Former chair of the local resident’s association and the New Town and Broughton Community Council, Carol has been a passionate advocate for the preservation of the building since 2014 and has sat as a Trustee on the board since 2023.

A senior Lyengar Yoga instructor, Carol has lived near the Category A listed building for years and campaigned hard against the application to turn it into a hotel, attending every planning committee meeting until the final verdict was secured.

The appointment comes as revised plans for the Royal High School building make their way through Edinburgh Council’s planning process.

Carol said: “Initially my interest in the building came because I strongly disagreed with the plans of turning it into a hotel. Then the more I learned about its new proposed use as a National Centre for Music, the more invested and passionate I became about making sure it happened. After all – we are saving a building in the most joyous way possible – making music accessible for everyone.”

Although not a musician herself, Carol grew up with music in her household and now enjoys a huge variety of music with her family. She finished: “The National Centre for Music is a perfect way of bringing all strands of Scottish music together for the whole world to enjoy – it will bring the building back to perfection as far as I’m concerned.”

Grant MacKenzie, executive director of the Royal High School Preservation Trust, said: “Carol is the perfect choice to lead the direction for the new building. She’s exceptionally passionate about the project, knows the local area extremely well and instinctively knows what will appeal to and benefit both the local Edinburgh community but also wider music communities around the world. We’re grateful to have her on board and look forward to delivering our plans under her guidance.”

Carol officially started her post on 20 June and will be supported by the existing RHSPT board made up of 10 members. A decision on the revised plans for the building is expected after the summer.