Congratulations to John MacKenzie, Principal Maths Teacher at Oban High School and member of St. Columba’s Cathedral Parish, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Scottish Education Awards at the City Halls, Glasgow.

John was nominated for the award by his colleagues who described him as “a much loved and highly respected Principal Teacher, who will be greatly missed by his colleagues and pupils when he retires next year after over thirty years in Oban High School.”

As well as outlining John’s outstanding contribution to the teaching of mathematics at local and national level, the nomination spoke of John as highly respected by his colleagues:  “… as a result of his inclusive and exemplary management style, he has inspired great loyalty from all of the teachers he has worked with during his time at Oban High School. The Mathematics department in the school has developed a reputation for cohesiveness, team spiritedness, and above all, a sense of fun. This is in spite of it having undergone great changes of personnel in recent years. Somehow John has managed to sustain a positive climate where everyone feels valued and supported in the face of major educational developments.”

Fiona Hyslop, Education Secretary, presents the award

In addition to his work in school, John has worked for thirty years in Oban’s residential hostel for children from the islands as a much loved and highly valued supervising teacher. As a result of this long service, he has established enduring relationships with island families, many of whom have reason to be grateful to him for the warm support he has given their children, lodging away from home for the first time.

Within the Diocese of Argyll & the Isles John is well-known for his work with HCPT in Oban. Over a 25 year period, John has raised many thousands of pounds in the local community, enabling hundreds of disabled children and their carers to attend week long visits to Lourdes. John accompanied the children every year and his cheerful nature, great sense of humour, and huge personal charm were, by all accounts, greatly instrumental in ensuring that everyone thoroughly enjoyed these trips.

Speaking after the event, John commented, “I am delighted and humbled by the whole experience and the reaction I have received from pupils, teachers and parents has been fantastic”.

John with other winners at the awards ceremony