Edinburgh Academy school abuse survivors climbing Everest to prevent repeat of 'horrors'

Former pupils of a Scottish school who endured years of historical abuse have begun climbing Mount Everest to help prevent the “horrors” they endured from happening again.

Physical and sexual abuse from 20 teachers at Edinburgh Academy were exposed in recent years by 42 former pupils, including broadcaster Nicky Campbell, at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

School boys were slapped, kicked or punched, some of whom were left unconscious as a result. Reports included a child being beaten with a bat, another pupil suffering a “bleed on the brain”, and boys being paid to swim naked.

Six survivors from the school have travelled to Nepal to take on the world’s highest mountain to raise money for child protection charity the NSPCC.

Giles Moffat will lead the Everest expedition. NSPCC via Supplied

Travelling with Team Uprising, they will trek for nine days to Everest Base Camp.

Then they will undertake an ice climb to the 6,119-metre summit of Lobuche.

Giles Moffat will lead the team through altitude sickness, the treacherous Khumbu icefall and the mountain’s “Death Zone” where there is not enough oxygen to survive.

The 51-year-old opened up about the terror he experienced at Edinburgh Academy when he gave evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry last year – and said he wants to use his own negative childhood experiences to help others and lead the team to Everest.

“Childhood abuse causes mental health problems, addictions, self-harm, low self-worth, anxiety, relationship and work problems throughout life,” he said.

“We want to use our own negative childhood experiences to help other children who have been abused, and those who may be at risk, and raise awareness of the wide-ranging and long-lasting impact of childhood abuse.

“This trip is part climbing, part fundraising, part therapy.

The team hopes training in Glencoe can ready them for Everest. NSPCC via Supplied

“We can’t change our past, but we can do something to prevent other children from experiencing the horrors that we endured. We want a zero-tolerance of any form of abuse of children and hope to inspire others to have the courage to speak up and seek support.”

The former pupils trained in Glencoe ahead of the trek, along with friends and family members who will also be taking part in the adventure.

Another member of Team Uprising, Neil Russell, 67, also gave evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Mr Russell said the extreme violence from Hamish Dawson, who died in 2009, has “stayed” with him.

He said: “Dawson would beat all the boys if something happened, and no one confessed. The incidents of abuse by Dawson have haunted me and tormented my mind throughout my life.

“The habitual and extreme violence have stayed with me. It took me two years of psychotherapy before I was even able to say his name.”

Team Uprising’ also includes former pupils Frazer Macdonald, Graeme Sneddon, Adrian Blakemore, and Niall Mackinlay.