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North-east teaching fund close to ‘collapse’ over slave trade revelations

James Dick had a business partnership with Robert Milligan, whose statue was removed in London over his links to slavery.

Campaigners claim the £1.8 million Dick Bequest is on the brink of “collapse” after a key body cut ties to the north-east teaching fund over its historic links to the slave trade.

Robert Pirrie, chief executive of the Society of Writers to HM Signet (WS Society), confirmed the prestigious legal organisation would no longer be appointing trustees to oversee the fund.

The move, which follows a similar decision taken by Aberdeen University’s Senate last month, leaves the future of the bequest in doubt.

SNP ministers have now been urged to step in and help find a way forward.

It comes as leading academic Sir Geoff Palmer, who grew up in Kingston and came to the UK when he was 14, told The Sunday Times that the remaining £1.8m should be returned to Jamaica.

Prof Geoff Palmer.

The WS Society’s role in the Dick Bequest is crucial because it previously appointed five of the 10 governors, while Aberdeen University named two.

The other three trustees are put forward by Aberdeenshire and Moray councils.

What is the Dick Bequest?

The bequest was established following the death of Forres-born merchant James Dick almost two centuries ago.

The pot of money has been used to provide grants to teachers and schools in Aberdeenshire and Moray ever since.

Last year, two historians revealed that the money was directly linked to the fortune Mr Dick made as a slave trader in the Caribbean.

He had a business partnership with Robert Milligan, whose statue was removed by the Museum of London from its plinth in London’s Docklands, amid a wave of anger across the country about the UK’s enduring links to slavery.

David Alston.

David Alston, one of the historians who led the research, subsequently called on the organisations involved to stop appointing trustees.

He argued such a move would pave the way for the money to be used for a new purpose, such as being repatriated to Jamaica.

‘Collapsed’

Last night, he said: “The Dick Bequest trust has, in effect, collapsed.

“In future neither the Senate of Aberdeen University nor the Society of Writers to the Signet will appoint trustees.

“Aberdeenshire Council is struggling to make its two appointments and Moray Council’s sole trustee was appointed on the understanding that Moray Council would campaign to redirect the funds to Jamaica.

“It is now unrealistic to claim that the future of the trust is a matter for the governors.”

Mr Alston called on Scottish ministers and MSPs to step in and resolve the future of the trust.

However, a spokeswoman for the trust said a number of Mr Alston’s comments were “factually incorrect”.

Wood engraving of African slaves being brought To Jamaica.

Moray Council agreed a year ago to lobby the bequest governors and the Scottish Government to wind up the Dick Bequest and redirect the cash to benefit people in Jamaica.

It also decided that until the fund was closed, the council would adopt a “minimum approach”, including no longer promoting the scheme or applying for equipment grants.

However, councillors decided they would still be required to nominate a member to sit on the board.

A spokeswoman said: “Any deviation from this decision would require further committee agreement and will be a matter for committee members to discuss.”

Last month, an Aberdeenshire councillor quit as a governor of the Dick Bequest within days of being appointed, amid a “blood money” row over its links to the slave trade.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We must never ignore or seek to hide the difficult aspects of our country’s history and we acknowledge Scotland’s complex past, including our involvement in the slave trade.

“We are supporting a number of activities to recognise this.

“The Scottish Government does not have the legal power to direct charitable activity. That is a decision for the remaining charity trustees, taking advice as appropriate, including from OSCR.”

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