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ST EDWARD’S
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V A L E T E
definitively a liberal one and
based on a quiet but committed
Christianity.
Fisher had foreseen many of
the big social changes starting
to make themselves felt in
post-war Britain but even he
with his acute antennae had
only dimly seen how the new,
fast-changing teenage world
with its new mores and its
accompanying market would
profoundly affect independent
schools in the years ahead.
Bradley was sharply aware of
these developments and set
out to meet these approaching
changes with innovation and
sympathy. He was equipped
intellectually and emotionally to
meet ‘pupil power’ as the 1960s
liked, exaggeratedly, to describe
it. His leadership created a Sixth
Form centre and licensed bar,
a representative Upper School
Committee, a growth of ‘study
periods’ to promote more self-
driven learning and considerable
changes to the patterns of
compulsory Chapel attendance
to name but a few. He was full
of ideas for change within the
independent school structure
whose potential, he believed,
was great. Though not a natural
politician, or administrator,
he led the opposition to
the proposed spur road in
Summertown which would have
sliced the School’s fields in half. It
was a far–reaching achievement,
especially when one now views
the physical growth of the
School west of the Woodstock
Road.
He had much support in the
Common Room even if some,
including some of the pupils,
found his thoughtful soul-
searching a trifle overpowering.
He had a puckish sense of
humour but could also appear
over-earnest. He was the first
married Warden since Hudson
but sadly his private life was
upset and he became separated
from his wife. The pressures
of both family life with his two
children and the demands of the
job took their toll and, though
the Governors gave him full
support at the time of his
separation, they accepted his
resignation when he moved
on towards divorce. He left
to become an immensely
successful head in two North
American schools, Ridley
College, Ontario and The
Rivers School, Massachusetts.
His was a Wardenship of
great promise cut short and
some have described him as
‘the lost leader’.
at the Edinburgh Academy,
where his Rector was the Old
Fettesian Rob Watt, he then,
after National Service in the
Royal Artillery, went up to read
English at University College,
Oxford. Besides Shakespeare,
sport, throughout this time,
was a prominent part of his
life – in cricket he captained
the Scottish Schools XI and his
college side as well as playing
for the University Authentics. In
rugby, later joining Societies of
Referees, he captained his college
XV and played for the University
Greyhounds and Oxfordshire.
His first post in 1957 was as an
assistant master at St Edward’s
School, Oxford, a start for which
he was always grateful. After nine
years, he became Warden of
Brathay Hall in the Lake District,
a leadership training centre for
young adults, working closely
with industrial training boards and
involving the outdoor activities
he cherished. It might be said
that he never undervalued in
education what could not be
measured. A council member of
the Outward Bound Trust, he
was later chairman of governors
of Outward Bound Ullswater,
and of Loch Eil. Always one
to be fully involved, he held a
Mountain Leadership Certificate,
besides once being a temporary
instructor. Four years later, he
was appointed Assistant Director
of Education with the City of
Edinburgh Education Authority
where adult education, youth and
community service dominated
his involvement. He was also a
Fellow in the Educational Studies
Department of Edinburgh
University and chairman of the
Lothian Federation of Boys’
Clubs. His first headmastership
came in 1974 at Arnold School,
Blackpool, which became
independent during his time
there. This was followed five
years later by the headmastership
of Fettes College where he
succeeded Tony Chenevix-
Trench. During the nine years
that he was there, he oversaw
the introduction of full co-
education, a move both popular
and effective; he overhauled
academic policy, and secured
the resources to make possible
the regeneration then required,
thus providing a good basis
for the progress achieved by
his successors. At 55, he still
had the energy and courage to
accept another challenge, that
of the first principal of Prince
Willem-Alexander College in
the Netherlands, a sixth form
IB school. His final appointment
was as Principal of the British
International School in Cairo,
with a brief to develop the senior
school, in particular IB in the
Sixth Form. He was, throughout
his career, one to seek the
abandonment of outdated
approaches, which could
masquerade as tradition. He was
a member of the TA, the Royal
Artillery Council for Scotland and
the Admiralty Interview Board.
An officer with the Combined
Cadet Force and the Army
Cadet Force, he also served
at Frimley Park Cadet Training
Centre. A deep, personal faith
underpinned his life, providing,
as it did, the basis for the quiet
courage and determination
he had. He was a kind man,
self-deprecating about his own
achievements, and genuinely
concerned about others.
Ordained an elder of the Church
of Scotland in 1971, he held the
post of Session Clerk. Whilst
in Cairo, he had been Provost’s
Warden at All Saints Cathedral.
He was appointed MBE in 1986
for his work as Commandant of
the athletes’ village during the
XIII Commonwealth Games in
Edinburgh. Retirement brought
little cessation to his activities,
both international and local;
latterly, he made a valuable
contribution to the archive Pro
Patria Mori (The Edinburgh
Academy at War 1914 -1918).
He married Rosemary Ogg in
1958, who with her modesty and
charm, kindness and devotion
complemented Cameron
O B I T U A R I E S
Cameron Cochrane
COCHRANE
– On 18th
December 2015, Cameron
Cochrane (MCR 1957-1966).
The following obituary has
been taken in part from
The
Scotsman
;
Cameron Cochrane, who has
died aged 82, was a distinguished
schoolmaster who rose to be
warden of a leadership training
centre, an assistant director
of education, headmaster of
two independent schools and
principal of two international
colleges. His experience and
involvement in education
ranged from the HMC and its
committees, helping set up and
direct the preliminary training
course for new Heads, to
governing bodies of schools, the
Outward Bound Trust, the Duke
of Edinburgh’s award scheme
and adult education. He was
born in Edinburgh on 19 July,
1933, the son of Dr Alexander
and Jenny Cochrane. Educated