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Issue 2, Summer 2017
My First Day by Bill Fulton St Aloysius’ College Revisited by Brian Milton Remembering John Ogilvie Hall Life in the Calais Camp by Judith McCartney
Blessing & Dedication of our new Sports Facility
#greatthingshappen
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE TRY OUR BEST
Start your story at staloysius.org Scottish Rugby U16 Schools’ Cup Champions 2016
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WELCOME
from the Head Master, Matthew Bartlett
It’s a measure of how many of our community read AMDG that since my arrival in Glasgow in October, I’ve been consistently asked when the next issue is coming out! Well it is finally here and full of news of the Aloysian community from those currently studying on the Hill to those whose memories go back slightly longer. The reason for the delay was our desire to share with all of you the fantastic news that on March 6th our £7.5 million Sports Facility was dedicated by Father Dermot Preston SJ and opened by Gregor Townsend and Susan McGilveray. For those who were there it was a once in a lifetime event, promising to transform the College and its ever burgeoning sporting tradition. If you weren’t able to join us, take time to look through pages 16-19 to see how this really is an amazing addition for current and future Aloysians. It remains as important to us as ever that the wonderful Jesuit education offered here at St Aloysius continues to be available to as many young people as possible. To that end I have been out and about visiting many primary schools in the city and beyond where the same story is told, of young people who would really benefit from our education but for whom the cost is prohibitive. These are our future and I am passionate about ensuring that we can reach out into our community, the community the school was built to serve. We must aim to transform lives and create men and women for others. To do that requires us to build a Bursary fund of real strength and value and that will be a task in which hopefully we can all share. A little of what lies ahead can be found on page 24 but I suspect you will hear a little more on this in the months and years ahead. So many of you are already so generous, and AMDG is a way of sharing the fruits of your generosity. However if there are other ways you would like to help us then do please be in touch with our Development and Alumni team or indeed directly with me. One of the joys of Glasgow is the instinctive warmth of the people and I have been quickly adopted into this wonderful city. I do extend a genuine invitation for any Old Aloysian to call my PA and arrange a time to visit us, if only for a cup of tea and a chat and a chance to catch up. You will always find a welcome at 45 Hill Street.
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CONTENTS 5 . . . . . . . . . . Events & Reunions - Recent and Forthcoming 8 . . . . . . . . . . Memories are made of this . . .
My First Day by Bill Fulton
Friends Reunited with Gordon MacBride
St Aloysius’ College Revisited by Brian Milton
Remembering John Ogilvie Hall
12 - 14 . . . . . . What are you doing now?
Siobhan Dunn
Jen McGinley
16 - 19 . . . . . . Blessing and Dedication of the new College Sports Facility 20 . . . . . . . . . Life in the Calais Camp by Judith McCartney 22 . . . . . . . . . OA News 24 . . . . . . . . . . Cara’s Bursary Story 25 . . . . . . . . . Our Donors 27 . . . . . . . . . May They Rest In Peace
AMDG Magazine, Second edition Spring 2017 Edited by Caroline Notman Designed by Printwell Printed by Printwell of Airdrie Contacting the Development & Alumni Relations Office If you prefer to receive this publication to your inbox, please contact the Development Office at alumni@staloysius.org Contact by phone 0141-332-3190 St Aloysius’ College is a company limited by guarantee (SC405951) registered in Scotland. It is a Jesuit school and a charity (SC042545)
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EVENTS & REUNIONS
Recent and Forthcoming
If you wish to stay in touch and find out what events and reunions are coming up, then please ensure we have your email address. You can update your details at: https://community.staloysius.org/stay-in-touch
FEBRUARY 2016
APRIL 2016
Business Network Pictured at our Rugby-themed event are Guest Speakers Ed Crozier (1977), then President of the Scottish Rugby Union and Alastair Kellock of The Glasgow Warriors
Hong Kong Drinks Hosted by Frank Dunn (1965) and his wife Helen
MAY 2016 London Aloysian Reunion Dinner Held in the Caledonian Club in Belgravia, OAs from 1949 to 2009 attended the Dinner.
MAY 2016 Business Network Two for the price of one with Gerry McCusker (1984), Owner and CEO of Dog talking about the future of digital marketing and current parent Coretta Barry, Director, Patten Consulting Ltd. on bringing practical solutions from psychology to everyday business.
Don’t miss out! Check the back page of AMDG magazine for the various ways to find out about forthcoming Reunions and Events. 5
AMDG JUNE 2016 Class of 1956 Reunion – Class Rep, John Arthur
Class of 1966 Reunion – Class Reps, Dennis Daly and John McKee
SEPTEMBER 2016 Class of 1986 Reunion – Class Rep, Mike Smith
OCTOBER 2016 Class of 1976 Reunion – Class Rep, Andrew Muir
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NOVEMBER 2016 Class of 1996 – Class Reps, Michael Montgomery, Andrene McCall, Matthew Darroch, Paul Murphy, Catriona Langan (Laing), John Nicholson, Claire Bett (Kelly)
FEBRUARY 2017 Business Network – Frank Skivington (left) pictured with Mike Smith gave a unique insight into the building of the billion £ internet business, Skyscanner and how business will operate via the next generation.
Forthcoming Friday 15 September Class of 1962 From 6.00pm in the College Class Reps: Ronnie Renton and Charles Freer Friday 6 October Class of 1987 From 6.00pm in the College Class Reps: Jane Donoghue, Paul McDermott, James Kelly, Mark McQuillan Saturday 7 October Class of 2007 Class Reps: Cristina Crolla, Paul Gess, Anthony McShane
Thursday 12 October Class of 1977 From 6.00pm in the College Class Rep: Seamus O’Sullivan Friday 17 November Class of 1982 From 6.00pm in the College Class Reps: David Armstrong and Carlo Ventisei
Claire-Frances McCulloch (née Gartley) Monday 27 November Business Network for our preChristmas Small Business Pop-up Shop event from 6.00pm – 8.30pm at The Glasgow Collective, 15 East Campbell Street, the Barrowlands, Glasgow.
