We hope to fill these pages with news of what is happening with our Old Belhavian pupils but we rely on you to send us what you're getting up to nowadays. You can do this by getting in touch directly by emailing Olivia Reynolds or by filling in the form on the Keep Us Updated page.
Whichever way you choose to contact us we look forward to hearing from you.
Latest OBs' News
Jamie Forrester (1991-1996, Glenalmond) At the Argyllshire Gathering on August 25th 2022, Jamie's piping earned him The Highland Society of London's Gold Medal.
Jock Stodart (2013. Glenalmond) recently moved to London to begin a 9 month business course having dropped out of Newcastle University.
Alice Warre (2013. Oakham. Leeds Arts University) has completed a year abroad work placement in Copenhagen. She was working in the marketing and social media department for a fashion designer.
Xan Gray Muir (2016. Eton)
On Life as a Belhaven Gappie 2021-2022 (written for the OB Eagle's Eye Jan 2022)
'
Returning to work where I was once educated has been an odd, but incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience. It has been brilliant to be able to have the opportunity to give a small bit back to the school that gave me so much! It felt especially strange entering the staff room for the first few weeks and took a long time to get used to calling the teachers by their first names.
A major realisation is that people who were once my teachers (and now are colleagues) are interesting, lovely people who do not simply just exist for the purpose of teaching! There have been moments where I have realised that 10 year old me would be pinching himself - a personal highlight being having the keys to the Saturday Sweets Cupboard!
Most of all it has been an opportunity to try so many different things... I could not recommend returning to Belhaven highly enough.'
Freddie Jack (2019. Merchiston Castle) received a sports scholarship to Merchiston. He was recently selected for the Scotland U16 hockey development squad in 2022. He currently plays for the Merchiston 1st XV U16 rugby team.
Cleodie Stewart Howitt (2020) is loving Fettes, her sport is doing well and she’s loving it a lot. She’s won all her doubles tennis games and has been doing Eventing on the side.
Barney Campbell (1996. Eton. Oxford) wrote a novel, 'Rain', about the war in Afghanistan that was published by Penguin in 2016. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in the 2017 General Election which he found was a great experience.
Charlie Landale (2002. Eton. Trinity College, Dublin) is currently living in Hong Kong with his wife Lee and their two children: Rory (nearly 4) and Lyra (2). They are expecting their third child at the end of March. They live on the beach in HK which they really enjoy but miss Scotland every day and look forward to the days of being able to travel again.
George Kelly (2005. Sherborne. Leeds) had a wonderful 5 years at Belhaven and went onto Sherborne in Dorset with an Art Scholarship for another 5 superb years. His next stop was Leeds to study Sociology before moving back into design with a Graphic Design course. He owns and runs a cheesy chip van on the side but works full-time for an Amsterdam-based nature documentary streaming app called WaterBear. He is the lead designer and permanently looks forward to the second year of the business through 2022.
India Tyndall (2006. Fettes. Newcastle) has just started up her own travel company, specialising in Luxury Scuba Diving trips. She still sees lots of her OB friends - most recently on Mull for a weekend with the De Klee’s.
Alexandra Riley (2007. Marlborough. Edinburgh) is currently working as a Landscape Architect in London. The last four years she’s been living in Melbourne, Australia. In the six months before moving back to the UK, she was bikepacking around Tasmania and then up the east coast to Sunshine Coast – she found it epic!
Antonia Ward (2007. Uppingham. York. Edinburgh) moved to live in Canada in January 2020.
Caspar Rogers (2010. Eton) graduated from Edinburgh in 2020 with a 2:1 in Middle Eastern History & Politics and now finds himself working as an insurance broker ... he’s not quite sure how that happened! He’s delighted to say that he and his twin Freddy are still in touch with numerous Old Belhavians and can in fact count some of them as their oldest, closest friends. They’ll be organising some form of gathering for the 2010 OB’s era ... watch this space.
Domitille Monod (2012) completed a Bachelor's Degree in Political Humanities at Sciences Po Paris, and is now studying for a law degree.
Hannah Bruneau (2013. Rugby. Exeter) is currently completing her 3rd year at Exeter University to receive her LLB law, before heading to Rennes next year to complete her French law degree (Maitrise en droit).
Susannah Gimlette (2013. Rugby. Manchester) is currently a third year medical student.
Archie Seymour (2014. Fettes. Newcastle) had his year out cut short by Covid but was working at Cool Bananas as an Assistant Farm Manager in Zambia. He’s in the 1st Newcastle University shooting team.
