28th Nov 2025
Join us as we speak with former pupil, Ross Caldwell, to reflect on their memories, achievements, and how the school helped prepare them for the future.
Name: Ross Caldwell
Time period as a pupil at Belmont House: 1989 to 1992
Current Occupation: Solicitor (partner at Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP)
How did your time at Belmont House School shape your career path?
I knew from a fairly early stage during secondary academia that a career in the law stood before me. I flirted with medicine, but was rather hopeless at Maths and Physics, having considerably more aptitude in English, History and Economics. Having said that, I was reasonably proficient at Chemistry, which I think must have had more to do with the excellence of the teaching staff in that discipline at the time (hat-tip to one R. Doak, Esq.) as opposed to any innate scientific talent on my part. There is no question that the literary and linguistic influences of Messrs Mercer and de Bliek, and Mrs Granger, had a profound impact on me in many ways and not simply jurisprudentially. I also recall that I was “President” of the Debating Society for two consecutive years and there was perhaps some indication of future professional proclivities therein!
Can you share a key moment or memory from your time at Belmont that had a lasting impact on you?
I was the Artful Dodger in the school production of the musical Oliver! That was a formative experience for sure. Mr Maguire turned in an inspired performance as Bill Sykes; and Mr Scott as Fagan. I also recall that Mr Scott struggled heroically through a severe bout of laryngitis – the show must go on!
What skills or lessons learned at Belmont have been most valuable in your professional life?Probably the debating skills guidance of Mr de Bleik and Mrs Granger.
In what ways did Belmont House School’s community or culture contribute to your personal growth?
I played rugby for the school in my early years at Belmont before a medical condition pertaining to the onset of migraine headaches shortly after playing rugby, and then a bad shoulder dislocation versus Kelvinside, ruled me out of that. So, rugby helped me with teamwork. I was a member of the debating society as mentioned above, and that provided obvious career enhancements and personal development. And I was also active in Mr Anderson’s Hillwalking Club. I recall one particular expedition to Ballater during which we did all five of the Munros in the Lochnagar range in one day! Albeit that was largely because Mr Anderson had promised Colin Anderson (former school captain) and me (both fervent Dons men) that he’d take us and the rest of the boys on a trip to Pittodrie Stadium to see Aberdeen FC annihilate Hibernian the next day if we managed to bag all five! Colin and I were sprinting up the mountains!
What advice would you give to current Belmont students who want to follow a similar path to yours?
Study hard and work hard, but find time to enjoy yourself along the way! Work to live; don’t live to work.
Our thanks to Ross 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