Saturday 18 November Class of 1997 From 6.00pm in the College Class Reps: Gemma Britton (née Waterson), Lucy Gannon (née Marshall), Ann Baikie (née Flanagan),
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Memories are made of this . . .
MY FIRST DAY
By Bill Fulton (1964), USA
Although my first day at St Aloysius’ College – or John Ogilvie Hall as it was then - was over sixty years ago, it remains clearly fixed in my memory. On my first day in 1956, I was 12 years old and was assigned to the primary school, Ogilvie VI, which was taught by Miss Butler. I remember how terrified I was that day; all I wanted was to blend in. I felt that way because I was the first American to be admitted to the College; I knew no one and did not want to be different and draw attention to myself. I also knew that Fr Tracey had told my parents that my younger brothers’ admittance to the College would be dependent on how well I did. I was feeling the pressure. Just two months before the August start of the school year in 1956, my family had moved from the central part of the United States to Glasgow and it was the first time I had been out of my country. My father was with Caterpillar and we were one of 26 families transferred to Scotland to build a new plant near Glasgow. At the beginning of class that first day, Miss Butler asked each student to stand and introduce himself, and after I had done so while still standing, Miss Butler announced that she did not want any “Americanisms” in her class. Although I did not fully understand her meaning, I was only too aware that it wasn’t positive, and when I told my father he was quite concerned.
The next day he met with Miss Butler and they had a positive meeting of the minds. As the school year progressed, I quickly adapted, made friends, had success and became just one of the boys, albeit with a different accent. Most remarkably I came to love and appreciate Miss Butler. Even after I had moved to the senior school downtown (in Garnethill) and she had retired, we kept in touch and I would occasionally visit her; quite a change from the first hour of the first day. She was one of the most influential teachers I ever had. And yes, my brothers were later admitted to the College. I have told that story many times over the years, along with other great memories from my five and a half years in the Green Blazer.
FRIENDS REUNITED In the days before email and Facebook, when Bill Fulton left the College in the January of 1962 to head back to the US with his family, I don’t suppose he expected to see any of his classmates again. However, one of his friends, Gordon MacBride had other ideas. At the tender age of 16, Gordon’s mother bought him a chartered flight return ticket to New York for the princely sum of £65 as he decided to pay a surprise visit, on his own, to Bill and his family in Illinois. Gordon toured parts of North America using Greyhound buses before visiting his school friend and even wrote about it in the College magazine in 1962 saying, “I spent the most enjoyable week I could have wished for. The hospitality shown me by the Fulton family was out of this world.”
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Although Gordon and Bill stayed in touch after that, there was a gap of 27 years before they met up again in 1989. Bill and Gordon enjoyed sport at the College, and both were very successful on the Rugby field and in Athletics. Recently we were able to reunite Gordon with the Junior Class Challenge Cup which he won at Sports Day in June 1959 and he’s pictured here being awarded the Cup and again in 2016. Bill and Gordon will reunite in the autumn, but for now, at least they have email!
If you have a “My First Day” memory which you would like to share, please email it to: alumni@staloysius.org with “My First Day” in the subject line, or post it to the Development Office, 45 Hill Street, Glasgow G3 6RJ.
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ST ALOYSIUS’ COLLEGE REVISITED By Brian Milton (1962) It was with surprise, delight and more than a bit of hesitation that I toured the College in the summer of 2016, having last set foot in it in July 1962 on the occasion of my Prince Hal dismissal by Father Phillipson, or Pip as we called him. Gone were the Jesuits that made such a mark on me. “Completed their mission”, I was told, “to create an educated Catholic middle-class in Scotland”. Modesty was never their strong suit! In their stead were new buildings, doubling the size of the old school: a gleaming new Sports Centre being built on the old playground, a Science building across from the fire-damaged Glasgow School of Art, and a separate Music and Art building. There was also a “Refectory” where the old First Year classrooms had been and surprising me most were the girls, lots of girls roaming the halls where only lonely or rambunctious boys had once been. The Assembly Hall-cum-Gym was still there as was the Discipline Master’s office looking out over it; though it had become a less menacing Reprographics Office. Standards at the College - academic, athletic, obedience, punctuality - were high and punishment was liberal when I was there in the late 50’s and early 60’s. The College was no ordinary school. The discipline of writing weekly essays honed our writing skills, defending the mysteries of the Catholic faith in Apologetics class sharpened our logic and rhetoric, competing boy to boy in all subjects taught us the thrill of winning and labouring for hours every evening and weekend on homework built our stamina. No wonder St Aloysius was always placed in the top ten of national schools in The Bursary exam. And while my time there was less than distinguished, I subsequently found I could handle most challenges rather effortlessly, something I attribute to the years I spent with the Jesuits. The bar was so high that most things afterwards seemed straightforward: completing a doctorate, becoming a Professor, spending twenty years as a business executive and another fifteen as a founding partner in two successful Internet startups. The crowning irony, given my less than stellar performance and youthful rebelliousness, was a task I took late in my corporate career to establish a major educational foundation for the then retiring Prime Minister of Canada. This too I undertook with relish. A few years after leaving the College I emigrated to Canada followed by a few years later with a stint in the US, then a few years after that a move back to Canada and finally 15 years ago a final return here to California. Each time it was by no means clear what lay ahead but never did I doubt that it would not work out and that life would not be good. Again I attribute that sense of supreme confidence, bordering on recklessness, to my time with the Jesuits, though sometimes I wonder whether it came from the standards of excellence literally drummed into us or the experience of having survived those five tough years. Sometime in the late sixties, an uncle of mine asked of me whether he should send his sons to the College. My answer was it all depended on what he wanted for his sons. If it was a good education in terms of academic performance then yes, of course he should send them there as there was likely no better school in the country. However, it was incredibly strict, I warned him and if that was a concern then he might want to think twice. I wonder what I would say today? Undoubtedly the standards are still there and, given all the new facilities, may well be even higher. And with the days of the feared ferula now long gone and girls around to cheer up the halls, I’m tempted to believe that the Jesuits did indeed achieve their mission.
