Obituary: Ian M. Robertson
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ian Macbeth Robertson, civil servant, born 1 February 1918, Private Secretary to Minister of State Scottish Office 1951-52, to Secretary of State for Scotland 1952-55, Assistant Secretary Department of Health for Scotland 1955, LVO 1956, Assistant Under-Secretary of State Scottish Office 1963-64, Under-Secretary Scottish Development Department 1964-65, Scottish Development Department 1966-78, CB 1976, Secretary of Commissions for Scotland 1978-83, member Williams Committee on National Museums and Galleries in Scotland 1979-81, Chairman of Governors Edinburgh College of Art 1981-88, HRSA 1987, married 1947 Anne Stewart Marshall, died Edinburgh 31 July 1992.
WITH THE DEATH of Ian Macbeth Robertson the civil service in Scotland has lost a most distinguished former member and Edinburgh a notable citizen.
After success at school and university, both in Edinburgh, Robertson would have been a welcome recruit to the Scottish Office, which was then establishing a strong presence in the city. Instead the demands of military service in the Royal Artillery and the Scottish Horse took him to the Middle East and Italy, and it was not until 1946, at the age of 28, that he joined the Department of Health for Scotland.
After an apprenticeship thus shortened, he quickly experienced the interaction of politics and administration in the post of Private Secretary, first to Lord Home, who was then Minister of State at the Scottish Office, and then to the Secretary of State, the late James Stuart.
To the knowledge thereby gained of how things worked and could be made to work, Robertson added exceptional clarity of thought, a prose style which illuminated the most complex of problems and an unfailing courtesy which carried him through many a difficult meeting. Not that difficulties were ever of his making, for Robertson was above all a diplomat, sensitive, tactful and conciliatory; not perhaps a great innovator, but a man who understood how best to use, and to persuade others to use, the material that was available.
Robertson's civil-service experience was wide, but perhaps his most fruitful period was the 12 years that he spent in the Scottish Education Department as Under-Secretary with responsibility for higher education and the arts. This period spanned the years 1966 to 1978 when higher education, particularly in the centrally-funded colleges, saw much of the development that has led to the present expansion of university provision in Scotland.
Robertson was appointed CB in 1976, and after his retirement two years later he held for five years the part-time post of Secretary of Commissions for Scotland. He was himself a Justice of the Peace.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments