OBITUARIES

George Tasker CA

28 September 1930 – 7 January 2025 

George Leith Tasker (M05547), formerly a senior partner at Bird Simpson & Co, has died aged 94. He was not only a well-known figure in the business community of Dundee and surrounds, but his contribution to public life ensured that he left his mark on his native city.

George was born to George and Margaret Tasker, the third of four children. He showed early academic promise and achieved a scholarship to the Morgan Academy. On leaving school in 1947 he took up a position as a trainee accountant with Norman J Bird, which later became Bird Simpson & Co. In 1950 he was awarded a cash prize for obtaining the highest marks in Scotland in his chartered accountancy exams. Alas, the sum of £2:2/- equates to about £60 today, not a life-changing amount.

His studies were interrupted by national service (1953–55). In addition to his prowess with numbers, George had a love of literature, especially poetry. This was quickly identified by those in authority, and he was chosen to join an elite group to study Russian at Cambridge University under the auspices of the Joint Services School for Linguists. Upon completion, he was commissioned into the RAF as an interpreter. His language skills never waned and in advanced years he could still happily converse in Russian, French or Spanish.

1957 was a special year for George – he qualified as the youngest CA in the country. However, this was eclipsed by his wedding in September at Gilfillan Church to Norma Croll. They both had a passion for music and had met at the Dundee Music Centre. Norma was a highly regarded soprano while George played violin – both classical and fiddle repertoire – as well as piano and organ. Indeed, George had considered a career as a professional musician or, reflecting his strong faith, a vocation to the ministry in the Church of Scotland. However, he was made a partner at his firm almost immediately following his qualification as a CA and served there throughout his career, becoming senior partner in 1979 and retiring in 1996. George’s professional expertise gained him recognition far and wide. It was no surprise, therefore, that he was elected to serve on ICAS Council from 1982–88.

George had many interests beyond the business world. He was President of the Boys’ Brigade in Dundee (1991–95) and an elder at Logie and St John’s Cross Church for several decades. He and Norma loved the arts; they attended and performed in numerous musical activities. They held season tickets for Perth and Pitlochry theatres, sponsored the National Youth Orchestra and were founder members of the Friends of the Black Watch Museum.

“He and Norma had a real spirit of adventure, visiting China and Russia long before these destinations were easily accessible for tourists”

He also found time to become involved in the academic world as a part-time lecturer at Dundee University and serving as a governor of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.

George forged deep friendships with people from all walks of life, maintaining them through visits or correspondence. Even in his later years, he attended a lunch club for Morgan Academy alumni. He built bonds through church and the Boys’ Brigade, stayed in touch with friends from national service, and connected with fellow musicians in the Dundee Orchestral Society and the Perth Symphony Orchestra, where he played violin into his 80s.

His professional life also fostered friendships. Many clients became close family friends, and George participated in a dining club for ICAS Council members. He and Norma also made friends while travelling and they had a real spirit of adventure, visiting China and Russia long before these destinations were easily accessible for tourists. They also managed to attend the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which is only performed every 10 years. Even casual Saturday mornings at the Washington Cafe in Dundee with pals often turned into spirited banter, which George enjoyed immensely.

George and Norma’s marriage covered 67 remarkable years. Together, they were blessed with three daughters and four grandsons. George’s devotion to his family was evident to all who knew him. Despite his busy schedule as senior partner in his firm, he always made time to support his daughters, especially during school events and music competitions. While not a master chef, he made breakfast for his daughters and their friends during sleepovers, demonstrating his care in small but meaningful ways.

George’s love for his family was evident in gestures big and small. For his 90th birthday, he and Norma hosted the extended family for a weekend at the Killiecrankie Hotel. He gifted each grandson a complete Highland dress on their 18th birthday, and it was touching that all four wore these outfits when one of them was recently married. In quieter, romantic moments, George presented Norma with a red rose on every holiday and gave yellow roses to any daughters travelling with them.

