50th Anniversary Celebration


Fifty years of folklore


A lot can happen in 50 years. And while, when you’re talking about the antics of tens of thousands of students over five decades, much of it is perhaps best kept between the walls of the union bar, there is still plenty you may not have known about the history of Heriot-Watt that we can print...


Capture the flag


The Heriot-Watt University cross country team once battled a snowstorm to carry the University Standard from Chambers Street in Edinburgh city centre all the way to Riccarton – a not inconsiderable six miles even without taking the elements into account. A ceremony to celebrate the start of work on the new campus


was held on 10th November, 1969. Scottish weather being a harsh beast it should come as no surprise to anyone that a snowstorm hit in that week. The cross country runners were unfazed however, and ran with the flag through the blizzard. The snow stopped just as they arrived (of course) and the flag was raised in glorious sunshine.


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The liberation of Norway


The Riccarton Estate was the Scottish Command headquarters for the liberation of Norway.


The University’s long-standing ties with Norway can be traced all the way back to 1908 when the first Norwegian student arrived at Heriot-Watt College


– he was the first of many as it turns out, with Norwegians making up seven per cent of the student population between the 1960s and 1990s. It was discovered in 1979, however, that our relationship with Norway was much more than academic. During a visit to the Edinburgh Campus, the Crown Prince of Norway looked out from the library and realised that he had been in that spot before. It became apparent that the army had commandeered the house and estate in 1939 as the Scottish Command Headquarters for the liberation of Norway. In 1994, the King and Queen of Norway unveiled a plaque in the University library recognising this relationship.


Famous voices for student causes


Scots acting behemoth Robbie Coltrane was honorary president of the Student’s Association from 1988 to 1991. In his time in the role he helped students in their fundraising efforts, with a show that he gave


during his tenure benefitting their Scholarships Fund for South African students. During this time there was a significant change in the focus and values of the Student Union, best represented by the evolution of the student magazines. Omega, which was launched in January 1967, lauding the move to Riccarton, was replaced by Watt’s On in 1986. In 1989, this new magazine pledged to be a louder voice for student causes, under the expert direction of Gary Younge, now editor-at-large for the Guardian.


A secret history lies beneath....


One of the students’ favoured spots for graduation photos, the University’s James Watt statue has a long history, and one that’s hidden beneath its feet. Having watched over the comings and goings of students since 1854, the statue was relocated from Chambers Street in 1990 on completion of the reception area at Riccarton. Before completing the move, Principal Alistair MacFarlane placed a time capsule inside the base of the statue, containing souvenirs from the year. We can only speculate what Mr Watt might be standing on, and given the era, can only hope a Vanilla Ice cassette single might be involved.


An Olympic homecoming


Our new sports performance centre, Oriam, hosted the homecoming event for the 2016 Scottish Olympians, welcoming more than 50 homegrown Olympic and Paralympic athletes to meet young people from schools and colleges across Edinburgh, prior to the public celebration at Festival Square in the city. In addition to a question and answer session with the athletes and, of course, the snapping of many star-studded selfies, the city’s pupils had the opportunity to try out rowing, judo and tennis whilst getting tips from the experts.


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