Sandy McLeman has spent all of his working life as a committed Chemistry teacher: he just loves the smells, bangs and colours.
He was born and brought up in the northeast of Scotland and still uses Doric as his first language. After graduating in Chemistry from Aberdeen University he headed south to help educate the Sassenachs (and to get away from his mother-in-law). He recently retired as PT Chemistry from Lasswade High School in Midlothian, and regards himself as being very fortunate to have taught there, having worked with super pupils and great staff.
In addition to teaching he has been a member of the Advanced Higher team at SQA for several years and continues to do this despite being labelled Mr. Grumpy by his fellow examiners. He feels that they need old gits like him to remind them of stuff that used to be taught!! Outside teaching he attempts to play the tuba (not very well!), and although he enjoys it, he doesn’t know about the rest of the band. He is also a keen gardener and DIY non-expert.
When not at home in Edinburgh he loves being in Canada where his eldest daughter lives with her husband and son. He doesn’t mind if it is thirty above or thirty below – He has experienced both. And Tim Horton's coffee makes the flight all worthwhile.
What is your earliest memory?
Pulling a model of the Victory along the street.
Which teacher inspired you the most at school?
Mr Duncan Will, my first science teacher, who tended to ignore the syllabus and teach the science and scientific method. You could ask him anything and he would own up to not knowing but would always find out for next lesson. All this and no internet.
What was your worst subject at school?
French without a doubt.
What inspired you to get writing?
I was rubbish at English at school but not bad at Chemistry. My first textbook was an adaption of a GCSE book that was good but did not quite fit the SQA syllabus.
What do you do to relax?
Listen to music and read.
What is your favourite book?
Could not name one but I have several favourite authors including Robert Ludlum, Wibur Smith and Simon Scarrow.
What is your favourite film?
Where Eagles Dare.
What is your favourite album?
Eagles Hotel California, or Handel's Messiah, or Beethoven's 5th Symphony, or anything by Black Dyke Band. See, I am indecisive.
What is the most fun you’ve had in a single day?
Watching the expression on the faces of the staff in the staffroom as they stirred their tea with teaspoons. It was April Fools’ Day and I cast made spoons from Woods metal. This stuff melts at 39 degrees so they were left holding the handle and trying to work out what was going on.
What have you done that no one would guess you'd done?
Tied a kipper to the exhaust of a colleagues car. He was being a pain!!!