Former President and latterly Honorary Vice President of the Former Pupils Association
Gordon Laird attended Harris Academy from 1941 to 1947. He was the Senior Sports Champion. From his earliest days he had an ambition to be an artist in which he was encouraged by the then Head of the School’s Art Department, the highly respected Arthur Law. Gordon regarded him as one of the finest teachers under whom he studied.
On leaving school he entered Dundee College of Art and studied drawing and painting. On graduation, he worked as a designer with Valentine and Sons, the Fine Art Publishers. After studying at the Teachers Training College, he entered teaching in 1953.
He taught in various Primary and Secondary Schools in Dundee before being appointed a Lecturer at the Dundee College of Commerce, later becoming Head of Art and Liberal Studies and then Assistant Principal.
His paintings are now much sought after and are in many private and public collections. A signed limited edition of 750 prints of his painting of the 1932 Harris Academy were sold to raise funds at the School’s Centenary Celebrations in 1985.
He always maintained his interest in sport and played rugby for the School and FP Teams. He was a former member of the Bonnet Makers Craft and Dyers Craft Guilds of Dundee, and he held the qualification DAFSA. He continued to paint in his retirement and was much in demand as an after dinner speaker and as an entertainer at Burns Suppers.
Gordon was married to Sheena who attended Harris from 1942 to 1948, and latterly they lived in Kellas where Gordon's love of gardens and gardening were amply catered for. He died on 1 February 2024, survived by Sheena, their two children, Calum and Shona, and four grandchildren.