Real Lives: Banker Scott was 'meticulous in everything he did'

Published on Wednesday 15 October 2008 10:22

BANKER, church elder, perfectionist and keen golfer Scott Stewart has died aged 74.

THE late Scott Stewart may have been a stickler for living life by the rules, but he was not above making a cheerful exception.

When Comic Relief first launched its fundraising Red Nose Day in 1988, the banker proudly walked to work down Lothian Road sporting a red nose with his suit and briefcase, an act described by his family as being totally out of character with his normal reserve.

Born in Dundee in 1934, his father Thomas died of TB when Mr Stewart was just six years old. His mother Christina owned a grocer's shop so as youngsters he and his brother Watson were spared the worst privations of post-war rationing.

Mr Stewart began his career with the Royal Bank of Scotland in Broughty Ferry at the age of 16.

Shortly afterwards, he completed two years' national service in Germany, narrowly missing the Korean war. Initially in the Scots Guards, he was moved to the Welsh Fusiliers because of a hearing defect, due to contracting diphtheria when he was a child. Here he learned to drink whisky, because he felt you couldn't be a Scot and not drink the national drink.

At the end of his service he returned to Dundee, where he met Moira at a dance. He moved to Edinburgh when he was transferred to the Royal Bank's law department, and the couple were married at St John's Parish Church in Corstorphine on January 4 1958.

His daughter, Susan, was born in 1961, and son Andrew followed in 1963, while the family were living in London following another move within the bank.

Mr Stewart returned to Edinburgh in 1967 as controller of the bank's staff college, Dunstane. Several more moves followed, taking him to the bank's Dunfermline, Stirling and Bridge of Allan branches, but he returned again to Edinburgh in 1985 to become manager of the Princes Street West End branch, a post he retained until retirement.

He and Moira settled in Juniper Green, in a house beside the first tee of Baberton Golf Club, where they were members and keen players. Moira, a retired nurse, recalled that, due to his low handicap and her high handicap, he liked to enter them for the mixed fours, which Moira said, tongue-in-cheek, was the quickest route to divorce.

The Church of Scotland played an important role in Mr Stewart's life. He was a church elder at St John's Parish Church in Corstorphine and became covenant treasurer in Juniper Green. Mr Stewart had a strong faith, lived life by the rules, and stuck to his principles.

While working at the Bridge of Allan branch of the bank, he lived in Dunblane and attended Dunblane Cathedral. It was, however, more formal than his previous churches, and it was expected that men would wear morning dress for communions. Disagreeing with this, he refused to take part in formal communions on principle.

His daughter Susan described him as "meticulous in everything he did and a perfectionist, quiet, and yet charming in company, treating everybody equally and with respect".

He was devoted to his family, and worshipped his eight-year-old grandson Gordon, who nicknamed him Big Softie.