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Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
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Donald King Memorial Service
Lathallan School, Johnshaven, honoured one of their former teachers, Donald King, with a memorial service at the school on Saturday 29 August. Mr King, known affectionately by his pupils as “Kanga”, died in January of this year after battling ill health for many years.
Mr King's family, former Headmaster, former colleagues and pupils gathered at the castle on Saturday to celebrate his life. Mr Peter de Iongh (Headmaster 1975-1992) spoke with fondness and Professor Pamela King (Mr King's daughter) recalled her father's entire teaching career at Lathallan. Old Lathallian Chairman, Alastair Shepherd (1968-1973) recalled how Mr King introduced Sunday afternoon films to the pupils and how much they meant to them.
Carmen Reid (1978-1982), successful author of many best sellers, read from Roald Dahl's 'Going Solo'. Colin Salter (1967 to 1971) humorously brought Mr King's history lessons to life and John Elder (1960-1965) remembered the legacy Mr King left to him and the school. Mr Richard Toley, current Headmaster, announced the commencement of the new Science Centre at the school and paid tribute to Mr King's influence on science at Lathallan. Mr Brian Hirst, played for the hymns and arriving guests.
Donald King was born in Kent in 1925, but swayed by the proximity of RAF Leuchars, opted to study at St Andrews University. After service in the RAF, he returned to St Andrews and spent the rest of his life north of the Border. A great fan of “DIY”, his “make do and mend” philosophy was a strong guiding principle in his life, and was a very useful attribute for a prep school master of that time. It was said of him that there was nothing he could not do with a coathanger.
Mr King arrived at Lathallan in 1950 just after the school relocated from Fife to Johnshaven. With Raymond Burton, later to become Headmaster, they formed a formidable team and made the school the first choice in the North East at that time. Both teachers had a passion for sports, in particular Hockey, and helped to make Lathallan unbeatable on the sports field for many years. At first, he taught history, Latin and scripture but he was a natural choice to introduce the Nuffield Science syllabus in the 1960’s.
By the time he retired in 1984 he was at the forefront of computer teaching, using Sinclair ZX80s and 81s. He retired to a house he had built with his own hands in Clashnessie, Sutherland, and dedicated his remaining years to crofting.
However, through a network of Old Lathallians he was kept informed of developments at Lathallan, which gradually transformed itself from prep school for boys to the prestigious and successful school of today. He was particularly pleased to hear of Lathallan’s plans for a new Science Centre, and when told that one of the laboratories was to be named after him, simply exclaimed “extraordinary!”.
Over the years Donald King had taught some world renowned scientists. Professor Hugh Macintyre of Dalhousie University, Canada, Professor Mark Ashton of Yale University, USA, Doctor Ron McKay, stem cell pioneer, and Doctor Alan Todd, expert in acceleration and fusion technology, all started their scientific carers in Mr King’s modest laboratory at Lathallan.
Present Headmaster, Richard Toley, “ Lathallan is now the first choice independent school in the North East, and our strength in science teaching owes much to the pioneering spirit of teachers like Donald King. When our new Science Centre is up and running in 2016 we will not only look forward to a glowing future, but we can look back on the early days of science teaching at the school, and thank the vision of Mr King and others of his ilk.”
Pictured is Professor Pamela King, daughter of Mr King. Also pictured is Mr Peter de Iongh (left) Headmaster from 1975 to 1992 by Mr Richard Toley, present Headmaster of Lathallan.
Old Lathallian Wedding
Former Pupil, Emma Duvall (1994-1997), celebrated her wedding at the castle at the end of the summer holidays. The sun shone on the guests as the intimate ceremony took place in the ballroom, a wedding breakfast in the dining room followed by dancing in the assembly hall. The Pipe Band made it a very special day for the Bride and Groom.
2015 - A successful year
Lathallan School has had a very busy and successful year with many reasons to be proud.
The school recorded excellent examination results with an Advanced Higher pass rate of just shy of 95% and almost 70% of entries classes at A Grade level, the best in Scotland.
Trips, exchanges and expeditions have had a truly global reach ranging from Greenland to South Africa, the school musical production of ‘We Will Rock You’ was exceptional and the Pipe Band has been collecting silverware on many occasions. The sporting teams have had unprecedented success and the Duke of Edinburgh Award participation is now the best in the country.
The Lathallan core values of challenge, attainment and placing the pupil at the centre of learning continue to drive the school forward.
Greenland Expedition, August 2015
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School Photographs
All the school photographs from the 1930's onwards have been rescued from the attics and scanned onto a single disc. The School is intending to have a dedicated page on the website where all the images can be viewed, this should be available in the next 12 months.
