Former Pupil Biographies

Ian William Seeley LTCL, BMus, ARCM, LRAM, MEd, MA (1942 - 2013)
 

He taught music  at Inverness Royal Academy, Kirkwall Grammar School, Lockerbie Academy and Hawick High School. He was author of the book "On with the Show - One Hundred Years of Hawick Amateur Operatic Society".
 

Although his whole working life was spent away from the town, Ian Seeley was very proud of being a native of St Andrews, born into an old local family, and a former pupil of the West and East Infant schools, the Burgh School, and Madras College. Until his sudden recent death in France while on holiday, he regularly visited family and friends in the town. Best known to readers of St Andrews in Focus as a contributor of accomplished verse, he was actually a music teacher by profession as well as a versatile composer across many musical genres.

After what he himself described as a 'difficult' childhood and unsettled teenage years, he studied music at Trinity College, London. He always paid tribute to his former music teacher at Madras College, Miss Margaret Affleck, and the then rector, Dr John Thomson, for the hugely supportive role they played in securing him a place at the prestigious music academy. Having obtained his LTCL, not without a struggle, he took particular pride in adding numerous other degrees over the years. Indeed his devoted wife, Alison, joked that Ian was considering applying to become a qualified zoo keeper, as the only initials that didn't appear after his name were 'Z' and 'K'.

After teaching at Inverness, Kirkwall, and Lockerbie, Ian was appointed Principal Music teacher at Hawick High School in 1970. There followed more than 40 years of outstanding service to the pupils and citizens of Hawick. Although he retired as a music teacher in 1997 he continued to play an active role in musical and community events in the town. He was a Life member of the local Gallants Club, the 1514 Club, and the Hawick Archaeological Society, as well as being choirmaster and organist at Hawick's Trinity Church for many years. A former President of Hawick Rotary Club he was prominent in the town's Common-Riding Celebrations, despite never having mounted a horse until the age of 53. But despite his late acquaintance with a saddle he was Hawick's Mosstrooper of the Year in 2008; Mosstroopers cover the biggest distance in Hawick's Common Riding Celebrations.

lan's many accomplishments included inveterate letter-writing to local and national newspapers and an inability to suffer fools gladly, or to keep quiet when recognising one. But this was leavened by a genuine humility, a generosity in imparting his knowledge to any who asked and a passion to leave the world a better place than he found it. Ever the scholar, Ian had just completed his latest book, The Songs of Teviotdale, which, poignantly, was launched in Hawick on September 4, the day after he died.

Ian is survived by his loving and much-loved wife, Alison, his son David, and daughter Melanie, and grandchildren, Niall, Mared, and Will.

Ian has published many church music compositions:

Anthems
Lord Jesus Christ, be near me
When I survey the wondrous Cross

Carols
As Joseph was a-walking
Bethlehem, most noble city
Cradle Song - O men from the fields
Hush! My dear, lie still and slumber
Mary, rock your sleeping child
Sweet was the song the Virgin sang
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
When Christ was born of Mary free
With merry heart let all rejoice

Organ
Improvisation on Brother James's Air
Improvisation on University
Improvisation on Glenfinlas
Improvisation on St. Andrew
Improvisation on Warrington
Improvisation on Windsor New
Four Diversions
Four Essays
Four Expressions
Four Images
Four Impressions
Four Miniatures
Four Whims
Three Contrasts
Three Lyric Pieces

Transcriptions
Four Moszkowski Transcriptions
 

Attributions:

Article by Ted Brocklebank (cousin of Ian Seeley)
Published in St Andrews in Focus November 2013