Teacher
Born: May 11, 1928;
Died: September 25, 2015
CHRIS Oliver, who has died aged 87, was a popular, highly regarded and extremely effective chemistry teacher in a career that spanned 40 years, firstly at Dunfermline High School, then Daniel Stewart’s College and latterly Stewart’s Melville College, until his retiral in 1993.
During that time he played a full and committed part in a wide range of school activities, particularly sport which was one of his main interests. Outwith school, he was a man of diverse interests including the Territorial Army, the Church, the great outdoors and travel. Despite his many attributes and attainments, he was self effacing and maintained a low profile.
He was born in Edinburgh with twin brother Robert. At the time the family lived in Aberdeen but it was thought prudent for his mother to give birth in Edinburgh in case of complications. After two years in Aberdeen, the family moved to Liverpool where Chris’s father was employed in insurance. In 1940 the brothers were evacuated to Edinburgh because of the bombing raids on Merseyside and they attended Daniel Stewart’s College where their uncle Dr John Oliver was head of the English department and would teach for 20 years.
In 1950 Chris graduated from Edinburgh University with first class honours in chemistry and then embarked on national service in the Canal Zone in Egypt which implanted in him the seeds of a love of travel. When national service was over,he continued his military involvement, joining the then Territorial Army, attaining the rank of major.
In 1953, after a year’s teacher training at Moray House, he began his career at Dunfermline High School. This was to prove very significant as there he met a colleague, maths teacher Aileen Barclay, from Rosyth, whom he married in 1962 and with whom he shared a happy and fulfilling marriage, which sadly was cut short.
In 1963 he left Dunfermline to take up a post in Edinburgh at his old school, Daniel Stewarts College where, in effect, he would remain for 30 years through its amalgamation in 1973, becoming Stewart’s Melville College. Prior to amalgamation, he was deputy head of science and thereafter assistant principal teacher of chemistry.
Throughout his time there he refereed rugby, umpired cricket and officiated at athletics contests. From 1970, he meticulously and successfully organised the annual sports which was a massive logistical undertaking. In 1978 he became housemaster of Tay House and in 1980 he and Aileen took over the responsibility of running the school boarding house, Dean Park House. This required them to live there en famille, by now with their three daughters. Sadly, this came to an end in 1987 when Aileen died, a devastating blow.Chris and his daughters returned to live in their home in Craigleith, where he remained until about two years ago.
Rather reluctantly, he retired in 1993 but then undertook preparation and marking of examination papers for the Scottish education authority as well as invigilating duties. He enjoyed playing golf at the Merchants’ club in Edinburgh, went on walking holidays with his twin to Pakistan,Morocco,Chile and Switzerland and other places, was very involved with Stockbridge Church where he was an elder and treasurer for years, and organised educational cruises for school parties to the Baltic and Mediterranean.
He is survived by his daughters,Christine,a doctor,Kathryn,a nurse and Hazel,a teacher as well as his grandchildren. JACK DAVIDSON
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