Max Bruneau (2015. Rugby. Imperial College) is currently in his 1st year at Imperial College London studying for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (MechEng)
Victor Strang Steel (2016. Eton. Bath) is studying chemical engineering at Bath University having gained 3A* at A level. He won Gold at Eton with the National Rowing 2nd Eight and rowed in the 2019 Henley Royal Regatta. He was House Captain at Eton.
Lochie Bruneau (2017. Rugby) is having a gap year, the first term of which will be as a Gap Student back at Belhaven. He’s hoping to head to Durham or Exeter to study LLB law in 2023.
Oscar Jack (2017. Merchiston) has just finished studying for his A levels and hoping to get into a Russell Group university to study Politics/International Relations. He has been deputy Head Boy at Merchiston and has absolutely loved his time there. He is Captain of the Merchiston School 1st XI cricket team this year. He is planning a gap year to travel through South East Asia and then hoping to go to Sydney for 6 months, where he has a job as a gap student at Scots College, Sydney.
Kitty Seymour (2016. Glenalmond. Newcastle) left Bath University as she realised Social Sciences were not for her. She is due to start a Classics degree at Newcastle starting in September 2022 and in the meantime is taking a last-minute year out, working at a trendy beach hut at Bamburgh selling coffees, lobster and crabby fries on the beach.
Freddie Jack (2019. Merchiston) was selected to play for Scotland U16 boys Hockey in April 2022. He has also been selected for Regional Under 16 boys rugby, Edinburgh regions. He has just finished studying for his GCSEs.
Jamie Ramsay (1992) - Whole way to Stokeyo
Jamie, no stranger to cycling and running huge distances around various parts of the globe, has cycled around GB to raise support for the Olympics and the GB athletes.
Originally, Jamie’s plan was to cycle from London to Tokyo for the start of the Olympics. But COVID-19’s shadow put the brakes on that plan. Instead, he cycled from London to Stokeyo (aka Stoke-on-Trent) in a circuitous route that took him 10,000km; about the same distance to Tokyo in a straight line.
To see Jamie's achievements go to his website - jamieramsay.net - well worth a look!
Jamie Douglas-Hamilton (1995) - The Impossible Row
British Entrepreneur Breaks Five World Records becoming first to row the Drake Passage.
A team including Britain’s Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, founder of ACTIPH Water, became the first to row from Cape Horn in Chile to Antarctica battling brutal storms and freezing cold conditions in the notorious Drake Passage – the world’s most treacherous stretch of water. In 2014, Jamie was part of a team who set two Guinness World Records by rowing 5,000 miles across the vast Indian Ocean, all the way from Australia to Africa – meaning he now holds an incredible seven Guinness World Records.
“In the 12 days we endured a lot of pain, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and severe cold which has now led to frost nip in my feet and fingers a condition that takes weeks or even months to recover from. I also lost two stone in weight, but all the pain and suffering disappeared as we reached the South Shetland Islands and rowed through the most pristine and beautiful landscape I have ever seen. We passed icebergs the size of towns and islands that looked like Himalayan peaks and were followed by orcas, whales and thousands of penguins for the last 150 miles.
IMPOSSIBLE ROW GALLERY (photo credit Discovery)
“This challenge was labelled the ‘The Impossible Row’ as everyone told us we were crazy to even try it and that it could never be done. We believed we had a chance with the right preparation, training, team and determination. Just like my grandad’s expedition over Mount Everest inspired me to take up challenges that led to rowing the Indian Ocean and founding ACTIPH Water, I hope in time this expedition will inspire people to follow their dreams and to challenge the status quo. What might seem impossible rarely is if you truly believe in what you are doing and are determined to make it a reality.”
The expedition was recorded by Discovery, which has aired as a 1.5 hour documentary on Discovery Channel in 210 countries.
George Russell (1960. Glenalmond. Edinburgh) practised as a private client solicitor with Anderson Strathern for 33 years. With his American wife Mary, they embarked 15 years ago on new semi-retirement careers in Aspen/Snowmass CO; George as a bus driver for the Town of Snowmass Village and Mary for Aspen Skiing Co. In addition to being avid skiers/snowboarders (they are known as “greys on trays”!) and mountain bikers, they are keen pedal cycle tourists having crossed the USA on their own 4 times, the latest in 2020 when raising funds for the National Trust for Scotland. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren split between Inverness (where George and Mary have recently bought a house), Ireland and Oregon.
Simon Barclay (1964. Strathallan) at the aged of 70 he promotes Downpour Gin from North Uist along with Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon. He is also a private client Salesman for Corney & Barrow Champagnes and Wines. He’s been a Member of the Scottish Committee of the Wooden Spoon Rugby Charity for disadvantaged children for the past 10 years.
