Sussex man who was abused at Edinburgh Academy to climb Everest

Giles Moffatt, a former pupil of Edinburgh Academy, is one of those taking part in the challenge up the mountain in aid of the NSPCC and described it as being “part climbing, part fundraising, part therapy”.

It comes after he gave evidence in a special “examination of facts” hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which resulted in the court ruling former Edinburgh Academy teacher John Brownlee inflicted “cruel and unnatural acts” on pupils at the school.

Giles, 51, who lives in Rye, is one of 12 members of Team Uprising who will trek 150 kilometres at ultra-high altitude.

Team Uprising, (left to right) Glen Massam, Nial Mackinlay, Giles Moffat, Neil Russell and Graeme Sneddon, during a training session in February 2024 in Glencoe, Scotland. (Image: PA)

He and fellow Edinburgh Academy abuse survivors Neil MacDonald and Neil Russell, along with friends and supporters Andy Leslie and Mitch Smith, then plan to undertake an ice climb to the 6,119-metre summit of Lobuche, near the Everest base camp.

Giles and Andy will carry on from there through the Himalayas, with the help of mountaineer and guide Ang Tshering Lama, who has climbed Everest five times, with the aim of reaching the mountain’s summit by the end of May.

Giles said they “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”.

The cash they raise will go towards supporting NSPCC’s work, which includes providing free counselling for children, an adult helpline for reporting concerns and educational programmes aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect.

Team Uprising during a training session in February 2024 in Glencoe, Scotland (Image: PA)

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

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

Fellow trekker Neil Russell gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry last year about his experiences of abuse at Edinburgh Academy, which he described as a “violent place”.

The 67-year-old, who lives in Bedfordshire said incidents of abuse at the school “have haunted me and tormented my mind throughout my life. The habitual and extreme violence have stayed with me".

Following the examination of facts hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which was held because Brownlee is not medically fit to stand trial, the court ruled he had committed a number of violent assaults spanning 31 charges, including “cruel and unnatural acts”.

Brownlee will not be punished following the court proceedings but the Crown Office said the hearing means his abuse is “now a matter of public record”.

Donations to Team Uprising can be made at www.justgiving.com/team/uprising.