Fettes College
Encyclopedia
Fettes College is an independent school
for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh
, Scotland
with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus. It is sometimes referred to as a public school, although strictly speaking this only applies to the English schools covered by the Public Schools Acts.
(1750–1836), a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh and wealthy city merchant, bequeathed
the then very large sum of £166,000 to be set aside for the education of poor children and orphans.
After his death the bequest was effected and invested and the accumulated sum was then used to acquire the land, to build the main building and found the school in 1870. Fettes College thus opened with 53 pupils (40 were Foundation Scholars with 11 others boarding & 2 day pupils).
The Headmaster who provoked most controversy was Anthony Chenevix-Trench
(1971–79), formerly of Eton
. The investigative journalist Paul Foot
wrote an exposé in Private Eye
detailing his excessive use of corporal punishment while he was a Housemaster at Shrewsbury School
. Tim Card, a former Vice-provost of Eton College, said Chenevix-Trench's resignation from that school was caused by his heavy drinking and his overuse of the cane
.
An all-boys school until 1970, when female pupils were first admitted for the final year, Fettes has been fully co-educational since 1983. Because of its prestige and high profile, some journalists have recently described Fettes as "the Eton of the North",.
In 2002, three incidents, two involving drugs, occurred and were dealt with by the school. Three sixth-form boys were excluded from the school over drugs: two were caught with cannabis at a school event, while the other failed a drugs test while on a school trip. In April of that year, a pupil was shot at with an air pistol by another pupil – the incident was dealt with by school authorities.
In early 2007, videos made at the school – apparently based on the television programme Jackass
– were posted on the video-sharing website YouTube
. These videos featured stunts such as pupils smashing branches over their heads and walking on banisters, as well as nudity and the consumption of alcohol.
Fettes pupils wear distinctive chocolate and magenta coloured blazers. It is said that Fettes "used to have a hearty, rugger-bugger, Caledonian image".
In 2009 Fettes won the Bell Lawrie Scottish School's Cup, at Murrayfield Stadium
, for the first time.
In April 2009 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on Fettes that evaluated the school as “excellent” in four out of five Quality Indicators and “very good” in the other one.
In October 2009, 5 pupils were expelled for smoking cannabis
on school grounds with a further 15 suspended for possession of the drug or for smoking the drug off campus.
s rather than Scottish Standard Grade
s and, due to the recent removal of the Scottish Highers examination, students now have the choice between the A Level exam system and the new International Baccalaureate Diploma, but cannot take Scottish exams.
Fettes is an IB World School, one of only three schools in Scotland
to have attained this status.
(built 1863-9) blends the design of a Loire
château
with elements of the 19th century Scottish Baronial. According to the school's website, the combination of styles and the site of the building led a modern architectural expert to praise it as "undeniably one of Scotland's greatest buildings".
The war memorial, a fine bronze figure of a fallen officer telling his men to "carry on" is by William Birnie Rhind
, 1919.
The bee is the origin of the school's motto 'Industria'. Its motif features prominently around the school. Beehives appear over the now-unused East and West doors of the College. A Bee in stone watches over the front of Malcolm House (1880) and the Prep School. A large bee fronts Kimmerghame (1928) and there is an original lead bee in the porch of the Headmaster’s Lodge.
The Fettes tartan is worn as a kilt by boys and as a kilt skirt by girls who do not have a family tartan. The first showing of the kilt was on the hockey/lacrosse tour of Australia and Japan in 1998.
's back story, Ian Fleming
wrote in You Only Live Twice that the agent had attended Fettes College, his father's old school, after having been removed from Eton
. "Here the atmosphere was somewhat Calvinistic, and both academic and athletic standards were rigorous. Nevertheless, though inclined to be solitary by nature, he established some firm friendships among the traditionally famous athletic circles, at the school. By the time he left, at the early age of seventeen, he had twice fought for the school as a light-weight and had, in addition, founded the first serious judo class at a British public school."
While Fleming never claimed there was any other source for the name of Bond than James Bond
, an American ornithologist, there was a real life James Bond who did attend Fettes. He was a frogman
with the Special Boat Service
, much as the fictional character Bond has a naval background. The school had his "Who's Who" entry copied and framed over the Second Master's office door in one of its main corridors. This has since been removed.
