College, and managed to equal the scores with a convincing 106 run win. Massive congratulations to Adam W, who scored 82*, with 11 fours and a 6, and Hamish F also scoring 61. We finished 190-2 - a remarkable knock from the boys, who were supported brilliantly from the team-mates on the side line. In the field, Callum W came into the team with a master performance with the ball, taking 6-23 - a brilliant debut, backed up by a full team performance in the field,

bowling SMC all out for 84. We followed this up with a good win against Fettes College, achieving back-to-back wins for the boys, who were playing with real confidence, both with the bat and the ball. Freddie A stood out, with 26 runs with the bat and three key wickets which controlled the run chase, closing out the victory.

The final two fixtures vs GWC were both quite a challenge. GWC showed their quality in bowling, but the boys showed resilience, fighting to the end of each game – however, both ended in losses.

To finish off the season, we welcomed Newcastle School for Boys, who were up for a short cricket tour of Scotland. The boys rallied after the recent defeat, showing a great desire to finish on a good performance. Angus R and Hamish F started strongly with the bat, hitting 28 and 37, with the team posting 132, a very respectable score with NSB bowling well. Finishing the season strongly, the bowling attack won the game, with NSB, who demonstrated a well-prepared batting line up, bowled out for 50 runs: Arjun K took 3-3 from 3 overs, and Hamish F took 2-1 - the perfect ending to the season.

It was a real pleasure working with the U14A team this term. Every player gave his all, through challenging weather, busy fixture list, and constant squad rotation. Well done to Tom B, who captained the team this year with a very mature and level-headed approach from behind the wicket and as opening batsman. Further congratulations go to Freddie A, who won the Bowler of the Year, and Adam W, who won the Batsman and All-round Player of the Year award. All awards were fiercely competed for.

Thanks go to Daniel Da Costa, who coached the boys alongside myself this year. He brought experience and standards to each session, from which every member of the squad benefitted greatly.

Callum Nicol, U14A Coach

U14B CRICKET

The Under 14B team this year had a mixed season. With nine fixtures in the calendar, the first vs Heriot’s was lost to the water-logged early season pitches, following some April downpours. An away match vs Strathallan, as our first match, resulted in a comfortable 87-run victory for Merchiston, with solid batting performances from Lucas S, Thomas R and Lewis K, and excellent bowling from Lachlan M and Toby C. Tougher challenges were to follow, and a very evenly-contested second game was lost by 11 runs at ESMS. Lachlan M, with a knock of 42, and Lewis K shared a 62-run partnership, which saw the team come close, but not close enough, to victory. An excellent victory followed at EA, but rain, unfortunately, put pay to the Dollar fixture. Away losses followed to strong Watson’s and ESMS teams. The old adage ‘catches win matches’ came to the fore several times throughout the season, whereby our

catching, in particular, let us down. In the latter part of the season, there was a tight bowling performance by Orhan B in a close game vs Fettes, in which Matthew R also excelled with a very energetic batting performance to try to see us over the line.

Overall, the boys learnt a lot, improving as a team, and as individuals, throughout the season. Work was done on improving field-settings specific to match situations and the bowlers became more specialised in their role within the team. Batsmen also learnt important lessons around playing to the match situation. Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable season - we hope, going forward, you can get more enjoyment from the game as you progress through the School.

Robin Greenwood & Richard Glover, U14B Coaches

PRINGLE 1XI CRICKET

It has been another excellent season for the Pringle 1XI this year. As ever, this season is not defined by the wins and losses but by the development made throughout the team. Having said this, posting 12 wins out of the 18 games played, including making the finals of the two tournaments, shows a successful season on and off the park.

As ever each year, there have been a couple of themes that we always focus on: support each other on and off the field; and mistakes are okay - that is how we learn and play, with a smile on your face. We knew if we did these things, on top of working hard, then everything else would fall into place.

Like every team around the country, it was a slow start to the season with the ‘early summer’ weather being the victor! Our eagerly anticipated opening weekend fixtures against Cargilfield and Sedbergh fell foul to the rain for the second year in a row. As frustrating as this was, it did not dampen the team’s spirits and the players got off to a fast start, with comfortable early season victories against Craigclowan, Fettes and Ardvreck.

With the team performing so well, this provided opportunities for some of the boys to play up for older age groups at various times. This was just reward for the hard work they put in but also provided opportunities for other boys to take on more responsibility and take on a more prominent role within the Pringle 1XI.

This ultimately had an impact on a couple of results against Edinburgh Academy, Stewart’s Melville and a strong Belhaven Hill side. However, the experience that was gained led to excellent team wins against Loretto, St Mary’s and George Watson‘s College, without being reliant on the

same boys.

It was this collective effort that led the team to winning both the Glenalmond 6s and Merchiston Super 8s.

In the Glenalmond 6s, there were strong wins against Strathallan, Ardvreck and Perth Doo’cot Cricket Club, but the team fell narrowly short against Belhaven Hill, thanks to some smart running between the wickets and excellent fielding from the East Lothian outfit.

In the Merchiston Super 8s, a competition that has been running for a number of years now that sees the best of Edinburgh’s school and club cricket scene come together, the team played some of its best cricket of the season. With commanding performances against Grange Cricket Club and Murrayfield DAFS Cricket Club, the boys bounced through to the final filled with confidence. Waiting for them was the long-anticipated fixture with a very well organised Cargilfield side.

The confidence paid off, with the batters coming out with all guns blazing, setting a total of 84 in the team’s 8 overs. Early wickets put Merchiston further on top; however, an excellent middle order partnership saw the game come down to the last over. Needing 12 to win from the last 6 balls, the Cargilfield batters timed their innings perfectly, bringing the game home with two balls to spare - truly a wonderful spectacle for cricket talent in Edinburgh.

It has been another fantastic season this year, with clear development made from every member of the squad. The biggest achievement, however, has been to see the love for the game grow in each individual - the future is bright!

Alasdair Evans, Pringle 1XI Coach

PRINGLE 2XI CRICKET

The goal of the Pringle 2XI each and every year is to provide a platform for boys to increase their experience and confidence in hard ball cricket. It is a group that always starts the year blending cricketing background and knowledge, from having never heard of the sport to longtime enthusiastic followers. By the end of the year, however, we always end up with a squad of all-round cricketers with a huge passion and love for the game. This year was no

different.

The rain meant it was a slow start to the season and there was not much love for the sport! However, once May finally arrived, we were up and running and we never looked back. From the eight games that were completed, there were four wins and four losses, with wins against Craigclowan, Loretto, St Mary’s and George Watson’s College. Strong Belhaven Hill and Edinburgh Academy

sides provided good tests for the boys, and the lessons learnt from these games provided invaluable experiences for them to develop. Very narrow losses to both Fettes and Stewart’s Melville also provided the group with learning opportunities, and showed how such fine margins can ultimately swing games.

For the second year in a row, we were able to take a group of Pringle 2XI boys to take part in the Strathallan 8s tournament. Although it was a soft ball tournament, it gave the boys the exposure to tournament play for the first time, and was even more challenging with it being against other schools’ 1st teams. This showed, as the team made a slow

U11 CRICKET

The boys played a number of schools this year, in both home and away fixtures. The schools include: Ardvreck, The Edinburgh Academy, St Mary’s, Belhaven, George Watson’s College, Stewart’s Melville, Fettes, Craigclowan, Loretto, and Carlton Cricket Club, as well as the Merchiston Super 8s and Glenalmond 6s.

They put on an excellent display of fielding, bowling and batting in their wins against Craigclowan, Ardvreck and Loretto, and they also played well and narrowly came second against Fettes, The Edinburgh Academy, St Mary’s and George Watson’s College.

The Super 8s was a great day out for the boys who took part. Mr Da Costa reports that “they really seemed to enjoy being out there and competing. Even though the results did not go our way, the team improved in all facets of the game each time it took the field”. He goes on to say that “the boys achieved our highest run total in the final game of the tournament, as well as the best bowling performance they had had in all three games”.

The spirit in which the U11 cricket team players have trained and played together has been fantastic - always willing to learn and to improve their game. Their favourite elements from the training sessions include: playing small cricket games and focussing in on their team work; catching practice – with a one-hand catch, being rewarded by moving up the line, that you stay

start, losing to Dundee High School and Loretto. However, showing an ability to adapt quickly and learn, they came back strongly in the afternoon, beating both Morrison’s Academy and the eventual winners, Strathallan.

It has been a season of evaluation and growth for the whole group, and a season that has moved the boys’ cricket forward. It has also been a season that has seen eighteen different boys get the chance to stretch themselves and gain exposure to hard ball cricket. It has been a hugely successful season for the Pringle 2XI.

Alasdair Evans, Pringle 2XI Coach

where you are if you catch with two hands, and if you drop the ball, you go to the end of the line.

It has been great to see the boys’ skills develop over the cricket season, and they themselves have recognised these improvements and have told me that they have learnt much about positioning in the field, whilst fielding, learning to spin bowl (quite a number of the boys reference the spin bowling training!), and improving accuracy when throwing the ball at the stumps when fielding, as well as catching and stopping the ball.

The boys were all asked about their funniest moment of the season and the unanimous moment was when one of the Merchiston players managed to lose grip of his bat, when he was trying to hit the ball, which resulted in the bat flying into the air! Over the many fixtures, their favourite moments have included the Melrose 6s, and only narrowly losing to St Mary’s School, and also, the various favourite catches during the season.

All of the boys were a pleasure to take away for fixtures, serving as fine ambassadors for Merchiston; during fixtures, they were always very supportive of one another as well displaying high levels of positive sportsmanship towards opposing school teams.

Will Ogilvie-Jones, U11 Coach

ATHLETICS 2023-24

Wow, what a season! Well done to all the boys for their amazing progress.

The National Aquathlon kicked off the season, featuring boys combining with girls from St George’s School. The event took place in Glenrothes at the Michael Wood Leisure Centre. In addition to the mixed team, Joel VB competed in the U16 Individual event, showcasing impressive swimming and running splits. Joel finished 11th out of 50 competitors, marking a strong performance in a competitive field.

The Meadowbank sessions worked very well in collaboration with Fettes and Strathallan, with our boys fully engaging and setting ambitious targets for the summer ahead.

Our success extended to the Edinburgh Schools Competitions, in which four boys took time out of the halfterm holiday to team up with St George’s. Special congratulations to Toby G and Callum R, who, alongside two girls from St George’s, competed in the 100m, 600m, Long Jump, and Shot Putt. Their combined efforts earned them a gold medal against several other Edinburgh schools. Well done to Raife S and Logan M, who also joined forces with St George’s in the S1 age category and finished in an impressive third position, behind George Heriot’s and Edinburgh Academy.

We also saw remarkable achievements during the halfterm break at the National Championships held at Hutchesons’ Grammar School. Both relay teams performed

superbly, securing bronze medals in the U15 4x100m and the U18 4x100m events.

The national individual championships at Grangemouth on 7 and 8 June featured fourteen of our finely-tuned athletes competing against some of Scotland’s best. Although the weather was initially unco-operative, it improved as the competition progressed. All the boys competed well, gaining valuable experience and achieving numerous personal bests. Our stand-out performances included Theo DM, who won a bronze medal in the U19 Boys Shot Putt with a throw of nearly 11m, and Henry W, who also secured a bronze in the U19 Boys Long Jump with his first jump. Angus J achieved a personal best in the U15 Boys Javelin with a throw of 37.06m. However, Toby G stole the show with phenomenal performances in the U15 200m and 300m, becoming the National Champion in both events. Toby broke his own School record in the 200m final with a time of 23.94s, convincingly winning the gold. He then overcame a tough 300m heat, and a better lane draw in the final allowed him to run a superior race, ultimately winning the 300m with a time of 38.97s, making him a double track champion.

This year’s Sports Day took on a slightly different format, becoming a Whole School clan event, which included the Pringle Centre and Pringle House, and the Senior School. Due to unforeseen weather conditions, we had to postpone the event and move it to 13 June. Despite this, it was a terrific occasion, with many boys competing for their clans, achieving personal bests, and displaying physical prowess. The event was marked by fantastic support from peers and staff alike.

The last competitive track event of the year, the Franklin Tankard 5k race, took place on the sunny summer evening of 18 June. Over twenty athletes, along with some supportive staff members, competed for the last athletics trophy of the year. This open event was a thrilling competition for all at the School. Leading the charge were Gregor A and Joel VB, with Joel ultimately winning the race with an impressive sub-19-minute 5k time. Gregor A secured the silver position, and Morgan H earned a welldeserved bronze.

Finally, a heartfelt ‘well done’ to our captain of athletics, Kyle M. Kyle has been a superb leader and a dedicated member of the track and field team throughout his School journey. His commitment to the sport suggests a bright future in various track events. He has been a joy to coach over the years, and he will be sorely missed down at the arena. Well done, Kyle!

Craig Harrison, Head of Athletics

GOLF ACADEMY 2023-24

The year got off to a very wet start with two ISGA events being cancelled due to flooded golf courses. Indeed, one of the events, at The Marriott, Worsley Park, was called off on the morning of the event due to overnight rainfall! However, this afforded the opportunity for the team to bond and get to know one another on the road - there is no better place to do this!

On to the ISGA Scottish Matchplay and Merchiston faced Dollar away at Muckhart Golf Course, a lovely course set at the foot of the Ochil Hills. The three-person team, made up of William A, Archie C and Xavi Y came out on top, achieving 2½ points from 3. On to the final vs St Leonards in February!

Before Christmas, the Golf Academy ventured up to Crieff Golf Course to play Glenalmond in the first (away) leg of the British Schools Strokeplay. This was a four-person team, with the three lowest scores from four counting. Even without a practice round, Merchiston came out on top as winners, taking maximum points.

In the final few weekends prior to Christmas break, the boys enjoyed rounds at Longniddry and Craigielaw, the links providing the best playing surfaces around during the winter months! The Golf Academy also enjoyed a Christmas dinner together at our home course, Swanston, before the boys headed home for a well-earned break.

From the start of the Lent Term, the tournament schedule was loaded through to the end of Summer Term, providing a fantastic opportunity for almost all boys in the Academy to play competitive golf. Whilst the weather was not always kind during the depths of winter, we were fortunate to have access to the awesome facility at Kingsfield and the indoor simulators for training at the Stephen Gallacher Foundation. Utilising the latest Trackman and indoor putt view green was invaluable!

The first tournament of 2024 was the ISGA Scottish Matchplay final vs arch-rivals, St Leonards, one of the toughest teams in the country. However, Merchiston was very much a match for them. The final of the Scottish Matchplay was contested over the championship course at Leven Links in Fife, with two out of the three matches going down the last hole. Unfortunately, the result did not go our way (so close!) and we were pipped to the title, but a hotly-contested match always benefits the boys’ performance moving forwards.

A new addition to the Golf Academy in 2024/2025 was the introduction of guest speakers. Before the start of a

busy run of tournaments, we were delighted to welcome Mr Peter Arnott to School to address the boys. Mr Arnott is an accomplished performance and practice coach who is respected the world over, has written numerous books, manages a Podcast called ‘Practice Thinker’, and works with many elite professionals. Mr Arnott’s approach captivated the boys, challenged their thinking on their practice process and provided some new approaches for the Golf Academy to adopt.

The end of February saw Merchiston’s home leg of the ISGA British Schools League vs Glenalmond, which took place over the wonderful links at Craigielaw Golf Club. Another strong team performance and win meant that we had qualified for the Nationals Finals in April! The following day, Merchiston hosted a triangular junior golf event over the Templar Course at Swanston, and included junior teams from Loretto and Edinburgh Academy. The format was an 18-hole stableford competition, over two rounds of the amazing Templar Par3 course at Swanston. This was an eight-person team event, with the best six scores to count. We were delighted that Merchiston once again came out on top, beating our two local rivals!

More good news followed with confirmation that Golf Academy Captain, William A, had signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of San Diego, for August 2024! This is an amazing opportunity for William to further his studies whilst competing on the US College circuit, following in the footsteps of Merchistonian and 2023 Scottish Amateur Champion, Cameron Adam (currently at Northwestern in Chicago).

The next batch of tournaments was once again affected by adverse weather, notably the ISGA Northern Open at Fleetwood Golf Club and a triangular match at Ramside Hall, Durham, both of which were called off. However, this did not dampen spirits as the Golf Academy added a visit to play the world-class Dumbarnie Links into its schedulea real treat for the boys, a tough track with a scorecard in hand, with incoming Captain of School and Captain of the Golf Academy, Archie C, taking the spoils with a +1 round of 73 in challenging conditions.

Next up was a match vs Loretto with the Middle / Seniors at Longniddry. The team, made up of Archie C, Ross S, Ivan B and Roland G, fought hard for a 2-2 draw in a very competitive match.

The annual UVI Leavers vs Staff golf match was keenly anticipated and competed over Duddingston Golf Course

during the May half-term holiday. After the staff losing this match the previous two years, they were motivated not to allow this to happen three years in a row, and came out on top, 3-1, on a glorious sunny evening. Mr De Luca even played, and together with cricket ace Mr Da Costa, made their point!

June had a loaded month of golf events, prior to the summer break. First up was the annual Merchistonian match at Muirfield, a real experience for the boys, with lunch in the famous club house before a foursome match. It was a glorious summer’s day with little wind, which is a rarity, and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the Muirfield experience!

Following Muirfield, the Golf Academy then enjoyed a

match vs Summerfield Boys’ School from Oxford, over Gullane #3. This match included six players in a four-ball format and saw Merchiston come out on top, providing another great opportunity for our Golf Academy players to connect with players from other schools further afield.

