Forthcoming and Recent Events
INFORMAL REUNIONS AND OL GATHERINGS:
If you are interested in organising this sort of event, whether it be a reunion of a year-group, House, play-cast or rugby tour, or simply a regular get-together in a pub somewhere, we are happy to assist you with the 'admin'. The website's Message Board can also be used to publicise these events. Contact: secretary(at)lorettoniansociety.org.uk
Forthcoming Events - 2012
Annual Dinner, Loretto - Friday 2nd March
Steinway Hall Recital, London - Friday 16th March
Borders Buffet Supper - Thursday 24th May
Loretto Day - Sunday 24th June
Informal Drinks Party, London - Thursday 27th September
Loretto Over 60's Lunch preceded by Thanksgiving Chapel Service - Sunday 7th October
London Over 60's Lunch - Friday 9th November
Recent Events
Over 60s Lunch on 2nd December at Middle Temple, London
Once again this proved to be a marvellous day with a "sell out" number of O.Ls gathering in the relaxed and splendid setting of Middle Temple which has become something of a home from home for the Society in London. There was much catching up and reminicising about days at LSM with tales of pranks and misdemeanors which would make current pupils hair stand on end! Next years lunch is to be held on Friday 9th November.
More pictures can be found here.
Drinks party on December 1st at Mint Hotel, London
Since both Sheila Low and Emma Sinclair were in London for the annual Over 60s Lunch, it was decided to hold a relaxed and informal drinks gathering at the Mint Hotel, Westminster. Around 45 O.Ls of all ages attended over the course of the evening. Thanks must once again go to David Orr (1982) for his support of this event.
More pictures can be found here.
Drinks party on September 30th from 7-9pm for OL's and their partners at Whighams in Edinburgh
The Society organised drinks and canapes at Whighams providing for an enjoyable and relaxed environment in which to catch up with old friends and meet fellow OL's and their spouses. It was fantastic to see over 80 O.Ls from their seventies to the 'young' with a good number staying the distance before going clubbing! 
More pictures can be found here.
Over 60's Lunch at School preceded by the Harvest Thanksgiving Service
The annual lunch for the over 60's at Loretto was held on Sunday 9th October. Lunch was preceded by the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Chapel at which Professor John AA Hunter (1957) preached. Photos of the lunch can be found here.
2011 Headmaster's Address, Loretto Day 2011 - Rifts of Glory
In 1958 two guests here at Loretto left souvenirs of their visit. They left gifts for every one of us that we can still enjoy today. There are two trees, side by side between Pinkie House and the First XI cricket pitch, a Double Cherry and a Norway Maple. One was planted by Her Majesty the Queen and the other by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I suspect we will all walk past them at some point this afternoon and perhaps now we will take a little longer to think about them as we pass. A photograph in the Old Library shows the slender, delicate saplings being helped into the soil by the Royal Couple who had married a decade or so earlier and were yet to send their eldest son to boarding school. But today we can enjoy the trees in their own true majesty. Strong, solid and mature, two fifty-somethings keeping watch over us every day.
They remind me that good things take time to grow. To plant a tree is to look into the future. Those who decide to invest in the woods and forests of tomorrow do so expecting a long wait. They know that the value and beauty of their efforts might not even be seen in their lifetime. The pupils who watched over the Queen when she planted her tree, once slender and delicate saplings themselves, are now also in their more mature years and sadly some are no longer with us.
We know in our hearts that good things take time to grow but still we look for shortcuts. We do this knowing that a shortcut is often the longest distance between two points not the shortest. Evolution has no shortcuts, tree growing has no shortcuts and there are no shortcuts to anything of really great value. A shortcut to outwit the sat-nav seldom does more than herald a computerised reminder that you have made a mistake and need to turn round. Anyone who has tried to deviate from a predetermined path in Ikea knows that attempts to get somewhere too quickly probably means you end up where you started, or somewhere that you don't even recognise. But from the trivial to the serious we still try to take shortcuts and find an easy way. Why? Because we tend towards the Easy.
