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ALUMNI ALUMNI ALUMNI ALUMNI
Alumni2020-06-30T23:13:20+01:00

ARDVRECK ALUMNI
OUR CHERISHED OLD ARDVRECKIAN COMMUNITY

Since 1883, Ardvreck has been preparing boys, and later girls, for further education and life beyond. For over 135 years the school on the hill has inspired each child to develop their full potential through a spirit of achievement and educational adventure, in the process making friends for life. Every pupil at Ardvreck becomes an Old Ardvreckian and is warmly welcomed into the wider family community.

Our aim is to maintain strong links with our Old Ardvreckians and we encourage you to ensure that we have your current contact details so that we can keep in touch with you about upcoming events and OA news. If you have lost touch with the school, or know anyone else who has, we would love to hear from you.

In time, we hope to expand our alumni services to provide regular newsletters and invitations to OA events, as well as putting pupils back in touch with each other. Old Ardvreckians are always most welcome to return and visit the school, and can be assured of a warm welcome.  You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter where we enjoy sharing Old Ardvreckian news, photographs and memories of Barvicks, dams and dens and the Crabbie Hall to name but a few!

If you have not heard from us recently or if you think we may not have your current contact details, we strongly encourage you to email our Alumni Secretary, Annie Le Roy-Lewis, at alumni@ardvreck.org.uk; she can give you access to the login area of our Ardvreck Alumni page where you can update your details in full. If you do not have access to email then please call Annie on 01764 653112 so that she can update your postal address.

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ARDVRECK TIMELINE

OLD ARDVRECKIANS ON INSTAGRAM

Campbell Ferrier (OA 68) got in touch with us ...

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Campbell Ferrier (OA 68) got in touch with us rece Campbell Ferrier (OA 68) got in touch with us recently as he had unearthed some Ardvreck team photographs and he ‘wondered if any of these gentlemen are still about’! Photographs are in fact an important part of Campbell’s life as he is one of the founders of Miigen, a technology firm that is on a mission to take generations of old photographs, from old shoeboxes, into the 21st Century. Campbell hasn’t always been in technology, rather he worked for TNT (transport) for 31 years after having left Rannoch and travelled for a few years. Campbell’s many memories of Ardvreck include friendships forged, the tunnel to the games fields, the cold outdoor pool, winter hours (ie school work from 4-6), the carpentry shed and musical appreciation on a Sunday - to name but a few. Campbell is pictured here (on the right) with his Miigen business partner and of course as part of the teams of ’67 and ’68. If you are one of the ‘gentlemen’ in these photographs then please get in touch, so that we can hear what you are doing now and so that we reconnect you with each other. #alumni#oldphotographs

Tomorrow would have been Sports Day at Ardvreck ...

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Tomorrow would have been Sports Day at Ardvreck an Tomorrow would have been Sports Day at Ardvreck and the last one for Ewan Forbes-Leith before he moves on to Senior School in the Autumn. It would have been a truly memorable day as Ewan is the last of a dynasty to leave Ardvreck. Ewan’s eldest cousin, Andrew McHardy, started at Ardvreck in 2002 and since then there has been at least one Forbes-Leith/McHardy/Leader cousin at the school. Between them they have clocked up a total of 161 school terms and 54 school years! All of the cousins were meant to be joining Ewan at Ardvreck tomorrow to celebrate this momentous day. There will be many Old Ardvreckians who know one or more of those in the picture and we ask you to join with us in raising a glass (preferably of Pimms!) and toasting the past and the future for Ewan especially but also for his cousins Andrew, Iona, Clodagh, India, Alex, Charlie, Josie, Freddy, Ruaraidh and Robert and for his siblings, Sacha & Imo. #cousins #alumni #pimmscup

It should be cricket season at Ardvreck with all ...

