RHS Former Pupil biographies
Rector Pauline Walker recently asked the School Historian to create a number of contemporary biographies. This is not to say that Walter Scott, Alexander Graham Bell or Ronnie Corbett are not special, simply that there are many pupils in the Barnton era, and even since the millennium who have made considerable names for themselves. Click on any of the images for a PDF of a standard set of questions/responses, and a slideshow and other links are in each biography summary.
| FP photo | FP biography – summary |
|---|---|
 | Colin Todd MBE – Fire Safety Engineer Colin was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours 2020 for ‘Services to the Fire Industry’. Since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower he has made a major contribution to the reviews and investigation into the circumstances and causes of the fire, which has been recognised with this award. Colin’s initial degree course was in Veterinary Surgery, but after one year he changed to Physics, in which he graduated with a BSc in 1974, and followed that with an MSc in 1975 – a Post Graduate in Fire Safety Engineering. He has run his own business C.S.Todd & Associates since 1982, but despite being much in demand, as can be seen from his photo gallery, he finds the time to be a very regular attendee at RHS London Club dinners. Click here for a PDF of his school and work career, and here for a photo gallery. |
 | Sarah Boyack 1979 – Politician Sarah was in Donald Dewar’s first Holyrood cabinet in 1999, and currently is Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian Region. Click here for a PDF with more information, or here for a slideshow of images from her School and later life, including images from the School European choir trips. |
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 | Izuka Hoyle 2012 – Stage and Film actor and singer Izuka (formerly Chantelle) Hoyle joined the School in 2008 from Cramond Primary. In her interview, she describes Music as her favourite subject, and aged 14 and moving into her third year in 2010, she was cast as ‘Motormouth Maybelle’, one of the principals in ‘Hairspray’, the last of three stellar musicals produced by the School between 2007 and 2010. She had her eye on a theatrical career, left school at the end of her fourth year in 2012, and spent two years at MGA Academy in Edinburgh. Then, Dick Whittington-style, moved down to London to follow her dreams at Chiswick’s Arts Education School, graduating and winning the Sondheim prize in 2017. She was named by The Evening Standard as a ‘Rising Star’, and quickly landed the role of Mary Seaton in the 2018 epic ‘Mary Queen of Scots’. Her career has blossomed from there, with appearances on the London stage, and in several films. Click here to see her Interview PDF, here for a Slideshow , and if you want to hear Izuka’s terrific singing voice, watch her sing ‘You should see her fly’ from the Sci-Fi musical ‘Fanatical’. |
 | Charlie Shiel 2015 – Rugby player Charlie left school having been voted the Sports personality of 2015 at the WAC. He was already in the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) academy, and has gone on to secure a contract and regular appearances with Edinburgh Rugby, also appearances in Scotland’s 7’s squad. Charlie has been encouraged by the SRU to try different occupations, and one of his options has been hairdressing – he’s now the Edinburgh squad clipper. He’s also keen to explore Architecture as an option after his Rugby career. Click here for a photo gallery or here for a short personal video, or here to see his role as ‘Chico the barber’ |
 | Lee Cockburn 1986 – Police Inspector, Rugby player and Author Lee’s sporting prowess was evident at school, winning prizes in swimming and athletics. She went on to represent Scotland at rugby for over a decade in a distinguished career that saw her win numerous international championships. Working in the police force has provided Lee with the experiences to pursue another talent by writing gripping crime novels. Lee joined the Police in 2000, and interspersed that career with International Rugby (77 Scottish and 4 ‘Classic Lioness’ caps) and her authorship, and is also known as a very popular after dinner speaker. Lee’s message to all pupils is be kind, treat people like you would like to be treated. Don’t let anyone say that you can’t do it, or you need to change. Fight for your dreams, and go out there and live them. Click here for a photo gallery, or here for an Evening News article about Trunchbull |
 | Emily Hogarth 2003 – Graphic designer, Illustrator, Mother and dog lover. After Flora Stevenson’s Primary School, Emily attended Royal High from 1997. Her favourite subjects were Art, Graphic design and History. She went straight to Edinburgh college of art after school, and graduated with a degree and Masters in design. She started her own company (emilyhogarth.com) and specialises in papercut artwork and personalised papercut commissions and collaborations with other brands. She considers herself lucky to have worked on many exciting projects throughout her career including working on designs for the National Gallery of Scotland, the new Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh, Cadburys, Nivea, Red Magazine as well as publishing three books about papercutting. Click here for a photo gallery. And, oh yes – the Westie is named Mary! |
 | Doug McCracken 1961 – US businessman The Royal High in 1959 wasn’t really prepared for the arrival of a Yank, particularly one with a crew cut. He was parachuted into Edinburgh in 1959 with his parents and sister, due to his Dad being temporarily transferred to a Uniroyal post in Edinburgh. He quickly became a favourite however, as the first athlete we had ever seen throwing a rugby ball torpedo-style, as someone who could get away with outrageous ‘uniform’, and as someone who was given quite a bit of latitude by teachers (but not by one of the Music department!). Doug spins a great account of his time at School, his trips away with athletics, rugby and basketball, including his tussles with Corporation bus conductors who wouldn’t allow his vaulting pole to come on board. He talks about his family and his work, but a lot about his time at the Royal High which he clearly saw as very special. Click here to see his account of his two years at Royal High, and here for a slideshow of some of his school activities, and life after retirement. (Many thanks to Stuart Macmillan for photos and biography content). |
