This week, we have had the pleasure of hosting the 2020 and 2021 Otaki Scholars Patrick Robinson and Angus Jack.

What is the Otaki Scholarship?

Every year, the Head Boy of Robert Gordon’s College (Aberdeen, Scotland) is given a scholarship by the NZ Shipping Company (now the Durham Association) to tour New Zealand. 

How did the Otaki Scholarship come about?

In March 1917, Captain Archibald Bisset Smith, a fellow Gordonian (RGC old boy) and his crew on board of the SS Otaki was intercepted by a strong German raider ship during its voyage from London to New York. The powerful German ship, the ‘Moewe’, left Captain Smith with two options: surrender or fight against the superior vessel with 7 guns and 2 torpedo tubes to the Otaki’s 1 gun. Despite causing heavy damage for such a small merchant vessel, the SS Otaki took on grave damage. Captain Smith ordered his crew to the lifeboats while himself going down with his ship. It was these courageous actions that led to many reports of the Otaki’s valour in contemporary papers, as well as from the German sailors on the Moewe, and resulted in Captain Smith being awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. There were 6 other casualties on the Otaki including another Gordonian, William E Martin who was only 15 years old, and the school still awards a prize in his memory. To remember the bravery of Captain Smith, the NZ Shipping Company, who owned the Otaki, with the help of the NZ government, set up a scholarship for a person from the captain's old school to come across here to NZ. 

Patrick Robinson
Patrick is currently a 2nd year medical student at the University of Edinburgh, having started university in the peak of the pandemic in Scotland. He was supposed to travel to New Zealand in the summer of 2020 but unfortunately this was not possible. Patrick enjoys running, watching rugby with his friends and surfing. With an interest in biology and ecology he is eager to see New Zealand's unique wildlife.

Angus Jack
Since leaving Robert Gordon's College last summer, Angus has gone on to study accountancy at the University of Glasgow. Angus plays rugby and enjoys going to the gym. With the lifting of travel restrictions, Angus is pleased to finally be visiting New Zealand to experience the culture, meet new people and make connections while seeing the amazing scenery the country has to offer.