I have a large red button at home it has one word on it. Easy. When I push the button, a disembodied voice says a few words..."That was easy" Today this word and this simple phrase are very popular...that was easy...it is almost a mantra in the 21st Century that we expect things to be easy. Easy to do, easy to understand, easy to be involved, easy to control. It is an attractive idea. It always has been.
The post war babies who are now leaders and parents themselves are working hard to make life as simple and easy as possible. I even have an easy to use button, it is mass produced, translated into French, Spanish and German and distributed across the Western World to tell me and everyone else that...that was easy...
So we live in the generation of the Easy. This arresting notion has been crafted by those of us given the responsibility to influence the young. Our own education has helped us to reach this point. Looking back to our parents, the grandparents of the pupils here today I wonder if perhaps the years of sacrifice, austerity and the unpredictability of the War and post-War years influenced them to drive us hard to make life easy for their grandchildren. Whatever started it, Generation Easy is with us all.
However in our drive to make the lives of our own children easy have we inadvertently taught them the wrong thing? We risk teaching them that they do not have to work so hard, do so much, care as deeply and strive as much as those before them. Ministers and the media wring their hands about educational standards; the disaffection of youth is now so widespread it is almost a cliché. Friendships are shredded on-line; loyalty and duty seem to count for less. Complaints abound that exams are simpler (or even just wrong), our university system totters and both political and religious leaders struggle to define and describe the direction for our future and the nature of our society.
In Double this week pupils were reminded that the best of performers commit to practice, that champions must do 10,000 hours of training to stand any chance of a victory. 10,000 hours means 3 or 4 hours a day, five or six days a week for around 10 years. A tree will take a decade to grow strong just as a decade of dedication to anything will make us skilled experts. However as a nation the activity that is most frequently repeated for 3 hours a day, six days a week every week of the year is watching the television.
If we teach the wrong things or the wrong ideas I fear we risk harming young people. But teaching is the solution as well as part of the problem. Education can heal the individual, heal the State and help dress the wounds in our society. But this healing is not easy, it is not quick and it is not without cost.
We must do a number of things. We must be honest, we must be involved and we must work very hard. Accepting that if it is worth it, it is hard to get, is a vital stage in our education. Instinctively we know this when we are tiny children but as we grow we can somehow un-know it or forget it.
In early childhood we always strive, we do more and more not less and less. We are constantly vigilant. Parents and teachers add to what our infants can do, can see, can understand. Every adult wants to help, wants to be kind, wants to protect and understands the importance of nurturing. Nursery aged children have boundless energy, they are limitlessly open to what is going on and there is a strong bond between child, the parent and teacher. Nursery children have strength, a quickened sense of justice, a delight in the truth, primitive instincts and an untiring spirit of curiosity.
And then they get older. Something happens. These positive elements can be weakened in the difficult years of adolescence. Facing these challenges honestly, engaging with young people actively is the start of helping young adults to return to the vitality of their own youth. A failure to do so, a focus on wanting life easy at this critical time can cause permanent damage to inspiration and to enterprise. Often we find it harder to be as open and naturally engaged with children as they become older and at the same time the strength-sapping years of adolescence make it harder for young people to remain open and engaged with adults. Too easily the teenager will seem like an aimless passenger, confused and carried along by the current of mediocrity. Hoping that the right destination will be reached but not sure how they will actually get there or how things might turn out.
Our shared responsibility is to re-awaken the energetic child within the young adult so they can become all they can be. The talent to achieve is within everyone.
The Nobel Prize winners are not always the cleverest in school or holders of the best A level grades. The world's best basketball players do not have to be the tallest, the bravest heroes do not need the biggest muscles. Most of us are good enough and clever enough to do amazingly well at something but we have to work to find what it is and work with what we have been given. A mind with potential will remain just that if we hope life will be easy. Marie Curie was the first female Professor at the University of Paris and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She had a heavily interrupted education and was from a family who struggled in ways most of us can scarcely imagine. She once wrote that "Life is not easy for any of us, but what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted in something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."