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It should be cricket season at Ardvreck with all t It should be cricket season at Ardvreck with all the boys playing cricket on the bottom pitches. It’s even raining in Perthshire today - as is often the norm during that season. This photograph of Archie Ward (OA15), taken during his time at Ardvreck, epitomises those days - including the rain! Archie should have been doing his A levels at Radley at the moment and of course has sadly been robbed of the final term of his school days. However he has an offer of a place at Edinburgh (grade dependent!) to read Geography, and although he now plays tennis instead of cricket, we wonder if Archie might now be hankering after those hazy, often rainy, summer cricket afternoons at Ardvreck. #hazydays #cricket #tennis #alumni

Nearly all of the girls who left Ardvreck in 2010 ...

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Nearly all of the girls who left Ardvreck in 2010 Nearly all of the girls who left Ardvreck in 2010 were able to ‘meet’ up recently for a ten year zoom reunion. Only four of the 18 girls, who were in that year group, were unable to make the reunion due to work commitments or time zone constraints. The 14 girls that ‘met’ are of course all grown up now with four of them about to graduate from university having studied agriculture, ancient history and geography (x2). The rest of the cohort are now working and between them they have an impressive range of careers: one works for the Scottish Government and one works in Geneva for a healthcare company. Out of the rest there is a Norland nanny, a civil servant, a software designer, a Montessori teacher, a trainee dentist, a graphic designer, a history teacher and a forensic scientist. No prizes for guessing who is who! #tenyearson #alumni

The ever entrepreneurial Mark Bushby (OA13) has ...

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The ever entrepreneurial Mark Bushby (OA13) has pu The ever entrepreneurial Mark Bushby (OA13) has put together the most amazing ‘British Run From Home' festival which is happening tomorrow (Sunday 7th June). The aim is that you run 5km from wherever you are and Mark and his live DJs will provide you with live entertainment. Commonwealth & European 1500m Bronze Medalist Jake Wightman has agreed to do the warm up for the 5km run so what better way to get in your daily exercise whilst enjoying a truly fabulous line up. Individuals are very welcome or why not make a family team? The event starts at 1.30pm. Let’s see how many Old Ardvreckians we can get to support Mark and his festival and help some fabulous charities in the process. To join in the fun, go to Facebook and type in ‘British Run From Home Festival’. Go Mark! #runfromhome #alumni

The Forbes-Leith family have all been doing ...

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The Forbes-Leith family have all been doing Univer The Forbes-Leith family have all been doing University exams from home and needed a much deserved break from their studies. India (OA10) - studying Geography, Alex (OA12) - studying Engineering and Charlie (OA14) - studying Economics, decided that a good way to de-stress would be to recreate an Ardvreck duck race using ducks that have been bought from their travels around the world including New York and Chicago. The family photograph was taken by Milly F-L and includes George F-L and a lockdown guest. Alex said that he thought the race would have been faster if the river water hadn’t been so low, so there was a certain amount of individual ‘encouragement’ to speed the ducks on their way! #duckrace #alumni

Well done Will Barlas (OA16) for taking part in ...

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Well done Will Barlas (OA16) for taking part in th Well done Will Barlas (OA16) for taking part in the nationwide sewing group, ScrubHub, and making scrub bags out of his old Ardvreck pillow cases. His wonderful creations will go to a local care home in Aboyne. Will is now in Lower 6th at Gordonstoun and can’t wait for 16th July when he can put L plates on the family’s Polo. Will loves nothing more than taking photographs and being on a quad bike on his father’s farm! #scrubhub #sewing #alumni

Like many of us having to adapt creatively during ...

