Disappearance of ex-Fettes College teacher treated as murder

Peter Coshan was last seen in Edinburgh on 11 August

Detectives are treating the disappearance of a former teacher at Edinburgh's Fettes College as murder.

Dr Peter Coshan, 75, was last seen in the Seafield Road area of Edinburgh at about 23:50 on 11 August and was reported missing the next day.

Two men, aged 27 and 63, have been arrested and charged.

Mr Coshan, who taught biology at former prime minister Tony Blair's old school, is presumed dead but his body has not been found.

The arrested men are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Fettes College said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" to hear of the disappearance.

Mr Coshan was a member of the teaching staff from 1972 until his retirement in 2005. He joined a year after Tony Blair attended the school, from 1966 to 1971.

Extensive inquiries

Helen Harrison, head of Fettes College, said: "Peter was an inspirational biology teacher and he will be remembered fondly by many.

"Not least by those who were taught by him, tutored by him and introduced to the hills through his enthusiasm for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which he ran for 33 years."

Detectives are appealing to the public for information.

Det Supt Andrew Patrick said extensive inquiries were ongoing to trace Mr Coshan, whose home in Stockbridge is four miles from where he was last seen.

He added: "I would encourage anyone with any information regarding Peter's disappearance to contact police as a matter of urgency.

"We have also set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information directly to the Major Investigation Team."