For the next generation to believe in and take advantage of their God-given gifts they must shed the notion that life is easy. Lorettonians, I like to believe, are made of stern stuff. Stern enough and good enough; persevering and confident. Determined enough to know life is not easy for anyone, really. In truth you get fit not with a Nintendo console while perched in front of the TV but on the playing fields and in the gym. In truth a real guitar hero is the one who does the difficult practice day in day out and is not the one with a little plastic guitar plugged into a Playstation. You do well when you work and the more you work the better you do. Every day in chapel Lorettonians can open their hymnals and read the prayer, our prayer, that begins "Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger". Is there any better reminder of the value and benefits of hard work? In truth school was never supposed to be easy. Hely Hutchison Almond my illustrious predecessor of this great school knew this only too well and said the following words in this chapel over 100 years ago:
"If you are trained and eager for the journey, He will point out the rough narrow path up the steep slopes of His everlasting hills, far away from the broad, crowded highway that leadeth to destruction. There may be sharp rocks for you to scale; there may be thorns which you have to tear aside with bleeding fingers; there are wild storms which sweep across the track. Yes; and there are flowers among the thorns, there are gems in the rocks, there are blue rifts of glory between storm-clouds and a light not of this world beams upon the traveller, gilding that pale ghastly pass where all the roads of life converge, and shining more and more brightly unto the perfect day."
I want all Lorettonians to be trained and eager for the journey, knowing there will be rocks, thorns, and storms ahead but also that there will be flowers, gems, brightness and rifts of glory. Our pupils work hard, they contribute, they serve others, they look after each other, they create friendships and hold on to them tightly over the years. They do not let go.
This year we have seen a great deal, done a huge amount and hopefully learned all we needed. Our examination candidates rest in the lull between sitting the papers and getting the marks hopefully enjoying the powerlessness and restfulness that goes with this period. Be it in the classrooms, on the stage, the sports pitches, the hillsides, the Musselburgh lagoons or practice rooms this has not been a school year for those looking for an easy life. But is has been a great year for those willing to push themselves, try new things, travel, take on responsibilities, serve others, research and discuss ideas, form their own opinions, challenge the opinions of others and reach out to those in need.
If we want anything easy, it should be the ease we show in caring for and supporting each other. Achievement in its many forms is the destination, seen here in the chapel through our worship and music, seen later today in our exhibitions, performances, on the sports pitch and witnessed over countless weeks in our exam rooms and on results day.
However the journey, the work, the study and the sharing of lives that leads us to this end is what we are here to celebrate, together on Loretto Day when we...
Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men and women.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.
Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle.
Every day you will wonder at the richness of life which has come to you through the Grace of God.
Amen
The 1991 Leavers 20 Year Reunion was be held on Saturday 4th June 2011 in Whighams in Edinburgh with more then 35 attendees and much fun and reminiscing by all. Special thanks to The Nippers' Headmaster, Phil Meadows, for attending at the request of many of his former pupils from his time as Housemaster and Chemistry teacher in the Senior School. Some photos of the event can be found here.
Captain William Kerr VC (1845) - The Royal British Legion project to restore the grave of Captain William Kerr VC has been completed. The grave has had a complete overhaul with stonemasons essentially rebuilding it. The Lorettonian Society and Loretto School each provided £250 towards the restoration. Representing both the Society and the School at the recent rededication of the grave were Alec Watt, former President, John Oscroft and George Findlay. Members of Captain Kerr's family and the Royal British Legion were also in attendance.
This event was covered by the BBC with the report available by clicking here.
The Lorettonian Society Annual Dinner was held on Friday 18th March 2011 at the Middle Temple, London where a "Lorrie Load" of O.Ls had a splendid time. More photos available here.
2010
An Over 60s Lunch was held at Loretto on Sunday 31st October 2010. It was preceded by an address from the Headmaster and entertainment from current pupils in the recently renovated Ronald Graham rooms in Pinkie House.
A Business &Professional Networking gathering was held on Thursday 4th November 2010 at City Inn Hotel, Westminster, London SW1P 4DD.
An Over 60s Lunch was held on Friday 5th November 2010 at the Middle Temple, London EC4Y 9AT.
A group of 50+ younger LORETTONIANS GATHERED IN LONDON on Thursday 16th of September at Just St James Bar for drinks and a a chance to catch up with each other. The night got off to a great start courtesy of champagne donated by Jamie Sampson (1967) for which all were extremely grateful. Much fun was had by all with a number of OLs continuing to socialise well in to the night!. More photos can be viewed here.
An INFORMAL GATHERING FOR OLs was held at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel, St Boswells - proprietor Billy Hamilton OL (1991) - on Thursday 2nd September with the evening was hosted by Richard Edlmann (1987). This was the first in what will become an annual fixture for The Lorettonian Society in the Borders. More pictures may be found in the Picture Gallery.
The OLD LORETTONIAN GOLFING SOCIETY played its biennial fixture aginst the Windcheaters Golfing Society at Royal County Down on Saturday 21st August. The team was a balance of "youth" and "experience" with some 55 years between the youngest and the "more experienced". Some of the team travelled over on the Friday morning in order to get a sneak preview of the course on a sunny, if blustery,Friday afternoon. The match itself was 36 holes of foursomes matchplay off scratch on the Saturday with the usual excellent lunch to help us out for the second round. The OLGS prevailed by 6 1/2 to 5 1/2 - our first victory against the Windcheaters for a very long time. This resulted in great celebration at the black-tie dinner in the Clubhouse meaning that our bounce games on the Sunday morning around the Annesley course proved to be hard work for most of us! This is a treasured fixture in the OLGS calendar where the golf is almost as competitive as the socialising! A few (publishable) pictures can be found in the Picture Gallery.
A BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING event was hosted by James Rust (1976) at Morton Fraser's new offices in Quartermile, Edinburgh (http://www.morton-fraser.com/ on 29th June. This proved to be an extremely successful evening and the Society would like to thank James for his generosity in providing both venue and refreshments!
LORETTONIAN ANGLING - For the first time in many years we looked to be fully subscribed with twelve anglers allocated between four boats for our Annual outing to The Lake of Menteith on Saturday 22nd May 2010 - and that was before we invited any of the School - but the usual raft of call-offs for a variety of understandable reasons left us with nine OLs taking to the water on a flat calm, very bright morning. However, a respectable westerly breeze soon picked up which was to last all day, albeit the brightness "kept the fish down"! Said brightness probably contributed to the lowly total of 3 fish for 5lb 1oz (it was considered unlikely that the convivial claret lunch would have had anything to do with it). Accordingly, the tankards were presented to the wining boat crewed by George Willis (1958), Tony Cameron (1963) and Peter Graham (1985), the latter two on their first OL outing, with 2 fish weighing 3lb 7oz. George also had the heaviest fish, a rainbow of 2lb 1oz. These are new tankards and the 4th set of such tankards in the history of Lorettonian Angling. They were generously funded by the Lorettonian Society. The previous set of tankards were awarded permanently to those anglers whose names appear most frequently on them, namely Allan Marshall (1965,) 11 times in 21 years; Dan Lean (1972), 8 times; and Alasdair Tindal (1957), 6 times. Six of the party then betook themselves to the Cross Keys in Kippen where a fine dinner was enjoyed. Details of future outings, more particularly a probable 21st May 2011, may be had from the Secretary, Dan Lean, 95 Comiston Drive, Edinburgh EH10 5QT, Tel: 0131 447 3768, email danjlean(at)yahoo.co.uk.
The 1985 YEAR GROUP 25th ANNIVERSARY REUNION was scheduled to be held at the 2010 Annual Dinner. However, with the understandable change of date for the Dinner causing issues with travel plans, the reunion stuck to the original date of 24th April in Edinburgh. Everyone congregated at Pete Miller's father's flat for champagne and nibbles and surprisingly, most faces were instantly recognisable after 25 years! We then headed off to the Magnum Restaurant where much food and drink was consumed and before we knew it it was throwing out time at 1am! The majority then headed back to Pete's dad's flat where the final stragglers called it a day around 5.30am! Congratulations to Pete Miller and Rory McNeil who managed to dodge volcanic ash clounds to make it over from California as well as those who travelled from London and various points around Europe!