With further afield in mind, the following week, it was the Juniors’ opportunity to compete in the ISGA National Finals and National Open. These tournaments were competed over Radley College’s golf course, with the National Open close by the following day at Drayton Park. Unfortunately, the Junior Captain, Harry M, was injured during the warm-up at Radley and had to pull out. However, Harry showed strong leadership skills in advising and supporting the boys around a course only he had

played. The following day, Harry did likewise and was instrumental in his team mates (Jack D, Santiago H and Ollie S) WINNING the ISGA National Open - an awesome achievement as a team, and also with Jack finishing 3rd and Santiago 4th individually. It was another proud moment for all involved!

Into the final week of the Summer Term and there was no let-up in competition. We welcomed the Scotch College from Melbourne, Australia, for a match that involved all boys in the Golf Academy: friends were made, stories shared and it was another fantastic opportunity to connect with boys across the globe! Unfortunately, the match had to be abandoned after 12 holes due to thunder storms. Nevertheless, there was time enough to enjoy

international company!

The final golf event of the School year was a special one at the Renaissance Club on Scotland’s Golf Coast, East Lothian: a very kind invitation from Mr Paul Stevenson saw the majority of Golf Academy boys enjoy an experience not to be forgotten, walking in the footsteps of last year’s Scottish Open winner, Rory McIlroy, and runner up, Robert MacIntyre. The stands were up and the stage set for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open two weeks later, and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the course, set up for the cosanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour FedEx Cup event. What a year it has been!

Fraser Hutchison, Director of Golf

Senior School Rankings

Standings as of 25 June 2024

Top 40 and ties from over 200 schools

Junior School Rankings

Updated end of Season 2023-24

TENNIS 2023-24

This has been another strong year in tennis and there have been many very pleasing achievements within our Tennis Academy programme.

Notable achievements this year have included: 6th Place finish at the LTA U18 Youth Cup British Championships in Nottingham.

The team consisted of:

• Thure G

• Vincent V

• Sushanth S

• Lance N

• Michael C

Winners of the U18 Scottish Schools Cup, beating Strathallan in the final in a tense tie break shoot-out, fighting back from 3-1 down.

The team consisted of:

• Lance N

• Michael C

• Sushanth S

• David D

Huge congratulations go to David D, who was crowned U14 British Doubles Champion in October. It is amazing to see Merchiston represented at such a high level, and also competing for titles and trophies at the premier tennis events across the whole of the British Isles.

Well done, David!

Finally, it was great to see this year, Merchiston alumni Jacob Fearnley and Johannus Monday competing at Wimbledon for the first time as a doubles pair, after claiming their maiden ATP tour title on the men’s professional circuit at Nottingham. Jacob and Johannus were with us at Merchiston from Pringle through to the Upper Sixth and it has been fantastic to see their continued success through the US College Pathway and onto the ATP Tour - what a great inspiration to our boys and players!

In addition to the performance element of our programme, the introduction of House tennis on Monday evenings and continuation of our Merchi Minis have been well received. These introductions allow players to ‘discover’ the game of tennis and, hopefully, to plant a life-long love of the game into the next generation of tennis players.

Overall, approximately 57 boys play tennis consistently across the year every week, which is 15% of our School population. This represents a good return, especially in

areas of talent identification from within our School Sports Programme.

The introduction of our vision and strategic framework motivates us to capture specific information each week during our programme and the note below presents a breakdown of what has happened. Even our staff attend academic lessons to see how our teachers and boys work in the classroom.

Our Tennis Academy Objectives for the 5-year period 2022-27 are:

Simon Pender, Director of the Tennis Academy

CROSS COUNTRY

This year, we have seen a significant increase in boys wanting to participate in cross country. This surge in interest is probably due to the new Monday activity, introduced by Mr De Luca in the Lent Term. We anticipate this trend will continue to grow in the coming years.

Hamilton Cross Country was a new addition to our calendar this year, held at Hamilton Race Course. Despite the wet conditions, it set us up well for the season. We took a squad of six talented athletes from III Form and IV Form to compete in the Boys U14 event, which we won convincingly. The annual Strathallan Cross Country event saw our participation this year, as the Scottish Schools Indoor Championships were not running. I took a strong squad of boys to compete. Here are the accolades:

 Group D Winner: Ollie S

 Group C Winner: Gregor A

 Notable Performances: Oliver W and Morgan H secured respectable 4th and 5th places respectively.

Whole School Clan Cross Country

On Monday 19 February, the Whole School Clan Cross Country generated a lot of buzz around the campus and was a significant success. It was a cracking day with some unbelievable races, following the normal format of three separate races spread across the afternoon activity slot. Additionally, a sprint race was held at the start of each event, awarded to the first student to run the length of the 1XV pitch from the starting flag-pole, making for some incredibly fast starts.

Junior Event

 Winning Clan: Redford

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: Harry L

 2nd Place: Archie G

(a particularly impressive result, given that Archie is only in the First Form)

 1st Place: Ollie S

Middle Years Event

 Winning Clan: Dreghorn

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: Ruaidhrí V

 2nd Place: Gregor A

(also took 3rd place overall in the whole School)

 1st Place: Joel VB (also took 2nd place overall in the whole School)

Senior Event

 Winning Clan: Spylaw

 Top 3 Finishers:

 3rd Place: William G

 2nd Place: Morgan H

 1st Place: Oliver W (fastest in the whole School)

Sprint Winners

 Juniors: Will G

 Middle Years: Toby G

 Seniors: Teo T

Scottish Independent Schools' Invitational Cross Country Championships

This event took place on a cold Sunday at the end of February. The coastal route at Belhaven exposed the harsh Scottish conditions, but it did not prevent the six Pringle boys from giving their all and representing the School superbly. All runners gained valuable experience, setting themselves up for the Merchiston Relays Championships next. This home event was a roaring success, with a record number of participants. All teams competed with enthusiasm, and congratulations must go to the U11 boys, who were the only Merchiston team to get a podium finish, taking bronze behind well-accomplished Belhaven and Compass teams.

National Cross Country Championships

The final event of the cross country season was the National Cross Country Championships at Hopetoun House. We only had one boy representing the School as it was an incredibly busy time of the year. Gregor A represented the School superbly, demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication, and posting a fantastic time. Congratulations to all our runners for their outstanding achievements and hard work throughout the cross country season. We look forward to even greater participation and success in the future.

Craig Harrison, Head of Physical Education

BADMINTON

Lent Term Overview

The tail end of the Autumn and the Lent Term marked a significant resurgence for the Merchiston badminton team, with training sessions held on Wednesday afternoons. The initial turnout of five keen players swelled to over twenty by the end of the term, reflecting growing enthusiasm and participation.

Fixtures and Competitions

All fixtures were held in collaboration with St George’s School, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork. The season’s first fixture was the Edinburgh regional competition against Stewart’s Melville and Mary Erskine’s Schools. Both the boys and girls adapted admirably to this new challenge, progressing through narrowly to face Boroughmuir High School. Unfortunately, due to a player shortage, Boroughmuir could not fulfil the fixture, allowing Merchiston to advance to the final, scheduled for 12 March.

National Gibb Memorial Secondary Quaichs

On Wednesday 28 February, a group of five enthusiastic boys from Merchiston travelled to Glasgow to compete in the prestigious National Gibb Memorial Secondary Quaichs. This mixed-sex competition required them to combine efforts with five talented girls from St George’s. The invitational event featured six teams from across Scotland.

Pool Matches Results

MCS/StG’s 7 vs 3 Berwickshire

MCS/StG’s 5 vs 5 Elgin

Team MCS/StG’s Elgin Berwickshire

2 2 2

1 1 0

1 1 0

Having won their pool, MCS/StG’s faced a formidable Williamwood High team in the final match of the day. Despite a valiant effort, they narrowly lost 6-4, with the last two doubles matches being particularly intense. Nonetheless, the boys represented their School superbly, showcasing their resilience and team spirit.

Edinburgh Regional Final

On Tuesday 12 March, the mixed badminton team faced George Heriot’s in the Edinburgh Regional Final. This historic match was crucial as neither school had previously won the trophy. The ten players competed in boys’ singles, boys’ doubles, mixed doubles, girls’ singles, and girls’ doubles across ten matches. The final outcome hinged on the last boys’ doubles match, which concluded with a narrow 24-22 victory for Heriot’s. Despite the loss, the boys demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, making their School proud.

Conclusion

The resurgence of the Merchiston badminton team this Lent Term has been remarkable. The growth in participation and the team’s commendable performances in both regional and national competitions highlight a bright future for the sport at Merchiston. Well done to all the players for their hard work and dedication this season.

Craig Harrison, Head of Physical Education

BASKETBALL REPORT 2023-24

A huge ‘well done’ to the boys this year, both for being patient in the wait for fixtures, and also for the continuous effort put in during the training sessions: this has made my first year as one of the basketball coaches a very enjoyable experience. The first term, unfortunately, did not have any fixtures, but credit to the boys, who turned up to each training session prepared and ready to give maximum effort. We focussed on being the hardest working team and were ready to go when the first opportunity arrived. Adrian H (Upper VI) captained the 1st V basketball team this year, with Gabriel P (V Form) acting as vice-captain. They both showed a lot of pride in receiving these roles, demonstrating good leadership and attitude, both during training sessions and matches.

Finally, the first fixture arrived - an U18 1st V game at home against a strong Strathallan team which had already played a number of fixtures. The boys put in a very good performance, remaining competitive for the full match. However, they ended up falling short, with the final score being 27-39. Joey H (LVI) was named ‘Man of the Match’ for his unrelenting effort and determination throughout the game.

The second game was another home fixture, against George Watson’s College, in what can only be described as a THRILLER! With ten seconds left in the game and the score at 48-49 to Watson’s, the ball was passed out to the captain on the 3-point line. Unphased by the pressure, he made the shot - 51-49 to Merchiston! Unfortunately, but credit to Watson’s, they managed to get the ball quickly up the court, making a ‘buzzer beater’ shot to draw the game level: 51-51 was the final score-line. Adrian was given ‘Man of the Match’ for his brilliant all-round performance, and

almost game-winning moment. It was a tough draw but the level of performance from all the boys involved was incredible.

Still in the search for the first victory, Glenalmond College was the next team to visit Merchiston to challenge us in a match that we won 54-39. This was the ‘game of the season’, with a monumental performance from Gabriel P, who scored 40 of our points: what an incredible achievement, backed up by the team around him, and a great overall performance to bring about the first victory of the season. This provided the perfect ending to the season for the U18 team: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

The U15 Development team had a fixture away to Trinity Academy. This was a great opportunity for the younger boys just starting their basketball careers to challenge themselves in a game environment. The team played a brilliant match, with a large squad rotating on, winning 3422. Although a solo fixture at this level, hopefully it will have encouraged the boys to keep going with the sport over the next few years.

Good luck to Adrian H, Oliver Z and Richard Z who are leaving Merchiston after a number of years in the U18 1st V. We wish them all the best in their next challenges and hope they continue playing basketball at the high standard which they have delivered throughout their Merchiston careers.

Massive thanks go to Cairn Simpson, who has also been coaching the team throughout the year, bringing high levels of knowledge and experience from which the boys have benefitted greatly.

Callum Nicol, Basketball Coach

CLAY TARGET SHOOTING

Eight senior boys, including three clay target novices, attended the Harburn Gun Club grounds each week this Summer Term and developed their skills on the various ranges. The weather was very variable, but in the last two weeks of term, the sun appeared and conditions were much improved. The end of term competition for the CT Shooting Cup saw a tie between William T (centre) and Cikai C (right), with William taking the Cup in a sudden death shoot-off. Third place went to Sam F (left). Congratulations to all the boys who learnt much about competition shooting, and for those who thought they knew everything – well, let’s just say that they probably learnt the most from our excellent coaches!

Peter Golden, CR

FIVES

It has been another excellent year for Merchiston fives, with some strong performances at Scottish and UK National level. In the U18 Scottish Schools Singles, William G and Oliver G both impressed by winning their respective groups, before both fell in the semi-finals of the Cup.

On Sunday 10 March, Jack D, William G, Alan T and Logan M travelled down to St Paul’s School in London for the U13 UK National Schools Fives Championships. In the singles, all four boys were unbeaten in winning their groups, before all four were successful in the last 16 of the Cup knockout stages. In the quarter-finals, Jack was drawn against William, and Alan was drawn against Logan. Jack and Logan were both victorious. They both then defeated their opponent in the semis to reach the final. Jack was crowned the UK U13 Singles Champion with an 11-2, 11-2 victory. This meant that the only singles games Merchiston lost were against opponents from Merchiston! In the doubles, Alan and Logan fell narrowly at the quarter final stage, before going on to win the Bowl. Jack and William progressed through the rounds very smoothly, dropping only one point, before defeating St Paul’s 15-4 in the final to become the UK U13 Doubles Champions - a very successful day and two trophies never previously won in the School’s history!

Two weeks later, eight boys travelled back to St Paul’s School in London for the U18 and U14 UK National Schools Fives Championships. The first day saw Oliver G and William G compete in the U18 singles, where both boys won their

game in the round of 32, before being knocked out in the last 16. This meant that they entered the Plate, where they both went through the rounds, reaching the final on different sides of the draw. An all-Merchiston final therefore followed, where Oliver came out as Plate winner with a 155 victory over William. This meant the boys finished as 9th and 10th in the UK at U18 Singles - a great achievement! Day two saw the start of the U14 Singles, as well as the U18 Doubles. In the latter, Oliver and William worked hard to reach the Plate final, where they finished as runners-up. In the former, five out of the six U14 boys won their groups to proceed to the last 16 of the Cup. Four boys reached the quarter-finals, with James R and William G both going one step further to reach the semi-finals. Four out of the top eight and two out of the top four at U14 Singles; a very impressive result! The final day brought the U14 Doubles and another strong showing from the boys. All three pairs reached the quarter finals of the Cup. Angus J and Angus R fell here, before going on to win the Bowl. James R and Hamish F lost a tough semi-final 2-1, whilst Jack D and William G lost 2-0 in the other semi-final to the eventual winners. Two out of the top four at U14 Doubles again shows the talent and hard work of the boys.

Some very pleasing results across the season and a lot to proud of!

Matthew Hillier, Master i/c Fives

FOOTBALL

Merchiston’s 2023-2024 1XI football team was a skilful group of players. We had a tough season in the SISFA Cup competition, in which we were grouped with Heriot’s, Clifton Hall, Fettes and Dollar. We were coached by the maestro Mr Lieberman, who led the team through the year with his vintage tactics and his passionate speeches. We were joined again by Kevin Macdonald, who is a professional coach with the Kevin Thomson Academy; his experience and knowledge of the game, and his expert tactics and training drills, allowed us to better ourselves in every training session.

Our opening game of the season was at home vs Glenalmond: due to it being a new season, we had a revamped side consisting mostly of Lower Sixth formers, but our key pillar of the team was our captain, Kyle M. Unfortunately, we started the game badly, going down 1-0 in the first couple of minutes, but with the help of our new striker, Marten L, we were able to turn the tide: by half-time, the score was 2-1, with goals from Logan B and Martin L to put us ahead. In the second half, the onslaught continued as we cruised to a 5-2 win, with Yao A, Kieran W and Carlos PM scoring, and a very impressive performance from the whole team. This was a confidence boost for the season ahead with our rapid ‘tiki-taka’ football, somewhat resembling 2015 Barcelona with our own Neymar, Suarez and Messi up front. Just a week later, we travelled to our regular opponents and rivals, Fettes. They were swept aside: the game was a 9-goal thriller, but turned quite scrappy towards the end due to high tensions and hot heads! It ended 5-4, with Magnus VO scoring in the last seconds of the game - we were victorious!

The last two of our friendlies were against Stewart’s

Melville and Loretto. Against Stewart’s Melville, we took the lead 2-1 at half-time with goals from Kyle M and Martin L. Sadly, that was not enough and our opponents eventually secured a victory 6-3. Swiftly moving on, we travelled away to play Loretto and came into this game confident and ready, instantly bouncing back from the previous defeat with an impressive performance and devastating 5-3 victory, courtesy of Logan B and Martin L double scores. For some of the more experienced players, this was a brilliant day as we avenged the loss from last season. After the four friendlies leading up to our SISFA competition, we were sitting at 3 wins, 1 loss, and 18 goals scored, with 15 being conceded. We then travelled to our first Cup game against Heriot’s. After an intense week of training, followed by a warm up that prepared us for battle, we were ready. However, the final score was 7-0 to Heriot’s: with some of the boys forgetting how to kick a football, we could be compared to Barcelona again, but this time the 8-2 onslaught against Bayern Munich! This defeat was a massive blow to the team’s morale but we knew we had to bounce back by swiftly moving on to our second Cup game, which had to be a victory, against Clifton Hall away.

Ready to redeem ourselves, we were prepared and willing to do what was needed to win. However, the first half did not go to plan and we were down 3-2. However, with an inspired tactical change from Dr Mechie, bringing on the super-sub Ali J, who managed to score two quick goals at the start of the second half: the second goal was especially good, with Ali opening up the defence with skill before slotting it in. Our stamina and pace were too much for our opponents as we scored four goals, putting us in a great position. Magnus VO finished the game with another

final minute goal, giving us a 5-3 victory.

With the team back on track, we prepared for an intense game against Fettes at home. However, this time our team was not at full strength because of injury, most notably to our vice-captain, Kieran W. Securing a win here would put us in the driving seat to qualify. A tight and uncomfortable game followed, with Teiyoon K forgetting what sport he was playing and deciding to use his defensive prowess to suplex the Fettes striker. An unlucky second half saw us go 3-0 down and at the final whistle we knew that the last Cup game would be a struggle. To everyone’s joy, we did extract some revenge later on in the season with a 6-2 thumping of the same Fettes team, with Logan B scoring another double, followed by goals from Kieran W, Krish K, Marten L and Massimo C – our exciting new academy product from whom we expect big things next season.

