Sir Charles Fraser has been installed as an Honorary Member of The Merchant Company. Incorporated under Royal Charter in 1681, the livery company now has 540 business members involved in education and charitable projects across Edinburgh and has admitted 15 new members. It says Sir Charles ,87, joins a rarefied elite including Winston Churchill, Andrew Carnegie, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Pat Denzler, Master of The Merchant Company, said retired lawyer Sir Charles “has had a long and distinguished career which has included law, finance, advisory roles to government and a wide list of public service appointments”. The retired corporate lawyer was a partner in the then W & J Burness and played a key role in the 1980s takeover of Distillers by Guinness. Sir Charles was later a director of Scottish Media Group, Scottish Widows, Scottish Business in the Community and Stakis.