Left to right - Bill Roy, Alex McNeil, Mark Eglinton, Pete Miller, Tony Potier, Alex Poots, Rory McNeil, Diamond Lee, George Paterson, Rachel Calder, Pauline Saunter (nee Rait), Mark Simmers, Sara Birnie (nee Cole-Hamilton), Ian Sinclair, Sarah Fraser (nee Herbert), Anna Ridley (nee Dunn) and Judy Nickalls (nee Barr)
THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE LORETTONIAN SOCIETY held a drinks party on Wednesday 24 March 2010 at the Hong Kong Football Club.
MICHAEL MAVOR - A Memorial Service for Michael Mavor was held in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburghon Friday 16th April.
The 2010 LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER was held at Loretto on Friday 16th April. Some 85 OLs and guests were piped into what proved to be an excellent meal. Unfortunately the Icelandic volcano eruption caused several 'call-offs' because of travel disruptions: however there was a good turn-out from the 1964 and 1990 Leavers. Camilla Gobourn, Head of School, spoke and The President, David JR Strang, QPM, (1976), Chief Constable of Lothians and Borders Police, proposed the Toast to the School. The evening concluded with renditions of anthems including Zadok the Priest accompanied by Edward Coleman, Director of Music.
The NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND DINNER was held on Friday 5th March, 2010. Some 20 OLs and guests again enjoyed a splendid dinner at the Mansion House in Jesmond. David Hall and the Headmaster spoke. Many thanks to Douglas Coughtrie for making the arrangements
2009
Over 60's Lunch - Sunday 11th October at Loretto
After the Harvest Festival in Chapel (at which the preacher was Jonathan Tan (2006)) 34 OLs and guests enjoyed coffee in the Dining Hall before the pre-lunch drinksand lunch in the Old Library. Henry McCreath (1933) said Grace and the Headmaster spoke about the School.
For more pictures of the Loretto Over 60s Lunch, click here
Over 60's Lunch - Thursday 8th October at Middle Temple Hall, London
Some 39 O.Ls and guests enjoyed a superlative lunch in a magnificent venue. Robin Walker welcomed the company and the Headmaster spoke about the School. The last few O.Ls finally left the Temple gardens after 7pm - now that IS a GOOD lunch! Many thanks to Colin Davidson (1983), Manager of the Mifddle Temple for making the venue available to us. Watch this space for next year's event!
For more pictures of the London Over 60s Lunch, click here
A BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORK EVENT was held on Thursday 25th June at Deloitte's in London courtesy of Jack Kelly (1982) .
LORETTO DAY for OLs, parents and friends of the School, was held on Sunday, 21st June, 2009, with excellent weather throughout the day.. The Headmaster preached at the Morning Service : to illustrate the importance of the past to the present he traced the relationship of the diameter of the space-shuttle rocket back to the distance apart of the wheels of Roman chariots (for full text, click here & follow link). An excellent Art Exhibition, the Nipper Concert , the Lorimer and Science buildings and the renovated public rooms in Pinkie (including the Ronald Graham Library) could be visited before the traditional Pimms in the marquee in Pinkie walled garden, which was accompanied by a concert by Upper School singers and musicians. This concluded with a performance by the Pipes & Drums and Highland Dancers.
In the Cricket match the OLs managed to beat the School - only slightly helped by Michael Powell, the School's cricket coach and former Captain of Warwickshire!
Roy Martin, Chairman of the Governors, paid tribute to Hector MacLean (who was in Belgium with a 2nd Form trip to the Battlefields) and Richard Selley, who both retire after many years service to the School. Sheila Low, Chairman of the Society, presented Richard with an inscribed salver and cheque from parents and OLs. Hector will receive his presentation at a later date.
