Scots comic Fred MacAulay turned back the clock to his Perth schooldays to launch an initiative which gives a helping hand for today’s youngsters as they set out on their career path.
Fred joined Perth Academy rector Johnny Lothian and fellow former pupils George Stubbs, managing director of the GS Group, St Johnstone poet-in-residence Jim Mackintosh, journalist and PR Gordon Bannerman, ex-RAF pilot Gavin Davey and teenage track star Ben Greenwood, to roll out the initiative.
The Perth Academy Network is designed to provide assistance to pupils past and present in developing leadership skills and preparing for the world of work.
They were joined for the launch by students Fraser McKay, Jessica Brown and Becky Clark.
Fred, 60, left the academy for the University of Dundee and a career in accountancy before playing it for laughs on the UK comedy circuit and he begins a Scottish tour at The Venue in Perth on June 10.
“This is a brilliant initiative,” said Fred.
“Who wouldn’t want to help Perth Academy pupils of today succeed and achieve their full potential? I’m signing up and I expect many more FPs will follow.”
The Perth Academy Network, which is the brainchild of FP and former RAF wing commander Gavin Davey OBE and the secondary school rector, has the twin aims of providing former pupils with the opportunity to network and a pathway to offer their experience and expertise back to the school.
Mr Lothian explained: “At Perth Academy we are committed to building community, improve the life chances of all of our young people and prepare them as best we can for the transition from school into the world of work.
“We can’t do this alone and successful partnership with employers is a key area for us and there is no doubt that young people benefit from the opportunity to learn from those who came before and those willing to share their experience.
“School talks, mentoring, workplace visits and work-experience opportunities are just some of the ways that we see this network benefiting our current students.”
Mr Davey, 58, added: “There is a strong appetite among the former pupil community — of all ages — to get more involved and give something back to the school. This initiative will allow that to happen.”
Former pupils are invited to check out the Perth Academy website and sign up online.
