News

This year's fund-raising Burns Supper, which attracted over two hundred guests, took place on Saturday 14 January. Having started out as a one-off fund-raising event for a choir tour over twelve years ago, this popular evening is now an annual "fixture" in the Merchiston calendar, attended by parents and friends of Merchiston. It supports one or two charities each year, and provides some welcome additional funds the Pipe Band and other school musical activities. We also welcome, as guests invited by the Headmaster,  Headteachers and others from feeder prep schools. Large numbers of boys contribute to the evening, through playing in the Pipe Band, acting as ushers, providing musical entertainment and selling raffle tickets. Many parents also contribute to the fund-raising effort by providing raffle prizes and making trifles. The main organisers of the event are Fiona Morris and Philip Rossiter.

The Supper followed the usual pattern: during drinks in the Memorial Hall, the Pipe Band performed; the dinner itself was chaired by Chris Gray, former President of the Merchistonian Club; entertaining speeches were given by Nick Blair (School Chaplain), and James Ogilvy and Carolyn Brodie Mackay, current Merchiston parents; and musical entertainment was provided by pupils and staff. The evening  raised a total of well over £5000, and donations have been made to Place2Be and Braidburn School, two charities with which Merchiston is closely associated.