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REMEMBERING JOHN OGILVIE HALL We know how much you love a bit of nostalgia, so last year we posted some photos unearthed by Ken Monaghan (1991) on our OA Connect page on Facebook. The photos were taken when John Ogilvie Hall was on the point of closing, and although the empty corridors and classrooms look rather eerie, there were so many endearing comments that we thought it would be good to share them in AMDG magazine. Some comments from the happy memories they inspired were: “dingly dell”, “chestnut trees and playing conkers”, “Miss Sweeney and Miss Douds”, “the football pitches and the woods which were out of bounds” and “the drive down from the building was used to lay out ‘A mile of pennies’ – part of the summer fete of 1958/59”. The sandstone villa at 157 Camphill Avenue, dating from 1875 (and which still stands to this day), sat in splendour in 11 acres on what was believed to be near to the site of The Battle of
Langside. The mansion was purchased by the College in 1943 by the then Rector, Fr d’Andria. However, with the ensuing Second World War, the house was requisitioned by the Army, so it was 1953 before building work could begin and on 17 August 1954, the first pupils entered what was known as John Ogilvie Hall Preparatory School to St Aloysius’ College, Glasgow. The formal opening and blessing took place on the Feast of Blessed John Ogilvie on 10 March 1955, presided over by his Grace Archbishop Donald Campbell. In 1962 a new two-storey block was built which housed a Chapel, Gymnasium, Games Hall and Art Rooms. Since its opening in 1954, St John Ogilvie Hall prepared boys and later, girls, for their secondary education at the College. With twice as many applications as available places, it became renowned for being competitive to win a place. However, by June 1984, a decision was made to close the
First Staff at John Ogilvie Hall 1954. Front: Miss M. Douds, Fr T. Lakeland, Fr A. Gordon, Fr L. Batley, Miss E. Sweeney. Back: Miss M. Kirkwood, Mr J. Hannah, Mr T. McCrorie, Mr T. Burke, Miss M. Butler, Mr R. Heslin.
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David Gildea (1988) sent in a photo recently of the first full intake of girls in the College’s history for the P7 Class of 1981 at John Ogilvie Hall. Who can you spot in the picture?
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WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? Siobhan Dunn (1986) “My name is Siobhan Dunn and I went to St Aloysius’ College in 1986 for 5th and 6th year. The thing that struck me from day one was the warmth I received from everyone I met. This overwhelmingly friendly and welcoming atmosphere was something I wasn’t used to at school. “Like so many others, in many ways the College is weaved into the very fabric of my family. My dear aunt, Eileen Sweeney taught at the school for 51 years and one of my first memories as a young child is going to my brothers’ sports days at John Ogilvie Hall at Langside. “I vividly remember the sadness as an 8 year old realising I wasn’t going with my parents and several brothers to Rome for the Canonisation of St John Ogilvie in 1978. The Church holds a very dear place in my heart, the smell always reminds me of happy school days and I always try and pop in to light a candle when I’m back home. “My Grandfather, William Dunn, started at the College in 1905 followed by my Dad in 1941, then many uncles, brothers and cousins, so before going myself I was already very familiar with lots about the school, including the institution that is Midnight Mass! My cousin and best friend Anya Sweeney was in the first Primary 7 class of girls back in 1980, so before I began I already had lots of great pals which made me feel at home straight away. When I started, the first big difference that struck me was having boys around and I became good pals with Patrick Byrne and Nicky Doran. Having been at an all-girls school this was quite a change but having seven brothers the novelty soon wore off! The main thing that really struck me was how friendly the teachers were. Mr Renton and Mrs Geggan being two particular favourites of mine and it was wonderful to sit next to Mr Renton recently at the annual Old Aloysian Reunion Dinner in London. For the first few weeks at school it felt so strange to be walking along the corridors and see pupils and teachers having a chat and a laugh together. I immediately felt like I belonged. My only regret was that I didn’t go sooner! “I loved the wide variety of sporting options available and vividly remember windsurfing in Hogganfield Loch only to fall in and have to be rescued by Mr Maguire! Not my finest hour. I remember lots of very wet Saturday mornings playing hockey for the second XI captained by my dear friend Morag McKirdy who tragically died 20 years ago in Donegal. It’s great to still have a connection with Morag through my friends Jacqui Sharkey and Hardeep Singh Kohli. “Many of my closest pals now are ones I met at school; TeresaAnne McKeon, Monica Higgins, Deirdre Mulgrew, Hannah
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Moutune as well of course as my darling cousin Anya Sweeney. I loved being involved in the Justice and Peace Group as well as the Children’s Club, helping organise the children’s parties in the Ref. Whilst I’m sure all of us would love to be talented, clever and sporty I think what truly matters is how you treat others, and having integrity in the decisions you make and the actions you take. I learnt that at home but school also helped me realise the joy of using your skills to help others. I’m sure it also played a part in helping me on my path to what I do now. After working in Arts Marketing in Sotheby’s in London, followed by Internal Communications at Deutsche Bank, I finally found my vocation working in the charity sector. Following the sudden death of my Mum to cancer 13 years ago, I joined Teenage Cancer Trust, an amazing charity supporting young people with cancer between 13-24 years old. I’m now the CEO and am very proud of working for a charity that’s making such a difference to young people and their families across the UK.