For our last Cup game, we faced a seemingly unstoppable Dollar team; this game would be a challenge like no other. On the bus to the game, tension was high and we were all nervous because, earlier in the season, Dollar had beaten George Heriot’s 5-0; this was the same team that beat us 70. On the way to the game, Mr Lieberman said: “if you lads win today, I will buy you all champagne and we will have a party in VIA Club” - we knew what had to be done!

David comments: “This was personally my favourite match and it was an especially amazing performance for the Merchiston back four, consisting of Nathan C, Teiyoon K, myself and Magnus V O.”

Some tactical changes were made by Mr Lieberman, with Hamish M added to the team and Kyle M deployed in goal due to William G’s injury. We provided a defensive strategy like no other, reminiscent of prime AC Milan! We held on throughout the game, with Krish K and Marten L providing some expert passing throughout the pitch. However, on this rainy day, luck was not on our side and we were defeated. The decisive moment came when a through ball was misjudged by Teiyoon and Kyle, which led

to a penalty being given away. In the moments that followed, a low driven penalty in the bottom right corner proved too much for goalkeeper Kyle, and Dollar took the lead 1-0. After several missed goal-scoring opportunities in the extremely poor conditions, the referee’s whistle blew and we were sadly knocked out of the competition. This is where our SISFA journey came to an end.

To recap the season, we started off with goals galore. We were on a rampage in the build-up to the Cup, with the likes of Logan and Marten netting several goals between them. We were well beaten by Heriot’s but, with a good win against Clifton Hall, we had the world at our feet. The game against Fettes was an all-round “bad day at the office”, with an easily winnable game going astray. Dollar was a game that was crying out for goals which never came. Overall, the team grew significantly in skill and chemistry over the season and we really came together to create friendships. This would not have been possible without Mr Lieberman, Dr Mechie and Kevin.

Kyle comments: “To reflect on my experience over the last three years of playing for the Merchiston 1XI, I have enjoyed the friendships I have made along the way, from starting at 15 years old to now, leaving it behind at the age of 18. I have enjoyed the many games I played and the growth of myself over time to become the captain, surrounded by a skilful and communicative team. Due to the countless training sessions taken by Mr Lieberman, and especially Kevin, I have found myself in a much better footballing position than I was nearly three years ago. It has also been great to see the football programme at Merchiston continue to grow, with 2XI, U16 and U15 teams all having competitive Cup matches. I hope now to continue and progress my footballing career and will never forget the memories and skills I picked up during my time at Merchiston.”

Kyle M (1XI Captain) and David O (2XI Captain and 1XI player)

HOCKEY

It has been another full-on year of hockey across all ages at Merchiston. Building on the increased opportunities for hockey from last year, there were another 80 plus games played, from U9s all the way up to U18s, showing the increasing popularity of the sport year on year. To enable the boys to expand their sporting opportunities, as well as in rugby, the Lent Term saw the boys in the Middle Years and Seniors years lose a rugby session each week to be replaced by another activity. This provided a huge boost to the hockey programme, as it gave a dedicated time slot each week for boys to focus and commit to their hockey, as individuals and within a team. The benefits of this were seen across all teams at all ages.

For the 1XI, it was a slow start to the season, being knocked out in the first round of the Cup 4-0 to Heriot’s, before bowing out of the Plate to Strathallan. With the early round of the Cup competition being in the Autumn Term, the boys were caught cold-footed. However, once the Lent Term started and the team started to train together regularly, performance and results quickly turned. After a narrow 2-0 loss to George Watson’s College, the team bounced back to beat GWC’s development 1XI 5-0, before going on to draw 1-1 with Loretto. The final game of the season saw the team finish on a high with a 2-1 win against a combined Balerno / Boroughmuir side, with captain of hockey, Freddie J, finishing off his School hockey career in style, scoring both goals. For Freddie J, Todd B, Teo T, Will G, Gabriel T, Harry D and Isaac F, this brought the curtain down on their Merchiston hockey careers. They have all been true servants to hockey at the School and will be missed.

Once again, this year saw the U15s and U14s combine to form two Colts teams, which were the ones that benefitted the most from the introduction of the new weekly training slot. The Colts A team enjoyed the best Cup run a Merchistonian hockey team has enjoyed in any Cup competition. After cruising through the first two rounds, with an 8-0 win against Robert Gordon’s and 5-0 to Grove Academy, the team found itself in the Cup semi-final for the first time.

Drawn against old rivals Edinburgh Academy, the boys had the pleasure of playing in front of a packed home crowd under Friday Night Lights!! Dominating the first half of the game without taking their chances, the team played with a confidence and belief that had not been seen before. Unfortunately, they were made to rue those missed chances, as EA scored quickly after half-time. However, the

team showed its true character: not letting their heads drop, they wrestled back momentum in the game, and after a well-worked team passage of play, Tom B calmly put the ball past the keeper to bring it all level. A frantic last ten minutes ensured, which saw Angus J make some incredible saves, as well as Ben H, James R, Toby G and Joel VB all get agonisingly close to scoring the winner. An hour’s hockey wasn’t enough to separate the teams, however, and it all came down to penalties! Despite a couple more excellent saves by Angus J, the team fell just short, losing 3-2. All credit must go to William M, Hamish F, Adam W, Toby G and Jack D for having the courage to step up and take a penalty for the team.

With other wins against Hutchesons’ and Loretto, as well as draws against George Watson’s College, it was a successful season for the Middle Years, with the players pushing themselves to new levels in the game.

In Pringle hockey, it was another busy term, with numerous fixtures against Stewart’s Melville, Cargilfield, Fettes, George Watson’s College, Craigclowan and Belhaven, across the U13, U11 and U10 age groups. With the early season weather rearing its ugly head, it was a slow start to the term, but all teams saw their performances and results improve significantly as the season went on. The U13As won two of their last three matches convincingly and the U13Bs were unbeaten in their last four matches.

The big finale to the season was the U11s hosting Merchiston’s first ever hockey tournament. It was a huge success, with seven teams from different schools coming from all over Scotland for a full morning of hockey on a sundrenched astroturf. The round robin format enabled all teams to play six full matches: everyone got to play everyone and the tournament provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to end the season on a high. The Merchiston team performed admirably throughout the competition, finishing fifth, with wins against Heriot’s and Belhaven and an agonising draw against George Watson’s College, just missing out on a top three position. However, with 70 plus boys all spending their morning with a smile on their face and hockey stick in their hand, the game of hockey was the real winner.

Finally, a special mention must go to Toby G and Tom B (both IV Form), who were selected to be part of the Scottish Hockey Emerging Boys’ Squads this year. Both have shown incredible hard work and dedication to their hockey in the last couple of years.

Alasdair Evans, Master i/c Hockey

SMALL-BORE SHOOTING 2024

In shooting, the academic year 23/24 has seen a reasonable amount of success in terms of the numbers attending the activity, representation in international squads, the annual shoot against the Merchistonians, and the national qualification for a Range Conducting Officer for a student.

Over the course of the year, twenty boys have shot in the range. Under the guidance and coaching of Mr David Thomson, a number of boys from the Fourth Form have had an introduction and continuation training in the basics of the Marksmanship Principles and the application of fire. Indeed, one boy, Ilian A, proved to be a natural and was fast tracked into the senior training sessions, where he has progressed to 10 bull targets. It is hoped that most of these boys will continue with the activity in the next academic year and enhance the skill sets gained this year.

The older year groups have progressed well, with 80% of them now self-coaching and achieving remarkable averages in the mid-90s. Richard T and Ryan W have scored in the high 90s and had cards placed on the Wall of Champions (requiring a score of 98 or greater), both being congratulated for their achievements at Whole School Assembly.

Richard T, Jake M and Ryan W were selected to represent Scotland in the British Schools Small-Bore Rifle Association (BSSRA) Home Internationals Competition, with Scotland

recording a mid-table result. The boys were all recognised in assembly with the presentation of Internationalist Ties.

Richard T, the captain of shooting for the past two years, completed his training and passed the assessment as a Range Conduction Officer, becoming only the fifth Merchiston boy to have achieved this qualification. This is a nationally-recognised qualification through the National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NSRA).

On Saturday 18 May, we welcomed the Merchistonians to the range for the annual shoot. The shoot was scored over eight cards per team, with four boys representing the student body, competing against seven former pupils, with the best eight cards to count (a rule which we may look to change next year). With a highest possible score of 800, the scores were Merchiston 676, Merchistonians 745. All the sixteen cards submitted by the two teams certainly made Lt Col Ewing feel his age, having now been at Merchiston so long that he has trained most of the Merchistonians as well as the current students!

This year, we say farewell to all in the shooting team and wish them all well for the future. The rebuild starts again in September with some very enthusiastic and keen shots in the mix.

Alan Ewing, Master i/c Shooting

Upper VI Art

EVENTS, SPEECHES & DINNERS

MERCHISTON’S SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION AND PRIZEGIVING 2024

HEADMASTER’S SPEECH

Ladies and Gentlemen, invited guests, Governors, Staff and Boys - good afternoon.

Today, as is now traditional at this gathering, we bring together our commemoration of the foundation of Merchiston Castle School and our Prizegiving Ceremony. In doing so, we begin by remembering the history of our glorious School and its founder, Charles Chalmers, with the following citation:

“Having started a School in the late 1820s, Chalmers took the lease of Merchiston Castle, the former home of John Napier of logarithm fame, which at that time stood in rural surroundings, and was it was there, in May 1833, that Chalmers opened his Academy. Charles Chalmers started with thirty boys. We took on the Napier motto “Ready, ay ready”, which exists to this day and remains embedded within our School values. Like his famous brother, the mathematician, physicist and theologian Dr Thomas Chalmers, Charles was an original thinker in Maths and Science. However, his vision was also broader than that, and a depth of intellectual curiosity in the wider arts was also fostered. As Merchiston grew, so did the boundaries of the City of Edinburgh. After WW1, in 1919 the School applied to the city council for permission to build a memorial hall. Apparently, permission was refused, so the Governors made the enlightened decision to move the School to Colinton so that the 210 students should once again enjoy the advantages of both town and country. The new School opened its doors in 1930 and continues to flourish.”

This afternoon, we celebrate the founding of this School and honour those who had and have the vision to make it what it is today.

Today I am delighted to welcome Mr Owen MoelwynHughes to Merchiston as our honoured guest and speaker. Owen is the Director of Global Student Affairs at the World Leading Schools Association. He is also a political consultant, most recently providing analysis on South Africa’s 2024 General Election and working with Pavocat, an organization specializing in counter-corruption and the laws of war. He has taught at Marlborough College and The

King’s School, Canterbury. With a strong interest in global affairs, he has organised student conferences on global issues at Chatham House, Royal United Services Institute, and the UK Defence Academy. He holds a Master’s degree in History from Exeter College, Oxford, and is a graduate of the University of Natal, with a BA and an LLB. His wife, Louise, is the Master of Marlborough College.

When Owen comes to speak, and we very much look forward to that, his theme will be ‘navigating the modern world in the age of confusion’. Not wishing to tread on his subject matter, I do want to lean on his theme to talk a little about the world of confusion in which we, the independent school sector, find ourselves at the moment.

Last year, our guest speaker was, like Owen, a teacher and he was a teacher who inspired me into the profession. Those of us who choose to teach, probably did so for a variety of different reasons: for me, it was an inspirational teacher whilst growing up; for others, it might be a passion for a subject, a desire to lead social change, an eagerness to challenge perceptions, to share skills or develop minds. Whatever our intrinsic motivation, I am sure that all of my colleagues in this Hall would agree that the importance of a high-quality, rounded education cannot be understated. That is our vision here at Merchiston: to set the standard for an education that is tailored to meet the needs of every individual; that readies them to be balanced, adaptable and imaginative citizens, who will seize the opportunities to make their unique impact on the world. Over recent years, we have seen enough disruption to education for so many young people, and that has only raised the importance of our work, making the Labour Party’s announcement to remove the charitable status of schools and the addition of VAT even more frustrating. As the General Election looms, the possibility of VAT on school fees has become a distinct and daunting reality. It is a punitive tax on the hard working, the aspirational; those who make huge sacrifices - you, the parents in this Hall who have chosen Merchiston to educate your sons.

What does the independent school sector bring to our

EVENTS, SPEECHES & DINNERS

society? HMC schools like Merchiston make a significant contribution to our national and local economies, as well as to the communities we serve. According to recent independent economic analysis:

• HMC schools like ours make an annual contribution of £7.3 billion to the UK economy, which is equivalent to the annual contribution of a city the size of Derby;

• HMC schools support over 142,000 UK jobs to the UK, meaning that HMC schools support more UK jobs than almost all of the UK supermarket chains;

• By pupils attending HMC schools instead of taking up state-funded spaces, the UK taxpayer saves the country £1.8 billion, which is sufficient to fund the state pensions of almost 200,000 people;

• HMC schools’ tax receipts total £2.2 billion, equivalent to £78 per household, and sufficient to fund the annual salaries of 60,000 nurses.

Labour’s policy will damage the significant and positive financial impact that the independent schools sector has on our national economy. Sir Kevan Collins, in his time as Education Recovery Tsar, called for the Government to invest £15bn in education to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The Labour Party rightly held the Government’s feet to the fire over this important report and its recommendations. So, it is all the more galling to see the Labour Party promote a policy that will put additional strains on the state-maintained sector and impose a tax on learning. This is a lose-lose policy. VAT on school fees is likely to see a significant number of children move from the independent sector to the state sector. This is not only disruptive to individuals’ education, but will inevitably reduce the billions the independent sector saves the Exchequer. Any additional revenue this policy will generate will be more than swallowed up by the increased cost of state education. The millions put towards bursaries provided to students every year in independent schools will come under significant pressure as schools seek to balance financial necessity with their determination to provide access to their schools. The average independent school has fewer than 300 pupils: very few conform to the stereotype and instead are medium-sized and longestablished institutions, working on tight budgets, with the aim of providing an excellent individualised education.

Whilst the definition of a charity is a legally complex one, independent schools have charitable status because they advance education and provide public benefit; they are not for profit. 100% of HMC schools - and Merchiston is amongst that number - are involved in partnerships with local schools, social organisations or nearby sports clubs, and provide real, tangible benefits to their local

communities. Whilst the cost of these activities is incalculable, the commitment to provide public benefit is often part of schools’ DNA; one of our core values at Merchiston (which you will see writ large on the wall downstairs) is committing to our community. We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the imposition of VAT should it come to pass, but it is a sad day in the educational landscape of the UK that sees our leaders choose to attack the best, rather than actually addressing the challenges of those most in need.

And perhaps, in the best interests of political balance, I must also question the Conservative Party’s plan to impose a National Service on 18-year olds. They should do two things with that policy, in my opinion. Firstly, they should stop making virtuous comparisons with the similar policy in place in Finland – unless they plan to follow the Finnish example and not charge fees on university places. And perhaps they should visit Merchiston, and not just on a Wednesday afternoon, when our many service activities run throughout the year, where our boys are giving back to their community, supporting local schools, clubs and charities, both with their time and through their fundraising efforts.

However, today, lest we forget, is about celebration – and there is much that we should and must celebrate, both in the course of the past year and as we look ahead.

If we look ahead first, the opening of our Forest Nursery and Junior School is now only months away, which is a hugely exciting development in the School’s history. I thank Davina Bowers and her team for the efforts they have put in to make The Forest the cutting edge of educational provision for our youngest pupils. We cannot wait to have our woodland filled with the laughter and learning of little ones.

Over the past year, we have watched our Middle Years Houses establish their identities in their new homes. The Chalmers refurbishment has been a wonderful addition to our boarding provision and, as promised, has delivered a sector-leading offering for the boys in the Fourth, Shell and Fifth Forms, and with Rogerson now home to our day boys, providing them with the space and facilities they deserve.

The shift in the structure of our boarding houses has also given rise to a rejuvenation of our Clan competitions. With Mr De Luca’s arrival, we have seen a burgeoning of intermural rivalries – even involving the staff - and this has been great to see.

It was also great to see our drama take off again with a fantastic production of Oliver Twist in December, and we look forward to next year, when we will have both a senior and a junior play on our stage.

Our Pipe Band has had an excellent year, and what a growth we have seen in that area of School life. Under Mr Warren’s expert guidance, the Pipe Band has made its mark both on the international stage, with its trip to Tartan Week in New York, and also in its first outing at the British Championships, where it scored a remarkable fourth place in its class. Mr Warren’s admirable ambition to put Merchiston piping at the top table is certainly moving within reach, and for that I thank him hugely.

Other exciting adventures saw a group led by Dr Bower head to Costa Rica, where its participants navigated their way across the interior of the country. And then our skiers, whilst perhaps not covering the same distance, certainly covered plenty of ground in the Austrian Alps.

In sport, it was possibly not the most memorable of years for national titles, but, as is always the case at Merchiston, our boys still made their mark, both in team and individual sport. Throughout the year, in Headmaster’s Assemblies, we have recognised our internationalists, national champions, and those who have been awarded representative honours

in tennis, basketball, rugby, shooting, hockey, fencing, powerlifting, golf, cricket, fives and swimming - a testament to the diversity of talent and the wealth of opportunity we have here at the School. Our rugby team won our own annual Merchiston U18 Festival and looks forward to its tour, with more than fifty senior players heading to South Africa for two weeks of competitive fixtures - the perfect springboard into the new season. As for our cricket 1XI, for the second consecutive year, the players made it to the U18 national finals. As I speak, five Merchistonian rugby players and three cricketers are representing their country at senior level. Our small but mighty reputation continues! In tennis, we were delighted to see many successes for the Academy: an U18 Scottish champion, a British national doubles champion and an U15 team title. A good omen for the future was the success of two of our Merchistonians, Jacob Fearnley and Johannus Monday, in picking up their first senior LTA titles this year. In golf, we saw another U18 national title being won for Merchiston, and, in what was a first, we joined forces with St George’s and our mixed

EVENTS, SPEECHES & DINNERS

badminton team became national finalists.