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Like many of us having to adapt creatively during Like many of us having to adapt creatively during lockdown, Ellie Ridley (OA14) has been enjoying making cover versions using Logic Pro X. Her cover version of Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Before You Go’ has certainly cheered up another lockdown Friday. Ellie is currently at Manchester University where she is doing a joint honours in Music and Drama and where she should have been directing the University of Manchester’s Musical Theatre Society’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar (pulled on opening night due to Covid19). Ellie loved her time at Ardvreck and her love of music was evident all through her time and she benefitted from the opportunity to not only learn instruments (piano, oboe and recorder) but also to take part in concerts and competitions that really engaged and inspired her. Ellie won the Rotary Young Musician whilst at Ardvreck and this led to her developing her piano and recorder, playing to diploma level. Ellie is currently teaching EFL online to students in China and preparing to start her second year at Manchester - whatever that may look like! You can view her cover version via the OA Facebook page. #coversong #alumni

CONGRATULATIONS to Nicola Stockreisser (nee James ...

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CONGRATULATIONS to Nicola Stockreisser (nee James CONGRATULATIONS to Nicola Stockreisser (nee James Duff OA 93) who is Ardvreck’s 400th Facebook like and has won a coveted Ardvreck pencil. Nicola has been living in Hong Kong for the past five years, working as regional HR Manager at Bloomberg. She got married to Ed in Scotland in 2018 and celebrated the occasion with friends in Hong Kong in November 2018, on the beach at Lantau Island where she and Ed live. One guest at the wedding party was Mally Stewart (nee Foster) who is also an Old Ardvreckian. Nicola is the one on the left in all these pictures - with her husband Ed, with Mally and in the Ardvreck production of the Mikado! Nicola tells us that she has very fond memories of Ardvreck including the Crabbie, Erskine, the dinning room, the library and the Knock runs. She is very excited to be the recipient of an Ardvreck pencil! #winner #alumni

News has just reached us of a very happy ending ...

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News has just reached us of a very happy ending … a fairytale where Anna Denholm (OA 01) and James Fyfe (also OA 01) get married! Old Ardvreckians Anna and James got married in what they describe as a ‘small unorthodox wedding’ on a beach near Sydney, Australia. More recently they have been packing up and moving from Hong Kong to Sydney which has been quite a challenge in the current climate but they are now back at home in Scotland so that they can be with family during this strange time. Anna and James had planned a larger celebration in Scotland only a week or two ago but that has had to be postponed due to the current climate. We are utterly delighted at this wonderful news and we send both Anna and James our best wishes for a very happy life together. #happyeverafter #alumni #friendsforlife

It is with great sadness that Ardvreck flies its ...

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It is with great sadness that Ardvreck flies its f It is with great sadness that Ardvreck flies its flag at half mast this week in honour of Mr Jerry Bridgeland, Headmaster 1990-1995, who died on Thursday 14th May 2020. The entire Ardvreck family sends its deepest condolences to Mr Bridgeland’s widow, Yvonne, and to his two sons, Charlie and Edward.

We are delighted to hear that Alexander Chapman ...

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We are delighted to hear that Alexander Chapman Ca We are delighted to hear that Alexander Chapman Campbell (OA 01) has just released his most recent single. Takk (which means ‘thank you’ in Norwegian) was composed to thank those who contributed to the crowdfund for his album ‘Journey to Nidaros’. Alexander is a composer and pianist and his work has appeared across radio and TV as well as on several chart-topping compilation albums. Alexander’s new single is now streaming and downloadable across all platforms, and you can listen by following this link: http://smarturl.it/ACCTakk . For any Ardvreck pianists, the sheet music for Takk (it’s about Grade 4) is now downloadable from Alexander’s website: http://www.alexanderchapmancampbell.com/ #takk #composer #alumni

ARDVRECK – A BRIEF CHRONICLE

Here you will find a timeline of some key events that make up significant dates in Ardvreck School’s history and evolution.
It is by no means an exhaustive list!

1883

W E Frost leaves Glenalmond and sets up school at Dalmhor in Crieff

1884

School moves to Springbank

1885

School moves into its own new premises at Dalvreck

1905

Rifle Club founded. First Rugby Blue – J. Burt-Marshall for Cambridge

1908

Semi Jubilee celebrations. Purchase of surrounding ground.

1909

First O.A. Dinner – North British Hotel (now the Balmoral), Edinburgh.

