Matthew Maxwell Scott

8th July, 2026

Everybody at The Abbotsford Trust and The Walter Scott Prize is deeply shocked to learn of the sudden death of Matthew Maxwell Scott, trustee and host of the Prize.

Matthew served as a trustee from 2015, providing an invaluable link to the family and descendants of Sir Walter Scott, and the home and collection they so generously bequeathed to The Abbotsford Trust.

Matthew brought a passion for and commitment to Scott’s legacy that was unmatched. He was very proud of his ancestor’s achievements.

When Abbotsford took over the running of The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction in 2024, the team was lucky enough to gain Matthew as an invaluable colleague, and, for the past three years, the perfect host of the ceremony at the annual Borders Book Festival. In this role, his charm, wit and warmth earned him still more friends and fans.

Matthew passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, 5^th July aged just 49. He leaves behind his wife Melanie and two young boys.

As everybody at Abbotsford and The Walter Scott Prize attempts to come to terms with such a tragic and sudden loss, we reflect on Matthew’s outstanding contribution to securing the legacy of his ancestor, and for the kindness, generosity and good humour for which he was always known.

All our thoughts go to Matthew’s young family, for whom the loss is unimaginable.

He will be sorely missed.