“Like many others I know, one of the things I cherish most about my school days are the lifelong friendships I made.” “In Scotland we have four Teenage Cancer Trust units, two in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh where young people are treated with other young people in an environment that is specifically tailored to their needs and supported by specialist staff that we fund. Right now we really need more Teenage Cancer Trust nurses in Scotland as the geography means that not all young people come to our units in Glasgow and Edinburgh for their treatment. If anyone would like to find out more there’s loads of information about our work on our website and you can connect with me on twitter @siobhandunnceo”
Photos supplied by Siobhan
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WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? Jen McGinley (2006) “My name is Jen McGinley and I’m from the Class of 2006. In 2015 I was awarded the prestigious Linbury Prize for Stage Design. This prize was established by Lord and Lady Sainsbury and is a unique opportunity for Graduate Designers to work with some of the UK’s leading theatre, opera and dance companies. “It was a big step to go straight from the College and the comforts of home to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, especially at 18 when some of my peers were already the ripe old age of 21 with Masters Degrees! “I remember getting my first taste of theatre in a P7 production of ‘Joseph’ which Mr McHugh produced. Then in S2 I went on a theatre trip to London with Mrs Hughes to see ‘The Woman in Black’, but the turning point came when, as part of the College Opera Group, I visited Scottish Opera’s workshops with Ms Archibald and a seed was sown. In fact, being part of the Opera Group gave me a unique experience when I was one of the witches in Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’, performed at The Cottier Theatre. After all, how many schools have an opera group which you are exposed to at such a young age? “By then, I had realised that I had a desire to do something different, so when I read ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, I began to build up a detailed picture in my head of the set. I loved Music, Art, English and Drama and the opportunities and support that
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I received at the College helped to set me on course. Through the Careers Office at College, I gained work experience in S4 in an Architects firm, but I was determined to follow my dream and whilst I realised that Design was “not the done thing”, I remember that Mrs Daly, then Head of Art, had faith in me studying Design. I have to say that it was an absolute privilege to have had this experience. “None of my family are in the Arts, so they wondered if I would have enough work. However, having The Linbury Prize on your CV can boost the careers of young Designers, but being in a creative industry is not at all glamourous, as being selfemployed, taking no holidays and working long unsociable hours in a very competitive environment are all part and parcel of being in the Arts today. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with acclaimed Designer, Tom Scutt (another winner of The Linbury Prize in 2007), and so far my career has taken me to the intimate space of The Donmar in London for ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’, to the open air production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ in Regents Park, ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ at the National Theatre, the MTV Music Awards, the Royal Court Theatre and the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, where my award-winning set for the production ‘Autumn’ by Rob Drummond, was produced at the end of last year. “Looking back on my time at the College I made friends for life, but the values learned there, of being “men and women for others” and the development of my social conscience, is in the very detail of my work when I’m designing sets or costumes – not just for the actors – but for audience too, and is a compass directing me to the projects on which I choose to work.” (Images of the winning set model are below).
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GRADUATION NEWS Lindsay Macnaughton (attended 2001-2002) was recently awarded with a PhD by the University of Stirling for her thesis entitled ‘The Relationship of Lean Body Mass and Protein Feeding. The Science behind the Practice’. Lindsay is now working with the Scottish Institute of Sport as a Performance Nutritionist working with elite athletes.
Amy Martin (2011) recently graduated (June 2016) from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BA in Finance, Investment & Risk. She is also set to graduate in May from Northeastern University, USA with a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
Please drop us a line with your Graduation News and photos advising where you graduated from, subject of study, class of degree and what you’re doing now to Sharon Bell at sbell@staloysius.org
NEWSFLASH
From the Development & Alumni Relations Office
Whenever I talk about Data Protection to people, I can see their eyes glaze over. I can’t blame them as it’s not the most exciting of subjects and often I feel like a broken record. We live in a world now where although “Brexit means Brexit”, the General Data Protection Regulation, which was passed by the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, will come into effect from 25 May 2018. Its purpose is to strengthen and unify data protection for individuals inside and outside of the EU, giving citizens the means to control the use of their personal data. From next May, it will replace the existing data protection directive. Okay, that’s the legal bit out of the way, so what does that mean for you and for the College? Well, it means that if you want us to stay in touch with you, you will need to “opt in” to identify the ways specifically in which we can contact you and the reasons why. For example, you may be happy to receive the magazine, but never want to be invited to a reunion or event. So, how do we go about finding out what you want or need? We may either write, email or phone you in the coming months to invite you to make your choices. As the Development Office is not even four years old by the time you will receive this magazine, it won’t be surprising to learn that we are really only beginning to forge links with lost alumni (my “lost sheep” as I call them) and bringing them back into the fold, if they so desire. How can you help us at the moment? By visiting the Development pages of the College web site at: https://community.staloysius. org/welcome, and clicking on ‘Stay in Touch’, you can update your details there, including your email address and phone number. Alternatively you can email alumni@staloysius.org or put pen to paper and write to me at The Development & Alumni Relations Office, 45 Hill Street, Glasgow G3 6RJ. This way, we can contact you directly when the time comes to gain your consent. We do hope that you will want to stay in touch with the College and enjoy the benefits of attending a Business Network event, a reunion, a dinner and re-connecting with old friends, finding new business opportunities or even giving something back to your alma mater, ensuring the College continues to flourish. This time, it’s up to you.
Caroline Notman Director of Development & Alumni Relations
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Fr Dermot Preston SJ
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A NEW ERA IN SPORT FOR THE COLLEGE The College realised a sporting ambition on Monday 6 March as Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Gregor Townsend and Scottish Hockey Internationalist Susan McGilveray officially opened a brand new sports facility on our Garnethill campus. The building was then blessed and dedicated by Fr Dermot Preston SJ, the British Jesuit Provincial.
