The Past Pupils Union is delighted to announce that John Murray (class of 1962) has been elected ROW Person of the Year for 2025. John is one of six brothers who attended the ROW and who are still active members of the PPU. John, accompanied by his family and four brothers, was presented with the Award at our Annual Dinner on Saturday, January 28.
John has been a PPU committee member for many years and served as President in 2010/11. He continues to contribute greatly to all aspects of the PPU work and social activities, especially the organisation and running of the Annual Dinner. In her speech at the Dinner the School Principal Kate Byrne, congratulating John on the Award said it was “about time”, a recognition of the contribution John has made over the years to the school as well as the PPU.
John’s career, after leaving school in 1962, was spent in the Worlds of Accountancy and Life Assurance. He attributes his aptitude for figures to the excellent teaching in Maths which he got in the ROW. He believes that skill in numeracy is very important for all students on leaving school.
He started his career in 1962 as an audit clerk with Coopers and Lybrand (now PWC) and continued his studies in the evenings at the College of Commerce, Rathmines.
John’s next posting in 1963 was to the newly opened Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge where he got his first introduction to computers, an IBM 4200 punch-card system. During this posting, JFK visited Ireland so the entire hotel was taken over by the US State Department. Exciting times indeed for a lad fresh out of school!!
John’s next assignment was at Aspro-Nicholas on the Naas Road. Whilst there he took up a position in the Cost and Works, Purchasing and Production Planning functions.
John’s further evening studies brought him to the NIHE where he made contacts who later enticed him to get involved in a start-up venture importing nursery/toy brands.
In accordance with the tradition John, accompanied by the President and a number of Committee members, visited the school and spoke with the fifth and sixth year pupils.
Pictures of the Dinner and the Presentation to John are available on our Blog. The pictures on this occasion were take by John’s son Stephen, a professional photographer who also workes as an architect and actor.
