Mark Hatton
Chair (as in a person who sits in the Chair rather than is a chair), based in Edinburgh
Contact email : mark@hattonfamily.com Telephone number : 07774 499589
Greyfriars Kirkyard is Edinburgh’s best museum, library, art gallery, tourist attraction, social hub and garden. It is packed full of history, artistry & mystery. I love finding out more about it every time I visit and sharing what I know with anyone who is interested. But it is a vulnerable place that needs friends to help look after it.
Elizabeth Lockhart
Deputy Chair & Programming Coordinator
Having been born and raised in Edinburgh I was thrilled to join the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard and learn more about this amazing place and its importance in the history of Edinburgh and Scotland. I’m a retired nurse with a history degree through the Open University. My main interests are in those interred here who have played such an important role in the development of medicine, science and the interplay between religion and politics. I find the thread of etching memory in stone from Neolithic rock art, Pictish stone sculptures and the precious memorials in Greyfriars fascinating. The stonemasons works through time can give a window into previous lives, although puzzling at times. Meeting like-minded people in the Friends group has been wonderful and educational, we’re always learning something new about the kirkyard.
Chris Cooper
Treasurer
I just marvel at the artistic skills of the masons who created these Kirkyard monuments. Being involved with FoGK is just wonderful as I have learnt so much history from other members. My main interest is John Bayne of Pitcairlie W.S., whose mausoleum is by the north wall. This research extends outwards to other people that John Bayne had connections with: John Cunningham, Sir James McLurge and Robert Mylne, HM’s master mason. My big dream is to raise funds to conserve these precious monuments for future generations.
Daria Tuhtar
Membership Secretary
I’ve served as Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard’s (FoGK) Membership Secretary since October 2022. When I’m not busy gallivanting through Greyfriars, I work as a public policy professional at the Royal Society of Edinburgh and run a successful pet-sitting venture on the side (ask me for my referral code). I’ve been drawn to graveyards ever since I was little, providing proof that spookiness is indeed heritable since my grandfather was also a proud taphophile who would explore cemeteries at every opportunity. I find it poignant to imagine the many people that have long lain buried within their walls yet no longer receive visits from any immediate family or descendants. Their loneliness is palpable and I feel a sense of responsibility to commune with the monuments they’ve left behind and ensure their final resting place remains peaceful, enduring, and welcoming. My non-graveyard interests include astrology, writing, travel, and terrible reality TV.
Fraser Paterson
Having been born and raised in Edinburgh I was thrilled to join the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard and learn more about this amazing place and its importance in the history of not only Edinburgh but the whole of Scotland.
I’m a professional tour guide. Part of my job is to have a strong knowledge of Scottish history.
Greyfriars fascinates me. The mini bios on so many headstones tell a rich variety of stories. From Cromwell supporters to Royalists, to legal advisors and goldsmiths to monarchy, religious reformists, plus so many family tragedies, plus the stories some tell, by not telling them!
Greyfriars has it all! A little bit of research reveals many ‘jackpot’ stories that light the fire! Meeting like-minded people in the Friends group has been wonderful and educational, we’re always learning something new about the kirkyard.
Stuart Robins
Website Coordinator
I gained an appreciation of the old Edinburgh graveyards during the 2020 and 2021 COVID travel restrictions. Spending every possible weekend walking out to exploring a new one. Each a microcosm encompassing history, architecture and nature – and Greyfriars was the most fascinating of all.
It’s an honour to be part of the committee dedicated to conserving, interpreting and championing this extraordinary space. As Managing Director of Zero, an Edinburgh Design company, it’s a pleasure to volunteer some of my time and expertise to the Friends of the Kirkyard.
While it’s fair to say my passion for graveyards was kindled by a lifelong love of gothic horror, the gravestones hold their own tales just as rich in intrigue and mystery as you’ll find in any work of fiction. Old stones, and their stories, are something of a passion of mine and I keep a diary of my field notes on instagram @childrenofthestones
Lesley Niezynski
Education Officer
As a self-confessed taphophile, it was only natural that I should find myself drawn to Greyfriars. As a lifelong lover of history and an architecture graduate, burial grounds represent the perfect offering; miniaturised cities filled with tales from the past!
When I am not exploring the lands of the dead, my time is spent as an accounting lecturer and historian. My research centres upon 16th-19th century accounting, and recently I have begun researching the links between accounting and death, a move that has led me back to Greyfriars.
Greyfriars to me is like the (once) beating heart of Edinburgh, so many aspects of Edinburgh’s history lead back to its iron gates. These hallowed grounds of Edinburgh hide a wealth of history waiting to be unearthed, and I look forward to sharing it with the world!
Alison Park-Douglas
Digital Officer
I hold a degree in Art History from Harvard University and bring over 20 years of experience in the creative and tech industries, spanning UX product design, photography, and business leadership. During my studies, I had the opportunity to spend the summer working on an archaeological dig, which strengthened my appreciation for cultural heritage.
As an avid traveller and photographer, I have documented historic graveyards across the world, exploring the artistry and symbolism embedded in their monuments. This interest has shaped my commitment to the preservation and interpretation of historic sites.
Greyfriars Kirkyard holds particular significance for me. I am fascinated by the iconography of its stone carvings, the evolution of its architectural forms, and the stories of the individuals memorialised there. I value the diverse expertise of my fellow committee members and look forward to learning from their perspectives while contributing my own knowledge and experience to our collective work of conservation and stewardship.
Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard 