Scotch College

USA Gatherings, 2002

Two gatherings took place this year in the USA, following the huge success of the sesquicentenary dinners in 2001. In New York, sixteen Old Boys and their wives joined the Principal and Mrs Donaldson, and the new Director of Development, Alan Watkinson at the University Club in the heart of Manhattan. It was a hot and humid night, but a wonderful relaxed and informal occasion. Several of the Old Boys travelled considerable distances to attend the dinner, with Sam Tait ('94) coming from Pennsylvania and Bruce Williams and his wife Nancy Verrill travelling down from Norway (in Maine!).

One of the highlights was the reprise from 2001, when Alden Clark ('69) showed the benefits of running the Boston Marathon, by wearing, with room to spare, his own candy-stripe blazer.

Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson, set the tone for the evening by asking the Old Boys to share aspects of their lives after leaving Scotch. All revealed, quite quickly, that no matter what they had done or achieved, they still felt how special Scotch has been to their lives, and the strong attachment they still retain. Both day boys and boarders, like the Clark Brothers (Alden and Austin are both class of '69) reminisced with fondness, and were grateful to be brought up to date with a video of the last year's achievements, narrated by Dr Donaldson and Alan Watkinson.

New York may be recovering from the horrors of 9/11, and healing may be a slow process, but the spirit of Scotch is very much in evidence through both those who live in the Big Apple, and those who work there.

It was a memorable evening for all who attended, and special thanks go to organiser Andrew Hare ('86) who married Traci the following week in Las Vegas.

Those attending were:Dr Gordon and Mrs Joyce Donaldson, Alan Watkinson, Graeme ('52) and Harriet Whitelaw, James Fraser ('86), David Krueger ('86), Alden Clark ('69), Austin ('69) and Anne Marie Clark, Bruce Williams ('68) and Nancy Verrill, Roland ('68) and Cynthia Orchard, Andrew Hare ('86), Phillipa Robertson (wife of Andrew '68, who was overseas), Anthony Swan ('90), Sam Tait ('94) and Charles Robinson ('86)

On the other side of the country, in a less humid environment, a small, select group met for drinks and dinner on July 3rd in San Francisco. On a glorious evening, overlooking the Bay from the 41st floor of the Bank of America Building, Alan Watkinson brought the group up to date with the news from Scotch and caught up with the current activities of those attending. Dinner was followed by an excursion into the club life of San Francisco, a variation on Old Boy Dinners, and a thoroughly good time was had by all. Julian Slee ('83) then hosted Alan Watkinson and Nicholas Brown ('86) and his wife, Amy, at his beautiful home in the Alexander Valley. This is an important wine area two hours north of San Francisco and shows the continuing connection between Old Scotch Collegians and the wine industry. Thanks go to Peter Hayman who organised the gathering, and his wife Jane, for their relaxed hospitality.

Those attending were: Alan Watkinson, Peter Hayman ('73), Julian Slee ('83), Nicholas ('86) and Amy Brown, Greg Wardle ('87) and Rod MacNeil('87) who could not make it at the last moment.

Alan Watkinson and Bruce Williams