Living in East Lothian, and after St Mary's, the advice of becoming a small fish in a very large pool on joining Fettes was so true. I enjoyed the vast majority of my time at School. I experienced modernisation: grey corduroy jerkins were replaced by lovat tweed jackets! Symbols such as scarves, socks and ties marked achievement. The strong overall Fettes ethos and loyalty to the School provided the foundations. I remember gravel pathways, the school calendars and a very firm approach to discipline. Masses of sport, deciding what subjects to study, when I was far from clear on what career to pursue, cleaning laces for rugger matches and blancoing my kit for CCF afternoons are all memories.

My time at Fettes was never dull and was full of challenges. Gaining responsibility little by little, growing up generally, and gaining confidence in my own ability, School got the best out of me. The influence of Eric Anderson, Robert Philp, David Pighills, Ronnie Selby Wright and George Buchanan Smith was immense. Thank goodness narrow academic achievement was not everything - my 5R English Prize second, survived the Carrington fire; every encouragement was given and there were opportunities for all to shine. The Corps camps and adventurous training under the guidance of Ronnie Guild, Joe Hills and David McMurray, plus an invitation to visit Sandhurst, certainly influenced my choice of career.

Fettes taught me the importance of determination, a strong sense of duty, a willingness to listen, the need for moral courage, consideration for others and strong communication skills and comradeship.

After studying at RMA Sandhurst I joined my Regiment, The Royal Scots. My Services experience over a thirty year period, serving in Libya, Turkey, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, the Falklands and the United States as well as in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, provided many challenges, several extreme, calling for great resolve, flexibility and adaptability and firm leadership. Over and over again I was called upon to take decisions and make things happen; situations were very real, rewarding and hugely varied. When commanding my Regiment in Northern Ireland operations two of my majors and my adjutant, as well as the adjacent commanding office, were OFs - two were Carringtonians. What true words are written on the Fettes war memorial, Carry On.

My last military appointment was as Chief of Staff at Army Headquarters in Scotland. With my military career as a unique stepping stone and very much as a people person I took on the new challenge of developing and leading Erskine Hospital into the 21st century as a modern well-equipped Scottish charity. Erskine was established in 1916 by public subscription, and required dramatic change if it was to be fit for the 21st century. I experienced a very steep learning curve, and the leadership of the committed team of care and support staff required the skills I gained at Fettes and honed in the Army. I never take my team for granted. Offering praise and "please" and "thank you" cost nothing and are real motivators and mean a great deal.

Seven years on, we have achieved our objectives of developing the care philosophy of the charity; building the new 180-place Erskine Home; a second smaller care home, in the heart of the local community; a custom-built 40-place Erskine Home in Gilmerton, Edinburgh; and taken our unique care Scotland-wide in partnership homes in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth and Dumfries. It was a privilege to have the Fettes Pipe Band playing at the Royal opening of our Edinburgh Erskine Home; the pipers' and drummers' positive attitude and quiet but very apparent confidence reminded me of the value of a Fettes education.

I have contributed to the Fettes Foundation because the School shaped and influenced me, and enabled me to make lifelong friendships. In the same way that Erskine's loyal supporters, both young and old, feel they have a debt to repay to the Veterans in the Hospital's care, such charitable support is vital to the future of Fettes.

Whether at Fettes or in our chosen lives I consider "Industria" and common sense to be key factors in achieving success.