New Science Centre
New Science Centre
Thank you to those who have kindly donated to the new Science Centre. You can find out how at www.lathallan.org.uk/sciencecentre
In 2016, with your support, a brand new, state of the art Science Centre will open and benefit all Lathallan School pupils. The Centre will provide a Junior Science laboratory, discrete laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics as well as a working greenhouse laboratory for environmental science. These modern facilities will enable our pupils to delve more deeply into Science, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of all aspects of the subject.
If you were at the School between 1950 and 1984 you will have studied Science under the expert tutelage of Donald King, who died this year. As Old Lathallians, whether we used our Science knowledge in our subsequent careers or not, we all benefitted from Mr King’s inspired teaching. Even if you weren’t here between those dates you will recall how much a part of the curriculum Science teaching was, and no doubt you will recall an inspirational teacher or two like the late Mr King.
Lathallan School is investing the majority of the funding for the new Science Centre but we need to raise, with your help, an additional £150,000 towards the development.
One of the laboratories is to be named after Mr King, and I think it would be appropriate if the Old Lathallians could together raise at least £25,000, to name a laboratory.
I realise there are always other calls on your money, but I know the OL community is a generous one and I therefore hope you will support your old School by donating whatever you can to this exciting venture and ensure the legacy of our teachers live on.
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Alastair K Shepherd WS (Lathallan 1968-1973)
Governor and Chairman of the Old Lathallian Association
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Rugby World Cup Themed Dinner
Left to right; Rob Wainwright, Chris Paterson, compere Peter Mitchell and Ian McLauchlan
The Rugby World Cup dinner at the Hilton Treetops welcomed rugby stars Chris Paterson, Rob Wainwright and Ian McLauchlan.
Rob Wainwright an ex Lathallan pupil from 1973 to 1978 was the 1st Professional Captain for Scotland. Rob was capped 37 times for Scotland (Captain 16 times), and once for the British and Irish Lions.
Ian McLauchlan “Mighty Mouse” capped 43 times for Scotland, and 8 times for the British Lions, also the Ex- President of the SRU, nicknamed Mighty Mouse, he represented Scotland at loosehead prop from 1969 to 1979. Ian also toured with The British & Irish Lions in 1971 and 1974. He was captain of the national side nineteen times.
Marion Dreelan, on behalf of the Parents Association, hosted the Dinner to raise funds towards the Science Centre, along with supporting the Hearts & Balls Charitable Trust which helps injured rugby players in the aftermath of serious injury on the field. Lathallan School is very grateful to Marion for her hard work.
Old Lathallian Donald Ross (1971-1975) visited the school in December.
"It was very enjoyable to see how well Lathallan is thriving and how much the children seemed to be enjoying it. They were all polite, enthusiastic and relaxed, which is testament to the culture you all influence in them."
Mr Ross is an RAF Medical Officer and currently runs Defence Primary Healthcare. He is an Aviation Medicine specialist and hopes to return to the school to conduct a talk to the pupils about the RAF or aviation medicine and the effects of flying on the human body.
Old Lathallian Ties - Now for Sale!!
Old Lathallian Chairman, Alastair Shepherd, models the new Old Lathallian tie! £20 each, pure silk. Available now from Lathallan School. Contact Andrea Watt, andreawatt@lathallan.org.uk or call on 01561 362220. Girls, any suggestions very welcome for an item you would wish to buy to remember your days at Lathallan? Thanks.
Work Experience/ Talks
If you are able to offer any work experience slots to our Senior Pupils and/ or come and present a short talk regarding your career path and what your role entails, we would be delighted to welcome you! Please get in touch with Andrea Watt on 01561 362220 or email andreawatt@lathallan.org.uk
Sunset Song
Former Pipe Band Manager and parent, James Adamson, features in the new blockbuster film of 'Sunset Song' starring Agyness Deyn.
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Date for the diary!
Saturday 23 April, 2016. Lathallan annual Rugby 7s Tournament. Kick off at 10.30am. All welcome
Lathallan Foundation
The school has ambitious plans to improve and develop its facilities and to enhance the experience of Lathallan pupils, staff and visitors.
We also plan to make a Lathallan education even more accessible to gifted children whose families might not be in a financial position to send them. Therefore we wish to create more bursaries and scholarships.
Our fees alone will not allow us to achieve all that we plan in order to ensure that the reputation of Lathallan as a school of educational excellence continues to grow into the future. That is why we have developed the Lathallan Foundation.
It will be a focus of fundraising for school projects, and we are asking former pupils, former and present families, former staff and all friends of Lathallan to give what they can to the Lathallan Foundation. If you are able to support the school in any way, please get in touch.
If you wish to meet with the Headmaster, Mr Richard Toley, to discuss the Lathallan Foundation and how you may help, Please contact Andrea Watt, Head of Development and Alumni Relations to arrange a meeting andreawatt@lathallan.org.uk (01561 362220) and indeed for any enquiries about the Foundation, Bursaries, Legacy giving and ongoing support.
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