BBC presenter Nicky Campbell has come forward with allegations of physical abuse he suffered under John Brownlee, a teacher at Edinburgh Academy, during his attendance at the school. Campbell recounted how, starting from childhood, he was subjected to physical violence by Brownlee, who would use a wooden paddle, referred to as a ‘clacken’, to hit him and other pupils. This abuse, he explained, has had a lasting effect on his mental health. These revelations emerged during a special examination of facts hearing because Brownlee, now 89 and deemed unfit to stand trial due to dementia, faces allegations of physically assaulting 38 former pupils over a span from 1967 to 1987.

The hearing has brought to light harrowing testimonies from other former pupils too, detailing the physical and psychological abuse perpetuated by Brownlee. This includes severe beatings with a wooden paddle, being choked, and even instances of pupils being left unconscious from the assaults. One pupil, Neil McDonald, shared his experiences of being choked with his shirt and undergoing physical abuse, which has implicated long-term mental health repercussions such as PTSD for the victims.

This case against Brownlee is part of a broader investigation into former staff members at Edinburgh Academy, amid allegations that extend to repeated sexual assaults. With the court proceedings expected to last three weeks, the focus is on establishing the facts around Brownlee’s actions at the renowned fee-paying school. This has cast a spotlight on the need for stringent safeguarding measures in educational institutions and the importance of addressing and acknowledging historical cases of abuse.