Chairman of Governors, John Hylands said: “We are very proud of what the College has accomplished in realising its long-held ambition of building a sports facility on Garnethill” and thanked the Society of Jesus for their continuing support of the College. Head Master, Matthew Bartlett spoke of a collective pride in being part of the continuing history of the College and added “We look forward to seeing our pupils engage in a wider range of sports and achieve their goals, making the most of their talents and ultimately, inspiring others. Great things do happen when we get active.” L to R: Fr Porter, Mr Browne, Mr Hylands, Mr Bartlett, Mr Stoer, Fr Preston SJ
College Schola
The event opened with music from the College Schola, before brief speeches from the Chairman of Governors John Hylands, Head Master Matthew Bartlett and Director of Sport, Dean Tearney. Gregor Townsend and Susan McGilveray then took questions from pupils about their lives in sport and how pupils can be inspired by their sporting endeavours. The construction of a new sports facility has been in the planning for quite some time, and all four Head Masters who have presided over the project from conception to completion – Fr Adrian Porter SJ, John Stoer (the first lay Head), John Browne and current Head Master Matthew Bartlett – were present to see their sporting ambition come to fruition. The new on-campus facility will offer a host of benefits to pupils, parents and staff of the College, even reducing travel times to the existing sports facilities located around the city. Previously, all certificated classes from National 5 to Advanced Higher were often taught off site. All of these classes will now take place on the main campus.
Director of Sport, Dean Tearney said: “We are giving our pupils the best chance of fulfilling their potential academically and physically, as well as discovering why they love sport.” Gregor Townsend said: “Sport is great, whether you enjoy doing something you’re good at it, or just being part of a team. Sport gives your body and mind a rush of energy from doing a dance class or competing on an international stage. My advice to the aspiring sports men and women at the College is to find as many sports as possible that you enjoy. Having a wonderful facility such as this at your fingertips already gives you a head start – go out and grab the opportunity!” Susan McGilveray, whose invaluable experience and expertise has been shared with pupils over a number of years through hockey coaching and umpiring, said: “This is the start of
Gregor Townsend and Susan McGilveray
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Sports Captains with Gregor T
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Monica and Camille Wallace with Adam Clark
About the Building The building has been designed to complement the surrounding area of Garnethill, including the prestigious Mackintosh Building and the new Reid Building which form part of the Glasgow School of Art. The sports facility has been constructed within a rectangular build of bronze aluminium, brickwork and glass and is located on what was fondly known as ‘the pitch’ or ‘the pound’. The enormous four-court double-height Games Hall on the first floor is overlooked by Spectator Galleries on the top floor. Facing Dalhousie Street on ground level is the fully kitted out “Hugh Wallace Fitness Suite”, gifted in memory of former pupil, Hugh Wallace, by Sir Arnold and Lady Clark. Lined up smartly in the Fitness Suite are treadmills, bikes and strength and conditioning equipment, and the words “Ad Majora Natus Sum” proclaim an ambition in tall letters on the windows. On the corner of Dalhousie and Renfrew Streets, with a view to Glasgow’s south side, is a bright and airy Dance Hall which opens out onto an elevated paved Terrace surrounded by a glass balustrade on Renfrew Street. Extending from this Terrace are the Aloysian Steps, which wrap around the corner and bear the names of 39 Old Aloysians or people who have been significant to the life of the College.
Stephen Gerard and Anastacia Conley
Back on the ground floor, The Conley Changing Rooms put any private health club to shame with their facilities and contemporary finish. The Suburban Café on the first floor – a pleasant space offering healthy snacks and meals for pupils - opens out onto The McDermott Terrace overlooking Hill Street and the remaining playground area, which will be landscaped with donor Trees and Locharbriggs red sandstone Wall Seats, where new generations of pupils will play for years to come.
with Gregor Townsend and Susan McGilveray
Head Boy, Liam Martin at the Donor Wall
Mr Tearney, Director of Sport
17 Pupils singing the College Hymn
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Hockey and Rugby Team Players with Gregor Townsend and Susan McGilveray
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Photography by Figgy Guyver
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LIFE IN THE CALAIS CAMP
JUDITH McCARTNEY
Othering; the process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien.
