Headmaster's Headlines: Letters and emails received recently

Letter from Mr Andrew Beal, speaker at the Scholars’ Dinner:

Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to ‘immerse’ myself in Merchiston Castle.

I was really impressed by everything that I saw at the school. My search for an undone top button was unsuccessful, and I was struck by the general sense of purpose shown by the boys. I shall long remember Alex performing in assembly and thought it an excellent idea to have members of staff presenting certificates with you on the stage.

The young men that I met were a great credit to the school. The tour guides were clearly keen to show off their school, even down to the minutiae of the laundry arrangements; I’m sorry the tour didn’t last as long as anticipated. It was a real pleasure to meet Matt King and to spend time in the Biology Department. My lab technician doesn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for extending our menagerie. I hope that he will be able to visit Kimbolton and share ideas.

The Scholar’s Dinner was very pleasant; I hope that the speech was up to the occasion. Again, I was impressed by the confidence of the boys that I met and by their genuine intellectual curiosity. It is good to meet someone who wants to spend a gap year in the Galapagos Islands. Similarly, I was struck by the fact that several of the younger members (third formers?) of the audience made a point of shaking my hand and thanking me. Thanks also for the whisky glasses; I shall try one of them out tonight, after our Fifth Form Parents’ Evening. Sue, my lab technician was thrilled with the scarf; thank you for that; I’m sure that I will be forgiven for a few late practical requests.

By chance, I sat next to a Merchistonian on the train and happened to notice that he was flicking through his DT coursework project from last year. He told me that he was on his way to an interview at Northumbria University, and was hoping to meet up with one Edward Hunter on the day. I think his name is Philip Anderson; he told me that he had spent the sixth form at Merchiston and he described it as a ‘100% school’ without any prompting.

Email from Helen Ellerby, visiting PSE speaker on ‘Sperms and Germs’:

I was delighted to meet you last week when Paul Williams kindly invited me to Merchiston to contribute to you PSHE programme.

I wanted to write and let you know how impressed I was with everybody I came into contact with at the school. I was made to feel most welcome by Paul Williams and other staff I met.

The boys (Shell) were an absolutely fantastic audience; considering it was the end of a school day they were very attentive, the questions they asked were thoughtful and appropriate.

I felt there was a real liveliness about the session and eventually Mr Williams had to call a halt to the questions!

I would be delighted to return next year if it fits into the programme.

2 Newspaper Articles

Extract from The Scotsman Letters Page:

It was with great pleasure that Kirkcaldy Rugby club hosted the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup under-18 semi-final between Bell Baxter High School of Cupar and Merchiston Castle School of Edinburgh on 17 January.

What impressed me most was the enthusiasm and exemplary behaviour of both sets of pupils and players in the crowd of perhaps 1000. In the highly-charged atmosphere of expectation on both sides, neither set of supporters shouted abusive chants against each other, given that this was a state school against a public school. During the match itself, both sets of players never questioned the referee’s decisions never resorted to foul play and they respected their opponents.

At the end of the match both sides shook hands and clapped each other off the pitch, which is a (thankfully) long-standing tradition in rugby. The utmost credit is due to all coaches, teachers and parents of these boys.

However, what struck me was the fact that all these young people behaved so well when youth are being given a bad name nowadays. Could this be because they have something to identify with and be cheered about in sport? Surely it is not rocket science to see that is children/young adults are given the opportunity of trying all sports (or as many as possible) in schools, it will have a beneficial effect on their attitude to life, responsibilities, their fellow team members, competitiveness etc.

Ian Gray, President, Kirkcaldy Rugby Club

Extract from The Herald:

Kirkcaldy’s Beveridge Park has probably never been so atmospheric, with both teams and their supporters a credit to their establishments as wretched weather was ignored while a match of exceptional intensity was played out.