Professor James Murray

Published on Wednesday 15 October 2008 21:44

Former vice-principal of Napier College

Born: 25 July, 1930, in Glasgow.

Died: 10 October, 2008, in Switzerland, aged 78.

PROFESSOR James Murray was one of the most far-sighted and distinguished educationists in post-war Scotland. He was vice-principal of Napier College from 1992 – the year it gained university status – until his retirement in 1995 and is now recognised as a major force in higher education nationally.

Murray was a highly regarded engineer but his work in expanding and broadening the curriculum of Napier University will stand as his academic legacy. Indeed, Napier's ranking as the third highest performing modern Scottish university in a Sunday Times university league last year is substantially due to his foresight and commitment.

He is remembered at Napier as a man of drive and enthusiasm. He brought together the various – somewhat disparate – faculties with his own brand of zeal and devotion. With his broad smile and cheerful manner he laid the foundation for Napier's rapid academic growth in the past decade.

James Murray was brought up in the Tollcross district of Glasgow and in 1942 won a scholarship to Allan Glen's School, where he was a distinguished pupil academically and on the rugby field, becoming a passionate supporter of the school at many levels. From 1988 he served as president of the Old Boys' Club and then wrote a comprehensive history of the school dating from its origins in 1853.

After school Murray studied mechanical engineering at the Royal Technical College, then at Glasgow University, where he graduated in 1952 with a BSc (Hons). He was then a development engineer with Ferranti in Edinburgh but in 1962 he accepted the post of lecturer in mechanical engineering at Heriot-Watt College.

Five years later Murray became head of the production engineering department at Napier College. Later he held the posts of dean of the business school and of the faculty of engineering. His department specialised in all aspects of engineering production and its international reputation was greatly enhanced, especially in the fields of automation and robotics.

Murray was at his most academically courageous and far-sighted during this period. In the years leading up to Napier gaining university status, the college had to meet many criteria. His genial but firm chairmanship of the Academic Standards Committee, which oversaw these issues, demanded a wide academic knowledge and great tact. He treated the concerns of colleagues and students with care and patience and throughout the lengthy deliberations he is remembered for his courtesy and ability to allow all opinions to be voiced .

Professor Alex Young, a longstanding colleague of Murray's, said: "I worked with Jim for 30 years and his contribution to the management and forward thinking of Napier University cannot be overestimated.

"From his earliest days he developed his department and made excellent advances in research. Jim had wonderful 'people skills'. He would make himself known and available to everyone, from senior management to new students.

"Jim was always friendly and encouraging of people with initiative and anyone who tried. 'It is too easy to get nothing done,' he used to say. He was a man with deep common sense and a wonderful friend."

Following Murray's retirement in 1995, his achievements were consolidated and Naper expanded even further.

In 1996, for example, the former Lothian College of Health Studies and the Scottish Borders College of Nursing were amalgamated into Napier.

Murray seemed to be always on the go. He had played rugby for Allan Glen's FPs, then in Edinburgh for Lismore. He became one of the regular referees for George Heriots FP– retiring only when he was 50 – and was a convivial and popular figure at the team's Goldenacre ground.

He was a trustee of the National Museums of Scotland, a governor of Moray House and a member of the convocation of Heriot-Watt University. He was on numerous advisory boards and government think-tanks – though he resigned from the Scottish manufacturing steering group in 2003, describing it as "a waste of time".

Murray acted as chairman of Council of Engineering Institutions Scotland and was on the Transport Tribunal of Scotland. He had been a church elder since 1957 – the 50th anniversary marked last year at his church at Colinton Parish.

As well as being a lover of golf and opera, Murray was a keen traveller and often visited Japan. He maintained a lifelong interest in railways and trains – one of the reasons for his visits to Japan – and in a reference book he cites as one of his interests "studying light rail transport systems".

Murray died after a heart attack while on holiday in Switzerland. His wife, Emily Beveridge, died in 2001 and he is survived by their son and daughter.

ALASDAIR STEVEN