Later to become Marvel Comics' Captain Britain
, the British equivalent of Captain America
, Brian Braddock was born to aristocratic parents in the town of Maldon, Essex. After falling upon hard times, Brian's family had lost their place in society, leaving Brian a lonely yet gifted child who immerses himself in the study of Physics.
A prodigious talent, Brian is selected to attend Fettes College where he excels in his studies. Following the death of his parents (Sir James and Lady Elizabeth) in what seemed to be a laboratory accident, Brian accepts a fellowship at Darkmoor nuclear research centre. When the facility is attacked by the Reaver, Brian tries to find help by escaping on his motorcycle. Although he crashes his bike in a nearly fatal accident, Merlyn and his daughter the Omniversal Guardian Roma appear to the badly injured Brian. They give him the chance to be the superhero Captain Britain. He is offered a choice: the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might. Considering himself to be no warrior and unsuited for the challenge, he rejects the Sword and chooses the Amulet. This choice transforms Brian Braddock into Captain Britain, the champion of the British Isles.
Four Old Fettesians have won the Victoria Cross
and one the George Cross
, please see the above list for details. Former pupils of the school sometimes refer to themselves as "OF" and can use the post nominal "OF".
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus. It is sometimes referred to as a public school, although strictly speaking this only applies to the English schools covered by the Public Schools Acts.
History
To perpetuate the memory of his only son William, who had predeceased him in 1815, Sir William FettesWilliam Fettes
Sir William Fettes, 1st Baronet was a wealthy Scottish businessman and philanthropist, who left a bequest which led to the foundation of Fettes College, in Edinburgh.-Life:...
(1750–1836), a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh and wealthy city merchant, bequeathed
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
the then very large sum of £166,000 to be set aside for the education of poor children and orphans.
After his death the bequest was effected and invested and the accumulated sum was then used to acquire the land, to build the main building and found the school in 1870. Fettes College thus opened with 53 pupils (40 were Foundation Scholars with 11 others boarding & 2 day pupils).
The Headmaster who provoked most controversy was Anthony Chenevix-Trench
Anthony Chenevix-Trench
Anthony Chenevix-Trench is best known as the Headmaster of Eton College from 1964–1970.-Family and education:He was the son of Charles Godfrey Chenevix Trench and Margaret May Blakesley...
(1971–79), formerly of Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. The investigative journalist Paul Foot
Paul Foot
Paul Mackintosh Foot was a British investigative journalist, political campaigner, author, and long-time member of the Socialist Workers Party...
wrote an exposé in Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
detailing his excessive use of corporal punishment while he was a Housemaster at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
. Tim Card, a former Vice-provost of Eton College, said Chenevix-Trench's resignation from that school was caused by his heavy drinking and his overuse of the cane
Caning
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
.
An all-boys school until 1970, when female pupils were first admitted for the final year, Fettes has been fully co-educational since 1983. Because of its prestige and high profile, some journalists have recently described Fettes as "the Eton of the North",.
- In 1998 Fettes was placed 4th in the Daily Telegraph league table of Schools.
- In 1999 Fettes was placed 5th in the Sunday Times list of top mixed independent schools in the UK.
- In 2001 Fettes was declared "Scottish School of the year" by the Sunday Times.
In 2002, three incidents, two involving drugs, occurred and were dealt with by the school. Three sixth-form boys were excluded from the school over drugs: two were caught with cannabis at a school event, while the other failed a drugs test while on a school trip. In April of that year, a pupil was shot at with an air pistol by another pupil – the incident was dealt with by school authorities.
In early 2007, videos made at the school – apparently based on the television programme Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
– were posted on the video-sharing website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. These videos featured stunts such as pupils smashing branches over their heads and walking on banisters, as well as nudity and the consumption of alcohol.
Fettes pupils wear distinctive chocolate and magenta coloured blazers. It is said that Fettes "used to have a hearty, rugger-bugger, Caledonian image".
In 2009 Fettes won the Bell Lawrie Scottish School's Cup, at Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
, for the first time.
In April 2009 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report on Fettes that evaluated the school as “excellent” in four out of five Quality Indicators and “very good” in the other one.
In October 2009, 5 pupils were expelled for smoking cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
on school grounds with a further 15 suspended for possession of the drug or for smoking the drug off campus.
Curriculum
Fettes College follows the English rather than Scottish education system. Pupils take GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
s rather than Scottish Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
s and, due to the recent removal of the Scottish Highers examination, students now have the choice between the A Level exam system and the new International Baccalaureate Diploma, but cannot take Scottish exams.
