Obituary: Rennie Weatherhead, physics teacher and antiquarian

Rennie was the only son of James William Rennie Weatherhead and Isabella Craven Mitchell

James was a banker with the Royal Bank of Scotland and worked in Edinburgh, where Rennie grew up.

Rennie was proud of his connections with Musselburgh and Prestonpans.

James bought a second home in St Abbs where the family spent happy holidays and St Abbs became Rennie’s spiritual home for the rest of his life.

Rennie was educated at Melville College – since 1972 Stewart’s Melville – and at Edinburgh University, from which he graduated B Sc.Hons in 1956

He trained as a teacher at Moray House College and taught at Peebles High School and St Denis School.

Rennie married Jean Robinson McLean in August 1959 and they had two daughters, Haydée and Suilven. Suilven has a son, Brandon.

Rennie’s sister Myrtle hosted a celebration of their diamond wedding in August 2019.

In 1965 Rennie was appointed to the post of Principal Teacher of Physics in Dunbar Grammar School, the post he held for the rest of his career until he retired in 1988. He was a conscientious teacher and highly respected by the pupils he taught.

Rennie joined and chaired Dunbar Interim Community Council in 1975 but did not stand for the Community Council in 1976.

He was a member of East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society and was a member of the Council of the Society for several years. He contributed a number of articles to the Transactions.

He and I encouraged Grammar School pupils to be involved in various projects, such as the search for the Holy Well at Whitekirk and the Colstoun pottery kiln.

After his retirement Rennie developed his interest in the early church in Northumbria and became an expert on the history of St Ebba and the church at Coldingham.

The Society visited Coldingham in September 2018 and despite being in a wheelchair, Rennie led the group around and spoke about the history of the church. He had even brought some of his artefacts to illustrate the history.

Rennie is survived by his wife Jean, his daughters Haydée and Suilven, son-in-law Colin, grandson Brandon and sister Myrtle.

Stephen Bunyan