Napier Mavericks
The Napier Mavericks history is entwined with that of the BUAFL Associate team - the Edinburgh Predators and the team formerly known as the Edinburgh Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves were a team drawn from two principle universities - Edinburgh and Napier.
As the team grew it became clear that it was preferential for both Universities to support their own teams, and so the Predators will play an associate season this year before entering a full member side next year whilst the Napier Mavericks will continue as Full Members of the BUAFL.
The History of Napier University
1500s
1550 - John Napier, the inventor of logarithms and the decimal point, was born in the medieval tower house of Merchiston Castle. His statue stands outside the entrance to the main building on Craighouse Campus today.
1950s
1958 - Merchiston Tower was saved from demolition with funding from the Ministry of Public Buildings & Works, and Edinburgh Corporation began restoring the tower which was to be the focal point for a new college named after John Napier.
1960s
August 1964 - Napier Technical College opened its doors to students at Merchiston under the leadership of Dr Joseph Dunning. About 100 academic staff taught around 800 students, most of who were studying on part-time City & Guilds or National Certificate courses. Fees for such courses were typically about 42/- (£2.10). Napier offered a range of courses including coopering, cabinet making and boat building, as well as courses in chemistry and physics, mechanical and electrical engineering and building. 1966 - Renamed Napier College of Science and Technology.
1970s
1971 - Napier offered its first degree course, BSc Science with Industrial Studies with others soon to follow. The need for full-time courses was outgrowing the need for part-time education, diploma courses and courses leading to professional qualifications. 1974 - Edinburgh College of Commerce, based at Sighthill, and Napier College of Science and Technology merged to become Napier College of Commerce and Technology, which gave Napier 4 faculties. 1975 - Napier was offering 5 degree courses.
1980s
1985 - Napier was offering 29 degree courses. 1986 - Renamed Napier Polytechnic and became the first institution in Scotland to gain full accreditation from the Council for National Academic Awards and to receive permission to validate and monitor its degree courses. 1986 - The Scottish Education Department took over control of Napier from Lothian Region and bought the magnificent buildings of the former St Andrews College at Craiglockhart for Napier. War poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon recuperated at Craiglockhart when it was a hospital for shell-shocked officers during the First World War. September 1987 - The new Craiglockhart Campus was opened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
1990s
June 1992 - The institution officially became Napier University. At a ceremony witnessed by over 700 staff and students, Lord James Douglas Hamilton and the then Principal, Professor William Turmeau, unveiled the new University sign at Merchiston. July 1992 - The Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, the Rt Hon Norman Irons, formally inaugurated the University and its first Chancellor, Lord Younger of Prestwick, was installed. April 1994 - Napier acquired the buildings and grounds of the former Thomas Clouston Clinic at Craighouse in south-west Edinburgh. September 1994 - Professor John Mavor, formerly Dean of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, took over as Principal & Vice-Chancellor. June 1995 - The University launched its major new fund-raising venture, Campaign Craighouse. 1996 saw 3 milestones in the University’s history: Firstly, a new Faculty of Health Studies was set up as a result of the merger of Lothian College of Health Studies and the Scottish Borders College of Nursing with Napier. This brought the Canaan Lane, Comely Bank and Melrose Place campuses into the University. Secondly, the University launched a major new Transport Research Institute, which aims to be at the leading edge of research into global transport and transport-related areas. Thirdly, the ‘new’ campus at Craighouse came into commission in the autumn, as the first phase of the University’s accommodation strategy was completed.
2000s
October 2001 - the £7million Jack Kilby Computing Centre, a purpose built 500 PC computer lab with 24-hour access, was opened at Merchiston, as well as the new Apex café to complement the Triangle restaurant which opened in October 2000. 2003 - Professor Joan K Stringer joined the University as Principal & Vice-Chancellor - the first female Principal to be appointed in Scotland at that time. 2004 - The opening of the new £30million Business School at Craiglockhart. 2007 - The University faculties and service departments restructured to provide a more streamlined service to students, and announced the 2nd stage of a major Estate Strategy: to develop one campus per faculty.
