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William Prosser, Lord Prosser

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William David Prosser, Lord Prosser, PC (1934–2015) was a Scottish judge and an advocate for the arts in Edinburgh.

Personal life and education

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The grave of William Prosser, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh

He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy where he was a senior Ephor (prefect). Prosser read classics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he finished with a double first, and then read law at University of Edinburgh.[1] For his National Service, he was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in British Guyana.[2][3]

Prosser married Vanessa Lindsay in 1964. They had two sons and two daughters. Prosser died in March 2015, in Edinburgh, at the age of 80.[1]

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Prosser became an advocate in 1962, and served as Standing Junior Counsel in Scotland for the Board of Inland Revenue (1969–1974. He took silk (became a Queen's Counsel) in 1974, and served as Vice Dean (1979–1983) and then Dean (1983–1986) of the Faculty of Advocates. In 1986, he became a Court of Session judge and served until his retirement in 2001.[1][3]

Prosser's legal work also included serving on the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals,[2] as trustee (2002–2007) for the Franco-British Council, and as President of the Franco-British Lawyers’ Society.[3] He helped the University of the Highlands and Islands gain university status (2011) and served on its court.[2]

Arts advocacy

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Prosser served as chairman of the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust from 1988 to 1998 where he contributed to saving buildings such as Lady Cathcart House, Ayr; Strathleven House, Dumbartonshire; Auchinleck House, Ayrshire and Law's Close, Kirkcaldy.[1] He was also chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland (1990–1995), the Royal Lyceum Theatre (chairman, '87-92), the Scottish Architectural Education Trust (1994–2007), and the Sir Walter Scott Club (1993–1996).[3][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Steven, Alasdair (2 April 2015). "Obituary: The Rt Hon Lord William Prosser QC". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rt Hon Lord William Prosser. QC, MA, LLB, PC". HeraldScotland. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Dalyell, Tam (14 June 2015). "William Prosser: Lawyer and administrator who bestrode both the legal". The Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2017.