Old Bristolian Reverend Dr John Scott (BGS 1946) recently donated to BGS – a  generous gift of funds to be used to support our 500 Campaign and change the life of a child through bursary sponsorship. As a passionate musician, he was also keen that his donation be used to purchase an item of use for the music department. We are absolutely delighted that we have now purchased a new Viscount Chorum 40-S (Compact) 2 manual digital organ which was installed into the mezzanine in The Mackay on the 25 November 2022.

Director of Music, Guy Guerrini says ‘We have a few organists in the school already, but the plan is now to develop an organist per year group. With the organ in the Great Hall not always accessible, this new instrument will give students ample opportunity to practice, perform and develop their skills. It really is a fantastic instrument, the action on the keys is unbelievably realistic and authentic with fantastic onboard sounds. We are most grateful to Rev Dr John Scott.”

Rev. John Scott attended Bristol Grammar School from 1939 – 1946 during the war years and was granted a Governors’ scholarship. He says of his time at BGS, ‘the marvellous education I received at BGS changed my life’ before he went on to win an Open Scholarship in mathematics to Trinity College Cambridge and working his way up the academic ladder with posts at the Universities of Sheffield, Aberdeen, Oxford and Sussex where he had the Chair of Applied Statistics and was Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

At the age of 49 along with his family, Dr Scott emigrated to Australia to take up the position of Vice Chancellor of La Trobe University in Melbourne where he had a successful time becoming Chair of the Australian VCs Committee and an Officer of the Order of Australia. “Since retirement I have taken a degree in Theology and am now an ordained Anglican priest.”

We are so grateful for this wonderfully generous donation, and it is a testament to Bristol Grammar School’s lasting legacy that it is remembered so fondly.

We hope to meet up with John the next time we are in Australia to say thank you in person.