OBITUARY: Lord Selkirk of Douglas

The second son of the 14th Duke of Hamilton, Lord James was born in Dungavel, but was very much part of the fabric of East Lothian.

Those who knew Lord James – or who served alongside or worked with him – remember him as a true gentleman, always well turned out.

Many can recount personal examples of his humility. But none sum this up as well as a female government driver, for whom Lord James leapt from the car on arrival at their destination to open her door.

He first served as a councillor before becoming an MP for Edinburgh West, a Scottish Office Minister, an MSP and a Member of the House of Lords. In each of these roles, he proved that being kind and courteous was no barrier to being effective and successful in politics – even in the disciplinary role of Chief Whip at Holyrood.

He was generous and thoughtful to a fault, taking his defeat in the 1997 General Election with simple good grace – and certainly no ill will or rancour.

He had begun his career as an Advocate and Procurator Fiscal Depute.

Despite his impeccably good manners, Lord James possessed a steely political determination which no doubt disarmed his opponents.

In his many years in Parliament, he would take up important and often complex causes.

He always strongly defended his constituents’ interests, lobbying hard to retain defence jobs at the Ferranti plant in his Edinburgh West constituency.

His interest in politics dated back to his time at Oxford University, where he was president of the Union, and where he also earned a Boxing Blue.

Throughout my personal dealings with Lord James, he was a source of good-humoured, sound advice.

He was a good listener and I very much enjoyed visiting him at the home he shared with his wife Susie near North Berwick.

On these visits, James would freely give his time to discuss local and national issues.

Caution would be the watch-word: wise counsel for someone setting out in a career where politicians too frequently respond with knee-jerk reactions.

With a twinkle in his eye, Lord James would share anecdotes with a gentle sense of self-deprecation.

Many of the stories he told were at his own expense, and this masked a political acumen easily equal to those of his contemporaries such as the late Robin Cook.

He made friends and earned respect across the political spectrum, something clear in the warm words from political opponents since the sad announcement of his death.

Like many politicians and journalists, he liked to discuss the lighter, more human side of politics.

He recounted humorously, for example, which MSPs managed to make it up for breakfast while on parliamentary trips overseas.

Beyond politics, Lord James was proud of his family connections and appreciated living in East Lothian, including his membership of Muirfield, the home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.

He spoke highly and affectionately of his wife Susie, who survives him, and was immensely proud of the achievements of his four sons.

Those who knew the couple know how supportive Susie was of Lord James’s political career and how much she contributed to his achievements.

Lord James was brought up on the Lennoxlove Estate near Haddington, before moving to North Berwick and latterly to Archerfield, where he would regularly gather errant golf balls – or politely move on deer – which found their way into the garden.

Lord James was a keen supporter of local causes, including helping secure the future of the Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick.

He also had a keen interest in his family’s history and in wartime history, authoring a well-researched book which explored the life of Rudolf Hess.

That account focused on one of the most bizarre events of the Second World War, when the Deputy Führer took an astonishing and unauthorised solo flight in a bid to meet Lord James’s father, the Duke of Hamilton, to attempt to broker a peace deal.

He also authored a book entitled Roof of the World which told the story of how his father took part in the first daring and ground-breaking flight over Everest.

Come rain or shine, Lord James was happy to support East Lothian Conservatives’ campaign activities, delivering leaflets or knocking on doors.

Even against the wintry backdrop of the December 2019 General Election, his warm and disarming demeanour played well on the doorsteps of a county he was very proud to call home.

It was an honour to have met and worked with Lord Selkirk of Douglas. The thoughts of many friends and residents of East Lothian, and many far beyond, are with Susie and his family.

Craig Hoy MSP

Chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party