Ever Excel to Sir Sean Connery

Ever
to
Excel
The University of
St Andrews presents
a 600th Anniversary film
Narrated by Sir
Sean Connery
Directed by Murray Grigor
Cinematography by Hamid Shams
Ever to Excel end credits
Special thanks to
Sir Sean Connery
Thanks to production team:
Written and Directed by
Murray Grigor; Director
of Photography Hamid
Shams; Music Composed
by Rory Boyle; Production
manager – Phoebe Grigor;
Animations and special
effects – Brandon Fenning
& Farid Shams;
Assistant Editor – Richard
Samalot; Transcriptions –
Marissa Shams; Jimmy Jib
operator – Aaron Boucher;
Production assistant – Boo
Paterson; Digital Imagining
– Jane Tolmachyov; Post
Audio Mix – Matt Gundy
The augmented all woman
University Cross-Country
Runners for their heroic
race along the West Sands,
with thanks to Sandy Fyfe,
his dog Patty and his All
Terrain Vehicle,
Carol Colburn Grigor
and Stella McGarvey
St Salvator’s Chapel Choir,
conducted by
Tom Wilkinson
Organist Tom Wilkinson
The University of
St Andrews:
Niall Scott, Director
Corporate Communications
Elaine Cartwright,
Alumni Relations Officer
Emma Shea,
Communications Manager
Jackie Balfour, PA to the
Principal
Jim Moonie, St Andrews
University Media Services
John Jardine, Bedellus and
Senior Janitor
Student Film Assistants:
Hannah Maloco
Catherine Slater
Ben Kenny
Jonathan Durie
Ranald Gordon
William Dunbar, Gavin
Douglas, Sir David Lyndsay
and John Knox,
played by members of The
Kate Kennedy Club, with
thanks to Christopher
Murphy
University Observatory –
Director Prof. Andrew C
Cameron and Grant Miller,
PhD student in extra solar
planet research
MUSA – for the
Silver Medals
Prof. Ian Carradice,
Director of University
Museum Collections,
with thanks to Dr Helen
C Rawson Senior
Curator and Amy Dale,
Collections Curator
University Library,
Norman Reid, Head of
Special Collections
University Photographic
Archive, Marc Boulay,
Jane Campbell and
Pamela Cranston
Stephen Stewart, Director
of Sports and Exercise
St Andrews University
Ladies’ Golf Club, Captain
Emily Griffiths
UK v Poland, White City
1965 400 meters Relay Race,
courtesy of Sir Menzies
Campbell and BBC
Worldwide.
Elephant Seal Antarctica
footage by courtesy of the
Scottish Oceans Institute
Dr William Zachs for the
Poems of Robert Fergusson
and filming access to his
library
Dr Peter Brunskill for
photographs of Alex
Salmond as a student.
Tim Mckay for group with
Steve Masty
Prof Rona M MacKie for Sir
James Black photographs
St Andrews Cathedral 1162
– 1272 rendered by David
Simon, advised by Prof.
Richard Fawcett, School
of Art History.
Only LED lamps were
used in the lighting of this
production, invented in
1962 by Professor John
W Allen.
The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC013532
About the film
The film, Ever to Excel, was commissioned by the Principal and Vice-
Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson, with the support of a generous
donor, to celebrate the University’s rich past, unique traditions, inspiring
alumni, and world-renowned staff.
The film also marks Sir Sean Connery’s return to the silver screen –
having been coaxed out of retirement to help tell the story of the University
of St Andrews.
Directed by Murray Grigor OBE, Sir Sean’s long-time collaborator
and co-writer of the book Being A Scot, the historical documentary Ever to
Excel celebrates discovery, learning, traditions and new beginnings, with
intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of St Andrews over
its 600 year history.
The University is currently celebrating its 600th Anniversary spanning
three calendar years from 2011 to 2013. The Anniversary marks the formal
charter granted by Bishop Henry Wardlaw in February 1411 and the
achievement of full university status conferred by Pope Benedict XIII by
Papal Bull in 1413.