Fettes is an IB World School, one of only three schools in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to have attained this status.
Boarding houses
There are currently eight houses; four for boys, three for girls and one for boys and girls. The houses are named after the estates of the first Trustees. The male houses are large period buildings which stretch from East Fettes Avenue to Carrington Road; two of the female houses are in the upper floors of the main College Building and the third is in a modern building in the eastern part of the grounds. An innovation, reflecting the changes in responsibilities of teenagers in the school and society, is the Upper Sixth Boarding House, for both boys and girls in their last year at Fettes, which opened in September 2007. A new girls house, "Dalmeny" is now under construction and is expected to be finished, and in use by the beginning of the school year in September 2012. The new house is being built to reduce the pressure on the 3 girls houses which are accommodating more pupils than the 4 boys houses.Boys
- Arniston (1967-1982)
- Carrington (1872-present)
- Glencorse (1873-present)
- Kimmerghame (1920-present)
- Moredun (1870-present)
- Schoolhouse (1870-1983) Later split into College East and College West.
Girls
- Arniston (1982-present)
- Schoolhouse (1983-present) Later split into College East and College West.
- Dalmeny (under construction)
History
- Dalmeny was renamed to Carrington in 1873 due to a post office confusion.
- Inverleith was the previous name for the Preparatory School, now an entity in its own right.
- Dalmeny was the name of the day girls' boarding house on the ground floor of the west wing in the 1980s.
- Kimmerghame was the name of the junior boarding house between 1884 and 1895.
- Kimmerghame was closed during the years of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
due to lack of pupils in the school.
Architecture
The college's main building by David BryceDavid Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
(built 1863-9) blends the design of a Loire
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
with elements of the 19th century Scottish Baronial. According to the school's website, the combination of styles and the site of the building led a modern architectural expert to praise it as "undeniably one of Scotland's greatest buildings".
The war memorial, a fine bronze figure of a fallen officer telling his men to "carry on" is by William Birnie Rhind
William Birnie Rhind
William Birnie Rhind RSA was a Scottish sculptor.Rhind was born in Edinburgh as the eldest son of sculptor John Rhind , and the elder brother of J. Massey Rhind...
, 1919.
Coat of arms
The school crest is a bee because it appears at the top of Sir William’s Coat of Arms and his Seal (for letters etc) was also a Bee. When the College Arms were granted, they were Sir William’s with the colours reversed. Nowadays a more modern image is used but it is still the same Coat of Arms.The bee is the origin of the school's motto 'Industria'. Its motif features prominently around the school. Beehives appear over the now-unused East and West doors of the College. A Bee in stone watches over the front of Malcolm House (1880) and the Prep School. A large bee fronts Kimmerghame (1928) and there is an original lead bee in the porch of the Headmaster’s Lodge.
Fettes tartan
A school tartan was designed in 1996 at the prompting of the Headmaster, Malcom Thyne. It is a fine balance between the traditional kilt colours of green, blue and black and the Fettes colours of chocolate and magenta, with white stripes to add brightness.The Fettes tartan is worn as a kilt by boys and as a kilt skirt by girls who do not have a family tartan. The first showing of the kilt was on the hockey/lacrosse tour of Australia and Japan in 1998.
Body Politic
In his first crime novel Body Politic, published in 1997, featuring detective Qunitilian Dalrymple and set in Edinburgh in 2020 , Paul Johnston features Fettes College as a ruin, “blown to pieces in 2009” after it became a base for drug traders.James Bond
Whilst expanding on James BondJames Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
's back story, Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
wrote in You Only Live Twice that the agent had attended Fettes College, his father's old school, after having been removed from Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. "Here the atmosphere was somewhat Calvinistic, and both academic and athletic standards were rigorous. Nevertheless, though inclined to be solitary by nature, he established some firm friendships among the traditionally famous athletic circles, at the school. By the time he left, at the early age of seventeen, he had twice fought for the school as a light-weight and had, in addition, founded the first serious judo class at a British public school."
While Fleming never claimed there was any other source for the name of Bond than James Bond
James Bond (ornithologist)
James Bond was a leading American ornithologist whose name was appropriated by writer Ian Fleming for his fictional spy, James Bond.-Biography:...
