Genuine Education!

Founders Day George Heriot School Edinburgh

I have been been absent on family matters for a few days which is the reason this blog has been quiet of late.  Normal ranting will restart.  I was attending Founder's Day at the George Heriot School in Edinburgh and it opened my eyes.

I have been a stern critic of education in the UK because, once the politicians abandoned the 'Grammar School', there have been few opportunities for kids from a poor background to escape their circumstances of birth.  When I attended a grammar school (in the fifities) any pupil from a council house estate could, through academic achievement, rise to the top and benefit from a university education.

I also believe that education is not purely about passing examinations but it is also to teach good behaviour by example.  It is about developing loyalty, team spirit and a sense of pride in achievement.  When the national education system began tampering with the marking of exam papers that sense of achievement disappeared.  Kids know who the bright students are so when they gain a false mark they are aware that the marking has been manipulated.  If the whole marking system has been corrupted then where is the pride in achievement?

My granddaughter gained admittance to George Heriot's following the death of my son in a road traffic accident.  Way back in 1628 the goldsmith George Heriot bequeathed money to form a school in Edinburgh and insisted that any child who lost a parent at an early age should be considered for a place at the school. It was and is an astonishing act of philanthropy! These 'foundation' students are treated equally with the children of fee paying families.

Last Monday I watched as 1600 children from ages 5-18 paraded before the school authorities to watch them pay respect to the founder.  We then attended a service in the Greyfriars Kirk and finally a buffet lunch in the quadrangle.

All the time I was reminded of a real sense of history and I observed as decent young people mixed easily with staff and visitors.  The organisation was impressive but above all  these children are being taught to become good citizens and support each other.  They wear their uniform with pride. I  got the feeling that it would almost be an act of treachery to let that uniform down.

The format that makes this school so successful could be replicated everywhere if there was political will.  I suspect that the teaching unions do not have too firm a grip on this school so that the ethos dictated by George Heriot so long ago has continued through the years without political manipulation to such an extent that today it is almost a modern miracle. 

In Mourning!

I have always retained a personal aspect to this blog because it is  also my link to families and friends.  Yes I know that I go on a bit but it is purely my way of telling people how evil our mainstream politicians and media have become.

However, on Saturday evening my 96 year old mother breathed her last.  I was regrettably 15 minutes too late but then I could not have made a difference.  It was her time to go. 

As usual our small but close knit family have rallied and supported one another. This is why I believe that the family unit is so important to our society. Nothing can replace a family unit which until the last few decades was the bedrock of our society. 

We hand down moral values from one generation to another. We preach loyalty, responsibility and love. We instill a code of behaviour. In my household nobody swears. Yes we allow the 'bloody' and the occasional 'shit' (if it slips out) but the rest of the vernacular is not practiced. I know that my lovely grandchildren learn the words at school but to teach sex education to 7 year olds is frankly treasonable.

My mother was fortunate. She past to another world without realising what her generation had lost. She was the last of her generation who courted in the 1930's and produced children in the 1940's. They survived the Second World War and most of their parents remembered the First World War.  The Rothschild bankers were alive and well in those days as well as today.

So farewell Mum, you lived through an amazing era. You kept the family together even though both my brother and my father passed away in the 1970's. You set the rules and the standards that I maintain today.  You did your job and I just hope that there is an after world which you can enjoy because you deserve a wonderful afterlife.

I promise you that what you taught me will be passed on. Unfortunately I am faced with an army of officialdom who will do their best to oppose my values. At this moment I cannot trust any politician or public official (Nigel Farage perhaps?) but my lovely family will rally together. I won't need to rally them because my mother left a legacy that everyone will attend. Farewell Mum you were the best! 

Iain RIP

Today is the first anniversary of the death of my son Iain who was killed on the A1 whilst driving his HGV home to Edinburgh in the early hours of the morning. We will never forget the shock of this unexpected accident and the dreaded knock on the door as the police came to inform us.

We are a small compact family so to lose someone who was such a larger than life character was tragic. However out of his death we met many of his friends from his HGV days and his university friends as he had just completed his law degree.

Today I received Facebook messages and I was genuinely surprised at how many people remembered him. His housemate and best friend Dan even took flowers and laid them at the accident spot. They will never know what a comfort these little acts of kindness have made to the family.

Lorry Drivers and the danger to the motorist!

Today I got behind the wheel for the first time since my attack and it was brilliant. One of the worst things about a heart attack is that all of a sudden you lose your independence. People regard you as an invalid and even though they are nice you can see that they are wary. You know...will you die on them?

I have friends who were much, much, worse than me. One of them was revived three times, twice at home and once in the ambulance and today you would never know it. He is an inspiration to me. I never even passed out. I had a warning. I like to think of it as a broken heart. When my son was killed it broke my heart not just metaphorically but physically. I must now recover and continue as before to guide my beloved granddaughters and fight for justice for my son.

