Whitehill Former Pupils’ Club

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Unseen Alasdair Gray artworks go on display for first time in Glasgow

Nine paintings by celebrated Glasgow artist Alasdair Gray are to be displayed for the first time at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The exhibition opens Saturday (June 14) at the art gallery that sparked Alasdair Gray's love of painting, and includes artwork for his novel Poor Things, which was adapted into a Hollywood film in 2023.

Gray donated the works to Glasgow Life Museums following the death of his wife Morag McAlpine in 2014.

The works, hung in the Fragile Art Gallery, include examples of Gray’s resourceful approach, using whatever he had to hand, including Tippex and sticky labels.

Our lifetime achievement award was made to Tom McNab, sportsman, coach and best selling author.

Tom McNab attended Whitehill School in the late 1940's through 1952. He was school captain and sports champion in 1952. By the age of 16 he had won a UNESCO essay medal and by 18 had had represented Glasgow at football and was already establishing a formidable position in athletics.  

Tom Mc Nab is a worthy recipient of the Former Pupils Club achievement award and it should be noted that he is the only former pupil to have his name on the award twice, as sports champion in 1952 and now recognising his lifetime achievements in 2025.

Click on the link to see Tom’s Achievement Award Citation.

Tom will be presenting his annual Chariots of Fire talk at the Liddell Centre in Edinburgh on 20th August 6.00pm -7.30pm.

Whitehill Former Pupils’ Club Membership

Although we are designated as a club, for practical reasons, there is no requirement to make a membership application or pay an annual subscription.  If you are interested just contact the secretary and request to be put on the mailing list to receive copies of the newsletter and be advised of current and future events.

Secretary contact details:

Iain Callander,

6a Corstorphine Road,

Edinburgh

EH12 6HN

Phone: 07780 991505

Email: secretary@whitehillfp.org   

Former Pupils’ Club website: www.whitehillfp.org

SPRING LUNCH

Alasdair Gray Archive

Alasdair Gray was an ethical human, he turned down many awards, honorary doctorates and famously a knighthood, they didn’t chime with his socialist beliefs...

But one of the awards he did proudly accept was his Lifetime Achievement Award from his old secondary school in Dennistoun, Whitehill, where he was a student from 1945-1951.

In 2017 he was invited to attend the celebratory dinner and had a wonderful evening talking with staff and students. The award was then proudly displayed next to his desk and we have done the same where it is on show at the archive. On the award it states:

“Alasdair admits he was useless at Latin and Mathematics but that the head art teacher, Robert Stuart, nurtured his talent and allowed him to express himself freely. His leaving certificate showed passes in Art and English – the head teacher said this qualified him to become a paid trainee librarian who might make something of art as a spare-time hobby."

#alasdairgray

#thealasdairgrayarchive

We held our Spring lunch at the House for an Art Lover on 3rd April. We had an excellent afternoon with a good lunch and plenty of time to chat and share stories.