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GEORGE WATSON'S COLLEGE -
LEAVERS 1963 50TH REUNION
"MEMORIES AND
REFLECTIONS"
NAME: Ronald (Ron)
Smith
ADDRESS: 5 Bonaly Drive, Colinton, Edinburgh, EH13 0EJ
EMAIL AND TELEPHONE: Ronssmith0[at]gmail.com 0131 441 3232/07973 155469
MEMORIES OF
WATSON'S:
Teachers
Huge admiration still for Sandy Mack, Tam Coull, Dicky Telfer, J S C Brown and Pip Paulin
Fellow Pupils
Too many friends to mention, but would class Philip Watt, David Gillette, Doug Smith, Jimmy Stewart
and Jerry Fisher as "my group".
Most fun time
Sunday afternoons trying to get the Monday issue of "Ecce" out in time. Post-highers,
time spent in the art department
Most embarrassing
time!
Moving on swiftly!
Other:
Lazy lunchtimes in the sun on the playing fields
POST SCHOOL EDUCATION
Started a B.Com but it was not for me so switched to engineering and business management
SOME FAMILY DETAILS
Three sons, Nick, Simon and Jamie, all pursuing their own successful careers in the law, management
consultancy and media.
I have five beautiful grandchildren, two in Edinburgh, one in London and twins in Barcelona.
My wife of 25 years died 16 years ago
after a long illness and I have a new partner who is a specialist in developing services to help
people with dementia.
WHAT HAVE I DONE
"WORKWISE"?
Engineering management and director posts in various heavy and consumer engineering environments
for 20+ years. Further 18 years in management and director roles in engineering and management
consultancy with Ernst & Young and Cap Gemini. Last two years before retirement as Director of
Risk management
HOBBIES, PASTIMES,
SPORTS
Hobbies: restoring classic sports cars, restoring and collecting antique furniture and
paintings.
50% of retirement time taken up with charity work, teaching woodwork in a special needs primary
school and skippering a barge on the Union Canal for a trust which provides free canal cruising for
disabled and other eligible groups.
REFLECTIONS ON MY LIFE
(INCLUDING THE IMPACT THAT WATSON'S HAS HAD ON IT)
I regard myself as fortunate to have had a fulfilling career in areas I have enjoyed. I am still
convinced that the Watson's experience taught me all I needed for the next 40 years; an
excellent educational grounding, an environment which encouraged continuing learning and teamwork,
not to mention a great bunch of people with which to spend my formative years. |