His death was a result of a very corrupt system which drives lorry drivers beyond normal endurance. It should be stopped because it is dangerous to all the other road users. I will blog much more on this subject as evidence evolves. It is a shocking indictment on so many of the multinational companies who supply their stores relentlessly regardless of the cost.

Iain RIP

It a week where news appears to be in short supply forgive my little self indulgence. Today would have been my son's 39th birthday. Anyone who regularly views this blog knows that he was killed in an HGV accident on 10 July. My daughter has formed an Iain RIP Facebook page and today the messages have come in from lots of his friends.

He would have been 39 today but most of his friends were much, much younger and that has been a theme throughout his life. He did not want to grow old. He did not celebrate birthdays. To Iain a birthday was a disaster, an unnecessary reminder that even he was getting older and definitely not to be celebrated. Well he got his wish! He will never get older. We will all age but we will always remember Iain as he was at 38 years of age...still handsome, still charming...still with that roguish, caring charisma which filled any room he entered.

One thing that I find extraordinary is the wide spectrum of friends who he attracted. He had his student crowd (and most of you are stunning), he had his HGV professional driving mates (and most of you are not!), he had his Christian friends, his personal friends and his family. One thing we all have in common... we care about other people and we cared about Iain.

It doesn't get any easier but it will. What makes it easier is the number of people who want to keep his memory alive! Thank you so much to all of you for your messages and support. Stevie and I are so grateful (Heh just in case you have just passed by Stevie is short for Stephanie... he says in a deep voice).

Please keep in touch with us and with each other. I impress upon you that you must be special people because as you all know Iain RIP had strong opinions about almost everything and everybody. Long live 'The Freak Club'!

Iain RIP

We cremated Iain at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on Wednesday. There were a lot of people who came to bid him farewell and mighty impressive they were to. Iain always reckoned that he was the only HGV driver to have an Honours Law Degree and his ability to mix at all levels of society stood out a mile.

My wife and I rubbed shoulders with University lecturers, rough hewn lorry drivers, former military personnel, stunning young girls, police officers, family friends, committed Christians, former girlfriends and did not hear a bad word about our beloved son. All the compartments of his life came together, mixed together and discussed his strong personality, his talent and his humour. It was lovely and I was so proud of him.

The reception was exactly as he would have wished. We drank ourselves silly but happily. No tensions, no arguments, just an appreciation of Iain's life. I want to thank everyone who travelled so far to be there. A bond has been established and my daughter will establsh a Facebook page so that those who knew him can remain in touch with each other.

This has been a terrible tragedy and we will never replace or forget Iain but out of an utter catastrophe we have discovered so many lovely people. We have discovered an extended family of young people, every one of whom I would be honoured to adopt. Iain has left a legacy which is purely down to his personality. Even the staff at the pub in the village of Bonnyrigg knew him and allowed us a great deal of freedom to celebrate his life. We did him proud!

PS Tomorrow it will be back to normal folks! Things need to be aired, politicians exposed, controversial issues discussed because my grandchildren need a better life than they have at the present!

Iain RIP

My family are holding up following our dreadful loss. Our son will be cremated in Edinburgh next Wednesday. Everyone has been marvellous and out of this tragedy has come revelation after revelation. Iain had this instinct of attracting really nice friends. We have met some lovely people and I believe we will remain in touch.

Firstly however, we must remain practical and send him off properly. It will be an emotional day for everyone. Can I also thank those people who responded to my griefstricken post last Saturday. I don't know any of you personally but I will never forget your kindness.

To my local friends who dip in and out of my ramblings. I will be back in circulation soon but frankly I don't want to embarrass anyone and I am really fragile.So many people have been so understanding that it brings back faith in the human race. Iain died too young but we had him for 38 years and we must be thankful for that.

Iain RIP

This morning we received the dreaded visit from two female police officers who informed us that our beloved son had been killed in the early hours of the morning in a head on HGV accident. This has without doubt been the worst day of my life. I know that all normal fathers love and admire their kids but Iain was the most multi talented individual that I have ever met.

Not only did he hold a law degree and an HGV licence but he was a real genius with computers. There was nothing that he couldn't solve. He was also a skilled car mechanic often contributing to the Rover forum on the Internet. He installed my wife's kitchen, built our summerhouse and also installed his own under floor heating. He could build patios, cook like a dream and was an electrical whizzkid.

If that wasn't enough he was a mountain bike rider, he conquered the infamous 'P' company assault course to gain his red beret and at a very young age was an accomplished goalkeeper. I cannot ever remember walking into a room with him without all the female heads swivelling. Not only did he have the magical 'it' he was also eloquent and charming.

I know that life goes on but I will never recover from this loss. I will always miss him. It will be a long time before the crying ceases in my household. Rest in Peace my handsome, intelligent lad we are all devastated.