Bursary student interview: 10 years on Hector Halford-MacLeod (Ca 2011-2016) Do you remember how you felt when you found out that you were able to come to Fettes? Nervous, excited, and that my horizons had been broadened. I knew no one at the school beforehand so this was a big step into the unknown for me. Despite the nerves and, even at a young age, I had the feeling that great things were coming and that the next five years would be an adventure. As it turns out, I was correct. What are your best memories of Fettes? There are many great memories but to select a few, winning back-to-back House Singing competitions with Carrington, competing in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race, touch rugby on the Beaches in summer, playing and watching coffee concerts and without a doubt Congers on a Saturday morning! How did your time at Fettes help you academically, through extracurricular activities and personal development? There is no doubt in my mind that Fettes has shaped me in all three ways mentioned. The superb education helped me to achieve a place at Durham University where I received my degree in music. However, the academic education went much further as the teachers developed my intellectual curiosity across a range of fields and encouraged me to challenge, critique and explore ideas with confidence. Outside of the classroom I spent a lot of time doing music with the chapel choir, school orchestra and also as a solo pianist. Playing music became very much a passion for me and strongly influenced the degree I eventually chose. On the playing fields, running and rugby were my strengths (rugby perhaps a dubious strength) and even in freezing, horizontal rain it always felt like an honour to represent the school.
Culturally, Fettes offers much through an international student body and outlook whilst retaining strong ties to its beating Scottish heart. The opportunity to share Burns Nights and ceilidhs with nationalities from across the world is rare and a privilege. Finally, I was fortunate enough to be Head of Carrington House and Head of School. These experiences taught me lifelong lessons in both leadership and camaraderie and are perhaps my proudest achievements during my time at Fettes.