James Cowan

Published on Tuesday 13 October 2009 20:55

Deputy principal at George Watson's College

Born: 26 July, 1936, in Edinburgh.

Died: 2 October, 2009, in Edinburgh, aged 73.

JAMES Cowan, always known as Jim, was deputy principal of George Watson's College from 1986-97, having been on the staff since 1959. As principal at the time, I appointed him. He was one of my first appointments and, undoubtedly, one of my best. He began as an assistant teacher of technical subjects, later qualifying to teach maths as well as engineering. He went on to be a form master, a boarding house master and then an assistant principal in charge of SI-III, and was finally appointed deputy principal in 1986.

He quickly proved to be an outstanding and dedicated schoolmaster – concerned about the welfare of his pupils outside as well as inside the classroom, which made him particularly successful in the promoted posts he went on to hold. His experience at Ferranti before coming to Watson's was invaluable, not only in his teaching but also in giving pupils opportunities for work experience and a wider understanding of their technical and engineering skills.

He had immense patience and sympathy with those who had learning or other difficulties, so that in addition to maintaining discipline effortlessly, he convinced pupils and parents their problems would be understood and resolved. He had great pastoral skills.

In extra-curricular activities he was totally committed to the rugby and cricket teams he (so successfully) coached: boys considered him a fellow-member of the team. Particularly memorable were his under-13 1/2 cricket matches for fathers of the team, which became an end-of-term celebration of the season.

He was a man of total integrity, rare modesty and unbounded cheerfulness. He threw himself into everything he did with great enthusiasm, particularly evident, perhaps, in his years as a boarding house master.

He and his wife, Ella, were greatly loved at Myreside House by pupils and parents alike, partly because, as he also did in the school generally, he succeeded in creating an astonishing sense of family and fun.

It was a real sadness that he was not able to enjoy a full and satisfying retirement. Both he and Ella fell ill not long after leaving Watson's and for the past few years were patients at different hospitals. Ella predeceased him by 18 months; his daughter and son, Susan and Keith, survive him.