Comments below.
Comments
According to his witness testimony to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (above), “James (CDR)” was born in 1940 and attended Merchiston as a pupil from 1954-1959, before returning as a member of staff from 1966-1979.
From the published book, the Merchiston Castle School Register – 1974-1993, it is clear that only one person appears both listed as pupil, attending from 1954-1959...
"1954
MARTIN, GEORGE MACGREGOR, (B.3, S), [28th November 1940], left 1959; Junior Prefect; VI; Hope Prize; Mair and Waddell Swords; Sgt.; Abercromby Schol.; Asst. Master, St Mary's, Melrose, 1960; Oriel Coll., Oxford, 1960-63; MA (Mod. Langs.); Trinity Coll., Glasgow, 1963-66; BD; Chaplain at Merchiston, 1966-79; Scripture Union, India, Staff Worker, 1980-81; RE Teacher, Coatbridge HS, 1982-84; Chaplain, Abbotsholme School, 1985-87; Chaplain, Kamuzu Academy, Malawi, 1987-1992; Ordained, C of S, 1987. 8 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. (Also see Staff Entry)."
...and in the staff listings in the same edition of the Register, Martin is also listed—returning to serve as chaplain and teach modern languages at the school from 1966-1979, the same years mentioned in the witness statement above:
"MARTIN, Rev. GM (Chaplain and Mod. Langs.) Oriel Coll., Oxford, MA; Trinity Coll., Glasgow, BD; Rugby coaching; i/c Golf 1969-79; i/c Band 1970-74; i/c Highland Dancing 1967-74; Resident House Tutor; Left in 1979 to work with the Social Services in India."
Year of birth and education qualifications mentioned in the witness statement match details the entries from the Register, further confirming "James (CDR)" to be the Rev. George Macgregor Martin, born 1940, a pupil at Merchiston from 1954-1959 who returned as Merchiston's Chaplain and an assistant master from 1966-1979.
The witness' own testimony—poorly-redacted by the the SCAI—held next to the Merchiston Castle School Registry, 1974-1993 obviously jigsaw into the same person: Rev. George Macgregor Martin—Merchiston pupil (1954-1959), Merchiston Chaplain and Merchiston assistant master (1966-1979), and "James (CDR)" (in SCAI documents).
You will notice references to "James (CDR)" in other files, the letters "CDR" appearing on top of the black redaction strips in SCAI's documents, typically over a redacted name in statements made by others.
The Hub is still working through and tagging documents on this site, key to piecing this narrative together. Part of that process will include tagging these codes visible on redactions on the official documents. From tags leading to BY TOPIC pages, we will be able to trace multiple narratives about the same person across different witness accounts and pull together a clearer picture.
Nigel Parry, Research Hub Editor