He will be remembered as a man of the utmost integrity, with a generosity of spirit and a profound compassion for others. His sense of humour was mischievous yet good-natured, often finding joy in the incongruous. Walking past a butcher’s shop in Crieff which had carpet offcuts in the window, he mused on the possibility of asking for a steak pie and a runner for the stair! He enjoyed the sitcom Still Game and was himself “still game” in his twilight years. His family fondly recall him dancing in full Highland dress to the Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) at the wedding of one of his grandsons.

In 1988, seeking a change of lifestyle, George and Norma moved from the hustle and bustle of Dundee to Pitroddie in rural Perthshire. George was able to develop his passion for gardening and the magnificent local landscape allowed him to walk his numerous dogs over the years, his final companion being a rescue dog called Louie.

Through his faith, his family and his many, many friends, George Leith Tasker truly enjoyed a most wonderful life.

This is a personal submission from his family

Robert Anderson CA

18 March 1946 – 6 July 2024

Robert Anderson (M09417) was admitted to ICAS in 1968 and immediately took up a position with Cooper Brothers in Glasgow. After this he joined the Mercat Group in east Africa, first in Uganda and then in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was appointed Group Financial Director, a position he held for several years before returning to the UK in 1981.

He joined the Glasgow-based Weir Group as Financial Director for Weir Westgarth Wokingham and eventually moved back to Scotland as FD for both that and the newly acquired company, Liquid Gas Equipment.

In 1993, he left Scotland and worked for Pepsi Cola, Coca-Cola and Heineken in various African and Russian-speaking countries, finally hanging up his passport and retiring in 2024.

He is greatly missed by his wife, their two children and their families.

This is a personal submission from his family

Stewart Gordon CA

23 August 1959 – 1 December 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Stewart Alexander Gordon (M14008).

Stewart grew up in Neilston, and was educated at Eastwood High School, before later studying at Glasgow University, graduating in accountancy in 1979. He was recruited by Thomson McLintock & Co (now KPMG), Glasgow, qualifying in 1982, and became the Senior Manager running audit department two, before transferring to the specialist corporate finance team.

After a spell on secondment to Lanarkshire Development Agency in Bellshill, within the financial readiness team, he left KPMG to join Scottish Enterprise on a permanent basis in 1996, working there until he retired in February 2022.

Stewart was always generous with his time, including mentoring colleagues in his team or leading training courses. He led by example; he was tenacious, client-focused and well respected, and he influenced many trainees setting out on their accounting careers. Numerous businesses also benefited from his practical financial and business advice and support over his career, often delivered with his unique style of humour.

Outside work, he enjoyed playing five-a-side football until he hung up his boots. Other interests over the years included golf, listening to music, foreign travel, watching sport and generally socialising with friends and family.

He will be sorely missed by so many relations, friends, former colleagues and business clients.

This is a personal submission from his family and those closest to him

Andrew Patterson CA

Andrew Ian Patterson (M06500) has died aged 93. He trained with Romanes & Munro, qualifying in 1957. He was self-employed when he retired and was living in Crieff at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2007.

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David Gray CA

David Buchanan Gray (M11033) has died aged 74. He trained with Davidson & Yorkman, qualifying in 1974. He was working for Lithoprint Holdings when he retired and was living in Glasgow at his time of death.

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Hubert Wilson CA

Hubert William Wilson (M07410) has died aged 83. He trained with Alexander Sloan & Co, qualifying in 1960. He was working for the Ministry of Financial Institutions of Ontario when he retired and was living in Scarborough at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2010.

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Michael Risk CA

Michael Symington Risk (M11525) has died aged 77. He trained with Thomson McLintock & Co, qualifying in 1975. He was retired and living in Twickenham at his time of death.

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Norman Bain CA

Norman Bain (M06076) has died aged 91. He trained with A Galloway Brown, qualifying in 1955. He was working for Robertson & Bain when he retired and was living in Peterhead at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2005.

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