Iain Simpson (1964 Glenalmond. Edinburgh College of Commerce) was in the shipping industry for 27 years, in London, Australia and the Middle East. He now runs his own Tour Guiding business.
David Farquharson (1965. Rugby. Middlesex Hospital Medical School) It was Colin Mason’s 1923 Bullnose Morris that started his love of vintage cars. When he retired, he always planned to buy one of these cars. Unfortunately, he had forgotten that he had grown since the 1960s and when he tried to fit into a Bullnose Morris, at 6ft 8inches, it was impossible; a dream shattered!
Adam Fergusson (1975. Eton. University of Aberdeen) is due to finish his military and commercial flying career after 38 years. He is due to focus on farming and estate management at his home in Ayrshire. Adam is married to Jenny with three children and two grandchildren.
Jamie Macnab (1976. Glenalmond. Royal Agricultural College Cirencester) lives in Edinburgh and is married to Jane who is a hospital doctor. He works for Savills as a country house agent. Daisy, their daughter, works in London. James, their son, is about to graduate from the University of Cambridge.
Richard O’Connor (1980. Glenalmond. Aberdeen University) lives with his Danish wife and 11 year old daughter in Mallorca running their organic fairtrade chocolate business called Chocolate and Love.
Mark Younger (1984. Eton. Newcastle) has been married to Kirsten since 2004 and now has 3 children.
Richard MacLure (1994. Ampleforth. Newcastle) went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after university and then served as an officer in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. He did 4 years in the Army, which included a 6 month tour of Iraq, and retired as a Captain.
Since leaving the Army in late 2007, he has lived in London and worked in finance. He is currently Sales Director UK and Ireland, for Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), where he is responsible for investment fund sales predominantly to wealth management companies in the UK and Ireland for the company. He is also involved in politics and is Chairman of The London Scottish Conservative Club.
Sam Strang Steel (1996. Eton. Edinburgh) has just returned to Scotland after 7 years living and working in Singapore.
Edward Tennant (1996. Gordonstoun. The Royal Agricultural College) worked in finance for 15 years in London and now lives in Morayshire running his family’s 5000 acre estate. He is married with two young children who are 11 and 9.
Kirsty Landale (2007. Oundle. Roehampton) has continued to have many adventures including marrying an Old Ardvreck boy in 2020 (sorry!) They now live in Kenya where she teaches in a prep school. Many of her greatest friends are still OBs!
Colin Innes (1949. Wellington. Staff College Camberley 1968) started life at Belhaven at Dinnet House in Aberdeenshire under Mr Sims for the School had moved North during the War. The school moved back to Dunbar soon afterwards. Colin was joined at school by his twin brothers, Malcolm Innes and James Innes a couple of years later. After Wellington, he went to RMA Sandhurst and after commissioning in July 1956, joined as the third generation of his family in the Regiment, The Black Watch (RHR), and served for 29 years with the Regiment and later on the Staff. He had a short time as Secretary at Muirfield and then he bought and managed a Heather Farm in Argyll for 3 years, before re-joining the Army as the Recruiting Officer for Edinburgh and the Lowlands for a further 9 years. He retired in 1996 after 36 years’ service in uniform. He now gives lectures on Military History to his Regimental Association and to many other historical organisations. Now 85 years old, he lives with his wife Caroline in Murthly, Perthshire where he plays some golf and enjoys gardening.
David Baird-Smith (1951. Winchester. Cambridge) David and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) on August 5th 2021. Their granddaughter Colomba is currently studying International Law at Edinburgh University. He made a reminiscent contribution to the 2010-2011 Belhaven Bugle a few years back (page 132)!
Tom Tennant (1952. Glenalmond. Britannia College Dartmouth) is a retired Banker. He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy from 1957 to 1967. Tom worked for Barclays Bank in France from 1969 to 1996. He married Finella Hooper in 1972 and they have two children - Emma born 1975 and Edward born 1978. His brother Edward (Ted ) born 11th June 1943 was also a pupil at Belhaven. Ted worked in the City Hall in Toronto and died on 30th April 2017
John Fairclough (1953. Rugby, London) is enjoying his retirement!! He is keen to hear of other OBs
David Farquharson (1965. Rugby. Middlesex Hospital Medical School) retired to the Highlands 4 years ago! Previously he was a consultant in obstetrics & gynaecology and latterly Executive Medical Director of NHS Lothian.
Christopher Smith (1975. Radley. Durham) has had 38 years in banking so far, most recently for Handelsbanken, a Swedish bank
Edward McCulloch (1985. Rannoch. Robert Gordon University) is running his own residential property business in London. He married Claire (née Jackaman) in 2007. He’s now widowed with 2 children, Amber (13) & Benedict (11).