, an American ornithologist, there was a real life James Bond who did attend Fettes. He was a frogman
Frogman
A frogman is someone who is trained to scuba diving or swim underwater in a military capacity which can include combat. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver or combatant diver or combat swimmer....
with the Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
, much as the fictional character Bond has a naval background. The school had his "Who's Who" entry copied and framed over the Second Master's office door in one of its main corridors. This has since been removed.
Captain Britain
| Captain America "Uh, it's Captain Britain, right? Tony was telling me all about that submarine rescue you guys did a few weeks back. That was pretty amazing." Captain Britain "Oh, Tony's hilarious, isn't he? Everyone here just absolutely loved him. We've all been very excited about meeting you too, Captain. Did you know I used to have a poster of you on my wall when I was a pupil up at Fettes College in Edinburgh?" |
| — The first meeting of Captains America and Britain |
Later to become Marvel Comics' Captain Britain
Captain Britain
Captain Britain , briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1...
, the British equivalent of Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Brian Braddock was born to aristocratic parents in the town of Maldon, Essex. After falling upon hard times, Brian's family had lost their place in society, leaving Brian a lonely yet gifted child who immerses himself in the study of Physics.
A prodigious talent, Brian is selected to attend Fettes College where he excels in his studies. Following the death of his parents (Sir James and Lady Elizabeth) in what seemed to be a laboratory accident, Brian accepts a fellowship at Darkmoor nuclear research centre. When the facility is attacked by the Reaver, Brian tries to find help by escaping on his motorcycle. Although he crashes his bike in a nearly fatal accident, Merlyn and his daughter the Omniversal Guardian Roma appear to the badly injured Brian. They give him the chance to be the superhero Captain Britain. He is offered a choice: the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might. Considering himself to be no warrior and unsuited for the challenge, he rejects the Sword and chooses the Amulet. This choice transforms Brian Braddock into Captain Britain, the champion of the British Isles.
Headmasters
There have only been nine headmasters of the school since it was founded:- 1870 - 1889 Alexander Potts
- 1890 - 1919 William Heard
- 1919 - 1945 Alec Ashcroft
- 1945 - 1958 Donald Crichton-Miller
- 1958 - 1971 Ian McIntosh
- 1971 - 1979 Anthony Chenevix-TrenchAnthony Chenevix-TrenchAnthony Chenevix-Trench is best known as the Headmaster of Eton College from 1964–1970.-Family and education:He was the son of Charles Godfrey Chenevix Trench and Margaret May Blakesley...
- 1979 - 1988 Cameron Cochrane
- 1988 - 1998 Malcolm Thyne
- 1998 - present Michael Spens
Notable Old Fettesians
- Lt-ColLieutenant-Colonel (UK)Lieutenant colonel is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel...
William Herbert AndersonWilliam Herbert AndersonLieutenant Colonel William Herbert Anderson VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Anderson was born on 29 December 1881 to W. J. Anderson CBE, who...
, VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - Tommy ArmourTommy ArmourThomas Dickson Armour was a Scottish-American professional golfer. He was nicknamed The Silver Scot.Armour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated at Fettes College and the University of Edinburgh....
, golfer - The Viscount of ArbuthnottJohn Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of ArbuthnottJohn Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott, is a Scottish peer, and was Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire...
, KT, CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, Director of Scottish WidowsScottish WidowsScottish Widows plc is a life, pensions and investment company located in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group. Its product range includes life assurance, pensions, investments and savings...
(1978–94); Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland (1986–87) - Major General The Viscount of Arbuthnott, CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.... - Frank BarnwellFrank BarnwellCaptain Frank Sowter Barnwell OBE AFC FRAeS BSc was an aeronautical engineer, who performed the first powered flight in Scotland and later went on to a career as an aircraft designer.-History:...
, Chief designer of the Bristol bomber, Blenheim fighter, etc. - Fereydoon Batamanghelidj, Persian/Iranian doctor
- John Hay BeithJohn Hay BeithMajor General John Hay Beith, CBE , from Edinburgh, Scotland, was a schoolmaster and soldier, and, under the pen name Ian Hay, a novelist and playwright.-Background:...
, (Ian Hay) writer - Sir John BlellochJohn BlellochSir John Blelloch KBE was Permanent Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office from 1988 to 1990.Blelloch was educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge....
, KCB, Former Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office - Hugh Enes BlackmoreHugh Enes BlackmoreHugh Enes Blackmore was a British opera and concert singer. Known as the 'Iron-Throated Tenor', he is best remembered for his performances of tenor roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company...
