Obituary: Alistair C Clark, solicitor

Alistair C Clark, solicitor. Picture: Contributed

Alistair C Clark, solicitor.  Born: 4 March, 1933, in Barnhill.

Died: 26 January, 2015, in Dundee, aged 81.

Retired Dundee solicitor, Alistair C Clark, who was a past president of the Law Society of Scotland and senior partner of what is now Blackadders Solicitors, has died, aged 81.

Mr Clark was born and brought up in Barnhill and attended Grove Academy, where he became deputy head boy. He graduated MA from the University of St Andrews and LLB from Queen’s College, Dundee and served his legal apprenticeship at Edward Cowan & Co before joining Reid, Johnston Bell & Henderson on qualifying.

He became a partner in 1961 and continued to develop his successful chamber and commercial practice before his firm amalgamated with Blackadder Gilchrist & Robertson, to form Blackadder Reid Johnston, in 1985, of which firm he was managing partner until retirement.

He chaired the Angus Legal Aid Committee and became dean of Faculty of Procurators & Solicitors in Dundee, of which he was an honorary member, in 1979.

Having represented Dundee for some years he became president of the Law Society of Scotland in 1989/90 and sat as an honorary sheriff at Dundee.

He was passionate about standards in the profession and considered the high point of his Law Society career to be successful resistance to the then government’s proposals to impose change on the profession, which at the time of his death had still not been wholly implemented.

He was always happy to assist other solicitors and support professional colleagues with problems.

In retirement he served as chairman of the Scottish Conveyancing & Executries Board, which allowed him to continue his interest in law and legal affairs and to meet people from other walks of life.

He continued his charitable work serving as chairman of Dovetail Enterprises (formerly The Royal Dundee Blind Institution & Lord Roberts Workshops), Dundee Disabled Children’s Association’s Trustee Board and Edradour Housing Association, along with trusteeship of a number of other grant making bodies.

He was a keen sportsman in his younger days and was a member of the R & A and lifelong follower of Dundee FC. He was founder chairman of Broughty Ferry Round Table and founder president of Claverhouse Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mr Clark was a keen traveller and travelled worldwide for business and pleasure. An able conversationalist, he enjoyed debating current affairs and politics.

He enthusiastically embraced innovation throughout his life, latterly using internet technology to keep track of his family in New Zealand and to share travel experiences with his children and grandchildren.

A genial host, he enjoyed hosting dinner parties and eating out with his wide circle of friends.

Mr Clark married Evelyn Johnston on St Andrew’s Day 1960. Two of their three sons, Johnston and Campbell, have followed him as partners in Blackadders, while Struan practices community medicine in New Zealand. Each of his sons have two children, to whom he was close.

Mr Clark was a lifelong member and former elder of Barnhill St Margaret’s Church, Dundee, where his funeral service will take place on Tuesday, 3 February at 12:30pm.

CONTRIBUTED