Engagements (since 2020)
Archie Kelly & Katherine Wright
Hewie Dalrymple & Amy Goodman
Roly Peto & Isabella Deterding
Eritrea Willoughby & Lukas Lundgren
Ivan de Klee & Alice McCarthy
Ben Elliot & Emily Cook
Isabel (Wizz) Douglas-Hamilton & Jolyon Coates
Arabella Bradley & Guy Balmford
Alexandra Rogers & Angus Carnegie-Brown
Vanessa Rettie & Jack Carmichael
Emma Mactaggart & Edward Russell
Jasper McGuinness & Louisa Symington
Charlie Ward & Clare Radcliffe
Charlie Southesk & Camilla Ascoli
Edward Agnew & Lucy Lesley
Geordie Hilleary & Marina Hunt
Marriages (since 2020)
Clementina (Teenie) Elphinstone & Oli(ver) Harrison
William Ayles & Annabel Shepherd-Barron
Amber Graham-Watson & Steven Miller
Louisa Dalrymple & Hugo Codrington
Jonathan Osborne & Margaret Zimmerman
Christopher Osborne & Rose Fellowes
Charlie Bowes-Lyon & Ellie
Theophania Hamilton-Dalrymple & Piers Lawson
George Haddington (Binning) & Constanza Dessain
Kirsty Landale & Patch Russell
Sophie Agnew & Stuart Hill
Births
William & Harriet Callander, a daughter, India Rose Edie
Angus & Isobel Elphinstone, a daughter, Sienna Grace, sister to Albie & Edie
Nicholas & Saffron Hodgson, son, Reuben Nicholas David, brother to Otis
Archie & Mary Tulloch, a daughter, Nina Catherine
Teenie (Elphinstone) & Oli Harrison, a daughter, Tallulah Willa
Amber (Graham-Watson) & Steven Miller, a daughter, Heidi
Alice (Callander) & Robbie McColl, a son, Charlie Henry Chalmers
Oliver & Camilla Jenkinson, a daughter, Phoenix Lyra Aïsha
Julian & Rowena Osborne, a daughter Flora Iona Henrietta, sister to Lochie & Geordie
Oliver Osborne & Barbara Wolff, a son Kit Apollo, brother to Wolff & Alfie
Jonathan & Margaret Osborne, a son, Malcolm
Hero (H-Dalrymple) & Rory, a son, Woody
Charlie & Fatima Blair, a daughter, Maya
Harry & Rosie Trotter, a daughter, Stella Rosamond, sister to Matilda & Lochie
George & Stanza Haddington, a son,
William & Bridget Joicey, a son, Tom
Farewells
OB Deaths
It is with sadness that we record the deaths of our OBs. Our thoughts and condolences go to the families.
Patrick William Simpson (1935) at home on 28th June 2022.
Michael G Inge-Innes-Lillingston (1972) passed away peacefully on 24th December 2021 aged 62 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Randolph K Stewart, Earl of Galloway (1941) died 27 March, 2020. He was 91.
Lt. Col. Aidan M Sprot (1932) Haystoun MC, late of the Royal Scots Greys. Died peacefully at home on January 28th aged 101.
Major James K Courtney Scott (Clarke) (1942) died peacefully on 9th August 2018.
Michael J Tweedie (1992) died on 19th September 2020 aged 41.
Gerald Potts (Staff, 1960s) died on 12th August 2019
David Houldsworth (1966) at Dallas 2nd February 2021
Peter Ramsden (1974) owing to throat cancer on 14th March 2021
[Aimée Balsan on 6th April 2021. Her children and grandchildren attended Belhaven and she introduced her other relations, who have since also continued to send their next generation of children to the school - Celier, Lefebvre, Monod, Teglassy amongst others.]
John William Clark-Maxwell (1946) in Dumfriesshire on 4th November 2021
Andrew McCulloch (1948) died on 19th June 2021, aged 85. Having spent 5 happy years at Belhaven as a boy and having sent his three sons, James, Edward and David, to the school during the 1980s. Andrew enjoyed recalling many stories of his experiences there, both as a pupil and a parent. "Mr Sims," William Caldwell and Dinnet, where the school moved to during the war, all featured regularly in his anecdotes. You can read some of his Belhaven memories in a piece he submitted to the 2013-2014 edition of the Bugle, page 168. After a full and intrepid life, Andrew earned great admiration for the rigour and detail of his historical books on his home region, Dumfries and Galloway. He leaves three sons and four grandchildren, to whom he was a devoted father and grandfather.