In 2016, Judith McCartney (2004), travelled to the Calais Refugee Camp to volunteer as a doctor. She shares her experience with us. “The refugee crisis is one of the most significant issues affecting the current political landscape, here and worldwide. As a trainee anaesthetic doctor working in Glasgow, I wanted to see first-hand the consequences of our approach to managing this crisis and help in a small way by working in the medical clinics within the camp. “Our journey started in Glasgow, in the biggest van we could hire, inundated by clothing donations from St Albert’s Catholic Church and Our Lady of Missions. One long 10 hour drive to London followed by the Eurotunnel journey, and we arrived in Calais. “Driving into the camp on the first day, I was very nervous. The Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité or CRS policed the camp heavily, lining the high barbed wire fence that separates the camp and the motorway leading to the ferry port. Navigating our way slowly through the narrow main street, the first thing that struck me was the obvious effort to make this feel in some way home with shops, restaurants, a church and a mosque. There was an overwhelming sense of community, which bound the camp together. “Lines of people formed quickly outside our clinics with the majority complaining of coughs and colds. Surprisingly “man flu”
knows no borders! The most challenging patients were ones who had clear evidence of police violence; baton marks, rubber bullet wounds, poorly healed fractures. Tear gas attacks by the CRS were increasingly common with one taking place on our first afternoon in the camp. “My most memorable patient was a 15 year old Sudanese boy with chickenpox. Living in a tent with a friend, he was utterly devastated at being told he would just need to wait for it to improve. I left the camp feeling completely shattered for these people whose lives had been reduced to this, and overwhelmed by the enormity of a problem which still has no clear or easy solution. “We visited the camp for a second time in September and it felt different. The threat of the impending eviction hung over it like a smog and our most common complaints were mental health related being unable to sleep or “thinking too much”, a term used to describe anxiety or depression. People were losing hope. Most refugees now had some evidence of police beatings. “A boy aged around 12 came to the clinic one day. We asked him to show us where he had been sleeping and he led us to a single tent amongst piles of rubbish and waste. While dirty and full of holes on the outside, inside was a perfectly smoothed out blanket, a small collection of toiletries, some matches and a pencil. He had lived there for 4 months by himself, since making the journey from Syria. It is hard to comprehend how difficult
“All I kept thinking was, if this was better than home, how bad could home have been?” 20
“I received an outstanding education at St Aloysius’ College, with ample opportunities to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen for homeless people and on the Children’s Fund holiday and this has stuck with me as being one of the most important things that St Aloysius’ College gave me. The school instilled a deep appreciation of the Jesuit values of charity and service to others, while understanding our place within the world is to contribute as best we can, with the talents we have.” his life has been. All I kept thinking was, if this was better than home, how bad could home have been? “While talking to patients, we often asked why Britain? Refugees held the UK on a pedestal due to our history of welcoming refugees, unlike the French Government. Many young people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan have lost their education to years of war. They had no understanding of our post-Brexit political climate nor am I convinced, a detailed knowledge of our benefits system. “We asked as many people as possible about where they were from, how did they reach Calais and their reasons for leaving their home. I wish I could tell you all the stories of these journeys and the people we met; about the Syrian maxillaryfacial surgeon who volunteered to help us with dental problems, or the Syrian architecture student whose parents were previously academics, or the Afghani taxi driver who showed us photos of his taxi, bombed and barely unrecognisable.
Othering; the process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien. “We were reminded of this word as we boarded the Eurotunnel last January, having received a stark warning from a policeman: “These people are not like us”. By making these people different, our responsibility towards them and this problem can be distanced. By making them morally different, we can justify the lack of humanity and compassion shown in how they are treated by the public and governments. But all I saw in the camp were striking similarities, and how easily in another life, this could have been you or me. Images of refugees on the news make people uncomfortable not because we feel different to them, but because we recognise what makes us the same. We know that we would do the same if we feared for our lives and our family’s lives. And if this were you or your family, how would you hope to be viewed by the world? And how would you hope to be treated?”
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OA NEWS British Council Nomination for young OA, Lucy Christie (2008) Having left the College in 2008 to study English Literature and Spanish at the University of Glasgow, Lucy has been living in Hong Kong since she graduated in 2013 where she has been working as a sub-editor for Young Post, South China Morning Post. She was nominated for the 2017 British Council’s Professional Achievement Award, which celebrates outstanding achievements of the UK’s international alumni for professional success overseas and the positive contribution to their communities, professions and countries. Speaking of the nomination, Lucy said, “I got to the final three, and met Professor Jimmy Choo (pictured with Lucy) and spoke to him about his experience and success.” “Professor Choo was so lovely and down to earth . . . a real inspiration for young people still in the beginning stages of their career, and he offered a lot of useful advice and insight about the importance of just being a genuine person and making time for everyone, which was good to hear.” We wish all the best to Lucy as she moves on to a new challenge with Marriott Hotels as Manager of their Owner Franchise Relations Team for Asia Pacific.
Heraldic Award for Liam Devlin (1971) On 29th February 2016, Liam Devlin was installed as Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms at The Heraldry Society of Scotland. The Society was founded in 1977 with the objective of promoting the study of heraldry and encouraging its correct use in Scotland.
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Royal Lifesaving Society Commonwealth Council Medal awarded to Antony Coia (1997) Antony Coia was recently presented with a Medal by Lord Norrie of Dumfries, from the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth Council, for services to Lifesaving at a ceremony in the Guildhall London. Antony has been involved in Life Saving for over 18 years. He has gained various Life Saving qualifications, Water Rescue qualifications and is now a Trainer Assessor in a number of fields of Life Saving & First Aid. Antony also volunteers with Open Water Rescue, a voluntary Royal Life Saving Society UK Search & Rescue Unit, which provides safety cover at water sports events and assists the communities throughout Scotland.
OA “Firsts” for Ed and David (both 1977)
Ed and David at the Caledonian Club at an event which David was chairing in the presence of HRH Princess Anne.
Starting off as classmates at John Ogilvie Hall, Ed Crozier and David Guild have remained lifelong friends. In the summer of 2015, Ed was elected as President of the Scottish Rugby Union (established in 1873), and at the same time, David was appointed Chairman of the Caledonian Club in London (established in 1891). It’s a remarkable coincidence, as this is the first time that both organisations have had Old Aloysians at their helms since they were founded, let alone two individuals who were in the same primary class at John Ogilvie Hall since 1968! In addition, David is also Chairman of ScotsCare (founded in 1603 – www.scotscare. com), a charity helping Scots in London who are in need, and away from the Rugby, Ed is the Chair of Scotland’s National Contemporary dance organisation, Dance Base (established in 1994 – www.dancebase.co.uk).
