Aberdeen businessman Sir Ian Wood has donated £400,000 to his former school.
The money will be used to build an engineering and science centre at the city’s Albyn School, and is the biggest donation ever made to the school.
Last night Sir Ian announced he would be gifting the money as he and his wife Lady Helen opened the school’s new arts and lecture theatre, which has been named after the family.
Lady Helen unveiled a plaque commemorating her family’s long links with the school, with Sir Ian and his two sisters former pupils. His sons attended the nursery, and his grandchildren are currently pupils at the school.
And to further cement the family’s links with the school, Sir Ian announced he would be making a £400,000 donation that may allow future pupils to follow him into the oil and gas industry.
He said last night: “It is impressive that chemical, mechanical and civil engineering, together with other science subjects, already account for just under half of all university entrants from Albyn School and hopefully these new laboratory facilities will encourage more entrants to study the knowledge and skills that will clearly by most in demand in the future.”
Headmaster Ian Long said he was shocked by Sir Ian’s generosity, which came “completely out of the blue”.
He said that given the family’s connection with the school – Sir Ian and his two sisters attended, and his grandchildren are currently pupils – he had written to ask if Lady Helen would open the new arts and lecture theatre.
Dr Long said: “I had not expected anything for the school.
“We do not have a technology or engineering centre at the moment, so this donation will allow generations of pupils to experience and study one of what is traditionally Aberdeen’s biggest industries.
“It will add a dimension to the school’s curriculum that could not otherwise have been offered. Once constructed, the school hopes to be able to share the use of such facilities with other organisations, especially those whose own education has been disrupted.”
The laboratory will be the latest phase of redevelopment for the school, which is nearly 150 years old.
Other works include the new Wood arts and lecture theatre, a junior library and a study area for senior pupils.