Chartered accountant;
Born: August 9, 1931; Died: January 31, 2013.
Gordon Anderson, who has died aged 81, was a leading figure in Scotland's professional community. Born in Glasgow, he was to live and work virtually his whole life in his home city. He attended the High School of Glasgow from 1937 until 1949, together with his twin brother Alastair, who predeceased him in 2000. His affection for the school led to a lifelong commitment.
After leaving school, he served his CA apprenticeship with Moores, Carson and Watson, being admitted to membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) in 1955. Like many, his career was interrupted by two years of National Service during which he served in the Royal Navy and had the rare distinction of being commissioned in the Executive Branch of the Navy, leaving as a sub-lieutenant RNVR.
After his National Service, his career resumed and in 1958 he became a partner in Moores, Carson and Watson. Following a merger, he became office managing partner, Glasgow, with Arthur Young McClelland Moores from 1976 to 1979. He then became UK chairman of Arthur Young from 1987 to 1989, becoming deputy senior partner, Ernst & Young (UK), following a further merger, from 1989 until his retiral in 1990.
Mr Anderson was actively involved with ICAS, serving as president of the Glasgow Students Society in 1960 and a member of Council of the Institute between 1980 and 1984. He chaired four committees, and was chairman of the Scottish Chartered Accountants' Trust for Education from 1989 to 1995. He served as vice-president for two years prior to serving as president of the institute from 1986 to 1987.
He was appointed a member of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board from 1979 to 1985 and a member of the Council on Tribunals and of its Scottish Committee from 1990 to 1996. In the 1990s he was a director of Lloyds TSB Group, serving as chairman of Lloyds TSB Bank Scotland between 1994 and 1999.
In 2000 Mr Anderson received his CBE from the Queen, which was awarded the previous year, for services to the financial sector.
He was an outstanding supporter of the High School of Glasgow and the Former Pupils Club, and was president of the latter from 1978 to 1979. After school, he played rugby for the club and was president of Glasgow High/Kelvinside RFC during the 1984-85 season.
He was one of a small group of former pupils who in the early 1970s planned the establishment of the current High School of Glasgow at Anniesland and the Junior School in Bearsden on the site of the former Drewsteignton School. He was one of the original directors on the board for the High School of Glasgow Ltd, established in September 1973. He was a governor of the school from 1975 to 1981 and again in 1990, becoming chairman of the board of governors in 1992 until his retiral in 2001. Following Mr Anderson's death, Colin Mair, rector of the school, said: "The modern-day High School exists because of the tremendous dedication of former pupils like him, and we shall always be indebted to them."
In his spare time he enjoyed rugby, golf, sailing and gardening. He was a member of Glasgow Golf Club and Buchanan Castle Golf Club where he was captain from 1979-80. He is survived by his wife Eirené, sons David and Colin, daughter Carolyn and four grandchildren.
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