Alexander Young, D.A.
The death of Mr. Alexander Ayton Young on 9th February 1954 came as a
great shock to the staff and pupils of Madras College. Mr. Young had
been the Principal Art Master since 1923 and had devoted himself to the
College and to the Community of St. Andrews throughout that period. His
interests were many and varied, including membership of the St. Andrews
Preservation Trust, the Arts Committee, Literature, Music, Sport, and in
the gardening sphere he was an expert.
Mr. Young had a very distinguished career. He was educated at Ayr
Academy and later studied at Edinburgh Art College until 1915. While
there he won the College Bursary. He was also awarded a Keith Prize for
the best picture exhibited by a student in the R.S.A. Exhibition of
1920, and the Maclaine Watters Medal for colour done in the R.S.A.
School of Printing in the same year.
The first post held by Mr. Young was in View Park School, Edinburgh,
until he joined Edinburgh College of Art as an Assistant Lecturer, where
he remained until leaving on War Service. On returning from Service Mr.
Young became Assistant Art Teacher in George Heriot's, following that by
a short period at George Watson's. Mr. Young then became Principal Art
Teacher at Alloa Academy, where he remained until his appointment to
Madras College in 1923.
Mr. Young's period of duty at Madras College was marked by his
popularity with the Staff and the pupils, and by the high quality of the
work done in the Art Department.
To Mrs. Young and her daughter Jean, who was Literary Dux of the School
and winner of the Good Fellowship Prize, our sympathy is extended.
