The school founded

by an old sea-dog’s son!

IN respect of this famous school there is a pre­history, a beginning, middle, no end to marr the tale, but there is a most satisfactory continuation.

It is necessary initially, to retrace our steps‑to the year 1841, at which time a cer­tain Captain John Marr joined the United Presbyterian Church and, two years later became one of its local founder members when the new building took root in the Seagate (the much later West Portland Street), during the era of their first minister, the Rev David Forrest.

This master mariner commanded four vessels in all: the “Pitt”, the “Minerva” and the “Hannah Kerr” each one being a barque and the “Reciprocity” which sailed regularly between Troon and Quebec cargoed with coal which had been conveyed from the Kilmarnock Pit area via the ‘Duke’s Line’ to this growing port.

On the return journey this ship was loaded down with timber. He was a typical old seadog was a very astute professional and there is no doubt what­soever that it was he who paved the way indirectly towards undreamed‑of happenings in Troon even in the wildest imaginings of the most rational peo­ple.

VALUE

So far as this little town was concerned as apart from the value of his own unimpeachable career, the item of importance is that he had three sons; and that the youngest of the trio, Charles Kerr Marr, born on October 22 1855 was to pursue his particular future among the veritable “Black Diamonds” which in­volved his father’s livelihood and which were to lead to his ultimate great personal wealth, in the course of his becom­ing a coal master of distinc­tion.

Also described as a leading London Merchant with a background of overseas experience his formative years had been spent in this, the town of his birth where he was educated. The memories of his long‑suffering tenure at Troon Academy, where survival was the name of the game, proved to be highly fertile and most productive during his later years, though he also attended Ayr Academy.

There is a plaque for all to see on the front of a substantial villa in Welbeck Crescent number 118, denoting his name and the place of his birth, although its number at that time was 51, prior to the expansion of the village and the subsequent building of many more houses in the gaps between the scattered dwell­ings.

And so it followed that Marr College was to owe its foundation and future to the beneficence of Charles Kerr Marr from the time of his death on February 15, 1919. By his will dated August 2, 1917, after providing for certain private bequests and annuities, he bequeathed the residue of his estate amounting to £330,795 to his Trustees Mr Thomas Frank Neighbour, his solicitor and Mr Alexander Muir, the Provost of Troon at the time of his death, “to apply the same in the ad­vancement of education as they in their absolute discretion may think fit in one or more of the follow­ing ways.

1 The granting of prizes or rewards to persons who are or have been BONA FIDE resident in the Burgh of Troon and who are, or have been scholars in some public elementary school or schools.

2 The building or maintenance of any public school or schools whether elementary or otherwise in the said Burgh of Troon.

3 The granting of exhibi­tions or scholarships to persons who are or have been BONA FIDE resident in the Burgh of Troon of such yearly value as his Trustees in they discretion shall think fit such scholarships to be tenable at any educational institu­tion higher than elemen­tary or at any institution of technical professional or industrial instruction as his Trustees shall determine.

His original Trustees as previously named decided that the Trust funds should be applied in building a secondary school to be known as Marr College and in providing prizes bursaries and scholar­ships for the children of BONA FIDE residents in Troon.

AGREEMENT

After consultation with the Scottish Office, the Scottish Education Depart­ment and the Education Authority of Ayrshire, an agreement was arrived at whereby the Trustees were to build and maintain for all time coming a college with a capacity to accom­modating not less than 400 post‑qualifying pupils to be administered by a board of nine governors - four to be appointed by the Trustees, one by the town council of Troon, and four by the Education Authority of Ayrshire

In February 1928, ex ­Provost Muir resigned of­fice as Trustee and Sir Alexander Walker, KBE, took his place. With the death of Mr Neighbour on October 2, 1933, Sir Alex­ander Walker became the sole Trustee, but in terms of a scheme approved by the Court of Session on June 1, 1937, he handed over his duties to a govern­ing body nominated by him in accordance with Mr Marr s will.

FOUNDATION

The plans of the College were prepared and approv­ed and the foundation stone was laid in June 1928, it being then estimated that this new establishment would be completed and ready for entry by September, 1930, barring any unforeseen circumstances. In the beginn­ing certain industrial delays took place, for various reasons, and, as printed In the Evening Times of March 3 1931­.

The school now nearing completion was built at great cost from money left by a native and is now in the hands of the Marr Trust It had been visited by a representative of that newspaper, having joined one of the few privileged parties permitted at that time to view the interior a further four months elaps­ing before Marr College was truly ready.

