NEWS Winter '09 - Strathallan School

12 www.strathallan.co.uk
Queen’s Birthday Honours
for Strathallians
Honours have been bestowed upon two Strathallians in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
list this year. Both John Gray (Simpson, 1960) and Peter Grant (Ruthven, 1962) were
awarded the OBE.
John, who retired this year as Chairman of the Strathallan School Board of Governors,
his wife Margaret and sons John and Peter were at Buckingham Palace in October
where he was presented with the award by the Queen. He received the honour in
recognition of his services to Further and Higher Education in Scotland over a period
of 10 years and in particular recognition of his ongoing commitment to Coatbridge
College where he has been Chairman of the Board of Management since 2002.
In addition he served on the Scottish Further Education Funding Council for six
years and on the Higher Education Funding Council for four years prior to their
amalgamation. During this time he served on a number of important committees
including the Capital Investment Committee which was responsible of the development
and implementation of a national estate strategy for Scotland’s Colleges and
Universities. He was also Chair of the Joint Audit Committee of both Councils and
was a member of the Higher Education Funding Council’s Small Specialist Institutions
Advisory Group. He was also a Board Member of The Royal Scottish Academy of
Music and Drama for three years.
Strathallian
Peter received his OBE for services to Science and has just retired as Regius Professor
of Engineering at Edinburgh University. In addition to his academic duties he serves
as a director on three research and commercialisation related companies. In 2008/9
he spent two periods of study leave at Rice University, Houston and Princeton
University, New Jersey, where he discussed ongoing UK research in “green cellular
radio systems” which is conducted in association with Vodafone, Orange, 3 etc.
Tony Bucher
Tony Bucher (Ruthven, 1963) passed away in the early hours of Friday 27th November
following a severe chest infection. Tony was a staunch supporter of the Strathallian Club
and over many years built the London Dinner to its current level of success. He will be
very sadly missed.
Strathallian Club
Forthcoming Events
Freeland House Reunion: Sunday 25th April 2010
London Dinner: Thursday 13th May 2010
1991 Leavers Reunion: Saturday 10th July 2010
Contact Aileen Wilson at alumni@strathallan.co.uk for more information on any of the
above events.
Forgandenny Perth PH2 9EG Scotland UK
T +44 (0)1738 815003 F +44 (0)1738 812549
Scottish Charity No: SC008903