Sandy Moggach
Engineer Born: October 2, 1940; Died: December 12, 2016 SANDY MOGGACH, who has died aged 76, was an influential figure in Scottish engineering and served with distinction as co-ordinator of the Young Engineers Clubs Scotland (YECS).
The club was founded in 1990 by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and has grown rapidly – more than 3,000 school pupils are involved with engineering projects as a result of the club’s activities.
As Alan Wilson, chief executive of the SCDI, said when Glasgow University hosted a YECS event in 2001: “The Young Engineers Clubs’ initiative seeks to encourage Scotland’s young people to consider the rewards and challenges of a career in science, engineering and technology.”
Much of this growth and wider understanding engineering has made throughout the Scottish economy has been attributed to Mr Moggach’s pioneering zeal and enthusiasm. Jane Martin, who is programme director of the Young Engineers and Science Clubs Scotland, worked with Mr Moggach over many years and remembers him as a larger than life character.
Ms Martin recalled that one of Mr Moggach’s passions was walking the hills of Scotland. “Sandy introduced many SCDI colleagues to hillwalking which culminated in him leading a group of seven to walk the West Highland Way – cajoling us along the way in his own inimitable style while also tending to our blisters.”
Alexander George Moggach (always Sandy) was born in Banff and attended Banff Academy but left school at 15 to become a telegraph boy with the Royal Mail. His commitment to his work resulted in rapid advancement and, after several promotions, he was appointed public relations manager of the Royal Mail. In 1989 he was seconded to work on the Enterprise and Education Initiative started by the SCDI.
Mr Moggach, along with 20 others from all parts of Scotland, joined the two-year government funded project and was responsible for Lanarkshire. His target was secondary pupils who had shown interest in engineering and would benefit from work experience. As Mr Wilson told The Herald: “It was the start of Sandy’s second career which spanned 20 years with SCDI. For some 18 years Sandy started engineering clubs all over Scotland organising start-up finance for materials and equipment and encouraging and cajoling support from teachers and local company volunteers. Sandy was known as Mr Fixit.”
Mr Moggach’s support and encouragement was widely appreciated. He organised the annual competitions held in Glasgow bringing hundreds of pupils and teachers together along with senior members of the profession. He was keen to involve schools from all over Scotland – including The Hebrides and Orkney – and with much perseverance arranged transport and accommodation.
He was also supportive of junior club activities and helped them participate in the American young engineers’ scheme. The Scottish engineers were the first team from outside the USA to take part in their national event. Such was their success under Mr Moggach’s supervision they were invited on three further occasions.
Mr Moggach also supervised trips abroad by engineering pupils. In 2013 Team Fusion from Blairgowrie High School took part in that year’s F1 in Schools Fourth World Championships finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
With understandable pride in the Scottish presence Mr Moggach travelled with the team, representing the YEC. The Blairgowrie pupils performed well and Mr Moggach commiserated with them on missing out on the runners up medal.
He retired in 2008 having received the MBE the previous year.
He was much admired and respected throughout his life – both professionally and socially. He was a keen golfer – especially at Gairloch in Wester Ross, where the family holidayed for many years. Latterly he was an enthusiastic member of Milngavie Bowling Club where he was their dedicated president for a year and served as the club’s social convenor.
Mr Moggach met his wife Marilyn at a dance at Strathclyde University. She, their daughter Isobel and four grandchildren survive him. Telephone 0141-302 6000 or by e-mail at announcements@heraldandtimes.co.uk