In 2026, Angus published his latest book, The Lost Boys. Here, we find out more about the power of speaking out, calling for change and fighting against silence.
As a child, Angus was sent to a boarding school in Scotland. From the outside, the school was viewed by many as a place of excellence and achievement. It was expected that children there would be nurtured and that they’d thrive and succeed. The school also created networks of connections. Many parents had been there themselves and were friends with each other, and it was the norm for ex-pupils to stay in contact long after their time at school was over. Connections were also created between parents, staff and pupils through leisure and business. These overlapping connections, built on prestige and power, made it even harder for people like Angus to be heard and to be believed. Many simply did not want to know.
Despite this, Angus took part in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in 2021. Shortly thereafter, he pursued a legal case against his former school. He was the first person to successfully sue them over allegations of historical abuse, and the legal victory was a first involving pupil-on-pupil abuse. Angus chose to waive his right to anonymity. This was a significant decision, bringing potential feelings of exposure or vulnerability. Angus, however, took strength from others:
“I was hugely encouraged by the large number of other people who came forward, waiving their anonymity, and speaking publicly. I felt ultimately this would help expose and end the system. Silence is such a powerful weapon for abusers.”
While participating in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and taking legal action involves giving testimony as a witness, Angus felt that there was much more still to say. Experiences are not fixed into specific dates; their impact can be felt years later. It was also important for Angus to highlight that abuse does not take place in isolation. He wanted to take the opportunity to describe how a system, such as a school and its culture, can create an environment in which abuse not only takes place but can become normalised and even encouraged.
“It was important for me to be able to tell the whole story and have it on record. The events in this book took place over 35 years. There’s only so much you can get across in a news piece. The insidious nature of this system, the layer-by-layer catalogue of failures, and the enormity of it all could only be properly told in a book.”
To tackle the scope of the subject, Angus divided his book into distinct sections. He covers his childhood and school experiences, but also widens the perspective by covering his adult life alongside reflections on the behaviour and culture he endured. Through this approach, Angus could share his experience of what happened, highlight its lasting impact, and demonstrate the complicity which enabled such abuse.
“The book is in five parts: the first sections are about my childhood before and throughout school, and the latter stages explore the psychology of want went on, the inquiry, legal action, and what can be done. It was important for the narrative to separate them. As children, we didn’t understand what was happening to us. I hope in presenting it this way it creates a compelling case that can affect change.”
Through his journey, Angus has been raising awareness and calling for change, for example by taking part in interviews around his legal case. Since the publication of his book, he is now also involved in podcasts and book festival appearances. While speaking out can have a positive impact on yourself and for others, it’s important to also consider wellbeing. There is a balance to strike between sharing very personal experiences while also feeling safe and in control of your own narrative.
“It’s important to take time out of the project to connect with family and friends. I practise mental health wellbeing each day. Sharing the story is one way to combat the trauma. One of the tragedies of PTSD is that it forces us to remember what we want to forget, as a survival mechanism. But actually confronting it, and off-loading the trauma, either through therapy or a book, is a way of ending the cycle. The story is now externalised and I don’t need to think of it in the same way anymore.”
Angus continues to speak up and speak out. He is taking part in the Getting to Grips with Trauma Festival in September 2026. The festival brings together 24 authors whose work addresses trauma through a range of genres, including memoir, history, criminal justice, culture and education. The event is hosted by Scotland’s ACEs Action Community, a network of people and organisations who come together to generate deeper understanding around Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Getting to Grips with Trauma
Lanternhouse Arts
Cumbernauld Theatre
Sunday 6 September 2026
The Lost Boys
Angus was supported by Future Pathways and the Book Whisperers to edit and publish his book. The Lost Boys is available worldwide via Amazon.
