He was born at Woolwich, the son of a Presbyterian minister. Balgarnie studied at, and taught at Elmfield College before going to The Leys. In the 1890s he would gather with other Old Elmfieldians in London for a country walk followed by tea, which was invariably accompanied with recitations and ballads around the piano.
Balgarnie was the first Elmfieldian M.A. (1891),[citation needed] and went from Elmfield to Fowey Grammar School, in Cornwall.[2]
What must be unique to Balgarnie is that he was followed at Trinity by his elder brother, Edward, who entered Trinity in 1897 at the age of 30.
From 1898 to 1900 he worked as an Assistant Master at Woodbridge school. And from 1900 till 1929 he was an Assistant and House Master at Leys school, and for one year he served as a Deputy Head Master (1929–1930).[2]
At The Leys School in Cambridge he was senior classical master, and, for a short period, deputy head master, over a period of more than fifty years.[4]