William Kerr Fraser

Sir William Kerr Fraser
GCB
Chancellor of the
University of Glasgow
In office
1996–2006
Preceded by Sir Alexander Cairncross
Succeeded by Sir Kenneth Calman
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Glasgow
In office
1988–1995
Preceded by Sir Alwyn Williams
Succeeded by Sir Graeme Davies
Permanent Secretary
to the Scottish Office
In office
1978–1988
Preceded by Sir Nicholas Morrison
Succeeded by Sir Russell Hillhouse
Personal details
Born (1929-03-18) 18 March 1929
Glasgow
Spouse(s) Lady Marion Fraser[1]
Alma mater University of Glasgow
Profession Civil servant

Sir William Kerr Fraser GCB (born 18 May 1929) is a retired British civil servant, who served as Permanent Secretary at the Scottish Office, and as Principal and later Chancellor of the University of Glasgow.

Early life

William Kerr Fraser was educated at Eastwood High School in Glasgow.[2] He studied at the University of Glasgow (M.A., LL.B.), where he was President of the Students' Representative Council from 1951-52.[3]

Civil Service

He joined the Scottish Home Department, part of the Civil Service, in 1953, becoming Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in 1959, and to the Secretary of State in 1966.[2] In 1967, he became Assistant Secretary at the Regional Development Division, and in 1971 became Under-Secretary at the Scottish Home and Health Department.[2] In 1975, he became Deputy Secretary, and in 1978 Permanent Secretary at the Scottish Office, serving until 1988.[2][3] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1978, and created a Knight Commander of the order (KCB) in 1979 and a Knight Grand Cross of the order (GCB) in 1984.[2]

University of Glasgow

Sir William became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in 1988 and served in these posts until 1995.[2][3] In 1996, he was elected Chancellor of the University.[2][3] He stood down from this role in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman. The HUB Building at the University of Glasgow has recently been refurbished as a student services centre and is named the Fraser Building in his honour. He was awarded an honorary LL.D. by the University in 1982.[3]

Personal life

In 1956, Fraser married Marion Forbes, a Past President of the Queen Margaret Union, then the women's union of the University of Glasgow. They have three sons and one daughter,[2] and several grandchildren - one of whom is himself a former President of the Queen Margaret Union, Colum Fraser.

Sir William served as Governor of the Caledonian Research Foundation from 1990–99 and Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland from 1995–2000. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1985, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1992, and of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1995. He has received honorary degrees (LL.D.) from the Universities of Glasgow (1982), Strathclyde (1991) and Aberdeen (1993), and a Doctorate honoris causa from Edinburgh (1995).

Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Nicholas Morrison
Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Office
1978-1988
Succeeded by
Sir Russell Hillhouse
Academic offices
Preceded by
Professor Sir Alwyn Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Glasgow

1988 to 1995
Succeeded by
Sir Graeme Davies
Preceded by
Professor Sir Alexander Cairncross
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
1996 to 2006
Succeeded by
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman

References

  1. Lady Marion holds her title in her own right since her 1996 creation as a Lady of the Order of the Thistle, an order higher in precedence than that of her husband.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Fraser, Sir William (Kerr)". Who's Who. Oxford University Press. December 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Sir William Kerr Fraser". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
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