THE MEGGITT AND HUTCHINGS FAMILIES : A LINK 164 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Will Hutchings and twins Alex and James Meggitt ( all SC 2016-21 ) posed ( left to right ) in this end-of-Year 12 photo on 19 October 2021 .
They already knew that they had long family histories at Scotch , but they did not know that those histories first intertwined on the same day .
Will ’ s grandfather , Angus Stuart Cunningham ( born 13.7.1939 , SC 1945-56 , died 2.12.2013 ) and Angus ' brothers Ian ( SC 1946-58 ) and Rick ( SC 1951-63 ) are great-grandsons of Andrew Harper ( born 13.11.1844 , SC 1857-58 , died 25.11.1936 ), who is Will ’ s great-greatgreat-grandfather .
The Meggitts are great-great-great-grandsons of Principal Alexander Morrison ( born 3.2.1829 , Principal 1857-1903 , died 31.5.1903 ). Like Will , they are related to many other Scotchies including their father , Ed Meggitt ( SC 1981-86 ).
Have you noticed that Andrew Harper and Principal Morrison both began at Scotch in 1857 ?
When Morrison began at Scotch , he found a yard full of boys , but no details about who they were , as his predecessor had taken all the records with him . On 3 August 1857 , he began calling boys up to ask their names , their ages , their addresses and their fathers ' or guardians ’ names . The 76th name he entered into the exercise book that became Scotch ’ s earliest surviving Register was that of Andrew Harper .
Morrison became Scotch ’ s longest-serving Principal , setting Scotch on very solid foundations , and Harper was an English teacher at Presbyterian Ladies ’ College from its foundation in 1875 , becoming its Principal in 1877 , and Headmaster from 1879 to 1888 . He became Principal of St Andrew ’ s College , Sydney University ( 1902-20 ).
What were the odds that these two men would have great-great-great-grandsons together in the Class of 2022 at Scotch , 164 years after they met as Principal and student ?
UNBEKNOWN TO THESE CLASS OF 2021 BOYS , THEIR FAMILIES HAVE AN INTERESTING SCOTCH CONNECTION
TOP LEFT : ANDREW HARPER . ABOVE RIGHT : ALEXANDER MORRISON . THIS IMAGE : LEFT TO RIGHT – WILL HUTCHINGS , ALEX AND JAMES MEGGITT ( ALL SC 2016-21 )
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 107