MerchiSTEM also continues to pick up accolades from the many UK-wide competitions it challenges for. The growth of this programme continues, and this year boys have competed for Engineer Awards, DigiInventors, CitiZen Challenge, EDT Bronze Industrial Cadets (where they were East of Scotland winners) and the CanSat Challenge. And it would be wrong not to also mention the Maths and Sciences Challenges and Olympiads that all boys are able to access and compete for at a national level.

International trips and visits are not just the domain of the Sports, Music and Outdoor Education Departments. Our physicists travelled to Geneva to visit CERN and our classicists went to Italy to learn first-hand the history and culture of Roman civilisation.

Thanks must go to Mr De Luca and Mrs Chapman for the initiation of our Solid Castle publication, which I know many of you enjoy. It provides a wonderful record of not just our co-curricular successes, but also showcases the breadth and diversity of our programmes here at Merchiston.

So much of this excellence is down to the support and guidance of my dedicated colleagues, and it is always a sad moment when we have to bid farewell to a number of them - it is right that we mark their contribution and show our gratitude.

Jake Mills joined us as our Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant in 2022, and has made an impressive impact, supporting the boys with their training across a variety of sports. As a tutor in Laidlaw North, he has also been an invaluable member of our boarding community. We wish Jake all the best as he moves on to seek new opportunities in the world of sport and exercise science.

As our examinations officer, Liz Duncan’s five years with us have been pretty action-packed. It was Liz who carefully navigated Merchiston through the complex maze of centre-assessed and teacher-assessed grades, responding to the ever-changing assessment rules and regulations during COVID; this was a job she carried out with remarkable energy and patience. In managing our transition back to full examinations, it was reassuring to know that Liz was on hand to ensure that the conditions for our boys were just right. We must also not forget her teaching of Maths, which I know was much valued by the boys she taught, helping them to prepare for the world of public examinations. We wish Liz all the best as she moves on to a new teaching role at Lasswade High School.

Charlotte Arrowsmith joined Merchiston’s EAL dept in 2021 and quickly established herself as part of the community. ‘Community is King’ might be an apt maxim to describe Charlotte’s contribution – she has been at the

centre of caring for our international community, she has championed our efforts in community service and outreach, and she has been instrumental in bringing our community together for such events (and here’s where the ‘King’ bit fits) as the Coronation and Jubilee celebrations. As she moves on to teach overseas, we wish Charlotte well with her new life in the Middle East.

Stephen Douglas is another colleague moving overseas - this time it’s just across the Irish Sea. Stephen heads back to ‘God’s Own Country’ and back to his ‘alma mater’ in Belfast, where he will continue to share his love of poetry and literature. And it is for this that I will remember Stephen most fondly. Behind Stephen’s laconic exterior sits a real passion for his subject, and our boys have benefitted immensely from that. He will be a huge loss to our English Department, and we will, of course, also miss his rugby coaching and his contribution to the pastoral life of the School as Deputy House Parent in Rogerson. It is absolutely right that his family should have him closer to home and we wish him every success with his move to The Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

Clare Nugent joined us in 2014 as Housemother in Pringle, but it was evident early on that there were many more skills that Clare would bring to the Merchiston community. She was immediately involved with the Pipe Band, Golf, Young Farmers, and if ever a volunteer was needed, Clare was invariably on hand. In 2016, she joined the teaching staff and continued her positive and high energy impact, this time in the teaching of Design and Technology, becoming Head of Department in 2020 – we have Clare to thank for establishing our sector-leading MerchiSTEM programme and for guiding and inspiring those around her to be as enthused and passionate as she is about the world of engineering, design and technology. Clare’s gift in synergising talent across departments and in developing and nurturing both boys and colleagues is evident in the success her subject has enjoyed and the high esteem in which her Department is held. As her youngest son Kit leaves us, so does she, but we hope that we will still continue to benefit from her great expertise. Clare, thank you for all that you have done.

Jason Cordingley arrived here in 1998 to cover the maternity leave of his now fellow art teacher, Mrs Darling. Twenty-six years and three Headmasters later, Jason leaves us to move to Portugal; the atavistic tie taking him and Marta to Lisbon, where he will continue to teach Art. Art is more than a passion for Jason, which he has passed on to so many artists over his years at this School. However, as is the case with folk like Jason, he has not only taught - he has coached, housemastered, tutored, instructed and

guided. He is another of Merchiston’s great polymaths, to whom twenty-six year groups owe an immense debt of gratitude. Normally, a leaving member of staff would head down the drive with a Cordingley canvas tucked under their arm as a gift from the Common Room; now we will have to find another source of staff gifts! We might well find another, but I doubt we will find anything better. Jason, we wish you and Marta all the very best for the future and for your new life in Portugal.

I would also like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Isaac, Harry and Oliver for their fine leadership of the student body and also to our House captains, senior prefects, prefects and student leaders. Year on year, each group of student leaders edges the bar ever so slightly higher as they bring their own personality to their respective roles. This group has done that too – they have set the right example and have conducted themselves with integrity and virtue. As is now the tradition, we will have the chance to thank our prefects properly next week at the Graduation Service which marks our end of term; if we can show our appreciation as a School today, that would be most fitting – boys, thank you for all that you have done in support of and in service to Merchiston.

Thanks must go to my colleagues and to the Governors here at Merchiston, and to the leadership team of Pippa Axon, Dale Cartwright and Danny Rowlands: the debt of gratitude I owe to these exceptional colleagues is huge and

it is their hard work that makes this School a special place for our boys. Team – thank you.

As much as today is a celebration of our boys’ achievements, we much also celebrate the dedicated and inspirational work of our teaching, house and sports staff, and our support staff: our grounds and estates teams, led by Paul Wilson; our domestic and catering teams, led by Alison Hannah; and our IT team, led by Diane Boys – they all give their infinite energy and commitment to the young people in our care.

Last year, I said the following, and I say the same again as we reflect on all we have achieved this year:

It is on days like today when you see not just the heights of achievement, but also you see the breadth of activity - it is then that you understand the depth of commitment of our staff in every area of the School, invested in making Merchiston the very best it can be for the pupils in its care. It is when you see this that you realise that there is so much which is covered by the word ‘education’.

That still holds true, and, in spite of what challenges might lie ahead, that will continue to be the case.

Finally, to our parents, thank you for your support of Merchiston and all that it seeks to provide for your boys who you entrust to us.

Thank you for listening.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

EVENTS, SPEECHES & DINNERS

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS' SPEECH

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I extend a very warm welcome to you this afternoon and thank you for turning out in such numbers to support what is a most important event in the School year.

I would also like to welcome our guest speaker today, who, as you have just heard from the Headmaster, has a stellar involvement in education. Owen, we are delighted to welcome you here today and look forward to your address.

My starting point for putting together my speech to you is always to look at the previous year`s address and look back to the end of the last academic session and what has been achieved over the course of the year. I mentioned the refurbishment of the Chalmers Houses, a major project which was delivered on time and brought those two boarding houses up to a high standard, and I also mentioned our plans to launch a Forest Nursery and Junior School in the autumn of 2024. Just last weekend, the School held an open morning for the families who have already registered for the Nursery and Junior School and for any families interested in sending their children to us in the future. I am always a bit apprehensive about open days, just in case there is not a strong attendance, but last Saturday could only have been described as a joyful experience. The children were clambering all over the various climbing frames and ropes, with our senior boys helping out and providing the music, and our Nursery staff engaging with the parents – it really was an uplifting morning and I will return to this new segment of the Merchiston community shortly.

Last year, I spoke about the pressures being exerted by inflation on our costs and expressed a hope that they might diminish as time moved on, and indeed, for several indices, that has been the case. I am very confident that our control over costs at Merchiston is excellent and our auditor shares that opinion. You have just listened to our Headmaster, who gave a superb consideration of Labour`s intention to impose VAT on independent school fees and the damage that it will undoubtedly cause to our families and our sector. You will all be aware of the battle we had with the Scottish Government over the removal of charitable relief on rates some years ago. The removal of that relief costs Merchiston in excess of a quarter of a million pounds a year. It is not impossible that independent schools south of the border who still attract that rates relief will also lose that relief – a horrible ‘double whammy’. I dare say that there will be chairs of independent schools the

length and breadth of the country having a rant over this dreadful policy as they address their parent bodies. I promise you that I am not going to do that, other than to say that what I first saw as political dogma, I now consider to be out and out bigotry. Sadly, it looks as if it is coming down the line and what I can assure you of is that the independent sector has really been putting its mind as to how to ameliorate the effects of this unwelcome tax. The Headmaster has written to you to explain what little we know about the imposition of this tax and, in truth, the sector still does not have sight of what the exact implications will be. Anyone involved in business which attracts VAT might reasonably assume that if we are forced to pay VAT on sales, then it is reasonable to assume that we will be able to reclaim tax on purchases and capital projects – as yet, we are just not sure about that. As soon as we find out the exact implications of this policy, we will let you know. I give you an assurance that we will be fully transparent on what it means to our community.

So, to move to the more positive aspects of what is going on in our community, there is much to report. I have already referred to the start of our Forest Nursery and Junior School and, whilst the numbers will take time to build, in time this resource will provide a valuable pipeline for the Senior School. I have seen this develop down in the Borders, where I am involved in a prep school, and numbers coming through from the kindergarten are really strong and I return to this word ‘community’ – we see young parents who become immersed in the school community and it is enormously fulfilling to see these young families thriving.

I reported last year on significant income being generated from the use of our campus though language and music schools, along with highly-regarded rugby camps, which not only bring in income, but pupils as well. The income coming from our international school in Shenzhen has also grown this year and, with a fair wind, will continue to increase year on year. We are going to have to be light-footed and open-minded in growing this non-core income in order to reduce the burden on parents. The Board is extremely grateful to our team which provides all the food and board for these events – it is hard work but is helping our ‘bottom line’.

I was very privileged to attend a Parents` Forum meeting recently and I was really struck by the positive approach from both parents and attending staff – again, a real feeling of community – and the offers of help in organising events

from the Forum will be eagerly received. Should this dreadful taxation be imposed, the whole sector will have a fight on its hands and any ‘blue sky thinking’ from any part of our community will be eagerly considered.

We have an extensive planned preventative maintenance programme here at Merchiston, which is ensuring that our campus is kept in good condition and our team whose responsibility it is to look after our campus does a fantastic job. I am sure that you will agree with me that it is such a pleasure to drive in through the gates, especially at this time of year, when everything is in full bloom.

Finally, I would like to thank our wonderful staff who are so committed to your boys - to our Headmaster and his Senior Leadership Team, who work so hard in driving the School forward; to our governing body, who bring their

EVENTS, SPEECHES & DINNERS

expertise and oversight to all areas of School life, and importantly, to you, our parent body, who have entrusted the care and education of your boys to Merchiston; and to our boys - you are just about to embark upon your summer holidays and I hope that you have a great time.

I would also like to thank our leavers - you have one week left at School and I know that it will be a big week for you. I look forward to seeing you all in a week`s time on what will be a massive day for you all. You are about to become a Merchistonian, something that will stay with you all your life due to the stamp the School has put upon you. It`s a good stamp that will deliver fun and friendship for decades and I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Gareth Baird, Chair of the Board of Governors

SPEECH FROM GUEST SPEAKER AT COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING

OWEN MOELWYN-HUGHES

NAVIGATING THE MODERN WORLD (THE AGE OF CONFUSION)

To thrive in the twenty-first century, we all need to understand the challenges coming our way, and to start adapting, now. We all know there are major, overlapping, global crises ahead - climate change, mass migration, new warfare, big tech, further pandemics, authoritarian capitalism. 2024 is a year of over 52 elections, and the year in which America fights itself. In these challenging times, we try to get our bearings by looking to the past. Are we perhaps experiencing a New Cold War, as suggested by Robin Niblett, the former Director of Chatham House? Niall Ferguson would have us believe that a ‘menacing authoritarian axis’ is bringing us to the brink of a third world war. Or, is the world beginning to resemble the late 19th-century Europe of competing empires and great powers?

We tend to label our era to make sense of it. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria suggests that we are in a new ‘Age of Revolutions’, meaning that we can learn something from the French, Industrial and American Revolutions. Or is it rather ‘The Age of the Strongman’, as proposed by the FT’s Gideon Rachman? No, it’s the ‘Age of Unpeace’, since “connectivity causes conflict”. Thank you, globalisation!

But come now, surely it’s the ‘Age of AI’, according to Henry Kissinger. There are other contenders too – including the age(s) of danger, energy insecurity, impunity, greatpower distraction and climate disaster. Perhaps this is just the age of hype!

Joking apart, it’s vital to try to learn from history. Scoop is one of my favourite books and I have to say I was disappointed when the invitation to come here came via Whatsapp, not a messenger with a cleft stick! Evelyn Waugh observed “We possess nothing certainly except the past.” The trick is to know how to read it. First, you need to identify the mix of old and new, similar and different. The relationship between the only two current superpowers, the US and China, clearly is, as the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, put it - “one of the world’s most consequential

relationships”. As during the Cold War, these two superpowers have a global, multi-dimensional, ideologically inflected, long-term strategic competition.

Yet as Niblett observes: “The New Cold War will be nothing like the last one”. He singles out two big differences. Firstly, the degree of economic integration between the two countries, which in the past has led pundits to talk of Chimerica. Secondly, the fact that this contest is “far less binary” because there are so many other great and middle powers, such as Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. The first point is important, but won’t necessarily prevent a cold war turning hot. Just a few years before the First World War broke out, the journalist Norman Angell published an influential book called The Great Illusion. He argued that the degree of economic interdependence between the European great powers meant that a big interstate war was highly unlikely – and couldn’t last long anyway. It was Angell’s own thesis that turned out to be the great illusion.

Niblett’s second difference is compelling. Sometimes these other powers are described as the ‘new non-aligned’ – another term from the Cold War period – but they are now much richer and more powerful. As we see over the war in Ukraine, Russia’s relationships with countries like China and India enable the Russian economy to survive everything the West can throw at it. Thus, in this age of confusion we have what Garton Ash calls an “a la carte world’ in which non-western great and middle powers make transactional alliances, sometimes simultaneously aligning with different partners in different dimensions of power.

Learning from the past also involves seeing the interaction between deep structures and processes, on the one hand, and contingency, conjuncture, collective will and individual leadership on the other. The way in which the unintended effect of human activities is dangerously transforming our natural environment, through climate change and the reduction of biodiversity, is one of those deep structural changes. The accelerating development of technology, including AI, is another. But if you ever doubt that individual human choices matter as well, you need

look no further back than February 2022, when Zelenskyy’s personal leadership, and the way that Ukrainian forces managed to deny the Russians’ control of Homostel Airport, changed the course of history.

This goes to the last and most important point. In this ‘Age of Confusion’, it is clear that we are entering a new period of global history, with everyone casting around for new bearings. In history, as in romance, beginnings matter. So, what we do now, will be crucial in determining the character of this new era. History’s most important lesson is that it’s up to us to make it.

So how do you set your own bearings to navigate this world of confusion? Navigating the modern world is about recognizing the interconnectedness of our global system, and understanding the histories, cultures, and values that shape the diverse communities and societies within it.

1. Change your mind (I realise this might amount to heresy here in Scotland!). The world never stops changing. If you’re afraid to change your mind, even about things you consider fundamentally important, and especially those things, the more wrong you will become as the world around you changes. Having a fixed world view is the one thing that guarantees you’ll end up being wrong. For the wild scientists who have encountered Friston’s ‘free energy principle’, this means updating your predictions - constantly!

2. Listen to the other side. Are you a tolerant person? If you’re a tolerant person, you can listen to people you disagree with, even strongly disagree with, and learn something you didn’t know. Learn something that can help you do what you think you should do. Make a list of people you respect, but with whom you disagree on questions you feel are truly important. Listen to those people. Read what they write. Follow them on social media. They may not shift your core convictions. It doesn’t matter. Listening to them and considering FAIRLY and HONESTLY what they say will broaden and deepen your perspective.

I have a friend who spent the Cold War keeping the high north Russian submarine free, with a lynx helicopter with very pointy things. In a recent exchange, he mentioned he had been to Columbia. Here is it is:

I assume you were in Columbia on state business?

Of course! Had a weekend off in Cartegena, and went on a tour. The guide said ‘this is where the British Pirate Drake had his camp when he besieged Cartegena’. I said ‘I beg your pardon, do you mean the Right Honourable Lord High Admiral Drake, singer of the King of Spain’s beard?’ ‘Si, el Pirato!’ It was then I realised that two people can be 180° out in viewpoint and both be correct.

3. Be authentic! At the heart of integrity is that you have to ‘walk the talk’. Live and embrace pluralism, as Prof. Kerry Brown suggests. We are no longer confined to a single

narrative; pluralism is now something we live and do.

4. Remember that people matter. Know yourself, and don’t confuse it with who you think you are. And know that leadership is about taking people with you.

5. Take risks. In a world in flux, super heroes might actually be needed. Think differently in disrupted times. Be able to distinguish between fear – our instinctive, visceral and irrational emotion when confronted with danger; and that of calculating risk – which is a cerebral, rational process where you carefully evaluate data and draw objective conclusions. We have become risk-averse, but it’s important to find your inner compass and take risks on things you believe strongly in.

