Rod Allan
Rod has a strong history with Preston Lodge. Brought up in Prestonpans, he attended Preston Lodge High School before graduating from Edinburgh University with a BSc Honours in Chemical Engineering. Rod’s father, David Allan is also an ex-head teacher of the school.
Rod started his career at Scottish and Newcastle fulfilling a number of roles in Engineering and Operations management over the course of 8 years before moving to join a Finnish company Metsalitto. Here he spent 10 years as Managing Director of the largest Wood products company in the UK. He then moved to the international interiors, furniture manufacturer and contractor Havelock Europa Plc as Executive Director of Operations with a spell in China growing the supply routes.
His current role is mostly with Stewart Milne Group focussed on the growth of timber frame building in the UK but also a wood waste company in central Scotland and a VC backed sports surfaces company in Scandinavia.
During his time at Finnforest he served on the board of the Centre for Timber Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University and whilst at Havelock was active within the CBI. Most of his work involves business turnaround, growth optimisation and integrated supply chain projects helping both companies extend their global reach.
Gavin Clark Gavin Clark is head teacher of Preston Lodge High School, and a founding member of the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation.
After attending Cults Academy in Aberdeen, then studying Economics with International Relations at St Andrews, Gavin worked in a wide variety of jobs, travelling a lot along the way, and became a Modern Studies teacher in 1992. Having worked at Musselburgh Grammar, West Calder High School, Dunfermline High School and Dunbar Grammar School, in 2009 Gavin became headteacher at Preston Lodge High School. In his spare time he drags his young sons on long cycle rides, walks a lot, and tries to cook.
“It is an enormous privilege to work with young people, and I’m proud to lead in a school where real learning is the priority. We have staff passionate about innovation, an exciting curriculum, unique events, like our Learning Festival, and our Charitable Trust now has many opportunities to support real change in this school, and in our wider community.”
Douglas Clarke is the Financial Controller of EMMS International, an Edinburgh based international healthcare charity. A chartered accountant by profession, Douglas spent twenty years in corporate banking with the Royal Bank of Scotland before taking up the position of Finance Business Partner in 2012 with the Glasgow based charity, Scottish Association for Mental Health, and subsequently moving to EMMS in 2015.
Douglas is married to Nicola and they have two sons in full time education. He plays tenor saxophone in the Heart & Soul Swing Band and (occasionally) either tenor sax or clarinet in the Preston Lodge Big Band. Douglas is also Treasurer of Longniddry Parish Church.
“Education is the key to success in our young people,” says Douglas, “and the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation complements the outstanding work done by Preston Lodge High School in preparing its students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their adult lives.”
Hannah CraigieHannah Craigie is PT Numeracy at Preston Lodge High School, and joined the Trust as a teacher representative in February 2020.
Hannah grew up in London before moving to Scotland to study Maths and History at Glasgow University. Her first teaching job was at Invergordon Academy in the Highlands, and she moved to Edinburgh to start working at Preston Lodge in 1999.
As well as teaching Maths, she has undertaken a number of roles over the years, including PT Classroom Practice and Attainment Manager.
In her spare time, Hannah likes to read and walk the dog. She has two teenage boys who generally try to avoid both these things.
Cate moved to Scotland in 1994 to study at Edinburgh University and never left. She now works at the University as Senior Laboratory and Infrastructure Manager at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science located at the Bio Quarter.
Cate moved to Prestonpans from Stirling in 2013 when her son started school. She was previously active member of the Prestonpans After School Club Parent and Carer Committee and Chaired this for four years. Cate is now on the Preston Lodge Parent Council.
Robin Hill is minister of Gladsmuir linked with Longniddry, and a Preston Lodge High School chaplain. Born in Glasgow in 1964, he attended Hyndland Secondary School then Glasgow University, where he studied law. A doctorate in terrorism was followed by four years working at St Andrews University. From 1994-99 he edited the Church of Scotland’s magazine, Life and Work, before ministry training.
Married to Ailsa, a person-centred counsellor, they have two adult children, Katie and Michael – both proud PL alumni. For fun, Robin writes and arranges big band music and runs The Heart & Soul Swing Band, a gospel R&B group whose concerts raise funds for the Church of Scotland HIV Programme.
“Being part of the charitable trust has reinforced for me what a wonderful place PL already is,” says Robin. “It is really great to be working with the school community to help build a vision for an exciting future.”
Julia Robertson is one of the Depute Head Teachers of Preston Lodge High School and joined the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation in February 2020.
Julia went to James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh before studying at Napier University, Moray House and Edinburgh University. She started in education as a teacher of Business Studies and Economics at Craigmount High School, was a Principal Teacher at Firrhill High School and came to Preston Lodge High School in 1993.
In her spare time Julia likes to travel, shop and socialise. She has 2 children – her daughter is studying medicine at Dundee University and her son is lead singer in the indie band Vistas. Julia is a ‘rock and roll mum’ and can always be found down the front at Vistas gigs!
“I am delighted to have been asked to be a Trust member as I see the positive impact the Trust has on securing funding to help families who require some additional support as well as providing opportunities for staff to work collaboratively and provide even more exciting learning experiences for our students”.
Angus Tulloch and his family have resided in the Prestonpans area for the last 30 years. Throughout this period, he has worked for the same Edinburgh-based investment management team, specialising in Asian and Global Emerging markets. He is a former member of East Lothian Council’s Education Financial Advisory Committee and of the Commission on School Reform. Other educational interests include being an ambassador for Columba 1400 and the Scottish Chinese Education Network. Angus co-founded the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust and its predecessor the East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust, which have both enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Preston Lodge High School.
“With governments everywhere cutting back on educational resources, it is essential that communities step into the breach and enable their local schools to develop initiatives that both expand overall educational outcomes and narrow the attainment gap. Through their Foundation, Preston Lodge High School is tackling these challenges headlong in an exceptionally imaginative way, and I am very proud to be associated with this venture.”
Colin Yorkston Colin was born and bred in Prestonpans. He has been a Chemistry teacher in comprehensive schools for over 20 years and initially taught in in the North East of England before returning home in 2004. Colin currently teaches in Edinburgh. He was previously an active member of the Parent Councils at the Infant and Primary Schools in Prestonpans and has been a member of Preston Lodge PC for the last 6 years.
“I am delighted to be involved with the Trust and fully agree with the stated aims to assist in the development of PL as a centre of excellence in learning. I am greatly encouraged by the desire to support staff in their personal development and to actively involve our local communities on this exciting journey. Central to everything though is the desire to improve the life chances of all of our children.”
Sheona Skinner is Head Teacher of Longniddry Primary School and joined the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation as a Trustee in 2025.
After attending Knox Academy in Haddington, Sheona then went on to Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh to train as a Primary School Teacher. Graduating in 1993, Sheona worked at Law Primary School in North Berwick for almost 20 years. In that time, she was an early years class teacher, Principal Teacher with responsibility for a support base for pupils with a range of additional support needs and Depute Head. During this time Sheona was seconded to the role of Acting Head at Humbie for 9 months before returning to Law for a further year. Sheona joined Longniddry Primary as Head Teacher in 2012 and in that time has also been Acting Head at Preston Tower and Humbie and Saltoun. Sheona is extremely proud to support the wider Preston Lodge Community and is also a member of the Preston Lodge Pipes and Drums Trust.
In her spare time Sheona likes spending time with family and friends, dog sitting for friends and has recently been persuaded to take up wild swimming!
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