Ever to Excel is intended to commemorate our anniversary and leave
a lasting legacy for the future. Initially it will be the focus of a series of
select fundraising and cultivation events in support of the 600th Campaign.
Thereafter, we expect it to be shown more widely and added to our enduring
archives as the first ever cinematic chronicle of Scotland’s First University.
From the Principal
Initially we planned to make a
short and modest film about the
University as a way of celebrating
our 600th Anniversary. I wrote
to Sir Sean Connery, an honorary
graduate, and asked him to narrate
the film. To my delight he agreed,
saying that not many things lasted
600 years. He recommended
working with the director Murray
Grigor. On Googling Murray, I
discovered that he was a graduate
knowledge and providing skills to
in the fabulous cinematographer,
humanities we are ensuring that
of St Andrews. He in turn brought
Hamid Shams. Everyone engaged
fully and enthusiastically with the
project which grew into the full
length documentary we are showing
you this evening
I find this experience is a
metaphor for St Andrews. The more
people come to know the University
the deeper their affection and the
greater their enthusiasm.
The reason we have lasted
so long is because of the enduring
value of what we do. By educating
students from families who
have never enjoyed third level
education we are helping to realise
ambitions and elevate aspirations.
By training talented chemists,
economists and physicists we
are pushing at the frontiers of
drive the economy. By teaching the
we have citizens who can think
independently, act ethically, argue
persuasively and empathise with
others, all essential hallmarks of a
vibrant democracy.
This film will be used to help
our efforts to raise funds for our
campaign to invest in people and
ideas. The film also represents what
we are celebrating this year. We
have a number of events planned
and I hope you will participate fully
in the celebration of 600 years of the
University of St Andrews. Enjoy the
movie.
From Sir Sean Connery
When Louise Richardson invited me to
collaborate on a film to mark our 600 years,
as a key part of the scholarship endowment
campaign, I readily agreed.
As our film Ever to Excel began to take
shape, I soon came to realise how central
St Andrews is to Scotland. And how, in a
very real sense, it is to America too.
Three signers of the Declaration of
Independence passed through St Andrews.
James Wilson, born close to St Andrews,
was also one of the six original justices
appointed to the Supreme Court.
He was also a major force in drafting
the United States Constitution. Wilson
struck out the opening words ‘We the States’
and wrote in ‘We the People.’
For me that’s even more important
today than it ever was, away back in the
eighteenth century.
I’m proud to be an honorary
graduate of a place where good is never
good enough. Ever to excel.
Happy Birthday St Andrews.
Lang may your lum reek.
From Murray Grigor
In all my years as a student at St Andrews I never knew that we were
founded by a Pope from Peñiscola on the run from Avignon. I am sure that it
will be a revelation for many to learn from Will Fowler, the wry Professor of
Spanish, that Benedict XIII – known affectionately as Papa Luna – was a man
of great principles.
I hope that as a result of our filming at Avignon’s Palace of Popes and
at the Templar Castle of Peñiscola on the Mediterranean coast, that we will
make St Andrews more Papa Luna conscious. After all, his crescent moon
still tops the University’s coat of arms.
However, my greatest hope is that Ever to Excel will raise major
funds for the 600th Anniversary campaign and help to build scholarships
for the future.
As Sir James Black, the Nobel prizewinning discoverer of beta blockers,
says in the film – his hard-working dad from the Fife coal-fields could
never have afforded the St Andrews fees. His medical degree was funded
by a Patrick Hamilton scholarship; the gift of an American philanthropist
Edward Harkness who also donated funds for St Salvator’s Hall amongst
other gifts.
The Events Team
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The store stocks a range of the finest Lambswool
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from stylish T-shirts and Hoodies to windproof
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including - Glassware, Silver Jewellery and
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