6. What advice would you give to your younger self? Well, this question must be from a Steve Jobs self-help book. Well… READ. And pay attention to WHAT you read. Those of you who have won prizes have done so for a reason, not least because you have excelled in subjects where you have a special interest. Even the titles of the books you may have chosen as your prizes might tell a story. I wish I had paid more attention to the types of books I read when younger - and that especially included yellowed paperbacks found in a holiday cottage on the Natal South Coast, which included James Clavell’s Shogun and King Rat! I will end with sage advice from the renowned academic authority on most things, Dr Seuss: ‘The more you read, the more you will know. The more you know, the further you will go!’

I wish you all the very best.

Thank you.

LEAVERS’ PRIZEGIVING CEREMONY

HEADMASTER’S SPEECH

Good morning - a warm welcome to you all.

And so, we gather to congratulate our leavers of 2024 and to say our farewells. This morning, we will celebrate their achievements, and, at the very end of this gathering, we will formally confer upon them their Merchistonian status. Today is a special opportunity for us as a School, dedicated to thanking these boys, and their parents, for all that they have contributed to the School in their time here, whether that be one or eleven years.

In a short while, we will hear from Rev Blair as he gives the leavers’ address, and we will also hear from our Captain of School, Isaac, as he shares his final message with us.

I am also delighted to welcome Mr Andrew McDonald, President of the Merchistonian Club, who joins us this morning to present our leavers with their Club ties, and also Gareth Baird, our Chair of Governors, who returns to present our leavers’ prizes.

As is now our tradition, I’m going to speak mostly to those of you who are our leavers, if I may..

Last year, my leavers’ speech drew some inspiration from a concert I had recently attended; it was a serendipitous opportunity to share some of Bruce Springsteen’s wisdom, before handing the stage over to another Bruce, Mr Bruce Aitchison. Alas, this year I have not been fortunate enough to find a similar muse, so you will be delighted to know that I will not be drawing inspiration from my most recent concert attendance – unless, of course, Rev Blair wants to change his name to Taylor!

A good friend wrote to me a few years ago. We had fallen out of contact for nearly ten years, but we had reconnected, and when writing to me, he said the following:

“To have the pleasure of meeting old friends, one must first say goodbye”.

Today is about saying goodbye to you, our leavers, as you make your way to the next exciting stage of your lives. And when we meet again, you never quite know how it will work out – people change, circumstances change; and career choices and family life take you in different directions. Yes, people stay in touch via email, texts or WhatsApp, but the digital connection is a treacherous beast. There is always some trepidation when you meet

again. Change can be daunting, and boys, you are about to experience a huge change. But it is okay, because change is okay – its more than okay, it’s necessary, it’s vital – in the most profound sense of the word. You will change as individuals, and that is hugely exciting: I urge you to seek it – do not be afraid of it. As our guest speaker, Mr Moelwyn-Hughes, said last week: “change your mind –don’t be afraid to change your mind”.

A rapper by the name of Adam Yauch, member of the New York group the Beastie Boys, gave me something to ponder. In their early teenage days, back in the late 80s, the Beastie Boys represented much of what was wrong with rap music at the time and aspects of popular culture in general - a loutish, laddish arrogance that was not particularly palatable, and thankfully, a million miles from what I see from you. However, the Beastie Boys changed over time: the vulgar, obtuse behaviours of their early days subsided, and none more so than Adam Yauch. He found a new voice in political activism, championing the rights of oppressed groups around the world, those of different colour, creeds and gender. And this was poles apart from his controversial teenage image. He was once asked by a journalist if he felt a bit of a hypocrite when he looked back at his old lyrics, and antics, and compared that behaviour to the causes he now supported. And his response was this: ‘I’d rather be a hypocrite than never have the capacity to change’. Having the capacity to change is positive, it’s entirely human –embrace and enjoy that change.

However, so much of today is about you and your memories and your legacy, and that will not change. In your time away from here, your Merchiston will remain as it was when you were here.

To coin a quote often used much more eloquently by Mr Rowlands than me: “Ballast to the mind adrift on change”. As you cut adrift on change, the ballast, the stability, the counterbalance to all that goes on will be your eternal association with this place. The ties that bind you will be strong. Of course, you will come back in years to come and things will be different, but so much of what you know to be your Merchiston will not – because as much as it is this place, these buildings and grounds, it is your energy, your

efforts, your hard work, your fun, your failure, your success, your happy time and sad times – and of course, those around you: that is what makes this School your place. And when you come back to visit, we will welcome you like a hand in a well-worn glove: it will all feel so familiar, but you will have changed!

I promised last week that I would take a moment or two to say a few words about Isaac, Harry and Oliver, our Captain and Vice Captains of School respectively. Each year, the Triumvirate members take on their posts with huge expectations placed on their shoulders, and these three young men, particularly Isaac, had some big shoes to fill. To make comparisons would be entirely unfair because what these three have done is they have made it their own - they evolved and changed their roles, never losing sight of their traditions, but at the same time bringing their own individual style and energy to what they have done. Isaac has a remarkable capacity, using his own initiative, to ‘tune in’ to the messages that need to be heard by the School – everything he does and says is through the lens of the boys in the School and in their best interests. He is a voice of reason and pragmatic common sense – that has been invaluable to me. Oliver and Harry have also grown the role of Vice Captain of School. Notably, they have

been a huge help to Rev Blair during Sunday services and we have enjoyed their contributions to those evening congregational gatherings, as well supporting Isaac throughout this year. All three have been a huge support to me and the Leadership Team and I thank them for that.

My thanks also go to our House captains, senior prefects and prefects - thank you for all that you have contributed to this year. And to all the leavers, I say ‘well done’ – you have been an outstanding group of young men, and you have been an excellent example to all around you.

Finally, to finish, I offer you a short Headmaster’s blessing: May the nourishment of the earth be yours, May the clarity of light be yours, May the fluency of the ocean be yours, May the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so, may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.

I wish you ‘God speed’ as you prepare to leave us. Don’t forget this place – we will not forget you.

Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster

ADDRESS GIVEN BY REV NICK BLAIR

The Ties that Bind

It’s my privilege to speak to you today, Class of 2024. I am grateful that the Headmaster has permitted me one last assembly, one final talk, one last roll of the ‘sermonly dice’, to not just speak, but communicate - a teacher’s job is never finished!

As you leave this place, there are many things that you will leave behind: some, perhaps, you will bid a fond farewell to; others, perhaps, you can’t see far enough, as the Scottish expression goes. No more for you the “don’t wear shorts or flip flops in the dining hall”: you can now empty the bank balance and buy that lifetime supply of white socks you have been promising yourself, wear a discreet earring, or, as one of your recent peers said to me, ”I have put a little weight on since I left, as he turned and proudly showed off his nose stud”! He got no response from me, save the merest of raised eyebrows, at which point I realised he had a ring through one of them as well! He got no response from me because it’s not my place any more - you

are free gentlemen. However, permit me to say this: do not rob this chaplain of his dreams. There will be some things that you will never leave behind and that you will take with you. They will, we hope and pray, have become part of you - the ties that bind you to us and you to each other: “But she holds their hearts with silken cord wherever they may go”.

So, what are these ties that bind, these “silken cords” that will remain with you? Well, I hope you will always be proud to have been part of this place and associated with this place. We are about to give you your Merchistonian tie: I hope you will wear it, but I guess that’s up to you. I am, in fact, wearing my old school tie this morning, thirty-seven years after I left school, to remind me that I am a student.

It can never be said that I am a dedicated follower of fashion, but I am going to make a fashion prediction - in fact, I am going to give you some fashion advice – oh, the irony of ironies! Here it is: you are always going to be wearing a tie. I’d better explain…..

Back in the late 2010s, the School ran a marketing campaign, Which tie will you wear? And it could be said that we have a bit of an obsession over ties……

So, have I let this School obsession with the neck tie overwhelm me? You know I like my ties - the thirds tie, the curry club tie …. Have I become institutionalised into ties… .institutionalitiesed, you might say? … When I say you will always wear a tie, I hope not. You may never physically wear a tie again, if that is your choice, but my fervent prayer, indeed belief, is that there will be ties that you will wear, or we will not have done our job. They are not physical, but invisible ties that bind - core values and ideas that I hope and pray you will wear. And for one day only, I have made them physical, so that you can see what I mean. And I am going to do that very dangerous thing for a man of my age and multi-task - talk and tie a tie at the same time!

For the first ‘tie’ I believe you will wear is thisOPPORTUNI-TIE. In fact, God willing, you will have lots of opportunities. Gents, the doors out there are well and truly open. Have the eyes to spot and the ears to pick up on the myriad opportunities that are yours now because you have received that greatest gift - Education. Go and grasp the opportunity, from the moment you leave these walls. Seize upon the positive opportunities that come your way, just as we have been urging you to do within these walls.

The second ‘tie’ I believe you will always wear is thisCURIOSI-TIE. I annoy some of you by saying that you will always be studying RS (Religious Studies) for the rest of your life. By this, I mean that I believe you will always be asking the questions that are at the heart of the Philosophy and

Ethics that are at the heart of RS. Who am I? What makes a good life? What is my place in this life? Keep asking questions. We have failed if we have just taught you some answers but not given you a passion for asking questions. It’s odd that curiosity may have “killed the cat”, as the saying goes, because it is the essence, the elixir of life. Curiosity will keep you young long after your contemporaries have withered and aged. A life-long love for learning and discovering is the fountain of youth. Always ask the next question anyway - wear CURIOSITY-TIE

And as you ask “what is my place in this world and where do I belong?”, may you find the answer in COMMUNI-TIE. I know we have taught you that here: how to be part of a community and why we need communities. And wherever you go, don’t just be part of a community; be a community creator, work to bring people together, ask them how they are, instigate meet ups, invite them round for a curry night, for goodness sake. Do whatever it takes to create a diverse, yet cohesive community. If we are releasing eighty-five community creators into the world, then what a powerful thing we have done!

And as you go and create these communities, bind this tie to you and wear it daily - HUMILI-TIE. Never think that you have all the answers or that you are ever the finished article. The art of creating community lies in the quality of humility. The person who walks into a room and instead of saying “here I am” says “there you are”. The kind of person, a Christ-like person, who considers servant-hood the highest form of leadership. Service, before self, flows from humility. A good leader is humble because good leaders know what they don’t know, are not afraid to admit it and surround themselves with people who do know what they don’t know. And there, by the way, is a community right there.

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Humility means that you are never ashamed to ask for help. Never be ashamed to ask for help. Every one of us comes to the end of their own strength if they try to do it alone. And when you do succeed, pause for a moment and recognise all those who have helped. Being helped means you are a successful and well-integrated individual.

So, four ties, all vitally important - wear them. But if you have to choose one to wear, one to pick out of life’s wardrobe, it is this: ‘the tie that binds’; ‘the ties that bind’.

CHARI-TIE. The word translated as ‘Love’ in more modern versions of the Bible was previously translated as ‘Charity’. It comes from the Latin word, Caritas, ‘Love’. Charity does not just mean giving to others, but it means letting love flow through you. I pray that you will know God’s love for you, his delight in you, his Caritas for you and, solid in that foundation, that you would spread Caritas, love from the overflow of what you have been given. Know this Caritas, give this Caritas and, I promise you, you will live a good life. I dare to say in front of you now that I believe with all my heart that the true measure of someone’s life is not how much they own, or degrees obtained, titles or positions of power they have held, and not even how many ties they possess!! No - the true measure of a person’s life is how much they have loved and been loved; how much true and genuine love has flowed through them and from them. For - “Let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4).

So, I have defied the odds. I have given you life’s fashion advice. To paraphrase, after all the Merchiston ties have been put away on the rack, might these five remain: Opportunity, Curiosity, Community, Humility and Charity… . but the greatest of these is Charity. Class of 2024 - wear them well!

CAPTAIN OF SCHOOL’S SPEECH

Good morning, Parents, Staff, Friends and Boys.

It is no secret that this is not an easy speech to make. This may seem a silly comment to make, as I recall shaking my hips, alone on this stage, a few short months ago! But where do I even begin to sum up such a huge part of all of our lives? There are stories I could tell in this speech, and many stories that I definitely could not tell in this speech! I have attended this service every year of my Merchiston journey, and have always felt enormous sympathy for the Captain of School having to deliver such a difficult address. However, I know my peers sitting before me will feel little to no sympathy for me this morning, and I am prepared for the waves of abuse I will get later on if I show any emotion whatsoever! So, I’m going to do my best to ‘play it cool’ for that reason.

With that being said, leaving your School, your home away from home, after ten years is not an easy thing to do. Merchiston has been all I have known for the last decade, spending all day, every day with the same people, going to the same classes. Someone asked me a question one day which stuck with me: does it ever get too full on or boring spending all your time in School? Hearing this, my Merchi pride swiftly kicked in and I returned a sarcastic answerafter all, ridiculous questions deserve ridiculous answers! I have been extremely blessed to be able to spend the best years of my life with the best people I’ve ever met, and taught by the best teachers I’ve ever had. Not everyone gets to say that, and it is a real blessing. People may say that university is the best time of your life, but this special School is going to take some serious beating!

It makes sense for me to start at the beginning. I joined the School in J5 in 2015, with no clue as to what life at Merchiston would hold. If you had told me that I would leave the School ten years later with brothers for life, I might have run for the hills because I already had two annoyingoh sorry, amazing - younger brothers. Year by year, our year group grew and grew into the impressive cohort that I see before me today. I won’t say that I’m proud of you, because I’ll get critised for being patronising or cringe, but I will say that I am so proud to be in this year group and to see how far we’ve come. You are such a talented group of boys, from sports, to academics, to music, and the world beyond will surely be a better place because you boys are in it. I count myself extremely lucky to be leaving School with you boys. We only get one chance at School life, and I’m glad it was here. We only get a few years to make School friends and (most of the time!), I’m glad it has been here.

This School has given me so much over the years:

Merchiston has given me my ‘top two inches’, my extra yard of pace, and my extra rep in early morning gym, which I never missed. It has also given me the confidence to look someone in the eye when shaking their hand and the extra 10% when I needed it most. A lot of that is down to my peers. However, a huge amount of credit must go to the incredible team of staff we have at Merchiston. It is down to the dedication, care and diligence of our staff at School that we, as a year group, have been able to flourish and grow at School. It is impossible to thank everyone who has helped us over the years in one speech - there are so many people who work behind the scenes to ensure the smoothrunning of the School. And so, on behalf of the leavers, I would like to thank all the staff members who have made our journey so special: from the domestic team, to marketing, to our subject teachers and, of course, our sports coaches - thank you all so much for your efforts. Thank you to Rev Blair for your positivity and faith every week, and also for your famous curry every Tuesday evening. Thank you to Mr Anderson, our Headmaster, who has led the School this year in such fine fashion, and has helped me massively in my unfamiliar role as Captain of School. And finally, thank you to our House Parents, who make this place truly feel like home. I cannot thank you all enough. And so, boys, I think it is fair that you join me in a round of applause for our amazing staff at Merchiston.

Now I wish to speak to the Leavers. Boys, we have come to the end of our journey. But how will we measure how far we have come, or what all these years have been building towards? Will it be how much taller we are? I hope not because my Fifth Form blazer still very much fits me! Will it be our exam results? We have all recently come to the end of a long and all-consuming exam season, and our grades are now being decided. Will those grades be how we justify our years of School? No - I would like to remind our Leavers that this is not the case. Our time at the School will not be defined by the grades which we receive in August. The real Merchiston effect will be seen in us. The grades are not the products - we are the products. We will wear the ‘School badge’ through holding the door open and greeting people with a smile. For us, Merchiston has been about the memories, the successes and the good times we have all shared. And I have no doubt that the ‘Merchiston effect’ will live on as we leave this place to visit all four corners of the world, but never breaking the ‘silken cord’ which ties us to this place, and to this Memorial Hall. As Rev Blair said on this very day two years ago: we are not the finished products, and we may never be the finished

product. But this I do know: we are products of the School and products of our families. So, make sure to carry this thought with you as you leave the School, and continue to represent Merchiston and yourselves as you always have. To be standing up here giving this speech is a true honour. However, I know I am no better than any of these outstanding young men before me. We all just love this School and love our year group. It will be immensely sad for us to leave, but I think that I speak for us all here when I say that we know we feel extremely fortunate to have been Merchiston boys. It is clear to see the strength of the community here. We are all so interconnected - staff, pupils and ex-pupils. And as we leave, we are reminded that we are not a single year group leaving the School, but we are merely joining a vast community of Merchistonians, and in this Merchistonian community, we must remember that we are not alone. We will always have each other, and we will always have the staff who care so much about us. We

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have to support one another, not only the younger boys returning in September, but also the class of 2024. Life outside the walls will not be plain sailing. Things will have to go wrong, for things to go right. Our highs will only be highs because we fought through the lows. And with the Merchiston community being our greatest resource, I am sure this is a group of Leavers who will go on to excel.

I am aware I have spoken for far too long, but I will leave you with this: thank you, Merchiston; thank you to my parents for your never ending support and never ending supply of cereal and pot noodles; thank you once again to all the staff who make this place so hard to leave; and thank you to my year group for our journey and making memories which will last a lifetime. It’s been an amazing journey, boys. So, thank you all for listening - and we will be back, you can count on that.

