Bracoden School Dux Dave Wood returns during 150th anniversary year
One of the final Dux medallists at a school has returned during its 150th anniversary year.
Dave Wood, who was a top senior student at Bracoden School, visited Gardenstown to be reunited with the honours board which bears his name in the village’s heritage centre.
His visit coincides with the 150th anniversary year of the school, and current head teacher Lorraine Butler was on hand to meet the former pupil.
Dave said: “I was a Banff loon, nae Gamrie at all; I really struggled with the Gamrie dialect at first.
“But only Bracoden School offered the nautical subjects I wanted to study so, from 1958-61, I and five other would-be seafarers bussed every day to Bracoden from Banff, Macduff and Whitehills.
“I travelled the world in my career, but the nautical studies course at Bracoden School was where it all started.”
In addition to normal and nautical studies classes in school, the seamanship group had a practical session one afternoon each week at Gardenstown Harbour to “learn the ropes” with Alexander (Sandy) Watt aboard his boats Menace and Sirius.
Highlights were trips to sea and in 1959 Sandy took three pupils – Dave, Ralston Johnston and Douglas Murray – for a memorable summer adventure aboard Sirius, a converted ship’s lifeboat, sailing from Gardenstown through the Caledonian Canal, and west to Tobermory on Mull.
The three teenage adventurers were reunited for the first time in more than 60 years during Dave’s visit.
Ralston and Douglas both live in Gardenstown.
Dave fulfilled his nautical dream, going on to train for the Merchant Navy and spending his career at sea for Shell, working internationally as a ship’s chief officer, in the North Sea as an offshore installation manager (OIM) and, in his final three years, in the Gulf of Mexico and Korea. Today he is retired and lives in Aberdeen.
Eleanor Hepburn, volunteer custodian of the Gardenstown Heritage Centre, opened the museum specially to welcome Dave back, while Mrs Butler was on hand for a commemorative photograph reuniting Dave with the Dux medal winners board which displays his name.
Mrs Butler said: “The 150th anniversary year of Bracoden School has been a very special one for welcoming back former pupils.
“Most only knew Bracoden as a primary school but some, like Dave Wood, were pupils before 1966, when the school had senior school classes right through to age 15.
“It has been a pleasure – a privilege – for me to welcome back many former pupils this year and to hear their stories of how Bracoden School was a foundation for their successes in adult life – really the same ambition we have for our pupils today.”