THE LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 2009 was attended by 104 OLs and guests in the the Middle Temple Hall in London on Friday 24th April. The reception was held in the Middle Temple garden, at which Archie McLellan, the Pipe Major, played. At the AGM, David Strang (1976) was formally elected President and Alec Watt (1955) elected Vice President for 2009-10. Following an excellent meal, Craig Cameron, the outgoing President gave his thoughts on what he felt Loretto represented, the Headmaster replied and Rosanna Single and Abishek Ruia, the joint Heads of School, both spoke warmly about their time in the School. The Society Chairman, Sheila Low, wished Richard Selley well in his retirement after 30 years at Loretto, most recently as Headmaster of the Nippers. He spoke briefly about his time at the School, recounting anecdotes about several of those present. After the formal proceedings, Fergus Roy (1990) assumed his professional persona, Roy Davenport, to give a brilliant performance of the magician's art. The stragglers finally moved off to the fleshpots of London soon after 1.00am ...... Tremendous thanks are due to Colin Davidson (1983) for making such a superb venue available to us .
THE NORTH-EAST OF ENGLAND BRANCH DINNER was held in Newcastle on Friday 13th March, 2009. Some 28 OLs and Guests enjoyed the magnificent setting of the Mansion House in Jesmond where we were served an excellent meal.. David Hall introduced Peter Hogan, the Headmaster, who gave an overview of the School. Congratulations and many thanks to Douglas Coughtrie who organised the event.,
2008
An Over 60s Lunch was held at Loretto following the Remembrance Sunday Chapel Service on 9th November 2008.
An Over 60s Lunch was held in the Middle Temple, London on 24th October. The lunch was held in Middle Temple Hall which was provided by Colin Davidson (OL) who is the Director of Banqueting and was attended by more than 30 O.Ls who enjoyed the change in venue. Lunch was held in the Parlimentary Rooms where normally the High Court Judges have lunch - they were moved for the day into the public dining area! The food, wine and service was fantastic and we would hope to be back for the 2009 lunch.
A BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORK EVENT was held in Edinburgh, for ALL employment sectors on 30th October. The evening was held in the offices of Baker Tilly and hosted by Sheila Low - over 30 OL's attended and the atmosphere was very relaxed. All who attended had the opportunity to swap business cards and the general feeling was that the evening had been a success and had served it's purpose! One 86 leaver was very surprised at the age range as she thought it would be attended by much older OL's only to find that she was one of the "oldies"! The next B & PN event will be held in Edinburgh early 2009 and we hope to organise one in London around the same time. We will keep you posted!
LORETTO DAY was on Sunday 22nd June 2008. Despite trorrential overnight rain and an unpromising forecast, the day was blessed by good weather throughout. Following a packed Chapel Service, at which Michael Mavor preached his last sermon as Headmaster (including driving a golf ball up the aisle - the Health and Safety assessment, he said, rated it as a 'High Risk'), there was an excellent art display and drinks were served in Pinkie Garden to the accompaniment of choral and instrumental music. Presentations were made to Michael Mavor and Dorothy Barbour to mark their retirement after which the Pipes & Drums played and there was a display of Highland Dancing. The OL Cricket XI (augmented by several non-OLs) failed to beat the School XI in an 'overs' match.
THE LORETTONIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 2008 was held at Loretto on Saturday 3rd May 2008.
At The Annual General Meeting of the Society prior to the meal, Craig Cameron (1959) was elected President for 2008-9 and David Strang (1976) was elected Vice-President.
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie (1963), out-going President of the Lorettonian Society, proposed the Toast to 'The School', and the Headmaster replied. Some 108 OLs and guests attended: there was a very large turn-out from the 1998 and the 1988 Leavers. The 1998 Leavers enjoyed leading the singing after the meal of Blessed be the God and Father and Zadok the Priest, as well as excerpts from Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. amongst other items!
LONDON: PROPERTY NETWORKING EVENING: For those O.Ls working in Property and allied sectors, an informal drinks evening was held at the In & Out Club, 4 St. James Square, London, SW1Y 4JU on Thursday 1st May 2008. Organised by: Stuart Mitchell (2000)
LONDON: FINANCIAL SERVICES & BANKING SECTORS: A very successful inaugral B&PN event was hosted by Jamie Matheson (1972) on Wed. 5th March at Head Office of Brewin Dolphin plc.