, performer in the Gilbert and SullivanGilbert and SullivanGilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operas in the late 19th century. - Tony BlairTony BlairAnthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, Prime Minister of the United KingdomPrime Minister of the United KingdomThe Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007, now the Quartet on the Middle EastQuartet on the Middle EastThe Quartet on the Middle East, sometimes called the Diplomatic Quartet or Madrid Quartet or simply the Quartet, is a foursome of nations and international and supranational entities involved in mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Quartet are the United Nations, the...
's envoy; the Leader of the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
from 1994 to 2007 and the MP for SedgefieldSedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)Sedgefield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
from 1983 to 2007. - Sir William Blair, High Court judge and elder brother of Tony Blair
- Frans ten BosFrans ten BosFrans Herman ten Bos was an English-born rugby union footballer, of Dutch ancestry. He played for as a lock in the 1960s, and was capped seventeen times...
, rugby player and businessman. - John Cameron, Lord Coulsfield, Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland; Lockerbie trial judge; Privy Counsellor
- Norman CameronNorman CameronNorman Cameron was a Scottish poet, distantly related to Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay who, between the two world wars, associated on Majorca with Robert Graves and Laura Riding. Later, as a part-time Fitzrovian, he was a colleague of Dylan Thomas, Geoffrey Grigson, Len Lye, John Aldridge RA,...
, poet - Alan Archibald Campbell-SwintonAlan Archibald Campbell-SwintonAlan Archibald Campbell-Swinton, FRS was a Scottish consulting electrical engineer. He described an electronic method of producing television in a 1908 letter to Nature.-Biography:...
, electrical engineer and television pioneer - Hugh Crichton-MillerHugh Crichton-MillerHugh Crichton-Miller was a Scottish psychiatrist and founder of the Tavistock Clinic in London.He attended Fettes College in Edinburgh, Edinburgh University, and Pavia University. Crichton-Miller served as vice president of the International General Medical Society for Psychotherapy....
, psychiatrist, founder of the Tavistock Clinic - General John de Chastelain, CMMOrder of Military Merit (Canada)The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
, Canadian. Chairman Independent International Commission on DecommissioningIndependent International Commission on DecommissioningThe Independent International Commission on Decommissioning was established to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons in Northern Ireland, as part of the peace process.-Legislation and organisation:...
, Northern Ireland peace processNorthern Ireland peace processThe peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a... - Angus DeatonAngus DeatonAngus Stewart Deaton is a leading microeconomist. He was educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh, where he was a Foundation Scholar, and earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D...
, Professor of Economics and President of the American Economic AssociationAmerican Economic AssociationThe American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review... - Sir William Hamilton FyfeWilliam Hamilton FyfeSir William Hamilton Fyfe was an English and Canadian classics scholar, educator, and educational administrator. He served as the 10th Principal of Queen's University, Ontario, from 1930 to 1936, and was the first layman to hold that position. He served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the...
, Principal of Queen's UniversityQueen's UniversityQueen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
and of the University of AberdeenUniversity of AberdeenThe University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world... - Sir Bill GammellBill GammellSir William Benjamin Bowring Gammell, commonly known as Bill Gammell is a Scottish sportsman and industrialist.-Early life:Bill Gammell was born in Edinburgh...
, Scottish rugby international and CEO Cairn Energy plc - Sir Josias CunninghamJosias CunninghamSir Josias Cunningham, DL was a Northern Irish stock broker, farmer and politician.-Early life:Josias Cunningham, known as "Joe", the grandson of Samuel Cunningham, was born into a well-off family of stock brokers, the family firm being...
- Northern Irish businessman and politician. - Nicholas HammondN. G. L. HammondNicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond CBE, DSO was a British scholar of ancient Greece of great accomplishment and an operative for the British Special Operations Executive in occupied Greece during World War II....
, CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, classicist and spy - George Campbell HayGeorge Campbell HayGeorge Campbell Hay was a Scottish poet and translator, who wrote in Scottish Gaelic, Lowland Scots and English. He used the patronymic Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa. He also wrote poetry in French, Italian and Norwegian, and translated poetry from many languages into Gaelic.-Life:He was born in...
, poet in English and Scottish Gaelic amongst other languages, who wryly called Fettes College a little piece of "Forever England". - William Theodore Heard, CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
(1959), Dean of the Roman Rota (1958) - Cdr Alexander Mitchell HodgeAlexander Mitchell HodgeCommander Alexander Mitchell Hodge GC, VRD, DL was a recipient of the George Cross.Sandy Hodge was born on 23 June 1916 at Blairgowrie in Scotland...
