Michael led the revolution of Russian at school

MICHAEL Brannan, principal teacher of Russian at George Heriot's School for 18 years, has died aged 75.

MIKE Brannan, who adopted Edinburgh as his home, inspired hundreds of pupils with his enthusiasm for the Russian language.

He was considered one of the leading teachers of the subject in Scotland during the 1960s and 1970s, and was also passionate about music, socialism and the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Mike was brought up in north London and left school at 15 to join the civil service. After completing his national service he studied English, French and music at Goldsmiths College, qualifying as a teacher.

His interest in learning Russian was sparked after he became a communist as a young man and travelled to an International Youth Congress in Moscow in 1957, but contracted Asian flu and was confined to hospital with pneumonia.

He started learning the language during his recovery. When he returned home, he decided to take another degree at the School of Slavonic and East European Languages, part of University College London.

Mike moved to Scotland to be with his first wife Rosemary, who came from Edinburgh. He began teaching Russian at Kilmarnock Academy in 1965. In 1970 he moved to Edinburgh when he was appointed principal teacher of Russian at George Heriot's School.

He developed the department, teaching around 100 pupils. He led numerous school trips and exchanges to Russia and became a leading member of the Scotland USSR Society and the Scotland Russia Forum.

He fought to retain Russian classes despite a nationwide trend for abandoning the language in schools in favour of French. At one time, he even gave early morning classes to enthusiastic pupils before the start of the school day.

But later on in his career he had to return to teaching French. He retired due to ill health in 1988, aged 56.

Mike was able to concentrate on his lifelong passion for music and politics during his retirement. He was also a committed Christian.

He was a founder member of the choir of St Michael and All Saints Church in Brougham Place, where he sang until 1999. He was also a keen member of the Edinburgh Bach Choir. He became Master of Music at St Peter's Episcopal Church in Lutton Place, where he sang at mass and evensong.

Mike was an active member of the Scottish Socialist Party, and marched on Stop the War demonstrations even when in a wheelchair.

He suffered a stroke in November 2005, two days after taking part in a demonstration in Parliament Square. He suffered another serious stroke on March 6 this year, and died two days later at the Astley Ainslie Hospital.

He leaves his second wife, Micheline, six daughters, three sons and 15 grandchildren.