5th Nov 2025
As we approach our centenary year at Belmont House School, we wanted to look back, and reconnect with former pupils, near and far. Here we have a list of thoughtful questions that we ask our alumni focusing on their lives, successes, and the school’s influence.
Name: Matt Grindlay
Time period as a pupil at Belmont House: 2012-2025
How did your time at Belmont shape your career path?
My time at Belmont played a major role in shaping my career path. It was where I first discovered my strengths and interests, particularly in Business. Certain teachers inspired me to push beyond what I thought I was capable of – such as Mr Doak making me present my Senior 2 Biology Power Points every week to help gain my confidence and mature my presentation skills.
Those same teachers helped me develop critical skills like problem-solving, communication, and time management. I also participated in extracurriculars, which taught me about teamwork and gave me confidence in pursuing what I was passionate about. Overall, School helped lay the foundation for my career goals and gave me a clear direction for the future.
Can you share a key moment or memory from your time at Belmont that had a lasting impact on you?
One key memory I have from Belmont was when Mr Friel formed the Senior Boys Football team and it was one of the best things I have ever been involved in. It made you part of a team and showed you how to show true sportsmanship and allowed you to gain closer friendships within the team and ultimately, create friends for life.
What skills or lessons learned at Belmont have been the most valuable in your professional life?
One important lesson that many teachers taught me was timekeeping but one teacher in particular—Mr. Lee, really instilled it in me. Over the six consecutive years that he taught me, the most valuable thing he emphasised was the importance of always being on time and handing in work promptly.
In what ways did Belmont House School’s community or culture contribute to your personal growth?
Being such a small school, I and many others thought Belmont naturally had a family feeling to it. It brought a sense of closeness within everyone, not only with pupils but teachers as well. Because of this, Belmont helped me naturally gain more confidence and made me the person I am today.
Can you describe how Belmont’s teachers or extracurricular activities helped shape your ambitions?
My teachers and extracurricular activities were pivotal in shaping my ambitions. Early on, I had a few teachers who were particularly encouraging and they helped me realize what I am passionate about. In fact, many teachers took the time to guide me through complex ideas and pushed me to think critically, which sparked my interest in pursuing residential property as a career path.
What advice would you give to current Belmont Students who want to follow a similar path to yours?
One thing that teachers will always recognise is hard work. If you’re a hard worker, teachers will be more likely to help you as they can see you are driven and want to succeed in the classroom. Another piece of advice I would give would be to try things you wouldn’t normally try – whether that be a new sports club, or an extracurricular activity – because new experiences help you become more knowledgeable which will set you in good stead in whatever you want to do. They also put you out of your comfort zone. My experience of this was when Miss Millar strongly encouraged me to take part in the School Show because I was a Senior 6 and it was expected of me. I was put out of my comfort zone as I had never performed on stage before and ended up enjoying myself and finished my time at Belmont on a high.
Looking back, how do you feel Belmont House School prepared you for the challenges and opportunities you faced in life?
Looking back, I feel that Belmont played a crucial role in preparing me for both the challenges and opportunities I’ve faced in life. Academically, it provided a strong foundation of knowledge, but beyond that, it taught me important life skills like time management, problem-solving, and critical thinking. For example, balancing a heavy workload, meeting deadlines and working in group settings were all skills I homed in on during my time at School, which have been incredibly useful in my future career and personal life.
Our thanks to Matt for sharing their experiences – would you like to feature as part of our Alumni of Belmont House School?
Please feel free to get in touch with Richard Doak via email: RDoak@belmontschool.co.uk