, GCGeorge CrossThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
VRDVolunteer Reserve DecorationThe Volunteer Reserve Decoration was awarded to commissioned officers in the United Kingdom's Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for long service and good conduct.The VRD was established in 1908...
, awarded George CrossGeorge CrossThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations... - Lord Jamieson, former Scottish Unionist politician and judge
- Richard LambertRichard LambertSir Richard Peter Lambert is the former Director-General of the CBI, and the present Chancellor of the University of Warwick.-Education:...
, Former Editor of The Financial Times; Former member of Bank of EnglandBank of EnglandThe Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
MPCMonetary Policy CommitteeThe Monetary Policy Committee is a committee of the Bank of England, which meets for two and a half days every month to decide the official interest rate in the United Kingdom . It is also responsible for directing other aspects of the government's monetary policy framework, such as quantitative...
; Director-General of Confederation of British IndustryConfederation of British IndustryThe Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
from 2006 - Ross LeckieRoss Leckie (Scottish writer)Ross Leckie is a Scottish writer of historical novels, best known for his Carthage trilogy. He is not to be confused with the Canadian poet of the same name.-Biography:...
, writer (not to be confused with Canadian writer of same name) - Lord Selwyn-LloydSelwyn LloydJohn Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd CH PC CBE TD , known for most of his career as Selwyn Lloyd, was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Foreign Secretary from 1955 to 1960, then as Chancellor of the Exchequer until 1962...
, Baron Selwyn Lloyd CH PC, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer - Sir Robert Bruce LockhartR. H. Bruce LockhartSir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart KCMG , was a journalist, author, secret agent, British diplomat in Moscow and Prague, and footballer...
Author; British rep. to provisional Czech Govt.(1940–41); Dir.-Gen. Political Warfare Executive (1941–45) - Vice-Admiral Roderick MacdonaldRoderick Douglas MacdonaldVice Admiral Sir Roderick Douglas Macdonald KBE was Chief of Staff of Naval Home Command.-Naval career:...
KBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
Chief of Staff to C-in-C Allied Naval Forces (1973–77), artist - LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Donald MacKintoshDonald MacKintoshDonald MacKintosh VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, VC, awarded Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Hector Lachlan Stewart MacLeanHector Lachlan Stewart MacLeanHector Lachlan Stewart MacLean VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
VC, awarded Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - Lord MacLeanRanald MacLean, Lord MacLeanRanald Norman Munro MacLean, Lord MacLean is a retired Scottish judge.Born on 18 December 1938, MacLean was educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh, where he was Head of School. He graduated BA from Clare College, Cambridge, LLB from the University of Edinburgh and LLM from Yale University...
, Member of the Judicial Appointments Board in Scotland. Former Head of School - The Rt. Hon. Iain MacleodIain MacleodIain Norman Macleod was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Early life:...
, Minister of Labour, Colonial Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer - Lord Drumalbyn, Under-Sec. of State, Scottish Office (1955–60); Parl. Sec., Board of Trade (1960–62)
- MajorMajor (UK)In the British military, major is a military rank which is used by both the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank insignia for a major is a crown...
Matthew Fontaine Maury MeiklejohnMatthew Fontaine Maury MeiklejohnMajor Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, VC, awarded Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... - Justin MelckJustin MelckJustin Melck is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays in the position of flanker.Born in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys High School, Fettes College in Scotland and Stellenbosch University, Melck has played for Western Province and the Super 14 side Stormers.Melck...
, rugby player for Western ProvinceWestern Province (rugby team)DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
, the Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
side StormersStormersThe Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
, Munster RugbyMunster RugbyMunster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
and now SaracensSaracens F.C.Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England... - Sir David MurrayDavid Murray (Scottish businessman)Sir David Edward Murray is a Scottish entrepreneur, businessman and former owner and chairman of Rangers Football Club....
, Chairman & Managing Director, Murray International Holdings; Chairman, Rangers Football Club plc - Lord Normand, Lord Justice General; Lord President of Court of SessionCourt of SessionThe Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
(1935–47); Lord of Appeal (1947–53) - David Ogilvy, founder of Ogilvy, Benson & Mather, advertising pioneer
- Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir George PirieGeorge Pirie (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir George Clark Pirie KCB KBE MC DFC LLD RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and the immediate post-War years. During World War I Pirie initially served as an infantry officer before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps where he took up...