ENQUIRY

Unfortunately a long period of litigation was to follow, concerning Com­missioners appointed under the Educational En­dowments (Scotland) Act of 1928, it being directed that an enquiry should be held as to the purposes of the Marr Trust; this matter at the moment only in a nutshell but it will later be expanded upon, since the case proved to be a most intriguing one and the educational nut was never cracked by the County Authorities.

Throughout a period of approximately five years the case was fought tooth and nail by the Board of Governors, led by Sir Alex­ander Walker, KBE, and also by the local town council, the late Provost Walter M Donald proving to be a highly formidable adversary in his prolonged campaign against what would have been tanta­mount to the overthrowing of the last will and testa­ment of Charles Kerr Marr.

Various members of Parliament, especially Lord Sands, added weight to the Troon cause. There were many hearings in the Court of Session and the result was the fulfilment of the donor’s wishes and a triumph for local smeddum and commonsense.

CONTENTED

The College was formal­ly opened on September 2 1935, by the Most Honourable, the Marquess of Lothian, C. H, and there is little doubt that the most contented man present that day was the Rector, for he had most certainly served his time, having been appointed in 1930 and subsequently com­pelled, through no fault of his own, to thole a most tedious assize. The part he personally played in the struggle must be em­phasised.

The staff list read as follows: Rector, Alfred Ross Murison M.A. Ph D; Second Master, William Peebles, M A B.Sc, English, History, Geography, J. D Cairns M A., Hugh G. Fraser, M.A

Miss  M. M. Robertson, M.A., Miss M. L Young M A, A. D. J Scott, M A Classics, J N. C Clark M A., Ph D, Robert Houston M A: Modern languages: P C. G. Le Harivel, O.A., M.A D. es L. (Strasbourg), Miss M. D. Paterson, M A., Miss J MacDonald, M.A.

Mathematics: William Peebles, M.A, B Sc., Alex P Arrol, B Sc., John Bennett, M A, Hugh G. Fraser M A.; Science Wilfred Whalley, B.S c., M Ed, A I C., David McCreadie, B Sc, A.l C, Miss E. C Stewart, M.A., B Sc, J C. Frame, M A; Art, Arthur MacMorland, D A, James R. Gilfillan, D.A, Hand­work and Engineering, J M Mackie, M. Coll, H. Dip Naas and Leipzig, T Bonar Lyon B.sC.

Domestic Science and Needlework Miss E Vallance, Dip (Glasgow and West of Scotland Col­lege), Miss D. J Hid­dleston, Dip (Glasgow and West of Scotland College); Commercial Subjects, Miss A. J McKirdy A.C.R A, F D.T.S; Misuc, W. N. MacQuarrie, L R A.M., A.R.C.0, David Penney, L.R.A M, A R C M

Elocution Miss E M Dunlop, M A L R A.M ‑Physical Education Miss A. Milne; Dancing In­clusive of P E, Secretary Miss I Reid; Luncheon Department, Manageress Miss Lilias Hamilton Janitors, No. 1, J. M Lind say; No. 2, J. F. Shaw

All were ready for action and the College was divid­ed into four houses: Crosbie, Darley, Fullarton and Lothian.

The members of the first Board of Governors were Sir Alexander Walker K.B E., Troon; Rev James Adams, Saltcoats: Ex­Provost McAlister, Troon; Ex‑Provost War, Troon: Councillor David Mc Queen, Galston; Mrs McNab Shaw, Troon Rev Dr Smith, Troon; John Trot­ter, Esq., J P., New Cum­nock and Provost Wilson Troon. The Clerks were Messrs Robert Young and Adam, Council Chambers, Troon.

COINCIDENCE

It may be no more share a coincidence but Captain John Marr the father of Troon s benefactor, was born on October 22, l810, the precise day and month of his third son’s birthday, and it was a Monday in each case. Truth is stranger than fiction

Next week: The Wallaces of Wallacefield and Marr College

In last week’s article a reference was made to Ed­ward VII It should have read Edward VIII.

● Stuart Beaton’s articles have aroused great interest in the history of the Troon area, the full series of articles with eventually provide the complete story of the development of industry, education, religion - and people - in the town.

The success of our series in the Troon Times has led to Stuart being asked to talk on local history at various venues in the town. He has already spoken at most of the local Primary schools - Troon Primary last week - and earlier this week he gave a talk on Times Past to the senior citizens of Barassie.

Keep up with Times past be reading Stuart’s articles every week in the Troon Times.