HENRY GRAY McKERRON GORDON
On the morning of 7th June the school and the community
were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Dr. Gordon, lt had seemed
to those of us who knew him that at the age of 43 he was set to offer
the school the fruits of his considerable natural gifts and his varied
experience. As the son of a North-East headmaster, a distinguished
student of Aberdeen University, a war-time Spitfire pilot, a keen
student of natural life and of the stars, a lover of the Parnassian
poets, he brought to his task as Head of History in Madras College an
unusually well-stocked mind and a wide knowledge of the world.
Uncompromising in his attitudes, impatient of pretence,
thoughtful in his disposition, sparing of words and gentle, he belonged
to that splendid tradition of Scotland, the scholar and the man of
action. He knew the lines of Leconte de Lisle as intimately as he knew
the markings of a wild duck, and the pen sat as happily in his hand as
the gun in his shoulder. He was faithful to the land that bore him and
none who knew him will forget his delight in the songs and stories of
his native Buchan.
As we mourn the passing of a well-loved friend,
colleague and teacher, we offer to Mrs. Gordon, Roger, Douglas and
Alyson our deep sympathy in their loss.