, former Inspector-General of the RAFInspector-General of the RAFThe Inspector-General of the RAF was a senior appointment in the Royal Air Force, responsible for the inspection of airfields. The post existed from 1918 to 1920 and from 1935 until the late 1960s.... - David ReidDavid Reid (businessman)David Edward Reid is a Scottish-born British businessman and chartered accountant. He is currently the Chairman of Tesco, Britain's largest supermarket chain.-Biography:...
, Chairman of Tesco - Sir Sidney RowlattSidney RowlattSir Sidney Arthur Taylor Rowlatt KC KCSI PC was an English lawyer and judge, best remembered for his controversial presidency of the Rowlatt committee, a sedition committee appointed in 1918 by the British Indian Government to evaluate the links between political terrorism in India, especially...
, judge and chairman of the Rowlatt committeeRowlatt CommitteeThe Rowlatt committee was a Sedition Committee appointed in 1918 by the British Indian Government with Mr Justice Rowlatt, an English judge, as its president. The purpose of the committee was to evaluate political terrorism in India, especially Bengal and Punjab, its impact, and the links with the... - W. C. SellarW. C. SellarWalter Carruthers Sellar was a Scottish humourist who wrote for Punch. He is best known for the 1930 book 1066 and All That, a tongue-in-cheek guide to "all the history you can remember," which he wrote together with R. J...
, co-author of 1066 and All That1066 and All That1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings and 2 Genuine Dates is a tongue-in-cheek reworking of the history of England. Written by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman and illustrated by John Reynolds, it first...
, Head of School 1917 and taught at the school. - The Rt. Hon. Viscount SimonJohn Simon, 1st Viscount SimonJohn Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon GCSI GCVO OBE PC was a British politician who held senior Cabinet posts from the beginning of the First World War to the end of the Second. He is one of only three people to have served as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer,...
, in Churchill's Government, Home SecretaryHome SecretaryThe Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, Lord ChancellorLord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, former Head of School. - Tilda SwintonTilda SwintonKatherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
, screen actress and Oscar winner, attended in her sixth year. - D. R. ThorpeD. R. ThorpeD. R. Thorpe is an historian and biographer who has written biographies of three British Prime Ministers of the mid 20th century, Sir Anthony Eden, Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Macmillan.-Education and academic career:...
, political biographer, including lives of Selwyn Lloyd (Old Fettesian), and the Prime Ministers Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Sir Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan. - Michael TippettMichael TippettSir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE was an English composer.In his long career he produced a large body of work, including five operas, three large-scale choral works, four symphonies, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, concertos and concertante works, song cycles and incidental music...
, composer - Ruthven ToddRuthven ToddRuthven Campbell Todd was a Scottish poet, artist and novelist, best known as an editor of the works of William Blake. He wrote also under the pseudonym R. T. Campbell.-Background:...
Scottish poet and novelist, known also as an editor of William BlakeWilliam BlakeWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
and as an artist - Sir John WardJohn Macqueen WardSir John Macqueen Ward, CBE, CA, FRSE, FRSA, FIET is a Scottish businessman educated at Edinburgh Academy and at Fettes College.Ward began a career with IBM at its Greenock Manufacturing Plant in 1966, and in 1991 was appointed Managing Director of UK Government and Public Service Business after...
, former Chairman of Scottish Enterprise - GeneralGeneral (United Kingdom)General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Robert WhighamRobert WhighamGeneral Sir Robert Dundas Whigham GCB KCMG DSO is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:Educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Robert Whigham was commissioned into the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1885.He becam...
, former Adjutant-General to the ForcesAdjutant-General to the ForcesThe Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General... - Lord WoolfHarry Woolf, Baron WoolfHarry Kenneth Woolf, Baron Woolf, PC, FBA, , born 2 May 1933, was Master of the Rolls from 1996 until 2000 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2000 until 2005. The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 made him the first Lord Chief Justice to be President of the Courts of England and Wales...
, lawyer, Master of the RollsMaster of the RollsThe Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
and Lord Chief JusticeLord Chief Justice of England and WalesThe Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
Four Old Fettesians have won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and one the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, please see the above list for details. Former pupils of the school sometimes refer to themselves as "OF" and can use the post nominal "OF".