Hely Hutchinson Almond
Encyclopedia
Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond (12 August 1832 – 7 March 1903) was a physician and a politician. He is remembered as a pioneering Scottish educator.
, where he was a Snell Exhibitioner
.
He was also an accomplished athlete and secured a place in the eight of the college. It was also here that he started playing rugby. His first appointment was at Loretto School
in Musselburgh
, Scotland
, where he served as a mathematics master before in 1858 becoming a Master at Merchiston Castle School
, where rugby had been introduced the year before. In the spring of 1862, Almond purchased Loretto School
. Under his leadership the school became the leading rugby nursery in Scotland. In addition he was one of the umpires of the first rugby international between Scotland and England in 1871 and was an ardent supporter of the formation of the Scottish Football Union
in 1873. Such was the deemed importance of his contribution to the sport of rugby football that in 2007 he was nominated for inclusion in the IRB Hall of Fame
, although his nomination did not lead to induction.
Biography
Born in 1832 in Glasgow, the son of Reverend George Almond, he showed great academic promise at Glasgow College. He went on to Glasgow University and from there was elected to an Exhibition at Balliol College, OxfordBalliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he was a Snell Exhibitioner
Snell exhibitioner
The Snell Exhibition is an annual scholarship awarded to a student of the University of Glasgow to allow him or her to undertake postgraduate study at Balliol College, Oxford. The award was founded by the bequest of Sir John Snell in a will made in 1677, although the original stipulation referred...
.
He was also an accomplished athlete and secured a place in the eight of the college. It was also here that he started playing rugby. His first appointment was at Loretto School
Loretto School
Loretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.-History:Loretto was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son,...
in Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
, 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...
, where he served as a mathematics master before in 1858 becoming a Master at Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....
, where rugby had been introduced the year before. In the spring of 1862, Almond purchased Loretto School
Loretto School
Loretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.-History:Loretto was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son,...
. Under his leadership the school became the leading rugby nursery in Scotland. In addition he was one of the umpires of the first rugby international between Scotland and England in 1871 and was an ardent supporter of the formation of the Scottish Football Union
Scottish Football Union
Note - the Scottish Rugby Union was known as the "Scottish Football Union" between 1873 and 1924The Scottish Football Union was a football league competition that existed from 1906 till the outbreak of the First World War...
in 1873. Such was the deemed importance of his contribution to the sport of rugby football that in 2007 he was nominated for inclusion in the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
, although his nomination did not lead to induction.