Rector

Born: 11 December 1913;

Died: 3 December 2016

PETER Whyte, who has died aged 102, was the evergreen rector of Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow and the oldest surviving head of the school. He required all of his youthful energy when, in taking over as rector in 1966, he faced the task of melding an ancient institution founded solely for the education of boys into a co-educational establishment.

He styled himself as a humdrum mathematician, and bore a personal horror of any greater description. Nevertheless, his ability in maths saw him become an internationally recognised expert in the so-called New Maths of the 1960s. He was also sought out by the government of Malaysia on educational secondment and the same talent for maths propelled him to the rank of squadron-leader in the Second World War.

Mr Whyte thrived on longevity. Visiting his solicitor aged 92 to alter his will to include a trust clause, the legal chiel opined doubtfully: “Peter, it’ll be seven years before the trust clause can kick in”. “Oh?” queried Mr Whyte, “and are you suggesting I might not last the course?”.

A lifetime kilt-wearer, that same year he ordered his latest kilt in the newly registered Hutchie tartan.

Throughout the planning and transition of Hutchesons’ Boys’ Grammar School from Crown Street in the Gorbals to a greenfield site at Crossmyloof, the architecture and educational philosophy of the new place had been carefully constructed solely around the continuance of a boys’ school.

Mr Whyte faced amalgamation of the two very different schools, united only by name. But aided first by Margaret McIver, principal of Hutchesons’ Girls’ Grammar School, and then by acting principal Jessie Knox, he brought the two establishments together, all the while keeping pupils, staff and governors on side. He spent vast amounts of his own time creating the details by which the principle would work. Even the basics of class timetabling threw up unforeseen problems.

A thorough modernist, Mr Whyte took up his post at a time when the independent school movement throughout Scotland was coming under increasing fire from politicians and charity commissioners. But he carved out new roles for the old school, thus enabling greater numbers of bright pupils from every kind of background to be educated there.

When he retired in 1978, the position of the school had been secured – it was a modern organisation providing the broadest of educations, and one whose brightest pupils regularly featured in university bursary lists. “He was quite simply a very able man – honest, decent, direct and courteous,” remembers Graham MacAllister, retired senior depute rector of Hutchesons’.

Peter Whyte was born in Hector Road, Shawlands, and attended Shawlands Academy. Passionate about rugby, he was injured while playing for Glasgow University, whereupon his father stepped in and banned him from the pitch until the youngster had graduated.

His career as a maths teacher at Jordanhill College abruptly halted in 1940 when he volunteered for the RAF. His mathematical ability saw him serve in air traffic control, at RAF Ballykelly in Northern Ireland, in England, and then after D-Day in France, Belgium and Germany before being demobbed in 1946.

Possessed of dashing good looks, he arrived home on leave early in the war sporting a bushy auburn RAF-style moustache. “He looked villainous in it!” recalled his younger sister Isobel. The offending mouser came off before he married Jess Bisset some days later. The pair had met and fallen in love while both teaching at Jordanhill.

When the young Peter Whyte was appointed head of maths at Glasgow High School, love of both maths and rugby brought him together with Tom Glen, then head of maths at Kelvinside Academy. Mr Glen reached Hutchesons’ ahead of Mr Whyte, when the former became head of maths. Both remained keen and lifelong members of Glasgow University Maths Association.

Mr Whyte was predeceased by his wife Jess nearly 40 years ago. But he met Etta Lang, also widowed, during a cruise. The Jordanhill College connection was further reinforced by both Etta and her late husband Ralston having taught modern languages there.

When Mr Whyte ultimately proposed, Etta would have none of it. “I have two daughters plus my mother”. “I‘ll take you all,” came the glad response. And he did. And they all lived happily ever after in a second marriage that lasted more than 35 years.

The couple, always close, travelled the world in their holidays. They shared enjoyment in speaking French and visiting a Belgian couple with whom Mr Whyte made friends during the war. Latterly, he and Etta holidayed annually in Paris.

Until two years ago, Mr Whyte led a full and active life, being much involved in Clan Lamont Society, Jordanhill Parish Church, and the enjoyment of Scotland’s heritage. From the time of his rectorship of Hutchie, he set an astonishing record of rarely missing any event connected with the school.

He is survived by his wife Etta, step-daughters Sheena and Eileen and his adored grandchildren, and his sister Miss Isobel Whyte.

GORDON CASELY