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1975-1982

The last in our series of articles on Headmasters up to the modern era.

Coll MacDonald, Head mas ter

The 1970s were evolving times; historians have increasingly portrayed the decade as a “pivot of change” in world history and Uppingham during the period in which Coll MacDonald served faced its own challenges. Wider society saw struggles against conformity and so it was at Uppingham with uniform protocol being tested to the limit and disquiet being voiced at some unpopular decisions (such as removal of tapestries due to a serious fire in one of the boarding houses). Nevertheless under his leadership, the introduction of girls to the School in 1975 changed the face of Uppingham to this day. Discussions regarding girls had been ongoing since the previous headmaster who had broached the subject with the Trustees in 1968. Bryan Matthews commented in his book ‘By God’s Grace’, it was the economic crisis sparked off in December 1973, with the OPEC countries more than doubling the price of oil, which fuelled the momentum for taking girls, reinforcing the advantageous social reasons which were evident. In February 1975 the decision was taken to admit girls as boarders into the Sixth Form in the following September, occupying what had been the Sanitorium, now to be named “Fairfield”. It was a decision which enabled Uppingham to survive the political and economic dangers of the time, propelling it into its next chapter as the co-educational school that thrives today. Coll MacDonald was 50 years old when he was appointed, with 15 years’ experience as a headmaster. He was an academic, educated at, Rugby and Christ’s College, Cambridge where his undergraduate career in Classics had been interrupted by three years’ war service in the RAF, in the rank of Flying Officer serving in the Far East, where he became an accomplished pilot. To many he was the antithesis of his predecessor, seeming somewhat detached from pupils, although his relations with staff were cordial and supportive. Despite this he had a rational and analytical mind, and an ability to tread carefully through the crises of his reign. He left the School in 1982 to settle in Portsmouth, but before a year had passed after his retirement Coll MacDonald died of a heart attack at the age of just 59.

To be frank, Coll appeared at first meeting to be a rather nervous person, rather uncomfortable in his role as Headman! How wrong can an initial judgement be! In my latter years at the School I acquired a very great respect for a wonderful man who took you at face value, encouraged your best attributes and gave you confidence to present the best of yourself in whatever you most excelled. A truly great man to whom I owe a great deal in confidently presenting my skills to others. David Carter (M 72)

He seemed to me the classic academic type who was more comfortable with ideas and concepts and less easy in terms of social interaction. His sermons were as refined and arcane as those I heard later at Cambridge as an undergraduate. Andrew Horsfield (M 75)

As I was a very average student and managed to excel at avoiding being caught at too much mischief, I only got to meet Mr MacDonald on two occasions both of them were on my last day of school when the leavers would form a line and shake his hand on the Headmaster’s lawn. I was in the middle of the line, shook his hand and then joined the back of the line to meet him again. He was a good man, even if he did drive a horrible brown Ford Cortina! Phil Baker (Fgh 77)

I was Captain of School from January to July 1977 and had a reasonable amount to do with Coll MacDonald as a consequence. He was a fairly formal chap and tended to do things by the book; he was a fairly serious, slightly introverted personality. He was physically imposing, a biggish chap with a straight back. He was always pleasant and polite. I was a “steady, solid” Captain of School who “minded the ship” for six months, which is what I think he wanted. Adrian Shuker (Fgh 72)

My fond recollection of Coll was as a new boy in 1981 when I was privileged enough to be taught Latin by the great man. He was one of the easiest Masters to sidetrack onto stories of great events dating back to whichever century you chose, from Caesar through the Wars of the Roses to Napoleon. This was a huge relief to me as I had scraped through Latin at Common Entrance and quite honestly I didn’t know my declension from conjugation. He was one of the ‘old school’ headmasters where it was all about face time with us. How refreshing! Richard Whitehead (Hf 81)

My recollections are that he was a smiling, kindly and avuncular figure, particularly when, as new boys, 10 of us from Farleigh had tea with him in the Headmaster’s house when he was extremely welcoming. With hindsight he was probably the last of his type, in the sense that he seemed to be a vocational headmaster rather than a “careerist”. He was still reasonably avuncular when a couple of years later I had to appear before him twice in a fortnight for various smoking offences, and the inevitable letters to my parents were written with reluctance and disappointment rather than any obvious relish on his part. John Emerton (Fgh 80)

Coll MacDonald, seemed to me to be a quiet and reserved individual. I believe that around the time of his arrival there was an appeal to fund the construction of a new house for the Headmaster. My parents made a modest gift, and as I left home for a new term my mother said to me ‘Tell the Headmaster that I want to inspect my brick in his new house’. The next time I saw the Head I relayed my mother’s message, and he replied that we must come round for afternoon tea the next time that my parents were at the school. This was duly arranged, and my mother had the opportunity of inspecting her brick! Andrew Hill (H 73)

He was a very private person, a good administrator, liked and respected by the staff, but rather remote from the pupils. However on one occasion when I was in the Sixth Form we attended a fashion show at Burley-on-the-Hill (I have no idea why). One of the female models came up very close to us and Coll feigned a ‘phwoor’. I remember thinking that he was human after all! Richard Mayson (F 75)

The only recollection I have of Coll MacDonald was having a telling off for smoking! It was my seventh cigarette! He was quite pleasant about it all and told me a letter would be sent home to my parents. My Dad said ‘Don’t get caught next time!’ I hasten to add I never became a smoker! John Wilkes (Fgh 74)

The introduction of girls into Uppingham, to my mind, is cause for celebration and must remain Coll MacDonald’s greatest legacy. I cannot think of any boy at the time who did not rejoice in this occurrence. Those of us at the time and indeed my friends from school now, remain convinced that the only way for girls to be accepted, in the eyes of the School Trustees and Headmaster was if the initial 25 or so who arrived in the Michaelmas term of 1975, had, in some way to stand out, to ensure full endorsement from the boys and the staff.

By choosing arguably the most glamorous set of girls ever witnessed in one intake, the School’s future was certainly assured. The School soon had a new lease of life. The girls all had character, they were exonerated from wearing any uniform. Colour suddenly blossomed in stark contrast to the black uniform supposedly originating following Queen Victoria’s death as the School’s reverence to our ‘mourning’ of her demise. The older boys wasted little time in fraternising with the girls who showed little hesitancy in reciprocating. When a parent complained of witnessing a boy and girl kissing outside Baines, the Headmaster is reputed to have replied that it was preferable than two boys kissing!

School life changed inexorably, the girls, unbeknown to the boys at the time, had also been chosen for their academic merit; a standard significantly higher than many of the boys had to achieve from their earlier Common Entrance marks. This gave rise to greater respect for the girls in a positive way, and certainly added a new dimension to the boys’ own academic focus. Girls would now appear in the School play, a welcome and dazzling new aspect to the theatre, previously the domain of entirely male occupants. Strangely, participation in acting, drama, music not normally seen as alpha male territory, began to witness increases with even 1st XV Rugby players beginning to take part, and not surprisingly, audience participation began to rise.

Coll MacDonald’s decision to admit girls, proved to be his trump card. It served not only as his over-riding legacy, but shaped the future of the School to this day. Nick Preston (C 74)

My memory of him was of a very kind, academic man. It was such a shame he died so soon after retiring. Edward Billington (B 79)