YORKSHIRE BRANCH DINNER: Some 20 OLs and guests attended a dinner at Grants Hotel, Harrogate, on Friday 18th April. Many thanks to William Gaunt (1985) for organising the event. Yorkshire hospitality at its best!
A COMMEMORATION SERVICE in tribute to JIM CLARK OBE, 1936 - 1968 (Loretto, 1949 - 1952)
World Motor Racing Champion, 1963 and 1965 was held in Loretto Chapel on Sunday 13th April 2008. Following a photographic introduction, there were tributes from Graham Gauld, read by Bernard Buss, Vice Presidenrt of the Scottish Motor Racin Club, Ian Scott-Watson, Anthony Reid, OL racing driver, Dario Franchitti and Sir Jackie Stewart.
2007
The North East of England Branch Dinner: Thirty-five OLs and guests attended the dinner at the Mansion House in Jesmond on Friday 1st February. 17 of the OLs had left in the last ten years - one of whom had travelled from London and one from Glasgow. David Hall, who was in the chair, made a presentation of a piece of Lindisfarne silver to the Headmaster and Elizabeth Mavor to mark their retirement later in the year. An excellent meal was served in attractive surroundings in good company - need one ask more? Congratulations to Douglas Coughtrie who organised the event and his son James who was instrumental in achieving such a good turn-out from the young OLs.
Over 60s Lunches
Sunday 28th October and Thursday 1st November 2007
Two highly enjoyable lunches have been held this year. The Lunch at Loretto on Sunday 28th October was attended by 39 O.Ls, the new Chairman of the Governors and three guests. The Chapel Service, at which the lesson was read by Alastair Lean, Head of School in 1940, was followed by coffee, when several pupils gave us an excellent musical interlude. There were then tours of the School, during which the O.Ls were entertained by their pupil-guides (and vice-versa!). Drinks in the Old Library preceded lunch in the Dining Hall where the Headmaster spoke briefly, a magnificent grace was recited from memory, at a minute's notice, by 'the father of the gathering', Henry McCreath (1933), and the fellowship continued in the Old Library until very late in the afternoon.
For the fifth successive year the London Luncheon was held at The Cricketers Club off Baker Street. An encouraging gathering of 35 O.Ls enjoyed yet another very convivial and enjoyable day spent in a family spirit. It was especially gratifying to have a larger than usual number of first attenders come on board this year. A big thank you to Dean Carswell (1958) who flew in from Midlothian - wait for it - that's Midlothian near Fort Worth, Texas!
Loretto Day
Sunday 24th June 2007
Old Lorettonians, Parents and Friends filled the Chapel for a lively Morning Service and many more were able to enjoy an impressive Art exhibition and concerts. Unfortunately the Cricket match was concelled because of the rain-saturated pitch and field, but the pipers and dancers were able to perform on Pinkie Lawn during the Reception there.
The Lorettonian Society Diamond Jubilee Dinner
Friday 20th April 2007
A record turnout of 162 Lorettonians filled the new Music Room at the Caledonian Club, London, to enjoy an excellent dinner.
Andrew J.R. Brown was in the chair and Andrew Marr proposed the toast to the School, reminiscing of his own days at Loretto. The Headmaster replied with some words about the School as it is now, 30 years on.
With the large number of Lorettonians present for this Jubilee event, most people met enough contemporaries to make for a pleasant and convivial evening, and it is hoped that similar numbers may feel encouraged to come to the annual dinner in future.
The West of Scotland Branch Dinner
Friday 23rd February 2007
Over 40 OLs and guests attended an excellent dinner at the Western Club in Glasgow on Friday, 23rd February, 2007. Mark Simmers was in the chair and Dougie Donnelly, the well known sports commentator, reminisced entertainingly about his career as he proposed the toast to 'The School' and the Headmaster replied.