Colin Mair
Encyclopedia
Colin James Robertson Mair (December 21, 1919, Edinburgh
– December 11, 2006, Wishaw
) was a Scottish
educator, and rector
of the Glasgow
private school
Kelvinside Academy
.
Educated at the Edinburgh Academy
, Mair read classics at the University of Edinburgh
, where he graduated with honours in 1946. His studies were interrupted by the war
, during which he served as an instructor with the East Lancashire Regiment
. After this, he returned to teach at the Edinburgh Academy, before taking up the position of rector at Kelvinside in 1958, a post he held until 1980. During his tenure he greatly improved the Academy's performance, in the academic field as well as in sports. After his retirement he worked as a chairman of The Frank Buttle Trust
, a charity for deprived children.
Mair was married twice, first to Catherine Finlay and later to Susanne Clark. He had a son and a daughter from his first marriage; his son Colin is rector of Glasgow High School
and his daughter, Anne, was headmistress of Kelvinside Academy Junior School.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
– December 11, 2006, Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
educator, and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
Kelvinside Academy
Kelvinside Academy
Kelvinside Academy is a private school in the City of Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 1878. It has a capacity of 640 pupils and spans two years of Junior Start , six years of Junior School , and seven years of Senior School , comprising fifteen years in all...
.
Educated at the Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
, Mair read classics at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he graduated with honours in 1946. His studies were interrupted by the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which he served as an instructor with the East Lancashire Regiment
East Lancashire Regiment
The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of two 30th and 59th Regiments of Foot with the militia and rifle volunteer units of eastern Lancashire...
. After this, he returned to teach at the Edinburgh Academy, before taking up the position of rector at Kelvinside in 1958, a post he held until 1980. During his tenure he greatly improved the Academy's performance, in the academic field as well as in sports. After his retirement he worked as a chairman of The Frank Buttle Trust
The Frank Buttle Trust
Buttle UK, formerly known as The Frank Buttle Trust, is the largest UK charity providing grant aid solely to individual children and young people in desperate need. Founded in 1937 and operational since 1953, the charity has helped many thousands of vulnerable children, young people and families...
, a charity for deprived children.
Mair was married twice, first to Catherine Finlay and later to Susanne Clark. He had a son and a daughter from his first marriage; his son Colin is rector of Glasgow High School
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
and his daughter, Anne, was headmistress of Kelvinside Academy Junior School.