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Cara Doyle (2006) reflects on her time as a Bursary Pupil Now Ward Manager at King’s College
was the Children’s Fund. Getting involved in 3rd year, I eagerly
Hospital, London
needs. I was involved in organising the first trip to Lourdes and
awaited my visits to spend time with children who had special was appointed Chairperson of the Children’s Fund in 6th year,
“In 2000 I was sent to a ‘posh school’ far away from my friends
which was just amazing.
in Cumbernauld and I was terrified. I recall having to write an essay and have vague memories of sitting the entrance exam in
“I’ve met lots of people from different backgrounds, but
the College Hall. At the time, it seemed like a punishment!
looking back, I didn’t feel isolated or excluded because of my circumstances. The school ethos didn’t allow any pupil
“This was just the start of the hard work! When comparing notes
to think they are better than anyone else because they had
with my primary school friends, I was working much harder than
more money, but I did feel privileged to be surrounded by
they were, but I was thriving in an environment where everyone
inspirational teachers like Mr Renton and Mrs Higgins.
wanted to learn and listen to the teacher. “I started my Nursing degree in 2007 and four years later I “Being at the College on a Bursary wasn’t something that was
qualified with Honours and a job at King’s College Hospital in
common knowledge. My dad was a black hack taxi driver, and
London, where I have just been promoted to Ward Manager
each morning I rolled up to the gates on Hill Street and jumped
of the Haematology Unit with responsibility for managing 32
out, so for a long time the other pupils thought I was so rich that
staff. The desire to learn was instilled in me and now I have
my parents didn’t even bother with driving! Little did they know . . .
almost finished my Masters degree. I’ve even been published in Nursing journals and given presentations and lectures to the
“The open door policy and genuine care offered at the College
medical profession about blood clot prevention.
was for everyone, and for me that’s why I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to come here. Our school is about
“The College has given me lifelong friendships. Teachers and
more than just academia; all of the teachers work so hard at
pupils alike rooted for everyone to do well. Being the best we
preparing you for adult life.
could be was at the heart of every lesson and the opportunity to attend on a Bursary allowed me to flourish and achieve my true
“One opportunity at the College which shaped who I am today
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potential, and for that I am thankful.”
AMDG
DONORS Recognising Your Support between 1st November 2015 to 30th April 2017 St Aloyisus’ College is extremely grateful to our community of former pupils, current and former parents, local companies and friends who have chosen to support The Opportunity Fund for Bursaries, the Taylor Family Organ and our wonderful new Sports Facility. We wish to acknowledge the generosity of those listed below for their gifts received since the last issue of AMDG by the Development Office between 1 November 2015 to 30 April 2017. Every effort has been made to ensure that details are correct, but if you have any questions or concerns, please email them to: alumni@staloysius.org or call the Development Office on 0141-331-9274.
Bursaries – The Opportunity Fund The Aloysian Association Mr & Mrs Thomas & Alison Andrew Dr & Mrs Bancewicz Mrs L Barr Mr & Mrs JE Barrett Mrs Mary J Berry Mr & Mrs Kevin & Ruth Birt Mrs PS Boyle Mr & Mrs R & M Browne Mr & Mrs Richard & MP Cairney Mr P Cairns Professor and Mrs Robert Carachi Mr S Cardosi Mr Paul Carnan Mrs Kathleen Chikosi Dr JA Church Mr IG and Mrs HM Corr Mr Michael Crawford Mr J Crozier Mr & Mrs John & RK Cullen Mr & Mrs H & MA Currie Mr & Mrs James & Maureen Dearie Mr & Mrs Brendan & Tracey Devine Mr A Dick Mr Daniel Divers Mrs MC Docherty Mr & Mrs P Dolan Dr Francis Dunn CBE & Mrs Helen Dunn Dr Paul & Mrs Elizabeth Fagan Mr Sean & Dr Pauline Fallon Mr and Mrs Desmond J Finnieston Mrs Sheena Gallagher Mr & Mrs A & K Gallen Mr F Gibson Mrs M Gilroy Lord James Gordon CBE Professor John Haldane
Mr JF Hanlon Mr & Mrs Greg & Trish Hannah Dr M Hanson Mr Andrew J Haughey Mrs Barbara Higgins Mr Earnest Hoisington Mr & Mrs Howell Mrs A Hughes Mr & Mrs Joseph & Ann Hughes Mr & Mrs James & Margaret Irvine Mr & Mrs Nicholas C Joint Mr & Mrs M Kay Mr James Findlater & Mrs Catriona Kearns-Findlater Mr FR Kelly Mr & Mrs Paul & Keri Kelly Mrs Maureen Kenny Mrs AR Knox Mrs YK Lai Mr Peter Lawwell Mr SL Li Mr & Mrs Raymond & Louise Love Professor & Mrs GDO Lowe Rev & Mrs GFH Macnaughton Dr & Mrs F & AM Marcuccilli Ms Catherine Matonti Mr Paul Mazoyer Mrs A McBryan Mr & Mrs K & M McCrorie Mrs & Mrs McFadyen Mrs M McGuire Mr & Mrs Jim & Carol Anne McInnes Mrs Eizabeth McKee Mr Adam Ross McKinstray Mr & Mrs W & A McLaughlin Mrs Angela McLeod Mr & Mrs John & Mary Dolores McMenemie
