Scots College – Learning. For Life.

Bruce Grenville Cathie came to Scots College as a 13 year old 7 months before war broke out in Europe in 1939.

He left 6 years later with his University Entrance and Higher Leaving Certificate to commence his university education and enter the accountancy profession.

Bruce demonstrated the leadership qualities, which were eventually to result in his nomination for the Garden of Honour, from those days as a pupil in the College.

He was Company Sergeant Major of the school cadet corps – the highest rank a student at the school could be promoted to; the secretary of Aitken House; a prefect in 1943 and Head Prefect in his final year.

Bruce was a public speaker of note and a cricketer while at school. In later life he developed a passion for golf and tennis.

His involvement with the school community was uninterrupted by his transition from schoolboy to old boy.  He became a member of the SCOBA Executive Committee in his first year out of school and then in 1950 was appointed to the College Board as one of the Old Boy’s representatives on the Board.

Bruce contributed as a Board member from that time until he finally retired as Board Chairman in 1973 – 34 years after he started as a pupil in the third form.
During his time as a board member and finally as chairman the school underwent a huge transformation with new buildings such as the Gibb House new dorms and common room, the science lab block (now replaced with an even more modern structure), and the Chapel/Assembly Hall.  Bruce played a major role as the Board’s Treasurer for much of this time in ensuring the ongoing financial viability of the school while the huge capital commitments essential to the development of the infrastructure were successful funded and completed.

For 34 years Scots College was an integral part of the life of Bruce Cathie and he gave so much back – for that we honour him.