OBITUARIES

Lord George Penrose CA QC

2 June 1938 – 1 May 2025

George William Penrose (M08173) was born in Port Glasgow. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1959 and qualified as a CA with ICAS in 1962. In the same year he also graduated in law from Glasgow University. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates on 17 July 1964 and began a successful career at the junior bar until 1978, when he was appointed Queen’s Counsel.

In 1984 he was appointed procurator to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He remained as procurator until 1986, when he was appointed an advocate depute in Crown Office. Two years later he became the leader of the team, being appointed Home Advocate Depute, a post which he occupied until 1990, when he was elevated as a senator of the College of Justice, becoming Lord Penrose.

In 1994 he became the first full-time judge of the new Commercial Court having largely, if not exclusively, written the rules for the conduct of the new court. In 2001 he was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session and became a privy counsellor.

His mastery of complex financial issues was acknowledged on a UK basis when he was asked to chair the complex Equitable Life Inquiry which ran from 2001–2004.

In 2009 he presided over the inquiry into infected blood, the Penrose Inquiry, which ran until 2014. He also served as Chairman of the Financial Services Tribunal and was President of the Scottish proceedings of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal from 1977–1983.

Lord Penrose played an important role with ICAS across many years, particularly in respect of its disciplinary processes.

He had been a member of the Court of Heriot-Watt University from 1996 until 2002, and from 2005 until 2008 he chaired the Heriot-Watt University Board of its International Centre for Mathematical Sciences. In 2008 he was then invited to chair the University Court, which he did until 2015. He was awarded honorary doctorates from the Universities of Glasgow, Stirling and Heriot-Watt. In 2010 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

George married Wendy Cooper on 4 June 1964. Wendy was a native of Langbank, adjacent to his native Port Glasgow. They had met on their regular train journeys between their respective homes and Glasgow. She died in 2013.

They had three children. Susan is a chartered accountant in Vancouver. She is married to Mark and they have two sons, Scott and Matthew. David designs and makes bespoke furniture and lives in London with his partner Juliette. Jane is an office manager in Solihull. She is married to Stewart and they have two daughters, Claire and Kirsty.

In 2017 George married Elizabeth McClelland. The marriage was dissolved in 2023.

As is evident from a review of his outstanding legal career, George Penrose was a gifted lawyer who dealt throughout his working life with complex issues. He gave an appearance of being a reserved individual, but he was a humorous and entertaining companion with a mischievous sense of humour.

What is not so well known is that in contrast to his expertise in the complex world of commerce and finance, he was also an accomplished artist, sculptor and wood carver. His sketchbook was a constant companion on his travels to exotic locations and his watercolours displayed a remarkable talent and sensitivity. His artistic skills were also obvious in his gardening.

A lover of the outdoors, he spent much time in the hills of Scotland and hiked extensively in the Alps with Wendy. He was also an experienced scuba diver. 

This is a personal submission from Kevin Drummond QC

Alasdair Stewart CA

28 February 1933 – 7 April 2025

A native of Perth, Alasdair Duncan Stewart (M06286) was educated at Perth Academy, where he met his future wife, Audrey.

He trained to be a CA with J & R Morison & Co in Perth, staying with the firm until 1959, when he took up a post as an assistant in the accounts department of steelmakers Stewarts and Lloyds. His time with the business was divided between the West Midlands and Glasgow. In 1967, he joined the P-E Consulting Group in Glasgow. After five years there, he accepted a position as Deputy Chief Financial Officer with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and he and the family moved to Edinburgh. In 1975, he became its Financial Director until 1989.

As the Hydro-Electric Board prepared for privatisation, Alasdair was instrumental in the formation of Scottish Nuclear, of which he was the Finance Director until he retired in 1993.

On his retirement, Alasdair and Audrey moved down to Hampshire, where he was able to pursue his passions for sailing and travel. At the age of 70, Alasdair sailed across the Atlantic and he repeated this feat when he was 80. In 2024, Alasdair and Audrey moved to Buckinghamshire to be closer to their family. Alasdair passed away peacefully on 7 April 2025. He is survived by Audrey, his three sons, Gordon, Murray and Douglas, his three grandsons, Liam, Alexander and Oliver, and his elder sister, Flora.

This is a personal submission from his family

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Alexander Massey CA

Alexander Turner Massey (M07640) has died aged 89. He trained with Thomson McLintock & Co, qualifying in 1961. He was working for ICI Australia Operation when he retired and was living in Manly, Australia, at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2011.

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David Clark CA

David Kerr Clark (M10518) has died aged 75. He trained with Thomson McLintock & Co, qualifying in 1972. He was working for CCG Contracting International when he retired and was living in Stirling at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2022.

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Duncan Whyte CA

Duncan Whyte (M09728) has died aged 77. He trained with Paterson & Bennie, qualifying in 1968. He was self-employed when he retired and was living in Glasgow at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2018.

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Gordon Edward CA

Gordon Watmore Edward (M09838) has died aged 77. He trained with Alexander Sloan & Co, qualifying in 1969. He was retired and living in Inverurie at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2019.

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Ian Valentine CA MBE

Ian Balfour Valentine (M08394) has died aged 84. He trained with J Wyllie Guild & Ballantine, qualifying in 1963. He was working for BDO when he retired and was living in Ayr at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2013.

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James Brunton CA

James Brunton (M07955) has died aged 85. He trained with J & R Morison & Co, qualifying in 1962. He was working for Saint & Co when he retired and was living in Carlisle at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2012.

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James Brennan CA

James Reiss Edward Brennan (M27781) has died aged 39. He trained with Forvis Mazars, qualifying in 2011. He was working for NatWest and living in Edinburgh at his time of death.

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Lauren Elder CA

Lauren Jane Elder (M26448) has died aged 40. She trained with Dalgliesh & Tullo, qualifying in 2010. She was working for Lloyds Banking Group and living in Perth at her time of death.

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Nigel Richardson CA

Nigel Buist Richardson (M07370) has died aged 90. He trained with Thomson McLintock & Co, qualifying in 1960. He was working for Scottish Agricultural Securities Corp when he retired and was living in Edinburgh at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2010.

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Robin Orr CA

Robin Alistair Orr (M12626) has died aged 71. He trained with Kidsons Impey, qualifying in 1978. He was working for Smales Fish Merchants and living in Hull at his time of death.

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Steven Maconachie CA

Steven Maconachie (M18705) has died aged 54. He trained with RSM UK, qualifying in 1994. He was on a career break and living in Edinburgh at his time of death.

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William Weir CA

William Logan Weir (M10455) has died aged 78. He trained with Hardie Caldwell, Ker & Hardie, qualifying in 1971. He was retired and living in Troon at his time of death. He received Gold Club membership in 2021.

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