New FP Club President Ken Russell aims to increase the mutual support between the club and the school community during his presidency as well as seek donations for the school’s Access to Excellence Bursary Fund from the wider business community.
Ken, a pupil of Melville College between 1952 and 1965, was
elected for a two-year term at the January 13 meeting of the club’s Council and
chaired the February meeting. His duties include an ambassadorial role
representing the FP Club and school at various functions, including Branch Club
events, and acting as a link between the FP Club and the school. He will also
oversee the transition of the day-to-day management and administration of the
club to the school.
Ken is particularly keen that the mutual support between the club
and the school increases during the challenging times we now face. Having
already overseen the completion of a substantial donation by the club to the school’s
Hardship Fund, Ken will use his presidency to fundraise further among FPs and
the wider business community for the fund and the school’s Development Office.
In return, he hopes to work with the Development Office to increase awareness
of and engagement with the club among former pupils, resulting in higher
membership.
Opportunity
Speaking about his plans, Ken says: “The economic, financial,
social and emotional challenges we face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic
have provided us with an opportunity for the FP Club to work closer with the
school in supporting each other – helping the Development Office and Access to
Excellence support current and future pupils and their families while working
together to make former pupils aware of the many social and networking benefits
of club membership beyond the ones associated with the club’s sporting
activities.
“I also feel the FP Club and its members are well placed to use
their extensive social and business networks to seek new donations from the
wider business community for Access to Excellence in order to pass on to current
and future generations of pupils the benefits of a first-rate education they
enjoyed while a pupil themselves. I look forward to the support of club members
in this goal.
Thanks
“I’d like to thank Past Presidents Charles S. Wilson MBE and
Robert Barclay for guiding the club through a challenging period including
successfully managing the Clubhouse and latterly to Robert in steering the Club
through the significant challenges created by Covid restrictions.”
Ken’s links with the club and school go beyond his own attendance
at Melville College and membership of the FP clubs since leaving – his uncle, Alistair
Birrell (DSC 1940) was a Past President of Daniel Stewart’s FP Rugby Club and
his cousin, broadcaster Mike Russell was also an FP of Daniel Stewart’s (1959).
Ken has also been a member of The Royal Company of Merchants of The City of
Edinburgh for 44 years.
Background
Ken is the third generation of an entrepreneurial Edinburgh family
with interests in construction, property and the automotive sectors. After
leaving school he travelled extensively throughout the USA before spending a
semester at Lincoln Way High School, New Lenox, Illinois. Ken then spent five
years as a management trainee with a national construction group before joining
his family construction business in Edinburgh.
Following his father’s unexpected death Ken, then aged 25, assumed
responsibility for his family’s business interests, which under his stewardship
continued to flourish for the next 40 years, including acquiring one of
Scotland’s most award-winning motor dealerships and being a co-founder of the
internationally-renowned Howtowdie Restaurant in Edinburgh’s West End.
A Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Ken has also been a member
of The Society of Edinburgh High Constables, Scottish Motor Trade Association,
Federation of Master Builders (Past President), St Andrews Business Club (Past
President), Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and a founder member of the Scottish
Borders Chamber of Commerce. Now resident in North-East Fife, Ken is an
award-winning business mentor, board advisor and is currently is non-executive
chairman of two companies.
Ken and his wife Ann have a daughter, three sons and five
grandchildren. His other interests include cycling, hillwalking and
speechwriting. Ken is currently writing his a biography of Ann’s career in
nursing.