Former Scout commissioner tells why Hamilton was expelled after boys' camp incident Dishonourable discharge

Hamilton was expelled following the county commissioner's report about his ``irresponsible behaviour'' at a boys' camp at Aviemore in 1974.

However, it would appear the author, Mr Brian Fairgrieve, and the Scout Association in general, never made their concerns known to any other organisation or authority, in an official capacity.

The Dunblane inquiry yesterday concentrated on Hamilton's obsession that Scout officials were behind a smear campaign to ruin his reputation as an ``enthusiastic and friendly'' leader of boys' clubs.

Mr Fairgrieve, 69, a retired surgeon, said that in early 1974, Hamilton had taken boys on a hillwalking expedition to Aviemore. They were supposed to stay in a hostel, but had spent the night sleeping in Hamilton's van.

Following talks with Stirlingshire District Commissioner Robert Deuchars, it was agreed Hamilton would be dismissed on grounds of irresponsible behaviour.

Hamilton was also persuaded to resign because he had acted improperly by taking boys on to his speedboat on Loch Lomond when he knew nothing about boats.

A meeting with Hamilton to inform him that his warrant card was being taken away had added to his concerns.

``I formed the impression that he had a persecution complex and delusions of grandeur,'' said Mr Fairgrieve, who also suspected paranoia.

``I felt he should not be a member of the Scout movement. I am suspicious of his moral intentions towards boys.''

Later, under cross-examination by Mr Colin Campbell, QC for the families, Mr Fairgrieve admitted he had no evidence that Hamilton was sexually interested in boys, or would deliberately harm them.

But he thought Hamilton was a paedophile, a word the retired surgeon was not aware of in the early 70s but would have no hesitation using that term today to describe him. Mr Fairgrieve said Hamilton had previously been with a Bannockburn troop, but was transferred after a dispute with parents over disciplinary action he had taken.

Aviemore was the final straw when Hamilton had promised parents that the boys, aged 10 and 11, would be in hostel accommodation when none had been booked.

In 1977, Hamilton asked to meet Mr Fairgrieve about a return to the Scouts. They met at Falkirk Royal Infirmary but nothing was resolved.

Telphone calls then followed and a visit to Mr Fairgrieve's house in August 1986.

Hamilton denied he was homosexual, or would ever interfere with boys, and maintained his life was being ruined by malicious rumours spread by Scout commissioners in Dunblane.

Mr Fairgrieve said that Hamilton, by then, had become even more obsessive, and ``by the look in his eyes I would not be surprised if he was on psychiatric drugs''.

Mr Deuchars, 68, a retired BR worker, said he had known Hamilton through his DIY shop before his approach to become a Scout leader in 1973.

``He was young and very enthusiastic, and I was happy to accept him as an assistant Scout leader.''

However, problems arose within months from the boating incident to the Aviemore outing - one of two in which boys slept in Hamilton's van.

Parents had complained boys had arrived home cold and hungry because they slept overnight in the van. It was so cold that it had to be towed to Aviemore for defrosting.

Despite criticism over his lack of planning, it happened again within three weeks. District Commissioner Deuchars visited all the boys and their parents, to be told that Hamilton said they would be accommodated in a hostel. No such booking was ever made.

Mr Deuchars had no reason to suspect a sexual motive. Indeed, the boys had told him: ``It was OK for him because he slept on the bench with sleeping bags and blankets and we had to sleep on cold steel itself.''

Then, about 12 years ago, Hamilton had moved into his adoptive father's ground-floor flat in the same block where he lived. Despite the past, he had got on with Hamilton for some time, and recalled telling him that boys' club seemed to be his forte, and even giving him a lift.

Mr Deuchars socialised with Hamilton's adoptive father, Jimmy.

He said his behaviour changed when he became sole tenant about four years ago - after forcing Jimmy out of the house.

He said Jimmy had complained of being mistreated by Hamilton. Tactics had included locking the front door for up to 20 minutes before allowing him entry, to declaring a new colour television could not be used by him.

Then there were incidents involving police calling at the house, the smell of celluloid burning in the garden, and rumours following a police visit to a camp Hamilton had run at Loch Lomond.

Mr Deuchars saw Hamilton on the day of the Dunblane massacre. It was 8.15am and Hamilton was scraping ice from the van he used to drive to Dunblane.

He recalled wondering why he was up so early, because Hamilton was not an early riser. He had asked Hamilton to put a newspaper through his letterbox, for his wife, and Hamilton had replied: ``Right, I will.''

Asked if he was aware that Hamilton blamed him for spreading rumours that he was a pervert, Mr Deuchars said he knew of letters sent to parents in the Dunblane area which accused Scout leaders of doing so.

He also understood that other letters said they could contact him for a character reference on behalf of Hamilton.

Mrs Sandra Fernie, 47, an administration assistant with the Scout Association, told of a telephone conversation with Hamilton exactly a week before the tragedy.

He had asked who the patron of the association was, and wanted names of the officials.

He told her he wanted to tell the Queen about maladministration in the Scouts, where he was being branded a pervert.

Asked to pursue complaints with officials he named, Hamilton replied: ``It's too late for that.''

He declined to speak to the chief executive, Mr David Shelmerdine, on grounds that he had not responded to previous letters.

She had told Mr Shelmerdine of the conversation, and her offer to Hamilton to send the names of officials. She was told: ``Don't send them. . . I know about Thomas Hamilton.''