Dr LR & Dr BAM McNicol Mr Francis & Mrs Lynn McWilliams Mrs Jannette Milne Mr Craig & Mrs Karen Morton Mrs A Muldoon Mr & Mrs John & Barbara Mulhern Mr G Murphy Mr & Mrs A & M Murray Mr & Mrs H & A Murrin Mrs MM Nixon Ms Caroline A Notman Mrs M Oates Professor Brian O’Reilly FRCS & Mrs P O’Reilly The Late Mr J O’Sullivan Mr & Mrs Kevin & Mary O’Sullivan Mr & Mrs B & EC Padaruth Mr & Mrs W & H Quail Mr and Mrs Manus Quigg Mr & Mrs WJ & MR Reilly Mrs E Reilly Mr Ronald Renton & Dr Margaret Renton Dr Andrew & Mrs Margaret Robertson Mr CN Rogers Mr Paul N Rogers Mrs Pina Romano Miss Charlotte Ross The Late Dr Hugh Ryan Dr Paul & Mrs Margaret Ryan Mr & Mrs John & Lorraine Scott Mr & Mrs K & R Sharp Mr & Mrs William & Jennifer Sloan Mr & Mrs William & Marion Anne Smith Mrs RJ Stark Mr & Mrs P & M Tran Dr & Mrs John Travers Mrs Claire Wilson
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The St Aloysius’ College Sports Facility The Aloysian Association Prof McIntyre & Dr Armstrong Mr Matthew D Bartlett Mr & Mrs Martin & Jacqueline Baxter Mr & Mrs P Benington The Blane Family The Bowman Family Mr & Mrs Douglas & Fiona Boyce Mr & Mrs Hugh & Kirsty Boyle Canon George Bradburn Dr Aileen Brady Braidcrest Ltd Mrs Karen Browne Mr Robert Bryce Mr & Mrs Thomas & Patricia Burns Prof Sir Harry Burns & Family Mr Douglas Clar Sir Arnold & Lady Clark The Class of 1996 Mrs M Cochrane The Coia Family Mr & Mrs Stephen & Colette Conley Mrs A Connaughton Miss Claire Connell Captain Eamonn Connolly Phil Crampsey Mrs Isabelle Cullen The Curran Family Mr & Mrs Graeme & Frances Dickson The Docherty Family Mr M Drotar Mr Bernard P Dunn & Family Family Früh Mr William Fulton Mr James Gaffney & Miss Ann Prior Mrs Sheena Gallagher Mr & Mrs John & Sheila Geggan Mr & Mrs Matt & Kath Giroux
Dr Patrick Grant Dr & Mrs John D Halliday Mr & Mrs Greg & Tricia Hannah & Family The Hannay Family Mr & Mrs John & Winefride Hart Angela Higgins The Hoisington Family Mr & Mrs Allan & Maria Hope Kearney Mr & Mrs Joseph & Ann Hughes The Hylands Family IBC Miss Ruth Jennings Mr Scott Cameron & Mrs Donna Johnston Mr James & Mrs Monica Keeney Mr & Mrs Nigel & Andrea Kelly Mr & Mrs Laciok Mr & Mrs Austin & Yvonne Lafferty Mr & Mrs Leon & Ping Lamb Mr & Mrs Latta Amy, Mollie & Evie Lind Clare, Julie & Paul Murphy Dr & Mrs Lynas Mrs Donalda MacInnes Dr & Dr A & V Mackay MacPhails Coaches Ltd The Marmion Family Mr John V McCabe Hugh & Anne McCartney The Late Mr Roger McCormick Marisa & Barry McDermott Pat & Ian McDermott Mr & Mrs McFadyen Mr BG McGlennon The Reverend John McIntyre Mrs Karen McLaughlin Mr & Mrs James & Elaine McLernon In memory of Mrs Mary McMurray Mr Brian P McNally
Miss Jacqueline McShane Mr & Mrs S Morris The Morris Family The Mulgrew Family Dr Edmund A Neville The Nicholson Family Ms Caroline A Notman The Novosel Family Dr EI O’Donnell The O’Donohue Family Keith and Clare Oldroyd Mr Daniel Quinn In memory of Edmund M Quinn The Ralph Family Suburban Taverns Charitable Trust Matthew & Margaret Reilly The Renfrew Family Clare Reynolds The Robertson Family Dr JL Robertson & Dr LM Carragher Phil Robertson Forbes Rodger Mrs Marie Thérèse Rodgers The Church & Rogers Families Mr GM Scullion Dr & Mrs Sitembo Mike & Clare Smith Dr John Smithson Kathleen & Joe Sweeney Mr Daniel Sweeney Mr & Mrs Anthony & Karen Tartaglia Mr & Mrs Dean & Christine Tearney Paul Leo Tennant Mr John Thomson & Dr Diane Melrose Nicholas Tsan Mr & Mrs Weir The Wilkie Family Mr & Mrs Gordon & Lynne Young
The Taylor Family Organ The Taylor Charitable Trust
We also wish to extend our gratitude to those donors who prefer to remain anonymous. 26
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE We remember those Old Aloysians who have passed away in the last year.
Name Class
Date of Death
Dr Joseph Verrico 1932 06/01/2017 Sir Tom McCaffrey
1940
08/07/2016
Fr Aloysius Church SJ 1943 23/01/2017 Mr Robert Stewart 1945 08/01/2017 Mr John Coyle 1946 07/12/2016 Dr Edmund Neville 1946 26/01/2017 Mr Brendan McBride 1950 31/10/2015 Mr Andrew Warwick 1950 3/03/2016 Mr Roger McCormick 1951 10/10/2016 Mr Edwin McDade 1954 20/11/2015 Dr Hugh Heggarty 1955 13/07/2016 Mr Gerard McCabe 1955 16/07/2016 Mr John Kelly 1958 23/12/2016 Mr Denis Sweeney 1958 10/03/2017 Mr Alistair Glenday 1961 18/02/2017 Mr Peter Warnock
1961
19/01/2017
Professor Patrick O’Donnell 1965 03/04/2016 Mr Sean Scanlan 1966 17/04/2017 Mr Gerald Ralph 1968 17/02/2016 Mr Kevin De Maine Beaumont
1970
30/10/2016
Mr Robert Jones 1973 31/03/2016 Mr Martin Lavery 1973 22/10/2016 Mr Peter McCormick 1973 23/12/2016 Mr John Boyce 1975 18/12/2015 Mr Kenneth McEwan 1976 16/10/2015 Mr Paul McConnell 1980 08/11/2015 Mr Neil Duffy
1987
01/04/2017
Mr Martin MacLennan 1991 18/11/2016 Mr Calum McMorrin 2008 07/08/2016
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