A former Fife schoolboy with a love for languages has been made Professor of Greek studies at Oxford University.
William Allan, who attended Glenrothes High School between 1982 and 1988, has been awarded the coveted post at University College, Oxford, the largest and most famous university faculty specialising in classical studies.
Confirmation of the appointment ends months of uncertainty for William who applied for the position a year ago, but who had been left on tenterhooks because of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m delighted to be given the position which is a huge honour,” said William, a former Edinburgh University graduated who has previously also lectured in Germany and at the prestigious Harvard University in America.
“Already being an assistant associate professor here at Oxford I applied for the position internally, but considering it attracts applications from around the world I wasn’t sure I’d be successful,” he admitted.
His success is a far cry from that of the Cardenden youngster who came from a non-academic family.
“We never had any books at home and no one in the family had ever gone to university before, but while it may have been a difficult home life, school was always a happy place for me and I soon realised I had a love of languages,” he said.
“I was taught Latin and German, then added Greek and eventually also took to learning Hebrew in the school lunch hour.
“I must attribute my success in later life to original Glenrothes High School language teachers David Potter, Charlie Wallace and Dave Neilson who really set me on the road academically and instilled their love of languages and learning in me.”
William’s appointment comes as no surprise to former teacher Mr Potter, who said he was the most gifted pupil of the thousands he taught in 34-year career as a teacher at Glenrothes.
He said: “It’s wonderful to see William go on and do so well.
“It was noticeable very quickly that William had a talent for languages and while I’ve been blessed to have taught some bright youngsters William’s achievements are astonishing and very much deserved.
“To become Professor of Greek at Oxford after the career he’s had and the academic books he’s written and published over the years, is the pinnacle in that sphere of learning, it’s a position recognised and respected around the world.”
