Then, all boys were given the opportunity to assess their aptitude for marksmanship. This took place on the outdoor shooting range – then located up the hill towards the “san”. The shooting master was Mr. Robin Findlay, a former District Commissioner in Nigeria and now English and Geography teacher. My first attempt at hitting the target was unpromising to say the least. But, after a few minutes’ reflection and with some temerity, I asked Mr Findlay if I could have another attempt. After lengthy hesitation, he agreed and having changed my approach to the business of aiming I scored five centrals in five shots. From that moment I was hooked on the sport of rifle shooting and have been so ever since. I progressed to becoming Captain of shooting at Fettes and then at Cambridge and over the years represented Scotland and Great Britain at home and abroad including the Commonwealth Games. None of this would have happened if Robin Findlay had not allowed me to have “another go”. I am eternally grateful for his forbearance because it opened the door to lifelong participation in this wonderful sport. I still compete regularly at Bisley and this year, at the age of 78, I managed to come second in the 1200 yard competition at the National Championships.

Ardvreck now benefits from an indoor range and modern target rifles and has become one of the leading prep schools in the UK for shooting. Long may this continue for, sadly, there has been a decline in participation in shooting by UK schools generally.

The other lasting influence on me from Ardvreck was singing. Although there was little in the way of singing teaching, either individually or group, I always enjoyed congregational singing either at St. Michael’s Church in Crieff or in Sunday evening services in school which took place in the then library. At the latter, the boys who were able were encouraged by the then deputy headmaster (and co-owner of the school) Mr George Mayne, himself a fine tenor, to harmonise the hymns. The pleasure of choral singing never left me and I now sing in the Bach Choir in London. I don’t know if there are any other OA’s in The Bach Choir but if so, I would love to meet them.

Neil CM Fyfe (1955-59)