Isaac F, Captain of School 2023-24

PRIZEGIVINGS

UVI LEAVERS’ BALL

On the evening of Friday 28 June, following the pattern of the previous two years, our Upper VI Leavers’ Ball took place in the magnificent surroundings of Edinburgh’s beautiful and historic Prestonfield House Hotel. There, our UVI Formers, their parents and other guests, and members of staff gathered to enjoy each other’s company, to reminisce, and to look forward to what lies ahead. After drinks, a wonderful meal was served, which was followed by speeches, and the evening concluded with a disco and ceilidh. It was a memorable evening, which will long be remembered by all present.

The speech transcribed below, sums up the significance of the Leavers’ Ball and the other leaving ceremonies which take place at the end of an academic year:

Merchiston 2024 Leavers’ Ball Message

(written and delivered by Mr Mike Raikes, House Parent of Laidlaw North)

Parents, Staff, and, of course, Boys - good evening.

Now, as we bring to a close your final week of the term, we reflect on the context of the week just past. It has been a difficult week: everyone here this evening, I am sure, has shared many different and sometimes confusing emotions, but the key thing is that we are together and that we share this community that we are so very fortunate to have at this special School.

Boys - you are on the brink of completing your School careers, and on the verge of embarking on new beginnings. The journey has not been without challenges, but you have persevered, grown, and are now ‘nearly there’ – this is the theme of my speech this evening.

So, ‘nearly there’. It is an interesting statement, full of varied emotions, and completely dependent on the context in which you say it. For example:

• One which the boys might have heard regularly over the past few months is - “Well done, boys: exams are finishing - you are very nearly there!’’

• Or maybe one the Parents might have heard recently: ‘’Oh! You are nearly there, happy days’’ (cash money sign)!

• One for the staff: “Come on team, we are very nearly there - the summer holidays are just around the corner!”

• One which I hear every time we get in the car to go somewhere: “Are we nearly there?” – a familiar reminder to all those parents in the room!

• One set of boys who are very ‘nearly there’ is the J4 class of 2013/14. Eleven years are nearly completed: I think that is a first ever and will need to be checked by Mr Rossiter and Rev Blair at another time, but huge congratulations to David, Lewis and Kit!

Thank you to the parents here this evening: it has also been a long journey for you, and your support of the School and, of course, your boys, has been unwavering throughout your journey. Without a doubt, the next twenty-four hours

will be full of emotions for you – hopefully, with pride, excitement, and general joy, as you watch your sons reach this special milestone, remember that you too are ‘nearly there’.

So why is my theme ‘nearly there’? This week has taught us the importance of living in the present, appreciating every moment, and embracing the ‘now’. We are all very ‘nearly there’, but let us savour every last minute of this special time together, let us not forget to cherish the close friendships that we have formed and the new connections that we may make.

Tonight, as we gather together, remember that this may be the last time we are all together in the same room! Enjoy the laughter, enjoy the memories, and get those dance shoes ready! You are on the cusp of joining the ranks of Merchistonians who have gone before you, as we heard at yesterday evening’s gathering. Embrace the opportunities that lie ahead for you, carry with you the lessons learnt and live in the ‘now’! You are ‘nearly’ Merchistonians.

Thank you.

REMEMBRANCE SERVICE,

SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2023

ADDRESS GIVEN BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL DOUGLAS MACKAY, JOINT REGIONAL OFFICER SCOTLAND

I am honoured to be invited to give the address on Remembrance Sunday. As a military family, we were often based in another part of the UK, or indeed another country, and Merchiston provided the one constant in our lives.

Carolyn and I very much enjoyed our eleven years as part of this wonderful community, and we are delighted that our sons, Jamie and Xander, and Jamie’s wife Phoebe, are here with us for this important occasion.

Over a hundred years after the first Armistice Service in 1918, we continue to remember the members of the Armed Forces and their families – from Britain and the Commonwealth – who have lost their lives as a result of conflict or terrorism.

On Remembrance Sunday, we tend to focus on the First and Second World Wars, but recent events in Israel and Gaza, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, remind us that conflict around the world continues into the present. I am sure all our thoughts are with those affected by war today; it is always people and families who suffer more than the nations or organisations that initiate or perpetuate conflict.

One of Britain’s most famous prime ministers, Winston Churchill, said: “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because…..it is the quality which guarantees all others.”

Courage comes in many forms. It generally involves personal risk or sacrifice, often in the service of others in need, and without expectation of reward. I would like to explore the nature of courage today, and I’ll begin by sharing two examples of personal courage.

In 1939, Jack Forrest had just left Merchiston when he signed up to join the RAF. His plan had been to study Marine Biology at Cambridge, but the outbreak of war changed that and, after his initial training, he started learning to fly in a Tiger Moth biplane – an outdated aircraft, the sort of thing flown by Jamie and Xander’s greatgrandfather in the previous war - before Jack was upgraded to a more elite Spitfire squadron.

You can see one of the Spitfires flown by Jack on display in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum. And how appropriate that members of his family – including his son, Hamish, also a Merchistonian - are here today to remember him.

During WW2, the RAF pilots were a national lifeline: they patrolled the English Channel, protecting Britain from enemy bombers, and our ships from enemy fighters. Later, during the invasion of Normandy, they provided vital air protection for our troops.

Immediately following the D-Day landings, Britain came under attack from a new technology: pilotless V-1 flying bombs. Between June and October 1944, thousands of them were launched across the English Channel. The engines were designed to cut out, so they landed randomly on towns and cities, causing devastation and terror. Many were shot down by land-based guns, but some were brought down by daring pilots, and Jack Forrest was one of the few.

Jack was flying on patrol along the south coast of England when he was told by Control that there was a V-1 approaching. When it appeared, just 500 metres below him, he dived to give himself some extra speed: the V-1s were

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faster than Spitfires, flying at well over 400 mph, compared with the fighter’s 360 mph. He fired his guns, the bomb detonated, and he flew straight through the explosion.

He later said: “Having viewed the footage from the cockpit camera afterwards, the senior officers back at base were very surprised I survived. As was I!”

There were good reasons for their surprise. Shooting down a bomb flying at 400 mph, packed with 1,000 kg of high explosive, is not for the faint-hearted. Pilots had to fly really close to them to have any chance of hitting them, and the debris from an exploding V-1 could easily have destroyed their aircraft. It was an incredibly risky thing to do, something that must have taken great courage and daring.

Turning now to a more recent conflict, I was in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2006. My job was to train the newly-formed Afghan National Army, and I had a team of

professional British soldiers to help teach Afghanis the business of soldiering. There were lots of hazards: the heat, which could go up to 50°, snipers, improvised explosive devices that could be hidden under the sand, or disguised as rocks; and perhaps our biggest fear - being killed by the very people we were there to train.

One of my fellow officers was leading a patrol that was ambushed. They were making their way along a narrow track at night, when they realised that they were not alone. A firefight started and an officer in his patrol – a friend - was shot and killed instantly. The patrol commander managed to extract the team without taking any further casualties, but once they were safely back in the forward operating base, he decided that he had to go back to collect his fallen friend.

It was night. He knew that his friend was already dead, and that they would almost certainly come under fire

again. They did. He asked for volunteers: not everyone was willing, but some were, and he put together a team, including some American and some Afghan soldiers - very much in the spirit of international cooperation - and they went back out to find and bring back their friend. No-one ordered him to do this. He made that decision to put himself in mortal danger. He knew it was the right thing to do, that it might bring some small comfort to his friend’s family, and he succeeded in his mission.

I wrote a citation commending his actions that night, and although he did not receive any formal recognition for his bravery, in doing the right thing on a difficult day, he earned the lifelong respect and admiration of many of his fellow soldiers.

Most of us will never be put in the sort of situation that requires a truly heroic action. You probably think of courage in terms of physical bravery, but moral courage is just as important.

Courage is about being true to yourself. It is about having the conviction to do what is right, even when it is difficult, and being willing to take risks and face our fears –no matter what they may be.

It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in, especially when it is unpopular. It takes courage to be true to your values and principles. It takes courage to stay the course when things are tough, and to keep going, despite setbacks or obstacles.

And acting courageously is something that we can all do. So, how can we build and demonstrate courage?

We can start by looking to role models for inspiration. These are people who have already demonstrated strength and courage in their lives. By studying their stories, we can learn how to be courageous ourselves.

The footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to continue free school meals during lockdown put him at odds with the government, and resulted in much criticism in the media, but he persevered. Even when his proposal was defeated in parliament, he refused to give up.

He persuaded cafes and local businesses around the UK to donate food to struggling families; within a week, the government had announced a holiday meal and activity programme to support low-income families. He could have sat out lockdown in considerable comfort, but he chose to stand up for what he believed in.

He took his own personal experience of watching his mother work hard to put food on the table, and when he

became successful - in a profession known for its ostentatious displays of wealth among those at the tophe used his influence among young people to help those less fortunate than himself.

We can also build courage by surrounding ourselves with people who support us (and spend less time with those who don’t). They could be family, friends, teachers, members of a club or sports team. They can help us face our fears and provide us with the encouragement and motivation we need to stay strong in difficult times.

Courage is not just about being brave if we are hurt or ill. It’s also about trying something new and bouncing back when things go wrong (which they often do). It’s being brave enough to stand up for what we know is right and to be ourselves, which might mean being different from others around us.

Finally, how can we show courage in our daily lives?

• Speak out when we see or hear something that isn’t right;

• Support those struggling with their fears, or memories of a bad experience;

• Be resilient when we don’t succeed the first timebounce back and try again;

• And perhaps most importantly, ask for help if we need it. One of the hardest things to do – especially amongst men – is speaking out when we are struggling. Courage is so much more than an act of heroism – it can be as simple as telling someone - a friend, family member or teacherthat you’re having a difficult time. For too long there has been a stigma surrounding asking for help; be courageous and take that first step.

I’ll leave you with a quote from President Barack Obama: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.”

THE MERCHISTONIAN CLUB

Fellow Merchistonians

Another School year has passed and it was my privilege to speak to the Class of 2024 at their Leavers’ BBQ and to present them with their Club ties at this year’s Prizegiving. My best wishes to all our new Club members as they start their journey outside School life and I hope it will not be too long before we see some participate in Club activities or return to School for a visit.

This year has seen a number of our ‘older’ Merchistonians succeed domestically and internationally in many sports, including golf, tennis, cricket and rugby, and it would be remiss of me not to highlight the special achievement of those involved with Glasgow Warriors’ URC Championship Grand Final success out in South Africa.

Closer to home, we have welcomed a number of Class reunions and been encouraged with the continued involvement of Club members during our annual cricket match v the 1XI and our Club shooting, curling, fishing and golf outings. As ever, I am indebted to our Committee members, Sports Secretaries and Area Representatives for their assistance in the Club’s affairs and for organising such a wide variety of events, which I would continue to encourage as many Club members as possible to support with their attendance. The Club’s Committee has gone through some changes and I would especially like to express thanks for the contributions of Oli Green and Richard Bent, Treasurer, who have both stepped down after a number of years’ service. In return, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Committee members: Nick Blair; Will Franks; and Hugh Atkinson; and to Sandy Robertson for agreeing to take over the role of Treasurer, in addition to his Golf Secretary’s responsibilities.

Our link with the School is essential and I would like to thank our Club Secretary, Andrew Thornton, for corresponding with members, organising international

rugby tickets, assisting with Class reunions, and keeping us all updated with key dates and School activities through regular emails and social media postings.

We do, of course, continue to benefit from the knowledge, enthusiasm and organisational expertise of Philip Rossiter and, alongside Nick Blair, this hopefully means that the Club has the opportunity to devote more time to explore the School archives and historical activities of members. I would like to thank Philip and Nick in anticipation of many new interesting articles for inclusion in future emails, newsletters and magazines.

This year, we would like to ensure as many members as possible receive our regular communications and have the opportunity to get involved with Club activities. So, with this in mind, I would appeal to you all to make sure we have your current contact details, and those of others you may regularly be in contact with, and that you sign up to our social media accounts.

In the meantime, enjoy the latest edition of your Merchistonian magazine and I look forward to the opportunity of meeting as many members, parents and Friends of Merchiston as possible throughout the coming year.

Ready ay Ready

W Andrew McDonald (‘79-‘85) President

Merchistonian presents ‘Man of the Match’ award at European Rugby Champions Cup Semi-final

Many of our readers will have watched the European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final match between Stade Toulouse and Harlequins, played on Sunday 5 May at the Stadium de Toulouse and televised on ITV. An exciting match ended with a victory for Toulouse, 28-26. The competition is now sponsored by Investec, of which Merchistonian OLIVER CARDIGAN (’88-’93) is Managing Director. In this capacity, after the game, it fell to Oliver to present the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

Jacob Fearnley - Tennis success

Merchiston sends its congratulations to former pupil JACOB FEARNLEY (2012 – 19), who won his maiden singles ATP Challenger title at the 2024 Nottingham Open on 16 June, beating Charles Broom 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an exciting final which was shown on BBC iPlayer. He is the fourth British player to win the title in Nottingham, following in the footsteps of Andy Murray, Dan Evans and Greg Rusedski.

This success gave Jacob a wildcard at Wimbledon 2024, at which he reached the second round, playing on Centre Court against no less than Novak Djokovic. It was a very exciting and competitive match, which Jacob eventually lost 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 5-7. He won much praise for his performance, including from Djokovic himself.

This follows his success in securing the ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2023 Nottingham Open with fellow Merchistonian JOHANNUS MONDAY, after which they also received wildcards for Wimbledon.

After progressing through the Tennis Academy at Merchiston, Jacob gained a place at the prestigious Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where, in his tennis, he played in the no.1 singles position. Having now graduated, he has currently achieved, at the time of writing, a career high ATP singles ranking of 274 and a career high doubles ranking of 238.

We wish Jacob, and Johannus, the very best as they pursue their careers in the professional tennis world and look forward to following their continued success.

Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

NEIL DONALDSON (’68 – ’73), former member of the Board of Governors, and father of two Merchistonians, writes about his year as Captain of this prestigious Scottish institution.

In 1992, I was very privileged to be invited to join the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. I have always loved golf and was fortunate enough to play for the golf team whilst at School. I am also a member at three other golf clubs. During my years of membership at the R & A, I slowly started to get involved in Committee work, but little did I know that this would lead to me being appointed Captain in September 2023. There are 2,500 members of the Club, so this was an honour indeed.

My role as Captain is to represent the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and its members at a whole range of events. These range from members’ gatherings around the world to amateur Championships, and, of course, our own flagship event, The Open. It is largely an ambassadorial role, but for a period of twelve months, it is pretty much fulltime. I conclude my year in September 2024, and during my year I will have flown 150,000 miles, visited sixteen

different countries, attended over thirty different Championships and been to eight members’ gatherings. I will also have played over fifty golf courses that are completely new to me. I will have spoken at over fifty dinners and worn my red coat (pictured) over sixty times. At all times, I have been accompanied by my wife, Val. I could not have taken on this role if she had not been by my side all the time. She deserves a medal!

I am hugely honoured to have been appointed Captain and have thoroughly enjoyed my year. I had no idea of just how much esteem the position of Captain is held in around the world. My theme for the year has been golf being a passport to friendship. How true! I promised the membership at my first annual dinner as their Captain that I would not let them down. I will mention that again in September 2024 and hope that I have been able to keep my word!

Captain of The Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield)

…. And GARETH BAIRD (’73-’78), current Chair of the Board of Governors and Merchistonian parent, writes about his time as Captain of this prestigious golfing institution.

I was absolutely astounded to be asked to take on the captaincy of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG) in August 2022 - it was a huge honour to be asked and I was fortunate that my son Tom (2005-09) was coming home to the parish and partnership in our farm business, thereby allowing me more time to take on the post. It is a two-year tenure, and at the time of writing, I have served fourteen months. It has been enormous fun, with visits to Royal Montreal last year for their 150th anniversary, the oldest club in North America, not surprisingly set up by Scottish settlers.

In the spring of this year, my wife and I were invited out to South Africa, where, in Natal, I was asked to open a beautiful new course set up by one of our HCEG overseas

members, and then played at several marvellous courses, culminating at Leopard Creek, which was quite an experience. This summer, I had the pleasure of playing against my opposite number at the R & A, Neil `Dusty` Donaldson, in a match between HCEG and the R&A. It was fascinating to hear about his travels all over the world. I am delighted to note that there are close links between Merchiston and Merchistonan golfers and Muirfield, and long may that continue. I have really enjoyed the international nature of visitors to Muirfield. Indeed, for the recent Scottish Men`s Open Amateur Championship, we had entries from twenty-five countries. It is undoubtedly a world treasure in golf terms, and it is great that golfers from all over the world come to play at Muirfield.

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Lachlan Gaddie

LACHLAN GADDIE (2019 leaver), after graduating, has now returned to Merchiston as a member of staff. Below he writes about how this came about and his experiences working at the School.

Returning to Merchiston as a member of staff has certainly been an experience, and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed! At first, it was strange coming back to such familiar surroundings, but in a totally different capacity. Whilst there are a number of new members of staff, there are also a number of staff members, still part of the School, who were here when I was a pupil. Initially, having lunch with my former teachers was a bit strange and I was not sure how to take it! Likewise, attending my first staff meeting, it was an odd experience being on the ‘other side’ of it, not helped by me accidentally standing up front and centre with the Headmaster at my first meeting! However, it is important to note how helpful all members of staff have been in helping me to settle in. I could not have asked for a better start to ‘working life’!

