Andrew Hewson has died at the age of 83. He became a literary agent, director and owner of the
Johnson and Alcock literary agency. For much of his working life, he worked with his wife, Margaret
creating a formidable professional partnership until her death in 2002.

His time at Glenalmond focused mainly on the arts- starring in school productions such as Shaw’s St
Joan, the blockbuster theatrical event of its time, with a cast of 1000s- see the obituary for Sandy
Macdonald. He went on to play a leading role in several productions of the St Andrews University
dramatic society, The Mermaids. In between times, he learnt enough history to get his History
degree.

Drew was not one to haunt the cloisters around Quad after he left Coll, but he did stay in touch with
several of those ‘made in Glenalmond’ friends- William Brotherston was his best man at his
wedding; Colin Adamson shared a flat with him in St Andrews and London and gave the eulogy at his
funeral; Charles Swann (See obituary in The Chronicle) and his family maintained the closest of links
based on their homes in Deeside, Sandy Macdonald played Sunday park football with him (see obituary here). One of the closest friends that Drew and Colin Adamson made at St Andrews was Charlie Shiffner
who circled back to spend over 30 years at Coll.

One of his earliest clients, the novelist and poet James Hamilton-Paterson, paid tribute to him as a
literary agent- “conscientious to a fault, intimidatingly well-read and with an encyclopaedic recall of
authors and titles”. He looked after his authors with kindness, humility and decency. Amongst his many achievements working with his wife Margaret was the revival of the fortunes of Beryl
Bainbridge- as the obituary in The Observer put it- had been ‘critically acclaimed but poorly
rewarded.’

His funeral was held on 4th February at Golders Green Crematorium with a tribute from Colin
Adamson followed by a reception at the Garrick Club, where he had been a long-time member.
 

Colin Adamson