Tributes paid to the late George Donald |
A tribute to George Donald by Jack Webster in the 'Herald' (2 October 2013) begins:
George Donald
"George Donald, who has died aged 79, was a brilliant Scottish pianist and a member of the famous 'Scotland the What?' comedy team. He grew up in Huntly and was educated at the local Gordon Schools before graduating from Aberdeen University. It was there that he met up with William D Hardie and Steve Robertson, who had already established themselves as writer and performer in the annual student shows at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen. Little did the three friends know what fame lay ahead for them as they followed their student performances by forming the Aberdeen Revue group in the late 1950s..."
For the full tribute by Jack Webster in the 'Herald', please click on the following link:
George Donald Tribute: Herald 02 09 2013
Pat Scott in 'The Huntly Express' of 4 October 2013 said:
"Born and brought up in Bleachfield Street and with just one sister, Margaret, also a talented musician, George attended The Gordon Schools and went to Aberdeen University from where he graduated with an honours degree in Modern Languages. His teaching posts included spells at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen and as Assistant Rector at Perth Academy, but he ultimately gave up teaching to become a full time entertainer...
"... George Donald never forgot his roots or his time at The Gordon Schools and in 1988 was the guest speaker at the prize giving. Retired Rector John Swan recalled this week how on that occasion George Donald spontaneously rose up to congratulate the orchestra asking the audience to join in the applause for what he described as a wonderful performance. In his prize giving address, he said that he believed his days at The Gordon Schools had set him up for life.
"In 2010, he was the guest at a reunion lunch hosted by The Gordon Schools' Former Pupils' Association..."
For the full tribute in The Huntly Express, please click on this link:
George Donald: The Huntly Express 04 10 2013
For an associated letter about George Donald in the Press & Journal by Brian Wilkins, former Rector of Ellon Academy, please go to: Letter P & J 08 10 2013
'Scotland the What?' stars Buff Hardie, George Donald and Steve Robertson were each awarded an M.B.E. in the Queen's Honours List in 1995 and received the Freedom of Aberdeen in 2008.
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