Straight away when I left the School, I began studying Business Management at Heriot-Watt University, but quickly realised that this was not for me! Whilst also recovering from a serious knee operation, I decided to take this time out of education and spend some time working and recovering! Mid-way through that year, Roddy Deans got in touch with me and said that there was an opportunity to study at Newcastle University. I jumped at this chance, and Chris Bell, who I had been at School with, and I went to study there for an undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science. I quickly realised that either I was going to have to begin working or continue studying! I was keen to get some experience behind me in the working world and knew that

some experience within a school would be a great opportunity. Just at the same time, an advertisement for a graduate assistant at Merchiston came up and, after a few short conversations, I decided to apply for it. It was strange being interviewed by members of staff who used to teach me! However, again, they were all very helpful and very quickly I started work here in the Summer Term of last year (2023), and have not looked back since.

I currently work as a graduate assistant in Pringle boarding house, and I am able to fulfil a number of sports coaching roles alongside this. These opportunities have been invaluable for me in terms of being able to experience different aspects of working in a school.

My immediate plans for the future are that I am staying put at Merchiston next year, grateful for the opportunity and thoroughly enjoying myself. Alongside this, I am fortunate enough to be able to start coaching the U16A rugby team, which is an incredible opportunity for me.

I can’t thank everyone enough for how they have helped me settle in here - I am thoroughly enjoying it!

Willie Fernie Champion Golfer

A F DOUGLAS BUCHANAN

(’64 – ’68) qualified as an architect after Merchiston and Strathclyde University. After several years in London, he returned to Ayrshire, where he spent the rest of his working life. He writes below of a project which he has undertaken and recently completed…….

“For many years, I had been researching the golfing career of my great grandfather, William Fernie, who died in 1924, having won The Open Championship in 1883. I then decided to record my findings in a book, which I have now self-published. It is not a biography, but was created mainly from a collection of magazine and newspaper articles, and is generally available through lulu.com from the end of May 2024. It will also be reviewed in the magazine Through The Green I am pleased to donate a copy of my book, William Fernie, Champion Golfer 1883 to the Merchiston Library.”

Ken HoustonChildren’s Author

KEN HOUSTON, former Housemaster of Rogerson East (’68-’89) and Deputy Head (’89-’01), as many former pupils might know, has turned his hand to writing beautifully illustrated children’s story books.

There are now three books in the series: “Tails of the Wise Gardener and his Friend Jack Frost”, “Tools of the Wise Gardener and his Friend Jack Frost”, and, most recently, “Further Fables of the Wise Gardener and his Friend Jack Frost”. Over £1400 has been donated from the sales of the first two books to the charity Samaritans of Lothian, and

the charity Alzheimer Scotland will receive £2 for each copy sold of the most recent book.

If any reader wishes to publish any of Ken’s books for young members of their family, they should email him at –ken.houston4161@gmail.com

Dougal MacLennan

DOUGAL MacLENNAN, 2023 leaver, has embarked on a four-year Bachelor of Music degree course in contemporary music, majoring in contemporary drumming, at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. Here, he answers questions about the experiences at Merchiston which led him to pursue this pathway and the opportunities which his course is opening up to him.

In which year group did you begin your time at Merchiston?

I joined Merchiston as a dayboy in the Second Form in 2016.

What did you study in the Sixth Form?

My subjects were Music (taking the Scottish Higher examination in the Lower Sixth and then Advanced Higher in the Upper Sixth), Music Technology at Higher, started A Level Politics in the Lower Sixth and changing to Higher History in the Upper Sixth, and a BTEC in Entrepreneurship.

What were the most important musical opportunities you were given at Merchiston, and what for you was the highlight?

For me, the opportunities were numerous. Highlights undoubtedly included competing in such competitions as the Forbes and Ogilvie Bowls, which provided an outlet for my contemporary and more classical interests, music production opportunities in the recording studio in the Robertson Building, preparing and sitting graded instrumental exams, taking part in such recitals as the Commemoration Day concert (specifically playing on the outdoor stage with a PA system, etc), and DJing at School socials. All of these opportunities played an important part in my decision to pursue a musical career.

What inspired you to pursue a musical career?

In addition to the opportunities outlined above, I

remember very clearly playing the drums for the first time in a Second Form Music class. There was an unused drumkit in my House, so after that class, I decided to practise – I haven’t stopped playing since! I have always enjoyed rock music, and this appealed to me as a career path. Overall, I have always taken a keen interest in the creative arts, partially because of the wide spectrum of careers available – music was always a stand-out for me.

Which colleges / universities did you apply to in the UK, as well as your American applications?

The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Leeds Conservatoire, Edinburgh Napier, Queen’s Belfast, the University of Chester, and Oxford Brookes.

Why did you decide to apply to Berklee, and what was the application process?

After deciding that I wanted to pursue a career as a session drummer, I looked at the best music colleges, and Berklee stood out as the best for contemporary music. After completing an application, I was offered an audition, which I opted to do by Zoom. For the audition, I had to prepare a piece of my choice to play – I selected Tom Sawyer by Rush. In addition, I was given multiple backing tracks in various styles in which I had to improvise with grooves and fills. I was also given a test to identify chords, etc, that the auditioner played on guitar. Along with this, there was an interview in which I was asked about my experience and why I wanted to go to Berklee.

Outline the reasons why you decided to accept the place offered at Berklee.

I felt that it would give me a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve my craft as much as possible. I loved the idea of studying in the United States, especially at a college with a heavy focus on contemporary rather than classical music.

Are there any Berklee alumni who have become famous names in the world of contemporary music, who you find inspirational?

Berklee has many notable and inspirational alumni in the world of contemporary music, including John Mayer, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, and session musicians, such as my private instructor, who has played for such acts as Katy Perry.

How easy has it been to settle to life at Berklee and thousands of miles away from family and friends?

It has been a very different experience to what is generally expected of student life and seemed unusual at first. However, it was easy for me to adapt to an environment in which everyone shared the same passion for music. The curriculum definitely kept me engaged and busy.

What is the format of your course, what are the core components, and what are the areas in which you intend to specialise?

There are core music classes, which consist of ear training, harmony and arranging. There are also performance classes, which feature private instruction, lab and ensemble work. In the first semester, I had a music production class, but as I am majoring in performance, I only did this for one semester. Each semester, we have to study a Liberal Art, i.e. anything other than music. In my first semester, I studied psychology, and this semester I studied English. And finally, there are Electives, the range on offer being dictated by which area of music you are majoring in.

Describe your typical week, detailing individual and group tuition, tutorials and lectures.

Majoring in performance, the classes I have been taking this semester are ear training, music application and theory, rhythm and blues ensemble, timpani lab, analysis of drummers and styles post-1960s, an introduction to music education (as I am considering taking a minor in private teaching), and general psychology.

What have been the highlights of your first year and why?

The highlights for me this year have been the performance opportunities on campus, being taught by such experienced musicians, being able to collaborate and

record with my friends, talking with music producer Benny Blanco, who has produced just about every modern pop song, working with such artists as Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and many others.

What are you most looking forward to in your course?

I am most looking forward to embracing more opportunities to perform, with my own bands as well as class ensembles.

What networking and work placement opportunities will be available to you?

The best thing about Berklee is the opportunity it gives to network and connect with others in the music industry. One of the options that I may look into is a major internship, lasting for a semester, which would provide an opportunity to get a foot in the door of the music industry.

What are your career aims after leaving Berklee, and what advantages do you think that Berklee will have given you as you pursue this goal?

After Berklee, I would love to become a session drummer, playing live and recording for different musicians in a range of styles. Berklee has already helped me with this as it has given me opportunities to record parts and to play live at different events hosted by the College.

Thank you, Dougal.

Merchistonian News

Class of ‘73 Reunion

Saturday 7 October 2023

It was fifty years since we left School and, for some of us, fifty years since we had seen each other!! Mike Abram, Captain of School 1972 – 73, was tasked by others to organise the get together.

On Saturday 7 October, thirteen of us gathered in the Old Library for coffee. A great effort to attend had been made by everyone, and, in particular, Robin White (Toronto), Doug Noble (Florida) and Rick Moir (London). It was a good feeling returning to Merchiston, bringing back many memories. In true Merchy style, it did not take long for everyone to warm up and for the chat to flow. It is strange how, after fifty years, you can just start where you left off. A good selection of photographs from 1968 to 1973 were on display, and in my quest to contact as many Merchistonians from our year group as possible, I managed to speak to thirty-one – not bad after fifty years!

Giada Canderle and Nick Blair were on standby to run the morning, and the Headmaster welcomed us back to the School. The plan for the morning was to watch the 1XV play Strathallan, then to have a tour of the School, and then to have lunch. Unfortunately, the match was cancelled: the weather throughout Scotland that day was grim and Strathallan was unable to make it through to Edinburgh. In retrospect, this was probably a blessing in disguise as it gave us all longer to chat and allowed us much more time for the School tour. We set off, with umbrellas up – yes, we all agreed that the School has changed in fifty years!

Laidlaw House, the Library, the Art and Design Technology,

IT and Music Departments, the Theatre, all-weather pitches, and even Gibson House all seemed different. Sadly, the Swimming Pool would appear to have come to the end of its life. Chalmers West and East were the big changes. They are both now Houses for the Fourth, Shell and Fifth Form boarders, with the dayboys from those year groups in Rogerson. In Chalmers, the old dormitories are now eight open-plan and self-contained study bedrooms. The old communal changing rooms and showers have now been converted into an open-plan kitchen and social area. The other major change we saw was in the Dining Hall: the selfservice dining room and menu options were something we could have only dreamed of fifty years ago! As we wandered around, everyone had a memory and everyone had a story to tell.

We ended the tour in the Memorial Hall, which had not changed. The Projection Room is still there, but there are no big reel films. Our first film in the Autumn Term of 1968 was The Heroes of Telemark – I am sure that you will all remember it! We sat around the Hall for some time reminiscing, moving then to the Old Library for lunch and farewells.

This was a very successful morning, after which ten of us gathered at the Raeburn Hotel in the evening for dinner –an excellent night.

A big thanks go to all who attended, and to the School for hosting us.

Mike Abram (’68 – ’73)

Class of ‘79 Reunion

Saturday 23 March 2024

On Saturday 23 March 2024, there was a “one-off” reunion for the Class of 1979. The reunion had taken a long time to organise as we had to re-establish contact with members of the year group through internet searches, get in touch and invite them – and also to allow enough time to enable those from further afield to organise other holiday events to justify travelling such a long way. In the event, people came from Australia, the USA, Europe and, of course, the UK, making a group of forty attendees out of a possible fifty-three.

The idea was to have a reunion dinner, but arrangements mushroomed as travel plans became clearer. Fifteen met for dinner on Friday evening as they were in Edinburgh for the weekend. Twenty-one visited the School on the Saturday morning and were treated to a tour of the updated facilities, which bore little resemblance to the place that we remembered! Whilst the primary buildings remain the same on the outside, the developments inside are superb, much more comfortable, and clearly reflect a lot of refurbishment work. It was pleasing to see recognisable facilities, such as the swimming pool and what we thought were the new squash courts, both of which are now at the ends of their lives! Our thanks go to both the Headmaster and Philip Rossiter for showing us around, and for answering our many questions.

Forty people attended the Saturday evening dinner at The New Club on Princes Street, which was the first time that many had met in the forty-five years since they left the School! And so, although the hair may be thinner, gone, or just white, and the waistlines bigger, the characters were

exactly the same, if perhaps a little more mature in attitude! Richard Iveson – one of the organisers – gave a welcome address, and Malcolm Forbes followed with eulogies for the seven who had sadly passed away. Considerable effort had been put into finding informal photos from School days (few had cameras in those days!). Malcolm, in particular, had done a great job of restoring some colour to them, and showed them to everyone in a looped slide show during the dinner. Thanks are due to Colin Cameron and his team at The New Club, who hosted the Saturday evening event brilliantly, with excellent food washed down with a few bottles of wine. All in all, everyone enjoyed catching up with old School friends and, I suspect, realising that little has really changed!

On Sunday morning, a few hardy souls took to the golf course for a nostalgic round over the Braid Hills. Thanks go to Mike Dickson for arranging this and doing the admin –only to find that he was in the losing team!

Thanks also go to Gavin Watt and Robin Wilson for making this happen.

It all made for a busy weekend of events, and gave us all the opportunity to rekindle friendships that had been lost in the years since we left School.

Richard Iveson (’74 – ’79)

Class of ‘85 Reunion

Saturday 3 February 2024

On Saturday 3 February, a few of the 1985 leavers met at The Raeburn for some refreshment and to watch the first round of the 2024 Six Nations. Those in the photograph, from left to right, are:

Chris Cowan, Gary Miller, John Iveson, Clive Hewat, James Angus, Gavin Thain, David Burn, Andrew McDonald, Graham Campell

Plans are starting to be discussed for a fortieth anniversary gathering in the course of 2025. We would be grateful if 1985 leavers could check that the Merchistonian Club has their current email address so that as many members of the year group as possible can be contacted with the details when plans have been made (merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk).

Class of ‘14 Reunion

Saturday 27 January 2024

Welcomed with refreshments and by some familiar faces in the Old Library, the year group which graduated from the School ten years ago returned to its old haunts to reminisce and to appreciate some of the changes which have been made in the intervening period. Mr Rossiter, Mr Thompson and Mr Blair were all on hand to jog our memories with a collection of stories and House and team photos from throughout our Merchiston careers. We then teamed up with current pupil Joshua M, who kindly helped us to navigate our way around the School.

With a third of our final year group present, we were delighted to see some of the improvements and upgrades that have been carried out in the School: the complete facelift given recently to the Chalmers Houses was particularly impressive. The quarters look much more modern and offer increased privacy; however, some of the old personal touches were perhaps missing, reflecting the increasingly apparent changing demographic of contemporary boarding schools.

As we toured the grounds and classrooms, we were delighted to meet up with Mr Cordingley, who recounted some of his memories of our year group. To round off the visit, we recalled evenings of octopush and countless

8-length swims in the swimming pool and admired the impressive new astroturf, on our way up to watch the 1XV play Stewart’s Melville: a great, historical fixture, the result of which, for us, was of secondary importance. After catching up with Mr Horrocks and Mr Harrison on the touchline, a “Burns Supper” awaited us at the Spylaw Tavern in Colinton Village.

This was a fantastic return trip to the School and all the former pupils present pass on their thanks to former and current staff, not only for the tour, but also for their support during and beyond our time at School.

We would like to make special mention of our dearly beloved French teacher, Hélène Gray, who sadly passed away on 16 February 2022. Her former students remember her fondly, and send our best wishes to her family as they approach the anniversary of her death.

Ready ay Ready

Geordie Mungavin (‘06 – ’14)

Obituaries

In addition to the deaths of Merchistonians which have been announced in the Merchistonian newsletters, we print below the obituaries which have been sent to us and send our condolences to their families and friends.

Jack Dun (‘39-’44) (Jack’s family kindly sent us a copy of the eulogy given at his funeral, excerpts from which are printed below.)

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included within the obituaries is accurate and we are grateful to the Merchistonian community for sending in newspaper clippings and published articles for this section.

keeping duties during the Partition, returning home in late 1947. He was discharged in January 1948 and returned home to Melrose. Having played his first game for Melrose whilst on leave from the army in 1946, he now became a regular on the pitch at The Greenyards, playing for the 1XV over 170 times.

In 1956, he married Jean Dagg, from Ancrum, and they set up their home together in Melrose. They had three children: Fiona, who was sadly killed in a car crash, Jock and Alistair. Jack and Jean also had five grandchildren, now living in England, France, Australia and New Zealand. After his marriage, Jack gave up playing rugby and took up refereeing for the next seventeen years, during which time he touch judged two international matches. After he gave up refereeing, he was very involved with the SRU in referee training and selection.

Jack Dun was born on 7 November 1925 to parents Kate Thin, grand-daughter of James Thin, who had founded the famous university bookshop in Edinburgh in 1848, and Johnny Dun, of the longestablished agricultural merchants firm based in Galashiels.

In 1933, Jack went to St Mary’s Preparatory School, next to The Greenyards in Melrose, where he started playing rugby. In 1939, he moved to Merchiston, where he did reasonably well academically but, more to the point, played in the 1XV for his last two years, captaining the team in 1943/44. He also featured in the running team, earned colours at Fives, and was a Senior Prefect. Subsequent members of Jack’s family also attended Merchiston: his son, Jock, who was Captain of Rugby in 1979/80, and his grandson, Jack, who played for the 1XV in 2018/19, the year in which Merchiston won the Scottish Schools Cup. Merchiston and rugby are very much in the blood! (The three generations of the Dun family at Merchiston are pictured to the right).

Jack volunteered for the army whilst still at School and joined the Edinburgh University OTC in March 1944. Towards the end of the War, he was sent to Wales for his initial officer training and was commissioned into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in January 1946. He was then, for some reason, attached to the English Border Regiment and sent to India to join them. There, he was involved in peace-

Having started working with his father at John Dun and Company in Galashiels when he came home from the army, Jack took over the reins when his father died in 1962. The company also manufactured its own fertilizer, and prior to the advent of the Wool Marketing Board, was heavily involved in the wool trade. Over the years, the company also specialized in grass seed, and boasted a client list covering all of Scotland, Northern England and further South. In 1992, Jack finally decided to retire – or at least semi-retire - from the company.

Jack lived and breathed everything to do with Melrose rugby throughout his life. At the age of eight, in 1934, he first attended the Melrose 7s, and of a possible eighty-three tournaments, it was truly remarkable that he missed only two, whilst serving with the British Army in India. His last Melrose 7s was in 2023 and he was very proud to watch the event with his Sevens Hall of Fame cap in his hand.

In 2019, Jean moved into a care home, followed later by Jack, where she died in 2021. Whilst there, he still insisted on getting out and about – mainly, of course, to the rugby club for his morning coffee with his pals and to watch the home games.

Jack died on 11 October 2023, just a few weeks shy of his 98th birthday, and is sadly missed by family and friends.