1915

Ardvreck beds on Ambulance barges

1917

First Ardvreck Scouts – not attached to the Baden-Powell movement.

1920

Unveiling of the St Michael’s War Memorial

1921

Joan English born. 1st girl pupil at Ardvreck. (Margaret English born 1925).

1922

Bill Frost dies. Buried at Ochtertyre.

1925

The Usher Pavilion erected. First ‘Founder’s Days’, July 5th.

1927

Electricity replaces gas at the school.

1929

First general O.A. Dinner – Grosvenor Restaurant, Glasgow.

1930

Formation of 43rd Perthshire Scout Troop.

1931

Building of Crabbie Hall, Open Fives Court rebuilt beside the covered one.

1933

Jubilee Celebrations. Access Tunnel to the games field built under the Comrie Road.

1939

Acquisition of The Heugh

1942

Ardvreck boys provide ‘comforts’ for the troops.

1955

First O.A. Rugby Cap for Scotland – W S Glen.

1956

Start of Ivor Ramsay Essays

1960

School becomes an Educational Trust

1962

Ardlarach built. The San becomes ‘Brae of Ardvreck’. Launch of the new House system: Barrie and Scott formed from the Greeks, Buchan and Burns from the Trojans.

1964

Construction of the classroom block. Demise of the Five Courts.

1968

First Day Pupils

1970

Appeal: Classroom Block extended. Modernisation in Heugh and Main School.

1973

Present Swimming Pool completed replacing one by R Turret.

1975

Appeal: levelling and draining of the top pitch.

1976

Admission of girls.

1979

First edition of The ‘Ard Times. Launching of Friends of Ardvreck. Start of Pre-Prep.

1982

Launching of the Centenary Appeal. First School Ski holiday – Zell am Ziller in Austria.

1983

Centenary Celebrations. Opening of the Centenary Building.

1984

Opening of MacLellan House, The Heugh having been sold.

1985

Opening of Erskine House.

1987

Ardvreck’s first visit to Rua Fiola.

1989

Opening of the Music School. First Ardvreck Prep Schools’ Netball Tournament.

1990

Levelling, widening, lengthening and draining of lower games pitches.

1991

New Pavilion opened, replacing the Usher pavilion.

1992

Swimming Pool covered. New Classroom Block completed.

1993

First Hosting of the Triangular Athletics at Ardvreck. 50th issue of ‘Ard Times. Pre-prep and Form 2 move to new premises.

1994

Victorian Era Celebrations of the Centenary of the change in the school’s name. Opening of Ardvreck Nursery Department.

1995

National V.E. Day holiday. Friends Reels Party in the Crabbie on a V.E. Day theme.

1996

Inaugural Ardvreck Invitation Rugby Sevens Tournament.

1998

Francis Finlay, O.A., cuts the first turf for the Finlay Hall. First school visit to Chateau de la Baudonniere.

2000

Millennial Match at Culdees Castle between Ardvreck 1st XI and a Gentleman’s XI, Centenary of one played there in July 1900. Opening of the Finlay Hall. Demise of the old Carpentry Hut. Andrew Foster Assault Course constructed. Advent of Ardvreck Pipe Band.

2003

Participation for the first time in Scottish Schools’s Clay Pigeon Championships

2004

New record set in St. Patrick’s Shield, British Prep Schools’ Trophy 798/800.

2005

Ardvreck boys British Prep Schools’ Ski Champions.

2006

Canadian Delegation collects Piper James Richardson V.C.’s pipes after 75 years in the school museum.

2008

125 Celebrations.

NOW ENROLLING
Autumn Term begins 2nd September.
Our main priority has always been the health, safety and welfare of pupils, staff and all those in our wider community.
We continue to adhere to the guidelines of BSA’s COVID-safe charter which will ensure that all our risk assessments, hygiene routines and social distancing protocols are of the highest order for the return of our pupils in September 2020.
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Ardvreck's approach to COVID-19 
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