Former SAS soldier and Chief Inspector of Prisons Clive Fairweather dies aged 68

The First Minister has paid tribute to Clive Fairweather, former SAS soldier and Chief Inspector of Prisons, who has died aged 68.

Mr Fairweather was born and educated in Edinburgh and spent 34 years in the Army, rising from the rank of private soldier to Colonel.

During his military career he completed three tours with the SAS and was also security adviser to the Iranian and Jordanian Royal Households in 1970-71. He was second-in-command of 22 SAS at the Iranian Embassy siege in London in 1980.

His last job in the military was at Edinburgh Castle, where he was military security officer for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

He was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland in 1994 and held the job until 2002. He was made a CBE in 2003 for public service.

Mr Fairweather was a regular contributor to The Scotsman, commenting on defence, the armed forces and the prison system.

He was a major fundraiser for military charity Combat Stress, which helps former service personnel damaged by their military experiences.

A spokesman for the charity said Mr Fairweather died at the Western Infirmary in Edinburgh yesterday.

Commenting on the death of Mr Fairweather, First Minister Alex Salmond said: “It is very sad to hear of the death of Sir Clive Fairweather and my sympathies go out to his family and friends.

“I got to know Clive well as Chief Inspector of Prisons through our joint interest in supporting the pioneering prison regime at Peterhead which was then under threat of closure.

“He had a fund of extraordinary stories about his time in the SAS, was always excellent company and worked hard for the public good in Scotland.

“As Chief Inspector of Prisons he brought to the job a unique combination of humanity and common sense which demonstrated how an enlightened prison regime would operate in the public interest.

“I will very much miss his contribution to Scottish public life.”

Andrew Cameron, chief executive of Combat Stress, said: “It was with great sadness that we learned of Clive Fairweather’s passing.

“Clive was a tireless servant of Combat Stress, and a wonderful advocate of our work and the issue of veterans’ welfare and mental health. Over the years he raised thousands of pounds in Scotland to support Combat Stress’s vital work and greatly raised awareness of the needs of Scottish veterans.

“Clive had a wonderful rapport with the veterans who we support and, as an ex-serviceman of considerable distinction himself, was trusted and respected by them. His energy and passion will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.”