William J Ramsay (‘44-’48)

Passed away in August 2023 in Oundle, Northamptonshire, aged 92; much loved husband to Joan; father to Michael, Susan and Linda.

John G F Duncan (‘49-’53)

Passed away on 21 March 2024, aged 88; served in The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in Singapore, Malaya, Brunei and Sarawak, followed by a career in the IT industry.

Thomas McAndrew (‘50-’53)

Tom McAndrew (son of PD, 1914 – ’18) was born on 2 October 1937 and died on 2 May 2023. He attended Biggar High School before moving to Merchiston in 1950. He then entered Britannia Royal Naval College as a naval cadet in 1954, passing out as a sub-lieutenant in July 1957.

Tom held various general service appointments, before specialising as a hydrographic surveyor, serving on HM ships Dampier, Egeria (in command) and Hecla. He later became the Oceanographic Liaison Officer for the Admiralty. He retired in 1987 and was awarded an M.B.E. for his service.

Tom retired to Peebles in the Scottish Borders and is survived by his wife, Anne, and their three daughters and six grandchildren.

Michael Coats MacKean (‘51-’56)

Michael passed away on 25 August 2023, aged 85, in San Miguel de Salinas, Spain, where he had lived in retirement for the past twenty years. He spent his career in the civil engineering / construction industry, working both in the UK and the Middle East. Grandson of NM MacKean (1876 –’79) and brother of CC MacKean (’55 – ’58) and JSL MacKean (’59 – ’62), he is survived by his wife, Jeanette, his daughter, Morven, his sons, Nigel and Carl, and his brother, Colin.

James Hardie (‘52-’57)

James died peacefully on 8 February 2024, after a short illness, at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

He attended Merchiston from 1952 to 1957 and had a lifelong affinity with the School. He was a member of the Merchiston Board of Governors from 1985 to 1991.

James played an active part in the Merchistonian Golf Club, including being Captain of the Golf Club and Halford Hewitt Golf Team. He was a member of Elie Golf House Club and Western Gailes Golf Club, both of which he went on to captain.

James qualified as a CA and joined a stockbroking firm in Glasgow, where he remained for his entire business career. His son, Graham Hardie, followed him to Merchiston (’81 to ’86).

James is survived by his wife Kathleen, his children, Fiona, Graham and Gillian and five grandchildren.

James Davidson (‘49-’53)

Passed away on 2 June 2024, aged 84, after a career with the Forestry Commission. He leaves his wife, Sheila.

John Duncan Murray (‘54-’59)

John Duncan Murray (always known as Duncan) was born in Eastbourne, of Scottish antecedents, on 30 June 1941. From Nevill House School in his home town, Duncan came to Merchiston in autumn 1954 and was awarded an entrance scholarship at the end of his first year. In his last year, he was a Junior Prefect, won the Duncan Gold Medal for Classics and a Rogerson Scholarship, and played in the 2XI, for which he was wicket-keeper. A lifelong sports

enthusiast, he also wrote sports reports for The Spirit, and, whilst at School, his ambition was to be a sports commentator. With his acute sense of humour and gift of ready and witty speech, he would probably have made a very good one! Other counsels prevailed, however, and after graduating with an MA from Edinburgh University, he trained as a chartered accountant in London.

After qualifying, Duncan had an adventurous spell in Ethiopia in 1967, working for Price Waterhouse. After that, he had a very successful career with the John Lewis Group and then Ladbrokes. However, he hankered after greater independence, and fulfilled this aspiration amply, starting off by buying a hotel in the New Forest and ending by acquiring and controlling various groups of hotels and pubs across the country. A deeply unselfish man, he was a generous benefactor to a number of organisations, including Merchiston, and many charities. At his funeral, his eldest son described him as “a decent man, a kind man, a funny man, a much-loved man”, which seems a good summing-up.

Although he always lived in the south of England, Duncan remained throughout his life devoted to Scotland, to Edinburgh, and to Merchiston. Over the past decade or more, he was a regular attender at lunches held in Edinburgh by a group of School friends and contemporaries, often, with characteristic commitment, making the journey from Sussex to Edinburgh and back by train in a single day.

Duncan died after an illness of a few months on 15 September 2023. He was married twice, and is survived by his devoted second wife, Penny, by two children from his first marriage and three from his second, and by seven grandchildren.

John Herdman (’54 – ’59)

Alastair G McGlure (‘55-’59)

Alastair passed away on 16 December 2023, aged 82. After leaving Merchiston, his career progressed through the textiles industry, becoming a director of the family business of Twomax Knitwear, after which he worked in motor car sales, followed by clothing retail, notably setting up clothing shops with his wife. His funeral took place on 5 January 2024.

Robert G Wilson (‘57-’62)

Passed away in the summer of 2023, aged 80.

Andrew Robin Haddow (‘60-’65)

B y Andrew’s own admission, much of his time at Merchiston was spent thinking about golf. He was in the golf team for three years and he was captain in his last year. On leaving School, he had the ambition to caddy in the States for American professional golfers, where he could also make some money. And so, in 1966, when the Ryder Cup was being played at Formby, he attended it with the sole intention of introducing himself to the legendary Arnold Palmer. This took courage but the bold move paid off and Palmer invited him to stay with him at his home and caddy for him. So, he purchased a Greyhound Bus ticket for $ 99, which allowed him to travel anywhere in the States for 99 days and armed himself with a YMCA membership card, which allowed him cheaper accommodation when he arrived. He spent the next twelve months caddying for Palmer, Tony Lima, Gene Sarazen and many other golf idols of the time. He was also asked by Norman Mair to write articles on the tournaments he worked at for The Scotsman newspaper.

In 1966, Palmer won the US Masters and presented his glove and the ball he used to Merchiston to be competed for annually by boys at the School.

Having seen the popularity of Golf Pro Ams in the States, Andrew was instrumental in arranging the first two tournaments in this country: the first at St Andrews in 1972, with Doug Saunders and Henry Cooper versus Billy Casper and Christopher Lee, and the second two years later, with Lee Trevino and Jackie Stewart versus Max Faulkner and Sean Connery, and with the commentator being Peter Alliss.

Andrew played for the School in the Halford Hewitt trophy between the years 1970 – 1986 and was in the winning team in 1977.

He retired to Brighton and joined West Sussex Golf Club, where he played until his death on Christmas Eve 2023.

EJG Goodbrand (’70 – ’74)

Passed away on 15 July 2024, aged 67. A full obituary will be printed in the 2024-25 edition of the Merchistonian.

Ivan Zizak (‘09-’13)

Killed in action in the Ukraine War, close to Kherson, on 7 November 2022.

Finlay MacDonald (‘14-’23)

On Monday 24 June, Merchiston was devastated to learn of the sudden death of Finlay MacDonald, and sends its deepest condolences to his family and friends. His funeral, led by Merchiston’s Chaplain, Rev Nick Blair, took place in the presence of a huge congregation in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Friday 12 July. The congregation included family members, family friends, friends from his own and other year groups at School, members of staff, and friends from St Andrews University.

All members of the Merchiston community have felt Finlay’s loss deeply, and so here we include excerpts from the words which were said about him by the Chaplain on this extremely sad occasion.

In the midst of the most difficult of services, the most difficult of times, it is so easy to speak well of Finlay: there is an abundance of loving and fond memories, as we will hear. But I have a dual focus in this service. It is a focus on Finlay, who he was and what he means to us, but there is also a focus on you, his family and friends. It is a focus on life - the life that has been lived, and we are so grateful to have been a part of Finlay’s, but also the life that must be lived by all of us as we go forward -

the focus is life. In a short service like this, we cannot hope to paint a full picture of Finlay’s life - it is the family’s hope that, as we gather, there will be a real sense of Finlay: his love, his strength of character, his sense of humour. It simply would not be a service about Finlay if there were not some smiles of warm and fond remembrance - for after all, what many of us will remember very strongly is his smile and the twinkle in his eye.

Finlay was born on 2 November 2004, a healthy 7lb 8oz, walking by 11 months and into everything, displaying a voracious curiosity that was a Finlay hallmark: into phones from an early age; very, very into cars, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the makes and models of the cars of friends and family - even number plates were memorised. He loved his work experience at Mercedes and loved driving. He loved his family and knew he was loved in return. He was a proud older brother when Alec arrived, and took his brotherly responsibilities seriously. His family are so proud of him - he was, and is, in their memory a shining light.

Finlay came to Merchiston in 2014, where he excelled in the classroom, on the games pitch and on the athletics arena, where he once held the School 100m record for his age. However, his success was never resented, I think because he took a genuine delight in the success of others. He wasn’t the

Captain of School (‘22-’23)

kind of person who came into a room and said “Here I am”; he was the kind who came into a room and said “There you are”. He was the epitome of a community man. He could also laugh at himself - a most underrated but, I think, most vital personal attribute. In 2022, from a very strong field, Finlay was appointed Captain of School, a vital position in setting the tone as well as representing the School in an official capacity. In the big events and in the day to day, he displayed a consistent, compassionate and caring approach.

At St Andrew’s University, following in the family tradition, Finlay studied International Relations and Modern History, where he displayed the same approach to life. Those close friendships he had enjoyed at School continued but he also extended that kind of friendship to his new university friends, with whom close bonds were quickly established.

The Christian faith of which I am a minister, and on days like this I cling to, holds out the hope that this is not all there is. I believe in a life beyond this one – “life in all its fullness”. This is what I cling to and is what Finlay heard repeatedly from me at School - a belief that God’s love for us through Jesus is stronger than death. Light beats darkness, hope beats despair, and love triumphs over separation. One of Finlay’s friends commented: “he was the best of friends, always looking out for you and wanting the best for you - so I know he would have wanted us all to stay strong and stay happy”. There must be laughter and joy and vibrancy in between the waves of sad remembrance. Do go and live the gift that you have been given: life is a precious gift - live it with everything you have. Make that your mark of remembrance - live the gift you have been given. Light beats darkness, hope beats despair, love triumphs over separation.

Finlay - may you know God’s peace and His life for evermore.

Amen.

And to finish, a blessing that Finlay always liked when I gave it in School at the last assembly of term:

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Sport

Fishing Report 2023-24

By the time you receive this magazine, I will be planning for outings during 2025.

These days are always very sociable and cater for the novice as well as those that think they know how to catch trout!

Club President, Andrew McDonald, fly fishing on Glencorse Reservoir on 1 October with former Senior Deputy Head, Nigel Rickard, on his annual return visit to Edinburgh. Andrew reports that Nigel did, in fact, have a rainbow trout on his line just before the photo was taken, but he inadvertently pressed the ‘release’ button!

Please email me your details if you would like to keep informed of upcoming dates.

W Andrew McDonald (‘79-‘85) andrewmcdonald67@blueyonder.co.uk

Curling Report 2023-24

I am pleased to report that the Merchistonian curlers won the Wanderers League this season. We had wins over Glasgow Accies, Old Glenalmond and Aberdeen Grammar School FP, and lost narrowly to Kelvinside Accies. As no other teams won all their matches, we clinched the League by one point. All the matches took place at Greenacres Curling Club, near Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire. Our pool of curlers consisted of John Mitchell, Don Rutherford, Douglas Harvie, John Duthie and Alastair Campbell.

New recruits for next season are welcome: please contact the Curling Convenor, John Duthie –john.duthie@ntlworld.com / 0141 632 5123.

Rugby Club Report 2023-24

It has been a quieter season for the Merchistonian Rugby Club, with only one run-out at the Edinburgh City 7s tournament, which is organised by Merchistonian Donald Crawford. The team, organised by Angus McGregor, did well to make the final of its competition before narrowly going down.

Although the Club itself has not come together much this season, there have been some great successes for Merchistonian rugby players at all levels of the game. Most notably, a massive congratulations go to United Rugby Championship winners Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall and Ben Afshar with Glasgow Warriors. Other congratulations go to:

- Patrick Kelly and Matt Davidson on winning the Melrose 7s with Shogun;

- Zach Mercer, winning player of the season at Gloucester;

- Stafford again for making his debut for Scotland against Ireland in the Six Nations;

- Five Old Boys included in the Scotland Summer Tour -

• Stafford

• Jamie

• Matt Currie

• Ben Afshar (development player)

• Fin Richardson (development player)

- Cammy Gray on winning the Scottish Premiership with Currie;

- Angus Roberts and William Tweedie on winning ‘Kings of the 7s’ with Kelso;

- Fin Richardson on signing for Glasgow;

- Dan Nutton on 50 caps for London Scottish;

- We also had multiple players play for teams in the Super Series.

I am sure that I have missed a huge number of other achievements, but hopefully this list highlights that Merchistonians are making a great impact across all levels of rugby in Scotland and afar, and we should take great pride in that as a School community.

A special mention should be made of Fraser Brown, who has announced his retirement from rugby. The club would like to congratulate Fraser on his unbelievable career and thank him for being an excellent role model on and off the pitch (62 caps for Scotland, 141 Glasgow Warriors appearances).

Doug Crawford (‘09-‘14)

Shooting Club Report 2023-24

The Merchistonian team had two matches this year over 18 and 19 May against the pupils. On the Saturday, we had the rifle match, with some excellent shooting in the Miller Range. Bertie Galloway and Patrick Costello both scored an impressive 191 out of 200. The top schoolboys were Richard and Ryan, each scoring 185 out of 200. The rifle team won overall, with a score of 745 out of 1000!

That night, the Merchistonians celebrated their first win of the weekend by heading into Edinburgh for a curry, beer, and catch-up.

The clays match took place the following day at Cluny

Clays. The team displayed remarkable shooting skills, with four team members hitting over 40 out of 50. Simon Collins took the top gun position, with a score of 44, closely followed by Richard MacMillan, who scored 43. It was also great to see the standard of the boys' shooting, with Max and Callum engaging in some sibling rivalry and scoring 38 and 37 respectively.

We are hoping to have a Merchistonian clay shoot in September, so please keep an eye on your emails and the Facebook page for updates.

Tom Diggle (’08-’16)

Golf Club Report 2023-24

On 2 September 2023, for the second year in succession, the Annual Meeting returned to Duddingston Golf Club. The weather was very kind to us and some excellent golf was played. The introduction of an additional team event proved popular, increasing the entries from 2022.

Gold Medal

Silver Medal

Centenary Trophy – Under 40 Stableford

Biggart Donaldson Trophy – O40 and U60 Stableford

Ness Tankard – Over 50 Net

Allan Salver – Over 50 Scratch

Biggart Memorial – Over 60 Scratch

Hewat Driver – Over 60 Stableford

Team Event

Nearest Hole 2nd

Nearest Hole 14th

Longest Drive 17th

John McKean’s 1 under par gross 71 took the Gold Medal and Andrew Light’s net 70 was sufficient to win the Silver Medal. Strong rounds from our Captain, John Macmillan, and Chris Smith and Charlie Simpson swept up most of the other silverware.

John McKean 71

Andrew Light 70

Chris Smith

Charlie Simpson

John Macmillan

John McKean

John McKean

John Macmillan

John Macmillan, Ian Brand, John McKean and John Gibson 79 points

James Hardie

Andrew Light

David Smith

(L to R) D Hutchison, G Batchelor, H Thomson, D McIntyre, D Morrison, M Stein and G Dickie.

Stenhouse Quaich at Elie in March

Our season got off to an excellent start in March. On the Saturday, we beat all the Edinburgh schools - Fettes, Loretto and The Academy. This competition works on holes up in every match in case of countback. We were then a combined 40 up, which suggested a very dominant performance.

On the Sunday morning, we had a closely fought battle with Strathallan, which wound up a narrow loss, an overall 2 down.

This meant that on Sunday afternoon we had to beat Glenalmond to win the trophy. One game went our way, 4 holes up. The other three were tight struggles, which all resulted in halved matches. So, we had done enough.

The team was different each session but comprised Stein, Ward, Forman, Abram, Mair, Nugent, Simpson, Morrison, Rolland, Biggart, Thain, Smith

Senior Wayfarers at Panmure in April

On the Saturday afternoon, we won the qualifying Stableford which guaranteed semi-final status.

On Sunday morning, we beat Accies 21, and then on Sunday afternoon, we beat Glenalmond 2-1, to lift our second Wayfarers trophy of this 2024 season.

(L to R) Charlie Simpson, John Macmillan, John McKean, Chris Smith and Andrew Light.

Halford Hewitt at Sandwich in April

We drew against Sherborne on the Thursday. Biggart and Forman came off second best, but McIntosh and Rolland, Stein and Ward and Crummey and Bremner all had excellent wins. Smith and Simpson were battling to be all square at 18, which they achieved just before we brought news that the match was safe. So, 3.5/1.5 to the Merchistonian Golf Club.

The second round on the Friday was against Wellington, who had beaten Bradfield, and who we had beaten in the 2014 final.

McIntosh and Rolland pulled off another really excellent win. Crummey and Bremner were beaten out in the country. Smith and Simpson and Biggart and Forman were all involved in very tight matches (all to play for after 12 holes), which went Wellington’s way by dint of an outstanding bunker recovery by them and a rotten downhill lie for us.

Stein and Ward were en route to a win when they agreed a half. So, 3.5/1.5 the other way.

Overall, it was a really close match that slipped from our grasp.

Team: J McIntosh, M Rolland, S Biggart, R Forman, C Smith, C Simpson, M Stein, F Ward, R Crummey, R Bremner

The 2024 Annual Meeting is moving down the coast to Luffness New Golf Club and will be held on Sunday 1 September.

To join the Merchistonian Golf Club, please contact our Secretary, Sandy Robertson, on sandyrob11@gmail.com Annual membership is just £40 or free if you are under 25.

Sandy Robertson (’75-’79)