Alan Vernon Morse Beattie
Alan Beattie graduated from Bridgetown Regional High School in June of 1956. Alan is remembered by many as the most versatile athlete that represented BRHS in the 1950s.
He was part of a growing sports’ tradition that began with the opening of the school in 1951 and has continued to this day. When you look at Alan’s graduating year, 1956, it is easy to see that Alan was a very well-rounded student. Alan was the President of the Student Council, Editor of the Year Book (Blue and White), a member of the Soccer team, Captain of the Volleyball team, Captain of the Basketball team, Skip of the Curling team that placed 4th in Provincials, and was a member of the Track and Field Team which was part of the Valley Zone that won the Provincial title. Alan was also the President of the Annapolis Valley West Student Congress which dealt with many student issues in the western part of the valley. There was always a persistent rumor that Alan was even able to find periods of time to spend on his studies and eat.
A closer look at Alan’s years at BRHS reveals some individual successes. In 1955, Alan was Skip of the Curling Team that placed 3rd in the Headmasters Provincial Curling Bonspiel. BRHS teams won the Western Valley Championship (Bruce Trophy) four successive years (1953-1956). Also in 1955, Alan won the broad jump and hop step and jump at the Valley High School Track Championships, won the Class B broad jump at the Provincial Headmasters Championships and was part of the Valley Team that won the Provincial Championship at the Acadia Relays several successive years. Alan was the captain of the basketball and volleyball teams for two years. These teams won the league championships and the basketball team won the Valley B championship. After leaving high school, Alan was a member of the Dalhousie University Curling Team which won the Maritime Intercollegiate Curling Bonspiel.
Alan’s athletic career is certainly most impressive but for many, he will be remembered for his achievements in golf and tennis. In 1948, “ True, the Man’s Magazine” published an excerpt from the Halifax Herald: Bridgetown, July 23 – What is thought to be a golfing record was made by 10 year old Alan Beattie, when at Eden Golf and Country Club, the young golf enthusiast sank his drive from the sixth tee for the first hole-in-one made on this course. His feat was witnessed by five adults.
When you look at Alan’s many athletic accomplishments, it is hard to believe that there was one other sport in which he excelled and that was in tennis. From a very early age, Alan was one of the top ranked players in Nova Scotia and in Canada. In 1952, at age 14, Alan lost in the third set to the eventual champion in the 15 and under boys Provincial Tennis Championships. In 1953, Alan won the 15 and under boys Provincial Tennis Championships and was ranked fifth in Canada at the Canadian Tennis Championships. From 1953 to 1956, Alan was a member of the Nova Scotia Team in the Canadian Championships in Ottawa. It should be noted that Alan played doubles with John Hamm at the Provincial and Canadian level. We can only assume that the wisdom that Mr. Hamm gained from Alan enabled him to become the Premier of the province in later years.
Following his studies at Dalhousie University, Alan became a very successful lawyer and eventually went west to Calgary, Alberta. Even though he and his family live many thousands of kilometers away, his heart remains in Bridgetown. When any team from the Bridgetown area has gone to Alberta for a sporting event, the Beatties have made an effort to welcome them to Calgary and made their stay a most enjoyable one. The community of Bridgetown is truly proud of Alan and all of his accomplishments.