The John Durkin Memorial Prize

The Merchistonian community will be delighted to know that Robin Macpherson (photo left) has won the John Durkin memorial prize, offered by the Catholic History Society to a teacher of History in a secondary school. While Robin is now a part-time member of staff, he remains an outstanding classroom practitioner. In the time he was working full-time in the School, Robin taught History, ran activities such as golf and football, was a House Tutor (and Acting Housemaster for one term). He has now gained an MSc by research at Edinburgh University in Scottish Ecclesiastical History, covering the period from 1832-1883. The general drift of the thesis was the political outlook of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church in the late 19 th century. Incidentally, one of Robin’s supervisor’s, Professor S J Brown (Professor of Ecclesiastical History, New College) is the biographer of Thomas Chalmers, brother of Charles who founded Merchiston. Robin is now embarking upon a PhD, looking at sectarianism in Scotland from c 1850 to c 1939.

The year’s Merchistonian is being edited by Robin and Claire McShane.

I know you will join me in congratulating Robin on winning this prize.

AR Hunter