Charlie Shiel photo gallery
2014 RHS U18 tour squad to RSA 
2017 U20 World Championships – Scotland beat Australia 24-17 in the 5th/6th playoff match; Shiel scores two tries ! 
2019 – Edinburgh Rugby Publicity shot 
2015 – Charlie playing for Currie 
2019 Scottish Sevens squad – Las Vegas and Vancouver 
2014 – Charlie at the Royal High annual sponsored walk. Charlie is extreme right of this group of mates. 
2013-14 – Charlie captaining the Royal High team in winning the Brewin Dolphin U16 Plate 2019 – Edinburgh Rugby Publicity shot
Lee Cockburn photo gallery
Lee in her police uniform 
Scotland rugby on tour – Lee 5th from left in back row 
Happy and muddy Scottish team with trophy – Lee 3rd from right in back row 
Lee with a colleague and street performers during a Gay pride event in Edinburgh 
Happy Family – Emily, Jamie and Harry with Lee 
Demon’s Fire, by Lee Cockburn – One of her three detective novels 
2007 team photo – Lee 3rd from left in front row 
1998 – Scotland beat England and win the Grand Slam: Lee is the triumphant one in the middle of the photo 
Two lady authors – who IS that on the right?
Emily Hogarth photo gallery
2003 – after the Prize giving – Emily third from the right with her School chums. 
Emily portrait when at school 
The brand new hospital for children and young people in little France, Edinburgh. – play and waiting area 
The brand new hospital for children and young people in little France, Edinburgh. – play and waiting area 
Examples of Emily’s illustrations 
Christmas cards for sale – visit Emily’s website 
An example of Emily’s illustrations 
Nivea advert material 
Emily with her family 
Emily with Mary
Doug McCracken photo gallery
1960 – The RHS School rugby team at Waverley Station en route to Dublin. Doug is centre in the front row 
1960 – on the train bound for Greenock where they would board a boat to Dublin! Doug is partly hidden by messers Lumsden, Macmillan and Orr 
1960 – Dublin High School and RHS sides before the game. Doug is second from right in the front row 
2020 – This photo is simply to illustrate what the Dublin High School team would have looked like in colour! 
1960 Methodist College Belfast. Doug (on right) about to be steam-rollered by the combined packs 
1960 Methodist College Belfast – Doug has just thrown in, and Stuart MacMillan is attempting to catch in the line out 
1960 Methodist College Belfast. The scrum at work 
1960 – Doug (front row right) in an Edinburgh basketball team (not RHS) 
1960 – Doug (back row left, as a schoolboy) in a Royal High School FP basketball team, along with Pringle Fisher (centre front row) 
2018 – Doug and wife Elaine at his daughter’s wedding 
2018 – Doug and wife Elaine at his 75th Birthday celebration in Napa, California 
2018 – Doug McCracken, RHS Alumni of 1961
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Sarah Boyack photo gallery
1978 – The RHS Choir departs School for Florence 
1978 – Florence concert – Anne Rylance, Sarah and Kirsten Thomson 
1978 Florence – Sarah (on left) wearing bowler hat playing trumpet 
1978 Florence – Srah on trumpet, Tom Clouston with the rock group 
1978 Pupil spreadsheet – Sarah in Mr Thornton’s group in 
1978 – School 850th Anniversary concert in Edinburgh 
1978-79 School prefects – Srah 2nd from left in front row 
1979 Prize Giving – Sarah back row centre clutching many book prizes 
1999 – Donald Dewar’s first Holyrood cabinet – Sarah front right 
2004 – Opening of the refurbished School 
Sarah Boyack at Holyrood
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Click on any of the images below to enable a full screen slideshow
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Izuka Hoyle photo gallery
Click on any of the images below to enable a full screen slideshow
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Colin Todd Photo Gallery
alastairallanach.com 